Une of the big news in the NBA this week has been the surprise of Ja Morant and Luka Doncic in the All Star voting. Much more than the fact that LeBron will surpass Durant, the second wave of voting brought an earthquake to the League when the Grizzlies point guard unseated the Mavs’ Slovenian from the starting team in the West. It seemed that a process was culminating.
But in that process, from the first wave with Doncic among the most voted, and the second, Luka’s long absence coincided for injury with the imparable progresin Morant’s ascendancy and the amazing winning streak of the Grizzlies turned into the fashionable team of the NBA. Ja himself came to celebrate on the networks its inclusion among the five most voted in its conference. We had to wait for Doncic’s reaction…
And it came in the form of a triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists), a clear victory (85-112), back aceu better version, full-fledged revenge and vindication in the face of the third wave of votes for the All Star, although that is the least of the Slovenian’s concerns.
During this period there has been no lack of someone who has placed Morant at the level of Doncic, even ahead, in the NBA hierarchy. The Slovenian has not lost the first opportunity he has had to show that it is still too early for that, also cutting the Grizzlies’ streak of 11 straight wins.
It is true that Morant is one of the great news of the season and that he must be counted on for the short-term future of the NBA. He has even earned that his name begins to sound in the pools for the MVP. But for those who had already forgotten about Doncic, as if the Slovenian were a veteran approaching his twilight, enjoy with one of those performances in which his control of the parties is so overwhelming that it becomes insulting. It is the Doncic who shook the NBA not long ago and who had taken a breather, the one who imposes his law on the courts, the one who opposes MVP and the next king of the League. It is the Doncic who, for the moment, is off Ja Morant’s radar.
Luka signed his triple-double 40 against Memphis, a mark that before him only 10 players in the NBA reached. By the way, the history of the Dallas Mavericks records 80 triple-doubles and the partial is Doncic, 40; the rest of the players, 40. The Slovenian is the second fastest player to reach 40 TDs (226 games), surpassed only by Oscar Robertson (92 games) and the youngest in history to do so.
Results of the day
- Hornets 109-116 Magic
- Pistons 103-87 Raptors
- Pacers 94-112 Suns
- 76ers 111-99 Celtics
- Bulls 96-138 Warriors
- Heat 124-118 Hawks
- Spurs 109-114 Cavs
- Grizzlies 85-112 Mavericks
- Kings 126-114 Rockets
The Warriors, who had been butchered by the Bucks a couple of days earlier, butchered the Bucks in turn. Bulls, 96-138. In a game between conference leaders (Golden State is second, only behind the Suns), the clash has its crumb. The Bulls now have a lot to think about between the clear defeat against the Nets, the Warriors thrashing and the read by Zach LaVine. The Bulls are the first conference leader since 1970 to lose two straight games by 30 or more points.
And while the Warriors They recover from the setback against the champions. and all that with Klay Thompson resting and the rookie Jonathan Kuminga standing out with 25 points.
The curious fact, which is also historical, is made up of the very different performances of the Warriors in their last two games. Against the Bucks, they lost by 39 at halftime and against the Bulls they won by 31 after the first two quarters. Those 70 points is the largest margin for/against a team on consecutive days since the adoption of the shot clock in 1954-55.
But the most important thing for the San Francisco team is to regain the confidence that was in short supply after suffering four losses in their last five games. To do this, nothing better than having a feast against the leader of the East.
On a day like today, this counter-chronicle could be a monologue of Luka Doncic because although Dejonte Murray with 30 points and 14 rebounds in the loss against the Cavs, he signed the most outstanding individual performance, the player of the night was the Slovenian.
And he closed his exhibition against the Grizzlies with an assistance that is wonderful and that it was precisely the tenth with which he culminated the triple-double number 40 of his career. The play can serve to check the degree of control that Luka exercises, the control he always has of his options and those of his teammates.
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