(PHOTO CREDIT: Marc J. Terrill/AP.)
10/31/2016
THE GAMES
DEN 102 (1-2) @ TOR 105 (2-1)
CHI 118 (3-0) @ BRK 88 (1-3)
SAC 95 (2-2) @ ATL 106 (3-0)
PHX 98 (0-4) @ LAC 116 (3-0)
ARE WE FORGETTING ABOUT THE CLIPPERS?
We’re on the road to a likely Warriors/Cavaliers Finals rematch of their rematch. But let’s all remember that nothing is 100 percent sure, ESPECIALLY after what we saw last spring. After all, the Warriors lost nine times in the postseason (and the championship) after only losing nine times in the regular season. This is not a lock for the Finals.
But since it’s the likely match-up, we’re forgetting about teams on the outside. What about the Clippers?
Ever since the Clippers acquired Chris Paul in, I guess shall we say, controversial fashion in 2011, they have made the playoffs every single year. The problem is that they have never made it past the second round. They did come close in 2015 but they did what the Warriors and the Thunder did the following season: blow a 3-1 series lead. And last spring, cruel fate intervened as they lost Blake Griffin and Paul to injuries in a first round loss to Portland.
I did see some media pick the Clippers to make it to the Western Conference Finals. I actually did, too, but I’m not sure if many are picking them to even be a dark horse to win the title. They did have some sort of rivalry with the Warriors and they were the last West team to beat them in the postseason. But the Warriors have dominated the Clips since then, winning seven of eight regular season games in the last two years.
This Clipper team does seem deeper, though. Sure, they still can’t seem to find the answer at small forward (where Luc Richard Mbah a Moute starts) but their bench does boast Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, Wesley Johnson (who’s fit in nicely), Mo Speights (say what you will but he has playoff experience), and Raymond Felton (who will do well in his role). Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson, and Paul Pierce are still on the team as well. It’s only been three games but they seem to have concentrated more on defense. They are currently third in this early part of the season (6th in defensive rating last season).
Clips are 3-0 right now so it’s obviously too early. But maybe we shouldn’t be sleeping on these guys, either.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Man, does Chicago look good right now. They beat a hapless Nets team by 30. They shot just over 40 percent from three. It is early but they are making me look stupid at the moment.
The Hawks are also undefeated. They’re doing it once again with balanced scoring and of course, they’re stopping guys yet again. They’re currently first in defensive rating and defense has been their calling card the last few years. So great start by the Hawks thus far.
What I really want to go over is the contract extension being dealt by teams. The deadline to get those done was Halloween for the 2013 Draft Class. Here are the dollar amounts for today:
Victor Oladipo (OKC): 4 years, $84 million.
Steven Adams (OKC): 4 years, $100 million.
Rudy Gobert (UTA): 4 years, $102 million.
Gorgui Dieng (MIN): 4 years, $64 million.
Cody Zeller (CHA): 4 years, $56 million.
Orlando seemed to have run out of patience on Oladipo as they traded him in a package deal to acquire Serge Ibaka. He’s done well as Russell Westbrook‘s running mate in the backcourt in the few games they’ve played together and I guess that was enough to ink him to an extension. Adams is a rough-and-tumble guy and has improved on both sides of the ball so much. You’re not going to find a lot of big men tougher than Adams. In these inflated salaries, I think he’s worth it.
Utah has a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Gobert so it’s good they re-signed him. Dieng produces some good numbers and can help out Karl-Anthony Towns on the boards. That’s actually less than I thought he would get. And Zeller is a very productive frontcourt starter for the Hornets. That’s some good value for Charlotte.
Others that got extensions earlier?
C.J. McCollum (POR): 4 years, $107 million.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 4 years, $100 million.
Dennis Schroder (ATL): 4 years, $70 million (?).
McCollum is Damian Lillard‘s backcourt mate and won Most Improved Player last season; the Blazers weren’t going to let him go. Giannis is the do-everything franchise player for the Bucks so they re-signed him. And the Hawks tabbed Schroder as their future PG so they had to lock him up after they traded Jeff Teague.
Get your money, players.
Also, since it’s Halloween, here’s Paul Pierce as Rick James.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Los Angeles Clippers.)
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: Sergei Belski/USA Today.)
This one stood out to me. Despite the loss, I gotta give props to Jusuf Nurkic of Denver.
13 points, 18 rebounds, 5 blocks.
Yay for taking advantage of increased PT!
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: Ximo Pierto.)
It’s the running of the Bulls. From Rajon Rondo to Dwyane Wade to Jimmy Butler.
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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