NFL
By: Greg Rector
Outside of the Milwaukee Bucks (6-0) start to the season no other team is unbeaten in the NBA. The depth on the rosters league-wide is such that we’re in on the “Any Given Night,” territory where no so-called favorite should be looked at as a sure thing.
First Coaching Casualty
Steve Nash has parted ways with the Brooklyn Nets. I never saw Nash as an NBA coach. He’s better suited as a player development, management-level type IMO. We shall see if things turn around in Brooklyn.
Jazz and Spurs
Both Utah and San Antonio continue to surprise NBA fans. If you haven’t seen either team play yet it’s really simple as to why they are succeeding. Both teams are simply fundamentally sound. They don’t beat themselves. I recall several times arguing with folks on Twitter over the last couple of years who were saying the game has passed Coach Gregg Popovich by. Funny those folks are awful quiet right now. Utah dismantled Memphis last night. Just goes to show that a solid game plan can neutralize an opponent, even those that have a superstar or two.
They Finally Won
The Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets Sunday night to get their first win of the season. I said on a Team NBS Twitter Spaces that the Lakers would be lucky to be 1-6 after their first seven games. I’m on track to be right. I remain convinced that until they resolve the Westbrook dilemma, this team is going nowhere.
He Didn’t Fix Anything
Ben Simmons in his nearly two years away didn’t fix his issues. He still can’t shoot and to make matters worse his defensive prowess has dropped. He was supposed to help the Nets be better defensively, not allow the likes of Giannis and Luka to put up consecutive 40-point games against them.
Close But No Cigars
The Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings records are deceiving. They aren’t getting blown out, but both teams definitely struggle especially late in close games. It’s a matter of their youth, and both need to improve their team defense. They give up too many easy buckets.
Will Doc Take The Hint
The Sixers put a hurt on the Toronto Raptors the other night led by Tyrese Maxey putting up 44 points. The Sixers were missing Joel Embid for that game. They became a track team in that game. Will Doc Rivers learn from that game? I’ve said often they need to turn Maxey lose much more often and that game showed you what can happen when they do.
He Can Shoot?
I wrote about the off-season Scottie Barnes had especially the work he put in with Rico Hines. It’s obvious that work is paying dividends. One criticism of Barnes was his lack of 3-point shooting. Well, he’s hitting just under 54% of his attempts and last night made five 3’s for a career-high. Another reason why Pascal Siakim is having such a great start to his season. Barnes keeps that up and you simply can’t ignore him on the perimeter, which leaves Siakim with more opportunities not to be double-teamed.
Not So Road Warriors
As I said at the opening no team looks to be so head and shoulders above anyone else. The Warriors looked absolutely pedestrian in their last two road games against the Hornets and Pistons. Currently sitting at 3-4 to the surprise of many. They’ll figure it out eventually.
Slow Start
The Clippers have not been impressive at all. Add to a slow start to the season and already Kawhi Leonard is being “load managed,” to the point where he will miss the next 5 games? For me, in watching them early on they do not have good ball movement at all. Ty Lue and his coaching staff need to get that figured out in a hurry.
Silver Was Right
The warning to teams about tanking and the possible consequences for doing so was the right call. Sure there are a few awful rosters in the league and several that are just so young it will be hard for them to beat more established rosters, and that’s fine. I get there’s a so-called generational player on the horizon in Victor Wembanyama (7’4″) and scouts have comped him as Kevin Durant only much taller. The race to the bottom though should never be so blatantly obvious. Another correct call was taking away the second-round picks for the Sixers for their free agency violations. When Woj and Shams are giving out contract details hours before the actual free agency window opens, that’s a very bad thing.
As always you can find me on Twitter @GregsCowboys
