In-state rivals clash Sunday when the Orlando Magic take their big one to Miami to play the Heat’s big three. Miami has been a monster at home, going 18-2 and winning its last 12 at American Airlines Arena, allowing just 89.3 points during the streak. The Magic are 13-9 on the road and have won four of their last five behind a hot-shooting Jameer Nelson (27-of-44 from the floor in his last four games). Dwight Howard, the NBA’s leading rebounder (15.0), has tortured
Sheridan’s Sunday Power Rankings
Congratulations to everyone who took Marquette in their NCAA pool. The Warriors are going to win it all. Your big movers this week are the Mavericks and Bucks. I am still being somewhat hard on the Cavs, which I’m sure I’ll hear about from Cleveland tweeps. I am not sold on Woodsonity, but the Knicks have certainly looked re-energized these past three games. The season is two-thirds over. I like Denver and Houston as sleeper threats. I have fallen out of love with
Fantasy Spin: Sunday March 18
Derrick Favors, tipped here yesterday because Al Jefferson is away this weekend, scored 23 points and grabbed 17 boards in a spot start. Get Favors in your lineups again today, and file away the knowledge of how good he will be in the future. I never expected Richard Jefferson to get 38 minutes in his Warriors debut. RJ was ice-cold (2-14) but this doesn’t bode well for Brandon Rush, who can safely be cut. HOU @ LAC: We expected Goran Dragic would
Bernucca: Magic can make it right with Dwight
Earlier this week, LeBron James said his situation in Cleveland and Dwight Howard’s dilemma in Orlando were not comparable. So true. Where they differed most was that James ultimately made a decision – however foolishly elaborate and narcissistic it may have played out – while Howard was virtually paralyzed by indecision. When Howard finally made up his mind just hours before Thursday’s trading deadline and opted into the final year of his contract with the Magic, a cool breeze of relief wafted through
Woodsanity replaces Linsanity; Boston loses to Denver as Garnett makes history
Let the Wood-sanity begin. It has been three games since Mike Woodson took over the coaching duties of the New York Knicks after the firing resignation of Mike D’Antoni. The Knicks have since gone 3-0. Preaching defense and accountability — perhaps the polar opposite of D’Antoni’s style — Woodson has changed the attitude of his players and the results have shown in remarkable fashion on the court. Since going on a nightmare six-game losing streak that saw them fall out of the playoff picture, New
Tweet of the Day: Iman Shumpert
Somebody erupted the beast within the Knicks locker room. I don’t know if it was the departure of D’Antoni, or what exactly has clicked. But the Knicks have been fantastic the past three games, destroying the Blazers by 32 then beating the Pacers, who have been a very good team this season, by 14 and 15 points. Woodsanity has now begun, and the roller-coaster season for the Knicks continues. They are now 3-0 under Woodson, and just as ice
Scouting Take: C.J. McCollum of Lehigh
While the nation learned of the name C.J. McCollum last night thanks to a 30-point performance in leading the 15th-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks in a major upset over Duke, those in the Patriot League are familiar with the silky smooth lead guard. Living in the Northeast, I’ve had the opportunity to see McCollum several times this year, and his ability to combine his supreme athleticism within a very structured and disciplined system is a major plus in his ledger. McCollum possesses a
Tonight’s best game: Boston at Denver
With Thursday’s trade deadline come and gone, two teams with frontcourt injury issues will test whether a midseason roster change was the right decision when the Boston Celtics visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Boston (23-20) learned Wednesday that center Chris Wilcox will miss the remainder of the season, needing surgery on an enlarged aorta, and malcontent Jermaine O’Neal is looking for a buyout. Desperately needing help down low – the Celtics are dead last in the league in rebounding (38.3). Boston