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 thinking you need to go see Birdman…
1) Would NBA stars stop getting injured, please. No Stephen Curry. No Anthony Davis. No Kevin Durant. No. LaMarcus Aldridge. No Blake Griffin. And that’s just the guys injured the past couple weeks, we’re not even getting into the Paul George’s of the world. Enough with the injuries already, basketball gods. We have a potentially epic playoffs coming up in the Western Conference, don’t go messing with that. Enough is enough.
2) Richard Jefferson can still get up and dunk hard. This dunk was near the top of the list of things I never thought I’d see at this point in his career. And there is no way that’s an offensive foul in my book.
3) Durant or no Durant Oklahoma City keeps on rolling. I’m not saying Russell Westbrook should be the NBA MVP; I’m just saying it’s a five-person ballot that gets handed out and Westbrook should be on that list. Durant is out for at least a week (expect more like two or three, they will be cautious with him) and on Sunday Westbrook responded with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting plus 17 assists in OKC’s win over hapless Denver. The Thunder also got 20 points and 12 boards out of Enes Kanter and nearly 30 minutes out of D.J. Augustin. That can help keep this team in the playoffs while Durant gets healthy.
4) Amar’e Stoudemire had some bounce in his Dallas debut. Lest you had any doubts, Amar’e Stoudemire can still get up and throw it down. In just more than 11 minutes in his Dallas debut, Stoudemire had 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and he got most of that right at the rim. I have my questions about if he can sustain that level, but if he keeps throwing down dunks like this he’ll do just fine.
5) If you’re sleeping on Memphis you’ll reget it. Consider this your weekly reminder that the Grizzlies are very good — there are three 40-win teams in the NBA so far and Memphis is one of them (Golden State and Atlanta). On Sunday, Portland looked like it would run away with this game when they put up a 39 spot in the third quarter at home. But Memphis just keeps grinding, keeps making plays, they went on a 12-0 run of their own in the fourth quarter and made the comeback. The dagger came on a simple little pick-and-roll where Mike Conley fed Marc Gasol for the midrange jumper. Sleep on Memphis at your own risk, this team is elite.
