Think about LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the same squad, forming what could possibly the most talented duo in NBA. Better yet, imagine them playing for the Knicks together or the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets. It would be a marketing jackpot. Picture them running the break together, taking turns throwing lobs to each other. It’s good to dream, but does it make any sense? Read More »

It’s too easy to start rolling out predictions and watch lists two weeks into the season. Unlike football, where two weeks means you’ve only played two games, two weeks of the NBA translates to almost 10 games, a good enough sample for most to gauge how a guy is going to play for the next 7-8 months. That’s why Steve Nash, Carmelo and Kobe are already running an MVP race, Brandon Jennings is running away with R.O.Y., and Ron Artest and LeBron are vying for Defensive Player of the Year.

So if he isn’t already on the ballot, here’s my early vote for Luol Deng as the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Read More »

My standout memory of Michael Jordan does have Byron Russell prominently involved — but it’s not the moment you’re thinking of.

We’re going back to Game 7 of the ‘96 Western Conference Finals, Jazz versus my Sonics. This was our year. Stockton and Malone weren’t willfully passing the Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside torch to Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp; Glove and Reign Man were TAKING it. The city had gone all-in for this squad. Three calendars after he’d recorded it for the ‘93 Sonics, Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Not In Our House!” was back on the radio. Read More »

There’s a debate going in Major League Baseball circles about re-naming the Cy Young award (best pitcher in each league) after Satchel Paige, the reasons for which you can read HERE.

Taking it to basketball, it’s time to look at some of the NBA’s trophies and consider re-naming them, or giving them a name in the first place. The Finals MVP just got the Bill Russell stamp this year, so that’s not going anywhere. And the Red Auerbach Coach of the Year trophy will never change, no matter how many rings Phil Jackson collects. Read More »

At least for now, Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t going anywhere. Yesterday morning we mentioned a rumored trade proposal that would send Amar’e to Minnesota for Al Jefferson and the #6 pick in next week’s Draft, and while follow-up reports now say that a discussion did take place between the Suns and Wolves, apparently Minnesota said no. We know the Suns are always trying to save a buck, and Amar’e was up for grabs earlier this year when he wasn’t working out with then-coach Terry Porter, but trading him now doesn’t even make sense. Read More »

With the NBA Draft one week away, check out this great video of Gary Payton preparing draft prospect Terrence Williams for the NBA. Not a bad mentor if you ask me.

Beyond the obvious — that would be making some jumpers and not getting dragged into the oubliette by Kobe — one thing that needs to happen for Orlando to have a chance in today’s Game 2 is for them to get some production out of the point guard spot. The Lakers have shown a weakness in letting opposing PG’s get savage buckets on Derek Fisher, from Deron Williams to Aaron Brooks to Chauncey Billups. In Game 1, Rafer Alston showed he can get past D-Fish off the dribble with no problem, but Skip needs to make something happen once he gets in the lane. Read More »

The audio aftermath of last night’s 25-point Lakers rout of the Magic in Game 1 has two distinct sides: L.A. fans sticking their chests out and bragging, and Magic fans rationalizing, “It’s just one game. It was just nerves. We’ll be OK.”

And that’s where they’re wrong. If in fact bad nerves — or “first-game jitters” or whatever you want to call it — is the problem, Orlando is not going to be OK. Read More »

In case you missed it the first two times, our NBA Fantasy Finals have nothing to do with the stat-driven “fantasy basketball” you play online. We’re taking NBA Finals teams throughout history and pitting them against each other to see what you think would happen. Assume both lineups are healthy, and the older team gets homecourt. Today it’s A.I. vs. Flash … Read More »

Actually I don’t, but that’s not that point. While I immensely respect and admire Kobe the athlete — still the best basketball player I’ve ever seen in person — there’s a side to him I just haven’t been able to root for. The sudden “I’m a great teammate” shift seems fake. The flopping and flailing and ref abuse is annoying. And there’s that whole Colorado business. Read More »