Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Good morning. James Harden is quieting his critics. (Except Chuck.)
That and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter. Subscribe!
THE SUNS WILL COME OUT: Phoenix has dropped five of six games, including Tuesday’s tilt against the Rockets, and are now tied in the loss column with New Orleans and Oklahoma City for the No. 8 seed. Welp! There’s a sizable gap between the teams and No. 7 San Antonio as well, so unless L.A. completely bottoms out without Blake Griffin or some other star gets hurt, only one of these squads is getting in. Phoenix needs to get right, and fast.
OTHER SCORES: The Pistons beat the Hornets in a potentially important tilt. See that recap and more at our NBA Scores hub.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Here is, without a doubt, the stupidest, most useless, most uninformed rant about basketball analytics you will ever hear, courtesy of one Charles Barkley. I share it only because folks will be talking about it and you, dear reader, deserve to experience the full idiocy if you so choose.
PALATE CLEANSER: DeMarcus Cousins crooning over that Boyz II Men.
WE HAVE A TREND: Another team, the Suns, completely botched a basic inbounds pass. COME ON GUYS.
THE SADDEST THING IN THE NBA: Brian Shaw is trying to Cool Dad the Nuggets. It’s not working. (Well, maybe it is. Ty Lawson had 32 and 16 on Tuesday. Against the Lakers, but still.)
WE HAVE A TRADE! Two of them, actually. Mo Williams and Troy Daniels to Charlotte for Gary Neal and draft considerations. Atlanta shipped Adreian Payne to Minnesota for a future protected first, opening up a roster spot for a free agent (maybe Ray Allen?) and clearing a path for Walter Tavares next season.
KORVER’S IN! Dwyane Wade will miss the All-Star Game, so Kyle Korver is in. There’s only one more potential injury case (Carmelo Anthony), but since the game is in NYC expect he’ll stay in. Sorry, Brandon Knight.
GOLDEN AGE OF BIG MEN: Zach Lowe on the rebirth of the big man league.
KLAY RISING: Ed Maisonet on Klay Thompson rising to join Stephen Curry at the top of the Warriors’ pecking order.
MEET D’ANGELO RUSSELL: The Ohio State guard is the hottest draft prospect in the country right now.
PRETTY GOOD: As for televised rants, it’s hard to beat Keith Olbermann on James Dolan.
Happy Wednesday. See you next time.
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