After the Lakers knocked out the Rockets in 5 video games on Saturday, we had one other elimination sport between the Clippers and Nuggets on Sunday. Extra exactly, it was a “potential” elimination, as a result of after an enormous second-half comeback, Denver managed to pressure Sport 7 in convincing vogue, successful 111-98. It’s going to be a must-watch occasion on Tuesday evening at 9pm ET. There was additionally momentous teaching information within the NBA on Sunday, with Mike D’Antoni leaving the Rockets, so let’s get proper into the Dose.

The Clippers/Nuggets showdown in Sport 6 was a story of two halves. Denver trailed early and was behind by as many as 19 factors early within the third quarter. Then they ramped up the defensive depth, started hitting photographs from throughout on the court docket, benefited from star-level play from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, and walked away with one other inconceivable win. This was their third comeback of the 2019-20 playoffs after trailing by 15+ factors. “We discover it humorous that the narrative is like, ‘Oh, the Nuggets are a cute workforce. What a great story,'” coach Michael Malone mentioned earlier than the sport. “We’ve all the time been [called] a workforce that was too younger, not proficient sufficient … I feel our gamers are very comfy being uncomfortable.” They’ve now gained 5 straight elimination video games, so the character of this workforce cannot be faulted.

Gary Harris was big in Denver’s Sport 6 win, taking part in stable protection and chipping in 16 factors on 5-of-11 FGs and 4-of-6 FTs, with 4 assists, 4 steals and two rebounds. The most important quantity for Harris, although, is 42. That is the variety of minutes he logged in Sport 6, essentially the most he’d performed since Could Three of the 2018-19 playoffs in an time beyond regulation loss to the Blazers. That was a quadruple-overtime loss, in truth, which tied an NBA postseason document. The purpose is that Harris lately returned from a hip damage and his minutes had been within the 20s most nights since his return within the postseason. A part of that was foul hassle, and he fouled out of Video games Four and 5 whereas averaging 25.Zero minutes. Then on Sunday, with the season on the road, he prevented foul hassle, hit buckets when it mattered most, and performed nice protection. For Denver to advance they’re going to want this model of Harris, particularly since they’re already at a expertise deficit with out Will Barton (proper knee soreness).

Jamal Murray was landed on by Paul George and there have been some nervous moments as he writhed on the court docket in ache. He limped round a bit however by no means appeared in peril of sitting out, and was at his greatest throughout the Nuggets’ second-half trouncing. We’ll have actually six official damage reviews previous to Tuesday night’s Sport 7, so there must be loads of warning if Murray is in peril of sitting out. He will not. Murray completed 9-of-13 from the sector for 21 factors with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, one 3-pointer and only one turnover in 41 minutes. We have witnessed a number of “breakout” kind video games within the playoffs from Murray, a participant who was already hitting top-50 fantasy worth in 33.Four minutes per sport throughout the common season. He is a simple third-round goal, particularly since level guards drop off quick and he will not damage your FG% — for perspective, he shot 46.5% from the sector this season, whereas Kemba Walker shot 42.9%. Spencer Dinwiddie shot 41.5% on 16 makes an attempt per sport.

I am veering off the subject of guards, but it surely’s value remembering that Blake Griffin shot 35.2% from the sector in 18 video games this 12 months. There is no context to that aside from the truth that Detroit went 20-46. He is solely 31 years outdated, but accidents are piling up and until he lands in a super state of affairs it is exhausting to see him resuscitating his fantasy enchantment. That might require Detroit buying elite gamers to maximise his strengths, significantly on the PG place, or simply shifting on. No workforce is more likely to tackle the $75.Eight million Griffin is owed the subsequent two years, nonetheless, so Detroit will view him as a failed wager and proceed to rebuild. From scratch, principally, with solely Griffin, Luke Kennard, Sekou Doumbouya, Bruce Brown, Svi Mykhailiuk and Khyri Thomas beneath contract in 2021-22. Until they purchase some generational expertise, the Pistons look in for a long-term and painful rebuild. Thus ends that apart concerning the moribund Pistons.

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Paul George received into early foul hassle, which has been a reasonably constant drawback for PG this postseason. He is had at the least 4 fouls in all however three video games this postseason, however has managed to navigate it and continues to be averaging 36+ minutes. His offense has additionally come round vs. Denver, coming in at 46.8% from the sector and 42.7% from deep. That is a stark enchancment from the primary spherical when George shot 40.8% from the sector and 27.0% on 3-pointers. He mentioned afterward that the Clippers’ temper after their Sport 6 loss was “constructive,” including, “We’re nonetheless within the driver seat. It isn’t a panic mode. We have now a Sport 7. I like our odds with our group.” There’s nothing else he may have mentioned, actually, however the optimism is nice to listen to.

Within the NBA teaching world, the headline was Mike D’Antoni saying that he’ll depart the Rockets. It isn’t an enormous shock after he and the workforce’s administration failed to barter an extension final summer time, adopted by a disappointing exit within the playoffs. He mentioned in a press release that he is “shifting to a brand new chapter,” however the 69-year-old coach would not appear inclined to retire. He is indicated that he intends to maintain teaching and was rapidly linked to the Sixers, the place he’ll reportedly be “thought-about amongst a bunch of candidates.” Any workforce with a training emptiness (apart from the Rockets, in fact) will doubtless give him a glance. As Adrian Wojnarowski famous on ESPN, D’Antoni has gained Coach of the Yr honors twice and led Houston to the second-highest successful share (.682) within the league over the previous 4 years. His resume speaks for itself.

D’Antoni was additionally talked about as a possible candidate to interchange Pacers coach Nate McMillan, whose firing in late August induced some cognitive whiplash — he’d inked a contract extension two weeks earlier. The Rockets performed with the second-fastest tempo throughout the common season, regardless of a ton of isolation performs for James Harden. Additionally they led the NBA with 19.6% of their performs in isolation, whereas the second-highest workforce was at 9.9% (the Blazers). That is a merely huge disparity.

Houston had a mere 2.2% of their possessions finish with a post-up this 12 months, whereas the Sixers, as a consequence of Joel Embiid’s presence, simply led the league at 11.5%. I am posing a query with two views. Is that this purely a personnel disparity, which D’Antoni may simply navigate by inheriting a essentially completely different workforce in Philly? Or is it a philosophical disparity, during which case D’Antoni would want the Sixers, and Embiid particularly, to alter their method to the sport? The Pacers had been extra transition-heavy, with a seemingly less-awkward match for D’Antoni’s established type. We’ll discover out in a matter of months.

On the Rockets’ aspect, D’Antoni’s announcement was quickly adopted by a report that there is “mutual curiosity between the Rockets and Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell.” Doc Rivers mentioned this very week that Cassell “must be a head coach, interval,” and his document as a participant and assistant ought to communicate for itself. Yahoo’s Chris Haynes additionally reported that the Rockets will doubtless “take a powerful have a look at Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue.”

Whether or not they rent Cassell, Lue, or another person totally, Rockets GM Daryl Morey reportedly needs to push forward along with his workforce’s ultra-small-ball method. On condition that they traded Clint Capela and lack a real heart (Tyson Chandler would not rely), with $265 million dedicated to 2 gamers over the subsequent three years, they might not have a lot of a selection however to lean into small-ball anyway. In 2021-21 alone, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon and Robert Covington are owed a fully-guaranteed $119.7 million. The wage cap for the 2019-20 season was $109.1 million, and income losses from the COVID-19 pandemic may wreak havoc going ahead. Morey has his work lower out for him.