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Basketball Banter, London (2025)

05/12/2024

According to Basketball Reference, Nikola Jokic currently has a 67.5% chance of winning the MVP award this season.

Individually, he's having his best-ever season; 30.1 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 10.4 APG is insane and Jokic will go down as one of the best to ever play the game.

However, his team is only 11-8, which led me to discover something interesting.

The last time a regular season MVP also won the Finals MVP was in 2013 with LeBron James when he was with the Miami Heat, over 11 years ago, and it's only happened 15 times in NBA history.

Being the MVP of the regular season is very different to being the MVP of the Playoffs.

Is winning the MVP award a curse for those wanting to win a title?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

04/12/2024

The Boston Celtics WILL win the NBA title this season providing no major injuries.

They have the depth, the mixture of youth and experience, they are well-coached, and they have the perfect balance of offense and defense.

They currently have the third-best offense in the NBA (120.0 PPG) and the sixth-best defense (109.8 PPG).

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the primary 1-2 punch, with Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as quality backup scorers, and Jrue Holiday as the defensive leader on the perimeter.

Do you think the Celtics will go back-to-back this season?

Photo Credit: Kyle Hightower (The Associated Press)

03/12/2024

The NBA needs to abolish separating teams by conferences.

For decades now, the Western Conference has dominated the Eastern Conference in terms of average team quality, which has led to a very unfair outcome.

As things stand, the Detroit Pistons, a team that is 9-13, are set to make the postseason playoff tournament ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves who are 10-10.

Why should Detroit get this opportunity when Minnesota is the better team?

There should be one standings table, with all the teams. This way, the Playoffs and Finals give a much better reflection of who is actually the best in the NBA, not just their respective conferences.

What do you think?

02/12/2024

The Houston Rockets could have something very special on their hands.

No one thought much of them going into this season, but a 15-6 record is no joke, and it's all because of their defense.

They allow the third-lowest opposing PPG (106.3), the second-best opposing FG% (42.9%), and the third-best opposing 3P% (33.8%).

They do struggle on offense though, with the 5th worst team FG% (44.0%). If they could just get some better looks at the room and a few more corner 3s, then this could be the start of a resurgence and the dawn of a new Era in Rocket-Town.

Do you think the Rockets can become title-contenders in the next few years?

Photo Credit: DreamShake.com

29/11/2024

Are we finally seeing the end of LeBron James's career?

In his 22nd season in the NBA, LeBron is averaging his 2nd-worst PPG average in his career. Through 18 games he's only managed 22.9 PPG, which is only a bit higher than his rookie year (20.9).

He's still shooting very efficiently (50.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 74.4 FT%), but something feels off this season.

No matter how good he is, he will never be able to defeat Father Time, and that's OK.

Do you think LeBron will retire after this season?

Photo Credit: Ashley Landis (Associated Press)

26/11/2024

Something needs to happen with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks and it needs to happen soon.

The Bucks are struggling this year with an 8-9 record so far this season. They brought in Damian Lillard last season who was meant to be the outside presence to compliment Giannis's inside game.

However, Lillard has been shooting very poorly this season, hitting only 32.0% of his threes so far. This means there's less space for Giannis and the rest of the Bucks inside as defenders don't have to pay as much attention to Lillard on the perimeter as they used to.

To me, Giannis is still the best player in the NBA. Jokic is better offensively, but no one has the skills on both ends of the floor like Giannis.

Giannis is now 30 years old, so his prime isn't going to last much longer.

Something needs to be done to make sure this unbelievable player isn't wasted.

What do you think needs to happen?

Photo Credit: Gary Dineen (Getty Images)

21/11/2024

PSA to all NBA franchises; don’t give a player known for his athleticism $212 million over the next 4 years when he’s going to turn 35 in May next year.

So far the signing of Paul George for the 76ers has been a disaster. PG was brought in to compliment Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but so far he’s been a complete dud.

16.7 PPG on 39.6 FG% and 28.8 3P% is woeful for a guy who averaged around 23 PPG over the previous 5 season.

Can PG turn it around and make Philly a contender?

Photo Credit: CBS

20/11/2024

Dalton CONNECT!

The Lakers have found a real diamond in the rough.

Dalton Knecht ties the NBA single-game rookie record with 9 3-pointers in the Laker's win over the Utah Jazz, finishing with 37 points overall on 12-for-16 shooting.

The 23-year-old from the University of Tennessee already looks incredibly comfortable on an NBA court, playing with great confidence and determination.

If he can keep up just being a solid 3rd/4th option for the Lakers, I think they have a shot at one last title for LeBron.

What do you think, is Knecht this good, or is it just a hot-streak he's on?

Photo Credit: Associated Press

19/11/2024

Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most frustrating players in the NBA.

Offensively, he's a savant. Through 13 games he's averaged 26.2 PPG on 54.4 FG%, 51.5 3P% and 84.7 FT%.

He's easily one of the most skilled big men in the league, maybe only behind the likes of Nikola Jokic.

However, defensively he's disgraceful.

For a 7-footer with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he only blocks 0.8 shots per game, and per NBA Defensive stats, he is (by far) the worst rim-protector in the league.

Out of all players to have played at least 10 games and defended at least 4 shots at the rim per game, Towns allows 82.0% of them to go in. This is over 5.0% more than the 2nd worst player on this list and is abysmal when compared to the likes of Jarrett Allen, Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.

This isn't about ability, because Towns has the frame to be a defensive stopper as mentioned above. This is purely about effort, and Towns just doesn't care.

Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski (Imagn Images)

18/11/2024

15-0....

What a start by the Cleveland Cavaliers!

This is the longest winning streak in the club's 55-year history, not even with LeBron did they manage something like this!

What's even more impressive is that this isn't just an electric starting 5 doing all the work; it's a team effort through and through.

The Cavs currently have 10 players averaging over 20 MPG, with most of their starters only playing around 30 MPG.

This means the whole team is getting involved, building chemistry, and allowing Cleveland's best players like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland invaluable rest for the marathon-like slog that is the NBA season.

Do you think the Cavs can win the title this season?

Photo Credit: Joshua Gunter (Cleveland.com)

16/11/2024

Nothing to see here, just a near 40-year-old LeBron James with his 4th Triple-Double in an away win over the Spurs.

Over the last 4 games, he's averaged 22.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 13.8 APG...and he's shooting 54.8 FG% and 38.9 3P% as well.

Just appreciate the greatness.

Can the Lakers win one more title for LeBron this season?

Photo Credit: Darren Abate (Associated Press)

14/11/2024

How good is Nikola Jokic, right?

The 3-time MVP is playing on another level right, even for him

Through the first ten games this season, he's averaged 29.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 11.7 APG (leading the league in rebounds and assists per game), whilst shooting 56.3% from the field, 56.3% from 3 and 84.3% from the free-throw line.

Jokic will go down as one of the greatest ever to rival the likes of Shaq, Hakeem, Wilt and Kareem when he's done.

Do you think Jokic will win another MVP this season?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

04/04/2023

I called it from the beginning; Westbrook and the Lakers would not work out well...and I was obviously correct.

The Lakers were 25-31 (44.6%) before they traded Westbrook.

The Laker's record after Westbrook was traded?

15-8 (65.2%)

Offensive Rating before: 114.2
Offensive Rating after; 116.5

Defensive Rating before; 115.6
Defensive Rating after; 111.6

Rating difference before; -1.4
Rating difference after; +4.9

If the Lakers had their post-Westbrook record for the whole season, they'd get around 53 wins, which would put them firmly in contention for the Top Seed in the Western Conference.

All this could've been avoided if they had just not made the idiotic mistake of acquiring Westbrook.

Were the Lakers wrong to get Westbrook last season?

Photo Credit: The Athletic

Stats Credit; StatMuse

09/02/2023

Hate him, adore him, no matter what you can never ignore him.

LeBron passes Kareem to become the all-time leader in points scored.

I don't care what your feelings are, this is an all-time sporting achievement and LeBron is far from done. I fully expect him to pass 40,000 points with ease. No athlete in sports history has had the longevity the LBJ has had.

All hail the KING!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

30/01/2023

The Denver Nuggets currently have the best record in the West at 34-16 after 50 games.

Obviously, Jokic is their best player, but Aaron Gordon has arguably been their 2nd best. He's the perfect Power-Forward partner for the passing skills of Jokic. Gordon is a great slasher and finisher, and he's taken it to another level this season.

He's averaging 16.8 PPG and 6.8 RPG on a career-high 57.9% from the field. What's more impressive is the number of easy points he's getting. 27.6% of his field-goal attempts are dunks this season, more than double his career average of 13.8%.

The 1-2 punch of Jokic and Gordon has the Nuggets in a great position to do well this year, but can they go all the way?

Photo Credit: David Berding (Getty Images)

13/01/2023

Nikola Jokic is easily the best offensive player in the league right now.

Season averages of 24.9 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 9.7 APG on a shooting split of 61.8/37.5/81.2 along with an offensive rating of 134.2 (1st in the NBA) and 6.5 Win Shares (1st in the NBA) after 38 games clearly put the Serb ahead of everyone in the game.

He will win the MVP for the 3rd time in a row, even with voter fatigue, but he won't end the season as an NBA Champion; his defense is terrible.

Amongst all players who have played at least 30 games and defend at least 6 shot attempts at the rim per game, Jokic is the 3rd worst in the league behind Nik Vucevic and Luka Doncic.

It's nearly impossible to win a title if you can't defend the rim, because that's where the most effective shots are taken.

Jokic can get all the points and assists he wants, but if he doesn't improve his defense, the Nuggets are going no where.

Do you think the Nuggets can win the title this season?

26/12/2022

LeBron has just lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day, 124-115. LeBron scored 38 points which wasn't enough to get the victory.

His Lakers are 13-19.

Steph Curry's Golden-State Warriors are 15-18 despite having nearly the same roster that won them the title last season.

Is it time for LeBron and Steph to team up?

I don't think it would be seen as either player giving up to win because the last time they player against each other in the Playoffs was 2018.

Their playstyles are perfect for each other; the greatest driver off all time with the greatest shooter of all time.

Would you like to see this happen?

Photo Credit: NBA

10/12/2022

After winning their 6th game in a row, the New Orleans Pelicans now have the best record in the Western Conference at 17-8 after 25 games.

They 7 different players scoring in double digits, with Zion Williamson (24.5 PPG/60.5 FG%) leading the way.

Defensively, they've been solid as well. Currently they have the 9th best opposing team FG% (46.1%), 2nd in opposing team 3P% (33.5%) and 7th in opposing team PPG (110.1).

Maybe, just maybe, the Pelicans finally have a core of players that they can make into an actual title-contender.

Do you think the Pelicans can keep this up?

Photo Credit: Sky Sports

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