Fall Ball Catch-All
Here’s what you need to know about autumn’s athletic action. Let’s go!
NBA continued...
was Mikal Bridges, who has averaged a mere 10.2 points per game in his three-year career.
Injuries certainly played a role in the demise of the big guns. In the postseason, the Nets were without Kyrie Irving. The Clippers didn’t have Kawhi Leonard. LeBron James and the Lakers were banged up all year. But after watching last year’s playoffs, it’s hard not to think that we might be seeing a fundamental change in team-bulding philosophy.
Take the Suns, who entered last season with modest expectations.
They had one elite scorer, Devin Booker, and they surrounded him with a savvy veteran point guard (Chris Paul), a traditional big man—that is, one who can’t shoot threes (DeAndre Ayton)—and several role players. Coach Monty Williams devised an offense that took advantage of the fact that Paul doesn’t play as fast as he used to. And just like that Phoenix had the second-best record in the West (behind the Jazz, another team that doesn’t fit the big-name model). Similarly, Atlanta built its offense around the pick-and-roll talents of Trae Young, while the Bucks took their unicorn and surrounded him with players who complemented his playing style.
Of course, there are still superteams. The Nets will have six-time All-Star Blake Griffin all season alongside Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. The Clippers are loaded again. If healthy, the Warriors will be back in the picture. And then there are the Lakers, who doubled down on their commitment to amassing stars by trading for Russell Westbrook and signing Carmelo Anthony. Remember how we said the Hawks have one
All-Star Game selection? LeBron, Westbrook, Melo, and Anthony Davis have 44 between them.