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NBA Week 10: Eastern Conference
- We must commend the Detroit Pistons for their turnaround. Last night they won their fourteenth game of the season. This matched their win total for all of last season. They did it in exciting fashion against the Sacramento Kings. Down three in the last seconds of the game Jaden Ivey hit a corner three and was fouled. Ivey made the free throw to win the game. JB Bickerstaff deserves a great deal of credit for their turn around. The Pistons have won three in a row out west. If the season ended today they would finish ninth and be a play-in team.
- In a game against the Spurs (more on that later) Mikal Bridges went for 41 points in his signature game as a Knick. The Knicks are a dangerous team and should improve over the course of the season. The only negative for the Knicks is they have the fifth toughest schedule remaining in the season.
- The Orlando Magic are a fun team to watch. The Magic are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the highest rated defense in the league. They also have been playing without their two best offensive players, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. In the last week they came from 22 points behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Miami Heat and from 15 down at halftime to beat the Boston Celtics. Last night they lost, on a last second shot by Tyler Herro, to the Heat. With the Magic sitting fourth in the East right now and with their two best players returning they will be a tough out in the playoffs. Their future is bright
- We are about to find out how the Boston Celtics react to losing. Keep in mind Boston has only gone 6-5 over the last 11 games. They also have lost two straight. Last year they only lost two straight twice in the whole season. Usually champions react positively when challenged so we will learn a lot about the Celtics over the next few weeks..
NBA Week 10: Western Conference
- The other side of the Pistons win discussed earlier is the Sacramento Kings. Last night they lost to the Pistons after leading by nineteen in the third quarter. The Kings have lost five in a row and are really struggling. De’Aaron Fox the Kings best player doesn’t want to sign a new contract until he sees the Kings become a consistent contender. Coach Mike Brown blasted his players after the game last night for not fouling instead of giving up the three to Ivey. The Kings are in a rough patch and one thing we can bank on is there will be a shake up before the trade deadline.
[Editors Note: Mike Brown has been fired. Steve said “…there will be a shake up” and things have certainly been shaken in Sacramento!] - Victor Wembanyama introduced himself to the NBA Christmas Audience with a 42 point 18 rebound game. The Spurs lost the game but showed they are a much improved team. With a draft or two and another veteran or two this team will be competing for a title in about two or three years. Keep in mind Wemby will be only 21 years old in a few days and will only get better as he gets stronger and more experienced. He is already the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
- The Lakers are said to be willing to trade their three first round future draft picks for a player that could put them in title contention. Those picks are valuable because LeBron James won’t be playing in a few years and Anthony Davis will be 32 in March. The Lakers may be struggling in a few years. My only question is making a trade the only way Rob Pelinka keeps his job. In his tenure he has fired Frank Vogel, who won a title, and Darwin Ham. Soon the Laker brass will figure if it isn’t the coach it has to be Plink.
