Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Nuggets have won four straight since the trade deadline.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Landis/AP.)
The Nuggets defeated the Clippers in a huge game. It was Denver’s 4th straight win and puts them in a tie for the 4th seed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Again, maybe we were all underestimating the Aaron Gordon deal in the first place.
The thing is… Nikola Jokic didn’t even have a good game for his standards (14-7-7). But they got a good balance out of everyone in that starting line-up. Jamal Murray continues to have a career year in scoring. Will Barton is now healthy and doing all the little things. Michael Porter, Jr. continues to be teeming with potential and Gordon has filled in all the blanks, especially on defense.
We’ve got JaMychal Green coming off the bench to do the dirty work, Paul Millsap for veteran guile, PJ Dozier for some grinding, and Facundo Campazzo with his court smarts. They still have JaVale McGee for experience off the bench, too. Some will argue that Gordon does things better than the departed Jerami Grant for the role they wanted him to fill. And that’s the thing with Gordon. He’s bigger, more athletic, and possibly more versatile defensively than Grant. Gordon isn’t the scorer Grant is but he probably doesn’t need to do that in a team full of bucket-getters.
Suddenly, Denver looks more terrifying than they did at the start of the season. They might be even scarier this year than last summer. Maybe it’s the way Denver can use Gordon’s explosiveness. All the pick-and-rolls. All the deep cuts. All the alley-oops. And Gordon can make the three, too.
And how about this for a thought?
INTERESTING. We’ll see what else pans out for the rest of the season for the Nuggies.
Bullet Passes
Nickeil Alexander-Walker put in 31 points but it wasn’t enough for the Pelicans against the Magic. The Magic have won two in a row. Aren’t they rebuilding?
The Hawks and Spurs went double overtime with ATL taking the win. Wait. Atlanta won IN San Antonio AGAIN. TWO YEARS IN A ROW!
Josh Jackson (remember him!) scored 31 in Detroit‘s blowout win over Washington. Yeah. I said Detroit had a blowout win.
I was complimenting Charlotte for being the 4th seed in recent days but it’s clear what the gap is between the Hornets and the star-laden Nets.
Andre Drummond, who got hurt in his debut game for the Lakers, won’t be out too long but losing a toenail sounds really really really painful. And gross.
I’d be scared to fly, too, Utah Jazz, after what happened here. And the poor birds.
NBA Scoreboard
Apr. 1, 2021
Watch This Play
Bam Adebayo punishes the rim.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
BAM BAM.
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.