Chants of “Boston Sucks!” rained all over Staples Center on Christmas Day. The L.A. crowd were feeling good after the Lakers defeated the Celtics, 92-83, to end Boston’s 19-game winning streak and gain an upperhand in the season series. The Celtics, who had won 19 in a row heading into the highly anticipated showdown, might … [Read more…]
Kobe Bryant is not the Lakers’ most valuable player this season. What? Yup, sounds utterly ridiculous but it’s true. Bryant may be the best player in the galaxy, but the title of Lakers MVP belongs to Pau Gasol. As good as Kobe Bryant is (and he’s very, very good), the game is still played inside-out. … [Read more…]
Not even Daylight Savings Time can save the Phoenix Suns. The clock has expired on Steve Nash and his Suns are no longer viable contenders for an NBA championship this season, or any other season. Their window of opportunity is complete shut and not even the herculian hands of Shaquille O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire can … [Read more…]
Before we crown the Los Angeles Lakers world champs for the 2008-09 season, let’s taper down the myopia and examine this team closely. Sure, the Lakers are rolling but their three losses are head-scratchers. The one-point loss to Indiana on Dec. 2 and the blowout loss at Sacramento on Dec. 9 were due to a … [Read more…]
Baron Davis loves nicknames. He’s been known as: B-Diddy….BD….The Beard….Baron of the Hardwood….and, a personal fave, Boom Dizzle. His given name was simply not sufficient enough to pacify the former UCLA and Santa Monica Crossroads stud. Or, maybe he wears too many hats off the court. When he’s not dealing on the basketball court, Davis … [Read more…]
The Detroit Pistons traded away Chauncey Billups because GM Joe Dumars wants to clear cap space and thinks very highly of second-year guard Rodney Stuckey. The 6-foot-5 guard from Eastern Washington showed flashes of stardom in last year’s playoffs, averaging 9 points and 3 assists, and parlayed that into a successful stint with the U.S. … [Read more…]
One is a gifted scorer while the other is a major presence on defense. One is a 21-year-old who is starting his third NBA season while the other is a 20-year-old No. 1 pick who has yet to play an official NBA game. One is coming back from a broken kneecap while the other is … [Read more…]
Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon were always considered two of the best centers in the game and their induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 officially cemented their place in history. But where does Ewing and Olajuwon rank among the greats? Who is the best center of all time? Wilt? Russell? Shaq? With … [Read more…]
The Armani suits. The slicked-back hair. The clenched fist. Everything about the man exudes class and confidence. But Patrick James Riley is much more than just a confident, well-dressed basketball coach. He is the quintessential leader of men and master motivator. He is a champion. Six times to be exact. Once as a player with … [Read more…]