Tony Snell Stuns Toronto; New Kings In The East? 3.11.21
It’s a very busy day of NBA action as we have 11 games on the schedule today.
The Everlasting Rebuild
When you play the Hornets in the clutch, good luck. The Hornets are so good in the clutch and the Pistons just couldn’t finish this game. The Pistons fell behind big early on but they fought back in the 3rd to take the lead. The 4th was tough sledding but Terry Rozier has been playing very good lately.
Jerami Grant had 32 points and 8 rebounds as he continues to play well with a struggling team. Delon Wright returned in limited fashion, but this Pistons team is far from good and they are still rebuilding.
Rozier Strikes In The Clutch Again!
The Hornets are one of the best young teams in the league and for a team so young they excel in the clutch. After starting off very hot and leading by double-digits the Hornets slowed down and Detroit got back into the game. But when things mattered the most, Terry Rozier showed up. He scored 11 points in the final 5 minutes to seal this game up for Charlotte.
PJ Washington had 20 and 9 as he was good. Hayward struggled shooting but had 17. Rozier also had 17, most of it coming in the clutch, and Zeller added 15. While Lamelo and the Hornets bench struggled scoring they were solid. After Devonte Graham returned to this game, it’s very clear they don’t need him. Might as well trade him in the next two weeks to get something back for him.
The Hornets are very good in the clutch, which is very important in today’s game. Charlotte is 11-5 in clutch games this year. They shoot the best from the field in the clutch (54%), they shoot the best from 3 in the clutch (51%), they have the best offensive rating in the clutch (143.4), they have the 2nd best defense in the clutch (90.1), and they have the best net rating (53). It’s so impressive that this team is good in the clutch despite a very young team. Terry Rozier has been great this year and the Hornets look solid all-around. In a few years they may have some serious playoff teams.
Can Somebody Help Tatum?
The Celtics got Marcus Smart back, and even if he was on a minutes restriction and coming off the bench, having him helps them a lot. But the defense was still poor in this game. Early on the Celtics led but in the 2nd quarter things slowed down. Walker and Brown were struggling as it was just Tatum. The 3rd quarter was more of that. Walker again had 0 points in the 4th and Tatum was single-handily keeping them in the game. With Tatum off the floor, Brooklyn opened up a 10-point lead. Tatum got them back in the game but just Tatum wasn’t nearly enough against Irving and the bevy of Nets shooters.
Jayson Tatum scored just 2 points in the first quarter. After that he was great, finishing with an efficient 31 points. Other than that, it wasn’t good. Jaylen Brown was 5/23. Kemba Walker had 2 points after the first quarter. Daniel Theis was good with 17 and Marcus Smart, who is very rusty, had 19.
Brown and Walker have to be better. The Celtics don’t have incredible depth and playing this poorly is unacceptable. Brown hasn’t been playing great lately and Walker had his first bad in a while. We all know how good this team can be with all their scoring. Their scorers just have to score. The good thing is Smart will continue to get healthier and help this defense get better, something the Celtics desperately need.
Are We Sure The Nets Aren’t The Best Team In The East?
The Nets have been without KD for a while, but their offense is still so good. They got some shooters to get going and that’s all they needed to beat a very good Celtics team. The Nets started off slow but Kyrie got going in the 2nd and some great shooting from Landry Shamet propelled them into the lead. Irving dueled with Tatum in the 3rd and the Nets led by 10 in the 4th. Irving hit a couple of big 3’s in the 4th to put the finishing touches on the win as Brooklyn has won 11 of their last 12 games.
Kyrie was red-hot in this game, shooting 15/23 from the field and getting a 40-piece. Harden didn’t do much scoring but did everything else well. Shamet hit 6 3’s off the bench and Harris hit 3 more. The Nets offense is so potent, and they don’t even have KD on the floor.
The Nets defense was good in this game. Despite the fact that they didn’t have bodies for Brown or Tatum, they kept Brown in check. They also shut down Walker. James Harden played solid defense and the Nets offense just cannot be stopped. Say what you want about him off the floor, Kyrie can score with the best of them. Harden is one of the league’s best passers and they have shooting everywhere. Also forgot to mention they have KD and Blake Griffin. This team is scary with offense alone and when they play some defense, it’s almost impossible to stop them. The East might have found itself it’s true king.
Tony Snell For The Win!
This was quite the roller-coaster game for the Hawks, but they came back in dramatic fashion to win their 3rd straight game. The Hawks started this game off by going right at the very short-handed Raptors. But the Raptors hung in the game despite 20 first half points from Trae Young. In the 3rd the Raptors played poorly and they now trailed by 10 entering the 4th. They kept fighting but it seemed like all was lost as they were down 7 with 1:12 left. But 5 straight points out them down two, and they got a key stop that set up the final possession. Down two with the game on the line, Trae Young drove and sucked in the entire Raptors defense. He found a wide-open Tony Snell, who drilled the game-winner for the Hawks.
Trae Young wasn’t shooting well but still had 37. He was getting to the line and to the rim at will against the short-handed Raptors. Gallinari was very good off the bench with 20 and Huerter added 19.
Even without Hunter and Reddish the Hawks can still score a lot. We all know what they’re capable of. Trae Young has to be this aggressive at all times. The Hawks needed this win to keep their momentum, as under Nate McMillan they have won their last 3 and currently sit at 17-20 on the year. If the Hawks can win some games while still missing key guys they can be good. De’Andre Hunter is close to returning and Reddish shouldn’t miss too much time. The Hawks are solid, they just have to play their game.
Pain
Despite the fact that the Raptors choked away this game, they were short-handed. So Siakam, VanVleet, or Anunoby. No Anunoby or VanVleet really hurt them defensively as Trae Young killed them all game long. Powell continues to play well with 33 points and Boucher added 29 off the bench. But Toronto isn’t very, very deep and not having 3 starters really hurt them.
Welcome To Orlando, The Land Of Injuries
I just feel bad at this point. No Fournier, no Cole Anthony, and no Terrence Ross. Aaron Gordon came back but he played like he had been before he got hurt, bad. Vucevic and MCW were solid but it’s another lottery season for this team.
These Jerseys Are Awful, But Good Win
The Heat need new jersey’s, because those yellow ones are horrible. But basketball is what’s important and the Heat got another win. The game was ugly but the Heat pulled away late. Jimmy Butler was very good, just two rebounds away from a triple-double. Kelly Olynyk had 13 points in the first quarter and 20 for the game. Herro was solid with 17 off the bench. But the Heat have been winning, without Adebayo in this game. The Heat have won 8 of their last 9 games as they have recovered from a bad start. They are now 19-18 on the year.
Who Needs Two All-Stars?
With no Embiid and Simmons due to Covid, this game should have been chalked up as a loss. But the 76ers won this game, somehow. Their defense was excellent on Lavine as they shut him down, again. Tobias Harris had 24 to lead the way but he got help. Tony Bradley was 7/7 from the field with 14 points, starting in place of Embiid. Thybulle was 5/5 with 13 points and 5 steals. Dwight Howard had 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Korkmaz had 16. The 76ers played very well in this game as they won without both Embiid and Simmons, two guys who are so important to them. Philly improves to 25-12 on the year.
Not Like This Game Was Winnable Or Anything
The Bulls had a chance to redeem their free-win card in this against a very short-handed 76ers squad. The only problem is they left the card at home, as they didn’t come to play. Zach Lavine struggled and even with Lauri Markkanen going 7/7 from 3 the Bulls couldn’t keep up with the 76ers reserves. With every game mattering in the tight Eastern Conference race, you have to win games like this. The defense will have to be better and when you get some easy games you have to win them. Chicago falls to 16-19 on the year.
Dear D-Rose, Please Get Healthy
The Knicks are known for their defense. But their offense isn’t as well-known and for good reason. The Knicks fell behind in the 2nd quarter and the Knicks never recovered. Julius Randle was just 3/12 from the field, Payton was 4/14. Barrett was very good as was Burks. But Quickley struggled shooting and the Knicks defense got torched for once. The offense continues to struggle without D-Rose as they need him healthy if they want to remain in the playoff race.
Don’t Get Too Excited Milwaukee, It’s The Knicks
Despite the idiocy of Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks (rightfully) dominated this game. Their shooting was much better as they finally showed dominance. All 5 starters were in double-figures led by 24-10-10 from Giannis. Bryn Forbes hit 7 3’s off the bench. But I am not sold on Milwaukee. The East is very good at the top and with Mike Budenholzer as a coach I don’t know if they can win. But a meaningless win in March against the Knicks is good, right?
A Win Doesn’t Change Much, But It’s Cool
The T-Wolves are probably the worst franchise in the league. They have wasted 3 generational big guys over the last two decades and they are terrible. But they won this game, decent consolation prize I suppose. Anthony Edwards was solid with 27. The bench was very good led by 28 from Jaylen Nowell on 11/13 shooting. Jaden McDaniels was 8/9 from the field and added 20. Naz Reid had 15 as well a the bench was very good. The T-Wolves are still a mess, however it must feel good to get a win.
Shooting Not Found
In an era with so much shooting everywhere, the Pelicans must have not gotten the memo. The personnel on this team is so poor. They’ll never do anything with this team. They give Zion and Ingram no space as they just haven’t prioritized shooting for some reason. New Orleans was 6/32 from 3 (19%) and 13/24 from the line (54%). Not going to be winning too many games with those shooting splits. Zion was good as usual but Ingram and Ball struggled. The bench was ok although it was garbage time for the entire 2nd half. The Pelicans need a roster overhaul and fast. Otherwise Ingram and Zion get to join AD and CP-3 as very talented players who rotted away in the Bayou.
Short-Handed Card
No Luka, No KP, no comment.
Free-Win Card Redeemed
With Luka and KP sitting for Dallas, this wan an easy win. OKC rushed out to a big lead in the first half, shooting 10/14 from 3 in the first half. The Mavs did come back to make interesting late but the Thunder were able to pull away late. SGA and Horford were really good in this game as they led the way. Not the most convincing win, but a win that keeps OKC in the playoff race. OKC is now 16-21 on the year.
It Feels Good To Be Right
I said this team wouldn’t make the playoffs and right now they don’t look good. They just can’t contend with the big guys. Their roster isn’t good enough. Curry struggled and it’s game over. It takes Curry playing so well against teams like LA for them to win. I would consider it a miracle if they were in the actual playoffs. They just have to hope they stay in the play-in range and that they can maybe sneak into the playoffs. But yes it does feel good to be right about this team.
It Wasn’t A Close Game
If it’s not a close game LA dominates. They used their length to smother Curry and they just pulled away. Kawhi was excellent in the first half with 20, finishing with 28 points and 9 rebounds. Serge Ibaka was good and PG was ok. The bench was solid all-around but the defense was great. The Clippers have great individual defenders but they played great team defense in this game. If they do this more consistently paired with their potent offense they are very good. LA is now 25-14 on the year.
The Suns Are Good At The Whole Basketball Thing
It amazes me how good this team is without having overwhelming names. They just play well collectively. Yes it comes at the expense of my Blazers but they are still a fun team to watch. In the first half the Suns couldn’t stay with Portland. The Suns couldn’t stop the Portland bench of the 3-pt line. Even with all that the Suns fought back to tie the game. Portland built another double-digit lead in the 3rd and the Suns again tore that down. In the 4th it was the Suns turn to build a lead. Their defense held Portland down as they dominated the 4th, getting their 14th win in the last 16 games.
Devin Booker continues to torch teams, as he had 35 points and 8 assists. CP-3 finally scored a bit more as he added 19. Mikal Bridges was great in the first half and the Suns bench was great as usual. Deandre Ayton doesn’t do much on offense, as he just isn’t aggressive at all for somebody who was a #1 overall pick. The Suns are winning but it’s very weird how he doesn’t get the ball at all.
The Suns are very balanced. They have everything you need and they have been great in the past month. They’ve won 14 of their last 16 games as they have been dominating. They are very good and a dark horse this year. They have a very balanced lineup featuring veterans and experience. Chris Paul is like Robin Hood, just handing out success to everyone. The Suns are (likely) heading back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade where they get to hopefully make some noise.
How Many Leads Can This Team Blow?
I get it’s the Suns and I didn’t have high hopes entering this game. But there were multiple chances, but just not having reliable help around Dame kills this team. In the first half the bench got going and the 3’s were falling. Portland led by double-digits and then they collapsed late and the Suns tied the game. All that work just to be tied. Portland again worked hard to build a double-digit lead. Then the Suns came back and erased the lead. The 4th was just Portland running out of energy. Shots weren’t falling and Phoenix dominated. Portland has one of the harder schedules to finish off the year, and they need CJ back desperately to help Dame out in the scoring department.
Dame had 30 but he was basically alone. Gary Trent has struggled shooting lately. Kanter remains solid offensively, but defensively he’s awful. Roco and Derrick Jones Jr. have been scoring more but the bench struggled. Simons and Melo had 20 points in the first half. Those two had just 3 in the 2nd half combined. LaMarcus Aldridge does sound good right about now.
The defense is still a mess but the offense just can’t be that consistent with role players. Portland desperately needs CJ back soon and he should be back soon with him getting back to practice. I would definitely recommend Portland making a move. Rodney Hood has been awful this year and if you can get PJ Tucker for some defense I would do that. If LaMarcus Aldridge becomes a free agent, you should get him. Portland has a tough 2nd half of the year and their either need to get healthy or get help to win.
14 In A Row
14 in a row. The Rockets lost the James Harden trade. Victor Oladipo has been awful this year. Eric Gordon got hurt. John Wall is expensive and Christian Wood is hurt. PJ Tucker wants out. Everything is going wrong. This team needs a fresh start, like an actual one. Get rid of guys like Gordon and Wall as they are too expensive and only hurting your draft pick. Just start fresh with guys like Wood, Tate, and Porter Jr. This isn’t working.
Also a feels bad for Stephen Silas. First coaching job he gets the James Harden circus and now this mess of a roster plus a 14-game losing streak. This guy deserves a fresh team.
It’s The Rockets, Relax
The Kings have been very disappointing this year but maybe this can get them going. They have talent they just have to use it (and fire Luke Walton). Fox had 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Barnes, Holmes, and Hield each had 20 points. This team has talent. They just have to play and hope that other teams miss more than they make (not a recipe for success by the way).
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