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.
01/14/2017
THE GAMES
LAL 97 (15-29) @ LAC 113 (28-14)
NO 99 (16-25) @ CHI 107 (20-21)
SA 105 (31-9) @ PHX 108 (13-27) [played in Mexico City]
PHI 93 (12-26) @ WAS 109 (20-19)
ORL 107 (17-25) @ UTA 114 (26-16)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rebecca Blackwell/AP.)
MIDSEASON MADNESS IN MEXICO?
So Adam Silver once again talked about probably having a midseason tournament to continue to promote the NBA. Mexico City is close to the southern sector of the States (plus the Suns just played two “home” games there) so it’s the likely candidate to hold such a thing. They even talked about bringing an NBA franchise there but it seems more likely that a midseason tourney would happen first.
My question is… why?
I think it’s fine if they play more games there to promote the brand. Have about six to eight games for exposure and leave it at that. Why do you need a tourament for? What does that accomplish?
Plus the logistics. I don’t think all thirty teams can go play in Mexico so it would only affect the few teams playing there. What do they win? Is anyone even going to remember the tournaments? How long would it last? Why have something on the line when the games played in Mexico midseason already have an affect on the standings?
And I brought this up before where traveling abroad would be such an experience. But of course, if you have something on the line, the designated home teams (AND the home fans) feel a little bit cheated that their home court advantage would be lost because they’re not playing at their home city. I just think there is so much that would be affected if you try a midseason tournament when there’s already a huge season going on.
I think just playing a few regular season games abroad is fine as is. Don’t make it more complicated than the NBA scheduling already is.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
It’s a small schedule on Saturday; we know there are important games going on in another sport.
But the Clippers have quietly won six straight games and they’re still doing it without Blake Griffin. They do have the Utah Jazz breathing two games behind them, though. But the Clips could be something once they get Griffin back. And remember that they did get off to a 14-2 start once upon a time.
The Spurs lost a game! I guess they don’t do so well on foreign soil. Also, it’s sad that the Sixers lost after their recent hot streak. They had to sit Joel Embiid down because of a back-to-back.
Not much going on as people will remember today more for the Falcons and the Patriots advancing to their respective football conference championship games. Forgive me.
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
It was in a loss but Anthony Davis returned to the Pelicans line-up and did this damage:
36 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks.
He’s beginning to be forgotten because they’re not winning as much. Let’s try not to, okay?
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
It’s already bad enough that Gerald Henderson, Jr. got posterized once by Marcin Gortat but Kelly Oubre, Jr. also did the dirty deed on Henderson.
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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