Bulls Blow Big Lead Late; What Has Happened To The Hawks? 1.15.21
It’s a Friday night of NBA basketball, as we have a busy day with 8 games on the schedule.
Game Of The Day Prediction: Mavs vs Bucks or Hawks vs Jazz
Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Magic have been dealing with injuries as of late, and they have struggled. Evan Fournier has been missing time, and they lost Markelle Fultz for the year. The Magic offense hasn’t the same offense that we saw at the start of the year, as they need to score to win. Boston hasn’t played since January 8th, as they’ve had a very bad spell with Covid. The Celtics will be getting Tristan Thompson, Theis, and Jaylen Brown back for this game. Jayson Tatum remains out, but the Celtics get 3 key guys back in action. This game will be close, but I’m giving the edge to the Celtics.
Orlando Magic
The Magic have just lost it on offense. They just haven’t been able to find that “magic” again on offense without Fultz and Fournier on the floor. And they couldn’t slow down Boston one bit, as this game wasn’t very close for most of the night. Orlando has lost 4 straight games, and they are now 6-6 on the year.
Aaron Gordon had 17 points on 5/12 shooting.
Cole Anthony had 15 points and 6 rebounds on 7/18 shooting.
Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and 6 rebounds on 6/13 shooting.
After Fultz when down with injury, I said it was interesting to see how the Magic offense changed. Fultz was a big part of the offense, and when he want down, I wanted to see what Orlando would do differently. Well, they’re doing something wrong that’s for sure. The Magic haven’t scored 100 points in their 4 losses, as something just isn’t right. Orlando now gets to face the new-look Nets tomorrow.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics looked a lot better, mainly because they got healthier. A lot of their games had been postponed, but they got 3 key guys back and they dominated this game. The Celtics defense blanketed the Magic, and their offense was good led by Jaylen Brown. Tatum and Walker will be coming back soon, and Boston will be back soon. Boston is now 8-3 on the year.
Jaylen Brown had 21 points and 8 assists on 6/12 shooting.
Semi Ojeleye had 18 points and 6 rebounds on 6/10 shooting off the bench.
Jeff Teague had 17 points on 5/10 shooting.
The Celtics had some really nice, balanced scoring from their bench and starters. Jaylen Brown was solid, and Semi Ojeleye was a pleasant surprise off the bench. Teague and Pritchard were good in the back-court, combining for 33 points. When Tatum and Brown return, we can finally see this Celtics team at full strength. Boston is now 8-3 on the year, and they take on the New York Knicks next.
New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Pre-Game Thoughts: After starting the season 5-3, the Knicks have lost 4 straight games because their offense has just been horrible. Julius Randle has been their only reliable option, as everybody else has been struggling. They need RJ Barrett to give them a scoring boost, as he has been struggling as of late. While the Knicks offense is struggling, the Cavs are struggling even more. The Cavs have the worst offense in the league, but one of the best defenses. They’ve been dealing with injuries as of late, but they get Andre Drummond back to anchor things down low. Both these teams have bad offenses, so we’ll see who can be better. I’m giving the slight edge to the Knicks.
New York Knicks
The Knicks looked better in this game, but they came up just short. In the first half, their offense finally looked to be back on track, as they shot 54% from the field and scored 55 points. The game tied entering the 4th, and the Knicks had a real shot to win this game, and score over 90 points. But the Knicks fell behind early to start the 4th, and they were forced to play-keep up. And the Knicks kept closing the lead, but they could never take the lead. And with under a minute left, they trailed by just three. But the Knicks committed a turnover, and the Cavs hit their free throws down the stretch, as they have lost their last 5 games.
Julius Randle had 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 11/20 shooting.
Immanuel Quickley had 23 points and 5 rebounds on 9/17 shooting.
RJ Barrett had 20 points on 7/12 shooting.
The Knicks got major production from 3 guys, but almost nothing else from anybody else. Randle continues to really lead this team, and Quickley was impressive off the bench, especially for a rookie. RJ Barrett was good, as he might be getting out of that shooting slump. This was a winnable game, but the Cavs have a very good defense. The Knicks offense finally looked decent, but it still has some work to do. New York takes on the Celtics next.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs looked really good in this game, as their offense got some production to go along with their top-5 defense. In the first half, both teams were scoring well, as Cleveland shot 43% from the field and scored 57 points. The game was tied entering the 4th, and the Cavs made some big plays down the stretch. The Cavs took a small lead early on the 4th, and just held it throughout the 4th. Cedi Osman got a key steal with 31 seconds left, and the Cavs held on win, improving to 6-7 on the year.
Andre Drummond had 33 points and 23 rebounds on 10/18 shooting.
Cedi Osman had 25 points and 5 assists on 10/20 shooting.
Andre Drummond was beastly in this game, but I still think Cleveland should trade him with Jarrett Allen on the way. But still an impressive performance by the former All-Star. Cedi Osman was very good, and all the Cavs starters scored in double-figures. This Cavs defense kind of anchors everything they do, and if Sexton and Garland get back, along with Jarrett Allen, they could be a pretty decent team. The Cavs are now 6-7 on the year, and they take on the Nets next.
Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Mavericks have won their last 4 games, after starting the season slow. Luka Doncic has been looking like an MVP as of late, and the Mavs defense has been excellent. Kristaps Porzingis is back, as he slowly works himself back. The Mavs have been very good lately, but they face a very good Bucks team. The Bucks have won their last 3 games, as they have been getting things together on both ends. The Bucks have the best offense in the league, and one of the best defenses. Their Big 3 of Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday have been playing very well to start this season, and their supporting cast has been good. This will be a very good game, and I have the Bucks winning.
Dallas Mavericks
Even though they were short-handed, the Mavs gave the Bucks quite the fight. But their final possession execution was poor, and they came up just short. The Mavs defense wasn’t very good in the first half, and they were only shooting 39% from the field. And yet they were only down by 8. In the 3rd, the Mavs offense was very good led by Luka Doncic, and they only trailed by 3 entering the 4th. These two teams kept going back and forth, trading blows on offense. But with 3:09 left, Dallas took the lead. But Khris Middleton hit back-to-back 3’s, and now Dallas trailed by 4. Dallas had the ball, down by two. Trey Burke missed a 3, but Dallas got the ball. Kristaps Porzingis missed a 3 badly, and Dallas lost the game. Luka was rightfully furious at his teammates at the end of the game, as Dallas is now 6-5 on the year.
Luka Doncic had 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists on 12/24 shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points and 6 rebounds on 9/17 shooting.
Kristaps Porzingis had 15 points and 10 rebounds on 6/19 shooting.
I know Dallas was short-handed in this game, but I have a few concerns. The first being Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is still getting back into the fit of things, but he’s shooting the ball too much. He’s just jacking 3’s early in the shot-clock, and not making too many of them. He has to tone it down. Secondly, that was terrible execution late. After the miss and Dallas got the rebound, they should either call a timeout, or find Luka and give him the ball. Porzingis jacking up a 30-footer is not a good shot. Disappointing loss for Dallas, as they should have won this game, or at least executed better down the stretch. Dallas is now 6-5 on the year, and they take on the Chicago Bulls next.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks didn’t exactly play great in this game against the short-handed Bucks, but they made some big shots late. In the first half, Giannis and Khris Middleton had it going, as Milwaukee shot 50% from the field. They held Dallas to below 40% shooting, but yet they only led by 8 at halftime. The Bucks defense was poor in the 3rd, and their lead was just 3 entering the 4th. The Bucks were going back and forth with Dallas, and the Bucks lost the lead with 3 minutes left. But Khris Middleton hit back-to-back 3’s and the Bucks led by 4 with 1:47 left. The Mavs had the ball, down two, a chance to tie or take the lead. And the Bucks got lucky that Luka Doncic didn’t get the ball, and the Mavs took two bad shots. The Bucks held on to win, and they are now 9-4 on the year.
Giannis had 31 points and 9 rebounds on 14/21 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists on 8/20 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 16 points and 5 assists on 7/15 shooting.
The Bucks didn’t play great, but they made some big shots down the stretch. Giannis was good, except he was 1/10 from the foul line. They need him to be better in that area, especially in the post-season. Khris Middleton has been superb to start this season, as they need his shot-making in the postseason. Jrue Holiday has been getting more shots, and he’s been doing well, a trend that needs to continue. I like what the Bucks are doing on both ends, and they are going to be a problem in the East if they continue to play like this. The Bucks take on the Brooklyn Nets next.
Chicago Bulls vs OKC Thunder
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bulls might be losing, but it’s close games against good teams. They tested both the Lakers and the Clippers, making them really work. Zach Lavine has been amazing this season, as well as Coby White. And the Bulls get some of their depth back, with Otto Porter Jr. playing as well as Lauri Markkanen, who hasn’t played since late December. Markkanen was playing very well to start the season, and maybe getting him back can put the Bulls in the right direction. The Thunder have somehow been winning games, as they’ve again be a surprise to start this season. Their roster is nothing special, but they’ve been playing well. I just wish that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would get more shots, and that’s about it. This will be a good competitive game, and I think Chicago will win.
Chicago Bulls
If you look up the definition of choking, there is a picture of the Bulls logo, as they absolutely blew this game. The Bulls had this game, and they still blew it. In the first half, the Bulls offense was red-hot. They scored 68 points on 56% shooting, and they led. They led by as many as 22 in the 3rd, as it looked like a blowout. But the Bulls kept turning the ball over, and OKC outscored them 31-17 in the final 9 minutes of the quarter, and the lead was 8 entering the 4th. But the Bulls dominated the 4th, and they led by 16 with 4:40 left. But OKC kept chipping away at the lead, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the game with 16 seconds left. Zach Lavine missed at the buzzer , and the game went to OT. In OT, the Bulls fell behind by 5 early, and they never recovered. They cut the lead to one multiple times, but they couldn’t get stops when they needed to. Zach Lavine had a chance to win it for Chicago, but Denzel Valentine got in his way. Chicago blew an easy win, as they are now 4-8 on the year.
Zach Lavine had 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 11/19 shooting.
Coby White had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists on 8/20 shooting.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and 11 rebounds on 6/9 shooting.
There is no excuse for losing this game. None. The Bulls led by 22 early in the 3rd. They then turned the ball over and allowed OKC back into the game. They led by 16 in the 4th with 4 minutes left. They again had a series of turnovers, and the game went into OT. And that final shot, what is Denzel Valentine doing? Just ran straight into Zach Lavine as he was trying to shoot the ball. Disappointing game for an even more disappointing franchise. Chicago has lost their last 4 games, and they are now 4-8 on the year. Chicago takes on the Dallas Mavericks next.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Quite the impressive win by the Thunder, as they shouldn’t have won this game. They were getting torched by the Bulls in the first half, as they trailed by 18. The Thunder defense was the main problem, as they needed to tighten down that end of the floor to have any chance at winning. The lead was 22 early in the 4th, and then the Thunder rallied. They were forcing turnovers, and ended the quarter strong, trailing by 8 entering the 4th. But things again looked bad, as OKC was down by 16 with 4 minutes left. And again, they rallied. They got some stops and scores, and SGA tied the game with 16 seconds left. They got a stop, and the game went into OT. OKC scored 5 quick points, and never gave up the lead. They got lucky that Denzel Valentine ran into Zach Lavine at the buzzer, and they completed the monumental comeback. OKC is now 6-6 on the year.
SGA had 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists on 13/19 shooting.
Lu Dort had 21 points and 8 rebounds on 7/15 shooting.
Kenrich Williams had 14 points and 5 rebounds on 6/6 shooting off the bench.
This was just a game where OKC was very resilient. They never gave up, and beat the Bulls in an un-winnable game. SGA was so good, as he got the shots that he deserved. He shot 19 of them, and made 13. He needs to continue to be that aggressive. 5 other OKC players were in double figures, as they continue to find ways to win. OKC takes on the 76ers next time out.
Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hawks struggled for a time because their offense couldn’t get going and Trae Young was struggling. But they beat the short-handed 76ers last time out, and maybe that can get them going. The Hawks defense has been getting better, and if their offense can go back to what it was, they’ll be tough to stop. The Jazz have been very up and down this season, but they’ve won their last 3 games. Bojan Bogdanovic has been shooting just 37% from the field this season, but he had 20 points in Utah’s last game. They need him scoring alongside Mitchell and Conley, along with Jordan Clarkson. This Jazz team can be very explosive on offense when they’re hitting, and they can take advantage of an ok Atlanta defense. This should be a good game, but I’m giving the edge to the Jazz.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks just haven’t been able to figure things out on offense, and they have been struggling mightily. Trae Young has been horrendous as of late, after looking like an MVP to start this season. The Hawks trailed by 15 at halftime, shooting just 8% from 3, and scoring 46 points. The Hawks never got back into the game, and the Jazz went on a 21-0 run. Atlanta has lost 5 of their last 6 games, as they are 5-6 on the year.
Cam Reddish had 20 points and 5 rebounds on 8/13 shooting.
Clint Capela had 16 points and 11 rebounds on 8/9 shooting.
De’Andre Hunter had 14 points on 6/13 shooting.
What has happened to Trae Young? Ever since Steve Nash said that Young “wasn’t playing basketball,” in reference to the manner of which he was drawing fouls, Young has struggled mightily. He hasn’t been drawing fouls, as he was 1/11 from the field today. The Hawks need their franchise player to play well, otherwise they simply won’t win. Atlanta needs to find their offense, because just their defense can’t win games. We all know what Atlanta is capable of, but they just haven’t been living up to standards as of late. The Hawks take on the Blazers tomorrow.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz have been hitting on all cylinders lately, as their offense has been playing really. good. Their defense was also very good in this game, as they got the ball out of Trae Young’s hands. The Jazz led by 15 at halftime, scoring 61 points on 47% shooting. Utah had a 21-0 run at one point in the 2nd half, as they cruised to their 4th straight win, improving to 8-4 on the year.
Donovan Mitchell had 26 points on 10/20 shooting.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 17 points on 6/12 shooting.
Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 13 rebounds on 6/7 shooting.
The Jazz have been getting more balanced on offense, as Bogdanovic and Gobert have been playing much better. They need this kind of production from Bogdanovic going forward, as he is such a key piece to their success. And if Utah’s defense can play like it did today, paired with that explosive offense, they will be tough to stop. The Jazz take on the Denver Nuggets next on Sunday.
LA Clippers vs Sacramento Kings
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Clippers have been getting things down as of late, mostly on the defensive end, where they have struggled at times. LA has won 3 of their last 4 games, as their duo of PG and Kawhi has been lighting people up. The Clippers are without Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, but they face the worst defense in the league. The Kings, they have to score to win because their defense is awful. They blew two 20-point leads against Portland, as even with their scoring they lost. The Kings can only win one way, and that’s a bad thing. This should be an easy win for the Clippers.
LA Clippers
Yeah, the Clippers took advantage of that #30 Kings defense. The first half was a shootout for both sides. The Clippers shot 52% from the field and 58% from 3, scoring 69 points in the first half as Kawhi and PG were dominant. The Kings scored 61 points on 56% shooting themselves. The game was close in the first half, but the same was not true in the 2nd half. The Clippers continued to roll, scoring 37 points in the 3rd quarter. But LA allowed just 16 points, and they blew the game wide open. The Clippers cruised to a 38-point win, improving to 9-4 on the year.
Kawhi had 27 points and 6 assists on 10/15 shooting.
Paul George had 26 points on 8/14 shooting.
Marcus Morris had 18 points on 7/12 shooting off the bench.
The Clippers did all this scoring without Lou Williams. Kawhi and PG were amazing, both scoring over 25 points, shooting a combined 18/29 from the floor. Marcus Morris looked really good off the bench, as he will be that x-factor for LA. Kennard had 14 points on 6/8 shooting, everybody was doing well against this horrendous defense. LA has won 4 of their last 5 games, as they are now 9-4 on the year. They take on the Pacers on Sunday.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings can’t win with this sorry excuse for defense. Nobody will ever win with this type of defense. The Kings shot 56% from the field and scored 61 points, and yet they still trailed by 8. And in the 2nd half, they just ran out of steam and scoring just 39 points in the 2nd half. Something has to change, weather it be their schemes or personnel, because defenses can’t be this bad, especially for a team with playoff aspirations like the Kings. Sacramento has lost 4 of their last 5 games, and they are 5-8 on the year.
Marvin Bagley had 20 points and 5 rebounds on 8/12 shooting.
Richuan Holmes had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 8/11 shooting.
De’Aaron Fox had 14 points on 6/11 shooting.
[Fix defense]
New Orleans Pelicans vs LA Lakers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pelicans have lost their last 4 games, as they have blown games late, and more recently they’ve been dealing with injuries. They missed 3 starters against the Clippers, but Zion Williamson is back for this game. Eric Bledsoe is also out, but Lonzo Ball is out. The Pelicans are going to need all the help they can get against the best team in the league. The Lakers have won 8 out of their last 9 games, as they’ve been figuring things out on both ends. The Lakers have the best defense in the league, as they have been rolling. This should be an easy win for the Lakers.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans played pretty well in this game, but their flaws caught up to them in the end. The Pelicans played a very strong first quarter, scoring and defending at a high-level. They led by as many as 15 in the 2nd quarter, but then they bailed out the struggling LA offense with fouls, some of them questionable calls. New Orleans was shooting 61% from the field in the first half, and LA was shooting 40% from the field. New Orleans led by just one. And then in the 2nd half, the Pelicans went ice cold from the field, and they were turning the ball over. They scored just 37 points in the 2nd half, and LA dominated the 2nd half. The Pelicans spacing is still a problem, as is their turnovers. New Orleans has lost their last 5 games, as they are now 5-7 on the year.
Zion Williamson had 21 points and 12 rebounds on 9/19 shooting.
Brandon Ingram had 20 points and 5 assists on 9/15 shooting.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 12 points on 5/8 shooting.
The Pelicans were playing so well for a quarter in this game, but then things started to go down hill. Their fouling in the 2nd quarter bailed out LA, who wasn’t playing well on offense. And then their offense came to a complete stand-still in the 2nd half, scoring just 37 points. They need to trade Steven Adams, and get some shooters. Zion is doing all he can, but he just has no space to operate. New Orleans needs some personnel changes, because their current roster just doesn’t fit well. New Orleans takes on the Sacramento Kings next.
LA Lakers
The Lakers didn’t even play well in this game, and they won by 17. In the first quarter, LA wasn’t shooting the ball well or playing any defense, as they looked out of energy. The same thing was true in the 2nd quarter, but they continually got to the free throw line, and they trailed by just one at halftime despite shooting just 40% from the field. But in the 2nd half, the Lakers put their foot down. They allowed just 37 points, and they cruised to another win, improving to 11-3 on the year.
Lebron had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists on 6/11 shooting.
AD had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5/16 shooting.
Montrezl Harrell had 16 points and 5 rebounds on 8/10 shooting off the bench.
The Lakers played very sloppy in this game, but they still won. They didn’t play well, and they dominated the 2nd half of this game, the sign of a very good team. The Lakers defense was excellent in the 2nd half, as they continue to play well on defense. The Lakers continue to dominate everybody, as they are by far the best team in the NBA right now. LA has won their last 5 games, and they take on the Warriors on MLK Day.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 8-Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
Follow My Instagram To Never Miss A Post: @hoopnotions
