Daily Dunks: 3/9-3/15

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

Here is the Daily Dunks page for Monday, March 9 through Sunday, March 15, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with all the latest news and scores from around the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

     Monday's Daily Dunks: 

     #1. The Knicks are interested in re-signing forward Andrea Bargnani (Click here for details).

     #2. 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) is experiencing setbacks, so he is in a walking boot (Click here for details).

     #3. The Hawks made a franchise record 20 three-point shots against the Kings.

     #4. Hornets point guard Mo Williams and Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

     #5. Thunder center Steven Adams (hand) returned (Click here for details).

     #6. Clippers guard Dahntay Jones bumped Warriors forward Draymond Green on Sunday while Green was doing his post-game interview. Jones got fined $10K (Click here for details).

     #7. Cavaliers small forward Shawn Marion (hip) returned to practice and could be back by the end of the road trip (Click here for details).

     #8. Kobe Bryant wants Rajon Rondo to join the Lakers (Click here for details).

     #9. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

     #10. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis had 43 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks.

     Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

     Grizzlies 101 Bulls 91. Warriors 98 Suns 80. Clippers 89 Timberwolves 76. Wizards 95 Hornets 69. Hawks 130 Kings 105. Celtics 100 Heat 90. Pelicans 114 Bucks 103. Nuggets 106 Knicks 78.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been suspended 1 game for elbowing Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (Click here for details).

#2. The Lakers signed guard Jabari Brown to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. Suns point guard Brandon Knight is dealing with an ankle injury. He'll miss at least one game (Click here for details).

#4. The Suns signed guard Seth Curry to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum will play for France's national team this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Rumor: Russell Westbrook's play is upping the odds of the Thunder trading Kevin Durant next season (Click here for details).

#7.  Lou Williams wants to stay with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#8. Clippers power forward Glen Davis has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#9. Hornets point guard Kemba Walker will return on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin could return on Sunday from the staph infection in his elbow (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 87 Knicks 82. Pacers 118 Magic 86. Pelicans 111 Nets 91. Cavaliers 127 Mavericks 94. Spurs 117 Raptors 107. Lakers 93 Pistons 85.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kevin Durant (foot) has been re-evaluated and is expected to be back in 1-2 weeks (Click here for details).

#2. Pacers small forward Paul George is still "a ways away" from playing (Click here for details).

#3. Mikhail Prokhorov may no longer be selling the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Rockets center Dwight Howard is expects to be back stronger than he has ever been this season (Click here for details).

#5. The Wizards signed guard Toure' Murry to a 10-day contract due to guard Garrett Temple going down with a hamstring injury (Click here for details).

#6. The Mavericks have assigned Dwight Powell to the D-League to join the Texas Legends, but he should be back with the team on Friday (Click here for details).

#7. Nets small forward Sergey Karasev is done for the season with a torn MCL (Click here for details).

#8. LeBron James is now the Cavaliers' all-time assist leader.

#9. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (back) didn't play on Wednesday. He could be out Friday and Saturday as well (Click here for details). As for  Celtics guard Avery Bradley, he returned after a three-game absence from an elbow injury.

#10. Hawks power forward Pero Antic (ankle) has returned from a two game absence (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 95 Grizzlies 92. Suns 106 Timberwolves 97. Warriors 105 Pistons 98. Bulls 104 76ers 95 (OT).
Kings 113 Hornets 106. Heat 104 Nets 98. Bucks 97 Magic 91. Clippers 120 Thunder 108.
Nuggets 115 Hawks 102. Trail Blazers 105 Rockets 100.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Forward Quincy Miller signed a 2 year deal to stay with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#2. Shaquille O'Neal will be inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame (Click here for details).

#3. The Heat signed forward Henry Walker for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#4.  The Suns signed center Earl Barron for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#5. Rockets center Dwight Howard expects to be back in two weeks (Click here for details).

#6. A Clippers spokesman says a return is "possible" for Blake Griffin on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. The Raptors sent center Lucas Nogueira to the D-League (Click here for details).

#8. The Warriors recalled forward James Michael McAdoo from the D-League (Click here for details).

#9. Phil Jackson calls the Knicks season a "project gone awry" (Click here for details).

#10. Pero Antic hopes to stay with the Hawks (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 107 Grizzlies 87. Jazz 109 Rockets 91. Pacers 109 Bucks 103 (OT). Cavaliers 128 Spurs 125 (OT). Knicks 101 Lakers 94.

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 57 points. Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 19 points, 22 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed forward Austin Daye to a 10-day contract and released Jarell Eddie. Also, Hawks forward Mike Scott is out indefinitely with a broken toe (Click here for details).

#2. Hornets center Al Jefferson remains out indefinitely, but good news is MRI showed no structural damage to his knee (Click here for details).

#3. Paul George is "on the fence" about returning this season (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan hit a three against the Mavericks (Click here to watch).

#5. Henry Walker's contract with the Heat is guaranteed for the rest of the season and includes an option for next season (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#7. Blake Griffin should be back for the Clippers on Sunday or Tuesday (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors center Mareese Speights didn't play Friday because he was suspended one game for reckless driving (Click here for details).

#9. Nets forward Sergey Karasev has undergone successful surgery on his knee. His season is over (Click here for details).

#10. Rodney Stuckey hopes to remain with the Pacers (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Thunder 113 Timberwolves 99. Nuggets 114 Warriors 103. 76ers 114 Kings 107. Hornets 101 Bulls 91. Celtics 95 Magic 88. Raptors 102 Heat 92. Mavericks 129 Clippers 99. Hawks 96 Suns 87. Trail Blazers 118 Pistons 99.

Friday's Top Performers: Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 39 points and 24 rebounds.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bucks signed small forward Chris Johnson to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Joel Freeland of the Trail Blazers and Shawne Williams of the Pistons got suspended one game for head butting each other (Click here for details).

#3. The Pelicans signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day deal (Click here for details).

#4. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (ankle) didn't play Thursday or Saturday (Click here for details).

#5. Phil Jackson says he's planning to build the Knicks via free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 19 rebounds.

#7. Wizards point guard John Wall had 31 points and 12 assists.

#8. Grizzlies shooting guard Courtney Lee had 17 points.

#9. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson had 27 points.

#10. Nets forward Thaddeus Young had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 96 Bucks 83. Jazz 88 Pistons 85. Warriors 125 Knicks 94. Celtics 93 Pacers 89. Wizards 113 Kings 97. Nets 94 76ers 87.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NCAA Tournament bracket got revealed. Click here in case you haven't yet seen it.

#2. Pistons center Andre Drummond has a concussion (Click here for details).

#3. The Knicks are unsure if guard Jose Calderon (Achilles) will play again this season (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin returned from his elbow injury. He played 41 minutes, scored 11 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds (Click here for details).

#5. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (rest) did not play (Click here for details).

#6. Hawks small forward Kyle Korver broke his nose (Click here for details).

#7. Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili sprained his ankle and is out 7-10 days (Click here for details).

#8. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists in a double overtime loss to the Nuggets.

#9. Lakers head coach Byron Scott plans to start Jeremy Lin at point guard down the stretch (Click here for details).

#10. Bulls center Joakim Noah is still facing a 32 minute playing time restriction (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Spurs 123 Timberwolves 97. Thunder 109 Bulls 100. Rockets 100 Clippers 98. Nuggets 118 Pelicans 111 (2OT). Cavaliers 123 Magic 108. Trail Blazers 113 Raptors 97. Suns 102 Knicks 89. Hawks 91 Lakers 86.
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news. 

Bear Territory Thursday: Cal gets a reality check against Arizona

     Cal got a reality check against the #5 ranked Arizona Wildcats tonight, getting blown out by the score of 99-60. It was a game that Cal never was really in outside of the first 4-5 minutes of the game. After a score of 12-12, Arizona went on a 9-2 run and never looked back. Arizona continued to add insult to injury the rest of the way, not letting up for even a second. As a result, Arizona secured another Pac-12 regular season title and Cal secured a losing record in the conference. Arizona's forward Brandon Ashley led the way with 21 points and 6 rebounds.

     The harsh reality for Cal is that their 5th gear is Arizona's 2nd gear. Arizona simply has 3-4 extra gears that Cal doesn't have. This isn't to say that Cal couldn't have played better, because they certainly could have. Jordan Mathews for example was practically invisible, scoring just 3 points on 1-5 shooting and Tyrone Wallace only scored 16 points, shooting an inefficient 7-18 from the field.

     Had both of those guys played better with Jabari Bird and David Kravish producing more, Cal could have made things interesting. In addition, Sam Singer played well tonight, scoring 13 points and grabbing 4 rebounds on 5-8 shooting from the field and 3-3 shooting from the foul line. Cal got the bench production they needed, but their starting lineup really let them down.

     Cal doesn't have much time before they face Arizona State on Saturday at 11:30 AM PST, but perhaps that's a good thing. Cal needs to put this loss out of their minds and focus on getting some revenge against an Arizona State team that embarrassed them earlier in the season in Berkeley. In addition, Cal could be playing for a #7 seed in the Pac-12 tournament which could help them avoid Arizona until the championship game.

     I'll talk more about this in my Pac-12 tournament preview, but I do think Utah is vulnerable in a way that Arizona is not. Cal played Utah tough for a half on the road and Utah has lost four times this year in the conference going into their game tonight at Washington State. If Cal could face Utah instead of Arizona in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament, that would be huge, so even though tonight's loss was ugly, that doesn't change the fact that a lot is still riding on Saturday's game at Arizona State.

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

Wednesday Windmill: The NBA championship is totally up for grabs

                                         (Credit: Joe Glorioso. Click here for source and original size)

     For the first time since the retirement of Michael Jordan, the NBA championship is totally up for grabs. There are no favorites and close to a dozen teams who could walk away with the Larry O'Brien trophy. In a league that usually has two or three clear front runners every season, the NBA is experiencing perhaps its most unpredictable season ever.

     The Western Conference alone is up for grabs. The Warriors, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Trail Blazers may be the top four seeds, but the bottom four seeds consisting of the Clippers, Mavericks, Spurs, and Thunder seem just as dangerous. I could make a strong case for why any of these eight teams should be favored to win the Western Conference regardless of their position in the standings. The West is that deep.

     As for the Eastern Conference, it's substantially more shallow, but all the same unpredictable. The Hawks are running away with the #1 seed, but the Cavaliers led by LeBron James are coming on at full force. It's hard to pick against the Cavaliers given their recent surge of winning 18 of 20 games as well as the presence of LeBron James, but it's just as tough to pick against the Hawks who have an astonishing 48-12 record and a 10 game lead over the #2 seeded Raptors.

     The two real dark horses in the Eastern Conference are the Bulls and the Pacers. The Bulls have such a deep roster with Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler, and Pau Gasol that even without Derrick Rose they are still a threat. As for the Pacers, if they can make the playoffs and have Paul George healthy, there's no reason to not think that they have at least a shot at coming out of the Eastern Conference.

     The uncertainty going into the playoffs makes things so much more interesting and exciting given that basketball is usually a really predictable sport. The Heat with LeBron James, the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe, and the Bulls with Jordan and Pippen were all clear front runners to win the NBA championship. This year, there is no team that is a front runner in the way that these teams were. The fact that the two best records in the league are possessed by the Hawks and the Warriors I think pretty much says it all. If those two franchises are the "front runners" to win the NBA championship, then we really do have a free for all on our hands.

     While it is sometimes more fun to have a clear front runner and a team who everybody is chasing, NBA fans should embrace this current state of unpredictability since it is so unique and rare. We'll have plenty of NBA seasons where one or two teams are clearly the favorites to win the championship, but when will we get a season in which as much as twelve teams have a real shot at the championship? The answer could be never and that possibility should have every NBA fan glued to their TV sets come April, May, and June.

     As for the teams involved in this madness, they too have to take advantage of this uncertainty because they may never get another shot at winning a championship. The Hawks and the Warriors rarely are in the championship picture and so they better capitalize while they are currently the top seeds in their conferences. As for the teams below them, they have to feel confident in their abilities to come out on top based on the fact that the Hawks and Warriors lack championship experience.

     In conclusion, there's reason for fans and teams to be excited about this uncertainty. Fans can be excited by all the drama that is to come and teams can be excited by having a real shot at winning the championship. If I'm coaching any of these teams,  I'm saying to my guys that we have to follow the advice of John Keating to "seize the day" and "gather ye rosebuds while ye may".
     ---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 3/2-3/8

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

     This is my Daily Dunks page for March 2, 2015 through March 8, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with the latest news and scores from arose the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat signed forward Henry Walker to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Hornets shooting guard P.J. Hairston was benched on Sunday for skipping out on a weight training session (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler (elbow) is out 3-6 weeks after undergoing an MRI (Click here for details).

#4. Rockets shooting guard James Harden has been suspended 1 game for kicking LeBron James in the groin (Click here for details).

#5. Michael Jordan is officially a billionaire (Click here for details).

#6. The Pistons signed forward Quincy Miller to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#7. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin should be back next week (Click here for details).

#8. Pacers head coach Frank Vogel and Thunder head coach Scott Brooks have won coach of the month honors for February (Click here for details).

#9. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas and Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard have won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

#10. Greg Monroe's agent claims his client could re-sign with the Pistons this summer (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Nets 110 Warriors 108. Clippers 110 Timberwolves 105. Raptors 114 76ers 103. Heat 115 Suns 98. Mavericks 102 Pelicans 93.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Kings won't give David Stockton a second 10 day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Thunder small forward Kevin Durant will be reevaluated in another week (Click here for details).

#3.The Pelicans signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract and waived center Justin Hamilton (Click here for details).

#4. Vlade Divac is the Kings' new VP of Basketball operations (Click here for details).

#5. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is expected to play on Wednesday and wear a mask (Click here for details).

#6. The Mavericks, Heat, and other teams are interested in JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks guard Monta Ellis will reportedly opt out of his deal this summer (Click here for details).

#8. The Nuggets fired head coach Brian Shaw. Melvin Hunt is taking over as an interim head coach (Click here for details).

#9. The Suns signed center Earl Barron to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#10. The Mavericks signed center Bernard James for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 93 Grizzlies 82. Cavaliers 110 Celtics 79. Hornets 104 Lakers 103. Kings 124 Knicks 86. Hawks 104 Rockets 96. Bulls 97 Wizards 92. Nuggets 106 Bucks 95.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Due to Ronnie Price's season-ending injury, the Lakers will apply for a hardship exception (Click here for details).

#2. The Hawks signed small forward Jarell Eddie to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Jazz signed forward Jerrelle Benimon to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#4. The Heat sent guard Zoran Dragic to the D-League to join the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Click here for details).

#5. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen got suspended one game because he got into a fight with teammate Nick Calathes (Click here for details).

#6. Ray Allen has announced that he won't play this season (Click here for details).

#7. Magic guard Devyn Marble is out 4-6 weeks due to a detached retina in his eye (Click here for details) .

#8. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had his fourth consecutive triple-double: 49 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.

#9. The Raptors and Warriors are also interested in JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#10. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol defeated the Rockets at the buzzer and Celtics center Tyler Zeller defeated the Jazz at the buzzer. The Hawks also clinched a playoff spot.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 85 Jazz 84. Grizzlies 102 Rockets 100. Nuggets 100 Timberwolves 85. Warriors 102 Bucks 93. Pacers 105 Knicks 82. Suns 105 Magic 100. Hornets 115 Nets 91. Cavaliers 120 Raptors 112. Pelicans 88 Pistons 85. Heat 100 Lakers 94. Thunder 123 76ers 118 (OT). Spurs 112 Kings 85. Trail Blazers 98 Clippers 93.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews is done for the season with a torn Achilles (Click here for details).

#2. The Timberwolves waived small forward Glenn Robinson III and claimed center Justin Hamilton off waivers from the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#3. Mavericks center Tyson Chandler returned, scoring 4 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in 32 minutes.

#4. The NBA admits James Harden was fouled in the final seconds of the Rockets' loss to the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#5. Craig Sager returned to the sidelines on TNT after being out with leukemia.

#6. The NBAPA general counsel wants to lower the minimum age (Click here for details).

#7. JaVale McGee almost agreed to a deal with the Celtics, but the deal fell apart (Click here for details).

#8. The Jazz will sign guard Bryce Cotton to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#9. The Clippers will sign guard Jordan Hamilton to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#10. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James and  Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook won player of the month honors. Celtics point guard Marcus Smart and Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins won rookie of the month honors.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Bulls 108 Thunder 105. Trail Blazers 94 Mavericks 75.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bucks signed forward Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has ruled out signing with the Knicks (Click here for details).

#3. Brian Shaw has expressed interest in coaching the Magic (Click here for details).

#4. Celtics guard Avery Bradley will miss around 3 games with an elbow sprain (Click here for details).

#5. The Jazz have told Ante Tomic they are willing to buyout his contract from FC Barcelona in Europe. He is likely to be playing with the Jazz next season (Click here for details).

#6. Raptors guard Kyle Lowry returned from a three game absence (Click here for details).

#7.The Hawks unveiled their statue of Dominique Wilkins (Click here for details).

#8. Magic guard Victor Oladipo had 32 points and 10 assists.

#9. Jazz forward Gordon Hayward had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

#10. Hawks point guard Dennis Schroeder had 15 points and 8 assists.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 89 76ers 83. Grizzlies 97 Lakers 90. Warriors 104 Mavericks 89. Pacers 98 Bulls 84. Magic 119 Kings 114. Hornets 103 Raptors 94. Wizards 99 Heat 97. Hawks 106 Cavaliers 97. Suns 108 Nets 100 (OT). Celtics 104 Pelicans 98. Rockets 103 Pistons 93. Spurs 120 Nuggets 111.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Clippers signed point guard Nate Robinson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Bucks will be paying Larry Sanders for the next seven years (Click here for details).

#3. Brian Shaw is interested in the Magic head coaching job (Click here for details).

#4. The 76ers claimed Glenn Robinson III off waivers (Click here for details).

#5. Grizzlies shooting guard Vince Carter has returned (Click here for details).

#6. The Jazz discussed a trade with the Warriors that would have landed them David Lee at the trade deadline (Click here for details).

#7. The Knicks are really paying attention to Kentucky basketball (Click here for details).

#8. LeBron James has tied the Cavaliers' all-time assist mark, held by Mark Price (4,206 assists).

#9. The Kentucky Wildcats finished the regular season undefeated at 31-0.

#10. Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov had 19 points.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pelicans 95 Grizzlies 89. Timberwolves 121 Trail Blazers 113. Cavaliers 89 Suns 79. Heat 114 Kings 109 (OT). Pacers 92 Knicks 86. 76ers 92 Hawks 84. Bucks 91 Wizards 85. Rockets 114 Nuggets 100.


Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Little clarification on the Larry Sanders situation. The Bucks are using their stretch provision to pay him over the next seven years. He'll get $22M over the course of the next seven years (Click here for details).

#2. The Knicks are open to trading their first round pick (Click here for details).

#3. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers says Blake Griffin still has no timetable for return (Click here for details).

#4. Rockes center Dwight Howard has resumed basketball related activities, but there is still no timetable for his return (Click here for details).

#5. The Heat signed small forward Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#6. Lakers shooting guard Nick Young (knee) is still going to be out for a while (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo is now trying to say that all is cool between him and head coach Rick Carlisle (Click here for details).

#8. The Bucks retired Bobby Dandridge's number (Click here for details).

#9. Duke rookie Jahlil Okafor is the first freshman in ACC history to be named ACC Player of the Year (Click here for details).

#10. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook got another triple-double: 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 17 assists.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 106 Clippers 98. Jazz 95 Nets 88. Spurs 116 Bulls 105. Hornets 108 Pistons 101. Magic 103 Celtics 98. Thunder 108 Raptors 104. Mavericks 100 Lakers 93.


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

Saturday Slam: A critical and logical examination of the Philadelphia 76ers

   
      After a sensational Rookie of the Year season, Michael Carter-Williams was thought to be the new franchise player in Philadelphia. However, 76ers GM Sam Hinkie didn't share that same view and instead viewed him as an asset to acquire more first round picks, shipping him to the Bucks at the trade deadline. The move had everybody scratching their heads and wondering whether or not Sam Hinkie was properly suited to be the general manager of a professional basketball team.

     To trade the reigning Rookie of the Year seemed like madness because it is in fact madness. Is it not madness to be so determined to win a championship that you are willing to trade anybody for more first round picks if they aren't the next LeBron James or Hakeem Olajuwon? Is it not madness to have the number of first round picks you possess be more important than the number of wins you actually get on the basketball court? Is it not madness to consciously set up your team to lose with the hope that through the NBA draft lottery you will draft the next superstar of the league? Is it not madness that you draft players solely for the sake of trading them to get more draft picks?

     The 76ers are doing all the maddening things I just listed above and they are doing it full-throttle without looking back for even a second. They believe that they have developed a formula that will result in a championship team if they are patient enough. So, no matter the pain it causes them in the immediate future, they see this pain as a temporary means to an end. In their minds, when they win an NBA championship, they will be the ones who get the last laugh.

  There is a famous logical fallacy known as the gambler's fallacy which states that a person is more likely to roll a double six with a pair of dice on the 10th roll than on the rolls that come before it. Similarly, there is a fallacy known as the inverse gambler's fallacy, which states that if a person rolls a double six with a pair of dice, there must have been a lot of rolls that preceded it. The mistake that both of these fallacies make is to make the assumption that any individual action is affected by other individual actions that have come before it.

     I think it's possible that the 76ers are guilty of committing one or both of these fallacies by assuming that they are more likely to acquire the next superstar of their franchise with their 10th first round pick than with their 5th. There almost seems to be a sense in which they believe the next great franchise player will only come after having made many first round pick selections, and that is without question a logical fallacy.

     However, what is certainly not a logical fallacy is to believe that with more first round picks, you have more opportunities to get one right. That's not a logical fallacy because it isn't making the false assumption that any one individual draft pick is affected by draft picks that have come before it. Each act of drafting a player is a separate and isolated event that has no affect on any other event in the universe. If you make a bad draft selection, your next draft selection isn't any more or less likely to be good or bad. It's just another draft selection and another chance to hit a home run.

      If the 76ers are thinking correctly about this and not committing any logical fallacies, does that mean they are doing the right thing? I think we are tempted to say yes, but I don't necessarily think that "yes" is the correct answer. There is the possibility that the 76ers strikeout and never get the player they were hoping to draft. It is also possible that in 10 years the 76ers will still be the worst team in the league, relying on percentages instead of good scouting and drafting.

     The bottom line is that the Philadelphia 76ers are fully committed to an idea or philosophy that may or may not get them what they want. They want an NBA championship and it's unclear at this point whether or not they will get one as a result of what they are doing. One can admire their commitment to their philosophy or at the very least be in awe of it, but one cannot say with any certainty that what they are doing is the right thing.

     The big risk for the 76ers is that if they don't win a championship, they will have to answer the question "What was it all for?" I.e. Why deliberately lose and then not deliver on your promise? I think that has to worry Sam Hinkie and the entire Philadelphia 76ers organization a great deal. If they win a championship in 10 years as a result of their philosophy, they will be viewed as geniuses. If on the other hand they don't win a championship or at least come close, they will instead be remembered as a group of individuals who intentionally drove the Philadelphia 76ers into the ground in pursuit of pie in the sky. Such a legacy would not be pretty.

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

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: February 27, 2015

                                 NBA Power Rankings 

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday, February 27, 2015. These are my first power rankings after the All-Star break.

#1. Golden State Warriors (44-11): It feels as though the Warriors are falling apart a bit after losing two out of their last three @Indiana and @Cleveland, but in truth, they've won 7 of their last 10 games and still are playing the best basketball in the league. It should be noted that Stephen Curry was out for the Indiana game.

#2. Atlanta Hawks (45-12): The Hawks have won only 6 of their last 10 games, so they definitely are cooling off. Still, I see no way they don't walk away with the #1 seed in the East. Part of the challenge for them will be to stay focused until playoff time.

#3. Memphis Grizzlies (41-15): Weird loss at Sacramento. Look for them to bounce back at home tonight against the Clippers.

#4. Houston Rockets (39-18): It is hard for me to see this team vaulting the Grizzlies or the Warriors to win the West, but if they can keep James Harden healthy and get Dwight Howard back healthy for the playoffs, they'll be in the conversation.

#5. Portland Trail Blazers (37-19): Arron Afflalo could be a great addition given that they need some scoring off the bench. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in.

#6. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-22): LeBron James dropped 42 points on the Warriors on Thursday for the Cavaliers' 18th win in their last 20 games. They are really cooking with gas now and looking like the favorites to win the East.

#7. Dallas Mavericks (39-21): Rajon Rondo, their big acquisition of the season, is looking like a headache because of his recent altercations with Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks definitely have to be concerned.

#8. Toronto Raptors (37-20): They've lost three straight games and it's not going to get any easier with the Warriors coming to town tonight.

#9. Los Angeles Clippers (37-21): They've now lost 7 of their last 11 games, and with a trip to Memphis tonight, expect it to be 8 losses in their last 12. The Clippers are in some trouble.

#10. Chicago Bulls (36-22): Derrick Rose going down is obviously really disturbing, but the good news is that he should be back in time for the playoffs (See my daily dunks page for more details).

#11. San Antonio Spurs (34-23): Given their history, I'm tempted to say that their recent swoon of losing 6 out of their last 10 games is just due to the dog-days of the NBA season, but I actually think there is something more to their struggles than just that. Their odds at repeating as NBA champions look really slim at the moment.

#12. Washington Wizards (33-25): They need Bradley Beal back. Period.

#13. Milwaukee Bucks (32-25): It'll be interesting to see how Michael Carter-Williams fits in. They certainly made a space for him by shipping Brandon Knight to Phoenix.

#14. Oklahoma City Thunder (32-26): It's looking like they'll make the playoffs, but if Kevin Durant is out a lot longer than expected, there could be trouble.

#15. Phoenix Suns (31-28): Their remaining schedule is difficult, but there is no reason for them to not believe they can still make the playoffs. Getting rid of Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas was actually a good thing since they got Brandon Knight in return.

#16. New Orleans Pelicans (30-27): Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson going down is not a good thing for this team. Not good at all.

#17. Miami Heat (25-31): Even if they make the playoffs, no Chris Bosh means that this team is going nowhere.

#18. Brooklyn Nets (23-32): This teams is seriously one of the saddest franchises in the league. So much hype with the whole "Return to Brooklyn" thing and this team has instead gotten progressively worse.

#19. Charlotte Hornets (23-32): This team needs Kemba Walker back. Until he returns they're going to continue to struggle.

#20. Detroit Pistons (23-34): It's amazing this team is back in the conversation for a playoff spot. Simply amazing.

#21. Indiana Pacers (23-34): If Paul George can return and be at full strength, these guys are going to be scary for where they'll be seeded in the playoffs.

#22. Boston Celtics (22-33): Getting Isaiah Thomas means this team is gunning for a playoff spot and not the lottery. Good for them.

#23. Utah Jazz (21-35): Getting rid of Enes Kanter will be a good thing if Rudy Gobert steps it up. There is definitely a lot of pressure on Gobert to become the player Utah hopes he will become.

#24. Sacramento Kings (20-35): If I was a Kings fan, talk of George Karl bringing in Ty Lawson and getting rid of DeMarcus Cousins would really worry me.

#25. Denver Nuggets (20-37): They've won just 1 game in their last 10 games. Ouch.

#26. Orlando Magic (19-40): Here's a fun question: Can you name the Magic's interim head coach? Yeah, I can't remember his name, either.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (15-41): "When they going gets tough, the tough gets going"---Billy Ocean.

#28. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-43): The return of Kevin Garnett is injecting a lot of life into this team. I like it.

#29. Philadelphia 76ers (12-45): Either Sam Hinkie really knows what he's doing by trading Michael Carter-Williams or he's just throwing darts at a dart board. Maybe it's both.

#30.  New York Knicks (10-46): The Knicks are garbage and Phil Jackson is a MORON for calling out his players. It's not their fault they were so poorly assembled.

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

Bear Territory Tuesday: Cal has to get everybody on the same page

     Cal lost their second meeting with Stanford on Saturday by the score of 72-61, giving Stanford a 2-0 sweep of the season series. Stanford as a result improves to 17-9 overall and 8-6 in the Pac-12 while Cal falls to 16-11 overall and 6-8 in the Pac-12. Cal needs to rebound quickly from Saturday's loss and get ready for a really tough four game stretch to finish the season.
 
     Cal's remaining schedule goes as follows: Wednesday, February 25 vs. Oregon (10-5) at 8:00 PM PST on ESPNU. Sunday, March 1 vs. Oregon State (8-7) at 12:00 PM PST on Pac-12 Networks. Thursday, March 5 at #7 Arizona (12-2) at 6:00 PM PST on ESPN2. Saturday, March 7 at Arizona State (7-7) at 11:30 AM PST on Pac-12 Networks.

    Cal's remaining schedule is very daunting: All four schools are ahead of Cal in the conference standings, two of the four remaining schools (Oregon and Oregon State) are schools that Cal hasn't yet faced, one of the games (@Arizona) is almost a guaranteed loss, and at a minimum Cal has to win three of their remaining four games.

     Cal is really behind the 8-ball and what's scary is that their present situation looks way better than anything we could have imagined after their hideous 1-6 start in the Pac-12. Cal was on the cusp of complete self-destruction and now they've at least restored a sense of dignity and pride. However, dignity and pride does't get you into the NCAA tournament. Playing good basketball does, and that's what Cal has to do in each and every game they play from here on out.

     The biggest problem for Cal all season has been their inability to get everybody on the same page. David Kravish for example had a career game against Stanford, posting 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Tyrone Wallace only had 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists. Cal won't win any of their remaining games if only one or two of their key players play well while the rest of the team goes stupid. Cal really needs all of its players to step up. Especially Tyrone Wallace, David Kravish, Jabari Bird, and Jordan Mathews.

     The bench of course has to step up, too, but as Cuonzo Martin said in his press conference before the Stanford game, role players aren't expected to come off the bench and be your best players. They're on the bench for a reason and so if the team is going to have success, it has to start with the stars and the bench players have to feed off of their success.

     What's frustrating for Cal is that they have the potential to be a very good team and yet they haven't established any sort of consistency: Tyrone Wallace is one of the best point guards in the country, David Kravish is one of the best big men, Jordan Mathews is one of the best shooters, and Jabari Bird has athleticism and talent that makes NBA scouts drool. If all four guys are playing well at the same time, Cal can beat anybody in the country for the exception of maybe Kentucky and Virginia. The issue is that there hasn't been one game all season in which all four guys played well. It's usually just been Tyrone Wallace and he can't at all be expected to carry the team on his shoulders.

     If Cal wants to win three of their remaining four games and give themselves any hope of winning the Pac-12 tournament, they have to get Wallace, Bird, Mathews, and Kravish playing well together. It's that simple. If those four guys can figure out how to gel and all get the most out of each other, Cal could maybe go on another four game winning streak in Las Vegas. If they can't, they will be praying for a home game in the NIT.

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