There’s a lot less drama in the NBA’s Eastern Conference now that the Bulls and Wizards have been eliminated. Only a few seeds remain to be determined. The West is a different story, with three teams battling for the final two spots. Two of them meet in the best of nine Monday games. [Read more…]
Rookie Rankings, Edition 6: Should the Lakers Trade D’Angelo Russell?
This D’Angelo Russell thing is really confusing, so I want to make sure I’ve got it right. Pledging your lifetime love, support and fidelity to a woman in the form of a highly public engagement, then displaying your unequivocal callousness for that woman’s dignity and feelings by cheating on her while your wedding is being planned, that’s OK, right? But secretly recording a teammate who talks about this callous behavior as if it is the equivalent of brushing your teeth, that’s not
Rookie Rankings, Edition 5: Which Rookies Will Play in the Postseason?
No matter whom you like in the race for NBA Rookie of the Year, one thing is certain: Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis will be watching the playoffs on TV. That’s no dig at either player. It is usually what happens to high draft picks during their first couple of seasons. You have to go back to Derrick Rose in 2008 to find a top overall pick who reached the playoffs in his rookie season. In fact, among the last 40
Fantasy Spin: Blake Who? CP3 & Clippers Keep Sailing Along
When they played Sacramento twice in the first four days of the season, the Clippers won by seven on the road and by five at home. Tonight the Kings don’t have to deal with Blake Griffin (quad) and DeAndre Jordan $7800 has been ill, so DeMarcus Cousins $10500 should be dominant. Rajon Rondo $8500 will have his hands full with Chris Paul $9200, who has put the team on his back for ten straight wins. [Read more…]
Rookie Rankings, Edition 3: Injuries Offer Opportunities
Even though he stands 7-3 and weighs in at 290 pounds, Boban Marjanovic has been easy to overlook. Marjanovic is a rookie center on the San Antonio Spurs and not part of their rotation. While other rookie big men such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis and Jahlil Okafor have dominated the headlines this season, Marjanovic has played almost exclusively during garbage time while also collecting 17 DNPs. But the giant from Serbia got a chance to be more than a cheerleader this
Five Things To Watch: Utah Jazz
This may become one of the most entertaining seasons in Utah Jazz history. The prospect of Quin Snyder coaching a talented young core led by growing stars Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert has elicited quiet whispers about making the playoffs. Will the Jazz’s supporting cast lift them up or let them down? What is GM Dennis Lindsey doing, and will his risks pay off in the long term? Basketball enthusiasts should watch the Jazz this season just to see how
Mock Draft 3.0: The Draft Order is Set and the Timberwolves are on the Clock
Based on conversations I had with multiple people around the league at last week’s combine in Chicago, this draft sounds like it will be known as the Karl-Anthony Towns draft– and the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to get him. Barring an injury issue similar to what Joel Embiid had last year, Towns is all but certain to be the first player to shake hands with Adam Silver on draft night and become the third straight No. 1 pick to wear a Minnesota
Gonzo: NCAA Final Four Preview
Editor’s Note: Whether coaching or forecasting, Bobby Gonzalez knows college basketball. He went 8-0 picking games in the Sweet Sixteen a year ago, 7-1 in that round this year and 3-1 in last weekend’s regional finals. This is not some Bozo. It’s Gonzo. He knows what he’s talking about. It was 1991 and I was standing in the crowd at the Final Four as a New York City high school coach, watching All-American Larry Johnson of the dominant, unbeaten UNLV team