What Are The Bucks Doing?; Are The Jazz Contenders? 1.21.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball and we have 3 games on the schedule today. I have already made my predictions for these games (should go and read that first), and now we’ll see if I was right or wrong in those predictions.
LA Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks
LA Lakers
As I predicted, the Lakers would come out sharp in this game, as they were very good on both ends. The game started with a lot of scoring, as AD and Lebron were very good in the first half. But the Lakers were reigning in 3’s, and they finished the 2nd quarter on a 20-8 run, taking the lead at halftime. KCP really stretched the floor for them in the 2nd half, and Lebron James dominated. Late in the 4th, the Bucks were putting DiVincenzo and Connaughton on AD and Montrezl Harrell, and LA just kept taking advantage. Lebron was very good after a poor outing against the Warriors, and the Lakers offense was just very good throughout this game. Their defense was solid in the 2nd half, and it was a good performance for the defending champs, as they are now 12-4 on the year.
Lebron James had 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists on 13/25 shooting.
KCP had 23 points on 7/10 3-PT.
AD had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Lebron was very aggressive, as his outside jumper was falling consistently. AD was a anchor down low, as he put so much pressure on the Bucks defense, especially when he had the smaller guard on him. KCP was red-hot, as he has been worth that contract extension thus far this season. The Bucks made it tough for Giannis, forcing him to shoot. They drew a lot of charges/blocks, and they didn’t allow Giannis to get to the line. The Lakers bench was a lot better than the Bucks bench, which was one of my keys for a Lakers win. This was a very good game for LA, as they are now 12-4 on the year. They take on the Bulls next on Saturday.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks played so bad in this game, and they could have won if they had a better gameplan and idea of what they were doing. In the first half, Jrue Holiday was really playing well, but he didn’t the ball that much. Giannis got the bulk of the touches, and he had 7 turnovers. The Bucks ended the have sloppily, and they allowed the Lakers to take the lead at the half. The Bucks were allowing too many open 3’s, and the Lakers were making them pay. The Bucks continued their idiocy in the 4th quarter. They were playing Pat Connaughton crunch time minutes, and for like 7 straight possessions, either Holiday, Connaughton, or DiVincenzo were on Harrell or AD. They just kept switching, and the Laker bigs were making things very tough for the Bucks. Giannis was forced to shoot, and we all know that’s a recipe for disaster. The Bucks just kind of unraveled on both ends late, and it led to their demise. Milwaukee is now 9-6 on the year.
Giannis had 25 points and 12 rebounds on 11/17 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10/18 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in 6/15 shooting.
Khris Middleton wasn’t facing that bad Nets defense, and he struggled. Jrue Holiday was very good, but the Bucks continue to make him a passer more than they should. Yes, he is a very good passer. But sometimes when he has it going, give him a few more shots. Giannis is going to have problem against teams like the Lakers who can build a wall against Giannis. He has to jumpshot, so they have to play Giannis off ball more. That means that nobody can leave Giannis when he’s on the short corner, and it makes it easier for Holiday and Middleton to run the pick and roll. But instead they keep putting Giannis at the top of the key. Mike Budenholzer is just so bad, and he just makes this Bucks team worse. There are easy fixes and choices to make this team much better, but they just can’t execute. Weather it be using Giannis wrong or having the wrong lineup late, the Bucks look like the same team from last year. Milwaukee takes on the Hawks next on Sunday.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz
New Orleans Pelicans
Not the worst loss for the Pelicans. I know they lost by 11 and gave up 129 points, but there are some positives to be taken away from this game. The Pelicans finally changed something, their pace. The Pelicans were playing really fast in the first half, and it worked. They shot 52% from the field in the first half, and 53% from 3 as they were able to make space with their youth and speed. Williamson and Ingram combined for 34 points with their fast pace. Lonzo Ball was hitting shots. It was looking good. Now the defense definitely needs work, but the Jazz have been red-hot, and the Pelicans have them too many open looks. And they couldn’t keep that fast pace throughout the game, but it’s something they will have to do. They looked pretty good when they were playing fast, and I think it’s something Stan Van Gundy should do more going forward. New Orleans is now 5-9 on the year.
Zion Williamson had 27 points on 9/14 shooting.
Brandon Ingram had 23 points on 8/14 shooting (20 in first half).
Lonzo Ball had 14 points and 5 assists on 6/15 shooting.
I liked what I saw when the Pelicans were playing fast. It opened things up, and Ingram and Zion greatly benefited from it. Their defense needs work, but I think they found something while playing fast. The Pelicans are now 5-9 on the year, and they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves next on Saturday.
Utah Jazz
This Jazz offense has arguably been the best in the league as of late, with how they’ve been playing. They have been shooting so well, and it’s so tough to stop them. They trailed by 16 in the first half because of the Pelicans pace, as their defense was struggling. When the Pelicans shots starting not falling and their pace slowed down, the Jazz offense continued to roll behind Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson, as they just controlled this game in the 2nd half. The Jazz have won a league best 7 straight games, as they are now 11-4 on the year.
Donovan Mitchell had 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/19 shooting.
Mike Conley had 20 points and 6 assists on 8/14 shooting.
Jordan Clarkson had 19 points on 6/15 shooting off the bench.
The Jazz offense just can’t be stopped. Donovan Mitchell has been in a groove, and he has been really finding his spots and dominating as of late. Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson have been really good, as they’ve stepped up as Bojan Bogdanovic gets back into the swing of things with his shooting. Bojan hasn’t fully gotten back from that wrist surgery, and it’s affecting his shooting. But if he keeps shooting, the shots will start to fall. The Jazz offense is one that hasn’t been stopped in a while, and it’s tough to stop them with all their weapons and shooting. Utah is now 11-4 on the year, and they take on the Warriors next.
New York Knicks vs Golden State Warriors
New York Kniccks
The Knicks played really well in this game, as their offense really came alive in this one. The Knicks dropped 40 points in the first quarter, after scoring 91 points in their last game. Not a bad way to start for one of the worst offenses in the league. But the Warriors started to come back in the 2nd quarter, as the Knicks offense went back to going bad. But then the Knicks caught a break that saved them the game. Draymond Green got his 2nd technical, for yelling at James Wiseman his teammate. And that won the game for New York, as Julius Randle got more aggressive and the Knicks just kind of coasted in the 2nd half against a much worse Warriors defense. The Knicks have won their last 3 thanks to their excellent defense, and they are now 8-8 on the year.
RJ Barrett had a career-high 28 points and 5 assists on 10/17 shooting.
Mitchell Robinson had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 8/11 shooting.
Julius Randle had 16 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists on 4/11 shooting.
The Knicks got kind of lucky in this game, but a win is a win. Their offense was very good, but the Warriors were surging. But the Warriors lost their best defender and leader in Green, and they just kind of lost energy and momentum because of his ejection. But the Knicks defense was again solid, holding the Warriors below 40% shooting. The Knicks have been getting better offensively, as getting RJ Barrett back from that shooting slump as well as Alec Burks from injury really helps them. The Knicks take on the Kings next tomorrow.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors lost this game because they missed Draymond Green, plain and simple. Green does so much for the Warriors, on both ends. He coaches James Wiseman and that entire defense, and directs traffic on offense. He is the heart and soul of this team, and losing him was huge blow. The Warriors in the 2nd half were what they were in the first game, dysfunctional on both ends. They need Draymond Green on the floor to be successful, and he wasn’t there, and they lost. Golden State is now 8-7 on the year.
Steph Curry had 30 points on 9/19 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and 9 rebounds on 6/13 shooting.
James Wiseman had 15 points and 8 rebounds on 5/9 shooting.
The Warriors lost, but there are some positives. James Wiseman is on his best stretch as a rookie right now, as he scored 20 in his last game and 15 in this one. He’s been becoming a really solid option down low for Golden State. Wiggins continues to shoot well, as he has been that reliable scoring option, and the same goes for Eric Paschall off the bench. Kelly Oubre struggled shooting, as they need him to be more consistent. But the Warriors just need Draymond on the court to win, and without him they struggle. The Warriors take on the Utah Jazz next on Saturday.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 3 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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