0 comments by Matt Zemek on 4/14/2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 — it was a “Where were you when?” sports night, and for most American sports fans, Kobe Bryant made it that kind of night. Is that a fact in the same way that 2 + 2 = 4? No. Nevertheless, in judging from Twitter and morning-after output by media outlets, Kobe’s […]
0 comments by Bart D
Author’s note: Check out my preview of the Eastern Conference playoffs at this link. * Relative to the East, the Western Conference is similarly cut and dry: As exciting as the NBA playoffs always are, there is rarely much that knocks you out of your knickers in terms of surprises. Translation: buckle up for fun, […]
0 comments by Bart D
Ah, the NBA playoffs. The beer over a fire pit on a Friday in June. “What did you do on Friday night? We went out to the strip.” “Grabbed a six pack and sat by the fire ’til I fell asleep under the stars.” “That sounds horrible.” “Well, you don’t get it, then.” There’s nothing […]
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on November 11, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Let’s take one more walk on the high wire. Forget about games decided by five points or fewer — let’s offer an even more specific examination of NBA teams and their results this season. Below, you’ll find records in overtime games and games decided by no more than two points. Why two, you might (reasonably) […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 4/13/2016
On the night Kobe Bryant plays his last NBA game, keep in mind that Bill Russell engineered the best farewell of any especially great NBA player. It is an art, orchestrating the perfect NBA walk-off. Being able to create the perfect exit from an all-time career requires an exquisite sense of timing, but the attempt […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest Los Angeles Lakers of all time. Being one of the best players for one of professional basketball’s two royal franchises is, itself, the richest of honors, an enduring point of pride and the centerpiece of a legacy. Bryant’s place — as one of the 25 best players in […]
0 comments by John Cannon on 4/12/2016
Steve Kerr could become a Jeopardy! clue later this spring: “This man won 140 games in back-to-back NBA seasons and didn’t win a Coach of the Year Award.” Absurd, right? It could happen. This is the time of the year when NBA people discuss end-of-season awards. The playoff teams are almost all identified, but the […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Rick Carlisle has won a world championship. He has firmly established himself as one of the NBA’s five best coaches. Yet, his 2016 season — for reasons totally beyond his control — might get lost in the tides of history. In a season defined by the supreme excellence of the Golden State Warriors and San […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Utah Jazz aren’t an inept organization. They haven’t endured dysfunctional ownership situations or suffered in the face of incompetent management — not for long periods of time, at any rate. Yes, Ty Corbin coached this team for a period of time and destroyed a lot of stomach linings in Salt Lake City, but decades […]
November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg (right) instructs guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 4/11/2016
Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago Bulls’ longtime owner, was just selected as part of the Class of 2016 for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Reinsdorf will need to live up to that Hall of Fame status if his team is going to move forward next season and beyond. What does the future hold […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The New York Knicks have the worst owner in the NBA, but the Sacramento Kings have endured the worst leadership situation in the league over the past several years. The messy divorce from the Maloof brothers, Joe and Gavin. The disastrous firing of Michael Malone as head coach before the arrival of Vlade Divac as […]
Washington Wizards forward Nene (42), from Brazil, stands as center Marcin Gortat (4), from Poland, talks with guard John Wall (2) in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 101-91.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Washington Wizards can cite repeated injuries as a reason they didn’t reach their potential this season. However, they can’t point to injuries as the only reason they failed to make the NBA playoffs. The Wizards — if they wanted to have a realistic shot at landing Kevin Durant in free agency — needed to […]
Feb 20, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) reacts after scoring against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Bucks defeated the Hawks 117-109 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 4/10/2016
The Milwaukee Bucks arrived at Christmas Day 2015 with the unwelcome distinction of being the most exasperating team in the NBA. It is of little comfort to the Bucks and their fans that by season’s end, the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets passed Milwaukee as elites in terms of eliciting exasperation. The Bucks let this […]
Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker celebrates a 3 point shot against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Hornets 111-102. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
0 comments by Matt Zemek
What’s the most productive thing the Phoenix Suns did this past season? One could make a strong case that shipping Markieff Morris to Washington and getting so much in return — including what will become a lottery pick to stack on top of a likely top-five selection — is the best answer. General manager Ryan […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Orlando Magic will carry a measure of regret into the NBA offseason. That said, the frustration attached to early tee times — at least there are plenty of great golfing options in Orlando — will burn off when the Magic consider how many resources lie at their disposal. However, check back with this team […]
