I need to limit the reasons to feel positive about the Lakers to just five? Well now I’m simply going to feel as if I’m short-changing them. Anyways, all narcissistic, ego-fueling Lakers comments aside, there are many reasons to look at the upcoming NBA season as one that could end with a parade running through downtown Los Angeles. But if there’s anything we’ve learned from professional sports, it’s that things rarely turn out the way you expect. There are plenty of reasons why the
Have you ever read the book “When the Game Was Ours”? It’s about the rise, rivalry and friendship of two of the finest players in the history of the NBA in Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and how their love and passion for the game of basketball helped shape the NBA into what it is today. What you also find out in the book is the role of one David Stern, who wasn’t always hated and booed at every basketball event he
When the 76ers acquired Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers, the team and its fans showed unreal support for the center and treated him like a rock star as they expected big things – in a franchise altering way. What they probably did not expect or anticipate, however, was the possible acquisition of damaged goods. This is not to say that Bynum is significantly injured, but he has already missed the entire preseason due to pain in his knee and
The NBA has changed the format of its All-Star ballot, removing the center position and splitting players into backcourt and frontcourt categories. NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced the change Wednesday. For the first time, fans will choose two guards and three frontcourt players when selecting starters for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. In years past, fans had to vote for two guards, two forwards and a center. Jackson said the change was made to reflect the
When LeBron James made his move to the power forward position last season, things changed drastically – in a championship winning way – for the Heat. There aren’t too many small forwards that are versatile enough to play both small forward and the power forward positions: the difference in physicality is simply too significant to handle for most. Another three that is capable of playing the four – and creating havoc in the process – is New York Knicks forward Carmelo
Here are this morning’s top NBA news stories: “Memphis Grizzlies sale to be voted on by NBA Board of Governors on Thursday,” by Marc Stein from ESPN.com “Is Luis Scola Phoenix’s X-Factor,” by Bill Ingram from HoopsWorld “Expect Warriors to go small early in season,” by Matt Steinmetz from CSNBayArea.com “Oklahoma City’s James Harden a hot ticket,” by Paul Coro from the Arizona Republic “The differences between Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum are plain to see,” by Mike Bresnahan from the Los Angeles Times “Pierce: ‘it would be difficult’ to see
It’s always intriguing to read the minds of general managers of the NBA: they are the ones who produce the teams we watch, afterall. NBA.com’s annual GM Survey was released on Monday and predictably, the Heat and LeBron James were on top of many of the winning categories. Along the way, though, you’ll find some interesting – if not somewhat funny (see “Who will win the 2012-2013 MVP” section) – votes that went to places you may or may not expect.
// When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Dwight Howard, I didn’t stutter when I declared that they would win 70 games this season. Well, it took nearly all of the preseason, but we finally got a look at Howard back on the court in a Lakers uniform. And I saw nothing to change my mind.