Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Blazers have the same record as the Mavericks and Lakers but tiebreakers leave them in the play-in.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Dwyer/AP.)
The play-in series isn’t popular with the most prominent of players at the moment. About three weeks ago, Luka Doncic said he doesn’t understand the concept of a play-in. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban agreed with his player.
After the Lakers lost to the Raptors on Sunday night, a frustrated LeBron James also said, paraphrasing, that the play-in isn’t great.
The hilarious thing is that it was unanimously approved for this season, which includes Cuban. And LeBron James was very much for it before the bubble restart session.
Well, it’s because they’re in compromising positions now, they don’t want a play-in. Dude. Just win games. Now Luka, Cuban, and LeBron look idiotic for mentioning these. The play-in had always been there. Now they want takebacks?
Is it okay if they’re in a three-way?
As for me? I don’t like it myself. Maybe this season should be a bit of an exception because of the compacted campaign. And there should be only a short margin between 8 and 9 (and 10) as well (which is actually happening this season). But what’s the point of having a 72 or 82-game regular season when the team that earned the 7 and 8 spots can lose it in a couple of days?
Yeah, sure, it gives more of an incentive for teams to try harder for a playoff spot and it reduces tanking. But they don’t have enough of an incentive to try for the 8th spot? Also, there are already enough teams making the postseason; there are more playoff teams than lottery teams. Do we need two-thirds of the league having a chance at the championship? Granted, we really only give 4-5 teams a real shot at the championship (sometimes, it’s only really two) so we don’t need to give participation trophies to 20 teams.
But whatever. I don’t run the league. It doesn’t matter what I say. Either way, maybe the best solution for the Mavs and Lakers is… to win? WHAT A CONCEPT.
Bullet Passes
But no wonder the Mavs and Lakers whine about the play-in. They both lost on Sunday.
And I guess Portland is good again. After that bizarre 2-9 stretch, they won four in a row.
Did we possibly have the Game of the Year between the Nets and the Bucks? Kevin Durant scored 42 points but missed the game-tying three at the end. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had been hurt as of late, went for a season-high 49 points. Both stars were unstoppable at some points in the game. Such a fun game to watch.
I really thought the Suns were going to beat the Thunder by 80 after what the Pacers did to OKC. But the Suns only escaped with a 3-point victory. Nevertheless, a win is a win and Phoenix is back on top of the West.
At this point, I don’t know who else should win Most Improved Player outside of Julius Randle. It’s not the biggest jump in raw numbers but Randle became a bonafide all-star this year and has really become a threat as a post player and a playmaker.
Raw numbers got better for Jerami Grant, Christian Wood, and Michael Porter, Jr. But Randle (coupled with the coaching by Tom Thibodeau and RJ Barrett‘s own improvement) clearly made a jump on his own game. You can just SEE it.
The Sixers are back at #1 in the East because of the play below…
NBA Scoreboard
May 2, 2021
Watch This Play
I hear Ben Simmons is overrated. Is he still overrated after doing this game-winning tip-in?
Ben Simmons. Game. pic.twitter.com/UYG7egKKrp
— THE NBA Hustle 🏀 (@TheNBAHustle) May 3, 2021
Look, I know that was only his second field goal. But if you look at every other aspect in the game, he is excellent at it. And, really, if asked to, he can score more. He just doesn’t have an outside shot. And so what? That’s okay. ANYWAY, BEN SIMMONS FOR THE WIN.
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.