Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Sixers have been maddeningly inconsistent.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Darron Cummings/AP.)
Let me preface this by saying that I think the Sixers will be fine. They’ll be in the playoffs. But if you’re worried about the Sixers, I do think they are legit. Except for the situation that they don’t make the playoffs. They will.
With that said, there is so much talent with these Sixers. Their starting line-up is humongous. I said before that Ben Simmons being their point guard makes it that much more stout; he’s 6’10”.
The problem is that they haven’t come through offensively. It’s also more worrisome when Joel Embiid isn’t playing (he didn’t play in their game where they got messed up by the Pacers). But even when he’s on the court, it hasn’t felt like enough.
And now we have the team getting a bit miffed. Al Horford is already questioning his limited role on the offense. Josh Richardson says that the team doesn’t have enough accountability. These are the new guys on a team that is primarily built around Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Unlike many others, I can accept Simmons as the way he is. I’m not saying don’t improve on the offensive end but we already know what he brings to the table. He’ll choose not to shoot outside of the paint but he does pretty much everything else well. He is a hellish defender and that court vision is hardly paralleled. And they have plenty of players that would gladly take the shots, anyway.
Embiid had mentioned that he’s not having as much fun as he was last year. It’s been noted that he’s been trying to be a more mature individual. It’s a divisive topic. Because all in all, I really don’t think Embiid means harm when he’s on the court. Some get going by talking other people’s ears off and getting on other people’s nerves. Some just go about their business like a Tim Duncan. I say he goes with however he feels best. Embiid has shown flashes of dominance this year but we didn’t get flashes last year; we got a consistent superstar.
What’s more? The Sixers seem to lack a killer instinct right now. They had that last year in Jimmy Butler. This year, it seems like they’re putting the ball in the hands of Tobias Harris. Harris has been, more or less, pretty good but if the Sixers want to get to the East Finals, they need to be more than pretty good.
I think it’s a little funny that they’re struggling in offense considering who they have on the team. Pundits in the past have always said “defense wins championships.” But a lot of championship teams have been able to put the ball in the basket (Sixers are 17th in points scored at 109.6 and 14th in offensive rating with 109.5 points per 100 possessions). Again, I think they’ll be fine. And if they get roles defined and the offense starts humming, they’re going to be a scary team like most “experts” predicted.
How’s that for a New Year’s Resolution, Sixers? Get buckets.
Bullet Passes
There was a time when we were excited for Warriors/Spurs. Yet these not-so-great teams put on an overtime game as if a Finals berth was on the line. The Spurs are a cool 4-1 in OT.
Yeah, I admittedly thought Chris Paul was not going to be so good this year. But he’s keeping the Thunder afloat along with guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steven Adams, and Danilo Gallinari. Paul went for 13 of his 17 points in the fourth and OKC is three games above .500. I guess I didn’t have them as low as I thought (38-44 predicted record) but I also thought that we were in for another bloodbath in the West. Instead, the battle for the 8th seed has become a pillow fight. Sexy!
So should we start getting scared of the Rockets? Everyone is healthy (Eric Gordon has returned). And they’re pretty much half a game behind the team they beat (Denver) and the #3 Clippers.
Well, they do have Philly on Friday. After that, they have a five-game stretch that’s favorable with Atlanta, OKC, Minnesota, Memphis, and Portland on the horizon. Then they have the Lakers on the 18th. Time to gain ground, Rockets.
The Scoreboard
BOS 109 (23-8) @ CHA 92 (13-23)
PHI 97 (23-13) @ IND 115 (22-12)
LAC 105 (24-11) @ SAC 87 (12-22)
CLE 97 (10-23) @ TOR 117 (23-11)
DEN 104 (23-10) @ HOU 130 (23-11)
GS 113 (9-26) @ SA 117 (14-18) (OT)
DAL 101 (21-12) @ OKC 106 (18-15)
Watch This Play
Domantas Sabonis has had some mean jams in his young career. We thought Norvel Pelle knew that.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Chaz Clavant NBA.)
I feel like every time Pelle gets on the floor, he gets dunked on. I admire him trying to stop dunks, though. He just couldn’t stop Baby Sabonis.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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