Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings came into Sunday’s contest at Sleep Train Arena looking to build off of back-to-back wins. The Cavaliers were coming off of two blowout victories over the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz, both coming after the big trade for Luol Deng. While not facing the stiffest competition, the move certainly seemed to rally the Cavs on the court this week and give them new life for the second half of the season. [Read more…]
A highly touted player walked in front of two media members at Barclays Center before starting his pregame routine, which elicited an unusual – yet humbling – reaction. One media member turned to the other and asked, “Who is that guy?” That guy was Anthony Bennett, the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft. [Read more…]
As Sunday night winds down, the desired time that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers had hoped to complete a deal involving Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol has almost expired. Bynum’s contract becomes fully guaranteed Tuesday afternoon at 5:00pm EST, so there is still time to complete a deal, but all parties involved would like such a transaction to happen sooner rather than later to allow time for everything to clear. Sometimes that process can take up to 48
As the NBA season finds itself some 30-games into the season, we are starting to get an idea of who’s who around the league. For the most part, we know who will be around to contend in April, May and June. But the question today is who will be a real threat? And who will assert themselves over the next two months while Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are sidelined. Yes, Paul (separated shoulder) is out, too — for those of you who didn’t
Kyrie Irving spent a piece of New Year’s Day having an MRI performed on his knee. He went down against the Indiana Pacers yesterday, and he said he “heard something pop.” That’s usually not good, although the MRI revealed a mere contusion, meaning 2013 did not end with yet another potential landscape-altering injury. Al Horford? Out for the season, joining Derrick Rose and Brook Lopez. Russell Westbrook and Kobe Bryant? See you after the All-Star Game — if your rehabs go according to
Amid its myriad injuries, its dozen teams below .500 and its 44-98 record against the Western Conference, there is a looming question regarding the Eastern Conference: Can the East even field an All-Star team? A year ago, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Kyrie Irving, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday were among the East’s All-Stars. You can make the argument – irrefutable in some cases, strong in others – that none of those players should be invited back
Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving – sign one, trade one. Not an easy choice is it? [Read more…]
With the prospect of a dazzling draft class looming in 2014, the word “tanking” has been as much a part of the NBA lexicon as flopping or fouling. Teams with little to no hope of making the playoffs – let alone doing anything there if they did – should just pack it in now and wait for the lottery in May and the draft in June. That’s where the real bonanza lies this season. Tanking has always been part of the NBA,