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The NBA regular season ended this past weekend and the playoffs start Saturday but first are the play-in games tonight and tomorrow. So, before we get into the Right Hook Special Awards here are my picks for the play-in game winners to fill out the 7th and 8th seeds.
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
Despite Dyson Daniels’s fun surprise season, the Hawks are not at full strength or much of a challenge for the Magic, let alone the Cavs or Celtics, so I’m picking Orlando to win, become the 7th seed, and face the Celtics in round one.
Winner: Orlando
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The brewing rivalry between the Warriors and Grizzlies continues tonight, and this one can go either way. The Warriors are trying to salvage the season while the Grizzlies seem to be in shambles, whichever team loses tonight is likely going to have some serious choices to make this summer. And with that looming over this game, I am going to give this win to the Warriors to be battle-tested and see Houston this weekend.
Winner: Golden State
Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat
For the third time, we get the Bulls vs. Heat in the play-in game! Miami somehow found a way to make it in the playoffs, while the Bulls just had another middle-of-the-road season to get here again. As much as Miami would be the more experienced match-up, I’m going with fun and chaotic here with Bulls to play the loser of Magic/Hawks for the 8th spot, while Miami season can be done.
Winner: Chicago
Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
I am not even going to pretend to give Dallas any real consideration because they do not have any on-ball playmaking to get Anthony Davis going offensively to make it into the playoffs. While the Mavericks will have the size to make the Kings struggle, I think LaVine and DeRozan will be the thing that gets Sacramento to advance and put this nightmare of a season to rest for the Mavericks #FireNico
Winner: Sacramento
Now let’s get into the 2025 Right Hook Special Awards, which are just some creative/alternative awards for this regular season. And we can start a returning award from last season, the Billy Hoyle Memorial Award.
The Billy Hoyle Memorial Award (Best White American Player of the Year)
Nominees: Chet Holmgren, Austin Reaves, Payton Pritchard, Ty Jerome
Winner: Austin Reaves
Chet Holmgren won this award last year but did not repeat this season because Austin Reaves was just impressive this season pre and post-Luka Doncic trade. Reaves certainly has become a legitimate third option for a contending team, and maybe the player that helps the Lakers make a deep postseason run.
Commissioner Silver, Please Fix This! Award
Nominees: Change the game/minutes threshold for awards & all-NBA nominations, Everything involving the second apron, Simplify and speed up the replay procedure, Adam Silver’s approach with the players to demand more professionalism in putting out a better product
Winner: ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Short and sweet, Adam Silver has to take charge, demand better from the players, do more to improve the product and make it more appealing for the dedicated fans, and bring in or bring back viewers. Whatever it takes to have more positive than negative feedback on the NBA, period.
Delightful Surprise Team
Nominees: Rockets, Pistons, Blazers, Bulls
Winner: Pistons
This award was a close call, but as great as Houston has been, Detroit won because they went from the basement of the league to the playoffs in a year. I have always said and believe that the NBA is better and more interesting when Detroit is in the mix because of their reputation in the past, which this new generation certainly lives up to and could be the upset team in the first round of the playoffs, but Detroit seems to finally be getting back on track.
Delightful Surprise Player
Nominees: Amen Thompson, Cade Cunningham, Austin Reaves
Winner: Amen Thompson
This came down to Amen Thompson and Austin Reaves, with no disrespect to Cade Cunningham, who had an amazing season and better be an all-NBA selection as one of the best fifteen players this season. While Reaves has certainly taken a big leap this season, Amen Thompson on this talented Rockets team has been a supernova player, Thompson has made noise this season and should be a foundational part of Houston’s future.
Unicorn of the Year
Nominees: Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson
Winner: Amen Thompson
Amen Thompson may not viewed as a unicorn per se, but his athleticism stands out when he plays against some of the most gifted athletes night in and night out, which is why I had to give Thompson the award this season.
“How is this Person still in Charge? Award (Worst GM)
Nominees: Masai Ujiri (Toronto), Arturas Karnisouas (Bulls), Daryl Morey (76ers), Nico Harrison (Mavericks)
Winner: Nico Harrison
This was one of the easier awards to pick and will likely be renamed next year to the Nico Harrison Memorial Award for worst GM because Harrison, who made some good trades last season to make it to the NBA finals, turned around and made the most idiotic, unexplainable, and unacceptable trade this century when he traded Luka Doncic overnight to Lakers for Anthony Davis and a haul that was less than desirable. You can return to my post following the trade or listen to multiple podcasts that say the same thing about Harrison and this trade.
The Grand Larceny Award (Biggest Regretful Contract)
Nominees: Bradley Beal, Joel Embiid, Jamal Murray, Scottie Barnes
Winner: Bradley Beal
For this award, I decided to throw a curveball for the winner, so instead of picking one of my favorite targets, Joel Embiid, I went with the unbearable and perhaps unmovable contract in the valley in Bradley Beal. Beal has done nothing but basically cash very large checks the past 3-5 years and has not played up to his once all-NBA potential.
While I do my best not to count somebody’s pocket, Beal’s contract seems to be an equal or bigger death wish for teams than Embiid’s because his no-trade clause from the Wizards makes him even more challenging to trade, which can only mean some rough days ahead in the valley.
Worst Coach of the Year
Nominees: Jason Kidd (Mavericks), Willie Green (Pelicans), Nick Nurse (76ers), Mike Budenholzer (Suns)
Winner: Mike Budenholzer
Mike Budenholzer made his return to the sidelines to coach the Suns, hopefully leading them to a deep playoff run. Instead, the Suns were a complete failure that had no draft picks and was out of playoff contention, making him the third coach in three years. The Suns fired (second coach with a title) fairly or unfairly earned this award, although Willie Green was a very close second.
The Hot Mess Player of the Year
Nominees: Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Jimmy Butler (In Miami)
Winner: Jimmy Butler in Miami
While Jimmy Butler has been reviving in the Bay Area after finally being traded from Miami, he was an absolute disaster while in Miami. Butler’s relationship and performance for the Heat were a huge distraction then, and his explosive relationship with Pat Riley made this season a nightmare. Butler finally got his request. What led to the trade can’t be overlooked, making him the winner, but he could redeem himself if Playoff Jimmy steps up for Golden State.
The Hot Mess Team of the Year
Nominees: 76ers, Mavericks, Suns, Pelicans, Hornets
Winner: Mavericks & Suns
The last award was a tie because the Mavericks and Suns were such a mess of franchises that it somehow bumped the 76ers out of this spotlight. Dallas because of the whole Doncic trade and Phoenix because of massive instability were more than enough to make them co-winners for the award.
