The Miami Heat have been a topic of conversation for a while heading into this NBA restart. While many fans are tiring to predict who the dark horse from the east could be, you cant look past the Miami heat. A team that sits at 41-24 and sits at the fourth seed in the west certainly has all of the pieces to make a run to the eastern conference finals. This team is stacked with capable defenders and has the ability to guard some of the best players in the east with versatile guys deep in their roster.
The most recent acquisitions for this year’s Miami heat squad consisted of getting rid of the rarely used Dion Waiters, Justice Winslow, and James Johson and picking up the veterans Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill. A move that seemed it would work seamlessly on paper actually resulted in pretty average results where the team went 7-7 in the 14 games since the additions. Jimmy Butler missed a few games during this stretch and it was also evident that Iguodala was getting used to playing again after being out for the first four months of the season. The trade wasn’t made for its immediate implications. This was a very forward-thinking move on behalf of the Maimi Heat and we are going to see exactly why in Orlando.
Miami’s Season in Review (41-24, 4th in the East)
Adding two veterans in what now become right before the playoffs will pay dividends for this team and adding defenders as they did only boost their roster’s defensive capability. This Miami Heat team is dangerous in a lot of ways Last year’s Toronto Raptors team was. They have a group of young talented guys that play really hard. But this year for the Heat, like Toronto last season with Kahwi Leonard, have a go-to guy in Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler gives this team what heat fans hope will get this team back to the eastern conference finals. He fits perfectly with this team and has shown so this year most importantly on the defensive end. He has played with passion on the defensive end all year and leads the team in steal at about 2 per game. Butlers defensive savyniess has paired well with the emergence of all-star teammate Bam Adebayo. Adebayo is averaging 17 points, 5 assists, and 11 rebounds this year and has shown he is capable of during some of the best players in the east like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Adebayo leads the team in blocks with 1.4 per game and has shown he can protect the rim as well as guard on the perimeter.
The Miami Heat have a championship-level defense and two all-stars capable of winning them a playoff series but what really gives them a chance at the Eastern Conference finals in their shooting. For the first time in a while, the Miami Heat has a lot of shooters. The Heat have 9 players on the roster who are shooting above 30% from 3 point range this season. Guard Goran Dragic is shooting 37 % and Rookie Tyler Hero is shooting an impressive 39%. Gaurd Kendrick Nun also doesn’t fall much behind at 36% from 3.
Heat forward Duncan Robinson, has the most impressive of all the 3 point percentages for this team. His personal average of 44.8% comes on an average of 9 three’s per game. He is capable of getting hot, really hot. Robinson had a game-high 10 threes against the Hawks in December… finishing with 34 points.
Looking Into the Bubble:
The heat has all the pieces to be the Darkhorse of the Eastern conference now all that is left to do is execute. It’s obvious that this team needs to get the most out of their defense and all-stars of Butler and Adebayo night in and night out but they also need to be able to count on key role players. The Heat will need to be able to count on production from players like Goran Dragic, Tyler Hero, Derick Jones Jr, Myers Leonard, and Kelly Olynk to name a few. These are the guys that in the playoffs are going to have to make an impact for this team to win. Whether they help out over the course of one game or the whole series depends on the circumstance but, they will be called upon.
Head coach Eric Spoelstra and Heat trail the third-place Boston Celtics by 2 1/2 games and lead both the fifth-place Indiana Pacers and sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers by two games in the standings. If the season were to end as the standings as they are now the heat would match up with the pacers in the first round. Without Oladipo, the Pacers present a favorable matchup for the Heat and if they win that series they will most likely end up against the Milwaukee Bucks in the next round. It will be interesting to see how things shakeup in the east but this scenario is very likely. Not to look completely past the Indiana Pacers but the Heat have beaten the top-seeded Buck’s twice this season and seem to give them matchup problems so this route to the eastern conference finals could actually end up working out best for the Miami Heat.
MLB is back on July 23 when the defending champion Washington Nationals play the New York Yankees and the Los Angles Dodgers take on the San Francisco Giants.
It is July 22nd. The world is still in the midst of a global pandemic. However, Major League Baseball has done whatever it takes to bring sports back to the United States. The league attempts to begin their 60-game season on Thursday, July 23rd hoping that they can play it through completion, without fans in attendance of course.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
As negotiated between Commissioner Robert Manfred and the MLB Player’s Association, an abbreviated 60-game season is replacing MLB’s regular 162 season. Nobody knows if it will be finished, or how many games will be played. This is new to everybody
There is no denying the fact that the country needs baseball. Needs a distraction. Something to unify our society and bring cities together.
This is going to be a unique season. We won’t see another 50-homer season from Pete Alonso. Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole are not going to strike out 300 batters each. There could be some history made. We could see the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.
There are no clear candidates for who that batting title champ could be. Maybe a guy like Whit Merrifield. Or Jeff McNeil. Cody Bellinger could definitely make a run for it.
There are three new rules during this season. There is a universal Designated Hitter for the first time. To start extra innings, there will be a runner on second base. In addition to those two new changes, there is a three-batter minimum for relievers.
One of the oddest things of this season is going to be the absence of an All-Star game. There will be no Mid-Summer Classic to honor the game’s brightest stars. This is the first time since 1945 that there will be no MLB All-Star Game.
Another interesting aspect of this season is the trade deadline. Who knows if teams are going to be willing to part ways with their All-Star caliber players.
Now, let’s get to the predictions. Here are SneakerReporter’s predictions for the MLB standing, postseason, and awards.
National League East
New York Mets
Washington Nationals- WC
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Miami Marlins
National League Central
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds- WC
Milwaukee Brewers
Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates
National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Francisco Giants
Washington over Cincinnati
New York over Chicago
Los Angeles over Washington
Los Angeles over New York
NL Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers
American League East
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays- WC
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
American League Central
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox- WC
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Detroit Tigers
American League West
Houston Astros
Oakland A’s
Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay over Chicago
Minnesota over Houston
New York over Tampa Bay
Minnesota over New York
AL Champs: Minnesota Twins
World Series Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers
This 60-game season is going to be molded by the major transactions of this past offseason. Gerrit Cole’s signing in the Bronx will help the Yankees return to the postseason but will not be enough with their short-handed rotation. Josh Donaldson will be a huge asset for the Twins and will be their main driving force to their World Series run, and all those signings by the White Sox will bring them back to the playoffs. Mookie Betts, and his new $392 million extension, will finally help the Dodgers over the hump and win a World Series title.
(Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In the past few Raw episodes, MVP and Bobby Lashley have partnered together, creating a new stable named “The Hurt Business.” The recent episode on Raw showed this stable branching out, adding a new member, the 24/7 Champion Shelton Benjamin.
In this week’s episode on Raw, WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons was seen in a segment backstage chatting with MVP and Bobby Lashley. Dave Meltzer later mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio, the plans for relaunching the 90’s Faction, the Nation of Domination, or creating a faction similar to it.
“There was an idea; I don’t know if it was dropped. Originally, it was going to be on the show for a revamping of The Nation of Domination, and Ron Simmons was going to be a part of that angle, but they dropped that angle for this show. They may be building to it later, they may have dropped it completely, but they had brought him in for that angle. So, therefore, that is why he was on television.” –Dave Meltzer
The Nation of Domination (NOD) was a faction in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 1996 to 1998.
The group was formed by Faarooq (Ron Simmons) in 1996. In the late 1997/early 1998 incarnation of the Nation, NOD group members consisted of Kama Mustafa, who was later known as The Godfather, Faarooq, The Rock, and D’Lo Brown. The Nation then betrayed Faarooq with The Rock emerging as the Nation’s new leader adding Mark Henry and Owen Hart.
With only 10 days left until the season resumes its only right that we take a closer look at the team that had the first player in the league to test positive for the COVID-19 Virus. Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the virus back in early March after showing symptoms prior to the Utah Jazz game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the Jazz center has recovered but did admit a few weeks back that he still hadn’t fully regained his sense of smell and taste. Gobert along with Utah Jazz all-star Donavan Mitchell both contracted the virus in the month of March but have both made full recoveries. They are in the Orlando Bubble and thankfully so because this Utah Jazz team, who will be without Bojan Bogdonavic for the rest of the season, will need huge contributions from their two All NBA Team selections if they hope to make something happen in the western conference playoffs.
The Utah Jazz have the 8th easiest schedule when the season returns next week. This team had an impressive showing in the first half of the year. They are in 4th place in the western conference and are only two games back of the 3rd seeded Denver Nuggets. If we were looking at the team they were for the majority of this year’s season they would have a real shot at competing for that 3 seed. However, with limited games and even worse, a limited roster, they will have more problems figuring out lineups than who they are even playing. As the season went on for the Utah Jazz they were finally starting to figure things out with guards Donavan Mitchel and Mike Conley were going to work. Conely and Mitchel are both gifted offensive scorers but for much of the year struggled to do so in unison. It has to be Utah’s hope that maybe with Bogdonavic out for the season with a wrist injury there will be more opportunity for Conely and Mitchel to find a consistent rhythm. Regardless The Jazz are going to need guys to step up in all positions on their roster. The Jazz have made some great additions and do have a roster of guys capable of stepping in for this team to produce similar to how they have all season. The problem though is that they just haven’t played with the lineups they are probable to throw out in Orlando. It will really depend on how quickly and consistently the Jazz will be able to form a defensive and offensive identity that will determine if this team is a depleted first round out or a reenergized western conference contender.
Utah Season In Review (41-23, 4th in the West)
Looking at what Utah has accomplished this year, it seems odd to even question if this team is a contender because of how well they have performed in a stacked Western Conference. They just are the same team however and will need to figure out how to replace the 21.2 points per game Bogdonavic provided for them all year along with his strong perimeter defense. Guard Jordan Clarkson was looking like the guy who was likely to fill in for where the Jazz missed “Bogey”. Clarkson was beginning to find his offensive rhythm for the Jazz this year after playing more significant minutes and growing more aggressive as he got comfortable with the Jazz. While I belive Clarkson is capable of scoring in bunches to help this team, I dont think he or anyone else that will fill in for this team has the defensive capability that Bogdonavic had. Bogdanovic ranks second in the league in points generated per touch (0.456), and this season proved he is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league shooting 41% from 3. The Jazz offense was centered around the effective pick and rolls with their guards and Rudy Gobert, and strong spot up shooters to space the floor. While they still have some strong shooters in Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson they will need them to also emulate Bogeys playmaking ability for this team to have success.
A big concern for Head Coach Quinn Synders team will be if Mike Connely and Donavan Mitchell can finally figure out how to play well with one another consistently. Mitchell was averaging 26 points per game this year to Connely’s 14. If this team hopes to compete with teams like the OKC Thunder, which is who they would match up with in the first round of the playoffs if everything stayed the same, Conley will need to get going…fast. Conely has struggled this year offensively mainly because he and donavan micthel like to operate in the same areas on the floor. Conley reluctantly deferred as Mitchell has already shown his offensive promise for the Jazz it made sense. If this team is actually going to make a playoff run Conely will have to find how he can be the point guard this team needs. Conely was able to find success in the pick in role game with Gobert before the season’s hiatus and hopefully, this can carry to Orlando. Coach Snyder credited his center being “arguably one of the best rollers in the league”, and hopefully he will continue to be for this team’s playoff hopes.
While I don’t think that there is one player on this roster capable of recreating what Bogdonavic brought individually, they have a chance to collectively. If players like Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, Emmanuel Mudiay and even Georges Niag (who is shooting over 40% from 3) can figure out a way to collectively bring a defensive presence at the wing position and space the floor the Jazz have a shot.
So, we’re down to nine days on the countdown until NBA basketball blesses our eyesight.
Meaning that, yes, the NBA hiatus will have accumulated an extensive waiting period of 141 official days.
It’s been far too long since we’ve gotten to actually see an orange ball sliver through a nylon basketball net (unless, of course, you’re in a state whose parks have opened, you’ve personally got some shots up, you own a hoop, played hours of NBA 2k20 or if you’ve passed the time watching a plethora of antiquated highlights) so seeing our favorite professional athletes on the hardwood should serve as a massive heaping of good fortune to come as the resumed season tips off on July 30, 2020.
But if you’ve been remissive of memories of the league’s most prominent storylines, or if you’ve been unable to keep up with our own 22-team countdown we’ve been updating daily in the past two weeks, then do we have the treat for you, fellow reader.
As the NBA’s selected teams continue to prepare for the abridged season, (safely) practicing within the Orlando bubble, some of the world’s best will attempt to guide their teams to one of the hardest, if not the most difficult, title ever won in the sport’s history. Injury, infection from COVID-19, or the added pressure of failing to perform under such tight conditions without the benefit of a home-court advantage. But for the names to be mentioned on this list, it’ll be just another day in the office, considering the things they’ve accomplished up until the hiatus confirmed on the evening of March 11.
Keep in mind: this list is completely subjective and everyone has their own opinion of a top 10. This is ours. And that’s that.
So sit back, find a refreshing beverage to enjoy because it’s hot and sticky outside, and read up on the ten best players in the bubble trying to bring home an NBA championship for their teams.
It’s going to take a lot of extra effort besides the usual contributions from Phoenix’s coveted talent for the Suns to even get the chance to sniff the eighth and final seed. But if we know anything about D. Book, we know he’s adept at getting open, usually finishing plays with a silky-smooth stroke that makes water look dry, regardless if he’s always been deterred by a short wingspan.
The lightning-fast 6’6 Kentucky product ethers an advanced scoring skill set similar to the late Kobe Bryant with the way he’s able to make his shot against almost all defensive coverages he’ll see and though his Suns may not win a lot of games, it’s always hard for fans of his expertise to say no when he’s on their television sets.
If the superstar scoring two-guard has anything up his sleeves to get the Suns over the hump, it’ll likely be around an average 30+ point game he’ll have to put up every game, considering the number of shots he’s required to put up if his Suns are to have a shot. Being without a true No. 2 will be the main perpetrator behind that.
Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is a no-go for Orlando due to the newly extended Sun opting out due to concerns of COVID-19 infection, and that’s worrisome for the Suns since he’s having a career year averaging 18.7 points per contest. Floor spacing won’t come easy for Phoenix but with the help of lead assisting man Ricky Rubio and big man DeAndre Ayton, it’ll hopefully allow Booker to display his talents onto the national stage in their eight games in Orlando.
9. Jayson Tatum (23.6 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 2.9 apg., Power Forward For #3 Boston Celtics)
We’ve begun to experience the birth of a superstar when witnessing the growth of Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, albeit when NBA fans weren’t quite expecting to see such a meteoric rise in offensive productivity and leadership skills when his Cs just acquired Kemba Walker in the offseason of 2019. But now you can say the 2017 NBA Draft worked out quite well for a team sorting through the scouting folders to find its next big thing. Surely, they’ve found it in Tatum.
The penultimate No. 1 guy in Beantown that’ll chariot the Celtics into the title picture, Tatum’s ability to utilize an endless array of dribbles, spins, drives, and sidestep threes puts him in an elite class above a lot of premier NBA superstars. Frankly, you could make the case that he is a top 10 player in the league right now, and we’re not just saying that because of his placement on this list.
When Boston decided to trade down two slots to get Tatum three years ago, they saw him as the perfect complement to a high-scoring backcourt – a lengthy Paul George/Paul Pierce/Tobias Harris hybrid stretch forward that is proficient at knocking down the deep ball and creating separation off the dribble with the help of those long arms that additionally help out on the perimeter when locking up multiple positions.
But since then, his ceiling has rocketed up a few floors since those predictions were printed on paper.
Up until the hiatus, Tatum’s March wasn’t as fiery as his February, where he reached uncharted territory by becoming the first Celtic since Larry Bird to average 30+ points per game in a month. Now, with the sights of championship aspirations and a relatively easy schedule, the Duke man is chomping at the bit to show he’s ready to prove himself as a max-deal caliber player, and his Cs a worthy championship contender.
8. Damian Lillard (28.9 ppg., 4.3 apg., 7.8 apg., Point Guard For #9 Portland Trail Blazers)
These Portland Trail Blazers are going to be the watch of the bubble, if what they have coming back on paper can absolve their transgressions of repeated losing streaks, leading to them landing at ninth in the West with a last-minute invite to the Orlando bubble. But the simple reason they aren’t lower in the seeding than what they could have been all season: the extravagant, otherworldly carrying of an undermanned roster by Damian Lillard.
Other than going on an absolute tirade in the days and weeks leading up to the All-Star break, Dame Dolla’s season has been something for the books with the way he’s found simplicity to drop 50 whenever he pleases, showing his resolve to get his Blazers to puncture the playoff picture, as they experienced the franchise’s second-highest level of success a season ago making it to the Western Conference Finals a season ago.
The electric guard has an affinity for accentuating himself from the pack of average guards by being a top-tier playmaker who not only reads and reacts to defenses superbly but is quick and explosive enough to create mismatches and space nearly everywhere on the court. And when it’s Dame Time, there’s no one else who wants the ball in his hands. It truly is a thing of beauty seeing Lillard stepback and send missiles from the logo, only to see the ball coat the back of the iron with neither rim nor net move.
His supporting cast is rightfully going to be bolstered come first tip-off as Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins return from injuries that have kept them for the duration of the season (Nurkic hasn’t played since March of 2019 and Collins only played 3 games) which should lower Lillard’s numbers, but that won’t quite matter if he can get his Blazers into playoff seeding.
7. Pascal Siakam (23.6 ppg., 7.5 rpg., 2.3 apg., Power Forward For #2 Toronto Raptors)
Last year’s Most Improved Player had A LOT to be replaced around him as his Raps were supposed to undergo a transitional period of getting a couple down seasons under their belt in order to gather enough bargaining chips to land another All-Star caliber player alongside the 7-foot Cameroonian.
Turns out, fate had other plans. Instead of going through one of those periods, that team from the 6ix is right back into the thick of things, engineering a gameplan to potentially re-assert themselves into the NBA Finals picture as defending champions from last year’s win in six over Golden State. Led by their best player in Spicy P himself, Siakam’s progression from G-League prospect with Raptors 905 to NBA All-Star has been nothing but fulfilling to witness.
It goes to show that championship infrastructure is not altogether upheld by its most integral pieces, but the parts surrounding it. That was the case last year as the team helped Kawhi Leonard fit like a spoke on the ever-turning wheel that was the 2018-19 World Champion Toronto Raptors and quite evidently, history is repeating itself.
Siakam is one of two All-Stars on a championship-defending team. He alone is an uncommonly quick big man who energetically runs the floor and is prone to putting on aerial shows with his putbacks and towering slams while also displaying a keen IQ and proficiency for shooting the long ball.
As a teammate, however, Siakam’s multifaceted approach to the offensive side of the ball is met with his versatility as a defender, and along with other parts like Kyle Lowry, Fred Van Vleet and the rest of Nick Nurse’s deep rotation gives Toronto a better-than-average shot at repeating as NBA champions.
6. Paul George (21 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 3.9 apg., Forward for #2 Los Angeles Clippers)
Paul George is pretty fond of this time of year, the time where the regular season winds down and his play ramps up. Though his numbers may take a bit of a hit as he is still working out the kinks in the path of finding the ultimate chemistry with new teammate Kawhi Leonard, PG-13 is still capable of transforming into Playoff P when necessary.
And what is George’s X-Factor that he has brought to a Clippers team that’s ascended the ranks to title contention, exactly? Well, take your pick.
Your selections range from his averaged 22 points over the last five postseasons with both Oklahoma City and Indiana, elite footwork and ball-handling skills you wouldn’t expect a forward of his stature to have, pesky on-ball defense with the amenity of hawk-esque wingspan, 40 percent three-ball shooting, or dexterity and court vision when asked to handle guard responsibilities.
We knew that once he was paired with Kawhi Leonard as part of that three-team blockbuster deal that sent Kawhi Leonard from the Raptors and PG13 from the Thunder to Los Angeles in exchange for a bag full of picks for the Thunder and Clippers, LAC’s title window burst open faster than a shaken Cola can. Now, as the teams second (or third, depending on your perspective) choice to take over games, George’s presence almost imminently doubles the Clips’ chances of winning it all in Orlando.
5. Anthony Davis (26.7 ppg., 9.4 rpg., 3.1 apg., Forward/Center for #1 Los Angeles Lakers)
To put it shortly and neatly: few men can do what Anthony Davis can do on a basketball court. A shoe-in for a First-Team All-Defense slot and nomination for this year’s Defensive Player of the Year waiting for him, Davis’ first season as a Klutch Sports client and Los Angeles Laker has been one of the most profiled and historic seasons to date.
Davis, both dominant in the post on offense and defense, really flashed his athleticism and agility in a Lakers uniform the same way he marveled and dazzled New Orleans fans during his first eight seasons as a pro. Davis is known for not only being a well-rounded shooter that can set defenses ablaze from mid-range and deep off pick-and-pop sets as a roll man, but the Kentucky man is just as aggressive when isolating against opposing wings and centers, opting to take them off the dribble to pull up for a jumper, or show off that gazelle-like footwork around the rim.
And when it comes to swatting shots away, Davis is a savant. He’s rejecting around 2.4 shots per contest, and further contributes to the Lakers average win margin, which is only second to Milwaukee’s.
Other than Dwyane Wade, Davis might be the best teammate LeBron James has ever had, and for the Lakers to overcome the likes of the Rockets, Nuggets, and Clippers in the West, as well as whoever comes out of the slugfest in the East, they’ll need the NBA 2k20 cover athlete to be the MVP candidate he’s played like all year in the isolated, quiet bubble.
4. James Harden (34.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 7.4 apg., Shooting Guard For #6 Rockets)
The league’s leader in scoring is looking to add some championship hardware to his already decorated mantle back home in Houston. James Harden is far and away the most unguardable player in all of basketball, and as a defender, you have a better chance of rolling three dice and having them all land on six.
Harden’s rare proclivity to make some wild off-angle shots with the slightest of stepback (egregious travels at times, if you will) is the stuff of legend, and to be honest, we haven’t a pure shot-maker from all around the floor like him since MJ. In addition, being 6’5 while weighing 220 pounds makes him an efficient rebounder and dangerous slasher if defenders try to hand-check him and force him to his right.
Other than his teammate Russell Westbrook, there really isn’t another guard like him that can draw contact on just about every play, constantly putting the pressure on bigs who get in foul trouble and coaches to consistently change the look of their frontcourt and defensive coverages altogether.
He gets a lot of flack for it but makes up for it at the line shooting around 86 percent from the charity stripe, a considerable contribution to his scoring numbers which could rival or even top Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season record for 40+ averaged points per game in a season.
With an abridged season that has a lengthy layout, expect Harden to take home his third scoring title and if all goes well for the Small-Ball Rockets coached by Mike D’Antoni, a shot at the franchise’s third NBA title could appear in their not-too-distant future.
3. Kawhi Leonard (26.9 ppg., 7.3 rpg., 5 apg., Forward For #2 Los Angeles Clippers)
Another MVP candidate and favorite due to the way he’s been playing, Leonard is progressing at a historic pace, and if his balanced Clippers team can execute in the bubble, we’re talking about possibly the two most dominant years by an individual player since LeBron’s 2012-2013 run by Leonard as he goes into Orlando with the intention of claiming his second Finals MVP in a row, and third Finals MVP award for his career.
And while the Lakers present he and his Clips with the greatest challenge now a position under them for second in the division, there isn’t much for LAC to be worried about when it comes to comparing starting lineups.
And for one player that’s masterful at preparing his body with Load Management, now you factor in the added resting period of a full offseason and more due to the season being placed on hiatus. That can only signify one thing: a healthy, hungry Kawhi Leonard who is looking to build off his playoff averages of 30.1 points of 49 percent shooting from a year ago being primed and ready to go, with an even better cast than he had in Toronto. That’s frightening.
One of the most gifted and complete players walking the face of the earth, Leonard’s hand size aren’t the only anomaly on the board. Speed-of-light reflexes, instinctive lateral quickness, and gut-checking strength are what set him apart defensively, but on offense, his balance and tenacity to make his shot from all three levels make him one of, if not the world’s, best player. And when things get bleak and the Clippers require his magic, Leonard puts on that signature poker face and gets to work on both ends of the floor, looking like a Michael Jordan re-enactment at the forward spot.
But the fact is it’s all on the shoulders of Leonard as the team’s leader, and he will be the tipping point on the scale of determining whether or not the Clippers take it all the way to a franchise-first title this year.
Oh, you thought the reigning MVP was going to be left off this list, didn’t you? Of course, you didn’t. As a part of this dominant Bucks team that’s set records in both average scoring margin and total offensive and defensive efficiency in 2019-20, Milwaukee is capable of winning numbers of games without Giannis Antetokounmpo, but those wins are multiplied when the Greek Freak is leading his team to victory.
Milwaukee poses as perhaps the second-most balanced and well-rounded roster set to compete in the Orlando games, and you could either see Giannis as the cherry on top of a league-best sundae, or the entire vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry Neopolitan ice cream base that have given Wisconsin hoops fans the sweet tooth for the past three years.
There’s no wrong answer, considering the goliath-like rise of Antetokounmpo, who has shown time and time again that there’s very little he cannot do on a basketball court. The 7-foot Greek God has a center’s body and wingspan, but the shiftiness and speed of a guard. For the sake of not having a better cliche’ to describe him right now, he’s a freak of nature.
Still, as great as he is and is becoming with his ability to decorate stat sheets every night, his game is still incomplete. Turnovers have been an issue for Antetokounmpo, and he struggles as an outside shooter when halfcourt defenses pack weakside and drive-side. That hasn’t deterred him and his Bucks yet, for they are such a well-oiled machine that is a clear favorite to come out of the East, all thanks to him and more.
1. LeBron James (25.7 ppg., 7.9 rpg., 10.6 apg., Forward For #1 Los Angeles Lakers)
Daftly explained in a Lakers post-practice press conference yesterday, LeBron James has been asked the same inquiries of ‘How’s it going? How are you enjoying the bubble?’ And James constantly blurts out the same answer:
“I just say it’s 2020. Nothing is normal in 2020.”
And to play his advocate, he has a point.
By any measure, it’s been a good, if not a great year for the King. His Lakers are No. 1 in the West. He’s playing on a Lakers team that will return to the playoffs for the first time in seven years with what Vegas odds are describing as the likeliest champion in Orlando. He’s 35 years old winning the war (for now) against Father Time, both leading his team in scoring and the entire league in assists per game. And he’s paired up with another MVP candidate in Anthony Davis, who can rightfully carry the Lakers to their 17th NBA Championship reign.
And then you throw in the reality of having to be the most prolific and polarizing figure in all of American professional sports, while being looked at to have the most prominent sociopolitical voice that any athlete can have across the world amidst a flurry of prognosticators condemning his play with every step he takes, every move he makes and every word he says in response to the social unrest in this country.
And, though it needs little, if any, mention, James still plays with a heavy heart, for he is playing in his late friend Kobe Bryant’s honor, all while fulfilling the promise to Laker Nation that good times are coming, even if his ride off into the sunset of retirement is but a few years away.
It’s just another day in the life of many people’s GOAT.
Arguably the most well-rounded player the game has ever seen, James’ adept passing ability and vision to see everyone and everything moving on the court shows his prowess and ever-adjusting knowledge as a student of the game. James is still a freight train driving to the rack and is still a clutch shooter in the game’s waning moments.
Three championships, 16 All-Star appearances, two gold medals, three league MVPs, toppled records including being the all-time leader in playoff points while being third all-time in scoring later, he’s in rarified air, still chasing ghosts in his 17th season.
And while he’s still finding ways to put up 25+ points a night, there’s no telling what level he’ll kick up to once the playoffs roll by. “Playoff Bron” is nothing to play with, and if the Lakers get all of what’s promised from the all-time great in the postseason, ring #4 is in the Lakers’ sights.
In Today’s breakdown, we are going to look at a very impressive Oklahoma City Thunder squad that sits at the 5th spot in the Western Conference but, could position themself as best as 3rd by the time the playoff comes around. For a team that most people expected to be at the bottom half of the western conference playoff picture when the year began, OKC has been fuel by its veteran leadership from G Chris Paul in addition to a bunch of hungry young and talented players.
Gone are the Days of the MVP talents of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook leading this team to the playoffs but The Thunder will not be experiencing any type of playoff drought because of this. The team has a new identity and they have only improved as this year has gone on and the team is able to build more chemistry. The new selfless identity of this team that displays some of the most balanced scorings of an NBA roster, has put the Thunder not only in a playoff position but serious playoff contention.
Oklahoma City Season in Review (40-24, 5th in West)
The Oklahoma City Thunder have an overall record of 40-24 this year to claim the 5th seed in the West. They are only 1 game behind the Utah Jazz who are in 5th place and 3 behind the Nuggets who are in 4th. With 8 games left I expect these three teams along with the Houston rockets who only sit a half-game behind the thunder to make the 3-6 seeding interesting. The Thunder’s success this season has a lot to do with their success on the road after starting off poorly.
After losing their first 6 road games the Thunder have won 19 of their last 24 games outside of Chesapeake Energy Arena. This has so much to do with G Chris Paul’s leadership role but also speaks to the maturity of the rest of this thunder squad. Leading Scorer for the Thunder, G Shai Gilgous-Alexander has emerged always been a talented multi-level scorer. It’s clear Shai didn’t want to be seen as just some guy in the Paul George trade he’s played aggressive all year long and it brought out the best in him and his teammates. The dynamic that he and Paul have been able to create for this team on a nightly basis has been incredibly fun to watch. They are both dynamic playmakers and have done a great job this year of getting the most out of the rest of the squad. Chris Paul has worked the pick and roll game with Steven Adams this year to perfection and their wings have shown the ability to be consistent enough from the field to keep the floor spaced. The 20 points per game that this team gets out of Danillo Gallinari and Dennis Schroder should also not go overlooked. Danillo has been a star in his role for this team mainly as a pick and pop guy all year long. The playmaking ability of all the guards whether it be Paul, Gilgous-Alexander, or Schroder has really unlocked part of Gallinari’s game. Schroder has always been a really underrated guy in my personal opinion. He’s always produced a great number over the course of his career no matter starting or coming off the bench. Like Shai, he can score on all levels and is always under control. This team is full of players that just don’t get rattled very easily so its no coincidence this team followed up their first 6 road losses with the second-best road record in the NBA behind the Los Angels Lakers.
The Thunder are a very smart team but they are also very young and athletic especially when you look deeper into the roster. With guards like Hamidou Diallo, Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley, and Terrance Ferguson they have depth and athleticism from the wing position which will really help defensively down the stretch. The Thunder have been great with utilizing their young guys this year and it seems like their rookies especially have gotten more confident as the year has gone on. Despite the well-balanced scoring, the Thunder gets every night, the Thunder’s defense is the strongest part of this team’s identity.
The Oklahoma City Thunder surprisingly rank bottom-ten in the league in points per game, assists per game, 3-point percentage, field goals attempted, and several other offensive categories. The Thunder do the little things that result in wins. They rank first in the league in opponent free throw attempts holding their opponents to an average of 17.2 attempts from the line this year. OKC also is only letting up a 12.2 second-chance points per game that rank 2nd in the league. They are efficient and sound of defense this year and it hasn’t mattered whether its at home or on the road. Surprisingly enough the thunder has a better win percentage on the road this year than at home. I think this stat actually means a lot more than you think as the season restarts because this team has proven they don’t need to be home to win all year long and with no games, for the rest of this season being played inside the Chesapeake, this team looks certain to bring their defense to Orlando to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Looking into the bubble the biggest news for the thunder seems to be that G Dennis Schroder may not be able to play. Schroder announced to the media last week that his wife is pregnant with their second child and that she should be giving birth sometime during when the completion of the regular season. Schroder has made it clear to the organization and media that he intents to be there for his wife and is trying to work something out with the team where he can return to the team in the safest way possible.
“I’m not going to leave my wife by herself while she’s having her second baby.. I’m for sure going to go there and support her”
It sounds like Dennis Schroder may have to leave the team for a period of time in 3-4 weeks.
While this might be tough to hear from a fan perspective, this is the right thing for Dennis Schroder to do during these crazy times. The man should be with his wife and newborn before all else and it’s good to see Coach Billy Donavan and the rest of the Organization are fully behind him.
“He’s got to make decisions that are best for his family and I’m fully supportive of that.”
-Billy Donovan on Dennis Schroder and potentially leaving the bubble for the birth of his second child in the next few weeks
With this being said, without Schroder this team is taking a massive hit at a time they will need him more than ever. Schroder’s scoring off the bench is crucial for this team. We are talking about a potential 20 points a game missing for 3-4 weeks in which cold be first-round playoff series. I don’t think this team will be able to replicate what they have done for most of the regular season without him but they have had players step up countless times this year but not quite for what seems to be an extended period of time.
Without Schroder, they will still have to make sure their defense stays as strong as its been. Schroder provides playoff experience for this team so losing him even though in different playoff circumstances hurts them even more. The young guys are really going to have to step up defensively to give these guys a boost and the scoring from Shai, CP3, and Gallinari with having to increase by volumes for this team to produce in the same way. The good news though is that they are capable. They are healthy they have the talent and now if they can just execute they could potentially get hot enough to really compete in the Western Conference playoffs.
Schedule for Thunder in Orlando. ᴬˡˡ ᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ ᶜᵉⁿᵗʳᵃˡ 8/1 vs UTA 2:30p 8/3 vs DEN 3p 8/5 vs LAL 5:30p 8/7 vs MEM 3p 8/9 vs WAS 11:30a 8/10 vs PHX 1:30p 8/12 vs MIA 7p 8/14 vs LAC time TBD
