Since coming into the league, Kobe Bryant has had 16 game-winning shots, more than any other player. Carmelo Anthony is second, with 14. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Celtics have held their last 25 opponents to under 100 points. This is the 7th longest streak in the shot-clock era. Rajon Rondo scored or assisted 65 of the Celtics 95 points. This was the second most this season and the 7th time a player accounted for 60+. Memphis wore gold and green
Tonight’s best game: Chicago at Boston
The Chicago Bulls finish their season-high nine-game road trip with a flourish. After trampling doormats New Jersey, New Orleans and Charlotte, the Bulls test their 6-2 road record against the Boston Celtics in Sunday’s best game, a matinee affair. Unfortunately, after Saturday’s spectacular point guard matchup between youngsters Jeremy Lin and Ricky Rubio, the second act pitting established stars Derrick Rose against Rajon Rondo may have to wait. Rose aggravated his back against the Nets on Monday, forcing him to sit out
All-Star snubs: A.Varejao, R.Allen, B.Jennings, P.Millsap, M.Ellis, K.Lowry
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
Tonight’s best game: LA Lakers at Boston
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
Today’s best game: Memphis at Boston
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
D’moralized Knicks lose again; Heat, Pacers win big
My first job out of college was as a baseball dictationist at the AP. Being a know-it-all twentysomething, I would invariably do something stupid about once a week. And when I did, an old salt of a newsman named Dick Joyce – who called everyone “Mersh” – would turn to me and say, “Uh, Mersh, where you workin’ next week?” It might be time to ask Mike D’Antoni the same question. The embattled coach of the New York Knicks watched his team lose
Tonight’s best game: New York at Boston
Well, it’s finally here: Super Bowl weekend. For almost everyone in New York, it’s exciting. For Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, it’s frightening. The Knicks are in a horrendous 2-10 slide and will be feeling the pressure when they head to Boston to play the Celtics in Friday’s best NBA game. This is a make-or-break weekend for the head coach. The Daily, a gossip Web site, has reported that D’Antoni will be fired if the Knicks lose the first two games of their
Bernucca: With starters settled, here are your All-Star reserves
Fans who took part in All-Star balloting, take a bow. You got nine out of 10 right. Yes, you again chose with your heart instead of your head, as you have done on an annual basis for as long as we can remember. But unlike past years – when your infinite wisdom voted undeserving players such as A.C. Green, Dan Majerle, Steve Francis, Ben Wallace and an injured Yao Ming as starters – at least this time your choices won’t cost anyone