NBA Season 2025-26

[Who]

Jokic had 55pts last night on 18-23 FGA and 14-16 FTA. That is ridiculous. Then added 12 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure. How do you a beat a team when a guy goes off like that? Wow.

[Donoghus]

The fact that OKC could get 2 top ten picks is scary.

[keevsnick]

The fact that OKC could get 2 top ten picks is scary.

The Jazz pick is top 8 protected, and with Kessler out and the Jazz determined to tank this year I'd say there's a very good chance that pick doesn't convey.

Alos interesting to see the top 4 lottery odds all going to East teams. One underrated of Western dominance has been lottery luck. Both Wemby and Flagg going West is good for the Celtics, but bad for conference balance. Seeing some top talent go East would help.

[Phantom255x]

I tried Tankathon just once right now and Boston moved up from 11 to 3

Maybe I'm the lucky charm that night? 

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
15m
An MRI today on Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero confirmed a left groin strain, and he will miss Friday's game against the Brooklyn Nets and be evaluated daily moving forward, sources tell ESPN.

[SHAQATTACK]

I tried Tankathon just once right now and Boston moved up from 11 to 3

Maybe I'm the lucky charm that night? 

Time to sit people at the end of games .  We got Joe the tank man coaching ,   That an?t no fake tanking there?..just good planning on Brads part. 

[Who]

Phoenix have been an early season surprise. 7 wins 5 losses.

* Grayson Allen & Royce O'Neale are lighting it up from 3. G Allen is #1 in the league in three point makes. O'Neale is #3 in the league. G Allen is giving them 19ppg on 63% TS. O'Neale is on 12.8ppg but on 66.2% TS.

* Devin Booker is putting up big numbers. 28ppg 7.2apg. He is shooting 49.6% FG 38% 3PT 88% FT line with 8 attempts per game. A TS 61.8%. He has 4.2 turnovers a game but against 28ppg and 7.2apg with that scoring efficiency - that is great efficiency.

* Mark Williams gives them another hyper efficient scoring threat as a rim running center. 25mpg 12ppg 8.7rpg. 65% TS.

Those 3 guys are giving Devin Booker some major help. They are spreading out the floor and killing whenever anyone helps onto Booker.

* Dillon Brooks has only played half their games. He hasn't shot the ball well but he was scoring 18ppg and more interestingly he is taking a high volume of 3s. He is taking 8 threes a game matching Royce O'Neale. If D Brooks had of played enough games, that would give PHX 3 guys in the top 10 for three point attempts in G Allen, R O'Neale and D Brooks.

* Conor Gillispie the backup PG is taking 6.3 threes per game in only 23.5mpg.

So PHX got loads of three point shooters around Devin Booker + a dangerous roll man in Mark Williams. And Devin Booker is taking care of his end as the focal point of the offense. A lot of that offensive foundation looks like stuff they can maintain going forward. PHX might actually be okay this year.

PHX are also 15th in defensive efficiency. I am not convinced that is sustainable but the offense looks on solid ground.

One variable in the mix is the return of Jalen Green. He has played only 2 games. He has been an inefficient player throughout his career. He has been a shot-happy player throughout his career. He has been a subpar passer throughout his career. Will his return screw up this offensive engine PHX have created?

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
2m
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson sustained a Grade 1 right ankle sprain and will miss Friday's game against the Miami Heat, sources tell ESPN. He will be evaluated daily.

[Who]

Jokic had 55pts last night on 18-23 FGA and 14-16 FTA. That is ridiculous. Then added 12 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure. How do you a beat a team when a guy goes off like that? Wow.

RealGM forum has a thread with Jokic's averages for the last 9 games

26ppg 12rpg 13apg on 80% TS

That was 9 games. Including last night makes it 10 games. So all his games except for the season opener.

29.6ppg 13.1rpg 11apg

73.4% on 15.4 FGA
51.4% on 3.5 3PTA
86.7% on 6.0 FTA
82% TS

Adam Mares
@Adam_Mares

Jokic's touch on hooks, floaters, and mid-range is unmatched

0-3 ft: 92%
3-10 ft: 70%
10-16 ft: 73%
16-3pt: 100%

[Neurotic Guy]

Jokic had 55pts last night on 18-23 FGA and 14-16 FTA. That is ridiculous. Then added 12 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure. How do you a beat a team when a guy goes off like that? Wow.

RealGM forum has a thread with Jokic's averages for the last 9 games

26ppg 12rpg 13apg on 80% TS

That was 9 games. Including last night makes it 10 games. So all his games except for the season opener.

29.6ppg 13.1rpg 11apg

73.4% on 15.4 FGA
51.4% on 3.5 3PTA
86.7% on 6.0 FTA
82% TS

Adam Mares
@Adam_Mares

Jokic's touch on hooks, floaters, and mid-range is unmatched

0-3 ft: 92%
3-10 ft: 70%
10-16 ft: 73%
16-3pt: 100%

How many shots from 16 - 3pt at 100%?   The numbers are unbelievable.

[keevsnick]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
15m
An MRI today on Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero confirmed a left groin strain, and he will miss Friday's game against the Brooklyn Nets and be evaluated daily moving forward, sources tell ESPN.

Hard to get a beat on how serious this injury is from this description. It seems like teams these days more and more resist the idea of putting out a timetable, but if he has a grown strain I'd assume it's a minimum of about 1-2 weeks even for a mild strain.

Means he might miss the Celtics game on the 23rd.

[Who]

Jokic had 55pts last night on 18-23 FGA and 14-16 FTA. That is ridiculous. Then added 12 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure. How do you a beat a team when a guy goes off like that? Wow.

RealGM forum has a thread with Jokic's averages for the last 9 games

26ppg 12rpg 13apg on 80% TS

That was 9 games. Including last night makes it 10 games. So all his games except for the season opener.

29.6ppg 13.1rpg 11apg

73.4% on 15.4 FGA
51.4% on 3.5 3PTA
86.7% on 6.0 FTA
82% TS

Adam Mares
@Adam_Mares

Jokic's touch on hooks, floaters, and mid-range is unmatched

0-3 ft: 92%
3-10 ft: 70%
10-16 ft: 73%
16-3pt: 100%

How many shots from 16 - 3pt at 100%?   The numbers are unbelievable.

These are numbers from B-Ref.com for all 11 games Jokic has played

Rim Attempts = 42-45 FGA 93.3%
3-10 feet = 45-66 FGA 68.2%
10-16 feet = 8-12 FGA 66.7%
16-23 feet = 6-6 FGA 100%
3PT = 20-48 41.7%

So just 6 attempts. Slightly different numbers to Adam Mares. Not sure what stats he is using exactly. Or maybe it excludes that 1st game. Not sure.

[slamtheking]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
15m
An MRI today on Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero confirmed a left groin strain, and he will miss Friday's game against the Brooklyn Nets and be evaluated daily moving forward, sources tell ESPN.

Hard to get a beat on how serious this injury is from this description. It seems like teams these days more and more resist the idea of putting out a timetable, but if he has a grown strain I'd assume it's a minimum of about 1-2 weeks even for a mild strain.

Means he might miss the Celtics game on the 23rd.

Sam Malone has the beat on groin injuries

[Neurotic Guy]

Jokic had 55pts last night on 18-23 FGA and 14-16 FTA. That is ridiculous. Then added 12 rebounds and 6 assists for good measure. How do you a beat a team when a guy goes off like that? Wow.

RealGM forum has a thread with Jokic's averages for the last 9 games

26ppg 12rpg 13apg on 80% TS

That was 9 games. Including last night makes it 10 games. So all his games except for the season opener.

29.6ppg 13.1rpg 11apg

73.4% on 15.4 FGA
51.4% on 3.5 3PTA
86.7% on 6.0 FTA
82% TS

Adam Mares
@Adam_Mares

Jokic's touch on hooks, floaters, and mid-range is unmatched

0-3 ft: 92%
3-10 ft: 70%
10-16 ft: 73%
16-3pt: 100%

How many shots from 16 - 3pt at 100%?   The numbers are unbelievable.

These are numbers from B-Ref.com for all 11 games Jokic has played

Rim Attempts = 42-45 FGA 93.3%
3-10 feet = 45-66 FGA 68.2%
10-16 feet = 8-12 FGA 66.7%
16-23 feet = 6-6 FGA 100%
3PT = 20-48 41.7%

So just 6 attempts. Slightly different numbers to Adam Mares. Not sure what stats he is using exactly. Or maybe it excludes that 1st game. Not sure.

Pretty great. 

[Who]

Amen Thompson

Amen Thompson has been playing much better after a mixed start. His splits from October (4 games) to Nov (6 games) show this improvement well.

Oct = 14.5ppg 5.3rpg 5.3apg 51.1% TS
Nov = 19.7ppg 6.7rpg 5.8apg 57.8% TS

Reed Sheppard

Reed Sheppard has been putting up impressive numbers in 22mpg off the bench. 12.2ppg 3.2apg 1.4spg 2.2rpg. A 3.2apg to 1.7 turnovers per game ratio. He is shooting 49.5% FG and 50% from 3PT with almost 2/3rds of his attempts coming from 3. A TS% of 64.8%.

That is great per minute production. His per 36 min stats show just how impressive it is. 19.9pts per 36, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. 3 stocks. A defensive playmaker. Solid assist numbers. Very good scoring per minute.

Houston's Supporting Cast

Houston are getting some major offensive efficiency from their supporting cast.

* Reed Sheppard = 64.8% TS
* Josh Okogie = 66.9% TS
* Tari Eason = 66.8% TS

And of course the two dunkers

* S Adams = 65% TS
* C Capela = 72% TS

Both S Adams and C Capela are putting up league leading rates of offensive rebounds. S Adams is #1 in the league at 26.2% offensive rebounding rate. Capela is at 28.7% but he has only played half the minutes of S Adams so he doesn't rank. Not enough minutes or rebounds to rank.

That is great efficiency to get from your supporting cast. Your 5 role players around your main guys. Obviously Durant also is a highly efficient scorer as well (62.2% TS). Sengun is closer to average in terms of scoring efficiency (58% TS) but his passing is great and he generates a lot of offensive value there. Jabari Smith only 55.6%. Amen 55.4%. So the supporting cast is driving a lot of this high yield offensive production.

That reminds me of the 1995 Rockets team. They caught fire in the playoffs. Hakeem and Drexler were closer to league average in scoring efficiency. But all their shooters (Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, Mario Elie, Robert Horry) caught fire in the playoffs. Those role players played a much larger part in their playoff run than they got credit for. This 2026 Rockets team has a similar dynamic. Highly efficient suporting cast contributions.