Mar 4, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard C.J. Miles (0) and power forward Tristan Thompson (13) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

That good news could come in the form of superstar Carmelo Anthony, who could return to the lineup.

Anthony, who has missed the last three games since leaving in the second quarter last Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been upgraded by the Knicks from questionable to probable for tonight’s game.

‘Melo has been out with a sore and stiff right knee and his return to the lineup would be a welcome addition now that Amar’e Stoudemire will miss the next six weeks with a knee injury of his own.

Anthony is second in the NBA in scoring at 28.2 points per game for the 38-22 Knicks, who have a 2½-game lead over the Nets in the Atlantic Division race and according to many currently in the Bay Area, ‘Melo participated in shootaround and told reporters that he will play.

If for some reason the Knicks hold him out for the fourth consecutive game, expect Chris Copeland to get some more minutes in Anthony’s absence.

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

Follow Buckets Over Broadway on Twitter and on Facebook

Who knows what the reason is?

Maybe it is playing in front of the bright lights in the big city, or maybe there’s something in the water at the hotels that other teams stay at, but one thing we know for sure is the fact that “The Mecca” brings out the best in people.

We saw that Wednesday night as the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry gave a performance for the ages, dropping 54 points in a losing effort.

One day later, we can actually reflect on how special of a night Curry really did have and regret the fact that the Davidson product was one pick away from wearing a New York Knicks jersey.

But with all the special performances by opposing players in Garden history, where does Curry’s 54 rank?

Let’s take a look.

10. Richard Hamilton drops 51 in 2006:

Rip’s game against the Knicks as a member of the Detroit Pistons isn’t really talked about much as one of the best performances by an opposing player, but it is certainly worthy of making the list. Hamilton was an impressive 19-for-37 from the field and 12-for-12 on free throws, but the Knicks won in triple overtime.

9. LeBron James scores 50 in 2008:

You knew he was going to have a big game at The Garden sooner or later and during this 2008 contest, LBJ certainly put his name among the greats in Garden history. James had 50 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 119-105 victory, by making 16-of-30 shots from the field, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range.

LeBron said after the game:

“I’ve dreamed about playing well in this building and it’s overtaken of how I could ever dream about,” James said. “To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world, it was a dream come true for me. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

8. Rick Barry scores 57 in 1965:

It was Barry’s rookie season with the Warriors and he didn’t succumb to the biggest stage in the world, making 18 of his 29 shots and missing just one of his 22 free throws, but it wasn’t enough as the Knicks ultimately defeated the Warriors 141-137.

7. Reggie Miller’s 1995 postseason:

Miller’s heroics in Game 1 of the 1995 playoffs will always be remembered, painfully for Knicks fans, but as good as Miller’s eight points in 11 seconds was in terms of history, Game 5 of that series may have been an even better performance as Miller scored 39 points and dished out six assists, but he turned in one of the best fourth quarter performances in playoff history as he scored 25 points to lead the Pacers to  Game 5 win, although the Knicks would go on to win the series.

6. Curry’s 54 in 2013:

You don’t see nights like we saw Wednesday night as Curry was simply unbelievable. Curry drained a remarkable 11-of-13 three-pointers, just one shy of the NBA record and added six rebounds, seven assists and three steals, but Golden State ultimately lost one of the more entertaining games a basketball fan could ever watch.

There’s nothing better to do then hand out the NBA Midseason Awards to recognize the NBA’s best and worst of the first half of the season.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson instructs against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said let’s hand out our first award.

Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors

This was a close race and there were more than a few deserving coaches, but Jackson gets the nod. The Warriors have exceeded expectations and they have beaten good teams, including the Thunder and Clippers recently in a three-day span. Once Jackson got a healthy team he has gotten everyone to buy in and has the Warriors looking like a legit playoff team. Runners-Up: Tom Thibodeau, Vinny Del Negro, Frank Vogel.

Most Improved Player: Paul George, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are the best defensive team in the NBA but are 29th in the league in points scored. They wouldn’t be where they are though without George, who has improved more than any player in the NBA, averaging over 17 points per game and his rebounding and assist numbers are up at least one per game as well. George is finally playing to his talent level and has helped the Pacers ease the loss of Danny Granger. Runners-Up: Greivis Vasquez, Jrue Holiday

Least Improved Player of the Year: Jan Vesely, Washington Wizards

When handing this out, I was looking for a player who should have been taking the next step by now, but simply hasn’t. That made the choice easy as Vesely, the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, can’t crack a bad Washington lineup. When he does play it is often for 10 minutes or less and rarely produces. Can you say bust?

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Sorry Knicks fans. As much as J.R. Smith deserves this honor, Crawford deserves it just a little bit more. The former Knicks is a vital part of the NBA’s best overall bench and is third in the NBA in fourth quarter scoring. Like Smith, Crawford is averaging close to 17 points per game, but is a little less streaky and more efficient. Runners-Up: Smith, Jarrett Jack

Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

This is another tight race and Tyson Chandler is certainly considered, but Noah and the Bulls are a playoff team without Derrick Rose because Noah has anchored their defense and brings it every night. Noah is a spectacular post defender, but he also can get out and mix it up with guards on pick-and-rolls. He is a great rebounder and a huge source of energy for Thibodeau’s squad. Runners-Up: Chandler, Chris Paul, Larry Sanders

Jan 21, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Worst Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Nash wasn’t a good defender in his prime. Now he is hands down the worst defender in the NBA. On a nightly basis Nash makes Amar’e Stoudemire look like an All-NBA Defensive team member and that is hard to do.

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard is top 20 in the league in scoring (18.3 ppg), 13th in assists (6.6) and seventh in minutes played. Plus, his play is a big reason behind LaMarcus Aldridge’s consistently great play. The Blazers are even in playoff contention hanging around the .500 mark ad that is saying something. Lillard leads all rookies in scoring, assists and minutes played. Runners-Up: Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond

Worst Rookie of the Year: Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings

Remember when Robinson was saying that he should be the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft? Good thing the Hornets didn’t listen to him. The No. 5 overall pick is barely getting 15 minutes per game on a Sacramento team that is not loaded with frontcourt talent.

MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Tough choice between Durant and LeBron James, but KD is the clear winner here. Durant has improved his scoring numbers from last season, while his rebounding average is down a hair, but assists are up almost a full assist, steals are up and blocks are up. The Thunder traded James harden, but Durant got even better and is a big reason why OKC is the best team in the NBA right now. He is averaging 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks on the season. That’s not even the most impressive part. Durant is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, 41.3 percent from behind the arc and 91 percent from the free-throw line. No one else in the league can boast those types of numbers. Runners-Up: James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony

Least Valuable Player: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

The last two years of Howard’s career have been nothing short of train wreck, which is mostly to his own doing. While Howard is not the sole reason for the Lakers’ struggles, he is a central figure in their demise. Howard has earned himself a spotty reputation and now his attitude has at the very least a negative impact on a dysfunctional Lakers group. His numbers aren’t bad, but the way he goes about his daily business certainly is. Runner-Up: Andrew Bynum

Biggest Surprise: Golden State Warriors

Before the season I felt the Warriors would be a playoff team, but they have exceeded expectations and have proven they can play with anyone in the NBA. They are 26-16 and are only two games out of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Biggest Disappointment: Los Angeles Lakers

I don’t think much of an explanation is needed here, but calling the Lakers first half of the season a disappointment is being kind.

Best Offseason Move: Every Move Clippers Made

It’s hard to pinpoint one move that anyone else has made having more impact than anything the Clippers did in the offseason. They went from not having depth a season ago to adding: Crawford, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom and others. The Clippers are the deepest team in the NBA and everyone they signed is playing a role in them becoming legitimate championship contenders. Runner-Up: Houston acquiring James Harden

Worst Offseason Move: Sixers Acquiring Andrew Bynum

Hard to find anything worse at this point in the season than dealing Andre Iguodala for a guy that hasn’t played a game yet. The Sixers are a disappointing 17-25 and a lot of that can be attributed to dealing for Bynum, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

Follow Buckets Over Broadway on Twitter and on Facebook

Every year there are a handful of players who deserved to make the team, but for one reason or another didn’t.

With that being said, let’s take a look at this year’s Top 5 All-Star snubs.

5. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics: Pierce may not be having his best season and the Celtics are struggling, but that doesn’t mean Pierce isn’t All-Star worthy. He is averaging 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game. Pierce isn’t the reason the Celtics are struggling, but it is hard to give a team like the Celtics three All-Star’s, especially with Kevin Garnett questionably voted in by the fans.

4. Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder: Ibaka is a big reason why the Thunder have the best record in the NBA. He has proven this season that he is far more than just a defensive stopper by averaging 14.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, both career-high marks. The only problem with making a case for Ibaka is the fact that the Western Conference roster is loaded, so someone would have to come off, but Ibaka is certainly having an All-Star worthy season, more so than Dwight Howard, who was voted in by the fans.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a basket during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. J.R. Smith, New York Knicks: Usually good teams get rewarded with two or three All-Star’s, so it was a bit shocking to not see Smith on the Eastern Conference squad, especially when you see the likes of Kyrie Irving and Jrue Holiday make the team. That’s not saying that Irving and Holiday aren’t worth, but their teams are a combined 28-57 and you rarely see players on bad teams get rewarded, much less two of them. Smith became the No. 2 scoring option on a team that has been near the top of the east all season long. Ultimately the fact that he comes off the bench probably hurt Smith’s chances.

2. Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets: Lopez leads all centers in scoring with 18.6 points per games and is seventh in the NBA with 2.1 blocks per game. In addition his 25.4 PER screams out that Lopez is an All-Star. More importantly the Nets are 25-11 with Lopez in the lineup and only 1-5 without him. Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah are both worth of being on the Eastern Conference team, so the fans vote of Garnett ended up costing Lopez a spot he deserved.

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: There was no bigger snub than Golden State’s Curry, who is a big reason why the Warriors are having such a great season. Curry is averaging 20.9 points, which is second among West point guards, and 6.6 assists a game. In addition his shooting percentage from three-point range (45.1) is third in the league. Not having Curry on the Western Conference team is a joke, but at the same time the Western Conference roster is loaded, so we could be having this argument about anyone really. Curry is the case to extend the All-Star roster to 13 players. The regular season rosters are at 13 permanently so it makes little sense that the All-Star rosters wouldn’t be the same.

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

Follow Buckets Over Broadway on Twitter and on Facebook

We are at the halfway point of the NBA season, so that means there likely won’t be a whole lot of movement from just a couple of weeks ago.

January 11, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee (10) looks on during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, here’s a look at my latest NBA MVP Ladder.

Honorable Mentions: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook

5. David Lee, Golden State Warriors: Lee has to get some love for the success of the Warriors so far. Lee has 25 double-doubles on the season and ranks seventh in rebounding (10.8 RPG) and 11th in scoring (19.6 PPG). He is a big reason why the Warriors have the seventh best record in the NBA. Previous Ranking- Not Ranked

4. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks:  Anthony still has an MVP resume, ranking second in the NBA in scoring at 29.2 PPG, while ranking fourth in the league in PER (25.29). However while that is no doubt impressive, his MVP candidacy has taken a hit as of late as the Knicks have gone only 7-9 in their past 16 games. Previous Ranking-4

3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: Paul slips a spot after missing three games last week, but his MVP resume is still impressive, ranking third in the NBA in PER (26.11), while averaging 16.6 points per game while also ranking second overall in assists with 9.7 per night. He also leads the NBA in steals with 2.6, while leading the Clippers to the best record in the NBA. Previous Ranking-2

2. LeBron James, Miami Heat: LeBron leads the league in PER (30.3) and is fourth in the league in scoring (26.3 PPG), 10th in assists (7.0 APG) and is also pulling down 8.1 rebounds per game. As much as James is having an MVP-type season again, the Heat aren’t as good (at this point) as they were a season ago and must become a better road team. Previous Ranking-3

1.  Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: Durant’s January, in which he has averaged a whopping 32.3 points per game, has just helped his MVP case. He’s the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 29.5 points per game and is playing on a team that is an NBA-best 33-9. He’s second in the NBA in PER (29.15) and is also averaging 7.5 rebounds and a career-best 4.2 assists per game. His case gets even stronger due to the fact that he is shooting 51.6 percent from the floor, 40.4 percent from three and 90.9 from the free-throw line. Just like last season, the MVP could end up being a two-horse race between LeBron and Durant when it is all said and done. Previous Ranking-1

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

Follow Buckets Over Broadway on Twitter and on Facebook

With that being said, I am back with my first power rankings of the new year.

Where does your favorite team rank?

Let’s not waste any time and get right into my weekly NBA Power Rankings.

Dec. 29, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson (13) drives to the net as Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson (7) defends during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

30. Charlotte Bobcats (8-23): Between last season and this season, the Bobcats were sitting on seven wins for 41 straight games without getting to No. 8, but they finally got there with a win over the Bulls. But one win doesn’t erase 18 consecutive losses, nor is it enough to get Charlotte out of the basement. Last Week’s Ranking-30

29. Washington Wizards (4-26): The Wizards broke an eight-game losing streak with a win over the Magic, but since have lost three in a row. Last Week’s Ranking-29

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (7-26): The Cavs are hard to watch and have dropped 9-of-11. On a good note, Tristan Thompson has been playing well with double-doubles in five of his last six games. Last Week’s Ranking-26

27. New Orleans Hornets (7-25): The Hornets put an end to an 11-game skid with wins against the Magic and Bobcats, but have since dropped games to Atlanta and Houston. The return of Eric Gordon should help some. Last Week’s Ranking-28

26. Orlando Magic (12-20): The Magic have come back down to earth, losing seven straight after winning 4-of-5 in the middle of December. Last Week’s Ranking-21

25. Phoenix Suns (12-21): Their win vs. Philadelphia put an end to a six-game skid. They have scored over 100 points only three times since the beginning of December and don’t have a single player averaging 15 points per game. Last Week’s Ranking-24

January 2, 2013; Cleveland, OH USA: Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) brings the ball up court against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric P. Mull-USA TODAY Sports

24. Dallas Mavericks (13-20): The Mavs are reeling and have won only two of their past 10. The biggest problem is that they are 28^th in the NBA in points allowed, giving up an average of 103.3 per game. Last Week’s Ranking-22

23. Sacramento Kings (12-20): The Kings have split their past 10 games and are playing better basketball of late, despite the DeMarcus Cousins soap opera. They beat Golden State, Portland, New York and Boston during that stretch. Last Week’s Ranking-27

22. Detroit Pistons (12-22): The Pistons have won three straight in a season filled with streaks. Wins against the Heat and Bucks look impressive. Detroit is a good rebounding team and a decent defensive team. Now they need to get consistent production on the offensive end. Last Week’s Ranking-25

21. Boston Celtics (14-17): I keep waiting for the Celtics to turn it on, but it may not happen. On their recent west coast trip they lost games by 29 to the Clippers, 18 to the Warriors and 22 to the Kings.  Overall they have lost four in a row, which also includes a double-digit loss to the Grizzlies. Last Week’s Ranking-15

20. Utah Jazz (16-17): The Jazz have been disappointing so far and have lost seven of 10. They can’t win on the road, posting a 6-13 mark, compared to going 10-4 on the season at home. Last Week’s Raking-18

19. Philadelphia 76ers (15-18): The Sixers have also dropped seven of their past 10 and sit a season-low three games under the .500 mark. The defense has been pretty good, but they are another team who has problems scoring the ball, eclipsing the 100 point mark only four times in the past 17 games. Last Week’s Ranking-20

January 2, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon (8) dribbles the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

18. Los Angeles Lakers (15-16): Kobe Bryant is calling his team old and they are. But unless they figure out how to play defense and get some production from their bench, which is doubtful, the Lakers will never be nothing more than a mediocre team. Last Week’s Ranking-14

17. Toronto Raptors (12-20): The Raptors make a huge jump this week, because they are as hot as any team in the NBA. They have won three in a row and 8-of-9 overall. A softer schedule has helped, but Jose Calderon’s play has been the difference as the Raptors are 10-6 when he starts and only 2-14 when he doesn’t. Last Week’s Ranking-23

16. Brooklyn Nets (17-15): The Nets struggles really started when Brook Lopez got injured. In the four games since P.J. Carlesimo took over for Avery Johnson, the Nets have won three, including a win over the Thunder. In that span, Lopez has averaged 24.3 points and 8.0 rebounds. Last Week’s Ranking-19

15. Portland Trail Blazers (16-15): The Blazers have won seven of 10 and J.J. Hickson has been a big part of that. He is averaging 12.3 points and 10.8 rebounds on the season and LaMarcus Aldridge is playing at an All-Star level once again, giving the Blazers a formidable frontcourt. Last Week’s Ranking-16

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-15): The Wolves are still hanging in there, but Kevin Love’s recent finger injury could be a cause of concern. Last Week’s Ranking-17

13. Chicago Bulls (17-13): You just can’t excuse losing to the Bobcats-at home nonetheless. Overall they have lost 3-of-5 with the wins coming against Washington and Orlando. Last Week’s Ranking-12

12. Milwaukee Bucks (16-14): They lost to the Cavs and Pistons, but managed to beat Brooklyn and Miami. The Bucks need to find more consistency, but are an impressive 9-4 against the current top eight teams in the Eastern Conference. Last Week’s Ranking-13

Jan 2 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) goes up for a shot under the basket against Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Washington 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

11. Denver Nuggets (18-16):  Fifteen of the Nuggets first 18 games in 2013 are at home, where they are 10-2 on the season. We will know a lot more about George Karl’s team by the end of the month as they could be poised to make a serious run. Last Week’s Ranking-11

10. Indiana Pacers (19-13): The Pacers are a great defensive team, but their inconsistencies offensively will continue to hold this team back until they figure it out. Roy Hibbert has been a big part of the offensive woes, finally getting his field goal percentage up to 40 percent on the season. But he responded with a 0 point, 1 rebound effort in Saturday’s loss to the Hawks. Hibbert must be better for the Pacers to be a legitimate threat. Last Week’s Ranking-10

9. Atlanta Hawks (20-10): The Hawks won’t go away partially because they can win on the road, putting together the best road mark in the Eastern Conference at 9-5. Last Week’s Ranking-9

8. Houston Rockets (18-14): The Rockets keep on winning, having won 7-of-10. A lot of that has to do with James Harden, who has averaged 29.3 points during the past 10 games. Houston is the top scoring team (105.8 PPG) in the NBA and rank seventh in both assists (22.8 APG) and rebounds (43.6 RPG). Not bad for the youngest team in the league. Last Week’s Ranking-7

7. Memphis Grizzlies (20-9): The Grizzlies are only 8-7 since the beginning of December. My only concern with them is that they play their starters more minutes than any team in the NBA, almost 35 per night. It could affect their legs in the long run. Last Week’s Ranking-8

6. New York Knicks (22-10): The Kicks big win against the Spurs aside, they still have won only four of their past nine games. Injuries played a big role in that as now Raymond Felton is down for 4-6 weeks, but the return of Amar’e Stoudemire could help. If the Knicks get back to playing defense the way they did against the Spurs, then they are as dangerous as anyone in the NBA.  Last Week’s Ranking-5

5. Miami Heat (22-8):  You have to worry about the defending champs on the defensive end of the floor as they have given up the 19^th most points in the NBA (98.6). That defense did not look good in back-to-back losses at Detroit and Milwaukee. In addition, the Heat are only 7-6 away from home on the season. Last Week’s Ranking-2

January 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee (10) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Clippers power forward Lamar Odom (7) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 115-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. San Antonio Spurs (26-9): The Spurs have been swept by the Knicks this season, but stay ahead of New York as they had won seven in a row before Thursday night’s beatdown. They have won 7-of-10 overall and are third in the NBA in scoring (105.2 PPG) and first in assists (25.3 APG). Last Week’s Ranking-4

3. Golden State Warriors (22-10): Mark Jackson’s Warriors could be in it for the long haul. They are doing it with an improved defense and have won 17 of their past 22 games, reaching the 20 win mark before January 1 for the first time since the 1980-81 season. Last Week’s Ranking-6

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-7): The Thunder just keep on winning, large in part to having the NBA’s most efficient offense, scoring 110.1 points per 100 possessions. Serge Ibaka is playing the best basketball of his career and the Thunder keep rolling. Last Week’s Ranking-3

1. Los Angeles Clippers (25-8): Sure the Clippers have lost back-to-back games, but after reeling off 17 wins in a row it is hard not to keep them in the top spot. During that streak they won by an average of 15.2 points per game. That’s impressive enough. Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climber- Raptors (+6)

Biggest Faller- Celtics (-6)

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

Follow Buckets Over Broadway on Twitter and on Facebook

Whether you’re a seasoned vet or a fantasy novice, the early season rust should be starting to wear off and now is the time to start making moves!

In competitive leagues many of the prized free agents may have been snatched up, but there is still always room to make speculative adds, stashes and maybe hop on players that another owner wasn’t willing to ride out a cold streak with.

Here is a look at some of those type of players and as always, the players I feature are owned in less than 60 percent of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues, respectively.

Dec 15, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Alexey Shved (1) shoots during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the Target Center. The Wolves defeated the Mavericks 114-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Alexey Shved (SG/PG-Timberwolves):  The rookie Russian import hit stateside without much fanfare, but had since etched a niche in Minnesota’s rotation.  Given playing time while the team was waiting for Ricky Rubio’s return from knee surgery, he has outshined guards J.J. Barea and Malcom Lee, and at times, Luke Ridnour as well.

Over his last seven games he has averaged 12.8 PPG while playing over 28 minutes in all but two of them.  His per game averages of 2.3 3-pointers, 1.6 steals and 4.6 assists during that stretch is a good example of how he can help you in many categories.  He was inserted into the starting lineup this weekend with Rubio’s return and should stay there even when Rubio’s minutes are back to normal.  In his second game starting he played a career high 44 minutes and scored 18 points.  Coach Rick Adelman likes his athleticism and youth and Minnesota has a glut of guards, meaning someone like Barea or Ridnour could be a likely trade candidate, which would make his value skyrocket even more.  Get him while you can.  (9.5% owned in ESPN, 18% Yahoo!)

Jarrett Jack (PG/SG-Warriors):  The Golden State Warriors have to be one of the biggest surprises of the season.  After winning 11 of their last 15 games, the Bad Boys from the Bay are now a robust 16-8.  Much of their early season success can be accredited in part to the well-rounded play lately of veteran guard Jarrett Jack.

When given minutes, the Georgia Tech product has proven he can fill up the stat sheet.  Playing a career-high in minutes with New Orleans last year, he put up 15.6 points, 6.3 assists, 3.9 boards and almost three free-throws made per game (at 87%).  While it took coach Mark Jackson a few weeks to integrate him fully into the rotation, he has since seen starter’s minutes even as a sub.  He has averaged 30 min/per over the past seven games while averaging 12.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

Never known for his defensive prowess or his 3-point shooting, he has used the attention put on Stephen Curry and David Lee to reel in stats in both categories.  Career averages of 0.8 steals and 0.7 3’s are nothing to brag about, especially for a guard, but he has hit on 1.4 treys and had 1.3 swipes per game over the past  seven.  Now is the time to take him off the waiver wire before another owner is getting the last laugh with this “Jack” of all trades.  (45% owned in ESPN, 35% Yahoo!)

Dec 12, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) leads the fast break against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal (SG-Wizards):  Many NBA experts questioned Washington’s use of the third overall pick to draft the University of Florida freshman.  While the raw talent was there, having only played in one college season there wasn’t a lot to go on.  His numbers weren’t eye-popping and his shooting efficiencies weren’t amazing, plus he had analysts comparing him on a daily basis to all-time 3-point king Ray Allen.  That’s a tough act to follow for any basketball player, let alone a first year player.

While he’s years away from “Ray Ray status”, he has made great strides in his first couple months in The Association.  In November he scored 11.2 PPG and shot a paltry 34 percent from the field to go along with 1.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game.  While he didn’t excel in those areas, he had his 3-point and free-throw shooting going, which would be a good sign of things to come.  He was making 1.4 long balls a night to go along with very accurate free throw shooting for a 19-year old (85%).  While those aren’t great all-around numbers, they’re not awful for a still very raw player being thrown to the wolves.  That was November…then came December.

In the beginning of the month Wizards’ starting point guard A.J. Price fractured his finger and Beal was teamed with Jordan Crawford in a much faster and offensively-friendly starting backcourt.  In seven December games he has averaged 14.7 PPG on a much-improved 39 percent shooting, which is significant because he is actually attempting 0.5 more 3-pointers a game.  He’s averaging 1.7 more assists per contest and turning the ball over even less than in November which sheds a light on his passing skills.

Beal’s rebounds have improved by 0.8 and he is now over a steal per game in the month.  While franchise player John Wall’s return dates have been all over the place (some say next week, some say February), Price had been given a 4-6 week timetable on Dec. 8.  Coach Randy Wittman prefers to play Crawford off the bench for his scoring punch, so even when either of those aforementioned injured players return, Beal should remain in the starting lineup.  The Wizards are going nowhere fast and have no reason not to give Beal a long look, so you should, too.  (51% owned in ESPN, 58% Yahoo!)

You can find me on Twitter: @SethDaSportsMan

Oct 21, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives against Sacramento Kings shooting guard Marcus Thornton (23) during the preseason game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

First Place – Los Angeles Lakers

Starters:

PG – Steve Nash

SG – Kobe Bryant

SF – Metta World Peace

PF – Pau Gasol

C – Dwight Howard

This has to be the best team on paper in the league, if not; it is certainly in the top 3. Steve Nash put up 12 points and 10 assists on a bad Phoenix team with no real scoring options to pass to. At 38 years old, Nash could possibly post his best career assists numbers with this star-studded squad. Kobe Bryant was second in the league in scoring last year even with all his nagging injuries. We know what he brings to the table, as he will go down as one of the best players ever when it is all said and done. Kobe will take all the trash talk and doubters as his fuel. He knows this is his window to tie or possibly pass Michael Jordan in the ring race so I think he will do whatever it takes to win.

Metta World Peace is not the Peace of old but he still has it on defense. Being the fifth option on offense will help him focus more on defense where the Lakers need him most. Pau Gasol is a top five power forward and knows what it takes to win in L.A. He now knows he will not be traded and got the Kobe approval over the summer. Gasol playing right next to Dwight Howard is a nightmare for any team. Howard is the best center in the league and is just a flat out beast. He has so many other great players around him now that he doesn’t need to be everything for this franchise as he was in Orlando. Dwight is going to do him, which is averaging 20 and 10 while being the best defensive big man in the league.

Key Bench Players: Antawn Jamison, Steve Blake, Devin Ebanks, and Jodie Meeks.

It’s hard to obtain a fierce bench when you have the huge names in your starting lineups like the Lakers do. They don’t need these guys to come off the bench and score 15 a night. They need them to come in for hustle plays, rest for the starters, and honestly, just don’t play stupid basketball. They will know their role and will be fine.

Team MVP: Kobe Bryant – The Lakers go wherever Kobe takes them. It’s still his team and he is looking to build to his legacy. He will be the MVP if he trusts his star teammates and sacrifices in order to win his sixth ring.

The Lakers are looking to avoid a season like the Heat had in 2010-2011. They want to avoid the early season chemistry problems and start dominating early. With Nash running the show, I don’t think this will be a problem. Lakers win this division without much trouble.

Second Place – Los Angeles Clippers

Oct 22, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Warriors 88-71. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Starters:

PG – Chris Paul

SG – Chauncey Billups

SF – Caron Butler

PF – Blake Griffin

C – DeAndre Jordan

The Clippers will start the season with a full training camp and another year of chemistry under their belt. Chris Paul has no trade rumors around him and looks to show the league there isn’t much debate who the best point guard in the NBA is. Paul does it all and is easily the leader for this Clippers team. Billups is coming off an injury but when he was healthy he did what he does best last year- hit big shots. Billups has the brain of a point guard so he knows where to be at all times. He is smart and brings championship experience to this Clippers squad. Most teams that try to have two natural point guards on the floor at the same time fail, but not these two veterans.

Caron Butler is a very solid player. I don’t think he is a top tier player, which some people think he is. He is an above average forward who is on the perfect team for him. This season will be all about the Blake show. Griffin has exploded on the scene and taken the league by storm. His injury in the Olympics might have people worried but he should be 100 percent as the season rolls around. Knee injuries are now a scare for Griffin but if he is healthy there aren’t many better players around the rim in the league. If he develops a consistent outside shot he might become the most dangerous offensive big man in the NBA. DeAndre Jordan is also a great compliment to Blake, as he doesn’t have much of an offensive game but is known for his defense and rebounding. Great duo down low for the Clippers.

Key Bench Players:  Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, and Eric Bledsoe

The additions of Odom, Crawford, and Hill were perfect the Clippers. Odom is a small-risk and big-reward player. His love and comfortbility level in L.A. is well documented and if he is anywhere close to what he was when he was with the Lakers, it’s a good signing. Crawford is now a journeyman who still supplies a spark off the bench while Hill brings the veteran presence to this young team. Bledsoe is a solid backup point guard and is learning from the best.

Team MVP: Chris Paul – This is the golden age of elite point guards and CP3 might just be the overall best one. He is the motor to this team and the unquestioned leader. He will push this franchise to places it has never seen before.

The Clippers are tired of being the Lakers little brother in L.A. Before CP3 got there, it would be a slap in the face to the Lakers to consider the Clippers a family member. Times have changed and the Clippers are now very much relevant. They aren’t in the class of the Lakers, Thunder and Spurs, but the Clippers will be better than last year and will compete with the best of them. My bold prediction is that Mike D’Antoni will eventually coach this team. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin can be a better due than Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire once were under coach D’Antoni.

Third Place: Sacramento Kings

Starters:

Oct 21, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

PG – Isaiah Thomas

SG – Marcus Thornton

SF – Tyreke Evans

PF – Jason Thompson

C – DeMarcus Cousins

The Kings are young and growing together. The ball will be in the young and overlooked Isaiah Thomas’ hands. Last pick of the draft means nothing for him as he opened eyes with his play and earned his spot as the starting point guard. His backcourt partner, Marcus Thornton, broke out last season averaging 18.7 points per game. This team’s best outside player, hands down is Tyreke Evans. He was masterful his rookie season averaging 20 points a game, but the last two season his PPG has slipped to 17 and 16 respectively. Evans needs to play like his rookie self if the Kings have any chance of making some noise in the West. It takes years for a player to figure the ins-and-outs of the NBA; to give up on Evans would be foolish.

The Kings frontcourt is young but they have extremely raw talent. Jason Thompson, just like the rest of their starters, is young and still learning the game. I believe Thompson will split minutes and possibly lose his job during the season to Thomas Robinson. Robinson is a pure beast and has a motor that doesn’t stop. He is physically ready for the NBA but now needs to translate it to the NBA hardwood. Both of these big men will have to make way for DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins had a huge leap in his sophomore season averaging a double-double at 18 and 11. I believe his attitude is no longer a problem and he will be one of the best centers in the league after this season. Cousins is for real.

Key Bench Players: Aaron Brooks, John Salmons, Thomas Robinson, Travis Outlaw, and Chuck Hayes

Aaron Brooks and John Salmons have had stints in the NBA where they were impact players. They are now in perfect roles with the Kings, where they can be huge sparks off the bench, especially if the starters don’t bring their A game every night. Outlaw and Hayes are good role players as well.

Team MVP: DeMarcus Cousins – Cousins will take the reigns as the team’s best player this season. I see Cousins ditching the attitude problem, taking Robinson under his wing, and averaging over 20 and 12 this season.

The Kings have a tough task in front of them for a long time with the Clippers and Lakers in their division. The Kings can fight for a low playoff spot this season if they play together as a team. They will go through growing pains and hopefully this helps them mature and doesn’t destroy this young team.

Fourth Place: Golden State Warriors

Oct 19, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Stephen Curry (30) speaks with Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson in the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US

Starters:

PG – Stephen Curry

SG – Klay Thompson

SF – Harrison Barnes

PF – David Lee

C – Andrew Bogut

On paper, the Warriors have a pretty solid starting lineup. Curry is one of the NBA’s best pure shooters but he needs to stay healthy if the Warriors have any chance of making noise in the West. Curry had a glass ankle last season, playing in only 26 games. He has to stay on the court for the Warriors this season. Thompson showed he can really shoot the rock and progressed as the year went on. Curry’s injuries were maybe a blessing in disguise as this lead to Thompson learning the game better by picking up some of Curry’s minutes. If he avoids the sophomore slump, the Warriors have a deadly shooting backcourt.

Barnes was a coveted prospect out of Ames High School and one of the best players in the country at North Carolina. I believe he received too much pressure as a freshman when he was named to the preseason All-American team. Barnes will have not as much pressure in Golden State as all he needs to do is play hard and learn the game. He is expected to make rookie mistakes but his upside is huge. David Lee has been a model of consistency and is in the prime of his career. A double-double machine but not a franchise player, you can count on Lee to give you numbers night in and night out. Bogut came into his own at the end of his Bucks career but was riddled with injuries. If he is healthy, you don’t have to worry about the production from the Warriors frontcourt with Lee and Bogut out there.

Key Bench Players: Brandon Rush, Richard Jefferson, Jarret Jack, Andris Biedrins, and Carl Landry.

The Warriors bench is filled with great role players. Brandon Rush has established himself as a great sixth man and spot starter. The Kansas product has developed a nice three-point shot. Jack is a solid backup point guard and is great to have with the uncertain health of Steph Curry. Jefferson brings the veteran presence but doesn’t bring the production anymore. Biedrins and Landry are a nice duo off the bench for the frontcourt and should contribute as expected.

Team MVP: Klay Thompson: I think Thompson comes into his own this season and steps up the scoring due to Monta Ellis no longer being on the team. The boy can play and will help Mark Jackson’s team win games.

The Warriors, like the Kings, are a young team on the rise. David Lee and Andrew Bogut know the game but Curry, Barnes, and Thompson are just beginning. If these three come up together, they can shoot the lights out of the ball. Mark Jackson will get the best out of his team night in and night out but it might take a year or two for them to seriously compete. The Warriors are slowly on their way and the development of their three young guns is key for the present and the future.

Fifth Place: Phoenix Suns

Oct 19, 2011; Tulsa, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder center Hasheem Thabeet (34) during the first half of a preseason game at the BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-US PRESSWIRE

Starters:

PG – Goran Dragic

SG – Wesley Johnson

SF – Michael Beasley

PF – Luis Scola

C – Marcin Gortat

Dragic is a solid point guard in the league but he is no Nash. No one is, but these are the shoes Dragic has to fill. He has learned from Nash before and held his own in Houston. Wesley Johnson has extreme raw talent but didn’t figure it out in Minnesota. I think he has great upside and maybe a switch in teams so early in his career will inspire him. You would have to say that Michael Beasley is the best player on this Suns team. He needs to take that step to the next level in his career if he ever wants to justify his second overall selection in the draft.

Luis Scola moves from the sinking ship Rockets to the still afloat boat that is the Phoenix Suns. Scola has an awesome skill set and is the definition of a European player. He will give the Suns a consistent season. Gortat had a career year, as do most centers that play with Steve Nash. He now needs to play tougher and become a leader on this Suns team.

Key Bench Players: Sebastian Telfair, Shannon Brown, Markieff Morris, Jarred Dudley, and Kendall Marshall.

Telfair has been a bust but the Suns will give him decent playing time. The high draft selection of UNC product Kendall Marshall is a clear message on where this team wants to go with the future of their franchise. Brown has never been the same since he left the Lakers but provides a spark off the bench. Morris has to fight for minutes, as he needs to justify his first round selection. Dudley is probably the best and most consistent player of this Suns bench and will contribute as he has throughout his career.

Team MVP:  Michael Beasley – This might be Beasley’s last chance of being an efficient starter in the NBA. The Heat had to give up on him, but it wasn’t his fault as they formed their Super Team. The Timberwolves are building for their future and chose to go ahead with Derrick Williams and Kevin Love. It hasn’t been pretty for B-Easy, but he should be able to shine in the desert.

The Suns shouldn’t have high expectations as they are in the rebuilding phase. Long gone are the days of Nash and Stoudemire with D’Antoni on the sideline. This Suns team needs to take their time and learn the game together but it’s going to be rough as they play in a pretty stacked division. They need Johnson, Marshall, and Morris to develop nicely this year and coexist with the veterans still on the team. A high draft pick can form a nice young nucleus for the Suns moving forward.

The Knicks don’t have a first round pick this year as a result of the Tracy McGrady-Jordan Hill-Jared Jeffries trade done in 2010, which they are still paying for. Donnie Walsh, then-GM of the Knicks, was unloading contracts to have as much cap space as possible heading into the famed summer of 2010.

Walsh was forced by the Houston Rockets to throw in the Knicks’ 2012 first round pick. The pick was top-five protected – meaning if it was a top five pick in the draft, the Knicks would keep it – but alas, the Knicks were not a lottery team, and the Rockets got it instead.

The Knicks do have a second rounder – the 48th pick – and they’ve had success drafting in the second round in recent years, selecting Landry Fields and Josh Harrellson. However, as evidenced by their selection of Andy Rautins two years ago, second rounders can be unpredictable. Rautins isn’t even in the NBA anymore.

So, the Knicks may look to move up in the draft – especially considering many people feel this is an especially deep and talented draft. Tommy Dee of the Knicks Blog claims that the Knicks are shopping Landry Fields, and the Golden State Warriors may be possible suitors, willing to give up their 30th pick. Fields would be a good fit in an uptempo offense with shooters (Dorrell Wright, Klay Thompson), a good passing PG (Steph Curry), and a big who can space the floor and pass (David Lee). This was evidenced by Fields’s excellent play in the first half of his rookie season, with Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Amar’e Stoudemire. The Warriors also have four draft picks, so they may be willing to give one up for a solid wing player.

However, for the Knicks to shop Fields seems a bit suspect. The Knicks only have a half-filled roster and may possibly lose J.R. Smith and Steve Novak this summer. Likewise, Iman Shumpert may be out until December as he recovers from a torn ACL. Fields is a restricted free agent and the Knicks can spend as much as they like to re-sign him. To trade away an asset that won’t sacrifice cap space, and is a proven player, who – despite struggles – can still be very effective in many assets of the game.

If the Knicks want to find another draft pick, they could also try to do a deal with a team like the Portland Trailblazers, who have four picks – two lottery and two second round picks. The Blazers are without a PG for next season, and they’re also weak upfront, so they might be interested in players like Toney Douglas or Jerome Jordan.

The Cleveland Cavaliers also have four picks: a lottery pick, the 24th, and two second rounders. Perhaps they would give up their 24th pick or one of the second round picks for one of the above-mentioned players.

The Knicks also own the draft rights of Georgios Printezis, a Greek player who is doing quite well in the Euroleague. Though he likely isn’t coming to the NBA this season, the Knicks could give up his draft rights in a package of Douglas or Jordan in order to move into the first round.

I wouldn’t expect the Knicks to give up their second round pick to move up because of the uncertainty surrounding their free agents.

However it shakes out, the next month will be an interesting one for the Knicks as they try to shape their future through the draft and free agency.

Who will D'Antoni start in place of the injured Stoudemire?

Just when you thought things couldn’t quite get any worse, they do. Amar’e Stoudemire will sit out tonight’s contest against the Sacramento Kings after suffering a sprained ankle on Thursday night against the Lakers.

This is rather unfortunate news for the  Knicks who could certainly use a win against the Kings to get back on track, after suffering a pair of unfortunate losses against Golden State and the Lakers. (more…)

Depending on how you look at it, either the Golden State Warriors played excellent defense or the Knicks simply didn’t have it on offense—I would hazard to guess it was an unfortunate combination of the two.

In the first half the Knicks played well defensively and actually lead 43-37 by the break. The second half however, was a different story; the effort just wasn’t there defensively and Warriors started to get hot, and subsequently pulled away.

Amar’e and Melo both struggled offensively, shooting a combined 8-27 from the floor; and when those two guys struggle, this team just does not have the extra firepower to sustain itself offensively.

Despite the offensive struggles, the defensive effort by the Knicks is encouraging, especially considering that Tyson Chandler—the team’s defensive anchor—played just 22 minutes due to foul trouble. (more…)

(more…)

Blake Griffin had the game of his life, but the Knicks happily had the game. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

With two victories over the weekend against the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers, the Knicks have managed to pull themselves up to being tied for seventh in the East.  Our 3-1 record on the road trip was, amazingly (and depressingly), the best we’ve done on the road since 1998.  Yes, during it we beat two of the league’s weaker teams (the Kings & Clips), and the Warriors were missing one of their best players (our former fan-fave, David Lee).  However, keep in mind that previously we had been losing to those weaker teams, even ones missing top players (the Sixers without Andre Iguodala, and the Rockets without Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks).  The results were so different than the early part of the season, that it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s Memorex.  So who are we?

(more…)

Don't jump to conclusions about the Heat, a team that's only had two weeks to play together, because they lost twice to the Celtics, the best defensive team in the league and a crew who've played together for three years. Come April, the Heat will be much more polished. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The media and fans (particularly in New York) are always quick, way too quick, to jump to conclusions and predict downfalls based on small sample sizes.  For the media, it’s ‘cuz they’re looking for stories.  When Amar’e Stoudemire was asked earlier in the week if he thought that the reason Andrew Bogut elbowed him extra hard was due to him being slightly involved in Bogut’s injury the previous year.  Stat’s reasonable response of “It’s possible” turned into a story of him claiming Bogut was purposefully out for payback.  Likewise, with the Knicks at 2-5 and the Heat at 5-4, suddenly people are roaring that neither team is anywhere near as good as people had expected.  Don’t buy it.  Yet.  It’s too early to know these things.  And just like how we don’t have enough information to know what’s real and what’s memorex yet, you also need to take the Golden State Warrior’s marvelous .667 winning record and the Indiana Pacers being at .500 with a skeptical eye.  Heck, I wouldn’t fault you for having two skeptical eyes either.  Let’s look at each team to better understand what’s going on:

(more…)

David Lee returned to New York with style last night. He left in a familiar manner: with the Knicks losing. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The Knicks dropped to 3-5 with their 122-117 loss to David Lee’s new team, the Golden State Warriors.  While the Warriors have been a laughable team, like the Knicks, for the past few years, this year they’ve started out on a tear.  At 6-2, they actually have are tied for the 4th best record in the league.  Yes, it’s early in the season, so that’s a bit of a mirage, but the point is that while they’re not quite as good as that record would indicate, neither are they as bad as their recent history would indicate.

If you didn’t watch the game, the five point difference might seem large, but really it was a one-point game in the closing seconds, that only was extended to five due to purposeful fouls (the last of which shouldn’t have even happened with only 1.5 seconds left, so really the score should’ve been 120-117).  Likewise, if you just look at the box score, you’d see Golden State shot an insane 52.8% from the field and assume our defense is as awful as it was last year.  The truth though is that our half-court defense was actually pretty darn good at times and definitely got us back in the game, despite being down as much as 19.  So what was the real story?

(more…)

Kobe bites his shirt! Does that mean he's worried the Lakers won't be on top this year? Nah, probably he just forgot to eat dinner. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

With the season beginning tonight, it’s time to rank how strong all the teams are at this point.  This isn’t who will be strongest at the end of the season or who will have the best regular season.  This measures how strong each team is right NOW.  If a team engaged in a seven game series today with any of the teams listed below them, I’m saying they’d win.  So yeah, injuries count big time.  And chemistry.  And like, how good they are.  It’s basically a highly complex formula that you mere mortals wouldn’t understand.  Either that or it’s all based on pure opinion.

1. Los Angeles Lakers — Even with the recovering Kobe shooting 28% this pre-season they’d still beat everyone.  Hell, he only shot 24% in Game 7 of Finals.

(more…)

When discussing coaches on the hot seat, consider Don Nelson's butt on fire. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

In the first part, we looked at the coaches in good positions, but today we look at the ones in bad and ugly situations.  We went over those who were Bulletproof, 95% Bulletproof (aka Impervious), Pretty Safe and Fairly Safe.  Note that this is NOT about which coaches are good or bad, simply what the chances are that they get fired during the season.

Maybe Safe… Um, Maybe Not:

Jim O’Brien – Pacers: They’ve been mediocre for several years now and Bird hasn’t fired O’Brien yet.  Although the addition of new exciting young point guard Darren Collison gives hope for the future, there’s no reason to expect this team to be any better this season without a halfway decent power forward, so unless the team’s significantly worse than last year, O’Brien should make it through the season.

(more…)

Many view Kevin Durant as the Second Coming. We see him and the Thunder more likely coming Third through Sixth. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On Wednesday we discussed what the Eastern Conference Playoff picture looks like, and today we go west, young man.  We’d already previously examined how much teams improved/regressed during the off-season, but now we’re talking about how they stack up against each other.  Meaning, we gave Orlando a zero for their summer and the Wizards a +2, but now we’re here to tell you that yes, of course Orlando is still gonna be far better.  For those who haven’t seen those posts on off-season grades, click the following links to see what we had to say about the Northwest, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Also, we’re only gonna be talking about the regular season here.  So even though we don’t think the Celts will be a top two team record-wise, it doesn’t mean we think they’re incapable of making it through the gauntlet again.  Lastly, some teams will be put in clusters ‘cuz they’ll likely end up with similar records and what does a victory or two here and there matter amongst friends?

#1 – Lakers

(more…)

Instead of Phoenix having Amar'e Stoudemire as their starting power forward, they've now got this guy. No, not LeBron, the guy he's dunking on: Hakim Warrick. (source: Yardbarker.com)

Today we go west, young man, to examine the summer moves of the Pacific Division teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers & Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.  We already did the Eastern Conference, so click on the following links to check out our reviews on the Atlantic, Central and Southeast.  Our last two posts will be on the Southwest and Northwest. For the newbies to this series, the rules are again listed below, but the rest of y’all can skip down to the team listings.

(more…)

Randolph In D'Antoni's System? Yes please

According to several sources the Warriors are close to sending Anthony Randolph and others to New York for David Lee.

Knicks Reunion On the Horizon?

Donnie Walsh has already made it known that he will not name a GM until after this summer’s free agent frenzy, but there are already a few candidates on Walsh’s radar.

Walsh’s short list consists of Chris Mullin and Kiki Vandeweghe, but perhaps Walsh needs to look in another direction to take on the GM role.

Mullin was the Golden State Warriors GM from 2004-2009 after the Warriors didn’t renew his contract.

Now let us take a look at Mullin’s track record, but let me warn you it’s absolutely awful.

(more…)

Adam Sandler and Kate Beckinsale have held the trophy more than 14 franchises combined. (source: Yardbarker.com)

As we prepare for the 62nd championship round, one thing is clear: when it comes to winning the whole enchilada, the rich keep getting richer.

-Out of 30 franchises, only 16 have ever take home the trophy.

-Boston (17) and the Lakers (15) have combined to win (32) more than half of the championships.

-By contrast, the next franchises on that list, the Bulls (6) and Spurs (4), won all their rings during one time period and one superstar’s tenure (a certain Michael Jeffrey Jordan and Timothy Salierius Duncan — okay, I made up Dunc’s middle name; anyone know if he’s got a real one?).

-After that we’ve got 3 three-peaters (copyright Pat Riley) with the Pistons, Warriors and Sixers. Followed by 2 two-timers (Knicks and Rockets). For you Knick fans, that means if LeBron comes to NYC and wins 4 titles, that means we jump to #3 on the list!

For the rest of my post, click here for the main FanSided page.

Evaluating players before the draft is not easy, but at least you know who you are talking about. Predicting who is going to get picked when is harder. Everyone has their own ranking system, but the big question is whether a team is going to pick the best player available or pick the player who best addresses the team’s needs.

The other question is, what on earth was that GM thinking? The most recent “what was he thinking” award goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves, for using the 5th and 6th draft picks on point guards (Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio), followed by having one of them (Rubio) make noises that he would never play for the Wolves, and creating a situation where the other, Flynn, felt unsure of the team’s commitment to him, and for good reason.

So for me to say who will make which pick is guesswork, because every year there are inexplicable decisions made, and there are players drafted in the top 20 whose name you hear when he is selected, but then never again. Comparing mock drafts, I have seen players’ names move twenty spots or more.

Mostly, I’m seeing mocks that describe players, not why they will be picked or what the team is thinking. I already wrote about the players likely to be drafted in the first round, so instead, lets’ discuss what the team should do, not what they will do, because many teams have a weird tendency to pick the same type of player over and over regardless of the results. (Lakers trying to find a point guard, Bulls drafting post players, Houston drafting 3’s, Warriors drafting skilled bigs, etc.) Redundancy makes sense for some teams, but for others it’s stupid. I’ll take those case by case.
(more…)

(source: Yardbarker.com) This isn't from Friday's game, but it's exciting lookin', ain't it?

In my last post, I complained about the Knicks’ lack of energy and hustle.  Clearly the players read my blog ‘cuz Friday night they were willing to work.  Yeah, yeah, they lost, but sometimes you can’t control that.  You can always control whether you come to PLAY.

—————————

“If a player fouls out in a game, can they keep on playing?”  Had you asked me that question before this past Friday, I’d've called you a moron for asking it.  Duh, if they get 6 fouls and foul out, clearly they can’t stay in the game anymore.  Seems that’s not true.  Apparently there’s a little clause that perhaps has never actually been invoked before.  The Golden State Warriors have had more injuries this year than a Yao Ming family reunion.  As a result, they went into Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with only 8 players (the minimum allowed under NBA rules).  Within a few minutes Anthony “Don’t Call Me Rob” Morrow tweaked his knee, adding him to the infirm group that included Ronny Turiaf, CJ Watson, Kelenna Azabuike, Vladamir Radmanovic, plus some others that I’m blanking on.

Fine, the Warriors still had two subs.  Unfortunately, D-League call-up, Chris Hunter then fouled out in just 11 minutes.  No worries.  The Warriors pull within 3 with less than a minute left.  And Andris Biedrins fouls out.  Okay, less than a minute to go, no subs.  However, to get the clock to stop running, the Warriors purposely foul the Bucks twice.  And both times it’s rookie Stephen Curry who does it.  The last time there’s only four seconds left.  But it’s his sixth foul, which’d leave the Warriors with just four players.  What happens then?  Do you play four on five?  No, apparently the last guy who fouled out (in this case Curry) gets to come back in!  However, the other team gets a technical free throw in addition to the foul shots they were already getting.

Sad Post-Script #1: Due to the NBA’s minimum requirement of 8 players, for Monday’s game against Chicago the Warriors called up some dude named Anthony Tolliver from the D-League for a 10-day contract.  Did he feel alone being the new guy from the minors?  No, the whole 3-person bench was D-League call-ups.  Tolliver even lucked out and got to start the second half.  That’s when his luck dried out.  He injured his knee and had to leave the game.

Sad Post-Script # 2:  Despite playing against a team with a bench of D-Leaguers, Chicago still lost that Monday game.  By nearly 20 points.

Sad Post-Script #3: Which D-Leaguer got the least minutes on the team?  Answer: None.  Pathetic NBA “regular” Devean George, who started the first half, only played 6 minutes.

————————-

According to NewsOK (apparently that’s the name of an Oklahoma newspaper, although isn’t that kinda like naming your paper NewsFineWhatever?):

Hawks forward Joe Smith, who has written 400 to 500 songs, released his first CD, a 19-track debut entitled “The Beginning,” last season when he was with the Thunder. Smith, whose music name is Joe Beast, hopes to release his second rap CD before the NBA All-Star break.

Really?  400 to 500 songs?  And Joe Beast?  I thought the era of bball players trying to become rappers was over.  With him spending that much time writing songs, it’s no wonder that the former #1 pick has never amounted to anything more than a role player.

———————–
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (a former baller at Harvard) at a recent NCAA convention pretty much said the NBA’s policy of basically “forcing” kids to go to one year of college before they can enter the pros, well, that it sucks donkey meat.  It’s not that he wants everyone to be able to go to the NBA straight outta high school, it’s that he feels like the one-and-done players aren’t getting the true value of the educational experience.  One possible solution is allowing high school players to make the jump straight to the pros, but if they do decide to go to college they then have to stay for two years.  For more info, check out this New York Times’ article, as well as TrueHoop’s exclusive interview with Arne “Don’t Call Me Tim” Duncan.
———————–
Who’s the best player in the NBA?  Dwight Howard’s answer may surprise you:

I tell my friends all the time if I had to chose between LeBron, Kobe and Carmelo, I’m gonna choose Carmelo.

———————–
Would Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson like to also be a General Manager someday so he can control what players his team has?

“I have no interest in that. I don’t want to have to deal with agents. I don’t want to have to lie.”

Wait a sec, doesn’t the General Manager hire and fire the coach?  In other words, the Lakers’ GM is Phil’s boss.  Forget about the fact that Phil makes $10 mill a year or that he’s won 10 championships, who wouldn’t want his job just so you could publicly call your boss a big ol’ liar?
—————————–
Nate Robinson painting.  And yes, I want it if it’s painted on velvet.

——————————–
In a recent post, I showed the Pacers & Knicks beating each other up and lamented that those days are gone.  However, it wasn’t all roses and glory for those Pacers.  Sadly, back then people felt they had to keep their homosexuality secret.  It’s time to come out of the closet.  C’mon Mark Jackson, you’re better’n that!

—————————————
Yao Ming in an Esquire interview on forcing himself to dunk:

When I was young, [in China] we were taught not to dunk. We were taught not to stand out from the rest of the team. It’s different now. The young guys in China are new age. They want to show their stuff. But I am old-school. It was a big adjustment when I first came here to play at a camp. The coaches told me to dunk, but I would lay the ball in. Finally, the coaches made everyone else on my team run laps when I didn’t dunk. I didn’t want my teammates to be punished because of me. That’s how I learned to dunk.

Pretty smart that in order to get him to “stand out from the rest of the team,” they used his desire to be part of the team.

—————————————
Lastly, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and his lovely wife, actress Eva Longoria-Parker (of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) do an amazing job of recreating “Summer Loving” from that Olivia Newton-John classic, “Grease.”  Between this and Joe Smith’s 500 songs, how much free time do these guys have on their hands?