Author: anthonycanton905

Warriors vs Grizzlies Game 1 Breakdown

The Golden State Warriors outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies 117-116. Led by Jordan Poole’s 31 points, the Warriors stole home court advantage from the upstart Grizzlies. A lot of the discussion of this series involved the clash of styles. The Warriors, with the excellence of execution, their shooting, passing and their experience. The Grizzlies counter with their youth and athleticism, and ability to win the possession game on the glass. This much is clear after Game 1, we’re in for a heck of a series.

You can’t talk about the Warriors without talking about how they out-rebounded Memphis 51-47. They were also even on the offensive glass. It was the first time the Dubs won the rebounding battle against the Grizzlies this season. Gary Payton II was instrumental as one of 6 Warriors players with 6+ rebounds. His effort and hustle contributed to extra possessions which led to great looks for Poole and Steph Curry(5 3’s and 24 points).

For Memphis, they blew a golden opportunity after Draymond Green got ejected in the 2nd quarter for a flagrant two foul. You could make the case that it was a flagrant one, but with Green’s history (see the 2016 playoffs), the officials made a judgement call. It’s fair to say the officiating overall in the playoffs have left a lot to be desired.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. had great offensive games (34 and 33 points respectively) but the Grizzlies were lacking a third scorer. Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane were a combined 6-of-23 from the floor. Bane had been the Grizzlies most consistent offensive player in the playoffs so far. Brooks is always hit or miss but he was a special kind of bad in Game 1. They’ll need those two to even up the series on Tuesday night. Here are some interesting plot points which can define the series.

Ja Morant attempted 11 3’s in game 1. They’re going to force him make that shot as it’s not his strongest attribute. He made 4 of them, and the Warriors will prefer him taking those.

Here Ja gets in transition off of the blocked shot and just darts to the rim. It’s amazing how quickly he gets from end to end.

The Warriors splash trio causes so many issues for a defense. You trap one another one springs loose. Jordan Poole’s playmaking has taken a step forward in the playoffs. Here he finds Klay for the layup.

Without Draymond Green in the 2nd half, there was more pick and roll for Steph Curry. Here he’s able to get the switch and separate from Jaren Jackson to get off the three. Guarding Steph one on one might be the key to the series.

It’ll be interesting to see what adjustments both of these squads have for each other in Game 2. It feels like it’s going to be a very long series.

May 2, 2022
The NBA’s Dearly Departed-Denver Nuggets Edition
As teams in the NBA Playoffs get eliminated, Murphy’s Multiverse takes a look at their prospects for next season. The Denver Nuggets were just eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in 5 games. What will it take for them to take the next step?

Notable Free Agents
- Guard Austin Rivers
- Center Demarcus Cousins
- Forward/Center JaMychal Green (player option)
Projected 2022-2023 Starting Lineup
- PG Jamal Murray
- SG Will Barton
- SF Michael Porter Jr
- PF Aaron Gordon
- C Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets will go into next season with the likely back-to-back MVP in center Nikola Jokic. Most importantly they will have a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. The goal should be to take the pressure off of Jokic to do everything as he’s had to this past season. Murray’s scoring ability and ball-handling will allow that to happen. MPJ will also take some of the scoring load as well and make this a better offense. Aaron Gordon will slide into an easier situation of being the fourth option as opposed to being the 2nd best player on the team. The question is will it be enough to contend for a title?

Consider this, with what we saw against Golden State it’s fair to ask if this Nuggets defense can be good enough. Against any pick and roll-based offense, Nikola Jokic will be targeted. On the other hand, it’s Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole. That’s a unique set of talent and shooting. You always have to be careful in overreacting to the results as opposed to the process itself. Jamal Murray will be coming off of a torn ACL, and MPJ still has his back issues. You will have to work those guys in carefully and judiciously.

Offensively Nikola Jokic is a system unto himself. If you add the lost talent this year they’ll be fine on that end. Defensively will be a work in progress. Can they find an additional wing that can defend in bench lineups or in crunch time? Or how about MPJ stepping up to be a two-way player. Sometimes the best improvements are in-house, and there’s a path for Denver to be a threat to get to the Finals with the right moves.

All of this takes health, a little bit of luck, and consistency from your best players. The western conference will always be a challenge, but maybe soon enough the Nuggets will strike gold.
April 29, 2022
Western Conference Playoffs Notebook-The Young Ones Dueling

The most exciting series of the NBA Playoffs so far is the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Full of striking athleticism and tension on the court, we have a classic brewing.

The Grizzlies and Wolves are headed back to Memphis for Game 5 after a 119-118 Wolves win to tie the series. Karl Towns scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a huge effort to even things up. It’s a series full of incredible swings in momentum. In Game 3, the Wolves built separate 20 point leads only to lose them and the game. The Grizzlies used a 21-0 run spanning both third and fourth quarters to take control. The Wolves and their fans were shell shocked. They easily could’ve collapsed, if not for Towns and Anthony Edwards.

It was the Wolves physicality in earning 40 free throw attempts that helped them tip the scales in Game 4. Both of these squads are young and sometimes can get out of control, which leads to mistakes. Those mistakes are turnovers and fouls, and the Grizzlies could not stop fouling. We can question the playoff officiating as Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins did here vorciferously.

Granted, there are inconsistencies in the officiating but the Grizzlies have to be more under control. An important player like Jaren Jackson Jr is constantly in foul trouble(6 fouls in 23 minutes in Game 4) and it’s putting the Grizzlies in poor position to defend Karl Towns. With that foul trouble, Towns is seeing smaller defenders and getting easier opportunities to drive to the rim like here. Even in a crowd, Towns is too big and too strong to be deterred.

Memphis really needs Ja Morant to play better. Whether it’s his sore knee or just poor play, we haven’t seen the dynamism he usually brings. Minnesota is attacking him relentlessly on defense. Patrick Beverley has been going by Ja all series for buckets or sucking in the defense for a better look. Bottom line, Morant has to be better on both ends of the floor.

As the series reaches a critical juncture, Minnesota has fought their way to having a shot to win. Memphis Guard Desmond Bane has scored 60 points in the last two, and he’s going to need some more assistance as they go. That will have to come from Ja scoring the ball. Can he provide that? It’ll be interesting to see. If Minnesota can continue to be the more physical team we can see an upset. Game 5 looms very large as we head back to Memphis.

April 25, 2022
Western Conference Playoff Notebook

The NBA’s Western Conference Playoffs have been fascinating. To date, all series have played 2 games. As each series shifts cities, let’s take a look at some of the most important stories so far.

The High Octane Warriors

There was some concern that Steph Curry wouldn’t be healthy for the postseason. Through 2 games, Steph has come off the bench but it has not mattered. The Golden State Warriors have thoroughly embarrassed the Denver Nuggets.

In our preview, we talked about Denver being able to defend in space being a key to the series. A lot of that involved targeting Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP is an improved defender, but when you can repeatedly put him in pick and roll every action, you’re bound to find cracks.

For example, The Warriors are great at using other teams’ inclination to ignore Green on the perimeter against them. Jeff Green turns his back on Draymond, pick and roll with Jokic in the action, slow rotation and Draymond gets an easy dunk.

Golden State has used Draymond at center in a lineup with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins for 11 minutes in the first two games. They are a +29 on the court. Draymond has shut down Jokic 1 on 1 and has made it extremely hard for Denver to get anything done offensively.

The Nuggets have yet to play a home game but it does feel like a series that won’t be long. Expect Denver’s best effort in Game 3 but that may not be enough the way Golden State is playing. They are systematically breaking down Denver and you hope they will respond with the requisite effort.

The Big Injuries

With Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker now out with a strained hamstring, there are two big injuries looming over the West playoffs. Booker’s hammy joins Luka Doncic’s calf, which has the Dallas Mavericks in a dog fight with the Utah Jazz. Both Suns/Pelicans and Mavericks/Jazz are tied at a game apiece but feel like different series.

It’s been the same song for the Utah Jazz. Chemistry issues, defensive breakdowns at the point of attack and rough the fourth quarter in Game 2 have them asking the same questions. Should they keep Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert together? Why are they struggling this much? It’s 1-1 and they’re not the team with home court and yet it feels like they’re down.

With Luka Doncic now listed as questionable for Game 3, his sudden inclusion into the series might be able to tip the scales for Dallas. They’ve played admirably so far, getting a 41-point performance from guard Jalen Brunson

After only scoring 34 points in the 1st half of Game 1, it feels like the New Orleans Pelicans have found their game. Brandon Ingram got it going in Game 2(37 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) and their supporting cast stepped up. Injuries do happen, but you still have to take advantage and that’s what New Orleans did. Now they have a shot to turn this series into something real competitive with their 125-114 victory.

With Booker set to miss at least the next two games, a lot more will be placed on Chris Paul. CP3 had the great fourth quarter in Game 1, but he’s going to need more help. Center Deandre Ayton is going to have to assert himself more in Booker’s absence. The Suns are more than capable of winning this series, but now it feels like they have less of a margin for error.

Tweaks and Adjustments

After the Minnesota Timberwolves were so successful in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies, there needed to be a change. Head coach Taylor Jenkins made that adjustment, only playing center Steven Adams 3 minutes. Wolves center Karl Anthony Towns had his way with Adams in Game 1 and after Adams picked up two immediate fouls we never saw him again.

The Grizzlies as good as Ja Morant, but are also defined by their deep roster. Jaren Jackson Jr. switched onto Towns and was able to have an impact defensively. Xavier Tillman came off the bench with 13 points and 7 boards in 21 minutes. It didn’t help that Towns was in foul trouble but it was a great effort from the Grizzlies to adjust.

Going into Game 3, we’ll see if the Wolves can get D’Angelo Russell going and regain control. This is an interesting spot for Memphis being a team not big on playoff experience, and same for Minnesota as well. The West continues to shift, and we’ll find out who comes out when the smoke is cleared.

April 21, 2022
NBA Playoff Preview:The Western Conference

The Western Conference playoffs are filled with a ton of questions. Unfortunately a few of these questions are injury related. A couple of these series may be defined by if stars are available to play effectively or generally play. Let’s take a look at how these series can and will shake out.

2.) Memphis Grizzlies vs. 7) Minnesota Timberwolves

Tale Of The Tape: The Timberwolves outlasted the Clippers in the play-in game this past Tuesday night. Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell picked up the slack for Karl Anthony Towns as the pair scored 30 and 29 points respectively. The Clippers were successful in frustrating KAT as he fouled out in 24 minutes with 3/11 shooting. If anything, this might’ve been a great lesson for the Wolves.

Towns should absolutely play better during this upcoming series and this game gives him an idea of what type of defenses he might see against the Grizzlies. More importantly Anthony Edwards came through with a star worthy performance on his biggest stage to date. The Wolves have to be feeling good but they have quite the challenge ahead.

To put into perspective how good the Memphis Grizzlies have been, on November 26th they were 9-10. Since then they’ve been 47-16 and one of the most dominant teams in basketball. Led by dynamic point guard Ja Morant-and even without him-the Grizz have been playing with supreme confidence. They’re 4th in offense and 5th in defense. They have youth, athleticism, toughness, and good coaching on their side. They’re boastful trash talkers, ready for all comers. Now we find out if experience matters as they enter the playoffs.

Key Matchup: The Timberwolves defense vs Ja Morant

Ja Morant exploding to the rim is the most exciting play in the NBA. He’s a powerful finisher with a devastating first step. However, he has had some knee issues and missed a good chunk of time this season. Now that he’s back we’ll find out soon what that’s gonna look like. With his ability to get to the rim, improving jump shot and passing the Timberwolves have a chore on their hands. Cut off the head of the snake, and make the other Grizzlies beat you as good as they’ve been.

Here Ja splits the trap and once he does that he’s a blur to the rim. Minnesota is going to have to trap harder if they’re going to have a chance to contain him.

Even when you fight through the screen like D’Angelo Russell does here, Morant adjusts. Gets another screen from Adams and gets his floater game going.

Prediction: Neither of these teams have a ton of playoff experience, and Minnesota played the Grizzlies tough during the season series. When it’s all said and done, the consistency of the Grizzlies will shine through. There’ll be some hotly contested games, but Memphis will win this series in 6 games.

3.) Golden State Warriors vs 6.) Denver Nuggets

Tale Of The Tape: Superstar Steph Curry has been out for the last few weeks with a sprained ligament in his left foot. There is no official word on whether he will play in Game 1 on Saturday evening. This injury could fundamentally change the series if Curry is hampered or misses any significant time. When healthy, the Warriors present a lot of different issues for defenses. As Klay Thompson has now been back for awhile and Draymond Green has worked his rust off, we’ll see what this team looks like fully actualized. The Steph part of it is so important.

The Denver Nuggets have done a lot of surviving this season. Without star guard Jamal Murray and sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr, they’ve relied heavily on the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Jokic (27.1 ppg 13.8 rpg 7.9 apg)has been even better this season, contending for back to back MVPs as the offensive hub. From a numbers standpoint and an eye test perspective, this is one of the greatest offensive seasons in the history of the league. Jokic has taken steps forward defensively shedding the label of being a sieve. He’s going to need help in this series.

Whether it’s made shots or intangible plays the other Nuggets are going to have to step up. Aaron Gordon and Will Barton are at the top of the list in that department. If the Nuggets get any substantial offensive contributions from those guys it changes the series.

Key To The Series: Denver defending the Warriors off the ball vs how they defend them in pick and roll.

Draymond Green did not play in the season series. His screening and passing allows Steph, Klay, and Jordan Poole to get easy shots in space. How Denver chooses to guard Green will be telling. Will they lay off of him as most teams do? It’s an interesting choice that lies ahead. Assuming Steph plays, there’ll be opportunities to put Jokic in actions in pick and roll. Playing drop coverage against Steph usually means death, so how much can Jokic stay at or get to the level of the screener?

It’s the ability of Curry to move without the ball here that gets him a good look. He just needs a bit of daylight. Your rotations can’t be slow as Jeff Green is here. Once Austin Rivers rotates to the corner Steph is open and you’re cooked.

Here Jokic gets to the level of the screen and this is where rotating and getting back can be an issue for him. Curry gets the ball on the trap to Looney who finds Wiggins cutting to the basket. Those rotations make the difference between a quick series and a long one. With Draymond back, those decisions become quicker and deadly.

The Prediction: Curry’s health notwithstanding this feels like a Golden State victory. Their depth and their defense will be huge here. Guarding Nikola Jokic is a challenge but with Denver not having worthy threats to shift the defense. The Nuggets need to be able to force the Warriors to think and make harder choices and that seems unlikely to happen. Will this change if Jamal Murray plays? Maybe, but the Warriors will win this in 5.

4.) Dallas Mavericks vs 5)Utah Jazz

Tale Of The Tape: The biggest story here is Luka Doncic’s left calf. On the last night of the regular season he hurt it and now his availability for Game 1 is up in the air. As of Thursday there has been no update on his status. The Mavs have played very well and sustained that since January. Their formula is Luka’s drive and kick game and the 6th ranked defense. Ever since they made the mid season trade to add Spencer Dinwiddie, some of the pressure has been taken off of Luka offensively. If Luka is hampered or out, it’ll be on Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson to provide a facsimile of that production.

The Utah Jazz have had a tough season. Injuries, infighting, and blown leads have pushed the organization to the precipice. The buzzards are circling and this could be the end of this team as we know them. Can Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell show us something different? This is their best opportunity with Luka hobbled. It will take a team effort to get this done.

Key to the series: Luka vs Rudy.

The book is out on the Utah Jazz in the playoffs. With their perimeter defense being suspect as it is, there’ll be a lot of pick and roll switches with Luka (or insert primary ball handler) and Rudy Gobert. If Rudy can hold is own and make those possessions stall or just make the shots difficult this gives Utah a chance for success in the series.

Sometimes Luka is just too good. Rudy’s in drop coverage and the probing from Luka allows Powell to slip to the rim.

Here Luka has a shooting big on the floor in Kleber and because of the attention Doncic gets you have to give up something. In this case its a wide open Kleber 3.

We have a one on one battle! Gobert locks in, stays with Luka and gets a good contest to force the miss. It will be a chess match. Can the Jazz perimeter defense hold up against such a unique talent?

The Prediction: Luka’s calf looms over the series. If he’s healthy I like the Mavs comfortably. If he’s not, then the Jazz definitely have a chance to win. Donovan Mitchell has been a really good postseason player, and he can wreck a series on his own. Official prediction, Mavs in 6.

1.) Phoenix Suns vs 8)New Orleans Pelicans

Tale Of The Tape: Simply put, the Phoenix Suns have been the best team in basketball all season. Double digit winning streaks, a deep roster, and a dominant offense and defense have the Suns primed to make a title run. After a 64 win season, their time is now. They have home court throughout the playoffs, and everyone is healthy.

Guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker lead a fantastic starting lineup, which arguably is the best in the league. Ace defender Mikail Bridges is a Jack of all trades defender, Jae Crowder is a dependable small ball four and emerging center Deandre Ayton continues to evolve every season.

The question here is, do the Pelicans have a chance to win this series? The odds would say no, off of a quick turn around on the road Friday night to start this series in Phoenix. What can they do to make this series more difficult?

Key Matchup: Pelicans bigs vs Deandre Ayton

Ayton this season has added more tricks in the bag. He can roll to the rim, he has a jump hook, and he’s even stepped out to hit threes above the break. We expect the guards and wings on both sides to have offensive impact in this series, but the bigs will be fun. If Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance can at the minimum make Ayton work, perhaps the Pelicans can make this competitive.

This is not how you make things competitive. A Devin Booker led pick and roll is hard enough to defend, now you have Ayton rolling to the basket. These slips are so simple yet deadly.

Ayton now works better in traffic too, as he gets a jump hook off in a bit of a crowded space. These are things he couldn’t do a couple of seasons ago.

Jonas is able to catch Ayton here rolling to the rim. There will be so much attention devoted to CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram that they’ll need that pressure release valve. Jonas can be that if he can have an impact against Deandre.

The Prediction: The Suns will take this seriously but the Pelicans can definitely get a game. They’ve been playing very well for quite awhile and it’s amazing they’ve gotten to this point. The Suns however will win this. Too balanced, too ready, too good. Suns in 5.

April 14, 2022
NBA Play-In Preview: Western Conference

As the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies wait for their first round opponents, we have three fascinating games to determine them. Each of these four teams have had a heck of a journey to get here, but now it comes down to execution.

(7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (8) Los Angeles Clippers

Tale Of The Tape: The Wolves have been the 8th most efficient offense in the league this season. Led by Karl Anthony Towns (24.6 PPG 9.8 RPG 3.6 APG), they move the ball with precision and can shoot the three very well. They also attempt the most threes in the league. Being 13th in defensive efficiency is quite the improvement for coach Chris Finch, and this is a great final exam. The Clippers are a veteran laden, deep, and tough team. Their experience is an advantage here.

The Clippers have had a ton of injuries this season, but with superstar Paul George back they have a chance here to make a run. We can disregard their 24th ranked offense because of the injuries, but a constant has been their 8th ranked defense. Coach Tyronn Lue will certainly be throwing out all types of different defenses at Minnesota to limit Towns and growing star Anthony Edwards.

Key Matchup: The Clippers defending Karl Anthony Towns.

3 of the 4 matchups between these teams took place in November and the final one in January so it’s going to look a lot different now. One thing Coach Lue likes to do is throw out different looks against opposing offenses. He’s a tactician of the highest degree. To start off this game he attempts to throw the Wolves off with zone and gets a turnover.

A few possessions later, the Wolves get going as center Ivica Zubac falls asleep on KAT popping out for a 3. That can’t happen. Expect if Zubac is not effective early we see a switch heavy wing contingent from the Clippers. If the Clippers can get the Wolves tentative and meandering around the perimeter, this is their best chance. If the Wolves are swinging the ball around, it’s a tall task to stop their offense.

The Prediction: The one thing that should concern Minnesota is their defense in a game like this. The Clippers have a habit of playing great in the fourth quarter. Paul George and Reggie Jackson have both been willing ball movers and they have the shooting to space the floor. Will experience come into play here? Minnesota has had a great season, but I’ll go with the battle tested Clippers here.

(9) New Orleans Pelicans vs. (10) San Antonio Spurs

Tale Of The Tape: Its remarkable to think of where both of these teams came from. The Pelicans started the season 3-16. Zion Williamson hasn’t played at all this season with a foot injury, and no one knows what will happen going forward. The team itself made a trade for sharpshooting guard CJ McCollum and teaming him with Brandon Ingram has made the Pelicans a formidable foe. They’ve gotten contributions from guys like Herb Jones, and center Jonas Valanciunas. What a turnaround for them to get here.

The San Antonio Spurs probably weren’t even trying to make the Play-In. They traded guard Derrick White at the deadline and have continued to look to build towards their future. Guard Dejounte Murray (21.1 ppg 8.3 rpg 9.2 apg) has had an excellent season. They have their star going forward.

Key Matchup: Spurs defense vs CJ McCollum

The Spurs are middle of the pack in defense (ranked 16th) and at the point of attack will have to stop CJ or at least limit his effectiveness. He’s just a difficult player to key in on as he can get to his spots off the dribble and is crafty getting others involved. Here as it’s late in the shot clock on a scramble play he’s able to get in the lane for a floater.

On another possession he’s able to come off a curl to get free for a jumper. The ability to move off the ball is just as important as being on ball. CJ McCollum is as tough as they come.

The Prediction: It’s hard for me to see the Spurs win this game. Expect the Pelicans to get enough from CJ and Ingram on offense to win here. If the Spurs can win the battle of the boards they’ll be able to keep it close. Taking New Orleans in a comfortable double digit win.

April 12, 2022
3 Steps To Fixing The Los Angeles Lakers

To date, this has been the most disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers. You had LeBron James and Anthony Davis coming off of a season where they were both injured at an unfortunate time. They get ousted in the first round by the Phoenix Suns after Davis sustained a groin injury. This all gets compounded by a trade for enigmatic point guard Russell Westbrook in the off-season. What then occurred was a season full of missed expectations, injuries, front office incompetence, and poor play. The only good news is it’s over. The Lakers won’t be making the playoffs. How does this get corrected though? We have three steps to get the Lakers back to being a championship contender. Here they are.

1. Trade Russell Westbrook

This is easier said than done. It’s going to be difficult to move Russ for anything significant. He has a 47 million dollar player option which he will absolutely opt in to. While this season wasn’t entirely his fault it’s clear that the fit with LeBron and AD was not up to par. With the issue of not being able to space the floor and needing the ball to be successful it’s untenable to keep him as a starter. Unless he’s willing to come off the bench and be a capable 6th man, the move needs to happen.

The Lakers could stretch and waive Russ, but nothing about that seems like a good idea either. You also don’t want to trade the two future first rounders the Lakers have in a Russ deal. Solution? Find a team who wouldn’t mind taking an expiring deal and will presumably buy out Russ. Potential candidates are Charlotte, Indiana, OKC, and Houston.

2. Fire Frank Vogel…but don’t hire Doc Rivers.

So the word on the street is that head coach Frank Vogel is going to be on the chopping block. It’s not his fault completely. He’s an elite defensive coach and the roster was stripped from what his calling card is. All of the athleticism and wing depth were removed from the Lakers for Russell Westbrook, leaving veterans and players without defensive chops. Strong D is what made the last two Laker teams a champion and competitive.

That’s the context, but here’s the factual. In sports they’re not going to blame the players and the front office is going to run away from accountability. That leaves the coach. When Vogel gets let go, the Lakers are going to need a new voice. There have been plenty of rumors and talk about hiring Doc Rivers. Firstly, Rivers coaches the Sixers. However, if the Sixers don’t make a significant run in the playoffs, don’t be surprised if Sixers president Daryl Morey looks elsewhere. If that happens, the Lakers shouldn’t hire Doc. While Doc is known as a players’ coach and does have quite the resume, it’s not what this Lakers team needs. Quin Snyder, the current Utah Jazz coach could be available if the Jazz falter early this postseason. That feels like a better fit from a schematic standpoint.

3. Front office Competence

Sure, the Lakers could do the “win now” thing and trade their 2027 and 2029 first round picks. The easiest thing to do when you’re in a hole is to try go for the quick fix. That isn’t going to work here. There has to be a realization that the western conference might not be winnable next season. As currently constituted, the Lakers will have a 37-going-on-38-year old LeBron James and an Anthony Davis who’s oft injury prone. If you’re not going to trade AD or LeBron then realistically you may have to eat whatever comes next season. That doesn’t sound sexy but it’s reality.

This is the price for the moves they made to get AD in the first place. They won a championship in 2020 and you never have to apologize for winning one. When it’s all said and done, the retooling begins now. This is where your front office has to be able to correct some mistakes. Ownership has to make better decisions, especially who advises on moves for the basketball team. Looking at you Jeanie Buss and am telling you to cease and desist with any Kurt or Linda Rambis meddling.

More importantly, it’s time to prepare for what’s next beyond LeBron James. It’s hard to put into perspective his sustained level of greatness. It is easy to put into perspective the reality of his championship window and what that’ll mean as far as extending his contract. Some hard decisions are on the way. If the Lakers play their cards right, they could come out alright on the other side. They just have to show a damn good poker face.

April 8, 2022
A Look At The NBA Play-in Tournament

The NBA Play-In tournament has been great for fan interest in the product since it’s debut last season. Having the ability to play meaningful games down the stretch of the season has been fruitful. The best part of this is the jockeying between all of the teams from top to bottom in each conference.

In the East, is everyone worried about playing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the first round? Can the Nets stay out of the dreaded 9-10 game where it’s single elimination? In the West, with the Los Angeles Lakers season hurdling towards a disastrous conclusion we have the San Antonio Spurs still alive and well for the 10th spot. There are tiebreakers to determine some of these matchups. Otherwise, some teams are just going to have to finish strongly or poorly depending on your vantage point. Let’s take a look at it.

Eastern Conference

7. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-33

8. Brooklyn Nets 40-36

9. Charlotte Hornets 39-37

10. Atlanta Hawks 38-37

Directly above them

5. Chicago Bulls 44-32

6. Toronto Raptors 43-32

Here’s what we know in the East: the Charlotte Hornets are 8th but secured the tiebreaker against Brooklyn with their win against them this past Sunday. Now the Nets have a relatively easier schedule the rest of the way, plus Kyrie Irving available for all of the games. This result does put pressure on them now to finish ahead. No one wants their season to come down to a one game scenario against Trae Young.

The Hornets schedule is a bit more tricky, with games against the Sixers, Heat, and Bulls. They have to capitalize on the games against lesser competition. They can still get 8th but it’s still a young team. Will they recognize how important it is to get to the 7 vs 8 game?

Atlanta has struggled all season to live up to their run to the Conference Finals last season. They’re incredibly inconsistent and have suffered from injuries as well. However, with Trae Young they’re incredibly dangerous and easily can get hot in these limited sample sizes and get into the playoffs on the right night.

The 7th seeded Cavaliers have experienced a ton of injuries that have landed them in their current predicament. Rookie sensation Evan Mobley sprained his ankle Monday night against the Magic. They’ve lost star guard Colin Sexton already for the season. All-Star center Jarrett Allen has been out with a fractured finger. Those are just to name a few. No one has expected this type of season from Cleveland and anything they do in the postseason would be gravy. It’s just unfortunate that the injuries have hit them so hard. The Raptors are one game ahead of Cleveland but the Cavs have the tiebreaker. Moving up is still a possibility as both the Raptors and Bulls could easily slip up. It’s such a competitive conference.

Western Conference

7. Minnesota Timberwolves 43-33

8. Los Angeles Clippers 37-39

9. New Orleans Pelicans 32-43

10. San Antonio Spurs 31-44

11. Los Angeles Lakers 31-44

The eye popping thing here is the Lakers’ situation. With LeBron spraining his ankle the other night in New Orleans, the Lakers’ season is in serious peril. Now some Laker fans may prefer the season to end, but as long as they still have a chance the players and coaches are going to compete. The Lakers have the toughest schedule remaining, with games against the Jazz, Warriors, Suns, and 2 games with the Nuggets to top it off. The Lakers also play the Pelicans this Friday and probably without LeBron.

L.A. has no tiebreaker advantage against either New Orleans or San Antonio. They’ve lost the season series to New Orleans and lose the conference record to San Antonio. When the obituary is written on the Lakers; season, it’s going to be full of disappointment. There’ll be plenty more to be written about them.

New Orleans is in good shape as they’ve gotten healthier and have been playing better for a significant stretch of time since their 3-16 start. The trade for guard CJ McCollum has transformed their offense and Brandon Ingram when healthy has taken a step forward as an offensive player. They have the inside track on hosting the 9 vs 10 game.

As far as 7 vs 8, the Wolves and Clippers are almost assured of playing each other. Minnesota has a chance to catch Denver if they can beat them this Friday to claim the tiebreaker. The Wolves have been the surprise of the season as Karl Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’angelo Russell have formed quite the competitive trio. As far as the Clippers go, they’ve been the walking wounded for quite awhile. They did get some good news as star forward Paul George returned from a torn elbow more that had him out three months tuesday night. He galvanized the team with 34 points 6 assists and 5 steals in a comeback win against Utah. With this win, the Clippers have now pulled the Jazz into this race to stay out of the Play-In.

The seventh seeded Wolves are now 2 games back of Utah. As we head to the end of the regular season, the difference between having a set playoff seed and fighting for your life could be as simple as who’s healthy. The race is on, and for these teams everything is at stake.

March 30, 2022
5 Questions: The NBA

The 2021-2022 NBA season has seen plenty of twists and turns. From the unprecedented Kyrie Irving situation in Brooklyn to the struggles of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, we’ve had more than enough drama. Those aren’t the only storylines though. Anthony Canton III and Lorenzo Smith decided to answer some questions about the NBA season as we head towards the playoffs.

1. What’s your level of concern for the Golden State Warriors’ championship chances after Steph Curry’s sprained right foot?

Lorenzo Smith: The championship chances for Golden State weren’t that high for me even before the Steph injury. It feels like their big three are all past their prime and their role players, outside of Poole, all feel inconsistent. It doesn’t help that Steph, Green, and Thompson are all recovering from injuries.

Anthony Canton III: It has to be high. The core of Golden State has played a lot of playoff basketball since 2013. Historically, when teams make runs like the Warriors have (particularly five straight finals) the accumulation of wear and tear takes a toll. While the Warriors have an incredibly deep roster with a new infusion of talent(Moody, Poole, Kuminga), they can’t win the NBA Championship without a healthy Steph Curry. As of Monday they’re only 2 games up on the Jazz for the 3 seed. This path could get more perilous assuming Curry misses the rest of the regular season.

2. Rank these three teams as to who’s the most dangerous in the playoffs and why… The Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets.

LS: Dallas, Denver, Utah.

The Dinwiddie trade was great for Dallas. He’s the best secondary ball handler Luka has ever had. Luka will now have room to play off the ball, making Dallas way more dangerous. Denver has the best player in the league in reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. If they get back Porter and Murray, they’ll be pretty dangerous. I don’t trust Utah in the playoffs, where it seems like Gobert is easy to game plan against. They really have to figure out how to keep him on the court and be effective against teams who play small ball.

AC: Dallas, Denver, Utah.

As it turns out Jason Kidd has been a great hire to the contrary of many (myself included)who have been watching the league. Dallas has really taken off due to their defense this season (6th in defensive rating as of Monday) and Luka Doncic has been playing at an All-NBA level since the earlier portion of the season.

Denver might have the highest ceiling of this group. While they’ve slipped to the play-in tournament via tiebreakers as of Monday, soon two important players will be returning. Both Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray are prepping to come back. Is it a lot to ask for them to get back up to speed just mere weeks from the playoffs? Probably. However, Nikola Jokic is as good as it gets and any type of pressure you can take off of him offensively is extremely important. I think Denver is still very dangerous.

The book is out on Utah, particularly in the playoffs. Rudy Gobert is their defensive anchor, but he can’t cover everywhere. Teams have generally in the playoffs played smaller and just attacked their perimeter defense. That has forced Rudy out of his comfort zone and put him in more compromising positions. The Jazz just don’t have enough, despite the individual greatness of Donovan Mitchell. Come this off-season Utah should look into an overhaul because this iteration is not a title contender. Anyone that’s not Donovan Mitchell should be on the table to trade, including Rudy Gobert.

3. Which tanking team needs the number 1 pick the most?

LS: The Houston Rockets are the NBA team that needs the number one pick the most. Jalen Green is a gifted scorer, but has not shown enough high upside as a primary play maker. The Rockets are in desperate need of an identity and may find one if they get in a position to choose from the multiple talented and versatile front court prospects in this years draft.

AC: The Portland Trailblazers. Whether they want to admit it or not, the Damian Lillard era needs to end. The hardest part of rebuilding is the recognition that you need to. Trading CJ McCollum was the first step. There’s been plenty of hesitation from the Blazers to move their franchise cornerstone, but it’s time to change their tune. Considering all of the contenders in the West, they should trade Dame this summer and continue to see what they have in guys like Anfernee Simons and Trendon Watford. If they get the number 1 pick they shouldn’t mix timelines. Dame Time is up.

4. The Timberwolves are shaping up to have their most winningest season in almost two decades. Is this a fluke season or are the T-Wolves a relevant franchise again?

LS: The 21/22 season contained a lot of “new” for the Timberwolves. Sachin Gupta was promoted to President of Basketball Operations (after Gersson Rosas was fired), Coach Finch completed his first full season as a Minnesota head coach after being hired midway through the previous season, and Alex Rodriguez & Marc Lore became the new owners of the franchise.

With so many changes for the franchise this season, the biggest “new” was that they’re on pace to have their best season since 17-18. The T-Wolves currently have a top ten offensive rating while also maintaining a top 12 defensive rating. How is that possible for a team that gives heavy minutes to Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell, two players who are well known for the consistent defensive struggles?

Well, the front office surrounded their offensive stars with scrappy, defensive role players that compliment them well. As they continue to build their roster, I have hope that a positive and winning culture is brewing in Minny. If that is the case, even if their best player Karl Anthony Towns leaves in free agency, I have confidence that it won’t take long for the Wolves to have another great season.

AC: A 1-2 Punch of Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards is not to be trifled with these days. Towns, at 26 years old, has played with the poise and precision to back up the attitude the team has shown as of late. Edwards not only as a talent but as a confident, positive presence in the locker room has made these guys quite the combo. A lot of credit does also have to be given to Head Coach Chris Finch who had the Wolves playing better once he was hired last season. They’ve just continued to carry that over. In the western conference it’s always hard to gauge whether a team will have longevity, but I’ll answer this question with a question. Do we think the new ownership is going to be better when they take over? If so, then absolutely. Looking at you Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.

5. How would you evaluate the legitimacy of the play-in tournament in its 2nd season?

LS: I like the play in tournament but I wonder if there should be a win percentage threshold to qualify. I’d have to think about this more but it doesn’t seem right. With the Lakers and Pelicans being so far under .500 it looks funny in the light.

AC: From a fan interest perspective it’s helped the league. Having meaningful games in March and April have reduced the load management/tanking complaints from many over the past 10 seasons. With that being said, this season isn’t a great proponent for the play in. The Lakers and Pelicans are both 11 games under .500 (as of Monday) and a team like the San Antonio Spurs who has 28 wins at this point still has a chance. It’s a dilution of the product to be quite frank. This is a trend that’s started to occur across all the major sports and eventually it could become an issue of legitimacy.

March 22, 2022
The ‘Peacemaker’ Finale and Peace In Our Time

The long lingering shot at the end of the season finale of Peacemaker felt appropriate. Christopher Smith had found what felt like a modicum of peace. He had Eagly by his side and the relationship he built with Goff (the last living butterfly) felt like an agree-to-disagree but closing with friendly terms. In watching that moment, there was an ease in Smith as he came to grips with who he is and is ready to move on. It was short lived however, as his father reappeared as a ghost. There can be speculation about what that means for season 2, but there’s something that James Gunn nailed in this moment. Sometimes we are left to carry our trauma as if a butterfly was sitting in our heads.

The closing montage to the season found Peacemaker and his crew dealing with new realities. Adebayo outing her mother Amanda Waller; Harcourt recovering and rehabbing her injuries in battle; and Economos right back to Belle Reve. Vigilante gets to be Vigilante so at least there’s that, but the point is the fight doesn’t just end. There’s more. Peacemaker, as it seems, doesn’t get to move forward. Even though he killed his father, that part of it doesn’t end in his death.

In a lot of ways, whether intentionally or not, Gunn’s writing reflects the time we’ve spent since 2020 sitting and wading in our collective trauma. As the global pandemic has affected everyone in different ways, it’s illuminated the weight we carry. Like Peacemaker, we all have had to keep moving despite those effects. Whether mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual it feels like a price has been paid. As Economos is baring his soul to a butterfly just to attempt to stay alive, you can’t help but feel the weight of that. These are the words we’ve all held onto because life doesn’t wait for us to recover.

Adebayo speaks poignantly to Peacemaker at the beginning of the episode, referring to the accidental death of his brother: ”Don’t forgive me that’s fine, but don’t let that shit define who you are.” It feels like great advice, in fact it is. However, like all things in life, these are easier problems to think about than the act of forgiveness. The familiarity of trauma for Peacemaker allows him to stay in it because its the easy thing to do. It’s a hard truth for many of us in life to just move on instead of dwell.

The beautiful thing, whilst heartbreaking, is these characters continue to fight. Adebayo battles Amanda Waller’s influence and voice to become something more. Harcourt grows to understand that while the job is the job, there is room for others in her life. Economos, much so the same, finding friends in the midst of trouble.

Christopher Smith has been through a great deal, and that last shot of the episode felt like what peace could potentially look like. He can forgive himself for his brother’s death, and feel like there’s a chance for redemption. He can find and cultivate friendships, meaningful ones, that grow through honesty. There was a feeling of accomplishment in that shot. Seeing Auggie again was a reminder of the passengers we carry. It was sad, yet so identifiable. In ways that we can all understand, this is peace in our time.

February 20, 2022