Usually you can watch NBA TV’s “Real Training Camp” and convince yourself that any team is good. With the New York Knicks, not so much. While Amar’e Stoudemire and Co. showed some promise during yesterday’s televised practice, there were some definite red flags — like when the team went through a fast-paced transition drill and nobody made a layup for like 5 minutes until Pat Ewing Jr. decided to start dunking everything he could get his hands on … Amar’e looked good. Granted, everything was three-quarters speed tops, but one time Amar’e went from the arc to the rack and threw down something like a backhanded half-windmill dunk casually … Read More »
As NBA training camps get underway, we preview the upcoming season with the “Highs and Lows” system — predicting the respective ceiling and basement for each team.
Added:Jordan Crawford, Josh Powell, Etan Thomas
Lost:Joe Smith, Randolph Morris, Mario WestRead More »
While the 2007 NBA Draft is not considered one of the NBA’s finest, it is still loaded with some potential NBA stars. And even in a time of thrifty spending, it’s time to pay up or shut up before the deadline to sign any of these guys to a contract extension hits on November 1. (Note: The deadline is the following business day if October 31 falls on a weekend or holiday.)
So far, the only player from this class to sign an extension is No. 2 pick Kevin Durant (five years, $86 million), and the only other player to really be extended an offer is No. 9 pick Joakim Noah, who was offered a five-year, $57 million contract extension by the Bulls. With that said, here are the Top 5 players that deserve an extension. Read More »
When it comes to ranking high school basketball players, opinions can run all over the map. One analyst may think a certain kid is Top-10 nationally, while another thinks that same kid isn’t even Top-5 in his own state. And because there’s no solid criteria — much like the NBA’s MVP award — it’s a system built to create varying opinions and lengthy arguments.
Except when it comes to Julius Randle. Read More »
The word “Bust” gets thrown around a lot these days. Perhaps it’s the new world we live in where everyone wants information and results now, and the only thing that’s allowed time to mature is cheese and wine. But when you think about it, we’ve all been pretty unfair to Greg Oden. Sure Kevin Durant‘s rise to Top 5 player in the NBA after only three years has something to do with that, but we’ve been judging G.O. since before he even played an NBA game. So you can understand why he takes exception to those who claim he’s a bust three years and 82 games into his career. Read More »
In the name of journalistic objectivity, I probably shouldn’t even be writing about Zach Randolph. I’ve made it pretty clear in this space that Z-Bo might be my favorite player in the NBA, to the point where I’ll engineer trade scenarios to get him on my favorite team, and lead campaigns to get him into the All-Star Game. (Which finally worked in 2010.)
So when I read reports that Zach has gone into Memphis Grizzlies training camp with a specific, big-time monetary goal in mind, my instinct was to defend him. And even after gauging the numbers, my instinct is pointing me in the right direction. Read More »
What sports fan doesn’t love Gus Johnson? Whether you’re all about the NBA, NFL, college basketball or MMA — even if you’re just an avid Madden gamer — you’ve heard Gus calling the action in his uniquely high-energy style that transcends genres. At the same New York Knicks’ back-to-school event where we got up with Amar’e Stoudemire, DimeTV spent a few minutes with NYK play-by-play man (among many other titles) Gus to talk about the Knicks, his daily grind on the mic, and his burgeoning “Rise & Fire” apparel line.
For Clippers fans, there’s one phrase that is a staple in their vocabulary: “There’s always next season.” Thankfully, that time is now. Yesterday at Clippers Media Day, I got a chance to chat with four of the young guns that will be supporting rookie Blake Griffin this season, and you could tell that the expectations are high. Check it out.
While you were watching Kobe Bryant sit and watch the Lakers run through their paces on NBA TV’s “Real Training Camp” yesterday, the other L.A. team was watching their star run into a problem.
As the L.A. Clippers opened camp in the familiar shadow of their crosstown big brothers, new head coach Vinny Del Negro was already at odds with Baron Davis. Del Negro told reporters that Davis, essentially, isn’t in acceptable playing shape right now. Read More »
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