May 2 2013

NBA Nation Australia’s Roundtable – Featuring Tom Read, Alex Young and Terry Goldfain

It’s been some time since our last roundtable, so this week we’ve decided to bring in a couple of new contributors as well as a familiar face or two to discuss some of the recent hot topics in the NBA. We’ll be looking at everything from the Warriors playoff hopes, the Thunder’s challenge without Westbrook, The Knicks chances of taking the East, the Boston Celtics troubles, injures and Jason Collins’ recent news. To kick things off we welcome back Tom Read from the #BelieveTheHype podcast, as well as SidelineAgenda.com contributor and all round sports nut Alex Young, and Houston Rockets/NBA social media commentator Terry Goldfain to the party along with regulars from NBA Nation Australia Nick Caro and Sam Monaghan. Lets go!

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May 2 2013

Portland’s Damian Lillard Named Rookie Of The Year

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Portland Trail Blazers rookie, and 6th overall pick in the NBA Draft Damian Lillard has won the 2012/13 Kia Rookie of The Year Award, the NBA announced this morning. 22 year-old Lillard had a phenomenal year and was considered the clear frontrunner for the honor for the better part of the season, averaging 19 points and 6.5 assists per game over an average of 38 minutes (lead NBA). He was voted as the winner unanimously by a panel of sports journalists totaling 605 votes, nearly double that of second placed Hornets/Pelicans center Anthony Davis. It is the first unanimous vote for the award since Blake Griffin in 2011. Congratulations, Damian Lillard.

Read the NBA’s press release HERE.

Nick C.

Apr 30 2013

Dwight Howard’s Message To Lakers Nation; Where To From Here?

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After yesterday’s embarrassing loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and his untimely ejection from the game early in the third quarter, and what appeared to be a confrontation with GM Mitch Kupchak (later dismissed) Lakers center Dwight Howard finally opened up to the world via Twitter in an attempt to rectify what he felt to be one of the most disappointing seasons of his career. Howard, widely regarded as the league’s best center, was ejected from yesterday’s game following his second technical foul for questioning the officials non-call after what he believed to be a hard foul. In the midst of all this, the Lakers were down by 20 points and Dwight being ejected at this point essentially spelled a loss before the game was even over, and the end of the 2012/13 Lakers season.

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Apr 24 2013

Charlotte Bobcats Fire Mike Dunlap Following 21-61 Season

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In the wake of their disastrous 2012/13 season, the lowly Charlotte Bobcats have fired head coach Mike Dunlap after he took the team to a 21-61 overall record, second only to the Orlando Magic for the NBA’s worst. It was just another pitfall in the long line of seasons in which the Bobcats have been largely known as the NBA’s biggest joke. The Michael Jordan owned franchise cannot seem to get it right now matter how they draft, who their coaching staff is or their leadership group. One need only look to a season ago when coach Paul Silas was ousted after similar results. It really is one of the more disappointing stories in the history of the league and this is just another example of why things simply have to turn around. Whether you are a Bobcats fan or not, you have to feel for the ailing club the further down the spiral they go and wonder, will they ever be a team of importance, or are they just destined to remain bottom feeders, and the laughing stock of the NBA? The search will resume for the Bobcats new coach, and hopefully the person who can lead them out of the darkness and back into the light. Grim. I know.

Dunlap 21-61 2012-13
Paul Silas 32-88 12/2010-4/2012
Larry Brown 88-104 2008-12/2010
Sam Vincent 32-50 2007-08
Bernie Bickerstaff 33-49 2006-07*

Above: Charlotte Bobcats head coaching records (Per ESPN)

Nick C

Apr 24 2013

Breaking: Mike Brown, Cavaliers Reach Tentative Agreement For Head Coaching Role

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After being fired from the role in 2010, following the Cleveland Cavaliers loss in the Eastern Conference semi finals, Mike Brown has been tentatively reinstated as head coach of the team following the firing of Byron Scott late last week. Lasting only 5 games with the Lakers in 2012/13, going 1-4, Brown was let go by the team leaving him open to further coaching opportunities. His record with the Cavaliers was very impressive taking the team to a 272-138 record in his first five seasons in the hot seat and this no doubt played into his hands as Cavs owner Dan Gilbert again exercised his intentions to re-hire Brown. It is unclear of what the impending deal’s parameters are in terms of longevity and payment, but we do know Brown will be charged with the task of leading this under-performing, yet talent-filled team back to relevancy. Brown was fired by the Lakers while still being owed in excess of $6 million, and has been on their payroll ever since. Many are speculating that this signing of Brown by another club will help the Lakers offset the money still owed to him and allow them a considerable amount of financial leg room when it comes to paying their coaches. Current coach Mike D’Antoni is owed a touch over $12 million by the Lakers, and should they decide to part ways with him (something the Lakers have stated would not happen), they would have more money to spend elsewhere. Only time will tell when it comes to the Lakers intentions, but for now it seems as though Mike Brown will attempt to pick up where he left off with his Cavaliers.

Nick C.

Apr 23 2013

J.R. Smith Takes Out Sixth Man of The Year

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The 2012/13 Sixth Man of The Year Award has been a bit of a two horse race for the majority of the season. Jamal Crawford made a fantastic case to take out the honor, having had a career year playing alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin at the Los Angeles Clippers, however it was New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith who voters felt contributed most off the bench for his team during the season. Smith, who has also had a career best year with the Knicks was instrumental in helping the Knicks claim the number two seed in the East behind Miami and has provided serious spark for a team that was looking down the barrel only  a season ago. Smith has always been one of those players that has the ability to be as brilliant as he can be disastrous, but 2012/13 told a different story. While averaging a career best 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, Smith also held his opponents to an average of 12.3ppg while on the floor. His shot selection is something that has always been questionable and hindered his ability to score with fluidity, but he changed that during the course of the season and improved his overall shooting percentage to 47.3% in an average of 30 minutes per game with the Knicks. Going forward it will be interesting to see how Smith progresses, whether he can continue to play at this elite level and where he ends up. Former 6th man James Harden famously left the Thunder for a starting role at Houston before this season started after claiming honors at the end of last season. Will we see something similar in the case of J.R.? It’s hard to tell, but what we do know is that the Knicks have plenty to thank him for considering the success in season 2012/13.

Nick C.

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Above: J.R. Smith shot chart 2012/13

Apr 22 2013

Cavaliers Reach Out To Phil Jackson, Mike Brown In Search of New Coach

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As reported late last week, the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach Byron Scott following the culmination of what would be considered by the club and its fans a rather humiliating, disappointing season. The Cavs have been on a steady decline since the infamous departure of superstar LeBron James in early 2011, and have made every effort to get back to the playoffs by drafting young rookie star Kyrie Irving and re-building what many believe can be a competitive team going forward. This has not been the case recently, and the Cavs finished the 2012/13 season with a lowly 24-58 win/loss record, missing the playoffs and sparking the firing of Scott.

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