Random NBA Thoughts #6

If you’ve been around and watched basketball since the 60s like I have, you may agree. Ja Morant reminds me of “Black Jesus”. Otherwise known as Earl Monroe when he played for the Baltimore Bullets.
For my money the top five coaches in the NBA are Erik Spoelstra, Nick Nurse, Steve Kerr, Greg Popovich and Tyronn Lue. Spoelstra gets his team to play hard every night. Nurse and Lue are innovative and keep their team competitive. Popovich on reputation and the respect he commands from his players. Kerr because he has devised a unique system offensively that is successful. Kerr’s teams also defend well.
Four teams in the Eastern Conference will get out of the first round of the playoffs. This is the first time I can remember that seeding and home court advantage won’t matter. The teams with the best matchup are the ones that will be successful.
Atlanta has some really good offensive players but don’t defend real well. More importantly when watching them something doesn’t seem right. It is hard to put your finger on what it is but they just aren’t cohesive like they were in the playoffs last year.
You have to give Portland and their coach Chauncey Billups credit. They have traded much of their team and looked like they were looking to tank however in the last week they’ve beaten the Lakers, Knicks and Bucks. Needless to say they were underdogs in each game.
Nobody is arguing if Tom Thibodeau is a good coach. I thought the job he did last year was one of the best coaching jobs I’ve ever seen in the NBA. The veterans are not producing as expected and the team isn’t winning so we must make changes. Thibs needs to begin to give his younger players more minutes. I’m talking about Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Cam Reddish. If the team has any future those guys seem to be the players that need to be a part of it.
Phoenix looks to be the best team in the league this year, but, do they scare you like other year’s dominant teams?
Is it me or does Derrick White look like he’s been playing for the Celtics for a couple years. I know it’s only two games but he seems to fit in seamlessly.