2026 Elimination Ruminations: Celtics, Magic, Raptors

BOSTON CELTICS (3-4)

This was a really odd season in Boston.  The Celtics, without Tatum, were supposed to tank or at least be mediocre but instead, as happens sometimes (reference the 1993 Bulls), retained their championship pedigree even without the face of the franchise.  Then Jayson returned sooner than expected.  In hindsight, even though he regained form quickly, that was mistake number one.  The way dudes were playing, you shoulda let them finish the season out as is.  You see how they almost beat the Sixers, at full strength, in Game 7 without Tatum.

And while we're crying over spilt milk, let it also be known that I'm strong advocate of continuity.  Age factors, salaries, injuries, etc., you don't breakup a proven championship-level team prematurely, just because the star of the show is unable to play or whatever, taking for granted that your braintrust will promptly recuperate.  That's akin to quitting, besides betraying fans, and it's like the whole conclusive lesson of The Last Dance.  I'm not saying that still having Holiday, Porzingis and Horford around would have made a difference. But we'll never know, will we?

You can't tell a team that it's better to just play a season out without a star if he misses important segments and then suddenly at the last second, emerges playable.  Squads like the Sixers and Pistons also took such risks, and for them it paid off.

Embiid, hobbled he may be, emerged as the x-factor against Boston.  So I guess the ultimate lesson in all this, as has been the case for seasons (even when they did recently win a championship), is please Celtics, try to acquire a consistent, playable, above-average big.  Why they decided not to play Vucevic in Game 7, who knows?  And I'm not taking anything away from Queta, who's an overachiever.  But it's time to start taking the paint seriously again.  You can't have like rookies and shit running all roughshod over you during the playoffs.

ORLANDO MAGIC (3-4)

I'm not convinced that the Pistons are the better team.  Deeper, yes.  But what I rather believe is that if Franz Wagner remained playable, the Magic would have took it in five or six.  There really isn't much reason, based on this series, to believe otherwise.

Maxing Wagner out was a controversial decision, one of the main reasons (besides the fact he isn't a superstar) being his unpredictable health.  Health-wise, he's like a typical European in the NBA - an exceptional offensive force, but you wouldn't want to overplay (or overpay) him.

I'm also having a hard time understanding Orlando's fascination with Wendell Carter Jr.  I've been saying for year and years, even back when the Warriors were still formidable and everyone was still on this smallball shit, that the Magic needed to upgrade in the post.

Instead, they went out and acquired Bane.  I'm not going lie - that move panned out a lot better than I expected, if you consider barely making the playoffs and taking the number-one seed to seven games in the First Round an accomplishment.  Now, Orlando is just a couple of moves away for real.  They need to add a big who's actually effective and figure out a way to mitigate offensive deficiencies during those inevitable times when Franz can't play.

And ideally, they won't lose anyone in the process of rectifying those woes, as what ultimately did the Magic in against Detroit, more than anything, was lack of depth.  About midway through Game 6, dudes just ran out of steam and never fully regained it, outside of Banchero and his skinnier, less-talented yet still effective clone, Anthony Black.  Games 6 and 7, you could see Orlando came out hot (as usual).  The Pistons really couldn't do shit about it, but the Magic couldn't maintain the pace.

And by the way, whatever happened to Jonathan Isaac?  Remember that dude, a defensive specialist?  If he wasn't all banged up, the Magic would've won.

TORONTO RAPTORS (3-4)

As usual, despite their winning ways, the Cavs have failed to instill confidence in their fans.  They're one of the top 5, if not top 3, deepest teams in the NBA.  Yet they struggled to best an opponent with two of its starters missing the entire series.

Let's not forget that besides Ingram, who's a reigning All-Star, Quickley also isn't playable.  So instead, we have dudes starting who I never heard of before, like this cat Shead, proving heroes against one of the most-talented rosters in the league.  This series had sort of that Minnesota vs. Denver quality to it.

Right before Game 7, I stumbled across a video arguing that the Beard is 'the worst-performing superstar in NBA history'.  Until watching that clip, I didn't really know it was that bad.  In Game 7, if you look at the box score, he didn't really fare well at all, as the only reason he got near 20 pts was due to freethrows.

I know this isn't supposed to be about Cleveland, but in hindsight, that Harden trade looks sorta like one step forward, two steps backwards.  I won't go as far as to say that Mitchell is better at the point.  Harden is a lot better at getting his teammates involved.  But like his cohort, Donovan needs, indeed deserves the ball in his hand.  And that's the dilemma - having two deserving, ball dominant points (similar to when Garland was around) - on top of James' tendency to fizzle out.

That said, out of all the teams eliminated in the First Round, I would say that Toronto is the one that least needs a major roster change (outside of maybe acquiring a Giannis or something like that).  Their team is set, but damn those injuries, especially when it comes to the likes of Ingram. 

NBA Power Stinkings (October 2025, Part 1)

THE BLESSING... AND THE CURSE

I can now watch NBA highlights to my heart's content which, in the context of this blog at least, is a good thing.  The curse tho is that, I don't even really give AF about the NBA anymore.

And I don't mean that literally, or else, you know, I wouldn't even bother writing this post.  But now, a no.1 pick underperforming, Wemby winning MVP, the Sixers doing exceptionally well in the draft, like nothing surprises me anymore.  My NBA honeymoon ended a long time ago, and sometimes I wonder, like how can a grown man go his entire life excited about this shit, even if he's being paid to do so.

That said, I know the power of inception and am going to leave readers out in the cold.  I've also had the pleasure of seeing every team play at least once this season, I think, even the lowly Nets.  So without further ado, here comes the first Power Stinkings of the 2025-26 Season, in which the worst, most-disappointing teams in the league get their roses first.

1.  NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (0-6)

NOP has been convincingly failing at least three or four years consecutive now, starting the season with deep, above-average rosters only to make the Play-Ins or miss the postseason altogether.  And I'm sorta happy that they've made the top of this list, as it gives me the opportunity to address a theme that will popup at least once more in this post, that being stars playing out of position.

In this case, I'm of course referring to Zion.  I'm not saying that all of the Pelicans problems are due to Williamson more or less being forced to play point-forward, whereas it's obvious he's more along the lines of a conventional power-forward, but I mean something has to change in the way they play him already.

I'm also sad that Jordan Poole is now stuck in this sh*thole.  Poole was more or less on the cusp of superstardom a couple of seasons back in Golden State.  Now, he's sorta devolving into one of these Clarkson, Oubre type players, like a good scorer but one who, you know what I'm saying?

Poole was so convincing in GSW that I was convinced he would succeed and even excel elsewhere.  That hasn't been the case, and hopefully he'll end up back on a competing team with some kind of set structure, maybe even back with the Dubs eventually.

Zion still sells a lot of jerseys.  But I think if any superstar gets traded come February, it would most logically be him, you know, if NOP actually wants to move on already.

2.  BROOKLYN NETS (0-7)

The reason that the Nets didn't top this list is because, unlike the Pelicans, at least they're expected to fail.  To my understanding they're already looking forward to the next draft, as some franchises have to learn the hard way.

Brooklyn had a whopping five picks in last summer's draft and is still unable to generate buzz or apparently wins.  I understand that failed Big 3 experiment left them bitter, but perhaps they need to get off this youth movement shit ASAP, as those types of things take exceptional braintrusts, which Brooklyn doesn't have.

3.  INDIANIA PACERS (1-6)

The Pacers should also arguably top this list, because there's no reason why a team who just made the Finals, all the way to Game 7 at that - should be this garbage, even if their best player is injured.  Actually a lot of dudes are injured, but still.  In this day and age, when you see a failing team putting a punch of dudes on the injured list, it feels more like load management, giving up type shit, than factual reporting.

I won't go as far as to say Indiana has betrayed their fans, since Myles Turner finally leaving (on his own accord, with team not getting shit in return) has to sting also.  But when you hear terms like "fluke" and "overrated" being thrown around, now you know why.

4.  WASHINGTON WIZARDS (1-6)

The Wizards, as expected, suck, and there really isn't much to say beyond that.  In all the decades I've been following the NBA, Washington has always underachieved or been flatout garbage.  That's what fans have come to expect, and by this point it feels normal.

I saw some highlights the other day and, with this being a young team, the Wizards are actually kinda fun to watch.  But if any squad allows these dudes to beat them, they should expect a firm tongue lashing from coach.

5.  SACRAMENTO KINGS (2-5)

It gets to a point where you're just tired of making excuses for the Kings.  Teams with their head coach in prison are performing better than these dudes type shit.  Meanwhile, Sacramento has arguably the best PF in the game in Domantas Sabonis.

Niggas is like the Pelicans but without the injuries, so it's even harder to understand why they always fail.  In all of my years following the NBA, there was only one brief era, around the turn of the century, when the Kings were actually good.  Zach LaVine, I would theorize in part due to his looks, has had ample (undeserved) opportunity to prove alpha, but obviously he's not that type of player and should perhaps be more role oriented.

6.  DALLAS MAVERICKS (3-5)

Being a consensus no.1 pick isn't what it used to be.  Back in the day, consensus no.1s were dudes like Shaq, Duncan and AI, who came out the gate hot and never looked back.  Now, you have cats like Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg generating the buzz yet failing to dominate.

That said, I'm not dissing Flagg, at all.  If this were a 1990s' team, i.e. one that played offense with a set structure (and through an intellectual PG), I'm sure the Mavs would be contenders.  Forcing Cooper to play the point or whatever, first of all, from what I've seen he really isn't running the point at all.  D-Lo is the main man holding down that responsibility, which isn't particularly ideal since he's more of a 2.

Second, it's apparently time for Jason Kidd to go already.  If this braintrust can rationalize parting ways Doncic - i.e. the greatest scorer in today's NBA, not even a full season after he led the team to the Finals - then I don't see why they're so committed to keeping Kidd around, who is an above-average coach, but it ain't like that.

Bring in someone who can organize and sell set offenses rather than letting dudes do what they want.  Let Flagg play his natural position, i.e. SF/PF, and furthermore feed Cooper the ball instead of just letting dudes chuck up threes type shit.  AD and them have already had their time in the sun.  There's no reason, on paper, why this team should be underperforming.

7.  ORLANDO MAGIC (3-4)

I was the first (and only) pundit who, back when Bane was traded to Orlando, was like 'what's the big deal?'  Throughout the entirety of this franchise's existence, the Magic have more or less had an ass backwards braintrust, one that really can't do shit unless they're blessed with no.1 picks.  Panchero is a phenom but first of all, despite being a giant, prefers to play like a G.  And secondly, though a perennial allstar type, he's not dominant.

The Magic have been suffering from a lack of size throughout the entire Panchero era.  So how do they respond?  Finally making a big move - by pursuing one of the shorter players in the league.  Desmond Bane has a head made for Hollywood, not the NBA.

This is why I always say, braintrusts need to think for themselves rather than letting the times and fashion and media influence their actions.  Maybe the Magic will get their shit together.  But if dudes don't learn how to play in the paint it won't really amount to much.

8.  BOSTON CELTICS (3-5)

I never agreed with the Celtics more or less deciding to tank since Jayson Tatum is seriously hurt.  That's not the heart of a champion, and with this type of shit going on it's understandable why Michael Jordan recently spoke out against load management.

Dudes are fukin sissies, and in this case I'm referring to some of the braintrusts out there.  Intentionally fielding an inferior roster because a star player is hurt is a betrayal of fans, as already inferred with Indiana.

9.  MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (3-5)

I'm not really disappointed in the Grizzlies because, who really expected this roster to accomplish anything to began with?  Memphis has lost so key instrumental players over the past few seasons, replacing them with nobodies (no offense).  When was the last time you heard of a star player signing with the Grizz?  And this is despite that fact that, with Morant, they're a moderately-popular team.

Ja is now becoming the scapegoat, which I think isn't fair the way some outlets are reporting on him, you know, 'he's not as athletic' and that type of shit.  What do you expect?  That's what separates stars from superstars and why Tyrese Haliburton may never get there.

10. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (3-4)

Out of every player, it's LaMelo Ball who I would like to see effectively healthy for an entire season.  That's the only way we can ever ascertain if at least the Hornets are a playoff team.  Their roster isn't half bad, and Ball is like a perennial allstar.

Only Charlotte's braintrust knows why they gave the keys to car to someone with major injury issues.  Maybe they were like 'dude is mad popular, so f*ck it.'

11. ATLANTA HAWKS (3-4)

Speaking of injury issues, Trae Young is another player who, like Morant, may have already peaked early in his career health-wise.  You always hear dudes talking that 'give it your all' shit, but when some guys do that for a season or two, there's no going back.  I guess that's the downside in a way of a team developing too quickly around a young star, you know, going deep into the postseason and those kind of things.  Maybe the preferred course of action should be letting some of them grow up a bit.  Maybe, that's what Dallas is doing with Flagg(?).

12. TORONTO RAPTORS (3*4)

Canadians don't deserve this shit - first Team Canada, and now the Raptors.  If there was a vote for what team should be thrown out of the NBA, I'd go with Toronto because, like the Kings, their rosters like never live up to potential (except for that one season).  But with Sacramento, at least are based in California.

I'm starting to believe that yes, Brandon Ingram's style of play is too isolationist to benefit a 5-on-5 team.  Gone are the good ol' days when being able to average 20ppg season in and season out guaranteed you an allstar berth.  Dudes are now out here dropping 40 regularly, thus making players like Ingram middling scorers who ideally should evolve their games.

13. PHOENIX SUNS (3-4)

I was just about ready to write the Suns off until they defeated, indeed blew out, the undefeated Spurs.  Booker seems to still be adjusting to a fulltime PG role, one who is willing to pass even, but it's not like his options are overly ideal.  Grayson Allen seems to be benefitting from the Trump Era of the NBA, with White players - and especially American ones - proving that they can hang.

14. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (3-3)

The Clippers have a deep, talented roster, but sometimes I feel their core is too old, amongst other issues.  They've even been dubbed "the oldest team in NBA history", with the average age being about 33.  But even if they weren't, this is a squad you can count on to disappoint in one way or another.  James "the Head" Harden is easily one of the best offensive players ever, but at some point you have to argue how beneficial he actually is at the point.

15. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4-3)

For some reason I can't quite explain, I didn't go into this season expecting much from the Cavs.  I guess that's a symptom of being heartbroken, when you don't even expect the other party to live up to expectations anymore.

Yet and still, Cleveland has one of the most talented rosters in the league.  What's being floated around, since their very disappointing exit from the 2025 Playoffs, is that this squad is more dependent on Garland than many of us realize.  So either Darius is like one of the most-underrated players, or this team isn't as formidable as they appear on paper.

If I Could Send One Player to Any Team (Atlantic Division)

 Now that the season is winding down, I want to go into full fantasy mode and play a game of 'if I could send a player to any team'.  In other words, if there's one player I could send to any team in the name of instantly making them a contender or champion, all contract considerations be damned, who would that be?

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - NIKOLA JOKIC

I probably said at least three years ago that, due to injury, Joel Embiid needs to retire.  I no longer feel that way.  But due to health issues, he's a classic example of why some max players aren't worth the percentage of the salary cap they consume.

So in the name of having mercy on Maxey and co., I would give them the only C who's unanimously better than Embiid - Nikola Jokic.  But even Rudolph wouldn't be able to solve all of Philly's problem, as they doubled-embiided themselves by adding Paul George for whatever reason.

BROOKLYN NETS - KEVIN DURANT

It feels like a punishment recommending that any star player goes to Brooklyu.  The Nets are rebuilding in such a way that it's hard to tell when, if ever, the process will be complete.  They made a number of notable mistakes in the past when it came to starchasing.  So I guess now, the best thing to do is just stand pat.

But the reason I'm recommending Durant is on some finish-what-you-started type shit.  Remember it was he who initiated (with Kyrie) and then led that disastrous Big 3 that Brooklyn recently put together.  Then, instead of accepting his administrative shortcomings, KD started lambasting teammates as if they weren't good enough to be on the same team with him.  Damn.  But he didn't get away with that shit at all, as the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns were arguably the worst NBA superteam in history.

TORONTO RAPTORS - STEPH CURRY

Like the Sixers, another organization I sorta forgot exists is the Toronto Raptors.  And also like the Sixers, another organization that seldom seems to perform up to the talent of its rosters.

The Raptors recently acquired Brandon Ingram - a major trade that totally slipped under the radar.  That can be huge, if both Ingram and Barnes stay healthy.

If I wanted to instantly turn this team around, I'd send them someone like Steph.  Toronto isn't particularly strong in their backcourt, and they need someone marketable who knows how to win.

NEW YORK KNICKS - GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

Remember that this is "all contract considerations be damned".  This is if I could send anyone to the Knicks  with their current roster remaining more or less intact.  Having Anunoby would be somewhat redundant if Giannis was around, unless there's an injury.  But most of the other guys would still be needed.

KAT likes to shoot from the perimeter and isn't known as a defensive force.  Giannis, on the other hand, loves to drive and is an exceptional, even if waning, defender.  I would say that, all things considered, he's definitely a better defender than Mitchell Robinson.

This would be really fantastical, if, say, NYK were able to get Giannis for Anunoby + Robinson.  I would totally feel sorry for the latter two if something like that happened.

BOSTON CELTICS - GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

Imagine if the Celtics were able to trade Porzingis straight up for Giannis?  That's the fantasy that I'm envisioning.

I wouldn't feel sorry for Porzingis because he already has a championship, and his health, simply put, is a liability.  When Kristaps is strong, he's one of the best players in the NBA, no debate imo.  But the consistency of his strength isn't ideal on a team trying to win another championship with him as a centerpiece.

2024-2025 NBA Preseason Grades (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: C

It was cool seeing the Mavs make it to the big dance last season because when they're up against most squads, they're were the most-entertaining team in the league.  That shit didn't work against Boston tho.  So they were certain issues that Dallas needed to mitigate to take themselves to that next level.

At the top of the list was finding a solution Doncic's endurance issues, how, during the Finals for instance, he eventually ran out of steam against a team that actually knows how to play effective perimeter defense over extended periods.  And I'm not overly confident that the addition of Klay or the re-addition of Dinwiddie is going to solve that problem.  

I may be wrong.  If Dinwiddie is doing his thing, the coaching staff could then use the opportunity to give Doncic longer rests.  Someone like Thompson, if his shot was on, would have definitely helped Dallas in the Finals, but not likely to the point where they could have beat the Celtics.

It's also painful, from a Mavs' fan perspective, to watch Jones Jr. go.  When Dallas was able to play above the rim (i.e. against their conference rivals in the playoffs) they were virtually unbeatable, and Derrick was a big part of that dynamic.  It's always hurtful when the pairing of a superstar PG who is an exceptional passer coupled with an amazing dunker is broken up.  But maybe Jones will be able to build up a similar rapport with the Beard.

During this offseason Dallas, by the looks of things, failed to upgrade in a manner that could potentially topple Boston.  The Celtics specialty is perimeter defense, and the Mavericks, in their wisdom, most notably decided to go out and add perimeter players.  With Lively gone and basically being replaced with a couple of Gs, good ones though not allstars, there's no way Dallas can be as entertaining as they were last season.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: C

The Rockets have sorta developed this losing culture, but at least a couple of seasons ago they were a good watch, regardless of who they played against.  Nowadays?  Like I don't even know.  It's sorta like, in a way, the air of excitement got sucked out of this team in a way.

From a competitive standpoint, Fred VanVleet was a fine addition.  I wouldn't be surprised if Houston missing the playoffs was some sort of higher-up decision.  But the thing is that - this is my argument.  If you have a team that's young and exciting, even if they lose, keep it like that.  F*ck is a timeline anyway?  'We're going to play it smart, devalue some of our young assets and rather prioritize the addition of quality veterans who can help us win now.'  Help you win what, Houston?

The last thing any braintrust wants is having to decide whether to play vets or developing players.  If you have young players with allstar potential, then ideally they're playing behind veterans who are maybe on the verge of winning a championship.  All things considered, such does not appear to be the case with the Rockets.

Going back to last offseason, Brooks was a good addition for what they were trying to build.  Defensive players like him, who can galvanize an entire team, are priceless.  But as for Fred, he may have to go - and not in exchange for a present player(s) unless he fits the timeline of the rest of the roster, someone to make up for the departure of KPJ.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: F

What really broke my heart with the Grizzlies wasn't so much that Ja Morant-gun shit but him getting seriously injured like immediately upon returning.  I hope said "injury" was just an excuse for the braintrust to shut him down during what they already perceived as a lost season.  But if not, smh.

Just a couple seasons ago, Memphis was poised to be the next big thing in the Western Conference, nah, the entire NBA.  Instead, OKC managed to steal their thunder.  And I'm not overly confident that the Grizzlies are going to be able to reclaim it, with their most-noteworthy transaction this offseason actually being the loss of Ziaire Williams.  This is after they already lost Xavier Tillman, who went on to immediately win a championship, earlier in the season.

Aging + lack of roster retention usually does not equal progression.  I still believe that Morant may be a second coming of Jordan.  But maybe he needs to work harder in terms of not putting the organization in a position whereas, I don't even know how to put it.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: B-

Entering into this season, if Brandon Ingram sticks around, I think it's safe to say that on paper the Pelicans have the best starting five in the league.  But of course, us mature NBA analysts know that talent doesn't always equal success.  And that's esp true on a team like NOP, where you have star players with overlapping skillsets, coupled with a style of play that is more or less positionless.

I don't necessary see why the Pelicans - or even the Hawks before them - would, given their rosters, bother to acquire the services of Dejounte Murray, unless they intend to actually use him as a (starting) PG.  It's the same like when ATL acquired him a couple of offseasons ago - okay, now how is the roster going to be structured?  Where does Murray fit in alongside the other team's scorers - two, if not all three of whom are iso-oriented?

And then, who are they planning to take back for Ingram anyway?  I'm not in favor of breaking up this roster, but it's going to take a helluva coach to make it work.

If this were a team during the 1990s, when players knew how to stay in their lane so to speak, it would be like yeah, they're contenders.  But in today's NBA, when most coaches are more or tokens, I mean I don't even know off the top of my head who's coaching NOP.  But I don't remember it being a name like, you know what I'm saying?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: A

I was really impressed with the Spurs' offseason because first of all, they were able to make their moves quickly.  Secondly, they're staying in their lane.  Wemby is already one of the best players in NBA, but it's not like 'hey, let's go overboard and try to win now'.  But at the same time, it isn't like 'let's surround our star with a team that doesn't know how to win'.  You know what I mean?  Like moderation type shit, going out and getting a couple of older players that makes the team more, not less, must watch.

If I could give out a "Offseason Player of the Year" award, that'd go to CP3.  I've been saying for years that how some older star players need to learn how to team up with their younger counterparts, playing for up-and-coming teams instead of chasing instant championships - a strategy that doesn't work most of the time anyway.

I also approve of the addition of Harrison Barnes, the type of player who not only contributes but also seems to bring a sense of stability and order to any system.  This should be more exciting than last season, so long as the Spurs don't suffer any major injuries.  And who knows?  With another star or two and a well-rounded bench, there you go, contender time.  Maybe "the Neck" will walk away with a ring after all.

CONCLUSION

If not for the Spurs and Pelicans, the Southwest would have a had a painfully boring offseason.  This current Spurs' roster, under Popovich, could prove viably competitive, playoff-worthy even.  As for New Orleans, even though they have a helluva roster, the excitement isn't quite there because it'll take a basketball mastermind, the type of which isn't like readily available, to make all those high-grade pieces work in tandem.

2023 Western Conference Play-In Predictions (Round 1)

TIMBERWOLVES (42-40) VS. LAKERS (43-39)

FAIR & SQUARE

Even if the Lakers did respect hard work and continuity, which they apparently don't, the Timberwolves would still have a better roster.  Lebron is no joke on offense but is a defensive liability.  And watching AD play, I feel like he's constantly in pain but taking one for the team.  Like he's still an exceptional player but isn't the AD of old.  For instance, you never hear anyone saying he's one of the best centers in the game these days.  And whereas the Lakers are now one of the deepest teams in the NBA, it isn't necessarily that the role players adequately complement a chuckin Lebron and a hobbled AD.  Maybe it would be if, once again, they had continuity.  But the way LAL rotates players in and out of the starting lineup, even the ones who have been around since the beginning of the season, is disheartening.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

But they're probably still going to prevail against the Timberwolves away because, lucky for them, Minnesota has been experiencing all types of misfortunes of late.  First was Naz Reid, who's an absolute beast, breaking his wrist.  Then during the last game of the season Jaden McDaniels, another important and effective player off the Minnesota bench, broke his own hand punching a wall, which ain't something you hear everyday.  And then, lo and behold, the one T-wolves opponent the Lakers would have to worry about most, Rudy Gobert, decides to punch his own teammate, even though doing so would undoubtedly result in him getting suspended, you know, right before his team is about to play the most-important game of their entire season.

So I personally believe the script for this one has already been written.  The Timberwolves, imo, weren't favored during last season's playoffs, and they aren't favored now.  The Lakers, at or near full strength, barely beat the tanking Jazz the other night.  So in my mind there's really no way they could beat a healthy Minnesota squad at full strength in such a critical game.  But the Timberwolves are down three key players, i.e. a starter and two regular-rotation guys, so we will likely witness LAL getting their asses bust by Memphis in the First Round instead.

THUNDER (40-42) VS. PELICANS (42-40)

FAIR & SQUARE

I believe that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Brandon Ingram will end up counteracting each other, even though the former tends to have a greater impact on games, especially close ones, overall.  So then, it's up to the other players to decide who wins this game, and I think New Orleans has the edge there, especially if McCollum plays.

You can argue that if Zion were playing it would be no contest, but he and Ingram don't play particular well together anyway, and if the Pelicans were smart they'd trade Zion and get another star or two who's healthy and actually complements Brandon's skillset.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I can imagine that the NBA would be more inclined to have SAG and Josh Giddey in the playoffs than the Pelicans, and I wouldn't be surprised if OKC even give the Nuggets a run for their money, even in a seven-game series.  But the Pelicans made it out of the play-ins last season and can probably do so again.  Or at least that's what I believe, that they're a better all-around team than OKC, though again with Shai, miracles are possible.

CONCLUSION

I can understand how the NBA is favoring Lebron again.  He just broke Kareem's record, which is the biggest (American) sports' story of the year, and also these days he doesn't make as many political statements as a couple of years ago.  But it's going to be sad when the Lakers run into a really good, healthy team, unless they're really expecting the likes of Malik Beasley and D'Angelo Russell to win a series for them.

And personally I think OKC would stand a better chance against Denver, but it's hard for me to imagine them beating the Pelicans, which is a deceptively-deep squad.

Is Williamson + Ingram Redundant?

Even prior to CJ McCollum showing up, in my mind, if not in this blog, I did question the pairing of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.  It wasn't really a big deal back then, when Zion was living the hoagie life.  But now he's on the court and looking quite healthy, but the Pelicans, despite having one of the most-talented, well-rounded and deepest rosters in the NBA. often look mediocre on court.

The problem is that Williamson and Ingram's playing styles are too similar, as in being ISO oriented.  And the reality is that it's very rare that a team with two ISO studs win a championship.  Two chucks don't make a right, and off the top of my head, the only such pairing I can think that won it all was Wade + LBJ with the Heat.  But even then you can't call Lebron a chuck, and he was averaging over 6 assists, and Wade added a respectable 5 on top of that.  The Heat also had Chalmers, which is something I want you to keep in mind for what I have to say later.  But by contrast, so for this season Zion + Brandon are averaging less than 8 assists combined.  And you can't really blame them, because unlike Lebron or Wade neither really has PG experience.

There's two ways I would try to rectify this situation.  First would be for Zion to spend like all of his time offensively in the post.  That's why I recommended a few articles back that he studies the footwork of Barkley, the best postup player I've ever seen.

But the thing about Williamson is that in his case, it's true what they say - once he pivots and drives to the basket, there really isn't anything a defender can do without risking being plowed over.  Zion's style of play requires him taking riskier shots than he needs to, but at least they go in.  So I can't really make the argument that he has to play in the post, like I would with AD for instance.

So the only second alternative, the way I see it, is to let Alvarado start at point.  That's what I was getting at by mentioning Mario Chalmers earlier.  LBJ used to chew dude out because, you know, he's not a stud like him and Wade and Bosh.  But that was exactly what the Heat needed, someone playing alongside those dudes in a position to handle the ball who could then balance them out.  The problem with Jose though is that sometimes he chucks.  And he also find himself open a lot, meaning that if dudes actually passed him the ball, like the way the NBA is these days he'd have to shoot or be labelled a Ben Simmons or some shit.  But hey, he is so far hitting 40% of his threes.  And if the coach drills into his mind that his job is to facilitate, he would have the weapons around him on par with any other starting five in the NBA.

CONCLUSION

Sometimes, no matter how talented a roster may be, it takes time for them to gel.  But in the modern NBA by the time the gelling starts, usually one or more of the key pieces is ready to move on.  So time is not to be taken for granted .  Now everybody likes to picking on the Lakers, but at least AD + LBJ got their championship when they were supposed to.  So hopefully the Pelicans will get their shit together, because I still kinda believe that Zion didn't want to play for them to begin with.

The 2021-2022 Los Angeles Lakers (a Lebron Tragedy)

Due in part to his feening ways,
we may never see this look on Lebron's face ever again.

By all means karma, or common sense really, was going to catch up with Lebron eventually due to his demand for instant, ever-fluctuating superteams.  But for it to happen in the middle of his Los Angeles Lakers' tenure is like so not the time.

And the reason I say that is because, it's like the Lakers are never supposed to have a losing season.  It was acceptable for a little while post-Kobe.  The Lakers were very loyal to Kobe, one of the most-expensive players in the game, and as such were forced into a rebuild once he retired.  And they engaged in a true rebuild, i.e. one centered on draft picks, not going after proven vets.  So it was expected they would lose for a little while.

But all of that changed once Lebron came to town.  Playing in the East for the Heat and the Cavs, Lebron had been to the Finals for eight years straight (from 2011-2018).  So there was this belief circulating that he could lead any team to the Finals just like that (like how he did in 2007).

Then he came to Lakers in 2018-19, playing alongside many of those aforementioned draft picks.  From the time news broke that Lebron was coming to town, the Lakers started doing dumb shit like letting Julius Randle, one of the most promising young bigmen in the NBA, walk.  But still I liked that squad, i.e. the Lakers' young core of Ball-Ingram-Kuzma and Hart being under the leadership of LBJ.  That would've let the world know that Lebron really cared about the Lakers, as in being more concerned for the future than the present, because anyone with half a brain could have known that in the long run, gutting an entire young core for one player (Anthony Davis) would be a problem the organization would have to deal with sooner or later.

And unfortunately for the Lakers, it has been sooner.  I always believed that AD belongs in LA even more than Lebron.  And that's because, even if there are some dumbasses going around these days thinking that shooting is more important to NBA basketball than size, conventional wisdom dictates that the latter is preferable.  And that is why the Lakers, the wisest NBA team of all, always makes sure they have one of the best, if not the best center in the NBA.

Anthony Davis, when healthy, is generally considered the best center in the game.  So it only makes sense that the same team who employed the likes of Mikan, Chamberlain, Kareem, Shaq and Gasol (all of whom won championships for the Lakers) would also seek out AD.  That's been the main secret of the Lakers success, to always have the best bigman in the game.

And of course AD got them a championship also.  So at the end of the day, I would argue that the Lakers' current failure isn't as attributable to GM Lebron as it is the health of Anthony Davis, who imo should just retire at this point.  But that doesn't mean that GM Lebron doesn't take some of the blame also.  After all, he's supposed to be able to play the 5 himself and dominate (most teams) at that position if need be.

CONCLUSION

I would also argue that it really doesn't matter which part of the country you come from; anyone who has NBA dreams has fantasized about playing on the Lakers.  It's like okay, you may fantasize about playing for your home team, but you're going to fantasize about the Lakers also.  And with Lebron actually being in a position to force that dream into a reality, you can't knock him.

But damn, what about them other cats who also dreamed of being Lakers but got sacked once LBJ got there?  Those are the ones, like Lonzo Ball and even Alex Caruso (who are now on the best team in the East), that are probably sitting back right now, laughing their asses off.  Even Brandon Ingram, leader of the lowly Pelicans (who AD sh*tted on so that he could go to LA) has to be getting a kick out of this current fiasco.  It's like now, teams who need a win are actually looking forward to playing the Lakers - something none of us could have imagined when this season commenced.  But still Lebron hasn't given up hope, and therefore neither should we.

But either way, I'm wondering which superstars would want to go to LA this offseason to team up with him anyway?  Giannis?  So we may be looking forward to an extended period LAL mediocrity - something virtually unheard of in the franchise's history and even worse than the initial post-Kobe era since now the team does in fact one of the best players, bigmen even, in the league.  But I guess the one good thing about is that now Lebron will have the opportunity to redeem himself, as in prove that he isn't only committed to superteams.

Why I Feel Sorry for Lebron James

I remember watching a clip of the first NBA game Lebron James ever played in.  And if I remember correctly, it was in Sacramento.

Before the game he was on the court stretching, and there was like a circle of cameras around him.  You know, the media was more interested in this rookie than the established vets on the court.  And back in those days the Kings had a couple of stars on their team - still do, I guess.

But anyway, the television announcer said something that I will never forget.  What he said was something like 'never in the history of sports has there been so much anticipation around the arrival of a rookie'.  In other words, Lebron James was the most-popular and respected rookie in any sport ever, i.e. a professional athlete who was famous even before hitting the big leagues.  And that fame wasn't a result of his looks or personality.  Rather it was because he's a damn good and highly-athletic basketball player.  But with these gifts, especially in the post-Jordan era, also came the pressure of winning championships.

Now if you or I were to make the NBA, that would be considered a major accomplishment in and of itself.  In fact if you ever watch those post-draft interviews, it's like every player always says the same thing - 'I feel so blessed to have made it to the NBA.'  I'm sure Lebron himself said some shit like that when he was drafted.  And it's true - even for these dudes who basketball scouts have been dickridin from their early teens and sometimes even prior to that, there's no guarantee they'll make it to the NBA.  Being a basketball star in high school or even college doesn't guarantee that you will be drafted and make an NBA squad.  And if you don't believe me, just respectively ask the likes of Lenny Cooke or Victor Page.

So now, we had this teenager coming into the NBA being expected to eventually yet expeditiously win a championship.  Now I don't know how old you are reading this post, but that's a lot of pressure to put on a kid - or anybody for that matter.  And part of the reason is because when it comes to competing in professional team sports, there's so many variables which are simply outside of a single player's control.

So basically, it's like you have this dude making tens of millions a dollar a year and playing so well that he leads the 2006-07 Cavs, which has to be the most-mediocre roster to ever make the NBA Finals, to the big dance.  But still, he's being told that despite unanimously being considered one of the best players in NBA history, if he doesn't win a championship then he's a failure.  And remember, Lebron was more or less a kid at the time.  So who can blame him for becoming engulfed by the Mamba mentality and transforming into a feen?

Back in the days you could team Lebron with just about any pair of superstars - Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh or Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love - and expect a championship (though that latter Cavs' team had a pretty good roster overall).  But last season - for the first in his career really - LBJ showed signs of mortality.  So even though now he has AD and Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony on his team, nothing is to be taken for granted.  In fact I would venture to say that last postseason's Lakers, even with AD injured, if it were 2007 Lebron he still could have taken that half-assed team to the Finals (if they were in the East).

And the reason I'm bringing all of this up is that, even though the Lakers recently won the championship in the bubble, I believe that Lebron would be better off at this very moment if he hadn't gutted the roster of the team when he first came over.  In fact if I remember correctly, the original plan was for him to serve as a superstar mentor to the likes of Julius Randle, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart and for the squad to become contenders more gradually.  I mean the Lakers weren't winning back then, but they put together a promising core nonetheless.  And Lebron would be better to have those dudes around him right now as opposed to Carmelo and them.  And that's taking nothing away from AD and Westbrook, who are still amongst the most-productive players despite being tenured vets.  But the point is that it is that feen mentality that always has Lebron superteaming and consequently fuckin up the rosters of teams he plays on.  However the problem is that now, even he is not as good as he used to be, so a new strategy needs to be adopted.

CONCLUSION

Truth be told, the Lakers are my sentimental favorites to win the championship.  But I'd be lying if I said I actually believe they're going to accomplish that goal.  That is not to say I would be surprised if they did so, but there's better teams out there than L.A.

If Lebron had actually stuck to the plan to tough it out with the young Lakers' core he was met with when he came out West, right now, when you look at the development since then of players like Ingram and Randle, they would now perhaps be the best team in the NBA.  But instead, being a feen and all, Lebron's like flipping rosters every season.  And King James, as great of a player as he is, may not be good enough to pull that shit off anymore.  So it's like is he a feen?  Yes.  But it would appear that he was forced to adopt such a mindframe, in the name of winning championships and getting critics off his back.  And you know how they say - old habits are hard to break.

Does Zion Williamson Have Work-Ethic Issues?

The above video was posted to YouTube earlier today by ESPN's The Jump, where host Rachel Nichols interviewed New Orleans Pelicans' General Manager David Griffin (along with Paul Pierce and Vince Carter) concerning the welfare of Zion Williamson, whom the team shutdown for the rest of the Las Vegas Summer League after him playing just the first half of his first game.  The knee injury which reportedly rationalized this decision is not seen as anything major.  But it is what Griffin said about Zion's overall conditioning which really caught my attention:

"He came to us.  He wasn't in great condition.  And from a cardio perspective, it wasn't a great situation to begin with."

The thing that separates the NBA greats from other players who have their same physical attributes is supposed to work ethic.  Michael Jordan was reportedly the hardest working player of his era.  So was Kobe Bryant.  And I've read a couple of accounts of players who formerly played with Lebron being impressed by how he put it in at the gym.  In other words, on top of really-tall and really-athletic they really, really wanted to win.  As for Zion Williamson, he is not at that point right now.  Nor is there any guarantee that he will ever be.

Now let's be frank.  Zion Williamson was not the number-one pick in the Draft due to his work ethic.  Or to put it into perspective, if you or I were born with his body we would have likely been the first pick in Draft also.  This is not me trying to dis him or say anything negative about his drive.  Indeed if anything I'm giving a shoutout to his mom, dad and anyone else who may have passed that trait down to him.

So there is the possibility that Zion likes basketball more than the average person who enjoys playing the sport.  Or there's the possibility that, like any normal 19-year old (his birthday was just two days ago) he would rather spend the day doing things he enjoys (being with his girlfriend, playing videogames, chilling with his homeys) as opposed to being in the gym or on an airplane.  And let's not forget that he has already made a lot more money than most of us ever will.

I knew a few dudes that, if fate allowed, they would spend like all day every day playing basketball.  But we don't for sure if Zion is one of them.  And maybe he'll have to age, just like most of us do, before he really starts feening to win or is mature enough to take his career seriously.  In other words we perceiving him as the next LBJ does not necessarily mean that being so is one of his aspirations.

LET'S GO PELICANS!

Below is a pic which, according to The Jump, is supposed to be how the Pelicans' starting lineup would look if the season started today:

I'm a bit disappointed that Lonzo's name is not on the list, though I can logically understand why.  But at the same time putting a point-guard who specializes in passing on the bench kinda renders him ineffective.

Under this situation ideally JJ or Brandon would be the first to go to the bench, thus bringing in Lonzo and sliding Jrue over to the 2.  Or they may go small, inserting Lonzo in place of Favors and moving Zion to the 5 (and everyone else up a number).

Derrick Favors has been in a couple of situations where he was the player with the 'highest upside' or whatever on his team.  And whereas he does possess a versatile skillset, I don't feel overly confident with dude starting at center.

Lakers' Team Chemistry Officially Destroyed

This is something I wanted to bring up even before the Lakers' got their asses handed to them last night by the Oladipo-less Pacers, which they are calling LBJ's worst loss ever. When you put players on the trade block, especially who are tenured (as in being drafted and only identifiable with one squad), it's going to destroy team chemistry - especially when the trade doesn't go through and particularly in this case, where the Lakers tried to part ways with over half of their roster.

Sometimes you hear NBA pundits talking about "Lebron-ball", which is a theory that states having Lebron on the court is detrimental to a team. But I think we all know that's more or less BS. The true threat Lebron poses is that for whatever reason(s) when he's on a team (that isn't Miami) he's given executive-like influence. So if Lebron wants Anthony Davis then Lebron gets Anthony Davis, even if we have to sh*t on three-fourths of our squad to do so. For some reason, even though this dude is in his mid-30's and has more or less been a professional athlete his entire life, Lebron has yet to grasp the concept of team morale.

Then there's Magic Johnson. In the entire history of the NBA, from a fan perspective Magic is the most-lovable player ever. But when it comes to actually using his brain, well, let's just say he's not the sharpest tool in the shed. And he also seems ready to, at any given moment, sh*t on virtually any player on the Lakers' roster whose name isn't Lebron.

It's hard to imagine the Lakers' true core (Ball, Kuzma, Hart, Ingram) giving their all to help LBJ reach the next level with this team considering the way they are generally treated. I'm sure the 42-point loss last night was their way of telling Lebron - and I guess by extension even Magic - 'fuk you'.

I understand that basketball-wise AD is probably more valuable than all four of those guys put together. And I believe that he, being undoubtedly the best center of this generation, should be on the Lakers even moreso than Lebron. But as mature adults, the executives who are running these organizations need to be more sensitive to players' feelings if they realistically expect them to bring their all to the court.

SUGGESTION

Maybe the Lakers should instead trade Lebron for AD?