Month: December 2019

Bucks winning streak reaches 14 games

 

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The Milwaukee Bucks are on a 14-game winning streak. They’ve won 18 of their last 19 games, with the only loss in that stretch coming on the road in Utah against the Jazz.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the following: “On Friday night at Fiserv Forum, those philosophies met head-to-head as the Bucks and Clippers squared off. Yes, they played a month prior in Los Angeles, but Leonard and George sat out that night. This matchup, then, was understandably hyped as a clash between two teams in the upper echelon of the NBA at full strength for the first time. By the time the final buzzer sounded, a clear and emphatic statement had been made that will be heard league-wide. The Bucks, with contributions from up and down their roster, had orchestrated a devastating masterpiece, trouncing the Clippers, 119-91, for their league-leading 14th win in a row.”

Through Friday’s games, the Bucks have the NBA’s second best offensive rating and the best defensive rating. This is serious.

If the regular season ended today, I’d have to give the league MVP award to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 30.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

This squad is must-watch right now.

Next up, a home game on Monday against the Orlando Magic who are a respectable 11-11 so far this season but like everyone else in the league faces an uphill battle slowing this Milwaukee squad down.

After NBA career, Enes Kanter could become WWE wrestler

Very few athletes are tough enough to become WWE wrestlers. But NBA players aren’t like most athletes.

TMZ.com reports the following:

Enes Kanter already has a sick retirement plan in place when his NBA career comes to an end … telling TMZ Sports he’s already in talks to join WWE full time!!!

Of course, the Boston Celtics star is no stranger to the squared circle — he VERY briefly held the 24/7 Championship at Monday Night Raw back in September, but then lost it moments later to R-Truth.

Kanter is listed at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, which by wrestler standards places him on the lighter side when taking his height into account. But it’s still easy to visualize him as a future wrestler. And almost as importantly, it seems like he’d have a lot of fun and would put his heart into it. So here’s hoping it happens.

But for now, the Celtics center, still just 27 years old, has many NBA years left to play.

Showtime Lakers TV show coming to HBO

A basketball TV show is reportedly coming to HBO that will focus on the 1980’s “Showtime” Lakers.

Deadline.com reports the following: “HBO has given a series order to The Untitled Lakers Project, a one-hour limited series drama based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, produced by Oscar winner Adam McKay’s Hyperobject Industries. The project marks the first limited series under Hyperobject Industries’ recently announced five-year, first-look television deal with HBO, to develop content for both HBO and HBO Max.”

I don’t actually have HBO, but we’ll see if that changes between now and the time the show comes out. But of course, we’ll tell you more about it as the show begins taping and eventually does materialize.

Trail Blazers to keep Carmelo Anthony for remainder of 2019-20 NBA season

The Portland Trail Blazers have amended the contract of forward Carmelo Anthony to be fully guaranteed for the 2019-20 season.

In eight games (all starts) since signing with the Trail Blazers on Nov. 19, Anthony, 35, has averaged 16.9 points (44.8% FG, 38.7% 3-PT, 86.4% FT), 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Anthony (6-8, 240) was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 1 after averaging 22.3 points (57.4% FG, 45.5% 3-PT, 88.9% FT), 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while helping Portland to a 3-0 record.

Bulls forward Otto Porter out at least two more weeks

 

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Chicago Bulls small forward Otto Porter Jr. has only played nine games this season and hasn’t played since November 6, and today it was confirmed by the team that he will miss at least a few more weeks.

An MRI on Porter’s left foot this Wednesday revealed continued bone edema.

Following a brief period of immobilization, Porter will engage in a program of non-impact activities and targeted therapy.

In two weeks, he will be examined again, and his status updated.

This season for the 8-14 Bulls, Porter in nine games, all as a starter, is averaging just 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.1 minutes per outing.

The team is being led in scoring by Zach LaVine at 22.5 points per game, but no other Bull is scoring as much as 14 PPG.

Chicago’s defense has been above average this NBA season, but their offense has been one of the least efficient in the league.

Marvin Bagley should return soon for Kings

Following his six-week evaluation by the team’s medical staff today, Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (right thumb fracture) has been cleared to resume full-contact basketball activities.

Bagley will be listed as day-to-day moving forward.

This is great news for the Kings, who are still awaiting the return of point guard De’Aaron Fox.

Good game by Richaun Holmes in Kings loss to Blazers

 

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The Kings fell to the Trail Blazers 127-116 in Portland yesterday, but a bright spot for Sacramento was the play of big-man Richaun Holmes.

Here’s the Sacramento Bee:

The Kings (8-12) were playing without guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who joined point guard De’Aaron Fox and forward Marvin Bagley III on the injured list. Bogdanovic was held out with a right knee contusion, but his left hamstring injury was improving, the team said. He is listed as day-to-day.

C.J. McCollum scored 33 points, Hassan Whiteside turned in a monster performance and Carmelo Anthony had another big game for the Blazers (9-13). Damian Lillard had 24 points and 10 assists. Whiteside put up 22 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots. Anthony finished with 20 points.

Richaun Holmes had a career-high 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost 12 in a row in Portland since posting their last win there on Dec. 8, 2012. Buddy Hield scored 23 points. Nemanja Bjelica had 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Holmes shot 11 of 14 as the starting center in this game.

The Kings are now 8-12 for the season. They’ve only had Marvin Bagley in action for one game, and De’Aaron Fox for nine. Neither player is ready to return just yet.

In battle of East contenders, Celtics beat Heat 112-93

In a must-watch game of upper Eastern conference teams Wednesday, the Boston Celtics handed the Miami Heat a loss.

The Boston Herald had this to say:

Miami came in with a homewrecking reputation. The Heat was the first road team to win in Milwaukee and Toronto this year — the latter on Tuesday night.

And when the Celtics fell behind by 11 points in the second quarter last night, the locals appeared headed down a familiar path. Ultimately, they remain undefeated at home.

By the time Jaylen Brown had hit his sixth 3-pointer with just under six minutes left last night, though, the threat was cleared away. The Celtics beat Miami, 112-93, with the wing forward scoring a season-high 31 points — one shy of tying his career high. Brown also spent most of his night chasing and being chased by Miami’s Jimmy Butler.

The latter, who has led the Heat’s hot start, led both sides with 37 points and six 3-pointers.

The best East teams early this season have been the Bucks, followed in no particular order by the Raptors, Celtics, Sixers and Heat. Anytime any of these teams play each other is must-watch. And once the Pacers have Victor Oladipo back in action, they’ll be in that mix as well. They’re almost there right now.

Pacers awaiting the return of Victor Oladipo

 

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The Pacers these days always do better than many people predict. Right now they are 13-7, good for sixth best in the Eastern conference standings and are enjoying big-time seasons from Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and T.J. Warren, plus Jeremy Lamb – though injury put a stop to that.

All while waiting for the eventual return of star shooting guard Victor Oladipo.

Here’s the Indianapolis Star with more:

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo doesn’t stand out in his gray Fort Wayne Mad Ants practice jersey.

It’s his third practice in five days with the Pacers’ G League affiliate, and the All-Star guard looks like just another guy. He’s not displaying his elite start-stop ability, lateral quickness and athleticism during Wednesday’s 5-on-5 portion of practice, but that’s by design.

The former Most Improved Player is working to regain his feel for the game. He’s been playing 5-on-5 since early November, and getting up and down the court in a scrimmage situation is an encouraging sign of progress more than 10 months removed from rupturing his right quad tendon.

Brogdon has been a fantastic addition to the team. He’s having an excellent season and we look forward to seeing him play alongside Oladipo. Hopefully that happens in the very near future.

A must-watch NBA game tonight: Heat vs Celtics

The Miami Heat (15-5) visit the Boston Celtics (14-5) tonight in a game that definitely has our interest. Each team’s most recent game results are below.

THE MOST RECENT HEAT GAME

MIAMI HEAT 121, TORONTO RAPTORS 110 [OT] (12/3/19)

The Miami HEAT became the first team to get a win in Toronto this season after defeating the Raptors, 121-110, in overtime. Miami shot 54.2 percent from the field in the first as they took a nine-point, 32-23, lead after one. Toronto was able to cut the HEAT lead by four in the second as Miami held a five-point, 58-53, lead at the half. The Raptors shot 58.8 percent from the field in the third, again cutting the HEAT lead, this time to two, 83-81, entering the fourth quarter. Miami held their lead throughout the fourth until Toronto took a one-point, 108-107, lead with 43.2 seconds remaining. Jimmy Butler would hit 1-of-2 free throws on the HEAT’s next possession as each team missed their final shots, sending the game into overtime. Butler began overtime quickly scoring the first eight points as Miami went on to outscore the Raptors 13-2 in the quarter to take the, 121-100, victory. Butler finished with a 22-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist triple-double as Duncan Robinson scored 22 and Justise Winslow added 17 off the bench. Norman Powell led Toronto with 23.

THE MOST RECENT CELTICS GAME

BOSTON 113, NEW YORK 104 – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (12/1/19)

The Celtics turned up the defense in the fourth quarter as they came from behind to beat the Knicks 113-104 at MSG…Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 30 points to go along with a career-high seven assists while Jaylen Brown added 28 points and five boards…Kemba Walker picked up his first double-double with 16 points and 10 assists while Enes Kanter also added a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds…The Knicks were led by Julius Randle and his 26 points and five rebounds while Dennis Smith Jr. added 17 points and seven assists off the bench.