Westbrook, Thunder halt Spurs’ win streak

0 comments by on 4/3/2014

https://twitter.com/lashy/status/451909462920810496

The Spurs were just about to make one of those incredible comebacks they tend to do even when they are resting their star players or packing it in for the night. They had cut Oklahoma City’s lead down to 10 points. Then they tried inbounding the ball and Russell Westbrook did the rest (see: above).

With a 19-game win streak at stake, San Antonio did not seem really to care. There was not the urgency to protect that win streak as Duncan and Parker sat on the bench (Manu Ginobili sat out the entire game).

So, congratulations Thunder. You swept the Spurs and ended their long win streak. If Gregg Popovich could be bothered with such things.

Oklahoma City defeated San Antonio 106-94 at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Thursday. Kevin Durant scored 28 points, continuing his streak of scoring at least 25 points to 39 games, one off Michael Jordan’s record. Westbrook had 27 points. Patty Mills led the Spurs with 21 points.

Marcin Gortat breaks down his ‘stealth’ invasion of Celtics huddle

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During Wednesday’s game against the Celtics, Wizards center Marcin Gortat snuck his way into a Celtics huddle, almost getting invited in by point guard Rajon Rondo (who has been known to go into opponents’ huddles himself).

Such “stealth mode” moves are highly intricate and take rare timing and precise execution as Gortat explained to Wizards Magazine on Monumental Sports Network.

Unfortunately we will not learn what was said in the huddle as the first rule of the huddle is: We DO NOT talk about what happens in the huddle.

Anthony Davis scares the league

“People around the league don’t know what to make of him anymore. They are just terrified, especially after having watched Davis average 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and three blocks per game on 55 percent shooting over a 10-game stretch in March — a period during which he turned 21 freaking years old. He’s already fourth overall in Player Efficiency Rating, behind only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kevin Love. His game has so many elements on both ends of the floor, it’s going to take years for the Pelicans to figure out the optimal uses and roster construction for him. It’s hard to decide what someone is best at when the answer might be ‘everything.'”

—Zach Lowe of Grantland on Anthony Davis

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Jabari Parker leaning toward staying?

“Both are weighing their options. Both are seriously considering returning … with Parker so much so that several scouts are claiming he’s coming back to school. But I think that’s premature. They have time. The deadline is April 27th to decide. However, if they declare after April 15th, there’s no turning back. They’ll lose their college eligibility. Parker is really NBA ready. He could obviously improve if he stayed, but he’s a NBA starter from Day One. He’ll get minutes and playing against the best competition is the best way to improve. The only good reason for him to stay is because he loves college, wants to lead Duke to a NCAA Championship and is OK just waiting. But as far as development goes, the NBA is his best option. Embiid is a little different. He’s rawer and may not see the minutes Parker would see as a NBA rookie. He also has a big unknown with his back that could affect his draft stock if NBA doctors get wary. He would probably benefit more than Parker from returning for another year of college, but it’s really hard to turn down a Top 3 pick. I think both will probably declare at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they stayed either.”

–ESPN.com’s Chad Ford on Kansas’ Joel Embiid and Duke’s Jabari Parker deciding on whether to enter the NBA Draft

With the NCAA Tournament wrapping up — we will have more on what to watch for in North Texas tomorrow — the intrigue turns toward which players will enter the NBA Draft. Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins has already declared for the Draft.

The other two top-five guys NBA scouts are waiting on? Duke’s Jabari Parker and Kansas’ Joel Embiid. Those players along with Wiggins should make up the top three, certainly three of the top five, when the NBA teams draft this June.

Only, there are some who believe Parker and Embiid are thinking about staying for their sophomore year’s. That is what Ford is reporting in the ESPN.com chat quoted above. (more…)

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Wizards’ Gortat thinks he’s a member of the Celtics

0 comments by on 4/2/2014

Either Wizards’ Marcin Gortat got really confused last night or the Celtics think it’s OK for opposing players to snoop into their team huddles.

During last night’s Celtics-Wizards game, Boston took a timeout and huddled up when Gortat decided it be alright to listen in and get their strategy. of course not one Celtic player even noticed and Boston eventually lost.

That usually happens when you let opposing players listen into timeout discussions (h/t BSO).

For Wizards, it is about time to start winning

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The Washington Wizards have won 36 games so far this year. They have put themselves squarely in the Playoff race with the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings. It is the first time they could say any of that since 2008. Barring some epic collapse, Washington will be back in the Playoffs this season. […]

Jason Kidd has grown into his own as head coach

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It seemed like the Nets were the butt of every joke at the beginning of the season as this mega-million team stat at 10-21 and had a rookie head coach trying to spill drinks on the court to buy extra time when he did not have a timeout. His aging roster then seemed to be […]

CC Video of the day: LeBron James raps over a Jay-Z track. Oh the humanity!

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Oh the humanity! Someone please let Heat’s LeBron James know he needs to stick to his day job and not even think he has a future in rapping.

A recording of James rapping over Jay-Z’s “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt” has been found and like expected, it is not Grammy worthy.

Check it out and let us know what you think of LeBron’s “skills” with the mic.

(h/t BSO)

Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Curry defeat Mavericks

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7C_8GwMb10

Stephen Curry added another game-winner to his resume this season. And Dallas was the victim once again.

Jermaine O’Neal blocked a shot on the defensive end setting up Curry to hit the game-winner with a scant 0.1 seconds left. It was Curry’s sixth made shot with less than 24 seconds in a five-point game and his fourth shot this season in the final 24 seconds to tie or take the lead. In fact, he is four for eight on shots to tie or take the lead in the final 24 seconds.

That is pretty darn impressive. Curry has quite the “clutch” reputation.

Dirk Nowitzki helps make Conan an honorary Texan

0 comments by on 4/1/2014

Conan O’Brien has taken his talk show to Dallas North Texas for the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. To get acclimated to his new surroundings, O’Brien took the “official” Texas state citizenship test administered by the most Texan person he could find — Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.

Apparently the only way you can get directions to AT&T Stadium and actually know which way you are heading is if you give them in German. Go figure.

Pacers’ Hibbert: “Some selfish dudes in here”

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For most of the NBA season, the Pacers looked like a juggernaut and perhaps the team to end the Heat’s reign in the East. But after a loss to the Wizards, and Cavaliers, Indiana might be losing their mental-edge and chemistry might be shaken up a bit – t least with Roy Hibbert. After the loss […]

The Rockets got some great news on Beverley’s injury, as it’s not as severe as previously thought

Patrick Beverley’s injury hurts Rockets, but isn’t devastating

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The Houston Rockets are 49-23 at the moment, a record good enough for the No. 4 seed in the insanely competitive Western Conference, and — in all likelihood — will remain in that spot and will play the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1st round of the postseason. Of course this is assuming that nothing […]

Rajon Rondo joins the broadcast booth

0 comments by on 3/31/2014

During the Celtics’ 94-80 loss to the Bulls in Chicago, Rajon Rondo got the night off. Well, at least from playing. The Celtics’ All Star joined the Celtics broadcast booth instead of playing as he got the night off as part of his continuing minutes watch. And that left him leaving the Celtics audience some […]

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