NBA

Sure Shot

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:42:39 -0700

And to think, winning the Slam Dunk Contest is probably only the second-biggest highlight of Nate Robinson’s season. Clearly, the first is his burgeoning friendship with Will Ferrell. What do you think of these two giving dap during games? (Note that is not Ed. sitting in the expensive seats.) Whoever writes the funniest caption will win a dope prize from our vault and see their name in Trash Talk next issue.

What’s My Name?

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:31:42 -0700

CB4? That’s not a nickname—that’s a Chris Rock movie. RuPaul? You know we love Shaq, but come on, that was foul and uncalled for. No, Chris Bosh needs a real nickname. Obviously it’s been a terrible season in Toronto, but we’re confused as to why it’s Chris’ fault. We’d like to aim our questions at one Bryan Colangelo, for starters. Anyway, Chris Bosh. Olympian. All-Star. Player in need of a good nickname.
Whoever has the best nickname will win a dope prize from the SLAM vault and get their name in Trash Talk next month.

Michael Beasley ‘Agrees’ With Coming off the Bench

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:01:12 -0700

Well, sort of: “Erik Spoelstra said after consulting with assistant coach Ron Rothstein and then meeting with Beasley before Saturday’s victory over the Washington Wizards, it was decided to maintain Beasley’s role as a sixth man…’The bench has been playing well, and we didn’t want to make two changes,’ Spoelstra said after Monday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. ‘He actually agreed.’ Beasley would not go that far, but said playing behind fill-in starter Yakhouba Diawara is not an issue. ‘He obviously knows more than me,’ the No. 2 pick in last June’s draft said. ‘It was respecting the elder.’”

Optimism in Indiana

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:31:19 -0700

Sometimes, you just gotta have faith: “The record isn’t close to anything Larry Bird and Jim O’Brien desired. The playoffs? They’re not going to happen for these Indiana Pacers. They may be mathematically alive — barely — but coach O’Brien has been conceding for weeks now that the playoffs are a pipe dream beyond rational consideration. And yet … It has been a good season. A productive season. A season of significant growth. Seriously. What? You were expecting a snide comment? For the first time in a long time, there is the sense the Pacers are building toward something, that next year’s playoffs are easily within their grasp if only they add bodies, stay healthy and learn how to play a lick of defense.”

A Look at the Nets’ Financial Woes

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:01:22 -0700

With operating losses for the year at close to $30 million, it’s not a pretty picture: “In a sign that the recession has already eaten away at the bottom line in sports, revenue for the New Jersey Nets’ operating company dipped sharply in fiscal 2009, the last five months of which coincided with the economy’s contraction. Many observers have suggested that because teams’ selling season for suites, season tickets and sponsorships finished before the economy cratered, sports would only begin to feel a bottom-line hurt as this year progressed. Revenue for Nets Sports & Entertainment, however, fell 8 percent in the 12-month period that ended Jan. 31. The financial results mark the first public snapshot of a Big Four sports club since the economy unraveled. The results are broken out in the annual financial filing of Forest City Enterprises, which owns 23 percent of the team.”

Andrew Bynum Returns This Week

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:01:21 -0700

That’s the plan, anyway: “After today’s practice went well, Andrew Bynum said he plans to play Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies and April 14 against the Utah Jazz. Those are the Lakers’ final regular-season games. Bynum has said all along that he hoped to play in a couple of regular-season games before rejoining the active roster for the playoffs…’I just have to get my timing back,’ said Bynum, who did not travel with the team for Tuesday night’s game against the Kings in Sacramento. ‘Other than that, I’m ready to go.’”

At Long Last, MJ’s Comeback Fantasies Have Ended

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:00:40 -0700

by Marcel Mutoni
The inevitable took place yesterday, as Michael Jordan entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The GOAT wasn’t too excited, however, about dwelling on his past accomplishments. The man was too busy regretting the fact that he’s no longer an NBA player.
The Philly Inquirer has the quotes:
“This is kind of a love-hate thing for me,” Jordan said. “It’s a great compliment and great respect, but for me, I always wanted to be able to have you think that I could always go back and play the game of basketball. As long as you have that thought, you never know what can happen. You never know what my abilities can do.”
Is he talking comeback? “No, but I’d like for you to think that I am,” Jordan said. “So to me, the Hall of Fame is like, it’s over and done with. You can’t ever put a uniform back on. It’s the total end of your basketball career. It’s a great accomplishment and I know I don’t walk away from it, but I didn’t want to be up here so quickly.
“I wanted to be up here when I was 70 years old, 80 years old. But I’m 45 and I still think I can play. You guys don’t know if I can or can’t, but at least I’ve got you thinking that way.”
I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief now that Jordan has finally realized that playing hoops at the pro level is no longer an option, and certainly something no one would want to see.
Thanks for the memories, Mike.

Turkoglu and Okur: Keys to Solid U.S.-Turkey Relations

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:31:23 -0700

Naturally: “Everybody knows that President Obama is a hoops fan. He references Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur in his speech today to the Turkish Parliament. ‘The ties among our people have deepened as well, and more and more Americans of Turkish origin live and work and succeed within our borders,’ NBC First Read reports. ‘As a basketball fan, I’ve even noticed that Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur have got some pretty good game.’”

Should the Heat Retire Tim Hardaway’s Jersey?

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:01:18 -0700

Tim sure thinks so: “With Alonzo Mourning’s Heat number retired, Tim Hardaway said, ‘I deserve to be up there’ too. Hardaway attributes his inability to get an NBA job to his 2007 ‘I don’t like gay people’ comment — despite his apologies. ‘I thought we were supposed to forgive and forget but it’s not happening.’”

Manu Ginobili Will See You Next Season

CHN — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:01:07 -0700

by Marcel Mutoni
The San Antonio Spurs are going to be in the Playoffs this season, but can we really expect anything meaningful from them - without the services of one Manu Ginobili? Um, that was a rhetorical question, kids.
The Spurs are all but toast, and this is why. From the San Antonio Express-News:
Tests conducted Monday in San Antonio revealed a stress fracture in the right distal fibula, the lower portion of one of the three bones that form the ankle joint.
As a result, Ginobili will miss the remaining six games of the regular season, beginning with tonight’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City, and all the playoffs.

To make matters worse, this aging, injury-riddled team will also be entering the postseason war with Tim Duncan’s health still a major concern. They’re currently the third seed in the West, with a half game cushion as division leaders.
We have the makings of one one long summer by the riverwalk.