Around the NBA: Week 23 (3/25 - 3/31)

[Mori Chu]

Nationally televised games this week (all times EST)
Mon 3/25:
7:30 pm Celtics - Hawks NBA TV
10:00 pm 76ers - Kings NBA TV, SN

Tue 3/26:
7:30 pm Lakers - Bucks TNT, NBAC
10:00 pm Mavericks - Kings TNT, truTV, TSN

Wed 3/27:
7:30 pm Clippers - 76ers ESPN
10:00 pm Suns - Nuggets ESPN, TSN

Thu 3/28:
8:00 pm Bucks - Pelicans NBA TV, NBAC

Fri 3/29:
7:00 pm Lakers - Pacers NBA TV
10:00 pm Mavericks - Kings NBA TV

Sat 3/30:
5:00 pm Celtics - Pelicans NBA TV, NBAC
7:30 pm Bucks - Hawks NBA TV, NBAC

Sun 3/31:
3:30 pm Cavaliers - Nuggets NBA TV
7:00 pm Warriors - Spurs NBA TV (CC), SN

source: https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/nba-tv ... mes-today/

NBA News
Warriors on brink of missing playoffs entirely, lol:
https://www.nba.com/watch/video/warrior ... ingle-game

Kris Dunn, Jabari Smith Jr both suspended after altercation:
https://www.nba.com/news/kris-dunn-jaba ... ltercation

NBA considering changing to "US vs World" All-Star game (please don't):
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba- ... ed-switch/

Pels' Ingram to miss at least 2 weeks with knee hyperextension:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/397 ... knee-issue

Kobe Bryant's father puts 2000 championship ring up for auction:
https://www.si.com/nba/2024/03/21/kobe- ... ng-auction

Pistons' Ausar Thompson to miss rest of season with blood clot:
https://www.si.com/nba/2024/03/20/pisto ... blood-clot

Power Rankings

Most of them don't update until Tue or Wed, so they're basically out of date and not worth posting. The following one has updated today, though:

NBA.com (Suns #8):
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2023-24-week-23

Last Week:9↑
Record: 42-29

OffRtg: 117.5 (8) DefRtg: 114.4 (13) NetRtg: +3.1 (10) Pace: 99.3 (15)

The Suns have won three straight games for the first time since early February, taking care of business against the Sixers, Hawks and Spurs. That has them back in the top six in the West, though the schedule is about to get much tougher.

Three takeaways

The Suns have had all three of their stars for the last seven games, going 5-2 and ranking third offensively (122.7 points scored per 100 possessions) over that stretch. And that’s with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal averaging just 21 and 16.7 points per game, respectively. They’ve been getting great contributions from their non-star shooters, with Grayson Allen (55% from 3-point range over his last 10 games) still on fire.
Since the trade deadline, the Suns have been at their best (plus-9.1 points per 100 possessions) with Royce O’Neale on the floor. O’Neale was on fire (12-20 from deep over four games) before going 0-for-4 for 3-point range in their win in San Antonio on Saturday.
However, the Suns’ starting lineup was outscored by 24 points in 53 total minutes over their three games before the win in San Antonio. They’ve played 33 minutes with Kevin Durant at the five over these last two weeks with all three stars available, scoring an amazing 99 points on just 67 offensive possessions (1.48 per) over those 33 minutes.
The Suns will play a second game in San Antonio on Monday, and then they’ll face the real gauntlet. Their final 10 games are all against teams that are currently at least 12 games over .500, with six of those 10 against the top four teams in the West. They’re 2-5 against the top four thus far, having allowed 122.8 points per 100 possessions over those seven games. They’ve had all three stars for only one of the seven, but that was a 27-point loss in L.A. in January.

Week 23: @ SAS, @ DEN, @ OKC

[Wally_West]

[wpmiller42]

In fairness, I think that post paints too grim a future for the Nets. They don't have any picks because of the Harden trade, but they'll be getting picks from us and Milwaukee in the coming years. None of their contracts are really all that bad, and you have some great pieces in Mikal, Cam J, Claxton, and Cam Thomas, who has been criminally utilized over the past couple of years. Sure, they probably need a legit #1, but I think Brooklyn will be on the rise over the next few years... at least until we steal Mikal back

[AmareIsGod]

In fairness, I think that post paints too grim a future for the Nets. They don't have any picks because of the Harden trade, but they'll be getting picks from us and Milwaukee in the coming years. None of their contracts are really all that bad, and you have some great pieces in Mikal, Cam J, Claxton, and Cam Thomas, who has been criminally utilized over the past couple of years. Sure, they probably need a legit #1, but I think Brooklyn will be on the rise over the next few years... at least until we steal Mikal back

Cam J was big overpay for them.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I don't think Cam Johnson's contract is that bad. He's had a down year on team that hasn't been good.

Maybe some people thought he could be more than a big 3&D wing, but not many. I think he'll bounce back pretty easily in the right environment. His health will always be a bigger concern.

[ShelC]

In the game on Jan. 26 against the LA Clippers, there was increased betting interest on the under for Porter props, which for the night were set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. There was also an over/under for Porter's made 3-pointers, which was 0.5.

That night, Porter played just four minutes before leaving the game due to what the Raptors said was a re-aggravation of an eye injury he'd suffered four days earlier in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He did not score in the game against the Clippers, had three rebounds and one assist, and did not attempt a 3, meaning the under hit on all of the props.

The next day, as part of a daily report to users on betting results, DraftKings Sportsbook reported that the under on Porter's 3-pointers was the biggest money winner for bettors of any NBA player props from games that evening.

Porter played 19 minutes two days later and scored 12 points with seven rebounds and three assists.

On March 20, in a game against the Phoenix Suns, Porter played just three minutes before leaving the game due to what the Raptors said was an illness and did not return. He did not score, attempted and missed one shot, and had two rebounds.

Sportsbooks had his over/unders set at around 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. The next day, DraftKings SportsBooks reported to its users that Porter's prop bets were the No. 1 moneymaker from the night in the NBA.

[Flagrant Fowl]

These guys need to learn they're not smarter than bookmakers.

Maybe they'd get away with it once, but as we can see, it's unlikely to work even just twice.

[Split T]

Should be a lifetime ban if they can prove Jontay was in on it. Make sure no one thinks about trying it again.

[Superbone]

Should be a lifetime ban if they can prove Jontay was in on it. Make sure no one thinks about trying it again.

Yep, the NBA should give him a nice little "Jontay" to the sideline permanently.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I've never thought the Porter brothers are all that bright in the first place.

[TOO]

This is what Adam Silver wanted.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Better Jontay Porter than Shohei Ohtani.

[LazarusLong]

Pete Rose is laughing, somewhere ...

[ShelC]

I'm interested to see what happens. Will they ban Porter for life to send a message? Will they do it for a season? Will they be willing to make an example because he's a lower profile player? Would the punishment be different for someone like Luka, SGA, Hali or some other younger, popular player who's a face of the league? Same way Draymond tends to get off with lighter punishments for his antics because he's Draymond?

[Mori Chu]

They would need clear evidence that Porter was in on it. But if they have that, they should give him a huge penalty to make an example out of him.

[Wally_West]

Maybe she can be our Eric Gordon replacement for next season. Why not give it a try? Fuck it.

[Superbone]

Whoa. I don't see how she can turn that down. She can't get that kind of money from the WNBA, can she?

[Kryptonic]

I'd take her in a heartbeat.

[Superbone]

Get this guy out of the league!

"Pulls him by the throat..."

[Split T]

I'd take her in a heartbeat.

On the suns? I love that women’s basketball is getting bigger, but they wouldn’t stand a chance in the nba