The Sports Guy stops by the set of SportsNation to talk about his new book “The Book of Basketball.”
Watch the highlights of last night from Shaq’s Cavalier debut to the Lakers getting their bling!
LeBron James had to wait for what must have felt like forever for a biopsy after doctors at the Cleveland Clinic found a growth in the right side of his jaw in January.
James said that he was glad the season was under way, so he could focus on basketball. The growth turned out to be benign.
James had surgery to remove it in June, a few days after the Cavaliers’ season ended. James said that he never slept as well as he did during his week of bed rest.
According to ESPN.com
One day, the LA Clippers will matter in the NBA. Here’s 6 reasons from TheHoopDoctors.com:
1. Blake Griffin
Speaking of red headed step-children…sorry, not cool? Anyways, in a draft that boasted only one clear-cut stud, the Clippers couldn’t have lucked out more when the balls fell in their lap. I mean when they were awarded the #1 Pick. After being projected as a Top-5 Pick in a very talented & deep 2008 NBA Draft Class, he was smart & mature enough to go back to the University of Oklahoma to refine his game for another year. This resulted in him winning every Player of the Year honor possible as he was a double-double machine. He even figured out how to throw down monstrous dunks while getting fouled by the backboard. Watch out NBA! He might have injured himself a little while being named the Las Vegas Summer League MVP, but this 20-year old is the future big man for the Clips.2. Eric Gordon
The Clippers top pick from last year can score from all over the court. He averaged 16.1 points per game (third among rookies) and that number will only rise. He shot an impressive 45.6% from the field, 38.9% behind the arc, and 85.4% from the charity stripe. That is an all-around scoring game. In his last 49 games, he averaged 19.9 points. By the way, he is also only 20.3. Zach Randolph
They somehow rid themselves of Zach Randolph, his horrible contract, his playing time, and everything else that he brings to the table. Yes, he might put up 20/10 every night, but he shoots less than 50% in the paint, jacks-up two 3-pointers per game, and can’t block a shot. Did I mention that he is a power forward?4. The Three-Headed Monster
This consists of Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, and DeAndre Jordan. Camby & Kaman missed a combined 71 games last year for a team that couldn’t afford to lose any talent, much less their two best big men. Camby might be getting old for NBA standards and is a huge question mark due to injuries, but he always finds a way to finish in the Top-10 in blocks & rebounds per game. Kaman looks to be healthy and will always scare opposing players if he grows out his hair. Jordan, the 7-foot 21-year old center, was a steal for the Clips last year. Coming into the draft with loads of potential, many people second guessed his work ethic. The Clippers made a smart gamble. He has proven himself since arriving in Los Angeles and was effective when given time last year. Against the cross-town foes, he put up 23 & 12. Not bad for a rookie.5. Baron Davis
After averaging 21.1 points per game from 2006-08 for the Golden State Warriors, Davis was lured to Los Angeles by Elton Brand (and all of the hot chicks frolicking around the city). Everybody was stoked that he was going to help throw the Clippers back into the mix…then Brand bounced for Philly. After two months of solid basketball & 23 losses, Davis went down and phoned it in for the rest of the season. When he came back, he was just not the same player that had been electrifying crowds since he first laced up his high-tops. This year, we can expect Baron to be Baron. He’s got that bounce in his step, has young talent all around him, and…6. LeBron James
This is easily the most important thing to watch. The Clippers have a chance to lure the greatest athlete I have ever seen play any sport in 2010. It might sound far fetched, but why not? They are located in Los Angeles, arguably the top media market in the world; he will get paid huge by Nike; he will be able to party in H-Wood every night of the week instead the few games he plays out there; he can watch his Billionaire Dream come true even quicker; they will have the money to pay him; and they will have a great foundation. Baron, Gordon, LBJ, Griffin, and Kaman with Al Thornton, Sebastian Telfair, and Jordon off the bench? Oh my! That is the kind of Foundation the Sports Guy spoke about. Some young guys to grow old with as he wins Championships!
Honestly, this isn’t that crazy… but the press has jumped all over the fact that Nike confiscated the tapes… watch it below:
All he’s gotta do is turn around the LA Clippers… yikes. Read more from ESPN.com:
LAS VEGAS — They were there for Blake Griffin, and they didn’t even get to see him play. Fans started lining up at an autograph booth in the Thomas & Mack Center concourse before the Los Angeles Clippers’ summer league game, and they stayed there until Griffin arrived some 20 minutes after the game ended, sat down and started signing jerseys, cards, basketballs, shirts and programs. The line extended past concession stands and entry portals, with more fans breaking ranks to get a glimpse of the Clippers’ No. 1 pick. A team official said he’s never seen anything like it for one of their players at summer league.
This is different.
And this goes against everything I’ve learned since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and provided us with a quarter-century’s worth of bad draft picks, loafing centers, point guards on 10-day contracts taking last-second shots, and Donald Sterling’s ownership serving as the lone constant, but I believe Griffin can change this team.
If he does, if he turns the Clippers into regular playoff residents instead of occasional visitors, he’ll go down as one of the greatest No. 1 picks ever. That’s the magnitude of the challenge, and that’s how monumental that accomplishment would be.
There have been other moments of hope: the “Space Cowboys” group of past-their-peaks Norm Nixon, Cedric Maxwell and Marques Johnson; the head-pounding young squad of Quentin Richardson, Darius Miles, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom; and the team that got to within a game of the Western Conference finals. You don’t need to be an NBA historian to know how those promising stories ended. Just look at the upper reaches of the Staples Center. You won’t find a single piece of Clippers fabric. No retired jerseys, not even so much as a division championship banner.
When the Clippers won the draft lottery and selected Griffin with the top pick, I didn’t think this one would turn out any different. It would be just the Clippers’ luck to go first in what’s viewed as a weak draft. They never get this chance when there’s a Shaq or a LeBron to be had.
Read the rest HERE
The Phoenix experiment did not work and Shaq is on the move again. It should be very interesting to see how he meshes with LeBron! Read more from TSN.ca:
After coming up short in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers brought in Shaquille O’Neal to complement LeBron James.
Numbers Game examines the Big Aristotle’s arrival in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers Get: C Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal, 37, is coming off his best year since 2005-2006, averaging 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting a stellar 60.9% from the field and his 59.5% from the free throw line was the second-best percentage of his career (behind 62.2 in 2002-2003).
At this stage of his career, O’Neal doesn’t need to dominate the ball and, with LeBron running the show in Cleveland, O’Neal shouldn’t have any trouble deferring to the reigning MVP.
Shaq’s not a dominant defender, and can be exploited by centres that can move away from the basket, but he’s still an upgrade on Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the veteran Lithuanian centre who was abused by the Magic’s Dwight Howard in the Conference Finals.
Ilgauskas has a player option for next season and the prospect of being Shaq’s backup would figure to be enough reason for the 34-year-old to seek out a better opportunity elsewhere.
While his mobility isn’t what it once was, O’Neal was much better in Phoenix than he’d been in his later days with the Miami Heat, so there is every reason to think he’ll be a productive player next season, the final year of a contract which pays him $20-million in 2009-2010.
With LeBron and Shaq going into the final years of their contracts, 2009-2010 shapes up as the Cavaliers’ best chance to contend for a title.
The Suns Get: PF Ben Wallace, SF Sasha Pavlovic and a second-round pick.
34-year-old Ben Wallace is a long way from the energetic, dominant defender that he was in his championship days with the Detroit Pistons. He’s never been an offensive player and last year’s 3.0 points per game was his lowest total since his rookie season.
Even with all that taken into consideration, Wallace is still a capable defender who can block shots and crash the boards, only he does it in more limited minutes.
Due $14-million next season, in the final year of his contract, Wallace’s future is uncertain. He could get flipped to another team or it’s possible that he’ll take on a role with the Suns next season.
Pavlovic, 25, hasn’t been able to rise above reserve swingman in five years with the Cavaliers, though some of the reason for that may be attributed to injuries — Pavlovic hasn’t played in more than 67 games in a season since playing 79 in his rookie season with Utah in 2003-2004.
While he’s not going to be any better than a reserve in Phoenix, Pavlovic does shoot well enough — 41.0% on three-pointers last season — to fit into the Suns’ rotation at either of the wing spots.
The second-round pick, 46th overall, actually has some value. Since 2001, 12 players taken in the 46-50 range have become NBA rotation players — a success rate of 30% — with the best of the bunch being Cavs PG Mo Williams and Jazz PF Paul Millsap. No, it’s not likely to yield a star, but a serviceable rotation player is possible.
All indications are that the Suns aren’t done, either; that an Amar’e Stoudemire trade is on the way, so it’s hard to gauge just what the Suns are going to look like until the dust settles and they actually have someone available to play in the paint.
Here are the Top Ten dunks from the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown. These dudes are awesome:
It’s official. LeBron James is the real deal. Hitting a playoff game winning 3-pointer off the hop from an inbounds pass with 1 second on the clock? Watch your back Mr. Jordan… catch the entire play here:
Here’s a great list from TheHoopDoctors.com:
10 - Jannero Pargo (Free Agent - PG)
After declaring for the draft in 2002, Jannero Pargo went undrafted. The 6′2″ point guard was signed by the Lakers in the 2003-04 season. Despite averaging around 10 minutes per game, Pargo was only able to average 2.5. points per game. After another season with the Lakers and a season in Toronto, he was traded to Chicago where he put up career high numbers in minutes (26.5), points (13.5), and assists (3.6). He is currently a free agent.
9 - Kelenna Azibuke (Golden State Warriors - SG)
Kelenna Azibuke, a Shooting Guard for the Golden State Warriors, began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing a few preseason games before being waived. But that didn’t stop Azibuke from working hard to accomplish his dream. He was signed by the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA D-League and led them to the championships. Along the way he collected several honours and opened the eyes of NBA scouts. Houston was the next team to pursue Azibuke but shortly waived him and rejoined his former NBA D-League team. After leading the D-League in scoring, he was finally given a permanent chance to play in the NBA. The injury-plagued Golden State Warriors signed Azibuke. He finished the season with career highs in minutes (32.1), points (14.4), rebounds (5.0), and assists (1.6). He is currently considered one of the best upcoming young players in the NBA at the young age of 25.
8 - Jamario Moon (Miami Heat - SF)
Jamario Moon, a highflying small forward from Goodwater, Alabama, currently plays for the Miami Heat. He has spent most of his career playing with teams in several different countries, including the legendary Harlem Globetrotters in 2004, and in the NBA D-League. He is known for his superb dunking and jumping abilities. He exceeded expectations of Toronto’s coaching staff after being invited to a 3 day mini-camp with the Raptors. His performance gained him a 2-year deal. He was the Rookie of the Month for January, 2008, was invited to the Rookie-Sophmore game at the All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, and participated in the Slam Dunk competition where he finished in 3rd place.
7 - Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat - PF)
Udonis Haslem, a standout at the University of Florida, helped lead them to 4 straight Final Four appearances. Despite his success, he went undrafted in 2002. After signing with a team in France, he made it into the NBA Summer League and was later signed by the Miami Heat. In his rookie season, he was named to the 2nd NBA All-Rookie Team and was a starter in the Rookie-Sophmore game during the All-Star Weekend He was an instrumental part of Miami’s success in 2006, winning the first and only NBA championship of his career.
6 - Raja Bell (Charlotte Bobcats - SG)
After signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2000, Raja Bell never played a game with them and was released. The next season, Bell helped rally his team from a large deficit in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring in double figures. During the 2005-06 season, Raja Bell put up career highs in minutes (37.5), points (14.7), assists (2.6), and steals (1.0). In addition, he was selected to participate in the Footlocker 3-Point Shootout however declined the opportunity for personal reasons. During his career, Bell was named to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second team, one time each.
5 - Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs - SF)
Bruce Bowen, an alumni of Edison High School, went undrafted 1993. Despite going undrafted, he is considered one of the best defenders in the game today. From 2001-2008, he received consecutive nominations for the NBA All-Defensive Teams. In addition, Bowen finished 2nd in NBA Defensive Player of the Year 3 times, to Ben Wallace twice and Marcus Camby once.
4 - Mike James (Washington Wizards - PG)
After 3 seasons in the Euroleague, Mike James decided to join the NBA after going undrafted in 1998. He played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Milwakee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors. His most memorable season was with Toronto where he averaged career highs in virtually every category, including 20.3 points per game. He is the first undrafted player in NBA history to average more than 20 points in a season.
3 - Jose Calderon (Toronto Raptors - PG)
Jose Calderon, who is of Spanish decent, is a point guard for the Toronto Raptors. Calderon started out his professional basketball career in the Euroleague where he spent 6 successful seasons with several teams. In August 2005, Calderon signed with the Toronto Raptors. During the 2006-07 season, he helped lead the Toronto Raptors to the playoffs and in the 2007-08 season, he exceeded his expectations and eventually took over the role of starting point guard from T.J. Ford. Last season was definitely Calderon’s best where he averaged career highs in minutes (34.3), points (12.8), assists (8.9), rebounds (2.9), and steals (1.1). In addition, he abolished the NBA free-throw shooting percentage record, shooting 981% from the line, has an Olympic silver medal, and a gold medal from the World Championships in 2006.
2 - Brad Miller (Chicago Bulls - C)
During his career, Brad Miller has bounced around the NBA, playing for the (now defunct) Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Sacramento Kings. Brad Miller has represented the United States at the World Championships twice, where he has won 2 bronze medals and is a 2 time All-Star. Miller is regarded as one of the best shooting big men in the league.
1 - Ben Wallace (Cleveland Cavaliers - C/PF)
Ben Wallace, who is nicknamed Big Ben, is a 6′9″ center/power forward for the NBA’s best team currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has received countless awards recognizing his defensive ability. He was an NBA champion in 2004, is a 4 time All-Star, 4 time Defensive Player of the Year (a record which he shares with Dikembe Mutombo), a 6 time All-Defensive Team member, and a 5 time All-NBA Team member.
PLAY
