Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA bodied Brazil, reaching the next round

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Team USA eliminated Brazil to open the knockout round. Joel Embiid got anything he wanted. LeBron James dissected coverages with nine helpings. And the defense overwhelmed most actions.

 

Brazil was toyed with in the first frame as Devin Booker and Embiid combined for 17 points. The former nailed a layup, 3-pointer and four-point play. The latter converted a hook over multiple defenders and canned two trays. And the group deployed full-court press with Holiday and had James in the back as the low man in the half court with others switching around him. 

 

Through 12 minutes, the Stars and Stripes were ahead 33-21.

 

But Brazil briefly came stomping back as Team USA’s urgency waned. Marcelo Huertas downed a transition stop-and-pop triple at the top, shot the middle over Embiid in drop coverage and created an overreaction, exposing Lucas Dias in the corner for a 3-pointer that cut the lead to eight points with four minutes left in the first half. 

 

The counter was Steph Curry’s three freebies and Embiid’s trailing transition triple, pushing the advantage back to 14 digits. For Brazil, it was as if a boxer suffered a kidney strike that dropped them. Next, the Americans detonated, logging six of seven attempts to close the interval.

 

Team USA was up 63-36 at halftime, leading on the glass by 13, shooting 59% from the field, including 50% from deep. The bench had 17 marks.

 

Brazil was permitted 34.2% of hoisted field goals, counting 27.8% from 3-point range. 

 

The next half wasn’t close. 

 

Adebayo started the second half for Embiid. He switched everywhere on defense and opened avenues for his teammates with screens. Booker poured in three 3-pointers.  And Durant plus Anthony Davis took over off the bench, dropping jumpers and dunks.

 

The fourth quarter started with the Americans up 94-71. Nothing Brazil tried worked and they soon bent the knee.

 

Team USA won 122-87, outrebounding its rival by 12 and forcing four extra turnovers. On top of that, the squad registered 57.7% of looks, including 48.4% from deep. The group’s double-digit scorers were Booker (18), Anthony Edwards (17), Embiid (14), Davis (13), James (12) and Durant (11).

 

Booker handled the on-court interview and was asked about the team’s defense. He said, “We all have to do a little bit more than we’re used to. That’s what the team needs. It’s been working for us…”

 

Team USA advances to the next round to play Serbia. 

 

Further comment

 

Durant passed Lisa Leslie for most points in Team USA Olympic basketball history. At age 35 and approaching his 18th NBA season, he is still one of the hardest covers in the world. Pity those who missed him. 

 

Booker’s adaptability is one of Team USA’s top assets. He keeps the ball moving, plays well on defense, and doesn’t get trigger-happy. 

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA vanquished South Sudan

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Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo applied the pressure on offense. Jayson Tatum started over Joel Embiid and played an impactful 17 minutes after being a benchwarmer against Serbia. And Team USA strangled its rivals, conceding 42.1% of field goal attempts.

 

Early, LeBron James dictated matters, cutting up the baseline for a dunk, nailing a fallaway jumper through traffic, and scoring in the open court.

 

Defensively, Team USA gave the South Sudanese fits after allowing a seven-point burst. Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday slowed down the ball. Anthony Davis and Derrick White had denials in the backline, plus the latter stole the ball in the open court. Adebayo stripped the ball inside the key. And Anthony Edwards looted the rock in South Sudanese territory, resulting in a baseline floater for Adebayo. 

 

Through 10 minutes, the Americans led 26-14. The onslaught continued through the second frame as Tyrese Halliburton sprayed multiple trays, and Adebayo canned two-3-pointers and logged three dunks. They shot 54.3% from the field, including 43.8% from deep, with 40 digits coming from the reserves, and had 17 assists to five turnovers. Additionally, one trip for South Sudan to the line was authorized.

 

The South Sudanese converted 36.6% of attempts, 35.7% from long distance and totaled five bench points in the first half. 

 

Out of the break, South Sudan went on a 10-5 run to cut their deficit to 14 in the first few minutes, causing coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout and sub out five players. He inserted  White, Adebayo, Holiday, Edwards and Durant. Then White got screened from his blindside on the next play, putting him face first on the ground as Team USA gave up another tray.

 

Subsequently, the offense shot itself out of the mud with a new group. Edwards connected on a 3-pointer and buried three freebies. Adebayo slammed a lob through the middle on a pick-and-roll set. And White swished his third trifecta. 

 

The fourth quarter began with Team USA up 73-57.

 

Team USA suffered an 8-0 South Sudan run, cutting their advantage to nine marks partly because Anthony Davis was called for a suspect foul. But the Americans responded with a score by Stephen Curry, a catch-and-shoot bomb from Durant, an and-one layup by Booker, and a Davis rim roll to push the lead back to 19 marks.

 

The rest of the match was a formality. Team USA won 103-86, recording 52.9% of tries, 43.3% from 3-point range and 66 bench points.

 

Adebayo had 18 points on eight of 10 looks, with seven rebounds, one dime, one steal, two denials and two turnovers. Durant put up 14 marks on 40% shooting, making eight of nine freebies and registering two rebounds, three assists, three steals and a turnover. The other double-digit scorers were Edwards (13), James (12), Booker (10) and White (10).

 

For South Sudan, Nuni Omot logged 24 points on eight of 12 ventures, with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Carlik Jones had 18 points on 42.1% accuracy, with three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and four turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Bul Kuol (16) and Marial Shayok (12).

Adebayo handled the on-court interview. He said, “I’m not here to get 20 shots up. But when I’m open, shoot it.”

The United States is 2-0 in Group C.

 

Further comment:

 

The outrage regarding Tatum’s benching against Serbia was a non-story that was pushed as “disrespectful” by half-wits. James and Durant are the heavies on Team USA, and everyone else falls in line. Someone important will be left out each game, and against South Sudan, it was the former MVP, Embiid, for matchup reasons.

 

Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra must’ve been salivating as Adebayo drained two open threes. If that shot is a part of his arsenal, Miami’s center will take a significant leap next season (2024-25) on offense.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Kevin Durant and LeBron James- The Equalizers

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The Stars and Stripes dismantled Serbia after a shaky start. Nikola Jokić was the heartbeat of his country and outplayed every American big man. But Kevin Durant erupted off the bench for 23 points, and LeBron James nearly had a triple-double, leading Team USA to its first victory in the group stage. 

Yet, early, the Serbians opened the match on a 10-2 run, capitalizing off multiple turnovers for quick baskets, cutting on the left side, successfully posting up Jrue Holiday, and attacking Joel Embiid in drop coverage. Defensively, the Serbians hedged the pick-and-roll and deployed a full-court press in spurts. 

Team USA coach Steve Kerr called a stoppage, subbed out Embiid for Anthony Davis, and the group responded with its 12-point flurry.

Jokic took a break for his country after eight-and-a-half minutes, while they were up four points. As he walked to the bench, Durant checked in for the Americans. The latter instantly discharged six digits from the wings before the quarter expired. 

Then Durant kept burning, curling into the lane for a pull-up jumper, isolating his man at the top for a trifecta, swishing a corner banger and canning another bomb off the dribble.

Jokić checked back in with eight minutes left in the first half as Serbia was down nine marks. Immediately, the squad’s intensity elevated as its engine roared. The NBA’s reigning MVP scored twice at close range and buried a right-wing catch-and-shoot 3-pointer in Embiid’s face.

The closest the Serbians got was within two points in the last two minutes of the half. Next, the Stars and Stripes were up 58-49 at intermission.

Subsequently, Team USA took over the match in the third quarter with its unforgiving defense, permitting 16 points. On the other side, James and Co. proceeded to carve up their rivals, outscoring them by 10 marks. 

The fourth quarter began with Team USA ahead 84-65. From that point, Devin Booker, Holiday, Curry and James carried the Americans to the finish line. 

Team USA won 110-84. Durant had 23 points on eight of nine looks, with two rebounds and a turnover. James provided 21 marks on 69% accuracy, with nine assists, eight rebounds and six turnovers. The rest of the double-digit scorers were Holiday (15), Booker (12), Curry (11) and Anthony Edwards (11).

For the Serbians, Jokić supplied 20 points on eight of 15 attempts, with five rebounds, eight assists and four turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Bogdan Bogdanović (14), Ognjen Dobrić (13), Vasilije Micić (11) and Aleksa Avramović (10).

Durant handled the on-court interview and was asked about meshing with James and Curry. He said, “We had to build that camaraderie and that trust pretty quickly. Everyone is playing for one another, moving the ball, defensively talking to each other. It’s the pinnacle of basketball when you do that.”

 

Other notable stuff:

 

Dwyane Wade was on the NBC broadcast, providing fun and notable analysis. As he’s transitioned well into another business, his old pal and teammate, the timeless James, is still squashing opponents. 

The Heat’s Nikola Jović still has lots of work to do as a half-court scorer. He needs to be more than a release valve on the kickout. 

It’s special to have Durant and  Curry as teammates again in important games. These mobile snipers were one of the top partnerships in NBA history, winning back-to-back titles. 

James’ connection with Edwards for a lob from mid-court was one of the game’s best plays. 

Embiid barking at an opponent while his loaded team was up 10 points was a disgrace. 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: WNBA Observations at the Olympic break

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The WNBA is at a recess until mid-August for the Olympics, but so far, through 62.5% of the season, some ladies have separated themselves from their peers. A former MVP is hellbent on seizing her crown. The rookie class is outstanding, with multiple All-Stars. And tons of people are watching- the All-Star Game on Saturday had its largest audience ever, which was a 305% increase from 2023, and the match between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky on June 23 was the most-viewed WNBA game in 23 years, per ESPN Press Room.

 

Let’s review the difference-makers in the league…

 

A’ja Wilson is having a season for the ages:

She’s the most dominant force in the league and cannot be stopped with double teams or physical action. Wilson is on pace to have the highest-scoring season in WNBA history, surpassing Jewell Loyd’s 2023 campaign with the Seattle Storm. And she’ll easily outdo Sylvia Fowles’ 2018 rebounding record (404) if she keeps the pace of snagging 12 nightly. Note: the WNBA season was 34 games in 2018 instead of 40 now. Even at a 34-match clip, Wilson is on track to claim the glass crown by a few boards. 

The Las Vegas Aces are a loaded outfit with four stars and last season’s Sixth Woman of the Year winner, Alysha Clark, but they struggled without the help of W’s top playmaker, Chelsea Gray. In that span, the reigning Finals MVP (Wilson) carried the group, but it was to a 6-6 record. It’s unclear how much the voters will punish her for that. Yet, she’s a massive favorite in the sportsbooks to win her third MVP trophy.  DraftKings and FanDuel have her odds at -3000. Caesars Sportsbook has her at -3500.  

On defense, Wilson is a shot blocker, which means she stays in the backline unless caught in a switch or covering an outside option. Still, she can hedge to contest in time, but if her teammates aren’t maneuvering past screens well then Wilson is compromised. 

Wilson is averaging 27.2 points on 52.2% accuracy for the season, including 39.5% from deep, with 12 boards, 2.9 blocks, 1.9 steals and 2.4 assists per game.  

Since Gray’s comeback, her first outing since Oct. 15, 2023 (Game 3 of the Finals), Wilson is putting up 26.4 points on 53% shooting, with 36.4% from 3-point range, 12.4 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, two steals and 2.2 assists. 

 

Not many guards better than Caitlin Clark: 

Caitlin Clark ended the rookie of the year race in July with her triple-double in a win against the New York Liberty and her 19-assist outing in a loss versus the Dallas Wings. Her helpings output is the new WNBA record, passing Courtney Vandersloot’s 18 against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 31, 2020. The only other players to register a triple-double this season are Alyssa Thomas (2) and Layshia Clarendon (1).

She is the most doubled perimeter player in the league, yet seven ballers ((with at least 20 games played) are logging a higher usage percentage (Sabrina Ionescu, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale, Chennedy Carter, A’ja Wilson and Kahleah Copper).

Clark is a superior playmaker to all of them because of her impact on her teammates and she’s the flashiest passer in the W, despite her high turnover count. To boot, the twice AP Player of the Year, is first in assists, first in double-doubles by a guard and third in minutes averaged. 

In transition, Clark will advance upcourt, producing herself or hitting a teammate in stride for an easy basket. Her most effective scoring method is attacking the rim, converting 63.2% of those attempts and that spot is second in her shot diet. Jumpers, pull-ups and step-back looks are taken with higher frequency, but supplied at an ineffectual rate, partly because of how close she is covered. Still, she’s tied for third in the league with Ogunbowale in 3-point baskets (71).

As her rookie campaign has progressed, she’s improved her assist/turnover numbers (2.27 through six games in July). That stat sits at a low 1.47 for the season, yet 99 of her 145 turnovers came from bad passes, per Basketball Reference.

So far, the latest number-one overall pick has been better than advertised, and her work is electrifying. Anyone who doubted her skills was worthy enough to make TEAM USA when the roster was released should review the fundamentals.

 

Chennedy Carter’s comeback is the best story this season:

The Atlanta Dream drafted Chennedy Carter fourth overall in 2020, but she didn’t last with the club because of conduct issues. Her next stop in Los Angeles ended prematurely for the same reason and she was out of the league in 2023. But this year, Carter is back and she’s been one of the best in the business and is at the top of her squad. 

Coach Teresa Weatherspoon initially had her coming off the bench for the first 12 games and then wised up because no one on the team breaks down a defender like her. The deep shot isn’t one of her weapons, but she supplies 72% of attempts in the restricted area, taking 29.8% of tries from that zone. Also of note: Carter hasn’t been a reserve since June 14, and she’s still second in bench points scored (155), trailing Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (185).

As a starter (12 games), Carter averages an insufficient 30.3 minutes per game. The former Aggie needs more time because she is likely the fastest player in the league with the ball, allowing her to create separation against her matchup without a screen. Her burst also establishes a lethal pick-and-roll ball handler option.

Her top game of the year was a winning effort on July 16 in Las Vegas against the Aces. Carter was the best guard in a game that featured Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. She scored on backdoor cuts, mid range jumpers, drivebys and fastbreak opportunities.

Not all young people are ready to be professionals when they land a top gig because they are late bloomers, too. Carter is capitalizing on her chance at redemption and becoming the player she was destined to be.

 

Marina Mabrey on the Connecticut Sun: 

Marina Mabrey asking out of Chicago is an organizational failure because the team was more talented than its record indicated.

Before the exchange that brought Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, and two first-round picks, the squad had a puncher’s chance to come out of the East. The New York Liberty is still favored, but the Sun is a more formidable rival with extra firepower.

Mabrey’s shooting splits aren’t stellar, as she is more of a wildcard sniper, but she catches lots of attention and sets up her teammates well. A third of her made triples were unassisted, and she led the Sky in assists before the trade, too. 

For Connecticut, the scoring burden is loosened off DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and DiJonai Carrington’s shoulders because of Mabrey’s gravity plus scoring competence. Alyssa Thomas doesn’t have to work as hard to get them involved, which should conserve some of her energy for the fourth quarter as well.

The Sun made the right move to maximize its championship window by bringing in a player not far from All-Star caliber. She might blossom into one playing on a squad as deep and well-coached as Connecticut’s.

 

Further comments:

Angel Reese is a winning player and an All-Star rookie. She’s a high-level defender, gets others open with screens, limits opponents’ possessions and buys more for her team by pounding the glass. She’ll ascend into the league’s first echelon when she polishes her scoring near the rim and connects on open jumpers regularly. 

Don’t underestimate the Minnesota Lynx. The recent Commissioner’s Cup champs are the top defense and passing unit in the WNBA but are weak on the glass. 

It’s a lost season for the Wings as its record sits at 6-19. Satou Sabally’s shoulder injury has decimated the defense and the offense lacks significant help. Wings games this season are about watching Ogunbowale, who leads the WNBA in minutes (38.4,  field goal attempts (20.1) and steals (2.7), try to drag her team to the finish line. 

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Indiana Fever failed to get stops in the fourth quarter of Caitlin Clark’s record-setting night

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The Indiana Fever faltered, getting beat in a late shootout after being down double-digits in the first half. Caitlin Clark registered a career-high and WNBA record with 19 helpings and scored easily. Aliyah Boston was dominant early. But the depleted Wings were the nastier team in the fourth quarter, connecting on three triples and only allowing the opponent one trip to the charity line.

 

“We took their punches, and we punched back, and we ended up with a W,” Arise Ogunbowale said at her mid-court, postgame interview. 

 

The visitors were stuck in quicksand on defense through two quarters, giving up 36 paint points on 16 of 22 baskets. Additionally, Ogunbowale swished jumpers off the dribble and catch. Plus Odyssey Sims made two 3-pointers, put back her missed layup, scored twice on the break, cut on the left side for a bucket, dribbled by NaLyssa Smith for a basket and defended Clark. 

 

But Clark and Boston sliced a 16-point deficit in half, scoring the last 22 points of their club in the first half. They logged 13 of 20 attempts. The rest of the squad’s accuracy was 33%.

 

The Fever was down 46-54 at intermission but had lost the ball 10 times. Additionally, the group had 30 paint points, five on the break, 13 off turnovers, six via second chances and four from the bench.

 

The Wings had 36 interior points, 14 on the break, 20 off turnovers, five on extra tries and seven from the reserves.

 

Next, the Fever was down 11 points a few minutes into the third quarter.

 

Subsequently, Clark canned a right corner triple behind Boston’s pindown, dribbled left from the top of the key to the hoop for a one-foot shot, and had five assists to Katie Lou Samuelson, Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith and Boston. Her prettiest feed was a behind-the-back pass to Smith for a layup.

 

Smith added a transition score, a putback and seven boards. And defensively, the Fever held the Wings to six of 18 baskets in the third quarter by closing out to snipers on time and pressuring the ball entry.

 

The fourth quarter began with the Fever down 70-72. Clark already had 20 points and 13 rebounds, making it her third game in a week with a double-double. She followed up with assists to Damiris Dantas and Boston on pick-and-roll sets, dished to Lexie Hull in the corner on the break, found Boston ahead on two transition seals and hit Kelsey Mitchell on left wing for a 3-pointer. Furthermore, Clark caught the rock behind a flare screen on the left side and dribbled down the baseline for a deuce and produced on a quick post up on Sims.

 

Boston supplied three baskets at close range plus Mitchell made both of her shots at close and long distance.

 

But the fourth-quarter defense was horrendous. The Fever gave up the corner after blitzing Ogunbowale then allowed Jacy Sheldon to take an uncontested right-wing banger because Mitchell overplayed Sims’ entry dribble. And with fewer than three minutes left, Sims dropped in one of those of course shots from 26 feet away that bounced off the back iron and straight down the nylon.

 

Afterward, Ogunbowale tossed up a wild, successful turnaround shot with Hull covering cleanly to put the Wings ahead four points in the last 45 seconds. Clark responded futilely, dribbling down the court, but got her pocket picked by Howard, and Sims slid to the ground for it.

 

The Fever lost 93-101.

 

The Fever had 62 paint points, 14 on the break, 17 off turnovers, 11 via second chances and 12 from the bench.

 

Clark logged 24 points on 10 of 19 attempts, with 19 dimes, six rebounds and six turnovers. Boston put up 28 digits on 78.6% accuracy, with eight boards, three assists and four blocks. Mitchell scored 16 points on six of 10 tries and picked up two rebounds, one assist and two turnovers.  And Smith had 12 points on 41.7% shooting, with 12 rebounds and four turnovers.

 

The Wings had 50 interior marks, 22 on the break, 28 off turnovers, 11 via extra tries and 15 from the reserves.

 

Ogunbowale tallied 24 points on eight of 21 shots, with seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two turnovers. Sims contributed 24 marks on 58.8% shooting, with three rebounds, nine assists, one steal, one block and a turnover. The other double-digit scorers were Natasha Howard (17), Kalani Brown (13), Sheldon (11) and Teaira McCowan (10).

 

The match had eight lead changes and 11 ties.

 

At the postgame presser, Boston said the Wings got “easy buckets they didn’t need.”

 

Clark downplayed her record and said, “The late turnover definitely kills, for sure. They were up pressuring me, so then I kind of got behind them to attack, but I tried to pull [the ball] out and lost my handle while getting poked from behind…”

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing pushes the Magic over the Heat

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The Orlando Magic have surpassed the Miami Heat as the top team in Florida with the addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the sharpshooting, defensive ace. He leaves the Denver Nuggets after two seasons, registering 313 trifectas, 253 steals and 95 blocks combined between the regular campaign and Playoffs.

In year one as a Denver Nugget, the two-way guard instantly became the release valve on the perimeter, downing open trays. His screen navigation bought Nikola Jokić, a reputable weak defender before 2022, the spare moment to get into position, and the latter stopped being a liability. And the Pope also brought leadership- during the Playoff run, he wore his championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers to inspire his teammates and keep them focused on the mission.

That quest ended with the Nuggets as champions. KCP was the sixth leading scorer (10.6) in the postseason and converted 38% of 3-point attempts. One of his finest moments of the ride was Game 4 of the Finals at Miami. He had three takeaways, blocked Bam Adebayo’s layup as a helper and rejected Jimmy Butler on a post-up with over five minutes left.

The Nuggets wanted to re-sign him, but at their end-of-the-season presser, hinted it wouldn’t be easy. President and owner Josh Kroenke said, “the core of this team was assembled under a different CBA, and we drafted and we developed, and we built this team under a different set of rules.”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone once called KCP the missing piece.

Life without him will stress the starters. The squad has no replacement that matches his defensive persistence and marksmanship.

But now he wears Magic blue and supplements a 47-win group.

In 2023-24, Orlando deployed the third-strongest defense, had Paolo Banchero break out into an All-Star and capped out at Game 7 in the first round against the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Also, the Magic’s defensive rating (100) through seven Playoff matches was the sharpest of 16 qualifying teams. On top of that, they recorded 35.2% of hoisted threes through 82 outings and 30.9% against the Cavaliers.

KCP is a perfect match for the Magic. He and Jalen Suggs’ stinginess on the perimeter would rouse medieval lords. His deep shooting will enhance his teammates, particularly Banchero, because rival defenses won’t be able to trap low off the sniper.

So how do the Magic compare and contrast with the Heat?

Orlando’s backcourt- Suggs and KCP- is mightier defensively than Miami’s Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier. The former are more accurate from deep, too.

The shot creator category slightly favors Miami. The Heat have Butler, who can get what he wants against most matchups, and Adebayo fits here because of his rim attacks, screening and handoff action. The Magic have Banchero and Franz Wagner. Both have big man size and a vast arsenal with moves off the dribble.

The backline defense edge goes to the Magic due to their mobile size. Even if the club loses Wendell Carter Jr, Jonathan Isaac can be pushed into the starting unit. Isaac would have been a serious candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year crown if he had logged seven more games to meet the requirement.

The Heat’s Adebayo is arguably the top disruptor in the NBA. His backline partners were Nikola Jović, Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith. Jović is a developing pupil with promise as a helper but lacks experience. Martin was effective handling switches but will likely leave in free agency. Highsmith, who is 6-foot-7, showed instances of dominating one-on-one and helping defense, yet his issue is that some matchups are too strong or too tall for him.

The bench advantage goes to the Heat. Jaime Jaquez Jr. should emerge as its primary scorer because of his advanced footwork. Duncan Robinson is a shooting stimulus, yet he is the wildcard if coach Erik Spoelstra wants to get creative. As a reserve, Robinson was decent, recording 11.1 points nightly on 36.2% accuracy from 3-point range. But as a starter, he was among the finest marksmen in the NBA, downing 42% on over seven tries. And veteran Kevin Love is coming back, providing quality board work and deep shooting.

The Magic declined Mo Wagner’s team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Reportedly, talks of a new deal with Wagner are possible, but a new squad could and should scoop him up. He was impactful, throwing his weight around on the glass, disrupting actions, and was an irritant. And Cole Anthony is a mid-level reserve.

Coaching is even. Spoelstra overachieves with his units and is likely keeping trusted lieutenant Chris Quinn around.

In 2023-24, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley led his troops to a 13-win improvement over the previous campaign, which was the highest mark in the Eastern Conference. His 2022-23 band improved by a dozen victories after the 2021-22 season.

Key player attendance is on the side of the Magic. Banchero is a 1A who logged 80 matches last season. Suggs made Second Team All-Defense and suited up for 75 nights. The other top three starters in games played appeared in a combined 153.

The Heat’s starters fused 245 outings. Word on the street is Butler wants to have a bounce back season for a new deal next summer. That would mean raising his rim pressure frequency plus efficiency and showing up in at least 75 games. He has only hit the latter marker twice in his career since draft night.

Banchero and Butler are in the same tier, but the former gives his club a significant lead if he is playing 24% more of the season.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: JJ Redick is introduced as the new Lakers coach

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The Los Angeles and national brigade of reporters questioned JJ Redick on his 40th birthday for 45 minutes, and nobody asked him about his ill-informed comment about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being a “one-note wonder” that perverts NBA history.

Redick blurted that nonsense about the NBA’s six-time MVP during the 2022-23 season, impersonating the obnoxious gimmick of his then-colleague, Stephen A. Smith. Without question, Redick failed to do any real homework. Had he made the effort, he would’ve identified how regular hooks, floaters and jumpers were a part of Abdul-Jabbar’s arsenal. Hopefully, he will spend more time identifying the team’s weaknesses in the film room.

Then 16 months later, the host of the Old Man and the Three podcast and co-host to Mind the Game with LeBron James, ascended to become the Lakers’ coach with no experience other than instructing fourth-grade hoops. Imagine if commoners could move up the ladder like that. One can only ponder what assistant coaches like Sam Cassell and Chris Quinn think when frat boy wonder cuts the line because he’s friends with the right peeps.

Rest assured, Redick confirmed he doesn’t give an F what the outside noise thinks, which still didn’t win him the press conference and made him look like a muppet.

Hopefully the Lakers had some sense and told Abdul-Jabbar that Redick was wrong about him and please come to next season’s debut.

Yet at the presser sat Redick, the sloppy seconds at centerstage, next to Rob Pelinka, who has clipped the last three coaches and somehow avoids accountability like a politician evading the public’s ire.

Redick said he didn’t take the Dan Hurley drama personally. Hurley was the Lakers’ first choice, rejecting them after getting a preposterous, below-market offer. If the Lakers were still a serious organization, UConn’s back-to-back championship coach- the guy James tweeted is “so damn good”- would probably have handled Monday’s introduction. And Redick could have still been doing ESPN’s weekly shows and game analysis when the season resumes.

Nonetheless, Pelinka said James was supportive but not involved during the hiring process.

At one point, the Purple and Mold’s new coach said the media is the engagement farming industry. Conveniently, he didn’t elaborate on how he lucratively profited from that and will go back to it once he fails.

“I take this responsibility very seriously,” Redick said. So did Luke Walton, Frank Vogel, who won a championship in 2020 and Darvin Ham. The first and last should get Pelinka more heat because that’s two misses.

Pelinka broke up the title squad’s key role players- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma- for Russell Westbrook, which many, including this scribe, thought would work. Time revealed Westbrook didn’t fit Vogel’s system, and he was misused, spending too much time in the corners after averaging a triple-double the previous season for the Washington Wizards. Then Frankie Vogel was sacked.

When Pelinka was asked what he liked about Redick and James’ podcast, he said he liked how his new coach communicates, as if James’ handlers would ever allow him to be compromised by a sincere, tense exchange on tape, even more so with someone far from his equal on the court.

Notably, what appealed to Redick about coaching was the fulfillment of helping others max out, which he credits to Rick Carlisle for helping flesh out. He also said he will use Anthony Davis as a hub and wants him shooting threes and going hard in transition. The plan is for Rui Hachimura to take more 3-pointers and become a better offensive rebounder, too. And winning a championship in the short term is a reasonable expectation. “I don’t look at the current roster as being far off from a championship-caliber team,” Redick said.

He doesn’t have his coaching staff filled yet but will have the the final decision. Pelinka will collaborate by offering ideas about every position.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Chris Quinn is ready to lead or fill any need

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Three hours before Miami Heat games tip-off, assistant coach Chris Quinn is one of the team’s personnel, located on the hardwood, working out with a player or reviewing material on an iPad. On special occasions, Quinn will break out his old moves and challenge a player.

On Feb. 28, 2022, before the then FTX Arena was filled for the match against the Chicago Bulls, Quinn showed Heat forward Duncan Robinson a bit of his handle as Bam Adebayo diligently worked on his free throws. And when Dwyane Wade was on the team during the 2015-16 season, Quinn would warm up with him prior to game time.

Quinn is coach Erik Spoelstra’s trusted lieutenant- a liaison between the head and the players when a message needs to be understood and an advisor with whom to consult ideas. Given Quinn’s calm, cordial, public demeanor, he is Spoelstra’s Tom Hagen. Yet, he still jokes with his boss and friend about how he traded him in 2010 before the Big Three era. Spo’s counter is that he “didn’t have much pull” in the organization.

Quinn is a married, family man with three children. Professionally, he has been Spoelstra’s assistant since the 2014-15 campaign, the first following LeBron James’ departure to Cleveland. He’s developed players and his skills as a coach for seven Playoff trips, including two visits to the NBA Finals. When the Heat beat the Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, Quinn and the other Heat assistants congratulated Spoelstra on not being the first NBA coach to give up a 3-0 lead and lose a series.

In the past, former Heat captain Udonis Haslem said that whenever Quinn speaks, Spoelstra’s words fall from his lips. This is the same as back in the day with Pat Riley and his star center, Alonzo Mourning.

Quinn has a 2-0 record when put in charge of the team in Spoelstra’s absence for COVID protocols in 2022. After one of the games, Spo said, “He has the full trust of everybody… This is something that he has been developing for several years.”

Before that game, Quinn had a few hours to prepare.

When Quinn took over for the Heat’s match, hosting the Charlotte Hornets on April 5, 2022, the crew set a franchise record for made 3-pointers and points scored. “It’s 2022,” Quinn said jokingly. “You pass up the layups to get the threes.”

On another occasion Spoelstra missed because of personal matters, the Heat were beaten by the Brooklyn Nets in Miami by 15 points. At the postgame presser, Quinn somberly talked about giving up 40 marks in the second quarter, but his message was clear: there were no excuses to be made.

Before that, he was a four-year collegiate athlete at Notre Dame, playing point guard under coach Mike Brey. At school, he was named to the All-Big EastFirst Team and finished sixth in true shooting percentage (58.9), sixth in Fighting Irish history in steals (155), eighth in steals per game average (1.3), and ninth in made 3-point field goals (239). In his freshman year, the team made it as far as the West regional semifinal, losing to Arizona.

He advanced to the NBA, playing for the Heat as one of their undrafted gems in a year they had no picks. In fact, he earned his gig by performing well in the summer league. He later worked for the San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, and Cleveland Cavaliers over six seasons. Quinn also had a stint in Russia during the lockout season and then played in Spain the following year.

As a former pro, Quinn has credibility with players because he understands the business and the anxieties that come with it, making him relatable.

Given the type of player he was as an off-ball shooter, he must see the game through the lens of a marksman. Lots of misdirection and off-ball movement would likely be an emphasis of his half-court offense.

“A lot of us in the Heat culture have in common [that] we are super competitive,” Quinn said during a summer league interview with ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez. “For better or worse, if things aren’t going the way we all think they should be going, we have a level of accountability. We talk to each other…”

In the summer of 2024, Quinn’s name surfaced for potential head coaching vacancies. The Heat gave permission to the Lakers and Cavaliers to interview him. The former post went to ESPN broadcaster, podcaster, and former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick. Redick’s only coaching prior experience is instructing youth basketball. The latter spot went to Kenny Atkinson.

Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks were granted permission to interview him for their spot after Mike Budenholzer’s dismissal, but they chose Adrian Griffin, who lasted 43 games as head coach.

When an organization takes a chance on Quinn, they’ll have someone with credible coaching insight who has paid his dues. He is ready to lead or fill any need.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Celtics won Game 5 of the Finals, claiming the 2024 NBA title

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The Celtics whooped the Mavericks in Game 5 to win the NBA championship at TD Garden. Jayson Tatum was the bus driver. And Jaylen Brown guarded Luka Dončić, staying in front of the ball and contesting on time. Brown was also crowned Finals MVP in front of thousands of cheering supporters after the match.

With his trophy in hand, Brown said at the winner’s stage, “I share this with my brothers.”

The contest was close until the Celtics thwacked the Mavericks with an 11-3 run to close the first quarter. The damage was done by Jayson Tatum, dribbling past Josh Green on the right side for a layup and finishing on the break, as well as Brown scoring in the open court plus producing from a slot cut and Sam Houser canning a right-side triple.

Then Houser uncorked the offense in the second quarter, making a left-wing tray after setting a ghost screen for Tatum, giving Gang Green an 11-point advantage. Tatum added four field goals with no misses. Brown downed two corner 3-pointers, assisted by Tatum, when the defense sagged off the perimeter to clog the lane. The Celtics forced four Maverick turnovers by pressuring the ball handler and entry pass. And Payton Pritchard connected on a half-court shot to end the half.

On the other side, the Mavericks registered 12 of 19 baskets in the frame. Derrick Jones Jr. scored, dribbling to the basket on a broken play, swished a corner triple and tallied an acrobatic layup on the break. Daniel Gafford put in two dunks. And Kyrie Irving and Dončić combined for four of nine shots.

The Celtics led at halftime 67-46 on the scoreboard. Additionally, the group had 30 paint points, 10 on the break, seven via second chances, 11 off turnovers and 12 from the bench.

The Mavericks had 24 interior marks, two in the open court, four on extra tries, two off turnovers and 14 from the reserves.

Next, the Celtics opened the third quarter making four of five baskets by Tatum, Derrick White, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday, giving the hosts a 26-point edge, the largest of the evening.

The Mavericks answered with Irving’s turnaround jumper on the left side, Green’s transition corner 3-pointer, a freebie by Dante Exum and two shots by Dončić, slicing their deficit to 17, the closest they got the rest of the night.

The fourth quarter started with the Celtics up 86-67.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called a timeout early into the period as Kristaps Porziņģis’ baseline cut and dunk put the Celtics back up by 21 points. His next stoppage came as Tatum maneuvered by P.J. Washington from the top to the cup for a layup, bringing the lead to 24 marks. Inexplicably, Kidd kept Dončić and Irving in until there were two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The Celtics won 106-88. On top of that, the crew had 42 paint points, 16 on the break, 11 via second chances, 17 off turnovers and 16 from the bench.

Boston’s double-digit scorers were Tatum (31), Brown (21), Holiday (15) and White (14).

The Mavericks had 42 interior marks, nine in the open court, six on extra tries, six off turnovers and 25 from the reserves.

Dallas’ double-digit scorers were Dončić (28), Irving (15), Green (14) and Jones (10).

At the postgame presser, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “It feels good” to be a champion.

 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The WNBA is filled with special players

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The WNBA players chosen to represent the United States in Olympic competition are a supergroup that can decimate any squad in their way and should leave Paris with another gold medal.

Yet Caitlin Clark’s absence has upset people. Their ire should not be directed at the decision-makers who excluded her but rather at the league’s TV partners and editors/producers who decided what got covered throughout the years.

Clark did not attend Team USA camp because she played in the NCAA tournament. Still, had she gone, it would have been difficult to snag a spot from any top-shelf players with experience in Olympic competition or the first-timers because of her slight frame, which could allow opponents to take advantage of her on defense and her high turnover rate.

To Clark’s credit, she is the most schemed player in the league, ensuring one of her teammates is open. But because the Indiana Fever is a rebuilding outfit, its depth is weak, and many of Clark’s passes aren’t converted into baskets. If her squad didn’t have so many scoring liabilities or suspect coaching, Clark would shine brighter in the assist and field goal percentage department while already having a notable rookie campaign.

But when news of the roster dropped, it was like a grenade burst. The pundits on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, probably mean well, but they are so misguided that they gaslighted their expert panelist, Andraya Carter, and the WNBA with comments, “Do they want to grow the game?”

I’m glad they went there, even after Monica McNutt told SAS on his show that he could have done more to highlight the WNBA.

The problem with “Do they want to grow the game?” is that it indicates the coverage is a failure. Clark is not the W’s first superstar, nor its best currently, yet she’s treated like it by people with a large platform. If those like Smith, Sharpe and others were sincerely interested in championing women’s basketball, where were they when A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart were rookies? They were better at the time than what Clark is currently.

So how do great players like Wilson and Stewart remain behind Clark in popularity? Clark finished her collegiate career as one of the best players ever and the all-time leader in NCAA Division 1 scoring, surpassing “Pistol” Pete Maravich. Still, this is about partners and the media not understanding how sweet the product is.

I contacted First Take’s producer, Mike Foss, and ESPN’s public relations multiple times, asking on how many occasions was the WNBA or its subjects discussed on the show in 2022, 2023, and 2024. No answer was returned.

Wilson is the top player in the league; Alyssa Thomas is a quarterbacking big who has led her team to the top record in the WNBA; Stewart is the reigning MVP, and she came back from an Achilles tear in 2019; Sabrina Ionescu is a historical sniper with excellent playmaking skills; Arike Ogunbowale is a fierce scorer; Diana Taurasi is still blasting; And Brittney Griner remains a force.

Imagine how ahead the WNBA would be if a league partner or regular media highlighted those women’s professional activities correctly.

Wising up now would go a long way because growing a league takes a lot of years. For example, when the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers won the 1977 championship over the Philadelphia 76ers, TV coverage didn’t follow to the locker room for the party. The broadcast cut to a live feed of golf’s Kemper Open, per David Halberstam’s The Breaks of the Game. The NBA was 28 years old at the time.

The WNBA is in its 28th season, growing slowly but surely. Hopefully, people like Smith and Sharpe cover the W’s ladies competing in the Olympics no differently than if Clark had made the team.