Ranking the Chicago Bulls’ Most Likely NBA Free Agency Moves
May 21st, 2013 by Andres Montero No comments »
The Chicago Bulls don't have a lot of cap room to make a big splash this offseason, but that doesn't mean there won't be a few changes.Upcoming free agents like Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli increased their value with their great performances during the regular season and playoffs, so it might not be possible to re-sign both players.There's also the possibility of bringing in some new faces. The Bulls need a big man on their bench, and they'll need some backup 2-guards and someone to spell Luol Deng.Chicago might not make a ton of noise, but there are more than a few moves—both in-house and on the market—they could make.Rankings will be based on the likelihood of the signing.Begin Slideshow
Miami Heat: Heat Must Amnesty Joel Anthony This Offseason
May 21st, 2013 by Joshua J Vannuccini No comments »
With a team as talented as the Miami Heat, there are few issues to be concerned with. The overbearing problem with this current roster is the health of the team's payroll going forward. Their trio of All-Stars ultimately takes up most of the cap, thus the ability to add complementary pieces is difficult with whatever remains. The Heat currently have a number of overpaid contracts that they could do without, starting with backup center Joel Anthony.If there could ever be a player to epitomize what this Miami organization represents, Anthony fits the bill. His hustle, defense and 100 percent effort attitude every game are what has kept him in a Heat uniform, despite the general public questioning his ability.Anthony's offensive game has always been questionable, but his heart and passion have not. The undersized center was signed to his current deal because of this, in addition to the belief Anthony ...
Is It Time for LA Lakers to Slam Panic Button over Dwight Howard’s Free Agency?
May 21st, 2013 by Josh Martin No comments »
If you follow the Los Angeles Lakers (or any sliver of the NBA, for that matter), you're probably curious as to whether or not Dwight Howard will be back in Purple and Gold next season.As are the Lakers themselves. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Dwight's been chilling at his cabin in Lake Tahoe, trying to clear his head and think things over in anticipation of the biggest decision of his (professional) life.Which has left everyone else to do the talking for him, anonymously and otherwise. Per Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, Howard is intrigued by the opportunities to play with James Harden's Houston Rockets and Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks, and will entertain all offers that come his way. There have also been whispers about friction between Dwight and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, though general manager Mitch Kupchak doesn't seem to be too worried about that, via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:"I think ...
Watch Memphis Grizzlies Fail at Rim 7 Times in Single Possession vs. Spurs
May 21st, 2013 by Jesse Dorsey No comments »
With the San Antonio Spurs scoring as many points in the second quarter as the Memphis Grizzlies did in the entire first half, the Memphis offense looked for anything to get moving. Missing seven consecutive shots at the rim likely isn't what they had in mind.Starting with Tony Allen getting his layup blocked by Tim Duncan, Memphis missed seven shots in a row, three of which were sent back by Spurs blocks.
ALL OF THE MISSED LAYUPS EVER— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 22, 2013
We've got Allen getting blocked by Duncan, then by Kawhi Leonard and then straight out missing a layup, Zach Randolph missing a tip-in, followed by Duncan blocking his shot, Randolph missing another layup, and, finally, Tony Wroten missing a layup.It all mercifully ended when Duncan grabbed the rebound and got fouled by Allen.
Griz could have built a small ranch house with all the bricks from that last offensive possession.#SpursvGrizzlies— ...
2013 NBA Mock Draft: Full 2-Round Predictions, Post-Draft Lottery Edition
May 21st, 2013 by Jonathan Wasserman No comments »
The results of the NBA draft lottery saw a slight change from the initial projections, with the Cleveland Cavaliers moving up to No. 1, the Orlando Magic down to No. 2, the Washington Wizards sneaking up to No. 3, and Charlotte falling to No. 4.Teams at the top will have big decisions to make with a weak field to choose from and a number of injured prospects.Expect heavy trade chatter to pick up over the next month. The teams drafting at the top will certainly have their ears open.Begin Slideshow
5 Eye-Popping Statistics from New York Rangers’ 2013 Playoff Campaign
May 21st, 2013 by Jeremy Fuchs No comments »
Now that the New York Rangers are 10 games into the 2013 playoff campaign, there are enough meaningful stats that can be properly analyzed.Of all the stats—goals scored, plus/minus, ice time, faceoffs, etc—which are the ones that are the most interesting? Which are the most impressive, and which are the most head-scratching?What are the five most eye-popping stats for the Rangers in the 2013 playoff campaign?Read on to find out.Begin Slideshow
Nick Gilbert and Machine Gun Kelly Provide Cavs with Good Luck at NBA Lottery
May 21st, 2013 by Tyler Conway No comments »
What do you get when you cross bow ties, the 16-year-old son of an NBA owner and a Billboard-charting rapper?Apparently the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, that's what. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2013 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night, but people walked away buzzing more about who was representing the team than they did about whether Nerlens Noel was headed to the Greater Ohio Area.In the proverbial hot seat was Nick Gilbert, son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. And in the audience with Dan and others was rapper Machine Gun Kelly. Yes, Machine Gun Kelly was on hand representing the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. We'll get to him. But first, Nick. The relationship with NBA fans and Nick dates back to the 2011 NBA draft lottery. Swagged out again in his bow tie, the youngster was the Cavs' human embodiment of a rabbit's foot. They went on to win that lottery ...
Bruins vs. Rangers Game 3: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis
May 21st, 2013 by Justin Onslow No comments »
Henrik Lundqvist turned in a masterful performance, but it wasn't enough to propel the New York Rangers to a Game 3 victory Tuesday night. The Boston Bruins got two critical third-period goals to take the contest, 2-1, and put New York at a 3-0 disadvantage in the conference semifinals. The Rangers entered the night with a spotless home playoff record, and they did well in keeping Boston off the board early in the game. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, Boston would be up against it at Madison Square Garden:It looked like New York might take an early lead when Jaromir Jagr was assessed a two-minute holding penalty, but the Rangers power-play unit hasn’t performed well in the series, and that didn’t change in the early going. Michael Del Zotto and Rick Nash each got scoring chances, but Boston killed the momentum with very little effort before returning to full ...
What the NY Knicks Need To Do to Win an NBA Championship
May 21st, 2013 by Jesse Dorsey No comments »
As composed, the New York Knicks are not a championship-caliber basketball team. There are a few fatal flaws that led to their elimination in the second round of the playoffs that need to be fixed in order for them to win an NBA Championship.They were exposed over and over again by the Indiana Pacers, as they forced them to realized that simply playing isolation basketball and chucking three-pointers wouldn't work with Indiana's lock-down defense.New York shot just under 41 percent in the series against the Pacers and 35.3 percent from the three-point line.Honestly, that's all that's really needed to know in order to understand why they lost. Never mind the fact that they turned the ball over nearly 11 times a game or that they had just 15 assists per game in the series.It was Indiana's defense that became an eye-opener for the Knicks.Isolation basketball is fine when you have ...
Ranking the Houston Rockets’ Most Likely NBA Free-Agency Moves
May 21st, 2013 by David Kenyon No comments »
As the Houston Rockets officially enter the NBA offseason, the most likely moves for the team in free agency are beginning to surface.Houston has a solid core with superstar James Harden, center Omer Asik and forward Chandler Parsons, but another star would make the Rockets a great team.A few big-name players will be on the market, and Houston has the space to be a big-time contender in free agency.Making a splash will certainly be a main focus in the Rockets' front office.Begin Slideshow