TAG: Russell Westbrook
By Sean Sweeney

It took me about two minutes of game time last night to realize OKC was in for a fight. The Kings obviously knew they were playing on national TV, and the energy in that building made it seem like it was April of 2002. But Russell Westbrook brings that energy every night, and on this play, the Kings gave him enough room to show it off. He’s a point guard by the way. Read More »
Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook
7 Comments » | Posted in NBA, Video |
Smack /
Feb 10, 2012 / 2:18 am
By Dime Magazine
It’s a misnomer to call Thursday’s picks for the rest of the All-Star squads “reserves” considering their place as some of the world’s best ballers, but we learned who filled out the All-Star rosters last night on TNT. Some experts weren’t thrilled by all the picks, which opens up the annual conversation: Do fans want the big names or should they deserve the best in the moment? A perfect example is LaMarcus Aldridge, who was balling last season in Portland but got cut because he wasn’t a hot name. He got his much-deserved All-Star spot last night. Paul Pierce, Luol Deng and Dirk Nowitzki, though? And no Rondo? Read More »
Tags: 2012 McDonald's All American Game, boston celtics, Channing Frye, Charles Barkley, Daequan Cook, Doc Rivers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, LaMarcus Aldridge, los angeles lakers, Murray State University, Nike Basketball, Oklahoma City Thunder, paul pierce, phoenix suns, Reggie Miller, Russell Westbrook, Sacramento Kings, Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans
88 Comments » | Posted in Smack |
Smack /
Feb 8, 2012 / 1:51 am
By Dime Magazine
A legend passed a legend in Boston tonight. Paul Pierce needed 10 points to move past Larry Bird for No. 2 in Celtics history but Pierce dropped him by the third quarter as the Celtics beat the Bobcats, 94-84. Pierce will never move past the man from French Lick in the hearts and minds of Boston fans, even with now 21,797 points, but tonight wasn’t just about the points for The Truth. He added nine assists and eight boards to go with 15 points. Is that how a Celtic captain does it or not? … You knew Rajon Rondo (14 assists and 10 points) was looking for Pierce every time down the floor, too, and the C’s were setting up sets for him every chance they got. Not that the Bobcats could focus solely on the record man tonight. The other Big Two, KG (22 points) and Ray Allen (17 points) kept the Bobcats guessing … Read More »
Tags: Air Jordan 2012, boston celtics, Chauncey Billups, Cleveland Cavaliers, danny granger, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, larry bird, lebron james, Los Angeles Clippers, luis scola, Miami Heat, michael redd, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Monta Ellis, Oklahoma City Thunder, paul pierce, phoenix suns, Ricky Rubio, Russell Westbrook, Sacramento Kings
94 Comments » | Posted in Smack |
NBA /
Feb 6, 2012 / 2:30 pm
By Andrew Greif
Facebook is about to go public with its IPO, which has everyone in a buy/sell mood and streaming “The Social Network” soundtrack on Spotify. It leads to conversations about how big the company can become. If you’re a hoops fan looking for a steal, it’s time now, at nearly a third of the way through the season, to see what teams you should invest your hopes in and who to sell off quick while you still can.
I don’t know anything about tech stocks but here’s who you believe in and what teams, if bought too aggressively, could ruin your portfolio. Read More »
Tags: Andre Iguodala, Blake Griffin, chris paul, DeAndre Jordan, Doug Collins, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers, Lou Williams, Nate McMillan, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Raymond Felton, Russell Westbrook, Vinny Del Negro
1 Comment » | Posted in NBA |
By The Fantasy Doctor
Beast of the Night: Brandon Jennings finished with 31 points, four rebounds, eight assists, four steals and seven three-pointers last night. He shot 36 percent (9-25) from the floor, 75 percent (6-8) from the free-throw line and had zero turnovers. Since Jan. 17, Jennings is averaging 24.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 3.6 threes per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line. For the season, he’s putting up top 10 averages. Read More »
Tags: Al Jefferson, Brandon Jennings, C.J. Watson, Channing Frye, Darren Collison, dirk nowitzki, Drew Gooden, Ed Davis, Ersan Ilyasova, Greivis Vasquez, Hedo Turkoglu, Jerryd Bayless, Jonas Jerebko, Nikola Pekovic, Rashard Lewis, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Sundiata Gaines, tayshaun prince
6 Comments » | Posted in Fantasy Doctor, NBA |
Smack /
Feb 2, 2012 / 1:28 am
By Dime Magazine
Do you believe in Philly now? You should. The 76ers turned the stove temperature up in the third quarter and started grilling Chicago. It was like the visitors got caught up in a storm they couldn’t get out of. The defense was suffocating. Andre Iguodala (19 points) had a cuff dunk that only five or six people in the world could’ve pulled off. And Jrue Holiday (17 points) capped it all with a corner three right before the quarter ended. 26 to 11, they mauled the second-best team in the East in the third, and ended up winning 98-82. Read More »
Tags: Al Jefferson, Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, Chicago Bulls, chris paul, Dallas Mavericks, danny granger, Gary Neal, Greivis Vasquez, Indiana Pacers, J.R Smith, Jason Terry, lebron james, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Rick Carlisle, Russell Westbrook, san antonio spurs, Serge Ibaka, Tim Duncan, Utah Jazz
48 Comments » | Posted in Smack |
By Sean Sweeney
Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Danilo Gallinari can all stretch out and smile. They have extensions, and won’t be going into next summer having to deal with offer sheets and money and teams vying for their services and their own teams pulling them back in. After back-n-forth rumors that nearly escalated to JoePa levels these last few days about Love, it’s official. He has agreed to a four-year, $62 million extension to stay in Minnesota. It wasn’t the max extension Rose and Westbrook both received. Reports are saying the Wolves wanted to save the “designated player” status for Ricky Rubio (in the new CBA, teams are allowed one designated player contract, which can run for five seasons). But Love will be in Minnesota, for at least until 2015, when he can opt out for an even bigger deal. Read More »
Tags: Brook Lopez, Danilo Gallinari, denver nuggets, derrick rose, Eric Gordon, Indiana Pacers, Kevin Love, Memphis Grizzlies, michael beasley, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, new orleans hornets, Nicolas Batum, O.J. Mayo, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Roy Hibbert, Russell Westbrook, Ryan Anderson
7 Comments » | Posted in Latest News, NBA |
By Sean Sweeney

As we wrote in Smack, the Thunder obliterated the Pistons at home because their big three (Durant, Westbrook and Harden) made 28 out of 41 shots. Westbrook had two of the top five plays we saw in the NBA last night: a crazy, behind-the-back bounce pass with the left hand to Durant for a three-point play, and a hammer finish in the lane that was too quick for anyone in blue to defend. Hit the jump for the evidence. Read More »
Tags: Detroit Pistons, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook
4 Comments » | Posted in NBA, Video |
Smack /
Jan 20, 2012 / 2:11 am
By Dime Magazine
Oklahoma City didn’t play Thursday, but try telling Thunder fans it wasn’t a victory. Guard Russell Westbrook went all Boomer Sooner by signing a five-year, $80-million extension. The deal brought praise for GM Sam Presti and hailed Westbrook, slammed for being a “shoots-lots” guard, for his unselfishness: “Instead, Westbrook delivered to his teammates, his organization and this city a blessed gift. Expansion of the Thunder’s window of opportunity to turn Oklahoma City into Titletown. … No promises beyond 2016, but until then, barring catastrophic injury, an oil-and-gas bust or general manager Sam Presti losing his senses, the Thunder is set for five years of excellent basketball,” the Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel wrote. Read More »
Tags: C.J. Miles, Chase Budinger, Chris Kaman, Dallas Mavericks, dirk nowitzki, Eddy Curry, Gordon Hayward, Houston Rockets, kevin martin, kobe bryant, lebron james, los angeles lakers, Miami Heat, new orleans hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, pau gasol, Rodrigue Beaubois, Russell Westbrook, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Battier, Troy Murphy, Utah Jazz
92 Comments » | Posted in Smack |
By Sean Sweeney

Thank you NBA fans. You’ve officially destroyed any drama that I ever got out of the All-Star voting. Not that it really matters. Almost every year, you can bank on certain names garnering the most votes and a starting spot in the Sunday capper of the best midseason weekend in basketball. Kobe Bryant could do his whole “watch what happens when I don’t shoot, world” routine for four weeks straight, and his fans would probably declare he’s the best passer in the world and should be in the game. LeBron James could act like a train off its tracks, and keep up that weird “I’m here, but don’t ask me to do anything heroic” face he’s had on since last June, and fans would still call him the most talented player in NBA history. Blake Griffin could blow out his knee or decide to never dunk again as long as the refs continue to screw him (Watch him complain on every call. Hubie almost had a heart attack last night: “GET BACK ON D! YOU GOTTA GET BACK!”), or he could have both happen, and Quake would still be in February’s ultimate showcase. Read More »
Tags: Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, dirk nowitzki, feature, Jamaal Magloire, Joe Johnson, josh smith, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Monta Ellis, Paul Millsap, Rajon Rondo, Roy Hibbert, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash
20 Comments » | Posted in All-Star, Featured Gallery, NBA |