The top matchups of NBA rivalry week
This week, the NBA had some of the most exciting and anticipated matchups thanks to NBA rivalry week. Even though rivalries are not as common in the NBA as they used to be, the individual and team matchups set up for some impressive performances and entertaining basketball.
Starting in the East, the Boston Celtics were kept busy for rivalry week as they matched up with the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and their longtime rival in the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics were 1-2 in their three rivalry matchups as they came up short against the Heat and Knicks but had a hard fought, albeit controversial win at home against the Lakers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were an excellent duo as they have been all season combining for 67 points outdueling Lebron James, who had a game-high 41 points. Their previous matchup against the Knicks was arguably the most exciting game of the week as they battled the Celtics in OT coming up with a huge road win. Julius Randle was a major catalyst leading the way with 37 points with help from his possible all-star teammate in Jalen Brunson who dropped 29.
The other great matchups I want to focus on were between the best players in the NBA at their respective positions. It was Ja Morant v Steph Curry, who matchup for the first times since their 2nd round series in last years playoffs. The Memphis Grizzlies came up short in that series and ever since, it appears their could be a budding rivalry as the Golden State Warriors have the success the Grizzlies believe they can have as well. Though the Grizzlies are having a phenomenal season, the Warriors still appear to have their number as they made enough plays down the stretch to get past Memphis. Steph outdueled Ja dropping a game high 34 points despite being ejected late in the 4th for tossing his mouthpiece.
My favorite individual matchup of the week was headlined by what I believe to be the two favorites for MVP in Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Not only is it a matchup between MVP candidates, but title contenders as the Denver Nuggets have the best record in the West and Philadelphia 76ers are the 2nd seed in the East. The Nuggets led most of the game but the Nuggets rallied at the end of third and Embiid took over in the fourth. Embiid showed why he should be considered the MVP favorite as he dropped 47 points on Jokic leading the Sixers to their 7th straight win.
All-Star starters announced: were the right players selected?
The All-Star starters were recently announced headlined by the captains in Lebron James for the West and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the East. The starters for the East are Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum. For the West, the starters are Nikola Jokic, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and Zion Williamson.
Though all of the players selected are no doubt on the short list of the best players in basketball, I feel that other players were more deserving of being starters. For example, although Curry is no doubt one of the best players in the game today and an all-time great, but I felt this year Ja Morant was more deserving to be the starter. My primary reasons were based on the fact he has played more games and has led his team to the 2nd best record in the West so far this season. My other objection for starters in the West is Zion, again primarily due to health as he has played just 29 games so far this season. I would've liked to see Lauri Markkanen as the starter since he is having a phenomenal break out season and is a favorite to win the most improved award. Lastly, arguably the biggest snub of all-star starters is Joel Embiid who currently leads the league in scoring at 33.8 points per game. Though it is tough to say who he would replace since the frontcourt in the East is so loaded but Embiid not starting while being an MVP candidate makes no sense.
Grizzlies not so fine in the west?
Last month, Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant gave out some bulletin board material stating in an interview that he's not worried about anybody in the West. Although the Grizzlies are the 2nd best team in the west with a 32-18 record, their record in the west is just 15-15. Even worse, it is an issue that has shown up on their recent west coast road trip where they went 0-5. Compared to all of the other contending teams in the west they are the only team that has a .500 conference record. That could be an issue down the line come playoff time as in order to win a championship they will have to go through several great teams in their conference. They still have plenty of time to correct things but they will have to play better against the west to go as far as they expect to.
Next week, the Grizzlies will take on the Portland Trailblazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors.
Game of the week- Julius Randle drops a game high 37 points, Knicks rally in OT to get a huge win in Boston.
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