Rudy Gobert had a coming out party for the NBA during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge with 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the World Team. The Utah Jazz eventually traded Enes Kanter at the deadline, which promoted Gobert into a full-time starting role. Since then, Gobert has averaged 10.5 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. Another big man who’s played well lately has been New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony
One day after getting almost everything right, my Wednesday picks were as off-target as a DeAndre Jordan free throw. Just kidding, big guy. Jordan and Chris Paul slowed down the Russell Westbrook MVP Express and beat the Thunder on a night of NBA surprises. [Read more…]
James H. Butler III 1989-2015 Hello everyone. Please take your seats. I’d like to start this column off with a moment of silence for our friend, Jimmy Butler. (Silence). Thank you. Ahem…god, this is tough…ahem. Ahem. Sorry. What can you say about a guy like Jimmy Butler? Jimmy was more than just a basketball player to most of us. He was maybe the most improved basketball player of the 2014-15 NBA season. His life was short, indeed, but in such a short time, he touched so many others. Colossians 1:17
Tuesday’s best of six NBA games is the Cavaliers in Dallas. LeBron James $10500 was relatively quiet in an easy win on Saturday, one night after getting smothered by great defence in a loss to the soaring Hawks. The King seems about ready to break out with a triple-double. [Read more…]
Devastating. That’s how most basketball fans would describe this past week, particularly ones in the Lake Michigan area. First came the news that former MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls was hurt again, the victim of a torn meniscus in his right knee. And now, All-Stra teammate and Most Improved Player candidate Jimmy Butler is out 3-6 weeks after hyperextending his left elbow. Bulls fans, and the NBA in general, have taken one giant, James Harden-sized kick to the man region.
Quietly, Rudy Gobert has become one of the most feared defensive players in the league. The Utah Jazz center with an absurd wingspan of 7 feet 8 1/2 inches has been building up quite a resume for himself in just his second year in the NBA, leading all players in block percentage (8.2) and defensive box plus/minus. He is also third in total blocks (135) and trails Serge Ibaka by eight blocks despite playing more than 10 minutes less per game,
We have a nearly-full slate of 14 NBA games on Friday. Making sense of them and trying to sort out the best opportunities is a first step to picking the right players in DFS contests. [Read more…]
Yet another star player may be done for the season. Derrick Rose needs surgery for a torn meniscus. Considering his history with that right knee, we don’t expect him back even if the Bulls advance in the playoffs. [Read more…]