The Rundown: Wade is Clutch, LeBron is Clutch, Boogie Gets Ejected and Do We Finally Have a Melo Trade?
It was a wild night in the NBA to say the least. We had trade rumors, shutting down of trade rumors, clutch performances and what was quite possibly the game of the year. With that said, welcome to The Rundown, let's get started.
Wade Turns Back the Clock: For years, Dwyane Wade continued to dish out clutch performances, one after another against the Chicago Bulls; on Monday, the Bulls finally got to be on the other end of that. After blowing a 20+ point lead against the Sacramento Kings, Wade delivered a clutch shot, making wonder if he made a deal with the devil to regain his youth.
They don't make them more clutch than @DwyaneWade. pic.twitter.com/MPpujdiQJJ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 7, 2017
Wade's stat line was excellent as well, finishing with 31 points on 12-18 shooting, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, leading the Bulls to a 112-107 victory.
DeMarcus Cousins Gets Ejected: Cousins, also known as 'Boogie', was apart of a very strange series of events, that would lead to the All-Star center being ejected. It all started with Cousins getting physical with a Bulls assistant:
What is going on in Sacramento? ???? pic.twitter.com/rSLlbr0FYK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 7, 2017
Cousins was assessed a technical foul and would remain in the game; or at least until the final seconds.
Boogie got himself ejected with 1 second left in the game. It was his 16th technical of the season and now he'll be suspended one game. pic.twitter.com/tkFBcvWrmp
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) February 7, 2017
Jahlil Okafor Could Be On The Move: On Monday, it was reported that the 76ers and the Pelicans are in talks to move Center Jahlil Okafor, to pair him with Anthony Davis down low, going against the league-wide trend of building around your guards. It could cost the Pels a first round draft pick, however, which makes you wonder if they should just wait out until the draft.
Sixers could be getting back unhappy center Alexis Ajinca and a future 1st round pick in a Jahlil Okafor trade to New Orleans, a source said
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) February 6, 2017
Are We Really Still Talking About This?: That's right ladies and gentlemen, Carmelo Anthony trade rumors are still going on, weeks later. But this time, according to The New York Daily News, LeBron James is the one instigating the talks, saying that he wants Anthony in a Cavs' uniform at any cost, even if that means trading Kevin Love. James called out the report, calling it "trash" dismissing the idea.
LeBron responds to the recent K Love/Melo trade rumors... pic.twitter.com/zmLTovOpxN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 7, 2017
KLove on the rumor: "It's a lie. What do they say? A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put his pants on"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 7, 2017
I don't know if the rumors are true, but I don't think you can question the fact that LeBron can manipulate the media to make himself look like the good guy, I mean, have you ever watched SportsCenter? Remember David Blatt? The man coaching the Cavs to the best record in the East, on his way to coach his first All-Star game and probably win his first title as an NBA coach? What happened to that guy? Oh yeah, LeBron James happened. Why are certain players on the Cavs' roster? LeBron James wanted them there. I'm not hating. If I were in the King's shoes I'd probably do the same thing, because the front office will do anything for him. ANYTHING. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Speaking of LeBron James: Playing the Cleveland Cavaliers is always circled on your schedule. You have to bring your A-game, even if you're on a 17 game home winning streak. And that's exactly what happened, in what we will likely look back at as the best game of the season. Kevin Love, subject of trade rumors for Carmelo Anthony, played wonderfully, scoring 39 points, while LeBron James scored 32, and racking up a career high 17 assists (really? only 17?) To cap it all off, James nailed a ridiculous shot that sent it into overtime.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?#LeBronJames ties it up w/ the THREE off the glass! pic.twitter.com/8fuNrHqprL
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 7, 2017
And how about that inbound pass from Love? I bet Melo doesn't make that pass. Hell I think instead of passing it, Melo tries to shoot it from out of bounds. Maybe a little food for thought for the King.
The Cavs would go on to win 140-135 in OT in one of the funnest games in recent memory.