Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278177
Monday, December 31, 2012
Spurs allow 5 points in 3rd quarter, rout Nets
Tony Parker had 20 points and the San Antonio Spurs held the Brooklyn Nets to only five points in the third quarter en route to a 103-73 win Monday night.
Chargers fire coach Norv Turner, GM A.J. Smith
San Diego last reached playoffs in 2009 and has seen its roster steadily erode.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/u8fpatOPFlw/
Are James Harden and Jeremy Lin a Viable Duo in the Long Term?
One's an underdog. The other's a scoring machine.
Recipe for a buddy cop movie?
Nope. It's the Houston Rockets backcourt of Jeremy Lin and James Harden.
Underdogs fascinate us. Scoring machines transfix us. The question is, how long will this duo's run be?
In a buddy cop movie, the ultimate pairing are always diametric opposites: If one's, say, a brash naive rookie, the other's a by-the-book, worn-down veteran a week away from retirement.
Likewise in a conventional NBA backcourt. In a perfect world, one guard would have the deadly outside shot, so if the other guard draws coverage attempting to penetrate, he can kick it back out to the first guard for a jumper.
By contrast, Lin's and Harden's games are very similar: they both prefer the ball in their hands for the majority of the possession, and they work best when they first look to attack.
It's an unconventional pairing for sure. More unconventional than, say, teaming up Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy for a buddy-cop flick. (The Heat, from 20th Century Fox, slated for release April 5.)
In addition, Lin's jumper, so deadly for so much of last year, has been spotty. One reason for that could have been Lin working with a shooting coach to learn a new, more consistent stroke. It takes time to learn how to shoot differently. But it looks like the time has finally paid off: Over the last seven games, Lin is 45-of-84, a shooting percentage of .536.
The jumper is still not Lin's preferred shot, but if he can make it when he needs to, it will certainly enhance the duo's success playing together.
But here's the interesting twist: In the last spate of games, the pair seem to have begun to embrace their similarities.
Both are getting chances to control the ball at the start of a possession; over the last five games, Lin's begun almost a quarter of the Rockets' possessions, the most this season.
Both are moving well off the ball. Both are helping create space for the other to attack.
In buddy-cop-ese, it's kind of like pairing up Reggie Hammond, Eddie Murphy's character from 48 Hours, and Martin Riggs, Mel Gibson's character from Lethal Weapon...and then watching them both share loose-cannon punchlines. Weird...but can't you kinda see it working?
Also, both buddy cop movies and great backcourts depend on timing. When the bad guy says to Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout, “Just once, I’d like to hear you scream in pain, " Willis waits the exact perfect beat before responding, “Play some rap music.”
Likewise, in a great backcourt duo, one guy always knows where the other guy will be. Harden and Lin had very little time—one day—to practice together before the NBA season began. But they've begun to develop that sense of timing.
Watch this Lin assist to Harden and tell me Lin hasn't figured out exactly how fast Harden is, or where he'll be running to. Likewise, Harden knows exactly where this pass is going to be.
Finally, all buddy cops have to help each other succeed. You know, a "you stop me from killing myself, I'll fix your marriage" kind of thing.
Both Lin and Harden rely on the pick-and-roll like Howard Stern relies on strippers to show off their plastic surgery. Well, recently both guys have been setting screens for each other more regularly.
They're the perfect guys to do it for each other too. After all, who can truly understand how much Lin loves the pick-and-roll more than Harden? And vice versa?
That's what oddly gives me hope for this partnership. I get the sense that these two are starting to really get each other. Plus, both are unselfish players (Lin is 12th in the league in total assists; Harden is 25th). And when each unselfish player understands the other, both will do what needs to be done to help the other succeed.
In reality, that's what would truly make cops buddies.
Okay, so they're better at the fast break than Point Break. The point is, these guys are looking more like a backcourt that could play together for a long time—and win together for a long time.
As Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh would say, let's hope they never get too old for this s---.
Stats are accurate as of 12/31/12.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Parker, Spurs hand Mavs 6th straight defeat
Tony Parker had 21 points and nine assists, Manu Ginobili had several key baskets among his 20 points and the San Antonio Spurs handed the Dallas Mavericks their sixth straight loss, 111-86 on Sunday night.
Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278169
Sunday, December 30, 2012
NBA: http://t.co/PQu5x4AE - Coach Spo guards LeBron in the post at practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames
NBA: http://t.co/PQu5x4AE - Coach Spo guards LeBron in the post at practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames
Phil Jackson, Nets: Why Zen Master Should Accept Brooklyn Job
The Brooklyn Nets will reportedly pursue Phil Jackson to fill their head coaching vacancy (h/t Howard Beck, The New York Times), and the Zen Master would be wise to join the organization.
Jackson certainly doesn't need the job. He's already got 11 rings, countless accolades and I'm assuming he's not strapped for cash. He may also be loving the retirement life, meditating in California or relaxing at his ranch in Montana.
But if Jackson has the coaching itch, Brooklyn presents an excellent situation. The following reasons are why Jackson should accept the job.
Personnel
The Nets are still a piece or two away from competing for the title, and they don't have much roster flexibility with their current payroll. Still, their team is already suited for Jackson's triangle offense.
With his size and passing ability, Deron Williams would be a perfect fit for the triangle. Jackson's point guards usually don't control the ball too often, but he could easily make a few adjustments to keep his best player involved.
Jackson would also have the dynamic shooting guard (Joe Johnson) and reliable post presence (Brook Lopez) that his system requires. Add in three-point shooters C.J. Watson and Keith Bogans and Brooklyn has all the pieces necessary to run a successful triangle.
Fun
I'm almost positive that Jackson would have a blast while coaching in Brooklyn. The borough is already buzzing because of its new team, and Jackson's presence would take the hysteria to an entirely different level.
Just picture him sitting on his elevated throne on the sideline, a smug grin on his face as the raucous Barclays Center crowd serenades him with applause. It's an easy scene to imagine, and with the Nets in the thick of the playoff race, there would likely be many moments like that throughout the season.
Jackson would also get to converse with flamboyant owner Mikhail Prokhorov and rap mogul Jay-Z on a regular basis. If that's not an attractive incentive, I don't know what is.
Money
The Wu-Tang Clan famously stated that "Cash Rules Everything Around Me," and not even Jackson is exempt from the Tao of the Wu. Every man has a dollar amount that is simply too good to pass up, and with Prokhorov's infinitely deep pockets, he's the best candidate to find Jackson's magic number.
Darren Rovell of ESPN thinks that number is between $12 to $14 million per season:
If Phil Jackson is interested in coaching the Brooklyn Nets, I suspect Prokhorov is going to have to pay him $12M to $14M a year.
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) December 29, 2012
Knowing how badly Prokhorov wants Jackson, I wouldn't be shocked if he offered him $15 or $16 million per year, as well as a role within the front office. If that is what's on the table, I don't know how Jackson could refuse Brooklyn's offer.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Rondo out vs. Warriors with bruised thigh, hip
Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will not play Saturday night at the Golden State Warriors because of a bruised right thigh and hip.
Source: http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8792013/rajon-rondo-boston-celtics-bruised-thigh-hip
Pistons rally past Heat despite James' 35 points
Will Bynum had 25 points and 10 assists, leading another spirited performance by the Detroit bench, and the Pistons beat the short-handed Miami Heat 109-99 on Friday night despite 35 points by LeBron James.
Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278148
Clippers Erase Deficit To Win 16th Straight
Visit ESPN.com for the complete story.
Friday, December 28, 2012
NBA: The @LAClippers practice has opened up to the Chinese media. #ChinaGames http://t.co/UA8FHVWz
NBA: The @LAClippers practice has opened up to the Chinese media. #ChinaGames http://t.co/UA8FHVWz
Glasco Martin runs Baylor past UCLA in Holiday Bowl
Glasco Martin ran for three touchdowns as Baylor dominated UCLA in the Holiday Bowl.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/lgiPoH4l3io/
Notebook: Thunder 111, Mavericks 105, OT
THE FACTS: The Oklahoma City Thunder trailed most of the game, rallied late then held on in overtime for a thrilling 111-105 win over the rival Dallas Mavericks Thursday night.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121228/0021200423_notebook.html?rss=true
Thursday, December 27, 2012
NBA: Despite @ChrisKaman's double-double (15/10), @DallasMavs come up short (99-85) to @FCBasket in Barcelona. http://t.co/yUA0GEaK
NBA: Despite @ChrisKaman's double-double (15/10), @DallasMavs come up short (99-85) to @FCBasket in Barcelona. http://t.co/yUA0GEaK
Wade says he's been working with a shot coach
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has been working with a shooting coach during the season.
Notebook: Spurs 100, Raptors 80
THE FACTS: Tim Duncan scored 15 points in 27 minutes and Manu Ginobili came off the bench for 14 points as the Spurs defeated Toronto 100-80 and snapped the Raptors' five-game winning streak Wednesday night at AT&T Center.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121227/0021200418_notebook.html?rss=true
Vinny Del Negro Deserves More Credit for Los Angeles Clippers' Success
This season the Los Angeles Clippers possess the best record in the league and are considered the most exciting brand of basketball in the NBA, yet red flags still arise about the future of their head-coaching position.
The Los Angeles Clippers improved tremendously in 2011-2012, posting the largest winning percentage increase from one season to the next in team history. This coming from a franchise that has not posted consecutive non-losing seasons since the 1993 season.
Head coach Vinny Del Negro was considered the scapegoat for last season's playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs after being out-coached by Greg Popovich. Skeptics claim that Del Negro will keep the Clippers from making the necessary adjustments to succeed in the postseason.
Throughout his time in Los Angeles, Del Negro owns a 94-82 record, heading a complete transformation of the franchise most closely associated with failure. Only in his fifth season as an NBA head coach, Del Negro has spoken out about his need for improvement.
Del Negro has changed the culture of a franchise that hides under the poor-leadership of owner Donald Sterling, while also standing second-fiddle to the Los Angeles Lakers.
With budding superstar Blake Griffin, who is signed to a long-term contract, Del Negro has the centerpiece to a decade of success in Los Angeles. Alongside point guard Chris Paul, the fearsome duo began turning the Clippers into the greatest show in Los Angeles.
Magic Johnson said on Christmas Day that the Clippers remind him of the showtime Lakers. This team is exciting, athletic yet driven to play hard on every night.
During their 14-game winning streak, the Clippers have won their games by an average of 12 points. These blowouts have allowed the bench to log large minutes, keeping the starters rested for the part of the season that truly matters most.
When ex-GM Neil Olshey departed for Portland, he left Del Negro in charge of player personal and a successful offseason followed. With the additions of Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Ronnie Turiaf, Grant Hill and Matt Barnes among others, the Clippers have one of the deepest teams in the league.
Del Negro is an experience front-office man with over six years of non-coaching experience in the NBA, including an assistant GM position in 2003. His greatest strength has been his ability to handle adversity by keeping composed on the Clippers sideline.
Los Angeles Clippers fans want to win playoff games and in turn put banners on the rafters to compete with the in-town rival Lakers. With the personnel to win on the court, the pressure now turns to the coaching staff to make the correct adjustments to lead the Clippers to a ring.
The best example of Vinny Del Negro's coaching genius was late last season. After losing six of nine in a rough March stretch, Clippers players and ownership showed their support for their head coach by going on a 13-2 stretch, including six straight victories to start the streak.
Biggest difference in the club: Del Negro began trusting his bench and the Clippers played much improved defense. Defense is all about effort and communication, something coach Del Negro has preached as the Clippers' head coach.
LA's bench made huge plays against Memphis in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs, leading them to a second-round matchup for the first time since 2006.
This season, the Clippers lost early games to Cleveland and Brooklyn, something coach Del Negro took personally. After reaming his team for taking nights off, the Clippers have responded by winning 14-straight games in convincing fashion.
With everything falling into place, the Los Angeles Clippers have much to be thankful for this holiday season. As a franchise better known for 15-win seasons instead of winning streaks near that length, the Los Angeles Clippers have their unsung leader in coach Vinny Del Negro.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Valanciunas out 4-6 weeks with broken finger
The Toronto Raptors say rookie Jonas Valanciunas is expected to be out 4-6 weeks while he recovers from a broken ring finger on his right hand.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/12/26/raptors-valanciunas-out-with-broken-finger.ap/index.html?rss=true
NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls Will Struggle to Move Rip Hamilton
The Chicago Bulls aren't expected to be an especially active team at the trade deadline this season, but CSNChicago's Aggrey Sam sees Rip Hamilton as a player the Bulls could move.
The Bulls would like to shed his $5 million contract, which would let the team avoid the luxury tax, according to Sam.
Unfortunately, Hamilton's foot injury is making moving him difficult. Few teams are interested in an injured, aging veteran, as his recovery is still a question mark.
Still, Sam recognizes that a few teams could still be interested in the talented shooting guard. The only team he mentions, though, is the Phoenix Suns.
On paper, that trade could work out well for both teams. The Suns would add a scoring option to a team that needs a sharp-shooter off the bench—one who can also play defense. Also working in the Suns favor is that Hamilton's contract expires at the end of the season, with a team option to renew at minimal cost.
The Bulls, meanwhile, would get the benefit of moving Hamilton and possibly acquiring a draft pick in return. At the very least, they would dump salary and avoid the luxury tax.
Unfortunately, Sam points out that Hamilton will not want to be moved to a team without championship ambitions. The Suns are a long way away from being a contender, and even acquiring a player like Hamilton will not be enough to change that.
That makes a move to Phoenix unlikely for Hamilton, and there are few other logical destinations. Not many teams want to take on a $5 million salary for an aging role player. Hamilton has played well at times this season, but his injury situation makes that almost irrelevant.
This is a difficult scenario for both Hamilton and the Bulls. A trade would probably benefit both sides, but it's unlikely to get done. If Hamilton recovers well, though, the Bulls might just be happy this trade never went down.
Regardless, this is a situation worth monitoring.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Cavaliers claim Livingston
The Cavaliers claimed guard Shaun Livingston on waivers from Washington.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/12/25/cavaliers-shaun-livingstone-claimed.ap/index.html?rss=true
Cousins' indefinite ban by Kings lasts 1 game
The Sacramento Kings have reinstated center DeMarcus Cousins after a one-game suspension for "unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team."
Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8778226/demarcus-cousins-reinstated-sacramento-kings
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Heat's James, Clips' Paul named Players of the Week
The Miami Heat's LeBron James and the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 17, through Sunday, Dec. 23.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/12/24/players-of-the-week-lebron-james-chris-paul/index.html?rss=true
NBA: Coach Spoelstra runs the show at @MiamiHeat practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames http://t.co/ek1vuBp4
NBA: Coach Spoelstra runs the show at @MiamiHeat practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames http://t.co/ek1vuBp4
Former Star Point Guard Talks About NBA Legends and Current Stars
For every sports fan that's ever complained about the lack of athletic experience of those who analyze the sport, here's one resume that can't be argued with: 15,373 points, 7,095 assists, five NBA All-Star appearances and five All-NBA selections.
Those numbers were compiled during the illustrious 13-year NBA career of Tim Hardaway, who discussed all things basketball during a Dec. 16 event at Miami's Downtown Athletic Club.
The event, which marked the launch of Thuzio's South Florida expansion, offered fans and media members alike the chance to take to the hardwood with Hardaway and Kenny Anderson.
Prior to the climax of the event (a five-on-five basketball game), Hardaway took the time to chat hoops, past and present.
Although current NBA fans may beg to differ, the point guard said that he grew up watching the greatest era in basketball history. His early exposure to the game's biggest stars (Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson and Doc Rivers were just a few of the names he mentioned) helped to fuel his desire to make the sport's biggest stage and shaped the well-rounded game that helped him realize those ambitions.
"I'm from Chicago, so I was watching Isiah Thomas and how he played the game," Hardaway said. "My idol, and who I wanted to play after, was Isiah."
Looking back at the careers of two of the biggest stars to ever play the position, the similarities are striking. Despite not being gifted with a great size advantage (Thomas stood 6'1", while Hardaway measured 6'0"), both players found ways to score among the trees that occupy the NBA paint.
The two displayed some of the nastiest crossovers the league has ever seen. And both displayed the uncanny ability to always have the solution for what was ailing their team, be it finding open teammates or calling their own numbers.
Their two careers obviously overlapped as well—Thomas played from 1981-94, while Hardaway played from 1989-2003.
Inevitably, Hardaway met his idol on the NBA hardwood. For the former Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat star, the opportunity was just as unforgettable as was the chance he offered at the event for the basketball dreamers in attendance at the event.
"My first time playing against Isiah is something that was so meaningful," Hardaway said. "It was fun; I learned a lot. I was nervous, but it was fun."
Perhaps due to catching his childhood idol at the tail end of his career, though, Thomas was not the player Hardaway dubbed the toughest guard of his NBA career. That honor was bestowed onto another '90s point guard legend.
"Kevin Johnson was hard to handle," he said. "He could get to the rim, lay you up, shoot 12- to 15-footers. He wasn't shooting any threes really consistently, but he was getting to the basket or shooting 15-foot jump shots on you consistently. He was hard, a tough cover as we called it."
Of course, with Hardaway logging his service time during what many consider the greatest time of NBA basketball, Johnson wasn't the only tough matchup he encountered. Gary Payton, Mark Price and Rod Strickland were just some of the challenging assignments that fell Hardaway's way.
But a challenging task was something that he relished.
"I enjoyed playing against some guys because they brought out the best in you," he said. "Because you two were considered [among] the best guards in the NBA."
Many experts have labeled this current crop of point guards in the NBA as the greatest collection of talent ever assembled at the position. Hardaway holds no resentment to that statement, but offered that there may be a rational explanation for that (possibly misguided) way of thinking.
"Back in the day, and when I say back in the day I'm talking about 10 years ago, there was not that much media coverage," he said. "So the guys weren't being shown like they are now. [Current players] are all over the globe.
"We were just in an era where we made things happen in our era, but now everybody's visible," he said. "It's not us being upset; that was just that era and that was just the media."
The position has drawn massive coverage of late as analysts have struggled to define the roles of today's point guards: traditional vs. scoring. Hardaway (a career 17.7 points per game scorer) offered his own take on balancing the demands of the position.
"I was a point guard that could score, but I got my team involved first," he said. "With Run TMC [the label given to Golden State's trio of Hardaway, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond], I needed to score. With the Miami Heat, I didn't really need to score all the time. We had Voshon Lenard, Alonzo Mourning, P.J. Brown, (Jamal) Mashburn and some guys coming off the bench.
"We had a crew, but when it's winning time, I like to be that guy who makes the decision to put the ball in the basket or to give it to the person that's open. I'm always a point guard first, (but) if I need to score, I score."
The positionless approach undertaken by Miami Heat (Hardaway's current employer, where he serves as their Community and Corporate Liaison) coach Erik Spoelstra, conjures up visions of the small-ball approach of Hardaway's former coach in Golden State, Hall of Famer Don Nelson.
"Nelson implemented it back in the day, but now people are starting to see what he was trying to do," he said. "Maybe at that particular time, it was too early for him to bring it in, but now it's the right time to bring that type of basketball into play."
Perhaps Miami's style of play plays a role in its being Hardaway's favorite team to watch. Well, that along with his past (and present) involvement with the franchise.
"I'm biased, but I love watching (the Heat) play," he said. "LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, someone's going to do something exciting every night."
Excitement is a common theme for Hardaway's favorite teams, which should be no surprise considering how he played the game.
"I love watching the L.A. Clippers; they're exciting, they get up and down," he said. "I've been a Chris Paul fan since I saw him at Wake Forest. (He) controls the tempo for his team."
There's another theme that arises from his favorites to watch—great point-guard play.
"I love watching (Derrick Rose) play; love how he puts his team in a position to win each and every night," he said. "(I like watching) the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry's playing well. I keep up with it," he says laughing.
After the interview subsided, Hardaway and Anderson took to the court to provide fans and media members (yours truly, included) the chance to share the floor with two of the game's greats.
Thanks to the kind folks over at Thuzio, here's a brief look at how things went.
The opportunity to play alongside two NBA legends was one that I'll never forget.
And it's one that Thuzio provides fans on a daily basis.
The brainchild of former NFL star Tiki Barber and co-chairman Mark Gerson, the company offers consumers the opportunity to access their favorite current and former stars of the sports world.
The idea is as simple as it is brilliant—bringing athletes (past and present) together with their fans for unforgettable experiences. The possibilities are endless, ranging from company appearances to playing a pickup game of basketball, all at rates set forth by Thuzio and their expanding talent base.
The company's talent, as explained by Gerson, is assembled in one of three ways: by a dedicated team of outbound talent recruiters, inbound requests from current and former stars and in response to customer requests for players not yet under Thuzio's umbrella.
The response from potential talent additions has been overwhelmingly positive. And Gerson doesn't anticipate that changing.
"I don't think any athlete has said no," Gerson said. "And I can't think of any reason why anyone would. There's no commitment on their part; they just put themselves on to the platform and they receive opportunities."
Hardaway described the company as just what he had been looking for in the next stage of his professional career.
"I thought it was a unique way for them to have you out there being marketed," he said. "I was intrigued about Thuzio and how they could branch and get you out there.
"(As an athlete) taking pictures, saying hello, being courteous to people, that comes with the territory," he said. "But for (fans) to have a one-on-one experience with you like at a golf outing or sitting down with you at a basketball game, that's a great experience."
Thuzio started in New York, but the Dec. 16 event marked their expansion into the South Florida market. The company's next targeted market is set for Los Angeles.
Their talent list started with the major sports (which Gerson defined as basketball, baseball, football, hockey and soccer) and that's still the company's prior focus. But they've also expanded their talent base into other sports (including, but not limited to, mixed martial arts, motocross, tennis and poker) due to fan requests. They plan on launching their theater division next, drawing talent from the world of movies, music and television.
If anyone is interested in finding out more information about the company (and judging from my own experience, you absolutely should be), feel free to check out their website for information on their talent base and experiences that they offer.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Monday, December 24, 2012
LeBron James' Greatness Won't Be Validated Through Scoring Titles Alone
LeBron James will go down as one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, and hardly any that will have to do with the fact that he led the league in scoring during the 2007-08 campaign. Just like it won't matter that he isn't currently leading the Association in scoring now.
Because scoring won't define James. Winning and being one of the most dominant all-around athletes the game has ever seen will.
A lot is made of scoring in the NBA, and rightfully so. Without points, the scoreboard would be but a blank canvas.
But scoring isn't everything. That alone won't win basketball games.
That alone doesn't ensure that you'll go down as one of the greatest athletes to grace the hardwood.
And LeBron, per Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com, knows this:
If James could shoot the ball that much, the scoring title would be his, James believes.
"If I wanted to, I could lead the league in scoring, but that's not my job here," James said.
"My job is to do a lot of everything -- rebounding, passing and defending so that takes away from my scoring. I've done (the scoring title) before. I'm capable of doing it, but my game sometimes doesn't allow me to have those big nights."
Let's not pretend for a second that James isn't irrefutably correct here. Not only has he dropped at least 20 points in every one of the Miami Heat's games this season, but he's done so while attempting the fewest amount of shots (18.3) per game of his career. He's also shooting a career-best 54.2 percent from the floor and 44.2 percent from beyond the arc as well.
So yes, if he wanted to, he could lead the league in scoring. We've seen him do it before, and he could easily do it again.
Right now, however, he's not. Because he can't. More importantly, though—he doesn't need to.
James is one of the best facilitators in the game and easily the only pure one that the Heat currently have. Thus, aside from scoring himself, he must also ensure that the others score; he must ensure Miami's offense is functioning properly. He can't just ignore the needs of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, after all.
And that's a blessing in disguise. Scoring titles alone would never solidify his legacy. Not in the way James himself wants it to be ironed out.
Long after LeBron's playing days are over, when we're tasked with defining him as a player and as an all-time great, will we be looking at his point totals?
Of course.
But we'll also be looking at the rest of his per game averages and what those numbers translated into.
How many titles did he win? How complete of a player was he? Was he willing to do whatever it took for his team to win?
Those are also the types of questions we will be asking. And those are also the types of questions James needs to answer.
The degree to which any player scores, LeBron included, means little if it doesn't yield results.
Would Kobe Bryant be perceived as fondly if he hadn't won any of his five titles? Better yet, are we captivated by his scoring alone?
Absolutely not. Kobe's primarily a scorer, but he's often tasked with handling the Los Angeles Lakers playmaking responsibilities as well. And he's also considered a top-tier defender. Realities such as those, coupled with his scoring and hardware, have helped to define him.
And the same will hold true for James.
One-dimensional players don't build illustrious legacies. Not ones as powerful as the universally gifted do, anyway. Just ask Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant, who have amped up their production in every other facet of the game in the name of winning.
LeBron, though? He's been a well-rounded athlete his entire career.
Sure, his three-point prowess is at an all-time high, but in addition to never scoring less than 20 points per game, he's never dished out less 5.9 dimes, grabbed less than 5.5 rebounds or 1.3 steals. He's also won three league MVPs, one NBA title and never been anything less than a cure-all for every one of his teams.
And yeah, he's been crowned the scoring champion once, too. But that's just one brush stroke of a much bigger—a much greater—picture.
A picture that, upon completion, will depict James as one of the greatest players to ever play in this league.
Not just because he scored and not just in spite of the fact that he could have scored more, but because he did more with the basketball in his hands than most ever will.
*All stats in this article are accurate as of December 23, 2012.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
LeBron James' Greatness Won't Be Validated Through Scoring Titles Alone
LeBron James will go down as one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, and hardly any that will have to do with the fact that he led the league in scoring during the 2007-08 campaign. Just like it won't matter that he isn't currently leading the Association in scoring now.
Because scoring won't define James. Winning and being one of the most dominant all-around athletes the game has ever seen will.
A lot is made of scoring in the NBA, and rightfully so. Without points, the scoreboard would be but a blank canvas.
But scoring isn't everything. That alone won't win basketball games.
That alone doesn't ensure that you'll go down as one of the greatest athletes to grace the hardwood.
And LeBron, per Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com, knows this:
If James could shoot the ball that much, the scoring title would be his, James believes.
"If I wanted to, I could lead the league in scoring, but that's not my job here," James said.
"My job is to do a lot of everything -- rebounding, passing and defending so that takes away from my scoring. I've done (the scoring title) before. I'm capable of doing it, but my game sometimes doesn't allow me to have those big nights."
Let's not pretend for a second that James isn't irrefutably correct here. Not only has he dropped at least 20 points in every one of the Miami Heat's games this season, but he's done so while attempting the fewest amount of shots (18.3) per game of his career. He's also shooting a career-best 54.2 percent from the floor and 44.2 percent from beyond the arc as well.
So yes, if he wanted to, he could lead the league in scoring. We've seen him do it before, and he could easily do it again.
Right now, however, he's not. Because he can't. More importantly, though—he doesn't need to.
James is one of the best facilitators in the game and easily the only pure one that the Heat currently have. Thus, aside from scoring himself, he must also ensure that the others score; he must ensure Miami's offense is functioning properly. He can't just ignore the needs of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, after all.
And that's a blessing in disguise. Scoring titles alone would never solidify his legacy. Not in the way James himself wants it to be ironed out.
Long after LeBron's playing days are over, when we're tasked with defining him as a player and as an all-time great, will we be looking at his point totals?
Of course.
But we'll also be looking at the rest of his per game averages and what those numbers translated into.
How many titles did he win? How complete of a player was he? Was he willing to do whatever it took for his team to win?
Those are also the types of questions we will be asking. And those are also the types of questions James needs to answer.
The degree to which any player scores, LeBron included, means little if it doesn't yield results.
Would Kobe Bryant be perceived as fondly if he hadn't won any of his five titles? Better yet, are we captivated by his scoring alone?
Absolutely not. Kobe's primarily a scorer, but he's often tasked with handling the Los Angeles Lakers playmaking responsibilities as well. And he's also considered a top-tier defender. Realities such as those, coupled with his scoring and hardware, have helped to define him.
And the same will hold true for James.
One-dimensional players don't build illustrious legacies. Not ones as powerful as the universally gifted do, anyway. Just ask Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant, who have amped up their production in every other facet of the game in the name of winning.
LeBron, though? He's been a well-rounded athlete his entire career.
Sure, his three-point prowess is at an all-time high, but in addition to never scoring less than 20 points per game, he's never dished out less 5.9 dimes, grabbed less than 5.5 rebounds or 1.3 steals. He's also won three league MVPs, one NBA title and never been anything less than a cure-all for every one of his teams.
And yeah, he's been crowned the scoring champion once, too. But that's just one brush stroke of a much bigger—a much greater—picture.
A picture that, upon completion, will depict James as one of the greatest players to ever play in this league.
Not just because he scored and not just in spite of the fact that he could have scored more, but because he did more with the basketball in his hands than most ever will.
*All stats in this article are accurate as of December 23, 2012.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Reader mailbag: Submit your questions now
Reader mailbag: Submit your questions now
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6824417/ns/sports-nba/
Notebook: Nets 95, 76ers 92
THE FACTS: Backed by Gerald Wallace's hustle, deep 3s from Joe Johnson, and a season-high 13 points from Keith Bogans, the Nets held off the 76ers at Barclays Center, 95-92. Johnson led the Nets with 22 points, and despite another underwhelming performance, Deron Williams made decisive plays down the stretch. Jrue Holiday paced the Sixers with 24 points and nine assists, while Lavoy Allen got the better of Brook Lopez inside.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121223/0021200399_notebook.html?rss=true
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Video: Christmas preview: Knicks at Lakers
PBT Extra: The Knicks head west to take on the Lakers and Kurt Helin breaks down the better off-season pickup for New York: Jason Kidd or Raymond Felton. If Steve Nash returns, can a Lakers win turn their season around? (NBC Sports)
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/50274244#50274244
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks 12/22/12: Video Highlights and Recap
The Atlanta Hawks used a dominant second-quarter performance to defeat the Chicago Bulls 92-75 Saturday night.
All five Atlanta starters were in double figures as compared to two double-digit scorers for the offensively challenged Bulls team.
Al Horford led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting. He was given perimeter support from Kyle Korver and Lou Williams, who helped make Atlanta's offense much more dangerous than Chicago's anemic attack.
Aside from Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, the Bulls didn't come to play in this one. They shot 42.1 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 15 times. That's not how you're going to beat a quality Hawks team.
For a complete look at the box score, check out NBA.com.
Player of the Game: Al Horford
Horford is a consistent double-double presence on the low block when he's healthy, and he showed that again Saturday night.
He's the only true post player that the Hawks have, which makes his presence even more important on the interior.
Putting up 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds is solid, and he made a major difference versus the Bulls.
What's Next for the Chicago Bulls?
The 15-11 Bulls will host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
What's Next for the Atlanta Hawks?
The 16-9 Hawks will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Video: Christmas preview: Knicks at Lakers
PBT Extra: The Knicks head west to take on the Lakers and Kurt Helin breaks down the better off-season pickup for New York: Jason Kidd or Raymond Felton. If Steve Nash returns, can a Lakers win turn their season around? (NBC Sports)
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/50274244#50274244
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Host Sixers snap 5-game skid by tripping up Hawks
Host snap 5-game skid by tripping up Hawks
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/12/21/32773/#recap?xid=si_nba
Temple upsets No. 3 Syracuse to spoil Boeheim's post-900 night
Temple stunned No. 3 Syracuse on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/BN_iu5aDE5s/
Grizzlies take 4th straight, quiet Mayo, Mavs
Rudy Gay scored 26 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies win their fourth straight game, 92-82 over the Dallas Mavericks.
Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278106
Friday, December 21, 2012
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks: Live Score, Results and Game Highlights
It was interesting towards the end, but the Chicago Bulls dominated the New York Knicks nearly wire-to-wire.
The Bulls defense took control of the game, and eliminated several key factors of the Knicks offense.
Poor officiating (to say the least) got the best of both teams. Both head coaches received technical fouls (Mike Woodson was booted from the game), both centers were hit with two techs each, and the game's biggest star, MVP-candidate Carmelo Anthony, was T'd up twice as well.
It got a little weird after that, as a 20-point laugher crept toward miracle-comeback territory thanks to an array of ticky-tack foul calls, but the Bulls gutted out a victory, just as they deserved.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Pau Gasol, Josh Smith and More League Buzz
With the NBA’s trade deadline just a shade over two months away, a number of players are rumored to be on the block and could be looking for a new home sooner than later.
Let’s take a look at some of these superstars—and lesser players—that are generating a lot of trade buzz in today’s rumor roundup.
Pau Gasol’s Market Limited
While the Los Angeles Lakers power forward isn’t a terrible player, his age (32) and contract ($19 million this season, $19.2 million in 2013-14) are a huge deterrent for potential trading partners.
According to Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld, there are only three or four interested franchises, and none are willing to pay market value for the Spaniard.
Because of this, the team is willing to wait for Steve Nash to return to the lineup and jell with the rest of the starters before making any rash decisions.
It’ll be interesting to see if Gasol can return to his All-Star form when the future Hall of Famer is back in action. If he doesn’t improve, expect the Lakers brass to start seriously weighing their options prior to the deadline.
Atlanta Not Actively Seeking Josh Smith Deal
The Atlanta Hawks are one of the surprisingly competent Eastern Conference teams early in the 2012-13 season, which is precisely why the organization is hesitant to discuss trading away arguably its best player, Josh Smith.
Kyler found that while the Hawks have been working the phones, they are “unengaged” in regards to making a deal. The Hoopsworld reporter went on to note that the Hawks will only pull the trigger on a home run deal and there simply aren’t any available.
This isn’t to say that the team wouldn’t be willing to deal Smith, a free agent at the end of this season, but it would take a “Godfather” offer to pry him away from ATL.
Austin Daye on the Block
The Detroit Pistons are once again off to a pitiful start, currently 7-21 with the first quarter of the NBA season well behind them.
One of their most disappointing players is forward Austin Daye, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2009 draft. He’s averaging a scant 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in just seven games of action, and has only seen the floor for an average of 7.9 minutes in those contests.
It’s no surprise that Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears is reporting that the former Gonzaga star is now openly being shopped.
We’ll keep you updated when we know more about some interested parties and Daye’s potential value around the league.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA: The @MiamiHEAT's @KingJames & @DwyaneWade speak to media before practice. #ChinaGames http://t.co/1uTBoDn6
NBA: The @MiamiHEAT's @KingJames & @DwyaneWade speak to media before practice. #ChinaGames http://t.co/1uTBoDn6
Wolves end Thunder's 12-game win streak
J.J. Barea scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves ended Oklahoma City's 12-game winning streak with a 99-93 victory over the Thunder on Thursday night.
Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278097
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Top recruit Jabari Parker commits to Duke
Choice was between Duke, Michigan State, Florida, BYU and Stanford.
Notebook: Suns 121, Bobcats 104
THE FACTS: Shannon Brown, who scored 24 points against Charlotte on Nov. 7, tallied a season-high 26 points and the Phoenix Suns used 17 shots from 3-point land to send the Bobcats to their 13th straight loss, 121-104, on Wednesday night.
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121220/0021200373_notebook.html?rss=true
Lookahead: Heat vs. Mavericks
Kenny, Shaq and Greg preview the Heat and Mavericks game on TNT Thursday night at 8:00pm.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/12/20/20121219-tnt-lookahed-mia-dal.nba/index.html
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
NBA: http://t.co/xojWcLQg - Practice is a wrap for @JCrossover & the @LAClippers in Beijing. #ChinaGames
NBA: http://t.co/xojWcLQg - Practice is a wrap for @JCrossover & the @LAClippers in Beijing. #ChinaGames
Wade, LeBron lead Heat past Timberwolves
Dwyane Wade scored 24 points, LeBron James added 22 points and 11 assists, and the Miami Heat survived a huge rebounding differential to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-92 on Tuesday night.
Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278079
Belcher to Chiefs: I have hurt my girl; I can't go back
He shot Kasandra Perkins 10 times before killing himself, according to police report.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/66k1NMPw758/
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wall: '50-50' knee will respond post-swelling
Washington Wizards point guard John Wall figures there is no way he will miss the entire season.
Lin returns to New York, recalls Linsanity fondly
Jeremy Lin returned Monday to the home he never thought he was leaving, reflecting fondly on Linsanity but not trying to recreate it.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/12/17/lin-returns-to-new-york.ap/index.html?rss=true
Melo out again, Amar'e cleared to practice
NEW YORK (AP) - Carmelo Anthony missed his second straight game Monday with a sprained left ankle, while New York Knicks teammate Amare Stoudemire moved closer to returning.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50230858/ns/sports-nba/
Monday, December 17, 2012
Defense to Offense
Phoenix's Luis Scola steals the ball and Goran Dragic finishes with a nice layup in the first quarter.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/games/suns/2012/12/17/0021200355-sac-phx-play1.nba/index.html
Falcons destroy champ Giants, near home-field clinch
Matt Ryan threw three touchdowns passes and the Atlanta Falcons handed the New York Giants their first regular-season shutout since 1996, blowing out the defending Super Bowl champions 34-0 on Sunday.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=8cc08ec60b6436b24ce29d3856bfec19
LaMarcus Aldridge: Updates on Trail Blazers Forward's Ankle Injury
LaMarcus Aldridge sustained an ankle injury in the Portland Trail Blazers' last-second victory over the New Orleans Hornets Sunday night.
The Oregonian reporter Mike Tokito had the news:
LaMarcus Aldridge has a sprained left ankle, X-ray negative, but will have MRI. He has crutches, said it was pretty painful.
— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) December 17, 2012
Sprained ankles can be very difficult to recover from, depending on the severity of the injury. The injury will probably impact Aldridge's ability to cut back and forth and slow him down altogether.
Aldridge is enjoying another excellent season in Rip City. The sixth-year forward is averaging 21 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He gives rookie point guard Damian Lillard a consistent threat to look for down low, and his ability to step away from the basket makes him a more difficult matchup.
Losing Aldridge hurts, especially because Portland has struggled with him on the floor. At 11-12, the team hasn't played well enough to really contend in the Western Conference, and it's safe to assume that they won't play any better without him in the lineup.
Jared Jeffries and Luke Babbitt are behind Aldridge on Portland's depth chart, but neither provides the production that the skilled big man does.
It's also possible that rookie Meyers Leonard could see an uptick in playing time if J.J. Hickson bumps over to power forward for the time being.
Aldridge could recover quickly from his ankle sprain, but it wouldn't make sense to rush him back. The season is still young, and it doesn't make sense to jeopardize his health later in the year.
The team's next five games come against Denver, Phoenix, the Lakers and they play Sacramento twice. Any team will be tough, but that stretch could be worse.
Stay tuned for updates regarding the Blazers' star forward.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Ricky Rubio: Point Guard's Return Solidifies Playoff Hopes for Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone through some difficult injury problems this season. However, now that they are close to healthy, this team has what it takes to reach the postseason.
Surprisingly, the team would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. For a squad that won fewer than 40 percent of its games a year ago and was without some key contributors, this is quite impressive.
Of course, veteran teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks loom outside the playoffs and are likely to get better. Still, Minnesota's solid play is likely to continue thanks to the return of Ricky Rubio.
The Spanish point guard has been out since tearing his ACL last March. Fortunately, he returned to action on Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks and did not disappoint.
In only 18 minutes of action, Rubio scored eight points and had an incredible nine assists with three steals. He also showed a great deal of aggressiveness by getting to the free-throw line eight times, making six of his shots.
He showed in one game how different this team can look with a true point guard on the floor.
Minnesota has had a committee of point guards to this stage of the year. Luke Ridnour, Alexey Shved and Jose Juan Barea have all had good games this year, but none average more than five assists per game.
Ridnour has received the majority of playing time, but the veteran has never been a great distributor. In his 10-year career, he only averages 4.9 assists.
As a result, only two teams in the Western Conference score fewer points per game than the Timberwolves.
The defense has been solid, but the team needs a bigger offensive burst to compete with the better NBA opponents.
This is what Rubio provides on the floor. He has great court vision and gets everyone involved in the offense.
What is more impressive about the guard's return is that Kevin Love sat last game with the flu. He is the team's leading scorer and certainly makes things easier for guards trying to rack up assists.
When these two players are on the court at the same time, Minnesota instantly has one of the best tandems in the league.
Add in versatile scorers like Nikola Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko, and this is a roster that can compete with anyone.
Minnesota was not a team that many expected to reach the playoffs coming into the year. However, a 12-9 record, including a four-game winning streak, has many changing their expectations.
With Rubio back in the lineup, this squad will remain near the top of the standings all year long.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
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