Wizards are champions again!

[Phil89]

Shame that Wiggins missed out to Parker in the all-star game. They have very similar numbers this season.

I've got two really tough games before the all-star weekend against Durant's Thunder and LeBron's Magic. At least they are both at home and I have a chance at getting revenge on them both for earlier season blow-out losses.

[Phil89]

10/2/15

Washington Wizards [43-7] vs Oklahoma City Thunder [35-15]

Wizards get revenge on Thunder for earlier blowout in OKC



WAS - 29 32 30 27 118
OKC - 25 27 22 39 113

Player of the Game: Andrew Wiggins
(29pts, 4reb, 2ast, 1stl)
(11-16 FG, 3-6 3PT, 4-4 FT)


Top Scorers
Andrew Wiggins - 29
Kevin Durant - 29
Jeremy Lamb - 28
Russell Westbrook - 24
Bradley Beal - 23
John Wall - 22
Serge Ibaka - 17
Manu Ginobili - 15

Rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 12
Nerlens Noel - 10
Serge Ibaka - 9
Russell Westbrook - 7
Larry Sanders - 5

Assists
John Wall - 13
Russell Westbrook - 7
Bradley Beal - 6
Reggie Jackson - 5

Steals
Serge Ibaka - 3
Russell Westbrook - 3
Reggie Jackson - 2

Wiggins highlights

[Phil89]

13/2/15

Washington Wizards [44-7] vs Orlando Magic [27-23]

Strong second half propels Wizards to victory against Magic



WAS - 29 30 28 26 113
ORL - 34 28 21 20 103

Player of the Game: Andrew Wiggins
(32pts, 2reb, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk)
(13-22 FG, 5-9 3PT, 1-2 FT)


Top Scorers
Andrew Wiggins - 32
John Wall - 27
Bradley Beal - 25
LeBron James - 25
Shabazz Muhammad - 25
Manu Ginobili - 17
Rajon Rondo - 14
Julius Randle - 13

Rebounds
Julius Randle - 14
DeMarcus Cousins - 11
LeBron James - 8
Nerlens Noel - 7

Assists
John Wall - 17
Rajon Rondo - 8
LeBron James - 7
Ray McCallum - 5
Andrew Wiggins - 5

Steals
Shabazz Muhammad - 4
LeBron James - 2
John Wall - 2

Wall highlights


Wiggins highlights

[Phil89]

14/2/15

2015 Rising Stars Challenge Starters






Elites






-----


Stars

[Phil89]

15/2/15

Wiggins misses three pointer on the buzzer as Elites win thriller



STA - 20 18 32 25 95
ELI - 32 23 22 20 97

Player of the Game: Victor Oladipo
(29pts, 10reb, 5ast)
(12-21 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-4 FT)


Top Scorers
Victor Oladipo - 29
Andrew Wiggins - 26
Jabari Parker - 23
Steven Adams - 17
James Young - 12
Ben McLemore - 11
Shabazz Muhammad - 10
Julius Randles - 10
Rudy Gobert - 8
Nerlens Noel - 8

Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 11
Victor Oladipo - 10
Steven Adams - 6
Otto Porter - 6
Julius Randle - 5
Jabari Parker - 5
James Young - 5
Michael Carter-Williams - 5

Assists
Trey Burke - 8
Michael Carter-Williams - 6
Victor Oladipo - 5
Andrew Wiggins - 5
Myck Kabongo - 4
Nerlens Noel - 4

Steals
Steven Adams - 2
Otto Porter - 2
James McAdoo - 1
Trey Burke - 1
Shabazz Muhammad - 1
Willie Cauley-Stein - 1

Blocks
James McAdoo - 1
Alex Poythress - 1
Rudy Gobert - 1
Nerlens Noel - 1
Otto Porter - 1

Oladipo highlights


Crazy Oladipo basket


Wiggins Highlights


Noel Highlights

[Phil89]

16/2/15

All-Star Saturday provides exciting action

2015 Foot Locker Three Point Contest


Round One



Round Two


I feel like Beal would have won if my controller hadn't frozen up several times and cost me my rhythm and made me rush to finish.

-----

2015 Sprite Dunk Contest


Round One



Round Two



Round Three

[Phil89]

16/2/15

2015 All-Star Game Starters






East All-Stars






-----


West All-Stars

[Phil89]

17/2/15

West All-Stars get revenge for last year's heartbreaking loss



EAST - 26 27 23 32 108
WEST - 30 27 24 31 112

Player of the Game: Kevin Durant
(36pts, 8reb, 2ast, 1stl)
(16-29 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-1 FT)


Top Scorers
Kevin Durant - 36
Carmelo Anthony - 24
LeBron James - 22
John Wall - 21
Chris Paul - 19
Derrick Rose - 18
Blake Griffin - 12
James Harden - 11
Dwight Howard - 10

Rebounds
Dwight Howard - 8
Kevin Durant - 8
James Harden - 7
Carmelo Anthony - 7
Jabari Parker - 7
Andrew Bynum - 6
Blake Griffin - 6

Assists
John Wall - 16
James Harden - 9
Chris Paul - 8

Steals
Derrick Rose - 2
Danny Granger - 2
Blake Griffin - 2
Chris Paul - 2

Blocks
Carmelo Anthony - 2
Brook Lopez - 1
LeBron James - 1
Jabari Parker - 1
Blake Griffin - 1
James Harden - 1

Durant highlights


Wall highlights


Beal highlights

LeBron fouled out halfway through the fourth quarter. Beal couldn't find his shooting range all game, but Wall was great.

Wall - 21pts, 2reb, 16ast, 1stl (7-12 fg, 0-1 3pt, 7-8 ft)
Beal - 6pts, 1reb, 2ast (3-13 fg, 0-7 3pt, 0-0 ft)

[Phil89]

18/2/15

Busy few weeks of trading leading up to deadline





This time of year is always exciting for basketball fans across the country and indeed the world. The main attraction is always the all-star weekend with all of it's star power and celebrity appearances, but perhaps the more important date on the basketball calendar is the trade deadline. For a couple of weeks before it arrives each season fans anticipate what moves their team might make; whether it be landing the superstar who will lead their team to the promised land of championship contention, acquiring a lottery pick ahead of draft stocked with hyped prospects or simply dumping an overpriced contract who hasn't been performing.

Heat acquire Beasley as Bledsoe heads to Phoenix



It wasn't really a surprise seeing the Los Angeles Clippers make another trade after dealing Manu Ginobili to the Wizards in January. This time they have traded away their reserve guard Eric Bledsoe, as it didn't make sense having two point guards earning nearly $20 million combined. In the deal they receive expiring veterans Tayshaun Prince, Jared Dudley and Jeryd Bayless, young forward prospect Alex Poythress and potential 2015 lottery pick. If Phoenix's form heads south from this point on the Clippers could be looking at two top ten picks in a supposedly deep draft. The tank is well and truly on for the Clippers and it wouldn't be surprising to see them involved in another trade before the deadline.

Veterans Andrew Bogut and Tony Parker could find themselves on the way out if rumours are to be believed. Neither fit in with the rebuild with their big contracts and neither would probably want to be involved with a losing team at this stage of their careers. The Clippers are currently rock bottom of the western conference with a 14-32 record and are unlikely to give up their spot, despite strong competition from the perennially poor Timberwolves. If the Clippers do manage to get two high lottery picks they could target Joel Embiid from Kansas, Jahlil Okafor from Duke or Myles Turner from Kentucky to partner Blake Griffin in the paint. There is also the highly touted 7 ft 4 Milan Ivanovic from Serbia, who is being hyped as the next Yao Ming. He doesn't have much of an offensive game at this point, but could easily go at number one on his immense ceiling alone.


Starters: Andrew Bogut - Blake Griffin - Tayshaun Prince - Jared Dudley - Tony Parker

-----
Four and a half years ago Miami dealt Michael Beasley to Minnesota for a useless second round pick in order to create the cap room that they needed to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Now the second overall pick in 2008 draft is back with the Heat and looking to make good on his second chance with the team. The ironic part is that Beasley joins the team to fill in the role that James played before he abandoned the Heat and signed with their neighbours in Orlando this past off-season. During his NBA career Beasley has flattered to deceive, but he will be determined to straighten out his off-court issues and take advantage of what may be his final chance at fulfilling the potential he showed in college. He'll need to perform immediately if he wants to convince the Heat to pay him to stay at the end of the season.

No one expected the Heat to reach their championship-winning heights again after losing the best player in the world, but no one could have foreseen just how far they would fall without LeBron. It should be noted that they also lost hall of fame guard Ray Allen to retirement and Shane Battier to free agency. The only free agent they were able to attract to fill the void was point guard Aaron Brooks. Six months ago the Heat were celebrating a championship, now they are firming as favourites to win the upcoming draft lottery with their 10-33 record. It's possibly the greatest fall from grace in the history of the NBA and just goes to show how great LeBron James is. Earlier this season the Heat management decided to give their remaining stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh multi-year deals worth massive money despite both being the wrong side of thirty.


Starters: Chris Bosh - Udonis Haslem - Michael Beasley - Dwyane Wade - Aaron Brooks

-----
Phoenix land a potential future all-star point guard and maintain their cap flexibility for the 2015 free agent market with this deal. Beasley was having a pretty decent time in Arizona, but with his contract expiring it made sense for the Suns to capitalise and acquire Bledsoe. They are currently holding the tenth seed in the western conference with a 22-26 record, but inconsistent form and a lack of depth means that they are likely going to miss out on the playoffs. So their management decided to secure a nice rebuilding piece who is locked into a long-term deal and plan ahead for a free agent bonanza which could propel them to the summit of their conference.

Beyond this season they now only have Eric Bledsoe, Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris signed up. It leaves them with substantial cap room to use on free agents next season. The tricky part will be convincing the likes of Paul George, Evan Turner or Klay Thompson to join a team that has never won a championship in it's history. Perhaps they will look at second tier free agents like Jeff Green, Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, Wilson Chandler or Wesley Matthews. A third group they could target would be veterans like Amare Stoudemire, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, David West or Carlos Boozer. Either way, their future rests on the decisions made by their front office in six months time.


Starters: Marcin Gortat - Luis Scola - Caron Butler - Jamal Crawford - Eric Bledsoe

Trade summary


Tayshaun Prince, Alex Poythress, Jerryd Bayless, Jared Dudley, Suns' 2015 first rounder


Michael Beasley, Kyle Anderson


Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Jamal Crawford, Alex Abrines

-----

Hornets land Evans as Kings and T-Wolves stock up on assets



It seems that Minnesota's decision to give Derrick Williams a contract extension earlier in the season was more about keeping him as trade bait than actually seeing him as a future star for them. Ever since they picked him with the second overall selection in the 2011 draft Minnesota have taken criticism for passing on the likes of Enes Kanter and Jonas Valanciunas. They always stuck by their choice though and Williams has been far from a bust, but he is no franchise player either. He came into the league as a power forward but recently has been played at the small forward position because of Carlos Boozer. With Derrick Favors being the main guy in Sacramento this will unlikely change and Williams will have to adjust to being a small forward if he wants to have a long NBA career.

This move is interesting because you would think that keeping talent on their roster would help convince star Ricky Rubio to re-sign next year. Perhaps acquiring three young guards is a hint that the Timberwolves aren't entirely confident of keeping Rubio and Alexey Shved beyond this season. Ryan Harrow was selected third overall in the 2013 draft by the Kings but got stuck behind Isaiah Thomas, Aaron Brooks, Toney Douglas and Jimmer Fredette in his rookie season. Things looked up for him when Brooks and Douglas left at the end of last season, but the Kings then drafted Andrew Harrison with the ninth overall pick and Harrow found himself in a three-way battle to back-up Thomas. It was a similar story for McCollum in New Orleans as the Hornets drafted several point guards in the 2013 draft: Myck Kabongo (4th overall), Ian Miller (17th overall) and McCollum (20th overall).

Austin Rivers has struggled to find a role with the Hornets since they drafted him with the tenth overall pick in 2012. Hopefully he can prove useful for the Timberwolves in at least forcing Alexey Shved and Wayne Selden to improve their games to stay ahead of him in the rotation. Al Farouq-Aminu is another player who has so far failed to live up to his draft selection. The eighth overall pick from 2010 was involved in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers and has been quietly doing his thing in New Orleans ever since. He may not be a long term proposition for the Timberwolves, especially with his contract expiring, but he should give them solid minutes for at least the rest of this season.

In fact the entire Timberwolves starting line-up are on expiring contracts, which could leave the team looking entirely different next season. Ricky Rubio, Carlos Boozer, Landry Fields, Alexey Shved, Al-Farouq Aminu and Dante Cunningham are all due for new contracts and it remains to be seen if Minnesota want to keep them all or decide to make a splash in the free agent market. Rubio himself is one of the biggest targets for teams with cap room to spend and will surely cost a whole load of money for whichever team wants him. The problem the Timberwolves have is convincing players to move to Minneapolis and endure frigid winters. They have had more luck getting star players through the draft with Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love the most obvious examples. With a 13-29 record they may well be getting a future star in the upcoming draft as well.


Starters: Amir Johnson - Carlos Boozer - Al-Farouq Aminu - Alexey Shved - Ricky Rubio

-----
Over the past couple of seasons the Hornets have been trying to break free from the endless rebuild cycle that they and teams like Minnesota, Washington, Sacramento and Milwaukee seem to have been stuck doing in recent years. At the trade deadline last season they acquired Luol Deng from the Bulls and Jarrett Jack from the Wizards. This year they have landed Tyreke Evans from the Kings in a move intended to increase their offensive potency. Anthony Davis and Deng have helped the Hornets become a top ten defensive team in the league, but they are struggling in games to pass the 100 point mark. Evans' ability to comfortably handle the ball will also take pressure off of DJ Augustin to be the main playmaker for the Hornets. Augustin has looked overawed at times trying to lead this team and could use the help.

The Hornets currently hold the coveted eighth seed in the western conference with a 24-23 record, but will want to move up a few spots to avoid facing San Antonio or Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs. They have some quality players with Davis being the stand-out. The 2012 first overall pick has matured quickly in New Orleans and is one of the best interior defenders in the league. He has worked hard on his offensive game as well and is capable of scoring thirty or more points on any given night. Alongside him is sharpshooting big man Ryan Anderson. The former team mate of Dwight Howard in Orlando has provided a solid second scoring option and his perimeter shooting helps space the floor and give Davis more room in the paint. Deng sets the example for his team on the defensive end and offers the Hornets a decent scoring option as well. Evans will do well to follow Deng's lead and work hard on both ends of the court if he wants to fit in with his new team.


Starters: Anthony Davis - Ryan Anderson - Luol Deng - Tyreke Evans - DJ Augustin

-----
Sacramento take a chance of Derrick Williams and at the same time shed the salaries of Evans, Thompson and Harrow. They also land another 2015 first round pick. After this deal they now have three of them; their own, Toronto's and New Orleans'. If the draft was held today, their pick and the Raptor's pick would both be slated to be in the top ten selections. If New Orleans falter in the second half of the season they could be looking at three picks in the top fifteen of the draft. They are another team that has giving up on this season in order to focus on next year and beyond.

Tyreke Evans never set the world alight as a member of the Kings. He showed glimpses of his potential every now and then, but he never turned into the superstar that they wanted him to be. It seems that the Kings finally gave up on him and decided to adjust their roster and instead build around big man Derrick Favors. Sacramento will have around $20 million to spend in free agency next season if they let the likes of Marcus Thornton, Trevor Booker, Jimmer Fredette, Chuck Hayes and Travis Outlaw walk in the off-season. A top shooting guard like Evan Turner or Klay Thompson will be on top of their wanted list. If they can land someone of that stature and Derrick Williams adapts to his new surroundings, they could well be a playoff team next season.


Starters: JJ Hickson - Derrick Favors - Derrick Williams - Marcus Thornton - Isaiah Thomas

Trade summary


Al-Farouq Aminu, Austin Rivers, Ryan Harrow, CJ McCollum


Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Toney Douglas


Derrick Williams, Martell Webster, Hornets' 2015 first rounder

-----

76ers go Green



Not to be outdone by the Magic, Pistons and Wizards, Philadelphia has seemingly reacted to their rivals' trades by acquiring versatile forward Jeff Green and his perimeter assassin namesake Danny from Atlanta in exchange for rookie Otto Porter, forward Thaddeus Young and expiring veteran Jason Richardson. It gives them an experienced scorer in their frontcourt to compliment the rebounding presence of Andrew Bynum and David Lee. The underrated duo of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner are again producing a solid season for the 76ers as they once again find themselves vying for the top seed in the eastern conference.

The problem for them in recent seasons though has been their inability to convert excellent regular season form into winning form in the playoffs. In 2013 they finished the regular season with the second best record in the east but were bundled out in the first round by the aging Celtics in seven games. It was even more painful a year later when they finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, 62-20. On the eve of their first round series against the eighth seed Pistons they lost their star big man Andrew Bynum for a month with a broken finger. It proved a major problem for them against the size of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. The 76ers eventually suffered another first round exit after six spirited games. Clearly the main goal this season will be to just advance past that first round hurdle before they even think about competing for the title.

They should really be a contender this year as they have the same starters as last season, with the exception of Jeff Green now replacing Jason Richardson. Green will also be required to guard the likes of Andrew Wiggins, LeBron James and Andre Iguodala if the 76ers manage to go deep into the post-season action. Danny Green will also provide an extra boost to their perimeter game and be a handy bench scorer.


Starters: Andrew Bynum - David Lee - Jeff Green - Evan Turner - Jrue Holiday

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Atlanta make a calculated move by acquiring Porter on a rookie contract. This is important because Kawhi Leonard is out of contract in the Summer and hasn't given any hints as to his future plans at this point. Also important for the Hawks is the addition of Thaddeus Young, who will bolster their weak power forward rotation. Young will likely take over from DeJuan Blair as the starting power forward alongside Al Horford. It could only be a short term solution though as Young is also on an expiring contract and keeping him may not fit with the Hawks' wage structure. Losing Jeff Green isn't really a big loss as they had Leonard and rookie Glenn Robinson III at the small forward spot. It was much more important to improve their big man department, especially considering the size around the eastern conference these days.

The sixth seeded Hawks (24-21) are led by the veterans Al Horford and Louis Williams. Kawhi Leonard is also one of the leaders, despite being only twenty-three years old. He will be key if the Hawks face either Orlando or Washington in the playoffs with his ability to lock down on LeBron James and Andrew Wiggins. Then you have youngsters Trey Burke, Glenn Robinson III and Otto Porter all fighting to prove they belong at this level. The blend of youth and experience seems to be working for them. They are probably one piece away from being a legitimate contender, but if their young players keep progressing over the next few years they will be in with a shout at a title perhaps.


Starters: Al Horford - Thaddeus Young - Kawhi Leonard - Louis Williams - Trey Burke

Trade summary


Otto Porter, Thaddeus Young, Jason Richardson


Jeff Green, Danny Green

-----

Bobcats go all-in as Clippers add more young pieces



Charlotte may have finally shaken off their cellar-dweller tags with this move which could very well propel them to a top four seed in the ultra competitive eastern conference. The opportunity to add a veteran point guard with multiple-title-winning experience and one of the best defensive big men in the league alongside stars Carmelo Anthony and Al Jefferson was one that Michael Jordan couldn't pass up. Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist certainly weren't playing badly, but it's debatable as to whether or not they could have been able to lead this Bobcats team to the NBA finals. Having the defensive presence of Bogut, the facilitating of Parker and the scoring ability of Melo and Jefferson really makes Charlotte a serious contender.

This trade allows Anthony and Jefferson to move to their favoured positions with Bogut being the defensive anchor in the paint. Rookie guard Victor Oladipo will have the pressure of keeping up with his veteran team mates and keeping veteran Ben Gordon on the bench. Most importantly for the Bobcats is having a frontcourt that can match it with eastern powerhouses Philadelphia, Washington, Brooklyn and Orlando. But before they can worry about facing those teams they will have to improve their form quickly as they are in tenth place in the conference with a 21-24 record. Hopefully for Bobcats fans they can make the playoffs because it would be even more heartbreaking than usual for them if they missed out with so much talent on their roster.


Starters: Andrew Bogut - Al Jefferson - Carmelo Anthony - Victor Oladipo - Tony Parker

-----
The Clippers have now completely blown up there roster, excluding Blake Griffin. They continue their rebuild by adding two exciting young players, clearing even more cap space for next season and adding another first round pick. As it stands right now they are expected to have three lottery picks in the upcoming draft. They have their own, which is likely a top 3 pick, but they also have picks from the Bobcats and Suns which would be #11 & #12 if the draft was held today. This is the third trade in a month for them. They have basically given up Ginobili, Bledsoe, Bogut and Parker and gotten back Noah Vonleh, Alex Poythress, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and three first round picks. These moves will probably be judged on who the Clippers draft and who they can sign in the free agent period.

Something that has gone completely unnoticed in this whole process is the list of free agents that are available and now accessible to the Clippers. Firstly there is the rising superstar from the Pacers, Paul George. He has so far failed to reach an agreement with Indiana on an extension and looks likely to leave as they really don't look like a contender at the moment. Let's not forget that Paul grew up in California and supported the Clippers as a child. Then there is Turkish big man Enes Kanter who plays in Utah. He would form a monstrous partnership with Griffin if he joined the Clippers. Finally there is Spanish playmaker Ricky Rubio from Minnesota. The idea of him and Blake connecting on alley-oop plays all game long is very exciting.

Currently they sit bottom of the western conference with a dismal 14-32 record and look set to land their third first overall pick in seventeen years. If they do manage to win the lottery they will obviously hope that whoever they select turns out like Blake Griffin, rather than Michael Olowokandi.


Starters: Noah Vonleh - Blake Griffin - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Jared Dudley - Kemba Walker

Trade summary


Andrew Bogut, Tony Parker, Drew Crawford


Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Rakeem Christmas, Allen Crabbe, Bobcats' 2015 first rounder

-----

Warriors cash in on un-signed Thompson



This deal was the most surprising of the period and caught a lot of people off guard. All season there has been columns written about how Klay Thompson would eventually put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Warriors, but it never happened. Golden State seemingly panicked and decided to trade him for value now instead of losing him for nothing at the end of the season. It's almost a carbon copy of the situation Oklahoma City found themselves in before they decided to trade James Harden to Houston. The Warriors currently hold the eighth seed in a competitive western conference with a 24-24 record and with this deal they strengthen one of their biggest weaknesses by adding forward Tristan Thompson. At the moment they are suffering a mini injury crisis with stars Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes and James McAdoo all sitting on the sidelines.

If they can all get healthy the Warriors will have a fairly formidable young core. Curry, Waiters, Barnes, Thompson and DeAndre Jordan as the starters and McAdoo, Aaron Harrison and Mitch McGary coming off the bench. Obviously their fans will be upset at breaking up Curry's partnership with Klay, but in the long run they may look back on this deal and see it as the right move. Waiters (15p, 5r, 4a) and Thompson (14p, 8r, 2b) should really give the Warriors a boost as they push to return to the playoffs this season after missing out for the past two years. Waiters has a $5 million team option for next season and Thompson is on a very economical four-year $26 million deal.The draft pick could potentially become a lottery pick if the Cavs go backwards beyond this point.


Starters: DeAndre Jordan - Tristan Thompson - Harrison Barnes - Dion Waiters - Stephen Curry

-----
Cleveland signal their intent by pairing two of the most exciting young guards together in Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. They are also currently holding the eighth seed in their conference with a 24-24 record and know that they must improve if they hope to hold off the likes of New York, Charlotte and Toronto. Kyrie (24p, 5r, 8a) is having a brilliant season and the arrival of Thompson will surely take a fair amount of pressure off of him to be the team's main guy every night. Thompson himself is averaging 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. If they can convince Thompson to stick around beyond this season we could witness a great rivalry between two talented young backcourt duos in Cleveland and Washington. Irving/Thompson surely comes pretty close to Wall/Beal at this point of their careers.

Many had questioned Cleveland's decisions to select Waiters and Thompson so early in their respective drafts, but they have perhaps righted those wrongs in one massive trade. Added to that is their good move in drafting Aaron Gordon from Arizona with the tenth overall pick this year. With veterans JaVale McGee and Danilo Gallinari also on their roster they should really be a playoff team for several years to come. They are one of about eleven or twelve teams in the eastern conference who legitimately have a shot at making the playoffs.

It seems that in the last couple of seasons the balance of power in the NBA has shifted over to the eastern conference with players like DeMarcus Cousins, Al Jefferson, Klay Thompson, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala and Kawhi Leonard shifting conferences through free agency or trades. Add to that list the impressive young talent drafted by eastern conference teams such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Nerlens Noel, Shabazz Muhammad, Trey Burke, Cody Zeller, Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, Marcus Smart, Julius Randle, Willie Cauley-Stein and Aaron Gordon. It seems that the general managers in the eastern conference finally got their acts together and are making good decisions.


Starters: JaVale McGee - Aaron Gordon - Danilo Gallinari - Klay Thompson - Kyrie Irving

Trade summary


Klay Thompson, Trevor Mbakwe


Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers' 2015 first rounder

I should say that all of these trades didn't happen on the same day. For the sake of the story they happened over a month or so and I just haven't posted them here.

Basically half of these deals were intended to reflect players moving this season in real life (Beasley to Miami, Bledsoe to Phoenix, Dudley to LA, Williams to Sacramento, Evans to New Orleans). The others are moves which go with the narrative and (hopefully) work for both teams.

[Phil89]

Twitter News

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Huge news for Cleveland fans. Klay Thompson signs 3yr/$39m extension. Exciting young backcourt with Kyrie secured for next few years

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Warriors still stacked with young talent: frontcourt: Jordan/Thompson/McAdoo/Barnes, backcourt: Curry/Waiters/Harrison

-----

Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo
Y! Sources: Warriors weren't willing to give Thompson the $$$ he wanted, Cavs were. Warriors save money to keep Barnes/McAdoo/Harrison

Marc J. Spears @SpearsNBAYahoo
Y! Sources: GSW looking solid for playoff run this year, currently 7th seed. Curry still to come back from broken ankle, will be big boost

[Phil89]

19/2/15

2015 Mock Draft



Many people said that the 2014 draft class was the best since the 2003 'superdraft', but the 2015 class may be just as good. There are legitimately ten or twelve players who could be considered top five picks at this stage. Unlike 2014 though, there is no consensus top pick like Andrew Wiggins. Most experts believe that the most likely to go first overall are guard James Andrews from Duke, big man Milan Ivanovic from Serbia or Dante Exum from Australia.

1.) Boston - Milan Ivanovic - Serbia - C


It will be a tough choice for the Celtics as there is no consensus first overall pick and added to that is the fact that they don't really have any holes in their roster that need filling. They have their guard rotation secured already with Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Avery Bradley and Arron Afflalo. They also have several promising young forwards like Tobias Harris, Jared Sullinger, John Henson, Andrew Nicholson and Rodney Hood. In the end they will go for the big man with the huge ceiling.

Ivanovic really doesn't have much of an offensive game and mainly gets baskets due to his size alone, but defensively he is a monster. His shot-blocking and rebounding are phenomenal and any opposition guards thinking of driving to the basket would certainly think twice with him in the paint. A big man rotation of Ivanovic and Willie Cauley-Stein would surely make the Celtics one of the hardest teams to score on in the league. If Boston do land the first overall pick and draft Ivanovic, it would complete an amazing rebuild after losing Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo in the last few seasons.

NBA Comparison: Yao Ming

Roster

Willie Cauley-Stein/Fab Melo**
Jared Sullinger**/Andrew Nicholson**/John Henson**
Tobias Harris*/Rodney Hood**/Kris Joseph*/Daniel Diez**
Avery Bradley/Arron Afflalo/Trey Zeigler**
Jeff Teague/Marcus Smart/Jameer Nelson*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

2.) Minnesota - James Andrews - Duke - SG


The Timberwolves roster is full of holes and with star Ricky Rubio expiring you would assume that David Kahn would be extremely tempted to pick up Dante Exum with this pick. But if they hold onto Rubio then Duke guard James Andrews would be a much better fit for them. He is a great scorer in the mould of Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. Even though the Timberwolves already have Alexey Shved, Austin Rivers and Wayne Selden it would be hard for them to pass on Andrews. He could be the next great scorer like Kevin Durant and really help Minnesota become relevant in a tough western conference.

NBA Comparison: Kobe Bryant

Roster

Amir Johnson/Gorgui Dieng**/Alec Brown*/DeWayne Dedmon**
Carlos Boozer*/Dante Cunningham*
Landry Fields*/Al-Farouq Aminu*
Alexey Shved*/Austin Rivers**/Wayne Selden/PJ Hairston
Ricky Rubio*/Ryan Harrow/CJ McCollum**

* Expiring, ** Team Option

3.) Miami - Dante Exum - Australia - PG/SG


The Heat also have several holes in their roster that need filling. Just before the trade deadline they replaced LeBron James with Michael Beasley and with Dwyane Wade well into his thirties they would want to draft a guard. Dante Exum seems like the perfect fit for the Heat. His height and speed will make him an extremely tough player to guard for every point guard in the league. He has the potential to be a future all-star and the work ethic to get him there. Miami would probably also consider taking Joel Embiid with this pick as they are desperately weak in the frontcourt, but Exum's unique physical attributes probably make them take him.

NBA Comparison: Penny Hardaway

Roster

Chris Bosh/Joel Anthony*
Udonis Haslem*/Grant Jerrett/Chane Behanan**
Michael Beasley*/Kyle Anderson
Dwyane Wade/Will Barton*
Aaron Brooks*/Greivis Vasquez/Norris Cole*/Erick Green*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

4.) LA Clippers - Joel Embiid - Kansas - C


The Clippers use the first of three lottery picks to draft the defensive beast from Kansas Joel Embiid. They are in need of a center after trading Andrew Bogut to Charlotte at the trade deadline this year. Having Embiid in the paint would help cover up Blake Griffin's defensive weaknesses and allow him to get out on fast break opportunities more often. Embiid is very much in the mould of two big men who have entered the league in recent seasons: Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel. He loves denying opponents at the rim and his volleyball background means his athleticism is extremely high. Like the two previously mentioned his offense still has a long way to go, but he has shown signs of developing a decent jumpshot this season.

NBA Comparison: Hakeem Olajuwon

Roster

Noah Vonleh/Greg Smith*
Blake Griffin/ Rakeem Christmas**
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist**/Alex Poythress**/Tayshaun Prince*/Mike Miller*/Eric Ferguson**
Jared Dudley*/Allen Crabbe**/Thabo Sefolosha*
Kemba Walker*/Jerryd Bayless*/TyShaun Taylor*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

5.) Milwaukee - Jahlil Okafor - Duke - C


Milwaukee's biggest need is a big man to play alongside Cody Zeller. Drafting Jahlil Okafor would allow Zeller to slide to the power forward spot, which might suit him better with his mobility and light frame. Okafor had been one of the most hyped high school players a couple of years ago and he has produced at college level with Duke. He is a polished low post scorer and has great hands when catching the ball in the paint or bringing down rebounds. He is not the most athletic big man in the draft, but his basketball IQ and footwork allow him to take advantage of his strengths and be a solid low post scorer. If Kendrick Perkins stars in Milwaukee he could really help Okafor with his defensive game.

NBA Comparison: Al Jefferson

Roster

Cody Zeller**/Kendrick Perkins*
Royce White**/Chris Singleton/Jan Vesely/Drew Gooden*
LeBryan Nash/Tony Mitchell**
OJ Mayo/Rodney Stuckey/Reggie Bullock/Daequan Cook*
Brandon Knight*/Ishmael Smith*/JJ Barea*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

6.) Utah - Rolf Young - Norway - SF


Utah's greatest needs are at point guard and small forward. Since Exum will likely be gone by this pick it's likely that they will go with the "Norwegian Carmelo Anthony" Rolf Young, who has been impressing with FC Barcelona in the Euroleague this season. Despite his size he is comfortable dribbling the ball and is a solid scorer. He has great length and can guard just about anyone under seven feet tall. He regularly grabs ten or more rebounds per game and on the defensive end he has the ability to chase down players and block shots. He would be a nice fit in Utah alongside Enes Kanter and Eric Gordon.

NBA Comparison: Carmelo Anthony

Roster

Enes Kanter*/Bismack Biyombo*
David West*/Tyrus Thomas*/Dario Saric*/Elton Brand*/Jeremy Evans*
Gerald Green*/Earl Clark**
Eric Gordon/Gerald Henderson/Alec Burks/Mario Hezonja
Nate Robinson*/Deonte Burton**

* Expiring, ** Team Option

7.) Memphis - Victor Wright - Kentucky - SF


Memphis will head into this draft knowing that they still haven't replaced Rudy Gay since they traded him to Washington two years ago. Victor Wright from Kentucky would be an ideal candidate to fill that role. He still has a long way to go with his game at both ends of the court, but some draft experts are comparing him to Paul George from the Pacers. Wright is quite athletic and has shown that he can defend at a high level this season. On offense he can produce explosive dunks and step out and sink three point shots with consistency.

NBA Comparison: Paul George

Roster

Marc Gasol/Timofey Mozgov*
Pau Gasol*/Marreese Speights/Darrell Arthur*/Khem Birch
Quincy Pondexter*/Oleksandr Lypovny*
MarShon Brooks*/Kentavious Caldwell-Pope**/Sean Kilpatrick**
Mike Conley/Michael Carter-Williams/Tony Wroten**

* Expiring, ** Team Option

8.) LA Clippers (via Charlotte) - John Dawson - Georgetown - SG


The lottery second pick for the Clippers should land them Georgetown swingman John Dawson. Some experts believe that on talent he could be a top three pick, but the plethora of talented big men means he could slide down to this pick. Dawson is probably the second best scorer in the draft class after James Andrews. His main strength is his perimeter shooting. He is very similar to Klay Thompson or Bradley Beal with his ability to catch fire from beyond the arc and score quickly. The Clippers need more depth at shooting guard and Dawson could be a nice bench scorer for them immediately.

NBA Comparison: Klay Thompson

Roster

Joel Embiid/Noah Vonleh/Greg Smith*
Blake Griffin/ Rakeem Christmas**
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist**/Alex Poythress**/Tayshaun Prince*/Mike Miller*/Eric Ferguson**
Jared Dudley*/Allen Crabbe**/Thabo Sefolosha*
Kemba Walker*/Jerryd Bayless*/TyShaun Taylor*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

9.) Sacramento (via Toronto) - Myles Turner - Kentucky - C


Sacramento is another team predicted to have three lottery picks in this draft right now. They could complete an athletic frontcourt threesome by selecting Myles Turner with this pick to partner with the two Derricks, Favors and Williams. Turner's defensive strength would compliment the offensive abilities of Favors nicely and they could form a formidable partnership. Turner could turn out to be as dominant as DeMarcus Cousins, but without all the baggage. He has a fair amount of work to do on his offensive game still and lacks any post moves or footwork.

NBA Comparison: Anthony Davis

Roster

JJ Hickson/Chuck Hayes*
Derrick Favors/Trevor Booker*
Derrick Williams/Martell Webster*/Travis Outlaw*/Amric Fields**
Marcus Thornton*/Cory Higgins*
Isaiah Thomas/Andrew Harrison/Jimmer Fredette*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

10.) Sacramento - Gary Harris - Michigan State - SG


Having taken care of their problems at center with Myles Turner, the Kings would look to sort out their backcourt by selecting Gary Harris from Michigan State. He may not be the efficient scorer that Andrews and Dawson are, but he has a very polishing all-round game. He can find his own shot and drive to the basket effectively. He is very athletic and bulked up over the past year to make himself hard for other guards to defend in the lane. He is a solid rebounder for a guard despite being a bit undersized. He needs to work on his ball handling skills and could do with a more consistent perimeter shot.

NBA Comparison: OJ Mayo

Roster

Myles Turner/JJ Hickson/Chuck Hayes*
Derrick Favors/Trevor Booker*
Derrick Williams/Martell Webster*/Travis Outlaw*/Amric Fields**
Marcus Thornton*/Cory Higgins*
Isaiah Thomas/Andrew Harrison/Jimmer Fredette*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

11.) LA Clippers (via Phoenix) - Zach LaVine - UCLA - PG/SG


With their final lottery pick the Clippers might look at local guard Zach LaVine from UCLA. He has played mainly at point guard for the Bruins, but is also comfortable playing shooting guard. His athleticism is off the charts and he could well one of the top athletes in this draft class. He is strong, quick and excellent in transition. He is similar to Oklahoma City guard and former UCLA graduate Russell Westbrook. He is not the typical pass-first point guard of yesteryear, but very much one of the new breed of explosive point guards like Westbrook, Derrick Rose or John Wall. He would be an exciting prospect playing alongside Blake Griffin in LA, especially if Kemba Walker leaves in the off-season.

NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook

Roster

Joel Embiid/Noah Vonleh/Greg Smith*
Blake Griffin/ Rakeem Christmas**
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist**/Alex Poythress**/Tayshaun Prince*/Mike Miller*/Eric Ferguson**
Jared Dudley*/John Dawson/Allen Crabbe**/Thabo Sefolosha*
Kemba Walker*/Jerryd Bayless*/TyShaun Taylor*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

12.) Indiana - Jose Sanchez - Spain - PF


Indiana have a strong core and in all likelihood would probably wish to avoid having a lottery pick, especially as their emerging superstar Paul George could leave as a free agent at the end of the season. At this stage of the draft the talent is thinning out and they would probably go for the best player available, which would be Spaniard Jose Sanchez. He has been having a solid season alongside Rolf Young in Barcelona and would help the Pacers out in an eastern conference suddenly full of monstrous big men. Sanchez is similar to the Gasol brothers in that he has great length on the defensive end and works hard for rebounds and blocks. He is a handy post scorer, but lacks much consistency when he tries shooting from outside of the paint.

NBA Comparison: Ed Davis

Roster

Roy Hibbert/Ekpe Udoh*
Ersan Ilyasova/Marcus Morris/CJ Aiken**
Paul George*/Gordon Hayward/Christian Watford
Brandon Roy/Orlando Johnson*
Rodrigue Beaubois/George Hill/Nate Wolters**

* Expiring, ** Team Option

13.) New York - Albert Brown - UCLA - PF


With Amare Stoudemire looking likely to leave New York at the end of the season it's likely that the Knicks will draft UCLA big man Albert Brown with this pick. He is an athletic forward in the same mould as Serbe Ibaka and like the Thunder big man he loves to block shots. If the Knicks paired him with New Zealand rookie Steven Adams they would have a pair of hard working big men being busy on both ends of the floor. Knick fans haven't had much to cheer about this season after Carmelo Anthony fled to Charlotte in the off-season for a big money offer. Perhaps the nineteen year old Brown could provide them with someone to idolise with his unrelenting energy and likeable personality.

NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka

Roster

Steven Adams**/Tyson Chandler
Amare Stoudemire*/Carl Landry*
Iman Shumpert*/Andrei Kirilenko*/Travis McKie**/Steve Novak*
Wayne Ellington*/Ronnie Brewer*/Ricky Ledo
Raymond Felton*/Pierre Jackson*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

14.) Sacramento (via New Orleans) - Kelly Olynyk - Gonzaga - C


Sacramento come back with the last lottery pick and select the only player left who is touted as a potential top ten pick. Kelly Olynyk isn't a flashy player like Dante Exum or marketable like Milan Ivanovic, but he is a guy who does all the little things and works tirelessly for his team like Nick Collison in Oklahoma City. With his long hair and smile he is a cult figure at Gonzaga and is a guy that any fan would want on their team. He has a big frame is a solid rebounder, but his main strength is his low-post scoring. He has a polished skill set in the paint and is a prolific scorer at college level. At times he can also step out and make jumpshots with some regularity. His main weakness is his lack of athleticism. He is rather slow and it hurts him on the defensive end defending more athletic players. Would do well with the Kings as a backup guy giving the team energy and effort every night.

NBA Comparison: Spencer Hawes

Roster

Myles Turner/JJ Hickson/Chuck Hayes*
Derrick Favors/Trevor Booker*
Derrick Williams/Martell Webster*/Travis Outlaw*/Amric Fields**
Marcus Thornton*/Gary Harris/Cory Higgins*
Isaiah Thomas/Andrew Harrison/Jimmer Fredette*

* Expiring, ** Team Option

*NBA comparisons are more to do with body size and some specific traits than actual likelihood of turning out like the players listed*


Summary

[Martti.]

It reallt hurts seeing Miami in the lottery, though getting Exum would be nice..

Also, love the trade deadline recap, I really like it that big names get moved to teams with a chance at the title like the Bobcats getting Parker and Bogut to go with Melo and Jefferson, could be very dangerous.

[Phil89]

19/2/15

Washington Wizards [45-7] vs Charlotte Bobcats [21-31]

Wiggins sinks first career game winner as Wizards beat fiesty Bobcats



WAS - 24 21 27 32 104
CHA - 29 28 26 18 101

Player of the Game: Bradley Beal
(36pts, 6reb, 6ast, 1stl)
(14-18 FG, 8-10 3PT, 0-0 FT)


Top Scorers
Bradley Beal - 36
Andrew Wiggins - 24
Carmelo Anthony - 20
Al Jefferson - 16
Andrew Bogut - 15
DeMarcus Cousins - 14
Manu Ginobili - 11

Rebounds
Andrew Bogut - 12
Victor Oladipo - 7
DeMarcus Cousins - 7
Nerlens Noel - 7
John Wall - 7
Bradley Beal - 6
Andray Blatche - 6
Tony Parker - 6
Al Jefferson - 5

Assists
John Wall - 14
Tony Parker - 9
Victor Oladipo - 6
Bradley Beal - 6

Steals
Victor Oladipo - 3
Andrew Bogut - 2
Tony Parker - 2
John Wall - 2

Blocks
Nerlens Noel - 3
Manu Ginobili - 2

Wiggins game winner


Beal highlights


Wiggins highlights


Wall highlights

I think Beal was upset at not winning the 3pt contest and playing poorly in the all-star game. He single handedly kept me in this game.

[Phil89]

It reallt hurts seeing Miami in the lottery, though getting Exum would be nice..

Also, love the trade deadline recap, I really like it that big names get moved to teams with a chance at the title like the Bobcats getting Parker and Bogut to go with Melo and Jefferson, could be very dangerous.

Who would have though losing LeBron would cripple them so badly? I was actually looking forward to facing them in the playoffs again and getting revenge for last season.

I have a feeling that Charlotte will still find a way to not make the playoffs even with that roster. They are a few games behind the eighth seed and it could be tough for them.

[Phil89]

20/2/15

Memphis Grizzlies [20-32] vs Washington Wizards [46-7]

Cousins has his first 30+ point game for Wizards in Memphis



MEM - 25 17 14 25 81
WAS - 27 22 25 29 103

Player of the Game: DeMarcus Cousins
(34pts, 8reb, 2stl, 1blk)
(13-21 FG, 0-0 3PT, 8-10 FT)


Top Scorers
DeMarcus Cousins - 34
Andrew Wiggins - 20
Bradley Beal - 18
Pau Gasol - 18
Marc Gasol - 12
Marreese Speights - 11
Manu Ginobili - 11
Mike Conley - 10

Rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 8
Nerlens Noel - 8
Pau Gasol - 5
Michael Carter-Williams - 5

Assists
John Wall - 17
Mike Conley - 8

Steals
Mike Conley - 3
Bradley Beal - 3
DeMarcus Cousins - 2
Marreese Speights - 2
Quincy Pondexter - 2

Blocks
Marvin Williams - 2

Cousins highlights

[Phil89]

22/2/15

Houston Rockets [29-24] vs Washington Wizards [47-7]

Wizards earn hard-fought win in Houston



HOU - 26 31 18 15 90
WAS - 25 29 20 25 99

Player of the Game: Andrew Wiggins
(22pts, 4reb, 1ast)
(10-17 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-2 FT)


Top Scorers
Andrew Wiggins - 22
Wesley Matthews - 21
Bradley Beal - 19
Manu Ginobili - 16
DeMarcus Cousins - 16
James Harden - 16
Chandler Parsons - 15
John Wall - 13
LaMarcus Aldridge - 12
Jeremy Lin - 10

Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 13
LaMarcus Aldridge - 10
Bradley Beal - 8
Chandler Parsons - 7
DeMarcus Cousins - 6
Perry Jones - 5

Assists
John Wall - 13
Jeremy Lin - 8

Steals
Jeremy Lin - 5
Wesley Matthews - 2
Nene - 2
Chandler Parsons - 2

Blocks
Nerlens Noel - 3

Wiggins highlights

[Phil89]

23/2/15

Washington Wizards [48-7] vs Chicago Bulls [29-25]

Rose has monster game in Washington as Bulls stun Wizards



WAS - 22 26 19 19 86
CHI - 27 21 25 29 102

Player of the Game: Derrick Rose
(47pts, 9reb, 6ast)
(20-29 FG, 1-1 3PT, 6-6 FT)


Top Scorers
Derrick Rose - 47
Andrew Wiggins - 20
Manu Ginobili - 18
John Wall - 18
Jabari Parker - 14
Bradley Beal - 12
DeMarcus Cousins - 11

Rebounds
Joakim Noah - 12
Taj Gibson - 11
Derrick Rose - 9
Jimmy Butler - 5
Andrew Wiggins - 5

Assists
John Wall - 9
Derrick Rose - 6
Bradley Beal - 6

Steals
Xavier Henry - 2

Blocks
Emeka Okafor - 2
Nerlens Noel - 2

Wiggins highlights

[Phil89]

Twitter News

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Player movement in Washington. Kirk Hinrich & Lamar Odom waived, Tony Allen & CJ Watson sign on

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
Allen signed 2yr/$1.4m deal whilst Watson will make $2.1m on 1 year deal

[Phil89]

26/2/15

Philadelphia 76ers [37-17] vs Washington Wizards [48-8]

Wizards send message to rivals with blow-out win in Philly



PHI - 13 17 27 20 77
WAS - 27 25 28 26 106

Player of the Game: Bradley Beal
(24pts, 2reb, 3ast)
(10-15 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-1 FT)


Top Scorers
Bradley Beal - 24
Andrew Wiggins - 16
Perry Jones - 15
DeMarcus Cousins - 13
John Wall - 13
Jarrett Jack - 12
Danny Green - 11
David Lee - 10
Evan Turner - 10

Rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 9
Danny Green - 7
Nerlens Noel - 5

Assists
John Wall - 8
Jrue Holiday - 6
CJ Watson - 6
Mario Chalmers - 6
Andrew Wiggins - 5

Steals
Evan Turner - 3
Danny Green - 2

Blocks
Perry Jones - 2

Beal highlights

[Phil89]

27/2/15

Washington Wizards [49-8] vs Los Angeles Lakers [32-36]

Wall dazzles fans as Wizards thrash Lakers



WAS - 21 27 29 32 109
LAL - 20 25 25 21 91

Player of the Game: John Wall
(14pts, 6reb, 17ast, 1blk)
(5-11 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-4 FT)


Top Scorers
Kobe Bryant - 28
Bradley Beal - 23
Andrew Wiggins - 22
Shannon Brown - 16
DeMarcus Cousins - 14
John Wall - 14
Perry Jones - 12

Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 11
Chase Budinger - 10
Patrick Patterson - 8
Manu Ginobili - 7
John Wall - 6
DeMarcus Cousins - 5
Jordan Hill - 5
Kevin Love - 5

Assists
John Wall - 17
CJ Watson - 5

Steals
Trey Thompkins - 3
Kobe Bryant - 3
Kevin Love - 2

Wall highlights

[Phil89]

1/3/15

February 2015 Summary

Division Standings

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division


Central Division


Southeast Division



-----


Western Conference

Northwest Division


Pacific Division


Southwest Division

-----

League Leaders

Points


Rebounds


Assists


Steals


Blocks

-----

Award Races

Most Valuable Player


Defensive Player of the Year


Six Man of the Year


Rookie of the Year


Most Improved Player

-----

Monthly and Weekly Awards

Players of the Week


Players of the Month


Rookies of the Month

-----

Rookies Ranking

-----

Injuries

[Phil89]

1/3/15

Washington Wizards [50-8] vs Dallas Mavericks [30-29]

Wiggins breaks franchise scoring record in win over Mavs



WAS - 29 26 26 32 113
DAL - 23 19 35 28 105

Player of the Game: Andrew Wiggins
(62pts, 4reb)
(25-41 FG, 4-8 3PT, 8-8 FT)


Top Scorers
Andrew Wiggins - 62
Monta Ellis - 33
John Wall - 28
Darren Collison - 20
Brandan Wright - 14
Bradley Beal - 10

Rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 11
Nikola Pekovic - 9
Emeka Okafor - 8
Brandan Wright - 7
Darren Collison - 5

Assists
John Wall - 17
Darren Collison - 12
Monta Ellis - 6

Steals
Darren Collison - 3
Dominique Jones - 2
Jared Cunningham - 2
Monta Ellis - 2

Wiggins 62 points


Wall highlights

[Phil89]

Wiggins also broke a more impressive record: Most points in a game by a rookie (Beating Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 58 twice in 1960)

It's funny too that my previous highest scoring game by a player was also against Dallas (55 by Bradley Beal) Sorry Mavs

[Phil89]

3/3/15

Washington Wizards [51-8] vs Houston Rockets [32-25]

Wizards' star trio prove too much for Rockets to handle



WAS - 32 25 34 18 109
HOU - 19 17 32 31 99

Player of the Game: John Wall
(28pts, 1reb, 10ast, 1stl, 1blk)
(11-18 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-7 FT)


Top Scorers
Andrew Wiggins - 29
Bradley Beal - 29
John Wall - 28
Wesley Matthews - 17
LaMarcus Aldridge - 17
James Harden - 11
Jeremy Lin - 11
Jordan Crawford - 10

Rebounds
DeMarcus Cousins - 9
Andrew Wiggins - 9
LaMarcus Aldridge - 9
Tyler Hansbrough - 7
Nerlens Noel - 7
Bradley Beal - 5
Chris Kaman - 5

Assists
James Harden - 12
John Wall - 10
Jeremy Lin - 7
Mario Chalmers - 6
DeMarcus Cousins - 5

Steals
James Harden - 2
Jeremy Lin - 2
Nerlens Noel - 2

Blocks
DeMarcus Cousins - 4

Beal highlights


Wall highlights


Wiggins highlights

[Phil89]

4/3/15

New Orleans Hornets [28-32] vs Washington Wizards [52-8]

Jones scores career high in New Orleans



NOH - 21 16 20 19 76
WAS - 32 25 27 14 98

Player of the Game: Perry Jones
(31pts, 3reb, 2ast, 1blk)
(11-19 FG, 4-8 3PT, 5-6 FT)


Top Scorers
Perry Jones - 31
Tyreke Evans - 16
DeMarcus Cousins - 15
Andrew Wiggins - 14
Myck Kabongo - 12
Toney Douglas - 11
Bradley Beal - 11
Anderson Varejao - 10

Rebounds
Anderson Varejao - 11
DeMarcus Cousins - 8
CJ Watson - 6
Darius Miller - 6
Anthony Davis - 5
Tony Allen - 5
Mario Chalmers - 5
Andrew Wiggins - 5

Assists
John Wall - 8
Manu Ginobili - 5

Steals
Toney Douglas - 3
Anderson Varejao - 2
DeMarcus Cousins - 2

Jones highlights