NBA GEEKLY

1. Former NBA commissioner David Stern passes away at age 77.

2. Injury Update:

- Kyrie Irving

- Blake Griffin

3. Trade Rumors:

- Andre Drummond

- Kevin Love

- Kyle Kuzma

1.) The L.A. Clippers defeated the L.A. Lakers for the second time this season on Christmas day.

2.) The Philadelphia 76ers shut down Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas day.

3.) A Decade In Review:

- Best Team

- Best Play

- Best Player

- Best Coach 

- Best Free Agency Signing

- Best Draft Pick

- Best Trade

- Best Fight

1. The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Luka-less Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

2. The L.A. Lakers lost to the still Dipo-less Indiana Pacers.

3. Milwaukee vs. L.A.

4. The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly willing to listen to offers on Jrue Holiday.

5. The Golden State Warriors are not expected to trade D’Angelo Russell this season.

6. Neither the OKC Thunder, nor Chris Paul’s camp, expect a trade to happen involving CP3 this season.

7. The New York Knicks have hired David Blatt as a basketball consultant.

8. Fixing the Portland TrailBlazers

1. The New York Knicks have fired head coach, David Fizdale. What’s next?

2. Rodney Hood has suffered an Achilles injury.

3. The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced that they are willing to receive offers on Kevin Love. This coming soon after a report from The Athletic that suggests the team is frustrated with new head coach, John Beilein.

4. Shams Charania reported that Trae Young was involved an emotional locker room exchange after a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

5. NBA Trade Starting Line on the horizon. What players are you most intrigued by?

1.) Most Valuable Player

2.) 1st Team All NBA

3.) Defensive Player of the Year

4.) 1st Team All Defense

5.) Rookie of the Year

6.) 1st Team All Rookie

7.) Sixth Man of the Year

8.) Most Improved Player

9.) Coach of the Year

10.) Fool's Gold Team

11.) Diamond in the Rough Team

1. Games of the week.

2. Luka Doncic has been putting up crazy numbers this season, leading his team to wins, and cementing himself as an MVP candidate.

3. The NBA has reportedly explored various rule changes, including shortening the regular season, a mid-season tournament, playoff reseeding, and play in games.

4. Disappointing teams: Portland TrailBlazers, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, & Chicago Bulls.

5. Marcus Smart said a Denver Nuggets fan told him, "That's right, stay on the ground. Get on your knees," after he got entangled with a chair on the sidelines.

1. The Portland TrailBlazers have signed Carmelo Anthony to a non-guaranteed contract.

2. Dion Waiters suffered a panic attack on a team flight after ingesting some edibles.

3. Injury report: Hayward, Middleton, Lowry, Ibaka, Fox, Huerter, LaVert, Gordon, Bradley.

4. New York Knicks debacle; Perry’s press conference, Fizdale on the hot seat, front office on the hot seat, Messai and Giannis aspirations, Anthony Davis “not fitting timeline”, but they did sweep Dallas.

1. Steph Curry will miss at least 3 months after breaking his hand. The Warriors are gonna really suck this year.

2. Zach Collins is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. What’s next for the Blazers?

3. The Phoenix “From the Ashes” Suns knocked off Philadelphia Monday night, and are now 4-2. Are they for real?

4. John Collins has been suspended 25 games for testing positive for HGH. The Hawks seemed unphased as they got a win against San Antonio on the back of Trae Young.

5. Contenders or Pretenders:

- Atlanta Hawks

- Charlotte Hornets

- Miami Heat

- Dallas Mavericks

- Minnesota Timberwolves

- Phoenix Suns

1. DeAndre Ayton was suspended for 25 games for testing positive for a Diuretic.

2. Jackie MacMullan of ESPN wrote in an article, “When Irving lapses into these funks, he often shuts down, unwilling to communicate with the coaching staff, front office, and sometimes even his teammates. Nets team sources say once such episode occurred during Brooklyn’s trip in China, leaving everyone scratching their heads as to what precipitated it.” She went on to say though Irving’s teammates seem to love him, “[his] mood swings are the unspoken concern that makes Nets officials queasy.”

3. The NCAA voted unanimously to begin the process of modifying its rules to allow college athletes to make money of their name, image, and likeness “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model”.

4. Biggest surprises / disappointments.

5. Four teams remain undefeated, the Sixers, Nuggets, Spurs, and Timberwolves.

1.) Takeaways From Opening Night

- Pascal Siakam might be an Eastern Conference All-Star starter.

- The Pels will be just fine without Zion to begin the season. Still a fringe Playoff team.

- The NBA coach’s challenge rule will (hopefully) only last one season.

- When healthy, the Lakers need AD at the 5.

- The Clippers are fucking outstanding!

2.) Blake and Bledsoe set to miss 2-3 weeks.

3.) Last Minute Contact Extensions

- Pascal Siakam - 4 years / $130 M

- Buddy Hield - 4 years / $106 M / $94 M Guaranteed

- Domantas Sabonis - 4 years / $85 M / $77 M Guaranteed

- Jaylen Brown - 4 years / $115 M / $103 M Guaranteed

- Dejounte Murray - 4 years / $64 M

- Taurean Prince - 2 years / $29 M

- Joe Ingles - 1 year / $14 M