I wrote on what I know about the Nuggets' pretty baffling late-season decisions, and argued with myself about whether the logic of the process was right, no matter the result.
open.substack.com/pub/thedenve...
@hpbasketball.bsky.social used to ask me all the time why I seems to spend so much energy “policing” bad uses of stats and part of it is the personal annoyance but the bigger part is how much harder the bullshitters make doing my job effectively.
My final thoughts on the MVP race and an unavoidable, uninspiring answer that leaves no one satisfied.
hardwoodparoxysm.substack.com/p/2026-nbacc...
3. Lakers (division winner)
4. Nuggets (head to head tiebreaker over Rockets)
5. Rockets
Correct, Lakers have tiebreaker
It's the way it makes you FEEL, Eric. When you clinch, it's magical!
Comes down to Lakers-Suns. If we assume Lakers lose to Thunder and Warriors and beat Jazz, it'll be Suns-Lakers on Friday that decides it.
Four; they win almost every tiebreaker scenario they'll face.
I am here for your magic number and tiebreaker questions today, should anyone have any.
With the caveat that this is not a quote from a source but the word choice of the author and so maybe an issue on that end...
"Calibrated force could impose costs on Tehran without triggering a broader war."
What kind of "calibration" is killing the leaders of the country and 150 schoolgirls?
how it feels seeing your GOAT slander your city and suggest moving your favorite team away
Everything with teams in the Nuggets' spot is about the urgency of the playoffs and dread about the future. But I had a chance to write about the "momentness" of the regular season from three different perspectives: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Cam Johnson.
thedenverdig.com/p/the-meanin...
If you like the MVP award, if you care about the MVP award, if you like to THINK about the MVP award, I wrote a column I do pretty much every year on the qeustions you should ask to decide who should win.
open.substack.com/pub/hardwood...
I wrote and spoke about KD, how his teams never seem to get better, the complications of understanding his impact, and the Rockets' palace intrigue and uncertain future.
open.substack.com/pub/hardwood...
If this is rhe case then retire the 65 game mark and pre emptively award it to him until he retires
I spoke with @anthonyirwinla.bsky.social for my channel on the end of Klutch-Lakers, Luka's shot selection, is JJ a good coach, and more.
hardwoodparoxysm.substack.com/p/wtf-lal-ho...
At the Denver Dig, I wrote on ThunderNuggets tonight, and how the Thunder have taken Nikola Jokic out of his comfort zone.
open.substack.com/pub/thedenve...
Title track remains unchanged, though it should be noted Wolves are 3rd seed with a +3.48 SRS which is above the 2023 Nuggets.
DEFCON this week, where the Bucks are going the wrong, or right way, depending on your perspective.
As I do every Monday, teams top-10 in offensive and defensive efficiency schedule-adjusted at DunksAndThrees.com.
yeah it's no particular order
3️⃣ Things I Noticed on League Pass
🪙 Nolan Traore, diming
🪜 Donovan Clingan, stepping out
⏲️ Cade Cunningham, timing it up
Traore's passing is currently the best reason to watch the Nets.
Meanwhile, Clingan is nailing threes and Cade is blocking shots.
www.lastnightinbasketball.com/three-things...
simple rating system www.basketball-reference.com/blog/indexba...
Point diff vs. Strength of Schedule.
Site updated on me while I was editing, here's the chart with the Wolves
there's actually a pretty big dropoff believe it or not from 40-19 to 40-20
aw, crap it just updated on me.
Title track for this week
91% of all champions since 1980 have 40 wins before 20 losses.
All but four champions in the last 30 years have an SRS above 4.0.
Only two teams have won a title in NBA history without a top-3 seed.
29 of the last 30 champs have checked two of the boxes.
DEFCON: Denver's at the brink, the Bulls are way past how bad they should be, I'm extremely frustrated with Memphis, and I don't think the Warriors are good.
Top 10 offense and defense teams via DunksAndThrees.com for this week. Celtics join the fray.
