Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Zach LaVine doing his thing for Bulls

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times discussing Zach LaVine and the Bulls:

Going into the break, LaVine was averaging 28.3 points over his last four games, while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 51.9 percent from three-point range. And oh by the way, also averaging 5.5 assists and five rebounds per game.

The problem is the Bulls also went into the All-Star Weekend losers of six straight.

“I’ve been able to deal with ups and downs really well this year, like a roller coaster,’’ LaVine said. “I feel I’ve been able to be pretty even keeled and not get too high on the highs or too low on the lows, and just lock in and be prepared for each game.’’

At 19-36, the Bulls sit 10th in the Eastern conference. It’s tough for their offense to improve until additional big-time scorers emerge, or get added to the roster. This season, power forward Lauri Markkanen is putting up 15.0 points per game, but nobody else on the roster is even scoring 12 PPG.

Perhaps Otto Porter Jr., who has played in his nine games this season, can add a boost when he returns to action, which could happen later this month.

All Sixers talk starts with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid

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Here’s NBC Sports Philly with an overview of the Sixers as we prepare for the final third of the NBA season:

Let’s start where everything starts with the Sixers: Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. We can debate fit and clashing skill sets all we want. The bottom line is the Sixers need the All-Star duo to be peaking down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Their win over the Clippers before the All-Star break represents exactly the type of performances needed. What was most impressive is that neither player sacrificed their aggressiveness to accommodate the other. Embiid took 17 shots — but also got 13 free throws — while Simmons took a season-high 22 attempts.

While he’s played at an elite level the last 20 games, Simmons’ last 11 may represent the best stretch of his career. The 23-year-old has averaged 12.5 field goal attempts in that span. When he takes at least 13 attempts from the field this season, the Sixers are 17-5. While the jumper may not be there, his improved shot is visible from the line, where he’s hit 73.9 percent on 8.4 attempts during that stretch.

There’s no denying Embiid and Simmons’ importance, but having all of your top-five players is also pretty darn important. The Sixers have only had Embiid, Simmons, Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Al Horford together for 21 of 55 games. That’s just 38.1 percent.

A big season-long question with the Sixers, beyond Simmons and Embiid, is the play of veteran power forward Al Horford. When you watch the Sixers, keep an eye on Horford’s role when Embiid is on the floor vs. when he’s off it.

Of course, that same point can be made about Simmons and Embiid.

This team’s offensive spacing has been a season-long chemistry experiment that is still being figured out.

Hawks TV ratings update

Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with an update on Atlanta Hawks TV ratings for the 2019-20 NBA season:

Ratings have increased 49% in the Atlanta TV market for Hawks telecasts on Fox Sports Southeast, compared to the same point last season — the third largest percentage increase in the NBA, according to a Sports Business Journal analysis of Nielsen data.Nevertheless, the Hawks’ average rating of 0.89 in their home market is the seventh lowest among the 27 teams included in the study. The Hawks’ rating means 0.89 of every 100 TV households in the Atlanta market, or slightly more than 20,000 homes, watch the team’s telecasts on average.

While star guard Trae Young has gotten the Hawks extra attention this season, the recent addition of center Clint Capela, who forms an interesting frontcourt alongside power forward John Collins, should create additional interest in the squad.

The NBA regular season resumes Thursday.

Ben Simmons having excellent defensive year for Sixers

The Sixers are a work in progress this season, but mostly on the offensive side of the floor. Defensively, they’re a success. Oversized point guard Ben Simmons is a big part of that. Here’s PhillyVoice.com discussing his defense in 2019-20:

Simmons has been the team’s most consistent defender on one of the league’s best defenses, and it is his versatility that helps him separate from the pack. Think of all the players he has guarded this season and how different each challenge is. To be able to jump from Kawhi Leonard to Trae Young to LeBron James to Jimmy Butler and often do it well is a hell of a feat.

Night-to-night, Simmons has been asked to jump between positions and shoulder a heavy workload, playing upwards of 40 minutes whenever the Sixers have needed it. Yet he never seems to tire, and some of his biggest moments of the season have come on defense in crunch-time — his back-to-back steals to seal a win against Indiana remain a highlight of the year for Philly.

There are too many mentions of Simmons’ lack of a bigtime outside shot (this mention doesn’t count!) There should be more discussion on how good he is at almost everything else. Including defense.

Celtics will retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey

The Boston Celtics announced tonight that Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Nominee and 2007-08 NBA Champion Kevin Garnett’s number 5 will be retired, joining other Celtics legends to receive the team’s ultimate honor. Garnett’s number will be elevated to the TD Garden rafters during the 2020-21 season.

“I’m honored and thankful to have my number retired with the Celtics,” said Garnett. “I will always have immense respect and appreciation for ownership, Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, my past teammates and Celtic Nation!”

“From the moment he arrived in the summer of 2007, Kevin changed everything for us,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Co-Owner. “His complete commitment to winning was a decisive factor in our 2008 championship. He will always be one of my very favorite Celtics.”

“KG arrived in Boston as a quintessential Celtic who embraced the ‘team first’ ethic and brought a competitive fire,” said Steve Pagliuca, Celtics Co-Owner. “We will be forever grateful for his extraordinary contribution to bringing the 17th championship banner to Boston, and we will always remember him as a leader on and off the court. He was the true embodiment of Celtics pride.”

“Kevin gave everything he had to the Celtics in every practice, in every game, and his unique blend of energy, intelligence, and talent brought out the best in his teammates and coaches,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Andrew Wiggins off to good start for Warriors

Are you mentally prepared to read something nice about Andrew Wiggins?

Hopefully so, because it’s about to happen. Here’s NBC Sports Bay Area reporting:

In his first week as a Warrior, Wiggins is averaging 23 points per game on an incredibly efficient 57.5 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from deep. His 23 points have come on 13.3 field goal attempts per game, rather than the 22.4 points on 18.8 field goal attempts he put up in the first 42 games this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He has shown an impressive ability to make quick moves off the dribble to attack the hoop, and slash through the lane off the ball. Unlike his days with the Timberwolves, Wiggins is buying into Kerr’s free-flowing, ball movement offense, and avoiding unnecessary dribbling and stagnant iso-ball. Per Kerr’s wishes, he also is sprinting in transition and using his athleticism and size to beat his defender down the court.

Of course, this is all well and good, but the real test for Wiggins’ long-term prospects this squad is how he looks alongside a full-strength squad that includes a healthy Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. But we won’t know the answer to that for quite a while.

For now, after one mere week, Wiggins hasn’t disappointed.

Wizards not far from playoffs in East

The Wizards haven’t gotten many mentions this season. That’s what happens when you aren’t playing particularly hot basketball. But lately, the team has been solid on the floor. Here’s the Washington Post with an update:

At the NBA all-star break, Wizards are making outsiders look closer. Washington compiled the fourth-best record in the conference over the last 10 games and are heading into the midseason respite with a 20-33 record. On some nights the Wizards have caught the attention of the Szczerbiaks of the world — beating playoff-caliber opponents such as the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks. However, over that same stretch, they’ve also lost to the worst team in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors…

Despite the up-and-down stretch, the Wizards remain three games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed…

A major reason for the Wizards’ good position has been Beal’s play. Since Jan. 22, Beal has ranked second in the league with a 35.2 points per game average. Although Beal was not voted as an all-star reserve by Eastern Conference coaches, he will enter the break as the lone NBA player to have scored at least 25 points in 12 consecutive games.

Sure, being a few games out of the playoffs isn’t anything to write home about. But a team doing that is playing respectable basketball. Which for this season’s Wizards deserves a nod.

A quick look at Tom Thibodeau Bulls history

Here’s the Chicago Sun Times with a look at former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who says his passion is definitely still in coaching:

In his five years as the head coach of the Bulls, the franchise was 255-139 (.647 winning percentage), posted a franchise-best 86 consecutive-game streak without losing more than two games in a row, and led the league in close-game winning percentage at .626 (66-40).

All of that even with a horrific torn anterior cruciate ligament derailing Derrick Rose’s career, as well as the dynasty the franchise thought it was building.

Thibodeau only had Rose for 47 percent of the games he coached with the Bulls, and when Rose was on the floor, the coach won 73 percent of those games.

We have to think that eventually, Thibs will get an NBA head coaching job again. The only question is when.

Dame D.O.L.L.A. still expected to perform at 2020 NBA All-Star

Damian Lillard won’t be playing in the 2020 NBA All-Star game or firing threes in the three-point contest, due to injury. Suns guard Devin Booker has replaced him in both events.

But his alter ego, Dame D.O.L.L.A., is still likely snatching the mic and spitting lyrics. Here’s NBC Sports Northwest reporting:

For the past three summers, Dame D.O.L.L.A. has released an album each offseason: The Letter O, Confirmed, and BIG D.O.L.L.A. He has also released three singles: “Bigger than Us,” “Run It Up” feat. Lil Wayne and “Shot Clock.”

It won’t be his first time performing live since Dame D.O.L.L.A. put on a concert in 2016 for Rip City.   

It’ll be fun to see what Dame can do live on a big stage with a mic instead of a basketball.

Timberwolves announce updated Season Ticket Member Platform

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the “future of membership” as the organization’s season ticket offerings went on sale today. To reward loyal members and to reignite a fan base following last week’s significant trade deadline, fans who renew or start a season ticket membership will receive:

50% off food, beverage, and retail offerings for the next two seasons when fans use the Wolves Wallet within the Timberwolves App.


Two-year flat pricing carried over from current season for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.


Customized flexibility that allows fans unlimited game exchanges throughout the season.

For more info, you know what to do: hit the official Timberwolves site.