Jokić and Embiid's Indian Hoop Dreams and the All Time Pacers Offense - 11/10/23

Welcome to “Hoop’d There It Is” - Your daily 5-6 min dive into all things NBA.

What Stood Out to Me Last Night (11/09/23)

Only two games tonight, but plenty to observe.

NOTE: I refer to TS% couple times. True shooting percentage (TS%) is a basketball statistic that measures a player's efficiency at scoring. Unlike traditional shooting percentages that only consider field goals or free throws, TS% combines all forms of scoring - field goals, three-pointers, and free throws - into one metric. It accounts for the fact that three-pointers are worth more than two-point shots and incorporates free throws. By doing this, it provides a more comprehensive view of a player's scoring ability, indicating how effectively they turn shooting opportunities into points.

1. The Pacers are an offensive juggernaut. They put up 124 points today, which is actually LESS than their season average. Haliburton is kicking off the season as a superstar, averaging over 23 PPG and leading the league in assists with nearly 12, anchoring the #1 offense in the entire league. This mark would make them the highest-scoring team in the last 40 years since the '82 Nuggets.

2. On the flip side, the Bucks are struggling to defend. They rank 26th out of 30 teams in the NBA in defensive efficiency. This was painfully highlighted when Malik Beasley had maybe the worst defensive stance in NBA history. Despite Giannis dropping 54 points on 19-25 shooting, including an impressive 16-18 from the free-throw line for an insane 82% TS (True Shooting Percentage), the Bucks lost this game.

   Adrian Griffin in the preseason about Malik Beasley:

   “We talked about this prior to this game, kinda his role going into the season he's going to have to take the toughest assignments most nights."

   Malik Beasley:

   — AB (@aburnshoops)
   2:53 AM • Nov 10, 2023

3. The Atlanta Hawks are the second-highest scoring team in the NBA, and Trae Young dominated the game. He put up 41 points and wreaked havoc in the paint, going 12-13 from the line. He also delivered the game-winning assist to DeJounte Murray, who knocked down a three off a wrap-around pass by Trae.

4. While Trae and Murray steal the headlines, let's not forget about Jalen Johnson. I hyped him up yesterday, and he delivered with 19 points, 9 rebounds on 7-9 shooting, and a team-high +15. He continues his Most Improved Player-level season.

 Who I’m Watching for Tonight (11/09/23)

Tonight marks another exciting night in the ongoing NBA season, and all games are part of the regular season.

Anthony Edwards is on an absolute tear, just like his Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota has won four straight games, including wins against the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, the two teams with the best records in basketball to start this season. Edwards has been averaging a scorching 30 PPG in his last four games, shooting an impressive 58% from the field(!). Keep an eye on his matchup against Wemby and the Spurs.

I'm eager to see if Jalen Green can put together a solid stretch of games and if the Rockets can maintain their winning streak, especially against the injury-plagued Pelicans. In their last game, the Pelicans were missing key starters like Zion, McCollum, and Herb Jones.

Speaking of individual performances, I've got Grant Williams on my weekly fantasy team, and I couldn't help but notice his stark contrast in stats between wins and losses. In wins, he's averaging an impressive 15.5 PPG with an astonishing 78% true shooting percentage, including a remarkable 56% from beyond the arc. However, in losses, his numbers drop to just 9.5 PPG with a below-average 53% true shooting percentage. Luckily for me, the Mavs have only lost two games so far. I'll be keeping a close eye on his performance against the LA Clippers tonight to see if he can maintain his hot streak.

Random Thought

Today's Hawks vs. Magic game took place in Mexico City, and there's another intriguing matchup later this season when the Brooklyn Nets face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris. But this isn't a new concept for the NBA; they've been expanding their horizons globally for some time.

Just last year, the NBA hosted international games, with the Miami Heat squaring off against the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls facing the Detroit Pistons. Additionally, the league has a history of playing games in London's O2 Arena, with the most recent matchup featuring the Knicks and the Wizards in 2019.

Taking a trip down memory lane, in 2003, the Seattle Supersonics and LA Clippers even played back-to-back games in Japan, adding to the list of global NBA experiences. And let's not forget the preseason games that have been held in various international cities like Manila, Beijing, Taipei, Rio De Janeiro, Barcelona, Rome, and more.

However, one notable aspect of these regular-season games is that they rarely feature marquee matchups. It begs the question: if the NBA aims to promote the game overseas, why not showcase the best games and players in these international settings? While we did get to witness Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in action during the 2019 matchup, they faced the Detroit Pistons, who finished the season with a .500 record and the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Just imagine the excitement of watching an epic showdown between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić in India. Count me in!

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