THE LAKERS NBA downhill
NBA Star Power Index: LeBron James keeps the Lakers hopeful; James Harden and Joel Embiid start free-throw parade
In other news, Ja Morant solidifies his position as the NBA's most intriguing player.
The Lakers are on the verge of collapsing. After losing to the Mavericks on Tuesday, their third straight loss since the All-Star break and sixth in their last seven games, they are the West's No. 9 seed at 27-34, three games behind the No. 8 Clippers and just two games away from being eliminated from the play-in tournament entirely (it might be a a race with Portland to see who can lose more the rest of the season, except the Blazers are trying to lose). Anthony Davis may be out for the rest of the regular season.
Still, LeBron isn't about to give up.
"We still have games to play," James stated following the Dallas setback. "I don't have a chance till you stomp me out, cut off my head, and bury me 12 feet down. So that's my assurance."
Against every rational thread of reasoning, I'm siding with LeBron. I can't rule out any team on which he plays until the math indicates there's no possibility. Unless San Antonio catches a big heater, the Lakers are likely to make the play-in, and if Davis can return, they have a chance.
What do you mean, an opportunity to do what? I'm not certain. The Los Angeles Lakers are simply not a good team. They have a rough night almost every night. They're probably a first-round appetizer at best. But there's still a tiny piece of my mind – although an ever-shrinking one – that can imagine something more. It's LeBron James. He's won our irrational trust. And he's certainly deserved it.
Harden has been outstanding in his first two games with the Sixers, averaging 28 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds on 58 percent shooting, becoming the first player in history to post at least 25 points and 10 assists in each of his first two games. He's 8 for 14 from three attempts. He's turned it over five times already. He's been to the free-throw line 19 times and has made 18 of them.
We need to discuss about this free-throw total. When Harden and Embiid, or any two players for that matter, team up, all the conversation is about how they complement one another in live-ball action. Make areas for Embiid more difficult. They are specifically designed to run pick and roll/pop. But what we haven't spoken about enough in the aftermath of the deal is that these men will lead a parade to the free-throw line.
Harden and Embiid have combined to go 52 for 59 from the free-throw line in two games. Fifty-nine free throw attempts! This is a true pick-your-poison pair that continuously puts defenders in jeopardy and leaves them with no other alternative but to foul. Furthermore, both guys are expert drawers of contacts on their own. Philly's postseason games may last four hours, but if they keep getting to the line like this, it will be difficult to beat them.
Do you believe Embiid enjoys having Harden around? Since his arrival, he's averaged 35.5 points per game while taking only 18 shots per game. Some of that is due to the incredible number of free throws he's piled up (20 per game), but his workload is clearly going to be lessened as Harden provides so much leverage that even when Embiid is shooting, he's not having to do as much heavy lifting to get the shot.
This is a fantastic collaboration. The chemistry is already there. The Sixers won by 46 points in the 53 minutes that Harden and Embiid shared the court. They have excellent pick-and-roll timing, and Harden has hit Embiid at the perfect time for transition dunks on several occasions.
I was concerned about Harden's willingness to relinquish post control to Embiid and really go off the ball, but Harden's imprint is already all over this system. He's in command. Sure, he should commit to moving more, but Embiid will be fine scoring 30-plus points per game with Harden dominating. Embiid dubbed the two-man game between him and Harden "unstoppable" after the 76ers' win against the Knicks on Sunday, and he might be right.
Morant is without a doubt the most exciting player in the league right now, and it's not even close. Morant now has five of the best seven single-game scoring totals in Grizzlies history, with three coming in the last two weeks.
One of the 44-point games occurred against Portland in Memphis' final game before the All-Star break, the 46 came on Saturday, and the 52, clearly a career high for Morant and the highest scoring night in team history, came on Tuesday against the Spurs. Morant shot 22 for 30 in the game, including 4 of 4 from 3-point range, while recording possibly the Dunk of the Year and the Shot of the Year in a two-minute stretch to end the first half.
He collected an outlet ball just past half court, calmly angled toward the hoop, and then decided to end poor Jakob Poeltl's life with an absolute hammer slam with one foot outside the paint.
That has a case for Dunk of the Year, and to think, it was merely a prologue to one of the most outrageous highlights you'll see this season. It was just a few minutes later when Morant leaped into the air to catch a full-court pass from Steven Adams, and without coming down, all in one motion, twisting and falling out of bounds, tossed in about an 18-footer from the baseline to beat the first-half buzzer.
Check at where Morant took off from and try to imagine how tough it should've been for a human being to flush this jam.
That's a contender for Dunk of the Year, and to think it was just a warm-up for one of the season's most spectacular highlights. Morant jumped into the air to grab a full-court pass from Steven Adams, and without coming down, all in one motion, twisting and sliding out of bounds, tossed in an 18-footer from the baseline to beat the first-half buzzer.
I'm not sure what to say about that. The athleticism and power required to even get that shot to the rim, let alone make it, is incredible. Morant makes it look easy, even when he's being herky-jerky. My God, I mean it. This man is an incredible basketball player and athleticism.
Doncic has been back at MVP level for a while now, and the Mavericks, who are tied for fifth place in the West with Denver, have won 21 of their previous 28 games. Doncic averaged 34.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in February while shooting better than 41% from outside the arc.
Doncic got his March off to a strong start on Tuesday, going 25-8-5 in a win over the Lakers. Even when he's 9 for 21 and 0 for 5 from 3, he's still getting where he wants to go and commanding every possession. He made a slew of tough shots down the stretch, three of which — two baskets for Doncic and a lob-layup for Dwight Powell — started with him switch-hunting LeBron James.
This felt like a changing-of-the-guard situation. LeBron James is far from finished. On any given night, he can be the top player in the world. But he isn't instilling any terror in Luka. Add Morant to the mix. Young, Trae The children have arrived. And they have every intention of taking over the league.
The Jazz are back in form, having won eight of their past nine games, and Mitchell has been on a tear since the beginning of February. Mitchell is averaging 29.5 points per game since the All-Star break, with two wins over quality opponents in Dallas and Phoenix. He is also shooting 56% of his 3-point attempts (13 for 23).
This appears to be rather satisfactory.
Utah is in a solid position to make the playoffs with a top-four seed, three games ahead of the No. 5 Mavericks and only two games behind No. 3 Memphis. The Jazz will be a factor if they can stay healthy, and Mitchell is a proven playoff great.
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