// Who will be snubbed in All-Star reserve voting? Someone from the Sixers? Someone from the Cavs? One of the more productive power forwards in the West? CineSport’s Brian Clark & SheridanHoops.com’s Chris Sheridan discuss that question, along with the significance of Kobe Bryant’s scoring milestone and whether the Oklahoma City Thunder are potential champions.
Kobe Bryant needed 22 points to pass Shaquille O’Neal on the all-time scoring list and got them in the first 21 minutes. He looked like he was on his way to 50, a great way to celebrate his annual trip to his hometown. The Lakers held a 55-30 advantage in rebounds. Andrew Bynum (20 points, 20 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (16 and 11) looked like they were playing against children. And LA held a seven-point lead with less than five minutes to
NEW YORK — LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in December and January. James led Miami to a 16-5 (.762) record for games played in December and January, matching the best start to a season in franchise history, behind averages of 29.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists. A three-time Eastern Conference player of the week so far this season, James ranks second in the NBA
// // Carmelo Anthony returned, and the Knicks finally won a game. Forgive the cynical New York media if it wasn’t that impressed. The Knicks were back home and hosting the Detroit Pistons, who would have trouble winning games if they played in the Big Ten Conference instead of the Central Division. In a season of awful performances, this one may have been the worst. Detroit established season “highs” for points allowed and margin of defeat, which is saying something when you
Remember the old NBA slogan “I love this game!?” (It pre-dates “Where Amazing Happens”). If you are in your early 20s, you may not. But that’s OK. Lots of people in their early 20s seem to believe the world began 10 years ago, and have no recollection of crappy cell phone reception, dial-up Internet or the fax machine. But those who are a bit older certainly remember that ad campaign, and Sunday was one of those days when love for the game
// Fans in the NBA’s two biggest markets can’t be very happy right now. For that matter, neither can David Stern. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA. They predate instant replay, maximum salaries, team planes, the draft lottery, the 3-pointer, free agency, conferences and leather sneakers. For more than 50 years, they have anchored the league on opposite coasts, guaranteeing interest in the two biggest cities in the country. Both teams basically have unlimited budgets. Both teams
Circle your calendars: April 4. We can definitely call it a rivalry now, this thing the Clippers and Lakers have going between them. That might have been the Game of the Season last night on the one month anniversary of the start of the NBA season, a chippy, physical, psychodramatic 96-91 victory by the Lakers over their co-tenants at the Staples Center. No blood was spilled, but there was pushing, shoving, wrestling, cursing, six technical fouls, a flagrant, an ejection … and
Wednesday’s best game features the offensively challenged Los Angeles Lakers hosting the L.A. Clippers, who are trying to win a season series against the Lakers for only the third time in franchise history. But don’t call it a rivalry, yet. Kobe Bryant had no problem scoring (42) in a losing effort against the Clippers in their first meeting this season. But despite Bryant leading the NBA with 30.5 points a game, the rest of the Lakers’ offense has been a box-office dud. Pau