5. All-Star reserves announced.
When the NBA All-Star game reserves were announced there was a little bit of early leaks from the big name reporters like Wojnarowski, McMenamin and Marc Stein but there was a also small rumbling of who wouldn’t make it.
At the end of the day, 3 Hawks out East, James Harden, Klay Thompson and LaMarcus Aldridge highlighted the names out East and West respectively.
The problem now may be who is going to replace Kobe Bryant as a starter on the Western Conference due to his injury and also Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade might be out for an extended amount of time so there still might be some names to add.
Including one ‘pissed off’ Western Conference star.
4. The Knicks: They are who we thought they were.
Winning 4 out of 5 games was exciting Knicks fans for a little bit, but at the end of the day the Knicks remained the Knicks.
They were blown out by the Indiana Pacers last night thanks to Roy Hibbert’s 18 points and 10 rebounds. Pacers shot a season high 53% from the field and Knicks star Carmelo Anthony scored 18 to lead the Knicks but that wasn’t nearly enough.
They’re still the Knicks, still 9-38 and still have Lou Amundson starting for them. Yes, these are your 2014-15 New York Knicks.
3. Grizzlies continue ‘Grindhouse’ dominance.
They are 20-5 at home, tied for the second best home record in the West and third best record at home overall in the NBA. Just about every major statistical category at home is better than on the road. Last night they destroyed the the Denver Nuggets at home and had no remorse as Zach Randolph aka Z-Bo continued his streak of 11 straight games with a double-double.
There might not be much of a home court advantage in the NBA nowadays but there definitely is one in the ‘Grindhouse’ at the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis.
2. All-Star snubs.
Let’s just do an All-Star snubs game. Here’s my 8 players that would head the teams.
Eastern Conference.
Starters:
G- Brandon Knight, Milwaukee Bucks
G- Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks
F- Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
F- Marcin Gortat, Washington Wizards
F- Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Bench:
G- Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
F- Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets
F- Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference
Starters:
G- Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
G- Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
F- Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
F- Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies
F- DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Bench:
G- Monta Ellis, Dallas Mavericks
F- Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
F- DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
You can make an argument for just about each of these guys.
1. Chicago’s problems are real.
The issues between coach Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls management may have been further magnified by their double overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, who were playing with Kobe Bryant or Nick ‘Swaggy P’ Young on the night.
Derrick Rose in his last 2 games, has scored 47 combined points, 20-59 from the field, 5-19 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 7 assists, and 16 turnovers.
Not exactly great numbers from a former MVP.
The other main issue for the Bulls, their defense. In the 4 years that Coach Tibbs has been at the helm for the Bulls, they’ve never had a defense ranked worse than 3 in the NBA. So far this season, they’re ranked 15th in the NBA.
3 Biggest NBA Stories Of The Day.
Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony talked partnering up.
Statline of the night
Jimmy Butler. 49 minutes, 35 Points on 9-17 shooting, 16-18 from the Free Throw line, 7 rebounds, 3 steals.
Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic. Bucks defeat Magic 115-100.
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers. Pacers beat Knicks 103-82.
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies. Grizzlies defeat Nuggets 99-69.
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers defeat Bulls in double overtime 123-118.
