Big nights, big moves and a big honor.
Here is the week that was in the NBA.
Anthony Davis Transforming Into a Star
Anthony Davis’ amazing second season continues. The youngster netted 22 points to go along with 19 rebounds and seven blocks as he led the New Orleans Pelicans to victory against Orlando last Sunday.
Davis continued to impress, like during his next timeout against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Brow was utterly dominant, amassing 30 points, seven boards and eight blocks. Davis dislocated a finger during his impressive performance against the Cavs and was forced to sit out against the T-Wolves as a result.
The matchup of Davis against Kevin Love was one most NBA watchers were eagerly anticipating.
Love was able to pull down 14 boards to go along with his 30 points as the T-Wolves slipped by the Pelicans, 88-77. Fortunately, NBA fans won’t have to wait long as these two are set to face each other again on Feb. 7. Let’s all hope both can be healthy for that tilt.
Davis returned to action on Saturday night and was tasked with taking on the imposing Chicago Bulls frontcourt in New Orleans. Though Davis struggled early, he finished 10-14 from the field for 24 points with eight rebounds and six blocks in the 89-77 victory.
Anthony Davis is one of the most dynamic big men in the league, and he will be turning 21 three weeks after the All-Star Game. Though he will not be participating in the main event of All-Star weekend this year, he will be playing on Friday in the Rising Stars Challenge.
Though one could definitely argue that this should have been the year, it is only a matter of time before Davis takes his talents from All-Star Friday to All-Star Sunday.
Game of the Week: Thunder Drop Heat
The marquee game of the week featured the Miami Heat at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
The Thunder came into the game riding an eight-game win streak and with Kevin Durant as the owner of an 11-game streak of scoring over 30 points. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat limped in at 6-4 in their last 10 games along with Dwyane Wade limited due to injury.
The Heat came out of the gate on fire at both ends of the floor. With sharp shooting and suffocating defense, the Heat built a 22-4 lead. In the second quarter the Thunder defense created some easy baskets on the offensive end, with Jeremy Lamb finishing with 13 points in the quarter. The Thunder were able to take a 55-50 lead into halftime.
This game was not only one between two of the best teams in the league, it was a battle between the two best players as well with LeBron James and Kevin Durant battling.
In the third quarter Durant and James put on a show with each scoring 12 points in their 12 minutes played in the period. At times it was back and forth, with each player answering the other’s basket.
In the end, though, it was Durant’s supporting cast that helped drive OKC with the Thunder bench outscoring Miami’s 39-21. James finished the game with 34 points as the Heat got walloped, 112-95.
Durant finished with 33 points to extend his streak to 12 games and the Thunder win streak to nine games. Though those streaks would be broken later in the week, it was an impressive display on the part of the Thunder and all that they have done without their All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook.
Andrew Bynum Signs With Pacers
On Thursday, the saga of Andrew Bynum added another chapter when the young center was signed by the Indiana Pacers to a one-year, $1 million deal.
Bynum will join the rotation as an alternative to poor-producing Ian Mahinmi and the rapidly aging Luis Scola. Pacers officials expect Bynum to join the team soon, though. Bynum will only join the rotation as a full participant when he is cleared by team doctors.
Bynum’s injury risk and perceived attitude issues are certainly liabilities that limited interest in the big man when he hit the free agent market. The Pacers seem to think the risk is worth the reward.
If Bynum can stay on the court and provide quality minutes backing up Roy Hibbert in the playoffs, then the Pacers will consider the move a success. If Bynum stays injured and impetuous, he might hinder this team which seems destined for the conference finals and very possibly more.
Nets' Jason Kidd Coach of the Month
Jason Kidd was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference coach of the month. That is no typo. Jason Kidd is the NBA’s Eastern Conference coach of the month. Considering the whole of Kidd’s tenure in Brooklyn, you are forgiven if you are surprised by this news.
Kidd, at various times of the season, was suspended, delayed a game with his cup-dropping antics, was fined, fired his lead assistant and let his team walk off the court with seconds remaining in a blowout loss to the San Antonio purs only to be forced to call a timeout to bring his squad back to the floor to play out the rest of that night’s humiliation.
But all that was early in the campaign when his team was near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a putrid 10-21 record on New Years Eve. In January, the Nets turned things around going 10-3 in the month with two five-game win streaks that included wins over the Heat, Warriors and Thunder.
With a 20-24 record, the Nets are firmly in the playoff picture in the depleted Eastern Conference. If Kidd can help the Nets climb the standings, he might just earn himself and his team a few more honors before the year is out.
