NBA Game Notes: NBA Cup group play wraps up

Notes from: DEN-GSW, PHI-CHA, PHX-SAS, DAL-MEM and LAC-POR

The NBA Cup group stage is over. Congrats to the Bucks, Knicks, Hawks and Magic in the Eastern Conference and the Thunder, Rockets, Warriors and Mavericks in the Western Conference for advancing to the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Because point differential is such an important thing in NBA Cup play, there were a lot of blowouts on the final day of group play. But there were some closer, fun games too.

Note: I heard/read your feedback about the format. We’ll mix up the games so that the later, west coast starts aren’t always behind the paywall on the subscriber posts. Good feedback!

Here’s what I saw on Tuesday!

Golden State Warriors - 115 at Denver Nuggets - 119

• No one is ever going to campaign for Nikola Jokic to win Defensive Player of the Year. But he’s also a lot better than he often gets credit for. Jokic has really quick hands and reads the game so well. He had five steals against the Warriors. Three came off deflections Jokic made, but this was a straight up pick of Stephen Curry’s dribble here:

• I can only assume it was a gameplan thing to give Aaron Gordon this much room. In the past, that’s been a pretty sound strategy. This year, Gordon was at 54% from deep before last night’s game. This is simply too much space to give Gordon right now:

• The Nuggets are healthy now and Michael Malone seems to have the rotation he wants. It’s the regular starting five of Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun and Jamal Murray. Off the bench, Malone looks like he’s going to run with Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther and insert-big-man-of-the-moment-here. That top eight is pretty solid. Prediction: By the time the playoffs roll around, those will be the only eight guys seeing any meaningful minutes for Denver, with Gordon playing as the backup five again.

• Julian Strawther’s tasks to this point have been to play defense, run the floor and shoot when he’s open. It’s fun to see him expanding his game a bit. This was a nice drive-and-kick play:

• The Warriors need to keep Andrew Wiggins involved in games more. Getting him only seven shots isn’t enough. He’s been the team’s second-best player this season. Maybe it was just an off night, but Golden State can’t go back to having Wiggins being just kind of out there for long stretches.

• Steve Kerr made the right call with trying to “protect” Trayce Jackson-Davis some by starting Kevon Looney. Both big men played well too. We’ve harped on the Warriors rotation being too stretched out, but there’s room for both Jackson-Davis and Looney to be every night guys against most teams.

Philadelphia 76ers - 110 at Charlotte Hornets - 104

• Philadelphia looked “zippier” against Charlotte, if that makes sense. The ball and player movement were a lot crisper. The spacing was better too. This is how they need to play when Joel Embiid is out. And there are elements they can incorporate when Embiid is back in the lineup too, because he’s such a good floor spacer at the five.

• Jared McCain has some of the small-guard scoring tricks already in his bag. The first clip is how Philly can really stress defenses with both McCain and Tyrese Maxey on the floor. McCain spaces deep. That extra step or two beyond the arc is more than a defender is used to closing to.

  When you are small and drive, you have to be crafty to finish. This was a nifty ball-fake by McCain to open himself up for the layup.

  The last one is the best small-guard trick of them all. McCain uses his shoulder (not his off-arm!) to create space to open up the step-back midrange jumper. Good stuff!

• This was pretty easily the best game Paul George has played as a Sixer. He had control of the offense, but did it without dominating the ball too much. That kind of balance is important for a team with a lot of scoring options.

• Kelly Oubre Jr. has been more aggressive in the last few games. Sometimes this year, it’s looked like Oubre was trying too hard to keep the ball moving instead of being himself.

• Nick Richards’ energy and hustle are showing up big time for the Hornets. It’s great to see him back in the lineup.

• I’m going to keep harping on it, because it’s been a bright spot: Tidjane Salaun has rebounded really well for an undersized four. He showed this in flashes while playing in France, but Salaun’s rebounding has been consistently good for Charlotte.

• It was good to see Nick Smith Jr. get some run. He was pretty solid too. The Hornets need someone (anyone!) to help Brandon Miller with the scoring load. Let’s see if Smith can do that.

San Antonio Spurs - 93 at Phoenix Suns - 104

• Sigh…the Suns looked terrific again with all of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the lineup. Alas, Durant left the game early with a sprained ankle. Things happen, but it’s worrisome how little time we’ve seen the Suns with their three main guys together.

• Mason Plumlee came off the bench and he’s so much better in that role than starting. Plumlee brought pretty good energy and did a nice job with his rim protection in this one.

• OSO!!!

  If you thought I wasn’t going to highlight Oso Ighodaro in a game that he started, you really don’t me at all, do you?

  First, Ighodaro doesn’t want to shoot this jumper. (Will that come or not? That’s going to be huge in his development.) But the courage to take Victor Wembanyama off the bounce before dropping in a floater over him is something!

  The second clip is the real money though. Short-roll passing is such an important skill for a big man. The zip on this pass to the opposite corner is elite stuff for a center:

• Devin Booker is so good. The Spurs had no answer for him, and they tried a lot of different looks. Because Booker is such a good passer, he’s perfectly willing to accept the extra defender and to open up his teammates.

• Despite the above, and it being a baptism by fire, Stephon Castle hung in against Booker better than any rookie probably should. The jumper needs a lot of work, but Castle is already reading the floor better with each game.

• This was probably as close to the Spurs ideal rotation (minus Tre Jones backup point guard minutes) as we’ve seen. Next up: When does Devin Vassell regain his starting spot in place of Julian Champagnie? Or does that leave the Spurs too small? If they are too small, how soon is Stephon Castle ready for the primary on-ball role to slot Vassell in beside him?

• Good to see Jeremy Sochan back and doing his jack-of-all-trades thing. He’s a funky player and a good fit around the Spurs other guys.