Season 2, Episode 14- No Looking Back

In this week's episode of "Diehlman at Halftime," I discuss:

Highlight: Denver Nuggets
Lowlight: Minnesota Timberwolves
Random Stat: Nick Richards' solid debut with the Phoenix Suns
Game of the Week: Boston Celtics @ L.A. Clippers

Also, listen to the perspective of our featured guest, Danny Ryan! (Follow him on Twitter @dannyry02 and Instagram at @dannyryan_).

"Aurora" interlude music written by Jeff Kaale
https://uppbeat.io/t/jeff-kaale/aurora
License code: HJ6W88QKKUB00FNS

Intro/outro written by Larry Diehlman

Release date: Monday, Jan. 20, 2025

Chapters

• 0:15 Introduction
• 1:01 Overview of the NBA this Week
• 3:35 Highlight
• 5:22 Lowlight
• 7:16 Danny Ryan Interview
• 21:19 Random Stat
• 22:55 Game of the Week
• 24:20 Conclusion

Transcript

**NOTE: Full episode transcript is below except the interview**

Introduction: Hello everybody, and welcome to episode #49 of “Diehlman at Halftime,” the NBA podcast that tops all others! I’m your host, Larry Diehlman. If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome abroad. And if you’ve been a loyal listener, welcome back! We have much to get to today and not a lot of time to do it. We have five sections that we’ll get into: a general overview of the NBA this week, and our usual “Highlight, Lowlight, Random Stat, and Game of the Week.”

Overview of the NBA this Week: It seems like the NBA could be getting a “friend” soon. LeBron James’ business manager and close friend Maverick Carter has been tapped by a group of private-equity fund investors to raise $5 billion to create an international basketball league to rival the NBA. The proposed league would sport six men’s and six women’s teams and play around the world. James is reportedly not involved with these plans. The group may try to tap private equity and sovereign wealth funds. Private equity funds are limited to a 20% stake in an NBA franchise and can’t serve in a governing role. The NBA-ABA merger, which gave the NBA the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets (who at one point were the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets), Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs, was the last time the NBA had a “rival.”

Bad news emerged for Charlotte Hornets fans this week. Brandon Miller, the Hornets’ second-year player, is out indefinitely due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. The second-overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama is averaging career-highs across the board. This is a tough blow to Charlotte, as their chances of grabbing a low play-in tournament seed are slowly dwindling. Miller has appeared in 27 of the Hornets’ 38 games this season.

Lastly, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has been tapped to coach one of the All-Star teams next month. The Thunder have the best record in the West. Daigneault is the first Oklahoma City head coach to receive a nod since Scott Brooks in 2014. A Thunder assistant coach will be the second head coach, and one Eastern Conference head coach and assistant will lead the other two. In total, there will be four All-Star teams. This is part of the new pickup-style tournament for All-Star Weekend. Three teams will be drafted by the “Inside the NBA” crew (Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith). The winner of the Rising Stars Challenge will comprise the fourth.

This is episode is entitled "No Looking Back."

So, who’s raising eyebrows at the moment?

Highlight: Denver is clicking on all cylinders, as they should be. The Nuggets are 26-16 and fourth in the Western Conference. Even though the Nuggets are just below other teams in the conference, like Oklahoma City, they have more experience. Nikola Jokić, the centerpiece of the team (pun intended), is arguably the best player in the NBA. Jokić is dropping 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, 9.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per night. He’s putting up career-highs in minutes, points (it’s the first time he’s averaging 30+ points, and he’s tied for third in the league), three-point percentage (it’s the first time over 40%, and he’s second in the league), assists (second in the league), and steals. Jokić has a league-high 18 triple-doubles. The man is almost averaging a triple-double as a center. LeBron James is second with eight. Denver is blessed with one of the top starting fives in the league. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. are all great options. Despite their bench unit being questionable, Russell Westbrook may have found a role here. The 36-year-old has had some double-doubles and triple-doubles in the last few games. Once the playoffs approach, the questionable bench unit might haunt them. Could they be a trade deadline dark horse? We shall see. Their next game is tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m. They will host the Philadelphia 76ers.

Lowlight: A lot can happen in the span of eight months, especially to a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are 22-20 and eighth in the West. It’s interesting to see Minnesota literally in the middle of the pack in the West, given they’re coming off a Conference Finals appearance. One major reason is the Karl-Anthony Towns trade to New York. The main pieces of the transaction were Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. However, Anthony Edwards is the team’s leader, averaging 26.1 points (which is his career-high), 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He’s also hitting 42.9% of his triples. This is the first time he’s hitting over 40%. Even in Towns’ absence, Rudy Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner in the paint. He even won it last year! Players like Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, and current Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid are solid in the rotation. One could argue that maybe the Timberwolves haven’t meshed together yet. Another argument is the rise of other teams in the conference, like Houston and Memphis. I’d be shocked if this team can’t win at least one playoff series later in the spring. Their next game is today, Monday, Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m. They will be in Memphis to play the Grizzlies.

Interview Segue: To get more insight into our “Lowlight” this week, we have our third guest on “Diehlman at Halftime” season two. Let’s get into it!

Danny Ryan Interview

Random Stat: With the NBA trade deadline closing in, two teams got a head start. On Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets traded center Nick Richards and a second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Josh Okogie and three-second round picks. In Richards’ Phoenix debut, he dropped 21 points on 7/8 shooting and 11 rebounds off the bench. He’s now the first Sun in franchise history to have a double-double of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. How’s that for a new chapter! Richards spent his first four-and-a-half seasons in the Queen City after being drafted late in the second round in 2020. With the exception of last year, he’s been mostly used as a reserve. He was averaging career-highs 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this season with Charlotte in 21 minutes per contest. The Suns made this trade to beef up their frontcourt. Jusuf Nurkić, who has been their starting center, was recently benched alongside guard Bradley Beal. Nurkić has been a massive liability. Richards brings defense and an injection of youth (he’s three years younger than Nurkić). Richards is under contract through next season, so the Suns have plenty of time to decide if he’s part of their long-term plans. For now, so far, so good.

Game of the Week: For this week’s “Game of the Week,” let’s try Boston Celtics @ L.A. Clippers. This game is on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 10:30 p.m. Even with this being a twice-a-year matchup due to being non-conference opponents, it’ll still be a good primetime game. Boston and L.A. last faced off on Nov. 25 in Beantown. The Celtics smacked the Clippers 126-94. The Clippers have momentum from last week by bludgeoning Brooklyn by 59 points and Portland by 29 points. Boston had a tough couple of days versus weaker opponents. The Celtics are expected to repeat as champions this season. Meanwhile, the Clippers have been making themselves known in the Western Conference. James Harden is doing James Harden things. Norman Powell is thriving with Paul George gone (and with Kawhi Leonard being injured/being away with his family). Behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston will always be tough. Boston’s Joe Mazzulla and L.A.’s Ty Lue are championship-proven coaches. I’m going with the Celtics to complete the sweep 120-110.

Conclusion: Well, that’s all the time we have for today. If you haven’t already, make sure to follow me on social media. I have two X (or Twitter) accounts and two Instagram accounts. The podcast accounts are under @Diehlman_NBA for both X and Instagram. My personal X account is @LarryDiehlman18, and my personal Instagram is @mr_sports18. They’re also in the description on Buzzsprout, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And thank you to Danny Ryan for being our guest this week on the podcast. Remember, you can follow him on Twitter @dannyry02 and Instagram @dannyryan_. And don’t forget to spread the word about “Diehlman at Halftime!” And just a quick note, be sure to tune in especially for next week. We will be celebrating a certain milestone. See you next time, fellow hoops fans!