Three Quarters Down:
Unprofessional Opinions on the NBA Season
My dear readers, please allow me to apologize for the glaring lack of Wrant last week. Life has gotten in the way, but I am back to Wranting for you!
Now, for those loyal readers, I have a quick New Year’s Resolution Update! For those who don’t remember or don’t care - let me remind you of my resolutions -
1. Spend More Time in Nature
2. Read One New Book and Listen to One New Album a Month
3.More Time for Creativity
For my first resolution, I have been more intentional about sitting outside and just listening to the natural world. Listening to the birds singing, watching the butterflies and bees fly around the flowers and watching the trees sway in the wind to the natural rhythm of the earth. In January, Houston received a snowfall of 3 inches! I was able to take a long walk and listen to the absolute silence of a world muffled by the freezing blanket of nature. We live in a magical world and we need to get out there and appreciate it.
I committed to reading at least one book a month, and I have already outpaced that - I have read Isaac Asimov’s “Forward the Foundation”, the second prequel book to his original Foundation Trilogy. The Foundation series focuses on Hari Seldon, who comes up with the mathematical theory of Psychohistory - a tool he believes can predict the rise and fall of societies and empires. The prequels delve into Hari’s introduction and early work of Psychohistory and the forces who want to use his equation for their own nefarious purposes. I have also started reading Cixin Liu’s “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” trilogy and have finished the first two books, “The Three Body Problem” and ‘’The Dark Forest’’. Liu’s trilogy explores the possibility of life on other planets, and whether or not it would be wise to contact those other lifeforms. I hope to have the final book in the trilogy, “Death’s End”, read by the end of this month, with Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” waiting for me afterwards.
As for the albums I have chosen to listen to, two come to mind - “American Ghetto” by Portugal. The Man with “Fantastic Pace” and “Some Men” being absolute standout tracks. John Gourley’s guitar work is amazing and his powerful lyrics paint a picture of life’s formative moments. The other album I really enjoyed was The Pixies “Doolittle”. The bass lines of Kim Deal mix perfectly with the fantastic beats of drummer David Lovering. This album serves as a precursor to Grunge, heavily influencing Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. “Wave of Mutilation” and “Hey” are my favorite tracks from the album.
The third resolution is harder to quantify. I have made some steady progress with my writing, keeping a notepad near my bed when inspiration strikes. Soon, dear reader, you may be reading a novel written by yours truly. Hopefully, I live up to your already elevated expectations of my genius.
Now dear reader, we are 3/4 of the way through the NBA season, so it’s time for some unprofessional opinions from Walker’s Wrantings. Here we go:
Totally Unprofessional Review
4 observations of the first three quarters of the 2024-25 NBA Season.
It’s Not Sunny in Philadelphia
The 76ers are in a freefall. They won one game in all of February, going 1-10. Joel Embiid is out for the rest of the season. Paul George, the team’s major offseason acquisition, has been a disaster, averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while only playing 40 games so far. The only bright spot for the team is Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging 26 points and 6 assists. The team's front office seems to have no idea what they are doing, and the 76ers will have their work cut out for them this offseason - the big question of what to to with the perennially injured Joel Embiid will be the most pressing matter for Daryl Morey - if he still has a job.
The Triple L
Luka and Lebron’s Lakers are surging. Thank you so much Nico Harrison for giving the Lakers this weapon. Since the worst trade in NBA history went down, the Lakers have gone 9-2, are currently on a 5 game win streak, and are third seed in the West. Luka is averaging 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists while Lebron is averaging 29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Completely unfair. Nico Harrison needs to be fired into the sun for giving the Lakers Luka Doncic for basically free, as Anthony Davis is already out for the season for the Dallas Mavericks. The rich always get richer, and this travesty only strengthens my deep hatred for the Purple and Gold.
Butler Serves Up Wins in Bay Area
Well, like the Lakers, the Warriors managed to luck into a fantastic player at the trade deadline - Jimmy Butler. Butler’s unprofessionalism absolutely worked for him - his pouting and toxic team behavior got him exactly what he wanted: off the Heat on onto a championship competing team. The Warriors are 7-2 since the acquisition of Jimmy, who has opened up the Warriors offense, allowing Steph Curry to average 30 points per game in that time span. Much like my hatred of the Lakers, my contempt for the Bay Area has grown exponentially in February.
Pistons Firing on all Cylinders
The Detroit Pistons have finally figured it out. Going 10-3 in the month of February has improved the Pistons record to 34-27 and have given them the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham is averaging 25 points and 9 assists, Jaden Ivey and Malik Beasley are pouring in 17 points each while Ausar Thompson provides the same defensive spark his twin brother Amen is giving in Houston. The young Pistons are starting to gel under coach J.B. Bickerstaff and they will be a problem for teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pistons are primed to take a huge leap in the coming years, so fans of the NBA should keep a close eye on the Motor City.
My Way Too Early and (Probably Wrong) Playoffs Finals Prediction:
Western Conference Finals Prediction - Oklahoma City Thunder beat Denver Nuggets
You all already know that ShaiGilgeous-Alexander is my pick for MVP of the NBA. I fully believe he can lead his one seeded Thunder team into the playoffs and dominate the West. Denver, Los Angeles, and Houston are nipping at their heels. The Western Conference Playoffs will be a bloodbath, and I think the Conference Final will be Denver vs Oklahoma City, with OKC winning in 6 games. Jokic is still a super human, but I think the Thunder have the tools to take the Nuggets out.
Eastern Conference Finals Prediction - Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks
In the East, there is no more complete team than the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum and company are the Associations defending champs, and they have been to the Finals the last 2 years. Experience trumps all when it comes to the postseason, and although the Cleveland Cavaliers have the NBAs best overall record, there is barely any playoff experience among the team. The game changes in the postseason- it's faster, more physical, and the referees let more go - Cleveland is going to have to get punched in the mouth before they have success, much like MJ against the Bad Boy Pistons. The Eastern Conference Finals will come down to New York and Boston, with Boston taking a hard fought 7 game series.
NBA Finals Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder beat Boston Celtics
Boston has the experience, but the Oklahoma City Thunder will have the NBA’s MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I think the Thunder have what it takes to beat the Celtics in a hard fought Finals. Be sure to read my update at the end of June to see how wrong I probably am.
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 Obsidian Entertainment’s action RPG “Avowed”. This colorful game takes place in the fictional “Living Lands” where you are tasked with discovering the secret behind the mysterious “Dream Scourge”, an illness taking over the land. Using swords, bows, guns, and magic, “Avowed” is a beautiful game reminiscent of the Elder Scrolls series.
NEXT WEEK: Walker’s Wranting’s presents “Madness”