Adidas' new NBA Christmas uniform gimmick does not include sleeves

Daily fantasy basketball: LeBron James, Rajon Rondo solid investments

After a light Sunday slate, the action picks up Monday with nine games on the schedule. However, a few of the top performers draw tough defensive match ups, and a result, fantasy owners have to be careful about which high-priced options are worth the cost. In the end, there are some mid-priced options that may offer more bang for the buck.
– Posterize your friends and take their money by beating them in FantasyScore daily fantasy basketball

Stud of the day

F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets
$9,100 salary | 18.2% of cap
James is averaging 31.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists over his last five games, and he should deliver another big performance Monday against a Denver defense that is allowing the fourth-most points in the NBA

Start ‘em

G Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets
$4,300 salary | 8.6% of cap
Chalmers has averaged 16.5 points and 5.3 assists in 34 minutes of action over his last four games, and he appears to have passed Norris Cole as the top option at point guard. He should post another solid line against a Brooklyn team that struggles to slow down opposing point guards.
G Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
$7,600 salary | 15.2% of cap
He is nearly averaging a triple-double this season, and he should stuff the stat sheet again Monday in what should be a high-scoring game between two teams that rank among the worst in the NBA in points allowed.
F Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers
$5,900 salary | 11.8% of cap
Derrick Rose is questionable, and even if he does play, Butler has a great matchup against a Clippers defense that struggles to defend athletic wings. Butler is averaging 37.6 fantasy points, and his breakout season should continue Monday.
C Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
$6,000 salary | 12.0% of cap
Andre Drummond can’t stay out of foul trouble, and Monroe just keeps delivering double-doubles. The matchup against Orlando is favorable, and Monroe should put up numbers on par with the higher-priced centers on the board Monday.

Sit ‘em

G Monta Ellis, Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte Hornets
$5,700 salary | 11.4% of cap
Ellis doesn’t do much other than score, and he draws a rough matchup against Lance Stephenson on Monday. The Hornets are allowing the second-fewest points per game to opposing shooting guards this season.
C Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies
$7,600 salary | 15.2% of cap
The Grizzlies defense is allowing the fewest points per game in the NBA, and thanks to Marc Gasol, they are particularly tough in the paint. Heading into Monday’s matchup, no team has been better at shutting down opposing centers.

Kobe Bryant explains why he shoots so much: 'We can't just sit back and watch crime happen'

The Los Angeles Lakers are 1-9 – the worst start in team history – but Kobe Bryant is still second in the league in scoring. The 36-year-old dropped 44 points on the Warriors Sunday on 15-of-34 shooting, bringing his field goal percentage to 37%. Bryant broke the NBA record for most missed field goals in NBA history last week, but according to Bryant, he simply can’t sit back and watch crime happen.

After the Lakers lost to Golden State, Bryant compared taking so many shots to fighting crime.

“Obviously I’d rather get guys involved early, but, you know… how many blocks, a purse gets stolen in front of you how many blocks are you going to let the guy run? You can chase him down, keep him in sight yourself and wait for the authorities to get there, or you can decide to let him run and wait for the authorities to get there. It’s a tough thing…. I’m just trying to keep us in the game. I’d rather not have to do that, but we can’t just sit back and watch crime happen.”

Kobe’s probably getting sick of answering the same questions after every game, but he keeps delivering astounding answers.

Phil Jackson calls out NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for criticizing the Knicks

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been getting positive reviews from players and fans alike after taking over for David Stern, but Silver’s comments about the New York Knicks seem to have rubbed Knicks president Phil Jackson the wrong way. After the Knicks lost to the Pistons last week to drop to 2-3, Silver jokingly noted that the Knicks were still getting used to Jackson’s signature triangle offense.



Via ESPN:

“Clearly, they’re still learning the triangle. I still don’t understand it. But they’re learning it. But that’s what the game is all about.”

Since Silver made that remark, the Knicks have lost three straight. On Monday, Jackson said that he didn’t think Silver’s joke was very funny.

“I wasn’t so humored by the commissioner actually jumping in on top of that, too,” he said. “He doesn’t need to get in on that. There’s enough focus on [the] triangle. It’s not anything. It’s a system. It’s simple basketball. Just play the game. We’re over the triangle; let’s get to business and play the right way.”

Silver and Jackson have a bit of a history. Silver fined the Knicks $25,000 for tampering in June, after Jackson publicly made comments about then-Oklahoma City guard Derek Fisher, who would go on to become the Knicks’ head coach.

Kawhi Leonard: 'Pretty sure I'll be in a Spurs jersey' for life

LOS ANGELES — If the day eventually comes when this is a normal night for Kawhi Leonard, all will be well between him and the San Antonio Spurs.
The ball coming his way on offense, this time to the tune of a career-high 28 points (on 10-for-18 shooting) in this 89-85 win Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers that seemed so improbable until he took over. His defense as dominant as ever, never more than the late steal of Chris Paul that epitomized the uniqueness of his two-way talents.
Yes, it's safe to say, whatever ripple effect may have existed after the Spurs chose not to give Leonard an extension by the Oct. 31 deadline was nowhere to be found.
It was not only a case of Leonard proving his worth, but also how Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made it abundantly clear that he fully plans on following through on his long-held claim that the 23-year-old is the future of the franchise. As Popovich shared afterward, San Antonio had never relied on the 2014 NBA Finals MVP quite like this.
"We ran more plays for him tonight than I ever have in his career," Popovich said afterward. "That's the plan. We've got to start giving him the ball. You know, he's the future. I don't think Timmy (Duncan) and Manu (Ginobili) are going to play any more than maybe six or seven more years. So we've got to let somebody else do something."

DeMarcus Cousins injured at USA Basketball practic

 

 

CHICAGO -- DeMarcus Cousins is down, not out.
The latest USA Basketball is day to day after injuring his right knee when Anthony Davis fell on him as they dove for a loose ball near the end of a scrimmage Thursday.
Tests showed no structural damage, but USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said even before the results that he didn't expect Cousins to play in Saturday's game against Brazil.

USA Basketball moves forward after Paul George injury

 

 

CHICAGO -- When Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay got the call asking him to join USA Basketball, one of the people who pushed hardest for him to go was Vivek Ranadive, the Kings' owner.
"Guys are going to get hurt," Gay said Thursday. "You might as well go out here and play for something."
Paul George's gruesome injury during a scrimmage in Las Vegas was followed a few days later by Kevin Durant's surprise withdrawal.
But one had nothing to do with the other, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo insisted, and players said they never wavered in their commitment for the FIBA World Cup.