Do you really need an excuse for a Derrick Rose mix? I don’t think so. But after we caught up with him in L.A. training, there’s no point guard that we’re more excited to watch this season than Chicago’s finest.

Pretty much every wing player — i.e., a two-guard or small forward, typically someone who can play both — in the NBA is athletic. It’s one of the job requirements. And if they’re not very athletic, they can at least compensate by shooting your face off. So simply being able to do a YouTube-friendly dunk or knock down a rack’s worth of threes isn’t always enough to make an impact in the League.

The key is expanding your game. Here are five wing players who have added pieces to their original arsenal and are poised for a breakout season in 2010-11: Read More »

This will be the last year of the Pac-10 as you know it. The tradition-rich (albeit often overlooked) West Coast staple is expanding, adding Colorado and Utah to the mix. The Utes will join in the 2011-12 academic year, while the Buffaloes will complete the “Pac-12″ the following year.

In the meantime, the Pac-10 is looking to rebound from what was at best a down year in basketball, and at worst an all-out disaster. Read More »

Last Saturday’s Red Bull 2on2 Revolution Tournament in Philly was the best, most competitive tour stop yet. Every game was a physical test of grit and will, and when the smoke cleared, the toughest team was the last one standing. Check out the video below to get a taste of the gritty action in South Philly last weekend and to trace E2′s rampage to the title.

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All due respect to T-Mac and A.I., but the 2010 free agency rush is over. After Shaq signed with Boston for the monetary equivalent of his yearly Fuddruckers budget, at this point we’re beating down sources and constantly refreshing NBA rumor sites just for items like, “Cartier Martin is getting interest from the Bobcats, Heat and Blazers.” In other words, not exactly “The Decision” … Kobe Bryant‘s squad inked the player who is probably the last significant piece to fall into place for next year’s championship picture — since Orlando, Miami, Boston and San Antonio have filled their rosters — re-upping with Shannon Brown on a 2-year, $4.6 million deal. Read More »

Potential is probably the most over-used word in the NBA. When teams are making draft picks, signing free agents, engineering trades and shuttling players in and out of the starting lineup, potential can be just as — if not more — important in earning minutes as actual production.

It’s especially that way with big men. NBA teams are always looking for the next great 7-footer, or the next 20-and-10 anchor at the four, or the next KG-type hybrid freak. Here are five young big guys poised for a breakout season in 2010-11: Read More »

Think about what happens if Courtney Lee gets this layup to drop. The Magic win Game 2, and the ’09 Finals goes to Orlando with the series tied at one game apiece. If the Magic pull out Game 3 in front of a rabid home crowd — which they did in reality — they’ve got a good shot of pulling the upset. Dwight Howard has his first championship, Kobe Bryant endures the sting of more “He can’t win without Shaq” talk, and really the whole complexion of the NBA as we know it today may be different.

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While most people in NYC keep it strictly “All Black Everything” during the winter, the rules are a little less strict in the summertime. And thanks to adidas Originals, some summer heat has come to light. Launching this month, the Fortitude Mid Neon Pack provides three new neon colorways to get fresh before it’s time to head back to school. Read More »

LetShannonSign.com

After weighing reported offers from the Knicks and Bulls, Shannon Brown has decided to re-sign with the L.A. Lakers, for a reported two years and $4.6 million.

Having made a name for himself as a backup with the Lakers for his high-wire act full of highlight dunks, Brown opted out of his deal — which had him slated to make $2.1 million this season — seeking a more lucrative contract on the open market. Read More »

I don’t know much about Japanese League baseball, but one of my seamhead buddies tells me that catches like this are commonplace. Still, I’ve been watching Ichiro for like 10 years in Seattle and haven’t seen him do anything like this.