Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Brooklyn Nets are first in the Eastern Conference now.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brad Penner/USA Today.)
I felt like it was only a matter of time with the Brooklyn Nets. But at 33-15, they are now officially first in the Eastern Conference. And with that loaded roster (even from the start), how could they not be?
Even when they’ve been hit with some injuries, they were just going to be fine because, good grief, look at that team. Sure, they haven’t had Kevin Durant for some time. But they have James Harden and Kyrie Irving playing. Even when Kyrie goes through sabbaticals, they still have Joe Harris, who has blossomed into a very good role player. They still have DeAndre Jordan, whose size can still be intimidating even if his defensive skills have declined. And even if Blake Griffin isn’t what he used to be, there will be flashes of his old self. Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, Nicolas Claxton, Tyler Johnson, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot have played their roles well around the ball-dominant Kyrie and Harden. And man, they still have LaMarcus Aldridge coming. Aldridge is still capable of a 30-point game right now.
Kyrie doesn’t get enough credit as a basketball player, sometimes, as people feel his antics are just wacky. But the guy averaged 30.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the month of March. He hasn’t been getting the headlines since Harden is on yet another “I Should Be MVP” tour. Remember that Kyrie is still an incredible all-around player that can hit the clutch bucket. He does have a championship ring to his name, ya know.
Harden is going to be out with a hamstring injury but I don’t doubt that Brooklyn will keep going, considering how deep their team is. Durant is due back very soon and Aldridge should be making his debut soon. The rest of the East have had much trouble with consistency and health. Joel Embiid might finally be able to return this weekend for Philly. Milwaukee was affected by the pandemic. Miami was, too. Charlotte is starting to come up but even LaMelo Ball has been hurt. As for Boston, we established that they probably might not be that good.
So at this point, especially when they get healthy, I just don’t see anyone in the East taking Brooklyn out. And I thought they were already loaded from the start. Sheesh.
Bullet Passes
The Mavericks defeated the Celtics and unless Boston pulls a 2001 Lakers, I just don’t see them turning it up in the postseason.
Malik Beasley made a clutch three to give Minnesota the upset win over New York. I never thought I would say that the Wolves upset the Knicks in this decade.
The Raptors seemed so deflated after that loss to the Thunder. It’s really affected the team. They’re not playing in their home country. The pandemic is still going on. Key players have left the title team. Heck, key players were TRADED. Not the Raptors team we knew in the last few years or so.
The Nuggets and Blazers are only a half-game behind the #4 Lakers. Like we said, how far might the Lakers fall?
The Jazz certainly aren’t falling. They’ve won 7 straight and once again, nobody is really talking about this.
However, it is impressive that the Phoenix Suns have been doing their damnedest to keep up. 45 points by Devin Booker and the Suns have won 4 straight. Still three games behind Utah in the second spot in the West.
NBA Scoreboard
Mar. 31, 2021
Watch This Play
Jerami Grant does not care about Robert Covington and his family.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
That is a heck of a play by Harvey Grant‘s son.
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.