The (mostly) young Oklahoma City Thunder have been the most consistent team in the Western Conference this season. The Lakers — a team full of veterans (with the exception of the one they’ll have a reunion with tonight) — are trying to get back to a level of consistency they once held over the Thunder. In a meeting between two of the top scorers in the league, Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers take on the visiting Kevin Durant and the Western
Critics of the Oklahoma City Thunder often point to their occasional bouts with immaturity and lack of big-game experience. They can’t do that anymore. In perhaps the best signing of the release/buyout season, the Thunder on Wednesday signed veteran guard Derek Fisher, who was in uniform and scored five points in 19 minutes last night as is new team, the Thunder, defeated the fading Clippers by 23 points. Fisher has won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, who reluctantly traded him
Perhaps it is time to re-examine two beliefs that have mostly gone unquestioned during the first three months of this 66-game NBA season. No. 1: The Los Angeles Clippers are going to the playoffs. No. 2: The Philadelphia 76ers are going to win the Atlantic Division. Don’t be so sure of either one. Let’s start with the Clippers, the darlings of December and January who were surpassed in the Pacific Division standings by the Lakers nearly a month ago. They haven’t won a road
Eight days until the trading deadline. Eight days for the Indiana Pacers to find the missing piece for a legitimate run at the conference finals, or for the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire the player that makes them a playoff team. Eight days for the Orlando Magic to go all in on Dwight Howard or blow it up and start over. Eight days for the Atlanta Hawks to avoid the luxury tax or the Los Angeles Lakers to add to it. Eight days to
Even if Dirk Nowitzki is feeling as good as he did against the Jazz on Saturday when he scored a season high 40 points in just under 29 minutes, defeating the best home team in the league will be a tall task for the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki and the Mavericks (22-16) visit Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (29-8) for their final meeting this season in Monday night’s best game. The Thunder has won two of the three meetings this season
Do the Oklahoma City Thunder have a toughness complex? One of the reasons the Thunder have the NBA’s second-best record is because they have three young, explosive players – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden – who simply cannot be contained off the dribble. When defensive schemes cannot prevent a player from getting to the basket, teams usually resort to rough stuff as discouragement. Michael Jordan went through it. So did Allen Iverson. Tony Parker still gets thrown to the floor
The 76ers are 12-2 with Spencer Hawes in the lineup and 9-13 without him. The Thunder are now 15-1 at home this season. Kendrick Perkins earned his 12th technical foul, leaving him one away from suspension. Hawks C Al Horford has been cleared to begin rehab from surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle. Rajon Rondo has 3 of the leagues 9 triple double’s this season, and the 10th of his career. The second-half of the Detroit Pistons game was delayed due to the lights
Lineups for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Game Team Shaq Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Landry Fields, New York Knicks Norris Cole, Miami Heat Brandon Knight, Detroit Pistons Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons Team Chuck Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves Paul George, Indiana Pacers MarShon Brooks, New Jersey Nets John Wall, Washington Wizards Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs (Missing game due to injury) Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz There’s at least one team apparently still with a need for Rasheed Wallace. CSNNE.com