Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the play-in games now!
With the Wizards’ win, all proper 8 seeds have made it to the playoffs in the East bracket.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Toni L. Sandys/Washington Post.)
Well, as like most of the other play-in games, this one wasn’t very memorable.
The Wizards used a 16-0 run in the second quarter to wipe the Pacers away early. The District led by as many as 38 points before settling into this 27-point blowout.
Russell Westbrook did everything. He was an excellent facilitator for the team (he finished with 18-8-15) and really set the tone for the Wiz. If anything, they hardly missed, shooting .581 from the field. A hobbled Bradley Beal toughed it out and led the team in scoring with 25 points. And they got huge help from Daniel Gafford, who had 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Despite their loss to Boston, the Wizards are going into the postseason hot. They finished the season 17-6. And they will face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. That will be very interesting because there is no love lost between Russ and Joel Embiid. Either way, the Wizards are better than their record indicates. This might be a better series than people realize.
As for the Pacers? They looked to have no answers against the Wizards, much in the same vein as the Hornets had no answer to them. Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double (19-11-10). Malcolm Brogdon did all he could with his calm demeanor with 24 points. But Indy looked outgunned from the second quarter on.
We have one more play-in game to go. All the seeds have held thus far. Will Memphis break that trend?
Bullet Passes
I still don’t like that we have to wait until the Finals are over to see who wins the regular season awards. That is a two-month gap and by the time these are announced, we aren’t even debating about them anymore.
Bring it back to announcing them during the playoffs. And give more bulletin board material to teams still in the postseason. Especially for the MVP award.
With that said, the NBA announced the finalists for each award.
The MVP award is between Stephen Curry, Embiid, and Nikola Jokic. Jokic has been the favorite for most of the season and I don’t see how this changes. And I do think Jokic should win.
The Rookie of the Year is between LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton. Ball getting hurt probably cost him the award and it didn’t help that Edwards had a sparkling second half of the season. My vote would go to Edwards.
Defensive Player of the Year finalists are Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, and Ben Simmons. Gobert helped the Jazz to the best record in the league. The Warriors are in the Top 5 in defensive rating mostly thanks to Green. And Simmons has become an incredible defender.
I’d probably give it to Gobert but it wouldn’t surprise me if Draymond won.
The finalists for Most Improved Player are Jerami Grant, Michael Porter Jr., and Julius Randle.
Yes, the first two showed marked improvement. Grant was certainly a pleasant surprise. And Porter is riding the momentum from how he did in the bubble.
But if Randle doesn’t win, I will riot.
6th Man of the Year has two Jazz players (Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles) and Derrick Rose (yeah, I know) as candidates.
Clarkson has been consistent all year, really. This one shouldn’t be close.
Finally, the NBA Coach of the Year has it down to Quin Snyder, Tom Thibodeau, and Monty Williams.
I’d give it to Thibodeau because he really helped the team improve within. The Knicks hardly changed outside of a Derrick Rose acquisition.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Monty won, though. The Suns are #2 in the West. That’s an incredible turnaround.
NBA Scoreboard
May 20, 2021
Watch This Play
This is one of 5 blocks by Daniel Gafford. Doug McDermott‘s effort was admirable but…
FIVE blocks in the first half by DG! 🤯#WizPacers | @Dan_G33 pic.twitter.com/nKA8iL02dN
— x – Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) May 21, 2021
See ya in the first round of the playoffs, Wizards!
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.