This is the Hangover. This is where I get drunk on the NBA as I recap last night’s action as well as a few things going on around the league. Here’s your word vomit.
01/06/2017
THE GAMES 01/05
BRK 109 (8-26) @ IND 121 (19-18)
UTA 93 (22-15) @ TOR 101 (24-11)
CHA 114 (20-17) @ DET 115 (17-21)
ATL 99 (20-16) @ NO 94 (14-23)
OKC 116 (21-16) @ HOU 118 (28-9)
PHX 102 (12-25) @ DAL 95 (11-25)
SA 127 (29-7) @ DEN 99 (14-22)
LAL 109 (13-26) @ POR 118 (16-22)
THE GAMES 01/06
MIN 105 (11-25) @ WAS 112 (17-18)
HOU 100 (29-9) @ ORL 93 (16-22)
PHI 106 (9-25) @ BOS 110 (22-14)
CLE 116 (27-8) @ BRK 108 (8-27)
NY 116 (17-19) @ MIL 111 (18-17)
MIA 100 (11-27) @ LAL 127 (14-26)
MEM 128 (23-16) @ GS 119 (31-6) [OT]
LAC 106 (25-14) @ SAC 98 (15-21)
SO ARE THE HAWKS DONE CONTENDING?
So the Cleveland Cavaliers decided they needed more shooting to fill the void J.R. Smith left. They have acquired forever sharpshooter Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for perpetually hurt Mike Dunleavy, Jr., retired Mo Williams, and a first-round pick from 2019. With J.R. and Korver on the same team, it made MY NBA 2K team come to life.
But forget about what the Cavs are doing. What about the Hawks?
Dwight Howard can’t be exactly too happy about this. While he did go back home to Atlanta, I’m sure he expected to contend. After all, the Hawks put up 60 wins two seasons ago and got to 48 last season. Even with Al Horford exiting to Boston, Howard probably thought he could help take the team to the next level (it’s fine to think that way but it wasn’t gonna happen).
Now Korver is gone. Paul Millsap is on the block once again. He and Thabo Sefolosha (also on the trading block) are the only two remaining starters from that 60-win team. While they’re not exactly going full rebuild with Howard and Dennis Schroder entrenched as point guard, they do seem to be moving towards some sort of youth movement. It seems like the Hawks are done threatening the East crown.
At the same token, though, who thought they would win this much after Joe Johnson got traded?
MAYBE THE WARRIORS HAVEN’T FIGURED IT OUT
So Draymond Green tore at Kevin Durant like a disappointed dad. Check this out:
Warriors' Kevin Durant calls for ball on crucial late possession, Stephen Curry relents, Draymond Green reacts w/ frustration pic.twitter.com/VROJSAZ0cZ
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 7, 2017
Durant isn’t exactly the master of late-game execution even though he’s sank a few clutch baskets in his career. But he’s so used to calling his own number when it comes to the last play and that’s what frustrated Green.
The Warriors had a 24-point lead against the Grizzlies and were leading by 19 entering the fourth. But bad habits came into play and Memphis came back. And one of those bad habits is that hero ball stuff at the end. Mike Conley came back to bite them with a game-tying bucket and the Grizz would eventually beat the Dubs in OT.
The funny thing is that the Warriors are 31-6. We praised them for figuring it out so quickly but as that sequence showed, they probably haven’t done that yet. But I agree with Draymond here on multiple counts. He said he’s glad they lost because that means they can get the bad kinks out of the way and they can adjust and fine-tune their execution late in games. And as much as I HATE HATE HATE that he kicks and hurts people, I don’t discount his passion for the game. Draymond gets it on that aspect and it was right for him to remind Durant, a former MVP, what made the Warriors tick the last few years.
Maybe next time, leave the ball in Stephen Curry‘s hands. Curry is, sometimes, left as an afterthought with the Warriors team so maybe it’s wise to put him back in the forefront in situations like this.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Lucas Nogueira had to adjust something so he pulled his shorts all the way down. I’m not sure if Derrick Favors saw that but he did miss the foul shot.
https://youtu.be/_4FN-wHAMbI
(VIDEO CREDIT: Pro Basketball.)
You wanna know why the fans ONLY get 50 percent of the vote now for all-star starters? Zaza Pachulia is second in fan voting amongst the frontcourt players in the West. If you remember, he also got big numbers in terms of votes last year after Wyclef Jean implored people to vote. But again, this season has media and players voting for the starters as well. Zaza ain’t going in.
Except, well, Draymond is voting for Zaza.
So back to the Cavs acquiring Korver. You can’t have enough shooting on your team. But LeBron James still isn’t thrilled. He wants a point guard as LeBron has basically played back-up one with no one good enough to relieve Kyrie Irving in those duties. Let’s give credit to David Griffin, Cavs GM, who has made some outstanding moves over the last few years.
How about that Thunder/Rockets duel on Thursday? James Harden was a killer playmaker, especially towards the end while Russell Westbrook kept bringing the thunder. In individual performances, Westbrook won the statistics battle but Harden won in terms of winning team plays. That pass underneath to Nene with time winding down was fantastic (although you can argue Jerami Grant‘s block was clean) and it led to the foul shots that gave the Rockets the victory. Houston continues to be the best redemption story this season.
This great play by Marco Belinelli would’ve been the greatest game-winner of all-time. If he only had a second more…
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Lastly, don’t mess with Jordan Clarkson. He got in a scuffle with Goran Dragic and put them dukes up. Hey now. Don’t you know us Filipinos get taught to box at an early age?
LINE CROSSER 01/05
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
See? I know you’re probably sick of seeing Westbrook’s face on here. But I also refuse to take for granted the numbers that he puts up. Like this line:
49 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
And that was not good enough to beat Houston. Whoops.
LINE CROSSER 01/06
(PHOTO CREDIT: Nick Wass/AP.)
Meanwhile, with Westbrook and Harden putting up numbers, John Wall has become underrated in the scope of things. But I’ll give him love on what he did against Minnesota:
18 points, 18 assists.
That is some line.
WATCH THIS PLAY 01/05
(VIDEO CREDIT: Underground.)
Nikola Jokic didn’t exactly have a great night against the Spurs, in terms of being on the other side of a dunk. Kawhi switches hands on him and stuffs it.
WATCH THIS PLAY 01/06
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Tyler Johnson busted out the lean dunk against Lou Williams in an impressive show of athleticism.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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