nba basketball

Russell Westbrook Inexplicably Benched In 4th Quarter

by

Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz recently where he was eventually bought out. Subsequently, Russ went to the Los Angeles Clippers where he will get to engage in some playoff basketball. In his first game with the Clippers, the team engaged in a classic shootout with the Sacramento Kings. Although they lost by a score of 176-175, there is no doubt that Russ was great in the match. The Clippers appear to be a much better fit for Russ, and you can tell that he is already much happier.

Last night, the Clippers took on the Denver Nuggets, who are the top team in the Western Conference. Overall, Russ had another great game as he had a total of 17 points after three quarters. However, Russ was inexplicably left on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. Moreover, once the game went to overtime, he didn’t see any minutes there either. What makes this decision so interesting is the fact that Russ had done nothing wrong. He was great during the game, and the Clippers could have won with him in the lineup.

Russell Westbrook Benched

Consequently, Ty Lue was questioned about his decision following the game. For Lue, it was simply a matter of momentum. He felt as though the lineup that finished the game was gaining steam and he didn’t want to mess up the chemistry. Overall, his decision turned out to be a bad one as the Clippers lost yet another game. It also elicited a ton of comments from fans on social media. For the most part, fans are upset, and they want Russ to get a fair shake on his new team.

“Minutes limited Paul George played 36 minutes tonight. Russell Westbrook played 25 minutes…didn’t play in the 4th quarter or overtime. No injury news given. Tyronn Lue is a suspect and I hope you’re searching your name to see this,” One user wrote. Many other comments were very similar to this, as they could not believe Ty Lue’s decision-making. Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Twitter Reacts

[Via]

Kyrie Irving’s Rumored Plans For The Offseason Revealed

by

Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the entire NBA. Although some people don’t find his antics to be worth it, there is no doubt that a lot of teams could use him. The Dallas Mavericks certainly thought so as they traded for the former Nets star. Overall, Kyrie has only played a handful of games with the Mavericks, leading to a record of 2-3. He and Luka Doncic have a lot of work to do, although they could certainly cause some damage in the postseason.

This is a very interesting experiment for the Dallas Mavericks. Kyrie is going to be a free agent in the summer, which means he can go anywhere he wants. Overall, this means that Irving could simply be a rental for the Mavericks. Aside from Luka, who they drafted, the team has not been good at attracting other superstars. That being said, there has been speculation that Irving would walk for a team like the Lakers. However, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, it seems like executives around the league believe Kyrie will stay put.

Kyrie Has A Choice

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket as Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the second half at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

“Kyrie will be on his best behavior until he gets paid; after is a different story,” one higher-up said. “Unless he and Luka actively despise each other, I don’t see Dallas letting him go.” This was subsequently followed by the words of another executive who is thinking the exact same way. “Kyrie’s goal in pushing out of Brooklyn was to get his rights with a team willing to pay him,” they explained. “Dallas is where he’ll want to be.”

This is definitely an interesting scenario. It seemed like Kyrie and the Lakers were a sure thing. Now, however, Irving could experience some stability in Dallas. That said, it is hard to imagine him and Luka co-existing for more than just a postseason. Only time will tell whether or not we are wrong. Let us know where you want to see Kyrie play, down in the comments below.

[Via]

LeBron James & Kyrie Irving Reunite: Watch

by

LeBron James is in his 20th season of NBA basketball. Overall, he is still playing at an incredibly high level. However, this has not put the Lakers into a playoff position, at least not yet. The team is currently battling for a play-in spot, and they even have a chance at getting the sixth seed. Although, it is not going to be easy. They have to play some pretty good teams to get there, and last night, they had to take on the latest dynamic duo in the league. Of course, we are talking about Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Luka and Kyrie have had some struggles together. That said, they are incredibly talented and can definitely take down a team like the Lakers. Instead, on Sunday, the Lakers came out victorious. At one point in the first half, the Lakers were down by 27 points. Despite this, they were able to make an impressive comeback that featured some heroics from LeBron and Anthony Davis down the stretch. It was a horrible loss for the Mavs, but a massive win for the Lakers.

LeBron x Kyrie

Subsequently, after the game, LeBron was able to greet players from the Mavs. In the clip above, you can see that this included Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Overall, Luka and Kyrie didn’t seem to be too upset about the loss. They simply dapped up LeBron with huge smiles on their faces. In fact, Irving looked incredibly happy to see James as they executed what seemed to be a pretty involved handshake. It is just another example of how much these two love each other.

Unfortunately, for the Mavericks, this could very well spark some rumors about what Kyrie will do in the offseason. He is going to become a free agent which means he is free to do as he pleases. The Lakers are a team that would love to have Kyrie, although who knows what will happen at this point? Let us know what you thought of yesterday’s Lakers Vs. Mavericks game, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Full Highlights

[Via]

Damian Lillard Drops 71 Points During Epic Performance

by

Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league, however, he isn’t talked about enough. Overall, it is easy to see why this is the case. He plays for the Portland Trail Blazers who are largely irrelevant right now. They do not have the pieces to be playoff contenders, and ultimately, Lillard has been loyal to them, to a fault. He wants to win a championship in Portland, but at this point, it remains to be seen if that is possible. Although most fans just want him to go elsewhere, namely the Lakers, it doesn’t seem like a real possibility right now.

That said, Lillard is known for exploding on offense. There have been multiple occasions in which he has popped off for a grand total of 60 points. However, he has never gone for 70. On Sunday, that changed in front of our very eyes as Lillard started out his game against the Rockets with 41 points in the first half alone. Subsequently, he went off for 30 more points in the second half. If you are counting properly at home, you will know that he dropped a grand total of 71 points, which is wild.

Damian Lillard Goes Off

This is the second 71-point game of the NBA season. Back in early January, Donovan Mitchell went for 71. It was an incredible match for Mitchell, who became the 7th player to score over 70 in a game. Consequently, Lillard is the eighth. Thankfully for the Blazers, they were able to secure the win thanks to Lillard’s performance. Had the team lost, it would have been embarrassing for the bench and all of the other starters. Although, the Blazers were playing the Houston Rockets which definitely helps.

For the Blazers, they are in a fight with teams like the Lakers for that final play-in spot. It is going to be a very difficult fight, but if Lillard keeps playing like this, then the team should be fine. As always, let us know what you thought of this performance, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

More Highlights

[Via]

Gilbert Arenas Gets Honest About Previous Generations Of The NBA

by

Gilbert Arenas is someone who is brutally honest whenever he speaks. Even if you disagree with his opinions, it is clear that he has a lot of passion for the game of basketball. Overall, he does not care who he may offend whenever he speaks. Moreover, he has been able to build a large platform with his podcast. On this shoe, Arenas is able to give as many hot takes as possible in an unregulated fashion. This is certainly a style that fits his personality, and it has led to some great banter over the years.

As it pertains to basketball discourse, much has been made about the previous generations and how they compare to today. Every single day it feels like some old head is calling the new generation of NBA stars “soft.” Furthermore, players like LeBron get called out for “not being able to survive in the 80s.” Of course, these are ridiculous notions as we never got to see LeBron in the 80s. At the end of the day, this discourse is simply not productive, and Arenas is a bit sick of it.

Gilbert Arenas Pulls No Punches

In a recent episode of his No Chill podcast, Arenas set the record straight about the difference between the eras. In his eyes, the 80s cannot hold a candle to the basketball that was played in the 90s and eventually the 2000s. Moreover, he would even extend that to today as he finds that the current game is amazing. He even took a swipe at Bill Laimbeer, noting that he would never be able to defend the young guys playing now. “80s cannot compete with 90s, 2000s, and now. It is a pointless argument. Bill Laimbeer cannot play basketball today, his defense does not work today,” Arenas professed.

This is one of those hot takes that will rub oldheads the wrong way. After all, the generation wars have been heating up quite a bit. This is especially true now that LeBron has the record for most points in the history of the NBA. Let us know if you think Arenas is correct, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sneaker world.

[Via]

Lonzo Ball Hit With More Devastating News

by

When Lonzo Ball signed with the Chicago Bulls, pretty well everyone agreed that he was a phenomenal fit for the team. Overall, Lonzo is a great point guard who plays solid defense. Additionally, Lonzo perfected his shooting form and actually became a good three-point shooter. With Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, it became clear that the Bulls had a new big three. Unfortunately, Lonzo hurt his left knee at the beginning of 2022, which led to the decision to get surgery.

Subsequently, Lonzo was subjected to all kinds of issues. After months of rehab, the Bulls superstar was not getting any healthier. He still had pain in his knee and couldn’t really move around. Consequently, the Bulls decided to give Lonzo a second surgery so that he could truly heal himself. However, things have not progressed the way the team was hoping. Ball is still injured and there is no timetable for when he will ever be able to return. In fact, there has been this feeling of hopelessness around the situation that is quite concerning to bare witness to.

Lonzo Ball Injuries

Unfortunately, the Lonzo Ball news continues to get worse and worse. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, we will not see Ball at all this season. “The Chicago Bulls are expected to shut down guard Lonzo Ball for the remainder of the season,” Charania wrote. “Pain and discomfort have persisted in Ball’s left knee following two surgeries at the beginning and end of 2022.” Now, the team will have to rely on its current roster, which recently added none other than Patrick Beverley off waivers. Overall, this is not the situation the Bulls were hoping for at the beginning of their season.

Hopefully, Lonzo can get healthy again. It has been hard to watch him go through all of this. He is a player that is exciting to watch, and the league is more fun when he is on the court. Moving forward, we wish him the best in his recovery. Be sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

[Via]

Meyers Leonard Gets A New Gig Two Years After Anti-Semitic Controversy

by

Meyers Leonard was seen as a pretty decent role player just a few years ago. Overall, he seemed to have found a great home with the Miami Heat. Additionally, the team was playing great basketball, and Leonard was part of a dynamic frontcourt. However, things took a turn for the worse as it pertains to Leonard’s professional prospects. This is due to the fact that he shouted an Anti-Semitic slur while live on Twitch. It was a truly shocking moment that took NBA fans by surprise.

Leonard was subsequently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. From there, the team waived him, and he was without a team. Eventually, things went from bad to worse for Leonard as he got nerve damage on his right leg following surgery. This led to a two-year-long rehab process that forced Leonard out of the league. Now, however, he is healthy and has been looking for his next opportunity. There have been some doubts around the league concerning his ability to get signed. Although, one team has decided to bite.

Meyers Leonard Moves On

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed Leonard to a 10-day contract. These 10-day deals are very popular amongst teams as they allow quite a bit of flexibility. Consequently, Leonard will only have a short window to prove himself. If he doesn’t play well, then he will immediately be dismissed and will have to search for a 10-day with a different team. Given his past controversies, this could be his only chance of breaking through into the league again. Needless to say, there will be quite a bit of pressure on him to perform.

There are quite a few Bucks fans who are uncomfortable with this signing. However, it seems like the Bucks themselves seem fine with it. They are a team looking for depth ahead of the playoffs, and only time will tell whether or not Leonard is a solid addition. Given the controversy around him, however, it is easy to see why people are upset. Let us know what you think of this signing, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

[Via]

Fat Joe Believes Michael Jordan Is Still The GOAT Over LeBron James

by

Fat Joe just cast his vote in the long-standing GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Of course, it’s a difficult question to ask, but still a fun one to answer for millions of NBA fans. Moreover, Complex caught up with the New York MC for his take on the debate at the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game. While LeBron just became the NBA’s all-time scorer, Joey Crack still stood by Jordan’s legacy in the game. Even though he made his opinion clear, he still showed a lot of love to the current Laker.

“MJ’s the GOAT,” the “Lean Back” star expressed on the red carpet of the big game. “We love LeBron. LeBron is the greatest, at this time. Actually, we worship LeBron. We love him to death, but MJ’s the GOAT.” However, Complex asked other celebrities like Cordae, who had a different perspective. “I wasn’t alive when MJ was playing,” the North Carolina rapper explained. “So I can only speak on what I’ve seen and LeBron has been doing the damn thing.” Even LeBron himself would agree. Of course, Joe’s one of the most prolific Air Jordan collectors in the rap game, so his take is unsurprising.

Fat Joe Crowns Michael Jordan The GOAT

Meanwhile, other hip-hop figures congratulated James on passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time scorer. For example, Jay-Z gave LeBron his flowers in a tribute video played by TNT. Not only did the arguably greatest rapper of all time acknowledge the NBA star’s 20-year career, but also its unique legend status. “Being able to perform at a high level for a long period of time, you know, that’s excellence,” Hov remarked. “Long after you’ve gone, people, they’re looking at your name. That’s what greatness is. There’s not many you can compare LeBron to. 19-time All-Star, a remarkable feat. The all-time scorer, all-time. I mean, what can you say?

“I’ve known LeBron since he was in high school,” he continued. “There was a lot of talk about how amazing he was. We were convinced this guy was super special. He’s been through plenty iterations of the game, and each era, he’s been the best. The chosen one, that’s it.” Regardless of Jay’s words, let us know where you fall in that debate in the comments below. Also, stay logged into HNHH for the latest on Fat Joe, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and more NBA debates.

[via]

Russell Westbrook Signs With Clippers, NBA Twitter Reacts

by

Russell Westbrook has not had a particularly great couple of years. His issues truly started when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, it was clear that his style of play was incompatible with that of LeBron James. Subsequently, the Lakers had to have Russ come off the bench so that he and LeBron would not be in each other’s way. Regardless, things did not change much for the Lakers who continued to hover around 13th in the Western Conference. For many, it was clear that Russ needed a change of scenery.

During the trade deadline, the Lakers were making all sorts of phone calls involving Russ. Eventually, they were able to land a deal with the Utah Jazz. From there, it was revealed that the Jazz would buy out Russ’ deal. This would then make Russ a free agent who could go wherever he pleases. In the end, he did just that as earlier this morning, it was announced that he would be joining the Los Angeles Clippers.

Russell Westbrook To Clips

As you can imagine, there was a lot of fanfare around this decision. Westbrook is a high-profile player who demands attention. Consequently, fans were very interested in where he would eventually go. Now, Russ will get to play with the likes of Kawhi Leonard. Additionally, he will reunite with his former teammate on the Thunder, Paul George. Overall, this is going to be very fun to watch. Moreover, there is now this sense that the Clippers are title contenders. However, NBA Twitter might have something else to say about that, as Russ is already the subject of endless memes.

In the various tweets down below, you can find some memes that are both for and against Russ joining the Clippers. Many believe that Russ will actually enhance certain players such as Ivica Zubac. Others aren’t so sure as Russ has never truly worked out for any of his former teams. Regardless, the Clippers have their point guard, and they are confident that they can make a deep title run with Westbrook at the helm.

NBA Twitter Comments

Shaq Hilariously Makes Fun Of Charles Barkley For Sounding Drunk

by

Shaq and Charles Barkley have always combined for some truly incredible banter on Inside The NBA. TNT has had the rights to the NBA for a very long time, and overall, fans are hoping that they keep it. This is largely thanks to the amazing job that Shaq and Charles are constantly doing. Although they may be oldheads who are stuck in their ways, they are always providing fans with some truly hilarious banter. Whenever you tune into their broadcast, you can be sure that something truly funny is going to be said by one of them.

This past weekend, Barkley and Shaq were huge parts of the All-Star coverage. TNT has always had the game, and on Sunday, they got to be part of the draft and the game in Salt Lake City, Utah. As we already reported, Chuck had some words for none other than Draymond Green. Additionally, however, during the draft portion, Shaq and Chuck had some hilarious banter. In the clip down below, you can see just how amazing it truly was.

Shaq Clowns Chuck

As you can hear, there was a weird delay on Barkley’s mic that made it sound as if he was slurring his words. Shaq caught onto this right away and decided to make fun of his co-host. The NBA legend asked Barkley if he was drunk and what exactly he had been sipping on all afternoon. Chuck immediately claimed it was the microphone, although Shaq was not buying it. Furthermore, the whole scene was made funnier thanks to LeBron and Giannis laughing it up on stage. Needless to say, Shaq knows how to turn moments into funny ones.

As for the game itself, Team Giannis won thanks to some amazing efforts from his teammates. However, there was no defense and for many of the fans at home, it was just a boring match. At the end of the day, the All-Star Game is simply a showcase, and nothing more. Hopefully, in future years, they are able to make the game a bit better. Until then, fans will be stuck with the current product which absolutely needs a bit of work.

[Via]