The West playoff picture is breathtakingly tight
Plus: Ja Morant submits another Dunk of the Year nominee.
Good morning. Salute to keeping the actual memory of MLK alive.
Let’s basketball.
Parity Update
The West is still painfully tight, though the top two teams — Denver and Memphis — are creating a gap. The teams from No. 5 (Dallas) to No. 12 are all within two games in the loss column. That’s eight teams, two of which will make the playoffs outright, four of which will be in the play-in and two of which will hit the beach when the regular season ends.
On top of that, Sacramento is technically just 1.5 games ahead of Dallas for No. 4, though they have three games on them in the loss column. On top of that, the Lakers are just a game behind No. 12 OKC in the loss column. There are really 10 teams in play here, though I find it difficult to imagine at this point for OKC or the Lakers to make the playoffs outright or for the Kings or Mavericks to miss the play-in.
The situation is a bit different in the East, but still wild. Boston has a strong gap for No. 1 and will likely win the conference’s top seed. But four teams are within a single game for No. 2.
A truly competitive and stakes-rich regular season!
Here Come the Liberty
We had a WNBA blockbuster over the weekend: 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones is headed to the Liberty in a three-team deal that sends Natasha Howard to the Wings and Tyasha Harris and the No. 6 pick to the Sun. A couple other players are also on the move in the deal; click the link to The Next’s report above for details.
It sounds like the Liberty are still chasing Breanna Stewart in free agency. Even if they strike out, putting a dominant interior presence in Jones with Betnijah Laney and Sabrina Ionescu should help lift New York further up the standings, especially considering that the Sun may slip without Jones (though this move apparently makes it more likely they can retain Brionna Jones with Alyssa Thomas).
Arike Ogunbowale gets Howard’s interior presence, which should help on defense. Eager to see what else unfolds this month in the W.
Scores
FRIDAY
Pelicans 116, Pistons 110 — New Orleans is 3-3 in this latest stretch without Zion, and still in 3rd place as the Mavs have faltered. Still no sign of Brandon Ingram.
Hawks 113, Pacers 111 — Trae Young with an extremely cringeworthy shot, saved (eventually) by John Collins.
Knicks 112, Wizards 108 — Sheesh, Julius Randle!
Warriors 144, Spurs 113 — The Spurs set two records, really. Because I’m sure their record crowd size will be beaten — PR folks at the other 29 teams are plotting how to do it — but I’m not sure anyone will overcome the Spurs for biggest home crowd to see a 30-point loss anytime soon.
Pardon the cynicism, though: cool idea and cool record.
Magic 108, Jazz 112 — Walker Kessler had seven blocks in this game. Lauri Markkanen had one. But that one was pretty freaking good.
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