Bench Heroes, Draymond Drama, and Around the NBA - 11/16/23

Catching you up on last night’s NBA narratives

Author

Vikram Dimba
November 16, 2023

Welcome to Hoop’d There It Is - Catching you up on last night’s NBA narratives

10/15/2023

Draymond Suspension

Well, the NBA just dropped the hammer on Draymond Green, suspending him for five games. Let's spill some tea: Green's ejection record is starting to look like a rap sheet. With 18 ejections since 2012, it's like he's collecting them like trading cards. And here’s a juicy bit – most of these ejections happen when Curry's off the court, in fact 7 of his last 11 ejections have been under these circumstances. Coincidence? Gobert doesn’t think so — going as far as suggesting Draymond wanted to do everything in his power to not play that because Steph was ruled out due to injury.

Some people are arguing that the act alone didn’t deserve the suspension. They’re right. But they fail to acknowledge how much a story line this is almost every single season. Whether it’s hitting LeBron in the groin, or kicking Steven Adams multiple times, stomping on Sabonis, poking Harden’s eye out, punching Jordan Poole, choking Gobert — the infractions are too much to even keep track of anymore.

Banchero Wins it for the Magic

In a nail-biting, low-scoring thriller, Paolo Banchero emerged as the Magic's hero, calling 'game' in the most dramatic fashion - hitting a contested shot over the contest of Caruso to rattle in. It had the Bulls so rattled that Patrick Williams completely mis-managed the clock on the final heave and Nikola Vucevic was trying to do his best Chris Webber impersonation calling a timeout when the Bulls didn’t have any left.

Paolo Banchero game-winner v. Bulls

What was Patrick Williams doing afterwards??

streamable.com/atdx0o

But wait, there's more to the Magic than just this last-second win. They're silently boasting the league’s third-highest defensive efficiency this season. It's not just about winning games; it's how they're winning them. While Banchero needs to step into a more consistent lead 1 option for the Magic, the days of Magic being severely under .500 appear to be over.

The Unspoken One Sided Rivalry: Sabonis v. AD

Domantas Sabonis is re-defining what it means to have someone's number in the NBA. The Kings beat the Lakers 125-110 on Tuesday night, led by Sabonis who had 29 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 1 block on 13-19 shooting. He dominated the first half while Anthony Davis seemed like a shadow on the court, finishing with a mere 9 points. Sabonis now boasts an 8-0 record against AD in their last eight face-offs.

Lillard Heroics without Giannis propels Bucks

No Giannis Antetokounmpo? No problem when you have Damian Lillard. With Giannis sidelined due to a calf strain, Lillard stepped up for the Bucks in a big way against the Raptors. In just his second game back post-injury, Lillard rediscovered his shooting mojo, dropping a cool 37 points and dishing out 13 assists. His 9/18 FG and 15-16 FT performance was a welcome sight for Bucks fans

Durant and Booker: A Scoring Symphony

In a dazzling display of scoring prowess, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker lit up the court, leading the Suns to a stunning blowout victory over the Timberwolves. Durant, with a stat line of 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and a +27, showcased his all-around mastery. Booker, not to be outdone, matched Durant's 31 points and added 5 assists, all within just 26 minutes of play. This wasn't just a win; it was a statement, especially against what's touted as the NBA's best defense.

Here's where it gets even more exciting: the Suns, with Durant and Booker on the floor, have a jaw-dropping 10-1 record when both stars play. And let's not forget, they've been doing this without Bradley Beal, the third piece of their star-studded trio.

Celtics' Gritty Triumph Over Sixers: The Best in the East

The Celtics were missing Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, but it didn't stop them from getting a full team effort and an impressive road win versus the Philadelphia 76ers.

Al Horford hates the Sixers - he turned back the clock with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks while helping hold Embiid to just 20 points on 8-16 shooting.

And the unhearlded Derrick White, who seemingly does whatever his team asks him to, stepped up and scored 27 points on 7-12 shooting with big plays on both ends. The Celtics are cementing themselves as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference - even Joel Embiid admitted as much in his post game interview after the loss

We love bold way-too-early takes

Tim Hardaway Jr.'s Off-the-Bench Brilliance

In the spotlight of the NBA's bench brigade, Tim Hardaway Jr. is quietly putting together a 6th man of the year caliber season for the Dallas Mavericks. Let's break it down: THJ exploded with 31 points off the bench in the Mavs' easy win over the Washington Wizards. But this isn't just a one-off show. Over the last 10 games, Hardaway Jr. is leading all bench scorers; he’s averaging 18.8 points per game and the Mavericks have garnered 7-3 record over that time.

Earlier in the season, there was talk about CP3 potentially snagging the Sixth Man award, but let's face it, his scoring and shooting efficiency have taken a dip and his current play shouldn’t be up for any awards.

Meanwhile, over in Cleveland, Caris LeVert is making a case for himself as well. Dropping 17 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists against the Portland Trail Blazers last night, LeVert's all-around game is on full display. Averaging 19 points per game this season, which leads the NBA in bench scoring, he's not just a scorer; he's a key playmaker for the Cavaliers.

The race for the best off-the-bench player is heating up, and it's not just about points – it's about impact. Hardaway Jr. and LeVert are showcasing that bench players can be just as crucial as starters, often becoming the X-factors in their team's success. Keep an eye on these bench narratives the rest of the way.

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