Saturday Slam: Where things sit at the 2021 NBA All-Star Break

 

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. 

Out East, the Philadelphia 76ers are the top ranked team with an impressive 24-12 record. Joel Embiid is getting MVP consideration for the way he's guiding the Sixers and deservedly so. The Brooklyn Nets led by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are in the #2 spot at 24-13, just a half game back. The #3 Milwaukee Bucks led by Giannis Antetokounmpo 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. 

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. 

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. 

Out West, it's also looking pretty interesting. The Utah Jazz occupy the top seed and best record in the NBA at 27-9. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and Mike Conley are the three All-Stars from that team. Conley being an injury replacement for Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker. 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. 

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, Chris Paul has been a major part of their success. 

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 LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If those two guys stay healthy, it's tough to pick against them. 

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. 

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. 

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). 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

One other thing to keep an eye on is where Blake Griffin 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. 

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! 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Are the Utah Jazz really for real this year?

                                             (Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) 

The Utah Jazz are currently 15-5, just half a game back of the 16-5 Los Angeles Clippers for best record in the NBA. They are also tied with the 16-6 Los Angeles Lakers, currently ahead of them in the standings via winning percentage. Before Sunday's 117-128 loss at Denver, the Jazz had won 11 straight games and were absolutely on fire. This isn't the first time this current Jazz squad has put together a hot run and it won't be the last. However, come playoff time, they historically have been unable to put it together. The question that I am going to address is whether or not we can realistically expect this year to be any different than what we've seen in the past. 

On the positive side, everyone on this Jazz team seems to be getting better. Donovan Mitchell (22.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) is getting more comfortable in his role as the alpha dog on this Jazz team and the pieces around him likewise have improved. Jordan Clarkson (17.7 points) has become the #2 scoring option on this team, Mike Conley (16.6 points and 6.2 assists) is averaging more points and assists per game than he did last season with the Jazz, Bojan Bogdanovic (14.7 points) is healthy, and while his scoring is a little bit down from years past, Rudy Gobert (13.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks) is averaging career highs in both rebounds and blocks per game. So long as they continue to get better, it stands to reason that they in turn should do better in the playoffs. 

To be skeptical, it's still really early in the season. The Western Conference is stacked and while everyone on this Jazz team is getting better, it's hard to pick the Jazz to do better than the Lakers, Clippers, and even Nuggets, who are all further down the road in their development while also possessing more talent at the top. Odds say that when we look at the final standings, the Jazz will probably be a top four team, but unlikely to be the top team in the Western Conference. And even if they do finish at the top of the standings, if push comes to shove, I'd still likely pick the Lakers to beat them in a seven game series. 

That all said, if the Jazz can secure home court advantage through the Western Conference Finals or better yet, NBA Finals, the only team out West who I think would be slightly favored over them is the Lakers. I do think that the Jazz would be favored to beat the Clippers and Nuggets should they finish with a better record. The Nuggets are in a similar boat as the Jazz, eager to take that next step, but yet to do so. The Clippers, for all their talent are still the Clippers and unproven as a squad in terms of their championship resolve. The Lakers on the other hand are the defending champions and LeBron James has shown he knows what it takes to win a championship. 

Ultimately, are the Jazz really for real this year? I think it's still too early to say. There's obviously a lot of reasons for optimism, but given where we are at in the season, there's still a lot of basketball to be played and we are far from seeing how the final standings will shake out. 

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Saturday Slam: Will the NBA be able to pull of its restarted season?

With the NBA restarted season fast approaching and their schedule already set (click here to check that out), the big question that I think is on everyone's mind is will they be able to actually pull this off? The plan is for NBA teams to descend on the Disney Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida and hunker down for a wild season in which players will be required to not leave the bubble created for them and be subjected to intense testing and screening.

Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to be in a period of self-isolation until they are cleared to return by medical professionals. As the league prepares for teams to fly to Orlando after the 4th of July and restart the season at the end of the month, I have a lot of questions about whether or not they will be able to actually pull this off. 

For starters, I wonder if the NBA will not run out of able bodies. If they're really going to strictly enforce these rules of self-isolation, it's entirely possible that the entire league at some point will need to self-isolate. At which point you are either forced to cancel the season or call upon G-League players and former And-1 Mixtape players to finish the season. Don't get me wrong, it would be entertaining as hell to see Grayson Boucher (a.k.a. The Professor) finally get his shot in the league, but it would also be really weird if we saw an NBA consist of non-NBA players. It just wouldn't work.

Going off that, if the NBA is going to pull off this season, they'll probably need to not freak the hell out over every single positive test and be a bit more lax about it. That isn't to say that they don't take the proper precautions, but they have to come to terms with the fact that guys will get the virus. Hell, they already have as 16+ players have tested positive within the past few days. Also, you all remember Rudy Gobert touching all those microphones, right? 

Another issue I have is whether or not the players will fully get on board. It's possible that the closer we get to the restart of the season, the more players we have bail for one reason or another. We've already seen a thinning of the herd a bit with guys choosing not to play to nurse an injury or just not deal with the risk of getting the virus. It's sorta like a Space Jam thing where the players didn't want to play after seeing Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, Shawn Bradley, Charles Barkley, and Larry Johnson lose their ability to play at an even functional level. If enough guys get cold feet, the league may abort their restart plan.

Finally, there's public pressure. The NBA is very socially conscious and wants to appear like they are on the right side of important social issues like public health and social justice. I don't think this is strictly a PR thing. I think commissioner Adam Silver sincerely wants to do the right thing and have his league be a force for good. If there's enough pressure to fold the season from people like Anthony Fauci, Silver won't fight it. He'll only give the season the green light so long as the optics remain good.

Ultimately, I remain skeptical that the NBA will be able to pull this off. I definitely think it can be done, but there's still a lot of hurdles that need to be cleared. It will be interesting to see how the league navigates these next few weeks as they attempt to conclude the most bizarre season in league history.

Note: I started a conversation about the NBA's restart efforts on Cake.co. Click here to check it out.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Utah Jazz are on fire

                                          (Credit: Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune) 

The two hottest teams in the NBA right now are the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz, who have both won nine games in a row. I've blogged a lot about the Lakers this season, so it's time for me to focus on the Jazz. At the moment, the Jazz are 27-12, putting them at third place in the Western Conference standings.

During this nine game winning streak, the Jazz have posted the following results (home in bold; road in italics): Jazz 121 Trail Blazers 115. Jazz 120 Clippers 107. Jazz 104 Pistons 81. Jazz 102 Bulls 98. Jazz 109 Magic 96. Jazz 128 Pelicans 126. Jazz 128 Knicks 104. Jazz 109 Hornets 92. Jazz 127 Wizards 116.

As you can see, the Jazz have won most of these games away from Salt Lake City, which is scary considering the fact that they are historically not a very good road team. On that note, the Jazz are now 15-3 at home on the season and 12-9 on the road. If they can keep up their success on the road and continue to dominate at home, they'll be serious contenders come April, May, and possibly June.

What's made this streak all the more impressive is the fact that the Jazz are doing this without their big offseason acquisition Mike Conley (13.6 points and 4.6 assists), who is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury. This is truly a testament to their depth and versatility. Donovan Mitchell (24.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals), Bojan Bogdanovic (21.0 points and 4.3 rebounds), Rudy Gobert (14.8 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks), and Joe Ingles (10.8 points) have done a great job at picking up the slack.

Ultimately, how far this Jazz team goes will come down to whether or not Conley and Bogdanovic make the impact in the playoffs that everyone thinks they will and whether or not Mitchell and Gobert can raise their level of play. If this team stays healthy and continues to ball out like they have been, there's no reason to doubt their ability to make some serious noise in the playoffs. I'm not ready to deem them the favorites to come out of the Western Conference, but I could absolutely see them reach the conference finals. Pending on who they face, it's conceivable they play their way into June.

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can the Utah Jazz come out of the West?

One of the Western Conference teams that has gotten more buzz this summer/off-season is the Utah Jazz, who added three key pieces to their team in point guard Mike Conley, stretch forward Bojan Bogdanovic, and point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. In 70 games with the Grizzlies last season, Conley averaged 21.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, bouncing back nicely from his Achilles injury. Bogdanovic averaged 18.0 points per game on 42.5% shooting from 3-point range (4.8 attempts per game) with the Pacers, playing in 81 regular season games. As for Mudiay, he averaged a solid 14.8 points per game last year with the Knicks.

Conley and Bogdanovic join a talented Jazz squad that features third year shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (23.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, & 1.4 steals), sixth year center Rudy Gobert (15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, & 2.3 blocks), and sixth year small forward Joe Ingles (12.1 points). Mitchell and Gobert are the heart of this Jazz team, but they needed a veteran presence, something Conley in particular hopes to add.

                                          (Credit: Rick Egan-Salt Lake Tribune) 

When looking at this Jazz team, what makes them so dangerous is their ability to get after it on both ends of the floor. Gobert is one of the best interior defenders in the NBA, giving the Jazz their best defensive weapon since Andrei Kirilenko. As for Mitchell, he is a budding superstar that isn't afraid of the big moment. He attacks the rim really well, is developing a solid perimeter game, and is actually a pretty solid defender. Conley is a killer floor general that knows how to get his teammates involved while Bogdanovic is an absolutely lethal shooter from the perimeter. The Jazz are much more multidimensional now, which is why many see them going far in the playoffs this year.

The big question that's on everyone's mind with the Jazz is can they reach the conference finals and possibly represent the West in the NBA Finals. Personally, I think this Jazz team is at least one more year away from reaching the NBA Finals, but if all goes according to plan, they should be a top four seed in the West, win their opening round series, and maybe even reach the conference finals. They're really talented. The only concern I have is there are a lot of other talented teams in the West. The Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Rockets, and Lakers also project to be really good. I feel like the West is really deep this year and any number of combinations could reach the conference finals. A lot of it will come down to playoff seeding and match ups.

Casting playoff scenarios aside, one thing that is clear is that the Jazz have the pieces to have a breakout year. They're young, hungry, and have greatly upgraded their roster over the summer. If you are a Jazz fan, you have every right to be excited.

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Saturday Slam: The Utah Jazz are playing exceptional team basketball

                                         (Getty Images) 

On Friday night, the Utah Jazz defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-91, advancing to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon. Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell stole the show, scoring 38 points, 20 of which were scored in the 3rd quarter. With Ricky Rubio going out with a hamstring injury (possibly out for a few weeks) and Russell Westbrook in full attack mode, the Jazz needed a big game from Mitchell and boy did he deliver.
   
What made Mitchell's performance so special was the way he took over the game. He did it all, hitting deep threes, throwing down vicious dunks, and slicing through defenders to make ridiculous layups around the basket. The amount of English he put on some of those shots was tantamount to what you'd see in a game of billiards. He was having one of those nights where nearly anything he threw at the basket found a way to go in.

Yet as well as Mitchell played, the Jazz didn't win this game by his performance alone. After all, Russell Westbrook was the top performer of the night, finishing with 46 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. What got the Jazz past the Thunder both on Friday and in this series was their selflessness and commitment to team basketball. Everyone found a way to contribute, whether it was Joe Ingles knocking down clutch threes, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert controlling the paint, or Ricky Rubio setting up others for easy baskets. Even Alec Burks got in on the action, scoring 11 points on Friday in 17 minutes of action.

What allows the Jazz to play this type of team basketball is the system put in place by head coach Quin Snyder, which demands lots of ball movement, cutting, and stellar defense. The Jazz realize that when they play the way Snyder wants them to, that brings out the best in them both as a team and as individuals. It takes a certain type of player to buy into this philosophy and the Jazz front office has done a stellar job of bringing in guys who embrace it.

As for whether or not the Jazz can actually take out the Houston Rockets, I personally expect the Rockets to win only because they have more talent. James Harden will be the best player in the series and Chris Paul could be the second best player. That all said, if the Jazz play the way they did against the Thunder and continue to execute the way Quin Snyder wants them to, they could make this an interesting series. As good as the Rockets look, they did show moments of vulnerability against the Timberwolves. They will definitely need to play a lot better if they want to avoid a competitive and close series with the Jazz.

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Utah Jazz need to ink Rodney Hood to a long-term extension

Earlier this month, Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the Utah Jazz are already engaging in talks with Rodney Hood about a contract extension. Hood, a 4th year shooting guard out of Duke, has emerged as one of the franchises' most promising young talents, having the potential to replace Gordon Hayward as the team's top scorer out on the wing. With him slated to be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2019, the Jazz can prevent him from hitting free agency by signing him to a contract extension.

During his first three seasons in the league, Hood has been a very nice player for this Jazz team, averaging 12.7 points per game on 41.5% shooting from the field, 36.4% shooting from three-point range, and 81.8% shooting from the foul line. With Hayward now gone, Hood is certain to get more touches and play an even more integral role in the team's offense.

Even more importantly, outside of Hood, the Jazz really don't have any good shooters or guys who they can rely on to get points out on the perimeter. If they aren't able to hang on to Hood, the Jazz will really be in a pickle to find themselves a scoring wing.

                                          (Credit: SlamOnline) 

While it is fair to wonder whether nor not Hood will ever become the player that Gordon Hayward is, the Jazz don't really have the luxury to bet that he won't become such a player for them. Right now, Rudy Gobert is the franchise centerpiece and they have to put a quality supporting cast around him in order to keep him in Utah beyond his current contract. The first major step towards putting such a supporting cast around him is to lock up Hood and give Gobert somebody who can take some of the scoring pressure off of him.

The Utah Jazz are in a rather unique position in that they are coming off a very successful season while also losing their top player in free agency. It will be hard for them to carry the momentum from last season into this season as a result. If they can sign Hood to a contract extension, they will be giving themselves another building block for the future and something to help them continue the momentum that they've built during the past few seasons.

Personally, I really like Rodney Hood and was very high on him when he was coming out of Duke. I thought he should have been a lottery pick and so when he fell to the Jazz at #23 overall, I thought he was an absolute steal. What I like about Hood is that he has all the tools to be an effective scorer in the NBA. He can score from beyond the arc, he can get to the foul line, etc. I see him as a guy who could someday average 18+ points per game in the league. If he can become the player that I think he can, he'll be worth every penny.

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Saturday Slam: Where do the Utah Jazz go after losing Gordon Hayward?

After losing Gordon Hayward to the Boston Celtics, the Utah Jazz find themselves in a jam. They've lost their best player and with the free agent pool largely dried up, there's not much they can add to help them replace Hayward's production. Such is the result of living in a world with free agency. 

With Hayward gone, this is Rudy Gobert's team now and that's not a bad thing. Last season, the 7'1", 245 pound center averaged 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, playing in 81 games in the regular season. Gobert has the tools to be the next dominant center in the NBA and be a game changer in a way that Hayward never was. If the Jazz had to pick between Hayward and Gobert, they'd pick Gobert every time. It's not even close. That isn't to say it wouldn't be nice to have both, but the Jazz can now focus on building the team around Gobert and help him become the next face of the franchise. 

The challenge the Jazz have is that right now, they are up against a very stacked Western Conference. Teams like the Thunder, Rockets, Timberwolves, and Spurs have all gotten better while they have gotten worse. Long term, I don't think the Jazz should panic, but as far as next season is concerned, it will be tough for them to get back to the playoffs and win another series. 

The best the Jazz can do is evaluate who they have and figure out who makes sense to hang onto for the future. Derrick Favors is a guy who they'll likely take a hard look at trading at the deadline given that he'll enter unrestricted free agency next summer. He's been solid for them, but hasn't lived up to the hype, either. Unless he has a monster year, he's likely playing for someone else in 12 months or less. 

Two other guys who should be under scrutiny are Danté Exum and Alec Burks. Exum is yet to live up to the massive hype that he had coming into the NBA and after dealing with injury, it's unclear whether or not Burks can return to the level he was at before. Exum enters restricted free agency next summer and Burks enters unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019, so if the Jazz want, they can part with both guys after two seasons. 

Outside of Gobert, the only other guy who Jazz fans should really feel excited about is Rodney Hood, who is emerging into one of the better three-point shooters in the NBA, averaging 12.7 points per game on 37.1% shooting from three-point range last season. With Hayward gone, Hood will really get a chance to get more touches and prove his worth in the backcourt.

                                         (Chris Detrick. The Salt Lake Tribune) 

Gobert and Hood could evolve into a really nice one-two punch for the Jazz, but even if they live up to their potential, I'm not sure they'll be enough to make the Jazz a serious contender. The Jazz need to find another piece and what has to be of concern is it's unclear who that piece will be. At this point, all the Jazz can do is go forward with what they have and make the best moves possible to give Gobert and Hood the support they need. 

Saturday Slam is a weekly piece that focuses on a major story of the week. This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz

The #1 seeded Golden State Warriors and the #5 seeded Utah Jazz will face off in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be played tonight  (Tuesday) at 10:30 PM EST on TNT. The Warriors come into this series having swept the Portland Trail Blazers while the Jazz come in having survived the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.

When looking at this series, what really stands out is the contrasting styles that both teams like to play. The Warriors, while very strong on defense, like to run up and down the floor and get easy baskets in transition. The Jazz in contrast like to slow it down and play more of a grind it out style that limits possessions and plays much more in the half court. Whichever team is able to control the pace more and make the game fit their style of play will have a huge advantage in this series.

It's no secret the Warriors are the heavy favorites. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant make for one of the most lethal scoring trios the NBA has ever seen and then when you add a multifaceted Swiss army knife like Draymond Green into the mix, you have yourselves a championship recipe. The bottom line is if the Warriors play up to their maximum potential, they will win this series. They are the better team and their 67-15 record reflects that.

That said, there are reasons to think the Jazz can make this series a lot more competitive than most people think. First, they have a huge advantage inside. Rudy Gobert is one of the top rim protectors in the NBA and Derrick Favors, while not having quite lived up to the hype, is still a load to handle down low. If the Jazz can protect the paint and not allow the Warriors to get easy baskets inside, they'll make things a lot tougher than the Warriors would like.

In addition to their stellar rim protection, the Jazz are a very good offensive team, ranking 12th in the league in points per possession. While they slow the game down and are 28th in points per game, their low scoring numbers aren't a good reflection of their overall abilities to get points. The Jazz are an efficient scoring team, they just slow the game down and have fewer possessions, which has been a key to their success.

What makes the Jazz efficient on offense is their combination of inside and outside scoring. George Hill, Rodney Hood, Joe Johnson, and Joe Ingles can all shoot from outside, while Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors know how to get baskets inside. As for their star Gordon Hayward, he can do both very well. He can spot up and knock down the open three as well as slash to the rim for the emphatic dunk. Hayward's ability to score at all levels of the floor make him one of the best small forwards in the NBA and a tough guy for defenses to stop.

A big wild card in this series is going to be coaching. Steve Kerr is not expected to be back for the rest of the playoffs, which puts Mike Brown at the helm of the Warriors. Last week, I addressed this topic in more detail, stating that I think the Warriors should be just fine without Kerr due to the quality system he has implemented. That said, Quin Snyder is a better coach than Mike Brown. Snyder has the Jazz playing very efficient basketball, implementing lots of motion and cuts, which frees up a lot of easy looks on offense. Defensively, the Jazz are as good as any team in the league. If Snyder is able to out-coach Brown, that could have a big effect on this series.

I think this series is going to be a lot closer than people think. While I do have the Warriors advancing, I think the series will go seven games. The Jazz have proven that they can win on the road. I wouldn't at all be shocked to see them get a game in Oakland. Likewise, the Warriors should be able to get a game in Salt Lake City. Both teams play in hostile environments, so I expect the home team to win most of the games in this series. I think it'll go seven and the Jazz, with their elite defense and efficient scoring, will give the more talented Warriors all that they can handle.

Note: This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. If you want to listen to the podcast that previews this series, click here. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can the Utah Jazz advance without Rudy Gobert?

                                        (Credit: RantSports.com. Click here for source)

The Utah Jazz escaped with a 97-95 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday to take a 1-0 series lead after Joe Johnson rattled home the game winning shot. Unfortunately for the Jazz, their star big man Rudy Gobert went out for the game with a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee, leaving him out for an indefinite period of time that likely lasts the duration of the series. Gobert, who averages 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game is the fiercest defensive force the Jazz have had in the paint since Mark Eaton, who averaged a whopping 3.5 blocks per game for his career.

The question that is on the minds of everyone is whether or not the Jazz can win this series without Rudy Gobert. The answer to that question is yes they can, but obviously without him it will be a lot tougher. Fortunately, the Jazz have some things in their favor.

#1. They got the road win they needed: In my series preview, I stated that the Jazz needed just one win in Los Angeles to win this series because of how good they are at home. With or without Rudy Gobert, the Jazz should be able to hold down the fort in Salt Lake City. So long as they can just win out at home, where they are 29-12, they'll be fine.

#2. All the pressure is on the Clippers: The Jazz are playing with house money. The very fact that they made the playoffs is enough of a reason to call this season a success. They can just go out and play their style of basketball and see what happens. If they win the series, they exceed expectations and if they lose, they're still ahead of schedule in their rebuild process.

#3. They have some front court depth: Rudy Gobert is clearly the best big man on this Jazz team, but it isn't like he's their only big man. Derrick Favors, Trey Lyles, Boris Diaw, Jeff Withey, and even Joel Bolomboy can come in and give the Jazz good minutes in the front court. The Jazz have other guys who they can turn to in the post if needed.

#4. Rudy Gobert isn't done for the season: If MRI results had come back showing that Rudy Gobert had damage to his MCL, LCL, or ACL, it would be tough psychologically for the Jazz to win this series. Knowing that he isn't done for the season and that he will return if they can just hang on for a little while without him has to give them tremendous peace of mind. There are good odds Gobert is back for the second round of the playoffs, which is when they'll absolutely need him. The Jazz just need to weather this storm as best they can, knowing that if they do so well enough, the storm will cease and they'll get Gobert back.

The bottom line is that while it is a tough break for the Jazz to be without Rudy Gobert for an indefinite period of time, there are a lot of reasons to think they can still win this series without him. They already have a road win in the bag, very little pressure, quality reserves, and the knowledge that Gobert isn't out forever. I picked the Jazz to win this series in six games and I still stand by that pick.

Note: This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the #4 seeded Los Angeles Clippers (51-31) will take on the #5 seeded Utah Jazz (51-31). The Clippers won the regular season series 3-1. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 10:30 PM EST on ESPN.

Of all the first round playoff series', this one projects to be the closest. The records are identical, for one thing and both teams have dominant big men and guys who can score from the wing. This series really could go either way.

The matchup down in the paint should be particularly fun to watch. Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan (12.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks) and Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert (14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks) are a throwback to a different era when there were more dominant big men. Watching them clash down low will be reminiscent of watching Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing face off in the paint. There are so few true big men making an impact in the NBA right now and to have two of them facing off in the same series is certain to be a real treat.

While it will be fun to watch Jordan and Gobert face off, I expect the two of them to cancel each other out. Neither one will sway this series in either direction. What will ultimately sway this series is coaching, the perimeter play, and which star player is able to deliver the goods in crunch time.

In regards to coaching, I think this is a fascinating matchup. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has a ton of playoff experience while Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder is making his first trip to the playoffs. That said, I think Snyder has done a better job with his team and really has the Jazz playing good basketball. The Jazz are moving the ball well, they are getting each other involved, and are playing defense at an elite level.

 If the Jazz are going to win this series, Quin Snyder's stellar coaching will have to be a huge factor whereas for the Clippers, Doc Rivers needs to find a way to use his experience to his advantage. Doc Rivers knows how he'll handle close games in the playoffs because he's been there whereas for Quin Snyder he is yet to be in those kind of moments. It will certainly be interesting to see what decisions both coaches make down the stretch of close games. The decisions they make could ultimately decide this series.

In regards to perimeter play, the Clippers have Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers while the Jazz have Gordon Hayward, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Shelvin Mack. The battle in the backcourt will be crucial to this series. Both teams have guys who can shoot it from beyond the arc and penetrate the lane. Whichever group does a better job will give their team a definite edge.

In regards to the star play, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be expected to deliver the goods for the Clippers while Gordon Hayward and George Hill will be expected to do the same for the Jazz. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have more playoff experience than Gordon Hayward (first appearance), but George Hill has some playoff experience going back to his days with the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers. While there is more pressure on Gordon Hayward to have a big series, George Hill can help take a lot of that pressure away through his stellar play in the backcourt and also his calming influence. He's been there before and can help Gordon Hayward make the transition.

In terms of a prediction for this series, I have the Utah Jazz finding a way to win the series in six games. Salt Lake City is one of the toughest place to play in the NBA and I don't see the Clippers getting a win on the road in this series. The combination of altitude and rowdy fans is what makes Salt Lake City such a tough place to win. As for the Staples Center, that place isn't as tough of a place to get a road playoff win, especially when it's the Clippers who are playing. I have a feeling that the Jazz will steal a game in Los Angeles and hold serve at home.

In order for my prediction to come to fruition, Gordon Hayward will need to have a big series. He's an NBA All-Star and is the face of this Jazz team. If he has a big series and gets the help he needs from the rest of his teammates, I really like their chances. If on the other hand, Hayward shrinks under the playoff spotlight, the Clippers will be the team that comes out on top in this series. The Clippers are a very good team and we certainly can expect Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to step up. Gordon Hayward will need to do the same in order for his team to win.




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Skyhook Sunday: The Utah Jazz are going back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012

For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Utah Jazz are going back to the NBA playoffs, clinching a playoff spot earlier today. As it stands, the Jazz are 44-29 and the 4th seed in the Western Conference standings, with the 5th seeded Los Angeles Clippers at 44-31 and the 6th seeded Oklahoma City Thunder at 41-31. If the playoffs were to start today, the Jazz would face off against the Clippers and have home court advantage.

With a playoff spot now clinched, the Jazz now have to worry about seeding. With the 3rd seeded Houston Rockets 7 games ahead, the best the Jazz can realistically expect to do is hold down the fort at the 4th spot and secure home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Doing so would give the Jazz an excellent chance of advancing in the first round series and likely set up a second round series with the top-seeded Golden State Warriors, who are 59-14 right now.

The remaining 9 games for the Utah Jazz are vs. New Orleans on March 27, at Sacramento on March 29, vs. Washington on March 31, at San Antonio on April 2, vs. Portland on April 4, vs. Minnesota on April 7, at Portland on April 8, at Golden State on April 10, and vs. San Antonio on April 12.

Intuitively, the games against the Spurs and Warriors stand out, but what's good for the Jazz is that with those games coming so late in the season, there are good odds that the Spurs and Warriors will be resting their players, so it's very possible for the Jazz to take two out of those three games. The home games against New Orleans, Washington, Portland, and Minnesota should all be wins, leaving the games at Sacramento and at Portland as perhaps the toughest games just because those are teams that will not be resting anybody. This all means that the Jazz should be able to go 6-3 down the stretch for sure and possibly even go 7-2, which should be good enough for them to secure the 4th seed.

What's made the Jazz so dangerous this season is their versatility and weapons. Gordon Hayward is the star of this team, averaging 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, but he's gotten a lot of help from the likes of George Hill (16.9 points and 4.1 assists), Rodney Hood (12.8 points), and Rudy Gobert (13.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks). The Jazz can beat you out on the wing, they can beat you down on the block, they defend both the perimeter and interior really well, and are young, which means they play with a lot of energy.

What's crazy about this team is that they are 29th in the NBA in points per game (100.3), but also 3rd  in defensive rating (102.5). It's very rare to find a team that is so polarized, but it seems to be working out for them just fine. What allows the Jazz to still be successful despite this chasm is the fact that it isn't like they don't have guys who can score. Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood, and George Hill can all score the rock from the perimeter while Rudy Gobert does a great job at playing the garbage man underneath for put backs and alley-oop dunks. The Jazz have guys who can score and so while they may not score as many points, it's not like they are a team incapable of scoring. They just like to play at a slower pace and let their defense be what leads them to victory.

In terms of how deep this team can go, I think the Jazz have a great shot at getting out of the first round if they get the 4th seed and clinch home court advantage. Salt Lake City is a really difficult place to win on the road and so if the Jazz are able to clinch home court advantage, I like their chances to advance regardless of the opponent. The Clippers and Thunder are really good teams, but I don't see either team advancing to the second round against a Jazz team with home court advantage. The Jazz are THAT good at home.

As far as a second round match up with the Warriors or Spurs, I think odds are high that is where it would end for the Jazz. Of course, you never know what can happen with injuries and we've also seen  the whole dynamics of a series change when a team finds a way to steal one game on the road. That said, smart money has to take the Warriors or Spurs in a series against the Jazz.

What's important to understand if you are the Utah Jazz is that by clinching a playoff spot, they've had a really impressive season already. This is a young team that is hoping to make a lot of noise in the future and making the playoffs is the first step in achieving this goal. The Jazz are not a championship level team right now but all signs point to them being one in the seasons to come. Their front office has done a really good job of assembling the right talent through the draft and bringing in guys that are willing to buy in to the Utah Jazz way.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Utah Jazz are playing elite defense in the paint

                                       (Credit: Chris Smoove on YouTube. Click here for video) 

The Utah Jazz are currently tied for 5th place in the Western Conference at 24-16 with the Memphis Grizzlies, proving themselves to be one of the most competitive teams in the NBA. The Jazz have won 6 of their last 10 games and are coming off of a 100-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier today.

Currently ranked 26th in points per game (98.4) and 27th in assists (18.9), the Jazz are clearly not winning games because of their offense. Though to be clear, Gordon Hayward is doing his part on offense, putting up 22.0 points per game on 45.0% shooting from the field and 37.3% from 3-point range while guys like George Hill (18.5 points per game) and Rodney Hood (13.5 points per game) are also finding success at putting the ball in the basket.

The Jazz have guys who can shoot the ball, but defense is definitely their calling card. The Jazz rank 1st in opponents points per game (94.9), 1st in opponent field goal percentage (42.9%), 5th in opponents second chance points (11.8 second chance points per game), and 1st in overall team defensive rating (101.4). They are also middle of the pack in rebounding, so they're doing a good job at controlling the boards. But, more than anything, they are just making it very difficult for opponents to score, which at the end of the day is what defense is all about.

The anchor of this Utah Jazz defense is Rudy Gobert, who is averaging 12.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Rudy Gobert is an elite defensive presence in the paint due to his length, quickness, and freakish athleticism. Gobert is doing a fantastic job at protecting the rim, making it very difficult for opponents to score inside.

In addition to Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors is doing a stellar job at controlling the paint, averaging 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. Favors is proving to be a solid presence down low to accompany Gobert. As far as perimeter defense is concerned, the Jazz aren't as good, ranking 15th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage (35.7%), but they are still solid. George Hill is averaging 1.1 steals per game while Gordon Hayward averages 1.0 steals per game, making them a solid perimeter defending duo.

But, what really is making this Utah Jazz team dangerous is their interior defense. Together, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors guard the paint as if their very lives depend on it. They are really doing a stellar job at forcing teams to take difficult shots inside, which leads to easy baskets in transition on the other end.

At this point of the season, all I can say about the Utah Jazz is that provided they can get fully healthy, they should able to win a playoff series this year. Derrick Favors, George Hill, Dante Exum, and Alec Burks have all missed games due to injury, but with everybody now getting back to full strength, this team appears capable of climbing up the Western Conference standings and living up to the preseason hype.

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Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. utahjazz406.blogspot.com. Click here to check it out. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: How dangerous are the Utah Jazz?

     If there is a team that will make a huge jump in the 2016-17 season, many people are expecting that team to be the Utah Jazz, who are coached by Quin Snyder. The Jazz added George Hill and Joe Johnson in the off season and expect to have Dante Exum and Alec Burks at full strength come opening night to round out a roster that consists of Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood, and Derrick Favors.

      Due to their talent, youth, and upside, there is tons of chatter of the Utah Jazz being a top 10 team in the NBA and a team that can threaten to reach the Western Conference Finals. Considering that the Utah Jazz went 40-42 and finished 9th in the Western Conference last season, to call them contenders this season feels to be a bit of stretch to me.  I don't deny the talent level that is there and the upside that this team has. Dante Exum very well become one of the top players in the NBA and Rudy Gobert likewise has all the tools to be the next dominant big man in the NBA. In addition, Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward, while not all-stars, are getting better every season and establishing themselves as one of the best players in the league.

     But with that all being true, I don't see them as a team that will threaten to come out of the Western Conference. They're just not there yet and that's ok. They're right where they should expect and hope to be, which is to be a team that people are looking at and saying, "Those guys are gonna be really good in a couple of seasons."

     Jazz Nation will say that the future is now and that this team is gonna make serious noise due to their off-season acquisitions, health, and one more year of seasoning. While I do think that all of those things bode very well for the Jazz, I still think the Jazz will be in a dogfight to make the playoffs and win a series. The Warriors and Spurs will be the top two teams in the Western Conference again and the Thunder with Russell Westbrook will still be very dangerous even with Kevin Durant jumping ship. As for the rest of the conference, the Clippers, Grizzlies, and Trail Blazers should prove to be competitive. Even the Timberwolves should be a team that people keep an eye on.

     The Western Conference is still loaded and the Jazz have to go out and prove that they are one of the best teams in the conference. If there is anything that should worry the Jazz it is their lack of a true superstar. Rudy Gobert and Dante Exum have superstar potential, but they aren't there yet. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, while being very good players, don't have superstar potential.  They have all-star potential, but not the potential to be guys who lead a team to a championship. They can help a team win a title, but they can't be the centerpieces of a championship team like John Stockton and Karl Malone proved themselves to be.

     As for what type of expectations we should have for this Utah Jazz team, I think we should expect them to make the playoffs with the hopes that they find a way to win a series. If they do that, they should be very happy with how they are progressing. I love the direction that this team is going and I have no doubt that a championship may be coming to Utah in the near future, but I don't think they will make the huge leap that other people are expecting.

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog: utahjazz406.blogspot.com. Click here to check it out. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: How good will the Utah Jazz be next season?

     The Utah Jazz are quietly building one of the more interesting and dangerous teams in the NBA. They have a promising young front court with Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, some versatile wings in Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood, and Alec Burks, and they have a very young point guard in Dante Exum who has a ton of potential. The Jazz also made a nice move to land a quality veteran point guard in George Hill by trading away the #12 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. 

     It is clear that the Utah Jazz are trending upward. But the question is how much? Some dude on Bleacher Report put them in the top 4 overall in the NBA next season. While I think that's a stretch to say the least, the Jazz should be projected to make the playoffs next season considering that they missed the playoffs by one game last season. Provided they continue to improve and stay healthy, they really have no excuse to not be one of the final 8 teams standing in the Western Conference. 

     What makes the Jazz so scary is that they are extremely versatile. Gordon Hayward is continuing to improve and turning into one of the best wings in the NBA, averaging 19.7 points per game last season on 34.9% shooting from beyond the arc and 82.4% shooting from the foul line. Rodney Hood also really came into his own, averaging 14.2 points on 35.9% shooting from beyond the arc and 86% shooting form the foul line.  In regards to the front court, Derrick Favors continues to steadily get better, averaging 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game last season while Rudy Gobert averaged 9.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks.  

     The Utah Jazz can beat you out on the perimeter or they can beat you inside. They have wings who can shoot and big men who can control the glass and block shots. The point guard position remains a little iffy, but they did land George Hill and Dante Exum is expected to be healthy in time for training camp. Plus, Alec Burks will be back and he is capable of playing some point guard as well. 

      The only real concern for the Utah Jazz outside of health is their lack of a true superstar. Gordon Hayward has proven to be a really good player, but he's not turning into a guy who can lead a team to a championship. The Jazz have to hope that with time, one of their other young guns like Rudy Gobert or Dante Exum takes on this role and they also have to hope that they can win via a "Strength In Numbers" sort of way that has been working for the Warriors. I'm not confident that they have anybody on their team who will eventually be the best player in the NBA. But, I am confident that they are forming a core that can make up for that due to their depth and versatility. 

     The bottom line for the Utah Jazz is that provided they stay healthy and don't lose any key players, they will be a playoff team next season and they will threaten to win a playoff series. I don't see them advancing to the Western Conference Finals next season since that will likely be the Warriors, Spurs, or Thunder taking up two of those spots, but they should be able to put themselves in a position to win a series and make things interesting in the second round. The sky is the limit for this Utah Jazz team as we look ahead to the next three and four seasons. But for next season, they need to hope to make the playoffs and win a series. If they do that, they'll be right on schedule to accomplish what they are hoping to accomplish in seasons to come. 

Saturday Slam: Why Draymond Green doesn't deserve Defensive Player of the Year

     There has been a lot of speculation and debate about the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award going to Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard despite Warriors forward Draymond Green getting more first place votes. What I will do in this article is offer an explanation for why Draymond Green did not win Defensive Player of the Year and why it makes sense for him to not make the ballot entirely.

     Before I explain my argument, it's important that you understand how the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is given. Over one hundred sportswriters vote for this award and they each have a first place, second place, and third place vote. First place is given the most amount of points, second place the second most amount, and third place gets the least. If a player doesn't get first, second, or third on somebody's list, they get zero points in their favor.

     So, to understand how Kawhi Leonard won the award ahead of Draymond Green, Leonard simply had more points. He didn't get as many first place votes, but he made up for it in second and third place votes. In the end, Leonard got on more total ballots than Draymond Green and that is why he ended up winning the award.

     What a lot of people are complaining about is the idiocy of those who didn't include Draymond Green on their ballot. The people who have the megaphone are making it out that like Draymond Green got robbed and that he deserved to win this award. Further, they argue that there is no way possible to justify leaving him off the ballot.

     I am not one of the people with the megaphone or one who supports their position. If I had a vote for Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green would not have made my ballot. My list would have been Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and DeAndre Jordan in that order. So, I guess if you'd like, you can call me one of the "idiots" who would leave Draymond Green off their ballot.

     The reason why Draymond Green wouldn't make my ballot is simple: He doesn't make the same impact on defense that those other guys do from a statistical point of view. Anthony Davis was #1 in blocks per game and #8 in rebounds per game during the regular season; Kawhi Leonard was #1 in steals per game; and DeAndre Jordan was #1 in rebounds per game and #5 in blocks per game. Draymond Green isn't top 15 in any of those categories.

      As a matter of fact, the best he does in any of those three categories is tied for 20th in steals per game.  If you want to include defensive rebounds as a category, Green ranks 12th, which isn't bad, but even in that category he is behind Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan. Defensive Player of the Year is given to the best individual defender in basketball and I don't see how somebody can be warranted to win that award without being at least a top five player in one of those categories.

     One reading this who still thinks Green deserves this award will argue that there is more to defense than rebounds, steals, and blocks. They will also argue that Draymond Green is a great team defender who took on the challenge of guarding bigger players in the paint. Those points are all true, but there is no way to really quantify or measure that kind of defense. Draymond Green is a great defender because he plays well in the Warriors' defensive system, but playing well in a system doesn't mean you are the best defender in the NBA.

     This award is about who the best individual defensive player in the game is. I.e. The guy you would take first if you wanted to have a great defense. If you had to pick one player to anchor your defense on, would it really be Draymond Green ahead of Anthony Davis, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, and even Rudy Gobert? For me it wouldn't be and that is precisely why some guys left him off of their ballot.

     It isn't because Draymond Green is undervalued or overlooked. It's that the impact he makes defensively isn't as easy to quantify or measure because he is one piece on a team that collectively plays great defense thanks to other quality defenders like Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut. The bottom line is that if you vote for Defensive Player of the Year based on who individually impacts the game the most in a quantifiable way, Draymond Green won't get your vote. Your vote will go to the guy who blocks the most shots, gets the most steals, or grabs the most rebounds. Guys like Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, DeAndre Jordan, and Rudy Gobert.

     It may not seem fair since there is more to defense than just rebounds, blocks, and steals, but those three things are still a big part of playing defense. If a player  doesn't rank especially high in any of those categories, it becomes a lot harder to argue a case for why he should be defensive player of the year when there are guys who rank high in at least one and sometimes two of those three categories.

(Note: Hopefully you enjoy the video I just shared. It's a tribute to Draymond Green, who without question deserves a lot of credit for the Warriors' incredible success!)

---Ben Parker: Follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 3/30-4/5

                                                 (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

This is my Daily Dunks page for March 30, 2015 through  April 5, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with the latest news and scores from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has undergone season-ending surgery on his left wrist (Click here for details).

#2. Texas center Myles Turner, Georgia State shooting guard R.J. Hunter, and  UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn are leaving for the NBA draft.

#3. Chris Mullin is leaving the Kings to take the head coaching job at St. John's (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has returned to full-contact practice. Still no timetable for when he plays in a game again (Click here for details).

#6. The Trail Blazers signed guard Tim Frazier for the remainder of the season (Click here for details).

#7. Kings forward Rudy Gay is out indefinitely with a concussion and won't play on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#8. The Trail Blazers have clinched a playoff spot.

#9. Andrew Wiggins and Rudy Gobert had some fun battles above the rim (Click here for a video)

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Nets center Brook Lopez won player of the week honors for last week (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 104 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 97 Kings 83. Lakers 113 76ers 111 (OT). Celtics 116 Hornets 104. Hawks 101 Bucks 88. Raptors 99 Rockets 96. Trail Blazers 109 Suns 86.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Suns signed shooting guard Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract and released point guard A.J. Price (Click here for details).

#2. The Bucks may have a new logo (Click here for details).

#3. Spurs guard Patty Mills has been warned for flopping against the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#4. Jazz rookie guard Rodney Hood has a concussion. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#5.The Grizzlies recalled Jarnell Stokes and Russ Smith from the D-League (Click here for details).

#6. Kevin Durant underwent successful bone graft surgery on his foot. His out 4-6 months (Click here for details).

#7. Anthony Davis says James Harden should be MVP (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson says Knicks fans should remain optimistic (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard has changed agencies (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin 40 points and 12 rebounds.

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 110 Clippers 106. Pistons 105 Hawks 95. Nets 111 Pacers 106. Spurs 95 Heat 81.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (knee) returned to the lineup. He had 17 points and 3 rebounds.

#2.The Kings signed center Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. Celtics shooting guard Evan Turner, Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins all had triple-doubles.

#4. Rockets shooting guard James Harden scored 51 points, a career high.

#5. The Lakers officially waived Steve Nash and signed Jabari Brown to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#6. David Blatt and Steve Kerr have won coach of the month honors for March (Click here for details).

#7. Heat point guard Shabazz Napier is done for the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery (Click here for details).

#8. The Mavericks have a ceiling when it comes to how much they'll pay Rajon Rondo to keep him around (Click here for details).

#9. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 30 points and 16 rebounds.

#10. 76ers point guard Ish Smith scored 23 points.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Raptors 113 Timberwolves 99. Jazz 98 Nuggets 84. Spurs 103 Magic 91. Wizards 106 76ers 93. Hornets 102 Pistons 78. Celtics 100 Pacers 87. Nets 100 Knicks 98. Rockets 115 Kings 111. Bucks 95 Bulls 91. Mavericks 135 Thunder 131. Clippers 126 Trail Blazers 122. Pelicans 113 Lakers 92.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic needs surgery on his Achilles (Click here for details).

#2. More details of the Bucks' new logo have emerged (Click here for details).

#3. Trail Blazers small forward Dorrell Wright is out indefinitely with a left hand fracture (Click here for details).

#4. The Lakers signed guard Dwight Buycks to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. The Lakers are expected to pick up power forward Jordan Hill's $9M option for next season (Click here for details).

#6. Talks of Billy Donovan leaving Florida for the NBA are heating up (Click here for details).

#7. Warriors small forward Harrison Barnes hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Suns (Click here for a video).

#8. Suns center Alex Len is out at least one week after undergoing surgery on his broken nose (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington is done for the season due to a separated shoulder (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets forward Josh Smith had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 107 Suns 106. Cavaliers 114 Heat 88. Rockets 108 Mavericks 101.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed forward Austin Daye for the rest of the season. It's a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#2. Trail Blazers forward Dorrell Wright (hand) is expected to be out 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#3. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (knee) is questionable for Saturday. Likely to go on Sunday (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford (calf) has returned to practice and is targeting a Tuesday return (Click here for details).

#5. Celtics forward Jared Sullinger made a surprise return. He played 3 minutes (Click here for details on his status).

#6. The Nuggets reportedly wanted to deal Ty Lawson at the deadline (Click here for details).

#7. Magic power forward Nikola Vucevic had 37 points and 17 rebounds.

#8. Grizzlies small forward Jeff Green had 22 points and 5 assists.

#9. Wizards small forward Otto Porter, Jr. had 17 points.

#10. Knicks guard Ricky Ledo had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Magic 97 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 100 Thunder 92. Pacers 93 Hornets 74. Wizards 101 Knicks 87. Bucks 110 Celtics 101. Nets 114 Raptors 109. Bulls 88 Pistons 82. Spurs 123 Nuggets 93. Pelicans 101 Kings 95. Trail Blazers 107 Lakers 77.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Paul George will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#2. The Hornets may shut down Al Jefferson (knee) for the season (Click here for details).

#3. Lakers shooting guard Nick Young is likely done for the season (Click here for details).

#4. Mark Jackson's MVP vote goes to James Harden. Stephen Curry is surprised (Click here for details).

#5. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#6. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Jazz rookie shooting guard Rodney Hood was cleared to play on Saturday after having a concussion (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has set the NBA record for most wins by a rookie head coach (Click here for details).

#9. Marcus Smart hit the game-winning shot for the Celtics in OT, giving the Celtics the #8 seed in the East for the moment (Click here for a video).

#10. Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick had 25 points.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 92 Grizzlies 83. Warriors 123 Mavericks 110. Suns 87 Jazz 85. Hornets 92 76ers 91. Hawks 131 Nets 99. Pistons 99 Heat 98. Celtics 117 Raptors 116 (OT). Magic 97 Bucks 90. Clippers 107 Nuggets 92. Trail Blazers 99 Pelicans 90.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Wizards are signing guard Will Bynum for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#2.The Nets signed Earl Clark to a two-year deal with a team option for next season (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose could return this upcoming week (Click here for details).

#4. In his return, Pacers forward Paul George had 13 points and 2 rebounds.

#5. Warriors guard Shaun Livingston was suspended for Sunday's game due to punching Dirk Nowitzki in the groin (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 41 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Thunder.

#7. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Rockets.

#8. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 21 points and 17 rebounds against the Rockets.

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Bulls.

#10. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Bulls.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Spurs 107 Warriors 92. Jazz 101 Kings 95. Rockets 115 Thunder 112. Cavaliers 99 Bulls 94. Pacers 112 Heat 89. Knicks 101 76ers 91. Clippers 106 Lakers 78.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news