Daily Dunks: 5/11-5/17

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

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for May 11, 2015 through May 17, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news and scores from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki doesn't plan to retire any time soon (Click here for details).

#2. Thanasis Antetokounmpo is expected to be on the Knicks' 2015-16 roster (Click here for details).

#3. The Bucks may be in the mix for center Brook Lopez if he opts out of his contract with the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Rockets center Dwight Howard has been fined $15K for making contact above the shoulders with Matt Barnes (Click here for details).

#5. The Timberwolves may draft and stash Serbian prospect Nikola Milutinov (Click here for details).

#6. Notre Dame small forward Pat Connaughton will workout for the Spurs (Click here for details).

#7. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has some interesting words regarding the NBA's culture (Click here for details).

#8. Chris Paul did not want Dwight Howard ejected in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#9. Hawks point guard Jeff Teague had 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists.

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Monday's NBA Playoffs Scores: 

Hawks 106 Wizards 101 (Series is tied 2-2). Warriors 101 Grizzlies 84 (Series tied 2-2).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Warriors center Andrew Bogut hurt his ribs and underwent an X-ray on his left knee. He should be fine for Game 5 on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#2. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Game 5 on Wednesday. He is listed as a game-time decision (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls power forward Taj Gibson got ejected for kicking at Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova. It should be noted that Dellavedova leg-locked Gibson, so Gibson may have just been trying to free himself (Click here for details).

#4. Heat power forward Chris Bosh expects to be ready for opening night (Click here for details).

#5. Draymond Green's mom thinks her son is staying with the Warriors (Click here for details).

#6. The Nets aren't looking to buyout Deron Williams' contract via the stretch provision. In the event that they do, a Nets beat reporter says he could end up back with the Jazz (Click here for details).

#7. The Pelicans fired their head coach Monty Williams (Click here for details).

#8. The 76ers have unveiled some new logos (Click here for details).

#9. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol (hamstring) did not play and will be a game-time decision on Thursday (Click here for details).

#10. Nets guard Alan Anderson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle to remove bone spurs. He should be able to resume basketball activity in July (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 106 Bulls 101 (Cavaliers lead series 3-2). Rockets 124 Clippers 103 (Clippers lead series 3-2).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Dwane Casey will reportedly return as the Raptors' head coach. His staff may not (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets aren't expected to extend a qualifying offer to big man Jerome Jordan (Click here for details).

#3. Al Horford hit the game-winner for the Hawks (Click here for details).

#4. Before Al Horford hit the game winner, Paul Pierce called "Series" after hitting a corner three (Click here for details).

#5. Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen (hamstring) didn't play, but he says he'll play in Game 6 on Friday (Click here for details).

#6. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol (hamstring) says he'll play in Game 6  on Thursday (Click here for details).

#7. Wizards point guard John Wall returned from his wrist injury (Click here for details).

#8. Report: Not enough general managers are in support of changing the "Hack-a-Shaq" rule (Click here for details).

#9. The Magic are willing to trade for Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau (Click here for details).

#10. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal are getting contract extensions with Turner Sports (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Hawks 82 Wizards 81 (Hawks lead series 3-2). Warriors 98 Grizzlies 78 (Warriors lead series 3-2).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bulls center Joakim Noah has won the 2014-15 Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (Click here for details).

#2. The Rockets had a monster comeback to beat the Clippers, outscoring them 40-15 in the 4th quarter.

#3. The Celtics are hoping to land both Wesley Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge (Click here for details).

#4. Joel Embiid is joining the 76ers as they attend the NBA Combine (Click here for details).

#5. If the Bulls fire Tom Thibodeau, Fred Hoiberg is a leading candidate to replace him. So is their assistant coach Adrian Griffin (Click here for details).

#6. The Pelicans and Tom Thibodeau reportedly having mutual interest in each other (Click here for details).

#7. Seth Curry will join the Pelicans for Summer League (Click here for details).

#8. Notre Dame forward Pat Connaughton had a 44 inch vertical leap at the NBA Combine (Click here for details).

#9. D'Angelo Russell would like to be drafted by the 76ers (Click here for details).

#10. Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova had 19 points off the bench.

Thursday's NBA Playoffs Results: 

Cavaliers 94 Bulls 73 (Cavaliers win series 4-2). Rockets 119 Clippers 107 (Series is tied 3-3).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Lakers' preseason tips off in Hawaii against the Jazz on October 4 (Click here for details).

#2. Allen Iverson says he isn't struggling financially (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert denies that David Blatt is getting fired regardless of what happens in the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Knicks president Phil Jackson is unhappy that Isiah Thomas is back in New York with the Liberty of the WNBA (Click here for details).

#5. The Celtics' assistant GM says the team plans to be very active this offseason (Click here for details).

#6. Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry has been linked to the Chicago Bulls head coaching job (Click here for details).

#7. Willie Cauley-Stein will workout for the Knicks (Click here for details).

#8. Former New Mexico center Alex Kirk will reportedly join the Grizzlies for Summer League (Click here for details).

#9. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 32 points and 10 assists.

#10. Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll had 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Friday's NBA Playoff Results: 

Hawks 94 Wizards 91 (Hawks win series 4-2). Warriors 108 Grizzlies 95 (Warriors win series 4-2).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Wizards center Kevin Seraphin wants to be a starter somewhere else next season (Click here for details).

#2. The Orlando Magic interviewed several power forwards at the NBA Draft Combine (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) didn't practice on Saturday but remains hopeful for Game 1 on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#4. Thunder head coach Billy Donovan is trying to get Monty Williams to join his staff (Click here for details).

#5. Kristaps Porzingis' stock is rising. He could be a top-three pick (Click here for details).

#6. Wizards center Marcin Gortat didn't play much in Game 6 against the Hawks because of food poisoning (Click here for details).

#7. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce is really disappointed about how his shot didn't count to force OT in Game 6 (Click here for details).

#8. The Bulls don't plan to fire Tom Thibodeau if they can avoid it. They want to trade him and get compensation instead (Click here for details).

#9. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce is unsure about his future for next season (Click here for details).

#10. There were no NBA Playoff games. Game 7 between the Rockets and Clippers is on Sunday.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Eastern Conference Finals (Hawks vs. Cavaliers) and Western Conference Finals (Warriors vs. Rockets) are set (Click here to view the schedules).

#2. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban congratulates the Rockets for defeating the Clippers (Click here for details).

#3. Maurice Cheeks is being targeted by Billy Donovan to join him in Oklahoma City (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors power forward Maurice Speights (calf) won't be available for Game 1 against the Rockets (Click here for details).

#5. Officials from Montreal have met with Adam Silver to lay some groundwork for bringing a franchise to the city (Click here for details).

#6. Pacers president Larry Bird likes Willie Cauley-Stein a lot and says he can be a $100M player (Click here for details).

#7. The Celtics are interested in trading up in the draft (Click here for details).

#8. LeBron James says competing against Paul Pierce has made him better (Click here for details).

#9. Wizards head coach Randy Wittman thinks Paul Pierce will return next season (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Sunday's NBA Playoff Results: 

Rockets 113 Clippers 100 (Rockets win series 4-3).

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

Wednesday Windmill: Could Paul Pierce make the difference in DC?

                                             (credit: espn.go.com)
   
     The Washington Wizards are one of the more interesting teams in the NBA. Bradley Beal and John Wall, who combined for 36.4 points per game last season, have emerged into one of the best backcourts in the NBA to go alongside a solid front court rotation of Nene, Marcin Gortat, and Kris Humphries. However, as good as those five players are, the Wizards likely wouldn't be considered a serious contender if they didn't also have Paul Pierce, who is coming off a one year stint with the Brooklyn Nets.
   
     Now you might be saying that Paul Pierce is old and that what makes the Wizards really dangerous is the combination of players I mentioned before him. That's not at all inaccurate. Those five players I mentioned are going to have to carry the bulk of the load, especially Wall and Beal.
   
     However, I think Paul Pierce's presence is what the Wizards need to get over the hump and into the NBA Finals this season. Beal and Wall can get the Wizards close, but they need somebody else who is capable of doing damage late in games and also providing them with confidence. Especially in the playoffs.
   
     What better man to fill that need than Paul Pierce? He has championship and leadership experience, and ice in his veins. Pierce lives for the big moments, and when the Wizards are in such moments, Pierce will know what it takes to get the job done.
 
      In addition to being a weapon late in games, Pierce himself can still produce for four quarters. Last season in Brooklyn, Pierce played 28 minutes per game for 75 games and averaged 13.5 points per game. That's very solid production to add to your lineup. Especially when you already have other guys to do the heavy lifting.
   
     The bottom line is that Paul Pierce is a great addition to this Wizards team both because of the intangibles he brings and the actual on court production that he can provide night in and night out. If the Wizards figure out how to utilize him properly and put his abilities to full use, they could find themselves in the NBA Finals this season.

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

Are The Brooklyn Nets Contenders Out East?

                                                 image from dukaspr.com

The Brooklyn Nets pulled off one of the biggest trades of the off-season which netted in them getting Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and Kevin Garnett from the Boston Celtics. The Nets starting five now has Deron Williams at point guard, Joe Johnson at shooting guard, Paul Pierce at small forward, Kevin Garnett at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center. Jason Terry will come off the bench.  Gerald Wallace, who started for the team last season at small forward was traded to the Celtics as part of the deal (note: to see complete details of the trade, click here).

The Nets certainly seem to have a team that can do some serious damage in the Eastern Conference. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the NBA despite having a down season last year and we all know that Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez are both one of the better players at their positions. But obviously, the Nets realized that they were lacking something last season that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry can bring to the table. The focus of my article is to identify what the Nets think that something is, and whether or not Pierce, Garnett, and Terry can do enough to get the Nets over the hump. 

Last season, the Nets appeared to be one of the better teams in the NBA, and everybody figured that they would easily beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs due to all the injuries on the Bulls. However, things didn't exactly go according to plan, and before they knew it, the Nets found themselves eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of a Chicago Bulls team that was plagued with injury. 

While everybody was praising the Chicago Bulls for playing with so much heart and soul, the Brooklyn Nets at the same time found themselves to be the subject of much deserved ridicule and utter embarrassment. This was a team that was supposed to contend for a title and there they were instead eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of a sickly team hit with a plague similar to the Bubonic plague that swept across Europe in the middle ages. The Nets were rightfully being called soft as a result.

What the addition of Garnett, Pierce, and Terry does for the Nets is potentially fix their softness by adding gritty veteran toughness. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry all have championship rings, and all three are guys who wouldn't back down to a rabid hyena if it was snarling in their face. Kevin Garnett is the toughest of them all and it shows on the court. Brook Lopez may be a good offensive center, but he protects the rim worse than my 16 year old golden retriever protects my house. A burglar with a flame thrower could walk into my house and my dog wouldn't utter a peep. Likewise, Brook Lopez couldn't protect the rim if his life depended on it.  Bulls point guard Nate Robinson had no fear flying at the rim with reckless abandon against the Nets in the playoffs, and he is a little squirt standing at 5'9. Kevin Garnett will take care of the rim protecting problem, and players of all sizes will think twice about going inside with Garnett prowling the paint. 

As for Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, their scoring will certainly be of assistance to the Nets, but it's more their intangible veteran presence that will help this team. They will help give their teammates confidence in crunch time and help them stay mentally strong in tough situations. They will have a strong presence in the locker room and command respect. They won't let their teammates deflect their problems on others, and will instead teach them to own their own mistakes. This is an effect similar to what Doc Rivers will bring to the Clippers as head coach. 

While these three guys may serve as guides similar to Virgil in Dante's Inferno, they won't be able to completely mold their teammates into winners. Deron Williams still has to be the leader of this team if they want to win a championship, and whether or not he can be a great leader is yet to be seen. In addition, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez will have to toughen up as well and learn to buckle down in crunch time. If the Nets rely too much on Garnett, Pierce, and Terry to carry the load, they will fail miserably. But if they open themselves up to improvement under their wise council, then they just might have what it takes to dethrone the Heat. 

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