As we entered the 2013 playoffs, the Miami Heat were poised to repeat as NBA champions. Or so it would seem. As we wait to see where the challenger will come from, the Heat’s place in history is developing before our eyes. Will they become a dynasty or fold under the real life pressures of free agency and the salary cap? Will they take their place in the discussion of “Greatest Ever?” Or be a team that had a great run? [Read
Hinrich’s absence a big factor for Bulls Chicago may have been without top scorer Luol Deng in Thursday’s 95-92 Game 6 home loss to Brooklyn, but its loss of Kirk Hinrich for a second straight game may have hurt the team more. Deron Williams has played better over the last pair of Net wins with Hinrich out of commission, which is a major reason why the series has swung in Brooklyn’s favor. Hinrich last appeared on the floor in last Saturday’s Game
Wednesday night saw the Houston Rockets go into Oklahoma City as underdogs against the Thunder and walk away with their second straight win and a lion’s share of the series’ momentum. Given the way in which the game played out, the prevailing observation—by many accounts—was that OKC seemed to have thrown in the towel in the waning minutes of the game when they opted to utilize the “Hack-an-Asik” defensive strategy with hopes of getting back into the game. The strategy backfired. Houston
Can a team win with its star player only scoring one point per shot? It’s not going so well over the past few games for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks. Which players drive the Pacers in its incredibly volatile series against Atlanta? Can Oklahoma City win with Reggie Jackson as its second option on offense. We’re going behind the numbers from Wednesday night’s trio of Game Fives in today’s StatBox playoff breakdown. Knicks won’t win with VoluMelo The Knicks let a veteran
NEW YORK — The quiet demeanor of a champion is unmistakable. His persistence is unassuming. He fights to the end, until the battle is won. When it is, he celebrates… But for a moment. Because then, it is on to the next challenge. The Boston Celtics are champions. The New York Knicks are not, and the unmitigated hubris that the Knicks collectively exhibited heading into Wednesday night’s Game 5—and how the Celtics responded to it—proved that. And you know what? In the long run, the Knicks
It’s been fairly evident that Stephen Curry has been the most important player in the Denver-Golden State series, which has now a nasty turn. Warriors Coach Mark Jackson said that the Nuggets were dirty on Wednesday night, but how did that impact Curry’s play in Game 5? And also in the Western Conference, Blake Griffin’s injury allowed Zach Randolph to shine in a crucial Game 5 win for Memphis. Can Los Angeles overcome Griffin’s limitations and once again vanquish the
New York hip hop legend Funkmaster Flex took to the internet to further ignite the flames between the Eastern Conference rival New York Knicks and Boston Celtics on Tuesday. [Read more…]
With the NBA playoffs in full force, there isn’t a dull moment around the league. And just because you’re not still playing doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the action. Whether it’s cruising into the second round, battling to stay alive or gearing up for an offseason overhaul, everyone’s making headlines right now. [Read more…]