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Allen Iverson’s Final Curtain Call?

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:04:22 +0000

With the year he’s been having, I’d definitely say so.

The 2010 NBA basketball season hasn’t been kind to Allen Iverson, once one of the league’s brightest stars. Heck, this season has been that tough for him that he already retired this season only to come back after his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, gave him a second lease in life.

Now, everything is being taken away from Allen Iverson again, as he was forced to put what’s left of his basketball career on hold to attend to his four-year-old daughter Messiah, who is reportedly suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Wow. You really can’t help but feel sorry for Iverson. For a guy who once led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals and won numerous scoring titles with, including league MVP honors, going out this way is definitely a tough pill to swallow.

Just look at what A.I. has been through this year. First he signs a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies looking to redeem himself after such a disastrous outing with Detroit last season. After only three games in Memphis, Iverson wanted out after he figured that he wasn’t on the same page with the team’s direction.

That led to Iverson announcing his retirement last November 25.

Then, his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, gave him a second lease in life. And after a very emotional press conference, Iverson was back playing again for the very team that drafted him to the NBA.

Well, that lasted for 25 games. On February 22, Iverson took an indefinite leave to attend to his four-year-old daughter who was suffering from an undisclosed sickness. That forced the 76ers to announce that Iverson won’t be returning to the team for the remainder of the 2010 season.

”After discussing the situation with Allen...''

Cavaliers need big man with Shaq out

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:04:20 +0000

That’s a huge seven-foot problem if you’re a Cavs fan hoping to see your team in the NBA Finals and win one game for a change.

And in case you didn’t get that, Shaquille O’Neal will likely miss the remainder of the 2010 NBA basketball season following surgery on his right thumb after Glen Davis hacked on it in a game between the Cavaliers and the Celtics.

With Shaquille O’Neal out of commission, the Cleveland Cavaliers lose that presence inside. Of course, they can hope Antawn Jamison and blossoming forward J.J. Hickson can fill the void.

But let’s face it, nobody can attract that much attention inside the paint the way Shaq does and with him out, it’ll be awfully hard for LeBron James to find those easy baskets around the perimeter.

The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers were in the playoffs, they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Orlando Magic. The Cavs signed Shaq before the season in preparation for a possible rematch with Orlando in the postseason.

Now, they’re in trouble of getting booted out of the playoffs by the Orlando Magic again, provided Shaq doesn’t make it back in time.

Hell, they’d be lucky to even make it that deep into the playoffs without O’Neal anyway.

Cavs general manager Danny Ferry, on the other hand, can only hope his team would be able to persevere. ”Our guys have done a very good job of stepping up this season. We are confident they will do the same in this situation,” Ferry said.

”We are fortunate to have some depth in our...''

LeBron James officially switches to no.6

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:02:33 +0000

LeBron James finally got what he wanted.

Once were done with the 2010 NBA basketball season, LeBron James will be wearing no.6 for his next campaign. That’s right, he finally made the bold decision of switching his jersey number from number 23 to number 6 official.

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar just beat the deadline and is dead serious in honoring Michael Jordan. ”I’ve done it,” LeBron James said in an interview. ”I already sent it in. I’m going to be No. 6.” James first floated the idea in November, saying he wanted to switch from 23 out of respect for Jordan.

”I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon,” LeBron James said. ”There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first.”

”He can’t get the logo, and if he can’t, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I’m starting a petition, and I’ve got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I’m not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it.” he said.

James would wear 6, the number he wore while leading the U.S. to Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008. He has worn it in Cavs practices over the past two years. But it has other special qualities to him.

”My second-favorite player was Julius Erving, and he wore No. 6,” James said. ”I wore 32 in high school because Dr. J wore it at first. My first child was born on Oct. 6, it’s my Olympic number, my second child was born in June.”

The last big-name player to change numbers without changing teams was Kobe Bryant, who switched from 8 to 24 in 2006. Kobe’s new jersey quickly became the league’s top seller. I don’t see any reason why James’ new no.6 wouldn’t do the same.

Now, the question is, will he wear his...

Knicks trying to pair LeBron w/ T-Mac?

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:04:03 +0000

If they do, then you can bet your ass the Knicks will be the team to beat next season.

After getting the services of multi – time All – Star Tracy McGrady this 2010 NBA basketball season from a three team trade with the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings, the New York Knicks were able to clear enough salary-cap space for the Knicks to possibly sign two maximum-salary free agents this summer.

That’s right, the New York Knicks could recruit LeBron James by giving him the option of choosing which other free agent he wants from the likes of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki.

However, getting LeBron James out of Cleveland won’t be easy since the Cavs, who own the league’s best record, bolstered their lineup with the addition of former Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. If Cleveland advances to its second NBA Finals stint in four years with LeBron, the odds of him leaving his home state figure to be diminished.

Sorry Knicks fans.

The New York Knicks aren’t the only team to clear cap space. The Chicago Bulls, a team featuring point guard Derrick Rose and a better core group of players than the Knicks, also have the cap space to sign James. The Los Angeles Clippers also created room, while Miami also has space and the chance to have James to pair with Wade as a teammate.

As far as the Knicks and their marriage with Tracy McGrady is concerned, T-Mac was eager to restart his career in New York but unfortunately for him, his time here will likely be brief. The Knicks realistically don’t have much of a chance in reaching the playoffs and you never really know what you’ll get from McGrady at this point of his...

What can T-Mac do to help the Knicks?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:59:15 +0000

Great. That’s just what the Knicks needed, another overpaid shooting guard.

After trading Nate Robinson to Boston, you can’t help but wonder, are these guys throwing the 2010 NBA basketball season away already? And what’s even funnier is the fact that the Knicks actually think bringing in a Tracy McGrady who is now merely a shell of his former self, the right move to make.

But when you come to think of it, this is probably a good business decision by New York Knicks gerenal manager Donnie Walsh. We all know the Knicks won’t be competing for the NBA championship this season anyway so the least they can do now is just put more asses inside Madison Square Garden and just like Iverson in Philadelphia, McGrady can be that guy in New York City.

Having a guy like Tracy McGrady can bolster interest to this ailing Knicks franchise. Of course, if they want to have McGrady for the next couple of years, they would have to give up key players within their team like Al Harrington and Eddy Curry at some point just to stay below the cap.

And since the Knicks are trying to clear up some cap space anyway for the highly anticipated 2010 free agency, those guys are as good as gone along with their hefty paychecks.

The first move New York Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh was looking into before the deadline was a three-team deal that involves both the Houston Rockets (obviously) and the Washington Wizards, another team that’s probably giving up already on this year’s title chase and would just want to clear up some cap space for the summer.

In the end, it was Sacramento that made T-Mac’s move to NYC possible, sending Kevin Martin to Houston to let the Rockets give up on T-Mac. Houston ended up getting the best deal of the three, despite the fact that they have finally given up on the guy who was once the team’s leading scorer.

As far as T-Mac is concerned...

James and Stoudemire in Cleveland?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:46:05 +0000

That could make the Cavs heavy favorites to win the title. If they are not already.

With the second half of the 2010 NBA basketball season underway, the Cleveland Cavaliers are coming in with the best record in the league at 43-11, riding a league – best 13-game winning streak heading to their date with the Denver Nuggets this Thursday.

With all kinds of momentum going for the Cleveland Cavaliers right now, it seems they are not satisfied just yet. Rumors are claiming that the Cavaliers are going after Amar’e Stoudemire. And if these guys manage to sign a talent like Stoudemire to complement the already formidable tandem of LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, you can just imagine what the Cavs can accomplish from here.

If the Cavs do trade for Amar’e Stoudemire, that would be their fourth major trade in two years. Yep, you read it, their FOURTH ONE.

Why have they been trading a lot the last few years? Well, they want to keep LeBron James in Cleveland and surrounding the hottest commodity in the league right now with all kinds of talent that might give this team its first championship in franchise history has been their top priority ever since they drafted James out of high school.

According to the rumors, the deal is on the table but both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns haven’t finalized anything yet. Although there are reports claiming that the deal is very close to being done, there are reports that say neither side is certain what will happen.

It’s probably because the Cavaliers can’t offer the best talent package the Suns are looking for, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers can. However, what the Cavs can offer is for the Suns to get below the luxury tax, a move that could save the cash – strapped franchise around $10 million.

It would mean salary and tax savings plus...

Wizards, Mavericks blockbuster trade

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:42:20 +0000

This is the first big trade of the season.

With the 2010 NBA basketball season at the midway point, you can expect the action to pick up as teams will now start to position themselves for a prime playoff spot. Of course, teams will begin to make some changes too and with the trading deadline just around the corner, the NBA’s trading machine will be working overtime in the next few days.

But as far as the Dallas Mavericks and the Washington Wizards are concerned, they’re already making some changes. The Mavericks have just traded Josh Howard to the Wizards in exchange for Caron Butler. The impact this trade will have on each team’s season remains to be seen.

The Washington Wizards have also sent big man Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas as part of the package. The Mavericks in return sent Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton as part of the deal with Josh Howard to Washington.

On paper, the Dallas Mavericks clearly had the better end of the deal and the Mavericks organization couldn’t be any happier. ”It makes us significantly better,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said.

The addition of Caron Butler will hopefully fill the spot Shawn Marion left when he was traded to Miami a couple of years ago. Brendan Haywood on the other hand will give the Mavericks that shot-blocking presence again, something the team has been lacking since losing Erick Dampier to injury.

”Caron is an established professional and an All-Star with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor,” said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations. ”Brendan will solidify our center position with athleticism, shot-blocking and defense. DeShawn has also shown that he can be a talented asset to this team.”

As for the Wizards, all they wanted was...

Watch Durant in the All-Star Game

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:04:42 +0000

Because he might just steal the shot this Sunday.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder surprising a lot of people this 2010 NBA basketball season, their main man, that’s Kevin Durant, is being included in the discussion for MVP honors this year. You read it, he’s right up there this year with the LeBrons, Kobes and Dwyane Wades. So how special has this guy been? Can he really take the MVP away from the more established players in the league today?

Listed at 6-foot-9 but closer to 6-11 according to those who try to defend him, Kevin Durant is doing it all for his team this season. He leads his team in scoring, rebounding and minutes (39.9). He has improved defensively while also increasing his scoring average, third best in the NBA, by four points over last season and by nine over his rookie season. His field goal percentage is up to 48.1 percent, better than last season’s 47.6 and well above the 43.0 percent he shot two years ago.

But perhaps the most impressive stat is that the Oklahoma City Thunder is posting a winning record so far. So good in fact that if the playoffs started today, the Thunder could enjoy homecourt advantage in the first round of the postseason.

Opposing players know that it is Durant’s combination of height, frame and extraordinary wingspan that makes him so rare in the game and a nightmare to defend. ”His capability of taking the ball off the dribble is very 2-guard-like, and getting to the rim,” Lamar Odom said. ”And, of course, he can get his shot over anybody. His jump shot, his step-back, it’s something you don’t really see.”

The closest comparison most make of Durant to anyone who has come through the league is silky Spurs great George Gervin and a young Tracy McGrady. Long and lean, Gervin was just 6-7 and a spry 185 pounds during his 12-year career in the 1970s and ’80s. McGrady, the player Durant said he has patterned his game after since an early age, is 6-8.

The Mavs’ head coach Rick Carlisle compared Durant’s game somewhat to that of fellow Baltimore native Reggie Lewis, who, at 6-7, 195 pounds, played on one All-Star team in a six-year career with the Celtics.

”He’s a different kind of cat. He’s taller than...''

Ready for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:30:30 +0000

We know the starters, now it’s time to find out who got snubbed and who should be there in Dallas.

Every year, the NBA’s midseason extravaganza snubs a few players who fans feel should be in the league’s annual celebration of the brightest stars in the NBA. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas is no different.

Let’s start with this one guy who probably got snubbed from the All-Star game this year because of a mug you can’t market ANYWHERE. And in case you didn’t get that, I’m referring to Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman.

This will be the second time the Los Angeles Clippers star got snubbed for the All-Star game. For a guy who looks like a child molester, Kaman is quickly becoming one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. The guy is averaging 20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He is arguably having the best season of any traditional center in the West and that is why the Clippers, despite all their struggles, are still hanging on for a playoff spot.

Another guy who definitely should be in the All-Star game in Dallas is Chauncey Billups. Having the All-Star game this year without Mr. Big Shot is a travesty, to say the least. He is probably the best point guard in the Western Conference at this point of the season. Hell, he should be there starting for the West instead of Steve Nash in my opinion.

But probably because of the injury that forced him to miss eight games this season, Billups failed to get the fans’ and the coaches’ votes.

”I’m sure it played a role,” Billups said, who just recently broke his career high when he led the Denver Nuggets to a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles. ”We have the second-best record in the West. If I didn’t miss the eight games we could be vying for the best record, the first spot. If we had the best record in the league, it could be...''

Robinson returns to Slam Dunk contest

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:35:49 +0000

Because he thought defending slam dunk titles is under NBA rules.

Either that or Nate Robinson is just trying to get everybody’s attention and hype up the All-Star slam dunk contest because the annual event right smack in the middle of the 2010 NBA basketball season has already lost LeBron James

Yup, we won’t be seeing LeBron James after just almost a year ago, he referred to himself in the first, second and third person all at the same time, saying, ”Right now I’m preliminary putting my name in the 2010 contest Saturday night. LeBron James is saying in 2010, in Dallas Stadium, he will compete.”

As far as reigning champion Nate Robinson is concerned, WILL BE because, according to him, ”the champion has to go back.”

Nate Robinson said, ”The NBA, they asked me, ‘Do you want to do it?’ And at first I wasn’t sure. This is my fourth time doing it, so I know people probably get sick of seeing me dunk, but like I said, the champion’s got to go back.”

”And I guess, hopefully, I mean if I don’t win it, it’ll be good because I don’t want to go back no more. But if I do [win], and they want me to go back again, I guess so. Keep going until I lose.”

However, while Robinson believes the NBA is requiring him to defend his title, NBA spokesman Mark Broussard says otherwise. Broussard says the league is NOT requiring Robsinon to participate in the slam dunk contest for the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend. In other words, they want LeBron and they’re sick and tired of Nate.

”He was asked to come back and defend his title, and he agreed to do so. There is not a rule saying he has to,” Broussard said.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement requires players to compete in All-Star Saturday events only if they have been selected as All-Stars, or chosen to compete in the Rookie-Sophomore Game.

Players voted in as All-Stars by the fans...