The Russell Westbrook experience, Dallas’ fading playoff hopes and sad news for one of the league’s great characters. Let's jump right in to this week's installment of Around the NBA:
Keep Fighting Craig…
I’ve been watching NBA basketball on TNT and TBS for as long as I can remember and for most of those years, Craig Sager has been a fixture. You can never really know these public figures but when you have them in your living room as often as we do, it feels like we do. Seven years ago this coming April, I visited Chicago for my 30th birthday to see the Sixers play the Bulls at United Center. TNT had the game and before the game my girlfriend and I (wife now) were walking around courtside and bumped into Craig Sager. It was three to five minutes tops but he could not have been nicer. He took a picture with my girlfriend, commented on us being from Philadelphia, my Sixers gear I was wearing and we went on our way. To hear yesterday that his cancer has returned and his prognosis so dire is just terrible news. Thoughts go out to him and his family. Keep fighting Craig, NBA fans everywhere are thinking of you.
Russell Westbrook, the triple-double machine…
In the coming weeks, he’ll be named to his fifth all-NBA team, presumably on the first team for the first time in his career. He’s a five time NBA All-Star, two time All-Star game MVP, has played in the NBA Finals and he’s still only 27 years old. Last night, Westbrook recorded his sixth triple double in his last nine outings, 15th for the season and yet none of that even comes close to telling the whole story. There isn’t a team sport athlete alive today in any corner of the world who unleashes hell like Russell Westbrook. The Thunder guard is having the best season of his career, posting numbers of 23.7 points per game, 10.5 assists and 7.7 rebounds. He’s also third in the league in Player Efficiency Rating. He’s far from perfect and his critics are quick to point that out. He’s turnover prone at times, gambles too often on defense and still has a propensity to attempt bad three’s. It’s all part of the experience. Westbrook plays with a non-stop ferocity that I’ve never seen before. He’s a breathtaking athlete and he’s incredible to watch. Whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can get past the Spurs and/or the Warriors in the Western Conference playoffs and what becomes of the Westbrook/Durant duo beyond this season are questions for another day. Right now, just enjoy and appreciate what you’re seeing every night from this guy. Go all in with Russell Westbrook for better or worse.
Mavs on the Ropes …
Early in the season, the Mavericks were one of the better stories in the league. At 28-22 on January 31st, they were right in the middle of the West playoff picture. Since February 1st though, they’ve gone 7-13, sit at 35-35 and are in four team battle with Houston, Portland and Utah for the final three playoff spots. Making matters worse, yesterday ESPN reported that Chandler Parsons will miss the remainder of the season with a meniscus tear. Father Time remains undefeated, but future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki continues to keep him at arm’s length. Dirk dropped 40 on Sunday, carrying the Mavericks to a huge overtime win over Portland. They’ll need more of the same from the German-native over the final 12 games if they want to make the playoffs and they’ll also have to give him some help. Dallas is at Portland tonight.
As far as the rest of the playoff races and teams looking to clinch here is an in depth breakdown courtesy of CBS Sports: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25527182/nba-playoff-picture-magic-numbers-and-scenarios-with-25-days-left
Checking in on the history chasing champs…
Following Saturday’s loss in San Antonio, the Warriors looked tired and uninterested on Monday night in Minnesota, but they managed to get the win. Reigning and sure to be back-to-back MVP Steph Curry is 10 for his last 35 from the field and three for 21 from beyond the arc. Golden State hosts the Clippers tonight and has Dallas and the Sixers visiting Oracle Arena after that. I’d expect Curry and maybe some others to sit at least one of those games. The Warriors are 63-7 and need to go 10-2 in their final 12 to eclipse the 1996 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins.
Danny Grugan is a contributor to Sixerdelphia.com
