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.
11/09/2016
THE GAMES
BRK 96 (3-5) @ NY 110 (3-4)
BOS 93 (3-4) @ WAS 118 (2-5)
UTA 98 (5-4) @ CHA 104 (6-1)
MIN 123 (2-5) @ ORL 107 (3-5)
PHI 115 (0-7) @ IND 122 (4-4) [OT]
CHI 107 (4-4) @ ATL 115 (6-2)
TOR 112 (5-2) @ OKC 102 (6-2)
DET 100 (4-4) @ PHX 107 (3-6)
HOU 101 (5-3) @ SA 99 (5-3)
POR 80 (5-4) @ LAC 111 (7-1)
DAL 95 (2-6) @ GS 116 (6-2)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Luis Sinco/L.A. Times.)
COLLISION COURSE?
The Clippers are starting to get noticed a bit. They are now 7-1 and have the best record in the league.
Also, you may have not noticed this but the Warriors are 6-2 despite a lot of people scrutinizing them at seemingly every turn.
This was my predicted Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are obviously the favorites to win the title with their new souped-up team (you know, Kevin Durant). But the Clippers have been consistently good since Chris Paul got there and they only never got to the Western Conference Finals because of either a better team going against them or just plain bad luck.
Could the Clippers be this year’s version of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks? Even though they had a great regular season record (which nobody noticed), everyone thought we were going to finally get Kobe vs LeBron in the Finals. Nope. Dallas surprisingly swept the then-defending champion Lakers and then went on to win the title against the powered-up Heat team. They’ve always been good and they hung around long enough to finally break through the glass ceiling.
The Clippers were the last team to beat the Warriors in the Western Conference Playoffs. But unless injuries happen, it’s going to be tough to beat a Warriors team led by Stephen Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. A tough frontline defense is the Warriors’ weakness and the Clippers do have that. Plus the Clippers’ overall defense is #1 so far in the early part of the season.
These Clippers may have a chance to prevent a Cavs/Warriors trilogy. Maybe this is finally the year where everything goes their way instead of some outside force shielding them from the ultimate prize.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Harrison Barnes scored 25 points in his return to Oracle. Unfortunately, his team lost by 21.
Point guard James Harden is working really well.
Spurs lost ONE game at home last season. They’ve already lost THREE this season and we’re not even halfway through November. I’m not sure if it’s panic time in San Antonio just yet and I can’t remember the last time I was “worried” about how the Spurs would do. You know that team; they’ve made the postseason 25 of the last 26 years. They’re death and taxes.
Detroit still can’t win on the road. Philly still can’t win before December.
Charlotte, I see you’re 6-1. Oh, boy.
Lastly, I learned that the Timberwolves were weak in the third quarter. Coming into the Orlando game, they were -37 per 100 possessions in the third! They won big in the Magic Kingdom but Orlando was still +9 in the third. They gotta fix that.
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images.)
James Harden messed around and got his triple-double in handing the San Antonio Spurs their third home loss in a row.
24 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists.
POINT GUARD JAMES HARDEN.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
The Spurs lost. Jonathon Simmons lost, too. Well, he lost Clint Capela in this spin move.
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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