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NBA Week 9: Eastern Conference
- Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s Milwaukee Bucks have gone 11-3 not counting the victory over Oklahoma City. That game doesn’t count in the standings. During the Bucks streak Giannis is carrying his team on his back. He is averaging over 33 points per game, over 11 rebounds and eight assists. Though it’s early but if this stretch continues he has definitely put himself in the NBA conversation and more importantly made the Bucks legitimate contenders.
- It’s early for awards but Payton Pritchard has made himself a strong early season Sixth Man of the Year candidate. This season in 28.7 minutes per game he is averaging 16.4 points per game with over 3 assists and three rebounds. Pritchard is shooting 43% from three. He has been an offensive spark plug for the Celtics and has held his own defensively. Pritchard signed a four year contract for a total of 30 million last year that began this season. What a bargain for the Celtics.
- An interesting and entertaining game was Monday night’s Detroit Piston-Miami Heat overtime thriller. The Pistons had a sixteen point lead going into the fourth quarter. They blew the lead failing to execute down the stretch. In overtime the Pistons came back from an eight point deficit to win the game. Tim Hardaway made three consecutive threes to bring the Pistons back. This was a big win for the Pistons in many ways. For a rebuilding team it’s important for them to win a tough game, helping build their confidence.
- For the Heat in that same game though Jimmy Butler had a triple double, Tyler Herro established himself as the Heat’s go to guy. Down the stretch Herro hit three tough big threes to help send the game into overtime. With Butler appearing to be on the trade market Herro is leaving little doubt he is the future for the Heat.
- From the Nets side the trade was made to weaken their team making them more viable, “to capture the Flagg”. By that I mean to get the first pick in the draft and select Cooper Flagg. The Nets under their coach, Jordi Fernandez, are winning to many games. Right now the Nets are a border line play-in team. Finishing that high gives them no chance at Flagg or any of the other good players in this years draft.
NBA Week 9: Western Conference
- In the championship game the Bucks won, the Oklahoma City Thunder – the favored team – had what was thought to be their coming out game. This was the first opportunity to show NBA fans they were a championship contender. Instead the Thunder looked, not ready for prime time, shooting 34% from the field and just 18% from three. For the season the Thunder are shooting 46.5% from the field and 39.3% from three.
- The Dennis Schroder trade from the Nets to the Golden State Warriors definitely will help the Warriors. However for the Warriors to be in the championship conversation they need much more than Schroder more like a star player but I don’t believe that still will not be enough.
