Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
Tobias Harris saved the Sixers with this jumper.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.)
The 76ers and the Lakers gave us what COULD be a Finals preview. We know how good the Lakers are. After all, they are the defending champions and they nearly came back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They had a 13-0 run at the end of the game that would’ve been a backbreaker for any team.
But the Sixers haven’t been just “any team” this season. They’re first in the East and it seems like they’re finally living up to the expectations put on them the last couple of years. Tobias Harris got to the left elbow and dropped a jumper that gave them the lead and eventual win with 2.4 seconds left. The Lakers didn’t have a timeout and they had to heave from halfcourt. The Sixers handed the Lakers their first road loss of the season.
Just for the Lakers to even have a chance at the end was miraculous in itself. But like I said, they’re the champions. Nothing might seem impossible for this batch. Especially when this batch has LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I mean, I’m still amazed that LeBron is doing all of this in Year 18. We’ve talked about this recently.
But the Sixers, who looked deadly on paper last season, might actually have a better-fitting supporting cast this time around. While Seth Curry has slowed down a bit since he got back from protocol, he’s still shooting nearly 51 percent from three. Danny Green is slowly finding his groove from behind the arc. Harris continues his hot shooting. Basically, the Sixers decided to add much-needed shooting to their offense.
And that might have been a factor on Joel Embiid becoming more dominant again. He’s averaging a career-high 27.7 points and he has looked more unstoppable than ever in recent games. And if you don’t know how important Ben Simmons is to a basketball team then I can’t help you. No, he can’t probably shoot well beyond the paint. But he does everything else well, especially on setting the table and on the defensive end. And I wish people would look more into that than calling Simmons some sort of poltroon when it comes to perimeter shooting.
The 2019 champion Raptors have struggled. The Miami Heat can’t seem to get off the gate without Jimmy Butler. The Milwaukee Bucks are still adjusting to their core. The Boston Celtics were ravaged by COVID. The Brooklyn Nets are trying to adapt to their new Big 3. And the Indiana Pacers are hoping to stay healthy. This might be the time for the Sixers to surge through.
Bullet Passes
Both #1 and #2 picks came off the bench in their game. The Warriors beat the Wolves but we both had #1 pick Anthony Edwards of the Wolves and #2 pick James Wiseman of the Dubs score 25 points each.
No Donovan Mitchell due to concussion protocol but Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 31 points to keep Utah on that winning streak. They are now up to 10 straight.
Apparently, nothing is wrong with Domantas Sabonis because he got another triple-double in the Pacers’ win over the Hornets.
Bradley Beal put in another 47 points but, predictably, the Wizards lost.
The Nets have won three straight and are 7-2 overall in their last 9 (their two losses coming against Cleveland). Other than one game in that stretch, they all seem to be track meets. They scored 120 or more in 6 of those games.
Is that really Jimmy Butler? He looks almost emaciated.
Good to see Jimmy Butler at least back with his Heat teammates on the bench. pic.twitter.com/9AJLeJTexg
— Will Manso (@WillManso) January 28, 2021
It’s concerning, for sure. I hope he gains some pounds back.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has apparently called Donte DiVincenzo, “White Chocolate”. First of all, we ALL know THE White Chocolate in the NBA. Also, what’s wrong with WHITE DONTE as a nickname?
NBA Scoreboard
Jan. 27, 2021
Watch This Play
Here’s that game-winner by Noob Saibot.
TOBIAS HARRIS FOR THE WIN AGAINST THE LAKERS … CASH 💰 pic.twitter.com/hws1zg3nnx
— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2021
What? You don’t get the reference? How dare you!
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.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.