April 13, 2016. The final day of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career as an NBA player. The last time we will ever see one of the greatest legends of this generation playing the game of basketball. Whether you love him or hate him, the man known as “The Black Mamba” has had a profound impact in the NBA over the last two decades no matter how you slice it. It’s been a tough finish to his career over the last few seasons, though, as the
When I read about the issue of resting players in preparation for the playoffs, it reminded me that I miss Wilt Chamberlain, who certainly would wonder what blockhead came up with the notion that players need rest. Rest has been a regular story line for the Golden State Warriors during their pursuit of the best regular season record in NBA history. At 72-9, they need only a victory Wednesday over a struggling, injured Memphis team – which has lost nine of
The Golden State Warriors are 72-9 on the season and are one win away from being immortals in the history books. That hasn’t stopped Charles Barkley from believing that the Warriors would be booted out of the playoffs in the second round if they run into the Los Angeles Clippers, a team the Warriors went 4-0 against this season. His primary reason: Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan would maul the Warriors. In fact, Barkley went as far as to say that he
While the Golden State Warriors chase their 73rd win and fans and pundits around the NBA fantasize about a possible Western Conference finals matchup against San Antonio or Oklahoma City, there’s only really one Eastern Conference finals matchup people are looking forward to: Cleveland vs. Toronto. After being swept by Washington in last year’s first round and having not won a playoff series in 15 years, most Raptors players had little to no interest in discussing a potential clash with the
Congratulations to the Mavericks and Rockets; condolences to the Jazz. Last night Dallas won in Utah to clinch a playoff spot, while Houston regained control of their own postseason destiny by thumping the Timberwolves. [Read more…]
When the season started, the assumption was that the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets would be a shoo-in for the playoffs. There was no reason for either of them to fall off too much from last season, with the exception of Dallas losing their bid for DeAndre Jordan in the offseason. That hasn’t exactly been the case, though, as both teams have struggled for much of the season just to stay in the race for a low seed. The Rockets, in particular,
The Golden State Warriors are about to complete the best regular season in NBA history. The Warriors are going to win 73 games, one more than the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr, a reserve on that Bulls squad and one of the great winners in league annals, is blown away by his team’s accomplishment. “I never imagined when I was with the Bulls anyone would ever come close,” he said. “We’re close.” [Read more…]
There’s a lot less drama in the NBA’s Eastern Conference now that the Bulls and Wizards have been eliminated. Only a few seeds remain to be determined. The West is a different story, with three teams battling for the final two spots. Two of them meet in the best of nine Monday games. [Read more…]