Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. We’re here to talk about the daily happenings in the NBA!
The Hawks are off to a 3-0 start.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Dale Zanine/USA Today.)
After a week in the NBA, only four teams remain undefeated. Let’s give a quick look-see on these squads.
ATLANTA HAWKS (3-0): They currently lead the league in offensive rating (121.5 points per 100 possessions!). Now this is not really sustainable overall but what probably could be is their three-point shooting (first in threes made at a .417 clip, which is third in the league).
What also stands out so far is that they get to the free throw line the most. Trae Young, in particular, has gotten to the line 15 times per game so far. THAT won’t be maintained but his 91 percent free throw shooting can only be good for the team. The Hawks, with the roster turnover, have a bunch of veterans, too, that could help lead the team back to the postseason.
Their defense isn’t the greatest. Baby steps.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3-0): Second in defensive rating this season! They’re allowing exactly 100 points per 100 possessions thus far. They’re really leaning into their size as they pound the paint on both sides.
It also helps to have a dynamic scoring backcourt. Collin Sexton brings the sex at 27 points per while Darius Garland is helping the land with 19 points per. The Cavs are also first in three-point percentage at .434. That’s going to be tough to keep up but if they can actually stop opponents on a regular basis, this could be something.
Could something be a run at the playoffs? Hey, hey. Pump the brakes.
INDIANA PACERS (3-0): Well, we know what the Pacers bring. But they’re a decidedly different team with Domantas Sabonis healthy. He didn’t play in the bubble a few months ago but the all-star gives them a different dimension. Thus far, he’s averaging 24.3 points, 11 boards, and 7 assists. He even made the game-winning bucket against the Celtics recently.
Again, they feel like a wild card with Sabonis healthy. And Victor Oladipo, when he’s playing, has looked great so far. Things that make you go hmmmmmm…
ORLANDO MAGIC (3-0): Well, for one, Terrence Ross is off to an excellent start off the bench with 23.3 points per. But we’re thrilled to see Markelle Fultz thriving. 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. While he’s still only shooting at a .250 clip from three, he’s shooting .923 from the line. That’s extremely encouraging.
Their defense will come around. But they’re in the Top 5 in offensive rating thus far. Considering they’ve struggled to score points in nearly a decade, this is really promising.
Bullet Passes
I recently took a look at the Blazers and the Lakers. Funny enough, they faced each other on Sunday. The Blazers took the duke that night, with Gary Trent, Jr. scoring 28 points off the bench. The Lakers always seem to do this no matter what year; they let a waterbug guard go off and it leads to a loss. Remember guys like Beno Udrih, Jeremy Lin, and J.J. Barea.
Spencer Dinwiddie is, unfortunately, out for the season with a torn ACL. We were recently talking about the depth of this team, too. We know Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are going to rest at some point and losing an everyday player like Spencer was huge.
Caris LeVert was in the starting line-up in their loss against Memphis but Durant and Irving didn’t play. He might be their starter going forward but will he continue anchoring the second unit? Or will Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who did well in the bubble, move into that spot?
Ja Morant rolled his ankle against those same Nets and was taken out of the court by wheelchair. Rolling your ankle really hurts; that’s what pretty much took me out of playing ball regularly. Don’t know how long he’ll be out and that’s already trouble considering the Grizzlies are dealing with other injuries from Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Justise Winslow.
Christian Wood followed up his 31-point, 13-rebound performance with 23 points. The Rockets lost again, though.
Nikola Jokic went for 19-12-18 in their win over Houston. Ridiculous.
NBA Scoreboard
Dec. 28, 2020
Watch This Play
I don’t know how this wasn’t in the NBA’s Top 10 plays but dude. Donovan Mitchell made a very clutch shot against OKC.
🕷️ SPIDA scores the final 1⃣2⃣ @utahjazz points and wins it with 7.0 remaining! #KiaTipOff20 pic.twitter.com/a322Ru39rD
— NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2020
OKC gets their first loss as the Jazz took the win from them in the final seconds.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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