We did it — one week down without a significant NBA scandal!
Good task, excellent effort.
So, with that in mind, it’s time for our weekly NBA stock watch.
RISING: Joel Embiid
“Rising” may be a bit of an understatement here. After a rough start to the season — one which consistedof some lifeless efficiencies versus inferior groups, a discovery of an offseason foot injury, the influenza and more losses than anybody in Sixers-land idea they’d encounter in the season’s initially month — Embiid blewup for the finest routine season back-to-back efficiency of the year.
It began with a 42-point, 10-rebound, six-assist workofart Saturday night versus the Atlanta Hawks, which Embiid then followed with actually one of the biggest box ratings in NBA history:
Most of those points came in the mid-range, where Embiid has now discovered his touch. But what needto have Sixers fans many firedup is the reality that Embiid when onceagain looked bouncy and engaged.
He was hustling down the flooring and battling for post position. His dazzling pick-and-roll defense was back. When the effort is there, no one is muchbetter than Embiid at browsing the cat-and-mouse fights that come with manning the back line of a screen-and-dive, or moving over from the weak side.
The 2 wins pushed the Sixers back up to .500, at 7-7. Not what they anticipated, however at least decent, and a record that puts them simply one hot stretch away from the leading 3rd of the conference. The defense, after a sluggish start — mostly due to some traditionally bad shift defense — has supported a bit. The Sixers now boast the league’s fifth-best protective score.
The offense, nevertheless, stays slow (28th in points per videogame), and with James Harden nursing a foot injury of his own, hasactually endedupbeing over-reliant on Embiid’s supremacy. The Sixers plainly requirement Harden back to have a opportunity at satisfying any of their preseason expectations. The concern is whether Embiid can continue to play with this sort of vigor when playing togetherwith his co-star and for an offense where not every play is developed for him.
FALLING: Tom Thibodeau’s possibilities at completing out the season
To be clear, I’m not persuaded that New York Knicks’ president of basketball operations Leon Rose desires to make a modification at head coach. For one, Thibodeau and Rose are — or at least were — friends. Also, absolutelynothing turns up the spotlight on a GM rather like shooting a head coach.
If the group continues to battle, it’s apparent who ends up on the slicing block next.
But — fair or not — Thibodeau’s seat goinginto the season was currently warm. There are plenty of individuals in the ear of Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan who, dating back to last season, haveactually blamed Thibodeau for the Knicks’ hasahardtime. You can be sure that losing last week to the Brooklyn Nets by 27 and then providing up 145 points (!) to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday — at house! — didn’t aid Thibodeau’s case.
Sure, the Knicks are 6-7, which is what needto haveactually been anticipated. But they’re likewise about to embark on a five-game West Coast swing where it appears like they’d be lucky to come away with a single win.
It’s essential to note that the Knicks are not havingahardtime because of Thibodeau. This lineup is a meaning of blah. It’s not bad, however it doesnothave shooting and capable boundary protectors. Also, Julius Randle is still there. But some of Thibodeau’s replacement patterns and plans — keeping Quentin Grimes on the bench, providing Randle more minutes than Obi Toppin — aren’t precisely assisting matters.
RISING: The Houston Rockets‘ chances of landing Victor Wembanyama
Everyone focuses on the Thunder’s tank task, however what the Houston Rockets are doing is even more outright.
The Rockets right now are 2-12, the worst record in the NBA. This, after notching a league-low 20 wins last season and 17 the season priorto, likewise excellent for an NBA worst. Even the “Process Sixers” neverever attained this level of losing.
The Rockets are 23rd in offense and 28th in defense. They have some good young gamers (hello, Jalen Green), however none who are really prepared to contribute to winning. Bricks for Vic are in complete impact!
FALLING: Kyrie Irving’s (basketball) case for a return
For the minute, let’s leave out Irving off-court actions and remarks. Instead, let’s simply take a appearance at the standing and how the Nets have fared consideringthat suspending Irving:
In truth, over the last 2 seasons (including the play-in and playoffs), the Nets are 17-25 (.405) with Irving and 34-25 (.576) without him.
I’m not stating the Nets are muchbetter without Kyrie. They’ve played a lot of bad groups and particular challengers need more shot production. But it’s likewise clear that without Irving — and likewise with Ben Simmons being moved to the bench — that the Nets haveactually discovered some more energy and cohesion. That stated, it’s likewise endingupbeing clear that Nets’ owner Joe Tsai would like Irving to return to the group.
RISING: The Celtics’ Offense
I guess Ime Udoka wasn’t the secret to the Celtics’ offense.
How excellent has Boston’s offense been? How about “best ever” excellent.
The Celtics have scored 3.4 more points per 100 ownerships than any other group, a mark that would be the greatest differential inbetween the veryfirst and second-ranked offenses in history.
The secrets? One is that the Celtics are shooting 38.2% from deep, the fourth-best mark in the NBA. What makes that most remarkable, though, is that almost 47% of their shots have come from deep, tops in the league. The other is that they’ve cut their turnover rate and are sharing the ball more (their group help rate has climbedup as well).
The Celtics, at 11-3 and winners of 7 straight, appearance to be the class of the East.
FALLING: The Wolves’ Grand Experiment
Minnesota, after making that enormous Rudy Gobert trade, is simply 6-8. Things aren’t going well. We might break it all down however rather, let’s simply present this metaphor for the Timberwolves’ season:
Yaron Weitzman is an NBA author for FOX Sports and the author of Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sports. Follow him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.
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