Pacific Notes: Ingram, Cousins, Bjelica
As the Lakers‘ young players continue to adjust to playing alongside LeBron James, Brandon Ingram has struggled to take the next step in his development. While others such as Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma have thrived this season, Ingram has taken a step back, averaging fewer points, rebounds and assists per game than last season — his efficiency has also taken a dip.
Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer explores the issues plaguing Ingram and the troubling fit he has with James. While Hart and Kuzma have more complementary skill sets, Ingram doesn’t have such a game as a result of his limited shooting and the fact that he thrives with the ball in his hands.
Tjarks explores the notion of the Lakers trading Ingram if they sense that they can make a run in a crowded Western Conference. It will be interesting to follow how Ingram continues to adapt his game alongside James or if it eventually spells the end of his Lakers tenure.
There’s more from the Pacific division:
- DeMarcus Cousins has starting practicing with the Warriors‘ G League affiliate, which has prompted speculation regarding his return. However,
- Nemanja Bjelica is enjoying the best season of his career with the Kings, and recently expressed his excitement and happiness surrounding his role, especially compared to how he was used by the Timberwolves last season. Jon Krawczynski had the story for The Athletic.
- Count Kevin Durant as one of the many that have been excited by the Kings‘ strong start to the season. As James Ham writes for NBC Sports Sacramento, Durant views the Kings as a team on the rise and one that can attract free agents moving forward.
Rockets Notes: House, Ariza, LeBron
As the Rockets got off to a rough start, a big issue plaguing the team was a lack of depth, especially on the wing. With Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute departing in the offseason and Carmelo Anthony deemed too much of a negative to be part of the rotation, the Rockets were left with James Ennis and not much else.
That is where the emergence of Danuel House comes into play. As Jonathan Feigen writes for The Houston Chronicle, House has stepped up in recent games and provided a much-needed lift for the Rockets. House insists he is focused on hitting shots, playing solid defense and providing energy off the bench, especially as Ennis recently went down with an injury and Eric Gordon has been inserted into the starting lineup.
The Rockets have started to turn things around in recent games, with House providing an unexpected jolt off the bench just when the team needed one.
There’s more from the Rockets:
- The Rockets have surely missed Ariza’s presence and leadership, which Tania Ganguli details for The Los Angeles Times. Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker are quoted on the value that Ariza can bring to a locker room, especially on the Rockets team that had high aspirations last season.
- A brief but flashy storyline in the offseason was the potential that LeBron James would join his friend Chris Paul and defending MVP James Harden in Houston to form a new super team. Of course, that never happened and Dave McMenamin of ESPN reveals (via Twitter) that James didn’t give much thought to actually joining the Rockets.
- The Rockets recently emerged as a potential suitor for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the 25-year-old shooting guard from the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope can provide defense and 3-point shooting, which the Rockets could use more of moving forward.
Poll: Rockets’ Playoff Chances
In what has seemingly been a weekly topic among NBA fans and analysts, the Rockets‘ slow start has only gotten worse, as they have now lost three straight games for the third time this season and sit at 11-14, good for 14th in the Western Conference.
What many brushed off as a simple slump due to injuries and cold shooting has continued throughout the season, despite the team boasting the healthiest rotation in recent games as Chris Paul, Gerald Green and Nene have all returned from injuries.
While the Rockets’ offense has struggled from time to time (they rank ninth in the league), it is the defense that has continued to fail them, as they have fallen all the way down to 25th on that end of the floor. Additionally, the team’s lack of quality depth has been exposed as a result of their top players not leading the way as expected.
Chris Paul is in the midst of the worst season of his career while Eric Gordon has been nowhere near the levels from previous seasons. Meanwhile, James Harden and Clint Capela are putting up eye-opening offensive numbers but aren’t playing the level of defense they were at last season. Combine all of those factors together and you get the perfect recipe for this disastrous season for the Rockets.
Barring a trade, there is no solution on the way, especially considering the amount of problems that need solving. Sure, the season is just over one-quarter of the way through, but the Rockets’ recent play doesn’t inspire confidence in their abilities moving forward.
At the moment, the Rockets are just 2 1/2 games out of the eighth seed. That begs the question, do you think the Rockets will make the playoffs? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section!
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Southwest Notes: Mavericks, Conley, White
In what is a surprise to many, the Mavericks are the current kings of Texas, having jumped out to a strong 13-11 start. As Brad Townsend writes for SportsDay Dallas, the additions of Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan have helped boost the Mavericks from the lottery to the playoff picture.
Doncic has been sensational as a rookie, averaging 18.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while hitting several clutch shots down the stretch of games. Jordan has improved the Mavericks’ rebounding and has provided an interior presence that the team has lacked in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ bench has been very successful, as J.J. Barea and Dwight Powell have played well in their specified roles. With Rick Carlisle at the helm, the Mavericks appear to be a very competitive team this season that has a good chance of sneaking into the playoffs.
There’s more from the Southwest division:
- Mike Conley is struggling with a dislocated finger, which hampered his play against the Lakers last week. As David Cobb reveals for Commercial Appeal, Conley had trouble holding the ball, which obviously isn’t a good thing for the Grizzlies‘ leading guard. Conley believes the swelling and discomfort will improve in the coming days.
- Derrick White continues to work on regaining his confidence and comfort after coming back from injury earlier this season. Jabari Young of The Athletic details the support that White has received from the Spurs‘ coaching staff and some of his teammates as he looks to make his mark in the Spurs’ depleted backcourt.
- A recent Southwest notes post detailed Dirk Nowitzki‘s upcoming return to action, how the addition of Joakim Noah impacts other bigs on the Grizzlies roster and much more.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/9/18
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- Ahead of their game against the Knicks, the Hornets recalled Dwayne Bacon from the Greensboro Swarm, according to a tweet from the team.
- The Spurs announced in a press release that they recalled rookie big man Chimezie Metu from the G League ahead of their matchup with the Jazz.
Lakers Looking To Acquire Trevor Ariza
One of the worst-kept secrets around the league is the Suns‘ desire to trade Trevor Ariza, a valuable 3-and-D wing who can help a lot of potential playoff teams. Well, it appears the Lakers are the team at the front of the line, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Lakers are working hard to acquire Ariza in a potential three-team trade.
According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers and Suns have been working to reach an agreement with a third team that would take on Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a potentially larger deal. It must be pointed out that Caldwell-Pope has veto power on any potential trade, but Wojnarowski also reports that the Lakers have shown a willingness to work with his agent, Rich Paul, if there’s a deal that might increase his role.
Meanwhile, the Suns are reportedly looking to land a playmaking guard and a draft asset as the price of unloading Ariza. Ultimately, Wojnarowski reports that the two teams have made progress on a potential deal, but also that no agreements are close and both teams remain active in multiple trade discussions throughout the league.
This will certainly be something to monitor as it could significantly impact the Western Conference playoff picture. Ariza and Caldwell-Pope both become trade-eligible on December 15.
Pacific Notes: Bridges, Suns, Mbah a Moute, Warriors
The Suns have been struggling through an extended rebuild for several years now, which has led to them piling up plenty of young players and prospects that have had to compete for playing time. First it was Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, now it appears to be Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson. As Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer writes, Bridges appears to have the edge moving forward as a result of the added shooting he can provide.
Bridges has impressed so far this season for the Suns while Jackson has only continued to disappoint, which has led to inconsistent playing time and opportunities for the sophomore wing. With shooting being emphasized all over the league, it’s no surprise that Bridges is getting more opportunities, especially considering that he has been solid on the defensive end for a rookie.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the playing time and opportunities play out on the wing for the Suns, especially as they will likely add another top prospect to the roster for next season.
There’s more from the Pacific division:
- As the lopsided losses continue to pile up for the Suns, frustration is mounting within the locker room. As Duane Rankin writes for Arizona Central, there have been numerous instances of friction and disconnect throughout the team, especially because the Suns were looking to be more competitive this season.
- After only appearing in four games early in the season, it appears that Luc Mbah a Moute finally has a timetable for his return, as Mirjam Swanson of The Orange County Register reveals that the Clippers expect him to return in a couple of weeks from his left knee injury.
- As the Warriors continue to fight through a season full of turmoil and injuries, Nick Friedell of ESPN writes that the team is still looking to find its joy, which is much harder to regain as it isn’t a tangible goal or accomplishment such as a championship ring or trophy.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, VanVleet, Sixers, Hayward
As a result of the Nets owning their own first-round pick for the first time in four years and the struggles the team has dealt with after losing Caris LeVert, many fans have brought up the idea of tanking this season to land another top prospect. However, as Greg Logan writes for Newsday, the Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson won’t be actively trying to lose games any time soon.
The Nets have suffered several tough losses in recent weeks, having built up leads against the 76ers, Grizzlies and Thunder, only to fall short of victories on all three occasions. However, the team had a strong weekend, securing back-to-back victories over the Raptors and Knicks.
As it stands, the Nets sit at 10-18 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. The conference has a plethora of struggling teams, which would make it more difficult for the Nets to fall down the standings. It looks like this Nets team will continue fighting and scraping for every victory it can get.
There’s more from the Atlantic division:
- Fred VanVleet made his first career start for the Raptors earlier this season and as Mark Suleymanov points out for NBA Canada, it’s a role VanVleet expects to be in very soon. Last season, VanVleet was a key cog in the Raptors’ excellent bench units and finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting.
- After Joel Embiid voiced his frustrations with his role on the new-look Sixers, Keith Pompey writes for The Philadelphia Inquirer that Brett Brown is now tasked with keeping both his big man and new star acquisition Jimmy Butler engaged.
- When asked whether he had any regrets about signing Gordon Hayward to a max contract back in the 2017 offseason, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge pushed back on that idea, Steve Bulpett reveals for The Boston Herald writes. “I see a lot of good things in Gordon,” Ainge said. “I think Gordon’s going to have a great year.”
Poll: Will The Raptors Make The Finals?
Heading into the season, many predicted that the Celtics and Warriors would clash in the NBA Finals. Despite the Raptors making a big splash in the offseason by acquiring Kawhi Leonard, many felt that the Celtics’ depth and dynamic talent would lead them out of the Eastern Conference after falling short the two previous seasons.
However, so far it has been the Raptors that look like the best team in the conference, owning a 20-4 record and 6.5-game lead over the Celtics in the standings. The Raptors have been getting it done on both ends of the floor, as they own the league’s second-ranked offense and ninth-ranked defense (which could improve throughout the season as they continue to integrate the new additions).
Leonard is leading the way, returning to a near-MVP level, while Kyle Lowry is proving to be a more than worthy sidekick as he leads the league in assists. Other players such as Pascal Siakam, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka have stepped up to provide a lending hand throughout the first quarter of the season.
The Raptors have the talent and depth to play a variety of ways. If they aren’t overwhelming you with their offense, they can lock you down with their switchable defense that boasts several strong defenders on the wing. Of course, the NBA season is long and plenty can change between now and the playoffs, especially as it relates to the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.
That begs the question: will the Raptors make the Finals? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section!
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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/2/18
Here are Sunday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- Ahead of their game against the Pelicans, the Hornets recalled Dwayne Bacon and Devonte’ Graham from the Greensboro Swarm, according to the team’s Twitter account.
- According to a press release from the team, the Thunder have assigned forward Abdel Nader to their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.