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.
12/03/2016
THE GAMES
BRK 103 (5-14) @ MIL 112 (10-8)
MIN 125 (6-14) @ CHA 120 (11-9)
ATL 84 (10-11) @ TOR 128 (14-6)
BOS 107 (12-8) @ PHI 106 (4-16)
LAL 100 (10-12) @ MEM 103 (13-8)
CHI 82 (11-8) @ DAL 107 (4-15)
DEN 98 (7-13) @ UTA 105 (12-9)
MIA 92 (7-13) @ POR 99 (11-10)
PHX 109 (6-14) @ GS 138 (17-3)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brandon Dill/AP.)
SCHEDULE LOSSES
We got some complaints from Laker fans that they’re not giving enough effort against Memphis and that’s why they lost.
Do they realize how tough it is to play four games in five nights? Especially if they’re on the road? This is one thing that the NBA wanted to fix in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. Now there may be an earlier opening night for the season. Why? In an attempt to lessen games on back-to-back nights for teams and also in an attempt to eliminate those tiring four-games-in-five-nights stretches.
Even the Lakers last night admitted that there was fatigue but they trudged on because they had no choice. Some fans have no idea how tiring those stretches are. It’s already hard enough for them to do back-to-back nights but four games in five nights? Don’t forget the travel they have to do. Sometimes, these players arrive at around 2-3 A.M. at a city. Then they try to catch some sleep, check into their hotels, find time to eat, then go to the game. This also catches up to them mentally because they don’t have much of a window. As an example, the Lakers went from Toronto on Friday to Memphis on Saturday. This is why a lot of teams choose to rest their stars, especially if they’re a little older, just so they can save them for the playoffs. And then fans get cheated because they don’t get to see their favorite stars play due to them resting.
The NBA is working towards eliminating back-to-backs. Obviously, it won’t be all gone immediately; it’ll be a gradual process. But without those back-to-backs, the teams will be fresher and we’ll get to see more high-quality basketball in the NBA.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
So Draymond Green is criticizing the NBA because the league doesn’t know what unnatural acts are in basketball. He even went so far as to say he doesn’t know if the people in the league took kinesiology.
WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?
Another game another Draymond Green kick. pic.twitter.com/h2egPbNv1G
— ⓂarcusD2.0 (@_MarcusD2_) December 4, 2016
The poor guy, Marquese Chriss, had dislocated fingers after Green’s kick. The former pros at ESPN Countdown tried to say that Green kicks out for balancing reasons and that he’s not as athletic as the other guys. Well, he’s certainly not jumping here!
I wasn’t a pro but I certainly played basketball and I’d like to think I know what I’m talking about. I have never gone against someone who kicked as often as Green did. I can somewhat buy the balancing reason that the old ESPN pros said but Green is hurting so many people with those kicks. And he’s the only one doing it! Of course, he’s being “marked” as he says. He tried to say James Harden does unnatural movements when he drives but I can buy the flailing of the hands more than KICKING SOMEONE IN THE AIR.
I normally don’t have a problem with Draymond Green. The guy works hard on his craft and he’s gone from second round pick to one of the top players in the game, especially defensively. But STOP KICKING PEOPLE. You can CERTAINLY FIX THAT.
The NBA is weird. The Mavericks trashed the Bulls, the team that beat the Cavaliers. That happens, though.
The Hawks have lost 9 of 10. What is up, man?
The Blazers have silently won three of four but, of course, they’re currently on a home stand. Still, at least, they’re above .500 now.
The standings are bunched up at the moment. 1-10 in the East are separated by 4.5 games. In the West, the top three are separated by 1.5 games while 4-8 are separated by 2.5 games. And it doesn’t seem so bad right now for the bottom teams in the West. If one of them can go on a bit of a win streak, they can probably enter the playoff picture.
By the way, Pau Gasol is adorable.
@NBA @memgrizz @Lakers Popcorn ready!!! pic.twitter.com/X5HjnV1eXr
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) December 4, 2016
And, lastly, the Lakers got beat by Troy Daniels‘ 31 points. THIS GUY:
I will always remember Troy Daniels as an NBA 2K avatar. A news station didn't have a real picture of him. pic.twitter.com/U5o33MYRNg
— Rey-Rey (@TheNoLookPass) December 4, 2016
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: SunSentinel.)
Hassan Whiteside had a hell of a game despite the loss against Portland.
28 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks.
Shoutout to Lou Williams, who scored 40. And Isaiah Thomas, who went for 37.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Dario Saric! He cut off Jonas Jerebko‘s legs here.
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.
us on FaceBook! Thank you!