Friends in fast breaks,

Westbrook looks like his old self after coming off the bench. UTA looks like the real deal. SAS and Luka have come plummeting back to earth. Hello Week 3!

I also wrote a bonus article grading the NBA City Edition Jerseys.

WEEK 3 PICKS

• Walking Bucket Wilt OAD
  • Summary | Overall Standings
• VC's Knees Survivor
  • Summary | Overall Standings
• Your group picks (get in a group with friends!)

A quick ode to RUSS

I've been a Westbrook fan since his OKC days, pre-KD-abandonment. He was a straight-up athletic freak, and he used his athleticism AGGRESSIVELY. The fury that he used on dunks was *chef kiss* . And I'll ALWAYS have a soft spot for players who are clearly giving 100%. Everybody, generally, is trying out there, but you could see that Russ was red-lining constantly. It was glorious.

But I also understand that any fan of the broader OKC team would have very different feelings because Westbrook's bone-headed plays and chucking were... less optimal for the team. 

Seeing the struggles, both numbers-wise and mentally, that Russ went through over the last year was rough. He's aging and his shooting is atrocious, but there were still flashes of younger Russ there. Seeing him look revitalized and happy again after FINALLY taking the off-the-bench role has been good for my soul.

PICK STATS

Walking Bucket Wilt OAD

• Mitchell is our top pick this week, breaking 50+ picks
  • He's been on fire and CLE is facing GSW's terrible defense, it just make sense
• Giannis, Doncic, Tatum, and Curry round out the next chunk of picks
• Giannis is listed as out according to the injury report, so I hope your backup picks are good
• Doncic has been rough the last couple games, let's hope he picks it up
• Looking at some of our low volume picks: McCollum (off some stinkers), VanVleet (off a heater), Edwards, and Giddey are all interesting picks
• NOBODY on DeRozan after last week's 46 points??!?!? Just kidding, CHI isn't playing during this week's window
• Reminder to check out the injury reports, which will be linked on the pick page each week going forward

VC’s Knees Survivor

• NYK (vs DET) is our top pick with 30% of picks
• NOP (vs HOU) and PHX (@ ORL) are both pulling  about 20% of picks as well.
• Our strategy across our top 5 picks: Attack the tankers!!!
• Brave picks on both sides of the ATL@PHI game AND the SAC@LAL game, as well as DAL (v POR)
• Gimme comments to go along with these bold picks so everyone can appreciate your bravery!

WEEKLY AWARDS

Westbrook Bank Shot Moxie Award

Boldest pick WITH a comment. You can't win a SZN competition without a little Moxie!

@Rickfrrr (G. Antetokounmpo): "Big Greek Life 😎 take me there baby 🚀 "
GM says: Pains me to make this the moxie pick, but taking the guy who's been announced as out for a couple days is definitely bold. Here's hoping your backup is solid!

"Who's the GOAT?" Award

Our best weekly comment (or three)

@DahnWitDHByeahYinzKnowMe (Pelicans): "Does the Smoothie King Center serve Bud Light Lime smoothies? Regretting this pick already if not."
GM says: And now we know how Zion got so THICC in the offseason

@kempsoos (Heat): "This is the Single competition I am trying the hardest at. Its for all the glory, this is my legacy. Fear can not live here, only Moxie can. Much like Napoleons servants reminding him he will die one day "Memento Mori" (remember death). I will remind you all that we SZN participants will all be eliminated one day! "Memento Abolicio" (remember elimination). I never thought the Charlotte Hornets would have the potential to wake me up in a cold sweat...but I never thought about the Charlotte Hornets at all actually."
GM says: "Memento Abolicio" goes HARD as a tattoo. Why didn't Marcus Aurelius have more opinions on NBA Survivor?

"I Could Sell You Kings Tickets" Award

Most convincing comment.

@YikesVikes (D. Mitchell): "The Cavs got MOXIE & CULTURE, and Donavan is about to have a big night against GSW, worse defense in the NBA. The Cavs team never loses its fight. Sometimes, you have to win ugly and they do, because Donovan has been finding buckets out there. Not ever watching them to know, but in what I read this team has fun, and I will too, with Donovan. "
GM says: I'm super biased, but this was my exact line of thinking, so you basically INCEPTED me to this take

KD Would Retweet This Award

The spiciest/wildest take.

@LeviLeo (Suns): "I literally never knew they were called the Orlando Magic because of Disney World... that's so lame "
GM says: This is tremendously less interesting to me than thinking there's a dope cabal of magicians in Florida. The mouse has too much power!

MORE PICK COMMENTS

@BeatTheVig (Knicks): "BING BONG"
GM says: 🕰 

@YikesVikes (Jazz): "There's no wizardry in Washington, so I'm jazzed to pick the Jazz, it's great music to my ears. And i'm deaf to the NBA!!!"
GM says: Let me dust off my sign language... 🎵👍 👏 ✅

@Merf (D. Mitchell):
"What's the difference between last year's Warriors and this year's? Gary Payton II?? Otto Porter?? Are they somehow bad now?"
GM says: Their defense cratered from top 5 last year to bottom 5 so far this year, especially from their bench. I think GP and OP leaving definitely hurt, along with Wiseman being surprisingly ineffective. If Green can't punch this team back into shape, their odds are rough.

@LeviLeo (S. Curry):
"Its gone rain"
GM says: I know Shawn Kemp had the "Reign Man" nickname, but "Rain Man" would be a real good Curry nickname.

@Bigd4347 (A. Davis):
"R"
GM says: As in Reverse? As in, Regretting this pick already???

@Logan2273 (PHX):
"Continuing with taking players that will have to carry the load, I am rocking with Devin Booker while Chris Paul deals with a heel injury"
GM says: Valid strategy and sound logic. How do you feel about Portland's #6 overall defense though?

@MONSTERXXX (CLE):
"Hooops Wooooooooo !"
GM says: EVERY WEEK BABY

Don't forget about judging the jerseys.

Yours in Roundball Rock,
The GM