NBA

NBA: Heat Under Pressure Against Lakers

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Having lost five straight, the Miami Heat have given plenty of fuel to feed their critics. Tonight they get a chance to strike back but it’s going to be tough against the Los Angeles Lakers Lakers looking for payback Way back on Christmas Day, the Lakers met the Heat in the Staples Center and for...

NBA

NBA: The Heat Can Fix This

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Miami Heat fell to a fourth straight defeat but Al Dannity says not to worry. There’s no need for a Pat Riley miracle cure to fix a team that isn’t really broken. Still loaded The Miami team that lost to the Chicago Bulls last night, giving the Bulls a sweep of the season series,...

NBA

NBA: Heat Look to Burn Magic in Miami

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Miami can move within a game of the Celtics with a home win tonight but Dwight Howard and the Magic won’t be in the giving mood this close to the playoffs. The road is long Miami may be at home tonight but the next three weeks are going to feel like an epic journey for...

NBA

NBA: Bulls Continue Stampede Through the Eastern Conference

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Chicago notched up their 41st win of the season last night, matching their win-total for last year. Al Dannity says the Bulls deserve as much attention as the Celtics and Heat. Bulls just keep on winning After going 41-41 last year and tamely exiting the playoffs in the first round, the Bulls are on a...

NBA

NBA: A Whole New Melo-Drama in New York

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Knicks latest acquisition will suit up in front of his new home fans at Madison Square Garden tonight. Al Dannity says Carmelo Anthony’s chemistry with Amare Stoudemire will be crucial in the Knicks’ push for the playoffs. The big question No prizes for guessing what this is. After giving up four players and three...

NBA

NBA: Kobe Dunks on LeBron as West Win All-Star Game

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

LeBron James hit a triple-double, only the second in the history of the All-Star game, but Kobe Bryant sent out a loud message to all of the NBA as he collected the MVP award on his home court. The Kloser demands attention Black Mamba was in no mood to step out of the limelight on...

NBA

NBA: Heat and Lakers Can Enter Break on a High Note

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Miami Heat head north to take on the Raptors while the Lakers look to end their seven game road trip on a winning note as the NBA edges closer to the All-Star break. Hapless Cavs have no hope Yesterday I wrote about how the Lakers need to reach the All-Star break as soon as...

NBA

NBA: Manic Monday Leaves Lakers and Nuggets Craving Break

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

How do you go from beating the Celtics in their home court to getting stomped in Charlotte? Al Dannity addresses the concerns for the Lakers and looks at a Denver team in need of a break. Time to chill Chris Bosh talked plenty about how players sometimes need to chill earlier in the season. The...

NBA

NBA: Allen Can Make History But Celtics Face Tough Challenge

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Ray Allen needs just two 3-pointers against the Lakers to set an All-Time record for the NBA but his Boston team will need to dig deep to pull out a win. Battered Boston must rotate well The Celtics enter tonight’s game against the Lakers without the services of Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal, Semih Erden, and...

NBA

NBA: Pumped Celtics Focussed on Contenders

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Boston may have one of the oldest teams in the NBA but these Celtics are playing with youthful vigor against the league’s elite. Orlando became the latest victim of the charging Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Taking care of business Wins over the Spurs, Lakers, and now two over Orlando since the start of January have...

NBA

NBA Preview: Lakers and Heat Must Forget Troubles

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Miami and LA both face tough assignments in primetime tonight as they look to record signature victories ahead of the All Star break. Spurs still sharp San Antonio lost for just the eighth time all season at Portland on Tuesday but will be keen to get back on track in the second of eight straight...

NBA

NBA: Celtics Win the Mental Battle in Los Angeles

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Lakers’ poor fourth quarter against Boston shows that LA will need to step up big time to keep their three-peat dreams alive. Kobe can’t do it all A 41-point effort from Kobe Bryant wasn’t enough for LA to win at home against the Celtics on Sunday night. Black Mamba was forced to carry the...

NBA

NBA Preview: Knicks Host Heat and Blazers Battle Celtics

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Thursday night’s double-header on TNT gives the New York Knicks the chance to earn a morale boosting win over the Miami Heat. The second half sees the Boston Celtics head west to take on Portland. Knicks can top battered Heat Every NBA team has to deal with periods where its stars are injured and the...

NBA

NBA Preview: Mavs and Clippers Look to Build

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Thursday night’s NBA doubleheader sees two teams that suffered losing skids try to continue a recent turnaround in their fortunes. Mavs need to perform A home win over the Lakers on Wednesday stopped the longest losing streak of the season for Dallas. A win at Chicago tonight would stop a four-game losing streak on the...

NBA

NBA Preview: Lakers and Mavs Highlight Busy Wednesday Schedule

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

All but four NBA teams are in action tonight but despite the wealth of action elsewhere, all eyes will be on Dallas as the Mavericks host the Lakers. Time to make a run The Lakers have walked the walk in spurts this season. Monday’s victory over the Thunder established Los Angeles as the front runners...

NBA

NBA Preview: Mavs, Spurs In Lone Star State Showdown

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Dallas Mavericks (26-11) at San Antonio Spurs (33-6) For the last 10 years, these two in-state rivals have been battling for top spot in the Southwest Division. Tonight, things will be a little different — the Mavs will just be looking to keep pace with the Spurs. And they’ll have to do it without the...

NBA

NBA Preview: Mavs and Thunder Clash in Dallas

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Dallas Mavericks face their first big test since learning that Caron Butler is done for the season. How will they fare when Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder come to town. Dallas must balance aggression with patience The news that Caron Butler is done for the rest of the season only increases the pressure...

NBA

NBA Preview: Heat and Lakers Top Christmas Bill

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The NBA has some huge match-ups lined up for Christmas Day, none bigger than the meeting of the Miami Heat and LA Lakers in the Staples Center. Heat can burn Lakers The return of Andrew Bynum from injury will help Los Angeles down the stretch but it could have a detrimental effect in the short-term....

NBA

NBA Preview: Celtics and Spurs to Continue Streaks

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Hawks travel to Boston in a bid to break the Celtics’ 11-game winning streak while the Spurs defend their own 6-game streak at Denver. Tired Celtics can keep winning This has been a strange double-digit streak for the Celtics. Sure it’s getting talked about but Boston haven’t played like a team obsessed with setting...

NBA

NBA Preview: LeBron Brings the Heat to Cleveland

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

LeBron James won’t receive a warm welcome home from Cleveland fans tonight but the Heat can burn through Cavaliers on the court. Don’t look now but the Heat are improving Miami have not started the season the way a team with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James ought to. After 19 games they stand...