i nbasimsleague.com - Game of the Week
CLE 98
NY 159
MEM 114
LAL 123
CHI 117
NY 144
NY 126
CHI 105
IND 109
CLE 116
LAL 126
UTAH 99
CHI 139
NY 134
CLE 110
IND 134
POR 129
SA 120
UTAH 116
LAL 129
WAS 136
MIL 132
CHA 109
MIA 127
NY 133
CHI 101
SA 122
POR 99
GS 128
HOU 135
NBA SIMS LEAGUE
Edwards and Flagg combine for 74 points to push Portland past the Spurs and into the Second Round ...  
May 23 6:59 am


Houston (46 - 36)

Expert Pick
0% ><···················· 100%


Charlotte (48 - 34)

Battle of the Bandaided



Well it's that time in the year when the legs are sore, the physios overworked and the run to the playoffs is up for grabs with big names sporting their fashion lines on the sidelines.

Both teams enter this matchup with major pieces on the sideline, forcing adjustments that could define not just this game - but their seasons.  (And one of these teams doesn't even have a GM)

The Stakes
 - Houston (32-29, 6th in the West) - on a four game losing streak and 4-6 L/10
 - Charlotte (36-28, 7th in the East) - 8-2 since jettisoning their GM and racing for home and a 6 seed

The Teams
Houston still boast one of the leagues best offences, but have seen big dropoffs in PPG since losing Tyrese Maxey. 

Key Absenses
 - Tyrese Haliburton
 - Tyrese Maxey 
 - Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Charlotte's porous in defence, but make up for is by pourning in the pts at the other end.  The names on the IR might mean something, but they're just getting on with racking up Ws.

Key Absenses
 - Ja Morant
 - Miles McBride
 - T.J McConnell
 - Kelly Oubre Jnr

Rockets Star

Nikola Jokic

Even by his own standards, Nikola Jokic has been operating at a different level.

Last week alone, he's averaged 31/15/8 on .59 and .50 from three.  Forget defending him, just limit his damage.

The rebounding jump is especially significant.  With Houston missing key guards, Jokic has taken on even more responsibility, controlling possessions from start to finish - securing the ball, initiating sets, and creating advantages.

Defensively, his impact has also shown up with 3 steals a game
 

 
PPG 28.9
RPG 14.5
APG 7.9
SPG 2.0
BPG 1.5
FPG 2.2
TPG 1.6

 
PPG 29.1
RPG 10.7
APG 4.7
SPG 1.7
BPG 1.2
FPG 1.9
TPG 1.5

Hornets Star

Edrice Adebayo

If Charlotte are going to control this game, it starts with Bam. If last weeks form is anything to go by he is ready for the challenge.

Across his last four games, Adebayo has been quietly dominant, averaging 38/12/6 on .68FG and .43 from the arc.

What stands out most is his balance. Adebayo isn't dominating through volume, he's doing it through efficiency and control.  His +9.8 plus/minus reflects that Charlotte are consistently better when he's on the floor, with his decision-making stablising both offence and defence.


X-Factor
THE TEAM WHO HANDLES THE MISSING PIECES BETTER

This game won't be decided by the stars.

It'll be decided by who survives without them.

 - Can Houston's role players get back in the game and overcome their missing guards?
 - Can Charlotte continue to generate enough offence to out run their defence?


Injury Report
Injured Players:
Branden Carlson () - 9 NBA Games missed this season
Miles McBride () - 35 NBA Games missed this season
Ja Morant (--) - 48 NBA Games missed this season
Kelly Oubre (--) - 29 NBA Games missed this season

Returning Players:
T.J. McConnell (returning from ) - 20 NBA Games missed this season

Injured Players:
Tyrese Maxey () - 9 NBA Games missed this season
Tyrese Haliburton () - 70 NBA Games missed this season
Drew Eubanks () - 11 NBA Games missed this season



Prediction
If Jokic can outpace Adebayo and force even bigger cracks in Charlotte's defence, their losing streak will end, but if Bam and the boys keep knocking them down, it'll be a race to the finish.

Charlotte by 9