NBADiscussi0ns

          Malik Monk has found great success in Sacramento after signing with the Kings in the summer of 2022. Monk would sign with the Kings on a two-year, $19.4 million deal. In his first season with the Kings, Malik Monk averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 35.9% from three-point range. Monk was a huge spark off the bench and was a huge contributor in ending the Kings sixteen year playoff drought.            Fast forward to this season, Monk has been having a career year, averaging a career high 15.4 points per game and 5.1 assists per game. In a recent matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, early in the first quarter, Malik Monk went to contest Luka Doncic who was driving to the basket. As Monk landed, Doncic fell on top of him and would leave the game without being able to return to action. It was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski that Malik Monk has been diagnosed with a sprained right MCL and  is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.           This is

          The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the most improved teams this season. Since 2020, the Thunder have ended up in the lottery but this season they are looking to make some noise in the playoffs. In the 2022 NBA draft, the Thunder had the second overall pick in the draft and selected 7 foot center Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga. Unfortunately, Holmgren suffered a foot injury that kept him sidelined for the entire 2022-23 season. The Thunder finished the 2022-23 season in the Play-In Tournament but failed to make the playoffs.            This season the Thunder's young core took a huge leap in the development process. For starters, Chet Holmgren has been healthy this season and has played in every game so far for the Thunder. Chet has been great in his first season in the NBA, he is averaging nearly 17 points per game while shooting 53.6% from the field and 38% from three-point range. He's also been averaging 8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Since this is technically

          The Houston Rockets have been making some noise this late in the season. Right now the Rockets are on a eight-game winning streak, having won ten of their last eleven games. Many would assume that the Rockets season was over after Sengun's injury against the Sacramento Kings. However, the Rockets have rallied together as they make a push to quality for the play-in tournament.            The teams that finish the season in the seventh to tenth seed of each conference will play extra games to quality for the playoffs. The Rockets are currently the eleventh seed in the Western Conference but after the Golden State Warriors loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Rockets are just one game behind from taking that tenth seed. The Rockets have been clicking on both sides of the court as they have won eight straight games. Another factor as to why the Rockets have found some success recently is Jalen Green.            Jalen Green has had his ups and downs all season especially wi

          The Washington Wizards have had a terrible season. There wasn't much expectations for the Wizards this season, especially after the departure of All-Star guard Bradley Beal but to be at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference and have the worst record overall is embarrassing. It is already official that the Washington Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention. Usually when teams are in a position like the Wizards are in right now, they give younger guys more minutes and reps to help with their development. One of the Wizards' young players, Bilal Coulibaly, is looking to be a cornerstone franchise piece.            Bilal Coulibaly was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Now with Bradley Beal gone, the Wizards are looking for Bilal to be their future. The young rookie forward has averaged 8.4 points while shooting 43.5% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range along with 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists. It was recently announced that Bilal

          Alperen Sengun is one of the young up-and-coming players in the NBA. He has had many comparisons to Nikola Jokic, mainly because of his ability to play at his own pace unbothered. Sengun had a case to be an All-Star this season, averaging career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (9.3) and assists (5.0). In a matchup against the Sacramento Kings, Sengun was running back on defense and went up to contest a shot by Domantas Sabonis. Sengun came down very awkwardly on his right leg, twisting his ankle and hyperextending his leg.            Sengen was hurt so bad that he had to be wheeled off the court. He would have an MRI the next day and it was just reported by Adrian Wojnarowski that Sengun avoided major injury on his right leg. He was diagnosed with a severe ankle sprain and bone bruise on his knee. This is a huge loss for the Rockets as they make an attempt to make a late-season push to qualify for the play-in tournament.            It was also reported by Adrian Wojnarowski

          The Atlanta Hawks have not been remotely close to reaching the success they had in 2021, when they had their magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. While they have made the playoffs since the 2021 season they have not made it past the first-round. This late in the season, the Hawks are 29-35 (tenth in the Eastern Conference standings). The Hawks are currently without Trae Young after undergoing surgery on his hand but now they have lost another rotational piece for the rest of the season.            It was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski that Atlanta Hawks forward Saddiq Bey has suffered a season-ending torn left ACL. In a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, early in the fourth quarter, Bey was running at full speed in transition and then hyperextended his left leg. Bey was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks at last year's trade deadline from the Detroit Pistons. He has been a great addition for the Hawks and plays solid basketball on both ends of the floor.      

          We all knew that the Oklahoma City Thunder had a good young core but nobody expected them to be at the top of the Western Conference. At the trade deadline, the Thunder acquired thirteen year veteran Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets. The Thunder gave up Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, two second-round picks and cash consideration. Hayward has played in five games for the Thunder so far since the trade and he is still learning to adjust to his new role. If Hayward can stay healthy and produce off the bench, he will end up being a solid addition to the young Thunder team looking to make a deep playoff run.            Bismack Biyombo started the season with the Memphis Grizzlies but would get waived in the month of January. After the trade deadline the Oklahoma City Thunder signed Biyombo for the rest of the season. He has only played in two games for the Thunder since he signed but he provides great veteran leadership and when called upon provides great defens