Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
Damian Lillard toppled the Pelicans with a 50-piece.
There’s not much you can say when you see the Portland TrailBlazers come back from 17 down halfway through the fourth quarter. But it doesn’t make it less unbelievable. Especially when it was Damian Lillard at the helm. Lillard scored 8 points in that following 16-nil run. Then he made all 6 clutch free throws to help PDX upend N’awlins.
The Blazers are now tied for 5th in the West with Denver. We had mentioned Chris Paul should be given a thought for MVP. BUT WHAT ABOUT LILLARD?
Sure, his team is worse off than Phoenix but they currently have the same record as Denver, and we said Nikola Jokic should be MVP. Also, if you look at Lillard’s stats, he’s at 30.5 points, 4.5 boards, and 8.0 assists. I mean, you’d probably take Lillard over Paul on his scoring alone. But also, Portland has been afloat mostly because of Lillard and WITHOUT C.J. McCollum.
McCollum was having a fantastic start (26.7 points per in 13 games before he was put on the shelf. He returned with a measly 10 points but he’s still trying to get his sea legs back.
Lillard didn’t have to do such a thing. His booming performance overshadowed C.J.’s return. Glass shattered and then Lillard scored his 12th 50-point game of his career. He has made so many clutch shots over and over. And he’s probably the player right now you would want to have the ball with five ticks left.
And the guy wants to stay loyal in a small market! Why wouldn’t you want this star on your team? Like I’ve said many times, fewer things are more exciting in sports than DAME TIME.
Bullet Passes
The defending East champs Miami Heat have won 11 of 12 and have really found their stride. It also helps that everyone seems to be available now after those bouts with COVID.
They get Memphis later on tonight. This schedule is cruel.
Even without Joel Embiid, Philadelphia keeps winning. They beat New York and the Sixers have now won 6 straight games.
This longest win streak is shared by the Atlanta Hawks. It’s amazing they’re still undefeated under Nate McMillan. By the way, the team they beat was the Houston Rockets. They’ve now tied the franchise record for longest losing skid at 17.
That burns so much.
Celtics fans are wondering if their team is actually good or not. They’re 20-19, yes, and this is essentially the same team from last year. So for now, I’m still waiting for them to make that run.
I am writing this late. And now a trade has come in!
All I know is this: the Bucks got a really important player in the deal. P.J. Tucker will be that physical body they can put on their opponents’ best players. That’s a huge coup for Milwaukee.
Houston is hopeless at this point.
LeBron James got a triple-double (25-12-12). He’s like 86 years old.
NBA Scoreboard
Mar. 16, 2021
Watch This Play
Like father, like son. KENYON MARTIN, JR. with the aggression!
KENYON MARTIN JR. DUNKED ALL OVER JOHN COLLINS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/bN40cXA78R
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 17, 2021
Kind of scary, isn’t it?
By the way, as mentioned, I am writing this late. We found out earlier this afternoon that former Sixers/Mavs center Shawn Bradley was struck by a car while riding a bike a couple of months ago. He was left paralyzed. It’s such awful, awful news.
All the good vibes to Shawn.
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.
R.I.P. Nala.