I think at this point, Amar’e Stoudemire is all but gone from Phoenix. As I mentioned in an article last week, it’s unlikely that Stoudemire and the Suns are going to agree on an extension that will satisfy both parties. Plus, there’s plenty of speculation that Amar’e wants to bolt to a bigger market anyway. Now that the divorce is inevitable, the question now remains: Which zip code will STAT relocate to? Read More »
It could be said that Tracy McGrady is the most embattled NBA player in the League right now. (Alright, besides Gilbert Arenas.) But with an expiring $23 million contract and the Rockets simply not playing him, every GM is trying to figure out a way to make a deal. Playing a lackluster 7:35 minutes per game – that is before he’s sat out the past four altogether – things aren’t looking good for T-Mac. So while the Bulls could be the team that rescues him, apparently the Sixers have jumped in the mix with a proposed package deal built around Andre Iguodala. Read More »
Buy Low:Dirk Nowitzki is struggling with his offense lately, averaging just 12 points on 33 percent shooting from the field in his past two games. If there was ever a shot at buying low on the headband-donning beast, now’s the time. This U-boat will emerge from the water very soon. Read More »
Weekend Wonder:Zach Randolph was plain greedy this past weekend, averaging 29 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists, 0.5 steals, 2 blocks and 3.5 turnovers in two games. He shot 59 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line. Randolph even hit a three Sunday in a 32/24 performance. He continues to surprise this season but should probably be sold high right now. Read More »
If all it takes to earn a reputation for toughness is a couple of confirmed badass stories that can morph into tall tales in due time, Dirk Nowitzki might be on his way to shedding that “soft” label he’s had hung on him for years by his harshest critics. In the second quarter of Mavs/Rockets, Dirk was driving the lane when his elbow caught Carl Landry in the mouth — or more accurately, his elbow caught some of Carl Landry’s mouth — while drawing a foul. Multiple teeth were lost in the collision, one of them, amazingly, wound up embedded in Dirk’s elbow flesh. Gross. Dirk gets tough-guy points for shooting the ensuing free throws with his left hand and even making one, but he also might lose some points with some people because he left the game after that and didn’t return. Read More »
Just weeks before the start of training camp, I traveled to Philly to interview Elton Brand. Back then, he was all smiles and optimistic for the upcoming season. He had trained all summer in L.A. and was healthy for the first time in two years. His Sixers were a playoff team the year before without him and he figured he’d be that missing piece to get the Sixers out of the first round. Read More »
Of all the WTF-inducing headlines I expected to see coming from Golden State Warriors camp this season, “Anthony Randolph is on the trading block” definitely wasn’t one of them.
Not to say I straight-up inhaled the Kool-Aid being served around the Bay Area over the summer, but I could originally see why a lot of people would think Randolph is the future of the franchise. Read More »
Anybody who is a Sixers fan or just a basketball fan in general had to love watching Allen Iverson in that emotional press conference yesterday. Watching him tear up and letting the world know how much he loves being back in Philly sent chills down my spine. Now that his strange month-long odyssey is out of the way, it’s time for him and everybody to get the focus back on basketball. Read More »
There are always players who you could classify as “unsung heroes.” Such was the term used by Michael Jordan for some of his Bulls teammates back in his second three-peat with the team, namely for guys like Ron Harper, Jud Buechler and Steve Kerr. This season, there are five players in particular who have made significant contributions to their respective teams and are putting the league on notice, even if they haven’t been. Read More »