Crazy Ending In Denver; The Celtics Duo Did What? 4.28.21

It’s another day of NBA hoops and we have a busy day with 10 games tonight.

Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Weird

This should feel like a win, 4 points from Cole Anthony in the final minute of the game to win, but I feel like somehow, this might hurt the Magic’s lottery chances. I do get that the lottery is a lottery and no matter what your record is you have a chance, but why do I feel like this is going to be some sort of Florida/Orlando curse. It’s probably just me. Anyway, good job.

Injuries

Injuries have plagued the Cavs all year and they would have won this game if they hadn’t been missing Sexton and Nance. But it was a good effort. 25 points, 10 assists, and 4 steals for Darius Garland who has been on a tear. 15 points and 4 steals for Isaac Okoro, 17 and 13 rebounds for Jarrett Allen, and 19 for Cedi Osman. This team still has a lot of rebuilding to do, clearly.

Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers

Expected

No Young, Bogdanovic, Reddish, Hunter, everybody essentially, this was to be expected. Just got to be healthy for the playoffs.

Taking Care Of Business

In order to get back that #1 seed, Philly will have to stay healthy and win. They got their big 3 back tonight and they rightfully dominated a depleted Hawks squad. 6 guys were in double figures, a balanced scoring effort. The 76ers just have to hope Embiid stays healthy and maybe, just maybe, they can win the East.

What am I talking about? The Nets exist. Yeah, sorry Philly, winning the East just isn’t going to happen, barring any sort of miracle.

LA Lakers vs Washington Wizards

Lebron

AD probably had his best game back, 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 50% shooting, but it wasn’t close to enough. The game was controlled by the Wizards after the first quarter. Washington took the lead after outscoring the Lakers by 10 in the 2nd. LA was outscored by 7 more in the 3rd and it was game over after that.

The Lakers again can’t shoot the ball (29% from 3) but yet they shot 34 3’s. Why? You’re just wasting possessions at that point. The Wizards also can’t shoot, but they only shot 18 3’s. They know they can’t shoot, so they’re not wasting their time. The Lakers are definitely far from full strength and a repeat title looks anything but certain as of right now.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards are 9-1 in their last 10 games, still one of the hottest teams in the league. Their improved effort on defense has helped and they’ve also stopped shooting so many 3’s, attacking the paint more. It appears to be working. 27 for Beal, another triple-double for Westbrook, Alex Len with 18 points. The Wizards are rolling and they seem to have a lock on that #10 seed in the East with their hot play as of late. The playoffs are not out of the picture for the Wizards.

Wizards are 11-2 with Daniel Gafford, even though he’s been coming off the bench. Start him, please!

Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics

Get Healthy

Pretty Please?

Jaylen and Jayson

These two guys are going to be a Bird and McHale level duo. I’m not saying they’re going to be as good as those guys, but these guys are incredible and they are doing incredible things. The Celtics got Tatum and Robert Williams back and it made an immediate impact, getting a crucial win against an Eastern Conference opponent.

38 points and 7 rebounds for Jaylen Brown who has been on a tear lately. 35-8-8 for Tatum as he becomes a more rounded player. 15 for Aaron Nesmith off the bench as well. Now all this team needs to do is simple; give these two guys the ball, hopefully get something resembling Kemba Walker and get Evan Fournier going. You do that, there’s no reason Boston can’t be successful in the postseason again.

Jaylen Brown Last 5 Games:
32 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.8 3PG on 58% shooting from the field, 48% from 3, 95% FT.

Jayson Tatum got his 33rd career 30-point game, passing Paul Pierce for the most by a Celtic ever before turning 24.

These two are going to be pretty good, safe to say.

Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks

Weird

This game was such a roller coaster for the Bulls. Let’s just say the best part was the middle. The first quarter was ugly, 33% shooting, 19 points, trailing by 13. But after that the Bulls were great in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. They cut the lead to 3 at halftime thanks to 16 from Vucevic in the first half and tied the game entering the 4th. But the 4th was the first quarter, just 19 points as the Knicks dominated, leading by 20 at one point.

The Bulls had 14 turnovers which led to 19 points off turnovers. Other than Vucevic there was not too much scoring wise. Zach Lavine might be returning soon, which is big, because the Bulls are running out of time to make the playoffs.

Weird

The Knicks started and end this game well. Their defense led to offense as they got another win, continuing their excellent play on both ends. 34 points for MIP Julius Randle, who has been spectacular this season. 22-7-6 for RJ Barrett and 44% 3-PT shooting. There’s nothing more beautiful it you’re a Knicks fan. The Knicks continue to prove that this season isn’t a fluke, they are a threat.

San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat

Boring

In terms of fun-factor, both these teams are so vanilla and boring. Last year the Heat were must-see TV and now they’re depressing. Sure they won but those Finals were a fluke based on unheard of situations. The Spurs have always been boring but now they don’t have 3 Hall of Famers on their team. It’s amazing that these teams have essentially followed their same business plans for years now, hardly adapting to the modern ways of the league.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Memphis Grizzlies

Real Tears

Wow, it’s happening. Winning multiple games in a row. I never thought it was possible. Balance.
24 for Norman Powell
26 for CJ
23 for Dame
18 for Melo
15 for Nurkic

And finally good defense. It’s beautiful.

Memphis Grizzlies

Hahahaha. Losing to the Blazers. Lol

New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets

Wow

The Pelicans nearly just pulled a Tracy McGrady type comeback. Almost. They trailed 110-101 with 52.8 seconds left. Game over, or was it? Here’s what happened next;
Lonzo Ball 3 – 110-104 – 43.8 seconds left
Lonzo Ball Steal – Ingram Dunk – 110-106 – 38.7 seconds left
Eric Bledsoe 3 – 112-109 – 31.2 seconds left
Brandon Ingram 3 Blocked, Zion Steal, Ingram 3 – 114-112 – 9.9 seconds left
Eric Bledsoe Steal – 9.9 seconds left

Now New Orleans trails by two with the ball, all the momentum. That crazy sequence, where Ingram had his shot blocked by Campazzo, Zion stole it from Campazzo and Ingram got a 3 plus a Bledsoe steal got us to this moment. The ball found it’s way to Zion on the baseline, where Nikole Jokic blocked it. Very anti-climactic.

Denver Nuggets

Jokic defense. MVP (take that Embiid fans, he can play defense).

LA Clippers vs Phoenix Suns

A For Effort

When healthy, this would be a lot closer. The Clippers held Ayton in check and they didn’t have Serge Ibaka down low. Ibaka has missed the last 22 games and hasn’t played since March 15th. LA needs him back. Kawhi should be back soon and Patrick Beverley as well. This game was pretty close but LA couldn’t get enough shots to fall and they couldn’t get stops. The Suns clinch a playoff birth but LA just needs to be healthy come playoff time.

Balance

If I had to describe the Suns in one word, it would be balance. It’s what separates them from the rest of the league, their bench can be just as good as their starters, and they didn’t even have Dario Saric in this game. 28 points and 10 assists from CP-3 and 21 from Booker. But 15 from Cameron Payne and 13 from Kaminsky. It can be a number of guys who have games and that’s so key in the playoffs. Just get Jae Crowder and Dario Saric healthy and maybe get an aggressive Deandre Ayton and Phoenix is scary.

Oh yeah, the Suns clinched a playoff spot. They’re going to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The 2nd longest playoff drought is over.

Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings

WOW

The Jazz did not have Mike Conley or Donovan Mitchell, their All-Star backcourt. I repeat, they did not have them. The Jazz shot 64% from the field, 59% from 3 (24 makes) and at one point led by 54 points. They scored 30+ points in every quarter and finished the game with 154 points. Oh my god.