Do The Mavs Need A Change?; 76ers Lose Big To Benchwarmers? 2.4.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball, and we have 5 games on the schedule tonight.
Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks
Utah Jazz
Without Trae Young on the other side, this was a pretty easy game. The Hawks couldn’t get much done on offense, and even though Utah wasn’t anything special on offense, they won. Mitchell and Conley were solid, and Bojan Bogdanovic has been getting better and more consistent. Clarkson is an absolute flamethrower off the bench as he led the way with 23 points. Solid game for the Jazz, as they improve to 17-5 on the year. Utah takes on Charlotte tomorrow.
Atlanta Hawks
I said that the Hawks struggled without Trae Young on the floor, and they had to be better. But with no Trae Young for 48 minutes, the Hawks couldn’t get anything going on offense. Rondo might be a good passer, but doesn’t offer the same type of spacing. Tony Snell was solid off the bench, Huerter and Reddish were solid. Clint Capela was terrible against Gobert, going 3/14 from the field. Without their superstar PG the Hawks struggled, as they fall to 10-12 on the year. They take on the Raptors next.
Golden State Warriors vs Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors, no matter how small they were, they dominated the 2nd half. They played very good on offense, largely in part to Kelly Oubre, who was excellent in this game. He had a career high 40 points and 8 rebounds, as he was 7/10 from 3. If he can give this type of shooting, the Warriors are dangerous. Steph put up his usual numbers, as all 5 Warrior starters were in double-figures. The Warriors bench was excellent, as even without Wiseman and Paschall, the Warriors were able to score at will. Golden State improves to 12-10 on the year, and they take on the Mavs again on Saturday.
Dallas Mavericks
It’s time to make a move. It’s not working around Luka. Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t been the same since that knee injury in the bubble. The Mavs shooters can’t make anything. They don’t rebound, and they look lost. Bradley Beal is a guy I would really want. Victor Oladipo is another guy I would look at. Richardson and Hardaway have been disappointing, as it’s clear this team isn’t the same one from last year.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
I didn’t come into this game why high hopes, but this was very impressive. Even with Joel Embiid scoring like he did, the Blazers 3-point shooting kept them in the game. And that 3rd quarter was something else. The Blazers were getting in the passing lanes, and it seemed like Philly could do nothing to slow them down. Very good win for Portland with them being that short-handed. Carmelo was very good, very efficient on his way to 22 points. Gary Trent had 24, Hood and Kanter were solid. Anfernee Simons was good but 2nd round pick CJ Elleby was excellent. He had a career high 15 points, as he looking very exciting out there. This is a great sign for Portland, to win without your 3 best players, as they improve to 12-9 on the year. Portland takes on New York next.
Philadelphia 76ers
There’s no excuse for this Portland. Portland is missing their two All-Stars in the backcourt, their best center, and one of their best defenders. And you get blown out. Really? Embiid had 37 points after injuring his knee early on. He was your only offense. That 3rd quarter was literally praying Joel Embiid scores. You allowed 40 points in that 3rd, and were getting destroyed by Portland bench-warmers. Not bad for the best in the East right? Absolutely no shooting in this game, 7/27 from 3. You need Curry and Green to shoot well, as otherwise you get no spacing. The 76ers can’t be this reliant on Embiid, as other guys get stagnant and they don’t get the ball. But again, to be a champion, you can’t lose games like this to a team this short-handed. Philly is now 16-7 on the year, and they take on the Brooklyn Nets next.
Houston Rockets vs Memphis Grizzlies
Houston Rockets
This was a good win for Houston, but this win doesn’t feel right with the Christian Wood injury. Wood missed time in January with a right ankle injury, and he re-injured that foot in the 3rd. He landed on that ankle hard, and had to leave the game in a wheel chair. You hope for the best, but that didn’t look good. Houston improves to 11-10 on the year, and they take on the Spurs next.
Memphis Grizzlies
For the 2nd straight game, Memphis came out with no energy. They just could never gain traction, as their defense has been horrible lately. We all knew their offense wasn’t great, but with Ja Morant struggled to score and facilitate, the Grizzlies really struggle. Memphis has to get back to their tough, underdog style of play. That team that we saw last year with the defense and the hustle, hasn’t been there in these past two games. Memphis falls to 9-8 on the year, and they take on the Pelicans next.
Denver Nuggets vs LA Lakers
Denver Nuggets
That 2nd half was ugly for Denver, as their offense just kind of stopped. And they played really well in that first half. Jokic may not have been scoring, but the Nuggets defense against AD was solid, and guys like JaMychal Green and Jamal Murray were hitting their shots, and Denver led by 12 at the half. Then the outside shots started to not fall and they went away from Jokic. LA’s defense was much tighter, and Denver was outscored by 20 in that 3rd quarter. And the 4th was more of the same. Denver seemed to just have a lid on the basket as they couldn’t score, and LA dominated again. Tough 2nd half for Denver as they fall to 12-9 on the year.
Jamal Murray had 20 points and 5 assists on 7/17 shooting.
Monte Morris had 16 points on 7/10 shooting off the bench.
JaMychal Green had 14 points and 8 rebounds on 5/10 shooting.
Not having Gary Harris was huge in this game, as guys like Schroder and Horton-Tucker continually got to the rim. That made them put JaMychal Green in the starting lineup, which makes them a lot slower. I think that Jokic getting into foul trouble and then not getting the ball a lot really hurt Denver, as they didn’t play through him as much as you would like to see. Murray was just outplayed by Schroder, and even with AD being very quiet, Denver’s 2nd half was awful. They need guys like Millsap an Porter Jr. to shoot the ball better than 3/13 and 3/10 respectively, especially with Harris out. Denver takes on Sacramento next.
LA Lakers
After a rough first half defensively, the Lakers really turned things up. That first half was ugly for LA. They couldn’t hit their outside shots and Marc Gasol was getting worked by Jokic. Lebron was really the only guy who had things going, and LA trailed by 12 at the half. But then we saw the real Lakers in the 2nd half. Montrezl Harrell, Kuzma, and Horton-Tucker were excellent off the bench, especially on defense where the Lakers forced turnovers and got out in transition. LA outscored Denver by 20 in the 3rd, and continued the onslaught in the 4th with more stifling defense, as they cruised to a win even with AD playing that great. LA is now 17-6 on the year.
Lebron had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists on 12/19 shooting.
Dennis Schroder had 21 points on 7/9 shooting.
Talen Horton-Tucker had 17 points on 8/12 shooting off the bench.
I love the way LA played in that 2nd half. Lebron was excellent passing the ball, as he was tearing up Denver. Schroder was great, especially on defense where he hounded Jamal Murray. Horton-Tucker was great at driving the ball, as he gives LA instant offense off the bench. Kuzma and Harrell were excellent defensively, and they brought a lot of energy. The Lakers did all of that 2nd half damage with AD finishing with just 13 points. He hasn’t been as aggressive shooting the ball, and while he got 5 steals/blocks, we haven’t seen the same AD from last year, and if they can unlock that, they are the closest thing to unstoppable. LA takes on the Pistons next on Saturday.
What Are your Thoughts From The 5 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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