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On this date in 1996, the NBA introduced its High 50 gamers from the league’s first 50 years. Shaquille O’Neal made the listing, regardless of solely having 4 years of NBA basketball underneath his belt. That’s how good he was. Listed here are 5 minutes of his Orlando highlights to get your day going.
All people panic
Concern-O-Meter for Magic, Hawks and Mavs
Bouncers, I do know what you’re pondering. Sure, Recreation 3 of the World Sequence nonetheless doesn’t really feel over regardless that we’re on to Recreation 5 tonight. You’re additionally pondering, “Z-Rabbit, we’re solely per week into the season, so there’s no have to have concern for groups — and in addition no one calls you ‘Z-Rabbit.’” You is perhaps right about each! Nevertheless, we’ve seen some regarding issues out of three groups within the first week that I wish to spotlight.
The Concern-O-Meter works on a scale of 1-5 emojis, with one emoji being of little concern and 5 emojis being a five-alarm emergency. We’ll go over these three squads and work out if issues will get smoothed out.
Orlando Magic (1-3): 108.1 offensive ranking (twenty fifth) | 114.1 defensive ranking (fifteenth) | -6.0 web ranking (twenty second)
What’s the priority? Their offense nonetheless stinks, and their protection hasn’t been elite. Let’s sort out the offense first. Well being, Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones haven’t solved the offensive points this Magic workforce has had the previous few seasons. It’s solely been 16 minutes over three video games, however Bane and Jones with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. are scoring simply 86.1 factors per 100 possessions.
The passing and motion nonetheless aren’t there. In the meantime, they’ll’t appear to cease any fast guards on the defensive finish of the ground. So their protection has been middle-of-the-road, when it’s sometimes superb.
Is there an answer? Defensively? Sure. Jalen Suggs is there, and this workforce will finally get snug with the brand new gamers on the ground and execute the best way they’re presupposed to. Nevertheless, I’m not offered that the offense can get fastened with no new system. You don’t sometimes put new techniques in in the course of the season until there’s a teaching change. I’m undecided that’s the answer both.
Concern-O-Meter: 🚨🚨🚨
Atlanta Hawks (1-3): 108.9 offensive ranking (twenty fourth) | 118.1 defensive ranking (twenty fifth) | -9.2 web ranking (twenty fifth)
What’s the priority? They’re nonetheless taking part in just like the Hawks. Truly, it is perhaps worse than regular! Their offense is brutal, and their protection is by some means terrible with Dyson Daniels on the ground. Actually with nearly anyone. Kristaps Porziņģis has been scoring when he’s on the ground, however they’ll’t defend anyone with him. All that offseason hype appears to have already deflated.
Is there an answer? An encouraging signal is that they’re not turning the ball over, and also you count on their shooters to finally make pictures. Nevertheless, this workforce can’t cease anyone defensively, and once they do, they offer up the offensive rebound. They’re playing on protection method an excessive amount of. Cease that, they usually’ll lower down on a ton of errors.
Concern-O-Meter: 🚨🚨🚨
Dallas Mavericks (1-3): 103.8 offensive ranking (thirtieth) | 113.2 defensive ranking (twelfth) | -9.3 web ranking (twenty sixth)
What’s the priority? They will’t rating in any respect. The Mavs aren’t simply lacking pictures. They don’t have any motion, no playmakers (outdoors of the occasional D’Angelo Russell flurry) and regardless of all their measurement, they’re the worst offensive rebounding workforce within the NBA up to now. In the event that they don’t get to the free-throw line, they don’t actually have an opportunity to ship on that finish of the ground.
Is there an answer? Give Kyrie Irving a bionic knee or see if Devin Harris needs to go away the asserting sales space to run the purpose. Klay Thompson seems to be nothing just like the man we noticed in Golden State. Cooper Flagg merely isn’t some extent guard. And this workforce simply has 4 guys watching one participant attempt to rating in opposition to a set protection. It could actually’t get significantly better until they only promote out and crash the offensive glass continually or get Kyrie again.
Concern-O-Meter: 🚨🚨🚨🚨
The final 24
Michael Jordan shares his best participant mentality
🐐 Not vital. Michael Jordan sat down with Mike Tirico and dismissed load administration. “It shouldn’t be wanted.”
🤔 Lakers’ dilemma? Sam Amick has a whole lot of observations concerning the first week of the season. Together with the Austin Reaves “downside” in LA.
🏀 Lengthy listing. The Pacers are already coping with main harm conditions. Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin are lacking a whole lot of time.
🏀 Philly fortitude. There’s one thing totally different about these unbeaten 76ers. One factor that stands out? They’re resilient, Tony Jones writes.
⌛ Time prolonged? The WNBA labor negotiations should not shifting ahead effectively. The league is providing the gamers an extension for the talks.
🎧 Tune in. At this time’s NBA Day by day discusses why the Sixers are Tyrese Maxey’s workforce now.
Stream the NBA on Fubo (attempt it free of charge!) and catch out-of-market video games on League Cross.
About final evening
The Greek Freak speaks — loudly
“That is my metropolis!”
Giannis Antetokounmpo exclaimed that to the raucous Milwaukee Bucks crowd with 7:23 left within the third quarter. He had simply blocked a shot on one finish after which received an offensive rebound and dunk in transition on the opposite finish to chop the New York Knicks’ result in 79-76. What occurred subsequent is up for interpretation — or a minimum of some excellent lip readers. There are many individuals who suppose he adopted “That is my metropolis!” with “I’m not f——- leaving you!”
I’ll remind you that many individuals on the web are excited by Giannis leaving the Bucks and turning into a Knick. They’re referred to as “New Yorkers.” However there are additionally lots of people simply assuming Giannis will power his method out as a result of the scenario in Milwaukee retains getting worse. Giannis is off to a superhuman starting to this season.
After a 32-point, eight-rebound and seven-assist efficiency final evening, the Greek Freak is averaging 35.0 factors, 14.0 rebounds and seven.0 assists whereas making 69.5 p.c of his pictures. He helped the Bucks (3-1) take down the Knicks 121-111 whereas screaming to the group what they wish to hear.
Now, we should take a fast break and point out the opposite viral second from this sport. It was this play with Giannis attacking downhill in opposition to Karl-Anthony Cities. He seems to take a dribble after which … I don’t know … 100 steps?
Look, technically that is authorized if you’re prepared to simply accept that Giannis didn’t collect the ball till his left hand touched the ball too. It’s ridiculous that that is technically authorized, and he’s completely stretching the rule to its limits and past. It must be a journey — but it surely type of isn’t?
Regardless, the system for the Bucks in opposition to the Knicks is what the workforce has to go along with all season lengthy. Giannis is a hero. The protection locks down (other than Jalen Brunson going for 36 factors). And another person steps up. This time it was Ryan Rollins getting 25 within the begin. Possibly Milwaukee can convey everyone down into the mud and discover constant success.
Warriors 98, Clippers 79: That is what we name “CLAMPS.” The Warriors’ protection put the clamps on the Clippers’ offense and fully nullified the whole lot they wished to do. The Clippers (2-2) made six 3-pointers on the evening. Quinten Submit had 4 3s for the Warriors (4-1). Jimmy Butler had 21-5-5, and Steph Curry had 19 factors and eight assists. James Harden had 20 factors however zero within the second half.
Warmth 144, Hornets 117: The Hornets’ protection appeared to get the South Seaside flu! The Warmth (3-1) obliterated Charlotte (2-2) by capturing 54 p.c from the sphere and pulling down 20 3-pointers. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led everyone with 28 factors off the bench, and Bam Adebayo had 26 factors. The Warmth had 5 video games of 140 factors or extra from 2014-15 to 2024-25. They’ve two already this season.
76ers 139, Wizards 134 OT: No one can cease Maxey to start out this season, and it means no one can cease the 4-0 Sixers. The Wizards (1-3) led by 19 on this sport and 17 within the fourth quarter, however Maxey scored 14 of his 39 factors within the fourth to convey them again. Quentin Grimes scored 12 of his 23 factors off the bench within the fourth quarter as effectively. Philly pressured time beyond regulation and pulled out the victory to stay good.
Maxey completed with 10 assists too, and Joel Embiid had 25 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists in 23 minutes. Alex Sarr had 31-11-5-2-2, but it surely wasn’t sufficient for Washington. Ought to the Sixers be on the 74-win watch too?
Thunder 107, Kings 101: The Thunder (5-0) had been in a position to preserve tempo with the Sixers on the season, utilizing a 27-18 fourth to return again and take the sport in opposition to Sacramento (1-3). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have Chet Holmgren (decrease again soreness) or Jalen Williams (wrist surgical procedure), however he did have 9 of his 31 factors within the fourth. Additionally, Ajay Mitchell is the following Thunder man who makes you surprise how he slipped by way of the cracks. He had 18 off the bench and is averaging 18.2 factors on the season.
Additionally, the incorrect GIF by accident went out yesterday with Chet’s dunk on Cooper! That is the poster by Holmgren and the hilarious touchdown he had.
Large Honey
A decade of Nikola Jokić has actually made historical past
Final week, Jokić began his eleventh season within the NBA. A whole lot of basketball followers know this, however I’m nonetheless amazed when individuals discover out the three-time MVP was drafted throughout a Taco Bell business. Such is the lifetime of the forty first decide within the 2014 draft. To say he’s exceeded expectations is an understatement. He would have exceeded expectations if he had been the primary decide in that draft.
Over the past decade, Jokić has grow to be one of many biggest gamers we’ve ever seen. In these 10 years, he’s been an All-Star seven occasions, All-NBA First Group 5 occasions (Second Group twice), gained three MVPs, recorded 188 triple-doubles (with playoffs), completed second in MVP voting twice, gained an NBA championship and a finals MVP. And he’s not even near exiting his prime but, at 30 years outdated.
As we’ve hit a decade with Jokić, I wished to see what his profession stats appear to be versus different nice huge males by way of their first 10 seasons.
16,210 factors: Eighth. Solely Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Walt Bellamy, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson have extra.
8,141 rebounds: sixteenth. If we modify the marker to post-merger, Jokić is seventh since then. Shockingly, Andre Drummond has probably the most rebounds within the first 10 seasons because the merger.
5,383 assists: First. He’s 1,835 forward of second-place Wilt.
949 steals: Fourth. Solely Hakeem, Robinson and Drummond have extra.
536 blocks: Tied for 126th. Not his sport. However he’s tied with Lorenzen Wright.
Three MVPs: Tied with Moses Malone for fourth. Wilt had 4 in his first 10 years. Russell and Kareem each had 5 of their first 10 years.
5 All-NBA First Groups: Wilt had seven in his first 10 years. Kareem had six. Jokić is tied with Olajuwon, George Mikan and Dwight Howard for 5 of their first 10 years.
That’s fairly particular firm throughout there. Jokić is considered one of six huge males to have a minimum of 16,000 factors and eight,000 rebounds of their first decade. Add in 3,000 assists, and it’s simply him with Wilt and Kareem. Bump it as much as 5,000 assists, and it’s solely Large Honey. He has put himself with the elite of the elite for so long as he needs to play this sport.
