Emirates NBA Cup:
Finals Preview and (Probably Wrong) Prediction Updates
Well, dear reader, I hope you didn’t place any bets in Vegas based on my predictions. To be fair, I did warn you that they were probably wrong.
Although I went 1-3 in my predictions, I’m still excited for the NBA Cup Final. Let’s recap where I went wrong.
My (Probably Wrong) Prediction - New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks
Result - WRONG
I predicted that Trae Young would have a spectacular game, but that the Knicks would pull out an exciting win in Madison Square Garden. Broadway Trae did put on a show in New York, one that would ultimately be worthy of the Vegas Strip. Trae Young controlled this game, scoring 22 points and setting up his teammates all night with 11 assists. Jalen Johnson capitalized on Young’s passing as he put up 21 points and De’Andre Hunter came off the bench with 24 points of his own. As the clock wound down in the City that Never Sleeps, Broadway Trae rolled the dice on the Knicks half court logo as the Hawks hit their bets and punched their ticket to Vegas - leaving New York fans speechless and my prediction wrong.
My (Probably Wrong) Prediction - Orlando Magic beat the Milwaukee Bucks
Result - WRONG
My prediction that the Orlando Magic’s youth would outlast the older veterans for a win was laughably incorrect. My prediction of a big game from Giannis Antetokounmpo was correct however - the Greek Freak poured on 37 points and 4 blocks in a close contest but, as we all know, the last two minutes of the game are called Dame Time for a reason. Damian Lillard had a vintage game in the clutch for the Bucks, with 52 seconds left, Dame hit a step back three pointer to tie the young Magic and, twenty seconds later, with 32 seconds on the clock, he blew past his defender to make a driving layup to put the Bucks up by one point. Lillard would go on to drain four free throws and Milwaukee while made it to the desert to face the Atlanta Hawks and, once again, I was wrong.
Giannis would continue his dominance in Vegas against Broadway Trae and the Hawks, putting up 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. Trae Young brought his show to Vegas, scoring 35 points and generating 10 assists for Atlanta, but the Hawks had no answer to Damian Lillard’s 25 points as the Bucks won a close 110 - 102 contest, and the Milwaukee Bucks will represent the East on Tuesday in the NBA Cup Final.
My (Probably Wrong) Prediction - Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder
Result - WRONG
While the other games in the NBA Cup first round were close, this game in Oklahoma City was not. Dallas came into the game on a hot streak - having won 7 straight games. Oklahoma City showed the Mavericks why they are the #1 Defense in the NBA, dominating the game from the opening tip. Luka Doncic ended the game with 16 points, 12 points below his season average of 28 while Kyrie Irving, a 24 point per game scorer, was held to 17. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander torched the Mavericks with a scorching hot 39 points while having a field goal percentage of 65%. The Thunder had 14 steals and 5 blocks collectively while Isaiah Hartenstein, or Hartenstein’s Monster as I like to call him, pulled down 13 rebounds and protected the paint. The Thunder shut down the Mavericks and made their way to Vegas. This was my third wrong prediction and it just proves what I’ve always known - you can never trust Dallas.
My (Probably Wrong) Prediction - Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors
Result - CORRECT!
I only got one prediction right, dear reader, but it was the only prediction I personally cared about, so I’m counting the week as win. My beloved Rockets finally ended their losing streak to the Golden State Warriors. Although I’m happy for the victory, the last time the Rockets beat the Warriors, the world shut down, so I hope you’re stocked up on supplies. In a tough, physical game, the Rockets were able to edge out a 91-90 win over Steph Curry and the Warriors. An ugly game to a casual viewer, but as a fan of good defense, it was beautiful. The Rockets and Warriors fought hard throughout the game with the refs letting contact go all game. Down 89-90 in the last seconds of the game, a missed shot by Steph Curry led to a scrum for the loose ball, and Jalen Green ended up with the ball, and was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga was called. Jalen would hit the subsequent free throws to put the Rockets up by one. A blocked shot by Jabari Smith Jr. three seconds later and Alperen Şengün’s 26 points ended the Warrior’s streak and sent the Rockets to Vegas, making this my only correct pick.
What happens when the #1 defense of Oklahoma City meets the #2 defense of Houston in the desert of Las Vegas? A combined 28 turnovers, 36% and 45% shooting for Houston and Oklahoma City respectively and a 42-41 halftime score in an NBA game. Oklahoma City’s offense would wake up in the second half of the game, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 32 points and Hartenstein’s Monster adding 21 - catching lobs from OKC’s guards all night. The Thunder would pull away and win the game 111-96. They will face Milwaukee in the NBA Cup Final.
One Last (Probably Wrong) Prediction:
I predict that the Oklahoma City Thunder will win the Emirates NBA Cup and become the NBA’s second ever In-Season Tournament Champion. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be tournament MVP, and if I may be so bold, could be the NBA regular season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP in May. I think OKC has what it takes to win the championship this year - and I’m calling it early.
A Thought on Officiating
The final foul call in the Rockets-Warriors game has been under scrutiny since Wednesday night. Warrior’s head coach Stever Kerr called the call “unconscionable’’ while many NBA fans online have disagreed with the foul. I think Kerr’s comments were a tad bit dramatic, but I do agree with the spirit of the complaint.
First thing’s first - My team benefited from the foul call and even though it gave the Rockets the win, I do agree that it should probably not have been called. The call against Golden State was a correct call by the rule book, but the game up to that point had been physical and the referees were “letting the players play”. The last foul call was a comparatively soft call, especially with 3 seconds left in the game, and I understand the reaction from fans to the technically correct call. I will not be losing sleep for the Warriors, they’ve had plenty of calls go their way.
However, officiating is a hard job - as fans we have the luxury of watching a foul in slow motion and with a million angles - the referee or umpire has a split second and a single view to make a call. What I want from officials as a sports fan, be they a high school student calling balls and strikes in little league to Bill Kennedy in an NBA Cup game, is consistency. I used to blame officials for losses all of the time and, if I’m being honest with you dear reader, I will probably blame a ref or two for a loss in the future. I’ve learned as I’ve grown older (but not wiser) that the officials are, for the most part, doing a good job, I only remember the one bad call at the end of the game and not the other, countless correct ones.
So if you are an official reading this, all you need to do is be consistent and fair. The games we love depend on you to keep them going. You’re there to uphold the integrity of the game and that integrity begins with you.
If you’re a fan reading this, remember that the official’s are human beings and if you yell at and threaten the high school kid calling your first grader’s game, you are a terrible person.
Be kind. It costs nothing.
Walker’s Weekly Wrecommendations
Each week I’m gonna review and recommend random things - TV shows, music, or a restaurant. IDK. Whatever I feel like. This is my blog.
This week's Triple W is FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows”. Based off the 2014 movie of the same name, this mockumentary sitcom follows the lives of four vampires and their familiar living in Staten Island in New York City. A clever blend of vampiric lore and “fish out of water” comedy, the centuries old vampires attempt to navigate the modern human world, one that has clearly passed them by, as their human familiar Guliiermo serves them in hopes of one day becoming a vampire himself. The final episode of the sixth and final season of this Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement creation will air on Monday, December 16th.
NEXT WEEK: Walker’s Wranting’s presents “All I Want for Christmas”