Injuries may have finally caught up with the Chicago Bulls. But no one has caught up with them in the Eastern Conference. Late in Wednesday’s loss to Indiana – Chicago’s first at home this season – Derrick Rose turned on the afterburners, sped to the basket and whipped a bullet pass to the weakside corner for a potential go-ahead 3-pointer by his small forward. However, standing in the corner was not Luol Deng, who is out with a wrist injury. In his
LOS ANGELES — Some news for Knicks fans pining for the lost glory days of 1970 and 1973. We have the scoop on whether Phil Jackson is about to return, assume Red Holzman’s mantle and restore the greatness they last glimpsed 39 years ago. Nope. That’s “nope” as in, I don’t think it will happen now, and it’s not likely to happen any time this season. After that, we’ll have to see what happens to coach Mike D’Antoni, in the event he lasts the
MIAMI – Yes, they like to run more than they did a year ago. But when you watch the Miami Heat closely it becomes apparent that one of their biggest improvements from a year ago has been in halfcourt offense. There’s much less confusion and malaise, and much more of a crisply-run, definitive, attacking game. “We’ve put a great emphasis on getting out running and being a fast-break team and getting easy points,” forward LeBron James said. “But we know there are
Hard to believe that anyone’s role model in the NBA would be . . . the Cleveland Cavaliers? The little team that couldn’t? The franchise so unattractive that it could not even entice local sensation LeBron James to stay? The team that has lost its last three games by an average of 28.3 points per game? Admittedly, it is difficult to look up to the Cavaliers when they went from seasons of winning 66 and 61 games to winning only 19
CHICAGO — Derrick Who? For now, the Bulls starting point guard is a fifth-year player who has spent his entire career coming off the bench, where he’s carved a niche for himself as a dependable role player. In his second year in Chicago, he’s garnered his share of praise from coach Tom Thibodeau for his heady play, low turnover rate, serviceable defense and game management. He’s also seen his minutes reduced, and rightfully so, because he’s playing behind the game’s reigning MVP. And
If the one-and-done rule didn’t exist and high school players were permitted to go straight to the NBA, Shabazz Muhammad might go as high as No. 2 in the 2012 Draft. After Anthony Davis, Kentucky’s 6-foot-11 freshman shot-blocking sensation, Muhammad might be the most attractive option were he to be allowed to come out this year. “He would be in the conversation for sure,” our friend, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com, points out. “He’s a great prospect. Lots of NBA teams have point guards and
NEW YORK – Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony seem to be at odds… At least on the basketball court. From the day Anthony arrived, Knicks fans immediately began to expect great things and playoff victories from Stat-e-Melo. Chemistry, we were told, would take time to develop. But if it seems like things are getting worse, it might be because they are. Between last season and this season, Amar’e and ‘Melo have played 37 regular season games together and still haven’t been able to consistently
Should the Philadelphia 76ers be taken seriously? Here’s why they should: In a season where continuity counts, they have virtually the same roster as last season’s. They have terrific depth to handle a relenteless schedule. They value the basketball. And they have no individual agendas. “They’re a very underrated team,” Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut said after his team became another double-digit victim earlier this week. “They move the ball well, they’re very well-coached and they showed it.” Here’s why they shouldn’t: They