But the Denver Nuggets have mile-high expectations of themselves … to not get caught up in all of Phoenix’s hullabaloo, or at least let it stay within the confines of the State of Arizona … and do what they need to do to keep the Larry O’Brien trophy at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

By the way, Nikola Jokic has scored 227 points (2nd in the NBA), grabbed 103 rebounds (1st in the NBA, and dished 67 assists, third place only to Trae Young’s 73 and Tyrese Haliburton’s 70.

Boston started off hot, and there was also talk of a 2021 Phoenix-Milwaukee rematch, that is until Jrue Holiday got traded right back to the Eastern Conference and into the laps of the Bucks’ biggest challenge in the East.

And the ghost of James Harden did what he always does in the playoffs – disappeared – and the 76ers have won five of their first six to keep themselves, maybe even thrust themselves into the thick of the Eastern Conference conversation behind the coaching genius that is Nick Nurse.

In all of this, one cannot overlook how well the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and LeBron James (at age 38) are playing. And how Harden will affect the Los Angeles Clippers’ high hopes – and Tyronn Lue’s blood pressure.

Here’s where we are two weeks into the season and two weeks into my prognostications:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 24 years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v11.8.23 – Two Weeks In: Indy and Dallas Surprising, Philly’s Ghost is Gone appeared first on Back Sports Page.

“I’m not a system player … I am a system.”

Those were James Harden’s emphatic words about himself in his opening presser as a Los Angeles Clipper five days ago.

Unfortunately, he mispronounced his words … should have been, “I am a Sixth Man.”

It’s still unclear who wanted this trade more – the Clippers or Harden himself.

If it’s the Clippers, be careful what you wish for.

In his first outing as a Clipper, smooth sailing it wasn’t for Harden. He was “meh” average, scoring 9 points in the first half and eight in the second for a total of 17 points –  just under Kawhi Leonard’s 18, tying Russell Westbrook, and just a shade above Norman Powell, who came off the bench with 14.

He wasn’t bad – he was just “meh.” Not sure what was uglier – his second half or the Harden 8’s he wore.

You expect more from someone who’s been a Most Valuable Player, and whined that he should have been the year prior. Who whined that he should have received more playing time from then-head coach Scott Brooks in Oklahoma City. He walked away from OKC’s four-year, $52 million offer and was traded to the Houston Rockets, later signing a renegotiation and extension in 2016 and an extension in 2017. 

Presti decided enough was enough with Harden and The Beard would get his chance to come into his own after the Thunder fell to the Miami Heat in their (and Harden’s) only appearance in the NBA Finals. Many in Oklahoma City lamented Presti’s decision then … but I wonder what they think of it today?

Harden had a solid nine years in H-Town, but whined his way out of Houston and then out of Brooklyn, using ties to Philadelphia President of Basketball Operations (and former Houston GM) Daryl Morey before screwing Morey publicly to get out of Philadelphia.

(Probably whines for a discount at the Golden Corral, too, where he shows up more often than decisive playoff games).

The days of 61 points (twice in 2019) or 21 assists (against these very Clippers in 2022) or 17 rebounds (2016 and 2020) are as gone as Harden typically is when a playoff series begins. It’s hard to imagine a starting line-up of Harden, Leonard, Westbrook, Paul George and Ivica Zubac working until well after the first of next year.

We all know that Westbrook is the only Ironman of the group as it seems Leonard and George already took the game against the New York Knicks off Monday night, utilizing in-game load management to stay off Adam Silver’s radar. A lineup with that kind of firepower on paper should have run over the Knicks, right?

Not even in NBA 2K24 … Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett were both much more impressive in the video game and in real life, or IRL as these nutty kids would say.

The problem is, Harden is like Forrest Gump’s mythical box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.

Granted, through nine seasons in Houston, Harden played his best years of basketball, but wasn’t the caped crusading solo act he thought he was, getting the Rockets to the playoffs every year he was there, but losing every year … including the Western Conference Finals twice (2015 and 2018), costing Kevin McHale, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Mike D’Antoni their jobs.

Only Bickerstaff has bounced back successfully.

In 2017-18, he won the Most Valuable Player award, after losing it to his former and current teammate Westbrook the year prior. Harden scored 30.4 points per game in his MVP season, only to increase to 36.1 ppg in 2018-19 (his best season to date) and 34.3 in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. He was first in the league in those latter two seasons, hitting 843 in 2018-19. He finished second and third, respectively, in MVP voting in those latter two seasons as well.

But in his move to Brooklyn, Harden never meshed – statistically or from a teamwork standpoint – with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. For the Nets, Harden’s numbers plummeted to 23.4 points per game, though his assists went to double digit averages. Transitioning from being the focal point and star player to being in the mix of semi-equal talent like he was when he began in Oklahoma City, was blocked more by ego and pride than redistribution of his talent and playmaking abilities.

He sought Morey, now in Philadelphia, and made his way to the City of Brotherly Love, alongside the likes of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris. His scoring again took a nose dive and Harden’s new persona of being a playoff ghost rose as he faded in the 76ers’ first series, one they lost.

Then he wants out of Philly, and got his wish last week. It’s hard to fathom that his bloated ego or waistline will mesh any more in L.A. than it did in OKC, Brooklyn, or Philadelphia.

Hence, why he’s more a Sixth Man than a system. 

Hopefully he can find himself, as the teammate and now seek the stardom he had for nine years – his prime. He’s past it, he just needs to realize it.

With his teammates’ propensities for load management and injuries, he’ll have his chances to be the man. It just won’t be every game. Ever again.

Harden will get another chance to demonstrate who he is as a Los Angeles Clipper when he returns to Brooklyn on Wednesday night, where I’m sure he’ll be welcomed with open arms.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 24 years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v11.7.23 – Presti Had it Right All Along appeared first on Back Sports Page.

While that may seem as premature as a 12 year old’s first exposure to Las Vegas or Bourbon Street, some performances did stick out rather prominently in last night’s games.

Nikola Jokic

It’s easy to give the early nod to Nikola Jokic, especially after he posted his 107th career triple double against the Los Angeles Lakers, in the Opening Night 119-107 win for the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. Jokic looked at ease, dropping 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in his first defense of the Nuggets’ title. To be honest, it hardly looked like he broke a sweat, much different than the weight of carrying the Nuggets against the Miami Heat just a few months ago. To go out on Night One and lead like that makes it easy to see why people jump on the Jokic bandwagon.

Anthony Davis

In the first half, Anthony Davis looked like he belonged right there alongside Jokic in the MVP conversation. David ended up with 17 points and eight rebounds in the game, and looked washed up in the second half of the game, despite the Lakers switching Rui Hachimura onto Jokic throughout much of the latter stages of the game. To be honest, newcomer Taurean Prince had a better outing. That’s the knock on Davis – lack of consistency. He’ll need to improve that to remain in the running. But it’s just one game.

Devin Booker

Media and voters may have to consider Devin Booker as a viable MVP candidate this season. Booker led the Phoenix Suns to victory No. 1 last night against his former backcourt teammate, Chris Paul, and the Golden State Warriors, 108-104. Booker posted a game high 32 points and added six rebounds and eight dimes. Booker also put the Suns up for good with just under five minutes left in the game scoring a lay-up and then a three-pointer to seal the deal without Bradley Beal.

LeBron James

And, of course, it can’t be an MVP conversation without someone mentioning LeBron James’ name, so that might as well be me. Granted, James’ minutes were monitored with 29 played; but the ageless talent made the most of his time on the court, despite the loss. James held a commanding presence with a team-high 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. James shot .625 from the field, only Prince and Christian Wood shooting better at .750 on the night. James was also incredible in coaching his teammates through situations if you paid attention to the audio during times out.

Players like Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler get their turns tonight, while others under consideration like Giannis Antetokuonmpo and Damian Lillard tip on Thursday evening. And Kevin Durant could be in the running as well, despite a modest 18 last night.

TONIGHT’S GAMES

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 24 years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown 10.25.23 – Way Too Early MVP Talk After Opening Night appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Who has more pressure to deliver – Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker? Or Damian Lillard now that he’s joined forces with Giannis Antetokuonmpo and Khris Middleton?

And if all of the above can deliver, will we see a retooled, fortified rematch of the 2021 NBA Finals?

I believe the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, among others, might have a say or two in that narrative.

Tonight tips off with only two games, but must-see-TV:

Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Nuggets

AND

Phoenix Suns
Golden State Warriors

I’ll take the Nuggets and Suns tonight … and here’s how I see 2023-24 shaking out:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 24 years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown 10.24.23 – The Pressure Could Cut Quite a Few Diamonds appeared first on Back Sports Page.

“Let’s talk about effort. This is the NBA Finals. We are talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine. You guys probably thought I was just making up some storyline after Game One when I said we didn’t play well. We didn’t play well … tonight … we had guys out there who were just, whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots or thinking they can just turn it on or off – this is not the pre-season, this is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. That to me is really perplexing, disappointing.” — Denver head coach Michael Malone speaking after Game Two’s loss

It’s a post-game speech that Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra could have plagiarized after the Heat’s lukewarm performance at home in Game Three, where they had home court advantage but gave it right back.

CORRECTION: The Denver Nuggets took it back. Took back something they should have never let slip away.

The Nuggets faced Malone’s challenge instead of just being satisfied to have made the NBA Finals and surrendering their dreams to fear.

Winners are dreamers who never give up.

“First two games, they won the fourth quarter; tonight, we win the fourth quarter, we win the game,” Malone said. It was by a point, but Malone and the Denver Nuggets will take it.

The game was actually won in the second and third quarters, where Denver blistered the Heat, 58-44 … and on the shoulders of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and the defense of Aaron Gordon.

Both Jokic and Murray finished the all out assault with triple double performances, breaking and setting records in the process. The marks were first for playoffs and amazingly in an NBA Finals, also a first. 

“By far, their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together.” – Michael Malone

“You have to expect there to be elite talent in the Finals, and both those guys are elite-level talent.” – Erik Spoelstra

“It’s greatness, man. It’s greatness. That’s a dynamic duo right there.” – Aaron Gordon

Jokic was amazing and smooth with his 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists. And although Murray seemingly followed along with the triple double trend, he was the first quarter catalyst that put the Nuggets in the game and kept them there until the end, netting a team high 34 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and 10 assists.  

Denver setting the bar at a Rocky Mountain high along their journey.

The only haze that seemed to hold the Nuggets back was Michael Porter, Jr. standing around much of the game like an on-court spectator; the only reason I knew he was on the Denver roster is because security didn’t tackle him and remove him. 

Porter scored two points and was often replaced by Christian Braun, who came off the bench for 15 points and several remarkable hustle plays.

Jimmy Butler may have scored a team high 28 points for Miami, but the leadership mentality fell on Bam Adebayo’s shoulders, as he was the emotional and inspirational leader on the floor for the Heat, but it wasn’t enough, despite his 22 point, 17 rebound effort.

Denver took Gabe Vincent out by getting him in early foul trouble, and Caleb Martin was the only person off the bench who could muster a double digit performance with 10 points. Duncan Robinson only had three threes, and Max Strus only three points.

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

As the great Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) would say, “It’s like this – you either smoke or you get smoked … and you got smoked.”

Challenges are what’s making this NBA Finals interesting. And those challenges are what will make this Larry O’Brien trophy meaningful – for the Denver Nuggets OR the Miami Heat.

I said whoever wins Game Three wins the series. I said that thinking it would be the Miami Heat. The Denver Nuggets proved me wrong and I hope the Miami Heat do the same in Game Four.

I thought it would go five games; now I could see it going seven. Some days I’m spot on, living up to my T-Money nickname; but in this series, some days I’m like a toilet – fat round, and full of …

The Heat are a team that we have seen be challenged and answer the bell time and time again this postseason.

To survive, the Heat need to bring the heat in Game Four – and I’m not just talking about the 43 candles on Udonis Haslem’s birthday cake this Friday (Happy Birthday, young man).

Will they be satisfied going from the lowest-scoring team, a play-in team who lost to a dysfunctional Atlanta Hawks club, to the NBA Finals just to stand around and watch like they’re a bunch of Michael Porter, Jrs?

If you think so, then you don’t know the Heat or Heat culture.

It’s that ability to change, overcome, and adapt that have made this non-marquee match-up so fun to watch when everyone wanted a Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics mashup to see which club would get to 18 first.

Competition from two homegrown teams – again – is more exciting than a scripted series featuring All-Star characters. 

Enjoy the ride. 

Like Michelob Ultra and Jimmy Butler say: It’s only worth it if you enjoy it.

I am.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia 

The post The Rundown v6.8.23 – Jokic, Murray Set the Bar at Rocky Mountain Highs in Win appeared first on Back Sports Page.

People have Twitter-length arguments coupled with Snapchat disappearing memories, so their argument is about the last game, series, or for their favorite player and oftentimes against iconic legends, like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

Before the series even started, the notion was that whoever got the majority of whistles in the Los Angeles Lakers-Golden State Series would – and did – win the series.

So by that notion, are the Denver Nuggets set to sweep the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals after getting 20 trips to the line to Miami’s two?

Hard to make a call like that seeing as James and the Lakers racked up 107 trips to the line to Denver’s 81 in the Western Conference Finals, yet netted zero wins despite James’ best heroics, a damn site for who Dillon “Diarrhea of the Mouth” Brooks called ‘an old man.’

Whether you call it the elephant in the arena or the 800 lb. gorilla at the free throw line, it time to digest this. I know no one reads lengthy pieces much anymore these days, much less stat-laden articles, but humor me.

The best way to win your argument is by knowing what the hell you’re talking about; and I know what I’m talking about.

Facts. God forbid. Numbers don’t lie.

So how do you eat an elephant? That’s right – one bite at a time.

Here are a few morsels:

********** PLAY-IN GAMES **********

The Atlanta Hawks made the soft-looking Miami Heat pay from the field (46%), not from the free throw line, where the Heat outperformed the Hawks by shooting 80 percent to Atlanta’s paltry 59 percent. Trae Young scored 25 points and the Hawks’ bench – Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Onkongwu, and Saddiq Bey – combined for another 53. Jimmy Butler only had 21 points. Young went to the line nine times and hit for eight; the rest of the Hawks were horrible, but won the game – DEBUNKED

Anthony Davis stood much, much taller than his fellow University of Kentucky alum, Karl-Anthony Towns, going for 24 points and 15 rebounds to ignite the Los Angeles Lakers’ improbable run from the play-in to the Western Conference Finals. It took overtime and 30 points and 10 rebounds from LeBron James as well. Davis went to the free throw line six times; James only three. – DEBUNKED.

Zach LaVine got to the line 15 times of the Bulls’ 22 trips, converting on 13. Toronto spent a ton of the game at the charity stripe – Pascal Siakam made 11 trips, O.G. Anunoby had eight, Scottie Barnes seven, and a half dozen for Fred VanVleet; but only hit for 50 percent of their opportunities, with Siakam and Anunoby both well under .500 on the night. So they honestly lost the game from their inability to make free throws. – DEBUNKED

This game was evenly matched from a free throw perspective. It was Oklahoma City’s explosive 39-24 third quarter that stormed the favored Pelicans in this play-in game. OKC literally brought the thunder at the free throw line, though, shooting 87.5 percent. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was eight-for-eight. New Orleans converted at a similar rate, hitting 25-0f-30 on the night, with Brandon Ingram leading the way with 11 trips to the line. – DEBUNKED

DeMar DeRozan got to the line nine times, while Bam Adebayo and Max Strus did as well (eight times apiece), while Jimmy Butler went there 10 times. The Heat shot 87.5 percent as a team while Chicago shot 73.3 percent. This game was also won with Miami running away with it in the fourth quarter, 35-23. They wanted it more. – DEBUNKED

The shorter Thunder, coupled with unbridled enthusiasm from their previous victory, sent the more-experienced Timberwolves to the line six more times. Rudy Gobert went over half of the time for Minnesota, hitting for nine. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was assertive again, and perfect again – this time hitting 100 percent on all 12 of his opportunities. But Minnesota ran away with this game after the first quarter ended, outsourcing the Thunder by nine, seven, and eight over the last three quarters, respectively. – DEBUNKED

********** FIRST ROUND GAMES **********

In the first sweep of the playoffs, Philadelphia looked like a legit contender, even though it was over the scrappy Nets, despite netting only 61 total trips to the stripe over the quartet of games. – DEBUNKED

Boston also notched fewer trips to the free throw line in a surprising six-game series with the Hawks. Atlanta won one at home and then took a second at Boston, where the Hawks won by a deuce, hitting all 10 of their free throws on the night. – DEBUNKED

The Knicks made a living at the charity stripe in their first playoff series since Atlanta ousted them in the shortened 2021 season. After a fairly even first game, the Knicks found a way to get inside the paint and inside the Cavaliers’ heads by getting to the line nine more times in Game Two, nine more again in Game Four, and 14 times more in the closeout Game Five. Jalen Brunson got there 20 times in the series, and R.J. Barrett went almost as many (19) over Games Four and Five. – SOME CREDIBILITY (I would argue that the NBA fell in love with the Knicks being back in the playoffs).

In what was arguably the best series of this year’s playoffs from a competitive standpoint, the Warriors and Kings racked up the most combined trips to the foul line with 356 stops in play for free throws. It certainly seemed as if the whistles favored the home team up until Game Seven, where the Warriors shot three more free throws despite being in Sacramento. The wins just went to the most aggressive team(s) in each game. – DEBUNKED

Quite honestly, once Giannis Antetokuonmpo went down, the Bucks were out of this series and out of the playoffs – mentally and physically, despite having the best regular season performance in 2022-23. The Heat shot slightly better than Milwaukee, 74.8 percent to 71 percent overall. They also outshot the Bucks from field goal percent and three-point efficiency. – DEBUNKED

The Nuggets made quick work of the Timberwolves, despite going to the line 12 fewer times over the series’ five games. Anthony Edwards put forth a couple of strong performances for Minnesota, but it was too much Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, nothing to do with free throws. – DEBUNKED

For a five-game series, the Suns lived at the free-throw line so often that they started getting their team mail forward there instead of the Footprint Center. In Game Three alone, Phoenix ended up there 46 times – remember, the 76ers took four games to get to 61 against the Nets. Kevin Durant made his living there with 45 (95.6%) total attempts over five games, and Devin Booker was there 35 times (85.7%). For L.A., It was Russell Westbrook – playing like his old self – getting there 25 times and shooting .880, while Kawhi Leonard shot a comparable .882 with only one-third as many trips as Westbrook. Fitting, since Leonard only played about one-third of the season. – DEBUNKED, despite serious consideration.

LeBron James got to the line 31 times in this series, and Anthony Davis 29 for almost a combined half of L.A.’s free throw attempts. But no one figured on the X-factor being a white self-proclaimed hillbilly from Arkansas. That’s right, Austin Reaves got to the charity stripe 24 times against the Grizzlies, hitting on 83.3 percent of his chances to get a freebie. Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Desmond Bane were studs with Ja Morant out of commission, but it wasn’t enough for Memphis. Morant’s aggressive style of play gave him 26 opportunities, but also cost him 12 fouls. Though there was plenty of consideration here for name recognition, Los Angeles’ trips came due to aggressive competition, not favoritism from the officials. – DEBUNKED

********** SEMI-FINAL ROUND **********

New York continued to stack up the trips to the line by going hard in the paint, getting 25 more trips to the line than Miami in the six-pack series. But Jimmy Butler was more aggressive and seemingly more comfortable being so in this series, getting to the line 53 times himself (.868). Jalen Brunson had 46 trips, R.J. Barrett 35, and Julius Randle had 35. But it was not enough to counter Butler’s 123 points (24.6 ppg). – DEBUNKED

In a seven-game series that was average at best with the up-and-down play of both teams, the penultimate player at getting to the line, was outdone by his teammate Joel Embiid and his opponent, Jayson Tatum, who – to date – has the most points scored in this year’s playoffs at 543. Embiid made 60 trips and converted on 53 of them, while Tatum scored 48 points in this series at the free throw line in his 57 trips. James Harden, despite a couple of strong games in the series, ghosted out again, and only earned 44 trips to the stripe in another second round exit for the 76ers. – DEBUNKED

Phoenix seemed more intimidated than aggressive in the series against the Nuggets, only netting five trips to the free throw line in Game Two of this series after 46 in Game Three against the Clippers. But then again, Ivica Zubac is no Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets figured out how to consistently get to the line, averaging just over 23 trips per game, with Jokic heading there 41 times, Jamal Murray 25, and 20 each for Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon. For the setting Suns, they were limited to Kevin Durant’s 51 and Devin Booker’s 32. Those two were the only Phoenix players hitting more than 75 percent, as well. But that’s Monty Williams’ fault, right? – DEBUNKED

This is the series where people will argue that name recognition and home court advantage spelled home free throw line advantage, and therefore, series advantage and win. And, well, the Laker did win the series against the defending champs, garnering some will argue, 60 more trips to the charity stripe in their favor. Golden State being Golden State and shooting 263 shots from downtown, only making 93, were hobbled from the outset, shooting 43-of-106 from the field and 21-of-53 from downtown won’t net many trips to the free throw line. Anthony Davis went 39 times in the series, the most for L.A. No Warrior went to the line more than 19 (Andrew Wiggins) in the six-game series. That’s why the champs lost, not because the Lakers got more favorable whistles. – DEBUNKED, even though the victor got 60 more whistles.

********** CONFERENCE FINALS **********

Yet another seven game series, but this went seven games because the Celtics were utterly disappointing, despite getting 13 more trips to the line more than Miami. Despite the big performances throughout the playoffs by Jayson Tatum, he was at his most disappointing when the Heat went into their zone defenses. Tatum went to the line 51 times and hit for 90.2 percent. The next closest was Marcus Smart’s 25 total trips through seven games. Centers Rob Williams and Al Horford only went 13 and two times, respectively over the series, proving that the Heat’s zone paralyzed the defending Eastern Conference champs. Unacceptable for a team that went to the NBA Finals a year ago and it may be time to break up the Celtics. Jimmy Butler got there 54 times and the Heat aren’t even a big team. – DEBUNKED

Speaking of disappointing, it was a hard pill to swallow watching the Lakers get swept by the Nuggets. But was it as much disappointment as it was just Denver being the more superior team … and younger. No one can take away the fact that L.A. got 26 more whistles than the Nuggets did, that LeBron James played out of his mind (and body) in the first half of Game Four (finishing with 40 in the game to match Anthony Davis’ 40 in Game One). The Nuggets just shot better in the series (49.3%) and from downtown (40.3%). Nikola Jokic went to the stripe 27 times over the four games and Jamal Murray notched 20 trips. Davis went 40 times and James went for 29, but Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were not as much of a factor – inexperience or fatigue? Either way, it cost the Lakers in what may have been James’ last shot at another championship. At least Davis finished with a league-high, playoff-high (to date) 225 total rebounds. – DEBUNKED 

********** NBA FINALS **********

Okay, one could make the argument heading into tonight’s Game Two of the NBA Finals that the whistles favored the home team, feel-good story Nuggets, 20-2. That’d be all well and good if the Nuggets weren’t up by nine after the first quarter, 17 at the half, and 21 after three quarters of play. Even more telling when your team’s only two trips to the line came because a guy from Wheeling Jesuit was your most aggressive player when it comes to drawing fouls – two points and two rebounds. Nikola Jokic got to the line 12 times himself in the win. The Heat want more whistles? Get into the paint, Mr. Butler and Mr. Adebayo. Haywood Highsmith isn’t leading you to a title. – To be continued, but DEBUNKED

I could have just said the whistle thing is all bullsh*t, or just another conspiracy theory; but some of you had to be shown. There’s truth in numbers – they don’t lie or form opinions.

Inform yourself.

As you can see, whistles typically favor the team that’s the aggressor … or, as Julius Randle puts it, the team that “wants it more … “

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v6.4.23 – Let’s Talk About the 800 lb. Gorilla at the Free Throw Line appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Yet, the Miami Heat that have surged so impressively from a play-in team that lost to the Atlanta Hawks and eked past the Chicago Bulls, were nothing more than a mirage last night as the Nuggets went up 1-0 in what looks like it might be a five game series at best.

The extended amount of time off seemed to benefit the preparation of the Nuggets for this roster’s first NBA Finals; the short turnaround for the Heat spelled disaster for the team’s seventh appearance in head coach Erik Spoelstra’s 15 year tenure.

And with the way that Nikola Jokic played last night, he’s flirting with joining the ranks of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Hakeem Olajuwon as one of the greatest players to ever play the center position.

Jokic led the Nuggets to their first win of four necessary to win an NBA Championship with yet another triple double performance, netting 27 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. Jokic had 10 assists in the first half, equaled only by LeBron James in 2017, who Jokic and the Nuggets just swept to get to these Finals.

Nikola Jokic looks like an MV3 – despite what Mark Jackson thinks – and no disrespect to Joel Embiid (but I still say they have ballot counting issues in the State of Pennsylvania).

He reminds me of a locomotive chugging through the Rocky Mountain passes like the Rocky Mountaineer that goes from Moab, Utah through Glenwood Springs, and into Denver. 

Like if you crossed ‘The Little Engine That Could’ with ‘Unstoppable,’ but with the grace, humility, simplicity, and fluidity of 1977’s ‘Silver Streak.’

I dub him the Joki-Motive, myself … plenty of Joker … but even more motive. 

(I’ll be here all night, tip your waiter).

In all seriousness, though, Shaquille O’Neal may have had a lot of self-anointed nicknames, but no one can argue against Jokic as ‘The Great Facilitator.’ 

When Jokic says he doesn’t “need to shoot or … score to affect the game,” he’s right

Jokic’s ability to defer to his teammates is what helped Denver dominate the Finals-experienced Heat. The Nuggets led 59-42 at halftime as Jokic got his team involved from the opening tip, making the 104-93 margin not as close as it appeared.

Miami played better in the second half, but it was too little too late, forcing Spoelstra to note that the Heat’s “efforts were more appropriate in the second half … it has to be for a full game.”

The Joker’s triple double made him the eighth player to have recorded one in Game One of an NBA Finals, but no one ever scored as high as 27 points until last night.

Jamal Murray, healthy and unstoppable in this year’s Nuggets run, finished with 26, six and 10 for Denver, while Michael Porter, Jr. compiled a nice 14 and 13 double double despite shooting 31.3 percent, and Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown added another (combined) 26 off the bench for the win.

After taking Game Seven (and much of the Eastern Conference Finals) against the Boston Celtics, Bam Adebayo led the Heat with a 26 point, 13 rebounds performance in the loss. 

Adebayo shot a career high 25 shot attempts, making announcers for the Heat say Bam so much it almost became an Emeril Lagasse copyright infringement.

Wheeling Jesuit product Haywood Highsmith followed suit off the bench with 18 points on 70 percent shooting, while Gabe Vincent added 19 for the Heat. 

Jimmy Butler only mustered 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Max Strus shot 0-for-10 (nine of those misses were from beyond the arc) and Caleb Martin was only one-for-seven, making the Heat’s Game Seven performance nothing more than a nice – albeit quickly fading – spot in the rearview mirror.

The way Butler had been powering the Heat through this post-season, you’d have thought the Butler-Murray matchup would have been more marquee; however, Butler allowed Murray to shoot 11-of-22 and two-of-seven from downtown, while only netting six-of-14 himself.

The Nuggets also went to the free throw line 20 times to Miami’s two. Yes, two. And we thought LeBron James got all the whistles, or at least that was the narrative in the Los Angeles Lakers-Golden State Warriors series.

One would have thought with the bad blood between these two teams from the Nikola Jokic-Markieff Morris fracas of 2021, and the ensuing Jokic Brothers intimidation, there might have been more fight from Miami.

Granted, I’m not encouraging any on-court violence, Morris has moved on to the Brooklyn Nets, and Butler says “that wasn’t my beef,” something has to motivate these Heat players to be something more than the stale popcorn, plastic beer cups, and ticket stubs swept from a 4-0 NBA Finals … because if that’s the case, they go down without much of a fight in front of their own fans at the Kaseya Center.

Miami’s only saving grace – if there is one – is that they’d lost the series opening game in their title runs in 2006, 2012, and 2013. They went up 1-0 in 2011, a series they eventually folded and lost to Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.

Sunday’s forecast seems like it will be similar in Denver – a perfect day and afternoon, but comes a typical cool down after sunset … when Game Two tips off at Ball Arena.

Butler, Martin, and Vincent need to find a way to Heat it up if they don’t want the same fate as the Lakers at the hands of Jokic, Murray, and the Nuggets.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v6.2.23 – These Nuggets Are No Joke, the Heat Was appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Or so it appears.

I’m not talking about Allen Iverson. Nor am I inferring that recently-retired Andre Iguodala is doing anything nefarious.

I’m speaking of artificial intelligence – the thing everyone fears because they don’t understand.

There have been recent documents released all over social media trying to run a conspiracy that the NBA is rigging playoff games for ratings – especially when it comes to the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers being so close to the NBA Finals for both teams and each team having 17 championship banners apiece.

Who will get No. 18?

Neither – because THE NBA IS NOT RIGGED.

Anyone watching can see that both the Lakers and Celtics are on the verge of being swept in their respective series (though I am pulling for the Lakers to get one tonight).

The latest document in question had the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic scoring a 40 point triple double in Game 3. The Nuggets won that game, yes, but Jokic struggled mightily in the first half – which no one could have predicted.

Jokic shot nine-of-19 overall and only scored 24 points, and wasn’t even close to a triple double. 

Now if they said he’d shoot 40 percent from downtown, then and only then would they have been correct. Jamal Murray has been the hot hand, scoring 31 in Game One, and 37 in both Game Two and Game Three, so Jokic isn’t even leading the Nuggets in scoring. Try versatility.

That’s how you know the game is real and unpredictable.

They also said Jimmy Butler would score 36 points in Game One of the Miami Heat’s conference finals series with the Boston Celtics.

Butler blew that script by nine-of-10 at the free throw line in Game One and only getting 35 points in the first of Miami’s three wins. He was punished by 27 in Game Two and made to watch Gabe Vincent drop 29 to lead the Heat in Game Three. And Duncan Robinson hitting for 22 off the bench. Butler had 16 last night.

Prospect of an elimination, closeout sweep at home tomorrow night – what a punishment for a Play-In No. 8 seed.

That’s how you know the game is real and unpredictable.

Same document has the Lakers defeating the Nuggets in Game Six. Still a slight possibility that one may end up coming true, assuming they get there. Lakers could be closed out tonight, though I don’t see them allowing Laker pride to fold that quickly and easily.

Lakers and Celtics are going to have one hell of a time going seven games in the NBA Finals when they are both 0-3 at this point.

Sensible thinking shows us that that’s how you know the game is real and unpredictable.

So there’ll likely be no LeBron James scoring 53 points in Game Seven on June 18, 2023.

Pulling in a 53” marlin, maybe.

And it’s hard to be the NBA Finals MVP when you’re not there – and I don’t think James has it in him to steal the award and run away like Shooter McGavin.

Queue up Jamal Murray, with an outside chance of Jimmy Butler on that hardware.

That’s how you know the game is real and unpredictable.

Yes, there have been referees with personal dislikes.

There were always stories about Joey Crawford and Tim Duncan, Dick Bavetta and Clyde Drexler, Scott Foster and Chris Paul. 

There was big drama online about Foster officiating the last Nuggets-Lakers game beforehand. Then LeBron James collided with Foster on a fast break attempt down the court. James inadvertently bloodied Foster’s lip.

Great thing about Scott Foster? He didn’t flop. Never even considered it. Even if he was the only one in the building who didn’t flop.

No one in Las Vegas had a line on Scott Foster nearly eating his whistle in Game Three – and Vegas has a line on seemingly everything.

That’s how you know the game is real and unpredictable.

You can write or propose all the scripts and conspiracy theories you want to, but you can’t control who scores how many on any given night.

Tim Donaghy couldn’t even do that.

Take most of this crap with a grain of salt. 

Someone’s out there trying to make their mark with this information, not realizing true NBA fans have common sense.

Like me with this article – I really didn’t even have to write it … but you read it anyway, and I thank you.

Entertainment.

Like tonight’s game. Enjoy it.

If you believe that nonsense, I have some oceanfront property in Nebraska to offer you.

Watch. Get excited. Cheer. Yell. Throw stuff (but don’t damage that 70” like Dallas Cowboys fans do). 

You may see history unfold before your very own eyes – but because it happened, not because it was scripted.

LeBron James and the Lakers may end up being the first team to come back from a three game deficit, win four games and get to the NBA Finals.

Boston would have to do the same thing to stick to the script and deliver bombastic ratings for ESPN, TNT, and the NBA.

But in the real world, it’s just something to fantasize about while we wait for the Denver Nuggets to beat the Miami Heat in six games (4-2) to win their first NBA Championship.

That, you can book.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia 

The post The Rundown v5.22.23 – Lakers, Celtics Not Sticking to the Script? appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Unfortunately, so are Powerade, Nike, and the NBA.

Nike has pulled Morant’s first signature shoe from their website.

Powerade already chose not to run his first ad after the incident in March. 

Hell, losing $39,000,000 for not making an All-NBA team would have been enough to have rattled my cage.

And now the Memphis Grizzlies have suspended Morant indefinitely from all team facilities and functions, while stunned NBA commissioner Adam Silver pontificates how to respond to Morant’s latest, second display of a firearm in an Instagram Live video clip.

Inside, on the soles of the left and right shoes of Morant’s Ja1 it is inscribed: 

“To my fans, my family, my haters, my coach, the hard work, the game, the love, my hometown, my team, the laughter, tears, sweat, the drills, my community, my peers, my heroes, the competition, the spirit, to my daughter, to those I inspire, to those that doubt the process, the failures and the success, to everyone who was, is and will be with me – since Day 1.”

Nobody’s asked the biggest question about Ja Morant: 

Where is Tee Morant on all of this gun nonsense?

He should have been the first one involved after his son flashed the gun in the Denver nightclub, was subsequently suspended eight games, and underwent counseling in Florida during his “time away from the team.”

Not Taylor Jenkins.

Not Adam Silver.

But Dad.

Calling him out by his full name – “Temetrius Jamel Morant, get your small town, Sumter County, South Carolina, Crestwood High, unranked, Murray State, overachieving, high flying, jumping-over-Anthony-Davis, wrist spraining, gun-waving hind parts in here” and turning him over this knee.

Getting the strap instead of getting strapped.

But that won’t happen – the elder Morant is too busy meeting celebrities and trying to be a celebrity, dressing like the second coming of Usher, courtside in the hobnob sections of arenas instead of teaching this 23 year old how to handle this sudden stardom.

I mean, c’mon Tee, it’s not like your son isn’t at risk of losing just anything; naw, he could just lose it all. 

In fact, he is losing it all.

Those brand new contacts with Nike and Powerade are in jeopardy, if they even exist anymore at all, and the ink isn’t even dry from the offering and signing of said contracts.

Nike released Morant’s debut shoe back on April 19, 2023 with hopes that the release would be positive news coming off the March incident and subsequent backlash. 

They were right. With Morant’s popularity, the first colorway sold out nationwide within the first few hours of release.

So popular that within a couple days of me receiving mine on the day of release, I had people offering me upwards of $500.00 to buy them off my feet. 

Now, the pair I own may be a collector’s item.

The subsequent releases of the ‘Hunger’ (May 25), the ‘Ember Glow’ (July 3), and ‘Light Smoke Grey’ (August 11) may not happen as Nike waits and not just because Michael Wilbon won’t buy a pair of the Ja 1s. 

Sponsors are waiting to see what the NBA plans to do with Morant.

With the popularity of a shoe not seen since the early days of the Air Jordan, one questions if the popularity of the shoe is because of the style, the design, the anticipation of its release, the colorways … or people wanting to wear the shoe in the same manner that gang members wear blue and red bandanas?

Why not at least have surrogates from the current NBA and retired NBA players who have had gang ties or been in gangs do a ‘Scared Straight’ intervention with Morant?

James Harden comes from that life, but showers dollar bills in strip clubs versus spraying bullets in the streets. The only thing DeMar DeRozan shoots up are opponents’ nets and the stat sheets and he is in one of the toughest cities in the NBA – Chicago. 

Carmelo Anthony. J.R. Smith. Monta Ellis. Caron Butler. Stephen Jackson.

All have emerged successfully from the streets to become icons in the NBA, but even moreso, created new life and new reputations for themselves despite their background and upbringings in Compton and Baltimore, with the Bloods, the Crips, and Gangster Disciples.

Dalzell, South Carolina is none of those cities or environments. 

It’s home to McCarty’s Groceries, Orange Grove, Paul’s Diner, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Bradford Springs, and the Chicken Shack – definitely not hotbeds of gang activity. 

Sorry, Dalzell. (10) Columbia, (9) Walterboro, (8) Hartsville, (7) Spartanburg, (6) Anderson, (5) Marion, (4) Myrtle Beach, (3) Dillon, (2) Lake City, and (1) Bishopville are waaaaaay ahead of you when it comes to criminal reputation and statistics.

You’re more likely to see meetings about the Second Amendment over morning coffee than plots to do anything nefarious or foolish.

It’s not a Dalzell issue. It’s young Morant’s image and reputation that’s being damaged … and his career being suicided by poor decision making. And, depending on how the NBA responds, if perception of the league takes a hit or not.

I mean, yeah, the State of Tennessee has open carry. So, as JJ Redick pointed out, he’s not breaking any laws.

So it boils down to the NBA Code of Conduct.

And let’s not fail to acknowledge the fact that Morant isn’t releasing these videos on IG Live himself; so why isn’t he looking at the company he keeps?

I understand these are lifelong friends and they all want to build a dynasty together as they cruise through life.

But LeBron James, Rich Paul, and Maverick Carter had the same dreams and aspirations and grew up in tougher neighborhoods than Dalzell, South Carolina; but they sure as hell didn’t go about it this way.

Bottom line is that sponsors come and go. If it’s not Nike, there’s possibly always an Under Armour or Adidas in the wings. If not Powerade, Gatorade or one of these 286 upstart drink companies could pour themselves into that slot.

If not the NBA, then perhaps the NRA, who honestly I am surprised haven’t chimed in on this. 

And then you have the court of public opinion, which didn’t create so much as a peep when Chris Kaman showed off his personal armory back in the era where people knew who Chris Kaman was.

The split between those who support Morant and decry Morant is about as split as this Divided States of America. There is no credence in support or decrying Morant unless you’re willing to jump in and help, offer solutions.

The biggest brand Morant is damaging is his own – Ja Morant.

As LeBron James continues his ever-so-slow slide toward the inevitability of having permanent brunches with Father Time, it’s been questioned – at least in my circle of pundits – who will be the next face of the NBA?

In the ESPN, video game era, it’s been Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James. 

Luka Doncic’s love for the game and talent seem poised to be one of the finalists, but he’s mired in mediocrity in Dallas. Giannis Antetokuonmpo’s integrity and earnest love for the game is also another strong consideration.

Morant’s athleticism brought an excitement and panache to the highlight reel not seen since Jordan’s early days and lent credence to the notion that he might be the next generational face of the NBA; now instead of being on NBA 2K24, he’s more apt to be featured on a Call of Duty: Street Warfare Edition.

And lose that “next face of the NBA” honor to “the best NBA prospect ever” – France’s Victor Wembanyana, who’s likely to leapfrog over Morant the way Morant does over opponents in the paint.

The only way that Morant can shoot that down is, ironically, by ditching the guns-in-videos motif that seems to define his life the first few months of 2023.

And getting some help.

Not from a country club shrink who tells superstars what they want to hear, but from people like Jackson, Anthony, and DeRozan, who will tell Morant what real gang life is like and why he doesn’t want to be a part of that culture – fo’ sho’ or for show. Real or not, it’s not a good path.

And there are three who I personally would like to see get intimately involved with Morant’s character, reputation, and resurrection of his young career:

From a veteran Grizzlies standpoint, we need Zach Randolph and Tony Allen mentoring this young man. 

Randolph had ties to Hoop Family from his days in Portland, a splinter group from the Crips family having ties to murder, firearms, and narcotics distribution in the Rose City. 

And Allen, one of the fiercest defenders in the NBA, who grew up in the tough streets of Chicago, where he admittedly hustled and moved drugs.

Lastly would be James, who – despite your opinion of him in the basketball side of life – was born to a 16 year old mom, had a father whose reputation was stained with criminal activity, yet grew up married his high school sweetheart, is not in any headlines where he’s been unfaithful to his wife, is a great father to his three kids, a philanthropist who gives back to his community and its young folks, and who has partnered with Carter, Paul, and Randy Mims.

The quartet is not only rich in business, having a sports agency, or buying stakes in English soccer teams, they’ve partnered for numerous business ventures despite growing up hustling sports jerseys out of the trunks of cars, or dropping out of college to become a Nike field rep.

They’ve produced everything from ‘The Decision’ to ‘The Shop’ on HBO. And, instead of videos throwing gang signs, finger guns, and real guns in IG Live videos, James is seen posting off-season workout videos of his own personal ‘gun show,’ building those “guns.” 

James needs to intervene with one of his biggest rivals.

That’s right – instead of waiting for Bronny James to do his one year at USC and pass the baton to him in the NBA, James could – and should – take time to mentor Morant, even though he’s a rival competitor, like Hakeem Olajuwon transformed James into the player he’s become today.

That act of unilateral generosity in itself could cement James as the G.O.A.T. and put Morant back on the straight narrow and allow him to pursue his own path of greatness or G.O.A.T.ness.

Pass the baton, LeBron.

Once he is armed with the proper counsel, right tools, and the unconditional love and support of his NBA peers, then it’s squarely on Morant’s shoulders.

The man in the mirror would approve, I believe … and that same joyous, young laugh and smile would be there.

Well-earned and unanimously approved of.

“To my fans, my family, my haters, my coach, the hard work, the game, the love, my hometown, my team, the laughter, tears, sweat, the drills, my community, my peers, my heroes, the competition, the spirit, to my daughter, to those I inspire, to those that doubt the process, the failures and the success, to everyone who was, is and will be with me – since Day 1.”

These people are all still here for you, Ja. And your audience has widened to the eyes and ears of the world.

All eyes on you. Counting on you. Praying for you. Cheering for you.

Day 1 is today, my friend.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v5.21.23 – Play Stupid Games, Lose Revocable Prizes appeared first on Back Sports Page.

I guess I should give a special shout out to actress Barbra Streisand, because that has usually been followed up by “Focker” or some variant, especially since hearing that the Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Monty Williams in the wake of the Suns’ being blotted out of the NBA Finals in 2021, losing by 33 in Game Seven of 2022’s Western Conference Semifinals to the Dallas Mavericks, and then losing by 25 at home in Game Six to the Denver Nuggets in this year’s Western Conference Semis.

I get it. That’s regression.

But how are you going to give up on a coach who had personnel essentially quitting on their team after inking a large contract extension that showed – despite their differences over the previous two years – that Williams was willing to be a part of the Suns’ loyalty to keep Deandre Ayton in the only state he’d ever played basketball in?

You want to talk about an individual regressing? In the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals, Ayton had his worst statistical season of the five in Phoenix, since he was drafted No. 1 by the Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 2020-21. 

The rebounds went down and assists didn’t change in 2021-22, yet the team signed him to an extension out of loyalty, despite the fact that in the aforementioned Game Seven (2022) 364 days ago, Ayton scored five points, had four rebounds and two assists, and was sixth on his team, statistically, for the entire 2022 season. Jae Crowder had better numbers in 2022, and was forced to sit out, be away from the team for most of the year while Ayton got a contract extension of $132.929,128.

Hell, even Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were playing better than Ayton … and they got traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant while Ayton remained a Phoenix Suns, which at least proved Sean Marks does his homework and reads the same analytics that I am, as he didn’t even entertain taking Ayton in the trade.

That’s Williams’ fault?

A former No. 1 pick! People in the 2018 NBA Draft that are playing better than Deandre Ayton?

Bridges, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lonnie Walker IV, teammates Landry Shamet and Josh Okogie, as well as second-round picks like Jalen Brunson and Gary Trent Jr.

On his own team, Jock Landale (6.6 points) and Bismack Biyombo (4.3 points) were getting bigger minutes over Ayton in the playoffs, because they brought the parts of the game to the table that Ayton wasn’t – hustle, effort, and heart.

Williams recognized that and substituted those two in and out of the lineup for Ayton, who rap icon Lil’ Wayne overheard Williams telling, “you f****** quit on us.”

Whether that was said or not, he did. Ayton did quit on the team – not just in this series, but on the team that selected him number one overall five years ago. 

Loyalty is obviously not a two way street with Deandre Ayton.

Ayton’s name doesn’t belong in the company of Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Yao Ming, Kenyon Martin, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Johnson, Derrick Coleman, David Robinson, Brad Daugherty, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson, James Worthy, Mychal Thompson, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Bob Lanier, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or Oscar Robertson.

Hell, I’d even take Andrew Wiggins, Kwame Brown, or Joe Barry Carroll over what Ayton (hasn’t) given the Phoenix Suns.

The entitled, lazy, cry baby millionaire “athlete” has won over one of the hardest working men in the NBA.

And it’s not just Williams.

• Nick Nurse (who I hope the Suns consider) won a title as head coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2019 … and is out of a job.
• Frank Vogel won a title as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 – a year where COVID-19 turned the world upside down … and is out of a job.
• Mike Budenholzer (who I hope the Suns consider bringing home to his native Arizona) won a title over these Phoenix Suns in 2021 … and is out of a job.
• By that pattern, is Steve Kerr next? He won the title last year, but his Golden State Warriors were just steamrolled by the Los Angeles Lakers. If he gets the axe, could the Suns bring back their former general manager as head coach?
• Mike D’Antoni (former Suns coach) is out of a job after having the best record in the NBA in 2017-18 with the Houston Rockets. He does not currently have a coaching job.
• Budenolzer had the best record in the NBA in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2022-23. He does not currently have an NBA coaching job.
• Quin Snyder had the best record in the NBA in 2020-21 with the Utah Jazz, and was fired. Snyder currently is the new head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.
• Monty Williams had the best record in the NBA in 2021-22 and is now unemployed, but hopefully not for long.

You reap what you sow, NBA. This is why there’s so much parity.

Look at the Miami Heat, who have kept a former Portland Trailblazers ball boy as their head coach for 15 years and are now awaiting the Philadelphia 76ers-Boston Celtics outcome in the Eastern Conference Finals. As a play-in team. 

It’s why you can’t attract and keep good coaches. Hard to coach when you’re keeping one eye open over your shoulder. Eric Spoelstra and Kerr haven’t had ownership and management that treat them that way. Something Gregg Popovich has never had to worry about.

With Mat Ishbia’s competitive fire, I would have expected him to have given Williams at least until Christmas or All-Star to see what Williams could have done in a lineup without Ayton, with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant together.

Here’s hoping he realizes his mistake.

And while you can’t put the shit back in the horse, I hope Ishbia makes a move that makes the Suns back in the thick of a championship run … before he loses Booker and Durant, too.

Anything less would be the biggest “mother” of them all.

********************

Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, done NBA Radio, and appeared as a guest for the last 21+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 21 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. 

A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia  

The post The Rundown v5.14.23 – Happy ‘Mother of All Scapegoats’ Day appeared first on Back Sports Page.