The Phoenix Suns have a huge rebuilding project on their hands. However, they have the tools to do it. And now they believe they have the right man to use those tools. Two weeks after firing Lance Blanks, Suns president Lon Babby on Tuesday hired Ryan McDonough as the team’s new general manager. The hiring puts interim coach Lindsey Hunter’s status in immediate jeopardy. Hunter was working in player development when he was installed by Blanks after Alvin Gentry was fired. Assistants
The two best games of the playoffs thus far have clearly been Game 4 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls and Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, which had a number of similarities. Both games went multiple overtimes. Both games had plenty of big shots. Both games had role players becoming unlikely heroes. And unfortunately for the Nets and Warriors, both games had huge collapses late in regulation.
Here’s the bottom line on Carmelo Anthony’s recent play. Using the measuring stick of points per shot, it is his worst four-game stretch of the postseason since the first four playoff games of his career. Furthermore, when compared alongside other worst four-game stretches of contemporary solo superstars, it is near the bottom. Following Sunday’s loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals opener, the Knicks are 1-3 in their last four games, including 0-2 at home. Their only win saw them nearly
It seems like the Chicago Bulls spent every last ounce of available energy and every last healthy or semi-healthy body simply to get out of the first round. It seems like the Miami Heat have not played in about a month, spending that time waiting for pretenders to wrap up their postseason series, chuckling to themselves and speculating on who was the lone wolf who did not cast a first-place MVP vote for LeBRon James. So it seems like the fifth-seeded Bulls
Before Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers handed out white towels to fans at the Staples Center. Apparently, someone in the marketing department didn’t understand symbolism. By halftime, those towels had become flags of surrender for the Lakers, the biggest underachieving team in the history of the NBA. Dwight Howard offered his own symbolism, figuratively throwing in the towel midway through the third quarter. Unwilling to grit his teeth and bang
American pro teams sports has its first openly gay male athlete, and it is no surprise that he is from the NBA. In a first-person story that will adorn the cover of this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, veteran center Jason Collins has come out, flatly stating that he is “happy to start the conversation.” Collins said that he arrived at his decision to disclose his sexuality during the 2011 lockout, when his preparation routine for the following season was disrupted and
In the wake of the Chicago Bulls opening a 3-1 lead over the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round series came this piece in the Chicago Tribune in which Reggie Rose – the brother and manager of sidelined Bulls superstar Derrick Rose – said, “(Derrick) is getting his mind ready, getting comfortable with his body. I think (his mind) is probably at a good 90 percent now.” So does that mean Derrick Rose is getting ready to finally return to the court and face
The Los Angeles Lakers are running a lot of their offense through 7-footer Pau Gasol. Maybe they can have him bring the ball upcourt, too. The Lakers are running out of guards. Already without injured superstar Kobe Bryant, the seventh seed could also be without point guards Steve Nash and Steve Blake and shooting guard Jodie Meeks for Friday night’s Game 3 of their first-round series vs. the San Antonio Spurs.