Around the League: Week 19 (2/21 to 2/27)

[ShelC]

Nationally Televised Games
Thursday, Feb. 24th
Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10:00 p.m. on TNT

Friday, Feb 25th
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:00 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 26th
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8:30 p.m. on ABC

Sunday, Feb. 27th
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, 1 p.m. on ABC
Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. on ESPN

League News
The 10 takeaways from a rollicking All-Star return to Cleveland
https://www.nba.com/news/the-10-takeawa ... -cleveland

New York Knicks' Obi Toppin wins dunk contest with one-handed slam
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/333 ... anded-slam

Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns edges Trae Young, Luke Kennard to win NBA 3-point contest
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/333 ... nt-contest

LeBron James: 'Door's not closed' on return to Cleveland Cavaliers; 'my last year will be played with my son'
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/333 ... yed-my-son

Power Rankings, Week 19: Top 10 sees shake-up as season resumes after break
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2021-22-week-19

1: Phoenix Suns Record: 48-10
Last Week: 1
Pace: 100.0 (7) OffRtg: 113.5 (3) DefRtg: 105.4 (3) NetRtg: +8.1 (1)

Everything was going right for the Suns, who have won 18 of their last 19 games. But Chris Paul, who’s played in 148 of a possible 152 games in Phoenix, broke his thumb against Houston on Wednesday and could miss the rest of the regular season.

The Suns will obviously look for backcourt help in the buyout market, but for now, the point guard position belongs to Cameron Payne and Elfrid Payton. Payne, who missed the last 13 games before the break with the wrist injury, has seen the second biggest drop in effective field goal percentage (from 57.6% to 46.2%) among 232 players with at least 200 field goal attempts in each of the last two seasons. Payton, meanwhile just 38% from the field and a brutal 3-for-13 from the line over those 13 games that Payne missed, with the Suns (who won 12 of the 13 games) being outscored over his 171 minutes on the floor.

Devin Booker, who ranks eighth in the league in usage rate, will surely take an even larger role in the offense. Last season, he shot a little better with Paul off the floor than he did with him on the floor. This season, it’s the opposite. Booker has an effective field goal percentage of 54.0% (on 760 shots) with Paul on the floor, but just 43.2% (on 300 shots) with Paul on the bench.

The good news is that the Suns have a relatively easy post-break schedule, with 13 of their 24 games against the 15 teams currently below .500. That includes four of their next five against teams no better than the 25-34 Blazers.

Three numbers to know…

1. Currently third in both offensive and defensive efficiency, the Suns would be just the third team in the 26 seasons for which we have play-by-play data to rank in the top three on both ends of the floor, joining the 2014-15 Warriors and ’16-17 Warriors. Both of those teams won the championship.

2. The Suns are 24-3 (.889) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes (with 12 straight wins), which would be the best clutch record in the 26 seasons for which we have clutch data. They’re also the only undefeated team (36-0) when leading after the third quarter. They also have the league’s best record (40-2, with 39 straight wins) after leading by double-digits, and are the only team with a winning record (11-10) in games they trailed by double-digits.

3. The Suns’ starting lineup has played 625 total minutes, 117 more than any other five-man group. (It also led the league in total minutes last season at 706.) It’s outscored its opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions, a mark that ranks 11th among 24 lineups that have played at least 200 minutes. The Suns have had the league’s top-ranked bench in each of the last two seasons.

Week 19: @ OKC, vs. NOP. vs. UTA

[Mori Chu]

Thanks Shel, appreciate the thread and articles.

[ShelC]

Yea a little light so far with everything All-Star and now a little break until the middle of the week. The CP news is the top story coincidentally.

[Indy]

Devin Booker, who ranks eighth in the league in usage rate, will surely take an even larger role in the offense. Last season, he shot a little better with Paul off the floor than he did with him on the floor. This season, it’s the opposite. Booker has an effective field goal percentage of 54.0% (on 760 shots) with Paul on the floor, but just 43.2% (on 300 shots) with Paul on the bench.

Holy shit

[Split T]

[ShelC]

[Wally_West]

I know it’s unlikely but could Jevon come back under a 2-way contract?

[Superbone]

Bring back Carter while Paul is out?

[ShelC]

I think Carter might be redundant with Holiday here and he wouldn't fill a need as a true PG. Elf can provide PG play, for whatever that's worth.

[Split T]

I don’t think Carter is 2-way eligible. This is year 4 for him, right? Have to be in first 3 years

[The Bobster]

Running the offense certainly isn't his strong suit. That said, I like Carter and hope he catches on somewhere.

[Wally_West]

I don’t think Carter is 2-way eligible. This is year 4 for him, right? Have to be in first 3 years

According to a very quick google search, this is his last year of eligibility. Would be him back on a 2-way in a heartbeat. Guard depth cant hurt with the injury to Paul.

[Split T]

Hmm, I would obviously take him…I’m still not sure he’s eligible. It depends on when they count them as fewer than 4 years. If they calculate it like he’s played 3.75 years then he would be eligible…I just thought I heard it said they are only eligible in their first 3 years.

Edit: Just looked up Hutchison who was on a 2-Way for us and this was his 4th year in the nba, so Carter would be eligible. Not eligible for the playoffs, but can’t hurt to have him around.

[LazarusLong]

I saw the posts just mentioning the last name "Carter" and I thought "Isn't Vince like, 50 now?" ...

[carey]

I think Carter might be redundant with Holiday here and he wouldn't fill a need as a true PG. Elf can provide PG play, for whatever that's worth.

Would rather start AH and let he & Book do most of the ball handling. Elf has been awful this year. I'm not sure why Monty is sticking with him so long but time to let AH and C-Payne have a shot at PG duties.

[bajanguy008]

[bajanguy008]

Smh

[Indy]

Smh

He only has one more year on his rookie deal after this one...

[ShelC]

[Flagrant Fowl]

I was on this Zion/NOLA thing early. It's been clear to anyone paying attention that he doesn't want to play there, so he's biding his time and sandbagging it until he has a chance to play in a city and/or for a team of his liking.