The percentage on players hitting those shots, even superstars, is not nearly as high as most people believe. You should check out Chauncy "Big Shot" Billups some time. His percentage was awful. People remember the makes, they forget the misses.

And of course, Bynum will almost assuredly end up with the Heat.

Obviously they werent planning on resigning Deng after the season and decided to get cap relief and a few extra picks as opposed to nothing. Cant argue with that strategy especially if it weakens their team short term (this year) which may enhance their position in a really strong draft. Ironically this deal may ensure that Cleveland gets past them in the standings and potentially keeps them out of the playoffs and into the lottery.
It can be tricky trading guys like Deng who are heading into unrestricted free agency because essentially they can turn into rentals and unlike other sports there is no compensation for their loss other than salary cap space.

They have their own pick which may now become a lottery selection if they miss the playoffs. They have Sacramento's 1st pick this year though it is protected (1-10 through 2017) and unlikely to be used this year. If Sacremento can acquire a good player through the draft and get their act together the next few years this will wind up being a pretty good pick for Chicago or a trade asset.

They have Charlotte's pick this year which they may wind up keeping as it is top 10 protected but Charlotte is currently the 7 seed in the East and Chicago tanking will help them stay out of the lottery and into 1st round fodder.

So they could easily wind up with 2 lottery selections (though with a real longshot to get into the top 3) this year and they most likely have European star Mirotic coming next year.

Mirotic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af3jTTp76bI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjaHc9Vp9wU

Convenient. But when it was LeBron it was a huge deal?

16 and 9 is a non factor?

You need these to hit those kind of shots

And why not? Its a win win for everyone involved, no risk at all if Miami brings him in. Between him and Oden if they can get 25min a game they are unbeatable.

Golden St 10 wins in a row.
Great team, tough out come playoff time.

Then again after the recent stretch of games, maybe Olshey better find a way to make it work. The defense and bench are becoming a trainwreck.

Everything with Lebron is a big deal in the media.

Cleveland now 2 1/2 games out of the last playoff spot. Deng makes them better on both sides of the ball. Laughable how bad the East is. As big of a dichotemy as I've ever seen, between East and West.

Out indefinitely...will undergo knee surgery

http://nba.si.com/2014/01/09/eric-bl...-phoenix-suns/

Surprisingly great game right now between Knicks and Heat. As I type Jesus Shuttlesworth goes for a 4 point play.

NYC is back. Nets and Knicks 8-1 combined in 2014 with wins over Oklahoma City, Golden State, San Antonio and Miami.

2013-2014
 

Looks like that Christmas Day national tv ass-kicking that both teams suffered marked the bottom. Nowhere to go but up now. I think it's good for the NBA brand to have decent teams in NYC.

Any chance Brooklyn can beat the Heat tonight?

Miami does not lose 2 in a row that often, but BK is playing better and can keep it close.
The Knicks are 4-1 in there last 5 vs Miami.

I agree with RHT. I'd feel better if the Heat had won last night. But a close loss is cool with me if we can win in Toronto tomorrow. 5-1 in 2014 going into the London trip would've sounded ludicrous after the NYE loss to San Antonio.

No Wade tonight makes the task slightly easier.