NBA Update with the Mid Range Jumpers (and a few battlers)

Kevin Durant (NBA.com)

MVP Watch

Nighthawk

Kevin Durant . 29.8pts, 8.1reb, 4.9ast

KD has been on a tear as of late, after losing Russell Westbrook for six weeks (expected back after the All Star break) he is not going to let his team down by dropping games. Instead he’s putting the team on his back and is averaging an amazing 34.5pts 8.3reb and 5.3ast over the last 10 games proving that he can do everything LeBron does and doing arguably even better.

Paul George , 22.8pts, 6.2reb, 3.6ast

Paul George is proving he’s a superstar in this league, he’s now a great 2 way player and can be labelled as an elite small forward in the league. He has been leading his team well all year and has not slowed down and showing that he does whatever it takes to win, he is the leading the league in second half scoring and is still a lockdown defender every night.

LeBron James , 26.0pts, 6.5ast, 6.6reb

LeBron has been playing well of late but his Heat team are slowing down currently on a 3 game losing streak and posting a 5-5 record over there last 10 games and to make matters worse those 3 games were against teams with a losing record.

Carmelo Anthony 26.0pts, 8.8reb, 3.1ast

Carmelo has been putting the Knicks on his back. 2014 has come and the ice cold Knicks went on a 5 game streak until their loss to the Bobcats but over those games he was carrying his team and was the reason the Knicks still has a fighting chance at making the playoffs this season. They are currently sitting 10th in the extremely weak Eastern Conference but recent signs from Carmelo have them on the rise.

His Airness

Things have changed a lot over the past few weeks, with key injuries such as Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook as well as the top teams starting to slump. Teams will no doubt look forward to go into the All Star break to refresh and hopefully get some momentum back. With that said, the MVP watch stays much the same. However there are a few changes. Stephen Curry, arguably the number one point guard in the game while Chris Paul recovers from a shoulder injury moves his way into the MVP watch. Averaging 23 points and 9.3 assists a game, Curry moves into a very exclusive category of players averaging in the top ten of two categories. Obviously LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love remain in the MVP watch. Durant who has had to step up recently with the injury of Westbrook is averaging 33 points over the last five games. Lastly Carmelo Anthony makes his first appearance in my MVP watch currently averaging 26 points per game, 8 boards and 3 assists and leading the Knicks to a much needed five game winning streak.

Teams on the Rise

NH - Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are on the rise and have been playing very well since the trade of Rudy Gay, They have gone 7-3 over their last 10 and their 19-18 record has them slotted in at 4th in the East and with the Hawks slowing down they might be able to leap frog into 3rd if they keep playing the way have been. DeMar DeRozan has been the leading the scoring for them at 21.3 per game and although his scoring hasn’t changed since Gay’s departure his increased ball handling duties has served him well. He is showing a more complete all around game and is proving that he is one of the best shooting guards in the league. Kyle Lowry has been playing really well also this season, especially over the past 10 games he’s averaging 17.8pts 8.2ast and 4.5reb contributing to make this team that was once thought to be in the running for a high lottery pick into being one of best teams in the East.

HA - Toronto Raptors are my team on the rise with a record of 7-3 over the last 10 games. When they traded Rudy Gay to the Kings things didn’t look so great for the Raptors but with Gay gone they are looking like a much better team.

San Antonio Spurs are back on top of the Western Conference, losing only one game in their last 10. The Spurs are looking like title contender again. The consistency and depth they are showing is a credited to their coach Greg Popovich who has put in place a system that wins no matter who the players on the court are.

Team on the Slide

NH - New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans have been a team that hasn’t had anything go their way this season after being the most active team in the offseason. They were thought to be a team with a lot of young talent and a team that would have a lot of improvement in them, but they can’t get their players healthy after losing emerging star Anthony Davis early in the season. After his return, they have now lost their star point guard Jrue Holiday for at least month and their shooting power forward Ryan Anderson for an extended period of time. Having Tyreke Evans being in and out of the line up with a nagging ankle injury is also not helping the cause. The Pelicans are a young team with lots of promise and some say one piece away from being a playoff team but can’t seem to be a team that stays healthy. They are on a 7 game losing streak and seem like they are pointing downward at the moment.

HA - Many teams are facing a slide in their performances over the January period most notably the current champions the Miami Heat. LeBron James said that chasing the three peat has been mentally and physically exhausting for Miami which may explain the slump in performance. Although having only a three game-losing streak is not that bad, it is the quality of teams they have played with all three opponents currently being below .500.

Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando and Los Angeles are all teams on the slide, Milwaukee being the worst of them winning only 7 games this season.

Undercover Brother

NH - DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins has been a beast lately proving he should definitely get a spot in the All Star team as he is playing like he’s the best center in the game right now. Cousins averages 23.4pts, 11.6reb, 3.1ast over the season but as of late he’s been averaging 25.8pts, 13.4reb and 2.6ast per game over the last 10 games and also has his Kings team trending upward lately over that 10 game stretch his Kings are 6-4. While the playoffs are a bit of stretch for them he is proving that their current 14-23 record has not been because he isn’t playing well. Cousins is a player that has been touted to have all the talent but his attitude issues have been the main thing slowing him down, this season he has shown positive signs of him growing up and his current play is a good way to indicate that. He has made it very clear he wants to be an All Star and his play recently and all season shows that despite his team’s struggles he’s definitely a player that deserves to be in it. I think he should make it and would definitely be the one of the biggest All Star snubs if he doesn’t make it.

HA - DeMarcus Cousins is also my undercover brother, playing in the struggling but improving Kings team he currently averages 23 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block per game. With a new mentor Shaquile O’Neal, look for Cousins to develop into one of the most feared centres in the game

DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins

Storylines

Mystery Doctor

There have been a few interesting storylines in recent weeks that have kept respective fans on their toes. We’ll start with Rajon Rondo who is moving ever closer to a return. The Celtics have understandably not been very good this season and the return of Rondo will be a big moment for all Celtic fans. With many talented players in the upcoming draft, the Celtics must be attracted to a bottom spot but how will Rondo’s return help or hinder their future prospects? They were involved in a big trade that saw them part ways with Jordan Crawford and Marshon Brooks and welcome Joel Anthony. This sees the Celtics making space for Rondo, saving some cash and also receiving draft picks. I can’t wait to see how the Celtics rebuild goes and whether Danny Ainge is super smart or just dumb.

A few other stories to follow are the Brooklyn Nets who look to have a few things sorted out as they string a few wins together. The ongoing drama between the Knicks and JR Smith. This saw Smith lash out verbally after he was kept on the bench, could the Knicks part ways with Smith? The reigning 6th man of the year is a bit of a dick really. Lastly, the Golden State Warriors continue to impress. Can they march on and contend for a title? The arrival of Jordan Crawford must help a bit and it will be exciting to see how this group handles the challenge.

Highlights

And to finish, some visual stimulation for the NBA faithful. Courtesy of NBA.com, here are the top 10 clutch shots of December:

And the top 10 dunks of December too:

Weekly NBA wrap up with the Mid Range Jumpers

MVP watch

Fresh Prince

-Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.8apg

 -LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.5apg)

-Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.8ppg, 5.8rpg)

-Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.5ppg, 11.3apg, 4.7rpg)

 -Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.2ppg, 13.7rpg, 4.2apg)

-Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 17.5ppg, 6.1apg)

-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 24.3ppg, 9.0apg, 4.2rpg)

-LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers, 23.3, 11.1rpg

His Airness

·  LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.5apg)

·  Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.8ppg, 5.8rpg)

· Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.2ppg, 13.7rpg, 4.2apg)

· Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.8apg

Nighthawk

-Kevin Durant (OKC) – 28.6pts , 8.2reb , 4.8ast

-Lebron James (MIA) – 25.2pts , 6.8reb , 6.5ast

-Paul George (IND) – 23.8pts , 5.8reb , 3.6ast

-LaMarcus Alridge (POR) – 23.3pts , 11.1reb , 2.8ast

Standouts

FP - Phoenix Suns

The Suns are a team we haven’t heard much from since the Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire days but the young Phoenix squad are playing some great basketball. While a 14-10 record may not seem that impressive they were on a 5 game win streak before their loss to the Spurs today. Eric Bledsoe has been exactly what the Suns expected when they traded for him this offseason and they now have a solid backcourt pairing with Goran Dragic. This team is exceeding expectations and I’ve been impressed with the new look Phoenix Suns.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Is there any stopping Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? The Oklahoma City Thunder duo are firing on all cylinders leading the Thunder on a seven game win streak and are now leading the Western Conference. Still unbeaten on their home court this Thunder squad has all the tools required to win a championship right now and yet they are still improving.

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are another team who are exceeding expectations and are currently in some good form sitting third in the Eastern Conference. While this position has changed hands a number of times over the past few weeks the Hawks are now above .500 at 14-12 on the season. Led by big man Al Horford and point guard Jeff Teague (who is having a career defining year) the Hawks are a team on the rise who continue to surprise.

Teams on the rise

FP

·        Oklahoma City Thunder

·        Phoenix Suns

·        Miami Heat

Andre Drummond

·        Atlanta Hawks

HA

Detroit Pistons – The Eastern Conference is currently wide open and despite the Piston’s current losing record they remain a team on the rise. With so much potential in the likes of Andre Drummond, look for them to get back to .500 and challenge some of the top teams.

NH

Phoenix Suns – The Suns are one of the biggest surprises in the NBA thus far, they currently hold a 14-10 record which sits them 7th in the competitive Western Conference and had a five game win streak which ended today in their loss to the Spurs. They have been a team that was considered destined for the lottery, almost considered favourites in the ‘Riggin for Wiggins” sweepstakes but they have silenced those critics. They are showing that they are a team ready to compete and have even shown new interest in trading some of their future 1st round draft picks to try and pair a current star with their offseason acquisition of young gun Eric Bledsoe.

Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are a team quietly playing well in the weak Eastern Conference currently sitting nicely in 5th place with a 13-14 record. They have had an up and down season thus far, showing the inconsistency of a new team which is expected but now they are slowly gaining momentum with their big win against the Pacers on the road this week. They are showing that they're are a team which matches up extremely well against the Eastern Conference top dogs - the Pacers and Heat but will need to continue to win the so called smaller games to really show they are ready for a playoff run.

Boston Celtics – The Celtics were considered one of the worst teams if not the worst team in the league before the season began. Having lost Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo to injury their early season form reflected this, however after a slow start with young head coach Brad Stevens (who is now proving why they signed him for 6 years) they are showing some strength and are sitting right in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff contention. They hold a 12-15 record, which is good for 4th in the conference and with Rondo nearing a return you would only think they will get better.

Teams on the slide

FP

·        Philadelphia 76ers

·        Memphis Grizzlies

·        Milwaukee Bucks

·        Sacramento Kings

HA

Philadelphia 76ers – currently on a seven game losing sreak, the 76ers are struggling and it appears that there is little hope for them in the future. The only positive news is that rookie Nerlens Noel could possibly make his debut this season.

Performance of the week

FP - LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Rockets 31 points, 25 rounds (12/22 FG)

There were a number of players this week who are worthy of the performance of the week but in a week where we saw a number of duels between great players and teams - LaMarcus Aldridge’s performance against Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets earns my performance of the week. A matchup of two of the top big men in the league, both players played well challenging one another in the paint and leading their teams in the points, rebounds and blocked shots.

Notable performances

Dwight Howard vs. Trailblazers 32 points, 17 rebounds (14/22 FG)

Al Horford (Hawks) vs. Wizards 34 points, 15 rebounds

Chris Paul vs. Wizards 38 points, 12 assists (11-14 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 11-11 FT)

LeBron James vs. Jazz 30 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists

Joe Johnson (Nets) vs. 76ers 37 points, 7 rebounds (13-20 FG, 10-14 3Pt)

Damian Lillard vs. Cavaliers 36 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds (8-12 3pt + Game winning 3 pointer)

Kevin Love vs. Trailblazers 29 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists

Play of the week

Both the Fresh Prince and His Airness agree that Damian Lillard’s clutch works perfectly fine.

FP - Play(s) of the week this week go to Portland Trailblazer Damian Lillard for his back-to-back game winning buckets. Lillard has been one the best players in the clutch this year and the nickname of  ‘the silent assassin’ is warranted.

 Oooops and again....

 Notables..

Andre Igoudala’s almost play of the week

 DeAndre Jordan defense to offense

 Undercover Brother

FP - Undercover brother this week isn’t that undercover but deserves another mention. Damian Lillard has been playing at an all-star level in Portland and is a large reason why the Blazers are currently sitting 2nd in the West. The second year point guard is currently averaging 21.3 points per game and 5.9 assists per game. As I mentioned before he is one of the best performers in the clutch and to put it simply has superstar potential.

HA – Andre Drummond is currently a double-double machine having recorded 18 this year. He’s super efficient and can explode with a flurry of points at any time, as he did getting 31 points the other day.

Rookie Watch

NH - Victor Oladipo - 13.3pts , 4.5reb , 3.4ast

Michael Cater Williams – 17.7pts , 5.8reb , 7.3ast

Trey Burke – 13.5pts , 3.6reb , 5.1ast

Trey Burke has been creating buzz after returning from injuring and showing that he is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year and with MCW still out with injuring and Oladipo’s up and down performances he is narrowing the gap that MCW and Oladipo have created from the rest of the pack.

Storyline Watch/Random thoughts

FP - The NBA really starts to heat up over the Christmas period with a number of key matchups coming on Christmas Day in the US. (Boxing day in NZ) Trade rumors start to grow as teams start to get a feel for what direction they’re headed in for the remainder of the season. Some teams will be looking to strengthen their squads while others will be shopping for players and draft picks to build a future team around. With the competition being so close this year in each respective conference it will be hard to get a gauge on what the owners and general managers are thinking so keep an eye out as I suspect there are a few teams looking to make big moves before the February trade deadline.  

What to watch for (all NZT)

Spurs @ Warriors on Friday

Rockets @ Pacers on Saturday

Thunder @ Spurs on Sunday

Christmas Day Games (Boxing day in NZ)

NZ Breakers 62-71 Perth Wildcats

Fast Break Report

Stat Line

Points   J.Ennis 16 (PER), M.Vukona 16 (NZB), 2 with 15

Rebounds   M.Knight 9 (PER), A.Pledger 9 (NZB), 2 with 7

Assists  J.Beal 6 (PER), K.Johnson 4 (NZB), C.Webster 3 (NZB)

Steals    K.Johnson 3 (NZB), D.Martin 2 (PER), G.Hire 2 (PER)

Blocks   T.Jervis 3 (PER), J.Ennis 2 (PER), 2 with 1

How It Unfolded

It’s pretty hard to see anyone beating Perth to the title this season. The past few years have been defined by the Breakers vs Wildcats rivalry, but for now there’s no competition. Perth made it 3 from 3 over NZB with a convincing win, much more so than the nail-biter in Perth last week, improving to 12-1 and dropping the kiwi team to 4-9, with the playoffs just a pipe dream for the moment.

The writing was on the wall early as the Breakers had probably their worst offensive quarter of the season to open up this game. They missed their first 6 three-pointers, struggling to assert themselves in the paint, often settling for tough jump shots or contested layups. And against a team as good as Perth, you just cannot give them that kind of leg-up. NZB didn’t get their second field goal until 1:40 to go in the opening quarter. Perth defended very well, and took their chances at the other end, opening up an early lead. The gulf in class was obvious from the start, and though the Breakers showed some much welcome fight in the second half, taking big bites out of that lead, it was too much to hold off the onslaught of James Ennis and company. Ennis’ buzzer beater to end the first half must have sent Breakers fans into melancholic fits of déjà vu. Perth had contributions from all over. Ennis had 16 pts and 5 reb, but it was Matty Knight, surprisingly, who stole the plaudits, with 15 and 9. Add in the sharpshooting of Damien Martin, Shawn Redhage and Jermaine Beal (who had an off day), and a whole lot of rebounding off the bench, and this team is as good as the Breakers have been for the past three years. At least.

For the home team, Kerron Johnson (14 pts, 4 ass, 5 reb, 2 stl) was a spark plug, and Tom Abercrombie (15 pts, 6 reb) shot well. Mika Vukona (16 pts, 7 reb) was typically efficient too. This was not a game which they were expected to win, but after a tough and winless road trip, it does sting. The Breakers defence really does need to be applauded for how well they limited Perth – keeping them to a season low of 71 overall is something to be proud of – but their own offensive troubles are worrying. Their third loss in a row drops the Breakers to last on the table. It’s time to get moving. Next up is the All Star game this weekend.

Stocks Up

Kerron Johnson. When he really asserts himself in a game, you see why he’s so highly rated. Yet Johnson has a tendency to let others step up around him. His passing game is good enough to facilitate this, though given his athleticism and dynamic ability, Breakers fans would much prefer those spin moves around the basket. Just gotta pick and choose better. Commentator Casey Frank made a valid point in the gamecast that Johnson doesn’t react well to what defences give him, making his mind up early how a play is going to go, and following it through regardless. Despite this, it was a strong effort here against Perth, never letting up and really trying to rise to the occasion. More of this, please Kerron.

Stocks Down

CJ Bruton. It’s telling that against the best team in the league, the Breakers former closer only gets 7 minutes. Plus he’s 0-9 in the past three games from 3 pt range. 3-22 of you wanna stretch that back even further.

Play of the Game

Kerron Johnson goes loop-de-loop with his movement around the court, and ties the bow with a sweet left handed layup:

Match MVP Points

Kerron Johnson 3

Mika Vukona 2

Tom Abercrombie 1

Season MVP Standings

Mika Vukona 21

Kerron Johnson 16

Tom Abercrombie 12 

Up Next

Sunday 29th December, 4pm: Sydney Kings vs NZ Breakers, Sydney Entertainment Centre (NZT)

Weekly NBA wrap up with the Mid Range Jumpers

 MVP watch

Fresh Prince

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.4ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.9apg)

Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.7ppg, 5.7rpg)

LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 6.3apg)

Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 18.9ppg, 11.9apg)

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 23.9ppg, 13.8rpg, 4.2apg)

Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 17.6ppg, 6.1apg)

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 24.1ppg, 9.0apg, 4.3rpg)

The Nighthawk

Kevin Durant (OKC)

Paul George (Indiana)

Lebron James (Miami)

Chris Paul (LA Clippers)

Standouts

FP - Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have gone 9-1 over their last 10 games including a convincing win over the Indiana Pacers. Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook the Thunder are a title contending team and are hitting midseason form early in the year.

Phoenix Suns

Key man in the desert - Eric Bledsoe

The Phoenix Suns are so far, 12-9 on the season and are currently in the eight position in the Western Conference. They’ve gone 7-3 in the last 10 games including wins over the Portland Trailblazers and the Houston Rockets. Standout guard Eric Bledsoe is back for Phoenix now and the Suns are a team on the rise.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been what I expected at this stage of the season however they have shown some positive signs through their last five games. Coming off a poor start and a losing streak spanning five games the Kyrie Irving led Cavaliers have beaten the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks. All of these wins came at home with their only loss coming on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. Kyrie Irving has had a bumpy start with some outstanding performances like his 37-point outing against the Knicks but equally has had several unimpressive performances. The Cavaliers are full of players ready to break out and I expect them to challenge for a playoff spot if they can resolve their locker room issues and offensive struggles. Tristan Thompson, Andrew Bynum, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack are all players capable of stepping up for the Cavs and if Kyrie can lead they way this team is more than capable of making the playoffs.

Teams on the rise

FP - Oklahoma City Thunder

Cleveland Cavaliers

Phoenix Suns

Denver Nuggets

NH - The Portland Trail Blazers are a team to look out for as they are leading arguably the hardest conference in the NBA. They aren’t getting the publicity of the Heat and Pacers and are going about their business quietly with Lamarcus Aldridge and Damien Lillard leading the way. Ignore them at your peril.

Sacramento's Isaiah Thomas

The Sacramento Kings got blown out today, but have been a team on the improve. Demarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas have been leading the Kings and with the arrival of Rudy Gay, they could continue their ascent. Gay may be a risky acquisition, hurting them in the long run but he adds valuable scoring ability as well as giving the Kings the option to go small with him at the 4 position, relying heavily on their guards.

My top five at the moment is

Portland

OKC

Indiana

Miami

San Antonio

Teams on the slide

FP - Chicago Bulls

Philadelphia 76ers

New York Knicks

Milwaukee Bucks

NH – Bottom five

Bucks

Utah Jazz

Orlando Magic

Brooklyn Nets

Charlotte Bobcats

Performance of the week

FP - Kevin Durant vs Indiana Pacers (36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 14/23 FG)

Once again KD earns the performance of the week for his game against the Indiana Pacers. Matching up against Paul George and the league leading Indiana Pacers, Durant was outstanding leading the Thunder to a 24-point win 118-94. What’s equally impressive with this performance was how efficient Durant was shooting a ridiculous 14/23 and hitting 2 of his 3 attempts from behind the three-point line.

Notable performances

Kyrie Irving vs Knicks (37 points, 11 assists, 4/7 3pt)

Stephen Curry vs Bobcats (43 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds)

Russell Westbrook vs Pacers (26 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds)

NH - Demarcus Cousins vs Dallas (32 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists)

Play of the week

Play of the week this week is an all around team performance by the Golden State Warriors. Some great work protecting the rim by Australian Andrew Bogut leading to a good fast break opportunity, a nice dish from Stephen Curry to Harrison Barnes for an effortless reverse jam!

Notables

Uncle Drew’s (Kyrie Irving) killer crossover, spinning Pablo Prigioni around and nailing a three pointer.

And Iman Shumpert’s emphatic throw down

Undercover Brother

FP - The undercover brother this week is the Chicago Bull’s swingman Luol Deng. The Bulls are struggling big time after losing Derrick Rose but Deng has stepped up and played well for Chicago. His last six scoring totals read 20, 37, 27, 27, 24 and 22 and currently averaging 19.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game and is doing a great job for a Bulls squad that is battling without Rose and Jimmy Butler.

Storyline Watch/Random thoughts

FP - Kobe’s return is currently all the talk in the NBA and I suspect the entire basketball world is keeping a close eye on number 24 and the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe is looking great for a guy who’s stepped in with a small amount of basketball in the last eight months. Kobe isn’t match conditioned and expect him to be inconsistent for the next little while but we all know how Kobe is out to prove all the doubters wrong so don’t be surprised if we see the Black Mamba hitting some form sooner rather than later.

NH – Kobe Bryant’s return was a slow one, but a good blowout to get rid of the cobwebs. He played better in his second outing shooting 6-11 (8-8 at the line) on his way to 20 points in the Lakers loss to the Pheonix Suns. Even though they lost, the Lakers and their fans will feel good about Bryant’s return as the signs of a return to his best look promising.

What to watch for (all NZT)

FP - Rockets @ Blazers on Friday

Dwight Howard and James Harden take on the team currently ruling the Western Conference in the Portland Trailblazers. I’m looking forward to the battle of the paint in this one between LaMarcus Aldridge and Dwight Howard. Will be interesting too see how they match up and whether we will see Howard on Aldridge on the defensive end as the Blazers big man has been in some fine form.

Lakers @ Thunder on Saturday

Fortunately for us this one’s on ESPN so tune in on Saturday to see Kobe Bryant’s Lakers take on Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, our own Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers are battling at the moment and I expect this one too be a high scoring affair.

Spurs @ Clippers on Tuesday

The San Antonio Spurs travel to LA to take on Chris Paul and the Clippers. This should be a quality game of basketball as the Spurs are very good on the road and the Clippers are a great team at home. This Western Conference battle should be a good one!

Pacers @ Heat on Thursday

The Heat-Pacers game last week lived up to the hype and I expect this game to be just as intense. The Heat will not want to drop another game to the Pacers while Indiana will be looking to make a statement early in the season, which will hopefully end up in a good battle between two of the top teams in the NBA. 

The Dugout - December 11

NFL Week 14                                                                                      

Let it Snow! x3

Not the easiest of conditions this week in the National Football League. In fact things were downright seasonal. If there wasn’t a snowstorm, it was still windier than a barn-raising, Oz-transporting Kansas City tornado, and if not that then it was still next to freezing. In Chicago they had to keep the water bottles in front of heaters to keep 'em from freezing over. The worst was in Philly, where there was a damn blizzard! Detroit couldn’t handle it, fumbling about a thousand times, while the Eagles adjusted to a running game that better suited the conditions. See Calvin Johnson, here, made a good catch, fell as he did so and came up with a helmet full of snow.

Tight Finishes and Blown Opportunites

This week saw some of the most incredible finishes in recent memory, all within half an hour of each other. There was Pittsburgh, trailing Miami as time expired, they went for the lateral pass tactic (why don’t teams incorporate it more?), throwing the ball around like the local first XV (if there is such a thing). Normally this is a last ditch tactic of desperation, and it was here too, only they managed to find some space and Antonio Brown skipped past the last man to appear to take it in for the most unbelievable winning touchdown in history. And it was unbelievable. Literally. Because he stepped out on his way. A single inch of white paint may be the deciding factor in the Steelers’ and Dolphins’ seasons.

Then in New England, Tom Brady proved once more why he can never be counted out, leading his Patriots to two late touchdowns to win the game. They even recovered an onside kick – their first since New Year’s Day 1995. The Browns were unlucky with a late pass interference call that went against them, but watching on, the Pats were always wining that game once they recovered that kick.

But the pick of the bunch was a mental last few minutes between Baltimore and Minnesota – where FIVE touchdowns were scored in the final 125 seconds!

• With 2:05 on the clock, Dennis Pitta catches a Joe Flacco pass to give Baltimore a 15-12 lead.
• 1:27 to go, sub Vikings RB Toby Gerhart (in for the injured Adrian Peterson) breaks through the Ravens D for a 41 yard TD run. 19-15 Vikings.
• Immediately after Jacoby Jones runs the kickoff back the distance. 22-19 Ravens
• The Vikings try to get in position for a game-tying field goal, but Cordarrelle Patterson goes four points better with a 71 yard TD from what was initially a short screen pass. 26-22 with 46 seconds remaining.
• But Joe Flacco wasn’t done, taking his team the length of the field, and throwing the winner to rookie Marlon Brown with 4 seconds on the clock. Final score: 29-26 to Baltimore.  

Mile High & 64 Yards Long

We know how the altitude of Denver’s Mile High Stadium affects players, we hear about it every damn time they play there. Kickers especially have an advantage, but that doesn’t take the gloss off this moment for Denver K Matt Prater. He broke the NFL record for longest field goal (3 had previously hit 63 yarders) with a 64 yard deep bomb to end the half. Wow. 

Playoff Hunt

Guarantees: Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts

Near Certainties: New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs

Division Hunts: Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys

Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers

Wildcard Hunts: 2 of San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers & Arizona Cardinals

Miami Dolphins vs Baltimore Ravens vs San Diego Chargers vs New York Jets

No Hopers: Everyone else

Power Rankings

1. Denver Broncos
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. New Orleans Saints
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Kansas City Chiefs

P. Manning – Record Watch

Tom Brady 2007 – 50 TD passes in a season

Peyton Manning 2013 – 45 TD passes (3 games remaining)

Drew Brees 2011 – 5476 pass yards in a season

Peyton Manning 2013 – 4522 pass yards (3 games remaining)

In Honour of Ditka the Great

Legendary Chicago icon and NFL player/coach/pundit/personality Mike Ditka had his number 89 retired by the Bears on Monday Night Football. A fitting tribute to a man more synonymous with that franchise than any other. Ditka won Superbowls as both a player and a coach with the Bears, along with a popular career as a TV analyst. Then there’s possibly his most glittering career achievement of all: appearing in the Will Ferrell film ‘Kicking and Screaming’. he Bears responded by almost matching his retired number in points (they got half way at least) in pummelling the Cowboys.

Rudy's On the Road

A big time and curious trade went down this week in the NBA. Sacramento picked up small forward Rudy Gay from Toronto in a seven player deal. The Kings get Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy (the first a very tall journeyman, the latter a youngster), while the Raptors in return, along with dumping Gay’s salary, get Greivis Vásquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons, and Chuck Hayes. Vasquez is a very handy guard who’ll definitely contribute, the other three will probably play depth roles. Rudy Gay is a high scorer, but a sloppy one and can be a greedy player. Interesting to see how that fits in with Boogie Cousins’ me-first attitude. The Kings also added guard Derrick Williams from Minnesota last week.

MLB Offseason

Robinson Cano has gotten himself a nice big new contract, only it’s with the Seattle Mariners not the New York Yankees. It had become clear that the Yanks weren;t willing to pay Cano quite what he was asking for. So Cano and his agent Jay Z (or rather Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports) went with the best offer on the table, a 10 year $240m deal to play in Seattle.

This is another deal in a busy offseason for the AL West, which is dominating proceedings. Texas has already acquired Prince Fielder, 2-time defending division champs Oakland have been up to their usual wheeling and dealing, and the LA Angels have picked up former World Series MVP David Freese while working hard to improve their pitching. Oh and Houston still suck.

The Yankees are gonna be looking very different in 2014 too. Gone is their lynchpin infielder and star player Cano. Jeter and A-Rod are still around but to call them injury prone would be like calling Al Capone ‘a little short tempered’. Mo Rivera’s retired. So’s Andy Pettitte. Curtis Granderson has been replaced by Red Sox icon Jacoby Ellsbury. Bryan McCann’s in town to catch. T’ain’t your fathers Yankees no more.

Good Week:

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) – Maybe more of a good half, but you can’t deny the influence of the Philly RB. Struggling early in a Philadelphia blizzard, he basically ran down hill in the second stanza – all the way to a franchise record 217 rush yards on 29 carries, with 2 TDs. He basically changed this game, with the Eagles able to rally from behind to take a crucial win.

Some Guy at an OKC game a while back – so this fella hits a half court shot in a half time competition. Wins $20k, right? Only he’s a college athlete, so they say he can’t keep the money because he has to be an amateur. But now they say it’s allgood and he can keep it.

Bad Week:

Dallas Cowboys – Specifically their defence. It seems like every time they play in a nationally broadcast game, they bring the turnstile defence. RB Matt Forte and QB Josh McCown picked them off all day, scoring on every single possession except the kneel down with 6 seconds to go.

Jason Kidd (Brooklyn Nets) – The noose is tightening for the new Nets coach. 6-14 is not even close to good enough. Now he’s rowing with his assistant. Paul Pierce and Deron Williams are coming back now, hopefully for him they can give this team a shot in the arm.

Inglorious Fail of the Week:

Nick Young (LA Lakers) - Went for the 360 degree spinning layup. Much embarrassment ensued.

Weekly Pondering:

Kirk Cousins or RG3?

Jay Cutler or Josh McCown?

Trent Richardson or a large rock?

Peyton Manning Honourable Player of the Week:

Peyton Manning. Like a broken record he just does the same thing every week. Only it’s the best broken record you’ve ever heard. Like it froze on the solo in Stairway or the riff from Brown Sugar. 39/59 for 397 yards and 4 tds. Just another day at the office.

Upcoming Dates (NZ Time):

December 30 - NFL Regular Season Ends

February 3 - Superbowl XLVIII

February 17 - 2014 NBA All-Star Game

Weekly NBA wrap with the Mid Range Jumpers

LaMarcus Aldridge

MVP watch

Fresh Prince

LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.6ppg, 5.5rpg, 6.8apg)

Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.4ppg, 6.8rpg)

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.4ppg, 13.3rpg)

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 29.6ppg, 7.0rpg, 5.2apg)

Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.5ppg, 12.5apg)

His Airness

Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul

 MVP watch does not change this week, all four candidates have continued to have solid weeks with LeBron stepping it up averaging 34 points. He continues to shoot a remarkable 62% from the field.

Standouts

Portland Trailblazers

The streaking Blazers have won eight straight behind some fantastic team basketball along with the impressive performances from last year’s rookie of the year, Damian Lillard and All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. They are facing some challenges this week but Portland look the part and are a team to keep an eye on.

Chicago Bulls/San Antonio Spurs

Both these teams never fail to impress me. Derrick Rose is rusty and is struggling with his shot while also having some issues taking care of the ball, yet they’re 3rd in the East at 6-3 and have rattled off five straight wins. Every year I think how long can this squad in San Antonio keep pace in the west. Well they’re not only keeping pace, they’re setting it at 10-1 and have won eight straight.  

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin often features in highlight reels but sometimes doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. One of three players currently averaging 20+pts and 10+rpg, Griffin’s high flying game continues to be a force for the Clippers. While he has the benefit of playing with the league’s best point guard, he certainly makes the most of it and has been a standout performer so far in 13-14.

Teams on the rise

FP- San Antonio Spurs

Portland Trailblazers

Chicago Bulls

Memphis Grizzlies

HA- The Portland Trail Blazers are currently on a seven game winning streak, the best streak in the NBA at the moment. However, they have some difficult games coming up, facing Chicago at home and then travelling away to play Golden State.

Chicago Bulls – after having a tough start to the season it looks as if they have finally found their rhythm, handing the Pacers there first loss and continuing their now five game winning streak. The Bulls are on the rise and look for them to only get better as the season continues.

Teams on the slide

FP - Milwaukee Bucks

Utah Jazz

Boston Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers

HA - Brooklyn Nets. The Nets had a lot of hype coming into the season with many people thinking they were going to do very well. They haven’t had a good start, currently 3-7 and new head coach Jason Kidd could be soon out of a job if they don’t start performing soon.

Performances of the week

In a week where there were several standout performances from the usual suspects my performance of the week goes to the Chicago Bulls. In a game where they went up against the undefeated Indiana Pacers and their highly proclaimed defence, the Bulls played a complete game and took it too Indiana. Highlighted with seven players scoring in double digits and having no player get double digits in rebounds or assists meant that the Bulls produced an all round dominant team performance. Shooting 50.6% from the field in a game versus a defence that was allowing under 40% is a statistic that stood out too me along with their 57% 3-point percentage.

Individual performances of note were LeBron’s monster week, Harden’s 36 versus Carmelo’s 45, Tony Wroten’s debut start in which he recorded a triple double in an overtime win against the Rockets (complemented by James Anderson’s 36 point outburst). A glimpse of what the Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers are capable of led by Jordan Hill’s career performance of 24 points and 17 rebounds. Finally, the game between the Thunder and Warriors which featured a few clutch shots to say the least.

Plays of the week

HA - Could be one of the dunk’s of the year by Xavier Henry.

FP - Those clutch performances lead me too the play of the week and once again it’s a game winner. This one finished a game of a playoff caliber between two teams that have the makings of a rivalry to look forward too.  This followed a cold-blooded three from Russell Westbrook in a game to remember.

Another play that springs to mind is this off the backboard alley-oop from Brandon Jennings too Andre Drummond. WOW.

 Undercover Brother

FP - Roy Hibbert

There’s been a lot of talk about Paul George and the Indiana Pacers but one player who deserves more recognition is Roy Hibbert. The 7’2’ Center has played tremendously well and is a large reason why the Pacers are currently 9-1. Hibbert’s numbers aren’t all that high (11.4ppg, 8.9rpg) but he does lead the league in blocks per game at an impressive 4.4 per game.

HA - DeMarcus Cousins – although he’s playing for the struggling Kings, Cousins looks as fit as ever and looks to have put his attitude issues behind him. He is averaging 21 points and 9 boards a game, this puts him among some of the top big men this year.

Storyline Watch/Random thoughts

FP - The only storyline for me this week is regarding Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba is back, well almost; He is back participating fully in practice and while it will take some time to get match conditioned and into a rhythm I expect too see him back on the court sooner rather than later.

What to watch for (all NZT)

FP - Kobe’s Return

Kobe said a November return isn’t out of the question and although it’s unlikely to be this week (I hope it is) this is certainly something to watch for.

Clippers @ Thunder on Friday

Clippers take on the Thunder once again this week after a fierce battle last week where the Clippers got the win in LA where we saw an ejection apiece for a first half scuffle between Matt Barnes and Serge Ibaka.

HA - Clippers vs. Thunder will be a huge game, these two teams that have not played their best lately but will look to put themselves back on track with a win here.

Bulls @ Trailblazers on Saturday

The streaking Trailblazers will meet the team that seems to have a knack for ending streaks (while also being on a streak of their own). Chicago travel to Portland and meet the inform Portland Trailblazers. A good matchup between point guard’s Damian Lillard and Derrick Rose will highlight this battle as Portland look to make a statement and keep rolling while the Bulls will be looking to end another streak while continuing their own.

Trailblazers @ Warriors on Sunday

A matchup between two top teams in west as the Trailblazers meet the Warriors in San Francisco. The Blazers will be coming of a game against the Bulls and the Warriors meet the Lakers the day before. This will be a good one to watch as both teams are young and full of talent and are looking like the real deal this year.

Timberwolves @ Pacers on Tuesday

A good matchup for both teams here as the Timberwolves take on the Indiana Pacers. A good test for the Pacers as Minnesota is starting to look the part and with the Rubio/Love connection going strong this should be a quality game.

Heat @ Cavaliers on Thursday

Anytime LeBron returns to Cleveland is a game to watch. The Cavaliers are still rebuilding from LeBron’s departure and have struggled early in the season but are starting to find some form thanks to the exciting play of Uncle Drew. Expect the Cavs to get up for this one and hopefully we will see some of the potential in Cleveland along with a strong showing from LeBron James.

Spurs @ Thunder on Thursday

Another western conference matchup here as the Spurs take on the Thunder in OKC. This one will be an interesting one as the Spurs are looking as good as ever while the Thunder are coming into some form following some sublime play from their dynamic duo. Always a good matchup and I expect nothing less next Thursday.