The Cavaliers reminded everyone how the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead. (Photo: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)
By J.M. Poulard
Follow @ShyneIV
There is a method to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ brilliant madness, even if it doesn’t always appear as though it makes sense.
The Cavs won the title last season by riding the singular talents of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving almost to a fault. Indeed, head coach Tyronn Lue utilized his two premier perimeter players to bend defenses to the will of his superstars, whom attacked the Golden State Warriors repeatedly through isolations until the Dubs were forced to adjust their defensive coverage.
Truthfully, I didn’t believe the Cavs could capture the title last year by simply riding Bron’ and Ky; and yet, Cleveland succeeded. Interestingly enough, the Cavaliers essentially borrowed the same game plan on Christmas day against a Warriors team featuring Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Much like last year’s Finals, the Warriors had the superior ball movement and offensive sets, but the Cavs’ best was simply superior to whatever Golden State brought to the table.
Despite the Xmas game absence of J.R. Smith (thumb), Cleveland simply tilted the math in their favor by repeatedly calling on James and Irving to deliver, and once the twosome managed that, it opened up the floor for other teammates.
Consider this: Kevin Love made as many field-goals (five) on the Christmas day matchup as he did in the final three combined contests of the 2016 Finals.
The Cavs are at their best when Irving and James get to dictate the terms of opponents’ surrender, and that’s exactly what they did against the Dubs.
It’s fascinating to watch as far as the Warriors are involved, because Golden State’s philosophy exhibits a large contrast when juxtaposed against Cleveland’s.
The Dubs employ the premier one-on-one player in basketball with Durant, but they never allow KD to simply comport himself as a solo act. The same is true of Curry, who routinely springs teammates loose with his screening and cutting.
The Warriors function beautifully as a well-oiled machine with numerous off-ball actions that result in open looks; and I’m not sure there is a better team in the league in terms of offensive synergy than the Warriors.
And yet, the same was true last season, and Golden State failed to collect the championship hardware.
June is obviously still far away, but one can’t help but wonder whether Cleveland’s individualistic approach will continue to trump Golden State’s collaborative effort.
These are clearly the two best teams in the league, and they did very little from discouraging the masses that a third consecutive Finals matchup is on the horizon.
Game on.
Peace On Earth, And With Isaiah Thomas
Celtics’ point guard Isaiah Thomas drives past Courtney Lee. (Photo: Andy Marlin – USA TODAY Sports)
By James Holas
Follow @JHolasHoops
When the Boston Celtics acquired the 5’9” Isaiah Thomas back in 2015, Boston was in the midst of an honest-to-goodness tank job.
The team sat at 20-31 at the trade deadline, and visions of Justise Winslow and Mario Hezonja danced through the Celtics fans’ collective heads (hey, we didn’t know yet, alright?). Thomas had been mired in a disappointing season off the bench for the moribund Phoenix Suns, and once unshackled in Beantown, he played like a man possessed. Thomas took to his new team like a tiny fish to kelly green water, and against all odds, Boston won 20 of its last 31 games, earning a first round stomping by the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers.
So long lottery pick.
Hello, Terry Rozier.
I hated Isaiah Thomas.
Of course, it was unfair to pin all of my ire on Thomas. Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley came into their own as well, and young Brad Stevens quickly made a name for himself as one of the best coaches in the game. But I held onto my fury at the diminutive professional scorer even as the wins piled up the following season.
Boston won 48 games, and Isaiah became an All-Star, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the franchise had missed a golden opportunity to build for the future by landing that meaningless playoff drubbing. Sure, I reasoned glumly, this was a feel good story, but how good ARE you when your best player can’t ride all of the rides at amusement parks?
Then Al Horford happened.
And Jaylen Brown happened.
And this season began.
The Celtics rolled into Madison Square Garden on Christmas day with a chance to prove to a national audience that they were, indeed, the real deal.
Sharing the court with Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and phenom Kristaps Porzingis, Thomas was the brightest star of them all, dazzling defenders on his way to a team-high 27 points.
The Celtics’ depth and versatility were on full display. Crowder and the burly Marcus Smart made life miserable for Melo with stalwart defense, seven Celts hit at least one three, and eight scored at least eight points. Al Horford (15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) had a hand in everything and soared to snuff a late Porzingis floater.
But as usual, Isaiah led the way. Height be damned, Thomas is one of the very best scorers in the game today. From his deadly change of pace handle, to his sneaky athleticism and the plethora of angles he can put the ball in the hole, defenses have been helpless before the volume scorer’s relentless attack. He’s averaging 27 points and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from the floor; if he maintains those numbers, he’ll join only Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and James Harden as the members of the 27-6-44 percent club over the last 10 years. As the Justise Winslows and Stanley Johnsons of the 2015 draft take their lumps, Thomas continues to reinvent himself as a bonafide NBA difference maker.
LeBron James and his Cavaliers loom large over the East, and the Toronto Raptors’ offense has been historic on the backs of their two All Stars, but Boston’s Christmas victory was their fifth in six games, giving them sole possession of third in the East while putting the rest of the league on alert.
While I’ve warmed up to the idea of “Isaiah Thomas’ team,” watching top tier stars like Russell Westbrook eviscerate the Celtics drives home the gap between where Boston is and where they want to be. The Celtics are over three points per 100 possessions worse when Thomas is on the floor; by comparison, Kemba Walker’s Hornets are +6.9, John Wall’s Wizards +9.2, and Kyle Lowry’s Raps are +13.9 with their respective star point guards on the court. It’s not ideal when your team’s defensive rating is almost 10 points better with your lead guard out of the game.
Even yesterday, when the Knicks tied the game late with an 11-2 run, Thomas almost came unglued, launching an inadvisable 3-pointer early in the clock and missing two of four free throws with the game hanging in the balance.
But the Celtics hung on for the W, and are now 12-4 with their starting lineup intact. His defense leaves tons to be desired, and he’s behind the eight-ball in a league that puts a premium on length and size, but as Isaiah goes, so goes Boston. From being the last pick in the 2011 draft, to a journeyman backup on two lottery teams, to All-Star starting on an Eastern contender, Isaiah Thomas has to be taken seriously. For better or worse, Thomas holds the key to Boston’s success.
Russell Westbrook In The Spirit Of Christmas
If Russell Westbrook isn’t on your MVP list, check it twice. (Photo: Mark D. Smith – USA TODAY Sports)
By Adam Joseph
Follow @AdamJosephSport
If Russell Westbrook is your hero, he’s the Santa Claus coming down the chimney and delivering every present you wanted and more. If he’s your villain, he’s the grinch stealing away all your Christmas joy. Either way, he doesn’t care Russ does what he wants.
The amazing thing about Westbrook’s 31 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds was that his points and rebounds tally were below his season averages of 31.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. It was his fifth 30-point, 15-assist game of 2016-17, which is the most of anyone in the last 30 seasons per ESPN’s Stats and Info.
The Thunder continue to defy their critics and nobody sums up the defiance of their team better than their leader, who is arguably the best show in basketball to watch right now.
Russell Westbrook's last 5:
38.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 12.4apg, 1.2spg.
48.4%FG, 40.0%3P, 88.8%FT.
Total & utter dominance.
— Adam Joseph (@AdamJosephSport) December 26, 2016
Westbrook’s pure control over the frantic nature of his play has begun to win over doubters, as his Most Valuable Player case continues to build. After his game-winning display on the road in Boston last time out, he had a stunning performance on national television on Christmas, cementing himself as the most explosive player in basketball.
In the span of 113 seconds, Westbrook changed it up from his recent pattern of clutch scoring to end opponents’ resolve, dishing five assists for all four of his teammates on the floor. A 3-pointer for Jerami Grant, a layoff to Steven Adams, then Grant again, then a dumpoff to Enes Kanter and an alley-oop for Andre Roberson which put the Thunder up 20 and sealed another win for Oklahoma City.
The difference Westbrook is beginning to find, however, is that he’s not always doing it alone. Steven Adams fell just shy of his career high with 22 points, Enes Kanter chipped in 20 and Alex Abrines continues to look increasingly comfortable with 10 off the bench.
Christmas Day perhaps best summarized where both teams are headed, as Russell Westbrook’s commanding year continued in style with Billy Donovan’s new and improved bench mob helping out more than adequately.
Some see his high usage and dominating personality as negative aspects worthy of coal in his stockings. Others realize that by applying enough pressure and heat to carbon, you get diamonds.
Nick Young Finds Redemption
Nick Young has gained solid footing in the NBA. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez)
By Advith Sarikonda
Follow @darintellect
He was never supposed to make the team, let alone start. Destined to be a roster casualty following off-court incident after off-court incident, Nick Young approached training camp on the precipice of losing his job.
Yet, on a Christmas day matchup against the rival Los Angeles Clippers, it was Young who not only led the team with 19 points, but also sported a game-high plus-minus of +25.
“Uncle P,” as he is now affectionately known, hit one critical 3-pointer after another in a win that should ultimately boost team morale, as meaningless as it may have been considering the absences of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Even Luke Walton cautioned the team after the game to “…not kid ourselves,” as it took an entire half of pathetic effort on both ends for the team to finally wake up and beat a team that had no business competing.
But amidst the up-and-down nature of both the game and entire season, Young’s play has been a constant. He has embraced the role as the Lakers’ most consistent perimeter defender (something that even the most hopeful of Nick Young supporters could not have anticipated) and has fit in seamlessly into the starting lineup. If not poetic enough, Young has done all of this while sharing the same backcourt as D’Angelo Russell, who many believed would be the reason Young would eventually be removed from the team in the first place. Yet Young and Russell both led the team in plus-minus while assisting on one another’s 3-point baskets, a sort of cosmic justice and a storybook tale that only the most bullish of fans could conjure up. Indeed, per NBA.com/stats, Russell has assisted Young on 29 baskets this season, more than any other teammate by a considerable margin.
But as spectacular of a game as it was for Lakers fans, it was ultimately one marred by injuries for both teams. Though the Clippers have historically proven capable of winning without Griffin, the same cannot be said in the absence of Paul. Raymond Felton did an admirable job holding it down in Paul’s absence, though it was ultimately not enough once the Lakers’ defensive intensity picked up in the third quarter. On the other hand, the Lakers did not play Tarik Black or Jose Calderon, while learning before the game that their most consistent bench performer – Larry Nance, Jr. – would be sidelined for up to four weeks due to bone bruise.
So while it may have been just another game in the whirlwind that is an 82 game schedule, it served as microcosm of the kind of season it has been for the Lakers’ best two-way player through 34 games into the season — Nick Young.
LaMarcus Aldridge And Kawhi’s Sweater Saved Christmas
LaMarcus Aldridge had his first 30-point game of the season. (Photo: Soobum Im – USA TODAY Sports)
By Sarah Cilea
Follow @WildHorses65
The San Antonio Spurs-Chicago Bulls midday matchup found itself in an unenviable position on the NBA’s Christmas Day slate, crammed between a Finals rematch that lived up to billing and the travelling Russell Westbrook triple-double show.
As the game was about to get under way, most viewers were still trying to process the Warriors giving up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and Richard Jefferson throwing down two turn-back-the-clock dunks to spur the Cavalier comeback.
By tipoff in San Antonio, the majority of social media sentiment boiled down to some variation of ‘get this off my TV’ or ‘who (outside of San Antonio or Chicago) cares?’ Some even designated it the perfect time to sit down to dinner or fire up the PS4 and indulge in the spoils of the holiday.
That’s fair, but here are a few reasons why Spurs-Bulls was worth a look (if a bit anti-climactic, relative to the day’s events):
LaMarcus Aldridge could not miss. He literally did not miss a shot in the first quarter, and we’re not talking 2-of-2 on layups. He was 9-of-9 for 20 points with two shots in the paint and the rest coming from the 18-20 foot range.
The Bulls started out guarding Aldridge with Robin Lopez, who sagged heavily to protect the rim, allowing Aldridge to eat in the pick-and-pop. By the time the Bulls realized they needed to adjust, Aldridge was already en fuego. In all, he made his first 11 shots and finished 15-of-20 for 33 points, his first 30+ outing of the season.
The Spurs followed Aldridge’s lead to shoot 82.4 percent in the first quarter, including 8-of-10 from the midrange and 3-of-4 from 3-point distance. Their 36-point first quarter was a far cry from the 32-point first half they posted in Chicago on Dec. 8. They had a 20-point lead in less than seven minutes of play.
The Bulls fought fire with fire. While both teams rank near the bottom of the league in 3-pointers attempted—the Spurs are 28th and the Bulls 30—the Spurs have been efficient in their selective attempts, averaging a league-best 41 percent. Meanwhile, the Bulls are again dead last at 31 percent. That wasn’t evident in the first half in which they shot 41.7 percent from distance, led by Nikola Mirotic’s 3-of-5 as well as makes from Doug McDermott and Jerian Grant.
So the Spurs made up a little for setting offensive basketball back a few years on a TNT Thursday night in Chicago and the worst 3-point shooting team in the league shot like the best team, for a half anyway. The game became the battle of the unsustainable as the Spurs went up 20, the Bulls came back, and the Spurs finally built another 20 point lead to close.
Danny Green split a double-team to find LaMarcus Aldridge for an easy dunk. Not a typo.
DeJounte Murray got some tick, which is always fun.
.@DejounteMurray out here hoopin in the heat pic.twitter.com/U5bCps5pIB
— ryan (@ryancordero18) December 26, 2016
And Kawhi Leonard continued his quiet brilliance. The Jimmy Butler vs Leonard debate has looked almost too close to call this year, except when their respective teams meet. Though the official record is 1-1, Leonard has handily won the individual matchup in both instances.
More importantly, Leonard wore this sweater postgame:
(Pic on the left is a screencap from Michael C. Wright video https://twitter.com/mikecwright)
If that doesn’t seem like vital information and you aren’t happier having learned it then I hope you are visited by three spirits who show you the error of your ways next year.
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