Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Heat continue to burn teams at home.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Wilfredo Lee/AP.)
I continue to be marveled by the Heat. They’re now second in the East at 24-8. They are 15-1 at home. The Heat have won all 6 of their overtime games. And they have yet to lose back-to-back games. What is up with this?
It’s easy to dismiss their title contender hopes. After all, a lot of people don’t see Jimmy Butler as a SUPERstar. Top 20 player? Yeah. Top 15? Depends on who you talk to. Top 5? Nope.
I think what makes this all the remarkable, too, is that most of the core is brand new. Kendrick Nunn (yeah, I know) and Tyler Herro are rookies. Butler and Meyers Leonard were acquired by trade in the summer. Duncan Robinson is getting regular run for the first time. And Justise Winslow has only played 10 games.
It’s probably why I have a bit of a harder time thinking they’ll take the title. The Bucks, Sixers, Raptors, and Celtics all have that continuity. Every team makes tweaks to their team but their core group has mostly stayed the same. You see what the Heat did over the offseason. I’m not saying it’s impossible to put it all together in one season but I’m taking my chances with a team that has talent that had been together for years.
And we’ve seen that happen over time. It’s not like the Golden State Warriors happened overnight. The Raptors didn’t get over the hump until they made the Kawhi Leonard trade but they’ve had most of their core for years. The Cavs were a bit of an outlier but they had that transcendent player in LeBron. Hell, talent rules in the NBA but it still took a second season for LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to win it all.
But if this version of the Miami Heat win the championship, it’ll be one of the more remarkable stories in NBA history. As it is, it’s already an amazing feat that they’re second in the East with the calendar year coming to a close.
Who was that moron that said they would win only 34 games?
This is all I have to say about that question…
I scream like Jimmy Butler, too. pic.twitter.com/hhQpv6yBPb
— 𝐑𝐞𝐲-𝐑𝐞𝐲 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) December 28, 2019
Bullet Passes
When I’m talking about title contenders that have been together for a while, Denver comes to mind. But I think what’s amazing is that they’re doing this with defense (2nd in rating, allowing 104.4 points per 100 possessions this season). They’ve been better offensively as during their 8-1 run, they have scored 116.5 points per 100 possessions. If we go back to December 11, they’ve been #1 in offensive rating since that time (now 15th overall this season).
So Denver has woken up. And obviously, Nikola Jokic is a unique and gifted talent. Do they have enough ammunition against teams like the Lakers, Clippers, and Rockets?
The Pelicans have won 4 of 5 games. They’ve had impressive wins over the Blazers, Nuggets, and Pacers. Where has this team been all year?
Also, in that Pacers/Pelicans game, we got to see a trio of brothers take the court in the same game. Take a look!
History for the Holidays: Justin, Aaron and Jrue Holiday are playing in the Pacers-Pelicans game tonight, the first time in NBA history three brothers have appeared in the same game.
(📷: @derickhingle) pic.twitter.com/PZL7i4YpP5
— USA TODAY NBA (@usatodaynba) December 29, 2019
That is AMAZING. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
The Jazz beat the Clippers in an impressive outing. I had mentioned that the Jazz have a soft schedule in the next few weeks. I believe I mentioned that after the loss to the Heat, 8 of their next 9 games were against teams under .500.
Well, they beat the lone team over .500. Their next 7 games are against Detroit, Chicago, Orlando, New Orleans, New York, Charlotte, and Washington.
TIME TO GAIN GROUND.
I’m sorry that I jinxed the Warriors. Whoops.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what Luka Doncic did against the Dubs. 31-12-15 in 30 minutes. That’s his 9th triple-double this season. Good grief.
While everyone and their moms are looking to deal Kyle Kuzma or saying how much he sucks, Kuzma has averaged 21.7 points in 3 games since he came back from injury. So he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. Sure, he can have better shot selection at times but that’s like nearly every NBA player.
Since Mike Miller (not THAT Mike Miller) took over as Knicks head coach, the team has gone 5-6. The 8th seeds in both conferences are so terrible that the Knicks are only 5.5 games behind Orlando. Woof.
James Harden watch: 44 points against the Nets on Saturday. His current scoring average is at 38.3 points.
The Scoreboard
MEM 110 (12-21) @ DEN 119 (22-9)
TOR 113 (22-10) @ BOS 97 (22-8)
IND 98 (21-12) @ NO 120 (10-23)
PHI 116 (23-12) @ MIA 117 (24-8) (OT)
NY 107 (9-24) @ WAS 100 (9-22)
ATL 81 (6-27) @ CHI 116 (13-20)
BRK 98 (16-15) @ HOU 108 (22-10)
CLE 94 (10-22) @ MIN 88 (11-20)
ORL 100 (14-18) @ MIL 111 (29-5)
DET 109 (12-21) @ SA 136 (13-18)
DAL 141 (21-10) @ GS 121 (9-25)
PHX 112 (12-20) @ SAC 110 (12-20)
LAL 128 (25-7) @ POR 120 (14-19)
UTA 120 (20-12) @ LAC 107 (23-11)
Watch This Play
Donovan Mitchell fakes then shakes the rim.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Trending Daily Sports Videos.)
Look at that leg movement in that dunk. I feel like we hardly see that nowadays.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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