New Year, Same Buckets

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Happy New Year, Enjoyers! As 2022 turns into merely a memory, we welcome 2023 with open arms and a refreshed feeling of hope. Apparently, the best players in the NBA really wanted to end the calendar year on a positive note because there were plenty of buckets to go around this weekend. Let's get into it!

Newsletter Preview

Goodbye 2022: The NBA closes out the calendar year with a wild weekend of hoops.

EB Roundtable: The EB community talks about their favorite performances of all time.

PrizePicks

We may be in a new year, but we can guarantee that one thing will stay the same ... and that is that PrizePicks will always be the quickest way to play daily fantasy, the best way to multiply your money in a hurry, and the easiest way to add a little extra fun to your sports-watching experience.

Do you think Zach LaVine will score more than 21.5 points on Monday? What about LaMelo Ball grabbing over seven rebounds? PrizePicks lets you call the shots! Just make your picks, submit them, then watch your guys in action! You can choose anywhere from 2-6 players on PrizePicks, and they give you a ton of flexibility, letting you pick from points, rebounds, assists, and a ton more categories!

The EB crew has been on a heater all season, so whether you're riding with us or making picks on your own, we want to see your selections! Make sure to tag us on Twitter with your choices!

*PrizePicks entries must contain two or more projections. PrizePicks is available to residents 18 years and older in AK, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MI, MN, NE, NY, NM, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY. 19+ in AL. 21+ in AZ, MA.

Highlights From Friday & Saturday

If you, the reader of this newsletter, said you scored like 18 points in an NBA game on Friday, we'd probably believe you. Buckets were plentiful in the association.

Rumor has it that LeBron James spends $1 million on his body every year, and when he does something like post a 47/10/9 masterpiece on his 38th birthday, that rumor seems pretty feasible. Do you think he would combust if he ate a D.P. Dough calzone? 

Speaking of players who might be martians, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his second-straight 40-point, 20-rebound game, which doesn't feel like a real sentence. CJ McCollum lit up the Sixers by hitting a New Orleans franchise-best 11 three-pointers in a Pels win, Jordan Poole's 41 helped Golden State top Portland, and Zach LaVine dropped a cool 43 as the Bulls improved to 5-1 in their last six outings. Phew.

On Saturday, things kicked off with a great matinee matchup between the Pacers & Clippers, where Paul George's 45 & 9 came up just short. Also, can someone start a petition to have afternoon games every weekend forever? Luka Doncic (a pedestrian 51/9/6) and the Mavericks are incapable of playing a normal game as they escaped with a win over San Antonio, and Tyler Herro closed out the year in style.

Sunday's (Small) Slate

Ja Morant's scoring, Steven Adams' rebounding power Grizzlies past Kings 118-108

Everyone always wants to watch great scorers duel each other, but what about great rebounders? That's what we got on Sunday night in Memphis, as Domantas Sabonis and Steven Adams battled on the boards. Adams (23 rebounds, 13 offensive!) and the Grizzlies (23-13) had the edge in this one, taking down Sabonis (14 rebounds) and the Kings (19-16). Ja Morant was his usual spectacular self, scoring 35 points, and Tyus Jones was a steadying force off the bench with 18 points & eight assists; Memphis was not short on energy, even on the second night of a back-to-back.

Box Score

Wizards go to work down low, thrash shorthanded Bucks 118-95

Breaking news: not having Giannis Antetokounmpo negatively impacts your team's defense. Milwaukee (23-13) experienced that firsthand on Sunday, allowing 72 points in the paint to Washington (17-21). Rui Hachimura led the Wizards with 26 points. Washington is in a tough spot right now—they have talent on their team but are still struggling to stay above .500. It will be fascinating to see how they approach the trade deadline next month.

Box Score

Jokic dominates as Denver beats Boston 123-111 ... eventually

What do you think it feels like to dunk a ball so hard that you bend the rim and delay a game for over 30 minutes? We know what it feels like since we do it all the time, but ... what do you think it feels like? Anyway, that's what Robert Williams III did on Sunday night, finishing a lob pass with 6:43 left in the game and making the rim uneven in the process. When the game eventually got back underway, Denver (24-12) kept enough distance between them and Boston (26-11) to capture a very impressive win. Nikola Jokic posted a 30-point triple-double on 77% shooting. Don't even know what to say about that man anymore. MVP X3?

Box Score

EB Roundtable

There's no better feeling than watching a performance that you know is special. For this edition of EB Roundtable, we wanted to know;

Let's take a trip down the boulevard of your memories.

Time flies; because Tim Duncan's legendary Finals performance against the Nets already being two decades ago feels impossible. 21 points, 20 rebounds, ten assists, eight blocks. One championship. An all-around dominant performance from a player at the height of his greatness. 

Ask any Blazer fan about Brandon Roy, and they'll immediately turn into that Vince McMahon meme. "He was special." He really was, though. By 2011, Roy's knees were pretty much wrecked, and his painfully short career was winding down. But "The Natural" wasn't leaving Portland before giving the fans one more signature moment. Have your tissues nearby for this one.

Isaiah Thomas was absolute must-watch TV in 2016-17. He was "clear your schedule to watch the Celtics" level good. And his 53 points against Washington in the playoffs may have been his tour de force. Just complete control of the game at all times. What a fun stretch IT had.

Latest Basketball News

McMillan Considering Resignation: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Nate McMillan has considered stepping down from his position as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta is 17-19, and there have been multiple reports of turmoil within its locker room so far this year.

What We're Enjoying

Abbott Elementary: This is one of the funniest shows on TV, period. Quinta Brunson's workplace sitcom follows the teachers and administrators at the fictional "Abbott Elementary," an under-funded Philadelphia elementary school. It's so good.

The Gist: A women-led sports website and newsletter, The Gist provides news and updates on pretty much every sport you can imagine. More women in sports media!

Good Reads

Which comes first in NBA - expansion or a female head coach? - Jeff Zillgit (USA Today)

Hornets' Jalen McDaniels thriving after "taking the long route" to NBA - Alex Kennedy (Basketball News)

Signing Off

Good luck with your resolutions, everyone. If you fail at all of them (no shame, we all do), one thing you can always succeed at is how much kindness you spread. Talk soon!

-Quinn Everts

P.S.: We released the first edition of "Out Of Bounds" on Sunday! The first edition was sent to everyone, but from here on out, you'll only receive the 2x monthly newsletter covering NBA off-court news & culture if you've referred the regular newsletter (the one you're reading right now) to three people! Thank you all so much for your continued support.

Trivia Answer: The most prolific scorer of the 1980s? That would be the perpetually underrated Alex English!

Trivia Question: Which state has produced the most active NBA players?