-
Kobe Bryant Preventing Los Angeles Lakers From Rebuilding
Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in. Michael Corleone said that in Godfather three. Shaquille O’Neal compared Bryant once to Sonny Corleone, but the one getting pulled back in here are the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of finally getting rid of a cap-crippling contract, they decided to give a player who will be 36 by the time next season begins a two-year extension that keeps him as the highest player in the NBA.
-
Knicks vs Blazers – When Losing and Winning Streaks Collide
One of the three hottest teams in the NBA right now, the Portland Trail Blazers, facing one of the worst, the New York Knicks? Not even a fair fight, as the 102-91 scoreline doesn’t do justice to the winners, led by the usual balanced effort from their starting five and especially Nicolas Batum and Damian Lillard, while Carmelo Anthony was completely alone on the other end, also something we’ve gotten used to seeing.
-
Bulls vs Jazz – Derrick Rose Syndrome in Full Effect
No one should be losing to the mess of a team called the Utah Jazz, but the Chicago Bulls, broken and confused about Derrick Rose missing the rest of the season, managed to reach a new low in a situation that might be spiraling out of control, falling 89-83 in overtime against the worst group of players in the NBA.
-
Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin Doesn’t Have to Be Great For Them to Win
Things aren’t as simple for the Houston Rockets without James Harden, but it does allow them to be more creative. Omer Asik playing the entire fourth quarter instead of Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lin sitting down for most of it while Omri Casspi and Chandler Parsons lead the team on huge surge to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 93-86.
-
Suns vs Heat – LeBron James Doesn’t Even Seem Like He’s Trying
One of the scary things about LeBron James is how easy things seem to be for him sometimes. He finished with 35 points on an almost perfect shooting night to lead the Miami Heat over the Phoenix Suns in a 107-92 win, and hardly broke a sweat doing it.
-
Timberwolves vs Pacers – Too Good For Everybody Right Now
Everyone knew the Indiana Pacers were going to be dominant this season, looking slightly stronger than last year. The reality of it? Maybe the best team in the NBA right now, picking up a fourth straight win and improving to 13-1 this season after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-84, led by 26 points from Paul George and George Hill.
-
Miami Heat – Shane Battier Still Waiting For His First Turnover This Season
The Miami Heat don’t usually get the ball too often to Shane Battier. In 293 minutes of 13 games so far, he’s touched it 451 times. Still, even if Battier main use is either hit open shots or grab rebounds and give the ball to LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, it’s quite remarkable he still hasn’t turned the ball over even once.
-
NBA Rumors – Chicago Bulls Want Jimmy Butler, Not Luol Deng
No one is breaking up the package just yet, but another injury to Derrick Rose has the Chicago Bulls thinking out loud about the whoe Luol Deng – Jimmy Butler dynamic, and whether or not to start looking for teams to send Deng via trade to, and somehow get themselves a point guard.
-
North Carolina vs Louisville – Maybe Things Aren’t That Bad
Steering clear of the negatives, North Carolina were led by Marcus Paige to one of their biggest nonconference wins in quite some time, beating Louisville 93-84, which should help them get a very big bump in the next Top 25 poll after showing up at 24 last time around.
-
Kings vs Lakers – The First Winning Streak of the Season
What usually separates the good and bad teams in the NBA, aside from talent, is consistency. The Los Angeles Lakers once again prove the doubters wrong by beating the Sacramento Kings 100-86, getting to three consecutive wins, led by a suddenly efficient Pau Gasol with a 20-10 night and Xavier Henry, scoring 21 points.