A brand new contender introduced itself in a sport with seemingly key title ramifications, even when it’s solely December. And a celebrity ignited the start of a budding rivalry.
Plus a daring prediction for a looming NBA commerce, and extra!
Learn on for the newest NBA Speaking Factors!
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NEW CONTENDER? SPURS MAKE BIG STATEMENT AS WEMBY IGNITES RIVALRY
It’d’ve solely been one sport. But it surely felt prefer it had key repercussions on the title image.
And all of a sudden a brand new NBA rivalry is brewing.
The San Antonio Spurs pulled off an insane upset win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and snapped their 16-game successful streak in Victor Wembanyama’s return within the NBA Cup semi-finals and arguably the sport of the season.
After all, many have referred to as the 24-2 Thunder close to invincible with the potential to be all-time good as they eye Golden State’s 73-win file.
Positive, it was solely OKC’s second lack of the season, so we don’t need to overreact an excessive amount of or discuss down the reigning champs.
But it surely’s arduous to recall the final time Mark Daigneault’s squad has regarded as off its sport within the clutch and one other crew has actually taken it to them like that, even when it went all the way down to the wire.
That different crew, San Antonio, now 18-7, is the larger story because it actually introduced itself to the NBA world on a heightened stage.
Wembanyama performed an enormous half in his first sport again from harm, scoring 22 factors with 9 rebounds and two blocks … in simply 21 minutes off the bench.
NBA Wrap: Spurs advance to cup finals | 02:10
The 7-foot-4 French phenom, as he does, brought on all types of issues for OKC on each ends of the ground as a nightmare matchup. Any crew with him on it’s scary and has an enormous ceiling.
And but San Antonio crucially went 9-3 with Wembanyama out of the line-up attributable to a calf pressure in a interval it confirmed they should be taken far more significantly.
So whereas many imagine Denver and Houston are OKC’s greatest threats within the West, the rising Spurs confirmed they deserve a seat on the desk, if nothing else.
“Instantly stamped themselves as extraordinarily actual — not only a enjoyable little contender — however extraordinarily actual … I used to be truly extra impressed with San Antonio, than I used to be involved with something OKC did,” All-NBA Podcast’s Adam Mares stated.
“I used to be impressed with San Antonio’s clutch shot making and playmaking. It wasn’t simply ‘Wemby’, it was (Devin) Vassell and quite a lot of guys who got here up massive in excessive strain moments.
“That’s why this sport is so necessary to me. We all know the Spurs are good, they beat the Nuggets and had some good wins beneath their belt the final two weeks.
“But it surely was the poise towards that Thunder juggernaut, within the clutch, with the strain on that stage in Vegas that stood out. I’d’ve guessed they wanted to stumble by a couple of of those. They didn’t, they handed with poise and depth.”
Wembanyama is fueling a rivalry between the 2 groups, too, as he develops extra of an edge off the courtroom.
He seemingly took an oblique dig on the Thunder, who’ve at instances been criticised for accentuating foul calls, when talking post-match.
“I’m simply glad to be a part of one thing that’s rising to be so stunning — pure and moral basketball,” Wembanyama stated.
It got here after the celebrity centre additionally gave the impression to be dismissive of Chet Holmgren — seen as certainly one of Wembanyama’s rivals — in a pre-recorded interview with Amazon Prime Video earlier than the sport, by solely referencing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a risk on OKC.
“Finally, on the courtroom, the MVP’s (Gilgeous-Alexander) on that courtroom. So he’s our important focus. Anyone is tough to protect when you need to assistance on the MVPs,” Wembanyama stated when requested about Holmgren.
So, is it potential that the 4 finest groups within the NBA are all within the Western Convention?
OKC nonetheless clearly sits in a league of its personal. Denver and Houston are seemingly battling it out for who’s Thunder’s greatest challenger. You then get to groups like San Antonio, Detroit and New York.
Led by the freakishly good Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who’ve performed sparingly collectively this season, and a rising core staked with expertise together with Stephon Citadel and Dylan Harper, you may make a good argument that the Spurs are the fourth finest crew within the NBA, if not increased.
And who is aware of. This season won’t be the OKC championship cakewalk it’s extensively regarded as.
“The Thunder at instances look rattled. Had the Thunder gained that sport comfortably, all of the discourse would’ve been: ‘25-1, unbeatable. The season is over, simply crown the Thunder repeat champions now’,” NBA insider Marc Stein stated on the All-NBA Podcast.
“However with one superb comeback from 16 down and by ending the Thunder’s 16-game successful streak, I believe the Spurs have given this complete season a little bit of a brand new complexion. As a result of they’ve proven they should be thought-about an element within the West too.
“The Spurs needed to essentially be seen as a contender, they needed to stamp themselves as a legit Western Convention contender. They took the sport very significantly and noticed this as an enormous alternative to announce themselves to the entire league. I believe they did.
“The Thunder are in a tier by themselves, then the Rockets and Nuggets are in that subsequent group. The Spurs as mainly saying: ‘No, at worst, we’re a part of that group with Houston and Denver’.
“Possibly the Thunder have extra competitors and there’s extra groups that may give them points on the prime (of the West) than we realise.”
Giddey guides Bulls to snap dropping run | 01:32
AN IMMINENT TRADE? INSIDER’S BOLD PREDICTION
The unofficial begin of the commerce season has begun. And an NBA insider is predicting there might be a commerce by Tuesday (Wednesday, Australia time).
Why? As a result of beneath the brand new CBA launched in 2023, gamers traded on or earlier than December 16 are eligible to be moved once more earlier than the February deadline.
In different phrases, groups which are gearing up for different strikes get a quick window to keep up most flexibility.
We’ve already gone previous the essential December 15 mark, which is when nearly all of gamers signed within the low season turn into eligible to be traded. So anybody traded after December 16 has to remain on that new roster by the remainder of the season.
With that in thoughts, NBA insider Marc Stein predicted a commerce might be imminent.
“December is what’s recognised in entrance places of work throughout the league as the beginning of commerce season … 90-ish per cent of the league is commerce eligible,” Stein stated on the All-NBA Podcast.
“However the cause to anticipate a commerce of some type by Tuesday … there’s an necessary rule within the new CBA that claims anybody who’s traded by December 16 is eligible to be repackaged in a subsequent commerce on deadline day.
“Usually when a participant is traded, they can’t be packaged with one other participant for 60 days.”
NBA Wrap: Knicks guide semis v Magic | 01:02
Stein highlighted two examples of this occurring final 12 months.
“The Warriors traded for Dennis Schroder on December 15. The rationale they did that was as a result of if it didn’t work out, they needed the flexibility to make one other commerce involving Schroder. And that’s precisely what occurred, Schroder was within the Jimmy Butler commerce,” he added.
“That wasn’t the one one, Miami traded Thomas Bryant to Indiana on December 15, so we noticed two trades.
“I can’t provide you with a one zillion per cent assure, however the expectation is that is going to turn into a daily factor and we’ll see a commerce or two between now and Tuesday, as a result of groups need that flexibility to reaggregate gamers they purchase in a possible commerce on the deadline.”
… AND THERE’S A WATCH ON A VETERAN’S NEXT STOP
Amongst these gamers who’s now commerce eligible is veteran level guard Chris Paul.
Paul, who had returned to the Clippers on a one-year deal for what he says is his final NBA season, has been away from the crew since December 3 after they determined to chop ties with him amid reported friction with coaches and executives.
The Clippers stated they’d work with Paul to seek out him a brand new crew.
And Stein is watching the state of affairs carefully and which groups might emerge as contenders for the 40-year previous future Corridor of Famer.
“In the summertime, the Bucks, Mavs and Hornets had been all groups that registered curiosity in Chris Paul … (he) was telling groups he doesn’t need to be any additional away from LA than Phoenix (for household causes),” Stein stated.
“However now as a result of issues went so poorly with the Clippers, I believe he’d be open to a wide range of locations and he simply desires go someplace he can have a task and put collectively a ultimate chapter he’s proud of.
“As a result of the way in which his second stint with the Clippers isn’t the way in which he desires to exit.”
How in regards to the New York Knicks?
The New York Submit reported the Knicks beforehand had inner discussions about doubtlessly buying and selling for Paul.
Backup level guard has been a weak spot for the Knicks a lot of the 12 months after Malcolm Brogdon’s sudden retirement simply earlier than the season, although Tyler Kolek had a powerful exhibiting in that function throughout Saturday’s win over the Magic within the NBA Cup semi-finals.
Blake Griffin, now an analyst for Amazon Prime’s NBA protection, was teammates with Paul on the Clippers throughout their “Lob Metropolis” period.
Does he suppose a Knicks-Paul pairing would work?
“What’s loopy is you’ve seen him get to Oklahoma Metropolis and see him be a pacesetter, a mentor, a man who’s form of instructing and serving to guys study the sport,” Griffin stated.
“He did that for us with the Clippers. Houston was form of a distinct state of affairs. He went to Phoenix and it was the primary time in perpetually Phoenix actually had true success, with Chris Paul on the level guard. Chris Paul left, and so Phoenix fizzled. CP was in San Antonio and form of did the identical factor.
“So time and time once more, he’s proved — that’s been my greatest factor with this complete state of affairs. Time and time once more, he’s proved that he’s gone to a crew and form of match the function that he wanted to suit. Performed much less minutes. Did this, did that. So it’d be nice for the Knicks.”
Knicks president Leon Rose was additionally beforehand Paul’s longtime agent.
Griffin may see the Knicks advantages of bringing in Paul, however Paul ending his profession in a Knicks jersey can be unusual to him.
-With Jared Schwartz and Stefan Bondy
-Elements of this story had been initially printed within the New York Submit and reproduced with permission.
Lakers star hits buzzer-beater winner! | 00:58
CURRY PLAYING ‘OUT OF HIS MIND’. BUT WARRIORS HAVE ‘BIG PROBLEMS’
Steph Curry couldn’t be doing way more.
Curry scored 48 and 39 factors respectively in his final two video games towards Portland and Minnesota — each in losses.
And he’s averaging 29.6 factors per sport — the third-best scoring season of the sharpshooter’s legendary profession.
However the 13-14 Warriors are beneath .500 and floundering within the West play-in zone.
Doubt is rising round a final hurrah with Curry, who turns 38 subsequent March, and another title push within the loaded Western Convention.
Golden State isn’t a nasty crew by any means, it’d even be crew. However a terrific crew? It doesn’t appear to be it proper now.
The Warriors’ defence ranks No. 5 within the NBA in an space they’ll cling their hat on. But Steve Kerr’s aspect sits backside 10 in offence in an space its too reliant on Curry.
Mainly this similar Golden State crew went 23-8 within the back-end of final season after buying Jimmy Butler, who was introduced in to take a few of that offensive load off Curry.
Butler has been good with out actually going to a different degree this season when Curry is off the courtroom.
And the remainder of the supporting solid — together with Jonathan Kuminga, who’s fallen out of the rotation, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody — haven’t stepped up in a large enough manner. Even when Podziemski and Moody are strong function gamers.
“If you happen to’re getting these video games from Steph, and also you’re nonetheless dropping, you’ve obtained massive, massive issues,” The Atheltic’s Nick Friedell stated on the Zach Lowe Present.
“Jimmy I’m beginning to fear a couple of bit, if I’m a Warriors fan. I don’t suppose that knee is true and I don’t suppose he’s leaping the identical manner and has the identical push he wants.
“All these years, when he needed to show it on, he might, and he might simply dominate. That half proper now doesn’t appear to be the identical.
“And albeit I believe he’s nonetheless battling making an attempt to determine precisely easy methods to mess around Steph and the remainder of the group, though it regarded actually good for that first stretch after the commerce.
“On the entire, although, the remainder of the items on this roster haven’t performed on the degree they want … there are quite a lot of pronounced flaws they’ve obtained to repair no matter they close to the deadline.
“However I simply don’t suppose they’re going to get the place they need to this 12 months. Which is just too dangerous, as a result of Steph is taking part in out of his thoughts.”
So have the Warriors let Curry down by not placing a ok roster round him within the twilight of his prime?
It’s not as if they haven’t tried, as The Ringer’s Zach Lowe identified.
“Did they miss any possibilities to essentially load up round Steph?,” he posed on his podcast.
“They tried to get Paul George and Lauri Markkanen collectively, I don’t suppose that ever obtained far.
“They tried to get Kevin Durant, Durant vetoed that.
“They tried to commerce the James Wiseman decide, I keep in mind Bradley Beal was talked about and Ben Simmons, I don’t suppose any of that went wherever.
“They tried to get into the Raptors stuff with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. They tried to get LeBron James.
“It’s not like they haven’t tried, they did find yourself with Jimmy Butler and it did appear to be that’s precisely the form of man they want.
“They’ve three picks to commerce now, plus Kuminga. I believe they’ll attempt, they’ll attempt on everybody, they’ll attempt on freaking Giannis (Antetokounmpo). However I don’t know what they’re going to get.”
‘The writing is on the wall’ | 01:46
The 2-timeline technique didn’t work both after Golden State tried to bolster its veteran group with younger starpower. They missed on James Wiseman with the No. 2 decide in 2020 and Kuminga with the No. 7 decide the next 12 months.
But when it’s not Antetokounmpo, who’s one thing of a pipe dream and Milwaukee won’t even put up for commerce, there’s not many apparent names Golden State can goal forward of the February deadline that would assist push them to the higher echelon of the West.
“That’s the issue. I simply don’t see the transfer they’re going to have the ability to make that’s going to take them from wherever they’re at proper now — even when we agree, higher days are in all probability forward within the subsequent couple of months — into that dialog once more with the OKC’s and Denver’s,” Friedell added.
“This at all times goes again to Kuminga. Followers are saying: ‘Eliminate him, transfer him for one thing’. For Malik Monk? They don’t need to add extra wage and one other guard for some decide down the road.
“The half that has form of gotten misplaced within the framework of the dialog is if you miss that massive on the No. 2 decide, to not pin all of it on James Wiseman, it simply leaves this enormous hole that actually has by no means gotten stuffed.
“And Kuminga isn’t the participant they hoped he can be, Moody is a strong rotation piece however he’s not going to be a distinction maker each single evening.
“You get what you get. When you may have an older crew, you want somebody to come back up behind them and provides them assist. And that assist simply hasn’t been there this season — and it was assist they had been banking on.
“The roster is what it’s, they’ve quite a lot of strong items, however not quite a lot of game-changing guys in a position to take that weight off Steph each evening.”