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There is no indication Steph Curry is about to retire, but each postseason that passes lessens his chances of another dramatic playoff run, the kind every basketball fan should hope for.

The Golden State Warriors know those are the stakes, hence emphasizing veterans, unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to thread the needle of reinvention while starring Kawhi Leonard.

These Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks default to trusting Golden State’s veterans on Wednesday, April 15.

Our best Warriors vs Clippers SGP for April 15

Steph Curry has been shooting well since he returned from a knee injury, hitting 41.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in four games back in the lineup. And he has been shooting often, taking nine 3-pointers per game.

He has not been setting up his teammates that often, however. That is, to some degree, a negative reflection of this Golden State roster. How often is Curry going to look for Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos?

He's averaged only 3.5 assists in his return, down from an already pedestrian 4.8 on the season before his knee injury.

Instead, Draymond Green is moving the ball. Of course he is. The last few years of Green’s play have hinged entirely on Curry’s availability. With Steph in the lineup, Draymond has hinted at his past excellence.

He has thus averaged 8.3 assists in the three games he and Curry have overlapped in the last week. Setting up Curry may be the last thing Draymond Green is genuinely good for.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Detroit Pistons won 60 games for the third time in team history. That was good enough to lock up the top seed in the East.

That means that play-in tournament results will shape the beginning of the Pistons’ playoff journey. Detroit has not reached these heights in a while, and they did it in the best Eastern Conference play-in bracket to date.

With the season Detroit put up, “fear” is not in their vocabulary. The Pistons would happily take on any of these four teams and aim to destroy them with relentless pressure and a togetherness that has dominated the NBA.

While it is true Detroit will sign up to play anybody and be favored against them in round one, some teams play a more favorable style that Detroit can take advantage of.

Who is the most dangerous potential Pistons first-round matchup?

8 seed Orlando Magic, 45-37

The Orlando Magic were supposed to be one of the top teams in the East after their offseason. The Desmond Bane trade was massive, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were supposed to take leaps. Yet here they are in the play-in for the second straight year. Injuries, tour date shooting, and a backsliding defense put the Magic in this position.

Orlando is supposed to be a gritty team like Detroit, but their defense fell off. The Magic had the 3rd best defense last year. They had solid rim protection, positional size, and a togetherness that held teams in check.

Now the Magic are the 13th-ranked defense. They have lost that elite identity overall, but Orlando is heading into the postseason playing good ball defensively. They have the seventh-best defense over the last two weeks, removing garbage time. Orlando has the second best defensive pedigree among these four teams.

They have not lived up to expectations, but the Magic could put a dent in the questionable Pistons halfcourt offense. When healthy and available, Jalen Suggs is the type of defender that would get under Cade and stay on his hip.

But the Magic offense? That is still a struggle fest.

The addition of Bane has not paid top-tier dividends yet. He played all 82 and shot it efficiently, but the offensive woes in Orlando remain. Banchero has not been able to put it together for long stretches. He has been up and down. His shot selection is still puzzling.

Sometimes I watch and wonder whether he settles so much because he cannot get past defenders consistently. Then he will have a night where the shots are falling, and it’s like, yeah, that is why he keeps shooting (Banchero taking 2s works in Detroit’s favor, hot or not).

To his credit, Banchero has been a playoff riser, and he has shot the ball at an inferno level in the high-stakes game. Teams will still prefer him shooting jumpers over attacking the paint.

Overall, Banchero is much more dangerous when putting his shoulder down and attacking defenders. He is one of the best foul drawers in the league. That chink in his armor is one thing Detroit should be concerned about in this potential matchup.

Franz Wagner is arguably the Magic’s most impactful player, and he is back in the lineup. Wagner has a more free-flowing game than Banchero. Wagner is a more plug-and-play player. He does not need the ball to be impactful; he is a connective passer and a decisive cutter. Wagner has had low moments in the playoffs, but his usual steady play is something to account for. Wagner gets to the line too, so Detroit must be disciplined.

The Pistons destroy teams in the paint on both ends, they get out in transition after forcing turnovers, smother teams defensively, and they foul. They foul a lot.

With Detroit leading the league with 22 personal fouls per game, Banchero and Wagner will look to initiate contact and sit Pistons defenders down. Banchero and Wagner are in the 96th and 95th percentile on shot attempts they were fouled on.

Banchero can be 4-16 from the field but best believe he will shoot at least 10 free throws to bring up his point total. He is a handful when he is not forcing jumpers.

Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed, Javonte Green, and probably even Cade Cunningham would see some Banchero minutes, and they would need to stay focused on cutting off driving lanes so Banchero can settle for tough pull-up 2s.

Banchero is very willing to settle, but if you do not cut him off, he will get you in foul trouble. If Detroit stays disciplined, it could be the first team to make Banchero look like his regular-season self in the playoffs.

Tristan Da Silva is one of Orlando’s better shooters who will be on top of the shooters’ scouting report, along with Bane. Orlando has talent in their big 3, but they have not been able to put it together all year. It is tough to imagine they flip the script against a Pistons squad that has been on a string since November. The Pistons’ halfcourt concerns should not show its head as much against an up-and-down Magic defense.

Orlando sells out to protect the 3-point line rather than holding down the paint. The points in the paint leaders in Detroit are licking their chops seeing that type of philosophy.

On the danger scale, Orlando gets a 4/10. You cannot be arrogant, thinking this time will bend the knee because Detroit won 60 games. Banchero has shown up in the playoffs, and Wagner and Bane are great players. That said, this special defense and deep unit in Motown would be too much for Orlando.

7 seed Philadelphia 76ers, 45-37

Philly was the most dangerous team when I initially started this process. Joel Embiid has not broken through in the playoffs, but he is so much to deal with. He is not a player you willingly sign up to play, even with his checkered playoff history. Healthy Embiid with a 28-PPG scorer and Paul George by his side makes Philly a top-heavy unit. Embiid is not healthy again, though.

Embiid just had surgery for appendicitis. There is no timetable for his return. It sucks that a talented big like him cannot stay healthy for an extended period of time. It is difficult to be confident in the 76ers when their best player is a question mark.

For pockets of this season, Tyrese Maxey emerged as the guy. His play (28 PPG – #5) was so strong that it would make one think maybe Philly will be okay without Embiid. Time will tell if that is true, but that would not be the case against the Pistons.

Detroit smothers anyone, but small guards get it worse. Without the Embiid safety valve, Maxey would constantly see a crowd of junkyard defenders.

There is talent around Maxey, though it is a far cry from being next to Embiid. Paul George is playing his best ball in years after returning from a 25-game suspension. George looks rejuvenated. His 39-point effort on April 1 looked like the old PG. Detroit has matchups for him as well. Ron Holland, Green, and others can all make George struggle. Those same defenders will make it hard on VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes.

Grimes and Edgecombe are Philly’s microwave guys. They go through ebbs and flows but can torch you randomly. Grimes is a solid finisher, while Edgecombe has made five or more 3s seven times this year. The wings in Detroit will not allow it to be easy for those two.

Philly does not turn the ball over often. They rank sixth in turnover percentage. That is against everybody, though. Everybody is not Detroit. Philly was not as safe with the rock on the April 4 loss to Detroit.

That was just one game, but the Pistons do that to everybody. Philly does not have the manpower to handle that pressure, even with a healthy Embiid. He has battled with turnovers his whole playoff career.

Nick Nurse is a championship-winning coach. Some question if he is still operating at that level. He does not maximize movement shooters (see Jared McCain). But Nurse was seen as an in-game adjustment wizard in Toronto. That was a while ago.

The culture and buy-in JB Bickerstaff has established in Detroit makes it hard to easily give Nurse the coaching advantage due to playoff success from the late 2010s. Bickerstaff has outcoached Nurse this season.

With Embiid’s health in the air, who is going to contain Duren? Duren would be a lot for Embiid himself. Adem Bona has put together a good year, but he will be in for a rude awakening if he is the one guarding Duren in round one. Andre Drummond would not fare much better.

The 76ers would have the top-end talent advantage if Embiid were 100 percent. He is not. Philly is not better offensively or defensively. They do not have a deeper bench. One could argue that Detroit has the better coach.

There is not much working in Philly’s favor in a potential match-up with the Pistons. Philly gets to the line a lot. With how handsy and active Detroit is, foul trouble is a potential problem against most teams. It pays that the Pistons are deep.

Philly and Orlando face off in the seven/eight play-in game. The winner clinches the seventh seed and takes on the Boston Celtics in round one. Interestingly, the more dangerous teams are the lower seeds in the play-in tournament. Detroit would be favored against Miami or Charlotte, but they bring some clear advantages.

10 seed Miami Heat, 43-39

Erik Spoelstra has turned water into wine a few times. The Miami Heat overachieved in 2020 and 2023. Granted, Jimmy Butler turned into a top-five player, and random role players popped off during these runs. One could argue that it is elite coaching that empowered those players to have career moments. Spo has proven he can make in-game and series adjustments.

Miami’s advantages over Detroit come down to coaching and experience. JB Bickerstaff should win Coach of the Year (Joe Mazulla is great, but this is JB’s), but he is not a proven playoff coach like Spo. Cade and company have not won a playoff series yet, either, while Bam Adebayo was the No. 2 option on those overachieving Heat squads. Experience and coaching will always be relevant, but Detroit has the talent on its side. On both sides of the ball.

The Heat does not have an elite playmaker who sets the table for himself and others, but that has not stopped them from having the 11th-ranked half-court offense. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are snipers. Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware shot the rock with confidence all year.

The Heat’s no-pick-and-roll offense resulted in more success than last year’s offense. Jamie Jaquez Jr. has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new offense. He thrives driving to the paint and has more space now. Ball movement can open up lanes when teams cannot fly around with precision (Detroit can).

Though Miami has had some success relative to where they were last year, it is difficult to visualize a team having playoff success running virtually zero PnRs when the game slows down in the playoffs.

The Heat also play with the fastest pace, which contributes to their 120 points per game. But again, things slow down in the playoffs. We will see if Miami tinkers with its playstyle. First, they must win two straight on the road to even make the playoffs.

Miami banks on ball movement and attacking closeouts. The Pistons have the defensive personnel to stick with the Heat. That could limit the Heat’s offense. If the Heat cannot get a team in scramble mode, it is tough for them to attack in space.

On the other side, the Heat have a battle tested defense that would probably have the best scheme for Detroit. We have seen teams push the “put two on Cade and live with the results” button. New York did some of that in the playoffs last year. The Heat have the personnel to do this as well. Andrew Wiggins is rangy, Pelle Larsson is in the NBA to defend and bring energy, Dru Smith and Davion Mitchell are constant pests, and Adebayo covers the whole thing. This team has the best shot of “exposing” the Pistons halfcourt concerns.

The half court offense concerns have been there all year for Detroit. As of late, the team has improved from there and the shooting is making a difference. Detroit has a top 10 halfcourt offense since April 1. Some of those games came without Cade. This is a team with insane depth.

If the Pistons shooters continue to make shots, doubling Cade becomes less effective because he make any pass in the book.

Putting two on Cade also opens up Duren who would have an opportunity to outplay one of the best defensive bigs in the league should Detroit face Miami.

Cade and this version of Duren are potentially the best players in a series with the Heat. Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the game. He is versatile and should at least make second-team All Defense this season.

On offense, Adebayo has the shot diet of a wing. His shots from the rim have steadily dropped over the years. That is killing Adebayo’s efficiency. Cade is a no-brainer, but Duren has clearly been better than Adebayo this season. Duren outplaying Adebayo in the playoffs would be massive.

Miami has the coaching advantage, but that has not always been enough to make up for the talent gap (see 2021 round one vs Milwaukee).

Miami’s danger scale rating would be a 5/10. They do not have the offensive firepower to shoot through Detroit. Defensively, Miami will be prepared, but Detroit loves those ugly, drawn-out defensive battles. The Pistons live for that. Spo would have the Heat ready to play, but the Pistons are deep and well-coached. They would be ready too.

9 seed Charlotte Hornets, 44-38

If the season started in January, these Hornets would have home court in the playoffs. The Hornets are 33-16 since the new year. For the full season, they are fifth in offense and seventh in point differential.

All in all, the Hornets are an elite offensive unit that is a lot better than their record suggests. Their turnovers could be their death sentence against a pick-6 Pistons team, but the Hornets are the goods.

LaMelo Ball leads the top-flight offense. Throughout Ball’s career, He has been singled out due to questionable pass and shot selection. Some thought he was too fancy, but there was always magic in his madness. It is on full display now that he is healthy and playing alongside teammates who attract attention.

Kon Knueppel Bball-Index’s 3PT shot quality is a D. The lower the grade, the less open the shot is. Knueppel is a rookie every team in the league glues to because he led the league in 3-point makes, shooting a staggering 42.5 percent from deep. He was first in 3s, and Ball was second. Ball spreading it around, and the Hornets’ accuracy from deep makes them a legit threat for anybody.

The Hornets have the second-highest 3-point rate with garbage time removed, only trailing the Golden State Warriors. 45 percent of Charlotte’s shots come from 3. Unlike GSW, the Hornets are one of the most accurate teams from distance.

Knueppel, Ball, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, and Coby White all garner attention from 3 and can all attack closeouts. If Detroit did not have multiple defenders who could switch screens and chase without a hiccup, the Hornets would shoot right through them.

The paint battle is a non-negotiable for Detroit in a potential Charlotte matchup. The Pistons are third in offensive rebound percentage, while the Hornets do not give up many offensive rebounds. It would be a battle between the melee participants from earlier this season.

Moussa Diabaté is arguably the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounder in the league. He loves snagging boards and kicking it out for Hornets trey balls.

Duren and Isaiah Stewart have to take that edge away from Diabaté. The Hornets’ offense is too explosive to give them multiple opportunities to succeed. Miles Bridges is in the front court with Diabaté. He is not a premier offensive rebounder, but he is a big body you have to box out.

Grant Williams is one of the Hornets’ backup bigs, and he can play. We have seen him drill seven 3s in a Game 7 (2022 Celtics vs Bucks). That is another gritty shooter Detroit will not leave open.

You cannot leave many Hornets players open, but they are not a lockdown team with brilliant individual defenders. Charles Lee has had his guys on a string, but we will see how his guys handle being hunted in the playoffs. Can Ball hold up with constant planned attacks? What about Knueppel? He has been good, but the playoffs and regular season could not be more different.  

The Cade and Duren PNR could have a ton of success against this Hornets team. Those beeline drives off Duren screens and the lob to Duren on the roll could be Detroit’s bread and butter.

Charlotte’s defense has been solid, but they still give up more shots at the rim than average. Detroit lives in the paint and could beat Charlotte up inside.

3 is worth more than 2, and this series could paint that picture very clearly, but Detroit has a special defense that could make the Hornets play their style of play. Neither team is crazy experienced, but this Detroit group did go through trials and tribulations last year together.

The Hornets have a superior offense, while Detroit has more than enough scrappers to chase and hound Hornets creators/shooters. This would be a competitive series and could go the ugly way if Charlotte went berserk from deep. The Hornets have some Jameis Winston in them. They can throw for 5,000 yards but also lead the league in picks.

Ball is solid with the rock, as his turnover percentage is in the 63rd percentile among point guards. Charlotte as a whole turns it over like you get points for it. Every starter would be liable to give it to the Pistons besides Ball and Bridges.

Being turnover-prone against these Pistons is like a nail in the coffin because they force turnovers with the best of them. Ausar led the league in steals, Holland and Green were some of the best bench thieves, and Reed’s hands are super sticky. Even Kevin Huerter is in on the action so far in Detroit. The inexperienced Hornets already turn it over a lot, and Detroit would look to intensify that.

The Hornets have a superior offense, but I would predict that the Pistons’ defense could contain the Hornets. Detroit’s paint presence on both sides of the ball could wear down the thin Hornets. Detroit has the best player in the series by a good margin, so that always helps. Cade will be on a mission to earn those playoff stripes.

Charlotte is the most dangerous of the four play-in teams. Detroit sent a message to the Hornets during the last week of the regular season. The Hornets have been a great team in the second half of the year, but the Pistons are still a step above. This potential first-round series would be a hard-fought 6-game series if I were a betting man. The Pistons’ defense, paint presence, and relentless pressure could crack the volatile Hornets.

Stats via Cleaning The Glass, Bball-Index, PivotFade, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference

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The drama in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament should be at a fever pitch, with Steve Ballmer’s arena going against Steph Curry.

There may be other names involved when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, but all eyes will be on the Dubs' superstar point guard.

My Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and these NBA picks trust Curry on Wednesday, April 15.

Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with the game airing on Prime Video.

Warriors vs Clippers prediction

Who will win Warriors vs Clippers?

Warriors:I won’t do it. I will not bet against Steph Curry when his season is on the line. No one expects Golden State to go on some magical run this postseason, but a win or two to spark the NBA’s interest this week? That is reasonable.

More sincerely, the Clippers backed into the postseason in a worrying way. Twice in the last two weeks, they had clear chances to hold onto a spot in the preferred half of the Play-In Tournament, instead losing twice outright to Portland.

Win either of those games, both obvious opportunities, and the Clippers’ postseason hopes look much brighter. Dropping the ball then inspires no faith now.

Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes (+125)

Do you really want to bet against Steph Curry in a single-elimination moment? Sure, some of you are too young to remember the Davidson run in March of 2008, but everyone saw the 2024 Olympics gold medal game against France, right?

You want to bet against that?

Obviously, sportsbooks have raised this 3-pointer prop because they recognize just how lethal Curry can be, but that now means we get plus-money odds on the Golden State Warriors’ superstar doing what he does best.

Worry not that he has been back for only four games since his knee injury. Curry shot 5-for-10 from deep in his first game back, part of shooting 15-for-36 (41.7%) from beyond the arc in those four games.

And the Los Angeles Clippers are only middling defending against 3-pointers, ranking No. 16 in both opponent 3-pointer frequency and percentage made since James Harden left the rotation. Recognize, No. 16 in the NBA at this point of the season is actually a massive worry.

This may be the end of the Warriors’ relevancy in the Curry era, ending not with a “Bang!” but with a whimper, but rest assured, Curry will go down firing.

Warriors vs Clippers same-game parlay

Curry’s ball movement has been a bit slow since his return. Then again, this roster never really allowed Curry to move the ball much, averaging just 4.8 assists before he missed two months with a knee injury. Dropping to 3.5 assists per game in the last four is not terribly glaring in that context.

Draymond Green has been moving the ball, however. He's played in three of Curry’s four games back, averaging 8.3 assists in those three games. There may be a sample size worry in that thought, but if anyone is going to excel with Curry’s return, it is Green.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: One last ride!

For one more night, perhaps one last night, two of the three key pieces to this Warriors dynasty can rekindle those memories. No “Wall” will bother Curry or Green.

They have faced Kawhi Leonard countless times before, and with veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis now their running mates, Golden State as a whole should embrace this road atmosphere.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
• Warriors moneyline

Warriors vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Warriors +5 (-110) | Clippers -5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +165 | Clippers -200
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Clippers betting trend to know

All four matchups between these two teams went Under their totals this season and by an average of 17.25 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Clippers.

How to watch Warriors vs Clippers

Warriors vs Clippers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The shirt was white, the sweater blue and the tie spiffy. Diamond studs sparkled in both of VJ Edgecombe’s earlobes, and he wore Gucci sunglasses. Indoors. At night.

Impressive as the ensemble was, Tyrese Maxey was thinking more about the calendar than he was clothing as his backcourt partner strutted across the Sixers’ locker room Sunday night, after they beat Milwaukee in the final game of Edgecombe’s first NBA regular season.

Rather, Maxey was mulling what lies ahead – play-in purgatory against Orlando on Wednesday night. And, possibly, the playoffs beyond.

He was thinking, too, about the season Edgecombe has fashioned. How he unveiled a 34-point effort in his very first game, in Boston, and from that point on tailored his game to fit the team’s needs.

Defense and athleticism? Sure, everybody knew the Bimini native would provide those things when the Sixers made him the third overall pick last June. But ball-handling and shot creation? They were a bonus. And clutch scoring? From a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until July? Double bonus.

So as Edgecombe neared the pack of reporters that had gathered at the far side of the room, Maxey made an announcement.

“He ain’t a rookie no more,” he hollered.

Not that he ever looked like one, no matter his attire. As veteran center Andre Drummond said, Edgecombe’s belief in himself was evident from the “first game, first practice, the day he walked in.”

“He walked in like, ‘I’m here,’” Drummond added.

And he never wavered. He finished with averages of exactly 16 points a game, as well as just under six rebounds and just over four assists. His shooting numbers – .438/.354/.818 – were acceptable, and figure to get better in the years ahead.

Edgecombe won’t win Rookie of the Year – that honor will surely go to one of two Dookies, the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg or the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel – but there’s little doubt he will be a big part of the team’s future.

“It’s amazing what VJ has done this past season,” Drummond said, and again he mentioned the rookie’s self-assurance.

“Maybe it’s just the generation of kids that are coming up now,” the 32-year-old said, “because I could say that for all the guys in the draft. They just have this confidence and swag that they play with.”

Kids these days, amirite?

Drummond broke in at age 19 with the Pistons, in 2012-13. Though he averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes a night that season, he remembers being “timid” – that he was “trying to figure out how to fit in and how to make it work.”

“And then with these guys now it’s just like, ‘It’s my show’ – like, ‘I’m here to take over,’” Drummond said. “And it’s pretty dope to see what VJ has done this year, and the games he’s won for us and just his confidence, man. I’ve got to speak on the confidence. It’s insane, and I love that for him. It was there right away.”

Nick Nurse clearly believed in Edgecombe as well, seeing as he used him 35 minutes a night over the 75 games the rookie was available, equaling the league’s 10th-highest rate. (Maxey led the NBA at 38 minutes a game.)

And hey, that was fine with Edgecombe.

“Not one complaint,” he said. “Sometimes I used to get mad when I had to come off the court, but now I realize it’s for the best.”

He made the most of his time, improving so much as a ball-handler that he now jokes he is “PG1” – i.e., the team’s No. 1 point guard, ahead of Maxey. He also shone in clutch situations, shooting 58.7 percent when the spread was five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

That came as a surprise to Nurse, as did Edgecombe’s “ability to go get a basket with the shot clock winding down, or just when we need a bucket to keep the scoreboard moving, or make one in the fourth quarter.”

“I think he had all the other stuff kind of coming out of the gates … the defense, the rebounding, the shot-blocking, all those kinds of things,” the coach added.

While it was not readily apparent, Edgecombe did say there was something of an adjustment period, that it took until midseason for the game to slow down for him.

“I ain’t gonna sit and act like it took me two games,” he said. “Nah, it took (until) about halfway through. I mean, even now, it’s still kind of slowing down.”

But he never did. The Bucks’ coaches showed video clips of each of the Sixers in their locker room before Sunday’s game, and the captions under Edgecombe’s highlights were reflective of his nature: “Sprinting in transition. … Aggressive in transition. …. DHO (i.e., dribble handoff) attack – trying to get downhill. … Physical finisher. … ISO (i.e., isolation) – physical. … Crashing the glass.”

He shot a tepid 4-for-11 from the floor while scoring nine points in the 126-106 victory, but handed out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once. And his overall late-season production has been impressive. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.9 points a game in March, including his two biggest scoring games of the season, a 38-pointer against Sacramento on March 19 and a 35-pointer against Oklahoma City four days later.

All of which made him wonder about the commonly held notion that rookies hit the so-called wall at this time of year.

“I’m not too sure where the rookie wall is,” he said. “Maybe someone can explain it to me. Obviously the season had its ups and downs. I’ve had my ups and downs. We’re human. I just try to keep building daily, just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every night.”

No doubt he has some fine shoes to wear while doing so. Because it seems abundantly clear that VJ Edgecombe is all dressed up and has someplace to go. Someplace that nobody else might have envisioned, but a place he sees very clearly through those Gucci sunglasses.