7 Days of NBA with Eric Gray

This week I felt like changing it up, so I'm gonna break down who I have winning each award at the end of the year. Here is who I chose: MVP: Nikola Jokic This is a tough choice, as this year there hasn't been a clear leader like prior awards. There are several options I could have given this to, including Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid.  I ended up going with Nikola Jokic due to a couple different reasons. The first is that he has been very consistent this whole year. Steph, Luka and Embiid all had spurts where they weren't putting up the insane numbers they are. The other reason is the team success, as even with losing Jamal Murray, the Nuggets have still been playing great and show no signs of falling. Steph Curry is putting up crazy numbers, but I think that the fact that his team is fighting for a spot for the play-in tourney will hold him back. Voter fatigue will kick in when they analyze Giannis, Embiid has been inj

Hi everyone and welcome back to 7 Days of NBA. This week, we saw shocking news of a retirement, the battle for the first pick heating up, and the unique playoff scenarios that are aligning. Let's jump in. Major Takeaways 1. LaMarcus Aldridge This past week, we saw the shocking news that LaMarcus Aldridge was retiring immediately. At first, I was confused, until I saw the reason. In his last game, Aldridge suffered an irregular heartbeat that eventually led to him going to the hospital after that game. Aldridge is already getting older in age, and having a major health concern pop up like that led to him retiring. I think people forget how good Aldridge was, as he has spent the last few years of his career on a mediocre Spurs team. LA had one of the best midrange games the NBA has ever seen, helping to expand the big man from outside the post. If Greg Oden and Brandon Roy didn't have all the injury issues that they did, that Trail Blazers team could have potentially been a conte

Welcome back to 7 Days of NBA. This week I realized how much the short offseason is affecting the teams, the effect of the new play-in tournaments, and a confusing race for the MVP. Let's jump in. Major Takeaways: 1. Ouch... The short offseason and crammed 72-game plan is hurting the players more than it ever has. This week, we saw the Nuggets take a massive blow with losing Jamal Murray for the season with a torn ACL. The Nuggets immediately went from a contender to potentially a first round loss. James Wiseman also suffered a season-ending injury which hurts Steph and the Warriors as they try to get into the postseason. Other big names that are still struggling with all their injuries are James Harden, Kevin Durant, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, T.J. Warren, Lebron James, Anthony Davis and Jimmy Butler. The overall list of injuries is much longer than any team expects, and it is apparent the short offseason and the frequency of their games is taking a big toll. The second half of

Welcome back to 7 Days of NBA. This week we saw the start of the end for the Toronto Raptors, the impact of the trade deadline and buyouts, and seen the future of some franchises become questioned. Let's hop in. Major Takeaways: 1. It's Time for the Raptors to Start Over Just two years ago, the Toronto Raptors were celebrating a championship and seemed to be a real threat for the following years with their budding star in Pascal Siakam. Now, the Raptors sit at 20-31 and 11th in the East. The Raptors are stuck in a weird spot. Siakam has taken a step back and has proven that he can't be the leader of the team. Kyle Lowry is only going to get older, and seems like he wants out so he can try to get another ring. Fred VanVleet is a great point guard, but he is being asked to carry too much of the offense. This team just doesn't fit, and I think the Raptors are starting to realize it. They have good young players in OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., but I think it's time to

One of the most interesting times of the season is the trade deadline and buyout season. Teams decide whether to blow up their roster and restart, retool to get better, or add that last piece they might need to make a push for the championship. This year, we saw all three, so let's jump into what went down. 1. Trade Deadline: Adding the Missing Pieces This year's deadline saw several teams adding what they may think is the last piece that they need to try to win the finals. One of the biggest moves was Victor Oladipo to Miami, which adds a great backcourt piece to the Heat. Miami could use more depth and a shot creator off of their bench, and Oladipo provides exactly that. The Rockets got back Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and the option to swap picks. One of the biggest pieces the Rockets got back in their Harden trade was Oladipo, and to get back that disappointing of a return should make any Rockets fan unhappy. I think the Heat easily won the trade, and the Rockets further pr

Hi everybody and welcome back to 7 Days of NBA. After a week of the All-Star break and a week of March Madness, I am back with my usual NBA content. This week, we saw two huge injuries, rumors swirling about the trade deadline, and a battle that is the East playoff picture. Let's jump into takeaways. Major Takeaways: 1. Who can Survive the Injuries? Injuries are becoming more and more of an issue as we fight through the second half of the season. The biggest injury as of recent was LeBron James, who was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after landing awkwardly in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. This leaves the Lakers without LeBron and Anthony Davis for at least the next 1-2 weeks, which could hurt their spot in the West come time for the playoffs. The Lakers have been careful with Davis and his return, which is the smart move to make considering the possibility of a re-injury. LeBron will take the time he needs to come back, but the big question is if the rest of the team and c