There is a reason why I always wait until the 82nd game of the season is in the books before deciding on my postseason awards choices. Three words: What’s the hurry? This is a lesson I learned way back in 1999 when I was covering a late regular-season game at the Alamodome during the lockout-shortened 50-game season. There were still three of four games left, and I was sitting alongside a veteran reporter from USA Today and asked him which way he
I am undecided. My MVP ballot is sitting in my inbox, still blank. Of course, it is always blank with three days left in the season, because the NBA allows me to wait until all 82 games are played before making up my mind with finality. But what’s different this year is that I truly do not know who I will be putting in the first slot and who I will be putting in the second. This is the toughest MVP race I
I write this column every year two days before the regular season ends, and I usually get right to the point. But this year I am going to start a little differently. So let me get one item off my chest and out of the way: Michele Roberts is way off base. The new executive director of the NBA Players Association tried to reinvent the wheel this week when it was reported that she is instituting the Players Choice Awards, which will
Wow! If you keyed on the Mavericks-Nuggets game last night, congratulations. Danilo Gallinari was unconscious with 47 points and the final score (in double OT) was a mind-boggling 144-143. [Read more…]
Maybe it was a statement game. Maybe it was just another game against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. Whatever the reason, Stephen Curry went off again on Thursday to the tune of 45 points on 17-of-23 shooting from the field – including eight-of-13 from the arc – to go with two rebounds and 10 assists. It marked the first time Curry has had at least 40 points and 10 assists together in a single game. More importantly, he managed
The weather app on my smartphone read 39 degrees this morning. It left me wondering: When is this going to change? This is the second straight year in New York that spring has been a rumor rather than a reality, and it can lead a person to convince oneself: This will never change. Which brings me to my mindset on the MVP award. For months, I have been telling myself that James Harden is going to win the MVP award. Every night,
By now, you’ve probably heard what happened to Chris Copeland, Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic. If you haven’t, here’s the back story. Nothing good at all has come of this situation, and the updates have gotten worse since Wednesday, starting with the status of Sefolosha, who suffered an injury significant enough to force him to miss the remainder of the season, from NBA.com: Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha suffered injuries during yesterday’s early morning incident. An examination of Sefolosha’s right leg, including an X-ray
There are only two games tonight, and just one of the four teams involved is truly desperate for a victory. We’re going to be homers, as both visitors played on Wednesday then had to travel. Also, they are less focused on winning tonight than keeping players healthy for the upcoming playoffs. [Read more…]