NBA Week 17 - 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts - NBA Week 17

NBA Week 17 – Western Conference

One more thought on the Luka trade. The Lakers tried to get a big man but due to medical reports the trade was negated. All indications are Luka wants a capable big man on the team. Luka’s contract has one more year on it after this year. Rob Pelinka has some pressure on him this summer to get that big. How wild would it be if Luka became a free agent next year?!

NBA Week 17 – Eastern Conference

Josh Hart is a star and is the best of the NBA’s role players. Hart is quite valuable to the Knicks. Not only is he second on the team in minutes played, at 37.8 per game, he consistently gives what his team is lacking on a given night. When the Knicks need points he gets them as evidenced by his 30 against Indiana when Jalen Brunson sat out much of the second half with foul trouble. For a six foot four guy he averages 9.6 rebounds per game. That is the 17th ranked rebounder in the league. Think about it, that means Hart is ahead of at least 13 starting centers in rebounding.

Speaking of the Knicks, they are 0-5 against the three best teams in the league, Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City. After the All Star Break they will play Cleveland and Boston in the first few days. Overall they still have five games left with Boston and Cleveland. I know it is only the regular season but the reason they are important for the Knicks is they need to prove to themselves they can play with the big boys. 3. The Brooklyn Nets are an interesting study. They have traded Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder. Have bought out Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas, their best offensive player, has only played 19 out of 54 games, yet the Nets are 20-34 and only one and a half games out of a play-in spot. They are obviously trying to capture the flag, Cooper Flagg. Jordy Fernandez deserves a great deal of credit for this team’s resilience.

The Philadelphia 76ers are also 20-34 and one and a half games out of a play-in spot. The Sixers have a decision to make. Do they try to make the play-in game and hope Joel Embiid and Paul George can stay healthy for a playoff run. Embiid has said he may need another knee surgery. Keep in mind they are tied for sixth worst record in the league. The Sixers traded a first round pick to Oklahoma City that was top six protected so they need to keep losing for them to keep that pick. The choice is to call it a season and tank or try for a play-in spot. My vote is for Embiid to get the surgery now and be ready for next season. In short, tank, so they can keep the draft pick.

Jayson Tatum has carried the Celtics over the last three games. He’s averaged 35 points over nine rebounds and over four assists. He’s done this while playing solid defense often guarding opposing team’s big man. Tatum has had spurts like this numerous times in his career. Tatum has the ability to put his imprint on any game he plays. If Tatum could continue this over an extended period of time he’d become a serious candidate for MVP.

Quentin Grimes is a guy playing under the radar. Last year he complained about playing time and the Knicks traded him. He then went from Detroit to Dallas and now Philadelphia. This year he’s getting over 30 minutes a game and is scoring 16.8 points per game. That’s over five points more than he’s ever averaged in a season. He will be a restricted free agent this summer and should make a lot more than he is making now, $4.2 million dollars.