Category: NBA

NORMAN POWELL EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

POWELL NAMED EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The National Basketball Association announced Monday that Norman Powell has been selected as Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Powell earns the honour for the first time in his career and becomes the 10th player in franchise history, joining Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jalen Rose, Mike James, Lou Wiliams, Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard.

Powell helped lead Toronto to a 3-0 record this past week, scoring an Eastern Conference-best 31.3 points. He also posted 2.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting .561 from the field. Powell began the week with 26 points during Toronto’s 123-114 win Mar. 3 at Phoenix. He then scored a career-high 37 points Mar. 5 at Golden State and tied a career-high with six three-pointers Mar. 8 at Sacramento.    

Powell was selected 46th overall by Toronto in the 2015 NBA Draft and is the second-longest serving player on the team behind only Kyle Lowry. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April 2016.

Celtics hopes for second seed in danger with recent rut continuing — Celtics Wire

Celtics hopes for second seed in danger with recent rut continuing — Celtics Wire

Kemba Walker took the Boston Celtics loss Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder to heart, but in truth his recent spate of mediocre games is far from the only problem Boston has right now.

It’s true the UConn product hasn’t managed to find his footing since returning from a sore knee that kept him out of action for much of February. It’s also true that a late turnover by the Bronx native ultimately cost the Celtics their game against the Thunder.

Yet, there are other players on that team, and the blame rests on them as well.

Effort levels have been substandard on both ends of the floor, as noted by unofficial team captain Marcus Smart after Boston’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Mar. 6.

Injuries have been plaguing the team, with a player seeming to go down for each one that comes back.

With one of the least productive benches in the NBA in terms of offense, when one of those players is Walker, forward Gordon Hayward, or shooting guard Jaylen Brown…

…the results speak for themselves.Jay King✔@ByJayKing

Again, the Celtics blew a double-digit lead at home. Again, they squandered chances down the stretch. Kemba Walker took this one hard after his late turnover.

“This is a low for us,” said Gordon Hayward.

On a team trying to find it again: https://theathletic.com/1663572/2020/03/08/kemba-walker-celtics-playoff-hopes-slipping/?source=shared-article …Celtics hopes for second seed slipping away after another…”This is not the first time I’ve had a stretch like this in my career when I haven’t been playing so well, but I’ll be better,” Walker said.theathletic.com45Twitter Ads info and privacySee Jay King’s other Tweets

All that said, good luck trying to convince Walker not to take it personally. “It’s frustrating,” said the former Husky after the Thunder loss (via The Athletic’s Jay King).

Lakers finally top Clippers in Round 3 of L.A. rivalry — Press Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 112-103. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles forward Kawhi Leonard, right, dunks as Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso…

Lakers finally top Clippers in Round 3 of L.A. rivalry — Press Telegram

Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury: Bucks Forward Could Miss Game vs. Celtics — NESN.com

The Milwaukee Bucks lost more than just their 10th game of the season after Friday night’s tip against the Los Angeles Lakers. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo took a hard fall on his left leg during the game, and the team announced Sunday he will not play in their next two games against the Phoenix Suns (Sunday,…

Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury: Bucks Forward Could Miss Game vs. Celtics — NESN.com

NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving ‘Soured’ On Kenny Atkinson, Prefers Tyronn Lue — NESN.com

Are you ready for the least surprising Kyrie Irving news of all time? The Brooklyn Nets on Saturday “mutually parted ways” with head coach Kenny Atkinson. And Irving, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Vincent Goodwill, did not like Atkinson, and in fact prefers current Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue, whom he played for while with…

NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving ‘Soured’ On Kenny Atkinson, Prefers Tyronn Lue — NESN.com

How Celtics Can Clinch Playoff Spot By End Of Sunday’s NBA Action — NESN.com

It hardly will be a surprise when the Boston Celtics secure their spot in the postseason, but at the moment their place in the playoffs is not yet confirmed. That can change Sunday though. The Celtics are set to host the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden, and a win is half of what the…

How Celtics Can Clinch Playoff Spot By End Of Sunday’s NBA Action — NESN.com

Full health is once again within sight for Raptors — Toronto Sun

SAN FRANCISCO — Nick Nurse is hopeful. He says there is a chance both Fred VanVleet and Marc Gasol could return to the lineup as early as today in Sacramento. If both somehow do make it back at the same time, it would mark just the third game all season that the Raptors have had […]

Full health is once again within sight for Raptors — Toronto Sun..

Heisler: Clippers become an elite team, but it wasn’t easy — Daily News

Meanwhile, in Clipper Nation, it’s the best of times and the worst of times, as well as the most recent of times that I copped a lead from “A Tale of Two Cities.” Yes, this is about the local NBA teams, both elite contenders at the same time for the first time. No, for once…

Heisler: Clippers become an elite team, but it wasn’t easy — Daily News

LeBron James Vows Not To Play If Fans Can’t Attend Due To Coronavirus Fears — NESN.com

The Coronavirus has yet to make a major impact in United States sports, but if decisions have to be made, players might not want to be involved. The NBA has had preliminary discussions to prepare for the possibility of the Coronavirus outbreak affecting them, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Among these discussions has been…

LeBron James Vows Not To Play If Fans Can’t Attend Due To Coronavirus Fears — NESN.com

LeBron James, Lakers outmuscle Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks — Press Telegram

Lakers forward Anthony Davis is defended by Bucks center Brook Lopez during Friday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG) Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 brings the ball up the court at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Mar. 6, 2020. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG) Los Angeles Lakers…

LeBron James, Lakers outmuscle Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks — Press Telegram

Warriors coach Steve Kerr after Curry’s comeback: ‘We’re never going to be the team we were’ — Santa Cruz Sentinel

After Stephen Curry’s return to the court Thursday after 58 games, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he knew last summer that the Warriors wouldn’t be the same team.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr after Curry’s comeback: ‘We’re never going to be the team we were’ — Santa Cruz Sentinel