By PAUL GOTHAM C.J. McCollum netted seven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Portland Trail Blazers erased a 10-point deficit to remain alive in the NBA playoffs with a 99-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in game four of Western Conference first round action. McCollum's three-pointer with 1:20 remaining gave Portland a lead it did not surrender at … [Read more...] about McCollum seals Portland comeback
NBA
Road Less Traveled: Sacramento survives West-heavy opening schedule
(This article originally was published at The High Screen on Dec. 12, 2014) By: Joe Mags The NBA is correctly labeled as the major professional sports league with the least amount of parity, as there is little variance, year to year, of true-blue championship contenders. In a league where the majority of its teams make the playoffs each season, and 30 teams play 82 games … [Read more...] about Road Less Traveled: Sacramento survives West-heavy opening schedule
League of Extraordinary Copycats: Atlanta beat Utah at San Antonio’s game
(This article originally ran at The High Screen on Nov. 13, 2014) By: Joe Mags When Atlanta walked off its home floor Wednesday night with a 100-97 victory over Utah, Mike Budenholzer did what all victorious coaches do in the NBA — they wave across the floor to the opposing coach and walk to the locker room. But as Bob Rathbun and Dominique Wilkins discussed during the … [Read more...] about League of Extraordinary Copycats: Atlanta beat Utah at San Antonio’s game
Enter at your own risk: NBA stats this early can be dangerous
(This article originally ran on The High Screen on Nov. 8, 2014.) By: Joe Mags It is bad practice to attach merit to the numbers less than two weeks into any season of any sport. Particularly in the NBA, “small sample size” is an assumed prerequisite with any extreme statistic, good or bad, until early-December.In fact, making observations of any kind in any context can … [Read more...] about Enter at your own risk: NBA stats this early can be dangerous
Cleveland sneaks out a victory in first battle against Chicago
(This article originally ran on The High Screen on Nov. 3, 2014.) By: Joe Mags The Bulls and Cavaliers, in some order, were rightfully fixed atop every Eastern Conference prediction. The reasons why are self-explanatory. Chicago won the East in consecutive seasons in 2011 and 2012, amassing a 75.7 winning percentage the last two seasons where latter-day MVP Derrick Rose … [Read more...] about Cleveland sneaks out a victory in first battle against Chicago