Around the League: Derrick Rose :/, Kings takeover, Grizz/Rockets undefeated
Aaaaaaand we’re back with another edition of “Around the League”.
With the Clippers struggling, I feel this was the best time to throw in some NBA-wide coverage as excitement and despair exists everywhere that isn’t Los Angeles, so without further ado, here
Derrick Rose … is … hurt … again
You won’t believe this but Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is hurt again. This hurt doesn’t compare to his past injuries, but it sucks seeing him hindered due to consistent injuries. This time, Rose is dealing with TWO sprained ankles, both being injured on the same player against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, Rose has been in and out of the lineup — he sat out last night when the Bulls took on the Philadelphia 76ers.
The good news? The Bulls aren’t necessarily forcing Rose onto the floor through his injury issues. As long as he’s healthy for the last months of the season plus the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls will be fine. It just sucks to see a former league MVP, one that’s not yet 30, struggle to see the floor.
Besides, who wants to watch the Bulls when Rose isn’t on the floor?
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Are the Sacramento Kings here to stay?
Feel solace in this Clippers fans: LA isn’t the only team to fall at the hands of the Kings. Through six games, Sacramento is 5-1 and shocking the hell out of everybody.
This wasn’t expected. They seemed to have botched the draft by selecting Nik Stauskus over a four who could help alongside DeMarcus Cousins. They opted to sign the league-average Darren Collison over the above-league-average Isaiah Thomas. Everyone thought they would be a disaster, and surely one of the three worst teams in the Western Conference.
And they could still be, but only if their play hits a cliff at ALL cylinders. DeMarcus Cousins is looking like a MVP-caliber player, averaging 24 and 12, Rudy Gay looks to be finding comfort in Mike Malone’s offense, and this team is defending — they’ve the 7th best defensive rating in the NBA.
Because of their play, many are wondering if the Kings can be this years Phoenix Suns. It’s too early, imo, to make that declaration, but if this play continues through the month of November, we may be talking about the Kings as a playoff contender at some point.
Grizz-Warriors-Rockets remain undefeated
One and a half week in and we’re left with three teams without a loss: the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. While Memphis’ wins have been done in complete Grizzlies fashion (down to the wire, slow, and few points scored), the Warriors and Rockets have been blowing teams away — the two teams are 1 and 2 in best net rating in the NBA.
These three teams were often lumped into the same grouping — not necessarily a title contender, but in the tier below (San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles usually received the ‘title contender’ nod). Marc Gasol has played like the best center in the league, Trevor Ariza is making Chandler Parsons a distant memory in Houston, and Klay Thompson is the player Steve Kerr and company thought he’d be when they refused to trade him for Kevin Love. They won’t keep this play up for the length of the season and down-time is expected, but if these teams are truly as good as they were last season, the West, somehow, has gotten 10x better.
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Quick Thoughts:
– It’s early, but my prediction on the Denver Nuggets possibly threatening the 8th seed in the West looks to be way off.
– LeBron James is INDEED human, having looked sub-par to open the season.
– Scott Brooks deserves a lot of credit for how he’s coached up this injury-riddled Thunder team. They’re 1-5, but they’ve competed in most games, something I wouldn’t expect from a team with their current level of talent.
– Watching Kobe Bryant possibly lead the league in scoring while on the (arguably) worst team in the NBA is … something.
Nov 7, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) falls to the court with an apparent injury against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Injury Watch:
– Last night, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio and Boston Celtics rookie Marcus Smart left their respective games with lower-body injuries. While Smart’s MRI was negative, he may miss some time, as will Rubio who could go two or three weeks before he returns to the floor.
– If you’re unaware, Lakers rookie Julius Randle is expected to miss the entire season because of a leg injury.
– In his season debut vs. the Clippers, Warriors power forward David Lee tweaked his hamstring, forcing him to miss the second half of the game. He’s been diagnosed to miss at least a week or two.
– After wow’ing in the first few games of the season, Thunder forward Perry Jones III is questionable following a knee injury suffered earlier this week.
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