Weekly NBA Thoughts

After writing last week that it felt weird to see the Celtics undefeated in the second round, they have come back down to earth after game two and three. After the dominate win in game one, the Celtics have faced trouble against Giannis and the Bucks.

(https://www.falkensports.com/nba/celtics-vs-bucks-game-3-nba-playoffs-2018-19/)

Game two saw the Bucks defeating the Celtics 123-102. This was a dominate but expected game from the Bucks. After losing game one at home, you expect the home team to bounce back with a big game. The Celtics started the game strong winning the first quarter but then were outplayed the rest of the game. The Bucks went back to be the team from the regular season that lead the league in points per game. They were lead by Giannis with 29 points, Middleton with 28, and Bledsoe with 21.

In game three the Celtics looked to be fighting back after a first half leading 56-55. Again the Bucks jumped on the Celtics in the second half, especially the third quarter to win the game. Despite the Celtics never ending fight, they came up short in a comeback and the Bucks won 123-116. The Celtics had six double digit scorers but were out dueled by the Bucks offense. The offense produced Giannis with 32, Hill with 21, and Middleton with 20.

I think the biggest thing for the Celtics to bounce back tomorrow and take game four is to go back to the game plan from game one and to be consistent from tip-off to the final buzzer. The game plan that worked was to do whatever it took to take Giannis out of the paint and keeping Middleton in check. This forces the other players on the Bucks to try to beat the Celtics. The third quarter have been were they have been defeated in the last two games. They need to come out and play with the same intensity and grit that they start the game with.

(https://www.freesupertips.co.uk/us-sports/previews/boston-celtics-vs-milwaukee-bucks-game-3-picks-predictions-and-betting-tips/)

One last thing that could help the Celtics Monday is the potential return of Marcus Smart. He has been moved to questionable for game four and that could be huge for the Celtics as a boast to the team intensity and morale. I can’t wait for game four!

(https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/24/marcus-smart-cleared-to-play-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-game-5/)

As a Celtics fan I have to admit it is weird being undefeated this far into the playoffs compared to recent years but I know that this team has talent that when gelled together right, is capable of being the best team in the league. To continue to do well and win in this series the Celtics need to adapt to the game plans of stopping Giannis well also playing team basketball on the offense end.

(https://www.lineups.com/articles/milwaukee-bucks-boston-celtics-2019-nba-playoff-preview/)

The result of game one was a 112-90 victory for the Celtics over the Bucks. This game was a very enjoyable one to watch. The Celtics controlled the game from the tip by playing a great team game. The had a team attack towards stopping the Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo lead by Al Horford’s amazing play. They also had an amazing offensive game filled with ball movement and great shooting.

(https://www.celticsblog.com/2018/4/12/17230898/tale-of-the-tape-boston-celtics-vs-milwaukee-bucks-2018-nba-playoffs)

Kyrie lead the team with team with 26 points followed by Horford’s 20 and Jaylen Brown’s 19. The more impressive stat is holding Giannis to 22 points well keeping every other Bucks player below 16 points. Another thing that benefits the Celtics is that one night Kyrie, Horford, and Brown could each have 20 points and then the next game it could be Tatum, Hayward, and Morris.  Irving, Tatum, Horford, Morris, Brown, Hayward, Rozier, etc. The Celtics depth is amazing and I am very excited to continue to watch their journey towards banner 18.

(http://www.celticslife.com/2010/12/celtics-deja-vu-23-5.html)

After watching the completion of round one for the Celtics today I wanted to break down the games that were played this week. The Celtics won the fourth game of the series against the Indiana Pacers today to complete the sweep. Having previously written about game one (Celtics 84 – Pacers 74) I will now dive into Games two through four.

Game number two was another hard-fought complete game by the Celtics where they defeated the Pacers 99-91. This game saw Kyrie Irving being his normal playoffs self and scoring 37 and being complemented by a 26-point performance from second year player Jayson Tatum. This game was a very even game in terms of statistics and visual performance. It was won because of the heart and grit that the Celtics played with.

(https://www.12up.com/posts/6297670-jayson-tatum-sucking-up-to-kyrie-irving-won-t-keep-him-with-celtics)

Game number three was a very balance game for both teams but ended in a 104-96 win for the Celtics. The Celtics had a great game from top to bottom and saw all but one player score and five out of the nine players in double digits. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 23 points followed by Irving 19, Tatum 18, Horford 16, Morris 11, Rozier 9, Hayward 6, and Baynes 2. This was matched by a very similar performance by the Pacers but ultimately the depth of the Celtics over powered the Pacers hustle.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp3ofNk-J8A)

The fourth and final game ended with the Celtics winning 110-106 over the Pacers. This game was very close but ended with a feeling of joy when the final buzzer sounded, and the Celtics had completed the sweep. The Celtics were led by Gordon Hayward who scored a team-high 20 points in the win.

(https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/gordon-hayward-wants-be-serenaded-daddys-always-happy-chants)

The Celtics now rest and await to see the results of the Bucks and Pistons game tomorrow evening. The Bucks are looking to close out the Pistons tomorrow to win the series as they are up three games to zero. I look forward to the rematch from last year against the Bucks and I can’t wait to watch more of the other games in the first round until then. I also look forward to the potential for the East second round series to be Celtics vs Bucks and Raptors vs 76ers.

Being a very big Boston Celtics fan, I figured I would write about game #1 of their playoff run for this post. I just finished watching the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 84-74. After a rough first half the Celtics bounced back to take control of the game and coast in for the win.

One thing that has always played a factor for any Celtics team going into the playoffs is that no matter the talent on their team or their opponent, the home crowd’s energy will give them a chance. Just watching a game when the Celtics play at home or actually being there live, you can really feel the energy and the history of the team and even as a fan in the crowd you are pumped up like you’re in the game.

The Celtics all played a very well-rounded game but the contributions from Marcus Morris and Kyrie Irving really helped their cause in winning the game. Marcus Morris carried the team in the first quarter with 12 of his 20 points and then Kyrie helped close out the second half with 20 of his own points.

(https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/kyrie-irving-eye-out-marcus-morris-neck-questionable-celtics-game-vs-mavericks)

The Celtics without Marcus Smart in Game 1 took some time to really find themselves on the court and it took until the second half to have the team defense kick in. Smart has such an impact on the Celtics defense and usually locks up the other team’s best player and makes the big impact play that helps kick the team’s intensity up to play for the win.

I think for game two in order for the Celtics to win they will need to continue to feed off of the crowd’s energy, take better care of the ball, and make the most of the shots they are given. I know that without a doubt the Pacers will come out and play hard, so the Celtics just need to match that intensity. Today it was Morris and Irving, in Game 2 it could be any number of their great players who step up and have a big game. I look forward to watching them play on Wednesday!

(https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-pacers-playoff-schedule-dates-times-first-round-series)

In honor of Dwyane Wade potentially retiring within the week or within the month, I figured now would be a good time to honor the all-time great shooting guard with a top 3 moments of Wades career, in my opinion.

1. Championship #1

I believe that the best moment in Dwyane Wade’s incredible career was his first Championship victory. I think that because it was his team that played through him, and it was his first ring, that this would be the most remarkable thing he accomplished. With averages of 34.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.7 spg, and 1.0 bpg, Wade either lead or was top 2 in almost every countable stat. Through achieving these stats Wade also gain the accolade of Finals MVP and jump started the rest of his amazing career in only his third season in the league.

(https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article84765582.html)

2. Championship #3

Coming in at number 2 on Wade’s top moments of his career is ring number three. Although I’m sure all three of Wade’s rings are special to him, I chose the third as the second biggest highlight of his career because not only was it his final championship, but he also has a special relationship with the number three. I think it was also as special because of who he one this ring with. Playing alongside Udonis Haslem, another Miami Heat Legend, and LeBron James and Chris Bosh, lifetime friends, Wade was able to cap off his amazing career with a third championship to add to his long resume of accomplishments.

(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/564287028284670058/)

3. Game winner against the Chicago Bulls

This moment of Dwyane Wade’s career is number three on my list because this was a game that I watch live as a kid. When I think of Dwyane Wade this is the first moment that comes to mind. At the end of a double overtime game tied 127-127 without the ball, Wade made a remarkable steal and raced down the court to jump and make a one-footed running jump shot to win the game. This, even as a kid, had me jump out of my seat and filled with excitement. It was one of the best games and best ending of a game I’ve ever seen. Ending with 48 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks Wade further cemented his legend in Wade county in Miami and in the NBA.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxS170BsZPU)

I have really enjoyed watching Wade’s career and it is sad to see it come to an end. I just hope that whether he makes playoffs or not to end this season, he can have one more special game to put an end to his hall of fame career.

This week I am going to discuss the upcoming NBA Playoffs. With the playoffs just weeks away I figured I would look at a playoff picture that has become clearer.

As of right now the standings are as followed:

East

1. Bucks 2. Raptors 3. 76ers 4. Celtics 5. Pacers 6. Pistons 7. Nets 8. Heat

-In the hunt: 9. Magic and 10. Hornets

West

1. Warriors 2. Nuggets 3. Rockets 4. Trail Blazers 5. Jazz 6. Clippers 7. Spurs 8. Thunder

So as of this date (3/31/19) the first-round match ups would be:

East

1v8: Bucks vs Heat, an easy win on paper for the Bucks but a veteran Heat team could push this series to 5 or 6 games.

4v5: Celtics vs Pacers, the series that length will be determined on who gets homecourt and ends in the 4th seed. I would take Celtics but could turn out to be an interesting series.

3v6: 76ers vs Pistons, 76ers have one of the best, but most inconsistent starting fives in the league. What should be a clean sweep for the 76ers could turn into a longer series from the inside dominant play from Pistons Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.

2v7: Raptors vs Nets, a lot of NBA love to watch the Nets play but I see the Raptors being able to escape this series relatively easy.

West

1v8: Warriors vs Thunder, I see this going the Warriors way, but a Durant vs Westbrook matchup will always be entertaining.

4v5: Trail Blazers vs Jazz, I give the Jazz the edge in this series due to their incredible defense. I could see this series going either way and maybe even seven games. Losing Nurkic could be a huge impact on the Trail Blazers postseason success.

3v6: Rockets vs Clippers, I think the Rockets should handle this series easily but like the Heat in the East, I don’t think that the group of veterans on the Clippers are just okay with making the playoffs. Should be a very chippy fun series.

2v7: Nuggets vs Spurs, I believe this will be the best series no one is talking about or watching. The Nuggets are a team that is capable of running up the score, well the Spurs are never out of it when Gregg Popovich has talent on his roster. All I know for sure is not a lot of defense will be played in this series.

Now I will give you my early Playoff picks.

Round 1

East

Bucks over Heat (4-1)

Celtics over Pacers (4-2)

76ers over Pistons (4-1)

Raptors over Nets (4-0)

West

Warriors over Thunder (4-2)

Jazz over Trail Blazers (4-3)

Rockets over Clippers (4-0)

Nuggets over Spurs (4-2)

Round 2

East

Celtics over Bucks (4-3)

76ers over Raptors (4-3)

West

Warriors over Jazz (4-1)

Rockets over Nuggets (4-2)

Semi-Finals

East

Celtics over 76ers (4-2)

West

Warriors over Rockets (4-2)

Finals

Warriors over Celtics (4-3)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyHtjh2xJ6s)

This week because of the start of March Madness I decided to talk about these athletes competing but also connect it to the NBA. One of my favorite things about the NBA is the yearly NBA Draft. I love projecting the order of athletes taken and seeing how these picks will affect the future of the league.

Here are the lottery picks (top 14) for the latest mock draft off my favorite site nbadraft.net:

#	Team	Player	H	W	P	School	C
1	New York	Zion Williamson	6-6	280	PF	Duke	Fr.
2	Phoenix	Ja Morant	6-3	175	PG	Murray St.	So.
3	*Cleveland	RJ Barrett	6-6	210	SG	Duke	Fr.
4	Chicago	Rui Hachimura	6-8	235	SF/PF	Gonzaga	Jr.
5	Atlanta	Coby White	6-5	185	PG/SG	North Carolina	Fr.
6	*Atlanta	DeAndre Hunter	6-7	225	SF/PF	Virginia	So.
7	*Memphis	Keldon Johnson	6-6	215	SG/SF	Kentucky	Fr.
8	Washington	Cameron Reddish	6-7	215	SG/SF	Duke	Fr.
9	New Orleans	Bruno Fernando	6-10	245	C	Maryland	So.
10	Charlotte	Nassir Little	6-6	220	SF	North Carolina	Fr.
11	Orlando	Jarrett Culver	6-6	195	SG	Texas Tech	So.
12	LA Lakers	KZ Okpala	6-8	195	SG/SF	Stanford	So.
13	Minnesota	Nickeil Alexande…	6-5	205	SG	Virginia Tech	So.
14	*Boston	Romeo Langford	6-6	210	SG	Indiana	Fr.

(https://www.nbadraft.net/2019mock_draft)

Each team here has a different outlook on this draft. Some teams are in complete rebuild mode, some are on the brink of contention, and some are favorites for the championship. These differences cause for differing viewpoints on what to do with the pick. Should they pick best available, fit a team need, or bet on a player’s potential a couple years down the road.

The Knicks offseason is going to be one of the most interesting as they could potentially be back in the same position next year or be a contender for the championship. As most people have thought I see them taking best available in Zion Williamson as they hope to pair him with 2 max free agents like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or Jimmy Butler.

The Suns also are in the perfect place to draft in a place of need as well as best available. In the Ja Morant pick, the Suns will hopefully be getting a very solid and potentially all-star level point guard to form a big three of Morant, Booker, and Ayton.

The Cavs lack any for sure high-level talent so I think their best bet would be to go best available with this selection. If the first two go as planned I believe that would result in them taking R.J. Barrett.

The Bulls could go in a couple different directions with this pick because they need help at the point guard and small forward positions. After the first three in this draft it is very up in the air on who will be the next picks. They could go with a guard like Coby White or a wing like Cam Reddish or Rui Hachimura.

With the Hawks having potentially two top six picks this could help jump start their rebuild tremendously. They seem to have their guards and power forward set so I could see them going for a wing with one pick and possibly trading down to get a veteran and then drafting a center later in the draft.

The Grizzlies seemed to be in full rebuild mode as they traded Marc Gasol and drafted Jaren Jackson Jr. I could see Mike Conley being dealt to acquire more picks or packaged with this pick to move up or get another veteran player. If they do make a selection at this pick, I could see them picking one of many available wings to fill a hole on their roster.

The Wizards are in a weird place. I could see them trading Wall or Beal and this pick or selecting someone to play alongside one or both of them. They, like many other teams in the lottery, have a hole at the wing position and center.

The Pelicans are in a similar place as the Wizards were, they could somehow keep their star, or they could trade him away for more picks and chose multiple top prospects in this draft. They also have a big hole at the wing spot.

The Hornets are most likely going to pick best available that’s not a point guard, assuming Kemba will stay. They have Kemba and a promising rookie in Miles Bridges and therefore any talent they can add to this team will help day one.

The Magic are in need of guards. They have a surplus of bigs/wings. I could see them taking a Romeo Langford or a Cam Reddish if they fall this far.

The Lakers could possible use this pick in a trade for another star or they could draft another player like Romeo Langford to be another Kyle Kuzma type steal.

The Timberwolves are in need of more young talent to play alongside Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins, preferably a guard or wing.

I am very interested to see what the Celtics do with this pick. I could see them adding another young piece that could be a future contributor or asset. I could also seem this being included in a draft day trade for a player like Anthony Davis.

The end of the season as teams jockey for final positions and the lottery balls are picked should be very interesting and could have very large potential impact on the future of the league. I can’t wait for June!

This week I am going to talk about my favorite team, the Boston Celtics. I have kept quiet about them most of the season through their ups and downs, but I think this is a great week to discuss their season at the present status of the team. This week they played the Warriors, Kings, and Lakers.

The first game of the week for the Celtics was a 128-95 win over the Warriors. This was a huge statement win for the Celtics and the start of a big turnaround week. The players accredited to the long plane ride that really brought together a group that has been tense all season.  The big story from this game was the 30-point performance from Celtics Forward Gordon Hayward. It has been proven this season that, when Hayward scores the ball well, the Celtics also do well.

(https://nesn.com/2019/03/celtics-notes-gordon-haywards-showing-vs-warriors-should-inspire-confidence/)

The second game of the week for the Celtics was a 111-109 win over the Kings. Normally a close win over the Kings would be disappointing due to the poor reputation the Kings had built over the past decade. Although in this game the Celtics played a young, fast, and exciting, up and coming team. Many teams have said that the Kings are the hardest team to play in the league because of their pace that they play with. This game shows two more players stepping up, Al Horford and Jayson Tatum, with 21 and 24 points.

(https://www.clnsmedia.com/podcasts/al-horford-jayson-tatum-tonight-vs-chicago-bulls/)

The third and final game of the week for the Celtics was a 120-107 win over the Lakers. This was the perfect cap to this week. This game came at the perfect time for the Celtics as they are on the upward trend and the Lakers are falling down and out. This game had Kyrie Irving show out against his former teammate LeBron James with a 30-point performance. It is always great as a Celtics fan to see them beat the Lakers and especially to have the Celtics streaking before the playoffs and the Lakers on the outside looking in.

(http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Kyrie+Irving/Boston+Celtics+v+Los+Angeles+Lakers/kIRfpoz3sV3)

I really hope that the Celtics build off these performances and go into the playoffs on a hot streak because they are more than capable to make the finals. The biggest thing they need to continue is the team play. It’s not only the different players stepping up to score for the team but it’s the other four or five below that player that add double digits that make this team a threat and amazing to watch. I believe that if the Celtics bring back the win at all cost, dive on the floor, and championship driven basketball, they will reach and possibly win the finals this season. I am very excited and intrigued to see what this post season and off season bring for the Celtics.

(https://www.nba.com/video/2018/08/14/20180814-gametime-celtics-projected-roster)

This week has been a pretty slow NBA week as not really anything crazy has happened. There was the usual Celtics and Lakers struggle stories, as well as the normal break out games. When watching this week’s NBA and reading through the news articles and watching TV, one story stuck out to me that I really wanted to write about.

This story came from the quotes and conversation that Commissioner Adam Silver had at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, Massachusetts this past Friday. The general topic of what Commissioner Silver discussed was the overall league health and player anxiety in relation to the schedule length.

(https://www.strategy-business.com/article/NBA-Commissioner-Adam-Silver-Has-a-Game-Plan?gko=15bd9)

The first part was about the question that always seems to come up every season, ‘should the NBA shorten the length of their season?’. Adam Silver’s words basically represented what the general public thought. He was on the thought that all players and coaches would be on board with the shorten schedule, but the holdup is the owners and loss revenue that the league would have to try to make up in other areas.

One of the ideas he had to shorten the season and also maintain revenue was to replace the All-Star weekend with a midseason tournament similar to what is done in Premier League Soccer. This quick idea came after saying that the All-Star game was still a flop this year after the leagues attempt to fix what used to be a very exciting part of the season. Mr. Silver also is on the idea of needing a big change because of the drop in ratings from 2010 to now.

The last thing that Commissioner Silver talked about was the players overall health and relationship with each other now versus in years past. He said that today’s league is full of player anxiety and connects that to the players being on their social media and closed off from the potential communication and relationships person to person. He said that teams used to say that championships were won by who had the best relationship on the bus. That was the place that friendships and the deeper family bonds were built. With most players throwing on their headphones and isolating themselves and communicating via social media, it’s a lot harder to communicate person to person and truly build those connections of the past.

(https://deadspin.com/this-photo-of-team-usa-sleeping-on-an-airplane-is-the-b-5929343)

(https://www.sneakerfiles.com/flashback-friday-1992-olympic-dream-team/)

I am very interested in this topic and I can’t wait to see what comes of Adam Silvers words in the future. It feels great as an NBA fan to see the person in charge of the league’s future really trying to make a difference and improve the sport not only with money in mind, but also the players, coaches, and fans as well.

(http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26114198/silver-talks-player-anxiety-potential-nba-changes)

This week there was very little news that had to do with the NBA, aside from the usual LeBron and other athlete drama that SportsCenter talks about, because there was a play break from last Sunday until Thursday after the All-Star break. However, there was one big story that came out that could change the future of the NBA.

Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, and other people in the league sent a proposal to the NBA Players Association that would get rid of the one-and-done rule. They proposed that the age to enter the NBA would be lower from 19 to 18, thus allowing athletes to come straight out of high school instead of having to play one year in college or overseas before entering the league.

(http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-submits-proposal-to-lower-draft-age-from-19-to-18-report-says/a3ga5s5yqw101pwyc8s8z66jp)

I personally think that this rule change is good for both the league and the NCAA because now the league will get the athletes that want to be there with little negative media attention and the NCAA will get the players that want to go to college for hopefully now more than one year and coaches can actually build programs again instead of one-and-done overhauls each year. I personally think that the first couple years of this rule change could see a negative effect with athletes thinking they are ready for the league and being excited about the new rule, but after the athletes can see this happen, I see them smartening up and truly doing what’s best for them and their families. I am very excited to see what happens with this rule change and how it affects the NBA and the NCAA in the short and long run.

As the season winds down, it is that time to really start looking at the standings and keying into the potential matchups for the upcoming playoffs. As of now the standings are as follows:

EAST

1: Bucks

2: Raptors

3: Pacers

4: 76ers

5: Celtics

6: Nets

7: Pistons

8: Hornets

9-15: Magic, Heat, Wizards, Hawks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Knicks

WEST

1: Warriors

2: Nuggets

3: Thunder

4: Trail Blazers

5: Rockets

6: Jazz

7: Spurs

8: Clippers

9-15: Kings, Lakers, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Suns

With every team having about 20 games left, teams are going to start locking into playoff contention and other teams are going to be dropping out. I am very excited to see this year’s playoffs because there is so much room for change in who wins in what round. With LeBron out of the East, a different team has to make it to the finals this year. Whether that is the Celtics, 76ers, Bucks, Raptors, or one of the other dark horse teams, the Eastern side of the bracket is definitely looking like it’s going to be a fight to see who the representative in the finals is.

The West on the other hand seems like it could be the Warriors to lose. With five All-Stars in the starting lineup they could probably be the eighth seed and still potentially make the finals. However, in the eyes of some the Warriors have shown weakness and that means we could potentially see a team like the Nuggets, Thunder, Rockets, or Jazz sneak past the Warriors and reach the Championship round.

Another big story comes from the 9 and 10 seeds in the West. First the Kings are looking to end one of the longest playoff droughts in the NBA and have a very fast and exciting youthful team that could crack the top 8 and make the playoffs. The other is the 10th seeded Lakers that have been in the spotlight of drama all year. This is a big story because this would be the first time since the second year of LeBron’s career that he would miss the playoffs. Also, it would be strange because for each of the last eight finals he has been in the mix and to see his team finish outside of the playoffs would be very weird.

I think that there is a lot of potential for very exciting and drama filled basketball to come with the end of this season and in the playoffs and I can’t personally wait!

(https://www.kaggle.com/edgarhuichen/espn-nba-players-data)