Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Thunder have won their last three.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Alonzo Adams/USA Today.)
Oklahoma City Thunder have won their last three games. In fact, they’ve won 8 of their last 11 games to push themselves back to .500. They’re pretty much stuck in the middle and, in the NBA, that’s the worst place a team can be. They’re not bad enough to get a good pick but not good enough to win the championship or even get close to it.
I don’t think it’s so bad to be .500, though.
After trading Paul George and THEN Russell Westbrook, many people thought this season should be a rebuilding year for them. But the roster includes the promising Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the rough Steven Adams, the very good Danilo Gallinari, and the future hall-of-famer Chris Paul. That’s STILL a pretty decent core.
At this point, I don’t think any team is going to take on Chris Paul’s humongous deal ($38 million this season and a possible $85 million the next two seasons). He may be on the downside of his career but he’s still Chris Paul, the ultimate competitor who will try to get an edge somewhere. This is the man who helped his team win a game because someone’s jersey was untucked.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just so smooth and already has a reliable game. He was the centerpiece in that big Paul George deal. Whether the Thunder see him as an important piece for their future is another story but it wouldn’t be so bad to stick with him.
We know what we’re getting with Steven Adams, probably the strongest dude in the NBA today, and Danilo Gallinari, who has a really capable offensive game. They also have Dennis Schroder coming off the bench so this team is still pretty good.
I’ve never been much for tanking, though I understand it. I do also think losing creates a toxic and defeatist environment. But we’ve seen a team the Rockets stay afloat in the playoff picture before getting to the next level, though it was easier because they had James Harden in the roster. We’ve also seen a team like the Spurs be good year after year after year. And then we saw a team like the Sixers go to the extreme and tank for several years before hitting paydirt with the players they have now.
There’s no right or wrong way for a team to build. However, I do think that it’s not so bad for a team to be competitive and be in the playoff hunt every year. And OKC has a plethora of draft picks coming up due to their deals with George and Westbrook (and also Jerian Grant).
OKC 1sts:
2020 Own (1-20)
2020 DEN (11-30)
2021 Own (HOU 5-30 swap right)
2021 MIA (HOU 5-30 swap right)
2022 Own (1-14)
2022 LAC
2023 Own (LAC swap right)
2023 MIA (15-30)
2024 Own
2024 LAC
2024 HOU (5-30)
2025 Own (LAC and HOU 21-30 swap right)
2026 Own
2026 LAC
2026 HOU (5-30)— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) July 12, 2019
OKC can build upon what is currently looking like a playoff team. Obviously, getting the #1 pick would be an extremely low probability but maybe they could get lucky and find a gem in the middle of the first round. It’s not impossible (Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo come to mind as mid-first round picks that have had a BIT of success).
So go make the playoffs! GIve fans something to feel good about. And give the francise a morale boost. There are different ways to build a team and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a “rebuilding competitive team.”
Bullet Passes
The Mavericks are now 11-2 on the road, somehow. And they beat the Bucks AND the Sixers away from Dallas. Kristaps Porzingis (yeah, I know) went for 22 points and a career-high 18 boards against the Sixers. In fact, he’s averaged 23.7 points, 14.3 boards, and 2.7 blocks in the last three games without Luka Doncic. He’s easily playing the best stretch of the season.
The defending champion Raptors are going to be really tested the next few weeks. They lost three core players and we have no idea how long they’re going to be out. MVP candidate Pascal Siakam has a groin injury. Defensive stalwart Marc Gasol has problems with his hamstring. The improving Norman Powell hurt his shoulder. They are all listed as out indefinitely. Yikes.
Kyle Lowry did return recently but he hasn’t shot well since coming back. Fred VanVleet just returned from a knee injury. Serge Ibaka has been the constant for Toronto. They’re going to have to hold down the fort for the next few weeks.
They did beat Washington on Friday so there’s that.
Teams we should be on the lookout for? Pacers and Nuggets each won their games and both currently have the longest win streaks at 5 games. The Pacers continue to get it done while the Nuggets are waking up a bit on offense with Nikola Jokic finally doing his thing. Also of note that the Pacers played four of five games at home while the Nuggets were at home for all five.
I’m just sad that the Wolves have lost 9 straight games. And it sucks because Karl-Anthony Towns (even though he was out the last two games) has had a great season and Andrew Wiggins seems to have figured it out a bit. Obviously, they haven’t been enough.
You know how I said that the East is pretty good now? Can I get a takeback? Because their #8 seed is Charlotte at 13-18. They’re on pace for… 34 wins. Gross.
The West ain’t much better. Portland has, uh, climbed back to the eighth spot at 13-16. That’s a 37-win pace.
It suddenly feels like any team’s spot. Well, maybe not any team.
The Scoreboard
MEM 107 (10-19) @ CLE 114 (8-21)
SAC 105 (12-16) @ IND 119 (20-9)
DET 93 (11-18) @ BOS 114 (19-7)
WAS 118 (8-19) @ TOR 122 (20-8)
NY 114 (7-22) @ MIA 129 (21-8)
DAL 117 (19-9) @ PHI 98 (20-10)
PHX 108 (11-17) @ OKC 126 (14-14)
MIN 100 (10-17) @ DEN 109 (19-8)
ORL 103 (12-17) @ POR 118 (13-16)
NO 102 (7-23) @ GS 106 (6-24)
Watch This Play
Kristaps Porzingis with the icing on the delicious Mavs cake in Philly.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
Mavs keep rolling without Luka.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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