NBA Game Spotlight: Cavs vs. Warriors – The Next Chapter
In the past, a handful of basic precepts defined how the N.B.A. and the shoe-company nation-states dependent on its stars marketed themselves: Big cities beat small ones. The biggest men are harder to market than their closer-to-normal-size teammates. The more television exposure, the better. Winning matters. Also important is relatability, or the connection between player and consumer, which usually involves the players personal biography. Larry Bird was the Hick From French Lick, in Indiana; LeBron James might as well have just walked off a factory line, so completely defined is he by his Rust Belt Ohio roots.
Those old imperatives have never exerted much of a hold over a new, enlightened generation of N.B.A. fans. Ten years ago, the influential basketball blog FreeDarko coined the term liberated fandom. What FreeDarko celebrated were the quirks and oddities of specific N.B.A. players rather than winning seasons or huge marketing campaigns or even geography. (Disclosure: I wrote a few posts for FreeDarko.) Since then, more N.B.A. fans have detached themselves from tribal ties to local teams. And while the franchises and shoe companies that make up the N.B.A. economy havent completely caught up with the online buzz generated by the leagues most dedicated fans, they have begun to prepare for what feels like inevitable change. Antetokounmpo and fellow young unicorns like Kristaps Porzingis of the Knicks and Joel Embiid of the Sixers their taxonomic I.D., co-opted from Silicon Valley, refers to a singular talent without antecedent will go a long way toward determining whether the pro-basketball industrial complex can make as much money appealing to liberated fans as to their hidebound, local-market counterparts.
The size of the market doesnt really matter anymore, Dustin Godsey, the Milwaukee Bucks chief marketing officer, told me, referring to a teams location. You can be a superstar anywhere.
When the team drafted Antetokounmpo three years ago, he was unknown, born in Greece to Nigerian parents. The Bucks didnt bother putting him on billboards as the face of the franchise. Instead, Milwaukee became the first team, according to Godsey, to provide instant in-game highlights on social media, most of which featured Antetokounmpo streaking up the court and making moves that hinted at his absurd potential. In the three seasons that followed, Milwaukee never finished with a winning record. Antetokounmpo did not make an All-Star Game that should change this year, his fourth, because he has been averaging something like 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists but video views through Bucks social feeds tripled over the last year. Online streaming of local games doubled. In response, Godseys team changed its strategy: Antetokounmpo now appears on billboards in Wisconsin, in TV ads, at events. Whether he has earned this superstar treatment is of no account he looks good in seven-second video clips.
For the past couple of decades, Nike has practiced caution with its basketball stars. Back in the early 2000s, when Michael Jordan was in his final days with the Washington Wizards, Nike and its Jordan brand aggressively marketed young players like Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. After they failed to achieve stardom, Nike started to exercise more patience. Today, the company has a tiered system unofficially in place: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the like are signature shoe athletes, and most of the rest get occasional spots in a commercial. Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings have been two of the highest-scoring players in the N.B.A. this season. They play improvisational, position-free basketball (like Antetokounmpo) and are adored by N.B.A. nerds. Both are signed to Nike but have been relegated to what amounts to a bench role.
Photo Credit Photo illustration by Cristiana Couceiro. White jersey: Mike McGinnis/Getty Images. All other photos: Stacy Revere/Getty Images.
The N.B.A. is changing, Russ Bengtson, an emeritus editor of Slam magazine and a senior editor at Complex, told me. The shoe companies need to figure out a way to become super-nimble the league is full of unicorns now, and by the time a guy becomes a story, the next guy is already coming up. The whole definition of what a star is has changed a bit, and they need to be able to strike while the iron is hot.
As the season rolls into the All-Star break, nearly half the players leading the voting play in ways that defy the old but still widely held archetypes the high-flying shooting guard, the stoic center, the scrappy white sharpshooter. The marketing efforts havent fully caught up to the evolution. This month, Nike released a signature shoe for Paul George, who like Jordan and Kobe Bryant is a handsome, high-scoring shooting guard. But George, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, doesnt signal a possible paradigm shift as Antetokounmpo or Embiid or Porzingis does. He may be very good, but he does not fire up the internet. His time as the N.B.A.s next big thing probably peaked three seasons ago, too.
Because the hype cycle for up-and-coming stars still moves too quickly for them to be marketing stars as well, its unclear when players like Antetokounmpo, who have no real on-court or business archetypal predecessor, will be able to convert online hype into reliable moneymaking. Nationally, he is still a commercial puzzle a Nike representative told me the company is going to put him in a digital campaign but wouldnt elaborate on other plans.
Antetokounmpo seems to understand that we havent yet completely entered the liberated future. In the locker room after his game-winning shot at the Garden, I asked him if he thought his career so far would have been different if he played in New York or Los Angeles. He seemed, at first, perplexed by the question, before he said, I guess I would have gotten more publicity. But then, like so many up-and-coming superstars, he retreated straight into the sorts of clich that have become the soundtrack for the marketable athlete. But anywhere I am, he said, I am going to be a gym rat and work hard.
The Weirdest NBA Game Ever! (Warriors vs. Blazers)
By: Nina Mandell| January 17, 2017 10:50 amFollow @ninamandell
Brook Lopezs love affair with the 3-point shot began as a means of survival.
No, not in the NBA, where an increasing number of big men are adding the 3 to their skillset as their coaches continue to look to stretch out the floor.
But against his older brothers, who certainly werent going to give up any easy buckets.
Theres four of us. I was always smaller than them, so I couldnt very well go in the paint, they would block my shot, he said. So it was kind of survival of the fittest. If I wanted to score at all, I had to score from long range.
This season when the Nets hired Kenny Atkinson, Lopez picked up the shot again, joiningthe ranks of unlikely 3-point shooters in the league. Thephenomenon hasbeen written about, but with the expanding numbers of 7-footers hitting shots that used to be reserved for guards, For The Win went to find out one thing: How do they do that?
Long before Lopez was expanding his shooting range, Antawn Jamison was taking stock of his career prospects. At 6-foot-9 hehadnt fit as a small forward, he wasnt great at being a perimeter player and a third coachs suggestion of being a flasher didnt really work out.
I realized the only way I was going to be successful and have longevity at all was I had to be able to learn how to shoot the 3-point shot, he said. I remember my rookie year was the lockout and we missed half the season, we played like 50 games in almost 3 months, it was a lot of games but not a lot of time for learning or growth or whatever.
And I remember going home a week after the season and I put in time with my family and then after that for the whole summer I was at Golden State just trying to perfect being a decent shooter.
He went to the gym twice a day during the summer and worked on his agility, his strength, and took shot after shot after shot.
It was thousands of shots a day. You start off catch and shoot, you got to make a certain amount of shots from a certain amount of spots, he said. Then it became being able to catch and take a couple of dribbles and then shoot off the dribble. But it was shot after shot after shot. That was the only way that you could become decent or be a great shooter. You have to put the work in.
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He also worked out with John Starks, Gilbert Arenas and, later in his career, Steph Curry and mimicked exactly what they did.
And Im not talking about going in there for 45 minutes, he said. Im talking were in there for 2-3 hours at a time, doing pick-and-rolls, catch and shoot, learning how to get your footwork after you set a pick, getting to the point where you can catch that ball quickly and put it up and do it on a consistent basis time and time again.
Lopez wasnt exactly fighting for his career when he set out to be a 3-point shooter last summer, but his focus on making shot after shot after shot until he could do it in a game one perhaps with bigger stakes than taking down his big brothers was similar.
He said he would shoot from a number of different spots while working out in the summer until he felt like he had it. During this season, hes worked on his 3-point shot 45 to 50 minutes outside of practice or whatever the training staff allows.
For me it was just a matter of repetition, he said. I got in the gym. I got lots of reps up. I shot for long time this summer, I tried to shoot as much as possible just to keep my touch.
Myles Turner, who was a good 3-point shooter in high school, shot just under 2 3-pointers a game in college and went from shooting only 12 3-pointers last season to over 55 this season already. He echoed what Lopez said about the value of repetition. No matter how good of a shooter a player is in college, he pointed out, the college 3-point line is just a mid-range jumper in the nba.
i worked a lot this summer. I shot about 800 to 1000 shots a day, he said. I was working with my (former AAU) coach back home. He really said, You have the ability to do it, so lets prove it to everyone. When I think about it, it sounds like a lot but it really wasnt that much at the time. It was something I liked to do, so it was just fun.
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Hornets center Frank Kaminsky, who has shot over 150 3-pointers this season and put up 202 in 2015-16, said he built on a skill hes always had to have he wasnt really that tall until a huge growth spurt late in high school. He said hes never let anyone stop him from shooting 3-pointers.
The way I always played basketball, it was from the outside going in, so its easier for me to get my game going by shooting than by driving or posting up, he said. Its always just been something I had a knack for. I had to learn to post up after I learned to shoot.
As for the actual act of getting a good enough shot to put them up in the NBA?
Its just shooting drills and repetition, Kaminsky said. Its muscle memory, how often youre willing to keep doing it and keep trying. Once it starts coming in, at least for me, it made me want to shoot more and more..
Theres also the mental side to a big man shooting a 3, a number of players pointed out.
Its just about confidence, Lopez said. Having the confidence to shoot it when Im open. And the coaches here give me such a great opportunity to do that. I didnt shoot well (in one game) but Kenny (Atkinson) came in (the next) morning and said, Look we know youre a fantastic shooter, weve seen it. Thats part of your game and we need you to do that, so if youre open, if its a good shot, take it. And that confidence just means so much.
Graphic by Steven Ruiz
In the WNBA, theres been a similar change in whats needed from stretch 4s and the leagues best players, like Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, have been perfecting their 3-point shot since high school. New York Liberty center Amanda Zahui B, who is 6-foot-5, said she began shooting the shot in college but hasnt put up many in the WNBA yet.
This season, her coach in Russia, where she plays duringthe WNBA offseason, told her she needed to start shooting more long-distance shots, so now she spends 30 minutes after practice working on it.
Im working my way around the 3-second area and then working my way further out to the free throw line extended and then where Im usually taking my 3-point shot, thats where Im practicing them, she said. So on the wings or on the top of the key. Just taking a couple of shots, just so I get comfortable with it.
The look on the defenders face when they realized they cant give an unlikely looking 3-point shooter space, she said, is worth the extra time in the gym.
The more shots you make, everybody gets hyped around you because youre quote, unquote not supposed to shoot because youre a big player, she said. Its always fun to get better at things others might not think youre supposed to do.
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The Weirdest NBA Game Ever! (Warriors vs. Blazers)
The Golden State Warriors arent playing for the regular season, theyve only lost twice since Dec. 10, and theyre on a 70-win pace. Still, even given all that, it felt like they needed Mondays evisceration of the Cleveland Cavaliers if only for their own sanity.
It had been four straight times that the Warriors had lost to Cleveland, a stretch that dated back to June but also included Christmas Day. Of course, Golden State infamously lost that 3-1 Finals lead and signed Kevin Durant a month later, which only fueled the jokes and memes. The regular season may not matter, but the Warriors are constantly reminded theyve blown a couple leads.
Given all that, this was only outcome for this game that made sense a completely vindictive Warriors performance in their home stadium. It happened. Stephen Curry set the tone and Draymond Green provided his third triple-double, while Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson filled in around the edges. The Warriors scored the first seven points and then they finished the second quarter on a 18-3 run. It was 48 minutes of decimation.
This isnt the Cavaliers well see in the playoffs and, presumably, the Finals. They have spent nearly two weeks on the road, and the Warriors matchup was the sixth and final game of the trip. They looked tired and, as the game wore on, disinterested in really attempting a comeback. Of course, that was never going to happen anyway, not against a Warriors team that hasnt left California since Christmas. Still, Cleveland accepted its fate dutifully.
There is a duality. We can admit this wasnt the Cavaliers best performance, while acknowledging the Warriors made a statement nevertheless. They did. The greatest regular season team of all time added Durant, after all. This is who they can be.
The Cavaliers did a better job than anyone limiting Curry over the course of 2016, but it didnt work on Monday. His fingerprints were all over the first-half explosion, with 14 points and 10 assists headed into the break. At one point, he stripped LeBron James straight up and found Thompson for a three-pointer on the other end. Thats the type of night it was.
But even scarier is the defense especially what Durant and Green can combine to be when at their peak. Greens 11-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist evening was great, but his five blocks were the most magnificent part of his night. Durant added three more, continuing his run as a true rim protector for the Warriors.
It was a masterful Warriors performance that left us satiated. No one doubted that Golden State could do this against Cleveland, but four straight losses had to weigh on their psyche just a tiny bit. You yes, you, the reader are on the internet right now, so you must know how omnipresent those 3-1 jokes have become. If you see it, then theres no way the Warriors could have avoided it. They needed this, even if it was only subconsciously.
We all know this will likely be our Finals rematch, and were just as excited for that. This game doesnt change that. But it must make life just a little easier for the Warriors. Like Green said after the game, They want to beat us, and we want to beat them.
On Monday, the Warriors got what they wanted.
LeBron James has learned how to bait Draymond Green
If theres even one thing that happened on Monday the Warriors would want to take back, its Greens flagrant-one foul committed against James. Heres the play.
The flagrant was the correct call Green made clear, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous contact, at least if that hit had come against a normal NBA athlete. We know that doesnt describe James, who absorbs contact as well as anyone in the league, so the way he reacted was probably an exaggeration. You can hate it, but its a smart play. James isnt inventing a foul on a flop, and against a player like Green who he has history with, learning to push his buttons is a useful skill to have.
Green also mocked the flop right after on the court, so thats sure to keep the tension high.
Courtney Lee took to Instagram after the Knicks benched him and lost
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek wanted to shake things up with his starting lineup, so he benched his $48 million man Courtney Lee in favor of rookie Ron Baker.
New York went on to lose to Atlanta, 108-107, with Lee sitting the second half. He later posted and deleted two pictures from the movie Dumb & Dumber on his Instagram account, which, if you take him at his word, only had to do with his mood and not a shot at the lineups.
No one is sure why Hornacek benched Lee, but it didnt work. Neither is this Knicks team. New York has lost 14 of its last 18 games and is six games below .500 at the midseason mark.
Dont look now, but the Wizards are fifth in the East
John Wall hit Al-Farouq Aminu with a vicious Shammgod dribble move in the third quarter of Washingtons 120-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Hes been the catalyst behind an amazing stretch of Wizards basketball that includes seven wins in their last 10 games.
The Wizards (21-19) have climbed the East standings and now sit fifth in the conference. Thats some good stuff, right there.
MLK Days top 5 performances
Stephen Curry: 20 points (7-of-20 shooting, 5-of-12 on 3s), 11 assists, 4 steals
A play like this just set the perfect tone for Golden State. The ball works best in Currys hands, but its also okay that he can pass up open threes in favor of getting KD a shot like this.
This is a development worth watching: Embiid has increased his free throw numbers in every month. He averaged six per game in October, moved up to 6.5 in November, rose to 7.3 in December and is shooting nearly 11 per game in January.
Embiid is huge. Hes freakishly athletic, legitimately 7-feet tall, and absolutely bullish around the basket. Thats hes quickly turning into the hardest player to handle under the basket makes sense, and unlike your average center who fits this criteria, he knocks down nearly 80 percent of his foul shots. As much as we marvel at Embiid shooting threes like its nothing, he may be more Shaquille ONeal than anyone weve seen in years. (Yes, he has to stay healthy. No, Im not saying he will literally become Shaq. Yes, I have to include these qualifiers or people on the internet will get mad at me.) Philadelphia has won six of its last eight, and Embiid is the largest factor so far.
Thomas did it again, and hes now averaging 10.1 points in fourth quarters. In the past 20 years, no one has done higher than 9.5 points in the fourth (Kobe Bryant in 2006).
The NBA makes Christmas the best basketball holiday, but that doesnt mean its easy. Especially for those who celebrate and have young children. Five marquee games means about 13 hours of basketball in 16 non-sleep hours. In some cases, its too much. Were here to help you balance time with your basketball family and your real family.
(Apologies in advance for the U.S.-centricism with regards to time zones.)
MUST WATCH
Warriors at Cavaliers, 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Why you have to watch this: Best two teams in the league, hated rivals with lots of personal beef, the last two champions who each beat the other in the others gym to win the title, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Kevin Love, Klay Thompson ... I mean, seriously. This is just layers of great entertainment.
Why you can skip it: I do not recommend skipping this, but if you must: these two teams have played each other 17 times in the past two years and are due for 4-7 more battles this June. This is more like a Game of Thrones episode than a feature film.
This is more like a Game of Thrones episode than a feature film.
How to work it: In the East and Central Time Zones, were looking at an early afternoon tip extending to the cusp of evening. This is prime appetizer time. This is also prime go ride your new bikes, kids time. Or: Sure, you can go ride the neighbors new hoverboard. Even: Video games for three hours in the back room? Good idea! In the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones you might be in a good spot for that traditional Kids Crash Hard Because They Slept So Little nap. Nice work.
Key obstacles: If youre responsible for preparing dinner or helping out in the kitchen, this might be trouble. Plan accordingly. Also, some children like their parents to actually play with them. Heres to halftime.
HIGH PRIORITYTimberwolves at Thunder, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Why you have to watch this: The Timberpups are starting to put it together on defense, and have the electric Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine to drop jaws. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook is putting up absurd, historic numbers almost every night. Put all this on national TV in a primetime Christmas game and were going to see some fireworks.
Why you can skip it: These teams are in the same division and play four times a year. Westbrook is spectacular every night and on TV a lot. The Wolves are 9-19.
How to work it: This is probably post-dinner (or at least late dinner) in the East and Central Time Zones. Depending on their ages, the kids might be getting to bed near the tip or around halftime. Are you a board game or cards family? Set that table up in the room with the TV and claim a chair with a clear view. Are you getting blitzed with friends over? Take it easy until the third quarter.
Key obstacles: In the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, this is probably a dinner overlap issue. Do your best! Vine isnt dead yet! This game is gonna end around 10:30 or 11 Eastern time, so if you didnt get a nap in, this is also trouble.
SHOCKINGLY COMPELLINGCeltics at Knicks, Noon ET, ESPN
Why you have to watch this: The Knicks and Celtics are both good! This game actually has real playoff tiebreaker ramifications. Plus we have Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and Isaiah Thomas to provide some sweet, sweet highlights.
Why you can skip it: These early games on Christmas or otherwise are usually fairly sloppy. (When youre used to working at 7 every night and you have to work at noon one day on a holiday, nonetheless things get wonky.) Plus, both teams are on national TV a lot, so you have plenty of opportunities to see the exciting players if you miss this one.
How to work it: In the East and Central regions, the adrenaline rush of the morning has worn off and the kids might be sleeping or in a zombie state. In the West, this might cut into fun-with-kids time. It might be too early a wake-up if you party hard Christmas Eve. Or, it might work beautifully.
Key obstacles: If you will be around football people, the NFL schedule might be a source of conflict. You should be able to convince even hardcore football fans that Cavs-Warriors is unmissable. Celtics-Knicks will be a tougher debate.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images CRUCIALLY FLAWEDBulls at Spurs, 5 p.m. ET, ABC
Why you have to watch this: Jimmy Butler vs. Kawhi Leonard. That is all.
Why you can skip it: The Bulls are strange and often disorienting to watch. The Spurs do not have a compelling play style right now. San Antonio is much better than Chicago. This game has 88-81 written all over it.
How to work it: This is going to hit traditional dinner hours in the East and Central regions and the afternoon swoon out West. If you really care about this game youre probably a Bulls or Spurs fans, in which case you can rally the crowd youre with to tune in. Otherwise, pick your spots.
Key obstacles: Rajon Rondo, frankly. He is personally making this game less than compelling.
DICE ROLLClippers at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Why you must watch this: The weirdo nightcap is a Christmas tradition, and whats more important than tradition? Plus, the Lakers are the most exciting terrible team in the nba and the Clippers are just so pretty to watch.
Why you can skip it: No one will judge you if you miss it. No one. Especially in the East and Central regions. If Chris Paul doesnt play due to a hamstring injury, this game becomes less compelling because Blake Griffin is already hurt. Also, you will have seen plenty of Paul via the insurance ads during games all day.
How to work it: Kids should be asleep and visitors should be gone.
Key obstacles: You should be asleep and/or gone.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images ALTERNATIVE INSIDER PLAN!
I have young kids and host family on Christmas. I love the NBA, but family is the reason I cant wait for Christmas. So heres my plan:
Watch Warriors-Cavs, because come on.
Flip to ABC or ESPN during downtimes (kids fall asleep, guests go searching for an open store when they realize I forgot to buy beer on Saturday).
Activate text notifications from @SBNationNBA so you know when something crazy is happening and/or we get a screenshot of a players magical holiday shoes.
Make memories building Lego sets, destroying all opponents at Hungry Hungry Hippos and/or Spades, and drinking beer my guests tracked down after 45 minutes of searching and 45 minutes of waiting in line.
Fight against my weak, pathetic eyelids during the second half of Clippers-Lakers.
Best of luck in your quest to balance basketball and Christmas this year.
The NBA tries hard to design five intriguing games for the NBA diehards and the casual, national audience on Christmas Day. With an NBA Finals rematch, young stars vs. older stars, up-and-coming players vs. great players holding out against Father Time, and teams struggling to find their identity trying to take down institutions of basketball over the past decade and a half, we had plenty on our holiday plates Friday.
There was a lot to digest from the holiday celebrations and the NBA action. Here are the top takeaways we have from the Christmas Day games:
vs.
Los Angeles Clippers 94, Los Angeles Lakers 84
Clippers continue their new Los Angeles dominance but yeesh that bench is bad: Ever since Chris Paul"s move to the Lakers was vetoed by the NBA and he ended up in a Clippers uniform, the battle for Los Angeles has been oddly one-sided in the favor of a team you just wouldn"t expect. Before the Clippers getting CP3, the Lakers were 141-48 against the Clippers. Just an embarrassing level of dominance in a one-team, two-occupancy city.
Since the trade for CP3? The Clippers have gone 13-3, winning the past eight games after the Christmas Day victory over the Lakers on Friday night. It has been a remarkable reversal of fortunes by the Clippers -- something we"re not exactly used to seeing from this franchise. Their ascension to a foggy level of contention while the Lakers are putting up their worst stretch of basketball in franchise history has put them on two opposite ends of the spectrum we"re just not used to seeing.
But for the Clippers to start carving into that Lakers control of the city, they need to win titles and they can"t win titles without a bench. The bench unit for the Clippers against the Lakers nearly cost them the giant lead the starters built up and maintained for the first three quarters. That wasn"t so much the case in the 27-9 fourth quarter the Lakers enjoyed behind D"Angelo Russell and Marcelo Huertas. The Clippers" bench has names but those names are synonymous with being good years ago and not in the present. Clippers are enjoying the win and their newfound dominance of the Lakers, but they"re still looking for some support in the second unit. -- by Zach Harper
That"s a wrap on Kobe Bryant"s Christmas Day career: Watching Kobe Bryant play basketball on Christmas has pretty much become a tradition and a staple of the holiday season for basketball nerds like me. After the Lakers" loss Friday night, Kobe had completed his 16th and final Christmas Day game of his career. And he could have had a couple more if injuries hadn"t robbed him of a few Yuletide contests.
With 12 points on 4 of 10 from the field and three rebounds, three assists and two steals, Bryant"s Christmas Day numbers are complete. In 16 Christmas games, Kobe averaged 24.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He shot 40.7 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from 3-point range, but he did manage to make 81.5 percent of his free throws.
We saw some epic showdowns against Shaquille O"Neal, Steve Nash, the Boston Celtics, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Mostly, we saw a superstar looking to put on a show for an expanded audience in an overall stellar and historic career. -- By Zach Harper
Harden found his mojo finally against San Antonio. (USATSI)
vs.
Houston Rockets 88, San Antonio Spurs 84
Kawhi Leonard will put the clamps on everybody: It"s hard to imagine the struggle that NBA stars must face going against Kawhi Leonard when he"s defending you. You"re used to being that much more skilled or that much quicker or that much stronger or that much better or all of those things against most matchups in your basketball career. You"ve shined because the hard work you put in over the years comes through in these moments of execution and excellence, which is something so many NBA players fail to find consistency in doing.
Against Kawhi? You can forget all that. His reach with those hands makes even the slightest moments of advantage dissipate quickly into the night. He"s smart enough to anticipate what you want to do. He"s a hard enough worker to show constant determination in stopping you. And he seems to relish these moments of turning stars away from getting buckets, even if his expressionless demeanor makes you think otherwise. Kawhi puts those clamps on you.
That"s what he helped Danny Green and the rest of his Spurs teammates do to James Harden in the first half. Harden was 1-of-6 from the field with five assists, three turnovers, and just two points. He didn"t have a trip to the charity stripe. Harden eventually broke through in the second half, but even then he was working his tail off to get those attempts.
Leonard is a monster. An absolute monster. And that doesn"t even include what he does offensively. -- By Zach Harper
Don"t look now but the Rockets had some fight left in them ... for now: As poor as the Rockets looked in their 13-point second quarter against the Spurs, which seemingly put San Antonio in the driver"s seat for this game, they looked just as resilient in the second half when they snatched control of the game and ended up putting a very good effort against this vaunted Spurs defense. In a 50-point second half, the Rockets shot 50 percent from the field, forced the Spurs into bad, sloppy decisions, and even managed to minimize their own mistakes by allowing just two points on seven turnovers. This is the type of resiliency we saw from the Rockets last season.
I don"t think that means the Rockets are necessarily back or fixed or cured or care. We"ve seen flashes of this from them this season, only to have them throw it out the window a game or two later. But to do it against an organization like the Spurs -- especially this Spurs team -- has to make Houston fans feel a little warm and fuzzy from the eggnog and hoops on Christmas. A big part of that was James Harden, who woke up from his first-half slumber to score 18 points after the break.
A bigger part of that might have been the Rockets" defense, which we hadn"t seen much of since last season. During the 2014-15 campaign, the Rockets were able to slow down opposing attacks. Against the Spurs on Christmas, they took away a lot of early actions in the Spurs" offense and forced role players to try individual efforts far too often. Even if for a holiday night, it was nice to see the Rockets finally look like they care an adequate amount. -- By Zach Harper
Draymond Green got to flex a bit against the Cavs. (USATSI)
vs.
Golden State Warriors 89, Cleveland Cavaliers 83
DrayGod: Draymond Green was unbelievable in this game, even for him. The Warriors forward-center had to step up with the Cavaliers absolutely dedicated to taking Stephen Curry out of the equation. And while Curry scored 19 (it was on 6-of-15 shooting), it was Green that really stole the show on both ends. Green put up 20 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists along with two blocks and a series of absolutely huge plays. From early on when the Cavaliers doubled Curry out of the pick and roll, Green made the Cavaliers pay, finding Andrew Bogut early in the first on a lob for a dunk. He drained a 3 to punish Kevin Love for stepping off of him to help inside. He knocked a rebound off a missed LeBron finger roll back off the backboard to kick-start a break. He made play after play after play and that"s a huge part of why the Warriors got arguably their biggest win of the season. Once again, Curry is the Warriors" best player, but Draymond Green is their most important and if you contain Curry, Green will find ways to beat you. -- By Matt Moore
Not a great day by design: Stephen Curry was limited by a calf injury that forced him out of the game for a prolonged stretch in the second quarter. He also shot 6-of-15 from the field, which isn"t bad but isn"t good, and scored just 19 points. Some of that was the injury, but much of it was the Cavaliers" defense which adopted an "anyone but Curry" approach, which is the smartest one they could take. The Cavaliers blitzed Curry constantly out of the pick and roll. Yes, it allowed Draymond Green his awesome game, but if you have to choose, you choose to make Draymond Green beat you. Whether that"s a preview of how the Cavaliers would play the Warriors in a Finals rematch is unclear, but it was apparent that they were dedicated to making him have to work as much as possible, which is a smart approach.
One more thing on that calf injury. Trainers were seen working on Curry"s calf all the way down to his foot, which includes his surgically repaired ankle that gave him so much trouble early on in his career. Any undue stress on that leg is bad for the structures the surgery put in place, so don"t be surprised if after some tests, Curry gets rest in the very near future. The Warriors are extra careful with injury -- and never more so than with Curry -- and never more so with Curry than with the ankle. -- By Matt Moore
The excuse machine: The Cavaliers can say, "Well, Kyrie Irving wasn"t healthy and he played just 26 minutes." The Warriors can say, "Well, Harrison Barnes didn"t even play." The Cavaliers can say, "The Cavs just missed shots." The Warriors can say, "One of the best defenses in the league does that to you." The Cavaliers can say, "The opportunity was there." The Warriors can say, "And they couldn"t take advantage."
Round and round it goes, but with the way the Cavaliers managed to defend the usually unstoppable Warriors, it should be noted that Cleveland remain maybe the toughest challenge to Golden State"s dominance. The Cavs are also still a firm step behind the Warriors due to their inability to make them pay for their turnovers, or for how they swarm LeBron James. More on that from our colleague Ken Berger. -- By Matt Moore
Westbrook vs. Rose became a thing again. (USATSI)
vs.
Chicago Bulls 105, Oklahoma City Thunder 96
Defense beats offense, this time: The Thunder have the second-best offense in the league, but they never got going on Friday. Kevin Durant (29 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, 11-21 FG) and Russell Westbrook (26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, six steals, 9-22 FG) got their numbers, but Chicago controlled the game in a wire-to-wire win. Aside from three 3-pointers from Anthony Morrow in the fourth quarter and some second-chance points from Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City"s supporting cast was pretty much invisible. Jimmy Butler guarded Durant one-on-one and the Bulls stayed solid.
That"s how the Chicago Bulls are supposed to play basketball, Butler said in his postgame TV interview.
While four of Chicago"s starters finished in double figures, the Thunder got a total of 11 points on 5-for-20 shooting from Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson, the guys next to Durant and Westbrook in their starting five. It"s not as if Dion Waiters and D.J. Augustin helped off the bench, either. Overall, Oklahoma City shot just 38.5 percent, including 25 percent from deep.
Against great defensive teams like the Bulls, OKC needs to get production from more than just its stars. The hope was that Billy Donovan"s new system would be more conducive to that happening. Not sure that"s the case. -- By James Herbert
Rose vs Westbrook: Derrick Rose always gets up to play against Russell Westbrook and on Christmas, this trend continued. Attacking the paint and changing direction, Rose finished the game with 19 points and four rebounds. Rose may have been too amped up to take on Westbrook because he ended up fouling out of the game. But his energy was huge for the Bulls all game and he helped fuel an 8-0 run in the third quarter that pushed Chicago"s lead to double digits, which the Thunder could never come back from.
Westbrook won the individual head-to-head matchup but Rose and the Bulls walked away with the win. A win the inconsistent Bulls desperately needed. -- By Ananth Pandian
The Bulls and Thunder were looking fresh on Christmas. (USATSI)
OKC"s Christmas uniforms are glorious: Can we get the Thunder to play in their Christmas Day uniforms for the rest of the season? Out of all of the teams playing on Christmas, the Thunder"s holiday uniforms are a significant upgrade. The Thunder have one of the worst uniforms in the league. They are bland and just generally uninspired. Sure, OKC"s Christmas Day uniforms are not in their primary blue and orange colors but they look so much better and are more aesthetically pleasing. Come on, OKC and NBA, make it happen. -- By Ananth Pandian
Bobby Portis is legit: Collecting splinters on the bench for the first quarter of the season, an injury to Joakim Noah has opened up playing time for Portis and he has delivered. Against the Thunder, Portis finished the game with seven points, five rebounds and three assists in just under 20 minutes. Playing for the majority of the third quarter and some of the fourth, Portis" hustle and effort helped Chicago extend their lead to double digits.
The Bulls have a plethora of forwards and with rumors about Chicago contemplating trading Noah or Taj Gibson or Pau Gasol, Portis showed on Christmas that he can be counted on and perhaps one of those players could possibly be expendable. -- By Ananth Pandian
The Brow"s wingspan is alien technology. (USATSI)
vs.
Miami Heat 94, New Orleans Pelicans 88 (OT)
Fly Pelicans ... fly? The Pelicans came back, made this a game and forced overtime, but they remain as depressing as ever. Despite Anthony Davis having a 20-10-3-3-3 line in the first half alone, you never felt like they knew what they were doing on offense. It wasn"t just the multiple times that they came out of a timeout confused; it was the apparent absence of a plan in the half-court all game long. Davis" supporting cast was Sixers-esque -- nine minutes into the third quarter, he had more points than all of his teammates combined. He finished with 29 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks in 50 minutes.
Tyreke Evans played one of the worst games of his career -- he had six points on 2-for-9 shooting in 35 minutes, with five turnovers and a few brain farts -- and it seems crazy that New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry is still trying to play him at point guard. Eric Gordon missed shots from all over the court. No one helped Davis much except for Ryan Anderson, who scored 18 points and hit some big shots in the second half. It"s been a while since you could blame the Pelicans" struggles on injuries, and it"s getting harder and harder to imagine them turning things around.
Remember when we were excited about Alvin Gentry turning New Orleans into a running team? It had two fast-break points. Two! -- By James Herbert
Oh my Bosh: You can"t get particularly excited about the Heat after a win like this -- they never should have let the Pelicans get close, and it"s disconcerting that their offense totally died in the fourth quarter at home. This team obviously needs more shooting -- it went 6-for-26 from 3-point range -- and Goran Dragic continues to look less than fully comfortable. The work of Chris Bosh, though, should be appreciated.
Bosh had a tough assignment on Christmas Day, and he was ready. Bosh had to spend his afternoon trying to make things difficult for Anthony Davis, and he managed to lead the Heat in scoring, too. He finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes, going 11-for-25 and dishing four assists with only one turnover. He scored 14 of those 30 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Miami should never have needed Bosh and Dwyane Wade to take over the game in overtime, but they did it. The two of them outscored New Orleans on its own in the extra frame. After Wade hit a midrange jumper, the dagger came when he found Bosh in traffic off a pick-and-roll for a 3-point play. -- by James Herbert
He's not only enjoying the process: He's embracing it.
"It's been fun," Wright said. "I'm glad to be here, and I've been through so much that I'm just trying to have fun with it all. I just have to focus on what I need to do better, work on the strengths I already have and be the best player I can be. Everything else will fall into place."
As the lone local collegian at the combine the premier camp before the draft Wright knows what he can do the minute he steps on an NBA floor.
He was a great defender in college. He was one of the best players in the country at attacking the rim, and his length is uncommon for a point guard.
Wright measured 6-foot-5 in shoes, and 6-4 without shoes. His wingspan measured at nearly 6-8, which gives him almost ideal size for his position at the NBA level. It also gives him a good shot at being a first-round pick. Wright is one of those prospects who could be drafted in the teens, or he could last until late in the round. But he will he drafted, and that gives him the shot of making an instant impact.
"Delon, man, he's a really skilled player. You don't find a lot of 6-5, 6-6 point guards out there," Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson said. "I played against him for two years in the Pac-12, and it was a real challenge guarding him. He helped me become a better defender, because it was so tough to stay with him. I think he's going to have a good chance to be a really good player."
Wright's drawbacks are noted. He's never been the best perimeter shooter, and he will have to prove to teams that he can knock down open jumpers. Otherwise, getting to the basket in the NBA will be a challenge for him, because teams will play off him defensively.
Strength has been an issue as well. But that may be in the past, because Wright looked noticeably bigger in the arms and shoulders on Thursday the product, he says, of living in the weight room six days a week.
Wright didn't play five on five, but he did participate in measurements and drills. He had an 8-5 standing reach, registered 6 percent body fat and had an 8-inch hand measurement.
"I think a lot of it helps with my length on defense," Wright said. "It helps me to guard point guards. At first this season, I was trying to prove to people that I can shoot. But now, I think hitting shots has to be natural for me. When I'm open, I just shoot it."
The next month for Wright equates to a whirlwind. He is expected to work out for the Utah Jazz in the coming weeks, as well as other teams. He's conducted multiple interviews with teams at the combine.
It's all a part of the process for Wright. And by the end, he is expected to become the first player drafted from the University of Utah since Andrew Bogut.
