That was not a good showing by the Chicago Bulls tonight in Miami. In fact, it was historically bad – the 115-78 drubbing goes down as the worst playoff loss in Bulls franchise history.

Chicago was out-shot, out-run and out-toughed and their frustration was manifested in six player technical fouls, the most by any team in a playoff game since Boston had six against Indiana back in 2005. The T’s resulted in Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah both getting ejected in the fourth quarter. Gibson’s exit was particularly impressive. Read More »

Kevin Durant (photo. Nike)

We’re not even through the first round of the NBA Playoffs and we’ve already seen game-winners, fights, sweeps, comebacks, and yes, monster highlights. The most amazing thing about this list you’re about to see isn’t necessarily that all of the plays came within the past two weeks, but that LeBron James doesn’t make one single appearance. Read More »

If you ask Brandon Jennings, he probably still thinks Milwaukee is winning in seven games. Everyone else? They know this series is over, especially after the Heat’s predictable shutdown second half in their 104-91 win to take a 3-0 lead. LeBron scored 22, Dwyane Wade had one of the oddest statlines (1-for-12 shooting, four points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, five steals and two blocks) you’ll ever see, and Ray Allen came off the pine smoking. Read More »

“What ifs” in sports can run deeper than still waters. What can be a simple question or proposition on the surface, may also result in major changes to a player or players’ careers and, in some instances, even swing titles. Read More »

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As impressive as this Taj Gibson dunk from last may be, the announcer’s work may be better. Watch and listen: Read More »

On the day that Chicago’s most famous face took center stage in the presidential election, the Bulls beat down the undefeated Magic, 99-93. Over the final five minutes, the Bulls closed the door with some ferocious interior defense, forcing guys like Big Baby into impossible shots, and on the other end, Joakim Noah (20 points, nine boards, five blocks) and Taj Gibson (playing over Carlos Boozer to end the game) provided some offensive highlights. Read More »

There are just two days left till the Halloween deadline to sign fourth-year players to extensions — or risk the contracts they could receive in restricted free agency — and only two eligible players have deals. Blake Griffin and Serge Ibaka were locked up this summer (because Ibaka didn’t have a contract until 2009 despite being drafted in 2008, he is eligible now), and James Harden has been reported as likely to sign a long-term contract with Houston within 72 hours of landing in southern Texas. Read More »

NBA training camp is right around the corner. Which means NBA TV’s “The Association” is right around the corner. Which means we’re all going to get to know the Brooklyn Nets a lot better. No, there won’t be as many crazy personalities as an NFL locker room, but on a positive note, there won’t be nearly as many heartbreaking stories of guys getting their dreams crushed. And on paper, this team has some made-for-TV potential: Josh Childress‘ slight nerdiness, Brook Lopez‘s overt nerdiness, Reggie Evans‘ blatant creepiness, the reclamation project that is Andray Blatche, and the tabloid hell that is Kris Humphries‘ life. Oddly enough, the two most “boring” guys on the squad may the two best players: Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Read More »

Ryan Anderson. Kevin Love. Tracy McGrady. Gilbert Arenas. Dana Barros. Kevin Johnson. What do these guys all have in common? They all won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

What are we taught as young players? The summer is the time to improve, right? If you’re not improving, you’re losing, right? Well, as great as the NBA’s MIP award is – and IT IS definitely great when you consider how many things need to go right for someone to have a shot at it – it doesn’t necessarily mean future greatness. Read More »