Now that Rudy Gay has finally been traded, who is the next significant player to go before the trade deadline? How about Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, who thinks he deserves a max deal because, well, because he’s Josh Smith? The Phoenix Suns were highly interested in acquiring the services of Gay, but with that option out the door, their desires may be shifting towards Smith, according to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld: The Suns are pursuing Josh Smith, according to multiple league sources.
With the All-Star break on the not-so distant horizon, three of California’s teams are in various stages of a positive identity forge, while a fourth remains the stuck in “Fugitive-esque train wreck” mode. (Spoiler alert! The odd team out is the Sacramento Kings!) With that in mind, here’s a look at what’s brewing on the left coast. [Read more…]
Kobe Bryant, or Magic Bryant? Whatever you want to call him, the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard has drastically changed his style of play over the past two games for the greater good of his reeling team. And it’s working out quite swimmingly, too. After suffering 10 losses out of 12 contests, Bryant dropped his quest to lead the league in scoring and decided to put his focus on more important things – at least for the current make of this team –
What is it with Mike D’Antoni and his disinterest in all things big men? Dwight Howard – though some of it is due to his own physical and mental issues – has been marginalized too often in the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense under D’Antoni. Pau Gasol – the man that dominated in Olympics competition over the past summer and helped Kobe Bryant win two championships – has been benched in favor of Earl Clark, who doesn’t play like your traditional big man. Antawn
The 2012-13 NBA season is at its mid-point (more or less), and for the California Four it’s been a first half of dominance, surprise, catastrophe, and upheaval. In that order. For more from California ,check out Mark Heisler’s latest Power Rankings. He is, shall we say … down, on the Lakers. Time to review the action, preview what’s next, and hand out some grades… [Read more…]
R.I.P., Lakers. You can’t kick dirt in their grave if they’re not dead yet, but in your modern sportswriting biz, we like to cover all eventualities just in case, starting with the most spectacular. It doesn’t come more spectacular than the Lakers, who now resemble a centuries-old redwood toppling over, picking up speed as it goes. I’ve been fortunate to have covered these guys for the better part of 20 years. Aside from being great most of the time, they were gourds most of
When the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the lowly Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon, there was one positive to take from the deflating defeat: Pau Gasol had his highest scoring game of the season with 25 points – one of his best performances under Mike D’Antoni. The offensive breakout, however, didn’t win over the troubled coach. In fact, it prompted him to announce the demotion of Gasol to the bench on Monday, in favor of Earl Clark. The news didn’t go over so
A forgettable season for Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao somehow got worse on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Varejao, who has been out with a leg injury, will reportedly miss the rest of the season after developing blood clot in his lower right lung, from NBA.com: [Read more…]