End of the Bench, Volume 2.9
Pretty boring week in the NBA, no? Sure, Jeremy Lin buried a game-winner, the Heat pulled off a feat not done in nearly 30 years, the Spurs are forcing their way into the contenders circle, the Blazers lost their best player, Rajon Rondo had a monster triple-double and Carmelo Anthony’s impending return has sparked endless debates about his worthiness as a player. But other than that, nothing to see here, right?
We are officially at the halfway point of the season (more or less anyway), and it’s safe to say we’ve had more than a few surprises. Sure, we knew the Heat, Thunder and Bulls would be good…but the Sixers over the Celtics? We figured the All-Star Game would feature the usual contingency of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce…but did anyone thing they’d be sharing the stage with Roy Hibbert? And we suspected the Knicks would be an interesting storyline, but did we think it would happen when both Carmelo and Amare Stoudemire were sitting out? If you’re overwhelmed by it all – don’t worry. Just relax, grab a seat and we’ll explain it all from the best seat in the house. (more…)
End of the Bench, Volume 2.5
Sadly, the Tim Tebow-powered Denver Broncos train has come to the end of the tracks for the 2011 season, meaning EOTB is now free to focus his full attention on the NBA. And there’s plenty to focus on, what with Dwyane Wade’s health to Oklahoma City’s scorching start to the Celtics’ championship window slamming shut to the surprising 76ers. Even with injuries to a handful of key players, the 2011-12 season is rolling along and has the makings of a good one, with the continued ascension of young stars, as well as the continued excellence of veteran stars.
You certainly don’t want to miss a thing, so go ahead and grab a seat as we make sense of it all from the best seat in the house.
– Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City brass apparently don’t follow ESPN, as they signed Russell Westbrook to a 5-year extension worth an estimated $80 million. Don’t they know that he and Kevin Durant hate each other? Did they miss the week-long Sportscenter blitz that detailed their six-second spat? (more…)
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