MIAMI – During last season’s playoffs, at a time when Heat guard Dwyane Wade was struggling in the Eastern Conference finals, I wrote that I’d rather have Celtics guard Rajon Rondo than Wade. Nothing has happened to change that opinion. [Read more…]
Yes, we are rankings-crazy here at the home office, where we are now up to five sets of rankings — MVP, Rookies, NBA Power Rankings, Euroleague Rankings … and now Most Improved. We are so rankings crazy we just used the same word four times in the same sentence. Later in the season, we’ll do the same for Coach of the Year and Sixth Man, which Jamal Crawford has probably already won, right? [Read more…]
Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph has said when it comes to backing up tough talk, “I don’t bluff.” That admirable stance will cost him $25,000. Randolph was fined by the NBA on Monday for confronting Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins in a corridor near the locker rooms in Chesapeake Energy Arena following Wednesday’s game. [Read more…]
Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving will miss a month recovering from a hairline fracture in his left index finger. The said Irving had an MRI and CT scan Monday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health that revealed the non-displaced fracture. Irving will not have surgery but rather will be treated with taping and a splint. Irving is expected to miss four weeks. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, when his status will be updated. [Read more…]
LeBron James won his second straight NBA Player of the Week award Monday. Kenneth Faried didn’t. Last week’s winners were James, the superstar of the Miami Heat, and Faried, the emerging young forward of the Denver Nuggets. This week it is James – for the record 39th time in his career – and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. James is practically making a mockery of the award. The Eastern Conference winner led the Heat to a 3-1 record while averaging
Forget small ball. The NBA’s best team plays bully ball. The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have a fleet of sharpshooters standing on the arc. They don’t have a stretch 4. They don’t have a dual point guard backcourt. Heck, their shooting guard can’t even shoot. [Read more…]
The injury-ravaged Minnesota Timberwolves signed forward Josh Howard on Friday in an effort to strengthen their depleted roster. No terms were disclosed, although it is likely Howard – beginning his 10th season – received the veteran’s minimum. He will be in uniform when the Timberwolves host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. [Read more…]
You can vote for Omri Casspi on the NBA All-Star ballot. But you have to write in – or text in – Damian Lillard. The NBA released its ballot for the 2013 All-Star Game on Tuesday. Voting began this afternoon. As it announced earlier, the center position no longer exists on the ballot. There are still 60 players from each conference, but instead of 24 guards, 24 forwards and 12 centers, there are 24 guards and 36 frontcourt players. However, by our count