In the brave new world of basketball analytics, trends and modules, a simpler stat surfaced this week that was utterly inexplicable. Two teams have lost 10 games this season in which they led after three quarters. One is the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers, who have no one on their roster who knows how to win a game. The other is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have two of the supposed best closers in the game in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. [Read more…]
In 2011, a 6-10, 220-pound forward named Willie Reed, a junior for the Saint Louis University Billikens, went undrafted in the NBA. Since then, he has made a career of being a journeyman D-League athlete, playing for the Springfield Armor, the Reno Bighorns and, most recently, the Grand Rapids Drive. His most recent assignment with the Rapids began November 22nd against the Canton Charge. He had a great night, finishing with 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting with 15 rebounds. Heading into his