From the moment Game 1 was in the books until the last 3-4 minutes of the fourth quarter of Game 2, it was shaping up to be one of those games the Spurs always win when they’re in danger of a deficit. But on those possessions where they usually hit daggers, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan bricked free throws. And on those possessions where they usually get defensive stops, Amar’e Stoudemire dominated the paint and Jason Richardson was slinging jumpers. Unable to make the plays they usually make late in big games, the Spurs fell behind 0-2 in the series as it heads to their gym … Read More »

With the 2010 NBA Draft class rounding into shape, this is looking to be a big year for one-and-done freshmen: John Wall, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, Xavier Henry, Avery Bradley, Hassan Whiteside, Lance Stephenson, Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe are all projected to get picked in the first or early-second round.

Another one-and-done that should hear his name called on June 24 is Latavious Williams. A product of Starkville, Miss., who did a fifth prep year at the Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas, Williams spent his “freshman” year getting paid in the D-League, but is eligible for this year’s NBA Draft. We profiled Williams in Dime #56: Read More »

Whether it’s a cautionary tale of financial mismanagement on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” or his ex-fiancee putting his business in the street on VH1′s “Basketball Wives,” Antoine Walker has been in the spotlight a lot lately.

Reports have now surfaced that Walker, whose money problems and gambling debts have been well documented, is attempting a return to the NBA. His former college coach, Rick Pitino, said ‘Toine will work out with the University of Louisville squad in the coming weeks before gauging if there’s any interest from the NBA. Read More »

As it happens so often with the NBA’s All-Defensive Team voting, determining the League’s worst defenders also has a lot to do with reputation and misconception.

Because so much of the fan base (and media) doesn’t really understand the intricacies of help defense, playing a zone, and defensive schemes in general, we often just see one guy getting beat off the dribble or one guy get dunked on a few times and quickly peg him a bad defensive player. Read More »

In March 2009, former NBA player Kirk Snyder was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, felonious assault and assault stemming from an incident where he broke into a neighbor’s home near Cincinnati, Ohio, and attacked them.

After being found guilty, today Snyder, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $5,500 in restitution. Read More »

If defense wins championships, it’s no surprise that four of the five people to make the NBA All-Defensive First Team are still in active pursuit of an NBA Championship. Of course Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard made the team, and he was joined by Rajon Rondo, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Gerald Wallace. But for those of you wondering, there is definitely one glaring omission from this year’s teams. Read More »

Although Dwight Howard was a landslide winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, he was not a unanimous pick for the NBA All-Defensive First Team, which was revealed earlier today. (One voter put Dwight on the second team.)

Otherwise, the First Team went according to form: Blocks/boards leader Dwight was on there, along with steals leader Rajon Rondo, at least one “reputation” pick with Kobe Bryant, and highlight-reel king LeBron James. Gerald Wallace rounded out the first five. Rondo had the second-highest vote total next to Dwight, getting 23 First Team votes and four Second Team votes. Read More »

If you haven’t heard about the controversy in Arizona these days, you’ve been living under a rock. So in-part to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and in-part to protest what’s going on, the Suns will be rocking their “Los Suns” jersey from the NBA’s “Latin Nights” earlier this season. Check it out below. Read More »

If the Spurs have any hope to win the series (or even Game 2 tonight) against the Suns, they’re going to need some production out of Richard Jefferson. In the first round series, Jefferson averaged a measly 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds, only to be followed up with five points and three rebounds in Game 1. So while Jefferson hopes to turn it on for tonight’s game, take a look at two colorways of the Nike Air Max Hyperize that RJ has been wearing during the Playoffs. Read More »

In a year where everyone and their Mom is opting out of their contracts in the pursuit or more money and longer contracts, Kelenna Azubuike is opting in. According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Azubuike exercised his option to stay with the Warriors for about $3.3 million in 2010-11. While that might seem like chump change while everyone talks about $100+ million deals for the max-contract guys, Azubuike’s decision should pay dividends later. Read More »