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Is Zion not allowed to realize a little weight in Las Vegas like the remainder of us?
Lakers Are Tourney Champs
Tie fairly bows on the primary NBA Cup
On Saturday night time, the Lakers took residence the primary NBA Cup, beating the Pacers 123-109. LeBron James was named MVP. Now that the primary In-Season Event is finished, let’s reply three vital questions on it in preparation for the long run:
What did they get proper?
The IST undoubtedly injected curiosity and total vitality into the primary month-plus of the season. Regardless of the generally complicated structure and scheduling, the league is patting itself on the again for a profitable inaugural event. Placing up $500,000 for every profitable participant and coach was good. Cash motivates. It’d even have long-term advantages. Former participant Eddie Johnson instructed me on NBA Radio he expects LeBron profitable the cash for teammates to assist encourage them to purchase into group wants down the highway, as he hopes to contend for one more title.
Additionally, anyone complaining about level differential must recover from themselves and any unwritten guidelines BS. It’s wonderful for 4 video games to make use of level differential. Don’t wish to be embarrassed? Play higher.
What have been the funniest components?
The 2 funniest issues from the ultimate sport have been D’Angelo Russell’s beef with Bruce Brown Jr. and Adam Silver shooing away children onstage.
The DLo stuff was hilarious. Again through the Western Convention finals, he took exception to Brown calling out his protection because the Nuggets swept the Lakers. With Brown now in Indiana, Russell determined to get revenge. He talked countless trash to Brown through the Lakers’ win over the Pacers.
Russell apparently mentioned that Nikola Jokić isn’t round to assist Brown this time, so it’s completely different. He apparently did not go searching to see if LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been nonetheless Lakers.
As for Silver, the NBA had kids hand the Lakers their NBA Cup medals through the ceremony. Good and touching, proper? It was … till the children have been getting autographs and sticking across the Lakers, which I assume held up the remainder of the ceremony? Silver mentioned into the microphone on nationwide TV, “Youngsters, we’ve received one thing to do right here.” Now that is the way you attain future generations!
What ought to they modify?
- Name it the NBA Cup. The In-Season Event is a horrible identify.
- Repair the courts. There has to be a greater solution to signify these video games are completely different than these atrocious hardwood flooring that seemed like MS Paint tragedies.
- Have all the group play occur in a single chunk of the season earlier than the single-elimination event. Weaving it out and in of regular-season motion confuses informal followers.
The Newest From Shams
Commerce season looms massive
The NBA commerce market is starting to form up because the Dec. 15 date for a lot of free brokers who signed final season to change into trade-eligible looms.
• Newest round two intriguing commerce market groups: Raptors, Bulls
• Replace on the Clippers and PJ Tucker
• Grizzlies’ Ja Morant nears season debut
• Lakers’ Gabe Vincent units goal return
And way more in a model new Inside Cross at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/fdzEuRWNTq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2023
PJ Tucker has expressed frustration about his present scenario with the Clippers.
Might his time in L.A. be coming to an finish?@ShamsCharania has extra.
🔗 https://t.co/zVsHZcObGi pic.twitter.com/c0INBRlHNm
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 11, 2023
Two groups everyone seems to be keeping track of are the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls, however they’re removed from the one franchises which might be monitoring the commerce market.
In my newest Inside Cross, I’ve received extra particulars on how these groups are continuing forward of the Feb. 8 commerce deadline + notes on Ja Morant’s return, the Lakers, the Clippers and way more.
Inventory Market
Who’s up, down from final week?
Regardless of not having a ton of motion from the weekend, the NBA Inventory Market by no means takes any time without work. Let’s have a look across the league for the great and troubling traits:
📈Lakers. They beat the 12-10 Suns. They then embarrassed the Pelicans earlier than shutting down the Pacers’ historic offense for the NBA Cup. A really spectacular week by the Lakers, who’ve gained seven of 10.
KING HIM 👑 pic.twitter.com/3M1CjFnWAR
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023
📈Rockets. Not solely did the 10-9 Rockets have a formidable residence win over the Thunder, however they lastly received their first highway victory by giving the 14-9 Nuggets hell. Houston gained 22 video games complete final season.
📉Pelicans. Hopefully it’s only one dangerous night time in Las Vegas, which we’ve all had. Possibly it’s higher to chase LeBron and the Lakers than to chase a 5 while you’ve received 16 however the seller is displaying a face card.
📉Jazz. They misplaced by 50 factors – 50 American factors. That may’t occur on this economic system, even when it’s a 147-97 loss to the 13-8 Mavericks.
📈Cavs. I can’t determine the Cavs out this season, however they took down Florida with wins over the Magic and Warmth. Cleveland is 13-9 now.
📈Clippers. Don’t look now, however the Clippers have gained eight of 11.
📉Nikola Jokić. The reigning Finals MVP has 45 factors on 18-of-58 capturing in his final two video games. Each losses for Denver.
📈Bronny James. After the intense well being scare for LeBron James’ son this summer time, seeing this chasedown block in his first USC motion was dope.
The Zion Subject
The Pelicans star dialogue turned huge time
Many individuals took photographs at Zion Williamson after his poor displaying in final week’s NBA Cup semi-final. In a sport the complete Pelicans group misplaced to the Lakers by 44 factors, is it truthful to single out Zion?
Brandon Ingram was dangerous. Herb Jones wasn’t what they wanted. Jonas Valančiūnas received destroyed. CJ McCollum was horrific. The bench didn’t do a lot. So, why single out Zion? He was the one Pelican to take greater than two photographs and make at the very least 50 p.c. He went 6-of-8 from the sector however simply 1-of-6 from the road.
Williamson was on the court docket within the third quarter when the Lakers blew the doorways off the sport. He didn’t run laborious or hustle. He seemed lazy. You’ll be able to say the identical for his teammates too. That occurs while you get outscored 66-35 in a half. However Zion is purported to be their finest participant.
Stephen A. Smith completely obliterated him on his present on Friday, primarily fat-shaming him for minutes on finish. He mentioned he noticed Zion’s stomach on the free-throw line and that he seemed like he confirmed as much as the sport having simply eaten a buffet. The TNT crew additionally questioned his conditioning after the loss. An area story questioning his conditioning hit shortly after the loss. There’s even a meme going round of a Wendy’s employee taking a selfie with him.
Is that this sufficient to get Zion to take it significantly? We went by way of this with Joel Embiid, who finally received into higher form and gained an MVP. Two years in the past, Reggie Miller criticized Luka Dončić’s weight throughout a nationally televised sport, and Mavs coach Jason Kidd quickly credited Miller with the fat-shaming that led to Luka stepping into higher form.
Zion is chubby, and his conditioning is a constant downside. He’s additionally a gifted scorer who can run by way of stretches of the season wanting unstoppable. He has $160 million-plus owed to him after this season. Is there any incentive for him to vary his physique aside from being shamed?
Bounce Passes
Ja Morant and Adam Silver will meet to debate his impending return.
Anthony Slater examines the 10-12 Warriors’ largest points.
Joe Mazzulla says his empowerment plan is working in Boston
Display screen Recreation (All occasions Jap)
(Prime picture: Ethan Miller / Getty Photographs)
