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The Lakers should never let LeBron play against the Bucks again.
ideal playoff series
How is the match situation?
There are still a few weeks left, so we're already thinking about the best playoff series for each conference. Today, we're going to take a closer look at the West while sharing the first-round matchups we'd most like to see this April. For seeding probabilities for each team, we also use Basketball-Reference's playoff probability report.
(1) Denver Nuggets vs. (8) Phoenix Suns: Phoenix (42-30) handed Denver (51-21) its toughest series last postseason. If the Suns have any chance of defeating the champions, it will be early in the playoffs. I also love the contrast between the duos of Nikola Jokic vs. Jamal Murray and Kevin Durant vs. Devin Booker. Chances of Denver No. 1 seed: 40.7 percent | Possible Phoenix No. 8 seed: 22.9%
(2) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks: I love the idea of a great defense and a struggling offense playing opposite teams. I'm also interested in the idea of Anthony Edwards matching up with Luka Doncic, and seeing what Jaden McDaniels can do guarding Luka and Kyrie Irving. Possibilities for No. 2 seed in Minnesota: 35.6 percent | Dallas 7th seed possibility: 24.8%
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (6) Sacramento Kings: What are the seven games in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will face De'Aaron Fox and Chet Holmgren will face Domantas Sabonis? This will be a great showcase for all this talent. OKC No. 3 Seed Potential: 37.3 percent | Sacramento 6th seed potential: 37.0%
(4) New Orleans Pelicans vs. (5) LA Clippers: These are two of the deepest teams in the league. Also, these are two teams that aren't healthy all the time, so something has to give. This could lead to a major referendum on who the potential losers are. NOP No. 4 Seed Potential: 55.1 percent | Seed potential of LAC No. 5: 47.8%
So what does it mean? I feel very sorry for the Warriors (37-34, 10th in the West) and Lakers (40-32, 9th in the West), but in this scenario, your services are no longer needed this season. I know it's sacrilegious not to include LeBron James or Stephen Curry in this “Ideal Playoff Series” section, but in that case I'd be projecting more resume than reality. Of course, this could get really ridiculous next month if either team is omitted.
(Tomorrow I will work on the East Series.)
Happy Wednesday!
No one wants to try Wemby anymore
As previously discussed, Victor Wembaneyama leads the NBA in blocked shots (217) and blocks per game (3.4), which is not bad for a rookie. Aside from the beatdown Alpelen Shengyun gave him a few weeks ago, fewer and fewer opponents are targeting Wenby near the basket. The Memphis Grizzlies recently got that memo, suggesting they hold onto the ball unless they can guarantee a clean shot.
Wenby is on pace to become the first rookie in nearly 40 years (Manute Bol in 1985-86) to lead the league in blocked shots.
It will be interesting to see how players and teams adapt. There will still be people who will try to physically bully him, or weird athletes like Ja Morant who will try to dunk on him. But it's funny to see a grown professional being afraid to shoot around him.
Last night's game:
Lakers 128, Bucks 124 (2OT): Milwaukee (46-26, second place in the East) led 94-75 in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and D'Angelo Russell led the Lakers to overtime before defeating the Bucks for a four-point victory. AD had 34 points, 23 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 52 minutes. Reaves achieved his second career triple-double. DLo had 29 points and 12 assists. All of this happened without LeBron James, who missed both Lakers-Bucs wins this season.
Thunder 119, Pelicans 112: New Orleans (44-28, fifth place in the West) led 112-107 with 3:11 left in the game. Lou Dort locked down Zion Williamson, and OKC (50-21, second place in the West) finished the game with a 12-0 lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Josh Guidi combined for 75 points and 17 assists. The Pelicans really missed Brandon Ingram.
Warriors 113, Heat 92: Not having Jimmy Butler in Miami (39-33, 7th in the East) meant life was much easier for Golden State (37-34, 10th in the West). Klay Thompson started with 28 points for Golden State, which earned a much-needed win to give it a one-game cushion against No. 11 Houston.
Mavs 132, Kings 96: There was no stopping Dallas. Sacramento (42-30, 7th in the West) couldn't stop Luka (26 of 28 points) in the first half and couldn't thwart Kyrie Irving (12 of 24 points) in the third quarter. There wasn't. The Mavericks were the No. 6 seed, one game ahead of the Kings. The latter can secure a tiebreaker with a win in Friday's rematch.
don't bet
Are Jontay Porter's accusations a good thing for the NBA?
For those who don't know, Raptors big man Jontay Porter is under investigation by the NBA for bizarre prop bets surrounding his play over the past few months. ESPN reported that the betting service is flagging the over/under prop bet on Porter as the biggest payout in multiple games. Porter has been away from the team for the past few games due to “personal reasons.” He also appears to have provided college gambling and financial advice in the past. (It's worth noting that Porter is also the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.)
On a night when prop bets were paid by taking the under, Porter left the game briefly due to injury. How would something like this work?
- Clippers game on January 26th, Porter played just 4 minutes and 24 seconds in the first quarter before leaving the game with “re-aggravation of eye injury.” He averaged 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 3-pointers, all coming under the mark with 0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 0 3-pointers. He didn't even attempt a three.
- In the game against the Kings on March 20th, Porter played 2 minutes and 43 seconds in the first game, but then recovered from an illness. He finished with 0 points and 2 rebounds. His over/under that night was he bet 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Naturally, this raises some red flags for a league that has not only accepted bets, but has accepted them wrapped up in the softest, comfiest blanket imaginable. For the sake of argument, let's say for the rest of this area that these allegations have merit and that Porter was implicated in this. The cynical part of me would wonder if this isn't the best gambling scandal to ever hit the desks of the NBA. Please walk with me on this.
No offense to Porter, but he is very replaceable/expendable/
If the porter's actions are deemed illegal; with adam silver The league administration has given the 24-year-old a hard-fought decision, potentially banning him from the league for life. While canceling his contract. It would send a message that any gambling scandal will be dealt with ruthlessly. (Also, this won't be the NBA's last gambling scandal, as the league will continue to require in-app game betting next season.)
bounce pass
Speaking of gambling, my Week 23 Power Rankings show you the over/under bets that are likely to hit.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is no ordinary rookie at all.
I'm sure Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers will be smiling soon.
Screen Game (All Time Eastern)
- Main screen: Suns vs. Nuggets (10 p.m. ESPN). While Denver is aiming for the No. 1 seed, the Suns are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament.
- Second screen: Warriors-Magic (7:30 p.m.). Who was the Magic's better team this season? Everyone should be holding their hands down.
- League Pass Game of the Night: Rockets vs. Thunder (8 p.m.). The Rockets can't afford to lose, but the Thunder need a win to get a shot at the No. 1 seed. Click here for the detailed schedule.
(Top photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
