A busy festive period culminated in 5 games on Christmas day, including a Los Angeles double header. We take a look at this week’s winners and losers…
Good Week
LA Clippers
The Clips are on a franchise-record 14 game winning streak. Aside from the athleticism of starters Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, they also possess the highest scoring bench in the NBA this season.
With their confidence growing by the game, and this level of depth in their squad, they’re currently number one in the West, and the league overall. For a moribund franchise once considered the joke of the NBA, this is uncharted territory.
As LA’s other team still struggles to find their feet, and the Oklahoma City Thunder faltering, things look good for Vinny Del Negro’s men.
Rating: 10/10 for effort and commitment, but minus several thousand for style (See below)
Honourable mentions: Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Mike Miller.
Bad Week
Brooklyn Nets/ Avery Johnson
After a promising start to the season and an 11-4 record, Brooklyn has now lost 10 of their last 13 games, and their head coach.
The Nets suffered their worst home loss of the season on Christmas day, and to make matters worse it was against a division rival. They followed this with a 108-93 loss to the Bucks on Wednesday night, and their coach of the last 2-and-a-half years was handed his marching orders.
So, did Avery Johnson deserve to follow Mike Brown as the second coaching casualty of the season? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: Deron Williams and company will need to up their game if they free spending Nets are to get anywhere this (next) year.
Rating: Don’t panic. It’s only the Bobcats up next…
Honourable mentions: Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook.
uknba.com 