Kevin Durant: 31 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists. You could say that Durant has slowed down over his past five games, however, in his past five games he still averages 28 points, which is by the way still more than any other player in the NBA. Durant continues to improve his overall game increasing his rebound and assist numbers.
Well, that was not at all what we were expecting. But Seattle took ahold of Superbowl 48 from the very first play, where Denver made a mess of the snap and gave up a safety (one hell of a prop bet if you had it), and from there on Denver still didn’t manage a first down until the second quarter. They were 22-0 down at HT, and after an extended break to try get things turned around, they blew that option by giving up the kickoff for a TD. It was all going through the motions from there on in.
Minnesota. The land of 10,000 lakes hasn’t really created much of any relevance other than perhaps Prince, Bob Dylan, and the Timberwolves. This Timberwolves team is a bit of an enigma however – are they actually relevant in today’s NBA, or are they overhyped due to the presence of Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, two of the leagues most exciting and likeable players?
Congratulations to the 2014 Superbowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks. The first title in franchise history, and a deserved one.
Kevin Durant: 31.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists. Kevin Durant has been getting better and better throughout the month of January, averaging 37.8 points over the last ten games. Durant hasn’t been playing against just below .500 teams either stepping up against top teams such as the Heat, Spurs, Warriors and Trail Blazers. Durant has truly stated his claim for MVP and if he keeps this up he will be a sure pick to win it.
This game is the unstoppable force against the immovable object. The best offence vs the best defence. And usually in these tussles, it’s the other side of the ball that decides the outcome. Who wins out of Denver’s D and Seattle’s O? San Diego, Indianapolis, New England and almost Dallas have shown the way to beat Denver – you gotta draw them into a shootout and get them...
It’s reached that point of the NBA calendar where the All-Star starters are announced, and over the years this has proven to be a controversial topic. Is Tim Duncan a center or a power forward? Should MJ really be starting over Vince? Should we eliminate fan voting? And to really go back, is it even safe for Magic Johnson to be playing? (For the record, the answers are power forward, yes, no, and yes).
The very nature of the fan-driven voting process means that inevitably people get flustered when their favourite players are overlooked despite having an MVP-worthy season (Steph Curry) in favour of cult players on the decline (Duncan, Garnett) or players from huge markets (Yao Ming, Jeremy Lin). Every year without doubt fan forums and friend circles are divided along the lines of promoting who they believe deserves the nod, and players themselves have been known to try and rustle up a few votes via campaigns such as “Show Kevin some Love” and Chris Bosh’s memorable 2008 video dressed as a used-car salesman.
The campaigning and champagning is over now though so I’m going to give my rundown on the 2014 starters for both conferences – who snuck in by reverse psychology, who is the biggest surprise and who is the least deserving? Let’s find out...
Unfortunately fans can’t vote on the uniforms. These are terrible.
PG: Steph Curry. Steph has been balling out of his mind recently, averaging a league-leading 3.2 threes a game and a second-best 9.2 assists, leading Kevin Durant to call him the greatest shooter in NBA history. With stats like these and his stroke as wet as it is, it’s hard to disagree with him. After being robbed last year of a reserve slot this starting spot is well deserved, especially after Chris Paul’s unfortunate injury. Prediction: Could set new record for most 3’s in the game.
SG: Kobe Bryant. This is perhaps the most inevitable selection despite the fact he’s only played in a handful of games all year, due to the overwhelming support he has worldwide. Fans will vote for him based on name and legend alone until he retires, despite him going on record as saying that they should vote for younger, more deserving players like Damien Lillard. He’s announced that he’ll sit out the game in order to avoid injury, so don’t get your hopes up for a repeat performance of his two late game blocks on LeBron from last year. Prediction: James Harden will replace him in the starting lineup and set a record for most wild head flails.
SF: Kevin Durant. KD. Durantula. The Slim Reaper. Whichever nickname you want to use for him (Slim Reaper is by far the best) this guy simply gets it done on a night to night basis. Leading the league in scoring, nearly 7 feet tall and one of the most clutch performers in the game, Durant is the favourite for MVP and arguably the 2nd best player in basketball. I don’t think he’s the most exciting player in the world, probably due to how easy he makes it all look and lack of true highlight reel dunks, but his matchup against either Paul George or LeBron will be the most anticipated of the night. Prediction: Tweets about his disdain for the Slim Reaper moniker will overshadow his game.
PF: Blake Griffin. For purely personal reasons, this is the first selection I’m not thrilled with. Maybe it’s because I’m a Lakers fan, maybe it’s because I hate his stupid blank face after every dunk he does, and maybe it’s his stumpy little arms. Whatever the reason, I think Blake is somewhat overrated. Whilst undeniably a great dunker, I think people overestimate his true offensive capabilities due to how easy it must be to play next to Chris Paul, and his defence is average at best. Having said that, he’s tailor-made for the all-flash no substance nature of All-Star games, so perhaps he deserves this spot after all. Prediction: blank face mean mugging after a barrage of alley-oops.
C: Kevin Love. This is my biggest surprise of the night and the selection that I’m most pleased about, although again this may have something to do with the fact that I’m a Lakers fan so I’m bound to hope that Dwight Howard fails at everything he does. Kevin Love is perhaps my second favourite player in the league, because watching a short unathletic white guy outrebound and outscore hyper-athletes like Dwight and Blake never gets old. An absolute terror on the glass and a bomber from deep, K-Love is probably the most well-rounded PF in the game (sorry Lamarcus) and is also the only white guy in either starting line-up. Prediction/Hope: gets traded to the Lakers.
PG: Kyrie Irving. Kyrie largely claims this spot by default as the East is so devoid of talent that the only other real challengers were Kyle Lowry in Toronto and John Wall in Washington, both of whom aren’t as well-known as the guy who was meant to fill LeBrons shoes in Cleveland. He slipped off the radar a bit early in the season and people were questioning whether he’d ever really be a truly great player, but he’s putting up nice enough numbers now to warrant the start. Prediction: Will break someone’s ankles like he did to Brandon Knight in the Rookie Challenge
SG: Dwayne Wade. It really shows the state of the Eastern conference and the SG spot in general when a guy who will rest for multiple games at a time can still comfortably be an All-Star starter. Sure, he’s averaging nearly 20 ppg, but I can’t help but feel that someone like Aaron Afflalo is at risk of being criminally overlooked for even being a reserve when he could arguably be a starter. Either way, I can’t see D-Wade playing very long with his knees in the state they are, so don’t expect fireworks. Prediction: Will barely play unless it’s a close game in the 4th.
SF1: LeBron James. It’s LeBron. Definitely the best player to come out of a stacked 2003 draft, and almost definitely the best player in the NBA (and the world) right now – what else is there to say? Prediction: If the East win (which they won’t), he’ll be the MVP.
SF2: Paul George. PG24 has always flown under the radar somewhat, putting up good enough stat lines and being a crucial part of an Indiana team that has always threatened to break out, but wasn’t really a household name until he absolutely took it to LeBron and the Heat in the playoffs last year. This year he’s continued along the same lines, racking up monster game after monster game and being both an offence and defensive lynchpin for the team I think is the best in the league. Plus, did you see his 360 windmill jam recently? Woowee... Prediction: Will throw down at least one ridiculous dunk.
SF3: Carmelo Anthony. On a Knicks team that is carrying on their tradition of mediocrity, Melo is the only bright point. If you watch any NY games, he’ll be the only guy who’s diving on balls, getting putbacks, and generally doing all the small things that you need to do in order to actually win some games. This shows with the fact that despite playing alongside two 7 footers and being moved from the PF spot he played last year, he’s averaging around 9 rebounds a game which is pretty incredible. Three SFs in the starting lineup means he’ll probably be asked to guard K-Love, which could be an interesting matchup, but could also mean the East gets killed on the boards. Prediction: Will thoroughly enjoy playing with team mates that actually have some talent.
So there we have it, your 2014 NBA All-Star starters. On paper it seems that the West will destroy the East, particularly when the reserves come on, but being an All-Star game it really comes down to who can actually be bothered putting in any effort during the first 3 quarters. Look for hometown hero Anthony Davis to get voted in by the coaches and receive huge playing time, and for Boogie Cousins to be the biggest snub. Prediction: West take it easily, with The Brow being the early favourite for MVP.
Supposing Carmelo Anthony doesn’t re-sign with the Knicks, and that this stage we’re not expecting him to (though his wife is…), where does he end up? Melo is undoubtedly a top 20 player in the league, potentially a top 10 guy even, yet a lot of people are really cold on him joining their teams. The thing is that Melo sits on the low end of the franchise player radar, so to get him means, for most teams, he’d have to be, for salary reasons and ego reasons, the best player on the team, and who honestly thinks you can win a title with Melo as your best player? This is why the Bulls are such an enticing option for the neutrals. They have Derrick Rose, who’s the go to guy when fit, but still have the cap room and motivation for Melo, who they’d presumably convert back to a catch and shoot type player. Imagine an opening day line-up of Rose, Anthony, Noah, Boozer and Butler. That’s your best shot, Melo.
Kerron Johnson (Photosport)
Points K. Tiggs 24 (WOL), R. Clarke 23 (WOL), K. Johnson 21 (NZB), D. Gruber 21 (WOL)
Rebounds M. Vukona 6 (NZB), T. Abercrombie 6 (NZB), several with 5
Assists T. Coenraad 7 (WOL), C. Webster 5 (NZB), L. Davidson 4 (WOL), G. Wilkinson 4 (NZB)
Steals C. Webster 3 (NZB), several with 2
Blocks D. Gruber 3 (WOL), several with 1
A beautifully executed offensive possession (after a missed field goal) culminates in a wide open 3 pointer for Kerron Johnson, who sinks the dagger blow late on:
Gary Wilkinson 3
Tom Abercrombie 2
Kerron Johnson 1
Corey Webster 1
Mika Vukona 1
Mika Vukona 27
Kerron Johnson 23
Gary Wilkinson 22
Tom Abercrombie 19
Alex Pledger 10
Thursday, 7.30pm: NZ Breakers vs Sydney Kings, Vector Arena (NZT)
Fresh Prince
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder31.0ppg, 7.7rpg, 5.1apg)
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 26.2ppg, 6.7rpg, 6.5apg)
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers, 24.2ppg, 11.2rpg),g
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.3ppg, 6.2rpg)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 18.4ppg, 6.3apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.6ppg, 11.2apg)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 23.5ppg, 9.2apg, 4.6rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.0ppg, 13.0rpg, 4.1apg)
Beautiful
It’s been a while since my last entry but not much has changed atop the MVP watch. Kevin Durant has been sublime averaging 31.0 points per game and nearly averaging 50-40-90 (percentages for field goals, 3 pointers and free throws). It would also be rude not to mention his ridiculous form, scoring 30+ in his past nine games including a NBA season high 54 point game against the Warriors. The best player in the world continues to get better however I think we are still yet too see the best out of LeBron this year. LaMarcus Aldridge has led the Trailblazers to a 31-11 record, sitting 3rd in the Western Conference. There is no doubt the all star has been imperative to their success and rightfully a MVP contender. Paul George is a strong candidate for MVP and his continued improvement on offense and stout defense has led the Pacers to a league leading 33-8 record.
His Airness
Kevin Durant: 31 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists. Durant has to be the leading candidate for MVP this season; his recent outburst over the month of January has been simply remarkable. From his pull-up three pointers to his impressive finishes in traffic he is showing us why he is the best offensive player in the game at the moment. He’s been averaging an unbelievable 37 points over the last ten games.
LeBron James: 26.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists. After revealing his jealously over Durant’s amount of shot attempts LeBron has increased his averaging shot attempts to 19 over the last five games. This however, has had almost no impact on his average points per game and makes you wonder if he really can shoot the ball more while still making over 50% of his shots.
Stephen Curry: 23.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists. Curry continues to be impressive this season nearly averaging a double-double. Curry places third on the MVP ladder because he is such a vital part of his team. Curry has one of the biggest on-off court differentials meaning that without him on the court the Warriors turn the ball over more, score less points and simply are not a team that looks like it could challenge for a title. Miami have the big three, the Thunder have Durant and Westbrook (when healthy) and the Warriors have Curry.
Not so beautiful
FP -Oklahoma City Thunder + Kevin Durant
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won five games straight, one would assume Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook must both be playing well. However the Thunder are without their standout point guard and the ‘Durantula’ has been in ominous form. Nine straight 30+ point performances includingthree 40 point games and one 54 point performance. Durant has been playing at an MVP level and leading the Thunder who are now atop the western conference.
Brooklyn Nets
Finally Brooklyn are starting to play some good basketball going 8-2 in their past 10 games. Due to the mediocrity of the eastern conference, their 18-22 record is good for 7th in the East. Jason Kidd is finally getting a handle on his role as head coach and with the experience of Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce this could be one dangerous team come playoff time.
FP - Brooklyn Nets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets
Chicago Bulls
HA - Oklahoma City Thunder. You can’t go past the Thunder this week, over the last week they have beat four of the top eight teams in the Western Conference putting them back on top of the West. When Westbrook whet down things did not look good for the Thunder but with Durant leading the way they are looking better than ever.
Phoenix Suns. With injuries to Eric Bledsoe and Emeka Okafor you wouldn’t expect much out of the Suns, however, it has been the complete opposite. They dominated the Pacers today and with a current record over .500 (24-17) the Suns could well be a contender to make the post season in the West.
FP - New York Knicks
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Milwaukee Bucks
HA- New York Knicks. The Knicks looked like they were getting back on track a week ago, however, this has all changed with a shocking five loss streak. This was capped off by a dismal performance against one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Durant vs Warriors (54pts, 6ast, 19-28 FG, 5-9 3PT, 11-13FT)
I know I’ve already mentioned this man a few times already this week but his performance against the Golden State Warriors was a memorable one. 54 points while matched up against one of the best perimeter defenders in the game in Andre Igoudala. Durant has been fun to watch and doesn’t look like slowly up anytime soon.
Play of the week this week goes to Paul George for his 360 windmill dunk versus the Clippers. There have been many impressive dunks this year but in my mind this is the best one so far.
FP - DeMarDeRozan
If you asked most basketball pundits who the top five scoring guards are in the NBA very few would mention DeMarDeRozan. The shooting guard from the Raptors is playing well for Toronto averaging 21.3 points per game. The Raptors are often overlooked and although their 21-20 record sounds ordinary it is good enough for 4th in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan is still very young and the highflyer is certainly one to watch!
HA - LaMarcus Aldridge
If you didn’t follow the NBA closely you probably wouldn’t know much about Aldridge. He’s averaging 24.2 points and 11.6 rebounds he has earned his place on many MVP watch lists. Despite this he is still my undercover brother.
There are plenty of things to watch for in the upcoming weeks as we approach All-Star weekend (February 14-16) and also the trade deadline (February 21). Trade rumors are starting to pop up and often become hard to follow but I expect a few big trades as playoff contenders look to fill holes in their roster and non-playoff contenders either look to reload to make a run for the playoffs or cut their losses and unload salaries or acquire draft picks. In terms of All-Star weekend, fringe all-stars will be looking to make their case for selection. In case you hadn’t heard Rajon Rondo is being bled back into action for the Boston Celtics after he tore his ACL nearly a year ago now.
Spurs @ Hawks on Saturday
Clippers @ Raptors on Sunday
Spurs @ Heat on Monday
Trailblazers @ Warriors on Monday
Spurs @ Rockets on Wednesday
Thunder @ Heat on Thursday
A number of games to watch in this upcoming week, but there are three in particular to add to your schedule.
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Miami on Monday to take on LeBron James and the Heat. This will be a good indicator of how good each squad as, being after mid-season both teams will want too get a win over the other before all-star break.
LaMarcus Aldridge and the Portland Trailblazers meet their Western Conference rival the Golden State Warriors on Monday. I’m looking forward to the point guard matchup in this one with both Damian Lillard and Steph Curry capable of lighting it up as well as pushing for an All-Star spot.
The final game to watch is on Thursday and one that many would have marked in their calendar when the schedule first came out. The two best players in the world meet in Miami in a rematch of the 2011-12 NBA finals. This rivalry has been fun to watch since LeBron arrived in Miami and is shaping up to be another classic.
The Denver Broncos were too good for the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks outlasted the San Francisco 49ers on the back of a strong second half. Richard Sherman went mental, Tom Brady just looked sad, Peyton Manning’s heart rate never rose above 90 and it was all majestic and enthralling and perfect. Now we have to waste a week with the Pro Bowl, but following that we have an amazing Superbowl 48 on the cards. The best offence vs the best defence. And the two best performing teams of the regular season. When was the last time that happened? Probably not since 2009, the last time that Peyton was there, when his dad’s old team New Orleans beat the Colts in Florida. It’s gonna be special…
You probably stumbled upon this video at some point yesterday, maybe you were even lucky enough to see it live. Richard Sherman, Seattle cornerback, absolutely dumping all of his rage, excitement and rivalry on ESPN’s Erin Andrews, declaring himself the ‘BEST CORNER IN THE GAME!’ and ridiculing San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree in...
Only three games remain in the NFL season, ladies and gentlemen (obviously excluding the overhyped farce that is the pro-bowl), and I’m not sure it’s possible to even comprehend a better pair of games than what we’ll be served up on Monday (NZT). It begins here with what may well prove be the last truly meaningful meeting between the two greatest quarterbacks of the generation, perhaps ever...
Kevin Durant (NBA.com)
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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:
And so we arrive at week 17. The final week of the regular season and the final game of the year for most of these 32 teams. I don’t know what I’ll do without the NFL all Monday each Monday. Sure, there have been hard times, particularly every second or third week when the Cowboys put up a stinker, but y’know there’s something that keeps drawing me back each time. Maybe it’s the love of the sport, maybe just blind faith, or perhaps it’s some sick sadomasochistic fantasy. Most likely...
With only two weeks of regular season NFL to go, the stakes have never been higher. Seasons, reputations, careers and games are all on the line as the 32 teams tussle for a shot at eternal glory. Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues. There will be cheers, jeers and projectile beer cups. Hearts will literally be broken. But how will it all conclude? We’re about to find out…
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
Kerron Johnson goes loop-de-loop with his movement around the court, and ties the bow with a sweet left handed layup:
Kerron Johnson 3
Mika Vukona 2
Tom Abercrombie 1
Mika Vukona 21
Kerron Johnson 16
Tom Abercrombie 12
Sunday 29th December, 4pm: Sydney Kings vs NZ Breakers, Sydney Entertainment Centre (NZT)
And for my first trick this week, I shall accurately predict the Denver Broncos to pretty much end the Chargers season with a close but comfortable win. I’m on a roll right now, man, 24 of 32 for the past two weeks. I mean, I don’t want to exaggerate or get carried away with this, but I’m pretty much the Michael Jordan of NFL picks. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones combined. I AM A GOLDEN GOD!
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.
