13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts - NBA Week 19

NBA Week 19 – Eastern Conference

Last nights Cleveland Cavaliers Boston Celtics game was interesting. The Cavs came back from a disastrous start to win a big game in Boston. Boston was missing two starters but I don’t think it made a difference. Cleveland is deep with a good bench. De’Andre Hunter is a great addition. Cleveland is able to use the bench to minimize the minutes their stars get. For Boston they have to use Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown big minutes to stay in the game. One other thing about the Celtics they got off to a great start in the game by moving the ball but that stopped. Tatum had seven assists in the first half and finished with nine demonstrating how their ball movement stopped. In the fourth quarter Tatum and Brown continually went one on one without looking to kick out the ball to open shooters. If these two teams meet in the Conference Finals I give a slight nod to the Cavs right now.

The Detroit Pistons seven game winning streak is great for the NBA and great for the city. They have come from being the worst team in the league to a playoff team in one year. I think they won’t go further than the first round but whoever they play will have their hands full.

You don’t have to wonder for that long to understand what happened to the Orlando Magic. Though they have their two stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, back from injury. Jalen Suggs is out and will be out for a lot longer. Without Suggs who has missed the last fourteen games the Magic are 5-9. Suggs has missed twenty-six games this year and the Magic are 9-17. He is the heart and soul of the team.

Joel Embiid is finally going to sit the rest of the season out. I hope he gets his knee problems figured out. I also hope he gets in better shape. Embiid played only nineteen games this year. For Philadelphia their goal now becomes to lose enough to keep their top six pick. If it is seven or above they lose it to Oklahoma City.

NBA Week 19 – Western Conference

The Western Conference is interesting. The Oklahoma City Thunder are undoubtedly the best team. The question is can they handle the pressure of the playoffs because of their youth. If healthy I still would take Dallas as the second best team followed by Denver. However there are a few dark horses lurking in the background. Among them are teams the Lakers and Warriors. For one of those two to get to the Finals it would take everything to go right.

There are a lot of coaches you can mention for coach of the year. One of the coaches that isn’t a top contender for the honor is JJ Redick. Redick has changed the Lakers’ focus entirely. You would think after losing Anthony Davis the Lakers would be worse defensively. The Lakers since Davis was traded are giving up a little over 107 points per game. For the season the Lakers are now giving up 111.3 points per game. When you watch the Lakers you can’t help but notice how hard they play. This all comes back to the coach. If the Lakers continue to win he has to get more consideration.

When I think of teams I expected so much more from this year I can’t help but think of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Last year they surprised everybody. This year they traded Karl-Anthony Towns but I still thought they would be at least a top four team in the Western Conference, they’re not. Anthony Edwards‘, their star player, numbers are up but you have to wonder if he is affecting winning this year.