February is FINALLY over. 28 days felt like 28 months in Greater Cleveland, especially during the first three weeks of the month. I cannot complain today though, as I am currently writing in a t-shirt and khaki shorts. We have March to look forward to with longer days, more sunshine, and more NBA ACTION. Onto why you are (hopefully) reading.
NIGHT GAMES ON SUNDAY ARE STUPID
Today’s slate of NBA Games begin at 3:30 PM EST. Every other game is 7:00 PM EST or later. Who on a Sunday is thinking “Oh man, people are going to be busy today when a majority of the working class is off of work. We better make sure we wait to start that Grizzlies and Rockets game at 8:00, yeah?” Unless you count on fans that really love the NBA and are a League Pass subscriber (I had to stomach a Wolves-Wizards game last night while my better half baked cookies), no one is going to go out of their way to watch these games. Why not start more NBA TV games on at 1:00 PM EST on a Saturday or Sunday? This is the time when fans watch the NFL and College Football. College Basketball has plenty of big games on during the day. I’m not of the belief that this is going to dramatically change the popularity of the National Basketball Association, but I would think it would do more help that harm.
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE IS MEDIOCRE
This isn’t necessarily a deep observation here, you can see yourself in the standings even. Only one game separates the 4th seeded Toronto Raptors and the 10th seeded Charlotte Hornets. Of those teams, the aforementioned Raptors have the best point differential (+2.5) and the Heat have the worst (-1.9). I do think the Raptors are better than a .500 team and feel good about them keeping the four seed (assuming a Kyle Lowry trade doesn’t happen). I also think the Heat are going to be okay as well. They lost Jimmy Butler for a solid stretch before he returned and became a triple-double machine. I expect them to finish as the five seed.
The Celtics are receiving incredible seasons from Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown. After that…scoring is tough to come by. Kemba Walker no longer appears to be an All-Star. The man they got rid of to sign Walker, Terry Rozier (Shaker Heights, gotta rep the local guys!), might be a better player at this point. A lot of the picks that they required from trades haven’t panned out 100%. I would not say they’ve had a lot of busts, but a lot of their mid first round picks turned out into what mid first round picks turn into: rotation players, not stars. I know most of this leaned negative for the Celtics, but I think with Tatum and Brown, they finish 6th.
The Knicks have been a pleasant surprise after most (me included) expected them to be bad. But coach Tom Thibodeau has them playing hard. Their point differential of +0.5 suggests that they really are a .500 team and not due for a huge crash. Julius Randle is a deserved All-Star. Currently averaging 23.4/11/5.5, Randle is a really fun player to watch thus far. If you have the chance to watch League Pass, please do check out the Knicks. Like I said, they play hard and they have star power. Mike Breen, most famous as the ABC/ESPN lead announcer, serves as play-by-play announcer for the Knicks and is the best in the business. Clyde Frazier not only give you great analysis as color commentator, he will help add a word or three to your vocabulary as well. My (possibly bold) prediction is for the Knicks to finish 7th.
The Charlotte Hornets are one of the most exciting teams to watch. LaMelo Ball is going to be the Rookie of the Year and has quieted any doubters that he would be an amazing talent just 32 games into his NBA career. He meshes well with the previously mentioned Terry Rozier who while maybe not an All Star, has turned into a very good NBA player. Malik Monk looked to be en route to getting minimum or 10-day NBA contracts from the rest of his career. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, that will no longer be the case. Monk is currently shooting 46% from deep after shooting just 28% last year. I have the Hornets as the 8th seed.
While the Hornets are exciting, the Pacers are once again boring. I’m not even saying that’s a bad thing, but it’s the same Pacers, during their yeomen-like work and ready to gear up for another quick playoff exit. No disrespect to current coach Nate Bjokgren but the Nate McMillan firing is still puzzling. I have them finishing 9th.
Rounding out the mediocrity are the Chicago Bulls. Zach LaVine is an offensive juggernaut and makes the Bulls a very fun League Pass team. He is currently averaging 28.7 points a game to go along with five rebounds and five assists. The Bulls have other talented players in Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter, Jr and Coby White. But none of these three feel like a star and that has been the Bulls biggest problem. Their draft picks have mostly been far from busts. But they’ve been more like a solid single or a double and not a home run. And in order to be a contender in the NBA, you have to hit home runs. I have them finishing 10th.
One might find the mediocrity in the Eastern Conference boring. I find it exciting. These next forty or so games are going to be a lot of fun. With the addition of the play-in games, there are now two more available opportunities to make the playoffs. No one in the east is outright tanking right now. That’s the way it should be.
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