Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers had one of the worst benches in the NBA. Portland’s reserves were last in minutes (13.3), points (18.5), rebounds (10.5), offensive efficiency (21.1) and defenseive efficiency (minus 17.7). It was a big reason they had three players in the top nine in minutes per game, including rookie Damian Lillard, who led the entire NBA in minutes played. It also was a big reason why those players burned out and Portland lost its last 11 games
Advertisement The Western Conference is absolutely nothing like the Eastern Conference when it comes to championship odds. We have what I call a two-horse race in the East versus what I am going to call the six-plus team race in the West. In the 15 previous seasons, only four teams (the Lakers, seven times; the Spurs, five times, the Mavericks, two times; the Thunder, once) have won the Western Conference, which is a similar concept to what the Eastern
Amid its myriad injuries, its dozen teams below .500 and its 44-98 record against the Western Conference, there is a looming question regarding the Eastern Conference: Can the East even field an All-Star team? A year ago, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Kyrie Irving, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday were among the East’s All-Stars. You can make the argument – irrefutable in some cases, strong in others – that none of those players should be invited back
When the Cavs signed Andrew Bynum last summer to a creatively structured, heavily incentivized contract, it was seen as a low-risk, high-reward move capable of pushing Cleveland at the very least into the lower half of the Eastern Conference playoff ladder. Clearly that last part isn’t happening. At least not with Bynum around. The Cavs have suspended Bynum indefinitely, and according to multiple sources are shopping him heavily. The good news? Aside from completely ruining Andrew Bynum Fathead Night on Sunday at
Empathy – \ˈem-pə-thē\ – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It is empathy that enables us to be emotionally moved to tears at the story of family that suffers loss or joy after hearing of someone else’s triumphant success. Empathy tugs at the proverbial heartstrings and helps us to feel for others. Some people are more empathetic than others. Being one of them, might explain my disposition towards heartwarming or emotional stories for the Tweet of the Day. Monday had another
Philadelphia’s Daniel Orton had played 24 minutes this month. Portland’s Meyers Leonard had played 31 minutes this season. So when they both got extended minutes in prolonged garbage time, they couldn’t control themselves. In the fourth quarter of the Blazers-Sixers mess Saturday in Philadelphia – check the score and the time remaining as the video begins – the two big men got in a good old-fashioned tussle with both delivering significant blows. Leonard grabbed Orton and threw him to the floor. As
Every now and then I appear on the BBC World Service, which is broadcast in about 1,800 different countries — or something just short of that number. I aways enjoy explaining the NBA to the Brits, because their knowledge of basketball still trails their knowledge of cricket by something like 1,800 percent. In this appearance, we discussed the lack of rivalries in today’s NBA — which is astonishing to the British because teams can play each other as many as 11 times
For the past several weeks, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has been hosting a weekly event on Instagram called #4BarFriday. It’s a weekly competition showcasing people rapping a short freestyle verse which the NBA star selects and highlights. Today the weekly series received a special entry from the NBA’s reigning MVP, LeBron James. Making his “rap debut”, the Miami Heat star takes a humorous approach as he announces retirement from any further musical endeavors after making the video. [Read