(PHOTO CREDIT: Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee.)
10/29/2016
THE GAMES
ATL 104 (2-0) @ PHI 72 (0-2)
BOS 104 (2-1) @ CHA 98 (2-1)
MEM 104 (1-1) @ NY 111 (1-1)
ORL 99 (0-3) @ CLE 105 (3-0)
IND 101 (1-2) @ CHI 118 (2-0)
BRK 108 (1-2) @ MIL 110 (1-1)
NO 79 (0-3) @ SA 98 (3-0)
POR 115 (2-1) @ DEN 113 (1-1) [OT]
MIN 103 (0-2) @ SAC 106 (2-1)
KINGDOM STABILTY
So the Kings are off to a 2-1 start. In my STILL NOT PRINTED NBA season preview, I had the Kings winning only 24 games. They do have the talent to be a fringe playoff team. But we all know about DeMarcus Cousins being volatile. And it goes deeper than that. Rudy Gay had let it known that he wanted out. Ty Lawson has had personal problems; this is his third team since last year. Darren Collison also has personal problems going on. They don’t know what to do with Ben McLemore. And Dave Joerger is the Kings’ NINTH coach in the last 10 years.
So far, so good in the first week, though. Yeah, they’re 2-1 but we’ve already seen some signs of meltdowns. Mainly, it’s Boogie going a bit berserk after he fouled out last night. He threw down his mouthpiece after he angrily went 10 rows up into the stands. Those out-of-control antics are the reason why the team walks on eggshells around him and is what’s keeping him from being a Top 5 player in the league. The team shouldn’t have to be stressed about whether DeMarcus is going to blow a gasket or not.
Yeah, I can joke and say that Boogie needs an adult. But what he needs is a CONSTANT presence. Again, NINE COACHES IN TEN YEARS. Joerger is a good coach and his demeanor may be good for Boogie. But even then, if he is good for Boogie and they go on a little slump, it’s probably not a good idea to axe him (hello, Mike Malone). Let them all grow together. Fix the roster a bit around Cousins and maybe they can finally make the postseason for the first time since Rick Adelman took them to the elite.
Take a deep breath, Boogie. Maybe you’ll get there soon. Don’t listen to my prediction. I want you guys to do well.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
So about that Damian Lillard? The guy is just pushing through the walls that is being put in front of him. Another monster game (you’ll see the line later) and a game-winner to put the Blazers over the top against the Nuggets.
I love the fight that the Brooklyn Nets are putting up. They can easily lay down because all they basically have are Brook Lopez and Jeremy Lin and a bunch of no-namers. They got their hearts broken when their comeback was snuffed at the last second by John Henson. But like the Lakers in the West, they could be really fun to watch. Doesn’t mean they’ll win a lot; they may not even win 25 games. But seeing underdogs give it their all is always fun.
Anthony Davis didn’t have a huge game and that resulted in an annihilation by the Spurs. Also, Kawhi Leonard, though he only had 20 overall points, has gotten to the point where he can take over the game offensively. He scored 13 in the decisive third quarter and it’s, once again, frightening what he can do on both ends now. Also, word is out that he did NOT work out with Kobe Bryant last summer. He probably watched a lot of Kobe film, though, and absorbed all of those signature moves because he’s an emotionless robot programmed to destroy the NBA.
Kyle Korver‘s legs are fixed now and he seems to be shooting a lot better. He was a huge key in the Hawks’ 60-win season two years ago and he could be once again the key to help the Hawks get back to that level. This guy is a game-changer just for the threat of his shot. Everyone has to keep tabs on him. And you hardly see teams make plans for a ROLE PLAYER.
The Bulls blew out the Pacers. That’s silly. The Knicks also got one over the Grizzlies. Maybe we should start taking the Knicks a bit more seriously. And the Timberpups are going to be really, really good… early in games. Their youth and inexperience will have them playing a bit skittish late; they’ll try NOT to lose instead of trying to win. But in a couple of years, the Wolves will be frightening should they stay healthy and together.
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Zalubowski/AP.)
Damian Lillard again. Guy finished with 37 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. He tied the game on an alley-oop inbounds pass with 2.1 seconds left in regulation. And then he made the game-winning floater with 0.3 seconds left in OT. We all know that it’s Lillard Time when the clock is fading in close games.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Lillard gets it here, too, because this guy is cold-blooded.
Shoutout to John Henson for his game-winner and to LeBron James for his soul-taking jam over Nikola Vucevic, who may have changed his name by now.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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