NBA Click & Roll: Will Kyrie Irving and the Celtics ever lose again?
Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter.
Every Wednesday we'll bring you exclusive content from Paste BN's NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, including updates on all their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, you'll have all the top NBA moments spoon-fed to your inbox.
Jumping to Conclusions
The Raptors have graduated to the new NBA
As part of our weekly feature, Paste BN Sports' NBA insiders will offer exclusive opinions right here.
Conclusion: The Raptors will destroy their team record for three-pointers attempted.
At this rate, Toronto (11-5) is on track to shatter its franchise record for three-pointers attempted in a season (2,060 from the 2014-15 campaign, according to Basketball-Reference.com). The Raptors are averaging 31.4 per attempts per game, the sixth-most in the NBA, putting them on pace to finish with approximately 2,574 in all.
It’s the latest sign, along with the success of Golden State, Houston and Cleveland, that the NBA has become a shooter’s paradise. Toronto’s offseason additions of C.J. Miles (via trade with Indiana in mid-July) and the summer re-signing of Serge Ibaka have had everything to do with this change in approach (Kyle Lowry leads the team in long-range attempts at 6.7 per game, with Miles second at 6.3 per and Ibaka third at 4.6 per). - Sam Amick
Our full Week 5 conclusions take a look at the Cavaliers' defense and whether major change might be in order for the Clippers.
NBA Power Rankings
It's been more than a month since the Celtics lost a game. Was there any doubt they'd sit atop the rankings yet again? This week's big risers include the Raptors (4), Timberwolves (7) and Cavaliers (8). Hint, don't sleep on LeBron.
Check out the full NBA power rankings here.
ICYMI: *This* is why we watch
- The Lonzo phenomenon is here. He got a new haircut. Twitter made jokes. He walked away from a scuffle. The internet roasted him. His dad trolled the president. Twitter went into meltdown. With so much going on, is anyone surprised LaVar doesn't approve of the job Lakers coach Luke Walton is doing?
- LaVar has perfected the art of baiting people with bigger profiles (Donald Trump, Michael Jordan, LeBron James) only to beat the drum for the Big Baller Brand. Well done, LaVar.
- Just Wednesday morning, Trump called LaVar an "ungrateful fool." Mark Cuban says he sees some similarities.
- Steve Kerr just wants it all to go away. He might even hand out Slinkys to pass the time.
- In less headache-inducing news, we can all be thankful for Joel Embiid's honesty. He had no problem admitting he flopped to draw a technical on a rookie. Embiid's refreshing personality could end up being the face of the league in a few years, provided he stays healthy. That is unless Kevin Hart decides to crash more of his interviews.
- It's hard to poke fun at Kyrie Irving, especially when he's making noise in the MVP race, but the flat-earth-truther himself has another curious take on steak. Celtics GM Danny Ainge doesn't care what Irving believes as long as he has games of 47 points.
- Don't expect Kyrie to adopt Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson's diet, which is, uh, pretty interesting.
- Jay-Z didn't seem to like that LeBron James dubbed himself king of New York, so the rapper flipped the script and anointed himself king of Cleveland.
MVP race
Irving has crashed the party, but could he really supplant the Greek Freak, LeBron or James Harden? He's been the best player in the NBA so far in clutch situations.
Rookie watch
Kyrie might be anchoring the Celtics' incredible streak, but rookie Jayson Tatum is providing way more than any 19-year-old should. Modeling his game after All-Star Paul George, Tatum is our spotlight of the week.
Check out the full rookie power rankings, headlined by 76ers phenom Ben Simmons.
Best of the rest
Cavaliers PG Isaiah Thomas is hoping he can return from his injured hip before January, but in the meantime, he's chronicling his story after an emotionally draining summer. In an extended Q and A with Paste BN Sports, Thomas admits how sweet it would be to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Thunder's transition to a Super Team hasn't exactly been smooth. What do Carmelo Anthony and Paul George think of their team's early struggles?
If Mark Cuban was an NFL owner, he said the only factor he'd consider when deciding whether to sign Colin Kaepernick would be his talent level.
Of all people, is LeBron James really Kevin Durant's "idol"?
Check back next week for all the latest throughout the Association.