Around the NBA

[Quake Griffin]

anyone still think okc will make the playoffs? they lost again tonight and have been kind of choppy as of late.

even when they got KD and westbrook back i was thinking it'd be way too hard to catch up to phoenix. and now phx is still playing quite well and OKC hasn't caught fire the way they needed to in order to catch up.

Yesterday is when I really started to wonder if they would make it. At the time, Phoenix was hanging with the Warriors and OKC had dropped another.

OKC is 14-8 (.636) with Durant . If he doesn't miss any more games and they are able to continue winning at that pace, they'll win 45. If Phoenix maintains their current pace for the rest of the way, they'll win 47.

OKC is 4 games out (only 3 back in the loss column), but lead the season series 2-0 against the Suns. They'll meet in OKC on the 26th and again in Phoenix at the end of March. The tiebreaker could possibly be the difference maker for them. David Kahn (I know, I know) once said that the NBA has a way of "producing some pretty incredible story lines." I already feel that the Thunder get the "benefit of the doubt" more often than not. The Lakers were on the verge of missing the playoffs during the Dwight Howard era, but things just happened to go their way down the stretch. I would not be surprised if things shook out that way for OKC as well.

I'm pulling for them to get in. I would much rather root for Phoenix to make it, but I like the idea of OKC meeting up with GSW in the 1st round. I'd also love for Memphis and San Antonio to square off in the 1st round, but I'm not going to get my hopes up for that.

2 points for the things highlighted.

1) Ahh yes. "Things" started happening. Lest we forget that on the play Kobe Bryant tore his achilles, a foul was called on Harrison Barnes. If ANYBODY can remember that game, it's one of the worst officiated games in the history of the NBA and it certainly caused a stir on this forum and others.

2) Never has the 3 or 4 seed looked SOOOO crispy.

[bulldogcharly]

As terrible as the Thunder have been playing, it's hard to bet against Durant and Westbrook. That team is just too talented to miss the playoffs no matter how much Scott Brooks sucks. Yeah Phoenix is doing well, but I think the Thunder will make a last minute push to grab that 8th seed. Regardless of who grabs that 8th seedthough, it's going to be a tough match up for every team in the first round. I'm hoping the Thunder grab it to give the Warriors hell, but the Pelicans at full strength can also be a tough matchup for the Warriors as well. A healthy holiday is an amazing defender and can give Steph problems and Anthony Davis is honestly the best player in the NBA at this point.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/563189067215433728[/tweet]

It's been awhile since there's been a Penn State player in the NBA so I thought I would post this here. Tim Frazier has been tearing up the D-League for the Maine Red Claws and has had two triple doubles on the season. He was also selected for the East in the D-League all star game. The 76ers are in need of a backup PG due to some injuries, so he's getting a shot. My hope is that he can stick with the 6ers as a backup, but we'll see.

Here's the info on Tim Frazier. He's a slim 6'1 PG from Houston, Texas. He spent 5 years at Penn State because he tore his Achilles in his 4th year and was able to come back and play in his 5th season at Penn State. Tim was a huge piece in Penn State's run to the 2011 NCAA Tournament and that's when he started to emerge. In the next year, his junior season, he really broke out and led Penn State in just about every statistical category. He was also named All-Big10 in his junior season which is rare at Penn State.

Sorry for the narrative, I'm just excited for the guy and for Penn State basketball!

[Sofia]

Of course you never wish or celebrate injury on someone, but the Adams broken hand might be fortunate for the Clippers down the stretch.

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/565387849806401536[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/565388213255438337[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/565389181367889920[/tweet]

[thanumba2clippersfan]

OK so this will be my last post about my man Tim Frazier on our forum. He played in 3 games for the 6ers and started in 2 of them, here are his stats: 5 ppg, 8.7 ast, 4.7 reb, 4.3 to, 1 stl, 35.7 mpg.

MCW has been hurt for the 6ers so Frazier got a ton of minutes to show what he can do. This is only a 10 day contract, so I don't know if the 6ers want him back. If not I say we go for it, he would be an excellent 3rd PG for us. He's quick, a good passer, and a pretty good defender. He doesn't really look for his shot and he really needs to improve on his jumper. Again with Doc this is probably wishful thinking but this would be a way to add a young player to the squad and see how he develops.

[mkwest]

NBA.com has a tool where you can carve out your own NBA Mt. Rushmore.

For example...

[Neddy]

[Neddy]

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/567176896040169472[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/567176756596338688[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/567181567714660352[/tweet]

[Angel strike1]

he can get more minutes with clippers and be with a better team. and LA vs texas. No contest

[Quake Griffin]

does he play defense now?
protect the rim at all?

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/567185082210062338[/tweet]

It would be nice if Brooklyn were to buyout KG before Amar'e clears waivers.

[nickhx2]

I like that tweet because i can kind of imagine doc sitting in his chair realizing what a dumbass he's been for the past couple years.

GM: do you have any first-rounders?

doc: well, no i traded them all away

GM: ok do you have any young players?

doc: well, no i traded those ones away too and when i get them i have no idea what they can do since i don't play them

GM: so basically you traded away everything of value and let yourself get swindled by danny ainge who knew you were desperate to trade for your son when you could have just waited and had him for almost nothing.

doc: i'm new to this don't judge




maybe that'll learn ya, doc.

[MartinToVaught]

We have no trade assets, and since we've proven to not be a surefire contender, we've lost our appeal to ring-chasing vets. Unless we take a risk on a guy like Larry Sanders, I don't see any moves being made.

[TucsonClip]

Redick and Wilcox works for Afflalo

[TucsonClip]

Redick and Wilcox works for Afflalo

[TucsonClip]

Redick and Wilcox works for Afflalo

[LACtdom]

It's interesting to see what we do. Do we take a gamble on Sanders with his bad attitude or do we play it safe with the over the hill Stat?

I want Afflalo if we don't have to part with JJ or Barnes.

[MartinToVaught]

If we're trading Redick, we'd better be getting Wilson Chandler in return, not another 2-guard who's overrated.