Category: Basketball

Adding value: Crunching the numbers on Sam Hauser's recent surge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

We’re struggling to remember the last time a Sam Hauser 3-pointer touched anything but the net. It certainly didn’t happen on Wednesday night against Indiana, with all five of Hauser’s triples finding nothing but twine.

Hauser nearly matched the Celtics’ single-game record for 3-pointers last Saturday in Atlanta before hilariously getting snagged on 10 makes, and misfiring on six energy-drained attempts before coach Joe Mazzulla mercifully ended his night in a lopsided win.

Hauser has made 25 3-pointers in his last five games. Consider this: There are 279 players in the NBA who haven’t made 25 3-pointers all season. Yes, Hauser has more 3-pointers in a week than half the league has made in half of the season. 

Still, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Hauser in 2025-26. He came into the new campaign as a starter on a robust $10 million per year extension, but got shuffled to the bench after three games due in large part to Boston’s rebounding woes. Hauser’s shot was off at times to start the season, and his minutes dipped below even his average on Boston’s recent talent-surplus teams.

Even in those moments, Hauser was a positive for the Celtics when he was on the court. But now his shot is falling, and he’s given an already-potent offense another jolt while shuffling back to the starting role. 

Let’s crunch the numbers on all the ways that Hauser is helping Boston thrive when he’s on the court: 

The turnaround

Let’s get the shooting discussion out the way. After some woes to start the season — at least by his lofty, above-40 percent-on-3-pointers standards — Hauser has found his groove over the last 16 games. Just look at the spikes in his scoring and shooting efficiencies: 

Most notable: Hauser was shooting 32.1 percent on all pull-up 3-pointers through the first 26 games. He’s up to a sizzling 52.4 percent over his last 16 games.

Catch and shoot will always be Hauser’s bread and butter — and even that percentage jumped 12.8 percent to 47.2 percent in his last 16 games — but he’s creating all sorts of quality attempts lately, including some sneaky moments where he puts the ball on the floor and ventures inside the arc. 

Nothing but net for starters

The Celtics’ starting five featuring Hauser is outscoring opponents by a whopping 19.2 points per 100 possessions over 149 minutes of floor time this season. 

Among the 40 five-man lineups in the league with at least 100 minutes played this season, Boston’s starters rank fourth in net rating behind only lineups from Oklahoma City, Denver, and — surprisingly — Charlotte.

Narrow that down to the 25 lineups with 120+ minutes this season, and Boston’s starting five vaults to second in net rating, trailing only the Denver starters when Nikola Jokic was healthy. 

The Celtics rank second in the NBA in offensive rating this season at 121.3, trailing only the Nuggets (121.5). 

Quick decisions, good ball security

Hauser is a perfect fit for the starting group in part because his presence forces defenders to stay attached and creates space for teammates. What’s more, he makes quick decisions and takes care of the basketball.

The stat crunchers at BBall Index note that Hauser ranks 74th out of 513 NBA players this season in quick-decision pass percentage, with 86 percent of his touches lasting 0.5 seconds or less. Hauser ranks 57th out of 513 players while committing 1.75 turnovers per 100 touches.

His bad-pass turnovers have crept up a bit this season, but he’s routinely valued the ball throughout his career and is a willing ball-mover when he doesn’t have a quality look.

Defending without fouling

It’s still comical to watch players trip all over themselves trying to go at Hauser in isolation. Hauser routinely competes in those situations, all while avoiding fouls by keeping his hands up. In fact, the numbers suggest he’s been the best isolation defender on the team this season.

Opponents are averaging 0.68 points per play in isolation against Hauser this season, the best mark of the 10 Boston players who have defended enough possessions to qualify. Opponents are shooting 28 percent in those instances and turn the ball over on 11.8 percent of those possessions. Hauser ranks in the 89th percentile among all isolation defenders.

Overall, the NBA’s tracking data suggests that opponents are shooting 0.7 percent below expected output when Hauser is the nearest defender. That’s another solid number considering the variety of players Hauser defends.

On Wednesday night against Indiana, Hauser spent multiple turns on Pascal Siakam. He had one excellent isolation stop early in the game, then got beat off the dribble later in the game and committed a tough and-one foul. 

Still, Hauser commits fouls on just 2.3 percent of his team’s plays, which is an elite number for a player routinely tasked with defending an array of wings and bigs. What’s more, he commits shooting fouls on a mere 7.4 percent of his contested shots, which ranks in the 89th percentile for his position.

Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Cleaning the glass

Hauser also quietly does a nice job on the glass. His defensive rebound percentage is up to 14.6 this season, which would be the best full-season mark of his career.

Boston grabs 69.8 percent of available defensive rebounds with Hausers on the court this season, the third-best mark on the team behind only centers Luka Garza (72.0) and Neemias Queta (70.2). 

Final thoughts

While Hauser’s reputation hinges heavily on his shotmaking abilities, he continues to find ways to positively impact the Celtics beyond scoring.

In a league where shooters with other skills are some of the most valuable commodities, Hauser is a true luxury, particularly while accounting just for 6.5 percent of the cap this season, even as his extension kicks in.

With the NBA trade deadline lingering, and the Celtics having only a limited amount of tradable contracts, Hauser’s name will invariably be floated at times. The last few weeks have been a firm reminder of how valuable he is to this team and its quest to return to title contender status.

For the third time in four games, the Milwaukee Bucks were blown out by a Western Conference team, losing 122-102 to the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Things have tumbled quickly for the Bucks; after winning five of their last seven games, they’ve now dropped four of five. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Giannis Antetokounmpo

31 minutes, 19 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 8/11 FG, 3/6 FT, -11

Despite missing several big-time defensive pieces in Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder still made it incredibly difficult for Giannis to get going. To his credit, though, GA was still very efficient, picking up another double-double and having seven assists.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins

29 minutes, 10 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 4/11 FG, 2/5 3P, -9

The ball pressure from OKC’s defense really made it a hard day for Rollins as well. He found his spots at times, but between Cason Wallace and Lu Dort, it was tough for him to get consistent opportunities.

Grade: C-

AJ Green

32 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4/9 3P, -14

Green has really found his stroke in January. He’s been shooting 40.7% so far, and added a 44% performance last night. The Bucks have needed these types of performances from him, even in ugly losses.

Grade: B

Kyle Kuzma

28 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3/11 FG, 0/5 3P, -20

Things keep trending downward for Kuzma as the season progresses. He wasn’t able to do much on defence guarding SGA (to be fair, few can), and according to Doc Rivers, he wasn’t in the right spots offensively. According to Rivers, he was supposed to be a screener and roller in the middle, but ended up just spacing and hoisting up five three-pointers.

Grade: D+

Bobby Portis

37 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 6/14 FG, 2/7 3P, +0

Bobby continues to be a consistent offensive player off the bench for the Bucks. He added another 15 points and even distributed the ball a little bit, doling out nine assists.

Grade: B-

Pete Nance

30 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3/5 3P, +3

What a revelation Nance has been over the last two games. Last night, he played double the minutes he did on Monday and looked pretty solid on both ends. Of the players who played more than 10 minutes, he was the only Buck to be a positive in the plus/minus.

Grade: B+

Cole Anthony

29 minutes, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 7/9 FG, 3/4 3P, -2

With Kevin Porter Jr. out, Doc Rivers tapped Cole Anthony to return to the rotation and fill in as the backup point guard. He did well and was Bucks’ leading scorer at halftime. While he had his moments of good play, the bad with Anthony reared its ugly head again with some bone-headed turnovers.

Grade: B

Doc Rivers

If any team has perfected the right approach to NBA basketball in the 2020s, it’s been the Thunder. The difference between them and how Doc runs the Bucks couldn’t be more stark. The way OKC runs offense and stays locked into their principles is impressive to watch. Meanwhile, the Bucks are apparently focused on the more basic elements of basketball, like moving the ball with pace. It’s the clearest example of how the modern NBA has passed Rivers by.

Grade: D-

Limited Minutes: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr, Gary Trent Jr.

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims

Inactive: Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Giannis wore an All-Star patch on his jersey, commemorating his selection as a starter from the Eastern Conference. With his 10th straight selection, Giannis became the first Bucks player in franchise history to have 10 All-Star appearances with the team.
• Before the game, Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) and KPJ (oblique strain) were both ruled out. Rivers said that Turner is just day-to-day, but Porter could be out for some time, with no clear timetable for his return.
• The Bucks are now 10-20 since starting the season 8-5.
• This is the fourth straight game that Giannis has shot the ball 13 times or less. Giannis was asked postgame how the team could get him more shots:

“I’m not the guy who will yell and cuss a teammate out and demand the ball. I’ve never done that in my career. I feel like I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can cause for our team, how I can create for my teammates or for myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe it’s because we’re not playing well, maybe guys think it’s their turn. They want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around, but I don’t get it. It’s not like I’m not trying to be aggressive.”

• I asked Bobby Portis how he handles these types of loses, especially when they come this close together:

“It’s the NBA, man, in about six or seven games, I’m about to play my 700th NBA game, which is crazy to say. So, I’ve played in a lot of different games, a lot of different moments, can’t get too high or too low. Obviously, you want to have that sense of urgency on a nightly basis; that’s something you have to have, especially where we are in the season. We’re not where we want to be, you’ve just got to have that sense of urgency every night so you can give yourself the best chance to win.”

• In previous interviews, Giannis has stated that there are times when he feels some of the younger players are trying to do too much. So, I asked Giannis about what type of learning curve it takes for a young player to break out of that and progress:

“Time and experience. I was like 20, 21. I think it was my third year in the league, but then in my fourth year, it (got) better. I had great vets that taught me how to play the game, how to play unselfish basketball, play winning basketball. I felt like I was always on go mode, and they were able to tell me to find my teammates and set the tone, move the ball. There are going to be times during the game it’s going to be your turn to take over the game. I learned to read the plays, I learned to read momentum, I learned to read runs. I remember back in the day when the team went on a run, there would never be a case where I didn’t touch the ball. If you can find a clip of the team going on a run and didn’t throw me the ball in the post, to go to the free throw line, get a wide-open shot, and create this gravity. When I was younger, I didn’t know what I was doing, but they understood for me.”

Up Next

Milwaukee will have another late tip-off at home this week, welcoming the Nuggets to Fiserv Forum to finish their two-game season series. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m. Central time, with the game available to stream on Prime Video. On cable, it can still be watched on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

We are officially just 2 weeks away from the trade deadline! After weeks and weeks of rumors, speculation, and plenty of CelticsBlog articles, we’re getting close to the end. At this point, the agents have played their hands, the teams have signaled their intentions (or not), and the posturing has reached its apex. I’ve never worked for a front office, but it seems like this is the time when they pull up all the options they’ve been working on for months and really decide on what to prioritize, what hard line they are going to hold to, and what they can give up. From the outside looking in, we have no idea what those internal conclusions are.

So I went to our own team and asked for their inputs for the latest staff roundtable.

What would you like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline?

Jack Anderson

I want the Celtics to add a center. It doesn’t need to be a big swing like Nic Claxton or Ivica Zubac but they need depth. I just worry about Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and small ball as the options in a playoff series. Marvin Bagley is on a minimum salary and could be an option to give Joe another option at center because he won’t put Tillman or Boucher out there.

Ian Inangelo

I want the Celtics to add another big. I think Tatum will be a great addition when he gets back but they need another guy at the center position. Ivica Zubac or Jaren Jackson Jr would be the best case scenarios in my mind but fine with a guy like Day’Ron Sharpe or Isaiah Jackson. Just another body to have at the big man position that can provide more depth.

Mark Aboyoun

I agree with Jack that a big man is the priority for me. I’m not necessarily in the camp of bringing back Robert Williams (although I am still a fan of his). We can use a front court player who can give us minutes either in front of Queta/Garza if we go for a big name center like Ivica Zubac, but need someone who can be that third big man with the rotation with Queta and Garza.

Bobby Manning

It’s a boring answer but I feel like the Celtics standing pat will be a win. It would keep the possibility alive of Anfernee Simons staying long-term, show new ownership’s willingness to pay luxury tax even in a borderline contending season and the cliché of Jayson Tatum being the deadline addition could hold true. The Celtics haven’t thrived with the marginal upgrade by using second round picks, and they shouldn’t utilize draft capital to offload salary either. So if neither of those things happen, there’s always the chance to take a buyout swing like they did with Torrey Craig last year. And they’re now eligible to sign the ones who make higher salaries now. Their current winning situation should attract a veteran.

Mike Dynon

Assuming Jayson Tatum will be activated before long, a couple of small moves could make the Celtics very dangerous for the postseason. First, as others have said, acquire a center who can join the Queta-Garza rotation. He won’t need to be a top-level talent, but rather (as the saying goes) a serviceable big man. Not sure who that should be, but am happy to let Brad surprise us (as usual). Perhaps Chris Boucher could be part of the deal and thus be freed from Joe Mazzulla’s purgatory.

Second, don’t trade Anfernee Simons – unless it’s for another significant difference-maker. The Anferno’s recent outburst probably enhanced what dealing him could bring in return. On the other hand, it also demonstrated what a weapon he is. It’s understood that his defense isn’t the best, and his contract is expiring and he might leave for nothing after this season. But if the Celtics add Tatum and another big, and feel they have a legit chance to reach the Finals, hanging onto Simons’ firepower could help win some playoff games. Give us a successful postseason, even if he walks later.

Nik Land

I would like to see the Celtics add another low-cost big man, similar to their previous acquisitions of Mike Muscala and Xavier Tillman. While a major addition such as Ivica Zubac would undoubtedly elevate the team, I don’t believe such a move is absolutely necessary for Boston to be highly competitive. If the Celtics were able to acquire a younger option like Day’Ron Sharpe (Nets), Karlo Matković (Pelicans), Yves Missi (Pelicans), or another big who fits a similar profile, I would be happy. All of these players are on affordable contracts that would keep the Celtics below the second apron, and each comes with team options that provide Boston with additional roster flexibility and control. That said, I think it is more likely the team ultimately stands pat.

Bill Sy

I only want one thing.

Nirav Barman

My trade priorities depend on how likely the Celtics are to retain Anfernee Simons in the offseason. Seeing how well the team is doing right now without JT is very exciting, but I think making a push solely for this year would be short-sighted. With the exception maybe of Tillman and Boucher, everyone on this team is a contributor. Outside of those two and Simons, they’re also all under contract, and should be back the following year with a healthy JT. If Brad thinks he can retain Anfernee at a reasonable price, stay pat. If not, he absolutely has to take advantage of the trade value, preferably to find a backup big, and maybe some cheap extra firepower off the bench.

Jeff Clark

My opinion on this has shifted 2 or 3 times over the last few months. I imagine that Brad Stevens is much more measured, thoughtful, and deliberate about how he approaches his job. Things can develop over time to change his mind, but I have a feeling that he’s had a plan (or several versions of plans) all along. So I’ll submit that Brad knew very well how good Simons could perform and fit into our system and he knew the drawbacks to his game and long term fit (both on the court and financially). If he decides that the right value is out there to make an upgrade to this team now and for the future, I’ll probably trust him.

All that aside, at this moment I also want to keep Simons and see if we can sign him to a more reasonable deal in the offseason. Sometimes you just need a guy that can go out and get buckets. Like everyone else, I think the Celtics need more reliable depth at the center position and hope that they can address that in a smaller move. Maybe that means that the guy we get will not play all that much in the playoffs when benches get short and (knock on wood) Tatum will be back. But we need more depth at that position and giving Joe Mazzulla more options is always a good idea.

Your Turn!

Tell us in the comments what you’d like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline.

The Wednesday morning ESPN story did more than shed further light on the notorious Buss family drama. Or how former Lakers controlling owner and current governor Jeanie Buss has felt about star forward LeBron James in the past.

Buss issued a statement to The Athletic after the story was published, stating she has appreciated James’ contributions to the franchise over the last eight seasons after the story detailed private dissatisfaction she’s had with James, or the narrative surrounding him, especially over the last few seasons. 

But the story also brought back to the forefront what’s been a question within NBA circles for a while, especially since the summer: What will James’ future look like, and what will his future bring beyond the 2025–26 season? 

James’ playing career, and the speculation surrounding it, has been a major talking point these last few years, after he hinted at possible retirement following the 2022–23 season. 

And James’ agent Rich Paul, CEO and founder of Klutch Sports Group, only fueled that fire when he issued a statement saying, in part, that James would be monitoring the Lakers’ offseason moves and whether they would be in the position to contend for a title after James opted into his $52.6 million salary for 2025–26. 

James hasn’t directly addressed how he feels about the Lakers’ roster outside of saying during the Sept. 29 Media Day, “I’m excited about getting to work, and I’m excited to see what we can do.” And he brushed off a question when asked last month about the Lakers’ playoff aspirations.

But with the Lakers entering Wednesday with a 26–16 record and sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings after Tuesday’s road win over the Denver Nuggets, the timing of the ESPN story and the trade deadline two weeks away, James’ future is back in the spotlight.

So it’s time to make one thing clear: James will likely be with the Lakers beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he’d have to request and approve a trade to another team.

And even though, at times, James being on the Lakers has felt like a partnership between the two sides, he’s been consistent with reaffirming his desires to stay with the franchise during critical periods. 

And they’re about to enter another crucial moment of truth this offseason. 

Since the summer, many non-Lakers league personnel have spoken on their belief that James won’t be on the Lakers beyond this season, assuming he doesn’t retire (an unlikely scenario). They expect the Lakers to move forward with Luka Dončić as the centerpiece of the franchise; Austin Reaves as the second star after he’s expected to sign a significant contract during the summer; and for the Lakers to capitalize on the “optionality” they could have during the summer. 

But the obvious follow-up question is the one that doesn’t get good-enough answers: if James isn’t on the Lakers next season, where does he go?

The Golden State Warriors? There isn’t a viable trade available to make it work. 

The Dallas Mavericks? It’s clear they’re fully entrenched in the Cooper Flagg era.

Outside of the Lakers, the only other teams floated around are the New York Knicks and a possible third tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers for James’ retirement tour. 

But when James’ future is brought up in these discussions, there’s also another reality that’s acknowledged: James likely doesn’t know what his future will hold, either. 

And even though many signs point toward the four-time league MVP not wearing the purple and gold beyond 2025–26, his options beyond this season feel more limited than most would think. 

As the Boston Celtics closed out the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, Sam Hauser showcased a move rarely seen from the veteran sharpshooter.

Hauser used a Neemias Queta screen to cut to the left corner, caught a cross-court inbound from Derrick White, pump-faked, spun right, and sank a mid-range jumper over Indiana’s Pascal Siakam. The oohs and ahhs came pouring in from TD Garden while Hauser played it off cool. Not because he didn’t expect it, but because he’s been expanding his offensive repertoire beyond the 3-point line.

“I know I’m capable of doing other things than shooting a three,” Hauser told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “(Shooting) is just what I’m asked to do the most, and that’s how I started to get on the floor in Boston. I tried to run with that and become as great of a shooter as I can each and every day, while also building off of it — because the next phase to a shot is a shot fake and a drive.”

Typically, most of Hauser’s field goal attempts have come from beyond the arc. On Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, he set the NBA’s all-time record for most 3-pointers attempted (21) without a single 2-pointer, falling one short of Boston’s franchise record of 11 makes. Eight times this season — including Wednesday night’s 119-104 win over Indiana — Hauser has drained five or more threes, with the Celtics going 7-1 during those performances. But that’s just part of what he’s honed to improve his compatibility with Boston’s offense this season.

To make sure the Celtics can get the most out of him on that end of the floor, Hauser is working to master that “next phase” and increase the difficulty of defending Boston’s movement-heavy offense.

With nine seconds on the shot clock, it’s easy to misread Hauser’s pull-up mid-range jumper as experimental rather than a skill he’s genuinely looking to add. However, he intends to normalize it from time to time, even if it’s antithetical to the typical role for his archetype.

“I know I’m capable of it, and when it presents itself, I try to take advantage,” Hauser told reporters.

Hauser made his 14th start in 42 appearances this season, playing alongside Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, White, and Queta. That combination has logged 21 games together, producing a 129.8 offensive rating and a 109.4 defensive rating — both higher than Boston’s season averages — while shooting 61.2% on effective field goals, which clears the league average.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, even without the numbers in front of him, has taken note of how effectively that rotation has performed and what Hauser adds to it.

“Sam’s ability to play two-way basketball and defend at a high level allows us to spread the floor and play a little offensively,” Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We have to be able to go to a bunch of different lineups, but that one is playing well so far.”

In adapting to the 2025-26 version of Mazzulla’s offense, Hauser has had to bring more to the table. Rather than lingering on the perimeter, he’s constantly in motion — making cuts, navigating off-ball screens, and doing all the little things that usually go unnoticed to hunt the most efficient looks, even when he’s not the one taking the shot.

“It’s not just the shot-making,” Mazzulla told reporters. “It’s the ability to make 2-on-1s, get defenders to overreact, and not leave his body. So the shooting is important, but so are the screening and spacing, which help him and also help the team.”

Hauser’s unexpected choice to pass up the three and pull up for a mid-range jumper over Siakam came directly from Boston’s offensive principles. Five of his six made shots Wednesday night came off space created by either Queta or Luka Garza, and none were traditional pick-and-rolls with Hauser handling the ball. Each shot was assisted by premier playmakers like Brown, White, and Anfernee Simons, who worked off screens while Hauser cut to openings, ready to catch and fire.

It’s a scheme that keeps everyone in constant motion, fully engaged, and contributing even without touching the ball — and Hauser is a critical component.

“It starts with Neemi setting a great screen, and sometimes it’s hard when they’re pressuring like that,” Hauser told reporters. “But we have such dynamic ball-handlers that they’re able to create an advantage even when the screen is not even there, which makes it easier to get on the back-end of the play, get open, and get to space. You just have to adjust and take what the defense gives you in the moment if they’re switching up the coverage.”

The start of the new year has been excellent for Hauser, thanks in large part to his ability to mesh with Boston’s offensive system. Since Jan. 1, he’s shooting 52% from the field and 48.2% from three, averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds. This version of Hauser may have been born out of necessity, given Boston’s shorthanded roster without Jayson Tatum. Still, it’s an upgrade that has allowed him to flourish and showcase a 2.0 version of his game that wasn’t visible in previous years.

Hauser’s 17 points against the Pacers extended his streak to four consecutive games with 15-plus points.

“Sam has been great,” Brown told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “Sam has developed as a basketball player. He’s had a couple of plays this year where he’s run off the line, put the ball on the ground, and get to a mid-range or sneak a layup in. So we just got to keep encouraging that.”

The Miami Heat head to the Pacific Northwest this evening to visit the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.

Portland is riding a three-game winning streak, and my Heat vs. Trail Blazers predictions will explain why they will extend that unbeaten run to four. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, January 22. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers prediction

Heat vs Trail Blazers best bet: Trail Blazers moneyline (-120)

The Portland Trail Blazers are exceeding expectations this season, sitting in a Play-In spot with a 22-22 record. 

They’re 8-2 in their last 10 contests, and they’ve notched wins against the Hawks, Lakers, and Kings over the last week. Two of those victories have been at home, and the Blazers own a 12-10 record at the Moda Center. 

The Miami Heat, meanwhile, are just 8-14 on the road, and they’ve gone 4-6 across their previous 10 outings.

Portland is playing like a confident group, and they will get the job done again tonight. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay

Bam Adebayo is having a solid campaign, averaging 17.2 PPG. The Heat big man has been on a different level as of late, though, cashing the Over in points in four of his last five appearances. 

Donovan Clingan leads the Blazers in rebounds with 10.9 per contest. While he’s only cashed the Over once in his last five contests, there’s reason to believe he could have a massive game down low. 

The Heat are considered an easy matchup for opposing centers, allowing over 15 rebounds per contest. They’re also Bottom 5 in the league overall in boards allowed. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Trail Blazers moneyline
• Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sharpe is on point

Shaedon Sharpe has drained Over 2.5 triples in back-to-back games, and he’s averaging 2.3 makes at home for a 37% clip. 

Heat vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Trail Blazers moneyline
• Bam Adebayo Over 18.5 points
• Donovan Clingan Over 12.5 rebounds
• Shaedon Sharpe Over 2.5 threes

Heat vs Trail Blazers odds

• Spread: Heat +1.5 | Trail Blazers -1.5
• Moneyline: Heat +100 | Trail Blazers -120
• Over/Under: Over 239.5 | Under 239.5

Heat vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know

The Trail Blazers have hit the Moneyline in 24 of their last 40 games at home (+14.30 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Trail Blazers.

How to watch Heat vs Trail Blazers

Heat vs Trail Blazers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Knicks responded to their worst skid in recent memory with a 120-66 victory over Brooklyn, snapping a 2-9 stretch that had their fanbase at DEFCON 1. A Karl-Anthony Towns trades, a head coach firing -- nothing was off the table.

While Wednesday’s win won’t cure all their ailments, it was Exhibit A in the argument for not panicking and blowing up the season with a drastic change. As bad as things have looked, an impulsive move could easily make things much worse than they ever really were.

It would help to diagnose the Knicks during this abysmal month, but nobody has come up with a good answer. Part of the reason is that there’s no singular problem, or even group of them -- the entire team has underperformed dramatically.

This should have given fans more pause before trying to remedy an issue they didn’t understand. Contending teams don’t just collectively fall apart. It would take something that impacted the whole roster. Fatigue and loss of focus post-NBA Cup are likely factors, having impacted previous Cup winners, and judging by the Knicks’ energy in some of these losses.

Many speculated about a chemistry blowup or major disconnect with the coach. Although certain moments looked bleak, the Knicks were without Jalen Brunson for some of these games, and they definitely put in some solid efforts that were in vain.

Even if something was fractured in the locker room, that’s not an unfixable problem. And folks seemed to forget how long the positive bullet points run on this team’s resume in just 11 games of poor play.

They won over 50 games last season and came within two games of the NBA Finals, mounting two major comebacks against the reigning NBA Champions and topping the team that’s now first in the East. Before this fall-off, the Knicks had one of the best point differentials in the league and were handily in the East’s second seed, plus Cup Champions as mentioned.

Even if you didn’t believe in this team's makeup and thought this losing streak meant it was time to blow it up, the potential pivots fans are posing would not turn things around.

One was firing Mike Brown, not a year after firing Tom Thibodeau, which was in itself a controversial move. Not giving his replacement a shot to break through his first adversity with the team would be laughable.

What would the move be then? Conduct a coaching search midseason or run with an unproven interim, and make further system tweaks when these changes supposedly disrupted the team in the first place?

Only four NBA teams have won a championship after switching coaches midseason. It’s not impossible, but it’s certainly not prudent. Neither would be trading Towns.

Yes, he’s in the midst of one of his worst seasons and doesn’t look comfortable. But his value is at a low point right now, and he’s already proven his worth when locked in. We’re not a year removed from Towns saving the Knicks’ playoff run with an all-time clutch Game 4 in Detroit and huge Game 3 in Indiana during a strong postseason for the big man.

Even with that, some can’t get behind a defensive core, including Towns and Brunson, or his up-and-down emotions. So be it. But trading Towns when his production is in the pits and everybody’s maneuverability is stymied, is malpractice when New York can just wait for the offseason to make a decision.

At worst, he continues imploding, and you at least have more suitors in the summer. Or he turns it around, and may end up being a slightly better option than a 35-year-old Jrue Holiday or Jerami Grant.

Even with the rough play of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, it’s comical coming up with mock trades for them since they’re still easily two of the best 3-and-D wings you could conceivably play next to Brunson.

Ultimately, there’s too much evidence of this being able to work, and so little of it going this terribly wrong to believe the right move here is the biggest, most drastic one. Luckily, it’s Leon Rose in the front office and not the 22-year-old playing him in 2K, as from all indications it looks like cooler heads are prevailing.

The Philadelphia 76ers split their recent home games against the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. Now, they’ll look to bounce back against one of the tougher opponents on the schedule in the Houston Rockets.

Houston has put together a unique and dynamic roster. They added a marquee name in Kevin Durant, who is putting up some of the best numbers of his career from both a scoring and efficiency standpoint. But the Rockets’ identity goes beyond Durant. They’ve built a frankly massive team across the board.

Amen Thompson has been starting at point guard, standing at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame. The Rockets have rotated starters depending on matchup and availability, but the core usually includes Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and another big wing such as Tari Eason or Josh Okogie.

Thompson has taken steps as a playmaker, but he’s far from a traditional point guard. And as the starting lineup suggests, this is far from a traditional team. There really hasn’t been a roster constructed quite like this in the modern NBA. Houston has found success overwhelming teams on the glass, creating extra possessions through offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. That’s an area where the Sixers could struggle in this matchup.

On the flip side, that same unconventional makeup has also led to issues. The Rockets have dropped games they probably shouldn’t have, and their offense can bog down and become stagnant at times. The size and inconsistent shooting have allowed teams to crowd Sengun, who doesn’t always have the spacing needed to operate comfortably. Reed Sheppard is an important piece for floor spacing, but inconsistencies on both ends and head coach Ime Udoka’s rotations have kept him from having the impact the team likely hoped for in his second year.

As many know, the Sixers are a guard-centric team that typically plays smaller lineups. That makes this matchup a true clash of opposing roster builds. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a rough stretch, shooting 7-of-25 from the field and struggling in the recent games against Cleveland. This figures to be another tough test, as the Rockets have no shortage of long, physical wing defenders capable of making life difficult for him. On top of that, their size and length can bother him around the rim and shrink driving lanes when help arrives.

This matchup will also test Maxey’s running mates, Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are likely to return. For Embiid, Sengun presents a physical matchup as a mobile big who can score and create from the perimeter. For George, he’ll likely see plenty of Durant on the other end, which needs little explanation. It’s also likely that Kelly Oubre Jr. sees extended time matched up against the future Hall of Famer.

For the Sixers, Embiid is listed as probable while managing an ankle issue, while George is questionable with knee injury management. Houston will be without Steven Adams, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Fred VanVleet as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. Aaron Holiday, who has taken on extra minutes in the backcourt, is also questionable heading into this matchup.

The Rockets are a talented team in a crowded Western Conference, and this won’t come easily. Still, if the Sixers can pull it off, it would mark another important win against a legitimate opponent. Beyond that, they need to start taking care of business at home if they want a comfortable path to the postseason. This game could be a chance to finally get things moving in the right direction.

Game Details

When: Thursday, January 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

When things are going the way they’ve been going for the Knicks, can you ever definitively say you’re confident in them to win, regardless of opponent?

Yes, on paper, it was more likely the Knicks (26-18) would embarrass the Nets (12-30) by biblical margins than it was for them to manage to lose, especially when fully healthy. But after whatever the hell happened on MLK Day (and in Sacramento), the offense’s recent short-circuiting, and the fact that Cam Thomas has a penchant for scoring in bunches against the Knicks, I was worried.

Maybe I should’t have been. Some things transcend slumps and horrifically bad vibes.

When one team owns another the way the Knicks do to the Nets, they’ll win no matter what. This effect was reversed a few years ago, as the Nets, in the midst of their ten-game winning streak against the Knicks, came back from a 21-point halftime deficit despite missing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons. Sometimes, you just own a team.

Nic Claxton would know, that’s 13 straight.

Every so often, we get a game that makes you dig deep into the Statmuse files. Let’s see what we can get from this historic, 54-point drubbing:

• It’s the largest margin of victory in franchise history. For a team that’s now played 6,231 games since 1946, that’s a lot. It breaks a three-way tie of games in 1968, 1972, and 1994, all 48-point wins.
• The Knicks led by 59 in the final minute before the Nets scored five to end the game. That 59-point lead is probably the largest in franchise history, but we only have concrete data in the last 30-ish years. Looking at the box scores of the pre-play-by-play era games, I don’t think an anyone got to 60.
• It’s the second-largest margin of victory by an NBA team this season. The Hornets destroyed the Jazz, 150-95, 11 days ago. The Knicks would’ve had this one, but Danny Wolf had to statpad with 10 seconds left. Alas!
• The Knicks last allowed 66 points or fewer on April 13, 2012, when they smacked the Wizards 103-65. Wizards’ leading scorer? Jordan Crawford (who went 6-for-20 from the field).
• The Nets are the first NBA team to score fewer than 70 points since… them last season (67). Last one to score less than that was the Mavericks on November 18, 2016, losing a disgusting 80-64 game to Memphis. Who remembers the 79-73 a few years ago?
• The Nets last scored this few points on March 12, 2005. In case you forgot, team’s score more in like four minutes now than they did in whole quarters 20 years ago.
• For reference, with 66 points, the Knicks have had 21 halves this season where they’ve put up 66 points. They’ve also allowed 10, with six coming since Christmas (yikes)
• The Knicks have won 13 straight games against the Nets. It’s the longest streak in the rivalry’s history and is quickly rivaling the streak the Knicks had against the Pistons from 2020-24 of 16 straight.

120-66 is such a ridiculous score. It’s happened once before in NBA history, but it’s a score you’re more likely to see in non-conference college basketball. In November 2024, UMass Lowell beat NAIA Fisher College, 121-66. That’s a bunch of Division I athletes destroying a non-NCAA school. This just shouldn’t happen in the NBA with 15 of the best 450 players in the world on each bench.

There’s not much to say about the game itself. The only time the Nets looked anything other than total dog poo was when Egor Demin nailed two threes early. From what I’ve seen so far, the No. 8 overall pick has by far the best chance of becoming a solid NBA starter of the five first-round picks the Nets had this year. He’s shown some advanced playmaking, and the BYU product is a sneaky good shooter.

What I really liked about how the Knicks started this game was the way they involved Karl-Anthony Towns early. The struggling big man finished with just 14 points in 20 minutes and still had some bewildering offensive fouls, but in a situation where he needed to come out and perform, he got off to a good start to quickly put the team up by double digits.

Jalen Brunson only had 20-5-4 in a team-high 31 minutes and went 1-for-8 from three, yet we won by 54, so who cares? It was a quiet game for OG Anunoby and a meh game from Mikal Bridges, but again, who cares? It was the Landry Shamet show, baby!

The Knicks shot 50% from three, a welcome sign after how bad they’ve been from deep this month. They also held the Nets to 27.5%, and it wasn’t wide-open bricks; it was forcing a bad team into bad shots. The Nets also shot 29.1% from the field, the lowest by an NBA team in two years. It was also the worst for the Nets since December 26, 2019, when they shot 26.9%… against the Knicks!

The increased defensive intensity was evident all night. I don’t have a clip show to show you, but the effort was there from the start. Kudos to the captain, who led by example and was visibly defending hard from the opening tip. Brunson’s not the worst defender when he’s engaged like this, it’s just hard when you’re also the only guy on the team that can dribble.

After the Mavs’ drubbing, I called back to the last time the Knicks got pulverized by the Mavericks at MSG while in the doldrums. After that game, Tom Thibodeau permanently benched Evan Fournier (although it was trending that way for a while), Derrick Rose, and Cam Reddish. History did repeat itself for Mike Brown, who banished Jordan Clarkson to the bench after his recent rough performance.

I don’t think Clarkson will be permanently glued to the bench, as his ability to create for himself is valuable, and when he’s hot, he’s hot. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was shipped out at the trade deadline if the Knicks are more active than just finding a taker for Guerschon Yabusele.

What’s important for the Knicks is that they, for at least one night, have quieted the noise behind a record-breaking effort. Make no mistake, beating the snot out of a tanking team means nothing for the very real problems they’ve had lately, but sometimes all it takes is one win to snap a team out of a funk. They’ve now played three straight elite halves of defense and, for the first time in months, will have consecutive days off at home before they next play the Sixers on Saturday.

Win that one, and I think brighter days are ahead.

Cooper Flagg played in the 41^st game of his rookie season on Monday against the New York Knicks. I recently compared Flagg’s first 41 games to those of the last ten number one overall picks, and figured why stop there. How does Flagg’s first half-season stack up against Luka Doncic’s?

Doncic wasn’t the number one overall pick in 2018, but it’s been obvious for a while that he should have been. It’s incredible to think that not only DeAndre Ayton, but Marvin Bagley Jr., and (technically) Trae Young were selected ahead of Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping Flagg’s career mirrors that of Doncic’s, if not better. The only thing we have to compare right now, though, are the two young stars’ first 41 games, so let’s take a look at how they look next to each other.

Luka Doncic

43% FG, 37% 3P, 20/6.7/5, 1.1 steals, .3 blocks

Totals: 822 points, 275 rebounds, 207 assists, 46 steals, 11 blocks, 98 3P made

Doncic’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season came against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 28^th, 2018. But his best game was probably a week earlier, on December 20^th, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic put up 32 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals in that game.

Meanwhile, Flagg’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season is also his best game. On December 15^th, 2025 against the Utah Jazz, Flagg notched 42 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal. Here’s what Flagg’s first 41 games looks like:

Cooper Flagg

48% FG, 29% 3P, 18.8/6.3/4.1, 1.3 steals, .8 blocks

Totals: 770 points, 257 rebounds, 170 assists, 52 steals, 32 blocks, 40 3PM

Flagg measures up to Doncic’s first 41 games pretty well! That’s encouraging for everyone rooting for Flagg to live up to that number one overall pick label.

Each rookie enters a completely different situation when they’re drafted. Some join well-run, competitive teams with a clearly defined role. Some enter rebuilds that are complete tear-downs. Others are dropped into absolute messes.

Doncic came into a more stable situation. His first game he started alongside veterans Wes Matthews and DeAndre Jordan, with J.J. Barea and Devin Harris coming off the bench. Dirk Nowitzki began the year injured and wouldn’t join the lineup until 27 games into the season, but he was there to guide Doncic as he adapted to the NBA.

That’s not to say everything was perfect for Doncic as he navigated those first 41 games. There were some issues with veterans freezing him out during games, and he had issues with head coach Rick Carlisle. But it went about as well as you could hope for an introduction to the NBA.

Flagg has dealt with a situation that’s much more murky, at least off the court. The Mavericks came into the season with a poorly constructed roster. With a lack of established point guards to get the talent-laden front court the ball, the likelihood of Dallas struggling was high. That alone was going to make things rough on Flagg.

Head coach Jason Kidd resorted to playing Flagg at point guard early in the season, and it didn’t go well. Thankfully that experiment was abandoned and the Mavericks’ rookie was moved to a more natural position at forward. Kidd found a guard rotation of Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard that’s been serviceable, and Flagg has benefitted greatly.

Flagg also joined a franchise in the midst of a front office mess. Just 11 games into Flagg’s rookie season, Nico Harrison was rightfully fired for trading one of the top five players in the NBA for one of the most injured in Anthony Davis. Since joining the Mavericks, Davis hasn’t played more than five consecutive games.

The sporadic availability of Davis, coupled with the tinkering Kidd has had to do with the lineup haven’t made things easy on the court for Flagg. Still, he’s pushed through and put up numbers that are comparable to Doncic and some of the best number one overall draft picks of the last decade. There’s still a whole second half of the season to play, but the Mavericks and their fans should feel great about the trajectory he’s on so early in his career.

The Phoenix Suns were completely screwed. The franchise’s all-in moves for Kevin Durant at the 2023 trade deadline and Bradley Beal to begin the 2024 offseason had backfired in epic fashion, resulting in just one playoff series win (with Durant only) before a first-round sweep and lottery appearance forced a hard pivot. The Suns had no choice but to trade Durant last summer coming off a 36-win season, and they followed it by waiving-and-stretching Beal, which put $19.4 million of dead money on their books for the next five years. In addition to putting themselves in a cap crunch, the Suns also didn’t have any draft ammunition without control of their first-round pick until 2032.

When I ranked the league’s worst long-term outlooks coming into the season, I put Phoenix at No. 2 and openly wondered why they weren’t interesting in trading Devin Booker.

The Suns could have had a life vest for their future this summer, but they were too delusional to take it. Phoenix’s most prudent move would have been trading Devin Booker, and trying to recoup some of their own first-round picks that they’ve traded away. Instead, Booker signed an extension that will pay him $75 million once it kicks in for the 2028-29 season. It just feels very unlikely they can build a good team around him in the West while not owning any of their first-round picks.

Vegas didn’t believe in the retooled Suns either, putting their over/under at 30.5 wins entering the season.

Fast forward through the first half of the first year without Durant and Beal, and Phoenix has made me and their other skeptics look very stupid. The Suns are 27-17 and would make the playoffs in the West without needing to go through the play-in if the season ended today. After starting the year at No. 25 in my initial power rankings, Phoenix now cracks the top-10. The Suns are the most pleasant surprise in the league, and they’ve given their fans something to cheer for when everyone else wrote off their next half-decade.

How has Phoenix pulled off the best turnaround of the season? Let’s count the ways.

The Suns nailed their Kevin Durant trade

It felt like the Suns didn’t have any leverage when they went to trade Durant over the summer, because a) the whole league knew he was on the block, b) he was about to turn 37 years old, and c) he was on an expiring contract. Without a bidding war, the Rockets were able to land KD without giving back anyone of note from their young core or either of the future first-round picks they possessed from Phoenix. How could the Suns do that deal without at least landing Reed Sheppard? That was one of my complaints in giving Phoenix a D grade for the trade.

Whoops. It’s clear now that the Suns did very well in the Durant trade, and it’s part of what set them up for success this year and possibly beyond. The Suns checked every box in the trade:

1. They got a win-now veteran starter in Dillon Brooks, who gave them both the volume three-point shooting and competitive edge defensively that they needed
2. They got a young player with upside in Jalen Green, who could benefit from a change of scenery and wasn’t on the books that long even if it felt like he was a little overpaid
3. They got a long-term upside play with the No. 10 overall pick, which they used to swing on Duke center Khaman Maluach, who I had ranked No. 3 overall in the class

Three assets, one that could help immediately, one that aided their short-term future, and one that aided their long term future. Green has barely even played this year as he’s dealt with a lingering hamstring strain, and Maluach is essentially getting a redshirt year in the G League. Despite two of the three players contributing nothing so far, it was still a great for Phoenix that has a chance to pay off even bigger in the future.

The Suns nailed their coaching hire

Mat Ishbia demanded a head coach with championship experience from the moment he took over the Suns. After needing to fire Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer in the three years to begin his tenure, Ishbia allowed in his front office to go the other way with the hiring on Jordan Ott.

Ott had no previous head coaching experience and had never been a player. At 40 years old, he was most recently on staff the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson, but his main qualification for the Suns seemed to be that he went to Michigan State.

Ott has obviously been outstanding through the first half of this season, and should be the runaway favorite for NBA Coach of the Year. Ott’s schematic brilliance has been on display in raising the Phoenix defense from No. 28 to No. 4 in just one year, but he’s also done a great job getting everyone to buy into their role to create an egoless team of role players around Booker.

The Suns nailed their fringe roster moves

Collin Gillespie was a two-time Big East Player of the Year and All-American at Villanova who went undrafted because he didn’t have the size, athleticism, or rim scoring teams look for in a point guard. The Suns originally signed him to a two-way deal in the summer of 2024, and he looked good enough in 33 games last year that Phoenix decided to give him a guaranteed one-year minimum deal for this season.

Gillespie has rewarded their faith by turning into one of the league’s best development stories this year with a +2.9 EPM grades out in the 92nd percentile of all players. Gillespie still doesn’t finish at the rim, but he’s become a 42 percent three-point shooter, a solid passer, and a menace defensively who ranks No. 16 in the league in steal percentage. Before the season, everyone wondered how Phoenix would find a point guard next to Booker, and Gillespie has given them everything they needed.

Jordan Goodwin has been another awesome find. The Suns claimed him after he was waived by the Lakers, and he’s emerged as one of the league’s best defensive pests this season. Goodwin is No. 4 in the league in steal percentage and No. 6 in steals per 100 possessions right now. Ott has also empowered him to jack threes at every opportunity, going from 6.2 to 9.7 three-point attempts per 100 possessions over the last year. Goodwin is knocking them down at a 35 percent clip so far, which is great for him.

Add in solid contributions from 2024 second-round pick Oso Ighodaro and current two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea, and the Suns changed their entire outlook this season by most the making of every fringe roster signing.

The Suns crush the offensive glass while still getting back in transition

The conventional wisdom that said crashing the offensive glass came at the cost of getting back in transition defensively is dead, and the Suns are the best proof. Phoenix ranks No. 6 in the league in offensive rebound rate and No. 5 in points allowed in transition per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.

The Suns have not adopted the double big mentality of many teams, choosing to play with 6’6 Royce O’Neale and 6’7 Dillon Brooks next to center Mark Williams. Phoenix has been able to chase the long rebounds that come from their missed threes with a smaller lineup, and they can get back quicker defensively.

Phoenix was terrible in both areas last year, finishing No. 23 in offensive rebound rate and No. 27 in transition defense. This more than anything is the best example of Ott’s genius at work.

The Suns have maximized every ounce of defensive potential

Durant felt like the Suns’ best defender last year. That’s a huge problem. By trading him, the Suns put a bunch of defensive-minded players around Devin Booker who could do the dirty work and help win the possession battle.

Last year’s Suns were No. 28 in defensive rating under Budenholzer. This year’s Suns are No. 4 in defensive rating under Ott. Aside from fixing the transition defense, the biggest adjustment has been empowering his team to hunt for more steals even if it means getting called for fouls. The Suns have gone from No. 28 to No. 3 in defensive turnover percentage, with both Goodwin and Gillespie turning into steals monsters. All the steals have helped the transition frequency significantly increase as well, and transition scoring is always more efficient than halfcourt scoring.

Opponents are only shooting 34.6 percent from three against Phoenix this year, so maybe they have some shooting luck on their side. Still, it has to be exhausting to play against a team that plays so physically defensively and always hunts the ball. I don’t think it’s all shooting luck.

The Suns are no joke

Building around Booker without cap space or future draft capital seemed like an impossible task for the Suns. Instead, they’ve pulled it off by targeting role players who could go all-out defensively and try to get extra possessions on the offensive glass. Booker has been a solid contributor to a great defense, and offensively he’s done well to get more easy baskets at the foul line even during a year when he’s not shooting the ball well from deep.

Just about every move the Suns made worked out. Trading two late first-round picks for Mark Williams was a fantastic move to add rim protection and rebounding, though he’ll need to be resigned in restricted free agency. Keeping Grayson Allen and O’Neale instead of trading them for Jonathan Kuminga (which the Warriors reportedly turned down) was hugely beneficial. Ryan Dunn and Ighodaro are late round draft hits who don’t need the ball to impact winning. Everything revolves around Booker, and he’s making a big impact (89th percentile EPM) despite a brutal 49.7 percent effective field goal percentage. Just imagine how this looks when Booker’s shots start falling, and Jalen Green’s microwave scoring becomes a full-time part of the lineup.

The next step will be harder to take for the Suns with their draft and cap sheet limitations. The easiest path to leveling up is unleashing Maluach. I still see a super long interior scorer and paint protector who will be able to eventually hit shots from the three-point line. Resigning Gillespie is also a must, and integrating Green without sacrificing too much of the defense will be a tough needle to thread as well.

I was so, so wrong about the Suns. There’s nothing wrong with being a plucky mid-table playoff team, and Phoenix has already achieved that. After successfully pulling off a retooling with very little flexibility, it would be foolish to think another step is impossible. The Suns had to get everything right to avoid a doomed future, and they actually did it.

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

All five starters finished in double-digits in last night’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Daniss Jenkins – 17 PTS and 4 AST

Duncan Robinson – 15 PTS, 4 REB, AND 3 AST

Ausar Thompson – 12 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, AND 3 STL

Tobias Harris – 10 PTS, 6 REB, AND 3 AST

Jalen Duren – 20 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, AND 2 BLK

Transmission Trouble

In a game that didn’t feature Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert, this felt like an opportunity for Jaden Ivey to get some increased playing time, but that didn’t happen.

JB Bickerstaff played 10 players last night and Ivey ranked 9th in minutes – only Javonte Green played less than him.

Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser, and Daniss Jenkins all played more minutes than Ivey.

It does feel like Ivey’s shot creation in the midrange has improved and his three-point stroke looks good, but his burst and explosiveness that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of Purdue isn’t there anymore. Perhaps with more time it’ll slowly come back, but right now, he doesn’t have it.

As I watched last night’s game, it made me wonder: at this point, what does Ivey do that Sasser can’t?

There are more similarities to their game now than pre-Ivey-leg-break. Based on the depth at the guard position for Detroit, I think this is what makes Ivey expendable. Jenkins is more of a point guard, Sasser brings more offensive juice at a lower cost, and Green brings a 3-and-D look that no other guard on the roster can.

I think the writing is on the wall when it comes to Jaden Ivey’s future in Detroit.

Mechanic’s Note

This possession got me hype last night:

I’ve been a consistent criticizer of the spacing on this team, usually due to the lack of shooting from Ausar and Duren, but the blueprint is there for these two co-existing.

Ausar’s inability to shoot isn’t an issue if he’s the on-ball initiator on offense, especially when he’s going downhill. I’m confident in his passing ability to find JD for a lob or make the right read to an open shooter at the three-point line.

If you pause the video right before Ausar throws the oop, you’ll see Duncan and Ivey in the corners with Tobias on the wing, and they’re all ready to shoot while spacing the floor. This is a great possession that minimizes the weaknesses of Ausar and Duren while also giving them ample room to operate inside.

As longtime readers know, in addition to being a die hard Spurs fan, I am the proud father of a die hard Spurs fan. My twelve-year-old daughter Elizabeth and I most commonly spend our father-daughter dates at the Frost Bank Center. Some memorable outings were Dirk Nowitzki’s farewell game, the 2023 NBA Draft, and the Silver & Black Scrimmage.

But no night beats last Monday against the Utah Jazz.

For MLK Day, we made our way down to the Frost Bank Center for the mid-afternoon game. This time we had to arrive even earlier as Elizabeth had been chosen to be the Spurs Ball Kid for the game. We signed in with game-ops and then Tre, a wonderful member of the Spurs Hype Squad, escorted us down to the court.

Walking the hardwood alone was a treat. I caught a smile across her face and some pep in step as we made our way to the Spurs basket.

For those who haven’t been to a live game, when the Spurs come out for the pregame shoot around, there is an equipment crew. During this time, they are grabbing loose balls and tossing fresh ones out to the players. The Spurs Ball Kid is a role they’ve had as far back as I can remember. A child gets to help the crew distribute balls to the players as they warm up.

On Monday Elizabeth joined them.

She was tossing basketballs to corner shooters, one of them being three-point specialist Julian Champagnie, who Elizabeth listed as her favorite player.

While the in-arena announcement was introducing her, Julian heard his name called as her favorite and his ears perked up.

She finished the shoot around and then was invited to line up with the players to high five the Spurs starters, amost incredible experience.

After all that excitement, there was still a game to watch. At the end of the first half, she once again distributed basketballs to the players during their shoot around before the second half commenced.

The Spurs had a great night. Champagnie scored 13 points hitting 3 threes and grabbing 4 rebounds, both categories of which he is gaining recognition.

After the game, he invited Elizabeth down to receive his game-worn jersey, which he’d signed. Due to timing — the Spurs were heading out immediately after to make the trip to Houston for the second night of a back-to-back — he wasn’t able to deliver it personally, but we got to thank the crew who she’d been with for both shoot around distributions.

She played it cool when she saw the jersey, but as we exited the Frost Bank Center she was skipping to the car, the most excited I’d seen her in a long time. Although she was ahead of me, I am pretty sure I heard her singing his name as she danced on in the moonlight.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.