Celtics Struggles Continue; Is Pascal Siakam Cursed? 3.19.21
It’s a Friday night of NBA action and we have a busy day with 10 games on the schedule.
Sacramento Kings vs Boston Celtics
For Once It’s Not You
Usually the Kings are the butt of all jokes, but for once they finished a game strong. They played solid throughout and got a very good win. In the first half the scoring was coming easily for Sacramento with balanced scoring. Their defense was solid and Sacramento led by 10. But in the 3rd the Celtics started to hit some shots and run and the game became close again. But Sacramento dominated the 4th. Their defense was excellent, holding Boston to just 15 points. An 8-0 run helped the Kings pull away late as they got a great road win.
Fox had 29 points and 5 assists as he continues to play like an All-Star. Richuan Holmes had 25 and 11 rebounds, with 5 combined steals and blocks. Holmes will have to step up without Bagley and he did that tonight. Hield and Barnes were solid and while Haliburton didn’t score much, he was solid.
We all know the Kings have talent but it’s just a matter of them using it. They definitely have the talent to make the playoffs. They just have to, win.
Another Blown Game
This is becoming a recurring theme with Boston. Defense starts off slow and you fall behind. Start trying for a bit to make it close just to blow the game in the 4th. It happened against Utah and Cleveland and now today. Boston isn’t the same team they were last year. They trailed by 10 at halftime because they couldn’t contain the Kings shooters and the offense wasn’t great. When they got out and running in the 3rd the lead went away but in the 4th it was just isolation ball and hoping shots went in. Not enough of them did and Boston lost another winnable game as they continue to struggle.
Tatum, Brown, and Walker all struggled shooting. That cannot happen. There’s no deep team anymore. The rest of this roster isn’t great like it has been. Those 3 have to be better. Theis was good as was Williams off the bench but the defense has to be better. They were just making the same mistakes over and over again. They didn’t really pressure the Kings ball-handers consistently. Their rebounding was sub-par. Boston isn’t the same and that’s very clear to those who watch the game. The Celtics have less than a week to make a move, or try and hope things get better.
San Antonio Spurs vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Welcome Back DeMar
DeMar DeRozan came back and the Spurs kept doing what they were doing. Sure it’s the Cav but their offense has been better, back to beating teams by committee. This game wasn’t that close, it just 44 points from the Cavs in the 4th to make it close. DeMar had 20 and 7 assists, Keldon Johnson had 23 points and 21 rebounds (11 offensive). White and Murray combined for 39 and the bench was solid. The Spurs have a lot of depth and with DeRozan back they can get back to that. They have the talent to make the playoffs, they just have to hit shots and they’ll be fine.
Rebuild
Lacking offense
Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat
There We Go
There’s the Indiana offense. Indiana had been struggling mightily and this win really helps them. The offense was on fire as they scored 137 points on one of the best defenses in the league. 7 guys were in double figures as it was a great night. Sabonis had a double-double, Justin Holiday had 17, Myles Turner has 5 blocks, Brogdon missing two shots and had 27 points. TJ McConnell had 16-15 off the bench, McDermott had 17. This was a very balanced scoring night
My question is Indiana is, can they do this again? They have the fire power and now with Levert they get another scorer. If they want to climb back into the standings, they’re going to need their offense.
Make or Miss League
People always say it’s a make or miss league. The Heat didn’t make their shots and Indiana did. The Heat offense was sputtering compared to what Indiana was doing as they could never get back into the game. The Heat shooting struggles continue as they shoot just 27% from 3 in this game. Herro struggles shooting continue. Nunn and Robinson were awful. The Heat need their shooters to make shots, otherwise it makes it very tough for them to win. As for the defense, it’s unlikely Indiana can do that multiple times.
Brooklyn Nets vs Orlando Magic
This One’s On The Defense
Perhaps it was a fluke, but the improved Nets defense struggled in this game. The Magic shot 51% from the field and 53% from 3, with Orlando making 21 3’s. Fournier was 10/13 with 31 points. Vucevic had 22-14-8. Aaron Gordon had 38 points on 14/20 shooting, 7/8 3-PT. The defense was poor, but with Brooklyn playing so well without KD, one pass is ok. However the defense has to remain solid for this team to be title contenders.
Is This A Fluke?
I have a feeling this is a fluke. 38 from Gordon? 31 from Fournier? Near triple-double from Vucevic? Magic making 20+ 3’s? I must be dreaming. However if the Magic want to salvage this season they’ll have to do this more often if they want to win. I’ll have to see this more to believe Orlando can turn things around.
Utah Jazz vs Toronto Raptors
Jazz Survive
The Jazz played pretty well in this game but they came up big late. In the first half things were close with both teams scoring at will. Entering the 4th the game was close, and the 4th was crazy. The Jazz opened up a double-digit lead, but the Raptors rallied back with a flurry if 3’s to take a 5-point lead. But down 5, Mitchell took over. Two free throws, an and-one, and a pull-up jumpshot put the Jazz up two with 29.1 seconds left. Mike Conley hit 2/2 free throws with 5/7 seconds left and a Pascal Siakam potential game-tying 3 went in and out 1,000 times before finally falling out as Utah survived.
Michell again struggled to shoot but hit shots when it mattered the most as he finished with 31-5-6. Conley was solid and Gobert had a double-double. Ingles was again good off the bench and Clarkson again struggled.
The Jazz shooting has slowed down a bit here recently. They made just 12 in this game and shot just 32% from 3. Mitchell and Clarkson have been struggling. The Jazz are a team I’m just not sold on. I have a feeling they’re like the Bucks, they can dominate the regular season and have this big record. But something will hold them back in the postseason, keeping them one step away.
Siakam Is Cursed
Pascal Siakam has missed so many game-winner that went in and out. This one against the Jazz that would have forced OT was as close to making a shot as you can without making it. In total he’s missed 4 game-winners that have gone in and out. That has to be some sort of record, right?
Detroit Pistons vs Houston Rockets
Detroit Pistons
This Pistons team is better than their record suggests. They have some promising talent. Grant was 5/21 from the field but had 18 points. Saddiq Bey had 20 and Frank Jackson had 23. Stewart was solid was 13 off the bench as the Pistons have a solid team. Better than their 12-29 record suggests.
18
18 in a row.
Golden State Warriors vs Memphis Grizzlies
Who Needs Curry?
On top of not having Curry, Golden State was missing a lot. No Curry, Wiseman, or Paschall. And they dominated. Wiggins and Poole were amazing, with Wiggins having 27 in the first half and Poole adding 17. Wiggins would finish with 40 and 8 rebounds with 4 steals and Poole had 25. Damion Lee had 21 off the bench as other guys stepped up. This was just shocking as Curry is everything for this team. And they won without him, which is just crazy.
Really?
The Warriors didn’t have their MVP in Curry and two important bench pieces. They were dominated. The offense again fell flat as a G-league team essentially beat them. Wiggins dropped 40 and Jordan Poole had 25. How can this happen? Nobody scored above 15 points for Memphis as this offense continues to disappoint, like this team. If the Grizzlies can’t beat undermanned teams like this, they can say goodbye to the playoffs.
Chicago Bulls vs Denver Nuggets
Another Blown Game
It’s getting old at this point.
Thank You Chicago
The Nuggets shouldn’t have won this game, and yet they did. The game wasn’t really close for 3 quarters. Chicago was leading by 8 entering the 4th and then Denver got going. Denver fell behind by double-digits again but a 9-0 run gave Denver the lead with 2:51 left. But the Bulls responded and led by 6 with under a minute to go. With 16 seconds left the lead was just 3 and Chicago couldn’t stop Denver. Jamal Murray had a great ball fake and hit a tough corner 3 to force OT. Denver scored 9 straight to start OT and a Jamal Murray floater with 10.9 seconds left ended the game.
Jokic had 34 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists on 14/23 shooting. MVP. Jamal Murray had 34 points as well on 12/20 shooting. He went back to being aggressive and assertive and threw shades of Bubble Murray at the Bulls. Barton and Porter were solid (but Barton should stop shooting and give those shots to MPJ).
Jokic and Murray had 24 of the 35 4th quarter points for Denver. Those two were great as Denver needs this type of production from Murray if they want to make another deep run. Will Barton needs to stop taking as many shots as MPJ. MPJ is far more efficient in his shot and he’s your future, so give him the ball more. Denver has won 8 of 9 games as they have dialed things up. If they can get a couple of guys going, they could be another threat in the West.
Minnesota T-Wolves vs Phoenix Suns
Give Towns The Ball
Yeah, 80 points from Edwards and Towns isn’t happening again. That was to be expected. Edwards was 4/18 with just 11 points as he struggled. Towns only shot the ball 12 times in this game and this is the problem I have with Minnesota. When Edwards isn’t shooting well give the ball to Towns more. He was 9/12. Edwards was 4/18. There shouldn’t be a debate on who’s getting shots. Give it to Towns, please.
Taking Care Of Business
After getting torched for 80+ points by Edwards and Towns, the Suns took care of business. They played much better defensively, taking Edwards seriously. 7 guys were in double figures led by CP-3 who had 20. Langston Galloway doesn’t play much, but he’s been very good this season. He’s been shooting so well and valuable off the bench. I don’t get why he doesn’t get more minutes. Deandre Ayton continues to do virtually nothing on offense, as he’s just not aggressive. Friendly reminder: Luka was on the board.
Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers
{Choking Sounds}
The Mavs had this game in hand and then they just, chocked. About as subtle as I can put it. They played well but they just couldn’t execute late. In the first half it was all offense. Luka was getting whatever he wanted, either going straight to the rim or throwing ridiculous passes. But the Mavs couldn’t stop Dame or the Blazers hot shooting and they trailed at the half. In the 3rd the Mavs continued to torch Portland and they built a lead as their defense was better. In the 4th the Mavs led by 8 but Portland started to comeback. A 9-0 run put Portland up 5 with under 3 minutes to go. The Mavs tried to comeback, but consecutive 3’s from CJ and Covington ended the Mavs chances as they came up short.
Luka was amazing with 38-9-9 on 15/27 shooting. His 3’s weren’t falling but he was still amazing. Tim Hardaway Jr. was 9/14, 7/11 3-PT with 25-5-5. Kleber was good but Porzingis was awful. The bench was solid but not having Porzingis score really hurt Dallas.
The Mavs defense was terrible in this game. As soon as their offense slowed down in the 4th, Portland just cameback. Porzingis has to be better, because 11 points on 11 shots isn’t going to get it done. Josh Richardson was also just 2/9. The Mavs scorers are super streaky that it’s nearly impossible to judge how good they are on any given night. Luka can’t do this all on his own, he needs help.
Welcome Back CJ
After coming back slowly, CJ finally had his comeback game, as he and Portland dominated the 4th to get another win. In the first half Portland was up for their 3-PT shooting. They made 8 3’s in the first and 10 in the first half. Dame was on fire again and things were looking good. But in the 3rd the Blazers offense slowed down a bit and the Mavs took advantage with 38 points. Portland’s offense became stagnant and they would need to be better in the 4th. They would do just that. Hood and McCollum got things started and then Dame and company came in with a 9-0 run. Dagger 3’s from CJ and Roco ended the game as Portland dominated the 4th, outscoring Dallas by 11.
CJ had 32 points on 11/23 shooting, 7/13 3-PT. CJ was amazing before getting hurt and he looked very good in this game. If he gets back to what he was doing to start the year alongside Dame, watch out. Speaking of Dame, he had another big first half and finished with 31 points and 6 assists. He has been an MVP candidate but now has his backcourt mate back. Kanter was an animal on the boards and Melo had 18 off the bench.
Portland has won 4 of their last 5 and they’re still not at full strength. If CJ can comeback at full strength alongside Dame, Portland is scary. Portland has a very good team and they remain in the thick of things in the West. Avoiding any injuries Portland is a very good team, and one that should be taken very seriously in the West. 1
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