Are The Heat Officially Back?; Rockets Lose Again! 3.12.21
It’s a Friday night of NBA action and we have 7 games on the schedule today.
Just When Everything Was Going Your Way
The season had been going great for the 76ers. Embiid was playing like an MVP when healthy and the new roster had been leading the 76ers to the best record in the East. However the basketball gods are cruel. Embiid was having a great game in a blowout win, but Embiid hurt his knee on a dunk attempt. It’s been listed as a hyper-extended left knee and he’ll undergo a MRI soon. The 76ers desperately need him to be healthy for the postseason otherwise they are dead meat.
Fire Scott Brooks
This team has talent and they shouldn’t be this bad. Yes they have flaws but really? You have a great backcourt and some very promising young forwards. The #freebradleybeal movement has restarted. This team needs a new coach and a rebuild. I just don’t think they’re going anywhere desperately trying to win around Bradley Beal. Their attempts at Russell Westbrook and John Wall just haven’t worked. It’s time for a restart.
Perhaps The Officials Helped You
This game was ugly. It wasn’t pretty offensive and more of a defensive battle. But Denver pulled through thanks to Nikola Jokic and a dumb official. We don’t mention the latter. In the first half Denver was solid. They were getting out in transition and Jokic was dominating. But they themselves were getting dominated down low by Memphis and they trailed at the half. But Denver put things together in the 3rd with great defense and built a lead. They kept trying to hold their lead but Dillon Brooks and Memphis led with 3:13 left in the 4th. But then the Nuggets got going again. 3 straight 3-pointers put them up 4. But the game wasn’t over. Memphis got a stop down one and they had a chance to win. Ja Morant drove down the lane to meet Jokic, no foul called despite contact. Ok cool. But the official on the baseline raised his hand like there was a foul. But he didn’t blow his whistle. He did blow his whistle at the Dillon Brooks foul that happened seconds later. Maybe Denver got lucky. Just a bit.
Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists as he was masterful in all-areas. Will Barton hit 5 3’s and had 21 points and MPJ had 21 himself. Jamal Murray was awful as Dillon Brooks put him in a coffin. Murray has to be better if Denver wants to be better.
The Nuggets played really good defense in this game, which is a promising sight. The interior is still weak and they could really benefit from getting PJ Tucker. But Paul Millsap is back as they slowly get healthy. But Jamal Murray going 1/14 won’t win you much in the playoffs. He has to be better.
You Can Blame This One On The Refs
Usually I’m a person who doesn’t blame the officiating unless absolutely necessary. This is necessary. Ja Morant drove down the lane and got fouled. There was a lot of contact. There was an official right on the baseline, and he raised his hand. But he didn’t blow his whistle and Memphis lost. That’s a bit maddening. But Memphis played well in this game. While I don’t view them as highly as others they are fun.
Dillon Brooks was amazing defensively and also had 11 points in the 4th that helped Memphis get back in it. Brandon Clarke was very good off the bench. Morant struggled as he has more often than not this season. He hasn’t exactly taken that sophomore leap yet. But Memphis is solid and deep, but sometimes the officials make mistakes. The two-minute report won’t ease your pain, but know you did nothing wrong.
Welcome Back Nance and Love!
The Cavs got Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. back. Nice! This can help them win. Yeah about that. This game was never really close. Zion and Ingram dominated the Cavs scoring 9 points in the 3rd didn’t help them either. Collin Sexton took 18 shots to get 19 points. The Cavs still have a long way to go in their rebuild.
Still Have A Personnel Problem
Despite this dominant win the Pelicans won’t win anything. It’s good to see them showing what they can do, but until they get a competent roster around their two stars, I don’t really care. Zion and Ingram had 26 points in the first quarter alone. They had 51 on the night, both being very efficient. Lonzo and Bledsoe combined to shoot 1/11 from the field. The Pelicans have two weeks to make moves. I need Bledsoe gone for some shooting. If Steven Adams is moveable I need him gone. This team has a long way to go before they can start playing well.
The Heat Have Their Identity Back
After a few months of ugly lineups and injuries, the Heat have most of their core back and they have been playing great. The game wasn’t pretty, but it’s a game the Heat usually win. After a great first quarter, the Heat scored just 13 points in the 2nd quarter and the game was tied at halftime. The game remained close in the 3rd but then the Heat turned things up. Goran Dragic had 20 points in the 4th alone and the Heat cruised to a win, improving to 20-18 on the year.
Butler had 28 points and 8 assists in his return to the windy city as he was relentlessly attacking downhill. Goran Dragic got hot in the 4th and finished with 25 off the bench. Robinson and Nunn were solid as the Heat defense has remained great without Adebayo.
Miami might have their identity back, as their defense has been amazing in their last 10 games. They’ve gone 9-1 in those games as they have been playing great. Jimmy Butler has been playing whatever role Miami needs him to, scoring, passing, and defense. Bam Adebayo is gone and the Heat held Chicago to under 90 points. When healthy the Heat are solid and could be poised for another good postseason run.
The Bulls Need Changes
Over the past few years the Bulls have acquired great talent. Lavine, Markkanen, White, Carter Jr, and Patrick Williams. All these guys are young and promising. It’s just that they don’t fit. Zach Lavine is great but him and Coby White aren’t a fit. White isn’t a passer, he’s a scorer. The Bulls need a floor general. Lauri Markkanen is a very good shooter and he’s having a great year. But he’s not physical down low and he can’t play defense. Carter Jr isn’t a big offensive presence and sometimes the defense isn’t great.
This young core is nice but they don’t. Their ceiling is maybe the play-in and nothing more. They need a floor general and more two-way wings. Patrick Williams is nice but he can’t create for himself yet. Zach Lavine is a guy I would keep but the rest is expendable. Lauri Markkanen’s contract is expiring and he’s likely to become a RFA this offseason. Two have two weeks to get something back for him. I do think that the Bulls have done a good job finding guys, it’s just that the puzzle pieces don’t fit.
Welcome To Orlando, The Land Of Injuries
This team is the definition of misery
Free-Win Card Redeemed
After an ugly start the Spurs ran away with this one. They trailed by double-digits in the first quarter. After that it was all Spurs. They outscored the Magic by 21 in the 2nd and 17 in the 4th. Not a bad day. 5 guys were in double figures as guys stepped up with DeRozan out. White and Murray each had 17 and Gay had a team-high 19 off the bench. The Spurs get a good win to keep their position in the West. They’ll need to take advantage of easy games like this if they want to make the playoffs.
A Rebuild Has To Start Somewhere
The Rockets are a mess. Yes this game was semi-close in the 4th but I don’t care. Here are the facts. You are paying John Wall $47.3 million right now. You are paying Eric Gordon $16.8 million. You traded Caris Levert, who was on a 3-year deal, for Victor Oladipo. Oladipo has been awful in Houston and odds are you’re not keeping him this offseason. Christian Wood is out and you have lost 15 straight games without him.
Your starting lineup in this game had a combined salary of $7.9 million today. Everybody on the Jazz starting lineup makes more than that. The only exception is Donovan Mitchell who’s still on his rookie contract. But his max extension kicks in next year. The Rockets are going to have to do a lot to rebuild this team.
How Was This Close?
I get the thing where a win is a win. But how was this close? Whatever you’re the best in the West. You get a pass. Conley was great and Mitchell was inefficient. All is normal. Bojan continues to struggle and Clarkson was quiet yet efficient. The Jazz are still good, but it’s a little weird this wasn’t a blowout.
The Pacers Need To Get Healthy
The Pacers played well in this game but in the 4th they looked gassed and out of energy on both ends. They need to get healthy and fast. In the first half it was all Malcolm Brogdon. Nobody on either side was playing great but Brogdon had 23 points in the first half and Indiana led by 8. In the 3rd the Lakers made some efforts to comeback but the lead held. But then the 4th quarter came, and the Pacers got ran out the gym. LA was on a 22-4 run at one point and a Kyle Kuzma 4th quarter explosion put Indiana way in the end. Indiana falls to 16-20 on the year.
Malcolm Brogdon had 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 12/20 shooting. That’s great, but he only had 6 in the 2nd half as he was quieted. Sabonis was two assists from a triple-double as he was a monster. But other than that there wasn’t much. That’s why they need Levert and Warren back. Levert is supposed to come back tomorrow against the Suns and Warren is still a ways from coming back. But maybe getting Levert coming back can help this team as they have reached their ceiling without their two wing scorers.
Who Needs AD When You Have Kyle Kuzma
The Lakers weren’t playing great in this game but they did what great teams always do, finish. This was a tough game for LA but they got some much needed help offensively and they came back to win this game. In the first half LA was struggling offensively. Schroder was quiet and Lebron had no help. 23 from Brogdon paced Indiana to a lead in the first half. In the 3rd the Lakers got some life but eventually never made a dent in the lead. Then came the 4th, which is apparently Kyle Kuzma time. The Lakers went on a 22-4 run largely because of Kuzma who had 15 points in the 4th alone. That and some great LA defense gave them the win as they improve to 25-13 on the year.
Kuzma led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. He’s become much more well-rounded as a player when he’s not scoring and you’re seeing his value. Lebron was quiet with 18 and 10 assists. Harrell had 17 off the bench as he and Kuzma did great things off the bench. The Lakers shooting does have to be better. KCP and Wesley Matthews haven’t been great and 7/22 isn’t great.
The Lakers defense has been great and I think with a healthy AD they will be great. Offensively the shooting problem remains there and they might want to make a move. If a shooter is available, I would take it. Wesley Matthews has been awful this year and KCP is in a slump. They definitely need more shooting, or at least a slight upgrade. I am aware I am nitpicking the best team in the league. They are good, but improvements can always be made.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 7 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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