Not 5, Not 6, Not 7 - Y3 Lottery Team Needs

[Sasaki17]

Note: Unfortunately, due to the playercard glitch in the Ultimate Base Roster, I had to restart this with a new roster. But, hopefully this will work out now.
Note (7/20/12): Due to my NBA2k12 having crashing issues, I've had to delete all of my data and re-install NBA 2k12. I will be restarting this again, and will post an update post for the start of the season later today.

Rules:
Game: NBA 2K12 (PC)
Roster: DaRoster 20.7 (Some Edits)
Season Length: 82 Games
Trade Deadline: On
CPU Trades: Off (Will be turned on one month before trade deadline)
Trade Override: On (Only for outstanding draft picks and Dwight Howard Trade)
Played Quarter Length: 10 Minutes
Simmed Quarter Length: 12 Minutes
Sliders: Custom
Difficulty: Pro
Injuries: On
Fatigue: On



After defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals 4-1, the Miami Heat has won their first championship of the Big 3 era. Now they just have to win seven more to live up to their promise. Aided by new additions Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, the Miami Heat are focused on a repeat.

Miami Heat Roster

Starters:

PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: LeBron James
PF: Shane Battier
C: Chris Bosh

Sixth Man:

SG: Ray Allen

Bench:


PF: Udonis Haslem
F: Rashard Lewis
PG: Norris Cole
F/G: Mike Miller
SG: Terrel Harris
SF: James Jones
C: Joel Anthony
C: Dexter Pittman

The expectations are extremely high for the Heat this season. Can they pull off the repeat, or will they falter in their quest for another title?

[Sasaki17]

Breaking News: Oden Signs with Spurs

Former number one overall pick C Greg Oden has signed a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs, worth $5.76 million. The injury-prone center will likely start at Center for the Spurs.

Heat News:
Hamilton, Cole Impress in Limited Minutes

Rookie C Justin Hamilton impressed coach Erik Spoelstra in yesterday's 117-102 defeat of the New York Knicks, going for 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and a block in limited minutes. Second-year G Norris Cole continued to impress, posting 6 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 3 steals in limited minutes. Cole is likely to see a larger role this season if he continues to impress.

Other League News:
Dwight Howard Still Requesting Trade
Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard is growing increasingly upset with team management, and he wants to be dealt before the trade deadline. Now that Brooklyn is no longer an option, Howard's preferred destination is rumored to be the Dallas Mavericks. Howard does not appear willing to sign a contract extension when traded, making things difficult for the Magic. They will likely trade Howard to whatever team offers the highest compensation, regardless of Howard's preferences. The Magic lost their opener to the Bobcats, 94-100.

[Sasaki17]

BREAKING NEWS:

C Dwight Howard has been traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team trade.
Magic trade: C Dwight Howard (Bulls), G Chris Duhon (Bulls)
Bulls trade: C Joakim Noah (Hornets), F Luol Deng (Magic), '13 1st round pick (Magic)
Hornets trade: '13 1st round pick (Magic), G Marco Belinelli (Magic)

Heat November Recap:
Heat Finish November with Best Record
The Heat have finished the month of November with an 11-2 (.846) record, the best in the NBA.

LeBron James Named Player of the Month
Heat F LeBron James has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month after finishing November with a stat line of 31.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.6 APG, 2.6 SPG, and 0.7 BPG. LeBron leads the Heat in all statistical categories except Blocks per Game (Shane Battier and Dwyane Wade with 1.2 BPG each).

Battier Thriving at Power Forward
Heat F Shane Battier is excelling at his new role with the Heat, posting 5.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 1.2 BPG. Battier is extremely happy with his larger role in the Heat lineup, and he is expected to extend his contract in the near future.

Heat Interested in Ty Lawson
Nuggets PG Ty Lawson is expected to enter Free Agency after the end of the season. The Heat are expected to make a run at the talented RFA, possibly in a sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets.

Southeast Division News:
MKG Leads Bobcats to 2nd Place in Southeast
Bobcats Rookie F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has excelled with the Bobcats, leading them to a 7-8 record through November, already equaling their win total from last year. MKG put up an impressive stat line, with 15.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.9 BPG.

Hawks Struggle Without Horford
Hawks F/C Al Horford was only able to play in 6 games in the month of November due to a stress fracture. In those 6 games, Horford averaged 11.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 2.2 BPG. The Hawks posted a 6-7 record in November.

Wall and Beal Shine, Wizards still Losing
Wizards Guards Brad Beal and John Wall have impressed in the month of November, both averaging approximately 17.0 PPG and 4.0 APG. The Wizards, unfortunately, finished with a 5-9 record despite their promising backcourt.

Magic Miserable in November, Trade Howard and Hedo
The Magic finished the month of November with a 5-10 record, despite Dwight Howard still being on the team. Howard has finally been traded (to the Chicago Bulls), and the team followed this by trading Hedo Turkoglu to the Portland Trail Blazers for Shawne Williams and a second round pick. The Magic managed to get talented F Luol Deng and two first round picks in the Howard trade, so their rebuilding process may be slightly easier than expected.

Around the League:
Thunder F Kevin Durant has been named Western Conference Player of the Month.

The 76ers may attempt to move G/F Andre Iguodala before the trade deadline, as he has reportedly told the team that he will not be picking up his player option.

Injury Report:
Nuggets F Danilo Gallinari has torn his MCL and will be out for the rest of the season.

Bulls G Derrick Rose has broken his back and will miss the next 4-6 weeks.

Nets F Gerald Wallace has broken his jaw and will miss the next 6-8 weeks.

Notable Transactions:
Magic trade C Dwight Howard and F Hedo Turkoglu

Utah Jazz re-sign C Al Jefferson to a 6yr/$127.02M contract.

San Antonio Spurs re-sign F Stephen Jackson to a 3yr/$12.67M deal.

New York Knicks sign F Terrence Williams to a one-year deal worth $3.51M.

[Sasaki17]

Breaking Heat News – December 2

--->
Heat Trade for Casspi
The Miami Heat have dealt C Joel Anthony and F James Jones for Cavaliers F Omri Casspi. This is likely a move to free up some cap space for this offseason, as the Heat are extremely interested in Thunder F Serge Ibaka and Nuggets G Ty Lawson, both free agents after the season.

[Sasaki17]

December Recap

Miami Heat News:
Heat #2 Seed in the East
The Miami Heat hold a 23-6 record through the month of December, good for the 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Only the New York Knicks (25-6) hold a better record in the East.

LeBron Finishes Second in Initial MVP Vote
Miami Heat F LeBron James has finished second in the initial vote for MVP, behind Thunder F Kevin Durant. Durant and LeBron are also first and second in scoring, respectively.

Southeast Division News:
Lou Williams Leads Sixth Man of the Year Vote
The Atlanta Hawks hold the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference with an 18-11 record, largely in part to the contributions of Sixth Man Lou Williams. Williams has posted 14.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 2.9 APG off of the bench for the Hawks, and he is the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

MKG Leads Bobcats to 6 Seed
Rookie F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has led the Charlotte Bobcats to a 14-16 record and the 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. MKG leads the team in scoring with 14.5 PPG, and is posting solid rebounding numbers with 6.9 RPG. MKG was named Rokkie of the Month for December and is second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas.

Deng Leads Magic to 7-7 December
The Magic have improved their record to 12-17 due to the play of recently acquired F Luol Deng. Deng leads the Magic in PPG and BPG with 19.3 and 1.2 respectively. The Magic are currently the 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Wizards Tied for Worst
The Washington Wizards are tied with the Boston Celtics for the worst record in the Eastern Conference with a 10-18 record. This comes in spite of the phenomenal backcourt play of the Wizards, with both Bradley Beal and John Wall averaging over 17.5 PPG. The Wizards appear to be doomed to pick in the early lottery once again this year.

Around the League:
Bulls C Dwight Howard will test the free agent market before re-signing with the team.

Sacramento Kings may begin fire sale before trade deadline.

Injury Report:
Timberwolves G Ricky Rubio tears MCL, ending his season.

Hornets Rookie F/C Anthony Davis has broken his foot and will miss 4-6 weeks.

Bulls G Derrick Rose is rehabbing his back injury and is currently Day-to-Day.

The Spurs have been hit by the injury bug, as F Stephen Jackson has broken his back, and C Greg Oden has torn his meniscus. Both are expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Notable Transactions:
Hawks sign F Josh Smith to an extension worth $91.30M over six years.

Spurs sign G Manu Ginobili to an extension worth $18.72M over two years, with a team option for a third year.

[Sasaki17]

January 23 Update:
Injury Bug Hits Heat as They Take the 1 Seed
Just as the Miami Heat have taken the 1 seed from the New York Knicks, they have lost both of their starting forwards. LeBron James has back soreness, and Shane Battier has been recovering from a separated shoulder. Both are expected to miss 1-2 weeks. Rashard Lewis will start at Small Forward and Udonis Haslem will start at Power Forward.

[jp10_pogi]

[Sasaki17]

January Recap

Miami Heat News:
Heat Hold Best Record
The Miami Heat own the best record in the NBA (36-8) through January. They are the only team still in single digit losses. The second best records belong to the Knicks and the Thunder, who are both standing at 34-12 records.

LeBron Pulls Ahead of Durant in MVP Votes
LeBron James has taken a slim lead over Kevin Durant in the MVP race, and he is now ahead of Durant in every statistical category except PPG. Heat teammate Dwyane Wade now holds the #3 spot in the MVP vote after a strong January.

Battier Still Recovering
Heat F Shane Battier is struggling to recover from his separated shoulder, and he is still estimated to take 1-2 weeks to recover. Battier is optimistic that he can return before that, but team doctors are not rushing to clear Battier.


Southeast Division News:
Williams Seems Like Lock for Sixth Man of the Year
Hawks G Lou Williams has retained his firm grasp on the Sixth Man of the Year vote. His 14.1 PPG off of the bench for the Hawks is a major reason for them holding the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

MKG Moves to First in Roookie of the Year Vote
Bobcats F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has edged out Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas for the lead in the Rookie of the Year voting. MKG leads the team in scoring with 14.3 PPG.

Magic to Begin Fire Sale?
The Orlando Magic are shopping G Jason Richardson in an attempt to clear cap space for this offseason. Sources are indicating that the only two players that the Magic are unwilling to trade are F Luol Deng and G J.J. Redick.

Wall and Beal Remain Hot, Wizards Remain Cold
The fantastic backcourt play of the Wizards has continued, as both Bradley Beal and John Wall are lighting up the scoreboard. The rest of the team is in shambles, however, and their record reflects this. The Wizards are poised to be active at the trade deadline, and they are actively shopping C Emeka Okafor.

Around the League:
Spurs may attempt to move F/C DeJuan Blair before the trade deadline.

Reports indicate that Oklahoma City may attempt to move C Kendrick Perkins before the deadline.

Notable Transactions:
None


Award Races:
MVP – LeBron James, F, Heat
Rookie of the Year – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Bobcats
Sixth Man of the Year – Lou Williams, G, Hawks
Defensive Player of the Year – Dwight Howard, C, Bulls
Most Improved Player – James Harden, G, Thunder

Playoff Picture:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat (36-8)
2. New York Knicks (34-12)
3 Indiana Pacers (29-17)
4. Atlanta Hawks (27-17)
5. Philadelphia 76ers (25-50)
6. Chicago Bulls (22-21)
7. Detroit Pistons (22-23)
8. Toronto Raptors (21-23)
First Out: Milwaukee Bucks (20-25)

Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (34-12)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (32-13)
3. San Antonio Spurs (28-19)
4. New Orleans Hornets (24-17)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (25-18)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (24-19)
7. Portland Trail Blazers (24-19)
8. Dallas Mavericks (19-24)
First Out: Utah Jazz (19-24)

[qfrmcpt310]

Nice start to this, good job an having the number 1 seed so far. I'm pretty shocked that Chicago is so bad with D-Rose, Howard, and Boozer

[jp10_pogi]

no doubt t othe no. 7 MAVS. and wow! Toronto is in the post-season.... whos excelling there?

[Sasaki17]

Nice start to this, good job an having the number 1 seed so far. I'm pretty shocked that Chicago is so bad with D-Rose, Howard, and Boozer

Rose missed a big chunk of the first two months with a broken back, and the Bulls were having a hard time winning games without him. I think their record was like 14-17 while he was injured.

no doubt t othe no. 7 MAVS. and wow! Toronto is in the post-season.... whos excelling there?

Bargnani and Valanciunas were lighting up the scoreboards for the first couple months. I think Bargnani was at 25.0 PPG and Valanciunas was around 17.0 PPG.

[Sasaki17]

Breaking News – February 24
Heat F LeBron James has torn his MCL and will miss the remainder of the season. LeBron was the leading candidate for MVP at the time of his injury, and the Miami Heat have immediately gone from a Finals contender to a possible first-round playoff exit. Heat G Dwyane Wade responded to the injury with this statement: "The loss of LeBron is going to make getting back to the Finals a real challenge, but we're not gonna give up. We still have a solid group here, and we're all gonna try to pick our play up to overcome this massive setback."

Around the League - Trade Deadline Recap:
Magic trade G Jason Richardson, ’13 2nd round pick, ’14 2nd round pick, F Shawne Williams to Jazz for F Marvin Williams and G Earl Watson.
Analysis: Magic clear up cap space for next season with this move. Marvin Williams has a player option worth $8.05M for next season, while Earl Watson’s contract ends at the end of the season.

Nuggets trade C Timofey Mozgov, ’14 1st round pick to Cavaliers for F Kevin Jones and ’14 2nd round pick.
Analysis: The Cavaliers stole a first round pick from the Nuggets. Kevin Jones may be promising, but he is not worth a first rounder, especially since he went undrafted this year and the Nuggets already have the talented Kenneth Faried on the roster.

Grizzlies trade F Marreese Speights, ’14 1st round pick to Mavericks for G/F Vince Carter.
Analysis: The Grizzlies want to improve now, and the Mavericks want to improve for the future. This trade works out for both as the Grizzlies get a proven veteran in Vince Carter and the Mavericks get the promising Marreese Speights and a future first round pick.

Wizards trade C Emeka Okafor to Hawks for G Devin Harris and C Johan Petro.
Analysis: Hawks C Al Horford has struggled to stay on the court this season, and the Wizards can’t get any worse. The Hawks get a reliable backup Center and the Wizards get a reliable backup Guard. This should work out for both teams.

Kings trade F Donte Greene, ’14 1st round pick to Rockets for F Terrence Jones and G E’twaun Moore.
Analysis: The Rockets get a young, athletic forward and a first round pick for a young, athletic forward and a guard acquired off of waivers. The Rockets win this one.

[jp10_pogi]

wtf LBJ... lets see where Miami ends... win or go home... no major transaction except the howard to bulls

[Sasaki17]

It's that time of year again, the NBA All-Star Break. The one time each year where the best players from both conferences battle to see who exactly is the best of the best. Here are your Eastern Conference All-Stars:

Starters:

Deron Williams, G, Nets
Dwyane Wade, G, Heat
LeBron James, F, Heat (Injured)
Carmelo Anthony, F, Knicks
Dwight Howard, C, Bulls

Bench:

John Wall, G, Magic
Monta Ellis, G, Bucks
Luol Deng, F, Magic
Josh Smith, F, Hawks
Greg Monroe, F/C, Pistons
Kyrie Irving, G, Cavaliers
Rajon Rondo, G, Celtics

And now, here are your Western Conference All-Stars:

Starters:

Chris Paul, G, Clippers
Kobe Bryant, G Lakers
Kevin Durant, F, Thunder
Kevin Love, F, Timberwolves
Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers

Bench:

Russell Westbrook, G, Thunder
Eric Gordon, G, Hornets
Nicolas Batum, F, Trail Blazers
LaMarcus Aldridge, F, Trail Blazers
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kings
Blake Griffin, F, Clippers
Tony Parker, G, Spurs

This weekend isn't only about the All-Star game, however. The best Sophomores are also pitted against the best newcomers to the league. Here is your Sophomore All-Star Team:

Starters:

Kyrie Irving, G, Cavaliers
Kemba Walker, G, Bobcats
Chandler Parsons, F, Rockets
Kenneth Faried, F, Nuggets
Gustavo Ayon, C, Magic

Bench:

Brandon Knight, G, Pistons
Klay Thompson, G/F, Warriors
Kawhi Leonard, F, Spurs
Markieff Morris, F, Suns
Bismack Biyombo, C, Bobcats

And finally, here is your Rookie All-Star Team:

Starters:
Dion Waiters, G, Cavaliers
Bradley Beal, G, Wizards
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Bobcats
Thomas Robinson, F, Kings
Jonas Valanciunas, C, Raptors

Bench:
Kendall Marshall, G, Suns
Aleksey Shved, G/F, Timberwolves
Perry Jones, F, Thunder
Jared Sullinger, F, Celtics
Donatas Motiejunas, C, Rockets



D-Wade Named All-Star Game MVP
Heat G Dwyane Wade has been named MVP of the All-Star Game after leading the East All-Stars past the West All-Stars, 103-93. Wade led the East All-Stars with 23 points. The Heat are hoping that Wade will be able to lead their team deep into the playoffs after losing of star F LeBron James to a torn MCL.



Note: I forgot to copy down the score of the Rookie-Sophomore game when I did this, sorry.

[jp10_pogi]

carry on wade... bring your team in the finals...

hows bosh doing? or ray allen?

[Sasaki17]

Bosh averaged about 17 PPG and 10 RPG. Ray Allen was averaging around 12 PPG and 2 RPG off of the bench.

[jp10_pogi]

stats of Anthony Davis? and Waiters... i think waiters is going over kyrie already... like in my association .. thats unfair lol

[Sasaki17]

February Recap

Miami Heat News:
Wade Still Locked on Finals
Heat G Dwyane Wade has led a less talented Heat team to a championship before, and he is looking to do it again. The Heat have lost F LeBron James to a torn MCL, but Wade won’t let that stop him. Wade is focused on keeping the #1 seed and getting back to the Finals. The Heat (45-10) are 5.5 games ahead of the 2 seed New York Knicks (41-17) in the playoff hunt.

Southeast Division News:
Hawks Slip to 5 Seed
The Atlanta Hawks have slipped from the 4 seed to the 5 seed after the month of February. G Lou Williams still leads Sixth Man of the Year Votes, and Josh Smith is putting up solid defensive stats. The Hawks are hoping that the addition of C Emeka Okafor helps to serve relief for the injury-plagued Al Horford, who has only played in 21 games this season.

MKG Hoping to Get Bobcats into Playoffs
The Bobcats are only 4.5 games out of the playoffs, so they are certainly not out of it. They are led by leading Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is fixated on getting into the playoffs. They are, unfortunately, also competing with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets to get into the playoffs, so they will need a spectacular March to stay in the hunt.

Magic Only 4.5 out Despite No Howard
F Luol Deng and G J.J. Redick are doing an admirable job leading the Magic, but they will need more help if they wish to make a deep run into the playoffs. The Magic are expected to make big offers to G Chris Paul and F Serge Ibaka.

Wizards Looking to Draft
The Wizards are not going to be making the playoffs this year, despite the efforts of Bradley Beal and John Wall. The Wizards will likely be more focused on March Madness than their actual games in March as they look for their next lottery pick.

Around the League:
Clippers G Chris Paul confirms he will test free agency.

Thunder G James Harden is expected to sign extension after the end of the season.

Thunder F Serge Ibaka will test free agency.

Injury Report:
Hornets G Austin Rivers has broken his jaw and will miss 4-6 weeks.

Lakers F Metta World Peace has a sprained knee and will miss 2-4 weeks.

Notable Transactions:
Raptors sign G DeMar DeRozan to a contract extension worth $25.29M over five years.

Award Races:
MVP – LeBron James, F, Heat (Injured)
Rookie of the Year – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Bobcats
Sixth Man of the Year – Lou Williams, G, Hawks
Defensive Player of the Year – Dwight Howard, C, Bulls
Most Improved Player – Goran Dragic, G, Suns

Playoff Picture:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat (45-10)
2. New York Knicks (41-17)
3. Indiana Pacers (37-20)
4. Philadelphia 76ers (34-24)
5. Atlanta Hawks (32-24)
6. Chicago Bulls (28-27)
7. Toronto Raptors (28-29)
8. Detroit Pistons (28-31)
First Out: Boston Celtics (26-31)

Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-13)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (39-18)
3. San Antonio Spurs (37-22)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (32-26)
5. Portland Trail Blazers (31-25)
6. New Orleans Hornets (30-25)
7. Memphis Grizzlies (31-27)
8. Denver Nuggets (25-32)
First Out: Dallas Mavericks (25-32)

stats of Anthony Davis? and Waiters... i think waiters is going over kyrie already... like in my association .. thats unfair lol

Anthony Davis is a monster, with 14.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 2.4 BPG. Waiters is looking like he might turn into a D-Wade clone in a few years, with 16.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 1.2 SPG.

[megarover]

Cool read. Its impressive how well your team is playing even without Lebron around.

[Sasaki17]

Heat Roll without LeBron, Defeat Blazers 117-91
Dwyane Wade dropped 36 points as the Heat blew out the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. The Heat are now 3-0 without F LeBron James. Wade led both teams in scoring with his 36 points and added 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Heat C/F Chris Bosh also contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, and F Shane Battier had a season-high 17 points. The Heat improve their record to 46-10 with the win.

Heat Stay Hot, Beat Jazz 121-91
After routing the Utah Jazz, the Miami Heat have advanced to 47-10 and 4-0 without F LeBron James. The Heat were led by the lights out shooting of G Dwyane Wade, who scored 37 points off of 17-19 FG. Wade also contributed 7 assists and 4 steals. F Chris Bosh went for 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Shane Battier has scored 17 points for the second consecutive game.

[jp10_pogi]

as i said of Waiters.... bye bye kyrie

whos kikin' in detroit?

@megarover , this is really a cool read... knowing the association stories of other players like us...

[megarover]

Great efficient scoring games for Wade. Let's see how long this streak will last.

[Sasaki17]

March Recap


Miami Heat News:
Heat Clinch Eastern Conference
The Miami Heat have clinched the Eastern Conference with a 56-15 record with 11 games left to play. The 2 seed New York Knicks (46-27) are 11 games back with 9 games to play.

D-Wade Pushing for MVP
Heat G Dwyane Wade has come in second in the latest MVP vote, behind Thunder F Kevin Durant. Wade is averaging 24.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.4 BPG. He was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March.

Southeast Division News:
Hawks Still Hold 5 Seed
The Hawks are holding steady at the 5 seed, with G Lou Williams and F Josh Smith keeping the team afloat. C Emeka Okafor has been doing an admirable job when filling in for Al Horford, who has only managed to play in 38 games this season. They are expected to play the Indiana Pacers in the first round.

Bobcats Destined for Lottery
Bobcats F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has cooled off as the season has progressed, and he has now fallen to second in Rookie of the Year voting. MKG still leads the team in scoring with 14.1 PPG, which is a testament to the fact that the Bobcats need to find more scoring in the draft. They have a top-10 defense (6th), but their miserable offense (28th) is holding them back.

Magic to lose Redick?
Magic G J.J. Redick has expressed a desire to test the free agent market after the season, which should worry Magic fans. If the Magic have to spend a large sum of money on Redick, that may affect their pursuits of Chris Paul and Serge Ibaka.

Wizards Prepping for High Lottery Pick
The Washington Wizards have had a miserable season, finishing in the bottom five in both offense (25th) and defense (26th) with a point differential of -6.5. They have the second worst record in the NBA, and they are in prime position for either UCLA F Shabazz Muhammad or Kentucky C Nerlens Noel if the lottery goes their way.

Around the League:
Lakers G Kobe Bryant was named Western Conference Player of the Month.

Thunder F Kevin Durant is primed to win his 4th consecutive scoring title.


Injury Report:
Spurs F Kawhi Leonard has torn his hamstring and will miss 6-8 weeks.

Knicks G Jason Kid has torn his hamstring and will miss 2-4 weeks.

Grizzlies G Tony Allen has torn his MCL and will miss the next 6-8 months.

Award Race:
MVP – Kevin Durant, F, Thunder
Rookie of the Year – Anthony Davis, F/C, Hornets
Sixth Man of the Year – Lou Williams, G, Hawks
Defensive Player of the Year – Dwight Howard, C, Bulls
Most Improved Player – Spencer Hawes, C, 76ers

Playoff Picture:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat (56-15) [Clinched Conference]
2. New York Knicks (46-27) [Clinched Playoffs]
3. Philadelphia 76ers (45-29) [Clinched Playoffs]
4. Indiana Pacers (44-28) [Clinched Playoffs]
5. Atlanta Hawks (42-31)
6. Chicago Bulls (38-33)
7. Toronto Raptors (36-36)
8. Detroit Pistons (36-39)
First Out: Brooklyn Nets (35-38)

Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (56-16) [Clinched Division]
2. Los Angeles Lakers (51-20) [Clinched Division]
3. San Antonio Spurs (48-24) [Clinched Division]
4. Portland Trail Blazers (41-32)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (40-33)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (37-35)
7. Denver Nuggets (34-38)
8. New Orleans Hornets (34-38)
First Out: Minnesota Timberwolves (32-40)

[jp10_pogi]

ow bobcats!!! its like my association.. we're falling in the playoff spot... i think they're really need additional scorers besides mkg, kemba and sessions.



Any major/ season ending injuries???? hornets are in the 8th spot.. whos 9th 10th in the west?

[Leftos]

Hold that playoff spot Detroit.