Saturday Night Thillers

Multiple NBA Games Come Down to the Wire

Heat 119, Nuggets 116

Chris Bosh dropped 40 points, his highest scoring total as a member of the Heat and Miami avoids losing two straight. Ray Allen hit six three-pointers, scoring 23. LeBron added 20, finishing one board shy of a triple-double. Denver had seven guys score double figures, with Faried and Iguodala leading the way with 22 each. Defenses never showed up for this one, as it was a 35-34 game after one quarter. The key play happened with six seconds left, Miami down three. LeBron found an open Allen, who hit a three while being fouled, converting the four-point play. Denver starts 0-3, but have not played a home game yet. George Karl's team is panicking as Denver is consistently one of the NBA's best teams at home. 

Pacer 106, Kings 98 in 2OT

The Kings are 0-3 after losing a tough one in Indiana. Both teams shot under 40%,but the superior Pacers were able to grind out a win with a balanced scoring attack. All five starters were in double figures. The Kings were lead by sixth man Marcus Thornton and his 26 points. Not the most entertaining double OT game, but the Pacers just hit shots when it mattered, something the Kings could not do. 

Blazer 95, Rockets 85 in OT

Harden and the Rockets were knocked down to Earth finally by Lillard, Aldridge and the Blazers. The Rockets only shot 35%, but had a chance to win it in regulation. Harden had isolation, but was well defended by Wesley Matthews, taking the game into overtime. In OT, Lillard scored 8 of his 20 points and the Blazers rolled. Aldridge lead all scorers with 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds. 

Nets 107, Raptors 100

Basketball in Brooklyn is off to a nice start after the Nets christened the Barclays Center with a win over Toronto. Brook Lopez lead the way with 27 points and Deron Williams added 19 and 9 assists. Lowry and DeRozan carried the Raptors, who played tough. The momentum in the crowd was too much though. With David Stern and Jay-Z in the stands, the Nets won one for Brooklyn and the rest of the Sandy victims. 

Bucks 105, Cavs 102

The thriller of the night took place in Milwaukee, with Brandon Jennings hitting a game-winning three as time expired. Kyrie Irving lead the Cavs with 27 points, including his lay up that tied the game with .07 seconds left. The Bucks got an unexpected effort from Mike Dunleavy, scoring 29 with 12 rebounds. Monta Ellis added 23 and Jennings had 13 for Milwaukee. The Bucks lead the East in scoring last season and are a very dangerous team on nights when Ellis and Jennings are clicking. 

Harden's Tear, Lakers Winless and Carmelo wins one for NYC

     If MVP voting was today, James Harden and his beard would win. As if his 37-12 debut wasn't enough, he followed it up with a a career-high 45 points in a win over the Hawks. Harden didn't need much time to do damage in OKC. In Houston, he's getting all the minutes, but he is not taking a ton of shots. Harden plays efficient basketball and he's been the best player in this very young season. 

     

     The 0-3 Lakers have Kobe panicking and news got worse today when Steve Nash got ruled out one week with a small fracture in his leg. Against the in-city rival Clippers, Howard and Gasol played poorly and the bench failed to show up for a third straight game. It starts with defense. The Lakers have allowed opponents to shoot over 50%. Mike Brown teams are prided on defense and he needs to find a system that works with a less than perfect Howard. World Peace has looked awful this year, and the Lakers may need to bring in outside talent. But if nothing else, Kobe looks destined to make another run at a scoring title. 

     Carmelo began with a speech to an emotional Garden crowd and seconded that act with a 16-point first quarter. He finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds on the way to a blowout win over the Heat. He was helped by 19 made three-pointers. The Knicks jumped ahead via Carmelo's huge first quarter and coasted from there on the strength of three balls from Kidd, Felton and Novak. The Heat aren't panicking. New York needed this one more for their city and to set a tone for their season.    

Award Predicitons

MVP: Kevin Durant 

An MVP trophy is the next logical step for Durant. He is the league's best scorer and he will take control of the Thunder this year. In Harden's absence, he will take over fourth quarters and end any debate about Westbrook being the guy. He and LeBron will have similar seasons, but the expectations for KD are slightly lower. Voters get tired of seeing the same MVP every year (Jordan). That will allow Durant to squeak out a majority of votes. 

Challengers: LeBron James and Chris Paul

Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis

It is completely his award to lose. He is the best rookie by a wide margin. Already the best player on a decent Hornets team, Davis will likely lead them in points, rebounds and blocks. Damian Lillard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are very talented, but Davis's ability is that of a superstar in the making. In previous years, we've seen one rookie emerge alone from a so-so draft class. This year Davis emerges in a great crop of rookies. 

Challengers: Damian Lillard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Coach of the Year: Doug Collins

His Sixers start the year without Andrew Bynum, but Collins will hold his young team together until their star center gets healthy. Collins is one of the best coaches never to win this award and if he can coach the Sixers to a top-four seed in the East, he will be a leading candidate. 

Challengers: Tom Thibodeau and George Karl

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford

Unlike last year with Harden having this award always won, there is no clear front runner to begin the year. Jamal Crawford won this in 2010 and he will win it again as a Clipper. With Griffin and Jordan clogging the paint, Chris Paul will find the shooters on the outside. Crawford has played his best when on winning teams and the Clippers are certainly a very good team. He scored 29 in the debut and if his scoring average his in the high teens, Crawford will take this award home.  

Challengers: Ray Allen and Taj Gibson

Most Improved: Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe winning this award is very contingent on Vinny Del Negro starting him over Willie Green in the near future. Bledsoe is an elite athlete and will greatly benefit from playing next to Chris Paul (sound familiar). In his third year, Bledsoe seems to understand the NBA game and is talented enough to deserve more minutes. If he can get the time, Bledsoe will show just how good he can be.    

Challengers: Omer Asik and Evan Turner 

The Dazzling Debuts of Harden, Davis and Lillard; Lakers 0-2

     Whatever your opinion is on the James Harden trade, right now it's Rockets 1, Thunder 0. He certainly looked like a guy who can carry a team Wednesday night as he lead Houston with 37 points and 12 assists in route to a win over the Pistons. He looked great playing alongside Jeremy Lin and the Rockets have got to be thinking playoffs now. Harden, in his fourth season, played like the perfect combo guard. He is just as comfortable making plays as he is finishing them. An unselfish player in OKC, Harden clearly has no problem being 'the guy'. It was a great day for Harden, as his great game came hours after he signed a max deal of five years, $80 million. It's only one game, but Harden's Rockets debut couldn't have gone better.
     What better way for Anthony Davis to begin his career than play against the guy he should emulate. Tim Duncan and the Spurs got the best of Davis and the Hornets, but the 'Brow played like a top pick for sure. His 21 points and 7 boards were nice. But perhaps more impressive were the zero turnovers and perfect night at the line. Duncan wasn't about to be outdone by a rookie though. He finished up with 24 and 10, helped by strong efforts from Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard. A tough home loss for the Hornets no doubt, but they will be very competitive this year. Clearly Davis is a star in the making.
     The other strong rookie debut happened later in Portland. Damian Lillard had 23 points and 11 assists as he lead his Blazers to an upset of the Lakers. Lillard just looks like an NBA point guard, fitting the mold of Kyrie Irving. His presence energized his Blazer teammates. Aldridge, Hickson, Batum, and Matthews all played well. Highly-drafted scoring point guards have transitioned well into the NBA and Lillard looks like the newest addition to that list.
    It's not an NBA blog without one Lakers mention, so here you go. Howard played well, with 33 points, 14 boards and 15-19 from the line. Kobe went for 30 on 10-20 shooting. Gasol also had a nice game. So why is the Lake Show 0-2? Steve Nash has been non-existent, and it didn't help that he left last night's game in the 3rd with a bruised leg. He will miss valuable practice time as he recovers. But most of all, it's the bench. Lakers subs have been a let down and Mike Brown needs to scramble to find a rotation that works. A team with defensive stars such as Howard, Kobe and Peace should not allow 116 points to the Blazers. Still no need to panic, but an 0-3 start looms as the Lakers get a good Clippers team on Friday.
   

Opening Night Recap: Heat Impress, Lakers Stumble

Heat 120, Celtics 107
     Miami started off their title defense in impressive fashion, scoring 120 points and shooting at a 54% clip. LeBron dominated with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but missed most of the fourth with leg cramps. Wade had 29 points and Bosh had 17, including some big dunks and free-throws to close out the game. Ray Allen came off the bench and looked good against his former team. He had 19 points on 5 for 7 shooting.
     Boston got strong efforts from Pierce and Rondo, but their team defense struggled. The Celtic role players shot the ball well, with the exceptions of Jason Terry and Jeff Green. Terry was 2-7 with 3 turnovers in his first game as Boston's sixth man. Courtney Lee and Leandro Barbosa looked good, with Barbosa leading a late fourth quarter charge. Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass had decent games in the frontcourt, but were overwhelmed at times by Miami's speed.
     This one got chippy late after Rondo hooked Wade on a drive, receiving a flagrant 1 foul in the process. Rondo also received a technical in the first half.
      LeBron's leg cramps may be worrisome for Heat fans after he was forced to miss the end of a Finals game with the same injury last season. With the next game Friday, LeBron will have ample time to rest and should be at full strength. I guess even the world's greatest athlete can get cramps too.

Mavericks 99, Lakers 91
     A disappointing start to the Dwight Howard era no doubt. A balanced Mavs team held the Lakers to 91 points in a surprising opening night upset.
     Howard, Kobe and Gasol all had decent games, but the chemistry was off. Kobe's foot injury looked to slow him down as he never appeared in the flow of this one. The offense stopped each time he touched the ball. Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds, but his 3-14 night at the free-throw line is very concerning moving forward. He also fouled out with two minutes to play. Nash was quiet with only 7 points and 4 assists. He did not look like a good fit in Mike Brown's offense last night.
     The Mavs, playing without Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman, were lead by point gaurd Darren Collison's 17 points. Collison ran the offense and was able to make enough plays down the stretch to keep the Lakers down. Brandan Wright had 14 points on 5-5 shooting and O.J. Mayo had 12 points in his first game with the Mavs.
     With all the talent, this is a disappointment for the Lakers, but they should be fine. The kinks will take a while to fix, but they have a chance to bounce back tonight against the Blazers.

Northwest Preview

Our sixth and final divisional preview come just in time for the NBA season. The Northwest's best team, Oklahoma City just traded James Harden in a shocking deal, but one that won't effect their status as the class of the division. Denver also shook things up a bit, acquiring Andre Iguodala this summer. Utah, the Northwest's third playoff team last season pretty much stood pat in the offseason. Minnesota made moves to position themselves for a playoff spot and Portland hopes their two highly-drafted rookies can help LaMarcus Aldridge this year. Teams are listed in order of predicted divisional finish. 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

It's the big two now, but it's a lethal two. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are two of the most exciting young players in the league. The Thunder think these explosive scorers can bring a title to OKC with the help of a supporting cast that plays well together. Serge Ibaka will continue to be a shot-blocking machine. Newly-acquired Kevin Martin will take Harden's spot and will not hesitate to look to score. Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones III are two talented rookies that will learn from Durant and Westbrook on how to win the the NBA. Defensively, the Thunder rely on Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha. While losing Harden was surprising and possibly premature, the Thunder are still in great shape as one of the two prohibitive favorites in the West. 

2. Denver Nuggets

The team that lead the NBA in scoring last year is primed to do it again. The Nuggets roll out a nice starting five of Ty Lawson, Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, and JaVale McGee which may be the most athletic lineup in the NBA. Iguodala is an upgrade over the departed Arron Afflalo. His all-around game fits George Karl's scheme perfectly. The other four starters are all still developing. McGee has the tools if he can just limit the questionable plays. Faried a.k.a. Manimal may be an undersized power forward, but makes up for it with athleticism. He averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds last year. Gallinari is a three point specialist who has consistently averaged 15 points in his career. The key though is Lawson. He can absolutely light it up and is close to becoming an All-Star. His speed is unmatched and he has been a better NBA scorer than anyone predicted. With Wilson Chandler as a sixth man and other good bench players like Andre Miller and Timofey Mozgov, the Nuggets will be very tough and certainly entertaining. 

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

A popular sleeper in the West, the Wolves are off to a rough start after Kevin Love broke his hand. He will miss the first month of the season. This is a huge blow as Love is the unquestioned leader of the team and a top ten player in the league. What makes matters worse is that flashy guard Ricky Rubio will be out until December as he recovers from a torn ACL. For now, the Wolves have to rely on Derrick Williams, Chase Budinger, Luke Ridnour, and Brandon Roy. Rick Adelman will get the most out of his team while their stars recover. But no one is happy to see a good young team in Minnesota have injury issues before the season starts.

4. Utah Jazz

The Jazz made the playoffs last season before being promptly swept by the Spurs. They bring back the same guys this year, except for Devin Harris being replaced by Clipper guards Mo Williams and Randy Foye. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap lead the frontcourt, but one may be traded to make room for the blossoming Derrick Favors. Guard Alec Burks showed some nice scoring ability as a rookie last year. Overall, the Jazz have pieces, but there's no true plan here. Favors, Burks and Gordon Hayward are good young players, but it's unlikely that one will become a star. The Jazz may not be so lucky to make the playoffs this year, especially if they trade one of their two best players in Jefferson or Millsap. 

5. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers have to be excited about sixth overall pick Damian Lillard this year. He had no problem scoring in the Summer League and is second in most preseason Rookie of the Year Polls. The best rookie point guard, he and center Meyers Leonard are the rookies that Portland hopes will be part of a change. Aldridge will continue building off his All-Star season. The addition of Leonard will help him play his versatile inside-out game. A supporting cast of Wesley Matthews, J.J. Hickson and Nicolas Batum are all capable role players. Portland is not as bad as they played last year. Whenever a coach is fired, there is usually a detrimental effect to the team. They will be a long shot to make the playoffs, but there is a chance. If  Aldridge can continue to play well, Lillard can score immediately and Batum continues to hit 3's and play perimeter D, Portland will be a team with a lot to like.  

Season starts tomorrow. Heat-Celtics at 8. Lakers-Mavs at 10:30. Both games on TNT. Definitely will be worth watching. 

Breaking Down The James Harden Deal

    It sent shock waves across the sports world Saturday night. It dominated over the World Series and college football. Believe it or not, James Harden is now a Houston Rocket. This trade breaks up one of the best young trios the league has seen. With three Olympians all 24 or younger, the Thunder have made the decision to part ways with the best sixth man and third best shooting guard in the NBA. 
   Here's the deal: The Rockets get Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, and Lazar Hayward. The Thunder receive Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-rounder. It's hard to say who wins in this deal, especially with no games played yet. But for the short-term, this hurts OKC. Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook loved playing together and had just tasted the Finals. Admittedly, Harden had a bad Finals, but these three were the core of one of the best and most exciting teams in the league. Here are reasons why this trade works for the Thunder, Rockets and Harden.
    Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb are both nice shooting guards, but very different. Everyone knows what Martin will give the Thunder. He is a one-dimensional scorer who has never played on a contender. He will likely be the sixth man. Martin can succeed in this role because he is an aggressive shot taker who will be more than comfortable as the go-to scorer for OKC when Durant and Westbrook are on the bench. Lamb is an athletic guard who was the 12th pick in this year's draft. He was the best player on a very young Connecticut team. He can play well with stars as we saw when he was Kemba Walker's sidekick in 2011. He will learn from Durant and will be able to do more than Cook ever did. Lamb has a bright future and was a top 10 player in this year's draft. The two first round pick are uncertain right now. The Thunder may trade those, but one is lottery protected, which means the pick will stay in the top 14.
    The Rockets can hang their hat on this no matter what: They got the best player in the deal. Harden will average at least 20 points and will be an All-Star in an expanded role. Houston's intentions are clear. They will sign Harden to a max deal and they think they can compete with him as their best player. Things will be more difficult though after overpaying both Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, but still they have cap room. Harden joins the Rockets on the brink of his prime, and Houston hopes that he lives up to all the expectations.
   Harden will get a max deal in Houston. The $80 million for 5 years is much better than the $55 million for 4 years he would have gotten in OKC. Like his college days at Arizona State, he will clearly be the best player on his team. For Harden, this will be a tough adjustment. There will be no Durant or Westbrook to give the ball to. This year in Houston will show what Harden can play like with a team on his back.        
   OKC could have played the season out and then figured out the Harden situation, but an aggressive move by GM Sam Presti sent Harden away seemingly out of nowhere. Presti figured that he could get more for Harden the sooner he acted. However you break this deal down, the end result is shock on the eve of the NBA season. The exciting trio of Durant/Westbrook/Harden is now nothing more than a memory.