Paul Pierce once said he was the best player in the world. While most didn’t bother validating the statement- even Pierce himself probably didn’t believe it- it did spotlight the major impact the Boston forward had on the 2008 NBA Finals.

This year, things have changed. The Lakers have improved and beefed up a defense that was once a weakness. And Pierce is not needed to carry the Boston offense on a consistent basis anymore. Read More »

As part of the Boston bench mob that dominated the fourth quarter of Game 4 and was largely responsible for the Celtics series-tying win, Tony Allen is doing his job. While the 28-year-old only contributed three points to the effort, his defense helped keep Kobe Bryant scoreless for key stretches while Boston built an insurmountable lead.

On Friday, I talked to Allen about gunning for his second NBA championship, guarding Kobe, and the locker room iPod battles in Boston: Read More »

Although the Chicago Bulls easily dismissed the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4-1, Sixers forward Armen Gilliam was giving both Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant fits in the post. But as Phil Jackson wrote in Sacred Hoops:

In an inspired moment, I decided to throw Scott Williams, then an untested rookie, at Gilliam, and it worked. To keep Scott from losing his composure in the closing minutes of the game, I told Jordan to keep his eye on him. From then on, Scott, who like Michael is a North Carolina alum, became Jordan’s personal project. All because I refused to play the game by the book. Read More »

Game 5 tonight (8 p.m. EST, ABC) will be like every other Lakers game: First you start with Kobe, then go from there. Whether he’s surrounded by All-Stars or carrying Smush Parker and Slava Medvedenko, no player in the NBA has his number of shots picked apart and scrutinized more than Kobe, and over the last two games it’s been no different. He hoisted 29 FG’s in Game 3, and took 11 threes in Game 4; but in both games Kobe seemed tired by the fourth quarter and went for long scoreless stretches at the worst time. Read More »

Congratulations to Big Baby Davis: You produced the most famous glob of spit to hit American TV since the blonde who launched a loogie in homegirl’s face on Flavor Flav‘s show. Big Baby’s slobber made more highlight shows yesterday than the crunch-time bucket that preceded it, the one that really stamped Boston’s win over the Lakers. Between that spit and this interview, dude should capitalize on his new popularity while the iron is hot: Get a little promotional deal with the new Shrek movie and book a commercial for paper towels … Read More »

If you didn’t get a chance to check out the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse earlier today, check out this video featuring Shane Kohatsu (Innovation Lead) and Fred Dojan (Senior Innovator) from Nike’s Innovation Kitchen as they tell you about this cutting edge shoe.

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With Avery Johnson recently being hired by the Nets, and Mark Jackson in contention for the Hawks job, former NBA players continue to populate the coaching ranks. With this steady diet of former players becoming coaches, who are the next five NBA coaches who will be former NBA players? We break it down here: Read More »

Right after, “The refs gave the Celtics that game,” the chorus I heard from Lakers fans following Game 4 was a familiar one:

“If we’d had Andrew Bynum, we would’ve won.”

Where have I heard that before? After injuring his knee in L.A.’s first-round series against Oklahoma City, Bynum has been inconsistent at best playing through the pain. Read More »

For us regular folk, in economic times like these, we know that when you’re supposed to hold onto a secure job when you have it. This isn’t the time to make radical career changes, take long-term leave to go backpacking across Europe, or throw all your savings into that idea to invent a new form of grilling bacon.

NBA players don’t have those problems. So reading the ESPN reports that a “source close to the situation” says Tyson Chandler is thinking about opting out of his $12.6 million contract to test the free-agent market, it’s actually believable. Read More »

In addition to launching the World Basketball Festival this week, Nike also showed off some of their new product. Check out the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse. You may have seen Rajon Rondo wearing this model (in a bright-green colorway) during the NBA Finals. Read More »