DAMN, THE SIXERS GOT THEIR ASSES BUST
At the time James Harden was traded for Ben Simmons, I predicted that the Nets got the best of that deal if Simmons actually plays, which he sorta did, but also sorta didn't. I didn't believe that Harden as a Sixer was going to work out for three reasons. #1, he's known to be a chuck. #2, he's past his prime, and #3, Harden also developed a reputation for not making too much of an effort on defense.
As for #1 and #2, I give it to Harden (and Doc Rivers) that the Beard was able to modify his game in Philly, becoming more of a passer and less of a chuck. That's something that he wasn't able to effectively do in Brooklyn.
But as for number #3, that's a different story. If a player does have injury issues, it's his defense that's going to suffer more than anything else anyway. So when you with an already established lack of defensive effort in a player that's also dealing with injury issues, the result isn't likely to be pretty. That's one of the reasons why the Sixers never should never given up Matisse Thybulle and why quality perimeter defenders, such as Simmons, are IMO invaluable in today's NBA.
AND SPEAKING OF BEN SIMMONS...
He seemed to get a kick out of his former team getting their asses bust. Back in 2021, he was the scapegoat when the Sixers were eliminated from the playoffs. So who's taking the blame this season? This time around the team's two biggest stars, the Beard and freshly-minted MVP Joel Embiid - not Doc Rivers, the organization's scapegoat - are being blamed by pundits for the team losing. Karma is a bitch, isn't it, Joel? And if the Beard does leave in free agency, that means at the end of the day the Sixers got nothing or even took a lost in the Simmons trade. Daryl Morey used to be sharp back in the days, but now I don't really know.
AND SPEAKING OF MVP...
I know I mentioned awhile back, I think around the start of the season, that Jayson Tatum should or could be in the MVP conversation, and he went out there and absolutely smoked Philly in Game 7. I don't know why he never gets his flowers; maybe he's too pretty or some shit. But my real theory is that the Celtics have been so good for long that people see them more as a team rather than being focused on an individual star. But if I were putting together a squad, I would take Tatum over Embiid, even though Joel plays a more-important position.
THE LAKERS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE FINALS?
Russell Westbrook is one of my favorite players, but in hindsight I have to say that the Lakers trading him, as well as other moves they made around the same time, at least gives them options, which is something they didn't really have before. The way they started Game 1 with AD + Lebron being backed by Schroder + Russell + Reaves was like an insult to the Nuggets' offense, and they paid the price. But again, they have options, and I perceive something like maybe Hachimura + Walker IV taking the place of Schroder and Russell in the starting lineup, maybe, if the Lakers also have enough trust in those other guys they haven't been playing of late. But at the beginning of this season, I never imagined that by the end I'd be compelled to say that LAL is deeper than even Denver, though it kinda sucks that the Lakers actually have to rely on the oftentimes-nonexistent defense of AD + Lebron given the positions they play.
SPURS WIN THE WEMBANYAMA SWEEPSTAKES
I've been saying for months now that if the NBA gives the first pick to anyone, it should be the Spurs. So now it's like they've truly received some justice for Kawhi forcing himself out some years ago.
I was recently peeping this old Mike Tyson interview when his manager, Cus D'Amato, who was old AF at the time, was saying that his desire to see Mike become a champion was what was keeping him alive. And that's how I believe the relationship between Popovich and Wembanyama will be. Gregg is an old master whose roster lacks the talent to compete for a championship. But now he has been given this young prospect who, under the right leadership, is predicted to be a champion. So it's like Popovich's NBA career has been given a second life. It was sad watching him coach a team that had virtually no must-watchability. And if you have to believe that if any head coach can bring out the full potential of Victor, it's him.
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