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The Opening Tip
The points have swooned
Anthony Edwards is transcending
Luka’s triple-double streak is now historic
Must-watch games
1. Scoring is down now
The Magic scored 75 points on Friday night, a new season-low by any team. Last night, the Knicks topped (bottomed?) that by scoring 73, matching Luka Doncic’s single-game output vs. the Hawks earlier this season.
These games are drastic but indicative: Since the NBA’s scoring averages went gonzo in October, November, December and January -- creating a decent measure of bad press and existential questions -- the averages have plummeted.
Pre-All-Star Break, the NBA’s average offensive rating was 115.2. Post, it’s 113.3.
In simpler terms, teams averaged 115.7 PPG before. Since, they’re averaging 111.8.
Unders in the first six games after the ASB went 38-12-1.
Free-throw attempts have slid from 22.7 per game per team pre-break to 20 post.
This could be fatigue, technically, but Ethan Strauss, via his newsletter, floated this on Saturday:
‘Nearly everyone within the NBA believes Adam Silver’s league secretly changed its rules, midseason, due to public pressure.’
OK.
The big alleged rule change is how drives to the basket are reffed, wrote Strauss:
‘These drives where an offensive player initiates contact just aren’t getting that modern easy whistle. I’m in contact with NBA staffers who are pulling their hair out over how, midseason, rule enforcement has suddenly changed.’
We’ve got six games tonight. Watch out for less scoring and more complaining after no-calls.
[READ: GMs and HCs think the NBA changed its rules midseason]
2. Daily GIF: This close 🤏
Ant Edwards almost ended Anthony Davis last night a few days after his game-winning, Play of the Year Candidate block vs. the Pacers.
3. Trivia
Nikola Jokic has the most-triple doubles this decade (2020-present) with 97. Who’s second?
• LeBron
4. Numbers we found interesting but couldn’t find a higher use for
30-point triple-doubles
Luka Doncic on Saturday became the first player to have six straight 30-point triple-doubles. For the season, he’s averaging 34.8-9-9.8.
88 games
Heard on the Knicks’ broadcast last night: Walt Bellamy has the record for games played in one season with 88(!).
45 double-doubles
Domantas Sabonis has a current streak of 45 straight double-doubles, which is eight away from tying Kevin Love’s post-NBA-ABA merger of 53. Sabonis is averaging 20-13.5-8.4 on 61% shooting, but didn’t make the All-Star Game.
1,208 games
LeBron has now scored 10-plus points in 1,208 straight games, which a Redditor points out is longer than Shaq’s career.
Quick hits
Kobe’s statue somehow has a bunch of spelling errors in it.
Rudy Gobert got hit with a mondo fine after suggesting the NBA’s referees are influenced by gambling money.
Austin Reaves knows how to dribble that thing.
There was a guy at the Warriors game on Saturday who looked exactly like Steve Kerr.
Ben Simmons update: Ben Simmons is out for the season.
Reads
Ted Leonsis’s suburban arena scam is nearly kaput [Defector]
KAT’s injury feels particularly cruel [The Ringer]
Why no lead is safe in the NBA anymore [ESPN]
That's the buzzer.
Thanks for reading the 366th edition of The Grip.