The Warriors could win the lottery
The Golden State Warriors could genuinely end up getting the first pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
The Warriors, who have won three titles in four years and reached five straight NBA Finals, are in rebuild mode following injuries to Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, D’Angelo Russell and the departure of Kevin Durant.
They currently have the worst record in the league, and have pretty much thrown away their first year at the Chase Center. This could end up with them getting the first pick in next year’s draft, as they’ll almost certainly be a lottery team.
If they do, the potential next year is scary. Possible number one pick LaMelo Ball teaming up with a fit-again Curry, Thompson, Russell and Draymond Green means they could be right back where they feel they belong before too long.
Who can stop the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking nothing short of unstoppable at the moment.
From 16 games, they’ve lost just twice – once on the opening day against the Los Angeles Clippers and once against reigning champion Toronto Raptors on November 11.
LeBron James seems to have taken his game up another gear, averaging 25 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.
The Lakers still have the potential to make a trade, and their roster depth is questionable, but right now the only team who can stop them is themselves.
James Harden really, really wants the MVP
James Harden was enraged at not being given the Most Valuable Player award last year – perhaps rightly so, he averaged 36 points-per-game.
And this year, he has started like a house on fire, with 12 35+ point games out of 16 played.
The Rockets are still getting going, and struggled against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, but Harden still put up 32–11-9 as the team struggled.
His defensive play is what it is, but somehow Harden is still improving his incredible scoring power.
Luka Doncic is the benchmark for MVP
Despite Harden’s brilliance, there’s one man who is currently running away with the MVP award this year.
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic has done what nobody thought he would be able to do this year.
The 20-year-old phenom is averaging 29.9 points-per-game, 10.4 rebounds and 9.7 assists. To be so close to a triple double at his age is incredible.
Against the Golden State Warriors this week, he scored 22 points in the first quarter to put the game to bed in the opening 12 period, as he went on to score a modest – by his standards – 35. Anyone who wants the MVP, Harden or otherwise, has to go through him.
The Celtics need to rally without Kemba
The Boston Celtics have been one of the best teams in the league this year.
Through 15 games, they’ve got an impressive 11-4 record and were really coming together as a team after Kyrie Irving’s departure in the summer.
However, this week they lost point guard Kemba Walker to a concussion, and the new star could face some time out.
The time is now for Boston to come together as a team and play through the absence of Walker.