What Is Wrong With Denver; Hawks Upset Brooklyn! 1.1.21
It’s New Years Day and we have 10 games on the schedule to kick off the new year! Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers take on Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz. Damian Lillard and the Blazers take on Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Heat have looked up and down this season, but are coming off of a win vs the Bucks without Jimmy Butler who has been dealing with an ankle injury. This Heat team is very talented top to bottom, as they have a lot of talent on their roster. Jimmy Butler returns, making this defense a lot better. If this Heat team can remain consistent on both ends, they will start to pick things up. The Mavs have struggled this year, especially Luka. Luka is obviously very talented but he hasn’t looked the same from last year as he can’t make outside shots. A lot of that has to do with the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, but he should be playing better than this. The Mavs roster is a little thin, but they do have guys like Tim Hardaway Jr, Josh Richardson, and Jalen Brunson. But I think Miami has the better roster, and they should be winning this game.
Miami Heat
Another ugly performance by the Heat. Jimmy Butler returned, but he didn’t do much. The Heat’s offense was terrible, as they shot 0-7 from 3 in the first quarter, 0-14 in the first half. The Heat lost by 10, but it wasn’t really that close. Miami scored just 53 points after 3 quarters, as they made the Mavs defense look like the best in the league. Jimmy Butler had 2 points, Duncan Robinson had 5, as Miami has been very up and down this season.
Bam Adebayo had 19 points and 11 rebounds on 8/12 shooting.
Avery Bradley had 15 points on 5/8 shooting off the bench.
This Heat offense has to be better. Miami shot just 21% from 3, as they just haven’t looked the same to start this season. Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler struggled mightily on offense, as they need to start getting some of that offensive fire-power back. I haven’t been impressed with the Heat to start this season, but of course it is early. Miami faces the OKC Thunder next.
Dallas Mavericks
Well, it wasn’t exactly pretty. But a win is a win. This Mavs offense hasn’t been great this season, and their defense hasn’t helped them. But they did a great job on the Heat, blanketing them for most of the game. The Mavs shot 43% from the field in the first half, but they held Miami to 0 3-point makes. The Mavs cruised to a win, as they are now 2-3 on the year. Maybe the Mavericks can start to pick up the pace, as they try and wait for the return of Kristaps Porzingis.
Luka Doncic had 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9/22 shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18 points on 6/18 shooting.
Dorian Finney-Smith had 12 points and 5 rebounds on 5/8 shooting.
Defense has been a problem for the Mavs all season long, and they played their best defense game of the year by far. Their offense is still getting there, as Luka Doncic finally looked good. He had been struggling from deep, shooting just 9% to start the year. He was 3/10 today, nothing great but a large improvement. Kristaps Porzingis is coming back soon, and now maybe we can see the Mavs picking up some steam.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Charlotte Hornets
Pre-Game Thoughts: Without their two franchise players in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr, this Grizzlies team will struggle. Their roster is not that talented, and they won’t be able to contend without their two stud guys. The Hornets are 2-2 on the year, as they have looked good and bad at times. Their roster is very weird, but if they can get Lamelo Ball to be more consistent, they will be decent. Defense is a worry with this team, but they are much more talented than this Grizzlies team, and I don’t think they should have a problem winning this game.
Memphis Grizzlies
Yeah, who needs their two franchise players? Not Memphis. The Grizzlies were clearly overmatched talent-wise in this game, and that didn’t stop them from dominating this Hornets team. The Grizzlies shot 44% from the field in the first half, and they led by 6. But a big 3rd quarter, in which they outscored the Hornets by 10, fueled the Grizzlies to their 2nd win of the year.
Dillon Brooks had 21 points on 8/17 shooting.
Kyle Anderson had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7/15 shooting.
Brandon Clarke had 15 points on 6/11 shooting.
The Grizzles played pretty solid, and just outplayed this Hornets team. Kyle Anderson continues to play at a high level, same with Dillon Brooks. Brandon Clarke started the season off slow, but he looked very good starting today against Charlotte. The Grizzlies just need to try and stay afloat for a little bit, as they await the return of their two franchise players.
Charlotte Hornets
Yeah, this was a disappointing loss for the Hornets. The Hornets were on a two-game winning streak, and had the advantage vs the short-handed Grizzlies. But Charlotte didn’t come ready to play, as a terrible 3rd quarter was the main reason for their loss. Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham shot a combined 2/21 from the field, and ugly game for both of them. An ugly game for the Hornets, as they are now 2-3 on the year.
Bismack Biyombo had 16 points and 12 rebounds on 7/10 shooting.
Lamelo Ball had 15 points and 6 assists on 6/14 shooting off the bench.
Caleb Martin had 14 points on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
The Hornets took a big step back from how they’d been playing as of late. Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham were terrible, as their starting unit wasn’t great. Lamelo Ball is getting more consistent, and Charlotte might want to consider playing him more minutes, or even starting him. The Hornets are now 2-3 on the year, and they face the 76ers tomorrow.
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Celtics have won their last two games, as they have looked solid. Their duo of Brown and Tatum is very tough to guard, and they will cause a lot of problems for this Pistons team. The Celtics roster around them is decent, but nothing special. The Celtics still await the return of star PG Kemba Walker, but they are still a playoff team without him. The Pistons are on one of the few winless teams left in the league, as their roster isn’t bad, but they just aren’t good. They won’t have Blake Griffin as he recovers from a concussion, so their roster is getting even more thin. They have some decent pieces like Derrick Rose and Jerami Grant, but this Pistons team is still rebuilding, and this should be an easy win for Boston.
Boston Celtics
Losing this game hurts for Boston, as they could have very easily won this game. Boston played terrible to start this game, scoring just 12 points in the first quarter on 28% shooting. The Celtics trailed by 15 at halftime, as they were never able to make any ground. But they scored 33 points in the 3rd quarter and only trailed by 6 entering the 4th. The Celtics weaved in and out of the lead in the 4th, but with 4:15 left, they led by 5. But then Detroit scored 7 straight points over 4 minutes, as Boston was held scoreless over that time period. The Celtics didn’t score in the last 4:15 of the game, and they lost by 3.
Jayson Tatum had 28 points and 6 rebounds on 11/24 shooting.
Jaylen Brown had 25 points and 9 rebounds on 12/20 shooting.
Marcus Smart had 13 points and 9 assists on 5/14 shooting.
Boston can’t go scoreless at the end of games with the offensive talent that they have. Jayson Tatum needs to take better shots, and attack the rim more instead of settling. Jaylen Brown was good, but Boston didn’t get much help. The Celtics bench produced just 20 points, as Payton Pritchard was held scoreless. Obviously having Kemba Walker down the stretch of this game would have helped mightily, but not a good way to close this game. Boston is now 3-3 on the year.
Detroit Pistons
Impressive first win for the Pistons. They didn’t have Blake Griffin in this game, but they still beat a playoff team in Boston. The Pistons jumped on Boston early, leading by 15 after the 1st quarter as they shot 52% from the field and held the Celtics to just 12 points. They held their lead in the 1st half, but in the 2nd half things got close. They were outscored by 9 in the 3rd, as they allowed 33 points. In the 4th, it was back and forth but they trailed by 5 with 4:15 left. And then the Pistons closed the game strong. The Pistons scored the last 8 points of regulation, and held Boston scoreless over the last 4:15. Not a bad way for the winless Pistons to get their first win.
Jerami Grant had 24 points on 9/24 shooting.
Saddiq Bey had 17 points and 7 rebounds on 5/11 shooting.
Derrick Rose had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 7/12 shooting.
The Pistons finally got a win, and they looked good. Jerami Grant has been a stud to start this season, and Derrick Rose was solid off the bench. Saddiq Bey, their rookie, was very good as he has looked solid to start this year. I really like his game and he will be good for this Pistons team. Killian Hayes continues to struggle, as we have yet to see any breakout games from him so far. The Pistons are 1-4 on the year, and they face the Boston Celtics again on Sunday.
Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets
Pre-Game Thoughts: These two teams battled it out on Wednesday, and Brooklyn came out with the win. The Hawks have one of the best offenses in the league, powered by superstar PG Trae Young. The Hawks problem is on the defensive end, where they can’t stop anybody. This Hawks team would be a lot better if they were good defensively. The Hawks have been dealing with injuries, as Rajon Rondo and Danilo Gallinari are both out for this game. The Nets offense is also amongst the best in the league, their duo of KD and Kyrie being a nightmare for everybody. The Nets are also one of the deepest teams in the league, and their defense is one of their few weaknesses. But I think that the Nets have the better overall roster, and I think that they will be winning this game.
Atlanta Hawks
A great bounce-back by this Hawks team. They played very well vs the Nets the first time around, but they came up short. But this time they really took it to Brooklyn. The Hawks led by 9 at halftime, as they shot 49% from the field in the first half. But the Hawks continued to pile it on with a great 3rd quarter, and they cruised to their 4th win of the year. All 5 Atlanta starters were in double figures, 3 of them scoring 20+ points. The Hawks are now 4-1 on the year, as they are looking like a playoff team as of right now.
De’Andre Hunter had 23 points and 6 rebounds on 9/10 shooting.
Trae Young had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 7/21 shooting.
John Collins had 20 points and 8 rebounds on 9/14 shooting.
This Hawks team has been very good to start this season. Their youth has been awesome, as Trae Young, John Collins, Hunter, and Reddish have all looked great. Clint Capela in great down low, and their bench is good with Bogdanovic and Huerter. Rondo and Gallinari haven’t be healthy to start this season, and if they were the Hawks would add even more depth. Tony Snell, Kris Dunn, and Onyeka Okungwu still haven’t played either, and they will joining the Hawks sometime down the line. But an impressive 4-1 start for this Hawks team.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets offense looked very flat for the first time this year, even with their star duo playing. The Nets defense hasn’t been great this season, and they couldn’t stop Atlanta in their first matchup. And they couldn’t stop them again, and their offense sputtered. The Nets went 0/10 from 3 in the first quarter, and shot just 19% from 3 for the game. The Nets were never in control in this game, as it was by far their worst game of the year. Kyrie Irving struggled again, his 2nd time struggling against Atlanta. The Nets are 3-3 on the year.
KD had 28 points and 8 rebounds on 10/21 shooting.
Kyrie Irving had 18 points and 11 rebounds on 6/21 shooting.
This Nets team might need to make a chance in their starting lineup. TLC hasn’t looked good in a starting role, and I think that somebody would be a lot better. Landry Shamet. Shamet is a good shooter and defender, and a guy who works off the ball, and can work well with KD and Kyrie. TLC has struggled to shoot, and I think that Shamet would be a lot better. The Nets bench has to be better, specifically Caris Levert. Without Dinwiddie for the rest of the year, they need more from Levert. Kyrie Irving has struggled as of late, something that is not likely to stick for long. The Nets defense needs a lot of improvement, as they face the Wizards on Sunday.
Washington Wizards vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Wizards are one of the only winless teams left in the league, as they have opened up their season very slow. The duo of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook have been good, but not good enough to win. They need more production from Davis Bertans, who has been slow out of the gates. The Wizards will be without Russell Westbrook, but this is still a very winnable game for them. They just need some more production from their role guys. The Timberwolves have been bad without Karl Anthony Towns on the floor, as he really anchored the team. Josh Okogie, their best perimeter defender is also out. D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Anthony Edwards have done their best, but they can’t carry this team. This’d better be a win for the Wizards, otherwise there is a major problem.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards rang in the new year with a dominant win. Even without Russell Westbrook, the Wizards dominated these short-handed T-Wolves. The Wizards had a strong first half, scoring 60 points while shooting 55% from 3 and 52% from the field. But that only gave them a 5-point lead. But then the Wizards exploded in the 3rd, scoring 40 points and only allowing 14. That broke the game open, and the Wizards cruised to their first win of the year.
Bradley Beal had 31 points and 7 assists on 12/20 shooting.
Thomas Bryant had 18 points and 7 rebounds on 7/7 shooting.
Jerome Robinson had 13 points on 4/8 shooting off the bench.
The Wizards got their first win, and even though it was against the lowly Timberwolves, a win is a win. Even without Russell Westbrook, this Wizards offense finally looked good. 8 guys were in double-figures for the Wizards, including all 5 members of their starting lineup. Avdija, Bertans, and Hachimura were all solid. Raul Neto was efficient, and he played very good. I know Westbrook is good, but do they really need him? To be foreseen. The Wizards take on the Nets next time out.
Minnesota Timberwolves
I don’t know much I have to say this, but the T-Wolves need Towns. This offense struggles without him, as just D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Anthony Edwards just hasn’t been enough. The Timberwolves team isn’t a playoff team without Towns, as they just don’t have a great backup for Towns. The T-Wolves have now dropped to 2-3 on the year.
Malik Beasley had 21 points on 8/13 shooting.
Anthony Edwards had 17 points on 7/16 shooting off the bench.
Naz Reid had 17 points and 6 rebounds on 7/10 shooting.
It’s pretty simple right now for Minnesota. Wait until Towns can get back and healthy, and then try and sneak into the playoffs. The T-Wolves have been awful without Towns, and decent with him. Until he gets back, this team will likely to continue to struggle. Minnesota takes on the Nuggets next.
Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bulls have won their last two games, both against the Wizards, but they won’t be winning against the Bucks. Lauri Markkanen is again out, as is Tomas Satoransky. This Bulls team is decent, but even at full strength they wouldn’t beat this Bucks team. The Bucks are 2-3 on the year, but they should be winning this game. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday struggled in their 2nd game vs the Heat, as they look for a bounce-back game against the Bulls. The Bucks are the far superior team, and this should be an easy win.
Chicago Bulls
Yeah, this was to be expected. The Bulls were missing a lot of their key players, including Lauri Markkanen. And they were playing one of the best teams in the league, so what do you expect? The Bulls offense was nothing special and they obviously have no chance against Giannis. The Bulls two-game win-streak is snapped as they are 2-4 on the year.
Zach Lavine had 16 points and 6 rebounds on 7/16 shooting.
Denzel Valentine had 14 points and 5 rebounds on 5/8 shooting off the bench.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 5 rebounds on 5/7 shooting.
The Bulls aren’t there yet to contend with the Bucks, with or without Lauri Markkanen. I don’t really take much from this game, as this was such a mismatch. The Bulls face the Dallas Mavericks next.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been up and down so far this season, and beating up a mediocre team like the Bulls is a good way to get back in the win column. The Bucks are obviously much more talented than this Bulls team, and this was a very easy win. The Bucks are now 3-3 on the year.
Giannis had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists on 9/19 shooting.
Bryn Forbes had 18 points on 6/9 shooting, 4/6 3-PT off the bench.
Khris Middleton had 14 points and 6 assists on 6/10 shooting.
The Bucks needed this win after a ugly loss to Miami, as they look to try and string together some wins. Giannis was excellent in this game, and the Bucks bench was good. Holiday and DiVincenzo were solid, and the Bucks face another poor team in the Pistons on Monday.
LA Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Lakers have been up and down this season, but they beat the Spurs soundly on Wednesday. Their roster is far superior to the Spurs, with LBJ and Anthony Davis being dominant. I look to see more from this Lakers bench, specifically from Wesley Matthews, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell. The Spurs are by no means bad, but they are overmatched in this situation. Their roster is decent with the likes of DeRozan, Murray, Johnson, White, and Lonnie Walker. But they don’t have star power like the Lakers do, and without LaMarcus Aldridge, their scoring takes another hit. It will be a long shot for the overmatched Spurs to win this game and that’s why the Lakers will be winning this game.
LA Lakers
This game was very weird for the Lakers. In the first quarter, they were outscored by 6 and they allowed the Spurs to shoot 55% in that first quarter. The Lakers outscored the Spurs by 7 in the 2nd quarter, and took the lead entering the 2nd half. But then the Lakers played poorly in the 3rd, and trailed by 4 entering the 4th. But then the Lakers dominated the 4th, scoring the last 9 points of the 4th, and holding the Spurs to just 18 points. The Lakers get their 2nd straight win vs the Spurs, and they are now 4-2 on the year.
Anthony Davis had 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 13/26 shooting.
Lebron James had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8/22 shooting.
Dennis Schroder had 15 points on 6/15 shooting.
Anthony Davis looked amazing in this game, and he needs to continue to do things like this. He shot the ball 26 times, as he was very aggressive. The Lakers bench was again very unimpressive, as Kyle Kuzma was the only guy who played well. Need more from Harrell off the bench, as his only strength is scoring, not defense. But two straight wins for the Lakers might get them rolling, as they face the short-handed Grizzlies next.
San Antonio Spurs
Not a bad game for the Spurs. They made this game for the Lakers very tough, a lot tougher than the Lakers expected. The Spurs trailed by one at halftime, as they did a great job staying in the game, shooting 43% from the field. The Spurs led by 4 entering the 4th, and then they struggled in the 4th. They didn’t score over the last 2:34 of the 4th, and the Lakers went on a 9-0 run to end the game. San Antonio scored just 18 points in the 4th, and they lost both games against the Lakers, and they are 2-3 on the year.
Keldon Johnson had 26 points and 10 rebounds on 7/11 shooting.
DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists on 8/16 shooting.
Rudy Gay had 15 points on 6/16 shooting off the bench.
The Spurs gave the Lakers their best fight today, but they just don’t have superstars to try and close games down the stretch. DeMar DeRozan is far removed from his prime, and the Spurs don’t have that one closer. This Spurs team is decent, and might sneak into the playoffs, but they just don’t stack up well against the top-tier teams in the West. San Antonio faces the Jazz next on Sunday.
LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Clippers have been the best team in the West so far. Their duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have been great to start this season, and their supporting cast fits a lot better than it did last season. Serge Ibaka, Luke Kennard, and Nicolas Batum were solid additions, alongside Lou Williams and Ivica Zubac, this LA team is very good. I expect big things from LA this year, and they matchup very well with the Utah Jazz team. The Jazz have been wildly inconsistent this year, as they sit at 0-2. Their offense has been hot and cold, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Donovan Mitchell have struggled shooting as of late. The Jazz will need big things from their limited bench if they want to win this game, but I doubt that something like that would happen. They don’t have any wing defenders for PG and Kawhi, and that’s why the Clippers will easily win this game.
LA Clippers
This was a case of the Clippers doing too little too late. The Clippers started this game off very slow, scoring just 19 points on 25% shooting. The Clippers trailed by 9 entering the 2nd half, and they would need to play a lot better. But then they got outscored by 10 in the 3rd, and they trailed by 19 entering the 4th. But the game wasn’t completely over. With 5:34 left, the Clippers cut the lead to just 5. The Clippers cut the lead to just one, but they couldn’t stop the Jazz late and they lost by 6.
Paul George had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals on 6/22 shooting.
Kawhi Leonard had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists on 8/19 shooting.
Serge Ibaka had 13 points on 5/12 shooting.
The Clippers played well in the 4th quarter, and they still nearly won. But their defense wasn’t great as they could never chip away at the lead before the 4th. The Clippers bench which had been trending up for the past few games, was disappointing. PG didn’t shoot the ball well, shooting 6/22. The Clippers show below 40% from both the field and from 3, not a great showing against an inferior Jazz team. The Clippers play the Suns next on Sunday.
Utah Jazz
Another prime example of the Jazz being inconsistent. The Jazz have struggled as of late, but they played very well against a contending Clippers team. The Jazz scored 31 points in the fist quarter, shooting 52% from the field. The Jazz led by 9 at halftime, but then they outscored the Clippers by 10 in the 3rd, leading by 19 entering the 4th quarter. But the Jazz didn’t do a good job in the 4th holding onto their lead, as LA came to within one point with 3 minutes left. But Mike Conley scored 7 points down the stretch including a killer 3, and the Jazz held on to win, improving to 3-2 on the year.
Mike Conley had 33 points and 7 assists on 11/20 shooting.
Donovan Mitchell had 15 points and 5 assists on 6/14 shooting.
Derrick Favors had 14 points and 11 rebounds on 6/12 shooting.
Yeah the Jazz won, but they didn’t play great. Mike Conley was the only player who played really well for the Jazz, scoring a season-high 33 points. Donovan Mitchell still hasn’t found an offensive groove, neither has Bojan Bogdanovic. Jordan Clarkson struggled off the bench, and this Jazz team is only 9 deep in their rotation. I definitely don’t view the Jazz as high as other people do, just because their team and players have been wildly inconsistent. Nonetheless, Utah is 3-2 on the year, and they face the Spurs next.
Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Suns have started the year off 4-1, as they have looked very impressive. They haven’t relied on Deandre Ayton or Chris Paul that much, and the story has been the role players. Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson have been excellent, and are a big reason for the Suns success. This Phoenix team is going to be a playoff team. The Nuggets have started this year off 1-3, as they still have to adjust to each other. Jamal Murray has started this year off slow, as we still haven’t seen bubble Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray missed the last game vs the Kings, but he is back in action. Nikola Jokic is a problem to start this season, but the Nuggets haven’t been winning, and they face a good Suns team. And without Michael Porter Jr, this becomes a very difficult matchup. That’s why I think that the Suns will be winning this game.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns continue to look very good to start this season. The Suns played very good in the first half, as they led by 11 entering the 2nd half, shooting 50% from the field. The Suns held their lead, entering the 4th with a 9-point lead. But things got close in the 4th. The Nuggets kept closing the deficit, and the Suns did their best to keep Denver at bay. But with 2:41 left, Denver took a one-point lead. But a Devin Booker 3 put Phoenix up by 4 with 1:37 left, and CP-3 hit the dagger mid-range jumper and free throws to ice the game late, and the Suns won their 5th game of the year.
Devin Booker had 22 points on 9/17 shooting.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 11 rebounds on 10/13 shooting.
Chris Paul had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 6/12 shooting.
The Phoenix Big 3 dominated in this game, combining for 65 points. Deandre Ayton was very good, playing his best game of the year. Chris Paul and Devin Booker hit some big shots down the stretch, and the Suns hung on to win, making them 5-1 on the year. The Suns supporting cast had been the story to start the year, but their Big 3 is still very good, and you should look for more of these games from them. Very impressed with how the Suns have started the year, as they face the LA Clippers next on Sunday.
Denver Nuggets
At this point you’ve got to feel bad. The Nuggets had a chance to win this game, but it was just too little too late. The Nuggets trailed by 11 at halftime, as Jamal Murray was the only guy who had it going offensively in the first half. Denver shot just 43% from the field. In the 4th, the Nuggets picked it up on both ends, and took the lead late. But Devin Booker and Chris Paul showed us how clutch they were, as they made all the timely plays that the Suns needed. Denver is now 1-4 on the year, as they have not looked like the same team that made the Western Conference Finals last season.
Jamal Murray had 31 points and 5 assists on 12/22 shooting.
Nikola Jokic had 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists on 7/13 shooting.
Paul Millsap had 15 points and 5 rebounds on 5/9 shooting.
I don’t know what’s wrong with this Nuggets team. Their roster is worse than it was last season, but it’s still very good. Jamal Murray played in his best game of the year so far, as he looked like Bubble Jamal Murray again. Nikola Jokic has been putting up a triple-double in nearly every single game, and has been looking like an MVP. MPJ was out today and will be out for a few more games, but they have him, Millsap, Monte Morris, and Will Barton. And they are 1-4. I expected the Nuggets to be slightly worse than last season, but not this much worse, like this is shocking.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Blazers have been up and down this season, with good wins and bad losses. Portland’s offense struggled against the Clippers, but that shouldn’t be a problem vs a Warriors team allowing 124 points per game. Portland’s defense has been the problem, even though they have better defensive players like Robert Covington. Gary Trent Jr. won’t be playing, so Portland will need more from Carmelo Anthony and Rodney Hood off the bench. But Portland does have the better overall roster compared to the Warriors. The Warriors started off the year bad, but they have won two straight games. Steph Curry has been finding his groove, but his help has been mediocre. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre have been very pedestrian to start this season, but if they start to play well, this Warriors team becomes very good. Draymond Green makes his season debut with the Warriors, and we’ll see which Draymond Green we’re getting, but he definitely gives this offense a boost. But the Warriors bench is poor, and that’s why Portland will win this game.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers got back in the win column with a dominant win vs the Warriors. Portland shot 70% from 3 in the first quarter, and they led by 15 at the end of the quarter. The Blazers led by 12 at halftime, as Dame and CJ were playing very well. The Blazers defense was also very good in the first half. The Blazers were dominant in the 2nd half, as they outscored Golden State by 13, en route to a big win, and Portland is back over 0.500. Impressive win by Portland in all facets, as they are 3-2 on the year.
Damian Lillard had 34 points and 8 assists on 11/21 shooting.
CJ McCollum had 28 points on 11/21 shooting.
Carmelo Anthony had 18 points and 5 rebounds on 5/9 shooting off the bench.
Very good win for Portland, as they beat up on this Warriors team. Their defense was solid, as Steph Curry was held in check for the most part, and the Warriors roster isn’t much of a threat. Damian Lillard had his best game of the season, and CJ McCollum was great as well. Melo was good off the bench. Rodney Hood left the game with a quad injury, no update on how serious it is so far. The Blazers looked really good on both ends, which we’ve seen so far this year. Something that they haven’t done this year is play consistently. They play the Warriors again on Sunday, a chance to start a win-streak.
Golden State Warriors
Yeah, the Warriors can’t beat good teams. They beat the Bulls and the Pistons, but have lost to every other team they’ve faced, because all of those teams are going to the playoffs, and the Warriors are not. The Warriors trailed by 15 after the first quarter, and never got back into the game. Steph Curry, Wiggins, and Oubre were ok offensively, nothing special. Draymond Green played 18 minutes and didn’t score, or do much of anything. This Warriors team is now 2-3 on the year, 2-0 against bad teams and 0-3 against good teams.
Steph Curry had 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/20 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins had 15 points on 5/11 shooting.
Eric Paschall had 13 points on 5/7 shooting off the bench.
The Warriors aren’t going to be making the playoffs, because their roster isn’t that good. Steph Curry has never had to carry a team like Damian Lillard or Russell Westbrook have done. This is new territory for him. Wiggins and Oubre haven’t been great to start the year, and if the Warriors want any hope at making the playoffs, they need more production from those two. James Wiseman left the game late in the 4th with an ankle injury, and did not return, no report on how serious the injury is yet. The Warriors team is going to be mediocre, and everybody better be prepared for that.
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