Wednesday Windmill: The Boston Celtics sent a message to the Los Angeles Lakers

On Martin Luther King Day, the Boston Celtics destroyed the Los Angeles Lakers 139-107. It was Kemba Walker's first win against LeBron James (he was 0-28 against James before Monday night) and the most lopsided victory in the regular season series between the two teams since the 1960s. That's kind of mind blowing considering there was a time when the Lakers were really good and the Celtics were trash. Anyone remember the Rick Pitino Celtics years?

Anyways, Pitino is in Greece coaching Panathinaikos, so I don't need to write more about him. What I want to write about is the statement win the Celtics had on MLK Day. Was it a statement win? If you ask me, it most certainly was. Jaylen Brown's dunk on LeBron James (click here to check that out) was absolutely FILTHY. And I'm not just saying that because he went to Cal. That alone made it a statement win along with the fact that it was a 32 point win.

#Celtics SF Jaylen Brown threw it down on LeBron James on #MLKDay... https://t.co/ta1OhgbLHy #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) January 22, 2020

Of course, this is just one game and the Celtics need to make sure this game isn't just a one-hit wonder for them. They need to make sure they can build off this win and become more of a force in the Eastern Conference. At the moment, they are 28-14, which is 4th in the East and 9.5 games back of the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks. They definitely have their work cut out for them. Still, you gotta start somewhere. If you're trying to establish yourself as a legit contender, blowing out the top team in the West isn't a bad place to start.

Looking at the big picture for a moment, what remains to be seen is if the Celtics will stand pat at the trade deadline or if they'll make a move. Their front court is a bit iffy, so perhaps they'll move one of their guards to shore up their front court. I know the Pistons are open to moving Andre Drummond. Maybe the Celtics will explore that option.

Ultimately, this win will either be the start of something great for the Celtics or it will just be one win that doesn't have much bearing on the rest of the season. Personally, I'm gonna roll the dice a bit and say that this win propels the Celtics to bigger and better things. I'm not saying they win the East, but after what we saw, I don't see why they can't be in the conference finals.

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Skyhook Sunday: Is it time for the Charlotte Hornets to part with Kemba Walker?

                                         (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source)

Earlier this week, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Charlotte Hornets are open to trading their star point guard Kemba Walker due to an excess of bad contracts and untradeable assets. The Hornets are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-25 record and are nowhere close to contending. Walker is having another really good season, averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, putting himself in the mix for another all-star appearance. Walker turns 28 in May and still has plenty of good basketball ahead of him, making him a very attractive trade chip. 

The Hornets have a couple of talented young guys in Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lamb, but they are still a couple of years away from being serious impact players. Those are guys who they can build around for the future provided they get some more assets, something that Walker can get them if they give him up. 

Typically, I'm against giving up guys like Walker since it's really hard to come by guys like him, but it really feels like the Hornets have backed themselves into a bit of a corner due to their inability to make a strong playoff push this year or next with the present pieces that they have. Getting Dwight Howard was a last ditch effort to become competitive and so far he has not yielded the type of fruit that they were hoping he would. If the Hornets could get some quality assets for Walker to help them build for the future, that would probably be the best thing for them to do. 

Of course, trading Walker only makes sense if you actually can get something good for him. You don't want to trade him for the sake of trading him. If you're going to move him, you better demand a high price and make sure you get something close to what he's worth. The Hornets should be able to get an attractive package for him, but they better make sure they play their cards right and don't make the mistake of giving him up for free. 

Personally, my guess is the Hornets will move Walker, but it'll happen right at the trade deadline. They should take their time with this one and really field all the offers that they can. The longer they wait, the better the offer they'll get and the more they'll be able to leverage other offers that are out there. Walker is a good enough player that a quality contender looking to make a move will be willing to give up a lot to get him. 

As far as what this all means for the direction of the Hornets, they're basically hitting the reset button should they move Walker. They're looking at a 2-3 year rebuilding process at minimum, which is never easy to sell to fans. However, if they really do get the right type of assets, they should be back in the playoff picture in the near future and give themselves a much better chance at actually winning a playoff series and making some noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

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Wednesday Windmill: Will the Charlotte Hornets strike it rich with Dwight Howard?

                                         (Credit: Scott Fowler. Charlotte Observer) 

Perhaps the most under the radar move of the summer is the Charlotte Hornets acquiring Dwight Howard from the Atlanta Hawks in advance of the NBA Draft. The Hornets shipped Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the 41st pick (Tyler Dorsey) to the Hawks for Dwight Howard and the 31st pick (Frank Jackson). Jackson was subsequently traded to the New Orleans Pelicans for the 40th pick (Dwayne Bacon) and cash.

The Hornets are hoping that Howard will provide them with a sound low post presence on both ends of the floor and also a legitimate go-to option to accompany Kemba Walker, who averaged 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game last season. While Howard didn't exactly live up to his "Superman" nickname in Atlanta, he did average 13.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game during his lone season there. Those numbers are actually pretty solid for a guy who isn't living up to expectations.

It's no secret that Howard has had a hard time finding a new home since his departure from Orlando, playing for the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, and now Hornets within a span of six seasons. His inability to find a permanent landing spot has many people labeling him a bust and a failure, which is actually fair when you consider all the expectations that he's placed on himself. At this point, there's good reason to question whether or not things in Charlotte will be any different.

If there's anything that I can say to give the Hornets some hope it's the fact that they really have nothing to lose. They're a middle of the pack team that isn't projected to land a top three pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and also not projected to win a championship. They are stuck in basketball purgatory. When you find yourself in this position, it doesn't hurt to roll the dice a little bit and take a chance, which is exactly what the Hornets are doing by landing Howard. He probably won't turn their fortunes around, but then again, maybe he'll find new life in Buzz City and make them one of the more competitive teams in the Eastern Conference.

What helps Howard out more than anything is that he isn't expected to be the number one option. Walker will be expected to carry the load and be the go-to guy in the clutch. By being the number two option, Howard won't be faced with the same level of pressure and hype that he has had to deal with in other cities. Many have already written him off and don't expect much from him going forward.

With the pressure now off his shoulders, it's certainly possible that Howard plays better and actually makes this Hornets team relevant. I don't necessarily think Howard will have a renaissance in Charlotte, but I do think that he could surprise people and make a bigger impact than people expect. He's got nothing to lose and ironically, that lack of pressure may be what he needs to thrive.

As far as the Hornets are concerned, this is a fantastic move given the fact that they really have nothing to lose. If Dwight Howard plays like he has during the past few seasons, the Hornets won't find themselves to be all that much better, but they definitely won't be worse. If on the flip side Howard does come up big and produces, they'll have significantly improved their team without giving up very much. They really couldn't ask for a better deal.

Wednesday Windmill is a weekly piece that focuses on the Eastern Conference. 

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Eastern Conference Playoffs: Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets

     

      

                                       (3) Miami Heat (48-34) vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets (48-34) 

     The post-LeBron James era is going pretty well for the Miami Heat. They have the third seed in the Eastern Conference and are in good position to reach the Eastern Conference Finals with Dwyane Wade still leading the way to go along with a solid supporting cast that includes Goran Dragic, Luol Deng, Joe Johnson, and Hassan Whiteside. As for the Charlotte Hornets, they are starting to get their own crew together composed of Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson, Nicolas Batum, and Jeremy Lin. 

     The biggest hurdle the Miami Heat have to overcome in this series is the absence of Chris Bosh, who along with Dwayne Wade has been averaging 19 points per game. Bosh has been dealing with blood clots in his leg and is without a timetable to return. With Bosh likely out for the series, the Heat will need Goran Dragic, Luol Deng, Joe Johnson, and Hassan Whiteside to step up. Whiteside will especially need to come up big since he plays down on the block. With Bosh out, it will really be up to Hassan Whiteside to provide a quality post presence for his team in this series due to his rebounding and shot blocking. 

     The biggest hurdle the Charlotte Hornets have to overcome in this series is experience. They didn't make the playoffs last season and as group have very little playoff experience. Even though they have the same record as this Heat team and are healthier, they still have to go up against the likes of Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, and Luol Deng, guys who have a lot of playoff experience.  

      In order for the Hornets to overcome this hurdle, they'll need to get big production from Kemba Walker, who really is the lone star on their team. Walker is averaging 20.9 points per game on 37.1% shooting from 3-point range and 84.7% shooting from the foul line. He has the potential to take over this series and have his playoff coming out party. If he is able to average 24+ points per game and get the help he needs from Al Jefferson, Nicolas Batum, and Jeremy Lin, this Hornets team has what it takes to win this series. 

     When looking at how this series plays out, I'm leaning very slightly towards the Miami Heat winning just because they have more weapons and more experience. I would not be surprised if the Charlotte Hornets won this series, but given that the Heat have Dwyane Wade and a beast like Hassan Whiteside down low in addition to the other guys I mentioned, I'm going to say that the Heat win this series in six games. It'll be close, but the Heat will prevail. 

Note: Game 1 of this series is Sunday at 5:30 PM EST on TNT 

Wednesday Windmill: The Charlotte Hornets are on a roll

     The Charlotte Hornets are on a quite a roll right now, winning 10 of their last 12 games while also riding a four-game winning streak. In Monday's 108-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Al Jefferson-Kemba Walker duo was in full force. Kemba Walker had 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists while Al Jefferson scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
   
     While Al Jefferson has been somewhat up and down all season and injured for a good chunk of the season, Kemba Walker has been nothing short of spectacular. In his last three games, he has scored 30+ points and has really taken it upon himself to be the leader of his team. With him playing like an all-star, Al Jefferson returning to form, and guys like Nicolas Batum and Courtney Lee knocking down shots and playing good defense, the Hornets are becoming one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.

     This isn't to say that the Charlotte Hornets are going to win the NBA championship or dethrone the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference this season. But, what can be concluded is that the Hornets are getting closer to where it is they want to get to, which is ultimately a trip to the NBA Finals. If the Hornets can keep Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker together and continue to put quality pieces around them, it might not be too long before we see this team making a run at the Eastern Conference Finals in a way similar to what the Toronto Raptors are doing.

     With the Chicago Bulls fading, the Indiana Pacers retooling, and no other team outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers firmly establishing themselves as a championship contender in the Eastern Conference, whose to say that the Charlotte Hornets can't become a team capable of reaching the NBA Finals in the coming seasons? The talent is there and perhaps more importantly, Michael Jordan is there.

     While Michael Jordan has been criticized for the way he has managed NBA teams over the years, it cannot be denied that his presence alone makes the Charlotte Hornets an intriguing destination for free agents. If this current Charlotte Hornets team can continue doing what they are doing, odds are good they'll get a big name free agent or two that can help them achieve their championship goals.

     One possible name is Stephen Curry, who has ties to the city of Charlotte. While it is true that he loves the Bay Area, home is still home, and if the Charlotte Hornets offer him a boatload of money to go along with a quality roster, it just might be too good of an offer for Stephen Curry to pass up. You can call me crazy, but within a couple of seasons I see the Charlotte Hornets as a franchise competing for an NBA championship with or without Stephen Curry. The talent is there, the greatest player of all time is there, and the city itself is hungry to support a winner on the hardwood.

Saturday Slam: The Rise of Buzz City

One of the more exciting things for me to see in today’s NBA is the rise of the Charlotte Hornets. With a 15-11 record, the Charlotte Hornets are on the upswing and promise to be one of the league’s more exciting teams in the coming seasons. Led by Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, and Al Jefferson, the Hornets have a nice combination of guard-play and post-play.

Kemba Walker, who is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game is one the league’s brightest young point guards. He has a knack for hitting big shots and is willing to make the necessary plays to win games. Nicolas Batum is a fantastic player who does a little bit of everything both in the post and out on the wing. As for Al Jefferson, he is one the league’s most talented big men. Especially when it comes to scoring the basketball down on the block.  

While still not quite ready to win a championship, the Charlotte Hornets are proving that they deserve to be mentioned with the other up and coming teams in the NBA like the Jazz, Raptors, and Knicks (Yes, I said the Knicks). They have a fun group of guys that are young and eager to make their mark in the NBA.

What makes this all the more fun for me is I remember watching the Charlotte Hornets of old in the 90s with Alonzo Mourning, Muggsy Bogues, and Larry Johnson. I have fond memories of watching those teams play and I was sad to see the team leave to New Orleans. The Charlotte Hornets in a way are an important part of my childhood and to see them relevant and alive is really fun for me to see.

The NBA is a better league with “Buzz City” back. I felt an emptiness and a void with the Charlotte Hornets extinct. With them now resurrected, I no longer feel that emptiness.  I feel like a part of my childhood is still with me and what’s better is that they are operated by Michael Jordan, another part of my childhood that I treasure.
But before I delve more into 1990s nostalgia and start talking about 90s hip-hop, let me close by addressing the present. The Charlotte Hornets are building a team with a very bright future that we can expect to be competitive for a long time. The foundation is there and now all that needs to happen is for them to figure out who the rest of the pieces of their team will be. Jeremy Lin is a nice addition as is Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky.

If the Charlotte Hornets emerge into a legitimate contender within the next five years, don’t be surprised. At some point, LeBron James’ Cavaliers will run out of gas and there will have to be a new front-runner in the Eastern Conference. At this point, I see no reason for that new front-runner to not be the Charlotte Hornets. Especially if they are able to sign a certain “Splash Brother” with Charlotte roots, but that’s a story for another day. 

Wednesday Windmill: Have the Charlotte Hornets gotten better?

     The Charlotte Hornets have had an interesting summer. They drafted Frank Kaminsky, signed Jeremy Lin, acquired Nicolas Batum from the Trail Blazers at the expense of Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, acquired Spencer Hawes from the Clippers at the expense of Lance Stephenson, signed undrafted rookie Aaron Harrison, and also acquired Jeremy Lamb from the Thunder. In addition to all that, they also let Mo Williams go to the Cavaliers and let Bismack Biyombo go to the Raptors. 

     While they have certainly been active, have they really made themselves better? To a certain extent they have gotten better in the sense that they got rid of some players who weren't really making them better. But, if you define getting better as "improving your chances of making a run in the playoffs," it's hard to say if they have improved amid all these moves. To make sense of all these moves, I will first address who they have acquired and then address who they have lost. 

     The selection of Frank Kaminsky looks good since Kaminsky is one of the more NBA ready rookies in the draft. While his ceiling isn't as high as other players, he comes into the NBA with a lot more polish than most rookies. He should be ready to make an impact in the front court and give Al Jefferson some help inside. As for Spencer Hawes, I would say that he too should be able to give Al Jefferson some additional help inside and perhaps stretch the floor with his outside shooting. 

     As for Nicolas Batum, he's a big name, but his production last season with the Trail Blazers wasn't that good. His scoring averaged dipped to 9.4 points per game while his rebounding and assist numbers also dropped from the previous season despite only playing 2.5 fewer minutes per game. In addition to those numbers dropping, his field goal percentage and  three-point percentage dropped as well. Only his free throw percentage improved, jumping up from 80.3% to 85.7%. 

    If you are wondering why the Trail Blazers were willing to get rid of Nicolas Batum, this is why. His production wasn't very good last season. It seems like the trade between the Hornets and Trail Blazers was really a case of both teams taking each other's trash and nothing more. In essence, Nicolas Batum seems like a nice addition given his name, but in reality, he's nothing to get excited about. 

     In regards to Jeremy Lin, he's nothing more than a solid back up point guard. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if you think Jeremy Lin is going to bring "Linsanity" to "Buzz City" you are delusional. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game last season with the Lakers, which are solid numbers, but nothing that will bring any real change to your team. 

     Lastly, the addition of guards Aaron Harrison and Jeremy Lamb could be nice, but given that Harrison is an undrafted rookie and Lamb is a guy who gathered dust on the Thunder's bench the past three seasons, there's little reason to expect either of these guys to make a huge impact. 

     In regards to the guys who they lost, Noah Vonleh was a bust, so he's a good guy to get rid of. As for Gerald Henderson and Mo Williams, both of those guys are guys who can put the ball in the basket. Henderson averaged 12.1 points per game last season and Williams averaged 14.2 points per game for the season (Timberwolves and Hornets), but averaged 17.2 points per game during his games with the Hornets. I'm not sure either of those guys are good departures given their scoring abilities. Especially Mo Williams. I think he was a really nice player to have coming off the bench to give Kemba Walker support. 

     In regards to Lance Stephenson, he truly is a good guy to get off the Hornets. He averaged only 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and .6 steals per game. His production was poor and he was a distraction off the court, getting under the skin of his own teammates and wreaking havoc in the locker room. Lance Stephenson was like a Hornets nest placed in the team's locker room and I don't mean that in a good way. 

     As for Bismack Biyombo leaving for the Raptors, I don't think he'll be missed given the addition of Frank Kaminsky. Biyombo never lived up to the hype and he could use a change of scenery. The departure of Biyombo is mutually beneficial for both sides. 

    In summary, the Hornets have made a lot of noise but haven't done anything to really improve their team. They've shuffled things around and are trying new things, but it will not get them where they want to get to. They will once again be a team that will be fighting for an eight seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and nothing more. 

     

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 1/26-2/1

                                                    (Credit: Andy Melton---Click here for source)

     Here is the Daily Dunks page for January 26, 2015 through February 1, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with all the latest news from each day as well as the day's NBA scores, so make sure to check this page throughout the week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Knicks are planning on signing guard Langston Galloway for the rest of the season and possibly to a multi-year deal. He has averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season (Click here for details).

#2. Knicks power forward Amar'e Stoudemire has sprains in his wrist and ankle. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#3. Hornets small forward Marvin Williams (concussion) is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#4. Hornets center  Bismack Biyombo will be reevaluated in 10 days after suffering a bruised knee (Click here for details).

#5. The 76ers signed guard Larry Drew II to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#6. The Mavericks are confident they will sign Jermaine O'Neal after the All-Star break (Click here for details).

#7. A blizzard hit the Northeast. The Kings@Knicks game was rescheduled for March 3. The Trail Blazers@Nets game was rescheduled for April 6 (Click here for details).

#8. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant decided to opt for season-ending surgery on Wednesday, but he says he'll be back next season (Click here for details).

#9. Hornets point guard Kemba Walker has a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. He'll undergo surgery. There won't be an official timetable for his return until after the surgery (Click here for details).

#10. Thunder small forward Kevin Durant has a sprained big toe. He didn't play on Monday (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Thunder 92 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 103 Magic 94. Celtics 99 Jazz 90. Pelicans 99 76ers 74. Clippers 102 Nuggets 98. Portland @Brooklyn (Postponed). Kings@Knicks (Postponed).

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Timberwolves waived center Miroslav Raduljica and signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Knicks signed guard Langston Galloway for the rest of the season. It's a two-year deal (Click here for details).

#3. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will reportedly be in the three-point contest (Click here for details).

#4. The dunk contest participants were announced (Click here for details).

#5. Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge confirms that he will play through the thumb injury for the remainder of the season (Click here for details).

#6. The Pistons are interested in Heat point guard Norris Cole (Click here for details).

#7. Clippers forward Matt Barnes was fined $25K for language he directed at a fan. However, Barnes claims he was responding to the Suns owner who was cussing at him (Click here for details).

#8. Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings underwent successful surgery on his Achilles. His season is over (Click here for details).

#9. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (wrist) did not play (Click here for details).

#10. The Jazz decided to not sign guard Elliot Williams for the rest of the season. They instead filled his roster spot by signing forward Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 109 Mavericks 90. Bulls 113 Warriors 111 (OT). Raptors 104 Pacers 91. Cavaliers 103 Pistons 95. Bucks 109 Heat 102. Wizards 98 Lakers 92.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat signed guard Tyler Johnson to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Bucks signed power forward Kenyon Martin for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#3. Heat point guard Mario Chalmers has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#4. Hornets point guard Kemba Walker's surgery on his left knee was successful. He's out an estimated 6-8 weeks (Click here for details).

#5. The Bucks signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#6. The Pacers assigned rookie center Shayne Whittington to the D-League to join the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Click here for details).

#7. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant's shoulder surgery was successful. He should be ready to play in 9 months (Click here for details).

#8. The Spurs signed forward Reggie Williams to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#9. Timberwolves shooting guard Kevin Martin returned from his wrist injury and scored 21 points (Click here for details).

#10. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving went bananas, scoring 55 points on the Trail Blazers.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Timberwolves 110 Celtics 98. Clippers 94 Jazz 89. Cavaliers 99 Trail Blazers 94. 76ers 89 Pistons 69. Raptors 119 Kings 102. Hawks 113 Nets 102. Nuggets 93 Pelicans 85. Rockets 99 Mavericks 94. Knicks 100 Thunder 92. Spurs 95 Hornets 86. Suns 106 Wizards 98.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Western Conference All-Star Reserves and the Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves were announced (Click here to see who made it).

#2. The Knicks signed forward Lance Thomas for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#3. The Knicks signed forward Lou Amundson for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#4. There are reports that Kevin Durant might want to join the Knicks in 2016 (Click here for details).

#5. The Warriors didn't sign James Michael McAdoo to another 10-day contract. He is back in the D-League with Santa Cruz (Click here for details).

#6. Heat guard Dwyane Wade is out 2-3 weeks due to a hamstring strain (Click here for details).

#7. The Magic are considering firing their head coach Jacque Vaughn (Click here for details).

#8. Grizzlies shooting guard Vince Carter injured his leg (Click here for details).

#9. Phil Jackson admits to deflating basketballs back in the day (Click here for details).

#10. The NBA has reached a 5 year, $500M deal to televise games in China (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 99 Nuggets 69. Bucks 115 Magic 100. Pacers 103 Knicks 82. Lakers 123 Bulls 118 (2OT).

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Timberwolves are shopping Mo Williams (Click here for details).

#2. Scott Skiles or Mark Jackson could replace Jacque Vaughn in Orlando (Click here for details).

#3. Pelicans forward Anthony Davis didn't play due to a groin strain (Click here for details).

#4. Grizzlies shooting guard Vince Carter is out at least one week due to a left foot tendon injury (Click here for details).

#5. The Kings singed forward Quincy Miller to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#6. The Knicks assigned forward Cleanthony Early to the D-League (Click here for details).

#7. The Morris twins are suspect in an assault investigation (Click here for details).

#8. The Thunder almost traded Reggie Jackson to the Nuggets (Click here for details).

#9. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins will replace Kobe Bryant in the All-Star game (Click here for details).

#10. Pelicans guard Eric Gordon had 28 points and 7 assists against the Clippers.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

76ers 103 Timberwolves 94. Jazz 110 Warriors 100. Hawks 105 Trail Blazers 99. Rockets 93 Celtics 87. Cavaliers 101 Kings 90. Raptors 127 Nets 122 (OT). Pelicans 108 Clippers 103. Mavericks 93 Heat 72. Suns 99 Bulls 93.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Cavaliers have decided to pick up Timofey Mozgov's $4.9M option. He won't be a free agent until 2016 (Click here for details).

#2. The Celtics don't expect Kelly Olynyk to be back until after the All-Star Break (Click here for details).

#3. Rockets center Dwight Howard (right ankle) is out at least one month (Click here for details).

#4. The Nuggets are trying to trade for Nets center Brook Lopez (Click here for details).

#5. Suns guard Gerald Green was a DNP on Friday via Coach's decision. The team denies that they are looking to trade him (Click here for details).

#6. Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha is out 6-8 weeks with a right calf strain (Click here for details).

#7. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio will return on Monday (Click here for details).

#8. Jazz guard Trey Burke will compete in the NBA Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend (Click here for details).

#9. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo injured his head (Click here for details).

#10. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James dropped 36 points on the Timberwolves.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 106 Timberwolves 90. Grizzlies 85 Thunder 74. Warriors 106 Suns 87. Kings 99 Pacers 94. Mavericks 108 Magic 93. Raptors 120 Wizards 116 (OT). Hawks 91 76ers 85. Pistons 114 Rockets 101. Bucks 95 Trail Blazers 88. Hornets 104 Nuggets 86. Clippers 105 Spurs 85.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Xinjiang Flying Tigers missed the playoffs in the Chinese Basketball Association, making Sebastian Telfair and Andray Blatche free agents (Click here for details).

#2. The Pistons signed point guard John Lucas III to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Grizzlies won't offer forward Tyrus Thomas a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#4. The Grizzlies signed forward JaMychal Green to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo won't play on Monday due to his facial/head injury (Click here for details).

#6. The Knicks recalled forward Cleanthony Early from the D-League (Click here for details).

#7. Warriors center Festus Ezeli (ankle) is on the Santa Cruz Warriors for a D-League rehab assignment (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors center Ognjen Kuzmic has been recalled from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League (Click here for details).

#9. 19 year old French shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will enter the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#10. Flip Saunders didn't like the Timberwolves organization making fun of Kevin Love on Saturday (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Heat 83 Celtics 75. Knicks 92 Lakers 80.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Wednesday Windmill: The Charlotte Hornets Need To Wake Up

     The Charlotte Hornets are currently 4-15, playing far worse than anybody expected. The expectations put on this team weren't terribly high, but they weren't low, either. Most basketball analysts including myself expected this team to be a threat to win an opening round playoff series, which is why this 4-15 start has all of us scratching our heads and asking "What is going on with this team?".
 
      One might point to the fact that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Noah Vonleh, and Gary Neal have been injured, but that doesn't explain such a poor start. What explains their poor start is that their "money players" haven't stepped up.
   
     Al Jefferson is averaging 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, so he is doing his part, but the other three main players on this team (Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, and Kemba Walker) have all played well below their expectations. Kemba Walker is scoring only 14 points per game, which just won't cut it for a guy who is supposed to be the #2 player on this team.
   
     As for Lance Stephenson, his 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest is beyond disappointing for a guy who signed a three-year, $27M contract. Stephenson was supposed to be the #3 option on this team who would change them from a playoff pretender to a playoff contender. He has instead done nothing but disappoint and leave Charlotte fans wondering if he was really worth the money or if he was just a good system player in Indiana.

     Gerald Henderson, who averaged 14 points per game last year, is averaging only 6.8 points per game while also producing fewer rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. His drop off has been staggering and nothing short of alarming. Out of all the players who have been struggling, his struggles seem to be the most perplexing.

     Whatever the problem is, whether it's Lance Stephenson failing to deliver or Kemba Walker not playing like a legit #2 option, the Hornets have to change something and make a move to energize themselves. The return of the nickname "Hornets" has energized this city, but it looks like more needs to be done to make "Buzz City" a place where playoff teams don't want to go.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord