Skyline Sports is back with another “4-Point Play.” A weekly post where we’ll look at the 4 biggest story lines of the week in the NBA. After a one week hiatus, here we are. Thursdays now instead of Fridays: buckle up.
This edition of 4-Point Play is dedicated to Kevin Martin who hit an and-1 three last night (and we don’t need to talk about the free throw).
We’re a little over 10% of the way through the NBA season. Still nowhere near panic time, but teams are starting to figure out where they stand. For example, the Sixers (0-10) got their Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams back and are still one of the worst teams to ever set foot on an NBA court.
Elsewhere in the league, Dwight Howard sat out last night’s game against the Lakers nursing a soar knee and is under investigation for child abuse, Jason Kidd got booed in his return to Brooklyn, Bradley Beal made his season-debut for the 7-2 Wizards, and the Cavs continued to play their big 3 more than anyone should ever play to middling results.
1) Wolves Check
The only place I know where to start with these is in Minneapolis. It was a rough couple of weeks for the Wolves (3-7) who returned to the Target Center last night after finishing up a 1-5 road trip that included a couple of good ole-fashioned beat downs. Fear not though Pups! Despite being without Ricky Rubio, Thad Young, Nikola Pekovic, and Ronny Turiaf, and Corey Brewer and Kevin Martin fighting the food poisoning, the Wolves were still able to take down the Knicks easily behind Martin’s 37. The most important takeaways from this game though:
A) Andrew Wiggins’ pregame playlist…
First-ballot Hall of Fame playlist no doubt. Can’t even deny it, the guy is a straight RIDAH.
B) Shabazz Muhammad is back to being the #1 recruit in the country and Lob City Midwest is in full force even with no Rubio…
Wolves verticals:
- LaVine- 44″
- Wiggins- 45″
- Shabazz- 8 ft+
2) Game 1
The Cavs and Spurs also played last night in what many believe could be an NBA Finals preview. Kawhi Leonard shut down LeBron, and the Cavs offense was led by Anderson Varejao (23pts/11reb/2blk), which I’m guessing was not the plan drawn up by Coach Blatt. After a lot of back and forth, a pretty outlet pass from Kevin Love to LeBron, and another Boris Diaw performance for the ages, it all came down to LeBron dribbling the ball away with 10 seconds left down 2…
I bet if LeBron was still roidin’ that wouldn’t of happened!
Not a bad game from the Cavs though, looking forward to seeing what happens when they figure it out.
3) The Dark Knight in Shining Armor
Brandon Knight had the biggest play of the week turn into the worst play of 2014 with time expiring in OT…
Dark Knight:
But redeemed himself by hitting a clutch 3 that helped force triple OT where the Bucks stole it in Kidd’s return to Brooklyn…
Knight in Shining Armor:
Hope you see what I did there.
4) SWAGGY!!!
Lakers without Nick Young: 1-9
Lakers with Nick Young: 2-0
I’m not great at math, but I think its safe to say the Lakers are a lot better with the best 3-point shooter in NBA history back in the rotation.
This also happened this week:
Remember 2nd grade soccer when everyone’s moms got their first names put on the backs of their jerseys? Well that’s where we’re at in today’s NBA. Get your Tim jerseys cause they’re goin’ fast!!
Skyline Sports 