There’s nothing really to say about DeShawn Stevenson‘s new tattoos other than that they’re crazy! Check out the backwards Pittsburgh Pirates “P,” a Frankenstein-like crack on his forehead and Honest Abe on his neck. Wow. Read More »

Every NBA team has a go-to guy, and there’s really only room for one. And it’s not strictly who takes the last-second shot. It’s the guy who regularly gets the ball when things are getting tense in the fourth; the guy expected to calm things down when teammates are getting sloppy; the guy called upon to snuff out an opponent’s rally, or spark a rally of his own; the guy who’s not just supposed to make shots, but make the right decisions. Bottom line: Who do you want the offense to run through when everything is on the line? From #30 to #1, these are the League’s best go-to guys… Read More »

For NBA teams, the quest for a title starts right now as training camp opens this week. While the Lakers are the champs and arguably the favorites to win it again this year, the rest of the league did not sit idle during the offseason. A lot of teams – especially the ones in contention for the chip – made some bold moves during the summer that strengthen their roster. I ranked the five teams who I thought made the best offseason upgrades. Read More »

You might remember USC’s Leonard Washington as the guy who committed one of the dirtiest plays of the year last season, running down the court and hitting Blake Griffin square in the junk. But today, the 6-7, 230-pound sophomore was told that he won’t even have a chance to get back on the court and redeem himself until 2010, after being declared academically ineligible for the first semester. Read More »

It’s safe to say that the NBA knows what they’re doing. Every year when training camp starts, we can’t wait to turn on “Real Training Camp” to see who’s putting in work and turning heads, keeping a pulse on the League from the very beginning of the year. This year, for the first time ever, NBA.com will be streaming live with unprecedented access to five teams’ training camps, including the Lakers, Celtics, Nuggets, Hawks and Wizards. It should be awesome. Read More »

It’s not every day that you get Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players to work you out, but that’s exactly what happened this past weekend in Houston for Kobe Bryant and Hasheem Thabeet. Check out the Hall of Fame center – who Kobe said is “the best (at the) mid-post and post move” – helping the guys out in the paint.

Source: MyFoxHouston.com

When the Magic re-signed Marcin Gortat this summer, a lot of people didn’t understand the move. And after bringing in Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson and Morris Almond, you might think that Gortat and his new five-year, $34-million deal could be sent packing for another piece or if they need cap relief. But apparently GM Otis Smith wants no part of that, seeing The Polish Hammer as a tool you use in case of emergency. Read More »

NBA training camps opened over weekend, meaning it’s time again for Dime’s team-by-team season previews. Last year we debuted the “Highs and Lows” system — predicting the respective ceilings and basements for each team. Or in other words, what is the realistic best-case and worst-case scenario for the 2009-10 campaign?

Added: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, James White, Joey Graham, Malik Allen Read More »

Sometimes in the NBA, deciding who’s going to start and who’s not is already predetermined. We all know who’s starting at the two-guard position for the Lakers and we know who’s the starting point guard down in New Orleans. But for the Portland Trailblazers’ point guard slot, it’s not that cut and dry. Last season, Steve Blake did a legit job at the point but now management upgraded the position this offseason by signing Andre Miller to a three-year, $21 million deal. Read More »

Is it bad that we’re still waiting for Lamar Odom to reveal this whole marrying-a-Kardashian thing is part of some giant prank? Or is that being too cynical? Lamar and Khloe got married yesterday, exactly one month after they met, and for what we’re guessing will be either the season premier of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” or the pilot episode of L.O. and Khloe’s own show. Of course Kim Kardashian and Courtney were there, as well as Bruce Jenner. For the groom’s side, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson showed up, and other guests included Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Osbourne (Ozzy’s daughter) … Read More »