NBA Click & Roll: Could LeBron James join The Process in Philadelphia?
Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter.
Every Wednesday we'll bring you exclusive content from Paste BN's NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, including updates on all their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, you'll have all the top NBA moments spoon-fed to your inbox.
Jumping to Conclusions
The Cavs are deeper than we thought
As part of our weekly feature, Paste BN Sports' NBA insiders will offer exclusive opinions right here.
Conclusion: The Cavaliers have the best bench in the East Conference
The Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors will object – and their benches are good – but with Dwyane Wade, Jeff Green, Kyle Korver and Channing Frye (and Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Derrick Rose (if he returns)), the Cavs’ reserves are posting strong numbers. They have the fifth-best net rating (plus-7.4) in the league, per NBA.com, and Wade’s move from the starting lineup to the bench has helped. Wade, Korver and Green are all averaging 10 points and Korver and Green are shooting nearly 50% from the field. Korver is one of the best fourth-quarter scorers in the league and is averaging 17.9 points per 36 minutes, including 22.7 points per 36 minutes in the fourth quarter. But it’s not just all offense. During Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak, the bench is allowing 94.9 points while scoring 110.6 points per 100 possessions.
Our full Week 6 conclusions examine why the Grizzlies really fired David Fizdale and whether the Pistons are experiencing a renaissance under Stan Van Gundy.
NBA Power Rankings
The Cavs own an NBA-best nine-game winning streak and have corrected what was an awful start to their season. The biggest risers, though, were the Philadelphia 76ers, who are clearly going to be a problem for the rest of the NBA.
Check out the full NBA power rankings.
ICYMI: *This* is why we watch
- For the first time in 1,082 regular season games, LeBron James was ejected. We're just as shocked as he was. What doesn't surprise us in the least is how Ja_es trolled the _ichigan Wolverines after Ohio State's win. He is, after all, a Buckeye at heart.
- Just because he's from Ohio doesn't mean James wouldn't -- and shouldn't -- consider leaving again this summer in free agency. Here's why the 76ers are a particularly intriguing team for James' services.
- Jordan Bell may just be a rookie, but he's already trolling at All-Star levels. The Warriors' first-year forward made sure to remind the Bulls just how much money they traded him for on draft night.
- Bell is picking tips up from Steve Kerr, who has now employed a nail clipper, a Rubik's cube, a slinky and a deck of cards to rag on reporters.
- Steph Curry, did you really not see this little boy pleading for your autograph? Ayesha was having none of it. "He would never purposefully ignore a squirrel let alone a precious little boy."
- Gregg Popovich, your mama taught you better than this.
- Speaking of moms, Kevin Durant's tried to tame down her son's feud with Russell Westbrook. After last week's testy affair in Oklahoma City, we're guessing they didn't share Thanksgiving dinner together.
- What in the name of "Data!" happened to Grizzlies coach (and former Heat assistant) David Fizdale? Former Miami players LeBron and Dwyane Wade need answers.
- We know that Fizdale's tense relationship with Marc Gasol played a central role in his firing, but now there's an ex-NBA player blaming the move on Chandler Parsons. Hmmm, not sure about that.
- Tension? Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bucks assistant Sean Sweeney have no beef at all. "You always fight with your brothers," Antetokounmpo said. "It's something common. Me and Sweeney we're so tight."
- Less fighting, more air guitar. Maybe we should all try to be like Lance Stephenson.
MVP race
Remember how the Rockets were going to have to adjust to James Harden and Chris Paul sharing the floor? Well, Harden's averaging a league-best 34.4 points, and the Rockets haven't lost since Paul's return. Harden leads Paste BN Sports' MVP rankings, but LeBron is hot on his trail.
Rookie rankings
The steal of the NBA draft? The Lakers found him at No. 27.
Best of the rest
If this is the end of Derrick Rose's career, it will conclude one of the most interesting and wretched careers of any NBA player.
Kevin Durant said that Colin Kaepernick's protests have changed his perspective on race.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained why it doesn't feel right to visit the White House in an appearance on CNN.
In more awful news for the Clippers, Blake Griffin suffered a sprained MCL and is expected to be out at least a month.
Check back next week for all the latest throughout the Association.