You may be wondering why I didn’t do the usual trade deadline recap for the NBA? That’s simple. Most of the big moves came long before the February 8 deadline, and come that date, it was just very quiet. (Plus I’m a week late darn it! I got school work to focus on!) But the West right now is definitely not quiet. A tight race for the #1 seed, and like last year teams 5-11 are all sandwiched in there. What nonsense do we have this time?
Dallas Mavericks (They Never Make It Easy): Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are perhaps the most dynamic 1-2 guard punch in the league. (It’s baffling to some that Kyrie didn’t make the ASG) Just what Mavs fans had hoped for when they made that trade with the Nets a year ago. But what makes this crew an interesting bunch is that they’ve found ways to remain in the hunt for the 5 seed despite most of their big acquisitions not panning out. Grant Williams was traded not even a year into his new contract, Tim Hardaway Jr is enduring a renaissance, and they traded a 1st Round pick for Daniel Galford who has fit right in. Jason Kidd may be the NBA’s Mike Keenan in terms of his coaching tactics and demanding power, but so far he hasn’t hurt the team too much this season. All of the shrewd trading he’s done is proof of that. (Most of the moves have worked out) It’s not the gongshow of last year, but they can definitely hang their heads high. As long as they don’t collapse they’re good to go.
Denver Nuggets (The Daunting Title Defense): Mile High City how’s your quest to maintain the NBA Title? Good? Well it should be. They may not have the best record in the West at the moment, but the Nuggets are one hot streak away from running away with that claim. Nikola Jokic is on pace to become the first Center in NBA History to average a Triple Double for a season. His scoring numbers may be down but who cares. The rest of the team is feeding off his energy. The biggest surprise is the revival of 33 year old Reggie Jackson. (Not a certain baseball player who won 5 World Series Titles) It comes to show you that player development is massive for a team’s success. Denver is one of the best organizations when it comes to just that. That’s why I feel like the West still goes through them. Did I mention there’s the altitude factor. This is why if you’re Minnesota, OKC, and the Clippers you must get the 1 seed. You don’t want to go to Ball Arena 4 times in May. Especially against that lineup and that coaching staff. They just need to avoid injuries, and they have a shot at another title. Nothing else needs to be said.
Golden State Warriors (A Confusing Squad): Lets not lie to ourselves the Warriors are in serious trouble. I know I’ve covered this team for over a decade and I am still optimistic, but if they can’t find some form of consistency, there may not be any basketball being played in May. The thing that concerns me the most isn’t their lack of size, or the decline of Klay Thompson to the point where he’s coming off the bench, or Draymond Green being an idiot AGAIN! (Just suspend this man for a whole year, Silver!) Or the CP3 experiment being tainted by injuries. What bothers me about Golden State is that they’ve gotten in their own way far too many times. They’ve lost more games in crunch time than any team in the league. This was their bread and butter during the peak of their dynasty, and now it’s their Achilles Heel. They’re being carried by Steph Curry’s willpower, the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga, and a rookie sensation in Brandin Podziemski. (Who needs Jordan Poole nowadays?) That’s why I haven’t given up. They did go on a hot streak before the All Star Break, and if this keeps up, they could pull another “We Believe” type run out of their ass. I WANT TO FEEL THE CHAOS! COME ON DUBS!
Houston Rockets (Not There Yet): Everything looks to be on schedule with the rebuild. The Rockets have shown flashes of what they could be, but it’s going to need some more time. Who would have thought that their best player at the beginning of the year would be Alperen Sengun? Center was considered their biggest flaw of any position in their starting five. If he keeps this up, they have their franchise big man for the next decade. Did I mention that Dillon Brooks has experienced some sort of a revival. If you exclude whenever he’s been exposed by Steph Curry. I like what I see so far from Udoka but the real test for him is going to be when Jalen Green and Jabari Smith reach their full potential. When that happens, the pressure will be back on this organization to make noise. Until then just keep building your way back up. No pressure.
Los Angeles Clippers (The Newage Bandwagon World): Clippers may I introduce you to Year 1 Olivier Sedra. (And Year 1 James Harden too) A year where there’s little drama coming out of the organization and everyone buys into the idea of trying to win a championship while avoiding injuries. After a rocky start, this long suffering franchise has become perhaps the envy of the Western Conference. Kawhi Leonard is at long last healthy, Paul George is back to being a perennial All Star, Russell Westbrook is one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, and of course James Harden hasn’t been a liability. At least yet. Their biggest goals lie in the playoffs, and both Sedra and Steve Balmer know it. They haven’t spent all of this money and assets just to be a playoff contender. They want it all. To prove that they are no longer in the Lakers shadows. And with the new arena coming next year, they want it bad. They even have new branding for next season! Gotta love those narratives baby! But there’s still a long way to go. And the injury bell will eventually toll. It surprises me that they have no one on the injury report right now. That’s insane!
Los Angeles Lakers (The NBA’s LOLMETS): We thought that the Lakers would finally be shedding their label of being the Boys Club of the NBA. Little did we know that last year was a vacation from that idea. We now return to LA being one of the biggest soap operas in sports. LeBron and AD are once again dragging this team kicking and screaming towards a shot at a playoff berth. Without those two this team would be a tank job. But hey they have D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves as well! Yes, but they’re only treated like All Stars because of who they play for. If they played in like Memphis or San Antonio they would not have this much of a following. Then of course there’s the media drinking stupid juice into thinking that they can make a deep run. Let me spell this out. THEY’RE NOT! Last year they had gobs of deus ex machina on their side and if they have to face a real team they’ll get massively outcoached. Darvin Ham is literally being dragged through this by the King. And LeBron himself is once again debating retirement. I don’t think it’s that, I think it’s just because he wants to get out of the LA Sideshow. You know what this year for the Lakers is going to be remembered for? Them winning another Mickey Mouse Championship by claiming the first ever NBA Cup. The memes of LeMickey and ADisney are back and better than ever! (It couldn’t have happened to a better franchise I tell you)
Memphis Grizzlies (A Organizational Disaster): Please tell me how Ja Morant’s suspension was the only reason keeping the Grizzlies away from their full potential. Didn’t they have one of the better records in the league when he was out of the lineup? Well it turns out that this season has been a total disaster. I know Ja got injured just 2 weeks after he came back but trust me. Their issues go well beyond not having him out there. They have possibly the worst offense in the NBA. And this is with Jaren Jackson and Desmond Bane putting up career highs in PPG. And as I say that Bane is out for the next month. Marcus Smart has been alright, but much more was expected out of him. (CRACK!) And he’s out long term as well. The same can be said about the entirety of their depth. Normally I would feel bad for a team that has had pandemic levels of injuries. But when it’s a team that is one of the most unlikable squads in the league, no one, especially DubNation, will feel any sympathy. Here’s the moral of the story, never ever say you’re fine in the West. Why? Because that’ll be the moment when you as a team and organization jump the shark.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Finally!): It’s about time you’ve managed to play up to your potential on a consistent basis. For the last several years, the Timberwolves have had the talent to go far, but their issue is that several roadblocks like injuries, underachieving, and the Minnesota Sports Stereotype of being close but never close enough held them back. Right now that hasn’t been the case. Let’s be real this team is being carried by one of the best defenses the NBA has seen since the 2019 Raptors. The twin towers of Towns and Gobert are not only healthy, but they’re not alone. Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid are just as potent defensively. On offense they’re led by a budding superstar in Anthony Edwards. (Shoutout to Mike Conley for still playing at a high level even in his mid 30s) One of the most dynamic scorers in the league. Did I mention he’s got better as the year has gone on. The only thing that’s unlikable about this breakthrough story is that the NBA is going to want to put Alex Rodriguez on National TV almost every single week if not twice a week. Seriously Adam Silver, you want to copy Taylor Swift and this is who you want to promote. No wonder why you have now become the worst commissioner of the 4 major sports. (When you make Rob Manfred look humble in disguise there’s a serious problem. But hey there’s more parity than ever)
New Orleans Pelicans (Zion Is Actually Healthy? Praise the Gods!): This is a team that looks like they’ve turned a corner at long last, but then again there are times where they get in their own way. This is the fate that the Pelicans have dealt with this season. Although I will say it feels very good for their fans to see Zion at full strength. He is the key to this whole team and organization. They go as far as he takes them. The same can be said about Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. New Orleans for a moment looked like they would make a push towards the 5 seed, but then they hit a small skid before the break. That and a down year by Jose Alverado has held them back but not too much. Luckily for them Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy have broken out this season in order to make sure that they aren’t a one dimensional team. Can the Pels truly compete with the big boys? Who knows but either way they’re going to try their damndest to do so.
Oklahoma City Thunder (The Eye of the Storm): Now you see why I had the Thunder making the jump towards contending status. Although I didn’t expect them to be near the top of the Western Conference. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is having an MVP type season, and Jalen Williams has continued his rise to stardom as well. The key to this season has been Chet Holmgren. He and SGA form one of the most deadly pick and roll combos in the game today. And it’s a big reason as to where they are right now. The only dud that has occurred this season was the Josh Giddey scandal but luckily that was short lived, and now he’s come back and played full time. (He may not be as good as last year, but you can’t have enough scoring options) However I just feel like that the shoe will eventually drop on them. But then again young and hungry teams do have a tendency to make people like me eat massive amounts of crow. I learned that from the Diamondbacks during the baseball season, And I’m not going to make the same mistake with OKC. Keep up the good work boys!
Phoenix Suns (Superteam Expectations): What the hell is this team? I’m not surprised by how their season has so far turned out, it was expected when they gutted their core to try and become a superteam. Little did we know that Phoenix has all but become the reincarnation of the 2021 Nets. Which is ironic since it feels like Kevin Durant never left Brooklyn at all. He and Devin Booker are dragging this team kicking and screaming to relevance. The Bradley Beal Experience has been a disaster. (CRACK!) When will people realize that he only plays 25-30 games a year due to injuries. GOLLY GEE WILIKERS BATMAN! Yes Eric Gordon, and Jusef Nurkic are scoring over 10 a game, but the conclusion is this. These guys have become the Edmonton Oilers of basketball. KD and Booker are literally copying Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl when it comes to carrying a franchise on their backs just to get slapped in the playoffs. It makes sense since Mat Ishbia is turning this team into the Redskins of the early 2000s.
Portland Trail Blazers (No Dame Time to be Found): Remember when we thought the Blazers would be ok for about a week? Well that’s been replaced by an object that they haven’t seen in quite some time. The Tanks. And to be honest this team shouldn’t be anywhere near that point. When you have Scoot Henderson making a solid transition to the NBA Level, plus Anfernee Simons putting up almost 23 a game that shouldn’t be anywhere near a 15 win plateau. Then we realize that Portland’s issues for the last few years have been ownership and the guy behind the bench. Now you see why hiring Chauncey Billups was a massive mistake when pen was put to paper. Turns out that being a great player doesn’t always translate to the coaching ranks. The fact that he still has that job is mostly on Jody Allen. Then again her loyalty is why Pete Carroll lasted longer than he should have especially with how rough his ending with the Seahawks. This team is a good coach away from being a playoff team. (Why didn’t you hold onto Terry Stotts when you should have) Especially considering that they’ll have a high draft pick next year plus they got a great return for Damian Lillard. Just don’t let seasons like this become a long term habit.
Sacramento Kings (A Long Learning Experience): It’s been an interesting season for Sactown. I know their fans expected much more out of them but from how I see it, this isn’t surprising. To me the only reason why I can explain them being right in the middle of a loaded Pacific Division is simple. They don’t have the shock factor of a year ago and other contending teams are taking them more seriously. But even then, they’re still a very good team. Especially when Malik Monk has had a career year and has leapfrogged Kevin Huerter in the rotation. However this crew is very hot and cold. Recently its been mixed results but early on they followed up a 6 game losing streak with a 7 game winning streak. By the way they did bring back that beam that was lit up in Gold Blood a year ago. It may not be the feel good story of last year, but it’s more of a mainstay from now on. (The Bird Bath will be the same for the Orioles when the baseball season comes) The Kings themselves are just that. Luckily for them with a year of playoff experience under their belts, it should help them out during the final stretch. From how I see it these guys love to thrive as underdogs.
San Antonio Spurs (2004 Cleveland Cavaliers): Yes you drafted the Greatest Prospect that the NBA has seen since LeBron James. Plus he’s made some ridiculous plays that the league has rarely seen, and has captivated the Frost Bank Center every night. If only you could clone about 4 more versions of Wembanyama plus an emerging guard in Devin Vassell then you’d be contenders again. This is still one of the great tanks that Spurs fans have witnessed over the years, but at least you found your savior and his potential wingman for about the next half a decade. Everything’s going to be fine in the land of the Empire. Now how long until Coach Pop retires. (As great a coach as he is, it’s well past time)
Utah Jazz (A Mountain Coaster): The Jazz were definitely ahead of schedule after how close they came to making the playoffs a year ago. But right now it seems like they’re stuck trying to get out of the arms of mediocrity. A few elements have held them back. Walker Kessler hasn’t taken that next step that he was hyped to take. Lauri Markkanen has been fighting injuries since the dawn of the new year. Not to mention the big ticket in John Collins has shown flashes of being the piece to get them back to the playoffs but nothing else. You want a typical Utah statistic well here it is. The Jazz boast a 20-9 record at home, yet are 7-22 on the road. In the words of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz there truly is no place like home. If I thought the Hornets were doing just enough to get fans attracted into the most popular bar in town, Utah has taken that to another level. When will these teams never learn? (Come on Danny Ainge and D-Wade! You’re better than that!)
Bragging Rights Sports 