Lebron Posterized

Posted on July 8, 2009 by stone86

An interesting note before I go to bed.  According to CBS, Nike has confiscated all cameras that were rolling when Lebron James was dunked on by Xavier’s Jordan Crawford at Lebron’s Skills Academy. I’m not sure what the hell Nike is thinking, obviously Lebron is human and it’s not the first or last time he will be dunked upon.  In my mind, depending on the magnitude of the posterization, Nike could even spin it positively.  Maybe a new ad campaign claiming, “anything’s possible.”  Baron davis’ dunk on “AK47” would be mandatory ad material.

Also, ESPN is reporting that Shawn Marion is heading to the Mavericks in a complex sign and trade.  I’m too tired to explain it so here is the link. Supposedly Antonio McDyess is on his way to the Spurs and Andy Varejao is a Cav again.

Look for my upcoming preview of the Oregon Ducks Mens Basketball team.  Okay I’m going to bed.  Happy hoooping.

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Summer League

Posted on July 7, 2009 by stone86

Since I can’t personally fly down to Orlando and report on the pro summer league, I’ll do the next best thing; send you to someone who can.  That someone happens to be David Thorpe, a respected basketball coach and ESPN contributor.  He’s been tweeting his observations almost non-stop over the last few days.  Obviously the tweets, being limited by length, are not what you’d call comprehensive.  However it is nice to get a feel for what’s going on.

Moon Shot

Moon Shot

Here is a link to an insidehoops.com page with the complete summer league rosters.  Yes, if you’re wondering, the Sixers and Nets have a combined team.  If one your favorite players has flown under Mr. Thorpe’s radar don’t be alarmed.  Although it’s nice to be commended, sometimes it’s the egregious errors that earn notoriety.  Without further adieu:

Tweets day 1

Tweets day 2

Two things I saw caught my eye: 1) Coby Karl, Coach Karl’s son, is playing well.  The guy survived cancer and is now doing his best to stick with an NBA club.  2)  Psycho-T Hansbrough’s first NBA shot was blocked!  I’m sick of hearing about what a great player he is, this is the big-leagues; good luck getting by in the NBA playing the part of the goggled, gratuitously sweaty but hustling old guy at open gym. (That’s my role!)

Last few notes:

Former Cavs assistant John Kuester is the new Pistons head coach.

It’s reported that Mike Bibby has agreed to a new contract to remain with the Atlanta Hawks.

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Jennings: Making life hard on himself

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Dino Gomez

Brandon Jennings hasn’t done anything in his career yet to warrant the media attention he has been given. He didin’t play well in Italy last year but continually insists that his greatness is yet to come in the NBA. RecentlAAGZ201_16x20-2006Logoy video footage was release of Jennings talking on speaker phone with rapper Joe Budden about Jennings upcoming rookie season. In the footage which has since been removed from Youtube, Jennings insists that guard Ramon Sessions would be cut from the Milwaukee Bucks this season with his addition and that he would easily be able to beat out Luke Ridnour to become the starting point guard for the team. Since footage of Jennings talking trash has been released to the press, Jennings has been quick to apologize as he should.  Here is a player who hasn’t played a game in the NBA yet and has already lost his teammates respect. All I know is that Jennings better be absolutely amazing this year as he so claims because every point guard he matches up against will bring their best game in order to shut him up. His teammates are not going to be excited to help him out either, especially Luke Ridnour who I’m hoping puts him in his place.

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Pargo coming back to NBA and Kidd to grow old in Dallas

Posted on July 6, 2009 by stone86

A couple quick things to mention before I get back to work…  Various news outlets are reporting that former New Orleans Hornet Jannero Pargo is in talks to join the Chicago Bulls.  Pargo was an important asset to the Hornets team that was so dominant only 2 seasons ago before leaving the NBA for a Russian squad.  Now that Russian club has run into financial trouble, sending Jannero looking elsewhere.  Some will certainly argue that adding Pargo doesn’t really mean much, and that is certainly a tenable position, but it’s nice to have a guy who can score, albeit in streaks, off the bench.

ahoy

ahoy

Also it’s fairly certain now that Jason Kidd will re-sign with the Mavericks.  Jason’s meeting with the Knicks seems to have paid off.  In a veritable panic, Mark Cuban  flew across the country stalking his star point guard in an attempt to convince Kidd to remain a Maverick.  Apparently in his distress Cuban offered Kidd a guaranteed 3 year deal worth over $25 million.  Is it any surprise the 36 year-old agreed?  No, of course it isn’t.

Lastly it appears the Blazers are after New York Knick David Lee.  Although Lee is a great player, almost universally underrated and unappreciated, he really does not belong with the Blazers.  The Blazers already have a YOUNG and talented front-court.  Lamarcus Aldridge is on the verge of stardom and won’t be relegated to the bench.  Free-agent Channing Frye is a perfectly suitable backup for Lamarcus, especially when Mr. Lee wants $10 million a year.  That sum is simply inordinate for a bench player.

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Rasheed Wallace chooses Boston Celtics

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Dino Gomez

Rasheed Wallace was one of the leagues best available free agents until this evening when reports surfaced that he has officially chosen Boston as his next location to play. Wallace was considering San Antonio, the Orlando Magic, and the Dallas Mavericks as other possibilities but in the end it looks like he chose Boston in order play alongside Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. Immediately the discussion on ESPN is whether Wallace will provide the lift the Celtics need to return to an NBA final. My answer is contingent upon whether Cleveland adds any more pieces to their team.Rasheed_Wallpaper_NBA

Right now I would imagine an Eastern Conference final featuring Boston and Cleveland with Boston slightly edging out Lebron and the big Diesel. However if the Cavaliers add anything more, I mean anything more like a better towel boy that keeps the players better hydrated, then it would seem the duo of Shaq and Lebron with solid complimentary players would still be too much for Boston to handle. Lets face it those Boston stars are getting up there in age. Not to say that Shaq isn’t but that is only one player compared to the core starting 4 of Boston. On paper Boston does looks better, on the court Cleveland does. This Celtics line up can be compared to that of the Los Angeles Lakers a few years back when they had 4 future hall of fame players in the starting line up: Kobe, Shaq, Malone, and Payton. That line up also looked amazing on paper but did not on the court. The NBA championship teams of the most recent years tend to be built around a perfect mesh of young talent and clutch veteran play. Big news that Wallace has chosen Boston but still no upgrade for the Celetics. Trevor Ariza would have been a better fit there with the defense that he brings, his youth, and his low-key profile.

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NBA removes Liquor ban

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Dino Gomez

Within the past month the NBA officially removed a long time ban on courtside advertising by spirit brand companies. The Miami Heat was the first NBA team to make the removal of this ban advantageous for their biggest sponsors, supposedly by allowing Bacardi to assume the ability to advertise court side in the upcoming 2009-2010 season.Teams which already have sponsorship deals with spirit brand companies may have signed previous contract agreements that were contingent upon the removal of court side advertising for an increase contract sum. It is estimated that these type of contracts have clauses that will increase the amount that NBA teams recieve from their spirit brand sponsors by 10%. Is it possible that the Boston Celtics court will look something similar to what is pictured below for this upcoming season? Besides the bottle neck changing the figure of the 3-point line, it really could become a possibility over the next few years.

The league had a remarkable year in regards to viewership of the NBA finals which surpasses the record setting viewership numbers of the previous year’s final between the Celtics and Lakers; so you can guarentee sponsors will be after NBA teams this upcoming season. With the economic crisis it would make sense that NBA teams accept such sponsorships while the offer is on the table. You do have to wonder about thenba-liquor-ban NBA’s social responsibility iniative which carries the slogan, “The NBA where caring happens.” After all court side advertisements which encourage  you to drink seem to run in the opposite direction and who knows what will go down at the palace in Detroit if fans are throwing back shots before the game. Indeed the NBA and everything it has to offer this upcoming season should be amazing, so amazing.

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Jordan and Magic in Michael Jackson videos

Posted on July 4, 2009 by Dino Gomez

It is with our deepest regret that Michael Jackson passed away recently. He was truly an amazing person, talented singer, and special dance artist. It seems necessary that we give him our second commemoration here at our site since news broke of his death.

As mentioned in a previous article, Michael Jackson, is easily the most famous individual to ever walk the planet. His name and his legend rides amongst political leaders and presidents from the past and from the future. Due to his strange remaining years it is understandable that some people have trouble recognizing his brilliance.

To put into perspective how amazing Michael Jackon was, Michael Jordan, admitted he was nervous upon meeting this pop star at a time when Jordan’s excellence himself was unprecedented.What happened was Jackson invited Jordan to be included in a music video for his most recent single at the time, Jam. Jordan of course excepted and was featured in a role shooting baskets with the pop star for that video. Besides Jordan, Magic Johnson and Eddie Murphy are among the list of many other famous individuals who accepted taking a part in Jackson’s music videos.

Recently there has been an abundance of media attention directed at the news of Jackson’s death. Some people understand why and some others don’t. For those who do not, I want to help you understand how great Jackson’s legacy is. This guy was yes: crazy, insane, and definitely troubled in his later years but if you can focus on how much he did when he was in his prime, then you should have no problem realizing why he commands so much attention. Watch this following video and leave comments if you feel that Lebron, Kobe, Dwight, Obama, or recently featured Adriana Lima commands this reaction or anything similar from people of different countries all over the world. In the following video citizens jump, dive, stab, cry, shout, lounge, faint, piss, and become hysteric at either the mention or sight of Michael Jackson.  I would like to advise, the following video is gnarly.

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Adriana Lima and Marko Jaric

Posted on July 4, 2009 by Dino Gomez

I’m sure I had heard Marko Jaric’s name called a dozen times while watching basketball over the past years but the first time I sub-consciously decided his name was worth remembering was when I caught news that he was dating and planning to marry super model Adriana Lima. That is old news now but what is recent is that Lima is now pregnant and is expecting her first child with Marko in December. Marko is a first name like Yao, that does well by itself and without the last name tagging along. Anyways  this past week Lima sat down with representatives from People magazine and told the story of how she first met the Memphis Grizzlies guard. If only Marko had stayed in Serbia…01124_adriana-lima-victorias-secret-01_122_533lo_122_533lo

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Hedo Prefers Canada

Posted on July 3, 2009 by stone86

ESPN’s Ric Bucher has got the scoop. According to Bucher’s unnamed source, Hedo has broken off talks with the Blazers and is now headed to Toronto.  This probably means that the Raptors are giving up on signing Marion.  It’s almost certain that Portland fans will gripe, especially considering that Toronto’s increased offer undoubtedly played into the decision.

Really though, there is no reason to fret if you’re a Blazer fan.  The Blazers are stacked at the 2 and 3 spots with young skill players.  Travis Outlaw was a legitimate contender for 6th man of the year, and is consistently improving his game.  Martell Webster at one point was considered the best pure shooter in the touted 2004 draft class.  Even though he was injured for the entirety of 08-09 season, he is still young and  a valuable prospect.  Nicolas Batum is only 20 and has shown the athletic ability to be a solid NBA player.  Already one of the Blazers’ best lockdown defenders, Batum only really needs polish.  And Rudy Fernandez proved he was an athletic slasher with the ability to shoot the 3 ball.

Quick tidbit: it looks like Avery Johnson is interviewing for the Piston’s head coaching job.

Have a great, hoops filled 4th of July weekend.  Here is NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry, father of Stephen Curry, to help you with your game.

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Handle of the Week- The No Look Pass

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Dino Gomez

It is a sunny and warm Friday where I’m at and even better it is a 4th of July weekend. Celebrations are to come. Before then, we would like to give out another Handle of the Week Award. Not familiar with this award yet? No problem you will be soon. The Handle of the Week is an award given out every Friday to another site that did the best job handling anything basketball for the past week. Last week our award went to the Basketball Fiend, who displayed great enthusiasm towards his recognition for great work.

The winner this week goes to…The No Look Pass. Congrats to the crew over there.

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