There are some books that, for whatever reason, I’ll start reading over and over but can never finish. Right now, that book for me is Michael Leahy’s When Nothing Else Matters, which chronicles Michael Jordan‘s front-office and eventual on-court comeback with the Wizards. One part I have re-read a few times already is after MJ hires Leonard Hamilton as the Wizards’ head coach, then seriously considers putting a walkie-talkie on the bench so he could tell Hamilton who to put in, who to bench, etc., during the game.
As far as meddling front-office types go, that’s on the extreme side even compared to guys like Al Davis and Jerry Jones.
How much input should a GM/owner-type have with a coach over basic personnel decisions like playing time and day-to-day team matters? Read More »
Now, I didn’t think things could get any better after seeing Nate’s Sprite Slam Dunk Nike Foamposite Lites…but I was sadly mistaken. The green Kryptonates might be outshined by his player edition joints. Read More »
Whoever is the Sports Editor at The Boston Globe, thank you. Being a writer, it’s not often that you get to interact with an NBA player out of the locker room or organized NBA setting, so when the opportunity presents itself you always take full advantage of it.
I don’t want to give away too much, as the pictures speak two thousand words, but a day with Big Baby somehow involved a manicure/pedicure, a fruit bowl and two chicken wrap sandwiches washed down by a Diet Coke (passing on the chocolate muffins) and a discussion surrounding the wickedness of Lady Macbeth. Read More »
Maybe six weeks ago, this thought would have never crossed my mind. But in the last month or so, Shaq has looked so dominant – playing in both a molasses-slow Terry Porter offense and in Alvin Gentry‘s reinterpretation of Mike D’Antoni‘s offense-on-speed – that I proposed the following question to Pat this morning: Hypothetically, if you could take Shaq or Dwight Howard for the rest of this season, and this season only, who would you want?
Today our people at Skullcandy sent us some new headphones to rock in the city as we anxiously await Spring. If you’ve bought the new issue (or checked it out online), then you already know that Skullcandy is getting involved with NBA guys, creating player exclusives for hometown guy Deron Williams (they’re based out of Utah) and Andre Iguodala. Read More »
The T-Murph Express keeps chugging along. Troy Murphy’s Fantasy MVP line last was 23 points, 4 threes, 10 boards, 6 dimes, and 2 blocks. He also shot 66.7% from the field and was perfect from the line. He’ll be a fantasy trade deadline conversation piece for sure. He’s not a keeper so if you’re out, move him. Here are the other players you should be concerning yourself with today. Read More »
During Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s state of the union address yesterday, although he confirmed something we already knew, I’m sure coach Kevin McHale didn’t want to hear it. If McHale wants to return next season, it is only if he agrees to continue as coach, as his job as an exec has run its course. Read More »
This one deserves a little bit of a back story. It was Senior Night in College Park, and Maryland’s only senior David Neal decided to seize the moment. Neal was sinking three after three, building a lead for the Terps on the heels of his season-high 19 points (5-6 3FG). Then, Jeff Teague brought him back to Earth, by elevating up and over him…
You knew there were going to be repercussions in Dallas after they lost to a Durant-less, Jeff Green-less Thunder team on Monday night. Well, Mark Cuban is so disgusted with his team, that he’s threatening to get rid of anyone on this team who doesn’t put forth 100% effort every single night.
“If each player can’t take the personal initiative to make every game important and play like it, I don’t see them being here next season. The ball won’t always bounce the way we want it to, but every player can control their level of effort. If it’s not important enough to them to lay it out every game the rest of the season, they won’t be back. I don’t care what their contract is. I would rather turn over the roster 100 percent than subject fans to another game like last night.”
The Pistons fans at The Palace got everything they wanted out of unofficial Chauncey Billups Night. After the Deeeee-troit PA announcer gave Chauncey the old “Buh-buh-buh-buh-BILLUPS” intro and the crowd gave their guy a standing O, Billups went out and dropped 34 points, but the good guys still got the win. That’s three in a row for the Pistons, all of them against strong contending teams, and all of them without Allen Iverson. Is anyone gonna be surprised when A.I. turns up with a convenient season-ending back injury later this week? … Even in the wrong uniform, this was still Chauncey’s gym. Pull-up threes in transition, racking up hockey assists in lieu of actual assists (4 asts), automatic from the stripe (8-8 FT); he was in his element. In the end, though, the Nuggets couldn’t overcome Carmelo’s absence (suspended), and the Pistons’ balanced offense had too many weapons. Each of Detroit’s starters had between 16 and 23 points … Steve Nash was back for Suns/Magic, but the big story line was Shaq vs. Dwight Howard—helped along by Shaq’s “I’m not impressed” interview and Dwight’s “I respect my elders” sneak jab. Read More »
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