The Best Moments to Buy for Every Play-In Tournament Team: Eastern Conference Edition
The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner, but like last year, the Play-In Tournament holds the fate of seven and eighth seeds. Let's break down the best Moments to buy for Eastern Play-In teams!
This will be the second season the Play-In Tournament is in play, and there has been plenty of criticism on the tournament from the league’s most resounding names.
Oddly enough, the criticisms have come from executives and players who found themselves currently in the tournament, like Mark Cuban in the past, and now LeBron James. When the Dallas Mavericks found themselves buried in the standings, Cuban called it an “enormous mistake.” And now, with the Los Angeles Lakers vulnerable to the tournament, James said, “Whoever came up with that s*** needs to be fired.”
Despite the disapproval, the Play-In Tournament was voted on and approved in the off-season, and I don't think it'll be going anywhere anytime soon. The primary cause for the tournament is to reduce tanking, and it's doing just that.
In the Eastern Conference, the four teams are pretty much set now, with Jaylen Brown undergoing season-ending surgery for his wrist, leaving little hope the Celtics catch the Miami Heat for the sixth seed.
But of the teams set to compete in the Play-In Tournament, which players could elevate their play, increasing their Moment values?
Eastern Conference:
7.) Boston Celtics: 35-33
The Celtics just underwent their biggest gut-punch of the year: Jaylen Brown has a torn ligament in his wrist, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery.
This is brutal news for the Celtics and Brown, who was having the best season of his career, putting up averages of 25 points - six rebounds - and three assists a game. With Brown now out for the rest of the season, expect these guards to soak up his minutes:
Evan Fournier
Aaron Nesmith
Payton Pritchard
Marcus Smart
Kemba Walker
Fournier has been inserted into the starting lineup to replace Brown, but on TopShot has no Celtics Moments since he was acquired at the trade deadline a few months ago. If you’re looking to buy Fournier, he only has two Moments: a 35k LE layup for the Orlando Magic and his debut Season 1 Moment. Fournier will have his number called on a lot and might be heating up at the right time: in his last four games, Fournier is averaging 22 points.
Nesmith, who the Celtics drafted 14th overall, might see the largest price increase in his Moment. He only has one Moment on Top Shot, with it being his first NBA 3-pointer. Nesmith can get hot from beyond the arc and is slowly seeing his minutes trend upwards.
Despite Payton Pritchard being selected 26th, behind Nesmith, his impact has been more significant than Nesmith’s. Pritchard has been capable of hitting clutch, deep 3-pointers, and has been a reliable player all season for the Celtics, even showing potential with his drives to the rim. He’s more of a catch-and-shoot player, but Pritchard can explode in any game if he catches fire from three. Both of Pritchard’s Moments are exceptional rookie Moments. His first Moment is his first NBA 3-pointer, like Nesmith, which will always be significant and his other being a game-winner in the final seconds against the Heat.
Smart and Walker will now be the second and third most important players for the Celtics behind superstar, Jayson Tatum. Both have a multitude of Moments on Top Shot.
For Smart, he has three Season 2 Moments, with two going for under $10. His Hustle and Show Moment, where he leaves everything on the floor and dives for a loose ball, eventually coming up with the steal, is only $8, and a dying layup to take the lead in the final seconds of the game is only $7. His other Moment is a legendary Moment. In Season 1, Smart also has two very memorable Moments: one being where he breaks the Celtics record for threes in a game with 11, and the other being a late-game steal where he lays out and redirects the ball of Kawhi Leonards leg.
Walker’s Moments are less appealing, but if I were looking for a Moment of his, I’d go for his debut Moment where he lays off a behind-the-back assist, and Jaylen Brown does the rest.
The remaining three forwards and or centers who will earn serious minutes in the Play-In Tournament for the Celtics are:
Tristian Thompson
Robert Williams
Jayson Tatum
Since returning to the starting lineup from injury, Williams hasn’t seen more than 25 minutes a game. He’s a better player than Thompson, but Thompson is a veteran and a reliable big if Williams goes down again or gets in foul trouble. Between the two of them, they each have their debut Moments coming in Season 2, with both being dunks rolling to the rim. Each are under $10, and Williams just received a Throwdowns Moment yesterday. Even with Williams still getting eased into the lineup, I’d lean him over Thompson.
Now onto the star: Jayson Tatum.
You can’t go wrong with any Tatum Moment, and he has a wide assortment of Moments to choose from, ranging from Moments in the All-Star game to Moments on Christmas. If you want to go cheap, he’s got some flashy Common assist Moments with one from the floor and another almost nearly a full-court behind the back assist. If you’re looking to splurge on Tatum before he erupts in the Play-In Tournament and potentially the playoffs, his debut Moment hitting a deep three snapping Paul George’s ankles is still my favorite.
8.) Charlotte Hornets: 33-35
The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most exciting and surprising teams of the season. LaMelo Ball is already a must-watch player every night he steps onto the floor, as he has the skill to pull off a pass you’ve never seen before in a game, like this one:
Even with the Hornets sustaining devastating injuries throughout the season: from Ball fracturing his wrist and missing multiple weeks - to Gordon Hayward still out with an ankle injury, sidelining him for six weeks - they still find themselves sitting firmly in the eighth seed. For a team given little chance to make the playoffs before the season, this has been a remarkable season for Hornets fans and one they won't forget anytime soon with Ball reenergizing the franchise.
Let’s start with the player who’s sparked the franchise in Ball. Ball has three Moments, with a fourth Cool Cats Moment to come shortly, but all three have value. Only one of his Moments is under $1,000: his first NBA basket. The other two are his first assist and a fancy layup in the Rising Stars set. All are quality Moments to add to your collection, and all will have value as long as Ball continues tearing up the NBA, and there’s no doubt in my mind his rampage won't stop anytime soon.
Even though Ball has elevated the Hornets to a Play-In spot, he couldn’t have done it alone. Terry Rozier has been going bonkers; last game Rozier set his career-high in a loss totaling 43 points. If Rozier gets hot, watch out. Rozier has five Moments on Top Shot, but only three are under $500. If you want a cheaper Rozier Moment, I’d veer towards his Throwdowns Moment and debut Moment - but I don’t understand why Roziers Rare Challenge Reward Moment is at a floor of $648 with only 184 minted. It’s a ridiculous dunk over Kevin Durant and Rozier’s other Moments minted at 99 and 75, sell for a floor of $1,150 and $3,000.
The guard most impacted by Ball’s arrival has been Devonte' Graham. Last year Graham came out of nowhere, increasing his scoring by 14 points from his rookie year. Now, Graham has fallen from 18 to 14 points a game, with his minutes decreasing from 35 to 30, as well this season. Graham only has one Season 2 Moment going for $3, but by far, his most memorable Moment is his game-winner in the Garden, where he cans his 9th three of the game. It’s also his debut Moment.
In the wake of Hayward’s injury, Miles Bridges has elevated his game to another level. Over his last 18 games, Bridges is averaging 19 points - 7 rebounds - 1 steal - and 1 block a game. Any Bridges Moment is a great buy, as all of his Moments are absolute throwdowns and memorable plays in themself.
Two other forwards having to step up are Jalen McDaniels and P.J. Washington, but sadly, McDaniels doesn’t have a Moment on Top Shot yet. Washington has been asked to play some small-ball center but is more of a stretch four. He’s been up and down his sophomore season but was rock solid his rookie year. The Hornets will need his shooting, and for the price, he has a $3 Moment in Season 2 where he hits a big-time late three in a game he scores a career-high 42. He also has a Cool Cats Moment where he catches the pass from the cutting Ball and slams home two, and his debut Moment where he streaks to the rim and puts JaKarr Sampson on a poster.
Caleb Martin and Malik Monk also have a chance to help lift the Hornets to the playoffs, beyond the Play-In Tournament. Monk is either hit or miss, as he has games where he can put up duds and others where he singlehandedly wins some. He only has one Moment on Top Shot, while Martin has three. Like some of the others on this list, Martin now has a Throwdowns Moment. None of the Moments between the two go for over $70, while three go for under $10. While both these players are role players, for the Hornets to advance, they’ll need everyone to chip in and contribute.
Onto the Hornets big men, we have Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo. Neither do much besides set screens, collect rebounds, and roll to the rim. If you’re looking to invest in either, both of their debut Moments are under $60.
9.) Indiana Pacers: 32-36
The Pacers have recently been in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. Head coach, Nate Bjorkgren, hasn’t been able to communicate to his players, with many questioning his ability to lead a team, and it seems as if he’ll be gone by the end of the year. The Pacers have disappointed this season but have a bright future with a core of Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon, and Myles Turner.
We might as well start with Sabonis as he’s the stud for Indiana. The Lithuanian has been crowned an all-star the last two seasons and has put the Pacers on his back. Sabonis has plenty of Moments on Top Shot with vicious dunks and blocks as all of his Moments but one. Sabonis’ debut Moment is a monstrous dunk, going for $106, but his other four Moments, including his Rare All-Star game Moment, are all under $80.
Now, onto Sabonis’ sidekicks: Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon. After acquiring LeVert in the James Harden trade, the Pacers now have their three scorers in Sabonis, Brogdon, and LeVert. LeVert has fit in seamlessly, but Brogdon has been banged up most of the season, constantly being in and out of the lineup. But, when these three are all healthy, as well as Myles Turner, this Pacers team is rock solid.
LeVert only has one Pacers Moment for $3, but if he continues his scoring, which he’s done his whole career, his Brooklyn Nets Moments should increase in value as they’re done being minted.
Since LeVert’s arrival, Brogdon hasn’t seemed to be the same player. Brogdon was a potential all-star this year, but he's been playing like anything but since LeVert arrived. Still, Brogdon is a talented player and has been a dependable three-point shooter his entire career. Brogdon has two Common Series 2 Moments for under $5, but if you’re looking to invest long-term in Brogdon, he has a bubble Moment and his debut Moment, both under $120.
The last three players from the Pacers we’ll look over are:
Myles Turner
T.J. McConnell
Justin Holiday
I’d highlight Doug McDermott and Oshae Brissett, who’s really come into his own and took advantage of his opportunity when Sabonis was injured, but neither are on Top Shot.
After suffering a partial tear in his foot, Turner has been out indefinitely and might not be able to return in time for the Play-In. But if he does, he’s one of the best shot blockers in the league. Turner has a $3 block where he comes and helps Sabonis, swatting Dwayne Bacons’ shot out of bounds, while his debut Moment is under $50.
T.J. McConnell has been a sparkplug off the Pacers’ bench and always leaves everything out on the floor. He’s a pest, and I’m saying that in the best way possible. McConnell will do everything to annoy the opposition on defense, even playing full-court defense sometimes. McConnell is a creator on offense, and all three of his Moments stem from him driving. All of his Moments are under $85.
Lastly, we have one of the two Holiday brothers on the Pacers, Justin Holiday. Holiday has shot 39% from three on nearly seven attempts a game, which is remarkable. Of his two Moments, one being his debut and his other being a 35k CC steal, both are extremely cheap.
10.) Washington Wizards: 32-37
The Wizards have been hitting stride at the perfect time and are 15-5 their last 20 games. Russell Westbrook has led the way with Bradley Beal scorching teams scoring-wise. The dynamic duo has lifted Washington from the bottom of the standings to a Play-In spot. And with the way the Wizards have played recently, you can’t count them out.
There aren’t many players to talk about besides Westbrook, Beal, and Rui Hachimura: but we'll look at the role players who will earn crucial minutes in the Play-In games.
Westbrook has been on fire and just claimed an NBA record, surpassing Oscar Robertson for the most triple-doubles in NBA history, with 182. It was viewed as one of the more unattainable NBA records, but Westbrook had something to say about that. His recent play has been mesmerizing to watch. Westbrook has a variety of Moments ranging from ones on the Rockets to newer ones on the Wizards. He was recently given a Throwdowns Moment, and his Cool Cats game-winner is another I’d keep my eye on. Besides those, every Rare and Legendary Moment is quite pricy.
For Beal, the second-leading scorer in the NBA this season, a few Moments of his stick out. His game-winning debut Moment as time expires is easily my favorite and for it to be sitting at a floor of $230 is low considering it was worth four digits less than two months ago. But, if you’re not looking to put that much into Beal, he has plenty of Moments under $100, including his Rare Moment in the All-Star game.
If the Wizards want to go anywhere, though, they’ll need production from Rui Hachimura. Hachimura has had incredible stretches this season and has shown an improved jump shot in his second year. Hachimura, like Westbrook, has a sensational Throwdowns Moment, where he posterizes Anthony Davis for $92. Somehow this throwdown is minted at 1,800, going for $92, while his Cool Cats Moment is minted at 5,000, listing for $108. Hachimuras three most desirable Moments to me are his:
Debut Moment ($194)
Throwdowns Moment ($92)
Rising Stars Moment ($140)
Besides these three, the other players who will have to contribute will be:
Raul Neto
Chandler Hutchinson
Davis Bertans
Ish Smith
Robin Lopez
Daniel Gafford
Neto has been starting with Beal out and has played more since Deni Avdija went down with a gruesome season-ending injury, but Neto and Hutchinson only have one Moment each, both going for under $5. These two will get minutes, though, and have their numbers called on.
Smith has been a reliable backup point guard for the Wizards and does his job consistently, but he’s never been a great shooter. He only has two Moments, but when Westbrook sits, the Wizards will need Smith to give quality minutes while the stars get rest. Both of his Moments go for under $41.
The best player of this bunch is Davis Bertans. The “Latvian Laser” is deadly from three and is on pace to be the first player in NBA history to average more than 10 points a game while attempting less than one two-pointer per game. This essentially means all of his shots come from beyond the arc or at the free-throw line. It’s a pretty hilarious stat, but if you’re the opposition, you need to know where Bertans is at all times. Bertans’ debut Moment is a deep three for $42 and has a Rare MGLE Moment capped at 499 minted listing for $109. If you want to invest cheap, he also has a $3 Season 2 Moment, cutting backdoor for the easy dunk.
And onto the last two players of the list, we have the two centers. Actually, neither of these two start over Alex Len, but both have a bigger impact on the game than Len for different reasons.
Lopez is a low post threat who can toss in a hook shot from the paint, while Gafford is an exceptional rim protector and rim roller. Both only have one Moment, and Lopez's is a hilarious hook shot while he’s losing balance falling out of bounds.
Gafford is much younger and has a bright future, but Lopez and Len might get more minutes than him due to his age. Gafford will play and put his stamp on the game, whether it's through defense or setting hard picks. In his Moment, he catches a lob from Westbrook and finishes it with authority. Both Lopez and Gafford’s Moments are under $10.
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