Was The Vucevic Trade Worth It?; Curry Makes History (Again)! 4.12.21
It’s a Monday night of NBA hoops and we have a busy day with 8 games on the schedule tonight.
LA Lakers vs New York Knicks
Slip Slidin’ Away
This team needs their stars back badly.
Knicks>Nets?
The Nets lost to this team and the Knicks won. So does this mean the Knicks are better than the Nets? I guess so.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Dallas Mavericks
Annoying
Embiid is going to his foul-baiting ways more than ever. It’s so annoying to watch but a rule is a rule. The NBA has to fix that rule to I can’t exactly get mad at Embiid. With no Porzingis he dominated the smaller Mavs defender and helped the 76ers build a lead. Philly pulled away in the 3rd for an easy win.
Embiid had 36 points and 7 rebounds on 10/17 shooting, 14/15 FT. Korkmaz had 20 off the bench and that was about it. I don’t like how sometimes it’s just Embiid offensively. Simmons and Harris also need the ball. I understand that two points is two points but Philly is going to need to be at full strength to try and get through the East. Not just riding on the back of Embiid.
Lack Of Size/Force
The Mavericks need a big bodied center down low. Porzingis is big but he’s not a force. Willey Cauley Stein and Boban aren’t imposing. I definitely think Dallas needs to get bigger down low as that’s one of the biggest problems. Embiid just simply overpowered them.
San Antonio Spurs vs Orlando Magic
Easy
It’s the Magic, let’s move on.
This Team Sucks… A Lot
Chicago Bulls vs Memphis Grizzlies
Was It Worth It?
The Bulls offense hasn’t exactly been great with two All-Stars. This game was close until the Bulls scored just 16 in the 4th and Memphis pulled away. Lavine has been struggling lately and it might be because of that ankle injury he had a couple of games ago or he could just be in a slump. Vucevic also struggled shooting as this team still has some re-tooling to do.
What to do with White and Markkanen? I can tell you right now Markkanen has to go because losing Carter down low has hurt this team’s defense a lot. Markkanen and Vucevic down low is terrible so I definitely think Markkanen has to go. Still need that floor general point guard to run the offense as well as interior defense. The Bulls continue to barely cling onto that 10th seed in the East but they’re going to have to be better to retain that seed.
Balance
Jonas Valanciunas has been very good lately, another double-double for him in this game. Morant had a double-double as well as Memphis’s defense against Lavine and Vucevic was excellent. This team has been playing their best basketball of the season as they look to try and continue to climb in the West.
Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans
Get Fox Help
De’Aaron Fox owns the Pelicans. In the two previous matchups this season, he’s had 43 points and 38 points. In this game he got another 43 as he dominates the Pelicans. The only problem is his teammates can’t really shoot. The Kings were 1/15 from 3 in the first half. Fox his half of their 10 3’s by himself. His 43 was the only reason this game was somewhat close to finish as New Orleans led for basically the entire game. Barnes, Holmes, and Haliburton combined for 43 points themselves. That was the only help Fox got and he alone couldn’t stop Zion and Ingram.
Next Great Duo
Zion is 20 years old and a 1x All-Star. Brandon Ingram is 23 and a 1x All-Star. Both these guys are going to be very good for a while. They compliment each other so well. Zion is the interior wrecking ball and a solid passer and rebounder. Ingram is more of a perimeter threat who is also a solid all-around player. They have been great this season.
34 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists for Ingram and 30 points and 6 rebounds for Zion. These two are just so good. Not much help or shooting from the others, this was just pure talent that carried the Pelicans to control this game throughout.
Washington Wizards vs Utah Jazz
Winning
A rarity in Washington however they’re going to need some more of this and some miracles to get into the postseason.
It Feels Good To Be Right
Without Conley or Clarkson, this team revolves to Donovan Mitchell please make shots or we’re in trouble. Mitchell had 17 points on 7/10 shooting in the first quarter. After that he had 25 points on 7/22 shooting. He wasn’t efficient for 3/4 of the game and the Jazz defense was getting dominated down low by the Wizards. The Jazz played well but their defense was awful. Beal and Westbrook tore them apart as guys like Lopez and Gafford were a problem. Still don’t really believe in the Jazz.
Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors
Shot-Making
Getting Jamal Murray back should have helped the Nuggets make shots. Wrong. Like the Celtics game, in the 2nd half, good looks weren’t falling. In the first half they couldn’t guard Curry who went for 30, but they still led. But when their offense shut down and they couldn’t guard Curry? Game Over. The Nuggets got outscored by 21 in the 3rd and they simply couldn’t recover from that.
To make matters worse Jamal Murray hurt his left knee with about 50 seconds left in the game. He had been dealing with right knee soreness and he injured his left knee. He didn’t need a wheelchair to get off the floor and hobbled his way back to the locker room which is a good sign, but Denver is really hoping it’s nothing too serious otherwise their contending hopes might be in jeopardy.
Jokic had another one of those games where he mostly complained when he missed. Whenever there was contact, instead of trying to get back on defense he would complain. That’s not being a leader. The Nuggets shot 31% from 3 and Steph Curry alone made more 3’s than the Nuggets. Denver hasn’t looked good in these last two games at all.
Hail Steph Curry
Steph Curry is a god, but we all knew that. Curry was chasing Wilt Chamberlain for the most points in franchise history. In Curry fashion, he scored 21 points in the first quarter and broke that record. He had 30 points in the half but yet the Warriors still trailed. But in the 2nd half he got some help. The defense picked up and a 43-point 3rd gave the Warriors a lead they wouldn’t give up. But back to Curry.
Curry had 53 points on 14/24 shooting, 10/18 3-PT, 15/16 FT. Incredible. This is Curry’s 18th career game with 10+ 3’s. The next closest guy is Klay Thompson with 5. It’s his 7th career game with 50+ points and 10+ threes. No other player in NBA history has more than two. He has single handily changed the game.
Green, Bazemore, and Wiggins combined for 49 points as they were solid support. Curry has been so great this season and all he needs is a little help. While the Warriors are flawed, Curry is single handily keeping their ship afloat.
Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns
Losing
Losing, Losing, and more Losing.
Shooting
Oh my god what a first half. The Suns were on absolute fire. Or should I say Jae Crowder was on fire. The Suns hit 18 3’s in the first half and shot 75% from 3. Jae Crowder was the only guy in double figures, but he hit 8 3’s in the first half and led the way with 26. The Suns dominated and while the Rockets made it close late, the Suns kept attacking the rim as they got another win.
Crowder had all 26 of his points in the first half, 24 for Booker, and 18 for Ayton. The Suns hit 25 3’s overall, a franchise record as their shooting finally came through.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 8 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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