Well, it was a pretty lackluster NBA All-Star break.
It’s true that players deserve a break just like everyone else.
But it’s an honor to be a part of these events.
After scoring a whopping 397 points in Sunday night’s featured event, defense was clearly an afterthought.
This disastrous outcome comes after NBA legends, including Larry Bird, reportedly implored each locker room to play competitively.
Needless to say, that didn’t happen.
But it wasn’t just the All-Star Game that lacked integrity.
Anthony Edwards took a left-handed shot during the team’s skills challenge on Saturday. yawn.
From top to bottom, the entire weekend was transformed. I watched the season premiere of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions instead.
The dunk contest was the biggest disappointment of the weekend, with a lack of big-name brand participants and terrible judging. No disrespect to two-time defending champion Mac McClung, but he doesn’t even play in the NBA. They borrowed him again from the G League.
That contest was a staple of my childhood.with Vince Carter honey dip dunk It was 24 years ago when Jason Richardson held a dunk clinic in Philadelphia in 2003 (fun fact: I was there).
Heck, Blake Griffin was great even in the 2010s. jump over a car And that Epic Duel of 2016 Between Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine. Sigh. Those days are long gone.
Anyway, thanks for letting me rant. There are still plenty of real basketball games left, and the playoff race should get even more competitive as it heats up in the second half.
It’s a great time to focus on the MVP race.
Nikola Jokic is the legitimate favorite, but if you’re expecting some turmoil down the road, check out the other candidates.
NBA Futures: Bet on MVP potential
Jayson Tatum (+4000, BetMGM)
It may feel like there are too many cooks in the Celtics’ kitchen who could be league MVPs. The starting lineup includes Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
Either way, Tatum ranks ninth in the NBA with 27.1 points per game, just 1.1 points behind fifth-place Kevin Durant.
The Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference (43-12), six games behind the second-place Cavaliers. Milwaukee is on a roll with new coach Doc Rivers, so maybe Boston can make a statement and take full control of the conference.
Injuries, suspensions, and other unusual circumstances must always be considered. However, the objective information is that Boston has the third-easiest remaining schedule.
Tatum has a hot shot against a series of easy opponents as Boston sleepwalks into the East’s top seed. That would definitely warrant serious consideration for his name in this award.
Tatum ranks 14th in usage rate among players who appeared in at least 20 games this season and should continue to pave his way to Boston.
Luka Doncic (+1200, FanDuel)
Considering all the circumstances in Doncic’s favor, these odds are probably the lowest I’d be willing to take on anyone.
The Mavericks appear poised to make a splash in the second half of the season. They own the 10th-easiest remaining strength of the schedule, and Doncic lights up the box score every night.
Among MVP-eligible players, he is the leading scorer at 34.2 points per game and averages over 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
Perhaps if he moves Dallas up a few spots in the Western Conference pecking order, voters will be convinced he deserves a trophy.
Doncic would need to play in 18 of the Mavs’ remaining 27 games to qualify for the award, which shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish barring injury.
Anthony Edwards (+50000, Bet Rivers)
I’m not sure I understand Edwards’ odds. These are enough for me to bet pizza money on, even if he’s considered a long shot.
Edwards is the best player on a star-studded Timberwolves team that leads the Western Conference. The last time Minnesota finished the regular season with the best record in the West was 20 years ago. That should give voters at least a little incentive to prioritize him.
Edwards ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring and could easily slide into the top 10 by the end of the regular season if a few cards fall off.
Would you like to bet on the NBA?
Want to talk about something precious? Without him on the court this season, Minnesota’s offensive rating drops by more than 10 points.
To be honest, you’ll probably have to get a little lucky on this one. The Timberwolves will likely need to score 10 points in a row at some point, with some historic performances from their shooting guards thrown in.
But if Minnesota can create some separation, one of the league’s new superstars could regain momentum in just a few months.
