OFFICIAL NBA THREAD

caught the first one live, incredibly weak combo of techs.. like Lowry's ejection a couple of weeks ago I just don't understand having zero leniency on the 2nd tech. maybe replacement refs are trying to assert themselves idk, just makes no sense on anything but a longterm/respect dynamic between players and refs

 

No fun league

 

Like HotMic said, it's a difficult fit next to Garland. But Sexton put up 24 points per game a year ago on 48/37/81 splits. It got lost in the wash of another tanked season, but Sexton is a gifted scorer and his ability to create his own offense is something the Cavs need and will sorely miss come playoff time if they maintain their current pace

I think long term, he might be best-suited as a Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford bench scorer. His other skills haven't really developed alongside his scoring, and he was clearly developing a bit of a reputation as a ball stopper, which is a problem when you're playing next to another talented guard who needs the ball in his hands and is much better at running the offense

 

Ok I’ll quit posting like Dump

 

NBA TV alert, Miles Bridges has 22 points in the first quarter against the Knicks

 

Is Bridges getting a max deal this summer?

 

Maybe, CLT is on the hook for...

60mil - Hayward 2 more years
70mil - Rozier 3 more years

and they will need to extend Lamelo too

 

is "rain dance" a thing or is Ian Eagle seemingly trying to get canceled?

reference- after a Kyrie 3

 

Are you serious?

 

R u gaming us bruv?

 

okay i'm an idiot, but also let's not hold up along came polly like some must know piece of culture. also kyrie is native and shoots well? idk

 

If you're hoopin, Sandy Lyle is must know culture

 

Kudos to Stan Van Gundy calling on the senate to pass the voting rights act while on play by play.

 

Tony Bradley’s a fucking bitch

 

The announcers for Memphis/Bulls are bad if they can’t see that was an intentional trip.

 

For real!

 

I had no idea his first name was temetrius, shit I would go by that instead of Ja. That is a badass name

 

This Bucks/Hawks game…turrible

 

JJJ turning into a menace on D.

 

Uh oh. Happy learned how to putt

 

In this scenario, “putting” is winning a game in your home arena?

 

​

 

That was an ugly fucking game that the Thunder should have won

 

We shouldn't win any games

 

The lakers second unit is awful

 

I am curious about Rick Brunson "schooling" Rob Pelinka but I don't want to listen

 

Lol pretty sure it wasn’t Vogel’s idea to trade for Westbrook

 

There’s no way they could move Westbrook, right?

 

probably not but like the Rams LA teams seem to make the rest of the league help them for cheap

 

If Carmelo and Horford max contracts were moved, Russ can move as well. Will be interesting to see just how far in advance they will let them trade picks. But it's the Lakers, so it will be allowed.

 

Next season is the last year of his deal/player option.

Plus John Wall, Al Horford, Chris Paul, and Russ himself were all considered untradeable at one point so who knows.

 

At the present moment, no. However, if James Dolan decides to be more hands on then he will be a Knick and the Lakers will be well compensated.

 

behind a paywall, care to post the actual list?

 

Spoiler: copied from mobile for the poor

We've passed the halfway point of the NBA season, and the highly touted 2021 draft class has lived up to expectations.

Not only are the No. 1-caliber picks such as Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunninghamproducing for their respective teams, but two surprise second-round draft picks are also rising up the rankings. With three months remaining in the regular season, one player has emerged as the Rookie of the Year favorite, but several candidates are in position to overtake him for the top spot.

Which rookie has made the biggest jump in Rookie Power Rankings since November?

In our second rankings, we rate the top 10 rookies based on how they've played so far and spotlight a specific skill each player has displayed this season. Keep in mind, this is not a re-draft or a ranking based on future potential, but rather a fluid list that spells out which rookies have been most valuable through at least 41 games.

1. Evan Mobley, center | Cleveland Cavaliers

Skill: Shifty ball handler

Previous ranking: 1

Mobley sat atop our first Rookie Power Rankings largely because of his switch-ability, rim protection, shooting stroke, feel for the game and overall winning impact. But it's his flashes of ballhandling, shot creation and passing at 7 feet that have been most eye-opening, giving him potential to not only win Rookie of the Year but also evolve into one of the league's best bigs sooner than evaluators anticipated. Although he had some issues on Monday creating against Brooklyn Nets rookie wing Kessler Edwards, Mobley is generating 0.944 points per chance as a scorer on isolations over the last two months, an increase from the 0.76 he posted the first two months of the season. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is finding even more ways for Mobley to handle the ball in space, utilizing his remarkable footwork, ball skills and passing feel to either create his own shot or find an open teammate. Over his past five games, Mobley is averaging four assists in 37.2 minutes, creating offense for teammates out of a variety of actions. He'll bring the ball up the floor off a made basket like a jumbo guard. He'll find wings slipping to the rim to exploit off ball switches. He'll bust out of the corner for Jarrett Allen handoffs, pulling up from 2 if the defense goes under or striding it out to the rim if it gets caught.

Maybe most impressively, he's unleashing a hesitation crossover you see mostly from point guards, shifting his body weight while the ball hangs in his right hand before planting his right foot, and sweeping the ball off the hardwood to his left hand in one fluid motion. Mobley can pull up, attack or pass off that, making him quite a unique threat off the bounce at his size. He hasn't made a 3-pointer since Dec. 28, and he's still not quite the rebounder his length would suggest, even as he leads all rookies in rebounds. But even with Cade Cunningham's recent surge in Detroit and the consistent all-around production of Orlando's Franz Wagner, Mobley remains the most impactful first-year player in the NBA, with glimpses that suggest he'll develop into a perennial All-Star as soon as next season.

2. Cade Cunningham, guard | Detroit Pistons
Skill: ISO efficiency

Previous ranking: 3

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Cade Cunningham scores career-high 29 points in Pistons' upset win vs. Jazz
Cade Cunningham and the Pistons hand the Jazz their third straight loss in a 126-116 win at Little Caesars Arena.

Despite his leading the NCAA in isolation efficiency during his lone season at Oklahoma State, naysayers questioned Cunningham's ability to go get a bucket given his methodical pace. After 33 games, it's safe to say those concerns can be put to rest. According to Second Spectrum Data, Cunningham ranks 10th in points per direct isolation, ahead of Luka Doncic, Steph Curry, Trae Young, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. He torched the Utah Jazz for 29 points, including 18 points in the third quarter, hitting step-back 3s over Bojan Bogdanovic, pull-ups over Joe Ingles and bullying Royce O'Neale to the rim. He scored 21 points on 14 shots in 24 minutes against the Phoenix Suns before a questionable ejection, getting downhill with ease against Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder. Through the first three months of the season, Cunningham was posting a 16.7 eFG% on 24 step-back jumpers, ranking toward the bottom of the NBA. That percentage is up to 44 in January, setting the table for his isolation attack.

Cunningham is averaging 16.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.1 turnovers in 31.5 minutes during eight games this month, with wins over the Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.


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There's so much more to appreciate about Cunningham's game than his one-on-one scoring. He spaces the floor as an off-ball threat. He's an excellent passer, starting to employ more one-handed dimes to wing shooters out of pick-and-roll. He's a heady cutter. He's an impactful defender, using his strength, length, IQ and effort level to add value both on and off the ball. And he plays with the poise of a longtime veteran player. But it's his growing comfort as a late-clock shot creator that has helped him shoulder the load with Jerami Grant sidelined, and could give him the potential to develop into the eventual superstar so many analysts billed him as.

The days of Anthony Davis blocking his step-back 3s are behind him -- he's now getting into his hang-dribble pull-up with more urgency, even splashing triples in the face of long-armed defenders such as Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. He uses sweeping crossovers to get the angle on his defenders, fending them off with his strong frame before unraveling at the rim thanks to his 7-foot-2 wingspan or drawing a foul. Detroit remains a work in progress, and Mobley's two-way play gives him the slight edge over Cunningham in the interim. But more 29-point games showcasing the isolation of an NBA All-Star could certainly vault the 2021 No. 1 pick into the lead.

3. Scottie Barnes, forward | Toronto Raptors
Skill: The screener

Previous ranking: 2

After coming out of the gates looking like a 6-foot-8 Antetokounmpo with a budding jumper, Barnes hasn't been as outwardly productive since returning from a knee injury, averaging 8.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting just 47% from 2 and 1-for-14 from 3 over the five games prior to his 16-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist outing against the Miami Heat on Monday. But Barnes has still had some tremendous stretches since our last rankings, registering an impressive 16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocks through seven games in December, shooting 58% from 2 and 36% from 3. Most importantly, given his reluctance to take open shots prior to the NBA, Barnes has attempted over three triples per game over the past two months, double his average through October and November.

With his jumper not falling as often and Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunobyleading the way as Toronto's top scorers, Barnes adds value as a screener, generating 1.306 points per chance in January, tops in the NBA during that stretch (minimum 40 screens). On the season, he ranks sixth in points per direct screen among the 106 players to set at least 275 screens. While a lot of that efficiency is a product of Toronto using Barnes to get a weaker defender on VanVleet or Siakam for isolations, he's also adding value playing in the short roll. When teams play in drops, he's really good at holding his screen, giving VanVleet a target and either dribbling or rolling into floaters or midrange jumpers. When teams blitz VanVleet, he's activated as a playmaker like Golden State's Draymond Green, picking apart 4-on-3 situations thanks to his handle and feel.

Orlando Magic[/paste:font]
Skill: Live dribble playmaking

Previous ranking: 4

Praised for his versatile defense, spot shooting, ball-moving style and poster dunks early in the season, Wagner's playmaking has become a weapon for the Magic, as he has collected 22 assists over his past four games, making several off-the-dribble deliveries that weren't a consistent part of his repertoire at Michigan. The play above is the perfect example of Wagner's vision and his feel for the game. Out of the underneath out-of-bounds play, he's supposed to hit Wendell Carter Jr. and then come off a handoff to get into the action. But once he sees Chicago's Lonzo Ball deny the handoff, he rejects it, redirects his momentum and after taking one dribble to his right, tosses a one-handed scoop lob to where only his big man could catch it.

From the quick hit to Carter Jr. to the handoff rejection to the smooth pass, only one dribble was used in that highlight, which is a coach's dream. That's exactly what Wagner has been so far, ranking second among all rookies in scoring, shooting 35% from 3, creating for himself and others while often guarding the other team's best player. On top of all that, he has one of the best slow-down Eurosteps in the league, utilizing his frame and stride length to maneuver past the longest of defenders like Antetokounmpo en route to a career-best 38 points against the Bucks. Although the Magic sit at 8-37 with one win in their past 13 games, Wagner remains a bright spot, as Orlando is 11 points better with him on the floor.

5. Josh Giddey, guard | Oklahoma City Thunder
Skill: Elite rebounder

Previous ranking: 5

Giddey's passing gets most of the social media fame, and rightfully so. But on top of his already uncanny vision, he has proved to be one of the NBA's best positional rebounders. Growing up playing Australian rules football, Giddey has an innate ability to read the ball off the rim, using his size to high point the ball in traffic while also chasing down loose balls to create extra possessions. Giddey's anticipation on the glass is one of his strengths, and he ranks fourth in the NBA among perimeter players with his 12.3 rebounding percentage, just behind Luka Doncic and Dejounte Murrayand ahead of Russell Westbrook and LaMelo Ball. He already has reached double-digit rebounds nine times through 38 games, topping out at 18 boards against the LA Clippers in December. Giddey's ability to impact the game as a rebounder allows him to make up for some of his defensive limitations from a quickness and fluidity standpoint.

On top of the boards, the fact Giddey is shooting 63% from 2 and 35% from 3 over his past five games is a noteworthy development, as his improved spot shooting allows him to function with Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more seamlessly. Giddey is posting a 60.5 eFG% on 19 catch-and-shoot jumpers in January, according to Second Spectrum Data. He has been knocking down tough step-backs, with several coming against Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks during his first career triple-double. It's Giddey's strides as a shooter and half-court scorer that, when combined with his elite rebounding, make him one of the more complete players from the 2021 draft class.

6. Herb Jones, forward | New Orleans Pelicans
Skill: Adding the corner 3

Previous ranking: 10

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Ingram finds Jones in the corner with a nice pass
Brandon Ingram hits Herb Jones with a nifty pass for a corner 3-pointer.

Jones, a second-round steal, snuck onto our first rankings at No. 10 thanks to his versatile defense, ballhandling, passing and overall basketball IQ. Since then, he has blossomed into a more valuable player as a full-time starter alongside Brandon Ingram, evolving from reluctant floor spacer to a 44% 3-point shooter the past two months. Jones' line-drive jumper was one of the only reasons he landed outside of the draft's first round. Despite making 35% of his 3s as a senior at Alabama, he too often ran from open shots, and struggled with confidence from the free throw line.

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He'll still drive short closeouts, cut out of the corner when he should stay spaced or gravitate toward the dunker spot. Jones looks far more sure of himself from beyond the arc, attempting three triples per game over his past 10 games. He's now at league average from the corners this season, and the fact he has improved his scoring average and efficiency every single month is a welcome sign. The SEC Player of the Year and DPOY, it's no surprise Jones has excelled as a rookie given his NBA readiness and maturity. But the fact he is making open 3s in addition to all the other things he does at a high level gives him more upside than most expected. Jones ranks fourth among rookies in true shooting percentage while playing the seventh-most minutes. The Pelicans are 13.7 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the floor, yet another indicator of how valuable his smarts, defense and improved shooting have been.

7. Jonathan Kuminga, forward | Golden State Warriors
Skill: Pick-and-roll ball handler

Previous ranking: NR

While his effort, decision-making and shooting have been a roller coaster for coach Steve Kerr, the glimpses of brilliance Kuminga has shown through his first 30 games are enough to land him at No. 7. The fact he is playing over 10 minutes per game as a 19-year-old rookie on the second-best team in the NBA speaks to his talent. Kuminga leads all rookies in points per 40 minutes (22.6), edging out fellow G League Ignite product Jalen Green. Kuminga has topped 25 points twice in the past month, most recently on only 12 shots in just 25 minutes in a win against a stout Chicago Bulls team. With Draymond Green injured, Kuminga is averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1 block in 27 minutes over his last four games. Erratic shooting, tunnel vision and fluctuating effort and awareness on the glass and the defensive end have been enough to keep Kuminga on the bench some nights. But the explosiveness and physicality he brings to the floor -- particularly as a downhill driver -- gives the Warriors a different element and has allowed Kuminga to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

What's made Kuminga so effective even without the threat of a consistent 3? The Warriors have done an excellent job of getting Kuminga downhill to his right hand, regularly using Stephen Curry as a screener to spring the 6-8, 230-pounder free with a head of steam to the rim. The Curry screen either creates a switch, which allows Kuminga an one-on-one opportunity against a much smaller defender, or leads to a botched exchange, freeing Curry for an open jumper. The Warriors have also used screeners such as Nemanja Bjelica, giving Kuminga a runway to attack slower defenders like Bobby Portis with violent change-of-direction moves. Although it's a microscopic sample (28 picks), Kuminga's 1.47 points per direct screen (as the ball handler) leads the NBA by a wide margin.

He's also taking advantage of spending some time at the small-ball 5 spot, where he sees 24% of his minutes. He's too quick off the bounce for most traditional centers, and is far too powerful for most wings, and even some fours. In addition, Kuminga is generating the third-most free throws per possession among rookies, finding a lot of comfort on the block. He's far from a finished product, but Kerr is finding ways to utilize Kuminga's ability to put pressure on the rim, which could pay major dividends for the Warriors come playoff time.

8. Jalen Green, guard | Houston Rockets
Skill: Settling less, attacking more

Previous ranking: 8

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Jalen Green takes it coast-to-coast and rocks the rim
Jalen Green takes the rock coast-to-coast and throws it down with authority to extend the Rockets' lead.

Although still streaky from beyond the arc, Green has been slightly more productive and efficient since our first rankings, scoring 16.4 points in 29.5 minutes in December and January, while shooting 48% from 2 and 31% from 3 (up from 28%). When he's at his best, Green is using his speed to wreak havoc in transition as both a lane filler and ball handler -- and it shows in his production and efficiency. If he's more focused on getting downhill than settling for step-back 3s, Green can go the length of the floor in 4 seconds, using just four dribbles. He has a game-changing burst running the floor without the ball, creating two points without needing any dribbles thanks to his fluidity and bounce at 6-6. Green is Ja Morant-like when he's able to gather off two feet, dunking on the way up and punishing the rim with equal parts style and ferocity.

Although he's shooting just 29% from 3 through nine games this month, Green is attempting a career-best 6.4 free throws per 40 minutes, up from 4.3 through the first three months of the season. It took Green until his fifth career NBA game to draw a shooting foul, yet those days of settling for off-balance jumpers and finesse finishes in traffic appear to be behind him. He's more decisive, attacking off the catch with more frequency and going into the body of rim protectors with physicality. According to Cleaningtheglass.com, 37% of Green's shots are coming at the rim, which ranks in the 82nd percentile in terms of frequency. Green is fouled on 10.4% of his shots, which ranks in the 88th percentile. When Green goes to the rim, good things generally happen, and we're starting to see more glimpses as he settles into his rookie season. Green's off-the-dribble shooting and ability to create space are clearly a big reason he was drafted No. 2 overall. If he can strike the right balance between using his burst and showcasing his pull-up, he can have an Anthony Edwards-like post All-Star break, eclipsing Wagner and Cunningham as the leading scorer among rookies. There's still work to do as a defender and passer, but Green's potential remains sky high, and I remain confident he will lead the NBA in scoring someday.

9. Chris Duarte, guard | Indiana Pacers
Skill: The jump cut

Previous ranking: 6

After debuting at No. 6 during in our Rankings and garnering early-season Rookie of the Year buzz, Duarte slides to No. 9 as the Pacers sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with Duarte shooting 30% from 3 over his past 10 games, prior to his 24-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist outburst against the Clippers on Monday. Duarte still ranks sixth among all rookies in scoring behind only Cunningham, Wagner, Green, Mobley and Barnes, showcasing the ability to score at all three levels and finding the open man, making him one of the more polished players in this class. He's at 34% from 3 on the season and shows enough to be widely considered one of the more polished players in this class. He has been able to remain one of the top rookie scorers by playing off a passer like Domantas Sabonis as a cutter, unleashing football-like jump cuts to dart behind his defender and ultimately finish or find a teammate.

The NBA on ESPN and the ESPN App[/paste:font]
Wednesday, Jan. 19
Hornets at Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Clippers at Nuggets, 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21
Raptors at Wizards, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 26
Grizzlies at Spurs, 7:30 p.m.
Suns at Jazz, 10 p.m.

All times Eastern

Duarte has great chemistry with Pacers bigs, making eye contact on the elbow entry before forcefully slicing through the seam. Duarte is posting a 61.5 eFG% in the paint over the past two months, up over 12% from the first two months of the season, which is partially a product of his stellar cutting as well as his pull-up game. Duarte's comfort scoring out of pick-and-roll has also stood out, as he ranks 11th in the NBA points per chance among players using at least 240 ball screens, regularly keeping his defender on his back before rising up or finding the big. But it's his feel as a cutter -- along with his jumper -- that gives him a high floor this season and beyond.

10. Ayo Dosunmu, guard | Chicago Bulls
Skill: Defense + efficiency

Previous ranking: NR

Few rookies have been as impactful on both ends of the floor as Dosunmu. There are surely first-year players with bigger box score numbers and highlights, but Dosunmu is regularly defending the other team's premier perimeter player for the best team in the Eastern Conference while leading all rookies in true shooting percentage (61.8%). Fresh off Saturday's 21-point, 10-assist game on just 10 shots and and Monday's 15-point, 10-rebound, 6-assist, 5-steal, 2-block game against Memphis, Dosunmu has kept it simple offensively while adding major value defensively. He's getting out in transition, knocking down catch-and-shoot 3s (64.5 eFG%), attacking closeouts, adding value as a cutter, making unselfish reads and taking advantage of ball-screen opportunities he is given by getting to his patented midrange jumper or finishing floaters. A featured shot creator at Illinois, he's playing more of a ball-moving style that fits perfectly alongside DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine.


While the offensive efficiency has been a major plus, it's Dosunmu's defensive energy that lands him on this list. He defended Jayson Tatum, Doncic, Beal, Morant and Young over the past month, doing everything to bother the All-Stars with his quickness, energy and 6-foot-10 wingspan. Although much lighter in the lower body, he helped limit Tatum to 23 points on 24 shots in a narrow loss. He hounded Young during back-to-back matchups, pressuring him full court for stretches and picking his pocket on a crossover while also blocking him at the rim in their previous meeting. He bothered No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham during a 46-point win, playing a role in Cunningham's 8 points on 3-for-11 shooting while blocking one of his pull-ups with a rear-view contest. Like any rookie, he's not immune to defensive mistakes, but he's embracing the role of pest, working hard to take the air space of stars with ball pressure, fight over screens, stay attached to shooters and use his long arms to contest. Even with Chicago not at full strength, the fact he has been able to play 20 minutes a game speaks to his value, especially as the 38th pick.