Game Threads Index (April 06, 2025):

James Harden on the Clippers this year vs. last year:

“It’s just different. It’s just different. Different team… We got guys that know their role and know what they’re supposed to be doing consistently on a night to night basis. From the beginning of the season. It’s just a different team.”

What makes it different?

“Personnel. You guys know. You know the players we had last year."

Idk why i decided to share this, I just thought it was funny given how much Stephen A talks about him.

With his 3rd three tonight, he joins Klay Thompson (1x), James Harden (1x), and Stephen Curry (5x lol) as the only players to hit 300 threes in a season.

However, Malik Beasley will likely also be joining that club anytime within the next few minutes. Historical shooting season for those two! (And Steph will likely get a 6th, cause Steph)

NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals | Basketball-Reference.com

Last season he seemed like a key role player for the HEAT and a big part of their future with a lot of potential.

This year his minutes are down substantially and he’s only played 63 games, picking up DNP-CDs.

At a time when they lose Jimmy, Rozier playing poorly, and their only other guards besides Herro being Alec Burks, Davion Mitchell and Dunc, I would have expected his minutes and role to increase, not decrease.

Did he get hurt, or did he regress in a big way? Why has he not been a bigger factor for the HEAT this year ?

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705697

Giannis is absolutely carrying the Bucks without Dame

Giannis Antetokounmpo last two games:

71 PTS 32 REB 30 AST

The first player to have 70/30/30 over any 2-game span since Wilt Chamberlain (1968).

Giannis has had to playmake even more with Dame out. This season, Giannis averages 32/11/8 on 62/35/71 shooting splits (66.7% TS) in 13 games without Damian Lillard.

Source: StatMuse.com and @StatMamba on X

The 76ers were 19-27 after beating the Kings. Since that W, they have only had wins against Dallas (both home and away), Golden State, and Utah.

Their 11 game losing streak equals an 11 game streak that bridged the end of the '16-'17 season (8 games) and the start of the '17-'18 season (3) and is the longest in-season since March/April 2016 (12 games).

Beasly had three 3s tonight to put him 301 threes for the sesson. He joins Anthony Edwards (1x), Klay Thompson (1x), James Harden (1x), and Stephen Curry (5x) as the only players to hit 300 threes in a season.

What an achievement by Beasly ! https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_season.html

Nico Harrison had no prior connection to the Mavericks, but league sources say that a strong recommendation on his behalf was conveyed to Mark Cuban by the influential agent Jeff Schwartz, Kidd’s longtime representative who would also become Harrison’s agent. It didn’t hurt Harrison’s appeal that A) he was known for his leaguewide connections and relationships thanks to his Nike role and B) San Antonio had previously tried to hire Harrison for its own front office.

Is Harrison’s job in any actual jeopardy due to the overwhelmingly negative local response to the trade? No question, post-trade, is posed more often in Mavericks circles and among Mavericks fans than that one. Fire Nico has been a constant cry at Mavericks games and at sporting events (and even at a Medieval Times) all over Texas in the wake of the trade. A banner with that precise message is unmissable on the balcony of an apartment building adjacent to the arena on the corner of Victory and Nowitzki Way. It’s a chant you’re likely to hear a time or three Wednesday night when Dončić is back in the building for the first time since Christmas Day. Whether Dumont would actually consider such a step, however, is an unknown.

It seems a stretch, on some levels, to imagine Dumont signing off on the trade Harrison recommended and then dismissing him mere months later to appease an angry public reaction. Giving in to such calls isn’t going to bring Dončić back. Yet it’s also true that the noise and negativity have scarcely faded over the past two months and are bound to be whipped back to frenzy levels all over again once Dončić is back in the building in Lakers colors. What will Dumont do? Several of Harrison’s moves with the Mavericks were initially questioned — like the Irving trade — but then worked out. As a result, Harrison awoke Feb. 1 with a sky-high approval rating among Mavericks fans. Now it is routinely asked all over town whether Harrison can hang onto his job amid so much widespread external dismay with his decision.

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-read-luka-doncic-in-dallas

He might truly be the greatest player of all-time.

56-66 through 11 games with Dallas.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4431699/kai-jones

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01/gamelog/2025/

Player of the week is Steph's for sure but Rudy would probably be the second best for this past week. A dominat stretch that has seen Minesotta move to within 1 game of the 3 seed in the West. Minesotta have won 14 of their last 17 games.

Clippers are also only 1.5 games back from 3 seed and continue to win in dominating fashion. Kawhi has a Net Rating of +11.08 in those games as well, with top tier impact on both ends.

Source - https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=kawhi+last+12+games+ts%25

Kawhi tonight:

29 PTS

6 REB

3 AST

3 STL

73 TS%

in just 25 minutes.

Harden against the Mavs:

29 PTS

7 REB

14 AST

Zubac 25 PTS on 11/11 shooting

Clippers are a game away from the 5th seed.

Clippers remaining schedule

vs Spurs, vs Rockets, @ Kings, @ Warriors

Edey was dominant on the glass against the Pistons. With Duren out, Edey was able to feast with 21 boards, 14 defensive and 7 offensive, in 29 minutes. The previous record (18) was set by Bryant Reeves in 1996. Edey also put up 6 assists, largely feeding from his rebounds. Not bad for the "worst draft pick of all time".

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/game?gameId=401705695

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ws_per_48_season.html

The only seasons ahead of this one are three seasons from Kareem (1970-1973), two seasons from Jordan (90-91 and 95-96), two seasons from Lebron (08-09 and 12-13), one season from Wilt (1963-64) and one from Steph (15-16). Insane performance all season long by both men.

Giannis is on a ridiculous run right now and has become underrated as he is on pace to have back to back 30 ppg on 60% FG seasons (Not even Kareem, Wilt, or Shaq did this). Its unfortunate that the poor teambuilding and injuries has held him back from truly competiting for a title

Source: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01/gamelog/2025/

EDIT: Apologies, it’s 12-0, with a potential to go to 14-0 if both the clippers and timberwolves win today

Everyone knows how hectic the western conference is, and a first round upset seems more than likely no matter who qualifies to the next stages. It’s been a dog fight for the the last playoff spots and every team deserves it from how they’ve been playing recently, but only two will make it out unscathed (barring a catastrophic ending from the lakers or nuggets).

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705698

Memphis, Minnesota and LA all win tonight in what continues to be one of the tightest 3-8 seed races we've seen in a long time.