Father Time, PaytonPritchard-Mania, Grizzlies Are So Back, And More
It’s that time again to talk about some of they storylines about 20 games into the 2024-2025 NBA Season. I’m going to dive into LeBron’s potential decline, Payton Pritchard lighting it up, the Grizzlies back on the rise, and the In-Season Tournament.
Father Time is Undefeated: Well, (sigh) this one again will be rough for me to talk about but needs to be said. LeBron James is currently in a slump and this may be indicative of father time coming upon him as he turns 40 years old this month. Although, every stat across the board has stayed the same, his PPG is at the lowest of his career since his rookie year. Also, he hasn’t made a single three pointer since the 11/26 matchup against the Phoenix Suns while going 0 for 19 from downtown in the last four games. Maybe this time Lebron’s age is in play here. On top of it, the Lakers have fallen back to earth a bit after having a solid start to the season. LeBron will need to find himself in a rhythm in this stretch moving forward.
Payton Pritchard: Ladies and Gentlemen, Payton Pritchard has ARRIVED!! He has come a long way since the 2022-2023 season when he only averaged 6 PPG. Fast forward to the season and Pritchard is making the case for not only Sixth Man of The Year but also Most Improved Player. Averaging 16.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, along with shooting 49% from the field and 43% from three, Pritchard has become another key scoring option for the Celtics in the short and long-term. He joins Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis (3 games), and Jrue Holiday as another double-digit scorer who can shoot threes and create his own shot as well. His impact towards the Celtics has been unmatched as although winning the championship last year, with Porzingis out early due to injury, there were some concerns about Boston’s depth heading into this season. I think it’s clear that fans won’t have to worry about that for now with Pritchard playing at a very high level.
Grit and Grind 2.0: A team in particular is also making headlines for coming back and being resilient after last year’s blunder. The Memphis Grizzlies. Currently 14-8 and at this point the 4th seed in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies are back on the map with many different key players. Obviously, Ja Morant is doing his thing with averages of 22 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 8.6 APG per night. Jaren Jackson Jr. also averages 22.0 PPG with 6.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG. However, there is some emerging talent that has been somewhat unexpected this year with Memphis. This would be the great play of Scotty Pippen Jr. Jaylen Wells, and Jay Huff. Another player also in this category would be Santi Aldama as well. Except for Huff, the three other players are averaging double figures and have been great assets. Wells is now viewed as a steal from the 2024 Draft, Aldama has turned into a consistent scorer, and Pippen is turning himself into a solid backup Point Guard making a name for himself. The Grizzlies have other pieces such as rookie Zach Edey and veteran Marcus Smart who have been doing a solid job of playing their roles. As you can see, the Grizzlies have a lot of depth on their roster and we will see how the depth plays a factor heading towards the middle of the 82-game season.
In-Season Tournament: The In-Season Tournament Group Play has concluded, and now four teams in each Conference have their representatives for the coveted NBA Cup. The Eastern Conference includes the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic. The Western Conference will include the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors, and the Dallas Mavericks. The Quarterfinals will take place where the home team has the better record and both the semi-finals and finals will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Las Vegas Strip. The In-Season Tournament to some has been a great addition to the league since it gives the players something to look forward to with a lengthy season ahead. It will be exciting to watch teams compete for money and have a chance to showcase their skills in a potential NBA location for the future in Las Vegas.