Sixteen NBA stars were chosen to partake in an NBA 2K "Players Only" tournament that is going to run all the way until April 11. It's a great initiative that will help some of the players pass the time they are spending in quarantine. On Friday, the first four games were played and yesterday, another four were broadcasted on ESPN. One of the most anticipated matchups was between DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond.
Drummond only had a seven-point lead at halftime but that quickly turned into a 52-point victory as he absolutely annihilated Cousins, 101-49. it was an embarrassing loss that ended up going viral on social media as fans could not believe Cousins would lose by that much.
The other three matchups were a lot closer as Rui Hachimura defeated Donovan Mitchell, 74-71, Devin Booker beat Michael Porter Jr., 85-75, and Montrezl Harrell eliminated Domantas Sabonis, 71-53.
After the first round, the matchups for the quarterfinals have been set and they will go down on Tuesday, April 7th on ESPN. Derrick Jones Jr will be taking on Montrezl Harrell, Trae Young will play Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker gets Rui Hachimura, and lastly, Andre Drummond will battle Patrick Beverley.
The last few rounds of this tournament are sure to be entertaining and we can't wait to see what's in store, moving forward.
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NBA Planning NBA 2K Tournament With Big-Name Stars
The NBA is trying to put on a show for the fans now that the season is on pause.
Coronavirus has led to the shut down of numerous sports leagues around the world, including the NBA. The season was just about to get good as we were approaching the playoffs, which would have started next month. Now, we are in a state of purgatory as the league is looking towards plans for the summer when this crisis is supposed to subside. Fans are looking for some much-needed entertainment right now and it appears as though the NBA is ready to provide that in the form of an NBA 2K tournament.
Yes, that’s right, according to Yahoo Sports, the league intends to create a 16-player 1V1 style tournament with some of the NBA’s best players. The tournament would start Friday and is set to include Kevin Durant, Andre Drummond, Donovan Mitchell, and even DeMarcus Cousins. It is believed that this tournament will be aired on ESPN and could last a total of 10 days.
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This would be a lot of fun especially when you consider how deprived of sports we are right now. Any kind of entertainment is welcomed and we would love to see some NBA players get in on the video game action.
Who knows, perhaps we will be able to bet on the games. If so, who would you place money on to win the whole thing?
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Andre Drummond Reacts To Cavs’ Historic Loss In His Debut In Cleveland
Cavs suffer worst home loss in franchise history in Drummond's first game.
The Andre Drummond era in Cleveland got off to a rough start on Sunday, as the Los Angeles Clippers handed the Cavs their worst home loss in franchise history in Drummond's debut. The 133-92 loss marked the Cavs' 12th straight 'L' at Quicken Loans Arena and their 12th loss in their last 13 games. As a result, the Cavs are now sitting in sole possession of last place in the Eastern Conference at 13-40.
Following the nightmarish debut, Drummond explained how he addressed his new teammates and spoke about his expectations for the remainder of the season.
“I said, ‘I don’t care about the record. I don’t care about the scoreboard. I just care about did we get better today?‘” said Drummond, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “Obviously we are not going to win every game the rest of the way, but our goal is to win some games. We’re not going to sit down and allow teams to blow us out. We are going to play to the best of our ability each and every night.’ My goal is to push these guys and keep them positive and just continue to work hard. We show no quit.”
“I think the team really just asked me to speak up,” said Drummond. “Whatever I see they tell me to say it. I’m not trying to step on anybody’s toes or take anybody’s shine or anything like that. If someone asks a question, I do a really good job of responding back and giving my insight of what I think."
While the outcome certainly wasn't what anyone in the Cavs organization had hoped for, Drummond himself was solid, posting 19 points to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds. Up next for Cleveland is another home game on Wednesday night, as they host the Atlanta Hawks (15-39) before heading into the All Star break.
Pistons Exec Responds To Andre Drummond’s Loyalty Rant
Drummond was upset after being traded.
Being traded can never be an easy thing to go through as a professional athlete. Andre Drummond went through that yesterday as he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade that saw very few valuable assets go back to the Pistons. Immediately after the trade, Drummond took to Twitter where he claimed the league has no loyalty and how he had no indication he would be moved.
Ed Stefanski, the senior advisor for the Pistons, recently spoke about the Drummond trade and even touched on the big man's recent comments. As Stefanski explains, he understands Drummond's frustration and says the Cavaliers only became a ble option late in the trade deadline process.
“The worst thing in the world is have to trade someone who’s been here (for a long time),” Stefanski said according to detroitnews.com. “This is the only place he’s been in. Emotions are raw. Dre knew he was in trade talks and I was talking to his representatives about different things. Cleveland came in late. I guess you’d have to talk to Dre what exactly he meant. But again, emotions are raw when this stuff happens. I understand that.”
Now, Drummond will have to go to a team that is in the middle of an ugly rebuild. With this in mind, it's easy to see why he's frustrated.
Andre Drummond Reacts To Deadline Deal: "There’s No Friends Or Loyalty"
Drummond seems blindsided by the trade to Cleveland.
Andre Drummond is a Detroit Piston no more, as the organization opted to trade the 26-year old center to the Cleveland Cavaliers just moments before the 3pm trade deadline. We've heard that the Pistons were open to moving Drummond for weeks now, but it appears that the two-time All Star was completely blindsided by today's events.
Immediately after the deal was confirmed, Drummond offered the following thoughts on twitter:
"If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty. I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business! I love you Detroit... you will always have a special place in my heart! But on to the next @cavs hope your ready! Let’s finish the year off the right way."
Rob Carr/Getty Images
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Drummond was expected to turn down his $28M player option after this season, but it seems like Detroit didn't even want to risk the chance that he'd be on their books for another year. As a result, they flipped him to Cleveland in exchange for Brandon Knight, John Henson and a future second-round pick.
The Pistons, who drafted Drummond ninth overall out of UConn in the 2012 NBA Draft, currently rank 10th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-34. The eighth-year center is averaging 17.8 points, 15.8 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
Detroit Pistons Trade Andre Drummond For A Whole Lot Of Nothing
Pistons receive John Henson, Brandon Knight and a 2nd-rounder for Drummond.
The Detroit Pistons have decided to cut ties with Andre Drummond in the final moments before the NBA trade deadline. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the two-time All Star is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a Spalding basketball pump and a six pack of Fanta. No disrespect to John Henson and Brandon Knight.
According to Woj, the 26-year old center was expected to decline his $28M player option after this season, which certainly motivated Detroit to flip him to the highest bidder rather than risk losing him for nothing as a free agent this summer. Unfortunately, that haul only turned out to be a couple of vets averaging less than 10 points combined and a second-round pick. On the bright side, the Pistons no longer have to worry about the possibility of Drummond opting in to the final year of his deal, thus saving themselves cap space, right?
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, now have a logjam at the power forward/center position with Drummond joining a front court that includes Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love. Both Love and Thompson had reportedly received interest leading up to the deadline, but it doesn't appear that either player will be going anywhere.
Cleveland (13-39) currently boasts the worst record in the Eastern Conference, while the Pistons rank 10th in the East with a mark of 19-34. Check out some of the instant reactions to the deadline deal below.
Clippers Looking To Add Another Big At NBA Trade Deadline: Report
Clips reportedly concerned about how they stack up against the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Clippers are on the short list of teams that have a realistic shot of winning the NBA championship this season, but that doesn't mean they're content with their current roster construction.
According to The New York Times' Marc Stein, the Clippers "are exploring the trade market for dependable size as well as potential wing depth" ahead of the league's February 6th trade deadline.
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The Clippers are currently sitting at 31-14 on the season, third best in the Western Conference, but they reportedly have some concerns about how they stack up against the conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers.
Stein writes:
"Doesn't guarantee that they'll make a deal, of course, but the Clippers are said to be concerned about their lack of muscle up front compared to the Lakers' length as well as the ongoing health issues Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are battling."
It's unclear which specific players the Clips are targeting, but there are some notable bigs that could be available trade, including the Detroit Pistons' Andre Drummond and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams. The New York Knicks' Marcus Morris is also expected to receive plenty of interest as we approach the deadline.
Drummond, 26, is expected to decline his $28M player option after this season, which would certainly motivate Detroit to find a trade partner before the deadline. That said, the Pistons' asking price, coupled with Drummond's extension demands, may be too much for a team that recently gave up a haul of draft picks to acquire All Star forward Paul George.
We'll find out one way or another within the next two weeks.
Pistons’ Andre Drummond Loses Tooth After Catching Elbow To The Face: Watch
First his ankles, then his tooth.
It was a rough go for Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond in the nation's capital today.
In the final seconds of Detroit's loss to the Washington Wizards, during which Drummond had already had his ankles snatched by Bradley Beal, the veteran center caught a Thomas Bryant elbow to the mouth, causing one of his teeth to fall out. Not fun!
Despite falling victim to Beal's ego-crushing stepback and Bryant's bone-shattering elbow, Drummond still finished with 18 points and 16 boards, but, it wasn't enough to propel Detroit to victory. As a result of Monday's 106-100 loss, the Pistons dropped to 16-28 on the year.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Drummond's days in Detroit appear to be numbered as the 26-year old center is reportedly expected to decline his $28M player option after this season. There are several teams interested in acquiring the two-time All Star ahead of the league's February 6th trade deadline, but no deals have materialized thus far.
The Atlanta Hawks were among the teams in talks with Detroit earlier this month, although it appears the two sides are no longer engaged in trade talks, according to Yahoo's Chris Haynes. In 41 games this season, Drummond is averaging 17.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and two steals per night.
Bradley Beal Breaks Andre Drummond’s Ankles, Sends Wizards Bench Into A Frenzy
Beal hit 'em with the hucklebuck.
The NBA's annual Martin Luther King Day schedule kicked off this afternoon with a matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, and it didn't take long for Bradley Beal to give us the first highlight of the day. With the shot clock winding down midway through the first quarter, Beal got matched up with Andre Drummond on a switch at the top of the key. What happened next is every big man's nightmare.
Beal delivered a vicious, behind-the-back stepback, that buckled Drummond's knees and ankles while simultaneously sending the Wizards bench into pandemonium. Check out the cross, as well as the reaction from the bench, in the video embedded below.
The Wizards and their fans haven't had much to get excited about this season but Bradley Beal has continued to ball out. In 34 games, the two-time All Star is averaging a career-high 27.2 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists. That said, the Wiz are just 13-28 on the season which puts them among the bottom five in the league.
Beal, 26, recently inked a two-year, $72 million contract extension that will begin with the 2021–22 season and includes a player option for the 2022–23 season.
There are a total of 14 NBA games on the slate today, including a TNT double-header featuring the Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics tipping off at 7:30pm ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers at 10pm ET.
Andre Drummond Trade Rumors: Pistons In Talks With Hawks, Several Others
Pistons & Hawks reportedly engaged in Drummond trade talks.
Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond could be on the move before the NBA's February 6 trade deadline, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there are several teams interested in acquiring the two-time All Star. Among those that have reached out to the Pistons is the Atlanta Hawks.
According to Woj, the Pistons and Hawks have been engaged in trade talks centered around Drummond, although a deal is not imminent right now. The 26-year old center is reportedly expected to decline his $28M player option after this season which would certainly motivate Detroit to find a trade partner within the next four weeks.
In 33 games this season, Drummond is averaging 17.6 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. The Pistons, a team that finished in the eighth seed a season ago, are currently sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 12-23 record.
Atlanta, meanwhile, holds the worst record in the NBA at 7-27. The lone bright spot in the Hawks' season is the fact that second-year point guard Trae Young has improved upon his stellar rookie season, averaging 28.5 points (4th in the NBA) and 8.3 assists (5th in the NBA).
Again, Wojnarowski says a Pistons-Hawks trade is not imminent at this time, but if Drummond is prepared to explore free agency at season's end, one would assume he'll be dealt to Atlanta, or elsewhere, before February 6.
