As we approach the halfway point, let’s review our preseason predictions. OK, how many of you had the Lakers at No. 11 in the West? I did – well, if you take away one of the ones. Who dreamed that it wouldn’t work with Steve Nash – perhaps the most skilled point guard ever, even if he was 38 – and Dwight Howard – the most dominating big man, even coming off back surgery – joining Kobe Bryant, even at 34, with defenses
MIAMI – HeatNation is worried again. Yes, the Heat (23-9) have the best record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-best record in the NBA. And, yes, they still have LeBron James, whose 26.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists allow him to maintain his title as Best Player on the Planet. But there’ is grave concern among fans that their defending champion Heat are playing subpar, non-championship basketball. We’ll see if the six-game road trip that starts tonight at Indiana does
There is an unlikely NBA rivalry developing in California. And it doesn’t include the Lakers. The Lakers are too busy battling the unrealistic expectations of their spoiled fans to immerse themselves in a full-fledged rivalry such as one with their neighbors down the hall at Staples Center. No, the developing rivalry is between the Clippers and the Warriors, which went to a new level Saturday night. [Read more…]
Following an unannounced week off for the holidays, The Bernucca List is back. First, let’s tidy up old business. The previous list was “active players who are all-time scoring leaders for a franchise.” Newcomer Ody P. nailed the right answer less than an hour after publication and now has a win on his ledger. Brian Rivel leads the horde with three correct answers, one more than Brian C. OK, on to new business and another test of your obscure NBA knowledge with this
Over the last two weeks, readers of this weekly feature have let it be known that I am undervaluing Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond. [Read more…]
Who’s laughing now? For lack of anything better, local writers – of whom I’m one – have used that lords-of-all-they-survey-vs.-dregs-of-the-earth angle for Lakers-Clippers meetings since 1984, when Donald T. Sterling relocated his team from the mid-market paradise of San Diego, only to see it become the Promised Land’s village idiots. At the moment, the royals have traded roles with the village idiots, going into Friday’s meeting to see who’s whom here now. [Read more…]
What defines a year? … Is the answer not the events that occurred? And wow! … 2012 was loaded with events. Thankfully, Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Meyers Leonard managed to sum up all of its parts in one compact tweet.
Jason Kidd At 21-8, the New York Knicks enter Friday second in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the NBA. Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t expected to make his season debut until New Year’s Day at the earliest and Iman Shumpert isn’t expected to return to the court until sometime after mid-January. [Read more…]
