Zion’s Coming Back

 The New Orleans Pelicans on Friday announced that Zion Williamson has been cleared for 4 on 4 full court practice. This is great news as WIlliamson has been out recovering from off season  surgery on his right ankle.  There is currently no timetable for his return but the fact that he is cleared to begin practicing full court is encouraging. The Pelicans are currently 4-16 so whenever Williamson returns it will be greatly welcomed.

The question becomes if WIlliamson returns by Christmas could the Pelicans fight to get into Play in Games this year. I do not see the Pelicans making the play in the game even if Williamson returns by Christmas. The Western Conference is very deep and also from a talent perspective I thought they would struggle even if WIlliamson was available at the beginning of the season.  It will be interesting to see if the Pelicans let Williamson go full speed  without any minute restrictions once he is available to make his season debut. 

History suggests the Pelicans will have Williamson on a minutes restriction once he returns to action. I think that Williamson is eager to get back on the court and prove he is not injury prone and also to show that he has tried to improve his game. WIlliamson is entering his 3rd season and his career up to this point has been a bit underwhelming due to not seeing him on the court much over his first 3 years. I look forward to WIilliamson’s return and hope his injury history will be behind him.

REAL DEAL POWER RANKINGS WEEK NOV 20th

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of November 20th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (14-2) (This Week 3-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 3-1 last week including a dominating 3rd quarter against the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The Warriors are proving they will be near the top all season.

2. Phoenix Suns (12-3)(This Week 4-0)

Phoenix’s continues to just win they have run off 11 straight games.

They are proving that last season's finals appearance was not a fluke and they are true contenders in the west.

3. Miami Heat (11-5)(This Week 4-0)

The Heat are continuing their fantastic start including going 4-0 this past week. This includes a key victory against  the Washington Wizards, who are one of the top teams in the East. Miami is getting a key contribution from Tyler Herro with his scoring ability being on full display.

4. Chicago Bulls ( 11-5)(This Week 3-1)

The Bulls had an amazing week with a 3-1 this week including convincing wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers earlier this week. They continued to roll even though they were without star Center  Nikola Vucevic. He is eligible to be active from the NBA health and safety protocols tomorrow against the New York Knicks. 

5. Charlotte Hornets (10-7) (3-0)

The Hornets had an amazing week with wins over the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards.Both teams held the best record in their respective conferences when the Hornets played them. Charlotte is riding a 5 game winning streak, Miles Bridges is making the case he should be considered for Most Improved Player this year. The Hornets are Buzzing and will be fun to see just how far this team can go. are off to an impressive start.

NBA Power Rankings Week of November 13th

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of November 13th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (11-1)(This Week 3-0)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They lead the league at 11-1. They went 3-0 this week including a dismantling of the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

2. Chicago Bulls ( 8-4)(This Week 2-1)

The Bulls started off 2-0 this week including a convincing win over the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The were dealt devastating news as Star big man Nikola Vucevic will be out for several games due to testing positive for Covid on Thursday . They were dismantled by the Warriors on Friday night without Vucevic in the lineup. We'll see how they respond next week.

3. Brooklyn Nets (9-4)(This Week 2-1) 

The Nets are looking as though they are rounding into form. The Nets lost to the Bulls earlier in the week but bounced back in the next two games with wins. James Harden is performing like his old self posting a Triple Double against the Orlando Magic and scoring 30 points in a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Brooklyn seems to be finding ot’s groove.

4. Phoenix Suns (8-3)(This Week 3-0)

The Suns are off to a terrific start this season. This includes winning 7 straight. They are doing most of this without Deandre Ayton who’s missed the past few games. Phoenix is rising despite the off course drama with Owner Robert Sarver.

5. Washington Wizards (8-4)(This Week 2-0)

The Wizards are off to an impressive start.

The top seed in the Eastern Conference is showing great fight. Washington are a solid team and the question becomes can they stay towards top this season.

Surprises of The Season

 There are many great things about the NBA being back this includes fans being back in the buildings but also the surprising teams at the start of the NBA season. I will lay out the 2 teams that have surprised me the most at the start of the season..

1. Washington Wizards.

The Wizards have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 8-3. They are led by All Star Bradely Beal. Beal is doing things differently this season the past 2 seasons he has done most of his contributing by scoring. This is something the team needed to be in most games but resulted in  less than stellar seasons for the Wizards franchise. This year Beal’s role is more of an all around game where instead of being asked to go out and get 30 points he is playing more of an all around game and it shows with him being on pace to average career highs in assists and rebounds this year. Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell, who were brought over from the Lakers in the Russell Westbrook trade, have been great contributors and also great leaders as well providing championship experience. The biggest addition for the team this offseason was Point Guard Spencer Dinwiddie; he is the floor general the team needed to help Beal  who can be more off the ball like he did last season and also he can create for himself and others.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers 

Cleveland is one the biggest surprises of the young season. They are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference at 8-5. The Cavs are doing it in a very interesting way in a perimeter oriented league they are playing through their skillful young bigs in Jarret Allen and 2021’s  3rd overall pick Evan Mobley. They create mismatch ups in the paint and have a tremendous rebounder in Allen.. The Cavs will be truly tested with starting Point Guard Collin Sexton out due to a Meniscus tear. In addition Lauri Markkanen is currently in the NBA’s Healthy and Safety after testing positive for Covid about a week ago. The key to keeping the team above water will be Darius Garland if he can continue to step up from a scoring perspective the Cavs will be in the Play in Tournament this year. The Cavs are looking to be slightly ahead of schedule, hopefully it is for the rest of the season.

NBA Power Rankings Week of 11-5-2021

 The NBA is a little over 2 weeks in and now it is time for me to put out my RealDeal power rankings of the top 5 teams in the NBA.

1. Golden State Warriors (7-1)

The league may have woken up a sleeping giant. With the Warriors having a healthy Steph Curry and Draymond Green  has helped the Warriors get out to a 7-1 start. They are tied for the best record in the NBA. With the emergence of Jordan Poole who is showing that his last few games last season in which he began to come on offensively was not a fluke. He is being that second steady scorer that the Warriors need especially while waiting for James Wiseman and Klay Thompson to come back from injuries later this season.

2. Utah Jazz (7-1)

The Utah Jazz have gotten out to a tremendous start this year starting 7-1. They have gotten great contributions from star player Donovan Mitchell and All-Star big man Rudy Gobert. THe Jazz are continuing to show that they are a solid regular season team. The Jazz will have one of the best records in the league this year. For them the true test will come in the playoffs.

 

3. Philadelphia 76ers (7-2)

The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start at 7-2; this is the best thing the Sixers could have asked for. With the Ben Simmons drama as he is currently not playing with the team. Joel Embiid is having a great season even though he already missed some games. The Sixers will truly be tested in the next few games due to some key players missing games due to them recently testing positive for Covid . Two of the key players missing time will be Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle.

 

4. Chicago Bulls (6-2)

Chicago is off to a great start at 6-2, their offseason acquisitions of Demar Derozan and Lonzo Ball are playing tremendously. Ball is a traditional Point Guard that allows star player Zach LaVine to play more off the ball which plays great to his skill set as a scorer and slasher. Also DeRozan is playing excellent and providing clutch baskets for the Bulls. This team will be in the running for a top 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

5.  Miami Heat (6-2)

The Heat have gotten back to their excellent defensive prowess as a team. The addition of Kyle Lowry has proven to be great from a leadership standpoint and also having someone who has championship pedigree along with PJ Tucker. In addition Tyler Herro who made headlines this offseason saying he was just as good as Luka Doncic and Trae Young; has been a great contributor off of the bench averaging over 20 points a game. This Heat team will be a gritty team all season.