Just last night, after I stopped my fiancee from changing the channel during the Pacers/Pistons game — and she asked me why I even cared — I realized I’ve been dealing with the loss of the Sonics pretty well. Having another team to follow definitely helps (I truly don’t mind Indiana’s regular 4 p.m. West Coast tip-offs, either). Along with a thriving high school and college scene out here, plus the sick little pleasure I get seeing the Thunder stink it up, I’m doing alright. The other day I even played NBA 2K9 on Xbox Live using the Thunder (and lost). Read More »

Kobe Bryant says he’s in for the U.S. National Team in both 2010 and 2012:

“The chance to represent your country, that’s not even a thought-process for me,” Bryant said Wednesday. “If they want me to be on it, I’m all game.”

Also interesting to note that Andrew Bynum is talking Team USA as well: Read More »

The recruiting scene in basketball has always amazed me. From the next Michael to the next LeBron, the prep circuit fleshes out the talent at a younger and younger age than ever before. Today, in keeping up with the times, the NCAA decreed that seventh-graders are now officially classified as prospects. Read More »

Who would have guessed that the first signs of a rift in the Houston Rockets locker room wouldn’t involve Ron Artest or Rafer Alston, but in fact mild-mannered Yao Ming and Officer Friendly Dikembe Mutombo?

A day after we learned of Yao’s (alleged) desire to see Tracy McGrady shipped out, today’s Houston Chronicle has an item from Mutombo regarding Yao’s defensive shortcomings:

Don’t count Dikembe Mutombo among those who are applauding Yao Ming’s recent penchant for stepping in front of driving opponents to draw a charge.

“I’m very critical,” Mutombo said. “Those are bull. I told him that. He’s too tall to be taking charges. He needs to learn to play defense without using his chest. You don’t block a shot with your chest. Read More »

Every college basketball bettor has a set of beliefs that guides them when picking the NCAA Tourney bracket. I’ve heard people go for teams because they have leadership in the backcourt and they make their free throws. I’ve heard people go for a squad because they’re dominant on the glass and they play great defense. I’ve even heard people choose based on mascots.

But ultimately, it’s probably a smarter move to take whatever theory you cooked up, crumple it into a ball and throw it out the window of a moving vehicle. There’s no finite criteria, especially in college ball.

So instead, print out this sheet come Tourney time and pick off of this, the NCAA Contenders and Pretenders List… Read More »

From last night’s absurd Kings/Warriors shootout.

Source: SactownRoyalty.com

Following up Andrew’s great article on Monday, “A Point Guard’s True Value,” the New York Times yesterday asked an interesting question: where have all the New York City point guards gone?

From banished Stephon Marbury and Jamaal Tinsley, to Sebastian Telfair, Kareem Reid, Omar Cook and Erick Barkley, there hasn’t been an NYC point guard in a minute. Read More »

Eric Snow calls Chris Paul “the video game” because that’s where the things he does on the court look like they belong. Does a quadruple-double qualify as “video game” quality? It actually didn’t happen last night, but it was pretty close. CP went for 33 points, 11 dimes, 10 boards, and 7 steals. But come on Chris, you couldn’t hit any threes? An absurd night from Mr. Video Game. Here are the other players you should be thinking about today.

Brad Miller – 30 and 22??? From Brad Miller??? The block is hot! See what you can get. Read More »

Kobe went Sam Cassell on the Alamo Dome about 15 seconds too early last night. Maybe Roger Mason Jr. should have been the one doing this…