We’ve got a monster matchup tonight with the Thunder taking on the Spurs. Gregg Popovich rested his stars a couple days ago, presumably with this matchup in mind, so we’ll see if that ploy pays off.
Of course, despite missing some veterans, the Spurs overcame the Warriors in a close one Thursday night. It’s been a bit of a disappointing season for the Warriors, though they’re certainly not out of the hunt by any means.
It’s just another reminder that the NBA is a zero-sum game. For every Portland there’s a Brooklyn. Nobody rises without someone else falling.
That said, there have been some pretty unexpected risers this season. The Blazers are the obvious one, and the Suns are a big surprise as well, but what about Dallas? The Mavs struck out in their quest for a big-name free agent, having to settle for Monta Ellis and his shot selection. But they’re sitting at 15-11 right now, in seventh in the vicious Western Conference.
The keys? A renewed Dirk Nowitzki, an efficient Ellis and a steady hand at the controls in Jose Calderon. Maybe not the star power of their in-state rivals in Houston, but owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle have the Mavs in position to get back to the playoffs after missing out last season for the first time in seemingly forever.
Looking for Mavericks tickets? Look no further.
Now let’s get to the latest from around the NBA:
The Nets’ nightmare season might have reached its lowest point to date. Brook Lopez is done for the year. Here’s Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com: “The Nets confirmed Saturday that Lopez broke his surgically repaired right foot, which he fractured in 2011 and later had a screw replaced in. Lopez officially has been diagnosed with a fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot. The Nets announced in a statement that Lopez’s status will be updated next week after a consultation with team physicians. The 7-foot center suffered the injury sometime in the second half Friday night, possibly in the third quarter, during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a league source said. Lopez gutted his way through the injury, playing 44 minutes while making 9-of-19 shots and finishing with 22 points and seven rebounds. The Nets discovered the bad news after the game when Lopez underwent X-rays on his troublesome foot.”-
Indications are Nets will explore applying for Disabled Player Exception after losing Brook Lopez to yet another sad foot injury
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 21, 2013
In short term, though, Brooklyn unlikely to rush out in search of fill-in bigs w/KG, Blatche, Plumee, Evans and Teletovic there to step in
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 21, 2013
- Thaddeus Young says he didn’t ask for a trade, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer: “76ers forward Thaddeus Young, the subject of trade rumors, said Friday he has not asked the team to deal him. Speaking after the morning shootaround for Friday night’s Brooklyn game, Young made light of an Internet report that said he and his agent, Jim Tanner, submitted a formal trade request to Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie weeks ago. “I just think it’s all funny how it’s sources that say I asked to be traded,” Young said. “At the end of the day, like I said, I’m here 110 percent each and every game, ready to play and just stay focused and try to win basketball games.” But he did say that Tanner had a wide-ranging conversation with Hinkie that included potential trade talks and rumors involving him.”
- Despite the Knicks’ struggles, they haven’t called on Metta World Peace. Here’s USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt on Metta: “Ba
ck in July, when Metta World Peace signed with New York Knicks after the Los Angeles Lakers used the amnesty provision to cut him, the veteran small forward said, “I don’t care if I’m starting or sweeping the floors, you hear me? I want to win.” These days, World Peace isn’t starting — he’s barely playing — and the Knicks aren’t winning. He hasn’t played in three games this season, he played more than 25 minutes just once since Nov. 11 and has scored in double figures just twice since Nov. 11. And World Peace is taking it all in stride, saying over and over he is ready to play when called upon. “I’m ready for whatever’s presented,” he said. “I had a pretty good preseason, and I was playing really consistent. I felt I was doing enough to prove that I was ready. Not to prove, because I don’t have anything to prove anymore. This team is stacked. I knew that. I knew I was going to play behind (Carmelo Anthony). I didn’t expect to play as much as four. I thought they’d be playing ‘Melo a little bit more. I knew coming into the season that it wasn’t going to be the same but I was ready.”” -
Shumpert says he’s going through a “tough time” with his shot. “I ain’t never been in a slump before I don’t really know how to handle it.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 21, 2013
The Bobcats have lost another small forward to injury. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports: “The Charlotte Bobcats have lost small forward Jeff Taylor for the season after he suffered a rupture of his right Achilles tendon, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Observer. Taylor, in his second NBA season, was averaging 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds. He became a starter eight games ago after teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a broken left hand in a Dec. 3 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t expected back until sometime in January.”- Lucas Nogueira was the highest drafted player to remain in Europe from this summer’s draft. He’s made his way to Atlanta already, but not for the reason the Hawks would have liked. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: “The Hawks first-round draft pick will have doctors affiliated with the team be a part of the rehabilitation of the severe tendinitis in his knees that has limited the center this season. Nogueira, who recently suspended his contract with his Spanish League team to seek additional medical advice on the ailing knees, will miss two months. He will split his rehabilitation between Atlanta and Los Angeles, where he also saw doctors about his condition, before eventually returning to play for Asefa Estudiantes Madrid. Nogueira and his agent elected to use Peachtree Orthopaedics Clinic, the same facility used by the Hawks, for his rehabilitation. It will allow the team to monitor Nogueira’s progress.”
- Finally, for everyone who remembers Kurtis Blow’s slightly bizarre “Basketball” video, a parody from Coach Nick of BBallBreakdown:
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Dan Malone is in his fourth year as a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent this summer as a features intern at the Cape Cod Times. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.