I always use “valuable” as the operative word when voting for the Most Valuable Player, and that is the reason why I have cast my ballot this season for Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers. It came down to a decision between Paul and LeBron James, and as impressed as I have been with LeBron’s focus, determination and across-the-board improvement in every statistical category except assists, I do not see him as a valuable closer when he is paired with
The Dallas Mavericks have been living off the glory of their NBA championship all season while simultaneously plotting their salary cap strategy to lure Deron Williams to Dallas next season, and Dwight Howard the year after. Jason Kidd will be elsewhere next season, Brendan Haywood will be amnestied, and a good portion of Dirk Nowitzki’s supporting cast figure to be castoffs if the plan to lure D-Will succeeds. The Thunder? Everybody loved them through March, and then they went 8-7
NEWS Chicago, Miami and Oklahoma City will open the NBA playoffs Saturday, though their opponents are still to be determined. Thunder guard James Harden has been cleared to play after recovering from the concussion he suffered when the Los Angeles Lakers’ Metta World Peace elbowed him in the back of the head. NOTES The NBA on Thursday announced that Rose’s jersey is the most popular, based on sales at the temporary NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and on NBAStore.com from April 2011 to present. Chicago
We’re gonna go out on a limb and say the artist formerly known as Ron Artest won’t be repeating as winner of the Citizenship Award. But what of the NBA’s other season-ending awards? Our winners are below, replete with the customary snotty remarks. EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: Indiana’s Larry Bird turned the Pacers into a borderline elite team, with offseason additions David West and George Hill and in-season addition Leandro Barbosa, adding needed playoff experience. He also preserved his cap room for this
Yesterday, this forum was devoted to discussion of the Defensive Player of the Year, and there was a ton of support for Tyson Chandler and LeBron James, with some love for Tony Allen and Paul George sprinkled in. Today we turn to the Most Improved Player award, which is somewhat of a wide-open field this season. I have an official NBA ballot to vote for the award, and I had been leaning toward Ryan Anderson throughout the season. I remember covering the
So we finally come to the conclusion of the regular season. In terms of who’s making the playoffs, anyway. With only one spot – the eighth seed of the Western Conference – still left for grabs, the Utah Jazz sealed the deal on Tuesday night by defeating the Phoenix Suns for their fourth consecutive victory, on national television, and clinched the final available seed. They are not done either, as they still have a chance to move up to the seventh seed, albeit
NEW YORK — The penalty came in rather harsh. Metta World Peace of the Los Angeles Lakers was suspended for seven games by the NBA Tuesday for elbowing James Harden in the head, a punishment that could end the former Ron Artest’s season if the Lakers get knocked out of the first round of the playoffs in six games or less. “The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at
NEWS Rick Adelman says he did not have a problem with J.J. Barea’s comments that some Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t care enough after a recent loss. Thunder sixth-man James Harden was only able to watch most of his team’s shoot-around this morning. He spent most of his time being evaluated by the Thunder medical staff following Sunday’s concussion suffered at the elbow of Metta World Peace. NOTES The National Basketball Players Association, whose business practices are being questioned by President Derek Fisher, paid almost $4.8