Around the League: Week 24 (3/28 - 4/3)

[Superbone]

Nationally Televised Games

Tuesday, March 29th
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Utah Jazz vs LA Clippers, 10:00 p.m. on TNT

Wednesday, March 30th
Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors, 10:00 p.m. on ESPN

Thursday, March 31st
Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
LA Lakers vs Utah Jazz, 10:00 p.m. on TNT

League News

Power Rankings, Week 24: East leaders set to clash with 2 weeks left
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2021-22-week-24

1. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 1)
Record: 61-14

Pace: 100.0 (9) OffRtg: 115.0 (2) DefRtg: 106.6 (2) NetRtg: +8.5 (1)

Chris Paul returned from a 15-game absence on Thursday, Devin Booker celebrated by scoring 49 points, and with their victory in Denver, the Suns clinched the league’s best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. So, with eight games left to play, they reasonably (and finally) took their foot off the gas.

Ha ha. No, they didn’t. Instead, the Suns came home and improved to 26-9 against the other 15 teams that currently have winning records, erasing a 15-point deficit to beat the Sixers on Sunday. Booker had his second straight big game (35 points on 13-for-22 shooting) against an MVP candidate and has now averaged 33.0 points on an effective field goal percentage of 62.3% over the Suns’ eight-game winning streak. As a team, the Suns have shot 50% or better from the field in nine straight games, tied for the longest such streak in 29 years.

And with their comeback wins over the Wolves and Sixers last week, the Suns are 16-14 (.533) in games they trailed by double-digits. No other team is better than 16-24 (.400) and Phoenix would be the first team in the last five years (since 2016-17) to have a winning record in games it trailed by at least 10 points. The Suns also have a chance to record the best road record in NBA history. At 30-6, they’d need to go 5-0 on the road to hold it by themselves, while a 4-1 mark would have them tied with the 2015-16 Warriors (34-7) atop the list.

The (reeling) Warriors themselves, along with the (not reeling) Grizzlies, will have something to say about that. The Suns are currently 2-3 against the second and third place teams in the West.

Biggest Regrets from the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/295 ... e-deadline

LeBron James is doubtful, and so are the Lakers' playoff hopes
https://sports.yahoo.com/le-bron-james- ... 07593.html

[Split T]

Interesting stuff here…looks like Jokic is in the lead for MVP. Embiid was ahead in February on this same poll. Booker shows up in 7th behind Ja, Tatum, and Luka.

[carey]

I'm still a little shocked that the best player on the best team in the league by a wide margin is only 7th in potential MVP votes. It shouldn't bother me but it does.

[Split T]

Poll was taken last week…before the Philly game. With Ja out, Boston sliding from the 1 seed with Williams out, and the suns headed for 65+ wins, I can see the Booker narrative maintaining(assuming he keeps up his current play) and him getting a few more. I think he’s gonna end up top 5. Mostly I just really want a 1st team all-nba finish.

[Split T]

Booker being punished for the suns being good all year. Celtics and Mavs(Tatum and Luka) have picked it up in the 2nd half and voters are noticing. Booker has been just as good and the suns have been better. I get the main 3 guys above Booker and I got the Ja stuff, but he’s gonna end up missing almost 30 games. To me Booker is a no doubt 4th place mvp vote. I think I’d put Tatum 5th…maybe Morant.

[Split T]

I’m listening to the Lowe podcast and they’re getting into All-NBA talk and it seems Lowe has moved Booker to 1st team after having him 3rd team last week, so that’s a win.

[Split T]

Maybe the biggest reason I’m not as high on Jokic. Ayton does well against him…Hasn’t always fared as well against Embiid or Giannis

[Charlie Smithy!]

I'm still a little shocked that the best player on the best team in the league by a wide margin is only 7th in potential MVP votes. It shouldn't bother me but it does.

For this reason (and others), I feel like I've started to care less and less about the MVP.

[rhylek]

Same for DPOY, too much based on reputation

[In2ition]

Maybe the biggest reason I’m not as high on Jokic. Ayton does well against him…Hasn’t always fared as well against Embiid or Giannis

At least for Giannis, he combines size with speed. That's a very difficult combination to slow down.

[bajanguy008]

Brooks cracks me up
Never shot on words or confidence

[bajanguy008]

Officially back

[bajanguy008]

Standings going into tonight's games



Lakers vs Mavs - No Bron
Jazz vs Clips - PG returns

[dragickingdom]

Standings going into tonight's games



Lakers vs Mavs - No Bron
Jazz vs Clips - PG returns

It will be interesting to see how Clips look with PG. That could end up being a scary 7-8 matchup.

I'm sure the Jazz are happy to stop thief free fall and the Lakers will be tied (didn't look up thier tie breaker) with the Spurs.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Spurs have the tiebreaker against the Lakers based on conference record.

It's a futile exercise right now, but it hasn't stopped me from trying to read the tea leaves and determine the Suns first round opponent. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Minnesota or New Orleans, but my gut is telling me it'll be the Clippers.

I like the Wolves chances against the Clippers in a single game for the 7th spot. The Wolves aren't afraid of a physical game and their home crowd will be tuned up. I think the Pels are the best team among them, the Lakers and Spurs, but I don't think they could beat the Clippers twice in LA to win the 8th seed.

Edit: I'm not sure if the 9-10 seeded team has to win two games against the 7-8 loser anymore or if that was just a thing in the bubble.

[Flagrant Fowl]

[Indy]

I don't see the Lakers keeping their play-in spot. The head to head with the Spurs is 2-2 and like UODucks said, Spurs have 4 fewer losses in the conference. They will trade AD this summer, too.

[In2ition]

I think that the first team to 3 wins will get in. The Spurs schedule remaining is nearly as tough, imo.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Not surprising, but still...

[dragickingdom]

That is the look someone gives when they walk in on some random person taking a dump in the middle of their living room...it is a combination of disgust, shock and surprise.