Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards.
The 2020–21 NBA season was one of the most exciting I’ve experienced in a long time. Teams that were on top last season are not so dominant this time around. Surprises, history made, and exciting new players. Let me explain.
Russell Westbrook made NBA history last week when he passed Oscar (the Big O) Robertson for the most triple-doubles in NBA history. As it stands, Westbrook now has 182 triple-doubles.
Talk about ending the season on a high note. In April, Stephen Curry not only broke James Hardin’s record of 84 three-pointers made in a month; he crushed it. The Warriors guard sank 96 treys in 14 games. Curry could have broken 100 but sat out the second half of a back-to-back on April 2. In a five-game stretch from April 12-19, Steph had double-digit threes in four of five games.
Well, he may not have made history; Carmelo Anthony, with 27,370 points, now has the 10th spot on the NBA All-Time scoring list. He passed “The Big E” Elvin Hayes, who had the previous record (27,313).
Congratulations to all three!
A play-in was used in the bubble last year. The NBA liked it so much, they decided to use it again this season but with a few tweaks. This season, the seventh through tenth place teams will play into the postseason.
In one game, seven plays eight, with the winner getting the seventh playoff seed. Nine plays ten, and the loser goes home. The winner, however, meets the loser of seven/eight for the honor of making the final playoff spot in each Conference.
Click here for a look at the bracket.
If everything seemed upside down this season, that’s because it was. Even though it ended in a bubble, the 2019–20 regular season was close to expectations. The Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets, and Thunder were the top five in the Western Conference. The Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, Pacers, and Heat were the Eastern Conferences top five.
Things changed greatly in 2020–21. The Western conference finished with the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks at the top. Over in the east, the Philadelphia Sixers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and the Atlanta Hawks are the top five. Most of those ten teams have generally been at the bottom (or near the bottom) of the NBA barrel recently.
Meanwhile, the Lakers must win a play-in game to be included. Joining them in the West are the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and the San Antonio Spurs. You read that right; the defending World Champion Lakers must now play and win against the Warriors to keep the seventh seed. If not, they have to beat the winner of Memphis/San Antonio to get a shot at defending their title.
Boston has to run the same gauntlet in the East as L.A. does in the West. Meeting the Celtics in the seven vs. eight game is the Washington Wizards. Indiana meets Charlotte in the nine/ten matchup.
1 – The LA Lakers did not want to be in the play-in. As a matter of fact, LeBron James stated “Whoever came up with that (expletive) needs to be fired.” But last year when he was in the top spot in the Western Conference, Mr. James had this to say, “One thing you can’t just do is go straight to the playoffs because it discredits the 60-plus games that guys had fighting for that position,” said James during the Road Trippin’ Podcast in March 2020.
2 – The Portland Trail Blazers are not in the play-In. But it wasn’t easy to make the top six. The Blazers had a hard time this season, and many wondered what was wrong. In my opinion, every game Portland plays can’t be Dame Time. Someone else has to step up and help Lillard.
When Dame missed three games in mid-April with a hamstring, his team lost two of three. After Lillard came back, the Blazers lost three straight. It was all part of a 2–9 run from April 6–25.
Reality must have kicked in; the Blazers played their best basketball at the end, going on an 11-2 run to close out the season. Even though the team was on a hot streak, they had to beat Denver in the last game of the season to avoid the play-ins. Sunday night, Dame and company defeated the Nuggets soundly to finish sixth in the West and send LAL to the play-in.
3 – Sound the alarm, stop the presses! The New York Knicks are in the playoffs! Not the play-ins but the playoffs. NYK even has the home-court advantage in round one. Who saw that one coming when the league tipped off in December?
They are the East’s fourth seed and will play Atlanta in the first round. Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Derrick Rose (yes, that Derrick Rose) had phenomenal seasons. Under new coach, Tom Thibodeau the Knicks exceeded everyone’s expectations. After an eight-year absence, it will be great to see postseason basketball at Madison Square Garden.
If you are a basketball fan like me, you will be in front of your television on Tuesday to watch the Boston Celtics host the Washington Wizards for the first game of the East play-in. After that game, the Indiana Pacers host the Charlotte Hornets to see who will win or go home.
On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies host the San Antonio Spurs to see who plays the winner of the LA Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors game.
Wow. I know that’s a lot. If you can’t keep track, don’t worry. I’ll be back to let you know who’s going to the playoffs as the seventh and eighth seed in each conference as we get ready for the NBA Takes Playoff Edition. Maybe then this will all make sense.
It’s the play-in season! We’ll see you soon when we take a look at the final playoff brackets and start on the road to the NBA Championship! Stay safe!