Clippers backup guard Eric Bledsoe stands at 6’1″, but his freakish athleticism allows him to play like he is much bigger than he actually is. That was the case on Wednesday night when Heat guard Dwyane Wade went up for a slam dunk in the second quarter, only to be emphatically denied by the smaller Bledsoe. The block is especially impressive when you consider the number of times Wade has dunked over much bigger opponents throughout his career. The momentum-altering play left
When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden on Saturday night, they revealed to everyone that they are a team far more concerned with the bottom line than the top of the heap. Probably a bit ahead of schedule, the Thunder reached the NBA Finals last season. As we have said before, they were a questionable foul call away from opening a 2-0 lead on the mighty Miami Heat that would have cultivated the doubt and derision that has swirled around
Have you ever read the book “When the Game Was Ours”? It’s about the rise, rivalry and friendship of two of the finest players in the history of the NBA in Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and how their love and passion for the game of basketball helped shape the NBA into what it is today. What you also find out in the book is the role of one David Stern, who wasn’t always hated and booed at every basketball event he
The latest crippling blow to the wounded Knicks is the loss of Tyson Chandler to a left knee injury. In the first minute of last night’s game, he collided with Gerald Wallace and crashed to the floor. On crutches after the game and headed for an MRI today, Chandler thinks it’s a sprain, not a tear. Stay tuned… Already without Amare Stoudemire and J.R. Smith, waiting for Marcus Camby’s calf to heal and for Rasheed Wallace to get in shape, the
(This is another in a series of 30 guest columns that will run in October, when optimism reigns supreme across the NBA. The theme will be “Five Reasons to Feel Positive About … ” We encourage you to follow the authors on Twitter and visit their sites. – CS) Heading into the 2012-13 season, the Clippers find themselves in unfamiliar territory: coming off a playoff appearance and a first-round series victory, with high expectations. After just five trips to the playoffs
At last, we have “real” basketball games to recap and preview. All the material we’ve published so far — the Depth Chart, six Division Previews, rankings of players at each position by tiers, a series on strategy — has been designed to help you prepare for your draft. Over the next three weeks, our opinions will change according to what happens on the court. In particular, we’re looking at probable rotations and trying to refine our playing-time estimates. Saturday Results DEN @ LAC:
The Minnesota Timberwolves made some serious roster adjustments over the summer, all for the better. The most notable move was the acquisition of a revitalized Brandon Roy, but they also got a huge upgrade at small forward by obtaining Andrei Kirilenko and signed the likes of Chase Budinger, Alexey Shved, Greg Stiemsma and Dante Cunningham. As Kevin Love would tell you though, the real best part may have been “cleaning out the bad blood in the locker room”, and he
What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Take the Las Vegas Summer League, for example. Players such as Klay Thompson and Derrick Williams are trying to parlay strong performances this summer into eventual NBA stardom with their teams. The Las Vegas Summer League is a golden opportunity for players to earn an increased role in the NBA. For young players, their summer performance can earn them a rotation spot. For players hooping overseas, the summer is a chance to show NBA