There is an NBA team that started this season with a roster that included an MVP winner from this decade; a recent Defensive Player of the Year; the runner-up in the most recent Rookie of the Year voting; and two All-Stars, including one deemed the league’s Most Improved Player. The roster also included some highly promising youngsters and a handful of savvy, playoff-tested veterans. The team seemed to be a lock for the postseason, having made the playoffs every year but
It’s a busier-than-usual NBA Thursday with eight games, and we may not see as many lopsided high scores as last night. Several teams are in desperate bids for playoff positioning. [Read more…]
No matter whom you like in the race for NBA Rookie of the Year, one thing is certain: Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis will be watching the playoffs on TV. That’s no dig at either player. It is usually what happens to high draft picks during their first couple of seasons. You have to go back to Derrick Rose in 2008 to find a top overall pick who reached the playoffs in his rookie season. In fact, among the last 40
The stars are out on a 10-game NBA Wednesday, with the point guard spot particularly loaded. Kyle Lowry $8500, who triple-doubled on Monday, ranks only fifth on the salary list for his position. [Read more…]
On a six-game NBA Thursday, the most obvious high-scoring game has Sacramento visiting New Orleans. Unfortunately, Anthony Davis $9900 (concussion) is doubtful and Tyreke Evans $7400 (knee) is questionable, so the Kings have quite an advantage. [Read more…]
For the first time in roughly two decades, the Eastern Conference is better than the Western Conference from top to bottom. Nine East teams are at .500 or better – nearly twice as many teams as last season, when sixth-seeded Milwaukee finished 41-41. And the East actually has a winning record against the West this season at 100-98 What changed so quickly from last season, when articles were written about how there was the greatest disparity in conference strength in recent memory? “I
In case you didn’t notice, the transition into a new era for the San Antonio Spurs hit a milestone of sorts this past weekend. For the first time in 1,360 career games, Tim Duncan did not score. Coming off a three-game absence – one for rest and two due to knee soreness – the no-brainer Hall of Famer played just 13 minutes Saturday, missing all three of his shots and failing to get to the line. And it was no coincidence that in
Happy New Year! May 2016 be peaceful and prosperous for you and your loved ones. In the NBA, January 1 is a relatively quiet night, with five games getting under way at 7:00 Eastern. [Read more…]