KYRIE'S BACK!!!!

 On Friday due to the current injuries the Brooklyn Nets have the teams  announced that they will welcome Kyrie Irving back as a part time player. With Kyrie not being vaccinated he is only eligible to play in 24 of the 27 remaining road games that the Brooklyn Nets. This is because due to the New York City Mandate he would not be able to play in the 2 away games against the New York Knicks or in the 1 one away game in Toronto against the Raptors. Canada has a mandate that anyone who is not vaccinated would not be allowed to enter the country. The process begins with Kyrie having to test negative for 5 straight days before he can play. Assuming his conditioning is not an issue and he practices well he could be eligible to return as soon as Christmas against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets do have a game on December 23rd visiting the Portland Trailblazers but with Kyrie needing 5 straight days of negative Covid testing he may not be able to travel with the team in time.

With Kyrie being back the question becomes how far can the Nets go. When Kyrie plays he will be one of the best players on the floor and will provide a much needed scoring punch for the Nets.  Also he will allow James Harden to go back to his facilitator role that he thrived in last year. In addition this move will definitely shift the balance of power in not only the Eastern Conference but also the NBA. The biggest challenge will potentially come in the playoffs especially if they play the Knicks or the Raptors because then you would have a complete series in which Irving would not be able to play.

This will be an interesting situation for the Nets and only time will tell if this will work out.

REALDEAL POWER RANKINGS WEEK DECEMBER 11TH

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of December 11th

1. Golden State Warriors (21-4) (This Week 2-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 2-1 this  week. The Warriors have wonderful ball movement as a team. They lead the league in Assist per game. Steph Curry is 9 3’s away from tying Ray Allen for the most 3’s made in NBA History. Tonight they face the Philadelphia 76ers in a match up that sees Steph guarded by his brother Seth Curry which will bring the best out of Steph.  Sibling Rivalries are always fun to watch especially when it involves two of the best shooters in the game today. With the Warriors making a trip to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday against the Knicks it sets the perfect stage. If Steph does not break the record tonight he will do so on Tuesday on the biggest stage in basketball. The Warriors play the Pacers on Monday but in the best interest of the NBA the Warriors should give Steph the night off either way and save him for the Nationally televised game Tuesday night.

2. Phoenix Suns (21-4) (This Week 2-0)

Phoenix is proving that they are a complete team. Even with Devin Booker out with his current Hamstring Injury they are taking care of business. Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder are playing tremendously and helping with the offensive production with their roles increased while Booker is sidelined. This includes a dominating win against the Boston Celtics last night.  The West has 2 top teams the Suns and Warriors and then there is a gap between everyone else.

3. Utah Jazz (18-7) (This Week 3-0)

The Jazz are on a 6 game winning streak and show no signs of slowing down.

They have a balanced team with a strong defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert.

Donovan Mitchell is continuing to grow with his latest improvement as a playmaker for others especially in pick and roll situations with Rudy Gobert. The Jazz are looking to prove that they can get  the job done in the playoffs and with Mitchell growing as a player it is a step in the right direction.  

4. Chicago Bulls ( 15-8)  (This Week 1-1)

The Bulls went 1-1 this week they have the second best record in the Eastern Conference. THhy will be tested this upcoming week with a few players currently in the Health and Safety Protocol. One of the players likely going to miss several games is DeMar DeRozn, the star Forward is the key to the Bulls exceeding expectations this year. You wish him and the other players a speedy and safe recovery but they may not be in the Top 5 next week.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (17-7) ( This Week 2-1)

The Milwaukee Bucks are essentially healthy and beginning to take off. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton and back into the groove. Even though no Brook Lopez for much of this season, sharp shooting Pat Connaughton has shown much improvement as far as consistency goes this season. Also the addition of DeMarcus Cousins has been great as he provides an extra body who is a good rebounder as the team waits for Brook Lpez to come back from his back injury. Giannis is doing his best to expand his range and tries to keep the defense by attempting more 3’s and mid range shots. This will pay dividends come playoff time he can hit them with a little more consistency as the season continues to go on.

POWER RANKINGS WEEK OF DECEMBER 4TH

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of December 4th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (19-3) (This Week 2-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 2-1 this  week including a dominating win against the Phoenix Suns Friday Night. That snapped the Sun’s 17 game winning streak and also avenged their loss from Tuesday against the Suns. Steph Curry dropped 23 points including 6 3 pointers. The Warriors are on a mission and they are not even at full strength which can be scary for the rest of the league. 

2. Phoenix Suns (19-4) (This Week 3-1)

Phoenix went undefeated during the month of November going 15-0. The Suns in a pivotal matchup against the Golden State Warriors won on Tuesday. Unfortunately star Guard Devin Booker suffered a hamstring injury which caused him to leave the game on Tuesday early. Booker is expected to miss the next few games. The Suns have a very well balanced team and should be able to manage while Booker is temporarily sidelined. 

3. Utah Jazz (15-7) (This Week 3-0)

The Jazz are 7-3 in their last 10 games and currently on a 3 game winning streak.

They have a balanced team with a strong defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert.

With them healthy this team will be one of the best teams in the league and they multiple players who can either get their own shot or are knockdown shooters.

4. Chicago Bulls ( 15-8)  (This Week 2-1)

The Bulls went 2-1 this week and are on a 2 game winning streak after two convincing victories against the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets. Chicago has a great team defensively and 3 go to scorers who can get to their spots. In addition this time is primed to make a run at the Eastern Conference finals at a minimum. For the Bulls the Sky's the limit. 

5. Brooklyn Nets ( 16-6) (This week 2-1)

The Nets have the best record against the Eastern Conference.

They are currently on 2 game winning streak, their will on most nights have the best two players on the floor in Kevin Durant and James Harden. The reason they are 5th is because whenever they play a team who can compete with them for the NBA Title this year they come up short and the games are not close. They have lost to both the BUlls and Warriors by double digits. The game against the Suns was not as close as the 113-107 final score would indicate. Until the Nets get a signature win they will stay at the 5th spot for me.