Make sure to listen 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! This week Steve shares his thoughts after NBA Week 14.
NBA Week 14 – Eastern Conference Random Thoughts
- Jimmy Butler, the gift that keeps giving, is back in the news. He missed a team flight and was suspended the Miami Heat for two games. It’s kind of selfish for a guy who has made over $300 million in his career to be acting the way he is because he wants a contract extension. For the fans of the Heat it has been damaging and for his teammates, disheartening. Let’s look at it in a different way, from the Miami Heat fan’s perspective That fan roots for the Heat and believes players are there for their team. When they watch Butler’s act they begin to understand, if they don’t already, players are only there for themselves and not their team. This is not good news for the NBA.
- The Milwaukee Bucks have come a long way from their 4-9 start. They are now 25-17 and in fourth place. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging the most points in his career. Damian Lillard is having a good year as Giannis sidekick. The Bucks are becoming a dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
- The Philadelphia 76ers are officially a mess. With Joel Embiid playing only 13 games and Paul George playing 28 out of the 42 games the Sixers have played, things don’t look good. The Sixers presently are two and a half games behind the tenth place, the last play-in spot, owned by the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers have a decision to make. With their first round draft pick traded to Oklahoma City but it is lottery protected through the first six spots the Sixers have two choices. Tank the rest of the year having Embiid sit out and try to get healthy for next season and hope to get that pick by finishing near the bottom or try to make the play-in game. There are jobs depending on that decision possibly Nick Nurse their coach, Daryl Morey, their team president, as well as three players on expiring contracts.
NBA Week 14 – Western Conference Random Thoughts
- Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies has to be the star people haven’t heard much about. Jackson, the former defensive player of the year, is so much more than that. Jackson is key piece of the Grizzlies success. He averages over 20 points a game, has made clutch shots and has held the team together while they have dealt with injuries particularly to Ja Morant who has played 26 out of the 44 games the Grizzlies have played. The Grizzlies are 29-15 and in third place in the Western Conference.
- According to LeBron James and Anthony Davis their Laker team doesn’t have enough to compete for a title. Unless the Lakers want to trade Austin Reaves, all indications are the Lakers don’t want to trade him, or the future first round draft picks they have – the Lakers don’t have much any team wants.
NBA Week 14 – NBA Random Thoughts
- Why do teams with the last shot in a close game choose to throw the ball in to their star and allow him to play iso ball. The defense is aware and prepared and usually run a double at the star. The star rarely passes out of the double instead forcing up a bad shot. I’d love to see teams go back to actually running a play that has options.
- Playing in the Olympics takes a toll on players in the next season. Joel Embiid has missed most of the season. Devin Booker‘s numbers are down in scoring and three percentage. Bam Adebayo has seen his points average and shooting percentage decrease. The Celtic players who only had a month and a half off before preseason each have not had years near what they did last year. That’s Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum. You have to wonder the effect long seasons have on players in the next season.
