Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
Stephen Curry had another huge game.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Noah Graham/Getty Images.)
Okay. So we established that Stephen Curry is still really good at basketball (he made 10 threes on his way to 40 points in their win over Orlando). In fact, maybe you can make the argument that he should be in the running for Most Valuable Player. How is that even possible if Golden State is average as heck? Well, people are talking about Nikola Jokic being MVP and Denver is pretty much the same as G. State; both teams are two games above .500.
But let’s talk about that for a bit. It’s kind of funny that Golden State hasn’t had any streak longer than two games. They haven’t had a three-game win streak. They also haven’t had a three-game losing streak. The Dubs have won their last two so you expect them to lose the next game.
So what is going on here?
On paper, y’all think this team should be capable of something. But if you look closer, their team really is not that good. Andrew Wiggins was the #1 pick but he hasn’t proven to be anything other than a good scorer. Plus his stats just seem so hollow. Kelly Oubre, Jr. has nice highlights and he did put up a 40-point game this season. But if he’s doing too much, it doesn’t bode well for the team. James Wiseman was the #2 pick but he’s still learning the ropes. He does have potential, though. Eric Paschall, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damion Lee have been good role players.
Draymond Green has more scoring ability than 5.1 points per but he’s done just about everything else well. Still, Draymond is not shooting well even though he’s not shooting as much. It could definitely help them considering the Warriors are 20th in offensive rating at the moment. He’s helped spur this team to 6th in defensive rating, though.
Also, not that it’s NOT expected but the Warriors suffer when Green and Curry are not on the floor.
The Warriors can’t do much when their two stars are sitting.
(Stats from NBA.Com.)
So the Warriors will only go so far with this team. Curry is doing as much as he can to keep the team floating offensively. Draymond is doing everything else to keep the team competing. It’s not your big sibling’s Warriors.
It may be a little different next season when Klay Thompson is expected back and Wiseman has a season under his belt. But for now, the Warriors will stay in the middle, which is supposedly the worst place an NBA team can be.
Hey. It’s better than some people expected, though. And it’s certainly better than the prognostication we all had after they started off 0-2.
Bullet Passes
Jimmy Butler got a triple-double in their win against Houston. Miami is trying to dig out of this hole while the Rockets have fallen with four straight losses.
I suppose the Blazers have the Sixers‘ number because they swept them in their season series. In fact, Portland has won 5 of their last 6 match-ups. Stop thinking about 1977, Philly.
I love that it was Semi Ojeleye who led the Celtics in scoring (24) against the Raptors. Also, Payton Pritchard scored 20 off the bench. Big win for the Celtics.
The parity this season would be more fun if it wasn’t for the pandemic. Well, everything would be more fun if there was no pandemic.
NBA Scoreboard
Feb. 11, 2021
Watch This Play
Victor Oladipo attacks the rim with reckless abandon.
Don’t jump with Dipo 😮 pic.twitter.com/UcErZhZH5Z
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 12, 2021
He can still do this once in a while.
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.