NBA Recap 10/26/2016
Miami Heat 108 vs Orlando Magic 96 - After leading by 3 at halftime, the Magic were outscored 30-16 in the 3rd quarter. Hassan Whiteside lead the Heat in scoring with 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Miami bench outscored the Magic 42-17.
Miami looked shaky during the first half, in particular their perimeter defense allowing too many open jump shots and easy penetration. During the third quarter the defense stepped up which allowed easy fast break points. Liked how much Justice Winslow was bringing the ball down the court. Not the best handles but his passing ability is underrated. Plus he was active on both ends of the floor. Biggest question mark going forward for Miami will be its bench. They scored 42 points tonight but I doubt these performances will be the norm.
In the first half Orlando was knocking down the open shots, moving the ball well and rebounding outside their zones. The second half was a totally different story. The Heat are a well coached team but not good enough to completely shut your team down. With Gordon, Vucevic and Ibaka on the floor, I don't see any way the Magic can space the floor or score on the perimeter. All 5 starter scored in double-digits, including 2 3's form Aaron Gordon. Seeing Gordon shoot the ball shows me that he is not only relying on his athleticism.
Dallas Mavericks 121 vs Indiana Pacers 130 - The Mavericks was down 12 in the first half but battled back and forced OT with a Harrison Barnes 3-pointer. Indiana outscored Dallas 15-6 in overtime to win the home opener. Newcomer Jeff Teague finished with 20 points and 8 assist. Myles Turner lead all scorers with 30 points while grabbing 16 rebounds.
Under Nate McMillian the Pacers look like a faster paced team. Paul George was able to pick and choose when he wanted to turn it on; which is a good thing because it's a long season and you want him as healthy as possible. Myles Turner and Jermaine O'Neal have similar playing styles. Turner showed a little range by hitting a three but I don't feel in his 2nd year he will be consistent at it. As a whole of they want to make a push for the eastern conference championship their defense must improve.
The Mavericks just looked a stepped behind for most of the game. Anytime the Mavs needed a spark it was J.J. Barea providing it. Deron Williams finished with 25 points but was a non factor on the defense. Westley Matthews going 3-16 is unacceptable. It's just day one but for the Mavs to compete Matthews must be a Top 3 scorer on this team.
Brooklyn Nets 117 vs Boston Celtics 122 - Brooklyn stayed competitive but the Celtics were too much for them at the end. Isaiah Thomas scores 25 with 9 assist and 6 rebounds. Al Horford scores 11 points in his Boston debut.
Boston looked good in their season opener. Coach Brad Stevens is one of the best in the business and his play calling created easy passing lanes. Jaylan Brown played some good minutes scoring 9 points on 3-4 shooting. Once he improves defensively, Brown will see regular minutes in the rotation. This is a Top 3 team in the east and they looked like it tonight.
This season may be a struggle for Brooklyn. With no real go-to scorer, the Nets will rely on Jeremy Lin to create offense. 18 points for Lin tonight which is not bad but with only 3 assist; I don't think he will be able to get other involved enough. I believe Brooklyn will be a bottom 5 team but will win games on streaky shooting.
Detroit Pistons 91 vs Toronto Raptors 109 - DeMar DeRozan finishes the game with 40 points going 16/27 and made no 3's. Jonas Valanciunas has a double-double with 32 and 11 boards.
We all know the Raptors is a good team. But in order to be elite a couple of changes has to be made. First, I like hoe aggressive DeRozan is on offense. Can't deny 40 points. But with only 1 assist, he not getting his teammates involved. That will be a problem when they play teams with elite defense. The second change is Kyle Lowry. I don't know if they need to trade him or what but 3-13? I know this the first game but Lowry's inconsistency dates back to last season. If he can't be more consistent the Raptors will be good but not great.
Detroit is an up and coming team that is learning to play together. With Reggie Jackson out the Pistons don't have a reliable point guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has to shoot better than 3-9 but I'm sure he will as the season progresses. Depth is a huge question mark here but once healthy Detroit could make a push to make it back to the playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets 107 vs Milwaukee Bucks 96 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scores 23 points and the Hornets will one on the road. Cody Zeller scores 15 off the bench. Marvin Williams finished with a 13 point 10 rebound game.
I was told throughout the off season that the New York Knicks were better than the Hornets and I still believe that's false. Kidd-Gilchrist is coming into his own and if Roy Hibbert play like that (15 points 9 rebounds) the Hornets are easily a playoff team.
Outside of the Minnesota Timberwolves I would say the Milwaukee Bucks has the most potential. Antetokounmpo is looking like a superstar. 31 points is big time. But in order for the Bucks to make it to the next level Jabari Parker must produce. 13 points in 30 minutes is not good enough. If the Bucks want to make it back to the playoffs they must find more scoring.
Minnesota Timberwolves 98 vs Memphis Grizzles 102 - Minnesota led after halftime but couldn't close out the new look Grizzlies. Mike Conley scores 24 points and 4 assist. Zach Randolph comes off the bench to score 19 and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Minnesota is an impressive team. With young talent like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine, the sky is the limit for this team. Too bad they played one of the toughest defensive teams in the NBA tonight. Ricky Rubio was no where to be found tonight on either side of the court. Kriss Dunn will be starting soon.
Mike Conley earning his new contract. He controlled the pace of the game from tip and shot the three well going 4-5 from deep. Marc Gasol was an anchor on defense with 4 blocks. If the Grizzlies can stay healthy they could be a Top 4 team in the west.
Denver Nuggets 107 vs New Orleans Pelicans 102 - Nuggets pull off a close one. Will Barton steps up with 22 points. 3rd year center Jusuf Nurkic lead the team in scoring with 23 points
The Nuggets are young and upcoming. Tonight they showed great ball movement. Very unselfish play. Having Faried come off the bench was a great move. Gives you a scoring option off the bench and a tough defender. I don't believe the Nuggets will make the playoffs but they will be exciting to watch grown throughout the season
Anthony Davis had 50 points 16 rebounds 7 steals 5 assist and 4 blocks. What more can you do to win? New Orleans not a very good team and they pay Davis like it. Maybe when Jrue Holiday come back the Pelicans will be more competitive.
Oklahoma City Thunder 103 vs Philadelphia 76ers 97 - Westbrook starts his MVP campaign with 32 points 12 rebounds and 9 assist. Steven Adams showed some post moves and finished with 16 points
This game was close to the end and that's disappointing if you are a Thunder fan. Westbrook is going to get his numbers but the talent around his is just not that good. Victor Oladipo finished 4-16 and Andre Roberson is not an threat from outside at all. If Westbrook doesn't get any help I can see the Thunder missing the playoffs.
I was rather impressed with the 76ers tonight. They survived runs the Thunder had and Joel Embiid scored 20 points in 22 minutes. This team is a ways away from a playoff spot but I can see the wheels in motion as they continue to rebuild
Sacramento Kings 113 vs Phoenix Suns 94 - DeMarcus Cousins 24 points on 10 shots. Rudy Gay adds 22 points. New point guard Ty Lawson grabs 6 boards and 7 assist.
Great start for the Kings. Despite all the off season drama Rudy Gay stays consistent. Cousins is developing into more of a leader and adding smart Barnes adds scoring and defense to a struggling bench unit.
Devin Booker was efficient tonight with 18 points on 8-12 shooting. Phoenix has a lot of young pieces and once they come together will be a high scoring team. Will they make the playoffs? Probably not. Eric Bledsoe's health is always a question mark and there's a lack of post scoring.
Houston Rockets 114 vs Los Angeles Lakers 120 - Jordan Clarkson scores 23 of his25 in the 2nd half as the Lakers won their home opener. DeAngelo Russell scores 20 points and rookie Brandon Ingram chips in 9 points and 3 rebounds.
James Harden is an elite point guard and this is his first game "officially" playing the position for the Rockets. 34 points 17 assist and 8 rebounds are MVP caliber numbers. Not very much talent around Harden but he is capable of making others around him better.
The Lakers were the most impressive team I saw tonight. Coach Luke Walton has this group playing with high confidence, passing the ball well and improving in transistor not defense. Jordan Clarkson started off slow. Maybe he just wasn't use to coming off the bench but stepped it up in the 2nd half. DeAngelo Russell looks like a leader in only his second year. I don't know but a playoff spot but the Lakers has became one of the most interesting team to watch in the NBA.
Miami looked shaky during the first half, in particular their perimeter defense allowing too many open jump shots and easy penetration. During the third quarter the defense stepped up which allowed easy fast break points. Liked how much Justice Winslow was bringing the ball down the court. Not the best handles but his passing ability is underrated. Plus he was active on both ends of the floor. Biggest question mark going forward for Miami will be its bench. They scored 42 points tonight but I doubt these performances will be the norm.
In the first half Orlando was knocking down the open shots, moving the ball well and rebounding outside their zones. The second half was a totally different story. The Heat are a well coached team but not good enough to completely shut your team down. With Gordon, Vucevic and Ibaka on the floor, I don't see any way the Magic can space the floor or score on the perimeter. All 5 starter scored in double-digits, including 2 3's form Aaron Gordon. Seeing Gordon shoot the ball shows me that he is not only relying on his athleticism.
Dallas Mavericks 121 vs Indiana Pacers 130 - The Mavericks was down 12 in the first half but battled back and forced OT with a Harrison Barnes 3-pointer. Indiana outscored Dallas 15-6 in overtime to win the home opener. Newcomer Jeff Teague finished with 20 points and 8 assist. Myles Turner lead all scorers with 30 points while grabbing 16 rebounds.
Under Nate McMillian the Pacers look like a faster paced team. Paul George was able to pick and choose when he wanted to turn it on; which is a good thing because it's a long season and you want him as healthy as possible. Myles Turner and Jermaine O'Neal have similar playing styles. Turner showed a little range by hitting a three but I don't feel in his 2nd year he will be consistent at it. As a whole of they want to make a push for the eastern conference championship their defense must improve.
The Mavericks just looked a stepped behind for most of the game. Anytime the Mavs needed a spark it was J.J. Barea providing it. Deron Williams finished with 25 points but was a non factor on the defense. Westley Matthews going 3-16 is unacceptable. It's just day one but for the Mavs to compete Matthews must be a Top 3 scorer on this team.
Brooklyn Nets 117 vs Boston Celtics 122 - Brooklyn stayed competitive but the Celtics were too much for them at the end. Isaiah Thomas scores 25 with 9 assist and 6 rebounds. Al Horford scores 11 points in his Boston debut.
Boston looked good in their season opener. Coach Brad Stevens is one of the best in the business and his play calling created easy passing lanes. Jaylan Brown played some good minutes scoring 9 points on 3-4 shooting. Once he improves defensively, Brown will see regular minutes in the rotation. This is a Top 3 team in the east and they looked like it tonight.
This season may be a struggle for Brooklyn. With no real go-to scorer, the Nets will rely on Jeremy Lin to create offense. 18 points for Lin tonight which is not bad but with only 3 assist; I don't think he will be able to get other involved enough. I believe Brooklyn will be a bottom 5 team but will win games on streaky shooting.
Detroit Pistons 91 vs Toronto Raptors 109 - DeMar DeRozan finishes the game with 40 points going 16/27 and made no 3's. Jonas Valanciunas has a double-double with 32 and 11 boards.
We all know the Raptors is a good team. But in order to be elite a couple of changes has to be made. First, I like hoe aggressive DeRozan is on offense. Can't deny 40 points. But with only 1 assist, he not getting his teammates involved. That will be a problem when they play teams with elite defense. The second change is Kyle Lowry. I don't know if they need to trade him or what but 3-13? I know this the first game but Lowry's inconsistency dates back to last season. If he can't be more consistent the Raptors will be good but not great.
Detroit is an up and coming team that is learning to play together. With Reggie Jackson out the Pistons don't have a reliable point guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has to shoot better than 3-9 but I'm sure he will as the season progresses. Depth is a huge question mark here but once healthy Detroit could make a push to make it back to the playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets 107 vs Milwaukee Bucks 96 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scores 23 points and the Hornets will one on the road. Cody Zeller scores 15 off the bench. Marvin Williams finished with a 13 point 10 rebound game.
I was told throughout the off season that the New York Knicks were better than the Hornets and I still believe that's false. Kidd-Gilchrist is coming into his own and if Roy Hibbert play like that (15 points 9 rebounds) the Hornets are easily a playoff team.
Outside of the Minnesota Timberwolves I would say the Milwaukee Bucks has the most potential. Antetokounmpo is looking like a superstar. 31 points is big time. But in order for the Bucks to make it to the next level Jabari Parker must produce. 13 points in 30 minutes is not good enough. If the Bucks want to make it back to the playoffs they must find more scoring.
Minnesota Timberwolves 98 vs Memphis Grizzles 102 - Minnesota led after halftime but couldn't close out the new look Grizzlies. Mike Conley scores 24 points and 4 assist. Zach Randolph comes off the bench to score 19 and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Minnesota is an impressive team. With young talent like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine, the sky is the limit for this team. Too bad they played one of the toughest defensive teams in the NBA tonight. Ricky Rubio was no where to be found tonight on either side of the court. Kriss Dunn will be starting soon.
Mike Conley earning his new contract. He controlled the pace of the game from tip and shot the three well going 4-5 from deep. Marc Gasol was an anchor on defense with 4 blocks. If the Grizzlies can stay healthy they could be a Top 4 team in the west.
Denver Nuggets 107 vs New Orleans Pelicans 102 - Nuggets pull off a close one. Will Barton steps up with 22 points. 3rd year center Jusuf Nurkic lead the team in scoring with 23 points
The Nuggets are young and upcoming. Tonight they showed great ball movement. Very unselfish play. Having Faried come off the bench was a great move. Gives you a scoring option off the bench and a tough defender. I don't believe the Nuggets will make the playoffs but they will be exciting to watch grown throughout the season
Anthony Davis had 50 points 16 rebounds 7 steals 5 assist and 4 blocks. What more can you do to win? New Orleans not a very good team and they pay Davis like it. Maybe when Jrue Holiday come back the Pelicans will be more competitive.
Oklahoma City Thunder 103 vs Philadelphia 76ers 97 - Westbrook starts his MVP campaign with 32 points 12 rebounds and 9 assist. Steven Adams showed some post moves and finished with 16 points
This game was close to the end and that's disappointing if you are a Thunder fan. Westbrook is going to get his numbers but the talent around his is just not that good. Victor Oladipo finished 4-16 and Andre Roberson is not an threat from outside at all. If Westbrook doesn't get any help I can see the Thunder missing the playoffs.
I was rather impressed with the 76ers tonight. They survived runs the Thunder had and Joel Embiid scored 20 points in 22 minutes. This team is a ways away from a playoff spot but I can see the wheels in motion as they continue to rebuild
Sacramento Kings 113 vs Phoenix Suns 94 - DeMarcus Cousins 24 points on 10 shots. Rudy Gay adds 22 points. New point guard Ty Lawson grabs 6 boards and 7 assist.
Great start for the Kings. Despite all the off season drama Rudy Gay stays consistent. Cousins is developing into more of a leader and adding smart Barnes adds scoring and defense to a struggling bench unit.
Devin Booker was efficient tonight with 18 points on 8-12 shooting. Phoenix has a lot of young pieces and once they come together will be a high scoring team. Will they make the playoffs? Probably not. Eric Bledsoe's health is always a question mark and there's a lack of post scoring.
Houston Rockets 114 vs Los Angeles Lakers 120 - Jordan Clarkson scores 23 of his25 in the 2nd half as the Lakers won their home opener. DeAngelo Russell scores 20 points and rookie Brandon Ingram chips in 9 points and 3 rebounds.
James Harden is an elite point guard and this is his first game "officially" playing the position for the Rockets. 34 points 17 assist and 8 rebounds are MVP caliber numbers. Not very much talent around Harden but he is capable of making others around him better.
The Lakers were the most impressive team I saw tonight. Coach Luke Walton has this group playing with high confidence, passing the ball well and improving in transistor not defense. Jordan Clarkson started off slow. Maybe he just wasn't use to coming off the bench but stepped it up in the 2nd half. DeAngelo Russell looks like a leader in only his second year. I don't know but a playoff spot but the Lakers has became one of the most interesting team to watch in the NBA.
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