WrestleMania 37 Night Two: Picks And Predictions

WrestleMania 37 Night Two: Picks And Predictions

Featured

by | Apr 11, 2021 | Featured

Happy WrestleMania Day, part two!

The Grandest Stage of ’em all, The Showcase of the Immortals, The event where moments are timeless, legends are cemented and boyhood/girlhood dreams come true…surely you’ve heard all of this before, but they all pale in comparison when you hear those monikers again.

This is what pro-wrestling fans of all affiliations, all ethnicities, and walks of life look forward to all year. Since 1985, wrestling’s greatest spectacle, the “Super Bowl” of the sport, and ender to all major feuds usually occur once a year on a one-night-only basis. But since last year, things have been anything but normal from the perspective of a regular ‘Mania period.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck down all normalcy (at least, how we know it) on March 10, 2020, there hadn’t been any live fans at a main-roster show in 397 days.

Last night at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, that finally changed.

25,675 eager WWE fans sounded like a sold-out crowd as they packed Raymond James Stadium ahead of night one of WrestleMania 37. (Connor Casey/ComicBook.com)

For the first time in over a year, 25,000+ rowdy members of the WWE Universe rejoiced and filled Raymond James Stadium on the first of two nights at WrestleMania, and the performers backstage couldn’t be more eager to hear their joyous cheers and the ravenous chorus of Boos raining down from their patrons.

Last night’s first half of the pro wrestling’s grandest showcase was as historic as it was awe-inspiring, and hearing 25,000+ scream at the top of their lungs (with masks on, of course) and just enjoy a wrestling show had to be one of the most cathartic processes for fans both in the stands and at home. The card was exceptional from top to bottom, and fans left Raymond James Stadium overtly satisfied with the finish of night one as well.

As we predicted, Bianca Belair walked into RJS as a challenger and walked out as a first-time champion in WWE. From Cesaro and Seth Rollins putting on a technical classic, Bad Bunny putting on what was probably the greatest celebrity match of all time to Bobby Lashley surprisingly defending his WWE Championship by incapacitating Drew McIntyre for the show’s opener, night one was one for the books.

But now for the second and final night of ‘Mania 37. We’ll get into that and more as we break down and give our official SneakerReporter predictions for the second night of pro wrestling’s most grandiose spectacle, kicking off at 8 p.m./7 p.m. ET on the Peacock Network

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Singles Match: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (w/ Jake Paul as Manager)

WWE

As for another celebrity-involved match on the card for night two of WrestleMania 37, Kevin Owens battles his best friend of over 20 years in Sami Zayn in what’s sure to be a spot-filled war that touches all levels of technicality, brutality, and a hint of recall from their feuds back to their NXT and Ring Of Honor days.

There aren’t many performers that know each other inside and out like how Zayn and Owens do, and for what’s to be another chapter in the friendship and rivalry between two future Hall of Famers, their first singles match at a WrestleMania against each other will do everything but disappoint.

We live in the age of information, and misinformation, during this upheaval of digital transformation of the world around us, and to some, equality and a world without injustice cannot be reached if there is a clear-cut conspiracy against those who cry out against it. Through near-falls, broken-up pins, and a stolen Intercontinental Championship, Sami Zayn had been left with no other choice but to dismantle the supremacy from orchestrators beyond his control by breaking ground with a controversial documentary to show the truth.

One SmackDown a few weeks ago, Kevin Owens’ signature “KO Show” featured Zayn on the segment, and after an unsuccessful effort to pry Owens’ eyes open to the uncomfortable truth, the rivalry was renewed. Zayn believes he and his old friend could have ruled WWE had they fully grasped the power to change the narrative, but at WrestleMania, where the borderline maniacal Kevin Owens shines, they will settle their long-simmering differences in the ring for yet another time.

This match is going to be a really fun watch and should go around 15-20 minutes. And since Jake Paul is involved in this feud, a bunch of stunners and helluva kicks will be handed out between the two in the ring and Paul on the outside. More than likely, Owens should win this match and cease the conspiracy-spewing that Zayn has done for months.

And maybe, juuuuuuust maybe, Kevin Owens might find a way to dive off the large ship part of the WrestleMania stage.

Prediction: Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn via pinfall.

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Nigerian Drum Fight For The Intercontinental Championship: Apollo Crews vs. (C) Big E

WWE

From a storytelling standpoint on multiple aspects, this is one of the most developed WrestleMania storylines in recent memory.

It all started with a Lumberjack Match between Big E and “Mr. Conspiracy” himself Sami Zayn, and with the help of a Crews (who was drafted to SmackDown weeks prior to the match), Zayn was picked up by the former champion and thrown back into the ring, not allowed to escape any further as Big E planted Zayn with a Big Ending to win his 2nd Intercontinental Title.

Once friends at one point, Crews attempted to inquire about a potential match against Big E, since he wouldn’t have that title without him. E obliged, and they had a series of matches against each other, in which all wouldn’t go his way at all.

Growing discontent and rejections from wished chances after chances got under the former United States Champion’s skin and following some “advice” from the likes of Roman Reigns and his special counsel of Paul Heyman, the nice guy facade was dropped, and the advantageous side of Apollo Crews came out, first trying to assault E by dropping steel steps on him while he was injured ringside, and in future occasions, try to attack the Intercontinental Champion when he least suspected it.

Now, for their match at Mania. At first, the Intercontinental Champion scored a win over Crews at WWE FastLane, but the former champ unveiled his true Nigerian warrior personality, unleashing not just a new accent but fury on his opponent with a brutal post-match beatdown.

As this feud grew more intense, it was Apollo that came out and proposed a Nigerian Drum Fight, details of which are to be determined tonight.

But per Crews’ words, it is

“An ancient duel created by my ancestors for those that were wronged with the chance to make it right, and it has no rules, no limitations, but just a beating so loud that it sounds like a drum. And there, all of Apollo’s family there with the spirits watching will drum along to the sounds of Big E’s bones cracking from my fists.”

Sounds…interesting.

We’ll know soon enough if Big E can rise to the challenge of the vicious tactics, or succumb to the painful implications of this new match. Seeing as how much creative wants to develop Big E even more into a potential challenger for the Universal Title someday, it makes sense if they see the heel go over at ‘Mania to make his character look even stronger.

Prediction: Apollo Crews def. (C) Big E, wins first ever Intercontinental Championship.

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Singles Match (Or Not?): The Fiend (W/Alexa Bliss as Manager) vs. Randy Orton

WWE

Mind games are the story, and like every ‘Mania that dabbles in the field of the supernatural, the scary vibes return and will play out in front of live fans at a WrestleMania for the first time since 2018.

Randy Orton isn’t happy about the fact that the Fiend basically no-sold being burned alive back in last December’s TLC PPV, as the entity of Bray Wyatt startlingly returned at last month’s FastLane.

And while there was no conceivable way of knowing whether or not he would ever be seen again after The Viper sadistically set him on fire back at WWE TLC. I t was only a matter of time before Alexa Bliss’s forebodings came true as she began to alert Orton of his impending return.

From the demonic, twisted, and possessed mind of Alexa Bliss, to the unsettling unpredictability from the Fiend himself, Randy Orton will be in a battle and war of survival with the reanimated Fiend at The Grandest Stage of them All, pitched forth by the new Fiend at the ensuing Raw after FastLane.

Will Orton fall prey to the ghoulish onslaught from the Fiend inside the squared circle, as Bray Wyatt’s soul will have its vindication from Randy Orton imploding the Wyatt Family and his loss to Orton at WrestleMania 33, or will the Viper finally put this chapter of his illustrious career, and the Fiend itself, to eternal rest?

For the first time in this renewed feud, there won’t be any type of cinematic magic in use popularized by the effects of the ThunderDome, since fans will be present to see every camera change and movement. So, if this becomes a matter of a straight match, it will likely follow the path of Wyatt and Orton’s match at ‘Mania in 2017, which Orton won. The same booking decision won’t happen this time around, however, as the Fiend will likely look like that strong, unstoppable Demigod here and go over. A series of Orton sending RKO’s will be followed by a Sister Abigail and mandible claw from The Fiend, who will win the match by rendering the 14-time champ unconscious.

Prediction: The Fiend (W/ Alexa Bliss as Manager) def. Randy Orton via submission.

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Raw Women’s Championship Singles Match: Rhea Ripley vs. (C) Asuka

WWE

Talk about a battle of NXT Legends!

And on the Grandest Stage of Them All, The Empress vs. The Nightmare? Take my money!

Rhea Ripley finally turned up on Raw to make a comment by challenging Asuka to a match for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania after weeks of videos announcing her arrival, and after a series of challengers stepped up and were told to step aside due to circumstances out of their control, here we are. It will be the former NXT Champion and breakout star, the Nightmare Rhea Ripley, doing battle with the current Raw Women’s Champion and The Empress of Tomorrow Asuka for the second of three women’s title matches at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Following Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans’ self-imposed disqualification from the Women’s title picture at ‘Mania, in came the new Raw call-up from Full Sail’s NXT in Ripley, who on her first night on the main roster, proposed the challenge of a title shot at WrestleMania, the second time she’d do so in her career — the first being her challenging Charlotte Flair as the then NXT Women’s Champion and subsequently losing to the Queen during last year’s fanless Wrestlemania 36.

Now, a stronger and more experienced Ripley is calling her shot at the indomitable Asuka, who much like Ripley, has an extensive track record from her days as an undefeated champion at NXT but has yet to win at ‘Mania. Ripley, on the other hand, will contend for the Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka inside Raymond James Stadium, as she was scheduled to do so against Charlotte Flair this time last year.

One question remains though: since we know the Nightmare to be as dominant as they come…is she ready for Asuka?

Short answer – yes.

Though Asuka is looking for her first win at the show of shows, she’s getting older and is more dead-set on putting over younger stars so they can get their shine in front of thousands in stadium seats and millions at home. Therefore, this match will feature a blend of two different styles – that being Ripley using her size to her advantage and Asuka using high-flying mechanics and speed. Knowing how professional they both work, they’ll make this look seamless for what should be a good 15-minute battle. But ultimately, Rhea Ripley will win her second piece of championship gold by hitting Asuka with a RipTide in the middle of the ring, rolling Asuka over, and getting the three-count.

Prediction: Rhea Ripley def. (C) Asuka via pinfall, wins first ever Raw Women’s Championship.

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United States Championship – Singles Match: Sheamus vs. (C) Riddle

WWE

On recurring episodes of Monday Night Raw, Riddle’s calm and joyful championship vibes collided with Sheamus’ volatile anger, and the two in-ring brawlers will fight for the United States Championship at WrestleMania in what should be one of the cleanest matches on the card.

Following his successful win of the US title in, first a triple-threat No. 1 contender’s match with John Morrison and Mustafa Ali and then a massive victory over Bobby Lashley at February’s Elimination Chamber PPV, Riddle has been living the “High Life”, if you will, in his first singles title reign in WWE. The King of Bros trots his flip-flops, giving virtual fist-pounds to the onlookers inside the ThunderDome, and often pops into conversations between other superstars and factions to talk about his many stories and friends not involved in the business. Did I mention he even named the Eagle on the US Title “Travis”?

An easy-going fellow that Riddle is, while his opponent tonight is anything but. The Celtic Warrior Sheamus is fuming after a brutal loss to former best friend Drew McIntyre at last month’s FastLane in a destructive Falls Count Anywhere match that literally made the ThunderDome look as if a bomb went off in the building. He wasn’t in the best of moods following his loss, and after the scooter-ing Riddle plucked the wrong feathers with his naturally playful persona, the feud between both strikers was born.

The Celtic Warrior’s United States Title intentions were made clear after a vicious beatdown of The Original Bro with his own scooter on Raw, and a punishing victory over the champion on the subsequent episode a week later made them even clearer. Sheamus wants to become a three-time United States Champion, while Riddle wants to cement his place on Raw by defeating one of the show’s most experienced Superstars.

This match will be hard-hitting and expect a flurry of stiffs to be thrown out occasionally. The best part about this match is that it feels like a knockdown, drag-out fight, and Sheamus and Riddle cannot wait to tell a story of ferocity and who can outlast the other. Sheamus has had a reputation of giving a lot of top guys their matches of the year as the self-proclaimed ThunderDome MVP”, and quite honestly, he’s not wrong. The Irish brawler is the more experienced one here, and though it makes sense for Riddle to get the nod, Sheamus deserves to have gold around his waist and have his hand raised at yet another WrestleMania.

Prediction: Sheamus def. (C) Riddle, becomes three-time United States Champion.

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Women’s Tag Team Championship – Tag Match: Natalya/Tamina Snuka vs (C) Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler

WWE

As a result of last night’s Tag Team Turmoil match, Natalya and Tamina outlasted four other teams and advanced to Night Two of WrestleMania 37 to face the Tag Team Champions of the Irresistible Force Nia Jax and the Queen of Spades and Submission Magician Shayna Baszler.

The “BOAT” herself, Natalya, and the daughter of the great Jimmy “Superfly Snuka, Tamina, earned the right to challenge Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships after defeating Naomi & Lana, Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke, The Riott Squad, and Carmella & Billie Kay in a Tag Team Turmoil Match on Night 1 of WrestleMania. Fresh off their momentum that’s been built for the last few weeks, Natalya and Tamina were easily the most dominant Tag Team in that match last night, and they’re looking to bring that same intensity tonight against a team they know all too well.

Two cousins in Tamina and Nia Jax will be squaring off tonight, while Natalya and Shayna Baszler have individually held singles gold at one point in their time with WWE. Natalya, a former SmackDown Women’s Champion back in 2017, and Baszler, a former NXT Women’s Champion in 2018.

However, with all the accolades that all four women have acquired in the WWE, Natalya and Tamina have recently taken their relationship to a new level, believing they do not get the respect they deserve. Natalya is technically the winningest woman’s performer in the company’s history, and Snuka has been an overwhelming threat that’s never gotten her just due.

But do they, on the other hand, have what it takes to defeat the dominant duo of The Queen of Spades and The Irresistible Force? That answer will be found out, though, in the necessity of building up both shows’ Women’s division and the tag teams within them, Jax and Baszler could likely be heading toward a feud after this match concludes.

This could mean that some wacky ending with Carmella’s former Sommelier Reginald could make a critical error and cost them the titles, or, potentially by either Shayna or Nia’s own doing, the Tag Titles could be dropped with their somewhat volatile pairing reaching its breaking point at the Showcase of the Immortals. But, the underlying main point here would be to give the tenured duo of Natalya and Tamina their own WrestleMania moment by either of them pinning the champs for the Tag Titles.

Prediction: Natalya and Tamina def. (C) Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, win first ever Tag Team Championship.

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WWE Universal Championship – Triple Threat Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Edge vs. (C) Roman Reigns

WWE

It’s time for the main event of WrestleMania 37.

Had you asked any fan of WWE that if they could fathom the mere thought of a man who had triple-fusion neck surgery with the rest of his career in doubt, another man with concussion history so disheartening and capable of ending his livelihood had he competed in another match, and a man who had to battle leukemia and essentially be told his chances of returning to the ring being slim to none, that all three of those men would be headlining WrestleMania 37 in arguably the most anticipated title match in the past decade…you’d think of that question as hogwash.

In the words of the great Muhammad Ali, Impossible is nothing.

This road to WrestleMania for three surefire Hall of Famers started way before the clock struck 12 on New Year’s Day. It’s been a bumpy one where there wasn’t quite an end to an extensive tunnel, but that light was reached by the likes of the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, the leader of the Yes! Movement Daniel Bryan, and the 2021 Men’s Royal Rumble winner and the Rated-R Superstar Edge, as all three will participate in the most epic three-way battle of the year.

In his triumphant return back to the ring in last year’s Rumble on January 26, 2020, it was beyond belief that Edge, one of the most decorated and prolific superstars in all of pro wrestling’s long history, was ever to return to a wrestling ring. Until his music hit and he did.

After eliminating a litany of superstars and Randy Orton included, Edge finalized the last chapter between he and Orton at last year’s WrestleMania and BackLash PPVs. The Rated-R Superstar split the series against Orton and didn’t see a ring until the Royal Rumble of this year due to a torn tricep. But after entering No. 1 and outlasting 29 other worthy men, the Ultimate Opportunist and co-creator of the Five-second pose kicked adversity in the rear and won his second Royal Rumble, earning him a title shot of his choice at WrestleMania, where he’s only lost twice in his career.

The man he initially thought he was going to face was none other than The Tribal Chief and Head of the Table Roman Reigns, no longer under the babyface moniker of “The Big Dog.” Now more focused and intent on supplanting his rightful place atop the hierarchy of the WWE food chain, he sought the counsel of the always insidious-but-genius Paul Heyman and got a Universal Title out of it, which has been on his waist since SummerSlam of 2020.

And then came along a little Daniel Bryan, with that big old heart of a lion he has. Daniel knows that Father Time isn’t on his side when it comes to staying competitive, for more reasons than just his health.

As a matter of fact, today is his and Brie Bella’s seventh anniversary, and as his two kids get older and his age increases, his time in the ring decrease by the day, hour, and minute. There is a serious possibility that this could be Daniel Bryan’s last WrestleMania…ever.

But as the saying goes, if you’re going to go out, at least go down swinging. But in the eyes of a man who’s already 1.) defied every doctor that said he’d never compete again, 2.) outlast the entire locker room during a gauntlet match on SmackDown and five other men inside the unforgiving chain mail of the Elimination Chamber to earn a title shot on the same night, and 3.) scratch, claw, and fight to get his one final WrestleMania moment.

The last time he had one of those, you ask? Try the main event of WrestleMania 30, where he not only loosened the goliath-like grip of the Authority but defeated both Randy Orton and Batista to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on the magical night of April 6, 2014.

The stories told in this gargantuan main event exclaim themselves. From Edge literally competing for the Universal Championship on the exact day of when he had to retire in front of 30,000+ 10 years ago, to the tale of Roman Reigns, who couldn’t compete at last year’s Mania as a health precaution, considering he was high-risk as a patient that was still finishing up his chemotherapy treatment, and to Edge, who a few years ago was one back bump away from paralysis…it is simply phenomenal what these titans of the sports entertainment business have overcome on their roads back to the Grandaddy of ’em All.

So as this match goes, it’s too hard to even predict the “right” finish, because not one man can really afford to lose with all of the hype and momentum built up for each participant.

Roman is on the best run of his career since his return to WWE last summer, and the Tribal Chief character is beyond over. For the first time in over seven years, Roman is getting constant praise and cheers for his best character work yet.

Daniel Bryan is, arguably, the most beloved babyface ever, and for returning fans who would love to leave ‘Mania happy and see Bryan pull off yet another heroic feat before he rides off into the sunset.

And then there’s Edge, one of the greatest workers, most recognizable faces, and in-depth characters to ever set foot inside a ring. And he’d like nothing more than to recapture his 12th world title on the 10-year anniversary of his retirement.

You simply cannot go wrong with whatever you pick, but our job is to pick a winner, and that man will be…

*drumroll*

None other than the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, who is the youngest guy that’s here for the long run as both Edge and Bryan are counting down the months and maybe years until permanent retirement. After a wild sequence filled with spears and yes locks, Daniel Bryan will be the one to take the fall, but by an intimidating guillotine at the hands of Reigns.

Prediction: (C) Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan, Edge, retains Universal Championship.

(Photo Source: WrestlingNews.co)

Apr 11, 2021 No Comments
WrestleMania 37 Night One: Picks And Predictions

WrestleMania 37 Night One: Picks And Predictions

Featured

by | Apr 10, 2021 | Featured

Happy WrestleMania day!

The Grandest Stage of ’em all, The Showcase of the Immortals, The event where moments are timeless, legends are cemented and boyhood/girlhood dreams come true…surely you’ve heard all of this before, but they all pale in comparison when you hear those monikers again.

This is what pro-wrestling fans of all affiliations, all ethnicities, and walks of life look forward to all year. Since 1985, wrestling’s greatest spectacle, the “Super Bowl” of the sport, and ender to all major feuds usually occur once a year on a one-night-only basis. But since last year, things have been anything but normal from the perspective of a regular ‘Mania period.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck down all normalcy (at least, how we know it) on March 10, 2020, there haven’t been live fans at a main-roster show in 397 days.

Tonight at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, that finally changes.

First emerged photos of the WrestleMania 37 stage. (Wrestlinginc.com/Brian Wohl)

For the first time in over a year, 25,000 rowdy members of the WWE Universe will rejoice and fill Raymond James Stadium on both nights of a two-night WrestleMania, and the performers backstage couldn’t be more eager to hear their joyous cheers and the ravenous chorus of Boos raining down from their patrons.

Disclaimer, that pop will signify the biggest return of 2021, and to get that “rousing ovation” feel, the card for night one is kicking off with what’s predicted to be an absolute BANGER.

We’ll get into that and more as we break down and give our official SneakerReporter predictions for night one of pro-wrestling’s most grandiose spectacle, and we’ll do the same for Sunday’s card as soon as the first night concludes.

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Singles Match: Drew McIntyre vs. (C) The Almighty Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship

YouTube/Cristopher WWE

Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, whom after successfully retaining his title at the time from completing the merciless gauntlet of the Elimination Chamber, was unsuspectingly brutalized by the Hurt Business CEO Bobby Lashley, and per request of The Miz, the-then Money In The Bank briefcase holder, Lashley would make sure the already-fatigued McIntyre wouldn’t be able to even muster the energy to leave the ring. His wishes were granted, and Lashley would proceed to dismantle the WWE Champion with a scintillating dominator.

To the obvious chagrin of the WWE Universe, the A-Lister’s music hit, and sprinting down the Thunderdome ramp came The Miz and after cashing in his MITB briefcase, he’d add a Skull Crushing Finale for insurance. The one-two-three mat count was given, and to the sound of piped-in boos, The Miz held his 2nd-ever-won WWE Championship up high over the unconscious cadaver of the Scottish Psychopath as the Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View went dark.

But due to the services of Lashley, The Miz had to withdraw some compensation for one small payment of a title match on the ensuing Monday Night Raws which he, of course, never got the chance to escape with his black and gold diamond-encrusted title belt. After a series of runaway attempts, Bobby Lashley became WWE Champion after making The Miz tap out to an inescapable and impenetrable Hurt Lock in a lumberjack match.

Weeks following the title win, enter Drew McIntyre, following his own dispute with former best friend Sheamus after a grueling Falls Count Anywhere match at FastLane. Drew now wants his title back after it was stolen from him, and for the first time in Lashley’s career, he’ll be defending his first WWE Championship at the Grandest Stage of them all.

And albeit, It’s been a bumpy road for both champion and challenger. Lashley and manager Montell Vontavious Porter (MVP) had to put down and disband one half of the Hurt Business as both Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander were left in the dust, while former champ McIntyre had to overcome an entire locker room’s high-priced bounty on his head prior to ‘Mania.

Now we’re here, and for the show opener, Lashley wants to show the world that the Almighty Era isn’t ending any time soon, and two-time champ Drew, who won his first-ever WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar inside the WWE Performance Center at last year’s fan-less WrestleMania, is looking to replicate that success in front of 25,000 supporters.

This won’t be like last year’s main event, as both Lesnar and McIntyre were throwing their finishers at each other at every pulsating twist and turn. This will have its own share of physicality and psychology to commemorate the build of the match, but this will ultimately end in the favor of the Scottish Warrior by virtue of a crushing Claymore Kick delivered right between Bobby Lashley’s eyes. Drew will earn the three-count, and the present crowd will erupt in celebration.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre def. Bobby Lashley (C) via pinfall, becomes a three-time WWE Champion.

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Raw Tag Team Titles Match – Omos and The Phenomenal AJ Styles vs. (C) The New Day (Kofi Kingston. Xavier Woods)

YouTube/ REVAMPED WRESTLING 2K

After defeating the crumbling Hurt Business for another Tag Team title reign — their record 11th title win and fourth title reign as Raw Tag Champs (Kofi Kingston’s sixth title reign as tag champs with not just the New Day, but with CM Punk and R-Truth too!) The New Day needed some opponents for what was to be their first WrestleMania as an incomplete unit. Big E was heartbreakingly drafted to SmackDown as part of the brand-reforming WWE Draft back in October of 2020, meaning the SmackDown Tag Team Champion New Day (composed of Kingston and Woods) at the time would make the move to Monday nights while WWE creative saw an opportunity to give Big E his long-awaited singles push.

While that worked out quite well for E, as he’s currently the Intercontinental Champion, the Raw Tag Champs encountered a new couple of opponents after their battles with Retribution ended.

A man that’s been described as one of the greatest of all time, the Phenomenal One has held every title there is to win in WWE since his return to the company during the 2016 Royal Rumble…except for one.

It seems that the former leader of the Bullet Club and TNA Legend has won every individual title with the Tag Titles not even in the vision of Styles, but now with Performance Center standout and up-and-comer Jordan Omogbehin, or “Omos” in Kayfabe terms, Styles sees the possibility of helping to build a new star in Omos and becoming Tag Champs for the first time ever but also becoming the 27th man in the extensive history of WWE to capture the prestigious title of Grand Slam Champion, bestowed to fellow all-time greats like Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Triple H, Randy Orton, Edge, and Seth Rollins.

That likely happens here, as it’d be another historic win at WrestleMania for Styles to further supplant himself in the annals of WWE lore.

But even further: Omos will be the x-factor.

The seven-foot-three, 335-lb giant hailing from Lagos, Nigeria has but yet to even compete inside a WWE-sanctioned ring, but seeing that…

1.) His partner is (subjectively) a top-five performer of All-Time, and 2.) HE’S SEVEN FEET TALL, THREE-HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE POUNDS, AND ONLY AN INCH SHORTER THAN THE GOLIATH-LIKE ANDRE THE GIANT, the big man should serve as an interesting dynamic to what’s already looking to be a show of skill and technicality between three of the most technical and athletic performers on the planet.

Though the New Day is undefeated at WrestleMania, don’t bank on them retaining with either Styles or Omos being pinned with the current champs going over. This is the business of building new stars, so while the main story’s headline may include “AJ Styles becomes a Grand Slam Champion”, the attention grabber will be the performance of Omos.

Prediction: AJ Styles, Omos def. (C) The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods), become Tag-Team Champions.

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Steel Cage Match: Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman

WWE.com

While it’s not one of the more generally favored feuds of WM Weekend, you still can’t go wrong with a brutal, barbaric Steel Cage Match at The Showcase of the Immortals.

Braun Strowman is not one for patience. After losing his Universal Title won at last year’s WrestleMania to Roman Reigns at SummerSlam during a triple-threat with The Fiend, a disgruntled Strowman was subsequently drafted Monday Night Raw, and in his eyes, was not pleased with the lack of respect and mistreatment, going so far as to put his hands on WWE’s public official Adam Pearce a few weeks after Team Raw’s win over Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.

He’d be kayfabe “suspended”, announced as “effective immediately” at the moment on social media by Pearce himself. As many thought they had their heads behind the curtain, thinking of potential conspiracy against the likes of Strowman and whether or not he’d be “Future Endeavored” (fired, for fans unfamiliar with the lingo) the Monster Among Men wouldn’t return until after the announcements of the ensuing Elimination Chamber participants.

Shane McMahon, son of WWE CEO Vince McMahon and current promoter and minority owner of WWE, returned to his humble abode of Monday Night Raw to assist Pearce in the announcement of all participants for the Raw Chamber match, who were all former WWE Champions. Still displeased of his place on the WWE totem pole, Strowman’s music would hit, and he’d voice that frustration of not being in the match as a former Universal Champion, though the selection criteria required him to have held the WWE Title belt.

And thus, the feud between Strowman and Shane was conceived.

Being a McMahon, and unafraid of losing his spot atop the hierarchy of WWE, we know him to not hold his tongue, or his temper when he sees fit. Behind his back, he’d call Strowman “stupid” repeatedly, and with Strowman catching wind of the passive-aggressive disrespect, he’d then demand an apology from ol’ Shane O’ Mac. And as disingenuously as possible, Shane “apologized”, but not in the formal terms that Strowman was requesting.

So, after a series of underhanded attacks, cameras to faces, and slime dumped on The Monster Among Men, Shane accepted a challenge of a match against Strowman at FastLane. However, Shane was forced to forfeit the match after “injuring” his knee during a pre-match training session. One night later, while crutched up with a wrap-around his knee, Strowman would come into the ring during an Elias and Jaxson Ryker segment and fight back against one of WWE’s top executives. And to no one’s surprise, McMahon wasn’t injured, swinging his crutch to the legs and midsection of the beastly Strowman.

So here we are. It’s a “battle of brains and Braun” on Saturday, as Shane O’ Mac returns to the Showcase for the first time since 2019 when he faced The Miz in a Falls Count Anywhere match. But this time, the childish jokes and unnecessary bullying are over, as Shane will have to deal with The Monster Among Men inside a Steel Cage.

This is sure to not go too long, but have a bunch of high-flying and cringe-inducing spots. McMahon’s history at WrestleMania is much respected and sought after, as he’s dueled with the likes of his own father (WM X8, 2002), and the Undertaker (WM 32, 2016). He’s known for making the trip Coast to Coast (missile dropkick from one side of the ring to the other) or taking a massive bump from high platforms and making some of WrestleMania’s most memorable moments in its 37-year history.

While he’ll make an emphasis to do so, expect Braun Strowman to go over and get his second-ever win at WrestleMania, while telling the story of not letting anyone bully you, no matter who you are. Consider it Schadenfreude, but seeing something around a massive power slam or a colossal throw-off-the-top-of-the-cage spot would close the book on this feud in an exciting fashion.

Prediction: Braun Strowman def. Shane McMahon via pinfall.

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No. 1 Contender’s Match For The Women’s Tag Team Titles: Tag Team Turmoil

WWE.com

So, that’s a lot to stomach, but as devised by Adam Pearce and crew, WrestleMania is playing host to a gargantuan Fatal Five-Way No. 1 Contender’s Tag Team Match for the right to go on to Night two of WrestleMania and face the Women’s Tag Team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

While there hasn’t been a significant hype or build to this No. 1 contender’s match, the four teams jockeying for the position of the top contender spot are as follows: Naomi/Lana, Sexy Muscle Friends (Mandy Rose/Dana Brooke), Riott Squad (Liv Morgan/Ruby Riott), Natalya/Tamina, and Billie Kay/Carmella.

Each team has had their ongoing fight to get the to Showcase of the Immortals, whether it be Lana tagging up with best friend Naomi to seek retribution from the harassing Nia Jax who, not only but a few months ago, put poor Lana through a table for nine straight weeks and (kayfabe) broke her leg at a Monday Night Raw. During that ongoing rivalry, Nia and Lana would go back and forth, with both of them winning their fair share of wins and losses, and should Naomi and Lana win the Turmoil match, the rivalry will be reignited.

After Dana Brooke was traded to Raw, she was immediately tasked with making something between her and Dana Brooke work. And in a sense, they’ve succeeded. They too want a piece of the Women’s Tag Champs, as they’ve had numerous run-ins with both the Irresistible Force and Queen of Spades which haven’t quite turned out in their favor. But make no mistake about it, both Rose and Brooke are no pushovers and they’ll make an impact in this one.

For the Riott Squad, this will mark the first time ever that the Riott Squad will tag up at a WrestleMania and contend for the right to call themselves Number one contenders and potential champions on the biggest stage. While Liv Morgan has competed on the Grandest Stage, It’s not in memory that Ruby Riott has competed on the biggest stage, so it will be interesting how she handles the pressure.

Natalya and Tamina are the most tenured couple here, and likely have the best odds of winning here. Natalya is one of the winningest competitors in all of WWE throughout her 14-year career, but like Tamina, she’s never had a marquee WrestleMania moment, and since her SmackDown Women’s Championship reign back in 2017 after defeating Bayley, she hasn’t held gold in WWE since. Seeing as how both look like the most synergetic and strongest duo here, it makes sense for the both of them to go over.

And for a last-minute tag team, it seems that Billie Kay’s resume finally caught something in the waters of the job search. Carmella looks like she’s found a new Sommelier in Kay (momentarily) and they too will team up to get to Night two of ‘Mania and see if they can become Tag Champs. Billie Kay is no stranger to winning the belts at the year’s biggest show since she did it already at WrestleMania with her former IIconic teammate Peyton Royce in one of the most startling moments in WrestleMania history.

For the first of two women’s night one matches, the Tag Team Turmoil Fatal 5-way Tag Match is sure to entertain and be enjoyed, and if predicted correctly, the momentum that Natalya and Tamina have built up in weeks leading up to WrestleMania will pay off in them winning this chaotic match.

Prediction: Natalya and Tamina Snuka win Tag Team Turmoil Match.

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Singles Match: Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins

Sportskeeda.com

When Seth Rollins returned to SmackDown, he was greeted with disdain by many of his fellow blue brand Superstars, but maybe none more so than Cesaro. Rollins’ rage erupted into an all-out attack on The Swiss Cyborg that night, prompting Cesaro to react with an epic Cesaro Swing two weeks later, sending a simple message that he would not be accepting either of Rollins’ dreams.

Cesaro defeated Murphy, a former Rollins disciple, at WWE Fastlane, and SmackDown’s Savior responded with a victory over Cesaro’s former Tag Team Championship partner, Shinsuke Nakamura. On SmackDown, however, the bad blood reached a dangerous new stage when Rollins tried to end Cesaro’s career with a Stomp and a steel chair.

Now, the bitter rivalry can only be resolved on The Grandest Stage of them All – WrestleMania. The site of where the Architect, Seth Rollins, has previously excelled (WrestleMania 31’s Heist of the Century, WrestleMania 35’s upset over Brock Lesnar, and more) while Cesaro seeks one of the most significant victories of his WWE career in his first singles match on the biggest stage of them all.

Story short: this is going to be on the level of Benoit – Angle at WrestleMania 17, meaning it will be up there as one of the greatest, most technical stories ever told at a WrestleMania that, honestly, could be a 40-minute classic. But ultimately, while Rollins’ career has been littered by ‘Mania moments. Cesaro has never had one of those, but this will be the first.

Surely this won’t be one to miss.

Prediction: Cesaro def. Seth Rollins via pinfall.

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Tag Team Match: Damian Priest, Bad Bunny vs. Miz and Morrison

Sportskeeda.com

If you had asked anyone after his performance at the Royal Rumble that Latinx pop megastar Bad Bunny would be part of the calling card on WrestleMania, then you’d probably think they were lying. But as it turns out, Benito has not only been a huge fan of WWE and pro wrestling for the duration of his life – he’s getting the opportunity of a lifetime to perform inside of a ring for the first time ever! Fans of Bad Bunny and WWE fans will come together to see just what he’s got as he tags up with NXT standout Damian Priest as they’ll go up against the jealous deviants of The Miz and John Morrison, who have been anything but welcoming to the Grammy Award-winning performing artist.

Bunny, the former 24/7 champ had a signature moment that went viral at this year’s Royal Rumble when he, after seeing The Miz destroy the DJ set he used to perform his hit song Booker T, leaped in the air and cross-bodied both Miz and Morrison after the duo was eliminated from the Rumble.

Well, weeks after, The Miz, fresh off an embarrassing loss of his WWE Championship to the Almighty Bobby Lashley, wanted to take out his frustrations on someone that had gotten a little under his skin as of recently.

The Miz struck a new chord on Raw by smashing a guitar over the back of the Grammy Award winner after weeks of back-and-forth. The two-time Grand Slam Champion issued a WrestleMania invitation for a one-on-one match the following week, which Bad Bunny accepted after repaying the favor with a guitar attack of his own.

On the final Raw of The Road to WrestleMania, Miz and Morrison assaulted Bad Bunny and spilled paint on his Bugatti. Bad Bunny and Priest countered by suggesting that the match be changed to a tag team match.

Tonight, we’ll get the answer to a variety of questions: will Bad Bunny be ready for The Show of Shows when he teams up with The Archer of Infamy, or will the newcomer’s WWE career be ended by Miz and Morrison before it even begins?

With celebrity matches, it’s pretty obvious that the biggest stars go over, but in this situation, The Archer of Infamy will likely have all of his offense showcased at the highest level of the profession. The Miz and Morrison are both former champions in their own aspect, so, again, in the business of crafting bigger future names, it’s only right that Bunny and Priest get the spotlight, courtesy of another crossbody from Bunny and a “Hit the Lights” on Miz, who will likely take the pin for Priest.

Prediction: Bad Bunny, Damian Priest def. Miz and Morrison via pinfall.

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Main Event: Singles Match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship – Bianca BelAir vs. (C) Sasha Banks

WWE.com

And here’s to the main event of WrestleMania 37: Night One. A historic one at that, in more ways than one.

For the first time, a WrestleMania’s night will be headlined by two women in a singles match for a title, and for the first time from an optics standpoint, two black women will headline a WrestleMania.

Bianca Belair, the winner of the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble, proceeded to give one of the most emotional promos ever recorded in WWE when she, tearfully, exclaimed that she was headed to WrestleMania as she flung her long ponytail and pointed to the WrestleMania 37 sign as pyro erupted from within the ThunderDome.

After outlasting 27 other competitors inside the Rumble as the third entrant, The “EST” of WWE would, unsurprisingly, challenge the SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks at WrestleMania for what fans from everywhere prophesized would be the match of the night for whichever night it would be on.

Leading up to their showdown at ‘Mania, a bunch of factors have gone into their individual Roads to WrestleMania. What was initially supposed to be a healthy rivalry quickly turned into a feud of jealousy, disrespect, subtle hints of ageism, and vitriol for each other, which means this: a five-star match will go down, and history will be made.

Looking at the tale of the tape here: both women have never won any type of match at WrestleMania, with Sasha being an underwhelming 0-5 at the Showcase of the Immortals. And Bianca Belair, who had only been at one other WrestleMania prior to her main eventing Saturday night (WrestleMania 34 during Women’s Battle Royal), is just as green at ‘Mania as a trainee at the Performance Center. For a variety of reasons, this story that these two women are prepared to tell will live in history, no matter the result.

Back to when we did a Royal Rumble future storyline prediction, we mentioned that Bianca has always been a top-tier performer but not to the level of becoming a champion yet.

Until now.

Belair has been in and out of the title picture on both NXT and SmackDown, but she has yet to win a championship in WWE.  But, you don’t get a nickname like “The EST of WWE” unless you have a lot of faith and belief in yourself, and the Knoxville, Tennessee native proved it by battling for 56 minutes with four eliminations, teaming up with Rhea Ripley to toss Charlotte Flair and eventually eliminating The Nightmare after a heart-pounding brawl in the final moments of the Royal Rumble.

So, will Bianca be able to accomplish her goal she’s dreamt of on The Grandest Stage of It All, or will The Boss continue to show that she is WWE’s Blueprint?

Fans cannot wait to find out in what’s probably the most anticipated Women’s title match ever, to this point at least. But from the perspective of making new main event stars at the Grandest Stage of them All, it makes the most sense for Belair to go over and capture the biggest win of her life. While that may leave Sasha at 0-6 all-time at WrestleMania, she’d probably appreciate nothing more than to just be in the moment of black history, and pro-wrestling history as a whole. I’ll reiterate: this will likely steal the show and, in retrospect, could be the best match on the card – both nights combined.

Prediction: Bianca Belair def. Sasha Banks, wins first-ever WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.

(Photo Source: WrestlingNews.com)

Apr 10, 2021 No Comments
SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 15

SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 15

Featured

by | Apr 6, 2021 | Featured, NBA

The battle for the top seed in the East is heating up after Easter Sunday, as the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks are all separated by just 1.5 games. The same cannot be said for the rest of the East. From seeds 4 to 11, each team is separated by a total of 6.5 games, and are all treading lightly and have a litany of tough games down the stretch of the last seven weeks of the year. All teams in that position are all fighting to stay out of the play-in round as it stands.

And as it goes for a team like the Lakers, who aren’t playing up to their potential because of their injury difficulties, don’t have much of a margin for error in the final seven weeks of the year. LeBron James isn’t expected back for another three weeks, and Anthony Davis’ Achilles troubles are, concerning, to put it lightly. But as conference battles continue to take shape, we’re getting a picture of who can hang in the playoff picture, and who should hold off on their playoff hopes for another year.

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1. Utah Jazz (38-12, Last Week’s Ranking: 1)

The Jazz have won nine games in a row and are resembling the team that struck the league by storm at the season’s beginning. As the surprise team of the year, this is their third-longest win streak of the season, not to mention that on Friday against Chicago and Orlando, they won their 21st and 22nd home game and undoubtedly possess the most outstanding home record inside Vivint Smart Home Arena, scoring an absurd 118.5 points on their home court.

Donovan Mitchell looks as if he’s about to earn his first All-NBA First-Team selection, averaging 28.1 points with 5.6 assists off 53.1/51.6/95.3 shooting splits during this uptick in play and his accomplice should be a lock for Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 15.7 points, 12 rebounds and an eye-opening 3.3 blocks in the same span.

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2. Brooklyn Nets (35-16, Last Week’s Ranking: 3)

Kevin Durant is slated to finally return from a lingering hamstring issue that’s hampered him since the beginning of February, and with his imminent comeback, the machine will be fully operational. Brooklyn saw their four-game winning streak come to an end against the Bulls on Easter Sunday but still got an ample 24 points out of Kyrie Irving in the loss. Brooklyn’s focus is optimal health since the playoffs aren’t so far away anymore, though being only 1.5 games out of first place in the East doesn’t mean the top seed isn’t attainable. And with all their players (MVP candidate/favorite James Harden included) becoming more and more available for the final stretch, holding home court is also of importance.

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3. Phoenix Suns (35-14, Last Week’s Ranking: 4)

The second seed is well in the grasp of the Suns, who hold a 2.5-game lead over the third-place Clippers in the Western Standings. Devin Booker really got it going last week, averaging an insane 32.7 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in his last three contests. The Suns are on a five-game winning streak, and when Booker dropped his season-high 45 points against the Bulls, that had been the most points he’d score since putting up 48 points in March of 2019, Booker then dropped 32 points against the Hornets, and then 21 points against the Hawks on Friday. That was another personal best for the former Kentucky standout, as it had been the second time this year where he’s had back-to-back games with at least 32 points.

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4. Philadelphia 76ers (34-16, Last Week’s Ranking: 2)

Joel Embiid’s return to the hardwood started off with a bang – not in a good way at first, with Karl Anthony-Towns dunking on him and turning him into somewhat of a meme – but he went off in the comeback game, scoring 24 points while grabbing 8 rebounds in the home win. Philly’s week ended sourly, however, and with the Grizzlies beating an Embiid-less Sixers team due to the MVP candidate missing time as a means of rest, they did so by holding a head-scratchingly un-aggressive Ben Simmons to 7 points on 2 of 6 shooting. The 76ers remain tied in a dead heat with the Nets and have a chance to separate themselves from the pack with trips to Boston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City this week.

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5. Milwaukee Bucks (32-17, Last Week’s Ranking: 6)

Milwaukee’s right in the thick of things when it comes to competing in the East, and more importantly, they’re locking down their most integral parts to bolster their game plan. They blessed (pun intended) Jrue Holiday on Easter Sunday, signing the two-way guard to a four-year, $135M extension after giving away Eric Bledsoe to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Holiday in the offseason. As a team, the Bucks got out of their two-game slump with a three-game winning streak. A home-court advantage throughout the playoffs isn’t all that unattainable for Milwaukee, for they have the roster and talent to shake things up as a team that’s only a little under 2.5 games out of the Conference lead.

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6. Los Angeles Clippers (33-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 5)

What followed a productive week last week was anything but this week, as the Clippers put forth one of their most inconsistent weeks of the season. They opened the week blowing the doors off of Milwaukee via a 129-105 home win but continued in that same week to lose against Orlando and Denver while ending the week with a dominant blowout over the Lakers, their cross-hallway rivals in the Staples Center on Easter Sunday. Injuries to Marcus Morris, Paul George, Serge Ibaka, and Patrick Beverley have hampered the chances of the third-seeded Clips but recharged when they put new Clipper Rajon Rondo on the floor during a 104-86 rout against his old Laker team. DeMarcus Cousins officially signed his 10-day contract with the Clips and is expected to join the team at some point.

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7. Denver Nuggets (31-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 7)

Aaron Gordon being an acquisition for the Nuggets might be the signature piece that makes them contenders and upsetters in a tight Western Conference. Since getting him before the Trade Deadline, the Nuggets have yet to lose with him on the court as the star forward has been equally omnipresent on the offensive and defensive end. They’ve beaten the likes of fringe contenders like Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles (Clippers), and Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Michael Porter Jr. picked up a Nugs squad while Nikola Jokic noticeably struggled this past week. Adding Gordon to this team gives them another big body to match up with the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and just about any other big wing that chooses to create offense off the bounce, as well as present an additional target for Jokic to dish off some assists to.

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8. Los Angeles Lakers (31-19, Last Week’s Ranking: 8)

For a second-straight week, the Lakers find themselves nearly out of the top-10 for these weekly standings, and should their injury woes continue, they’ll fall even further. A prominent scoring option aside from Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell is just as necessary as a defibrillator after a heart attack, and quite frankly their chances of getting the West’s No. 1 seed this year are on life support. And prior to them going through the gauntlet of injuries, they finished February 21-6 and looked well enough to keep a home-court advantage. Andre Drummond couldn’t even stay healthy for an entire week, before leaving his first game with a loose toenail. Even worse, while a break in their schedule is needed to help them recalibrate, they aren’t getting one this week; Toronto, Miami, and Brooklyn are up next.

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9. Portland Trail Blazers (30-19, Last Week’s Ranking: 9)

Perhaps the greatest news needs reporting: Jusuf Nurkic is back, and for the most part, the Trail Blazers’ starting five is 100% healthy! That’s something that hasn’t been uttered since the season began, as both CJ McCollum and Nurkic haven’t but played more than five games together this year since the year began. They’ve capitalized in their uptick in health, winning five of their last six, albeit against rebuilding teams while stumbling against playoff teams like the Nets, Mavericks, and Bucks by an average of 20.6 points. Some tough matchups against the Clippers and Jazz this week give yet another opportunity for Terry Stotts’ team members to measure just how competitive they can be against the most tedious foes.

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10. Dallas Mavericks (28-21, Last Week’s Ranking: 10)

Dallas went 4-1 in their longest road trip of the year, finishing strong with a four-game winning streak after Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis sat out their road opener to improve an already expansive 3.5-game lead in the Southwest Division out West. That’s now 18 of the last 25 games that the Mavericks have gotten wins out of, giving them the league’s fourth-best winning percentage and raise their record to six games over .500.

Jalen Brunson has been the guard that Rick Carlisle and Mavs brass had hoped he developed into this season and during this increase in win percentage, the Villanova standout has averaged 13.7 points off an efficient 64.2 percent true shooting percentage. He’s shown he can be trusted enough to control the tempo of the floor, additionally averaging 4.1 assists per game in their last 25 games.

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11. Miami Heat (26-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 16)

It’s an up-and-down season for the Heat, who a few weeks ago looked unstoppable with both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in the starting lineup. They head into Tuesday’s game against the Grizzlies with a two-game winning streak, which is coming off the cusp of a six-game losing streak, and that was followed by them winning 11 out of their last 12. Victor Oladipo got his first minutes in a Heat uniform, but even he would like a do-over as the Indiana product has started out his Heat tenure with a sloppy 5-of-21 shooting percentage in his first couple of games.

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12. Atlanta Hawks (26-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 15)

The Hawks raise three spots in this week’s rankings, and for good reason. Nate McMillan’s offense is fluid enough in its ability to allow each guard and wing to flow into a variety of floppy and side PnR actions that generate both simple looks at the rim and one-away, Hi-Lo finds around the perimeter. Moreso, this is a team that can finish in the clutch; Trae Young is tied for fourth in total clutch rating (110.6 Clth. Off. Rtg., per 82Games) with the likes of Damian Lillard, Buddy Hield, and Harrison Barnes, and with help from the bench (new Hawk Lou Williams scored 12 of his 15 points in the fourth and Danilo Gallinari scored 20 of his total 25 points in the second half) the Hawks won their third-straight game. While notable teams in the East struggle in a tight battle from seeds 5-11, the Hawks have crept their way into the fourth seed.

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13. San Antonio Spurs (24-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 11)

San Antonio opened the week with a win and loss to the Kings and then continued to split a series of games that went into overtime against the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers. In both their successful results against the Pacers and Hawks, DeMar DeRozan was that aggressive, mid-post scorer that took over and led his team in scoring, which was a first considering that the Spurs hadn’t had the same player lead them in scoring in three straight contests.

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14. New York Knicks (25-26, Last Week’s Ranking: 12)

The Knicks remain in the hunt for a playoff spot as one of the teams in the 4-11 seeds that have nary a margin of error heading into this week. They sit in eighth place and currently have a better record than the Toronto Raptors, and are four losses above them in the column. They have to like where they’re at, as they weren’t even considered to even make it to this point of the season without bottoming out with only seven weeks left. If all goes well and should bad luck transpire for their Eastern opponents, the Knicks could be making the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

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15. Boston Celtics (25-25, Last Week’s Ranking: 13)

Evan Fournier was told that his 0-for-7 debut with the Celtics was to be only but a small “blip of your time as a Celtic” by Head Coach Brad Stevens, and while it seemed that those words of positive reinforcement went in one ear and out of the other (Fournier scored a combined six points in Boston’s consecutive losses to open last week) his tenured advice soon rubbed off on the French swingman.

Boston had been anemic without a playmaking wing with the departure of Gordon Hayward which delivered the deepest cut to a team that had, with his assistance, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals only a few months prior to the new season beginning this past December. It seems like their search for that exact playmaking hybrid wing has come to an end, if their last two games told Boston fans anything.

In the two games that the Celtics won this week to get them back to a suboptimal-but-even-.500 record, Fournier would score a combined 40 points in his third and fourth outings wearing Green. A shooter of his caliber gives a predictable Boston offense a new dynamic layer and further promulgates a reality that, with an increasingly simple schedule to close out the regular season, Boston can play up to at least the semblance of what was expected of them at season’s opening.

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16. Charlotte Hornets (25-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 14)

Another week, another injury. Charlotte will likely slip if these injury woes continue, as Gordon Hayward is slated to miss four weeks with another sprained right foot, the same injury that kept him out of the majority of the Bubble Playoffs. The Hornets are now missing LaMelo Ball (wrist), and now Terry Rozier will be forced to have an even bigger role in the offense. He’s averaging a little over 20 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists over his past 10 games.

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17. Memphis Grizzlies (24-23, Last Week’s Ranking: 18)

The Grizzlies are getting healthier, and as they are waiting on the return of their star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., they had a very productive 3-1 week and ended it on a great note when they upset the East-leading Philadelphia 76ers, and kept an Embiid-less Sixers team under 110 points in a blowout. They held Ben Simmons to only 7 points off 2-of-6 shooting, and currently have a top-10 defense with the seventh-best defensive rating. After the win, Jonas Valanciunas has recorded a double-double in his past 10 games, and when he records that stat, the Grizzlies are 6-4 on the season.

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18. Golden State Warriors (23-27, Last Week’s Ranking: 19)

Golden State is in, arguably, one of the worst places they’ve been in all season, dropping seven of their last eight while things just aren’t seemingly getting better, Stephen Curry’s efforts to at least keep them competitive aren’t rubbing off. In his last three games since returning from a bruised tailbone, Curry has been averaging 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and has done everything he can to keep the Warriors in reach of the final play-in tournament spot. What’s worse, is that James Wiseman is showing that he still has a long way to go in order to fit in and produce for a starting lineup. The Dubs’ bench was embarrassingly outscored 55-19 to the Hawks during Sunday’s loss.

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19. Indiana Pacers (22-26, Last Week’s Ranking: 17)

Since returning from Kidney Cancer, Caris LeVert had his best game as a Pacer, scoring 26 points and dishing nine assists in their win over San Antonio. That was only his 12th game in a Pacers uniform, and the win was significant; they were missing both Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon weren’t on the floor. The nine assists he had were the most he had since his return.

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20. New Orleans Pelicans (22-27, Last Week’s Ranking: 20)

After their massive win over the Celtics last week, it was looking as if things were finally looking up. And then they weren’t. Health hasn’t been an issue for one of the most offensively balanced teams in basketball, but recently, it has; Zion Williamson avoided serious injury but will miss time with a sprained right thumb, as well as Brandon Ingram, who missed some time with what is being called a “right first MTP irritation”. After not trading Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans backcourt took some major hits with injuries to Josh Hart (torn thumb UCL) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ankle) as well as their frontcourt with Steven Adams (concussion). They’ll get some additional artillery by signing former 32-year old All-Star Isaiah Thomas, meaning he’ll get a lump sum of minutes starting Tuesday night.

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21. Chicago Bulls (20-28, Last Week’s Ranking: 22)

The good news is that the Bulls ended a six-game losing streak on Sunday against a Nets team that was missing KD and Harden. The bad news is that the Nikola Vucevic signing hasn’t given the team the boost it needed. Vucevic’s numbers have been good, but the Bulls’ defense has been a problem. In their last seven games, they’ve given up an average of 114 points per game.

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22. Sacramento Kings (22-29, Last Week’s Ranking: 21)

Terence Davis made an instant impact in Sacramento, scoring 27 points in just his fifth game with the Kings, tying for the second-highest scoring output of his two-year career. In Sacramento’s narrow loss to Milwaukee, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard went 7-for-10 from three-point range, giving head coach Luke Walton a high-level backup behind Buddy Hield, who is back as a full-time starter.

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23. Toronto Raptors (20-30, Last Week’s Ranking: 24)

With their rout of the Warriors on Friday night, the Raptors matched their win total for the entire month of March in just two days. That pretty much sums up Toronto’s season, which has been a disaster since it got to 17-17 after a 2-8 start, only to be ruined by COVID-19 issues. On the positive side, despite their abysmal results, the Raptors are just 1.5 games behind Chicago for the 10th and final seed of the play-in tournament.

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  24. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-30, Last Week’s Ranking: 23)

Simply put, while it’s known they are developing talent and instilling confidence in their younger pieces, this Thunder team is just not good. They lost in embarrassing fashion, 132-108, to the lowly Detroit Pistons on Monday, and in their past two games prior to Monday, they’ve lost by 37 to the Suns and 48 to the Trail Blazers. This is a G-League roster, and they are likely primed to capture a high draft pick at season’s end.

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25. Washington Wizards (17-32, Last Week’s Ranking: 25)

Russell Westbrook is putting up triple-doubles as if he’s returned to his MVP self, but the Wizards are starting to lose ground as injuries mount. They’ve dropped three in a row, and Bradley Beal has missed the last four games due to a sore hip. Daniel Gafford played two games for Washington before suffering an ankle injury. Last Monday, Rui Hachimura took another developmental step forward, as he scored 30 points against Charlotte.

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26. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-32, Last Week’s Ranking: 26)

Cleveland has lost five straight games until their win on Monday night, but Kevin Love returned to the lineup for the first time since mid-March at the end of the week, giving the team a glimmer of hope. In two games against Philadelphia and Miami, the five-time All-Star averaged 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 21.5 minutes. Love had only appeared in his fifth and sixth games of the season due to a calf strain.

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27. Orlando Magic (17-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 27)

Reconstruction is underway. The Magic swept the Clippers and Pelicans on the road this week, thanks in part to new forward Wendell Carter Jr.’s contributions. In his last three games, the former Bull has averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds. Chuma Okeke, a rookie guard, is also impressing and making the most of his increased playing time. In his last seven games, Okeke has scored in double figures six times.

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28. Detroit Pistons (15-35, Last Week’s Ranking: 28)

Detroit began the week 2-0, with victories over Toronto and Washington, before losing to the Knicks by 44 points on Saturday. The Pistons’ perimeter defense was non-existent, allowing the Knicks to shoot 19-for-39 from beyond the arc. With 14 points, newcomer Hamidou Diallo led Detroit in scoring, but he also had a minus-36 plus-minus in 24 minutes, which is difficult to achieve.

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29. Houston Rockets (13-37, Last Week’s Ranking: 29)

Since arriving in Houston as part of the Victor Oladipo trade with Miami, Kelly Olynyk has been productive. In the five games he has played, Olynyk, who will be a free agent this offseason, has led the Rockets with an average of 18.5 points on 58.2 percent shooting from the field. Though given a small sample, The early returns on an Olynyk/Christian Wood combination have not been encouraging, however. Houston has been outscored by 27 points in the 48 minutes that the duo has played together.

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30. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-38, Last Week’s Ranking: 30)

Anthony Edwards has gotten a lot of coverage, and rightfully so, but the Wolves’ other first-round choice is also on the rise. Jaden McDaniels’ defensive versatility is impressing teammates, and he was given assignments against James Harden and Ja Morant during his trial by fire last week. The Wolves are looking for signs of progress, and McDaniels’ ability to turn into a stopper could help.

Apr 6, 2021 No Comments
SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 14

SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 14

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by | Mar 30, 2021 | Featured, NBA

The NBA Trade Deadline is now a thing of memory. We’ve gotten a glimpse of just how certain transactions have immediately impacted teams’ win probabilities, and have yet to see some other traded parts and buyout market acquisitions show their value as we enter yet another fluctuating week of NBA basketball. And by anticipated value, that evidently has to do with teams making a splash in the buyout market, like the Brooklyn Nets scooping up LaMarcus Aldridge and the Los Angeles picking up Andre Drummond. But what does it mean for the rest of the NBA heading into Week 14?

When it comes to the competition side of things, the Utah Jazz finally woke up out of their post-All-Star slumber, winning five straight games after losing five of their last eight. And in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers, who also grew a little during the Trade Deadline, are finding ways upon ways to accumulate wins and maintain their perch atop the East while Joel Embiid rests up.

As for everyone else, let’s break down the rest of the occurrences in the league, for that’s what we do every week in these Power Rankings.

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1. Utah Jazz (35-11, Last Week’s Ranking: 3)

So a slow 2nd-half start out of the blocks wasn’t to be the case for the West’s leading team. After losing five of their last eight heading into last week, the Jazz found a way to rattle off five straight, with a majority of those wins coming by way of the visiting Memphis Grizzlies during a two-game series. Donovan Mitchell, as always, has led the charge and during this five-game winning streak, is averaging over 31 points off .58/.51/.97 shooting splits.

Jordan Clarkson got out of his slump with a 28-point, 11-for-21 shooting night against the Grizzlies this past Sunday night, and as a team, the Jazz are back in the thick of things when it comes to stopping the other team from scoring. With a defensive rating of 108.3 on the season, they are now fifth in the NBA in the metric and offensively, are a position higher as the fourth-most-efficient offense in the game. With eight weeks to go, health and consistency heading into the playoffs are the bullet points that Head Coach Quin Snyder must drill in the minds of his team to ensure they’re on pace to remain hot.

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2. Philadelphia 76ers (32-14, Last Week’s Ranking: 1)

Philly only drops a spot in the Power Rankings this week, and while that’s partly due to their health fiasco, they’ve kept the ship from sinking and have found ways to scrap eight wins in their last ten contests without Joel Embiid on the floor, as the MVP candidate continues to nurse and rehabilitate from a hyperextended knee. Good news: Embiid and new pickup George Hill (as a result of the Trade Deadline) have been cleared for on-court activities and their return, while much-awaited, may not be too far away.

Still, with an entire game lead over the Goliath-sized Brooklyn Nets, who got even better with the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge this past weekend, Philadelphia has to love where they’re at. If they can get Embiid back on the floor, albeit in spurts, they’ll have an even greater chance to control their own destiny as the East’s best squad for the final eight weeks of the season.

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3. Brooklyn Nets (32-15, Last Week’s Ranking: 2)

Is James Harden the cumulative and prohibitive favorite to win the League’s Most Valuable Player award? Amongst a time period where the league itself is awash with ailments to its most integral players, it seems that only Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic is the only other competitor for the award at the moment. And keep in mind, the offense that Steve Nash employs on a nightly occurrence shows that Harden isn’t the main centerpiece in which it revolves around.

While Kyrie Irving (personal reasons) and Kevin Durant (hamstring) continue to miss time, Harden has put up all-world numbers, averaging around 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists per game in the span of 31 games in a Nets uniform. And as the Nets get more comfortable putting Blake Griffin on the floor who can — not to anyone’s surprise, I mean he is 6’10 after all — still get up and be a dynamic roll threat that plays above the rim, the LaMarcus Aldridge signing makes this team all the more dangerous. Though 35 and surrounded with anxieties over whether he can keep up with such an uptempo offense, considering that’s why the Spurs let go of him because he couldn’t, it’ll be analyzed just what role he plays on this team as a complimentary and presumptive understudy to DeAndre Jordan.

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4. Phoenix Suns (31-14, Last Week’s Ranking: 4)

It’s no longer moderately considerable to fathom that if these Suns were in the East, they’d only be a game out of having the best record in the conference. While not making any moves at the deadline — not like they needed to anyway, they have a top-10 offense, and top-3 defense, rating-wise — Phoenix opened and closed this week both with four games on the road, going 3-1 in the span of four games and in their last 10, have won seven of those games. For a team that’s heavily utilized a home-court advantage as one of the teams that have let fans re-enter the Talking Stick Resort Arena, they continue to prove just how dangerous they are away from their home stadium, now 16-6 on the road this year.

They eeked by a resilient Charlotte Hornets team Sunday afternoon in a game that went into extra time and devised a gameplan to keep Charlotte’s coveted young up-and-comer PJ Washington (who’s been relatively efficient this year as an 11.9-ppg. scorer) scoreless through 44 minutes.

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 5. Los Angeles Clippers (32-16, Last Week’s Ranking: 5)

The Clippers had their most productive and successful week of the season, and are just about ready to get rounded into shape. And quite frankly, it was a week that involved a sweep of Kawhi Leonard’s former team, the San Antonio Spurs, a defeat handed to the surging Atlanta Hawks and the road warrior Philadelphia 76ers. As a further incentive to get the best record they possibly can, the Clippers went out and traded for Rajon Rondo from the Hawks and in exchange, gave away three-time 6MOTY Lou Williams.

Rondo is the type of piece that, in the quintessential situation, can turn a fringe contender into a championship favorite, and with his leadership, equanimity under pressure, Basketball IQ, and championship experience, there is a considerable playmaking load taken off the shoulders of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers hope they can get just a mere semblance of that since it helped deliver the Lakers a title back in the Bubble Playoffs.

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6. Milwaukee Bucks (29-17, Last Week’s Ranking: 6)

After eight straight wins, the Bucks dropped back-to-back games to the Knicks and Celtics as Giannis Antetokounmpo nursed a sprained left knee. As a team that worked its way into the Trade Deadline picture by picking up P.J. Tucker, another shooting addition to the already bolstered perimeter attack of Mike Budenholzer, they found some success with their bench making some notable contributions, including Giannis’ brother Thanasis scoring 23 points against the Knicks.

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7. Denver Nuggets (28-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 7)

While a lot of teams in the West have gone through their own myriad of injuries, the Nuggets have only been hampered by Health and Safety protocols and inconsistent scoring outings. Well, it’s looking like those are things of the past now. Denver’s won seven of their last 10 and went 3-1 in their last four contests, and as the league’s third-best offense, Nikola Jokic continues to build on his career-best campaign averaging 26 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in their last five contests.

They were working heavily on the phones during Thursday’s Trade Deadline, picking up star forward Aaron Gordon, who immediately gives Jokic yet another versatile and athletic above-the-rim third option. Defensively, he’s the exact body frame capable of stifling LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard in the postseason for when they eventually coincide with them in May and June. Also, JaVale McGee made his return to the Denver Nuggets after being traded from them seven years ago, providing additional rim protection to stop the likes of Anthony Davis.

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8. Los Angeles Lakers (30-17, Last Week’s Ranking: 8)

The defending champions didn’t have the ideal week; LeBron James going down with a high ankle sprain is confirmed to keep him out for 4 more weeks at the most, while Anthony Davis’ (Achilles tendinosis) return isn’t to be until the playoffs, at the likeliest. Additionally, while LA went 2-2 on the week with six wins in their last 10 games, Los Angeles may have missed out on trading for Kyle Lowry by deciding to not give away assets like Talen Horton-Tucker or Dennis Schroder with some draft picks. It’s unknown whether or not Rob Pelinka’s apprehensiveness in the Trade market will come to bite the Lakers’ playoff time since the addition of a third All-Star couldn’t hurt in the wake of their conference rivals and potential Finals opponents (if they make it that far) adding supplementary help to increase their championship odds.

But the addition of Andre Drummond certainly shakes things up a bit. Drummond, a walking double-double machine and arguably the best player on the buyout market, will join the Lakers and will make his debut as their starting center this week against either the Bucks, Kings, or Clippers. With James and Davis coming back from injury heading into the postseason, Drummond could be that substantial player that takes them over the top and advances them to the Finals for a second-straight year.

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9. Portland Trail Blazers (28-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 9)

Portland was another additional active buyer during the Trade Deadline, and they went out and got Norman Powell from the Toronto Raptors. They were in search of a two-way slasher and three-level scorer at the three to fill in the minutes that Carmelo Anthony wasn’t on the floor, as well as an additional floor spacer that compliments the talents of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Moreover, the Powell pickup is going to come in handy when Terry Stotts puts on small-ball lineups on the floor. The Blazers are getting healthier and to their benefit, where they’re placed in the postseason standings as-is will come to their aide with a presumptively easier path to the Conference Finals than expected, as a team that not a lot of people are giving a lot of credit to.

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10. Dallas Mavericks (24-21, Last Week’s Ranking: 10)

Dallas is prioritizing the health of its most impactful players over avoiding the play-in scenario, even to the point of resting both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis this past week. Granted, the Mavs have won five of their last 10, and have slipped to only 3.5 games out of the sixth seed in the Western Playoff seeding but have, promptly, won only one game without Doncic on the floor. Luka missed last Friday’s contest against the Pacers in a 15-point loss. And then, Doncic sat out of Saturday’s contest against Pelicans, which also resulted in a loss. Health is a priority to Rick Carlisle’s Mavs, but they are running out of time to qualify for a non-Play-In Tournament spot with a thin margin of error left during this season’s last eight weeks.

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11. San Antonio Spurs (23-21, Last Week’s Ranking: 12)

In just 10 games together, SA’s modified lineup equipped for speed in the post-LaMarcus Aldridge days (composed of Derrick White, Jakob Poetl, DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray, and Keldon Johnson) has helped the Spurs acquire a plus 1.4 net rating when those five share the court. Prior to that starting lineup’s formation in 16 games this season, the lineup of DeRozan, Murray, Johnson, Poetl, and Aldridge had a minus-12.5 in a combined 219 minutes together.

Consider this the official first year of Gregg Popovich transitioning into the modern, uptempo-style of play that’s helped fringe contenders become champions.

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12. New York Knicks (24-23, Last Week’s Ranking: 17)

And the Garden’s beat goes on. The Knicks keep winning, much against anyone’s expectations at this point of the season and still have cemented themselves as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. But a little streak of luck broke for them this past week, as the returning Mitchell Robinson III, who just recovered from a broken hand, will miss additional time due to a fractured right foot. It’s unclear just how much time he will miss and if he’ll even be in good enough shape to come back at some point this season. The Knicks haven’t quite missed his presence, but as a floor-spacing roll threat and a force on the glass, the Knicks could’ve really used him heading into the postseason. This week, the Knicks couldn’t fend off a resilient Miami Heat team visiting the Garden, but still, have to play both the Timberwolves and Pistons on the road.

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13. Boston Celtics (23-23, Last Week’s Ranking: 15)

As the Celtics get near the top-10 again, they became the 20th team to welcome fans back into their stadium, and for a team that’s swapped places with the likes of the Knicks, Hawks, Heat, and Hornets for the fourth and fifth seeds, a true home-court feel couldn’t have come at a better time, even though they sustained a loss to the Pelicans. Boston had to part ways with Daniel Theis prior to Thursday’s deadline, and will now look to Robert Williams III to be their starting center, even amidst his injury worries. Evan Fournier made his debut with his new team after clearing Health and Safety protocols, and with him being etched into Brad Stevens’ rotation for the first time, we’ll get an understanding of how well (or not) he compliments Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown sits with a knee injury.

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14. Charlotte Hornets (23-22, Last Week’s Ranking: 16)

Charlotte rebounded respectably in the wake of LaMelo Ball’s season-ending wrist injury by winning three of their last four games. And while it could’ve been four straight for the Hornets, they weren’t able to complete the comeback against Phoenix in a 101-97 home loss while PJ Washington didn’t score a single point in 44 minutes of play. Their highlight of the week came in their huge win over Miami this past weekend, in which they nearly gave away a 30-point lead but were carried to victory by the play of Malik Monk, who scored 32 points in 26 minutes off the bench. And Terry Rozier, who has had an amplified role in the offense with Ball not on the floor, has scored 22 points in the four games as his replacement.

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15. Atlanta Hawks (23-23, Last Week’s Ranking: 13)

Nate McMillan’s eight-game winning streak couldn’t extend to nine games, for it was stopped by the hosting Clippers in a close contest. On the road is where ATL is headed, for they’ll have to do battle with teams out West. The Suns, Spurs, and Pelicans will all play host to the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA’s 11th-ranked offense. The Hawks are on the longest road trip for any team in the NBA, and it’s likely that they’ll quickly incorporate new Hawk Lou Williams (as a result of the Trade Deadline) into the fold soon.

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16. Miami Heat (23-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 11)

As of last week, Miami entered the final week of March losing six games in a row. They are giving up an average of 113 points per contest and aren’t playing up to the standards expected of them, specifically reified by their winning of 11 of their last 12 two weeks ago. Fortunately, they’ve found a way to portray their formerly dominant selves with a 10-point road win against the defensively-stout Knicks on Monday night, as Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 27 points. Miami will be a team to keep an eye on as they etch in Houston’s Victor Oladipo into their postseason plans.

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17. Indiana Pacers (21-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 18)

The Pacers have won four of their last six games, and as a team that wasn’t so active during the deadline, they’ve begun to make their own plans of bolstering their own backcourt, as new Pacer Caris LeVert (15.0 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 3.9 apg.) has fit in Nate Bjorkgren’s gameplan like a glove. During their hot streak, Myles Turner scored 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds with 7 blocks against the Mavericks.

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18. Memphis Grizzlies (22-22, Last Week’s Ranking: 19)

Memphis may not have to wait much longer to get Jaren Jackson Jr. back. At some point during the end of April, JJJ will accompany Ja Morant and the rest of the Grizzlies for the first time since the abridged season restart in the bubble. Justise Winslow, one of the other young players also impacted by injury who returned this season, has predictably struggled, shooting only 34.2 percent from the field in his first 16 games with the Grizzlies.

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19. Golden State Warriors (23-24, Last Week’s Ranking: 14)

Prior to their 14-point win over Chicago on Monday night, Golden State entered the week with a skid of losing four of their last five games. Stephen Curry’s return on Monday put the Warriors back into arm’s reach of the eighth seed in the West. Curry dropped 32 points in the first game back since he injured his tailbone earlier this month. His return, however, does not fully absolve the bad basketball they’ve been playing. Excluding their game against the Bulls, Golden State has given up an average of 121 points per game during their skid.

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20. New Orleans Pelicans (21-25, Last Week’s Ranking: 21)

With a vengeance, Zion Williamson rounded out the week. In back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, he exceeded his previous career-high of 36 points. On Friday, he scored 39 points in a loss to the Nuggets before scoring 38 points in a win over the Mavericks the next night. And on Monday, Williamson dropped 28 on the Celtics on the road to stay undefeated against Boston in his career.

To say the kid is making history is an understatement: Per ESPN, Williamson joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Dantley, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players to have at least 75 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while shooting at least 70% from the field in a two-game span.

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21. Sacramento Kings (22-25, Last Week’s Ranking: 23)

Talk about March Madness.

Harrison Barnes’ game-winning shot over the Cavs on Saturday, set up by a full-court inbound pass from De’Aaron Fox with 1.6 seconds left, was reminiscent of Duke’s Grant Hill’s game-winning pass to Christian Laettner in 1992. And seeing how as Monday was the 30-somethingth anniversary of that feat, the Kings are experiencing their own little Cinderella run. The glass slipper hasn’t come off just yet with the Kings winning five games in a row, and what’s even more comforting: Tyrese Haliburton is the real deal and the perfect developmental piece to build your future around.

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22. Chicago Bulls (19-26, Last Week’s Ranking: 20)

With three losses this week to Utah, Cleveland, and San Antonio and a week-opening loss to the Warriors, the Bulls failed to get in sync despite improvements to the starting lineup and rotation. Despite a loss in San Antonio, Nikola Vucevic put up a team-high 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in 32 minutes in his Bulls debut. Billy Donovan and Bulls executives hope that Vucevic and Zach LaVine can form a sense of chemistry in the final stretches of the season for a playoff push.

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23. Oklahoma City Thunder (19-27, Last Week’s Ranking: 22)

With Al Horford out for the rest of the season, the Thunder aren’t holding back on their plans to get the best draft spot possible for the remainder of the season. However, there are a few things to consider: They were just 8-8 with Horford this season, and they weren’t doing much anyway with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for a month or so due to a foot injury. The Thunder also want to play their young players. One of whom is Horford protégé Moses Brown, who put up 21 points and 23 rebounds on Saturday against the Celtics while also earning himself a four-year contract with the team.

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24. Toronto Raptors (18-29, Last Week’s Ranking: 24)

After ending a nine-game losing streak, the Raptors immediately lost three games in a row, bringing them closer to 13th than 10th in the standings at this late stage of the season. There’s always time for Toronto to turn things around, and having Kyle Lowry will help if the right foot soreness that kept him out of Sunday’s loss to Portland doesn’t continue. However, the possibility of this team posing a challenge for an opponent in the first round is becoming increasingly unlikely. As a consequence, the much more pertinent question is whether it will jump up in a loaded lottery.

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25. Washington Wizards (17-28, Last Week’s Ranking: 25)

Russell Westbrook’s 15th triple-double (19 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists) virtually forced the Wizards to win against Detroit, snapping a three-game losing streak. Despite the fact that the Wizards have lost eight of their last ten games and Bradley Beal is sidelined with a hip bruise, they made a move that they hope would save their fading playoff hopes. On Monday, Westbrook then put on his most sensational performance of the season: a 25-point, 20-assist, 16-rebound game against the Indiana Pacers in a 132-124 home win, which would make that the 16th time this season that Russell Westbrook would get a triple-double this season.

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26. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-30, Last Week’s Ranking: 26)

The Cavaliers have dropped eight of their last 11 games, including a pair of blowouts over the weekend. Cleveland was held to just 86 points in a loss to the Lakers without LeBron James on Friday, scoring just 10 points in the third quarter. It then lost to Sacramento, scoring just 98 points while winning the turnover battle with seven turnovers to Sacramento’s 18. They opened their following week with a blowout loss to the Utah Jazz where they couldn’t even score more than 75 points. In that loss to the Kings, they let De’Aaron Fox score 36 points in a 100-98 road loss.

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27. Orlando Magic (15-31, Last Week’s Ranking: 27)

Orlando is in the middle of yet another rebuild after selling away their seasoned core of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Aaron Gordon before the deadline. Now they must hope that some of their recent first-round picks grow into important contributors in the future, as well as that Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz rebound from severe knee injuries and return to form.

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28. Detroit Pistons (13-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 28)

Prior to their 14-point win over the Toronto Raptors, the Pistons dropped four straight, including a 106-92 loss in Washington on Saturday during which they trailed by as many as 30 points but cut the deficit to three points in the fourth quarter. At the deadline, the Pistons traded Delon Wright to the Kings for Cory Joseph, and second-round picks in 2021 and 2024.

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29. Houston Rockets (13-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 29)

Keep an eye on things. Kevin Porter Jr.’s growth is one of the Rockets’ top priorities for the rest of the season, which is one of the reasons the team decided to trade Victor Oladipo despite not receiving anything in exchange. Porter scored 25 points in the Rockets’ win over the Timberwolves on Saturday, his third time doing so in eight games with the team. Per ESPN, the Rockets had previously had only two such performances by players 20 or younger in franchise history.

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30. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-36, Last Week’s Ranking: 30)

One of the Wolves’ (many) problems is that they actually do not play competitive games. The experience of being in close games and making vital plays late is invaluable for a young team. Just one of the Wolves’ previous nine defeats was determined by two possessions. They are regularly blown out by 15 to 20 points, making it difficult to build a young roster.

Mar 30, 2021 No Comments
SR – NBA Trade Deadline: Up-To-The-Hour Updates On Who’s Going Where

SR – NBA Trade Deadline: Up-To-The-Hour Updates On Who’s Going Where

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by | Mar 25, 2021 | Featured, NBA

Trade Deadline day is officially here, and up to the hour, we’ll be updating you, the reader on who is getting sent where, as well as the full trade ramifications for all sides of all agreements up until the official deadline today, March 25, 2021, at 3 P.M. ET. As it stands, there has been a couple of significant names that have been dealt, but while there aren’t a bevy of huge names circling around this deadline period, (since, y’know, the offseason did that for us – James Harden joining forces with the Brooklyn Nets and Blake Griffin doing the same with deals made with Houston and Detroit) there are still some negotiations yet to be done leading up to this afternoon.

A few minor trades have trickled into the last week and into today’s dealings, such as the Bucks snagging P.J. Tucker from the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat getting Trevor Ariza. Teams selling high will likely be Orlando, Atlanta, and/or Sacramento, and as it goes for buyers, expect the Nuggets, Lakers, Sixers, Raptors, Bulls, Celtics, Pelicans, and Clippers to be big movers and acquirers of some substantial players as we move into the final stretch of the regular season.

With that said, here’s what transpired leading up to Thursday’s deadline.

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1. Sacramento Kings: Detroit Pistons trade Delon Wright to Sacramento Kings, Kings get Cory Joseph, two Second-Round picks

For the first deal of this hectic period, the Pistons traded guard Delon Wright (10.4 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 5 apg.) to the Sacramento Kings, and in exchange, get swingman Cory Joseph (6.6 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 2.5 apg.) in return. Also, as a part of the deal, the Kings are sending a 2021 second-round pick from the Lakers and their own 2024 second-rounder in the deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

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2. Denver Nuggets: Acquiring Center JaVale McGee from the Cleveland Cavaliers, trading Isiah Hartenstein, two future protected second-round picks

Talk about help in the big man department. And so starts the second stint in a Nuggets uniform for JaVale McGee (8.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 1 apg.) who last played for the organization in 2014 as he’ll be dealt from the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the Nuggets, and Denver will give the Cavs depth at center in Isiah Hartenstein (3.3 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 0.6 apg.) as well as two protected future second-round picks for the 2021 Draft.

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3. Chicago Bulls: Acquiring Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, Al-Farouq Aminu, trading away Wendell Carter Jr., two first-round picks to Orlando in Blockbuster deal

In arguably the most impactful deal prior to the deadline, Chicago hits the jackpot in acquiring All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic and reliable bench big Al-Farouq Aminu from the Orlando Magic during Orlando’s fire sale of a trading period. Vucevic, the Serbian two-time All-Star who is averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game off 48 percent shooting, compliments the likes of now fellow All-Star Zach LaVine, and the Bulls only had to sell Wendell Carter Jr. (10.9 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 2.2 apg.) as well as two first-round picks to get Zach LaVine some additional scoring help.

Chicago is sending the Magic’s 2021 and 2023 first-round picks, as well as Otto Porter Jr. to Orlando in the deal. The Bulls’ leadership council of Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas and head coach Billy Donovan were insistent on bringing in several veteran talents to accompany LaVine, who is having the best season of his career not only averaging 28.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game off 52 percent shooting, but is one of the only Bulls in franchise history alongside Michael Jordan to have averaged nearly 35 points in an entire month.

4. Washington Wizards: Acquiring Chicago’s Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchinson, trading away Troy Brown, Mo Wagner

The Bulls continue to bolster their depth, trading for Washington’s forwards in Mo Wagner ( 7.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 1.3 apg.) and Troy Brown (4.3 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 0.9 apg.) while giving away their guys in Daniel Gafford (4.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 0.5 apg.) and Chandler Hutchinson, (1.9 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 0.6 apg.) of whom were drafted in 2017 and 2018.

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5. Denver Nuggets: Acquiring Orlando’s Aaron Gordon, trading away Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and first-round pick

Another blockbuster deal has transpired: Denver gets their much sought-after big and wing defender in two-way scorer Aaron Gordon (14.6 ppg., 6.6 rpg., 4.2 apg.) in a deal with the Orlando Magic. Orlando gets a mix of viable veterans like Gary Harris, (9.7 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 1.7 apg.) and prospects like 2020 first-round pick RJ Hampton (2.6 ppg., 2 rpg., 0.6 apg.) as a result of exchanging the last part of their starting frontcourt in Gordon. The Arizona product had spent his first six years with the Orlando Magic, and in the process of sending out their former first-round pick back in 2014, get bargaining chips and pieces to build around for the impending future.

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6. Miami Heat: Acquiring Sacramento’s Nemanja Bjelica, trading away Moe Harkless, Chris Silva

Miami gets additional perimeter shooting depth by negotiating an even deal with the Sacramento Kings by giving away some veteran bench parts that consist of Moe Harkless (1.4 ppg., 1.2 rpg., 0.6 apg.) and Chris Silva (2.7 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 0.5 apg.) to help build Sacramento’s frontcourt depth, getting sharpshooter Nemanja Bjelica (7.2 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.9 apg. off 46 percent shooting) in return.

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7. Philadelphia 76ers: Acquire OKC’s George Hill, trade away Tony Bradley, Terance Ferguson, two second-round picks

In the biggest deal of the day so far, (per the number of players and picks involved) the Philadelphia 76ers give away some more picks to Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti as well as a reliable rebounder in Tony Bradley (5.5 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 0.8 apg.). In the deal, the Thunder give away Terrance Ferguson (0.2 ppg., 0.1 rpg., 0.2 apg.) to the Knicks, and veteran point guard George Hill (11.8 ppg., 2.1 apg., 3.1 apg.) to the Sixers, who could immediately bolster the strength of their depth and backcourt as a whole. New York’s Austin Rivers, (7.3 ppg., 2.2 rpg., 2.0 apg.) as part of the trade with Terrance Ferguson, will head to the Thunder.

The Knicks will also send Ignas Brazdeikis (0.5 ppg., 0.5 rpg., 0.2 apg.) to the 76ers as part of the three-way deal, and the Sixers will send a couple of second-round picks in 2025 and 2026 to OKC.

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8. Portland Trail Blazers: Acquiring Toronto’s Norman Powell, trading away Gary Trent, Rodney Hood to the Raptors

In the first of trades that may not be the last for Toronto today, the Raptors struck a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to get some slashing and perimeter scoring threats in both Norman Powell and Gary Trent, swapping both players. Portland gets Norman Powell, a two-guard in his fifth year averaging 19.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per contest off 49.8 percent shooting, while Gary Trent Jr. will head to Tampa, Florida to play with the Raptors and add some outside scoring, as he currently averages 15 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists off 41.4 percent shooting and 39.7 shooting from deep.

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9. Utah Jazz: Acquiring Toronto’s Matt Thomas, trading away a future second-round pick

As if the league’s best shooting team from deep needed additional depth in that department, they went out and traded away a second-round pick for 26-year-old Matt Thomas (2.7 ppg., 0.8 rpg., 0.3 apg.) as another shooter in their already-fiery offense. Thomas’s shooting averages are a little over 41 percent from deep, which only furthers the sense made from this trade. Additionally, it further adds fuel to the Kyle Lowry trade fire as it allocates an additional roster spot in Toronto’s roster makeup. As it stands, the Raps are taking calls and negotiating potential deals to send Lowry elsewhere within the last 45 minutes of the deadline.

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10. Atlanta Hawks: Acquiring Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams, two second-round picks, cash, trading away Rajon Rondo

Lou Williams makes his return to his home town of Atlanta, Georgia to play for his home team Atlanta Hawks, presumably, in a sixth-man role, as the Hawks nab one of the most talented scoring guards in all of the NBA in a headline-grabbing trade with a little under a half-hour to go until the deadline.

Three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams (12.1 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 3.4 apg. off 42.1 percent shooting and 35 percent shooting from downtown) is swapped for veteran guard and two-time champ and four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo (3.9 ppg., 2 rpg., 3.5 apg.) as Rondo will be assumed to either fulfill the same role that got him his second ring with the Lakers last season. The Clippers hope that, in the pursuit of their franchise’s first-ever title, Rondo can help do the same as a guard that spaces the floor and controls the tempo of the game for whatever lineup he will be placed in.

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11. Sacramento Kings: Acquiring Toronto’s Terence Davis II, trading away future second-round pick to Raptors

Toronto is stocking several picks to supply for their future, and in return is beginning to give away some pieces of their bench. Second-year guard Terence Davis (6.9 ppg., 1.9 rpg., 1.1 apg.) is one of those pieces given away to help build that future for Toronto, and the Kings get a player with his own share of veteran experience, which is only constructive at the current state the Kings are in at the moment as a team that is young and in the process of intermingling their developing parts, veterans and borderline All-Stars.

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12. Dallas Mavericks: Acquiring New Orleans’ JJ Redick

The details are not yet ironed out, but as of the moment, JJ Redick (8.7 ppg., 1.7 rpg., 1.3 apg.) is headed to Dallas, Texas to help bolster the second and third units for the Dallas Mavericks. He’ll join the likes of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and space the floor as an off-ball scorer and spot-up shooter and will work to get to his spots and knock down shots at an efficient rate as a veteran scorer in a spacious system ran by Rick Carlisle.

Trade details include: New Orleans sending Niccolo Melli (2 ppg., 2.6 apg., 1.1 apg. off 25 percent shooting) and Redick to Dallas, and in exchange, the Pelicans get James Johnson (5.7 ppg., 3 rpg., 1.7 apg.), Wesley Iwundu (2.1 ppg., 1.9 rpg., 0.4 apg.) and a second-round pick.

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13. Charlotte Hornets: Acquiring Golden State’s Brad Wanamaker

Per Shams, the Warriors are trading away 10-year veteran Brad Wanamaker (4.7 ppg., 1.7 rpg., 2.5 apg.) to the Charlotte Hornets in the wake of Charlotte’s losing of LaMelo Ball for the rest of the regular season. The details of this trade also have yet to be ironed out but as of now, the Hornets have stocked up on depth at the guard position.

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14. Miami Heat: Acquiring Houston’s Victor Oladipo, trading away Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a draft swap to Houston

Mark this as the biggest trade of the day. The Houston Rockets have traded away superstar guard Victor Oladipo to the Miami Heat and have given the prospect-collecting Houston Rockets the rights to sign Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and the ability to swap a draft pick in 2022 for future occasions. Oladipo (20 ppg., 5.7 apg., 4.2 apg.) headlines this deal, and could be the adept scorer fans know him to be in this situation with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to offer a spaced-out floor and room for the shifty guard out of Indiana to create in.

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15. Chicago Bulls: Acquiring Boston’s Daniel Theis, trading away Mo Wagner to Boston

The Mo Wagner era in Chicago has come to an end, and what two hours it’s been. The Bulls are busy getting and giving players prior to today’s deadline and have swapped one of the players acquired from the Wizards trade in Mo Wagner for Boston’s floor-stretching dynamic roll-man in Daniel Theis (9.5 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 1.6 apg.). In return, Boston gets Wagner in the deal, but it’s unknown if they keep him or trade him off for a better player.

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16. Boston Celtics: Acquiring Orlando’s Evan Fournier, trading away Jeff Teague

Though the deal was finalized two hours ago, the Celtics recently added in struggling veteran guard Jeff Teague as a part of the deal, as well as two second-round picks. Fournier (19.7 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 3.7 apg.) is a nice addition to a Celtics team that daftly needed additional perimeter scorers and could greatly assist a Celtics bench that is near the bottom of the team rankings when it comes to scoring.

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17. San Antonio Spurs: Acquiring Golden State’s Marquese Chriss, trading away cash, Cady Lalanne

The Spurs proceeded to trade for developing forward Marquese Chriss from the Warriors, and give away cash, which saves the Warriors on luxury tax for the injured Chriss, who tore his ACL back in December. He was dealt for the Spurs’ 6’10, 253-lb prospect Cady Lalanne.

Photo Cred: gamblingsites.org

Mar 25, 2021 No Comments