Daily Zap 26-11-14

Atlanta Hawks (7-5) @ Washington Wizards (9-4)

Paul Pierce passed Jerry West for 17^th on the all time scoring list last night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his Washington Wizards from falling to the Atlanta Hawks. There were 14 lead changes throughout this game but a 12-0 run by Atlanta in the fourth helped them beat their Eastern Conference rivals.

Hawks 107 - 102 Wizards

Key Performers

Paul Millsap - 17 points, 11 rebounds

Mike Scott - 17 points, 8 rebounds

John Wall - 21 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds

Marcin Gortat - 12 points, 11 rebounds

Golden State Warriors (11-2) @ Miami Heat (8-7)

The Warriors are looking more like contenders for the title this year with every game they play, and a comfortable win over last year’s finalists can only help their confidence. The Warriors played well, but they wouldn’t have won this game without Stephen Curry who had possibly his best performance of the season. He shot 12-19 from the field, 8-11 from deep and 8-9 from the charity stripe on his way to 40 points, his highest points total this year.

Warriors 114 - 97 Heat

Key Performers

Stephen Curry - 40 points, 7 assists

Klay Thompson - 24 points

Chris Bosh - 26 points, 9 rebounds

Luol Deng - 16 points

Sacramento Kings (9-5) @ New Orleans Pelicans (7-6)

There was a battle between two rising stars in the NBA, as DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings took on Anthony Davis and New Orleans Pelicans. Cousins was the winner of this match-up as not only did his team win, but he put up the best stats of anyone on the court. The Kings lost the lead just once, and even when head coach Mike Malone was ejected, the Pelicans still struggled to find a way into the game.

Kings 99 - 89 Pelicans

Key Performers

DeMarcus Cousins - 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists

Ramon Sessions - 15 points, 6 assists

Tyreke Evans - 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

Ryan Anderson - 20 points, 5 rebounds

Detroit Pistons (3-11) @ Milwaukee Bucks (8-7)

The Pistons picked up their fifth straight loss, and also had their worst offensive performance of the season. They may have shot a good 46% from the field, but were hampered by Josh Smith’s free throw attempts, who made just 2-10 in the game. They were in contention for most of the contest but lacked a clinical edge as they were dominated in the third quarter.

Pistons 86 - 98 Bucks

Key Performers

Josh Smith - 11 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks

Andre Drummond - 23 points, 10 rebounds

Brandon Knight - 20 points, 8 assists

Eryan Ilyasova - 13 points, 9 rebounds

Chicago Bulls (9-6) @ Denver Nuggets (7-7)

The Chicago Bulls didn’t just lose the game in the Mile High City as Derrick Rose hobbled off the court (with a suspected hamstring injury) after under ten minutes of play. This departure - paired with big men Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson already being out - proved too much for Chicago as they never led in this contest. They looked like they could be in with a chance with ten seconds left as they trailed by just three, but Ty Lawson’s step back  jumper sealed the victory. Denver’s fifth straight win means they are at .500 for the first time this season.

Bulls 109 - 114 Nuggets

Key Performers

Pau Gasol - 22 points, 11 rebounds

Jimmy Butler - 32 points, 9 rebounds

Ty Lawson - 20 points, 12 assists

Kenneth Faried - 12 points, 9 rebounds

Daily Zap 22-11-14

Orlando Magic (6-8) @ Charlotte Hornets (4-9)

The Charlotte Hornets are currently struggling after falling to their fourth straight defeat in the league. They should have won this one as well; holding a 23 point lead going into the final quarter. However, the Magic used a four guard line-up to great effect, wiping out this deficit nine minutes later, and then going into a lead of their own.

Magic 105 -100 Hornets

Key Performers

Tobias Harris - 17 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks

Nikola Vucevic - 14 points, 10 rebounds

Al Jefferson - 24 points, 11 rebounds

Kemba Walker - 15 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists

Phoenix Suns (8-5) @ Philadelphia 76ers (0-12)

The worst team in the league kept their record up as they fell at home to the Phoenix Suns. The 76ers were dominated all game, with a 41-17 second quarter meaning they could never get near the lead. If Philadelphia keep going like this, the Kentucky Wildcats may be looking for a match…

Suns 122 - 96 76ers

Key Performers

Eric Bledsoe - 13 points, 7 assists

Isaiah Thomas - 23 points, 8 assists

Michael Carter-Williams - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists

Alexy Shved - 15 points, 5 assists

Detroit Pistons (3-10) @ Atlanta Hawks (6-5)

The Detroit Pistons are another team who are on a four game losing streak after leading just once in this game. Atlanta’s Jeff Teague led by example on both ends of the court, even managing two blocks, despite being just 6’2”. The Pistons shot poorly as usual, scoring just four three-pointer attempts from 21 attempts.

Pistons 89 - 99 Hawks

Key Performances

Andre Drummond - 13 points, 16 rebounds

Josh Smith - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists

Paul Millsap - 15 points, 12 rebounds

Jeff Teague - 28 points, 6 assists, 2 blocks

 

Milwaukee Bucks (7-6) @ Toronto Raptors (10-2)

The best team in the East continued their dominance as last night, with another blow out. They were better than the Bucks in every way, leading by 52 at one point, while the Bucks biggest lead was one. The Raptors scored 15-25 from deep in this game, an impressive percentage led by Lou Williams’ efforts.

Bucks 83 - 124 Raptors

Key Performers

Jabari Parker - 15 points, 6 rebounds

Kyle Lowry - 20 points, 9 rebounds

Lou Williams - 22 points, 5-7 shooting from three-pointers

Jonas Valanciunas - 18 points, 12 rebounds

Boston Celtics (4-7) @ Memphis Grizzlies (11-2)

The league’s best record was improved once again by a Memphis Grizzlies side who defeated the Boston Celtics at home. Boston never led the game and only the tied the score once; three minutes into the first quarter. The Grizzlies are now 7-0 at home this season.

Celtics 100 - 117 Grizzlies

Key Performers

Jared Sullinger - 13 points, 3 blocks

Kelly Olynyk - 18 points, 6 rebounds

Zach Randolph - 16 points, 16 rebounds

Marc Gasol - 32 points, 8 rebounds

San Antonio Spurs (8-4) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (3-8)

The old boys blew out the new pretenders in Minnesota, to win their third game in a row. The Spurs’ rotation worked brilliantly, with bench players like Aron Baynes and Jeff Ayres contributing to this win as well. The Spurs got past 20 turnovers by shooting well; 55% from the field and 62% from deep. 

Spurs 121 - 92 Timberwolves

Key Performers

Austin Daye - 13 points, 11 rebounds

Tony Parker - 28 points, 3-3 from three-pointers

Gorgui Dieng - 9 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks

Anthony Bennett - 20 points

Brooklyn Nets (5-7) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (3-11)

The Thunder’s woes deepened last night, as their depleted squad lost again. They were trailing by two points with 4.9 seconds left, and had a chance to win the game when Reggie Jackson shot a buzzer beater three-pointer.  Unfortunately his shot was off meaning the Thunder have now lost five in a row.

Nets 94 - 92 Thunder

Key Performers

Brook Lopez - 16 points, 10 rebounds

Jarrett Jack - 23 points, 5 assists

Serge Ibaka - 16 points, 10 rebounds

Reggie Jackson - 21 points, 8 assists

Cleveland Cavaliers (5-6) @ Washington Wizards (8-3)

Things are still rocky in Cleveland, as they fell to Eastern Conference rivals the Wizards. Even Head Coach David Blatt and star player Lebron James admitted the team was bad, as they turned the ball over 19 times in the game.

Cavaliers 78 - 91 Wizards

Key Performers

Kyrie Irving - 22 points, 6 rebounds

LeBron James - 22 points

John Wall - 28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds

Nene - 10 points, 7 rebounds

Los Angeles Lakers (3-10) @ Dallas Mavericks (10-3)

The worst defence in the league were up to their old tricks again last night, as they shipped 140 points to the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs took full advantage of this, as they played all of their available players, with none of them playing for more than 30 minutes. Eight Dallas players ended with double figures in scoring.

Lakers 106 - 140 Mavericks

Key Performers

Kobe Bryant - 17 points, 7 assists

Jordan Hill - 16 points, 10 rebounds

Monta Ellis - 20 points, 10 assists

Dirk Nowitzki - 23 points

New Orleans Pelicans (6-5) @ Denver Nuggets (5-7)

Anthony Davis couldn’t lift his team to another win as Denver won their fifth game in their past six attempts. Six players scored double digits for each side, but Denver’s field goal percentage (52%) was superior to New Orleans’ (40%).

Pelicans 97 - 117 Nuggets

Key Performers

Anthony Davis - 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks

Alexis Ajinca - 12 points, 8 rebounds

Kenneth Faried - 19 points

Ty Lawson - 11 points, 9 assists

Utah Jazz (5-8) @ Golden State Warriors (9-2)

Utah never led in this game against the Warriors, who had a four day rest before this game. This break evidently worked in Golden State’s favour, as their players looked fresh and raring to go, winning the first quarter by 15 points. After that there was no real competition as Golden State continued their dominance of the Pacific division.

Jazz 88 - 101 Warriors

Key Performers

Enes Kanter - 18 points

Derrick Favors - 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks

Harrison Barnes - 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks

Andre Igoudala - 17 points

Chicago Bulls (8-5) @ Portland Trail Blazers (9-3)

The Bulls were under-staffed in this game, missing Pau Gasol, Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose. It proved to be costly as their offence looked poor - aside from Nikola Mirotic’s efforts. Portland on the other hand were impressive from the floor as their starting five shot 63%.

Bulls 87 - 105 Trail Blazers

Key Performers

Nikola Mirotic - 24 points, 11 rebounds

Aaron Brooks - 12 points

Damian Lillard - 21 points, 9 assists

LaMarcus Aldridge - 16 points, 9 rebounds

LeBron Decides

LeBron James has made his decision. After months of speculation and rumours, LeBron told the world that he was going home.

This story was first broken by Sports Illustrated where LeBron discussed his reasons for the move with Lee Jenkins. And the thinking behind writing a magazine column to discuss his choice, rather than a press conference? Apparently, LeBron thinks that “After this, it’s time to get to work”. He also wished to explain himself about Miami without interruption. He said he didn’t want anyone to think “He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riley didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together.” He started off by saying that he now realises that “his relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball”. This is something he didn’t realise 4 years ago, but he can see that importance now. 

LeBron James revealed his decision in a piece in Sports Illustrated

It seems as though forgive and forget was the order of the day as LeBron said that he didn’t have any hard feelings against Cleveland fans. Neither did he have any bitterness towards Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert. You may remember Gilbert from 2010 when he penned a furious open letter about James leaving Cleveland. In the letter, which was released on the Cleveland Cavaliers website, Gilbert described James as a former hero and a coward and described the build up to “The Decision” as narcissistic and self-promotional. LeBron couldn’t exactly ignore this career-defining moment in his essay, but when the time came to talk about it, he was fairly reserved. He said “I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?” It looks as though the past has been forgotten, with the future being the only focus.

Speaking of the future, it is currently unclear as to who James will play alongside. Kyrie Irving is a definite team mate, after he recently put pen to paper on a 5 year, $90 million contract. As is former team mate, Anderson Varejao, who he said he can’t wait to reunite with. He described the Brazilian center as one of his favourite team mates. The big debate is whether LeBron will play alongside number 1 draft pick, Andrew Wiggins, or not. Trading the number 1 pick away without giving him a chance to prove himself may seem like a mad decision, but it is rumoured that it might be the only way to get Kevin Love. The power forward from the Minnesota Timberwolves is said to be intrigued by the idea of playing for the Cavaliers, and will be even more interested now that he will get the opportunity to play with the best player in the league. It could be Love’s best shot at a ring. Also, the Cavaliers are yet to sign Wiggins to a contract, which means he is still eligible to be traded this season. In his interview, LeBron name checked four of his new team mates, who were Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao. Wiggins was not included in this list, despite being the main name on Cavs’ fans lips. This may be reading too much into things, but with the scrutiny this statement must have gone through, surely one of James’ entourage mentioned it to him?

LeBron obviously has many reasons for moving back to Cleveland, not least of which the fact that it is his home town club. The former Cavaliers star “always believed that he’d return to Cleveland and finish his career there”. He also said that we wanted to bring a title to Northeast Ohio, a place that “hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time.” But his commitments to Cleveland stretch beyond just basketball. He said a big factor in his decision was the idea of being able to raise his kids (2 boys, with a girl on the way) in his hometown. Also, he feels that he has a “responsibility to lead” and pointed to the example of helping 3rd graders through his foundations. Although many will see this as pandering to the media attention, it is nice to see an NBA superstar think about more than the money and market of teams.

So, what of Miami? Well, there are plenty of rumours flying around about their other free agents. Ray Allen had hinted at the idea of retirement in this off-season, and said he was going to consider it in his free time. But when Cleveland reportedly came knocking at his door, he is willing to play again. Chris Andersen has already left, Shane Battier has become a commentator and the Miami Heat still only have 4 players under contract. To make matters worse, the one man they thought they could rely on to re-sign a contract with them, Dwyane Wade, is now be linked to his hometown club, the Chicago Bulls. They have tried to convince players to stay by signing free agents Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts, but they’re not the marquee players that will draw big stars to the club. The one saving grace is that their draft selection, point guard Shabazz Napier, is looking promising in his summer league appearances. You can’t exactly replace LeBron James, but there are plenty of small forwards on the market, such as Luol Deng and Trevor Ariza, who could be heading to South Beach. Chris Bosh has been the main target, with the media saying that he is likely to join the Houston Rockets in the next couple of days. However, it was recently reported (in fact, during the writing of this report) by Adrian Wojnarowski that Bosh has signed a $118 million deal that keeps him at the club for the five years. It will be interesting to see how this deal affects the decision of other free agents.

Overall, it’s easy to see why LeBron James returned to Cleveland. Although it won't go down well with those in Miami, Cleveland fans have seen the return of their king. Let’s hope he can bring them some long awaited success.

LaVine Needs to Grow Up

It’s been recently announced that the Minnesota Timberwolves have decided to sign the one of the rookies they selected in the 2014 NBA Draft, Zach LaVine.

 

Congratulations to the young man.

But part of me feels a certain sadness. I'm not a T-Wolves supporter, I admire a few of their players, but I couldn't be called a fan. I do feel sympathy, however, for fans of the franchise. In LaVine, they have signed a player with plenty of potential. He has an incredible vertical leap and has a nice jump shot that can make up for other guards (such as Ricky Rubio) that have less consistent shots. He could be a real prospect for the team.

Despite all of this, people are already calling him a bust from a draft class that was stacked with talent. Why? Because when we found out he was going to Minnesota, his initial reaction was to slam his head on the table. When he raised his head to face the music, he could clearly be seen to say “F**k me”. I mean, seriously? You’ve just been selected to play in the top league in the world and you’re not happy with it? And it’s not like the Timberwolves are a bad franchise to play for either. Yes, they are more than likely going to lose Kevin Love, but they still have good young talent in the form of Rubio and Chase Budinger. They may have missed out on the playoffs this year, but they still had a record of 40-42, which would’ve been enough to get them into the post-season if they were in the Eastern Conference. This is a team that could go places, and instead of thinking of the potential that’s there, LaVine instead chooses to act disrespectfully towards his new club.

Compare this attitude to that of Isaiah Austin. You may remember him as the center from Baylor University, who was told a few days before the draft that he couldn't play professional basketball. This was due to him being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a severe condition that affects a person’s cells and body tissue. When he was ceremonially drafted on behalf of the NBA, tears were flowing from everyone, including Austin himself. He was humbled to even be allowed on the stage of the Barclays Centre to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand, never mind to play in the NBA.

Just to clarify, this isn't a smear campaign against LaVine. I wish him all the best in his career, and I think he could make a big impact on a struggling T-Wolves team (if he can keep his temper under control).

I just wish that people would realise what they have

Jason Kidd Leaves Brooklyn for Milwaukee

It was bound to happen sometime. Put a load of big egos into one club, add a disappointing season and watch the situation turn tense. That is what has happened in Brooklyn, with Head Coach Jason Kidd recently leaving the club.


It all started on Saturday when Kidd demanded from the Nets' front office that he should be placed above General Manager Billy King in the hierarchy of the club. This would see him take charge of the basketball operations side of the club, as well as being the head coach. In the NBA currently, there are four head coaches who have those powers, Gregg Popovich (Spurs), Doc Rivers (Clippers), Stan van Gundy (Pistons) and Flip Saunders (Timberwolves). Between them, these four coaches have 58 years of NBA coaching experience, as well as a lot of years racked up at NCAA and Armed Forces teams. Kidd has one season under his belt at the Nets, which resulted in limited success considering how much money has been put into the side. It's easy to see why he wasn't granted such powers.

Jason Kidd has made some poor decisions in his career, will joining Milwaukee be one of them?

Another reason why Kidd was reportedly unhappy was the contract he was signed to. Despite Brooklyn not being afraid to splash the cash, they didn't indulge too much off the court. Kidd was to be paid $10 million over 4 years, a fair sum for a rookie coach. However, fellow rookie head coach Derek Fisher, has just been paid $25 million for 5 years at the New York Knicks, a contract that is worth double per year. Still, Kidd was earning more than Frank Vogel (Pacers) and Mark Jackson (ex Warriors coach) who arguably had better seasons than the Nets (ignoring the fact that Jackson got fired of course). Evidently this wasn't enough for Kidd, who is now reportedly going to sign a contract worth $4-5 million per year, which is more on par with fellow rookie head coaches, like Steve Kerr (current Warriors coach) and the aforementioned Fisher.

This move has caused repercussions throughout the franchise, particularly with the free agency period beginning yesterday. Shaun Livingston has already left the Nets to sign with the Warriors. Although he stated the main reason he left was due to the Nets not offering a satisfactory contract, he said the Jason Kidd's situation "didn't help matters". Livingston may only be a role player, but the loss could affect the Nets next season. Another player on the free agency market this year is Paul Pierce, and there are rumours that he may be looking for a way out of Brooklyn, having being linked to a reunion with Doc Rivers, out in L.A. It is currently not known whether other free agents, such as Alan Anderson and Andray Blatche will follow suit in searching elsewhere for a contract. The worst situation for Brooklyn is that a superstar, such as Deron Williams or Joe Johnson, leaves the club due to the current instability. However, such moves could be fought against by appointing a new head coach as soon as possible.

Enter Lionel Hollins. The former Memphis Grizzlies head coach has reportedly talked to Nets GM Billy King about taking over the reigns of King's team. Hollins had a fairly successful career at the Grizzlies, leaving with a winning record after his 5 seasons there, guiding them to the conference finals in the 2012-13 season. Many fans were aggrieved to see him leave, believing he'd done a good job at the franchise, and deserved a big contract to thank him. The irony of the situation is that in December, after the Nets had a poor start to the season, there were talks of replacing Kidd, with Hollins one of the favourites to take the job. However, the Nets hung on to Kidd and now, nearly 7 months on, they've gone full circle and are trying to sign Hollins again, with the deal likely to be complete a deal in the next couple of days. If they're unable to acquire Hollins, other options are open to them, most notably Mark Jackson and former Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, both men who can control a squad, and gain the players' respect.

Lionel Hollins could be the man to replace Kidd with his impressive mangerial record.

It will be interesting to see how Jason Kidd does at Milwaukee. He will be going from the side that spent the most on player contracts in 2013/14 to a team who spent nearly half of the $102.3 million put in by Brooklyn. On the plus side, he gets to work with young, promising players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and 2014's number 2 pick Jabari Parker. Also, he's already friends with the new co-owner of the Bucks, Marc Lasry, meaning he may get some leniency from the front office. But the job isn't going to be plain sailing. He is now in charge of the team who had the worst record in the 2013/14 league, and one of the worst records in NBA history. The Bucks were near the bottom in points scored (28th in the league) and points conceded (25th),  and seemed incapable of rebounding (24th). Jason Kidd has one hell of a task on his hands.

NBA Draft 2014 preview

With the NBA season now done for the year, all attention turns to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the 2014 NBA draft will be held on the 26th June.

Of course the excitement for the draft started last month with the draft lottery, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to win the top pick for the third time in four years (including two years on the trot) despite only having a 1.7% chance of doing so. This allows them free rein over a draft class that seems to have plenty of potential all-stars.

After what turned out to be a disappointing draft class of 2013 (in which Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo were the only stand-out men) the class of 2014 looks much more stacked with talent. Players such as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker have gone viral due to the mixtapes they released online. Players from further afield, such as Dante Exum (Australia) and Dario Saric (Croatia) have also caught the eye of many NBA teams, with both prospects expecting to be a top 10 pick.

Anthony Bennett proved to be a blow out 1st pick last season, the Cavaliers will be hoping their draft pick is much more successful this year.

Despite there being plenty of talent in the draft class, there have only been 3 men in contention for the number 1 pick: center Joel Embiid and forwards Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins. These 3 young men have chopped and changed as the favourite for the top spot all year and still, less than a week before the draft, there are no clear signs as to who will occupy that position.

The long-time favourite to secure the number 1 pick is Andrew Wiggins, having gained media attention when his mixtape hit the web, which has since been viewed nearly 5 million times. Since then, he has declared for the NBA draft, making him one of the youngest players in it, at the age of 19. Obviously, his athleticism is what grabbed the media attention, but Wiggins is also known for his impressive shooting ability, especially from beyond the 3-point line. This offensive ability could greatly benefit a team such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished 22nd in points per game last season. But there are worries about how such a young man can adapt to the NBA lifestyle, especially with the 24/7 media attention that NBA players are now expected to deal with. There are also concerns about his commitment and passion for the game, as he sometimes seems complacent on court. Nevertheless, he is still the favourite to become the top pick of 2014, and is tipped to be a future All-Star.

Joel Embiid is a player who has massively increased his draft stock recently, with the Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks inviting him to their draft workouts. The 7' center is originally from Cameroon, but recently has finished his college career at the University of Kansas. He has been compared to Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon, not only because of his size, but also due to his footwork and his efficiency on the offensive end. However, there have always been worries about Embiid's back, which ruled him out of the 2014 NCAA tournament due to him fracturing it months ago. To make matters worse for the big man and his potential suitors, he also fractured his foot a few days ago, which has only lengthened his injury list. This may benefit those teams with lower picks, such as the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic who could pick up Embiid relatively low in the draft. However, there is the major risk that they could be drafting the next Greg Oden or Sam Bowie, both of who struggled for fitness in their NBA years.

Jabari Parker is another man who has cut his college career short to declare for the NBA draft. After Duke lost to Mercer in the second round of the NCAA tournament, he felt that the big leagues were the only place for him. The All-American impressed last season, scoring 19.1 points per game, whilst grabbing 8.7 rebounds every game. These stats may seem superior to Wiggins and Embiid's, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. There have been questions raised over his defence, being seen as too slow to guard the perimeter and too short to guard the post. These worries have caused his potential position in the draft to drop a couple of places. However, it is still predicted by most NBA commentators that the young man will be picked in the top 3, with a move to Milwaukee or Philadelphia looking most likely.

Who will be Number 1? Andrew Wiggins (left), Jabari Parker (centre) and Joel Embiid (right) all have a great chance to become the first pick of 2014

But draft day isn't all about sourcing the best of college talent, there is usually also a variety of trades to be done. The swap that is most likely to grab the headlines this year is the potential move out of Minnesota for Kevin Love. This has been on the books for quite a while now, and draft night looks the night that this deal could finally happen. Every team in the NBA seem to be interested in the power forward, with the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors making the most substantial offers. The deal could easily come down to the fact that the Celtics have the number 6 pick this year (most likely to be Noah Vonleh from Indiana) and therefore another draft piece, while the Warriors have no picks at all, having traded their picks away to Utah and Minnesota.

Kevin Love could finally move away from the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night

Draft days are always exciting, with the actual draft being watched by millions of viewers around the world. But this one, with prospects such as Shabazz Napier and Rodney Hood expected to be picked as low as the number 20 spot, could be extra special.

Spurs Win, Clinch 5th Championship

The San Antonio Spurs closed out the 2013-14 season last night, with a 104-87 win over the Miami Heat. The victory allowed them to clinch their 5th NBA Championship in the past 15 years.

The Spurs hold the Larry O'Brien trophy aloft, the team's 5th championship in 15 years.

For many, including Boris Diaw and Marco Belinelli, it was a first taste of the title, but there was a few more experienced heads on the roster. Tim Duncan became the 26th player to win 5 rings, with Gregg Popovich being the 5th coach to win 5. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have also tasted success before, both of them winning their 4th championship.

They have outplayed the Heat in this series, and that pattern continued last night, with the Spurs cruising past them, despite LeBron James' commendable efforts (31 points and 10 rebounds). You couldn't ask for more from the 4 times MVP, a statement that couldn't be applied to his teammates. Ray Allen shot 1-8 from the field and Chris Andersen managed to rack up 5 personal fouls, despite only playing for 18 minutes. This series could be lingering on James' mind (and Dwyane Wade's and Chris Bosh's) when he comes to make his decision about his contract in Miami.

Kawhi Leonard won an emotional Finals MVP, gaining the title on Fathers Day, 6 years after his father was murdered. It was a well deserved title after he not only kept LeBron James (relatively) quiet, but also managed to average 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds on 61% shooting. He was the third youngest man to receive the award, after Magic Johnson and his teammate Tim Duncan.

The season may be done, but this blog certainly isn't, as I will continue to report on NBA news, such as the 2014 NBA Draft and the fast approaching Free Agency period. Also, the FIBA World Cup will be commencing in August, so expect news and reports from that.

Thank you to my readers for making the first season of my blog possible, here's to many more seasons down the road hopefully.

2014 Finals Preview

So. This is it. After 220 days, 1230 games and millions of Air Miles logged, the NBA championship boils down to one series. The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs may have met last year in the finals, but this isn't just gonna be a re-run.

The NBA finals are always a fantastic spectacle and this year is no different

The Heat are looking to '3-peat', hoping to be the first team to manage this feat since the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-2002. The Spurs are going for their 5th championship. This would also mark the 5th victory for power forward Tim Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich, who are often seen as the backbone of the Spurs squad for the past 15 years.

The rosters are barely changed, Marco Belinelli the only addition to the Spurs squad, whilst the Heat's trio of new players, Michael Beasley, Toney Douglas and Greg Oden, haven't made much of an impact this year. Some players have made big steps in terms of their ability, such as Danny Green and Norris Cole, but overall the line-ups looks fairly similar.

Speaking of the line-ups, it is near impossible to choose which team has the better starting five. At point guard, power forward and centre, the decision is clear as to who is superior with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Chris Bosh taking the honours in their respective positions. Dwyane Wade effectively has to compete against Danny Green and Manu Ginobili, with both Spurs players having equal minutes at shooting guard.

Tim Duncan hopes to lead his team to their 5th title

The key player matchup is at small forward, where LeBron James takes on a rapidly improving, and defensively minded, Kawhi Leonard. However, no matter how well Leonard plays over the series, one thing is certain.

You can't guard LeBron James.

It doesn't matter what defensive strategy Leonard uses against James, LeBron will still be capable of scoring 20 points. Nevertheless, if you had to pick one man to take the unenviable task, Sugar K would be one of the first players picked. He did a very good job last year, and was possibly one of the main reasons the series went to 7.

Ray Allen's game tying 3 in Game 6 was the pivotal moment of last year's play-offs. Could we see another moment like this this year?

Obviously, the main factor to these games is how each team's Big Three perform. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan have all been solid for the Spurs this season, combining for 42 points per game between them. The Miami big three, consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have been more potent at the attacking end, scoring 62 points a game. However, there are doubts over the fitness levels of Ginobili and Wade. Both players are playing reduced minutes due to age and injuries. Bosh choked in last season's play-offs, but will surely relish a second go at it. There are also worries about Tony Parker's ankle injury, but he is expected to play without a minutes restriction.


So, "Who will win?" I hear you cry. The real answer? 

Nobody knows.

That's the beauty of basketball.