Friday, November 30, 2012
NBA: http://t.co/fsYLzH9s - @CP3 surveys the defense & buries the jumper at @LAClippers practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames
Commissioner Stern admonishes Spurs for sitting stars
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/29/stern-spurs-heat-statement/index.html?rss=true
Boston Celtics Need Jeff Green to Be Super-Sub to Boost Offensive Woes
When the Boston Celtics re-signed Jeff Green this past offseason, speculation began to mount surrounding Green's upside as a future face of the franchise. Through the Celtics' first 15 games, however, Green has posted averages of just 7.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.0 percent shooting from the floor.
With the team struggling as an offensive unit, the Celtics need Green to recover from this slow start as soon as possible. Green must become their super-sub to cure their offensive woes.
If he is incapable of doing so, hope may be lost in Beantown.
According to a report via ESPN Boston, head coach Doc Rivers spoke about Green's early struggles with Boston sports radio station WEEI. Rivers voiced his disappointment with Green's inconsistency, although he did not place the blame entirely on the player.
Instead, Rivers cited the need for both Green and the team's coaching staff to improve.
“I know he’s better and I know he can be better,” Rivers said Thursday morning in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI. “It’s gotta be some of what we’re doing and then some of what he’s doing. I have to figure out whatever we’re not doing as a staff and team right, we gotta fix that and then whatever Jeff’s not doing he’s got to fix that.“
One of the reasons that Rivers has established himself as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history is just this. Rarely, if ever, will Rivers throw one of his players under the bus.
Instead, Rivers will acknowledge the player's shortcomings and look to himself to make the proper adjustments to accommodate said athlete. In this case, however, Green must take the initiative to improve.
Before it's too late.
The Green Go as Green Goes
The Boston Celtics are only as strong as their colors show. Forgive my play on words, but I meant to say that the Green will only go as Green goes.
Still confused? Let's break it down in more understandable terms.
Jeff Green will be the key to both victory and lackluster results.
Thus far this season, the Boston Celtics are 4-1 in games in which Green scores at least 10 points. They're 4-6 when he fails to, however, which displays one important fact about this Celtics ball club.
Furthermore, Green is averaging 9.9 points per game during Boston victories. That number takes a nose dive to 5.1 points per contest in games in which the Celtics lose.
When Green is off, Boston's second unit falters with him. When he's on, the second unit will flourish and the Celtics will achieve victory.
An analogy that will be applicable to the remainder of the season.
Offensive Rebounding
Considering Green has a career average of 1.3 offensive rebounds per game, one would be inclined to believe that the former Georgetown Hoya is of minimal help in said area. The fact of the matter is, the Celtics are averaging 2.3 more offensive rebounds per 48 minutes with him on the court than without him.
8.6 per 48 with Green and 6.0 without.
Considering the Celtics are in the midst of their fourth consecutive season as one of the worst two offensive rebounding teams in the league, they could use all the help they can get. Which is exactly why Green must step it up with his consistency.
Although he has not contributed on the offensive glass in the sense of individual production, Green has spaced the floor enough for bigs to attack the boards. Due to Green's versatility in being able to play both forward positions, opponents must now spread themselves out to defend the Boston offense.
Even if the improvement is minimal, any increase in production on the offensive boards should be welcomed in Boston. That is, if Green can contribute more consistently.
Performing Better Without Him
Jeff Green's slash line of .400/.250/.722 is certainly underwhelming. His averages of 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 0.4 steals per game only further mount the disappointment surrounding his play thus far.
The truth of the matter is, Green's individual statistics are far less important than the impact he's having on the team as a whole.
When Green is on the floor, the Celtics are scoring an average of 95.7 points per 48 minutes. When he is on the bench, however, they're scoring 97.8 per 48.
It gets worse defensively.
The Celtics are allowing 101.8 points per 48 minutes with Green on the floor, while letting up 95.7 while he's on the bench. That comes with a defensive rating of 107.5 with Green and 100.4 without him.
In other words, Green has been more hurtful than helpful for the Celtics thus far. His upside suggests he could be the long-term replacement to franchise mainstay Paul Pierce, but patience is a virtue for coach Rivers.
The question is, how long can the Celtics wait before it's too late? Contrary to popular belief, their time is running out.
Green needs to step up while coming off of the bench to cure the Celtics' woes. Starting now.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Spurs playing Heat without 4 regulars
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/29/spurs-stars-out-heat.ap/index.html?rss=true
Harden struggles in Oklahoma City return
Source: http://nba.si.com/2012/11/29/james-harden-thunder-rockets/?xid=si_nba
Dallas Mavericks: Derek Fisher Will Make Kidd a Distant Memory for Dirk & Co.
According to Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN Dallas, free agent point guard Derek Fisher has signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Head coach Rick Carlisle has confirmed the signing and cites the Mavericks' current roster situation as the reason behind the move.
As a result of the acquisition, Fish will make Jason Kidd a distant memory for Dirk Nowitzki and company.
Dan Loumena of The Los Angeles Times expands on the story, quoting Carlisle's claims that the team is in need of point guard depth:
We need help at point guard...I found out...that [Darren] Collison would be out, and we were fortunate to get [Jared] Cunningham active. We feel [Fisher] can help us. It's not a cure-all to all of our team challenges, but his expertise and experience will help.
As ESPN Dallas has reported, Collison is presently sidelined by a sprained right middle finger while Cunningham has finally recovered from a sprained thumb. Regardless of the severity of the duo's respective injuries, the Mavericks are thin at point guard with or without Collison and Cunningham.
Rodrigue Beaubois can't seem to stay healthy, and his still inconsistent play will further erode the trust Coach Carlisle has in the three-year veteran guard. Dominique Jones, meanwhile, is a solid player with upside and the size to play both guard positions.
The issue is that Carlisle and the Mavs are uncertain as to which guard position Jones is best fit to play. If Jones' recent development is a sign of things to come, look for him to become a Dwyane Wade-type of guard—one built to score but solid enough as a passer to fill in as a flex point guard.
Although the signing of Fisher will not nullify these issues, it will offer the young players a veteran voice to guide their progression. Keep in mind, the player whom these young guards are meant to work off of, Dirk Nowitzki, is presently injured.
Nowitzki is targeting a return in mid-December, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.
While it's been said that targeting Fisher would be a sign of desperation on the Mavs part, the recent slew of injuries—preceded by the steep decline in point guard production—justifies his signing.
The key example would be the injured Collison.
Through the first eight games of the 2012-13 NBA season, Collison provided the team with a sense of reliability at the point. The former UCLA Bruin posted averages of 15.0 points and 6.9 assists per game, establishing himself as a young face of the franchise.
Unfortunately, the past seven games have not been so kind.
Collison is averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 assists per game. This drop-off has led to a heavier reliance on the likes of Beaubois and Jones. Due to Beaubois' averages of 4.3 points and 2.7 assists in 15.3 minutes per game, however, it's clear that a move needed to be made.
With that being said, the signing still smacks of desperation. The Mavericks have lost eight of their past 11 games, thanks in part to the inconsistency of their facilitators. Due to this severe decrease in production, signing Fisher suddenly makes sense.
It also fills the void left by Jason Kidd's departure.
Keep in mind, the efficient Kidd we are seeing with the 2012-13 New York Knicks is not the same one we saw with Dallas in 2011-12. Kidd shot just 36.3 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc last season.
What is missed, however, is his veteran leadership and prowess in late-game situations—an ability that the young players like Collison, Jones and Cunningham could draw from at this stage of their careers.
Fisher may only play 20 minutes a night, but his presence will be of extraordinary value. Fish has been a guiding voice in many locker rooms, which is a major reason that he is a five-time NBA champion.
Thus, the Mavericks' desperate signing of D-Fish will not only aid their current point guards, but it will enable Dirk Nowitzki and company to overcome the loss of former Mavs veterans who contributed so much to the team's prior playoff success.
Who would have thought that acquiring 38-year-old role player would be the significant signing of the season for Mark Cuban?
He may not be Deron Williams, but adding Fisher improves the Mavericks current situation. After all, Dallas can only go up from here.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1426167-fish-will-make-jason-kidd-a-distant-memory-for-dirk-co
Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls: Postgame Grades and Analysis
In a matchup of two teams that have struggled throughout the first month of the season, the Chicago Bulls coasted to victory over the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 101-78 on Wednesday night.
With the win, the Bulls improved their record to 7-7, while the Mavericks fell to 7-9 on the season. The key to the Bulls' victory was steady production from their bench, which head coach Tom Thibodeau chose to emphasize after a grueling loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
Overall, the Bulls were the more efficient team, shooting 49.3 percent from the field compared to the Mavericks' abysmal mark of 34.6 percent.
Luol Deng and Joakim Noah led the way for the Bulls once again, scoring 22 and 13 points, respectively. The Mavericks' leading scorer on the night was Shawn Marion (18 points), who was one of just four Dallas players to finish scoring in double figures.
Let’s take a look at how both teams graded out in Wednesday night's matchup.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Nets beat Knicks in battle of New York
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49974028/ns/sports-nba/
Rondo, Williams ready to face off
Breaking Down How Opposing Teams Are Slowing Down Jamal Crawford
Through the first nine games of the 2012-13 NBA regular season, Los Angeles Clippers combo guard Jamal Crawford averaged 20.7 points on 52.2 percent shooting from the floor. Over the past five games, however, Crawford is averaging 13.2 points on 35.5 percent shooting.
The question is, how are opposing teams shutting Crawford down?
As a former Sixth Man of the Year, Crawford has grown acquainted with elevated levels of defensive pressure. This time around, however, Crawford's supremely talented teammates appear to lack the necessary consistency to alleviate such pressure.
Which is just one of the issues at hand.
Crawford has proven to be prone to strings of offensive inefficiency. For proof of such a truth, acknowledge the fact that his career field goal percentage sits at 40.9 percent.
A direct result of his isolation style offensive approach which had been abandoned through nine games.
Even still, a drop of 16.7 percent in terms of his shooting percentages is not one of justifiable means, nor should it be considered a reflection on how Crawford is capable of performing.
This is exactly why we must break down how opposing defenses are slowing Crawford down.
Trapping Early
When a defense plays an elite pick-and-roll team such as the Clippers, the key is to trap just before a ball-handler comes off a screen. What the Clippers' opponents have begun to do, however, is trap before the play is under way, thus preventing their greatest strength.
What this has done is neutralize the bigs and force Crawford to enter isolation sets. As we've come to learn, all an isolation will produce is lackluster execution and inconsistent results. Crawford provided his insight on the situation (via Arash Markazi of ESPN).
It started against Chicago, honestly. They started trapping as soon as I got the ball. It’s weird because usually when we’re in pick-and-roll, that’s when teams decide to trap. But they’re leaving their man. They’re trying to deny a lot more. They’re tilting. They’re adjusting their whole defense. It’s almost like a receiver in football. There’s no more single coverage; it’s a zone.
It’s a copycat league: If a team does something that works, more than likely that’s what other teams are going to do. Sometimes you see it later, toward the playoffs or in the middle of the season. It’s a little early, but as teams are doing it, we have to adjust as well.
In order to avoid trap defense, Coach Del Negro must trust Eric Bledsoe to facilitate Crawford's scoring opportunities. Crawford is shooting the lights out for the season, which has come by virtue of his being forced into isolation scoring designs.
Remove him from the iso and place him into motion. In turn, the traps will be that much more difficult to instate.
Supporting Cast Struggles
On paper, the Los Angeles Clippers have quite the powerful second unit. With the likes of Crawford, Eric Bledsoe, Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes and Ronny Turiaf, there is a reason Coach Del Negro feels so confident in turning to his reserves.
The return of Grant Hill and Chauncey Billups will only strengthen this group.
Unfortunately, the talent on the roster has not lived up to their billing over the past four games. Although Crawford remains the Clippers' leading scorer, opponents' ability to trap Crawford has come by virtue of their forcing his teammates to make their shots, which they haven't been able to do.
Bledsoe is averaging a solid 9.3 points per game on 56.0 percent shooting over the past four games. Unfortunately, Odom is putting up just 1.4 points per game for the season, and Barnes has scored 19 of his 32 points over the past four outings against Oklahoma City.
Per usual, Turiaf is no threat offensively.
So how do the Clippers solve these woes? Head Coach Del Negro appears to have an idea.
We have to do a better job of moving the ball and getting into our sets and getting everybody involved. As the games got more physical, we got more stagnant. It wasn’t for a selfish reason, but guys thought they could do it on their own and you can’t. You have to use your teammates, and our spacing was poor at times. They need to create other opportunities for their teammates.
VDN hit the nail on the head here. Unfortunately, it's a lot easier to acknowledge the issue than it is to fix it.
Until the second unit can get their shots to fall, Crawford will face this elevated level of defense. Teams will shift double-teams onto Crawford and risk the extra pass finding a player such as Odom or Bledsoe.
In order to neutralize this threat, Del Negro must shift his rotations and complement Crawford with an interior scorer that forces a defense to collapse. If he does not, Crawford will continue to struggle.
Slow Beginnings from the Starters
With all due respect to the elite-level talent in the Los Angeles Clippers' starting lineup, they have performed at a disturbingly poor level. Blake Griffin's four points on 1-of-9 shooting against New Orleans is just the latest example of such.
With such consistently slow starts, the pressure builds for Crawford to carry the load. Although he does lead the team in scoring, that is a burden that should not be placed upon Crawford's shoulders.
It's especially true when Chris Paul, Griffin, Caron Butler, Willie Green and DeAndre Jordan are all failing to light up the scoreboard.
The main reason that there has been such a weak output offensively is the team's tendency to go with isolation. Although a player such as CP3 thrives in that play type, an individual approach to a team game has proven to have the same result time and time again—a neutralization of team chemistry, which Coach Del Negro is fully aware of, and he discusses it.
[DeAndre Jordan] wasn’t involved. It wasn’t just DJ, it was all of our bigs. They weren’t active. They weren’t physical. They didn’t set the tone for us from the start. It’s not just one guy, it’s everybody.
The starters have a responsibility to get us off to a good start. Other guys have to play well, too. It’s not just about one guy. Other guys have to get [Crawford] open and he has to do a good job of doing that. If they’re going to double-team Jamal on a pick-and-roll or Chris, the other guys have to know where to be on the court.
If the starting lineup does not start producing at a quality rate, the burden will continue to grow on Crawford's scoring abilities. Although Bledsoe will help to alleviate the pressure, we've already touched upon how inconsistent the second unit has been.
It is up to the stars on this roster to allow J-Crossover to thrive. If they don't, opponents will continue to slow Crawford down, thus leading to the continuation of L.A's four-game losing streak.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Pacquiao opponent Marquez denies doping accusations
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/x4hmf5P9Svk/
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
NBA: http://t.co/ISzNVJeu - Rashard Lewis knocks down the trey at @MiamiHEAT practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames
Lakers Rumors: L.A. Keeping Pau Gasol off Trade Block Is Only Logical Move
Pau Gasol is a survivor.
He survived the Los Angeles Lakers' attempt to acquire a top-tier point guard. He then survived the team's acquisition of Dwight Howard. Now, all that makes sense is for him to survive the latest bout of rumors that have him, once again, packing his bags.
Gasol has been no stranger to trade rumors, nor have we been strangers to perpetuating them. If he wasn't almost traded to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul, he was being dangled in front of the Boston Celtics for Rajon Rondo. Let's not pretend like he wasn't readily available to the Orlando Magic in the Lakers' quest to obtain Howard either.
Now, as Gasol continues to struggle to find a niche within Mike D'Antoni's offense, he finds himself in the exact same situation, save for a specific destination.
Los Angeles' big man is currently averaging 13.4 points on 43.4 percent shooting from the floor—both career lows. He and D'Antoni have publicly conflicting viewpoints on how he should be used, and despite the easygoing nature of each, it's clear there is cause for concern.
But is there cause to deal him? Should the Lakers actively be shopping the four-time All-Star?
Absolutely not, and as Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times notes, they aren't:
The Lakers aren't actively looking to trade Gasol right now, The Times has learned, because they want to see what happens when Nash returns from a small fracture in his leg.
After that, there are two important dates: Dec. 15 is when teams can deal players they signed during the off-season, opening up about 20% more of the NBA's player pool; and Feb. 21, the league's trade deadline.
Could Gasol very well make another cameo on the chopping block prior to the trade deadline? Of course. This is the NBA, after all, where only a handful of players actually are untouchable.
That said, there isn't much for the Lakers to gain by parting ways with the Spaniard—not at this point.
Not only have we yet to see what Gasol will do next to a healthy and motivated Steve Nash, but Los Angeles is never going to receive adequate value in return for the big man. The seven-footer is 32, and as prolific as his past stat lines suggest he can be, the Lakers aren't going to land another All-Star in return.
So why even create unnecessary tension by trying?
Acquiring the likes of Josh Smith and Kyle Korver in exchange for Gasol's services is an intriguing possibility to consider. Except that it's not a possibility (per ESPN.com).
The Atlanta Hawks aren't about to trade away a franchise cornerstone in Smith—whose departure would signify a rebuilding period—only to attempt to assemble a roster around an aging big man.
Is this to say there wouldn't be a market for Gasol? Not at all, because there would be. But it's not going to be one that does his value justice. Not unless the Lakers are high on the near-immovable contract that is Amar'e Stoudemire's.
But they aren't. How could they be? Stoudemire's knees are as structurally sound as jello and he's owed Kobe Bryant-esque money over the next three years, money that would essentially kill Los Angeles' chances at landing LeBron James in 2014.
And if that is the genre of return that awaits Gasol's departure, why on earth should the Lakers even entertain the idea of moving the power forward?
Again, they shouldn't, and they won't.
Gasol's contract is steep, but it comes off the books at the end of next season, just like Bryant's and Metta World Peace's. From there, the Lakers have a healthy portion of cap space available that they can throw the way of any superstar they wish. They're not about to give up that future luxury.
Sure, Los Angeles—understandably so—wants to contend for a title now, but who's to say Gasol prevents the team from chasing a championship? Better yet, what makes us believe dealing him away brings the Lakers closer to their ultimate goal?
Yes, he's struggling and, yes, has nearly 12 years of wear and tear on that body of his, but this is the same player who averaged over 17 points per game just a year ago. This is the same player who has already helped Kobe and company to two NBA titles.
This is the same Gasol who has proven on more than one occasion this season that he can still be a force on the offense.
This is the same Gasol who the Lakers still need.
Bear in mind that Los Angeles is 4-1 this season when the big man drops 17 or more points. If anything, that proves the team's success is predicated of getting Gasol involved, not on its ability to ship him out in favor of some spare parts.
So from any which way you look at it, relegating Gasol to the chopping block just doesn't make sense. Not from a financial perspective, nor a competitive one. He can still help the Lakers win; he can still help this team contend for a championship.
"He can easily play our system and he's going to be a very important player for us," D'Antoni told the Los Angeles Times.
And that will hold true for the foreseeable future. Neither the Lakers nor D'Antoni himself are going to remain anything but committed to Gasol.
It doesn't make sense for them not to.
All stats in this article are accurate as of November 27th, 2012.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA: The @MiamiHEAT's @ChrisBosh & @PG30_MIA look over film at practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames http://t.co/ZKSi3QdY
Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy are not engaged, despite what Serena Williams' hitting partner says
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/jb1JidwF5Sg/
Monday, November 26, 2012
Notebook: Nets 98, Blazers 85
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121125/0021200193_notebook.html?rss=true
D'Antoni hopes to get Gasol, Howard involved
Mike D'Antoni hopes to get Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard more involved.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
LaMarcus Aldridge Injury: Updates on Blazers Star's Back
The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t taking any chances with their star big, LaMarcus Aldridge.
He’s not getting the start against the Brooklyn Nets and isn’t likely to see the floor at all on Sunday afternoon. According to CSNNW’s Chris B. Haynes, the Blazers are starting rookie Meyers Leonard in his place for this Barclays Center battle:
The #Blazers will start PG Damian Lillard, SG Wesley Matthews, SF Nicolas Batum, PF J.J. Hickson, and C Meyers Leonard vs Nets.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 25, 2012
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian is reporting that Aldridge is suffering from a stiff back. He initially tweaked it in Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and hasn’t healed completely as of Sunday afternoon.
It will be the first missed game of the season for Aldridge, who missed the end of 2011-12 campaign with a hip injury that required surgery.
The captain of the team and best player, Aldridge is averaging 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He’s one of the few serviceable big men on the entire roster, and the team is likely to suffer without the PF/C in the lineup.
We expect Leonard and Jared Jeffries to soak up most of the minutes his absence frees up, and Luke Babbitt—who normally plays the 3—to also see some time due to his size.
Aldridge is likely not going to be sidelined for long and just needs his back to feel good enough to go out there and play. He’s not sustained any major damage that we know of and is likely taking a day to rest in order to get healthy and back in the lineup at full effectiveness.
We’ll keep you updated right here with the latest on the Portland Trail Blazers superstar.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1421406-lamarcus-aldridge-injury-updates-on-blazers-stars-back
NBA: The @MiamiHEAT's @ChrisBosh & @PG30_MIA look over film at practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames http://t.co/ZKSi3QdY
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Bobcats vs. Wizards
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/games/wizards/2012/11/24/0021200184-cha-was-recap.nba/index.html
Boxing luminaries react to Hector Camacho's death
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/hm11wJZ--nY/
Why Win over Oklahoma City Thunder Could Turn Season Around for Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics did it all in their 108-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. You had Paul Pierce putting on a vintage second-half performance. You had Kevin Garnett doing it in all phases of the game. You had Jeff Green and Courtney Lee getting out on the break and wreaking havoc. You had Jason Terry hitting his trademark daggers.
This is what we expected to see out of the Celtics this year, and it was on full display against the defending Western Conference champions.
Going into the game against the Thunder, Boston was 6-6 and was facing all sorts of questions. Pierce questioned the team's identity. Fans wondered whether or not the C's had a good mix of guys. How big of an issue was the lack of rebounding? Was the defense suddenly slipping?
Well, the Celtics silenced their critics for at least one night, as they took it to Oklahoma City, building a lead as large as 14 in the second half and never allowing Kevin Durant to get into any kind of rhythm.
You might look at the box score and immediately say, "Well, they gave up 100 points," but that is misleading.
First of all, even with James Harden now in Houston, the Thunder are one of the highest-powered offenses in the league. If you can hold them under 100, consider it a blessing.
Second of all, Boston held Durant to just 9-of-20 shooting and completely bottled up Kevin Martin, holding him to a season-low three points. If you can keep Durant in check and take away either Martin or Russell Westbrook, you've got a good chance of beating OKC, and the C's did that.
It was the type of gritty defensive effort we have come to know the Celtics for over the years. Whenever they needed a stop, they seemed to get it. Yes, the Thunder rallied from 14 down to trim the lead to three late, but then Boston knuckled down and got key stops. For the most part, it kept Durant and Westbrook away from the basket in the final 24 minutes, and perhaps the biggest stat of the game is that the C's took just as many free throws (24) as Oklahoma City, a team known for making a living at the charity stripe.
The Celtics also appeared to be entirely in sync offensively for a full 48 minutes for the first time all season. They were scoring from everywhere on the floor, as well. They were draining threes, converting at the free-throw line, and getting buckets in transition. This was a very efficient game for Boston's offense, and Doc Rivers' club couldn't have picked a better time to put forth such a performance.
What was incredibly impressive about the C's last night was their bench. After a bit of a slow start that actually had some fans clamoring for a demotion to the D-League, rookie Jared Sullinger has been playing very well of late. He clearly has an impact on the game when he is on the floor, as he brings a brand of physicality that the Celtics missed last year.
One of the biggest moments of Friday night's contest came when Sullinger took a charge, Glen Davis style, in the second half. He also had eight points off 4-of-6 shooting, but it is those types of little plays that are going to make Sully a fan favorite in his rookie year.
Then you had Lee. While he still isn't scoring consistently (he only had four points against the Thunder), he is doing plenty of other things. His defense has been spectacular, and he was a big part of the reason why Martin was a non-factor. He also made several nice decisions in transition, including a nice pass to Green that resulted in a three-point play to put Boston up 13 late in the third quarter.
Finally, there was Green, scoring a season-high 17 points and really dominating the game for stretches. It is clear that he is still making his way back from heart surgery, and in a postgame interview with NBATV, Green stated that he is not yet 100 percent. So, for those who may be criticizing the kid for his inconsistent play, give him some time. Coming back from that type of major procedure is anything but easy, and he needs to ease into things.
Again, everything you pictured this C's team doing when Danny Ainge put the roster together this offseason, it did against one of the league's best ballclubs in OKC. It played Celtics basketball, and that is something we hadn't really seen over a full 48 minutes thus far this season.
Now that Boston has gotten its signature win, expect this group to start to improve. There will be bumps along the way regardless, as these guys still have to get used to playing with one another, but you won't see too many more stinkers (if any at all) like the one the C's laid against the Detroit Pistons.
This is a Celtics team that will be unbelievably dangerous once it fully hits its stride. You don't want to mess with this squad when it is hitting on all cylinders, and the Thunder found that out the hard way.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Sources: Ex-Mav Finley attempting comeback
Former NBA All-Star Michael Finley is putting his front-office career on hold in hopes of extending his playing career, according to sources with knowledge of his plans.
Friday, November 23, 2012
D'Antoni to keep Lakers' coaching staff intact
Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said Wednesday night that he intends to keep the assistant coaches from Mike Brown's staff through this season and doesn't expect he'll add anyone to his staff until this summer.
ProBasketballTalk on NBCSports.com
The Daily Zap
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2012/11/21/20121121-zap.nba/index.html
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Notebook: Rockets 93, Bulls 89
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121121/0021200165_notebook.html?rss=true
NBA Awards Odds 2012-13: Passing Out the Hardware Way Too Soon
For a moment, forget everything your eighth-grade hoops coach taught you.
Basketball is not always a team game. It’s not always about running the play. It’s only sometimes about team defense, so long as you look good (Carmelo Anthony).
In the NBA, it’s about the individual. It’s about the 30-point game, the step-back three-pointer and the incredible swat that sent some rookie to the bench with his head down.
It’s about the individual’s ability to excel above all others and lead his team to the win.
So in this moment of looking beyond the basics of the game, let’s also skip the remaining 90 percent or so of the season and pop the champagne early on individual success.
Here’s a way-too-soon look at who will win NBA season awards this season, taking into account what we’ve seen thus far and what we can predict.
Note: All statistics and records are updated prior to games played on Nov. 21
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1417217-nba-awards-odds-passing-out-hardware-way-too-soon
Notebook: Thunder 117, Clippers 111 (OT)
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121122/0021200164_notebook.html?rss=true
Robert Griffin III on Cowboys' minds heading into Thanksgiving
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/Tcwidjk9nVQ/
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
NBA: The @MiamiHeat's @ChrisBosh, @KingJames & @DwyaneWade relax after practice. #ChinaGames http://t.co/2XwMqwT5
Celtics waive little-used center Milicic
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/21/celtics-waive-darko-milicic.ap/index.html?rss=true
The Daily Zap
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2012/11/20/20121120-the-daily-zap.nba/index.html
NBA: @realgranthill33 goes to the line during @LAClippers practice in Beijing. #ChinaGames http://t.co/CS0aotyY
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Kevin Durant, NBA players stunned by D-III player Jack Taylor's 138 points
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/26GAF6gIiWo/
Yankees retain Hiroki Kuroda for one year, $15 million
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/NPziV08oPRU/
ProBasketballTalk on NBCSports.com
Cavaliers' Irving out month with broken finger
Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving will miss at least one month with a broken finger.Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8654173/kyrie-irving-cleveland-cavaliers-month-broken-finger
Monday, November 19, 2012
Notebook: Lakers 119, Rockets 108
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121119/0021200146_notebook.html?rss=true
D'Antoni's scoring goal tough to achieve
Sunday, November 18, 2012
New York Knicks: Breaking Down Rasheed Wallace's Impact on the Bench Unit
When Rasheed Wallace was signed by the Knicks back in October, a lot of people considered it a mistake.
Having retired two years ago, it was hard to see Sheed coming back and having any sort of success. If anything, his presence was only supposed to make the team worse.
With Wallace's reputation for having a bad attitude and for getting into technical foul trouble, it looked like a strange move for a team that was looking for more positive veteran presences.
And when you add in the fact that Wallace's addition made the Knicks the oldest team in NBA history, questions started to arise as to whether or not he was worth the trouble.
But so far in Wallace's return to the NBA, it appears that Mike Woodson was right in giving Wallace another shot, as he's emerged as a surprisingly important player off the Knicks' bench.
Woodson, an assistant coach whilst Wallace played in Detroit, knew that Sheed could have an impact in New York, particularly on the defensive end.
Though Wallace spent training camp trying to get back into basketball shape—and thus missing every preseason game—he showed us a glimpse of how influential he could be with the way he communicated with the team from the bench:
It's not hard to see that this kind of thing makes Wallace a big leader for the Knicks D, along with Coach Woodson and Tyson Chandler. In fact, it's even gotten to the point where some have mentioned coaching in his near future.
Players like Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith have improved their defense leaps and bounds this season, and the addition of Wallace has clearly been part of the reason.
For that alone, he was worth the veteran's minimum contract.
When Sheed finally made his debut in the season-opening blowout of the world champion Miami Heat, he was treated more like a "human victory cigar" than anything else.
With fans chanting for him to come in the game—and Woodson giving them what they wanted—it appeared as though Sheed was going to take a Brian Scalabrine role for the Knicks.
Though Wallace was happy to play that Scalabrine role, he's already developed into someone much more important than that on the Knicks' bench.
Though he spent two years out of the game, Wallace is still a fantastic defender. Communication plays such a big part in what he does. His physical attributes may have regressed, but his knowledge of the defensive game is right up there with the best of them.
Offensively, Sheed was supposed to add some outside shooting. Though his shot has been a bit off so far, he's getting things done in the post to make up for it.
Part of the reason Wallace wanted to return to basketball was to show the youngsters a thing or two down low, saying to the New York Post:
"It’s the passion to come back and show y’all how post players really need to play — old-school basketball. Y’all are used to all this new, young stuff, high-flying and dunking. That’s not basketball. Terrible footwork by a lot of young guys out here. Let’s go back to old-school basics."
Wallace may not be a volume scorer any more at age 38, but he's already reminded us that he's still as skilled a post player as there is in the NBA. His 13-point, three block performance against Memphis proved that.
At this point, Wallace is averaging less than 15 minutes per game as he returns to full basketball shape. But there aren't many players in the league that have as big of an impact as Wallace does in so few minutes.
Wallace's leadership and direction off the bench has simply been invaluable to the Knicks during their red hot start to the season.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Chris Wilcox Emerges as the Perfect Reserve Big Man for the Celtics
The play was perfectly executed: Chris Wilcox came and set the pick for Rajon Rondo near the top of the key, then immediately rolled to the hoop. Rondo put the pass on the money and Wilcox effortlessly threw the ball through the hoop with one hand.
It wasn't anything the Raptors hadn't seen before, it was just a simple pick-and-roll—the same play that youth-basketball coaches around the world are probably teaching their players as we speak.
But, there's a reason that the Boston Celtics and every middle school team in the country use this simple play: It works—that is, if the players can execute it right.
For Chris Wilcox and Rajon Rondo, the execution is so precise that they were able to run it three times against the Raptors and score with ease each time.
Naturally, most of the credit will go to Rajon Rondo, because let's face it, he's the best passing point guard we've seen in a long time. But I'd be more inclined to defer the credit to Wilcox.
In general, Wilcox deserves a lot of credit, not just for going up and getting the alley-oops for Rajon Rondo, but for everything he is doing for the Celtics, especially under his circumstances.
Last season, he and Rajon Rondo started to develop this connection in a February game against the Bulls. After that game, Wilcox began to really contribute to the Celtics.
His contributions were short-lived, though, as about one month after that Bulls game, he found out that he had a heart condition requiring surgery. He soon had it, but there were no guarantees coming out of surgery.
No one knew if we would ever see him finish an alley-oop again. Yet, here we are, less than a year later, watching Wilcox play like he did in that Bulls game—only with a surgically repaired heart and presumably nothing more to hold him back.
On the court, at least, there is nothing holding him back from providing the Celtics with the exact kind of frontcourt depth they need.
For the past seven games, Wilcox has come off the bench for around 15 minutes and scored six points or more while grabbing a few boards.
He's not just scoring, though—he is doing it about as efficiently as possible, shooting an incredible 72.7 percent on the season.
And on top of all that, he also leads the team in total plus/minus with a plus-33.
The Celtics would be hard pressed to find another big man that can come in for just 15 minutes, hit 72.7 percent of his shots, score six or more points, grab a few rebounds, give size on the defensive end and provide a distinct, positive impact on every game.
I could not be any happier to report that Chris Wilcox is playing about as well as anyone in his limited role. A couple months ago, I didn't know if I would be able to say that.
Even when he recovered from surgery and returned to the C's, there were still no guarantees that we would ever see Wilcox at full strength again.
Well, he is back and truly better than we've ever seen him as a Celtic. He has overcome the odds to return and play the way he has.
And now, he, as much as anyone, is helping the Celtics win games. In a few months' time, perhaps, with the help of Wilcox, the Celtics, too, will be able to overcome the odds stacked against them and bring home Banner 18.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Notebook: Spurs 126, Nuggets 100
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121118/0021200137_notebook.html?rss=true
NBA: http://t.co/2iBhAnkS - The @MiamiHEAT's @DwyaneWade shows off & talks about his new Li-Ning kicks before practice. #ChinaGames
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Notebook: Trail Blazers 119, Rockets 117 (OT)
Source: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20121117/0021200129_notebook.html?rss=true
Friday, November 16, 2012
Steve Nash: Lakers PG Will Thrive with Dwight Howard Under Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni is making it no secret that he expects the Los Angeles Lakers to explode this season under his watch.
As he gets set to coach his first game with the Lakers, he's already said he anticipates the team averaging 110 to 115 points per game, via Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
He also said, via Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, "I expect Dwight Howard -- as soon as he gets healthy, because he's not healthy right now -- to be unstoppable. And I don't care what they do, they're not stopping him."
And he expects Steve Nash, his favorite point guard in the whole wide world, to run the "Seven Seconds or Less" offense.
Cue the carousel because the Lakers are going to be running circles around their opponents.
Whether you believe D'Antoni is the right man for the job or not (some think hiring an offensive-minded coach wasn't the right move due to Los Angeles' ailing defense), what no one can argue is that the Lakers are going to score a lot of points and they are going to shoot a lot.
Whether they outscore opponents is still up for debate, but this is a dream come true for Nash, who left a Phoenix Suns organization he clearly loved dearly, only to see his former coach follow him to Los Angeles.
D'Antoni and Nash have already shown what they can do together. In his first two seasons under D'Antoni in Phoenix, Nash won the MVP. He averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 assists in the 2004-2005 season as D'Antoni won Coach of the Year, and he averaged 18.8 points and 10.5 assists in the 2005-2006 season. The Suns went to the Western Conference Finals in both of those years.
The difference in Los Angeles is that Nash has never had a pick-and-roll partner as talented or explosive as Howard (sorry, Amar'e Stoudemire) and he also has the second-best shooting guard in NBA history on his team.
While 110 to 115 points per game may seem grandiose, it really isn't with Nash in charge. Just look at the Suns' scoring averages before last season and you know just how explosive any offense can be when Nash controls it.
There is, of course, the issue about team chemistry with Bryant, Howard and Nash all on the same team, but, as one of the greatest point guards of all time, Nash has a way of navigating his way through any pitfalls. He's been able to seamlessly get players to work in complete unison throughout the years, and putting him under a coach who lets him go to work is the perfect scenario for the eight-time All-Star.
So, as the entire NBA awaits D'Antoni and Nash's first game together in L.A., get ready to see some fireworks.
One thing's for sure: The Lakers won't be a boring basketball team this season.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com