Tag: NBA Western Conference

The Nuggets are finally playing defense, and that makes them a real threat in the West

Denver’s win over Memphis was a statement game.

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Paced by MVP Nikola Jokic’s sixth triple-double of the season, the Denver Nuggets beat the first-place Memphis Grizzlies by 14 points on Tuesday.

Now, the Nuggets are in first place.

The win was their fifth in the last six games, pulling them into a tie with Memphis at the top of the Western Conference at 19-11. Yet, if you take a look around different sportsbooks, Denver’s title odds still trail at least three other teams in the West. Those teams are the Warriors, Suns and Clippers. Some still have the Grizzlies ahead of Denver too.

Golden State, the only of those teams with a losing record, is obviously receiving the benefit of doubt as the defending champion. But the other three teams all have something in common that Denver doesn’t, and that’s a top-10 defensive rating. The Nuggets are the NBA’s 24th ranked defense. Which brings us back to Tuesday’s game.

If the Nuggets want to be considered a real title contender, they have to be better on defense, and things were trending in the right direction even before they played Memphis. Denver has a top-10 defensive rating in its last five games, and Tuesday only furthered that trend. The Nuggets held Memphis to a season-low 91 points on 44% shooting, including just 5-of-26 (19%) from three. Head coach Mike Malone said “it’s just one game,” but he was proud of how physical his team played.

He’s right. It is just one game, so we can’t say this is who they are now. But if they want to contend for a championship, it’s who they’ll have to become. Because their offense is elite, but you can’t win if you can’t get stops.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

AP Photo/Al Goldis

The sale of the Phoenix Suns appears to finally be coming to a close, with 42-year-old billionaire Mat Ishbia reportedly set to purchase a majority stake in the team for a record $4 billion.

The NBA’s newest governor will be familiar to some sports fans. He was a part of Tom Izzo’s Michigan State teams that reached the Final Four each year from 1999-2001 and won a national title in 2000.

That was just one of 3 things to know about Ishbia, as written by my colleague Blake Schuster.

“MSU can also thank him for helping the Spartans hire Mel Tuckers the football team’s head coach.

According to Forbes, Ishbia pledged $32 million towards the Spartans in 2021. A few months earlier, he committed $14 million towards the 10-year, $95 million contract given to Tucker following Mark Dantonio’s retirement.“

One to Watch

(All odds via Tipico.)

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks (+115) at Cleveland Cavaliers (-2.5, -135), O/U 216.5, 7 PM ET

The Cavs host the Bucks on Wednesday night in another battle of giants in their respective conference. Both teams are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they’re both getting it done on the defensive end. Cleveland has turned that effort up another notch in its last four games, allowing an average of just 100 points. Add in their 15-2 record at home, and I like the Cavs to cover this small spread.

Shootaround

— Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges were hilariously trolled by Bradley Beal during a little disagreement

— Jimmy Butler missed the Heat’s last game with a stomach bug after eating…crickets?

— Charles Barkley had so much fake snow dumped on him that it ruined his coffee

— The Jeremy Sochan-Dennis Rodman comparisons continue

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The Lakers’ playoff path only gets harder after embarrassing loss to Pelicans

The Western Conference remaining strength of schedule doesn’t favor LA.

If the Los Angeles Lakers’ blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday – one that got the team booed by its home crowd – was alarming for those with money on their playoff chances, the team’s remaining strength of schedule is even more concerning.

The Lakers, who occupy the ninth seed in the Western Conference, have the second-toughest schedule remaining in the NBA, according to Tankathon. Struggling with a Pelicans team that is 10th in the conference and 2.5 games behind them doesn’t bode well for their chances to climb out of the bottom two spots in the play-in tournament. Especially with Anthony Davis out for the foreseeable future.

The difference between the first two and last two play-in spots is having to win an extra game, facing elimination both times. With the way the Lakers have played, consecutive wins is a lot to ask. It also can’t be assumed they’ll even remain a top-10 team.

Lakers futures as of Feb. 28 at Tipico

  • NBA Title: +4000
  • Western Conference Title: +1500
  • Pacific Division Title: +50000

Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!

The Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs are also chasing the Lakers. The Blazers, who are tied with the Pelicans, aren’t likely to win at a high clip as they appear to be in tank mode. Then again, they have the easiest remaining schedule left in the league. The Spurs are just a game behind the 10th spot and actually have a positive scoring margin this season despite their 24-37 record. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 and have the 12th easiest schedule left.

Between those teams, the Lakers will be clawing to stay in the play-in tournament and give themselves a shot at the playoffs. Unless one of those teams goes on a serious run, however, seven and eight in the conference aren’t likely to change. The Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers are 4.5 and 3.5 games ahead of the Lakers, respectively. 

While neither is likely to capture a top-six seed and automatic playoff berth, they’ll both have an easier time finishing the season than the Lakers. The Timberwolves’ remaining opponents have a .500 combined record (14th toughest) and the Clippers, who beat the Lakers for a third time on Friday, have the eight-toughest schedule.

The Lakers do have the best title odds of any Western Conference play-in contender, should they advance to the postseason. Their +1500 odds on Tipico Sportsbook are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for sixth-best in the conference.

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Chris Paul’s thumb injury opens the door for a Warriors run at the West’s top seed

Unless Devin Booker has something to say about it.

Amid all the festivities of All-Star Weekend, it was announced that Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul has a right thumb avulsion fracture and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks.

Paul suffered the injury last Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, Phoenix’s final game before the All-Star break. The six- to eight-week timeline means he’ll likely miss the rest of the regular season or, at the earliest, return for the final week. 

It’s a tough blow for the reigning Western Conference champions, who own the best record in the NBA by 6.5 games at 48-10. They also have the best odds to win the NBA title at +425 on Tipico Sportsbook. 

Before they can win a championship, however, they’ll want to lock up a top seed in the West. And now, they’ll have to do it without their leader who was honored at halftime of the All-Star Game as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

 

Paul’s injury opens the door for the Golden State Warriors to make a run at Phoenix for the NBA’s top seed, as they’re currently second in league and conference standings. And with Paul out, GSW’s +500 odds to win the Pacific Division suddenly look very scrumptious as a distant second to Phoenix’s -800.

Since Paul joined the Suns last season, he’s only missed four games; all last season with two coming in the playoffs. Phoenix won all four, so there’s a chance it maintains just fine, but this will be the Suns’ first extended period of play without their floor general.

Paul’s absence likely pushes Cameron Payne into the starting lineup, though they have plenty of depth at the position with Elfrid Payton and Aaron Holiday on the roster this year.

Devin Booker may also take on more responsibility, which could catapult him into the MVP conversation if there’s no drop-off in the Suns’ play. He’s already averaging over 25 points, five rebounds and four assists. His +2000 odds for the award are tied with DeMar DeRozan for sixth-best.

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