All Hail King Randle & The Kings Back To Normal? 2.15.21
It’s a Monday night of NBA basketball, and we have 7 games on the schedule today.
Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls with Wendell Carter Jr. down low looked a lot better, as they shut down the Pacers down low and dominated the OT session in this game to win. In the first half, the Bulls defense was excellent on Sabonis down low, holding him to 9 points. The Bulls offense wasn’t incredible, but their defense was excellent. The Bulls had another big 3rd quarter, and they led by 9 entering the 4th. But Jeremy Lamb got going to get the Pacers back into the game, and it was back and forth down the stretch. A Zach Lavine 3 and free throw put them up 2 late, but Malcolm Brogdon tied the game with 11 seconds left to force OT. And in OT, the Bulls dominated. Their defense down low against Sabonis continued to be great as Thaddeous Young was just making Sabonis’s life very hard. The Bulls were great in this game as they improve to 11-15 on the year.
Zach Lavine had 30 points and 9 rebounds on 11/25 shooting.
Coby White had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists on 7/18 shooting.
The Bulls played very well in this game, especially defensively. Thaddeous Young off the bench was amazing guarding Sabonis, as the lefty made it hard for the left-handed Sabonis. Lavine did his usual amount of scoring, but Coby White did a bit of everything. 7 Bulls were in double figures as it was a balanced scoring attack. Getting Carter Jr. back helped them a lot down low, but this Bulls defense was the reason they won this game. Chicago takes on the Hornets next time out.
Indiana Pacers
The amount of easy shots the Pacers missed in this game is unbelievable, as they missed out of so many easy points right at the rim. The Pacers deserved to lose this game. I am going to keep this short, mainly because it’s simple why the Pacers are failing. Sabonis and Brogdon aren’t producing at the same pace they were to start the season, and that Pacers are failing. Their bench was nothing outside of Jeremy Lamb. The game would have been a blowout if not for TJ McConnell scoring 19 points. But Sabonis missed so many easy shots at the rim, as he was awful. Turner’s offense has slowed down a lot recently. The Pacers desperately need to get healthy with Warren and Levert coming back soon, because this team is starting to crumble.
Houston Rockets vs Washington Wizards
Houston Rockets
It was cool to see John Wall play well in his return to DC, but this Rockets team is just so injured. Their defense was awful in this game, and when they couldn’t keep up with the Wizards in the 2nd half, it was over. The Rockets starting 5 was very good led by Wall as all 5 of them were in double figures. But the Rockets bench was far inferior to that of the Wizards, and again their defense has been terrible lately. The Rockets have lost their last 6 dealing with injuries, as they fall to 11-16 on the year.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards have been playing well lately, as their energy has been great in these past two games. The Wizards were scoring at will at night long, as they really had no problem scoring all night long. The defense was much improved in the 2nd half as the Wizards pulled away in the 2nd half. Beal dropped 37 points, and efficient as that day off seems to have helped him a lot. Westbrook had an inefficient triple-double, and Wegner and Hachimura were solid in the frontcourt. But the Wizards bench was very good. Bertans finally hit some 3’s and looked like he was worth that massive extension. Lopez and Neto were good as well, as the Wizards bench scored 45 points. I’ll say it again for the people in the back. If the Wizards play with energy and something resembling defense, they are decent.
Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have faced the wrath of Julius Randle. They did not fair well. The Hawks defense continues to be very poor, as one of the worst offenses in the league lit them up. Trae Young can’t do anything except shoot free throws, as 43% of his points were from the free throw line. The Hawks defense has to be better, or they can’t win. The Hawks have been slowly sliding away from what they were to start this season, as they seem to have been losing that edge.
New York Knicks
All hail, King Randle.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Utah Jazz
Philadelphia 76ers
No Embiid for the 76ers really hurt their chances, although they did put up quite the fight. Ben Simmons was aggressive and dominant from the start as he had 42 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists. Tobias Harris had 36 points and 10 rebounds, so both of those guys stepped up in a big way. But no Embiid hurt them on both ends, and the Jazz 3-PT shooting was too good led by Jordan Clarkson. Not a bad loss for the 76ers, one they would have likely won with Embiid on the floor. The 76ers are now 18-10 on the year.
Utah Jazz
After a Ben Simmons explosion in the first quarter, the Jazz had control. Their 3-PT shooting was again excellent as a balanced scoring attack gave them a win. Jordan Clarkson kept them in the game early, and his shooting was excellent as he dropped 40 points on 8/13 3-PT shooting off the bench. Mitchell had 24 on poor shooting, Ingles added 20. The Jazz shot 40% from 3, as the 76ers just couldn’t keep up with them. The Jazz have won 19 of their last 20 games, as they are now 23-5 on the year.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs aren’t going to be playing Drummond anymore until they either trade him or buy him out, but even with Drummond their offense still sucks. Without him, nothing much changes. The game was close in the first half, not so much in the 2nd half. The Cavs defense has slowly become one of the worst in the league, after being one of the best for a while. This team is still a mess and rebuilding.
Golden State Warriors
It’s the Cavs.
Miami Heat vs LA Clippers
Miami Heat
This team has been so disappointing this year. No Kawhi, no PG, no Beverley. And yet you still lose. God this team has really fallen off. I’m at about the point where I’ve stopped believing in the Heat. You lost when Jimmy Butler had a triple-double, when Bam is 3 assists away from a triple-double. When Tyler Herro has 27 points off the bench. You lose, to a team without their two best players. Unbelievable. The Heat’s bubble run must have been a fluke, because they have been nothing short of terrible this year. They’ll make the playoffs because the East is bad, but don’t forget. This team is not the same.
LA Clippers
No Kawhi. No PG. No Patrick Beverley. And the Clippers still won. How? The Clippers were the better team in this game. Marcus Morris was on fire from the beginning, leading the way with 32 points. Lou Williams was good, and Terrence Mann was surprisingly good as a starter. Zubac had 20 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, and Kennard and Coffey combined for 25 points. The Clippers shot 55% from the field and 47% from 3. Their offense really never even missed Kawhi and PG, as this shows you they are a competent even without their stars. LA improves to 21-8 on the year.
Brooklyn Nets vs Sacramento Kings
Brooklyn Nets
Who needs KD? Not the Nets. The Nets offense was on absolute fire as they couldn’t be stopped. They made 27 3’s on 57% shooting, as they couldn’t miss. Irving dropped 40 on nearly 70% shooting. Harden had a triple double with 29 points, as he was also efficient. Harris, Green, Shamet, Jordan, and Johnson were all in double figures as well. I like when Jeff Green starts, as the Nets can play faster and their offense is a lot better. Even without KD, this Nets team still has a lethal offense. The Nets are now 17-12 on the year.
Sacramento Kings
If the Kings can’t make as many 3’s as their opponents, they are done for. The Kings made 12 3’s on pretty good efficiencies. The problem is that the Nets made 27 of them shooting above 50%. Yeah, that’s not going to help you. The Kings offense was good, but their defense was terrible. The Kings have lost 4 in a row, and they are now 12-15 on the year.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 7 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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