Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Spurs surprised everyone by blowing out the Bucks on Monday night.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Spillman/USA Today.)
I don’t know what to make of the Spurs. But then again, I don’t know what to make of the Western Conference below the 7th seed.
They blew out the Milwaukee Bucks in a stunning upset. And these aren’t your big sister’s San Antonio Spurs.
The funny thing is that the Spurs are currently positioned in the 8th spot. With a playoff spot in their hands right now, it’s probably best to just go ahead and go for that 23rd consecutive playoff year. They can control their destiny, per se.
Once again, it’s not like they’re struggling to score points (9th in offensive rating; they are scoring 111 points per 100 possessions). It’s the defensive end where they’re having a difficult time with (112.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, which makes them 22nd in the league).
I’m not so sure if there’s going to be some “turning point” with the Spurs (or for that matter, any team below them). They’re incredibly inconsistent and while they did make 19 threes against the Bucks, their offense is going to be with the archaic midrange game. But I suppose as long as they’re taking open shots with it instead of forcing them up, they should be fine. Again, I’m okay with it as long as they’re comfortable (difference between a wide open shot and a forced shot). They’re going to have a difficult time stopping people so they’re going to have to rely on some scoring. At least, even LaMarcus Aldridge puts up a couple of threes each game.
So the Spurs might back their way into another playoff spot. It’s not their usual but they’ll take what they can get.
Bullet Passes
Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 47 points against the Hawks. I am old enough to remember when people were criticizing him for his offensive struggles earlier this season.
The battle for the 8th seed in the East is equally hilarious. And that might extend to the 7th. The Brooklyn Nets have not been doing well and they fell to the 8th seed after losing to the Orlando Magic, who overtook them. The Nets are currently 16-19 and are three games ahead of Charlotte (15-24). Ew.
The Washington Wizards have beaten the Heat, Nuggets, and Celtics in the last 8 days. And they’re doing this with a hodgepodge line-up. Ish Smith has scored 32 and 27 points the last two games.
The Jazz/Pelicans game ended in somewhat of a controversy after Brandon Ingram‘s potential game-tying drive on Rudy Gobert was left uncalled. And for some reason, the refs looked at the replay (apparently, to see if there was any time left on the clock) even though it was obvious that time had run out.
The Sixers stop a four-game skid after halting the Thunder‘s five-game win streak. Also, you know about this if you watched the game but… Joel Embiid‘s finger injury is not for the squeamish. You can look it up if you want; who am I to stop you?
Luka Doncic got his 11th triple-double of the season. He said “(It’s) just stats.” Yeah. Unbelievable stats. He scored 21 in the third quarter on the way to a 38-11-10 night. “Just stats.”
The Scoreboard
IND 115 (23-14) @ CHA 104 (15-24)
BRK 89 (16-19) @ ORL 101 (17-20)
OKC 113 (20-16) @ PHI 120 (24-14)
BOS 94 (25-9) @ WAS 99 (12-24)
DEN 123 (25-11) @ ATL 115 (8-29)
UTA 128 (24-12) @ NO 126 (12-25)
CHI 110 (13-24) @ DAL 118 (23-13)
MIL 104 (32-6) @ SA 126 (15-20)
GS 98 (9-29) @ SAC 111 (14-23)
Watch This Play
Trae Young is tricky.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA On Fire.)
Way to trick a couple of Nuggets players.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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