Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Lakers return from the break with a win… and possibly a new power forward.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
While the Clippers play a matinee against the Sacramento Kings as I type this, their crosstown rivals, the Lakers, came out pretty good on Friday night as they neutralized Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Anthony Davis, after a bruised calf, rounded back into form with 7 swats against those cubs.
Now they might have finally made a few moves that their fans were waiting for. Markieff Morris was waived by the Detroit Pistons seemingly out of nowhere. He is expected to be picked up by the Lakers once he clears waivers. To make room for this particular Morris twin, the Lakers are expected to waive DeMarcus Cousins go, who hasn’t played at all due to a torn ACL. While there were rumblings of him POSSIBLY returning for the playoffs, it’s tenuous at best and he will stay with the team to continue his rehab.
So adding Morris makes the Lakers deeper and gives them a few options. Hopefully, Anthony Davis becomes more open about playing the 5, especially when they close games. Morris would be expected to back up James at the power forward spot and it would give more minutes for Kyle Kuzma at the 3. Kuzma’s optimal spot has always been at the wing where he plays defense a little better and can do much better offensively. We’ll see where all of that goes.
Also, Lakers coach Frank Vogel finally saw what we had been seeing all season. We’ve been saying that Alex Caruso SHOULD be paired up with LeBron James more often. The numbers have proved it. The eye test has proved it. And last night’s game definitely proved it. Caruso went for 9 points and 4 boards in 23 minutes and was a +23 for the game.
So let’s look at Laker pairings that have played more than 300 minutes together this season.
Look at that! The James/Caruso pairing is dynamite! And Vogel said that he’s going to play Caruso more often. That remains to be seen but you know people pick apart whatever is said publicly.
Yes, Caruso seems like a novelty to a lot of people. But he really can play. Yeah, people might think he looks like a 40-year-old dude playing in the YMCA. But he has legit hops, can shoot the three, and is an excellent perimeter defender. We’re not saying Caruso can be a 35-minute per game player but he is, as Vogel would say, a star in his role.
The Lakers are making moves on and off the court. Will they be enough for a championship? We’ll find out in June.
Bullet Passes
Stuff (the Orlando Magic mascot) knows a thing or two about dunk contests. And here’s one that could get him a 100 out of 50.
“If Aaron Gordon can’t win the Dunk Contest for Orlando, I will.”
– The @OrlandoMagic mascot, probably 🤣 pic.twitter.com/i0QzZ99ngx— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 22, 2020
The Celtics had 4 players score 25 points or more. Apparently, this was the first time in 60 years this has happened for the Celtics. Kemba Walker sat out the game so center Daniel Theis picked up the slack with 25 points while also grabbing 16 boards. Gordon Hayward went for 29, Jayson Tatum put in 28, and Jaylen Brown scored 25.
Zion Williamson scored 25 points in the Pelicans’ win over the Blazers. Look at THIS shot chart.
But ya know, people will complain that he didn’t shoot outside the paint. Or that he didn’t shoot a three. Shut up.
Aren’t y’all glad that the ol’ Chris Paul is back? 29 points to lead the Thunder over the powerful Nuggets. That three-guard line-up continues to work really well. Those guards close along with Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari. Lookie here:
I am so glad they kept Gallinari, too.
Luka Doncic went for 33-10-8 as the Mavericks kept up with the Thunder in the standings. The Jazz also lost against the Spurs. 2-7 should be dogfight for the rest of the season.
Remember Katy Stevens? She was the Portland courtside vendor that LeBron James bumped into a couple of months ago.
Well, Katy is back in the spotlight. This time, it involved some spillage.
Courtside drink spill alert 🥤😅 pic.twitter.com/iLQc0uknbH
— ESPN (@espn) February 22, 2020
It’s not often you accidentally go viral TWICE in two months.
The Scoreboard
DAL 122 (34-22) @ ORL 106 (24-32)
CLE 113 (15-40) @ WAS 108 (20-34)
IND 106 (33-23) @ NY 98 (17-39)
PHX 101 (22-34) @ TOR 118 (41-15)
BOS 127 (39-16) @ MIN 117 (16-38)
DEN 101 (38-18) @ OKC 113 (34-22)
SA 113 (24-31) @ UTA 104 (36-19)
MEM 105 (28-28) @ LAL 117 (42-12)
NO 128 (24-32) @ POR 115 (25-32)
Watch This Play
Bradley Beal has had some highlights this year. He catches Andre Drummond on this dunk.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Chaz Clavant.)
Can’t get them all, Dre.
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
I sign off “GG” which means “good game” but also to honor Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.