Victor Oladipo is having a breakout year in Indiana
When the news broke that Paul George had been traded to the Thunder, the immediate reaction was that the Pacers gave up some spare change and a bag of sand for their all-star, but that is not what it is looked at now. Both Oladipo and Sabonis have well-exceeded expectations for what they were supposed to be, and while they are far from a championship caliber team, it is a good start. With the giant shadow of Russell Westbrook now gone, Oladipo is putting up 23 points on 46% shooting to go along with 45% from downtown. Domantas Sabonis is putting up 14 along with 10 boards, which is more than twice of what his stats were in OKC. What looked like a steal in early June is now looking like a much more even trade in November.
The Celtics Have The Best Defense In The League:
The Boston Celtics are locking teams up on d, and it scary. After losing many of their best defenders including Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley, no one could’ve expected this. Brad Stevens is looking like a mastermind after turning this Celtic team into the number one ranked defense in the league. Moreover, Kyrie Irving has turned from a defensive liability into one of the league’s premier stoppers. Currently averaging 2 steals per game, Irving has turned one of his greatest weaknesses into a strength and it has helped to propel the Celt’s to a 12 and 2 record, with all of those victories coming in a row.
The Knicks Might Make The Playoffs:
Currently, the Knicks are 7 and 5 and are sitting at fifth place in the eastern conference. Much of this has to do with the stellar play of Kristaps Porzingis who is currently averaging thirty points per game on 50% shooting. There were many questions surrounding whether or not Porzingis could carry the Knicks offense, but those questions have been answered. Porzingis is currently an MVP candidate with the numbers he has been putting up but isn’t the only reason the Knicks are doing as well as they are. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter are averaging 16 and 13 points respectively, to go along with 11 boards for Kanter. If the Knicks can keep up this type of production they should be a lock for the playoffs, especially if Porzingis can maintain his so-far MVP caliber season.
