The “best pure scorer” label always came with a crutch. Yes, you can score, but what else can you do? Carmelo Anthony has been answering a lot of questions lately, and last night he might’ve given the world his best all-around game as a Knick. 35 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, he was the ring leader on a night where the Knicks could’ve opened up their own sperm bank because they were shooting so well. New York got the win they needed, 118-110 over the Celtics, but it was the box score that had everyone talking. The Knicks messed with the video game sliders in the first half. They MUST have. Read More »

Friday the 13th used to be known for harmless bad luck, but thanks to a psycho with a hockey mask and every movie studio deciding they have to release horror flicks on that date, now it’s become synonymous with blood and torture. Always thinking marketing, the NBA had its bases covered last night, Friday the 13th — giving a lot of unlucky fans a lineup of boring blowouts that were murder on the eyes … It was so bad we resorted to math: The average margin of victory for last night’s 12 NBA games was 15.6 points; four games reached 20-piece status; and one of them was a 38-point laugher that shockingly involved the Wizards … Read More »

He didn’t win them the game. He didn’t bang a big shot. It only matters that he actually MADE shots. As Memphis lit the Heat on fire in Miami, Gilbert Arenas came off the bench to hit four triples for 12 points, shooting as if he’d forgotten he lost his legs around the same time he lost his mind. It was a perfect night all the way around for the Grizzlies, who led the entire way and blew out Miami by 15, and are nearing the end of a run of seven games in nine days (six against current playoff teams). They’re 4-2 so far. Read More »

Beast of the Night: Luol Deng finished his big night with 26 points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. He shot 43 percent (9-21) from the floor and 100 percent (8-8) from the free-throw line, and had one turnover. For the season, Deng has admirably produced top 50 averages for his fantasy basketball owners. His production shouldn’t be too damaged once Derrick Rose returns this weekend. Read More »

Everyone take a deep breath and check the calendar. It’s not June yet. We still have to wait. But we do think everyone in the world wants this. Hell, we bet even the Spurs and Bulls fan out there want to see seven games of OKC/Miami in the NBA Finals. If they’re anything like Miami’s 98-93 win last night in terms of drama and physicality, we’ll be spoiled. In one second quarter stretch, Kendrick Perkins slapped D-Wade in the face, and then Russell Westbrook (28 points) nearly got thrown out for a bad foul on a LeBron James breakaway. Read More »

Gary Williams is on that water. He has to be. There’s no other explanation. In an argument that’s increasingly going from annoying to downright stupid, Williams actually agreed with a few talking heads that Kentucky could beat the Washington Wizards. A college team beating an NBA squad. ESPN 980’s Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro were going back and forth on the topic, and called in Williams to be the tiebreaker. Color me shocked. Read More »

It’s true what Thomas Wolfe wrote, that you can’t go home again. OK, so saying New Orleans is Chris Paul’s home is a definite stretch, but when you spent your whole career someplace, it’s more than just a stop on a map. Read More »

Maybe without the Human Headache (i.e. JaVale McGee) in Washington, D.C., anymore, we can get back to talking about how unbelievable John Wall can be.

The Wizards’ point guard circled the wagons Monday night en route to a huge alley-oop, catching Memphis’ Marc Gasol sleeping at the top of the key. Gasol’s recovery has good intentions, but Wall is in seek-and-destroy mode on the finish by getting his hand to the top of the square. You can almost feel the refs feel bad for calling the foul on Gasol, too, seeing the whole thing develop on him. Read More »

The Clippers haven’t been right for a while. Since they lost Chauncey Billups to his devastating injury, they’ve actually been below .500, much closer to the older Clippers than the team that was supposed to snatch Hollywood from their bigger brother. Luckily, they have Chris Paul. Three or four times this year, he’s bailed them out. He did it again in overtime of their 87-83 win over the Pistons. He started off the extra frame with two swagger-filled long jumpers, and then made the shot that broke Detroit’s back with 22 seconds left. Read More »

Beast of the Night: John Wall finished with 26 points, four rebounds, 12 assists, three steals and a block last night. He shot 69 percent (11-16) from the floor and 100 percent (4-4) from the free-throw line, and had five turnovers. Maybe that new Wizards roster will do Wall some good. Read More »