NBA Game Reviews: January 21, 2021

1. Home-Court advantage is officially proven to be as insignificant as it’s ever been

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As the coronavirus has continued to alter the NBA this season, one difference has seemed to stand out above the rest. With limited fans in attendance in some places and zero permitted in others, home-court advantage has become almost meaningless. Home teams this season are a mediocre 108-104, equaling a winning percentage of just 50.9%. In previous seasons, home teams have enjoyed a winning percentage of around 56-58%. 

This year’s Lakers squad is a prime example of the insignificance that now comes with playing on a home-court. The Purple and Gold are off to a franchise-best 8-0 start on the road this season, including their tough seven-point victory in Milwaukee on Thursday. The Bucks were an NBA-best 39-10 at home two seasons ago, and 28-3 at the Fiserv Forum last year prior to the shift to the bubble. While the Lakers have been dominant away from home, they’re just a pedestrian 4-4 at the Staples Center this season.

While home-court advantage has been a huge factor in the NBA, especially in the playoffs, the lack of fans has basically made it a non-factor. While home-teams in the playoffs have seen a win percentage of around 64% in the NBA, the top seeds in each conference may not be as coveted this season. There are pros and cons with these ripple effects, like the fact that teams might not prioritize regular-season wins as much down the stretch, and prefer to rest their marquee players before a playoff push. At the same time, a team decimated by COVID during the season that subsequently falls down the seedings won’t be in as bad of shape. 

2. Julius Randle’s All-Star caliber season could alter this year’s title race

Julius Randle is enjoying the best season of his seven-year career in 2021. Randle is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists, while recording double-doubles in 11 of the Knicks’ 16 games, including one triple-double. Randle has become the leader of this young Knicks team and has them sitting at 8-8 with recent impressive wins in Boston on Sunday and Golden State on Thursday.

While Randle has seen changes in many facets of his game, the most influential one has been the evolution of his three-point effectiveness. The 26-year-old is averaging career-highs in 3PM, 3PA, and 3P%, which has allowed the rest of his game to flourish. He’s operating with more space this year and has utilized his quickness as a Power Forward to blow by bigger defenders and make the right play for his team, as showcased on Thursday with another near triple-double. The development of his passing game has also been a huge factor in his success, as he’s spent most of his time in the de facto Point-Forward position on offense. 

While Randle has shown flashes early in his career, the Kentucky product is really starting to live up to the No. 7 pick the Lakers used on him in 2014. Randle has put himself into the conversation to be an All-Star for the first time in his career and looks like a potential prominent player to hear his name tossed around as the trade deadline nears. Contenders such as Boston, Miami, Utah, or Portland could make a play for the borderline All-Star, which could catapult one of those PF-needy teams into the NBA favorites conversation.

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