This was a bit of nice news for an NBA which needs some positives heading into the stretch run of this cursed regular season. In a season of a gambling scandal in Portalnd, still way too much tanking, over the top load management, some genuine injuries to marquee players, and a record number of missed games…Adam Silver and his NBA Governors need some legitimacy to their on the court product to end this regular season.
I still think its salvageable for the league although if the Denver Nuggets aren’t careful they could drop below Phoenix to the the No. 7 seed and a play-in assignment. The Nuggets are in desperate need of Aaron Gordon’s return in-an-as-much Cam Johnson has been even weaker than Michael Porter, Jr was last season in May. A bad trade for the Nuggets so far.
The Thunder and the Spurs in the West are possibly a great story as far as a rivalry emerging which could galvanize us as NBA fans. Because right now this NBA blogger needs some inspiration and galvanization from the players, their agents, and the NBA Players Association.
I’m tired of all the DNPs. NBA fans shouldn’t be paying crazy prices to see games played by ‘cover bands’. I’ve been railing on this since January, but trust me on this, Adam Silver and the Governors are fully aware of how critically bad the NBA product has been to date.
I love role players and grinders, but fans want to see their max stars play a meaningful number of games in the regular season.
My TOP 6 Poll as of March 9th with the return of Jayson Tatum and the return of the Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell reads like this:
1 OKC Thunder
2 San Antonio Spurs
3 New York Knicks
4 Boston Celtics
5 Minnesota Timberwolves
6 Detroit Pistons
On the bubble at No. 7 and No. 8 for me currently are the Houston Rockets at No. 7 and the much in need of Aaron Gordon Denver Nuggets at No. 8. If I’m Coach Adelman with the Nuggets…if Aaron returns and stays healthy I would very much be of the thought Cam Johnson is not in the eight man rotation in the play-offs. He’s a pylon defensively and if he’s not making threes—there’s no reason for him to be on the floor.
Denver at OKC tonight. Ajay Mitchell returns for the Thunder as one would think would be the case of the other misssing Thunder players from the Golden State game minus J-Dub.
The Thunder are 50-15. The Spurs are still on their heels 2.5 games behind in the standings. Detroit is showing signs of fading as their schedule got tougher. Jaysum Tatum along with Jaylen Brown and Derek White gives the Celtics the renewed look of a serious contender with the return of Jayson Tatum if he can get back to himself by the time the playoffs begin.
I’m ready for March Madness and the renewal of spring.
Die Hard, guys. Boomer!
Mike J