One of the most recognizable professional sports leagues globally is the NBA. As such, the league has some of the best fans in the world. Without the fans, the league wouldn’t be as successful today.
Over the years, the NBA’s fanbase has grown smarter in terms of the ins and outs of the league. Some also have a deeper understanding of the things going on with their team or their favorite player. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the questions that NBA fans are asking this season:
The Russell Westbrook Experiment: What Happened?
Copyright: 2022 NBAE
It has happened: LeBron, AD, and Brodie are playing together as a Laker. So have things been going well? The answer is a resounding, disappointing NO. The Lakers are down in the Western Conference at the ninth spot and might not even make the playoffs this season.
Although LeBron James is playing great, Anthony Davis is getting more injury-prone as of late. Russell Westbrook, though not injured, isn’t performing like the star he is. The problem goes deeper in LA. The Lakers don’t have a deep bench, and inconsistency is common.
Who’s to blame for all of this? Lebron? Russ? Frank Vogel? As this query leads to even more questions than answers, Lakers fans won’t have to wait long as a rebuild next season is inevitable. And yes, you can count on Russell Westbrook not to return to the Lakers.
Can Brooklyn Make It to the Playoffs?
Despite having many current and former All-Stars, the Brooklyn Nets are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. So many issues prevent the Nets from becoming the powerhouse team they should be. Kyrie Irving‘s reluctance to get the COVID vaccine disrupts the team. Although he’s a great player, if he can’t and doesn’t want to play, he’s just no good for Brooklyn.
This issue has caused a rift with fellow superstar James Harden, and he’s calling it quits. The Nets traded James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons just recently. After the trade, Harden is playing great in Philly. On the other hand, Simmons is injured, hasn’t played yet for the Nets, and still can’t shoot.
Kevin Durant just came off from an injury, and the burden to carry a drama-riddled team might be too much for him. You can count on KD to deliver, though. Choose the Brooklyn Nets when KD is playing, and you’ll have more favorable NBA betting odds than choosing the opposing team. Although the Nets are the eighth seed, they still have a better chance to rank higher or make the playoffs than the Lakers.
Why Were So Many Players Snubbed at the NBA Top 75 Team?
The NBA recently recognized the best 75 players in the league’s history. As expected, the list included basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The list goes on and is rightfully filled with superstars from the past and present.
However, there are significant omissions that are just puzzling. No disrespect to these great players, but how did Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, and James Harden end up on this list?
Aside from listing down only 75 players, maybe the NBA just ran out of space for Dwight Howard, Manu Ginóbili, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and so many more deserving? Or maybe they forgot? Whatever the reason is, not being named to a “subjectively-made list” doesn’t take away the greatness that these legends have accomplished throughout their career.
Why Was This Year’s Dunk Contest the Worst?
No doubt, this year’s All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest participants can soar high for highlight dunks. However, lack of preparation, too much swag and not enough skill, rule changes, and so many more reasons made this year’s dunk contest boring.
Nobody got a perfect 50, and so many attempts were made just to land unimpressive, disappointing dunks. Believe it or not, it was actually more fun listening to D-Wade and Reggie Miller roast the dunk contest altogether.
Is This One of the Most Historic NBA Seasons?
Many NBA records were broken or created this 2021-2022 season, with many more just inches away from being surpassed or accomplished. Here are some examples:
- Stephen Curry eclipsed Ray Allen to be the NBA’s leading three-point scorer. Steph also made All-Star history by easily breaking the record for most threes done in an All-star game.
- LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer between the regular season and playoffs.
- DeMar DeRozan became the only player in NBA history to score 35+ points in seven straight games while having a 50+ FG percentage.
- The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 152-79. This score breaks the NBA record for the most significant margin of victory, with the Grizzlies having a 73-point lead over the Thunder.
- OKC Thunder’s Josh Giddey became only the second player in the NBA to have a double-double without scoring a point. He had 0 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 117-112 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Conclusion
The NBA season is in full swing and is about to enter the playoffs. The questions above are some of the most burning ones that fans have been asking. The 2021-2022 NBA season is shaping into one of the best to watch.
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