2021-22 NBA scoring title watch

[bebopdeluxe]

Looks like Embiid is in the lead, since LeBron is likely not going to play in enough games to qualify,

Given that he did not play yesterday in a crucial game for the Lakers' playoff hopes, to now come back this week and play simply to win the scoring title would be so on brand for him.

[Cavsfansince84]

Looks like Embiid is in the lead, since LeBron is likely not going to play in enough games to qualify,

Given that he did not play yesterday in a crucial game for the Lakers' playoff hopes, to now come back this week and play simply to win the scoring title would be so on brand for him.

Seems so weird to me to see players getting criticized for playing in games. Playing in 82 games a year used to be really normal for star players. At this point everyone knows LeBron is chasing the all time scoring mark and will want to play in as many games as possible when he is healthy enough to suit up.

[Sofia]

Giannis off to a slow start against the Bulls, Indiana is playing Phili close with 9 minutes left while Embiid has 39 and Lebron is a DNP today - meaning not only is it possible for Embiid to steal the lead, Lebron may not make the final 2 games for qualification.

Speaking of which, I’m going go ahead and declare KD out of the race, though technically possible…

Will update some numbers later.

[MixedUp]

Curious to see if LeBron will play these last games after missing crucial games for their playoff hopes.

Sent from my M2010J19SY using RealGM mobile app

[MixedUp]

Feel like this thread should be stickied because it keeps coming up. Here’s some more info to help the cause (mods, feel free to update info in this post as it changes)

Lebron 30.27
DEN, @PHX, @GSW, OKC (B2B), @DEN

[Lakers best case scenario is play in, but have to get ahead of the currently equal Spurs who hold the tiebreaker -if healthy, Lebron is likely to play at least 5 games.
(Spurs have PORx2, @DEN, @MIN, GSW(B2B, @DAL(3in3!))

Giannis 30.11
DAL, @CHI, BOS, @DET (B2B), @CLE

Could finish anywhere between 1 and 5 realistically, but may make a push for 1st to avoid the Nets in first round, who are unlikely to catch the Raptors in 6th spot but should win the 7v8 play in match up to take 7 seed - may sit the back to back and possibly the last game too.

Embiid 30.00
CHA, @CLE (B2B), @IND, @TOR, IND, DET (B2B)

Could be well rested and may only play 4 games if the Sixers limit minutes and don’t risk Embiid in the back to backs. At 46 wins now, realistically should be hitting 50 wins, but that may only be enough for the 4th seed, which avoids the Nets

Can these be updated?

Sent from my M2010J19SY using RealGM mobile app

[sixers4real]

EMViiP.

Not even close. LeBron won’t play a single game, won’t qualify.

[sixers4real]

1. Embiid 30.4
2. James 30.2 (have to play at least two games to qualify)
3. Giannis 29.9

Embiid’s got it. (As is MVP)

[Sofia]

Feel like this thread should be stickied because it keeps coming up. Here’s some more info to help the cause (mods, feel free to update info in this post as it changes)

Lebron 30.27
DEN, @PHX, @GSW, OKC (B2B), @DEN

[Lakers best case scenario is play in, but have to get ahead of the currently equal Spurs who hold the tiebreaker -if healthy, Lebron is likely to play at least 5 games.
(Spurs have PORx2, @DEN, @MIN, GSW(B2B, @DAL(3in3!))

Giannis 30.11
DAL, @CHI, BOS, @DET (B2B), @CLE

Could finish anywhere between 1 and 5 realistically, but may make a push for 1st to avoid the Nets in first round, who are unlikely to catch the Raptors in 6th spot but should win the 7v8 play in match up to take 7 seed - may sit the back to back and possibly the last game too.

Embiid 30.00
CHA, @CLE (B2B), @IND, @TOR, IND, DET (B2B)

Could be well rested and may only play 4 games if the Sixers limit minutes and don’t risk Embiid in the back to backs. At 46 wins now, realistically should be hitting 50 wins, but that may only be enough for the 4th seed, which avoids the Nets

Can these be updated?

Sent from my M2010J19SY using RealGM mobile app

Coming in a few minutes.

Spoiler:

That's what she said.

Here's yesterdays update for reference:

Lebron - 30.27 (must play 2 more to qualify, @ PHX @GSW OKC (B2B) @DEN)
Embiid - 30.20 (@IND, @TOR, IND, DET (B2B))
Giannis - 30.08 (@CHI, BOS, @DET (B2B), @CLE)

Updated for today.

Lebron was a surprising DNP in a loss. They need to win out to stand a chance at this point, effectively 3 games behind the Spurs. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his numbers against Phx and GSW and then calls it a season. The Spurs have a slightly tough run home against the glut of the Western playoffs (@DEN @MIN GSW @DAL), surely they can’t lose it from here though, right? Maybe a few of those teams will have rest days to give the Spurs the win to ensure they won’t have playoff Lebron turning up at some point.

Embiid played 69 minutes (nice) in a back to back this weekend, pulling a 44 on the Cavs to take 2nd in the scoring race.

Giannis puts up a sleep walking 28 and 10 in 40 mins against Dallas in a close loss, slightly dropping his average.

Embiid can take the lead by scoring 36 in his next game.
Giannis can take the lead by scoring 43 next outing.
Lebron can lose the lead if he scores 25 or less next game.

[HurdyGurdyMan]

Does anybody even care? Do we even remember who won last year?
Have a feeling that we are only bringing this up because LeCringe is involved

[Sofia]

Does anybody even care? Do we even remember who won last year?
Have a feeling that we are only bringing this up because LeCringe is involved

So why read or post in the thread? Sound like a you problem there, chief

[Sofia]

Joel Embiid - 30.42
[Remaining games: @TOR, IND, DET (B2B)]

Indiana played like they forgot they are supposed to be tanking and made it closer than it needed to be, pushing the Sixers to 7 lead changes and even leading for 5 minutes of the game. Embiid's big 45 points in 39 minutes carried them to a win, and him to the top of the scoring leader board.

Sixers have locked in the 2-4 seed at this point, tied with the Celtics and Bucks at 49-30. I don't think any of these teams will care too strongly care about positioning now that they have first round home court, though the Raptors will be plucky from the 5th/6th seed. I would think that Embiid likely sits at least one, if not both the back to back games after having played more minutes and games than any other season in his career to date.

Lebron James - 30.27**
[Remaining games: @GSW, OKC(B2B), @DEN]
**2 games to qualify
Unlikely to play. Plenty of coverage on the rest of the GB. What a trash season for the Lakers.

He tweeted a few days ago that he is out for the season, before the Spurs won their last 2 games and secured the play in, so there may be more to the ankle injury than we know about? Who knows. They need to use the summer to nuke the franchise - spill and fill every position on the court and in the office and start from scratch. Where's Hinkie at?

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 30.27**
[Remaining games: BOS, @DET (B2B), @CLE]
Come on son, do you even want this ****? Cruise control against the Bulls in a 21 point win, in which Freak dropped 18 points in 24 minutes. Foul trouble aside, he likely wasn't playing much today anyway.

Important match up vs the Celtics to determine positioning, followed by a likely a night off in Detroit, and maybe a handful of minutes in Cleveland. If he does see the court in Cleveland, he would want to hope it's kept close and they go for the win, limited minutes like today will knock him from the race.

Lebron needs to score 40 in his next game to take the lead.
Giannis needs to score 65 in his next game to take the lead.
Embiid needs to score 19 points or less in his next game to lose the lead to Lebron**.
**Lebron needs 2 more games to qualify

[Sofia]

Bonus round - The Admiral games:
KD is averaging 29.90. He won't make 58 games, but can still become eligible by taking his total number of points, dividing it by 58, and having that number be higher than the leader.

With 3 games remaining, he needs to average 70 per game to become eligible, with that number increasing if the leading average increases beyond 30.42. If he only plays 2 games, he has to score 105 per game.

Good thing they play the Knicks, Cavs and Pacers, amirite?

Luka is averaging 28.3 and had been fading a little mid season. If he wants to make a push for scoring champ, 3 games of 71 points per game will do it.

Detroit, Portland tank squad and Spurs rest squad are ahead on the schedule.

Make it happen, Cap'n.

[sixers4real]

Joel Embiid - 30.42
[Remaining games: @TOR, IND, DET (B2B)]

Indiana played like they forgot they are supposed to be tanking and made it closer than it needed to be, pushing the Sixers to 7 lead changes and even leading for 5 minutes of the game. Embiid's big 45 points in 39 minutes carried them to a win, and him to the top of the scoring leader board.

Sixers have locked in the 2-4 seed at this point, tied with the Celtics and Bucks at 49-30. I don't think any of these teams will care too strongly care about positioning now that they have first round home court, though the Raptors will be plucky from the 5th/6th seed. I would think that Embiid likely sits at least one, if not both the back to back games after having played more minutes and games than any other season in his career to date.

Lebron James - 30.27**
[Remaining games: @GSW, OKC(B2B), @DEN]
**2 games to qualify
Unlikely to play. Plenty of coverage on the rest of the GB. What a trash season for the Lakers.

He tweeted a few days ago that he is out for the season, before the Spurs won their last 2 games and secured the play in, so there may be more to the ankle injury than we know about? Who knows. They need to use the summer to nuke the franchise - spill and fill every position on the court and in the office and start from scratch. Where's Hinkie at?

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 30.27**
[Remaining games: BOS, @DET (B2B), @CLE]
Come on son, do you even want this ****? Cruise control against the Bulls in a 21 point win, in which Freak dropped 18 points in 24 minutes. Foul trouble aside, he likely wasn't playing much today anyway.

Important match up vs the Celtics to determine positioning, followed by a likely a night off in Detroit, and maybe a handful of minutes in Cleveland. If he does see the court in Cleveland, he would want to hope it's kept close and they go for the win, limited minutes like today will knock him from the race.

Lebron needs to score 40 in his next game to take the lead.
Giannis needs to score 65 in his next game to take the lead.
Embiid needs to score 19 points or less in his next game to lose the lead to Lebron**.
**Lebron needs 2 more games to qualify

It’s Embiid’s to lose, as well as #2 in the East, as well as MVP.

Just win out, get that #2 seed, win scoring title, and get ready for play-offs.

[ken6199]

Giannis took it easy last night. Played only 24 minutes when the game was out of reach for the Bulls.

Post season and championship, that's the right priority.

[Ursusamericanus]

I get the feeling Giannis is the type to not really care about these accolades. He always talks about focusing on the process rather than the outcome, being present, not thinking about the future, etc.

I think the only thing on his mind is to keep getting better every day and then trust the results are for the best. They've yielded him a title along with many other awards as a by-product, so it seems his recipe is working. Process thinking.

Anyway - I voted LeBron, but now think Embiid might end up with it.

[eyeatoma]

I get the feeling Giannis is the type to not really care about these accolades. He always talks about focusing on the process rather than the outcome, being present, not thinking about the future, etc.

I think the only thing on his mind is to keep getting better every day and then trust the results are for the best. They've yielded him a title along with many other awards as a by-product, so it seems his recipe is working. Process thinking.

Anyway - I voted LeBron, but now think Embiid might end up with it.

I mean, Giannis has won MVP twice, and has been a Finals MVP. He's above that now. For Embiid this is a first as far as scoring title and MVP goes. Context and perspective are important.

[Ursusamericanus]

I get the feeling Giannis is the type to not really care about these accolades. He always talks about focusing on the process rather than the outcome, being present, not thinking about the future, etc.

I think the only thing on his mind is to keep getting better every day and then trust the results are for the best. They've yielded him a title along with many other awards as a by-product, so it seems his recipe is working. Process thinking.

Anyway - I voted LeBron, but now think Embiid might end up with it.

I mean, Giannis has won MVP twice, and has been a Finals MVP. He's above that now. For Embiid this is a first as far as scoring title and MVP goes. Context and perspective are important.

That's exactly my point - he's had that focus for a long time now, and it likely played a role in him getting those awards, as a by-product. His priority is simply to get better and better.

[DroseReturnChi]

Giannis took it easy last night. Played only 24 minutes when the game was out of reach for the Bulls.

Post season and championship, that's the right priority.

giannis doesnt give a damn abt personal records esp scoring titles that means nothing he probably doesnt know hes avging 30. kd used to care but now that he is a champion, he doesnt care too. this is a two man race whose legacy are totally dependent on it.

[JoeyLightYears]

Does anybody even care? Do we even remember who won last year?
Have a feeling that we are only bringing this up because LeCringe is involved

You do make a good point. I had to look it up.

Spoiler:

It was Steph.

And yes, people only care because it involves LeBron. The haters, in particular, want to push this narrative that he's a stat padder because god forbid he might try to win this fairly meaningless accolade, as if no one in history would dare go for individual glory in a meaningless game?

The NBA is entertainment. LeBron haters and fanboys want to see him play because it is entertaining to hate or root for him respectively. I hope he does go for it because watching guys put on big performances is entertaining.

[JN61]

Does anybody even care? Do we even remember who won last year?
Have a feeling that we are only bringing this up because LeCringe is involved

Would be back to back non playoff team's player with Lebron.