NBA Trends - 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts

NBA Trends – Eastern Conference

The New York Knicks are an interesting study. In four of their five wins they have held teams under 100 points. In their losses they are giving up over 120 points. A glaring statistic is that Karl Anthony Towns is being scored on at the rim around 90 percent of the time. Minnesota was on to something when they moved him to the four. The Knicks need Mitchell Robinson back. There have been rumors he’ll be out for the season. If this is true they need to deal but the problem is they don’t have much depth to deal from.

The Boston Celtics are 10-3. I think most people would say they are if not the most one of the most talented teams in the league. As some championship teams do they don’t always seem to be focused especially defensively. Unless Boston gets more consistent in their play they will have a difficult time going back to back.

Out of Philadelphia’s injuries to their stars comes a bright spot. Jared McCain a 6’2 rookie point guard and a first round draft pick from Duke, has excelled. In his last three games he’s averaging twenty-eight points a game ad almost five assists. In one of those games against Charlotte which the Sixers won in overtime. McCain scored eleven in the fourth quarter getting them to overtime. If he gets minutes when the Sixers are healthy he has a shot to be Rookie of the Year.

NBA Trends – Western Conference

Speaking of bigs that are good rim protectors let’s look at Robert Williams. If he could stay on the floor and not be injured he’d make a great deal of money. He has only played three games thus far this year but in his last game he had nineteen points including his first career three, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in twenty-five minutes. Portland needs to get him on the court more because if he continues to play because there are a few teams that need a rim protector. He only makes 12,428,571 dollars this year and next year.

The New Orleans Pelicans are looking more and more like last years Memphis Grizzlies. By that I mean they are being battered by injuries. Take a look at this list Zion Williamson out indefinitely, Jose Alvarado out at least three weeks, Herb Jones two to four weeks, CJ McCollum one to two weeks, Dejounte Murray four to six weeks and Jordan Hawkins one to two weeks. Trey Murphy missed ten games to begin the season. That’s six rotational players and one guy getting rotation minutes while everyone is out. The Pelicans are three and nine so they need to tread water until these guys return. If the losing continues and Zion is out for an extended period of time Brandon Ingraham, a free agent at the end of the year, will be dealt. It also may not look good for coach Willie Green and possibly vice president David Griffin.

The Phoenix Suns are off to a good start. Injuries have slowed them down with Kevin Durant with a calf issue out for an undetermined length of time and Bradley Beal missing time. It is almost expected they won’t be healthy for the whole year. The best thing Phoenix could do if they are healthy is rest the two often and cut down their minutes. Durant was averaging 38.8 minutes per game and Beal 34.8. The Suns need to make sure they finish in the top six avoiding the play-in game and be healthy come playoff time. They are a dangerous team when healthy.

The Dallas Mavericks have lost four straight all by three points or less and are now five and seven. In their first eight games they allowed 108.1 points per game. In their four losses it’s been 117.8. Obviously they need to tighten up their defense.