// Friday night in the NBA was all about trades. Trades that were made. Trades that weren’t made. Trades that players want. Trades that might be made. Like the trade the New York Knicks made last February. You remember that one, right? Half their team to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. How’s that one working out? Let’s check in with Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: “The chants ranged from “Fire D’Antoni” to”Phil Jackson” to “Let’s go Giants.” This is what
One of these days, Kevin Durant will score 30 points again. It hasn’t happened in a while, but Durant doesn’t mind. One of these days, the Boston Celtics will win again. That also hasn’t happened in a while, but it will. Durant scored 28 points, his 10th consecutive sub-30 game, as the Oklahoma City Thunder handed the Boston Celtics their 5th straight loss – the longest losing streak since Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have been teammates. Russell Westbrook scored 26
// The Boston Celtics have some serious issues. Friday’s 88-79 home loss to Chicago was the third straight for the Celtics, who fell to 4-6. It is the first time in the “Big Three” era that they have been two games under .500. They are 19-18 since trading Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics simply cannot score, averaging 79.3 points during the slide. Paul Pierce is still looking for his rhythm after getting a late start to the season and is averaging 13.6 points
It’s time for the Boston Celtics to snap out of it. When the Celtics host the Chicago Bulls in the first game of ESPN’s Friday doubleheader, they will be trying to avoid a third straight home loss, something they have not done since the tail end of the 2009-10 season, when they were beaten by San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Houston. Optimists in Celtics Nation will point out that Gang Green managed to regroup that season and ended up within a stop
Those who thought the NBA would be plagued by inconsistency because of the nutty compressed schedule have been unpleasantly surprised. The NBA has been very consistent. All you have to do is consult the NBA roundup in your local newspaper each day. In recent days, we’ve read that players either missed or will miss games because of: — Strained hamstring (Charlotte’s Corey Maggette). — Groin injuries (Chicago’s Rip Hamilton, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey, Milwaukee’s Mike Dunleavy, New Orleans’ Trevor Ariza). — Back injuries (Dallas’ Jason
Three thoughts after a Friday night of watching NBA basketball: _ I am going to spend more time watching the Minnesota Timberwolves this winter, since I know who I’ll be watching in late May and most of June (not them). Ricky Rubio is the reason why, even if his 12 assists in his coming-of-age game had to come on the same night LeBron James celebrated his 27th birthday with his 38th career 30-point, 10-assist performance. (The most among active players, one
Why did Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook get into another fight on the bench last night, as they did in last year’s playoffs? One reason is because they are young and emotional, and youngsters get into fights and show their emotions more than most veterans. Kids will be kids, after all. Also, one of them is more mature than the other. Does it mean Durant and Westbrook hate each other? Far from it, as I explain in the above video. Want to win two free
// That calming breeze you feel outside is the collective sigh of relief coming from the West, originating in Los Angeles. Unless the wind is blowing from the Northeast, near Boston. Then it’s cold and bitter. The folks who sit in the front row and wear their sunglasses indoors had a little extra bounce in their step as they strode to the valet stand last night, a measure of normalcy having returned to the Staples Center as the Lakers — the first team