NBA Power Rankings (Week 19)

1. Golden State Warriors (53-5) [1]
2. San Antonio Spurs (50-9) [2]
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-17) [3]
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-18) [4]
5. Toronto Raptors (39-19) [5]
6. Los Angeles Clippers (38-19) [6]
7. Boston Celtics (35-25) [7]
8. Memphis Grizzlies (34-24) [8]
9. Portland Trailblazers (32-28) [11]
10. Miami Heat (33-26) [9]
11. Atlanta Hawks (33-27) [12]
12. Dallas Mavericks (32-28) [14]
13. Detroit Pistons (31-29) [18]
14. Indiana Pacers (31-28) [10]
15. Charlotte Hornets (30-28) [15]
16. Washington Wizards (28-30) [19]
17. Chicago Bulls (30-28) [13]
18. Utah Jazz (28-30) [16]
19. Houston Rockets (29-30) [17]
20. Orlando Magic (24-30) [20]
21. Sacramento Kings (24-33) [21]
22. Denver Nuggets (23-36) [23]
23. New Orleans Pelicans (23-35) [22]
24. Milwaukee Bucks (24-35) [24]
25. New York Knicks (25-36) [25]
26. Brooklyn Nets (17-42) [27]
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-41) [26]
28. Los Angeles Lakers (11-49) [28]
29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-51) [29]
30. Phoenix Suns (15-44) [30] 

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Follow on Twitter @TheGraygo

NBA Academy Awards

In honor of the 88^th edition of the Academy awards, I have decided to give out Oscars for the best in the NBA. These individuals and organizations have excelled this season and have separated themselves from the competition. Here are the winners of the first annual NBA Academy Awards.
Best Picture: Golden State Warriors
Since the start of the season, the Warriors have been in complete control of the league. After Saturday’s win in Oklahoma City, the Warriors have an NBA best 53-5 record. They have been the most discussed team all year and are most see T.V. every time they play. The Warriors are without a doubt this year’s Best Picture.

Best Actor: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry receives this year’s Best Actor award for a variety of reasons. He has been the best performer on the best team. The catalyst of the Warriors also leads the league in scoring at 30.7 PPG. Curry is nearly impossible to defend due to his ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the court. He is a fan favorite, with patrons showing up early to the game just to watch his warm-up routine. Stephen Curry is the hands down Best Actor.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook could easily be nominated for Best Actor as well as Actor in a Supporting Role. He is critical to the success of the Thunder and is one of the most exciting players in the league. His speed and athleticism are off the charts and he plays with a ferocity that is displayed by few players in the NBA. Westbrook is having a career year with averages of 24.4 PPG, 10.2 APG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.2 SPG. He is shooting a career high 46% from the field and is 2^nd in the league in PER behind Stephen Curry.

Directing: Terry Stotts, Portland Trailblazers Head Coach
And the Oscar goes to…Terry Stotts of the Portland Trailblazers. Coach Stotts has done an incredible job with a young and unproven Trail Blazers team. After losing 4 starters from last year’s squad, Stotts has worked magic to turn the Trailblazers into a playoff team. With the exception of Damian Lillard, the Blazers roster is full of young guys that hadn’t received a lot of playing time prior to this season. Portland is currently tied with Dallas for the 6^th seed in the West, with a record of 31-28. A lot of their success has to do with the way Stotts has handled his young roster.

Cinematography: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are dominating this season’s NBA Academy Awards. Arguably the most exciting team to watch in the history of the league, the award for cinematography is a no brainer. Their smooth ball movement and long range shooting is a thing of beauty. As you watch the Warriors in transition you will without a doubt agree that Golden State deserve the Oscar for best cinematography.

Foreign Language Film: San Antonio Spurs
The best Foreign Language Film goes to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are consistently loaded with players from around the world. Their scout team does an excellent job of bringing guys in from across the seas and integrating them into their system. Foreign language players on the Spurs roster include Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Tony Parker (France), Boris Diaw (France), and Boban Marjanovic (Serbia).

Writing (Original Screenplay): Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors GM
The Raptors have really improved their play from a year ago. A lot of this has to do with the small moves made in the off-season to solidify their bench. A year ago, Toronto had a bench unit that was mainly offensive minded. Players like Amir Johnson and Greivis Vasquez played key roles in the Raptors success. After letting them go over the summer, the Raptors chose to go with a more defensive minded approach. They brought in DeMarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo, and Luis Scola to provide a stronger defensive and veteran presence. The moves have clearly benefited the team, as the Raptors have the 2^nd best record in the East at 39-18.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Kobe Bryant
There are plenty of players that deserve this award, but none more than Kobe Bryant. Kobe has been in the spotlight all season while going on his farewell tour. The fans of rival teams have embraced him and he has reciprocated the love for the fans that used to despise him. It has been a strange transformation for Kobe, but he has displayed a tremendous amount of growth this year, despite playing for one of the worst teams in the league. Kobe is a 5 time champion, 2 time finals MVP, 1 time league MVP, 18 time All-Star, 15 time All-NBA performer, and 12 time All-Defense performer. On top of these accomplishments he is a 2 time scoring champion, the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and more importantly the leading scorer in the history of the Lakers franchise. Kobe will go down as one of the greatest players of all time and one of the games fiercest competitors.

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Follow on Twitter @TheGraygo

This Week in the NBA

Marc Gasol Officially Out for the Season- The Grizzlies have officially announced that Gasol’s season is over. This is more of a formality considering the broken foot Gasol suffered two weeks ago. It is a tough blow to take for a Grizzlies team with high expectations and a bunch of expiring contracts. The Grizzlies are currently 5^th in the west and are 5 games up on the 9^th place Jazz. Memphis is inclined to remain in a playoff spot, because the Nuggets own the rights to the Grizzlies 1^st round pick if Memphis misses the postseason (Top 5 and 15-30 protected). Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace expects Gasol to make a full recovery.

Anderson Varejao Joins the Warriors- This sounds a lot bigger than it really is. The Warriors don’t really need Varejao. Sure he is still a capable player and the Warriors can plug him into Ezeli’s spot until Festus returns from injury, but I don’t see him making a significant difference in their playoff run. However the move was smart. The Spurs and Thunder were said to have interest in the Brazilian center and anything to hurt those teams benefits the Warriors. The Warriors will most likely try to get some intel from Varejao in terms of Cavs game plans, but those will only be useful if the teams meet in the finals. The move is great for Varejao, as he still has a chance to get a ring.

Jimmy Butler’s Status- Jimmy Butler has now been sidelined since February 6^th and has missed six consecutive games. The Bulls have gone 2-4 in the span, 2-5 if you include the game in which he got injured against the Nuggets. Butler, the Bulls leading scorer and team leader has averaged over 22 ppg this year and his absence on both sides of the ball has been noted. The Bulls have dropped all the way back to the 8^th seed in the east and are at risk of missing the playoffs if they don’t get it together. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times reported that Bulls Coach Fred Hoiberg estimates Butler is still a couple weeks away from making his return. Couple that with Mirotic, who could be out for even longer the Butler and the 29-26 Bulls are in serious trouble.

Motiejunas and Thornton Trade Voided- The Pistons were one of the few teams that made multiple moves before the deadline. The Tobias Harris trade was definitely the bigger move, but the acquisition of Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton was intended to solidify their bench. Thornton was supposed to provide an offensive spark for the second unit, while D-Mo (a restricted free agent) was brought in to build for the future. But the trade crumbled after Detroit’s medical staff declared that D-Mo has a back injury that they see as a long term issue. This hurts both teams. Detroit doesn’t get the sharp shooting Thornton and the project in D-Mo and Houston won’t get the first round pick from Detroit. The trade was going to take the Rockets under the luxury tax line, but will now be forced to pay the penalty.

Grayson Gold-Garvey, On Twitter @TheGraygo

NBA Power Rankings (Week 18)

After a thrilling All-Star weekend and a few days of rest, the league is back to playing competitive basketball. And it was an awesome weekend. Friday's shootout in Portland was must see T.V. and could be a preview of a first round match-up between the Warriors and the Blazers. Lillard proved why he was this year's biggest All-Star snub by dropping 51 on one of the league's best defenses. Portland followed up their dominant performance over Golden State with a key win over Utah. Portland gained a game on 9th placed Utah and was also able to clinch the season series 3-1. The tie breaker could be big down the stretch as the two teams are fighting for a playoff spot. Portland was this week's big winner in the power rankings, moving up 4 spots.

The big loser in this week's ranking was Detroit. The Pistons have struggled mightily this month, losing 8 of 10 including their last 5 contests. The Pistons are attempting to integrate Tobias Harris into their system and while it has worked on offense, the defense has been a disaster. Detroit gave up 59 points and 20 rebounds to Anthony Davis on Sunday in a loss to the heavily injured Pelicans. The Pistons need to turn it around fast if they want to make the playoffs.
(Brackets indicate prior ranking)

1. Golden State Warriors (49-5) [1]
2. San Antonio Spurs (47-9) [2]
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (40-14) [4]
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-14) [3]
5. Toronto Raptors (36-18) [5]
6. Los Angeles Clippers (36-19) [6]
7. Boston Celtics (33-24) [7]
8. Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) [8]
9. Miami Heat (31-24) [9]
10. Indiana Pacers (30-25) [11]
11. Portland Trailblazers (29-27) [15]
12. Atlanta Hawks (31-26) [10]
13. Chicago Bulls (29-26) [12]
14. Dallas Mavericks (30-27) [13]
15. Charlotte Hornets (29-26) [18]
16. Utah Jazz (27-28) [14]
17. Houston Rockets (28-28) [17]
18. Detroit Pistons (27-29) [16]
19. Washington Wizards (25-29) [20]
20. Orlando Magic (24-30) [19]
21. Sacramento Kings (23-31) [23]
22. New Orleans Pelicans (22-33) [24]
23. Denver Nuggets (22-34) [21]
24. Milwaukee Bucks (23-33) [25]
25. New York Knicks (24-33) [22]
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-39) [26]
27. Brooklyn Nets (15-41) [27]
28. Los Angeles Lakers (11-46) [28]
29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-47) [29]
30. Phoenix Suns (14-42) [30]

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Follow on Twitter @TheGraygo

Looking Ahead

With the second half of the NBA season underway we at Sideline Sports Reports break down some of the more important things to keep an eye on in the final 30 games.

MVP Race: Is this a runaway race with Stephen Curry leading the way? Or can someone like LeBron James or Russell Westbrook make a big enough splash in the final 30 games. Curry is leading the league in scoring at almost 30 points per game and is the best player on the best team. A team that is also taking aim at 73 wins and another NBA title. The 27-year old Curry is entering his prime which is a scary thought for the rest of the league and adding another MVP is well in his reach. Sleeper Picks: LeBron James and Kevin Durant. 

Three team race?: When you really breakdown the NBA there are realistically three teams that can win an NBA title; the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and San Antonio Spurs. But can anyone else make a run? What about Oklahoma City? The Clippers? In the East, the Toronto Raptors are just 4 games back of the Cavs but are they really a threat? It's not likely. Can anyone at the bottom potentially knock off the Cavs in the first round? Again, it's not likely. If that 8th seed ends up being the Chicago Bulls and Jimmy Butler is healthy they could provide a hurdle for LeBron and company. Sleeper Teams: Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Difference Maker: Every team has one of these players. Every team has that player who when it comes playoff time is making those clutch shots or making that defensive stop. Last year in the Finals Andre Iguodola had the task of guarding LeBron James and he did well enough to grab the Finals MVP. Two years ago Kawhi Leonard was the hero for the Spurs. Who will it be this year? For those three teams, Warriors, Cavaliers, and Spurs, each of them have an MVP that will need to show up as the season unfolds. For Golden State is Harrison Barnes. The Cavaliers will need Kevin Love to, A. Stay healthy and B. make big shots. San Antonio can rely on a few players but Tim Duncan could cement his legacy with an MVP performance and a Finals run.

Kobe's Sendoff: This is sad guys, Kobe Bryant is actually going to be done playing basketball in the NBA after this season is over. I don't care how terrible the Lakers are or how much of an embarrassment they are to the legacy of the purple and gold, Kobe is is still Kobe. As that was apparent by him having his finger dislocated, getting it popped back in, then going back in the game. God I love Kobe. He's the last of a dying breed. The type of player who is all about the game and not the luxury that comes with it off the court. I'm going to enjoy Kobe in these last handful of games while the rest of you compare him with MJ again and again. Can we just say that he's one of the greatest players of all time? And let's add a 'thank you' while we're at it. In case you don't remember what he used to do, here's a little flashback, Kobe Bean Bryant

Stephen Springer, Follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Springs 

All-Star Weekend

This weekend’s All-Star game in Toronto, at the Air Canada Centre, is bound to be special. It is headlined by some of the greatest players of our era and will feature one historic player in his last trip to the All-Star game. That player is Kobe Bryant. It is Bryant’s 18^th and final All-Star game. He has been selected to every All-Star game since 2000. This weekend will be a tribute to his excellence and will be an opportunity for him to showcase his abilities amongst the league’s best for the final time in his illustrious career. It will be great to see what type of tribute the give to the great Kobe Bryant.

Something else to keep an eye on are the four first-time All-Stars playing in Sunday’s game. Those players are Andre Drummond (Detroit), Isaiah Thomas (Boston), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), and Draymond Green (Golden State). Some, if not all, of these players are destined to be perennial All-Stars for years to come. It is always great to see how first time All-Stars react to being on the big stage and playing with the best the game has to offer. A side note is that Pau Gasol has been named to replace teammate Jimmy Butler as an Eastern conference reserve.

Friday, February 12^th

Rising Stars Game (9 P.M., TNT)
The rising stars game features some of the league’s best talent. The teams are composed of the best first and second year players in the NBA. This year marks the second consecutive season where the Rising Stars Game is separated into Team U.S.A. vs Team World. The players to watch this year on Team U.S.A. are Rookie of the Year candidate Karl-Anthony Towns and second year Laker Jordan Clarkson. These two can push the tempo and expect some highlight real dunks by KAT. The World team features the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Kristaps Porzingis, and Emmanuel Mudiay. This team can be highly explosive and Wiggins could elevate Team World to victory. For the 2^nd straight year, I’ll take Team World in this one.

Saturday, February 13^th (8 P.M., TNT)

Skills Challenge
This year’s skill challenge will, for the first time, feature big men showcasing their abilities. That will be interesting, but the chance of a big man out-dribbling and out-shooting point guards is very unlikely. My favorites to compete in the skills challenge are Isaiah Thomas, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Jordan Clarkson. My money is on Isaiah Thomas.

Three Point Contest
The three point contest is loaded this year. Some of the most high-profile players in the league will be taking part in the event. Stephen Curry looks to defend his title, while teammate Klay Thompson looks to take it away from him. Other sharp shooters in the event include J.J. Reddick, Chris Bosh, and James Harden. It’s hard to bet against the best shooter on the planet so Curry gets the nod for the repeat. But keep an eye on Suns rookie Devin Booker.

Dunk Contest
This year’s dunk contest features last year’s champion Zach Lavine, and new comers to the competition Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, and Andre Drummond. Zach Lavine is one of the best high flying dunkers we have ever seen and he will look to defend his title and win the dunk contest his first two years in the league. Andre Drummond is a long shot because of his size while Gordon and Barton have a slight glimpse of hope. I’d take Lavine vs the field here.

Sunday, February 12^th

All-Star Game (8:30 P.M., TNT)
The main event should be a close one this year. Once the hype around Kobe dies down as the game gets underway, we will see the best and brightest the sport has to offer. It will be great to see Paul George back in the game after missing most of last season following his horrific leg injury. The combination of George, LBJ, and Wade will be special. The West seems to have the better team this year, as they often do. I expect the West to win it, due to their insane athleticism and ability to shoot the three ball with Curry, KD, and Klay Thomson. Westbrook will be looking to repeat as All-Star MVP in his first year as a starter. If the West wins, my prediction for MVP is either Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry. Enjoy the festivities.

Grayson Gold-Garvey

Trade Deadline: Buyers and Sellers

With All-Star weekend looming and the trade deadline just a week away, we know some teams are going to make moves. This is the time for general managers to decide whether it is in the best interest of their franchise to be “buyers” or “sellers”. There are a few fringe teams that could go either way as well as some squads that might sit put and avoid making a deal that they may end up regretting down the road. Here are some predictions of what teams could be buyers and sellers and what players could be sporting a different team’s jersey after the All-Star break.

Memphis Grizzlies: (Sellers) The Grizzlies caught a tough break a few nights ago when their best player, Marc Gasol, went down with a broken foot. This looks like a season ending injury for the former defensive player of the year and leaves the Grizzlies frontline vulnerable. The injury couldn’t have hit at a worse time, as the Griz have begun to play their best ball of the season. With their cornerstone out and half of their roster on expiring contracts, it only makes sense for Memphis to look towards the future and move some of their players before losing them to free agency. The Grizzlies goal should be to build around Marc Gasol and bounce back as a contender next year. However, that might require them to move some of their best players.
Trade candidates: Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Courtney Lee, Brandon Wright, Zach Randolph

Cleveland Cavaliers: (Buyers) The Cavs have been clicking lately and for the first time all year they finally have their team healthy. But they have a glaring weakness. Mozgov doesn’t really fit in with Coach Lue’s high pace scheme. If the Cavs manage to make it to the finals and have to face the Warriors, then he can’t play at all. Mozgov served his purpose with the team last year, but it doesn’t appear that he is going to help them win a championship. The Cavs goal should be to move Mozgov in exchange for a talented wing. They could use another”3 and D” guy off the bench, to back up J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. They have reportedly been linked to the Kings and Ben McLemore according to Chris Haynes of Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Possible additions: Courtney Lee, Kevin Martin, Kyle Korver, Ben McLemore, Trevor Ariza

Atlanta Hawks: (Sellers) Trade rumors have swirled around the Hawks for over a month now. They have underachieved this year, sitting 4^th in the East at 31-24. The Hawks, having already lost more games this year than last, could use a shake-up. Their concerns have been growing due to a backlog at point guard with Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder. Teague has regressed this season while Schroder has improved his play. It seems like half the league is after Teague, so Atlanta will have their choice if they decide to deal the former All-Star. Horford is another player on the trade block. With an expiring deal and doubts about resigning him to a max extension, it would make sense to get something back for their stud center.
Possible trade candidates: Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Dennis Schroder, Tim Hardaway Jr.

Portland Trailblazers: (Buyers) The Blazers have been rolling and are currently the 8^th seed in the West. The surprise team has been led by the promising young backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The Blazers have a nice core of young players, but could probably use some help in the frontcourt. Adding another key player could help them increase their playoff seed and avoid playing the Warriors, Spurs, and Thunder in the first round. Greg Monroe could be a player of interest for the Blazers, as they attempted to sign him this past offseason. Monroe would provide an extra spark on offense when the outside shots aren’t falling.
Possible additions: Greg Monroe, Al Horford

Boston Celtics: (Buyers) The Celtics are another young team that has continued to improve. Coach Brad Stevens has Boston once again exceeding expectations. With the exception of Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics are mainly composed of really talented role players. Danny Ainge has been dying to add another star since breaking up the championship core of Garnett and Pierce. With a plethora of first round draft pics, including the Nets unprotected 2016 pick, the Celtics are in a position to make a splash trade. A move could help the Celtics make a deep playoff run.
Possible additions: Al Horford, DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, Tyson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari



Phoenix Suns: (Sellers) This team is the worst. Since losing Eric Bledsoe for the season, the Suns have been a complete dumpster fire. They have fired their coach and have lost 9 straight, going into full tank mode. The next step for the Suns is to trade off their pieces. They have a few good young players that they should hold onto including Brandon Knight, Devon Booker, and Archie Goodwin, but the rest of their roster should be involved in trade discussions. The one player they really need to move is Markieff Morris. Morris has been a distraction since the offseason and was involved in another bench altercation on Wednesday. At this point the Suns will probably have to take pennies on the dollar for Morris, but it will be worth it to get him out of Phoenix.
Trade candidates: Markieff Morris, Tyson Chandler, P.J. Tucker

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Follow on Twitter @TheGraygo