Adding some small degree of excitement to what would have been a dull, mundane preseason game at the Barclays Center, the league conducted an experiment with the Celtics and Nets playing 11-minute quarters on Sunday. In addition to the one fewer minute per quarter, there were two media timeouts in the second and fourth quarters instead of the normal three. The shorter 44-minute long game, the first one in NBA history, ended in a pleasant one hour and 58 minutes with the Celtics
With many of their best players resting, Australia fell short against Angola. Thursday, as the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup wrapped up the Group Phase, the Australian team faced Angola in its final game. With the Aussies trailing Slovenia by one game and having lost the head-to-head matchup between the two nations, they had nothing to gain from their final appearance in Group D. Their fate was destined to be the third best team out of their
This isn’t your child’s game of King of the Hill. No sir. No m’am. This is grown man, elite athlete, basketball “King of the Hill.” A game of one-on-one involving three players. It starts with Player 1 trying to score on Player 2. If he succeeds, Player 2 exits the floor and Player 3 takes over on defense. If Player 2 manages to prevent Player 1 from scoring, Player 1 exits and Player 2 moves to offense to try to score on Player
There are many names for four-time NBA champion and future Hall of Fame great Shaquille O’Neal—many of which he has given himself: The Big Aristotle, The Big Galactus, Shaqtus, Diesel, Steel and Hobo Master (yes, Hobo Master) among others. Thursday O’Neal celebrated his birthday. After a long NBA career and continued success off the court, perhaps it’s time to consider a new name…perhaps The Big Father Time? As he continues to grow older, his popularity still remains. Three of the basketball organizations
Monday didn’t just bring with it sadness for Denver Broncos fans and joy for the 12th Man of the Seattle Seahawks. Monday brought forth excitement for basketball fans around the world. 2014 is the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which begins in 207 days. The draw for the team groupings happened on Monday. [Read more…]
Australian basketball has received a much-needed shot in the arm over the last 12 months. And just wait and see what’s coming next. Former top overall draft pick Andrew Bogut has returned to full health and is again playing solid two-way basketball for the surging Golden State Warriors. Patty Mills has emerged from chief towel waver for the San Antonio Spurs to knockdown 3-point gunner. And undrafted rookie guard Matthew Dellavedova has worked his way into the rotation for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has undergone two major overhauls. It’s time for another one. Not the dramatic architectural changes of 1985 and 2002, in which new buildings were constructed to accommodate the growth of the greatest sport in the world. No, this overhaul will ensure that sort of renovation won’t be needed again for quite some time. It’s time for an NBA Hall of Fame. Tonight’s ceremonies in Springfield will induct 12 new members to the Hall. And as has often
Moments after the Los Angeles Lakers were ejected from the 2012 playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant talked calmly with reporters. No doubt the competitive anger within Bryant was hissing and steaming, but he was suppressing it because he was confident history would repeat itself. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out,” he said of the Lakers’ second consecutive ouster in the second round of the playoffs. “We always have and I’m sure we will again.” Yes, the Lakers always figure it out. What is