J-Speaks: Latest Happenings In The NBA

 

The reigning Western Conference champions and their two rivals from the Bay Area and L.A. have the longest winning streaks in “The Association.” In the Eastern Conference, New York’s other team is hitting their stride behind their two former Kia MVP’s. The No. 1 overall pick from this past summer’s draft finally made his debut, while a veteran teammate of his has continued his strong play from last season. The four-time Kia MVP’s former team has begun the season strong. The boys from the “Big Easy” have had a rough go of things. These are the latest happenings that will be covered in this latest piece of the latest happenings in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Scorching Winning Streak By Defending West Champion Suns

The defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns started their quest to return to the NBA Finals at 1-3. Since then, they have been on a key role and looked every bit like the team that will be in the conversation of who will represent the West in The Finals this spring.

Since that 1-3 start, the Suns (9-3) have won eight consecutive games, the longest winning streak currently in the NBA. Their latest victory was a 115-89 win at the Houston Rockets (1-12), who they sent to their 11 consecutive loss.

Their winning streak began on the heels of a buzzer-beating 110-107 loss on Oct. 27 versus the Sacramento Kings (5-8). The Suns have not lost since. Of the teams they have taken down recently, only the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-5), who they defeated 101-92 to start this eight-game winning streak are the only team that the Suns have defeated that is above the .500 mark currently. The other teams that the Suns have defeated during the streak, which made the playoffs a season ago in the Eastern Conference runner-up Atlanta Hawks (5-9) (121-117) Nov. 6; Portland Trail Blazers (119-109) on Wednesday, and the Memphis Grizzlies (119-94) on Friday night are all under .500 at 5-9, 6-8, and 6-7 respectably.

Leading the charge for the Suns has been their dynamic backcourt of future Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star Chris Paul, who has registered double-digit assists in four of the seven victories, which includes five double-doubles. In the Suns victory at the Grizzlies, Paul had 15 points, 12 assists and five steals.

In the Suns comeback 112-100 win versus the New Orleans Pelicans (2-12) on Nov. 4 on TNT, Chris Paul surpassed Hall of Famer and head coach of the Brooklyn Nets Steve Nash (10,335) and NBA on ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson (10,334) for No. 3 on the NBA’s all-time assists at now 10,396 career assists list and counting with 14 points and a season-high 18 assists.

Earlier in the season with his performance of 23 points and 14 assists in the Suns’ 115-105 win at the Los Angeles Lakers (7-6) Oct. 22, their lone win of the season at that time, Paul became the first player in NBA history to register 20,000 career points and 10,000 career assists.

“It’s pretty cool to watch greatness,” Suns third-year head coach Monty Williams said after the win.

A number of those recent assists Paul has had have gone to the other half of the Suns dynamic backcourt in two-time All-Star Devin Booker, who really got going scoring wise at the start of this seven-game winning streak with 27 points and nine assists in the Suns aforementioned win versus the Cavaliers. He had another 27-point performance with nine rebounds and five assists, going 4/8 from three-point range in the Suns 123-111 win versus the Houston Rockets (1-11). He followed that up 48 hours later with a season-high of 38 points on 14/21 shooting, including 5/9 from three-point range in helping his team rally from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter versus the Hawks. Booker led the Suns with 26 points in their victory on Sunday at the Rockets

As great as Booker and Paul have been during this streak, the Suns just like a season ago when they made The Finals after an 11-year absence from the postseason have received major contributions from their supporting cast of Paul’s understudy in Cameron Payne, starting small forward Mikal Bridges, and backup big man Frank Kaminsky III.

Kaminsky III, who flamed out as a No. 1 draft choice with the Charlotte Hornets in 2015 has played well when he has gotten playing time in his now one-plus seasons with the Suns. He had 17 points in the Suns’ win versus the Pelicans on 5/8 shooting and 6/6 from the charity stripe. Versus the Hawks, Kaminsky III had 16 points and six rebounds on 7/10 from the floor. In the Suns win versus the Trail Blazers, Kaminsky scored a career-high 31 points on 12/18 from the floor with seven rebounds.

“I still don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Kaminsky said after the win of his performance. “But it’s just a mindset. Go out there, play as hard as you can, be ready for anything. You never know when your opportunities are going to come so you’ve got to make the most of them.”

Two season’s back when the NBA restarted in Orlando, FL because of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, Payne got his opportunity for a fresh start after having to play overseas after he flopped with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls and he has been nothing short of sensational for the Suns as Paul’s backup at the lead guard spot.

He showed that in the Suns 109-104 win at the Kings on Nov. 8, where he scored 24 points on 9/14 from the floor, including 4/6 from three-point range as the Suns took control of the game outscoring the home team 31-12 in the period, leading by 21 points early in the fourth quarter and held off a furious Kings rally.

As impressive as the Suns have been offensively, a major part of their winning streak and their aforementioned march to The Finals last season has been their play at the defensive, which was a driving force in their run to The Finals last season.

In their victory at the Grizzlies on Friday night, the Suns put together their best defensive effort so far this season holding the Grizzlies to 37.8 percent shooting, including 7/33 from three-point range; registering 12 steals and six block shots.

“Our defense was very, very good tonight,” Suns forward Jae Crowder, who had 17 points on 5/8 from three-point range at the Grizzlies said after the win. “It was no coincidence we were able to get out to a good lead.”

The Suns led after the first quarter 36-23 and held the Grizzlies to 20 and 21 points respectably in the second and third quarters.

“Defensively, to hold a team to 23 points or less in a quarter, that’s hard to do in the NBA,” Coach Williams said, noting his team gave up 30 points to the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter. “I thought our intensity was in a really good place.”

The Suns have gotten back on track despite not having starting center Deandre Ayton, who missed his fifth game out of the last six with a lower right leg contusion and that the NBA launched an investigation at the start of November into owner Robert Sarver over racism and sexism charges.

In Ayton’s absence, off-season addition JaVale McGee has started and played well as he registered 19 points and 14 rebounds in the win at the Rockets.

Something as serious as the investigation into Sarver and the loss of Ayton could really be a major distraction for a team. It has not been for the Suns so far and they hope to continue that laser focus as they continue a stretch of playing eight out of 12 on the road, where they had the league’s best mark of 24-12 on the road a season ago.

“For me, I don’t take them for granted,” Coach Williams said when asked about his team’s nine-game winning streak. “I’m focused on just getting better and improving and seeing consistency… I’m focused on our team getting better. I don’t want to take away from the wins and the success we’ve had early this season, but I have a short-term view and a long-term view.”

Warriors Volt To Top of West Behind Sizzling Winning Streak

When this season began, the Golden State Warriors were in the conversation of being a contender in the West. But it all depended on how soon the other half of their “Splash Brothers” backcourt would return. Well, the Warriors after missing the playoffs the last two seasons after five straight appearances in The Finals are playing at that elite level that helped them win three of their four titles in franchise history.

With their 119-93 win versus the Chicago Bulls (8-4), the Warriors (11-2) improved to 11-1 on the season, which is not only the best mark in the rugged Western Conference but is the best mark in the NBA.

Two nights earlier, the Warriors took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-110 to become the first team this season to win 10 games. It was the sixth time in their history they registered a 10-1 mark the first 11 games of a season, which includes the third time that has happened under head coach Steve Kerr.

The Warriors winning streak ended though with a 106-102 loss at the Charlotte Hornets (8-7) on Sunday night to begin four-game road trip and a stretch of 11 of their next 18 games on the road.

Leading the way for the Warriors has been two-time Kia MVP Stephen Curry, who already has registered three games with 40 points or more, including his effort of 40 points on 15/24 shooting, including 9/17 from three-point range in the win versus the Bulls.

This was the second time already this season that Curry has made at least nine triples and the 36^th time he has done that in his NBA career, the most in NBA history.

Not only did Curry make a three-pointer for the 137^th consecutive game (now at 138 consecutive games), the second longest streak in NBA history, he surpassed Hall of Famer Ray Allen for the most combined made threes in the regular season and playoffs in NBA history at 3,381 and counting.

This history making performance came in front of Curry’s former college coach at Davidson Bob McKillop, whose team was at Chase Center for a game at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA Saturday against the University of South Florida.

“It’s special,” Curry said of his performance in front of Coach McKillop. “The schedule gods worked out somewhat in terms of they got to come to the game…it always gets me going reminding me of the journey to get there and all that went into making me the player and person I am now.”

Curry’s scoring average of 32.7 points during the Warriors seven-game winning streak is a big reason they have led the NBA in scoring average (118.9), three-pointers made (16.9), and point differential (+21.4).

As impressive as the Warriors have been offensively, like they did when they hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2015, 2017, and 2018, they were just as exceptional at the defensive end of the floor.

Only the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers have allowed the fewest points on average at 98.3 and 101.3 respectably than the 101.5 average the Warriors have allowed to their opponents so far this season.

The Warriors right now lead the NBA in opponent’s field goal percentage allowing just 42.1 percent shooting. Only the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets at 29.5 percent and 31.0 percent respectably are ahead of the Warriors 31.3 three-point percentage allowed to the opposition.

That defense has helped the Warriors win their last seven straight games by 10-plus points,  tied for the longest such streak in the NBA the last four seasons.

The Warriors have put that top ranked defense on full display to start second halves so far this season registering a +107 point-differential in the third quarter, the best by any team in any quarter.

In the third of quarter of their victory versus the Bulls, the Warriors outscored their visitors 35-17 in the third quarter to lead by 24 points after three quarter. Curry scored 15 of his 40 points in the third quarter.

What has also helped the Warriors get off to a great start this season is nine of their first 12 games have been on their home floor of Chase Center.

“During this homestand, we had a lot of these games that were close for a long time and our defense really kind of wore on people,” Coach Kerr said after the win, adding, “and that’s a great sign because you got to be able to rely on your defense to win tough games.”

What you also have to rely on your role players to carry their weight alongside your star players, which was a trademark of the Warriors title teams the last decade, which was referred to as during their playoff runs during that time called “Strength In Numbers.”

While the supporting cast is different with Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Jordan Poole, Otto Porter, Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, two key parts of the supporting cast from those title teams in Andre Iguodala, who signed for his second stint with the Warriors this summer and Kevon Looney have gelled well alongside two of the Warriors big three All-Stars in Curry and 2017 Kia Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green.

Against his old team on last Wednesday night, Wiggins had a season-high 35 points on 14/19 from the floor, including 3/6 from three-point range. That 14/19 shooting by the 2015 Kia Rookie of the Year included a 10/10 start, scoring 22 points on 9/9 from the floor in the first half, becoming the first player for the Warriors to go at least 9/9 from the field in any half since Monta Ellis went 10/10 shooting in the first half against the Grizzlies on Jan. 11, 2008.

“Andrew was just fantastic, the aggression from the beginning of the game, loved his energy,” Coach Kerr said after the game about Wiggins, who was acquired from the Timberwolves at the Feb. 6, 2020 trade deadline. “Obviously, he was pretty excited to play against his old team. We needed everything he brought us tonight.”  

Looney against the Timberwolves had season-highs of 11 points and 17 rebounds for just his second career triple-double. Two nights later against the Bulls, Looney had another double-digit performance on the glass with 10 rebounds.

The best part of this great start by the Warriors so far here in 2021-22 is that Klay Thompson and No. 2 overall pick last season James Wiseman have yet to play as they continue to rehab their respective injuries of a torn ACL and Achilles for Thompson and a meniscus tear in the right knee for Wiseman.

Their eventual returns is great for the Warriors and unwelcome news for the rest of the NBA and the real possibility that the Golden State Warriors could be back in The Finals this late spring competing for their fifth title in franchise history.

Strong Start By Cleveland Cavaliers

There has been one constant over the last 19 seasons in the NBA. When LeBron James is on the Cavaliers roster, they have made the playoffs, reaching The Finals five times. When he has not been on the roster, they have been in the NBA Draft Lottery, which they have been the past three seasons. A solid start to this season by the LBJ’s former team though has Cavaliers nation pondering the possibility of at least a spot in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament with a shot at getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

With their comeback victory from 19 points down in the second half, the Cavaliers with their 91-89 win versus the Boston Celtics (6-7) improved to 9-5 as they outscored the Celtics 29-15 in the fourth quarter after getting outscored 20-9 in the opening period by the Celtics.

Trailing 72-53 with 3:05 left in third quarter, the Cavaliers answered with a 24-4 run to take a 77-76 lead with 6:43 left in third quarter.

“There is no basketball reason why we should have won, but there was a collective spirit,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the win. “Momentum is a hell of a thing. When you start to ride that wave in either direction, it changes the game.”

That collective spirit that has gotten the Cavaliers off to a great start to this season has been led by their starting backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, rookie Evan Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 draft, Jarrett Allen, and veteran guard Ricky Rubio, who was acquired in the off-season from the Timberwolves.

This quintet, along with Cedi Osman have been a big reason the Cavaliers have gone 6-1 since going 3-4 the first seven games of 2021-22.

Garland has shown at the start of this season his maturation of being able to know when to look for his own offense and when to get open shots for his teammates. The third-year guard led the way for the Cavaliers with 21 points and seven assists on 4/9 from three-point range in the Cavaliers dominating 98-78 win versus the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. He followed that up with 22 points and six assists in the aforementioned win versus the Celtics.

When the Cavaliers selected Mobley No. 3 overall out of USC this summer, they were extremely high on his ability on both ends and that he would play a significant role in helping to turn around the Cavaliers fortunes. He has with four double-doubles in the early part of his rookie season.

In the Cavaliers win versus the Celtics, Mobley had 19 points, nine boards, three block shots and two steals. That was on the heels of 16 points and seven rebounds with three blocks and two steals.

To start the month of November, Mobley registered 15 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s 113-110 win at the Hornets on Nov. 1. He followed that up 48 hours later with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Cavaliers 107-104 win versus the Trail Blazers.

Back in the off-season, the Cavaliers signed Allen, who was acquired from the Nets in the James Harden blockbuster trade in the middle of January has been rock solid in the middle registering seven double-doubles already this season and is on pace to register at least 20 double-doubles for the fourth straight season.

Allen began the month of November with five straight double-doubles registering 24 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in the win at the Hornets. He followed that up with 24 points and 17 rebounds in the victory versus the Trail Blazers.

“We want to go into these games with people knowing they’re going to have a fight on their hands,” Allen said after the win at the Hornets about his team came into this season with the focus of changing how they are perceived. “Over the past few years, it’s been like, ‘Oh, it’s the Cavs, it’s an off night.’ I’m just being honest, that’s how people looked at us. But know we want people to look at us and say, ‘We need to bring our A game.”

The Cavaliers brought their A game in the second half of their 126-109 at the New York Knicks (7-6) on Nov. 7, where they out the home team 33-18 in the third quarter to lead 89-75 after three quarters.

On this night, the Cavaliers were led by Rubio, who off the bench scored a career-high 37 points with 10 assists on 13/19 from the field, including 8/9 from three-point range, which included making his first eight from three. Mobley also had a career-high of 26 points on 11/15 from the floor with nine rebounds and five assists. Allen had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

“When the ball is going in it seems like you’re running the right plays,” Rubio said after the win. “But it’s not about scoring. It’s about (taking) the right path, (going) the right (way) every time.”

This game also put on display the Cavaliers improved defense, where they currently are No. 2 in points allowed (101.3) and No. 10 in opponent’s field goal percentage.

The Cavaliers in their win at the Knicks held them to 9/31 (29 percent) from three-point range, while going 19/35 (54.3 percent) from the three-point line themselves. They outrebounded the Knicks 48-32.

“In the games we’ve won, we’ve won the scrap,” Coach Bickerstaff said. “We win the competition. The dirty work. The gritty part of it. We don’t always have to be pretty and we’ve shown it…What’s most important to us is creating that identity.”

That will be especially important now without Sexton, who tore the meniscus in his left knee in the win at the Knicks and is out indefinitely . Veteran All-Star forward/center Kevin Love because of the league’s health and safety protocols has missed seven straight games as he regains his conditioning. Fellow forward Lauri Markkanen, who the Cavaliers acquired from the Chicago Bulls this off-season remains out missing six straight games also because of health and safety protocols.

As mentioned, the Cleveland Cavaliers have not made the playoffs since reaching the 2018 NBA Finals, the last season of LeBron James’ second stint. To bring this point into clearer context, the last time the Cavaliers won a playoff series without James on the roster was in 1992-93 when the defeated the then New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets in the opening-round 3-2, when the First-Round was a best-of-five series.

The Cavaliers have shown in the early part of this season that they at least will be in the mix for a spot in the Play-In Tournament this spring. Whether they can sustain this level of play remains to be seen. If they can, it would be a major step in their progression to becoming a playoff perennial again.

The Debut of Pistons No. 1 Pick

The Detroit Pistons entered 2021-22 in Year 2 of their rebuild around a plethora of mid to lower 20-year-old players who they hope will help revive them back into a playoff perennial. At the center of this rebuild is the most anticipated newcomer since a now Hall of Famer was chosen No. 3 overall in 1994. While the start to what Pistons’ nations hopes is a Hall of Fame career was delayed, when he did get onto the floor, the Pistons first No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft has shown glimpses that he will be the glue to the Pistons eventual revival.

The start to the career of No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham of the Pistons this summer was delayed four games because of an ankle injury, when he did get on the floor, he displayed his all-around ability to why he was taken first overall out of Oklahoma State University.

In his debut in the Pistons (3-9) 110-103 win versus the Orlando Magic (3-10), Cunningham only had two points on 1/8 shooting, including 0/5 from three-point range with seven rebounds in 19 minutes.

“I thought it was a good night,” Cunningham said after the win. “I wanted to make sure my ankle was good, and I was able to go out there and make some plays and grab some rebounds. Now I know I’m fine, so I can play free and easy moving forward.”

After another tough night in his second NBA game where he had six points on 2/14 shooting, including 0/9 from three-point range, Cunningham had his first career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds going 9/10 at the foul line in the Pistons 108-98 loss versus the now struggling Philadelphia 76ers (8-6).

In the anticipated matchup with No. 2 overall pick in last summer’s draft Jalen Green, the Pistons earned their second victory of the season by defeating the Houston Rockets 112-104 on Wednesday night on ESPN.

While Green outscored Cunningham 23-20, the former Cowboy had the more efficient night from the field going 8/18 shooting, including 4/8 from three-point range. Green on the other hand was just 8/20 from the field, including 3/11 from three-point range.

The one example of the difference of where Cunningham and Green are in their maturation process in the early part of their respective rookie seasons, Green after blowing passed Cunningham for a dunk in the third quarter turned and barked at his rookie counterpart and picked up a taunting technical foul.

“Nothing that I heard tonight held any real weight. It was just all for the cameras to me,” Cunningham said after the win.

Cunningham displayed the kind of poise he had to close out the victory as he made a three from the left wing with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. He moments later took a charge on Green in the lane. Then with two minutes left in regulation scored on a jump hook in the lane over Rockets’ second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate that sealed the win.

“Cade has that clutch gene, okay,” ESPN’s College Basketball analyst Mike Schmitz said on Thursday’s edition of “NBA Today.”

“His game [Cunningham] is more of a slow burn and when you’re losing by 25 [points] every game, you don’t get to see those big moments, those bright lights moments. But we saw a little bit of it last night and I think Cade is going to be a complete stud in the NBA for a long time.”

Cunningham showed that ability to perform in the clutch once again scoring seven of his 10 points in the fourth quarter in the Pistons 127-121 victory on Saturday night at the Toronto Raptors.

The Pistons in the fourth quarter outscored the Raptors 34-26, going 6/8 from three-point range in the period and 15/35 from three-point range on the night.

This was on the heels of a 98-78 loss at the Cavaliers on Friday night, where they shot 36.7 percent from the floor and 9/30 from three-point range, committing 23 turnovers that led to 27 Cavaliers points.

“He’s made for those kind of moments,” Pistons second-year forward/center Isaiah Stewart, who had 20 points in the win said of Cunningham. “He’s that kind of player.”  

The last time the Pistons had the No. 1 overall pick was Bob Lanier out of Saint Bonaventure, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career. Nearly three decades ago, the Pistons selected Hall of Famer Grant Hill No. 3 overall in 1994 and he went on to win Co-Kia Rookie of the Year with fellow Hall of Famer and now NBATV/TNT analyst Grant Hill, who led the Pistons to the playoffs his final four seasons with the team before moving on to play for the Magic, Suns, and Clippers. The Pistons hope that Cade Cunningham can have lead the Pistons back to the playoffs and hopefully back to the top of the NBA mountain as champions like they were in 1989, 1990, and 2004.

The Other Important Piston

While youngsters in rookie Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Saadiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Hamidou Diallo, and Luka Garza are important parts of the Detroit Pistons future, last summer they signed a player who showed that he will be a big part of their future also.

In the summer of 2020, the Pistons signed in free agency veteran forward Jerami Grant to a three-year, $60 million deal.

The city of Detroit has been a blue-collar town known for Motown, cars, and Joe Lewis but never for big time free agents signing to play for their pro basketball team, even during their aforementioned championship seasons in 1989, 1990, and 2004.

“I just wanted to grow as a player,” Grant said to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears of “The Undefeated” about why he signed with the Pistons. “I think the opportunity was something that I’ve always dreamed of being the go-to-guy on a team. So, to be able to be here and have this experience was a no brainer.”

To put how great the son of the son of former NBA player Harvey Grant who played 11 NBA seasons (1988-99) with the then Washington Bullets (now Wizards), Trail Blazers, and 76ers and nephew to Harvey’s twin brother Horace, who played in the NBA for 17 seasons (1987-2004) with the Bulls, two stints with Magic, then Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder)and two stints with the Lakers, winning four titles has been for the Pistons since his arrival, Grant has registered 10 games with 30-plus points. The only other Piston to register a 30-point game was Bey, who had 30 points and 10 rebounds on 10/12 shooting, including 7/7 from three-point range in the 108-102 win by the Pistons at the Celtics on Feb. 12.

In the Pistons win at the Rockets on Wednesday night, Grant scored 21 of his 35 points in the third quarter, going 12/23 from the floor, including 4/9 from three-point range.

Grant’s play a season ago earned him a spot on the 2020 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball squad, who captured Gold over the summer in Tokyo.

“It was a great experience to be able to win Gold and be on that stage,” Grant said. “To be around those caliber players and to be able to pick up little tendencies and things that they do in preparation and their work definitely helped me to come into this and be ready to lead.”

Along with making a name for himself on the court with the Pistons, Grant has put his imprint in the Detroit, MI community as he is trying to have a homeless shelter built in the city.

Grant said to Spears that when he first got to Detroit he encountered some homeless people, and one particular day had an engaging conversation with a homeless person where he explained that everyone in the homeless shelter was going to be shut down.

“Just touched me in a way that made me want to give back,” Grant said of that moment.

Grant said that he and people he is involved with are in the midst of building a new shelter that will basically be a community center where the homeless can stay or come to get food and hang out to get their morale back.

That gesture is what led Grant to have his likeness painted on a mural alongside Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, the leader of those back-to-back Pistons title team in 1989 and 1990 and the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame and four-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year recipient Ben Wallace.

“It’s amazing the amount of support that these fans and everyone is giving to me. “It’s an honor to be up next to those two Hall of Famers,” Grant said of the support he has gotten both on and off the court from Pistons’ nation. “It just makes me want to stay and give back as much as I can to the community and give my all.”

The Detroit Pistons hope they struck gold with the selections the last two NBA drafts in Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Luka Garza, and Killian Hayes, and the additions via trades and free agency Josh Jackson, Frank Jackson, and Hamidou Diallo. They for sure found a gem in Jerami Grant, who will be just as important in their maturation into becoming a playoff team again and hopefully a championship contender down the road.

Surging Nets

The start to this season was an uneven one for the Brooklyn Nets, who began without their perennial All-Star floor general due to his non-compliance with New York City’s vaccine mandate. His starting backcourt mate had to work himself back into shape recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last postseason. The good news for the Nets is that their best player began this season on a high note and the Nets behind him, their now starting floor general getting back into game shape and the play of their key role players has gotten them back on track.

With their 120-96 win at the Oklahoma City Thunder (5-7) on Sunday, the Nets (10-4) after a 3-3 start to this season have won three in a row and eight out of their last nine games, including going 5-1 on their just completed six-game road trip.

Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with 33 points and eight boards, going 9/17 from the field and 13/14 at the foul line. It was Durant’s seventh game of 30 points or more already this season and his 14^th straight game of 20-plus points to start this season, a Nets franchise record.

As impressive as Durant, the 2014 Kia MVP has been to start this season, the Nets have gotten back on track because 2018 Kia MVP and fellow perennial All-Star James Harden has played to the level that we have grown accustomed to seeing. 

After registering just one double-double, which was a triple-double of 18 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, hitting 4/7 from three-point range in the victory on Halloween night versus the Pistons, Harden has registered a double-double in six of the last seven games, including his second and third triple-double of the season, and 61 for his career.

His 60^th triple-double came in the Nets96-90 win on Nov. 5 versus the Pistons where Harden had 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, which passed Hall of Famer for the Celtics Larry Bird for the seven most triple-doubles in NBA history.

Harden, who was just 3/10 shooting, making all three of his field goals from three-point range, going 3/5 from distance joined Hall of Famer and head coach of the Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, Atlanta Hawks guard Delon Wright, Steve Blake and Kirk Hinrich as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double and have no two-point field goals.

One major reason that Harden has been inconsistent to open this season is the leagues rule changes in how they have called fouls, especially on drives to the hoop, which Harden had mastered over the past few seasons that began in his time with Houston Rockets, where he consistently averaged double digit free throw attempts.

In the first month of this season, Harden only had one game of double-digit free throw attempts going 16/19 at the foul line as part of his 29-point night with eight boards, and eight assists in the Nets 105-98 win versus the Indiana Pacers (6-8) on Oct. 29.

In his most complete game performance of this young season, Harden had a season-high 39 points with 12 assists on 11/18 shooting, including 6/10 from three-point range and 11/15 at the foul line in the Nets 120-112 win on Friday night at the New Orleans Pelicans (2-12), where they led by 21 points in the second half and held off a furious comeback by the home team.

Durant had 28 points with seven boards, and eight assists on 11/17 shooting in the win at the Pelicans.

“He was aggressive all night, getting downhill, getting to the free throw line,” Durant said of Harden’s performance. “James did a great job tonight of just controlling the game.”

Along with Harden finding his stride, the Nets have gotten strong play from their supporting cast of Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Joe Harris.

Harris in the Nets win at the Pelicans hit his first six threes, tying a season with those six threes on eight attempts on his way to a season-high 24 points. His biggest shot of the game though was a floater off the glass that ignited the Nets’ game ceiling run.

Earlier this season, Harris the longest tenured Net, who joined them in 2016 became the Nets all-time leader in threes made when he made a corner triple at the 11:09 mark of the third quarter in the Nets 106-93 loss on Oct. 27 versus the Miami Heat (8-5), to surpass Jason Kidd’s mark of 813 made threes.

Harris reached this milestone in 349 total games, 157 fewer than the 506 career games for Kidd.

Nets Top Five In Three-Pointers Made All-Time
Joe Harris: 874 and counting
Jason Kidd: 813
Kerry Kittles: 687
Vince Carter: 638
Joe Johnson: 516

“He’s an elite shooter for a reason,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said of Harris before the loss versus the Heat. “His dedication and discipline to do it everyday is outstanding and that’s why he is where he is. I don’t think anyone thought when he was in high school or college, he’d be the Nets all-time leader in three-pointers, so that’s just a tribute to how resolute, how much he’s willing to sacrifice to continue to grow as a player and be in that type of category.”

While statistically he has not had as big of impact as Harris during this recent stretch, Brown just like last season has found a way to have a positive impact in the Nets wins, especially as a starter.

After the Pelicans used a 16-4 to take a 104-101 lead in the late stages of fourth quarter, Brown hit a corner three-pointer at the 24-second shot clock buzzer that tied the score 104-104 and ignited a 19-8 close to the Nets aforementioned win.

“Bruce hit a huge shot that kind of set the tone for us to finish,” Durant said after the win on Friday night. “That’s pretty much what they wanted him to take was that corner three, but he’s been working on that.”

In the Nets previously mentioned win versus the Pacers, Aldridge had 21 points and eight rebounds on 10/16 shooting off the bench as he became the 48^th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. He also joined LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony of the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant, Harden, and Paul as the seven active players with 20,000 career points.

Aldridge, whose in his 16^th NBA season reached that milestone with a jumper from about the left wing at the 1:58 mark of the third quarter that put the Nets up 83-69 over the Pacers.

“It’s a blessing,” Aldridge said of the career milestone after the win versus the Pacers.

He added about the milestone on his Twitter page that night @aldridge_12, “Just a skinny kid from Texas!! Blessed.” 

Aldridge six months prior announced his retirement from “The Association” due to an irregular heartbeat. The eight-time All-Star re-signed with the Nets in September after being fully cleared by his doctors to return.

The contributions from Brown, Harris, and Aldridge off the bench have been huge for the Nets at the start of this season, especially in the absence of perennial All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, whose out because he is unvaccinated, which means he cannot in accordance with New York City’s vaccination mandate to take part in any indoor activity.

That has made the signing of veteran guard Patty Mills back in the summer even more important now.

While he may not be the playmaker and scorer Irving is, Mills, who spent the previous decade with the San Antonio Spurs brings a veteran savvy and marksmanship from three-point range that has been valuable for the Nets in the early part of this season.

In the win at the Thunder on Sunday night, Mills had 29 points on 10/16 shooting, including a career-high nine made threes, going 9/12 from the three-point line.

Mills in his 13^th NBA season made more than six triples for the sixth time in his career.

“He was aggressive,” Coach Nash said of Mills’ performance. “Obviously, he got hot. You know, some great threes and big threes and gave our offense a little extra boost and some life.”

The Brooklyn Nets, who came into this season with expectations of winning a title got off to a slow start this season. Kevin Durant kept them above water, and with James Harden rediscovering his scoring touch and the rise in level of play from Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Patty Mills, the Nets have gotten back on the winning track.

While they are still championship worthy because of their talent, not having Kyrie Irving for who knows how long with the vaccine mandate in New York City in effect diminishes their chances of winning it all.

That said, as long as they remain healthy and they have Kevin Durant and James Harden, they have as good a chance of coming out of the Eastern Conference this spring.

Tough Times In ‘The Big Easy’

Without their best player to start this season and the loss of their other All-Star prior to his return over the weekend, the start to the 2021-22 season has been a tough one for the New Orleans Pelicans under their new head coach.

With their 112-101 on Saturday night versus the Grizzlies, the Pelicans snapped their nine-game losing streak and earned their first victory at home of the 2021-22 season, bring their mark to 1-5 at Smoothie King Center.

This victory was on the heels of a 120-112 loss on Friday night versus the Nets, where the Pelicans overcame a 21-point second half deficit to lead 104-101 with 4:36 remaining before the visitors from Brooklyn used a 19-8 run to send the home team to their ninth consecutive loss.

There was hope that under new head coach Willie Green that the Pelicans were going to position themselves at least a spot in the West Play-In Tournament in the late spring

Not having All-Star Zion Williamson to start this season because of a right foot fractured suffered back in the early part of the summer and Brandon Ingram, who had 19 points in his return from a seven-game absence due to a right hip contusion versus the Grizzlies has put the Pelicans behind the eight ball to start this season.

This season was the third time in franchise history that the Pelicans began in a season 1-11 (2004-05-as the New Orleans Hornets and 2015-16).

In the Pelicans, eighth straight loss 108-100 loss last Wednesday night versus the Thunder, first-year head coach Willie Green, the team’s third head coach in the as many seasons called his team out in the postgame for being whistled for five technical fouls, two of which were picked up by forward/guard Josh Hart, which led to him being ejected in the opening half.

Hart lost his cool after being whistled for a foul on Thunder’s Luguentz Dort, who jumped over his back to grab a rebound, which led to both Hart and Dort crashing into the floor.

Hart was called for a technical foul by referee Scott Foster for protesting the call, and then was tossed from the game on a second technical as he continued to voice his displeasure at the foul call.

“Our guys thought they got fouled, and we didn’t get the call,” Green said after the game. “But we aren’t going to get those calls. We haven’t earned them So what are we complaining about? Until we earn it, we’re not gonna get that. That’s the deal. I talked to our guys about it. We have to keep our composure. Our margin for error is too small to do what we did tonight.”

Coach Green added, “We need Josh. We need Jonas [Valanciunas]. Jaxson Hayes can’t get technical. We need everyone to compete and play at a high level to win the game.”  

At the time, the Pelicans were up 39-31 before the Thunder used a 15-0 to take control of the game.

The Pelicans rallied to lead 67-65 in the third quarter before the Thunder used a 20-4 run to close the period and led 96-75 with 7:51 left in the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans rallied again behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 22 of his 33 points in the fourth period, drawing the Pelicans to withing five points before the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a nine-foot jumper that halted the Pelicans rally.

“The guys were on the floor competed. But it’s not enough,” Coach Green said after the game. “When, No. 1, we’re not healthy and we’re losing guys, it’s not enough. We all have to be in it together. If we lose one main guy like we did tonight, it hurts.”  

Coach Green also said that his team was wrong in picking up those five technical fouls and that they have yet to earn the respect from the referees in order to have certain calls go in you direction.

Even with all that has happened with the Pelicans so far this season, Coach Green has his team’s attention and they have completely bought in to what he is selling, and they are trying to lay the foundation for a better future.

What has given the Pelicans hope in what has been a nightmare start to this season has been the play of Jonas Valanciunas, who was acquired over the summer from the Grizzlies, who has registered a league-leading 11 double-doubles so far this season.

The aforementioned Alexander-Walker has also showed out to start this season. He had as mentioned 33 points with 10 rebounds on 10/22 shooting, including 4/10 from three-point range and 9/11 at the foul line in the loss versus the Thunder. He led the way in the win over the Grizzlies with 21 points.

If the Pelicans want their future to have any light at the end of the tunnel, they need Williamson back on the floor. But right now, there is no timetable for his return to the hardwood anytime soon.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Williamson is progressing to at least getting back to practicing with his team.

Sometime this week, Williamson will have more scans to see the progress of his broken foot. If those scans are good, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019-20 will be able to return to practicing with the Pelicans. But a return to game action might occur in the final month of 2021.

Whether it is in December or at the start of 2022, the Pelicans present and prospects for a bright future rest on Zion Williamson getting back on the court and playing to the level that he has displayed in flashes his first two NBA seasons.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of game logs of Joe Harris, James Harden, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, schedules, and statistics from www.espn.com;  10/23/2021 www.cbssports.com story “Suns’ Chris Paul Becomes First Player In NBA History With 20,000 Points and 10,000 Assists,” By Jack Maloney; 10/29/2021 www.nba.com story, “Joe Harris Passes Jason Kidd As Nets’ All-Time Leader In 3-Pointers Made;” 10/29/2021 www.nba.com story, “LaMarcus Aldridge Becomes 48^th Player In NBA History To Score 20,000 Points;”  11/1/2021 www.nba.com story, “Week 2 Rewind: 10 NBA Things To Know From Past 7 Days,” By Brian Martin; 11/10/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Brian Windhorst, Kendrick Perkins, and Marc J. Spears; 11/11/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” With Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Mike Schmitz, and Vince Carter; 11/10/2021 7:30 p.m. “Detroit Pistons versus Houston Rockets” ESPN, presented by Doordash With Dave Pasch, Jeff Van Gundy, and Monica McNutt; 11/12/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Zach Lowe, and Richard Jefferson www.espn.com/nba/standings;  www.espn.com/nba/stats/_/view/team; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2991070/type/nba/year/2021;  https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2991070/type/year/2022; https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/trp_dbl_career.html; https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_career.html;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cleveland_Cavaliers_seasons;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerami_Grant; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Grant; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Grant.