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NBA Week 11: Western Conference
- The LA Lakers made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets last week acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith. They gave up D’Angelo Russell. Russell tried but never really fit with the Lakers. Finney-Smith is a good player both defensively and is shooting over 40% from three. The only problem I have with this trade on the Laker side is that Russell makes over $17 million. His money could have been used if the Lakers tried to acquire Jimmy Butler or Zach LaVine. To compete for a title the Lakers need more than Finney-Smith and Russell’s salary could have helped in acquiring that star.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are only one loss behind Cleveland in the race for best record in the NBA. Only three teams in the last 10 years have won a title after having the best record in the league. Each of those teams had at least a six game lead on the team with the second best record.
- Mike Brown was fired last week. The Sacramento Kings have a reputation for firing coaches. The organization is always in flux. This is because their owner, Vivek Ranadive, is involved with the goings on of the team and makes some personnel decisions. I don’t know when these owners will realize they need to hire good people and get out of the way. These owners believe because they made a lot of money in business their ego tells them they can be successful making decisions in sports. If you look at all the professional sports teams you will find that good ownership is uninvolved in personnel decisions letting their hired people make those decisions. They are in the loop but only get involved when it involves spending money. Those are the organizations that are successful.
- The New Orleans Pelicans are 5-29 and twelve games behind the last play-in spot in the playoffs. They have made everyone available on the trade market. Brandon Ingram, a free agent at the end of the year will probably be the first to go. The big question is will the Pelicans put Zion Williamson on the market. Zion now in his sixth NBA season has played 190 games of a possible 444. He missed the entire 21-22 season.
- The Phoenix Suns are 15-17 and if the season ended today they would fall outside the playoffs. Of their three best players, Kevin Durant has missed 10 games, Bradley Beal has missed 10 games and Devin Booker has missed seven. In the case of Durant and Beal they are older players and they usually get injured more often as they age. These players have long term contracts Durant one more year on his and is expected to sign an extension while Beal has two years left on his contract. The trades that brought these two to Phoenix were trades their new owner, Matt Ishbia, was involved in. Last year he fired Frank Vogel, a championship coach, for a disappointing season. This year Mike Budenholzer, who also won a title previously is the coach. Will Ishbia blame Budenholzer if the Suns don’t make the playoffs. This is another case of over aggressive ownership.The Oklahoma City Thunder are only one loss behind Cleveland in the race for best record in the NBA. Only three teams in the last ten years have won a title after having the best record in the league. Each of those teams had at least a six game lead on the team with the second best record.
NBA Week 11: Eastern Conference
- As for the Brooklyn Nets this trade helps as Russell has an expiring contract. The Nets are under the cap next year, they are the only NBA team right now under the cap and because of this they can sign a star player and in doing so don’t need to do a sign and trade. Another reason the trade can help the Nets is they are trying to trade as many of their valued players so they can tank. Trading them will make it more difficult for the Nets to win giving them a higher draft pick.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers are five games in the loss column ahead of the Boston Celtics and six ahead of the New York Knicks. Unless the Cavs go into a tailspin they will probably get the first seed in the Eastern Conference with the Knicks or Celtics second. Coming in second can become important because that team will have the home court advantage in a playoff series. If that series is Boston vs. New York it will be a tough physical series. Home court could be a key in which team advances. That could make it tougher for the winner if they face the Cavs in the Conference Finals. the fly In the ointment is the Philadelphia 76ers. If Joel Embiid is healthy nobody wants to face them in the playoffs.
