Well-traveled supercoach Larry Brown is cut loose from the Pistons. Are the Knickerbockers next?
Tag: NBA
The Centers Cannot Hold.
Two centers with unproven upside switch coasts: Washington’s Kwame Brown to the Lakers (for Caron Butler), and Seattle’s Jerome James to the Knicks. And, with Cuttino Mobley heading for the Clips, it seems the NBA offseason is already in full swing. (My thoughts on the James acquistion — Well, we desperately needed a true center after losing Kurt and Nazr (and rookie Channing Frye doesn’t seem like he’ll have an immediate impact), and James had a few big playoff games last year. That being said, he’s no silver bullet.)
Burnt Draft Cards.
On the eve of the 2005 NBA Draft, SI offers their take on the 20 biggest busts of all time. Sam Bowie was a given, but where’s Frederic Weis? Update: The Knicks get their man.
Pistons Misfire.
So, in a Game 7 that only Tim Duncan’s mother could love, the Spurs rallied past the Pistons 81-74. I really doubt the league won over too many new fans with last night’s ugly performance, the third lowest-scoring Finals Game 7 ever. But, hey, the draft is right around the corner, and it looks like the Knicks have picked up Quentin Richardson for Kurt Thomas. So, here’s to next season…
Play ball!
Just in time for Game 6, the NBA sorts out its labor issues for next year, with an agreement that will “institute a new 19-year-old age minimum, reduce contract lengths and raise the salary cap.” Booyah.
In the Game.
“‘I like Kobe, O.K.?,’ Albert Arce said, referring to Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star. ‘But I like to play him because I can make him pass to the other guys. When I see him on TV, it’s like he doesn’t know how to pass.‘” The NYT wonders if sports video games are eclipsing the real product. (As someone who enjoys both, I wouldn’t really think so.)
Punxsutawney Phil.
While the Finals haven’t made for the most scintillating match-up so far (although thankfully Detroit finally showed up in Game 3,) there’s a good deal of NBA news happening off the court of late — namely, the Zen Master’s back in Kobeland of all places and Der Kommissar is threatening another lockout, mainly because team owners want shorter maximum contracts so they can be protected from their own lousy decision-making. (*cough* Allan Houston.) Work it out, people.
The Gentle Giant Slumbers.
“‘He literally carried the league,’ Boston Celtics great Bob Cousy said. ‘He gave us recognition and acceptance when we were at the bottom of the totem pole in professional sports. He transcended the game.'” R.I.P. George Mikan 1924-2005.
Four, War, and a Bore.
Big-time summer trailers piggybacking off of Sith this week include the final trailer for Fantastic Four (I actually liked the Magic Johnson NBA spot, but this is looking lame again) and a new War of the Worlds trailer, with our first brief look at the invaders. Also, Top Guns Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, and Josh Lucas go up against a renegade Skynet-like fighter in the new trailer for Stealth. Oof, Sam Shepard and Joe Morton must have some bills to pay.
Y.N.B.A.
“Stringy beanpole players who are long in the arm and short on energy will say anything to convince you that it’s a bad idea to run back and forth. Half-court basketball is their evolutionary niche—they can stand under the basket gobbling up rebounds and tapping in misses without ever moving their size-19 feet. Shawn Bradley is just one rule change away from being the NBA Finals MVP.” Slate‘s Felix Gillette compares NBA players to those guys you play pick-up with. Speaking of hoops, it was nice to see two competitive playoff games again last night. Ever since the Game 7 implosions by Houston and Boston last weekend, the playoffs have been Mismatch City.