As the NBA prepares for the restart of the 2019-20 season, all eyes are on Orlando and whether the “bubble city” can work without any COVID-19 outbreaks or other setbacks. While players begin to prepare for the restart, plenty of news has circulated through the basketball world. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories over the last week.
Nuggets Expect Jokic Back Soon
According to Denver Nuggets’ head coach Mike Malone, in an interview with reporters, center Nikola Jokic is expected to rejoin the team sometime this week.
After testing positive during the break in his home country of Serbia, Jokic was required to have two consecutive negative tests before he could return to the United States. He will still need two additional negative tests before he can resume playing, but it is certainly a positive sign that the organization anticipates his return soon.
Jokic is a key component at any chance the Nuggets have of winning an NBA title this season. This season, Jokic has averaged 20.2 points on 52.8% shooting, as well as adding 10.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over 65 games.
According to FanDuel.com, the Nuggets currently sit at +2500 to win the NBA championship this season, which ranks as tied for 6th in terms of best odds to win it all (tied with the Boston Celtics).
Paul George Back To 100%
While no one has enjoyed the break in sports, there have been silver linings for players dealing with injuries, both severe and nagging. A prime example is Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers.
George had surgery on both shoulders last offseason, and while he played prior to the break, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that George finally feels fully healthy and ready for the NBA restart.
George missed training camp and the first 11 games of the season, but since averaged 21 points on 43.2% shooting, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game over 42 games.
According to FanDuel.com, the Clippers are given the third-best odds to win the NBA Finals at +320, only trailing the Milwaukee Bucks (+240) and Los Angeles Lakers (+260). With Kawhi Leonard and a healthy Paul George, the Clippers will certainly be a dangerous team in the league’s restart.
Williamson Ready To Restart
After undergoing knee surgery for a torn right lateral meniscus, Zion Williamson got off to a bit of a slow start. Not only was he not able to suit up for the first time until January, but the transition after such a delay took some time, too.
That is not to say that Zion was bad in the games he was able to play. In 19 games, the power forward averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Still, Williamson used the break in the season to continue working on his conditioning and other parts of his game. It now appears that he is slimmer and more muscular and could be a lot of fun to watch as the NBA restarts.
Right now, at 3.5 games out, the Pelicans would be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs; however, if the Pelicans make a run, they could force a play-in-series, which ultimately could result in a first-round matchup of Zion and the Pelicans versus LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Crawford Signed By Nets
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Jamal Crawford for the rest of the season.
To say the Nets are shorthanded would be a bit of an understatement. For the restart, they will be missing Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant (has been out all season), DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler, and others. As a result, they will try to fill some of the void with the 40-year-old Crawford.
Crawford has not played since the 2018-19 season, when he played for the Phoenix Suns. That season he played in 64 games, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 rebounds per game.
