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The Take: No Surprise Durant Going With Respected AgentApril 09 07 You’ve heard the story: star athlete turns pro and hires some unqualified, back in the day associate as his agent. Things go bad. The athlete signs a whack contract and is left with very little.I saw it with Ricky Williams and Master P in New Orleans. I saw it with Vince Carter’s first agent Tank Black. I saw it this summer when Bonzi Wells turned down Sacramento’s 36 million dollar offer and signed with Houston for 5 million dollars. That’s why I was relieved to hear Kevin Durant signed with respected agent Aaron Goodwin. But this was no surprise. It simply confirms what we already suspected-that Durant is wise beyond his years. I watched Durant all year, waiting for this eighteen year old to crack. There was so much hype. The media hounded him. Fans adored him. And his play never wavered from spectacular, making a football crazy state fall in love with him. But he never cracked under the camera’s glare, not once. With the world watching, looking for a slip, Durant went about his business in a professional manner. He never seemed uncomfortable or troubled by the pressure. He always made the right choice. I was relieved to hear Durant picked a professional agent like Goodwin. But based on what we know about him, I wasn’t surprised. Oly Sandor is HoopsVibe’s NBA analyst. Read his blog at NBAblog.hoopsvibe.com or email him at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com
Breaking News: Reports Surface Durant To Sign With Aaron GoodwinApril 09 07 Reports are starting to surface that Kevin Durant will soon sign with Aaron Goodwin, the NBA player agent who represents established stars like Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Gary Payton, and Dwight Howard. This is further evidence that Durant, the NCAA player of the year, will forego the remaining years of his college eligibility and announce that he’s turning pro. He’ll then ink a deal with Goodwin. Goodwin, who used to represent LeBron James, is considered one of the most influential agents in professional sports. Stay tuned to HoopsVibe and NBAblog.hoopsvibe.com. We’ll have more on this story as it develops later in the day.
Letter To Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors’ GMApril 09 07 Player Profile Player: Oly Sandor. Position: Guard, technically. But I find formal positions limiting. Height: 6-2. Weight: 180 lbs. Vertical Leap: Extremely limited. Wingspan: Better than my vertical, but not by much. Career Highlights: Winning the Hustle Award in grade seven at the University of Victoria summer basketball camp. Professional Experience: How do you define professional? Attention: Bryan Colangelo, General Manager of the Toronto Raptors. I’m not upset with you or the Raptors for ignoring my requests for a tryout. There was a time my agent and I felt disrespected by your lack of interest, but we hold no grudges. Instead of pulling a Gilbert Arenas and changing my number from eleven to zero, I’ve decided to extend a final olive branch to the Toronto organization. I’ll give you one last opportunity to sign me to the playoff roster. Once again, here’s why Oly Sandor-notice the third person reference just like an NBA player-would be a good fit in Toronto: 1) Congratulations, your ‘Euro’ experiment has worked. No, I’m not referring to the currency twenty-five countries across the Atlantic Ocean use. And, no, I’m not referring to a meat sandwich eaten after a night at the bar. I’m referring to how you rebuilt the Toronto franchise by adding a player from every country, semi-autonomous state, and breakaway republic in Europe. This strategy resulted in your organization winning the Atlantic Division. But one player is missing. This player would provide your team with the ultimate edge in a seven game series. That player is me. I’m ‘Euro’. My father is Hungarian. My mother is Scottish. But I was born in Vancouver, Canada, so my game is half ‘Euro’ and half North American. My unique heritage makes me the living manifestation of Commissioner Stern’s global NBA dream. And with such an international perspective, I could forge a connection with your overseas talent and help them fully adjust to the subtleties of the North American game. For example, Jose Calderon, Rasho Nesterovic, and Uros Slokar have all gotten tired from the 82 game grind of the NBA season. These guys are beat up. I have a solution to this problem-‘Euro’ style. In exchange for a spot on Toronto’s playoff roster, I’ll provide my ‘Euro’ brothers with food and liquor imported from the Mediterranean-free of charge, of course. I’m confident Calderon, Nesterovic, and Slokar will quickly gain fifteen pounds of ‘muscle’ eating nothing but cheese, meat, and wine. Please note this estimate is based on personal experience as opposed to tangible scientific evidence. And there may be some subtle side effects with this diet like a lack of motivation and moodiness. 2) Your front office and scouts may have lost track of me because I’ve moved on from dominating The Greek League. Okay, again, this wasn’t the Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglo Greek league, but the pick up runs at the Greek Church over on 32nd and Arbutus in Vancouver, Canada. Anyway, those details are irrelevant. My NBA dream has taken me to the Monday night Veteran’s League. This league has NBA talent-well, sort of. One guy plays like Bobby Hurley. And a few weeks back, Sean and Alex exchanged baskets in a duel reminiscent of Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 playoffs-minus the Hall of Fame athleticism and talent, of course. 3) The Veteran’s League has no buyout fee for player rights. This means I can immediately join the Raptors-there’s no red tape to negotiate through with FIBA or multimillion dollar buyout fee holding up my NBA debut. However, the commissioner of the Monday night Veteran’s League is a big Ben Harper fan, so you may be on the hook for some tickets. But concert tickets do not count against the salary cap, so signing me will not force your organization to pay the dreaded luxury tax. Again, these factors make me THE ideal candidate to join the Raptors. My agent and I urge you to finally take advantage of our latest olive branch and re-consider your previous decision as an organization not to offer me a roster spot. Under the right circumstances, I could be convinced to provide Toronto with a private workout. Sincerely, Oly Sandor aka Toronto’s missing link. Oly Sandor is Hoopsvibe’s NBA analyst. Contact him at olysanor@hoopsvibe.com
NBA Wrap-up for April 08April 09 07 Top 3 Stories 1) Detroit beats Cleveland by making King James use his teammates. Is this the Eastern Conference finals? 2) Flash’s return a fizzle; Miami lose in OT to Charlotte 3 T-Mac’s 40 points defuses worries over his injury 1) Detroit beats Cleveland by making King James use his teammates. Is this the Eastern Conference finals?What happened: The Detroit Pistons implemented a new defensive strategy, double teaming LeBron James and forcing the Cavaliers’ supporting cast to make shots. This strategy helped Detroit beat Cleveland by a score of 87-82. James was held in check, contributing just 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. These two teams could meet in the Eastern finals. Today’s game proved that the Pistons are currently the best team in the conference. Reaction of Chauncey Billups on defending LeBron James: “We know he (LeBron) can beat us. We want to make them beat us." (ESPN) Reaction of LeBron James on the double teams: "At times, we did a great job of reacting to the double team and at times we didn’t. That’s a great team, and you can’t have any lapses on defense or on offense." (ESPN) “If you play well and you lose the ballgame, you can be satisfied. We gave ourselves a chance to win against Miami, and we gave ourselves a chance tonight. That’s what you look at.” (CBS Sports) "We had too many mistakes — mental errors and turnovers. We had breakdowns throughout the game. In the last couple minutes they did a nice job of executing and we didn’t. You can’t give away points and opportunities in this league." (CBS Sports) My take: “There are two points here. First, the Pistons are absolutely the best team in the Eastern Conference. They have a great starting unit and they now possess a deep bench. I think their big bodies can match up with Shaq over a seven game series.” “Second, Detroit may have discovered a way of defending James-sort of a Jordan rules defense for LeBron. All year, there have been questions and concerns over the quality of Cleveland’s supporting cast. Today, Detroit once again showed that those questions and concerns are justified.” 2) Flash’s return a fizzle; Miami lose in OT to CharlotteThe Story: Dwayne Wade’s return did not produce the result Miami was hoping for. Wade played 27 minutes, scoring 12 points and adding 8 assists, but the Heat looked out of sync, turning the ball over 26 times in 111-103 loss to the Bobcats. D-Wade came off the bench as the Heat’s 6th man, entering the game late in the first quarter. He had been out with an injury since February 21st. Miami will spend the next few games trying to work their star back in the lineup. The Reaction of Dwayne Wade on his decision to play: “Sitting at home by myself, I just thought, this is the day. It just came over me. I also wanted to get a lot of games under my belt to get my rhythm back, to get in a groove with what the team’s doing.’’ (MiamiHerald.com) "It’s exciting to get back, but at the end of the day, you always want to win. You always want to come back and help your team win. I came back and at times, I looked OK and at times, I didn’t.’’(NBA.com) “I had a lot of turnovers tonight. I missed a lot of free throws. But one thing about me, you don’t have to worry about that. I won’t do that too often.” (NBA.com) Reaction of Pat Riley on his team’s performance: "When you don’t play as hard as you can play, you make 26 turnovers and the other team is shooting over 50 percent, you’re going to have a very difficult time. Plus missing 18 free throws, I don’t know how you can win.’’ (ESPN) “We just didn’t make enough plays.” (ESPN) My take: “There’s both short-term and long-term issues with Wade’s return. Looking at things from a short-term perspective, the Heat could struggle getting used to playing with their superstar. They became more of a slow down, defensive team without Wade. There’s an adjustment time for everyone involved.” “Looking at things from a long-term perspective, specifically the playoffs, Miami needs Wade to challenge Detroit in the Eastern Conference. So they have to persevere through this adjustment period in order to defend their NBA Title. The key is to have Wade and Shaq clicking at the same time.” 3) T-Mac’s 40 points defuses worries over his injuryWhat happened: The Houston Rockets must be breathing a sigh of relief. Two days ago, their stars, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, both sat out against the Portland Trail Blazers with back injuries. On Sunday, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming combined for 58 points in a 114-108 win over Sacramento, putting to rest concerns over their injuries. McGrady was particularly brilliant, scoring 40 points, dishing out 10 assists, and collecting 8 rebounds. The Reaction of Tracy McGrady on his play and the upcoming playoffs: “It’s very important to get it going. It’s coming down to the last few games before these playoffs. We want to be a good-executing team. You don’t want to wait too late. We’re not about trying to catch Utah out here. We’re just trying to get better.” (ESPN) “It’s all about how we’re playing individually and as a team. We’re just trying to get better, man." (Houston Chronicle) “We hadn’t play well for the last three games and it was up to me to come out and put my will on this game.” (Houston Chronicle) Reaction of Yao Ming on the Rockets chances of securing home court advantage for the playoffs: "Actually, the best chance has slipped out of our hands already, in those last three home games that we lost. We had the chance to have home-court advantage in the playoffs, but we probably lost it. In the second half, we started playing defense and got better." (ESPN) My take: “This is good news for Houston. The Rockets must have McGrady and Yao healthy for their playoff run. McGrady was special in this game against Sacramento. When he’s healthy and asserting himself, T-Mac is still such an amazing player.” “Yesterday I talked about the potential for L.A. to meet Phoenix in the Western Conference quarterfinals. Right now, Houston would draw Utah in the first round. This would be an excellent match-up. Losing home court advantage, like Yao mentioned, could be the difference in the series.” Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, featuring Oly Sandor’s cutting-edge analysis. Got a comment or question? Use the comment box or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com
The Take: Reminiscing On The Unlucky Legacy Of Starbury MarburyApril 08 07 I nicknamed him Rocky because he was always training. Every TV story or magazine picture showed him working out, the infamous Coney Island projects hanging in the background. And I remember there being plenty of TV stories and magazine pictures. As a teenager, I read about his high school exploits in Slam. NYC’s daily papers followed his every step. He had that New York buzz-like Biggie right before Ready To Die dropped. I thought his prep career would be the beginning. I thought he was marked for greatness. I thought he was The Chosen One, the youngest brother from the large basketball playing family who would make good in the NBA. Today, I think the beginning will actually be the peak for Stephon Marbury. But I don’t blame Steph. I used to. I used to blame him for bailing on Minnesota and KG. I used to blame him for killing New Jersey. And I used to blame him for Phoenix and New York. Something changed my opinion. I respected how he gave a million dollars to victims of Katrina. I respected how he defended himself against Larry Brown. And I respected the idea behind his Starbury shoe line. I watched the Knicks all season. Cheering for him and the team Coach Brown abused. Steph wasn’t always at his best. But it didn’t matter because he tried. He became a team guy instead of the scorer everyone hated on. He listened to his coach. And he picked the right times to defer to others. Even though he had the best of intentions, his season started slowly. Then, suddenly, his play took off. He learned balance, specifically when to shot and when to pass. The Knicks were rolling, pushing for a playoff spot. Everything seemed to be clicking on Madison Avenue. Today, I heard Stephon Marbury is out for the season with an injury. Timing had never been his strong suit. And he never found the right situation or the right team. I hope this isn’t it. I hope there’s more than high school. I hope the kid who trained in the streets of Coney Island finally finds his way in the pros. Oly Sandor is Hoopsvibe’s NBA analyst. Contact him at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com.
NBA Wrap-up for April 07April 08 07 Top 3 Stories1) New York Represents: Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Eddie Curry all have monster games 2) Who goes first overall: Kevin Durant or Greg Oden? 3) Lakers versus Suns. Kobe versus Raja 1) New York Represents: Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Eddie Curry all have monster gamesWhat happened: Kidd, Carter, and Curry posted impressive numbers for the Nets and Knicks, helping their respective teams win and remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Kidd and Carter both had triple doubles in an overtime victory against the injury-riddled Wizards. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were the last two teammates to record triple doubles in the same game. The win also helped New Jersey move just 3 games behind Washington for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Curry shot a blistering 17 for 20 from the floor, including a game tying three-pointer, to lift the Knicks to a 118-113 win over the Bucks. The official line: Jason Kidd: 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 18 assists. Vince Carter: 46 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 rebounds. Eddie Curry: 43 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals. Reaction of Vince Carter on comparing his and Jason Kidd’s triple double to Jordan and Pippen’s: “You can’t beat that one. That’s nice company. ’’It’s a special night. I’m not used to it. I was just trying to do whatever I needed to do for the team. For me, I wanted to help on the boards and make plays because guys were hitting shots.’’ (ESPN.com) Reaction of Jason Kidd on Carter’s performance: “He was aggressive. He found the open guy and made all the right plays. That’s what Vince does. Tonight he filled up his stat sheet. I wish I could have a triple-double like that.”(CNNSI.com) Reaction of Eddie Curry on his hot shooting: "It was one of those nights where the shots were falling. My teammates did a good job looking for me.” (ESPN.com) ’’He asked me if I had one in me and I said, ’Yeah. It felt good leaving my hand. (Dan) Gadzuric challenged the shot so I couldn’t see the ball. So I stepped to the side and saw the ball go through. I really couldn’t believe it, man. It was incredible.” (CNNSI.com) Reaction of Isiah Thomas on Curry’s three-pointer: “It was designed for Eddy. I didn’t think that they would guard him. I’ve been telling him the whole season I was going to design a play for him to shoot a 3 and win a game for us. I took a timeout and said, ’Now’s the time.’ We drew it up and he knocked it down." (CNNSI.com) My take: “The Nets can smell blood and are making a real hard push to overtake the Wizards for sixth in the Eastern Conference. If New Jersey finished sixth, they would match up against Toronto. You guessed it. Vince Carter would return to his old stomping ground north of the border in Toronto.” “It was nice to see Curry have a big game. Marbury was out with an injury, so it was the perfect game for Curry to go off. At times, he’s been lost in the offense, not getting enough shots. Last night, he was on fire, but still only had 20 attempts from the floor.” “The Knicks have an outside shot at the final playoff birth in the Eastern Conference. But they need to play perfect basketball from here on out.” 2) Who goes first overall: Kevin Durant or Greg Oden?What Happened: Word has broken that Kevin Durant, the NCAA player of the year, will apparently leave college after his freshman year and declare for the draft. It also seems that Greg Oden will declare for the draft. Who do you select first overall: Durant or Oden? Do you take the athletic small forward or the classic, low post back center? The Reaction of Steve Greenberg, Sporting News: “If both Oden and Durant turn pro this year, the question of whom to draft No. 1 goes on the front burner and stays there until June 28. Oden will be considered the likely choice because he is a great center and great centers win championships. He is the safe pick and the smart pick.” “Still, jump into a time machine and put Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and, heck, LeBron James in the same draft as Oden. Who goes No. 1? Probably the big guy.” Reaction of Chad Ford, ESPN analyst, on Greg Oden: "The best big-man prospect to enter the draft since Tim Duncan. He’s the favorite to be the No. 1 pick as long as he stay healthy.“ Reaction of Chad Ford, ESPN analyst, on Kevin Durant: "He might be the most talented prospect in the draft. He has it all: size, athleticism and a beautiful jump shot. Right now he’s the consensus No. 2 pick in the draft behind Greg Oden." Reaction of Draft Express on Greg Oden’s recent NCAA performance: "While the Buckeyes wouldn’t end up cutting down the nets, this type of performance was certainly a personal victory for Greg Oden. The timid, raw, step-slow freshman is gone. In his place is a truly dominant force, absolutely everything that was advertised when he first broke onto the scene. Greg Oden has made his case for the #1 pick in the draft." Reaction of HoopsHype describing Kevin Durant, their #2 prospect: “Super productive perimeter oriented combo forward with excellent athleticism and terrific range on his jumper. Incredibly long and lanky, Durant is as smooth, silky and talented as they come. Breaks players down off the dribble and pulls up fluidly off the dribble with superb body control. Not a great defender or ball-handler in the half-court at this point. Could stand to improve from 15 feet and in. Young for his class, adding bulk to his skinny frame will be a necessity. Had possibly the most impressive NCAA freshman season of all time, and is certainly in the discussion for going first overall.” Reaction of Lance Walton, Hoopsvibe Draft Analyst: “By now as most people know the debate has been if Kevin Durant and Greg Oden come out who would be number one. If both come out how can you not take Oden number one, he is too rare to pass up.” 3) Lakers versus Suns. Kobe versus RajaWhat happened: On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Phoenix Suns in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference quarterfinals. This means Kobe versus Raja. The Reaction: Did you forget last season’s drama? Bryant referring to Bell as "that kid" and questioning whether he was hugged "enough as a child." Bell responding by telling the media that "he didn’t respect Bryant." Then came Bell’s infamous WWE arm drop straight to Kobe’s dome. This drew a one game suspension from the suits at NBA head office. And after the Lakers choked in game seven, Mrs. Bell, Raja’s mom, found Bryant outside the locker room and dropped a classic line asking Kobe if "he could use a hug." Still a bit foggy? These entertaining links should refresh your memory: -Kobe versus Raja set to melodramatic opera music. -Jimmy Kimmel, the late night talk show host, weighs in on the Kobe and Raja beef. -Ernie, Charles, and Kenny from TNT discuss Kobe and Raja. -Here’s a brilliant 4 minute clip that recaps last season’s epic series. My take: “There’s a whole lot of hate going on. Kobe Bryant and Raja Bell hate each other. And the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns hate each other.” “Both team’s coaching staffs have a healthy distain for each other. Zen-master Phil and his assistants don’t respect the Suns style of play and roster. Last year, word got out that they wanted to play Phoenix in the first round. Mike D’Antoni and his crew took offense to that.” “Everyone wants to see Phoenix and Dallas in the playoffs. That should be a great series. But I also want to see L.A. and Phoenix. Last year was amazing. This is one of the best rivalries in sports.” Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, featuring Oly Sandor’s cutting-edge analysis. Got a comment or question? Use the comment box or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com
What NBA Team Should Kevin Durant Play for?April 07 07 I’m just waking up in the mid AM. I strut to the laptop and make the NBA rounds, surfing sites for info.Nothing major is going down. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Then it hits: Kevin Durant is heading for the NBA. Kevin Durant, the NCAA player of the year and freshman prime-timer for Texas, has apparently made his intentions known. The lanky swingman wants in. He wants his shot at LeBron, Kobe, and D-Wade. He’s NBA bound. My colleague at hoopsvibe, Lance Walton-> is on it with a hot breakdown. “As the best player in college basketball, scoring 25 pts, 11 rbs, 1 ast, 1 stl, and 1blk a game in his first season and wowed the nation with his amazing play,” writes Walton. “At 6’10 225 pounds, playing both forward spots, he has been compared to Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki at his best and Rashard Lewis at his worse.” We know Durant’s highly talented. That’s a given. But I decided to look at how Durant would fit with some of the NBA’s worst teams: Memphis (19-58): The Grizzlies could rebuild on the fly with Durant. He would fit well with Pau Gasol. Boston (23-52): The Celtics would have to balance Durant with Paul Pierce. Still, Boston would be loaded with young prospects. Imagine in five years: Durant and Gerald Green at the guard and small forward spots. Milwaukee (26-49): The Bucks need a wing. Durant would work well with Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd. Atlanta (28-48): The Hawks are close to being competitive. But is there room for Durant? How’s Marvin Williams doing? Charlotte (30-47): This would be the perfect spot for Durant. The Bobcats need a scorer. They also need someone to sell tickets. Philadelphia (30-45): Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant. That’s an explosive combo. What team do you think Kevin Durant should play for? Post a comment below or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com. Oly Sandor is Hoopsvibe’s NBA analyst. Read his blog everyday at NBABlog.hoopsvibe.com.
Breaking News: Kevin Durant Apparently Declaring For NBAApril 07 07 I’m just waking up in the mid AM. I strut to the laptop and make the NBA rounds, surfing sites for info.Nothing major is going down. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Then it hits: Kevin Durant is heading for the NBA. Kevin Durant, the NCAA player of the year and freshman prime-timer for Texas, has apparently made his intentions known. The lanky swingman wants in. He wants his shot at LeBron, Kobe, and D-Wade. He’s NBA bound. My colleague at hoopsvibe, Lance Walton, is on it with a hot breakdown. “As the best player in college basketball, scoring 25 pts, 11 rbs, 1 ast, 1 stl, and 1blk a game in his first season and wowed the nation with his amazing play,” writes Walton. “At 6’10 225 pounds, playing both forward spots, he has been compared to Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki at his best and Rashard Lewis at his worse.” We know Durant’s highly talented. That’s a given. But I decided to look at how Durant would fit with some of the NBA’s worst teams: Memphis (19-58): The Grizzlies could rebuild on the fly with Durant. He would fit well with Pau Gasol. Boston (23-52): The Celtics would have to balance Durant with Paul Pierce. Still, Boston would be loaded with young prospects. Imagine in five years: Durant and Gerald Green at the guard and small forward spots. Milwaukee (26-49): The Bucks need a wing. Durant would work well with Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd. Atlanta (28-48): The Hawks are close to being competitive. But is there room for Durant? How’s Marvin Williams doing? Charlotte (30-47): This would be the perfect spot for Durant. The Bobcats need a scorer. They also need someone to sell tickets. Philadelphia (30-45): Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant. That’s an explosive combo. What team do you think Kevin Durant should play for? Post a comment below or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com. Oly Sandor is Hoopsvibe’s NBA analyst. Read his blog everyday at NBABlog.hoopsvibe.com.
NBA Wrap-up for April 06April 07 07 Top 3 Stories 1) Wade most likely to return next week as 6th man 1) Wade most likely to return next week as 6th manFlash will soon be back. After much speculation, we finally know superstar Dwayne Wade will return to the Heat lineup next week.His return is not a surprise. Wade, who’s been out with a shoulder injury since February 21st, has been practicing with the team. What’s surprising is that Wade will likely return as the team’s 6th man. Nothing is definite, but that seems to be the plan. Reaction of Dwayne Wade on his return and the possibility of being the 6th man: Reaction of Pat Riley on how Wade will be used: Reaction of The Score Sports Network: Reaction od Rich Bucher, a senior NBA analyst for ESPN, on when Wade will specifically return: My take: 2) Toronto wins the Atlantic DivisionThe Atlantic Division Title is heading north of the border to Toronto, Canada. Last night, Chris Bosh scored 24 points and pulled in 13 rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors defeat the Philadelphia 76ers by a score of 94-85. The win clinched the Toronto franchise’s first ever Division Title. After starting the season slowly with a 2-8 record, the Raptors have put together an impressive season. Toronto will now focus on trying to secure the third seed for the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs. Reaction of Toronto Coach Sam Mitchell: Reaction of Chris Bosh: Reaction of T.J. Ford: My take: “The whole thing starts with Bosh. The big man sets the tone through his unselfish attitude. He’s the rare superstar who listens to teammates and coaches. I think he deserves consideration for MVP.” “Coach Mitchell has changed his approach. He’s more relaxed, making it easier for him to hold players accountable just by being firm. Of course, Mitchell’s success is well timed. He’s without a contract for next season.” “GM Bryan Colangelo has been brilliant. He’s made a ton of great moves. Most importantly, he gives the entire franchise some much needed credibility.” 3) Yao and McGrady inactive against the Blazers for Friday’s gameThe Houston Rockets did not have Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady for last night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Both players missed the game due to back troubles. There’s no word on when they could return to the lineup. However, neither Yao or McGrady expect to be out for a long time. Here’s some reaction to this story: Reaction of Yao Ming on his injury: Reaction of Houston staff writer Damien Pierce on Tracy McGrady’s injury: "McGrady said that he would have tried to play through the pain if the Rockets were already in the middle of the playoffs, but erred on the side of caution on Wednesday since he couldn’t get loose and the Rockets are ready in the playoffs. That’s encouraging." "McGrady, of course, has already dealt with some stiffness this season. Back on Jan. 17, the Rockets star skipped the team’s game against Phoenix because he stiffened up. How did he recover from that? He returned to play 33 games and carried the Rockets offense without Yao Ming. If that episode is like the one that he experienced on Wednesday, McGrady should be fine for the playoffs.” My take: ” Thinking big picture, this is unfortunate for the Houston franchise. They’ve put together an impressive season. They are a class franchise. But they’ve built their teams and salary structure around two guys who miss games.” Worth nothing: - ESPN’s Greg Anthony breaks down the Spurs’ recent win over the Suns. - Denver kills Dallas’ goal of a 70 wins. - Josh Smith continues his fine play, dropping 28 points and pulling in 18 rebounds to help the Hawks beat the Bucks. - Kobe Bryant hits for 46 points as the Lakers beat the Sonics. - The New York Post reports that the Knicks will try to acquire Kevin Garnett in the off-season. - NBA.com has introduced the Dance Team/Cheerleader bracket. I strongly suggest clicking this link. - The Kentucky Wildcats have found their coach, hiring Billy Gillispie away from Texas A&M. - More random shots of NBA cheerleaders. Again, I strongly suggest clicking this link. Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-Up, featuring Oly Sandor. Got an opinion or question? Use the comment box or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com.
The Take: Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard Got Beef?April 06 07 Beef is never a good thing. Back in the day, Caesar and Brutus got it on. In the mid nineties, there was Pac and Biggie. Jay-Z recently spoke out on his beef with Dame Dash in the song ‘Lost Ones.’ These beefs, while unfortunate, have and continue to captivate us. We recognize it. We understand it. We know the parties involved. We know their story. With this is mind, I have no idea what to make of the supposed beef that’s brewing between NBA stars Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett. No idea. They’ve tussled numerous times during games. There’s been on-court trash talk. Some technical fouls called. But this seemed like nothing more than two posts competing against each other in the heat of battle. After a recent game between the Magic and Wolves, Garnett took a not so subtle dig at Howard: "Now you’re going to see what kind of player Dwight wants to be and if he evolves his game into other aspects. We’ll see if he starts to attack defenses differently and if he does his homework. . . . There are ways that you can make everyone else around you better and at the same time make yourself better. But he has to do his homework to evolve his game." The first shot had been fired. NBA fans were surprised by KG’s comments; the league was buzzing.Then they thought about a simple question: how would Howard respond? The answer: he’ll probably just quote The Lion King . D-Ho publicly admits to watching the children’s cartoon and being down with Disney. Again, I don’t understand this thing. It’s almost comical. I hope it blows over because beef is unnecessary.
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