The small ball era had a good run. The Denver Nuggets — led by 6-foot-11, 285-pound center Nikola Jokic — officially expired the small ball era with a brand of old-school basketball principles that rely mostly on size and strength over pace and space. The Nuggets plowed through the 2023 NBA playoffs, winning 16 of … [Read more…]
Jamal Murray had an opportunity to tie the score as time expired in Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals, but his step-back 3-pointer against Jimmy Butler bounced off the rim. It was a shot Murray has made on multiple occasions. When he missed, he was more surprised than than disappointed. It shows the level … [Read more…]
Christmas Day for basketball fans is the unofficial start of the “real season,” when contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders. Seven of the top 10 teams and seven of the 10 best players in the NBA are playing on Christmas Day. There’s no shortage of star power when ABC starts its live marathon … [Read more…]
Anyone who watches ESPN’s “First Take” knows Skip Bayless’ daily diatribe on Russell Westbrook. Bayless slams Westbrook every chance he gets, pointing out Westbrook’s shortcomings as a point guard and how he is curbing Kevin Durant’s greatness. Bayless is right about one thing, and that is Westbrook is not a true point guard. What Bayless … [Read more…]
When the Denver Nuggets had no choice but to trade Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks in the 2010-11 season, Nuggets coach George Karl and general manager Masai Ujiri immediately went to Plan B. The idea was simple: without a true superstar to build around, the Nuggets remade their roster with top-10 talent at … [Read more…]
Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee has so much raw talent that if he ever puts it all together he could be an All-Star. McGee flashed that incredible raw talent Saturday night when he rejected — more like snatched — Zach Randolph’s short jumper at the peak of his jump. It was one of McGee’s four … [Read more…]
The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a shocking trade three days before the 2012-13 season opener. It was a blockbuster trade that will affect the Thunder adversely in the short term, but it was a great move long term. Also, the trade shouldn’t prevent Oklahoma City from winning the Northwest Division. 1-OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER — … [Read more…]
Orlando Woolridge passed away at his parents home late Thursday night in Louisiana at the age of 52. He had a chronic heart condition. Woolridge was a high flying athletic player during 13 seasons spent with seven different teams over the course of his career. He was drafted sixth overall by the Chicago Bulls and … [Read more…]
George Karl summed up Saturday’s thrilling Game 7 playoff battle between the Lakers and Nuggets at Staples Center. The Denver coach said the Lakers’ size proved to be too much for the Nuggets’ speed. Size over speed. That was the difference between the Lakers advancing to the next round and the Nuggets going home. And … [Read more…]
Ty Lawson set the tone for Game 6. He made his first four shots and never stopped getting buckets. The Denver point guard said he got some advice from his shooting coach, and it worked. He made 13 of his 18 shots from the field, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range, to lead the underdog Nuggets … [Read more…]