Jeremy Lin offered no excuses. He and the Knicks had no answers.Lin's rapid rise from unknown to superstar was slowed big-time Thursday night by the Miami Heat, who overwhelmed the NBA's hottest story with a swarming defense that the Knicks' new starting point guard could not solve. Forcing Lin into easily the worst game of his remarkable run as New York's newest star, Miami topped the Knicks 102-88 - the eighth straight win for the NBA-leading Heat, all by at least 12 points.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It was a rather rude awakening for 'Linsanity'.

Yesterday, the Miami Heat used superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, physical play, and full-court pressure to neutralize sensation Jeremy Lin and defeat the New York Knicks 102-88.

Lin had his worst game as a starter, going 1-for-11 from the floor and turning the ball over eight time.

The key: the Heat rotated defenders on Lin. And  Mario Chalmers did an especially good job picking up Lin full-court and making the second year table-setter work.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

So will D’Antoni look into tinkering with the starting five, even bringing Lin off the bench? It could [change],’’ D’Antoni said. “I’m trying to find the right combos. But it’s got to be determined over time. It’s not going to be over one game. Not going to just throw people under the bus for one or two games. Over a length of time, if they prove they need to be out there, they’ll be out there.’’

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Experience could trump youth.

New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is right to say there’s a possibility Baron Davis could eventually replace Jeremy Lin in the starting line-up.

Sure, Lin sparked a turnaround that likely saved D‘Antoni‘s job. Sure, Lin is a media darling. And sure, fans love Lin, the NBA’s Cinderella.

The NBA is a results-orientated business, though. And D’Antoni’s only loyalty is to the player or players who provide the Knicks with the best chance at winning.

Davis, a former All-Star who struggled with conditioning and injuries, is wonderfully talented, but will still struggle if given extended minutes.

The best case scenario: a two-headed point guard monster with Lin and Davis splitting time.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

And the other lowest point is when I played for the Clippers. … I just stopped liking basketball. And then you dribbling down the court and having the owner like cuss at you and call you an idiot. I didn’t even look forward to coming to the games, and if the owner [Donald Sterling] came to the game, I definitely was not gonna have a good game because it was just like, how do you play when the main heckler in the gym is the owner of the team, and he’s telling you how much he hates you and calling out your name?

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I have little sympathy for Baron Davis, the talented but temperamental point guard for the New York Knicks.

After all, Davis had a choice, and choose the Los Angeles Clippers because they offered the most money - signing a five-year, $65 million pact as a free agent.

And Davis, being a Los Angeles native, knew the deal. He knew the Clippers were a second-rate outfit with owner Donald Sterling and a curse Cub fans can relate to.

Yet Davis took the money -and ran. He never tried to transcend his situation, showing up out-of-shape and feuding with coaches. In fact, Davis seemed more interested in pursuing a career in show biz producing movies than helping the Clippers.

Instead of blaming others, Davis should focus on salvaging the remains of his career.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Knicks fell to the Mavericks, 95-85, last night to go 2-4 since Anthony returned to a new structure created by Jeremy Lin, whose emergence stoked a 7-0 spurt with Anthony missing most of those games with a groin injury. “I think any time you go from the early part of the season and having the ball and distributing and now waiting for it to come to me, it’s quite an adjustment for myself,’’ said Anthony, a minus-18 and 0-for-3 from 3-point range.

Link

Except that the Knicks with Jeremy Lin started to look a lot like they did without him. They were 8-15 when Lin fell into their laps and are 18-22 today and need to win a ballgame, and keep winning ballgames, or maybe people will start wondering if (Mike) D’Antoni is even going to make it to the end of the season that Jeremy Lin was supposed to have saved for him.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Jeremy Lin is not the Messiah. He’s a young point guard trying to find his way in the NBA.

Lin can’t save Mike D’Antoni’s job as coach of the New York Knicks. And he can’t save the Knicks from the dysfunctional Carmelo Anthony.

Remember, the Knicks were decent before selling the farm to acquire Anthony from the Nuggets one year ago.

Owner James Dolan wanted Anthony so GM Donnie Walsh reluctantly traded for the forward -even though he knew the shot-first small forward would clash with Amar’e Stoudemire.

D’Antoni’s run-and-gun style won’t work with Anthony, who must be the focal point of any system he‘s in. So it’s a ‘fait accompli’ that the former coach of the year will lose his job.  

Anthony has the backing of ownership. D`Antoni does not. Lin can’t change this.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been fined $25,000 for posting “inappropriate pictures” on his Twitter account, the NBA said Saturday.  Smith posted a picture of a scantily-clad woman on his feed on Thursday.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: New team, same J.R. Smith.

On Friday, the talented but controversial shooting guard tweeted a revealing picture of Tahiri, a  model who dated rapper Joe Budden.

Where to begin?

Smith, who is supposedly rebuilding his image and NBA career with the New York Knicks, is again causing problems. This is hardly a surprise.

After bouncing around the NBA, he found a home with the Denver Nuggets. Well, sort of -Smith and Coach George Karl rarely spoke, preferring to communicate through assistant coaches.

Smith signed in China during the lockout, but racked up six-figures in fines that left 'good citizen' Stephon Marbury negotiating with the club on his behalf.  

Reports are surfacing that New York superstar Carmelo Anthony, and Smith's teammate in Denver, didn’t approve of the Knicks signing the three-point shooter.

Anthony, who is no stranger to dysfunction and controversy, felt Smith would be too great a distraction.

The Knicks ignored Anthony, signed Smith, and are paying for it. 

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Carmelo Anthony has told a confidant that he prefers a trade from the Knicks before the deadline, according to a source.  Anthony reportedly believes Mike D'Antoni and Glen Grunwald do not trust him. He is surprised that his opinion hasn't been sought more on personnel moves. “The organization makes believe his opinions don’t matter,’’ the source said.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Of course, Mike D’Antoni has lost the New York Knicks.

D'Antoni lost the NBA’s flagship franchise the moment owner James Dolan forced him and GM Donnie Walsh to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets.

D’Antoni didn’t want Anthony. Neither did Walsh. They sacrificed a decent team to land the one-dimensional scorer and appease Dolan, the man who signs their pay cheque.

Anthony, since arriving at Madison Square Gardens, has refused to buy-in to D’Antoni’s system. Instead, he’s trying to make the coach and teammates buy-in to his system of shooting at will.

Not surprisingly, it hasn't worked.

Here’s the problem: D’Antoni can’t hold Anthony accountable for insubordination. The small forward is armed with a three-year, $60 million contract and still has Dolan’s support.

Then there’s D’Antoni’s contract -as in he doesn’t have one beyond this year. Dolan and/or Walsh haven’t extended him, which means he’s a lame-duck.

The players know this, too. So the headstrong Knicks are unlikely to follow D’Antoni’s orders, preferring to ‘get theirs’ and ‘do their’ thing.

Add it up and there’s only one outcome: D’Antoni’s gone.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.       

Mike D'Antoni has resigned as coach of the New York Knicks, sources confirmed for ESPN on Wednesday. D'Antoni's resigned was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Link

HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: No surprise here.

For months, there's been an obvious disconnect between Mike D'Antoni's style of play and the Knicks` roster.

Several players have openly defied the former coach of the year. For instance, recent reports have superstar Carmelo Anthony refusing to stand in the correct spot on offense, which compromises spacing for pick-and-rolls.

Today, the media had the Knicks on the verge of mutiny. Anthony supposedly asked for a trade; the player liked but did not respect D'Antoni; Baron Davis, and several others, were upset about playing time.

D'Antoni, who is in the final year of his contract, saw the situation, specifically the unrealistic expectations, as untenable and quit rather than get fired.

Now the Knicks have a handful of game to secure a playoff spot and salvage what they can from the season.

Whatever happens, a summer makeover is inevitable. Such dysfunction can’t continue. 

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“It’s everybody’s ball club,” Woodson said after practice Thursday, when he was asked if the Knicks were once again Anthony’s team, as they were before Jeremy Lin briefly took over. “I want everybody to feel comfortable. When I put a guy in the game, if he’s got a shot, I want him to feel comfortable about making that shot.”But then he spoke more bluntly, saying that he wanted everybody to know that when “I’ve got to get a big shot, I’m going to go to Melo and Amar’e and guys that have done it,” a reference to Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.“A lot of these guys are young,” Woodson said in reference to their teammates. “They’re still trying to figure it out.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: ‘Linsanity’ was fun while it lasted, right?

Two days ago, Mike Woodson was named interim coach of the New York Knicks after Mike D’Antoni resigned. And he’s made two major decisions since taking over the bench at Madison Square Gardens.

First, Jeremy Lin’s role will decrease. And second, Carmelo Anthony’s role will increase.

Bottom line: Woodson gets who his meal ticket is.

After all, D’Antoni left, in large part, because he challenged Anthony’s authority, even attempting to trade him to the New Jersey Nets for Deron Williams.

Woodson won’t make the same mistake. He’ll turn the team over to Anthony, running iso’ after iso’ for the small forward.

This, of course, was the plan one year ago when owner James Dolan forced GM Donnie Walsh to break up an emerging team and acquire Anthony from Denver

And Lin, who a month ago was the buzz of the sports world, will watch these changes while, in all likely-hood, on the bench.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Anthony became a controversial figure after Mike D'Antoni 's departure as reports insinuated he was at odds with his former coach. But Anthony maintained that he was an innocent bystander in the process, and in the past few days, he has tried to revamp his image into a team-first guy who not only welcomes but seeks criticism. "When he got the job, I told him, 'Hold me accountable,' " Anthony said of Woodson. "I don't have a problem with criticism. If I can do something to help better this team, let me know. And he's been doing that."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick: Well, there’s a first time for everything.

Carmelo Anthony saying he wants New York Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson to hold him accountable is interesting because nobody has ever done, or even tried, such a thing.

Think about it: Anthony has received the VIP, red carpet treatment since arriving in the NBA in 2003. And this has resulted in more ‘get out of jail free cards’ than one can count.

After all, Kiki Vandeweghe, Jeff Bzdelik, and Nuggets ownership swept his early indiscretions under the rug, while respected Coach George Karl was undercut when trying to discipline Anthony.

Then there was Mike D’Antoni, a one-time coach of the year and assistant with USA Basketball. The former New York sideline boss only asked Anthony to be ready to play, to share the ball, and to have fun.

When Anthony balked at such lofty expectations, D’Antoni went to his boss, owner James Dolan, to pursue a trade. Dolan refused, encouraged D’Antoni to resign, and empowered Anthony.

Bottom line: nobody has ever held Anthony accountable. Not once.

It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t won anything. And it doesn’t matter that his only playoff success in Denver came because teammate Chauncey Billups was an MVP candidate.

Anthony demands, and gets, superstar treatment.

So it’s hard to see Woodson, an interim coach, truly holding Anthony, a star with the backing of ownership, accountable.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: To my surprise the New York Knicks have turned things around under new coach Mike Woodson.

The players are loose. They’ve bought-in. And they’re having fun, which is very different then the last month under Mike D’Antoni. Want proof?  Well, check out this double alley-oop between swings Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, which is similar to LeBron and Wade aerial antics in South Beach.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Beijing Ducks, led by former NBA star Stephon Marbury who notched game-high 41 points on Friday night, clinched their first-ever title of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league. Edging defending champions Guangdong Hongyuan 124-121 at home, Beijing Ducks, who entered the finals for the first time, won 4-1 on aggregate in the best-of-seven series. Guangdong had been crowned seven times in the past eight seasons.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I have a confession. I never thought Stephon Marbury would be a champion in any league or at anything.

After all, Marbury had toxic traits -wearing out his welcome in Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, and the entire NBA.

Things often got weird, too. There was his bizarre interview where he referred to his wife has his better ‘ho’. There was his preacher-like sermon when the Knicks acquired Zach Randolph. There was his role in Isiah Thomas’ sexual harassment case. There was his banishment from the New York Knicks and some bizarre youtube clips.

Too Marbury’s credit, he has moved on. The past is the past. In China, he won a championship, sold sneakers, and even served as a go-between when J.R. Smith got into trouble with his Chinese club a few months ago.

The entire episode reminds me of the redemption flick Mr. Baseball, where Tom Selleck finds his way in Japan after bottoming out with the New York Yankees. 

So, wll Marbury stay in China or return to America if he scored an offer from an NBA side? Whatever happens, it will be interesting. Things always are with Marbury.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

But that’s not what I’m talking about, I am talking about next season — Lin could leave the Knicks. He could. But he won’t. The Knicks will overpay to keep him. However, Lin will have some options (we like to call that leverage) and those will put more money in his pocket. And every dollar he gets will make it harder for the Knicks to make upgrades this offseason.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Jeremy Lin is finished for the year with a knee injury. Is his career finished with the New York Knicks?

Well, not exactly.

According to cap experts, the most an NBA team can offer Lin is $5 million. The Knicks, who have cap issues, can keep the Taiwanese table-setter but only by tendering him their full Mid Level Exception.

Of course, Lin probably isn’t a $5 million per annum player. At least his play on-court isn’t worth $5 million bucks.

It's very different off-court -as Lin sells memorabilia and, because of his background and Cinderella story, puts MSG’s favourite team in the global spotlight.

This is too much for any club to pass up. The Knicks have to sign Lin; however, giving him the full Mid Level Exception would make it virtually impossible to ink, say, Steve Nash.

Nash is also a free agent this July. He has a home in New York. And the future member of the Hall of Fame would be able to keep both Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire happy with regular touches.

So keeping Lin could prove costly.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Is it only a matter of time before the Knicks bring Isiah back into the fold? Then again, does it really matter? After all, Thomas has served as an unofficial consultant to Dolan for three years after he was fired in 2008. Dolan himself admitted as much when his attempt to hire Thomas fell through in 2010.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Believe it or not, he could return.

Isiah Thomas was recently fired by Florida International University, which opens the door for him returning to the New York Knicks.

Thomas, of course, had a bizarre reign as an executive and then coach of Knicks. He was eventually fired by super executive Donnie Walsh, but has always stayed in contact with owner James Dolan.

It’s a new day in New York. Walsh is no more. The coach he hired, Mike D’Antoni, resigned. Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire are the stars, not Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury.

Thomas has a good relationship with Anthony and Stoudemire, so the door is open a crack. And nothing is impossible with the Knicks and Dolan.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

And he let everyone know it by celebrating his last 3-pointer of the game — an overtime game-winner he rattled in from 25 feet out to beat the NBA”s winningest team — by spinning around and screaming, “This is my house!” “Yeah, I did say that,” (Carmelo) Anthony admitted with a laugh. “It was just that they were talking some trash out there, in the moment.” If this is a preview of what a first-round playoff showdown between the Knicks and Bulls and Anthony versus Rose, is going to be like, then bring it on.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: New York is finally starting to accept and love Carmelo Anthony.

For a year or so, Knick fans were questioning the acquisition of Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. After all, the trade was the doing of owner James Dolan, while former lead executive Donnie Walsh was opposed to breaking up a promising squad for the All-Star forward.

Initially, the results were mixed. Very mixed.

Anthony couldn’t click with fellow star Amar’e Stoudemire and coach Mike D‘Antoni. His shot selection was questionable. And the Knicks were losing more than they were winning.

Enter Mike Woodson.

The former Atlanta Hawks sideline boss started the year as an assistant but replaced D’Antoni after the former Phoenix Suns coach resigned in March.

Woodson immediately empowered Anthony, telling him he’d get more touches on offense and, in turn, would be held accountable. The results have been overwhelmingly positive -as the Knicks are winning more and Anthony has greater balance to his game.

Not surprisingly, the fans have responded to him.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.


 

The Los Angeles Clippers are tired of seeing Blake Griffin take hard fouls and have vowed to protect their All-Star forward if it continues. "I feel like people are intentionally trying to hurt him," Clippers center DeAndre Jordan said. "It'll all come back around."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: One Los Angeles Clipper, DeAndre Jordan, gets it. They must fight back.

For months, opponents have subjected superstar, franchise face, and NBA glamour boy Blake Griffin to hard fouls with little to no fear of retaliation from his Clipper teammates.

The 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk champ faces such tactics for two reasons. First, it sometimes throws him off. And two, opponents hit him with a hard foul to prevent him dropping a grand facial on their dome (you know exactly what we’re talking about).

Old time basketball is one thing. Fans of the Detroit ‘Bad Boys’ or those old Anthony Mason Knick squads have no issue with a wee donnybrook breaking out at an NBA game. The problem has been that the Clippers haven’t defended their star teammate by returning the hard foul when opponents drive the lane.

Part of this is personality. The Clippers are a young, loose bunch. Their focus has often been in question; many like star table-setter Chris Paul seem to enjoy the glitz of Los Angeles.

Part of this is on-court style. The Clippers are a fast, lively bunch who excel when in the open-court tossing each other highlight reel alley-oops.

Credit Jordan for stepping up and talking about sending a message. With the grind-it-out playoffs around the corner, he and the Clippers must do far more than talk, though.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Glen Grunwald has been named executive vice president and general manager of the Knicks. Grunwald had been serving in this role on an interim basis since July.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s a good news-bad news scenario.

The good: the New York Knicks didn’t name Isiah Thomas as GM. The bad: hiring Glen Grunwald means Thomas could serve as the unofficial GM.

After all, these two worked together in Toronto and hooked up during the Hall of Fame point guard’s reign of terror in New York, where Thomas wrecked the league’s flagship franchise.

The damage Thomas inflicted as an executive and coach means the Knick faithful would never allow him to officially return, sit in the executive suite, and make personnel decisions -even if that’s exactly what owner James Dolan wants.

To be clear, Dolan and Thomas are tight. And the eccentric Knick owner is not above having Grunwald serve as his front man while Thomas makes decisions in the background.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

 

On the chances of him staying in Phoenix: "Honestly, I have no clue. I couldn’t predict. I don’t know what the future holds at this point. And I’m actually OK with that. I think now’s the time to maybe get some distance from it and try to find a clear perspective on where I am. Until I do that, I couldn’t put a number on it or take a guess on what the chances are on whether I’ll be back or not."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This is the end of the line for Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.

Although fit and productive, Nash is in his late thirties and the window to win a championship is quickly closing. In fact, that window is shut if he re-ups with the Suns -as Robert Sarver’s club is starting to rebuild.

So expect the two-time MVP and first ballot Hall of Fame table-setter to head elsewhere for the Mid Level Exception in July when he hits free agency.

A few possibilities:

• The Miami Heat could use a veteran point guard; however, Nash would, at times, have to play off the ball if he wanted to successfully partner with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
• Mike D’Antoni, the architect of Seven Seconds or Less, is gone, but the New York Knicks could use help even if Jeremy Lin makes a full recovery and re-signs in 2013.
• The Raptors need some sort of shtick to sell tickets and keep fans interested. Nash, a patriotic Canadian, could be open to heading north of the border despite Toronto being thousands of miles from his home of Victoria, British Columbia.

There’s an argument that Nash will re-sign with the Suns because his three children live with his ex-wife in Phoenix, Arizona. Of course, family matters. But Nash is, and always has been, highly competitive. His drive took him from being an unheralded Canadian prospect to one of the faces of the NBA.

And his drive will force him to leave Phoenix and most likely sign with a competitive squad next season.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Isiah Thomas wants to get a basketball job, any basketball job. So if you have one, be sure to hit him up.

Elaine Alden says she's proud to be a WAG and so are we.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This is a definitely WAG of the year candidate.

Jeremy Lin going to the Houston Rockets.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: What's Linsanity in Texas sound like ya'll?

Knicks sign 3 key off-season players to ensure they can compete.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This will help, but don't plan on going to the Eastern Conference Finals NYC.

Carmelo Anthony blames former Knick Lin for his being dubbed selfish.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: If the shoe fits. Pass the ball.

Argentina's Campazzo cheap shots Carmelo Anthony and we got the video.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Careful what you ask for Argentina. Melo might just drop 37 points on you to shut you up.

The incident happened at the end of the 3rd quarter with the U.S. leading Argentina 102-76. The game was likely out of reach, although Argentina had come back from a 20 point deficit on the U.S. in an earlier game just weaks before to only lose by 4. 

Carmelo Anthony was squaring up to take a transition 3-pointer when Argentina's smallest player Facundo Campazzo, their feisty reserve point guard, decided to punch Anthony in the groin. Anthony immediately fell the to floor in pain. Note, the shot went it. Just goes to show you punching Melo in the family jewels won't throw off his shot. You'd have better luck simply talking trash about his inability to win a ring or play selfishly. (Just an idea)

The incident immediately resulted in a possible serious situation and team U.S.A. players came over to defend their attacked teammate and Argentine players ran over to make sure someone didn't decide to make tiny little Campazzo into a hood ornament on their Bentley. 

Mike Krzyzweski former-Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni both saw the cheap shot and erupted off the bench screaming at both the referee and the player, but the international refs somehow missed it. This is actually completely believable because these refs have managed to miss a lot of fouls. They appear to be watching more games than reffing them.

"He got hit in the groin," said coach K. ""That's why he buckled over. He wasn't celebrating the shot."

"We saw it all," said Anthony's Knick teammate, Tyson Chandler. "It was a cheap shot. He hit him in an area where you don't want to get hit. We all represent our countries. This is the Olympics. You never want to go like that."

After the game Campazzo insisted he didn't intentionally hit Anthony in the groin. Yeah, good luck selling that one. Oh, he made himself look even more innocent by then insisting Chris Paul had hit him earlier in the game. So then I guess you did intentionally hit Anthony. He can't have it both ways. He can't say, he didn't intentionally hit Anthony AND Chris Paul hit him earlier so it's justified.

Anyway, it was silly because the game meant nothing to either team's standing. Team U.S.A. were already a lock to finish their grouping in first place and team Argentina was locked to finish 3rd. These two teams could meat again and if they do, it should be a chippy affair.

For more info, gossip, and updates on punches to the groin follow @HoopsVibe.

Photo Credit: WENN

WAG of the week: Lala makes one Knick a very very happy man.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Oh, LaLa. Melo is one lucky guy.

Smith tells a group of kids he's going to kick Jeremy Lin's ass.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: J.R. repping everything we love to hate, mostly just him being a douche. 

Ewing to Re-launch Signature Shoes for $100 a pop.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Suddenly, I feel like a kid again.

Rumor Alert: Knicks reportedly want Rasheed Wallace.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Does it really matter? NYC has zero chance of advancing out of the East.

Stephon Marbuy blasts Melo & Amar'e as a horrible combo destined to lose.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Who is Marbury to comment on being a team player?

Dwyane Wade told USA Today Sports that he is donating his entire game salary from tonight's game against the Knicks to Hurricane Sandy relief.

Hoopsvibe's Quick Call:  Dwyane Wade is the man.

Apparently, even Phil Jackson was shocked that the Lakers decided to hire Mike D'Antoni instead of the Zenmaster himself.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  So are we, Phil.  So are we.

The following is a list of the NBA's top five highest salaried teams.  (And thanks to Hoopsworld.com for providing the data).

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  This list proves that the best team isn't always the one that spends the most money.

1.)  The Los Angeles Lakers - $102,256,438

Point and case.  The Lakers may have the largest payroll in the league but their current record is the worst on this list.  The organization kept busy this offseason and when they acquired both Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, it was looking like the purple and gold were the team to beat.  And indeed, they have been the team to beat.  Yes, it's still early in the season, but having won only three games with their expensive lineup is pretty embarrassing. Let's hope the recent hiring of Mike D'Antoni turns things around.

2.)  The Miami Heat - $87,595,822

It shouldn't come as much of a shock that the Heat are number 2 on this list.  They pretty much cleared out their books a few years ago to make sure there was enough cap space for Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to be on the roster.  And as it turns out, that was a good idea.  Micky Arison, Pat Riley and company made a good decision in doing so seeing that the Heat are the defending NBA Champions and are currently sitting at the top of their division.

3.)  The New York Knicks - $82,010,527

The Knicks could quite possibly be the surprise of the season so far.  J.R. Smith is posting career numbers, averaging 18.2 points per game.  Raymond Felton is averaging 14 points and 6.2 assists while Carmelo Anthony's 26.8 ppg leads the league in scoring.  As a result, they're 5-0; all the while Amare Staudemire has been on the bench with knee injury.  Who knows if they'll keep it up, but it will certainly be interesting to see how they play with Amare back in the lineup.

4.)  The Brookyln Nets - $83,511,726

The NBA's newest team are 4-2 to start the season.  They have a new stadium in the Barclays Center and with Deron Williams, Brooks Lopez, Kris Humphries and Joe Johnson on their payroll, they certainly have a few expenses.  But if they continue to win games, those expenses most likely won't be much of an issue.

5.)  The Memphis Grizzlies - $77,098,154

I was pretty surprised when Memphis came in at #5 on this list.  I would have thought Boston, or San Antonio, or even Oklahoma City would have been ahead of the Grizz.  Then again, they do have Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol on their roster.  Those three guys alone take up about $47 million of the payroll.  And for good reason; they combine for over 51 points per game.

The rumor around town is that the Lakers are actively looking to trade Pau Gasol to the Knicks for Amare Stoudemire

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This isn't much of a win for either team, but edge goes to Knicks.

19 years ago today, The Houston Rockets lost their first game of the year.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The 15-0 start to the season tied the all-time record set by the Washington Capitols in 1948-49.

Just as it did for the 1995 Chicago Bulls, a hot start to the season ultimately culminated in a championship for the Houston Rockets. With a chance to set the NBA record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season, the Rockets couldn't overcome a game Atlanta Hawks team during an entertaining 133-111 Hawks victory in Atlanta. After the loss, the Rockets would win the next seven games in a row, running their record to an impressive 22-1.

On pace for a video game like four loss season, the Rockets came back to earth from then on and finished a subdued 36-23 over the final 59 games. The up and down nature of the season continued in the playoffs as well. After easily dispatching the Portland Trailblazers 3-1 in round one, The Rockets nearly had an early postseason exit when they lost the first two games of the conference semifinals to Phoenix at The Summit in Houston. The Rockets won three in a row, lost game six in Phoenix and then returned to Houston for the decisive game seven victory.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets over powered the Utah Jazz 4-1, setting up a Finals matchup with the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks.

The Rockets versus Knicks Finals was one of the most physical in NBA history, even to this day, thanks to each team's emphasis on tough defense and a grind it out approach on offense, working the ball through Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, respectively. For the first time since the introduction of the shot clock in 1954-55, neither team reached 100 points in any game of a seven-game playoff series. Not since 1975 had there been a Finals series in which the margin of victory in every game was less than 10 points, until this one.

The Rockets won the series 4-3, securing their first title in NBA history. Hakeem Olajuwon's "Dream" season was one for the ages. Olajuwon was named league MVP, NBA Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team.

Though a win in Atlanta on 12/3/1993 would have set a new record, it's safe to say the Rockets were satisfied with how the season ended.

HoopsVibe was fortunate enough to speak with former NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Mutombo is the latest pitch-man for Old Spice's "Champion Scent" line of products.

During his 18 year playing career, "Mt. Mutombo" was one of the most intimidating shot blockers and rebounders of all time, leading the league in blocked shots five times and rebounds four times. Mutombo was an eight time All-Star and appeared in the NBA FInals with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

HoopsVibe: Tell us about the game (which can be found at oldspicesavestheworld.com). According to the site you have 4 ½ weeks to save the world before the end of the Mayan calendar, correct?

Dikembe Mutombo: Yes, Iteam up with Old Spice to promote the computer game and we have to save the world in 4 ½ weeks. Also to promote Champion Scent from Old Spice. It’s a wonderful game for everybody to play.

HV: Let’s talk about Georgetown. You played there with Alonzo Mourning and a lot of other great players; Why couldn’t you and Zo win a national title?

DM: Man, that is a major question that will haunt us for the rest of our lives. We had a chance and ultimately went to NBA to become dominant centers and we had opportunities to win in college. The opportunity was there, and we just didn’t do it.

HV: How did the finger wave come to become your signature move?

DM: It happened after my third year just before we beat the Seattle Supersonics in 1994 NBA playoffs. I was having such a great year and blocking shots and moving up in the league. I used to block the shot and then I would shake my hand and no one said nothing. One day I decided shaking the hand doesn't really mean nothing- maybe the best way to not come into the House of Mutombo it's best to wave my finger, so it worked out very cool. But it ended up getting me a lot of technicals.

HV: How did the NBA come to ban that? Does David Stern call you personally?

DM: It came from the players. You would hear from someone like Phil Jackson or something, that maybe you better stop what you're doing it's costing you a lot of money. It was good for me to do in the players face, but if I could face the fans and wave my finger away from the players face, it would be great. That's why you see in the last five years I started doing it away from the players face. So I don't have to lose a couple of thousand dollars (laughing).

HV: Who was your favorite NBA player to block? 

DM: That's a good question. To me, not just one in particular. But I think playing against Shawn Kemp. He was such a high jumping, athletic player.

HV: How gratifying was it to be the first eight seed to beat a one seed when your Nuggets beat Kemp's Sonics?

DM: One of my proudest successes of my career. But I’m happy to promote the Old Spice game now. I want everyone to go to the website on your computer and play the game to save the world we only have four and a half weeks so we better do it!

To play "Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World", click here.

These truly are the 100 things Knicks Fans should know and do.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Do you know what a Knickerbocker is? Well, you're about to find out.

For Christmas, Santa is bringing you a full slate of NBA games throughout the day, into the night.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Even though there will be five games, odds are no-one will replicate Bernard King's game 28 years ago.

The Los Angeles Lakers have waited long enough for Steve Nash's return and it's been reported that the wait is almost over.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  As great of a point guard Nash is, I'm not sure he's going to be the Lakers' savior this season.

Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett have heated words during the game and Melo comes through on his promis to catch up with him after.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Aren't they all a little too rich to fight in the street?

Day 15: Carmelo Anthony's Clarity Fast. 

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It is impossible to think how this could not impact his game, but will it save his marriage?

Carmelo Anthony falls victim to the injury bug. Question is, how bad is it?

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Doubtful if New York has the firepower to win without their MVP candidate.

Stephen Curry bounces back from fight with 54 points (video).

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This kids got touch for days. It's a beautiful thing to watch.

La La finally sets the record straight on Kevin Garnett claiming she tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Her side of the story has been a long time coming, but do you believe it?

In the most recent data gathered, Lebron James topped the list of the NBA's most popular jerseys.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Here is the list of the top 5 most popular NBA jerseys.

The NBA's "real season" begins soon, as playoff time is finally almost upon us.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Upsets used to be the exception, now they are the rule.

The following five match-ups all feature an eighth seed upsetting a number one seed, a feat that has only happened five times in NBA history. Of the five times, three of those upsets ocurred in the last six years.

Golden State Warriors Upset Dallas Mavericks - 2007

At the time, the Dallas Mavericks were considered one of the biggest favorite one seeds ever, coming off of a 67-15 regular season record which was the only since legitimate claim to challenge the Bulls 72-10 all-time best NBA season. The Mavericks were also coming off of losing in the Finals to the Heat the previous season, a series many people felt like they should’ve won; expectations were high and facing Golden State in the first round they had every reason to be. The Warriors were a franchise at the time, much like now, that was mired in mediocrity with no real reason to be optimistic. After squeaking into the playoffs at 42-40, they were a complete after-thought. The Warriors qualified for the playoffs that year for the first time since 1994 with the 13 year drought between appearances being the second longest in NBA history. The Warriors beat the Mavs in six games, and this Baron Davis dunk over AK-47 (even though it took place in the following playoff series) shows you the level he and the Warriors were playing at:

Denver Nuggets Upset Seattle Supersonics - 1994

The year was 1994. Charles Barkley signature “Air Max” shoes, selling for $150 a pair, were king. The world was shocked by the unexpected death of Kurt Cobain. And Seattle Supersonics fans the world over were reeling from a first round playoff loss to the eighth seed Denver Nuggets. The Sonics had blown through the regular season going 63-19 which was a franchise record for wins and were the number one seed heading into the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs to face a Denver Nuggets team that no one had expected anything from. And with good reason; to that point in NBA history no eighth seed had ever beaten a number one seed. And no one expected a 42-40 Denver team to pose a legitimate threat, especially after losing the first two games in what was at the time a best of five game first round series. Game five was an epic back and forth game where the intensity never waned and every possession felt like the most important in the game. Kendall Gill’s layup with a half second left on the clock sent the game into overtime. But the Nuggets maintained the momentum throughout the extra frame and escaped with a 98-94 victory, winning the series.

New York Knicks Upset Miami Heat - 1999

The Pat Riley led Heat were the number one seed after posting a 33-17 record during the strike shortened season and the Knicks stumbled to 27-23, barely qualifying as the eighth seed. Both teams had dominant big men from Georgetown University; Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing. Both had flashy offensive weapons that could make plays, Tim Hardaway for the Heat and a still dominant Latrell Sprewell. Down by one with 19.9 seconds left in the deciding game five, the Knicks did everything they could to screw up the possession and struggled to get a shot off. Ultimately after an inbound with 4.4 seconds, Allan Houston launched a running floater from the top of the lane that bounced off the rim and backboard before falling through the hoop securing a one point victory and the series for the Knicks.

Philadelphia 76ers Upset Chicago Bulls - 2012

Game one of the series, the Bulls are coasting right along, up by 12 with 81 seconds left. Then, this happens:

Series over, Philly wins four games to two. That's pretty much it.

Memphis Grizzlies Upset San Antonio Spurs - 2011

I remember at the time watching this series, particularly how slow and old the Spurs looked and thinking, "Man they had a great run, but they are definitely over the hill." Wrong again! The Spurs, essentially with the same core of players, will be the #2 seed in the West this year. The Spurs came into the 2011 playoffs as the #1 seed, with the second-best record in basketball and home court advantage against any Western Conference opponent and were dropped in the first round. Zach Randolph played out of his mind and Marc Gasol wore down Tim Duncan on both ends of the floor.

In this year's playoffs, if the Bucks were to beat the Heat, or the Lakers were able to vanquish the Thunder, would either be a bigger upset than any of the previous upsets on this list?

For more news, info and updates, follow us on Twitter @hoopsvibe

Image Credit: Creative Commons

O.J. Mayo will opt out of his contract in Dallas as Stoudemire and Jennings make absurd first round playoff predictions.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Since when does a #2 seed have to publicly guaratee they'll beat a #7 seed? Probably about the same time a #8 seed guarantees they'll beat the best team in basketball. 

A yearbook photo of Knicks guard J.R. Smith surfaced this week, but it's Smith's yearbook quote, not his picture, that's caught everyone's attention.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Smith has clearly always been a gamer.

Did the Celtics give the Knicks even more motivation to eliminate them by taunting Anthony about his wife LaLa ... Again?

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: Have we learned nothing from watching Spike Lee motivate Reggie Miller to win after win?

The Knicks have been struggling in the second round against the Pacers, and now JR Smith, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year is taking the blame.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  While Smith's production has significantly declined against the Pacers, he's not solely to blame.

How much more Mike D’Antoni can the Knicks and the city of New York stomach? With his arrival, Knicks fans were promised to never again feel the way they are feeling now.