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?

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

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.

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP: 3/21- 3/27

Shaq Twittering
Shaq leads the Twitter movement, including sending tweets during the halftime break in the middle of a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Washington Wizards. Coaches may not understand Twitter, but they should allow players to do what they want during halftime. Some players listen to their iPods, others review game tape, so why not Twitter? Read more

WEEKLY ROUND UP: 3/13 - 3/20

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

DWYANE WADE BAND-AIDS BANNED

The NBA with it’s need to fully control its own image has banned Dwyane Wade from wearing band-aids that had the words “Flash” and “Wade.” This is not the first time the NBA has clamped down on players trying to express their individuality. In 2007, the NBA banned Wade and other players for wearing full length compression tights. Anything that is fashionable will not be tolerated by the NBA.

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JABBAWOCKEEZ TAKE OVER NBA

It’s official folks. The Jabbawockeez have taken over the NBA and spread like a disease. Check out this funny clip of Kenny Smith and Chris Webber challenging Shaquille O’Neal to a dance off.

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CBA ON ITS DEATHBED

Here’s another reason to hate Isiah Thomas. Fox Sports’ Charley Rosen takes a look back at the history of the Continental Basketball League, which is nearing an end. The league helped developed the coaching talents of Phil Jackson and George Karl, as well as players John Starks and Henry Bibby. Rosen also takes a shot at Thomas, who bought the league for $9 million in hopes of selling it to the NBA for a quick profit. When the deal fell through, Thomas was no where to be found. His punishment for ruining an entire league? Manhandling one of the premier franchises in the NBA. New York Knicks fans are still bitter.

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TOP NBA GAMES OF THE WEEK: 2/2 - 2/8

Thursday //

Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics. Three monstrous games between the top two teams in each conference highlight an otherwise slow week in the NBA. After opening the season with a record setting 27-2 start, the Celtics staggered through their next nine games going just 2-7, beginning with a loss to the Lakers on Christmas Day that ended their 19-game winning streak. Read more

STERN HITS QUARTER-CENTURY MARK AT NBA

It’s hard to believe that David Stern has been steering the league for 25 years. That’s a lot of alley-oop dunks, no-look passes and hesistation drives to oversee. Sports Illustrated’s Jack McCallum takes a look at Stern, who has had a history of leading with a vision, but who also has regrets too. McCallum also lists some of the controversial moments under Stern’s tenure. But no one has had a more successful run leading a major professional sports than Stern.

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NBA HOLLYWOOD

Basketball has its hierarchy of players. You’ve got your legends, your superstars, stars, role players and scrubs. It’s like Hollywood, where you’ve got your A-listers, B-listers and barely registers. So if the NBA constellation were moved in line with the Hollywood stars, who would play which role? Here’s a few suggestions for the who’s who row of merged NBA-Hollywood superstars. Read more

BRYANT’S BACK-UP COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

Okay, so Kobe versus LeBron was sort of a bust. Kobe dislocated his finger early on, and didn’t have a spectacular shooting night. LeBron was even worse, partly because of Kobe’s defensive pressure. The difference in the game came from Kobe’s teammates, who helped shoulder the burden in the Los Angeles Lakers’ thumping of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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FREE NBA LEAGUE PASS JAN 19-25

For all you NBA fans, you can rejoice in more basketball action as the NBA offers it’s League Pass free from Jan 19-25.

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HORNETS’ PAUL EMBARASSED BY LOSS

That probably wasn’t what the New Orleans Hornets were expecting with their first Christmas Day game. Chris Paul said he was embarrassed by the 88-68 thrashing by the Orlando Magic. With all the talk of the big three teams, the Magic deserve some props were having the fourth-best record and topping solid teams like the Hornets, and the Los Angeles Lakers. With a stud like Dwight Howard, it’s easy to see how.

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MORE WOE FOR DALLAS MAVERICKS

Jason Kidd fans in Dallas might be disappearing after the 121-97 shredding of the Mavericks by the New Jersey Nets. Key to the victory is Nets point guard Devon Harris, now one of the premiere players in the league. Fox Sports’ Charley Rosen calls the trade an “ummitigated disaster.” Harsh words, but not untrue. He goes on to dissect the Mavericks’ lack of defense, and notes that while Kidd had a solid game, he couldn’t contain Harris.

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NBA: A CHRISTMAS EDITION

It’s become as synonymous with Christmas as Santa Claus, gifts, hanging stockings and dysfunctional family dinners. From the latest in the Shaq-Kobe feud, to this year’s highly anticipated rematch of last year’s NBA Finals showdown, the NBA is to Christmas as the NFL is to Thanksgiving. Read more

STARTING AND RUNNING A BASKETBALL LEAGUE

There are some people out there who adhere to the philosophy that that if they can’t find something they want, they either create it or provide others with the tools to create it. There is always a better way to do something. If they find themselves unhappy with their surroundings, they figure out a way to change it for their purpose. Read more

NBA OUT OF TOUCH WITH ITS FANS

So it’s a Tuesday night and I’m on the couch ready for some NBA action. Only, I couldn’t find any. Read more

“NBA PRO” WEIGHT TRAINING GUIDE

“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” -Michael Jordan Read more

A NEW WAY TO THINK ABOUT NBA SALARIES

Interesting article by Ross Silver of the Salt Lake Tribune about how much an NBA player makes per hour. The average player makes approximately $3400 an hour. Read more

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