Rattlers

The Los Angeles Clippers have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the highly competitive Western Conference. Despite facing significant challenges, including injuries and starting the season without their best player in Kawhi Leonard and losing co-star Paul George in the offseason, the team has maintained a strong position. The Clippers are currently 6th in the West with a 28-21 record, and they are just a few games back of the 4th seed. Their success this season this far can be attributed to a number of factors, including their combination of elite defense, standout performances from both star players and role players, and strategic leadership under head coach Tyronn Lue.
A stout defense led by Ty Lue
The Clippers have established themselves as a defensive powerhouse, boasting a defensive rating of 107.9, placing them 2nd in the league. This defensive prowess is a testament to Tyronn Lue's coaching philosophy, which emphasizes versatility and adaptability. Lue has implemented a system that leverages the team's length and athleticism, allowing for effective switching and disruption of opposing offenses. The Clippers excel in closing passing lanes and contesting shots, forcing opponents into low-percentage attempts and turnovers.
James Harden's All-Star caliber season
Acquired to last season bolster the team's offensive capabilities, James Harden has delivered an All-Star caliber performance this season. Over 39 games, Harden has averaged 21.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.&nbsp;
The system's dual threat as a scorer and playmaker has been instrumental in the Clippers' offensive schemes. Harden's ability to create his own shot, as well as facilitate opportunities for teammates, has been a vital dimension to the team's attack. He has developed a knack of finding big man Ivica Zubac on the roll and guard Norman Powell on the perimeter for catch and shoot opportunities. His court vision and decision-making have been pivotal in orchestrating the offense, especially during critical moments.
Stepping up: Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac
In the absence of Paul George, who departed for the Philadelphia 76ers, and with Kawhi Leonard sidelined for a significant portion of the season due to injury management, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac have risen to the occasion. Powell has embraced a larger offensive role, leading the team with 27 points in a recent victory against the Charlotte Hornets. He has increased his scoring average by 10 points this season, and is a leading candidate for 6th man of the year. The departure of George has motivated Powell to do more on offense for the Clippers this year, and he has filled that void splendidly
Zubac, the team's starting center, has also shouldered a greater responsibility, contributing significantly on both ends of the floor. His presence in the paint has provided the Clippers with a reliable interior option, and his defensive efforts have been instrumental in anchoring the team's defense. In the same game against the Hornets, Zubac recorded a double-double, underscoring his importance to the team's success.
Kawhi Leonard: The X-Factor
Kawhi Leonard's return to the lineup marks a pivotal moment for the Clippers. After missing the first 34 games of the season due to right knee inflammation, Leonard made his season debut just recently, and has been playing well since.
Since his return, Leonard has been gradually ramping up his performance, recently recording his first dunk of the season and scoring on bunches. His two-way prowess not only enhances the team's defensive capabilities but also provides a significant boost to their offensive firepower. Leonard's leadership and experience are invaluable assets as the Clippers aim to secure a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
The unsung heroes: Capable role players
Beyond the marquee names, the Clippers have cultivated a cadre of role players who have been instrumental in the team's resilience. Players such as Derrick Jones Jr., Amir Coffey, Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, and Terance Mann have provided depth and versatility. Their defensive tenacity and ability to contribute in small-ball lineups have allowed the Clippers to adapt to various in-game scenarios. Kris Dunn, for instance, has been lauded for his defensive prowess and playmaking abilities off the bench, while Nicolas Batum's veteran presence and versatility have been invaluable.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
The Los Angeles Clippers' ability to remain competitive in the formidable Western Conference is a testament to their collective effort and strategic acumen. Through a combination of staunch defense, impactful performances from both stars and role players, and the strategic guidance of Coach Tyronn Lue, the Clippers have navigated adversity and positioned themselves as a formidable contender. The reintegration of Kawhi Leonard and the continued contributions from the entire roster will only be pivotal in determining the team's trajectory as they continue on with this season still with lofty championship aspirations.

The Clippers remain a force in the West with elite defense, James Harden's stellar play, and key contributions from role players.

How the Clippers have managed to stay afloat in the tough Western Conference

After months of scrolling through countless Damian Lillard trade rumors, the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/bucks-shock-nba-world-by-acquiring-damian-lillard-in-blockbuster-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news finally broke</a> on Wednesday afternoon that the Portland Trail Blazers' long-time franchise cornerstone was headed to the Milwaukee Bucks. In one of the more surprising blockbuster trades in recent memory, the seven-time All-Star guard will pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo to form one of the best duos in the league.&nbsp;
Now, the new big fish in the trade market is none other than the player Lillard was dealt for: Jrue Holiday. The Blazers' return featured Holiday, former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns second-rounder Toumani Camara, an unprotected Bucks 2029 first-rounder, and 2028 and 2030 first-round pick swaps from Milwaukee. The circumstances of Lillard&rsquo;s trade request and his desire to be dealt specifically to the Miami Heat dampened his trade value, but the Blazers were able to come away with a &ldquo;palatable&rdquo; return.
 However, Holiday is unlikely to stay in Portland for long as he does not fit their rebuilding timeline around core players Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1707100851880259810" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s Bobby Marks</a> graded Portland&rsquo;s trade return as &ldquo;incomplete&rdquo; pending the potential assets the team receives for Holiday when they flip him.
Many contending teams are reportedly rushing to the phones to make moves in reaction to the Lillard blockbuster, with several expressing serious interest in Holiday. These possible suitors include the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Heat. Teams must factor in Holiday's potential free agency next summer and the possibility of signing him to a long-term extension, which he becomes eligible for on Feb. 22. Perhaps the Blazers will have some urgency to deal Holiday prior to Media Day on Oct. 2 in order to avoid questions and logistics about bringing him in for training camp.&nbsp;
For any team over the luxury-tax apron ($171,294,000) to trade for Holiday, they need to trade away at least $33,175,536 (90% of Holiday&rsquo;s 2023-24 salary) in salaries in order to legally execute a trade. The rest of the league will only need to send out $27,646,280 (75% of Holiday&rsquo;s 2023-24 salary) in order to make a deal.&nbsp;
Another important CBA note with any Holiday trade is that his $36,861,707 salary cannot be aggregated with other contracts for two months. While Holiday is still eligible to be immediately rerouted elsewhere, he cannot be traded with other players. For example, just a few months back, Chris Paul was traded to the Washington Wizards and then quickly rerouted in a separate deal to Golden State. Because Paul was the only salary going back to the Warriors, he was legally allowed to be traded. This must be taken into consideration when proposing potential trade ideas.
With Holiday potentially on the move in the coming days, let&rsquo;s take a look at some potential deals for the 33-year-old.
Realistic Trade Destinations
BOSTON CELTICS
Celtics receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers receive: Malcolm Brogdon, Al Horford, Dalano Banton (salary guarantee increased to $1,009,853 to satisfy trade rules), 2024 GSW top-4 protected first-round pick, 2025 BOS first-round pick, 2026 BOS first-round pick swap, 2024 CHI/DAL/NO (most favorable) second-round pick, 2026 MIN/NO/NYK/POR (most favorable) second-round pick
By trading away Marcus Smart this summer, the Celtics lost the key cog to their juggernaut defense. Despite not having a Defensive Player of the Year award, Holiday would probably serve as an upgrade to Smart on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, helping the Celtics compete against the new-look Bucks in the East. If they wish to enter the Holiday sweepstakes, they would need to trade Malcolm Brogdon ($22,500,000), whom they were close to dealing to the Clippers in July. Along with Brogdon, they would have to sacrifice either Al Horford ($10,000,000) or Robert Williams III ($11,571,429) to make the salaries work. They have all of their own draft picks to trade as well as the Golden State Warriors' pick in 2024, which they got from the Smart trade.
MIAMI HEAT
Heat receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers receive: Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, 2027 MIA first-round pick, 2029 MIA top-14 protected first-round pick, 2028 MIA first-round pick swap, 2024 MIA top-50 protected second-round pick, 2026 LAL second-round pick, 2027 HOU/IND/MIA/OKC/SA (least favorable) second-round pick
Missing out once again in their pursuit of a star third option to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Miami could use an upgrade like Holiday to their seemingly incomplete roster. Holiday would provide a must-needed scoring punch and would fit seamlessly in Miami&rsquo;s hard-working culture. While their Lillard trade package was highlighted by Tyler Herro, they likely wouldn&rsquo;t use him in any trade for Holiday. Their salary going out in a deal would come from Kyle Lowry&rsquo;s expiring salary ($29,682,540) and some combination of younger players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($3,510,533), Nikola Jovic ($2,352,000) and Haywood Highsmith ($1,902,137). While they are somewhat restricted in terms of draft assets, they can offer up to three first-round picks if they amend their 2025 first-round pick they owe the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have three second-rounders to offer as well.&nbsp;
NEW YORK KNICKS
Knicks receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers receive: RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, Khem Birch, 2024 DAL top-10 protected first-round pick, 2024 DET top-18 protected first-round pick, 2024 WAS top-12 protected first-round pick
Spurs receive: Evan Fournier, 2026 MEM top-42 protected second-round pick, 2027 NO/POR (less favorable) second-round pick
The Knicks may be holding out for when the next superstar &ndash; i.e. Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell or Giannis Antetokounmpo (although maybe not anymore?) &ndash; asks for a trade. While New York may be focused on further down the line, acquiring a player like Holiday could allow them to boost their roster right now without giving up enough capital to harm their future superstar pursuits. A Knicks trade that would not harm their trove of draft assets would have to send out RJ Barrett ($23,883,929), who potentially fits Portland&rsquo;s rebuilding timeline. Jrue could line up as the team&rsquo;s starting shooting guard alongside Jalen Brunson, while Josh Hart would play more minutes at small forward to mitigate the loss of Barrett. Evan Fournier&rsquo;s large salary ($18,857,143) would also have to be in any deal for the Knicks to take in Holiday. Portland wouldn&rsquo;t want to acquire both Fournier and Barrett as that would push them over the luxury tax, therefore they would likely route Fournier to another team (like San Antonio).
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Clippers receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers receive: Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington, Amir Coffey, Jason Preston (salary fully guaranteed), 2028 LAC first-round pick, 2030 LAC first-round pick, 2029 LAC first-round pick swap
The Clippers may have been given an olive branch with a player like Jrue Holiday becoming available, as he's an impact player at a price they can afford. It also provides an alternative for the Clippers to land a third star while avoiding the potential drama/issues that could come with acquiring a player like James Harden. The Clippers have a lot of high-salary veterans they could use to get to Holiday&rsquo;s number like Norman Powell ($18,000,000), Marcus Morris Sr. ($17,116,279), Nicolas Batum ($11,710,818) and Robert Covington ($11,692,308). They would probably like to keep Terance Mann, who they seem to not want to include in a potential Harden trade, although his $10,576,923 could be useful. Portland could view their unprotected picks in 2028 and 2030 as some of the best draft assets they could receive due to their aging stars and lack of postseason success.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
76ers receive: Jrue Holiday
Clippers receive: James Harden, 2024 NYK second-round pick, 2029 PHI second-round pick, 2030 PHI second-round pick
Trail Blazers receive: Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington, Amir Coffey, Jason Preston (salary fully guaranteed to satisfy trade rules), 2028 LAC first-round pick, 2029 PHI first-round pick, 2029 LAC first-round pick swap
Amidst the James Harden debacle, Daryl Morey has remained steadfast in getting a formidable return if they choose to trade the disgruntled All-Star. A reunion with Jrue Holiday, who played in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2013, certainly should get Morey and the Sixers' attention. Holiday would certainly upgrade their defense while being a good support and influence on Tyrese Maxey. The Trail Blazers would have little interest in taking a direct package from Philadelphia, which would almost certainly be headlined by Harden ($35,640,000). Harden's desired destination, the Clippers, should still be interested in acquiring him, but may be more interested in trading for Holiday directly. Portland would likely get a similar package to what they would receive if they traded directly with the Clippers, potentially leaving Philadelphia out to dry. The Sixers would have to incentivize the Clippers by trading some draft capital to take Harden instead of Holiday.
Honorable Mentions
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors are a logical Holiday destination in terms of fit and trade assets. A trade package would have to send the newly acquired Chris Paul back to Portland or a third team along with a young player like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski, plus a draft pick. Given that coach Steve Kerr has talked all summer about bringing Paul into the fold, it would be pretty surprising if the team pivoted from the future Hall-of-Famer just before training camp. If the Warriors do choose to jump in the Holiday waters, they could quickly move to the front of the line.&nbsp;
TORONTO RAPTORS
Toronto was considered the favorite to acquire Lillard at one point, with a package that was likely headlined by OG Anunoby and draft assets. In order to acquire Holiday, they would need to use a similar package, albeit with less draft capital involved. It seems as though the Raptors were being coy about potentially dealing Anunoby for Lillard, according to <a href="https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/options-for-raptors-with-damian-lillard-trade-dream-done" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun</a>. If Masai Ujiri was unwilling to include Anunoby in trade discussions before, it&rsquo;s unlikely he will do so for a player like Holiday.&nbsp;
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Holiday would be a near perfect fit alongside Anthony Edwards in the Wolves' backcourt and would greatly improve their defense. However, Minnesota simply doesn&rsquo;t have the right salaries or draft assets to realistically get to Holiday&rsquo;s number unless they are willing to part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns. Even if Tim Connelly was willing to deal Towns for Holiday, the trade may not be what Portland is looking for with the 2015 No. 1 overall pick&rsquo;s five-year supermax extension beginning next season. The idea of paying supermax money to Towns will likely be a turn off for Blazers GM Joe Cronin.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Orlando is probably the most fun dark-horse destination for Jrue. While Markelle Fultz has been a suitable lead guard when healthy, Holiday would bring a championship-level veteran presence that could be useful for Orlando&rsquo;s young squad. The question with the Magic is whether they would actually pursue a deal that would accelerate their timeline with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, as well as whether they would part with draft capital that they could potentially use down the line in future trades.

With the Blazers looking to flip Jrue Holiday, Blake Stern breaks down several teams that make sense as a trade suitor.

NBA trade rumors: Examining potential destinations for Jrue Holiday

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Former NBA scout and BasketballNews.com scouting advisor, Doc Martin, recently attended Overtime Elite&rsquo;s opening weekend at their brand new arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Although Martin took notes on a number of the team&rsquo;s prospects, he was asked to focus on Jean Montero, who is currently ranked No. 16 on BasketballNews.com's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.
Here is Martin's scouting report on Montero:
Jean Montero | Overtime Elite
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96.0679%; height: 66px; border-style: none;" border="0">
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<td style="width: 41.0373%; height: 22px;">Height: 6-2</td>
<td style="width: 58.0126%; height: 22px;">Position: Guard</td>
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<td style="width: 41.0373%; height: 22px;">Weight: 172</td>
<td style="width: 58.0126%; height: 22px;">Draft Day Age: 19.1</td>
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<td style="width: 41.0373%; height: 22px;">Wingspan: 6-4</td>
<td style="width: 58.0126%; height: 22px;">Nationality: Dominican Republic</td>
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Roles: Three-Level Scorer, Crafty Finisher, Facilitator, Floor General, Primary Ball-Handler
Strengths: Jean Montero is the type of guard that can score, but doesn't always look to score. He has a presence and command on the floor, and plays at a really good pace. He handles the ball well enough to where he never seems to be in a rush with one or multiple defenders around him. Montero has the type of skill where he can see the action before it happens. He plays downhill in pick-and-roll actions and routinely makes the simple play, dropping pocket passes, throwing lobs to the rim for rolling bigs or firing skip passes to the wings lifting out of the corners. What I love most about Montero &mdash; which is similar to college and NFL quarterbacks &mdash; is that he's able to throw to teammates who are open, getting them easy buckets. He can finish with either hand, whether it&rsquo;s below or above the rim in transition. He plays unselfishly and advances the ball, and has solid shooting mechanics with NBA three-point range (and a few feet beyond).
Concerns: I would like to see Montero be a bit more disciplined defensively. There were several instances where guards were getting downhill just a bit too easily, mostly in the pick-and-roll actions.
Questions
<ul>
<li>Does he have the physical gear to defend elite NBA point guards?&nbsp;</li>
<li>There was no one at this event that could challenge him this weekend. How will he respond against equal or better competition?</li>
</ul>
Bottom Line: After watching Montero play this weekend, it's clear that he's Overtime Elite&rsquo;s best pro prospect for the 2022 NBA Draft. He plays the right way and gets all of his teammates involved. He brings a lot of intangibles to the table that would make any coach feel comfortable with him on the floor. It would be hard to get it wrong by selecting this young man.&nbsp;

After attending Overtime Elite's opening weekend in Atlanta, Doc Martin shares his takeaways from watching Jean Montero.

2022 NBA Draft: Jean Montero scouting report

After rolling out my<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-the-top-150-nba-players-for-fantasy-basketball-in-2021-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Top-150 NBA Fantasy overall rankings</a> last week, I have broken down each position into tiers.
It is important to state that these rankings are based on a nine-category roto format (points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, three-pointers, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers). Also, please note position eligibility is based on Yahoo&rsquo;s fantasy settings and, as a result, many players qualify at multiple positions.
Guards
The two biggest question marks among all guards reside in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Ben Simmons has (awkwardly) returned to Sixers, but it is still unclear whether Big Ben plans to "merely report to the team or truly rejoin the team," <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ben-simmons-arrives-in-philly-takes-covid19-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN</a>. Thus, Simmons is arguably the biggest boom-or-bust fantasy pick in the NBA this season.
Irving, on the other hand, is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/itll-be-difficult-for-kyrie-and-the-nets-to-come-back-from-this" target="_blank" rel="noopener">persona non grata in the borough of Brooklyn</a>. Although Kyrie is eligible to participate in the Nets' away games, Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday that Irving will not be allowed to play or practice with the team at all until he gets vaccinated. &ldquo;He has a choice to make, and he made his choice,&rdquo; Marks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nets-say-kyrie-irving-cant-play-or-practice-with-team-while-unvaccinated" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters Tuesday</a>. &ldquo;And my job here is to make what we deem is the best choices for the organization moving ahead and as a whole.&rdquo; There is certainly still a chance Irving gets his jab and is cleared to play, but it&rsquo;s too much of a risk to roll the dice until late in the draft, in my opinion.
Tier 1: James Harden PG, SG (BKN)&nbsp; Luka Doncic PG, SG (DAL) Stephen Curry PG, SG (GSW) Damian Lillard PG (POR)
Tier 2: Bradley Beal SG, SF (WAS) Trae Young PG (ATL) Jimmy Butler SF, PF, SG (MIA) LeBron James PG, SG, SF, PF (LAL)
Tier 3: Fred VanVleet PG, SG (TOR) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander PG, SG (OKC)
Tier 4: Jrue Holiday PG, SG (MIL) Chris Paul PG (PHO) &nbsp; Zach LaVine SG, SF (CHI) Donovan Mitchell PG, SG (UTAH)
Tier 5: Khris Middleton SF, PF, SG (MIL) Jaylen Brown SG, SF (BOS) De'Aaron Fox PG (SAC)&nbsp; Devin Booker SG, SF, PG (PHO)
Tier 6: LaMelo Ball PG, SG (CHA) CJ McCollum PG, SG (POR) Russell Westbrook PG (LAL) Kevin Porter Jr. SG, SF, PG (HOU)&nbsp; Dejounte Murray PG, SG (SAS) Malcolm Brogdon PG, SG (IND)&nbsp; Terry Rozier PG, SG (CHA)
Tier 7: Mikal Bridges SG, SF (PHO) Lonzo Ball PG, SG (CHI) Gordon Hayward SG, SF (CHA) Ja Morant PG (MEM) Bogdan Bogdanovic SF, PF, SG (ATL) Darius Garland PG, SG (CLE) Anthony Edwards SG, SF (MIN) DeMar DeRozan SF, PF, SG (CHI) Kyle Lowry PG (MIA) Tyrese Haliburton PG, SG (SAC) Derrick White PG, SG (SAS)
Tier 8: Mike Conley PG (UTAH) Jalen Suggs PG, SG (ORL) Spencer Dinwiddie PG, SG (WAS) Cade Cunningham PG, SG (DET) Ben Simmons PG (PHI) Caris LeVert SG, SF (IND) D&rsquo;Angelo Russell PG, SG (MIN) Collin Sexton PG, SG (CLE) Marcus Smart PG, SG (BOS) Jordan Poole PG, SG (GSW)&nbsp;
Tier 9: Andrew Wiggins SG, SF (GSW)&nbsp; Nickeil Alexander-Walker SG, SF, PG (NOP) Devonte&rsquo; Graham PG, SG (NOP) Evan Fournier SG, SF (NYK) Buddy Hield SG, SF (SAC) Norman Powell SG, SF (POR) Kemba Walker PG (NYK) RJ Barrett SG, SF (NYK) Reggie Jackson PG, SG (LAC) Dennis Schroder PG (BOS) Jordan Clarkson PG, SG (UTAH) Joe Ingles SG, SF, PF (UTAH) Joe Harris SG, SF (BKN)&nbsp; Malik Beasley PG, SG, SF (MIN) Kyrie Irving PG, SG (BKN)&nbsp;
Tier 10:&nbsp; De&rsquo;Anthony Melton PG, SG (MEM) Jalen Green SG (HOU) Klay Thompson SG, SF (GSW) Dillon Brooks SG, SF (MEM) Matisse Thybulle SG, SF (PHI) T.J. McConnell PG, SG (IND) Derrick Rose PG, SG (NYK) Tim Hardaway Jr. SG, SF (DAL) Kelly Oubre Jr. SG, SF, PF (CHA) Eric Bledsoe PG, SG (LAC) Kevin Huerter SG, SF (ATL) Josh Giddey PG, SG, SF (OKC) Tyrese Maxey PG, SG (PHI)
Forwards
Looking for a potential sleeper at forward? I&rsquo;d suggest highlighting Pascal Siakam or Evan Mobley on your cheat sheet.&nbsp;
After a phenomenal 2019-20 campaign, in which he was named to the All-NBA Second Team, Siakam failed to live up to expectations last season; his scoring average, three-point makes and effective field goal percentage all decreased. In addition, Pascal is still working his way back from surgery on a torn labrum, which has forced his ADP (Average Draft Position) to plummet. However, earlier this week, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said his star forward has been &ldquo;going 100%&rdquo; without contact for about 4-6 weeks, and could return later this month.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Evan Mobley is going to be a special defender in the NBA. GMs believe that Mobley will be the best player from his draft class in five years 👀 (🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Schmitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mike_Schmitz</a>) <a href="https://t.co/iPiaabn2Gu">pic.twitter.com/iPiaabn2Gu</a>
&mdash; NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1446161049753882629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Mobley&rsquo;s stock is soaring after impressive performances and extended usage for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the preseason (he&rsquo;s leading his team in playing time, logging 28.4 minutes per game). Mr. Mobley is probably worth the gamble, as his upside is emarkably enticing.&nbsp;
Tier 1: Nikola Jokic PF, C (DEN)
Tier 2: Jayson Tatum SF, PF (BOS) Giannis Antetokounmpo PF, C (MIL) Kevin Durant SF, PF (BKN) Joel Embiid PF, C (PHI) Anthony Davis PF, C (LAL)&nbsp; Bradley Beal SG, SF (WAS) Paul George SF, PF, SG (LAC)
Tier 3: Jimmy Butler SF, PF, SG (MIA) LeBron James PG, SG, SF, PF (LAL) Domantas Sabonis PF, C (IND) Bam Adebayo PF, C (MIA) Michael Porter Jr. SF, PF (DEN Zach LaVine SG, SF (CHI)
Tier 4: Khris Middleton SF, PF, SG (MIL) Jaylen Brown SG, SF (BOS) Julius Randle PF, C (NYK) Devin Booker SG, SF, PG (PHO) Myles Turner PF, C (IND) OG Anunoby SF, PF (TOR)&nbsp; Tobias Harris SF, PF (PHI)
Tier 5: Richaun Holmes PF, C (SAC) Brandon Ingram SF, PF (NOP) Christian Wood PF, C (HOU) Kristaps Porzingis PF, C (DAL) John Collins PF, C (ATL) Kevin Porter Jr. SG, SF, PG (HOU)&nbsp; Zion Williamson PF (NOP)
Tier 6: Pascal Siakam PF, C (TOR) Mikal Bridges SG, SF (PHO) Jaren Jackson Jr. PF, C (MEM) Chris Boucher PF, C (TOR) Gordon Hayward SG, SF (CHA) Bogdan Bogdanovic SF, PF, SG (ATL) Anthony Edwards SG, SF (MIN) DeMar DeRozan SF, PF, SG (CHI) Robert Williams III C, PF (BOS)
Tier 7: Draymond Green PF, C (GSW) Jerami Grant SF, PF (DET) Caris LeVert SG, SF (IND) Robert Covington PF, C, SF (POR) Miles Bridges SF, PF (CHA) Kelly Olynyk PF, C (DET) Buddy Hield SG, SF (SAC)&nbsp; Isaiah Stewart PF, C (DET) Andrew Wiggins SG, SF (GSW)&nbsp;
Tier 8: Nickeil Alexander-Walker SG, SF, PG (NOP) Evan Fournier SG, SF (NYK) P.J. Washington PF, C (CHA) Norman Powell SG, SF (POR) Kyle Anderson SF, PF (MEM) Jonathan Isaac SF, PF (ORL) Evan Mobley C, PF (CLE) Larry Nance Jr. PF, C (POR) Harrison Barnes SF, PF (SAC) Mason Plumlee PF, C (CHA) Bobby Portis Jr. PF, C (MIL) De&rsquo;Andre Hunter SF, PF (ATL) Daniel Gafford C, PF (WAS)
Tier 9: Thaddeus Young PF, C, SF (SAS) Joe Ingles SG, SF, PF (UTAH) Lauri Markkanen PF, C (CLE) Joe Harris SG, SF (BKN)&nbsp; Keldon Johnson SF, PF (SAS) Malik Beasley PG, SG, SF (MIN) T.J. Warren SF, PF (IND) Jae'Sean Tate SF, PF (HOU) Daniel Theis PF, C (HOU) Brandon Clarke PF, C (MEM) Saddiq Bey SF (DET)\ Klay Thompson SG, SF (GSW) Derrick Favors C, PF (OKC) Al Horford PF, C (BOS)
Tier 10: Kyle Kuzma SF, PF (WAS) Matisse Thybulle SG, SF (PHI) Nicolas Batum SF, PF, SG (LAC) Derrick Rose PG, SG (NYK) Marcus Morris Sr. PF, C, SF (LAC) Dillon Brooks SG, SF (MEM) Alperen Sengun PF, C (HOU) Tim Hardaway Jr. SG, SF (DAL) Montrezl Harrell PF, C (WAS) Kelly Oubre Jr. SG, SF, PF (CHA) Nerlens Noel PF, C (NYK)&nbsp; Isaiah Roby C, PF (OKC) Kevin Huerter SG, SF (ATL) Khem Birch PF, C (TOR) Aaron Gordon SF, PF (DEN)
Centers
Centers take on added importance in fantasy hoops due to the scarcity. That&rsquo;s part of the reason why Jokic is viewed as the near-unanimous top overall selection in drafts this year.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Last season, Jokic authored a season for the ages. Not only did he score a career-high 26.4 points and rip down 10.8 rebounds per game, but he also dished out an average of 8.3 dimes each night, joining Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 boards and 8 assists over a season. Incredibly, Jokic tallied a total of 599 assists in 2020-21, which was the third-most in the entire league. Wilt Chamberlain, who led the NBA with 8.6 APG in 1967-68, is the only center to post a higher assist-average over a full season. As a fantasy cherry on top, the Joker proved incredibly durable, appearing in every game last season.
Tier 1: Nikola Jokic PF, C (DEN)
Tier 2: Karl-Anthony Towns C (MIN)
Tier 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo PF, C&nbsp; Joel Embiid PF, C (PHI) Anthony Davis PF, C (LAL)
Tier 4: Nikola Vucevic C (CHI) Domantas Sabonis PF, C (IND) Bam Adebayo PF, C (MIA) Rudy Gobert C (UTAH)
Tier 5: Myles Turner PF, C (IND) Clint Capela C (ATL) Julius Randle PF, C (NYK) Richaun Holmes PF, C (SAC) Deandre Ayton C (PHO) Christian Wood PF, C (HOU)&nbsp; Kristaps Porzingis PF, C (DAL) John Collins PF, C (ATL)
Tier 6: Jaren Jackson Jr. PF, C (MEM) Jusuf Nurkic C (POR) Pascal Siakam PF, C (TOR) Chris Boucher PF, C (TOR)&nbsp; Robert Williams III C, PF (BOS) Jonas Valanciunas C (NOP) Draymond Green PF, C (GSW) Robert Covington PF, C, SF (POR) Jarrett Allen C (CLE) Kelly Olynyk PF, C (DET) Isaiah Stewart PF, C (DET)
Tier 7: P.J. Washington PF, C (CHA) Evan Mobley C, PF (CLE) Mitchell Robinson C (NYK) Larry Nance Jr. PF, C (POR) Jakob Poeltl C (SAS) Wendell Carter Jr. C (ORL) Brook Lopez C (MIL) Mason Plumlee PF, C (CHA) Bobby Portis Jr. PF, C (MIL)
Tier 8: Daniel Gafford C, PF (WAS) Thaddeus Young PF, C, SF (SAS) Lauri Markkanen PF, C (CLE) Daniel Theis PF, C (HOU) Brandon Clarke PF, C (MEM) Ivica Zubac C (LAC) Derrick Favors C, PF (OKC) Al Horford PF, C (BOS)
Tier 9: Marcus Morris Sr. PF, C, SF (LAC) Mo Bamba C (ORL) Montrezl Harrell PF, C (WAS) Thomas Bryant C (WAS) Nerlens Noel PF, C (NYK)&nbsp; Alperen Sengun PF, C (HOU)&nbsp;
Tier 10: Khem Birch PF, C (TOR) Isaiah Roby C, PF (OKC) Andre Drummond C (PHI)&nbsp; Steven Adams C (MEM) Serge Ibaka PF, C (LAC)&nbsp; James Wiseman C (GSW) Naz Reid C (MIN) Marvin Bagley III PF, C (SAC) LaMarcus Aldridge PF, C (BKN) Nicolas Claxton PF, C (BKN) Kevin Love PF, C (CLE) Hassan Whiteside PF, C (UTAH)

Tommy Beer divides the top NBA fantasy guards, forwards and centers into 10 tiers each based on their value.

2021-22 NBA Fantasy Basketball Rankings: 10 tiers for each position

With the start of the season just three weeks away, here is my ranking of the top 150 players for the 2021-22 campaign.
It is imperative to note that this list is based on nine-category roto scoring formats (points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, three-pointers, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers) .&nbsp;
I've added comments to a handful of players to help explain the rationale behind some of their rankings.&nbsp;
So without further ado, let's get to it.
1. Nikola Jokic PF, C (DEN) 2. James Harden PG, SG (BKN): The Beard was the top-ranked fantasy player in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He's healthy and ready to rock in Brooklyn. 3. Luka Doncic PG, SG (DAL) 4. Stephen Curry PG, SG (GSW) 5. Karl-Anthony Towns C (MIN) 6. Damian Lillard PG (POR): Dame is one of only two players in NBA history to record at least 1,500 points and 400 assists in each of their first nine seasons; Oscar Robertson is the other. 7. Jayson Tatum SF, PF (BOS) 8. Giannis Antetokounmpo PF, C (MIL): There have been some mildly concerning signs regarding Giannis' left knee since the start of training camp. (The reigning NBA Finals MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1445846786657112074?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assures us he's alright</a>.) He should be ready for opening night, but I fully expect the Bucks to rest their franchise cornerstone early and often to reduce wear-and-tear on the knee.&nbsp; 9. Kevin Durant SF, PF (BKN) 10. Joel Embiid PF, C (PHI) 11. Bradley Beal SG, SF (WAS) 12. Paul George SF, PF, SG (LAC) 13. Anthony Davis PF, C (LAL): AD finished both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season ranked second overall in nine-category fantasy formats. Yes, the injury issues are certainly a concern, but he's a steal in the second round due to his unmatched ceiling.&nbsp; 14. Nikola Vucevic C (CHI) 15. Trae Young PG (ATL) 16. Jimmy Butler SF, PF, SG (MIA) 17. LeBron James PG, SG, SF, PF (LAL) 18. Fred VanVleet PG, SG (TOR): Last season, VanVleet joined Harden and Curry as just the third player in NBA history to average more than 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 made triples and 1.5 steals per game. 19. Domantas Sabonis PF, C (IND) 20. Bam Adebayo PF, C (MIA) 21. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander PG, SG (OKC): The Oklahoma City Thunder's max-man is primed for a breakout campaign. 22. Rudy Gobert C (UTAH) 23. Michael Porter Jr. SF, PF (DEN): MPJ shot over 40% from downtown in each of his first two seasons (42.2% and 44.5%). The only other active players to do that in each of their first two NBA campaigns (min. 100 three-point attempts) are the Splash Brothers: Curry and Klay Thompson. 24. Jrue Holiday PG, SG (MIL) 25. Chris Paul PG (PHO) &nbsp; 26. Zach LaVine SG, SF (CHI) 27. Donovan Mitchell PG, SG (UTAH): In the 19 games he appeared in after the All-Star Break, Mitchell averaged 29.6 points per contest. The only player with a higher post-ASB scoring average was Curry. 28. Tobias Harris SF, PF (PHI) 29. Khris Middleton SF, PF, SG (MIL) 30. Jaylen Brown SG, SF (BOS) 31. Myles Turner PF, C (IND) 32. De'Aaron Fox PG (SAC): Over a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-can-deaaron-fox-save-the-sacramento-kings-postseason-play-in-tournament-playoff-hopes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12-game stretch late last season</a>, Fox averaged 30.6 points (on 53.4% shooting), 6.7 dimes and 4.2 boards. If he can improve his offensive efficiency and cut down on his turnovers, Fox has a chance to establish himself as a fantasy stud. 33. Clint Capela C (ATL) 34. Julius Randle PF, C (NYK) 35. Devin Booker SG, SF, PG (PHO) 36. OG Anunoby SF, PF (TOR): In 2020-21, OG finished the year ranked 35th overall in nine-category leagues (one spot behind LeBron James). 37. Richaun Holmes PF, C (SAC) 38. Brandon Ingram SF, PF (NOP) 39. Deandre Ayton C (PHO) 40. Christian Wood PF, C (HOU)&nbsp; 41. LaMelo Ball PG, SG (CHA): I'm not nearly as high on LaMelo as the rest of the industry seems to be. He exceeded expectations as a rookie, but I'm worried about his effective field goal percentage (eFG%) dropping and his turnover rate increasing. 42. CJ McCollum PG, SG (POR) 43. Zion Williamson PF (NOP): Zion underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot early in the offseason. The team "hopes" he'll return by the start of the regular season, but this is a problematic injury for the high-flying big man. ​​44. Russell Westbrook PG (LAL) 45. Kristaps Porzingis PF, C (DAL): If KP plays even 65+ games, he's a steal in the fifth round. 46. Dejounte Murray PG, SG (SAS) 47. Malcolm Brogdon PG, SG (IND)&nbsp; 48. Terry Rozier PG, SG (CHA) 49. John Collins PF, C (ATL) 50. Kevin Porter Jr. SG, SF, PG (HOU): KPJ is gonna get buckets and dimes (he averaged 17.2 PPG and 6.3 APG over the final two months of the 2020-21 season); my only concerns are his high turnover rate and poor percentages.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
25 PTS for <a href="https://twitter.com/Kevinporterjr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kevinporterjr</a> power the <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoustonRockets</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPreseason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPreseason</a> <a href="https://t.co/iDXezFBiBi">pic.twitter.com/iDXezFBiBi</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1445590596987482121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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51. Mikal Bridges SG, SF (PHO) 52. Jaren Jackson Jr. PF, C (MEM): Jackson is one of two active players averaging at least 1.5 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game for his career. The issue has been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-gms-believe-jaren-jackson-jr-is-poised-for-a-breakout-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">staying on the floor</a>, as injuries have limited JJJ to a total of just 126 games in three seasons. 53. Lonzo Ball PG, SG (CHI) 54. Gordon Hayward SG, SF (CHA) 55. Ja Morant PG (MEM): The upside is tantalizing, but Morant was the only player in the NBA last season to attempt more than 15 shots per game and shoot below 45% from the floor, below 75% from the FT and below 31% from downtown. 56. Jusuf Nurkic C (POR) 57. Bogdan Bogdanovic SF, PF, SG (ATL) 58. Darius Garland PG, SG (CLE) 59. Chris Boucher PF, C (TOR): Boucher finished last season ranked 40th overall in nine-category formats despite logging just 24.2 minutes a night. However, he just had surgery on his dislocated left middle finger and is expected to miss a "minimum" of 3-to-4 weeks.&nbsp; 60. Anthony Edwards SG, SF (MIN) 61. DeMar DeRozan SF, PF, SG (CHI) 62. Kyle Lowry PG (MIA) 63. Pascal Siakam PF, C (TOR): Once fully healthy, I think Siakam will bounce back in a big way and inherit plenty of scoring opportunities with Kyle Lowry no longer in the picture. Still, Siakam had shoulder surgery in June and will likely miss at least the start of the season. 64. Robert Williams III C, PF (BOS) 65. Tyrese Haliburton PG, SG (SAC): He finished last season ranked 65th overall in nine-category fantasy formats, and I think he has a chance to crack the top-50 this year.&nbsp; 66. Derrick White PG, SG (SAS) 67. Jonas Valanciunas C (NOP) 68. Kyrie Irving PG, SG (BKN): Kyrie could end up missing every Nets home game <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/kevin-durant-im-envisioning-kyrie-being-a-part-of-our-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">if he refuses to get vaccinated</a>. So many unknowns are swirling around him right now. I'll pass.&nbsp; 69. Draymond Green PF, C (GSW) 70. Mike Conley PG (UTAH) 71. Jalen Suggs PG, SG (ORL): My pick for Rookie of the Year. Suggs can do it all and should see all the minutes he can handle for a rebuilding Orlando Magic squad.&nbsp; 72. Spencer Dinwiddie PG, SG (WAS) 73. Cade Cunningham PG, SG (DET) 74. Caris LeVert SG, SF (IND) 75. Jerami Grant SF, PF (DET) 76. D&rsquo;Angelo Russell PG, SG (MIN) 77. Collin Sexton PG, SG (CLE): Last season, Sexton became the second-youngest player in NBA history (behind only KD) to average more than 24 points per game while shooting above 47% from the floor and 37% from downtown. 78. Robert Covington PF, C, SF (POR) 79. Jarrett Allen C (CLE) 80. Miles Bridges SF, PF (CHA): Over his final 15 games last season, Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 3.1 made three-pointers. He did so while shooting over 50% from the floor, 42% from downtown and 84% from the charity stripe. 81. Marcus Smart PG, SG (BOS) 82. Kelly Olynyk PF, C (DET): Kelly-O averaged a whopping 19.0, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 treys and 1.4 steals in the 27 games he played in Houston last season. The Pistons signed him to a big contract in August, hoping he can come close to replicating those numbers. 83. Isaiah Stewart PF, C (DET) 84. Kemba Walker PG (NYK) 85. Andrew Wiggins SG, SF (GSW): Now that he's vaccinated, we know he'll be <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/andrew-wiggins-has-been-vaccinated-will-be-eligible-for-all-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cleared to play</a> in all Golden State Warriors home games this season.&nbsp; 86. Devonte&rsquo; Graham PG, SG (NOP) 87. Evan Fournier SG, SF (NYK) 88. P.J. Washington PF, C (CHA) 89. Buddy Hield SG, SF (SAC): Dating back to the start of the 2018-19 campaign, Buddy has knocked down more triples (831) than any other player in the NBA (Harden, Lillard and Curry rank second, third and fourth, respectively). 90. Nickeil Alexander-Walker SG, SF, PG (NOP) 91. NOPman Powell SG, SF (POR) 92. Kyle Anderson SF, PF (MEM) 93. Mitchell Robinson C (NYK): In 2018-19, Mitch Rob led all rookies in blocks (2.4) and field goal percentage (69.4%). As a sophomore in 2019-20, he made 74.2% of all field goals he attempted, setting the all-time NBA record for the highest single-season field goal percentage ever, passing Wilt Chamberlain. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/its-been-three-years-and-mitchell-robinson-still-has-a-lot-to-prove" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Can he stay healthy</a> in 2020-21? 94. Larry Nance Jr. PF, C (POR) 95. RJ Barrett SG, SF (NYK) 96. Jakob Poeltl C (SAS) 97. Ben Simmons PG (PHI): Impossible to try and figure out this Simmons situation going forward. I'm not willing to roll the dice until the value starts getting ridiculous. 98. Jonathan Isaac SF, PF (ORL) 99. Wendell Carter Jr. C (ORL) 100. Reggie Jackson PG, SG (LAC) 101. Brook Lopez C (MIL) 102. Harrison Barnes SF, PF (SAC) 103. Mason Plumlee PF, C (CHA) 104. Bobby Portis Jr. PF, C (MIL) 105. De&rsquo;Andre Hunter SF, PF (ATL) 106. Dennis Schroder PG (BOS) 107. Malik Beasley PG, SG, SF (MIN): Beasley has appeared in just 51 games for the Wolves since being acquired at the trade deadline in 2020, but has averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 boards, 2.4 dimes and a whopping 3.5 made treys. A great late-round value pick if he can stay on the court.
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Malik Beasley 29 points in 32 minutes last night... averaging 20/5 on the season... time to starting giving him his flowers as a top young talent in the NBA <a href="https://t.co/wz7XnezAzf">pic.twitter.com/wz7XnezAzf</a>
&mdash; Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStinar/status/1357329089997209602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote>

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108. Thaddeus Young PF, C, SF (SAS) 109. Jordan Clarkson PG, SG (UTAH) 110. Joe Ingles SG, SF, PF (UTAH): He's not the sexiest pick, but Ingles will help in nearly every fantasy category and doesn't hurt you in any way. 111. Lauri Markkanen PF, C (CLE): The Cleveland Cavaliers have excess depth up front, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been raving about Markkanen during camp. He was a forgotten man in Chicago last season, but the dude is a 7-footer who can stretch the floor, is still just 24 years of age and averaged 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds during his age-21 season. 112. Daniel Gafford C, PF (WAS) 113. Joe Harris SG, SF (BKN)&nbsp; 114. Keldon Johnson SF, PF (SAS) 115. T.J. Warren SF, PF (IND): Yes, Warren's injury history is undoubtedly concerning &mdash;&nbsp; and he is currently still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot &mdash; but this is a guy who <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/a-100-million-payday-awaits-tj-warren-if-he-continues-to-silence-the-critics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finished inside the top-50</a> overall back in 2019-20.&nbsp; 116. Jae'Sean Tate SF, PF (HOU) 117. De&rsquo;Anthony Melton PG, SG (MEM) 118. Daniel Theis PF, C (HOU): Theis ranked inside the top-100 overall when he logged starter minutes for the Boston Celtics in 2019-20. He could see 25 or more minutes a night for a Houston team that has little depth up front. Don't sleep. 119. Jalen Green SG (HOU) 120. Brandon Clarke PF, C (MEM) 121. Jordan Poole PG, SG (GSW): In the seven games Poole started last season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.8 made treys. With Klay still sidelined, Poole is expected to start early on this season. (And he's already off to a fast start, having <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/raptors-finally-return-to-toronto-as-lowry-begins-in-miami" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped 30 points</a> in Golden State's preseason opener.) 122. Saddiq Bey SF (DET) 123. Klay Thompson SG, SF (GSW): I'm concerned that the Warriors will limit Klay's minutes and rest him often, even after he is cleared to return to game action (whenever that is). The Dubs have to think long-term, as Thompson still has three years and $120-plus million left in his contract. 124. Ivica Zubac C (LAC) 125. Derrick Favors C, PF (OKC) 126. Al Horford PF, C (BOS) 127. Kyle Kuzma SF, PF (WAS) 128. Dillon Brooks SG, SF (MEM) 129. Matisse Thybulle SG, SF (PHI) 130. T.J. McConnell PG, SG (IND): McConnell led the NBA in steal percentage last season at 3.4% and shot 55.9% from the floor. He was one of just eight players to record an assist rate above 34% and a True Shooting percentage above 58% (the other seven members of this elite club were Lillard, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Jokic.) 131. Evan Mobley C, PF (CLE) 132. Nicolas Batum SF, PF, SG (LAC) 133. &nbsp;Derrick Rose PG, SG (NYK) 134. Marcus Morris Sr. PF, C, SF (LAC): Mook will see an increased share of the offensive pie with Kawhi Leonard sidelined for the first half of the season (and possibly more). 135. Mo Bamba C (ORL): This is a make-or-break season for Bamba. The Magic will give their former lottery pick every opportunity to earn playing time. If he plays significant minutes, he'll supply blocks and treys. (Bamba has looked sharp early on in the preseason.) 136. Tim Hardaway Jr. SG, SF (DAL) 137. Montrezl Harrell PF, C (WAS) 138. Kelly Oubre Jr. SG, SF, PF (CHA) 139. Thomas Bryant C (WAS) 140. Nerlens Noel PF, C (NYK)&nbsp; 141. Alperen Sengun PF, C (HOU): Sengun looked fantastic in Vegas, averaging 14.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.8 dimes, 1.3 steals and 3.0 blocks in 25 minutes a night during summer league action. He'll have a chance to stuff the stat sheet for a Rockets team looking to play its youngsters.&nbsp; 142. Eric Bledsoe PG, SG (LAC) 143. Khem Birch PF, C (TOR) 144. Isaiah Roby C, PF (OKC) 145. Kevin Huerter SG, SF (ATL) 146. Tyrese Maxey PG, SG (PHI): Maxey will be one of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/tyrese-maxey-centered-on-getting-1-better-every-day-for-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">primary beneficiaries</a> of Simmons' eventual departure from Philly. 147. Aaron Gordon SF, PF (DEN) 148. Andre Drummond C (PHI): If you draft Embiid early, you probably want to handcuff him with Drummond later on. 149. Steven Adams C (MEM) 150. Josh Giddey PG, SG, SF (OKC): Giddey started the Thunder's preseason opener and looked good, tallying 18 points (8-of-12 FGs), 7 rebounds, 3 assists and two triples. Considering his talent, the No. 6 overall pick is worth a late-round dart throw.&nbsp;
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⭐ 18 points (8-12 in the field inc. 2-4 from range) ⭐ 7 rebounds ⭐ 3 assists Josh Giddey looked at 🏠 at NBA level! FULL HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/Sw7U4nEjdT">pic.twitter.com/Sw7U4nEjdT</a>
&mdash; ESPN Australia &amp; NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1445211953421557767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Tommy Beer lists his best 150 fantasy basketball players available for the 2021-22 NBA season.

Ranking the top-150 NBA players for fantasy basketball in 2021-22

If the U.S. men's national team does in fact bring home the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, one of the main reasons will be Jrue Holiday, who has proven once again to be the final piece to a championship puzzle.&nbsp;
After having the NBA&rsquo;s best record for two consecutive seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks fell well short of a championship in both years, failing to reach the Finals at all. But they were missing something. In order to get over the hump, they were one player away.
Jrue Holiday was that player.
Similarly, things were looking pretty bleak for Team USA out of the gate. They opened in Vegas with back-to-back exhibition losses to Nigeria and Australia. And after the Americans lost the group-play opener to France, every writer with a pen began ripping them to shreds. The U.S. team became the butt of jokes all across social media. It was the end of USA Basketball as we know it, according to many overdramatic journalists.&nbsp;
However, in the 83-76 loss to France, one bright spot was Holiday, who had just arrived in Tokyo not even 24 hours prior to the game. When a reporter asked what the team needed to do in order to get back on track, his response was: &ldquo;This is my first day. Literally, my first day.&rdquo;&nbsp;
But even with it being his first day, it was evident that his impact on this team would be greatly felt, even though he'd never been on an Olympic stage prior to this game. Holiday led Team USA with 18 points and 4 assists in 28 minutes in that defeat; many media members and spectators alike missed his incredible play given the circumstances. People were understandably more focused on the fact that the U.S. men's national basketball team had just lost its first Olympic match in almost 17 years, which broke a 24-game winning streak in the Games.
But at the time, Holiday had just won the NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks. He partied and sprayed champagne all night, partied some more at a championship parade, then got on a 15-hour flight to Tokyo. To deliver that performance was amazing in and of itself. After that showing, Holiday was inserted into the starting lineup &mdash; and has continued to shine.
Ever since he joined the U.S. starting five, the team has been flourishing. The Americans just dominated Australia 97-78 and will play for the gold medal on Friday evening at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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Jrue Holiday puts <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usabasketball</a> on top.. they now lead 59-50 vs. Australia in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> Men's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> Semifinals. (video via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCOlympics</a>)<a href="https://t.co/moZuq9a6UW">pic.twitter.com/moZuq9a6UW</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1423153341987758081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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It is interesting how quiet it is when Team USA wins compared to how loud the condemnation rains down from every direction when the Americans lose exhibition games. People were using words like &ldquo;disgrace&rdquo; and claiming, &ldquo;U.S. basketball is now an inferior product." They were taking aim at Kevin Durant (for some reason) and the &ldquo;individualism of U.S. basketball vs. team concepts of international squads," and criticizing U.S. head coach Gregg Popovich as being over the hill. The criticism went all the way down to AAU level, and of course, you had Stephen A. Smith&rsquo;s disrespectful rant after Team USA lost to Nigeria. It&rsquo;s interesting how people aren&rsquo;t as loud with their praise as they are with their criticism, but I digress.
Coach Popovich described the impact of Holiday in a unique way.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s, in a way, kind of like the meanest man in the valley, but you&rsquo;d never know it because of his quiet demeanor, his kindness," Popovich said. &ldquo;But he&rsquo;s an all-around wonderful human being. And his entry to the team, late as it was, has had an immediate effect, because he garners so much respect from his teammates.&rdquo;
To add to Pop's praise, Holiday simply gives the U.S. team something it didn&rsquo;t have before: a pure point guard.
Damian Lilard was playing the point, and is one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA, but he&rsquo;s not a pure point guard. He has the ability to create shots for himself without a set, drawn-up play &mdash; and that&rsquo;s invaluable &mdash; but he&rsquo;s not a pure point guard whose duties are primarily comprised of setting everyone up and running the team. Inserting Holiday at the point allowed Lillard to concentrate on what he does best, which is putting the ball in the hole.
Numbers don&rsquo;t lie, and here's a prime example: Lillard struggled in the opening loss to France, going just 3-for-10 from the field. But after Holiday began running the point, Dame flourished with 21 points and poured in seven three-pointers against Iran. That&rsquo;s not a coincidence.&nbsp;
But more importantly, Holiday&rsquo;s best skill is his defense.
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Whenever I watch Jrue Holiday make somebody disappear, I always go back a couple of years ago to when New Orleans gave him a big contract despite a long injury history. Rep on D was strong. Locked up Kyle Lowry one night &amp; KL told me, "Whatever they're paying him is not enough."
&mdash; Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrMichaelLee/status/1423159620856594432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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As seen in the NBA Finals, Holiday wore Chris Paul down the entire series. He was picking him up full court almost every time. It was reminiscent of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb0gdyGDcU0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">40 Minutes of Hell</a> at Arkansas. Holiday was stuck to Paul like glue, neutralized him and caused CP3's very uncharacteristic turnover barrage. It was old-school basketball and it changed the series.
Even when Holiday struggled with his shooting, he dominated on the defensive end. In Game 3 in particular, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer wisely made the adjustment to abandon all switching, aggressive helping and hedging and recovering; he instead elected to go with Holiday shadowing Paul everywhere he went. Not only did it prove effective, but it was the turning point of the series. Holiday stepped up to the challenge and shined. He didn&rsquo;t let CP3 breath, and he did the same thing with Devin Booker; according to <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/201950/head-to-head/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;sort=MATCHUP_FGA&amp;dir=1&amp;Outcome=W" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA.com&rsquo;s tracking data</a>, Booker only connected on 9-of-25 shots when matched up against Holiday.
Again, numbers don&rsquo;t lie.
Now, the U.S. will have to face Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum of France in a rematch to win the gold.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Having him, he&rsquo;s probably the best perimeter defender we have in the NBA,&rdquo; Zach LaVine said. "And you have him on the [U.S.] team and we&rsquo;ve got a bunch of guys to help him as well, myself included, trying to take on that role, being able to go out there try to help guard guys.&nbsp;
&ldquo;But having Jrue out there, you can&rsquo;t get much better than that on the perimeter.&rdquo;
Give Jrue Holiday his flowers.
Yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the MVP of the NBA Finals, but Holiday was invaluable.
And yes, Kevin Durant is the MVP of Team USA... but when they do bring home the gold, it will be largely because of Jrue Holiday.&nbsp;

Etan Thomas praises Jrue Holiday for being the unsung hero in both the NBA Finals and for Team USA in the Olympics.

Jrue Holiday is the final piece to any team's puzzle

We have a fantastic matchup on our hands, health permitting.
In one corner, the Milwaukee Bucks have finally broken through the glass ceiling. Back-to-back postseason meltdowns led to an epiphany: hey, maybe we should do some things differently.
And so, they did.&nbsp;
A different offensive formation. A departure from their strict drop scheme, opting to sprinkle in more switching as preparation for later rounds. You've seen the fruits of that labor. Their drop suffocated the Miami Heat's offense in round one. Their alterations in drop and willingness to switch were evident against the Brooklyn Nets in round two, and especially against the Atlanta Hawks in the Conference Finals.
The health of Giannis Antetokounmpo looms large, but this is a talented, mentally tough, and diverse (at last!) group ready to bring this thing home.
And then there are the Phoenix Suns, who almost nobody expected to be here.&nbsp;
They barely missed the playoffs last season, partially due to an unfortunate suspension. They went 8-0 in last season's bubble, leading to optimism and ultimately setting the stage for a Chris Paul trade.
Paul raised the floor tremendously with his playmaking, shooting, shot creation, and leadership. Internal improvement from the young studs -- Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges -- raised the ceiling. The vets filled the gaps, with Cameron Payne's resurgence leading the charge.
They took down the defending champs in round one, with injuries on both sides permeating the series. They destroyed the Denver Nuggets in round two, one pick-and-roll at a time. The Los Angeles Clippers threatened late, but ultimately couldn't push the Suns to a seventh game in the Conference Finals.
The Suns have the goods, y'all.
I&rsquo;m not a coach -- I'm just a pun-loving basketball fan with a hankering for film breakdowns. But instead of a traditional series preview, I decided to go into the basketball trenches and devise gameplans for both teams. The tone of this piece will be a little more informal, but it will still be informative (at least I hope).
First, let's look at how the Bucks will try to stop the Suns.
Defensive Matchups
Jrue Holiday --&gt; Chris Paul
PJ Tucker --&gt; Devin Booker
Khris Middleton --&gt; Mikal Bridges
Bobby Portis --&gt; Jae Crowder
Brook Lopez --&gt; Deandre Ayton
Middleton got the Booker assignment during the regular-season meetings. The idea of starting with Tucker on Booker as an innings-eater of sorts would make some sense. Tucker has gotten the Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, and Trae Young (in spurts) assignment in consecutive rounds. Letting him hound Booker and be physical &ndash; something that Patrick Beverley had some success with &ndash; could frustrate him.
Top Priority on Defense: Discipline vs Pick-and-Roll Attack
The Suns may have the most versatile pick-and-roll attack in the NBA. Drag screens in transition. Screen-the-screener actions from the wings. A buffet of options out of the HORNS alignment - a player in each corner, and a player stationed at each elbow, for those who aren't familiar. We'll dig into some of the specifics shortly.
Not only are the actions diverse, they also do a fantastic job of mixing up the spacing. They'll give you an empty corner look. They may go with a traditional spread formation. Sometimes, there will be one shooter in the strong side corner. They may go with identical looks on consecutive possessions, but have the spacers relocate to different areas.
Staying out of rotation is going to be key. If this team is able to scramble you, you might as well get back on the bus.
Suns' Team Stats (and Phoenix's stats vs. Milwaukee)&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Offensive Rating: 116.3, 7th (120.5)</li>
<li>Half-Court Offensive Rating: 102.7, 3rd (106.8)</li>
<li>True Shooting Percentage: 59.7, 3rd (60.7)</li>
<li>Assist Percentage: 62.2, 9th (54.6)</li>
<li>Turnover Rate: 12.6, 4th (10.5)</li>
<li>Pace: 98.00, 24th (100.04)</li>
<li>Free-Throw Attempts: 18.7, 29th (17.5)</li>
<li>Free-Throw Percentage: 83.4, 2nd (77.1)</li>
<li>Three-Point Attempts: 34.6, 15th (36.5)</li>
<li>Three-Point Percentage: 37.8, 7th (43.8)</li>
<li>Offensive Rebounds: 8.8, 28th (10.0)</li>
</ul>
Suns' Play Type Breakdown
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screen-shot-2021-06-18-at-4-06-58-pm.png" alt="" width="760" height="325" />
Actions to Watch For
(Before digging in, I'd once again like to <a href="https://twitter.com/theIVpointplay/status/1364703174028746752?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommend this breakdown</a> for a more comprehensive look at the Suns' playbook. It is absolutely worth your time, I promise.)
<ul>
<li>Spain/Stack PnR</li>
</ul>
This is a favorite for Phoenix. High ball screen up top, a back screen on the screener's man. The back screener will pop up above the break, or flare out to the wing. It's an incredibly tough action to defend on the fly.
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<ul>
<li>Pistol</li>
</ul>
Also known as "21" action, keep an eye out for Booker screening for Paul on the wing (or vice versa) as part of their early offense package. A pitch to the screener may precede the action, but otherwise, they'll be looking to get downhill early.
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<ul>
<li>52/53/54</li>
</ul>
Don't overthink this one. The tell for this action is pretty simple. The center (5) and another player &ndash; the shooting guard (2), small forward (3), or power forward (4) &ndash; will be stationed at each elbow, predominantly in a HORNS alignment. The center will screen for the other player at the elbow as they lift to the wing and receive a pass.
Here's a loose example.
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This would be "52" since Ayton (5) and Booker (2) are involved at the free throw line. If you peeped, Booker fakes a handoff to Paul before flowing into a pick-and-roll with Ayton. That handoff-to-ball-screen option exists. Sometimes, the lift from the wing will act as a decoy for a more traditional ball screen.
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Base Coverage: Drop
This remains the go-to, though tweaks can be made if necessary. The drop coverage deployed in Game 1 against the Hawks is not what it looked like in Game 2, for example.&nbsp;
For this series, it'll need to look more like the Game 2 version. Bring Lopez or Portis closer to the level of the screen and drop back from there. Active help at the nail and elbows to clutter the driving lanes.&nbsp;
Paul and Booker are mid-range artists; you don't want them getting comfortable. If they get comfortable, they'll force extra help. Extra help will lead to kick-outs, and you don't want a Suns team that ranked seventh in three-point percentage to get a bunch of open looks.
To that point: they're draining north of 43% of their "wide-open" triples during the postseason.
Keep things tight.
The Changeup: Heavy Switching
This is what the regular season was for.
This is what slipping from first to eighth in defensive rating was for.&nbsp;
More presently, this is what the back-half of the Eastern Conference Finals were for.
If the Suns are able to get to their automatics against drop and scramble the defense, switching may be the way to go. Keep the ball in front, and turn things into an isolation battle. With or without Giannis, there should be enough size to keep the Suns out of easy mismatch-hunting on the block.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/book88_lg.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="387" />
Defending Devin Booker
Booker is one of the most complete offensive players in the sport. Smooth off the dribble, physical when getting downhill. Superb footwork. Early reps as a point guard helped instill all the basic pick-and-roll reads.
There isn't a full-blown weakness to hammer home, which has allowed him to flourish during the postseason (27-6-5, 56.7 True Shooting Percentage) so far. Booker dropped 54 points across the two regular-season meetings, and did so on a mid-range heavy diet. Shoring things up and cutting off some of the automatic looks could go a long way towards slowing him down.
Major Key: Crowd the elbows
Booker was <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/shooting/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of 12 players</a> to average at least 5.0 mid-range attempts during the regular season. Of those 12 players, his 48.6% clip on those shots ranked fifth.
He's improved his volume during the postseason, taking 6.7 middies and knocking them down at a 41.1% clip. I won't go full-blown math nerd on you. I also have no interest in having the mid-range/analytics "debate." Let's just say a 41.1% clip on nearly seven attempts is not an ideal diet.
Booker was woeful on those looks against the Clippers (34.7% on 8.2 attempts). There were some misses that you can chalk up to randomness, but for the most part, the Clippers did their homework early.
Look through Booker's (pick-and-roll) film in that series, and you'll see someone loading up at the "nail" or around the elbows before he even begins an attack.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2021_06_30_00_16_26.png" alt="" width="577" height="325" />
Terance Mann has the primary assignment on Booker, but look at where Nicolas Batum is stationed. Cameron Payne is one pass away, but it doesn't matter. The priority here is to make sure Booker can't flow into a left-drifting pull-up. He's going to have to pull in Mann's face, or work his attack towards the baseline.&nbsp;
Booker shot a shade under 44% on middies against the Bucks during the regular season with near-identical volume to the Clippers series. This is what some of those looks, well, looked like.
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There are makes and misses in that compilation, but one thing is constant. More accurately, one thing&nbsp;isn't&nbsp;constant.
Help.&nbsp;
Step one to slowing down Booker is making sure he can't walk into those Paulian middies around the elbows. Make him shoot over two. Push him towards the baseline. Push him back above the break if necessary.&nbsp;
If he gets rolling on those middies, it'll open everything else up. He'll toss in a head fake to sell the pull-up, then get to the basket instead. He'll toss in shot fakes to draw easy free throws.
Don't let Booker get into his bag like that.
Other Notes
<ul>
<li>It's worth noting that Booker's pull-up prowess is only scary in the mid-range area. Despite coming out of Kentucky known as a knockdown shooter, that hasn't completely shown itself in the pros. More specifically: the pull-up three hasn't translated. He shot just 30.8% on pull-up threes this season, a little bit below his career mark (31.7%). If they're setting high ball screens for him, ducking or spinning under those picks could be a way to keep him in front.</li>
<li>To the ball-screen point: the Suns do a great job of mixing up the location of those screens. They don't mind operating below the arc. Trapping Booker on lower screens could be a way to keep him out of rhythm.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Defending the Shooters (Perimeter)
Chris Paul: Hard, but controlled close-out
<ul>
<li>It's been a strong shooting season for Paul. In addition to his mid-range mastery, he's coming off a season in which he shot 39.5% from three -- and an absurd 47% on <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/101108/shots-dash/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">catch-and-shoot looks</a>. Running him off the line is the play, but you'll have to stay attached. Not only is he a threat to flow into one or two-dribble pull-ups from there, any extra rotation from the defense will open up kick-out opportunities for him.</li>
</ul>
Cam Payne: Hard, but controlled close-out
<ul>
<li>Payne and that funky form can do work. You can't be too reckless when closing out; he doesn't mind pump-faking, watching a defender fly by, then letting an uncontested triple rip. Keep things in front.</li>
</ul>
Mikal Bridges: Hard, but controlled close-out
<ul>
<li>Bridges made a leap as a shooter this season, improving his efficiency (36.1% to 42.5%) and volume (2.7 attempts to 4.4) from last season. He's improving as a driver, and has become more willing to stop-and-pop for middies. Don't give him easy driving lanes.</li>
</ul>
Cam Johnson: Hard close-out
<ul>
<li>Don't let the middling regular season numbers (34.9% on 5.6 attempts) fool you; Johnson can shoot the skin off the ball. He's up to 45.1% from deep in the postseason; the low attempts (3.4) can be attributed to the switching defenses the Suns have faced thus far. He's often on the move, either lifting above the break in some of Phoenix's HORNS sets or finishing Spain pick-and-roll possessions. Don't lose track of him, and don't let him establish a rhythm.</li>
</ul>
Defending the Shooters (Frontcourt)
Jae Crowder: Soft close-out
<ul>
<li>Crowder has a strong argument for the streakiest shooter in the sport. Look no further than his playoff run last season in which he buried the Milwaukee Bucks in Miami's surprising second-round victory, then nearly buried Miami with his cold shooting in the Eastern Conference Finals. Muck up actions elsewhere unless Crowder proves that he's on a heater.</li>
</ul>
Torrey Craig: Let him fire
<ul>
<li>Craig has shot well in Phoenix (36.9%) on low volume, but those looks are almost exclusively open. He's a classic tip-your-cap candidate.</li>
</ul>
Dario Saric: Soft close-out
<ul>
<li>Saric shot 39.3% from three on over five attempts in his second season (2017-18), and hasn't matched that volume or efficiency since. He's a willing shooter, but a somewhat streaky one. The real fear is his pump-and-drive game. Stay disciplined on his fakes and force him to drain contested shots.</li>
</ul>
Frank Kaminsky: Hard close-out
<ul>
<li>Kaminsky can stroke it as a pick-and-pop guy. He isn't an elite shooter, but a good enough one to pay attention to. He also isn't a dangerous passer on the move, nor is he a high-level finisher. Running him off the line shouldn't be too dangerous.</li>
</ul>
Deandre Ayton: Let him fire
<ul>
<li>Ayton has taken 20 threes this season. If he's flinging one, the shot clock is winding down or the game is out of hand already. Don't worry too much.</li>
</ul>
X-Factor: Deandre Ayton
Ayton has had a wonderful postseason thus far. His per-game numbers speak for themselves: 16.2 points with a 70.5 TS, 11.8 rebounds (3.4 offensive).
He's doing the little things, and doing them well. Per Synergy, Ayton is generating north of 1.4 points per possession off of cuts (1.46), in transition (1.47), and as the roller in ball-screen actions (1.56).
Ayton has been doing a great job of doing his job early. Running the floor hard, sealing his man off and putting them in the photographer section. It's simple stuff, but effective stuff.
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Getting a body on Ayton early will be key. If you can get him to catch further from the basket, you may be able to goad him into face-up jumpers. He has the touch to knock those down, but they're inherently less threatening.&nbsp;
His post-ups will also be a mini-battle that could swing the series. If the scheme shifts from drop to switching, it'll be on Ayton to abuse size mismatches. He's only generating 0.59 points per possession on post-ups this postseason. Can he dislodge Holiday? Flip in hooks over Middleton?&nbsp;
In theory, of course he can. He'll need to prove it, though.

Nekias Duncan breaks down how the Milwaukee Bucks can defend the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals.

NBA Finals Scouting Report: How the Bucks can stop the Suns

Nekias Duncan provides scouting reports for the Suns and Los Clippers for their Western Conference Finals matchup.

Scouting Report: How the Clippers and Suns will defend each other

Think about how much things in the NBA have changed in the past week. Last Monday was Memorial Day, and the following teams were still alive: the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies.
Danny Ainge, Steve Clifford and Terry Stotts still had jobs, LeBron James and Anthony Davis still had die-hard believers, many folks considered Trae Young a flash in the pan, James Harden had what we thought was a healthy hamstring and Luka Doncic was arguably the one player who could single-handedly lead his team into the second round.
Well, here we are one Monday later with a whole bunch of stuff changed.&nbsp;
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We are down to eight teams in the NBA playoffs, Young is now a villain in Philadelphia as well as New York, Kawhi Leonard is Mr. Postseason Dangerous again, Nikola Jokic is about to go up against Deandre Ayton in what could be the biggest postseason positional mismatch we are going to see, and the Utah Jazz and Clippers are about to ignite a debate on whether taking a combined 100 three-pointers in a single game (or something close to that) is what the NBA in 2021 has become.
We are still a month away from the start of the NBA Finals, and the Olympics are drawing nearer with a whole bunch of nations still hoping to qualify&hellip; if the Japanese do not bail on the event. Japan has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, and reporters who are going to cover the Olympics are learning that they will be banned from public transportation in Tokyo.&nbsp;
Yes, 2021 remains exceedingly complicated, and every day or night that we turn on NBA playoff games, we are reminded that the league remains stuck in COVID-avoidance mode despite the pandemic drawing to a close in the United States. The coaches have lost the masks, but the players on the bench, the fans in the stands, the actors in the Heineken commercials, the cardboard cutout fans at Staples Center and the sideline reporters being 18 feet away (instead of six feet away) all serve as a reminder that some people remain mentally stuck in March 2020.
Progress on that front is glacial despite a dearth of positive COVID tests around the NBA. &nbsp; So we enter the week with the Brooklyn Nets holding a 1-0 lead on the Milwaukee Bucks despite losing James Harden after he re-aggravated his hamstring injury in the first minute of Game 1. Now, we have to start wondering whether we have seen the last of him for this season, and if so, midseason signee Mike James &mdash; who left CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague midseason &mdash; is going to become suddenly relevant.
Joel Embiid did not look 100% healthy as he played through a partially torn right meniscus on Sunday at home against the Hawks, who nearly blew the game in the final minute of the fourth quarter as they struggled to get the ball past halfcourt. Nate McMillan will likely be drilling the Hawks on breaking the press at practice today.
Chris Paul and Devin Booker will be back on the national radar tonight as the Suns open at home against the Nuggets, and two players that will become especially relevant for the second straight postseason will be Jae Crowder, who spent last season with the Heat, and Michael Porter Jr., who spent most of the 2019-2020 season recovering from a second back surgery.&nbsp;
Role players tend to have a bigger role in the postseason than folks previously expected, which serves as a reminder that Rajon Rondo is still around and still carries the "Playoff Rondo" nickname. If Patrick Beverly remains sidelined, that removes a terrific defender against Paul, and we shall see if Reggie Jackson, Rondo or someone else can fluster CP3 into one or two extra turnovers per night.
The Clippers-Jazz series figures to be an epic three-point shootout. Los Angeles led the NBA in three-point percentage at an astounding 41.1%, while the Jazz shot 38.9% but made 1,205 threes over the 72-game regular season. That was third-most in NBA history. Their average of 16.7 threes per contest was an NBA record, and they were the only team to hit 10-plus threes in every game in a single season.&nbsp;
In Sunday&rsquo;s games, the Hawks made 20 of 47 three-pointers while the Sixers were 10-for-29, and Philadelphia missed 11 free throws to Atlanta&rsquo;s one. Yes, sometimes it just comes down to the little things like shooting free throws.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is shooting 58.3% from the foul line and just 14.3% from three-point range. Giannis, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis give Milwaukee a major size advantage against Brooklyn, but the Nets can burn fouls and send these guys to the line if they are going to continue to get jittery from 15 feet away.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16212044_lg.jpg" alt="" width="738" height="492" />
Brooklyn is shooting 91.1% on free throws to Milwaukee&rsquo;s 72.2%, and in the other East series, the Hawks are at 85.5% on foul shots through six playoff games compared to Philly&rsquo;s 70.1% &ndash; the worst average among the 16 teams that made the postseason. The Bucks have been the NBA&rsquo;s best offensive rebounding team in the postseason, but those extra possessions are not translating into converted three-pointers. The Bucks are at 30.7% from behind the arc. Only the dearly departed Lakers (29.9%) and Wizards (28.9%) have shot worse from long range.
Last year&rsquo;s finalists, the Heat and the Lakers, are off starting their summers. In hindsight, the Heat probably never should have traded Kelly Olynyk for Victor Oladipo, and the Lakers were victimized by injuries to Davis and James more so than anything else &ndash; although if Rob Pelinka had to do it all over again, he probably would have found a way to get Kyle Lowry from the Raptors in what was a surprisingly busy trade deadline. They did get Andre Drummond, but he is Exhibit A in how a one-trick pony with a monster contract can become more of an albatross than an asset. The front offices in Detroit and Cleveland already learned this the hard way.
The Nets are learning that Blake Griffin still has some game left, but the LaMarcus Aldridge signing netted them nothing, and it may turn out that the signings of James from CSKA Moscow and Alize Johnson from the G-League may have huge implications. The Pacers and Raptors both had Johnson, who is an energy and rebounding machine. They both let him walk. Props to Sean Marks for recognizing his talent, and we may see more of him if the Bucks&rsquo; size advantage needs to be neutralized by someone other than DeAndre Jordan (DNP-CD in Game 1) or Nicolas Claxton.
Marks signed James after he had a falling out with his coach at CSKA Moscow, and after getting 30 minutes of playing time in Game 1, it will be interesting to see whether Nash makes James the de facto replacement point guard for Harden or gives that role to Kyrie Irving instead.
The Bucks are dealing with postseason adversity for the first time this spring after sweeping Miami in the first round, and they are going to need better three-point shooting from someone &mdash; Lopez, Bryn Forbes, Middleton or P.J. Tucker &mdash; if they hope to keep up with what Brooklyn is capable of offensively.&nbsp;
Who would have guessed that losing Donte DiVincenzo to a torn ankle ligament would be such a big factor. Milwaukee had George Hill a year ago for moments such as this, but Hill is with Philly now and went 0-for-2 in 11 inconsequential minutes on Sunday as the folks in Philly learned firsthand that Trae Young is as strong of a villain as he is as a scorer. Are the Sixers really the better top-to-bottom team? Or has the national audience been sleeping on the Hawks since they were kept off national television for most of the NBA season?
We have a whole bunch of basketball still in front of us as the second round kicks into high gear this week, and let&rsquo;s not forget that teams that sometimes look dead can come back like Lazarus. The Nuggets did it last season in becoming the first team ever to recover from a pair of 3-1 deficits, and the Clippers did it against the Mavs after losing Game 1 and Game 2 at home and falling behind 30-11 in the first seven minutes of Game 3 at Dallas.&nbsp;
Leonard, Paul George and Playoff Rondo are now 0-0 against the Jazz, and the Nuggets have the same series score against the Suns. Mike Conley is dealing with a hamstring issue that may or may not be worse than Harden&rsquo;s, and if it keeps him out, Jordan Clarkson is going to have his hands full. For Denver, we shall have to wait and see who gets the assignment on Booker, who dropped 47 on the Lakers (with 11 defensive rebounds) in the clincher. The Suns, though, were just 1-2 against the Nuggets in the regular season, while the Jazz were 2-1 vs. the Clippers.
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Should be an interesting week. And month, because the draft lottery is just a couple weeks away.
Here&rsquo;s hoping that it is, because many of the familiar faces we have grown accustomed to seeing at this stage of the postseason are either finished or injured.&nbsp;
Trae, the stage is yours if you have another bow in you. Kawhi, we have not forgotten what you did for the Raptors two years ago. Kyrie, we are as mesmerized by you as we are perplexed by you. Ben and Joel, y&rsquo;all have a bit of a playoff meltdown history that Doc Rivers needs to get you past. Giannis: Make a free throw. Joker: Your job is to put a finals MVP trophy next to the regular season MVP trophy you will be getting soon. CP3: How&rsquo;s that shoulder, old man?
Good luck to everyone, and may the drama this June be a launching pad for what we are going to see in the Finals next month and in the Olympics in late July and August.

In the NBA Playoffs, one week can change everything. There are tons of questions that will be answered as the second round begins.

NBA first-round brought surprises, will there be more this week?

Two-thirds of the way into the 2020-21 NBA season, Chris Sheridan breaks down the state of each team and gives them a grade.

Grading each NBA team's second trimester

As we hit the midway point of February, the Los Angeles Clippers continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NBA, regardless of who&rsquo;s been healthy or in the lineup. Despite Paul George&rsquo;s absence from the team due to a foot injury and Kawhi Leonard dealing with some nagging pains, Tyronn Lue and Co. have won four-straight games following their lone two-game skid of the season, and hold a 21-8 record.
The reemergence of Lou Williams has had a lot to do with it. After all, the three-time Sixth Man award-winner is averaging 19 points and six assists per game in February while cashing in 41.4 percent of his triples in that eight-game stretch. Marcus Morris has been magnificent all season, and in the last three contests, he's produced to the tune of 25 points a night and a scorching 73 percent from distance.&nbsp;
Patrick Beverley&rsquo;s return to the team, aside from a rest night in Miami, is only making things better. And we&rsquo;d be remiss not to point out the consistency and importance of Nicolas Batum, who's probably the most important glue guy that the squad can trust on a nightly basis. Lue has always preached &ldquo;next man up&rdquo; when adversity hits (even dating back to his days in Cleveland), and his new locker room has responded to that message.
But there&rsquo;s an element to this Clippers team that often gets lost in the star-studded shuffle, and that&rsquo;s the consistent play of the big men: Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac.
&ldquo;I think with Serge&rsquo;s shooting ability to be able to pick-and-pop, to be able to stretch the floor when we play small-small pick-and-roll and kinda keep his man at bay so he can&rsquo;t help has been huge,&rdquo; Lue said. &ldquo;And then Zu, just being a dynamic roller and being a big presence on the inside, being able to finish around the basket and drawing a lot of fouls, because Lou and Kawhi and those guys are hitting him down in the middle of the paint and he&rsquo;s either getting layups or he&rsquo;s spraying it out for threes.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So just having those two different guys to play two different styles of basketball kinda puts teams in a dilemma, and they&rsquo;ve been good for us so far this year.&rdquo;
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As Lue alluded to, Ibaka and Zubac have contrasting skill sets, which allows LA to attack defenses in multiple ways. With his expanded offensive game, Ibaka makes a living as a pick-and-pop assassin with solid range. According to InStat, he has attempted the eighth-most pick-and-pop shots in the league. Zubac is a bone-crushing screener who darts hard to the rim and finishes with ferocity, whether there&rsquo;s a defender there or not (67.2 percent on contested shots), and makes a living in the paint.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the good thing about having two good bigs and two different styles,&rdquo; Ibaka said. &ldquo;It depends on what teams we&rsquo;re playing, also what kind of bigs they have. Some nights it might be a better matchup for Zu, and some nights it might be a better matchup for me. We&rsquo;re always ready. That&rsquo;s the good thing about it.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a smaller five. He&rsquo;s more like the big, traditional five. He&rsquo;s more of a roller guy at the rim. I can do both, so that&rsquo;s what makes me and him so good. We communicate a lot, and the good thing about Zu, he likes to listen. I talk to him, and so far, he&rsquo;s been doing a great job.&rdquo;
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And as different as they are, the 31-year-old vet and 24-year-old upstart have their similarities.
For example, they lead the Clippers by far in points created off screens and have each created at least 200 points off of those; <a href="https://go.nba.com/7l5h" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only one other duo in the NBA has done that</a> (Nikola Vucevic and Khem Birch of the Orlando Magic). Although they&rsquo;re low-usage players, Ibaka and Serge are extremely efficient as rollers as well; Zubac is 26-for-34 and Ibaka is 16-for-26 on those particular shots.
Defending against cuts and the pick-and-roll, they are both vulnerable. But if you&rsquo;re trying to post up, you&rsquo;re not going to see much success, nor will you be able to generate much offense in the mid-range. Per InStat, Zubac&rsquo;s opponents are shooting a paltry 4-for-26 against him in the pick-and-pop, while Ibaka&rsquo;s respectably holding his competition to 10-for-28 in isolation scenarios.
As for what&rsquo;s next, the Clippers are set to host the Utah Jazz twice and have the Brooklyn Nets to follow as their homestand continues. It feels like Zubac will be called upon more against Rudy Gobert, considering his size and ability to battle on the boards. If Lue elects to force Gobert out to the perimeter to open up driving lanes for Leonard, however, Ibaka would be the logical choice. With the Nets, it depends on how many minutes DeAndre Jordan is on the floor and whether they go with Kevin Durant or Jeff Green at the five as they&rsquo;ve done at times.
But that&rsquo;s the luxury of having two big men like Ibaka and Zubac who can make an impact in different ways. For a coach like Lue, who makes excellent in-game adjustments, there's nothing better than having multiple options so he can adapt the game plan to match the opposition.&nbsp;
There aren&rsquo;t many teams that possess such alternatives.

Spencer Davies dives into Tyronn Lue's consistent big men - Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac - and the advantage they give the Clippers.

Contrasting skill sets of Ibaka, Zubac are a unique luxury for Clippers

Ethan Fuller evaluates the NBA landscape at the quarter mark of the season.

NBA Sour Rankings: Back to the rumor mill

Ethan Fuller breaks down the NBA hierarchy and analyzes some way-to-early Cade Cunningham fits.

NBA Sour Rankings: Introducing the Cade-O-Meter

This year, there were 107 international players from 41 countries on opening-night rosters for the 2020-21 NBA season.

NBA rosters feature 107 international players from 41 countries

&ldquo;I want my respect,&rdquo; LeBron James said in his post-game interview with ESPN&rsquo;s Rachel Nichols after winning the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
What exactly did he mean?
When I heard him say those words, I brought it up during BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Virtual Watch Party for Game 6. Our Etan Thomas thought he was referring to the criticism and hate that James received over the last year and a half, which Thomas detailed in his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-hating-criticism-radio-tv">most-recent article on this site</a>.
Nobody asked James about it in the postgame interview room inside the bubble in Orlando, so we are left to surmise where he was coming from until he issues some sort of a declaration or posts something on social media that explains what he meant.
Why people cannot give this guy the respect he deserves is beyond me.
Certainly there is a segment of the population in America that does not like how sports and politics have intersected, how the NBA has done its utmost to fight social injustice, and how so much work remains to be done to ensure that the United States has a free and fair presidential election in which every vote is counted. (Don&rsquo;t count on that happening.) Those folks are yearning for a bygone era that is not returning. If they want to wallow in their hatred and ignorance, let them. Some people are lost causes.
LeBron will never get through to them, because some things are impossible (even for him).
But as far as basketball goes, the guy simply amazes me. He refuses to age. He only gets better as he gets older. He makes every player around him better. He put up yet another triple-double last night (28 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) while becoming the first player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP award for three different franchises.
LeBron has been in the NBA for 17 seasons now, and he is a polarizing player because of his history, because of his outspokenness, and because of the color of his skin. Americans are at each other&rsquo;s throats these days for a variety of reasons, yet life goes on for all of us as we navigate a pandemic, navigate online schooling for our children, go hunting for Clorox wipes and search for something to make us laugh each and every day during the most challenging year we have ever lived through. These are not normal times, and normalcy becomes more elusive by the day, sadly.
Yet we have had the NBA and its bubble to keep us all connected since early July, and now that chapter of NBA history is behind us. The bubble gets disassembled today, the Lakers and Heat finally get to return to their homes for the first time since early July as we all await word from the league office and the Players&rsquo; Association as to what next season will look like, when it will begin, and where it will be played. As of now, there are no clear answers.
But we still have what we have, which is a Lakers championship that ties them with the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history. The 2020 NBA Draft is five weeks away, after which we will have free agency. There are a number of coaching vacancies to be filled. The salary cap for next season still has to be set. The folks from the league office who were in the bubble for a long, long time now need some time to reconnect with their families, so I am not expecting much clarity on what the future will look like for the NBA any time in the next several days.
The country&rsquo;s focus will now turn even harder toward politics, even as the Major League Baseball playoffs move deeper toward the World Series and the NFL tries to make it through its season with teams having to postpone games because of coronavirus cases. If a second wave hits us hard, we are all going to be dealing with more cabin fever as we try to get through the winter with our collective sanity intact.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/jams_lg.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="AUTO" />
And I imagine we have not heard the last from James and a bunch of other people around the NBA when it comes to influencing the national debate on a variety of issues as Election Day draws near.
What we see and hear next from James is going to influence the &ldquo;respect&rdquo; dynamic that he alluded to last night.
James did acknowledge that proving his basketball doubters wrong was an enormous motivating factor in him winning his fourth championship.
&ldquo;I think, personally, thinking I have something to prove fuels me,&rdquo; James said. &ldquo;It fueled me over this last year and a half since the injury. It fueled me because no matter what I've done in my career to this point, there's still little rumblings of doubt or comparing me to the history of the game and, &lsquo;Has he done this? Has he done that?&rsquo; So having that in my head, having that in my mind, saying to myself, &lsquo;Why not still have something to prove?&rsquo; - I think it fuels me.&rdquo;
As James reached the end of his NBA-bubble journey, he reflected on the experience and his three-month stay in Orlando.
&ldquo;Over the last couple days, you definitely thought about it. You thought about just being here, how successful it is. I commend Adam Silver and the NBA, Michele Roberts, Chris Paul and everybody at the NBPA to make this happen and to make this work,&rdquo; James said. &ldquo;I think we can all say from the social injustice conversations, the voter suppression, police brutality, to have this platform, have our players be able to unite like that, it's something that you will miss. You will think back on it. I think one of the biggest things, besides the social injustice, all the things I mentioned, we had zero positive tests. We had zero positive tests for as long as we were here, 90-some days, 95 days maybe for myself. I had a little calendar I was checking off. That's a success for everybody that was involved.&rdquo;
Everyone around the world who ventures outside their home today will be putting themselves at risk of being exposed to coronavirus, and that includes all the members of the NBA family who now will board airplanes and return to an American societal situation that is challenging to endure. Politics has divided families, ended friendships and polarized the population like nothing America has seen in several generations. Anger, frustration and fear are omnipresent. Not having basketball to watch is going to hit some of us harder than others. Euroleague, anyone?
But everyone has to push through, and everyone has to expect that we are going to be seeing these Lakers back in the NBA Finals the next time the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy is up for grabs. Aside from Dwight Howard, the entire team in under contract. Anthony Davis has a player option that he will likely exercise in order to sign a longer-term deal to stay in Los Angeles, and Rajon Rondo also has a player option for $2.69 million and he may opt-out if his camp can find a multi-year offer from another team.
But free agency will not happen until after the Nov. 18 draft, and you are going to feel a sudden void in your life if you are a basketball fan. But the NBA will be back next season in some way, shape or form that&rsquo;s still to be determined, and James will be a year older and probably a little bit better of a player. Yes, better. That&rsquo;s somehow what happens with this guy.
Let&rsquo;s all appreciate him today for what he has accomplished and how he has evolved as a leader, both professionally as a player and existentially as a person who others seek guidance and inspiration from. His 2020 work is not yet finished, and we can all look forward &ndash; whether you like him or not &ndash; to what he will do between now and Tuesday, Nov. 3 to influence the political discourse in the United States.
It&rsquo;s fair to say that it needs to be elevated to a more intelligent level. But it remains to be seen if that will actually happen. The platform that the bubble provided is now gone. Where will LeBron&rsquo;s next message come from? Instagram? CNN? Fox News? If James can help us all get to a higher level of public discourse, the respect factor can only grow.
So good luck on that one, LBJ. We await your next words almost as much as we await your next game.

Chris Sheridan analyzes LeBron James' fourth championship and what's next for the superstar now that he has left the NBA bubble.

Nicholas