nbaliveleague.com - Game of the Week

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All-Star Wars: A 6ers New Hope
Game of the week: All-Star Wars: A New 76ers Hope? The set-up: Both teams are NLL powerhouses since the beginning of time. The forefathers of our god-like league, both teams have started the year in somewhat uncharted waters. The days of predictable and swift wins seem to have deserted both franchises to start the year – New York couldn’t get the chemistry to work and Philadelphia couldn’t get its starts on the court. Both have reason for optimism currently and both are looking to avenge a poor start for their lofty standards. New York have gathered themselves and are surging up the standings. Philadelphia have battled, but now they have no excuses. This week is the new hope; can they come through and make it a reality? James Harden vs Damian Lillard Threes, anyone? Two all-star talents go head to head in this epic battle of buckets. Harden is arguably a legitimate MVP candidate and has found himself again after a slow start, going for almost 50 points during the week. Lillard has been stranded in Philadelphia without Kawhi and Rudy for most of the season. Disgruntled and carrying a huge load for the 76ers, his output has been average at times, and boy is he is thrilled to see the return of his fellow stars to the court for Philadelphia. The trio will play their first game together for the season next week. Meanwhile, the Knicks continue to add to their chemistry, and Harden’s size and all-around strengths at the point guard position give him the edge here. Kyrie Irving vs Will Barton Kyrie Irving makes up the other half of the best backcourt in the entire NLL. Knicks made an error on their team sheet and swapped Harden and Irving’s positions around and what a lovely error that turned out to be, coinciding with the Knicks kicking into a higher gear. Will Barton will step in for the injured Bradley and gets to prove himself in the starting line up, with less pressure on his offensive talents, not needing to carry the second unit and being surrounded by three All-Star talents. However, as convenient as this is for Barton, he is up against arguably the most skilled guard in the league. Rough. Edge is to Irving and the Knicks backcourt has the 76ers counterparts covered. Joe Ingles vs Kawhi Leonard Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingles or Kawhi? Oh what fun it is to guard an MVP kind of guy, hey! Kawhi will be sighted for the first time in 2017 this upcoming week. No one was even sure what was wrong with him or if he was still alive, but proof of life has been confirmed and the 76ers have to be thrilled with the news that their season can start this week, for realz. With all the stars in the Phili sky. Joe Ingles has perhaps improved his stock as much as any player over the past few seasons, from undrafted and arguably not league worthy to terrific defender, shooter and passer, and the glue guy in the Knicks line up. Still, improved or not, he is a galaxy away from Kawhi in terms of ability. However rusty Leonard may be, you’d be crazy not to back him in. Edge to Kawhi and the 76ers. Bobby Portis vs James Johnson The least exciting match-up by a long way, the battle of the role playing power forwards. Bobby Portis is punching above his weight, and James Johnson is pretty great at punching and kicking. Portis’ strength is more so in what he doesn’t do than what he does – he stays out of the paint, grabs some rebounds and doesn’t take any touches from the stars. Johnson bounced in and out of the game and league for years but got it all together last year and was rewarded with a big deal. Philadelphia acquired him to glue the team together, and we get to see what he can do this week. Or do we??? I give the edge to Johnson. Dwight Howard vs Rudy Gobert A battle of two giants of the NLL; Dwight Howard was at one point the best big in the game, and Rudy Gobert is now one of the best in the game. Rudy has been in the wars lately but gets back for week seven. Last year he was able to explode onto the scene and steal the starting gig, putting up huge rebound and blocks numbers and controlling the paint. Dwight has been very good and very consistent this year, a mini-renaissance, and he is putting up 18+ points and 11+ rebounds a game and is a huge cog in the NY juggernaut. Gobert has only played 11 games and was able to put up around 14 rebounds and 16 rebounds a game. Both players are matched and I can’t split it. If anything, Rudy’s rust and the uncertainty about the 76ers chemistry gives Howard the edge. Benches: Both teams have key contributors off the bench, but one team has a bit more power to wield when the starters sit. New York runs very deep with talent and boast a ten man rotation that can't even fit in a 76 rated Lance Stephenson. Nene, Zach Randolph, Manu and Corey Joseph would be starters on a lot of other teams. The 76ers are without Avery Bradley and will rely on a lot less accomplished bench crew of Barea, Holmes, Oubre and Davis. New York has a big advantage here and the 76ers starters will have to play very well.

All-Star Wars: A 6ers New Hope

Game of the week: All-Star Wars: A New 76ers Hope?

The set-up: Both teams are NLL powerhouses since the beginning of time. The forefathers of our god-like league, both teams have started the year in somewhat uncharted waters. The days of predictable and swift wins seem to have deserted both franchises to start the year – New York couldn’t get the chemistry to work and Philadelphia couldn’t get its starts on the court. Both have reason for optimism currently and both are looking to avenge a poor start for their lofty standards. New York have gathered themselves and are surging up the standings. Philadelphia have battled, but now they have no excuses. This week is the new hope; can they come through and make it a reality?

James Harden vs Damian Lillard

Threes, anyone? Two all-star talents go head to head in this epic battle of buckets. Harden is arguably a legitimate MVP candidate and has found himself again after a slow start, going for almost 50 points during the week. Lillard has been stranded in Philadelphia without Kawhi and Rudy for most of the season. Disgruntled and carrying a huge load for the 76ers, his output has been average at times, and boy is he is thrilled to see the return of his fellow stars to the court for Philadelphia. The trio will play their first game together for the season next week. Meanwhile, the Knicks continue to add to their chemistry, and Harden’s size and all-around strengths at the point guard position give him the edge here.

Kyrie Irving vs Will Barton

Kyrie Irving makes up the other half of the best backcourt in the entire NLL. Knicks made an error on their team sheet and swapped Harden and Irving’s positions around and what a lovely error that turned out to be, coinciding with the Knicks kicking into a higher gear. Will Barton will step in for the injured Bradley and gets to prove himself in the starting line up, with less pressure on his offensive talents, not needing to carry the second unit and being surrounded by three All-Star talents. However, as convenient as this is for Barton, he is up against arguably the most skilled guard in the league. Rough. Edge is to Irving and the Knicks backcourt has the 76ers counterparts covered.

Joe Ingles vs Kawhi Leonard

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingles or Kawhi? Oh what fun it is to guard an MVP kind of guy, hey!

Kawhi will be sighted for the first time in 2017 this upcoming week. No one was even sure what was wrong with him or if he was still alive, but proof of life has been confirmed and the 76ers have to be thrilled with the news that their season can start this week, for realz. With all the stars in the Phili sky. Joe Ingles has perhaps improved his stock as much as any player over the past few seasons, from undrafted and arguably not league worthy to terrific defender, shooter and passer, and the glue guy in the Knicks line up. Still, improved or not, he is a galaxy away from Kawhi in terms of ability. However rusty Leonard may be, you’d be crazy not to back him in. Edge to Kawhi and the 76ers.

Bobby Portis vs James Johnson

The least exciting match-up by a long way, the battle of the role playing power forwards. Bobby Portis is punching above his weight, and James Johnson is pretty great at punching and kicking. Portis’ strength is more so in what he doesn’t do than what he does – he stays out of the paint, grabs some rebounds and doesn’t take any touches from the stars. Johnson bounced in and out of the game and league for years but got it all together last year and was rewarded with a big deal. Philadelphia acquired him to glue the team together, and we get to see what he can do this week. Or do we???

I give the edge to Johnson.

Dwight Howard vs Rudy Gobert

A battle of two giants of the NLL; Dwight Howard was at one point the best big in the game, and Rudy Gobert is now one of the best in the game. Rudy has been in the wars lately but gets back for week seven. Last year he was able to explode onto the scene and steal the starting gig, putting up huge rebound and blocks numbers and controlling the paint. Dwight has been very good and very consistent this year, a mini-renaissance, and he is putting up 18+ points and 11+ rebounds a game and is a huge cog in the NY juggernaut. Gobert has only played 11 games and was able to put up around 14 rebounds and 16 rebounds a game. Both players are matched and I can’t split it. If anything, Rudy’s rust and the uncertainty about the 76ers chemistry gives Howard the edge.

Benches:

Both teams have key contributors off the bench, but one team has a bit more power to wield when the starters sit. New York runs very deep with talent and boast a ten man rotation that can't even fit in a 76 rated Lance Stephenson. Nene, Zach Randolph, Manu and Corey Joseph would be starters on a lot of other teams. The 76ers are without Avery Bradley and will rely on a lot less accomplished bench crew of Barea, Holmes, Oubre and Davis. New York has a big advantage here and the 76ers starters will have to play very well.

Star

James Harden
Harden has awoken and the NLL is on notice - he could be becoming the greatest scorer in the game. Ruthless in his attack and elite from every square inch of the floor, he is the head of the snake and is very, very good at what he is good at.

PPG

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

FPG

TPG

Star

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi is back, the return of the Jedi. Vt needs his best player to bring the entire force with him to try and steady the ship and save the season. Arguably the best two way player in the league, he is a workhorse and 76ers are just praying he stays healthy. Expect a very ready and focused Kawhi, as always.

X-Factor
Bench scoring: The starters are very well matched but the benches are not. The Knicks have savvy vets at almost all rotational positions and the 76ers look very raw and limited in comparison. I imagine their could be heavy bleeding while the starters rest and I think this gives the Knicks chances a huge and irrepressible boost. Knicks by 9 - they have too much momentum at the moment and a much deeper team.

X-Factor

Bench scoring: The starters are very well matched but the benches are not. The Knicks have savvy vets at almost all rotational positions and the 76ers look very raw and limited in comparison. I imagine their could be heavy bleeding while the starters rest and I think this gives the Knicks chances a huge and irrepressible boost.

Knicks by 9 - they have too much momentum at the moment and a much deeper team.