Pelicans Blow Late Lead; Are The Knicks A Playoff Team? 1.4.21
It’s a Monday of NBA Hoops, and we have a full slate of 9 games on the schedule today.
Best Matchup Of The Day: Pelicans vs Pacers or Mavs vs Rockets
Charlotte Hornets vs Philadelphia 76ers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hornets have a very weird roster, and one that isn’t exactly good. Their 3-guard set is a very interesting combo, but one that hasn’t exactly worked out. Their defense isn’t great and they are overmatched in this game vs the 76ers. The 76ers are 5-1 to start the season, as they have been playing great basketball. Embiid, Harris, and Curry have all been excellent, and Ben Simmons has been good as well. Looking for more of a consistent bench from guys like Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton, but the 76ers should be getting a win in this game.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are no match for the 76ers. The Hornets lost by 15 the first time these two teams met, and the Hornets were again dominated by this 76ers team. The Hornets were outscored by 12 in the 2nd quarter, and that was the only quarter they dominated in. They couldn’t get back into it in the 2nd half, as their defense couldn’t handle the offensive firepower of the 76ers. The Hornets have fallen to 2-5 on the year.
Gordon Hayward had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7/14 shooting.
Devonte Graham had 15 points on 5/13 shooting.
PJ Washington had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 4/10 shooting.
The Hornets defense has been bad, but the 76ers do have a lot of weapons. The Hornets offense still needs to find their way, as they just haven’t been able to play like a team thus far. I really don’t think that their 3 guard-set is going to work, as I would much rather see Lamelo Ball play more minutes and develop. The Hornets are now 2-5 on the year, and they face another tough team in the Atlanta Hawks next time out.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have looked very good, as they have dominated their competition. Yes, they haven’t played the best teams in the league. But they’ve done their job, and their offense has been one of the best in the league. Their new lineup featuring more shooting has been very good, as it gives Embiid and Simmons so much more room to operate. The 76ers have started their season 6-1.
Tobias Harris had 22 points and 5 rebounds on 10/16 shooting.
Joel Embiid had 14 points and 11 rebounds on 4/10 shooting.
Danny Green had 13 points and 6 rebounds on 5/10 shooting.
This 76ers is so good. Tobias Harris is looking like he’s worth that massive contract that he got last season. Joel Embiid was quiet, but he has been excellent this season. Ben Simmons does it all for this team, as he’s their best defender. Seth Curry and Danny Green have been excellent shooting the ball as starters, as they need to continue that. Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton were both in double-figures off the bench, as this 76ers bench needs their production. The 76ers take on the Washington Wizards next.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Cavs have started this season off very well, as their offense is one of the best in the league. Their roster is good, but they are very thin in this game. Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro are both out, and Kevin Love is still out. So this will be a tough game for the Cavs, with their limited depth. Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross have been excellent, along with solid contributions from Fultz and Fournier. They won’t have Evan Fournier, but they still have the sill advantage for this game. Usually these teams are pretty evenly matched, but with the Cavs being very short-handed, the Magic should win this game easily.
Cleveland Cavaliers
This was to be expected, with the Cavs being so short-handed. They were without 3 of their best players, and they were outplayed in this game. The Cavs trailed by 2 at halftime, but then they were outscored by 20 in the 3rd quarter. The Cavs never got back into it, and the Cavs are now 4-3 on the year.
Collin Sexton had 24 points on 10/19 shooting.
Cedi Osman had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 6/14 shooting off the bench.
Damyean Dotson had 16 points on 6/10 shooting.
I don’t think much of this game from the Cavs perspective. They were without Garland, Okoro, and Kevin Love. They only trailed by 2 at halftime, as they were playing decent. But then they collapsed in the 3rd, allowing 38 points. The Cavs just need to get Okoro and Darius Garland healthy, and Kevin Love will be back in a couple of weeks. The Cavs are now 4-3 on the year, and they face the Orlando Magic again on Wednesday.
Orlando Magic
The Magic did what they had to do to win, as they beat up on the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic couldn’t shake the Cavs in the first half, but then they dominated the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Cavs by 20. The Magic cruised to a win, as they got great contributions from Gordon and Vucevic. The Magic are now 5-2 on the year.
Aaron Gordon had 24 points and 11 rebounds on 9/17 shooting.
Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 8 rebounds on 9/16 shooting.
Terrence Ross had 15 points on 5/13 shooting off the bench.
The Magic have looked good this season, and their offense was decent without Evan Fournier. Terrence Ross is emerging as a 6th Man of the Year Candidate, as he has been excellent to start this season. Cole Anthony continues to develop, and he might be an x-factor going forward. I like what the Magic have been doing this season, and if their defense gets better, they will be a playoff team.
New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Knicks are the best team in New York right now, and they’ve looked really good to start this season. Their roster isn’t the most talented, but Tom Thibodeau has been getting great things from these players. Julius Randle has been great, and the Knicks hope for more consistency from RJ Barrett. They are still without Alec Burks off their bench, but they have won without him this season. The Hawks have one of the most talented offenses in the league, and they haven’t been close to healthy to start this season. Their defense is the problem, but it’s very hard to guard them. I think that this game will be close, but I’m giving the edge to the Hawks because of their explosive offense.
New York Knicks
I said this Knicks team would be better than everybody expected them to be, and here they are, the best team in New York. The Knicks played so well in this game, beating one of the best offenses in the league. In the first half, the Knicks remained close with the high-flying Hawks offense, trailing by 4. In the 4th, the Knicks fell behind by double-digits, but then they roared back and kept the game close. And in the 4th, they made all the big plays. The Knicks led by 2 with 3:52 left after two Immanuel Quickley free throws. The Knicks extended their lead to 5, and an Austin Rivers 3 with 1:25 left put the Knicks back up by 4. Julius Randle scored again, and the Knicks won, improving to 4-3 on the year.
Julius Randle had 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists on 11/19 shooting.
RJ Barrett had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10/19 shooting.
Immanuel Quickley had 16 points on 4/7 shooting off the bench.
This Knicks team is playing very well. Coach Tom Thibodeau has these young guys playing hard on both ends. Julius Randle has turned into a Lebron James type player, doing it all for the Knicks. RJ Barrett was excellent as well. Rookie Immanuel Quickley shot the ball extremely well, as he might be a good rotation player going forward. The Knicks are 4-3 on the year, and they face the Utah Jazz next time out.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have lost 3 of their last 4 games, and they have lost back-to-back games to teams that they are better than. The Hawks led by 4 at halftime, shooting 46% from the field. In the 3rd, they built up a big lead. But then the Knicks second unit closed the game, and the Hawks led by 4 entering the 4th. And in the 4th the Hawks offense stalled. The Hawks trailed by 2 with 3:52 left, a very winnable game. The Hawks cut the lead to one with 1:40 left, but then an Austin Rivers 3 put them back down 4. They almost made a comeback attempt, but the Knicks proved to be too much and the Hawks lost. The Hawks scored just 20 points in the 4th, and they are now 4-3 on the year.
Trae Young had 31 points and 14 assists on 9/22 shooting.
De’Andre Hunter had 23 points and 8 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
John Collins had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
The Hawks have been so hot and cold this season. I have seen what they can, with one of the best offenses in the league. But their defense has really hurt them. They couldn’t stop the Cavs late in their last game, and the Knicks hit big shots in this game. Their offense isn’t the problem, although scoring 20 points in one quarter is dreadful. But their defense has to be better if they want to win close games. The Hawks get a chance to get back in the win column against the Hornets on Wednesday.
OKC Thunder vs Miami Heat
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Thunder are obviously rebuilding, but they have remained competitive in the game they’ve been in. They’re at an obvious disadvantage against the Miami Heat, and this is another likely loss. The Heat’s offense was terrible against the Mavericks last time out, as they look to fix that. Their team is very talented, with two All-Stars in Butler and Adebayo. The Heat’s offense needs to be better, and they can start to get things rolling again. This should be an easy win for the Miami Heat.
OKC Thunder
To be expected, nothing much to say. The Thunder are rebuilding, and have nowhere near the roster talent to contend with the Heat, one of the East’s best teams. Bazley, Dort, and Gilgeous-Alexander played well, but nobody else played particularly well outside of those 3. The Thunder are just waiting for the NBA Draft, where they can get this rebuild started. Until then, it’ll have to be a lot loosing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 18 points on 7/15 shooting.
Darius Bazley had 16 points and 8 rebounds on 5/10 shooting.
Lu Dort had 12 points on 4/8 shooting.
I really don’t have to say thing, we all know what the Thunder are trying to do, and what they need to do to achieve that. OKC is now 2-4 on the year, and they face the New Orleans Pelicans again on Wednesday.
Miami Heat
The Heat needed this win, as they haven’t been playing well to start this season. The Heat outscored the Thunder by 14 in the 2nd, and 11 in the 3rd quarter. Bam Adebayo continues to play stellar on both ends, and Kelly Olynyk, the new starter for the Heat, was excellent as well. The Heat are now 3-3 on the year.
Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 8 rebounds on 9/10 shooting.
Kelly Olynyk had 19 points and 8 rebounds on 7/9 shooting.
Jimmy Butler had 18 points and 6 assists on 4/11 shooting.
Maybe this can get the Heat going. I obviously think that they’re going to get going and make another playoff run, but they haven’t started off great. Their offense was the real problem, and their stout defense was problematic at times. They obviously had the advantage in this game, as they were facing the rebuilding Thunder. The Heat face the Boston Celtics next, a very tough game.
Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Celtics haven’t been getting the most impressive wins in the world, but they are 4-3 on the year. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both playing like All-Stars, as they have been carrying this team. Marcus Smart is out of this game, so the Celtics will need more from guys like Payton Pritchard and Tristan Thompson. The Raptors have been mess to start this season. Pascal Siakam seems to have lost all of his talent, and this Raptors team has lost so much of their defense. They have no interior defense, and their roster isn’t that deep. I think that Boston will win this game.
Boston Celtics
Yeah, this Celtics team is good. They of course have their two All-Stars, but their bench was awesome in this game. The Celtics trailed early in game, allowing the Raptors to shoot 53% from the field. But Jayson Tatum and the Celtics dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Raptors by 24, scoring 38 points. The Celtics offense was rolling, and they never let the Raptors back into the game. Jayson Tatum had a career-night, and Payton Pritchard was amazing off the bench. Boston is now 5-3 on the year.
Jayson Tatum had a career-high 40 points and 6 rebounds on 11/19 shooting.
Payton Pritchard had 23 points and 8 assists on 8/13 shooting off the bench.
Jaylen Brown had 19 points and 5 rebounds on 7/16 shooting.
This Celtics team has been getting a lot more production from their bench as of late. Jayson Tatum was on fire, as nobody on the Raptors could stop him. Payton Pritchard can play, as he had 23 and 8 off the bench. He is going to be the x-factor going forward, and when Kemba Walker gets back, he is going to be great off the bench. Robert Williams had a double-double, and Grant Williams was also solid. If the Celtics keep getting this type of production, they don’t have to rely on Tatum and Brown as much. Boston is now 5-3 on the year, and they face the Miami Heat next, a tough game.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have looked absolutely horrible this season. They have lost that toughness that they had last season, as they seemed to have fallen from their playoff form a season a go. The Raptors shot 53% from the field in the first quarter, and they looked good. And then they scored just 14 points in the 2nd quarter, and allowed 38 Boston points. The Celtics bench was too good, and the Raptors lost again, falling to 1-5.
Fred VanVleet had 35 points and 8 rebounds on 13/20 shooting.
Pascal Siakam had 22 points and 6 rebounds on 7/15 shooting.
Kyle Lowry had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5/13 shooting.
The Raptors just haven’t been able to play defense, which was a staple for them over the past couple of seasons. Their center rotation of Baynes and Len are nowhere close to the defensive duo that Ibaka and Gasol were. Siakam played pretty well, but it wasn’t enough. Fred VanVleet continues to do so well, but this Raptors team needs to do something different. Toronto is now 1-5 on the year, and things don’t get easier as they face the Phoenix Suns next.
Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pistons have been in a lot of close games this season, but they haven’t been able to win a lot of those games. Their roster has some good players, but they still have to develop their young guys like Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey. Jerami Grant has been awesome this season, but they are severely overmatched vs this Bucks team. And they are without two key players in Blake Griffin and Josh Jackson. Should be a tough night for the Pistons. The Bucks have been up and down this season, but their roster is very talented. Their big 3 has played very well this season, and their supporting cast is as good as ever. This should be an easy win for Giannis and the Bucks.
Detroit Pistons
Without their best players, the Pistons were dominated. Killian Hayes left the game with a hip injury, and the Pistons were no match for the Bucks. Jerami Grant and D-Rose were good, but this Pistons team is still growing. Rookie Saddiq Bey continues to grow, as he has just needs to keep shooting good shots, and they will fall eventually. The Pistons are now 1-6 on the year.
Jerami Grant had 24 points on 10/25 shooting.
Derrick Rose had 24 points and 8 assists on 9/18 shooting off the bench.
The Pistons have a lot going for them. Jerami Grant is looking like a free agent steal (which I predicted), and Saddiq Bey has looked good at times this season. Blake Griffin and Killian Hayes need to stay healthy, especially Hayes who hasn’t been great to start this season. The Pistons continue to rebuild, and they have some solid pieces for the future. The Pistons take on the Milwaukee Bucks again on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks dominated this game, as they should. The Bucks have been up and down this season, but they had the clear advantage vs the Pistons. Giannis had 30 points in the first half alone, as he was tearing up this Pistons team. Middleton and Holiday were solid as well, and the Bucks bench continues to be solid. Milwaukee is now 4-3 on the year.
Giannis had 43 points and 9 rebounds on 17/24 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 19 points and 9 rebounds on 7/10 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 6/10 shooting.
The Bucks Big 3 is looking very good to start this season. They are all excellent defenders, and they can also score at a high-level. Giannis looked absolutely dominant, as there was nobody on Detroit that could stop him. This Bucks bench is so much better than it had been in the past two years, as they just get more scoring from guys like Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes, and DJ Augustin. The Bucks get another chance at an easy win, as they face the Pistons again on Wednesday.
Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pacers have been one of the best teams in the league, as their offense is one of the most lethal in the league. Domantas Sabonis is playing like an All-Star, and Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo have been very good to start this season. They have to get some more scoring with the injury to TJ Warren, but they are still very good. The Pelicans have been playing well as of late, and they just need to shoot well to win. Eric Bledsoe and Lonzo Ball have to stretch the floor as much as possible, giving more room for All-Star Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. This game is going to be very good, but I’m giving the slight edge to the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana Pacers
This game was nuts to watch, as it was just chaotic throughout. Indiana took advantage of New Orleans turnovers in the first half, and led by 2 at halftime after shooting 46% from the field. The 3rd quarter was back and forth, as TJ McConnell really made things hard for New Orleans, just being a pest on the floor. And then the 4th quarter was something else. The Pelicans offense started to get going, and they started to grow a lead. Domantas Sabonis fouled out, and things started to look bad for the Pacers. Indiana trailed by 10 with 2:22 left, without their best player.
And they somehow came back. But Indiana scored 4 quick points and the lead was down to 6. Victor Oladipo hit a 3 with 20.5 seconds left, and the lead was just 3. Then Indiana forced a steal, and they had the ball with a chance to tie. Myles Turner was wide open at the top of the key, and he drilled it, tying the game. Ingram and Oladipo traded misses, and we were headed to OT.
And OT was back and forth, as the Pacers couldn’t stop Brandon Ingram. But the Pacers led by 4 after an Oladipo 3. But then Myles Turner fouled out and the Pelicans scored 4 straight, tying the game with 25.5 seconds left. And in the closing moments, the Pacers went to Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon drove down the lane and made a sweet move, and his floater bounced around the rim a lot, but it fell in with 1.7 seconds left, and Indiana held on to win.
Victor Oladipo had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 8/17 shooting.
Malcolm Brogdon had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Domantas Sabonis had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9/16 shooting.
This was a very impressive win by the Pacers. Down by 10 late in the 4th without your best player, and you somehow comeback. And then in OT you lose your best rim protector, and you still win. Excellent late-game execution by this Pacers team, as they have continued to look very good. Sabonis was great before he fouled out, and Brogdon and Oladipo were excellent down the stretch. I am now a TJ McConnell fan, as he dominated the 3rd quarter of this game with his hustle. He was saving balls, drawing fouls, creating turnovers and all around havoc, and is excellent off this Pacers bench. This team is very good, and they are going to be a problem in the East barring injuries. Indiana is now 5-2 on the year, and they face the Houston Rockets next.
New Orleans Pelicans
Really? Really? The Pelicans really lost this? This game was there’s, and they somehow blew it. The Pelicans were turning it over a lot in the first half, but only trailed by 2, shooting 41% from the field. In the 3rd they were pestered by TJ McConnell, who forced a lot of turnovers and was being a nuisance. But New Orleans kept themselves in the game, and they played very well for 10 minutes of the 4th. Brandon Ingram hit some big shots, and the Pels led by 10 with 2:22 left, and Domantas Sabonis had fouled out of the game. Game over, Pelicans win. But sadly, that was not how this game ended Up 6, Victor Oladipo hit a 3, trimming the lead to 3. Then Lonzo Ball lost the ball in the front-court, and Myles Turner tied the game with a 3, and we were heading to OT.
The Pelicans didn’t play Zion Williamson much in OT, a questionable move. Anyway, Brandon Ingram kept them in the game, but New Orleans trailed by 4 and seemed to be out of steam. But Zion came in (finally), and fouled out Myles Turner. The Pelicans tied the game with 25.5 seconds left, and all they needed was a stop to force double OT. But that didn’t happen. Malcolm Brogdon made a sweet move right into the lane, and his floater bounced a few times on the rim before dropping in. The Pelicans blew this game, and they fall to 4-3 on the year.
Brandon Ingram had 31 points and 8 assists on 12/31 shooting.
Zion Williamson had 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9/19 shooting.
Lonzo Ball had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7/11 shooting.
This was just embarrassing. Blowing a 10-point lead in the 4th when the Pacers don’t have their best player on the floor. Really? That Lonzo Ball turnover was terrible, as New Orleans could have just called a timeout. Instead the game went to OT. And then Stan Van Gundy didn’t put Zion Williamson in, which is a bad move because Zion came in, and fouled out Myles Turner within 10 seconds of him being in the game. And the the Pelicans couldn’t get a stop late, and they deserved to lose this game. Eric Bledsoe was outplayed by TJ McConnell (not statistically), and the Pelicans looked very bad in the final 7 minutes of this game. New Orleans takes on the Thunder next time out.
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Mavericks have struggled this season, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Luka Doncic is back in the lineup, meaning that this offense gets a lot better. While Doncic hasn’t been shooting the best from the field, he still does so much for this team. But they have a tough matchup with the Rockets, as the Mavs defense has been terrible this season. When healthy, the Rockets have a pretty solid roster. James Harden and Christian Wood are emerging as one of the best duos in the NBA, and they have solid pieces like John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins. This Rockets offense is very lethal, and will take advantage of a very poor Mavs defense. I think Houston will win this game.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks looked vey good in this game. They played very well, and held their lead for most of this game. The Mavs shot 43% from the field, and led by 12 after one quarter. The Rockets cut the lead in the 2nd quarter, but the Mavs finished the quarter on a 21-12 run, and led by 12 at halftime. The Rockets again cut into the lead in the 3rd, but the Mavs finished the quarter with 7 quick points and they led by 7 entering the 4th. The Rockets cut the lead to two points in the 4th, and the Mavs again responded. They went on a 12-0 run, and they held on to win, improving to 3-4 on the year.
Luka Doncic had 33 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists on 12/25 shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 30 points and 7 rebounds on 11/14 shooting off the bench.
Willie Cauley-Stein had 15 points and 7 rebounds on 5/7 shooting.
Luka Doncic had another triple-double, as you could see how much better the Mavs offense was with him on the floor. Tim Hardaway Jr. had it going off the bench, scoring 30 points on nearly 80% shooting. Richardson and Cauley-Stein were solid as well. The Mavs have won 3 of their last 5 games, and have slowly been getting better on both ends. They hade it tough on James Harden in this game, and they held their lead for almost the entire game. The Mavs face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday next.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets fought this Mavs team till the end, but they could never regain the lead and take control. The Rockets started this game very poorly, trailing by 12 after one quarter. They cut the lead to 3 in the 2nd quarter, but the Mavs still led by 12 at halftime. They cut the lead to 3 in the 3rd, but the Mavs led by 7 entering the 4th. The lead went to two points in the 4th, but the Mavs then went on a 12-0 run. The Rockets two-game win streak is snapped, and they are now 2-3 on the year.
Christian Wood had 23 points and 7 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists on 5/17 shooting.
Eric Gordon had 20 points and 5 rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
The Rockets had their chances in this game, but they couldn’t gain leads on the Mavs. And hands off to the Mavs, they were tested but still prevailed. James Harden was blanketed by the Mavs, shooting just 5/17 from the field. John Wall was sub-par, as this Rockets offense was held in check for most of the night. They have to be better on offense, as their defense isn’t exactly elite. The Rockets face a very good Pacers team next time out.
Sacramento Kings vs Golden State Warriors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Kings have opened this season off well, starting 3-3. Their offense is very talented, with the likes of Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox along with some other nice rotation players. The Kings are still relatively inexperienced, and their defense isn’t the best in the world. And they are without their best rookie in Tyrese Haliburton. The Warriors are an interesting team, and while they are 3-3, I’m not sold on them. Draymond Green does make them a lot better with his play-making and defense, but Kelly Oubre hasn’t been very good. Their bench isn’t good outside of Eric Paschall, and they need Steph Curry to put up big numbers each night to win. It might win them some games, but not a great recipe for success. I think that the Kings will win this game.
Sacramento Kings
Yeah, lets not talk about it. The Kings got handed a massive loss, as their defense and offense were both equally bad. The Kings allowed 37 first quarter points to Golden State, allowing them to shoot 46% from the field while shooting below 30% from the field themselves. The Kings never made a dent in this lead, and they lost this game convincingly. Tyrese Haliburton needs to come back, as he really solidifies that 2nd unit. The Kings have lost 3 of their last 4, and they are 3-4 on the year.
De’Aaron Fox had 18 points and 7 assists on 7/17 shooting.
Harrison Barnes had 18 points and 9 rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
The Kings haven’t been looking so hot as of late, and a lot of that has to do with the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. This guy is so versatile, and is an excellent scorer. He does so much for them, and they need him back. Marvin Bagley has struggled so far this season, and the Kings need more from the former #2 overall pick. Buddy Hield has shot the ball poorly from the field this season, as he needs to pick it up with no more Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Kings offense and defense need some improvement if they want to go anywhere in the West, and they play the Bulls on Wednesday.
Golden State Warriors
Maybe I was wrong about the Warriors. Maybe doesn’t mean yes. The Warriors have looked very good in their last two games, their offense just blowing teams out. Golden State came out humming, scoring 37 points in the first quarter. They cruised to a win, as Steph Curry continues to be excellent. Oubre and Wiggins have been so much better as of late, and Draymond does so much on both ends. Their bench is getting more consistent, but the only guy I can really trust as of now is Eric Paschall. They need more from guys like Brad Wanamaker, but the Warriors have beaten two decent teams in a row, and they are now 4-3 on the year.
Stephen Curry had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists on 9/18 shooting.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 18 points on 6/13 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins had 16 points and 5 assists on 7/15 shooting.
I might not be as high as everybody else is on the Warriors, but I did say of Oubre and Wiggins start to play well, this Warriors team would be a lot better. And what do you know? Curry doesn’t have to do as much when Oubre and Wiggins play like they did today, which is a great thing for Golden State. Their bench definitely needs one more scorer outside of Eric Paschall, and so far that hasn’t been Brad Wanamaker. Still looking for that, but the Warriors are 4-3 as they have recovered from that ugly start well. Golden State takes on the LA Clippers next time out.
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