Maligned NHL Players Proving Fans Wrong in 2016-17
December 21st, 2016 by Allan Mitchell No comments »
There are several redemption stories across the NHL this season that are attracting a lot of attention. Some impact players who fell off from established levels one year ago are back on track—like Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers. Some former lottery picks who had been demoted to being role players and fringe options are now having major impacts on their teams.
It is a big part of the 2016-17 season, with some of the NHL's most successful teams cashing in from unexpected places. Some of last year's maligned players are having huge impacts on this year's playoff chase—in a good way.
Here are six maligned NHL players who are showing fans they were wrong this season.Begin Slideshow
Ben Bishop Injury: Lightning Goalie to Miss 3-4 Weeks with Lower-Body Injury
December 21st, 2016 by Alec Nathan No comments »
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop suffered a lower-body injury during Tuesday night's matchup against the Detroit Red Wings and was forced to leave the game.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that he will miss three to four weeks because of it, per Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com.
Bishop suffered the injury during the first period after going down into the butterfly position to stop a shot from Red Wings defenseman Nick Jensen:
The injury bug continues to find Bishop, who suffered a left knee injury after falling awkwardly during Game 1 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The ailment was severe enough at the time that he had to be stretchered off the ice.
But before he was forced to bow out of the postseason, the Vezina Trophy finalist was positively superb throughout the 2015-16 campaign. In 61 appearances, the 30-year-old went 35-21 with a .926 save percentage and a league-leading 2.06 ...
Aaron Gordon’s Ascension Is Short-Circuiting in Orlando
December 21st, 2016 by Zach Buckley No comments »
MIAMI — It's 12 minutes to tipoff, and Aaron Gordon won't budge from the left corner.
The first long-range look for the third-year Orlando Magic forward clips the front iron, then the back and rattles out. His next four fall in succession, with only one requiring the rim's assistance.
"He's improved his perimeter shooting," Magic coach Frank Vogel told Bleacher Report, "and his feel on the perimeter for recognizing the spots and the role we've created for him."
As encouraging as all that sounds—and as much credit as Gordon deserves for a complete buy-in to moving from the post to the perimeter—this process isn't what it seems.
He is not a small forward; he just plays one for the Magic.
Vogel acknowledged as much before the season.
"If Serge Ibaka wasn't here, Aaron Gordon would be my power forward," Vogel told ESPN.com's Zach Lowe in July. "But Serge is here."
So are centers Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo, who, along with Ibaka, all see more floor ...
Pro Basketball Hall of Fame 2017: Full List of Nominees and Reaction
December 21st, 2016 by Joseph Zucker No comments »
Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady and five-time All-NBA forward Chris Webber headline the list of prospective inductees for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
The Hall of Fame announced the full list of eligible inductees Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to McGrady and Webber, the docket also includes legendary college coaches Bill Self, Gene Keady and Lefty Driesell.
Below are this year's Hall of Fame candidates:
ESPN's Rachel Nichols tweeted she got to personally break the good news to McGrady:
Denver Nuggets forward Mike Miller saluted his former teammate:
The careers of McGrady and Webber mirrored one another to a certain extent. During the site's ranking of the top 100 players in NBA history, ESPN.com listed McGrady No. 63 and Webber No. 66.
Neither McGrady nor Webber captured an NBA title, and injuries curtailed their longevity on the court.
McGrady, who averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game, was out of the league at age 33.
Webber ...
Lakers News: Nick Young Trade Rumors, Shaq O’Neal Statue Date Revealed, More
December 21st, 2016 by Tim Daniels No comments »
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost 10 of their past 11 games to erase a lot of the short-term optimism that emerged during the team's strong start to the 2016-17 season. While the organization's future remains bright thanks to a bevy of young talent, some growing pains still lie ahead.
One question the front office will have to answer over the next couple of months is whether it wants to try making some moves it believes could accelerate the process. Staying the course is the safe route, but waiting can be hard for a franchise with so much past success.
For now, let's check out some of the latest news and rumors involving the Lakers as the team gets prepared to play five games in eight days before the new year arrives.
Nick ...
Will Clint Capela’s Injury Hijack Houston Rockets’ Scoring Attack?
December 21st, 2016 by Maurice Bobb No comments »
It all comes down to energy.
It sounds simple, dismissive even. But what Clint Capela gives the Houston Rockets—more than alley-oop finishes, more than tip-ins and put-backs, dunks and pick-and-rolls that open up creative space for James Harden—is boundless, nonstop energy.
And that's what the Rockets will need from the other guys moving forward to replace Capela's 11.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while he's out four to six weeks with a small left fibula fracture.
Energy.
"I'm sure he hates to be out," coach Mike D'Antoni told Bleacher Report prior to the 102-100 loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at the Toyota Center.
"But it gives other guys opportunities to step up and try to fill the holes as best we can. We'll use a little bit of everybody, those two guys primarily [Nene Hilario and Montrezl Harrell] and we'll use Ryan [Anderson]. We have enough to hold the fort."
They got a sufficient ...
Stuck in Standoff over Chris Bosh’s Future, NBA to Create New Medical Panels
December 21st, 2016 by Howard Beck No comments »
A steady September rain pelted Biscayne Bay on the afternoon Chris Bosh grabbed a film crew and broadcast his plight to the world.
He was angry, confused, determined.
"You always have to fight for the things you really want to do and the things that you love," Bosh told the camera, as part of an UNINTERRUPTED series. "So when does that stop?"
The 32-year-old Bosh had just been barred from playing basketball, his chosen profession, by his employer, the Miami Heat. The cause: a failed physical examination.
Though the Heat announced no details, the reasons were understood. Bosh is a two-time survivor of blood clots, living on a full-time regimen of blood thinners—making him an extreme health risk in the judgment of team doctors.
A blood clot can kill you. Playing contact sports while on blood thinners is dangerous.
So the Heat shut down their best player, and Bosh slipped into an uncomfortable limbo: under contract ...
NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on the Houston Rockets, Will Barton and More
December 21st, 2016 by Andy Bailey No comments »
There are plenty of potential reasons behind players finding their way into the NBA's trade rumor mill. Three different ones are on display this week.
For the Houston Rockets, an injury to starting center Clint Capela has necessitated their perusal of the big-man market.
Discord may force the Sacramento Kings to explore their options with Arron Afflalo (as they might with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay as well).
And finally, solid play may have some teams calling upon the Denver Nuggets to see whether Will Barton might be available for the right price.
Whatever the reasons, the rumor mill always seems to churn on. We'll see if it picks up enough speed to actually get any of these guys moved in the coming weeks.
Rockets in the Market for a Big Man?
Starting alongside assist machine James Harden, Capela was having a career year in his third season in the NBA.
Before suffering a ...
LeBron James Passes Moses Malone for 8th All Time on the NBA Scoring List
December 21st, 2016 by Daily Facts No comments »
Fact: LeBron James scored 34 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 114-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, passing Moses Malone to move into eighth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
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
Malik Monk Is 2017 NBA Draft’s Default Option at Shooting Guard
December 21st, 2016 by Jonathan Wasserman No comments »
The 2017 NBA draft conversation includes a number of compelling debates.
Projecting the best shooting guard isn't one of them, though—Kentucky's Malik Monk looks well on his way toward earning that title following his 47-point eruption during Saturday's three-point win over North Carolina.
It felt like a statement performance, a historic display of offense capable of moving the draft-stock needle.
"Definitely buying into a shot-maker like that," one NBA scout said of Monk. "If he was 6'5", everyone would say he's the potential top pick."
Monk however, is 6'3", but he nonetheless further established his world-class shot-making while showing off advanced perimeter shot creativity. He's a pro at finding ways to create just enough separation, whether it's with a pump fake, screen, step-back or hang dribble to rock his man back.
Throw in fearlessness and confidence, and Monk's clearly a threat to catch fire. You got the impression he saw a hula hoop instead of a rim ...