This is the Hangover. This is where I get drunk on the NBA as I recap last night’s action as well as a few things going on around the league. Here’s your word vomit.
12/27/2016
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.)
THE GAMES
MEM 103 (20-14) @ BOS 113 (19-13)
OKC 106 (20-12) @ MIA 94 (10-22)
HOU 123 (24-9) @ DAL 107 (9-23)
UTA 102 (19-13) @ LAL 94 (12-23)
THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME
I never know why NBA teams love to go isolation on the last play of the game. Or as people termed it, “Hero Ball.”
Sure, you want your best player to have the ball at the time. I get that. That doesn’t mean the entire team has to stand and watch. That’s what happened Tuesday night.
The Lakers were down two after Rudy Gobert missed both foul shots. Luke Walton had no timeouts left so the Lakers had to come up with something with 13.1 seconds left. What happened? Barely any movement and D’Angelo Russell held on to the ball the entire time and ended up shooting an airball. If anything, it was like the Lakers knew Russell was going to take the shot.
Run a play. I get the rush of having to make the game-winning shot and you may have a highlight that’ll be remembered whether it’s for a short time or the long haul but everyone on your team gets the win. That’s what really matters the most. And I get that some are better off on iso. We know LeBron James is a dominant match-up (who, by the way, has no problems giving up the shot at the end of games). We know Stephen Curry can get a shot off anywhere and we know whatever shot he puts up is not bad. But if you have teammates, use them. Run a pick-and-roll. Or drive and kick. Do the weave. Anything for the best shot possible. The iso play happens a lot more at end of games and while we do get good moments out of it, it doesn’t seem like the best possible option.
Especially if the team doesn’t have a star that stands out.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Not a busy night on the league. Although tensions happened at the Rockets/Mavericks game. It was an intense game for both teams; there were some flagrants and technicals handed out. Salah Mejri supposedly calling out Trevor Ariza‘s family (Mejri denied it) to the Rockets waiting for Mejri to come out of the locker room. No incident happened, though. And there won’t be any incidents for the rest of the season as the Rockets and Mavericks are done facing each other in this campaign. The Rockets won all four games.
Don’t look now but Boston has won six of their last seven games. They are 1 1/2 games of #4 Charlotte and are starting to create some separation.
Also, the bottom tier of the Western Playoff picture is mixed up again. The Thunder are now the #5 seed and are only 1.5 games behind the Clippers for #4. The Jazz are #6 with their win against the Lakers and the Grizz dropped to #7 after losing to Boston.
LINE CROSSER
He just keeps doing this. Russell Westbrook got his 15th triple-double with these eye-popping numbers:
29 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists.
That just smells domination.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: Ximo Pierto.)
Steven Adams goes giddy up on Hassan Whiteside.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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