Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to another blowout.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
The Dallas Mavericks are 10-5. They’re currently 5th in the Western Conference. They’re on pace to win 55 games and that would likely give them a Top 4 berth in the West.
Luka Doncic is averaging 29.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. Let’s throw in his Player Efficiency Rating (a statistic that measures a player’s performance per minute) of 33.24, which is currently the best ever in NBA history (it’s likely that won’t hold; the record is 31.82, which Wilt Chamberlain did in the 1962-63 season). He’s also somehow getting the Mavs to lead the entire league in offensive rating (117.6 points per 100 possessions). And most casual watchers probably don’t even know three Mavs outside of Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis (yeah, yeah, I know).
So let me preface this that we are only a month into the season. And of course, we’ll have to see how the rest of the season plays out.
BUT… am I safe to say these things yet? That Luka could win MVP this season? That he could win it at the age of 21?
Can’t we also say he’s already one of the best 10 players in the league?
Yes, again, it’s only been 15 games. People like to say that it’s small sample theater.
Of course, it’s really helped that they clobbered the Warriors by 48 and that they annihilated the Cavaliers by 42. But he’s been doing this all season. He got a 42-point triple-double against the Spurs (who are terrible now, I know). He went 31-13-15 against the Lakers (who are GOOD now). He had 26-15-7 against the defending champion Raptors (who are STILL GOOD). His only real bad game was against the Nuggets when he only went 12-4-5 but he also made a clutch shot to help them win.
Maybe it’s too early to say that he’s already one of the best 10 in the league considering he’s only played 87 NBA games (no playoffs thus far). But why not MVP?
The ones you can make an argument for MVP are the incumbents Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden. You can throw in LeBron James for the Lakers. Maybe Pascal Siakam for the Raptors. Karl-Anthony Towns is having a hell of a season, too, though the Wolves are barely above .500. Damian Lillard has the numbers but the Blazers are not doing well on the standings.
I don’t know, man. It’s right there in front of us. I guess a lot of pundits are reluctant to say it because he’s young. Or because he’s “overhyped” even though, again, the numbers are staring at all of us. Or it’s because he hasn’t made the playoffs yet even though I’m pretty sure he’ll be fine when the stakes are higher.
I hope I don’t jinx him for saying this. But right now? Luka Doncic for MVP.
Bullet Passes
It continues to make me sad that the San Antonio Spurs that we’ve all known for more than two decades are likely done as we know it. They lost their eighth straight game (they lost Friday against Philadelphia. They are currently 5-11 and tied for second-to-last with Portland in the West.
A lot of people are going to say, “YEAH! BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE MIDRANGE JUMPERS!!!“ Offense is NOT the problem, tool; they’re actually Top 5 in offensive rating (111 points scored per 100 possessions and 112.9 points per game would make them 12th in points per game). They just can’t stop anybody (28th in defensive rating as they allow 114.2 points per 100 possessions).
It’s essentially the same team from last season and they made the playoffs. But the rise of a lot of West teams (Lakers, Mavs, Suns) certainly didn’t help them. Plus while I still think DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are helpful offensive players despite the plethora of midrange jumpers, they just can’t stop anybody. It’s going to be difficult but it might be time to get those guys off the team and start anew.
None of this would happen if Kawhi Leonard never got his ankle hurt against the Warriors. That is still one of the bigger What If scenarios this decade.
It drives the Lakers fans mad that they’ve kept some teams within close range or even trailed big in games (Thunder, Kings, Suns, Bulls). But now I think they’re so confident (maybe too much) that they think they can turn on that switch when it’s time to win. It’s okay to do that sort of thing on games that don’t have high stakes (like the playoffs would) but they can’t get used to that kind of life.
It’s easy to overlook this because he’s in a 5-8 Washington Wizards team. But Bradley Beal might have gone up another level or two this season. Yeah, it’s because John Wall is absent from the court but he’s averaging 30.3 points, 4.7 board, and 7.1 assists. Those are MVP numbers but, again, the Wiz are below .500 right now.
The tandem of Kawhi and Paul George is more terrifying on the court than on paper. But man, these Clippers aren’t the Clippers without Lou Williams. The guy has been called a professional scorer by many and that is the perfect way to describe him. He scored all of his 26 points in the second half, including a clutch three-pointer in the last minute.
Just watch.
— Taylor Griffin (@griffdunk) November 23, 2019
The Patrick Beverley-Russell Westbrook feud resurfaced yesterday after Westbrook missed a go-ahead three in the waning seconds:
(VIDEO CREDIT: Bleacher Report.)
PatBev was making fun of Westbrook’s shooting. Westbrook told Beverley he was trash. Gotta love the tension and pettiness by both.
Speaking of Patrick Beverley, it looked like he was being electrocuted in this play.
Patrick Beverley with the flop of the century 👏 pic.twitter.com/fUbqNGaAUs
— NBA Buckets (@NBA_Buckets) November 23, 2019
I know people like to deride flops but if you’re going to flop, make it as theatrical as possible. I applaud Beverley acting like he got thundershocked by Pikachu.
So from *ahem* #NBATwitter, Kyrie Irving will miss the next three games because of his ailing shoulder. And on more serious news…
You can watch it here if you want but Kemba Walker exited the game after what appeared to be a neck injury. He went down in a heap after he slammed his head against Semi Ojeleye‘s chest. He was stretchered off the court.
He was released from the hospital last night and an early diagnosis says he has concussion-like symptoms. We’ll know more later, I’m sure. We’re all glad it wasn’t worse and, hopefully, he can get back to full strength soon.
People love to talk about load management but we have seen a TON of injuries this season. I’m actually really tired of having to write entries for each individual injury but we have seen a litany of hand, shoulder, and ankle injuries this campaign. I attribute that to just a lot of freak accidents instead of managing minutes.
Ban injuries. Yes, I’m aware that these are going to happen and they will always be a part of the game. But hopefully, we’ll see fewer of these as the season goes on.
Watch This Play
Anthony Davis cleverly taps it to LeBron James for the power slam.
(VIDEO CREDIT: CaCHooKa Man Highlights.)
Showtime 2019.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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