As the Wizards take on the Pacers in the first of four Thursday night games, let's take a look around the league to see what's happening from coast to coast.
- DeAndre Jordan has embraced the heightened expectations surrounding the Clippers and understands the resiliency needed to overcome setbacks such as a recent three-game losing streak, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Instead of letting the downturn ruin their season, the Clippers responded by winning three in a row.
- If Mike Woodson isn't the long-term answer for the Knicks, Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing wants to throw his name into the mix as the next head coach at Madison Square Garden, but may not have history on his side, says Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. As a 7-footer, Ewing would become only the seventh head coach in NBA history with a height of 6-foot-10 or taller.
- While much of the Bulls' success stems from stellar play by their stars, a growing phenomenon dubbed the 'Bench Mob' has aided in the team's success, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Taj Gibson and Omer Asik are among a group of Bulls bench players who have stepped up their play to help close out games.
- A major reason for the Sixers' strong season stems from their ability to beat lesser teams, writes Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The squad is 18-5 on the season against sub .500 teams, which currently places as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for the Sixers, an inability to beat quality teams may spell an early end to their season come playoff time.