Jayson Tatum & Kemba Walker Lead The Celtics Past Oklahoma City (112-111)

Jayson Tatum & Kemba Walker Lead The Celtics Past Oklahoma City (112-111)

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by | Feb 10, 2020 | Featured, NBA

This game between the Celtics and Thunder was extremely hyped up as both teams have been on a roll lately. The Celtics came into this game with the Thunder on a six-game winning streak. Boston was able to have their core back and healthy which helped out today in OKC. The Celtics were able to play as a unit and they made the Thunder pay whenever they had a turnover. The Thunder had 10 turnovers but with those turnovers, the Celtics capitalized on them for 20+ points making them pay for it. The Boston Celtics had a true plan and that was for them to get Danilo Gallinari switched onto Kemba Walker or Jayson Tatum. When the Celtics had that switch going they were able to execute at a high level. Jayson Tatum was able to take over in that first half of the game as he was showing why he’s an NBA All-Star. Jayson has been able to improve his game throughout the year and had it on full display in OKC. Tatum was able to hit 3 pointers and he was able to get to the basket with ease. The Thunder had Gallinari and Chris Paul on Tatum but it didn’t work out the way that they wanted. Jayson Tatum finished with 26 points on the night and was a problem that OKC couldn’t solve. Tatum playing that type of game also opened up the opportunity for his teammates as well. When Tatum draws that attention from the defense it gave Jaylen Brown a chance to exploit the defense in the worst way.

 

 

Jaylen Brown has grown a lot and this season he was a borderline All-Star. Today Brown was able to get to the rim and hit some tough shots when the Thunder weren’t able to make the right reads. It seemed as though Brown had a lot of moments open that he made the Thunder pay on. The game was back and forth but Brown was able to add 17 points to the game. Brown left the game for a little bit of the game and that’s when Kemba Walker was able to emerge on the scene. Kemba Walker has everything in his bag of tricks from the layups all the way to the crossover fadeaway. Kemba was able to take advantage of the switches when the Thunder got caught with a big on him in his sweet spots. Kemba finished the game with 27 points on the night and was able to hit some tough shots down the stretch. At one point in the 4th quarter, Kemba was able to hit back to back 3 pointers to give the Celtics some space. One thing that the Celtics learned tonight is that the OKC Thunder will continue to fight and they’re a scrappy team. The play that pretty much sealed the deal for the Celtics win was the late steal that Marcus Smart was able to get on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with less than a minute left in the game. Marcus Smart made the play of the game and he added some scoring down the stretch. He finished with 7 points but they were points that were definitely needed at those moments. The Celtics overall as a group played together and made some tough shots down the stretch to secure the win.

 

 

The OKC Thunder were able to compete all night as they were within 5 points for the majority of the game. Boston didn’t have an answer for the Thunder Big 4 tonight. Shai and Danilo both combined for 48 points on the night as we’re able to be aggressive on the perimeter when given the chance. When Shai plays that aggressive it usually ends up being a Thunder win. Shai was able to attack Smart, Brown, and Wanamaker anytime they were guarding him. The growth of Shai was on display tonight as he was able to show that he can pull up for some 3 pointers in transition as well. If Shai can play with this kind of aggressiveness people will back off some which will create more opportunities for his inside game. Shai’s a second-year player but his game is smooth like an 8 year veteran in the NBA. The game didn’t end the way that Shai wanted it too as he had a crucial turnover late in the game that helped Boston out. This is just a learning curb for Shai as he will continue to grow and his game will evolve as time continues to go on. Shai’s the future of this organization and he made some plays that helped the Thunder get in the position they were in against some great Boston defenders. Danilo Gallinari was huge for the Thunder as he was hitting some big shots for them as well throughout the night. Billy Donovan had to adjust to the Celtics lineup switches and he was playing offense/defense late but it just didn’t work. Late in the game, Gallinari was on the bench during some plays that the Thunder would have wanted him in there for but that’s the gamble you take. Chris Paul played a huge part in this game as well because of the defense on Jayson Tatum throughout the night. Chris finished with 22 points but was able to pick his spots and when to attack. The leadership of Chris Paul was on display as the Celtics were having trouble stopping the three-guard lineup. Oklahoma City had some big breaks at the end of the game and was able to show why they’re one of the best teams in the NBA. Chris Paul was a huge piece to the team today as he showed that he can still defend at a high level. The Thunder had some chances but just couldn’t get it done as the Celtics squeezed out of OKC with the victory. The Thunder will be playing against the Spurs on Tuesday as they try to get to 33-21 on the season,

Feb 10, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

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by | Feb 9, 2020 | Featured, NBA

If there’s been an indisputable truth while looking at this season as a whole, the warning that the Lakers issued to the rest of the NBA and basketball universe was meant to be considered following their domination of the under-talented Golden State Warriors in the preseason.

So let’s take a trip down the Twitter memory lane, shall we?

Since the first publically visible pairing of Anthony Davis and LeBron James back on that October evening in the Bay, the Lakers have stormed out in front of everyone else in the West during a season many prognosticated this Lakers team to be right in the midst of the pack of the conference. But, as of late, things haven’t been as peachy during this four-game stretch as the Lakers formulated an average (to their standards) 2-2 record in the past week, losing close games to Damian Lillard’s Trail Blazers and the center-less Rockets.

And not that it’s been something to really worry about with the Lakers still possessing the best record in the conference at 38-12, but they might want to pick it up a little if they don’t want the Clippers to creep up on them, now only 3 1/2 games in front of their roommates in the Staples Center. Fortunately, tonight should be a bit of a reprieve when they face the West’s 2nd-worst team in Golden State Warriors (it still feels weird to say that!) who have a record of 12-40.

Something to consider: the Dubs are going to be rolling out a completely different starting lineup after the bombshell headlines hit all of the San Francisco sports mediums. As part of the substantially-effective trade deadline that conceded this past Thursday, they no longer have D’Angelo Russell as their starting point guard, Omari Spellman as their rotational big, or either Jacob Evans, Glenn Robinson III, and Alec Burks as all of the pieces mentioned have been traded elsewhere before the deadline arose.

So, it’s understandable how Dubs fans are freaking out at the moment. Yes, this team is going to be supplied with a litany of amenities from their cap situation, their draft positioning and the return of their vaunted backcourt, who many consider to be the greatest scoring guard duo of all-time. But in exchange, this early spring cleaning provided some gold chips, including Andrew Wiggins, the former No. 2 overall pick from 2014 that’s struggled to find his footing in the NBA since the start of his professional career.

It is confirmed that he is suiting up and starting tonight, and for his first taste of basketball in a new environment, he’ll get to play with the likes of Eric Paschall, team leader Draymond Green, Damion Lee, Jordan Poole, and Ky Bowman.

Ouch.

Golden State’s interior defense was already painfully mediocre against opposing offenses, and that was before they traded Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks back on January 25. And the last time they played this dangerous Lakers team? They were pounced on early and crushed through four quarters in a 120-94 loss in the Staples Center. Tonight might not look that different, especially since the Lakers are 24-2 against the lowly teams in the league that they should beat.

But hey, these Dubs might be able to spring a trap game on the Lakers on Saturday night, and in this league this season, you can never fully stack your chips in the predicted “lock” team.

Feb 9, 2020 No Comments
OKC Thunder Defeat The Short Handed Detroit Pistons (108-101)

OKC Thunder Defeat The Short Handed Detroit Pistons (108-101)

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by | Feb 8, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Detroit Pistons came into this game short-handed after the NBA Trade Deadline. Andre Drummond was traded away for John Henson and Brand Knight with an additional pick. The life without Andre Drummond started tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road. The Pistons only suited up 9 players on the night and it gave expended minutes to other players that didn’t usually have that spotlight. Two of those players that had to step their game up to fill that void for Drummond were Thon Maker and Christian Wood. Both players were very good on the perimeter and made it tough on Steven Adams/Nerlens Noel on the night. Christian Wood was a player that many teams inquired about on the trade deadline and Detroit refused to take calls. The Thunder found out first hand why the Pistons wanted to keep Wood on the roster. On the night Wood finished with 27 points going 10/18 from the field. Wood was able to get the job on the inside and outside with ease and looks like a promising young player. Christian Wood was able to hit the 3 point shot and he was able to attack when given the chance. It seemed as though the Thunder had some trouble containing Wood inside and when they switched he hurt them from 3 point range. The other player that surprised a lot of the Thunder players was Thon Maker. Tonight Maker was able to finish with 19 points and showed that he has some range as well. The Thunder usually struggles with players that can play inside and outside in that 5 position. Thon Maker has a chance to get more minutes and more opportunity moving forward with the Pistons getting rid of Andre Drummond. Reggie Jackson played his heart out tonight as he finished with a game-high 28 points. Reggie was able to hit his 3 point shot and he was able to get to the rim with impressive dribble and finesse. The problem for Reggie was the fact that every time he did something that was impressive that could get them closer the Thunder made a run. The Pistons didn’t have enough bodies tonight to get it done and the Thunder made them pay every chance they could from the field shooting 51% on the evening.

 

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game not making any moves on the NBA Trade Deadline. Not making a move on the deadline could be huge moving forward because they already have chemistry. Tonight the Thunder put that chemistry on display as they were shooting lights out from the field. The three-guard lineup has been working all season and the Thunder could be up to something with their playmakers down the stretch. The Pistons had no answer for the three guards as Schröder, Gilegeous-Alexander, and Paul finished for a combined 61 points out of the 108 OKC put up tonight. This three-guard lineup’s extremely tough to guard because you have ball handlers that can create for others and create shots for themselves as well. Balanced scoring was a huge part of this game as OKC had five players that scored in double digits. The way that the guards play rubs off on this team from hustle plays to creating for each other. OKC has a team that has been unselfish and they play as a true unit. The Pistons didn’t have anyone in the paint that could stop the Thunder from scoring in the paint like they love to do. The Thunder had 50 points in the paint and they executed their plays with ease as the Pistons didn’t have enough men to make a difference. If OKC can continue to play that this pace and with this much confidence they will be a scary team in the western conference moving forward. The bench production will come with timing and once the Thunder gets a true 2nd unit together where everyone knows their role it will be epic. The Thunder have young players that are learning on the fly as the season goes on like Luguentz, Darius, and Hamidou. The future is bright for this team and as long as Shai continues to grow on a nightly basis this team will be successful. Up next the Thunder will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday as they try to make it 13 games above .500 on the season. Before the season a lot of media outlets didn’t have the Thunder even in the playoffs and they’re now chasing down that number 4 spot in the West.

 

 

Feb 8, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz

SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz

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by | Feb 8, 2020 | Featured, NBA

As the trade deadline reached it’s penultimate conclusion Thursday afternoon, both the Blazers and Jazz were abstinent in pulling the trade trigger, with only Portland expending the singular asset Skal Labissiere to Atlanta. So, both teams like what they have and are content with pushing towards the playoffs in April, and for a good test, the Portland Trail Blazers look to silence the usually rowdy crowd of 18,300 Jazz patrons inside Vivint Smart Home Arena to see if they can hang with playoff-ready teams since the Jazz sit at the fifth seed in the West.

These two teams faced off less than two weeks ago and that resulted in a Saturday win by the Portland Trail Blazers, in which Damian Lillard felt like keeping up his already fable-like six-game scoring streak, dropping 51 in the process. In his last 8 games, he’s been must-see television and out of nowhere is making MVP noise averaging 42.5 points per game. While the Jazz have an appealing-looking record, Utah has lost five games in a row including two to Denver and that 124-107 loss to the Blazers in Portland last Saturday.

Since then, it’s been a tale of polar opposites for both squads. This losing streak that the Jazz are on killed any momentum of them possibly entering and staying in the top-3 in the West, while the ninth-seeded Blazers are in sniffing distance of the eighth seed in the standings. And they’re scoring in multitudes recently, averaging a whopping 127.4 points in their past seven contests.

What’s to be figured out is if a struggling Jazz team that’s experiencing woes on the defensive end can at least slow down “Dame D.O.L.L.A” and this offensive onslaught that C.J. McCollum (21.3 ppg., 4 rpg., 3.8 apg.) has assisted in bringing to opposing teams and their defensive coverages that have been confusing enough to conceive recently.

Also, the confidence of Gary Trent Jr. has really been a feel-good story to analyze if you’ve tuned into any Blazers games prior to this one tonight. He was mesmerizing to watch in the fourth quarter on Thursday against Houston, chipping in 12 points in the quarter and finishing with a hot 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He’s definitely added another dimension to this Blazers attack and will get another challenge to improve and a chance to showcase his positive development against a tough defensive core in the Utah Jazz.

Utah enters this one well-rested as their last game was on Wednesday, while the Blazers are returning to the court on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ve really found a groove winning five of their last six, and though the Jazz are no pushover led by Donovan Mitchell’s 24.5 ppg., 4.3 rpg., and 4.2 apg., Portland could benefit by getting out of the gates and hitting them in the mouth early with Lillard’s and McCollum’s superb shooting ability.

That’s all to be determined in Friday night’s second ESPN game at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Feb 8, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers

SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers

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by | Feb 8, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Bankers Life Fieldhouse will play home court in this redemption arc, as the Indiana Pacers look to avenge their blown second-half lead in their loss to the comeback kids of Toronto in a rematch, taking place at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN as a part of their Friday night doubleheader.

So, we can just about qualify this Pacers team as an arduous out come playoff time, now compact with guard depth and two all-star (well three, if you count Malcolm Brogdon) caliber players on a Nate McMillan-coached roster that shouldn’t be one of the last teams on anyone’s lists to face in the first round. In the Scotiabank Arena this past Wednesday, Ol’ “Blue-Collar, Gold Swagger” was brilliant for most of Wednesday night in Toronto. They erupted for 43 points in the second quarter, matched a franchise record with 19 3-pointers, and led by 10 points with 2:27 remaining.

And then, everything offensively enriching for the Pacers was nowhere to be found in the game’s final six possessions.

Toronto went ballistic in the game’s waning moments, and on their final six possessions scored at will while forcing four turnovers in the final 1:41. They closed the night with an 11-0 run to stun the Pacers, and of course not complete with the icing on the cake, a standalone three on the J for Serge Ibaka for the win as the Raptors kept their remarkable 11-game winning streak with a 119-118 victory.

The returning Victor Oladipo noticeably struggled in his 5-for-14 shooting night in his first taste of starting minutes this year, complicit in the cold bucketless final seconds in Wednesday night’s loss. Indiana has now dropped three straight and need some momentum if they want to get back into the drivers seat of keeping and maintaining the fifth seed in the Eastern standings, for if they’re able to, they might earn the incentive of avoiding either the streaking Celtics (who are also on a winning streak themselves at five games, respectively) or these Toronto Raptors if either team ends up at the third slot in the East.

The question still persists for these Pacers who look good on paper and could be a dangerous, formidable foe come April: Can they have short memories and answer the adversity by playing four solid quarters against an intimidating, competitive Raptors team literally hours after a gut-wrenching loss?

If the answer to that question is a yes on Friday, that could be a good sign come April.

Feb 8, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

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by | Feb 7, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Tonight’s second round of NBA on TNT action takes place in Tinseltown as the Los Angeles Lakers defend home court against a Rockets team on Thursday night at 10:30 that will look a little…shorter.

That’s no cute sarcasm used by any means, whatsoever. During the rambunctious time before the league-wide trade deadline, Mike D’Antoni is apparently making his new-look Rockets adapt to a run n’ gun brand of ball, prioritizing small-ball lineups in an experiment so wildly bat-stuff crazy that it might just work. And what better way to test out your new experiment in the mad laboratory that is the Staples Center against one of the tallest teams in the league?

The 6’10 Anthony Davis will be more than likely matched up with the much shorter 6’5 PJ Tucker for just about the entire night. Which sounds horrifying. Yes, we’ve been trying to wrap our heads around the same idea as well. But there are some pluses to counter the minuses here as well. Both trade acquisitions in Robert Covington and Jordan Bell will be active tonight, but minutes will be likely and understandably limited.

So Houston is going to be up to their usual ways in their starting lineups, putting Russell Westbrook and James Harden at the top of the key with PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon at the 3 and 4. Since there is no true center, it’s yet to be determined if they’ll send out Danuel House or Ben McLemore at the five, so whoever is matched up with LeBron and AD, it’s going to be a long night, and that just sugarcoating the fact.

And at their longest and tallest, the Lakers will counter that lack of size that the Rockets have with Avery Bradley at shooting guard, Danny Green at the 3, LeBron James at point, Anthony Davis at power forward, and JaVale McGee at the center spot in Frank Vogel’s starting lineup. The Lakers roll into this one confident like an Honors student taking a remedial math class for fun, stomping out the Spurs at home by 27 during San Antonio’s two-game trip in LA.

The last time these Lakers saw the Rockets, they were charged by a second-half comeback behind LeBron’s 31 points and had to overcome James Harden’s 34 points during a Saturday night primetime battle. They lead the season series 1-0, and now have the easiest of opportunities to stau undefeated against Harden’s Rockets that now will have all of the world’s difficulties in trying to win the game on the glass.

They’ll look to advance their two-game winning streak to three games against the best scoring backcourt in the league, and although the Rockets are vastly undersized with their tallest player only clocking in at 6’7 (Danuel House), don’t be surprised if this small-ball brand of hoops that’s eerily reminiscent of the Warriors’ small-ball lineups in the 2010s when they won those championships in the late 2010s reanimates itself in Mike D’Antoni’s new gameplan, starting tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Feb 7, 2020 No Comments