Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Deer have made it 18 straight wins.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Gary Dineen/Getty Images.)
I mentioned yesterday that the Bucks’ winning streak is really impressive.
Well, they won again on Saturday night. They’ve made it 18 straight:
Screw your “but the schedule wasn’t that hard” counters. They can’t help who they play. And if they went, say, 9-9, everyone would ask what’s wrong with the Bucks and lament that they were capable of running the table in those 18 games.
So yeah. It’s extremely impressive. Of course, I go to the ESPN NBA section and…
They mentioned the Bucks. But no mention of their winning streak?!
Come on, man.
This is only the 13th time in league history that an 18-game win streak within an NBA season has happened. Also, the defending Most Valuable Player award-winner resides in Milwaukee. We talk about how amazing Giannis Antetokounmpo is. But apparently, that still isn’t enough to get a friggin’ “Top Headline” in ESPN. Geez.
Something historic (no, I am not exaggerating) is happening. It’s not like 18-game winning streaks happen every day. Giannis has been mentioned as the “best player in the league” at times and somehow, he’s getting ignored. We know that the small markets in NBA still don’t get as much pub and Milwaukee not getting a headline on a powerful national sports entity is proof of that. The NBA and the media wonder why the small markets aren’t getting a fair shake? Well, this is why. You’re not promoting the hottest team in the league. And once again, the hottest team has the MVP winner from last season.
I need to reiterate on how difficult this winning streak has been. The schedule can be brutal. The injuries can happen out of nowhere. These are professional NBA teams that are after their heads. But the Bucks have been dominant. Their offensive rating is third (114.8 points scored per 100 possessions) in the league and their defense is TOPS (102 points allowed per 100 possessions) right now. They are INCREDIBLE.
It’s terrifying, too, because Giannis is doing MORE with LESS time this season.
(Stats from Basketball Reference.)
Khris Middleton has reestablished himself as the second option. They have great rim protection. Their perimeter defense has been outstanding. Their three-point shooting has been overwhelming (third in three-point field goals and attempts and those really add up). Everything is peachy in Milwaukee and it’s a shame that they’re not being promoted enough.
Their streak could end soon. Eric Bledsoe has a fibula injury that will keep him out for two weeks. Their next game would be intriguing against Dallas but Luka Doncic could miss that. However, they have the Los Angeles Lakers, who are currently the best team in the West, on Thursday. They have been killers on the road. If they somehow survive that, they have a back-to-back at New York and then home against Indiana. That leads to their Christmas showdown against Philadelphia.
It’s just too bad that it’s likely that, unless they win the championship this season, they’re just going to be a footnote in NBA history. We’re all going to be looking at Wikipedia two years from now and be like, “Oh, I forgot that the Bucks won 18 straight games in 2019!” Ugh.
Bullet Passes
Luka Doncic got hurt against their game in Miami and had to leave very early. He was diagnosed with a moderate ankle sprain. The Mavs have been hot this season, too, and Luka has launched himself into elite status. Hopefully, he’s not out for too long; he and the Mavs have been one of the best stories this year.
Luka’s averages this season are at 29.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. Obviously, those were fudged because he only played a minute and 40 seconds in that game against the Heat.
HOWEVER, even when the Mavs got down by 24, they somehow rallied back and pushed it to overtime. I’ve said time and again that the Mavericks don’t have a sexy roster and it’s amazing that they have the best offense in the league (and according to stats, in league HISTORY). Maybe they’ll be okay without Luka. We’ll see.
You know what’s awesome? Bam Adebayo getting his second triple-double this WEEK. He had 18-11-10
Well, James Harden‘s 50-point streak is over. He did score 39 against Detroit.
The problem is that Houston lost against them. Luke Kennard had 22 points and Derrick Rose (yeah, yeah, I know) went old-school and went for 20.
And, yes, any team can beat another in any given night. The Bulls upset the Clippers, 109-106. Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, JaMychal Green, and Patrick Beverley all sat out but they did get Landry Shamet back for this game. The Clippers are one of those teams this season that are not worried too much about not making the playoffs; they just want to get there in a high-enough seed.
I think Nikola Jokic is awake now. He had his fourth triple-double this season (28-14-12). He’s averaging 23.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in his last five games.
Jamal Murray served himself some dinner on Saturday night.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
What a showoff.
The Spurs stole this one from the Suns in Mexico City. First, DeMar DeRozan made the game-tying bucket with 5.5 seconds left and was fouled. Then DeRozan uncharacteristically missed the foul shot but the ball went out of bounds off the Suns.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills did the rest with my favorite play, the handoff.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
That was sweeeeet.
As you probably saw in that ESPN headline, though, that is the Spurs’ fourth straight game with an overtime period. It sounds exhausting just thinking about it. They went 3-1 in that stretch, by the way.
Watch This Play
Brandon Clarke must hate Ian Mahinmi.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
Because that is just SO messed up what he did.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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