Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 at 10:51 am  |  95 responses

Post Up: Rising Up

Durant and Westbrook took out the Clips, while Kyrie Irving dropped 40 on the Celtics.

by Daniel Friedman / @DFried615

On a slow night in the NBA, Kyrie Irving put up 40 in a win over Boston, the Pistons outmanned the Magic, and Kevin Durant overpowered the Chris Paul-less Clippers.

The Cavaliers entered the game Tuesday night after having acquired three players and a future first-round draft pick from Memphis earlier in the day. Cleveland picked up Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby in exchange for forward Jon Leuer. The addition of Speights seems to be the Cavs’ short-term answer for Anderson Varejao, who will miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his right lung. Memphis made the deal in hopes of shedding enough salary to keep Rudy Gay in place, for now at least.

Paul is out nursing an injured right kneecap, he’s played sparingly the past few games, and if the Clippers are going to compete it’s obvious they’ll need their leader suited up. Although the Clippers are 3-1 without Paul this season, they’re 29-9 with him on the floor.

Cavaliers 95, Celtics 90

Kyrie Irving has proved time and again that he’s clutch coming down the stretch. Irving scored 15 points in the fourth quarter dashing to the basket countless times en route to the Cleveland Cavaliers (11-32) second straight win at home.

Irving finished the game with 40 points and 5 assists while setting a career high in field goals made, shooting 16-for-24 on the night. Tristan Thompson added 21, Dion Waiters put up 7, and Alonzo Gee notched 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Rajon Rondo led the Boston Celtics (20-21) with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. Kevin Garnett scored 16, and Jared Sullinger added 12 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Paul Pierce struggled offensively, scoring only 12 points on 3-for-15 shooting.

The game came down to the final minute of play, with Irving pulling out the win for the Cavs. With 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and the Cavs up 88-87, Irving got the feed from Thompson and made the driving layup on Pierce with no real resistance from the Celtics. Irving would go on to score the final 7 points for the Cavs, securing the win for the struggling Cleveland club.

Pistons 105, Magic 90

The Detroit Pistons (16-25) pulled away from the struggling Orlando Magic (14-27) in the third quarter and never looked back. The Pistons outmanned the Magic with their trio of Jason Maxiell, Andre Drummond, and Greg Monroe. All three scored in double figures.

Maxiell and Drummond both notched 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Monroe put up 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Brandon Knight led the Pistons in scoring with 18 points. Will Bynum came off the bench with 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.

JJ Redick paced the Magic with 26 points on 9-for-10 shooting, hitting 5-of-6 from three-point range. Jameer Nelson chipped in 14 points, 9 assists but shot an abysmal 2-for-10 from downtown.

The Pistons edged the Magic in both offensive rebounding (16-6) and bench scoring (48-29) which made all the difference.

Bucks 110, 76ers 102

Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova combined for 52 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks (22-18) to a 110-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (17-25) at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee Tuesday night.

Despite edging the Bucks in bench scoring 47-26, the 76ers weren’t able to fight back in the fourth quarter. Starting out down 71-83, Philly couldn’t cut the deficit to any lower than five with Jennings and Monta Ellis securing the lead with clutch free throws down the stretch.

Ilyasova led the Bucks in scoring with 27 points, Jennings added 25, and Ellis contributed 18 points and 10 assists in the winning effort. Mike Dunleavy had 11, and John Henson chipped in 9 off the bench. The Bucks shot 51.9 percent from the floor, almost ten points higher than their season average of 43.2.

Thunder 109, Clippers 97

The Los Angeles Clippers (32-10) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-9) met up in a battle of the best out West in the Staples Center. With the Thunder and Clippers sitting atop the League standings, it seemed like the perfect matchup on a slow day in the NBA.

But Los Angeles entered the game shorthanded, missing their star point guard, Chris Paul, who has been out nursing a right knee injury. Without Paul, the Clippers would need to step up in the absence of their leading man. Unfortunately, Blake Griffin was the only one to hear the call to arms, registering a team-high 31 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists on the way to a 109-97 loss.

Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder with a game-high 32 points to complement his 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Russell Westbrook added 26 points, 6 rebounds, and Serge Ibaka dropped 17 while grabbing 9 boards off the glass.

After starting the game close through the first half, the Thunder began to pull away in the second. Entering the third quarter the score was 49-45, close enough for the Clippers to sneak their way back in. But the Thunder managed to connect on 15 three-pointers in this game, with a barrage coming in the fourth quarter. OKC shot 55.6 percent from downtown, and also lit it up from the field, shooting 52.6 percent.

Defensive lapses and poor shooting doomed the Clippers in this one. Los Angeles shot a putrid 25 percent from three-point range, while only connecting on 46.4 percent from the field. Jamal Crawford, who added 14 points off the bench, shot only 6-for-18 from the floor, while Eric Bledsoe chipped in 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Chris Paul is listed as day-to-day and has only missed four games due to injury this season.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

← Older Comments
  • Max

    Ah good old SLAM, Nbk and Lake arguing over Lebron VS KD.

  • Max

    WHOOW #Cut4Bieber!

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    he is close. but he’s definitely not better or equal.

  • RKJ92

    LeBron’s better by far.. KD scores more (but barely) and LeBron is more efficient in his offense though an arguement could be made. Offense aside though LeBron is an elite defender and has the ability to control the game on both ends of the floor where KD has not reached that level yet.. LeBron also makes any team he has better by getting the worst of players to play at the peak of their abilities, Kevin Durant is amazing but he’s not on LeBron’s level at all yet.. I don’t even think this is debatable.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Junior-Taylor/100003121138419 Junior Taylor

    I wouldn’t go that far. The gap is closer than you think. KD’s playmaking and defense have all improved, therefore closing the gap between the two. LeBron is still the best but KD is a close 2nd.

  • LakeShow

    Naw, it was like 2 years ago. I admitted to Bron being better than KB a few years back. I just felt KB was doing some things to keep himself in the debate.
    Chris Paul is as good a defender as LeBron is. Not as versatile but as good at guarding PG’s as LeBron is vs SF’s. He averages 18ppg and 10 apg. Meaning that he is playing as good of defense as LeBron and is scoring at a higher clip using your assist equal at least 2 points created point.
    So is Chris Paul better than LeBron? He is, by that same token.
    Let me guess, no, because he doesn’t rebound as much?

  • LakeShow

    This sounds very reasonable.
    I happen to think they are on par, but it sounds like you are giving credit where it is due.

  • Redd

    Except KD defends multiple positions, CP3 can’t do that, so the point is very invalid.

    Plus CP3 has not been good at Ding up Rose & Wbrook(matchup) I’d say has been meh.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    well, this was one year ago,

    .
    LakeShow • a year ago
    “They are phenomenal talents, but D-Wade has far more basketball skills than LeBron and he has a killer mentallity. D-Wade>LeBron.” – and correct me if i’m wrong, you still believe Kobe is better than Wade right?

    .

    anyway, onto the rest of your hublobbin,

    .”Chris Paul is as good a defender as LeBron is. Not as versatile but as good at guarding PG’s as LeBron is vs SF’s.” – lol, yep, because in basketball, player’s are velcroed to their opponent. That is a perfect argument. Let’s also ignore the big PG’s that Paul struggles with, or the periods during the game when he is placed on the worse offensive guard in order to conserve energy. Perfect basketball argument that is.

    .

    And with that being said, considering Chris Paul scores 16 points a game with 10 assists, while LeBron scores 26 points with 7 assists you are completely wrong on all accounts. And are frankly taking wild stabs at finding a legitimate argument. Which is wasting my time.
    .
    Try again.

  • RKJ92

    LOL ouch

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    he’s just taking stabs in the dark. his whole comment was false and irrational.

  • RKJ92

    Fair enough, not hating that response.
    –
    I think a big deciding factor will again be their production in the playoffs when they’re tested against the best, my money is on LeBron the same as it was last year.

  • LakeShow

    LeBron is never conserved on the defensive end?

    Strange.

    I recall Battier taking all difficult covers for most the games.

    Sorry, I was looking at Paul’s per 36 minute production.

    He scores 16.6ppg, in 9 minutes less a game played than Bron.

    So during Paul’s years at 20 ppg and 10 apg was he a better scorer than LeBron? Yes, by your own measurement.

    Try again.

  • DeMacksBack

    You have a legit argument and I’m not saying you are wrong. But LeBron doesn’t have a stake, he actually owns the best player claim. KD is the second best player in the league and in the world, but he just isn’t as well rounded as LeBron.

    “I’m not opposed to you saying that LeBron ‘could’ be a better scorer than Durant. But he’s not, just like Durant is not a better play maker”. This is a pretty good claim, but I’m going to have to prove you wrong. LeBron is actually a better scorer, even though stats say otherwise. This is how he is a better scorer. He can score in more ways than Durant. LeBron can shoot the 3 at 40% this year, FG is at 55% and free-throw at 73%. I know the free-throw and 3 are lower than Durant’s, but it’s close. LeBron can actually get to the rim a lot easier than Durant and LeBron’s post game is superb compared to Durant. I know you are probably going to say LeBron can get to the rim because he is bigger, but Durant gets to the rim as well, just not as good or easier than LeBron. Also LeBron can finish at the rim at will.

  • Redd

    I meant Lebron, man I suck at multi-tasking.

    But yes, KD is a great scorer, is he as effective as Lebron for the whole team? No way, can he be? I think so. Also I don’t see Wbrook as a passing PG. The way in which that team is effective is by scoring a lot.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    this is your argument, “Chris Paul is as good a defender as LeBron is. Not as versatile but as good at guarding PG’s as LeBron is vs SF’s.” which is a completely intellectually dishonest argument. As LeBron is elite guarding multiple positions. Guards multiples positions. Paul doesn’t. And rests more.

    .

    Onto the next big of ridiculous BS from you.

    .

    Paul plays 5 less minutes a game then LeBron. 5!.

    .

    if you need someone to show you the difference between them, here, http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=jamesle01&y1=2013&p2=paulch01&y2=2013 since making stuff up isn’t working for you.
    .

    Next:”So during Paul’s years at 20 ppg and 10 apg was he a better scorer than LeBron? Yes, by your own measurement.”

    - What is my argument? that LeBron is a better scorer than Durant, or a better basketball player? —- did i ever once say Durant wasn’t a better scorer then LeBron? no…..ok then. so what you are comparing with Paul and LeBron seems pretty irrelevant doesn’t it? Unless you want to talk about 2007-08, when i wouldn’t have really cared if you argued Paul as not only better than LeBron, but the best player in the league…? Sure, Paul was a better offensive player that season. He was a better playmaker. He had a bigger effect on his teams offense. That’s all fine by me.

  • LakeShow

    He cannot score in more ways than Durant.
    He is only better on the post.
    Where as Durant is better at every other conceivable way to score.
    His shooting numbers are equal or worse than Durant’s.
    LeBron does get to the rim better, admitted, I just don’t think that makes his offensive game better.
    Agree to disagree my friend.

  • LakeShow

    “Durant scores 3 more points a game then LeBron. 3!.LeBron gets 3 more assists. That’s a MINIMUM of 6 points.”

    So obviously you equate assists to the scoring prowess of someone or otherwise you would not have brought it into a discussion on scoring.

    Forget those seasons of 20-10 for Paul.
    This season, Paul creates 23+PPG for his team mates in addition to his 16.6 ppg.

    Equaling 39.6 ppg at minimum. in 5 less minutes played.
    So by your own argument Paul > Bron and KD at scoring this year.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    No jackass you were literally acting like passing ability is irrelevant so I turned it into the only thing you seem to think matters. That’s all I was doing.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Here let me make this really really easy for you, who’s better, James Harden or Kobe Bryant?
    .
    Ok that wasn’t a good analogy I didn’t realize harden was only shooting 43%. And I forgot Kobe is leading the league in scoring. So lets forget this comment

  • LakeShow

    Alright fuc* tard. Go suck a fat one.

    Name calling is fun :)

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    I call it like I see it. You are a smart dude, when you take points out of context on purpose to try and make them less relevant, it bothers me. I wouldn’t care if you did that as a dumb person. But you aren’t, so when you do do that, I surmise you to be a jackass, for that moment in time.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    If Wade loses another step, Kyrie and a 29 year old LeBron would be a pretty tough tandem to try and stop. A few championships in Miami and 1 more for Cleveland? I can see him thinking about that.

  • LakeShow

    Fair.

    I am just being a bum. I am not taking the time to write fully in detail what I would like to. (not that it would change your opine either way)

    I actually have a sh*t ton of work that I am doing right now to get ready for the Arizona trip, in addition to regular work, so i’m being sloppy and putting a bunch of half assed comments out so that’s my bad.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    I ain’t mad at you I understand, I had to get my frustration out but I got over it as soon as I did.

  • Slick Ric

    I’m not saying he’s equal, I’m just saying with KD’s improvements this year, its not as big of a gap as years past. KD is definitely getting closer to making it a legitimate argument of who’s the best between the two, not now though, but its getting closer.

  • LakeShow

    Sol good dogg, just had to call you out for moving on to name calling so quick lol.

  • LakeShow

    You might not see him as a passer, but at 8.2 Apg, and 6th in the L in that category, he is one of the best.

  • LakeShow

    No PG’s are good at D’n up on Rose or RW. They are going to get theirs.

  • Redd

    You just made me like you more, although RW has been quieted pretty well by CP3 so DR is the greatest ever.

  • Redd

    Keep in mind who he has playing with him, stats don’t tell it all in that situation.

  • The Fury

    Sorry to interrupt, but Lebron can defend multiple positions unlike Paul because of their size. That’s a fact. No diss though.

  • LakeShow

    These are points…
    but does Durant make more buckets than Jamaal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Caron Butler, Billups, Green, etc. Or more than Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Bosh, Lewis, Wade… I mean everyone has someone to toss the ball to.

  • The Fury

    Bledsoe is best suited as a back-up point guard, he’s a spark (offense and defense) off the bench. Just like Jarret Jack right now (production wise).

  • RKJ92

    That would be the sickest team ever.. lol, they would be so fun to watch

  • Redd

    KD plays iso less than a lot of, if not all the top scorers, about half of his FGs come from assists, OKC actually gets more FGs+assists with RW off the court.

  • Redd

    No interruption, it’s a comment board, comment away! If someone is angry that you have an opinion on a comment board they’re just jerks & should be ignored.

    Yeah you’re exactly right, I agree but it was a bad point to try & make I felt.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    That’s totally fair

  • candlewood jay

    think long term…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    if andre plays more minutes now…they will do better…therefore giving them a worse draft pick…long term lol

  • k2

    The word is ‘a lot’. What language is ‘allot’? It damn sure isn’t English.

  • shutup

    Literally, in real life LMFAO…….solid gold

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    lol you catchin up on your reading bruh?

  • shutup

    Yeah was killin time in front of the computer and came across this thread, the first comment caught my attention “Ah good old SLAM, Nbk and Lake arguing over Lebron VS KD.” I had to read further; you guys had me rolling; and that line had me literally in real life laughing out loud. Just imagined a little kid trying to convince his mom of something, nvm I might be a bit drunk too; or as shock might say high and drunk at the same ____ time.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    lol

← Older Comments
Advertisement