NBA Cup Steals Spotlight While League Faces Mixed Performances
As the NBA Cup captivates fans, other league games show a stark contrast in quality and performance.
Las Vegas, NBA, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Las Vegas: So, the NBA Cup is the big deal right now, right? But did you catch some of the other games? They were a real mixed bag. Like, on Friday, the Bulls and Hornets set a record for the most missed 3-pointers in a game—75! Can you believe that?
Then, just two days later, the Warriors and Mavericks went wild, hitting 48 3-pointers. Crazy, right? The Warriors made 27 of those but still lost at home. It’s wild how the game has changed. Now, it feels like if you can shoot a 3, that’s all that matters.
The Warriors kicked off this whole 3-point craze, and even with Klay Thompson gone and Curry nearing the end of his prime, they’re still all about those long shots. The Celtics have jumped on that bandwagon too, tossing up over 50 3s a game. And guess what? It’s working for them—they’re the favorites to win it all again.
Doc Rivers, the Bucks coach, said he loves watching the Warriors play because they move the ball around. He’s also a fan of the Celtics for the same reason. It’s not just about shooting threes; it’s about teamwork and defense too. The Celtics didn’t win last year just by shooting a ton of 3s; they played smart and worked together.
Back in the day, the Warriors were taking 27 threes a game and that was considered a lot. Now, that number wouldn’t even put you in the top tier of teams. Rivers pointed out that sometimes the game looks beautiful, and other times it’s just a mess. He’s not a fan of teams that just chuck up shots without any strategy.
That was definitely the case with the Bulls and Hornets. They didn’t seem to have a backup plan when their shots weren’t falling. Maybe the league needs to rethink some rules to shake things up a bit. Who knows? The Thunder and Bucks are still finding success with a mix of 3s and 2s, showing that there’s more than one way to win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo mentioned how the game has changed since he joined the league. He’s not a big 3-point shooter, but he’s found his groove closer to the basket. He’s been super efficient this season, shooting over 60 percent. It’s all about adapting to the game’s evolution.
Fans are tuning in, but the NBA is keeping an eye on ratings. They’ve been up for Cup games but down compared to last year. It makes you wonder if they’ll make changes to keep the game exciting and varied instead of just a numbers game.
Rivers thinks the game got more physical last season, and fans liked it. He believes people enjoy watching teams that move and play with energy. The teams that don’t? Not so much. It’s all about finding that balance.