We’ve always been taught the deeper you go in the playoffs, the more important those big uglies are. Sinewy guards breaking down defenses and wing shooters splashing jumpers from all over the court are great luxuries to have. But playoff basketball always comes back to the big guys, the rebounders and the paint protectors. You have to control the line of scrimmage to win.
Yesterday, we saw a Memphis front line take their game to an even higher level, a level that’s seldom reached in the playoffs. So far this year, that Grizzly interior has dominated like no other. They’ve been the best inside combination of any playoff team. Read More »
Yesterday, I posted the Nike Air Max Hyperdunk 2010 designed for Richard Jefferson. But with the Hawks taking on the Magic tonight, I thought you might want to see a colorway made exclusively for Al Horford. Check ‘em out: Read More »
We haven’t done one of these in a while, so here’s a reminder on the ground rules: (1) The idea is that while each team has the same roster it had at the time of the draft, they have the added benefit of knowing how each potential draftee will turn out as of today. (2) You can’t predict injuries. (3) Potential still matters. (4) Lastly, you can’t predict how the rest of your roster will turn out.
All clear? With that, here’s my 2007 NBA Draft do-over: Read More »
At this point, every loss for the playoff teams is huge. Home-court advantages and seedings are on the line. But those trap games can get anyone. While last night was lacking in high-profile match-ups, it did provide plenty to distinguish just who is ready for the playoffs and who isn’t. Denver and San Antonio passed their tests with flying colors. Then there was Atlanta, who reinforced every bad feeling you might have about them. And in case you missed it, Ty Lawson was hotter than Hell’s waiting room … Read More »
Here’s something to cry about: The Miami Heat were beaten again last night, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers, taking their 5th L in a row. Miami was outrebounded, outshot and outhustled by the Blazers on their home floor, losing 105-96 … The Blazers had the lead for most of the game, but Miami battled back to tie it up at 77 at the start of the fourth on a sequence where Dwyane Wade blocked a Brandon Roy pullup jumper and raced the length of the court for the dunk. It was the kind of sequence that championship-caliber teams would use to turn the tables on their opponents to run them out of their gym. Miami is clearly not a championship-caliber team … LeBron had 31, but it was Wade who really came to play. As the Blazers snatched the lead back, it was Wade who kept Miami within striking distance all by himself, scoring 24 of his 38 points in the second half … The Blazers’ bench depth was overwhelming, outscoring Miami’s reserves 41-8. Gerald Wallace led the bench mob with 22 and nine boards, including a few moves in the lane that saw Wallace physically overpower LeBron. Not sure we’ve ever seen that happen to James with a non-center before. It was unsettling … Read More »
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to offer Kevin Love an extension of six years, $70 million once a new labor agreement is locked into place. During his first all-star season this year, Love is averaging 20.9 points and 15.5 rebounds and has a ridiculous 48 straight double-doubles. He also has the second-most 30/20 games in one season (four) in the last 25 years, but yet the T-Wolves are a disappointing 15-47, the second-worst record in the NBA.
“We have to start winning, of course, and the contract has to be right,” Love told the paper. “From there, things have to work out.”
Clearly, Love is a great building block for any team, but is $70 million too much? Read More »
Sometimes, you’ll find a game on the schedule that means just a little bit more to one side than it does to the other. It could be for a number of reasons, often as much for the psyche boost rather than for the ‘W.’ Last night’s Bulls/Hawks games in Atlanta was one of those nights … That’s not to say that the Chicago Bulls didn’t need to get a win in Atlanta versus a Hawks team that is now 18-9 at home. They are battling for the best record in the Eastern Conference and need to keep winning to avoid having to potentially face Miami and Boston in back-to-back playoff series. It’s more to say that the Hawks’ 83-80 win was absolutely necessary for Atlanta. The Hawks have struggled all season against the few good teams they have played (they’ve had one of the easiest schedules in the League so far) and aren’t in danger of becoming the League’s “worst good team.” They already are. Read More »
You thought Brandon Roy was done, didn’t you? With questions still unanswered of whether he came back too early (again) from double knee surgery, whether he could accept that the Blazers may be LaMarcus Aldridge‘s team now, and whether he’d ever be the same All-Star talent again, last night B-Roy looked every bit like the B-Roy Portland wants to build its franchise around … Coming off the bench in his second game back from surgery, Roy dropped 18 points (7-14 FG) with 5 rebounds and zero turnovers in 24 minutes, and when the Blazers needed somebody to be clutch in the fourth quarter, guess who stepped up? Read More »
-->