Tag: NBA

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NBA General

2006 NBA Schedule released

The 2006-2007 NBA Schedule has been released and there are some intriguing matchups (opening day starts with Chicago at Miami and Phoenix at LA Lakers for some replayoff rematches) for the folks who still care about the NBA. However, the folks at True Hoop put together a list of teams and how often they appear on national television. This probably tells more about where the NBA marketing department is than anything else. Aside from the usual cast (Dallas, Miami, Lakers), it looks like the NBA is expecting big things from the Bulls this season. And it looks like we won’t be seeing much of Bargnani this season. Toronto is on national tv exactly 0 times.

Here is the chart but sorted by number of times appearing in on national tv.

Team ABC ESPN TNT NBATV Total
Cleveland 5 10 9 9 33
Lakers 5 10 9 9 33
Miami 5 10 9 9 33
Phoenix 5 10 9 9 33
Dallas 4 10 9 9 32
Chicago 4 8 9 9 30
Detroit 5 10 6 9 30
San Antonio 3 8 6 9 26
Denver 1 8 5 8 22
Sacramento 3 7 6 6 22
Houston 2 7 3 9 21
LAC 1 6 5 8 20
New Jersey 1 5 5 8 19
Washington 1 8 1 9 19
Indiana 2 4 2 8 16
Philadelphia 0 8 0 7 15
NO/OKC 1 2 2 7 12
Boston 1 1 0 7 9
Minnesota 0 2 0 7 9
Memphis 0 1 1 6 8
Orlando 1 1 2 4 8
Seattle 0 3 2 3 8
Utah 0 1 1 5 7
Golden State 0 1 2 2 5
New York 0 0 0 5 5
Milwaukee 0 1 0 3 4
Atlanta 0 0 0 2 2
Charlotte 0 0 1 1 2
Portland 0 0 0 1 1
Toronto 0 0 0 0 0

Links:
[NBA.com]: 2006-2007 NBA Schedule
[NBA.com]: Ten to Watch

Categories
Seattle Supersonics

Seattle: Say goodbye to your Sonics

Yesterday, the Sonics were sold to a group of businessmen from Oklahoma lead by Clay Benett called Oklahoma Professional Sports whose sole goal was to lure a major franchise to Oklahoma City. Yet, during their press conference to announce the sale, the group maintained that it was not their intention to move the team out of Seattle. This is like a bunch of crackheads telling you they only want to look at the 50 vials of crack they just bought from the corner. Time to make your peace now, Seattle.

The provisions of the sale allow for the group to move the team after 12 months if no deal is made for a new arena with the city of Seattle. Despite the fact that the best offer the city could come up with was $198M for a new arena, Bennett is going to demand a $400M+ deal. To paraphrase Nick Hornby, that’s like making out with a girl, getting denied on second base and trying to steal third instead.

Despite all the denials (and there are plenty — Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz said during the press conference, “I believe strongly this new group has a commitment to staying, provided elected officials meet him halfway. I do not believe the team is moving.”), the Sonics will be in Oklahoma City by 2008.

Speaking of denials, Sonics Central is in serious denial. There’s even a new website called “Save Our Sonics“. Good luck folks but it’s really just good night.

Links:
[Yahoo]: Seattle’s Sonics, Storm sold to Oklahoma City group
[Seattle PI]: Sonics flight plan on file
[MSNBC]: Buyers’ roots suggest they’ll move Sonics

Categories
Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks get a newer meaner logo

In addition to drafting David Noel and getting Damir Makota last night, the Milwaukee Bucks unveiled their new logo and color scheme. It’s not much different from the logo they adopted in 1993 but gone is the purple and replaced by “striking” red. Can’t you imagine a bunch of suits sitting in a conference room going, “yeah yeah.. we’ll go red… red is fierce!… red means we’re gonna be a force to be reckoned with!” Then they proceeded to spent countless man hours and thousands of dollars with creative consultants to do a simple color replace that anyone with photoshop skills could’ve done in 2 minutes. Frankly, we kinda liked the original Bucks logo. Now that was fierce.

The new uniforms won’t be unveiled until September. And if history is any guide, it’s the uniforms that will create the most shock and disgust. Remember the Sixers uniform from the early nineties? Barkley hated them so much he said it looked like his 5 year old daughter drew them with crayon.

Links:
[Bucks.com]: Bucks Unveil Updated Logo, New Color Scheme

Categories
Soccer

Odds and Ends (06.28.06) – Betting on the World Cup is better than sex



Not better than gambling

England’s Loughborough University is studying the effects of placing a bet on a soccer match on fans’ heart rates.


The heart rates that we have recorded throughout the first stage of the study are in line with those experienced by an individual reaching sexual climax, and in some cases greater than that. When you combine supporting your team with backing them financially, the level of excitement gets even greater.

We learned a long time ago never to place a bet on our team. Maybe that’s why we still prefer sex… although betting on football is a close second.

In other news…

[NBA.com]: NBA introduces new game ball that provides better grip.

[CBS News]: Budweiser paid $40M for the beer rights to the WC. Germans refuse to drink the piss.

[EurWeb]: Michael Strahan isn’t gay… or has a great beard.

[SignOnSanDiego]: An actual uplifting baseball story. (via Rangersfans.com)

[MetsBlog]: Sox Fans Forgive Buckner

Categories
New York Knicks

James Dolan is the worst owner is sports

When people talk about bad owners, it usually conjures up the image of the miserly bean counter who won’t spend any money to make the team any better. However, sometimes it’s the guy who will spend any amount of money but has no clue what he’s doing and continually sabotages the team with his mistakes. The poster boy for clueless ownership is James Dolan.

At a press conference today, Dolan cemented his status with the following:

  • Told the press that Isiah Thomas had one year to turn the team around or he will be fired. Something which Thomas didn’t appear to be aware of.
  • Said that Larry Brown wanted to release 6 players whose contracts totalled $180M. Among the 6 were Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, and Jerome James. Note that the NBA has guaranteed contracts.
  • Said that wanting to release those 6 players was Larry Brown’s way of forcing Dolan to fire him. Accused Brown of having no intention of coaching more than one year when he signed the five year contract with the Knicks.

Let’s just focus on his ultimatum to Isiah Thomas shall we? It’s fine to put Isiah on notice in private but calling him out in public? First, it puts undue pressure on Isiah and will become a press conference question after every game in the second half of the season. Second, how is Isiah supposed to motivate his team (we actually don’t think he can anyway) if, say, they are struggling by the all-star break and the players know that he’ll get fired by the end of the season. Why bother busting you hump for a coach who won’t be there? They didn’t do it for Larry Brown, who’s actually a good coach, they won’t do it for Isiah Thomas.

We can’t wait for the vegas over/under on number of Knicks wins next season. We’re going to peg it at 25.

Links:
[NY Post]: Thomas gets fair warning
[NY Daily News]: Dolan places Isiah on deck

Categories
New York Knicks

Larry Brown Fired! Isiah Thomas takes over Team Titanic



Out!

After months of speculation, the Knicks made it official today and fired Larry Brown after just one year. Taking over will be Isiah Thomas who now wears three hats: coach, GM, sexual harasser.

The buyout of Brown’s contract could cost the Knicks as much as $40M. James Dolan issued this statement.

Larry has had a long and storied career. We hired him last summer with the expectation that he would be with the Knicks for a long time. Sometimes decisions work and sometimes they don’t. After careful consideration, despite the best intentions from everyone involved, this current structure did not work for us last season and I did not think it was going to improve next season.

We’re waiting for Vegas to post the over/under on the number of wins for the Knicks next season but one thing we know for sure, NY residents can expect a rise in Cablevision prices. Meanwhile, in Boston, Philly, New Jersey, and Toronto, coaches and GMs rejoice.

Links:
[ESPN]: Knicks fire Brown, name Thomas new coach

Categories
Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade vs Dirk Nowitzki

While everyone is writing volumes about the “Air Apparent”, we thought a simple chart might do the trick. Stepping up when it counted, D-Wade was simply the best player in the playoffs, outlasting LeBron James and putting Carmello (who?) to shame. On the flip side, we also have the Incredible Shrinking Nowitzki!

If you must read people gushing about Wade and the Heat, here are some selections from the blogosphere.

[Complete Sports]: Your 2006 NBA Champion… Dwyane Wade (er, the Miami Heat)

[Straight Bangin]: NBA Finals: Wade 4, Dallas 2

[The Assimilated Negro]: Final Thoughts On The Finals

[Reggie’s Extra Points]: Wade’s class worth emulating

Categories
Dallas Mavericks

Cuban fined $250,000

Earlier today, Cuban claimed he didn’t scream at David Stern that the NBA was rigged. Well, he must have done something because the league has fined him a quarter of a million for “several acts of misconduct.”

The NBA should come out and tell us exactly what the fine is for. If Cuban did indeed say “Your league is rigged”, we want to know. But the NBA has said it will not comment further on the issue.

Here is a timeline of Mark Cuban’s fines. They add up to $1,455,000.

Links:

[Yahoo]: Cuban fined $250,000 for Game 5 outbursts

Categories
Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban: NBA is NOT rigged

We can’t decide whether to love or hate Mark Cuban. He’s like the TO of owners. If he’s on your side, you love the guy for the passion and skills (or money) he brings. If he’s on any other team, you hate him for his outspokeness and the constant need to be on TV. But you have to ask yourself whether you’d want Cuban as the owner of your team, and ultimately, the answer is yes. Who else would have a blog and let you know exactly what he’s thinking about his team?

Today, Cuban responded to an article in the Miami Herald where a reporter claims that Cuban walked up to Stern following game 5 and said, “[Bleep] you! [Bleep] you! Your league is rigged!”


Didnt happen. Didnt say a word to the man. Not a single word. And that was absolutely by intention.

Apparently this “reporter” has written he has several “sources”. Well they must be the same sources the tabloids use to find two headed babys and aliens, because it didnt happen.

Ive already blogged about and been fined for the source of my displeasure in these playoffs and there was absolutely no reason for me to say another word about it and i wont.

So there you have it folks. Straight from the horse’s mouth. He did not say anything to David Stern. As a matter of fact, he thinks the games aren’t rigged.


The games are not rigged. Thats a complete insult to the players on the court and the incredible amount of effort they put into preparing for and playing the games. All 82 regular season and post season games. The NBA couldnt rig the games if it wanted to. And it doesnt want to. Its that simple.

Like any reputable casino in the world, there’s no reason for the NBA to rig their games, they make money no matter who wins. However, something in the back of our minds keeps thinking about those Lakers-Kings series in the 90s. Now those… those were…

Links:
[Miami Herald]: Official coverup? Conspiracy theories no excuse for Dallas
[Blog Maverick]: The NBA is rigged ? Please..

Categories
Miami Heat

Hold the obit on the Miami Heat

After the first two games of the series, we thought the Heat were toast. We figured they’d grab game 3 and then game 5 and lose to Dallas in game 6. But the boys from South Beach showed they weren’t going to roll over and quit just because Mark Cuban was already ordering up a 2006 NBA Champions mural for his mansion. Still, there’s being wrong with your picks and then there’s looking like a complete tool.

There’s nothing we enjoy more than a hometown homer columnist making a fool of himself. Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News had this to say following game 2 of the series:


he only way the Mavs come back from Miami is on a float. Map the parade route. Schedule the sick day.

Miami’s chances of getting back here? Good as a Shaq free throw.

Think this series is still too early to call? Want to remind of the San Antonio series, when the Mavs went up 3-1 and needed a miracle three-point play from Dirk Nowitzki just to get into overtime in Game 7?

Forget it. San Antonio was a far more worthy opponent. Phoenix, too. Even Memphis wasn’t as grisly as Miami.

Four games, maybe five, and that’s it.

Not suprisingly, Kevin had nothing to say this morning after a thorough dismantling of his Mavericks by the Miami Heat. Miami fans, feel free to email Nostradamus at [email protected]

Links:
[Miami Herald]: Heat gets even, stronger
[Yahoo]: Buy a clue, Cuban