Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 but I’m not sure they can be taken seriously right now.
(PHOTO CREDIT: AJ Mast/AP.)
We’ve talked about the Bucks being on the top of the East. The Celtics and Raptors can certainly scare Milwaukee. And then we also talked about the Sixers and Heat disappointing as of late. The Sixers have their top stars injured in addition to their chemistry issues. The Heat? They’re in a pronounced slump and maybe they’re actually leveling back to where they’re supposed to be instead of actually being a top tier team in the East.
What about the 6th team in the mix: the Indiana Pacers?
The Pacers are still only 1.5 games behind the aforementioned Sixers and Heat. They’re lucky that the Sixers and Heat aren’t doing so well but we can’t mention that the Pacers are doing better. They started out February with a 6-game skid. They had won 4 of 5 games since but that loss was so devastating that it made it look like Deontay Wilder lost to Tyson Fury in a tickle fight. A contender probably shouldn’t lose by 46 points to the defending champions.
It’s not going to get any easier, either. They have nice balanced scoring up and down the roster but they lost Jeremy Lamb after his knee was shattered (speedy recovery to Lamb). Malcolm Brogdon, normally a very consistent player, has not been great the last 5 weeks. Maybe it’s the back injury but Brogdon has only shot .400 from the field and .237 from three his last 14 games. We expected Victor Oladipo to not be 100 percent when he came back but he’s clearly pressing. He’s only shot .353 from the field while averaging just over 11 points. For the Pacers to have a shot, their backcourt needs to get it together, both physically and mentally.
Their frontcourt has obviously been a strength. Domantas Sabonis has increased his play over the last month or so, even getting 4 triple-doubles in the process. T.J. Warren continues to bring the buckets like he did in Phoenix. Heck, he’s even playing better defensively. And Myles Turner is arguably the best shot blocker in the league. As of now, the Pacers are in the top 10 in defensive rating (allowing 108.2 points per 100 possessions).
It’s their offense that needs to get clicking. T.J. McConnell brings some fire off the bench and the Holiday Brothers (Aaron and Justin) as well as Doug McDermott have been excellent from behind the arc. But once again, the starting backcourt of Oladipo and Brogdon have to bring it soon if the Pacers are to be taken seriously.
Can they fix it in the last 6 weeks of the regular season? That remains to be seen. Still, we need to keep an eye on them with the second (third?) tier of East teams also weakened. They could sneak into the Top 4 if the Heat and Sixers aren’t careful.
Bullet Passes
This is a brilliant column by SB Nation‘s Mike Prada: how Chris Paul hides behind big men in transition. Doing so confuses the defense and he can just either pull up for three or make the right pass to the open man. It’s so incredible.
By the way, the Thunder made yet another comeback. This time, they edged the Kings out after trailing by 19 points.
With Utah‘s freefall continuing, the Thunder are now #5 in the West. Only 1.5 games behind the Houston Rockets. Hmmmmmmm.
I saw this a couple of hours ago before this was published. James Harden had something to say about Giannis Antetokounmpo, who implied that Harden doesn’t pass during the All-Star draft.
James Harden on Giannis antetokounmpo:
“None of them can mess with me”
“I average more points & assists”
“I wish I could be 7 feet & Just dunk… that requires no skill.”
Lmaooooooooooooooooooo pic.twitter.com/jtBb0pZTUt
— Jonathan Liddell (@JonJonLiddell) February 28, 2020
By the way, Harden is an outstanding passer that led the league in assists in 2016-17. Antetokounmpo passed on Harden to get Kemba Walker, who averages 5.0 assists per game.
On the other hand, Harden has always been salty about not winning the MVP award last season. He MIGHT have a point but it just comes across whining. Also, it’s not Giannis’s fault that he’s 7 feet tall. And not a lot of guys 6’11” can do what Giannis does.
Sure, we had mentioned that the Sixers have been disappointing. What’s NOT disappointing, though? Philly is 28-2 at home. This gets glossed over because they have been AWFUL on the road (9-21).
I’m sure some are disappointed that LeBron James didn’t play against the Golden State Warriors. But I mean, it’s not like they’re going against the Warriors from the last five seasons. I mean, look at that team.
The Scoreboard
NY 106 (17-42) @ PHI 115 (37-23)
POR 100 (26-34) @ IND 106 (35-24)
SAC 108 (24-34) @ OKC 112 (37-22)
LAL 116 (45-12) @ GS 86 (12-47)
Watch This Play
Showtime 2020. Save by Anthony Davis. Then the facial by Kyle Kuzma.
That save. That dunk. That #LakeShow 🤯 pic.twitter.com/079OmpR37m
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 28, 2020
Who needed LeBron James? (It’s the Warriors, anyway.)
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
I sign off “GG” which means “good game” but also to honor Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.