Raptors beat Pistons 110-99
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
And here we thought the Raptors are really gonna be good this year.
After a smashing start to the 2009 NBA basketball season, the Raptors have returned to their usual selves. Yep, after they came up with a huge win over the jacked up Cavaliers in their season opener, they suffered losses to the Grizzlies and the Magic, bringing them back to Earth, wondering if those two losses were the start of yet another cold season in Canada.
The Toronto Raptors kicked off the season in style with a surprising win over a Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James and the newly acquired Shaquille O’Neal. The Raptors beat that team convincingly, 101-91, making believers out of Canada and probably most of North America.
But losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic diffused any momentum they had from their win over the Cavs. They lost in Memphis 115-107 before losing again at home to the Magic, 125-116.
It’s clear that the Raptors need to improve on their defense. Luckily for them, the visiting Detroit Pistons were struggling after winning their season opener at home, getting back on the win column with a 110-99 win over Detroit. However, if the Raptors don’t do something with the way they play D, even Kwame Brown can have a career night against them in Canada next time.
Chris Bosh was noticeably upset after…
Betting on East this 2009 NBA Season
Friday, October 16th, 2009
It’s the East’s turn to have a champion.
I’m more of an East Coast kind of guy, I always find myself rooting for the East in All-Star Games and in the NBA Finals. Coming to the 2009 NBA basketball season, I have this theory that suggests this year is going to be the year of the East. Don’t believe me? Here’s why.
This somewhat weird theory of mine started in ‘04 when the Detroit Pistons won the title and shocked arguably the most talented Los Angeles Lakers team ever assembled with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant joined then by two other Hall of Famers, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. The Spurs won the title the following year only for the Eastern Conference to win it again when the Miami Heat won their first title in franchise history.
The following year, ONCE AGAIN (ho-hum…) the Spurs took it only for the East to take it back the following season when the Boston Celtics took the title in six games. In case you haven’t noticed it yet, the NBA championship has been alternating between the Eastern and Western conferences since ‘04 and since the Lakers won it last season, I bet it’ll be another team from the East that’ll be crowned champions come June.
Silly? Not quite. And since the Cleveland Cavaliers arguably made the biggest move of the offseason with the NBA title firmly in mind, this little theory of mine doesn’t sound too silly at all.
The Cavs learned winning 66 games in the regular season doesn’t mean a thing without a ring. LeBron James has a lot at stake this season with big Shaquille O’Neal in town.
Kobe won with Shaq. D-Wade won with Shaq. At 37, Shaq can still get it done 20 to 25 minutes a night. So with basically the same unit returning along with O’Neal, there’s no excuse for LeBron James not to win the championship this year. Fail and off to New York he goes.
So if the Cavaliers are your odds on favorite to…
Will we have the 2009-10 NBA Season?
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
That’ll just suck if you already have your fantasy teams ready.
The last time the NBA went through a lockout season, the San Antonio Spurs earned their first title in franchise history. And while the 2009 NBA basketball season is still a month away, they’re already talking about another strike.
The lead negotiator and spokesman for the NBA referees union said a lockout appears ”imminent and unavoidable” following the latest breakdown in talks.
Lamell McMorris said the officials made another $1 million in concessions in their proposal, but believes it’s evident the league is not interested in further discussions. The officials then headed home after spending the last 24 hours meeting in Chicago.
The contract between the NBA and its officials expired Sept. 1 and the sides have been trying to reach a new two-year deal. McMorris said they largely agree on salaries, but the union has balked at the league’s attempt to change retirement benefits.
Without a new deal, replacement officials will be used when preseason play opens Oct. 1. The NBA last began a season without its regular referees in 1995-96, when the caliber of officiating was roundly criticized.
”We’re prepared to be locked out by the NBA but also remain open to ongoing dialogue,” McMorris said, adding that negotiations have been difficult because the league ”has made pretty clear they have a goal they are trying to achieve as it relates to these long-term benefits.”
The NBA withheld comment…
Allen Iverson joins the Memphis Grizzlies
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
For Iverson, it’s personal, for the Grizzlies, they’re just hoping they didn’t throw three million dollars away.
That’s how much the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to pay Allen Iverson for the coming 2009 NBA basketball season. Yes, Iverson will play for the Grizzlies after the 10-time All-Star signed a one-year deal worth $3.1 million in Memphis.
This makes Allen Iverson the biggest name yet ever to spread across a Grizzly uniform since Memphis sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers and back when Shareef Abdur Rahim was playing with the Grizzlies for Vancouver.
Of course, A.I. was more than happy that the Memphis Grizzlies finally gave him an opportunity to redeem himself after the disastrous year he had in Detroit. And since Iverson, despite being a 10-time All-Star and a former league MVP, wasn’t the most sought after free agent this offseason, he definitely has a lot of redeeming to do in the coming season.
”This year for me is so personal,” Allen Iverson said at his introductory news conference.
”It’s basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They’re trying to put me in a rocking chair already.”
Grizzlies fans welcomed Iverson like a hero. He walked into the FedEx Forum with a standing ovation in an atmosphere that felt like a pep rally.
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace called Iverson one of the NBA’s all-time greatest guards and officially welcoming A.I. is a great day for the team, the Grizzlies’ loyal fans and the city of Memphis.
The team had been courting Iverson since July, a process that sped up with a meeting Monday night in Atlanta over dinner with the guard, Wallace, team owner Michael Heisley and coach Lionel Hollins.
For now, they’re convinced that Iverson can…
Rasheed Wallace to sign with Celtics
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
This offseason just keeps getting better and better.
Everybody should be hyped up for the coming 2009 NBA basketball season now as early as July with the number of blockbuster deals we’ve seen.
Get this; Richard Jefferson is now in San Antonio, Shaquille O’Neal will now play with LeBron James in Cleveland, Vince Carter returns to his home state in Florida to play for the Orlando Magic and Ron Artest just joined the defending NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers. And just when you thought it won’t get any better, another deal comes out.
And the latest is Rasheed Wallace agreeing to play for the Boston Celtics for at least two seasons. Although nothing is final yet since free agents can’t officially sign with new teams until July 8 this Wednesday, ‘Sheed has committed his 34-year-old ass to Boston, grabbing this opportunity to play for a legitimate title contender now than waste the remaining few years of his career with the inept management skills of Joe Dumars in Detroit.
The Boston Celtics wanted him bad too. A contingent from the Celtics organization, including owner Wyc Grousbeck, president Danny Ainge, head coach Doc Rivers and Boston’s ‘’Big Three’’ of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen all descended on Wallace’s suburban Michigan home for a three-hour meeting with the free-agent forward.
During the course of the meeting, the Boston Celtics offered Rasheed Wallace a contract using their entire mid-level exception. And since everything is just whacked as fas as the Detroit Pistons and their chances of playing for a title again are concerned, ‘Sheed didn’t think twice.
Besides, he’s good friends with Kevin Garnett already…
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