James Harden: 50% beard, 100% unstoppable
Hello, ladies and gents! Welcome to the NBA season’s final addition of The Week That Was. We’re going to breakdown last Sunday’s battle of MVP-like proportions, what happened to the Heat this season and dominant performances from the Baby-Faced Assassin and the Italian Stallion, along with the demise of DeMarcus.
This is The Week That Was.
Clash of the Titans: Harden vs. Westbrook
On April 5, the Thunder fought to extend their season, while the Rockets fought to move their playoff seed up. The playoff implications facilitated the energy that both teams, and more specifically Russell Westbrook and James Harden put on display.
After an 18-0 run in the first quarter gave the Rockets enough juice to control the game throughout, Westbrook and Thunder rolled right back to eliminate the Rockets’ fourth quarter double-digit lead and tie the game up with 3:12 remaining. However, it was Harden’s turn to take control. He went off and scored eight points in the final three minutes to help his team pull out the win 115-112.
-This GIF can be found at MarcusD1.Blogspot.com
The Beard finished the game with 41 points on 12-of-22 shooting, while Westbrook recorded his 11th triple-double with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. As amazing as both of these lines were, they don’t surprise us anymore. Performances like these are merely what we’ve come to expect from the league’s top scorers. Harden went 6-of-9 from downtown and those big shots fell when his team needed them. He nailed a three towards the end of the first quarter to give his team an eight-point lead, then nailed two treys toward the end of the third period, all to cap it off with two more triples in 36 seconds and a hard fadeaway to put the Rockets ahead by seven and help them hold on for the “W”.
Harden is unstoppable https://t.co/e4D7USKYmi
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This Vine was uploaded by Vinnyviner
The Curse of LeBron
After gracing the Miami Heat with their presence for four straight years, the basketball gods officially spurned the team this season. We knew that LeBron James leaving the Heat would have likely prevented them from appearing in the Finals for a fifth straight year. What we didn’t know is that it would be the first of many unfortunate incidents that would keep the club down every time they were ready to get back on their feet.
First, your superstar forward coaxes you into drafting Shabazz Napier, a point guard who clearly isn’t ready to play in the NBA yet, then waits until some of the big name free agents sign or commit to other ball clubs before announcing that he will leave via a published letter, in which he doesn’t even thank the fans. The best free agent you manage to acquire is a used up Luol Deng, with the other two notable acquisitions being the unexciting Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger sans both knees. You start off the season 5-2, tricking yourself into thinking that you’ll maintain most of your success from the last four years. But suddenly, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh miss stretches of games, a stomach virus plagues the locker room and infects the team…and oh wait, McBob tears his right meniscus. But you get a nice little high after sticking it to LeBackstabber on Christmas Day. It’s one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve received in my 25 years of life, and Christmas is my birthday. Then, the D-League gave birth to a magical seven-footer who seemingly fell from the clouds, with 29 other teams completely oblivious to his presence. DeAndre Jordan‘s athleticism + Andre Drummond‘s rebounding = Hassan Whiteside a.k.a. seven feet of dominance straight from Lebanon and China. Even after Norris Cole cost you a game because he doesn’t know how to inbound the ball, as a Heat fan, you’re still feeling pretty good as you optimistically sit on the white side of your “cloud nine”. As a little bonus, Miami even won the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend…then ol’ reliable Riley pulled off the unthinkable to put us back in the championship conversation. All-Star caliber point guard Goran Dragic became a member of Heat Nation, and all we had to trade away for his services were role players who served as depth for the team. We never thought that would come back to bite us, though…
Literally less than 24 hours after you’re jumping for joy in celebration of the future and a team that won’t tolerate losing, Chris Bosh was lost for the season with the scary ailment of blood clots. Not only are you enveloped in disgust at what latest issue has befallen your team, but now you’re fearing for the well-being of a man you’ve come to know and love over the last five years.
A little time passes and you’ve got your swagger back now that you’ve gone 10-6 after the All-Star break and are coming off a three-game win streak featuring wins against Queen James, Rip City and a high-scoring, up-tempo Nuggets squad. But then you go to OKC and Russell Westbrook bashes your skull in with 17 dimes. If that wasn’t enough, you then trek to Milwaukee, see your seven-foot pot of gold cut his hand open and watch as you lose a 14-point fourth quarter lead capped off with the thudding finality of this:
Khris Middleton GAME-WINNER | Heat vs Bucks | March 24, 2015 | NBA 2014-…: https://t.co/1FX0F7ZcPw via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This video was uploaded onto YouTube by AshTex
There went our shot at the sixth seed. Lo and behold, Chris Andersen and Wade are both hurt too, so you go to Boston without your team leader or a center and know deep down in your gut that the Heat have no shot at winning. Yet, they surprise you and pull out a win with a ragtag starting lineup featuring Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, and Henry Walker, while giving undersized Michael Beasley minutes at center in relief of Haslem. The sigh of relief was brief since just two days later your center-less team was undone by Al Horford and the Hawks. However, you manage to hold off Andre Drummond without Whiteside and beat Detroit in the next game, even though you had nightmares the night before about how Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and D.J. Augustin terrorized your guys the last time the Heat and Pistons played. It was tough to get excited after that win when you are missing Wade and Whiteside with San Antonio and Cleveland looming on the schedule’s horizon…and yeah, they eviscerated us. But you can keep a playoff seed if you trounce the lesser Pistons and Pacers, which lie ahead.
Next thing you know, you’re up 15 points ahead of a Detroit team you just beat last week and watch as the Pistons make quick work of your flimsy defense and whittle down the deficit to one point. Leave it Reggie Jackson to flush your hopes down the drain.
Reggie Jackson Game-Winner | Heat vs Pistons | April 4, 2015 | NBA 2014-…: https://t.co/gNXo97eudQ via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This video was uploaded onto YouTube by RedFeed
Then leave it to Paul George to energize his Pacers against the Heat with his return to the court, after practically snapping his leg in two back in August.
Paul George returns to court to a standing ovation: https://t.co/YxpB1Znmz1 via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This video was uploaded onto YouTube by Indianapolis Star Sports
The only person less excited than Heat fans to see Paul George was Papa John.
Papa John isn't too enthusiastic about Paul George's return. https://t.co/KouVRwsW02
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This Vine was posted by Vinnyviner
So after the Pacers crushed the Heat, a momentary flicker of hope came in the form of Wade, Whiteside and Birdman back in action for the victory against Charlotte. Next on the ticket were Chicago and Toronto, but both teams would be playing Miami on the second night of a back-to-back. “Yeah they’re both better than us,” I thought to myself, “but they’re tired and we’re at home, so we have a real chance here.” Sadly, I was mistaken.
Michael Beasley got red-hot in the second quarter against Chicago on April 9 and became the driving force between the 19-point lead Miami had at halftime.
MIchael Beastly! https://t.co/nKLntkytQM
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 12, 2015
-This Vine was uploaded by kiop
Then in typical Miami Heat fashion, the Heat scored a total of eight points in the third quarter and lost the lead in about 10 minutes! The Bulls took the lead on their next possession and never looked back. The next game against the Raptors was a close duel. Both teams hung around each other, with neither getting a chance to pull away. In the end, Toronto placed the Heat on the brink of elimination with a 107-104 win.
Now your playoff fate lies in the hands of Boston, Brooklyn, and Indiana…but one year after feeling on top of the world, poised to defend the NBA Title, I just want to give up and rest our weary warriors, while focusing on getting that protected 10th pick. But knowing coach Erik Spoelstra and the gang, they’ll keep on fighting. With how this season has gone, it wouldn’t surprise me if this scenario occurred: The Heat were one win away from the playoffs with a tasty matchup against the tanking Sixers as the last game on the schedule. However, during the game the Heat players go down with injuries one by one until the score is tied at 90 with five seconds remaining and five healthy bodies in Miami uniforms. Dwyane Wade then nails the go-ahead basket with one second to go, but breaks his leg jumping for joy in the ensuing celebration. This leaves the Heat with only four players, forcing them to forfeit the game and miss the playoffs immediately after the emotional high of thinking that you’ve earned the right to get bludgeoned by Atlanta for four straight games.
…Thanks, LeBron.
Steph Curry With the Shot
Immediately after the Bulls’ big comeback against Miami on Thursday night, we were treated to a delicious offensive display put on by the Warriors and Trail Blazers. Mark my words, Stephen Curry is a shooter unlike anything the NBA has seen before. The Blazers were fully lit up by Curry for 45 points and 10 dimes on Thursday night. He nailed 8-of-13 shots from long range, breaking his own record for most threes in a season with 272 back in the 2012-13 season. The MVP front-runner hit five of them in the first half, including N0. 273, which was a silky-smooth pull-up jumper.
The Record Breaker! No. 273! https://t.co/xrQJcNy0rF
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 13, 2015
-This Vine was posted by Vinnyviner
Curry bombarded the Blazers so heavily with threes that three Portland players guarded Curry at one point when he got close to the arch. He punished the aggressive defensive by hitting an uncovered Andre Iguodala for the score.
Three Blazers collapse on Curry, who punishes them with the darting pass to Iggy https://t.co/QKoN3qqZJd
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 13, 2015
-This Vine was posted by Vinnyviner
The Warriors needed a bucket here to maintain their lead, so along came Curry to knock down the contested three.
-This GIF can be found on BusinessInsider.com
Since the Blazers’ defense wasn’t embarrassed enough, Curry then decides to drain another contested three from a whopping 30 feet away in the final minute.
-This GIF can be found on BusinessInsider.com
He’s simply undefendable from three-point range, knocking down 43.8 percent of his long range jumpers this season. In fact, he’s been at least a 40 percent shooter from downtown for every season of his career. What’s even more staggering is that he’s averaged 8.5 three-pointers per game since the All-Star break, draining 52 percent of them. Ray Allen is the league’s all-time leader in threes made, and he only hit 928 of them in his first six seasons compared to Curry’s 1,181 in his first six.
Gallo the Italian Stallion
The Dallas Mavericks barely escaped a crazy double-overtime game against the Nuggets on Friday night 144-143, but Danilo Gallinari probably feels better than any Maverick after posting a career-high 47 points on 15-of-23 shooting with nine boards and two dimes.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, this 287 point output was the highest scoring game since the Thunder and Timberwolves combined for 289 back on March 23, 2012. Obviously, a high scoring game like this would have some crazy shot charts, but none were more insane than Gallo’s.
Danilo Gallinari's 47-point shot chart tonight vs. Mavs. He was also 10/10 from the free throw line. #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/KEPmsH9dru
— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) April 11, 2015
What’s most mystifying is that the Nuggets had four possible game-winning attempts, but red-hot Gallinari was not the shooter for any of them. Instead, his 47-point effort was wasted once Raymond Felton hit the game-winning layup with 1.5 seconds left.
With the Nuggets long out of playoff contention, there’s simply not to much to be excited about if you’re a Nuggets fan. Despite the loss, though, the offensive effort and impressive shooting from Gallinari is always something that can excite a fanbase, if even for just a little while.
Danilo Gallinari Career High 47 Points Full Highlights (4/10/2015): https://t.co/hMsdy5wauG via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 13, 2015
-This video was uploaded to YouTube by DownToBuck
DMC and Rudy Gay Go Down For the Count
Kings shut down Cousins and Rudy Gay for the year.
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) April 11, 2015
With the Kings at 27-52, there was no reason to put either guy on the floor and risk any further injuries to their stars. Dr. Richard Ferkel from Los Angeles said that DeMarcus Cousins has played through numerous lower leg injuries, like ankle sprains and a strained calf due to heavy basketball activity since the summer. In light of that news, the team will finally rest him. He should make a full recovery before training camp next season.
As an All-Star this season, Cousins certainly put up some of the best numbers in the league with per game averages of 24.1 points on 46.7 percent shooting and 78.2 percent free throw shooting with 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.53 steals, 1.76 blocks and 34.1 minutes in 59 games this season. Those are career-highs for him in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes. Plus, he led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Cousins will finish the season as the league’s fifth-highest scorer and third-best rebounder, with 47 double-doubles and two straight 20-point, 20-rebound, 10-dime triple-double performances.
DeMarcus Cousins Posts 2nd Straight Triple-Double: https://t.co/v0ZLRUydvT via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 13, 2015
-This video was uploaded to YouTube by the NBA
Rudy Gay suffered a concussion back on March 30 and missed the first three games before passing the league’s concussion protocol. However, his symptoms still managed to linger after resuming full basketball activities. The Kings decided to consult the Director of the NBA Concussion Program, Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, on this matter and he ruled Gay should be shut down for the rest of the season. Gay’s per game averages on the season were exceptional as well, as he finished with a career-best 21.1 points on 45.5 percent shooting, 35.9 percent three-point shooting and 85.8 percent free throw shooting with 5.9 boards, a career-high 3.7 dimes, 1.04 steals and a team-high 35.4 minutes in 68 games.
Rudy Gay's concussion: https://t.co/8l0zL6QCLO via @YouTube
— Jonathan Ebanks (@hogz4lyfe) April 13, 2015
-This video was uploaded to YouTube by habsye
His scoring numbers were high enough to put him at second place on the Kings and 13th in the league. Gay scored at least 30 in five different games this season, with none being more outstanding than his Halloween effort against the Trail Blazers in a 103-94 win. He dropped 40 points on 13-of-19 shooting, while hitting 3-of-4 from downtown and 11-of-13 free throws, to go along with eight rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Early on the season, the Kings had a team that many thought could have taken the eighth seed in the West. But injuries, defensive woes, two coaching changes and a lack of effort by some players crippled the Kings to the point where they are now shutting their top two guys down near the end of a lost season. They’re the league’s best team at getting to the line and they’re one of the better rebounding teams in the league as well, while allowing the third fewest amount of rebounds to their opponents. Since they rebound and box out so well, they could take the next step if they were better at converting second-chance opportunities or playing tighter defense to force more misses because they’re better at rebounding than most teams. They have the height and offensive basketball IQ of a dangerous team, so adding a couple marquee defenders and veteran hustle guys to keep this team focused on playing hard may put them on the right track.
Jonathan Ebanks is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jonathan, check out his archive and follow him @hogz4lyfe.
