Farewell Tracy Mcgrady

After many highlights and failures 7 time all-star Tracy Mcgrady has announced his retirement from the game of basketball. Mcgrady’s career for as great as it was remains equally disappointing. A lot of “What Ifs” are going to be asked when speaking about his legacy in basketball but Tracy Mcgrady possessed great talent and was arguably the best player in the league at one point. I was going to write a long post just like the Allen Iverson one earlier in the week but I don’t think that’s needed here, just enjoy the video up top. The video up top illustrates his career pretty well.

• 18,381 Points
• 2-time scoring champion
• 7 time All-Star
• 2000-2001 Most Improved Player

Congratulations to Tracy Mcgrady on a fantastic career!

Stephen Curry Tries To Sing

Not to long ago James Harden made an attempt to sing so Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors decided to strike back with a remix. He basically told Harden to stick to his day job of shooting guard for the Rockets and sounded better in doing so. Don't ask if this is legit because this is “Foot Locker Approved”.

James Harden Tries To Sing

James Harden of the Houston Rockets is a very talented player but he recently decided to take his talents off the court and into the studio to try his hand at being an R&B singer. Lets just say he won't be winning any Grammy awards in the near future.

Dwight Howard Destroys Twitter Hater

Lakers fans are still pretty salty about Dwight Howard and understandably so they aren't used to being stood up by big name free agents but that hasn't stopped them from attacking Dwight via social media. If you scroll down below it didn't stop one Laker fan from talking about championship rings to Dwight on Twitter but it proved to be a big mistake because Dwight wasn't about to let that fly.  @uHateBre let her feelings for Dwight be known to him about leaving the Lakers for the Rockets.

— Brittni (@uHateBre) August 7, 2013

Now Dwight is a successful basketball player and has a very playful personality so I'm pretty sure back in the days as a kid in Atlanta Dwight had his fair share of rank battles and witty comebacks for peoples hate or jokes, this was no different here.

@uHateBre with that face ion think u getting one either lol.
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) August 7, 2013

Dwight Howard will be looked down upon by some people for firing back at an ignorant follower but I salute him for doing what other NBA players won't do and that’s put people in their place.

Orlando Summer League Final Summary

Sorry for not posting the day 5 and 6 summary’s of the Orlando summer league, I was kind of busy the last few days and didn’t have a chance to give you guys my first class, premium analysis I love to give. Orlando Summer league has now concluded so with that said lets focus on some of that players who left a great impression with fans and teams alike.

Reggie Jackson (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Summer League Stats: 19.5 Points Per Game 2.5 Rebounds 2.5 Assists 1 Steal 53%FG

Reggie Jackson in his Boston College days was one talented scorer. I can attest to that seeing him the ACC lighting up the Hurricanes. As a pro though it seems like Reggie is finally coming into his own. Last season as Russell Westbrook was injured in the playoffs Reggie gained valuable experience and played some good basketball. A more matured game and demeanor seem to be a bi product of that invaluable experience for Jackson. This summer league he wanted to show Thunder management that he should be in their plans moving forward. He did all that and more as he lead all Orlando summer league players in scoring at just under 20 a game and actually set a new Summer league record for points in a game with 35.

Final Analysis: Reggie has shown the ability put the ball in the basket and moving forward as he continues to mature and develop I see the Thunder running small line ups with him at the 1 Westbrook at the 2 and Durant at the 3. The better he plays the more line up flexibility it gives OKC which makes them much more dangerous. Reggie Jackson took some great steps in this summer league season.

Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics)

Summer League Stats: 19.5 Points Per Game 8 Rebounds 2.8 Assists 2.3 Steals .5 Blocks 57%FG

I have to say I had a lot of doubts about Kelly Olynyk and I still do but he proved to me in Summer League he can play. He isn’t overpowering in strength but he is crafty and knows how to score the basketball. With his perimeter jump shot he stretches the defense and with his footwork in the post he can create his own offense. I was thoroughly impressed with Olynyk.

Final Analysis: Kelly Olynyk granted this was summer league was dominant and the guys he will see when the season starts will be way more experienced and polished but he is going to be a good fit with Rondo. New coach Ben Stevens needs to get Rondo and this guy on the same page. I think a lot of high pick and pops with Rondo and Olynyk will do wonders for the Celtic offense. I’m looking forward to see how the Celtics use him in this years rotation.

 

Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic) 

Summer League Stats: 19 Points Per Game 4.3 Rebounds 2.3 Assists 3 Steals 37%FG

If you’re a Magic fan then this season is going to be an exciting one and that excitement comes in the form of first round draft pick Victor Oladipo. This guy has a motor on him and just gets after it on the defensive side of the ball. If you watched him at Indiana you would know he broke the SEC record for steals set by Isaiah Thomas. Watching him at summer league he was all over opposing players causing deflections and forcing turnovers he averaged 3 steals a game. I knew he had a motor and could lay defense but I didn’t know he had the ability to run the point. In many summer league games the Magic had Oladipo running point guard and he did a good job of setting up his teammates.

Final Analysis: The youth movement in Orlandohas to be exciting if you’re a Magic fan with young guys like Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris all having the chance to grow with each other. Throwing a guy like Oladipo into that mix just gives them a guy who can potentially be an All-Star and I’m excited to see what’s in store for the Magic youth.

Terrence Jones (Houston Rockets)

Summer League Stats: 15.8 Points Per Game 7 Rebounds 2.5 Assists 1.2 Blocks 42%FG

Terrence Jones is a very talented player. After being sent to the D-League because the Rockets couldn’t find minutes for him in the Houston rotation. It was a blessing in disguise for him because he had a chance to work on his game and polish up. He clearly showed that he improved as he now can handle the basketball, plays with a purpose and every now and then can hit a 3 pointer. Terrence Jones is a man and he plays like one on the glass and gives you great effort.

Final Analysis: Terrence Jones proved this summer league he is no D-League lifer if anything he proved why he is the Rockets future starting power forward. I really hope that’s the case because he is a solid player and I’d hate to see that talent go to waste.

Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)

Summer League Stats: 15.7 Points Per Game 15 Rebounds 1.3 Assists 2.7 Steals 2.7 Blocks

Andre Drummond is for lack of a better term a “Stat Sheet Stuffer”. Looking at his summer league numbers will indicate that for you. The Pistons recently picked up Josh Smith and I feel that him, Monroe and Andre Drummond can be the best frontcourt in the NBA. They all know how to rebound and score in the post but all of them are very flawed fundamentally in some areas, Andre Drummond showed that during summer league.

Final Analysis: Drummond has all the physical tools to be an elite center in the NBA but he needs to play smarter and become more efficient from the free throw line. Beside all of that though I think that he is a phenomenal talent and will continue to progress as long as he doesn’t get lazy.

Stay tuned for my new Vegas Summer league series coming soon.

Throwback Thursday: Fleer 90 Kevin Johnson

As the Playoffs are happening right now many memorable moments are being made as we speak. One of the Most memorable dunks in the History of the playoffs came when Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns dunked on the Great Hakeem Olajuwon in the 2^nd round of the 1994 Playoffs. The other day I was going through some boxes and I came across this.

I collect mainly baseball but when going through a bunch of scattered  cards I came across this Sweet Kevin Johnson Fleer 90 which didn’t even know that I had so it was a bit of a pleasant surprise. I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for KJ on and off the court for what he did on the court in Phoenix to what He is doing now as the Mayor in Sacramento. I think what he has done for basketball from both sides of the spectrum warrants some Hall of Fame consideration. All in all this is a sweet card and only the 2^nd base card in the Fleer 90 set I have besides Muggsy Bouges.

Playoff Time 2013: James Harden

In life no matter what the profession may be we all strive to advance in the company or have a much more broad expanded role that pays better. Well in case of James harden that's what has happened this season. He was with a great company in the Oklahoma City Thunder but he decided to go with the up and comer Houston Rockets for more money and an expanded role. He made the right career decision for himself and has had a nice season in leading the Rockets to the Playoffs.

This season James Harden had to make an adjustment from 6th man to Franchise Player which is not eazy but he had himself many Memorable performances. In his first two games as a rocket he scored 37 and 45 in two wins vs the Pistons and Hawks he put no doubt in anybody's mind that he can be the go to guy on a good team. The Rockets became one of the most exciting teams in the league to watch on a nightly basis with Harden being the Marquee player Houston has someone to build around for a long time to come.

James Harden leads the boys from H-Town against his former teammates and employer the Oklahoma City Thunder. He proved earlier this season that he has no problems scoring on OKC when he dropped 46 points in a win. The Thunder are heavily favored and for good reason they have more talent around their franchise players the Houston does at this present moment. James Harden is a competitor though so don't expect him and Houston to go down quietly.

Houston is an exciting team to watch but can their high scoring playing style translate to a 1st round Upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder?

The NBA Playoffs begin on April 21st for the Rockets as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Playoff Time 2013: Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook

The powerhouse over the past several seasons in the Western Conference has been the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season they went all the way to the NBA Finals but met a Heat team on another level, it wasn't their time just yet. A big deal has been made out of the whole Russell Westbrook/Kevin Durant. Many people don't like Russell taking so many shots and would like to see KD get more aggressive on both ends of the floor. I can fully understand why people would say that but when Durant has a season where he shoots 40% from behind the 3-point line shoots 50% from the field It's kind of hard to argue that point.

Westbrook and Durant are polar opposites on and off the court. Westbrook plays with an aggression and is one hundred miles per hour all the time. Durant is much more smooth and calm and has a tendency to just go with the flow. The opposite personalities led the Thunder to the#1 seed in the Western Conference. If the Thunder want to win a ring then These 2 need to be the best players for the Thunder throughout the Playoffs, consistency is key.

The 1st round in OKC's Playoff run matches them up with an old friend-James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Last season Harden was a part of that OKC team that went all the way to the finals in a 6th man role. Prior to the season Harden was trade to Houston where he would make more money and be the guy. He is the face of the Rockets and now as the playoffs begin he and his friends from Houston will take on Westbrook, Durant and the Thunder. This series has that interesting story lines and I'm sure it will be fun with so many exciting players to watch. The leaders of the Thunder will need to take care of business early and not give the Rockets any Life.

They have proven they are elite but can OKC finally take the next step and become Champions?

The NBA playoffs begin April 21st for the Thunder as they take on James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

Miami Madness

March madness can mean many things when speaking about the city of Miami, you have the Ultra Music festival, South Beach and everything else. These days though when you link March Madness to Miami you must refer that term over to the 2 Elites in basketball right now.

Today was just another classic case of the Rich getting richer in the world of sports. The Miami Heat and University of Miami are elites in the basketball world at this present moment and raised that elite status today.

UM is having an amazing season nobody saw coming and captured it's first ever ACC Tournament Championship today with a 87-77 win over the UNC Tarheels. Shane Larkin once again put the whole country on notice that he is one of the premier guards in this country with his uncanny ability to penetrate and find open shooters. Now with a regular season and tournament tittle in ACC play “THE U” turns its attention to the big dance which starts Friday in Austin vs. Pacific.

The Miami Heat seem to be breaking records with regularity these days as they captured their 22^nd straight victory today over Rudy Gay and the Toronto Raptors. The win tied them with 2007-2008 Houston Rockets for the 2^nd longest winning streak in NBA history. The Record is 33.

Will the Canes win the NCAA Tittle? Will the Heat break the longest winning streak in NBA History? Only time will tell but Basketball seems to be the 2^nd most important thing in this town right now..........Ultra is still going on at the moment

Dikembe Mutombo: The Worlds Saivor

We all know Dikembe Mutombo for this.

And this 

And most definitely this

The other day I was just chilling until I came across this. Yes that is a picture of Dikembe Mutombo and yes he has his own video game made by Old spice. The game is titled “Dikembe Mutombo 4 and a half weeks to save the world”. It pokes fun at the mayans prediction that the world will end on December 21st 2012. It started several weeks ago on November 21st each week Old Spice realases a new level. It looks like something straight out of super nintendo. The game is so good that kids in my computer class at school try they're hand at saving the world as Dikemebe Mutombo. If you want to laugh and just have a good time then you need to go play this game you won‘t be dissappointed. If you don’t believe me watch the video down low for the Star wars like intro . The game can be played at www.Oldspicesavestheworld.com. It is a #CLASSIC ........if you refuse to play this game then the world will end and you will not be saved by Dikembe so make sure you do it.

Go Hard-en the Paint

So unless you have been under a rock for the last few days you pretty much know that James Harden is playing possesed. Since being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets he has dropped 82 points which included a 45 point explosion in Atlanta last night leading the Rockets to 2 wins over the Pistons and Hawks. He has and Jeremy Lin have been complimenting each other well. Can Houston continue this winning trend led by Harden and Lin? We will see but it's been fun to watch so far and the Hometown fans will get there 1st look at this years Rockets they take on rookie sensation Damian Lillard and the Blazers i will definetly be watching!

#FearTheBeard

Throwback Thrusday: Reebok Classics

Dee Brown

90’s Basketball oh what joy the 1990’s brought to basketball fans. From Michael Jordan to big daddy kane like high top fades to John Stockton’s  basketball short’s this decade had many different symbols and representation. When you think 90’s NBA Basketball you think of the Chicago Bulls, NBA Jam and the Reebok Pumps. This shoe ushered in a new era of Basketball when released in 1989.

Worn by the likes of Shawn Kemp, Dominique Wilkins and Shaq the Reebok Pumps are one of the best representation’s of the NBA at that time. The rim shattering dunks from the “Rain man” and Dee Brown really made the pumps a hit. The shoes featured a button that said “pump” on it and when you would hit push it at a rapid pace it would increase air pressure in your shoe and make it a lot tighter creating a much better feel while playing on the court. No other shoe before or after was like the Reebok Pump it gave the brand an identity and in many ways represented a whole generation and the basketball they watched in that time span.  Who could forget the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk contest where Dee Brown of the Boston Celtics covered his eyes while dunking a basketball while wearing the Reebok pump Omni‘s . That Dunk made Reeboks a household name. Even in 2003 when John Cena was just breaking into the WWE as a wrestler he regularly sported the Pumps and embraced them.

Shawn kemp

Shaq

After the the 90’s for the company and the shoe they continued to push the pump by signing Allen Iverson to a lifetime contract in 2001.The then Philadelphia Basketball star was the face of the company and he was to Reebok what Jordan was to Nike. He Along with Yao Ming were the 2 cover boy’s for Reebok in the early 2000’s. A.I Reeboks for me as a kid were always the one pair of shoes I always wanted being the fan that I was of Allen. Although the company has re-released some throwback A.I’s

and signed Wizards Guard John Wall the company hasn’t seen the kind of success they did in the 90’s and early 2000’s. So every time you see a Pair of Pumps and get that ever so nostalgic feeling just know that they are a fashion statement and not your everyday B-Ball shoes.

Allen Iverson

Yao Ming

Throwback Thursday: NBA Street

Its Thursday so you already know I don’t got to tell you what time it is but I will anyway, It’s Throwback Thursday. Just want too say thanks to everybody that read the Joe Namath Article last Thursday if you Haven’t make sure you do so. Today for throwback Thursday we are changing the pace rather then talking about a legendary athelete we are going to talk about a classic throwback video game near and dear to my and a lot of other peoples hearts. I’m talking about the Classic NBA Street.

Released way back in the Great year of 2001 My Dad and I were just paying a visit to a local Target on a Thursday afternoon. As I was looking at the video games a cover caught my eye. It was a tall dark afrocentric guy with an afro Dunking a basketball the title read “NBA Street”. My father purchased the game for Playstation 2 for 25.19$. The game was amazingly fun and unrealistic at the same time. You play 3 on 3 Basketball with some of your favorite NBA players on Blacktops in various areas such as South Beach, Route 66, Home Rucker Park and you rather then set pick and rolls and play fundamental basketball just rack up trick points by crossing over opposing players and breaking ankels. The game features Players such as Steve Francis, Reggie Miller, Tracy Mcgrady, Vince Carter, Gary Payton, Baron Davis, Chris Webber, Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones, Afro Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and Vitaly Potapenko. All the then 29 team are featured and 5 players are available from each of the franchises. In city circuit mode which is my personal favorite you pick NBA team and play other NBA teams in various venues and once you beat them you can have them on your team, so usually after getting far enough in city circuit I would pick the Charlotte Hornets and once I beat the Heat and 76ers I would pick up Allen Iverson and Eddie Jones and I would have them play alongside Baron Davis. Another cool thing about City circuit mode is when you beat the NBA teams in a venue you got too play the boss of that stage which are all fictional Streetballers like Stretch (the guy on the cover) once you beat them you automatically get them on your team. NBA Street is a classic you can play it right now in 2012 and you will still have a blast playing it just like I did for 6 hours yesterday. The game was well received and was certified as one of Playstation’s greatest hits. It was a pioneer that spawned 2 more NBA Street games an NFL and FIFA version as well. If you have never played this game then you are missing out, I highly suggest that if you still own a Playstation 2 that you go out and buy the game. All I know is that every time I pick up a controller to play I don’t put it down for hours. Maybe it’s the rim shattering dunks to end the games that I perform with guys like Keyon Martin and Jermaine O’neal. Maybe it’s the Challenge of beating Stretch, Bonafide and Biggs.  Maybe it’s the way Joe “The show” blurts out “HELLO OPERATA”! from his megaphone every time I shoot a 3 pointer. Maybe it’s the sounds of Real Hip-hop in the back round when I’m Crossing someone over with Brevin Knight. No matter how you look at it NBA Street left an untouchable legacy which is hard for any sports game to live up too.