Category: NBA (Page 243 of 595)

      Shaq’s idea to revamp the dunk contest

      January 20, 2010 /

      “As his manager, I will only allow ‘Bron to do the dunk contest if Vince Carter comes back out. If Kobe comes back out and if another big name comes back out. If we could get a big prize and have half of the money go to the people of Haiti and the other half to the winner. The guys that are in it, no disrespect to them, but there won’t really be any competition for LeBron. I want to see Kobe. I want to see Vince and I will allow my client to enter. I’m saying it now. So tweet it. Facebook it. E-mail it and hopefully it gets out. Vince, we’re calling you out. Kobe, we’re calling you out. We’re calling everybody out. If those guys step up in the dunk contest, then I will allow my client to step up.”

      — Shaquille O’Neal (via the AP and ESPN)

      Humor, NBA

      Who deserves to represent the West in the All-Star Game?

      January 20, 2010 /

      Yesterday, I tackled the Eastern Conference, and today I’ll look at the West.

      THE NO-BRAINERS

      1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
      28-5-5 plus the best record in basketball. It’s a two horse race right now for MVP and Kobe might be the frontrunner.

      2. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs
      He’s averaging 26-8-3 for the resurgent Mavs.

      3. Kevin Durant, Thunder
      He’s posting 29-7-3 for a very dangerous OKC squad. How scary is it that he’s only 21 years-old?

      4. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
      ‘Melo is scoring better than ever (30-6-3) thanks to increased efficiency from the field (48%) and the charity stripe (87%)

      Continue reading »

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      Bill Simmons on watching LeBron in person

      January 20, 2010 /

      The Cavs visited the Clippers recently, and Bill Simmons was in attendance. Here’s what he thinks of LeBron up close.

      To say the least. He’s the most charismatic athlete of his generation, only you wouldn’t fully know it until you studied him in person. Command of the room. He might dunk in the layup lines. He might try to make a one-handed half-court shot. He might call for an alley-oop and soar above his incredulous teammates just for the hell of it. Simply saying “bursting with energy” wouldn’t do him justice. It’s like watching a super-coordinated, mutant 4-year-old dealing with a severe sugar rush.

      I’m gonna go block Delonte’s shot from behind! HAH! He didn’t see me coming! Wait, I’m in the mood for an alley-oop. I need me some oop. Mo, throw me an oop. Ah, yes … it’s in the air … I’m jumping … DUNK! What now? I want to try a one-handed shot from the corner. Jamario, come play with me. Hold on, I just saw Baron Davis! Hey Baron! What up, dog! Watch this, I’m gonna make a half-court shot with my eyes closed … DAMN! Just missed it. You know what I really feel like doing? Jumping on Shaq’s back. Look out, Big Fella, eeeeeeeeeeee-yah!!!!!!!

      Jordan saved his legs before games, using that time to stretch, practice specific shots and butter up referees. LeBron can’t pace himself. Even when he walks from Point A to Point B, there’s no loping or strolling. He prances. He hops up and down. And if all these people are staring at him anyway, why not rile them up with a couple ridiculous dunks?

      On the chances of him leaving Cleveland at the end of the season…

      Continue reading »

      NBA, NBA Finals, Rumors & Gossip

      Great Quotes: Andrei Kirilenko

      January 19, 2010 /

      “I don’t think the money is going to be an issue. I understand that I look at the world realistically. I understand my value is going to be a little lower than it is right now. I’m not worried about that. Money has never been an issue. It’s good to have a good contract and money. But my priority is basketball.”

      — Andrei Kirilenko, via FanHouse.com

      I don’t want to get on the guy too much here, because he probably doesn’t want to devalue his game, but he says his value is going to be “a little lower”?

      Kirilenko’s contract is one of the more interesting deals in the game. He signed a six-year contract worth $86 million at the start of the 2004-05 season after averaging 17-8-4 with 1.8 steals and 2.8 blocks per game in 2003-04. But that was before Carlos Boozer arrived and Matt Harpring was the team’s second leading scorer. Since the addition of Boozer and, later, Deron Williams, Kirilenko has taken a back seat offensively and he has become one of the most overpaid players in the league.

      But it’s not his fault that the Jazz paid him that much. In 2004, with the dearth of talent in post-Stockton/Malone Utah, he was just 23 and looked like a superstar in the making. His PER in 2003-04 was 22.79 and it even jumped to 24.44 the following season. Over the last three seasons, he has averaged in the 16-17 range, so he’s still an above average forward in terms of stats. He’s due to make $17.8 million next season and will become a free agent in 2011, at the age of 30. My guess is that the next deal he signs will be around the mid-level (~$6 million per season). So, yeah, his value will drop off a little bit.

      The bigger thing to take from this story is that Kirilenko isn’t looking for a payday. He wants to stay with the Jazz — and that’s admirable.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Who deserves to represent the East in the All-Star Game?

      January 19, 2010 /

      By the end of this month, the NBA will announce the rosters for the 2010 All-Star Game. Between the fans (who vote for the starters) and the coaches (who pick the reserves), we usually end up with a pretty representative list of the who’s who of the 2009-10 NBA season, even though there are usually one or two minor headscratchers.

      With that in mind, here are my picks (for now), which are based on some ambiguous combination of the player’s individual performance and his team’s overall record. (Check back tomorrow for the West All-Stars.)

      THE NO-BRAINERS

      1. LeBron James, Cavs
      He’s averaging 30-7-8 with 51% shooting, 1.5 steals and almost a block per game. Moreover, his team currently holds the #1 seed in the East.

      2. Dwight Howard, Magic
      He’s averaging 17-13 with 60% shooting and 2.5 blocks. Pencil him in for the next 10 years, assuming he stays healthy.

      3. Dwyane Wade, Heat
      The Heat are just above .500, and Wade’s numbers (46% shooting) aren’t as good as in years past, but he’s averaging 27-5-6 and his team is sitting in the #6 spot right now.

      4. Paul Pierce, Celtics
      The C’s have been without Kevin Garnett for 10 games and are still holding on to the #2 seed in the East. Pierce is averaging 18-5-4 and his hitting almost 47% from long range.

      5. Chris Bosh, Raptors
      The Raptors are a .500 team and Bosh is averaging 24-11 while shooting 52% from the field.

      6. Joe Johnson, Hawks
      The Hawks are sitting at #3 and JJ is posting 21-5-5, while shooting a respectable 45% from the field.

      Continue reading »

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

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