Be it a fine or a suspension, we knew something big and bad was coming from commissioner David Stern. He had no choice but to do something significant after apologizing to the fans for what Gregg Popovich did and promising “substantial sanctions” against the San Antonio Spurs just before the start of their contest against the Miami Heat on Thursday. There were no suspensions of any kind, but Stern hit the Spurs organization with a hefty fine of $250,000 on Friday. Here
Did Gregg Popovich screw the fans and the NBA by making the decision to sit out four of his starters for a nationally televised game on TNT, on a night where only two games were on the schedule? Because lets face it: no one is exactly clamoring to see the Heat take on a bunch of role players that casual fans know nothing about – the Spurs aren’t exactly the most popular team to watch to begin with. Hell, even the
When the season began, I thought the New York Knicks could win 50 games. Having had a three-week look at them, I realize that lofty win total – one they have not reached this century – may be too low. [Read more…]
If Steve Nash had a different set of skills, it wouldn’t be a reach to suggest he might have been David Copperfield. Nash is perhaps the most unlikely looking franchise player in NBA history – a 6-3, 195-pound guard who seems much shorter and slighter when mingling with the giants who usually dominate NBA games. Nash is so slick that he makes us forget how good he is. It seems, for example, that a long time has passed since the Phoenix Suns
Mike Woodson A few weeks ago, I wrote that the Knicks had one of the NBA’s deepest frontcourts. Obviously, whether or not they would be able to live up to their potential depended on whether or not they would be able to stay healthy. Because of Hurricane Sandy, as I write this, the Knicks are one of the NBA’s seven teams who are yet to play a game. We know that Amar’e Stoudemire is going to be out for
It has been a couple of days now since the Thunder traded away a big part of their future in James Harden, but that hardly stopped anyone from still buzzing about it all. Who won the trade? Did the Thunder give up on their chance to contend after making it to the Finals last season over money? What does it mean for the Rockets, who suddenly look a whole lot more interesting? Our columnist Chris Bernucca was far from thrilled with the
By now you’ve probably heard that the Thunder dealt last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden, to the Rockets for three draft picks, rookie Jeremy Lamb, and guard Kevin Martin. It’s a bold move for rebuilding Houston, now banking on Harden becoming a franchise cornerstone, and a bit of a questionable one for the Thunder, who will still battle for a title this season, but will find that more difficult without Harden. The move comes after the Thunder
Wow, a true blockbuster trade. James Harden is a Houston Rocket. I’m happy to let experienced NBA journalist Chris Bernucca explain why (short version: money) and declare a real-life winner, but in the world of fantasy hoops, Harden just got even better. No longer a sixth man and third banana, he’s the focal point. Minutes will increase from 31 last year to at least 35, while his production in the counting stats should rise accordingly. Kevin Martin will join the Oklahoma