Festival Of Lights... AT CLUB ELEMENT!

"If You Like Matzah, Say Heyyy!"
It’s safe to say that the NBA is not a cultural melting pot. Sure, it brings some pretty impressive Asians over to the States, but there is one specific minority that I feel has been overlooked. Hanukkah passed without a single ‘Best Wishes’ or “Mazel Tov’ from Kobe, Lebron, Dikembe or anyone else. That is why I take it upon myself to wish all the Jews out there a happy belated holiday, with a little help from a Laker.
Jordan Farmar, the only person to ever play in an NBA D-League game and an actual NBA game in the same day, is one of only two Jewish players in the league, the other being David Bluthenthal of the Kings (did he even keep his spot on the team?). Although he never publicly announced that he wishes everyone a happy Jewish holiday, the sentiment is implied. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a video message from Jordan, but I feel that this one gets the same message across.

So, from all of us here at Game Recognize Game, we wish you a safe and happy Hanukkah (even though it’s already over).

It's Been A Long Time

After witnessing the Charlotte Bobcats’ woes during the short life of the franchise, we all knew it was only a matter of time before Managing Member of Basketball Operations (not a real job) Michael Jordan hopped on the court. Return of the Wizards era?
Apparently, Jordan played with the team today, for a “brief workout”. More like “teaching them the play in which they pass the ball to MJ”. The GOAT is taking the team over and he doesn’t care who he steps on to get there. McNasty? Out. Jason Richardson? Jason Benchedson. Gerald Wallace? Give him the Basketball Operations job. Despite being 44 years old, I’m pretty confident that Mike can win more games than the ‘Cats (8-14) and look good doing it.
Of course, I wouldn’t make outlandish claims such as a twice retired 44 year old playing himself without some evidence. Here’s what he said when asked about the empty roster spot on the team, “Nothing right now. We don’t want to just make a deal to make a deal because we have an empty space. If there is something out there that can add to this team and it’s economically worthwhile, we would look at it”. He doesn’t want to do anything about the open spot. Maybe because he already has it filled? It seems like playing someone who already has a management job is economically worthwhile. That’s enough evidence to stand up in any court.
The acquisition of Michael Jordan is one of the most powerful moves an NBA team can make, and personally, I will be surprised if the Lord of the Rings doesn’t add one more to his collection, or literally die trying.

He Likes The Bartender (Ooh If You're Lookin' For Keon Clark)

"I Really Need To Learn
How To Hydrate Better"

Playing game after game in the NBA can’t be easy on anybody, let alone millionaire athletes, but retired player Keon Clark had an interesting way of dealing with it. "I never played a game sober, unfortunately," he said after being granted another hearing in Illinois. He was charged with possession of an unregistered gun and a controlled substance and was facing a 2 and a half year sentence before the judge’s decision to give him another shot. Apparently Keon was riding the booze monkey so hard that he drank at half time of every game. Despite this, he somehow averaged 8.2 points per game and 5.9 rebounds. Imagine how good this guy would be if he filled his cup with Gatorade. If the sauce helps Keon Clark’s game out, maybe some current players should try it out (I’m looking at you Deron Williams).


Oh, there you go. Wow, doublin’ up so he can be twice as good.

Who Divorces This Guy?

Shaquille “Big Respect” O’Neal has always been a leader in the crusade against bullying. This has never been more evident than here, in a cut scene from SNL where he seems to protect and then serenade Will Farrell to sleep. Remember LeBron, Shaq was there first.



By upstaging Kelsey Grammer, I now deem Shaq “Big Frasier”.

From The Windows To The Walls: The Krunk Are All About Marburys

"Atlanta, Here I Come"
First of all, this post has very little to do with Lil' Jon or even Atlanta really, so all those who googled "Atlanta Krunk" are not in the right place. Though I am known to both snap my fingers AND do my step, this post is actually about the Atlanta Krunk, the infamous CBA team.
It seems that the Kenny Anderson coached team has employed Zach Marbury, Stephon’s little brother, as their point guard. Now, I’m sure that Zach is a very capable point guard and in his defense he has yet to get in a fight with Isiah Thomas, but I find it hard to believe that Stephon is sponsoring the team with his clothing line AND Zach is running the point for a totally unrelated reason.
I don’t want to imply that the venerable Atlanta Krunk would give anyone underserved playing time, but I am suggesting that Stephon might get more of a say about who plays and who doesn’t than a sponsor should. Whether Zach got the job based on his skills, he's the team scoring and assist leader, or because his bro supplies the uniforms, a Marbury family dominated team is something I am very ready to see.
Hopefully the addition of And1’s ‘The Professor’ (that’s right, he’s signed on to join the CBA when his contract runs out) won’t disrupt the Atlanta Krunk, who might as well change their name to the ‘Marburyville Marburys’.

Where Self-Absorption Happens

"Hey Everyone, Come And See How Good I Look!"

The NBA has recently become pretty full of itself, but with LeBron headlining TV and the entirety of China tuning in to watch Yao manhandle Yi, why shouldn’t they be? But, their ad campaign has become a little annoying. They show pictures of Kobe, Baron Davis and Nash and play some Michelle Branch-esque piano chord, ending each ad with the slogan “Where Amazing Happens”. Kulapuch1 of YouTube has produced a line of commercials that should be airing the same month that Marbury’s shoes are released in stores that anyone has ever heard of. (Get it? Never!).

My Amazing Journey: Chris Webber

Here That? That's The Sound Of 30
NBA Teams Not Wanting You

What ever happened to Chris Webber? His career is pretty hard to remember so I'll map it out for you:

1) Ruined The Fab 5 legacy at Michigan by accepting 17 purple Hummers from his agent
2) Made a decent career out of hook shots and losing to Kobe in Sacramento
3) Ruined the Sixers by forgetting to bring his knees along with him in the trade
4) Produced a Nas song
5) Seemed to be revitalized with the Pistons
6) Was maybe gonna play for an Italian team

After an impressive career like that, I'm surprised nobody wants this guy... In any case he actually used to be pretty sick and my favorite YouTube director, Yinka Dare, supplies a mix that highlights Webber's skills and whining ability complimented with some Gang Starr:

Back To School: 2007-2008 College Info

"Tell 'Em, Pete"

It might be a little late, but check the opinions about college basketball this season. This year isn’t dominated by any annoyingly over hyped players (cough, cough Greg) but some freshmen are looking to make a big impact. There isn’t one clearly dominant team (cough, cough Florida) but plenty of squads are on the verge of greatness. Here are some thoughts:

-Team Rankings-
1) UCLA: Arron Afflalo will be sorely missed, but Kevin Love is more than ready to fill his spot. A less than stellar PAC-10 will help this team get a good seed, not that they’ll need it.

2) Georgetown: These guys will (hopefully) prove that the Princeton offense can actually contend for a national title and their stellar defense won’t hurt. Roy Hibbert is one of the top college players and he’s backed up by capable guards in Tyler Crawford and Jonathon Wallace and role-players in Patrick Ewing Jr. and Jessie Sapp.

3) Memphis: Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts are more than able to lead the high octane Tigers back to glory. Their only weakness lies in their inability to create easy shots. For a powerful offense, they don’t run the break nearly enough.

4) Kansas: With Darrell Arthur on the verge of greatness, the perimeter will be opened up for some clutch Jayhawk shooters.

5) North Carolina: I’m tired of all the hype around Taylor Hansbrough. Maybe if he hadn’t been punched in the face last season, he would have lived up to it, but I think he still has something to prove. Having him run around in traffic with Deon Thompson can only add to the problems they had with Wright last year. They have a breakout star in Wayne Ellington.

-Potential Cinderellas-
1) Connecticut: Okay, so maybe Uconn isn’t exactly synonymous with Cinderalla, but they are poised to make an impressive run. Hasheem Thabeet (7'3") has the ability to stop any big man in college, and A.J. Price can run the offense. They haven’t gotten anyone new, but an improved squad from last year is more than enough to make a surprising run.

2) Pittsburgh: The hardest working team in college hoops is ready to make an impact. Sam Young is a perfect example of the teams dedication and hard work paying off.

3) New Mexico State: This one might seem a little out of left field, but stay with me. Justin Hawkins is one of the most underrated players in college and Herb Pope was an excellent pickup, who will get plenty of minutes this year assuming he can recover from being shot.


-Some young impact players-
Eric Gordon, Indiana: Indiana has a surprisingly exciting squad this year and Gordon is the main reason why. He plays a lot like another Gordon, Ben, including his 33 points against Tennessee-Chattanoga.

Kevin Love, UCLA: After a sick haircut, Love proved he’s ready for the season by averaging 20 and 10 in two games this season. He can step out and hit near NBA-range threes and his fundamentals rival Duncan’s. He’s the poster boy for High School basketball; we might be able to say the same about him in college.

O.J. Mayo, USC: The bad: He gets in trouble, fights teammates and chose USC. The good: He’s playing with Lil’ Romeo and scored 32 in a loss. I doubt Mayo cares too much about whether USC wins or loses, but getting his stat sheet filled out every night can’t hurt the Trojans.

Michael Beasley, Kansas State: Easily the most beastly freshman. 6’9”, 235 lbs and averaging 31 and 19, I don’t expect this guy to stay in college for too long.

Chase Budinger, Arizona: The curly haired soph looks like he’s going to improve on a decent freshman year, from 15, 2 and 6 to 25, 4 and 6. The Wildcats aren’t too good but this high-flyer will make them interesting to watch.

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: After only one game, his stats haven’t been that impressive, but better than last year. Expect him to have some crazy games as the go-to-guy on ‘Nova.

Get Husky... But Not That Husky

"Being Impractically Strong Is Cool!"
Greg Oden might actually be better off sitting at home playing “Halo 3” than working out in his free time before next season. When the Blazers drafted him, Oden’s body-fat percentage was 7.8, and it’s the same today. What’s the problem? The Big Chameleon has also added 30 pounds of straight muscle. Obviously, a jacked Oden is better than a fat Oden, but an additional 30 pounds (a total of 280 pounds) is probably too much for a surgically repaired knee to handle.
Oden was unable to lift in college thanks to his wrist injury, but now he’s tearing up the weight room like it was made of something easy to tear up. With the knee injury, he hasn’t done any type of lower body workouts and he might end up being a 20-year-old version of today’s Shaq. Trail Blazers’ coach, Nate McMillan, isn’t happy about Oden’s workout regimen either, "I would much rather have him be wiry strong than bulky, especially coming off a surgery. When you're talking about putting on extra weight and having to carry that weight on a surgically repaired leg, that's not good. We want to be really careful with the weight training with him.'' So, Oden is already upsetting his coach and he hasn’t even blown a game… yet.
Imagine 10 more months of workouts for Greg; the Big Chameleon will be more like Black Godzilla by the time his NBA debut rolls around. At least he will always have ESPN commercials.

Karma Karma Karma Chameleon: He's Out For The Season But Not Out Of Our Hearts

He might be out for the season, but Greg Oden continues to remind fans he's around. This commercial alone makes him a real ROTY candidate, though not playing in any games may hurt his chances.

Chameleon? Yes. Obviously 40 years old? YES.

The Ceatles Will Win, Eight Days A Week

I sat down to watch the Celtics' season opener and expected big things after a Steven Spieldberg directed promotional video (no, not really, but it was cool). The Celtics delivered, squashing the Wizards and making Arenas look like an idiot in the process. Sorry that you’re prediction didn’t turn out too well, Gil, but I’m sure you had a great Halo game later that night. Pierce scored 28 points, Garnett had 22 points and 20 rebounds and Allen seemed content with his meager (by comparison) 17. The Big 3 shot a combined 52%. Even the other guys did well, but Garnett doesn’t exactly need to worry about Scalabrine coming for his spot.
This game was pretty impressive, though the Wizards didn’t look too good but I wasn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet. Then, the Ceatles headed north of the border to face their only real competition in the Atlantic Division. The Raptors looked like they would dispel the myth that the Celtics are the NBA version of the Justice League, and TJ ford sent the game to overtime. The teams went bucket for bucket until the end of the game when Allen (33 points) hit a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left for the win.
So, what do these recaps amount to? The Celtics are the best team in the East right now and I’m prepared to say they’ll remain that way. When the three superstars joined forces this summer, people were actively searching for a weakness. They won’t be able to share the ball, they won’t be content with diminished numbers, they won’t gel, etc. None of these possibilities seem likely anymore, as the Big Three appear to be BFFers, regardless of stats. I want to hate the Ceatles as much as the next guy, but if these first two games are any indication, they have no real competition on the road to the Finals.

Time For The NBA Season Already? Just Five More Minutes...

Wake up suckers, here are 7 sleeper picks for your fantasy draft this year. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I do have a formula for picking them. Breakout Talent + Underrated = Good Sleeper Pick. I am taking calculus after all.

1) Nate Robinson
After an MVP award from the Summer League, Nate Robinson continues to tear up the preseason. He recently posted a 28, 9 and 4 game against the Ceatles in only 28 minutes and as I’m writing this, he is embarrassing the Sixers. He’s a shoe-in for a starting PG position this year

2) Jameer Nelson
He’ll be a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign something in the next week and he’s dedicated this season to the memory of his father, whose body was found in the Delaware River almost two months ago. With Dwight Howard finally developing inside and Rashard Lewis taking additional pressure off, Nelson just bought a one-way ticket to assist town.

3) Al Thorton
Elton Brand is out and I find it unlikely that Livingston will be making a miraculous recovery to carry the Clippers on his back. Big Al (not Horford) is averaging 18.7 points per game in 29 minutes, with 50% from the field, 70% from beyond the arc and 85% from the line. I expect him to take the ROTY award.

4) Luis Scola
The Rockets picked up Scola for Spanoulis and a second-round pick in 2009 and they couldn’t be happier with his progress. He’s looking at a starting PF spot, but hasn’t been doing too much in the pre-season. Nevertheless, Adelman is excited and expects him to be an effective part of Houston’s offense. He’s probably the most underrated rookie and might go undrafted in your league.

5) Danny Granger
Lucky for Granger, he’s on what looks to be the worst team in the NBA. He’ll get open looks and he’s liable to have a fair amount of 30 point games. He’s big, 6’8” 230 lbs, and can shoot the ball as he proved on Tuesday with 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

6) Andrew Bynum
I think he’ll finally reach his potential this year. He won’t be great, but a good option if you’re need rebounds or blocks. He’s crazy athletic and finally developing some go-to-moves on offense. He grabbed 6 boards and added 11 points against Golden State in only 19 minutes. With Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm constantly fighting injuries, he might earn a starting spot this season.

7) Louis Williams
His Summer League performance equaled MVP Nate Robinson’s and since then, he’s been one of the Sixers best scoring options. He put up 33 against the Nets on the 13th, almost hitting a game winner. He’s the number one PG off the bench and if the Sixers need buckets, they might just put him in for Andre Miller.

Fantasy Draft: 2007-2008, For Those Of Us With Nothing Better To Do

It’s that time of the year again, fantasy draft time. With an eventful off-season, I’m sure you’re all wondering which players to take this season. Without further ado, the top 25 picks with a breakdown of when and why to take them.

1) LeBron James
He’s the most talented player in the NBA. Not the best scorer, rebounder, passer or defender, but by far the best all around player. His team hasn’t changed too much and there’s no reason he shouldn’t put up even better numbers than last year.

2) Kevin Garnett
It’s possible to argue that his new club will diminish his fantasy value and it probably will, but not significantly. Expect fewer points, but possibly more rebounds and blocks due to weaker competition. His shooting percentage might go up thanks to fewer double teams and a shoot-first-ask-questions-later supporting cast. Even if any of his numbers go down he’s still the best fantasy big man in the NBA.

3) Shawn Marion
Marion’s easily the most versatile player in the league right now. He averaged 17 and 10 last year, but every fantasy owner knows that’s not even half the reason he’s number 3. He shoots with a high percentage, plays stellar defense and never misses a game and playing with Steve Nash can’t hurt either. He’s definitely someone to build your team around.

4) Kobe Bryant
He’s going to be the league’s best scorer again this year and hopefully your team will reap all the benefits. 32 PPG, with 5 rebounds and assists every night makes Kobe an MVP candidate and fantasy stud. Without any other options, he gets every offensive touch for the Lakers and he feels like he’s got something to prove this year. He won’t be holding out this year and if he gets traded (which he won’t) the worst that can happen is he trades some points for assists.

5) Steve Nash
He’s perfected the assist and you’re guaranteed to win that category every week with him on your team (I did last season anyway). The ultimate floor general can outscore any other PG on a give night and his percentage is up there. If you draft Nash, you don’t need to worry about assists with any of your other picks.

6) Gilbert Arenas
The only thing to keep in mind while drafting Agent 0 first is that you will need a SG who can pass. Gilbert doesn’t need to pass, doesn’t want to pass and probably couldn’t pass if he tried. I’m not criticizing because most of those non-passes end up as 3-pointers. His numbers are similar to Kobe’s, but he doesn’t score as much and gets an extra dime. Your team will lead in 3PM but probably not percentage. If he’s healthy, he’s deadly.

7) Dirk Nowitzki
You can probably expect a consistent 25 and 10 from Dirk this season. Everyone knows he’s the best shooting 7-footer and there’s no reason he won’t play at the MVP level again this year. He shot the coveted 50-40-90 percentages last year and he gets better every year.

8) Dwayne Wade
This is undoubtedly a risk with two looming injuries coming into the season, but he wants to get better and once he returns I expect him to finish the season strong. He’s liable to have 35 points one night and 11 assists the next. He’ll average at least 2 steals a game and he’ll head to the line a lot.

9) Josh Smith
A 6’9’’-er might lead the league in blocks this year and his stock goes up if you’re in a keeper league. With injuries to Joe Johnson, he’s Atlanta’s number one option. He might not play with the best supporting cast but he can do it all himself. The only downside: he could average as many assists as he does blocks.

10) Andre Iguodala
He may not have had the best season last year, but if the second half is any indication, he could get 20, 7 and 7 this year. With A.I. gone and an actual point guard in his place, Iguodala’s upside just got a lot bigger.

11) Amare Stoudemire
Just when you thought Stat’s injury wasn’t a problem anymore, he got surgery on his right knee. He made the comeback once, why shouldn’t he do this again? Easily a 20 and 10 player and his jump shooting got better over the off-season. He’s lucky enough to play with Steve Nash and he could recapture and surpass his numbers from 2005.

12) Chris Bosh
Basically an even younger Amare Stoudemire. He can shoot, take it inside and the Raps only real competition is the Celtics. He’s surrounded by shooters so the pressure should be off for the most part.

13) Jason Kidd
His triple doubles are somewhat overrated but never unappreciated by fantasy owners. He’s rarely hurt and could actually average close to 10, 10 and 10.

14) Rashard Lewis
The off-season was good to Rashard. Howard’s inside game gives the shooter plenty of looks and Jameer Nelson will have no problem seeing him off slashes. Lewis will take the Magic to the next level.

15) Chris Paul
There’s no doubt that Paul will eventually be the best PG in the league. He breaks the definition of scoring point guard by getting 9 assists to go with his 18 points.

16) Yao Ming
With Shaq’s slow decline, he’s becoming the most dominant player in the NBA. Sure, he can get 25 and 10 with 2 blocks and assists to boot, but he has a problem with staying healthy. Averages don’t mean anything if he only plays in 40 games.

17) Pau Gasol
He’s constantly on the verge of superstardom. He is the number one option, unfortunately on the worst team in the NBA. Just over 20 and 10, easily.

18) Tim Duncan
Obviously one of the best players in the league, but he tends to take it easy until the playoffs start. He’s the definition of 20 and 10 every night. The biggest upside to drafting him? You get to name your team “The Big FUNdamental!”.

19) Ray Allen
His numbers will definitely go down, but going 26 ppg to 22 ppg isn’t too bad. He’ll easily get open looks all season his assists should go up. If the Sun’s trifecta can keep their fantasy numbers up, why shouldn’t the Ceatles be able to?

20) Gerald Wallace
I believe he can stay healthy and if your league knows what it’s doing, they’ll let you play him at the PF. His numbers should go up next to Richardson and he’ll get better as the ‘Cats do. Morrison will be sorely missed, but his shot attempts are going straight to Wallace.

21) Dwight Howard
He might be under ranked here, but the addition of Lewis won’t help his numbers much. He shoots an abysmal 58% from the line and he’ll be getting fouled a lot this year. His blocks may be the only category to improve, but chances are good he’ll pick up lots of fouls trying to get them.

22) Vince Carter
He’s a safe pick and consistently gets 25, 6 and 4 with one or two treys. He’s liable to explode on any given night and supply 35 points.

23) Allen Iverson
Now that he’s on a real playoff contender, A.I. might start passing the ball. His assists will go up and his points will go down but his overall numbers will suffer becoming the second option. From a Nuggets fan perspective, this is a good thing, but from a fantasy owner’s perspective, you should hope Carmelo gets in another fight.

24) Tracy McGrady
He can stay healthy and his offense will thrive under Adelman. He’s got to meet his potential sooner or later. Regardless of how many games he plays, he’ll average 27, 6 and 7. If Yao stays healthy, the pressure will be taken off and he’ll get better looks and someone to actually pass to.

25) Paul Pierce
Obviously not the number one option anymore, but his passing game should surprise some people. He’ll still get upwards of 20 ppg and 5 rebounds. His fantasy stock definitely doesn’t get higher this year, but he’ll get a higher percentage and more dimes.

Which Is Funnier, Gheroghe Muresan Dancing Or Dikembe Drinking Root Beer? Now You Know

Aside from Terrible Terry Tate and Chad Johnson, no athletes are better equipped for hilarity than basketball players. They’re used to the pressure, timing and gun-wielding inherent in comedic acting. These skills, in combination with SportsCenter’s ability to write phenomenal commercials, have lead to some entertaining ends. Game Recognize the best basketball related SportsCenter ads in history.

10) This commercial back from ‘97 is an excellent example of SportsCenter humor, but a poor example of Kobe’s acting ability. Put him on trial and I promise he’ll be more convincing than this.


9) Mutumbo was offered Dustin Hoffman’s roll in “Rain Man”. He declined so he could spend more time with his 17 children.


8) Scott Van Pelt and Stuart Scott are SportsCenter’s two leading actors and this clip proves it. Note the LeBron reference.


7) Shaq hasn’t been this good since Shazzoo. Kazzam? Shapow? Whatever that movie was called.


6) DWade wants his highlights to make him look like a superhero. What he doesn’t realize is that this commercial makes it seem like he has super comedy.

5) Is there any real joke to this commercial? No, unless you consider the expressive art of dancing funny.


4) This is the fabled commercial that got Lorne Michaels interested in Bron.


3) Grant Hill is a true pioneer for the NBActor. I wonder if he can actually play the piano.


2) Scott Van Pelt is gross.


1) This commercial gets the number one spot because of all the O.G.s.


Well there you have it, the top ten (of 11) basketball related SportsCenter commercials in order for your convenience. Wait until Greg Oden gets better. Can anyone say “deformed face” jokes?

Key To Basketblog Success, Post Videos of Dunk Contests.

Dunking is always cool no matter what. Up 30 points with .2 seconds to go on a fast break? Cool to dunk. A 7-footer on a 3-month-old baby? Cool if he dunks it. But nothing, nothing, is lamer than missing a dunk. Underhanded foul shots, banked threes and falling on your face are all cooler than missing a dunk. Unfortunately, this situation is inevitable, even for the pros.



As Newton’s law of inverse dunkation states, completing a dunk is as cool as missing a dunk is lame.



Notice the difference between the two videos. Dunking = cool. Not dunking = lame. In other words, I’d rather be Vince Carter than Tim Perry.

Ceatle Mania

I actually watched the Celtics play the Raptors in the first (Italian) preseason game of the year. I wasn’t exactly surprised to see KG drop 19, Pierce drop 21 of his own with Allen adding 10, but I was surprised that none of these guys forced anything and let the ball actually come to them.
There were times when 2 or 3 possessions in a row failed to include any of these superstars and yet they stayed in rhythm and got their fair share of buckets when the time was right. Because I am a hater, and sit here on my computer and hate, hate, hate all day, I can’t help but assume that this won’t last all season, or can I?
The most hopeful event for an effective Boston franchise didn’t come when Ray actually passed to Eddie House or Pierce’s dime to Perkins; it wasn’t even during the game at all. During a timeout, NBA TV ran a short segment in which Pierce, Allen and Garnett were enjoying paninis or espressos or something at a café, and discussing the new team. The expected was said, “we still have to prove ourselves”, “we’re excited for the season”, blah, blah, blah… but then KG gave the three all-stars a fateful nickname, a name that, if lived up to, would bring with it a new basketball era. He donned them “The Ceatles” (see-tulls).
Now, I’m not one to jump on the latest band-wagon that happens by, in fact I still don’t believe LeBron will be able to make the transition to the NBA, but a claim like this inspires hope, even in the pessimist blogger, not to mention 76ers fan. So, the best of luck to you Paul (KG), George (Pierce) and Ringo (Allen).
I guess John can be Posey or somebody, whatever.


(The fateful claim is made at about 1:40 in)

Game Recognize Previews: The Top Dogs

Here at Game Recognize Game, we recognize that previews shouldn’t just be about the teams. Sometimes you need to recognize the accomplishments of the egomaniacal superstar. After all, there is no “team” in “I”. So, with no further ado, here comes Game Recognize Game: Individual Predictions for 2007-2008.

Scoring Leaders:
1) Kobe Bryant: 34.3
2) LeBron James: 28.9
3) Gilbert Arenas: 28.2
4) Dwayne Wade: 27.6
5) Amare Stoudemire: 27.3
Next five: Michael Redd, Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony


Rebound Leaders:
1) Dwight Howard: 13.0
2) Tyson Chandler: 12.6
3) Kevin Garnett: 12.2
4) Emeka Okafor: 11.5
5) Carlos Boozer: 11.3
Next five: Marcus Camby, Al Jefferson, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, Ben Wallace


Assist Leaders:
1) Steve Nash (duh): 11.9
2) Jason Kidd: 10.3
3) Chris Paul: 9.5
4) Deron Williams: 9.3
5) T.J. Ford: 8.7
Next five: Baron Davis, Andre Miller, Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Raymond Felton


Steals:
1) Baron Davis: 2.4
2) Dwayne Wade: 2.2
3) Andre Iguodala: 2.0
4) Gerald Wallace: 2.0
5) Allen Iverson: 1.8
Next five: Caron Butler, Ron Artest, Chris Paul, Shawn Marion, Gilbert Arenas


Blocks:
1) Marcus Camby: 3.5
2) Jermaine O’Neal: 3.0
3) Emeka Okafor: 2.8
4) Pau Gasol: 2.2
5) Tim Duncan: 2.1
Next five: Josh Smith, Ben Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler


Most Impressive Breakouts:
1) Devin Harris: Expect a Monta Ellis/Deron Williams type of year for him. He’ll need to start earning his check and it’s not like he doesn’t have enough guys to dish to on the Mavs. 14 PPG 5 APG
2) Danny Granger: Granger has plenty of opportunities to touch the ball on a lacking Pacers club. He’s a fairly big, athletic swingman who can shoot. 18 PPG 6 RPG
3) Andrew Bynum: Kobe’s favorite player is approaching the age of most rookies but he’s as polished as many veterans. 10 PPG 8 RPG.

Live From New York, It's A Play-By-Play Recap

1st Quarter:
The LeBronalouge seems to have been a good warm up for the rest of the game. He pre-recorded those different LeBron’s from his Nike commercials so that he wouldn’t have to work himself too hard before the game really got started.
He then went on to play the straight man for a classic weirdo SNL character portrayed by Kristen Wiig. Not too physically demanding, but he should be picking up some speed for later in the game.
Heading to the end of the quarter, LeBron knows he really needs to step his game up. He starts demanding the ball on offense and all eyes are on him during a “High School Musical” spoof, and he really delivers.
Towards the end of the quarter, they bench LeBron for a digital short. They let him catch his breath and give the role players some time.

2nd Quarter:
LeBron kicks the quarter off right with an NBA Read To Achieve PSA spoof, he becomes unstoppable and at one point actually dunks on a cast member. He’s on fire.
Ending the first half, the coaches make a questionable decision and play him at an awkward position. He’s really comfortable playing a studly NBA player, but the SNL staff has casted him as a flute-playing nerd on a BET talk show spoof. He just can’t seem to get anything going here; hopefully they’ll adjust that during halftime.

-Halftime show with Kanye West is enjoyed by all despite weird dancing and orchestra-

3rd Quarter:
The quarter starts with a play called for LeBron’s teammates, certainly risky but Keenan Thompson really steps up as OJ Simpson.
But of course, when you have a franchise player like Bron, you can’t call many plays without putting the ball in his hands. He starts up a hot streak as a Solid Gold dancer, giving his team a substantial lead.
For some insane reason, the coach takes him out of the game. Maybe he’s afraid of fatigue or injury but this couldn’t of come at a worse time. He runs a cartoon, benching LeBron just when he was getting hot. Ouch.
At the end of the quarter they don’t improve things for LeBron but the team gets help from a surprising performance from Kanye West. Bron supplies a 3 second cameo but if they don’t give him some serious time in the 4th, they can expect a loss.

4th Quarter:
Still not much from LeBron. Kanye slips on the court but picks himself up, and begins to call plays as he thinks of them. Despite yells from the Coach, his “off the top of the dome” play calling is rather productive. But LeBron still isn’t being used.
Wisely, they give Bron the ball in the closing minutes, playing him in his most comfortable position… as himself. He spoofs himself and his choice to skip college for a little while, lighting up the scoreboard as he does so.
LeBron ends the game by thanking his fans, teammates and coaches.

Post Game Thoughts:
LeBron’s team got the W, but LeBron himself was underused. He had solid 2nd and 4th quarters and his teammates really stepped it up in the 3rd. He didn’t mess up in any particular way and certainly solidified himself as an official crossover athlete. Watch out Brad Pitt, there’s a new blockbuster actor in town!

LeBron Is Making Shakespeare Proud

LeBron is all set to host SNL tonight and I’m expecting big things. As appearances on several talk shows, pre-game antics, and the ESPYS taught us, LeBron can keep a crowd entertained. I mean, just watch him sing Bobby Brown’s classic “My Lebronative”:



Don’t believe in his thespian skills, negative reader? Well, tell me this doesn’t churn your butter:



He’s playing four people at the same time! That type of acting is only done by the likes of Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, undoubtedly two of the Worlds most classically trained actors.
I’m excited for SNL tonight, and you can expect a play-by-play recap coming next.

Mo' Marion, Mo' Problems

As you’ve probably heard, Shawn Marion is looking to leave greener pastures with the Suns, to a less-than-competitive Lakers club. He’s been saying that “It's time for me to take the next step and leave” and "It's like a bad marriage. It's time to get up. I love my fans, I love the city, I love my teammates. I just think it's time for me to leave". What about loving your fans, city and teammates is like a bad marriage, you ask? It’s all about the Benjamins.
Even though Marion is the most highly paid Sun, but certainly not the most valuable, he’s trying to get a contract extension of $60 mil over the next 3 years. So the question is, is Marion worth it? The way I see it, the Suns have about 2 or 3 more years to win with the team they’ve got. That team, unfortunately for tightwad owner Robert Sarver, includes Marion. $20 million a year is far too much to pay Marion, but if it means he stays, and gives the Suns a few more chances at a championship, it might be worth it.
I find it hard to believe that Marion actually thinks he deserves this kind of bank but he definitely knows the Suns want him and going to the Lakers would mean they get nothing comparable in return (probably Lamar Odom). Marion’s got the Suns right where he wants them, and if they want a trophy they’re going to have to dish out some serious cheddar.

Next Big Thing(s)

Out of a high school class with some stellar players, including Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and Eric Gordon, two names stand out from the others. Names that seem like they will almost always be used in the same sentence, the way Magic and Larry are. The two best players out of the college class of ’07 are OJ Mayo and Kevin Love, and they better get used to each other, because they’re going to be seeing a lot of one another.
The comparisons are inevitable, not because they play the same type of game, not because they have the same background, but because they’re both great and they’re not exactly doing anything to get away from each other. Since the McDonalds All-American Game, where they faced as East (Mayo) vs. West (Love), all eyes have been on them. The final score indicated a game as closely matched and even as these two, 114-112, with Love’s squad prevailing.
Kevin’s dad, Stan played in the NBA and he moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon from Santa Monica at an early age. He is a 6-10, 260 pound forward and he’s a huge offensive threat, using fundamentals in combination with creativity and straight last-one-to-leave-the-gym strength. He’s got the MVP awards, he’s got the championships as well as numerous citizenship and student/athlete awards.
OJ Mayo’s dad has been in and out of jail while his mother supported the family by herself. Mayo is a 6-4, 210 pound guard whose crazy athleticism and highflying dunks are complimented nicely with a silky J. He’s been on Youtube for pushing a ref, had his fair share of run-ins with the law and aspires to rebuild his community of Huntington, West Virginia.
To add to their numerous differences, Love is committed to UCLA while Mayo will be suiting up for USC.
Though these two lead very different personal lives, have different backgrounds and very different approaches to basketball, they will be compared, and they will be rivals. The beauty of basketball is that it transcends race, religion and reputation. The only thing that matters in this game, the same thing that makes these two rivals, is game. It’s what Larry and Magic shared, and it’s what Oden and Durant share. These two definitely got game, and there’s no doubt that you’ll be hearing about them for a while.

What Is Going On In Hermosa Beach?

If you play enough pickup, this tends to happen a lot.

Game Recognize Previews. Return of the Previews: Western Conference, Regular Season

Did you see Minority Report? Remember those guys in the water who can predict crimes before they happen? That's not how I did this.

Northwest Division:
1) Denver Nuggets
With AI on the squad all year long, I don’t see how they could have a worse record than any of these guys.
2) Seattle Supersonics
Yep, I bought into the Kevin Durant hype. Youtube that guy and I promise you’ll be a believer.
3) Utah Jazz
They were pretty good in the playoffs and Deron Williams got robbed of the MIP, but Carlos Boozer has one move. ONE MOVE. He does the same lame bank shot every time. I could D him up.
4) Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s not like they got nothing in return for KG.
5) Portland Trailblazers
I said LaMarcus Aldridge was better than Oden anyway, but I didn’t say they would win any games.


Pacific Division:
1) Phoenix Suns
They’re window of opportunity is closing, and they know it. As usual, they’re one of the best in the L.
2) Golden State Warriors
Yeah, they lost Jason Richardson, but they still can’t be worse than all the rest of these teams.
3) Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe’s gonna have to have a lot of 80-point games this year.
4) Sacramento Kings
At least none of their players ruptured their Achilles tendon.
5) Los Angeles Clippers
Without Brand, they’ve got nothing.

Southwest Division:
1) San Antonio Spurs
They won last year, and to be honest I have no idea how to rank teams.
2) Dallas Mavericks
Say what you will about they playoffs last year, they had the best record, the MVP and Mark Cuban.
3) Houston Rockets
I bet there will only be 3 or 4 weeks in which both T-Mac and Yao are playing injury free.
4) New Orleans Hornets
They’re actually pretty good, but in the hardest division.
5) Memphis Grizzlies
Possibly the worst team in the NBA. Yeah Hakim Warrick, FCS High School Pride!

Game Recognize Previews: Eastern Conference, Regular Season

Here are the results from the 2008 NBA Season. That's right, I can travel through time.

Atlantic Division:
1) Boston Celtics
No, I actually don’t really buy into the whole “new dynasty” stuff now that they have three ball-hogging, whiny superstars as opposed to one. It’s just that this division is really terrible.
2) Toronto Raptors
If this franchise keeps their people for another 5 years, they’ll be the best team in the NBA.
3) New Jersey Nets
It seems unlikely that the combo of Jason Kidd, Vincesanity and Richard Jefferson can actually do poorly, but that’s what I thought last year… and the year before that.
4) Philadelphia 76ers
It might be wishful thinking, but hopefully the Sixers won’t end up dead last in one of the worst divisions.
5) New York Knicks
Hey Knicks, way to get rid of Francis, but shouldn’t you know that a low post dominator is useless if he can’t play defense, what with Eddy Curry and everything?

Central Division:
1) Detroit Pistons
Hey, they’re the Pistons. C’mon.
2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Hey, they’re LeFranchise. C’mon.
3) Chicago Bulls
I don’t see this squad ever getting their act together.
4) Milwaukee Bucks
Desmond Mason can’t hurt but they only avoid the number 5 spot by default.
5) Indiana Pacers
Nobody would like to see Jeff Foster dominate more than I would, but they’re just one of the worst teams in the league.

Southeast Division:
1) Orlando Magic
They’re in a pretty easy division plus Dwight Howard is going to be the most dominate player in the NBA.
2) Charlotte Bobcats
The addition of Jason Richardson might actually make this team relevant. If you think about it, they’ve got Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and I wouldn’t be that surprised if MJ put himself in a couple games. Just for like 20 minutes.
3) Washington Wizards
Yeah, Arenas is ok and they might have done well if Caron Butler and he didn’t hurt themselves last year, but it doesn’t really matter where I put them because they’ll get swept in the playoffs.
4) Miami Heat
I expect DWade to make a full recovery, but they lost Kapono, Posey, maybe Jason Williams and Shaq’s career is just about over. I don’t think Smush Parker will make up for it.
5) Atlanta Hawks
Yeah they just stink. Despite Johnson, Smith and Speedy Clax’s street cred, they’ll end up last in the division.

Stephen A. Smith? Nope, Just A Look-A-Like

Praying is definitely the new black.

Baskedents: Man's Only Natural Predator

“Baskedents” [Bas*Kah*Dents] noun – A basketball-related incident happening unintentionally or unexpectedly, often causing pain to the victim.

Baskedents are happening all over the world. No matter who you are, a baskedent may happen to you or someone you love… unless you play, like, soccer or something. To prove that baskedents know no race, religion or creed, here are some of the worst of all time.


They happen to college players:



They happen to the pros:

I thought the music might help some of our younger viewers stomach the image of his knee folding like Stretch Armstrong, but don’t let the soundtrack fool you, that was real... real painful.


They happen to lame suburban trampolites whose friends hate them:



They happen all over the world:

If he were about 4 inches taller, he wouldn’t have a head anymore. Or his head wouldn’t have a body anymore. He would have had a serious baskedent, anyway.

So those videos just go to show you, no matter who you are, where you’re from or whether you have a trampoline or not, a baskedent is waiting for you.

Worst... Offseason... Ever

As a Sixers fan, I have no choice but to rant about their recent decisions. First they traded away Bobby Jones and Steven Hunter for Ricky Sanchez and Reggie Evans, which is basically just trading two useless players for two other useless players. In fact, you may know Reggie Evans as the "guy who violated Chris Kaman". Yep, the Sixers proudly accept this guy:

Then, president and GM, Billy King announced that Aaron McKie “would have a position with the team this season”. All I can say is, he better be assistant to the assistant coach or something, because if playing with the Sixers didn’t work before, it won’t work 13 years later.
Those moves probably won’t really effect the team one way or the other, they’re just stupid, but when King announced that Philadelphia was picking up former Washington Wizard, Calvin Booth, I nearly burned my most valued Kyle Korver poster (no, nobody’s ever actually produced a KK poster). Are you serious? Calvin Booth? This 31-year-old had a 06-07 season of 1.6 PPG and 1.8 RPG… in only 8.6 minutes a game! Yeah, he’s useless and what’s worse, the Sixers expect this guy to play “a greater role with the Sixers”. Maybe he’ll be able to reach a peak of 2 points and rebounds a game and play 17.2 minutes a game. If you think basketball players are overpaid, the fact that their paying this guy upwards of $15 dollars is an argument in your favor. This move won’t really affect the team either, but it officially makes this the most stupid, useless offseason in the history of the NBA.
The Sixers need a total revamping if their going to win any games, not a Nuggets reject, a former 6th man award-stealer, or a guy who looks like this:

The Emperor's New Groove

Not to be outdone by his archenemy, Big Aristotle, Kobe has traveled to the far East himself, meeting fans and schooling them in basketball. Despite the slave wages and abuse they receive making Kobe’s sneakers for Nike, plenty of Asian children came out to watch him.
So, to show his appreciation, Kobe dunked on, crossed up and just embarrassed any 4’ Asian in his path… and they loved it. Kobe was treated like a God all throughout Asia, greeted with cheers and crowds of fans. In Taiwan, he received a tribal headband, a sign of leadership. They really almost made this guy their king, but when he realized their were no white women in Asia, he headed home.
Here’s a video of him dunking on a couple of children. He has the crowd eating out of his hand:

We could have used an ambassador like this when they were Commies.

Raindance!

The following is probably my favorite basketball scene in any movie. It's from Along Came Polly and it is gross.

The Dallas Stars Just Entered A World Of Pain

The Dallas Stars, hockey’s most awkwardly located NHL team, has seen fit to poke fun at the NBA’s referee scandal. They have posted a billboard claiming that “The Only Thing Our Refs Shave Is The Ice”, seen above. Where do you get off, Stars? How dare you poke fun at professional sports most respected officials. What the heck does “Come Into The Cold” mean, anyway?
On the other hand, this is the sort of behavior I would expect from a bunch of Canadians and eastern Europeans, but Mav’s owner and attention hog Mark Cuban has been reported as saying, “I think it’s hysterical. Good for them. It’s a fun ad”. It wouldn’t be so funny if you could blame point shaving for your embarrassingly early exit from the playoffs, would it Mark? I doubt it will be more hysterical than your Dancing With the Stars performances.
I’ve got some suggestions for NBA billboards that might return the favor. “The Only Fights Our Refs Allow Are Between Artest And Paying Patrons”, “The Only Blades Our Players Use Are For Shanking” and “Our League Has Nothing To Do With The ‘Mighty Ducks’ Movies” are just a few of my brilliant ideas.
I move for some sort of rebuttal from the League. Don’t underestimate Stern’s hatred for Texas, Stars.

We're Number 1

If there was any doubt in anybody’s mind that the United States is the most physically dominant and thus superior nation on earth, the USA Men’s Senior Basketball Team has shut you up. They haven’t won by less than 27 points and remain undefeated by the best of the Americas. But some, including ESPN’s Chris Sheridan, aren’t satisfied by the USA. They claim that the roster is full of egos and lacking in defense. Umm, excuse me but last time I checked defense is reserved for opponents that play basketball professionally, not as training for soccer.
You shouldn’t be concerned with the fact that America allowed Mexico to score 100 points, because they’re playing under a system developed partially by Mike D’Antoni. He’s the coach of the Phoenix Suns who doesn’t care how many times the other team scores, as long as his team scores one point more.
Game Recognize Game guarantees an undefeated record in every single game this current incarnation of the USA Olympic Team plays, or I will personally write an entry praising whatever lame, finger-rolling country takes enough charges to win.

You Can't Keep Them From Dancing

Studies have shown that Basketball becomes an alternative means of income for more than 75% of failed professional dancers*. So, when you bring players together, as the NBA did in this rookie photo shoot, they're going to demand a DJ and they're gonna get down.



Let's just say, Joakim Noah's dancing ability parallels his basketball skills.


*This fact is 100% made up.

Thunder vs. Harry

On one legendary night, the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks decided to cancel their basketball matchup and settle things off the court. That's right, an old fashioned mascot dance-off, winner take all. If only more teams had the integrity and courage to settle things this way.

The winner? You be the judge, but keep in mind that Harry the Hawk had to tag in someone not wearing a giant beaked head and wings.

Shaq's Turning Ming Into Bling

Everyone knows Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to the Far East, as this message to Yao Ming during the 02-03 season proved, “Tell Yao Ming, ‘ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh’”. As Shaq bridges the gap between the East and West so seamlessly, his shoe sponsor sent him over to China to do some promotional work as only he can, producing the timeless pictures seen throughout this post. Shaq is so immersed in Chinese culture, that he was able to pick out the perfect wedding gift for Ming. What do you get the giant Asian who has everything, you ask? Shaq suggested this, "If you let me choose a wedding gift for him, I would give Yao four 24-inch customized rims”. Yao’s rickshaw is gonna be off the chizzain.

Allan and Anfernee Must Read This Blog

Well Reggie Miller's Retired All-Star Squad has created quite a bit of hype already and, in an unlikely coincidence, All-Star Allan Houston is considering a return to the NBA and Penny Hardaway has signed with the Miami Heat.
The 36 year-old Houston is more than willing to sacrifice his Knicks legacy in order to play about 10 minutes a night and put up the occasional three pointer. When asked if he would play on Reggie Miller's Retired All-Star Squad, however, he had the following to say. "I'm looking to play a supporting role to some of these great young stars,'' Houston said. "More of a leadership role, someone who can add experience and stability late in games". So, he wouldn't play with other old washed up has-beens. Maybe Ostertag can talk him into it.
Penny Hardaway hasn't looked back at his Orlando legacy as he joins the already elderly Heat. He'll join Gary Payton and possibly Alonzo Mourning in the team that is slowly turning into Reggie Miller's Retired All-Star Squad.
Both of these guys should have stayed retired, but didn't. They earn a spot on the Squad.

Reggie Miller's Retired All-Star Squad

The fact that Reggie Miller is actually considering making an NBA “comeback” forced me to consider a team comprised entirely of old has-beens to be known as “Reggie Miller’s Retired All-Star Squad”. Despite the name, these players don’t actually have to be retired, but they should be. These are players who experienced some level of success on some level of play and, despite being old, choose to either return and disgrace whatever legacy they left (i.e. Reggie Miller), or refuse to unclench the nails they have dug into whatever amount of achievment they have experienced (i.e. Dikembe Mutombo). Sometimes they are just such a perfect combination of bad and old that they earn a spot (i.e. Greg Ostertag). In any case, they should retire and/or stay retired.

PG- Gary Payton (39)
SG- Reggie Miller (41)
SF- Scottie Pippen (41)
PF- Greg Ostertag (34)
C- Dikembe Mutombo (41)
Honorable Mentions: Alonzo Mourning, Aaron McKie and Sam Cassell

Gary Payton: As the 2006 NBA Finals taught us, this guy is the most useful player on Reggie Miller’s Retired All-Star Squad. And yet, he’s useless. He used to be pretty good, but these days he’s known as “the guy DWade used to play as in NBA Live ‘98”. The Glove needs to retire already and be remembered for his success with the Supersonics, not as the player trying to shimmy himself back into relevancy.

Reggie Miller: He’s about to turn 42 and still contemplating a return to the league. Danny Ainge promised him a solid 15 minutes a game… not worth sacrificing his Pacers legacy. He managed to play on the same team for his entire 18-year career and will be remembered as the best Pacer to ever beat the Knicks. He even found a great job yakking it up on TNT. Besides, a team with Pierce, Allen and Miller won’t be that cool after the novelty wears off.

Scottie Pippen: After announcing that he was interested in making a comeback in February, Pippen proceeded to embarrass himself during All-Star weekend in the Haier Shooting Stars competition. He was unable to land himself on a team last season (shocker), but don’t think he’s given up the fight. Maybe he has something to prove because all the focus was on Jordan during his career, but regardless, he’s got rings and he’s got money so there’s really no reason to even think about returning.

Greg Ostertag: He may be the youngest player on this squad, but he makes up for it by being the worst. Though he doesn’t have a “legacy” to disgrace, the fact that he thinks a team would want him to contribute 15 minutes is embarrassing enough.

Dikembe Mutombo: He’s old, he’s bad and he won’t leave. He may be personable and socially conscious but he can’t play like he used to. He should accept that he’s the second best shot-blocker and one of the most dynamic rebounders ever, and retire already.

The Bench: Copy and paste Mutombo’s paragraph for Alonzo Mourning. Just like Payton, he should have bowed out after he won the championship.
Aaron McKie is just terrible. He stole the 6th man of the year award and that’s the only thing he has to show for his entire career. Bet you didn’t know he’s actually on the Lakers now. Weird, right?
Sam Cassell is a mummy. He was once the pharaoh of all the Western Nile, but today he is a 30,000-year-old basketball player. He was actually too old to make the All-Star Retired Squad. Go back to the crypt, Sam.

When some of today’s brightest stars blossom into players like these, hope they retire and stay retired.

James Posey Is Livin' It Up

James Posey was probably the luckiest player in the league during Miami's victorious championship run in '06, as he won a trophy without actually contributing. Ever since then, he's done everything he can to embarrass himself from getting arrested to getting fat. But why should I even report on his latest mess up when this site sums it up so well?

http://miamihoopsblog.com/2007/08/02/strike-a-posey/

Did You Know Garnett Is An Irish Name?

Unforunatley, I am forced to blog about Kevin Garnett's move to the Celtics. This is because as a sports blogger, and specifically one of basketballic proportions, I must recognize this move as one of the most significant in recent memory.
KG is arguabley the best player in the NBA and many, myself included, thought he would end his career in Minnesota. Instead, he sacrificed his insane loyalty and moved himself to a team that doesn't even recognize draft karma as a tangible entity.
You can argue that Pierce and Allen are better players than Garnett has ever had the pleasure of playing with, and that would be true (the next best set is Cassell and Sprewell... awful), but as they both play the same position (with poor health history) and hog the ball even more than Garnett does, this franchise will go nowhere fast. Garnett's not getting any younger and this three year deal may solidify his title of best player to continually fail. And I'm not talking like Reggie Miller fail, I mean like "this team may win the Atlantic Division only once or twice" fail.
That being said, this move can't possibly hurt the Celtics, the 06-07 season's version of the 05-06 Knicks (best comparison I could come up with), and it will sell plenty of tickets. On the downside for Boston, they better be right about this guy because they sacrificed every young talent they had in order to get him. (Prediction: In eight years, Gerald Green will dunk on a a walker using Kevin Garnett hobbling around in the lane).
Is it possible for three aging, shoot first, ball-demanding, highly paid superstars to win some games? Sure, but don't excpect another Bean Town Dynasty.

The Atlanta Krunk: Stylin' and Profilin'

Now, in what will almost assuredly not become a regular post, Game Recognize Game brings you news from the CBA.
The most exciting news in the CBA is the upcoming season for the Atlanta Krunk, the Continental Basketball Associations answer to a lack of interest from Lil’ Jon fans. Well, this franchise should more than capture their attention. In case you don’t know about the Krunk, I bring you the key aspects of the team through a photo album.
Duane “Spider” Hughes recently announced that the Krunk, formerly the “Atlanta Krunk Wolverines” would be moving from Charlotte to Atlanta, silencing all those who doubted their strangely specific name choice.
Check the logo:



This move was not only met with a myriad of screaming fans but also a stylish new uniform, to be supplied by sole sponsor Starbury.
Check the uni:



As every true hoops fan knows, moves and execution like this would be impossible without true professionals behind the wheel. Former all-star and now coach Kenny Anderson here with co-owner Freedom Williams to his left and assistant coach Lamont Moreno (the guy who looks like Martin Lawrence), to his right.
Check the staff:



And of course, a business opportunity such as this would have investors everywhere peeing their pants. Kenny Anderson isn’t the only lucky guy who gets to be associated with the franchise. Stephon Marbury jumped at the opportunity as well.
Check Stephon cheesin’ with Freedom:



So, if you don’t know now you know… Krunk fans.

Glory Be...

Basketball ads have been pretty memorable, from the Freestyle commercial to the many faces of LeBron, Nike has contributed more than its fare share of television memories. Never have they done it better, however, than these two old school parodies in which they superimpose Vince Carter and others into old ABA clips. These are two of my favorite basketball commercials ever.