Key injuries shape Eastern Conference playoff race

The Miami Heat have claimed the number one spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by amassing an insurmountable lead going into the final stretch of the regular season. The Heat have played well this season but would they still be in the same position had it not been for a couple of key injuries suffered by some of their conference foes?

The Chicago Bulls led by Derrick Rose have held the Eastern Conference’s best record for the past two seasons but Rose hasn’t played a single game this season. Without Rose, the Bulls are currently sitting in fifth place in the conference standings.

Celtics’ Kevin Garnett will be back next year

Boston Celtics’ power forward Kevin Garnett has hinted that his Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals may have been his final game but if anyone knows how much of a competitor Garnett is, then rest assure you will see him next year.

He will be playing for a fraction of the $21 million he made last season though which may actually be a good thing for the Celtics who will use the extra money to add more firepower around Garnett and his teammates.

Rajon Rondo replacing Kidd as the new triple-double king?

Over the course of his career Jason Kidd has been a stat machine. His 107 triple-doubles ranks him third all-time behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson which puts him in some pretty lofty company to say the least. But with Jason Kidd now at the very tail end of his career, Boston Celtics’ point guard Rajon Rondo may be starting to cement himself as the league’s new triple-double king.

Apocalypse Now: last days for Boston Celtics’ big three?

Despite the team’s struggles and general manager Danny Ainges’ constant trade threats, the Boston Celtics were not able to pull the trigger on any trades before the trade deadline on Thursday.

Celtics foolish to trade Rajon Rondo

We know that the Boston Celtics are an old team. I mean really old, almost geriatric. And not only are they old but if you’ve seen them play this year they look old as well.

Nuggets, Hawks are not Championship Contenders

The Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks will make the playoffs this season but neither team will make it to the NBA Finals. Sorry Nuggets and Hawks fans. Although both of these teams have deep rosters filled with talented players, neither team possesses a true superstar that can carry them through a deep playoff run.

Danny Ainge: The Perfect Example of a Bad GM

You don’t trade away a Larry Bird. I’m sorry but that’s just ludicrous. You don’t trade Larry Legend under any circumstances just like you would never trade a Michael Jordan, a Tim Duncan or a Magic Johnson.

Post Man Cometh: Is Dwight Howard the Last Dominant Big Man?

I wonder if Dwight Howard feels lonely. With the retirement of Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming over the past year it seems like the era of the dominant 20-and-10 big man has come to an end. Once a staple of the NBA, teams are now happy to get a serviceable defender to play the post. For those of us who remember the glory days, it’s frightening to see skinny offensively-challenged centers like Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler become coveted names in free agency.