As I listened to Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins wrap up the Phoenix Suns’ 99-90 series-clinching win over Portland last night, I couldn’t help but think about the variety of play-by-play and expert analysis broadcasters that are coving the NBA playoffs this year. I’ve always been a big fan of the Collins-Harlan duo, but what about the other peeps? Some people enjoy the classic stylings of Marv Albert and “The Czar” Mike Fratello. Other cats like the commentary of Reggie Miller and Kevin McHale – a posse of which I am not a member. Some prefer Doris Burke, Mark Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy on occasion, and then there are a lot of fans that like to stick with the local homer guys – where every foul call and loose ball should obviously be called in favor of the home team. When you get out of the NBA game though, there are also a few gems tucked away in the college circuit. Read More »
All at once, it seemed every allegation of being soft, of having no heart, of choking under the bright lights was coming true for Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. When the Spurs scored the first seven points of last night’s do-or-die (for Dallas) Game 6, then went ahead 22-8 to end the first quarter, then pushed the lead by 21 in the second quarter while Dirk had four first-half fouls hanging over his head, it looked like it would go down as Dallas’ worst bed-wetting since the ’06 NBA Finals … It was easy to see why the Mavs were getting smoked: Read More »
Welcome to the third installment of Throwback Thursdays with the Coach. If you are a true historian of the game you will no doubt appreciate this week’s choice, and the uniform, of Wes Unseld. If you have never heard of this guy or never checked out who the great frontcourt players in the 1970s were besides Kareem and Walton, then please take the time to add to your knowledge. Read More »
With the Suns and Blazers slated for Game 6 this evening, I thought we’d take a look back to Game 5 when the unspeakable happened: The worst foul call ever in the NBA. Say what you will about Joey Crawford, but Marcus Camby may as well have been sitting on the bench when this fouled occurred. Thankfully the call had no affect on the outcome of the game, but I think Camby should send Crawford a bill for $35,000. Just saying.
Maybe it’s because a player can only win the award once in their lifetime, or maybe it’s because the top candidates are usually on Lottery teams with fan bases that have nothing else to do in the latter part of the season. But the NBA Rookie of the Year debate seems to be the most hotly contested argument every year this side of MVP.
The year before Dikembe Mutombo and Robert Pack conspired to pull off the (at the time) biggest upset in NBA playoffs history, my Seattle Supersonics suffered another colossal disappointment when we lost to the Suns in Game 7 of the ’93 Western Conference finals. Sole blame goes to Charles Barkley. In the season where he won MVP and averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals, Barkley was even better in the postseason and hung a 44-24 line on Seattle in that decisive game. That included 10 offensive rebounds.
When the Celtics picked up Marquis Daniels in the offseason, you might have thought they primarily wanted him for scoring off the bench; a more under-control offensive weapon with a higher basketball IQ than Tony Allen.
But as Boston prepares for a conference semifinal matchup with the Cavs, Daniels — who played a total of six minutes in the first round against Miami — is being called upon for his defense. Read More »
When Brandon Roy went down with an injury, LaMarcus Aldridge went into beast-mode. And even now that B-Roy is back, Aldridge’s elevated play has sustained. Through five games, Aldridge is averaging 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. And if the Blazers have any hope of making it to the second round, he’ll have to be huge again tonight for Game 6. Check out the kicks that he’ll be wearing in two colorways and more detail after the jump. Read More »
You could argue that Steve Nash is the best point guard of the last 20 years. While some people might not agree, the two-time MVP has the Suns prepared to enter the second round of the playoffs with a win in Portland tonight. Even though Steve has been wearing the Nike Cradle Rock Low recently, he may break out his Nike Hyperdunk Low for Game 6. Check it out in two colorways and more detail after the jump. Read More »
As you may already know, this year’s NBA Draft is slated to have a ton of players in it. In addition to all the seniors that are automatically available, it seems there are more early entry prospects than ever before. So with only 60 names called on Draft night, you can believe that there will be some disappointed ballers. But don’t fret. Right now in the playoffs, there are multiple guys playing significant roles that went undrafted. So without further ado, here is the NBA Playoffs’ All-Undrafted Team. Read More »
-->