NBA Game Reviews: January 13, 2021

1. The Brooklyn Nets have officially taken over New York from the Knicks

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The Nets dominated the Knicks on Wednesday in the battle of New York (until garbage time), but that was far from the biggest story of the day in the Big Apple. Hours before tip-off, James Harden was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal that shifted the entire landscape of the NBA. The Nets mortgaged their future and depth for a run at a title, and have assembled the most unguardable big three in NBA history. Assuming Kyrie returns from his personal hiatus, the Nets can put out a lineup of Irving, Harden, Kevin Durant, Joe Harris, and DeAndre Jordan. Imagine being an opposing coach trying to slow that team down. 

Brooklyn’s lineup now features three of the greatest isolation scorers in NBA history, all still seemingly in their prime. Opposing teams can’t double-team one of them to leave the others open, yet are being forced to guard three of the league’s most unstoppable players one-on-one. Good luck. 

One major storyline to watch in this trade is Brooklyn’s depth. The Nets shipped out rising stars Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, while also losing Taurean Prince and Rodions Kurucs. This trade will highlight Spencer Dinwiddie’s torn ACL, as the second-unit is expected to now feature Landry Shamet, Tyler Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, and the lone big man Nic Claxton (when he returns from injury). 

Brooklyn does have three open roster spots available and can use their $5.7 million tax ML, a likely $5.7 million Disabled Player Exception from Dinwiddie’s injury, along with one minimum exception to fill them. Almost any free agent is expected to chomp at the bit for a chance to join this team and compete for a championship alongside the most talented Big 3 in NBA history. The Nets should also be huge players in the buyout market post-trade deadline which has produced quality bench players like Markieff Morris, Reggie Jackson, and Jeff Green last year. 

2. Paul George is the best player on the Clippers this year, not Kawhi Leonard

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are shoe-ins to be All-Stars this year as long as they stay healthy. They make up one of the best duos in the league, and a couple of the NBA’s most effective two-way players. Kawhi, however, was in a different tier than PG entering the year, as not only the best on the Clippers but one of the four NBA Finals MVPs in the entire league (Kawhi x2, LeBron x4, Durant x2, and Iguodala). However, early on in the year, Paul George is proving to be the Clippers’ most valuable player, worth every bit of that lucrative extension he received this offseason.

Paul George is in full-blown comeback mode this season following his struggles in the bubble. George is having a career-year for the Clippers, particularly as a shooter, as he’s looking to become just the ninth player to join the 50-40-90 club in NBA history, shooting 49.7% from the field, an inconceivable 51.6% from three, and 90.9% from the charity stripe. The 30-year-old is also averaging a strong 25.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per contest, and has played in all but one of the Clippers’ games. 

PG13 admitted being in the bubble took a toll on him mentally, and some of his peers around the league continue to come at George for his lack of mental toughness. Regardless, none of that matters to him right now, as PG is enjoying the most efficient shooting season of his career, and has looked nothing short of the number one option and best player on this stacked Clippers roster that’s ready to bounce back following a disappointing exit in last year’s playoffs.

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