Every morning, we’ll give you five things from the night before in the NBA to start your day.
1: Rumors of Celtics and Lakers demise… a bit overstated?
Just when you think you have the Lakers and Celtics pegged as old, they go out and prove that there is still fight in these veteran teams. Yes, nobody should be overlooking Boston or Los Angeles any time soon. These are both still incredibly talented teams with a lot of experience that could prove deadly come Playoff time. Don’t sleep on these former champions.
Kobe Bryant started things off in the afternoon. After his Lakers blew an 18-point first-half lead, Bryant had to rally his team from a meager deficit in the fourth quarter. That is of course Kobe time. Bryant hit a 3-pointer, dished a pass to Metta World Peace trailing on a fast break to eliminate a four-point deficit late. Then, down by one and the clock ticking down, Bryant caught an inbounds pass cutting to the corner and drained a fade away over a late DeMar DeRozan. Ball game, 94-92 Lakers.
Rajon Rondo too proved the Celtics are not quite as over the hill as advertised, following up a poor performance on Friday with a big one on national TV on Sunday. Sure, Derrick Rose was still out nursing a bad back that has plagued him on this road trip for Chicago. But triple doubles always look nice. Rondo tied his career high with 32 points and added 10 rebounds and 15 assists in a 95-91 win over the Bulls on Sunday. What might have been more telling was Rondo elected not to speak to the media following his big game, adding to his more mysterious side and playing hard to get before Valentines’ Day.
2: Heat scorch Hawks… no really, I can smell the dead bird from here.
There are going to be games this season where teams are just going to be flat and tired and unable to muster up much energy. That is the cost of playing six games in eight days and constant back to backs. Atlanta likely had one of those performances Sunday night against Miami. There is also the little matter of the Heat being really good.
Still, the national television audience and Hubie Brown absolutely ripping the Hawks’ lack of defensive effort on a night the team went absolutely cold had people viewing the Hawks as the same old team that does well in the regular season and fails come the postseason.
Dwyane Wade scored 21 points in the first half and Chris Bosh had a double double at halftime too. Atlanta could not get anything going as the team shot 38.9 percent. The Hawks’ starters were a combined 17 for 45 (37.8 percent) and only Joe Johnson scored in double figures. That is the kind of game you just move on from.
3: HIGHLIGHTS!!!
Kobe Bryant practicing the Kobe System
Rajon Rondo between the legs!
Gordon Hayward proves white men can jump
4: Line of the Night: Gordon Hayward – 23 points, 5 assists, 8-12 field goals, 2-3 3-point field goals
Not to take away from Rajon Rondo’s triple double. That was a great performance. But Gordon Hayward is quietly putting together a very solid season. Hayward was strong throughout the game as Utah pulled away with some strong bench play at Memphis. Hayward was matched up with the much more athletic Rudy Gay. But Hayward was efficient and picked his spots. He posted an 81.0 percent true shooting percentage and a 75.0 percent effective field goal percentage. Just efficient and strong from the second-year pro.
5: You can quote me on that:
“I like my money. What little bit of money I make, I like it. I’m not going to comment on it, we’ll send it to the league, let them review it.”
– Raptors coach Dwane Casey after a controversial 5-second violation called on the Raptors following Kobe’s game-winning shot
“I want to become a closer. The only way you get there is by getting the ball and have coach have the confidence in giving me the ball.”
– Dwight Howard, following Saturday’s Magic win over the Bucks about his lack of involvement in the fourth quarter
