konnerblog

[konnerblog]

The Celtics might just be too good

The Celtics almost effortlessly were able to get through the playoffs last season and ended up winning their first championship since 2008. I believe that when you look at their roster, it's hard not to admit that it may be one of the greatest constructed rosters of all time. This may seem extreme, but when you realize that their starting 5 consists of all elite defenders while those same players can have 20-point nights consistently, it makes perfect sense. They really don't have much of a flaw due to their all aroundness. Even though they have the best starting lineup in the NBA, their bench also brings production even though they may not consist of the biggest names. Although there are other great teams in the NBA, it is hard for me to believe any other team can win a 7 game series against the Boston Celtics.

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Rob Pelinka Needs to be on the hot seat

Rob Pelinka, the GM of the Lakers, should be on the hot seat after multiple unsuccessful seasons as a GM. He has gone the entire year, dating back to last season, not trading for any players despite the Lakers having clear roster problems. Lebron James and Anthony Davis are still playing at a superstar level, so there is no excuse to not give them the help they need to contend for a championship.

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Lakers are still unpredictable

The Lakers have started the season pretty well as they are 10-6 but these last two games have left a bitter taste in some fans' mouths as they were both bad losses. The Lakers went against the Magic, which is a solid team, but the way they lost was disappointing. They gave the game away, as they failed to make the game-sealing free throws and allowed the Magic to hit a shot to provide them with the win. They went up against the Nuggets the next game and had the lead going into halftime, losing by 20 due to a second-half collapse. The Lakers have been able to handle business against the teams they are expected to beat, but they still are questionable against good competition.

[konnerblog]

Dyson Daniels Disruption

Dyson Daniels is one of my favorite stories from this season as we see a substantial amount in his game. He went from being a casual bench player to being traded and having an increased role on his new team, the Atlanta Hawks. He has been scoring the ball at an increased rate, but the defense has been eye-opening. I knew his defense would be good even after coming out of the draft, but he has taken a big leap. In his last 5 games, he has had 25 steals; no other player has 25 total steals for the entire season, of which each team has played around 12-13 games. He's an early candidate for the most improved player, and I'm excited to see how his game progresses even more.

[konnerblog]

Lakers have issues

Every team has atleast a couple of notable issues that prevents them from being a perfect, because that simply doesn't exist. The Lakers have more then just a couple that doesn't allow them to be a true contender. I think the Lakers have the ability to still be a good team, but they lack some aspects of the team that would allow them to be one of the best. The lack of defense is very apparent as many of their players are only good on the offensive side of things which can only bring you so far. When we look at past champions, they usually are top 10 in both defense and offense with some anomalies. The lakers are a top 10 defense but are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The only clear way to fix this is by making trades, which who knows how long that will take.

[konnerblog]

How important is coaching in the NBA?

Coaching in the NBA is sometimes not really emphasized as the media usually only talks about the players. There definitely has been times where teams have been successful strictly due to the talent where the coaching does not matter, but we also have seen the opposite where teams struggle with a coach and once they get another coach, they look like a completely new and better team. Watching some of these newly coached teams early in the season is eye-opening of the effects good or bad coaching can have on a team. It is extremely important to have a coach who is a good leader and has the respect of their players, but while also knowing the ins and outs of the game. Coaching can change the entire dynamic of a team and make teams perform in a way that didn't seem possible beforehand.

[konnerblog]

The NBA is officially back

The NBA season started on October 22nd and it's been action-packed since. It's still too early in the season to really understand what is real and fake, but it is still fun to overreact to the things happening in the league. We saw history made as we saw for the first time in NBA history a father and a son be on the court simultaneously. Despite the mixed reviews and the criticism claiming nepotism, it is still amazing to see something happen that has never once before. I can't wait to see how this season plays out, and the storylines that will develop as time progresses.

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Dalton Knecht shines bright early.

As the regular season is approaching, I have continued to watch preseason basketball. Yesterday, Laker's rookie Dalton Knecht went unconscious as he could not miss late in the 4th quarter and in overtime. Knecht despite being a rookie displayed veteran-level play knocking down big shot after big shot. It will be interesting to see how Knecht will be utilized this season as the Lakers are trying to be competitive, so developing these young players might not be the biggest priority. Fortunately, it looks like so far Knecht can play year 1 minutes and contribute to the team.

[konnerblog]

It feels like the use of experienced players is declining

As years have passed it seems like NBA teams prioritize young players with potential over seasoned veterans. This may not sound like a terrible thing, but it does at times hurt the teams who do this. Teams rather go for the home run, rather than get the guy who can help right away and be a mentor to your core young players. We see young rebuilding teams have a roster filled with players 25 and under, having no players to bring that sense of leadership and mentorship. I understand wanting a player that could have the chance to be something more, but this potential time and time again remains to just be potential. Having an older player, even if it doesn't match your young core time range, will have the benefit of helping establish culture to the team.

[konnerblog]

NBA preseason

NBA preseason has started, so we are one step closer to the regular season. The preseason doesn't give a definitive look at how teams will perform in the regular season, but it can provide some insight into specific details of the games. Regardless of the importance, I still enjoy watching preseason to get a first look at players on their new teams, and rookies get their first look at professional basketball. Crazy to think that the NBA regular season will be starting in just a few weeks!

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Luka Doncic MVP season

As the NBA season approaches, I think it can be a fun idea to try to predict some of the things that could happen in the season. Luka Doncic will finally be able to win his first MVP in the 2024-2025 season. Luka has been able to put up MVP-worthy statistics, but his team just hasn't won enough to award him the MVP. I believe that coming off a championship appearance, and having his best supporting cast, he'll meet the statistics criteria while contributing to winning. I believed that Luka should have won it last year, and I believe that I will think the same by the end of this year as well.

[konnerblog]

Face of the league

One of the NBA’s biggest concerns right now is how they will do once the legends that have been in the game for decades finally retire. The question, “Who’s the next face of the league?” is constantly being asked, and I believe it shouldn’t be something that has to be asked. The talent in the league is at an all-time high, and there are players currently building legendary careers, so why is finding the “next face of the league” so difficult? I believe the NBA hasn’t done the greatest job marketing and showcasing the best players in the league. At times it seems that the NBA tries to hang on to these aging legends rather than giving focus to new and upcoming players. One of the ways they can give some focus to these young players is by giving the young upcoming teams more nationally televised games, giving them exposure to fans that may not always have access to locally broadcasted games. The league and the stars of the NBA are too talented to still be unsure who will be the face of the NBA.

[konnerblog]

NBA season is soon

The NBA season is not too far from today as the first game is on October 22nd. There are tons to look forward to as we see teams that added new acquisitions play together for the first time, players that were injured last season now will be healthy, and we get to see the established legends play another year. I had fun watching last year's season, and I believe this year has the opportunity to be even better than last year. For now I'll continue watching football, but once October hits,

[konnerblog]

Lebron James is the GOAT

Everyone has their right to their own opinion, you might Michael Jordan is the greatest and that's valid, if you're a little older maybe it Kareem, but for me it's Lebron Raymone James. He plays in the most talented era, and has checked off every box that qualifies one to be the greatest of all time. The man is going into his 22nd season and still is a top 10 player in the National Basketball Association. This type of longevity is unheard of, and when you consider that he also has one the highest peaks of all time, it's undeniable that he is my greatest player of all time.