If you watch closely every night in the NBA you can learn a little something. We know you are busy and can’t keep up with every game, so we’re here to help with those lessons from another night in the Association. Here’s what you missed while realizing you’re not nearly as lucky as this guy (and not as rich)….
Anthony Davis needs to be mentioned in the same breath with Durant and LeBron. There should be no more debate about who is the best third player on the planet anymore — it is Anthony Davis. And he’s closing in fast on the top two. A few months ago I would have argued for Chris Paul at No. 3, you could have made the case for a handful of other guys and been on solid footing. No more. It is Davis. Monday night he put up a line of 32 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in 31 minutes — and the thing is that’s not even a ridiculous line anymore. He can do that any night. At age 21. In his third NBA season. What he lacks is success in the postseason, but that will come. Oh, and by the way he lifted the Pelicans to a win Monday and they are now just 1.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the West.
Jamal Crawford got hot and carried the Clippers to a win. That was “I should be Sixth Man of the Year again” Crawford. Denver played an active, fiesty game — well, actually pretty much only in the first and third quarters, which they dominated — but in the fourth quarter it became the Jamal Crawford show. He scored 21 points in the fourth, which tied how many the Nuggets had total. He was 3-of-5 from three but he also was attacking the paint and drawing fouls (he got to the line nine times in the final frame). He was a force. Plus he made the play of the game — it was tied 94-94 with about 90 seconds left in the game, Chris Paul made a steal but his attempt at a touchdown pass ahead to Crawford on the run out was too long. Crawford caught up, saved it behind his back to Matt Barnes, who hit the layup to give the Clippers a lead they would never surrender.
Marc Gasol could have played in La Liga. Well, maybe not. Although can you imagine trying to defend him on a set piece? Nonetheless, this was pretty cool (yes, it happened after the whistle blew, so what?).