And despite only playing 19 minutes, Drummond played great, scoring 17 points on 8-10 shooting and grabbing 4 rebounds. He scored in a variety of ways: in the post, as the roll man in pick-and-rolls, and even got out on the break. And best of all for the Pistons, Drummond looked healthy.

Jan 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) shoots a layup during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a star studded league filled with incredible talent. Guys like Kevin Durant and LeBron James run the Association. However, it’s easy to overlook the talent of the other immensely gifted players, because a lot of people pay closer attention to the best guys on teams that are successful. If you’re on the Magic then forget it you must stink, right? Wrong. I put together a list of five guys, on losing teams, that hardly get noticed for their play. Enjoy.

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Kemba Walker is a star in the making and since he plays for the lowly Bobcats, he’s often overlooked. I’ll admit that he didn’t live up to expectations in his rookie year but he’s really made an impact in his sophomore season. Walker has really improved in every facet of the game since last year. Through Tuesday, he’s averaging 17.3 PPG which is almost 5.0 more points a game than last years average. Although, he’s stood pat at 3.5 RPG he has increased his averages in assists, steals, and blocks. In fact, he has either tied or bettered the averages of All-Star, Kyrie Irving. Now I’m not saying that Walker should be an All-star but what I am saying is that his numbers call for more attention than he’s getting. Walker’s field goal, 3-point, and free throw percentages are also all up from last year.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons Am I the only one that thinks Lawrence Frank is out of his mind for playing Drummond a measly 20 MPG? According to Basketball-Reference.com, the guy is averaging 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per 36 minutes. Those are unbelievable numbers for Drummond, who was thought to be extremely raw coming out of college. There is really no justification for starting Maxiell over Drummond and I would love to hear any sort of reasoning Frank might have. Drummond is an explosive athlete with loads of potential. Unfortunately, fans hardly know about his success due to the small amount of playing time he gets and because he plays for the Detroit Pistons. I can’t imagine it will be too much longer until Drummond makes a name for himself in this league.

O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks For some reason I feel like only a handful of people have noticed how vital O.J. Mayo has been for Dallas. The USC product did everything he possibly could to keep the Mavs relevant until Dirk returned from injury. Since Dirk has returned, Mayo hasn’t been as effective but he continues to show us what he can be as a basketball player. After failing to meet expectations in Memphis a fresh start in Dallas was just what he needed. He’d no longer be buried on the bench and he would be able to silence the doubts people may have had. Mayo has averaged career highs in almost every major category. This includes his conversion rate of 42% from beyond the arc. If I’m Memphis, I wish I had kept him because he would’ve been able to fill the void left by Rudy Gay seamlessly. Oh well, all they can do is watch as he quietly does his thing for a struggling Dallas squad.

Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets Greivis Vasquez is having a career year but playing for the 15th ranked team in the Western Conference doesn’t help. It also doesn’t help that he has rookie phenom Anthony Davis, who garners all of the attention, for a teammate. Vasquez ranks third in the league in assists per game, second if you don’t count Rondo. He’s only trailing Chris Paul by 0.1 assists.

Ill give you a moment to let that sink in. Ok, time’s up. Seeing as Greivis only trails two other point guards in the race for the assist crown, that also means for more mind boggling news. Vasquez has more assists than the likes of Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, etc. Those guys are all considered elite and while Vasquez isn’t elite yet, he definitely has the whole passing thing down. Look for him to only get better year after year.

Earl Clark, Los Angeles Lakers Earl Clark was supposed to be a throw in so the Lakers could get Dwight Howard, right? Well if he is just a throw in, he’s a pretty good one. Clark isn’t the kind of guy that’s going to put up eye popping numbers. However, he is someone that’s going to give 110% night in and night out. In 21 minutes per game, Clark is putting up 7 points and 6 rebounds. Again, not exactly star numbers but he’s not really a star, he’s a glue guy. He’s been a small bright spot in the Lakers nightmare of a season, filling in admirably for the likes of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. We’ll get to see a lot more of Clark now because of both Howard and Gasol being injured. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a 10 and 10 guy when Gasol returns in 6-8 weeks.

*All stats from NBA.com unless otherwise noted.*

Follow @TimMaclean_StS

Jan. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) have words on the court during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Boston won 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony was a lack of respect. Though some, including Anthony himself, were in favor of the decision and saw it as an act of protection, to avoid embroiling Anthony in further scandals like the infamous Garnett-Melo incident.

Doolan, for a welcome change, is right on the money with his decision to install microphones in his arena and the NBA should follow his lead and make it mandatory around the league. On-court trash talk is a part of the game, and it rightfully should remain that way, but there are an increasing number of incidents where players take it too far.

Racism, homophobia and personal statements about a player’s family have no place on a basketball court, and any offender should be dealt with appropriately  Finding a way to catch more instances of this may unearth some bad short-term publicity for the league, in the case that more instances are discovered because of the more ways to detect them, but in the long-term will be a better step forward for the league.

It is currently against the rules of the league to say offensive, derogatory comments on the court. In 2011, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the league for a gay slur against a referee. The incident was only reported and sanctioned because television cameras for TNT picked up the incident. Had TNT’s cameras not been focusing on Bryant at the time, and had TNT commentator Steve Kerr not drawn attention to the issue, perhaps Bryant would have proceeded unpunished for his comments. Thankfully, there was a solid audio track that caught the Lakers star in the act and the situation was able to be dealt with properly.

In November of the same year, Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva tweeted of a clash he had with Celtics star/resident psychopath Kevin Garnett. Villanueva alleged Garnett called him a ‘cancer patient’ on the court, ridiculing Villanueva – a suffer of alopecia. The allegations against Garnett were never proven, it was a matter of Villanueva’s word against KG’s, and thus no suspension came out of it.

If the NBA is serious about preventing more instances like Bryant’s gay slur, and actually catching players who take trash-talking too far, they would make on-court microphones like Dolan’s as mandatory as a shot clock and video review. It has been implementing in other sports across the world to solve disputes and appropriately allocate blame. On the other side of the world in Australia, a spat between two stars of their domestic cricket competition made headlines across the country. The fiery confrontation was only resolved because of microphones installed on pitch, which captured the instigator, Shane Warne, abusing the batsman who snapped on the next delivery. Had microphones not been in place, it would have been extremely difficult to correctly place the blame for the explosion, who to sanction and what for. Warne’s only crime would have been throwing the ball at an opponent, something he managed to get away with in the hearing as an accident; while Samuels’ motive for throwing his bat down the pitch may have been blown out of proportion and punished more heavily than he deserved.

The debate is not whether comments like Bryant’s, Garnett’s or Anthony’s are out-of line or just a part of the game. Regardless of our personal views, the NBA have made it their stance that what happens on the court can well and truly come off the court if it crosses the line. However, just hoping that a television camera will catch a player uttering the offending phrase and otherwise leaving it for media speculation is not an appropriate or professional way for the league to go about it. The Knicks took the right step to ensure they have hard evidence every time Carmelo Anthony is accused of saying something, and it should become policy that all other clubs do the same.

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Celtics (10-9) 94 @ 76ers (11-8) 95 – OT

• Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce 27, PHI – Evan Turner 26.
• Leading rebounds: BOS – Rajon Rondo 13, PHI – Thaddeus Young 12.
• Leading assists: BOS – Rajon Rondo 14, PHI – Evan Turner 5.

Nuggets (10-10) 92 @ Pacers (10-10) 89

• Leading scorers: DEN – Corey Brewer, JaVale McGee 20, IND – Paul George 22.
• Leading rebounds: DEN – JaVale McGee 8, IND – David West 11.
• Leading assists: DEN – Danilo Gallinari, Andre Miller 8, IND - George Hill 10.

Warriors (12-7) 109 @ Nets (11-7) 102

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 30, BKN – Joe Johnson 32.
• Leading rebounds: GSW – David Lee 15, BKN – Andray Blatche 15.
• Leading assists: GSW – Jarrett Jack 8, BKN – Deron Williams 8.

Wizards (2-14) 95 @ Hawks (11-5) 104

• Leading scorers: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 19, ATL – Josh Smith 23.
• Leading rebounds: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 7, ATL – Josh Smith 15.
• Leading assists: WAS – A.J. Price 6, ATL – Devin Harris, Jeff Teague 6.

Bulls (10-8) 108 @ Pistons (6-15) 104

• Leading scorers: CHI – Joakim Noah 30, DET – Rodney Stuckey 24.
• Leading rebounds: CHI – Joakim Noah 23, DET – Jason Maxiell 9.
• Leading assists: CHI – Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich 6, DET – Rodney Stuckey 7.

Grizzlies (14-3) 96 @ Hornets (5-13) 89

• Leading scorers: MEM – Rudy Gay 28, NOH – Ryan Anderson, Brian Roberts, Austin Rivers 15.
• Leading rebounds: MEM – Marc Gasol 9, NOH – Jason Smith 5.
• Leading assists: MEM – Mike Conley 9, NOH – Greivis Vasquez 8.

Cavaliers (4-16) 73 @ Timberwolves (9-9) 91

• Leading scorers: CLE – Alonzo Gee 16, MIN – Kevin Love 36.
• Leading rebounds: CLE – Anderson Varejao 14, Kevin Love 13.
• Leading assists: CLE – Daniel Gibson 4, MIN - Luke Ridnour 7.

Bobcats (7-11) 93 @ Bucks (9-9) 108

• Leading scorers: CHA - Gerald Henderson 19, MIL – Ersan Ilyasova 21.
• Leading rebounds: CHA – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 11, MIL – Ersan Ilyasova 12.
• Leading assists: CHA – Kemba Walker 6, MIL – Brandon Jennings 8.

Rockets (9-9) 92 @ Spurs (16-4) 114

• Leading scorers: HOU – James Harden 29, SAN – Tony Parker 17.
• Leading rebounds: HOU – Jeremy Lin 6, SAN – Tim Duncan 12.
• Leading assists: HOU – Patrick Patterson, James Harden 5, SAN – Tony Parker 7.

Raptors (4-16) 99 @ Jazz (11-10) 131

• Leading scorers: TOR – Andrea Bargnani 20, UTA – Paul Millsap 20.
• Leading rebounds: TOR – Andrea Bargnani 8, UTA – Paul Millsap 10.
• Leading assists: TOR – Kyle Lowry 4, UTA – Mo Williams 10.

Lakers (9-11) 108 @ Thunder (16-4) 114

• Leading scorers: LAL – Kobe Bryant 35, OKC – Kevin Durant 36.
• Leading rebounds: LAL – Dwight Howard 18, OKC – Kevin Durant 9.
• Leading assists: LAL – Kobe Bryant 7, OKC – Russell Westbrook 8.

Magic (7-12) 82 @ Kings (6-12) 91

• Leading scorers: ORL – Glen Davis 20, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas 17.
• Leading rebounds: ORL – Glen Davis 11, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 14.
• Leading assists: ORL – Jameer Nelson 6, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas 4.

December 1, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Jarrett Jack (2) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) after making a half-court shot against the Indiana Pacers to end the third quarter at ORACLE Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pacers, 103-92. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

After a “well rested” Spurs team outlasted the Grizzlies in overtime, they reclaim the top spot this week, with the hot hot Heat right on their trail. The Warriors make the biggest jump of the week, up 7 spots and crack the Top 10 with a sweet little 3-game winning streak and hosting the Magic on Monday night before heading out for a 7-game road test. Some awesome things this week (in no particular order): Magic get #Dwightmare revenge on Lakers, Batum’s corner three, the Wizards first win, Larry Sanders! Enjoy the analysis.

Welcome to The Skyook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Week 5 – December 3, 2012

Biggest jump: Warriors (+7) | Biggest drop: Nuggets (-6)

1. San Antonio Spurs | 14-4 | Last week: 2

Forget the hot water that Popovich and the Spurs got into for their “resting with the stars” espisode against the Heat this week (which they did only lose by 5). More importantly, they outlasted the Grizz in an OT battle, giving me no choice but to crown them Power Ranking Kings again.

2. Miami Heat | 12-3 | Last week: 3

So much for those tests against the Spurs and Nets, as they captured wins in both games. Currently riding a 6-game win streak, the Heat are starting to make it look easy. Could Wade’s 34-point effort against the Nets be an awakening of sorts?

3. Memphis Grizzlies | 12-3 | Last week: 1

The Grizz didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, but the other two are just hotter right now. They turned up the defensive pressure last week by beating the Cavs, Raps and Pistons (as they should) by an average of 13 points while allowing an average of only 79 points in those games.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder | 14-4 | Last week: 5

One could make a very solid case for the Thunder to be on top of the Rankings after a 4-0 week where they destroyed opponents by an average of 25 points per game. Russell Westbrook’s 23 pts, 13 rebs, 8 asts, 7 stls, 8 turnover stat line against the Jazz was certainly one of a kind.

5. New York Knicks | 12-4 | Last week: 4

They did lose to their new Brooklyn rival, but the Knicks defense bounced back this week, going 3-1 and allowing an average of only 92.5 points per game. With the Suns win, they improved to 7-0 at the Garden. Rasheed’s ejection after playing only 1:25 is probably a record, even for him.

6. Los Angeles Clippers | 10-6 | Last week: 6

Welcome back Chauncey Billups! Now let’s see how the sharing of minutes with this team will work. The Hornets loss at home (without Davis) was inexplicable, but they finished the week strong with two wins. Watching Lamar Odom jog around out there is now at embarrassing levels.

7. Brooklyn Nets | 11-5 | Last week: 7

During their 3-1 week, the Nets were involved in a couple of division “battles.” First, they beat the Knicks in the new battle of New York, then they literally, physically battle with the Celtics that results in a win and a 2-game suspension of Rondo. Win win.

8. Atlanta Hawks | 9-5 | Last week: 9

Josh Smith’s lesson for the week will be: box out. His lapse cost the Hawks a 7-game winning streak in dropping that brutal game to the Cavs. Other than that incident, he’s picked up his play slightly, averaging 18.8 pts, 7.8 rebs, 4.2 asts, 3.2 blks and 1.8 stls over his past five games.

9. Golden State Warriors | 10-6 | Last week: 16

The Warriors make the biggest jump of the week, up 7 spots into the Top 10 and currently riding a 3-game win streak with impressive wins over the Wolves, Nuggets and Pacers. Klay Thompson’s last 5 games: 21.2 pts on .467 shooting. Festus Ezeli is becoming a fan favorite.

10. Los Angeles Lakers | 8-9 | Last week: 10

The Lakers were on their way to breaking further into the Top 10 until that travesty against the Magic happened last night. 40 points in the 4th quarter to Orlando, seriously!? Now under .500 again, the Lakers play 7 out of their next 8 on away from Staples Center.

11. Boston Celtics | 9-8 | Last week: 11

The Celts have been a model of inconsistency this season. They’ll welcome Rondo back from suspension with open arms, but what this team really needs is a shot blocker (no one averages even close to 1 per game – Garnett/Bass 0.76). What Joe Johnson did to Pierce was elder abuse.

12. Philadelphia 76ers | 10-7 | Last week: 13

The Sixers will have a chance to make a statement in a very important home and home series against the Celtics this week for division position. Don’t look now but we’re seeing some solid progression from Evan Turner, now averaging 14.1 pts, 7.1 rebs and 4.1 asts on the season.

13. Chicago Bulls | 8-7 | Last week: 14

The Richard Hamilton injury will hurt the Bulls, but thankfully they play in the Central Division, where they are currently duking it out with the Bucks for the top spot at 8-7. Speaking of which, they’ll play the Pacers, Cavs and Pistons in their next three.

14. Denver Nuggets | 8-9 | Last week: 8

Have to drop the Nuggets down again after another 0-3 week. For those keeping track, Denver’s first 17 games: 3L, 4W, 3L, 4W, 3L. Don’t look for another four straight wins though, as the Nugs are about to embark on a 5-game road trip after a home date with the Raps.

15. Milwaukee Bucks | 8-7 | Last week: 12

What a week for Larry Sanders! First a triple double on Friday against the Wolves (10 blocks), followed up with a 18 point, 16 rebound, 5 block effort in a big win against the Celtics. Are we sure the Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings combo is working out?

16. Utah Jazz | 9-9 | Last week: 15

Like water is wet, the Jazz improve to 6-0 at home and play 4 of their next 5 there. Although the Derrick Favors injury will force an already small team to adjust, the Gordon Hayward bench experiment has been good, as his 16.3 point average over the past three games suggests.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves | 7-8 | Last week: 19

What a Christmas present that would be in Minnesota if Ricky Rubio (who was at practice last week) were to return in a few short weeks. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang will be fighting to keep the ship at .500 until the full squad has returned to good health.

18. Houston Rockets | 8-8 | Last week: 21

Forget the hyped backcourt as there are lots of things to love about the way this Asik-Parsons-Patterson frontcourt is coming together. Let’s see if the Rockets can continue to put up major points against the Thunder, Lakers and Spurs in their next three games.

19. Indiana Pacers | 8-9 | Last week: 22

Coming into the season, with the major focus on Hibbert, George and Granger, who’d have thought that it would be David West and George Hill leading the way for the Pacers. While 8-9 isn’t ideal, leading the league in rebounding and being 3rd in points against is certainly respectable.

20. Dallas Mavericks | 8-9 | Last week: 17

Like this team wasn’t old enough, they ink Derek Fisher last week, who was 1 for 8 shooting in his debut. With 6 of their next 7 on the road and against better opponents, I expect this team to keep fading. Let’s hope that when Dirk does come back, it’s not too late.

21. Portland Trail Blazers | 7-10 | Last week: 20

Blazers just barely snapped a 4-game losing streak in Cleveland with a desperate Batum corner three-ball to beat the lowly Cavs in double overtime. What the heck is up with this completely inept bench unit for Portland? Nothing has been easy for this squad so far.

22. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-8 | Last week: 18

Nothing screams “reality check” like a 45-point loss. Yes, it was the Thunder, but scoring 24 points in a half is unacceptable. It will be interesting to see how this new, exciting Bobcats team responds. The Walker-Sessions combo has been really fun to watch.

23. Orlando Magic | 6-10 | Last week: 24

What an extreme high for the Orlando Magic last night in Los Angeles in taking down the Lakers and avenging the #Dwightmare. If nothing else, they have at least that this season. Although sweeping theminOrlando might be their NBA Championship once the playoffs are out of sight.

24. Phoenix Suns | 7-11 | Last week: 23

Defensively, this team is the epitome of “horrible,” as losing to the Pistons by 40 and giving up 117 points in the process, will attest. Michael Beasley seems to be getting worse as the season goes on. I have to admit, Goran Dragic is holding up better than I expected.

25. Detroit Pistons | 5-13 | Last week: 29

Even with a 2-2 week, the Pistons are showing some signs of life and have battled back to go 5-5 after starting the season 0-8. Putting that kind of hurting on the Suns overrides losing in Memphis and Dallas. Brandon Knight’s development continues on an upward trend.

26. Toronto Raptors | 4-13 | Last week: 26

Just me, or does it feel like the Raptors play ALL their games on the road? At least they got a close one against the Suns on Friday, one they’ve regularly blown this season. If nothing else, the Mickael Pietrus signing should slightly help in getting Casey’s defensive mojo back.

27. New Orleans Hornets | 4-11 | Last week: 25

Losers of 8 of their last 9 games, the Hornets one (ironic) win came against Chris Paul and the Clips. How long is this Anthony Davis injury going to linger? He’ll soon be approaching Eric Gordon territory. Not really, but get back soon AD.

28. Sacramento Kings | 4-12 | Last week: 27

Of course, the one guy that has stepped up his game recently (Tyreke Evans), goes down with an injury. Among the many flaws of this team, they are just too small at the point guard spot with Aaron Brooks, Isaiah Thomas and Jimmer Fredette.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-13 | Last week: 28

What a weekend for the Cavs. First a tip-in victory over a good Atlanta team on the road, then a ridiculous Batum buzzer-beater from the corner in double overtime at home. At what point do we just start feeling bad for Varejao? Until he gets traded, that’s when.

30. Washington Wizards | 1-13 | Last week: 30

Wanted to move the Wiz up, even just one spot, after their ugly first win against Portland at home Wednesday. Couldn’t do it. Even the force that is Nene is being brought down by the Wizards curse: In 4 games played, only 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes.

Nov 18, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons point guard Will Bynum (12) slam dunks during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at The Palace. Detroit won 103-83. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Pacers (4-7) 76 @ Knicks (7-1) 88

• Leading scorers: IND – Paul George 20, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 26.
• This is the 5th time in 8 games that the Knicks have held an opponent to under 90 points in a game.
• The only three Knicks that scored in double figures were Carmelo Anthony 26, J.R. Smith 13 and Raymond Felton 11.
• Rasheed another solid bench effort with 17 mintues, 9 points, 7 rebounds.
• Paul George had 20 points on 6-15 shooting, including 4-7 from downtown.
• Roy Hibbert continued to struggle with only 6 points on 3-10 shooting. He also had 6 turnovers.

Magic (3-6) 86 @ Raptors (3-7) 97

• Leading scorers: ORL – Glen Davis, E’Twaun Moore 16, TOR – DeMar DeRozan 20.
• The Raptors had 22 assists in the game as a team, which Jose Calderon had 18 of them, or 82%.
• DeMar DeRozan continuted his solid scoring efforts with 20 points (also 9 rebounds).
• Amir Johnson had 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench.
• Big Baby Davis had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic.

Cavaliers (2-8) 79 @ 76ers (6-4) 86

• Leading scorers: CLE – Alonzo Gee 17, PHI – Evan Turner 19.
• Evan Turner played 40 minutes for the Sixers and posted 19 points (8-12 FG), 6 rebounds and 9 assists.
• Spencer Hawes led the bench squad with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
• It was not a good shooting night for the Cavs backcourt as Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters combined to shoot 6 for 27 (22%) for 14 points.
• The frontcourt was a different story as Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson combined for 28 points and 28 rebounds.
• The Cavs had 18 total offensive rebounds.

Nets (6-2) 99 @ Kings (2-8) 90

• Leading scorers: BKN – Andray Blatche 22, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 29.
• The Nets are winning, but it’s not pretty. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson combined to shoot 5 for 22 from the field.
• Andray Blatche shot an incredible 11-12 from the field in scoring his team high 22 points.
• The Nets got 52 bench points in this one (Blatche 22, Brooks 14, Watson 13).
• The Kings continue to start John Salmons despite his struggles. Again in this game he played 28 minutes, but only registered 2 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist.
• The Kings were led by Cousins (29 pts) and Tyreke Evans (21 pts).

Warriors (5-5) 109 @ Thunder (8-3) 119

• Leading scorers: GSW – Stephen Curry 22, OKC – Russell Westbrook 30.
• Kevin Durant brought the triple double power against the Warriors. He finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
• Russell Westbrook finished with a “secondary” 30 points (12-22 FG), 7 assists and 5 steals.
• Kevin Martin also had 23 points off the Thunder bench.
• David Lee had a nice game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

Celtics (6-5) 83 @ Pistons (2-9) 103

• Leading scorers: BOS – Jared Sullinger 16, DET – Greg Monroe 20.
• The Pistons got their 2nd win of the season in which they shot 54.2% from the field and outrebounded the C’s 39-30.
• Greg Monroe continues his All Star push with 20 points (8-11 FG) and 13 rebounds.
• Rodney Stuckey’s first bench appearance included 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Could be a good move for the Pistons.
• Rondo continued his double digit assists streak (current at 34 straight games)with another 10 in this game.
• Jared Sullinger scored a team high 16 points on 7-12 shooting. Though, he was a -20 rating.

Bulls (5-5) 94 @ Trail Blazers (5-5) 102

• Leading scorers: CHI – Nate Robinson 18, POR – Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews 21.
• All five Blazers starters scored in double figures.
• LaMarcus Aldridge posted a double double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.
• Joakim Noah was near a triple double with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists.
• The Bulls were only 4-16 (25%) from behind the arc.

Rockets (4-6) 108 @ Lakers (5-5) 119

• Leading scorers: HOU – Chandler Parsons 24, LAL – Dwight Howard 28.
• Not to be outdone by Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant also had a triple double. He posted an impressive 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
• Dwight Howard wasn’t shabby either with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Chandler Parsons had an efficient scoring night for the Rockets with 24 points (8-10 FG, 4-5 3PT).

November 4, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World Peace (15) turns the ball over against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

76ers (1-1) 84 @ Knicks (2-0) 100

• Leading scorers: PHI – Jrue Holiday 27, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 27.
• The Knicks kept the hot outside shooting going by making 11 more threes in this game.
• J.R. Smith had 20 points (4-5 3PT) and 9 rebounds off the Knicks bench.
• Jrue Holiday is earning that contract extension. 27 points (5-6 3PT) and 7 assists in a heavy 40 minutes.
• After playing only 2 minutes, Jason Richardson sprained his ankle. Dorell Wright reaped the benefits, in 33 minutes he scored 11 points and grabbed 9 boards in the loss.

Timberwolves (1-1) 86 @ Raptors (1-2) 105

• Leading scorers: MIN – Andrei Kirilenko 17, TOR – Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan 22.
• Kyle Lowry continues to roll with his new team with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 more steals. He now has had at least 21 pts, 7 rebs, 5 asts and 3 stls in all 3 games so far.
• Andrea Bargnani struggled shooting in this one, going 4-16 from the floor.
• Alan Anderson had a cool 18 points (and +20 rating) off the bench for the Raps.
• AK47 with a solid game: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks.
• Brandon Roy continues to have little impact, going 0-3 from the field for 4 points and 1 rebound in 22 minutes.

Suns (1-2) 94 @ Magic (2-0) 115

• Leading scorers: PHX – Luis Scola 24, ORL – J.J. Redick 24.
• The 2-0 Magic (Wow) were led by Big Baby (22 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts) and Redick (24 pts, 6 asts) once again.
• Nikola Vucevic played 37 minutes, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Magic were 8-11 from 3-point range.
• Gortat (14 pts, 11 rebs, 4 blks) and Scola (24 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts) continue the solid production in the frontcourt for the Suns.

Hawks (1-1) 104 @ Thunder (1-2) 95

• Leading scorers: ATL – Al Horford 23, OKC – Kevin Martin 28.
• The Hawks outscored the Thunder in the second half 57-44.
• Al Horford with a gem: 23 points (11-19 FG), 12 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Lou Williams continued to do damage from the bench with 19 points.
• ZaZa Pachulia with the devil’s number: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists.
• Kevin Durant continues his rebounding (and near triple double) run with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
• Kevin Martin trying to make people forget the name “Harden.” He had 28 points (8-11 FG, 6-8 3PT) off the bench in 30 minutes.

Pistons (0-3) 79 @ Lakers (1-3) 108

• Leading scorers: DET – Jonas Jerebko 18, LAL – Dwight Howard 28.
• Lakers finally broke through for their first win and outscored the Pistons 56-34 in the paint.
• In scoring 28 points, Dwight Howard was 12-14 from the field.
• The Lakers starters had an average rating of +31.
• NO Pistons starter scored in double figures.

October 31, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) talks to referee David Guthrie (16) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Nuggets (0-1) 75 @ 76ers (1-0) 84

• Leading scorers: DEN - Ty Lawson 16, PHI – Spencer Hawes 16.
• No Andrew Bynum for the Sixers, but Spencer Hawes (didn’t start) handled the production at center with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks.
• The Sixers shot only 35.3% from the field but were solid defensively with 13 steals and 11 blocked shots.
• Jrue Holiday (who got his extension 7 minutes before game time) finished with a very worthy 14 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds.
• Andre Miller ended up playing 32 minutes off the Nuggets bench and posted 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Pacers (1-0) 90 @ Raptors (0-1) 88

• Leading scorers: IND – David West 25, TOR – Kyle Lowry 21.
• 14 of David West’s 25 points came in the 4th quarter.
• Paul George stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 15 rebound and 5 assists.
• So did Roy Hibbert with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks.
• Kyle Lowry led the way for the Raptors with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals.
• Jonas Valanciunas showed that he might be a decent pickup in fantasy leagues if he continues with anything close to the 12 points and 10 rebounds he had in this game.

Rockets (1-0) 105 @ Pistons (0-1) 96

• Leading scorers: HOU – James Harden 37, DET – Brandon Knight 15.
• JAMES HARDEN! Are you kidding me? In a complete “eff you” game, Harden went completely off the chains with 37 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds and steals.
• The Rockets pulled out the road win after outscoring the Pistons 33-15 in the 4th quarter.
• Chandler Parsons with a sneaky good game: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists in a heavy 42 minutes.
• The Pistons backcourt shot 6-25 (Stuckey – 1-10).

Kings (0-1) 87 @ Bulls (1-0) 93

• Leading scorers: SAC – Tyreke Evans 21, CHI – Joakim Noah 23.
• If Joakim Noah does this all season, I can forget about my “Bulls will miss the playoffs” predcition. Finished with 23 points (11-12 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks.
• DeMarcus Cousins with an up and down game. 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks but also had 7 turnovers.
• The Kings only had 14 assists in the game as a team.

Spurs (1-0) 99 @ Hornets (0-1) 95

• Leading scorers: SAN – Tim Duncan 24, NOH – Anthony Davis 21.
• Great to see Tim Duncan still doing his thing: 24 points (10-15 FG), 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots in 34 minutes.
• Tony Parker (21 pts, 6 asts) and Kawhi Leonard (19 pts, 7 rebs, 5 stls) also had solid games.
• Hornets were only 4-17 (23.5%) from downtown.
• Greivis Vasquez dished out 13 assists for the Hornets.
• An underrated talent of Anthony Davis? Free throw shooting. 9-9 in this game.

Mavericks (1-1) 94 @ Jazz (1-0) 113

• Leading scorers: DAL – Darren Collison 17, UTA – Marvin Williams, Mo Williams 21.
• The Jazz used their size and destroyed the Mavs on the glass 61-40 in this game! Three players had at least 10 boards (Millsap 15, Jefferson 14, Favors 10).
• All 5 Utah starters were in double figures.
• Darren Collison led the Mavs in scoring for the second straight game with 17. He also had 7 assists.
• Even Dallas shooting 11-22 from 3-point range wasn’t enough to keep the game close.

Warriors (1-0) 87 @ Suns (0-1) 85

• Leading scorers: GSW – Carl Landry 17, PHX – Goran Dragic 17.
• After receiving his extension, Stephen Curry did play in this game, but he should have considering sitting out. Finished 2-14 from the field.
• The Warriors bench contributed 46 of the 87 points.
• The Suns starting bigs (Scola and Gortat) combined for 25 points, 20 rebounds and 8 blocked shots.
• The Suns were only 4-21 (19%) from behind the arc.

Lakers (0-2) 106 @ Trail Blazers (1-0) 116

• Leading scorers: LAL – Dwight Howard 33, POR – Nicolas Batum 26.
• Three Blazers had 20+ points (Batum 26, Lillard 23, Matthews 22) and Aldridge had 19.
• A opening night double double for rookie Lillard (23 pts, 11 asts).
• Dwight Howard’s monster game (33 pts, 14 rebs, 5 asts) wasn’t enough for the Lakers, who fell to 0-2.
• Kobe had another efficient scoring game: 30 points on 10-20 shooting (4-9 3PT).
• The Lakers had 24 turnovers (Kobe – 7) to the Blazers 12.

Grizzlies (0-1) 92 @ Clippers (1-0) 101

• Leading scorers: MEM – Rudy Gay 25, LAC – Jamal Crawford 29.
• Jamal Crawford went crazy off the Clippers bench with 29 points on 10-14 shooting.
• Not that they needed it, but the Clipper starters were quiet in the scoring department (Griffin 12, Paul 12, Jordan 12, Butler 10, Green 7).
• DeAndre Jordan had 9 turnovers. NINE.
• Zach Randolph with a big double double: 15 points, 16 rebounds.
• The Grizzlies shot 2-14 from downtown.

Apr 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. The Bulls won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

• DERRICK ROSE, PG, Chicago Bulls
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.9 APG, 23.10 PER
  I get it, listing Derrick Rose as the Bulls’ X-Factor is weak and certainly not my attempt to be labelled a rocket scientist anytime soon. We can claim we believe in the Bulls even without him (record-wise, this checks out to a certain degree), but let’s be honest, they go as far as he takes them. Trying to pin down an exact time at which Rose will make his season debut is anyone’s guess, and trust me there are scattered reports. I’ve heard some say Christmas, some mid-March, others say he’ll miss the entire season and some (though the name escapes me) are saying he’ll be ready for opening night. Take your pick. The bottom line is that Derrick Rose is one of the most important players in the Eastern Conference and league, let alone his own team. So while it seems simple to state this, I’m of the opinion that his team doesn’t even make the playoffs if his return is closer to that mid-March date. Is D-Rose an X-Factor? It’s arguably that he is THE X-Factor. The rocket scientists concur.
• 

  Jan 6, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Cleveland defeated Minnesota 98-87. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

  ANDERSON VAREJAO, C, Cleveland Cavaliers
  Last season: 31.4 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 18.93 PER (25 games)
  Kyrie Irving is the Cavs best player, hands down, it’s not even disputable. However, “best” and “important” can sometimes carry different weightings. Anderson Varejao represents the Cavs entire defensive identity. His energy and relentless hustle encapsulate what this young team should try to be on the defensive end. Varejao’s 2011-12 season was over in early February, during which he acculated 14 double-doubles in 25 games. With some extremely young players (Thompson, Samuels, Zeller, Leuer) behind him in the depth chart, the Cavs NEED Varejao to stay on the floor and be that embodiment of defense if they want to contend for a playoff spot in the East. Varejao’s offensive numbers will look even better this season as well, playing a full schedule with Irving running the show.

• 

  Mar. 16, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons guard (3) Rodney Stuckey controls the ball against Phoenix Suns guard (31) Sebastian Telfair at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pistons 109-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

  RODNEY STUCKEY, SG, Detroit Pistons
  Last season: 29.9 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 17.62 PER
  When I tell you that the Detroit Pistons backcourt is thin, I’m talking LeAnn Rimes thin. The days of Billups/Hamilton are long gone and now they have Stuckey and Brandon Knight, a second year player, representing the guard situation. Listed on their depth chart right now in the backup roles are the undersized Will Bynum at point guard and rookie Kim English at shooting guard. Scary would be an understatement. Stuckey is the key to this mess. While Greg Monroe will take over as the number one option on offense, Stuckey (with his 5 years of NBA service and slight production drop last season) is the default leader in the backcourt. Even though Brandon Knight improved over the course of his rookie season and will now assume a bigger role in the offense, I think Stuckey has a near obligation to bring his numbers up and better match up with the other premier shooting guards in the league. If not, the Pistons go from bad to worse.

• 

  May 8, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers shooting guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson (14) during game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Orlando 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

  GEORGE HILL, PG, Indiana Pacers
  Last season: 25.5 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.9 APG, 15.77 PER
  Sometimes it simply comes down to the weakest starter being the most important piece of the puzzle. While he’ll replace Darren Collison and split some minutes with newly acquired D.J. Augustin, George Hill is expected to take over starting point guard duties in Indiana. Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, David West and the improving Paul George comprise one of the strongest starting combinations in the league. George Hill is the only question mark, and that could be considered reaching. Historically, Hill has never been a big assist guy (2.5 per game over 24.8 MPG in his career), but that may change this year, given that he will be responsible for being the primary playmaker and the guy with the responsibility to get the ball to the first four scoring options mentioned above. If Hill averages another 25-30 minutes per game, expect his assist number to shoot up. With his added ability to score when necessary and even defend a bit, expect Hill to help push the Pacers deeper into the playoffs.

• 

  April 13, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings (3) during first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

  BRANDON JENNINGS, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
  Last season: 35.3 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 18.46 PER
  This is the year that Jennings needs to take the next step, and I’m not talking about scoring. At 19.1 PPG, he’s proven he can score. I wrote earlier that I didn’t think Jennings was an elite point guard, because of his lack of assists and his spotty shot selection, and I completely stand by that. Perhaps a more crucial attribute that Jennings needs to strengthen for his team to succeed is his leadership. He needs to be the catalyst to bring this team together. Between himself and his star backcourt teammate Monta Ellis, scoring the basketball is easy. The Bucks have solid role players but really no real star talent elsewhere on the roster. Jennings needs to facilitate, distribute the basketball and reassess his shot selection. That is what’s going to help this team climb into the playoff picture in the East, not dropping 35 points on 13 for 31 shooting. If he grows, the team grows.

Mar. 16, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe during game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Pistons 109-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Greg Monroe
Resume: 15.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 31.5 minutes, 30 double-doubles (9th in league), 52% FG, and 74% FT… Team record in games played: 25-41

Greg Monroe being ranked 39^th, one spot ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, epitomizes what this list is all about. Yesterday I talked about how Cousins dominated Olympic Team vs. Select Team scrimmages this summer, and how it’s not much of a surprise since Cousins has every physical tool you could want if you are a Center in the NBA. He is assertive, he can create his own shot, he’s athletic and he’s a mountain of a man. If this list were based on statistics and individual skill alone, Cousins is probably 15-20 spots higher. Dig a little deeper and you remember than by all accounts Cousins is dangerously close to straying down the path of every other coach killer and locker room pain from the past that had immense skill but never fully realized it.

Monroe is the perfect foil to Cousins. Consider that in the 2010 NBA Draft, Cousins fell to the 5^th pick mainly because the 76ers, Nets and Timberwolves had concerns (maybe legitimate) that Cousins was crazy. Oddly enough, things might have worked out much better for the Kings and Cousins if Sacramento too would’ve passed on Cousins, and selected a safer player. Say, someone like Greg Monroe? In that scenario, Sacramento wins because they aren’t drafting another black hole offensively, and Cousins wins because he ends up not having to play with a bunch of guys who shoot all of the time.

In all likelihood, Monroe isn’t fazed at all by this switch since he’s seemingly going to be a chameleon wherever he is or whatever the situation is. I say he’s a perfect foil to Cousins because Cousins is so devastating offensively, but also potentially to his team as a whole, where Monroe is not nearly as assertive in either respect. He’s someone who will rarely demand the ball and will likely never demand a trade and go on to get his coach fired. Over his career, Monroe will improve his game, which means his numbers will improve as well. Finally, he’ll start to get noticed, and hopefully it will be for things like being an incredibly smart basketball player and a terrific offensive rebounder. I’d be willing to bet that over time, everything Cousins does on the court will be overshadowed by the growing number of people (coaches, teammates, and potentially management at some point) he pisses off.

Even though right now Monroe has about 90% of the skill that Cousins has, he’s only 5% as likely to go off on a tirade, curse out his coaches, piss off his teammates and demand a trade. And he probably makes his team 50% better than Cousins does. All of this means more than the extra 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds Cousins averages.

We now have the official draft order for the upcoming NBA Draft:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Utah Jazz

(more…)

On February 18th, the NBA announced a list of the twelve finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame this year. The list includes Maurice Cheeks, Chris Mullin, Tex Winters and Dennis Rodman.

It caused me to think about Rodman’s career in the NBA, but it also forced me to take a good hard look at what I think qualifies a player to be enshrined. Should a player’s on-court resume stand alone, or should a player’s off-court behavior affect his candidacy, and if so, to what degree?

Let’s take a look. (more…)

As for the other game, the Orlando Magic were great defensively in a 89-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Like most have said, the Lakers looked tired, and the Magic just took it to them in the second half.

You can bet that some of yesterday’s games had an impact in our power rankings this week, so let’s get right to them! (more…)

Cleveland’s record now: 8-45.

I’ll be the first to admit. I guaranteed victory for the Cavs over the Pistons. Guaranteed! I simply had no doubt in my mind that they would win.

But of course, when the Cavs got down 52-36 at the half, reality set in. Did I really just guarantee victory for a team that had lost 25 straight games? (more…)

But now that the Super Bowl is officially in the books, the NBA takes center stage, and as we start to hit the stretch run of the season, there are some teams that are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Therefore, it’s time once again for STS’s super duper mega awesome power rankings. Or something like that.

We’ve got the whole crew assembled this week, and we’ve got our list ready. Our opinions differ on several spots, but hey, if we had the same list from top to bottom, that would be rather boring wouldn’t it? (more…)

For starters, what exactly are we waiting on? Well, it sounds like the fun contract of Al Harrington (four years, $28 million) is what is the main problem right now. (more…)

So without any further ado, here’s a look at the rankings: (more…)

The whole deal would center around the Nets getting Anthony, and while that would be a huge land in and of itself, that wouldn’t be all that New Jersey would be getting. (more…)

Let’s take a look at this week’s power rankings, and see which teams are in good shape…..and which teams are already searching for that Top 5 draft pick that will change the culture of their franchise. (more…)

And if we’re gonna talk about basketball tradition, we have to talk about the Pistons. Detroit has won three NBA titles in the past 22 years, and while that’s not a ton, it sure as heck is more than most teams can say they’ve won.

We remember the era in the late 80s. It was hard-nosed, aggressive defense that won the Pistons back-to-back championships in ’89 and ’90. Oddly enough, the same formula that allowed the Pistons to win in those two years (great point guard play and a defensive focus) also helped them win the title in 2004. (more…)