Book it. It’s over. There is no need for the 2012 season even if the lockout ended right now. "Win it all," Artest said when asked what will the Lakers do in the 2011-2012 season. "Win the whole thing. That's a guarantee.” Wow. Interesting. And here we go again. Why must you do this? And why must some of Laker Nation have to front run so much? Why? Dallas Mavericks dominating the Lakers was not enough? You were not entertained?
Kobe Bryant hates losing to LeBron James. He hates it. From Cleveland to Miami, the beatings have come over and over, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers star surly, seething. Ultimately, they’re made easier for Bryant because James has repeatedly failed in the playoffs. Bryant plays for championships, but these magnificent national stages do matter to him. In his mind, embarrassment isn’t so easily dismissed. “It is hard to digest,” Bryant said.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s what makes him who he is.
Kobe Bryant’s competitiveness has made him an all-time great, so much so that he’ll be a first-ticket Hall of Famer when he retires.
With such a drive to succeed, it’s no surprise Bryant was still fuming over a loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday evening.
After all, the Heat, not the Lakers, are the NBA’s glamour team. And James, not Bryant, is becoming the NBA’s most dominant player.
Of course, James always posts massive numbers when facing, and usually beating, the Lakers, which is like rubbing a pound of salt in Bryant’s open wound.
Bryant will respond with hard work. Like Drago in Rocky 4, he’ll train, scheme, and practice with eyes on regular season and playoff rematches.
Such an approach is what has made him great.
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I'm pretty sure I like LeBron James a lot less today than I did about two months ago. Back then, he was a player who everyone was sure could lead his team to a title and was probably the unquestioned best basketball player on Earth.
Today, he's an attention whore who wants us all to anxiously await the moment he "decides" what team he's going to suit up for next season.
ChrisBosh-“We’re still the best team in the league You’re going to have to go through things like this Things aren’t always going to go well.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Chris Bosh is right. Well, sort of.
His Miami Heat are the NBA’s best team, but aren’t playing like it. The Chicago Bulls, the Heat’s rivals in the competitive Eastern Conference, are.
To be fair, the Heat are 8-4 because they went through a brutal west coast swing without All-World guard and closer Dwyane Wade. A little rest, a healthy Wade, and the Heat climb the standings.
Meanwhile, the Bulls sit atop the entire league with a 12-2 record because of stellar defense and continued fine play from reigning MVP Derrick Rose.
Right now, the Bulls have the edge. Here’s the question: could the Bulls beat the Heat, provided The Big Three are healthy, in a best-of-seven playoff series?
The answer: probably not.
The Heat are virtually unbeatable -if Bosh, LeBron James, and Wade are at their best.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
‘Honestly, I’ve been paying attention to Tebow all year even while I was watching the Cowboys,’ James said Friday, referring to his favorite NFL team. ‘So I love to see what a guy can do when his back is up against the wall, when everybody counts him out.’ James says he’s in the “same boat” as Tebow, whose Broncos play at New England Saturday in an AFC divisional playoff. He’s not necessarily talking about talent, but about scrutiny. ‘I can relate to him a lot,’ said James, who like Tebow, is one of the most talked-about athletes anywhere. ‘I see how the media plays it sometimes and how the critics go at him and to see him continue to prove them wrong. If it’s a good game or a bad game on his part, he continues to stay positive and move forward. And that’s a great sign. It’s a great leader. You respect that no matter if you’re in that same sport or not.’”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: We knew LeBron James was a fan, but his connection to Tim Tebow, the controversial quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is apparently deeper than that.
James says he can relate to Tebow’s plight as the underdog, as the guy everyone counts out, as the real life Rudy, Rocky, and Cinderella Man.
This is too much.
First, James isn’t a victim. Far from it, in fact. He was blessed with amazing talents, and has benefited from his talent.
Second, James isn’t the underdog. He was the odds-on favourite, dubbed The Next One by media and fans while still in high school.
For instance, in grade nine, James - an Akron, Ohio native - amazed in work outs with the nearby Cleveland Cavaliers. And a couple of years later, ESPN televised his games as prep school senior.
The reason for the attention was simple: James was expected to succeed. Nobody doubted him or counted him out.
And he has suceeded by winning Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, leading the Cavaliers and Miami Heat to multiple 50-win seasons, and advancing to two NBA Finals. Of course, James is arguably the most dominant player in the league today.
Third, the circus surrounding James in 2011 was largely self-induced. He turned his free agency into a spectacle with The Decision, and predicted multiple championships for the Heat before they played a single game.
Tebow is in the public eye in, large part, because of an unorthodox style and willingness to credit God and discuss his religious beliefs publicly.
So Tebow’s situation is very different than James’. No matter what James says or thinks.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Pat Riley is returning to coach the Miami Heat as they attempt to regain their status as one of the Eastern Conference's elite franchises.
OK, not officially. Or even reportedly. But we all know this is coming, right? Current Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is probably packing up his office as we speak because he knows the writing is on the wall. He's seen Riley pull this stunt before and the current situation reeks of familiarity and deceit and frontrunning. And hair gel.
This can be discussed even during a lockout. Dirk and the Mavs are still riding high from their hard earned 2011 NBA title. They swept Kobe’s Lakers, beat Durant/Westbrook Thunder, and then took out the Miami Heat. The team is battle tested especially with the grand fail against the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 playoffs. The Mavs lost a lot with a solid roster in the past. They overcame all of that in 2011.What’s next? Repeat. Duh.
It seemed as though all season, whenever anything wasn’t going well for the Heat, Chris Bosh usually caught the most “heat” over it. Sure, many will point to LeBron as the ultimate lightning rod for criticism but some of the cheapest and most unwarranted pot shots were reserved for Bosh.
After getting blown out of the gym by the Celtics in Game 2 (and that's putting it quite mildly), the Heat kept it close and played a fairly well in Game 3. Unfortunately, they reverted back to their non-winning ways in the final seconds...
The saga continues for Dwyane Wade and estranged wife Siohvaughn Wade (née Funches). After a horribly messy divorce which involved accusations that Dwyane gave his former lady an STD and that his children no longer recognized him, it looked as if things were finally quieting down. Not so, evidently. After settling into a new relationship with model/actress Gabrielle Union (who took the third spot on our list of the NBA's 25 Hottest Wives and Girlfriends), things were looking up for Wade's personal life.
Why does everyone hate him so much? Is it because LeBron shoulder checked him and he did nothing, proving to some that he is in fact just a figurehead? Or is it because he is devoid of any basketball pedigree and is in fact a regular human, whereas a coach/GM/legend like Pat Riley seems like a superhero?
Do not blow up the Miami Heat. I repeat – do not blow the team up. That’s a stupid idea because they just made the NBA Finals. Yes, they actually reached the NBA Finals. It’s tough just to get there. I do not comprehend a complete blow up of the team by any stretch of the imagination. Pat Riley is not going to do that. It’s just dumb. However, they should break up the tandem of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. I am serious and will explain why.
After Greg Oden's doodle and George Hill's wang showed up online, I thought we'd seen the last of NBA dong for a while. Nuh-uh. Yet again a poor decision made about a year back has resulted in someone's junk being exposed to the world. In this case, the baller in question is Dorell Wright, small forward for the Miami Heat. After his girlfriend and baby mother Mia Lee posted a tweet in reference to Wright, a groupie and former hook-up responded by posting the compromising images that have put the 6'9" three in an embarrassing spot. In the photos, Wright can be seen exposing himself during an online chat session.
Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Wade/LeBron-Bosh Miami Heat, 4-1. Chi-Town is fighting through some pain right now, but there shouldn’t be any. At the beginning of the season, there were not many people on the Bulls’ bandwagon. The hype grew as the wins piled up. The bandwagon grew yet many were not convinced. Rose won MVP and that’s when all hell broke loose. Tom Thibodeau received Coach of the Year. Beating Indiana and Atlanta were good. However, facing Miami caused the bandwagon to break. People keep saying that getting an upgrade at the shooting guard position over Keith Bogans is all that is needed to get the Bulls over the top to win it all.
Game 1 is in the books. The Chicago Bulls woke up a lot of critics, 103-82. Led by Derrick Rose's 28 points and 6 assists, his performance was fine considering that he out dueled Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Both men did not even dial in 20 points, but Chris Bosh poured in 30 points. Miami's supporting cast could not get anything going as usual. However, the talk of the night belongs to Taj Gibson's dunks. One was on Dwyane Wade. The other one, which was a nasty put back, probably destroyed a planet somewhere. Lawd have mercy, things got nasty. Heat fans and critics were shocked. Don't be. They have been doing the business all season.
Everything is set up perfectly for the Heatles to win it all. They made quick work of the Philadelphia Sixers. The Boston Celtics are falling down all over the place trying to guard LeBron and Wade. Their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals will probably be quick work, too. This is what LeBron, Wade, and Bosh wanted. This is reality. They are making the 2011 playoffs look like an exhibition. It’s like that?
It’s that time again for the regular season end awards just like any other television sports show. It is time to pass out the awards. Rather than giving awards for the usual categories such as Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year….you get the picture…..let’s focus on categories that truly need to be highlighted – categories that I make up! Who cares about those other official awards anyway? They’re already locked up.
Fans chanted “MVP!” as Cole went to the free-throw line with 9.3 seconds left and the game already won. He swished both attempts to cement his storybook home debut. Cole scored 20 points, shooting 8 of 16 from the field, to go along with four rebounds and four assists. “I guess that’s some hard work paying off,” Cole said. “It was one of those nights where LeBron [James] and Dwyane [Wade] kept finding me and just kept knocking it down.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Heat fans, slow your roll.
Norris Cole will make a very nice player, however, he’s only had one strong game in the NBA and it’s premature to declare him a star.
If the rookie can solidify the point guard spot, the Miami Heat will be even stronger then thought.
Consider that Cole will provide Erik Spoelstra with options if Mario Chalmers struggles, which would allow LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to play off the ball. Of course, Cole has also shown he’s capable of playing off the ball with James and Wade.
--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Fans of HoopsVibe will know the name Siohvaughn Funches (pictures here and here) by now. The ex-wife of Dwyane Wade popped up in the gossip section here a couple of times, most recently when she accused Dwyane of giving her an STD, and subsequently when Flash sued her for the allegation.
The season is almost over. It is time to look back and reflect on the positives and negatives. The hype before tip-off was through the roof. There was a lot of anticipation on new rivalries and storylines to be played out. Will the South Beach trio work out? How will Blake Griffin play? Is Steve Nash’s window closed? Are the Lakers still the team to beat? Kevin Durant got the MVP? The Chicago Bulls are 4th seeders, right?
Dwyane Wade to Amarè Stoudemire: I got those "hunting" tips for you. Hit me on the cell L2MS.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s on.
Commissioner David Stern can say what he likes about achieving NFL-style parity between small and large markets.
Bottom line: he’s lying.
The NBA thrives when superstars are in major markets. And the NBA is at its best when superstars in major markets develop rivalries with other superstars in major markets.
So Amar’e Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade exchanging ‘hunting tips’ via twitter is great for the NBA, as it’s further proof the Knicks are once again relevant.
Will the Knicks challenge the Heat for supremacy in the Eastern Conference?
Probably not.
The Knicks are talented, and can score in bunches. However, I don’t think they’ll defend on a night-in, night-out basis to overtake the Heat. Not with offensive guru Mike D’Antoni on the sideline.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
I come in peace, but I’ll talk about this. This has to be addressed. Welcome to LeBron’s new nightmare. The Miami Heat is getting $hi#$ed on by the full media blitz. It’s not over. It’s never going to be over with the public onslaught. There is more to come, but no one has mentioned this particular item. I write this with full sincerity - LBJ will not win MVP ever again. This is a bold claim, but there are many reasons to see why.
Chris Bosh: I want to be the best player in the NBA. Maybe not this year or the year after next, but one day…’”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well, it’s good to have a goal, I suppose.
Chris Bosh isn’t even the best or second best player on his Miami Heat, as that distinction belongs to superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Bosh is a very good player, a perennial All-Star, a third option on a great team, but I don’t ever see him being 'The Guy' in the NBA.
However, he played his best basketball with the Toronto Raptors at a bulked up weight, after spending a few months in the gym on conditioning.
His game went to another level. He could still use his skill at the high post or mix it up in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Last year, Bosh arrived at Heat camp out of shape. Instead of lifting weights, he got caught enjoying the hoopla of The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010.
It’s worth noting that Bosh has arrived in superb condition. And perhaps he returns to his top form like when with the Raptors.
--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Both are having historic meltdowns in grand fashion. Remember how Bosh treated the free agency in summer 2010 as some joke? Yeah, joke's on him. The Toronto fan base wasn’t even trying. During the final two years in Toronto, Bosh should have said, “No comment.” That would have shut up any worries because there was nothing to talk about. Instead, he kept the question lingering because he did not really answer the question. His play left more questions, too.
Many people are claiming that this is LeBron’s MVP to lose especially the LeBron James Defense Force. Where do we start? I cannot think where to begin. I don’t even know where the middle lays. Where does it end? Is the based god real? Is this a slippery slope? Only time will tell. Why are we even arguing semantics? Whose side are you on? Many questions. Not many answers. LeBron James versus The World is shaping up to be better than Scott Pilgrim versus The World.
It has nothing to do about individuality and basically screw all the guys out there that think you gotta have a superstar to win a championship. I’m just not into the hype. I’m into some of the things we did when we went 18-7 and I can take anyone who wants to come into our film [room].
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It sounds good, but isn’t accurate.
Veteran coach George Karl is trying to appease Nugget fans and the Denver marketplace by declaring a superstar isn’t necessary to win a championship.
Not surprisingly, Karl's Nuggets don't have a top-tier player. He’s wrong, though. A superstar is necessary.
Sure, Karl will mention the 2004 Detroit Pistons, but it was a different time when superstars weren’t concentrated in a few major markets.
To beat a trio of superstars, you must have superstar(s). For instance, the Dallas Mavericks beat CB4, LeBron, D-Wade and the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals with All-World Dirk Nowitzki and an exceptional supporting cast.
So Karl’s statement sounds good, but isn’t reality.
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And I’m told that Arenas, in the wake of his Orlando release, has established a four-team wish list for resuming his comeback from the gunplay debacle in Washington that derailed his career and an unsuccessful stint with the Magic. The 29-year-old is holding out hope that the call comes from either the:
• Lakers …
• Heat …
• Knicks …
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s Christmas, so why shouldn’t Gilbert Arenas have a wish list?
Why shouldn’t a fading, shot-first combo guard, with a questionable attitude demand to play for top teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, or whatever team Dwight Howard ends up on?
Perhaps Santa will provide this gift. Or perhaps the Lakers, Heat, and whatever team Howard goes to will have enough sense to steer clear of Arenas -even if he comes at a bargain basement wage.
There are rumors the Knicks will roll the dice on Arenas, but with a star-studded frontcourt they’d be better off chasing blending players.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
2006 NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade was named AskMen.com "Man of the Week".
The men's portal explained that "despite his formidable talents and impressive list of achievements as a basketball player, NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade remains a down-to-earth and approachable guy."
The Nuggets and Nene have reached agreement on a five-year contract that will pay him up to $67 million.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: In the end, it was about the money.
Free agent post Nene won’t join a capped-out contender and will instead earn nearly $70 million over the next five years to stay with the Denver Nuggets.
On the one hand, this makes sense. This was Nene’s moment, his one opportunity to capitalize on a weak free agent market and get max-like money even if the league was coming off a lockout.
Only Denver and the New Jersey Nets were willing to meet his demands. And the Nets are in flux because Deron Williams still hasn’t inked an extension.
So Nene, who loves Denver, decided to spend his prime with the Nuggets.
On the other hand, this is surprising. The 30-year old decided against giving the Miami Heat and other elite squads a discount for the chance at a championship.
Of course, it’s hard to say just how much of a South Beach sale the Heat were asking for. And Nene could sign a short-term deal with a contender once this deal expires in June of 2016.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
The Clippers have made a successful big on Chauncey Billups, who was amnestied by the Knicks last week. Under terms of the league’s amnesty police, any team under the salary cap can put bid on Billups. The Clippers put a bid of just over $2 million for Billups, according to Marc Stein.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Perhaps the Los Angeles Clippers missed the memo.
Veteran point guard Chauncey Billups warned teams not to claim him after he was amnesty waived by the New York Knicks.
Teams under the salary cap had first crack at claiming Billups, who wanted to go unclaimed so he could become a free agent and sign with a contender.
Mr. Big shot had his eyes on competitive squads like the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.
So Billups joining the Clippers is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, Los Angeles’ other team is big on potential but light on results.
Second, there are rumors the Clippers will send several pieces to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Chris Paul. This would relegate to Billups to the bench on a team that would be good but hardly great.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
"They will break the single-season win record [of 72],'' Jeff Van Gundy said. "And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers' 33-game [winning] streak [in 1971-72], as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series. They will never lose two games in a row this year.” A long time friend brought to my attention regarding this comment about Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat. I’ve caught this awhile back and needed time to ponder about such a notion. You guys do realize that in order to break the record, the team can only lose nine games, right? Count that again – 9 games. Seriously.
Eddy Curry is getting another chance. The Miami Heat will sign Curry on Friday in time for training camp, sources told ESPN.com.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Rumor will become reality.
It's hardly a secret Eddy Curry was dropping weight to salvage his career, and bank account, with the Miami Heat.
Curry seems set to sign a one-year deal for the league minimum. And he has LeBron James to thank.
The former lottery pick has long had a business (they share agents) and personal relationship with James, which surely played a role in the signing.
Hopefully, the Heat aren't relying on Curry him to play major minutes.
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“To be on the other side, they call it the dark side, or the villain, whatever they call it, it was definitely challenging for myself,” he said in an interview with ESPN. “It basically turned me into somebody I wasn’t. Me, personally, I’m not that guy.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He doesn’t like the consequences. But will he change his behaviour?
In a recent interview LeBron James told ESPN he didn’t enjoy being the bad guy or villain of the 2011 season.
Fair enough.
However, James must accept responsibility. He and his people held The Decision, dumping his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers on national television.
And James got on stage and declared that the Heat would win multiple championships before the team had even held a practice.
So it’s hardly a surprise fans, media, and even some peers turned on him.
--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
A recent Shaquille O’Neal rumor has him close to signing a deal with the Boston Celtics to go on another adventure of ring chasing. It’s sad to see the old man like this chasing these things when he already has four. He is also a shell of his former self. The new generation of fans will probably only remember Shaq within the past 4 years. The long time fans barely remember O’Neal during his Orlando Magic days. Please don’t forget – Shaq was the most physically dominant center in the last 30 years.
Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battier’s strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Talent matters but so does chemistry.
If the Miami Heat subscribe to the above theory then they’ll have to pull out all the stops to sign free agent utility swing Shane Battier.
The former Memphis Grizzly and Houston Rocket does all the little things necessary to win. He defends multiple positions and stretches opposing defenses with his range.
He just hasn’t had superstar talent to complement in the NBA. With LeBron, CB4, and D-Wade, talent won’t be an issue in South Beach.
Of course, Battier’s professionalism and likeability will go a long way in helping heal the Heat‘s tattered reputation. The Eastern Conference champions spent 2011 with a bulls eye on their back, facing the wrath of media and fans alike.
So Battier would get a chance at a championship. The Heat get a quality role player and person. Sounds like a mutually beneficial arrangement.
--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
We all saw LeBron James announce Miami. The moment will always be known as “The Decision.” To basketball purists, we might see this as “The Moment where LeBron threw everything away.” He had the NBA world at the palm of his hand and threw it in the trash. I knew he was going to leave, but LeBron didn’t have to do the state of Ohio dirty like that. Wow! Did this guy just do that? I’m flabbergasted. I am trying to understand this entire free agency period and the Big Network’s exploitation of Ohio.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Heat GM Pat Riley and Thunder GM Sam Presti must have had heart attacks while watching LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s flag football teams go at it.
Luckily, the two NBA superstars, who earn tens of millions of dollars to play pro basketball, didn’t get hurt.
And LeBron returned interception for a touchdown. His celebration dance wasn’t half bad either.
Click the link, watch the video, and come back to HoopsVibe News with thoughts and comments.
Beyonce and beau Jay-Z go a 'court'-ing at a Miami Heat-New Jersey Nets game in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday. Despite his smile, the rapper didn't have much to cheer about: He's part owner of the Nets, who lost to the Heat, 108-105.
CREDIT: JESSE D.GARRABANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The sales pitch has got to be one of the toughest things to put together for any marketing team. It is one of those things that science alone cannot help them. The only way science can help is in producing the right numbers – the sweet science of money. There’s another science as well and that is the science of reproduction. Sex parties are the cure, but then again who wants herpes? That doesn’t cope well with these big name free agents doing public appearances. Even Delonte West gets clowned on and supposedly it’s just a birth mark.
Shortly after being featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People", Miami Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade became Sean John's clothing line's new ambassador.
Wade will be representing the brand starting with the next fall advertising campaign.
"Dwayne Wade is the Sean John man," said Sean John owner, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. "At such a young age, he has become one of the best players in the NBA. We're going to make Dwayne Wade the first NBA male supermodel!"