TOP TEAMS STUMBLE EARLY
November 2, 2009 by R.C. Cola · Leave a Comment
For the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, high hopes turned to disappointments pretty darned quickly. Read more
2009-2010 SEASON: WHAT TO LOOK FOR
October 5, 2009 by R.C. Cola · Leave a Comment
The new season is almost upon us, and it’s ripe full of drama. We’ve already got crazy trades, a possible Russian buyout, a celebrity wedding, and can look forward to even more desperate moves ahead of the free agent summer of 2010. The questions are endless: will Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers weather the drama to repeat? How are KG’s legs going to hold up? Should I read ESPN or People to get my latest NBA gossip? Read more
NBA ROUNDUP: 6/27 - 7/3
July 3, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
The biggest news this week is Ron Artest going to the Los Angeles Lakers. Artest has the talent and the toughness to be a contributor to the Lakers, but the biggest question will be his attitude. If Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant can keep Artest in check, they will be even more dominant. But that is a big if. However, similar questions arose when Dennis Rodman joined the Chicago Bulls with Jackson and Michael Jordan. That experiment worked out well, so the same may occur in this situation with the Lakers. Read more
LAKERS NBA FINALS DREAM MATCHUP
June 16, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
The Los Angeles Lakers are the 2009 NBA Champions, but the players are still hungry for more rings. If the Lakers can re-sign both Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza this summer, they will again be favorite to win it all next year. The Black Mamba won his fourth ring and the first without Shaq, but don’t count out his desire to win more. Read more
NBA ROUNDUP: 6/6 - 6/12
June 12, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
The Los Angeles Lakers like to win; they just don’t like to take the easy road. After letting a chance slip away to go up 3-0, the Lakers have redeemed themselves and find themselves in a position to close the series in Orlando on Sunday. Don’t expect to see that happen, since Kobe wants to win his first title without Shaq at home. Read more
ARE THE LAKERS LAST YEAR’S CELTICS?
May 26, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
There is too much negative press for a Los Angeles Lakers team that went 65-17 in the regular season and finished with the second best record in the league behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Read more
NBA ROUNDUP: 5/9 - 5/15
May 15, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
Why don’t more teams play full court for 48 minutes? Malcolm Gladwell and Bill Simmons make convincing arguments that teams should utilize this more. The underdogs especially should take advantage of this fact and compensate hunger for talent. More teams could see success if they play full-court consistently. Read more
LEBRON RULES: HOW TO STOP THE CAVS
May 12, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
LeBron James looks unstoppable in the playoffs as the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised through the first two rounds without breaking a sweat. They’re 8-0 heading into the Eastern Conference Finals and, more importantly, they’ve dominated every game they’ve played. Read more
NBA KNUCKLEHEADS
May 8, 2009 by R.C. Cola · Leave a Comment
A few players must have taken that memo about stepping up the intensity for the playoffs a bit too seriously. Read more
NBA ROUNDUP: 4/25 - 5/1
May 1, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
The Cleveland Cavaliers showed why they had the best record in the NBA by easily sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the first round. The presumptive favorites, the Los Angeles Lakers, failed to look anything like a championship contender by blowing huge leads to the Utah Jazz before finishing them off. The San Antonio Spurs were shocked by the Dallas Mavericks and it’s Tim Duncan’s first ever playoff exit in the first round. Look for an exciting series to go seven between the Mavs and Denver Nuggets. Read more
WHERE’S THE NBA LOVE?
April 30, 2009 by R.C. Cola · 2 Comments
t’s a shame that some of the best basketball being played all season is being completely ignored. Read more
NBA ROUNDUP: 4/11 - 4/17
April 17, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
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
NBA ROUNDUP: 4/4 - 4/10
April 10, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
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
TOP NBA GAMES: 4/6 - 4/12
April 6, 2009 by B. C. · Leave a Comment
Last week I wrote about the decline of the Detroit Pistons. This week, I noticed that the Pistons and the Denver Nuggets have essentially switched places in their respective conferences’ playoff standings. The Pistons were the No. 2 seed heading into the playoffs a year ago while the Nuggets were eighth. Currently, the Nuggets are the two seed and the Pistons are eighth. So, is there anyone out there who still thinks that Allen Iverson is a better point guard than Chauncey Billups? Read more
THE “KNICKS” EFFECT ON STATS
March 27, 2009 by R.C. Cola · Leave a Comment
It seems like the best cure for a player or team in a slump is a visit to Madison Square Garden. Read more
TOP NBA GAMES: 3/23 - 3/29
March 23, 2009 by B. C. · Leave a Comment
I just checked the NBA playoff standings and something immediately caught my eye. The Charlotte Bobcats are only a game behind the Chicago Bulls for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference! Much of their success this season must be attributed to coach Larry Brown, who is working his magic yet again by taking another underdog team and turning them into a playoff contender. This makes me wonder how truly dysfunctional a team the New York Knicks must have been that he was only able to muster up 23 wins despite a roster full of talent. What a waste.
WEEKLY ROUND UP: 3/13 - 3/20
March 20, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment
It’s been a crazy week in the NBA with all the apocalypse and doomsday talk. The bottom line is that teams need money during this recession and we don’t know how bad it’s going to be come 2011. Until then, the fans need to enjoy all the great basketball that is being played as we get closer to the playoffs. The defending champions Boston Celtics look like they may be the No. 3 seed in the East, while the Phoenix Suns might not even make the playoffs in the elite West. Read more
TOP NBA GAMES: 3/16 - 3/22
March 16, 2009 by B. C. · Leave a Comment
Did you see the numbers LeBron James posted this past week? Three straight triple-doubles and a 51 point outburst against the Sacramento Kings. The guy is insane. Now, being a Lakers fan, I root against him every chance I get. But even I can’t deny that we’re all witnesses to something truly special here. Oh yeah, he’s still only 24 years old. Read more
A COMPROMISE BETWEEN BASKETBALL AND YOUR WOMAN
March 10, 2009 by Jen C. · Leave a Comment
The popular “How To Pry Your Man Away From Sports” series spelled out schemes and tricks for women to entice men away from the couch and into their arms. It’s only fitting that Ball or Die provide the companion piece for men. This time, it’s a kinder, gentler look at how to keep your woman from prying you away from your beloved basketball team. Read more
TOP NBA GAMES: 3/9 - 3/15
March 9, 2009 by B. C. · Leave a Comment
Shaq is feuding with an ex-coach and an All-Star caliber ex-teammate. Sound familiar? In Orlando, it was coach Brian Hill and Penny Hardaway. With the Lakers, it was Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. This past week, Shaq exchanged words with former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy and former wingman Dwayne Wade.
