Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
What’s good, fam! It’s Sykes back again with another edition of Layup Lines. Thanks so much for rocking with For The Win the way you do.
Before we get to everything, I want to talk a bit about tanking. The NBA just has not been able to stop it.
To their credit, they’ve tried their best! They flattened the lottery odds out for the top 3 teams, they added the Play-In Tournament, and moved up the trade deadline. Yet, here we are. The Thunder are still sitting half their roster out for the rest of the season. The Magic are giving Admiral Schofield and Iggy Brazdeikas burn in winnable games (with all due respect to the two of them). The Pistons are…trying I guess?
Look, the point is this: Tanking ain’t stopped. We’ve only changed the standards a teeny bit. As long as there is incentive to lose, tanking will exist and the product at the end of each NBA season will be watered down. That just is what it is.
A real way we could stop this from happening is by getting rid of the draft altogether. But, ya know, that’s another conversation for another day.
Moving on!
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Jose Alvarado is the steal king of the NBA. If you look at the raw numbers, they don’t say that. But in just watching this dude you can see that he is a grade-A ball thief.
He’s literally been hiding on the sidelines over the last few weeks just waiting to steal the ball from these poor, unsuspecting souls. It’s been a joy to watch. It also kind of bears itself out in the numbers:
“This dude Alvarado has quite literally made this into a thing. The numbers behind it are kind of mind-boggling. I guess this is how you average 3.1 steals per 36 minutes, which is a pretty wild rate.”
Better watch yourself around that one, y’all.
I don’t care what seed either teem is or where they’re positioned in the playoff race right now. Whenever the Nets and Bucks line up across from one another, we’re in for a real treat.
These are two of the best offensive teams in basketball right now. It’s Giannis vs. Durant. It’s Irving vs. Holiday. It’s Khris Middleton taking tough jumpers. We’re in for a real fireworks show. I’m taking the over.
Who’s in and out?
—Finally some good news, Lakers fans! Anthony Davis is a game-time decision for Friday’s matchup against the Pelicans. LeBron James may try to play, too. It won’t help Thursday against the Jazz, but it’s at least good news.
—Evan Mobley is officially out for the Cavaliers’ matchup against the Hawks on Thursday.
—Zach LaVine has had troubles with his knee lately, but he’s probable for Thursday’s game against the Clippers.
—Both Bojan Bogdanovic and Danuel House will give it a go for the Jazz against the Lakers on Thursday as well.
Shootaround
—Joel Embiid was pretty shocked to hear JJ Reddick say Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t a top 3 player and, quite frankly, I was, too.
—Don’t look now, but Jalen Green just broke a couple of NBA rookie records for 3-point shooting. That kid is overlooked now, but he’s going to be amazing someday.
—Nugget analyst Scott Hastings just gave us some incredible investigative reporting. This is how you do it, kids. #Journalism.
—The honeymoon is over in Sixersland. Joel Embiid is already begging James Harden to be a bit more aggressive.
That’s all for today, folks! Enjoy tonight’s action!