Tuesday was not a good day for the Dallas Mavericks, or their master plan. The defending champions opened the second half of the season with a 93-92 home loss to the New Jersey Nets. Dallas played without forward Lamar Odom, still away from the team as he tends to a personal issue. Despite their championship pedigree, the Mavs played with little urgency, trailing for most of the night and turning on the switch only when the game needed to be reeled in.
In the last week, Kobe Bryant became the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history and Paul Pierce surpassed Larry Bird and now trails only John Havlicek as the leading scorer in Celtics history. Although each achievement was exceptional, such feats are not allowed to stand on their own. Not in sports. When records are set, there is a larger discussion – is that player the greatest of all-time in that sport or for that franchise? And if not, it is absolutely mandatory
Is Paul Pierce part of the Boston Celtics’ all-time team? On Tuesday, Pierce passed Larry Bird on the team’s career scoring list, moving into second place for the most historic franchise in the NBA. He is creeping up on 22,000 career points and still going strong. Pierce has a ways to go to catch Celtics all-time leader John Havlicek, whose total of 26,395 is even more remarkable when you consider he began his career as a sixth man. If Pierce passes Havlicek
Dirk? Apparently, the Western Conference coaches chose this year’s All-Star reserves based upon last year’s accomplishments. The 14 All-Star reserves were announced tonight on TNT, and there were a couple of surprises. None was bigger than the selection of Nowitzki, who is averaging the lowest numbers since his sophomore season. His points per game (17.6) are down 5.4 from last season, his field-goal percentage has dropped from.517 to .461, and whose 3-point percentage has nosedived from .393 to .211. He even acknowledged recently
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics doesn’t need any added incentive. But it may have some in Thursday night’s best NBA game. The first of two meetings between the greatest franchises in league history will be televised nationally at 8 p.m. ET by TNT, which has a one-hour pregame show that will reveal the reserves for the All-Star Game later this month. Both proud teams have former All-Stars who have taken a step back this season and may
The Thunder have found a knack for finishing off close games, as true championship contenders do, thanks to MVP candidate Kevin Durant. (Have you voted yet in that MVP poll to your right?) After winning a closely contested and controversial game one night earlier against the Trail Blazers, Durant scored 33 points for the second consecutive night and hit the game-winning bank shot with 14 seconds left against the Golden State Warriors in a wild game. Russell Westbrook also had a
Paul Pierce and Tony Parker, a pair of Finals MVPs, were named NBA Players of the Week on Monday. Pierce was the Eastern Conference winner, leading the Boston Celtics to a 4-0 week by averaging 22.0 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds. Pierce, who won Finals MVP honors in 2008, scored 30 points Friday night as the Celtics rallied for a 91-89 home victory over the New York Knicks. Parker was the Western Conference winner, piloting the San Antonio Spurs to a 4-0
Although the Celtics might not be the team everyone in Boston will be focusing on Sunday, for the hardcore NBA fan, they will be when they host the Memphis Grizzlies in what should be a tight match. If you’re in the mood for a beat down, the Toronto Raptors are heading to get slaughtered by the Miami Heat as well. Rajon Rondo, second in the league in assists (9.2), returned to Boston’s lineup Friday after missing eight games with a sprained wrist