The Bounce: Zombie Celtics Compete

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What number of video games ought to it’s important to play to win MVP? Let’s talk about.

Zombie Celtics Compete

Down 4 starters, Celtics nearly beat Bucks

We spent all day yesterday at The Bounce hyping the Bucks and the Celtics battling for East supremacy. And what occurred? Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Sensible and Jaylen Brown all missed the sport! Fortunately, the remaining Celtics took it very significantly and pushed the Bucks to extra time final evening.

Sam Hauser hit a 3-pointer to ship the sport into the additional interval, serving to him cap a five-game stretch of stepping up with 15.2 factors per recreation. However Jrue Vacation tied his career-high with 40 factors because the Bucks bagged a 131-125 extra time win. The Bucks at the moment are only a half-game behind Boston for the perfect document within the Japanese Convention.

Extra motion from final evening: 

• Devin Booker’s return places the West on discover. His 32 factors Tuesday had been his most since a 58-point outburst on Dec. 17. The Suns moved into fourth with a win over Sacramento. Phoenix is a recreation behind the Kings for third and has the NBA’s fifth-best document since Jan. 10. And Kevin Durant isn’t again but…
• The Clippers beat the Warriors 134-124 to drop Golden State to 7-22 on the street. Yikes. The Warriors’ street win share (.241) is on tempo for the staff’s worst since 2010-11 (.244). The Clips enhance to 9-0 this season when Kawhi Leonard (game-high 33) scores not less than 30 factors.

The Newest From Shams

Some attention-grabbing developments to report on James Harden. The 76ers star is taking up new illustration, sources inform The Athletic. Key particulars and why that is notable:

• Harden will now be represented by Troy Payne, a former Adidas government who’s partnering with brokers Mike Silverman and Brandon Grier to steer Fairness Basketball. Harden is on tempo to steer the NBA in assists for the second time in his profession (2016-17) and has performed properly for Philly as they sit at No. 3 within the East.
• Harden signed a two-year contract with the 76ers final offseason. However there’s a giant catch: Harden can turn out to be an unrestricted free agent in July.

A reminder that Harden hasn’t had official illustration since Rob Pelinka left his function as a participant agent to run the Lakers in 2017. So Harden could have new advisors as he considers the summer time resolution.

All-NBA Attendance

Ought to the NBA tie awards to video games performed?

The NBA has a large drawback on the subject of load/harm administration. We’ve seen followers, coaches, the commissioner, executives, broadcast firms and individuals who don’t even like the NBA complain about it. It’s hardly a secret.

And simply have a look at final evening! The Celtics basically gave Tatum an All-Star break earlier than the precise All-Star break by deciding to not play him in a nationally televised showdown with the Bucks, arguably the perfect recreation of the yr thus far … not less than on paper. The NBA has been making an attempt to determine tips on how to curb this conduct by groups and gamers.

So, what about tying postseason awards to video games performed? What if gamers had been ineligible for MVP in the event that they miss a sure variety of video games?

“The potential of tethering awards to appearances wouldn’t solely have an effect on who will get acknowledged by the league, with its most prestigious honors serving as an incentive construction, however it could even be an try by the NBA to unravel considered one of its most nettlesome points — load administration.”

• That’s a probably huge bargaining chip for the gamers, as we begin determining what the minimize of the historic income pie might be within the subsequent CBA. The gamers union can dangle the concept of the MVP and different awards giving groups and gamers incentives to play in these video games.
• Generally, it’s not even the gamers’ fault, although. Groups typically simply resolve a given recreation is a relaxation evening.

Voting already negates the difficulty a bit. Sure media members received’t think about a participant for an award if he’s missed an excessive amount of time. Draymond Inexperienced has most likely misplaced an NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr award or two due to this. However to make it official? What would the workaround be? Minutes?

John Hollinger famous the settlement’s language has to ensure we don’t get chicanery to begin these video games.

What might have been for Brooklyn?

By now, we all know how disastrous the Nets’ most up-to-date try at an excellent staff went. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed in 2019 earlier than James Harden arrived by way of commerce in January 2021. This trio was speculated to be dominant.

As an alternative, the league watched its Huge 3 play 16 video games collectively. In these video games, they principally dominated on the offensive finish of the ground and regarded traditionally unstoppable. The one issues that would cease them had been accidents and vaccine protocols – go determine.

Finally, Harden discovered his approach to Philadelphia, the Nets broke aside utterly, and it’s now simply Cam Thomas towards the world. Harden lately spoke concerning the official finish of his Nets tenure after the staff dealt Kyrie to Dallas and KD to Phoenix earlier than final week’s commerce deadline.

“I don’t appear like the man or the quitter or regardless of the media wish to name me. I knew what was happening and I simply determined to … hey, I’m not constructed for this. I don’t wish to take care of that. I wish to play basketball and have enjoyable and luxuriate in doing it.”

Apparently, Harden lived by way of Dwight Howard, tolerated Chris Paul’s maniacal nature, skilled the Russell Westbrook stuff, was across the dysfunction of this Nets staff for a yr and determined to get the hell out of Brooklyn. To say he’s not constructed for this, with all he’s achieved, exhibits simply how ridiculous it was behind the scenes.

It’s additionally attention-grabbing to recollect the Nets had been half a Durant shoe dimension away from eliminating the Bucks, enjoying the Hawks within the convention finals, after which discovering themselves within the NBA Finals towards Phoenix. The margins are simply that skinny between success and abomination.

Pleased Wembsday!

What does a 7-foot-5 phenom appear like?

Have you ever ever needed to expertise the angle of arguably essentially the most spectacular NBA draft prospect in historical past? Fortunately, Victor Wembanyama has a TikTok account!

Maybe Wembanyama is utilizing Google Glass (keep in mind Roy Hibbert utilizing that?), however regardless of the device is for getting Wemby’s POV, that is an unbelievable TikTok video exhibiting what it’s like to maneuver round like him on a basketball courtroom.

• Think about having to duck by way of each single doorway that exists – you’re speculated to comfortably dunk when strolling by way of doorways.
• His eyes are on the rim already – this is able to clarify him averaging almost twice as many blocks as anybody else in France’s Betclic Elite league (3.1 per recreation).
• He picks up a basketball like most individuals seize a tangelo. I imply, what precisely goes to be truthful about this as soon as he learns the NBA recreation?

I wish to remind readers that The Bounce won’t ever promote tanking as a result of it’s not moral inside sports activities. However yeah, everyone not competing for the title ought to nonetheless be tanking for this man.

Bounce Passes

How did the commerce deadline affect the 2023 NBA Draft? Sam Vecenie has your solutions.

Mac McClung’s path again to the NBA: 30 cities, 150 teammates and a dunk contest.

The Warriors should survive a month with out Steph Curry and Gary Payton II.

Kelly Iko is questioning how the Rockets can get veterans to stay round this rebuild.

Will Guillory talks to harm knowledgeable Jeff Stotts about Zion Williamson’s harm.

Evan Mobley is making the leap on offense, by way of Worry the Sword.

The Athletic’s NBA Employees contemplated over this season’s Rookie of the Yr Race.

Try David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson III discussing Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s new Showtime documentary.

Display Recreation (All occasions Japanese)

• Primary Display: Cavs-Sixers (7:30 p.m. ESPN). The Cavs goal to tie their season-best with an eighth straight win and are eyeing the 3-seed.
• Second Display: Pelicans-Lakers (10 p.m. ESPN). A enjoyable reminder that each loss for the Lakers offers the Pelicans a greater draft decide.
• League Cross Recreation of the Night time: Mavs-Nuggets (9 p.m.). Kyrie and Luka are winless collectively thus far, and the Nuggets have the perfect document within the West. The Joker is averaging an NBA-high 11.0 assists since Dec. 14. Lock in.
• Verify the total schedule right here.

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(Picture of Malcolm Brogdon: Stacy Revere / Getty Pictures)