Now that we are coming up to Christmas and a significant way through the NBA season I think it is about time I did a blog talking about the NBA season so far. Talking points, who is in the conversation for MVP (most valuable player), which teams have got off to flyers, which teams are just awful, and who hit who? (FYI, it was Bobby Portis, read about this ridiculous incident below)

The Greek Freak is the real deal

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a legitimate MVP calibre player and the statistics he is putting up every day prove that. (From this point on, I am calling him Giannis, or by his nickname The Greek Freak’ because having to spell his surname every time may be the death of me). Now, I wouldn’t go as far as sports analyst and television personality Nick Wright who said that when Lebron James is done being the best player in the world in a few years, Giannis is going to take over. He said that here.

This is a bold claim considering players like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Steph Curry will still be in the league at that point, but I get where Wright is coming from. He is an unbelievable talent, a skillset and physique combination unlike anything the NBA has ever seen. He is six feet eleven, can handle the ball, run the Milwaukee Bucks offense, get assists, and rebound the ball. He frequently gets triple-doubles, but the only issue right now is that he can’t shoot well enough. But despite his shooting issues right now, he is averaging 29.5 points a game along with four assists, ten rebounds, 1.7 seals and 1.7 blocks. He can simply do everything but the only problem I can see is that Milwaukee probably won’t win enough games for him to be a realistic contender for the MVP trophy. Lebron, Steph, KD, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook are all more likely to win the trophy because they are on better teams.

And right now, it is hard to look past James Harden, he is playing out of his mind. A league leading 30 points a game with 9.4 assists means he is definitely leading the MVP conversation at the moment.

Related: March Madness Brilliance

Injuries, as always, playing their part

I hate injuries. They ruin everything, and unfortunately the fast paced, athleticism, and explosive nature of the game of basketball mean they are part and parcel of every NBA season. At this early stage several big players have had injuries with varying degrees of severity, the most shocking of which was the opening night brutal injury to Gordon Hayward. He was supposed to be a crucial centrepiece of the Boston Celtics team and his teamwork with Kyrie Irving was supposed to be the partnership that would get them to the Finals again. But the horrific broken ankle he suffered shocked the entire NBA and we thought it would derail their season and possible Title hopes. Granted the Celtics are playing very well without him, but his absence for the entire season will be felt come playoff time.

Other brilliant players who have had significant injuries include Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas, Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap, D’Angelo Russell, Milos Teodosic, Markelle Fultz and Nicolas Batum. I am particularly disappointed with the Teodosic injury because he was playing well for the Los Angeles Clippers and his style of point guard play is very attractive to watch. He is out indefinitely with a plantar fascia injury (ankle/foot injury to you and me) due to the unpredictable nature of the recovery from it.
Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Ben Simmons have also all missed playing time due to injuries.
Considering how many injuries there have been, I am going to borrow the words of Sports Illustrated writer Rob Mahoney, ‘have mercy basketball gods’.

Two Bulls See Red

This is probably the most peculiar story to have emerged from the NBA season so far. According to Sports Illustrated writer Daniel Rapaport, Chicago Bulls teammates Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis had an altercation at a training session. This ended when Portis sucker punched Mirotic which has left him out indefinitely. Portis hit him so hard that Mirotic had multiple broken bones in his face, had a severe concussion, and he will require surgery. I think it is common knowledge that players don’t always get along with everyone on the team, but this has gone way too far and it will probably result in the trading of Mirotic. The Bulls suspended Portis for eight games.

Related: Superstars Super People?

Both players were probably going to compete for the starting power forward spot on the Bulls team, and basketball is a game where physicality can manifest itself very easily indeed, but nothing should take away from how stupid and dangerous this kind of act was. The NBA is full of big men, and when one punches another as hard as he can, death could be a result. In my opinion, Portis should’ve been suspended longer, simply to make an example of him. Violence like this should not be tolerated in the NBA.

Portis has since apologised, and it appeared sincere, but I cannot really see how they will be able to play together now, considering how embarrassing and uncomfortable the incident has been for the Bulls and both players. To top it off, they are on a bad team, and losing makes everything so much worse.

Teams that are very good

Boston Celtics

As indicated above, the injury to Hayward was a shock to the Celtic system, but under the guidance of star Kyrie Irving, they really have played above and beyond their expectations right now. At one stage the men in green had a sixteen game win streak, but as their starting forward Al Horford states, “It wasn’t like we were necessarily dominating during the streak. But the will of this team is something that needs to be accounted for.” Role players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, along with Horford, have all stepped up this season and long may it continue. The Celtics, along with possibly the Toronto Raptors, and Detroit Pistons, could finally give some competition to the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.

Houston Rockets

Houston are clearly one of the strongest teams in the NBA right now on the back of the brilliant play by Harden. Before the season started there was concern over whether superstar Chris Paul and himself would gel together on the same team, but this is Harden’s team no doubt. His playmaking ability is raising the games of the rest of his teammates no end especially on the offensive end. And it seems, their one weakness last season, their defence, has been greatly improved too. In terms of the whole NBA, they are sixth in defensive rating conceding 104 points a game. To top that off they are third in the league in steals. (Oh, and FYI, they are first in the NBA for offensive rating as they score 114 points a game. That is one lethal combination).

Golden State Warriors

Of course, the most stacked team in the NBA is on here and despite not playing to their high standards, they still have the second best record in the West Conference after Houston. Steph Curry is averaging 26 points a game, Kevin Durant 25, and Klay Thompson 20, so offensively they are all set. Whilst defensively Draymond Green leads the whole team and come playoff time, the Warriors will undoubtedly, be the team to beat. They are pretty much guaranteed to make the playoffs so motivation during the regular season must be tough, but they have shown some emotion and drive to win in the early part of the regular season.

Teams that are very bad (playing some ugly ball)

Phoenix Suns

I am hugely disappointed in Phoenix. With a roster that includes young stars like Devin Booker and Josh Jackson I thought they would be a lot better than this. But the team has hit dire straits in 2017 with the firing of Earl Watson after three losses by a combined 92 points earlier in the season. To add to this, Eric Bledsoe tweeted his disgust with the team by saying ‘I don’t wanna be here’ which would eventually lead to his trade to the Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix over the past few years has been struggling immensely to keep good as well as star players with Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas leaving for greener pastures. The problem in Phoenix is they simply cannot stop losing and 2017 is no different as their record at the moment is nine wins and 18 losses.

Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls

Now I wont dwell on these terrible teams too long as it doesn’t really require much explanation. The only positive thing I can really say is that three of these teams have rookies who could be possible future stars. Sacramento have a promising young guard in De’Aaron Fox, the Mavericks have Dennis Smith Junior, and the Bulls have Lauri Markkanen. Atlanta don’t really have all that much to be positive about, but it is likely they will get a high draft pick next year.

Simmons and Embiid look like the real deal

At last, the Philadelphia 76ers are competitive and good to watch, and that’s primarily due to young stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Simmons is a shoe in for the Rookie of the Year award because he can do everything, in 2017 he is averaging 18 points, seven assists, and nine rebounds. Embiid on the other hand is a star on and off the court. His trolling personality can be hilarious, and he uses his game to back it up. Averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds a game, it is clear the 23-year-old is a future star in the NBA.

Lebron James is unlike anything we’ve ever seen

My last point in this blog is referencing the undeniable greatness of Lebron. Aside from maybe Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt and Tiger Woods, he is the biggest sporting superstar in the world both on and off the court. In terms of basketball he is unlike anything we have ever seen, because he can literally play any position. Recently, after playing as point guard against Chicago, he said he can play, “The point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. And know all the plays, what they’re doing and what’s the read.” Nobody else in the history of the league has been able to play every position at such a high level, and despite losing Kyrie Irving to the streaking Celtics, Lebron has elevated his game again. Lebron has also announced he will be opening a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio for 3rd and 4th grade children at risk of falling behind in the Akron Public Schools Sytem. He acknowledged that this was the most important thing he had done as a professional. The man continues to amaze, and I hope more professionals in all sports take a leaf out of his book.

Final Thoughts

With just under over of the regular season to come, I am hugely excited to see who ensures their playoff berths, and who falls out of the race to make the post-season. I also think the MVP race will be close this year if Houston and Harden start slipping, but if they don’t and push Golden State for the number one seed, then it will be hard to look past him for the MVP title. I will be watching earnestly and with much anticipation as things unfold. Thanks for reading and join this NBA journey with me.

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