13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts - NBA Week 20

NBA Week 20 – Western Conference

The Los Angeles Lakers/New York Knicks game was one of the best games of the season. It was sad to see Jalen Brunson get injured. The Lakers look like a different team from earlier in the season. They are getting more out of their non-stars than you would expect. By non-stars I’m talking about everyone except Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Are the Lakers contenders, I don’t think so, but we’ll get more clarity on that tonight when the Lakers play the Boston Celtics.

I feel bad for Kyrie Irving after his terrible injury. Through the years Irving has been criticized by many, including me, for his childish behavior. Since he was traded to Dallas things changed and he was acknowledged by the Mavericks players and management for his ability and leadership. Here’s hoping he comes back as good as he was before the injury.

The Kevin Durant incident where he pushed the arm away from Mike Budenholzer during a timeout was well publicized. Budenholzer should never touch a player because the player can do what Durant did and it’s in front of the public. When a star player pushes an arm away like that the coach isn’t winning the locker room.

With the Portland Trail Blazers on the East coast this week I got to see a few of their games. They have a fun team to watch and they have a nice future. Players like Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdjia and Scoot Henderson are good offensive players. If Donovan Clingan can develop into a solid rim protector they can become a consistent playoff team in the competitive Western Conference.

NBA Week 20 – Eastern Conference

While on the subject of Jalen Brunson, he really is as an exceptional offensive player. Keep in mind Brunson is only six feet two inches tall. He can score at will and is especially effective closing out games. In my lifetime of watching the NBA I’ve only seen one other player that small that seemingly can score whenever he wants. Nate Archibald, a six foot one inch guard, that played mostly in the 70s. In the 72-73 season Archibald led the NBA with thirty-four points a game on a weak Kansas City Omaha Kings team. Archibald also led the league in assists that year. This was when greats Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Willis Reed were protecting the rim.

The Miami Heat are struggling to win and seem to lose a close game every night. This week they have lost three games by less than five points. The Heat are still suffering from the effects of losing their best player and are hoping Tyler Herro can fill that role. Herro is a good player although I don’t know if he deserved the All Star berth he received this year. The problem is that he’s a number two player not your number one. The Heat need a consistent closer to get to where they used to be.

Interesting rumbling about Daryl Morey in Philadelphia. It seems he’s getting some of the blame for what looks like the horrible signing of Joel Embiid. Embiid has four more years at $248 million coming to him. One thing to know, Morey didn’t sign Embiid without ownership being involved. Any owner that allows his team president to sign a player for that much money without okaying it first should never have made the money to buy the team in the first place.