NBA Rivalry Week was a hit with the fans!
It started with a banger with the Clippers taking down cross-town rivals the LA Lakers, in what was another brilliant showing from LeBron James in defeat.
LeBron once again made history in this contest, notching 40 points against the Clippers, which was the only team he hadn’t scored 40 against in his career!
Brooklyn and Philadelphia gave us a great showing, with Joel Embiid facing off against Ben Simmons for the first time in Philadelphia.
Defence was optional in this one, with both teams combining for 270 points and the stars came out to play.
Joel Embiid finished the night with 27pts and 10rebs, while on the other side Kyrie had a double-double of his own, finishing with 30pts and 10asts.
Philly managed to hold off the Nets in the end to win by 4, and continue their rise up the ladder in the Eastern Conference.
New York travelled to Boston in what very well could be an Eastern Conference 1st round battle this year. New York coming away victorious in OT on the back of a big game from their own Big 3.
Julius Randle finished with 37pts and 9 rebounds, Jalen Brunson with 29pts and 7asts, whilst RJ Barrett chimed in with 19pts.
Jayson Tatum continued his stellar season also in the contest, finishing with 35 pts and 14rebs, but it wasn’t enough to get their first win in Rivalry Week.
Rivalry Week wrapped up back in Boston and saved it’s best for last.
Boston and the LA Lakers matched up in the Garden in one of sport’s greatest rivalries, and we were treated to a belter!
The Lakers hung around all night and should have come away victorious if it weren’t for one of the biggest missed calls of the season.
Jayson Tatum clearly swiped at LeBron’s arm on a go ahead lay up at the buzzer, only for the play to go un-whistled and the game to be taken to OT.
Comedy ensued after the play with LeBron carrying on like he was told he could no longer play Madden at home anymore, as well as Patrick Beverley delivering a camera to the officials!
Boston running away the victors in the end 125-121.
LeBron once again filling up the stat sheet, edging ever so closer to Kareem's scoring title (41pts, 9rebs and 8asts), while Tatum and Brown combined for 67 points in the win.
All-Star starters were named, and once again there was plenty of controversy.
West All-Star Starters:
LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Steph Curry.
It’s hard to argue 4 of the 5 selected here.
Zion is the interesting one. He fired early to start the season for the Pelicans, who have fallen off a cliff since Zion got hurt.
Zion has played 29 of the 51 games played for the Pels this season, so durability has to be questioned on this All-Star selection.
East All-Star Staters:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell.
A very solid starting unit for the East All-Stars here.
One glaring omission is of course Joel Embiid.
In the era of position-less basketball, he simply has to be a Starter.
In this case, KD or Tatum would be the ones to make way for Embiid in the front court, and good luck deciding which one of the two!
West All-Star Reserve Predictions:
Ja Morant and Domantas Sabonis will come into the All-Star Reserves fray, the latter having a stellar season for a surging Sacramento Kings team!
Sabonis has averaged 18.5pts, 12.3 rebs and 7.3 asts in 46 games played this season.
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander should also have his name called in a reserve role and if he doesn’t, the system is clearly broken.
Shai has been phenomenal this season, averaging 30.9pts, 4.8 rebs and 5.6 asts.
Whilst on the topic of players who have taken the next step this season, Lauri Markannen should also be in line for All-Star selection.
Markannen has been instrumental for a Jazz team wildly picked to win 25 or less games this season, has averaged 24.9 pts and 8.6 rebs, and is the clear front runner for the Most Improved Award!
East All-Star Reserves:
Joel Embiid and James Harden should be one of the first two names called onto the bench for the All-Star Event.
Joining the Philly duo, will be another unlucky non-starter, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.
Brown’s numbers were not far off Kyrie Irving (both averaging 27+ PPG), so they argument could definitely be made to have Brown and Mitchell as the Eastern Conference starting guards, with Brown playing on the best team in the league.
Darius Garland and Jimmy Butler should also join the East Guard rotation on the bench.
Julius Randle may have his name called again having a stellar season of his own, putting Knicks basketball back on the map, averaging just shy of 25ppg and 10.8 rebs a night!
Here’s hoping selectors get this right and reward the right players by their play this season, not just by their name and previous history!
Cheers
Bauky
It started with a banger with the Clippers taking down cross-town rivals the LA Lakers, in what was another brilliant showing from LeBron James in defeat.
LeBron once again made history in this contest, notching 40 points against the Clippers, which was the only team he hadn’t scored 40 against in his career!
Brooklyn and Philadelphia gave us a great showing, with Joel Embiid facing off against Ben Simmons for the first time in Philadelphia.
Defence was optional in this one, with both teams combining for 270 points and the stars came out to play.
Joel Embiid finished the night with 27pts and 10rebs, while on the other side Kyrie had a double-double of his own, finishing with 30pts and 10asts.
Philly managed to hold off the Nets in the end to win by 4, and continue their rise up the ladder in the Eastern Conference.
New York travelled to Boston in what very well could be an Eastern Conference 1st round battle this year. New York coming away victorious in OT on the back of a big game from their own Big 3.
Julius Randle finished with 37pts and 9 rebounds, Jalen Brunson with 29pts and 7asts, whilst RJ Barrett chimed in with 19pts.
Jayson Tatum continued his stellar season also in the contest, finishing with 35 pts and 14rebs, but it wasn’t enough to get their first win in Rivalry Week.
Rivalry Week wrapped up back in Boston and saved it’s best for last.
Boston and the LA Lakers matched up in the Garden in one of sport’s greatest rivalries, and we were treated to a belter!
The Lakers hung around all night and should have come away victorious if it weren’t for one of the biggest missed calls of the season.
Jayson Tatum clearly swiped at LeBron’s arm on a go ahead lay up at the buzzer, only for the play to go un-whistled and the game to be taken to OT.
Comedy ensued after the play with LeBron carrying on like he was told he could no longer play Madden at home anymore, as well as Patrick Beverley delivering a camera to the officials!
Boston running away the victors in the end 125-121.
LeBron once again filling up the stat sheet, edging ever so closer to Kareem's scoring title (41pts, 9rebs and 8asts), while Tatum and Brown combined for 67 points in the win.
All-Star starters were named, and once again there was plenty of controversy.
West All-Star Starters:
LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Steph Curry.
It’s hard to argue 4 of the 5 selected here.
Zion is the interesting one. He fired early to start the season for the Pelicans, who have fallen off a cliff since Zion got hurt.
Zion has played 29 of the 51 games played for the Pels this season, so durability has to be questioned on this All-Star selection.
East All-Star Staters:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell.
A very solid starting unit for the East All-Stars here.
One glaring omission is of course Joel Embiid.
In the era of position-less basketball, he simply has to be a Starter.
In this case, KD or Tatum would be the ones to make way for Embiid in the front court, and good luck deciding which one of the two!
West All-Star Reserve Predictions:
Ja Morant and Domantas Sabonis will come into the All-Star Reserves fray, the latter having a stellar season for a surging Sacramento Kings team!
Sabonis has averaged 18.5pts, 12.3 rebs and 7.3 asts in 46 games played this season.
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander should also have his name called in a reserve role and if he doesn’t, the system is clearly broken.
Shai has been phenomenal this season, averaging 30.9pts, 4.8 rebs and 5.6 asts.
Whilst on the topic of players who have taken the next step this season, Lauri Markannen should also be in line for All-Star selection.
Markannen has been instrumental for a Jazz team wildly picked to win 25 or less games this season, has averaged 24.9 pts and 8.6 rebs, and is the clear front runner for the Most Improved Award!
East All-Star Reserves:
Joel Embiid and James Harden should be one of the first two names called onto the bench for the All-Star Event.
Joining the Philly duo, will be another unlucky non-starter, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.
Brown’s numbers were not far off Kyrie Irving (both averaging 27+ PPG), so they argument could definitely be made to have Brown and Mitchell as the Eastern Conference starting guards, with Brown playing on the best team in the league.
Darius Garland and Jimmy Butler should also join the East Guard rotation on the bench.
Julius Randle may have his name called again having a stellar season of his own, putting Knicks basketball back on the map, averaging just shy of 25ppg and 10.8 rebs a night!
Here’s hoping selectors get this right and reward the right players by their play this season, not just by their name and previous history!
Cheers
Bauky