Let's Talk NBA

Let's Talk...Dwight Howard

2011-12-30T00:27:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest questions coming into the season, and now during the season, is where the best center in the league, Dwight Howard, will end up long term. There has been much speculation, and though I am not impressed by the way Howard has addressed the speculation lately, he still is showing that he is the most effective big man in the game today. With that being said, where he ends up for the long term can really affect the future of the NBA. Here, I will break down where he could go, and where I ultimately think he will go.

Option 1. LA Lakers:

For fans (especially those in LA), this seems like it was meant to happen. This would bring another great center to the purple and gold to carry on the great legacies of Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq. Kobe would be paired with another great center, and the Lakers would have a guaranteed superstar to build around when the Kobester retires. Dwight would get the Hollywood market that he feels he deserves…maybe a Kazaam reboot? And Mike Brown’s defensive philosophy would work well with Howard, a renowned defensive player.

However, the Buss family does not seem ready to move Andrew Bynum, and they definitely do not look to move both Bynum and Pau Gasol.

Option 2. NJ Nets:

Here Dwight has the opportunity to play for the Russian moneymaker Mikhail Prokhorov, an owner dedicated to winning. He can play with Deron Williams, one of the best point guards in the NBA. He can continue to develop under Avery Johnson, one of the best coaches in the NBA. Maybe Jay-Z can perform “Empire State of Mind” at every home game at halftime in order to steal the Knick faithful and bring them to the Barclays Center.

However, I am not a fan of this move for Dwight. Have you seen the Nets? This move does not put them ahead of Miami, and it is going to be mighty difficult to make New York a Net city over the Knicks. Besides, the Magic do not seem too attracted to the idea of replacing Howard with Brook Lopez and two draft picks, and I don’t blame them.

Option 3. Chicago Bulls:

There are many reasons why I feel this is a great option. 1. Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose. 2. Dwight Howard and Tom Thibodeau. 3. The idea of the Bulls fully recovering from the Jordan era. 4. Chicago is a great market.

Chicago has the trade assets that should attract Orlando, especially since Joakim Noah is a Florida Alum. I hear that Carlos Boozer and Howard are friends too. Noah, Deng, and Gibson, 1^st round picks, and fillers for Dwight and Hedo makes sense. However, there are terrible excuses for why this trade will not happen. Supposedly, Adidas has something to do with it. People say Rose hasn’t reached out to Dwight enough. Dwight wants warmer weather (how are the winters in New York by the way?). Ultimately, I think it comes down to the fact that Dwight does not want to go to a team where he is not the most important player on the team going into the future. Mr. Rose deservingly holds that title in Chi-town.

Option 4. Atlanta Hawks:

Rumors of this idea have recently surfaced, and it is quite intriguing. Dwight is from Atlanta, and he and Josh Smith are good friends; Dwight has expressed his interest in playing with Smith. Al Horford, a Florida Alum, will attract Orlando fans so the trade assets are there.

Option 5. Stay with the Magic:

I simply don’t see it happening.

Option 6. Dallas Mavericks or Boston Celtics:

Both of these teams have the money to sign him in the offseason. If Orlando cannot move him before the season ends, look for these two franchises to be major players in the summer for him.

So out of these 6 options, where do I see him going?

After much debate with JR, I predict he will be with the Atlanta Hawks. I don’t think the Hawks are the best option, but by process of elimination, this trade is the one that seems to hold the most weight. The Lakers simply don’t want to give up both Pau and Bynum, and if I was Orlando, I would not ask for anything less than those two. With Brook Lopez out for some time, and Orlando’s disinterest in him in the first place, I don’t see New Jersey landing him. Chicago simply has too many excuses why it won’t happen. Dwight is not going to stay with Orlando, and the Magic cannot afford to lose him to free agency to Dallas or Boston, unless they really want Dwight to donate money to local Boys & Girls Club in his “Decision”.

So here is the trade idea: Atlanta trades Jeff Teague, Joe Johnson, Al Horford, and two future first round draft picks to Orlando for Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jason Richardson.

Here, the Magic receive veteran and young players that will keep them in the playoffs, and as mentioned earlier, Al Horford will attract Orlando fans. I know many may ask why would the Magic take on Joe Johnson’s contract, but look at the Magic’s history; (Grant Hill, Juwan Howard, Rashard Lewis, Gilbert Arenas, many players on their current roster) this is not a bad deal. Joe Johnson is a quiet leader, and is the 3^rd best shooting guard in the NBA.

This is just my opinion. I’m more than open to seeing where the FANatics see Dwight ultimately landing and why. Let me know your thoughts.

- Joker

We're Back!!!

2011-12-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

JR and Joker are back to deliver thoughts on the NBA and things related. We're sorry for the extended absence but stay tuned for more posts to come!!!

Leaving for Europe

2010-08-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Rudy Fernandez and now Goran Dragic are the most recent slew of players rumored to be leaning to playing in Europe when their contract expires. The market allows European teams to pay players significantly more than NBA teams. Before, Europe was an alternative to college as we have seen by Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler opting to play overseas out of high school. Now that the NBA is nearing a lockout, the allure of playing in Europe in addition to the money is growing. If the NBA cannot get their act together, they will not only lose their foreign players but American born players as well.

Agree? Disagree? Let Us Know!!!

- JR

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-08-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Tim Duncan drinks some bad gatorade.

Allen Iverson's Fall From Grace

2010-08-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Shaquille O'Neal signed with Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons decided to take a chance and sign Tracy McGrady, but Allen Iverson still doesn't have an NBA contract. There have been many rumors about David Stern and the NBA blackballing the most prolific scorer of his generation and no other facts seem to back this up as much as these recent signings.

Let me preface this post by saying there is not much evidence either way on this topic and my conclusions can only come from what I see on the outside. No one can know what goes on behind closed doors.

Allen Iverson is a first ballot hall of famer, no question. 1996 Rookie of the Year, 2000-2001 NBA MVP, four time scoring champion, eleven time all star and the list goes on. All of this being said he has definitely lost a few steps since he first came into the NBA. He is a SG in a PG's body and the more his skill-set diminishes, the more this physical disadvantage will affect his game. The question, however, is not whether Iverson can still be a star in this league but whether his is deserving of an NBA contract. Last year in 25 games with the Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 13.9 ppg/4.1 apg/3 rpg. The year before that he posted 17.4/4.9/3.1 line and the year before. Based on pure ability, it seems that Iverson is still an NBA player.

Why is he not on an NBA roster then? As we have seen in the past, team chemistry plays a big part in constructing a successful team. Iverson's track record shows that he is prone to insubordination. Who could forget his famous practice rant in response to his coach, Larry Brown's criticisms? The fact that reports have come out that claim he wants to be a starter and not come off the bench doe not seem like team oriented demands. Iverson presents himself as a locker room cancer and teams should be wary.

Allen Iverson comes with a lot of baggage but the fact is that he comes to play on game and gives it his absolute all. He is the definition of a warrior and could add a lot to NBA team. It is for this reason I believe rumors of David Stern blackballing him are true. For all of his faults, you could find the same or worse in other currently employed NBA players. Ron Artest for example. Here is a player who adimmted to drinking during his years in Chicago and started the brawl while playing for Indiana and yet we don't allow his faults to define him. Instead we see him as an NBA champion. Rudy Fernandez is holding his team hostage, forcing a trade. Reports have even come that he doesn't want to play in the NBA anymore. If players such as these players have contracts, Iverson whose passion and love for the game cannot be equaled, should have that same privilege.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

- JR

Kendrick Perkins - Hard In The Paint Mix

2010-08-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

A mix I made of Kendrick Perkins of the Boston Celtics to Waka Flocka's single "Hard in the Paint." I made this mix the same time as Rondo's but I had some trouble uploading. Enjoy!

- JR

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-27T15:20:00.001-07:00

Delonte West freestyling while waiting for KFC

Let's Talk...Shaquille O'Neal

2010-07-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

There's no denying the fact that Shaq is one of, if not the greatest center of all times (JR puts a couple ahead of him). But is it time for the Real Superman to hang up his cape? At age 38, he's not getting any better, and it seems that he is facing a dilemma in his career now. The only team that seemed to keep him in shape the past few years is the Suns, but they don't want him. He is also has this personal rivalry with Kobe so getting a 5th ring is on his mind. However, the teams in contention for that ring haven't really shown interest.

I feel that Shaq should hang it up. He was the most dominant player of the last decade, and people are starting to forget that since the Lakers are winning championships again, and he has been on 3 different teams since 2008, and none of those teams have even reached a conference finals. What do you think Shaq should do?

Agree? Disagree? Let me know your thoughts.

- Joker

The Other "Decisions"

2010-07-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Now that we have LeBron James out of the way, we can finally talk about the other off season acquisitions. Here are my best and worst moves made so far.

Top 3

1. The Toronto Raptors trade Hedo Turkoglu to the Phoenix Suns for Leandro Barbosa

- Toronto was desperately trying to get rid of Turkoglu and his massive contract and did. That alone warrants top of the list. In return they get a strong bench player in Barbosa with a shorter 2 year contract.

2. The Utah Jazz trade future 1st round picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Al Jefferson

- Utah gets their replacement for Boozer in Jefferson who when healthy is one of the best low post players in the game. His defense should get better too in that he does not have to guard centers anymore.

3. The Chicago Bulls sign Ronnie Brewer for a 3 year/$12.5 million contract

- I really like the idea of a Rose/Brewer backcourt. Brewer would add great perimeter defense and can be relied on to hit the open jumper.

Bottom 3

1. The Minnesota Timberwolves sign Darko Milicic to a 4 year/$20 million dollar contract

- This is just too much money for a guy that "could" be good in your system. Milicic has not proved anything in his time in the NBA and still Minnesota is paying like he has.

2. The Milwaukee Bucks sign Drew Gooden to a 5 year/$32 million contract

- The 2 things Gooden has shown over the years is that he can rebound and he cannot stick to just one team. The latter indicates that this is probably not a player you try to sign long term.

3. The Memphis Grizzlies sign Rudy Gay to a max contract

- First, Rudy is not a max contract player. He is a below average defender and a very flawed offensive player. Second, Memphis didn't even attempt to see how the market was going to shake out before they signed him. They could have possibly got him for less money they didn't have such a quick trigger.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

- JR

Rajon Rondo "Over" Mix

2010-07-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a little mix using Drake's single "Over" I put together for my fellow Rajon Rondo/Boston Celtics fans. And even if you are not his biggest fan, respect the moves!

- JR

Let's Talk...The Great Wall of Chinatown

2010-07-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

There have been many impressive rookies throughout the NBA Summer League. Sorry vets, you gets no love; you're expected to do well in this league.

Demarcus Cosuins has been an animal out there. Hopefully Tyreke will give up some of his shots and give Cousins the ball in the regular season so this guy could be a frontfunner for ROY.

Eric Bledsoe has showed much potential. After playing behind Baron Davis and watching a few Pixar movies, (he always looks so sad during games)he will be a stud. Hopefully Blake Griffin will come back healthy as well. Oh and Clipper Darrell deserves a reality TV show. If Dru Hill can get one, why not him?

Paul George has people wondering if Danny Granger is untouchable by other teams any longer.

But I have to tilt my hat (yeah I got that from Sir Charles) to John Wall. His potential is Pineapple Express high, and he lived up to the hype during summer league. of course, it is summer league, and he did have a few games with plenty of turnovers. But with two games remaining on his summer league schedule, I look forward to what else this guy can show me. He surely could be doing his signature dance with a NBA Rookie of the Year trophy in his left hand if he plays like this during the regular season. He and Gilbert will have the connection Derrick Rose ad Ben Gordon had in Chi-town back in 2008-2009, and they even brought Kirk Hinrich over for the journey.

Let me know what you think of the rookies you've seen thus far.

- Joker

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

Saw this clip randomly and although it isn't supposed to be funny, Michael is the man so it's going up.

Day 3 of the Las Vegas Summer League

2010-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Day 3 game scores and summaries.

Denver Nuggets 100

New York Knicks 90

Game Info

Portland Trailblazers 84

Houston Rockets 67

Game Info

Washington Wizards 84

Golden State Warriors 79

Game Info

Miami Heat 77
New Orleans Hornets 72
Game Info

Miami Heat Post

2010-07-11T01:48:00.000-07:00

There have been so many funny Miami Heat videos being made so we decided to create a post dedicated to all of them. Enjoy!

LeBatard starts his hilarious rant at about 1:15 into the video.

Great nWo spoof.

This is just cruel.

Day 2 of the Las Vegas Summer League

2010-07-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Day 2 game scores and summaries.

Toronto Raptors 103

Phoenix Suns 69

Game Info

Denver Nuggets 92

Los Angeles Lakers 74

Game Info

Detroit Pistons 89

Golden State Warriors 69

Game Info

Houston Rockets 87

Dallas Mavericks 78

Game Info

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Steve Nash has so many funny videos so I tried my hardest pick the funniest one.

Day 1 of the Las Vegas Summer League

2010-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Day 1 game scores and summaries.

Denver Nuggets 88
Dallas Mavericks 70
Game Info

Houston Rockets 100
Phoenix Suns 82
Game Info

Detroit Pistons 89
Los Angeles Lakers 84
Game Info

Golden State Warriors 77
New Orleans Hornets 76
Game Info

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ugly free throws by Chuck Hayes.

Day 5 of the Orlando Summer League

2010-07-09T05:12:00.001-07:00

Day 5 game scores and summaries.

Oklahoma City Thunder 77
Indiana Pacers 73
Game Info

Utah Jazz 85
Philadelphia 76ers 56

Game Info

New Jersey Nets 86
Boston Celtics 68

Game Info

Orlando Magic 80
Charlotte Bobcats 77

Game Info

LeBron...Not a Cool Move

2010-07-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

Ok so I'm a Knicks fan. And LeBron is my favorite player. So you can see how him joining the Knicks' biggest rival is an issue here. But there's more to it than that. Let's make a list.

1. You wanted to be put in the same breath as Michael Jordan? Try again buddy. Unless you average over 30 ppg for the next 10 seasons or a triple double, there's NO way you can be considered the greatest after joining Wade and Bosh...both of whom are in their prime.

2. You're 25 years old. You have time to win a ring for Cleveland. Why throw in the towel now?

3. The city of Cleveland (not just the team) may not bounce back from this for a long time. It shows with Dan Gilbert's response, which was highly unprofessional. Sure, LeBron you didn't owe Cleveland a ring, but you owe them a better departure than that. An hour long special on ESPN was a bit much. We respect the charity donation, but you could use other sponsorship money to do that.

4. Since when did the best player in the league joined someone else's team? Since when did two of the top 5 players in the league and one of the top 5 power forwards decide to join forces? What the heck is going on here. You're supposed to battle it out against each other, not join the beautiful weather and women of South Beach. That's not what MJ, Magic, Bird, or heck even Kevin Durant did.

I wish the best for you LeBron, but c'mon man. Let me know your thoughts.

Joker

LeBron Chooses Miami!

2010-07-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

LeBron James revealed on ESPN that he will be joining forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh down in South Beach. Let's us know your thoughts and don't forget to vote on how many games you think they win in their 1st season!

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ron Ron makes another appearance. This time he's caught throwing Trevor Ariza's lost shoe into the stands

Day 4 of the Orlando Summer League

2010-07-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Day 4 game scores and summaries.

Oklahoma City Thunder 80
Orlando Magic 78
Game Info

Indiana Pacers 86
Boston Celtics 85
Game Info

Utah Jazz 91
New Jersey Nets 74
Game Info

Charlotte Bobcats 77
Philadelphia 76ers 76
Game Info

Day 3 of the Orlando Summer League

2010-07-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Day 3 game scores and summaries.

Boston Celtics 92, Charlotte Bobcats 71
Game Info

Oklahoma City Thunder 89, Philadelphia 76ers 80
Game Info

New Jersey Nets 94, Orlando Magic 91
Game Info

Indiana Pacers 83, Utah Jazz 74
Game Info

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

Guy dances to "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi during a Celtics game.

Is the Michael Jordan Era Hurting LeBron's Career?

2010-07-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

There has been nothing but hype the past two years about the Free Agency Class of 2010, headlined by LeBron James. They say it is the best Free Agency class since 1996, which headlined by Shaquille O'Neal and..yep you guessed it, His Airness Michael Jordan.

Jordan paved the way for the media hype behind the NBA today. The large Nike endorsements, Gatorade endorsements, McDonald's endorsements, movie deals, humongous contracts, etc. was started by none other than the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan. If the Internet was as advanced as it is today back in the late 1980s and 1990s, who knows what MJ could have done with that media.

There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron has the potential to be the best player to ever step foot on an NBA court. There is no doubt that he can have more endorsements and earn more money than MJ. But his legacy, sorry all die-hard LeBron fans (and I'm one of those people myself), will never surpass that of MJ. The reason...MJ made all of this possible by winning big games and winning championships.

LeBron has yet to win a title. Hell, he had yet to win an NBA game before he signed that ridiculously huge contract with Nike. And ever since then, he has built himself to be the perfect marketing brand...almost to the point where people thinks he cares more about his image than winning.

I blame MJ's legacy for this all. We all grew up wanting to "Like Mike." We wanted to wear shoes with our own emblem on them, make movies with Bugs Bunny, and have every thought or action of ours followed by millions. LeBron is following this path now, and I think it is hurting his reputation on the court.

So now comes Thursday, the prime time "Pursuit of LeBron-ness" at 9 PM. (really ESPN, an hour long special?) Hopefully, he makes a decision that will help improve his legacy on the court and not off the court.

Let me know your thoughts.

Joker

The Season Finale of "For the Love of LeBron"

2010-07-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday this week, the announcement that LeBron James would be revealing his anticipated decision of where he will be playing next on a 1 hour special on ESPN this Thursday. Wow. That was pretty much my reaction.

I don't know about the rest of you fanatics, but I am continually amazed at the new heights of "King James" and his narcissism. I mean, a 1 HOUR special? Seems pretty ridiculous for a seemly quick announcement. What happened to a simple press conference? I can just imagine an NBA lottery-like set up with every team's representatives labeled with the percentage of landing the prized free agent. But seriously, this ESPN special really irritates me and makes me lose respect for the NBA as a whole.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

- JR

Day 2 of the Orlando Summer League

2010-07-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

Day 2 game scores and summaries.

Utah Jazz 78, Orlando Magic 73
Game Info

Charlotte Bobcats 86, Oklahoma City Thunder 85
Game Info

Philadelphia 76ers 86, Boston Celtics 69
Game Info

New Jersey Nets 80, Indiana Pacers 69
Game Info

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-06T00:47:00.000-07:00

One of Rasheed Wallace's many ejections

Philadelphia 76ers 84, New Jersey Nets 74

2010-07-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Didn't get to see this game so I'm just going to give you guys the link to the game info.

Oklahoma City Thunder 87, Boston Celtics 82

2010-07-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

The Boston Celtics dominated this game early until mid-way through the 3rd quarter but the Oklahoma City Thunder calmly inched their way back into the game and eventual took the lead late in the 4th quarter. Oklahoma City was definitely the favorites with all of their experience as the summer league is concerned and they certainly showed it late in the game

Notable Players

Oliver Lafayette, BOS

- The best player on the floor, Lafayette controlled the game tempo and set the bar for defensive intensity. He also shot the ball well and just had a very nice overall game.

Luke Harangody, BOS

- Surprisingly shot extremely well, even from 3 point range. He did not create his own shot but certainly hit the open ones. Great offensive game but otherwise he didn't stand out.

Rodney Green, BOS

- Came of the bench to play PG even though he played SG in college. Looked for his shot more than he looked to dish but still was effective. He finished off his drive well using his large body (for a PG) to ward off defenders

Eric Maynor, OKC

- Played solid yet unspectacular with 0 assists in the 1st half. Hit some shots but didn't play well defensively. Overall not his best game but certainly not his worse.

James Harden, OKC

- Started off slow but hit his free throws throughout the game. Played well defensively and came on strong at the end of the game with a key buckets and defensive plays.

B.J. Mullens, OKC

- The best big on the floor. He rebounded well on both ends of the floor. On the offensive end he lived at the foul line and converted his chances. Brought the team back into the game with his great offensive effort.

Game Stats

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Indiana Pacers 86, Orlando Magic 77

2010-07-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

The Indiana Pacers started the game scorching hot, running Orlando out of the gym. But after settling down, Orlando quietly worked their way back into the game. Unfortunately for them, once Indiana realized they had a game on their hands, they quickly regained the lead and did not surrender it for the rest of the game.

Notable Players

Lance Stephenson, IND
- Looked exceptional offensively, especially considering he played PG the majority of his time on the court. The only drawback to his game that I could see was his inability to play without the ball in his hands. This might not be that big of a problem, however, as it seems Indiana is trying convert him into a PG in similar fashion to Tyreke Evans in Sacramento.

Paul George, IND
- Showed a great shooting stroke and athleticism but not much else. Seems able to play the SG position next to Danny Granger. George got his shot off whenever he wanted but couldn't create off the dribble well ans stood out defensively in a bad way (which is not good since everyone was playing bad defense). Overall though he had an impressive showing

Josh McRoberts, IND
- Definitely stood out with a great shooting stroke from beyond the 3 point line. Blended well in the offense, knocking down open shots and making some good passes. Got into a little tussle with Daniel Orton and both got ejected.

Daniel Orton, ORL
- Probably not the professional debut he envisioned, fouling at an exponential rate and getting ejected in the 3rd quarter. The lone bright spot was his defense as he made some nice plays and got a couple blocks.

Patrick Ewing Jr., ORL
- The most aggressive player of the game by far. He took and missed a lot of shots but also made some tough ones showing some potential in that area. He did not seem deterred by his misses which is always a good thing.

Donell Taylor, ORL
- The best player on Orlando today although that isn't saying much. He consistently hit open shots and created good balance between jumpshots and drives. Taylor was the spark that ignited the Orlando in the 3rd quarter as they tried to get back in the game.

Game Stats

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Charlotte Bobcats 85, Utah Jazz 83

2010-07-05T12:42:00.001-07:00

As expected, this game was full of turnovers and fouls. What was not expected, however, was the game coming down to a last second shot missed by Sundiata Gaines. Charlotte was in control for most of the game but a late burst from Utah nearly completed an unexpected comeback.

Notable Players

Derrick Brown, CHA
- Definitely the best player on the court, Brown showed a gritty toughness that stood out. Listed as a SF, Brown's skill-set looked more of a PF as he showed an array of post moves and strong finishes. He won all of the hustle plays leading his team to the win.

Gerald Henderson, CHA
- Clearly the most skilled player on the court, Henderson proved he could get his jumpshot off any time he pleased. With the game in hand most of the time he was on the court, he didn't play with tons of aggression but still put up impressive stats.

Alexis Ajinca, CHA
- Showed great post moves and aggression, getting his points early. Seemed to fade as the game went on, but still rebounded the ball well and showed growth in his very raw game.

Gordon Hayward, UTA
- Not the most aggressive player which is not necessarily a bad thing. He let the game come to him but did a lot of the little things such as rebound, move without the ball and make the right pass. Deferred the last shot of the game to Sundiata Gaines instead of taking it himself.

Sundiata Gaines, UTA
- The anti-Gordon, Gaines was in control of his team the whole game for better or worse. He made a lot of good plays but also made a lot of bad ones due to the ball being in his hands most of the time. Got to the foul line frequently but had trouble converting his foul shots into points.

James Augustine, UTA
- A pleasant surprise, Augustine provided rebounding and low post scoring that sparked the near comeback by Utah.

Game Stats

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Free Agent Signing Updates

2010-07-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are in the middle of day 2 of free agency and here are some more updates on who's signing where.

SF Paul Pierce, 32 years old

- Agreed to a 4 year/61 mil extension with the Boston Celtics. As expected, they definitely over-payed to keep Pierce in green. However, i can't blame them because I would have done the same thing. Loyalty can mess you up in this business but here I think is the perfect example of when it's done right. With all of these crazy contracts being offered, Pierce's market value was rising be the second. Instead of letting him go, Danny Ainge conceded the money and set Pierce up so he can retire a Celtic. I like this deal for two other reasons. Pierce has shown that he is the type of player that should age well. He has never been the most athletic guy out there and so he should be able to adjust to losing his athleticism. Also this contract has a team option for the 4th year. So in any case where it is clear that Pierce cannot play anymore ala Rasheed Wallace, they can decline the 4th year.

PF Hakim Warrick, 27 years old

- Agreed to a 4 year/18 mil contract with the Phoenix Suns. This is probably the best signing money wise as the Suns get a productive bench player who should excel in their system. This signing most likely spells the end of the Amare era in Phoenix.

SF John Salmons, 30 years old
- Agreed to a 5 year/ 39 mil extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. Salmons is an underrated player in this league and should be credited with Milwaukee's playoff push late last season. Here is another player I project to age well so I'm not too worried about the length of the contract. They might have overpaid a tad for him but considering the recent contract offers think this is a solid signing.

PF Amar'e Stoudemire, 27 years old
- Close to agreeing to a 5 year/100 mil contract with the New York Knicks. Stoudemire plans to join forces with his old coach Mike D'Antoni and play in the big apple. I like this move if they can sign a center to play next to him. Stoudemire is terrible defensively against centers and this problem will only get worse as he would have to battle against the likes of Dwight Howard and the bigger centers of the east. Not sure if he is a max contract player but we will see in his first season without MVP point guard Steve Nash.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-07-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Jason Williams of the Orlando Magic taking his frustration out on some reporter in a post-game interview with Matt Barnes.

Big Money Offers Mark 1st Day of Free Agency

2010-07-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

After almost a day after free agency began, already we have seen some pretty wild contract agreements. Even though we are in a recession and the new NBA collective bargaining agreement could possible spell a lower salary cap, teams have not been bashful throwing their money around. Here is a list of the contract offers (players cannot officially sign until July 8th) so far.

C Drew Gooden, 28 years old

- Agreed to a 5 year/32 mil contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. For a player who has played on 9 teams in 8 seasons, this seems like a stretch. Yes he can he can rebound but that's pretty much it. You don't commit 5 years to a player of his caliber.

SF Rudy Gay, 23 years old

- Agreed to a 5 year/81.6 mil extension with the Memphis Grizzlies. Gay is not a number 1 option type of player and I doubt he ever will be. Therefore I don't see the value in this contract at all from a Memphis ownership standpoint. Another factor is that Gay is a restricted free agent which means any team cannot not go out and sign him without Memphis possibly matching the offer. That is why offering this contract so early is puzzling. The smarter way to go about it would be to wait and see if any team is willing to pay big money for Gay and then match it. Here they are just tactlessly throwing money away.

SG Joe Johnson, 29 years old

- Offered a 6 year/119 mil extension with the Atlanta Hawks. Another player who is never going to be a number 1 option, getting number 1 option money. The other issue I have is the length of this contract. Johnson is 29 and so this contract will not be up until he is 35. 20 mil per year is a steep price to pay a player exiting his prime.

PF Amir Johnson, 23 years old

- Agreed to a 5 year/34 mil extension with the Toronto Raptors. I am a big fan of Johnson but I have to say that Toronto is definitely overpaying. Although he shows promise, Johnson has not been able to put it all together consistently. I just wouldn't be comfortable setting aside this much money for an inconsistent backup.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

Free Agency Notes and Rumors

2010-06-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

In an hour and fifteen minutes the free agency bonanza begins. Here some rumors and rumblings to keep you occupied.

- Richard Jefferson, Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki have chosen to opt out of their contracts making them free agents

- Tyson Chandler in a surprise move has opted into his contract for next year (lol)

- Byron Scott has been rumored to be the next coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers

- LeBron James reportedly called Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics to inquire about joining him in Miami if he chooses to sign there

JR

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-06-30T13:28:00.001-07:00

Stephon Marbury on a local TV in New York. He admitted to being high while doing this and you can tell right off the bat. It's long clip but it's full of hilarious soundbites from one the strangest men you will ever meet.

Let's Talk NBA Rookie Predictions

2010-06-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

We are almost a week past the draft, and I have taken much time to think about this one. I wanted to make sure I really put some thought into who I thought were the big winners in the draft (and not just by trades Chicago and Miami fans). These are the teams who I feel have made their teams much better through their draft picks, and who I feel the All-NBA Rookie Team will be.

Orlando Magic- 1st rd: Daniel Orton. 2nd rd: Stanley Robinson (his athleticism is ridiculous)
L.A. Clippers- 1st rd: Al-Farouq Aminu. 1st rd: Eric Bledsoe (a steal from OKC).
San Antonio Spurs- 1st rd: James Anderson
Indiana Pacers- 1st rd: Paul George. 2nd rd: Lance Stephenson

Of course, the teams with the top 5 picks all made good decisions, but I fell that these teams really added to their already solid roster. Daniel Orton gives Orlando the ability to trade Gortat for a solid wing player. Also, Stanley Robinson's athleticism will help them. The Clippers add much talent and athleticism to their already promising young squad. And the Spurs add a potential starter for their team in James Anderson (we all know Manu is better off the bench). I have to wait to see what Coach Jim O'Brien does for the two guys they drafted in Indiana.

Here are my predictions for All-NBA 1st Team
Guard: John Wall- Washington Wizards
Guard: Evan Turner- Philadelphia 76ers
Forward: Greg Monroe- Detroit Pistons
Forward: Blake Griffin- LA Clippers
Center: DeMarcus Cousins- Sacramento Kings

Agree? Disagree? Let me know your thoughts.

Joker

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-06-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

Shaq cursing on live TV. LOL.

Vegas and Orlando Summer League Rosters

2010-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Ridiculousupside.com, here are the updated rosters for the NBA summer league teams.

Las Vegas Summer League Rosters

Orlando Summer League Rosters

Another Celtics vs Lakers Post

2010-06-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Recently Ron Artest made headlines after he released a victory track titled "Champions" following the Los Angeles Lakers triumph over the Boston Celtics in the finals. I thought it would be fun to compare it to the track "Who Are We? (The Celtics)" by rap group N.B.S. My vote goes to N.B.S.

N.B.S. - Who Are We? (The Celtics)

Ron Artest - Champions

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Hilarious Clip of the Day

2010-06-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ron Ron on national TV...half-naked.

2010 NBA Draft - Reaches and Steals

2010-06-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

So after a full day to ponder the picks made in the draft, here are my top 5 reaches and top 5 steals.

Draft Reaches

1. Andy Rautins and Landry Fields 38th and 39th picks NYK
2. Trevor Booker 23rd pick MIN
3. Lazar Hayward 30th pick WAS
4. Epke Udoh 6th pick GSW
5. Ryan Reid 57th pick IND

Draft Steals

1. Solomon Alabi 50th pick DAL
2. Gani Lawal 46th pick PHX
3. Willie Warren 54th pick LAC
4. Stanley Robinson 59th pick ORL
5. Hassan Whiteside 33rd pick MIL

Although not the most exciting draft, the 2010 NBA draft provided us with a plethora of head scratching picks, especially in the 2nd round. There was a large pool of talent including underclassmen who went undrafted making this draft one of the most peculiar ones in recent memory.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

3rd NBA Mock Draft Update

2010-06-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

2 days until the NBA draft so here again is my 3rd mock. There have been a lot of trade rumors floating around so I don't expect teams to be picking in this order but if they do, here is how I see the draft shaking out.

#1 Washington Wizards
PG John Wall, Fr. Kentucky
NBA Comparison - Derek Rose

#2 Philadelphia 76ers
SG Evan Turner, Jr. Ohio State
NBA Comparison - Brandon Roy

#3 New Jersey Nets
PF Derrick Favors, Fr. Georgia Tech
NBA Comparison - J.J. Hickson

#4 Minnesota Timberwolves
SF Wesley Johnson, Jr. Syracuse
NBA Comparison - Trevor Ariza

#5 Sacramento Kings
C DeMarcus Cousins, Fr. Kentucky
NBA Comparison - Andrew Bynum

#6 Golden State Warriors
PF Greg Monroe, So. Georgetown
NBA Comparison - Lamar Odom

#7 Detroit Pistons
PF Ed Davis, So. North Carolina
NBA Comparison - Andris Biedrins

#8 Los Angeles Clippers
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, So. Wake Forest
NBA Comparison - Thaddeus Youn

#9 Utah Jazz
SF Luke Babbit, So. Neveda
NBA Comparison - Paul Pierce

#10 Indiana Pacers
C Ekpe Udoh, Jr. Baylor
NBA Comparison - Jerome Moiso

#11 New Orleans Hornets
SF Paul George, So. Fresno State
NBA Comparison - Danny Granger

#12 Memphis Grizzlies
PF Patrick Patterson, Jr. Kentucky
NBA Comparison - Antonio McDyess

#13 Toronto Raptors
SF Gordon Hayward, So. Butler
NBA Comparison - Luke Jackson

#14 Houston Rockets
C Cole Aldrich, Jr. Kansas
NBA Comparison - Emeka Okafor

#15 Milwaukee Bucks
SG Xavier Henry, Fr. Kansas
NBA Comparison - Allan Houston

#16 Minnesota Timberwolves
PF Hassan Whiteside, Fr. Marshall
NBA Comparison - Jonathan Bender

#17 Chicago Bulls
SG James Anderson, Jr. Oklahoma State
NBA Comparison - Wesley Person

#18 Miami Heat
SG Avery Bradley, Fr. Texas
NBA Comparison - Shannon Brown

#19 Boston Celtics
SF Damion James, Sr. Texas
NBA Comparison - Josh Howard

#20 San Antonio Spurs
PF Kevin Seraphin, France
NBA Comparison - Nene

#21 Oklahoma City Thunder
SG Terrico White, So. Mississippi
NBA Comparison - Tyreke Evans

#22 Portland Trailblazers
SG Elliot Williams, So. Memphis
NBA Comparison - Terence Williams

#23 Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Eric Bledsoe, Fr. Kentucky
NBA Comparison - Ty Lawson

#24 Atlanta Hawks
PF Larry Sanders, Jr. Virginia Commonwealth
NBA Comparison - Serge Ibaka

#25 Memphis Grizzlies
PG Armon Johnson, Jr. Nevada
NBA Comparison - Antonio Daniels

#26 Oklahoma City Thunder
C Solomon Alabi, So. Florida State
NBA Comparison - Roy Hibbert

#27 New Jersey Nets
SG Willie Warren, So. Oklahoma
NBA Comparison - Ben Gordon

#28 Memphis Grizzlies
C Daniel Orton, Fr. Kentucky
NBA Comparison - Al Horford

#29 Orlando Magic
PF Gani Lawal, Jr. Georgia Tech
NBA Comparison - Chris Wilcox

#30 Washington Wizards
SF Quincy Pondexter, Sr. Washington
NBA Comparison - Bill Walker

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Let's Talk All-Decade Team

2010-06-21T11:57:00.001-07:00

Drumrolls please...I know we are a little late, but what would 2010 be without a "Let's Talk NBA All-Decade." We will have our list of the All-NBA First and Second team, and the unfortunate All-NBA busts team for the past decade.

All-Decade NBA First Team
Guard: Jason Kidd
Guard: Kobe Bryant
Forward: LeBron James
Forward: Tim Duncan
Center: Shaquille O'Neal

All-Decade NBA Second Team
Guard: Allen Iverson
Guard: Steve Nash
Forward: Dirk Nowitzki
Forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Yao Ming
Sixth Man: Michael Jordan (his tenure with Wizards was exciting...besides, he's the G.O.A.T.)

Now you could argue for players such as Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Dwayne Wade, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Keyon Dooling (just making sure you're paying attention here). The most shocking may be Yao over Dwight Howard. Sorry Dwight, but when Yao is healthy, he's a better player...and he doesn't make me look away from the TV like I'm watching a horror film when he's on the offensive end. And he improved his game yearly.

All-Decade NBA Busts Team
Guard: Sebastian Telfair
Guard/Foward: Darius Miles
Forward: Adam Morrison
Forward: Darko Millicic
Center: Kwame Brown- along with some other picks from that 2001 drafts

Michael Olowakandi came close but he had at least one productive season with the Clips.

Agree? Disagree? Riddle me that...even if you feel someone deserves to be on this busts team.

Joker

The NBA...Where Jordan is still the G.O.A.T.

2010-06-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Emerging from all the excitement of Kobe Bryant capturing his 5th championship ring is the long time debate whether or not he has taken Michael Jordan's title of greatest player to ever play the game. I thought I would take a little time to give my input on this subject.

First let's look at the players themselves. Offensively, their skill-sets are very similar. Both possess elite athleticism (at least in their younger years) accompanied with extremely high basketball IQ. Both players also possessed a seemly unstoppable mid-range shot which they could both get off at will. To Kobe's credit, I think it's safe to say that he definitely has more range on his jump shot and is a better 3 point shooter. Michael took a long time to develop a 3 point shot and it was never as effective as Kobe's. Michael however had a much stronger body and was a better post player and finisher around the rim. So in terms of offensive capabilities, I think that it is a draw.

Defensively, however, is a different story. Although Kobe has many accolades praising his defensive prowess, his defense as a whole is vastly overrated. He is an elite off-ball defender using his length and IQ to disrupt passing lanes but his lack of physicality limits his on ball effectiveness. Michael on the other hand was a much better on ball defender using his strength and physical tools to shut down opponents.

Another similar trait both players possessed is their on court demeanor. Both Kobe and Michael were equally competetive and have been know to lash out at under-performing teammates. I think the difference in this situation is Michael's harsh words definitely motivated his teammates more while Kobe alienated his (more so in earlier in his career).

Overall the numbers support my conclusion. Michael Jordan was a five time MVP. Kobe has one (which in my opinion he didn't deserve. Chris Paul had the better season). Michael Jordan was the defensive player of the year in 1988; a feat Kobe has not achieved. And the stat that everyone counts the most, Michael Jordan won six titles going 6-0 in the finals while being the MVP in each series. Kobe has won five but has a 5-2 record and has only two finals MVPs. Although it's a fun topic to debate the facts clearly support that Michael Jordan still holds the title of the G.O.A.T.

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Keys to Game 7 - Lakers vs Celtics

2010-06-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

For all those who don't know, I am a HUGE Boston Celtics fan but I will try hard to stay neutral (don't hold me to it though).

Energy

Game 6 the Lakers came out with loads and loads and loads of energy which propelled them to an early lead and eventually a win. If the Celtics have any chance at winning in LA, they must match the Lakers' intensity and crowd energy. They must take the crowd out of the game by standing strong the first quarter and not letting LA get out to another early lead.

Rebounding

In all of the Celtics' victories, they have out-rebounded the Lakers. With Kendrick Perkins out, this task becomes much more difficult. The Lakers present huge match up problems in terms of length with Big Baby now inserted into the starting lineup. This can best be summed up by the quote "Offense sells tickets, defense wins games but rebounding wins championships" (can't remember exactly who said this but it is a great insight nonetheless)

Bench

The bench of both teams have received an unusual amount of press during these finals. The Celtic bench for at times exceeding expectations and the Laker bench for at times not living up to them. This is the final game so none of their past performances matter. Whichever bench gives their starters the most rest will give their team a huge advantage. As we saw in game 5, even with Kobe's historic performance, the lack of bench play wore on the starters and they could not finish the game. The same goes for the Celtic bench. In game 6 they were none existent, giving no support to their starters. With Kendrick Perkins out now, bench play becomes even more important for the Celtics.

The Final Word

Although the Lakers are definitely the favorite going into game 7, I cannot abandon my childhood team so I am picking the Celtics. The Lakers have not won two games in row against the Celtics and I see no reason why they will start now (well I see some reasons but I'm choosing to ignore them).

Celtics 105 Lakers 92

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

Let's Talk Laker Centers

2010-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Alright, with the NBA season coming to a close, and the finale occurring tomorrow not in the Staples Center, one of the big headlines will be the effectiveness of Andrew Bynum with Kendrick Perkins out of the game. Though Bynum is not yet one of the all time great Laker centers, and may not ever be, it has brought upon me a pretty interesting debate: who is the greatest Lakers center of all times? There are four leading candidates that come to mind for me: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, and Chris Mihm (hoping you readers have a good sense of humor). There are many others so I want to get the Fanatics' opinion. Let us know your thoughts!

Joker

NBA All-Playoff Teams

2010-06-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

With at most two remaining games left in the NBA postseason, I thought it would be appropriate to select my All-Playoff team. And remember, this list is based on individual performance, not necessarily team performance.

NBA All-Playoff 1st Team

G - Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

NBA All-Playoff 2nd Team

G - Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
G - Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
F - Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
C - Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

Agree? Disagree? Lemme know!

JR

The Best NBA Jersey

2008-05-07T18:21:00.001-07:00

Remember the cool red, white, and blue Bullets jersey that Wes Unseld wore in 1978 or the purple with pinstripe jerseys that the Raptors wore in 1999 when they drafted Vince. These are two examples of the good decisions the NBA made on jerseys. The current Orlando Magic jerseys... not so much. Riddle me this: What is the best NBA jersey of all time? Could it be the the red and yellow retro Hawks jersey Dominique Wilkins wore in the 1980s, or the traditional green Celtics jerseys worn since dinosaurs existed? Joker says: "The best NBA jersey is the 1984 r road jerseys worn by the Chicago Bulls. Plain...yes, but unforgettable as well. The cursive font is like no other. The colors are great, and most important, it marked the beginning of his airness MJ." Of course my opinion is not always right, and I am more than happy to view your responses. Let me know your thoughts.

Joker

Is The NBA Too Soft?

2008-05-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

With the excitment the of the 2008 NBA playoffs, from Chris Paul's amazing debut against the Dallas Mavericks and now the San Antonio Spurs to the Hawks' near miracle against the Celtics in the first round, one thing the playoffs have brough most is....flagrant fouls.

What happened to the good days of Kurt Rambis, Rick Mahorn, and Kevin McHale giving hard fouls to prove there's a difference between the regular season and the Playoffs. Isn't that what made Michael Jordan's victory over Detroit in 1991 so special? Nowadays, you can't get near Tony Parker or Manu Ginobli without a whistle being blown, and if a player doesn't land on his feet after getting fouled, someone is being thrown out the game. Joker says "The NBA is way too soft. Let the grown men play out there. You don't foul people to let them get And 1's; you foul to prevent the basket. Let's toughen up guys." Of course my opinion is not always right, and I am happy to view other responses. Let me know your thoughts!

Joker