With the NBA regular season winding down, it’s time for a look back at what I consider the top 10 individual performances of the year. One name is conspicuously missing, and one date on the calendar accounted for two of this season’s best performances. Here we go … 1. Tony Parker: 42 points, 9 assists, 0 turnovers in 39 minutes February 4 vs. Oklahoma City in a 107-96 Spurs victory. The four-time All-Star point guard, who I stated last week deserves consideration for the MVP
Although Derrick Rose was able to start, he went 1-13 in 25 minutes and couldn’t finish. C.J. Watson, far from 100% healthy himself, played most of the fourth quarter and the overtime, scoring 16 points and adding 8 assists to spark the Bulls’ victory. LeBron James had 30, Dwyane Wade 21 and Chris Bosh 20 for the Heat, who moved Udonis Haslem into the starting lineup, sending Ronny Turiaf to the bench. As the Miami subs were outscored 47-7 by
Who needs Kobe Bryant? Not the Lakers, if last night’s impressive road win means anything. You have to start with Andrew Bynum grabbing 30 rebounds, which has happened exactly twice in 12 years. He added 16 points but was unhappy with his 7-20 shooting. Metta World Peace had 26 points, easily a season high, and Pau Gasol (21 & 11) played well. It was a rare off-night for the Spurs: Danny Green scored 22, but Tony Parker went just 2-12
The New York Knicks have yet to lose two consecutive games since Mike Woodson took over as the interim head coach. A loss tonight would end that run, and more importantly, they would surrender the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. New York (29-28) looks to even up the season series as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks in Wednesday’s best game. The first two games between the teams were taken by the Bucks, but playing for the fourth time in five nights, they
I had a feeling that Richard Hamilton was due. Though still limited to 20 minutes, Rip scored 20 points, had 5 assists and 4 rebounds to make up for the absence of Derrick Rose (ankle) as he and Luol Deng (19 PTS, 10 REB) led the Bulls to a tough win. Carmelo Anthony had 29 for the Knicks, with Tyson Chandler (10 PTS, 15 REB, 3 BLK) playing well, but the point guard spot remains a problem. Baron Davis (8
Around The League WAS @ CHA: Jordan Crawford scored 20 and the Wizards’ bench had fun, especially James Singleton (18 PTS, 12 REB) and Cartier Martin (19) as the Bobcats made very little effort to defend their home court. Corey Maggette played just 19 minutes off the bench, but did score 23 points. TOR @ IND: Without Andrea Bargnani (calf) the Raptors started Amir Johnson, who had 16 points. James Johnson (4) is still coming off the bench behind Alan Anderson (17)
Derrick Rose was impressive in his long-awaited return, with 29 points, but he did miss 19 shots and turned the ball over eight times, showing a bit of rust. Carmelo Anthony was even better, scoring 43 including the clinching 3-pointer in overtime. Tyson Chandler (8 PTS, 16 REB, 3 BLK) was a huge factor and Iman Shumpert (15 PTS. 6 AST, 9 REB, 3 STL) made up for a quiet day from the hobbling Baron Davis. Luol Deng played almost
We could drone on and on in today’s roundup about what a huge victory it was yesterday for both Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks, being that this Web site is based out of the Big Apple. But we shall spare you. You know why the Knicks won Sunday in overtime? Three words: Derrick Rose choked. By my count, Rose is now 0-for-4 on game-deciding free throws in the final minute of the fourth quarter of Sunday afternoon ABC games, having gagged similarly