NBA Power Rankings: Week 3 brings forth the load-management debate … again
By Phil Watson
team. 27. . 2-8. Previous: . New York Knicks. 28
Last week: Lost at Detroit 122-102, won at Dallas 106-102, lost to Cleveland 108-87
This week: Tuesday at Chicago, Thursday vs. Dallas, Saturday vs. Charlotte
The New York Knicks did get their first road win of the season, stunning the Mavericks on Friday, but got worked over by a pair of sub-.500 squads in the Pistons and Cavaliers. The Cleveland loss came at home in a game New York never led and trailed in by as much as 30 points. Ouch.
On the positive side of the ledger, Julius Randle seems to have broken out of his scoring slump, averaging 20.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 33.3 minutes per game, shooting 46.7 percent overall while hitting 6-of-15 from 3-point range.
Randle went for 21 points and eight boards in the win at Dallas and had 20 points in each of the Knicks’ other two outings last week. It was Marcus Morris, however, who had the biggest outing for the Knicks last week, dropping in 29 points with nine rebounds and three assists in 41 minutes in the victory over the Mavericks.
This week features the return of Kristaps Porzingis to Madison Square Garden, as Dallas visits Thursday looking to avenge the loss at home last week.
27. team. 84. . 3-6. Previous: . Sacramento Kings
Last week: Lost at Toronto 124-120, won at Atlanta 121-109
This week: Tuesday vs. Portland, Friday at Lakers, Sunday vs. Boston
The Sacramento Kings split their two games last week to finish a 2-1 Eastern road swing to New York, Toronto and Atlanta. The Kings also got a little bit healthier, as Harry Giles made his delayed season debut in the win over the Hawks on Friday, logging eight minutes and scoring four points. That should be a welcome addition with Marvin Bagley III still out with a broken thumb.
Super sub Bogdan Bogdanovic had his two strongest games of the season thus far, scoring 42 points in 60 minutes over the two games this week on 13-of-23 shooting overall while knocking down 11-of-17 from long range. Prior to that, Bogdanovic had been ice cold, shooting 31.4 percent overall and just 30.2 percent from deep while averaging 9.4 points a game.
A breakout by Bogdanovic can do nothing but help Sacramento’s second unit. Meanwhile, Harrison Barnes put together a solid effort in the Kings’ loss to the defending champion Raptors on Wednesday, scoring 26 points and hitting 4-of-9 from deep. The Kings got into a deep early hole, trailing by as much as 15 in the first half before making it somewhat interesting late.
The Kings will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers this week, just a week after doing this on social media. We’ll see if L.A. has a little bit extra for Sacramento as their often-contentious matchup continues.
4-6. Previous: . Charlotte Hornets. 26. team. 170.
Last week: Beat Indiana 122-120 (OT), lost to Boston 108-87, lost to New Orleans 115-110, lost at Philadelphia 114-106
This week: Wednesday vs. Memphis, Friday vs. Detroit, Saturday at New York
The Charlotte Hornets got their week off to a big start with an overtime win over Indiana when Devonte’ Graham hit two of three free throws with a second left to win it for Charlotte, but that was followed by three straight losses.
The Hornets are having defensive problems, ranked 24th in defensive rating in non-blowout situations at 111.8 points per 100 possessions to go with the 28th-ranked defensive effective field goal percentage at 55.9.
Speaking of Graham, the second-year man out of Kansas had a tremendous week, averaging 23.3 points, 8.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 34.3 minutes per game off the bench, even though he shot only 40.6 percent overall and 37.8 percent on 9.3 3-point tries a night.
In the win over the Pacers, Graham scored a career-high 35 points in 42 minutes to go with six assists and three steals, with the game-winning foul shots as a nice cherry on top.