Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. We jot down NBA and WNBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Grizzlies have made the play-in series but are at a disadvantage.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Murphy/Getty Images.)
Thursday was such an exciting day for NBA basketball. It’s such a fantastic distraction from the world being on fire.
First off, props to the Phoenix Suns for running the table at the Disney bubble. I’m sure people thought that maybe the Bucks, Lakers, or Clippers would go 8-0. Very few thought it would be the friggin’ then-26-39 Phoenix Suns. They smashed the Dallas Mavericks to get that 8th straight win. Granted, the Mavericks were already locked into their spot but, nevertheless, the Suns needed to win that game to stay alive for the play-in spot. That was the heartbreaking part of the game; the Suns going 8-0 didn’t even guarantee them a game for the weekend.
People can say that the Memphis Grizzlies backed into their play-in spot. But they had been doing so well before the bubble; they were one game under .500 going into it. They then went on a dreadful 1-6 run before Thursday that they would like to forget soon. The Grizz won that important game against the Bucks, who were also locked into their #1 spot.
That meant that the San Antonio Spurs were eliminated from postseason contention. The Spurs, knowing that, eventually lost to the Utah Jazz. But what a legendary run the Spurs had. 22 straight years in the postseason is going to be extremely difficult to break, if it’s breakable at all. To go even further than that, they went to the postseason 29 out of 30 years. Amazing.
For further context, this was the #1 song the last time the Spurs’ season ended in the regular season.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Craig Mac.)
And I bet some of them readers are wondering, “WHAT SONG IS THIS?!” Because it was THAT long ago. 1997 was the last time the Spurs missed the postseason. Good grief. And I already had an issue with a hoops writer that didn’t even know who Boyz II Men was. Help me.
Anyway, it was up to Portland as they also controlled their destiny. And Damian Lillard continued to scorch. I mean, look where he pulled up!
Shoot your shot.
Damian Lillard. pic.twitter.com/V3BLIzdUqa— 3030 (@jose3030) August 14, 2020
The game was worthy of Game of the Year status. The Nets really had nothing on the line other than the chance to eliminate Portland from the mix. Caris Levert went off for 37 points but he wished he could have two more. He had a chance to win it but this jumper was off…
Tough shot by Caris at the last possession. pic.twitter.com/ETM2bE2Qe9
— 𝘙𝘦𝘺-𝘙𝘦𝘺 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) August 14, 2020
Lillard ended with 42 points. In his last three games, he averaged 51.3 points per game. That is insane. Dame Time will be extended to the weekend. Blazers/Grizz on Saturday. Remember the rules of the play-in: the 8th seed only has to win once while the 9th seed has to beat the 8th seed TWICE. Winner gets the Lakers in the playoffs.
Awful that the Suns didn’t get in but, again, the work includes the entire regular season. Now they’ll have some expectations next season but I can’t even think about that right now because of the pandemic. It’s one thing to have a bubble for nearly three months but what can they do for a real season that lasts 8 months?!
There’s still one day left in the regular season but games for Friday will feel more like scrimmages. The schedule is already pretty much set.
I’m so excited! I would say that my pants are down but I’m not wearing any pants.
Bullet Passes
The Washington Wizards WON a game in the bubble! Plus there’s this little tidbit:
Wait … I have news!
The Wizards did NOT finish last in defensive efficiency. The Bubble Celtics scratching only 90 points against them today brought them down to 114.7 points allowed per 100 possessions on the season, edging them just past the Cavaliers, who are at 114.8.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) August 14, 2020
So I guess that’s… good news?
The Indiana Fever are not looking so bad right now! Kelsey Mitchell is getting all the buckets. Candice Dupree continues to provide that veteran leadership. Julie Allemand has been a find at point. And while I still don’t know why Teaira McCowan is not starting consistently, she produces every time she gets minutes. 4-5 right now for the Fever.
The Sparks continue to be a solid team with depth. Their stars didn’t exactly have big games against the Mystics but they didn’t need to against the champs, who are on a huge freefall. That makes it 6 straight losses for D.C. Gag me with a spoon.
First off, that’s amazing that Odyssey Sims was back on the court after giving birth just FOUR MONTHS AGO. Unfortunately, the Lynx lost Sylvia Fowles due to her ailing calf. It probably would’ve been a closer game against the very hot Las Vegas Aces, who have now won 6 in a row. Uh-oh.
Again, the NBA games on Friday are probably going to be nothing more than warm-ups or scrimmages or whatever. The real action starts on Saturday.
Shoutout to Devin Booker, who might be the bubble MVP:
Booker made him DANCE.
🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Q3WoM547bv
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) August 13, 2020
NBA Scoreboard
WAS 96 (25-47) v BOS 90 (48-24)
SAC 136 (31-41) v LAL 122 (52-19)
MIL 106 (56-17) v MEM 119 (34-39)
DAL 102 (43-32) v PHX 128 (34-39)
SA 112 (32-39) v UTA 118 (44-28)
POR 134 (35-39) v BRK 133 (35-37)
NO 127 (30-42) v ORL 133 (33-40)
Double U Scoreboard
IND 86 (4-5) v NY 79 (1-8)
LA 81 (6-3) v WAS 64 (3-6)
MIN 77 (6-3) v LV 87 (7-2)
Watch This Play
Okay. Let’s see that shot by Dame where he pulled up from like 40 feet.
Holy……… pic.twitter.com/Kqu1D0K8Rt
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 14, 2020
Good grief.
Stay safe, everyone in the Bubble and the Wubble!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.