Walking into my home office this morning with that first sip of coffee, my usual ritual involves scanning through last night's NBA scoreboard. It’s like reading the morning paper for me—a habit that tells me not just who won, but how the game is evolving. Last night’s matchups were particularly telling, with several teams making strong statements while others revealed cracks in their armor. The final scores don’t always tell the full story, but if you look closely, you can spot the patterns that separate contenders from pretenders this early in the season.
Let’s start with the Milwaukee Bucks, who absolutely dismantled the Charlotte Hornets 124-101. Giannis Antetokounmpo was, unsurprisingly, a force of nature, putting up 38 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. But what stood out to me was their ball movement—32 team assists, a number that speaks volumes about their unselfish play. On the flip side, the Hornets struggled to find any rhythm, especially from beyond the arc. It reminded me of a quote I came across recently from a coach analyzing his team’s poor shooting: “Yung outside shooting natin, ‘di tayo tumama sa labas kanina.” That phrase, roughly translating to “Our outside shooting, we didn’t hit from the outside earlier,” perfectly captures nights like Charlotte’s, where missed threes (they shot 28%) deflated their offensive flow. I’ve always believed that three-point efficiency can make or break a game, and last night, it clearly broke the Hornets.
Meanwhile, out West, the Golden State Warriors edged past the Sacramento Kings in a thrilling 115-112 finish. Steph Curry’s 34 points were expected, but it was Klay Thompson’s resurgence that caught my eye—he dropped 24, including six three-pointers. As someone who’s followed the Warriors’ dynasty from its early days, I’ll admit I have a soft spot for their splashy style. But let’s be real: their defense still has holes, allowing De’Aaron Fox to torch them for 31 points. The Kings, though, mirrored that coach’s lament about outside shooting; they went 10-for-35 from deep, which in my book is a recipe for disaster in today’s pace-and-space league. If they’d hit even a couple more, we might be talking about a different outcome.
Over in the East, the Boston Celtics continued their dominant streak with a 108-95 win over the Miami Heat. Jayson Tatum’s 30-point performance was clinical, but what impressed me more was their defensive intensity—they held Miami to under 40% shooting from the field. I’ve long argued that defense wins championships, and Boston’s ability to switch seamlessly on picks is a thing of beauty. The Heat, on the other hand, looked out of sync, particularly from three-point range, shooting a dismal 25%. It’s games like these that make me question if Miami’s offseason moves were enough to keep up in a loaded conference. Personally, I think they’re missing that one reliable shooter to space the floor, something that’s become non-negotiable in modern basketball.
Shifting to a surprise of the night, the Orlando Magic pulled off a stunning 98-94 upset against the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid put up big numbers—32 points and 12 rebounds—but Orlando’s young core, led by Paolo Banchero’s 25 points, showed grit I haven’t seen from them in a while. As an analyst, I love underdog stories, and this one felt like a blueprint for how to win ugly: lock down on defense (Orlando forced 15 turnovers) and capitalize in the paint. The 76ers’ outside shooting woes echoed that coach’s earlier quote; they shot just 9-of-32 from three, which in a close game like this, essentially handed the win to Orlando. It’s a reminder that even star power can’t always compensate for poor perimeter execution.
Wrapping up, last night’s games underscored a theme I’ve noticed all season: teams that excel from deep tend to control their destiny, while those who falter often find themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard. From Milwaukee’s unselfish dominance to Golden State’s narrow escape, the numbers don’t lie—outside shooting isn’t just a stat; it’s a mindset. Looking ahead, I’m curious to see how squads like Charlotte and Philadelphia adjust. If they can’t find their stroke soon, they might slip further in the standings. For now, though, the court belongs to those who can knock down the open shot, and as a fan of the game, that’s what keeps me tuning in night after night.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
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