Something I have noticed about the NBA: “The Game” is fighting a losing battle with those promoting the game. While that may sound a little confusing, it has become increasingly obvious that the promotion around the game is more important than the game itself. And this discussion looks very different depending on which side you are on. Last week LeBron James scored a career-high and team-record 61 points in a game. A few games later he lays an egg (by LeBron standards)
As the season winds down, several teams are working to put that final piece in place that might make the difference. From my experience, this is a high-risk proposition. Indiana added Evan Turner, hoping that he will change his spots. While an argument can be made that they needed a mature guy to play limited minutes and deepen an already deep rotation, they opted instead to roll the dice with the notorious knucklehead who is playing for a new contract. Wouldn’t they
Enjoy “February free agency” while it lasts, folks. After Metta World Peace and maybe even Danny Granger get bought out and waived, you know what awaits? The dark days. March Numbness … or Sadness … or Badness. If you think the Sixers are bad now, allowing 130 points to the Bucks on Monday night, just wait. It will be mind-numbing. The six weeks after All Star Weekend is the part of the schedule that players dread. It’s the part of the season
NEW ORLEANS — What happened to the “love of the game” qualification in choosing a replacement for Billy Hunter? David White of the Screen Actors Guild is one of the candidates who was interviewed by the NBA players’ union’s search committee here at All-Star Weekend, and he is reportedly the frontrunner for the job. Again, I must ask: Are the players being played? I can’t see where Job Qualification No. 1 is being addressed. [Read more…]
I will not be the next Executive Director of the players union. I got word of my rejection via e-mail, with no further explanation, so I decided to use my column this week to describe what is going on during the selection process, and what a shame it is. NBA players and all athletes in general have a pretty miserable track record at many things. Outside of actually playing basketball or another sport, their skills don’t necessarily translate into being successful in
Last week, stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett played a road game. But not just any road game. It was perhaps the most significant road game of their careers. The future Hall of Famers returned for the first time to basketball-bonkers Boston, the city where they won hearts and championships. The former Celtics were given a warm welcome that included video tributes and had an emotional evening. In this era of free agency, many players have a similar experience. They move from a
As I watched the Knicks-Nets game the other night I marveled at the Knicks. It was the middle of the 4th quarter and they had amassed a whopping 68 points, getting drilled in the process by the juggerNets. ‘Melo is a drop-dead scorer, right? His Madison Square Garden-record 62 last night proves it. He draws so much attention that the other guys are usually open, right? J.R. Smith can light it up, shoot you in and shoot you out, right? I keep
As we approach February and the 2014 All Star Weekend, the league will approach a milestone that for the vast majority of NBA players, fans, and executives will represent uncharted waters .. . the great unknown. David Stern will not be the commissioner. As Stern retires after serving a 30-year term as commissioner, the game as we know it today is largely a product of his influence. Stern took over as commissioner when Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuon entered the league and Bird/Magic