Friends in fast breaks,
Let's reflect on what we're thankful for so far this SZN...
WEEK 5 PICKS
- Walking Bucket Wilt OAD
- VC's Knees Survivor
- Your group picks (get in a group with friends!)
The new Take Foul
If you're a fan of highlights, you've got to be thankful for this. When players are in transition from defense to offense, you can no longer snuff out a fast break with a quick foul - It'll grant the offensive team a free throw attempt AND getting the ball back. The hope is this leads to more quality fast break opportunities and ideally more highlights too. So far, it's reduced these types of fouls from 1.76 per game last year to 0.27 per game now, an excellent 85% drop.
Rookies crushing it
New blood keeps the game alive. And when those rookies come in an put up impressive performances immediately, that's a boon to both the future of the league and their fan bases. Despite losing the #2 pick before the season started, we've seen great performances from at least 10 rookies so far, and several of them are already doing it consistently. Go rooks go!
Surprise Performances
Indiana, Washington, Utah, Sacramento. These are NOT teams most people expected in the top 6 seeds at this point. Shoot, two of these teams were expected to be bottom-feeding. I love an underdog story, and most of these teams have won me over already.
NBA SZN and all of you
I've been itching for NBA SZN to be a thing for a few years now. I've missed keeping up with the league, admiring the crazy athleticism, and spending more time watching my favorite sport. So to have that opportunity be part of my "job" and to write about it and enjoy with all you is excellent. I'm humbled by the opportunity and hope I'm playing a decent guide for you all this SZN in my "rookie year" at it.
PICK STATS
Walking Bucket Wilt OAD
- After last week's consolidation (31 players picked and a Curry pile-on that turned sour), we decided to diversify our portfolio this week
- Our top pick this week was J. Tatum with 48 picks, only 11.9% of all pickers
- That's just under half of what Curry got last week
- We had a good volume spread amongst our top picks: S. Gilgeous-Alexander (45 picks), J. Embiid (43), S. Curry (36), T. Young (33), and D. Booker (31)
- As the season progresses, it's going to be interesting watching our perennial chart-toppers start disappearing
- For instance, G. Antetokounmpo and L. Doncic are still averaging 30+ PPG but only pulled 7 and 17 picks respectively
- Interesting low volume picks: J. Grant (1 pick), D. Garland (1), B. Hield (2)
- Players picked for the FIRST TIME this SZN: B. Simmons and S. Barnes! That B. Simmons pick is BEGGING for a moxie award, if only there was a comment!!!
| OAD Main Picks | Count |
| Jayson Tatum (vs SAC | 11/25) | 48 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (vs CHI | 11/25) | 45 |
| Joel Embiid (@ ORL | 11/25) | 43 |
| Stephen Curry (vs UTA | 11/25) | 36 |
| Trae Young (@ HOU | 11/25) | 33 |
| Devin Booker (vs DET | 11/25) | 31 |
| Anthony Davis (@ SAS | 11/25) | 22 |
| Kevin Durant (@ IND | 11/25) | 18 |
| Luka Doncic (@ TOR | 11/26) | 17 |
| Donovan Mitchell (@ MIL | 11/25) | 12 |
| Damian Lillard (@ NYK | 11/25) | 11 |
| DeMar DeRozan (@ OKC | 11/25) | 11 |
| Ja Morant (vs NOP | 11/25) | 10 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (vs CLE | 11/25) | 7 |
| Jaylen Brown (vs SAC | 11/25) | 7 |
| Zion Williamson (@ MEM | 11/25) | 5 |
| Kyrie Irving (@ IND | 11/25) | 4 |
| Anthony Edwards (@ CHA | 11/25) | 3 |
| Brandon Ingram (@ MEM | 11/25) | 3 |
| De'Aaron Fox (@ BOS | 11/25) | 3 |
| Desmond Bane (vs NOP | 11/25) | 3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (@ CHA | 11/25) | 3 |
| Terry Rozier (vs MIN | 11/25) | 3 |
| Buddy Hield (vs BKN | 11/25) | 2 |
| Jalen Green (vs ATL | 11/25) | 2 |
| James Harden (@ ORL | 11/25) | 2 |
| Pascal Siakam (vs DAL | 11/26) | 2 |
| Paul George (vs DEN | 11/25) | 2 |
| Tyler Herro (vs WAS | 11/25) | 2 |
| Zach Lavine (@ OKC | 11/25) | 2 |
| Bam Adebayo (vs WAS | 11/25) | 1 |
| Ben Simmons (@ IND | 11/25) | 1 |
| Bradley Beal (@ MIA | 11/25) | 1 |
| Darius Garland (@ MIL | 11/25) | 1 |
| Deandre Ayton (vs DET | 11/25) | 1 |
| Jalen Brunson (vs POR | 11/25) | 1 |
| Jerami Grant (@ NYK | 11/25) | 1 |
| Jimmy Butler (vs WAS | 11/25) | 1 |
| Jordan Clarkson (@ GSW | 11/25) | 1 |
| Nikola Jokic (@ LAC | 11/25) | 1 |
| Scottie Barnes (vs DAL | 11/26) | 1 |
VC’s Knees Survivor
- We're down to 71 this week, 15.9% of our starting size
- What's even more concerning: We are almost ALL IN on PHX (vs DET) today
- Yes, it seems like a safe matchup, but 49 pickers (71%)??? That immediately makes this a must-watch game today
- With most of us huddled around one game, there's not much left to spread amongst the mere 7 other teams we picked
- BOS (vs SAC) is the only other team to garner at least 10% of pickers
- And are we really taking swipes at the BEAM TEAM right now?
- Sure ATL just ended their 7 game win streak, but SAC isn't looking like the punching bag they've been in the past
- Although... BOS is looking mighty, so maybe it's safer than it feels?
- There's a moxie pick on GSW (vs UTA), but no comment. Sad!
| Survivor Picks | Count |
| Phoenix Suns (vs DET | 11/25) | 49 |
| Boston Celtics (vs SAC | 11/25) | 7 |
| Atlanta Hawks (@ HOU | 11/25) | 6 |
| Chicago Bulls (@ OKC | 11/25) | 2 |
| Los Angeles Lakers (@ SAS | 11/25) | 2 |
| Golden State Warriors (vs UTA | 11/25) | 1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (@ CHA | 11/25) | 1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers (@ ORL | 11/25) | 1 |
WEEKLY AWARDS
Westbrook Bank Shot Moxie Award
Boldest pick WITH a comment. You can't win a SZN competition without a little Moxie!
@yjcc (D. Lillard): "I haven't put any thought into these picks yet and somehow I'm in the top 10. That's probably gonna end this week because I'm thinking about it."
GM says: Making your main pick Dame, who is almost certainly out from re-injuring his calf, leaving you depending on your backup pick. Bold. Putting that backup on Banchero who's returning from his OWN multi-game injury. BOLD.
"Who's the GOAT?" Award
Our best weekly comment (or three)
@kbanaian (D. Booker): "I’m always humored by seeing Ben Simmons and Khris Middleton at the bottom of the choices available. "
GM says: One of them is recovering from injury and has been having trouble taking, let alone making shots. And the other is Ben Simmons.
"I Could Sell You Kings Tickets" Award
Most convincing comment.
@YikesVikes (D. Booker): "Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker are dunzo -- the model and NBA superstar reportedly split up recently ... that let's Devin have more time for point making not love making!!!"
GM says: Booker 70 point game incoming
KD Would Retweet This Award
The spiciest/wildest take.
@kempsoos (Suns): "The holidays are officially here folks! Remember to thank your local postal workers. Give them a friendly smile, a small gift card for a venti cup of bull crap from the local Starbucks, a sloppy open mouth kiss, maybe leave your front window open so they can see a few seconds of whatever you’re watching on tv for free… wait maybe save that 3rd option for the strong jawed fedex guy"
GM says: I'm as thankful for our delivery folks as the next guy, but are things okay over there? Does @kempsoobetterhalf know what's happening over here in NBA SZN?
MORE PICK COMMENTS
@wettengal (Suns): "I don’t know anything about the NBA but am somehow still in this. Apparently this sh*t is easy! (Self-jinx, I’m well aware, but worth if it I can make even one stranger on the internet laugh. I’ll even take a slight smile and breath out of the nose) It’s been fun! ✌🏼 "
GM says: If reckless enthusiasm didn't qualify you to succeed here... I'm not sure anything else would!
@BroncoCharlie (Suns): "Just pick whoever is playing Detoilet."
GM says: I chuckled at this far more than I should have. Hoping I can blame it on the turkey hangover and my sense of humor isn't completely busted at this point
@Merf (T. Young): "Backup picks don't matter if your dude gets hurt DURING the game..."
GM says: Doesn't matter Merf. Didn't get a zero Merf!
@MONSTERXXX (J. Brown): "MY MAN !! Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
GM says: Energy, give me ALL this energy MONSTERXXX ⚡
@Jp2099 (T. Young): "C"
GM says: Concise. Brave. Thought-provoking.
@Rthecity (T. Young): "Trae Young hasn't seen a defense this weak since he dropped 48 on Oklahoma State. "
GM says: As a Rockets fan... yeah 😔
@BroncoCharlie (D. DeRozan): "DeRozan to hell is paved with good intentions."
GM says: 👏👏👏 Wordplay is ALWAYS appreciated over here
@Manfresh (D. Mitchell): "Rimmed out"
GM says: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Gretzky - Gandhi - TheGM
Yours in Roundball Rock,
The GM