Just to follow up on this with a bit more detail, the Suns finished their group games at 3-1 with a +34 point differential. We are currently 3-0 with a +29 point differential. If we lose Tuesday, our point differential will go down. So the highest it could be with a loss is +28 (if we lose by 1).

So if we win, we go 4-0 and win the group. If we lose, we drop to 3-1 and will have a lower point differential than the Suns, thus eliminating us from the wild card. We could still lose the game and win the group however, if Minnesota beats OKC and we end up with the highest point differential.

I would be absolutely stunned if Monte takes on that contract.

Dude’s getting $40M this year, then $43M and $46M, followed by a player option at $49M. That is the opposite of Monte-ball.

From the famous blog “give me sport”

FYI just did the math and he won’t qualify until after the game on 12/11 vs Brooklyn. Basically to qualify you need to be on a 58-game pace and he missed 5 games, so after that game (assuming he plays every game, knock wood), he’ll have played 13 out of 18 games, on pace for 59. It’s a little silly that he leads the league in PPG but won’t show up on the leaderboards for a while, but it’s the nature of early season stuff I guess.

8 steals is insane

To the people in the comments telling me to chill: I know it’s only nine games. But it’s still worth celebrating the fact that even with a really ugly start and an injury to our best player, this team is at the top of the “toughest division in the NBA.” I know nothing is guaranteed, but I assumed after our start that best-case scenario we would be behind at least two of those teams. Just a good reminder that lots of teams have issues, and almost all those that haven’t yet will have them soon enough.

TV code tonight is dribble