Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Utah Jazz and the rest of the league found out their second half of their schedule on Wednesday.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Nicoll/USA Today.)
Well, the NBA is trying to squish in a 72-game regular season from December 22 to somewhere around May. Now we have a definite last day. That will be May 16.
They decided to hold off on doing a full schedule because… guess what?… we’re STILL in a pandemic. And we knew it was going to be riskier with everyone now traveling to different cities. In case they had to postpone games, they could plug it into the second half. The league has done their best to minimize that by making it like Major League Baseball‘s schedule where teams play three-game series with their opponents.
Still, one thing that seems to go a bit under the radar is how frequently they play. Yeah, they still try to avoid back-to-backs but most teams play every other day, even with travel. So that could get grueling for these teams. It’s the reason why we’ve seen some players that play heavy minutes sit out. Dude, the Grizzlies and Spurs are going to try to cram 40 games in 68 days. THAT IS A LOT.
And while we seem like we’re getting closer to normalcy, it still seems so far away. So I still expect games to get postponed because of *ahem* health and safety protocols. Even the league seems to concede that not every team may be able to play all 72 games. That seems a bit unfair, to be quite honest. And if people decide that this season’s champion might have an asterisk, I can really hardly blame them.
It’s also not great that they still insist on having one extra exhibition game that ultimately doesn’t matter. Usually, all-star weekend is when people want to party and we know that partying is, uh, not really recommended in these pandemic times.
In any case, all we can do is hope they’re okay. Not only for that weekend but for the rest of the season. Yes, of course, part of me is thrilled that “I” still have entertainment to watch with the NBA on. But, really, I’m just worried for everyone involved here.
July 22, 2021 is the last possible day the season can go. That’s if the two teams in the Finals have to play a Game 7. Quite frankly, that date cannot get here fast enough.
Bullet Passes
Devin Booker has been named to the All-Star Game by Commissioner Adam Silver. We all knew Anthony Davis wasn’t playing. Booker now becomes a two-time all-star replacement.
Speaking of Davis, his team played the Utah Jazz. It did not go very well for the Lakers.
The Jazz are now 26-6. But really, this did not prove much against the Lakers since they were shorthanded.
Utah, however, has made 50 three-pointers in the last two games. That is ridiculous.
Once again, we can’t figure out these Celtics. Their latest loss is to the Hawks and they are now two games below .500.
Cleveland has won two straight. Look at Jarrett Allen go for that career-best 26 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went for a career-high 42 points himself. But you’ll see how the Thunder finished off the Spurs a little bit below.
I didn’t mention CJ McCollum in my “snub list.” Well, he’s hurt and he’s only played 13 games this season. He wasn’t gonna play, regardless. But if we’re basing off the 13 games that he’s played? He is absolutely deserving of that spot. Career-best 26.7 points and 5.0 assists. And he was scorching from three (.441) to add to his midrange game.
NBA Scoreboard
Feb. 24, 2021
Watch This Play
I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN LU DORT.
LU DORT. NAILS.
THUNDER WIN!!! 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/S2olJl7bLr
— FOX Sports Oklahoma (@FOXSportsOK) February 25, 2021
What a shot for Dort, whose shot is much-maligned. He was 3 for 6 from three before that shot, though, so maybe guard him?
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.