Wednesday Windmill: Are the Indiana Pacers a healthy Victor Oladipo away from winning the East?

                                          (Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images) 


On Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 105-102 at home, improving to 19-9 overall and 6th in the Eastern Conference. As has been a staple of theirs over the years, the Pacers have a pretty balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double figures: Malcolm Brogdon (19.1 points per game), T.J. Warren (17.8 points per game), Domantas Sabonis (17.7 points per game), Jeremy Lamb (14.6 points per game), and Myles Turner (11.1 points per game). When you have so many different weapons, you're a very difficult team to stop both at home and on the road.

That all said, the Pacers appear to be lacking at least one additional weapon, which is where Victor Oladipo comes in. Oladipo hasn't played all season due to a knee injury and it remains unclear when he'll return. His absence is nothing small as he averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game last season. He's their best player on paper.

The good news for the Pacers is that so far at least, they're playing really well without him. They're on pace to make the playoffs and are keeping themselves within striking distance of a top four seed in the East for when he returns. Assuming he does return this season and is able to play like his regular self, this Pacers team just might make a run at the Eastern Conference crown.

What makes Oladipo so good is that he's a complete two-way player. It's not just the points. It's the rebounding, the assists, and the steals. He does a little bit of everything and knows how to get it done on both ends of the floor. Guys like him are invaluable and truly make a difference on their teams. He's the kind of player every coach wishes that they had.

When talking about which teams could come out of the East this year, don't sleep on the Pacers. They're already one of the better teams in the league and are still awaiting the return of their best player. That should have everyone in the East on notice.

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Saturday Slam: Can the Milwaukee Bucks navigate through their injuries?

The Milwaukee Bucks have clinched the top record in the NBA, giving them home court advantage all the way through the NBA Finals. It's been an historic season in Milwaukee and after years and years of rebuilding, they're finally starting to see the fruits of their labors. If you've been reading NBALord.com over the years, you would know that I've always believed in the trajectory of this Bucks team and that it would only be a matter of time before they seriously contend for a championship. They're young, hungry, and have a legitimate franchise player in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is putting himself in the MVP discussion with his 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. They have all the pieces.

The only concern right now for this Bucks team is health. Malcolm Brogdon (15.6 points & 4.5 rebounds) is out indefinitely with a foot injury, Nikola Mirotic (15.2 points & 7.4 rebounds) is out for at least a couple more weeks due to a fractured thumb, Tony Snell (6.0 points) is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle, Pau Gasol (3.9 points) is out indefinitely with a left ankle injury, and Donte DiVincenzo (4.9 points) is out for the rest of the season with a heel injury. The losses of Brogdon and Mirotic are the most significant, but when you add three more guys to the injury report as well, that really starts to take its toll.

Fortunately for the Bucks, they have that top seed and Antetokounmpo is healthy, so they should be able to get out of the first round of the playoffs regardless. That said, at this time of year, you want to be as healthy as possible since injuries could still loom ahead in the playoffs. Plus, even if these guys do all come back (aside from DiVincenzo), it's not yet clear how productive they'll be.

The Bucks are sort of in a weird spot. They should be feeling good about clinching the top seed in the NBA and yet at the same time be worried about the accumulation of injuries. With the way the NBA playoffs are structured, it's not only the best teams that come out on top, it's the healthiest. We saw that last year when Chris Paul's hamstring cost the Houston Rockets a trip to the NBA Finals.

At this point, all the Bucks can do is make sure they get through the first round as efficiently as possible. If they're able to get more rest and not have an elongated opening series, chances are they'll be able to have a relatively healthy squad come the second round. If instead they have a series that gets pushed to six or heaven forbid seven games, they could be looking at an early exit, even if they manage to squeak out of the first round. It'll be interesting to see how they handle things in the coming days and weeks.

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Wednesday Windmill: It's officially time to Fear the Deer

"Fear the Deer" is the mantra of the Milwaukee Bucks and while fun to say, it has been hard to take seriously over the years. This year is different, though. With the best record in the NBA (32-12) and also the best home record in the NBA (20-4), the Bucks are finally a team to be feared. Especially by those in the Eastern Conference. 

The secret to the Bucks' success begins and ends with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 26.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 58.0% shooting from the field and 70.0% shooting from the foul line. What's scary is that he's shooting an abysmal 17.0% from 3-point range. Once he gets that part figured out, it's gonna be lights out for the rest of the NBA. 

                                          (Credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Accompanying the "Greek Freak" are Khris Middleton (17.5 points & 5.8 rebounds), Malcolm Brogdon (15.5 points & 4.6 rebounds), and Eric Bledsoe (15.3 points & 5.6 assists), who are all very talented scorers. While not the flashiest of players, they're very consistent and always bring it every night, contributing to the Bucks' consistent play. When you combine an elite superstar with solid role players, you have a recipe for success. 

When looking at their team stats, what makes the Bucks good is their efficiency. They rank 4th in the NBA in field goal percentage (48.0%), 2nd in 3-point field goals (13.4), 1st in rebounds (49.1) and 5th in assists (26.7). For those that like advanced stats, the Bucks rank 6th in pace (102.7), 2nd in true shooting percentage (58.5%), 2nd in effective field goal percentage (55.3%), 4th in offensive rating (114.0), tied for 1st in defensive rating (104.3), and 1st in Pythagorean wins (34.0). 

In case any of that jargon confuses you, the bottom line is this Bucks team is really good. They're young, fearless, and they have the best up and coming player in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the way they're playing, they have to be considered the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and challenge the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. In the past, "Fear the Deer" has just been a fun thing to say, but this year, it's no joke. 

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Saturday Slam: The Milwaukee Bucks are exhibiting true character without Jabari Parker

With the loss of Jabari Parker, one would think that the Milwaukee Bucks would be heading towards another chance to win the NBA Draft lottery. Parker was averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before he went down with a season-ending ACL injury and was the #2 scoring option on the team behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Parker's injury looked like a blow to the Bucks' playoff chances, but instead they have found a way to win 11 of their last 13 games and improve to 37-35 overall, which has them as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. 

What's really enabled the Bucks to catch fire over this stretch has been Khris Middleton, rookie Malcolm Brogdon, and Tony Snell stepping up at the wing position. They've all been able to consistently score in double figures ,which has really taken the pressure off of Antetokounmpo. Middleton wasn't available to play until the middle of the season as he was recovering from a hamstring injury, so he's steadily gotten better as he's approached full strength. As for Brogdon, he's continued to make a strong case for winning rookie of the year honors while Snell has been a very pleasant surprise, looking like a wash out after his days with the Bulls. 

Whether you want to admit it or not, injuries are a part of the game and good teams know how to overcome them. Granted, some injuries are more devastating than others, but regardless, teams have to have the depth needed to stay afloat provided they lose one of their star guys. The Bucks are showing they have such depth and it has really paid off for them this season. 

In terms of how much damage this Bucks team can do in the playoffs, one has to like their chances of winning a first round series provided they hang on to the #6 spot or improve to the #5 spot. The Washington Wizards are #3 and the Toronto Raptors are #4. Both teams are really good, but haven't been in able to get it done in the playoffs during these past few seasons. If the Bucks can stay where the are at or move up to the #5 spot, I think they have a good shot at getting to the second round of the playoffs. Should they slip down to the #7 or #8 spot, I think they are destined for a first round exit, judging by how good the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have been. 

Even if the Bucks were to have a first round playoff exit, making the playoffs in and of itself would be a remarkable achievement considering the adversity that they have faced. When Parker went down, the Bucks could have mailed in the rest of the season and given up. Instead, they have dug deep and found ways to have role players step up. They have truly exhibited the character of a championship team. 

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Fadeaway Friday: What to look for in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge

Tonight at 9:00 PM EST on TNT, the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge will tip off to begin the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Here are some things to look for in this game.

Rosters: 

Team USA: Devin Booker (Suns), Malcolm Brogdon (Bucks), Marquese Chriss (Suns), Brandon Ingram (Lakers), Frank Kaminsky (Hornets), Jahlil Okafor (76ers), D'Angelo Russell (Lakers), Jonathon Simmons (Spurs), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), and Myles Turner (Pacers).

Team World: Alex Abrines (Thunder)*, Danté Exum (Jazz), Buddy Hield (Pelicans), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Trey Lyles (Jazz), Willy Hernangomez (Knicks)**, Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks), Domantas Sabonis (Thunder), and Dario Saric (76ers).

*Injury replacement for Joel Embiid (76ers). **Injury replacement for Emmanuel Mudiay (Nuggets)

What to watch for: The first thing to note about this game is that it is a USA vs. World format. They've done this for a couple of years now, but nonetheless it is a shakeup from the classic East vs. West format. What is most interesting is to see how such a format is actually competitive. Years ago, there wouldn't have been enough international players to form a competitive roster against the United States, but now there absolutely is, which is exciting for the game of basketball.

The second thing to look for are the guys who don't get as much national spotlight. Guys like Devin Booker, Malcolm Brogdon, and Nikola Jokic are having fine seasons, but they are flying under the radar due to playing for small market teams. It will be interesting to see how these guys do playing on a national stage. I'm sure they will relish the moment and do their very to put on a show.

The third thing to look for will be who steps up should this game get close. All of these guys are either in their first or second seasons in the NBA, so they are still getting used to having to take over a game at the NBA level. A lot of these guys have veterans to look to when the game gets close. Some of these guys are in situations where they have to be that guy for their teams already. I think it will be fascinating to see which of these young bucks decides to be the go-to guy in the clutch should this game get competitive. It could provide a window of sorts into which one has the best potential to be the next superstar of the NBA.

Predictions: I'm going to pick the United States to win this game. Even with the world catching up rapidly, the United States still has the better roster. Of course, this game is an exhibition, so anything can happen, but I do think the United States will come out on top. They have the more talented team. I'm going to say the United States wins 130-118.

                                              (Credit: Basket Streaming. Click here for source) 
                                               
In regards to an MVP, I've got my money on Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves. He is averaging 23.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game this season. He's the best player on the floor in this game and I expect him to play like it. Look for him to be the main guy that leads the United States to victory.



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Saturday Slam: The loss of Jabari Parker dashes the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoffs hopes

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

Earlier in the week, the Milwaukee Bucks received the awful news that Jabari Parker suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and that he’ll be out for at least 12 months. Parker, in his 3^rd year out of Duke, was having the best season of his young career, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He was playing like a borderline all-star and along with Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Bucks knocking on the door for a playoff spot.

With Parker now done for the season, it will be really tough for this Bucks team to find a way to make the playoffs. They are already on the outside looking in in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, a full two games back of the 25-29 Detroit Pistons, who are in current possession of the 8^th seed. With Parker now out, they’ll have to find a way to play even better without their #2 scoring option.

If there is anybody who can be expected to take the pressure off of Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, Michael Beasley, and rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon are probably the best options the Bucks have right now. Monroe is averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while Beasley is averaging 8.7 points per game with the capability of going off every time he steps on the floor.  As for Brogdon, he’s averaging 9.2 points per game, putting together one of the best rookie seasons in the NBA. With Parker out, Brogdon should get a lot more touches and see his scoring average enter double digits.

On paper, Khris Middleton would be the guy for the Bucks to look to with Parker out as he averaged 18.2 points per game last season. However, he is just returning from a torn hamstring that he suffered back in October and so it’s not clear when he’ll be back to full strength. Odds are good he may not be 100% until next season, which is why it’s really on Monroe, Beasley, and Brogdon to step up.

What’s sad is that this Bucks team was trending upwards until Jabari Parker went down. With Khris Middleton returning, the Bucks were hoping to give their lineup a nice boost but with Parker going down, those hopes are gone. More importantly, their playoff hopes appear to be dashed.

The Bucks did make a trade recently that sent Miles Plumlee packing for Charlotte in exchange for Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes, but I don’t see that trade really helping them out as far as making up for Jabari Parker’s production. That trade is much more about adding some front court depth and giving them another big guy to bang down low in the post as opposed to giving them more scoring, which is what Parker gave them.

The Bucks are a team that I root for and so I really hate to see them catch a bad break like this. Jabari Parker is a really good guy and has already had his share of injuries to start his career. Hopefully Jabari Parker is able to come back stronger than before and that the Bucks will somehow find a way to remain competitive this season. I wish them good luck and I wish Jabari Parker all the best as he goes about an arduous 12-month rehab process. 

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