Uvo, take me back to 2011. (Sorry, I’ve been watching too many Blake Griffin commercials.) Just two years ago, the eighth-seeded Grizzlies stunned the top-seeded Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, sending San Antonio back to its rocking chairs a little bit earlier than anyone expected. Memphis used a breakout performance by Zach Randolph (31 points, 11 boards in Game 6) to close out the Spurs, then took the Thunder to seven games before bowing out in the West semifinals. Back
The conference finals should be set. If not for Indiana’s horrid Thursday night performance against the Knicks, San Antonio’s Game 6 victory over Golden State would have ended the NBA’s second round. How did the Spurs end up taking the final game of what looked like an incredibly tight and engaging series? Knicks are lucky to still be alive Let’s not sugarcoat this: The Knicks are lucky to be in the playoffs right now, and are only still alive because the Pacers
At around 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night, I became whole again. The author (right) with Kings play-by-play man Grant Napear in Philadelphia. He thought it was the last time he would be able to see his team in person. I found out that the Sacramento Kings, my favorite NBA team is, this time, for sure, going to exist next season. I found out that the squad I’ve been rooting for since I was 12 years old is staying
In New York City, rumors often swirl and everything is scrutinized. Such is the case with Knicks guard JR Smith’s recent streak of porous play. Everyone is looking for the juicy story that explains his shooting woes. It seems that a story has surfaced that has staying power. Many media pundits and analysts are buying into the idea that Smith, as apparently stated by pop singer Rihanna (in language that is unsuitable for children), parties too hard. [Read more…]
The Board of Governors (BOG) meeting in Dallas on Wednesday brings together two potential ownership groups representing two different cities. Both groups have the same goal: the acquisition of the Sacramento Kings NBA basketball franchise from current owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Wednesday’s meeting of the BOG will conclude with the league’s 30 owners voting on the proposal to relocate the Kings from Sacramento to Seattle. Both ownership groups will have an opportunity to address the Board with their proposals. [Read
Bruised and bloodied, the Chicago Bulls have no chance of overcoming a 3-1 deficit against LeBron James and the Miami Heat, right? Right? Well, don’t be so sure. Some pretty good players have been on the wrong end of 3-1 comebacks in the playoffs. Guys like Kobe Bryant. Patrick Ewing. Julius Erving. Charles Barkley. George Gervin. Jerry West. And Wilt Chamberlain. And Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and New York’s Carmelo Anthony don’t have enough help to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win their
PHILADELPHIA – The hard truth of life in the NBA is that once you’re down, it’s nearly impossible to get back up. The haves always seem to have it. The have-nots seem to be perpetually buried near the bottom. Or worse, in the middle of the pack, where there’s little chance of finding that rare gem in the draft and not much hope in free agency, either. [Read more…]
With Tuesday night’s Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers on the horizon, the New York Knicks’ roster was shrouded in doubt earlier in the morning. J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin have both been battling illness for the past few days, but are expected to play. The biggest question, however, involved second year guard Iman Shumpert. Shumpert, as you may recall, suffered from a few hard falls in Game 3 which have resulted in swelling in his left knee—the same knee that required