Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
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SourKittles
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Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
Of course, variance between games makes this a less-than-perfect exercise. However, here are six games that caught the league's attention, with takeaways of what this might entail for the rest of this "cool season." Please accept some of the editorializing: like in the old days, I'm just reading this off the ticker!
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Day 31: Brotherly Love?
Raptors 124, Cavaliers 123
It's tough to poke holes in the 24-5 Raptors. Wemby continues to dominate in the frontcourt, Toronto keeps recharging with its 905 development machine, and oh yeah, some guy named Markelle Fultz moved North. Meanwhile in Believeland, Mantypas made an impressive series of calculated gambles. Not content with merely reaching the .500 threshold, the Cavs run a fearsome two-point-guard look with Anthony Black and Jalen Brunson. Black has played the backcourt's "Robin" role on offense, but leads the league with 3.1 steals per game.
A ProBoards battle has been brewing: which brother do you prefer? Well, some of us plebeians would take either. Amen is posting a career-high 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Ausar has discovered his shooting stroke, with crisp 48/84/45 splits in the early going. This game was tight from the opening whistle. Wembanyama and Amen asserted themselves on the glass, with Victor shouldering the load offensively en route to a team-high 23 field goal attempts. Keldon Johnson continued his run as a shocking "microwave scoring" X-factor, eventually racking up 24 points in just 16 minutes. After trailing by 10 at the break, Mantypas told his boys in the locker room to ratchet up the defense, and they responded accordingly. Despite an off shooting night, Black made his standard defensive impact with six steals.
As usual, the Raptors squashed the road team's rally. Amen, Nique Clifford and Denzel Valentine combined to make eight three-pointers, as depth (and a dose of CMB, who is my new IRL favorite player) made the slight difference. We have the Raptors installed as one of the 2027-28 SLN title favorites, but it's clear that this could be a compelling, long 2nd round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Day 4: What can [Mikel] Brown do for you?
Timberwolves 123, Bullets 112
The Timberwolves emerged as one of the surprise stories of 2027. This is largely due to the stunning growth of second-year guard Mikel Brown Jr. The 22-year-old has wowed the Minnesota faithful with 18.6 points and just 1.8 turnovers per game, and offered a glimpse of his potential in Sim #1 against a strong Bullets team. In Washington, Anthony Davis continues to age like fine wine, with an outrageous 4.6:1 stock-to-turnover ratio alongside 12.0 rebounds per contest. But the club wanted to rebalance and focus more on the frontcourt, a process that might have been accelerated by these early-season results.
Flamethrower Tyrese Maxey (with two years left on a team-friendly contract) set the tone in this eye-opening game. Maxey poured in 36 points on 14-of-21 shooting and made all five of his three-point attempts. The Timberwolves, though, got off to a hot start behind balance from Giannis Antetokounmpo (he's still got it!), Ja Morant, and solid rookie big Chris Cenac Jr. They also protected the ball and finished with only 11 turnovers. As the game progressed, Mikel Brown started to take over. He made a game-high seven three-pointers and received a richly deserved standing ovation as he left the floor with a few seconds remaining, the game finally in hand. Not long after, the Bullets made a move to snag the talented Michael Porter Jr. and his mega-super-max deal from Phoenix. These are two fun and engaging teams, and we'll be keeping a close eye on them throughout the season.
Day 11: The Rematch
SuperSonics 127, Magic 121
Impressively, last year's finalists did not miss a beat to start the season. Orlando staple Rui Hachimura boasts a career-high 2.7 stocks and 12.7 rebounds per game, with newly maxed Jamal Murray posting a ridiculous 32.4 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting. The SuperSadness continue to re-engineer and thrive anyway. Last year, they moved Domantas Sabonis and dominated. This year, they pivoted away from Jalen Brunson and are back at 18-6. Zach LaVine in his age-32 season has relished the enhanced role, sitting third in the league with 34.8 points per game. And Cam Whitmore hasn't showed any signs of slowing down after his stunning fourth-year breakout…
In the rematch, Orlando showcased impressive balance. Scoot Henderson (not enough Scoot talk?) knocked down three triples as part of an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night and Marvin Bagley continued to fit in with the top East contender. The "stockiness" of Seattle, however, broke through in this revenge game. The Sonics had 11 steals, 16 blocks, and just 10 turnovers. While LaVine scorched the nets with 47 points, rock-solid role player Jordan Bell held strong inside. And what can you say about Derrick Jones Jr.? On a preseason poll where most teams called him the league's most underrated player… it became apparent that he's regarded as a properly rated high-level SLN superstar. His six blocks and two steals made a difference again.
A series of contenders are coming in hot, but don't be surprised if we see a Finals rematch. I feel like most fans would not complain about this outcome.
Day 20: Western Conference Rising
Grizzlies 129, Clippers 116
This game might have demonstrated that the Clippers were "one player away," leading Bobby to dial up the Euro-tripping Hornets and deal for (legend) Semi Ojeleye under cover of darkness. These Clips had a lot to cheer for even before the move. Darryn Peterson is simply unfair for a second-year player, and scored his typical 30 points with solid efficiency against the team's Northern rival. "Good LA" also boasts some exciting role players like blocks specialist Joan Beringer (2.6 per contest) and versatile fan favorite Danny Wolf. With Ojeleye in tow, this team has the makings of a contender.
In this earlier contest, the Grizzlies were too sharp, as they continue to build on an excellent 2026-27 campaign. Jaylen Brown sits at a minuscule 0.9 turnovers per game with near 50/40/90 splits, and overwhelmed the Clippers on the perimeter with 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting. Desmond Bane had a no-fuss 26 points in 25 minutes, and Kon Knueppel showed again why he's one of the best third-year players in the league. Oddsmakers remain high on the Grizzlies as a potential Western Conference Champion (worth noting they're best in the league with only 108 PPG against). After a shakeup in the Clippers' rotation, could this game prove to be the catalyst for a great playoff matchup?
Day 35: Don't Mess With Texas
Spurs 130, Mavericks 127
There's "flipping the switch," and then there's "Hoff pivoting to contention." It was a fast and furious shift in Dallas, as the Mavericks quickly acquired Luka Doncic, Duncan Robinson, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Bam Adebayo in hopes of building a contender. Team management was not initially pleased with the results, leading to a "sad face" avatar, but Dallas has generally righted the ship. Doncic showed up a bit sluggish, reportedly due to "too many McDonald's burger competitions," yet perked back up in recent games. He's still every bit a megastar, with offensive support from Robinson and Gordon. The trio combined for 86 points and 10 made three-pointers against the Spurs as the team clearly rounds into form.
Meanwhile, Jordo and the Spurs have been disheartened by uneven results sans LaMelo Ball. But even without the star point guard, they're still plenty competitive. They still have Dick, who scored 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting, and the defensive excellence of Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels might be more of a force than ever, the turnovers now nonexistent and the steals at an all-time high. He had seven pilfers in Dallas, with Josh Hart adding five more, as the Spurs showed they can get the job done on both ends of the floor. We'd all be intrigued by a Doncic vs Ball matchup, though it's clear these supporting players could make the difference when it comes to these two evenly matched teams.
Day 10: Strength versus Strength
Knicks 123, Hawks 114
After a magical title run, the Knicks' 2026-27 season was routed by injuries. But the familiar cast is back once again, led by one of the all-time greats in Kyrie Irving (35 years old, 38 points per game). Out in Atlanta, the Hawks pushed chips in with an exciting and strong starting five. Twenty-year-old Cameron Boozer has been stellar in his second season, with an impressive two-way skillset (19.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.4 stocks per game).
The Knicks are renowned for their high-flying offense: even though Turner continues to labor through occasional injuries, Irving and Jalen Green take over games like no other duo with their shooting prowess. The Hawks, meanwhile, are stout defensively. They are second in the league in opposing field goal percentage and points against. At one point this year, they held three straight opponents under 100 points per game, which is no small feat in this era. That combined with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points per game is a winning recipe. Against New York, though, the risk lies on the three-point line. The Knicks made 12 of their 24 shots from behind the arc in this matchup, and pulled away in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to playoff pick 'em, this is one matchup where I'm feeling a seven-game series. I'm curious to see if/how these teams shake things up in the coming weeks.
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I wish I could include snippets from every team's season, but hope this is a good rundown that includes some of the league's most compelling teams.
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Day 31: Brotherly Love?
Raptors 124, Cavaliers 123
It's tough to poke holes in the 24-5 Raptors. Wemby continues to dominate in the frontcourt, Toronto keeps recharging with its 905 development machine, and oh yeah, some guy named Markelle Fultz moved North. Meanwhile in Believeland, Mantypas made an impressive series of calculated gambles. Not content with merely reaching the .500 threshold, the Cavs run a fearsome two-point-guard look with Anthony Black and Jalen Brunson. Black has played the backcourt's "Robin" role on offense, but leads the league with 3.1 steals per game.
A ProBoards battle has been brewing: which brother do you prefer? Well, some of us plebeians would take either. Amen is posting a career-high 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Ausar has discovered his shooting stroke, with crisp 48/84/45 splits in the early going. This game was tight from the opening whistle. Wembanyama and Amen asserted themselves on the glass, with Victor shouldering the load offensively en route to a team-high 23 field goal attempts. Keldon Johnson continued his run as a shocking "microwave scoring" X-factor, eventually racking up 24 points in just 16 minutes. After trailing by 10 at the break, Mantypas told his boys in the locker room to ratchet up the defense, and they responded accordingly. Despite an off shooting night, Black made his standard defensive impact with six steals.
As usual, the Raptors squashed the road team's rally. Amen, Nique Clifford and Denzel Valentine combined to make eight three-pointers, as depth (and a dose of CMB, who is my new IRL favorite player) made the slight difference. We have the Raptors installed as one of the 2027-28 SLN title favorites, but it's clear that this could be a compelling, long 2nd round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Day 4: What can [Mikel] Brown do for you?
Timberwolves 123, Bullets 112
The Timberwolves emerged as one of the surprise stories of 2027. This is largely due to the stunning growth of second-year guard Mikel Brown Jr. The 22-year-old has wowed the Minnesota faithful with 18.6 points and just 1.8 turnovers per game, and offered a glimpse of his potential in Sim #1 against a strong Bullets team. In Washington, Anthony Davis continues to age like fine wine, with an outrageous 4.6:1 stock-to-turnover ratio alongside 12.0 rebounds per contest. But the club wanted to rebalance and focus more on the frontcourt, a process that might have been accelerated by these early-season results.
Flamethrower Tyrese Maxey (with two years left on a team-friendly contract) set the tone in this eye-opening game. Maxey poured in 36 points on 14-of-21 shooting and made all five of his three-point attempts. The Timberwolves, though, got off to a hot start behind balance from Giannis Antetokounmpo (he's still got it!), Ja Morant, and solid rookie big Chris Cenac Jr. They also protected the ball and finished with only 11 turnovers. As the game progressed, Mikel Brown started to take over. He made a game-high seven three-pointers and received a richly deserved standing ovation as he left the floor with a few seconds remaining, the game finally in hand. Not long after, the Bullets made a move to snag the talented Michael Porter Jr. and his mega-super-max deal from Phoenix. These are two fun and engaging teams, and we'll be keeping a close eye on them throughout the season.
Day 11: The Rematch
SuperSonics 127, Magic 121
Impressively, last year's finalists did not miss a beat to start the season. Orlando staple Rui Hachimura boasts a career-high 2.7 stocks and 12.7 rebounds per game, with newly maxed Jamal Murray posting a ridiculous 32.4 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting. The SuperSadness continue to re-engineer and thrive anyway. Last year, they moved Domantas Sabonis and dominated. This year, they pivoted away from Jalen Brunson and are back at 18-6. Zach LaVine in his age-32 season has relished the enhanced role, sitting third in the league with 34.8 points per game. And Cam Whitmore hasn't showed any signs of slowing down after his stunning fourth-year breakout…
In the rematch, Orlando showcased impressive balance. Scoot Henderson (not enough Scoot talk?) knocked down three triples as part of an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night and Marvin Bagley continued to fit in with the top East contender. The "stockiness" of Seattle, however, broke through in this revenge game. The Sonics had 11 steals, 16 blocks, and just 10 turnovers. While LaVine scorched the nets with 47 points, rock-solid role player Jordan Bell held strong inside. And what can you say about Derrick Jones Jr.? On a preseason poll where most teams called him the league's most underrated player… it became apparent that he's regarded as a properly rated high-level SLN superstar. His six blocks and two steals made a difference again.
A series of contenders are coming in hot, but don't be surprised if we see a Finals rematch. I feel like most fans would not complain about this outcome.
Day 20: Western Conference Rising
Grizzlies 129, Clippers 116
This game might have demonstrated that the Clippers were "one player away," leading Bobby to dial up the Euro-tripping Hornets and deal for (legend) Semi Ojeleye under cover of darkness. These Clips had a lot to cheer for even before the move. Darryn Peterson is simply unfair for a second-year player, and scored his typical 30 points with solid efficiency against the team's Northern rival. "Good LA" also boasts some exciting role players like blocks specialist Joan Beringer (2.6 per contest) and versatile fan favorite Danny Wolf. With Ojeleye in tow, this team has the makings of a contender.
In this earlier contest, the Grizzlies were too sharp, as they continue to build on an excellent 2026-27 campaign. Jaylen Brown sits at a minuscule 0.9 turnovers per game with near 50/40/90 splits, and overwhelmed the Clippers on the perimeter with 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting. Desmond Bane had a no-fuss 26 points in 25 minutes, and Kon Knueppel showed again why he's one of the best third-year players in the league. Oddsmakers remain high on the Grizzlies as a potential Western Conference Champion (worth noting they're best in the league with only 108 PPG against). After a shakeup in the Clippers' rotation, could this game prove to be the catalyst for a great playoff matchup?
Day 35: Don't Mess With Texas
Spurs 130, Mavericks 127
There's "flipping the switch," and then there's "Hoff pivoting to contention." It was a fast and furious shift in Dallas, as the Mavericks quickly acquired Luka Doncic, Duncan Robinson, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Bam Adebayo in hopes of building a contender. Team management was not initially pleased with the results, leading to a "sad face" avatar, but Dallas has generally righted the ship. Doncic showed up a bit sluggish, reportedly due to "too many McDonald's burger competitions," yet perked back up in recent games. He's still every bit a megastar, with offensive support from Robinson and Gordon. The trio combined for 86 points and 10 made three-pointers against the Spurs as the team clearly rounds into form.
Meanwhile, Jordo and the Spurs have been disheartened by uneven results sans LaMelo Ball. But even without the star point guard, they're still plenty competitive. They still have Dick, who scored 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting, and the defensive excellence of Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels might be more of a force than ever, the turnovers now nonexistent and the steals at an all-time high. He had seven pilfers in Dallas, with Josh Hart adding five more, as the Spurs showed they can get the job done on both ends of the floor. We'd all be intrigued by a Doncic vs Ball matchup, though it's clear these supporting players could make the difference when it comes to these two evenly matched teams.
Day 10: Strength versus Strength
Knicks 123, Hawks 114
After a magical title run, the Knicks' 2026-27 season was routed by injuries. But the familiar cast is back once again, led by one of the all-time greats in Kyrie Irving (35 years old, 38 points per game). Out in Atlanta, the Hawks pushed chips in with an exciting and strong starting five. Twenty-year-old Cameron Boozer has been stellar in his second season, with an impressive two-way skillset (19.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.4 stocks per game).
The Knicks are renowned for their high-flying offense: even though Turner continues to labor through occasional injuries, Irving and Jalen Green take over games like no other duo with their shooting prowess. The Hawks, meanwhile, are stout defensively. They are second in the league in opposing field goal percentage and points against. At one point this year, they held three straight opponents under 100 points per game, which is no small feat in this era. That combined with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points per game is a winning recipe. Against New York, though, the risk lies on the three-point line. The Knicks made 12 of their 24 shots from behind the arc in this matchup, and pulled away in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to playoff pick 'em, this is one matchup where I'm feeling a seven-game series. I'm curious to see if/how these teams shake things up in the coming weeks.
--
I wish I could include snippets from every team's season, but hope this is a good rundown that includes some of the league's most compelling teams.
Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
Pretty sure back up PG Jaylon Tyson’s 7 turnovers was the deciding factor in that SoNicks game and why he lost his job
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mantypas/CavsCzar
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SourKittles
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Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
Wow true - makes it even MORE tellingMerv wrote: July 19th, 2025, 3:16 pm Pretty sure back up PG Jaylon Tyson’s 7 turnovers was the deciding factor in that SoNicks game and why he lost his job
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jwoo
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Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
Journalism degree going to work
free healthcare has never been more important
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SWAMP STEVEN
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Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
FROM THE SWAMP: That Mavs-Spurs was a lot of fun, but the mesquite BBQ court lathering definitely puts an asterisk on some of those stats
*DJ DRAMA VOICE* OH YOU HEARD THE RUMORS [GANGSTA GRIZZILLZ] IT’S A MOTHERFUCKIN SWAMPSTORY!
*lighter flick* Never talk to the cops I don’t speak piglatin / I turned the Nets into the motherfuckin Swamp Dragons
*lighter flick* Never talk to the cops I don’t speak piglatin / I turned the Nets into the motherfuckin Swamp Dragons
Six Telling Games from the Start of a "Cool Season"
925 RP (incl. first article + original content boosts)
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