CNOTES 2022-2023 NBA TRENDS, NEWS, BEST BETS AND OPINIONS THRU THE PLAYOFFS !

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER​

Oklahoma City is likely facing another season in which further developing its bevy of young prospects is priority No. 1.

Michael C. Wright
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:55 AM

Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Josh Giddey are keys to Oklahoma City’s rebuilding process.
The rebuild continued in Oklahoma City in 2021-22 with the team finishing 24-58 under coach Mark Daigneault and missing out on a postseason berth for the second consecutive season. But when the Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren back in June with the No. 2 pick, there was a fleeting thought (from this vantage point) the club might fight back into the playoffs — or at least a Play-In tournament berth — considering all the young talent Oklahoma City had accumulated over the years. At the very least, the Thunder would land near the top of everybody’s NBA League Pass must-watch list for 2022-23 with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the show for a young squad also featuring 2021 No. 6 pick Josh Giddey and Holmgren, along with defensive stopper Lu Dort, who in July signed a new contract.
Then Holmgren suffered a right foot injury in August defending LeBron James during a pro-am game, and the club promptly announced the rookie would miss the 2022-23 season, thus somewhat slowing a rebuilding process that looks promising up to this point. Oklahoma City landed three 2022 lottery picks in Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Ousmane Dieng, in addition to adding Jaylin Williams at No. 34. The club also extended Kenrich Williams back in July.
It appears the Thunder will continue to take their time building something special for a small-market organization that knows it can’t construct a consistently competitive team through free agency. It’s also worth noting that OKC remains flush with future picks over the next three Drafts, but only one first-rounder in 2023.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

Holmgren’s injury situation might extract some of the fun we expected to see out of this season’s young, talented OKC squad. But the focus was always going to be on development and the future, as the franchise continues its efforts to rebuild into a sustainable postseason contender. The question for 2022-23 comes down to whether the Thunder have the patience to continue this rebuilding process considering the franchise isn’t used to occupying this position. OKC had advanced to the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons prior to the current drought.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

The front office deserves credit for the job it has done, collecting such a promising array of young talent that you almost want to hasten the timeline for this rebuild. But the cold, hard, truth is the Thunder still need to make strides to regain status as a perennial postseason contender. The rookie max extension for franchise centerpiece Gilgeous-Alexander kicks in this season. Will he be patient enough to endure what will be another rebuilding season? Either way, Oklahoma City should be fun to watch this season, even without Holmgren. Projection: Draft Lottery

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

14.4 — The Thunder allowed 14.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with Kenrich Williams on the floor (100.3) than they did with him off the floor (114.7). That was the biggest on-off DefRtg differential among 261 players who played at least 1,000 minutes for a single team.
— John Schuhmann

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Racked up 30 points or more in 10 of his last 13 games after All-Star break, but how long can he keep enduring all the losses?
Josh Giddey: Finished his first season in the NBA with the sixth-most triple-doubles (4) by a rookie in NBA history.
Lu Dort: Oklahoma City’s best defender, Dort averaged a career-high 22 points last season but needs to continue to improve accuracy from deep.
Darius Bazley: Versatile and athletic player that needs to take the next step to remain a part of OKC’s future.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: The 2021 second-round pick played 49 games as a rookie and should get an extended look this season due to Holmgren’s injury.

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KEY RESERVES​

Jalen Williams: Although Williams was the third player selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, don’t sleep on him because he flashed some promise during Summer League.
Tre Mann: An explosive scorer, Mann played in 60 games as a rookie last season with 26 starts.
Aleksej Pokusevski: The 17th pick of 2020, Pokusevski needs to improve consistency, especially as a shooter (40.8 % from the field and 28.9% from 3-point range) to stick.

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LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Thunder have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	43	39	0.524	115.4	2	113.7	26	+1.6	14	X
2020-21	41	31	0.569	114.3	9	112.1	18	+2.2	11	X
2019-20	20	47	0.299	107.0	25	114.4	28	-7.4	28
2018-19	29	53	0.354	107.5	23	113.1	28	-5.5	26
2017-18	24	58	0.293	104.4	26	110.1	24	-5.7	26

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: ORLANDO MAGIC​

Can No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero lead a gradual climb for Orlando in 2022-23 and set the tone for the franchise's future?

Shaun Powell
Archive
October 4, 2022 6:02 AM

Expectations are high for Orlando’s No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero in 2022-23.
The gradual climb to respectability continues for the Magic as they stockpile young assets to groom through their player development with hopes that, someday soon, a contending nucleus will form. But the question remains: when will this franchise take that generous leap forward, this season or next?
And another question: Who will lead them? The Magic pondered this very carefully when deciding whom to select with the No. 1 overall choice in the 2022 draft, and therefore Paolo Banchero is the chosen one. Orlando desperately needs a cornerstone and a perennial All-Star and Banchero brings the ingredients as a flexible and multi-skilled power forward who can handle the ball and, perhaps, the weight on his shoulders as well.
But obviously, this goes beyond one player. The Magic are depending on Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba and (once healthy) Jonathan Isaac to further their basketball education and form a winner. It’s a tantalizing group on paper; let’s see what they do on the floor.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

How will Orlando handle the front-court log jam? Aside from Banchero, there’s Wagner, Bamba, Carter and also Issac, the forgotten man who’s making a return from injury after missing roughly the last two seasons. You can make a case for any of the above to start and get heavy minutes. Plus, there’s also Mortiz Wagner and Bol Bol looking to collect whatever scraps are available. This isn’t a bad situation; on the contrary, the competition will allow the Magic to see who’s worth keeping and who’s trade bait.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

A good model for the Magic to follow is Memphis; the Grizzlies made a gradual climb for a few years and then soared last season when Ja Morant took a star turn. This could happen in Orlando with Banchero, but this process takes time. Until they find the right chemistry and mix, the Magic could start slow yet finish fast by springtime, lending hope for the following season. Wins are important but realistically, the Magic need to see additional growth from Suggs, Wagner and a Rookie of the Year performance from Banchero. That would stamp the season a success. Projection: Draft Lottery.

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

103.2 — The Magic’s most-used lineup — Anthony, Suggs, Franz Wagner, Carter and Bamba — allowed just 103.2 points per 100 possessions, the sixth best mark among 27 lineups that played at least 200 minutes last season.
— John Schuhmann

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Markelle Fultz: Held to 18 games last season because of yet another injury, Fultz is the steadiest of guards whenever healthy, although he might be mentioned as bait by the trade deadline.
Jalen Suggs: After a so-so start to his rookie season that wasn’t helped by a thumb injury, Suggs established a bit of consistency and dropped hints of a good future.
Paolo Banchero: He could be the franchise savior because he checks plenty of boxes and will undoubtedly be thrown into the fire right away.
Franz Wagner: Smooth and fundamentally sound, Wagner had a robust rookie season (15.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game) and brings all-around ability.
Wendell Carter Jr.: A very good (if undersized) center who has made consistency his trademark. He collects double-doubles, but isn’t a primary option offensively.

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KEY RESERVES​

Jonathan Issac: Orlando gave him a big extension right before the injuries mounted and he had a chance to establish himself in the league, but he brings defense and skills.
Cole Anthony: A feisty and energetic point guard who prospered when Fultz dealt with injuries. How will he adapt if he’s back to coming off the bench?
Terrence Ross: Veteran shooter is facing the downslope of his career and is no longer the go-to option when Orlando needs a big bucket.

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LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Magic have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …
Last 5 seasons

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	22	60	0.268	103.9	29	112.1	19	-8.1	28
2020-21	21	51	0.292	104.6	29	113.9	26	-9.3	29
2019-20	33	40	0.452	107.9	23	109.2	11	-1.3	19	X
2018-19	42	40	0.512	108.2	22	107.6	8	+0.6	14	X
2017-18	25	57	0.305	104.7	25	109.4	20	-4.7	25

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS​

The Sixers boast a potent offense, a star center, a former Kia MVP and plenty of depth. Will that be enough to contend in the postseason?

John Schuhmann
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:55 AM

How the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and James Harden holds up will be a key factor in Philly’s success this season.
There’s only one team that has been better than the league average in both offensive and defensive efficiency in each of the last five seasons. But that one team — the Philadelphia 76ers — is not one of the 14 (different) teams who have reached the conference finals over that stretch. Regular-season success followed by postseason disappointment has become a pattern for the Sixers. They traded the goat from their conference-semifinals exit two seasons ago (Ben Simmons) only to have his replacement (James Harden) become similarly passive as they were eliminated this past May.
Before he went out so quietly (going scoreless in the second half of Game 6 vs. Miami), Harden did find some chemistry with Joel Embiid, and their pick-and-roll game allowed the Kia MVP runner-up to catch the ball closer to the rim and score more efficiently. Harden has also assisted the Philly front office, signing a new contract that has allowed the Sixers to add more pieces to the puzzle. P.J. Tucker, De’Anthony Melton, Montrezl Harrell and Danuel House Jr. all address specific needs and make Philly one of the deepest teams in the league.
Harden is 33 years old, with his best days behind him. Embiid will turn 29 in March. The Sixers’ time to finally break through is now, but this is a tough Eastern Conference, with a few teams that have had more postseason success than Philadelphia has. As the Sixers continue to evolve, they remain one of the most fascinating teams in the league.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

Can the backcourt hold up defensively? Harden and Tyrese Maxey are one of the most potent offensive backcourts in the league, and the 21-year-old Maxey is a good fit alongside the former Kia MVP, having shot 45% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and able to attack close-outs on the second side of the floor. But Harden may be the most immobile defender in the league and Maxey (6-foot-2) can also be a target of opposing offenses. For the Sixers to be at their best defensively, one of the two may need to be off the floor.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

The Sixers could have a top-five offense (for the first time in 32 years) and rack up a ton of regular-season wins. They have two stars that can carry a heavy load, a potent secondary ball-handler, and a bevy of shooters. And with a ton of depth (Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz beyond the 10 players listed below), they have the ability to withstand injuries to anybody but Embiid. The questions will come in the postseason, when it becomes more difficult to get the ball to the big man and with Harden having yet to show that he can play like a star with his team’s season on the line. Projection: Playoffs

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

52 — In their 21 games together, James Harden had more assists to Joel Embiid on field goals in the paint (52) than any other teammate had all season.

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

James Harden: Would benefit from shooting more off the catch and/or from mid-range. Remains an elite playmaker if he’s lost some explosiveness.
Tyrese Maxey: Made a huge leap last season, going from 8.0 to 17.5 points per game and ranking third in 3-point percentage (42.7%).
Tobias Harris: A solid third (or fourth) option, though he could be better off the catch. Just 35% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointerss and somewhat of a ball-stopper.
P.J. Tucker: Led the league in corner 3-pointers the last three seasons he played with Harden, and he showed some more offensive skills last year in Miami.
Joel Embiid: First qualified player in 32 years (since Karl Malone in 1989-90) to average at least 30 points and 11 rebounds, and he’s a defensive force too.

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KEY RESERVES​

Montrezl Harrell: Efficient roll man who will complement Harden when Embiid sits and eat regular-season minutes. Playoff efficacy is a question.
Danuel House Jr.: Floor spacer around the stars, but 36.1% from deep over the last three seasons ranks 133rd among 262 players with at least 300 3-point attempts.
De’Anthony Melton: Fourth with 4.5 deflections per 36 minutes last season. Will boost a team that ranked 29th in transition possessions per game.
Georges Niang: “The Minivan” has his limitations, but has shot 41% from 3-point range over the last four seasons and certainly isn’t afraid to let it fly.
Matisse Thybulle: The most disruptive defender in the league, but is often ignored (by both defenders and his teammates) on offense.

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LAST 5 SEASONS​

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	51	31	0.622	113.0	11	110.2	12	+2.8	9	X
2020-21	49	23	0.681	112.5	13	107.0	2	+5.5	5	X
2019-20	43	30	0.589	110.7	14	108.4	8	+2.3	10	X
2018-19	51	31	0.622	111.6	8	109.0	14	+2.6	11	X
2017-18	52	30	0.634	108.5	13	103.9	3	+4.6	4	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: PHOENIX SUNS​

With its talented core intact, Phoenix looks to move past last season's postseason collapse.

Michael C. Wright
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:55 AM

The talented Suns will be dealing with an even deeper Western Conference in 2022-23.
Phoenix belied its league-best record of 64-18 in 2021-22 by sputtering in the postseason, starting with a split of its first two games at home in the opening round against New Orleans, and finishing with a shocking Game 7 loss at Footprint Center to the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The latter marked the fourth time in franchise history Phoenix squandered a 2-0 series lead, while 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul suffered that fate under the same circumstances for the fifth time in his storied 17-year career. On that strange, disappointing night in Phoenix, we also saw center Deandre Ayton play 17 minutes in a crucial matchup. Coach Monty Williams explained the decision to sit Ayton was “internal.”
Externally, now though, everything appears to be trending in a positive direction, as Phoenix preps for its fifth season under Williams. The former No. 1 overall pick, Ayton finally received the max contract he’d sought since October of 2021, after first signing an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers that Phoenix matched. The Suns also extended star guard Devin Booker with a four-year, $224 supermax deal, re-signed backup center Bismack Biyombo, traded for Jock Landale, and acquired a pair of free-agent guards in Damion Lee and Josh Okogie. Free-agent big JaVale McGee bolted for Dallas in free agency, and the 2022 NBA Draft closed without the Suns selecting a player for just the second time in franchise history.
Phoenix’s relative dormancy this offseason clearly displayed the brass’ reluctance to break up a team that just two seasons ago, finished two wins short of the first title in franchise history. Williams, Paul and the rest of the Suns recognize the finiteness of their championship window. So, expect Phoenix to operate accordingly in 2022-23.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

Phoenix’s 2022 collapse was significant enough to make you wonder whether it has truly gotten over it. You could see the stitches fraying in the first round, before unravelling against Dallas in the semifinals. Paul won’t make excuses, but he suffered a quadriceps injury that slowed him for the most important games of that series. Can he stay healthy enough to be 100% when the stakes are highest? The club took care of Williams, Booker and Ayton this offseason, contractually. So, now the playoff collapse is the biggest hurdle to clear.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

We’ll likely see exactly why Williams won the Red Auerbach Trophy as 2021-22 Coach of the Year. Williams faces the difficult challenge of navigating Phoenix’s climb back atop a Western Conference sure to be more loaded than the last two seasons with the expected healthy revival of the Clippers, Nuggets, Lakers and Pelicans combined with the already formidable Warriors, Mavericks and Grizzlies (don’t sleep on the Timberwolves, either). With more extensive competition on the horizon than in the past, surely Williams leans on the tough learned these last two seasons. Projection: Playoffs.

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

53-0 — The Suns were one of two teams in the 68 seasons for which we have by-quarter numbers — the 2019-20 Lakers (57-0) were the other — to go undefeated (47-0 in the regular season, 6-0 in the playoffs) when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.
— John Schuhmann

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Chris Paul: Paul, 37, led the NBA in assists per game (10.8) and ranked No. 2 in steals per outing (1.9), but has been slowed in the playoffs with injuries in each of the past two seasons.
Devin Booker: First-time All-NBA guard continues to improve playmaking and efficiency and should figure more prominently this season in the Kia MVP conversation.
Mikal Bridges: Finished second in voting for Kia Defensive Player of the Year, but there’s more to unlock in Bridges’ game as he comes off a career-high 14.2 points per contest in 2021-22.
Cameron Johnson: Likely the team’s PF of the future, Johnson finished third last season in voting for Kia Sixth Man of the Year.
Deandre Ayton: Finally received the big contract, but now needs to take game up another notch while improving consistency.

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KEY RESERVES​

Cameron Payne: Slowed by injuries last season, Payne took a step back from his 2020-21 campaign.
Bismack Biyombo: Rejuvenated career last season, and McGee’s departure means more minutes for the defensive-minded Biyombo.
Torrey Craig: A key rotation player in Phoenix’s run to the 2021 NBA Finals, Craig struggled in his mid-season return to the Suns in 2021-22.

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LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Suns have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	64	18	0.780	114.2	5	106.8	3	+7.5	1	X
2020-21	51	21	0.708	116.3	7	110.4	6	+5.9	3	X
2019-20	34	39	0.466	111.3	12	110.8	17	+0.5	14
2018-19	19	63	0.232	105.3	28	114.2	29	-8.9	29
2017-18	21	61	0.256	102.8	30	111.7	30	-9.0	30

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS​

After a busy offseason, Portland looks to reenter the postseason mix after missing out last season.

Mark Medina
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:54 AM

Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic and Damian Lillard each committed to Portland long-term this offseason.
After making the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons under Damian Lillard’s leadership, the Trail Blazers’ steady consistency came to an abrupt halt in 2021-22. That coincided with Lillard, limited to 29 games, needing surgery to treat an abdominal injury. But the Blazers (27-55) finished 13th in the Western Conference for other reasons, too. Portland dealt with a front-office shakeup. Chauncey Billups experienced growing pains as a first-year coach. And beyond Lillard’s injury, Blazers players lost an additional 326 games to injuries of their own.
That prompted the Blazers to tear down some of their foundation leading into last season’s trade deadline. Portland dealt Lillard’s long-time backcourt mate, CJ McCollum, and key role players Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to New Orleans. Portland also traded Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the LA Clippers to accumulate more draft picks and further improve their financial flexibility. Once the offseason hit? The Blazers used their No. 7 pick on dynamic scorer Shaedon Sharpe. They secured extensions to both Lillard and improving young prospect Anfernee Simons. They retained valued big man Jusuf Nurkić. They further bolstered their backcourt with the acquisition of Jerami Grant. And they signed Gary Payton II, a promising young defender coming off an NBA title with Golden State.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

Are the Blazers a playoff threat? By granting Lillard an extension and supplying him with new complementary pieces, Portland sent a message that it remains intent to win with its long-time cornerstone. Barring any major injuries, the Blazers should not worry about falling into the NBA Draft Lottery again. Even though they should compete for a playoff spot again, the Blazers may only have enough to advance past the first round. It seems too much to ask Lillard to carry Portland any further without additional talent around him.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

Portland will become a dangerous playoff team. Lillard will deliver the same way he did prior to his injury. The Blazers will show remarkable defensive improvement. And the team’s young players will comfort Portland about its long-term future. Nonetheless, it seems likely that the Blazers will experience the same issues during their previous eight-year postseason run. Portland appears talented enough to win a playoff game against anybody. Portland does not appear talented enough, however, to win a playoff series against a serious contender. Projection: Playoffs.

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

47.8% — Anfernee Simons shot 47.8% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, the best mark among 113 players who attempted at least 200 of them last season.
— John Schuhmann

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Damian Lillard: The Blazers’ star will become determined to show that they made the right choice to extend him instead of beginning a massive rebuilding project.
Anfernee Simons: After showing steady improvement in scoring from 2020-21 (7.8 points per game) to 2021-22 (17.3), Simons could make another leap worthy enough of Kia Most Improved Player consideration.
Josh Hart: Although undersized, Hart will be much needed at small forward to guard the opposing team’s top wing.
Jerami Grant: With the Blazers lacking defensive consistency in recent seasons, Grant could become instrumental with forging that identity.
Jusuf Nurkić: After nursing plantar fasciitis in his left foot last season, Nurkić appears ready to assume his familiar role as a pick-and-roll screener, rebounder and finisher.

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KEY RESERVES​

Shaedon Sharpe: The Blazers’ prized rookie could not show much in Summer League after injuring his left shoulder, but expect him to provide energy off the bench with entertaining dunks and passes.
Gary Payton II: After giving the championship Warriors backcourt grittiness to relieve pressure off Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Payton will fulfill the same job description to help Lillard and Simons.
Nassir Little: Following three seasons filled with injuries and sporadic playing time, Little appears motivated to show he can stay healthy and develop into a dependable 3-and-D player.
Drew Eubanks: He impressed the Blazers enough in Nurkić’s absence to land four 10-day contracts and a one-year deal.

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LAST 5 SEASONS​

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	27	55	0.329	107.3	27	116.3	29	-9.1	30
2020-21	42	30	0.583	117.1	2	115.3	29	+1.8	12	X
2019-20	35	39	0.473	113.2	3	114.3	27	-1.2	18	X
2018-19	53	29	0.646	113.7	3	109.5	16	+4.2	7	X
2017-18	49	33	0.598	108.4	14	105.7	6	+2.7	9	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: SACRAMENTO KINGS​

Will the Kings make a big enough jump in the West to at least make the Play-In Tournament?

Mark Medina
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:55 AM

The Kings will rely on De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and new coach Mike Brown to try and halt their playoff swoon.
The Sacramento Kings have experienced countless seasons filled with losses, head-coaching changes and trips to the NBA Draft Lottery. It was more of the same in 2021-22 as their streak of playoff absences stretched to an NBA-record 16 seasons.
The script seemed predictable well before the Kings (30-52) actually finished 12th in the Western Conference. Following a 6-11 start, the Kings fired coach Luke Walton and promoted veteran lead assistant Alvin Gentry. With the losses still piling up, the Kings were active leading into the trade deadline. In a four-team trade, Sacramento dealt one of its many disappointing lottery picks to the Pistons (Marvin Bagley III) while receiving assets from Milwaukee (Donte DiVincenzo) and Detroit (Trey Lyles, Josh Jackson). The Kings also traded promising second-year player Tyrese Haliburton, energetic scorer Buddy Hield and veteran enforcer Tristan Thompson to Indiana for All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, perimeter threat Justin Holiday and a 2027 second-round draft pick.
As has become customary for more than a decade, the Kings stayed busy once the season ended. They parted ways with Gentry, the franchise’s 11th coach since their playoff drought started. The Kings then hired veteran coach Mike Brown, who has been fired from his three previous head coaching gigs, but at least brings championship experience. The Kings used its No. 4 pick on Keegan Murray, who impressed them in Summer League with his two-way skills, team-oriented play and coachable personality. The Kings gave De’Aaron Fox some backcourt help by acquiring Kevin Huerter from Atlanta. And instead of retaining DiVincenzo and Jackson, Sacramento lured productive bench scorer Malik Monk away from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.

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BIGGEST QUESTION​

Will the Kings finally return to the postseason? That hinges on numerous variables. Will Murray show signs he can become a franchise player? Will Fox continue improving? Will Sabonis continue posting All-Star numbers, while elevating his teammates? Will the Kings’ offseason additions provide enough offensive depth? Will Brown’s defensive expertise translate to a Kings team that finished 27th in defensive rating last season? Sacramento has the potential to address these issues. But it seems uncertain how long that process might take.

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SEASON PREDICTION​

The Kings will no longer be an NBA laughingstock. Sacramento has the right ingredients with a handful of talented young players, a proven All-Star and a successful coach. But few franchises transform their identity in one season. Barring major injuries elsewhere, it is hard to pick which teams the Kings can leapfrog in a crowded West. Short-term, Sacramento has little margin for error with its health, development and chemistry. Long-term, the Kings have plenty of upside. Projection: Play-in Tournament.

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1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

16 — The Kings have been a worse-than-average defensive team in each of the last 16 seasons, a streak coinciding with the longest playoff drought in NBA history. They’ve ranked in the bottom five defensively in eight of those 16 years, including each of the last two. Brown’s teams have been better than average defensively in each of his six full seasons as coach (five in Cleveland, one with the Lakers).
— John Schuhmann

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PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

De’Aaron Fox: He appears motivated and equipped to show he can stay healthy and live up to his max contract.
Kevin Huerter: He should help the Kings significantly with his spot-up shooting and floor spacing.
Harrison Barnes: In his 12th NBA season and fifth with Sacramento, Barnes will provide his usual on-court leadership and positional versatility.
Keegan Murray: After collecting the Las Vegas Summer League MVP award, Murray will also show he can become a special NBA player with his maturity, work habits and unselfish play.
Domantas Sabonis: The Kings will rely on the chemistry between Fox and Sabonis on pick-and-roll sets, as well as his passing and interior presence.

---

KEY RESERVES​

Richaun Holmes: Even with Sabonis’ arrival, Holmes remains a valued frontcourt player for his energy, athleticism and rebounding.
Malik Monk: Monk seems equipped to fulfill Hield’s role as a productive volume scorer
Davion Mitchell: Mitchell is expected to take a leap in his second season with his defensive tenacity.

---

LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Kings have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	30	52	0.366	109.6	24	114.8	27	-5.2	25
2020-21	31	41	0.431	112.7	12	116.5	30	-3.8	24
2019-20	31	41	0.431	109.5	18	111.4	19	-1.9	21
2018-19	39	43	0.476	109.6	17	110.8	21	-1.2	18
2017-18	27	55	0.329	103.1	29	110.4	27	-7.3	29

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: SAN ANTONIO SPURS​

With the departure of Dejounte Murray, coach Gregg Popovich looks to lead a new group as San Antonio begins its rebuild stage in 2022-23.

Michael C. Wright
Archive
October 4, 2022 6:00 AM

No. 9 pick Jeremy Sochan and forward Keldon Johnson are expected to play key roles in San Antonio’s rebuild process.
Interestingly, San Antonio’s 50th anniversary season arrives at a time when there won’t be much to celebrate in terms of the present. The organization spent the offseason finally diving deep into the waters of a complete rebuild. After finishing with a 34-48 record in 2021-22, which officially ended with a loss to New Orleans in the opening game of the Play-In Tournament, the Spurs blew open their offseason in late June by sending All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray to Atlanta. In exchange for Murray, San Antonio landed Danilo Gallinari (who was later waived), three first-round picks (2023, 2025, and 2027) and a 2026 pick swap. And earlier in 2022, San Antonio sent Derrick White to Boston in a February trade deadline deal for guards Josh Richardson and Romeo Langford, a protected 2022 first-round pick, and a conditional right to swap first-round picks in 2028 with the Celtics.
Those transactions signaled San Antonio’s willingness to finally tear down the roster to the studs and start fresh after more than two decades of dominance under the NBA’s winningest coach in Gregg Popovich.
The Spurs entered the 2022 NBA Draft armed with four picks, including three first-rounders and used them to select Jeremy Sochan (No. 9, the club’s highest pick since it drafted Hall of Famer Tim Duncan in 1997), Malaki Branham (20th), Blake Wesley (25th) and Kennedy Chandler (38th, later traded to Memphis). While none of Sochan, Branham or Wesley are expected to take on prominent roles as rookies, the construction of the roster should provide opportunities. San Antonio also rewarded 2019 first-round pick Keldon Johnson in July with a four-year, $80 million extension after a breakout campaign last season. However, the club found itself weakened from the developmental standpoint when longtime shooting coach Chip Engelland joined the Oklahoma City Thunder coaching staff after his San Antonio contract expired. Engelland is widely credited with the shooting development of former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.

---

BIGGEST QUESTION​

This will remain the largest looming question for the foreseeable future: how much longer will Popovich coach the Spurs? Popovich turns 74 in January, and he’ll likely finish 2022-23 with the fewest wins since his first season as coach (1996-97, when the Spurs went 17-47 on his watch). The future Hall of Fame coach has finished below .500 in each of the last three seasons. While it’s natural to believe the losses are trying his patience, Popovich contends it’s the opposite as he’s come to enjoy teaching the intricacies of the game to the young roster.

---

SEASON PREDICTION​

Undoubtedly, growth and development will be the focus for a San Antonio franchise accustomed to competing for championships. After running off a record streak of 22 straight postseason appearances, the Spurs will likely miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Spurs can stomach that as long as the young roster continues to develop at an adequate rate. Players such as Jones, Vassell, Johnson and Primo will be key in that, as well as the rookie class led by Sochan, Branham and Wesley. Projection: Draft Lottery.

---

1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

+10 — The Spurs outscored their opponents by 10 points last season, tying the 1976-77 Phoenix Suns (plus-60) for the worst record in NBA history (34-48) for a team with a positive point differential.
— John Schuhmann

---

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Tre Jones: The Spurs will debate internally between Jones and 19-year-old Joshua Primo, but the former is the safer, more steady option.
Devin Vassell: First player in franchise history to knock down 100 3-pointers or more (137) in his second season.
Doug McDermott: Steady vet provides pinpoint outside shooting, having connected on 40% or better from 3-point range in four of his last five seasons.
Keldon Johnson: San Antonio’s most dangerous offensive threat, Johnson upped his 3-point shooting by 6.7% in 2021-22 (39.8% on 3s) as he enjoyed a breakout 2021-22.
Jakob Poeltl: Intelligent defender blocked 118 shots last season after swatting a career-best 123 of them in 2020-21.

---

KEY RESERVES​

Joshua Primo: Enters second season at age 19 but remains one of the team’s most confident players.
Zach Collins: Skilled center, 24, finally appears back to full health after essentially two years of injury recovery.
Jeremy Sochan: Rookie defensive ace could fight his way into the rotation, but needs to gain more consistency with his shot.

---

LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Spurs have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	34	48	0.415	111.9	17	111.7	16	+0.2	17
2020-21	33	39	0.458	110.5	19	112.0	17	-1.5	21
2019-20	32	39	0.451	111.7	10	112.6	24	-0.9	16
2018-19	48	34	0.585	112.2	6	110.5	20	+1.6	12	X
2017-18	47	35	0.573	107.1	17	104.1	4	+3.0	8	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: TORONTO RAPTORS​

After a relatively quiet offseason, Toronto is looking for continued growth from Scottie Barnes to return to title contention.

John Schuhmann
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:58 AM

Raptors phenom Scottie Barnes could be primed for a big Year 2 in the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors are a weird team in more ways than one. Nine of their 14 players on guaranteed contracts are 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9. They had some success last season with lineups that didn’t include anybody shorter than that, but when they were healthy, they started 6-foot-8 Pascal Siakam at the five. Kia Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes is part of that mid-sized group and it’s not clear what position he plays.
The Raptors are also weird in that they had a decent offense last season as one of the worst shooting teams in the league. In fact, they were just the second team in the 26 seasons of play-by-play data to have a better-than-average offense (in regard to points scored per 100 possessions) while ranking in the bottom five in effective field-goal percentage. They made up for their bad shooting (and bad shots) by taking care of the ball and crashing the glass, averaging seven more shooting opportunities than their opponents.
With their aggressive and “janky” defense, the Raptors promise to remain weird. They may have found a gem in Barnes, and his development (whether or not it leads to a more defined role) will remain a priority. But this team should once again compete for a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference, having added NBA champion Otto Porter Jr. to its collection of rangy forwards.

---

BIGGEST QUESTION​

How good is Barnes going to be? While this Raptors team is very good, it’s lacking the star power needed to compete with the best teams in the league. There was (maybe) an opportunity to acquire a star this summer, but the roster stayed largely intact, and the Raptors are set to return players who account for a league-high 92% of last season’s regular-season minutes. But maybe the 21-year-old Barnes evolves into the star that can lead Toronto back to title contention. Knowing his trajectory — both how good and what kind of player he’ll be — would help Raptors president Masai Ujiri plan for both the short and long term. Year 2, with a season of experience and a summer of work behind them, is always a big one for players. This one could go a long way in determining the career path of the reigning Kia Rookie of the Year.

---

SEASON PREDICTION​

The Raptors’ defense has proven to be reliable, ranking in the top 10 in four of the last five seasons, with the only exception being their year in Tampa. If they can shoot better (and take better shots), they can take a step forward overall. But they’re still lacking a go-to guy that can really threaten opposing offenses, so creating those better shots is easier said than done. Even if they hit their ceiling, the Raptors are a tier below the best teams in the East. Projection: Playoffs.

---

1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

0 — The Raptors were the only team last season with fewer than two players with an effective field-goal percentage at or above the league average (53.2%) on at least 100 field-goal attempts, and they had zero.
— John Schuhmann

---

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Fred VanVleet: Handsy defender who ranked second in the league with 3.9 deflections per game. Limited (especially in the paint) by his size, but has extended his range.
Gary Trent Jr.: Handsy defender who ranked third in the league with 1.7 steals per game. Shot creation is needed, but shot selection (early-clock pull-up 2s) can be an issue.
Scottie Barnes: His 3-point shooting (30.1% last season) needs work, but shot an impressive 59.1% inside the arc (3rd among 22 non-centers with 200+ attempts) after the All-Star break.
OG Anunoby: Hasn’t quite made the leap some have hoped for and has missed 63 games over the last two seasons, but is still just 25 as he enters his sixth season.
Pascal Siakam: Rebounded from a rough season in Tampa to earn third team All-NBA honors. One of only five players to average at least 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game.

---

KEY RESERVES​

Precious Achiuwa: Possible starter (Khem Birch would be another) if they don’t stay small. Bouncy and undersized big who attempted 156 3-pointers after taking just one as a rookie.
Chris Boucher: His 3-point percentage saw a big drop (to 29.7%) last season, but the Raptors were still at their best (+5.3 points per 100 possessions) with him on the floor.
Otto Porter Jr.: Revived his career with a season in Golden State and is still just 29. Brings some much-needed floor spacing and 3-point shooting (40.4% in the 2022 playoffs).
Thaddeus Young: Fit in well upon his arrival at the deadline. Now 34 years old, but doesn’t have to play every day given the glut of forwards on the roster.

---

LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Raptors have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	48	34	0.585	112.1	15	109.9	9	+2.2	12	X
2020-21	27	45	0.375	111.6	16	112.0	15	-0.4	19
2019-20	53	19	0.736	110.8	13	104.7	2	+6.1	4	X
2018-19	58	24	0.707	112.6	5	106.8	5	+5.8	3	X
2017-18	59	23	0.720	113.0	2	105.3	5	+7.7	2	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: UTAH JAZZ​

After parting ways with franchise cornerstones Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah moves to a rebuilding stage in 2022-23.

Mark Medina
Archive
October 4, 2022 5:58 AM

Jarred Vanderbilt (right) and Malik Beasley are 2 of the many new faces in Salt Lake City this season.
Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge offered biting criticism about the team’s 2021-22 campaign that began with a respectable regular-season finish (49-33, fifth in the Western Conference) and ended with a first-round loss to Dallas. “What I saw during the season was a group of players that didn’t believe in each other,” he said in early September.
And when Quin Snyder voluntarily stepped down as coach after eight seasons that entailed three playoff exits (both in the first and second rounds), Ainge and Utah GM Justin Zanik began the process of tearing down the franchise’s foundation entirely. The Jazz hired Will Hardy, a respected former Boston Celtics assistant coach to oversee a rebuilding project. And after Utah traded Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for a 2023 first-round pick, the Jazz then spent the remainder of the offseason parting ways with their two franchise cornerstones — Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
In a move that arguably set the market for any blockbuster deal of the 2022 offseason, Utah dealt its three-time All-Star and three-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year center Gobert to Minnesota for a handful of rotation players (Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley) and four future first-round picks. After sending Beverley to the Los Angeles Lakers for two young role players (Talen Horton-Tucker, Stanley Johnson), the Jazz canvassed the league in hopes of extracting maximum value for Mitchell.
The All-Star guard Mitchell was sent to Cleveland in a sign-and-trade deal with young and dynamic point guard Collin Sexton, two rotation players (Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji), three unprotected first-round picks and two future pick swaps (2026, 2028). And less than a week before training camp began, the Jazz then traded veteran forward Bojan Bogdanović to Detroit for Kelly Olynk and Saben Lee.

---

BIGGEST QUESTION​

Are the Jazz done overhauling their roster? Never discount Ainge’s opportunistic nature. Just like during his time as a Celtics executive, Ainge currently wants to collect as many assets as possible for a successful rebuild. Short-term, Utah’s remaining veterans (Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay) are all serviceable. Long term, any combination of those players could be part of future deals. Should that happen, it appears uncertain whether the Jazz would make those moves before training camp, leading into the trade deadline or next summer.

---

SEASON PREDICTION​

Utah won’t measure its success this season by wins and losses. The Jazz will evaluate other variables. How many more assets did Utah collect? How well did the Jazz develop their young players? Given Ainge’s track record, Utah appears likely to meet both objectives this season. The Jazz already control 18 first-round picks between now and 2029, suggesting they could become a title contender the same way the Celtics did following Ainge’s departure. In the meantime, it seems safe to presume the Jazz will end their six-year playoff streak. Projection: Draft Lottery

---

1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

3, 2 — The Jazz are one of two teams — the Milwaukee Bucks are the other — that rank in the top five in both points scored (112.4, third) and points allowed (106.9, second) per 100 possessions over the last five seasons.
— John Schuhmann

---

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Mike Conley: Although he remains a positive influence with his work ethic and leadership, Conley must prove he can stay healthy and productive.
Collin Sexton: He hardly can fully replace Mitchell, but Sexton has become a proven scorer and a decent playmaker.
Lauri Markkanen: He can partly offset Bogdanovic’s absence as another proven shooter and floor-spacer.
Kelly Olynyk: He has adapted well on new teams in recent seasons with frontcourt toughness, outside shooting and passing.
Walker Kessler: He obviously won’t fully mitigate Gobert’s departure, but the rookie Kessler appears primed for a starting spot because of his defensive awareness at the rim and on rotations.

---

KEY RESERVES​

Jordan Clarkson: The former Kia Sixth Man of the Year can score consistently, but can he play more efficiently?
Jarred Vanderbilt: After having a break-out 2021-22 in Minnesota, Vanderbilt could set new career highs again this season with his new team.
Malik Beasley: He has a chance to rehab his reputation with a new team by overcoming last season’s disappointment with his poor play and off-the-court behavior.
Udoka Azubuike: If he can stay more durable, Azubuike could land more minutes to further develop as a defender.
Rudy Gay: He might face a greater reduced role after logging a career low last season in minutes (18.9), but Gay still has some game left in him and could be a positive veteran presence for his young teammates.

---

LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Jazz have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	49	33	0.598	116.2	1	110.0	10	+6.2	3	X
2020-21	52	20	0.722	116.5	4	107.5	3	+9.0	1	X
2019-20	44	28	0.611	111.8	9	109.3	13	+2.5	9	X
2018-19	50	32	0.610	110.3	14	105.3	2	+5.0	4	X
2017-18	48	34	0.585	107.4	16	103.0	1	+4.4	5	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[CNOTES]

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW: WASHINGTON WIZARDS​

Bradley Beal leads a revamped core in Washington that has hopes of getting back to the playoffs.

John Schuhmann
Archive
October 4, 2022 6:00 AM

The Wizards’ hopes for success rest on Bradley Beal’s shoulders in 2022-23.
The Washington Wizards were 10-3 with the league’s fourth-ranked defense on Nov. 16, 2021. But the bottom fell out after that as the Wizards won just 25 of their final 69 games, finished eight games out of the Play-In in the Eastern Conference and finished 25th in defensive efficiency. Bradley Beal missed half the season (though the Wizards weren’t any better in the games he played than they were in the games he missed) and, after his acquisition at the trade deadline, Kristaps Porzingis appeared in just 17 of a possible 28 games. The Wizards’ two highest-paid players didn’t play a single minute together.
Beal is back with a new, five-year contract, committed to a franchise that hasn’t been anything better than earn the No. 8 seed in the last five seasons. And that franchise is committed to him despite some regression in his game, set to pay him more than $250 million over the next five.
This team appears to be a few steps away from a return to relevancy, especially with the East looking stronger than it has in the last 20 years. But Beal has a new point guard (Monte Morris) who should ease his playmaking burden, and on Media Day, he called Porzingis “probably the best big I’ll play with in my career.” The Wizards have a solid, veteran core and some young talent that could make a leap. It’s a new mix and the two former All-Stars could complement each other pretty well, so there’s potential for a breakthrough.

---

BIGGEST QUESTION​

Can they defend? The Wizards’ projected starting lineup could be pretty potent offensively. But the best way to overachieve is to defend at a high level. The Wizards did that for about four weeks last season, but couldn’t sustain it and have now ranked 20th or worse defensively in four straight seasons. They do have some good defenders — Delon Wright, Deni Avdija and Daniel Gafford — coming off the bench, but they’ll need the starters to also defend decently to compete in this Eastern Conference.

---

SEASON PREDICTION​

There’s a clear top nine in the East, the eight teams that reached the playoffs last season plus the eighth-place team — Cleveland — that added Donovan Mitchell. Unless one of those nine teams has serious troubles, the Wizards should be in a competition for the final Play-In spot with teams like Charlotte, Detroit and New York. They seemingly have the talent to be the best of that group, but how competitive they are will come down to chemistry, defense and player development. Projection: Draft Lottery

---

1 KEY STAT TO KNOW​

26, 26 — The Wizards were the only team that ranked in the bottom five in both 3-point percentage (34.2%, 26th) and the percentage of their shots that came from 3-point range (35.6%, 26th) last season.

---

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE​

Monte Morris: Can be more of a playmaker away from Nikola Jokic. Consistently among the league leaders in assist/turnover ratio (4.77 over his four full seasons).
Bradley Beal: Ranked sixth in drives per game and will have the space to attack, but still needs to rediscover his 3-point stroke (30% from deep last season).
Will Barton: Might find things tougher without Jokic feeding him. Saw a big drop in the percentage of his shots that came in the paint last season.
Kyle Kuzma: Had some nice moments, hit some big shots and became a little more of a playmaker in his first season in Washington.
Kristaps Porzingis: Shot just 31% from 3-point range last season, but did take a career-high 46% of his shots in the paint. Also had strong rim protection numbers.

---

KEY RESERVES​

Deni Avdija: Has the profile of a forward that every team would love to have. Has had some good moments defensively and could be more aggressive on offense.
Daniel Gafford: Bouncy big is a strong finisher and rim protector (2.5 blocks per 36 minutes ranked seventh). Played only 14 minutes alongside Porzingis last season.
Rui Hachimura: Missed the first 39 games last season, but came back a much-improved 3-point shooter, going 54-for-115 (47.0%) on catch-and-shoot attempts.
Corey Kispert: Got a chance to play as a rookie. Averaged 31 minutes and registered an effective field goal percentage of 62.3% after the All-Star break.
Delon Wright: Defensive pest whose 2.3 steals per 36 minutes ranked third among 272 players who played at least 1,000 minutes last season.

---

LAST 5 SEASONS​

How the Wizards have fared stats-wise over the last 5 seasons …

Season	W	L	PCT	OffRtg	Rank	DefRtg	Rank	NetRtg	Rank	Playoffs
2021-22	35	47	0.427	110.2	21	113.6	25	-3.4	23
2020-21	34	38	0.472	110.7	17	112.3	20	-1.6	22	X
2019-20	25	47	0.347	110.2	16	114.7	29	-4.5	25
2018-19	32	50	0.390	110.2	15	112.9	27	-2.7	25
2017-18	43	39	0.524	108.1	15	107.7	15	+0.4	15	X

OffRtg = Points scored per 100 possessions
DefRtg = Points allowed per 100 possessions
NetRtg = Point differential per 100 possessions
* * *
John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

 

[Udog]

Armadillo Sports

Tuesday’s 6-pack
Interesting spreads for Week 7 NFL games
— Colts @ Tennessee (-2.5)
— Packers (-5.5) @ Washington
— Jets @ Denver (-3)
— Texans @ Las Vegas (-7)
— Seahawks @ Chargers (-7)
— Chiefs (-3) @ San Francisco

Quote of the Day
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
Epictetus

Tuesday’s quiz
Who was the Astros’ manager when they lost the 2005 World Series?

Monday’s quiz
Oregon Ducks play their home games in Autzen Stadium.

Sunday’s quiz
In the movie My Cousin Vinny, Fred Gwynne played the judge in the big trial; he is best known for playing Herman Munster in The Munsters TV show.

***************************

Tuesday’s Den: Nobody asked me, but……..

Chargers 19, Broncos 16 OT
— Broncos in first half: 25 plays, 201 yards, a TD and two field goals
— Broncos in 2nd half/OT: 33 plays, 72 yards, 6 punts, one field goal.
— Wilson completed 10-10 passes in first quarter.
— From 2nd quarter on, Wilson completed 5-18 passes.
— Five of six Denver games stayed under the total.

— Chargers kicked FG in OT, after Denver muffed a punt.
— Chargers ran 83 plays, only two of which gained 20+ yards.
— Chargers converted 11-22 third down plays.
— Bolts averaged 3.8 yards per pass attempt.
— In overtime, two teams combined to run 16 plays for 16 yards.

— Carolina Panthers traded disgruntled WR Robbie Anderson to Arizona; they get a 6th and 7th round draft pick in return. Panther coaches sent Anderson to the locker room during Sunday’s loss in Los Angeles, after he got into a spat with Carolina’s WR coach.

Anderson has caught 13 passes for 206 yards this year, but over half those yards came in Week 1. Cardinals need WR help after Marquise Brown got hurt Sunday; they also get DeAndre Hopkins back from his six-game suspension this week.

— Panthers scored six TD’s in their last four games; problem is, Carolina’s offense only scored three of them- their defense scored the other three.

— Washington QB Carson Wentz is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger on his passing hand; Taylor Heinicke (7-9 as an NFL starter) takes his place under center for the Commanders.

Maybe the change will help; Commanders have converted only 8 of last 37 third down plays.

— Cincinnati Bengals are only team in NFL that hasn’t given up a second half touchdown this season; they’ve outscored opponents 71-30 in second half this year.

Football players are really, really tough; Bengals’ left tackle Jonah Williams dislocated his kneecap in the Week 5 loss at Baltimore, but he returned to that game, then played Sunday in New Orleans.

— Cleveland Browns are only the third team in last 58 years that led each of their first five games after three quarters, yet lost more than half those games.

1999 Saints, 2015 Seahawks are other two teams on that list.

Streak ended for the Browns Sunday, when they got waxed 38-15 at home by New England.

— College quarterbacks take harder hits than NFL QB’s; lot fewer roughing the passer calls in the college game.

— In case you’re wondering, the record for most punts with one team: Sam Koch punted 1,168 times for the Ravens, from 2006-21.

— Illinois football coach Bret Bielema is a throwback; Saturday, Illini RB Chase Brown carried the football 41 times for 190 yards in their 26-14 win over Minnesota. 41 carries is a lot for two games, even moreso for one.

Long time ago, USC coach John McKay was asked why his tailback was carrying the ball so much. “Why not?” McKay replied. “The ball isn’t very heavy. And besides, he doesn’t belong to a union.”

— So far in Sun Belt conference games this season, underdogs are 18-6 against the spread; they were 5-0 ATS this past weekend.

— Penn State coach James Franklin is a very good coach; how do I know this? The freakin’ guy won at Vanderbilt. In three years with the Commodores, Franklin went 6-7, then 9-4/9-4- he went 11-13 in SEC games at Vanderbilt, won two of three bowl games.

These days, Vanderbilt has lost its last 24 SEC games; they haven’t played in a bowl game since 2018, haven’t won a bowl since 2013. Tough job.

— Since 2015, Alabama has scored 56 touchdowns on special teams/defense, most in the country; San Diego State is next on that list, with 38.

— Five oldest I-A college football players are all 29+ years old; they’re all Australian punters. They punt for East Carolina, Illinois, Miami, Oklahoma State, TCU.

— NBA season begins tonight; all the major sports overlap starting this week.

—- Last two years, Seattle Mariners went 67-41 in one-run games, but then they got swept in the playoffs by Houston, losing the three games by total of four runs. Great year for Seattle, making the playoffs for first time since 2001.

— With the Braves getting bounced from the playoffs, 2009 Phillies remain the last defending World Series champ to get back to the World Series the following season.

 

[Udog]

PHILADELPHIA is 11-2 Under (8.8 Units) as a road underdog of 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons.

LA LAKERS are 25-12 ATS (11.8 Units) in road games when the total is 22-229.5 in the last 3 seasons.




NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, October 18

NBA

Tuesday, October 18

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Trend Report
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Philadelphia @ Boston
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Boston is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

LA Lakers @ Golden State
LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 5 games on the road
Golden State
Golden State is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games at home
Golden State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home


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[Udog]

The Sixers are 3-6 ATS in their last nine games.
The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in eight of Philadelphia's last 11 games.
The total has gone UNDER in four of Boston's last five games.
The Celtics are 2-4 ATS in their last six home games.
The Sixers are 3-6 SU in their last nine games.
The Sixers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against Boston.
The Sixers are 5-2 SU in their last seven games against Boston.
The Sixers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games.
The total has gone UNDER in five of Philadelphia's last six road games against Boston.


The total has gone OVER in nine of LA Lakers' last 13 games.
The Lakers are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games.
The Lakers are 3-17 SU in their last 20 road games.
The Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in four of Golden State's last five games.
The Warriors are 4-1 SU in their last five games.
The total has gone OVER in four of the last five matchups between the Lakers and Warriors.
The Warriors are 13-1 SU in their last 14 home games.
The Lakers are 4-14 SU in their last 18 road games against Golden State.

 

[CNOTES]

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18

PHI at BOS	07:30 PM	PHI +3.0 U 216.5	+500 +500
LAL at GS	10:00 PM	GS -7.5 O 224.0	+500 +500

 

[CNOTES]

NBA OCTOBER'S OPINION'S AND BEST BETS !

10/18/22..................2-2-0..................50.00%..................- 1.00

TOTALS..................2-2-0...................50.00%..................- 1.00


BEST BETS

10/18/22..................2-2-0..................50.00%..................- 1.00

TOTALS..................2-2-0...................50.00%..................- 1.00

 

[Udog]

Armadillo Sports

Wednesday’s 6-pack
Teams ranked in top 25 of both college football/basketball:
— Alabama
— Illinois
— Kentucky
— Michigan
— North Carolina
— Oregon
— Tennessee
— Texas
— TCU
— UCLA

Quote of the Day
“I tell ya, I don’t get a break with nothing. I joined Gamblers Anonymous, they gave me two-to-one I don’t make it.”
Rodney Dangerfield

Wednesday’s quiz
What was the name of the country club in the classic movie Caddyshack?

Tuesday’s quiz
Phil Garner was the Astros’ manager when they lost the 2005 World Series.

Monday’s quiz
Oregon Ducks play their home games in Autzen Stadium.

***************************

Wednesday’s Den: Mid-week musings…….

— Philadelphia 2, San Diego 0
Wheeler allowed one hit in seven IP
Harper, Schwarber homered for the Phillies.

— New York 5, Cleveland 1— Bronx wins series, 3-2, heads to Houston for the ALCS, which starts Wednesday night.

Disappointing but not surprising to see Will Little working the plate for Game 4 of the New York-Cleveland series. Since 2013, New York is 16-6 when Little is behind the plate.

Remember an A’s game in New York in 2017, when I was sitting at a bar having lunch during the game. Jed Lowrie/Bob Melvin both got tossed because Little was doing his thing, helping out the home team. It was Lowrie’s first career ejection. It wasn’t good for my blood pressure.

— Forgot to mention this last week, but AJ Pierzynski does a nice job as a TV analyst; he was a good MLB catcher. He offers opinions, and mostly just talks ball, which is a positive thing.

— Surprising stat: Last 10 years, Detroit Lions are 9-1 ATS in the game after their bye week.

— Celtics 126, 76ers 117
Tatum/Brown both scored 35 points.
Boston’s bench outscored Philly’s subs, 34-11

— Great to hear analyst Stan Van Gundy on this game; listening to him talk ball is like taking a master class in basketball. Always learn a lot from him.

— Golden State Warriors paid Jordan Poole $140M for four years, Andrew Wiggins $110M for four years as they solidify their future.

— NBA retired number 6 throughout the league, in honor of the great Bill Russell, who passed away this summer. Active players who wear number 6 now can still wear it, but no one else will be issued number 6.

Russell played 13 years in the NBA, won 11 titles; he missed the Finals once in 13 years.

— With NBA starting this week, we point out that Kentucky has 27 alums on NBA rosters at the start of the season, Duke has 25.

— Added Hulu to my TV last week, meaning unlimited CSI and M*A*S*H late at night for me, two of my all-time favorite TV shows.

— Big 14 hasn’t won a national title in college basketball since Michigan State in 2000.

— Odd fact: Justin Herbert threw 57 passes in the Chargers’ 19-16 win Monday night, but he didn’t throw a TD pass. It was the most passes ever thrown in an NFL game by a QB who didn’t throw a TD, and whose team won that game.

— Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay spoke out Tuesday against Washington owner Daniel Snyder, calling for his removal as the Commanders’ owner.

NFL teams go for $3-4B each, so if Snyder has to sell, he’ll make a boatload of $$$, but rich people don’t like to be told when to come and go.

— In 2010, Joe Jacob bought the Golden State Warriors for $450M; this season, the Warriors’ payroll plus their payroll tax might be more than $450M.

— Reggie Miller was talking about the scuffle Golden State had in practice during training camp; Miller said stuff like that happens in the NBA, but it happens more on good teams than bad teams, because good teams have more accountability. Bad teams don’t care as much.

 

[Udog]

INDIANA is 14-4 Over (9.6 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

MEMPHIS are 56-36 ATS (16.4 Units) when the total is 22-229.5 in the last 3 seasons.

BROOKLYN is 22-44 ATS (-26.4 Units) in home games as a favorite in the last 3 seasons.

CLEVELAND is 27-12 ATS (13.8 Units) in the first half of the season in the last 3 seasons.

HOUSTON is 23-43 ATS (-24.3 Units) as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 in the last 3 seasons.

CHICAGO is 35-19 Under (14.1 Units) when the total is 210-219.5 in the last 3 seasons.

SAN ANTONIO is 111-75 ATS (28.5 Units) against Southeast division opponents since 1996.

DENVER is 97-70 Over (20 Units) in all games in the last 3 seasons.

PHOENIX is 33-17 Over (14.3 Units) in home games as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 in the last 3 seasons.

Chauncey Billups is 19-37 ATS (-21.7 Units) as a dog (Coach of PORTLAND)

 

[Udog]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 19

 

[Udog]

NBA

Wednesday, October 19

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Trend Report
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Washington @ Indiana
Washington
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 8 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 8 games on the road
Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Indiana's last 8 games when playing Washington

Orlando @ Detroit
Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games on the road
Detroit
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Orlando
Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Orlando

Chicago @ Miami
Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games on the road
Miami
Miami is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Chicago

Cleveland @ Toronto
Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 11 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games
Toronto
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland

New York @ Memphis
New York
New York is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 5 games when playing Memphis
Memphis
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis's last 5 games when playing New York
Memphis is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games at home

Houston @ Atlanta
Houston
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games

New Orleans @ Brooklyn
New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 9 of New Orleans's last 11 games when playing Brooklyn
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing New Orleans
Brooklyn is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing New Orleans

Oklahoma City @ Minnesota
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

Charlotte @ San Antonio
Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games on the road
Charlotte is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games at home
San Antonio is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Charlotte

Denver @ Utah
Denver
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games when playing on the road against Utah
Utah
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Denver
Utah is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Denver

Dallas @ Phoenix
Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix
Phoenix is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas
Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Portland @ Sacramento
Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games on the road
Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games at home


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Udog]

The Knicks are 13-7 ATS in their last 20 games.
The total has gone UNDER in five straight Knicks' games.
The Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
The Grizzlies are 2-4 SU in their last six games.
The Grizzlies are 14-3 SU in their last 17 home games.
The Grizzlies are 8-2 SU in their last 10 home games against New York.
The Knicks are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games.
The Knicks are 5-12 SU in their last 17 games against Memphis.
The Knicks are 5-0 SU in their last five road games.
The total has gone OVER in five straight matchups between the Grizzlies and Knicks.


The Mavs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone OVER in four of Dallas' last six games.
The Mavs are 1-4 SU in their last five games.
The Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in four of Phoenix's last five games.
The Suns are 1-4 SU in their last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in four of Phoenix's last five games against Dallas.
The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Phoenix are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas.
The Mavs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Phoenix.
The Mavs are 4-1 SU in their last five games against Phoenix.
The Mavs are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
The Mavs are 1-8 SU in their last nine road games against Phoenix.