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Every team’s fans have something to be thankful for this week — including some NBA Cup dreams that are still alive. (This week’s NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings 2024-25 is out a day later than usual, which is because of my travel schedule, starting next week we return to Wednesdays).
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1. Boston Celtics (15-3, Last Week No. 1). Boston fans should be thankful that Kristaps Porzingis is back in the lineup before Thanksgiving, much earlier than the expectation he would arrive with Santa Claus next month. KP played limited minutes (22) in one game against the Clippers, scoring 16, but his value in opening up the offense was instantly apparent as he was +32. Despite an NBA Cup opening night upset to the Hawks, if the Celtics can beat the Bulls on Friday night — especially if Boston can win big — they have a good chance of advancing to the knockout round (it will come down to point differential as the tiebreaker and the Celtics are +14 through three games — they need to run up the score to advance).
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-2, LW 2). Cavaliers fans should be thankful for Kenny Atkinson. His installation of a more motion-based offense, his trusting Evan Mobley with more playmaking (in a Draymond Green-style role Atkinson brought with him from the Warriors) and his trust of Darius Garland — and getting Donovan Mitchell to buy into all of this — has turned the Cavaliers into Boston’s biggest threat in the East. That includes in the NBA Cup, where Cleveland has a big showdown with Atlanta Friday night. Win that, then run up the score next Tuesday on Washington, and advancing as the group winner or wild card is very possible.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-4, LW 3). Thunder fans should be thankful Isaiah Hartenstein is back from a fractured hand — the team instantly looks better on both ends of the court (because Chet Holmgren is out with a fractured hip). Hartenstein has averaged 15.3 points and 12.7 rebounds a game, plus he solidified the team’s paint protection since his return. The Thunder are 3-0 with him with a +25 point differential in those three games. OKC still has a chance in the NBA…
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Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-11-28 20:28:00
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