Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Warriors are doing something familiar the last week or so: win.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group.)
The Golden State Warriors are STILL last in the Western Conference standings. 9-24 doesn’t sound too great.
The difference is that they have the longest winning streak in the West. They’ve won their last four games. They beat the Pelicans, Wolves, Rockets, and Suns (which was last night) in that streak.
It also helps to have most of their talent back. As much as I respect the players, they just didn’t have enough talent for most of the season. Guys like D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks, and Willie Cauley-Stein have all come back. It may have taken a while for them to gel but it’s always rough when new teammates come together while trying to break a losing streak.
Draymond Green has also had somewhat of an awakening. He’ll never be the #1 option in offense and he always works best as the one doing all the dirty work besides superstars. And when no one is looking, he can convert a big clutch three like he did against the Rockets. He’s never been known as a great shooter but he’s come up big in so many nerve-wracking moments.
Oh. And look at the Warriors do their work on the defensive end in the last week!
SECOND in defensive rating (that’s points allowed per 100 possessions). They’re still struggling on offense as evidenced against the Suns. But remember when they were the “Third Quarter Warriors” in their title run? Now they save the best for the fourth quarter.
They turn up the defense even more and are amazing offensively in the fourth. They killed the Suns, 39-18, in that final period on Friday. They beat the Rockets, 24-17, in that fourth. Holding the Rockets to 17 points is an amazing feat.
Now why am I propping up a 9-24 team? Because they’re not that far behind for a playoff spot. I know. That’s pretty hilarious. But the Blazers are 14-18 themselves at the 8th spot. That is only 5.5 games behind. We’re not even in the new calendar year yet. It’s a looooooooong season.
I’m not saying they’ll catch them. But it’s something to keep an eye on. If they upset Dallas later on tonight, it could be really something. And if Stephen Curry does come back around March, they might be a really dangerous team should they sneak into the postseason.
Ah, the Warriors. Still making life miserable for the rest of the NBA even though they’re clearly not THAT team anymore.
Bullet Passes
Jaylen Brown scored 34 points, a new career-high, against Cleveland. I don’t know why I feel weird when people were like he wasn’t supposed to be this good. He was the #3 pick for a reason, right? And he is under the tutelage of Brad Stevens. I don’t see why he COULDN’T be good.
And here’s the madness again with the Sixers. They probably should’ve beaten Orlando on the road. But that inconsistency still drives us mad. Let’s see if they can put together a string of games soon.
Trae Young hurt his ankle and he’s pretty much the ONLY reason why the Hawks offense is chugging. He won’t play on Friday night.
I didn’t talk about the return of John Collins a few days ago. But the Hawks have been so bad that it hardly made a dent, even if he went for 27 points and 10 boards against the Cavs last Monday.
Nice to see Oklahoma City bounce back from their loss to go back above .500. But YGTMYFT (you got to make your free throws), P.J. Washington.
It’s been mentioned that Pat Connaughton has a 44-inch vert and people have raved about his athleticism. Well, the vert wasn’t that great here but he can do poster dunks.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
I mean, I wish I can do that.
The Scoreboard
CLE 117 (9-22) @ BOS 129 (22-7)
OKC 104 (16-15) @ CHA 102 (13-21) (OT)
PHI 97 (23-11) @ ORL 98 (14-17)
MIL 112 (28-5) @ ATL 86 (6-26)
IND 112 (21-11) @ MIA 113 (23-8)
PHX 96 (11-20) @ GS 105 (9-24)
Watch This Play
Goran Dragic gets the eventual game-winner against the tough Pacers.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
The Heat are now 14-1 at home.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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