Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Suns beat the Sixers and we’re still wondering if they’re for real.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bill Streicher/USA Today.)
That Western Conference continues to be tough (well, every year, it seems). The Jazz and Clippers took care of business. We had a close game between the Blazers and Nuggets. But the Suns had an impressive win over the Sixers in Philly.
Still, take a look at how the Top 4 in the West are doing:
They really are handling it. The Lakers are 7-8 in that same span but they haven’t had LeBron James and Anthony Davis (in fact, LeBron was last seen 16 games ago). Still, they didn’t fall off too much without them. You’d better believe they’d be something to reckon with when they get back.
The Jazz don’t have Donovan Mitchell for the next week but they’ve been okay thus far. The Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and a few others in and out of the line-up and that spelled disaster last season when they had so many different players on the court. We know the Nuggets have lost Jamal Murray for the season.
So does that open the door for Phoenix?
The biggest thing that bothers me about the Suns is that they haven’t been in the postseason since 2010. Devin Booker played meaningful basketball for the first time in his career in the bubble. I suppose that’s why they have Chris Paul to begin with, who has been in the wars and has gone as far as the conference finals. So it’s imperative HE stays healthy in the postseason.
But, man, have the Suns been so cohesive. 6th in offensive rating. 5th in defensive rating. They seem to have all the ingredients to win it all. They have the defensive versatility to stop teams and they can play any kind of style on the offensive end. Like I said, all they need is seasoning.
Wins against the Sixers on the road is extremely important for their confidence. Right now, teams probably have it in their ears saying that they should try to be the 7th seed just so they can go against an inexperienced team like Phoenix. Quite frankly, I don’t blame them. The L.A. teams will be tough outs. Even with Murray out, Nikola Jokic has been the most consistent star in basketball today. And Utah seems to have figured it out after getting their hearts broken.
But the Suns are 42-16 for a reason. Sometimes, teams figure it out pretty quickly. Just like Boston did in 2008. Hell, just like the Lakers did last season. Only problem is that only Chris Paul has been in the trenches. If Booker is ready to go and withstand everything then the Suns might have something.
In other words, don’t think the Suns have set just yet.
Bullet Passes
Speaking of that Suns/Sixers match-up, check out this astounding Joel Embiid full court attempt that NEARLY went in:
(VIDEO CREDIT: Bleacher Report.)
TOO MUCH POWER.
They signed Luke Kennard for a reason! So he can score 28 points and lead the George/Kawhi-less Clippers to a win!
Trae Young suffered an ankle injury in their OT loss against the Knicks. Man, it’s just such a downtrodden season when we see so many injuries like this.
But as for the Knicks, they have won 8 straight. They last had that streak in 2014. Wait. THAT RECENTLY?!
We all jinxed Stephen Curry. He only scored 18 and went 2 for 14 from three.
But then Russell Westbrook got 14-20-10 and Bradley Beal scored 29 to help give the Wizards their 6th straight win. They are now in sole possession of 10th place and have a chance at the play-in game.
The Raptors are also on a quiet winning streak as they’ve rattled off four straight. Knicks, Wizards, Raptors, and Nuggets (also 4) have the current longest winning streaks in the league.
NBA Scoreboard
Apr. 21, 2021
Watch This Play
The pass by Ja Morant was great. The ATHLETIC play by slow-mo Kyle Anderson was even better.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Hoop Hits.)
Never thought we’d see that from Kyle Anderson!
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.