David Stern is disingenuous. How’s that for one of those million-dollar words that the NBA commissioner loves to use when talking to the hoi polloi about basketball? In slapping the San Antonio Spurs with a $250,000 fine for resting their trio of stars in a nationally televised game, Stern said in his customary, quite lawyerly fashion, “The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case.” [Read more…]
MIAMI – Those weren’t the San Antonio Spurs that visited AmericanAirlines Arena and lost to the Miami Heat, 105-100, on Thursday. But that doesn’t give you reason to hate. We all know those weren’t the real Spurs, not the team that’s won four titles with its Big Three of forward Tim Duncan and guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. They were all in San Antonio, chillin’, relaxin’. [Read more…]
Everybody who follows and watches the NBA on a regular basis knows that TNT has a superior halftime show and post-game show than ESPN. Now the folks at ESPN have come right out and admitted it. During a conference call today to introduce Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose as two of the the new co-hosts for ESPN’s Wednesday and Friday doubleheader studio shows, the two spent about as much time discussing Turner Sports’ superiority as they did discussing anything else. Here are some
By now you have probably heard that Stan Van Gundy will NOT be joining ESPN as a studio analyst, and Stan is NOT happy about the lack of an explanation. Now, the news is out about who will fill the chair that would have been Stan’s. From Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead.com: “Jalen Rose, whose star continues to rise at ESPN, has just been selected as the 4th member of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” sources tell me. The deal, which came together
Dwight Howard is truly having a season to forget. Most seem to be calling it a “Dwightmare”, fittingly. Sadly, most of it is due to off-court issues. Throughout his career, he was a drama-free, fun and charismatic superstar adored by most around him. Since the end of last season, however, he has become one of the more unlikable players in the NBA. He has become a walking daytime soap opera due to his much-documented indecision of where he would like to play. During the process, he
So who had the best All-Star Weekend? The Oklahoma City Thunder, with All-Star Game MVP Kevin Durant and slamming sidekick Russell Westbrook? Kevin Love, winner of the Three-Point Contest who had a solid All-Star Game? Jeremy Evans, who no longer is an unknown third-string small forward after winning the Slam Dunk Contest? How about TNT? The cable network, which has exclusive rights to All-Star Weekend, scored three straight TV ratings hits with their coverage Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Sunday’s game – which followed
In a major upset, global sensation Jeremy Lin was added to the player pool for the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Lin, the second-year point guard of the New York Knicks, was a late addition to the pool, as was Miami Heat rookie guard Norris Cole. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal served as GMs and chose from a pool of 10 sophomores and 10 rookies. Here are there picks (O’Neal had the first pick): TEAM SHAQ Blake Griffin Greg Monroe Markieff Morris Ricky Rubio Jeremy Lin Kemba
Wanna see Ricky Rubio throw lobs to Blake Griffin? How about John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins teaming up again, as they did at Kentucky? It could happen in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, which revealed its player pool Wednesday. As we reported Tuesday, the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge is no more. NBA assistant coaches picked the pool of nine rookies and nine sophomores listed below, but TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as GMs and draft teams Feb. 16 on the