That photograph (screen shot, to be exact) to your left is the key factor in this series. Russell Westbrook will be walking to the arena on crutches, watching either from behind the bench at home or in a luxury box when the games move to Memphis. And you know what Mike Conley needs to do? Send a thank you note to Patrick Beverly. Let me tell you a story: The year before the Donnie Walsh era in New York began, I was
ATLANTA – If Atlanta’s Game 6 elimination loss to Indiana was Josh Smith’s final game as a Hawk, the star’s final performance was a near-perfect microcosm of his nine-year tenure in Atlanta. Friday night was fittingly consumed with frustration and bad decision-making, plenty of impressive defensive stops, and conclusively mixed results. The Hawks lived and died with Smith as their star all season and eventually paid for all of his shortcomings on Friday. [Read more…]
HOUSTON – It wasn’t Kevin Durant, but the other Kevin — a familiar face who turned foe on the brink of the regular season who came back to Houston and delivered the daggers that ended the Rockets’ playoff run Friday night. Kevin Martin moves on. James Harden goes home. Nobody could have predicted the spills, twists and turns this series took along the way before ending in six games with a 103-94 victory for Oklahoma City — including the part about the
As we entered the 2013 playoffs, the Miami Heat were poised to repeat as NBA champions. Or so it would seem. As we wait to see where the challenger will come from, the Heat’s place in history is developing before our eyes. Will they become a dynasty or fold under the real life pressures of free agency and the salary cap? Will they take their place in the discussion of “Greatest Ever?” Or be a team that had a great run? [Read
Hinrich’s absence a big factor for Bulls Chicago may have been without top scorer Luol Deng in Thursday’s 95-92 Game 6 home loss to Brooklyn, but its loss of Kirk Hinrich for a second straight game may have hurt the team more. Deron Williams has played better over the last pair of Net wins with Hinrich out of commission, which is a major reason why the series has swung in Brooklyn’s favor. Hinrich last appeared on the floor in last Saturday’s Game
Can a team win with its star player only scoring one point per shot? It’s not going so well over the past few games for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks. Which players drive the Pacers in its incredibly volatile series against Atlanta? Can Oklahoma City win with Reggie Jackson as its second option on offense. We’re going behind the numbers from Wednesday night’s trio of Game Fives in today’s StatBox playoff breakdown. Knicks won’t win with VoluMelo The Knicks let a veteran
The New York Knicks spent the offseason – and the regular season – adding playoff-hardened veterans to challenge the Miami Heat for the NBA title. But it is some of those same veterans who are showing inexcusable immaturity in their first-round series vs. the proud Boston Celtics. Whether it be unnecessary elbows or dressing for a funeral or failing to defend their home court, the Knicks have let the Celtics back into the series. What once looked to be a sweep now
It’s been fairly evident that Stephen Curry has been the most important player in the Denver-Golden State series, which has now a nasty turn. Warriors Coach Mark Jackson said that the Nuggets were dirty on Wednesday night, but how did that impact Curry’s play in Game 5? And also in the Western Conference, Blake Griffin’s injury allowed Zach Randolph to shine in a crucial Game 5 win for Memphis. Can Los Angeles overcome Griffin’s limitations and once again vanquish the