BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls have received NBA’s permission to explore becoming two-league team: the NBA and G League, according to sources. The plan: Play early-season games in NBA and finish the season in G League. My column:
Margin of victory, last 17 playoff games:
20
9
6
9
25
25
11
33
28
13
14
27
9
3
39
30
35
Average margin of victory has been 19.8 points. There's been a total of 7 clutch time minutes.
32-10-5 from Alex Caruso
21-13-3-3 from Ray Spalding
26-14-10 from Delon Wright
16-16-11 from Mario Hezonja
21-7-4 from Courtney Lee
11-9-6-7 from Dragan Bender
Late-season NBA is drunk.
Remaining free agents for the Lakers to choose from:
DeMarcus Cousins
Danny Green
Marcus Morris
JaMychal Green
Delon Wright (RFA)
Kelly Oubre (RFA)
Tyus Jones (RFA)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Jabari Parker
Rajon Rondo
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Avery Bradley
Justin Holiday
Over the past 7 months, the Mavs turned:
Trae Young, 2019 protected first, Dennis Smith Jr., expiring contracts of DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews
to
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis
Net Rating differential on and off the court this season-
Harden: +4.0
Giannis +7.0
Paul George: +19.3 (!!!)
Thunder have a +10.0 Net Rating this season with PG on the court, -9.3 with him off.
That's essentially the difference between the Warriors (+9.3) and Cavs (-10.7).
Through 10 games, Carmelo Anthony has more missed shots (72) than field goals, assists, steals, and blocks combined (65).
Rockets are 15.4 points per 100 possessions better with him off the court.
“Ohtani received $150,000 for participating in the Derby, but he distributed that to around 30 Angels support staffers to thank them for their work, sources said. He distributed checks on Friday to trainers, clubhouse workers and media relations staffers.”
Updated Jazz depth chart:
PG - Conley, Exum
SG - Mitchell, O'Neale
SF - Ingles, O'Neale
PF - Bogdanovic, Jeff Green, Niang
C - Gobert, Ed Davis, Tony Bradley
Might be the best team in the West as it stands.
Evan Mobley's defense, this season:
43 blocks, 45 fouls
+3.6 defensive EPM (3rd)
Cavs 100.6 DRtg with him ON (2nd)
Cavs 107.4 DRtg with him OFF (12th)
56.3% FGA in restricted area (1st)
Robert Covington has to be DPOY so far, right?
Wolves before trade: 113.9 DRtg (30th)
Wolves since trade: 100.4 DRtg (2nd)
Covington
#2
in deflections per game,
#1
in steals,
#16
in blocks. Opponents shoot 9.8% worse when guarded by him.
OKC and Paul George are a perfect fit.
OKC passed up the tax to keep Russ-Harden-KD together but will pay $286M for team that got bounced in 6 by Utah.
PG passed up $220M with Indy to go to LA, changes mind, then takes a 4/$137M deal instead of 2+ option with bump.
James Harden, last 11 games:
50-11-10, W
32-10-12, W
47-5-6, W
35-9-3, W
35-12-6, L
39-10-4, W
41-7-6, W
45-6-2, W
41-6-9, W
43-13-10, W
44-15-10, W
Rockets are 6-0 since Chris Paul got hurt. Harden averaging 42-10-7 during that stretch.
#MVP
Zach LaVine had more missed shots (219) last season than assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks combined (194).
Related: The Kings just signed him to an $80M offer sheet.
Suns dumped TJ Warren's reasonable deal and the No. 32 pick to pay Ricky Rubio $51M.
Hornets held onto Kemba at the deadline and let him walk in FA to pay Terry Rozier $58M.
Bad franchises stay bad.
The Heat have a 149.2 (!!) ORtg when DeAndre Jordan is on the court this series.
32-58 FG (55.2%)
9-22 3PT (40.9%)
62.9 eFG%
Next worst Sixers player (Korkmaz) has a 119.8 DRtg.