Tatum And Hield Both Call Game! 12.23.20
It’s the second day of the NBA season being back, and we have a full slate of 13 games on the schedule tonight. I will be giving my thoughts and analysis on all the games from today.
Washington Wizards vs Philadelphia 76ers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Wizards changed a lot this offseason, and they could be a playoff team. They have their new duo of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal along with a lot of young players, including the debut for 9th overall pick Deni Avdija. The 76ers are also a team that changed a lot over the offseason, and they are much more talented this season than the last. With Simmons, Embiid, and Harris at the helm with a lot more shooting and youth off the bench, this year is promising for Philly. I’m expecting an easy win for the 76ers.
Thoughts On The Washington Wizards
The Wizards and their new duo of Beal and Westbrook had a bitter-sweet debut. Washington shot 50% from the field in the first half, and Bradley Beal had 13 points. The Wizards outscored the 76ers 24-15 in the 3rd, and took a 10-point lead into the 4th. But then they collapsed. They let up 40 points in the 4th quarter, and they lost 113-107.
Bradley Beal had 31 points on 11/22 shooting from the field.
Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists on 9/22 shooting.
Davis Bertans had 14 points off the bench on 4/6 3-PT shooting.
Definitely a disappointing loss for Washington. You had a big lead against the 76ers, and you blew it. Shows the inexperience with this team. Beal and Westbrook played very good, but they didn’t get too much help outside of those two. The Wizards defense was terrible for most of the night, as they couldn’t stop Joel Embiid. Not a great way to start the new season.
Thoughts On The Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers started off this game sluggish, as they fell behind early. They cut the lead down to just 1 at halftime, shooting 54% from the field at halftime behind strong performances from Embiid and Shake Milton. But then the 76ers scored just 15 points in the 3rd quarter and trailed by 10. They looked dead in the water. Until they scored 40 points in the 4th quarter, and they powered to a 113-107 victory.
Joel Embiid had 29 points and 14 rebounds on 10/17 shooting.
Shake Milton had 19 points on 6/11 shooting off the bench.
Ben Simmons had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks on 7/12 shooting.
The 76ers didn’t start this game off well, but they flexed their offense in the 4th as they scored 40 points. Their offense worked for most of the night, and their defense was good when it mattered. Embiid, Milton, and Simmons were excellent for Philly. Tobias Harris went 3/13 from the field and Danny Green went 1/6. Seth Curry and Dwight Howard were solid, and I think this is a good starting point for this 76ers team.
Miami Heat vs Orlando Magic
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Heat made it to the Finals last season, and they are arguably better this season. They added Avery Bradley and Mo Harkless for this defense, and with young guys like Bam and Tyler Herro, this Heat team has a lot of upside. The Magic seem to be treading water, not getting better not getting worse. The tandom on Gordon, Vucevic, and Fournier doesn’t work, and they should just start their rebuild. We’ll see in Cole Anthony is their franchise PG, but this team is just kind of mediocre. The Heat should win this game handily.
Thoughts On The Miami Heat
The Heat did not come to play against the Magic. The Heat shot 67% from 3 in the first quarter, but trailed 56-53 at halftime. The Heat did well to recover in the 3rd, and took a 83-79 lead entering the 4th. But then the Heat allowed 34 points in the 4th quarter, and they lost 113-107 to open their season.
Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 11 rebounds on 11/16 shooting.
Goran Dragic had 20 points and 7 assists on 8/13 shooting off the bench.
Jimmy Butler had 19 points, 7 assists, and 7 steals on 7/15 shooting.
The Heat’s offense was fine, they shot 51% from the field and 35% from 3. But their defense wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Orlando shot 48% from the field and and 36% from 3. Kendrick Nunn only played 8 minutes, and Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro were solid. Only real problem for the Heat is their defense.
Thoughts On The Orlando Magic
I didn’t expect this out of the Magic, and I doubt anybody did. The Magic’s offense was flowing all night. Orlando shot 52% from the filed in the first half, and 48% for the game. Orlando made 10 3-pointers, and they looked much better than I anticipated. Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier were good, and Terrence Ross was terrific off the bench. Impressive comeback win for Orlando to start the season.
Evan Fournier had 25 points on 9/13 shooting.
Aaron Gordon had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals on 8/11 shooting.
Terrence Ross had 19 points on 6/14 shooting.
I was quite impressed by the Magic, especially with their offense. Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon were excellent, and Terrence Ross wrecked havoc off the bench. Vucevic and Fultz were also in double digits. Rookie Cole Anthony played 20 minutes and scored 6 points in his debut. I don’t expect the Magic to be anything more than a border-line playoff team this season, but they got a great win against a very good Miami Heat team.
Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hornets are perhaps the weirdest team in the league. They have Lamelo Ball, who could be a star, but at times looks sloppy and reckless. But they have Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier, making a very weird backcourt. They have Gordon Hayward, along with PJ Washington and Miles Bridges. It might be the weirdest roster in the league as they try and navigate through a rebuild. The Cavs are also in a weird rebuild. They drafted Isaac Okoro 5th overall, but he doesn’t make this team good. Colin Sexton can’t play PG or SG and Darius Garland disappointed in his rookie season. They’re still paying big money to Kevin Love and Andre Drummond, but I don’t like their direction. This game will be ugly, but I have the Cavs winning this game.
Thoughts On The Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets didn’t look very good in their debut. They allowed 41 points in the 2nd half, and the game was out of reach after that. They did manage to shorten the deficit, but they still struggled throughout this game on both ends.
Terry Rozier had 42 points on 15/23 shooting, 10/16 3-PT.
Gordon Hayward had 28 points and 7 assists on 11/18 shooting.
Lamelo Ball went 0/5 from the field and only played 16 minutes, scoring 0 points.
Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward having big nights was the only thing stopping this from being very, very ugly. Lamelo Ball struggled, and Cody Zeller suffered a broken left hand. The Hornets don’t have an identity on either side of the ball, and it showed as they were run over by the Cavaliers.
Thoughts On The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs smoked the Hornets to start their season. They scored 41 points in the 2nd quarter, as they shot 58% from the field in the first half. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland led a balanced scoring attack as the Cavs cruised to a 121-114 victory to open their season.
Collin Sexton had 27 points and 5 assists on 9/16 shooting.
Darius Garland had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7/13 shooting.
Rookie Isaac Okoro had 11 points and 5 assists on 4/5 shooting.
I liked what I saw out of this Cavs team. Collin Sexton was efficient and effective. Darius Garland was excellent, and hopefully he can keep this up in his 2nd season. Okoro, Drummond, and Larry Nance were also in double digits. JaVale McGee and Cedi Osman were also in double figures of the bench. The Cavs offense was great, although it was against the Hornets poor defense. But a good start to the season nonetheless for the Cavs.
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Knicks did make some strides this offseason, as they seemed to have learned from past mistakes. Obi Toppin is an exciting rookie, and I expect big things from RJ Barrett in his 2nd season. This Knicks team is still developing, but I like where they’re going. But Indiana is far superior. They have a new coach in Nate Bjorkgren, and even with their Victor Oladipo problems, they are good. Brogdon, Warren, Sabonis, and Turner are all solid, and this Pacers team is still good, a playoff team. I think that the Pacers will win this game handily.
Thoughts On The New York Knicks
The Knicks didn’t look half bad in their debut. They shot 56% from the field and 53% from 3 in the first half, heavily fueled by RJ Barrett and Alec Burks. But New York scored just 16 points in the 3rd and fell behind, never able to get back in the game and they lost 121-107.
RJ Barrett had 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/15 shooting (started 8/8).
Alec Burks had 22 points on 6/12 shooting off the bench.
Julius Randle had 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists on 7/15 shooting.
The Knicks offense was solid throughout this game. RJ Barrett had is going, as I’m looking for him to have a breakout season. Obi Toppin struggled off the bench, but the Knicks were in this game in the first half. The defense definitely has a long way to go, but this Knicks team definitely made some steps forward from last season.
Thoughts On The Indiana Pacers
The Pacers offense was rolling throughout this game. Indiana shot 50% from the field, and Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon were very good in that first half. The Pacers defense tightened up in the 3rd, allowing just 16 points. The Pacers looked very solid as they cruised to a 121-107 victory.
Domantas Sabonis had career high 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/18 shooting.
Victor Oladipo had 22 points on 9/14 shooting.
Malcolm Brogdon had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists on 8/16 shooting.
The Pacers are still a very good team, even if nobody wants to acknowledge it. Sabonis, Oladipo, and Brogdon were very good as they all had 20+ points on good efficiencies. Oladipo looked very good, after looking bad in the bubble. Warren struggled on offense, but it didn’t really matter as the Pacers cruised to a win. This Pacers team is going to be another dark horse team this season, all they have to do is try and stay healthy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics
Pre-Game Thoughts: Finally, a good game. The Bucks added Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis, and DJ Augustin to a contending team, making them title contenders even more so than years prior. Giannis is a 2x MVP and poses a bad matchup for Boston. This Bucks team is hard to stop during the regular season, but can they win when it counts. The Celtics will be without Kemba Walker, but they are still good. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are rising superstars in the league, the centerpieces for Boston. They had nice support with Theis, Thompson, sharp-shooting rookie Aaron Nesmith, and scorer Payton Pritchard, along with the gritty Marcus Smart. But nobody on this team can really slow down Giannis, and I think the Bucks will win this Eastern Conference heavy-weight fight.
Thoughts On The Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks looked good and bad during this game. They started off the game hot on offense as they leaked out in transition a lot during the first half. Milwaukee shot 55% from the field, but they lost their lead at halftime as Brown and Tatum were killing them. Boston scored 37 points in the 3rd, and took a 17 point lead entering the 4th, and the Bucks looked out of it. But then the Bucks came back into the game and they took a 115-113 lead with 3:26 left in the 4th. It was a back and forth affair late, but Milwaukee led 120-119 with 1:10 left. With 8.9 seconds left, the Celtics had the ball. They gave it to Tatum, and he made a tough fadeaway 3 that banked in with 0.4 seconds left, and the Celtics led by 2. The Bucks went to Giannis on a lob for the tie, and he was fouled. Giannis made the first… but missed the 2nd free throw short and the Bucks lost 122-121. The Bucks just couldn’t finish this game late.
Giannis had 35 points and 13 rebounds on 13/26 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists on 10/20 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 6 rebounds on 10/16 shooting.
The Bucks Big 3 of Holiday, Giannis, and Middleton played very well, but their defense wasn’t great. I am liking the Bucks offense a lot more as Holiday really makes them a lot more dangerous, and Middleton has to keep this going in the playoffs. The Bucks need some more bench production, and they definitely need some better defense. But not a terrible debut for this Bucks team.
Thoughts On The Boston Celtics
The Celtics themselves had a roller coaster of a opening night. Boston had themselves a shootout with Milwaukee, and they fell behind early as their defense couldn’t stop the high-flying Bucks transition offense. But the Celtics got it together on both ends and took a 64-59 lead at halftime. Jaylen Brown and Jeff Teague combined for 28 points in the first half. And the Celtics continued to dominate in the 3rd as they scored 37 points in the 3rd and Jayson Tatum got going. The Celtics led by 17 entering the 4th. Then the lead started to evaporate, and Boston trailed 115-113 with 3:26 left. The Celtics went back and forth with the Bucks, but they trailed 120-119 with 8.9 seconds left and the ball. They gave it to their All-Star, and he didn’t disappoint. Tatum went deep into his bag of tricks, and he made a tough fadeaway 3 on the left wing, banking it in and giving Boston the lead with 0.4 seconds left. But Boston fouled Giannis, and he had a chance to tie the game. He made the first, but missed the 2nd free throw and Boston survived to win 122-121.
Jaylen Brown had 33 points and 5 rebounds on 13/24 shooting.
Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 7 rebounds on 12/28 shooting.
Jeff Teague had 19 points on 7/15 shooting off the bench.
The Celtics beat one of the best teams in the league without Kemba Walker. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a problem, and they gave the Bucks fits on the perimeter all night long. Jeff Teague helped the Celtics off the bench in the first half, as he hit his 3’s, and will be valuable with Kemba Walker out with injury. They did a good job on Giannis for the most part, and I like the addition of Tristan Thompson. Didn’t get to see Aaron Nesmith, but Payton Pritchard played well in his debut. Good start for Boston, getting a very tough win against a contending team.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Toronto Raptors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pelicans are looking to make the playoffs this season. Brandon Ingram was an All-Star last season, and if Zion Williamson can stay healthy, he will be a superstar. Eric Bledsoe and Lonzo Ball form a weird but talented back-court. JJ Redick and Jaxson Hayes are also solid. This Pelicans team is good, and we’ll how they do under new head coach Stan Van Gundy. The Raptors took a step-back this offseason after they lost Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol. They did get Aron Baynes and Malachi Flynn to sure them up, but the Raptors definitely fell out of contention. I think that this game will be very close, but I’m giving the edge to the Pelicans.
Thoughts On The New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans looked really good in Tampa against the Raptors. The Pelicans fell behind by 7 at halftime, as they couldn’t handle the veteran Raptors. They were shooting 46% from the field, but their defense was very poor. Then the Pelicans started to figure out things on both ends as they scored 38 points in the 3rd, and outscored Toronto by 16. The Pelicans carried this momentum, as they won 113-99 in their debut.
Brandon Ingram had 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists on 10/19 shooting.
JJ Redick had 23 points on 6/11 shooting from deep off the bench.
Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and 6 assists on 6/12 shooting.
The Pelicans looked really good on both ends, as Stan Van Gundy did a great job with this game. 5 guys scored in double figures for New Orleans, as it was a balanced scoring attack. Their defense only allowed 42 points in the 2nd half, and they looked really solid on both ends. Great way to start the season for a young New Orleans team.
Thoughts On The Toronto Raptors
The Raptors in Tampa Bay didn’t go so well. They started off well, shooting 48% from the field in the first half, and 46% from 3. They led by 7 at halftime, and then things went downhill. The Raptors scored just 22 points in the 3rd and allowed 38. They could never recover, and they lost 113-99.
Pascal Siakam had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 8/17 shooting.
Kyle Lowry had 18 points and 10 assists on 7/15 shooting.
The Raptors offense stalled out, as they finished the game shooting 43% from the field and 30% from 3. Their defense was poor, as the Pelicans seemed to score whenever they wanted. I was saying that this Raptors team wasn’t as good as last year, and this game depicted that. They’ll need more out of Fred VanVleet, but I don’t view this Raptors team as contenders.
San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Spurs nearly made the playoffs last year, and I’m expecting similar things this year. They really need to start rebuilding instead of settling for a 7 or 8 seed. They have nice pieces like Devin Vassell and Dejounte Murray, along with Derrick White and Lonnie Walker. LaMarcus Aldridge is past his prime and DeMar DeRozan is solid but not an All-Star. A decent, but not playoff Spurs team. The Grizzlies shocked everybody last season, but I don’t think this year will be the same case. Ja Morant is very talented, but they are without Jaren Jackson Jr. to start the year. This offense doesn’t have a lot of shot creation outside of Morant, and I see them in a similar boat to the Spurs. I think that this game will also be close, but I’m giving the slight edge to the San Antonio Spurs.
Thoughts On The San Antonio Spurs
Even though I don’t view the Spurs as a playoff team, they are still good. The Spurs were dominant against the Grizzlies, as they cruised to a win. San Antonio scored 66 points in the first half, shooting nearly 50% from the field. And San Antonio didn’t slow down as they scored 30 points in every single quarter, en route to a 131-119 victory. The Spurs shot 51% from the field and 40% from 3. Not known for their explosive offense, but the Spurs dominated this Grizzlies team.
DeMar DeRozan had 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists on 7/14 shooting.
Dejounte Murray had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists on 9/15 shooting.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points on 9/17 shooting.
The Spurs looked really good in this game. DeRozan and Aldridge looked great, as did young point guard Dejounte Murray who was very good and efficient. Lonnie Walker and Keldon Johnson were also in double figures, as were Patty Mills and Rudy Gay off the bench. Would have liked to see more scoring from rookie Devin Vassell, but this was a very impressive offensive performance by the Spurs.
Thoughts On The Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies struggled without Jaren Jackson Jr, just as I expected. Their offense couldn’t just rely on Ja Morant to keep them in the game. Their defense was horrible, and this game wasn’t close in the 2nd half. The Grizzlies scored just 20 points in the 2nd quarter, and the game was over after that. Ja Morant did all he could, but he doesn’t have a lot of good supporting pieces around him. Memphis’s defense is going to need to be better without Jaren Jackson Jr. on the floor.
Ja Morant had a career high 44 points and 9 assists on 18/27 shooting.
Dillon Brooks had 16 points and 6 assists on 7/14 shooting.
Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 13 rebounds on 6/11 shooting.
This Grizzlies team isn’t the same without Jaren Jackson Jr. on the floor, and I predicted that they wouldn’t be as good. Ja Morant had a career night, and Memphis still lost by double digits. This defense needs to get a lot better, but I think that Memphis will struggle more often than not this season. They don’t have a lot of shot creators, and they rely so heavily on Morant. Might be the start of a tough road for the upcoming Grizzlies.
OKC Thunder vs Houston Rockets
This game would have been very interesting, but they postponed it because Houston doesn’t have enough players.
Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hawks changed a lot this offseason, and they could be a playoff team. They added Bogdanovic, Gallinari, Rondo, Dunn, Okungwu (draft), to alongside Trae Young, Collins, Reddish, and Hunter. This Hawks team is young, and I like where they’re going. They will be without Rondo for the game today. The Bulls still have their young core with Billy Donovan as the coach. Lavine, White, Markkanen, and Carter Jr. just need to stay healthy so they can improve. #4 overall pick Patrick Williams makes his debut as well. Both these teams are evenly matched, but I think Atlanta will win this game.
Thoughts On The Atlanta Hawks
Man, this Hawks team can be very good. They absolutely jumped on this Bulls team from the start, and this game was never close. The Hawks shot 70% from the field in the first quarter, and Atlanta scored 42 points. The Hawks again scored 40+ in the 2nd quarter, and then they cruised to a win. Overall, the Hawks shot 54% from the field and 40% from 3. It was complete and utter dominance, and this is the type of thing that this young Hawks team can do.
Trae Young had 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10/12 shooting, 5/6 3-PT.
Cam Reddish had 15 points and 6 rebounds on 6/11 shooting.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 15 points and 7 rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
This Hawks team looked very good. Trae Young missed just 2 field goals, getting good looks all night long. Gallinari, Collins, Reddish, Hunter, Huerter, and Bogdanovic were all in double figures. The Hawks have one of the best offenses in the league, and they could be a team that could sneak into the playoffs. I am very impressed by what I saw by this Hawks team, now lets see if they can do this consistently.
Thoughts On The Chicago Bulls
The Bulls, ummmmmm. That was a manslaughter. The Bulls defense was swiss cheese as they couldn’t stop the Hawks at all. The Bulls shot 41% from the field and 29% from 3, as they just couldn’t keep up with the Hawks. That defense is very poor, as losing Kris Dunn does hurt. I still have high hopes for this Bulls team this season, but this sure wasn’t the start that they were hoping for.
Zach Lavine had 22 points on 9/19 shooting.
Lauri Markkanen had 21 points and 7 rebounds on 6/9 shooting.
Rookie Patrick Williams had 16 points on 5/11 shooting.
The Bulls didn’t do much well. Their offense wasn’t great, and we already went over the defense. Lauri Markkanen played well, but he needs to shoot well. 4th overall pick Patrick Williams played well in his debut. Coby White struggled mightily, as they need him to be a good shooter on the perimeter. The Bulls lost Kris Dunn, so their defense was expected to be bad, but not this bad. Billy Donovan is going to have to squeeze everything out of this roster to make them good defensively, and even then they will likely be near the bottom of the league.
Detroit Pistons vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pistons drafted 3 rookies, including Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey. They signed Mason Plumlee and Jerami Grant, and now their team is a lot different. They’re better, but not so much better. They are still very young and inexperienced. Detroit is building for the future, not to win now. The T-Wolves added #1 overall pick Anthony Edwards, Ricky Rubio, and they resigned Beasley and Hernangomez. This team is a team that could make the playoffs, but I doubt that. But the Timberwolves should win this game just based on the fact that they have 2 All-Stars in KAT and D-LO.
Thoughts On The Detroit Pistons
The Pistons looked pretty good in their season opener, for 3 quarters. The Pistons led early, but the game tightened over the 2nd and 3rd quarters. But the Pistons shot 51% from the field in the first half, but then they just stalled out in the 4th. They scored just 16 points in the 4th quarter and the Timberwolves climbed back in the game to win. But not a terrible game for Detroit.
Josh Jackson had 19 points and 6 rebounds on 8/14 shooting off the bench.
Blake Griffin had 15 points and 7 rebounds on 6/13 shooting.
Derrick Rose had 15 points and 6 assists on 7/13 shooting.
The Pistons played ok, but there were things they could have done better. They shot just 23% from 3, but their defense was solid. Killian Hayes went 3/6 from the field in his debut, but he was the only rookie to play. D-Rose, Griffin, Plumlee, and Josh Jackson were solid, but Jerami Grant shot just 4/11. But this was by no means a bad game for the Pistons, but they still have a lot of room to grow.
Thoughts On The Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves played a very interesting game, with a very interesting lineup. D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards didn’t start, a puzzling move. But Russell did still play 33 minutes, so it was like he started. The T-Wolves started slow, but had a great 2nd quarter to come back into the game. They shot 44% from the field in the first half, but only 22% from 3. The T-Wolves trailed by 5 entering the 4th, and then they clamped down on both ends. The allowed just 16 points in the 4th, and were able to comeback and win 111-101.
Malik Beasley had 23 points on 10/18 shooting.
KAT had 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists with 2 blocks on 6/10 shooting.
D’Angelo Russell had 18 points and 5 rebounds on 7/16 shooting off the bench.
Malik Beasley and KAT were excellent for the T-Wolves. I would like Towns to shoot more than 10 shots, as he had it going tonight. D-LO played starter minutes off the bench, and he should be starting, but he was solid. Culver had 10 points, and Anthony Edwards played his best game. He had 15 points on 5/12 shooting. This T-Wolves team has some nice talents on the roster, and we’ll see if they can continue this growth in the tough Western Conference.
Sacramento Kings vs Denver Nuggets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Kings drafted well and got Tyrese Haliburton, but they lost Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Kings aren’t a playoff team and I really don’t know what they’re doing. They have some talent with Fox, Hield, and Bagley, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what they’re trying to do. The Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals last year, and while they did get worse as they lost Grant and Plumlee, they are good. The one thing that worries me is that they’ll have to rely more on MPJ and Bol Bol, two guys who are very inexperienced, but very raw and talented. It’ll be an interesting season for Denver, but I’m giving them their first win of the year.
Thoughts On The Sacramento Kings
The Kings hung in with the Nuggets, very surprisingly. Sacramento trailed by 7 at halftime, but they didn’t back down. They outscored Denver by 12 in the 3rd quarter, and took a 5-point lead entering the 4th. And the game came down to the wire in the 4th. Buddy Hield fouled Nikola Jokic with 29.4 seconds left, and Jokic hit both free throws to tie the game at 112. Neither team scored, and we were heading to OT. With 6.5 seconds left, Harrison Barnes scored to tie the game at 122, giving Denver the ball. The Nuggets inbounded, but Barnes stole the ball and raced it down the court. He tried to dunk it, but he missed and the ball hung in the air. That gave Buddy Hield the perfect opportunity to tip in the ball, and the Kings won 124-122 in OT.
Buddy Hield had 22 points on 7/15 shooting.
Harrison Barnes had 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8/15 shooting.
De’Aaron Fox had 21 points and 7 assists on 8/20 shooting.
The Kings really impressed me with this game. Marvin Bagley and Richuan Holmes both fouled out, and yet they still won this game. Nemanja Bjelica and Cory Joseph were in double figures off the bench. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton scored 12 points on 3/7 shooting in his debut. The Kings shot 45% from the field and allowed Denver just 8 3-pointers made. A shocking win for the Kings to start their season.
Thoughts On The Denver Nuggets
Disappointing loss for Denver. They led by 7 at halftime, even with Jamal Murray not making a single field goal. The Nuggets shot 51% from the field and 42% from 3 in the first half. But then they just collapsed in the 3rd, as they were outscored by 12. Now they had to climb back in the 4th, which they did. Two Nikola Jokic free throws with 29.4 seconds left tied the game at 112, and we were headed to OT. And the late game execution by Denver was absolutely terrible. With 1:09 left, Denver led by 4. The game should have been over. But somehow the Kings tied the game with 6.5 seconds left, but the Nuggets had a chance to win. But then they threw a stupid in bounds pass to mid-court, and Harrison Barnes stole it. He missed the dunk on the other end, but Buddy Hield tipped it in for the win, 124-122 in OT.
Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists with 3 blocks on 11/18 shooting.
Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points and 5 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Paul Millsap had 16 points and 7 rebounds on 7/13 shooting.
The Nuggets should have had this win. After an impressive 4th quarter comeback, they led by 4 in OT with just over a minute left. Have to close those games out. That inbounds pass with 6.5 seconds left was one of the dumbest things I’ve seen in a while. Jamal Murray went 1/9 in the game, and they really missed his scoring. MPJ and Jokic were great, but the Nuggets can’t lose these type of games if they want to contend.
Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Jazz drafted Udoka Azubuike with the 27th pick, and signed old friend Derrick Favors. That’s all the additions they made, keeping them with an almost identical roster to last season. The Jazz have their core of Mitchell, Gobert, Bogdanovic, Conley, and Clarkson, but we don’t know how well these guys can mesh. They were inconsistent at times last year. The Blazers added Robert Covington and Enes Kanter, and they got back Jusuf Nurkic and Rodney Hood from injury. Along with Dame and CJ, I think that Portland has a real shot to contend this season. I think that Portland will win this matchup, but it will be close.
Thoughts On The Utah Jazz
The Jazz absolutely dominated Portland throughout. Their offense was unstoppable as they continually got open 3-point shots. Utah shot 55% from 3 in the first quarter, and led by 21 at halftime, cruising to a 120-100 victory. Utah shot 46% from the field and 38% from 3, taking advantage of the poor Portland defense.
Donovan Mitchell had 20 points and 5 assists on 6/16 shooting.
Rudy Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds on 8/10 shooting.
Mike Conley had 18 points on 6/15 shooting.
The Jazz’s offense was clicking tonight, as they looked unstoppable. I’m still not very high on this Jazz team, but I was impressed at what they did to my Blazers. They had great defense against Damian Lillard, and just flat out dominated Portland. Excellent way to start the season for Utah, now lets see if they can do this consistently.
Thoughts On The Portland Trail Blazers
*Sigh*. Watching this game as a Blazers fan hurt. Our defense was the worst I’ve seen it in years, and out offense kept trying to force things that weren’t there. The Blazers defense which was supposedly new and improved hasn’t been working. Damian Lillard was completely shut down, and the Blazers looked out of sorts. But this is a completely new team from last season with a lot of new parts. I expect that the Blazers will still be a top-4 seed in the West, but this performance doesn’t put a good taste in my mouth.
CJ McCollum had 23 points on 7/19 shooting.
Carmelo Anthony had 15 points on 5/12 shooting off the bench.
Enes Kanter had 14 points and 8 rebounds on 7/7 shooting off the bench.
The Blazers defense needs a lot of help. They can’t have lineups with Melo, Hood, and Kanter on the floor. They need Covington, Trent, Derrick Jones Jr, or Nurkic on the floor. And on offense, I know they’ll figure things out. The Blazers have never had a problem with offense, and this year they got a lot better. I want Covington to be more aggressive, and Dame needs to play like a top-10 player.
Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Mavericks are poised to be contenders this season. They added Josh Richardson and 3 solid rookies for their bench. They won’t have Kristaps Porzingis to start the year, but when you have Luka Doncic, a lot of your problems are solved. The Suns added CP-3, making them have a playoff team with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. This Suns team is hard to predict, but I think they’ll be a border-line playoff team, or a team that makes it in. I think that the Mavs win this game, just because of the sheer talent of Luka Doncic.
Thoughts On The Dallas Mavericks
This game was here for the Mavericks, they just couldn’t close the game late. The Mavericks fell behind early as they trailed by 8 at halftime. They shot just 32% from the field in the first quarter. The Mavericks didn’t make a dent in the lead until the 4th quarter. They trailed by 12 to start the quarter, but tied the game at 96 with 3:38 left. But CP-3 and Devin Booker hit some big shots and free throws late, and the Mavericks lost 106-102.
Luka Doncic had 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/26 shooting.
Josh Richardson had 12 points and 7 rebounds on 5/11 shooting.
Jalen Brunson had 12 points on 5/8 shooting off the bench.
It’s a wonder the Mavs were in this game with how bad their offense was. Luka didn’t have it going from the outside, and he didn’t have much help. You could see the effect of not having Kristaps Porzingis out on the floor did to Dallas. And they couldn’t get stops late when they needed them most, allowing a key offensive rebound late. The Mavs played ok, but they need more from guys not named Luka Doncic. Jalen Brunson was the only guy who played good other than Doncic. Need more from Hardaway Jr. and Richardson. The Mavs defense did force 18 turnovers, a positive from this game.
Thoughts On The Phoenix Suns
The new look Phoenix Suns with CP-3 looked good and bad during this game. In the first half, they shut down the Mavericks offense, even with Deandre Ayton dealing with foul trouble. Devin Booker started off hot, and the Suns led by 8 at halftime. But after leading by 12 in the 4th, the game was tied at 96 with 3:38 left. But Devin Booker and Chris Paul scored 8 of the last 10 points for the Suns, and they held on to win 106-102.
Devin Booker had 22 points and 5 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
Mikal Bridges had 18 points and 7 rebounds on 5/11 shooting.
Cam Johnson had 15 points and 5 rebounds on 5/9 shooting off the bench.
I liked what I saw from Phoenix. Devin Booker should be shooting more, but he and Chris Paul hit some big shots down the stretch. Ayton has to stay out of foul trouble as he played just 24 minutes tonight. CP-3 and Jae Crowder need to be better offensively, and 18 turnovers won’t win you a lot of games. The defense was solid for most of the night, and this Suns team could be a playoff team. Winning close games like these will really help them going forward.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 13 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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