For the first time in roughly two decades, the Eastern Conference is better than the Western Conference from top to bottom. Nine East teams are at .500 or better – nearly twice as many teams as last season, when sixth-seeded Milwaukee finished 41-41. And the East actually has a winning record against the West this season at 100-98 What changed so quickly from last season, when articles were written about how there was the greatest disparity in conference strength in recent memory? “I
If you take a quick look at the contract extensions given to the 2012 NBA draft class, nothing seems extraordinary. Eight eligible players received extensions. While collusion conspiracy theorists might point out that it’s two less than the 2011 class, it also is one more than the 2010 class and the same number as the 2009 class. As in previous seasons, the top pick got a five-year max deal and at least one other lottery pick also received a max deal of
For the Charlotte Hornets, it has been a summer filled with excitement after yet another disappointing season of missing the playoffs. After the Hornets held some hope for the future by making the playoffs in the 2013-2014 season, last year was plagued by injuries to Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson and the team finished 33-49, 10 fewer wins than the previous season. A year ago, there was plenty of excitement and hope surrounding the signing of Lance Stephenson, but that plan didn’t work
Each time the Rockets play the Thunder, four names immediately come to mind: Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin, Steven Adams and Mitch McGary. With all draft picks now liquidated, those players make up the return Oklahoma City received for James Harden in October 2012. Martin left the Thunder in free agency after one season off the bench, and the others all score fewer than eight points per game. That’s it. Lamb, who was supposedly the trade’s crown jewel as the No. 12 pick in 2012, isn’t
Kind of mad at myself this morning — for not winning enough. LeBron James, Gordon Hayward and Pau Gasol combined for 161.25 fantasy points, but the cheaper pieces they were surrounded with all disappointed. [Read more…]
The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to find some secrets to keeping their players healthy. Already missing superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Perry Jones III left last night’s game against the Raptors with a knee injury. On top of them, Anthony Morrow, Jeremy Lamb and Andre Roberson are all out with injuries. When Jones III went down yesterday, the Thunder were down to only seven healthy players that dressed and were able to play. [Read more…]
If you saw last Friday’s Photo of the Day, you’ll notice the same trend as Monday’s. It’s the 2013-14 NBA MVP Kevin Durant with a cast on his right foot. But, joining him for a photo today is rookie teammate Mitch McGary. The power forward was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first first-round draft pick at 21st overall, playing his college ball at the University of Michigan. McGary ultimately entered the 2014 NBA Draft after failing a drug test when he
How will the Oklahoma City Thunder do without Kevin Durant for the first six to eight weeks of the season? It’s extremely hard to tell, considering Durant has missed a total of 16 regular season games over the course of his seven-year career, including just two over the last two seasons. Durant’s lone absence last season came on Jan. 24 in a 101-83 win over Boston in which Russell Westbrook did not play, either. With Durant sidelined by a Jones fracture in