It has become fashionable to include Russell Westbrook in the MVP discussion, and as we all know, fashion and Westbrook go together like Anna Sui and horned Viking hats. Not only did Westbrook win MVP honors at the All-Star game while coming up one point shy of Wilt Chaberlain’s record of 42 points in the NBA’s midseason showcase, he has taken that performance and built some momentum off of it, leading the Olahoma City Thunder into a somewhat secure standing in
The MVP is James Harden’s to lose, right? And Coach of the Year is a two-man race between Steve Kerr and Mike Budenholzer, correct? Not so fast. It is still February, the temperature here in New York is going to hit zero again tonight, and the number zero was an accurate reflection on the chances of Russell Westbrook contending for the MVP award and Stan Van Gundy being in the mix for Coach of the Year as recently as Christmas. To refresh your
It is easy to declare the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks the winners of trade deadline day, because both will be in the playoffs and both made exceptional moves. But the team I have declared the bigest winner of all is the Philadelphia 76ers, because they were able to get their hands on the Top 5 protected pick that the Los Angels Lakers owed to the Phoenix Suns. It is never easy trading away a player as good as
I have written this before but I haven’t written it in quite some time. When all is said and done on the Sam Hinkie Era, the Philadelphia 76ers will be counting up their multiple titles. Yes, multiple. But no, I do not expect JaVale McGee to be a part of any of that. Emmanuel Mudiay? Yes. Jahlil Okafor or Joel Embiid? Yep. The mad scientist in Philadelphia may just be a mad genius. Yes, it was fashionable to make fun of the young
We are now less than 48 hours away from the NBA trade deadline, and I have set the over/under on the number of trades made Thursday at 4 1/2. Does that seem low? Well, with the number of trades that have already taken place this season, it stands to reason that things will be more quiet this year than they have in years past. With that being said, here are a couple things I expect to happen: [Read more…]
NEW YORK — Be yourself, Russell. Just be yourself. That was the message LeBron James had for the MVP of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, and you know what? There aren’t that many people bold enough to say what LeBron said about Russell Westbroook. Don’t get me wrong … there are plenty of people with plenty of opinions on the guy who wears a zero on his uniform for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stuff like: “Stop shooting so much.” Or: “Give the
There is not much for New Yorkers to look forward to over the remainder of the Knicks season, unless Jim Dolan decides to write another nasty over-the-top e-mail to an elderly fan. There is a slim chance Phil Jackson can find a taker for Jose Calderon on the trade market, but aside from that there will likely be no Carmelo Anthony, no Amare Stoudemire, and no hope. The Knicks are all-in on free agency and the draft, but here is the
BROOKLYN — Andrew Wiggins will “most likely” play for Team Canada in this summer’s FIBA-Americas Olympic qualifying tournament, a huge piece of positive news for a Canadian federation that has been hoping and praying that the NBA’s most exciting rookie will play for his national team. Wiggins gave me the “most likely” quote as he warmed up for the Rising Stars challenge Friday night at the Barclay’s Center. When I pressed him and asked it he was 100 percent in, he hedged