fuckyeanba:

This fucking Broadband access is KILLING ME! Oklahoma City was the first team I signed up for, and I couldn’t get their game last night? WHAT! That’s why I don’t have the OKC-Dallas highlight package ready for you (don’t worry, I’m currently on hold with NBA.com about this bullshit blackout stuff). And, again, it was a fuckin’ seminal moment in the Kevin Durant MVP campaign Durantula is currently waging against the rest of the NBA.

After Vince Carter, VINCE CARTER!!?!?, hit a 3-pointer to put Dallas ahead by 1 with about 3 seconds left. Everyone in their right mind was thinking: ‘well, Dallas finally got their first win against the Thunder,’ who many analysts picked to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this year (this humble blogger included). Dallas has struggled, but they looked much better last night in a tight game against OKC. After Vince’s 3, there were less than two seconds left in the game. 

This is where stars become legends and the myth of Kevin Durant grew a lot last night. The inbounds to him arrived at least 25 feet from the basket, and in one fluid motion, he turned and hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired. WOW WOW WOW! The Oklahoma City Thunder won 104-102. 

Kevin Durant might be the best player in the NBA right now (sorry LeBron), and his shot last night further solidified that status. This is what the NBA is all about, and its what makes all the endless games, league and player bickering, Stern bullshit and the rest, worth it. The NBA is back, and it’s just as amazing as its always been.

I really do love this game, and I don’t mind being earnest about that love.   

PHOTO: Associated Press VIA

fuckyeanba:

Lets not forget about which city is missing out on the history being made in Oklahoma City. <3 you Sonics fans. 

foreverla:

“I can tell you there’s nobody in the NBA that works near as hard as he does.” —Knicks Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni

fuckyeanba:

2012 NBA PREVIEW SOUTHWEST DIVISION:

TEAMS (in expected finishing order):

• Memphis Grizzlies
• Dallas Mavericks
• San Antonio Spurs
• Houston Rockets
• New Orleans Hornets

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS/TRADES/RE-SIGNINGS:

• Marc Gasol-Memphis
• Josh Shelby-Memphis
• Lamar Odom-Dallas
• Vince Carter-Dallas
• Delonte West-Dallas
• Kawhi Leonard-San Antonio
• T.J. Ford-San Antonio
• Cory Joseph-San Antonio
• Marcus Morris-Houston
• Johnny Flynn-Houston
• Jeremy Lin-Houston
• Eric Gordon-New Orleans
• Chris Kaman-New Orleans
• Al-Farouq Aminu-New Olreans
• Carl Landry-New Orleans
• Jason Smith-New Orleans
• David Stern-New Orleans (new owner)

2012 OUTLOOK:

This division features the defending 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks with a lot of new guys; a Spurs team on its last legs going for one more title with Duncan, Popovich, Ginolbli and Parker; and a franchise that surprised everyone in last year’s playoffs then actually signed their free agent center (Marc Gasol). Oh yeah, Houston and New Orleans too. I’m guessing most will be shocked about putting the Memphis Grizzlies at the number 1 spot, but I think Marc Gasol will do what his brother Pau could only dream about—make the Memphis Grizzlies relevant. With Z-Bo and crew back, I think they’ll take the division and maybe more.

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Home of Elvis, BB King and Howlin’ Wolf, Memphis makes most people think of music, or if you’re like me, Blues music. Things aren’t so blue for the Memphis Grizzlies Blue now. Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, a host of back-court cogs like Mike Conley, OJ Mayo and the invisible man last year, Rudy Gay, make up one of the deepest and biggest teams in the league. Gay is interesting since he sorta, kinda qualifies as their best player, but he was absent during their run past San Antonio and nearly past OKC last year in the Western Conference playoffs. They signed Z-Bo and Marc Gasol to long-term deals and haven’t traded Rudy Gay yet. Can Gay make them a title contender? I think he can.

Shawn Marion needs to grow up and stop this nonsense about respect unless, that is, it’s actually feeding the Mavericks inspiration for this upcoming shortened season. Dirk is back and so is Jason Terry and his tattoo. Jason Kidd brings his creaky knees to the court again as well, but Tyson Chandler, their bulwark against attacking wings (ahem, LeBron), is gone to the Big Apple. In his place, the Mavericks got Vince Carter (hangs head in shame) and Lamar Odom. They’ve also got Delonte West, with medication. This will be enough to again contend for a title, and if anyone get’s “Dirked on” they can win a title, but under-the-radar reports say Nowitzki is still getting into playing shape, which isn’t optimistic for Dallas fans. I don’t think they’ll repeat, but it will surely be fun to watch—except the Vince part. He’s awful.

Gregg Popovich really really likes wine. I can only guess at the amateur sommelier’s feelings on UB40’s Red Red Wine, but it probably harkens back to his days before all the titles with Timmy, when he still had the fire of an up and coming coach. Not anymore. After 1000’s of games and 4 titles in ‘99, ‘03, ‘05, and as recently as 2007, the San Antonio Spurs got eliminated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round last year (this after winning over 60 games in the regular season). If Tim Duncan and crew survive the breakneck speed of 66 games in 120 days, they’ll make the playoffs and might even upset someone in the first and second rounds. They don’t have enough to go further than that, and it pains me to admit even a deep trip into the playoffs is a stretch. The days of the Big Fundamental will be swept over by the Marc Gasol and Z-Bo tandem in Memphis Blues land, but Duncan will always be the greatest power forward of all time. RIP Tim Duncan. This is your swan song year, and the cyclical nature of it coming during a shortened season, like your first year in the league in 1999 will be bittersweet for Spurs fans still looking for Eva Longoria in the crowd. Like their title chances, she’s an ethereal specter spectator of yesteryear.

Poor Houston and their embattled GM Daryl Morey. That Chris Paul trade wiped out nearly two years of planning to be in a position to go after Pau Gasol, but after the league’s veto, they’re left with disinterested players that know they were on the chopping block. Sure, Luis Scola is a surprisingly good offensive player, and Kevin Martin is proof that an ugly jump-shot is fine as long as it goes in. Too bad he can’t play defense. Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill and Kyle Lowry make up the rest of this team going no where. It will take new head coach Kevin McHale’s Boston luck if the Rockets hope to end up anywhere but in the lottery.

“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina New Orleans” because you did get Eric Gordon, Aminu and that draft pick. Will your team be a good enough to make the playoffs? No, but Emeka, Kaman, Gordon, Trevor Ariza as a wing SF and Chris Paul disciple (and Georgia Tech grad) Jarrett Jack as their PG will make them feisty. In fact, on paper the NOR Hornets don’t look so bad at all. Kaman can score when he’s healthy. Okafor is an under-appreciated 10 and 10 guy and Eric Gordon is the second coming of Joe Dumars with a smoother jump shot. This team will stink, but maybe they won’t be as bad as I’m predicting.

pic via MemphisFlyer

fuckyeanba:

2012 NBA PREVIEW PACIFIC DIVISION:

TEAMS (in expected finishing order)

• Los Angeles Lakers
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Phoenix Suns
• Golden State Warriors
• Sacramento Kings

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS/TRADES/RE-SIGNINGS:

• Jason Kapono-LAL
• Josh McRoberts-LAL
• Troy Murphy-LAL
• Darius Morris-LAL
• Chris Paul-LAC
• Chauncey Billups-LAC
• Caron Butler-LAC
• DeAndre Jordan-LAC
• Grant Hill-Phoenix
• Shannon Brown-Phoenix
• Sebastian Telfair-Phoenix
• Klay Thompson-GSW
• Kwame Brown-GSW
• Charles Jenkins-GSW
• Brandon Rush-GSW
• Jimmer Fredette-Sacramento
• Marcus Thornton-Sacramento
• John Salmons-Sacramento
• J.J. Hickson-Sacramento
• Travis Outlaw-Sacramento
• Chuck Hayes-Sacramento

2012 OUTLOOK:

Oh boy did the Pacific division get rocked like a 9.0 Richter Scale earthquake along the San Andreas line. The Cippers, the CLIPPERS!, are the frontrunners for a lot of intelligent basketball people. Chris Paul’s addition throws the whole division on its head with the Lakers now chasing the Griffin and Paul “Lob City” destiny they have planned. Kobe is divorced…from his champion coach Phil Jackson and in his place is former LeBron burper Mike Brown and his defensive schemes. Kobe is not going to a happy guy this season. BUT BUT BUT—the Lakers will have a better regular season record than the Clippers. Kobe Bryant will make this so.

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The Los Angeles Lakers still have Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol; two legitimate 7-footers that know their way around an NBA lane and can defend the basket. Bynum will not last the season without an injury. Pau will, but he may still be in a funk over the vetoed deal sending him to Houston. At least he bucked up more than Lamar did. That leaves Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, septuagenarian Derek Fisher and new coach Mike Brown to lead the Lakers, and many feel like they can’t do it. Black Mamba LIVES to be underappreciated, and I think we’re gonna see a motivated Kobe that has one year left in the tank. Don’t be surprised when they sneak up on prognosticators and win the division over their city rivals with the new point guard. If anyone can do it, it’s Kobe.

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers have never been in the driver’s seat in LA. They’re not the Driver from Drive, and they’re unlikely to take the driver’s seat without a few bumps along the way. But who gives a shit when you can finally get excited about the Los Angeles Clippers again! There has been a lot written about how Chris Paul will fit in with returning ROY Blake Griffin, just re-signed DeAndre Jordan and another newcomer in Caron Butler, but this has the makings of a possible change of fortune for a Clippers franchise bamboozled by a racist turd of an owner and a string of injuries. If Chris Paul’s knee holds up all year, they’re gonna make a run in the playoffs. LA is a new basketball mecca, but this time it’s staring the Clippers. Get stoked fans.

Steve Nash is Canadian, so people shouldn’t be surprised he hasn’t publicly called on tightwad owner Robert Sarver to trade him to a contender. He’s too nice to make demands like that—all Canadians are nice (Rachel McAdams is a sweetheart). Nash’s Suns are perpetually stuck with a poor supporting cast in Phoenix. Nash isn’t getting any younger, and even with his fruit and vegetable heavy diet plan and extensive core exercises, it won’t change the fact Phoenix isn’t gonna do much in the playoffs, but they will make the playoffs—maybe. Aside from their former MVP at PG, the Suns boasts former Dwight Howard back-up Marcin Gortat (an excellent and underrated big man), Josh Childress back from Europe (one of 3 shooting guards), Channing Frye and returning veteran Grant Hill. They’ll be good, but not great, which is a shame because Nash deserves great and so does the city of Phoenix.

Normally, I’d say the GSW Warrior back-court of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis would be enough to make them a challenge in any regular season game, but Curry is having ankle problems again, and Monta Ellis might be in hotter water than he was with the Moped incident after signing his first big contract with Golden State in 2008. He’s reportedly involved in sending a graphic photo of himself to a GSW employee. STOP SENDING DICK PICS OUT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES! That’s not a good sign for a team that had been in Chris Paul contention this off-season. They only have David Lee to provide any sort of offense in their front-court and if Curry’s injuries hobble him and Ellis is sued or distracted by sexual harassment charges, then they may finish even worse than second to last in the suddenly strong Pacific Division.

Demarcus Cousins is crazy. Tyreke Evans might be even crazier. Jimmer Fredette might provoke the kind of crazy in Kings fans that will lead to a restraining order and a bunny boiler in a crock pot. So the Kings are crazy, which suits their perpetually broke, partying owners the Las Vegas. The busted (financially) Maloof brothers are still trying to get the Sacramento public to finance a new stadium so they’re not giving $20 handjobs off the Meth boats in the Sac harbor. John Salmons and J.J. Hickson were alright signings this off-season and they may be good crazy, but right now they just seem crazy crazy, and that could mean more internal fireworks rather than a good team.

pic via the Orange County Register

Magic Johnson (via nbaquotes)

Not sure is Magic’s fandom is the right barometer by which to measure when exactly the Clippers will eclipse the Lakers in terms of So Cal popularity, but it’s a start.

Also, the Clippers are out-selling the Lakers in terms of both ticket sales and demand for tickets.

(via nbaoffseason)

oakleyandallen:

October 7, 1976

Songs: Jay-Z “So Ghetto” & Onra “Super Genesis”

nbaoffseason:

Hoping this is the LeBron James we see all season. And I mean ALL season. 

@Suga_Shane

watchnbahistory:

31/5/2007 CLE vs DET Game 5 Eastern Conference Finals

“James’ career playoff-high 48 points — including his team’s final 29 of its final 30 — carried Cleveland within a win of the NBA finals for the first time in franchise history with a 109-107 double-overtime victory over the Pistons” Associated Press

Box Score: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200705310DET.html