Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/07/31/20120731_roy_presser_2.nba/index.html
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Roy Talks About His Knee
Brandon Roy talks about his desire to return to the NBA and how Kobe Bryant inspired him.
Slideshow: Slideshow: Best images of NBA Finals
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/47404995/displaymode/1247/beginSlide/1/beginChapter/1/beginTab/1/
Vaughn hired as new Magic head coach
The Magic's latest makeover continues to have a youthful feel.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/28/vaughn-magic.ap/index.html?rss=true
UFC's White opens up light-heavy title shot
UFC President Dana White told USA TODAY Sports that Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida would also get a shot at light heavyweight title.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/Ya8Y6eWR8H8/1
Monday, July 30, 2012
Howard's agent confirms Stern's 'source' claim
The agent for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard confirmed NBA commissioner David Stern's accusation that Howard's representatives were the sources that provided details of Wednesday's private meeting in Los Angeles with Magic officials.
France's Parker says eye injury changed him
French point guard Tony Parker says a freak injury that nearly cost him his left eye has changed him and how he views life.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Why Brooklyn Nets Fans Should Absolutely Be Excited
The Brooklyn Nets fans have not been quiet this offseason. They have been making headline after headline with trades, signings and rumors.
Recently, the Nets and their fans have not had much to be excited about. They have been in a rebuilding phase the last couple of seasons and have been at the bottom of the NBA. However, they have made the necessary moves and worked themselves out of the bottom all the way into the top of the league.
Nets fans have every right to be excited, and here is why.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1276880-why-brooklyn-nets-fans-should-absolutely-be-excited
Tim Tebow goes shirtless in meetings too
Razzed by teammates for bare-chested run in the rain, Tebow loses shirt in quarterback's meeting.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/U3_qsdRNMbQ/1
Knicks Rumors: Game in London Would Be Great for New York's International Appeal
While basketball is more of an international game than football or baseball, the NBA hasn't gone to as great of lengths to expand the game across the globe. That may be changing, however, as the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons are set to play each other at an international venue on Jan. 17, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.
Not only will that be great for the NBA, but it will be a positive for the Knicks as well. The team has a lot of buzz surrounding it after finally getting back to the playoffs last season and it has a massive fanbase in the United States. There isn't really a team that takes precedence over any other across the world, but perhaps the Knicks can become that team.
According to Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday, the Knicks vs. Pistons game will take place in London, England. That is even better news for the Knicks since the city is hosting the Olympics this summer and will probably still be basketball crazy in the winter after watching Team USA.
Even though the Knicks had to labor to make the playoffs with stars like Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler last season and haven't been a top contender in over a decade, they are among the most popular teams in basketball. Playing a game in London could lift the franchise to even greater heights, though.
Melo has been lighting it up for Team USA during the exhibition slate and Chandler promises to be a key figure for the team in London as well, so the British fans will likely have a connection with the Knicks before they even play a game there next year. With that in mind, they are the perfect choice to showcase on the international stage.
The premier franchises in the NBA in terms of marketability are probably the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, but I don't get the feeling that they are huge across the globe in the same way the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees are. The Knicks may be able to become equally popular if they captivate the London crowd, however.
While the Knicks are going to be profitable regardless, it is always nice to have a following that expands beyond the United States. It may take years for this to develop, but if young international players grow up following and rooting for the Knicks then they are more likely to want to play for them in the future.
It may not have a tangible impact that will be noticed right away, but having the Knicks play a game in London can only have positive results. It's not as if the Knicks are losing a home game out of the deal either since the Pistons will technically be designated as the home team, but there is little doubt that the crowd will favor New York.
I'm not a fan of American leagues talking about expanding to Europe, but playing a handful of games overseas is certainly a lucrative endeavor. Playing in London will be good for the NBA as a whole and it will be great for the Knicks, as it it always beneficial to garner a wider and more diverse fanbase.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Interactive: Is LeBron the most-hated sports figure?
Saturday, July 28, 2012
NBA: RT @Orlando_Magic: STORY: http://t.co/3op69lhB - Jacque Vaughn named Magic's coach.
NBA: RT @Orlando_Magic: STORY: http://t.co/3op69lhB - Jacque Vaughn named Magic's coach.
USA men gymnasts make statement as Japan, China stumble
Heading into London, U.S.wasn't shy about aspirations. The gold was the goal, even if, to the rest of the world, that seemed improbable.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/GKWrhsnL7ps/1
Friday, July 27, 2012
Celtics-Heat highlight opening night of NBA season
Miami's championship defense will begin where they won last season's title, and the first game for the Brooklyn Nets will be at home against their now-crosstown rival.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/26/nba-schedule.ap/index.html?rss=true
NBA: RT @DeronWilliams: They Lovin the CREW..... http://t.co/MW64kjaA
NBA: RT @DeronWilliams: They Lovin the CREW..... http://t.co/MW64kjaA
Heat vs. Celtics highlights opening-night tripleheader
NEW YORK (AP) -- Miami's championship defense will begin where they won last season's title, and the first game for the Brooklyn Nets will be at home against their now-crosstown rival.
Boston Celtics: 10 Best Games of the 2012-2013 Season
The NBA recently released the schedules for all 30 teams, including the Boston Celtics. Personally, I look forward to every game, but let's be honest, it's hard to get pumped up for, say, a Wednesday night game against the Bobcats.
There are always games that carry more weight and, justifiably, draw a larger audience. Now, we can all take to the schedule and circle those big games. These games will be exciting and, likely, big tests for the Celtics. Every Celtics fan should tune in to these 10 games.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1274503-boston-celtics-10-best-games-of-the-2012-2013-season
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Notable Games
Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott and Matt Harpring break down this upcoming seasons notable games.
Source: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/07/26/20120726_nba_notable_games.nba/index.html
NBA: The Bulls' reliable 'Bench Mob' is no more. @franblinebury explores the motives behind the moves: http://t.co/HX0wScCV
NBA: The Bulls' reliable 'Bench Mob' is no more. @franblinebury explores the motives behind the moves: http://t.co/HX0wScCV
Hornets sign No. 1 pick Davis, Rivers to deals
New Orleans Hornets first-round draft choices Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers have signed their rookie contracts.
Wizards sign free agent guard A.J. Price
The Washington Wizards signed free agent guard A.J. Price on Tuesday.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/24/wizards-price.ap/index.html?rss=true
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Miami Heat: 10 Reasons Why LeBron James Is a Lock to Repeat as MVP
Being the reigning NBA MVP is not new to LeBron James, but being a world champion is. While James has the Heat in contention for the foreseeable future, it's going to be interesting to see if he can become a four-time MVP in the upcoming season.
As it looks now, there is very little stopping James from doing just that.
When you look at the honor of being an MVP, only seven other players have ever captured the award three or more times. It's an award that solidifies your place in history as being one of the elite players to play the game, along with the obvious bragging rights of having the highest individual recognition of a regular season.
Just how many MVP's will we see LeBron end up with after he calls it quits?
To say he will or will not catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at six is quite premature, but it's possible as James enters his 10th year in the NBA at age 27.
NBA: RT @ByNateTaylor: My story on Jeremy Lin following Yao Ming's steps in the NBA & China: http://t.co/vj9Q3Jbg
NBA: RT @ByNateTaylor: My story on Jeremy Lin following Yao Ming's steps in the NBA & China: http://t.co/vj9Q3Jbg
NBA: After trailing early, @USABasketball cruises in second half to rout Spain in final exhibition. #USAB2012 http://t.co/lGlVnKc5
NBA: After trailing early, @USABasketball cruises in second half to rout Spain in final exhibition. #USAB2012 http://t.co/lGlVnKc5
10 burning questions as NFL training camps get underway
A look at the top issues in the NFL as training camps open throughout the league.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/gcjdVjzM_-c/1
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
ProBasketballTalk on NBCSports.com
ProBasketballTalk.com is hosted by NBCSports.com, giving you the latest, greatest NBA rumors.
Knicks add depth, sign Argentine guard Prigioni
The New York Knicks have signed Pablo Prigioni, the point guard for Argentina's national team.
Anthony Davis and New Orleans Hornets Reportedly Agree on Contract
Unibrow Fever can officially start in New Orleans, as Anthony Davis has reportedly agreed to his rookie contract.
The Rookie of the Year pursuit begins now for the 2012 NBA draft's No. 1 overall pick.
The New Orleans Hornets and the former Kentucky Wildcats standout have come to terms that will allow the 19-year-old to finally start making a little bit of cash for his shot-blocking skills, according to Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears.
Hornets announce signings of top overall pick draft @AntDavis23 and 10th selection @AustinRivers25.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 24, 2012
The Times-Picayune's Jimmy Smith went on to report details of the rookie contract:
Davis, the first overall pick in last month's NBA draft, will earn $5.144 million in the first year of his three-year guaranteed deal... The total value of Davis' contract will be $16,127,100. Davis salary in the second year of the deal will be $5,375,760 and the third will be $5,607,240.
With a deal in place, the Hornets have secured a spot among the up-and-comers in the Western Conference as they hope to rise out of the basement and into the postseason.
Davis is just the man to help them do so.
Although he's unquestionably raw on the offensive end of the court, he possesses an intriguing blend of developing post moves to go along with his solid mid-range game. At the end of his one and only season in Lexington, he was even taking and making a few three-pointers without disrupting the flow of the offense.
Davis will make much more of an impact on defense during his rookie season. With his instincts, long arms, ability to elevate and nose for rejecting shots, Davis will immediately contend for the league lead in blocked shots, while altering quite a few more out of intimidation.
Perhaps most impressive is his ability to explode off the ground multiple times in succession.
Plus, the extra follicles between where his two normal eyebrows should be will cause opponents to miss a few extra shots out of pure terror.
Davis is one of the rare players who has to be considered the favorite for ROY despite his inevitable lack of glamorous offensive numbers. It's his defensive presence and impact in the win column that could push him over the top.
After securing Davis and trading for Ryan Anderson, the Hornets now have one of the most intriguing frontcourts in the NBA. The inside-outside combination of Davis' length and Anderson's deadly accuracy from the perimeter will be difficult to slow for any squad.
With Davis' contract agreed to, the climb out of the cellar can officially begin in New Orleans.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Monday, July 23, 2012
Source: Jazz sign SG Foye to one-year deal
Shooting guard Randy Foye has signed a one-year deal with the Utah Jazz, a source close to Foye said Monday night. Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8193703/source-utah-jazz-sign-one-year-deal-randy-foye
5 NBA Teams Who Need Major Scheme Changes in 2013
New head coaches and personnel adjustments keep fans and analysts constantly guessing about how next year's standings will differ from the last.
They also keep the teams themselves on their feet.
When the legendary Phil Jackson was replaced by head coach Mike Brown last year, the Los Angeles Lakers were in store for a number of adjustments. Gone was the famed triangle offense, and Kobe Bryant was asked to take on more minutes and field-goal attempts than he'd been accustomed to over the last few years.
As it turns out, the Lakers aren't done changing just yet.
Nor are they the only team facing adjustments to their playbooks. Here's a look at the clubs who will be shaking things up the most next season on account of their front offices' maneuvers.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1268955-5-nba-teams-who-need-major-change-schemes-in-2013
Mavs sign second round-pick Crowder
The Dallas Mavericks say they've signed second-round draft choice Jae Crowder.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/20/crowder-mavs.ap/index.html?rss=true
Mavs sign second round-pick Crowder
The Dallas Mavericks say they've signed second-round draft choice Jae Crowder.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/20/crowder-mavs.ap/index.html?rss=true
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Mavs sign guard Cunningham
The Dallas Mavericks have signed first-round draft pick Jared Cunningham.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/21/cunningham-mavs.ap/index.html?rss=true
Jeremy Lin: PG Will Make Knicks Regret Allowing Him to Sign with Houston Rockets
The New York Knicks may just be the worst franchise in sports.
After allowing Jeremy Lin to walk away for nothing, they live up to the label.
Here are three reasons why Lin will make the Knicks regret allowing him to sign with the Houston Rockets.
Superstar
How many superstars fall into your lap? How many times will a young player come out of nowhere and tear up the NBA?
Not many, but New York just allowed one (potentially a superstar, not yet) to walk away. This will be a move that will forever be in the franchise's memory if Lin turns into an All-Star point guard.
In a league full of superstars and organizations searching for superstar talent, the Knicks look like the biggest fools for allowing Lin, who had superstar potential, walk away for nothing.
23 years old
Lin is only 23 years old.
Imagine selecting a rookie from college who took over the league like Lin did this past season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Would fans, owners and coaches go crazy saying, "Hey! We found our point guard for the next 10-to-12 years!" Chances are that they would.
He played great in 35 games this season, and we have now seen what he's capable of when he receives 25 minutes or more per game.
The sky is the limit.
Lin will get better
It's ridiculous to see some people dismiss what Lin has done because of his deficiencies such as turning the ball over, defending and not having a left-handed dribble.
He's only 23, in virtually his first real spell of consistent minutes per game. Why can't he improve as a basketball player?
Lin is just getting started in his NBA career and as far as I'm concerned, the sky is the limit. He can tone down his turnovers, improve on his defense and if defenders can't stop him from going right, why stop?
He could develop a left hand if he really wanted this offseason, too.
Lin's ceiling is out-of-this-world high.
New York made a major mistake allowing him to walk away regardless of the money.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Next In Line?
By drafting Terrence Ross, the Raptors added a sharpshooting wing and a feisty defender. But his emergence could affect DeMar DeRozan's future with Toronto, explains Zach Lowe.
Source: http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2012/07/19/terrence-ross-raptors-demar-derozan/?xid=si_nba
Saturday, July 21, 2012
ProBasketballTalk on NBCSports.com
ProBasketballTalk.com is hosted by NBCSports.com, giving you the latest, greatest NBA rumors.
Friday, July 20, 2012
NCAA continues investigation into Hurricanes' compliance practices
NCAA investigators spent several days in Miami earlier this month as part of the continued inquiry into the Hurricanes' athletic compliance practices, said two people familiar with the situation.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=849c5540fd63e49596b1506ee0da1517
Agent: Backup C Hollins agrees with Clippers
Free-agent center Ryan Hollins agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, according his agent Todd Ramasar.
NBA: Lakers coach Mike Brown is on with the @NBATV guys now.
NBA: Lakers coach Mike Brown is on with the @NBATV guys now.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Hornets, Magic to play in NBA Mexico Game 2012
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Zignia Live, a premier live entertainment and events company in Mexico, today announced a multiyear partnership that includes a preseason game in Mexico featuring the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Hornets on Oct. 7 at the newly launched Mexico City Arena as part of NBA Mexico Game 2012.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/19/mexico-game/index.html?rss=true
Sources: Howard, if dealt, OK to re-up for L.A.
Dwight Howard signaled that if he is traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he would be prepared to sign a long-term extension after the 2012-13 NBA season, the basketball website RealGM.com reported on Wednesday.
Sources: Howard, if dealt, OK to re-up for L.A.
Dwight Howard signaled that if he is traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he would be prepared to sign a long-term extension after the 2012-13 NBA season, the basketball website RealGM.com reported on Wednesday.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
PBT: Brazil loses but shows US is vulnerable
PBT: Team USA beats Brazil 80-69 in an exhibition of two Olympics-bound squads front of president Barack Obama.
Knicks Rumors: James Dolan Is Right to Feel Betrayed by Jeremy Lin
For all of the New York Knicks fans out there spewing out opinions about how James Dolan is the worst owner in the NBA and how the Knicks are making a huge mistake by letting Jeremy Lin walk away to the Houston Rockets, calm down and examine the facts first.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Knicks made the decision to let Linsanity escape the confines of Madison Square Garden for two reasons:
The decision was both financial and emotional since Garden chairman James Dolan was upset over Lin restructuring his deal with Houston last week to include a third year salary of $14.9 million. Dolan, according to sources, felt he was deceived by the 23-year-old Lin.
While it's true that Dolan and the Knicks' brass could have made it more clear to Lin that they wanted him to return by proposing their own offer, Lin is not without fault in the situation.
Frankly, many of the quotes that the point guard is putting out there reek of disingenuity. Here's the tweet that Lin sent out after the decision was made by N.Y.:
Much love and thankfulness to the Knicks and New York for your support this past year...easily the best year of my life #ForeverGrateful
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 18, 2012
Now, one more Lin quote, this time from Pablo S. Torre's Sports Illustrated article on how the free agency saga progressed and ended:
"Honestly, I preferred New York," Lin said. "But my main goal in free agency was to go to a team that had plans for me and wanted me. I wanted to have fun playing basketball. ... Now I'm definitely relieved."
Lin is saying all of the right things, but actions speak louder than words. In this case, Lin's actions have completely flown in the face of everything he's saying.
Meeting with the Houston Rockets and agreeing to an initial offer sheet is not a bad move. The former Harvard guard who began his NBA career in journeyman fashion was merely pursuing his options. It would have been bad business to go any other route.
Throughout that portion of the process, Lin was told by the Knicks' organization that he was going to be brought back and would be a starter. Everything published indicated that they fully intended to bring him back in an orange and blue uniform.
In fact, the Knicks had driven him towards testing the open market. They wanted him to gauge his value for himself. Once he had done that, there was still no sign pointing towards anything but a return.
The original offer from the Houston Rockets was a backloaded contract that would pay Lin $9.8 million in the third year. It was a bitter "poison pill" for the Knicks to swallow, but one they certainly could have.
Despite the overwhelming public opinion that he would be back, Lin helped the Rockets restructure the offer into a contract that would pay him $14.9 million in the third season. By doing that, he was forcing the Knicks hands as the increased "poison pill" would have pushed the Knicks' luxury-tax penalty to at least $35 million.
Dolan has a history of paying luxury-tax penalties, but he was unwilling to pay this one. Could it have simply been because he felt that Lin didn't truly want to remain with the team?
Why else would a player who doesn't place a heavy priority on money rework the deal with the Rockets? If his heart was set on returning to the Knicks, he would have done what he could to return, not make it nearly impossible for them to match from a financial standpoint.
Here's another quote from Torre's Sports Illustrated article:
He is happy with his new employer, but less so about the misconceptions that others may now harbor. The notion that Lin has always cared about money above all else, in particular, eats away at him, especially as he sleeps in his childhood home.
"If I really wanted to, I could have triple-digit endorsements," Lin pointed out, but he does not. Instead, and in large part because Lin wanted to concentrate on basketball, he declined to cash in on the Linsanity gold-rush -- namely, the mountain of business opportunities in Asia -- and picked only three companies: Volvo, Steiner Sports and Nike.
"A year ago, I was just trying to stay alive and fight day by day, just to be on a roster," said Lin, who famously slept on couches upon his arrival in New York. "What I have now is way more than I ever would have dreamed of, and way more than I need."
Lin has backed himself into a corner here. Either he doesn't care about money and restructured the offer sheet as a means of escaping from The City That Never Sleeps, or his quote in Torre's article is both disingenuous and hypocritical.
He can't have it both ways.
The decision to keep Lin or let him slip away was never purely a basketball decision. Lin's insane marketing value was a factor, as were the emotions of the situation.
Dolan has a right to feel deceived by the man he helped put on the map.
There's nothing wrong with Lin wanting to go to Houston, and a lot of the evidence points towards him having that desire.
Before you call for Dolan's head, just stop, and assess the situation.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Players Who Don't Fit on Their Teams
This has been an extremely hectic NBA offseason, but there are many trades still to come.
With so many players leaving their teams for greener pastures, it has left many players feeling out of place on their current roster.
ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports and tons of other basketball news sites are flooded with potential trade rumors.
Some appear realistic and could happen today or tomorrow. Others are just wild rumors that will most likely never come to fruition.
Here are five players who don’t fit on their team and could be traded in the near future.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1263131-nba-trade-rumors-5-players-who-dont-fit-on-their-team
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Detroit Pistons: Replacing Ben Gordon, Easy with Kim English on the Roster
The old saying goes, as one door closes another door opens. Such is life in the NBA. As one player leaves a team, an opportunity for someone to take his place presents itself.
The Detroit Pistons are witnessing this scenario play out following the departure of Ben Gordon.
He was traded days before the draft in a move that Joe Dumars had to make. The Pistons owed him $25 million over the next two years and there was little return on the investment. Needless to say, it was a deal they desperately wanted out of.
So Dumars pulled off a shrewd move. He unloaded Gordon and his bloated contract on Charlotte and landed veteran Corey Maggette who can add depth, physicality and scoring to the young Pistons team.
More importantly, he's only there for one year. He offers the financial freedom that Gordon did not.
Yet, Maggette is a completely different player than Gordon. He might take the open roster spot, but he doesn't replace Gordon's role on the team.
Gordon was brought in to be a prolific scorer and a sharpshooter from three-point range. He averaged 20 points a game between 2006-2009 with the Chicago Bulls, while shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc. Unfortunately, he never matched that production in Detroit.
So what player can step in to fill the role originally intended for Gordon? Early indications are that Kim English could fit the bill.
The Pistons drafted him because of the shooting prowess he demonstrated during his four years at Missouri University and he hasn't disappointed so far.
In Orlando, during summer league play, English was one of the best players in the league—recognized with an Honorable Mention award. He averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in 30 minutes of action. The most impressive stat was 45 percent shooting from three-point range, though.
He even led the Pistons to victory in their league finale against Philadelphia scoring 17 points and going 4-7 from behind the arc.
More importantly, English is an NBA-ready player. Sure, there will be a transition period, and he'll have to work on his game and his strength to get better, but all rookies have to do that. He was a four-year college player—he's 24 years old—and he brings with him a level of intelligence and maturity that other rookie players don't have.
He's no project like the Pistons first round selection, Andre Drummond.
From day one, English can step on the floor and help the Pistons. The pressure will be minimal on him. There's no first-round expectations or giant contract he needs to live up to. He's not going to be the face of the franchise and he won't be a starter.
He'll come off the bench and do what he does best. Spot up and knock down threes.
People might consider him to be one-dimensional. Truth be told, that was the knock against him before he shot 46 percent from behind the arc his senior year and wowed scouts at his individual workout (ESPN.com: Insiders only).
While his stock may have risen, it doesn't change the fact that his game still is one-dimensional, but that's okay. The Pistons don't need him to be Lebron James (although if he was they would not complain).
They simply need him to be what Gordon was supposed to be: a consistent scorer and three-point shooter who can excel off the bench.
He can handle that.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Cavs' Irving to be ready by start of camp in September
Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving will have surgery Wednesday to fix the hand he broke slapping a padded wall during a summer league practice.
Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/07/16/irving-surgery.ap/index.html?rss=true
NBA: A presidential smooch! President Obama accomplishes his mission and sneaks in a smooch on Kiss Cam at USA/Brazil! http://t.co/fB9kxHQR
NBA: A presidential smooch! President Obama accomplishes his mission and sneaks in a smooch on Kiss Cam at USA/Brazil! http://t.co/fB9kxHQR
Monday, July 16, 2012
NBA Overpaying Players: What Was the Point of the Lockout?
Remember when NBA owners and players were embroiled in a savage lockout because the owners thought the players were getting paid too much, and finally, after months of deliberation, the two sides ultimately came to a solution?
Well, based on some of the contracts that have been handed out thus far during the 2012 offseason, I think it's safe to say that that "solution" wasn't really much of a solution at all.
The owners played hardball during the entire lockout, adamant on the fact that the players' contracts were becoming too rich. Then, you see guys like Ryan Anderson getting four-year, $36 million deals and Omer Asik getting signed to three-year, $25.1 million offer sheets.
That raises the question: what exactly was the point of the lockout?
To be perfectly honest, the players are making the owners look silly. They are still absorbing whatever amount of cash is in their wallets and laughing all the way to the bank. The funniest thing about all of this? The owners technically have the power in free agency.
Think about it. If all of the front offices wait the players out and don't give them the money they want, then the players will be forced to accept lesser deals. Either that, or they don't get paid at all. But, for some reason, owners and general managers are so eager to hand out ridiculous contracts to undeserving players, and I don't get it at all.
Asik is a prime example. Yes, he is a great defensive big man, but the guy averaged 3.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. He also only played 14.7 minutes a contest. So, you're going to give a guy who has never even played 15 minutes a game during the regular season a deal that big? Not only that, but in the final year of that three-year pact, Asik will be making $15 million. What?
One has to really wonder what Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey was thinking when he decided to come up with that offer, but it's not just Morey and the Rockets: what about the Minnesota Timberwolves inking Nicolas Batum to a four-year, $46 million offer sheet? Batum is a nice player, but he isn't that nice, and I'm not sure if he ever will be.
For comparison's sake, let's take a look at one of the rather good deals of the offseason thus far. The Boston Celtics gave Kevin Garnett a three-year, $34 million deal. Put that into perspective: Batum got four years and $46 million while K.G. got three years and $34 million. Per year, Batum will be making more. Now I understand that Garnett is not the Garnett of old, but still, he is a much, much, much more impactful player than Batum, and yet, Batum will be getting paid more.
Anderson's contract that he received from the New Orleans Hornets in a sign-and-trade deal may very well have been the worst of them all. Anderson put up solid numbers with the Orlando Magic during the regular season this past year, averaging 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. However, that was with Dwight Howard on the floor. Now, let's look at Anderson's playoff numbers, when Howard wasn't playing: 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and he shot an abysmal 34 percent from the floor.
You're telling me that Anderson is worth $36 million to the Hornets, a team that can ill afford to make any mistakes right now? Well, count that as mistake number one, as I don't envision Anderson getting the same kind of looks from beyond the arc that he got with the Magic. It is an entirely different system, one that doesn't have Howard patrolling the middle.
I'm sorry, but the owners are making themselves look like absolute fools right now. They pushed and pushed and pushed last offseason, and look where they are now: handing out monster deals to guys who probably should be making half of said deals.
Do I understand the owners' beef with thinking the players are getting paid too much? Absolutely, but hey, it's hard to take them seriously when they are the ones handing out the contracts.
So, the next time the NBA goes into a lockout (and based on this offseason, I'm guessing it will be soon) and you want to side with the owners, think about what happened during the summer months of 2012. Then maybe you will realize that the owners were just being senseless from the beginning.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1260437-nba-overpaying-players-what-was-the-point-of-the-lockout
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Slideshow: Slideshow: Celebs shine at NBA playoffs
Kahne fends off Hamlin at New Hampshire for second victory of season
Kasey Kahne has won his second Sprint Cup race of the season by holding off Denny Hamlin at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=162c39e3dbb40036bc6ff63a37e012ed
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