People are obsessed with power rankings. So naturally, we have one of our own but it’s not about how good sports teams are. Every Monday, we look at 10 things in the NBA (or not) and rank them in order of how much we liked each thing. Don’t agree with them? Make your own rankings!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
1) James Harden Got Another 50-Pt Triple-Double
I’m already amazed when someone gets a 30-point triple-double. But 50-point triple-doubles?!
This is the seventh time this happened since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1975. Since then, Harden and Russell Westbrook made it their thing. This is Harden’s fourth such game.
And I even forget, sometimes, that he did a 60-POINT triple-double in January!
(VIDEO CREDIT: FreeDawkins.)
2) LeBron and Lonzo BOTH Got Triple-Doubles
The Lakers waxed the Charlotte Hornets by 28 points. In that blowout, TWO Lakers got triple-doubles. It was the sixth time a pair of teammates got trip-dubs in the same game. And LeBron and Lonzo did the deed for the first time since Vince Carter and Jason Kidd did it in 2007 as members of the NEW JERSEY Nets.
LeBron had 24-12-11 while Ball went for 16-10-10 to go along with five steals. Quite a night for these Lakers.
3) Jeremy Lamb Wins It For Charlotte
Lamb sinks the long two with 0.3 ticks left.
What was left out in the video? The Hornets getting called for a technical foul for going on the court before the game was officially over. Nevertheless, it gave the Pistons one last chance to win it (however slim) but in the end, it was the Hornets WINNING by one point.
Also left out in the video? Hornets owner and NBA forever-legend Michael Jordan slapping Malik Monk on the head twice for going on the court early. It didn’t look playful at first but they both smiled after the second slap.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
4) Sue Bird As Nuggets Front Office Associate
First off, it’s just cool to continue seeing women hired for front office and coaching jobs in the NBA. And basketball afficionados KNOW that Sue Bird is a LEGEND. Paul George looked so thrilled to be taking a picture with her.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mykal McEldowney/The IndyStar.)
5) Indiana Pacers’ winning streak
Don’t look now but the Pacers have won seven straight games. Also, Victor Oladipo has returned. Maybe the Pacers are for real as the new Eastern Conference continues to reshape without LeBron James there.
Klay Thompson with a very Klay-esque halftime interview pic.twitter.com/NuDXyf3vY3
— The Render (@TheRenderNBA) December 15, 2018
6) Klay Thompson’s Halftime Interview
YOU try to understand what Klay was saying.
Yeah, I know. That was easy.
7) MVP Chants for Kyrie… In Washington
It’s really never thrilling for the home team to hear MVP chants for an opposing player. Sometimes, it can be understandable if the home team is terrible and there’s hardly anything to cheer for (Phoenix).
But the Wizards and Celtics went at it for a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2016 Playoffs. There was bad blood for a while. And this was a close game. Somehow, a section of Celtics fans (or/and people from Washington) were able to get off MVP chants.
I wouldn’t find that amusing if I was a Wizards fan. On the other hand, Kyrie is looking awesome because of that.
What am I watching? I cannot believe this just happened in an NBA game. pic.twitter.com/XzjVOEJ1Tg
— Stephen Noh (@StephNoh) December 16, 2018
8) Kris Dunn’s Three-Pointer
Um…
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today.)
9) The Trevor Ariza Non-Trade
The initial trade was supposed to be a three-way deal that involved the Suns, the Wizards, and the Grizzlies. We had Ariza going to Washington, Kelly Oubre, Jr. going to Memphis, and Austin Rivers going to Phoenix. Second round picks were being exchanged and we also had Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks going to Phoenix.
And then the reports were saying that it wasn’t Dillon Brooks going to Phoenix. It was MarShon Brooks. The difference between the two is that Dillon is much younger and has potential to be a starter while MarShon is a journeyman and nearing 30. With that confusion, the deal was called off.
It just goes to show that communication can suck in just about every level.
The Suns and the Wizards went ahead and did the deal without the Grizzlies but man, was that fiasco amusing.
When you don’t know how to play tic-tac-toe… 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/2eZ2eX1GuW
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 13, 2018
10) What’s So Hard About Tic-Tac-Toe?
I give up on humans.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
His podcast is at Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.