WHERE’S THE NBA LOVE?

t’s a shame that some of the best basketball being played all season is being completely ignored. Read more

Headhoods Michelangelo White Hoodie

Everyone needs a hoodie in their wardrobe, either to wear to the gym or the court. Be different and own this staple item by Headhoods, which is hand-printed in Brooklyn. The Michelangelo White hoodie is a showstopper that is sure to turn heads. Each hoodie is manufactured in the U.S. by American Apparel and screenprinted in New York by designer Clinton Van Gemert.

Buy the hoodie here

DOES AGE MATTER IN THE NBA? PART 3

Over the past two days, I broke down the production of players by when they were drafted. Going a step further, I split the stories between players drafted before and after the 19-year-old limit was implemented. Here are the charts that show their performances side by side: Read more

DOES AGE MATTER IN THE NBA? PART 2

Yesterday we looked at the first-round picks from 1999 to 2005, so today we’ll look at the period between 2006 and 2008 when the league imposed a 19-year-old eligibility limit for the draft and see how players in this era fared. Let’s get right to it. Read more

DOES AGE MATTER IN THE NBA?

For the past three years, many pundits have questioned the NBA’s decision to impose a 19-year-old age limit on potential draftees. Supporters of the rule don’t feel those who make the preps-to-pros jump are mature enough to handle the rigors that come with being a professional, citing  Leon Smith and Ndudi Ebi as classic examples for the implementation of the limit. Many (including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban) actually believe the age limit should be raised to 20 or 22. Critics of the rule, meanwhile, point to all the best players in the league, most of whom came straight out of high school. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Dwight Howard all skipped college and developed themselves into perennial MVP candidates. Read more

NBA ROUNDUP: 4/18 -4/24

The NBA playoffs have started with the top two teams in the league - the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers - easily taking the first two games. Look for easy wins by these powerhouses as they continue their journey to the Finals. Things have not been easy for the defending champions Boston Celtics with Leon Powe out for the playoffs with a knee injury. Look for the Chicago Bulls to stun the Celtics in seven games. Another series to watch out for is the Dallas-San Antonio series, with tempers likely to rise as Eric Dampier looks to protect the basket with rough play on Tony Parker. The Mavericks will also stun the Spurs in six games. Read more

THE ORIGIN OF NBA NAMES

Los Angeles Lakers

I grew up hearing about Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all the time, but the name always seemed obscure. What’s a Laker? What does it mean?. Los Angeles is not situated near a lake, unless you’re counting the Pacific Ocean. And even then, shouldn’t they be called the Oceaners? Or the Oceanics? Yeah, that definitely doesn’t have the same ring to it. Read more

ORISUE SPENCER POPLIN SHIRT

Look stylish in the Spring with this Orisue Spencer Poplin shirt. It’s a clean white t-shirt with unique and stylish black trimming that keeps you looking fresh in the warm weather. Pair it with a nice pair of khakis and sneakers for maximum appeal. Orisue was originally founded in 2006 by friends Michael Huynh and Allen Doan. Their products are inspired by hip-hop, skate, and art.

Buy the shirt here

LAKERS LOCKED UP?

So everyone assumes the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are on a collision course for the Finals. But unlike popular opinion, it’s not going to be a cakewalk for either team. Both have shown they are vulnerable to certain match-ups, despite what their dominating records may suggest. Yesterday, we looked at the Cavs. Here’s a look at the match-up problem the Lake Show faces: Read more

CAVALIERS KRYPTONITE

So everyone assumes the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are on a collision course for the Finals. But unlike popular opinion, it’s not going to be a cakewalk for either team. Both have shown they are vulnerable to certain match-ups, despite what their dominating records may suggest. Today, we look at the biggest hurdle for the Cavs: Read more

NBA ROUNDUP: 4/11 - 4/17

The NBA Playoffs are here and all the match-ups have been solidified. The biggest news is that Kevin Garnett will be out for playoffs. Teams in the East must be licking their lips smelling blood in the water. The Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James must feel that this year is their time to win a championship with the biggest threat in their conference out of the picture. Read more

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN VS. AIR CANADA CENTRE

As a Canadian (eh), everyone assumes your one and only love is hockey and if you are from Toronto, that one and only love must be the Toronto Maple Leafs. I am Canadian, but I am not a hockey fan. Don’t tell any of my fellow Canucks, but sweaty men running around in skates just isn’t my thing. Read more

TOPMAN NAVY SPORT HOLDALL BAG

Every gym rat needs a gym bag, so upgrade your style with this Topman Navy Sport Holdall bag. The Topman launch of the store in New York has created huge demand for their clothing and accessories. Now you can easily get your hands on product online without having to order through their UK site.

This bag can function both as your gym bag and as your travel bag. It can easily fit your change of clothes, sneakers and basketball. Plus, it looks good when you are wearing either sportswear or casualwear. The perfect carry-on for your needs.

Get the bag here

2009 NBA SEASON AWARDS

With the season nearly wrapped up, it’s time to present our awards for the end of the season. We’ve been treated to another strong season, and the playoffs promise to be even more intense. But rather than the usual accolades, we at Ball or Die have devised our own set of categories we felt deserved merit and recognition. They celebrate some of the best and worst of the season, which started as a tight multi-horse race that really came down to two superior teams. Read more

TOP NBA GAMES: 4/13 - 4/19

The NBA regular season is coming to a close, but not to worry. The two-month postseason known as the NBA Playoffs is about to begin. As far as I’m concerned, any Finals series worth watching would have to include the Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers vs. Celtics, Kobe vs. LeBron, even Dwight Howard vs. Andrew Bynum. Los Angeles - the only place where amazing will happen. Read more

NBA ROUNDUP: 4/4 - 4/10

Shaquille O’Neal has played pretty well for a 37-year-old. He showed nimbleness this season, as well as in the NBA All-Star game where he won Co-MVP with Kobe Bryant. Now through Twitter he’s been hinting that he wants to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Shaq still have one to two years left in his career but will only be effective on a championship-contending team who needs a role player like the Los Angeles Lakers or Cleveland Cavaliers. He won’t be much use to a rebuilding Dallas Mavericks. Read more

A STORYBOOK ENDING FOR THESE HEELS

It’s fair to say no one in the history of college basketball faced the kind of expectations the North Carolina Tar Heels did this season. There was chatter of an undefeated season and how they could be the greatest team in the sport’s history. National championship? That was a given.

Read more

CREATIVE RECREATION PURPLE DICOCO SNEAKERS

Creative Recreation was originally founded in 2002 to fill the void in the footwear market for shoes that could be worn both with professional attire during the day and with casual attire during the night. The result is a cross between a shoe and sneaker that is perfect to wear all the time. According to the Orange County, Calif.-based founders, “”We don´t want to be put into any category, we´re a footwear company! We make shoes for our lifestyle, rather we make shoes for life with style.”

The Limited Edition Purple Dicoco Sneakers make a bold statement with any attire. For this Spring, these high tops go perfectly with a t-shirt and a nice pair of denim jeans.

Buy the sneakers here

TOP FIVE FASHION MUST-HAVES FOR APRIL

Spring is here and it’s time to add some flair to your wardrobe without putting a huge dent in your wallet. Here are the top five must-have fashion items for April. Read more

TOP NBA GAMES: 4/6 - 4/12