After the Celtics-Clippers deal stalled last night, today seemed like something of a letdown. Luckily, we’ve got Game 5 of the Finals to occupy our NBA-related attention. If the Spurs lose, they go to Miami down 3-2 for games 6 and 7. Is this really the best format? Jan Hubbard doesn’t think so. Also on Sheridan Hoops, check out our new WNBA Week in Review column for all the goings-on in the world’s top women’s basketball league. Of course, you came here
It used to be that the path from player to coach in the NBA required at least a couple of years as an assistant, executive or broadcaster. Not anymore. Jason Kidd has shattered that notion, making the switch from player to coach in less than a month when he was hired by the Brooklyn Nets, the same franchise he led to consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals 10 years ago. Kidd is one of the smartest players in league history, and has
LeBron James is struggling in the playoffs, and that means everyone is talking about his demise. When the King struggles – which he rarely does – it is always major news. Usually, his struggles stem from the inability of his teammates to step up and make plays. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, however, that actually wasn’t the case. For once, LeBron didn’t have a whole lot to blame for his poor performance other than himself, and that’s exactly what
Watch out, NBA coaches. There is a new “Kidd” in town (sorry folks, had to do it). After much speculation and anticipation about who the Nets would pick between the recently-retired Jason Kidd and coveted long-time assistant Brian Shaw, news broke on Wednesday that the sure-fire Hall of Famer will be on the sidelines for the team as the new head coach next season. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today has details: Jason Kidd jumped from playing to coaching in less than two
The two best games of the playoffs thus far have clearly been Game 4 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls and Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, which had a number of similarities. Both games went multiple overtimes. Both games had plenty of big shots. Both games had role players becoming unlikely heroes. And unfortunately for the Nets and Warriors, both games had huge collapses late in regulation. [Read more…]
Can Derrick Rose still come back this season to help the Chicago Bulls against the Miami Heat in the Conference semifinals? Much has been made of why he – despite being cleared to play by doctors some time ago – has still been unavailable to play for the team. Perhaps there wouldn’t have been so much scrutiny on the point guard, who is still in the process of recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in last season’s playoffs, had he
And just like that, the second round is upon us. If that felt a little abrupt, don’t worry: it was. Somehow the first series to be set is the last to get underway, which I’m sure Gregg Popovich and the Spurs won’t mind. Mark Jackson and the Warriors probably won’t mind too much either, with Andrew Bogut and Steph Curry’s ankle troubles. For more on the Warriors and Spurs, check out Jan Hubbard’s latest column. The other series that starts tomorrow
Hinrich’s absence a big factor for Bulls Chicago may have been without top scorer Luol Deng in Thursday’s 95-92 Game 6 home loss to Brooklyn, but its loss of Kirk Hinrich for a second straight game may have hurt the team more. Deron Williams has played better over the last pair of Net wins with Hinrich out of commission, which is a major reason why the series has swung in Brooklyn’s favor. Hinrich last appeared on the floor in last Saturday’s Game