Wednesday Windmill: The Houston Rockets are soft

     The Houston Rockets are soft. There, I said it. I'm not going to beat around the bush and hint that the Rockets need to toughen up. I'm just going to call it as I see it and say that they are softer than Charmin.

     What proof do I have for this bold claim? The Los Angeles Clippers, who were playing without Chris Paul and coming off an emotional Game 7 victory on Saturday, blew them out by 16 points on Monday in Game 1 of their second round series. In addition, their head coach Kevin McHale called them soft after the loss, criticizing their lack of effort.

     Not one person thought the Los Angeles Clippers had a chance to win Game 1 of this series given their quick turnaround from Game 7 against the Spurs as well as the absence of Chris Paul, who is battling a hamstring injury. Everybody including myself, who picked the Clippers to win the series in six games, expected the Rockets to win Game 1 with relative ease. To see the exact opposite happen was nothing short of alarming, shocking, and in many ways appalling.

     This isn't to take anything away from the Clippers. They played a very good game and deserved to win. But all the same, the Rockets gave this win away and just didn't bring it. The only guy who really showed up for the Rockets was Dwight Howard, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Everybody else, including James Harden, was nowhere to be seen.

      In the NBA playoffs, you can't let any win slip away, especially a game that is essentially handed to you on a silver platter. The Rockets essentially had a free win for the taking and they didn't get it done because of their laziness and sloppy play. They should be embarrassed for how they played and their fans should be asking for refunds.

     Going forward, the only things the Rockets can do are play with a lot more energy in Game 2 and tie this series up at 1-1. The Rockets can't shake their image of being soft in one night, but they can prevent themselves from becoming the laughing stock of the playoffs. If the Rockets win tonight, they'll still have their work cut out for them. If they lose, they will be on the cusp of being the most disappointing playoff team of the last 20 years.

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

Bear Territory Tuesday: After landing Jaylen Brown, the sky is the limit for Cal basketball

     Jaylen Brown, a 6'7, 220 pound 5-star small forward from the state of Georgia has committed to Cal. He is a top-five recruit in the country and just like Ivan Rabb, he is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Via CalBears.com:  "Brown was named the 2015 Gatorade Georgia Boys Player of the Year, USA Today’s All-USA Georgia Player of the Year, Georgia’s Mr. Basketball and the Class 6A Player of the Year by the Georgia Sports Writers Association, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class 6A North Player of the Year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Class 6A Player of the Year, and the Marietta Daily Journal Class 6A Player of the Year. He was a consensus First Team 6A All-State selection, and a two-time All-Cobb County Player of the Year as a junior and a senior. Brown was also a consensus All-Cobb County First Team pick each of the past two years.   The elite small forward averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds as a senior to lead Wheeler High School to a 30-3 overall record, a No. 6 national ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll, and the school’s first Georgia 6A state title since 2009. Like Rabb, Brown sealed his high school’s state title at the free throw line."

     The news of Tyrone Wallace returning for his senior season already made Cal a national championship contender and a consensus Top-25 team. But after landing Jaylen Brown, Cal is now stacked to the point that there is no reason to doubt this team's ability to win a national championship. With three McDonald's All-Americans (Ivan Rabb, Jaylen Brown, and Jabari Bird) on its roster to go along with Tyrone Wallace, Cal will have one of the most talented teams in the country.

     What's scary is that I haven't even yet mentioned Jordan Mathews, Stephen Domingo, Tyson Jolly, Davon Dillard, Sam Singer, Kameron Rooks, or Kingsley Okoroh. I keep wanting to talk about what they are going to bring to the table, but every week Cal keeps on landing another monster recruit. Perhaps next week I'll be able to do a piece on them in more detail, but what I can say about them as a collective whole is that they bring depth to this Cal team and that is what really makes them so scary.

     If you have a couple of NBA lottery picks on your team, you are automatically a national championship contender, but you can still fall short if you don't have enough depth. Cal won't have an issue with depth at all, especially at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Cuonzo Martin will have a wide array of quality options to turn to at all times, which will allow him to make sure the guys he has on the floor are fresh.

     The only concern I have for this Cal team is whether or not they'll be able to adjust to being the hunted. For so long, Cal has been the team trying to upset the big name schools like Arizona. I can attest from personal experience at Cal games, that the Arizona game has always been the big game of the year because it's Cal's one chance at playing with the big boys. But now, Cal is going to be in the same national championship discussion with the likes of Arizona, Utah, and Kentucky, and I wonder whether or not this team is mentally ready to have those kind of expectations.

     But in truth, that discussion is for another week. What I want to drive home to all of you this week is that Cal has a team that can win a national championship in 2016. The pieces are all there. They have the leadership of quality upperclassmen, the talent, and the depth to win a national title. The only question is whether or not they will deliver. Go Bears!

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


   

Daily Dunks: 5/4-5/10

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

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for May 4, 2015 through May 10, 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. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry won the 2014-15 NBA MVP award (Click here for details).

#2. The NBA Draft will once again be at Barclays Center (Click here for details).

#3. Gregg Popovich thinks the Hack-A-Shaq rule gets solved if guys simply make their free throws (Click here for details).

#4. Willie Cauley-Stein, a projected lottery pick, changed his middle name to "Trill" (Click here for details).

#5. Emmanuel Mudiay won't attend the NBA draft combine in Chicago (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley believes sitting in a loud arena helped him in his recovery (Click here for details).

#7. The Hornets plan to have their own D-League team soon (Click here for details).

#8. Danny Green wants to remain with the Spurs (Click here for details).

#9. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. Also, Clippers point guard Chris Paul (hamstring) did not play.

Monday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Bulls 99 Cavaliers 92 (Bulls lead series 1-0). Clippers 117 Rockets 101 (Clippers lead series 1-0).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was given the MVP trophy before Game 2 against the Grizzlies.

#2. The Bulls reportedly want Tom Thibodeau out as coach. Fred Hoiberg is rumored to be desired replacement (Click here for details).

#3. Nets GM Billy King is reportedly closing in on an extension (Click here for details).

#4. Russell Westbrook will represent the Thunder at the NBA Draft Lottery (Click here for details).

#5. The Spurs may look to trade Tiago Splitter (Click here for details).

#6. Isiah Thomas has been named president and part owner of the WNBA franchise New York Liberty (Click here for details).

#7. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (facial fractures) played with the mask and had 22 points (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson shot a combined 3-17 from three-point range.

#9. Wizards point guard John Wall (wrist) did not play (Click here for details).

#10. Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Tuesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Hawks 106 Wizards 90 (Series is tied 1-1). Grizzlies 97 Warriors 90 (Series is tied 1-1).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday underwent surgery to remove a screw from his lower right leg (Click here for details).

#2. Pelicans small forward Quincy Pondexter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee (Click here for details).

#3. Joe Dumars, a Louisiana native, is closing in on a deal to join the Pelicans' front office (Click here for details).

#4. The Nets intend to extend Mirza Teletovic a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#5. The Cavaliers planned to give away 20,000 slings to fans in support of Kevin Love, but then they canceled it (Click here for details).

#6. Dirk Nowitzki has opened up on the Rajon Rondo situation and why they didn't give him a share of their playoff money (Click here for details).

#7. Spurs assistant Ettore Messina is interested in some head coaching opportunities (Click here for details).

#8. The Nets are going to make re-signing Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez a priority this summer (Click here for details).

#9. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 32 points and 7 assists.

#10. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Cavaliers 106 Bulls 91 (Series is tied 1-1). Rockets 115 Clippers 109 (Series is tied 1-1).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Nuggets are expected to sign Nikola Jokic this summer (Click here for details).

#2. Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (groin) is questionable for Game 3 (Click here for details).

#3. The Pelicans say they are not planning to hire Joe Dumars for any front office role (Click here for details).

#4. Rockets forward Corey Brewer was fined $5K for flopping (Click here for details).

#5. Wizards point guard John Wall has five non-displaced features in his left wrist. His timetable for return is unknown (Click here for details).

#6. Clippers point guard Chris Paul (hamstring) is questionable for Friday's Game 3. He did some workouts on Thursday (Click here for details).

#7. Matt Barnes trash talked James Harden's mom (Click here for details).

#8. The NBA draft combine participants have been announced (Click here for details).

#9. Rajon Rondo once lost to Charlie Villanueva in Connect Four (Click here for details).

#10. There were no NBA playoff games today. Games resume on Friday.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Grant is joining the Thunder as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#2. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has been playing hurt (Click here for details).

#3. Thunder GM Sam Presti plans to re-sign Enes Kanter (Click here for details).

#4. The Magic prefer to have Tom Thibodeau be their new head coach. Their second choice is Scott Brooks (Click here for details).

#5. Chandler Parsons is ready to recruit free agents to join him in Dallas (Click here for details).

#6. J.J. Barea wants a multi-year with the Mavericks that will pay him $3M annually (Click here for details).

#7. Raymond Felton will exercise his $3.9M 2015-16 option with the Mavericks (Click here for details).


#8. Mark Jackson takes a dig at Stephen Curry, saying it was the "easy route" to pick him for MVP (Click here for details).

#9. Mirza Teletovic hopes to stay in Brooklyn and definitely stay in the NBA (Click here for details).

#10. Bulls center Joakim Noah was fined $25K for pushing a fan (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Bulls 99 Cavaliers 96 (Bulls lead series 2-1 and Derrick Rose hit the game winning three). Clippers 124 Rockets 99 (Clippers lead series 2-1).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bill Simmons and ESPN are parting ways (Click here for details).

#2. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce hit the game winning shot and he called game (Click here for details).

#3. The Lakers are planning to offer Jimmy Butler max money in restricted free agency (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James thinks Joakim Noah's trash talking crossed the line. As if trash talking can be nice (Click here for details).

#5. Marc Gasol hit a crazy bank shot to seal the win for the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#6. Clippers forward Glen Davis was fined $5K for flopping in Game 3 against the Rockets (Click here for details).

#7. Rockets shooting guard Jason Terry's flagrant 2 foul on Friday was downgraded to a flagrant 1 (Click here for details).

#8. Wizards point guard John Wall (hand/wrist) didn't play. He also hasn't started dribbling yet (Click here for details).

#9. Clippers point guard Chris Paul (hamstring) will play in Game 4 on Sunday (Click here for details).

#10. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol (hamstring) is questionable for Game 4 on Sunday (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 103 Hawks 101 (Wizards lead the series 2-1). Grizzlies 99 Warriors 89 (Grizzlies lead series 2-1).

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James hit the game winner to beat the Bulls (Click here for details and a video).

#2. Jimmy Butler intends to stay with the Bulls (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has left knee tendinitis but will play through the injury (Click here for details).

#4. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol (hamstring) did not play in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#5. Randy Whittman says John Wall is heading in the right direction (Click here for details).

#6. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive says the team is trying to build something special (Click here for details).

#7. James Harden doesn't like the "Hack-A-Shaq" strategy (Click here for details).

#8. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James scratched David Blatt's play at the end of the game (Click here for details).

#9. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan shot 14/34 from the foul line and had 26 points and 17 rebounds.

#10. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Sunday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Cavaliers 86 Bulls 84 (Series is tied 2-2). Clippers 128 Rockets 95 (Clippers lead 3-1).

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

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers

#2. Houston Rockets (56-26) vs. #3. Los Angeles Clippers (56-26): 

     The Houston Rockets come into this series having taken out the Dallas Mavericks in five games. As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they come into this series having taken out the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. The Rockets definitely have the advantage of being well rested in addition to playing at home, so it will be especially huge for the Rockets to win Game 1 tonight and get a jump on the Clippers who are still recovering from one of the most epic series' we've ever seen.

     Both of these teams are similar in that they heavily rely on two superstars to give them the bulk of their production. The Rockets have shooting guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard as their two superstars and the Clippers have point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin. If you notice, both teams have one superstar on the wing and the other playing in the post, which means that we should see a lot of fun battles both on the perimeter and in the paint.

     In addition to these four players, there are other players to take note of in this series. For the Clippers, there is their monstrous center DeAndre Jordan and sharp shooters J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, and Jamal Crawford on the wing. As for the Rockets, they have swingman Josh Smith, swingman Corey Brewer, and shooting guard Jason Terry.

     While I would say that the Rockets have the better superstar combo, the Clippers have the better supporting cast. DeAndre Jordan is one of the best rebounders and shot blockers we have ever seen and he is very capable of scoring the ball in transition via the alley-oop. As for Redick, Barnes, and Crawford, all three of those guys are fantastic three-point shooters who can help stretch the floor and take the pressure off Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. This was certainly seen in Game 7 against the Spurs.

     If the Clippers are going to win this series, they will need Blake Griffin and Chris Paul to play big and their role players to do their job. If Redick, Crawford, and Barnes are hitting threes like they are supposed to and if Jordan is getting a ton of rebounds and blocks, the Clippers are going to be really tough to stop.

     As for the Rockets, it's essentially the same thing in that they need James Harden and Dwight Howard to lead the way and the role players to do their jobs as well. The difference is that James Harden and Dwight Howard have to do more than Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Especially James Harden, who has been averaging 28.4 points per game in this post season. Harden has to play big every night and get his 30 points in order for the Rockets to win. If he doesn't, the Rockets are in serious trouble.

     At the end of the day, I'm picking the Clippers to win this series in 6 games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were fantastic against the Spurs, their role players were incredible, and Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the game. Everyone on this team knows what their job is and has proven capable of delivering the goods. This isn't to say that the Rockets can't step up as well, but at the moment, we know for certain that the Clippers can step up in the clutch and that is enough of a reason to pick them over a team that is yet to prove capable of doing so.

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

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

#2. Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29) vs. #3. Chicago Bulls (50-32): 

     The Cleveland Cavaliers come into this series having swept the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. As for the Chicago Bulls, they got stretched to a Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks, but absolutely blew the doors off the Bucks to close the series. Despite having won the season series 3-1 against the Bulls, the Cavaliers come into this series as underdogs due to the loss of Kevin Love for the season and J.R. Smith for the first two games because of a suspension.

     Many already felt that even at full strength, the Cavaliers had their work cut out for them against the Bulls. But without Love and Smith, the general consensus is that the Cavaliers have too steep of a mountain to climb and the Bulls are going to win this series fairly easily. I am not of the opinion that the loss of Kevin Love and the suspension for J.R. Smith dooms the Cavaliers. I just think it makes things a lot tougher.

     If the Cavaliers are going to win this series, what they will need is for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to play like the superstars that they are. Especially LeBron James, who has won two NBA championships. If those guys play up to the level that they are capable of playing and get some help from their supporting cast, the Cavaliers can still win this series.

     As for the Chicago Bulls, they have to take advantage of the depth that they have. The Cavaliers will need to heavily rely on the production of two players, but fortunately for the Bulls, they do not have this same kind of pressure. They can share the ball more and get more guys involved.

     While it is true that Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah are the leaders of this Bulls team, they don't have to do as much as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving because they have each other and quality guys coming off the bench like Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic, and Aaron Brooks. The Bulls' depth definitely gives them a huge advantage and they must take advantage of it throughout the series.

     In essence, this series comes down to the Bulls' depth going up against the Cavaliers' one-two punch of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. Usually, you pick in favor of depth, but when the one-two punch consists of the best player in the world, it suddenly doesn't become such an easy call. Still, the absence of Kevin Love for the season and J.R. Smith for the first two games is huge. I think that the Bulls should win this series, which is why I will pick them to win the series in 6 games. If the Cavaliers win this series, it will be because LeBron James and Kyrie Irving played phenomenal and also because the Bulls underperformed. While that is certainly possible it isn't likely. On the flip side, if the Bulls play as well as they are expected to play, there is no reason to pick against them.

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

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies

     #1. Golden State Warriors (67-15) vs. #5. Memphis Grizzlies (55-27): 

     The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies meet in the second round after the Warriors swept the New Orleans Pelicans and the Grizzlies took out the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. The Warriors won the regular season series 2-1, dominating the Grizzlies the last two times they played in the regular season. Given that the Warriors won the regular season series and cruised to the best record in the NBA, there is no reason to not have the Warriors as the favorites to win this series. 

     In addition to the Warriors having the better record and on paper the better team, the Warriors are also the team that is more healthy. The Grizzlies are without their starting point guard Mike Conley, who is recovering from facial fractures. Conley was warming up before Game 1 wearing a mask, but ended up not playing due to swelling in his face. Conley will try to give it a go in Game 2 on Tuesday, but odds he plays remain dicey. 

     While there are plenty of reasons to pick the Warriors to win this series with the Grizzlies at full strength, one can almost certainly rule out any chance of a Memphis Grizzlies victory with Mike Conley injured. Conley is crucial to what this team does both in terms of his offensive production and defensive impact. When he is on the floor, everybody is able to do their job with more efficiency and ease. When he is off the floor, things simply don't run as smoothly. 

       In addition to getting good production from their backup point guards Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih, the Grizzlies will really need to win the battle on the glass and get stellar production from their big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. If those guys play big inside, the Grizzlies may have a chance to steal a game in Golden State. But unfortunately, even with Mike Conley healthy, the Grizzlies will still need those guys to play big, which once again underscores how hard it is for the Grizzlies to win without Mike Conley. 

     In terms of what the Warriors need to do, they need to play their game which is get stops, press the ball in transition, and find open shooters. If the Warriors are able to play up to the pace and tempo that they like and find open shooters in transition, they will not be stopped. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are too good of shooters, and while the Grizzlies do have quality perimeter defenders in Tony Allen and Courtney Lee, there isn't much those guys can do when it comes to playing defense in transition. Like all defenders, those guys are best in the half court. 

     Going off of that, the Grizzlies will want to do everything they can to slow the game down and get things into a half court set on both ends of the floor. If this series grinds to a halt and there are fewer possessions for both teams, the Grizzlies will have a very good chance of winning this series because they focus on playing well in the paint as opposed to the perimeter. It's hard to win games when most of your shots are from the perimeter, but at some point, if you are good enough and you get enough looks, the reward outweighs the risk. 

     At the end of the day, I'm picking the Warriors to win this series in six games. They have the better team and Mike Conley's health is a huge question mark looming over the series. All the same, the Grizzlies are a tough team and I think they'll find a way to win a couple of games. The Grizzlies certainly have the player personnel and the style to give the Warriors trouble. It's just that when they are undermanned, one cannot realistically expect them to come out of this series on top. 

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

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards

#1. Atlanta Hawks (60-22) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (46-36): 

     The Atlanta Hawks come into this series having taken out the Brooklyn Nets in six games, a series many thought wouldn't go past five games. As for the Washington Wizards, they swept the Toronto Raptors despite not having home court advantage. The rest vs. rust factor will certainly be tested in this series: The Wizards came into this series not having played since April 26 and the Hawks played on Friday.

     The Hawks won the regular season series 3-1 and the lone Wizards win was at the very end of the season when the Hawks had everything locked up. Given the fact that neither of these teams have a lot of playoff experience, one definitely has to give the Hawks the edge because they have the best record in the East and home court advantage in addition to winning the regular season series.

     That being said, the Nets stretched the Hawks and the Wizards are certainly a better team than the Nets. In addition, while the Hawks have the better record and more regular season success, the Wizards have the best player in the series in John Wall and the most playoff seasoned player in Paul Pierce. There's plenty of reasons to pick the Wizards based on those two guys alone in addition to the way they dismantled the Raptors.

     If the Hawks are going to win this series, they will have to get good production from Jeff Teague on both ends of the floor. As their starting point guard, he has the responsibility to make sure Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford get into a good rhythm offensively as well as making sure John Wall, who also plays point guard, doesn't eat them alive. The point guard battle is going to be a key thing to watch over the course of this series and will certainly have a huge impact in determining its outcome.

     The other huge factor in this series is the rebounding battle. The Wizards have some good rebounders in Marcin Gortat, Drew Gooden, and Nene to combat the Hawks on the glass, who rebound very well thanks to Paul Millsap, Al Horford, and DeMarre Carroll. Whichever team wins the battle on the glass will have a definite edge in this series.

     What will ultimately decide this series is which team is able to execute their game plan better. This sounds ridiculously obvious since to a certain extent this is true of every series. But in this series, execution will be huge. If John Wall and his backcourt mate Bradley Beal are able to play big and be the best players in this series, the Wizards likely win the series. If the Hawks are able to get everybody into a rhythm and get some quality production from some of their role players like DeMarre Carroll, they will win the series. If both things happen, then we will see a very tight series that goes seven games.

     When it comes to making a prediction, I'm going to pick the Hawks to win the series in seven games. The Wizards are going to really test the Hawks and give them everything they got, but I have to respect the fact that over the course of the season, the Hawks were by far the better team. I think that if the Hawks are able to play to their highest level, they will win this series. The Hawks aren't afraid to go on the road and get a win, and while they did lose Game 1 today, they had a super quick turnaround from Game 6 in Brooklyn to today. I expect the Hawks to turn it up when they absolutely need to and find a way to get it done.

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