What number of playoff groups are within the Southwest division? Plus, the Liberty close to WNBA title
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Lonzo Ball performed in a recreation for the primary time since January 14, 2022. It was solely a preseason recreation, however he scored 10 factors in quarter-hour off the bench. It’s improbable to have him hoopin’ once more. Welcome again, Zo!
Season Previews
What number of playoff groups are within the Southwest?
We’re previewing the 2024-25 season main as much as opening evening on Oct. 22, going by means of every division and every main particular person award. We’ve executed the Jap Convention already and now begin shifting into the West. We’ve additionally executed the MIP, Sixth Man and Rookie of the 12 months awards. For every workforce, I’ll make a daring prediction and provide a tackle the over/underneath set by BetMGM. 5 🥶 emojis on the recent seat meter equals job safety. 5 🔥 means “Replace that resume.” Let’s preview the Southwest!
Finest-case situation?They construct off final season, Klay is the distinction they wanted and so they win the finals.
Worst-case situation?Final 12 months was a bit of flukey, the protection regresses and so they’re out within the first or second spherical.
Confidence within the Mavs:💪💪💪💪💪
Finest-case situation?One other leap ahead with Şengün balling out, Jalen Inexperienced persevering with how he ended final season and the Rockets flirting with prime six within the West.
Worst-case situation?Inexperienced regresses, Şengün doesn’t keep wholesome and so they barely compete for even a Play-In spot earlier than they fade.
Confidence within the Rockets:💪💪💪💪
Finest-case situation?Ja is again to destroying the rim, Edey prospers in his position and the Grizzlies are within the combine for a top-four seed.
Worst-case situation?Extra accidents and immaturity inside the workforce, and so they get boxed out of the Play-In.
Confidence within the Grizzlies:💪💪💪💪
Finest-case situation?Zion is wholesome all 12 months, together with the playoffs, they commerce for a giant man and this workforce wins 50-plus video games with not less than a second-round look.
Worst-case situation?Too injured to really do one thing within the postseason, and possession unfairly blames Willie Inexperienced.
Confidence within the Pelicans:💪💪💪💪
Finest-case situation?Wemby transcends, CP3 stays wholesome and the Spurs get themselves into the Play-In.
Worst-case situation?Paul misses a bunch of video games, and San Antonio simply goes again to growth for the second half of the season as Wemby fumes at his fellow younger Spurs.
Confidence within the Spurs:💪💪💪
Awards Predictions
Who will win Coach of the 12 months?
It appears like awards voters usually prefer to be stunned in relation to the Coach of the 12 months winner. Final season was the primary deviation I can bear in mind — Mark Daigneault of the OKC Thunder wasn’t some loopy betting darkish horse, as folks anticipated the Thunder to have a giant 12 months. Not a No. 1 seed huge 12 months, however a giant 12 months nonetheless. It wasn’t like earlier winners resembling Mike Brown in 2023, when he made the Sacramento Kings the No. 3 seed after 16 years of lacking the postseason.
Monty Williams received it with Phoenix the 12 months earlier than, and whereas he was deserving, it was additionally type of a “sorry that Tom Thibodeau received it over you final season.” Thibs, nevertheless, was the truth is a little bit of a shock winner. We like when somebody overachieves!
With that mentioned, listed here are BetMGM’s favorites for this coming season’s Coach of the 12 months award.
Favourite:Tom Thibodeau (+700)
Threats:Ime Udoka (+850), Jamahl Mosely (+1000), Taylor Jenkins (+1100), Nick Nurse (+1200), Chris Finch (+1300), Joe Mazzulla (+1600), Mark Daigneault (+1600), Mike Budenholzer (+1600)
Darkhorse:Doc Rivers (+3500)
🔮 My prediction:Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics are going to win 65 video games. It isn’t overachieving, however it appears like he’s earned one already.
WNBA Finals
The Liberty are one away from their title
The worst factor you are able to do on this WNBA Finals is have an excellent first half. That spells doom. It occurred to the New York Liberty in Recreation 1. It nearly occurred to them once more in Recreation 2. Final evening, they took again residence court docket benefit in Recreation 3, because of their livid comeback on the street in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx.
Let’s again up. The Liberty struggled a lot within the first half, trailing by as many as 15 factors. However they lower it to eight by halftime to remain inside vary.
Within the second half, Breanna Stewart went loopy. She dominated on each ends of the ground, much like what we noticed from Napheesa Collier in Recreation 1. Stewie completed with 30 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. She scored 13 to bridge the third and fourth quarters. The massive second got here from Sabrina Ionescu, which got here out of nowhere, contemplating how she’d been taking part in within the recreation.
For 39 minutes, Ionescu was hesitant, reluctant to shoot and fairly sloppy with the ball. However within the ultimate minute, she placed on the cape. She knocked down a large 3-pointer with 55 seconds left to place the Liberty up 4. Then, after Collier tied it with two free throws, Ionescu hit the largest shot in franchise historical past — a emblem 3-pointer (the brand’s ear counts) to clinch the 80-77 victory and tie the third-largest comeback in WNBA Finals historical past.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOTS IN LIBERTY FINALS HISTORY FROM SABRINA IONESCU 😱🔥
The Liberty takes Recreation 3! #WNBAFinals offered by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Whv0AMnNl9
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024
Did you anticipate something much less from Sabrina Ionescu?#WNBAFinals offered by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/nLpzK0xOfO
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024
Copy right here [additional tweet or other content links at editor’s discretion]
Catching up with Breanna Stewart after her 30 PT, 11 REB efficiency in Recreation 3 of the #WNBAFINALS offered by @youtubetv
Stewie says that is the hardest finals collection she has ever been part of and says the one phrase she would use to explain this collection is “bodily” 💪 pic.twitter.com/gyK6XjP85W
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2024
What was the distinction for the Liberty? It sounds easy, however their stars had star moments. Stewie dominated within the second half. Ionescu hit the 2 largest photographs within the ultimate minute.
What do the Lynx want to alter for Recreation 3? They missed so many bunnies within the paint within the second half. New York performed smothering protection, however the Lynx whiffed too many photographs they usually make.
Who must step up for the Lynx? Collier. She performed properly, and as proof of how nice she’s been, her 22 factors pushed her previous the document for many factors in a postseason (249 by means of Recreation 3). However Minnesota wanted her to cook dinner within the second half, and it wasn’t sufficient.
How ought to the Liberty alter for Recreation 4? Cease turning the ball over; 18 turnovers led to 18 factors off turnovers. They must be higher with the rock.
When is Recreation 4? Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Goal Middle in Minneapolis.
Does it finish Friday evening?No. Give us a Recreation 5 in Brooklyn!
Bounce Passes
We’ve been tackling the parity period within the NBA. Right here’s how GMs are dealing with it.
I’m legitimately shocked by which workforce John Hollinger has second within the East this season.
Is Scottie Barnes able to lead within the unhealthy moments?
Most-clicked in yesterday’s e-newsletter:John Hollinger has predicted the underside of the East. You’ll be able to completely guess who’s fifteenth.
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(Prime picture: Glenn James / Getty Pictures)
