Reality Basketball

NBA HOPE

2011-11-26T00:18:00.000-08:00

If you are like me all you really care about is the players and the owners get together and let common sense take over. I know there is a lot of stake but if they don't play then there is 0 at stake.

http://tinyurl.com/84m2wcx

NO MORE SPRAINED ANKLES - BROOKLYN HOOPS - DIRECTED BY CHRIS BAVELLES

2011-02-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

Play Anywhere

Who needs a real court. All you need is a ball, some guys, some gravel, weeds, tall ladder,

milk crate and Ektios Directed by Chris Bavelles: For info on how to protect and defend your ankles go to:

http://www.ektio.com & for more Videos and Reels go to www.cbreels.com by: Chris Bavelles

Spraining Your Ankle is F'd Up

PLAY ANYWHERE NO MORE PAIN

2010-11-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

If you play hoops you know what it is like to sprain your ankle - PAIN - lots of pain, lots of ICE...most likely you can't go to work, can't put on your shoes. Most people think that taping your ankles and or wearing ankle braces will prevent you from spraining your ankle but that is just not true.

I played basketball in high school, college and a little bit of pro ball in Europe, then I played for years in the Y leagues and at the parks. I would tape my own ankles, wear braces and it really didn't prevent a thing.

JOHN STARKS AND NEW BASKETBALL SHOE EKTIO

Recently I got a chance to help create and direct 6 different videos and a commercial for a new basketball shoe called EKTIO in Brooklyn NY. Former Knick Superstar John Starks is in a couple of them and is currently recruiting NBA players to wear them.

It was created Dr. Barry Katz who happens to be a former ballplayer. I tried them and played a few games during the shoot. They really make you feel safe. Your foot feels like it is always moving with the shoe. I never felt like I could sprain my ankle. I wish I had them when I played for real.

Check out a couple of the videos at my Youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/CBTWEAK
Click on "Play Anywhere" and then check out "Spraining your ankle is F'd UP"

You can learn more about the shoes at their new website: www.ektio.com

Here is an press story with John about the shoes:

Ex-Knick superstar John Starks has unveiled a new basketball sneaker he says he wishes he had during his heyday playing against Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.

The shoe is billed as the first kind of sneaker to prevent ankle injuries, Starks told the Daily News recently.

"It's 99.9% effective against ankle sprains," Starks said.

The shoe is tightly secured to the foot with a strap, and the side features a protruding bumper designed to keep players from rolling their ankles.

"Once I put the shoe on, and strapped it in, immediately you feel secure in the shoe, and you feel like this is the shoe that's going to protect your foot," said Starks, who now works in the New York Knicks front office.

"I had many ankle injuries, some that put me out a day, some that put me out a week or two," said the 6-foot-2 former shooting guard. "I wish this shoe was out on the market at the time that I was playing."

The sneaker, made by a new company, Ektio, is the brainchild of New Jersey radiologist Dr. Barry Katz. He knows first firsthand what it's like to suffer an ankle injury while playing ball.

Katz played college basketball for the State University at Binghamton, and suffered three serious ankle sprains. His son also sustained a serious ankle injury on the court.

"We're very confident we are going to protect people," Katz said, noting 25,000 ankle sprains occur every day. "It keeps the foot and the shoe together, kind of like a ski boot."

Starks and Katz are working to push the sneaker to high school ball players, with hopes of picking up interest from colleges and the NBA.

"We want to grassroot it through the high school system, and bring it up through college," Starks said.

The $199 sneaker, which comes in high top and three-quarter styles, will be available for purchase online in time for the start of the NBA season on Nov. 1. Sizes will initially range from 8 to 14. A women's version will be available next year.

Katz and Starks are confident the sneaker can compete with the Jordan brand, or sneakers named after LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

"People are going to want to wear our shoe, not necessarily because of the name, but because of what it does," Katz said. "It's the real deal."

LAKERS GET 2010 RINGS AND THEN WIN

2010-10-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

Reality Basketball - Chris Bavelles

LOS ANGELES -- After opening the evening by receiving their championship rings and raising banner No. 16 to the rafters, the Lakers finished things in exciting fashion, coming from 13 down in the third and then hanging on for a 112-110 victory to open the 2010-11 season.

While Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant led L.A. in scoring with 29 and 27 points apiece, it was the 3-point shooting of Steve Blake and Shannon Brown that really sparked the team, and allowed them to overcome big nights from Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks, who finished with 26 and 24 points respectively for the Rockets.

FIRST QUARTER: Rockets 33, Lakers 26

The Lakers overcame the emotion of their ring ceremony fairly quickly and settled into some effective basketball with the team's first unit. But it was the Rockets' guards who were the story, with Aaron Brooks and Kevin martin combing to score 27 of their team's 33 in the period.

Pau Gasol had 12 for L.A., and Ron Artest hit a couple of threes to keep the Lakers close, despite the team's 36.4 percent shooting.

Phil Jackson was asked before the game if he expected his rookies to get any minutes tonight, and he joked, "I hope not." But he inserted Derrick Caracter into the lineup just over three minutes in, once Lamar Odom was forced to the bench with two personal fouls.

SECOND QUARTER: Rockets 62, Lakers 51

It was the Chase Budinger show early, and the Kevin Martin show late. Budinger had nine points in the first 3:35 of the period, helping to extend the Rockets lead quickly to 10. Martin then poured in seven of his own after L.A had trimmed the lead to three, but also managed to pick up the first "Respect the Game" technical foul of the season. Martin was whistled for a personal foul after hitting Kobe Bryant from behind on a jumper that Bryant ended up banking in anyway, and gave an "air punch" as a reaction that the referees promised would be an automatic during the preseason.
THIRD QUARTER: Rockets 82, Lakers 77

After a largely lackluster period from both squads, one of the Lakers' newest additions gave his team a spark to make it a game heeding into the fourth. Steve Blake went on a personal 6-0 run to end the third, connecting on a couple of corner 3-pointers to cut an 11-point Houston lead to just five.

FOURTH QUARTER: Lakers 112, Rockets 110

Blake's two threes to end the third were the beginning of a 28-9 Lakers run that put the champs up eight, one that was capped by a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers from Shannon Brown.

The Rockets battled back, though, and took a 110-109 lead with under 30 seconds to play after a layup from Luis Scola that he scooped up and in around the outstretched arms of Pau Gasol.

But Blake once again came through, and drained a long 3-pointer -- his third of the night -- to put the Lakers up for good.

Houston had two final chances at tying it in the final seconds, but Scola missed a contested layup inside, and after instant replay gave the ball back to the Rockets on an overturned out-of-bounds call, Brooks couldn't finish on a drive to the rim.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 2
Overall, both teams did a good job controlling their emotions with the officials, and only Houston's Kevin Martin received a "Respect the Game" technical foul. But after taking a hard hit on a shot from Budinger on a shot attempt in the second, Kobe Bryant gave a glare to the official that was "respectful" enough to get him a late whistle in his favor.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE
The scoreboard that hangs over center court at Staples Center was replaced since last season, and while it might not be anything near the size of the one that spans more than half the length of the field at Cowboys Stadium, make no mistake -- it's huge by NBA arena standards. For someone like me who's been coming here for the past 11 seasons since the arena opened in 1999, it was more than a little disorienting, and definitely took some time to get used to.

Overall, both teams did a good job controlling their emotions with the officials, and only Houston's Kevin Martin received a "Respect the Game" technical foul. But after taking a hard hit on a shot from Budinger on a shot attempt in the second, Kobe Bryant gave a glare to the official that was "respectful" enough to get him a late whistle in his favor.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 3

Fans rose to their feet with 9:30 to play, looking to explode for the first time all night. But as the Lakers came down trailing by two with the chance to tie, Lamar Odom missed a 20-footer from straight away and Matt Barnes missed a put-back attempt before grabbing his own rebound and being fouled on a second try, temporarily denying the fans their chance to cheer.

Barnes tied it anyway after the timeout at 86-all by connecting on both free throws, and after a stop, a Shannon Brown layup in transition gave the Lakers the lead, and gave the fans their first opportunity of the game to truly celebrate. Brown continued to inspire the crowd, connecting on three 3-pointers that extended the Lakers lead to eight with five and a half minutes to play.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 4

The Rockets swore that Yao Ming was going to have a hard cap of 24 minutes a game, easing him back into the regular- season grind after missing so much time due to injury. But With his team trailing by 1 with 6:30 to play, Yao was approaching his limit, and was still out on the court. Press row was buzzing about it, looking down at the Rockets bench to see if there was any activity to send another player to the scorer's table to report as a sub.

But Yao took the decision of whether or not to extend his minutes out of his team's hands, picking up his sixth foul just as he crossed the 24-minute plateau.

NBA CHAMPS TO PLAY IN LONDON

2010-10-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Lakers 2009-2010

#	Name	Ht	Wt	Dob	Pos	From	Years
37	Ron Artest	6'7"	260	November 13, 1979	F	St. John's	11
9	Matt Barnes	6'7"	226	March 09, 1980	F	UCLA	8
5	Steve Blake	6'3"	172	February 26, 1980	G	Maryland	7
12	Shannon Brown	6'4"	210	November 29, 1985	G	Michigan State	4
24	Kobe Bryant	6'6"	205	August 23, 1978	G	Lower Merion HS (PA)	14
17	Andrew Bynum	7'0"	285	October 27, 1987	C	St. Joseph HS (NJ)	5
45	Derrick Caracter	6'9"	265	May 04, 1988	F	Texas-El Paso	0
3	Devin Ebanks	6'9"	215	October 28, 1989	F	West Virginia	0
2	Derek Fisher	6'1"	210	August 09, 1974	G	Arkansas-Little Rock	14
16	Pau Gasol	7'0"	250	July 06, 1980	F-C	Barcelona, Spain	9
11	Russell Hicks	7'0"	245	June 15, 1985	C	Florida International	0
1	Trey Johnson	6'5"	218	August 30, 1984	G-F	Jackson State	3
41	Drew Naymick	6'10"	250	February 18, 1985	C-F	Michigan State	0
7	Lamar Odom	6'10"	230	November 06, 1979	F	Rhode Island	11
50	Theo Ratliff	6'10"	235	April 17, 1973	C	Wyoming	15
0	Anthony Roberson	6'2"	180	February 14, 1983	G	Florida	5
18	Sasha Vujacic	6'7"	205	March 08, 1984	G	Maribor, Slovenia	6
4	Luke Walton	6'8"	235	March 28, 1980	F	Arizona

Phil Jackson Smack is true!

2010-06-01T23:36:00.000-07:00

Jackson talks smack, mentions Kevin Garnett - Bynum's knee drained...

Reality Basketball

Trey Kerby

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your sausage McGriddle.

Shira Springer, Boston Globe: Did you expect a pre-Finals news conference to pass without Lakers coach Phil Jackson taking a jab at the Celtics? When questioned about potential physical play in the series, Jackson took his first swing. "We don't have a smackdown mentality," he said. "You might have seen that with [Kevin] Garnett on [Orlando's Dwight] Howard in Game 6 in Boston, where he was smacking Howard's arm and was finally called for an offensive foul. That's not our kind of team. We don't go out there to smack people around. I call it more resiliency. We're a more resilient ball club. We try to stay strong and play hard. But we're going to have to withstand some of that. We're going to have to play through it. We have some guys who are capable of playing to that style in [Derek] Fisher and Ron [Artest] and obviously Kobe [Bryant]. But our big guys are going to have to stand up because that's basically what got the Celtics through Orlando." Lamar Odom (notes) took a more diplomatic approach. "[All the series] have been physically demanding, even this last one, all the running we had to do," said Odom. "This one will be physical, if they let us play a little bit." Jackson did show sympathy for Kendrick Perkins (notes), one of the Celtics' most physical players. The Lakers coach said his team had no desire to frustrate Perkins in an effort to force the center into a technical foul. One more technical and Perkins will earn an automatic one-game suspension. "I don't even like to think about those kind of things," said Jackson. "Those things I think should be wiped out. Flagrant fouls. Technical fouls. It just means the longer you've been in the playoffs the more penalized you are. It seems like that's not a really good code right now."

Kevin Ding, Orange County Register: Andrew Bynum (notes) had 70 milliliters — nearly 2 1/2 fluid ounces — drained from his right knee early Monday morning in a procedure done by Lakers doctor Steve Lombardo. Bynum said his knee, which has torn cartilage in it, was still medicated from the procedure, so he wasn't sure how it was feeling. But he said: "It supposedly makes you feel more healthy." Bynum's understanding is that there are no major ramifications to the drainage, and he intends to practice Wednesday to test how much his knee has improved. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Thursday night. Bynum is awareKobe Bryant (notes) had his swollen right knee drained after Game 4 of the playoffs' opening round and has played well ever since. "He's obviously feeling much better," Bynum said. "You could tell he was a step slow before."

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston.com: Rajon Rondo (notes) and Rasheed Wallace (notes) were limited during theBoston Celtics' practice session Monday. Rondo, who suffered muscle spasms during the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic, then landed hard on his back during a first-quarter drive in Friday's clinching Game 6, participated in what Celtics coach Doc Rivers estimated was 3/4 of the practice, but was held back with eyes towards Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Wallace developed back spasms during Game 5 against Orlando, then departed in the fourth quarter of Game 6 when the symptoms worsened. Rivers held the reserve big man out of contact drills Monday and remains concerned about his availability moving forward. Rondo was on the court and active during 5-on-5 drills to close out the session; Wallace watched from the sidelines. "Rondo felt pretty good, he went 75-80 percent of practice," said Rivers. "Rasheed is not right yet, he did the skeleton offense stuff, but other than that, we didn't allow any contact. So if we have a concern right now with anybody, [Wallace] would be the only one."

Greg Beacham, AP: Although Andrew Bynum didn't play in the 2008 NBA finals, he remembers how it all ended. Boston Celtics fans celebrated their clinching victory by throwing rocks and other projectiles at the Los Angeles Lakers' departing bus, also rocking it back and forth. "I only saw a couple of games, and it was crazy-the energy, the fans," said Bynum, who was out for the season with an injured kneecap. "That bus ride back to the hotel, it wasn't the greatest." Bynum kept that memory close for the past two years, and so did most of his teammates. Although the Lakers' roster is remarkably similar to the group that lost to Boston two years ago, Bynum sees two big reasons Los Angeles might have a better shot to do the rocking this time. Ron Artest (notes) and Bynum said Monday they hope to play major defensive roles in the Lakers' NBA finals rematch with the Celtics, starting Thursday night at Staples Center. Artest is the Lakers' only newcomer this season, while Bynum has postponed surgery on his right knee to participate in the Lakers' playoff run. Unlike Kobe Bryant, who professes no special interest in a Celtics rematch, Bynum is thrilled this run is ending with Boston. "It's a great opportunity for us to get one back," Bynum said. "You never want to let something like that sit. I know it means a great deal (historically), but I'm more concerned about my own history."

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: Last week's reprieve aside, Kendrick Perkins remains on thin ice with six postseason technical fouls, just one short of a one-game suspension. Doc Rivers admittedly is worried that his center is one bad move or word away from leaving the Celtics undermanned against the Lakers' big front line in the NBA Finals. "Clearly what I've talked about hasn't worked," the Celts coach said after yesterday's practice. "Maybe I should have another one. I'm concerned by it, honestly. It's going to be a physical series, and there's going to be guys that get tangled up under the basket, and there's going to be officials who want to clean the game up. Perk may be in that." It all goes back to Rivers' beef with a perceived escalation in double technical fouls, a measure taken to clear up potential clashes between teams. Four of Perkins' six postseason techs have come from double-technical situations. "And that's why I've been on this double-technical thing for a month now," Rivers said. "It's part of the seven techs (that lead to a suspension) and it really shouldn't be, and it's a factor. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a factor in this series."

Ron Artest to the Rescue? as Marv Albert would say "Yes"

2010-05-28T00:13:00.000-07:00

With one minute to go in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and the Lakers up 101-98, Ron Artest missed a 20-foot jump shot, then promptly hoisted a three-pointer after Pau Gasol dished out an offensive rebound with a new shot clock.

He missed, his seventh errant shot in eight attempts, much to the ire of the STAPLES Center crowd (not to mention Phil Jackson).
Over the course of the next minute, Channing Frye would brick a three with Gasol following suit on a driving dunk attempt before Jason Richardson banked home Phoenix’s third three-point attempt of their final possession (thanks to two long rebounds), tying the game at 101 with 3.5 seconds left.
Quite a bit to take in already, but still plenty of time for Kobe Bryant to nail a buzzer-beater, right?
After all, perhaps the only ending better suited for Hollywood would be Artest - seeking redemption - crashing in from the weak side to grab Bryant’s missed turnaround three-pointer from the right wing, then lay the ball in off glass as the shot clock flashed red to signify the game’s end.
Crazy, right? Well, it happened.

Artest did just that and won the game for L.A., creating a 3-2 series lead to put the Lakers one win away from their third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.
“As a group, it’s always fun to have wins like this at the buzzer,” said Bryant, who happened to make seven shots in the final seconds in the regular season. “Especially for Ron … I’m very happy for him.”
“I was extremely excited and happy for him,” offered Lamar Odom, who began playing AAU ball with Artest when the two were 12-year-olds in Queens, N.Y. “I always remind him that this is why he came here. His whole career, his whole life, was about perseverance, sticking with it. Tonight was a prime example of that.”
When Artest’s put-back went down, it was so loud in STAPLES that the buzzer couldn’t be heard as Artest was first embraced tightly by Bryant, then mobbed by his entire team in the corner opposite Phoenix’s bench.
“Yeah,” Artest nodded when asked if the shot were the biggest of his career. “Biggest layup. I missed a lot of layups during the regular season.” But he made the biggest one, by a few hundred miles. Question: why was he in that position in the first place?
Artest explained that he thought Bryant was fouled on his attempt, so he “kind of figured it was going to be short, looked like he got hit on his arm a little bit … and it was a little short.”

Bryant was again brilliant in a game L.A. largely controlled (leading by as many as 18), again coming as close as possible to a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists,* Odom had a big 17-point, 13-rebound double-double off the bench, Gasol chipped in 21 points, nine boards and five assists and Derek Fisher came through with a season-high 22 points, but it was Artest’s moment.

*Bryant missed triple-doubles in Games 3 and 4 by a total of four rebounds.

“We’re very happy for Ron because Ron’s been asked to sacrifice a lot of his game to really try and fit in,” said Fisher. “Sometimes it makes it hard for him to have the rhythm and the fluidity to his game that he’s capable of having, but he sacrificed a lot to help us get to where we’re trying to go. That’s why we’re so happy for him.”

“I think it means a lot for him,” added Bryant. “He’s kind of been going up and down, emotionally it was a big boost.” L.A. had led by as many as 11 early in the fourth when Bryant nailed his fourth three of the game (and 10th in two games), but the Suns refused to go away, hitting three fourth quarter threes of their own and getting to the line eight times to hang around until the final stanza.

Overall, the statistics favored L.A., as the Purple and Gold out-rebounded Phoenix 49-40 (including 19 offensive boards), won the paint point batle 38-26, committed 11 turnovers to 15 from the Suns and blocked 10 shots, though Phoenix did manage to take more free throws again (29 to 23, much to the Lakers’ collective chagrin) and shoot a higher percentage (46.8 to 41.8).

LAKERS NOW IN A REAL WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

2010-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

REALITY BASKETBALL with Johnny Ludden - Chris Bavelles.

The Lakers can now forget about Denver. Or Houston. Or Oklahoma City. Last year, last month, whatever. It’s all in the past, Kobe Bryant (notes) snarled. None of it matters now. And don’t dare mention the Boston Celtics. They’re a subject for a more pleasant time.

If the Los Angeles Lakers got caught looking too far ahead, they’d now be wise not to peer too deep into their past. This is about living in the moment. This is about how the Lakers lost something between Hollywood and here, and how these Western Conference finals have suddenly turned stone serious.

Eyes aflame, jaw locked, Kobe stared into the cameras late Tuesday and narrowed his gaze to a Game 5 some 44 hours away in Los Angeles.

“We have to play with a sense of urgency,” he said, “and understand this team can beat us.”

Kobe’s words were terse and his eyes simmered behind them. His message was clear: No longer should the Lakers expect a smooth road to the NBA Finals. No more. They arrived here up 2-0 and jetted home with the series reduced to a best-of-three. The Phoenix Sunshave their attention.

“I think people were overlooking them after the first two games, and just thinking ahead already,”Pau Gasol (notes) said. “And so, obviously, that’s a big mistake.”No one knows that better than Bryant. Four years ago, he and the Lakers carried a 3-1 first-round lead into Game 5 against the Suns. They lost and went on to drop the series. The Suns ran over the Lakers again the following year, spurring Bryant to issue an edict to the franchise: Get me help or trade me.

At the time, the two losses to Phoenix stained Bryant’s résumé. He won three championships with Shaquille O’Neal (notes), but Shaq had been traded. Everyone wanted to know: Can Kobe lead his own team to a title?

Bryant won’t admit he came into this series seeking payback, but he’s clearly able to turn those memories into fuel – and that’s what made Tuesday all the harder to stomach. The Suns ran free and loose once again, burying 3-pointer after 3-pointer, using their self-described “girly” zone defense to lull the Lakers into too many jump shots of their own. Even more embarrassing: It was the Suns’ reserves who overwhelmed the Lakers’ stars in the fourth quarter.

Kobe totaled 38 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds – following his 36-point near-triple-double in the Game 3 loss – but didn’t get much assistance from his supporting cast.

“Kobe had a great game,” Lamar Odom (notes) said. “Too bad we weren’t able to come along with him.”

The Suns’ gimmicky zone continued to cause some trouble. The Lakers shot well enough, but the Suns choked off the passing lanes and kept them from getting the ball inside to their big men. In the two losses, the Lakers have attempted 60 3-pointers to 33 free throws, a staggering differential that points to the difficulty the Lakers have had getting the ball to the rim – or getting calls.

More than anything, the Suns’ zone has scrambled the Lakers’ priorities. The Lakers have spent the past couple days looking at ways to attack the Suns’ defense while neglecting their own. When the Lakers needed a stop in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t deliver.

“We lost the game,” Bryant said, “because our defense sucked.

“Our focus was on the other side of the floor, which doesn’t win championships. So we need to get back to ground zero when it comes to that.”

The Lakers can say they’ve been in this position before. Within the past two seasons, they reached three Game 5s with the series tied 2-2. They won each – beating Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City – and have won eight straight Game 5s overall dating to the 2007 loss to the Suns.

“Experience,” Odom said, “is the best teacher of all.”

These Lakers don’t worry about much. They will play Game 5 at home and, if necessary, also Game 7. The officiating could slide the other way with the change of locale. So could Channing Frye’s (notes) shooting. History is on the Lakers’ side.

Bryant, however, didn’t want to hear about the past, and that’s why he started to set the tone for Game 5 before the Lakers even reached the loading dock. He had spent part of the game barking at teammates, and now his anger was continuing to rise as he sat at the dais. Each question about the Suns’ zone was swatted away with a criticism of his own team’s defense. Asked how he was feeling, Bryant deadpanned: “Jovial.”

Bryant marched off the dais and made the long walk down a pair of hallways to the team’s bus. He was surrounded by security. He wasn’t smiling. This was the look of a man who had seen enough. The Lakers were losing their grip on the series, and Kobe needed to take charge.

Forget the past. Don’t worry about the Finals. All that matters is now. The Lakers aren’t cruising through the playoffs anymore. They’ve found a fight.

They called him "Stumpy"

2010-05-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Reality Basketball Re-Post Classic!GAIL GOODRICH SUPERSTAR

After writing about Allen Iverson re-signing with the 76'ers an old friend of mine (Illan) was curious why I haven't written about my all time favorite player Gail Goodrich. I wondered the same thing and it got me thinking about all the great little guys in NBA history. Bob Cousy, Calvin Murphy, Nate Archibald, John Stockton and Isaiah Thomas to name a few. But in my eyes Goodrich is one of the all time great little guys. Most people do not know that he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. He's a five time NBA All-Star, one time NBA Champion, two time NCAA All-American and won two NCAA titles with UCLA

Because I grew up playing basketball in Los Angeles just like Gail did, I might be a little biased, but there is no denying how great he really was. He was one of my two sports idols growing up (the other was Jerry West). Gail was told at every level that he was too short and too skinny to compete-just like me.
He was quick, had great fundamentals and could really shoot the ball-just like me. He went on to an illustrious Hall of Fame NBA career. Just like me...in my head. His dedication and strong work ethic has truly motivated me in basketball and throughout life.

Here are a few clips and other links I found on Gail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ug-ikmg6Fg (NBA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9bEA4NcBlc (College)

http://www.nba.com/history/players/goodrich_summary.html (NBA.Com)

Greatest missed dunk of all time?

2010-05-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Tue May 18, 2010 10:50 am EDT

REALITY BASKETBALL

VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE GREATEST MISSED DUNK OF ALLTIME!

Midway through the fourth quarter of an otherwise anticlimactic Game 1 between the Suns and Lakers, Shannon Brown (notes) took off from around the free-throw line and all most dunked over the new posterized Jason Richardson.

During a game. In traffic.

The miss was so good that people immediately started calling it the best missed dunk of all-time. You be the judge. Either way, this missed dunk provided some of the most amazing pictures in the history of dunking.

For instance, this Nils Wagner screen cap, which somehow is not Photoshopped.

Shannon looks like he just took off of a trampoline.

These two pictographs really let you know how high Shannon Brown was. They kind of make Marv Albert's "I actually thought he was going over the backboard" seem logical.

This is really just an awesome picture. Yeah, you can kinda tell that he's missing the dunk, but that doesn't even matter. The line from the ball to his foot is amazing. It's like the super-leaningest (totally a word) dunk attempt ever and it looks great. Plus, Kobe's face is hilarious.

Too bad Shannon Brown missed. If he hadn't, we'd be talking about one of the best dunks ever.

Reality Basketball - Chris Bavelles

By Trey Kerby

THE NBA MOST INTENSE PLAYOFF RIVALRIES

2010-04-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

LAKERS VS CELTICS

The creme de la creme. East Coast vs. West Coast. Blue Collar vs. Laid Back Surfer Dude. Sprinkle in some of the greatest players of all time and you have a rivalry that makes Neilson ratings and general basketball fans excitement go way up!

This rivalry has it all, history, consistency and story-lines galore. It all started in 1959 when the Celtics beat up the Minneapolis Lakers. In the 60's they met six times in the Finals with the Celtics winning each time. Ok, not much of a rivalry yet, I know.

The teams took the 70's off, but renewed their rivalry with vigor in the 80's. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird changed everything. The kid with the winning smile and the stud with the porn-star mustache injected new life into the greatest rivalry in basketball. The teams met three times in that decade with the Lakers winning two of the three.

The 2008 Finals pitted the two most successful franchises in history yet again. Think about it, 50.s, 60's, 80's and today; there is no more enduring and compelling NBA rivalry than the Lakers vs. the Celtics.

BULLS VS KNICKS

This one started in the 80's but didn't get hot until the 90's. Where the Michael Jordan led Bulls had to get over the Pistons to move on to greatness, the Knicks needed to climb Mount Jordan. They were never quite able to make it.

In 1989 the Bull not only beat the Knicks be demoralized them in a six game upset. That win propelled the Bulls to greatness and the Knicks began to falter. In 1991 they met again with the Bulls sweeping the Knicks. That was the series were MJ managed his unreal posterizing of Patrick Ewing.

Its Ewing that actually makes this series stand out for me. All athletics think they are better than their opponent. They don't all say it, but why take the floor if you don't think you're better or can be better? Ewing not only thought he was a better center then Bill Cartwright, he was, but he was convinced his Knicks were better than the Bulls.

Sorry Pat, they weren't. The Knicks could never beat the Bulls!

Well, at least not with Jordan aboard. When MJ skipped out to play baseball the Knicks finally got past the Bulls. It was bittersweet of course, because it took seven games even without His Airness and they would eventually lose in the Finals to the ROckets.

The rivalry was renewed when MJ came to his senses and laced em up again in 1996. The Bulls with MJ were a lot different than the Bulls without him. Chicago beat New York 4-1.

LAKERS VS KINGS

Sure this one is relatively new, only really becoming a full-fledged rivalry in 2000, but it got intense quick. In 2000 the Kings scared the Lakers but the team from LA prevailed.

In 2001 the Lakers steamrolled the Kings, but in 2002 things were different. The Kings had the Lakers knocked down, but could never deliver the final knock-out punch.

Instead, the punch in 2002 was delivered by the Lakers Robert Horry.

Like the Sixers vs. Celtics series earlier however the Lakers vs. Kings battle was so intense it flowed into meaningless games. The same year that Robery Horry broke the hearts of Northern California basketball fans the two teams met in a pre-season game.

Rick Fox and Doug Christie got into a skirmish. In typical basketball fashion, the two were separated and ejected. Rick Fox however wasn't content to take the rest of the night off. He ran around to the Kings tunnel leading to their locker-room and confronted Christie. A fight broke out that resulted in suspensions for both.

Now, that's a rivalry!

PISTONS VS BULLS

Whats not to love about a Chicago vs. Detroit series? The Bad Boys, the Jordan Rules, the bad blood; this was a classic series between to teams that seemed to genuinely not like each other. The only reason its ranked this low is because we haven't seen the match up in a while.

Back in the day, the Pistons were the Bad Boys. The team of players that didn't believe in giving up an easy layup to their opponent. They were the dominant mountain that the Michael Jordan led Bulls had to climb to reach the top. In 1988 MJ torched the Pistons for 59 points in a Bull victory leaving coach Chuck Daly livid. It was the only game the Bulls would win in that series that year.

The two met up again in 1989 with the Pistons employing the "Jordan Rules" to slow down the Bull superstar. Whether the Rules ever existed or not is debatable, what isn't is that, once again, the Pistons defeated the Bulls this time in six games. The next year, it took the Pistons seven games, the Bulls were gaining.

The rest is history. The Bulls climbed the Piston mountain and went on to greatness.

The 2006-2007 match-up between these two iconic franchises seems like a distant memory, for the Pistons. Hurry back Detroit!

THE JELLO IS JIGGLING, THIS GAME IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR...

2010-04-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

ALL TIME LAKER GREAT "CHICK HEARN" GETS A VERY UNIQUE STATUE AT STAPLES CENTER.

Lakers Blog

Prior to L.A.’s Game 2 contest against Oklahoma City on Tuesday afternoon outside of STAPLES Center, a touching ceremony took place to unveil a 16′, 5,000 lb. bronze and steel sculpture of Hall of Fame Broadcaster Chick Hearn, the legendary voice of the Lakers from 1961-2002.

Before the statue, created by renowned sculptor and artist Omri Amrany, was revealed, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak was among those who addressed the assembled crowd.

“People who listened to Chick can walk by, touch the statue and remember Chick and his contributions to the Los Angeles Lakers,” said Kupchak. “It’s also fitting that generations to come can walk by and although they might not know who Chick is, hopefully they’re with somebody - it could be a mother or a father - and they touch the statue and they say, ‘Dad, who was this,’ and the father says, ‘Son sit down, let me tell you about the greatest broadcaster ever.”

Kicking off and closing the ceremony was Hearn’s longtime partner and current Lakers’ analyst Stu Lantz, who shared memories of his time with Chick and honored Hearn’s wife, Marge. And while Marge Hearn was the guest of honor, several Laker legends were in attendance, including Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Rick Fox and Norm Nixon.

When the drape was dropped, a touching moment occurred as Marge Hearn was the first to sit alongside her husband’s likeness. She then expressed her pleasure at how great the statue looked, while making sure to point out the impact of Lakers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Jeanie Buss.

“She’s not getting enough credit, but Jeanie Buss - at least six or seven years ago when we were having lunch - said, ‘You know we should have a statue of Chick.’,” explained Hearn. “She’s the one who started it, she’s the one who did it with Linda Rambis’s help. They’re a great team.”

While on the podium, Big Game James detailed how much Chick Hearn helped create cohesivness within Los Angeles with his distinct call; now L.A. can collectively celebrate alongside Hearn’s likeness just by heading down to STAPLES Center.

Hope for Allen Iverson?

2010-03-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

I really hope that Allen Iverson figures things out. Not only for himself and his NBA legacy but for his family. I think he has been one of the most amazing and one of the most misunderstood athletes of our times. Reality Basketball wishes him well.
Here is the article that is spreading like wildfire on Iverson.

BELOW IS THE ARTICLE FROM PHILLY.COM & STEPHEN A. SMITH

His closest confidant asked the basketball world to pray for Allen Iverson, as if no one has all these years while seeing this train wreck coming.
He acted as if the former 76ers star hadn't needed a significant dose of prayer, luck, and divine intervention until now.

MATT SLOCUM / Associated Press

And as the rest of us are forced to bear witness to a disintegration, the rapid decline of a career clearly lacking nurturing, the time has arrived for Iverson's inner circle to stand up and be counted, to provide some semblance of tough love - by any means necessary.
Unless those people are willing to write his epitaph instead.
Just listening to Gary Moore, Iverson's business manager and the person he trusts most, they may be doing so very soon.
Allen Iverson is in trouble, folks, deep trouble. The combination of alcohol and gambling - and a once-promising career in tatters because of the first two - won't culminate in anything short of disaster if help does not arrive in short order.
If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth - and there's no reason to believe they'd do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude - Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.
Moore, ever the protector, would never admit as much, of course. But that's part of the problem, isn't it?

Iverson's wife, Tawanna, having hired some high-powered Atlanta attorney and filed for a divorce last week, does not help matters. Nor does it help that she's already separated from her husband, with custody of their five kids and seeking both alimony and child support.
When you consider Iverson's well-known penchant for alcohol and his banishment from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City, if disgust and sadness don't come to mind, at least one question does:
Where is Pat Croce when you need him? Or Iverson's coach at Georgetown, John Thompson?
Where is the person with the ideal combination of compassion and toughness who would shelter Iverson at the same time he's holding his feet to the flames? Someone whose vested interest is in Iverson's well-being, someone who doesn't need his money or cachet?
In other words, someone he does not have in his camp right now. Or someone who has an impact, and needs to utilize it.
"I think there's one guy, and his name is John Thompson," said former Temple basketball coachJohn Chaney, noted for saving souls as much as winning basketball games throughout his illustrious career. "John is the one guy who'll have a chance of slowing this train wreck down, who could wrap his arms around Iverson and have an impact, because clearly it has not been done. But there's still this one question: Will [Iverson] listen?
"See, too many of our athletes give lip service when someone is trying to help them. And as soon as you leave them, they find themselves dealing with self-preservation and denial. It's an athlete's biggest problem to overcome.
"When you were young and vital, there were a lot of hit songs on that side of the record," Chaney said. "With Iverson, there are no more hit songs on that side of the record. You've got to accept the fact that you've danced and boogied. Now that they've flipped it over and ain't nobody dancing anymore, it's over!
"The ball is deflated. So now you have to find another life for yourself."
Iverson's NBA life may be over, but he and the folks he keeps close to him don't seem to realize it.
Take the more than $200 million he has earned in his career, subtract Uncle Sam's take, alimony, child support for five kids, and no millions forthcoming, then ask yourself what the 6-foot guard has left.
With his lifestyle, his mistakes, his lack of preparation for a life beyond the glory.
Talk to anyone remotely associated with Iverson and they can't deny that he is ill-prepared for a post-basketball career. His cohorts still look to him as that mercurial box-office star who won four scoring titles and a league MVP award, not as someone who simply dreams about those days right now.
The one advantage Iverson acknowledged having all of these years was a wife about whom he publicly said, "I'd die for her. . . . I'd die without her." Now, she essentially has said, "Go right ahead."
No wonder Moore said, "Pray."
This is Iverson we're talking about. What else is there to do? Especially if he is forced to stand alone?

www.chrisbavelles.com

Another Buzzer Beater for Kobe

2010-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

Kobe Bryant hits another game winner!

Found video of all of Kobe Bryant's game winning shots this year. Kobe has hit 5 game winners this year alone. What is interesting to me is that Kobe does it different ways. At times he hits a straight up jumper just as time runs out the way Jerry West used to do. Other times he hits a spectacular buzzer beater the way Michael Jordan used to do. Kobe is so mentally strong and so well prepared that these last second shots are routine for him.

Enjoy these KOBE BRYANT MOMENTS

KOBE BUZZER BEATERS 2010:

The White House turns "Purple & Gold" as Lakers visit Obama.

2010-01-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

Lakers visit the White House and meet President Obama.
Clips from NBA TV of Lakers at White House

Today, the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers visit the White House to meet the President of the United States. Renowned as a huge basketball fan, you have to be sure that this one visit that the President has been looking forward to in quite a while. President Obama must have been even more elated to be presented a Lakers jersey by the player he considers the best in the NBA - Kobe Bryant.

Here's the transcript from today's visit courtesy of the SunTimes.com:

President Obama: Hello, hello! How are you? Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you so much, everybody. Please have a seat. Welcome to the White House. And congratulations, a little belatedly, to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning your 15th -- 15th -- NBA title, and fourth in the past 10 years.

Before I say a few things about the Lakers, I just want to acknowledge some wonderful members of Congress and big Lakers fans who are here: Congresswoman Jane Harman, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, and Lucille Roybal-Allard. Please, everybody, give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, as folks here will tell you, the only thing that is better than playing basketball -- the only thing that's better than watching basketball is playing basketball -- but I'm 48, and soon to be 49, and it's a little harder these days to move around on the court, especially when you're playing against kids who are half your age. But I still get enormous, enormous pleasure from watching great athletes on the court. And nobody exemplifies excellence in basketball better than the Los Angeles Lakers last year. (Applause.)

I want to congratulate everybody who helped make this team what it is -- from the assistants to the front office staff, to the trainers and the ticket-takers, all the fans back in L.A. who bleed purple and gold. You all should be very proud. That's you. (Laughter.)

I want to congratulate Jeanie Buss and the rest of the Buss family for guiding this team so well for the last 30 years. (Applause.)

I'm especially excited to meet Coach Phil Jackson, the Zen Master. (Laughter.) I've been a fan of Coach Jackson's ever since his days running the triangle offense in Chicago. I want to congratulate him on his tenth NBA championship -- the most in history. I do want to point out that six of them came with the Bulls. (Laughter.) I just want to point that out.

President Obama: You remember that, Magic?

Magic Johnson: Yes, sir. (Laughter.)

President Obama: -- '90-'91? Remember when -- (applause.) You know, they won the first game and they were feeling cocky. (Laughter.) And Paxson was hitting all those shots. Anyway, we're not -- that's not why we're here. (Laughter.)

I was hoping that, Coach, you were going to bring some books for Republicans and Democrats in Congress maybe to get them to start playing like a team together. (Laughter.) Coach is famous for passing out books and helping people get the job done.

We are obviously honored to have one of the all-time greats in NBA history, Magic Johnson. (Applause.) Magic did pretty well during his time with the Lakers. He wasn't bad. (Laughter.) And now a new generation is continuing his legacy. But obviously part of what makes Magic special wasn't just how he played on the court, but also just the infectious enthusiasm about life and what he's now doing with businesses and minority communities. He's just been an outstanding leader in our country for a long time.

Of course, I've got to recognize Kobe Bryant -- one of the most competitive players I've ever seen -- (applause) -- for being named Finals MVP last year, obviously already MVPs under his belt, the youngest player ever to reach 25,000 points in his career. And he's playing with a broken finger. Now, if I was -- if I had a broken finger I would have trouble getting out of bed. (Laughter.) And he's still leading the team day in and day out.

This is a team that never lost its focus last season -- from the first tip-off to the final buzzer. I know that the Lakers have a tradition of ending each team gathering -- whether it's a practice, or a game, or a team meeting -- by with the chant, "1,2,3, Rings." As Lamar Odom said, "We kind of always saw that light." Everyone was willing to do what it took to get a little stronger, to play a little harder, and to bring home that title.

But I think it's important to note that this team also knows that being a champ is about more than trophies and rings. It's about being a winner off the court as well as on it -- and giving back to those who are less fortunate. The Lakers and the NBA have always been about serving others -- at home and around the world. And that tradition continued last week, when the NBA and the Players Association, led by Derek Fisher, pledged to donate $1 million to support relief efforts in Haiti. (Applause.) Jordan Farmar and Pau Gasol are also donating their money to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund. Pau pledged $1,000 for every point he scored against the Knicks -- and I'm glad he dropped 20 -- (laughter) -- helping the Lakers to beat New York and changing the lives of Haitians thousands of miles away.

And earlier today, the team joined with our United We Serve initiative to hold a fitness clinic for kids from Stanton Elementary School right here in Washington, D.C. -- teaching them about a few moves, but also how to live healthy and active lives.

So I just want to again thank the entire Lakers organization for your service, for the great joy that you have given the city of Los Angeles, but also the incredible competition you're your organization has graced the basketball court with for decades now. If this season is anything like the last one -- I know that you guys have your sights on the NBA finals -- so we might see you here before long. But we are very grateful for your presence here today.

Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, one last thing. I was also told that Mr. Brown here intends to win the dunk contest -- (laughter) -- so we'll see how that goes.

(From: Laker Nation)

Is Tracy McGrady becoming Allen Iverson?

2009-12-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

You have to wonder what the deal is with Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets. He is finally healthy and ready to play. So it was interesting to see the report today that McGrady is taking a leave of absence from the team. That he is unhappy with not playing much. If I remember right it was just a few short years ago that McGrady was mentioned in everyone's current top five...I even remember hearing people ask "Who is better, Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant?"... Well we know the answer to that question. But unless McGrady has forgotten how to play, why is he not fitting in with the Rockets. He could be their missing piece if their coach (Rick Adleman) could figure out a way to work him in. Of course it might be all about Tracy. Who knows what the real story is. I would think after the whole Allen Iverson craziness, Tracy and the Rockets could find a solution for the rest of the season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009122617&prov=ap

Reality Basketball - Chris Bavelles

MASHED POTATOES AND BASKETBALL - NOTHING BETTER

2009-12-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day is fast upon us. I am lucky to have in-laws who love to blend the beautiful traditions of Christmas Day brunch and NBA Basketball. This year the Lakers play the Cav's.
Lebron vs Kobe .... Shaq vs Kobe.
All this is great but what really makes the day is that my mother in-law Paulette is cooking and the family will gather.

So while Kobe is draining three's over LeBron, I will be among family and friends watching the game on a 46"HD Plasma TV (Thanks Vern) eating the best cheese mashed potatoes in the history of the world. Does it get any better?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM REALITY BASKETBALL!!!

Created by: Chris Bavelles 2009

GAIL GOODRICH SUPERSTAR

2009-12-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

After writing about Allen Iverson re-signing with the 76'ers and old friend of mine was curious why I haven't written about my all time favorite player Gail Goodrich. I wondered the same thing and it got me thinking about all the great little guys in NBA history. Bob Cousy, Calvin Murphy, Nate Archibald, John Stockton and Isaiah Thomas to name a few. But in my eyes Goodrich is one of the all time great little guys. Most people do not know that he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. He's a five time NBA All-Star, one time NBA Champion, two time NCAA All-American and won two NCAA titles with UCLA

Thanks IR for reminding me!

Here are a few clips and other links I found on Gail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ug-ikmg6Fg (NBA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9bEA4NcBlc (College)

http://www.nba.com/history/players/goodrich_summary.html (NBA.Com)

This NBA star is known as "The Answer"

2009-12-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

Final answer-
Who is Allen Iverson?

Allen Iverson came out of retirement today to rejoin the Philadelphia 76er's. It really is the right place for him. He will start, the fans will love him and he should be able to find some wrinkles in the Princeton offense that Eddie Jordan runs. He just might be the answer Philly has been looking for to help them get into the playoffs.

Here is his emotional press conference on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2nJf3myysE

Here is a video of some of his best crossover moves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Rv4AtufwE

Posted by Reality Basketball's Chris Bavelles

SHOWTIME RETURNS AS THE LAKERS ROCK DOWNTOWN L.A.

2009-11-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

It is always fun to go to an NBA Basketball game. But going to a Laker game takes it to another level. They play at Staples center right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. LA Live is right across the street and features the west coast home of ESPN. The place is really jumping. As you walk into Staples you pass by a giant statue of Magic Johnson and the Lakers home pre-game TV broadcast which sets up right outside and has a very live feel. After you settle into your seats the Laker pre-game begins and it is pretty cool. A giant circular silky curtain screen descends down from the scoreboard with classic video images of Laker greats and the current team. All this and the game has not even started.

I must say that on this occasion I was very grateful for all the pre-game hoopla since the Lakers jumped out to a 24 point lead in the first half on the hapless New Jersey Nets who are now 0 -17.

Kobe was on fire for most of the game and pretty much did what ever he wanted to do. I took this shot from 15 rows up behind the Laker bench.

If you are interested, here is a good review of the game from The Orange Country Register:
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/nets-221607-jackson-points.html

Photos by: Chris Bavelles

High School + Europe = NBA

2009-11-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Who knew? The Milwaukee Bucks, thats who! I wonder how all the NBA teams that passed on Brandon Jennings feel right about now, specially the Minnesota Timberwolves...remember they took Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn 5th and 6th in the draft. How is that working out for them right about now.

Without a doubt the current favorite for Rookie of the Year is the Milwaukee Bucks Brandon Jennings, who continues to play lights out basketball. So far in November he's averaging 26 points, four rebounds, and nearly six assists on 47% shooting from the field and 51% from deep. You know his success is driving college coaches crazy.

Remember, Brandon hooked up with Sonny Vacarro who helped him skip his freshman year in college and go overseas to play professionally in Europe. He did his one year there and now is lighting it up in the NBA. He might have been the first but he won’t be the last. This remains a route that is best suited for only the elite players like a Brandon Jennings. The lack of game action last year hasn't held him back a bit. In fact, it's hard to imagine Brandon playing at this level if he was coming out of Arizona instead as he originally intended.

Jennings 55 points - YOUTUBE

Jennings plays more like a 2nd or 3rd year player mainly because he spent a year playing against some of the best players in the world, competing against men. He learned team basketball and how to really play the game. He also got a chance to travel around Europe as a 19 year old.

Chris Bavelles

Lakers Fill Up With Premium Gasol

2009-11-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

The Lakers gave the league a little sneak preview as to what kind of team they have. At one point the Lakers had Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant all on the floor at the same time. That is a little scary. Gasol had a great first game back: 24 and 13.

Chicago Bulls 93 - Los Angeles Lakers 108

Nov 19	1	2	3	4	T
Bulls	19	23	25	26	93
Lakers	25	28	31	24	108

Basketball's Lord of the Rings

2009-10-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Lakers received their Championship rings last night, then went out and casually beat the Los Angeles Clippers. The ring ceremony was was pretty classy in my opinion, they celebrated all the championships the team has won since moving to Los Angeles by trotting out great Lakers from all the championship teams. Jerry West from the first L.A championship in 1972. Then we got to see a bunch of great Lakers from the 80's, 90's and 00's including: Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson, A.C. Green, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Great night for Laker fans.

Check these pictures out from a Yahoo Sports article.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lakers-new-championship-rings?urn=nba,198796

Kobe Bryant now playing "Free Safety"

2009-10-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

Lakers will get their Championship Rings in the season opener against the Clippers this Tuesday, October 27, 2009. They get one more moment to celebrate and then it is back to work. This years Laker squad is improved over last years. Basically they swapped Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest. RON ARTEST...WOW.

I like the way Ron Artest is weaving his way into the fabric of the Los Angeles Lakers. Pre-Season is finally over and it is clear the Lakers with Ron Artest have a lot of defensive options. Besides adding toughness to the squad, Ron Ron gives the Lakers a lot of options both defensively and offensively.

Offensively he can play inside or out. He is an excellent passer and hits the offensive boards. When Kobe is taking a rest, he can step up as a #1 score if need be.

Defensively he totally changes this team. Now if Phil Jackson so chooses, he can now put Artest on the other teams best player (Think LeBron James, Carmello Anthony, Dwayne Wade) and have Kobe move back to "Free Safety" where he is really good. This will also allow Kobe to be fresh for the 4th quarter.

If the Lakers stay healthy, they will repeat as NBA Champions.

Kobe Stopper Stops Playing!

2009-09-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

Bruce Bowen has retired from the San Antonio Spurs, all I can say is "Finally". As a overall NBA fan I am sad to see him go, he was really a tough, smart and underrated player. Now as a Laker fan, I am glad to see him go. Even though he was not a Kobe Stopper, he did make Kobe work. Bruce was considered one of the best defenders in the NBA, he was selected eight times to the first second teams NBA All-Defensive and was a member of 3 NBA championships with the Spurs.

Michael Jordan coming out of retirement again?

2009-09-11T23:28:00.000-07:00

"One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said. "Oh don't laugh, don't laugh. Never say never. Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Thank you very much."
Jordan wrapping up his Hall of Fame acceptance speech today.

Imagine if you will, Michael Jordan comes out of retirement to play with the Lakers, reuniting with Phil and playing along side Kobe... Wouldn't that be great, I mean talk about "Where Amazing Happens". May never happen, but it would be fun to see, specially if you could have them both playing in their prime.

Breaking News: NBA Commish David Stern removes self from Referee talks!

2009-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

Source: AP

NBA referees are prepared to be locked out for the start of the season after negotiations with the league on a new contract broke down this week when David Stern ended the latest bargaining session.

No further talks are scheduled - and when they do resume, it'll be without the commissioner.

Referees spokesman Lamell McMorris accused Stern of acting childish and not negotiating in good faith, so Stern removed himself from the process.

Stern said Thursday he told McMorris that, "In fact if it was going to get personal - which apparently he's decided to make it by calling news media and leveling a series of inaccurate allegations - that I would absent myself from the negotiations, which I have."

"Hopefully we'll make a deal with the referees, or we won't, but it won't be on the basis of personality, it'll be on the basis of economics," Stern added.

The league's contract with its referees expired on Sept. 1, and McMorris said the sides have basically agreed on salary issues for a new two-year deal. He said the league wanted to freeze salaries for the first year with a 1 percent increase in year two.

The officials were willing to go along with that, McMorris said, because of the economic difficulties the league is facing, but the NBA was still asking for significant reductions in the referees' budget.

"We've laid $2.5 million back on the table," McMorris said. "Some things we have to be able to go back to our group and to say that we collectively bargained in good faith. Our goal is not to take all the hits, we can't do that."

ESPN.com first reported that talks ended after Stern abruptly halted Tuesday's session at league headquarters. Stern said the officials reneged on something previously agreed upon, but McMorris was critical of the way the commissioner handled things.

"The problem is, David Stern does not negotiate. He tells you what's going to happen and then when you don't do it, and do something differently, he whines and acts like a child," McMorris said. "That's not how you negotiate. Not with adults."

Stern said the league would be well represented even without him, but didn't leave much hope that a resolution would come soon.

"On the basis of the last series of proposals, it doesn't appear that there's any point at this time to further negotiations, but obviously it still remains our goal to start this season with our existing referees working," Stern said.

The NBA released a statement later Thursday criticizing the referees union for its attacks through the media, and said the referees backed out of previously agreed upon proposals involving retirement benefits at Tuesday's meeting.

"Then, after we offered additional economic movement in order to progress toward a deal, the NBRA refused to make any additional concessions," NBA general counsel and lead negotiator Rick Buchanan said. "At this point, and after several months of negotiations, all the union has offered to us is minimal concessions that are neither consistent with economic reality nor with the information it is currently distributing to the media."

Referees are due to open their training camp on Sept. 20, and the league's first preseason game is scheduled for Oct. 1 at Utah. Without a deal soon, the NBA will begin the season with replacement officials for the first time since 1995.

The league is seeking cuts in areas such as the referees' benefits, travel budget and their per diems, which Stern said would "bring their numbers in line with other league employees."

McMorris feels there is more to it, with the league possibly trying to rid itself of older referees or perhaps send a strong message to the players, whose collective bargaining agreement with the NBA expires after the 2011 season.

He also said the NBA gave a combined $100,000 in raises, which Stern could not confirm, to the three men who were hired to oversee the referees operations department in the league office following the betting scandal involving former official Tim Donaghy.

Already, the referees will miss next week's two-day seminar with league coaches, and McMorris said the officials will meet again sometime after that.

Officials from the NBA Development League could end up calling NBA games as the league scrambles for replacements. Stern denied McMorris' charge that backup refs were being called even before Tuesday's meeting ended, while McMorris said the league had even called a referee it fired three years ago tosee if he would be available.

Even with Stern not involved, McMorris said his side won't come to New York for further talks.

"If the league wants to start up talks again, our door is open, so we'd gladly look forward to meeting them in Washington D.C. for the next meeting," McMorris said. "You can't be disrespectful and childlike and ask us, when you're already cutting our wages and expenses, to use our hard-earned money to come and you're kicking us out of meetings."

MEMPHIS HAS IT'S ANSWER

2009-09-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

All summer NBA fans have been wondering if Allen Iverson's career was over. After his disappointing stint with the Pistons and then having to watch his old Denver team improve considerably without him, it kind of looked like "The Answer" was no.

But thanks to instantaneous nature of Twitter, the basketball world got it's answer before ESPN, Yahoo and Fox could get their hands on it via Iverson's official Twitter account, that he was signing with the Memphis Grizzlies.

It has been rumored all summer that A. I. wanted either Charlotte, NY or Miami to sign him. Reality Basketball sources say that those teams would not touch Allen because of his demand to be a starter.

Now it appears that he has soften his stance on that with Memphis, all he cares about is getting enough minutes. I wonder with O.J Mayo, Rudy Gay and newly acquired Zack Randolph if they will have enough basketballs to go around. It is going to be interesting.

Iverson will get a reported 3.5 million for 1 year and will easily be the biggest draw the Grizzlies have ever had.

Need a little NBA in the summer - here's Kobe.

2009-09-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Long boring summer without the NBA - so here is a little bit of Kobe's top 10 dunks and moves.
From YouTube!
Michael Jordan's Top Ten
Reality Basketball Interview revisited: KOBE BRYANT

Timberwolves huge mistake!

2009-09-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! Ricky Rubio, the so called next Pistol Pete Maravich has decided to stay in Europe for at least two more years. This is a crushing blow to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They had the 5th and 6th pick in this years NBA draft and a real golden opportunity to rebuild. Then they took two point guards. Jonny Flynn at # 6 and Ricky Rubio at # 5. Both were kind of questionable to start with. Rubio looks great on film because they only show his hotdog highlights against medium European competition. I think he might end up being a good player 5 years from now. The Wolves really took a chance picking him and now it has blown up in their face. David Kahn, the T-Wolves president says that Rubio wanted to stay in Spain for the next two years so he could prepare for the NBA. "It appears now we will have a two-year wait. But if you frame it as he'll be 20 years old and he'll have two more years to develop, I can think of a lot worse things to happen to us as a franchise." Really, like what?

Jonny Flynn is a real good player, hard nosed, quick and a fierce competitor, I am not sure he is a top ten pick but he has a chance to be a very good player. Only time will tell. I wonder what new head coach Kurt Rambis thinks about all this?

TRADED 4 TIMES IN ONE SUMMER

2009-08-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

These are the dog days of being a basketball fan. But there is some stuff going on like Quentin Richardson being traded for the 4th time this summer. He is now a member of the Miami Heat. Quentin started the summer as a member of the New York Knicks, then he was shipped to Memphis, who traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers, who traded him to the Wolves who today traded him to the Heat. This time, Richardson has found a home for his expiring $9.35 million contract. Pat Riley is very excited to get him and plans to play him considerable minutes this upcoming season. Of course he could be traded again.

LAKERS CLARK KENT GOING TO THE WOLVES

2009-08-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Kurt Rambis - Lakers

It is being reported that longtime Laker assistant coach Kurt Rambis has accepted an offer to become the head coach of Minnesota Timerwolves according to two reports Saturday night. ESPN first reported that Rambis had reached an agreement with the team on a four-year deal worth in excess of $8 million.

Rambis' hiring would be an irony of sorts in that he would be replacing Kevin McHale. Remember Kevin taking Kurt down in the 1984 NBA Finals. That play clearly displayed the difference between the blue collar Celtics and the Showtime Lakers. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7r6vXeOfyQ

"Kurt, with his experience playing and coaching for a winning organization and working under people like Pat Riley, will bring a lot to our organization," Taylor said. "In meeting with him and talking to him, I know he's very excited about having an opportunity to help build his own team."

Athletes on Twitter

2009-08-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Is the Twitter page of your favorite athlete the real page? I was watching ESPN's Outside the Lines and they featured this great website that lists your favorite athletes real Twitter page.

http://www.sportsin140.com/

Once at the site click on the directory of athletes.

SHAQ IS SAVING THE PLANET

2009-08-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

Love him or hate him, one thing you can say about Shaquille O'Neal is he is a participator. It seems like every time I open a newspaper, turn on ESPN or check the sport blogs, there is a story on Shaq. This fall you will be able to see him in his own TV show called "Shaq vs."

Well I found a new source with a new story on THE BIG CLEVELAND. I was reading up on the greenhouse effect and other things green when Shaq popped up. I think he is pretty sincere about his involvement with reducing his carbon footprint with his involvement with with taking organic waste and converting it into ethanol. He is actually installing a system in his own house. I have not jumped on the ethanol bandwagon but I do think that it is good to explore and learn about everything you can when it comes to saving our planet. So I tip my hat off to The Big Ethanol (Shaq) as he explores for himself.

Check it out for yourself at:

http://greenhouseintl.com/new-green-dream-team-shaq-and-greenhouse-take-ethanol-new-heights

Christmas in July Kobe vs LeShaq

2009-08-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

Schedule for 2009 - 2o1o NBA Season is here! Any basketball news during the summer is good news.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4375966

Christmas day - Lakers & Kobe vs Cav's and Shaq/LeBron (or LeShaq)

Relive 2009 NBA finals

2009-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Are you going through basketball withdraws? Just can't get into mid season baseball? Well, even if you are not a Laker fan you have to be a fan of the Championship series. Here is a nice edited recap of Lakers - Magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvV1RbT6K-c

BASKETBALL'S PURPLE TIE PRESS CONFERENCE

2009-08-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Lamar Odom signed a four-year contract worth just under $33 million, a compromise neither he nor Kupchak were confident they could reach as recently as a week ago. "It was a tedious time, but with patience and prayer I'm back where I wanted to be," Odom said. "I just stayed patient and didn't take anything personally. That helped me get through it." Instead of getting upset and sulking off to join friends Pat Riley and Dwayne Wade in Miami, Odom called Buss persoanlly and explained how important it was for him to remain with the Lakers.

LAMAR AT HIS SIGNING PRESS CONFERENCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeORyE_gOq4

LAMAR THE CANDYMAN SEGMENT - CHECK IT OUT!

Plus all the candy probably did not hurt!

HIGH SCHOOL HOOP STORIES

2009-07-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

Reality Basketball's continuing series on High School Basketball stories.

I just read a great story by Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun about a three high school players who found themselves rubbing elbows and sharing ipod songs with some of the NBA’s top young talent.

Joey Felsenfeld always dreamed of playing in the NBA.

A point guard on Boulder City High's state championship team last winter, Felsenfeld took pride in directing the Eagles offense and making the perfect pass to get his teammates in a position to score.

But at 5 feet, 5 inches, Felsenfeld was too short to achieve his aspirations of professional stardom. His career, like most players, was limited to high school glory.

A lot of kids have dreams of playing in the NBA. 99.5 % of of those kids will never even come close to making it in the Association. But for Felsenfeld and a few of his teammates basketball glory came to them in totally different way. With teammates Chris Leach and Ryan Bowen, Joey worked the last three days as ball boys for the U.S. national team during its mini-camp in Las Vegas.

Part of their duties included grabbing rebounds during shooting drills and sending passes back to the NBA hopefuls who were looking to impress during the national team audition.

It was as close to being in the NBA as a group of teenagers from a small Nevada town will get.

"When they (the players) first walked in, you are a little star-struck," Felsenfeld said. "(Chicago guard) Derrick Rose is my favorite player and it was awesome to see him. They expect you to be a little star struck, but you also need to be professional and get the job done."

Boulder City High assistant coach John Balistere, who works national team coach Mike Krzyzewski’s camp each summer at Duke, used his connection to get the boys their job. "It is obviously a good group of guys (the NBA players) in the sense that they are really good to the kids," Balistere said. "My boys were calling their aunt and my brother when they got home to let them know who they got to meet."

Felsenfeld and Leach also worked last year when the national team was in town for an Olympic qualifying tournament. Last year's group featured the likes of James, Bryant and others.

"Dwight Howard let me go through his iPod," Felsenfeld said. "All of them are extremely nice. They always say 'please' or 'thank you.'"

Most of their time was spent filling water jugs, wiping sweat off the floor and organizing equipment. They arrived one hour before the players to set up the gym.

"You do think about how lucky you are and how other kids would love doing this," said Bowen, a senior-to-be guard. "We got to wear Team USA shirts and shorts, which really makes you feel like part of the crew. It was awesome."

These are experiences of a lifetime, pure basketball gold. All three walked away from the experience with a better appreciation of the game. They had the best seat in the house for three days of events.

Bill Plaschke Gets It Right

2009-07-31T09:04:00.000-07:00

Bill Plaschke got it right with his July 19th LA Times article where he basically said what the entire city of Los Angeles was thinking. He pointed out that the Jerry Buss and Lakers need to do whatever it takes to sign Lamar Odom. He also mentioned the Clippers need to stay a way from Allen Iverson. I can see that one both ways. For the long run the Clippers do not need Iverson but for a year or two he could help them if his mind is right. That is a big if.

Plaschke can get on your nerves, but isn't that a good thing. He is usually right on with his opinions and knows the Los Angeles sports scene as well as anybody, even Denzel Washington.

MISMATCH IS A LAKER MATCH AGAIN

2009-07-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

THE WALKING MISMATCH IS COMING BACK TO LAKERS.

Lamar Odom has decided to return to the Lakers. Sources have confirmed to 710 ESPN's Mason/Ireland radio show. This is awesome news for Laker fans. They now have without a doubt the most versatile team in the NBA and are odds on favorites to repeat as NBA Champions.

Lamar has agreed to sign with the Lakers for 4 years, 33 Million. The 4th year is believed to be at a team option. Portland and Miami were serious contenders for Lamar. It is now being reported that it was Lamar not his agent Jeff Schwartz who originally turned down the first Laker offer.

But, when it was all said and done, Lamar wanted to stay a Laker.

Michael Jordan all lit up!

2009-07-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

This is very cool. Just found this behind the scenes of Michael Jordan's latest gatorade commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U831VaPo15o&feature=channelf

MJ Trash Talking Himself

2009-07-24T12:01:00.001-07:00

One of my all time favorite commercials is Michael Jordan's Gatorade spot where he plays his younger self in one on one and they trash talk each other. Take a look: Michael Jordan Trash Talking Himself

PICK UP BASKETBALL'S 5 PERSONALITIES

2009-07-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Go to any basketball court anywhere in the world and you will see guys imitating Kobe Bryant best moves and LeBron James’s crazy dunks. And you will always see guys still walking and talking like “Mike”. I have played basketball over the United States and the world including Germany, Italy, France, Jamaica, Mexico and Australia. I can tell you that no matter where you play you will find one of the following personalities on the court.

The Trash-talker: This type of player usually has some skill, but only at the highest level will you find a trash talker who is actually the best player on the court. But usually the classic trash talker opens his mouth to brag about a crazy shot he made or to mock an opponent's failed attempt to connect. The thing the trash-talker loves to do most is get inside his opponent's head. After all, when his opponent starts bricking shots and playing with less physicality, it makes the trash-talker look a lot better than he really is.

The Star: The star is, quite simply, the best player on the court. He usually arrives to the park with a posse and finds a way to let everyone know he has arrived. This guy usually get other guys involved at first but will eventually take over the game. This guy loves when someone steps up to challenge him, then it is on. He loves this because he can show why he's king of the court. Somethimes the star will talk some trash but be mostly lets his game speak for itself.

The Loner: Usually you see this guy shooting shots on his own until someone invites him to play. This guy is pretty good. Doesn’t have a lot of flash but is usually plays with a quite intensity. He has the potential to make big plays, only he doesn't demand the ball enough. He rarely opens his mouth to talk trash or argue a call.

The Cheater: This guy will call a foul on every play, raise his voice to intimidate and is usually one of the worse all around players on the court. The Cheater wants to be the man, but he is not. He usually barks out orders to his teammates, hogs the ball and will argue every call.

The Sidekick: This is the guy you need on your team. He is the guy who is usually friends with the star player and he will keep the peace. He knows everyone on the court and is the voice of reason. When things get a little crazy on the court, this guy will usually say something like "Hey, are we here to play basketball or what?" The sidekick is a pretty good player, he is not flashy and he knows the game. He tends to be the friendliest player on the court and makes a conscious effort to involve the loner in the team's play.

Next time you're out on the courts shooting hoops, keep an eye out for these types of players. Maybe you won't run into all of five types at once, but odds are you'll see at least a few of them out there. Who knows, maybe you'll even recognize some of these characteristics in yourself (let's just hope you're not the cheater).

Lakers and the walking mismatch resume talks

2009-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

The Lakers and Lamar Odom are talking again. For laker fans this is good. Over the last week a number of Lakers have gone public with their feelings to keep Lamar also known as the walking mismatch.

The L.A. Times article:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-lamar-odom23-2009jul23,0,5117681.story

Jordan Dunks on Lebron

2009-07-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

LeBron's "I just got Dunked on" look

I don't know what all the fuss is over this kid Jordan Crawford dunking over LeBron James at a NIKE camp. LeBron was helping out on defense, went up high on the side of the rim and Crawford goes high and dunks. Why would NIKE try and pull this. But I am glad they did because now we have all this video to look at. Too bad it is not Michael Jordan. Could you imagine MJ in his prime playing today with Kobe, LeBron and DWade....I can and I am sure he can too.

Judge for yourself, here is the play from Yahoo Sports/TMZ.

h ttp://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/TMZ-posts-anticlimactic-video-of-LeBron-getting-?urn=nba,178138

Ricky Rubio reminds me of Pistol Pete

2009-07-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Madsen Telfair Smith

Rumor is flying around the NBA and Minnesota that the reason the Wolves traded three players including their only veteran point guard Sebastian Telfair is because they are making room for Ricky Rubio. Besides Telfair, the Wolves traded Mark Madsen and Craig Smith to the Los Angeles Clippers for Quentin Richardson. Now the rumor is that the Clippers are NOT going to try and sign Allen Iverson. Who knows.

Ricky Rubio reminds me a little bit of Pistol Pete Maravich, sort of looks like him, has similar flair and awesome ball handling skills. He is not the scorer that Pete was. They are both very creative.

Pistol Ricky

Ricky & Pete: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15S8Tkw3-Cg

Here is a highlight reel of Ricky Rubio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12FOZsjWxwk

Here is a reel of Pistol Pete: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X90vvETFS24

James Worthy of Another Look

2009-07-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

James Worthy

Does everyone remember how great big game James Worthy was. He was a real match up nightmare. He was too quick for big forwards and he was to big for small forwards. He always came up with a key play. ShowTime Lakers do not win 5 titles without him. Her are 10 of Worthy's greatest playoff plays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTISFJ1Jls4

Basketball sites found at Wil's Domain

2009-07-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a place to add your blog go to Wil's Domain. The one main thing I noticed about Wil's Domain was that it is truly a comprehensive directory. My blog is about basketball and I do a lot of research. Wil's Domain has 6,533 different places to click on regarding basketball. Give it a shot. To check it out Go to http://www.wilsdomain.com/

The Great Walter Cronkite

2009-07-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

Lots of basketball rumors today about Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer. But I am going to take a break from all that and give thanks for Walter Cronkite who passed away today at the age of 92. My mom and dad would have Walter on when I was a little kid. I became a instant fan.

Here are two videos with Walter:

Walter Cronkite on the moon landing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwaA-hbvYF8

Walter Cronkite on Larry King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B19k63B2kg

Greatness Michael Jordan

2009-07-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

I know we have Kobe, Wade and Labron. But lets not ever forget Michael Jordan.

Here is a cool montage of Michael's best set to Moby's "Porcelain"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcmD3wA6dOI&feature=related

Moby - Porcelain: Moby's Porcelain,

2009-07-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Lamar Accepting 4 Year Deal?

For those who don’t roam around The Lakers Nation Forums, there’s currently a discussion going on about rumors of Lamar Odom accepting a 4 year/36 million deal from the Lakers. Can't confirm this but Reality Basketball's sources are spreading this rumor. Could be true! We have also heard 5 years $36 Million from the Miami Heat. The Laker deal is better. Plus, Lamar has all his business in Los Angeles and apparently lives within walking distance of The Staples Center.

LeBron Gets schooled and Kobe in Highschool

2009-07-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

Besides all the free-agency stuff and an occasional summer league clip, for some basketball fans the summer can be a bit boring. Even if you love baseball, it just isn't basketball or even football.

Here are some Youtube basketball gems to get you through.

Jerry West - The Logo and the original Mr. Clutch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiMWfexkhGM&feature=related

Gail Goodrich - My all time favorite player!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ug-ikmg6Fg

LeBron James gets schooled on playground!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKX6jd540ro&feature=fvw

Kobe Bryant high school highlight reel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5IOsDZ8CQM&feature=PlayList&p=95CE2C60A8772B21&index=0&playnext=1

TWITTER A BUZZ OVER ALLEN IVERSON TO CLIPPERS!

2009-07-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

I could see Allen Iverson playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. He should not be opposed to coming off the bench. If he took the same mental approach as Lamar Odom did this past championship year for the Lakers, he could cause some damage. Twitter is buzzing over the possibility. People are kind of down on Allen, but lets not forget what a great player he is, he led his underdog 76ers to the finals where they lost to the Lakers. He is a tough, quick player that nobody wants to guard. All he needs to do is get his mind set together and he will be all right. So will whatever NBA team gets him.

Allen Iversons Twitter Page & see Allen get choked up!

Iverson "Practice" clip.

Iverson top ten plays clip.

SLAMBALL IS HOT

2009-07-13T16:13:00.001-07:00

Ever watch a SLAMBALL game. It is truly a stunning thing to watch. These guys are great basketball players and they are serious athletes.

You can watch Slamball on The Cartoon Network this weekend:

-Friday July 17th at 3pm Pacific,

-Saturday July 18th at 9:00pm Pacific

-Sunday July 19th at 9:00pm Pacific.

Check out these insane clips of Slamball and some of its players!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtPnEViGrU

http://www.slamball.net/

Bryce Arledge - Video

Stan "Shakes" Fletcher - Video

More on Slamball in the weeks to come!!!

Two Great Basketball Movies!

2009-07-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hoosiers & Glory Road

HOOSIERS

Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers"

I just watched "Hoosiers" for the 15th time and it is still one of the greatest, most inspiring basketball movie of all time. Tiny Indiana High School goes all the way.

Hoosiers originally came out in 1986 and stars Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper. The movie features some great life lessons seen through basketball. I wonder how many coaches have shown this movie to their team to fire them up. I was fired up sitting on my couch at 11 at night. Another reason this movie is so good is that it is based on real events.

There are some great scenes that I could watch over and over again. Here are a few of my favorites:

Clips on YouTube from "Hoosiers"

Gene Hackman delivers Pre-game motivational speech before State Championship.

Final game winning shot by "Jimmy Chipwood"

Pep Rally "This is your team".

GLORY ROAD

1966 NCAA Championship Team

Glory Road changed college basketball

"Glory Road" tells the inspiring true story of the tiny Texas Western basketball team and the the first all African-American starting lineup, who took the county by storm, winning the 1966 NCAA Tournament title. Josh Lucas stars as Hall of Famer Don Haskins, the passionately dedicated college basketball coach who basically changed the history of basketball with his team's victory. Jon Voight plays legendary Kentucky Coach Adolph Rupp.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer on CBS

"Glory Road" is a true story that for the movie was slightly dramatized a bit. But make no mistake, this a powerful and moving basketball film that gives you a real glimpse into the racially charged culture of 1966.

Clips on YouTube from "Glory Road"

Original Glory Road Movie Trailer

True Story of Triumph over Segregation

LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS

2009-07-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

See all the latest NBA news, rumors and Summer League highlights at: ESPN'S TrueHoop

HUFFINGTON POST "REALITY BASKETBALL" BREAKING NEWS

2009-07-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

There is so much information on basketball life, camps, news and everything else basketball. I have listed on this overall basketball information site some links in my favorite Website & Blog sites. One of the sites/blog is from the very popular Huffington Post which has info on just about anything. Go to" Huffington Reality Basketball links at: Huffington Basketball.

There are links to President Obama and Real Basketball.

Huffington Post Amazing shots that Real Basketball has found.

Top Ten Basketball NBA Dunks on YouTube.

ADAM MORRISON STARTING TO HEAT IT UP IN SUMMER LEAGUE - Twitter link:

miketrudellA quick summary of L.A.'s 88-82 victory over Cleveland in the Summer League: http://bit.ly/a8MLv Adam Morrison has 47 pts. in 2 games.about 13 hours ago from TweetDeck

How Ya like me now?

2009-07-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

Kobe Bryant's drive for five Slam Magazine Cover. See it now!

http://twitzap.com/u/YEk

Live on 7 Million a year

2009-07-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

Lamar Odom and the Lakers should come together on a 7 or 8 million dollar deal with Lamar getting an option next year so he can test free agency again. Because the NBA Salary Cap has been lowered and the Lakers Luxury tax situation, Lamar is not going to get 10 million a year from them. He deserves it but the market does not call for it. Also, not to many teams are in the market for a power forward right now. So the Lakers are essentially would be bidding against themselves if they went higher.

Lamar should take a page out of the Ron Artest book of reasoning. "If I can't live on 33 million for five years then I can't live."

Carlos Boozer to the Chicago Bulls...it just might happen. Utah should never in a million years let this guy go. Western Conference teams and the Lakers in particular will be happy if he moves to the Bulls and the Eastern Conference.

THE REALITY BASKETBALL INTERVIEW SUPERSTITIONS

2009-07-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

THE REALITY BASKETBALL INTERVIEW

A continuing series of interviews with basketball lovers from all walks of life.

Today's Interviews come from conversations with Superstitious Basketball Players and Fans.

REALITY BASKETBALL: When you watch your favorite NBA team play, do you have any superstitions?

ARIKA B: I did not think that I did, then I got married to a basketball nut and noticed he would do odd things while watching a game. I started to notice that I was doing crazy things too. My stuff is not as elaborate as my husbands but they are clearly superstitious. I do stuff like: Wear the same flip-flops for each game, sit in the same spot when they my team is doing well (big Laker fan) move to another when they are not. My husband will wear his "Lakers are winning" shorts and if they are not playing well at half time he changes his shorts. He has a whole routine that includes making things even, so if he touches my right leg he has to touch my left leg... Of course this all borders the line of OCD. The weirdest thing is that at times all this stuff seems to work. I know my husband believes that because of his routines which he calls "giving the Lakers energy" the Lakers won the 2009 Championship. But who is to say it is not because I changed my seat through out the series.

JOHN M: Oh yea, I have a lot of superstitions. One of them is I have to eat the same terrible diet pudding every time right before my team plays. If they won the last game, I eat the same flavor. When they loose I switch flavors for the next game.

TYLER G: When I learned years ago that one of Michael Jordan's superstitions was that he wore his North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform shorts for every game, I started doing the same thing every time I played pick up ball or watched a game. It became so crazy that I started to wear them under my suits for business meetings.

THE REALITY BASKETBALL INTERVIEW KOBE BRYANT

2009-07-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

THE REALITY BASKETBALL INTERVIEW

A continuing series of interviews with basketball lovers from all walks of life.

Today's Interviews come from the sun-drenched courts at Venice Beach, California.

REALITY BASKETBALL: What are your thoughts about Kobe Bryant?

DAVID M: After watching Spike Lee's "Kobe Doing Work" my perception of Kobe Bryant drastically changed. I never realized how smart a ballplayer he is. I like to think I know a lot about Kobe Bryant, the Lakers and basketball general. But I never realized all the preparation they do to play the game. Kobe's insights on the game is staggering.

LOUIS L: The thing about Kobe Bryant for me is his insane determination that you can clearly see through his focus and actions on the court. I have always liked Kobe but it took a while for me to really understand how great this guy is.

ALYSON D: I am not what you would call a "big three" sports fan (Football, Baseball and Basketball). Skiing, Snow Boarding and Surfing are my big three, but I do like basketball. I watched Spike Lee's "Kobe Doing Work" on ESPN and was blown away with what a great athlete he is and the kind of relationship he seems to have with his teammates.

CHRIS B:

I am inspired by Kobe to work hard at what I do and to not settle for things. Every single year Kobe adds something new to his repertoire, which tells me that he is always working on his game. It was great watching him win the 2009 NBA Championship and the Finals MVP

Lamar Odom and other NBA rumors

2009-07-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Rick Bucher usually has a beat on things. Not always, but pretty good info.

http://twitter.com/RicBucher

Boston Celtics are OLD

2009-07-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

by CBTweak

Breaking News

The Boston Celtics just got older with the reported addition of Rasheed Wallace.

Rasheed Wallace has always been a good player but the only championship he won was when he joined the Detroit Pistons during the 2004 season. This Piston group never won the Championship again. That team was supposed to go on a 3 or 4 year title run. Everyone seems to forget that the Lakers Karl Malone was hurt during the 2004 Championship Series. It would have been a different story with a healthy determined Karl Malone.

As talented as Rasheed has been he is now 36 years old and has a history of team defeating Sheed Blowups on the court. With all that in mind, they could still win the Eastern Conference in the 2009 - 2010 season if they stay healthy.

He is older, but can still ball and will play an important role for the Celtics this upcoming season if he keeps his cool. He averaged 12 points a game last season in what looks like could be his final year as a Detroit Piston. Wallace also earned $13.68 million playing for the Pistons last season. He will not make that kind of money with the Celtics. Probably in the 5.6 to 5.8 million range per year.

Women Basketball players are better in person

2009-07-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

I was watching a 5 on 5 pick up game at a local YMCA today. There were a lot of good athletes jumping out of the gym but no real players except for one. She was the only girl on the floor and had real fundamentals and was easily the best all around player on the court. The funny thing was she hardly touched the ball and never took a shot except for a couple of tip-ins. She was dominating the game with good passes and solid screens. She boxed out, played team D and had great footwork. You could tell the guys had more speed and could jump higher, but they did not have the footwork or even the b-ball instincts.

Watching women play on TV does not do them justice. In person, you can really see how great they are. Men's basketball on TV is more exciting because of the pure athleticism.

If you have never been to a WNBA game you should go to one, these ladies can really play.

There are a lot of great players in the WNBA including Candice Parker, Diana Taurasi and

Sue Bird. However, in my opinion (as well as many others) Cheryl Miller is the greatest female player of all time.

Is Phil Jackson worth $12 Million Dollars?

2009-07-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

YES...Phil Jackson is coming back for another season with the Lakers. He is so worth $12 Million a year.It seems that Phil has always been intrigued with Ron Artest. The Lakers will potentially have one of the most flexible lineups in the NBA. Phil will have lots of options because Artest if need be can create his own offense. I wonder if Trevor Ariza is having any second thoughts about leaving the Lakers. It is strange because he is not really going to make more money with the Houston Rockets than he would in Los Angeles. I know one thing, Houston is a confusing place to drive and the traffic in my opinion is worse than it is in Los Angeles.

It seems that Hedo Turkoglu has changed his mind about signing with the TrailBlazers. It now appears he is going to sign with the Toronto Raptors for more cash. Wherever Hedo signs he is going to make a lot of money.

But it seems to me that it is all about the money with him and not Championships.

I am glad he is not signing with Portland. I am sure he will like Toronto, It really is a cool city and the fans love the Raptors, but in Canada, Hockey is truly the number one sport.

Turkoglu

Toughest NBA team is now the Lakers

2009-07-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

Double WOW... Ron Artest is going to be a Laker. Every Laker fan who is upset or sad that Trevor Ariza is leaving should realize that Phil Jackson is a master of coaching spacey players. Remember Dennis Rodman and Brian Williams (Who became Bison Dele) These are two players who were a bit strange. In fact, Phil Jackson changed his whole style of coaching because of Dennis Rodman. He noticed that Dennis's energy and crazy ways at times fed off of him and how he was ranting and raving and pacing back and forth on the sidelines. It was clear that Dennis would get crazier.

So Phil decided to chill out and not go nuts on the sideline and Dennis became a champion and arguably one of the best rebounders and defensive stoppers in NBA history not to mention one of Michael Jordan's main sidekicks. Phil Jackson of course has become the Zen Master of B-Ball with 10 NBA championships. So with that in mind, he will handle the explosive and slightly off Ron Artest.

AND do not forget that he will now be playing with a great team and the Michael Jordan of this era Kobe Bean Bryant.

Reports now say that Trevor is signing with Houston...So it is sort of like we traded Trevor

Ariza for Ron Artest. WOW.

The Lakers are getting a better around player and some much needed toughness. He may be a bit older than Ariza but he is still in his prime. He will not implode to the level he has on other teams. L.A is going to love him.

Thanks Trevor, Laker fans hopefully will always remember you as a main ingredient for the Lakers 2009 Championship. I know that I will.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar on Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan & more.

2009-07-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Kareem Abdul Jabbar is on 570 KLAC right now. Young athletes should listen to him. He is talking about his experience with John Wooden and how his whole approach was about preparing. Kareem is so thoughtful and I encourage people to look him up at: http://www.kareemabduljabbar.com/

Kareem thinks Kobe has the most crazy range of any player in history including Michael Jordan.

Kareem says ..." Kobe is one of a kind and one of the greatest of all time..." I agree.

Lebron traded to Lakers

2009-07-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Rumors Rumors Rumors. I like how Amare Stoudermire twitted that he had been traded to the Lakers. People were really believing it.

Next we are going to see LEBRON JAMES TRADED TO LAKERS FOR DJ MBENGA!

It is always crazy at this time. I would say 70% of rumors are true but you have to wait it out. If you don't you will go crazy.

Rasheed Wallace is rumored to be going to either the Celtics or the Spurs. As a lover of the West and the Lakers I would rather have Wallace go to a east team.

The Lakers are still in running to keep Trevor Ariza despite what Espn is reporting. They are making a big deal out of the early negotiations...we will see.

Cleveland is trying to be like the NY Yankees and buy a championship. Does not work that easily as the Yankees will tell you.

2009-07-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

Lots of free agent stuff: Detroit is signing Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva. The Lakers will keep Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Shannon Brown. I think they will add some muscle off the bench.

Saw a great street ball gym rat playing at the a gym in L.A. He was only 5'6" but he was dunking on guys 6'5".