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Post by Miege22 on Nov 27, 2023 13:53:39 GMT -5
It may not have been the most dominant win of the week, but at this point, we kind of have to recognize the Nets. They're the last unbeaten, and they keep pulling out these wins by the skin of their teeth. Their win over OKC was arguably the best of the week, when you consider opponent and numbers put up by said opponent. They also continue to dominate defensive categories and do just enough to survive in the other areas. It's entirely possible they'll now lose to Orlando, but they're your team of the week for week 5.
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Post by Miege22 on Nov 27, 2023 13:59:22 GMT -5
The Kings are the first repeat team in our match-up of the week, and for good reason as these two are in a three-way tie for first (with Portland) with more than a quarter of the season gone. There's also some recent playoff history between these two as the Sonics were something of a Kings spoiler not all that long ago. In the 19-20 season, the Kings shocked everyone by going 13-3 and finishing with the best record in the West. However, it was the Sonics, behind a dramatic trade for Bradley Beal that snuck in before the deadline with minutes to spare, that got the better of their playoff match-up, shocking the Kings by margins which can be directly attributed to that Beal trade. Unfortunately for the Sonics, covid canceled the Finals, of which they were on their way to, and may have been favored in. The following year, the Kings once again surprised everyone, going 11-3 and finishing 2nd in the West. Only to, once again, lose to the Sonics, who would this time go to the Finals... and lose a heart-wrenching match-up on the final day to the underdog Chicago Bulls. After both teams missed the playoffs last year, they have retooled (with help from one another, as mentioned in the recap of week 5), and look to make another run in the playoffs.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 3, 2023 16:16:07 GMT -5
The match-up of the week lived up to the hype, one West contender kept their season alive, while an East contender suffered a tough setback in a clash of titans. Let's head to Seattle... Kansas City Kings (5-1) over Seattle Supersonics (4-2), 5-4The Sonics, playing without star big man Bam Adebayo, put up a serious fight to end the week. They shot 59%, scored 129 points, and made 14 threes... then had to sit back and watch as the Kings scored 145 points on 50% shooting, flipping points and the match-up. The Kings are now 5-1 and hold the tiebreakers against both Portland and Seattle. It's the 4th time in the last 5 years the Kings have started the season 5-1 or better. Once again, SGA led the way (27/4/7/3/1 on 57/95 splits). Jimmy Butler joined him (34.5/8/4, 27/29 from the line). Walker Kessler blocked 13 shots. The Kings now find themselves 3rd in points, 2nd in blocks, 3rd in steals, and 4th in free throw percentage. They're for real. The Sonics continue to get surprising all-around production from Max Strus (15.5/5.5/5), and while they lost, they have a shot to get right back in the win column against Vegas. Brandon Ingram, James Harden, and Spencer Dinwiddie had solid all-around weeks, but they needed just a little more scoring from each. The bigger question for them will be Bam's health moving forward. He's already been ruled out for next Wednesday, which is a concerning sign. If he misses an extended period of time, the Sonics could be in a bit of trouble. Portland Trailblazers (5-1) over Utah Jazz (3-3), 7-2Week 6 was defined by it's blowouts, so some of these recaps may be a bit shorter than most would expect. Portland/Utah was no exception. The Blazers had a 300+ minutes advantage, and it showed. KD put up 29-3-7. Trae averaged 31-3-11. Even Reggie Jackson averaged 22-3-7. The story, though, was Draymond Green. After serving a five game suspension, Green came back and put up 14-7-4, but the real story is his three-point shooting. Green averaged 2 or fewer three-point attempts each of the last 3 seasons. This year, he's up to 3 attempts per game, and he's shooting an incredible 47.2%. Not only is he shooting again, but he's not even thinking about it, letting the ball fly whenever he has space, which is a complete 180 from his last few years. It's a surprising, and welcome, development for Portland. Utah had to play the whole week without Lauri Markkanen, and it's probably better if we just flush the tape on this one. Jusuf Nurkic looked good, 21-7-4, but that was about it. The Jazz will try and keep their GM Cup hopes alive against a banged-up Thunder team in week 7. Chicago Bulls (4-2) over Atlanta Hawks (0-6), 7-2Another blowout, as the Bulls were able to win without Kristaps Porzingis for the whole week, and LeVert and Maxey missing games. De'Aaron Fox was a star (32-6-9), and Maxey did average 32 ppg in the two games he did play. Ivica Zubac blocked 8 shots, matching the Hawks total by himself. With the win, the Bulls not only set up a showdown with the Nets for the North's #1 slot in the GM Cup knockout round, but they can also vault themselves to the top of the division with a win (they'd own the head-to-head tiebreaker, at least for the time being). Cam Thomas finally returned for Atlanta, and he picked up right where he left off, scoring 23 ppg. Other than that, not a whole to write home about. The Hawks did make a move, cashing in on the expiring Malik Monk for Jonathan Kuminga and Leonard Miller. Washington Wizards (3-3) over Miami Heat (2-4), 8-1Another match-up with a nearly 300-minutes gap, the Wizards understandably dominated the Heat. Giannis (30-12-6, 68/82 splits), Jalen Brunson (25-5-8), and Desmond Bane (25-5-6) led the way for Washington. Daniel Gafford blocked 9 shots, and Herb Jones swiped 7 steals. In more exciting new for the Wizards, it appears Jaden Ivey and Moses Moody are finally going to get expanded roles. Similar to Portland and Draymond Green, the Wizards are benefitting from a surprising uptick in three-point shooting. Jalen Brunson is taking 7 three-pointers per game this year, smashing his previous career high of 4.7 that he set last year. He's also shooting better than 47% from deep, knocking down 3.3 threes per game. He's averaging the 7th most threes made per game in the entire league, and incredible leap forward. He, Bane, and MPJ are all averaging at least 2.9 threes per game. While the Wizards are eliminated from knockout round contention, their week 7 match-up against NY has major playoff implications. Miami, on the other hand, IS still alive for the GM Cup, and they'll have to beat Memphis to get there. There's a chance Tyler Herro and Wendell Carter Jr. could be back for that one, and the Heat will need it. If there's a silver lining, Jarrett Allen played well (14/10, 79% shooting), and he appears to be all the way back from his ankle injury. Orlando Magic (2-4) over Brooklyn Nets (5-1), 4-4-1 (Magic win on points)The Magic had to sweat out the final days as the cardiac kids nearly made up what looked like an insurmountable three-point deficit, but they hung on by just one three-pointer. After a tough season last year, Rudy Gobert looks great again, and he averaged 19-13 last week on 67% shooting while chipping in 10 blocks. Franz Wagner was also magnificent (27-7-5, 55/89 splits), and he's shaken off that early season rust. Derrick White only played 2 games, but his 12 assists were massive, helping the Magic squeak by in that category. It was a big-time win for Orlando, as a loss likely would have ended their playoff hopes. Now they have a chance to take down another top team in the East with the Bull Sharks up next. To the surprise of no one, Brooklyn made the first in-season trade of the year, picking up Malik Monk. It almost worked to perfection, as Monk put up 26-3-4 with 4 threes in his first game as a Net. Coby White had 8 threes on Sunday, and he was THE reason Brooklyn had a shot in that category. Oh, and JJJ shot better than 45% in a game for the first time since November 10th. Still, it wasn't enough as the coin flip finally went against them. If Wemby had played more than 1 game, maybe it lands their way, but what's done is done. They have a shot to win the North group against Chicago in week 7. OKC Thunder (4-2) over Phoenix Suns (3-3), 5-3-1It was almost a disaster of a week for OKC, who lost Anthony Edwards, had Tatum get ejected from one of his two games, and lost a game from Luka. They trailed the Suns going into the final day, but Luka came through with a ridiculous 36/15/18/2/2 stat line to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Now they'll try and weather the storm as there is no word on when Edwards will be back. We pointed it out several times over the first six weeks, that the Thunder's hopes hinged on whether those top-3 could stay healthy. They play Utah next, so we will see how things go. Simone Fontecchio got some real action with Markkanen out, and he averaged 12-4-4, which isn't terrible. Didn't shoot it well, but baby steps. 23/5.5/5 for Jeremy Sochan on the week. Maybe he's figuring out this point guard thing? Houston Rockets (2-4) over Golden St. Warriors (3-3), 7-2Now this is what the Rockets were expecting this year. 500+ points, 60 threes, 137 assists. Arguably the best week of the year for Houston. 29-7-8 for Steph, 25-5-10 for Dame, 25-6-3 for Jaylen Brown, 25-13-7 for Julius Randle. They even blocked 22 shots as a team, good enough to vault them up the ranks in that category (19 --> 15). If the Rockets get another week like that, they may just make the knockout round of the GM Cup. The Warriors may be at an inflection point for the season. They're certainly not out of the playoff race by any means, but injuries and overall poor play have really hurt them. AJ Griffin, Kris Murray, and Jalen McDaniels aren't in their teams respective rotations. Bradley Beal and Jaden McDaniels are hurt. Khris Middleton is slowly playing more, but the numbers aren't there yet. The next five are all tough. If they can't get through at least 2-3, that may be all she wrote. Colorado Swannies (4-2) over Las Vegas Gamblers (2-4), 6-2-1No LaMelo, no problem. Colorado had a minutes advantage of over 300 minutes, and easily dispatched the beat up Gamblers. Another banner week for AD (26-14, 9 blocks) and Kyle Kuzma (27-7-5). Those two have really stepped up in Ball's absence. They'll definitely need more from Darius Garland moving forward (19-7, just 6 threes on 39% shooting), but they should be able to add to their win streak against Phoenix. Zion Williams played his first back-to-back of the season and averaged 25-5-6, both of which are great news for the Gamblers. Cade Cunningham may be figuring it out as well (26-5-8). If they can get more from their bench, they'll pull out some wins, and it looks like Oubre and Simons will be back very soon. Memphis Grizzlies (4-2) over New York Knicks (3-3), 8-1A real statement win for the Grizzlies against the defending champs. Mikal Bridges (29-8-4) and Kawhi Leonard (27-8-3) led the way. Scottie Barnes (23-9-5) was also solid. Donovan Mitchell shot it poorly, but he picked up 9 big steals against his former team. The win gives Memphis a very important tiebreaker over the Knicks. Oh, and Trey Murphy is back (4 threes), which has to excite the Grizzlies. New York's loss is largely attributed to missed games. Joel Embiid only played once (30-11-11). CJ McCollum missed a game recovering from a collapsed lung. Chris Paul hurt his leg. Andrew Wiggins slammed his finger in a car door (lol). Kelly Olynyk hurt his shoulder. Markelle Fultz is still out. Everything seemed to fall apart at once for the Knicks. LeBron "only" averaged 20-6-5. The Knicks will hope that more guys are back with a tough division match-up against Washington next. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (5-1) over Toronto Raptors (0-6), 8-1Last, but not least, we have the Bull Sharks dominating the Raptors as Toronto's season from hell continues. This one was never really close. KAT led the way with 27-9-4 and 9 threes. He didn't make it into the lineup yesterday, but we have to shout out Dereck Lively's incredible 20 point, 16 rebound, 7 block game. The concern for Tampa is both Zach LaVine and Jamal Murray are banged up, and they may need both to beat Orlando in week 7. Tyrese Haliburton was the lone bright spot for Toronto (38.5-9.5), though Jalen Williams was also quite good (18-4-5). There are some interesting pieces for this Raptors team, just not enough depth. They might get their first win of the year with Atlanta next.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 3, 2023 16:39:40 GMT -5
The Wizards showed out in a big way, dominating the Heat to move themselves into a tie for 5th in the East. We said it after losses to the Bulls and Jazz, but this is a good team, and things look to be turning around after their win against Miami. They rank in the top-6 in the league in 6 categories, and they're 7th in steals. They're best field goal shooting team in the league (which is good because they're the worst free throw shooting team in the league... but it can't all be good). With Giannis, Brunson, and Bane all healthy, a Finals run is not out of the question for this team.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 4, 2023 14:04:06 GMT -5
This isn't the only game with knockout round implications, but it is the only one that offers up a very clear "win and your in" scenario. Miami has scuffled a bit of late, but with the way the schedule is laid out this week, they have a real chance to pull off an early season upset and make their way to the GM Cup quarterfinals. While the Pacific spots haven't been completely locked in yet, the winner here more than likely faces Portland in week 12. Memphis picked up a major win in week 6 over New York, and they'll be looking to get another win streak going.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 11, 2023 12:41:37 GMT -5
Memphis Grizzlies (5-2) over Miami Heat (2-5), 7-1-1Heading into the final day, this looked like anyone's ballgame. However, a strong showing for the Grizzlies ended up making this a bit of a runaway. Scottie Barnes (21.5/10.5/7.5/1/1), Kawhi Leonard (29/4.5/5), and Donovan Mitchell (31-10-6) were all monsters for the Grizzlies. Mikal Bridges was solid again (26.5/4.5/4.5 on 62/100 splits), and Trey Murphy looks to be fully back. The win for the Grizzlies clinched their spot in the knockout round of the GM Cup, which will start in week 12. They will face off against the Portland Trailblazers, which will be the only meeting between the two (unless they meet in the Finals). In the meantime, they will head into interconference play against the Jazz in week 8. The Heat may be reaching the danger zone, as they're now two back of fifth place. They're also dealing with a slew of injuries (WCJ, Herro, and Lonnie Walker are all out; Caruso and Suggs are dealing with ankle injuries), and their next two Western Conference opponents are tough (Colorado, Utah). If the Heat don't split these next two, it may be curtains on their playoff hopes. Seattle Supersonics (5-2) over Las Vegas Gamblers (2-5), 5-4This one came right down to the wire on Friday, and it looked like the Gamblers might pull it off (and potentially send GS to the knockout round). Anfernee Simons, though, committed several late turnovers that allowed the Sonics to hold on by, ultimately, one free throw. The Gamblers are going to be kicking themselves that they were unable to get Simons into the lineup on time on Wednesday, as doing so would have given them the win. The good news is at least he looks healthy. They'll definitely need more from Zion (11.5/4/4.5) to beat Brooklyn in week 8. Well, they'll need less of him too, in a way, considering he looks like he ways about 400 lbs. The Sonics got a nice bounceback win after a tough loss to the Kings, and doing so without Bam has to really boost their spirits. James Harden averaged 9.5 assists on the week, and Tyus Jones is coming alive (17-5.5). Big man depth is still a bit of a problem, but their next two games against Eastern Conference opponents are winnable (Chicago, Atlanta). Take both, and they're in great position for the playoffs heading into the final 7 weeks. Portland Trailblazers (6-1) over Golden St. Warriors (3-4), 7-2This was another game that, like the Grizz/Heat above, looked like it might come down to the wire. Instead, the Blazers laid the smack down on Wednesday, then kind of coasted to victory. Brook Lopez didn't shoot it well, but he continues to block everything in sight, swatting another 7 shots this week. Trae Young and KD were both quite good in their lone match-ups on the week, and Draymond and Rozier put up 42 assists between the two of them. Even in a shortened week, with no player playing more than two games, the Blazers looked like the class of the West. That won't change for them going up against Toronto. Golden St. responded to a tough loss by making a bold move: they're trading away off-season acquisitions Bradley Beal and Jaden McDaniels for Jaden Ivey, Herb Jones, and Obi Toppin. Given their injury issues, the push for depth makes a lot of sense. Between Devin Booker, FVV, and the TJ McConnell resurgence, they appear to be set at the guard spots. Bringing in Herb and Obi should no doubt help them fill in the gaps. Ironically, the Warriors play the Wizards this week, so we could potentially get the rare "guy plays for two different teams in the same match-up." Washington Wizards (4-3) over New York Knicks (3-4), 7-2The Wizards made quite the statement, squeaking by the Knicks in a match-up that was a little closer than the score suggests. Giannis... I mean, my goodness, this guy is something else. 36-9-6 on 68% shooting is really tough to beat. Even tougher when Desmond Bane is putting up over 30 ppg on 57% shooting, and Michael Porter Jr. knocks down 15/20 shots. Bane actually had maybe the most impressive individual game of the week (49-6-8)... if not for Joel Embiid, who put up 50-13-7 on the same night. Embiid averaged 44/13.5/5 on the week, but it wasn't enough. LeBron was awesome too, and that has to be a little concerning to the Knicks. If Embiid and LeBron are putting up MVP numbers on the week, you'd expect to win. Instead, they've now lost three of their four division games and currently sit on the outside looking in at the playoff race. There's a lot of time left, of course, but a revitalized Houston team awaits. We kind of touched on Washington in the last blurb, but the move for Beal is definitely a home run swing. And if it connects? This is a championship contender. Orlando Magic (3-4) over Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (5-2), 6-3Look out everyone, the Magic have now won two straight, and both wins were wildly impressive. They actually looked like they were dead in the water (I promise that's not a shark pun), and Tampa Bay was smelling blood (ok, that one is, I'm sorry). Instead, it was merely the old man calling for help (I promise the link is worth it). Tampa Bay turned the ball over like crazy while Orlando knocked down 16 threes and made 23/24 free throws, flipping all three categories and pulling off a massive early season win. So who was responsible for this win? Well, Derrick White knocked down 6 threes and made all four of his free throws on Friday. RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Rudy Gobert combined to make 23/24 free throws on the week, which is pretty crazy. Orlando gets a tough test with Kansas City this week. Tampa is probably pissed at Jimmy Neutron right now (Duncan Robinson for those unaware). He went 1/2 from the line on Friday and made 0 threes. Had he knocked down 4 and made the free throw, they win. Instead, they're in 2nd by virtue of their tiebreaking win over Memphis. Utah Jazz (4-3) over OKC Thunder (4-3), 5-4More regular season AND GM Cup drama, as Utah got two late free throws from John Collins to not only flip this loss to a win but also send the Swannies to the knockout round. Things have gotten a little hairy lately, as the Jazz just haven't quite played up to the level they were at to start the season, still, they got out of there with a win and that's what matters. They got 3 big steals on Friday from DeMar DeRozan, a guy who hadn't picked up even 1 steal in his previous three games, to flip that category. It was a big win without Lauri Markkanen, but now the Jazz have to face a healthy Grizzlies team, and it could be tough. OKC lost Anthony Edwards just four minutes into his game on Friday, and that ultimately cost them the win (unless you think Ant was going to score less than 5 points). Now they have to wait and see if he's ok. Not to belabor the point, but the Thunder are so reliant on their big three, that if just one is compromised, they're basically toast. That said, they should be able to beat Atlanta even with Ant missing games. If not? Woo buddy, it's probably closing time. Houston Rockets (3-4) over Kansas City Kings (5-2), 6-3This one was over before it started as the Rockets were really the main beneficiaries of the awkward scheduling. While no player had more than two games, the Rockets had enough players in the knockout rounds of the IST that they were a little more balanced on the week, while the Kings basically only had guys going Wednesday and Friday. Still, there was some drama on the final day. The Rockets needed to keep the Kings from winning 3 categories, and they would move onto the knockout round of the GM Cup. For most of Friday, that looked like a lock. The Rockets were up 7-2 after some uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting by SGA. Then, late in the Rockets/Nuggets match-up, Alperen Sengun went to the line needing to make just 1 of 2 free throws to put Houston into the knockout round (provided Thybulle and Walker Kessler took and made no free throws, not a bad bet). Instead, he missed both, and the Kings held on to win the group. They'll now get the Chicago Bulls in the quarterfinals in week 12. The Rockets may be missing out on that, but they got the win, which was far more important. They've now won two in a row, both wins were impressive, and the next four aren't too difficult (obviously the Bull Sharks game is no gimme, but after that it's Toronto, Vegas, and Phoenix). The Rockets looked dead after their loss to the Knicks, but make no mistake, this team is very much alive. Colorado Swannies (5-2) over Phoenix Suns (0-7), 9-0The Swannies did what they needed to do, dominating Phoenix and taking every category. That's now four straight wins, with AD, Turner, and Darius Garland all looking like studs again. Fun Duop Reath week too (10-6, 3 steals, 3 threes). So how did the Swannies manage to make it to the knockout round? Amazingly, there was one scenario, and one scenario only where it was possible for them to advance. They needed the Rockets and Jazz to win, to force a 5-way tie, and they also needed the Thunder and Kings to win 4 and 3 categories, respectively. That's exactly what happened. The Kings won 19 categories in their 4 group play games, putting them atop the group. The Thunder only won 17, knocking them out of the tiebreaker. With just Utah, Colorado, and Houston left tied, the Swannis won by virtue of their head-to-head wins over both. They'll now get the Nets in the quarterfinals. Not much to write about for Phoenix, but Jokic somehow shot 18/58 on the week, which we're just going to assume is the worst shooting percentage he's ever had for a week of games. We didn't even think it was possible for him to have games that bad, honestly. Brooklyn Nets (6-1) over Chicago Bulls (4-3), 6-3The Nets move onto to the knockout round of the GM Cup as the group winners in the North, though more impressive for them is the fact that they went undefeated in the first round of divisional games. They're now assured of no worse than a tie in any tiebreaker scenario, which is huge. They will likely have to play the Gamblers without Jalen Duren and Evan Mobley, however, as Duren will be out with an ankle injury (again), and Mobley hurt his knee. Shaedon Sharpe was fantastic (25/7.5/5 with 9 threes), and Coby White continues to play like a man possessed without Zach LaVine holding him back (21.5/6.5/5.5, 8 threes). The Bulls got big scoring weeks from Fox (32 ppg) and Maxey (28 ppg), and Pat Williams looks like an actual player again, but it wasn't quite enough. Chicago still moves onto the knockout round, but they'll probably be bumming about this result. Toronto Raptors (1-6) over Atlanta Hawks (0-7), 8-1The Raptors have won a game! After near miss after near miss, the Raptors took out all that pent up energy and crushed the Hawks. Tyrese Haliburton was incredible (26.5/8.5/14, 0(!) turnovers, 8 threes), and, much like Jokic, he's probably in the running for MVP if the Raps were better. He may still be the leader in the clubhouse for MIP, though hard to say how people will evaluate his candidacy considering he was great last year. He's clearly hit another level though, and if he continues to play like this... he's got an almost 6:1 AST:TO ratio lol. Atlanta got a big week from Jonathan Kuminga (18.5/6.5), but Kyrie Irving is out now with a heel contusion, so this team probably isn't winning any time soon.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 11, 2023 14:11:55 GMT -5
Without a doubt, the Houston Rockets pulled off the biggest win of the week, taking down the conference leading Kings and keeping their season alive. There's probably still some concern about big man stats, and Sengun definitely needs to improve his free throw shooting. But for one week, at least, it didn't matter, and the scoring of Steph, Dame, and Randle carried them through. Their week 8 match-up against the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks will be fascinating to watch.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 11, 2023 14:14:18 GMT -5
This was probably going to be the match-up of the week regardless, but the impending trade does add a nice additional element of intrigue. It also appears that Bradley Beal should be back on Tuesday, which means he has a chance to immediately return and do damage against his future former team. These are two teams heading in opposite directions (GS has lost two in a row while Washington has won their last two), but both are still very much in the playoff race and need a win.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 18, 2023 12:02:20 GMT -5
After the West took 7 of the first 10 interconference match-ups a couple weeks ago, the East turned the tables in week 8, winning 6 of the 10 match-ups. It was a fairly dramatic week as 6 of the 10 contests went down to the final day and it produced quite the logjam on both sides. Let's head to Washington... Golden St. Warriors (4-4) over Washington Wizards (4-4), 6-3After a semi-blockbuster trade between these two to start the week, the Warriors managed to sneak past Washington and keep their playoff hopes very much alive. It was anyone's ballgame going into Sunday, but Golden St. held on to steals and blocks, while flipping threes, to get the win. A big reason why was Fred VanVleet, as he put up 16-5-7 while grabbing 10 steals, blocking 4 shots, and knocking down 10 threes. He may not shoot it well, but FVV is filling up the stat sheet, and his 4 threes and 2 blocks on Sunday is largely what sealed the victory. Devin Booker continues to be the star in which this whole team revolves around, and he did it again last week (30-4-9 on 48/90 splits). Obi Toppin, Herb Jones, and Jaden Ivey may not have added a ton last week, but just by being not Bradley Beal they were helpful, since Beal promptly sprained his ankle before this one ended. He will likely be out for a couple of weeks, which is a tough blow to a Wizards team hoping to take advantage of an injury-ravaged Swannies in week 9. The Warriors have a tough one next against the Bull Sharks of Tampa Bay. Giannis and Brunson were phenomenal for the Wiz. Brunson even had a 50-point game en route to 29/5.5/8/2 week. Giannis put up 36/14/4.5/2, continuing his MVP campaign. Desmond Bane missed a game, but still averaged 28/8/5.5, but that missed game was crucial in a match-up as close as this one. Missed games and reduced playing time were problems almost across the board for Washington, but they still came out basically even in minutes played (1050 vs. 1040 for GS). They join a whole host of teams bunched up at 4-4 in the East. Seattle Supersonics (6-2) over Chicago Bulls (4-4), 6-3The biggest beneficiary in the West last week was undoubtedly the Sonics. While Utah, Kansas City, Colorado, and Houston all lost, the Sonics avoided the same fate against Chicago, despite missing Bam Adebayo, and now stand above that pack with a 6-2 record. James Harden, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tyus Jones combined for 107 assists, defeating Chicago in that category by themselves. Their 171 total assists on the week sends Seattle up to 2nd in the league in that category on the season. Those three also combined for 21 steals and 12 blocks, going a long way toward winning both of those cats as well. The Sonics survived Bam Adebayo's absence, and now they'll try and survive the rest of Marcus Smart's absence. They should beat the Hawks no matter what this week, and if they head into the final 7 weeks healthy and 7-2, the playoffs look like a lock. The Bulls are hanging onto a playoff spot right now by the skin of their teeth, thanks to their wins over Washington and New York. There is a good chance that will change if they lose the second round of match-ups to one or both of them. Despite playing 100+ more minutes, the Bulls were still unable to win, and they can probably point to the lost game at the end of the week from De'Aaron Fox. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where things went wrong for the Bulls, but they'll have to figure it out fast with the Thunder coming to town. OKC Thunder (5-3) over Atlanta Hawks (0-8), 7-2Speaking of the Thunder, OKC ran all over Atlanta despite a tough week from Anthony Edwards (still dealing with a lingering hip issues). Luka was so good it didn't matter, putting up 37/8/11.5/1.4, knocking down 14 threes and making 31/32 free throws. Tatum chipped in 26-9-4 for good measure. Meanwhile, Bogdan Bogdanovic continues this crazy hot streak he's on (27/3/5/2, 17 threes), but he missed the end of the week with an ankle injury and it's lingering. Okongwu looks to be in line for a bigger role in the immediate future as Clint Capela is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee. With the West so bunched up, winning against Chicago is almost imperative... frankly, the same thing can be said about Chicago and the East. Atlanta may have lost, but they kept it close, and we have to talk about Tari Eason. In a tough season where seemingly nothing has gone right, Tari Eason had a fantastic week and gave the Hawks a brief glimpse into the future. He was everywhere in putting up 16-10.5 while knocking down 7 threes and swiping 7 steals. They also got a 41-point outing from Cam Thomas on Saturday (he averaged 24.5 ppg for the week). We've said it before, but there's a lot to like on this Hawks team. They're just going to have to take their lumps this year. New York Knicks (4-4) over Phoenix Suns (0-8), 8-1I know we try to find a little nugget for both teams, but some of these match-ups involving the bottom of the league teams get a little repetitive. They'll probably get shorter as the season goes on... BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING TODAY BECAUSE THE SIMONE FONTECCHIO ARRIVAL IS HERE! Phoenix was bludgeoned once again, but Fontecchio averaged 16 points per game on the week on 53% shooting AND he knocked down 12 threes. It's the little things that keep you going in a season like this, and this week from Fontecchio will likely power the Suns (sorry, horrible pun, I know) for another couple of weeks. On the other hand, the Knicks are almost certainly going to be the team of the week from week 8, given how dominant they were. We'll save the numbers for that post, just know that after a 38/12/4/2/2 week in which he shot 64% from the floor and made 37/38 free throws, Joel Embiid is coming for that MVP trophy again. If the Knicks can find their way back near the top of the conference by season's end, he may just get it too. A Finals rematch with Portland is on tap for week 9. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (6-2) over Houston Rockets (3-5), 5-4As we entered the final day, the Rockets made the curious decision to sit Jaylen Brown, surely in an effort to hang onto turnovers. That calculation proved to be correct, as the Rockets entered the final quarter of the week holding onto a 5-4 lead. Unfortunately for them, Steph turned the ball over multiple times, the final one coming in the last minute, flipping this match-up back to Tampa. It was a crushing blow for Houston, who could have picked up a game on KC and Colorado, but instead remain two back. Steph, Dame, and Huerter all had pretty tough shooting weeks, but even had they all shot the ball well, it might not have mattered because Tampa Bay was on fire all week. KAT put up 26/14/2 on 56/90 splits. Dereck Lively shot 73% from the floor. Jamal Murray shot 56% from the floor. Malaki Branham(!) shot 59% from the floor. Jaime Jaquez continues to impress (19-4-4 on 50/94 splits). With each passing week, it becomes clearer and clearer that Tampa Bay crushed the draft (and maybe reinforces the idea that those mid-round picks are more valuable than originally thought). Houston at least gets Toronto, the Raptors will be getting Ja back, so they may be a tougher out than they had been the first half of the season. Memphis Grizzlies (6-2) over Utah Jazz (4-4), 5-4The Jazz couldn't quite get over the hump on Memphis, and the Grizz have strung together three straight wins following a mini two-game skid. In fact, with Phoenix up next, they look like they'll set up a showdown with Brooklyn for first place in the East in week 10. The big story on the season for Memphis is Kawhi Leonard, who has now played every game this year. He was great against Utah, putting up 32/6/3.5/2 on 66/94 splits. Just a ridiculous showing, and after some choppy years with the Grizz, Kawhi is finally showing why they hung on to him for so long. With Kawhi, Mitchell, Barnes, and Bridges all healthy, the Grizzlies have a a legitimate four-headed monster that should scare anyone and everyone. It's been a struggle for Utah of late, but they finally got Markkanen back, and DeMar looks rejuvenated with Zach LaVine out of the lineup. Things will turn, though the Heat await, and Miami may finally be whole. If Jusuf Nurkic keeps playing like this (15/16/4/1/1), they should be able to survive the Capela absence. Orlando Magic (4-4) over Kansas City Kings (5-3), 8-1If you weren't taking the Magic seriously, it's time to do so now. That's three straight wins against some tough competition (Brooklyn, Tampa, Kansas City), and this last one was easy. The Magic shot over 80% from the free throw line, despite Rudy Gobert making just 3/10 free throws. They got 11 threes, 9 steals, and 6 blocks from Derrick White. Collin Sexton averaged 25 ppg. Nic Claxton grabbed 38 boards. Things are really coming together for Orlando, and after this Vegas game in week 9, they have a chance to seriously damage Chicago's playoff hopes in week 10. Their depth is winning out, and it shows no signs of slowing. The Kings have hit a bit of a lull, but if they can break out of it against Brooklyn, the two after that are winnable (PHX, LV). Really, this one was much closer than the score looks. One shot, five free throws, two blocks, 38 points, and 6 turnovers is not a significant difference. I'm sure KC won't be taking solace in that fact though. Miami Heat (3-5) over Colorado Swannies (5-3), 5-3-1Maybe the real shocker of the week. The Heat took advantage of a myriad of Colorado injuries (the latest of which took out their remaining point guard for 4-6 weeks) to pull off the upset and keep their playoff hopes alive. So that Keegan Murray guy... pretty good right? He made 11/13 threes on Saturday, finishing with 16 on the week, and he actually bumped his three point percentage by 6 points, which is hilarious this late in the season. Jarrett Allen looks like he's going to eat with Mobley out, and Tyler Herro returns to the lineup tonight. Somehow, despite losing four in a row, the Heat are still in this thing, and they still mostly hold their playoff hopes in their hands. The same is true for Colorado, though it probably doesn't feel that way. With Garland and Ball out for the foreseeable future (though Ball could return any day), they're going to have to pull off assists and threes by committee. It did not work last week, as they lost threes and tied in assists. They got 37-10.5 from AD, but he sat out the last game of the week. The easy ones are seemingly behind the Swannies. The next seven games are against teams .500 or better, with the last one against a Rockets team that is probably better than their 3-5 record. Brooklyn Nets (7-1) over Las Vegas Gamblers (2-6), 6-3If Vegas plays like that every week, they're going to win games. The problem was they just ran into a team that played better, simple as that. The nearly 300-minutes advantage Brooklyn had also didn't help. Wemby got the better of Chet in the unicorn battle, putting up 19/15/3.5/1.5/4 to Chet's 16/10/1/0/4. Jaren Jackson Jr. also broke out of his slump in a big way, averaging 36/5/2/2/2 on 50/88 splits. He will almost certainly benefit from Ja Morant coming back and spoon-feeding him some easier looks. Coby White also continues to thrive without Zach LaVine (27-6-7, with 19 threes on 51% shooting). Frankly, the way the the real life Bulls are playing, they absolutely should not bring back Zach LaVine. Austin Reaves with another solid week after a rough start (20-6-7, 11 threes on 50/86 splits). Brooklyn is not three games up on fourth place in their quest to not only return to the playoffs, but avoid the play-in. Anfernee Simons looked really good for Vegas (26-3-6). Klay Thompson got going (22 ppg, 18 threes). Beyond that, there were some solid performances, but, as stated, just not enough to take down Brooklyn. With Okogie hurting his hip, the Gamblers just had too many dead spots on the roster. Portland Trailblazers (7-1) over Toronto Raptors (1-7), 7-2Last but not least, Portland took care of business against Toronto. They'll be without Draymond for at least the next three weeks following his suspension, but they should be able to weather that storm. Trae Young may have put together his first solid shooting week of the year (49%), and he put up 32/3.5/12 with 20 threes. Brook Lopez blocked 15 more shots to stay atop the league in that category (though he is now tied with Wemby). The Blazers are separating themselves from the rest of the league as they look to avenge last season's Finals loss. They now rank 5th in FG %, 1st in FT %, 2nd in threes, 1st in assists, 1st in steals, 2nd in blocks, and 2nd in points. Barring something catastrophic, this team will be competing for a trophy come February. Toronto... probably won't be in that situation in a couple of months, but, hey, Ja is back. Anything can happen, and they aren't technically eliminated yet. Of bigger concern is Tyrese Haliburton's knee, which kept him out of the last game of the week. If he can play the whole week against Houston, and Ja does the same, they'll have a shot.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 18, 2023 12:12:04 GMT -5
It doesn't always happen this way, but when it does, the decision is easy. The Knicks would have beaten EVERYONE this week, putting up top-3 totals in a whopping 7 categories. The 288 rebounds were particularly absurd, as 11 players on the roster grabbed double-digit boards on the week. It seems likely that the 288 boards will be the best week of the year in that category, as the previous high was 234 by the Nets (ironically against these Knicks), and this obviously smashes that number. It's been a stop and start season for the Knicks to this point, but this past week was a reminder of their scary potential.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 18, 2023 14:57:25 GMT -5
The stars have aligned for this one. The Knicks are coming off the most dominant performance by any team in the league last week. The Blazers are tied for the best record in the league, and, statistically, very probably are the best team in the league. And this is a Finals rematch? Need I say more?
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 18, 2023 17:07:13 GMT -5
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 24, 2023 16:32:10 GMT -5
The defending champs reminded us why they're the defending champs, and both the East and West were thrown into chaos for different reasons. Let's jump in... New York Knicks (5-4) over Portland Trailblazers (7-2), 6-1-2Fresh off one of the most impressive weeks in league history, the Knicks kept it going by easily dispatching the top team in the West. Joel Embiid averaged an incredible 41-12-6, shooting 58% from the floor, 91% from the line, and blocking 7 shots. That's now 13 straight games of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds for Embiid, the longest streak since Kareem 16 times in a row over 50(!) years ago. Not to be outdone, LeBron James put up 30-9-9 on 54/94 splits. He also knocked down 8 threes and is now shooting 41% from three on the year, the best he's ever shot from deep. As a reminder, this is year TWENTY-ONE. While the Knicks always expect those two to show, they have to be thrilled by rookie D-Leaguer Brandin Podziemski. He's proving to be an incredible all-around player, averaging 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on the week. CP3 averaged 11 assists on the week, and he's now hit double digit assists in 5 of his last 7 games. If the Knicks keep playing like this, they will most certainly have a shot to defend their title in the playoffs. The Blazers lost games from Melton, PG, and Rozier, and KD only had two games on the schedule, so they should get over this one rather quickly. They'll get a banged up Swannies team that more than likely won't have the depth to keep up since their entire point guard rotation has died. Chicago Bulls (5-4) over OKC Thunder (5-4), 7-2The Bulls dominated in a big way to snap their two-game skid, and they now set themselves up for a huge showdown with the Orlando Magic. De'Aaron Fox was great (27/4.5/5.5/3), as was Tyrese Maxey (32-3-8). Those two combined to hit 27 three-pointers, and shot 50% on 144 shots. Those two played Edwards and Doncic very close to a draw, and with OKC missing a game from Tatum, and their lack of depth, that's basically a death sentence. OKC's next three games will more than likely determine their playoff fate, as they get Seattle, Portland, and KC. Lose all three, and they're probably done. Frankly, the same is probably true for Chicago, since they get Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Washington. Losing the tiebreakers to both Orlando and Tampa Bay will make things very tough. Washington Wizards (5-4) over Colorado Swannies (5-4), 4-4-1 (Washington wins on points)In what was the week's most exciting finish, the Wizards got 4 steals and 1 block from Jaden McDaniels, the latter coming in the last 90 seconds of the game, to pull off a comeback win and stay on pace with the rest of the East (we'll caveat this by saying this could flip if their is a score correction in blocks, which we've seen before). Giannis averaged a triple-double, 25-10-10, while both Jalen Brunson and Desmond Bane put up 25+ ppg. The Wizards got 16 big blocks from Daniel Gafford and Zach Collins, as well as 12 threes from Michael Porter Jr. Washington plays Tampa Bay in week 10, and if they win, they'll leapfrog the Bull Sharks in the standings. Colorado has to be wondering what they did to earn the wrath of the basketball gods after Josh Giddey turned his ankle. That now puts all three of their point guards on the bench with injuries, though there's certainly some hope that LaMelo Ball is back very soon. It's a cruel twist of fate that the Swannies are getting a rather healthy season from AD while losing all three of these point guards. They might have to chalk the Blazers game up as a loss, but then the real gauntlet begins (GS, Utah, OKC, Seattle, KC, Houston). Memphis Grizzlies (6-2) over Phoenix Suns (0-9), 8-1The Grizz lost multiple Kawhi games and multiple Mitchell games, but it didn't really matter against Phoenix. Scottie Barnes continues to look like he made the leap (24-12-7 on 50/95 splits). The Grizz have now ripped off four straight, and with a banged up Brooklyn team on deck, they look certain to make it five straight. Assuming the Kawhi and Mitchell absences don't extend into multiple weeks, the Grizz look like the favorite to finish at the top of the East. For the Suns, it was a fun end to the week for Kris Dunn, who averaged 11-7-12 over his final two games. On the bright side for the Suns (no pun intended), their picks in the upcoming draft are looking better and better. Houston Rockets (4-5) over Toronto Raptors (1-8), 7-1-1The Rockets got dynamite weeks from Alperen Sengun (23-11-5) and Jaylen Brown (28-6-5). Throw that in with Steph Curry (30-3-5, 16 threes) and Dame Lillard (28-6-6, 14 threes), and the Rockets can beat anyone. If the Thunder and Swannies start to slide, the Rockets aren't as in as rough a position as it seemed two weeks ago. They currently have the tiebreakers on KC, Utah, and GS. With the Gamblers and Suns coming up next, they should get above .500 for the first time on the year. Of course, Vegas is playing well of late, so probably best not to count those chickens before they hatch. While Toronto lost, they got Ja Morant back, and he immediately looked like his all-NBA self (28-6-7). With him back on the floor, and Hali still playing quite well, the Raptors probably have the best 1-2 PG punch in the league (them or Houston, ironically enough). The Raps are unlikely to make the playoffs at this point, but they'll certainly play spoiler against someone. Golden St. Warriors (5-4) over Tampa Bay Bull Sharks (6-3), 7-1-1Fred VanVleet had 39 assists, Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 40 rebounds, and Pascal Siakam scored 95 points as the Warriors knocked off another Eastern Conference contender. The Warriors finished interconference play 3-0, taking down Memphis, Washington, and Tampa Bay, which is impressive yet not super helpful when it comes to postseason seeding. They'll have a chance to rectify that almost immediately with Utah, Colorado, and KC still on the schedule. Golden St.'s failed Kyrie Irving trade actually kind of worked out as Jaden Ivey averaged 21-6-6 while Kyrie still hasn't gotten back on the floor. If that trade had gone through, the Warriors would have lost. The Bull Sharks lost a week of Lively then watched as KAT went down toward the end of the week. It appears KAT avoided serious injury, but no word yet on when Lively returns. Without those two, the Bull Sharks are quite vulnerable, and their week 10 game against Washington is massive. Orlando Magic (5-4) over Las Vegas Gamblers (2-8), 5-4The Magic shot 26/29 from the foul line on Saturday, while the Gamblers had to watch in horror as Zion went 5/10, and that flipped this one Orlando's way. This is Orlando's fourth straight win, and they look as good as any team in the East right now. The Magic made a concerted effort in the off-season to sign guys who were going to play, and that has paid dividends this year. Derrick White in particular was fantastic, averaging 25-4-4, knocking down 16 threes and blocking 9 shots. Speaking of blocks, Nic Claxton had 13 more of those this past week, and Orlando has jumped into a tie for fourth with Colorado in that category. Despite their recent play, the Magic are in the top-10 of just 3 categories, though that will surely change by the end of the season if they keep playing like this. Vegas made the most threes on the week of any team in the league with 81, but they couldn't quite pull out the win. Much like the Raptors, they're getting healthy, and will surely play spoiler. That could happen in week 11 against Houston. Utah Jazz (5-4) over Miami Heat (3-6), 5-4To be honest, this is the one match-up that escaped us this week. Every time we checked in on it, it seemed like Miami was poised to take the lead and win, but the Jazz would just never let it happen. The Jazz were an impressive 82/90 from the line, with Clint Capela, of all people, going 16/16 from the line. To provide some context, Capela is a career 54% shooter from the line. Following his perfect week, he is now 71% from the line on the season, which would be his best season from the line by nearly 10 percentage points. We're going to venture to guess that Clint Capela has never made 16 consecutive free throws in his life. After just looking it up, he has an active streak of 18 consecutive made free throws. As if next week's Jazz/Warriors game didn't have enough storylines. The Heat are almost certainly going to rue their early season injuries. Tyler Herro was great (28-6-4, 12 threes). Keegan Murray continues to shoot the cover off the ball (20 ppg, 13 more threes). Jabari Smith had a solid week (20-9, 10 threes). Unfortunately, the Heat are closing in on being sellers at the deadline. Kansas City Kings (6-3) over Brooklyn Nets (7-2), 5-4The Kings got huge final days from Paolo, SGA, and Dejounte to avoid losing to a severely banged up Nets team. SGA averaged 32/7/5/4 and shot 30/33 from the line. It was a big time win for the Kings with both Colorado and OKC losing, and they've got a chance to give themselves a little cushion with Phoenix and Vegas on deck. They still have an open roster spot, so it will be interesting to see what they do with it. The Kings missed Jimmy Butler for most of the week, and their depth is looking shaky, but it was still enough to get the win. The Nets, on the other hand, are probably a bit concerned with how things are trending. With Mobley and Duren already out, they lost multiple games from Wemby and Sharpe, then lost Monk to end the week. With the Grizz up next, the Nets would probably prefer all their injured players take a week off. They're still an incredibly young team, and they saw the 50/50 games go their way early in the season... but missing out on the playoffs after a 7-1 start would be really tough. Seattle Supersonics (6-2) over Atlanta Hawks (0-9), 6-3Don't look now, but the Sonics are now tied for first in the West. Max Strus continues to be one of the best pickups of the summer, as he put up 18-3-4 and knocked down 16 threes. James Harden averaged 22-5-9, and while he's not scoring like his MVP self, he's been one of the best dime droppers in the league. The Sonics have a chance to essentially lock up a playoff spot these next two weeks with the Thunder and Jazz up next. Win those two, and they're 8-2 with Phoenix and Vegas on deck. Jonathan Kuminga has looked rejuvenated for the Hawks after the Draymond Green suspension. It will be fascinating to see what happens to him once Draymond is back. It's hard to see the Hawks getting a win this season though.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 24, 2023 17:29:25 GMT -5
It wasn't the most dominant win of the week, but it might have been the most impressive. Things looked bleak for the Warriors when Mitchell Robinson went down, but they went out and signed Isaiah Hartenstein who has more than held down the fort. Their sweep of Eastern Conference opponents is keeping them afloat heading into the most important stretch of the season.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 24, 2023 17:33:35 GMT -5
Quite possibly an elimination game for these two teams, as the East is jumbled in spots 3-6, and the winner of this one will hold the tiebreaker. Is Orlando's depth enough to overpower the Fox/Maxey/Porzingis trio? We'll find out soon enough?
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