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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

05/12/2022

After a very rocky start which saw the Warriors go 3-7, they are now slowly climbing up the Western Conference Standing and are now 13-11.

Their defense (which was the worst in the league) is slowly improving which is definitely helping a lot, but so is the improved play of Klay Thompson.

During that 3-7 start, Klay only averaged 15.0 PPG on 32.9 from 3, well below his career averages of 19.5 PPG on 41.5% from 3.

Since that terrible start, he's averaged 19.3 PPG on 41.7 3P%.

Even though he returned to action last season, missing 2 straight years due to injuries was always going to mean a slow return to his best.

The Warriors have been patient with him, and now it seems he's repaying them in kind.

Will a rejuvenated Thomspon be enough for the Warriors to win another title?

Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

03/12/2022

Anthony Davis has been the best player in the world over the past 2 weeks.

Over the past 8 games, he averaged 32.9 PPG, 15.4 RPG, 2.9 BPG and 1.4 SPG on 63.1 FG% and 86.7% from the free-throw line.

A healthy AD is a top 5 player in the NBA and is in contention for the top 2-way player as well.

Right now the Laker's hopes of reaching the Playoffs rest entirely atop his very injury-prone shoulders.

LA needs to do as much as possible to keep him healthy and get him some more support when the trade window opens early next year.

Can AD lead the Lakers to the Playoffs this season?

Photo Credit: Patrick McDermott (Getty Images)

25/11/2022

Losing the NBA Finals can sometimes be one of the best things to happen to a franchise. To get that close to winning it all, only for it to have be taken away from you provides and amazing learning experience, if you are prepared to take advantage.

The Celtics were up 2-1 against the Warriors before losing 3 straight to Steph Curry's greatness. However, they look to be back with vengance, with the best record in the NBA at 14-4 after 18 games.

Of course, Jayon Tatum and Jaylen Brown are leading the way (30.6 PPG and 25.6 PPG respectively), but they also have 4 other players averaging in double-digits (Brogdon, Smart, Horford and White).

The more diverse your scoring attack is the harder it is for defenses to contain you. If everyone is a threat then defenders can't easily double-team your top 1/2 guys, meaning they will have more opportunities as well.

Will the Celtics add banner number 18 to the TD Garden?

Photo Credit: NBA

19/11/2022

Wow.

LeBron has been playing NBA basketball for longer than some current players have been alive.

A true testament to his dedication to staying healthy and fit.

Photo Credit: Basketball Forever

19/11/2022

The Sacramento Kings look like they can make the Playoffs.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The Kings have won 5 straight games and look like they've built a solid core of De'Aron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and others.

They have 6 different players average over 10 PPG, they are young, they are hungry and they want to break the curse of being the League's biggest joke over the past 2 decades.

Sacramento hasn't made the Playoffs since 2006.....

Many a meme has been made at their expense, but maybe this is the year that postseason basketball comes back to town.

Do you think the Kings will make the Playoffs?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

15/11/2022

My feel-good story of the season so far is the return of Michael Porter Jr.

Two seasons ago, MPJ was an up-and-coming star who was averaging 19.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG on 54.2 FG%, 44.5 3P% and 79.1 FT% for the surging Denver Nuggets.

Sadly the following season he re-injured his back, the same injury that caused him to miss his first season.

Thankfully he is back and playing great. 18.0 PPG and 6.4 RPG on 49.7 FG%, 48.3 3P% and 85.0 FT% for the 2nd-seeded Denver Nuggets.

Hopefully this is the end of his string of bad luck because he has All-Star potential.

How good can MPJ be?

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy (USA Today Sports)

13/11/2022

The Utah Jazz have been the surprise team of the season so far. After trading their 2 best players in Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, many thought they would drop off as they began their rebuild.

Their squad had other ideas.

Currently the Jazz sit atop the Western Conference with a 10-4 record, mainly thanks to the amazing play from Lauri Markkanen. He's averaging 22.3 PPG and 8.5 RPG on 53.0 FG%.

I do think the Jazz will drop off as their players revert back to their average, but they've definitely showed tremendous heart to start the campaign.

Do you think the Jazz can continue their hot start?

Photo Credit: NBA.com

08/11/2022

Golden-State, who have won 4 titles in the last 8 years, are 3-7 to start this season, which is disastrous for a team predicted to go back to back.

Their offense has been fantastic so far. 3rd in team PPG (117.4), 10th in team FG% (47.3%) and 15th in team 3P% (35.9%), but their defense has been pathetic.

They are the worst team in the league in opposing PPG (121.4), 25th in opposing team FG% (47.6%) and 17th in opposing team 3P% (35.9%) after 10 games.

This is because they are playing too fast and don't get their defensuve rebounds. They have the highest pace rating in the league at 103 possessions per game and have been the 3rd worst in grabbing defensive rebounds (31.1 RPG). Whilst playing fast does give you more opportunities to score, it also gives your opponents more as well.

Can the Warriors turn it around?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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