Aloha,

Last night we got the MVP version of AD. He dominated with 38 and 17. Eight of those boards were offensive. This was against the biggest front line in the NBA. Two 7 footers and a 6’ 9” guy. Although Kat reminded everyone why the TWolves went after Rudy. Kat isn’t much of a defender. But, there is always a but with AD. He sprained his ankle. This is the first concern. While he actually played better after the sprain, it wouldn’t be the first time a guy sprained an ankle and was able to play through it, only to be unable to go the next game. Fortunately we have the Rockets next. Oh wait, they beat us last time without AD. Let’s just hope he can play through the ankle.

LeBron is the other concern. He hasn’t looked like himself since coming back. It could be rust, a timing, conditioning thing. Or it could be the foot. We might be able to make the playoffs but we won’t be able to go far unless Lebron is playing at a high level.

As for the rest of the guys. We are seeing our defense coming together and it should only get better as everyone learns each other. Isn’t it nice having wing defenders with size? Vandy and Rui were both excellent on the defensive end. Rui did a great job against Kat and Vandy drew Ant man who only scored 11 points.

Then there is our guards. The entire game shifted when Dennis entered in the 3rd quarter. On television Stu gave Dennis the game ball. His constant pressure, and quick hands that led to deflections and steals were amazing. Conley had been torching us but as usual Dennis stayed in front of him. It’s defending these smaller, quicker guards where Dennis really shines.

It’s also nice having 2 6’ 5” starting guards. With Lebrons declining defense it gives us two guys that can switch onto his man. This is what made out bubble teams defense so effective.

Have to give a shout out to Malik. He only got 10 minutes but he was 3 for 4 from 3 and was instrumental in closing that first quarter deficit.

This was the biggest game of the year. Now we go on to the Rockets, the biggest game of the year. Then the Jazz the biggest game of the year, etc. they have to approach each game like it is the single elimination play in, because it kind of is. Win out and we have a good shot at the 6th seed. Like it has all year, it might come down to an ankle and a foot. Let’s hope our big two stars can stay on the court.

Aloha,

First the Hornets beat the Mav’s back to back. Now today they knock off the Thunder. And the Hornets didn’t play any of their vets.

Aloha,

I checked the score of the Pacers, Mavs game and found the Mav’s up by 20. Haliburton, Turner and Buddy are not playing. While the play in has kept teams from tanking early, who they play, once a team surrenders has big implications on the teams still in the running. The Trailblazers has shut down Dame and I doubt we will see Grant back now either. Teams are now jockeying for ping pong balls. This will also be true for the good teams that have a spot locked up. It could help us win games. If the Jazz are out of it when they play us, who will suit up for them? Will we see KD, Booker and Paul if the Suns have nothing to play for. The flip side of that is teams we need to lose might not face the best players on certain teams they play either. It puts even more emphasis on winning because the teams we are competing with may not lose as well.

Aloha,

LeBron has been upgraded to doubtful for the Bulls game. That’s actually good news. It means he is closer. Could he be back for the TWolves? If not I wouldn’t play him against the Rockets. I would save him for the last 4.

Aloha,

AD had a monster game. 37 and 15 but in the post game interviews, to a man everyone acknowledged that they would have lost without Lonnie. OKC is a good young team, they had won 8 of 10 until they lost to the Clippers. When I found out that DLO was out, I was very concerned. But Lonnie came to the rescue.

He was our 3rd leading scorer until a series of injuries derailed him and he had not been the same after the last one, and he kept falling further down the rotation until he was out. If he can regain his form that would be huge for this team, especially since Beasley has struggled with his shot. Lonnie is a 3 level scorer and more dynamic than Beasley when he is on his game.

Then there is Dennis. On a night Austin struggled to score Dennis put up 21 points and demonstrated his never ending hustle to the point of exhaustion when he laid on the floor and had to be taken out to for a blow. We have to figure out a way to keep Dennis. I hope he will play for the mini MLE of 7 mil. If not I would cut Beasley and Bamba in order to sign some of our role players and give Dennis the equivalent of the full MLE 11 mil that is probably his market right now.

Several other guys also chipped in. Austin’s shot was off but he had 9 assists. And Vandy played great defense again. One point but 10 boards. He was the primary defender on Shai. Shai scored 27 but on 22 shots. Considering he averages over 30, I’ll take that every day.

This Laker team is actually deeper than our championship bubble team. And that depth is paying off. We are 8 and 5 since LeBron went down and we were without DLO for some of those games as well. And one loss came without AD. . Over the last couple of years we would have been doomed with LeBron.

I hope Rob is paying attention to the Mav’s. They made the big trade for Kyrie and are actually a worse team then before the trade because they no longer have any depth. With the time missed due to injuries that AD and LeBron have suffered, I think depth is much important than a third star. We are in a position to bring a lot of our depth back next year. I hope we do.

Aloha,

OKC beat the Clippers for their 8th win in the last 10 games. So much for tanking. They are now the 7th seed. While the Clippers suddenly could be in trouble. PG was helped off the court with what looked like a nasty knee injury. It bent out sideways. Hate to see that but it looks like the Clippers curse continues. Basketball gods did not want them LA. Seems it doesn’t matter what they do.

Aloha,

Tonight was another example of why our path to the playoffs is so precarious. The TWolves beat the Knicks without Anthony Edwards on a night Randle went off for 57. Utah beat the Kings without their best 3 players, while the Kings were at full strength. This ain’t going to be easy.

Aloha,

This is such a strange year in the NBA. A slew of injuries to key players have kept most of the west bunched together. I can’t recall a season where so many teams are still fighting for a playoff spot. After all our injuries, a poorly constructed roster and blowing a hand full of games we should have won, it’s amazing we are still in the conversation. The only reason we are is the trades we made.

It is a shame we did not have time for this group to learn to play together. I have liked what I’ve seen from most of them. The biggest issue has been the unfamiliarity that has led to a lot of mistakes you generally see early in a season. But even with the injuries and the new roster we are in every game, which gives me hope that we can get into the playoffs but more importantly I think we are set up for a much better roster next year.

Unlike the last few years, we will have the ability to retain 11 players 12 if you count Pippin who has been great in the G league. Now of course we probably won’t keep them all but we finally have options.

If you count our first and 2nd round draft picks we have we are at around 139 mil. But we have 33.5 mil in non guaranteed contracts. Of that only Vandy at 4.7 mil is a no brainervkeeper. Reed will be cut, freeing up 2 mil. Bamba and Beasley could be cut, guaranteed, traded or renegotiated. In Bamba’s case at 10 mil he is over paid for what he has shown and for a back up. If not traded, I think he will be either cut or renegotiated down. At 16 mil Beasley is not over paid if he rediscovers his shooting stroke. He is over paid if he doesn’t. A lot will be determined down the stretch of the season.

I think our only path to contention is with guys we already have improving. We do have salaries to to trade and draft picks so there are ways to bring in another decent player or two. But we will have to wait and see. We need to guarantee a salary to trade it . So a lot depends on who wants draft picks. And what they have to send back. Our guys all would be expiring deals so that helps.

We do have some things working in our favor. First the only teams with cap space this summer are rebuilding. And there will be another new TV deal in 2024 and it’s expected to be huge, leading to another big jump in the cap. So I think a lot of players will be willing to take a little less on 1+1 deals. So for me here are the things I think we must do.

Resign DLO. He wants to be here and most of the teams that would be interested in him won’t have the cap space to sign him. He is the perfect 3rd option for LeBron. He is a must. 25 to 30 mil will probably get it done.

Guarantee Vandy. Duh!

Resign Austin. Because of the Arenas rule the most he can be offered is a little under 12 mil for the first 2 years. Now a team could give him an offer sheet with a huge back end of 27 mil for the last 2 years but he’s not quite at that level. He wants to stay, so I would offer him 12 per for 2 years and negotiate an option year.while he isn’t the defender that Caruso was, he’s pretty good and much better on offense. I think we will keep him.

Resign Rui. While a little inconsistent I see a lot potential in him. I have heard he’s value is currently between 10 to 12 mil. Give it to him.

Resign Gabriel. We have early bird rights and he will not be that expensive. You just want energy guys on your roster.

Dennis, Lonnie and Troy won’t be expensive but probably hard to keep depending on what we do with the non guaranteed contracts. Of the 3 I would say Dennis is the priority. He is a good back up point guard. When you look at the free agents available, there isn’t many quality back ups available. Would Dennis stay for a 1+1 7 mil Mini MLE? Unless there is a trade available I would at least try.

We could have a solid returning core. Continuity is something we haven’t had in 3 years. Now if we could just have a semi healthy year. One can dream can’t they?

Aloha,

The Rockets was supposed to be a W for us but they didn’t hear that and won. They also didn’t know they were supposed to lose to the Pels and won that game too.

And today the Magic beat the Clippers and the Jazz beat the Celtics. Evidently the Jazz players never received Danny memo to tank. By the way if you haven’t noticed THT has been balling since he became the starting point guard. He has averted 17 and 5.5 assists over the last 10. He has been a big reason why they have been hanging around without Clarkson.

Every game will be hard. I almost wish we had more of the high end teams on the schedule because we seem to get up for them. No one is pulling away so a win streak could still lift us up and we have the talent for that.

Our biggest problem is 6 new players, with guys in and out of the line up, and almost no practice time. we haven’t had enough time to jell as a group. And you can see that unfamiliarity in every game. Yet we are in every game. The hope is we can learn to play together at least enough to win more of these games.

Aloha,

On a night we could pick up a game on literally everyone we self districted. AGAIN. 12 missed free free throws. And another loss on AD’s shoulders. That’s 3 this year. A missed free throw, a stupid foul on 3 point shot and losing his man for the game winner. He has to be better in the clutch if he’s ever going to be the man.

Aloha,

When a magic traded DLO for a salary dump I thought it was a bad idea. Yes he was immature but you could see the kid had talent. Then Magic compounded that error by drafting Lonzo over Tatum, the staffs choice. Magic has admitted it was a mistake but now we have DLO without the growing pains, entering his prime. I have feeling that DLO isn’t going anywhere this summer. We may have found the perfect 3rd star without the salary or baggage that Kyrie would bring. DLO was our closer with 18 in the 2nd half and put the game away with some huge threes. He is the kind of player that can keep us a float when one of our often injured superstars are out.

Still, he doesn’t get my game ball. That goes to the 2nd unit. The reason the Raptors are struggling to make the playoffs was on full display last night. In a word their 2nd unit sucks. Their starters play more minutes then any other starting unit in the league. However I can’t recall anything as lopsided as the 61 to 12 advantage we had last night. Just look at this
Dennis +32
Austin +26
Rui + 21
Gabriel + 19

That’s outrageous. Even more so when you consider all of starters had a minus with the exception of DLO. And when LeBron comes back Troy will be moving to the bench, giving us even more depth. Lonnie didn’t even get in and he’s a pretty good player.

That 3 guard line up of Austin, DLO and Dennis that closed the game, worked like a charm. And when AD came back in, it was over for the Raptors. Their entire defensive scheme revolved around sending 2 or 3 guys at AD, leaving holes all over the place and we took full advantage of that in the last 5 minutes. And having AD and Vandy on the back line made up for some of the height advantage that the Raptors had.

Even though we are only a game out of the 6th seed, it’s not going to be a cake walk getting there without LeBron. But if we are healthy and whole going into the playoffs, this team may surprise the world thanks to the roster Additions and what could be the deepest bench in the NBA.

Aloha,

1. KD injured in warm ups. Could be out until the playoffs.
2. Luka has a thigh strain. Could miss a couple of weeks.
3. BI left with an ankle sprain.

I can not remember a season where this many high profile players missed so much time to injury. Injury is really the reason the west is so bunched together. The Nuggets and Kings sit at the top of the west and neither have had any major injuries this season.

Aloha

26 turnovers for 46 points and 14 offensive boards. Nothing left to say.

Aloha,

LeBron is listed as out against the Griz. I’m no surprised. He was noticeably hobbled. With a back to back coming up, this was the best move. The Griz at home would be hard to beat, even with LeBron. OKC is the team we really need to beat on this trip and we would have a better chance of beating them, even if LeBron doesn’t play.

This team is snake bit. Every time we begin to play well the injury bug returns. First DLO’s weird ankle sprain, just stepping back to inbound the ball and now LeBron. Other guys are going to have to step up and fortunately we have more guys now that can do that. We can’t make the playoffs without LeBron but hopefully we can hold down the fort for a few games.