PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
-Aristotle
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NBA:
Celebrities align for NBA’s All-Star weekend in Toronto
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/14/celebrities-align-for-nbas-all-star-weekend-in-toronto
Kobe Bryant is nearly doubling LeBron James in All-Star votes
Carmelo, Green hold leads to start All-Star game
How NBA officiating has changed because of fast pace
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2016/01/14/nba-officiating-changes-fast-pace/78756320/
Top 10 small forwards all-time
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankSFs/ranking-top-10-small-forwards-ever
Debating LeBron, Bird, Durant, Melo
Cavs, Spurs: Important for what they’ve done, what they might do
James, Popovich could have meshed nicely together
Fisher-Barnes reunion forces NBA to put security, refs on alert
http://nypost.com/2016/01/14/fisher-barnes-reunion-forces-nba-to-put-security-refs-on-alert/
NBA needs to catch up to the NCAA and ditch it’s age limit
Top NBA stars by position: Early ’16 edition
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2606876-the-top-5-nba-stars-at-every-position-early-2016-edition
Ranking this season’s NBA rookies by the numbers
76ERS:
76ers fall to Butler, Bulls in OT
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20160115_Sixers_battle_Bulls_but_lose_in_OT.html
Nik Stauskas hurts shoulder vs. Bulls
Brown likes Colangelo-Hinkie relationship
Hinkie could learn from Colangelo
Firstrust Bank looks past 76ers’ Wells Fargo arena deal in new sponsorship
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article54672270.html
BUCKS:
Bucks’ struggles apparent as NBA season reaches midpoint
BULLS:
Butler’s 53 points lifts Bulls in OT thriller over Sixers
http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/butlers-career-high-53-points-helps-bulls-top-sixers-overtime
Analyzing the Bulls’ screen defense
http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/beyond-box-score-analyzing-bulls-screen-defense
Hoiberg opens up about heart problem in new awareness campaign
Rose says the players are still listening to Hoiberg’s coaching
Bulls’ Rose out against Sixers
CAVALIERS:
Spurs snap Cavaliers’ winning streak, 99-95
One way to rest LeBron is to practice less, which the Cavs have mastered this season
What’s behind LeBron’s shift in leadership
Tristan Thompson becomes active leader for consecutive games played
LeBron to produce, appear in reality TV series
LeBron writes words of respect to ‘greatest PF to every play’ Tim Duncan on Instagram
CELTICS:
Isaiah’s All-Star competition
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-thomas-faces-stiff-competition-all-star-spot
Celtics show what they can do with return of key defenders
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-show-what-they-can-do-with-return-of-key-defenders
Ainge Q&A: Celtics ‘searching for consistency’
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/ainge-q-an-a-celtics-searching-consistency
Smart knows he’s not yet back to his pre-injury self
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/marcus-smart-knows-he-is-not-yet-back-yet-to-his-pre-injury-self
Half-court offense has to be better for Celtics
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/ainge-half-court-offense-has-be-better-celtics
CLIPPERS:
Clippers Cole Aldrich, Pablo Prigioni et al. give Doc Rivers lots of options
http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-20160115-story.html
GRIZZLIES:
Mario Chalmers saves Griz in 103-101 win over Pistons
Mike Conley likely to miss fifth game with Achilles injury
HEAT:
Heat’s disjointed play drawing ire of veterans Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article54783685.html
MRI on Heat’s Dragic confirms mild left calf strain
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14571915/goran-dragic-miami-heat-expected-miss-week-calf-strain
Justise Winslow pens case for Hassan Whiteside All-Star berth
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-justise-winslow-s011416-story.html
HORNETS:
Hornets’ Cody Zeller looks so much more at home playing center
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/
Why teams need a Nic Batum
JAZZ:
Rudy Gay sinks Jazz at the buzzer, 103-101
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3420220-155/utah-jazz-rudy-gay-sinks-jazz
Trey Lyles, Raul Neto fighting through rookie wall
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3420486-155/jazz-notes-trey-lyles-raul-neto
Back injury keeps Derrick Favors out of 12th straight game
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3420270-155/utah-jazz-notes-back-injury-keeps
KINGS:
Rudy Gay hits game winner to beat Utah after Kings blow big lead
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article54830450.html
Gay unfazed by latest trade rumors
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article54827330.html
Kings’ playoff talk quiets after another lackluster effort in loss to Pelicans
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article54630040.html
KNICKS:
MSG reporter provides inside look at Porzingis-Anthony bond
http://nypost.com/2016/01/14/msg-reporter-provides-inside-look-at-porzingis-anthony-bond/
Knicks’ rising Derrick Williams wants his dunk contest revenge
http://nypost.com/2016/01/14/knicks-rising-derrick-williams-wants-his-dunk-contest-revenge/
Lopez twins steamed at each other after ‘crazy’ court battle
http://nypost.com/2016/01/14/why-chippy-robin-lopez-made-brother-brook-kind-of-mad/
As good as Kristaps Porzingis has played, he and the Knicks need Carmelo
LAKERS:
Lakers fail to keep pace in second half, falling to Warriors, 116-98
Jerry West reflects on his relationship with Kobe Bryant
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-report-20160115-story.html
Lakers hope they have the next Steph, Draymond
MAGIC:
Magic lose to Raptors 106-103 in OT in London
Skiles said he’d use London game as chance to evaluate lineup
Vucevic shares suite with NBA legends at soccer game
http://www.nba.com/magic/news/vucevic-shares-suite-nba-legends-soccer-game
Harris: ‘Really big game for us’
http://www.nba.com/magic/news/harris-really-big-game-us
MAVERICKS:
Gaga for Zaza
Mavs injury updates for Zaza Pachulia, Devin Harris
Mejri knows it’s back to the bench, but he does have something on Nowitzki after one game
Barea on why Westbrook was ‘a little bit over the top’ in physical game; refused to talk about being ejected
Barea, aka Charlie Villanueva’s ‘little Chihuahua,’ grateful that his ‘Latino brother’ came to his defense
NETS:
Time to start the coaching search?
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-am-time-to-start-the-nba-coaching-search/
Brown giving Nets point guards more freedom
Add Danny Ferry to the Nets GM mix
NUGGETS:
Danilo Gallinari playing at All-Star level, says coach Michael Malone
The reasons behind Danilo Gallinari’s recent hot streak
http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2016/01/14/danilo-gallinari-nuggets/13674/
How Gallinari has changed his game for the better
PACERS:
Pacers expect Stuckey (foot) to miss 2 weeks
PELICANS:
Pelicans’ Kendrick Perkins disappointed with some of his teammates’ effort
Anthony Davis appears to be a longshot to return as starter for NBA All-Star game
http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2016/01/anthony_davis_appears_to_be_a.html#incart_river_index
PISTONS:
Memphis 103, Detroit 101: Pistons popped late – again
Van Gundy not planning to talk ‘Hack-a-Dre’ with Silver
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2016/01/14/detroit-pistons-hack-a-dre/78811148/
RAPTORS:
Raptors defeat Magic in OT in London
http://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2016/01/14/raptors-defeat-magic-in-ot-in-london.html
Scola has commish’s ear on travel issues
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/14/raptors-scola-has-adam-silvers-ear-on-travel-issues
ROCKETS:
Cavs-Rockets loses some luster
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/Cavs-Rockets-loses-some-luster-6760526.php
Rockets lineup still a work in progress as midseason approaches
Dwight Howard, Rockets realizing defensive intensity is key for winning
Chemistry lessons take hold
Sentencing continued for Ty Lawson in Denver drunken driving case
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29384528/former-nugget-ty-lawson-be-sentenced-denver-drunken
SPURS:
With West as a model, Spurs get tough to rally past Cavs
Spurs exploit Love en route to win
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/01/15/spurs-cavaliers-finals-matchup-lebron-james-kevin-love-defense
Time running out on Leonard’s All-Star bid
SUNS:
Suns reunite Wolfpack duo of Warren, Brown
Ronnie Price to have surgery on toe
THUNDER:
Taking a closer look at the Thunder’s most successful lineups
http://newsok.com/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-thunders-most-successful-lineups/article/5472631
Durant, Westbrook on pace to start All-Star game
http://newsok.com/kevin-durant-russell-westbrook-on-pace-to-start-all-star-game/article/5472607
Billy Donovan on his first technical foul: ‘I think I was right on that one’
Durant ranked fourth-best small forward ever by ESPN
http://newsok.com/kevin-durant-ranked-fourth-best-small-forward-ever-by-espn/article/5472605
TIMBERWOLVES:
Wanted: Wolves three-point shooters
http://www.startribune.com/wanted-wolves-three-point-shooters/365383101/
Mitchell, Wolves not the right fit
http://www.startribune.com/mitchell-wolves-not-the-right-fit/365382661/
What’s the main problem with the Timberwolves offense?
TRAIL BLAZERS:
Mason Plumlee set for 1st game back in Brooklyn
Will Portland sweep this road trip?
http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/what-would-sweep-east-coast-trip-do-blazers-team
The Fundamentals: Blazers revamp offense and roster
1-on-1 with Blazers’ Ed Davis
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-ed-davis-talks-blazers-lakers-kobe-lillard/
WARRIORS:
Warriors beat Kobe, Lakers in his farewell tour
Warriors, Lakers in reverse roles as Kobe pays last visit
http://www.csnbayarea.com/warriors/warriors-lakers-reverse-roles-kobe-pays-last-visit
Thompson: A special relationship with Bryant
http://www.mercurynews.com/marcus-thompson/ci_29388407/thompson-special-relationship-kobe-bryant
Green’s signing stands out as best bargain
http://www.si.com/nba/2016/01/14/data-dimes-nba-free-agency-signings-draymond-green-reggie-jackson
Andre Iguodala Q&A: Aspirations bigger than basketball
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14565088/qa-golden-state-warriors-andre-iguodala
Golden touch: Warriors bring assists stat to prominence
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article54779225.html
WIZARDS:
Wizards could have Marcin Gortat back this weekend
Two Wizards big men did not travel for Pacers game
Interesting rotation choices await Wittman in near future
Gulf widens for Wall, All-Star start virtually out of reach
Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Web site, www.allball365.com.