Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Raptors continue to roll after Norman Powell’s career game.
(PHOTO CREDIT: John Raoux/AP.)
So I probably should remind people again that the Toronto Raptors continue to do well in the standings. In fact, REALLY well. They are 14-4. Toronto is #2 in the Eastern Conference. They’ve been winning pretty. They’ve been winning ugly. They can win in however pace is going.
And they’re doing this after they lost possibly the best player in the league in Kawhi Leonard. And they haven’t had Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry for three weeks due to injuries. What is going on?
Well, for one thing, Pascal Siakam has vaulted himself into the MVP conversation. Good thing they kept him, right? The Most Improved Player from last season, well, improved yet again. I don’t see why he can’t be a two-time MIP award-winner (it just happened with Leilani Mitchell in the WNBA; she won in both 2010 and 2019). It’s so much different than how it was last year when, at times, Siakam was made as a designated corner shooter (which he wasn’t very good at in the postseason). Now he shoots everywhere, initiates the offense, and has become a do-everything type. Opponents have to watch out for him pulling up for three. Raptors Republic talked about it in that link.
Fred VanVleet has become quite the player for the Raptors. His size will always be looked at as a disadvantage but he is scrappy, has a lot of basketball smarts, is a big-game shooter, and can get to the rim seemingly at will. He’s also become quite the leader with Lowry out of the line-up. Lowry is getting up there in age and VanVleet can be the successor to Lowry if the Raptors want him to be.
OG Anunoby and Marc Gasol are terrifying at the defensive end. Anunoby harasses the wings like no other and has become a great help defender. Marc Gasol has always been a great anchor defensively and helped hold Joel Embiid to NO POINTS in their big win over Philadelphia.
The previous thought was that the Raptors have no depth. But Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has become reliable. Rookie Terence Davis has provided some relief in the backcourt. Matt Thomas has given some surprisingly good minutes. Chris Boucher has been with them for a bit but he’s an active body for them.
And then there’s Norman Powell. I’m sure they expected him to be more but he has been inconsistent. He’ll have his playoff moments but he would be anonymous for a lot of the games. Last night, when the Raptors needed ANY offense, he came through with a career-high 33 points. He’s having quite a stretch as he has reached double figures in all but two in his last 11 games. Maybe he can finally be that reliable swingman that the Raptors had hoped for.
When Lowry and Ibaka come back (maybe on Sunday!), this team could be more dangerous as their depth gets solidified. It would also help since that could mean lessening the load on both VanVleet and Siakam, who are playing heavy minutes right now.
They’re still not being talked about much but the Toronto Raptors remain a serious team.
Bullet Passes
Spencer Dinwiddie is having a hell of a season. He’s averaging 20.2 points and 5.9 assists in roughly the same playing time in his last two seasons (just over 28 minutes). The Nets are fortunate to have someone like him as Kyrie Irving continues to recover from his injuries.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has played 19 games. He also has 19 double-doubles. Woof.
I dig these old-school jerseys from the Grizzlies and the Jazz.
I love the 90s.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Murphy/Getty Images.)
Trae Young dropped an incredible 49 points in an overtime loss against Indiana.
On the other side of that trade (because we have to apparently push this deal until the end of time), Luka Doncic went for 42-9-11 in a win against Phoenix. Seriously, I think you don’t know basketball if you don’t think Luka shouldn’t be involved in the MVP conversation.
Don’t look now but the Blazers have won three straight. Carmelo Anthony has settled in his role and is scoring 22.3 points and shooting .574 in those three wins. Look out.
The Lakers are making everyone look like a J.V. team. They do have Dallas, Denver, Utah, and Portland up ahead. Those are going to be some TOUGH games, especially since the last three mentioned are on the road and Denver/Utah is a back-to-back. I fully expect them to lose one of those games.
Watch This Play
How to get motivated post-Thanksgiving? What about this dunk from Julius Randle in the face of Norvel Pelle?
(VIDEO CREDIT: New York KnicksTape.)
That’s how you take a soul.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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