J-Speaks: Holiday Slate on the Hardwood

It is that time of the year again. In less than 24 hours, jolly old St. Nick and his reindeer will be flying across the planet delivering gifts to all who have been nice this year. Families and friends will be exchanging those gifts, creating new memories and moments of love, appreciation and respect that can last a lifetime. Later on in the day, some of the most talented NBA players and teams with aspirations of hoisting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy this June will be on display on ESPN, ABC and TNT.

The first game on the Christmas Day at noon on ESPN features the Washington Wizards (19-8), who are third in the Eastern Conference at the underachieving New York Knicks (5-25), off to their worst start in franchise history.

No team has played more on Dec. 25 than the New York Knicks, who will be making their 51^st appearance.

The 2014-15 edition of the Knicks have left a lump of coal in the stockings of their fans.

They have lost every possible way this season.

The Knicks have lost nine games this season by double-digits.

In games decided by six points or less, they are 3-11. At the Dallas Mavericks (20-10) on Nov. 26^th and versus the Toronto Raptors (22-7), the No. 5 team in the West and the Eastern Conference leaders respectably, they took them to overtime and lost by a combined total of 12 points.

Their one quality victory came at the Cleveland Cavaliers in their home opener and the return of LeBron James 95-90 on Oct.30, which seems like eons ago.

When the Knicks Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson as team president late last season, hired Derek Fisher fresh from being a player on the court a season ago and re-signed Carmelo Anthony (23.7 ppg-5^th NBA, 6.7 rpg) this summer, it was thought that this season was going to be one of ups and downs. There have been way too many low points this season than high ones.

For the Washington Wizards, they have been ascending this season.

First time All-Star a season ago in starting lead guard John Wall (17.8 ppg-leads team, 10.4 apg-2^nd NBA, 2.1 spg-2^nd NBA) has been off the charts with his play and his leadership. He leads all guards in the NBA with eight games of 20-plus points and 10-plus assists and double-doubles with 16, which is tied with forward LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers and center Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic.

His backcourt mate Bradley Beal (15.1 ppg-2^nd team, 46.4 3-Pt.%) who missed the start of the season with an injured wrist has picked up where he left off a season ago.

The addition of veteran swingman Paul Pierce (13.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg) has given this young up and coming team experience, leadership and a clutch performer in big games that they were lacking a season ago.

Starting center Marcin Gortat (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg-leads team, 54.1 FG%), who was re-signed in the off-season has played very well this season as he has garnered 10 double-doubles so far.

The new additions of forwards Kris Humphries (7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Rasual Butler (10.8 ppg, 52.2 FG%, 51.3 3-Pt.%) have added depth and stability for the supporting cast which also consists of Nene (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg), center Kevin Seraphin and Otto Porter, Jr., who has made some serious strides in his second season.

Of their 19 wins so far this season, 14 of them have come against the East in 18 chances. Despite their 99-91 loss versus the Chicago Bulls (19-9) on Tuesday night, Wizards is 13-4 at the Verizon Center this season, representing their best start in years.

They have one victory over the Knicks already this season, a 98-83 output at Madison Square Garden back on Nov. 4.

Pierce and Temple lead the way in that one each scoring 17. Seraphin had 15 points off the bench. Wall had 11 points, seven assists. His understudy veteran guard Andre Miller had 12 points off the bench and forward Drew Gooden was also in double-figures with 10.

The NBA on ABC begins its season at 2:30 p.m. with a match-up of last season’s Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder (13-16), last season’s runner up at the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs (18-11).

When this season began, many thought that these two teams who finished as the top two seeds in the West a season ago with the Spurs as the No. 1 Seed and the Thunder at No. 2. That has not been the case so far in 2014-15.

Reigning 2014 MVP in Thunder forward Kevin Durant missed the first 17 games because of a foot injury.

The team was also without their other All-Star player guard Russell Westbrook, who broke his hand in the second game of the season at the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30, a 93-90 loss. Westbrook missed 14 games as a result.

Since the return of the dynamic duo though, the Thunder went from being out of the playoff picture completely to know being to being just a 1 ½ games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

After seven consecutive wins from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16 and nine victories in their last 10 outings, the Thunder have dropped three of their last four outings. The last loss was a tough one as the Thunder lost 115-111 versus the surging Portland Trail Blazers (23-7) 115-111 in overtime.

After trailing by 11 at intermission, the Thunder stormed out of the gates in the third quarter outscoring Portland 30-19 and they lead 78-91 with 5:04 remaining.

Portland went on 20-7 run, which was capped by All-Star guard Damian Lillard’s three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to square the game at 98-98.

Lillard finished with 40 points, 11 assists and six boards on 11 for 21 from the floor, which included a career-high eight three-pointers in 12 chances. He also went 10 for 11 from the free throw line.

Westbrook, who had 40 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals missed a game-winning three at the end of regulation and fouled out with 1:39 left in overtime.

Westbrook and Lillard became the first two opponents to have a 40-10-5 performance since Hall of Famers and NBA champions Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Clyde Drexler of the Trail Blazers did it in a game back on Mar. 15, 1992, that the Celtics won 152-148 in double overtime. Bird had a triple double of 49 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, while Drexler had 41 points 11 assists and eight rebounds.

Hall of Famer of the Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas, current NBATV analyst and former Denver Nuggets’ guard Alex English accomplished this feet back on Dec. 13, 1983. That contest between the Pistons and Nuggets was the highest scoring game in NBA history as the Pistons won 186-184 in triple overtime. Thomas had 47 points, 17 assists and five rebounds and English also had 47 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.  

In their 114-109 loss at the Golden State Warriors (23-3) last Thursday night Durant, who had 30 points in just 19 minutes in the first half sprained his right ankle late in the half when he stepped on forward Marreese Speights’ foot. While X-rays were negative, Durant has not played since and his status for Thursday’s contest at the Spurs is unknown.

Speaking of the defending NBA champs, prior to their 125-118 victory versus the Los Angeles Clippers (19-10) on Monday night, the Spurs have lost four games in a row. Two of those setbacks were in triple overtime, where they became the first team since the 1951 then Baltimore Bullets to play consecutive games that went triple overtime.

The first came at the hands of the Southwest Division rival Memphis Grizzlies (21-7) 117-116 a week ago.

Grizzlies’ starting center Marc Gasol, who had 26 points and nine boards sent the contest into the first overtime by banking in a three-pointer at the end of regulation. Randolph had 26 points and 21 rebounds. Reserve swingman Vince Carter had 18 points, hitting 5 for 8 from three-point territory and guard Mike Conley had 14 points, 10 assists and eight boards.

The second triple overtime loss came at the hands of the Trail Blazers 129-119, who beat the Spurs for the second time in a four-day span.

Lillard scored 26 of his career-high 43 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, going 16 for 29 floor the floor, including 4 for 9 from three-point range. Aldridge had 32 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

A big reason for the Spurs struggles in recent games has been the fact they have been without some of their key people. Starting forward Kawhi Leonard (15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) has been sidelined because of a torn ligament in his hand and right now there is no timetable for his return.

Starting guard Tony Parker (16.5 ppg-leads team, 5.3 apg), who had been sidelined the last handful of games because of left hamstring injury returned to the lineup losing and scored 26 points on 11 for 18 shooting on Monday night versus the Clippers.

The Spurs as a team got back on track as well Monday night with season-highs of the aforementioned 125 points, shooting 63.3 percent from the field and producing 37 assists. Their 56.5 percent accuracy from the three-point line (13-23) was their second best output of the season.

The one silver lining through the Spurs four straight losses has been the play of All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan (16.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg-leads team, 2.3 bpg-4^th NBA).

In the triple overtime loss versus the Grizzlies six days ago, the five-time champion had 23 points, 16 boards, five assists and three blocks, but went just 5 for 15 from the free throw line. The Spurs as a team went just 13 for 27 from the charity stripe for 48.1 percent, which cost them in the end.

Against the Trail Blazers last Friday night, Duncan had 32 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and four blocks in the loss.

Another player who showed out in the Spurs triple overtimes losses was guard Danny Green. He had 25 points, seven boards and five blocks versus the Grizzlies, while going 9 for 17 from the field, including 7 for 13 from three-point range. Green followed that up with 27 points and 10 boards going 6 for 9 from three-point land against the Trail Blazers.

One of the major reasons that the Spurs have been able to play at a consistent level the past few seasons is the fact that they have been able to utilize their entire roster. Head coach Gregg Popovich has not been afraid to sit some of his older players to keep them fresh during the season and for them to be at their best at playoff time.

In the last three seasons when either Duncan, Parker or Ginobili (12.9 ppg, 4.9 apg) have sat out a game because of injury or to get rest, the Spurs have won 70.3, 69.4 and 75 percent of their games respectably. This season, they have won just four of those games in 10 tries.

With that being said, these are the defending champs. While the Golden State Warriors, Trail Blazers, Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Clippers may be ahead of them in the standings and the Thunder creeping up behind them, the Spurs are going to do what is in their best interest to give themselves the best chance to repeat.

The most anticipated match-up of the day will be the 5 p.m. contest between the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-10) at the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat (13-16).

The main story line in this one is the return of four-time MVP LeBron James (25.2 ppg-2^nd NBA, 5.2 rpg, 7.6 apg-leads team) to the place he went from great player into back-to-back NBA champion.

James’ return to Cleveland teaming up with All-Star lead guard Kyrie Irving (20.0 ppg, 46.7 FG%, 37.5 3-Pt.%) and All-Star forward Kevin Love (16.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg-leads team), who came over this summer from the Minnesota Timberwolves has had its ups and downs.

There have been nights where the Cavs have looked like the best team in the East and then there have been nights where they looked lost and confused, especially at the defensive end.

With such a group of talent, the Cavs are ranked just 14^th in points allowed at 99.6; 25^th in opponent’s field goal percentage at 46.9 and 25^th in rebounds per game at 40.9.

While head coach David Blatt may be new to the NBA, his players have been around the block before. At some point though, they have to take it upon their shoulders to string some consistent play together on both ends and become the championship contender we all envision them to be.

Since their 5-2 start to the season, they have lost 13 of their last 21 games, which includes a four-game losing streak from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7.

A big reason for the team’s struggles is that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have missed time because of injury. Bosh (21.6 ppg-2^nd team, 8.2 rpg-leads team) is currently on the mend the last five games because of injured calf. He will not play versus the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, but hopes to return for versus the Cavs on Thursday.

Wade (22.8 ppg-leads team, 5.5 apg, 3.8 rpg), who had missed eight games early in the season because of a hamstring issue, has been playing well lately as he is back to being the featured player in the Heat offense this season with James back in Cleveland. In the last 10 games, he has averaged 24.2 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds.

One of the big problems that the Heat have had this season is the inability to get consistent scoring from the rest of the supporting cast.

While prized free agent Luol Deng (14.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) has been consistent and starting guard Mario Chalmers (12.5 ppg) has been steady, the team has been unable to get any consistent offensive punch from Shawne Williams (8.4 ppg, 44.0 3-Pt.%), Norris Cole, Chris Andersen, Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts.

McRoberts, who signed as a free agent this off-season had surgery on his knee on Monday and according to reports could be out the rest of the season and Andersen has recently returned from a sprained ankle.

The one thing that has been consistent from the Heat, has been their play at the defensive end ranking 8^th points allowed at 97.8 per contest.

The most anticipated moment of this contest is how the home crowd of American Airlines Arena will greet James. Will they cheer him at the start for helping to guide along with Wade, Bosh and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra to four straight Finals appearances and two consecutive NBA titles in 2012 over the Thunder in six games and the Spurs in 2013 in seven games or will they just boo him?

The NBA on TNT doubleheader will begin with two teams head in different directions as the Los Angeles Lakers (9-19) take on the Chicago Bulls (19-9) at 8 p.m.

For the Lakers, the only positive thing that has happen for them this season was when All-Star guard and former MVP Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan to become the 3^rd all-time leading scorer in NBA history nine days ago in the Lakers 100-94 win at the Minnesota Timberwolves (5-21).

Since a three-game winning streak from Dec. 9-Dec. 14, which included a 112-110 overtime win at the Spurs, the Lakers have lost three consecutive contest at the Indiana Pacers (10-19) 110-91 back on Dec. 15; versus the Thunder 104-103 this past Friday night and this past Sunday at the Sacramento Kings (12-16) 108-101.

For the Bulls, this season has been about a number of things.

For starters, the health and return to form of 2011 MVP Derrick Rose.

After sustaining to very serious knee injuries over the past two seasons, Rose has been trying to get back to the form that made him one of the best in the league and the Bulls a title contender.

At the start of this season, Rose was in and out of the lineup because of minor injuries and illness.

He has been in the lineup on a consistent basis recently and he showed on Monday night versus the Toronto Raptors (22-7) that he is rounding into form.

Rose scored 15 of his team-high 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat the Raptors for the second time this season 129-120.

Bulls’ guard Jimmy Butler, a Most Improved Player candidate had 27 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals going 7 for 16 from the field and 11 for 11 from the free-throw line. Back-up guard Aaron Brooks had 17 points off the bench. Starting center Joakim Noah (9.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg) had 14 points and prized free agent forward Pau Gasol had 14 points, nine boards and three blocks. Rookie Nikola Mirotic had 12 points and Taj Gibson (12.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) had 10 and seven rebounds off the bench.

In the Bulls’ 99-91 victory at the Wizards on Tuesday night, their fourth in a row, Rose led the way again with 25 points on 10 for 17 from the field. Gasol had 18 points, nine boards and two blocks. Brooks had 13 points six assists. Gibson had 12 points and seven boards and Butler had 11 points and six rebounds.

Besides having a healthy Rose (17.5 ppg, 5.0 apg) back, the Bulls are a more balance team then they have been over the past couple of seasons. While this team has been and always will be a defensive team first and foremost, especially under head coach Tom Thibodeau; they have become a team that can consistently score, whether it is inside or out.

The Bulls are eighth in the league in scoring per contest at 103.2, the highest in the Thibodeau era. They are seventh in the league in three-point percentage at 36.7 percent and 12^th in assists per game at 22.0.

The editions of Gasol (18.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg-leads team, 2.0 bpg-leads team), Brooks (11.1 ppg, 47.6 FG%, 44.7 3-Pt.%) and Mirotic (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 40.8 3-Pt.%), the emergence of Butler (22.1 ppg-leads team, 6.2 rpg, 1.6 spg-leads team) at the offensive end to go along with the mainstays Noah, Gibson, Mike Dunleavy (10.0 ppg, 44.5 FG%, 40.8 3-Pt.%), Kirk Hinrick (7.6 ppg, 38.0 3-Pt.%), the Bulls are the favorites to win the East. If not now, when?

The night cap will feature Pacific Division rivals who have gone from the outhouse of the Western Conference to championship contenders as the West leading Golden State Warriors (23-3) take on the back-to-back Pacific Division champion Clippers.

This is a rematch of last season’s first round series when the No. 3 Seeded Clippers defeated the No. 6 Seeded Warriors in a thrilling, electric high tempo seven-game series.

When the Warriors relieved current NBA on ESPN/ABC color analyst Mark Jackson of his head coaching duties and replaced him with new head coach Steve Kerr, many asked why?

Well so far the transition has been seamless as the Warriors are a top the West off to their best start in franchise history.

Prior to their 115-105 loss at the Lakers on Tuesday night, the Warriors had won a franchise best 16 straight contest and 18 wins in their last 19 games. That also included a franchise best 10 straight wins away from ORACLE Arena.  

The Warriors winning are from being the most efficient offense and defensive team in the league.

They are third in points per game at 108.1 and 11th in points allowed at 98.7. They are first in opponent’s field goal percentage surrendering 42.2 percent shooting and in field goal percentage at 48.1 percent. The team is tied for fifth in the league in three-point shooting connecting on 37.5 percent of their attempts and tied with the Mavericks for fourth in three-pointers made at 9.7 per contest. There are ranked fourth in opponent’s three-point percentage giving up just 31.9 percent.

On top of that, the Warriors are fifth in the NBA in rebounding per game at 45.3 per contest and they lead the NBA in block shots per game at 6.5.

The back court tandem of All-Star Stephen Curry (23.4 ppg-leads team, 7.7 apg-leads team, 38.6 3-Pt.%) and Klay Thompson (21.6 ppg-career-high, 45.6 FG%, 44.4 3-Pt.%) also known as “The Splash Brothers” have been incredible this season.

The team has gone to another level thanks to career seasons from Draymond Green (12.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Marreese Speights (11.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Harrison Barnes (10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 51.4 FG%, 41.5 3-Pt.%) has had a bounce back season where he is the starting small forward.

New Sixth Man Andre Igoudala, Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa have been solid off the bench for the Warriors this season.

The only concern for the team this season has been the health of forward David Lee who has played in just one game this season prior to his return from a hamstring injury in the Warriors’ 128-108 win versus the Kings this past Monday night and center Andrew Bogut (7.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg-leads team, 2.2 bpg-5^th NBA), who has been missing in action because of a knee problem.

The aforementioned Clippers as mentioned have won the Pacific Division for two straight seasons and have made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, which has only happened once in franchise history, 1974-76 when they were the Buffalo Braves. Last season, they won a franchise record 57 games a season ago.

The 2014-15 Clippers have been inconsistent to say the least this season.

They managed to pull things together with 11 wins in 12 tries, which included a nine-game winning streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 10.  

The engine of this high flying car is All-Star tandem of forward Blake Griffin (23.1 ppg-leads team, 7.7 rpg, 4.7 apg) and guard Chris Paul (18.1 ppg, 9.7 apg-4^th NBA, 2.0 spg-5^th NBA).

Anchoring the paint on both ends is DeAndre Jordan (9.3 ppg), who leads the league in rebounding at 13.4 rpg, field goal percentage at 70.5 percent and is second in block shots at 2.4 per contest.

The Clippers feature one of the very best shooters in the league in J.J. Redick (16.1 ppg, 46.4 FG%, 42.8 3-Pt.%) and Sixth Man extraordinaire Jamal Crawford (16.1 ppg).

With talented players like this lead by one of the best coaches in the game in Glenn “Doc” Rivers, it begs the question, why are the Clippers, who have championship aspirations have been so up and down.

For starters some of the other role players like Matt Barnes (8.8 ppg), Jordan Farmar (4.6 ppg), Spencer Hawes, Glen Davis and Hedo Turkoglu have been inconsistent with their production.

On top of that, the Clippers have inconsistent at the defensive end of the court.

They rank just 21^st in points allowed at 101.3; 20^th in opponent’s field goal percentage at 46.3 percent; 28^th in rebounding at 40.2 and 18^th in opponent’s three-point percentage surrendering 35.5 percent.

This five-game slate of Christmas Day games plans to be a very special one.

Game one will feature a team on the rise in the Wizards against a team that hopefully will at least make this game competitive as they will be playing for the 51 time on St. Nick’s day.

Game 2 will feature last year’s Western Conference Finals participants in the Thunder and the defending champion Spurs trying re-establish themselves in the loaded West.

Game 3 between the Cavs and Heat will have a lot of fireworks before as LeBron returns to the place he became a champion.

The Lakers at the Bulls is a game where Bryant, playing his 17^th game on Christmas Day, will try to lead the Lakers, who have been playing on Christmas day since 1999, to a victory over one of the top teams in the East.

The nightcap between the Warriors and Clippers will feature two teams who not too long ago could only dream of winning a title. Now they are two arch rivals that have high octane offense and some of the top players in the game who bring it at the offensive end.

Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the games.  

Information and statistics are courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba; 12/24/14 2:30 a.m. edition of “NBA Tonight” on ESPN 2 with Cassidy Hubbarth and Bruce Bowen; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Clippers; www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/19920315BOS.html; www.sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neel/051213.