End first quarter: Lakers 20, Celtics 20
The bad news: That annoying Larry O’ Brien Trophy logo is painted across midcourt. But worse, yet for Lakers fans: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are scoreless and Boston still managed to tie it at 20 after the first period. As expected, Kobe Bryant has taken charge by scoring 11 of the…
June 10, 2008, 11:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
OPEN THREAD: Day 32 of the 2k8 NBA Playoffs
The Truth is stepping up his game at the right time The Conference Finals kicked off last night with a Boston win. It was expected, and I expect the Celtics to win Game 2. The real test is if they can win on the road. I believe Detroit will win one in Boston this series essentially stealing…
June 10, 2008, 11:45 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
We're Mocking You: 2008 NBA Mock Drafts v1.0
If you're a long time Warriors fan and GSoMer this segment ain't nothing new to you. "It was all a dream I used to read Slam Magazine!" Jump like you're in a pre-draft camp. Mocks: Chad Ford's Mock Draft, Version 1.0: Picks 1-30 [ESPN.com]- The NBA's version of Mel…
June 10, 2008, 11:30 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
OPEN THREAD: Day 31 of the 2k8 NBA Playoffs
This is it. Down to four teams for the battle for NBA Glory. Despite the twists and turns that occurred within many of the Playoff series in ’08, the East has panned out… well, right about on the nail. Detroit, facing it’s 6th straight Eastern Conference Championship…
June 10, 2008, 11:15 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Jackson responds to Donaghy’s allegations
Lakers coach Phil Jackson answered questions about officiating in his pre-game press conference, but it had nothing to do with the disparity in fouls between the Lakers and Celtics in Game 2. News broke Tuesday that former NBA referee Tim Donaghy alleged that, during the 2002 playoffs, two referees…
June 10, 2008, 11:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
OPEN THREAD: 2008 NBA Draft Lottery @ 4:30pm
Originally Posted: May 20, 2008 11:18 AM PDT ================================ Update (5:22pm): Warriors stay at #14 ================================ The drama. The suspense. As Warrior fans this is OUR playoffs. Like we always do about this time! [photo: warriors.com] Jump like a…
June 10, 2008, 11:00 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Phil Jackson’s pre-Game 3 interview
Q. Can you give us your reaction to Jerry Buss missing the first few games of the NBA Finals to play a poker tournament in Vegas? COACH PHIL JACKSON: Yeah, I think that you’d have to ask Jerry. That’s probably personal and private for him. Q. Were you…
June 10, 2008, 10:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
OPEN THREAD: 2008 NBA Finals Game 3
Goin' back to Cali. It's hard to imagine how the Lakers lose this one. Staples will be goin as crazy and be as loud as Laker fans can get - which is about half of what the Warrior fans at the Oracle were like last year. Nevertheless, the home team will be pumped and full of adrenaline. The…
June 10, 2008, 10:45 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Not much more than a feeling, really
I get it. The ABC geniuses, bless their hearts, are trying to remind television viewers that part of this series is indeed in Boston. So, of course, during some of their commercial bumps in Games 1 and 2 they played “More than a Feeling” by … wait for it … Boston.…
June 10, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
City vs. Sonics: A few ground rules
With the trial in federal court pitting the City of Seattle against the Sonics over terms of the KeyArena lease scheduled to start on Monday, members of the media were invited to meeting at the federal courthouse in Seattle today. Chief Judge Robert Lasnik headed the meeting, with the main purpose…
June 10, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Sonics Insider by Frank Hughes
Curt Schilling roasts Kobe Bryant in his blog
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling at a courtside seat right near the Lakers’ bench for Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Boston on Sunday night. Schilling wrote a long entry on his blog about the night, with some serious criticism of what he saw from Kobe Bryant in interacting with his Lakers…
June 10, 2008, 9:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Don't expect Bobcats to pull off blockbuster draft-night deal
Some of you have checked with me, wondering how the Charlotte Bobcats could lack huge salary-cap room this summer. Some things to consider: - When Emeka Okafor becomes a restricted free agent July 1, he’ll temporarily count for $16.2 million...
June 10, 2008, 9:15 PM ET from Bobcats: Inside the NBA by Rick Bonnell
What people said about Curry six years ago …
… they’re still saying today: he’s a leader, he relates to players and he takes it upon himself to keep everybody motivated. Check it out for yourself in this old Free Press article about Curry’s role on the 2001-02 Pistons: But Curry, a Pistons co-captain, is more than a…
June 10, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Detroit’s pre-draft workout list
We’re behind a bit on our pre-draft coverage — earlier this week, A. Sherrod Blakely posted this list of players the Pistons plan on working out: • Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt • Omri Casspi, SF, Israel • Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State • Joe Crawford, SG, Kentucky • Mike Green,…
June 10, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
You mean the playoffs don’t end after 3 rounds?
Just in case anyone is interested in watching the NBA Finals with their DBB brethren, consider this your open thread. Game 1 tips in a few. Ugh.
June 10, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Potential dance partners
Dana Gauruder of the Oakland Press names some potential trade partners. Dallas? They have Rick Carlisle, who knows this roster from coaching it (and coaching against it). Phoenix? Can you imagine Rip or Tay in that offense? Plus, Tay would be a good Kobe stopper. Charlotte? Larry Brown and Sheed,…
June 10, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
More Melo/Billups rumblings
The Denver Post’s Woody Paige wants to swap Carmelo (… and Camby, Kenyon and Atkins) for Billups (… and Tayshaun, Rasheed and this year’s first-rounder), but ‘Melo’s agent continues to deny that his client is on the block.
June 10, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Portland may honor Porter
It’s a good time to be Terry Porter. Not only is he being considered for a couple of head coaching jobs, his former team is also thinking about retiring his number. (via TrueHoop)
June 10, 2008, 7:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Rasheed present at Curry’s presser
Rasheed Wallace was apparently the only Pistons player to show up at Michael Curry’s introductory press conference. There’s no reason to attach any meaning to that, but all things considered I still found it interesting.
June 10, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Michael Curry is saying all the right things
Keith Langlois has a solid round-up of all the inspirational soundbites from today’s press conference: Curry said he hoped he would “never get the chance to read one of you all say the team didn’t play hard, they pick and choose when they want to play, they play up to the level of their…
June 10, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Amir Johnson now realizes how productive he is
Remember that “Stat geeks love Amir Johnson” post from a couple of weeks ago? I’ve been sitting on this for a while, but before Game 6 of the Celtics series I asked Amir if he realized he was near universally regarded as one of the most productive players in the league. Not…
June 10, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Lord of the ring? It can be you
I know the secret that would allow Kobe Bryant to get a championship ring this year. It does not involve him scoring 40 points per game or playing suffocating defense on Paul Pierce. In fact, the key to Kobe getting a ring is the same key to you or me getting a ring. We just have [...]
June 10, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Poll — Who’s the ugliest Celtic of them all?
They have bad hair. Skewed bone structure. Grotesquely pointy elbows. Yellow eyes. One of them had the little wisp of a mustache that hung over his lip like extra mayo he would never wipe off. This week everyone is debating the all-time greatest Lakers and Celtics. But why don’t we give the…
June 10, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
What’s wrong with the Lakers?
The answer: One thing, above all else. They are playing like a team that knows, consciously or subconsciously, that they’ll contend for more titles in the future, especially with Andrew Bynum back and healthy. If you believe there’ll be other days, you just won’t be as immersed in…
June 10, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
From Celtics Dancer to Laker Girl
Last season, the Boston Celtics decided to unveil an innovative idea aimed at energizing their fans. Imagine the creativity, the Harvard consultants, the focus groups they must have used to come up with such a concept. Before I tell you what it was, you must know this — every other team in…
June 10, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Is Blazer mania headed north on I-5?
Brian Hendrickson of The Columbian writes about the possibility of the Portland Trail Blazers becoming the Northwest’s basketball team, similar to the Seahawks and Mariners, if the Sonics move to Oklahoma City with next week’s upcoming trial. Here’s an excerpt. While Portland…
June 10, 2008, 4:30 PM ET from Sonics Insider by Frank Hughes
What will happen in Game 3?
So the series shifts to Staples Center, where the Lakers have been rather impressive in the playoffs. Does that mean the momentum is going to shift as well? Or will the Celtics win big in Game 3 to turn Game 4 into a coronation for Boston? Tell us what you think is going to happen, then click here…
June 10, 2008, 3:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Dungeons & Hornets: Be Afraid
In the past, I've associated the Hornets players to Halo Weapons. Not long ago, I compared them to American Idol contestants. Now, in yet another effort to prove my Nerd Cred, I am going to unleash yet one more mind-numbing comparison for you: Hornets Players as Dungeons &…
June 10, 2008, 2:30 PM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Media-friendly Derek Fisher wins Magic Johnson Award
Derek Fisher has won the Magic Johnson Award for this season, beating out Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets. The award honors on-court performance combined with outstanding…
June 10, 2008, 2:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
NBA News and Notes for May 16th
The Spurs have forced the first Game 7 of the second round, beating the New Orleans Hornets 99-80. The home team now has won a staggering 20 out of 21 games in the second round. Last year, the home team was 13-10. * In “judging players based on a single game” news, David West put [...]
June 10, 2008, 11:30 AM ET from KnickerBlogger.Net
Computers vs. Scouts
With 16 days left before the draft, teams are busily working out prospects, haggling with agents and breaking down game tape. Could there be an easier way? Last week we were talking about computer rating systems that purport to identify the best draft prospects, without the messy work of actually…
June 10, 2008, 11:15 AM ET from KnickerBlogger.Net
Coming around on Michael Curry
When I first heard that Michael Curry was the front-runner to replace Flip Saunders, I was less than enthused. The guy has one year of coaching experience as an assistant, surely he’s not ready to take the keys, right? But the more I thought about it, the more I talked myself into liking it,…
June 10, 2008, 10:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
It’s official: Michael Curry is the new coach
Here’s the AP’s entire 12-word announcement: AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Michael Curry will coach the Detroit Pistons says team exec Joe Dumars. WDFN confirms it (via TZ and Ballhype): WDFN broke the story that Joe Dumars has indeed hired Michael Curry as the next head coach of the…
June 10, 2008, 09:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Celtics fans are sensitive
Bill Plaschke with the shocking update: Celtics fans are sensitive! This seems like a good place to mention that if I didn’t moderate comments, DBB would’ve been inundated with that kind of garbage for the past three weeks. (hat-tip to LawyerBoy)
June 10, 2008, 09:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Two to Tango
By: Kevin Sawyer While the David Stern wet dream plays out on ABC, we have bigger fish to fry in Pistonland. Joe Dumars has intimated major changes for next year, which gives us all the chance to play amateur GM. Well, if you wanna be a GM, you have to play by the rules. Sheed for LeBron? Not…
June 10, 2008, 09:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Odd, unsourced rumor of the day …
… comes from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post: It’s no secret NBA front-office executives have tried to measure if the Nuggets might actually be willing to part ways with the 24-year-old Anthony, despite assurances to his agent that Denver is not actively shopping the high-scoring…
June 10, 2008, 09:00 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Terry Porter will be the new head coach … in Phoenix
ESPN says it’s already happened: Multiple sources told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Terry Porter is the new coach of the Phoenix Suns. Suns general manager Steve Kerr called Porter on Saturday morning to offer him the job, and Porter accepted. A. Sherrod Blakely says it hasn’t…
June 10, 2008, 08:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
The other side of Rasheed
Rasheed Wallace didn’t drop any controversial bombshells about Flip Saunders or his future in Detroit during his appearance at SNYX Sneaker Studio last night, but he also didn’t leave those fans who came out to see him empty handed. From Terry Foster of the Detroit News: The millionaire…
June 10, 2008, 08:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
What people said about Curry six years ago …
… they’re still saying today: he’s a leader, he relates to players and he takes it upon himself to keep everybody motivated. Check it out for yourself in this old Free Press article about Curry’s role on the 2001-02 Pistons: But Curry, a Pistons co-captain, is more than a…
June 10, 2008, 08:15 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
At least there's no reasons to preemptively dislike the guy
That is, unless you're dead-set against a first-time head coach. And I'm not, not entirely. In some respects there's nothing wrong with jumping off the carousel of retreads, and go for no experience over bad experience. I thought that Flip was more than a retread, and Casey deserved…
June 10, 2008, 01:15 AM ET from Blog a Bull
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