#Nate McGrady | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sportsv · 6 years ago

Text

面對煩人的針對防守，Durant 不應該保持佛系

文／ Paul Chang

經過系列賽第二場，衛冕軍應該要意識到他們在首輪遇到的是什麼樣的角色了。

萬分之一的機率

本季快艇在季賽曾經完成過 2 次落後高達 25 分以上的逆轉戰局，2/2 對活塞落後 25 分完成逆轉、2/9 對賽爾提克落後 29 分完成逆轉，而這個季後賽，他們面臨更艱難的局面，在一度落後 31 分的情況，翻盤擊敗勇士隊，創造了NBA季後賽歷史單場最大逆轉分差。

ESPN與記者更是列出多項數據，來說明這場比賽有多麼神奇：

1、在第三節比賽結束前 7 分 31 秒，快艇落後多達 31 分，當時他們的獲勝機率只有 0.01%，

2、接下來的比賽快艇打出了一波 72-37。

3、終結了勇士季後賽的三節領先紀錄，這場之前，當勇士帶著領先 14 分以上進入第四節，是完美的110連勝。

We're like roaches, they can't kill us

「賽季初，ESPN說我們只能拿到 33 勝。Charles Barkley 是這麼說的，拉斯維加斯的賠率也是這麼開的。而現在我們（髒話）要進季後賽了。」

------ Doc Rivers 在季末球隊取得晉級資格時，在休息室激情演說。

「我們在波士頓曾一度落後 28 分，最終我們逆轉拿下比賽，今晚我們曾落後多少分來著？我們就是這麼有韌性。堅持就是勝利。」

------ Doc Rivers 在季後賽G2結束後，在休息室再次激情演說。

youtube

更多最新 NBA 精選好文：

新秀球季高分過關！頂尖控衛慕容復：Trae Young

第四節瘋狂 21 分帶領逆襲！Jamal Murray 開啟巨星之路？

異軍突起 Podium Guy：Will Barton 能替金塊在季後賽殺出血路嗎？

天賦不足，拿命來湊

當快艇季中選擇送走 Tobias Harris，大部分人都認為他們將在後半段賽季開始擺爛，提前布局即將到來的夏天，不過後來的劇本是這麼寫的，這群黑衫戰士為了勝利持續奮戰，在充滿槍林彈雨的西區叢林，爭取到了乘坐季後賽列車的資格。

首輪快艇面對如日中天的金州勇士，對比兩隊天賦與戰力，其中的落差完全反應在比賽內容上，在第二場逆天改命的事件發生前，勝利的天平是長時間的倒向勇士的。

G1勇士進攻效率：110.4，Curry 拿下 38 分，真實命中率 95%

G2勇士進攻效率：121.3，Curry 拿下 29 分，真實命中率 67%

前兩場說是 Stephen Curry 接近一個人搞翻了快艇都不為過，面對內線移位換防速度不足的快艇，各種遠投近切，完美的發輝他的創造力，串聯球隊攻擊，直到G2的第三節 Curry 吃下個人第四犯，被迫待在板凳上。

「我們的侵略性和防守出了問題，我們的能量突然消失了，進攻端沒有創造出好的機會，失誤也太多了。我恨我的四次犯規，這讓我第三節在板凳席上待了差不多八分鐘。」

----- Stephen Curry 賽後點出比賽局面改變的原因。

打過比賽的人都知道，心態的鬆懈，絕對是導致防守強度降低的魔鬼，你不積極的對位拚搏，對方就會找到機會敲破你的家門，尤其眼前這是一支已經展現過不只一次逆襲的球隊。

Curry 陷入犯規麻煩而打亂調度也好、大幅領先導致專注力減少也好，甚至快艇不科學的追分速度也罷，這邊不詳細探討勇士被逆轉的原因，更讓我好奇的是，面對 Patrick Beverley 瘋狗式的防守，Kevin Durant 有沒有真正的把自己武裝好。

KD 是勇士的另一項在進攻端摧毀對手的武器，他那傲人的身高臂展、如控衛般的運球技術與變向、看似薄弱的身材卻深藏強大的爆發力，最後還擁有穩定無比的投籃手感，讓他面對任何「常規」的對位防守者，都能進行單點突破，彷彿沒有錯位。

而 Beverley 這個系列賽的防守，一點都不「常規」。

半場落位，他會緊跟著 KD 的身體，不讓他有輕易接球的空間，持球後也上前逼迫，不給 KD 太多下球的空間，全場俯身貼防，用大動作去碰撞 KD下盤，主動追求肢體接觸的對抗，嘗試切斷 KD 與勇士團隊進攻的連結，這就是快艇此系列賽目前的作戰計畫之一，而這也是 Beverley 的生存之道。

更多最新 NBA 精選好文：

沒有一哥也照樣贏！Nate McMillan 絕對值得你的年度最佳教練選票

季後賽雙面刃！最大化 Ben Simmons 的天賦，從回歸傳統開始？

一哥換 Beal 來做？John Wall 丟不丟？巫師休賽季的三大考題

Patrick Beverley 這個系列賽的防守總是讓我想到 Tony Allen，過去灰熊的防守悍將，當年防守 Durant 的畫面令人難忘，精彩的防守也感染了隊友的精神，當年那個系列賽 KD 身處雷霆，打得並不輕鬆。

「削弱高個子的進攻的方法，就是讓他們的空間變得擁擠，而這就是 Beverley 全場都在做的事。讓 KD 難以接球，身體上去壓迫他，而當他接球後，進攻上一切都變得很困難。」

------ Tony Allen 談防守 KD

youtube

讓我們複習一下快艇@勇士G2：

第二節，比分從 56 比 43 打到節末變成 73 比 50 ，看上去比分失去了懸念，KD 半場得到 8 分，3投 2 中，比G1時半場 7 投 3 中得到 11 分，顯得更佛系。

不過 Curry 持續爆走的輸出，已經讓快艇無法招架，半場而言，勇士詮釋了屬於它們的最佳打法，也就是季末幾場所培養的團隊效應，讓 KD 更專注在吸怪、傳導、協防等等的工作項目身上，在投籃選擇更加保守而確實，試著打得更聰明也更樂於分享球，讓對手針對性的對位無法發揮效用。

所��，半場時大部分人都以為比賽就這樣結束了。

youtube

進入第三節，時間來到 7分30秒，KD 扣籃並造成犯規完成2+1 ，比分來到 94 比 63，勇士此時領先到達 31 分。不過 Curry 也陷入犯規麻煩，第三節原本意義上屬於 KD 的帶隊時間，但奇妙的事情發生了，也許 KD 自己也不會相信，往後的 7 分鐘比賽時間，他再也沒有進過一個球。

事實上，KD 甚至只處理了 5 次球，一次助攻、兩次失誤、兩次傳球。

瘋狗纏繞

關鍵還是 Patrick Beverly，用一切他能做到的身體對抗，挑戰哨音的底線，跟防時無時無刻頂著 KD 的腰，想盡辦法影響進攻節奏，雖然後續連續吃下了兩個犯規，但 Beverly 毫不退讓，繼續在下個Play 執行他的任務，逼迫 KD 離開肘區，直到他放棄搶位，跑到三分線外接球，而這不是屬於 KD 習慣的攻擊區域，也鐵定不是勇士球迷希望看到 KD 所做的回應，面對防守者的針對與挑釁，身心靈方面我認為 Durant 都太過佛系。

打得聰明佛系當然可以，但別掉入對手的陷阱。

事實上，快艇這步棋並沒有影響「勇士全隊」的進攻，但當勇士「需要」KD 站出來得分時，那這個策略就會開始發揮效用。

在對手瘋狂追分時，勇士絕對需要盼到隊中死神的回歸，這是一個明星球員要成就偉大，勢必要經歷突破的門檻，試想一下 Kobe Bryant 當年遇到死纏爛打的防守，他給予的回應是什麼，絕對是用更強勢的進攻去打擊對方的氣勢，把時間拉近一點看，東區那邊魔術暴龍系列賽G2，Kawhi Leonard 的表現就讓人非常滿意，魔術的防守絕對夠力，聯盟前端，但 Kawhi 硬是宰制了比賽。

來自偶像的建議

在今日的《TheJump》節目中，Tracy McGrady 給 KD 提出了過來人的建議。

「我覺得 KD 掉進了陷阱，他必須要回到自己熟悉的位置。我今天還發了私信給KD。」

「我身高203，他有210，他絕對有更多優勢。KD 要做就是要好位置，然後轉過身來面對防守。」

「如果這樣的話，Beverly 就不能伸手碰你，你順勢跳起來一個干拔，他貼上來就會犯規，因為那是你的投籃區域。不要受那些小動作的影響，打球就好。」

youtube

DeMarcus Cousins 再次令人心疼的倒下，一定的降低勇士的容錯率與輪替深度，不過短兵相接的季後賽，比的就是應變與調整能力，當你的對手格外強悍並有執行力時，勇士要做的就是保持頭腦清醒，如同賽後訪問不少隊員所談到的，保持侵略性與憤怒感，做好自己，並將這場比賽視為一次寶貴的經驗，認真對待比賽的 48 分鐘。

全場出手 8 次、9 次失誤、6 次犯滿，這是 Durant 第二戰尷尬的帳面成績，我已經開始期待G3，他與勇士會做出什麼調整與回應。

更多最新 NBA 精選好文：

東區大亂鬥季後賽經驗是暴龍最佳優勢？

新品種長人崛起 NBA進攻浪潮轉型醞釀中

三小前鋒扛大旗！決定綠衫軍季後賽強度的仍然是側翼群？

異軍突起 Podium Guy：Pascal Siakam 能否終止暴龍的季後賽魔咒?

這麼強，為何不能打先發？Lou Williams 回首生涯路

#NBA #yahoo #運動視界 #Kevin Durant #Patrick Beverley

0 notes

leseumlesite · 4 years ago

Text

Ankle Breakers Vol 1 - VOSTFR

Ankle Breakers Vol 1 – VOSTFR

Cette vidéo vous a plu , télécharger là !

” ankle breakers, les rois du crossover ” volume 1, sous titré en Français, sortie en 2004.

Avec stephon marbury, allen iverson, steve francis, jason kidd, tracy mcgrady, steve nash, jason williams, bob cousy, earl monroe, nate archibald, pete maravich, magic johnson, isiah thomas, tim hardaway, shaquille o’neal, tim duncan, hakeem olajuwon, kevin…

View On WordPress

0 notes

forskolindroz21-blog · 5 years ago

Text

NBA Offseason Player Move

Up to date come july 1st poker player move was restrained. A number of small-scale proceeds, and even 100 % free organisation once more do not enjoy the a number of hollywood film stars for instance the varieties that you can purchase up to now and those people moving into 2010, though enjoy normally there has been just a few which will gotten finalized designed for a problem, without having it every putting your signature once again through truth be told there classic power team.

100 % FREE SOLUTION PUTTING YOUR SIGNATURE

That Philadelphia 76ers symptom Elton Product

Most beneficial relocate as a result of any specific power team up to date. Truth be told there bringing in some man just who averages 20. 3 elements and even 10. three rebounds designed for his particular professional up to date. Brand-new areas such as an amazing cheap blog post adventure which can be complicated to shield, and even look into the sixers mattress line at present. Now we have Cooper who might be demonstrating to the anesthetist can history but probably try to make vaccinations designed for his particular power team, now we have Andrea Iguodala no one can in a hostile manner infiltration that gourmet gift baskets or to exchange at his particular good go golf shot, the face area about this operation at the same time, nba중계 combine Elton Product to help you truth be told there PF spot, which will put a alot more serious cheap blog post adventure together with a chap no one can moreover fail that message boards, and even get your ex boyfriend then some man enjoy Dalembert downward cheap, some man no one can achieve that dusty get the job done and even capture message boards and even filter vaccinations, this is a hardcore power team to help you do better than.

T. An important. Clippers symptom Baron Davis

Attractive relocate via the Clippers as a result of Bringing in Davis, the anesthetist can excrete that softball, in addition has an amazing pungent adventure, and even very likely pores and skin look defense to help you have fun his particular spot. the nation's an important ill at ease designed for Product and even Maggette to help you result in as they simply secure your ex boyfriend. Davis will now be gaining have on an important power team just who lacks a whole lot of expectation today, through primarily Davis, and even vibrant online players enjoy Ing Thorton and even truth be told there seventh pick out Eric Gordon performing truth be told there power team, though considering the fact that truth be told there elliminating Maggette and even Product it opens together a whole lot of earning house for your kids, as a result should not pleased if and when they get a swap anytime soon enough to create on some other gift to remain through Davis.

Great Declare A warrior symptom Corey Maggette

Considering the fact that giving up Davis, the application eliminated a major get that they can could very well really switch through someone else, that they can made, and even finalized Maggette. She or he can actually combine elements with the history deck thinking that can be his particular primary share. helping to make Maggette within small-scale forth and even Fitzgibbons within aiming preserve might most likely make that a warrior an important clean aiming power team and no cheap blog post adventure. as i is pleased some people didnt have a shot at increasingly difficult to create at a athletic time preserve to replace Baron Davis's recognize, as i can't find out Ellis performing the time she or he reminds all of us to a much bigger and a lot more athletic Nate Brown, effective with the ring, will be able to email that softball, though each of those at the same time small-scale to earn a good aiming preserve. But probably some people do not like to start up Shiny Barnes within Small-scale forth, to choose to been required to match an important SF and PG additionally they resolved to go through Maggette.

Houston Rockets symptom Brent Craig

It relocate gotten all of us thinking about, some people earned some man that has definitely looked at the ideal in his particular quite a few years, allowing it to certainly primarily golf shot that three or more softball and even have fun various H. some people usually have gentlemen enjoy Shane Battier and even Rafer Alston which are superb first person shooters. it relocate is very likely which is designed to contingency plan Battier and T-mac given that they forget about Gerald Efficient, and even bring in some special support with the power team.

Orlando, fl Miracles symptom Mickael Pietrus

I really like it relocate that Miracles crafted, some people earned a major small-scale forth no one can email that softball and even have fun decent H. She or he includes alot more spacing to help you truth be told there power team and you will be an amazing chap away from the along with, along with grants ones own low along with some more gift.

That Dallas Mavericks symptom Gerald Efficient

Considering the fact that Maurice Ager is pumped to that Netting with the Kidd swap some people obviously have not everybody to help you contingency plan truth be told there aiming preserve spot. and even bringing in some man which may in a hostile manner infiltration that ring and allows a reasonable go golf shot is simply not a terrible relocate.

The fresh new You are able to Knicks symptom Philip Duhon.

That Knicks found it necessary to add a common athletic time preserve which may establish vaccinations designed for downline and even certainly turn up offence floating. Nate Brown didn't make this happen, she or he could very well establish vaccinations designed for by his own and uncover elements through to that deck, though not an important passer just who could very well it's possible that win back their pungent scourges, enjoy Crawford, Randolph, and even Curry earning a living, and even helping to make truth be told there project simplier and easier.

MARKETS

That Milwaukee Pounds secure Rich Jefferson belonging to the Nj Netting in exchange designed for Yi Jianlian and even Bobby Simmons.

That Netting experienced in such a swap kid start up liberating together earning max house in the 2010 advertise, at which Skills enjoy, Philip Bosh, Dywane Sort, Lebron Louis, Amare Stoudemare, Yao Ming, Rich Jefferson, Tyson Chandler, Sam Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Beam Allen, Jeo Manley, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, Eric Redd, and more can be available. that Netting can be competent in exciting ones own power team, bringing in vibrant online players, check it again they are really professional, add an important experienced to do that power team. Considering the fact that Vince Carter's most beneficial quite a few years can be waring from via the time, truth be told there performing arts swift, and even being sure some people stretch of land a powerful all-star completely.

That Philadelphia 76ers exchanged from Rodney Carney, Calvin Interpreting booth, an upcoming first-round pick out, and even bucks conditions with the Mn Timber-Wolves in exchange for one potential future moment round of golf pick out.

76ers crafted it proceed to opened 100 % free earning house so that they can try to make a powerful provide you with to help you Elton Product, some people made it when Josh Kirkland had been to Philadelphia with his solution, and even allowed to remain considering the 76ers developing very little beginners luck putting your signature an important overcome your ex boyfriend. as a result undoubtedly 76ers 're looking great come july 1st and even require a minute gift as a result of Andrea Iguodala's half.

That In Pacers have Longer. L. Frd, Rasho Nesterovic, additionally, the to certainly Roy Hirbbert Belonging to the Toronto Raptors, and even distribute them all, Jermaine O'Neal additionally, the rights to help you Nathan L awia.

I really like it relocate in the Raptors, truth be told there bringing in an important athletic PF on O'Nealwho will be able to fail that message boards, is known for a very good lowpost adventure, and even have fun decent H. in cases where O'neal is without a doubt good designed for almost all the months that raptors would have an important lead downward cheap and even combine truth be told there very good in all directions aiming on Kapono, Parker and even Bargnani, this could establish very good spacing in the power team and you will be complicated designed for several other crews to shield.

0 notes

flauntpage · 6 years ago

Text

NFLer Trucks Dude on the Bases and Other Highs from Yankees Charity Softball

A coterie of New York’s most distinguished athletes, musicians, and media personalities congregated Thursday night at Yankee Stadium for CC and Amber Sabathia’s celebrity softball game. Torrential rain turned to sunshine, and Team CC prevailed 4-1 over Team Giancarlo in front of a chipper lower bowl crowd. According to Newsday, the game raised $1 million for the Sabathia’s PitCCh In charity, which helps develop inner city youth initiatives. The game was an ultracasual affair highlighted by a handful of standout individual performances. VICE Sports was there to hand out honors:

Best National Anthem: Victory Boyd

The game opened, somewhat surprisingly, with a stunningly good rendition of the national anthem performed by Victory Boyd, a singer who began her career as a busker in Central Park and signed to Roc Nation in 2016. She stood behind home plate, strummed her guitar confidently, and landed her voice cooly in the center of each note. Her performance was flawless and almost poetic—pretty much the opposite of Fergie’s national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game.

Best Friends: Desus & Mero

Desus & Mero arrived at a Yankee Stadium hours after taping the final episode of their Viceland show, and they certainly felt like the cool kids in the building. An inseparable pair of social butterflies, they floated around the field before the game to chop it up with CC, Giancarlo, Action Bronson, and Ebro Darden. During an interview with Peter Rosenberg, they expressed what this game meant to them:

Desus: “We’re here [on the field] legally. It means a lot.”

Mero: “As a Dominican male in his late ‘30s, this is a dream come true.”

But Mero’s lone at-bat did not go as planned. He fell into an 0-2 hole with a pair of missed hacks. Winded, he called time, and Desus came out to give him a pep talk and a mighty slap on the butt. Mero made contact on the third pitch, managing a trickler back to the pitcher.

Best Walk-Up Music: Willie Colon

Big Pun’s “Twinz (Deep Cover ‘98).”

Best Truck Stick: Willie Colon

The retired Steelers and Jets guard grew up five minutes from Yankee Stadium a die-hard Yankees fan; before the game, tears welled in his eyes as he spoke of Jim Leyritz’s walk-off home run in the 1995 ALDS. During his at-bat in the bottom of the third inning, he whacked a ground ball to the left side and, when the throw sailed over the first baseman’s head, he rounded first and went for two with a massive head of steam. The play at second was close, and rather than slide or accept the tag, Big Willie Style took a page from the Pete Rose exhibition game playbook and lowered his shoulder into the chest of second baseman and Hpnotiq brand guru Nick Storm. Luckily, Storm was unscathed.

Best Attire: Amar’e Stoudemire

Stoudemire squandered his one chance at the plate; he popped up to the catcher to end the second inning, stranding two runners. But that didn’t stop him from rocking the most memorable fit of anyone at the game. He roamed right field wearing Gucci shades, a Menorah chain, and his Hebrew name, Yehohshaphat, on the back of his jersey.

Defensive MVP: Nate Robinson

Robinson’s botched bare-handed catch may have resulted in the only run recorded by Team Giancarlo, but he otherwise put on a defensive clinic at third base, sucking up groundballs like a Hoover vacuum. He recorded no less than seven assists in six innings.

Offensive MVP: Mariano Rivera

The game featured an overabundance of infield pop-outs, even from pro athletes like Stoudemire, Antonio Cromartie, and Quincy Enunwa. The only guys who demonstrated any real power were former Yankees Jorge Posada, who flew out to the warning track in center, and Mariano Rivera, who slugged an RBI triple into the left field corner in the first inning.

Best Captain: Leslie Jones

While Victor Cruz made no discernable effort in his role as captain of Team Giancarlo, Leslie Jones captained Team CC with admirable vigor. During Tracy McGrady’s at-bat in the top of the first, she stormed out to home plate to argue balls and strikes with Giancarlo.

In the top of the third, she tugged at her visor and trotted out to the mound under the auspices of making a pitching change. Stoudemire, CC, Desus, Mero, Nate Robinson, Rivera, and Action Bronson huddled around her… and started dancing furiously as soon as the beat dropped in Big Sean’s “Moves.” The image of Action Bronson twerking will be forever seared into the backs of my retinas.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jones pumped up the crowd before her at-bat and called her shot, dramatically pointing to the left-field bleachers, despite the fact that the infield had moved all the way in. She grounded out to second, but rounded the bases anyways.

NFLer Trucks Dude on the Bases and Other Highs from Yankees Charity Softball published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

0 notes

goalhofer · 7 years ago

Photo

2009-10 New York Knicks Roster:

#42 David Lee (Creve Couer, Missouri)

#21 Wilson Chandler (Benton Harbor, Michigan)

#8 Danilo Gallinari (Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy)

#1 Chris Duhon (Slidell, Louisiana)

#20 Jared Jeffries (Bloomington, Indiana)

#23 Toney Douglas (Jonesboro, Georgia)

#5 Bill Walker (North College Hill, Ohio)

#5 Nate Robinson (Union City, California)

#0 Larry Hughes (St. Louis, Missouri)

#3 Tracy McGrady (Auburndale, Florida)

#13 Sergio Rodriguez (San Cristobal De La Laguna, Spain)

#30 Earl Barron (Clarksdale, Mississippi)

#4 J.R. Giddens (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

#27 Jordan Hill (Sandy Springs, Georgia)

#31 Darko Milicic (Novi Sad, Serbia)

#11 Marcus Landry (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

#7 Al Harrington (Elizabeth, New Jersey)

#9 Jonathan Bender (Picayune, Mississippi)

#34 Eddy Curry (South Holland, Illinois)

#50 Eddie House (Union City, California)

#Sports #Basketball #NBA #New York Knicks #Celebrities #Missouri #Michigan #Italy #Louisiana #Indiana #Georgia #Ohio #Florida #Spain #Mississippi #Serbia #Wisconsin #New Jersey #Illinois

0 notes

bballinspiration · 7 years ago

Photo

NBA All Star Celebrity Game Rosters

#NBA All Star Celebrity Game Rosters #NBA #NBA All Star Weekend #Rachel DeMita #T-Mac #Tracy McGrady #Nate Robinson #Candace Parker #Michael B Jordan #Paul Pierce #Katie Nolan #Common #Jamie Foxx #Jason Williams #White Chocolate

32 notes · View notes

mysportscity-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

VIDEO: Dario Saric – 2018 NBA Rising Stars | Basketball Insiders NBA All-Star Celebrity Game The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was highlighted by many stars this year, including Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson, Candace Parker, Bubba Watson, Rachel DeMita and many more.

#basketball #dario #insiders #rising #saric #stars #video

0 notes

damajority · 7 years ago

Photo

DaMajority Fresh Article https://www.damajority.com/espn-nba-announce-celebrity-coaches-rosters-2018-nba-star-celebrity-game-presented-ruffles/

ESPN, NBA announce celebrity coaches and rosters for 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles

ESPN and the NBA today announced the celebrity coaches and rosters for the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles, which takes place on Friday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN and the ESPN App. The game will emanate from the Verizon Up Arena at the Los Angeles Convention Center and is part of NBA All-Star 2018.

Celebrity Coaches On today’s episode of ESPN’s The Jump, host Rachel Nichols revealed that she and fellow ESPN commentator Katie Nolan will serve as celebrity coaches for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles. Nichols will be joined by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady and actor Michael B. Jordan to coach “Team Lakers.” Nolan will be joined by NBA legend and ESPN analyst Paul Pierce, as well as actor and recording artist Common to coach “Team Clippers.” The segment from today’s show is viewable here:

Celebrity Rosters Team Clippers: Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “black-ish”), Brandon Armstrong (actor, social media star), Miles Brown (ABC’s “black-ish”), Win Butler (Arcade Fire), Common (actor, recording artist), Andre De Grasse (Olympic sprinter), Stefanie Dolson (WNBA’s Chicago Sky), Jamie Foxx (actor, singer, musician), Paul Pierce (NBA legend, ESPN analyst), Dascha Polanco (actress, activist), Bubba Watson (two-time Masters champion) and Jason Williams (NBA legend).

Team Lakers: Sterling Brim (MTV’s “Ridiculousness”), Nick Cannon (actor, recording artist, star of MTV’s Wild’N Out), Terence Crawford (boxer), Rachel DeMita (NBA2KTV host, actress, model), Jerry Ferrara (STARZ’s “Power”), Marc Lasry (Milwaukee Bucks co-owner), Tracy McGrady (NBA legend, ESPN analyst), Caleb McLaughlin (Netflix’s “Stranger Things”), Candace Parker (WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks), Nate Robinson (NBA legend), Drew Scott (HGTV’s “Property Brothers”) and Kris Wu (actor, singer, music producer).

*Rosters are subject to change.

First Ever 4-Point Line Ruffles, the Official Chip of the NBA, will take things up a notch at NBA All-Star 2018. As the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, the potato chip brand will unveil the game’s first-ever 4-point line, dubbed “The RIDGE.” The 4-point line, which was first featured in NBA 2K18, will appear during the second half of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and be reminiscent of the ridges in Ruffles potato chips.

Celebrity players and NBA and WNBA legends will have the chance to confront the epic 4-point line live in the “4-for-4 Challenge.” For every shot made from “The RIDGE” during the second half of the game, Ruffles will make a $4,000 donation to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, with a minimum of $20,000 going to the charity (up to $40,000).

ESPN Commentators ESPN NBA commentator Cassidy Hubbarth will return to host this year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles telecast. Hubbarth will be joined by play-by-play voice Mark Jones and a rotating cast of guest analysts, including celebrities and commentators. The telecast will include special access such as mic’d up celebrities and coaches, as well as in-game celebrity interviews.

#nba #NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

0 notes

junker-town · 5 years ago

Text

TITLELESS: 16 NBA teams who were robbed of a championship

Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber, and Mike Bibby were an iconic trio for the Kings.

Enjoy this eclectic mix of NBA What Might Have Beens.

The cover art for our final Titleless division is meant to be taken figuratively, not literally. Some of these 16 teams were unjustly “robbed” of their chance to win a championship. Others were thwarted by unforeseen circumstances: injuries mostly, but also their own incompetence and other bizarre factors. They were “robbed” in the sense that cosmic forces conspired to destroy their title dreams or cut short potential dynasties.

Enjoy this eclectic mix of NBA What Might Have Beens.

16. 1996-97 Detroit Pistons

ERA: Young Grant Hill

RECORD: 54-28

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +5.3

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to Atlanta Hawks (3-2)

KEY STAR(S): Grant Hill

COACH: Doug Collins

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Joe Dumars, Lindsey Hunter, Otis Thorpe, Terry Mills, Theo Ratliff, Aaron McKie, Grant Long, Michael Curry

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

With the Bulls struggling late in what proved to be his final season in Chicago, Doug Collins moved Michael Jordan to point guard and refashioned the Bulls’ offense. (Dan Devine of the Ringer has a wonderful summary of how that happened, why it didn’t continue, and how it was the precursor to the point forward movement of today.)

Years later, Collins found a new young star more willing to play along in Detroit, at least initially. He put the ball in Grant Hill’s hands and asked him to run the team as he saw fit. Hill, an often reluctant attacker in the past, thrived in his new role. Collins surrounded Hill with shooters and role-players, opened the floor for Hill to attack, and watched him emerge as a potential new face of the NBA. Detroit got off to a fast start and won 54 games before losing in a tight five-game series to a terrific Hawks team.

Alas, the run was short-lived because Collins’ grating got on Hill’s nerves the same way it got on Jordan’s. The Pistons fell apart the next season, and depending on who you believe, Hill either asked Collins to be fired or declined to endorse him. Two years later, Hill suffered the ankle injury that would forever change his NBA destiny.

15. 1990-91 Golden State Warriors

ERA: Run T-M-C

RECORD: 44-38

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +1.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)

KEY STAR(S): Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin

COACH: Don Nelson

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Mitch Richmond, Sarunas Marciulionis, Mario Elie, Rod Higgins, Alton Lister, Tom Tolbert, Tyrone Hill, Jim Petersen

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1991-92

Meet Run TMC, one of the NBA’s all-time cult favorites. With Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin forming a high-scoring trio, the Warriors upset the second-seeded Spurs in four games, using a funky strategy that involved stationing their center as far away as possible so David Robinson couldn’t provide help on their scoring studs. (Remember, this was the illegal defense era.)

They fell to the mighty Lakers in five, but not before stunning them in Game 2 behind a torrid Mullin and nearly winning Game 4 at home.

Unfortunately, Run TMC was short-lived. The Warriors inexplicably traded Richmond to Sacramento for rookie forward Billy Owens, the No. 3 pick in the 1991 draft. Golden State actually won 55 games the next year, but were smashed by the underdog Sonics in the first round. The next few years were kinda bizarre, but let’s just say they did not go as planned.

14. 2000-01 Milwaukee Bucks

ERA: “Big 3” Bucks

RECORD: 52-30

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +3.8

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to Philadelphia 76ers (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Ray Allen

COACH: George Karl

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell, Lindsey Hunter, Ervin Johnson, Tim Thomas, Jason Caffey, Scott Williams, Darvin Ham

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

The “Big 3” Bucks of Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, and Glenn Robinson were an annual tease except for one memorable 2001 playoff run. The Bucks finished with the second seed in the dilapidated East and nearly knocked off Allen Iverson’s 76ers in the conference finals. That series featured some, ahem, curious refereeing decisions, including a potential missed goaltend on Allen’s game-winning tip attempt in Game 5 and a surprising league call to upgrade a common Scott Williams Game 6 foul to a flagrant, thereby forcing him to miss Game 7. Allen essentially said the series was fixed without officially saying it.

Soon, the Bucks went back to being perennial teases. Milwaukee swung a big sign-and-trade for Anthony Mason that summer, thinking an upgrade up front was the missing piece. Instead, Mason threw off their chemistry and they missed the playoffs entirely in 2002 after a late-season collapse.

13. 2017-18 Boston Celtics

ERA: Brad Stevens’ Celtics

RECORD: 55-27

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +3.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Kyrie Irving (injured in playoffs)

COACH: Brad Stevens

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward (injured all season), Marcus Smart, Aron Baynes, Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

Classifying these Celtics was challenging because of all the dominoes involved. Gordon Hayward shattering his leg on opening night undoubtedly set the Celtics back, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown may not emerge so quickly otherwise. Kyrie Irving’s late-season knee injury killed their championship upside … or did it, based on the evidence of 2019’s dysfunctional season and 2020’s good vibes with Kemba Walker in Irving’s place? What’s the point of comparing 2020’s Celtics with the 2018 version, since Al Horford’s not walking through that door? And how can we possibly quantify the degree to which Tatum’s 2020 superstar emergence relates to the flashes he showed in the 2018 playoffs?

I dunno, man. Let’s just put them here.

12. 2008-09 Portland Trail Blazers

ERA: Roy-Oden

RECORD: 54-28

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +5.3

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to Houston Rockets (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Brandon Roy

COACH: Nate McMillan

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake, Rudy Fernandez, Joel Przybilla, Sergio Rodriguez, Jerryd Bayless, Channing Frye

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

What might have been if Greg Oden only stayed healthy? Would the trio of Oden, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge really have dominated the league for years to come?

We’ll never know, but the 2008-09 Blazers are the closest we’ll ever get to an answer. After missing his entire rookie season, Oden stayed relatively healthy and showed dominating flashes in 21 minutes per game behind reliable Joel Przybilla. With Roy emerging as a superstar in his third season and Aldridge becoming a burgeoning sidekick in his second, Portland won 54 regular-season games and looked to be ahead of schedule.

Portland’s run ended that year with a disappointing first-round loss to the Yao Ming-led, Tracy McGrady-less Rockets, who stole Game 1 on the Blazers’ home court and beat them in six. Oden reinjured his knee in December of the following season and played just 23 pro games thereafter.

11. 2018-19 Philadelphia 76ers

ERA: Post-Process

RECORD: 51-31

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in second round to Toronto Raptors (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler

COACH: Brett Brown

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Tobias Harris, J.J. Redick, Wilson Chandler, Mike Scott, T.J. McConnell, Greg Monroe, James Ennis

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2017-18

The post-Process 76ers era is far from over, but maybe 2019 will end up being their best shot to advance deep in the playoffs. What happens if one of the 700 bounces on Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beating, series-ending game-winner goes in a different direction?

youtube

Do they beat Milwaukee, a team with whom they matched up well? Does Jimmy Butler stay instead of leaving for Miami and throwing thinly veiled shots at Brett Brown’s coaching? Does that mean the 76ers don’t make the mistake of signing Al Horford in the ensuing offseason? We have nothing but time to play the what-if game.

10. 1988-89 Cleveland Cavaliers

ERA: The team Jordan always beat

RECORD: 57-25

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to Chicago Bulls (3-2)

KEY STAR(S): Brad Daugherty, Mark Price

COACH: Lenny Wilkins

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Ron Harper, Larry Nance, Craig Ehlo, Hot Rod Williams, Mike Sanders, Darnell Valentine

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1991-92, 1992-93

Before the Cavaliers became the franchise Michael Jordan tormented, they were a burgeoning young powerhouse propped up by the league itself. Ever heard of the Ted Stepien rule? It’s named after the despicable former Cavaliers owner who, among many other worse things, kept trading first-round picks for nobodies in the early 80s. The NBA eventually blocked him from trading first-rounders, but when that didn’t help, they forced Stepien out, even awarding Cleveland compensatory first-rounders to prop up the franchise’s value to potential buyers. They eventually found one in Gordon Gund, who restored normalcy to the franchise.

With the first rounders Stepien surely wanted to give up, Cleveland drafted key pieces like Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper, and (via a draft-day trade) Mark Price. A fifth future stud, Kevin Johnson, was traded for veteran Larry Nance. That young core stunned the league in 1989, finishing with the NBA’s second-best record behind Detroit. Because they were in the same division as the Pistons, though, they got the East No. 3 seed and a matchup with Michael Jordan’s Bulls. The rest is history.

Cleveland traded Harper just seven games into the next season for the rights to Danny Ferry, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1989 draft that refused to show for the Clippers. Ferry never lived up to the hype, and Cleveland was never quite the same.

9. 1987-88 Dallas Mavericks

ERA: Post-expansion Mavs

RECORD: 53-29

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +4.4

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West Finals to Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Mark Aguirre

COACH: John MacLeod

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper, Sam Perkins, Roy Tarpley, James Donaldson, Brad Davis, Detlef Schrempf

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1986-87

Even by this section’s standards, the rise and fall of the 1980s Dallas Mavericks was bizarre. The diverse cast of characters included outspoken owner Donald Carter, general manager Norm Sanju (who endorsed a Process-like rebuild before it was fashionable), talented but drug-troubled center Roy Tarpley, and the nice-but-not-superstar young core that included Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper, and Sam Perkins. But the two most notable ones were superstar Mark Aguirre and longtime coach Dick Motta.

Take the criticism Carmelo Anthony received during his career, amp it up a few exponents, and you get Aguirre. An undersized forward with remarkable scoring skills and an equally remarkable ability to leave you wanting more, Aguirre eventually wore out his welcome the year after Dallas finished one game short of the Finals. “Today should be an all-day party because he’s gone,” said Perkins on the day Dallas traded Aguirre to Detroit. Ouch!

(Related tangent: Aguirre has not had his jersey retired by the team. He was supposed to speak at Derek Harper’s ceremony in 2018, but no-showed. Fast-forward to this year, when now-owner Mark Cuban honored the late Kobe Bryant by declaring that no Maverick would ever wear No. 8 or No. 24 again. Aguirre’s number? Twenty-four.)

Calling the Aguirre-Motta relationship “combustible” is kind. For some reason, Motta decided the best way to reach Aguirre was to ride him constantly. “I’ve said things to him that I wouldn’t say to my dog,” Motta said during the 1982-83 season. (Motta later said the quote was taken out of context, supplying this odd defense: “I did cuss my dog out last night. I’d like to go on record saying that. He wet the floor … I’ve never kicked my dog once, and I’ve never had a player die on the floor from overwork or abuse. And my dog still likes me.” OK!)

Somehow, the two co-existed until 1987, when the 55-win Mavs were upset in the first round by the Sonics. Driven by his volcanic relationship with Aguirre, Motta abruptly quit after that season.

Aguirre initially welcomed veteran replacement coach John MacLeod and turned in his best season in leading Dallas to the West Finals, but after a few postseason benchings and a strange summer, he asked to be traded early in the following season.

youtube

Dallas fell apart thereafter and slowly turned into a joke of a franchise before Cuban purchased the team in 1999.

8. 2007-08 Houston Rockets

ERA: Yao and T-Mac

RECORD: 55-27

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +4.7

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in first round to Utah Jazz (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Yao Ming (injured for playoffs), Tracy McGrady

COACH: Rick Adelman

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, Luis Scola, Bonzi Wells, Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Carl Landry, Dikembe Mutombo

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2006-07, 2008-09

Talk about duos destined for star-crossed careers: Meet Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady! This remarkable guard-big star tandem missed a combined 179 games from 2004-2009, which is more than two full seasons! Their best shot to go deep in the playoffs together was in 2007, when they lost Game 7 on their home floor to the Jazz.

The 2007-08 team, fueled by a remarkable 22-game winning streak, was the best of the bunch. Twelve of those wins came before Yao suffered yet another stress fracture in his foot, which kept him out for the rest of the season. Houston won 10 more in a row with aging Dikembe Mutombo in Yao’s place, but were running on fumes. In the end, McGrady alone didn’t have enough to avenge the team’s 2007 playoff defeat to the Jazz.

7. 1985-86 Houston Rockets

ERA: Twin Towers

RECORD: 51-31

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +2.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in NBA Finals to Boston Celtics (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): (H)akeem Olajuwon

COACH: Bill Fitch

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Ralph Sampson, Rodney McCray, John Lucas, Lewis Lloyd, Robert Reid, Jim Petersen, Allen Leavell, Mitchell Wiggins

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

But for a fleeting moment in the 1986 playoffs, the Twin Towers Rockets were more a theoretical dream than a coherent basketball team. Whoever picked “The Greatest Team That Never Was” for Grantland’s giant oral history of the 80s Rockets deserves a raise, because that was always their destiny.

Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon were never going to be a seamless on-court fit. The laid-back Sampson and drill sergeant coach Bill Fitch were never going to see eye to eye. Fitch’s hope that point guard John Lucas would stay sober was never going to pay off. Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins were always threats to be the ones that’d get the book thrown at them to crack down on its players’ drug use. Sampson was never going to be the same physically after his scary fall late in the 1987 season.

youtube

But it’s fun to dream, isn’t it?

6. 2003-04 Indiana Pacers

ERA: Pre-Malice at the Palace

RECORD: 61-21

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +5.8

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to Detroit Pistons (4-2)

KEY STAR(S): Jermaine O’Neal

COACH: Rick Carlisle

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Ron Artest, Reggie Miller, Al Harrington, Jamaal Tinsley, Jeff Foster, Anthony Johnson, Austin Croshere, Fred Jones

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: None

5. 2010-11 Chicago Bulls

ERA: Rose and Thibs

RECORD: 62-20

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.3

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in East Finals to Miami Heat (4-1)

KEY STAR(S): Derrick Rose

COACH: Tom Thibodeau

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Keith Bogans, C.J. Watson, Omer Asik, Kurt Thomas

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2011-12

Had I known Derrick Rose’s career would be forever altered by one knee injury, I’d have spent much more time appreciating his 2011 MVP season instead of grumbling that the award should’ve gone to Dwight Howard or LeBron James. Rose might have been a tad overrated statistically, but he was an incredible thrill to watch and an inspiring foil to the hated Heatles. Looking back on it, I should have appreciated how Rose’s production and the Bulls’ combination of defense and depth complemented each other, rather than use those forces to argue against Rose’s MVP case. Live and learn.

youtube

These Bulls fell short because a pissed-off James put Rose in a straight-jacket in crunch time of Miami’s five-game East Finals victory. With nobody else there to help him score, Rose was powerless to stop the Heat.

4. 2004-05 Phoenix Suns

ERA: 7 Seconds Or Less

RECORD: 62-20

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.1

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in West Finals to San Antonio Spurs (4-1)

KEY STAR(S): Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire

COACH: Brian Hill

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson (injured in WCF), Quentin Richardson, Jim Jackson, Leandro Barbosa

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2005-06, 2006-07, 2009-10

Picking the best Suns team of the Steve Nash era was difficult. The 2010 team was a delightful surprise, the 2006 team inspired one of the best basketball books of the millennium, and the 2007 team got hosed most obviously. But the original 2004-05 version is still — Hot take alert! — the most thrilling and revolutionary basketball experience the league has seen since … ever? Let’s go with ever.

It’s easy to forget how many skeptics the Suns had while zipping through the league that season. They ran, ran, and ran some more instead of positioning themselves into set plays the coach diagrams. (I loved this Mike D’Antoni quote from a 2005 SI story: “I don’t know how you script against something when the offensive team isn’t even sure what it’s doing.”) They took threes in transition when nobody else did. They played “small” by moving Shawn Marion to power forward and Amar’e Stoudemire to center. They built their entire team around the spread pick-and-roll. They were the first to do so many things we take for granted today. But despite winning more games than anyone in the league, they were never seen as favorites and were often derided for promoting a style that wouldn’t hold up in the playoffs.

Those skeptics got the last laugh, but with mitigating circumstances. Everything changed when Joe Johnson fell face first on the floor after Jerry Stackhouse fouled him on a fast break in Game 2 of the Suns’ second-round series with Dallas.

youtube

Johnson missed the rest of the series and the beginning of the conference finals against the Spurs with a fractured orbital, only returning as a shell of himself after San Antonio took a 2-0 lead in the series. By then, it was far too late.

Why was this a bigger what-if than the controversial suspensions that doomed the Suns’ 2008 season? Well, Suns players say so:

”We should’ve won it all that year,” Marion said. “If it wasn’t for that (Johnson’s injury), I think we would have.”

The controversial suspensions to Stoudemire and Boris Diaw during the 2007 conference semifinals are the most cited bad breaks of that Suns era, but the Suns think Johnson’s bad break was worse, especially to lose his defensive option on Tony Parker.

”There’s no way you can tell me we wouldn’t have been NBA champions if I hadn’t got hurt,” Johnson said.

And I believe them. Before Johnson became known as ISO-Joe in Atlanta, he was the glue that held the Suns’ fragile ecosystem together. He shot 48 percent from three that season on four-and-a-half attempts per game. His non-stop running kept Phoenix’s transition attack going. He defended the toughest guards that Nash couldn’t. If the Suns’ main attack broke down, he provided the supplementary playmaking. We all love Boris Diaw’s game, but he was never as important as Johnson was to the Suns.

About that. Annoyed by Johnson’s salary demands, the Suns dealt him to Atlanta that summer and got Diaw back in the sign-and-trade. It wasn’t quite the James Harden trade, but it had a similar effect. Phoenix stayed in the mix for the rest of the decade, but in hindsight, the summer departure of Johnson, combined with Stoudemire’s microfracture surgery, doomed their title hopes forever.

3. 1994-95 Orlando Magic

ERA: Penny and Shaq

RECORD: 57-25

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.1

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in NBA Finals to Houston Rockets (4-0)

KEY STAR(S): Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway

COACH: Brian Hill

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Horace Grant, Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Donald Royal, Brian Shaw, Anthony Bowie

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 1995-96

You already know about Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, the 1995 win over the Bulls, the four missed Nick Anderson free throws, and the unceremonious end to the Shaq era the next summer. If not, watch the 30 for 30.

youtube

So let’s talk about the move that turned the young Magic into serious title contenders: the 1994 free-agent signing of Horace Grant. Cue Michael Buffer, because … let’s get ready to lawsuuuuiiiiitttttt!

In the summer of 1994, Grant, the critical third piece of the first Chicago Bulls three-peat, was a free agent. Tired of doing the dirty work without receiving enough credit, Grant wanted to leave and yearned to join up with Hardaway and O’Neal in Orlando. There was just one problem: Orlando didn’t have any salary-cap space to sign him. Kinda an issue.

But Grant and the Magic designed a clever, mutually beneficial way around this dilemma. First, Orlando traded point guard Scott Skiles and a first-round pick to Washington to open up Skiles’ $2.1 million salary slot. Then, they signed Grant to a six-year, $22 million deal that included a first-year salary of just over $2 million (fancy that!) and an opt-out provision after the first year. Left unspoken: Orlando would invite Grant to exercise that option and give him a much bigger contract thereafter. Convenient and successful. Everyone got what they wanted and nobody got hurt.

Unfortunately for the Magic, salary-cap circumvention was a growing concern for the NBA. The league tried to prevent the Blazers from doing a similar move with Chris Dudley the previous summer, but lost in court. Buoyed by the ruling, other contenders, most notably the Phoenix Suns, inked quality veterans for below-market contracts that were either for one year or contained opt-out clauses like Grant’s. (This is how Phoenix got perennial all-star Danny Manning to sign a one-year, $1 million deal.) Using evidence of a reported five-year, $20 million offer from the Bulls as proof that Grant signed below his market value in Orlando, the NBA voided Grant’s deal, along with two other giant new contracts for Toni Kukoc and A.C. Green signed one summer after agreeing to miniscule short-term deals from the Bulls and Suns the previous summer.

The Magic sued the league, and the case went before the same judge that ruled in the Blazers’ favor for Dudley. This time, the judge sided in favor of the NBA, making Grant a free agent again just weeks before training camp. (He did not do the same for Kukoc and Green because it would violate the precedent set in the Dudley case. Oddly, the Manning deal was allowed to slip through, as was a similar Magic one-year deal to bring veteran point guard Brian Shaw in to spell Hardaway.) The league said they’d allow Grant to sign with Orlando if the opt-out clause was after the second year instead. Two weeks later, the Magic and Grant agreed. That’s how close Orlando’s “missing piece” signing came to falling apart.

The epilogue to this story shouldn’t surprise you. Though O’Neal left Orlando after the 1996 season, the Magic still gave the 31-year-old Grant a new five-year, $50 million deal, even though he was coming off a devastating elbow injury. After all of that, they still successfully circumvented the salary cap. Glad the lawyers got paid, though. (Shaw, by the way, got a one-year, $9 million deal after the 1995 season, while Manning inked a six-year, $40 million deal with Phoenix despite tearing his ACL. These teams were not subtle!)

2. 2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder

ERA: Pre-Harden trade

RECORD: 47-19 (58-win pace)

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +6.2

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in NBA Finals to Miami Heat (4-1)

KEY STAR(S): Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden

COACH: Scott Brooks

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Derek Fisher, Eric Maynor, Daequan Cook, Reggie Jackson

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2010-11

We’re still waiting for the tell-all book or documentary that explains once and for all why the Thunder traded James Harden to the Rockets. We have many theories and circumstantial explanations, but no absolute truth. All I know is that these words from Andrew Sharp, published on our website on Oct. 28, 2012, were prophetic.

“So if you want to say the Thunder chose long-term flexibility over a short term shot at a title, that’s fine. Just don’t overlook the second part of that sentence. If basketball is a business, there’s a good chance this was a bad business decision. Because what happens if KD and co. aren’t good enough to win it all in the next few years? Doesn’t OKC end up spending to compete with the best, and eventually paying the luxury tax because of somebody else? And it may not work. There are no guarantees at finding a core that clicks on the court the way last year’s did.”

Every word of that paragraph came true, including the prediction that OKC would end up going over the luxury tax for a worse player than Harden. What might have been, indeed.

1. 2001-02 Sacramento Kings

ERA: The beautiful game Kings

RECORD: 61-21

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: +7.6

PLAYOFF RESULT: “Lost” in West Finals to Los Angeles Lakers (4-3)

KEY STAR(S): Chris Webber

COACH: Rick Adelman

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Bobby Jackson, Hedo Turkoglu, Scott Pollard

OTHER SEASONS CONSIDERED FROM THIS ERA: 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04

Just watch this video.

0 notes

sweethoops · 7 years ago

Quote

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J El NBA 2K sigue desvelando sus novedades de cara a su edición para la temporada 2017-2018. Y trae muchas sorpresas (aunque quizá la mayor se la hayan llevado ellos después de que el traspaso de Irving haya desbaratado su portada). Una de las principales novedades es que el NBA 2K18 incluirá los llamados All-Time Teams: los equipos históricos de las 30 franquicias NBA formados por sus mejores jugadores de todas las épocas. En ellos podrás encontrar por ejemplo en los Lakers a Shaquille O’Neal jugando con Magic y Kareem además de Kobe, o a Giannis Antetokoumpo compartiendo cancha con Oscar Roberson en los Bucks. Como curiosidad podemos ver a Shaq en tres equipos distintos o a los hermanos Gasol juntos en los Grizzlies. Pero estos All-Time Teams, como toda selección de mejores jugadores no ha estado exenta de polémica. Y no solo por las ausencias, sino también por algunos matices. Por ejemplo, podemos ver a Embiid, que se ha colado en el equipo histórico de los Sixers a pesar de haber jugado apenas 50 partidos, o a los Oklahoma City Thunder, cuyo roster se compone en buena parte de los extintos Supersonics, equipo del que heredó la franquicia, y por lo tanto, aunque moleste a algunos, no es técnicamente un error o una metedura de pata. ¿Echas alguien en falta en tu equipo favorito? Cuéntanoslo Atlanta Hawks Titulares: Lou Hudson (91), Joe Johnson (89), Bob Pettit (95), Dominique Wilkins (94), Dikembe Mutombo (92) Reservas: Kevin Willis (87), Steve Smith (87), Pete Maravich (87), Paul Millsap (87), Doc Rivers (85), Al Horford (85), Jeff Teague (85), Kyle Korver (84), Stacey Augmon (81), Spud Webb (80) Boston Celtics Bob Cousy (95), John Havlicek (96), Paul Pierce (94), Larry Bird (98), Bill Russell (98) Kevin McHale (95), Dave Cowens (94), Robert Parish (93), Sam Jones (92), Kevin Garnett (91), Isaiah Thomas (89), Rajon Rondo (89), Ray Allen (88), Tom Heinsohn (88), Antoine Walker (87) Brooklyn Nets Jason Kidd (95), Drazen Petrovic (90), Julius Erving (97), Buck Williams (88), Brook Lopez (87) Vince Carter (89), Richard Jefferson (87), Derrick Coleman (87), Joe Johnson (87), Deron Williams (87), Kenyon Martin (86), Devin Harris (86), Kenny Anderson (86), Kendall Gill (86), Keith Van Horn (86) Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker (86), Eddie Jones (88), Glen Rice (89), Larry Johnson (88), Alonzo Mourning (88) Muggsy Bogues (85), Raymond Felton (81), Baron Davis (85), Stephen Jackson (83), Dell Curry (85), Kendall Gill (85), P.J. Brown (83), Kenny Gattison (80), Al Jefferson (86), Derrick Coleman (84) Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose (94), Michael Jordan (99), Scottie Pippen (96), Dennis Rodman (93), Artis Gilmore (93) Jimmy Butler (90), Jerry Sloan (89), Bob Love (88), Joakim Noah (87), Luol Deng (86), B.J. Armstrong (85), Toni Kukoc (85), Horace Grant (85), Charles Oakley (84), Steve Kerr (81) Cleveland Cavaliers Mark Price (91), Kyrie Irving (91), LeBron James (99), Brad Daugherty (89), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (88) Kevin Love (87), Larry Nance (87), Ron Harper (86), Terrell Brandon (86), World B. Free (86), Campy Russell (86), Austin Carr (86), Tyrone Hill (85), Anderson Varejao (83), Craig Ehlo (82) Dallas Mavericks Derek Harper (87), Rolando Blackman (88), Mark Aguirre (88), Dirk Nowitzki (97), Shawn Bradley (82) Jim Jackson (88), Jason Terry (88), Michael Finley (88), Jamal Mashburn (88), Steve Nash (86), Jason Kidd (86), Tyson Chandler (82), Sam Perkins (81), J.J. Barea (80), Brendan Haywood (80) Denver Nuggets Fat Lever (90), David Thompson (95), Alex English (93), Carmelo Anthony (94), Dan Issel (92) Allen Iverson (90), Dikembe Mutombo (89), Kiki Vandeweghe (89), Antonio McDyess (88), Nick Van Exel (86), Chauncey Billups (86), Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (86), Laphonso Ellis (84), Nene (82), Danilo Gallinari (81) Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas (96), Joe Dumars (93), Grant Hill (93), Ben Wallace (89), Bob Lanier (93) Chauncey Billups (91), Jerry Stackhouse (89), Richard Hamilton (89), Dave Debusschere (89), Dave Bing (89), Dennis Rodman (89), Bill Laimbeer (87), Andre Drummond (85), Vinnie Johnson (83), Rick Mahorn (80) Golden State Warriors Steph Curry (96), Klay Thompson (90), Chris Mullin (94), Rick Barry (95), Wilt Chamberlain (98) Kevin Durant (96), Nate Thurmond (92), Tim Hardaway (90), Baron Davis (89), Draymond Green (89), Sleepy Floyd (88), Mitch Richmond (87), Jason Richardson (87), Latrell Sprewell (86), Monta Ellis (86) Houston Rockets James Harden (94), Tracy McGrady (91), Clyde Drexler (91), Hakeem Olajuwon (98), Yao Ming (92) Calvin Murphy (90), Ralph Sampson (89), Steve Francis (88), Elvin Hayes (88), Kenny Smith (86), Otis Thorpe (85), Cuttino Mobley (83), Vernon Maxwell (83), Patrick Beverley (81), Robert Horry (81) Indiana Pacers Mark Jackson (85), Ron Artest (88), Paul George (91), Jermaine O’Neal (90), Rik Smits (87) George McGinnis (89), Chuck Person (87), Jalen Rose (86), Roy Hibbert (86), Herb Williams (85), Antonio Davis (84), Detlef Schrempf (84), David West (84), Lance Stephenson (83), George Hill (82) Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul (92), Corey Maggette (86), Bob McAdoo (94), Blake Griffin (90), DeAndre Jordan (87) World B. Free (88), Ron Harper (87), Danny Manning (86), Bill Walton (84), Eric Gordon (84), J.J. Redick (83), Eric Bledsoe (82), Quentin Richardson (82), Jamal Crawford (82), Darius Miles (80) Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson (99), Jerry West (97), Kobe Bryant (98), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (96), Shaquille O’Neal (98) Elgin Baylor (96), James Worthy (95), George Mikan (94), Wilt Chamberlain (91), Pau Gasol (90), Gail Goodrich (90), Jamaal Wilkes (87), Byron Scott (87), Michael Cooper (86), Derek Fisher (84) Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley (87), Tony Allen (85), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (86), Pau Gasol (92), Marc Gasol (93) Zach Randolph (88), Shane Battier (85), Mike Bibby (85), Jason Williams (84), Mike Miller (83), Rudy Gay (83), Byron Scott (80), Greg Anthony (80), Bonzi Wells (80), James Posey (80) Miami Heat Tim Hardaway (88), Dwyane Wade (97), LeBron James (99), Chris Bosh (88), Alonzo Mourning (94) Shaquille O’Neal (89), Glen Rice (87), Rony Seikaly (86), Hassan Whiteside (86), Eddie Jones (85), P.J. Brown (85), Steve Smith (84), Udonis Haslem (83), Brian Grant (83), Dan Majerle (82) Milwaukee Bucks Oscar Robertson (94), Sidney Moncrief (93), Ray Allen (90), Bob Dandridge (88), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (99) Giannis Antetokoumpo (90), Michael Redd (88), Vin Baker (87), Terry Cummings (87), Paul Pressey (85), Jon McGlocklin (85), Bob Lanier (84), Ricky Pierce (84), Brandon Jennings (83), Andrew Bogut (83) Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Cassell (87), Andrew Wiggins (86), Wally Szczerbiak (85), Kevin Love (91), Kevin Garnett (97) Karl-Anthony Towns (91), Al Jefferson (88), Stephon Marbury (87), Terrell Brandon (86), Isaiah Rider (85), Ricky Rubio (84), Christian Laettner (83), Latrell Spreewell (83), Zach LaVine (82), Trenton Hassell (80) New Orleans Pelicans Chris Paul (96), Baron Davis (90), Jamal Mashburn (89), David West (88), Anthony Davis (92) DeMarcus Cousins (88), David Wesley (84), Tyson Chandler (83), Peja Stojakovic (82), Ryan Anderson (82), Eric Gordon (81), Jrue Holiday (81), Tyreke Evans (81), Trevor Ariza (80), J.R. Smith (80) New York Knicks Walt Frazier (95), Allan Houston (89), Carmelo Anthony (91), Willis Reed (94), Patrick Ewing (95) Dave Debusschere (91), Bernard King (89), Michael Ray Richardson (88), John Starks (88), Amar’e Stoudemire (88), Dick Barnett (87), Earl Monroe (87), Mark Jackson (87), Charles Oakley (86), Kristaps Porzingis (86) Oklahoma City Thunder Gary Payton (94), Russell Westbrook (94), Ray Allen (95), Kevin Duratn (97), Shawn Kemp (89) Spencer Haywood (89), Dennis Johnson (89), Jack Sikma (89), Dale Ellis (88), James Harden (87), Xavier McDaniel (87), Lenny Wilkens (87), tom Chambers (87), Detlef Schrempf (87), Serge Ibaka (86) Orlando Magic Penny Hardaway (93), Tracy McGrady (95), Grant Hill (86), Dwight Howard (93), Shaquille O’Neal (93) Nick Anderson (85), Jameer Nelson (85), Horace Grant (84), Dennis Scott (84), Steve Francis (83), Darrell Armstrong (82), Nikola Vucevic (82), Brian Shaw (81), Bo Outlaw (80), Aaron Gordon (80) Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson (97), Hal Greer (90), Julius Erving (94), Billy Cunningham (91), Wilt Chamberlain (93) Andre Iguodala (87), Hersey Hawkins (87), George McGinnis (87), Doug Collins (87), Joel Embiid (86), Maurice Cheeks (86), Jrue Holiday (84), Darryl Dawkins (83), Henry Bibby (82), Aaron McKie (80) Phoenix Suns Steve Nash (96), Paul Westphal (88), Shawn Marion (90), Tom Chambers (89), Amar’e Stoudemire (91) Dennis Johnson (92), Kevin Johnson (90), Jason Kidd (88), Connie Hawkins (88), Larry Nance (88), Dan Majerle (87), Jeff Hornacek (86), Goran Dragic (86), Leandro Barbosa (84), Cedric Ceballos (84) Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (89), Clyde Drexler (96), Jerome Kersey (87), LaMarcus Aldridge (89), Bill Walton (95) Arvydas Sabonis (88), Terry Porter (87), Kiki Vandeweghe (86), C.J. McCollum (86), Zach Randolph (85), Kevin Duckworth (85), Rod Strickland (85), Isaiah Rider (84), Nicolas Batum (83), Wesley Matthews (83) Sacramento Kings Oscar Robertson (97), Mitch Richmond (94), Peja Stojakovic (88), Chris Webber (93), Jerry Lucas (94) Nate Archibald (93), DeMarcus Cousins (90), Mike Bibby (88), Vlade Divac (88), Reggie Theus (85), Jason Williams (84), Antoine Carr (84), Rudy Gay (83), Tyreke Evans (83), Doug Christie (83) San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker (94), George Gervin (96), Kawhi Leonard (94), Tim Duncan (98), David Robinson (96) Manu Ginobili (93), Sean Elliott (87), LaMarcus Aldridge (86), Bruce Bowen (86), Artis Gilmore (85), Dennis Rodman (84), Avery Johnson (83), Danny Green (83), Vinny Del Negro (81), Robert Horry (80) Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry (88), DeMar DeRozan (89), Vince Carter (95), Chris Bosh (92), Antonio Davis (85) Damon Stoudamire (86), Tracy McGrady (84), Morris Peterson (84), Jose Calderon (84), Doug Christie (84), Jonas Valanciunas (81), Louis Williams (81), Amir Johnson (80), Terrence Ross (80), Alvin Williams (80) Utah Jazz John Stockton (97), Pete Maravich (95), Adrian Dantley (92), Karl Malone (97), Mark Eaton (89) Deron Williams (89), Andrei Kirilenko (88), Rudy Gobert (88), Gordon Hayward (88), Darrell Griffith (87), Al Jefferson (84), Jeff Hornacek (84), Paul Millsap (83), Derrick Favors (83), Greg Ostertag (80) Washington Wizards John Wall (90), Earl Monroe (87), Bernard King (86), Elvin Hayes (95), Wes Unseld (94) Bradley Beal (87), Chris Webber (87), Larry Hughes (86), Rod Strickland (86), Rex Chapman (85), Richard Hamilton (84), Gheorghe Muresan (84), Manute Bol (82), Marcin Gortat (82), Otto Porter (81)

http://www.sweethoops.com/equipos-historicos-franquicia-nba-2k/

#Sweet Hoops NBA NBAesp NBA @nba

0 notes

junker-town · 6 years ago

Text

The Big 3 is building something bigger than old guys playing basketball

Inside the Big 3’s attempt to create a new league from the ground up.

CHICAGO — It only took 10 minutes for someone to start talking shit about Michael Jordan. This is what happens when you put Stephen Jackson, Metta World Peace, and Charles Oakley all on the same podium, a fever dream only made possible by Ice Cube’s Big 3 league.

“Mike would get cooked.” Jackson is talking and he’s starting to get a little worked up. “Right now? Not 10-15 years ago. But right now? Mike would come out here and get cooked.”

Meanwhile, Oakley is going all the way in on the ways the modern NBA has let him down. He’s using “analytics” as a pejorative and citing the Rockets’ 7-for-44 mark from three-point range in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals as an example of how math has tainted the game he loves. He wishes he was coaching in the big leagues, not the Big 3.

“Guys who go out after reading two books with their little glasses and tight pants.” This is how Charles Oakley describes the the coaches and front office types who get so much of the publicity in today’s NBA. “That’s basketball. They never played the game, but they know everything. It’s killing the game.”

This line of thinking is often maddening coming from the game’s old guard, but it’s almost endearing to hear it out of Oakley in a setting like the Big 3. There are no analytics nerds here. There is only jacked Mike Bibby.

This is the distinct vibe of the Big 3 as it enters its second season. It’s a place where yesterday’s NBA cult heroes are earnestly trying to build something new and authentic from the ground up. It doesn’t have Kobe Bryant or Shaq or Kevin Garnett, but the Big 3 is getting more players you know and love and growing its audience.

A year ago, Big 3 made its debut stop in Chicago at UIC Pavilion. This year, it’s at the United Center, playing in front of a mostly full crowd. World Peace is a new addition for season two, as is Amar’e Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, Carlos Boozer, and Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen, among others.

Will the league continue to pull in bigger names? Will a mass audience embrace three-on-three? For now, the Big 3 has more questions than answers, but that’s to be expected. Much like the idea of 40-year-olds lacing up their old sneakers, part of the fun of the Big 3 is just watching them try.

BIG3/Getty Images

The United Center crowd roared when former Bulls guard Nate Robinson was announced for Tri-State. Amar’e Stoudemire and Jermaine O’Neal were next, and they got big cheers, too.

Then came David Hawkins. Who?

It’s possible the best player in the Big 3 is someone you’ve never heard of. Hawkins was the driving force behind Tri-State’s win over Ball Hogs (featuring Josh Childress, Deshawn Stevenson, and Brian Scalabrine), pouring in 20 of the team’s 50 points on a combination of slashes to the basket and long-range shooting. Through three weeks this season, he’s one of the league’s leaders in scoring, rebounds, and assists. He is also tied for the lead in made four-point shots (a Big 3 innovation) at two.

“I really don’t care if anyone knows my name,” Hawkins says after the game. “At the end of the game, you’re gonna know. The unknown dude, he was hooping.”

Hawkins was a a four-year starter at Temple who went undrafted in 2004 despite finishing fourth in the country in scoring — 24.4 points per game — as a senior. He latched on with the Rockets in training camp on a team led by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but was cut before he ever appeared in an NBA game.

Hawkins went overseas, where he had a long and successful career playing in Italy, Turkey, and Rome. He was the Italian Cup MVP in 2006, and won championships in numerous leagues. He was also making good money, taking home $1.6 million in his best year. Because of that, he never made an honest attempt to get back in the NBA.

“For me to come back, try to get a minimum deal not to play, it would have been a pay cut,” Hawkins says.

Hawkins was interested in the Big 3 last season, but he couldn’t make the league’s draft combine, so he played only sparingly in three games as a reserve. He told his team in Rome this year that no matter what happened, he had to go back to LA for the combine.

He played well enough to be a first round pick, No. 5 overall, selected by Tri-State coach and NBA legend Julius Erving. Now he has a shot at being the Big 3’s MVP.

“For me, this has been a fairytale that’s continuing and I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” Hawkins said during his postgame press conference. “For me to be here is just a blessing. I go out there with a chip on my shoulder because I’m literally not supposed to be here. I want everyone to know that it’s not a fluke. I belong here.”

After Hawkins finished talking about all the places basketball has taken him, he realized he forgot something on the podium. That would be his paycheck. Big 3 players make $10,000 per game, in addition to a share of more than half of all league revenue, and they get paid after each game. Over the course of an eight-week season before the playoffs, it’s a nice chunk of money.

The Big 3 is selling nostalgia, but some of its best stories come from the guys who grinded just to get here. Hawkins is a shining example of that.

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

How seriously do the players take this league? Just ask Corey Maggette.

Maggette tore his Achilles on the Big 3’s opening night last season. That might be the worst injury a basketball player can have, especially for someone like Maggette, who retired from the NBA at 33 as injuries began to pile up. Now 38, Maggette easily could have hung up his sneakers forever after such a devastating bit of hard luck.

Instead, he busted his ass in rehab to be ready for the opening night of season two. Now he’s leading the league in scoring through three weeks.

Everything about the Big 3 is kind of surreal. Baron Davis is balling out. You can watch Big Baby and Birdman on the same team. There are coaching matchups between Nancy Lieberman and Gary Payton. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who turns 50 in March, scored 14 straight points to close out a win for his team this past weekend in Oakland.

The players in the Big 3 know the league will only go as far as they can take it. They eventually want it to be a worldwide brand and play in China. Jackson says he’s already hearing from current NBA players who are interested in joining the league when they retire.

“We build this league as we play,” Jackson says. “We have to come and compete every night. We have to be professional. We have to do all the right things to continue to have guys come in this league.”

The Big 3 wants to be the thing basketball fans turn to when the Finals are over. It wants to be sustainable. It wants to make “old guys playing basketball” into a viable business model.

If the Big 3 is going to prosper, it will be because the players make it something people want to watch. They might be getting there.

0 notes