Last season, the Atlanta Hawks were one of the NBA’s best regular-season stories, winning 60 games. This season, they needed almost 60 games to remember what winning is. After their best season since moving to Atlanta nearly 50 years ago, the Hawks have spent most of this season spurting and sputtering. They got off to a 7-1 start, which many took as a good sign considering they were a measly 7-6 out of the gate last season. There was a six-game
Just six NBA teams have played at a .600 pace this season. A seventh briefly reached the threshold last week, and you have to wonder how in the world they got there. Consider that this team: Is in the bottom five in 3-point makes, attempts and percentage in the most prolific season for 3-pointers in league history. Has been without its best player for over a month. Responded to losing its best player by dealing two more of its top five remaining rotation players
Guards Jeff Teague and Tyreke Evans have been added to the list of difference makers available on the NBA’s trade market with the deadline less than three weeks away. The trade market is loaded with forwards such as Rudy Gay, Ryan Anderson, Markieff Morris, Terrence Jones and Corey Brewer. Trades talks will heat up closer to All-Star Weekend in two weeks when all the general managers are on hand. Three players who won’t be making the trip are Damian Lillard, Pau Gasol and
No, it wasn’t last week when Blake Griffin slugged his buddy, equipment manager Matias Testi, who barely comes up to his shoulder. It goes all the way back to Doc Rivers’ arrival in the 2013-14 season that ended with Donald Sterling igniting himself, streaking across the sky like a fireball and disappearing from their sight forever. If that seemed like a good thing for the Clippers, it marked their zenith. They have been devolving ever since Steve Ballmer paid $2 billion for
Some bizarre news broke early Wednesday when it was announced that Blake Griffin, who was supposed to be due back in the next few games or so from a quad injury, potentially broke his hand in an undisclosed team-related incident. As time went by, it was revealed that the broken hand may have come from Griffin hitting a member of the Los Angeles Clippers equipment staff during an altercation in Toronto. Here are the details, from Mike Wells of ESPN: Sources previously told ESPN’s
This week, while NBA coaches pick the All-Star reserves, the NBA will pick the All-Star coaches. Neither task is as easy. David Blatt’s dismissal as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers has added a bizarre twist to next month’s All-Star Game in Toronto. The Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference, which means their staff was on track to coach the East All-Stars. But Blatt has been replaced by Tyronn Lue, who will coach just five games before the deadline of
Every year, All-Star debate centers around a team or player. Player X was snubbed. Team Y needs more All-Stars because of their record. We could see a convergence of debate in the Western Conference frontcourt this season. Players that deserve consideration for these spots include Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge and Anthony Davis. [Read more…]
We have two pieces of news to pick apart today: The announcement that USA Basketball has released a list of 30 finalists for the 2016 Olympic team, and the “non-commitment” from LeBron James regarding whether he will be part of the party. And yes, it will be a party. The games are in Brazil, after all. And LeBron, whose non-commitment is disingenuous at best, does not miss a good party. So let me tell you a little story about the Brazilians. [Read more…]