Ranking the Dirtiest Plays of the 2016-17 NHL Season So Far
January 18th, 2017 by Allan Mitchell No comments »
The 2016-17 NHL season has seen a large reduction in fines and suspensions for players. The 2015-16 saw 65, per Sportsnet, while this season's total fines and suspensions number fewer than 20.
The suspensions and injuries resulting from illegal contact began in the preseason, but things have been rolling along at a slow clip for most of the year. That's good news for the NHL, as the league is always strongest when the best players are available.
Here are the dirtiest plays—ranked by punishment doled out after the fact—of the 2016-17 season so far.
Note: Preseason incidents were included only if part of the suspension involved regular-season games.Begin Slideshow
Avery Bradley Injury: Updates on Celtics Guard’s Achilles Injury and Return
January 18th, 2017 by Tyler Conway No comments »
Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley will miss Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks with an Achilles injury.
Continue for updates.
Bradley Ruled Out vs. Knicks
Wednesday, Jan. 18
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Bradley's injury is described as a sore Achilles.
After the game, head coach Brad Stevens told reporters he could see Bradley missing more time with the injury.
Bradley Crucial on Both Ends for Celtics
Bradley did return to the lineup Monday after missing the Celtics' previous four games with an Achilles injury. He played 33 minutes in a 108-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets, but he scored only five points while shooting 2-of-9 from the floor.
An NBA All-Defensive First Team selection a year ago, Bradley is on pace for his best professional season. He is averaging career highs in points (17.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (2.4), working alongside Isaiah Thomas to create one of the NBA's most dynamic backcourts.
Despite his big season so ...
Ben Simmons Injury: Updates on 76ers Forward’s Foot and Return
January 18th, 2017 by Joe Pantorno No comments »
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons is continuing his recovery from foot surgery he underwent to repair a Jones fracture, which has held him out of every regular-season game in 2016-17.
It is currently unclear when he'll make his NBA debut.
Continue for updates.
Latest on Simmons' Timeline to Debut
Wednesday, Jan. 18
Simmons may make his NBA debut "shortly after" the NBA All-Star break, according to ESPN.com's Chris Haynes. The All-Star break concludes on Feb. 19. However, there is still a chance Simmons sits out the entire season, per Haynes.
Brown Debunks Rumors of Simmons' Return
Wednesday, Jan. 18
Head coach Brett Brown told the media there is "no chance" that Simmons will be ready to play by Jan. 27, when the 76ers host the Houston Rockets.
Some believed Simmons would make his debut that day after ESPN bumped the Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls game for Philadelphia's matchup against Houston, per 76ers director of public relations Michael Preston.
Simmons did ...
Carmelo Anthony Comments on Meeting with Phil Jackson, Future with Knicks
January 18th, 2017 by Adam Wells No comments »
One day after Phil Jackson met with Carmelo Anthony to discuss the nine-time All-Star's present and future with the New York Knicks, Anthony spoke about what happened between the two.
"The conversation wasn't that long," Anthony said, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "We didn't break bread. We didn't have an hour's conversation. It was a short conversation."
ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reported after the meeting between the two that Anthony "reaffirmed" his desire to be with the Knicks when Jackson asked him if he wanted to remain with the team.
As for Anthony's response on Wednesday, he did note having to answer questions about trade rumors getting to him.
"You get tired of it," he said. "I have to face you all every day. I'm the one that got to have all the answers. I'm the one that got to kind of make up something. Even when I don't want to talk to you all, I still talk ...
Draymond Green Flagrant Foul on LeBron James ‘a Message,’ Says Tyronn Lue
January 18th, 2017 by Adam Wells No comments »
Things got chippy when Draymond Green was called for a flagrant-1 foul after knocking down LeBron James during the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors' 126-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue addressed the play in question following the team's practice Wednesday, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin:
Was it a dirty play? I don't know. Was it a statement? I think so. He didn't want to let LeBron get in the open court and get a dunk or layup, and he took a hard foul. He wanted to try to send a message to our team.
Of course, it's easier to do when you're up 25.
The Warriors were up only 52-35 at the time—not by 25—but Cleveland's coach made sure to note how the tables were turned when the two teams met on Christmas Day:
When you're down and you're complaining about every call when you're down — when we played ...
How LA Lakers Should Address Each Area of Need at the NBA Trade Deadline
January 18th, 2017 by Eric Pincus No comments »
The Los Angeles Lakers have improved over last season's 17-win debacle but are facing a fourth straight trip to the NBA's draft lottery. The team started the year with 10 victories in its first 20 tries but has since flatlined, winning just five of the next 26.
Despite their many struggles, the Lakers are only five games behind the eighth-place Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers' hot start did more than just keep the team in sight of an unthinkably early postseason bid. It may have also cost the Lakers their 2017 first-round pick, which would mean finally paying the price for acquiring Steve Nash in 2012.
If the Lakers don't luck into a top-three lottery pick, they'll forfeit their selection to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Should general manager Mitch Kupchak search for a deal to try to push the Lakers into the playoffs? Or should he stay the course, trust the process and look to add to ...
Mo Williams to Nuggets: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction
January 18th, 2017 by Mike Chiari No comments »
The Atlanta Hawks traded guard Mo Williams to the Denver Nuggets Wednesday in exchange for the draft rights to Cenk Akyol.
The deal was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical early Wednesday morning. He added that Denver intends to waive Williams and his $2.2 million contract in order to get closer to the salary-cap floor, and that Atlanta will sign guard Gary Neal to a 10-day contract.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the trade.
The 34-year-old veteran announced his intention to retire in September, but he never filed the paperwork, which meant his rights were still technically owned by the Cleveland Cavaliers entering the 2016-17 campaign.
Williams underwent knee surgery instead and left the Cavs in limbo regarding what to do with his contract.
He never suited up and was traded along with Mike Dunleavy to the Hawks in the deal that sent Kyle Korver to Cleveland.
Williams returned to Cleveland last offseason after spells with multiple teams. ...
Midseason Grades for Each Boston Celtics Player
January 18th, 2017 by Brian Robb No comments »
The Boston Celtics are living up to the lofty expectations pegged on them by fans, writers and sportsbooks in Las Vegas before the start of the 2016-17 season. They are 26-15 through 41 games, which puts them on pace to finish with a 52-30 record.
Several players (Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley) are in the midst of their best individual seasons, but it took until the past month for the Celtics to rise above the pack and join the Eastern Conference elite. With 13 wins in their last 16 games, they have put themselves in contention to chase down the Toronto Raptors for the No. 2 seed.
However, head coach Brad Stevens is not satisfied with where his squad stands despite its recent surge.
"I think we have to get a lot better," Stevens said Tuesday. "We've played a lot of close games. I think we did the math on it yesterday, 34 of ...
2017 NBA Superstar Rankings: Giannis Antetokounmpo Keeps Soaring
January 18th, 2017 by Adam Fromal No comments »
Giannis Antetokounmpo has become a force unlike any other in the NBA.
The 22-year-old superstar keeps rising, keeps producing monstrous statistical outings for the Milwaukee Bucks, and they're by no means empty lines. He flies through the air for constant dunks, extending his lanky arms to put the ball beyond the reach of paint-protecting presences. He finds teammates with passes no player his size should be able to make with any semblance of consistency. He even locks down his assignments while ready to switch onto virtually any player.
Plenty has changed since our end-of-2016 superstar rankings, but one thing hasn't: Antetokounmpo keeps trending up the individual hierarchy, ascending closer than ever to the top of the pile. But how close? And who is he displacing? Who else is coming up with him?
That's the fun part.
As always, we're not concerned with the level these 25 players will reach by the end of the ...
James Harden Posted League-Leading 4th 40-Point Triple-Double of the Season
January 18th, 2017 by Daily Facts No comments »
Fact: Despite the loss to the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets guard James Harden had 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on Tuesday night. He now leads the league with four 40-point triple-doubles this season.
Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Facts of the day, presented by Coors Light.Source: B/R InsightsRead more NBA news on BleacherReport.com