Each Thursday, I’ll be taking you thru the large story heading into the weekend. Or perhaps the weirdest story? Or perhaps simply one thing that makes me snicker and I believe will make you snicker too. Basically, in case you’re subscribed to The Bounce and studying daily, we’re going to have the identical enjoyable right here as we do in that area.
I’ve additionally culled the weekend schedule so that you can know what to concentrate to. Bizarre unhealthy streaks in opposition to groups? Beefs it’s good to monitor? Simply enjoyable video games with matchups you could not have recognized had been occurring? We’ve bought that for you. On high of that, we’ll have a superb old school Throwback Thursday to hit you with that feel-good nostalgia.
Let’s have enjoyable by beginning with grading all 30 groups from the primary quarter of the season.
Story to Watch: First-quarter grades
In The Bounce on Wednesday and Thursday, we threw some grades on each single staff within the NBA. Why? As a result of the primary quarter of the season is within the books! Everyone besides Denver and Washington has cracked the 20-game mark on the 2024-25 season, however that’s shut sufficient for me. Grading groups within the first quarter or half of the season is all the time an attention-grabbing job. You’re managing your preseason expectations for these groups in opposition to what we’ve seen to this point in a brief period of time. And you must determine how a lot you place into the primary 10 video games or the subsequent 10 video games. You must pin down in case your expectations are already altering or if it’s good to simply relax and hold watching how issues unfold.
The story of the best gamers in NBA historical past. In 100 riveting profiles, high basketball writers justify their choices and uncover the historical past of the NBA within the course of.
The story of the best performs in NBA historical past.
Let’s begin with the Western Convention, which we knew could be jam-packed earlier than the season even began. The West has virtually too many good groups. The one strategy to get derailed within the West is by having a bunch of accidents, which we’ve seen loads of groups do. Let’s get to the West report card. Offense and protection rankings are based mostly on web rankings by Wednesday’s motion.
Let’s do a fast takeaway for every West staff in bullet kind:
• Oklahoma Metropolis: The Thunder have endured quite a lot of accidents to this point, and look how good they’re. What can a wholesome OKC staff do?
Aaron Wiggins and the Thunder have been excellent even by accidents. (Alonzo Adams / Imagn Photos)
• Houston: Most likely my favourite staff story of the younger season. The Rockets want extra offense, however they will crush you with their protection.
• Memphis: This primary quarter has been a enjoyable reminder for anyone who forgot simply how enjoyable a largely wholesome Grizzlies staff is.
• Clippers: The way in which Ty Lue has refocused this staff after the entrance workplace introduced in alternative function gamers for Paul George is great.
• Dallas: We haven’t seen the dominant stretch by the Mavericks but, nevertheless it’s coming. This staff’s additions are acclimating very well.
• Golden State: The Warriors hit a little bit of a pace bump just lately, however I received’t let it cloud them trying like championship contenders proper earlier than that.
• San Antonio: I’ll remind you that Victor Wembanyama continues to be 20 years outdated for one more month, and this Spurs staff seems to be actually snug now.
• Phoenix: They seemed like title contenders earlier than the Kevin Durant damage. Then, he briefly got here again and bought harm once more. Give me a wholesome Suns squad.
• Lakers: The Lakers seemed actually good at first, however as soon as they lastly misplaced an NBA Cup recreation, issues sort of fell aside. Nonetheless a protracted season left.
• Denver: The Nuggets are largely getting by on Nikola Jokić’s supernova recreation, however now that they’re wholesome once more, we should always see in the event that they’re contenders.
• Minnesota: The Timberwolves went by a tough patch that had Anthony Edwards calling them out. They’ve responded with three nice wins. They want extra of that.
• Sacramento: The Kings handled some important accidents and are nonetheless strong. However it is a higher staff than their document, and I need to see them go on a run.
• Portland: The Blazers had been imagined to be the worst within the convention, however they play some respectable protection. The offense is abysmal, although.
• Utah: Weren’t the Jazz imagined to be aggressive early earlier than embracing the tank for Cooper Flagg? Perhaps this staff isn’t that gifted.
• New Orleans: The Pelicans have been lacking half of their rotation a lot of the yr. This wasn’t imagined to go this manner.
And, in fact, we have now to do the East. It’s … not so jam-packed. The truth is, it’s fairly barren in the case of filling out a correct playoff state of affairs. We have now quite a lot of groups that really feel like they’re entering into the image by default. However the bizarre factor about this yr is among the “good groups” have utterly underperformed for varied causes, and we’re left in a limbo state of ready for them to get wholesome and/or their act collectively. We’ve nonetheless had a few nice surprises, some nice groups, and regardless of the Washington Wizards are doing.
Let’s dive into the East report card.
Here’s a thought on every staff from the East in bullet kind, as effectively:
• Cleveland: The historic 15-0 begin put everyone on discover that the Cavaliers underneath Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system are the true deal.
• Boston: The reigning champs don’t appear to be the dominant pressure they had been final yr, they usually’re nonetheless 18-4. They’re nonetheless the favorites for a cause.
• Orlando: The run they went on after a number of video games lacking Paolo Banchero exhibits simply how legit this staff is.
• New York: The protection is brutal, however the offense is historic. I believe this staff has one other gear or two to search out.
• Brooklyn: This was a staff that was imagined to be one of many worst groups within the NBA, nevertheless it’s been actually enjoyable and aggressive.
• Chicago: All of us need to see extra Lonzo Ball for the Bulls, however this hybrid of youth motion and veterans is fairly enjoyable.
• Detroit: J.B. Bickerstaff has accomplished a superb job bringing this staff to being respectable, and it simply highlights what an terrible job Monty Williams did in his potential money seize.
• Atlanta: I don’t belief the Hawks, however they’ve sufficient intriguing wins this season to make me need to imagine in them. I nonetheless don’t.
• Milwaukee: I actually thought the Bucks had been going to shake off final season and be one of many main contenders. I used to be so fallacious.
• Charlotte: This staff wants well being and extra expertise, however I really like what Charles Lee is doing for them in his first season. He’s a legit coach.
• Miami: I assume we’re again to the Miami Warmth not giving us sufficient within the common season to imagine they will do it. We have now to attend for the playoffs once more?
• Toronto: I really suppose the Raptors are higher than their document, however they’ve wanted well being to show it. They get the low grade, however I count on this to take off.
• Indiana: Not a surprising regression again all the way down to earth after the shock convention finals look. However they need to be higher than this.
• Philadelphia: I wasn’t a believer on this staff being a contender within the first place, however no person can deny this primary quarter is all accidents for them.
• Washington: The Wizards breaking Detroit’s NBA-record 28-game shedding streak from final season could be very a lot on the desk. They’ve misplaced 15 straight and went 0-for-November.
As soon as we get to the midway level within the season, we’ll give out a brand new report card and begin speaking about some awards races.
Video games on the Radar
Do you intend out your weekend round your sports-viewing schedule? You’re not alone. Are you the sort to need to appear to be a sports activities savant by going to your native sports activities bar, suggesting a recreation to placed on after which reveling within the reward from fellow patrons you’ll get for understanding what to observe? You’re dwelling. Are you the sort to simply fly by the seat of your pants and wing it final minute while you bear in mind video games are on? Bookmark this put up and confer with it later! These are the most effective video games to concentrate to this weekend.
(All occasions Japanese)
Thursday
Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV: The Cavs are 4-3 since their historic 15-0 begin, and the Nuggets are wholesome once more now that they’ve Aaron Gordon again. We’ll get a superb check for the Cavs right here, who’re using excessive after beating Boston this previous week.
Sacramento Kings at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. on League Move: Sacramento was in a position to proper the ship and construct some confidence/momentum with its large win over Houston. The Grizzlies simply blew a fourth-quarter result in Dallas to lose their six-game profitable streak. This needs to be a fireworks show with their two offenses.
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. on NBA TV: The Warriors love going in opposition to Dillon Brooks. And we’ll hopefully see Draymond Inexperienced again on the ground to maximise the quantity of instigating potential between these two groups. These are two of the most effective defenses within the NBA, so don’t count on a ton of factors.
Friday
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. on League Move: The Sixers could have somewhat momentum now with a pair wins in a row. We don’t know if Joel Embiid shall be obtainable, however the Magic are with out Paolo Banchero nonetheless. Each groups prefer to play bodily basketball, so we might see some excessive tensions on this one.
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN: Giannis Antetokounmpo going in opposition to the Celtics is all the time enjoyable. Jayson Tatum squaring up in opposition to Giannis is all the time enjoyable. Damian Lillard going in opposition to Jrue Vacation and this Celtics backcourt is nice drama. Lock it in for this one.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. on ESPN: Warriors shall be on a back-to-back, however they should get again into the win column repeatedly. The Wolves try to do this with a few good wins these days, however they’ve a protracted strategy to go to resemble final yr’s squad.
Saturday
Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. on League Move: Ja Morant most likely believes he can dunk everywhere in the Celtics protection repeatedly. Effectively, if he had been nonetheless dunking. Each the Grizzlies and the Celtics are glorious on each ends of the ground. This might find yourself being the most effective video games of the season.
Sunday
Phoenix Suns at Orlando Magic, 6:30 p.m. on League Move: Sadly, Kevin Durant’s ankle is harm, and we received’t get to see him attempt to mild up this Orlando protection. Franz Wagner in opposition to Devin Booker can also be a extremely enjoyable matchup.
Houston Rockets at LA Clippers, 9 p.m. on League Move: James Harden in opposition to his former staff. Two of the most effective defenses within the NBA. Each offenses are able to getting scorching. I need to see how the Rockets attempt to disrupt every part Harden and the Clippers are doing.
Throwback Thursday: 60 factors on 11 dribbles
On at the present time again in 2016, Klay Thompson scored 60 factors on 11 dribbles in three quarters of motion. It really is perhaps probably the most spectacular scoring evening in NBA historical past. I perceive what comes with a press release like that, and the way it could possibly be seen as hyperbole to drive engagement or clicks or no matter you need to assume from that. And contemplating the state of basketball evaluation and dialogue at this time, it’s truthful to imagine issues like that. However the extra I take into consideration Klay dropping 60 in three quarters utilizing simply 11 dribbles, the extra monumental this efficiency looks like on a large number of ranges.
The tough a part of that is we’ve seen a lot higher-scoring video games. Together with the playoffs, we’ve seen 92 video games in NBA historical past wherein a participant dropped 60 or extra. We’ve had 69 completely different scoring nights beat that 60-point marker. We’ve witnessed 15 completely different video games wherein somebody broke the 70-point barrier. Kobe Bryant scored 81 factors on one fateful League Move evening again in 2006. After which, there’s all the time the hallowed 100-point recreation from Wilt Chamberlain again in 1962.
The factor about Thompson’s recreation is that it broke the best way we measure effectivity. Thompson made 12 bounce pictures (eight of them 3-pointers), 10 free throws and 9 layups on the evening. He did all that on 11 dribbles? How is that potential? We’ve solely ever measured the effectivity of scoring nights concerning what number of pictures had been taken. And Thompson was very environment friendly in that approach, as effectively.
He went 21-of-33 from the ground, 8-of-14 from deep, and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Kind these 60-plus level video games by field-goal makes an attempt, and Thompson’s 33 makes an attempt rank sixteenth for fewest makes an attempt in a recreation of 60 or extra. James Harden as soon as had 60 on simply 24 pictures! He additionally shot 23 free throws and dribbled the air out of the ball whereas carving up his defenders. Thompson didn’t do this. Watch the clip of his historic evening:
(Actual fast: discover Steph Curry celebrating the evening unfolding earlier than him and the Warriors’ bench on the 2:22 mark of the video. Curry bumped into the tunnel again at Oracle Enviornment as a result of he didn’t know how you can course of this taking pictures show.)
He moved with out the ball, got here off screens, rim-ran in transition and flawlessly reduce to the ring. He wanted three dribbles to get to 11 factors. He was at eight complete dribbles when he broke 20 factors. He wanted only one extra dribble to get to 40 factors on the evening, and that occurred by halftime. He had 40, and the Indiana Pacers had 50 after two quarters. Yet another dribble bought him to 50, and yet another dribble after that bought him to 60. He sat the complete fourth quarter with the sport in steadiness.
Certain, Kobe Bryant as soon as had 62 by three quarters in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks and sat the remainder of the evening. He did it on 31 shot makes an attempt too, however he additionally wanted 25 free-throw makes an attempt. We additionally know he dribbled the ball quite a bit, even when he was at his best. Thompson didn’t dribble. That one factor you’re imagined to do to create a bonus in opposition to defenders? He barely bounced the ball. He most likely bounced the ball extra in layup traces throughout warmups than he did the complete 29 minutes of motion for him.
Finally, in case you decide any of Kobe’s extravaganzas or Wilt’s historic evening as the best scoring effort in league historical past, I don’t fault you. Loads of nights, I’ll most likely agree with you as a result of they’re spectacular moments in offense. However while you actually break down how a lot Thompson did ignoring one of the vital expertise within the recreation’s historical past, it’s fairly unbelievable to wrap your head round.
(High photograph of Darius Garland and Jayson Tatum: Jason Miller / Getty Photos)
