Simmons wrote recently about how Miami is catching every break this season. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9111798/the-heat-hindsight Well, Lawson is already injured and has missed over a week, I think, and he's out indefinitely. Gallinari out for the season.
I made this point a couple weeks ago! I've never seen a favorite get this many breaks in the regular season
The Nets trading for Wallace still has me shaking my head, it's like why the hell would you trade for an aging above average player? I think the biggest mistake the Clippers made was not trading for Josh Smith. There were rumors but nothing ever came of it. My guess is they would have probably had to give up a combination of Butler, Jordan and Crawford but it would have made them a serious threat in the West. They still are but I think having Smith, Griffin and Paul would have made them the favorite. My guess is ultimately they backed off because it would have meant signing Paul and Smith as both are FA's but if you win a title you can go back to mediocre and the Clipper fans would have accepted it. Especially if it was done in a year the Lakers made all their moves.
More likely Bledsoe. Crawford and Butler would have very little trade value. I'm not sure the Clippers would have enough to land Smith. Even Bledsoe+Jordan+picks would probably not be enough.
Because I don't want the Heat to win, and (because of you guys) I like seeing the Knicks win; the game in 6 hours will be great. I want both teams to win, have an over on wins for both, and will take the over on the total score also. I am getting more optimistic that the Thunder don't play the Rockets in round 1, which I don't want to happen because I'll always cheer for Harden.
Mike D'Antoni played Kobe 47! minutes today. He used 9 players only because the game was in garabge time and he subbed in Morris and Sacre who played 1 minute each. So for 47 minutes, he ran a 7 man rotation!!!!
After Kobe retires, we'll find out he was genetically engineered. 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Clippers. Durant and Carmelo hundredths of a point apart in the scoring race. Both 28.4 at the moment.
Definitely the nets... We have issues with the bulls...I hate their defense and role players...both always kick our ass...
weird stat: LeBron is only sixth in the NBA in free throw attempts. I never would've guessed it, but Harden is first. then durant, howard, kobe, westbrook, and lebron LeBron has 221 less attempts than Harden, despite playing in as many games (73). Last season, LeBron was second behind only Howard.
I figure the Nets, just double checking. I don't think anyone is taking the Nets seriously but I guess it makes sense since they get you guys if they beat the Bulls. Durant makes sense. It's why he' so efficient, he gets to the line so much he doesn't have to force anything. I bet Melo is up there if you do FTA per game. His missed games probably hold him back on the list.
Per game: Harden, Durant, Howard, Kobe, Carmelo so Carmelo jumps LeBron and Westbrook Keep in mind Harden and Howard have also missed time with injuries
Unless something crazy happens and the brackets change, it looks like the Knicks are in good position to avoid the Bulls, Nets and/or Heat until the conference finals! Those were the 3 I was worried about. Hopefully the Nets can upset one of them for us.
yep, looks like Knicks/Celtics and then the winner of the 3-6 (Pacers vs. Hawks or Bulls) A month ago I thought the Heat were not a lock. The way things have gone since, I find it hard to believe the Heat won't be in the finals assuming LeBron/Bosh/Wade are good to go for the playoffs. The East is a mess with all the players lost to injury/trade, like Simmons said in that column I linked. As for the West, Denver won't make the finals without Gallo (not to mention Lawson's status is up in the air). For me, it's OKC, SA, Clippers, Memphis. One of those four win the conference.
Deja vu. Kobe again has to carry the Lakers to a fourth quarter comeback against the Hornets. Same thing happened a few weeks ago. How they were in such deficits against the Hornets to begin with is the real mystery. Kobe 30 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and five steals With 31 seconds left in the third, Kobe had 4 points. Over the final 12:30, he scored 26.
Miami tanked again tonight, but they again won anyway. No LeBron, Wade, Bosh, or Haslem. Boston locked up the 7 seed basically despite getting routed at home by the Nets, because Milwaukee lost in OT to Orlando. All that's left in the East is Atlanta/Chicago for the 5/6. Spurs sitting Parker tonight, showing their disdain for the #1 seed. Denver doesn't need the game because they're pretty much locked into their spot. edit: actually, Denver needs to win to stay ahead of Memphis for the 3, I think
