SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #5 Boston Celtics

SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #5 Boston Celtics

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by | Jul 25, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Coming in at #5 we have the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics. Despite having a young, up and coming roster, the Celtics have managed to gain much traction throughout years past and have set their eyes upon competing for the NBA title. With notable names throughout the league within the roster such as Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Jaylen Brown, to name a few, the talent and early Playoff experience that these individuals have give them a slight edge over the greenness that other teams may have. The Celtics have been fairly lucky in regards to their encounters, or lack thereof, with the Corona Virus going into the Bubble, noting that players like Marcus Smart has fully recovered from having tested positive early into the indefinite suspension of the season.

Such luck can be taken even further for the Celtics knowing that their entire roster has chosen to not opt out of the NBA Bubble, wanting to participate on the journey towards the Playoffs and potentially the NBA Finals. Many of the concerns league wide regarding the Celtics was their “lack of depth off the bench”. Although this is true within the stat line as show above, it is also shown that despite such claims, the Celtics bench find themselves amongst the middle of the pack at 13th in the league averages, below teams such as the Clippers, Lakers, and Nets to name a few, that specifically have certain players come off the bench to maintain offensive pressure while their starters sit out. The Celtics scheme is to typically have some of their starters meshed in with the bench, never really having all five starters out of the game at one particular time. This leaves most of the scoring load on the starters and having the bench come in and contribute when their number is called.

I personally believe that the 3rd seed Celtics have what it takes to at least make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, if not the NBA Finals. The Celtics are one of the few teams in their Conference to make little change in their roster last season, and having post-season experience amongst players can go a long way. The biggest concern for this team is whether or not they can remain healthy throughout their Playoff run. In years past it was fairly seldom to have all their starters on the floor, with one guy always out with some form of injury, whether it was day-to-day or out for weeks to months. However, if the Celtic core in Tatum, Brown, Smart, Hayward, and Walker all be healthy and stay healthy throughout this NBA Restart, it goes without question that they’ll be a team to be on the lookout for.

Celtics’ Season in Review (43-21, 3rd in East)

Looking into a deeper scope at the Celtics, they were having a solid season going in to the New Year, having 21 out of the 33 games dating back to January 3rd. It had seemed that Jayson Tatum was getting into a groove around this time especially, averaging 29.9ppg post All-Star Break. If Tatum is able to continue that momentum from so long ago, the defenses that remain in the Bubble will have some issues to deal with come July 31st. Speaking of defense, the Celtics are a highly ranked team on that end of the floor, ranking 4th in defensive rating. It surely helps to have players like Daniel Theis protecting the paint and Marcus Smart, a player the Glove, Gary Payton, himself has given praise towards, being an absolute disruptor as well. Another thing about the Celtics that might not be seen by some is the sheer size that the Celtics have, and no I’m not quite referring to 7’6 Tacko Fall at this time. Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Jayson Tatum are all within the same height from 6’6-6’8, which allows them to guard multiple positions 1-4 and sometimes 1-5. Having such long, agile defenders can easily make things tough for opposing offenses, specifically when in the passing lanes as well as contesting shots. This truly goes to show how good of an overall team the Celtics can be.

 

At this particular point in time for the Celtics, the 8 games prior to the NBA Playoffs has no real impact on them whatsoever other than Playoff positioning. It will however be an interesting measure of competition, having to play against the current 1st, 2nd, and 4th seeds in the East in the Bucks, Raptors, and Heat within the first 5 games of the schedule. With only 6 days left before the NBA Restart, we’ll have to see how the Celtics fare in their first game against Giannis and the Bucks on July 31st.

Jul 25, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #6 Houston Rockets

SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #6 Houston Rockets

NBA

by | Jul 24, 2020 | NBA

At #6 on our SneakerReporter Bubble Breakdown is the #6 seed in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have had quite the handful of Playoff runs in years past as they hope to perhaps get even deeper into the Playoffs again this year coming into the Restart. Perennial All-Star and starting Point Guard for the Rockets Russell Westbrook had tested positive for the Corona Virus right before the team was set to leave for Orlando, delaying the process of his return to the floor. Westbrook has since then been cleared and currently resides with the rest of the team in Orlando, participating in practices and scrimmages and is on schedule to be playing with them going into the Restart.

With only one player on the Rockets roster opting out of the NBA Bubble being Rockets SG/SF Thabo Sefolosha due to the overall concern of the Corona Virus, the Rockets still have the depth to be able to compete at a high level. Taking Sefolosha’s place is Veteran Forward Luc Mbah a Moute, a solid replacement to Sefolosha’s defensive prowess. Prior to the NBA hiatus, the Rockets decided to optimize their roster to play solely small ball, and were constantly receiving heavy backlash for their play when they lost. The Rockets’ situation is an interesting one, for if they show out during the NBA restart, other organizations may look at the Houston Rockets and may consider following their footsteps removing the traditional big men from their respective teams. Despite the hype that may be surrounding this team, the question bares if other players that aren’t your two of the Superstar backcourt of Westbrook and Harden will step up and be able to contribute to the team on a consistent basis.

Despite having a decent seeding in the Western Conference, I personally think that the Rockets are quite a dark horse in this Playoff race. Admittedly, I have my biases towards having solid big men on teams which leaves me as I’m sure as it leaves many of us skeptical about how the Rockets will fare against other teams with big name PFs and Cs such as Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis. Having said that however, I also believe that if anyone is going to prove the skeptics wrong, it’s Russell Westbrook. We all know Westbrook to be the type of player to do pretty much anything to win with his “Why Not?” mentality, and having the epitome of an offensive threat in James Harden at his side, as well as the many other options that this team has to score, I’m not fully willing to say that this team can’t get far.

Rockets’ Season In Review (40-24, 6th in West)

As discussed earlier, the Rockets made the call to gear the team towards small ball, allowing Russell Westbrook to be able to play his Mid-Range Slashing game he plays so well when he has the ball in his hands. This also allows many catch and shoot opportunities for players like Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, and Robert Covington. We’ve yet to discuss the Beard himself however, James Harden. This is because, unless something were to go terribly wrong, basketball fans know James Harden is going to score, without question. This ultimately had them at 2nd for Offensive Rating, 10th in FT%, and 23rd for 3-PT%, mostly due to the fact that the Rockets lead the league in 3-PT attempts with an average of 44.2 a game.

The Rockets have become the newest face of Dan Patrick’s famous quote saying, “live by the three or die by the three”. Prior to the hiatus, the team was 2nd in the league for % of points scored from 3-pointers all the while being dead last for % of points from 2-pointers. Granted a solid amount of points the Rockets score are also from the Fastbreak averaging 14.7pts and from having 17.3% of their points from the free throw line.

Looking Into the Bubble:

The team is going to need to be working much harder going into the Restart without no real go-to rebounder. They’ll definitively be relying on shutting down opposing guards and using their pace-and-space offensive scheme to disrupt opposing defenses. Looking ahead, the Rockets have quite the schedule ahead of them going into the restart, facing names like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and LeBron James in just their first four games. Although at this point the Rockets are merely fighting for Playoff positioning over the course of the restart, it’ll be no easy feat for Westbrook, Harden, and co. The ultimate question is how far can the Rockets take off heading into the NBA Playoffs?

Jul 24, 2020 No Comments
LeBron James Wears And Nike Debut The Nike LeBron 18

LeBron James Wears And Nike Debut The Nike LeBron 18

NBA

by | Jul 24, 2020 | NBA, Sneakers

LeBron James teased a quick look at his latest signature shoe, the LEBRON 18, during Lakers practice earlier today. While no official announcements about the shoe, a source confirms that it is indeed the next model in James’ signature line.

Finding LeBron in a specific time and place in his career, the shoe’s design is effectively split down the middle from forefoot to heel. According to Jason Petrie, LEBRON footwear designer the shoe’s cushioning distinction is both technical and symbolic.

LeBron James Debuts the Nike LeBron 18 During Practice – USA News Hub

“At this point, LeBron has spent half his life with Nike,” says Petrie. “We wanted to make him a shoe that played with this idea of two halves. How could we keep improvising on the Max Air value that LeBron loves, but use the forefoot half to sharpen the low-to-the-ground, micro-shifts that LeBron needs to cut and transition down the floor? We’ve gotten near-surgically detailed on these features so that the sum of the shoe’s parts come together for LeBron, and for every kind of player.”

LeBron James Debuts the Nike LeBron 18 During Practice – USA News Hub

LeBron didn’t debut his new signature shoe in the Lakers’ first scrimmage of the NBA restart like many suspected but he did lace up a minty green colorway for the trip to the gym. Ahead of tip-off against the Mavericks.

This public outing gave us our best look at the model since it was first spotted on James’ feet during practice yesterday and officially previewed by Nike earlier today. Check out below:

Nike LeBron 18 Release Date September 2020 | Sole Collector

Nike LeBron 18 Release Date September 2020 | Sole Collector

 

Jul 24, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #7 Denver Nuggets

SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #7 Denver Nuggets

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by | Jul 23, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Coming in at #7 on our Sneakerreporter Bubble Breakdown is the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets. For a team that has had so much success this year, it is odd how little hype the steam is getting heading into the Orlando re-start…or is it? For much of the NBA’s hiatus, the Nuggets roster has been in question heading into the return to action. The Nuggets All-Star forward was among the many players that tested positive for the Carona Virus Antibodies. Jokic underwent all of the correct procedures to rejoin his team in Orlando such as self-questioning on multiple occasions and eventually testing Negative for the COVID -19 Virus before entering the Bubble. Jokic is with the team and has been participating in practices and scrimmages up to this point so it would make sense to assume he will be in the starting lineup when play resumes in less than a week.

The real question with this team’s roster heading into the bubble surprisingly wasn’t the news about Jokic but surprisingly there were 3 others that didn’t make the trip when the team was supposed to arrive in Orlando. Gary Harris, Torrey Craig, and Michael Porter Jr. all did not make the trip down with the Nuggets to Florida. The Nuggets have not yet specified what led to the decisions of these players to sit out. Hopefully, for the Nuggets as the regular season games resume they can get at least Gary Harris and Torrey Craig back in action. If not they will be losing two staples to their team identity both offensively and defensively. Without these guys, the team will begin relying heavily on P.J. Dozier. Dozier signed during the transaction window and has been involved with the team extensively in-and-out of the G-League. They will also look to rookie phenom Bol Bol who was supposed to be out this whole year but with this break is now eligible to join the Orlando roster for the Nuggets. As exciting as it must be for the Nuggets to have Bol Bol in their lineup the worry with this current roster suggests that they are not going to be the same team. If this team seemed to be the same squad with the same mindset they have had this season they would have a lot more hype around them but with a depleted roster and accelerated schedule it’s hard to believe this team will get back to the prime form.

 

 

The only chance I see from the Nuggets is if some of the key guys that they have active on this roster step up in a big way. Nikola Jokic has been one of the most consistent player in the NBA this season averaging a killer 22 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists. His play has never been in question for this Nuggets team heading into the re start even after contracting the virus. The players on this team who I think have the most pressure heading into the restart will be Jamal Murray. Murray has had quite the regualr season this year himself averaging 20 points 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game but is really going to have to increase his numbers if he hopes to help this team win a playoff series. The 5 year 170 million dollar man, is going to have to prove his worth for the Nuggets in these playoffs. He’ll have to be capable of averaging big scoring numbers in the first round of the playoff if this team is going to progress.

 

 

 

Denver’s Season In Review (43-22, 3rd in West)

For much of this year, Denver has prided themself on being one of the deepest and more athletic teams in the league. This was a great transition basketball team able to put pressure on the rim with the rim running ability of Jokic to occupy the basket, strong three-point shooters to fill the wings and dynamic ball handlers to attack the basket. While they will still be able to attack in this way it is doubtful they will be able to do it as efficiently as before. The Nuggets ranked just ninth in Offensive Rating on the season, and though they progressed in the right direction for most of the season, the team dropped down to 13th in Offensive Rating post-All-Star break.  The Nuggets ranked 15th in 3-point percentage this year which was pretty average for a roster with so many capable good shooters. They also ranked 14th in free throw percentages which are an area they will need to improve if they dont want to be one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the playoffs.

 

via @NBABlackburn

Denver has scored a lot this year in transition and in spot-up situations because of Jokic’s playmaking ability from all levels. He can pass out of the post, create really dribble handoff mismatches, and find guys from his favorite spots in the mid-post. Head Coach Mike Malones offensive has tremendous movement and deception when Jokic has the ball that makes them hard to guard. For the Nuggets to maintain this same level of efficiency or improve they will have to find players who can help by scoring in the ways that they have alredy establiushed make them effective.

 

 

Looking into the Bubble:

The Nuggets won’t just be looking to star Jamal Murry to help carry the load for this team come playoffs but also to key guys like Jeremi Grant, Mason Plumlee, Troy Daniels, Paul Milsap, and Noah Vonleh to name a few. The Frontcourt will have to step up big time especially defensively if they hope to compete with the likes of Anthony Davis or Montrez Harrell at the top of the conference. The Nuggets also have the 3rd most difficult schedule heading into Orlando so they will need some real defensive firepower if they plan to at least hold on to the 3 seed in the west as the Jazz are only 2 games behind them.

 

 

The Nuggets are going to have a very tough task in Orlando only playing against two teams that might now make the playoffs. While the Nuggets do have the talent and the ability to make a playoff run its hard to find proof that they will execute with the way their roster looks right now. They simply are just not proven yet and i worry about them in this controlled setting in Orlando. They have competed well against the top of the west this year and I expect them to remain competitive but until one player or a few players can emerge as it factor for this team it’s likely they may have a simmilar playoff result as last year.

 

 

Jul 23, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #8 Miami Heat

SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #8 Miami Heat

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by | Jul 22, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

The Miami Heat have been a topic of conversation for a while heading into this NBA restart. While many fans are tiring to predict who the dark horse from the east could be, you cant look past the Miami heat. A team that sits at 41-24 and sits at the fourth seed in the west certainly has all of the pieces to make a run to the eastern conference finals. This team is stacked with capable defenders and has the ability to guard some of the best players in the east with versatile guys deep in their roster.

The most recent acquisitions for this year’s Miami heat squad consisted of getting rid of the rarely used Dion Waiters, Justice Winslow, and James Johson and picking up the veterans Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill. A move that seemed it would work seamlessly on paper actually resulted in pretty average results where the team went 7-7 in the 14 games since the additions. Jimmy Butler missed a few games during this stretch and it was also evident that Iguodala was getting used to playing again after being out for the first four months of the season. The trade wasn’t made for its immediate implications. This was a very forward-thinking move on behalf of the Maimi Heat and we are going to see exactly why in Orlando.

 

 

Miami’s Season in Review (41-24, 4th in the East)

 

Adding two veterans in what now become right before the playoffs will pay dividends for this team and adding defenders as they did only boost their roster’s defensive capability. This Miami Heat team is dangerous in a lot of ways Last year’s Toronto Raptors team was. They have a group of young talented guys that play really hard. But this year for the Heat, like Toronto last season with Kahwi Leonard, have a go-to guy in Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler gives this team what heat fans hope will get this team back to the eastern conference finals. He fits perfectly with this team and has shown so this year most importantly on the defensive end. He has played with passion on the defensive end all year and leads the team in steal at about 2 per game. Butlers defensive savyniess has paired well with the emergence of all-star teammate Bam Adebayo. Adebayo is averaging 17 points, 5 assists, and 11 rebounds this year and has shown he is capable of during some of the best players in the east like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Adebayo leads the team in blocks with 1.4 per game and has shown he can protect the rim as well as guard on the perimeter.

 

 

The Miami Heat have a championship-level defense and two all-stars capable of winning them a playoff series but what really gives them a chance at the Eastern Conference finals in their shooting. For the first time in a while, the Miami Heat has a lot of shooters. The Heat have 9 players on the roster who are shooting above 30% from 3 point range this season. Guard Goran Dragic is shooting 37 % and Rookie Tyler Hero is shooting an impressive 39%. Gaurd Kendrick Nun also doesn’t fall much behind at 36% from 3.

 

 

 

Heat forward Duncan Robinson, has the most impressive of all the 3 point percentages for this team. His personal average of 44.8% comes on an average of 9 three’s per game. He is capable of getting hot, really hot. Robinson had a game-high 10 threes against the Hawks in December… finishing with 34 points.

 

 

Looking Into the Bubble:

The heat has all the pieces to be the Darkhorse of the Eastern conference now all that is left to do is execute. It’s obvious that this team needs to get the most out of their defense and all-stars of Butler and Adebayo night in and night out but they also need to be able to count on key role players. The Heat will need to be able to count on production from players like Goran Dragic, Tyler Hero, Derick Jones Jr, Myers Leonard, and Kelly Olynk to name a few. These are the guys that in the playoffs are going to have to make an impact for this team to win. Whether they help out over the course of one game or the whole series depends on the circumstance but, they will be called upon.

 

 

Head coach Eric Spoelstra and Heat trail the third-place Boston Celtics by 2 1/2 games and lead both the fifth-place Indiana Pacers and sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers by two games in the standings. If the season were to end as the standings as they are now the heat would match up with the pacers in the first round. Without Oladipo, the Pacers present a favorable matchup for the Heat and if they win that series they will most likely end up against the Milwaukee Bucks in the next round. It will be interesting to see how things shakeup in the east but this scenario is very likely. Not to look completely past the Indiana Pacers but the Heat have beaten the top-seeded Buck’s twice this season and seem to give them matchup problems so this route to the eastern conference finals could actually end up working out best for the Miami Heat.

 

 

 

Jul 22, 2020 No Comments