Make sure to listen to 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!
NBA Week 7 – Eastern Conference
- The Atlanta Hawks have won five straight games are are 12-11 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Included in that streak is wins over Cleveland twice and the streaking Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks have become improved defensively in that streak going from allowing 121 points per game in their first eighteen games to 109 points per game during the streak. The Hawks feature two outstanding defensive wings in De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson. Not only is the Hawks defense improved but offensively they have improved during the streak. Johnson is averaging 20.8 points per game and Hunter, who has had injury problems over the years, 21.8.
- I know it’s early in the season but Payton Pritchard has to be the leading candidate for sixth man of the year. He has become instant offense off the bench for the Celtics averaging 16.5 points per game. He is shooting 42.8% from three and has played a little over twenty-eight minutes per game. The irony of this for Pritchard is Boston signed him to a four year contract last year. The contract begins this year and pays him 30 million over four years, that’s a 7.5 million per year.
- Another player on the rise is RJ Barrett. This year he is averaging 23.6 points per game a career high. His numbers have also risen in assists and rebounds this year. Included in the rise is a triple double against Boston where he dished out a career high fifteen assists.
- The Indiana Pacers are one of the bigger disappointments so far this season. As I write this they are 9-14. Believe it or not their problem has been offensively as they average 9.9 less points per game than last year. Last year they led the league as a team scoring 123.3 points per game, this year they are scoring 113.4. Tyrese Halliburton is a big part of the problem. Halliburton a two time all star and Olympic gold medalist has not had a good start to the season. Halliburton is averaging 17.6 points per game and 8.4 assists. Last year he was 20.1 and 10.9. This year he is shooting only 33.3% from three. He has shot over 40% from three in four of his first seven seasons in the NBA.
NBA Week 7 – Western Conference
- Brandon Ingram is an interesting case. Though he is a real good offensive player he has averaged playing in fifty-nine games since his second year in the NBA. Ingram wants a max contract from New Orleans and they haven’t made that offer. When the Pelicans were talking with Utah about a trade, he and his agent expressed no interest in him going there because they aren’t winning. This begs the question, do you think Ingram not playing is a reason New Orleans doesn’t win.
- The Memphis Grizzlies are back. Last year they finished with a 27-55 record. This year their record is 15-8. The major reason for the turn around is health. Ja Morant played in nine games last year this year so far, thirteen. Other key players that missed a great deal of time last year Desmond Bane missing forty games, Marcus Smart missing sixty-two games and Jaren Jackson Jr missing sixteen.
- The San Antonio Spurs are currently 11-11. This is a big improvement from last year where they finished 22-60. They have a shot at a play-in spot in the playoffs. Obviously as Victor Wembanyama gains experience his team will improve however look a little further and you’ll see a candidate for rookie of the year in Stephon Castle. He is not a great shooter but he’s a good floor leader and an outstanding defender and is improving under Chris Paul‘s tutelage. Paul, by the way, can still play as he leads the Spurs with 8.3 assists per game.
