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A number of ideas on a number of the Christmas video games within the NBA…
Knicks 101, Hawks 87
This recreation was largely a snoozer, having misplaced most of its luster as soon as Trae Younger entered the health and safety protocols. Younger was unable to rile up the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd, and each groups entered the competition below .500, having thus far not recreated the magic every had final season.
New York finally took care of a depleted Atlanta squad, although it needs to be famous the Knicks had been additionally with out Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley. Kemba Walker continued to reap the benefits of the absences, enjoying a Thibsian 40 minutes and recording a triple double, with 10 factors, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, although he shot solely 3-of-12 from the sector.
Essentially the most encouraging signal for the Knicks was in all probability Julius Randle’s three-point capturing. Randle completed with 25 factors and hit 6-of-9 from deep. Randle is capturing solely 32% on threes this season, a steep drop from the 41.1% mark he posted in 2021. It was in all probability unfair to anticipate Randle’s exterior capturing to take care of—he was a major candidate for regression—however Randle desperately wants to search out environment friendly offense. Almost each certainly one of his baskets is a grind, and his true capturing proportion is its lowest since 2016. Perhaps Randle lastly discovered his shot on Christmas. Even when he solely splits the distinction between his three-point proportion from final season in comparison with this one thus far, New York could be in significantly better form.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 factors on an inefficient 7-of-20 mark from the ground throughout Boston’s loss to Milwaukee.
Jeff Hanisch/USA Right this moment Sports activities
Bucks 117, Celtics 113
Props to Boston for placing up a hell of a combat with Dennis Schroder, Al Horford, Josh Richardson, and Grant Williams all sidelined. The Celtics are probably kicking themselves after blowing a 13-point lead with 5:28 to go.
This was only a actually traditional efficiency from the Bucks, who are actually working at close to full power (with apologies to Brook Lopez). Giannis Antetokounmpo performed solely half-hour and nonetheless put up a 36-12-5 stat line. Boston shot 45 threes as Milwaukee walled off the paint, maybe greatest illustrated by Giannis himself within the recreation’s remaining seconds, when he rotated into the lane to forestall a Jayson Tatum layup, then blocked a Rob Williams dunk after Tatum dumped the ball off. The Bucks are a well-oiled machine, and the Greek Freak is threatening to win his third MVP.
And don’t sleep on Wes Matthews! The midseason pickup closed the sport, and hit the go-ahead three with 30 seconds to go. Matthews isn’t fairly P.J. Tucker, however when you squint, he may help Milwaukee with a few of what Tucker contributed in the course of the summer time’s Finals run. Within the playoffs, the Bucks will principally want at the least certainly one of Matthews, Grayson Allen, Donte DiVincenzo, or Pat Connaughton to hit a giant shot or two and compete on the perimeter defensively. Saturday was a reminder of how scary the Bucks may be once they lock in. And now they appear to have extra choices than ever on the wing.
As for Boston, the Celtics needs to be inspired. This crew can compete with anybody when Tatum and Jaylen Brown are wholesome, and Williams continues to point out he belongs on the ground in high-leverage moments. Any takes that persist about splitting up Tatum and Brown are silly. Boston needs to be going all in round them and Williams. If Boston is absolutely searching for commerce candidates, Marcus Sensible’s defensive depth will not be as useful as bringing in a extra pure level guard to assist settle issues down in shut video games.
Warriors 116, Suns 107
This was a Christmas heavyweight combat between the 2 of the perfect groups within the NBA. Golden State is now up 2-1 within the season sequence, and each win will rely between these two groups in the event that they find yourself assembly the playoffs and the sequence goes to a Recreation 7. The Suns can have a look at this recreation and nonetheless imagine they’re in good condition. Jae Crowder missed a pair vital threes down the stretch, and Devin Booker doesn’t put up many 13-point video games on 5-of-19 capturing. Phoenix continues to be very a lot legit.
The Warriors’ depth was the story of this recreation, nevertheless. With out Jordan Poole, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, and James Wiseman, Golden State beat a Phoenix crew at full power. Gary Payton II’s protection was ferocious as all the time, and he sunk a few triples as well. In the meantime Otto Porter was additionally implausible, scoring 19 factors, together with some clutch buckets within the fourth. Rookie Jonathan Kuminga additionally performed 21 minutes and regarded unfazed within the playoff environment, chipping in 12 factors to go together with his bodily protection.
Golden State is horrifying. They’re already successful at a excessive price, Klay is ready within the wings, and a bunch of gamers are stepping up each time anybody goes down. The expertise gained by guys like GPII, Kuminga, and Juan Toscano-Anderson now may pay big dividends come playoff time, particularly once they contribute towards the perfect competitors. For all of the discuss how the Warriors try to construct for the longer term and win now on the similar time, they seem to have a humiliation of helpful function gamers to fit in subsequent to one of many all-time nice trios in Steph, Klay, and Draymond Inexperienced.
Nets 122, Lakers 115
I’m wondering what number of cigarettes have been smoked due to the Lakers this season, as a result of this crew is infuriating. The Lakers’ season has been virtually fully comprised of temporary moments of competence surrounded by unhappiness, neatly captured of their loss to the Nets on Saturday. L.A. was unhealthy for a lot of the day, went on a strong run within the second and an enormous run within the fourth, after which couldn’t full the comeback due to some mind-numbing defensive lapses and troublesome offense. (The win was good for the Nets, who had been lacking Kevin Durant, Joe Harris, and Kyrie Irving. James Harden had a 36-10-10 triple double in his first recreation in 15 days.)
The Lakers have clearly been hit arduous by the well being and security protocols—sure, that was Darren Collison enjoying his first NBA recreation in two years with the “S” on his jersey peeling off—however it’s truthful to anticipate extra from them when at the least two of their stars are wholesome. Russell Westbrook was inefficient offensively and dropping gamers defensively. Dwight Howard performed six minutes, which is six minutes too many for this crew to be enjoying a conventional heart. Talen Horton-Tucker cramps the crew’s spacing. And LeBron—although spectacular—performed a giant function within the flawed building of this roster. Everyone deserves blame.
Hammering the Lakers is a damaged report at this level. Many individuals had been skeptical of this crew’s depth, which was compromised largely due to the Westbrook commerce. The Lakers had been defiant about this “narrative” earlier than the season, however they want extra from the likes of Russ, THT, and even Wayne Ellington proper now, significantly when going through one other depleted squad. The Lakers can’t proceed to lean on excuses. They should begin determining options.
Extra NBA Protection:
• The NBA Has Chosen Its Path Against COVID
• The Warriors’ Quest to Achieve What Other Franchises Couldn’t
• Inside LaMelo Ball’s Breakout Year
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