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The figures of the hardwood are battle ready as the In-Season Tournament is set and ready for launch... do or die time. We also turn the page to the final chapter of 2023 with the standings beginning to create form and many headlines arising to strike bolts across the league. Household names returning to electric tendencies; basement teams breakin' records of being sh***y; and the comp' between the East & West being scaled back to even once again.
It's safe to say that the competition is now back to even scale when comparing the East teams with the West teams. The East finally has the same depth as the West does; the league superstars are well spread out between the two; and the East's top contenders are dangerous to the same degree (or more) than the West's top contenders. After years of uneven playing field, the Eastern and Western Conferences are even strength at-last.
The league announcing that the All-Star game would return to the OG format of East vs West couldn't have come at a better time. The age of the Western Conference being a tier above the Eastern Conference is over. So far this season, the record between the two conferences is 35-34 in favor of the West. Each conference has two really bad teams and then the rest of the comp is well matched between the two- the top ten teams mirror the other conference for the most part. We get a tease to my point here in the coming week when the In-Season tourney plays out.
It's tourney time! Usually I have to wait until March to yell that line. No complaints, lets see what kind of noise this thing rangs out: Quarterfinals action starts tonight. The bracket consists of squads respectfully in the top 8 of their conference standings. A nice teaser, indeed. Peep the bracket:
Kings vs Pels & Pacers vs Celtics start the party tonight in win or go home noise on the hardwood. The Lakers; Bucks; Kings; and Pacers all went 4-0 in the group play, averaging 120+ points a game. Those four squads love ballin' on those colorful courts! Pacers are averaging 136.5 f'n points a tournament game including 157 in regualtion against the Hawks in a game of the year nominee. The game tonight in TD Garden versus the Celtics is must watch TV.
I am quite excited for these four games coming up, mostly with them still being in the team's markets. The Semifinals and Championship rounds will take place in Las Vegas, exciting for sure, as the comp' bar will be high, but the Quarterfinals will have the best atmospheres. TD will be rockin' tonight as they hope to rattle Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers. The Forum will be rockin' tomorrow night, as the Bucks try and slay the Knicks. Yeah... it's about to go down! Here is the making of the NBA Cup that the winner of the tournament will receive:
Video via NBA//X
Solid lookin' trophy that the eight teams want badly. The prestige of being "the first" is always a title that a winner wants to conquer. This tourney also awards braggin' rights and most importantly- it delivers confidence to the winning squad. Big time December practice for these playoff contending teams. This is a free "rep" to utilize & exploit knowing you may play a Game-7 or elimination game in the playoffs. Coaches need to have that mindset as they create importance for these games to their players. Play for growth; don't play it like it's another day at the office. Don't have much anticipation? Feel the hype:
Video via NBA//X
The Mavs; Nuggets; and Suns get most the attention out of the Western Conference with the Thunder and Timberwolves makin' headlines of late. Are we forgetting about the Kings? Is Sacramento underrated? Hmm... good question.
Kings sit 4th in the Western Conference standings as they currently hold a tie with the Suns atop the Pacific. Sacramento has had some bright spots; and look to use the In-Season tourney as a way to prove they are a legitimate contender & that last season was no fluke. A big time opportunity for them, because as of now they are rated properly. Do they deserve some more attention? Sure they do, but the flaws are real with this team to start the campaign and that's no cap. Kings are the only team in the league that lead their division with a negative points differential on the season (-0.2). They compare well with the Thunder, who I wrote about on the last scoop. They have a monster duo that has limited reinforcements.
Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox are arguably a top duo in the league thus far in the campaign as both guys are playin' stellar ball across the board. Fox is 4th in the league with a 30.3 PPG (12 games) and is tied-6th in steals per game (1.6). He's gettin' it done on both ends of the court and continues to be a game-breaker with his slashing; tempo; and court vision. Sabonis is performing right up there with Fox as the big-man ranks 3rd in rebounding; 10th in assists; and is tied for 3rd in total double-doubles. Sabonis' assists numbers are second behind Jokic for centers. Sabonis has been straight money, puttin' a weak back-court on his back. The duo of Sabonis-Fox is hands down one of the best in the league, with a pick-and-roll as elite as any combination in the league. Kings just need more production from all the other players on their roster.
Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray continue to be negative anchors for the Kings' back-court as both cats can't rebound nor score at a good clip or in bunches. Kings rank 18th in team rebounds per game, despite having the third best rebounder in the league right now. They rank 21st in field-goal percentage; 25th in three-point percentage; and are 6th in personal fouls per game. Along with the poor shootin' clip, the Kings have been below average on defesne. Opponents have the 10th most points per game on the Kings & 7th best field-goal percentage. Kings rank 19th in points differential, despite being 10th in PPG. They need to sharpen things up if they wish to remain atop the Pacific.
Being bad in those departments has taken away some recognition from the departments they excel in. This team does do a lot well. Kings assist well, led by Fox, they rank 7th in team assists per game. Obviously they can score; Kings also are good in pushing the break and containing a quick tempo. They fare well against top teams too, with dubs over the Nuggets; T-Wolves; Thunder; Mavs; and Cavs. Frankly, there is only three teams the Kings can't beat: the Rockets (0-2), Pels (0-2), and the Warriors (1-2). Six of their seven losses are to those three clubs. This team isn't underrated, they seek growth just as they did when they got the boot from the playoffs last season. The guys around Sabonis and Fox need to find their best game and give some resources to help aid more consistent winning as we roll into December. The In-Season tournament is a great first step for this Kings squad.
The Kings needing their rotation to step up around their power duo doesn't speak the same tone as the Warriors rotation needing to step up for Stephen Curry. Steve Kerr is forced to use one-man army at a constant rate, using the custom class of Chef Curry. Klay Thompson has been awful this season, as we see his career continue to be on the derail. Klay Thompson's prime is done, and that's pure fact. Sorry, Warriors fans.
Both Klay and Andrew Wiggins are playin' awful on the offensive as they are shootin' at terrible clips and contiune to be roller-coasters in the box-scores. Breaking down on the tracks type of roller-coasters. GM Bob Myers resigned in the nick of time, and his replacement, Mike Dunleavy Jr. is feelin' the pain as neither Thompson nor Wiggins can be traded without eating money; if they could even find a suitor for them. Trading for Chris Paul just made this whole mess worse, well done Dunleavy. They are beyond grateful that somehow this cat Steph Curry won't slow down.
Warriors' ship moves when Steph Curry directs it to move. They are 6-2 in games that Curry scores more than 30 points and are just 3-7 in games in which Curry doesn't ecplise 30 in the box-scores. Curry ranks 7th in the league in points per game & is the current leader in three pointers made shooting 43.1% from deep. That's all great for the spectators and Curry's legacy rep, but when the Warriors don't have a number 2, it all really doesn't mean squat when things are set and done. Golden State is collectively payin' Wiggins and Thompson over 65Ms to be straight a** this season. It's nasty. Thompson averaging 15.7 points on 40.6% shootin' with Wiggins averaging 12.8 points on 43.3% shootin'. They need to step up before Curry's back breaks. Bob Myers destroyed the potential of this franchise in near future terms, at-least they can enjoy Steph Curry a little longer!
Power Rankings:
Record since last drop: 3-1
Notable wins: vs PHI
Celtics sustain the top spot in the Power Rankings as they continue to win, winnin' 10 of their last 12 games and remaining undefeated at home. The loss versus the Magic on the 24th didn't create a setback as the C's got back to business with East dubs over the Hawks; Bulls; and a big one over the 76ers. Boston is now 14-3 against the Eastern Conference this season. They look to win the In-Season tournament to stay atop the league and my PRs.
Next up: @ IND (Tournament), vs CLE, vs CLE, vs ORL
Record since last drop: 4-1
Notable wins: vs OKC
Despite two tough losses to Western contenders in the Suns & Kings, the T-Wolves continue to be one of the more consistently dominant teams as we roll into December. They keep the second spot after a 13-2 record in November that had wins over the Celtics, Nuggets, and 76ers. Timberwolves are here and look to only be on the rise.
Next up: vs SA, @ MEM, @ NO, @ DAL
Record since last drop: 4-1
Notable wins: vs BOS
Some may think the Magic are high at 3 considering they lost 4 games in November including two games against the Nets, but their win streak jumps them up my rankings. Orlando won 9 in a row for the 4th time in franchise history, coming short of their first double-digit winnin' streak in 'chise history. Nonetheless, the streak was impressive as it held wins over the Celtics; Nuggets; and Pacers. Paolo Banchero and co. are ready to prove legitimacy atop the Eastern Conference as we roll into December.
Next up: @ CLE, vs DET, vs CLE
Record since last drop: 4-2
Notable wins: @ PHO; vs HOU
Nuggets rode a slight rollercoaster in November, but still sit in the top 5 of the PRs thanks to their undefeated home record (9-0) & their 12-5 conference record. Denver lost 5 of 7 in the middle of the month and have gone 5-5 in their last ten games. They don't sit comfy; they are more on the decline than on the rise- but that can change and quick.
Next up: @ LAC, vs HOU, @ ATL
Record since last drop: 4-1
Notable wins: @ MIA
Bucks lost two in a row to face 5-4 in the early shade of November and have since turned a gear to get where their expectations are. Milwaukee has won 9 out of 11 games since, and the duo of Dame & Giannis is starting to gel. They sit at 9-1 at home and are smiling bright lookin' at their schedj with a 7-game homestand next up.
Next up: vs NY, vs CHI, vs IND
Record since last drop: 2-2
Notable wins: @ DAL
After ridin' a 6 game winnin' streak, the Thunder dropped two in a row... in huge games against the T-Wolves & 76ers. OKC may have lost some steam losin' those two important games, but they now are back on a two game win streak to win 8 out of their last 10. Thunder sit pretty, but have more important games ahead on the schedule. They look to improve their lackluster 7-5 conference record with 9 straight games against Western teams next up.
Next up: @ HOU, vs GS, vs UTH
Record since last drop: 2-2
Notable wins: @ OKC; vs LAL
Sixers started 8-1 and have since lost 6 of their last 10 games to be on the decline in the rankings. They hope for Tyrese Maxey to get out of his shooting slump; the offense and Embiid need him back to his game-breaking abilities. Philly plays the basement of the Eastern Conference comin' up; if they keep losing, they will decline rapidly in the rankings.
Next up: @ WAS, vs ATL, vs WAS; @ DET; vs DET
Record since last drop: 3-1
Notable wins: @ MIN; vs DEN; vs GS
Kings are rollin' and are on the rise in the rankings winnin' 7 of their last 10 games. Kings have some solid dubs in that stretch against the top echelon of the West with wins over the Thunder; Nuggets; and Timberwolves. They now have a shot to win the In-Season Tournament to help bolster them up the rankings even more.
Next up: @ NO (Tournament), vs BKN, @ LAC, vs OKC
Record since last drop: 3-2
Notable wins: @ NY
After climbing back into the top ten of the PRs, the Suns stay steady after losin' their win streak to back-to-back losses including a loss to the Nuggets. Phoenix still remains one of the hottest teams winnin' 8 of their last 10 games behind the scorchathon of easy money sniper Kevin Durant. They too have a chance to jump the rankings if they can win the In-Season Tourney.
Next up: @ LAL (Tournament), vs GS, vs BKN, vs NY
Record since last drop: 1-3
Notable wins: n/a
Mavericks are starting to ride the slopes a bit as we roll into December. Dallas has lost 5 of their last 7 games as they are lookin' at losing a spot in the top ten. From 8-2 to 11-8. Mavs are in for a fist fight if they want to get back on winning terms and remain in the top ten; they play 11 straight games against teams in the West.
Next up: vs UTH, @ POR, @ MEM; @ LAL
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