For some reason, the Phoenix Suns have put themselves in quite the vulnerable situation. With innovative coach Jeff Hornacek at the helm, the Suns were truly one of the biggest surprise teams of last season. No one expected them to be in a dog fight to be a playoff team in April. Hell, not many expected them to win even 30 games. Yet, they won 48 games and became one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league (eighth-best offensive
Hoop dreams come in all shapes and sizes. And halfway around the world, some dreams are just beginning — the dream of making it back to the NBA. This weekend, the Chinese Basketball Association concludes its regular season as teams gear up for the playoffs. For many Americans playing in China, the dream is humble yet significant – to compete for an NBA roster spot. No matter how you look at it, getting back to the NBA is always a long shot.
Have you ever wondered what became of Delonte West? How about Randolph Morris? Hamed Haddadi? Marcus Williams? They are all part of the growing contingent of former NBA players in the Chinese Basketball Association. The CBA is definitely a league of its own and well worth following for its American star power. Defense is not a priority in the CBA, an offensive-minded league which emphasizes transition and the 3-pointer. It is a great place for undersized guards, tweener forwards and big men not
If you had to name some of the best up-and-coming general managers in the NBA, Bob Myers of the Golden State Warriors should certainly be on that list. One of the younger GMs in the league, Myers has made quite a name for himself in just one season on the job. He orchestrated an exceptional draft in 2012 and picked up key pieces in the offseason that helped propel the young Warriors to a wildly successful postseason run. Despite all the success,
In today’s news, a capable NBA role player contemplates a move overseas and a franchise gets valued at nearly double what it was worth just three years ago. Ivan Johnson considering European offers According to Shams Charania of Realgm.com, Ivan Johnson is considering offers from teams outside the NBA. RealGM story: As interest fails to elevate, Ivan Johnson seriously considers leaving NBA for offers in China, Italy. http://t.co/Z1iTEfey9J — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2013 Johnson, 29, has proven to be a highly capable role
The Dwight Howard signing had a humongous effect on the futures market for who will win the NBA title. And then it started a trickle-down effect. [Read more…]
The Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks both skidded into the playoffs with uninspiring performances in April. It was only a few weeks ago when the Pacers looked solidly positioned to secure the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Instead, they went 2-5 in April and fell to third. Meanwhile, the Hawks also struggled at the end of the season and appeared to strategically tank their final two games in an attempt to avoid the Heat in the early rounds of the playoffs. [Read
My attempt to master a relatively new form of fantasy basketball has its ups and downs. Wednesday was a lot of fun. After dropping $35 from the weekly $100 bankroll in just two nights, I joined a handful of $2 leagues. Entering the maximum three teams in two different GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) events paid off, as I replaced the injured Al Horford (and Greg Stiemsma) with Josh Smith and Ivan Johnson, who were both outstanding in the Hawks’ win.