In this weeks 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts Steve Purciello dives shares more random NBA thoughts. Victor Wembanyama MVP Case, NBA Injuries, Expansion, and Leadership Trend and more. Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast the Shot Clock Pod to your list!
Victor Wembanyama MVP?
If I had a vote for MVP this year, I would definitely vote for Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama excels on both ends of the court. Defensively, he changes games not just by blocking shots but also by making teams change their offense. How many times in a game do you see opposing teams drive to the basket and, with Wemby near the rim, kick the ball out, opting not to challenge him? Offensively, he is becoming a clutch player San Antonio goes to for their last shot, as evidenced by his buzzer-beating jumper against Phoenix Thursday night. His numbers aren’t as gaudy as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s, but he is the player with the most impact on a game in the league.
Cade Cunningham’s Injury Situation in Detroit
Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung may not be as bad a blow to the Detroit Pistons as it appears. If he returns before the playoffs healthy, all’s fine. Barring a total collapse, the Pistons should hold on to the first seed. The problem for Cade is that he still needs five games to be eligible for any postseason awards.
Houston’s Injury Problems and Locker Room Drama
It looks like the injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams may be too much for the Houston Rockets to overcome. If you add in Kevin Durant‘s supposed criticism of his teammates on a burner account, the Rockets will probably see an early exit from the playoffs.
Lakers Finding Balance Under JJ Redick
The Los Angeles Lakers, and particularly JJ Redick, may have finally gotten through to Deandre Ayton. He is accepting his role as a rim protector, lob threat, and rebounder. For a long time, Ayton considered himself a top offensive option on any team he was on. The Lakers have plenty of scoring with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James and don’t need Ayton to be a big scorer. If Redick can keep the rest of the team happy in their roles, the Lakers have something going and could become a tough out in the playoffs.
Should the NBA Season Be Shorter?
Rick Carlisle and Steve Kerr have become advocates for a shorter NBA season. If player contracts reflected the shorter season and players received less money, though it would be better for the game, the players’ union will never accept it. It also would not guarantee players would sit out for rest any less often than they do now.
Expansion on the Horizon: Vegas and Seattle
The NBA is talking about expansion. The league will probably add two new teams. Most people predict if the league does expand, it will be in Las Vegas and Seattle. Over the last ten years, Vegas has gone from being an off-limits city for a professional sports team to a well-desired city for all four major sports leagues. If you are an older NBA fan and remember the Sonics, you hope the league is coming back to Seattle. The Sonics were undeservedly ripped out of the city and moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Jaylen Brown’s Unique Approach to Leadership
Reading that Jaylen Brown did research on his teammates’ Chinese and Western zodiac signs as well as their numerology is interesting. Knowing that Jayson Tatum would not be back to start the season, Brown said he did this to better understand his teammates’ personalities so he could lead better. I don’t know if this is worth the effort, but should coaches be looking into this to understand their players better?