The two best games of the playoffs thus far have clearly been Game 4 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls and Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, which had a number of similarities. Both games went multiple overtimes. Both games had plenty of big shots. Both games had role players becoming unlikely heroes. And unfortunately for the Nets and Warriors, both games had huge collapses late in regulation. [Read more…]
The often monotonous 82-game NBA regular season has come and gone. The worst teams have finished playing and the best 16 teams (yes, that is being generous to the Bucks) advanced to the postseason, guaranteeing high quality, spirited basketball. The seedings and schedules have been set, and each conference has matchups that are incredibly intriguing. For each team in the first round, there is one player who has to emerge and play a key role for that club to advance. Let’s have a
Congratulations to the Chicago Bulls for clinching a playoff spot. They also accomplished something no other team had done since February 1 — they beat the Heat. Luol Deng (28 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL) played 44 minutes and hit four 3-pointers, while Carlos Boozer (21 PTS, 17 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK) made up for the absence of Joakim Noah (foot) by crashing the boards. [Read more…]
Over the All-Star break, news broke that longtime Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss had been hospitalized and was battling cancer. Monday, Dr. Buss passed away. [Heisler on Buss: As owners go, he stands alone] Many NBA players (former and current), owners and personnel sent their regards via Twitter. [Read more…]
“If you don’t see Brook Lopez play a lot, this is why he made the All-Star team,” explained a hyped up Jim Spanarkel, the YES Network color commentator, after Lopez blocked Jodie Meeks’ shot attempt from the weak side. “It’s plays like that at the defensive end of the floor – it’s not that they were non-existent – but they weren’t Brook Lopez of a couple years ago.” That play – and statement – so adequately sums up Brook Lopez’s season
Having coached high school basketball for the last two seasons, I have gained a true appreciation for the quality of officiating by NBA referees. Until this week. This was a bad week for the league and its referees, as the NBA admitted there were blown calls that changed the outcome of two games. [Read more…]
LeBron James said on Wednesday that Nets forward Reggie Evans will get a lot of press after what he said about the Heat’s championship from last season, and he certainly predicted correctly. Word got around to Magic Johnson, who had this to say about Evans:
Never find a way to fire up the “King” if you want a chance at beating the man. Early on Wednesday, Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans decided to – perhaps a bit foolishly – irritate LeBron James by saying some very unnecessary things, from Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News: “It doesn’t prove nothing,” Evans told the Daily News when asked what it would mean to beat the defending champs. “That was a lockout season.” [Read more…]
