Tag: In the News

Westbrook erupts for 36 to lead Thursday’s S&Ds

Russell Westbrook didn’t let a slow start change his focus in a big game in his home area. 

Westbrook returned to Los Angeles and provided 36 points and six assists to lead Oklahoma City’s 102-93 triumph over the Lakers.

In the process, Westbrook turned around a sputtering start that saw him miss four of his first six shots in the first quarter.

“The game got out of whack. It was my job to pick it up,” Westbrook told the Associated Press. “We did a great job of defending and closing out the game.”

The victory enabled the Thunder to stretch their winning streak to five straight games as they moved three games ahead of the Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference.

He also earned some praise from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who unsuccessfully tried to keep him in check for most of the game.

“Russell Westbrook established the tempo in the third quarter and he changed the pace of the game for them,” Bryant told the AP. “He’s one of my favorites. He’s developed his outside shot a great deal, and he went to the post a little bit as well so he’s a problem.”

It enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top performers across the association.

STUDS

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Notched 36 points, six assists and two steals and was plus-5 in the Thunder’s victory at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Portland F LaMarcus Aldridge: Went for 25 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and was plus-4 in the Trail Blazers’ victory over New Orleans.

Indiana F Danny Granger: Tallied 25 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the Pacers’ triumph over Washington.

Miami F Chris Bosh: Went for 19 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and was plus-26 in the Heat’s victory over Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Notched 25 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

DUDS

Dallas G Jason Terry: Clanked through a 1-for-10 shooting night with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-20 in the Mavericks’ loss at Miami.

Los Angeles Lakers G Ramon Sessions: Limited to seven points with five turnovers in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

Portland G Jamal Crawford: Missed all six shots from the field, including five 3-pointers, in the Trail Blazers’ victory over New Orleans. 

New Orleans G Xavier Henry: Went 1 for 7 from the field and was a team-worst minus-16 in the Hornets’ loss at Portland.

Los Angeles Lakers F Metta World Peace: Struggled through a 3-for-13 shooting night and was minus-5 in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

Hurting LBJ leads Wednesday’s S&Ds

LeBron James was hurting after Miami’s victory over Oklahoma City Wednesday night.

During the course of the game, James twisted his left ankle, rejammed his left ring finger and was taken down by Russell Westbrook in a hard foul that helped  turned the game around.

“I need to find the best damn masseuse in Miami,” James groaned to ESPN.com’s Heat Index after the game.

Despite the physical toll, James came up with perhaps his best all-around effort to lead the Heat’s 98-93 victory over the Thunder — their 17th consecutive home victory.

James notched 34 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four steals to lead the matchup between two of the league’s power teams.

The Westbrook play may have energized the Heat. James was driving for breakaway dunk when Westbrook pulled him off balance and sent him sprawling to the floor. 

“I don’t know, I’m not one to say it was a dirty play or not a dirty play, I’ll let you guys decide,” James told the Heat Index. “It’s a dangerous play. Just look at the other end, Russ being as athletic as he is going down the lane and someone tries that. It’s a fine line.”

It could have been a playoff preview that some NBA fans would savor.

But before that, James came up with another strong effort to lead Wednesday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet for 34 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, four steals and was a game-high plus-20 in the Heat’s triumph over  Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Notched 36 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and was a team-high plus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over the Clippers.

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 31 points, five rebounds, six assists and was plus-8 in the Lakers’ triumph over the Clippers.

Milwaukee G Monta Ellis: Notched 30 points, five rebounds, eight assists and was a game-high plus-10 in the Bucks’ triumph over Cleveland.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Went for 22 points, 16 assists and two rebounds in the Clippers’ loss to the Lakers.

DUDS

New Jersey F Gerald Wallace: Clanked through a 3-for-12 shooting effort with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-38 in the Nets’ loss at Portland.

Washington G John Wall: Clanked through a 4-for-15 shooting effort with five turnovers and was a game-worst minus-22 in the Wizards’ loss to Indiana.

New Jersey G Sundiata Gaines: Missed all five shots, had two turnovers and was minus-24 in the Nets’ loss at Portland.

Denver F Corey Brewer: Missed all seven shots with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-18 in the Nuggets’ loss at New Orleans.

Cleveland F Samardo Samuels: Missed both shots and was a game-worst minus-22 in only 15 minutes in the Cavaliers’ loss at Milwaukee.

Mike Monroe: Now we know what caused Mavericks’ chemistry woes

While the Spurs surged to the top of the Western Conference standings in recent weeks, the Mavericks were sliding in the opposite direction.

The very day the Spurs eased past the Thunder and into first place by mere percentage points, the Mavericks were beaten on their home court by the 11th-place Trail Blazers and dropped into seventh.

Now we know what happened to befoul the chemistry that had been so important in Dallas last spring when a magical playoff run produced the Mavericks’ first NBA title.

It was Lamar Odom’s fault.

What other conclusion can be drawn from the decision by owner Mark Cuban and general manager Donnie Nelson to send Odom on an early vacation?

The Mavericks didn’t cut him or trade him, and they will pay the remainder of his $8.9 million salary for this season.

They simply told him they didn’t want him around any longer.

That is harsh reality, months in the making.

When commissioner David Stern nixed the trade that would have sent Chris Paul from the Hornets to the Lakers in December, many Lakers fans had mixed emotions.

Combining Paul with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum would have given Los Angeles a Big Three to rival Miami’s. But it would have come at the expense of the league’s longest frontline, one that had been dominant enough to produce two NBA titles.

Both 7-foot Pau Gasol and the 6-10 Odom, the 2010-11 Sixth Man Award winner, would have left the Lakers’ roster in the deal Stern refused to approve.

Stung by the knowledge his team had been willing to trade him, Gasol acknowledged hurt feelings. Then he went about playing power forward like an All-Star.

Odom didn’t get time to sort out his feelings. Just hours after the Paul trade was blown up, the Lakers sent him to the reigning champion Mavericks for a trade exception and a first-round draft pick that was protected through the first 20 selections in 2012.

Did Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak know something about Odom that made what seemed a great grab by the Mavericks something less? Had Odom’s fragile ego surfaced during his time with the Lakers?

The end of Odom in Dallas likely will improve the Mavericks. He had not been the skilled big man whose career averages of 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists invited comparisons to pre-injury Danny Manning. Or occasionally to Hall of Fame Lakers point guard Magic Johnson.

Instead, he put up the worst numbers of his career. Worse, he didn’t seem to care, and Mavs fans noticed. He was routinely booed when he entered recent games, including the Mavs-Spurs game in Dallas on March 17.

Cuban on Tuesday confirmed his halftime confrontation with Odom in the locker room in Memphis that prompted the banishment. It was the final straw after waiting for production that might have outweighed the distractions that Odom brought with him from L.A.

It may turn out to be the Spurs who benefit more from the Odom-to-Dallas trade than either team involved in the deal. Gregg Popovich always fretted about matching up against the Lakers’ length, and Odom was part of that.

Now the Lakers don’t have Odom, and the Mavericks must rediscover their own winning chemistry in the two-plus weeks that remain in the regular season.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA