Rookie Rundown and In-Season Showdowns: Are Tournament Games Edging Out Regular Matchups? - 11/26/23

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

The rookies stood out to me more than anything, so here’s my Saturday All-Rookie First team —

All Saturday (11/25) Rookie Standouts

G - Bilal Coulibaly: The Wizards' secret weapon in the making. This young gun, a one-time teammate of Victor Wembanyama, is showing he can guard anyone at the point of attack. With a 7’2" wingspan and a height of 6’7", he's like a Swiss Army knife on defense. Offensively, he's not the main course yet, but with a 44% success rate from downtown, he's more than just a side dish.

G - Keyonte George: Sure, his shooting stats might look like someone's playing with the sliders set to 'hard,' but George is bringing more to the table than just points. He's carving up defenses with nearly 8 assists per game as a starter. And let's talk about last night: 4 made threes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. The Jazz might have found at the very least a better option than Talen Horton Tucker at the PG position.

G - Jordan Hawkins: This rookie is more than just a sharpshooter; he's a human highlight reel from beyond the arc. Hawkins is rapidly carving out a reputation as a lethal scorer, especially as an off-the-ball threat.

Just tonight, he dropped in another 5 threes, contributing to a 25-point barrage. His ability to spontaneously combust into scoring frenzies has been a spectacle this season. We've seen him light up halves with 14, 15, 16, and even 19 points before, but tonight's 20-point half was a different beast. Hawkins is proving to be an essential piece in his team's offense, bringing a level of scoring consistency that's rare in rookies.

F - Jaime Jacquez Jr.: Jaime's game is like a seasoned veteran trapped in a rookie's body - methodical, versatile, and incredibly savvy. Despite a team setback today, Jacquez Jr. stood out with a notable 18 points, 5 rebounds, and a sprinkle of assists. His playstyle is reminiscent of the greats, weaving into the team's rhythm seamlessly. His recent performances are a testament to his growing influence: averaging 18.5 points, 5.25 rebounds, and 3.25 assists on blisteringly efficient 53/59/85 shooting splits over his last four games. It's not just about scoring; Jaime's all-around impact on both ends is turning heads and raising the question - is he the next big thing for Miami?

C - Chet Holmgren: Where do you even start with Chet? The rookie sensation is redefining what it means to be a dominant big man in today's NBA. In his latest showdown against Joel Embiid, Chet held nothing back, pouring in 33 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and sinking 5 threes. His ability to stretch the floor while maintaining efficiency is nothing short of remarkable. Over his last four games, Holmgren's stats read like a seasoned All-Star's: 25.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.8 BPG, while shooting 63% from the field, 43% from deep, and 82% at the line. He's not just competing for the Rookie of the Year title; he's making a case for being one of the most impactful players in the league.

—

Each of these rookies brings a unique flair to their respective teams. Hawkins with his sniper-like accuracy, Jacquez Jr. with his all-encompassing game, and Holmgren with his modern big man's skillset are not just future stars; they are already making significant impacts in their debut NBA season.

Stat of the Night: Embiid’s Play-Making

Embiid's not just a scorer; he's turning into a dime-dropping machine. Last season, he had 9 games with 7+ assists. This season? He's already at 8 in just 15 games, thanks to Nick Nurse's offense. Harden who?

Notable Injuries:

• Jalen Johnson: Ouch, wrist injury only 8 minutes into this game. The Hawks will definitely feel this one as he’ll likely miss a number of weeks, which is a shame because Jalen was shaping up to be a strong MIP contender.

• Darius Garland: Neck strain after just 14 minutes. Cavs could've used him in their loss to the Lakers, especially with Michaell having an off night shooting the ball.

Is the in-season tournament really spicing up the NBA, or is it just the increased parity? Let's crunch some numbers.

Analyzing 130 non-tournament games, the average victory margin is about 12.4 points. However, in-season tournament games show a narrower margin of 10.7 points. This might imply these games are slightly more competitive. Obviously there's so many factors behind this too. But let's delve deeper.

Considering games decided by 6 points or less, both tournament and non-tournament games are roughly equal, with non-tournament games actually slightly higher. So, it seems games have been equally competitive, regardless of the tournament status.

However, I suspect the knockout stages will ramp up the competitiveness. We've already seen teams and players making strategic plays for point differentials in the tournament. Sengun even said "we want to go to Vegas," indicates a certain level of acknowledgment and effort towards these games.

So, it might be a bit early for a final verdict, but as of now, the competition appears fairly consistent across both formats.

Revamp your NBA fan experience with Hoop'd Fantasy: the strategic, season-long basketball saga that keeps the excitement of fantasy picks going all year round. Click here to discover more and join the revolution!