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.
12/29/2016
THE GAMES
MIA 82 (10-23) @ CHA 91 (19-14)
OKC 80 (20-13) @ MEM 114 (21-14)
BOS 118 (19-14) @ CLE 124 (24-7)
PHI 83 (7-24) @ UTA 100 (20-13)
TOR 91 (22-10) @ PHX 99 (10-23)
DAL 101 (10-23) @ LAL 89 (12-24)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rick Bowmer/AP.)
GEORGE HILL IS THE DIFFERENCE?
So we’ve probably noticed that the Utah Jazz seem like a much better team when point guard Geroge Hill plays. Well, against Philadelphia on Thursday night, he helped the Jazz out of a hole in the fourth quarter; Utah outscored Philly, 30-9, in that period. He went for 21-8-6 in his return game. And while the plus-minus stat can be wacky, he was a +31. As in the Jazz outscored the Sixers by 31 points when he was on the court.
Looking through the season, the Jazz are actually 9-3 when he plays; they’ve won their last nine games when he’s on the court. While a small sample size, Hill is having a career-high in scoring as he’s averaging 20.1 points per game to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He’s also shooting a scintillating .551 from the field and .475 from three.
The Jazz got what they wanted from Hill and more. For years, Utah has looked for a point guard to settle the team down. Hill offers stability, discipline, and great defense. It’s why Gregg Popovich hated to give him up when he was with the Spurs (to be fair, San Antonio got a franchise player out of that deal). Utah isn’t exactly a perennial playoff team but Hill’s experience might take them to that level.
Now the trick for Hill is to stay healthy.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Memphis certainly took advantage of the Russell Westbrook ejection. Grizzlies won by 34 points.
Sometimes, some people think that Westbrook’s inefficiency hurts the team. But those same people have to realize that their preferred methods of attack doesn’t fit with every franchise. Westbrook HAS to have the ball for the Thunder to succeed. Would he wear out? Probably but you can’t also tell Westbrook how his body operates. Some teams work better with all the ball movement and some teams aren’t as talented that they need individual dominance to take them to that next level. There are different ways to “making your teams better.” But of course, we know the overall talent makeup can only take a team so far.
The Lakers continue to have trouble playing all four quarters. They just can’t rest their laurels and magically think they’ll win. That discipline that was there for the first 20 games is all but gone.
But are we sort of underestimating the Mavericks now? They’re starting to get a little healthier and their slowdown, 90s style of play is getting them some wins. Remember that they’re only 4.5 games behind the 8th seed. Okay. Enough with the false hope.
Look at the Suns upset the Raptors.
The Cavs have really figured it out with Kevin Love. Maybe, just maybe, Tyronn Lue knew how to implement him into the offense and David Blatt did not.
Lastly, Kemba Walker pulled off a Nick Young. This is like me getting a number from a hot woman but it turned out that number was from her uncle’s.
Kemba Walker does the Swaggy P #Shaqtin @MikeGoldFool, @NBAonTNT https://t.co/T4ZXUX6r8U
— mfr24 (@mfr234) December 30, 2016
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: AP.)
All the Cavs stars got double-doubles but most of us thought Kyrie Irving did the most damage:
32 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals.
I like playmaking Kyrie.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Poor Jahlil Okafor. Rudy Gobert slams this one right in front of his face.
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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