Make sure to listen to and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast to your list! Steve and Jose elaborate on these articles, discuss former greats and interview NBA champions and a current NBA referee!
Random NBA Thoughts: Eastern Conference
- The Cleveland Cavaliers proved this week they are a legitimate title contender. This is due to a couple of factors. First, they lost a close game on the road to the league champs. Next week they play Boston at home, a game Cleveland should win. Second, they came from being down twenty-one points in the third quarter to two points. This tells you something about the Cavs heart and ability. It looks like home court advantage could be the determining factor if these two teams meet in the playoffs.
- One more thought about the Cavaliers. I can’t help but think their turn around from last season started with Evan Mobley‘s improvement that began in their playoff series against the Celtics. Mobley is a becoming a player that excels on both ends of the court. Offensively he’s averaging a little over two points a game more than last year. He’s also shooting 38% from three. Last year he was at 37% but he is attempting more threes this year. His ability to make threes allows the Cavs to stretch the floor opening up more room for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to operate. As a defender he’s outstanding. He’s a big reason why the Cavs have the top rated defense in the league.
- Another team making quite a turn around is Orlando after Paolo Banchero‘s injury. Franz Wagner has been playing at an All Star level since the injury and the Magic have won seven out of eight. This includes last night’s game winning three in LA with two seconds left in the game.
- In the daily soap opera that is the Philadelphia 76ers, they continue to struggle with no turn around in sight. It appears Joel Embiid and Paul George are taking exception to the leaking of the story about their team meeting. In the meeting Tyrese Maxey called out Embid for being late. The Sixers play the Nets tonight without Paul George, who is injured again. Though it’s early in the season, the Sixers need to show some life tonight.
Random NBA Thoughts: Western Conference
- Don’t look now but the Houston Rockets have an eleven and five record and are only one game out of first place in the west. The Rockets play excellent defense, an Ime Udoka trademark, tied for third in NBA defensive ratings. Offensively they are led by Jalen Green, who is slowly becoming a star and Alperen Sengun who is scoring and rebounding at a high level. Both of these players are only twenty two. Houston has Green signed for this year and the next two years with a player option for the 27-28 season. Sengun is signed through the 28-29 season.
- After the Clippers lost Paul George this summer everyone thought tough days were ahead for them. Without Kawhi Leonard, who hasn’t played this year, the Clippers are nine and seven and tied for sixth in the division. Norman Powell is having a break out season averaging almost ten points more than last year, as he leads the Clippers in scoring at 23.3 points per game. James Harden is having a bounce back season averaging 20.3 points and 8.8 assists per game. The Clippers are rated tenth in the league defensively and some of that credit should go to Jeff Van Gundy the Clippers new defensive coach.
- Finally, speaking of turn arounds let’s look at the Golden State Warriors, currently eleven and three and first in the west. A great deal of the credit goes to Steve Kerr who has built a deep team around Steph Curry. The Warriors are tied with the third best defensive rating in the league. More importantly Kerr has used twelve players a game on a regular basis successfully. The thought being they give it their all for a short time before being replaced. One has to wonder why he didn’t do this in the Olympics.
