Buckets with Brock: LeBron James is an Alien, Beware of ‘Fake Klay’ and Screw Injuries Forever and Ever

by Michael Brock in BasketBrawl

Welcome to Buckets with Brock, where NBA analysis will be delivered each week of the 2017-18 season. There will be power rankings. There will be top highlights. One-on-one matchups. Awards. Wacky stats. Whether you took the week off from the NBA or watched every game, Buckets with Brock has something for you.

In this week’s edition, we’ll recap the start of the season (and my predictions), then hand out some awards, look at one “Say whaaat?” stat and make more bets against the spread.

What Did We Learn?

The NBA season is just three days old, but there’s already plenty to talk about. Here is what we learned this week.

Sports are Still Cruel as Hell

We were fewer than six minutes into the Cleveland Cavaliers-Boston Celtics matchup when the first season-ending injury of the campaign occurred. For the audience’s sake (and frankly my own), I will not be sharing a video of Gordon Hayward’s gruesome ankle fracture, but lets just say: yikes

Hayward cut backdoor, and Kyrie Irving threw him an alley-oop from 25 feet out. The Cavs’ Jae Crowder was on his hip and may have bumped him slightly; LeBron James jumped with them and tipped the ball but didn’t appear to touch Hayward. Still, the latter landed hard, with his left leg bent behind him. Play continued, but then stopped as TNT’s Kevin Harlan shouted, “Hayward just broke his leg!”

It’s hard not to feel for Hayward. Not only did this happen so soon into his season, but it was his first game after signing with the Celtics in free agency.

And the terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad injury bugs didn’t stop here.

Jeremy Lin was also ruled out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon on this play:

Injuries will always be a part of sports. We should be used them. But dammit if they don’t absolutely, positively, suck.

(Oh, and by the way, Draymond Green is dealing with a knee injury of his own. His MRI came back clean, but the Golden State Warriors haven’t provided  a set date for his return. Chris Paul has also already missed time with his own knee injury. Again: Injuries are, and will forever remain, the friggin’ worst.)

There are More than 2 Versions of Klay Thompson

We all know about China Klay, but a new Klay is in town now.

At least for one night.

In a hilarious twist, someone with a decent resemblance to Thompson attended Tuesday’s  Warriors-Houston Rockets game and sat right behind the Dubs’ bench:

Because “Fake Klay” is the GOAT, he tricked some fans into thinking he was actually Thompson (I mean, c’mon). He signed  autographs and crossed fans up while sporting a full Warriors uniform in the Oracle Arena parking lot. Here’s a video of the whole experience, via his YouTube channel, Big Daws Tv:

LeBron James is Still…LeBron James

I didn’t fill out a formal ballot with predictions for end-of-season awards, because I am an expert procrastinator. But fear not. I’ve got my pick for MVP:  LeBron Raymone James.

This selection is twofold.

First: Until proven otherwise, you won’t convince me James wasn’t created in a clandestine underground lab, guarded by post-futuristic Artificial Intelligence Dwyane Wade lookalikes, as part of an intergalactically funded experiment aimed at trolling Michael Jordan’s legacy. Including the playoffs, he played 50,440 minutes entering his 15th season.  He’s just always there. Per FiveThirtyEight, James “has never sat out more than 15 percent of a schedule  (regular season and playoffs combined)” since entering the league in 2003.

That durability is unprecedented. (And proof aliens exist.) James may end up sitting out plenty, but it won’t be for injuries.

Second: The four-time MVP will have to carry the Cavaliers. Second-in-command Isaiah Thomas will be out until at least January, so Kevin Love needs to hold down the fort as the No. 2 scorer—something he didn’t do in the Cavs’ opening game. Yes, he had a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, but all three of Derrick Rose (14 attempts), Wade (10) and Crowder (10) fired up more shots than him (nine). Rose especially can’t shoot that many times if the team is going to be successful.

If that wasn’t enough, the team’s run-and-gun mentality may be muted a bit by the addition of Wade and Rose into the starting lineup:

So, yeah, James has his work cut out for him. But he’s up to the task. Because he’s LeBron James.  He registered 29 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks in Cleveland’s opening-night victory over Boston…and then immediately went to work out, because he’s obviously out of shape:

Maurice Podoloff Trophies aren’t handed out in October, but let’s go ahead and give James his fifth piece of hardware now.

Weekly Awards

Best Game

Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 122-121 on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (opening night).

We’ve seen championship teams suffer a letdown on ring night in the past, but that wasn’t the case for this one. The Warriors still put up 121 points, with three players (Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Nick Young) scoring over 20 apiece.

Klay Thompson—not to be confused with Fake Klay—came out en fuego, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. But he finished with just 16 points, and the team lost Green for the game with a strained left knee.  The absence of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year proved too much for the Warriors to overcome. James Harden and Eric Gordon reached the cup with ease, each scoring at least 24 points.

P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute combined for 34 points on 6-of-9 from deep, to go along with 10 rebounds, in their debuts with the team. Chris Paul, the other newcomer, finished with four points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in 33 minutes.

The Rockets went on a run and cut the lead to start the fourth quarter after trailing by double digits for most of the third. They ended the game with a lineup of Harden, Gordon, Mbah a Moute, Tucker and Trevor Ariza that was able to switch everything against the Warriors offense. Harden generated enough offense while partying like it was 2016-17, as the lone star, and his team took down the champs.

It’s just one game of 82, but this had to feel good for every person in the Rockets organization.

Top Highlights 

Honorable mention

Phoenix Suns Fast Break:

This isn’t exactly a highlight per se, but it’s still downright amazing. The Suns are going to lose a ton of games this season and need all the moral victories they can get. This synchronization counts. It is so indescribably mesmerizing. At this writing, I’ve watched it upwards of 100 times.

3. John Wall Dunk

In the first quarter of the Washington Wizards’ 120-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, John Wall shrugged off T.J. McConnell and dunked all over Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot—or, as Rob Perez put it, “on the entire city of Philadelphia:”

Wall finished with 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Bradley Beal had 25 points, four assists and six boards.

2. Embiid Block to Simmons Fast Break

In the second quarter of the same game, Wall turned on the jets in transition and set his sights on the rim. He wove into the paint and got the angle on Joel Embiid, but the 7-footer was able to reach out and bat the ball away. The ricochet landed in the hands of rookie Ben Simmons, who took it the length of the floor for the nifty layup:

The Sixers ended up losing the game, but Robert Covington showed out, putting up a line of 29 points (7-of-11 from downtown), seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo Posterization

Early in the fourth quarter of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 108-100 win over the Celtics on Wednesday, second-year guard Malcolm Brogdon dribbled near the top of the key. Antetokounmpo set a pick and rolled to the cup; Brogdon penetrated to his left and threw it up to where only one man could get it.

I’ll give you a hint; it wasn’t Aron Baynes:

One Wacky Stat

We knew the Brooklyn Nets would play fast, but DUH-AMN.

The Nets owned the highest pace in the NBA last season while attempting the fourth-most threes. They didn’t make very many, but their brand of basketball is genuinely fun. The Indiana Pacers were 18th in pace last year, and it would be a pleasant surprise if they decided on a similar approach.

To paraphrase the opinion of Deputy Editor Dan Favale on pushing the pace and chucking triples: “They’re not going to be good, so they might as well be fun.”

Top Statlines

Honorable mentions

Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela: 22 points (10-of-12 shooting), 17 rebounds, three steals and one block against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday., Oct. 18.

Miami Heat’s Hassan Whiteside: 26 points (11-of-18 shooting), 22 rebounds and a block against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday., Oct. 18.

Top Three

3. New Orleans Pelicans’ DeMarcus Cousins: 28 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday., Oct. 18.

2. New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis: 33 rebounds, 18 rebounds and one block against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

1. Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo: 37 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals against the Boston Celtics on Wed., Oct. 18.

Picks Against the Spread

Week 1 Results:

Win/Loss for the week: 2-3
Win/Loss for the season: 2-3

Week 2 Games to Watch

During each week of the 2017-18 season, I will pick the five most intriguing matchups to watch, in addition to selecting an outright winner. Then, once game odds are released, I will unveil my picks against the spread on Twitter sometime before tipoff. Here is this week’s slate.

Friday, Oct. 20

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Bucks’ Jabari Parker will be out until February, but no matter. They have Giannis Antetokounmpo. And over the summer, NBA Math’s Brian Sampson wrote the following about Milwaukee’s whatchamacallit: “It won’t be long before Antetokounmpo usurps James as the best player in the NBA.”

He’s right. The young Buck has developed into a world-beater since entering the league. Antetokounmpo has improved his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field-goal percentage averages every year.

“The Greek Freak” had 37 points against Boston in Milwaukee’s season-opener. Now he gets a shot at The King he’s trying to dethrone.

Prediction: This will be a battle, but Antetokounmpo and the Bucks take down the reigning Eastern conference champions.

Sunday, Oct. 22

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m. ET

The Thunder are who we thought they were. In their 105-84 opening-night victory over the New York Knicks, all three of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony eclipsed 20 points.

Westbrook was explosive as always, but he was also under control and efficient. He ended up with 21 points, 16 assists and 10 boards on 7-of-12 from the field. Last season, he attempted 12 shots or fewer just four times. He hoisted one three pointer or less just three times. His new teammates might be changing him. George tallied 28 points, while Anthony chipped in 22. The Thunder are going to win a ton of games this year, especially when they really start jelling and don’t just take turns trying to score.

The Timberwolves were leading the San Antonio Spurs but ultimately fell 107-99 in their season-opener. Andrew Wiggins had 26 points on 4-of-6 from downtown. Karl Anthony-Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler logged 12 points and Jeff Teague 11.

Prediction: Minnesota will be a tough team in the West, especially once it forges some chemistry. The Thunder are firing on most cylinders already and will come away victorious.

Monday, Oct. 23

Toronto Raptors @ San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBATV

Despite a No. 15 finish in the #CrystalBasketball rankings, the Toronto Raptors will win a bunch of games in the East. Similar to the Wizards, their roster continuity matters. Their  offense is just too potent and difficult to prep for in the regular season. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for just 23 points in the Toronto’s season-opener, and the Raptors still pummeled the Chicago Bulls 117-100.

Meanwhile, San Antonio was without superstar Kawhi Leonard in its victory over Minnesota. It’s unclear whether he will play Monday, either, as he is still nursing a left quad injury.

Still, LaMarcus Aldridge went for 25 points, while Danny Green, Dejounte Murray, Rudy Gay and Kyle Anderson each had at least 12. Even without Leonard, the Spurs are a dangerous team to face. Like the Raptors, they are difficult to plan for on a night-to-night basis, and even trickier to actually beat.

Prediction: The Spurs will win this one.

Tuesday, Oct. 24

New Orleans Pelicans @ Portland Trailblazers, 10 p.m. ET, NBATV

The Pelicans stars, Cousins and Davis, went off in their debut, combining for 61 points and 28 rebounds . But the fact they put that up in a 12-point loss to the Grizzlies is dubious for the team’s overall success.

Outside of E’Twaun Moore (11 points), no supporting castmate scored over seven points. Jrue Holiday disappointed with just four points on 2-of-11 from the field.

The Pelicans just don’t have any threats on the wings. As good as Boogie and The Brow are, they can’t be expected to pile on 70 every night.

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns by 48 on Wednesday, as Damian Lillard led the way with 27 points and five assists. C.J. McCollum was suspended for the opening game against Phoenix after leaving the bench during a preseason scuffle. I expect him to detonate versus the Pelicans guards.

Prediction: The  Blazers backcourt members will each go for 30-plus, and the team will win.

Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET

This matchup epitomizes the bloodbath that is the Western Conference. Both teams lost star power over the summer but remain immensely talented. Put them in the East, and they’d contend for top-four playoff seeds. But they might not even make the postseason in the sibling conference.

For my money, the Warriors, Rockets, Spurs and Thunder are in. Then comes the ‘Wolves, Nuggets, Blazers, Jazz, Clippers, Pelicans and Grizzlies for the last four spots. AIl seven of those teams make the East playoffs.

Anyway, Utah’s first game (a 106-96 win against the Nuggets) was a taste of what we’re going to see from them on most nights. No player scored over 20 points, but they had six score in double figures; their offensive production will largely come by committee. Point guard Ricky Rubio got everyone involved in his debut, finishing with 10 assists.

The Clippers beat the Lakers 108-92 on Thursday as Blake Griffin notched 29 points and 12 boards. After him, Los Angeles will be more of a balanced team as well—four other players scored in double-figures during the opener.

Danilo Gallinari shot just 3-for-13 in his Clippers debut, but he’ll improve as he gets more comfortable. Patrick Beverley made Lonzo Ball’s life hell in this one, holding the rookie point guard to just three points on 1-of-6 shooting. DeAndre Jordan scored 14 points and ripped down 24 rebounds.

Prediction: The Clippers may be deep, but the Jazz are deeper.

Follow Michael on Twitter @mbrock03.

Follow NBA Math on Twitter @NBA_Math, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics via NBA Math, Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.

Tagged with: , , , ,