There’s a 10-game slate in the NBA tonight, although the 6:00 ET start (Indiana at Brooklyn) doesn’t count in the most lucrative daily contests at DraftKings. The final three weeks is unpredictable in basketball, due to rest, injuries, auditions and varying degrees of motivation. But we’ll keep trying. [Read more…]
After Monday’s 106-79 road win over the deliriously dysfunctional Brooklyn Nets, the 33-6 San Antonio Spurs have matched the team’s best start through 39 games in its storied franchise history. The Spurs have won five championships since Gregg Popovich took over as coach during the 1996-1997 season, but have never started the regular season with more wins than they have right now. And San Antonio isn’t just beating teams, it’s steamrolling opponents at a level not seen anywhere else in the league. The
Do you remember what Paul George was like before his gruesome injury? Do you remember the 2013 playoffs, when he showed everyone how much better he was than supposed MVP candidate Carmelo Anthony? Do you remember how he accepted and met the challenge of defending LeBron James in those Pacers-Heat playoff wars? And how much respect James had for him? Well, Paul George isn’t that player anymore. He’s better. [Read more…]
NEW YORK — Kristaps Porzingis walked gingerly into the locker room, put a few tablets in his mouth, took a sip of water, tilted his head back slightly and ingested what was most likely a pain reliever. The cause of Porzingis’ pain was the result of the fall and subsequent collision with Carmelo Anthony with 3:02 left in the 4th quarter. Thankfully, there seemed to be no serious consequences and New York will see how the 7-foot-3 rookie responds in the next few days. But
For the San Antonio Spurs, most of the summers over the past few years have been about adding a few minor pieces to the roster. Their core was usually intact, and the team never had too much cap space in free agency. However, this past July was a memorable one for the Spurs as they were actually a serious contender in the free agent market with maximum cap space available. The Spurs not only re-signed core pieces in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili,
Amar’e Stoudemire moved into very exclusive company this summer. By accepting the veteran’s minimum of $1.5 million in signing as a free agent with the Miami Heat, Stoudemire became just the second player in NBA history to take a $20 million pay cut. Last season, Stoudemire was on the books for $23,410,000, the final season of the five-year deal worth about $100 million he signed with the New York Knicks in 2010. That was the summer that the Knicks tried to position
Just about every team in the Western Conference spent money in free agency. Some were trying to close the gap on the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Some were trying to jump from the lottery to the playoffs. And some were merely trying to keep pace in the arms race. But while some teams spent smartly and found bargains, others threw bad money after good, overreaching and overpaying for players who may not provide the expected bang for the buck. The Sheridan Hoops
We have already looked at the Eastern Conference and told you who has won and lost the offseason. Now it is time to look at the Western Conference, which seems to get stronger and stronger every year. How much did DeAndre Jordan’s indecision really impact the conference? Has anyone closed the gap on the defending champion Golden State Warriors? Our staff takes a look in the Three-Man Weave. 1. Which Western Conference team has had the best offseason thus far? [Read more…]