WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE WEEKEND

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

WEEKEND WINNERS AND LOSERS - 04/16/2021 - 04/18/2021

WINNERS:

JULIUS RANDLE - It's quite obvious he's running away with the Most Improved Player award. He won both games this weekend, moving the Knicks into a top-6 seed and out of the play-in tournament (for now). In his two games he averaged 38.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 8.5 APG, 3.0 SPG, and 4.0 3PG with 47/42/79 splits. This... coming from a power forward. While the Lakers ended up getting LeBron and Anthony Davis, Randle has been a godsend for a Knicks team that saw their only viable star go to the Mavericks a couple of years ago.

BRADLEY BEAL - The Wizards won both of their games over the weekend and are now basically tied for the 10-seed after their 4game winning streak. Beal has been the primary offensive weapon for this team and in his two weekend games have averaged 33.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 2.0 3PG. They still have a lot of work to do before they're a lock in the playoffs, but this is very optimistic for a team that many wrote off a few weeks ago. They have a soft schedule this week, so if there was any time for them to get hot, it's now.

PISTONS PROSPECTS - They have no real shot at making playoffs, but at least the develop of their young players looks optimistic. They have the 3rd worst record in the league, but their young star center, Isaiah Stewart had a big weekend, averaging 17.0 PPG, 16.5 APG, 2.0 BPG, and even chipped in a 3. He has some work to do at the line, but he could be a breakout candidate next year when he will likely start. Killian Hayes also did well this weekend, coming back from an injury after a lot of time off. He only played one game, but had 9 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals. His shot needs some work but his combination of size and speed will make him an excellent two-way point guard sooner, rather than later. 

LOSERS:

DALLAS MAVERICKS - I'm always critical of my Mavs, and this was just a bad weekend. This team lives and dies with how well Kristaps Porzingis is playing. When he's on, he's really strong, but when he's bad, everyone suffers. Luka Doncic can only do so much, and he might be starting to understand the struggles that LeBron had to suffer during the early parts of his career. The Mavericks are unlikely to avoid the play-in tournament, where anything could happen. While the Mavericks do have solid chemistry, it might be time to shuffle the deck in the off-season to make sure Luka has enough star power to remain in contention.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - They've been in a funk lately and it has caused them to slide outside of the top-10. With a few weeks left of games, they can hopefully flip the script, but right now you have a very competitive Spurs team refusing to give up on the season and a Warriors team led by lights-out Curry propelling them. Things don't get easier for them this week as they have to play the Nuggets, Nets, and Clippers, but do get a chance at the Spurs, which will help their standings.

UTAH JAZZ - Donovan Mitchell tweaked his ankle over the weekend, but honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. They only have 3 games this week, one of them against a tanking Minnesota team with a banged up KAT and another against the star-deprived Houston Rockets. They also play the Lakers tonight with no AD or LeBron, but with the Suns only 1.5 GB of the #1-seed, they have little room for error. Fortunately, Mitchell's injury doesn't sound severe, so hopefully he will make it back by next Friday when they go head-to-head with the Suns. For now, their schedule appears soft enough that Clarkson and Gobert can lead this team.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]

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