SR – NBA Primetime Preview: New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: New Orleans Pelicans at New York Knicks

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by | Jan 11, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Although tonight’s first leg of the weekly Friday NBA on ESPN doubleheader is severely lacking in star power, there’s always some form of entertainment to be found in a primetime premiere featuring that team that plays in the world’s most famous arena, as the New York Knicks take on the visiting Pelicans at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Whereas the Pelicans are still waiting on the full recovery process for soon-to-be rookie phenomenon Zion Williamson to finally come to a close, the Knicks aren’t all that healthy either in potentially not having Marcus Morris Sr. (who could be one name among many in a Knicks jersey that could be sent in lieu of February’s trade deadline) and that leaves Bobby Portis and company to try and fill in his regular 19 points and 47 percent shooting from deep, considering that Julius Randle is still dealing with personal issues.

What’s even the more difficult task for these 10-win Knicks is having to supply some tough defense against an all-star caliber player in Brandon Ingram, who just loves to excel under the bright lights of the garden. It’ll also be hard for Mike Miller’s rotation of guards to stop Lonzo Ball, who’s averaging a smooth 12 points off an overall 40 percent shooting with an offensive arsenal that’s still growing with confidence.

Still, this matchup is sorely deficient in key pieces on both sides, as Jrue Holiday, Kenrich Williams and JJ Redick will all be out for these 13-win Pelicans. It may not be an overly exciting matchup between two teams that aren’t even in sniffing distance of .500 records, but these games always have a way to highlight guys that usually don’t have a spotlight on them with some memorable performances, especially since they’re playing in the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Jan 11, 2020 No Comments
OKC Thunder Beat Houston Rockets (113-92) As OKC Fans Get A Win/Win In Russ’ Return

OKC Thunder Beat Houston Rockets (113-92) As OKC Fans Get A Win/Win In Russ’ Return

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by | Jan 10, 2020 | Featured, NBA

This game had emotions running wild with the return of Russell Westbrook. This was the first game that Russell Westbrook was playing in OKC as a member of the Houston Rockets. From the walk into the arena to the tip of the game everyone had their eyes on Russell Westbrook. It was weird for everyone to see Russell Westbrook in a Houston Rockets jersey in Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder had played a special tribute for Russell Westbrook pregame which got everyone in their feelings. Westbrook waved at the fans and acknowledged them as he went for his pregame routine of running and yelling to the crowd to hype them up.

 

Once the game started it was OKC from the start to finish as the Thunder could do no wrong. With all the emotion around the return of Russell Westbrook, the crowd was hyped and ready to cheer on their team. It would be Danilo Gallinari who would get the scoring party started for the Thunder as he scored a quick 10 points to get the offense going. The Rockets had no one that was able to guard Gallinari on the mismatch all night and he led the OKC Thunder scoring. It didn’t matter if it was inside or outside Gallinari was making the Rockets pay as he finished the game with 23 points. The Thunder three guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, and Dennis Schröder made it tough on the Rockets all night as well. Shai was able to use his length to create his offense and he was extremely crafty to the rim. When Shai plays with this type of confidence he feels unguardable and his play energizes the rest of the team. Shai finished with 20 points on the night and made the best of every opportunity the Rockets gave him. Dennis Schröder came in and was able to set the tone for the bench as he’s been special all season long. The way that Schröder plays the game and the pace he plays with he was no match for Austin Rivers who was guarding him. Schröder finished with 16 points on the game and he was able to bring that energy to the game that the Thunder needed. Schröder plays with a chip on his shoulder and kept attacking the Rockets players inside the paint with ease. Dennis Schröder has one of the quickest first steps in the NBA and when he decides to make his move he usually blows by the defender. The last of the three guards for OKC that have put this team on their backs is Chris Paul. CP3 has been able to put this team on his back in the second half of a lot of these games as of late and tonight was no different. CP3 finished the game with 18 points but was able to showcase a lot of his talent as he tried to show his old teammates in Houston he still has it. Dennis Scott said “Flashback CP3” the other night and you can tell that CP3 wanted to show he has a lot more in the tank. The Thunder proved it tonight that if they play as a team and a unit that nothing can get in the way of their success. People doubted this team coming into tonight’s game against the Rockets and they proved yet again that anything is possible. The defense from Terrance Ferguson on James Harden was amazing as Harden was held to only 17 points on the night.

 

Tonight was all about Russell Westbrook as he was able to return to the city that he loves. Westbrook had one of his better games on the year as he was the only Rockets player that was able to do anything on the evening. Russell Westbrook finished with 34 points on the night and was attacking the rim like it did something to him. Westbrook said “I felt like I was home” and that’s the way he played as well tonight as he was the Rocket offense. Westbrook had his way in the paint against Shai and was able to hit his mid-range jumper but that wasn’t enough as the Thunder were blowing out the Rockets throughout the game. Overall this was what the Thunder fans wanted and they got exactly what they paid for tonight. They wanted to get all the Westbrook moments that they could get with a Thunder win and that’s what they got tonight.

Jan 10, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder

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by | Jan 10, 2020 | Featured, NBA

In what will be one of the most emotional nights in recent memory, the night of Russell Westbrook’s return is set to be one where there may not be too many dry eyes in the building known as the Chesapeake Energy Arena as the Houston Rockets travel up a state for as the visitors to tonight’s matchup between the Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, set to tip-off at 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT on TNT.

Since the inception of this Thunder franchise, there have been names aplenty that have donned that signature Thunder blue, but nary have possessed the heart of their prodigal son, and literal in-state hall-of-famer in their fan-dubbed “Brodie” Russell Westbrook. In the 11 years he spent with the franchise, he’s stacked up a really impressive resume’, to put it lightly.

Cite up 8 All-Star selections, 2 All-NBA First Team selections, 2 scoring titles, and a league MVP award given to him back in 2017. Aside from becoming the other guard in NBA History to rack up an averaged triple-double for an entire season for almost three years straight, Russ’ philanthropic efforts in the Oklahoma community and the emotional connection he has with the city will always be appreciated, regardless of what jersey he’s in.

Usually, the narrative in this matchup between these two franchises always finds a way to surround the team with James Harden facing the franchise that dealt him, but tonight’s storylines are much different. It’s been a steady path of diffidence and disconnection regarding the stars who have left the nest of Oklahoma City in the franchise’s history, but Russ was always regarded as the one who tried to see the light at the end of the tunnel, regardless of how poorly the infrastructure was breaking down around him.

Now, with a new Rockets team that’s primed to make a run at the Conference Finals, this Rockets team is walking into OKC winning four of their last five games, and with James Harden just crushing any defensive obstacle in his way. He’s been averaging 38.5 points per game – and will probably finish the season being the second player in league history (other than Wilt Chamberlain) to average a 40-piece per outing.

Other storylines include Chris Paul’s revenge against his old “buddies” in the Rockets, the team that exiled him to Oklahoma City due to his “age”. I mean, he’s been balling like he’s been anything but old, putting up a smooth 16 points and 6.5 assists per game, and the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who’s coming into his own from averaging 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals on 53 percent shooting.

This young-but-really-fun-to-watch Thunder team started the year at 11-14, and are now at 21-16 while sitting at seventh in the Western Conference. This may not be a confirmation that Russ and the Rockets win this one by a considerable margin, so it’ll be a tight contest featuring the native son of Oklahoma City doing battle with a team that’s destined to be somewhere in the upper echelon of talented teams someday.

Jan 10, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers

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by | Jan 9, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Boston Celtics roll into the city of brotherly love to do battle with one of the lone teams they have yet to beat in the East this year, as their primetime matinee against the Philadelphia 76ers will be broadcasted at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Fresh off of a disappointing home loss to the Spurs, the Celtics were caught by surprise in a 15-point trouncing, as they let ex-Raptors guard and old Atlantic Division rival DeMar DeRozan run rampant on them to have a signature 30-point night. What was more publicized in the tabloids was the erratic behavior of a Kemba Walker who, before being ejected in the third quarter of Wednesday’s contest, complained about a missed illegal screen call and was bounced after. And that fan that decided to invoke his own say by chucking a beer can over the Spurs bench and across the parquet floor? He was banned for life.

That fan’s anger was understandable (unacceptable, obviously) since these Celtics haven’t started out their 2020 on the right foot, losing two straight after winning two straight to kick off the new decade. The inconsistencies of their stars is becoming a pressing issue, and with guys like Walker and Jayson Tatum (who’s only scored 17 points against the Wizards and 14 points in 31 minutes against the Spurs) is quite the means for concern. Fortunately, their scoring efforts may come a little easier when dealing with a Sixers team that’s going to be without Joel Embiid for an unconfirmed amount of time with a torn tendon in his left hand.

For these two teams in their conference this year, it’s been a tale of two polar opposites. The Eastern favorites that all experts theorized to take heed of their conference is only a game or two out of holding the sixth spot in the division, and these Celtics are only a couple games out of repossessing the second-best spot in the East. As Boston returns to the site of their first loss of the season, the opportunity for the C’s to have the size advantage down low is there for their taking, as the rotation of Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter might have a field day against the Sixers’ lack of depth at the five spot.

That doesn’t mean they’re completely absolved from dealing with the multifaceted, other half of that frontcourt/backcourt, though. The 6’10 guard Ben Simmons, who is averaging nearly 15 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals per contest is still one of the league’s most intimidating defenders and with the addition of ex-Celtic Al Horford who is likely to slide over to that Center spot, the spacing of these Sixers that’s struggled to materialize itself multiple times this season will be a keen factor worth the examination in this primetime matchup.

Sixers/Celtics tips off on TNT at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT.

Jan 9, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors

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by | Jan 9, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The 32-6 Milwaukee Bucks travel to the Bay, and some more pleasant weather, to take on the 9-29 Golden State Warriors for the second stint of Wednesday’s primetime doubleheader at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Obviously, the stars are on the shelf for the nine-win Warriors, so the punch isn’t all that packed for this Wednesday night game. Otherwise, it would have been a marquee source of entertainment considering we’d see a four-quarter battle between Eastern and Western powerhouses in the efforts to supplant a possible finals preview with, y’know, the Splash Brothers going toe-to-toe with the current league MVP and self-dubbed “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo, but karma had other plans.

Instead, we’ll witness a team that’s shifted their starting five so many times with certain pieces that’s two-way contracts almost up have to face the most fear-mongering offensive and defensive juggernaut in perhaps all of the league as the Bucks still possess the top spot among all leaderboards in total wins so far this year.

But it won’t be all that bad for Steve Kerr and his Warriors, right? I mean it was only nights ago that the Bucks got embarrassed by the Spurs on the road in a crushing 126-104 loss which only saw Antetokounmpo score an uncharacteristic 24 points off 41 percent shooting. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe also vastly and surprisingly underperformed this past Monday night, and to make matters a little harder, George Hill is under the weather with an illness, keeping him out of Wednesday’s showdown.

But then again, things haven’t gone that much better for a team that’s still holding onto the third-worst record in the NBA. They got trounced by the Kings via a 111-98 score, which also showed Kerr getting ejected after verbally disagreeing with an official on a missed call. The 26th ranked defense in the NBA is gonna have a bunch on their plate, and maybe a couple of seconds as well in dealing with the most efficient offense in the NBA per their leading mark in scoring and winning differential across the stratosphere of the league.

Other than Eric Paschall, who sits at third in the overall field goal percentage by shooting an average of 49 percent a game, there isn’t much to hang their hats on when it comes to being perceived as that threatening team they once were just a couple of months prior to the beginning of this season. Kevon Looney and D’Angelo Russell with both be out of this matchup, so a win by the Bucks that will come handily isn’t far out of possibility at all. Still, we’ve seen this Warriors team surprise the lot of NBA fans with some upset wins, so the bucks earning win No. 33 certainly isn’t a confirmation, yet.

Jan 9, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks

SR – NBA Primetime Preview: Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks

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by | Jan 9, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Wednesday NBA on ESPN action is ready to go for the channel’s third televised contest of the new decade, featuring the 25-11 Denver Nuggets taking a trip down south to duel with the 23-win Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Though Dallas is only two games down the rankings compared to the second-place Nuggets, tonight may tell a different story regarding these new-look Mavericks, considering that All-Star and MVP-caliber forward Luka Doncic will be without his main comrade in Kristaps Porzingis after the 7’3 Latvian center suffered a slight knee injury that’s kept him on the bench ever since their 108-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers back on December 29.

They’re forced to encounter a now scorching-hot Nuggets team that’s won 11 of their last 14 games and another MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic who is giving all teams fits both on the glass and in the scoring department, averaging a whopping 27 points and 8.3 rebounds in his last three games.

Speaking of his last outing, he dropped a career-high against the Hawks on Monday night, recording an insane 47 points off an efficient 16-of-25 shooting performance with four three balls to boot. He’s finding his groove and the results of every piece of Mike Malone’s rotation pitching in has done wonders for a team that opponents are now gaining a sense of inefficacy in trying to topple them on a nightly occurrence.

The Nuggets’ road trip begins this week with a team that they lost to the last time they squared off against in Rick Carlisle’s Mavericks who are in sixth place in the Western Conference. Dallas, however, doesn’t pose as much of a threat on their home floor as they do on the road, only culminating an average-at-best 11-8 record in the American Airlines Center this year. They’re excited to have pieces in Tim Hardaway Jr. back from an ankle injury, posting a respectable 15 points in a return win over the Bulls earlier this week, but will really have to dig deep to take down another Western powerhouse if they are to find a way to their 24th win of the season on Wednesday night.

Jan 9, 2020 No Comments