It’s March Madness, and that can only mean one thing. I just spent the past 48 hours writing three paragraphs on all 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament for my blog, RoundballDaily.com. If I have to hit the parentheses button one more time, I’m going to lose my index finger (I put a lot of the stats in parentheses). Dammit. In the spirit of the Big Dance, I’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the greatest March
The Knicks have won five straight games and now sit just 3.5 games from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The fans of Gotham are finally excited about the Knicks for the first time this season. The Bucks come to New York on Saturday, and if the Knicks can pull out an expected victory, they’ll close the gap between them and the Hawks even further. Right now, ESPN.com has the Knicks’ playoff odds at 15%. With the Knicks having five
A well-proportioned, wise Italian man with a radio show in New York once told me and a listening audience of probably hundreds that the NBA “goes into the clouds” in February and March. I can’t really remember his name, OK? So let’s just call him Ike Manfresca. Manfresca’s quote has always stuck with me, because: (a) it was so strange and (b) it’s the perfect way to describe the seasonal malaise that rolls in around this time of year, like a
Monday’s contest between Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns looked to be over early when Blake Griffin was having one of those games where he simply could not be stopped by anyone. Griffin scored 22 points in the first quarter alone on an array of shots and moves around the basket and even payed a little homage to Karl Malone on this breakaway dunk. He shot a ridiculous 14-of-16 from the field for 37 points, and the Clippers got out to
An article on NBA.com crossed paths with former Phoenix Suns point guard and current Sacramento city mayor Kevin Johnson Friday afternoon. What was it about? Retired Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson recalled the tale of his first game against Mayor Johnson back on February 26, 1997. KJ made him cry. [Read more…]
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
While Pheonix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers square off Tuesday, the team and its players will be honoring a fallen police detective. John Hobbs, 43, was a 21-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department. He and his partner, 44, were both shot while attempting to arrest an ex-convict, identified as William Thornton, for violation of probation. According to Police Chief Daniel Garcia, Thornton, who was also a key suspect in a Feb. 25 attempted murder case, “immediately opened fire” on Hobbs and his
I went on the radio in Phoenix this morning and played party-pooper, because I don’t think qualifying for the playoffs is such a grand goal. It is a nice goal, don’t get me wrong, especially for an overachieving team like the Suns. But the ultimate goal is to win a championship, and if the Phoenix Suns could have acquired Pau Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers for the insurance-covered contract of Emeka Okafor, along with a first-round draft pick, they should