tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53436881169293757382024-03-13T08:29:36.281-07:00NBALord.com This site is dedicated to keeping NBA fans informed with everything happening across the NBA! *No affiliation with the NBA*Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.comBlogger697125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-36860748283193176182024-03-02T15:10:00.000-08:002024-03-02T15:10:28.961-08:00Saturday Slam: It's about time the Orlando Magic retire Shaquille O'Neal's number <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPz6Ewsal31sxWYPLOr7bDOxTOV2vPmLCsW09AjZ1swNaSjnE2RnJVT8WN72VVk2cfJivqsG1fPH5iHjmUK6gmIbRTynJ7ol79xC7oI5HcCyjv0ZMqlEFl-ml_YBk7zSDUGSjO7e1M6Wjs2TVnL6RtosW5BfFAYCPRx5TxIox2-2m6JNfGcmdpMMj2ttP/s1280/54ALD2HTVNEEDKKQ3OYUPR4VOA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPz6Ewsal31sxWYPLOr7bDOxTOV2vPmLCsW09AjZ1swNaSjnE2RnJVT8WN72VVk2cfJivqsG1fPH5iHjmUK6gmIbRTynJ7ol79xC7oI5HcCyjv0ZMqlEFl-ml_YBk7zSDUGSjO7e1M6Wjs2TVnL6RtosW5BfFAYCPRx5TxIox2-2m6JNfGcmdpMMj2ttP/s320/54ALD2HTVNEEDKKQ3OYUPR4VOA.png" width="320" /></a></div> <i>Credit: Steve Simoneau/Associated Press </i><p></p><p>Earlier this year, the Orlando Magic finally retired <b>Shaquille O'Nea</b>l's number 32. He is the first player to have his number retired by the franchise, which is kinda crazy when you think about it. But if they are going to finally start retiring numbers, nobody better to start with than Shaq. </p><p>Shaq was drafted #1 overall by the Magic in the 1992 NBA draft. While he only spent four years with the franchise before leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers, he made his presence felt during his time in Orlando. He averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, guiding them to the 1995 NBA Finals after finishing second in the MVP voting. </p><p>Shaq was an All-Star all four years he spent with the Magic and as a result of his incredible play, he was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was a member of the Lakers when the team was announced in October of 1996, but he was yet to play a game for the Lakers as the season hadn't begun. His body of work with the Magic is why he made the team. </p><p>Even though he never won an NBA title with the Magic and went on to win his rings elsewhere (three with the Lakers and one with the Heat), Shaq still had a huge impact on the NBA during his time with them. The Orlando Magic version of Shaq is one of the most dominant forces to ever set foot on an NBA floor. He was a game changer and already established himself as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history before he even put on a Lakers jersey. That's amazing. </p><p>As for why it took so long for the Magic to retire Shaq's number, a couple of reasons come to mind. First of all, they're just in general hesitant to retire numbers. The fact that he's the first player to have his number retired by the organization speaks to that. </p><p>The other thing is Shaq didn't leave the Magic on the best of terms. He kinda bailed on them and went Hollywood by joining the Lakers. That didn't sit well with them and understandably so. It can be hard to want to honor someone who you feel turned their back on you. </p><p>Fortunately, time heals all wounds. When you look back Shaq's time with the Magic, it's clear his number should be retired. His four years with them were already hall of fame worthy and from there he just went on to even bigger and better things. The Magic should be proud that Shaq's incredible NBA career started with them and that they can forever claim him in a way that no other NBA franchise can. </p><p><b>NBA Lord on X (Twitter): @nba_lord </b></p><p><b>NBA Lord on Facebook: @NBALordNation </b></p><p><b>Ben Parker on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter): @slamdunk406</b></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-46298328314380492702023-10-21T02:18:00.000-07:002023-10-21T02:18:54.396-07:00Saturday Slam: What will Damian Lillard bring to the Milwaukee Bucks? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv_IuDc1DDsFgPrO8sepCpLeR2cpS-KZK8v5HwPYwTS63fLAJ32jWHmEkptedB__byEv7rEMgZRhrBZLucOdzJg3K7WhHm78V9hYxZM_fDuLwZqDg_fcQVNOaaN0X3GBLrNbAMwhQYITMgThshvlsJ1BkxYn_ykAwhBEMRMhr5rky-0gagRLAbMjjvV4q/s700/MjAxNTU5MTk1MzQ5Njg5OTQz.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="700" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv_IuDc1DDsFgPrO8sepCpLeR2cpS-KZK8v5HwPYwTS63fLAJ32jWHmEkptedB__byEv7rEMgZRhrBZLucOdzJg3K7WhHm78V9hYxZM_fDuLwZqDg_fcQVNOaaN0X3GBLrNbAMwhQYITMgThshvlsJ1BkxYn_ykAwhBEMRMhr5rky-0gagRLAbMjjvV4q/s320/MjAxNTU5MTk1MzQ5Njg5OTQz.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP) </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>The biggest off-season trade in the NBA was definitely the three-way deal between the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns that sent <b>Damian Lillard </b>to Milwaukee. After spending 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, it's a new chapter for Lillard's career. The Bucks won the NBA championship in 2021 and are hoping by adding Lillard into the fold they'll be able to get back on top. Lillard in turn is looking for his first NBA championship ring after years of coming up short in Rip City. </p><p>As far as what he'll bring to the Bucks, Lillard will bring a reliable scoring punch that takes some pressure off of star forward <b>Giannis Antetokounmpo</b>. Giannis averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game last season while Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. By having a second 30+ points per game guy, that will help Giannis not feel like he has to do as much and also allow him to focus on being a real force inside with Lillard being more of a perimeter threat. </p><p>Lillard will not just take pressure off Giannis on the day-to-day scoring, but he'll also be a guy who they can go to in crunch time. While Giannis is great in the clutch, Lillard is one of the most clutch players the NBA has ever seen. Especially from 3-point range. If the Bucks are down by two with 24 seconds left and the ball, Lillard will become a great option to either take the game-winning shot or run some pick and roll action with Giannis. His presence on the floor should open things up a lot in that regard. </p><p>The real key for the Bucks will be to make sure they keep Lillard healthy. He hasn't played 70+ games in a season since 2018-19 and actually, the same is true for Antetokounmpo. He too hasn't played 70+ games since 2018-19. If they are able to stay healthy and be in prime shape come the playoffs, they're going to be really difficult to stop. They should be the odds on favorite to come out of the East and possibly dethrone the Denver Nuggets, who I have as the favorites to come out of the West. </p><p><b>NBA Lord on X (Twitter): @nba_lord </b></p><p><b>NBA Lord on Facebook: @NBALordNation </b></p><p><b>Ben Parker on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter): @slamdunk406 </b></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-58851082717788792982023-08-07T13:31:00.000-07:002023-08-07T13:31:08.809-07:00Middle Kingdom Monday: Dwight Howard has had an interesting time in Taiwan <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXIUosgIW6I3FersNafNfo1H_W3MYYUA0axlU6ObtxP4xSdoOtw5THd6s80FEU0xyX9_J7TCRG5VukiJmitStWs8kkklhtG755WO676gy0GFWywc6cygui8gG-4M2fFuCah7EcwQD80QvnLdaKkxP5-q_djsssXgsR6oRWjn1kxde2KjIH4H_Zzj5-W05/s720/ratio3x2_720.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXIUosgIW6I3FersNafNfo1H_W3MYYUA0axlU6ObtxP4xSdoOtw5THd6s80FEU0xyX9_J7TCRG5VukiJmitStWs8kkklhtG755WO676gy0GFWywc6cygui8gG-4M2fFuCah7EcwQD80QvnLdaKkxP5-q_djsssXgsR6oRWjn1kxde2KjIH4H_Zzj5-W05/s320/ratio3x2_720.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Gene Wang/Getty Images) </i><p></p><p>Former NBA All-Star <b>Dwight Howard </b>has had an interesting time in Taiwan, playing for the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League. Last season was his first season with the Leopards and at the moment, he is slated to return to the team, though his future technically remains up-in-the-air. The Leopards proposed to give him a 65% pay cut because he missed 10 of the team's 30 games due to injury and they want to be as economical as possible. Howard isn't sure he's willing to play for the Leopards as a result of this pay cut, but for now he's still listed as a member of their organization. </p><p>In the 20 games that he did play, Howard put up big-time numbers, averaging 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. He was an All-Star and one of the best players in the league. The Leopards however struggled, finishing in sixth place out of six teams with an abysmal 6-24 record. When you consider how terrible they were, it makes sense for them to maybe not want to throw too much money at Howard, considering he made over $1M last year and they made a special exception for him to get paid that much. </p><p>On top of putting up numbers on a bad team and facing a pay cut, Howard also got in trouble for calling Taiwan a country in a promotional video with their vice president. The People's Republic of China (Mainland China) sees the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a part of them and refuses to recognize them as a country. Howard calling Taiwan a country is totally cool to do if you are in Taiwan, but in Mainland China, that's like one of the worst things you can say. So, he's also gotten in the cross hairs of Chinese politics during his time over there. </p><p>Whether or not Dwight Howard returns next season to the Leopards remains to be seen. Unless he can find a way back to the NBA, I think him playing in Taiwan again next season would be cool. Taiwan loves basketball and having a former NBA star like Howard playing for one of their teams has to make the fans and people of Taiwan excited. It'll be interesting to see what happens and if he does return, whether or not the Leopards will be able to have a better season. </p><p><b>NBA Lord on Twitter: @nba_lord </b></p><p><b>NBA Lord on Facebook: @NBALordNation </b></p><p><b>Ben Parker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @slamdunk406 </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-25418437328023270822023-07-08T19:08:00.000-07:002023-07-08T19:08:42.171-07:00Saturday Slam: Can the Denver Nuggets repeat in 2024? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRQ1r-REABYTxPnWtjgMm-BaKvvlOnIFZC6uC-IgBmVpr3p_ze35QBPbFMmrPTzdF2XNziwXJEVqHcGjq-XwdXwehkMtXhyS_6b4wmCmm_ueq-sCBb47_l7Psb8cXTtQ6xNDDtyyYM-XF0KCf8yQnQtFN4-9ryyUHttSNk0frsrb2fcALR9VQkaehJ5Ho/s275/images-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRQ1r-REABYTxPnWtjgMm-BaKvvlOnIFZC6uC-IgBmVpr3p_ze35QBPbFMmrPTzdF2XNziwXJEVqHcGjq-XwdXwehkMtXhyS_6b4wmCmm_ueq-sCBb47_l7Psb8cXTtQ6xNDDtyyYM-XF0KCf8yQnQtFN4-9ryyUHttSNk0frsrb2fcALR9VQkaehJ5Ho/s1600/images-7.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: AP Photo/Ashley Landis) </i><p></p><p>Earlier this summer, the Denver Nuggets won their first ever NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat in five games. <b>Nikola Jokic </b>was named NBA Finals MVP, capping off a dominating season in which the Nuggets finished with the third best record in the NBA and best record in the Western Conference (53-29). </p><p>While the Nuggets are still basking in their championship glory (as they should), it's never too early to ask whether or not this franchise has what it takes to repeat in 2024. Repeating as NBA champions is never easy, though in the NBA it's certainly a lot more doable than in the other major professional sports. Whenever an NBA team wins a championship, provided the team doesn't completely blow up like the Chicago Bulls did after the 1997-98 season, they have to be considered strong contenders to run it back. </p><p>And building off that, unlike that Bulls team, this Nuggets team projects to have all their key pieces back for next season: <b>Jamal Murray</b>, Nikola Jokic, <b>Aaron Gordon</b>, <b>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</b>, <b>Michael Porter, Jr.</b>, and basically every other key contributor on their team is under contract for next season and beyond. That's important because we already know what this Nuggets team more or less will look like come opening night to start the 2023-24 season. </p><p>On top of having all their key pieces back, what I think really bodes well for the Nuggets' chances to repeat is the simple fact that each season they keep getting better. They go deeper and deeper in the playoffs. Sometimes you find out a team has peaked and can't get any better. This Nuggets team isn't like that. They've now gone the distance and knowing they have what it takes, they should be even more confident next season. </p><p>Finally, they just have so much depth. Jokic and Murray are a fantastic duo, Jokic playing like the best player on the planet, but in addition, they have really good pieces around them. They share the ball, play unselfishly, and play basketball the right way. They're a team that can win games even when one of their top two players is having an off night. </p><p>While it's no guarantee the Nuggets will repeat in 2024, if we are just talking about their odds, they should definitely be the odds on favorite to win it all next year. After years of knocking on the door with no cigar, the Nuggets are now on top of the NBA and could stay on top for a while longer. </p><p><b>NBA Lord on Twitter: @nba_lord </b></p><p><b>NBA Lord on Facebook: @NBALordNation </b></p><p><b>Ben Parker on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter: @slamdunk406 </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p> </p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-47569928689577224872023-04-24T20:13:00.000-07:002023-04-24T20:13:34.831-07:00Middle Kingdom Monday: Zhejiang Golden Bulls in driver's seat to win 2023 CBA title <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJXBbhTNzatnMOWvEeWWn3OZdGCeJZu43TCO_ujbYfiEEW1VBzclqpARs5FmVI_6Iox9ph3hxXlNqOkCozXZA5tl65w02E--W_aM9bapPmBks4E5sb0mrO2iXnCHUt1RzKlee1RovyodGZytwrY0Xf83Mc0uSx_qJDAmz5qyNwsTMU10UCfXMuMMvyQ/s229/Unknown-47.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="229" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJXBbhTNzatnMOWvEeWWn3OZdGCeJZu43TCO_ujbYfiEEW1VBzclqpARs5FmVI_6Iox9ph3hxXlNqOkCozXZA5tl65w02E--W_aM9bapPmBks4E5sb0mrO2iXnCHUt1RzKlee1RovyodGZytwrY0Xf83Mc0uSx_qJDAmz5qyNwsTMU10UCfXMuMMvyQ/s1600/Unknown-47.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>With the <b>MarShon Brooks</b>-led Guangdong Southern Tigers eliminated from the playoffs, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls are now in the driver's seat to win the 2022-23 CBA title. The Southern Tigers got eliminated by the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in the quarterfinals, losing their series 2-1. The Southern Tigers were the number two seed in the CBA behind the top seeded Golden Bulls, so them getting knocked out is huge for the Golden Bulls. The Golden Bulls now find themselves in the semifinals against the Shenzhen Leopards, who are the 4th seed in the CBA playoffs. On the other side of the draw are the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions and the Liaoning Flying Leopards. </p><p>For those that are curious, the first two playoff rounds, the first being a wild card round of sorts, are best-of-three. The semifinals are best-of-five and the finals are best-of-seven. So things get taken up a notch with this upcoming semifinal round, which begins later on this week. </p><p>The Golden Bulls dominated the regular season, going 35-7 and in the quarterfinals against the Guangzhou Long-Lions, they won the series 2-0, winning game one 114-91 and winning game two 113-100. So, they really haven't had much competition all season long. </p><p>The Golden Bulls are led by shooting guard <b>Jamar Gulley </b>(17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, & 2.6 steals), combo guard <b>Qian Wu</b> (17.0 points, 6.0 assists, & 1.8 steals), and power forward <b>Zeyi Liu</b> (15.1 points & 7.6 rebounds). As a trio, they are really balanced, capable of scoring inside and out while also being able to facilitate and crash the glass. Their quality combination of guard play and post play is why they have had such a strong season and are in the position that they are in. </p><p>During the playoffs, all three of them have stepped up their game: Gulley averaging 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, Wu averaging 22.0 points and 8.5 assists, and Liu averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. If they can keep up that intensity and quality of play in the semifinals, one has to like their odds to reach the finals. And if they reach the finals, they of course are going to be the favorites. </p><p>While anything can happen in playoff basketball, I would be surprised if the Golden Bulls do not win the CBA title this year. They've just been on such a roll all season long. They started the season 15-0 and really haven't looked back. It'll be fun to see if they can complete their championship quest and whether or not they get a serious push in the semifinals by the Shenzhen Leopards. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-72632643952914234882023-03-27T03:10:00.005-07:002023-03-27T03:15:25.607-07:00Middle Kingdom Monday: MarShon Brooks has Guangdong Southern Tigers chasing 12th CBA title <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7WhVfghAHeHgTBMw3CPssZdElzhyTydtpgNHI3Z8RmAynhi7ofBPfLB_xKyS9h_lajytZ0eWbL9PNly7ac7x0Fq16by6rAcueDYz6DtiqQCpp1kxnv6Kqi7FAEkrnDijVWvlRDYGBc_EMgKzphDi7zXpQAM1hdGtnZb8SUO0x5ahmiAivGlCGtE4-Q/s900/w1200.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7WhVfghAHeHgTBMw3CPssZdElzhyTydtpgNHI3Z8RmAynhi7ofBPfLB_xKyS9h_lajytZ0eWbL9PNly7ac7x0Fq16by6rAcueDYz6DtiqQCpp1kxnv6Kqi7FAEkrnDijVWvlRDYGBc_EMgKzphDi7zXpQAM1hdGtnZb8SUO0x5ahmiAivGlCGtE4-Q/s320/w1200.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: XINHUA/today.line.me) </i><p></p><p>A new segment coming to this blog is "Middle Kingdom Monday", which will take a look at what's happening around the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). I've been studying Chinese for 5+ years now and figured I would use this blog as a chance for me to share my thoughts into the CBA as well as Chinese culture! The opening Middle Kingdom Monday piece looks at what former Brooklyn Nets guard <b>MarShon Brooks</b> is doing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers (广东宏远华南虎). </p><p>The 30-8 Southern Tigers are currently tied for 2nd in the CBA along with the Liaoning Flying Leopards and only have four games left. They're going to get a top four seed in the playoffs (12 teams), which means they have punched their ticket to the quarterfinals of the CBA playoffs. They are once again a serious championship contender. </p><p>A major reason for why the Southern Tigers are chasing a 12th CBA title is the stellar play of MarShon Brooks, who is averaging 24.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. Brooks is leading the Southern Tigers in points, rebounds, and assists, really doing it all for them. </p><p>Brooks does have a solid supporting cast around him with five other players scoring in double figures on average with the leaders of that group (<b>Yi Jianlian</b> & <b>Jie Xu</b>) averaging 11.3 points per game. The combination of Brooks' great all-around play and the supporting cast that he does have, make this Southern Tigers team really dangerous. </p><p>But make no mistake, this is Brooks' team. He's had 13 30+ point games this season and two 40+ point games. He's really balling out and has no trouble taking over games. In those 13 games, the Southern Tigers are 11-2. When he heats up, they're really tough to stop. </p><p>As far as where things sit schedule-wise, the Southern Tigers have won three games in a row on the road at the Guangzhou Long Lions as well as at home against the Jiangsu Dragons and Ningbo Rockets. Of that group, only the Long Lions will be a playoff team as they are the 12th and final team to make the playoffs. </p><p>The Southern Tigers' remaining games are at the Shanghai Sharks, at the Shenzhen Leopards, home against the Shandong High-Speed Kirin, and home against the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. The Sharks are currently 5th, the Leopards are 4th, the High-Speed Kirin are 8th, and the Flying Tigers are 18th. </p><p>The good news for the Southern Tigers as was mentioned earlier is that they have a top four seed in the playoffs locked up. They know they're going to the quarterfinals and just have to wait and see who will be left standing among the teams seeded 5th through 12th. </p><p>At the same time, they don't want to just sit idly by and let the Flying Leopards take the 2nd seed. If they can, it would be great if they could clinch the 2nd seed and give themselves as good of a position as possible come playoff time. Plus, they're finishing out the season against some pretty good teams, so that should help keep them sharp for the playoffs. </p><p>In terms of what the Southern Tigers' CBA championship odds are, I like their chances if Brooks can be his 30+ point self come playoff time. The Zhejiang Golden Bulls, the top seed, have more balance at the top and don't rely as much on one guy, but they also don't appear to have anyone as good as Brooks. Their top player <b>Jamar Gulley </b>(18.1 points) is playing well, but I would take Brooks over him any day of the week. It'll be fun to see how Brooks does in the playoffs and whether not he'll be able to guide the Southern Tigers to their 12th title. If he does, he better get treated to some free Dim Sum (点心), which is a classic dish of the Guangdong province. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-91883066346893632182023-03-25T22:32:00.002-07:002023-03-25T22:35:32.436-07:00Saturday Slam: Minnesota Timberwolves have new life thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns returning <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D4o9MnlK_8anEpx2XMKMpAHThRVaPQorJdqf_G0HK_fCSVS8EcXRmaspCtJZHH5GuXY1zyySXk7fPWuxb4KAkmHPbwqyd-L41tQK25pMcyIQaJgdUHQyF6uUOMDQvH8FgDDK8d82_sHmj9dEVHDkKZs_crq5T-5gzWrTP3ZH-O9axkv4xupBYyhoKw/s3153/Hawks_Timberwolves_Basketball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2102" data-original-width="3153" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D4o9MnlK_8anEpx2XMKMpAHThRVaPQorJdqf_G0HK_fCSVS8EcXRmaspCtJZHH5GuXY1zyySXk7fPWuxb4KAkmHPbwqyd-L41tQK25pMcyIQaJgdUHQyF6uUOMDQvH8FgDDK8d82_sHmj9dEVHDkKZs_crq5T-5gzWrTP3ZH-O9axkv4xupBYyhoKw/s320/Hawks_Timberwolves_Basketball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: AP Photo) </i><p></p><p>On Wednesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves got a real shot in the arm thanks to the return of their star center <b>Karl-Anthony Towns</b>, who put up 22 points and 4 rebounds in a 125-124 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. It was Towns' first game back from a Grade 3 calf strain, which caused him to be out since late November. </p><p>Towns along with <b>Anthony Edwards </b>(24.7 points per game) is one of the top two players on this Timberwolves team, who are currently 7th in the Western Conference with a 37-37 record. At just 1.5 games back of the 39-36 Golden State Warriors for the 6th seed and eight games left in the regular season, the Timberwolves have to feel like there's a chance to leapfrog the Warriors. Especially if they can defeat them on the road on Sunday. </p><p>Given how important Towns is to the Timberwolves, one cannot understate the importance of his return. He's averaging 20.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season and really takes a lot of pressure off Edwards who does so much for them. </p><p>At this point, the biggest focus for the Timberwolves is to make sure Towns doesn't get overworked during this stretch while also making sure they can get Edwards back as soon as possible. Edwards has missed three straight games due to an ankle injury and it really is imperative that they get him back, too. </p><p>As far as what the final schedule looks like, after Sunday's game at Golden State, the Timberwolves will head to Sacramento and Phoenix before coming home to face the Lakers and Trailblazers. They will then hit the road to Brooklyn and San Antonio before coming home for one final game against the Pelicans. It's not a super easy schedule, but it's also not ridiculously hard, either. </p><p>While the future is not certain, one thing that is certain is that the Timberwolves' odds of avoiding the play-in tournament and getting a top six seed have gone up by getting Towns back. If you're them, that's really all you can ask for. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click<a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank"> here</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-41275480283332085592023-03-14T21:27:00.000-07:002023-03-14T21:27:08.794-07:00Tomahawk Tuesday: Are the Sacramento Kings championship contenders? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rUUntW6JmHKTOnQi5mVhhy5CPqX4E1uyqVqjldhB94VlIttiS_GQ1EX-a6ns23ToUQ3zvJbRUoMtHC6ZX3L4n2BH3M4monva-v5-wnDQIgsYp0xf0qjxeBFeDs0eddEmqyIrNhGO9hYJRFIHzevez1MXfZqV3bNeEL5r-i8GK8b6e4eV3IcNtDnhdg/s4842/USATSI_20225450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="4842" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rUUntW6JmHKTOnQi5mVhhy5CPqX4E1uyqVqjldhB94VlIttiS_GQ1EX-a6ns23ToUQ3zvJbRUoMtHC6ZX3L4n2BH3M4monva-v5-wnDQIgsYp0xf0qjxeBFeDs0eddEmqyIrNhGO9hYJRFIHzevez1MXfZqV3bNeEL5r-i8GK8b6e4eV3IcNtDnhdg/s320/USATSI_20225450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Kelley L. Cox/USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p>One of the feel good stories of this year's NBA season is the rise of the Sacramento Kings, who are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a 40-27 record. Point guard <b>De'Aaron Fox</b> (25.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, & 6.3 assists) and power forward <b>Domantas Sabonis </b>(19.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, & 7.1 assists) are forming a really good one-two punch for this Kings team, doing nice job of scoring, facilitating, and rebounding. Both were named All-Stars this season and deservedly so. </p><p>After years of trying to find the right formula and bring in the right pieces, first year head coach <b>Mike Brown</b> and the Kings seem to have finally figured it out and given the youth that is on their team, they appear to be a team that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. If there's any fanbase that has been patiently waiting for this kind of turnaround, it's Kings fans. They've watched a lot of subpar/frustrating basketball over the years, so you know they're happy to see their team finally come together like this. </p><p>Looking at their team stats, where the Kings really are kicking butt is with their shooting percentages. They are second in the NBA with a 49.9% field goal percentage, ninth in the league with a 37.1% 3-point shooting percentage, and also ninth in the league with a 79.8% free throw shooting percentage. They're shooting very efficiently both inside and out, making them a tough team for opposing defenses to stop. </p><p>As far as what's most accounted for the Kings' leap, I would say it's the addition of Sabonis, who they acquired from the Indiana Pacers around the trade deadline in 2022. Fox's production has actually been pretty consistent these past three seasons, but he needed someone to be the Robin to his Batman and Sabonis has been a perfect Robin. By having someone to help take the pressure off of him and be an effective presence in the post at an All-Star level, Fox finally has the kind of team around him that he needs. </p><p>As far as whether or not the Kings are championship contenders, the main reason to think not is the fact that they haven't been to the playoffs since the 2005-06 season when they lost in the first round. That's back when <b>Rick Adelman</b> was still the head coach. His final season at the helm. Teams rarely win NBA championships in their first trip back to the playoffs and usually they have to go through some sort of growing pains by losing in the conference semis or something. </p><p>That all said, they are on track to get a high seed in the playoffs and they historically have a great home court advantage in the playoffs. If they are able to hang on to their top three seed, I'd say I like their chances to win their first round series and then from there, we just gotta see how things shake out. But regardless, it's clear that this team is building something legit and that if they stay on their present course, we very well may see them reach the NBA Finals very soon even if it isn't this season. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">her</a><a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">e</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-15795599788488099282022-10-29T16:20:00.000-07:002022-10-29T16:20:38.698-07:00Saturday Slam: The Los Angeles Lakers probably wish they could tank this season <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJGMSu61sH_ETc491TziATvfrCDsk1iJ3qiSCmDdEEMDmrXvCfk9Tu961x-VHTjkZlGmd6_31eCr7bKadacjqi5QsQVp64jFbJx6ZIljoR_8HX93mxcPosug1PeXLbehzmyJxObAYr9i4Yhdrs-KIpAzR_VsM2Ox-u7mdrcxCoXBR66NMycLRK9A3lw/s2000/hypatia-h_6255ed93af5d8d8857ca9d15ae9bcf21-h_0adf86eaf540f146b4bb04d461b9f114-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJGMSu61sH_ETc491TziATvfrCDsk1iJ3qiSCmDdEEMDmrXvCfk9Tu961x-VHTjkZlGmd6_31eCr7bKadacjqi5QsQVp64jFbJx6ZIljoR_8HX93mxcPosug1PeXLbehzmyJxObAYr9i4Yhdrs-KIpAzR_VsM2Ox-u7mdrcxCoXBR66NMycLRK9A3lw/s320/hypatia-h_6255ed93af5d8d8857ca9d15ae9bcf21-h_0adf86eaf540f146b4bb04d461b9f114-300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-5 with road losses to the Warriors, Nuggets, and Timberwolves and home losses to the Clippers and Trail Blazers. <b>LeBron James</b> is averaging 25.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while<b> Anthony Davis </b>is doing his part with 24.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. However, the rest of the team is pretty weak. <b>Lonnie Walker IV </b>is averaging 13.4 points per game on 41.5% shooting from the field, which isn't bad, but <b>Russell Westbrook</b> is really stinking it up, averaging 12.3 points per game on an absolutely horrible 30.9% shooting from the field. It's just bad. Like really bad. </p><p>And then after Westbrook, there just isn't much. Westbrook was supposed to be the third part of a "Big Three" and he's far from fulfilling that role. He's weighing them down like a really big paper weight. </p><p>The easy answer to this problem of course is to trade Westbrook. But he's turning 34 in a few days and he has a contract paying him $47M this season. Nobody, even in today's NBA, will want to take on that contract. He'll also be an unrestricted free agent next season, so teams will be able to pick him up for a lot less money assuming he continues to build a house of bricks in Los Angeles. </p><p>The Lakers are in a bind. Trading Westbrook is a long long put and yet so long as they have him, they're going to continue to struggle. If they had a lottery first round pick available for next season, they could at least entertain the possibility of tanking for this season. Letting Westbrook brick their way into the NBA draft lottery where they could get a high pick and use that piece to build around for the future. </p><p>But given all these win-now moves that they've made, the Lakers don't have that option. If they were to win the NBA draft lottery after the season, the pick would go to the New Orleans Pelicans, who as part of the Anthony Davis trade, have the rights to swap first round picks with the Lakers in 2023. So that option, as attractive as it looks right now, is off the table for them. </p><p>If the Lakers do want to turn this around, they need to do so like now. They have a home stand starting Sunday that begins with the Nuggets followed by the Pelicans, Jazz, and Cavaliers before making a return trip to Utah to face the Jazz. This upcoming home stand is crucial. They need to at least post a .500 record on this home stand (2-2) to stay afloat. If they go 1-3 or heaven forbid 0-4, they could be looking at a really really bad season without having any of the benefits of tanking. It can't get any more brutal than that. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-42782082489828228592022-10-18T21:17:00.000-07:002022-10-18T21:17:14.233-07:00Tomahawk Tuesday: What are the odds we see a Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals rematch? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4PpCIfiT6BiEZVVowLVhm2CNQXFvZHaGby6mxzcdu32ktlJY5DapaAs674EdwhMQlXL88kMUYax599KaK5hGk5h9E7Jza2MlFy6pZOMaDtxb8aQGSdkwdFcTlOmOZttv93ZCZdRDF3RekYMcRsXCpuJJGFPTz12EjDXo-d7IbKyYOVhX97eGmWfmLQ/s620/MTg5OTM2NjEwOTI0NTY5Njkz.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4PpCIfiT6BiEZVVowLVhm2CNQXFvZHaGby6mxzcdu32ktlJY5DapaAs674EdwhMQlXL88kMUYax599KaK5hGk5h9E7Jza2MlFy6pZOMaDtxb8aQGSdkwdFcTlOmOZttv93ZCZdRDF3RekYMcRsXCpuJJGFPTz12EjDXo-d7IbKyYOVhX97eGmWfmLQ/s320/MTg5OTM2NjEwOTI0NTY5Njkz.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>The NBA regular season tips off tonight with both NBA Finals teams playing, though not against each other. The Boston Celtics squared off against the Philadelphia 76ers while the Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA obviously wanting to feature both of their NBA Finals teams on opening night. In this blog post, I want to address the possibility that we see a rematch of last year's NBA Finals with the Warriors and Celtics facing each other for a second straight year. </p><p>What helps to boost the odds of both teams facing off is the fact that they have their core rosters back. The Warriors with <b>Stephen Curry</b>, <b>Klay Thompson</b>, and <b>Draymond Green</b>. The Celtics with <b>Jaylen Brown</b>, <b>Jayson Tatum</b>, and <b>Al Horford</b>. When you bring back a core group that got to the NBA Finals the season before, your odds of getting back are as good as they can get. </p><p>The second thing that helps boost the odds is that the Warriors in particular have been through this rodeo many times before. They've represented the Western Conference in six of the last eight NBA Finals and won four of those six trips. They know what it takes to get back to the NBA Finals. For the Celtics, this is a new journey for them. Whether or not they have what it takes to get back for a second straight year remains to be seen, but if you look at the way things are trending, there's good reason to think they can get back again. </p><p>Aside from injuries, which is always the biggest hurdle to teams getting back to the NBA Finals, probably the biggest hurdle/reason for doubt is the chaos that has surrounded the departure of Celtics head coach <b>Ime Udoka</b>. He was having an improper relationship with a member of the Celtics organization. Whether or not<b> Joe Mazzulla </b>can fill in and guide the Celtics back to the NBA Finals is a big question mark for the Celtics right now. If he can, odds are good Udoka's time in Boston is over. </p><p>On the Warriors side, probably their biggest hurdle is just father time. Curry, Thompson, and Green are all getting older. It's tough to keep playing in June year in and year out and it's possible this last championship was more of a final second wind for the group. But, if there's any group that could navigate this, it's the Warriors. Head coach <b>Steve Kerr</b> does a good job of resting his guys and keeping the eye on the prize. They also have some talented young players who can fill in and take the load off until playoff time. </p><p>Ultimately, if I had to bet on it, I would say we likely won't see both teams back in the NBA Finals in 2023 only because it's just so hard to get back. The Warriors are getting older and it's unclear if they can handle the grind once more while with the Celtics, it's unclear if Mazzulla can get the job done. That said, it wouldn't shock me if we saw a rematch, either. The Warriors do have a lot of experience and the Celtics having now gotten a taste of the NBA Finals are going to be more seasoned and experienced. It'll certainly be fun to see how both teams do and which team does better at getting back for a second straight year. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click<a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank"> here</a>. </i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-90730008763406153962022-08-21T17:16:00.000-07:002022-08-21T17:16:43.765-07:00Remembering Bill Russell <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_os-_EZGSUWuH9VmEnJsU7ledOlLwegYu3hvfV4km4AAk-CLsCViFLKY8E5wTYKk3ytIASV7kUR4IofZtH0Qs0k4kFGhRoitEVcQx-ZGm5irjkftI4SoEfRPYUPs6SwjRCPz74T7iWie-47ky44DU_EC38OdybrEuDy5vb_m8HgRqrvCagj67IydTA/s2823/ap_6412120112-cd562d061933f76271bac922110b83d2f983c513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="2823" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_os-_EZGSUWuH9VmEnJsU7ledOlLwegYu3hvfV4km4AAk-CLsCViFLKY8E5wTYKk3ytIASV7kUR4IofZtH0Qs0k4kFGhRoitEVcQx-ZGm5irjkftI4SoEfRPYUPs6SwjRCPz74T7iWie-47ky44DU_EC38OdybrEuDy5vb_m8HgRqrvCagj67IydTA/s320/ap_6412120112-cd562d061933f76271bac922110b83d2f983c513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Bill Chaplis/Associated Press) </i><p></p><p>On July 31st, the game of basketball lost a legend in <b>Bill Russell</b>, who passed away at the age of 88. Russell played at McClymonds High School in Oakland, California before playing four years at the University of San Francisco (1953-56). After leading the Dons to two national championships in 1955 and 1956, Russell was selected with the number two overall pick by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1956 NBA Draft. Russell was then traded to the Boston Celtics for six-time All-Star<b> Ed Macauley </b>and <b>Cliff Hagan</b>, who was yet to play an NBA game due to military service. The rest as they say is history: </p><p>Russell won 11 NBA championships with the Celtics to go along with five NBA MVPs, 12 All-Star game appearances, four rebounding championships, and various All-NBA honors. Russell also won his last two NBA championships as player-coach, which only enhances his already godly state in the game. </p><p>Russell is basketball royalty and as such has become the first player to have his number retired by the entire NBA. Once all the current players who wear the number 6 (e.g. LeBron James) retire or switch their numbers, the number 6 will no longer be worn by another NBA player again. This is what happened with <b>Jackie Robinson </b>in major league baseball. The final player to wear the number 42 was <b>Mariano Rivera</b> of the New York Yankees, who wore the number at the time major league baseball retired Robinson's number league-wide. Rivera was allowed to keep his number 42 until he retired after the 2013 season. </p><p>When talking about the greatest basketball players of all-time, Russell is frequently mentioned right at the top along with <b>Michael Jordan</b>, <b>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</b>, and <b>Magic Johnson</b>. If I were to create my own "Mount Rushmore" of basketball players it would include those three players along with Russell. </p><p>The reason why Russell makes the list is the fact that he won more NBA championships than any other player in league history. He won an NBA championship in 84.6% of the 13 seasons he played. That's insane. What made Russell so prolific in his winning is the fact that he truly put his team above everything else. He didn't care about personal stats. He cared about doing whatever his team needed him to do. He was willing to do the dirty work: Rebound, block shots, and make plays for others. When you combine that kind of mentality with a player who was as gifted as Russell, you get the kind of championship productivity that he had. </p><p>On top of being a phenomenal basketball player, Russell was a phenomenal person. He was a civil rights activist and was a major force for good in the African-American community. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by <b>Barack Obama</b> in 2011, celebrating his contributions and legacy. </p><p>When looking back on the life and legacy of Bill Russell, it's clear that he's left an impact that will never be matched by anyone else to ever play or coach the game of basketball. While that can be said of many of the all-time greats, Russell truly left a special and enduring mark on the game that will be felt for generations to come. By having his number 6 retired by the NBA, his flame will flicker forever as a symbol of what it means to be a champion and more importantly, what greatness really is. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-26332999852545834832022-06-11T15:32:00.000-07:002022-06-11T15:32:01.358-07:00Saturday Slam: The evolution of Jaylen Brown <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xfFIzdrd9Q92fcllHHpjnLrtCwrliRgnC3pGkx8qcy9zr2ssbFoFcLMXETa9fsOfUTm1m8rQ17DuV7bv7rhkxJDz0Twodf8oHErnuCzV3p_F7ij6TwpizIe1CG6aqEMQkf--nibS-QoXJaLBmeA6Su0pjJ9ePj5IFC8hmdt3pE2rnS-x6oBLNW_t6g/s840/90.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="840" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xfFIzdrd9Q92fcllHHpjnLrtCwrliRgnC3pGkx8qcy9zr2ssbFoFcLMXETa9fsOfUTm1m8rQ17DuV7bv7rhkxJDz0Twodf8oHErnuCzV3p_F7ij6TwpizIe1CG6aqEMQkf--nibS-QoXJaLBmeA6Su0pjJ9ePj5IFC8hmdt3pE2rnS-x6oBLNW_t6g/s320/90.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <i> (Credit: Michael Dwyer/Associated Press) </i><p></p><p>Before my current position as publisher of <i>CardinalSportsReport.com</i>, covering all things Stanford for the Rivals network, I covered Cal basketball for <i>GoldenBearReport.com</i>, Rivals' Cal affiliate site. My first season covering Cal was <b>Jaylen Brown</b>'s freshman year, giving me a chance to cover him up close. I got to watch him practice when he first got to Berkeley, I got to be in attendance for his first media session all the way through his final game in the NCAA tournament, in which Cal got upset by Hawaii as a #4 seed in their region. </p><p>Being totally honest, I was a bit surprised Brown went #3 overall to the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft after just one year at Cal. Not because I didn't think he had the talent. The talent was obviously there. But just because he seemed to still have a lot of growth and maturation to undergo. I just wasn't certain if he was going to become an NBA All-Star level talent. My doubts have certainly been quieted and Brown has established himself as one of the top players in the NBA, playing a major role on a Celtics team that finds themselves tied 2-2 in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, the best team of this generation. </p><p>In his freshman year at Cal, Brown averaged 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 3.1 turnovers per game in 27.6 minutes per game. He shot 43.1% from the field, 29.4% from 3-point range, and 65.4% from the foul line. This past season with the Celtics, his 6th season in the NBA, Brown averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 2.7 turnovers per game in 33.6 minutes per game. He shot 47.3% from the field, 35.8% from 3-point range, and 75.8% from the foul line. </p><p>When looking at his numbers, what really jumps out is how much better of a shooter Brown has become. At Cal, he was not a reliable 3-point shooter or foul shooter. Now, the interesting thing is when watching him in practice at Cal, it looked like he couldn't miss. So, I think a lot of this comes down to just getting more comfortable and confident in game situations. He was a good shooter back at Cal. He just didn't have the confidence yet. </p><p>Now, he has found out how to translate his excellent in-practice shooting to the game and that has really been the biggest difference. That may sound like a small thing to figure out, but there are so many guys who look good in practice but for whatever reason cannot put it together in the game. The fact that Brown has figured this out is huge and no small feat. </p><p>Brown always had the physical tools to be an elite NBA player. That was obvious when he was at Cal. Look up his dunk against Oregon State. It remains one of the most amazing dunks I've seen college or pro. It was just a matter of him figuring out how to become a better overall player and polishing his game. The rate at which he has polished his game and honed his craft is what makes his evolution so incredible. </p><p>In addition to evolving as a basketball player, Brown has evolved as a person as well. At Cal, he was very quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. He also was very bright and articulate. One of the brightest athletes I've ever covered. With the Celtics, he has learned how to channel his intelligence and thoughtfulness into championing causes for social justice and being a voice for his people back in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He certainly is a guy who has big plans for himself outside of the game of basketball. </p><p>In closing, I just want to quickly say it has been a lot of fun watching Jaylen Brown evolve from his first days in Berkeley to an All-Star playing for the Boston Celtics on basketball's biggest stage. It's fun to reflect on my times interviewing him and talking with him after games and practices and just seeing how far he has come. Even more fun is to think about how much farther he will go in the coming years both on and off the court. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0Mountain View, CA, USA37.3860517 -122.08385119.0758178638211575 -157.2401011 65.696285536178848 -86.9276011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-5499560556067610842022-06-02T18:05:00.001-07:002022-06-02T18:05:41.321-07:002022 NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc5f5Yg8ENzfdrzYg199FPjFVorYhvs1bMCNbssS6aalcEC_YuiPTsSTqBJdli4yH9pOpSxfp6_Wj6U3uSCPOzHQ7FVRFv76kiSP0qbJgLBzCJ-6yjY0ygZ7y1NouyYq-MeSLtmExLBc-3GgMmTr-PbIKlklppW5FO7K0bbAILEK5D8pGgTdhBsTR4Q/s760/NBA-Finals-matchup-graphic-(Warriors-vs-Celtics).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="760" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc5f5Yg8ENzfdrzYg199FPjFVorYhvs1bMCNbssS6aalcEC_YuiPTsSTqBJdli4yH9pOpSxfp6_Wj6U3uSCPOzHQ7FVRFv76kiSP0qbJgLBzCJ-6yjY0ygZ7y1NouyYq-MeSLtmExLBc-3GgMmTr-PbIKlklppW5FO7K0bbAILEK5D8pGgTdhBsTR4Q/s320/NBA-Finals-matchup-graphic-(Warriors-vs-Celtics).jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i>Credit: Getty Images/TSN</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Tonight, the 2022 NBA Finals tip-off in San Francisco with the Golden State Warriors hosting the Boston Celtics. The Warriors come in having taken out the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals while the Celtics snuck past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the series in seven games. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Warriors come into this series as the seasoned NBA Finals veterans having won three NBA championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018 while also reaching the NBA Finals in 2016 and 2019. As for the Celtics, while their franchise historically is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with most NBA titles (17), this current Celtics group is new to this big of a stage. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Stephen Curry </b>(25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, & 6.3 assists) is the leader of this Warriors team, playing some of the best basketball of his entire career. While <b>Kevin Durant </b>is no longer on the team, the Warriors have picked up right where they left off before he even joined them in the first place. They're looking like the Warriors team that won in 2015 with<b> Klay Thompson</b>, <b>Draymond Green</b>, <b>Jordan Poole</b>, and <b>Andrew Wiggins</b> forming a solid core around Curry. <br /><p></p><p>As for the Celtics, <b>Jayson Tatum</b> (26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, & 4.4 assists) leads the charge along with <b>Jaylen Brown </b>(23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, & 3.5 assists). The two of them form a really dynamic wing duo that is very difficult to stop. They too have a solid cast around them in <b>Dennis Schröder</b>, <b>Marcus Smart</b>, and <b>Al Horford</b>. </p><p>As for what's going to determine this series, I think a lot of this comes down to whether or not the Warriors play a clean, efficient series or not and whether or not the Celtics will be able to force them into playing sloppy basketball. The Warriors are the more experienced team. If they play their best basketball, they're going to win this series. However, they sometimes have lulls or moments where they are sloppy and not playing their best. If the Celtics can take advantage of those moments and play a clean, efficient series on their end, this series could get interesting. </p><p>For the Warriors, Curry is going to need to come up big and have an NBA Finals MVP-level performance. They cannot expect to win this series if he isn't playing at his best. He really is the engine that makes this Warriors team go. As for the Celtics, they need Brown and Tatum to be on their game. If those two guys are balling out, the Celtics have a chance. </p><p><b>Prediction: </b>I got the Warriors winning this series in six games. They have championship experience and know what it takes to win an NBA championship. I think the Celtics will do enough to take a couple games of the series, but when it's all said and done, the Warriors will be the ones lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Stephen Curry will also take home his first NBA Finals MVP award. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker on Facebook and Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><br /></p><p> <i> </i></p></div>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-78604027908519114762022-04-30T22:46:00.000-07:002022-04-30T22:46:43.593-07:00Saturday Slam: Should the Brooklyn Nets blow up? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYshqDaPONSBJLFI2iKfZI8LN2fSnAbsKWJ52WO9IXOVtwN5HjrPQ0aKjqwhalauK-qF8WZ1RskrCiq0j18RDYy_TfIg888_AUlNj7e7a4tqMqY0nQpzx_Yuh3flvLKp8CxCVdgMjgO053VTzFq-gqz52zZr0MtDUUN5o_kEzry-NEfymPUMVv2HoSEg/s620/MTg5MDU1MDUxNzA3MTk3MjU3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYshqDaPONSBJLFI2iKfZI8LN2fSnAbsKWJ52WO9IXOVtwN5HjrPQ0aKjqwhalauK-qF8WZ1RskrCiq0j18RDYy_TfIg888_AUlNj7e7a4tqMqY0nQpzx_Yuh3flvLKp8CxCVdgMjgO053VTzFq-gqz52zZr0MtDUUN5o_kEzry-NEfymPUMVv2HoSEg/s320/MTg5MDU1MDUxNzA3MTk3MjU3.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>The Brooklyn Nets were a team that had so much hype and promise at the start of the season. They had <b>James Harden</b>, <b>Kyrie Irving</b>, and<b> Kevin Durant</b>. They were looking like a team that should come out of the East or at least reach the conference finals. Instead, they finished 7th in the conference and got swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. While a lot of people are talking about blowing up the Utah Jazz after the way their post-season ended (I'll share my thoughts on that in an upcoming post), I think it's perhaps even more fair to ask the same question about the Nets.</p><p>For starters, Harden is gone. He's now with the Philadelphia 76ers and still in the playoffs, advancing to the second round where they'll face the Heat. By trading him before the deadline, that was already a step towards blowing up the team. </p><p>Secondly, Irving refused to get vaccinated, making it so he couldn't play every night while also creating an unnecessary distraction. It's hard to develop a rhythm and team chemistry when one of your key players is in and out of the lineup. While the vaccine mandate was eventually lifted and Irving was able to play in home games towards the end of the season, it's clear that his inability to play really inhibited them. And while Irving's refusal to get vaccinated was about personal freedom, the fact that he was willing to put his team through all that has to make one wonder how committed he really is to building a championship team in Brooklyn. </p><p>Third, Durant is getting up there in age. He'll be turning 34 in September and while he did average 29.9 points per game this season, one can't help but wonder how much more gas he has left in the tank considering the Achilles injury he had and everything. Father time catches up with everyone and he could be soon to catch up with Durant as well. </p><p>Last and most importantly, they got swept in the first round. That's bad. Any time you get swept in the playoffs, that has to lead to some soul searching and introspection. Especially if you are a more veteran team. It's one thing to get swept and be young with a promising future. The future is supposed to be now for the Nets and if now isn't panning out, it's hard to see it ever panning out. </p><p>The bottom line is the Nets have a lot of questions to ask themselves after this season and the first one is whether or not they keep Durant and Irving together or if they begin the process of blowing up the team and starting over. It's not a fun conversation to have, but when you exit the playoffs like they did, it's a conversation that needs to be had. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i> <br /></i> </p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-12384239556984928362022-04-26T19:55:00.000-07:002022-04-26T19:55:31.205-07:00Tomahawk Tuesday: Should the Golden State Warriors be favored to win the West? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYH655ZkLZUVyRgwU7Xiw6wStf2zb4cht4aY5pNyXt5lHfdWXhOLFCG9y6Kc-dHe52CyaZjls3uklcSvHU-zdqNPCOUgCW1oigNZltsnqjnyVo55HWzxGW_nb_y08WRuBghyqcvA480b3ivpSekVDWxuDnfCz3YNXHcbQUVP3V0PL1hCb3nb05Xl8tg/s1024/merlin_205588008_a5c738a3-4f48-4167-a8cc-8fd2bea42eaf-jumbo.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYH655ZkLZUVyRgwU7Xiw6wStf2zb4cht4aY5pNyXt5lHfdWXhOLFCG9y6Kc-dHe52CyaZjls3uklcSvHU-zdqNPCOUgCW1oigNZltsnqjnyVo55HWzxGW_nb_y08WRuBghyqcvA480b3ivpSekVDWxuDnfCz3YNXHcbQUVP3V0PL1hCb3nb05Xl8tg/s320/merlin_205588008_a5c738a3-4f48-4167-a8cc-8fd2bea42eaf-jumbo.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press) </i><p></p><p>At the moment, the Golden State Warriors are up 3-1 on the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It's the only Western Conference series that's clearly going in favor of one team. The top-seeded Suns are being pushed to the brink by the eight-seeded Pelicans tied 2-2 in their series; the two-seeded Grizzlies are up 3-2 on the seven-seeded Timberwolves after winning 111-109 tonight; and the five-seeded Jazz will look to force a game seven on Thursday against the Mavericks. </p><p>The Warriors are on cruise control right now and assuming they advance, they'll face either a Grizzlies team that got pushed to the brink of elimination or an up and coming Timberwolves team that doesn't seem ready to reach the conference finals. And then who knows who'd be waiting for them in the conference finals if they get there. Even if it's the Suns and <b>Devin Booker </b>is back, the Warriors have more championship experience. And that's really the whole point here. The Warriors are the only team in the entire Western Conference playoffs who have proven championship DNA. Everyone else for one reason or another can be called into question. </p><p>This isn't to say the Warriors are perfect or that they don't have their flaws. They do. There's a reason they didn't get the top seed in the West. But when looking around the rest of the conference, it's hard to not look at the Warriors and think they should be favored to come out on top.<b> Stephen Curry</b> is back, <b>Klay Thompson</b> is back, <b>Draymond Green</b> is healthy, and<b> Jordan Poole</b> is a rising star. They have their core championship unit intact and appear to be heating up at the right time. </p><p>As of this moment, I believe the path to an NBA title out West goes through Golden State. Their overall body of work speaks for itself and nobody else in the conference appears ready to grab the bull by the horns and take control. It'll be interesting to see if Golden State goes on to win the West rather unopposed or if some worthy challenger out of all these other struggling teams will emerge. </p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p><p><i>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-70936297490795823562022-01-15T23:55:00.000-08:002022-01-15T23:55:05.710-08:00Saturday Slam: Can the Portland Trail Blazers withstand Damian Lillard's absence? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4z8PDVZwvr5_4uxtU3NjVbmq-YgNC19jt1Kb8vmpsysVz_8fmJry1DXVvdT8eycwiMO8qzqSJR5ThjzkGQL_aVXk1RC5OzISwR-bXgd1NePCI2ZOQyxSBF0zojyeoQ0QXlBG2TjoWPJ1Sy-fLNy4aChykJAnKc_uFmiTI4H7vCOdVxK5faAhVFV2UNA=s648" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="648" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4z8PDVZwvr5_4uxtU3NjVbmq-YgNC19jt1Kb8vmpsysVz_8fmJry1DXVvdT8eycwiMO8qzqSJR5ThjzkGQL_aVXk1RC5OzISwR-bXgd1NePCI2ZOQyxSBF0zojyeoQ0QXlBG2TjoWPJ1Sy-fLNy4aChykJAnKc_uFmiTI4H7vCOdVxK5faAhVFV2UNA=s320" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) </i><p></p><p>Earlier this week, Portland Trail Blazers superstar <b>Damian Lillard</b> underwent abdominal surgery. The team announced that he will be re-evaluated in six weeks, though he could be out as long as eight weeks or even longer. After averaging 30.0 points per game in the 2019-20 season and 28.8 points per game in the 2020-21 season, Lillard has regressed a bit this year in his production, averaging 24.0 points per game. The last season he averaged fewer than 25 points per game was his third season in the NBA (21.0 points per game), so for his standards this is quite a drop off. </p><p>If you are the Blazers, you have to hope that by undergoing this surgery, that'll help Lillard get back to his old self where he was averaging 28+ points a night. Lillard hasn't felt healthy all season long. It's clear that his production has suffered. </p><p>While this surgery is good for Lillard and the Blazers long-term, this does hurt them in the short-term. They are 10th place in the Western Conference standings right now at 17-25, just .5 game up on Sacramento. With Lillard out, it does look unlikely that they'll hang onto the 10 seed, which means that when he comes back (assuming he does come back this season), they're likely going to be on the outside looking in of the Western Conference play-in tournament. </p><p>If the Trail Blazers are to have any hope of making the play-in tournament and making a run in the playoffs, they're going to need shooting guard <b>C.J. McCollum </b>(20.6 points) and swingman <b>Norman Powell </b>(18.6 points) to really step up. If those guys can get going and pick up the slack, it's possible the Trail Blazers hang around and don't fall too far in the standings. </p><p>Speaking of McCollum, he is expected to be back Monday against the Magic per <b>Shams Charania</b> of The Athletic after being out with a collapsed lung that he suffered on December 4th against the Celtics. So that's one piece of good news for the Trail Blazers. </p><p>Ultimately, it'll be interesting to see how the Trail Blazers look without Lillard and whether or not they'll be able to stay afloat. He's by far their most important piece and when he's not on the floor, they're nowhere near the type of team that they know they are capable of being. Going on without him will be an uphill battle, but it's the cards they've been dealt. They have no choice but to solider on as best they can. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0Mountain View, CA, USA37.3860517 -122.08385119.0758178638211575 -157.2401011 65.696285536178848 -86.9276011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-1477596007903124342022-01-08T20:42:00.000-08:002022-01-08T20:42:44.957-08:00Saturday Slam: Klay Thompson's return is huge for the Golden State Warriors and fun for the NBA <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsKWkaPw7tPfpXUbeD1RWYn5t-lgr3j-LjXvMTtNi6oBc6m2D1DBNw-Dq8fpPCIXfeXfbw8vMYBcFdwf8UgaatUqs8qrPDxqB-qkj0AWABsJ2Kej2A1EgndUgCS8FGaBffwaTSqTK2_uYMiQBS6854wwA_TlB9_IDZdBgpk-9U4se-GoB-egQozsD1vQ=s318" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsKWkaPw7tPfpXUbeD1RWYn5t-lgr3j-LjXvMTtNi6oBc6m2D1DBNw-Dq8fpPCIXfeXfbw8vMYBcFdwf8UgaatUqs8qrPDxqB-qkj0AWABsJ2Kej2A1EgndUgCS8FGaBffwaTSqTK2_uYMiQBS6854wwA_TlB9_IDZdBgpk-9U4se-GoB-egQozsD1vQ" width="318" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP Images) </i><p></p><p>The long awaited return of Golden State Warriors shooting guard <b>Klay Thompson</b> is finally here. After being out for over 900 days due to a torn ACL and a torn Achilles, Thompson will make his return on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 season due to his ACL and then missed the entire 2020-21 season due to his Achilles. To say the least, it's been a while since we've seen him play in an NBA game. </p><p>For the Warriors, the return of Thompson is huge. He's one of the greatest shooters the NBA has ever seen, cut out of the <b>Ray Allen</b>/<b>Reggie Miller </b>cloth as a lethal shooter in catch and shoot situations. He moves really well without the ball and if you give him any space, he'll hit a three in your face. In the 2018-19 season, Thompson averaged 21.5 points per game on 46.7% shooting from the field, 40.2% shooting from 3-point range, and 81.6% shooting from the foul line. He was an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season and he was just starting to enter the prime of his career before going down with two bad injuries. If he's able to get back to that form or close to it, he'll be a very nice boost to a Warriors team that is 29-9 and looking to get back to the NBA Finals. </p><p>As for the NBA at large, it's just fun to have Klay back. He's a really fun player to watch and has one of the better personalities in the league. He has a bit of a dry sense of humor and is laid back while also being very lethal on the court. As good as <b>Stephen Curry</b> is, I think we've all missed seeing Curry play with Thompson by his side. The Splash Brothers as they have been called, are now back as a duo and the league will be better for it. </p><p>In terms of what we can realistically expect from Thompson, it's probably fair to expect him to be a bit rusty at first. He needs to get back into game conditioning and it could take him a little bit of time to find his rhythm. But in time, I do expect him to get back to being one of the best shooters in the league and who knows, maybe he'll surprise me and get off to a great start on Sunday. Regardless, I'm glad he's back and I hope he's able to stay healthy going forward. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-50178554081442535032021-08-14T11:51:00.001-07:002021-08-14T11:51:37.251-07:00Saturday Slam: Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo has solidified himself as an all-time great <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4qSORPe5-Uz00DnE4PYdCEQZwZpkMyUwXF4_kUngTqjLffGJf66X5hP9qkdNz4XIQvunAnAygcro7Q1l-gpe1bVwPSTJrE5jeJG3Y0F1Jzl6KLYE7bkcHIdCKtlqDAu5tdFPI9B2VX8o/s770/giannis-antetokounmpo-milwaukee-bucks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4qSORPe5-Uz00DnE4PYdCEQZwZpkMyUwXF4_kUngTqjLffGJf66X5hP9qkdNz4XIQvunAnAygcro7Q1l-gpe1bVwPSTJrE5jeJG3Y0F1Jzl6KLYE7bkcHIdCKtlqDAu5tdFPI9B2VX8o/s320/giannis-antetokounmpo-milwaukee-bucks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: Getty Images) </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>Before I shift my focus to the 2021-22 season, free agency, and all that good stuff, I want to stop and smell the flowers a bit by reflecting more on what <b>Giannis Antetokounmpo </b>has accomplished this past season. The young Milwaukee Bucks star brought back an NBA championship to Milwaukee for the first time in 50 years by taking out the <b>Chris Paul/Devin Booker</b> led Phoenix Suns in six games. In those six games, Antetokounmpo averaged a jaw-dropping 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game en route to an NBA Finals MVP trophy. </p><p>Immediately after securing the championship, Antetokounmpo was overcome with emotion. Tears were flowing down his face. You could tell that he was still processing everything that was happening around him. After he was able to compose himself and do an interview, he remarked that even if he never wins another NBA championship in Milwaukee, at least he got one. He accomplished the mission that he set out to accomplish. </p><p>I would like to take Antetokounmpo's comment a step further. By winning this one championship in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo has solidified himself as an all-time great. I don't know where he ranks among the greatest of the greats and quite honestly, it's too early to say where he ranks given that his career is far from over. But regardless of where he stacks up, it's safe to say that he is now one of the games' greatest all-time players. </p><p>In this NBA Finals, we saw it all come together for "The Greek Freak." He was basically score at will inside, he was making huge defensive plays, he was crashing the boards, and was the most dominant player all series long. The only real weak spot for him was the foul shooting and 3-point shooting, but he was able to overcome those weaknesses by being such a dominant force inside the 3-point line and around the basket. When you got the physical gifts that he has and are able to put it together like he did inside, foul shooting and 3-point shooting don't become a huge concern. </p><p>What makes this all the more impressive is this was his first trip to the NBA Finals. It would have been easy for him to choke and cave under the pressure given this was his first time on this big of a stage. Many of the all-time greats have done it themselves. Instead, he rose to the challenge and delivered a sublime performance that few have rivaled. </p><p>Perhaps the best part of this whole story is how this all began for Antetokounmpo: Far away in Greece, first discovered as an intriguing yet raw talent picked 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. Nobody saw him becoming the all-time great that he is today. I'm not even sure if he saw it coming. Yet with hard work, humility, and a commitment to keep getting better each and every day, Antetokounmpo has seen the fruits of his labors deliver the goods in a big-time way. </p><p>While I have no doubt that this is only the beginning for Antetokounmpo and that he has the potential to win several more championships, I think it's important to reiterate that regardless of what happens from here on out, Antetokounmpo has emerged as one the greatest players to ever play the game. He brought an NBA championship back to a city that was long thirsting for one and he did so with humility, class, and pure greatness. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-38922569823967015472021-07-04T22:00:00.000-07:002021-07-04T22:00:05.034-07:002021 NBA Finals Preview: Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8RqGxqEf2hiAZIB_U07HCSLDFG2XyF60Z72TSRVLV51YEUYtZUMF-Qyw1p-A-qdWGlB-8vsGoMJUufpHfwWEPdwDZKuZGsyosN0aoJBBCTtp5rx5qKEezdsaKmoMV9AZgAqe5nv06hbb/s300/Unknown-18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8RqGxqEf2hiAZIB_U07HCSLDFG2XyF60Z72TSRVLV51YEUYtZUMF-Qyw1p-A-qdWGlB-8vsGoMJUufpHfwWEPdwDZKuZGsyosN0aoJBBCTtp5rx5qKEezdsaKmoMV9AZgAqe5nv06hbb/s0/Unknown-18.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> <i> (Credit: clutchpoints.com) </i><p></p><p>The 2021 NBA Finals begins on Tuesday and will feature a matchup that nobody on earth predicted at the start of the season: Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks. It's been a crazy journey for both of these teams to reach this point. Starting with the Suns, they took out the Lakers, Nuggets, and then Clippers to win the Western Conference crown. The Lakers were hobbled due to <b>Anthony Davis </b>not being at full strength, making them a vulnerable opponent. The Nuggets were without their star <b>Jamal Murray</b>, but they did have 2021 NBA MVP <b>Nikola Jokic</b> on their side. Jokic just wasn't able to do it all on his own in the end. As for the Clippers, <b>Paul George </b>and co. put up a real fight, but the absence of <b>Kawhi Leonard</b> also proved to be too much. </p><p>As for the Bucks, they went through the Heat, Nets, and Hawks. The Heat were led by <b>Jimmy Butler </b>like last year, but they weren't able to recapture the magic they had in the bubble a year ago. The Nets had injury issues of their own with <b>Kyrie Irving</b> and <b>James Harden </b>missing some time. <b>Kevin Durant</b> played incredible basketball, but once again, it's a team sport and one man can't do it all on his own. As for the Hawks, they played really well as a team and had <b>Trae Young </b>not gotten injured, they might have reached the NBA Finals. </p><p>The commonality in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference brackets is that injuries played a big role in how things turned out. However, that isn't to say that the Suns and Bucks didn't have injury issues of their own. The Suns had to deal with <b>Chris Paul </b>missing action due to COVID protocols and <b>Devin Booker</b> had a busted nose. As for the Bucks, they've been without <b>Giannis Antetokounmpo</b> for the last two games due to a hyperextended knee and while there is no structural damage to his knee, it is unclear when he'll be back. Hopefully for Tuesday's Game 1. </p><p>Ultimately, when looking at this upcoming Suns/Bucks series, a lot hinges on the health of Antetokounmpo. If he's healthy, the Bucks have a real shot to knock off the Suns due to their depth, length, and 3-point shooting. <b>Khris Middleton </b>has been a really nice number two option for them, shooting it well from the perimeter and giving Giannis the help that he needs. On top of that, veteran big man <b>Brook Lopez </b>and veteran guard <b>Jrue Holiday</b> have been playing well. The pieces around Antetokounmpo are definitely there. But he has to be present. </p><p>As for the Suns, they appear to be pretty healthy right now. Paul is back from his COVID hiatus and while having a busted nose isn't fun, Booker hasn't been affected much by it. He also seems to pretty much be back from the injury anyways. Big man <b>Deandre Ayton </b>is getting it done inside (E.g. Valley-oop) and is giving the Suns the interior presence that they need. </p><p>At this point, I do have to give the Suns the edge to win this series. They're the healthier team at the moment and they do have home court advantage. The NBA championship goes through Phoenix and not Milwaukee. Plus, it just feels like it's Chris Paul's time. He's paid his dues and he has the entire Suns team playing really good basketball. Everyone is feeding off his energy and I think everyone is extra fueled by the possibility of helping the great CP3 finally get a ring. </p><p>In regard to how many games this series goes, I think if Giannis is able to go for the entire series, Suns win in 7. If he misses multiple games, then we could be looking at Suns in 5 or 6 games. After seeing such an injury ridden NBA playoffs, it would be nice to at least have an NBA Finals that features the best players of both teams. Hopefully the basketball world gets what they want. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-25017816599662051752021-06-05T16:18:00.000-07:002021-06-05T16:18:10.547-07:00Saturday Slam: Making sense of the Clippers-Mavericks series <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYc5uiFC0QNT7s0ucxa2tNcqsCG-GqSKS01myr0tsVVTQ9gxvmVNMV4T5iaaNr_kBMxxqQ6wJTCc4rADJUrP3Pt9g-FHD7B4NgdfzwSW-H5j5tnBxnXPAl33uJ2CvYZp3-6y79arh5L-H/s299/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYc5uiFC0QNT7s0ucxa2tNcqsCG-GqSKS01myr0tsVVTQ9gxvmVNMV4T5iaaNr_kBMxxqQ6wJTCc4rADJUrP3Pt9g-FHD7B4NgdfzwSW-H5j5tnBxnXPAl33uJ2CvYZp3-6y79arh5L-H/s0/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> <i> (Credit: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p>The NBA more than any other pro sports league values home court/field advantage. But in this year's first round Western Conference series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks, home court advantage has become home court disadvantage as the road team has won the first six games. This is the first time this has happened in NBA playoff history. Game 7 will be on Sunday in Los Angeles, which I guess means the Mavericks should be favored. In this blog post, I want to quickly analyze what has happened in this series and what we can expect to happen on Sunday. </p><p>The Mavericks won Game 1 113-103 in Los Angeles behind 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists from <b>Luka Doncic</b>. 21 points from <b>Tim Hardaway, Jr. </b>and 18 points from <b>Dorian Finney-Smith</b>, both of whom also start, made a difference as well as 15 points off the bench from <b>Jalen Brunson</b>. For the Clippers, <b>Kawhi Leonard </b>(26 points) and <b>Paul George</b> (23 points) stepped up, but they didn't get enough help. As a team, the Mavericks made 17 three-pointers, while the Clippers made 11. That seemed to make a pretty big difference in the game. </p><p>Going on to Game 2, the Mavericks once again won, though this time it was closer (127-121). Doncic exploded for 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while Hardaway, Jr. (28 points & 5 assists) and <b>Kristaps Porzingis </b>(20 points) had big nights as well. For the Clippers, it was more of the same: A huge night from Leonard (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) and a double-double from George (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists) while not getting much help from anyone else. 18 made threes from the Mavericks and 13 made threes from the Clippers made a difference similar to Game 1. </p><p>Game 3 went the Clippers' way as the series shifted to Dallas by a final score of 118-108. The Clippers got down 30-11 in the first quarter, but found a way to bounce back. I had pronounced them dead, but they proved me wrong.</p><p>Leonard (36 points) and George (29 points) once again had big nights, but this time it was the role guys that stepped up. <b>Reggie Jackson</b>'s 16 points and <b>Marcus Morris</b>' 15 points were just what the doctor ordered. Meanwhile for the Mavericks, it was basically Luka Doncic going wild with 44 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists without much from anyone else. </p><p>The Mavericks' three-point shooting was hot again as they made 20 threes, to the Clippers' 13, so in that vein it's a little odd they didn't win Game 3. But, the Clippers did outbound them 39-33 and also shot 57.9% from the field compared to the Mavericks' 44.2%, so three-point shooting obviously isn't everything in this series. </p><p>In Game 4, the Clippers won big 106-81 to tie the series up 2-2. Leonard's 29 points and George's 20 points led the way. Doncic had a quiet 19 points and he was the top scorer for the Mavericks. So, this game wasn't really all that competitive. </p><p>In Game 5, the Mavericks stole back home court, winning by a final score of 105-100. Doncic exploded for 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists while Hardaway, Jr. chipped in 20 points. Leonard didn't have his best outing as he had 20 points. George was the top performer with his 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson (20 points) and Morris (16 points) played pretty well, but Leonard having an off-night relative to his standards did the Clippers in. </p><p>In Game 6, the Clippers won 104-97 to force a Game 7 as Leonard really took the team on his back with 45 points and 6 rebounds, his best performance of the series. George also had a nice night with 20 points and 13 rebounds while Jackson had a series high 25 points. As for the Mavericks, Doncic had 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists, which is very good performance while Hardaway, Jr. had 23 points. The problem for the Mavericks is nobody else really stepped up. </p><p>So, that's where things sit as we head into Sunday's series deciding Game 7. As far as what we can learn from the first six games, it's clear that star power is key. When Kawhi Leonard goes off and is the best player in the game, the Clippers win. When Luka Doncic is the top performer and goes off, the Mavericks win. It also seems like when those guys get going for their respective teams, their teammates feed off that and play better as a result. </p><p>What does help Leonard is the presence of George, who for the most part has been a pretty reliable number two option. Doncic doesn't have that same number two guy who he can consistently depend on, but if there were to be such a guy on the Mavericks, it would be Hardaway, Jr. who has played pretty well this series. </p><p>As far as my prediction is concerned, obviously anything can happen in a Game 7 and we are in uncharted waters here as it's the first Game 7 in NBA playoffs history where the road team has won every game in the series. So, it's hard to just pick the Clippers to win Game 7 because they are at home. </p><p>That said, I do think the Clippers will win Game 7. Not because they are at home but because they are the slightly better team. If Leonard can go wild and George does his regular thing, that should be enough for the Clippers to win provided they get decent support from their role players. Doncic has to do more for his team and I think that's starting to wear on him a bit as the series goes on. But once again, anything can happen. The Mavericks winning certainly wouldn't surprise me. It's going to be fun to see how this one plays out! </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-62883094380827378822021-05-22T02:13:00.002-07:002021-05-22T02:16:53.729-07:00Saturday Slam: 10 things to look for in the 2021 NBA Playoffs <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_oymyUq86F_0KTztxjzYdVhfGk7y5tX8dESDOIy0elgrs9JjjkXO6C-hoDUyy3via3f1BYoUv4JHGaDArcroV9Gukz9LDlPIFDTdbS6RxKj3B-yLQNSLpTuKxnTxvPDaUpLEcUAB9Vb7/s300/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_oymyUq86F_0KTztxjzYdVhfGk7y5tX8dESDOIy0elgrs9JjjkXO6C-hoDUyy3via3f1BYoUv4JHGaDArcroV9Gukz9LDlPIFDTdbS6RxKj3B-yLQNSLpTuKxnTxvPDaUpLEcUAB9Vb7/s0/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div> <i> (Credit: NBA.com) </i><p></p><p>The 2021 NBA Playoffs are now here. After a fun and exciting play-in tournament, the bracket is fully filled in. Out West, the #1 overall seeded Utah Jazz will take on the #8 Memphis Grizzlies, the #2 Phoenix Suns will take on the #7 Los Angeles Lakers, the #3 Denver Nuggets will face the #6 Portland Trail Blazers, and the #4 Los Angeles Clippers will face the #5 Dallas Mavericks. In the East, the #1 Philadelphia 76ers will face the #8 Washington Wizards, the #2 Brooklyn Nets will face the #7 Boston Celtics, the #3 Milwaukee Bucks will face the #6 Miami Heat, and the #4 New York Knicks will face the #5 Atlanta Hawks. Action will start on Saturday. </p><p>I'm starting something new this year by writing 10 things to look for in the NBA playoffs. I've done this over at my tennis blog ATPGuy.com (click <a href="https://atpguy.blogspot.com" target="_blank">here</a> to check that out) to preview grand slams and I think it's been a pretty effective type of blog post. So now I'm going to start doing it for the NBA playoffs as well! Enjoy! </p><p><b>#1. Can the Utah Jazz silence the haters? </b>Despite having the best record in the NBA, the Utah Jazz still have plenty of doubters and haters. Part of this has to do with the fact that the Jazz have never won an NBA championship and also the fact that relative to other superstars, <b>Donovan Mitchell</b> and <b>Rudy Gobert </b>kinda fly under the radar. This is in part because they play in Utah but also because a big reason for the Jazz' success is the fact that they don't overly rely on Mitchell and Gobert. This is why they were able to hang onto the best record in the NBA despite Mitchell being out for approximately one month due to an ankle injury. </p><p>While they lack the star power that most top seeds usually have, the Jazz do make it up with their depth and unselfishness. They know how to play as a team and how to play off each other's strengths to maximize what they have. </p><p>Donovan Mitchell has been averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on the season, so by no means can they win the title without him. They absolutely need him healthy. If he's able to go with little issues, the Jazz could shock the world and win the NBA title. They play basketball the right way, have a great home court advantage, and I also think they're motivated by the fact that everyone is counting them out. </p><p><i>Note: I also shared this on my Utah Jazz blog. Click <a href="https://utahjazz406.blogspot.com/2021/05/can-utah-jazz-silence-haters.html" target="_blank">here</a> to check that out if you are a Jazz fan. </i></p><p><b>#2. Can the Philadelphia 76ers back up their #1 seed out East? </b>I feel like the 76ers have more respect than the Jazz because of the presence of <b>Joel Embiid</b> (28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks), but they too have a lot to prove. They haven't been to the NBA Finals since the 2000-01 season in which <b>Allen Iverson</b> disrespected <b>Tyronn Lue</b> in Game 1 and in general, have found ways to fold in the playoffs over the years. </p><p>Given that Joel Embiid is considered by many to be the best player in the game right now, one can actually argue there's even more pressure on the 76ers than the Jazz. The good news for the 76ers is their draw is pretty friendly. They get the Wizards in round one and then the winner of the Knicks/Hawks series in round two. There's no reason the 76ers shouldn't at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals and in that series, they would have home court advantage. So, count me in as picking the 76ers to win the East. I do think if they faced off against the Brooklyn Nets, they'd find a way to pull it out. Assuming everyone stays healthy of course. </p><p><b>#3. Can LeBron James will the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship again? </b>The Lakers do not have any easy path to the NBA Finals at all. They are the #7 seed and have to face a very difficult Phoenix Suns team in round one. Even if they win that series, they'd still have to go through the Nuggets and Jazz assuming the brackets hold to get back to the NBA Finals. </p><p>Honestly, I think the Lakers should feel reasonably confident in their abilities to go the distance since they won it all last year and also the fact that the only reason they're seeded so low is because LeBron took a lot of time off to rest his ankle. With everyone now back, they should feel ready to rock and roll. </p><p>As for the part about LeBron willing them specifically, I do think LeBron will need to get a little help from his friends. Namely <b>Anthony Davis</b>, who is the #2 option on this team. LeBron will need to play a big role of course, but he can't do it all by himself. It'll take a team effort like it did last year. </p><p><b>#4. Can the Brooklyn Nets stay healthy? </b>If they can stay healthy, the Brooklyn Nets should be favored to come out of the East. I mean, they got <b>Kevin Durant</b>, <b>Kyrie Irving</b>, and <b>James Harden</b>. That's a killer trio to go up against. The issue though is health: Kevin Durant played in just 32 games this year, James Harden played in 44 games (36 with the Nets), and Kyrie Irving surprisingly played the most out of the bunch at 54. The fact that they still found a way to finish #2 in the East is pretty impressive when you consider the lack of cohesiveness they've had all season. If the Nets can stay healthy, one has to like their odds. If not, it'll likely be the 76ers or some other team. </p><p>One other question mark for the Nets is their defense. Durant, Irving, and Harden are known for their offense, but not their defense. While their defense has been good enough in the regular season, they'll have to step it up a notch come playoff time. It'll be interesting to see if that part comes together for them as well. </p><p><b>#5. Can the Los Angeles Clippers figure it out? </b>On paper, the Los Angeles Clippers are really dangerous. <b>Kawhi Leonard</b> and <b>Paul George</b> form a really good one-two punch and they have plenty of depth with<b> Marcus Morri</b>s, <b>Lou Williams</b>, <b>Serge Ibaka</b>, <b>Rajon Rondo</b>, and others. But for whatever reason, these guys finished 4th in the Western Conference and weren't able to have a more productive regular season. It'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to hit the reset button in the playoffs or if they'll once again disappoint. </p><p><b>#6. Can the Miami Heat recapture the magic from last year? </b>The Miami Heat had a pretty improbable run to the NBA Finals last year and once again, they find the odds stacked against them as they are the #6 seed in the East. It'll be interesting to see if the Heat can find their mojo once again and recapture the Eastern Conference crown as a lower seeded team. So long as <b>Jimmy Butler</b> and <b>Tyler Herro</b> stay healthy, they got a shot. </p><p><b>#7. Can the Phoenix Suns prove that they're for real? </b>The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a similar situation as the Utah Jazz. They have the second best record in the NBA and yet nobody thinks they got much of a shot to go all the way. <b>Chris Paul </b>has had an MVP worthy season (click<a href="https://nbalord.blogspot.com/2021/05/should-phoenix-suns-chris-paul-win-mvp.html" target="_blank"> here</a> for my blog post on that) while <b>Devin Booker</b> (25.6 points per game) is one of the most dangerous scorers in the game. If they weren't in a small market, more people would take them seriously. Just like the Jazz. Hopefully they too will be able to prove their fantastic regular season was no fluke. </p><p><b>#8. Can Jayson Tatum carry the Boston Celtics past the first round? </b>Without <b>Jaylen Brown</b>, the Boston Celtics are in a lot of trouble right now and yet they still got a pulse, even if it's very faint. We've seen <b>Jayson Tatum</b> have some big nights and carry the Celtics on his back. Doing that in the playoffs is a different animal, but I think Tatum is eager to find out how far he can push himself. While I do see the Nets winning the series, Tatum could give them more trouble than they bargained for. </p><p><b>#9. Can the Denver Nuggets make a deep run without Jamal Murray? </b>With <b>Jamal Murray</b> done for the season due to a torn ACL, many people have written the Denver Nuggets off, though the team hasn't exactly gotten the memo. They are third in the West and <b>Nikola Jokic</b> is the front runner to win MVP. It'll be interesting to see just how far Jokic can lead this Nuggets team and whether or not they'll be able to sneak into the Western Conference Finals. Or maybe deeper. </p><p><b>#10. Are the Milwaukee Bucks still contenders? </b>With <b>Giannis Antetokounmpo</b>, one has to think the Milwaukee Bucks are serious contenders once again. The Greek Freak is averaging 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, doing everything for his team as always. And yet, they took a step back this year, finishing third in the East after having the best record in basketball a year ago. It feels like people are sleeping on this Bucks team when perhaps they shouldn't. It'll be fun to see if the Bucks are able to make some noise and finish the job they should have completed a season ago. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-15637772135312263352021-05-11T19:51:00.000-07:002021-05-11T19:51:46.509-07:00Tomahawk Tuesday: Should Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul win MVP? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEdCPL-Kp0iCWDs6RAHH4j4xirkY0WB1ZnbUw0cdx77r190xBswuxAVK5l33Tn9Ds-YjkTeF7bYq61WiABLzSojmdv2tq5qQIQAR1P2d0CdeSx3sG9e812h9KNHyIykf_QsprAaoO-Eeq/s920/usa_today_15584520.0.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEdCPL-Kp0iCWDs6RAHH4j4xirkY0WB1ZnbUw0cdx77r190xBswuxAVK5l33Tn9Ds-YjkTeF7bYq61WiABLzSojmdv2tq5qQIQAR1P2d0CdeSx3sG9e812h9KNHyIykf_QsprAaoO-Eeq/s320/usa_today_15584520.0.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>Last season, the Phoenix Suns finished 10th in the Western Conference with a 34-39 record, just good enough to make the cutoff for the NBA bubble, where they went 8-0. One year later, the Suns are now 48-20, 1.5 games back of the Utah Jazz for best record in the NBA. When looking at the Suns' offseason, the one move that clearly stands out is their acquisition of <b>Chris Paul</b> via trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. </p><p>Paul is having a fabulous season doing what he always does: Making those around him better. Paul is averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game on 49.2% shooting from the field, 39.3% shooting from 3-point range, and 93.1% shooting from the foul line. He's having a very efficient season and appears to be just what the doctor ordered for the Suns in terms of elevating them into contender status. </p><p>Truth be told, nobody saw the acquisition of Paul paying off like this for the Suns. I think most were in agreement that he'd certainly make them better, but second-best record in the NBA? Nobody saw that coming. </p><p>As far as his MVP candidacy is concerned, I think a really strong case can be made for Paul. The MVP historically has been a combination of both team and individual achievement. The formula is basically as follows: Team success + perceived impact on that team success= MVP. If you want to make the formula a little fancier, you can subtract pre-season expectations of the team. </p><p>That is to say, if everyone thought your team was going to be really good anyways, that doesn't help your case as much. Whereas if everyone thought your team was going to suck and they don't, that helps your case. The higher the expectations, the more it takes away from your MVP candidacy. I hope that math all makes sense! </p><p>In the case of Paul, when using that formula to calculate his MVP odds, the end results end up looking pretty good for him. The Suns didn't have super high expectations going into the season, they ended up crushing those expectations by flirting with the best record in the NBA, and Paul has clearly played a big hand in their success. That all adds up to a strong MVP case. </p><p>Does that mean he'll win it? Not necessarily. Denver Nuggets big man <b>Nikola Jokic </b>is the consensus front runner for how he's kept his team afloat during the absence of <b>Jamal Murray</b>. When Murray went down, everyone assumed the Nuggets' goose was cooked. Instead, they are 45-24, just 3.5 games back of the Suns. Jokic has been a major reason for why the Nuggets are at where they are at, making his MVP candidacy quite strong as well. </p><p>Ultimately, I would love to see Paul win the award. Just because he has really paid his dues and historically, he doesn't get enough respect. When talking about the best point guards in NBA history, Paul too often gets overlooked. Part of that is his consistency and commitment to his team. He doesn't create any drama and he's always just out there doing his thing. Guys like that are easy to cheer for and deserving of whatever awards come their way. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></b> <i> </i></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-74139046066351207662021-04-27T16:45:00.000-07:002021-04-27T16:45:33.505-07:00Tomahawk Tuesday: How concerned should the Los Angeles Lakers be right now? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ1eeb19wGI6HIcf5jfdZF_I9bjfxpV6fVoa9Ko01gfgNkb3Y5s2DbWqlXxN-vmQh8OoLGtsGLo7vnkkrXyR2LSG_6NJ1GvXSGQn4dd4KqeVx47lx-ihwdfbA8pUZHsMo1KixMC4FPGcD/s284/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ1eeb19wGI6HIcf5jfdZF_I9bjfxpV6fVoa9Ko01gfgNkb3Y5s2DbWqlXxN-vmQh8OoLGtsGLo7vnkkrXyR2LSG_6NJ1GvXSGQn4dd4KqeVx47lx-ihwdfbA8pUZHsMo1KixMC4FPGcD/s0/imgres.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 5th in the Western Conference standings, 8 games back of the top seeded Utah Jazz, 7 games back of the Phoenix Suns, 6 games back of their inner city rivals Los Angeles Clippers, and 4 games back of the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers have slipped back in the standings due to <b>LeBron James</b> (ankle) and <b>Anthony Davis</b> (calf) missing extended periods of time. James has played in 41 games this season while Davis has played in 26. Fortunately for the Lakers, Davis is now back, having played three games since his return. But James' return date is still up in the air. </p><p>To the question at hand, the Lakers should be moderately concerned right now, but there's no reason to panic. They're the defending champs and at full strength, they should be favored to come out of the Western Conference. All four of the teams ahead of them are teams that have never won an NBA championship, which means all four of those teams still have a lot to prove. </p><p>On top of that, some of those teams ahead of them are dealing with injury issues of their own. The Jazz have had to play without <b>Donovan Mitchell</b> for the past 10+ days or so due to his ankle injury and the Nuggets have lost <b>Jamal Murray</b> for the season due to a torn ACL. The Suns' <b>Chris Paul </b>has had injury issues in the past and the Clippers' <b>Paul George</b> likewise has found ways to get hurt in the playoffs. So, everyone is dealing with injuries right now or at least has the threat of injuries hurting their seasons. </p><p>That all said, the Lakers still find themselves in a tricky spot. If they stay at the 5 spot, they'll likely have to win the championship without home court advantage in every series they play in. Home court advantage is crucial in the NBA and to not have it puts your team at a real disadvantage. Plus, they have no shot at winning the title without James and Davis healthy. If those guys go down again come playoff time, it's game over. </p><p>I'm confident that James will be fine in the playoffs. He's rarely shut down like this and I suspect part of this is just being overly cautious for the playoffs. But Davis has had real injury issues for his entire career, which is why I was skeptical of their title chances a year ago. So, he's definitely one to watch throughout the duration of the season. </p><p>The bottom line is the Lakers still are the slight favorites to come out of the Western Conference in my book, but they have their work cut out for them and none of the teams ahead of them are going to back down without putting up a real fight. The Jazz, Suns, and Clippers in particular see an opening here and have to be motivated to see a wounded Lakers team currently chasing them. It'll be interesting to see how they finish the season and whether or not the Lakers will be able to gain some ground before the playoffs start. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-16761972862930429652021-04-17T15:58:00.000-07:002021-04-17T15:58:20.517-07:00Saturday Slam: Stephen Curry has solidified himself as the greatest Warrior <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMKZZKEIO4LlD2-HB2uhnR4QqNeeAcsz-6Zil2_DSPmKwVJ4bSZVh8XEHRp7heHzXyqtrUkmPN9M0_ytW-L9YZQJO3aZT_KKYQ-KeXG2uwDmCpC1q15mgDe8woHhSCcs4B8lz6CQcOxo2/s920/usa_today_15886688.0.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMKZZKEIO4LlD2-HB2uhnR4QqNeeAcsz-6Zil2_DSPmKwVJ4bSZVh8XEHRp7heHzXyqtrUkmPN9M0_ytW-L9YZQJO3aZT_KKYQ-KeXG2uwDmCpC1q15mgDe8woHhSCcs4B8lz6CQcOxo2/s320/usa_today_15886688.0.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div> <i>(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) </i><p></p><p>Not that there was much doubt about who the greatest player in Golden State Warriors history was before this week, <b>Stephen Curry</b> passed <b>Wilt Chamberlain</b> on Monday night to become the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 53 points in a 116-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Becoming the all-time leading scorer in franchise history is fitting for Curry as he has led the organization to three NBA championships and been the backbone of the organization for over a decade. The only thing that stood in his way in terms of solidifying himself as the greatest Warrior of all-time was the scoring record and now he has it. </p><p>What makes Curry so amazing is his consistency and his ability to bring it night in, night out. He's not only the greatest player in Warriors history, he's arguably the greatest shooter in NBA history period. The only other players in NBA history who I think give him any sort of run are <b>Reggie Miller</b> and <b>Ray Allen</b> and I'd still pick Curry over both of those guys for best shooter ever. </p><p>The reason why is Curry is such a lethal shooter off the dribble. Both Miller and Allen were at their best in catch and shoot scenarios, whereas Curry is lethal both in catch and shoot and off the dribble situations. If anything, he's even more dangerous off the dribble, which just makes his shooting all the more impressive. </p><p>As one who likes to see basketball played at its highest level, it's truly a gift to have Stephen Curry still out there doing his thing, torching opponents from deep. He literally is the human flame thrower. Some of those shots he throws up are from another planet it seems. Hopefully he'll continue to dazzle us for a very long time. </p><p>Touching quickly on where things sit for the Warriors, they are 28-28 at the moment and rookie big man <b>James Wiseman</b> is done for the year due to surgery on his knee. They are 9th in the Western Conference standings which means they are right in that sweep spot to make the play in tournament for the playoffs (top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, seeds 7-10 go to a play in tournament). So, they still have a shot to make the playoffs, but the odds of them doing any damage are low. Especially with Wiseman now out as well as <b>Klay Thompson</b> still sidelined. </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343688116929375738.post-23695665460919693662021-03-06T19:50:00.001-08:002021-03-06T19:50:47.710-08:00Saturday Slam: Where things sit at the 2021 NBA All-Star Break <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tyCRga4Tr53ztR5ILbxVdtVkEnUfBuq4k8sdfsEdEtDV5r12lPBY9qItH8xQsRsafSe8Mdh0QFtd2hGnK-qWuaRK1J302lGYLB3vYMmEcqfcI4rzFo5XEnIedH_FkXCfXD2vN4PSpbDs/s300/Unknown-80.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tyCRga4Tr53ztR5ILbxVdtVkEnUfBuq4k8sdfsEdEtDV5r12lPBY9qItH8xQsRsafSe8Mdh0QFtd2hGnK-qWuaRK1J302lGYLB3vYMmEcqfcI4rzFo5XEnIedH_FkXCfXD2vN4PSpbDs/s0/Unknown-80.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>2021 NBA All-Star Weekend is here, which means we are at the unofficial halfway mark of the 2020-21 NBA season. I have never done this particular blog post before, but here's to new beginnings! In case you have been out of the loop up until this point, below is a quick breakdown of where things sit in the NBA at the All-Star break. </p><p>Out East, the Philadelphia 76ers are the top ranked team with an impressive 24-12 record. <b>Joel Embiid</b> is getting MVP consideration for the way he's guiding the Sixers and deservedly so. The Brooklyn Nets led by <b>Kevin Durant</b>, <b>James Harden</b>, and <b>Kyrie Irving</b> are in the #2 spot at 24-13, just a half game back. The #3 Milwaukee Bucks led by <b>Giannis Antetokounmpo</b> are at 22-14, just 1.5 games back of the Nets and 2.0 games back of the Sixers. Those three teams are leading the charge out East and honestly, it is anyone's guess of as to which of those three teams will get the top seed in the conference. </p><p>Seeds #4-10 are really close: Boston Celtics (19-17), New York Knicks (19-18), Miami Heat (18-18), Charlotte Hornets (17-18), Toronto Raptors (17-19), Chicago Bulls (16-18), and Indiana Pacers (16-19). This grouping is key because the top six seeds overall in each conference will clinch an automatic berth to the playoffs while seeds 7-10 will play in a wildcard tournament of sorts to determine the final two seeds. </p><p>The rest of the East #11-15 goes as follows: Atlanta Hawks (16-20), Washington Wizards (14-20), Cleveland Cavaliers (14-22), Orlando Magic (13-23), and Detroit Pistons (10-26). Honestly, all of those teams still have a pulse to perhaps get the #10 spot. So, it's going to be interesting to see who out East gets that #10 spot and gives themselves a shot at making the playoffs. </p><p>Out West, it's also looking pretty interesting. The Utah Jazz occupy the top seed and best record in the NBA at 27-9. <b>Donovan Mitchell</b>, <b>Rudy Gobert</b>, and <b>Mike Conley</b> are the three All-Stars from that team. Conley being an injury replacement for Phoenix Suns shooting guard <b>Devin Booker</b>. There was a bit of a controversy this week with Mitchell and Gobert being the last two picks of the All-Star draft despite being on the best team in the league. Personally, I think this will just give those guys more of a reason to be motivated in the second half of the season. </p><p>The #2 seed belongs to the Phoenix Suns at 24-11. I wrote about the Suns earlier this year on here and felt they could be serious contenders, so I'm not at all surprised about them being this high. In addition to Devin Booker, <b>Chris Paul</b> has been a major part of their success. </p><p>The #3 team is the Los Angeles Lakers at 24-13. Many have them as the favorites to come out of the West because of <b>LeBron James</b> and <b>Anthony Davis</b>. If those two guys stay healthy, it's tough to pick against them. </p><p>Seeds #4-6 aren't far behind: Los Angeles Clippers (24-14), Portland Trail Blazers (21-14), and Denver Nuggets (21-15). Honestly, I feel a little bad putting them in a different group. They're right there and certainly could come out of the West. Once again, as a I said above, seeds 7-10 are battling for those two wild card spots if you will. So being #6 is key as it guarantees a playoff spot. </p><p>Seeds #7-10 seem to be in a pretty comfortable spot in terms of at least securing a spot in that wild card tournament: San Antonio Spurs (18-14), Dallas Mavericks (18-16), Golden State Warriors (19-18), and Memphis Grizzlies (16-16). It's even possible one of them or two of them jumps up to the #5/6 spot and avoids the play-in tournament. </p><p>Seeds #11-15 are a bit removed from the rest: New Orleans Pelicans (15-21), Oklahoma City Thunder (15-21), Sacramento Kings (14-22), Houston Rockets (11-23), and Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29). </p><p>In terms of what to watch for and how to make sense of all of this, I think with the East, it's going to be really interesting to see who gets that top seed in the conference. The 76ers, Nets, and Bucks could all get it and whichever team secures that spot will have the inside track to reaching the NBA Finals. </p><p>Many people are picking the Nets to go the distance, but I have some reservations based on the fact that it's tough to elevate yourself into contender status in one season. Let alone win the whole thing. A team that has been gelling more over the last couple of seasons like the Bucks or 76ers is probably a more safe bet at this point, but hey, maybe the Nets will surprise me and get it done. </p><p>Out West, it's all about the Jazz right now and whether or not they can hang onto that top seed and go the distance. A lot of people see them as a great regular season team but are skeptical of their chances to win it all. For the Jazz, it's paramount that they finish with the best record in the league if they want to win the championship. Just because of how tough of a place Salt Lake City is to play in. </p><p>If the Jazz can lock up that home court advantage, they're going to be a really tough out. On top of that, they wouldn't have to see the Lakers until the conference finals in all likelihood. So that's another benefit. Perhaps the Suns knock out the Lakers and they don't see them at all? A lot of what happens out West hinges on whether or not the Jazz can hang onto that top spot. If they do, look out. If not, they're still dangerous, but I wouldn't call them the favorites. </p><p>The wildcard in all this is the Clippers. We know the Lakers are going to be right there and I think the Suns are showing what they can do and are playing up to their max potential. But the Clippers are kinda flying under the radar and not playing as well as they could. If they get their act together, maybe they're a team that can go the distance. </p><p>One other thing to keep an eye on is where <b>Blake Griffin</b> ends up now that the Pistons have released him and bought out his contract. If he indeed ends up with the Nets, that could shake things up even further. You know I'll do a blog post about that if that indeed comes to fruition. </p><p>On that note, enjoy NBA All-Star Weekend and enjoy the second half of the season. It's shaping up to be a wild ride! Lots to look for and get excited about! </p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click <a href="https://twitter.com/nba_lord" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBALordNation/" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><b>To connect with Ben Parker, click <a href="https://twitter.com/slamdunk406" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16115426656481730255noreply@blogger.com0