Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
Carmelo Anthony and the Blazers edged out the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday night.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Turenne/Getty Images.)
Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning basket from the midrange with 3.3 seconds left against the defending champion Toronto Raptors. He scored a season-high 28 points. For the season, he’s averaging 16.5 points and, while he’s shooting less from behind the arc, making a career-best 41 percent from three.
The Carmelo Anthony acquisition was good for the Blazers. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns for Portland. That’s really hardly the case.
The Blazers are 16-22. They’re a far cry from that Western Conference Finalist team that they were because of all the injuries. This is why Melo is there in the first place. Portland is a half game outside of the playoff picture because of injuries to Zach Collins, Rodney Hood, and Jusuf Nurkic, in addition to porous defense.
Melo was said to be washed up. Oklahoma City and Houston wanted Melo for certain roles and they didn’t pan out because he couldn’t defend on an “NBA level” anymore. He didn’t play for most of the 2018-19 season.
But he stayed diligently in shape. Portland came calling and then Melo had a career resurrection. I personally didn’t think the Blazers needed him. As the days went on, though, it was very evident Portland had to have him to stay afloat. It became even more apparent after they lost Hood for the season.
And I’m sure the Blazers knew what to expect. Everyone knows Carmelo is not the best defensively but he’s doing what he can. But the offense is a bit more wide open because everyone knows what he can do. The Blazers are 11th in offensive rating (110.5 points per 100 possessions) and that was definitely boosted a bit by Melo. Besides, who are you going to put in for Melo? Is Anthony Tolliver a better option? Mario Hezonja?
So yeah, the Blazers need Melo. Will it be enough in this battle of attrition for the 8th seed? We’ll see come April!
Bullet Passes
The Lakers demolished the Knicks by 30 but the Knicks did their best impersonation of their 90s teams by getting some Lakers hurt. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope passed the concussion test after getting a flagrant foul from Bobby Portis. Anthony Davis wasn’t so lucky, though, as he got slammed to the ground after trying to stop a Julius Randle shot.
As of this writing, he is actually going to go on the two-game road trip. So that’s some good news. Whether he’s playing is another story but we’ll see.
Chris Paul scored 20 of his 28 points in the 4th and overtime in a vintage performance. But is that really vintage? Chris Paul hasn’t had a huge decline in his career.
But goodness, the Nets can’t seem to win a game anymore. They’ve lost 7 straight games. Good thing that the next time behind them has already lost 4 more games than them.
Don’t look now but them Grizzlies have won three straight and are now tied with Portland with a 16-22 record.
This deserves its own little section but look at what Jarrett Allen did to aspiring rapper Mike Muscala.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
But wait ’til you see the next dunk I chose below.
The Scoreboard
DET 115 (14-24) @ CLE 113 (10-27)
POR 101 (16-22) @ TOR 99 (24-13)
OKC 111 (21-16) @ BRK 103 (16-20) (OT)
MIN 112 (14-22) @ MEM 119 (16-22)
SAC 114 (15-23) @ PHX 103 (14-23)
NY 87 (10-27) @ LAL 117 (30-7)
Watch This Play
Sekou Doumbouya got him some of Tristan Thompson.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Bleacher Report.)
That is some malevolence right there. Our friend, Sekou Smith, is definitely happy for his fellow Sekou.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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