The Washington Wizards have all the makings of a full-fledged championship contender.Or, they do whenever MVP-caliber point guard John Wall hits the hardwood, at least.
Behind 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds from their All-Star floor general, the Wizards picked up their 20th win of the season with a 102-91 victory over the New York Knicks to kick off the NBA's five-game Christmas slate. It was Wall's 17th points-assists double-double of the season and ninth outing with at least 20 points and 10 dimes, both of which are tops in the league.
Wall tied center Marcin Gortat for the team lead with a plus-11 point differential, which basically equates to business as usual for the former. During Wall's 1,011 minutes this season, the Wizards have outscored their opponents by 8.5 points per 100 possessions. That net efficiency rating is higher than the ones put up by 29 of the 30 teams in this league.
When Wall takes a seat, so does Washington's effectiveness. In the 348 minutes Wall hasn't played, the Wizards have been outscored by 5.8 points per 100 possessions. That net rating would check in at 25th, nestled between the rebuilding Utah Jazz (minus-5.2) and the nine-win Los Angeles Lakers (minus-6.2).
In other words, there may have been more than sentimentality that led Gortat to dub Wall as the NBA's best point guard recently, per Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post:"He's our leader; he's asked to carry a big load," veteran Paul Pierce said of Wall, per ESPN.com's Michael Wallace. "…He's going to do our scoring. He's going to get assists. He's going to be the defender. … He's asked to deliver. That's what he [does]."
There is no objective definition of an MVP, but the essential requirements involve leading an elite team. And that's the perfect way to describe what Wall has done this season.
He leads the Wizards in points (17.8 per game) and assists (10.4). Entering Thursday's action, he also tied for the team lead with a 101 defensive rating. Considering he helped limit sharpshooting Knicks point guard Jose Calderon to 16 points on 14 field-goal attempts and four assists in 36 minutes, if Wall's defensive efficiency mark moved at all, it only improved.And the same is starting to be true of the MVP race. There are still a handful of names in front of him on that list, but Wall seems to be gaining ground by the day.
"Washington's All-Star point guard should be a lock for the Eastern Conference starting first five," wrote NBA.com's Sekou Smith. "Wall is...constantly making plays for his teammates, all while creating opportunities for himself to boot. That part of his game is truly as good as it's ever been."
Wall won't take the best statistics portion of the MVP vote—not if guys like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and James Harden continue to produce at their current rates.
And the best-player-on-the-best-team segment of the voting populace will turn to the likes of Curry and Marc Gasol before Wall enters the picture.
But if the award is handed out to the player who means the most to his team—which, in my book, would seem to capture the essence of being the league's most valuable—then Wall is quickly giving himself a puncher's chance.
The Wizards are contenders with him and a borderline playoff team without him. If that doesn't highlight the true measure of Wall's value, it's hard to imagine what would.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310568-john-wall-on-cusp-of-entering-nba-mvp-conversation
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Russell Westbrook Beginning to Redefine His Point Guard Reputation
The refrains were common, and they were loud. Russell Westbrook doesn't pass. Russell Westbrook is a ball hog. Russell Westbrook is too selfish down the stretch. Russell Westbrook doesn't play an efficient brand of ball.
You can now consider those takes a thing of the past—pieces of a narrative that have died since Russell Westbrook took over as the Oklahoma City Thunder's alpha dog with Kevin Durant sidelined due to a sprained right ankle.Westbrook had been on a tear, but his individual rampage evolved into something outrageous on Christmas Day in the Thunder's 114-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
In 35 minutes, Westbrook finished with 34 points (14-of-28 shooting), 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals. According to Basketball-Reference.com, a line consisting of at least 30 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals has now cropped up just 38 times since 1985 after Westbrook's tantalizing display.
It is also the first time in his career that Westbrook has produced a 30-10-5-5 line and just the 13th time he dropped 30 points and 10 assists in a regular-season game, per Basketball-ReferenceAt one point, it felt like we had to question if the Thunder would be able to crash the NBA's postseason party. Now, thanks to Westbrook, it's simply a matter of when.
Following Oklahoma City's win over San Antonio (its first on the road against a .500 team this season, per ESPN Stats & Info), the Thunder (14-16) are now just two games back of the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns.
But this rapid renaissance wouldn't have been possible without a reformed Westbrook.Although he's still playing as angry as ever, Oklahoma City's floor general has redefined what makes him so dangerous.
Remember those refrains of selfishness? Well, entering Thursday's contest, Westbrook's assist percentage clocked in at an unthinkable 49.9, per Basketball-Reference. Essentially, that means Westbrook is assisting on nearly half of Oklahoma City's buckets when he's on the floor.
Not since Steve Nash in 2011-12 has a player qualified for the league's minutes leaderboard and finished with an assist percentage higher than 49. In fact, only six players (Nash, Andre Miller, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Rajon Rondo) in league history have accomplished the feat, according to Basketball-Reference.
For a supposed score-first point guard, that's not bad company to keep. Even if it is only temporary. When he is scoring, though, Westbrook's shown a relentless determination to bolt past defenders and get below the free-throw line with an eye on the rim.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310609-russell-westbrook-beginning-to-redefine-his-point-guard-reputation
You can now consider those takes a thing of the past—pieces of a narrative that have died since Russell Westbrook took over as the Oklahoma City Thunder's alpha dog with Kevin Durant sidelined due to a sprained right ankle.Westbrook had been on a tear, but his individual rampage evolved into something outrageous on Christmas Day in the Thunder's 114-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
In 35 minutes, Westbrook finished with 34 points (14-of-28 shooting), 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals. According to Basketball-Reference.com, a line consisting of at least 30 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals has now cropped up just 38 times since 1985 after Westbrook's tantalizing display.
It is also the first time in his career that Westbrook has produced a 30-10-5-5 line and just the 13th time he dropped 30 points and 10 assists in a regular-season game, per Basketball-ReferenceAt one point, it felt like we had to question if the Thunder would be able to crash the NBA's postseason party. Now, thanks to Westbrook, it's simply a matter of when.
Following Oklahoma City's win over San Antonio (its first on the road against a .500 team this season, per ESPN Stats & Info), the Thunder (14-16) are now just two games back of the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns.
But this rapid renaissance wouldn't have been possible without a reformed Westbrook.Although he's still playing as angry as ever, Oklahoma City's floor general has redefined what makes him so dangerous.
Remember those refrains of selfishness? Well, entering Thursday's contest, Westbrook's assist percentage clocked in at an unthinkable 49.9, per Basketball-Reference. Essentially, that means Westbrook is assisting on nearly half of Oklahoma City's buckets when he's on the floor.
Not since Steve Nash in 2011-12 has a player qualified for the league's minutes leaderboard and finished with an assist percentage higher than 49. In fact, only six players (Nash, Andre Miller, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Rajon Rondo) in league history have accomplished the feat, according to Basketball-Reference.
For a supposed score-first point guard, that's not bad company to keep. Even if it is only temporary. When he is scoring, though, Westbrook's shown a relentless determination to bolt past defenders and get below the free-throw line with an eye on the rim.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310609-russell-westbrook-beginning-to-redefine-his-point-guard-reputation
Kobe Bryant Fights Fierce Competitive Instinct in Battle Against 'Old Age'
CHICAGO — It’s not like Kobe Bryant to let a moment pass him by.That’s what happened Thursday…Bryant letting down his team, his league and all the fans. He surprisingly sat out the NBA’s Christmas showcase, never even donning the special first-name-on-the-back uniform that was a novelty practically designed for him.It’s unnatural for him to step out of the spotlight. It’s even more out of character not to take the stage at all.
“I feel an obligation to play,” Bryant said about missing this game, “(even) if I’m at the YMCA.”Yet with the world ready to watch, Bryant chose not to meet the obligation. That’s some wisdom coming with age, which he must apply these days. The best of Bryant has always been unwavering faith to his personal tenets combined with some touch with reality…balance, same as for us all.
For Bryant to flourish in this body—though he said Thursday he’s “constantly experimenting” for new-age solutions to his old-age status—he has to find that balance more than ever.
There are plenty of Bryant’s suppoers who hope he never changes, who depend on his fearlessness to inspire their own backstage lives and almost want him to be Al Pacino going down unabashedly firing in Scarface.
Bryant wants better than that. So he sat there Thursday night in his maroon jacket and patent leather dress shoes, chewing gum and holding steady as the NBA’s all-time leader in Christmas games played (15) and points scored (383).“It’s really going against my nature, man,” he said. “I’ve got to be smart about this.”
What he saw out on the court was a Chicago Bulls team that—after quite a struggle even with lucking into drafting a hometown MVP in Derrick Rose—has finally moved on from the Michael Jordan era the way the Los Angeles Lakers someday will from Bryant, too.
Bryant’s goal, though, is to be great until he announces that day has come.To that end, he rested Thursday and will again Friday while the Lakers play in Dallas and perhaps longer. Backup Wayne Ellington said Lakers coach Byron Scott told the team “it could be a week” before Bryant returns.
In a sense, it is mature thinking.It is also making the most of the moment in a different way.If Bryant knows by now he can’t perform at the level he wants by pounding through the aches and pains and doing things his old way—“I didn’t think I’d be shooting like s**t,” he said—he is now prepared to lean toward his savvy side over his stubborn one.
It was just last week that Bryant passed through the Midwest and didn’t think for a second about resting.The Lakers were on the last leg of three road games in four nights. It was Indianapolis, where Bryant had maniacally tried for a first quarter a year-and-a-half ago to play two days after severely spraining his left ankle.
When the Lakers were beyond lethargic this time, trailing by a 60-21 score, a frustrated Bryant ignored his own fatigue and indulged his psycho side. He starting racing all over the court at both ends in the third quarter, creating some energy, misdirected as it was at times.
When the period was over, with Bryant toppling over the scorer’s table in futile pursuit of a loose ball as time expired, the Lakers had cut only two points off Indiana’s 33-point lead.
It was an admirable effort in the sense of principle, perhaps setting an example for his younger teammates. Lakers director of player development Larry Lewis was inspired to step out from behind the bench and thank Bryant for the try, appreciating that he didn’t have to do it.
Well, sometimes he shouldn’t do it—no matter the excessive demands Scott placed on him.This is what Bryant, 36, had said before the season about being careful in his comeback:
“In the past, I’ve always pushed myself to the limit. That’s every day. Now I’ve just got to be a little bit more patient and make sure when you step off the court you still have something there.”
That’s philosophy. What Bryant felt after that Indiana game was real life.The Lakers had two days off. Then a feeble Bryant played half-speed and missed a buzzer beater in a 104-103 home loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night. Without much recovery time Sunday afternoon in Sacramento, Bryant played wildly and poorly in an 8-of-30 shooting outing and 108-101 Lakers loss as he tried to live up to his legend that has so often graced the old Arco Arena.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310725-kobe-bryant-fights-fierce-competitive-instinct-in-battle-against-old-age
“I feel an obligation to play,” Bryant said about missing this game, “(even) if I’m at the YMCA.”Yet with the world ready to watch, Bryant chose not to meet the obligation. That’s some wisdom coming with age, which he must apply these days. The best of Bryant has always been unwavering faith to his personal tenets combined with some touch with reality…balance, same as for us all.
For Bryant to flourish in this body—though he said Thursday he’s “constantly experimenting” for new-age solutions to his old-age status—he has to find that balance more than ever.
There are plenty of Bryant’s suppoers who hope he never changes, who depend on his fearlessness to inspire their own backstage lives and almost want him to be Al Pacino going down unabashedly firing in Scarface.
Bryant wants better than that. So he sat there Thursday night in his maroon jacket and patent leather dress shoes, chewing gum and holding steady as the NBA’s all-time leader in Christmas games played (15) and points scored (383).“It’s really going against my nature, man,” he said. “I’ve got to be smart about this.”
What he saw out on the court was a Chicago Bulls team that—after quite a struggle even with lucking into drafting a hometown MVP in Derrick Rose—has finally moved on from the Michael Jordan era the way the Los Angeles Lakers someday will from Bryant, too.
Bryant’s goal, though, is to be great until he announces that day has come.To that end, he rested Thursday and will again Friday while the Lakers play in Dallas and perhaps longer. Backup Wayne Ellington said Lakers coach Byron Scott told the team “it could be a week” before Bryant returns.
In a sense, it is mature thinking.It is also making the most of the moment in a different way.If Bryant knows by now he can’t perform at the level he wants by pounding through the aches and pains and doing things his old way—“I didn’t think I’d be shooting like s**t,” he said—he is now prepared to lean toward his savvy side over his stubborn one.
It was just last week that Bryant passed through the Midwest and didn’t think for a second about resting.The Lakers were on the last leg of three road games in four nights. It was Indianapolis, where Bryant had maniacally tried for a first quarter a year-and-a-half ago to play two days after severely spraining his left ankle.
When the Lakers were beyond lethargic this time, trailing by a 60-21 score, a frustrated Bryant ignored his own fatigue and indulged his psycho side. He starting racing all over the court at both ends in the third quarter, creating some energy, misdirected as it was at times.
When the period was over, with Bryant toppling over the scorer’s table in futile pursuit of a loose ball as time expired, the Lakers had cut only two points off Indiana’s 33-point lead.
It was an admirable effort in the sense of principle, perhaps setting an example for his younger teammates. Lakers director of player development Larry Lewis was inspired to step out from behind the bench and thank Bryant for the try, appreciating that he didn’t have to do it.
Well, sometimes he shouldn’t do it—no matter the excessive demands Scott placed on him.This is what Bryant, 36, had said before the season about being careful in his comeback:
“In the past, I’ve always pushed myself to the limit. That’s every day. Now I’ve just got to be a little bit more patient and make sure when you step off the court you still have something there.”
That’s philosophy. What Bryant felt after that Indiana game was real life.The Lakers had two days off. Then a feeble Bryant played half-speed and missed a buzzer beater in a 104-103 home loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night. Without much recovery time Sunday afternoon in Sacramento, Bryant played wildly and poorly in an 8-of-30 shooting outing and 108-101 Lakers loss as he tried to live up to his legend that has so often graced the old Arco Arena.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310725-kobe-bryant-fights-fierce-competitive-instinct-in-battle-against-old-age
Cavaliers vs. Heat: Score and Twitter Reaction from Christmas Day 2014
The return of LeBron James to Miami may have been the biggest story when the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Miami Heat on Christmas, but it was a happy ending for Dwyane Wade and co., who beat the Cavs, 101-91.
Led by Wade (31 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Luol Deng (25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), the Heat proved to be too much for James and the Cavs, ending Cleveland's three-game winning streak despite the absence of Chris Bosh.
James was blunt about where his team stands after the game via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:James didn't disappoint against his former team, however, scoring 30 points and adding eight assists. Kyrie Irving had a strong evening as well, going for 25 points, while Kevin Love scored 14 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Still, had James been a bit more clinical from the free-throw line, this might have been a different game. Consider this tidbit from ESPN Stats & Info:While this game was an emotional moment for James, it was clearly more important for the Heat, who are just 14-16 on the season and perhaps looking to prove they could turn things around without their former star player. The Heat are likely to reach the playoffs in a pretty thin Eastern Conference, but they haven't looked like title contenders early in the season.
This may be the signature win to get them back on track.
As for Cleveland, it can get by on talent alone most evenings, though it's evident the James-Irving-Love experiment is still a work in progress. The Cavs remain one of the favorites in the East, no doubt, but contests like this have made it pretty clear that this team still has some serious blemishes.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310636-cavaliers-vs-heat-score-and-twitter-reaction-from-christmas-day-2014
Led by Wade (31 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Luol Deng (25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), the Heat proved to be too much for James and the Cavs, ending Cleveland's three-game winning streak despite the absence of Chris Bosh.
James was blunt about where his team stands after the game via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:James didn't disappoint against his former team, however, scoring 30 points and adding eight assists. Kyrie Irving had a strong evening as well, going for 25 points, while Kevin Love scored 14 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Still, had James been a bit more clinical from the free-throw line, this might have been a different game. Consider this tidbit from ESPN Stats & Info:While this game was an emotional moment for James, it was clearly more important for the Heat, who are just 14-16 on the season and perhaps looking to prove they could turn things around without their former star player. The Heat are likely to reach the playoffs in a pretty thin Eastern Conference, but they haven't looked like title contenders early in the season.
This may be the signature win to get them back on track.
As for Cleveland, it can get by on talent alone most evenings, though it's evident the James-Irving-Love experiment is still a work in progress. The Cavs remain one of the favorites in the East, no doubt, but contests like this have made it pretty clear that this team still has some serious blemishes.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2310636-cavaliers-vs-heat-score-and-twitter-reaction-from-christmas-day-2014
Bell, Lacy or Hill: Who Is the Best RB Under 26 Years Old in the NFL?
There are several good, young running backs in the NFL today, but who is the best under 26 years old? Who are some honorable mentions?
Watch as Stephen Nelson and Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Chris Simms and Jonathan Vilma discuss young running backs in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2309002-bell-lacy-or-hill-who-is-the-best-rb-under-26-years-old-in-the-nfl
Watch as Stephen Nelson and Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Chris Simms and Jonathan Vilma discuss young running backs in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2309002-bell-lacy-or-hill-who-is-the-best-rb-under-26-years-old-in-the-nfl
NFL Fact or Fiction: Week 16 Knee-Jerk Reactions
Week 16 of the NFL season had no shortage of dramatic games, last-minute victories and breakout performances that prompt some big questions.
Will the San Diego Chargers make the playoffs? Did the Miami Dolphins make a mistake bringing back head coach Joe Philbin?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Matt Bowen and Jason Cole play "Fact or Fiction" in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2307359-nfl-fact-or-fiction-week-16-knee-jerk-reactions
Will the San Diego Chargers make the playoffs? Did the Miami Dolphins make a mistake bringing back head coach Joe Philbin?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Matt Bowen and Jason Cole play "Fact or Fiction" in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2307359-nfl-fact-or-fiction-week-16-knee-jerk-reactions
Has the Honeymoon Ended in Philadelphia for Chip Kelly?
The Philadelphia Eagles will not be heading to the NFL postseason this year after a 27-24 loss to the Washington Redskins.
What changes do the Eagles have to make? Which positions should they target in the offseason?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and NFL Analysts Matt Bowen and Jason Cole discuss the Eagles' future in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2307305-has-the-honeymoon-ended-in-philadelphia-for-chip-kelly
What changes do the Eagles have to make? Which positions should they target in the offseason?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and NFL Analysts Matt Bowen and Jason Cole discuss the Eagles' future in the video above.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2307305-has-the-honeymoon-ended-in-philadelphia-for-chip-kelly
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