The Ringer’s 5 Players to watch
An very interesting take from the NBA Ringer show on the upcoming NBA season and 5 players to watch for the upcoming season: Enjoy
Adewale Adeyelu / Blog, NBA, News / 0 comments
An very interesting take from the NBA Ringer show on the upcoming NBA season and 5 players to watch for the upcoming season: Enjoy
Adewale Adeyelu / NBA, News / 0 comments
With the NBA 6 days away we will look at the 6 teams that will make a significant impact in the 2016/17 season:
Boston Celtics: With the addition of big agent signing Al Horford and first round pick Jaylen Brown have added some much needed firepower. The perimeter dynamos of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder will continue attack, play D and makes 3’s. Brad Stevens is a very creative coach and he will look to build on their first round playoff loss last season. With the East looking average except for Cleveland there will be an opportunity to move up to the second seed.
Utah Jazz: Now we know that Gordon Hayward has a hand injury that will likely keep him out for 6-8 weeks but there have some depth to keep them afloat while he is out. With return of Dante Exum and Alec Burk and the perimeter additions of Joe Johnson and George Hill they can improve upon last season’s record with added offensive weapons. Rudy Gobert will be manning the paint again this season where he is one of the most effective big men at defending the paint.
Minnesota Timberwolves: The young pups are ready to take the next step. Well that’s what I think anyway. The King Karls-Town in the middle and the majestic Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine on the wings this new big 3 (wishful thinking!) can really make things interesting. They will need to prove they can improve in two areas: 3pt shooting and team defence. The Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn point guard situation may be something to look at as they may move Rubio at some point to make way for the new PG.
Pacers: With trading away George Hill and adding Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young they have made a move towards a more all offensive outfit. The all star Paul George may look to even further his standing as one of the best players in the NBA. With Al Jefferson coming off the bench they also have a post presence against second units. Look at for the development of Myles Turner to make another jump and as a potential corner with his mix of shot blocking and jump shooting. The Pacer will likely average 100+ points per game but their defence will likely take a hit.
New York Knicks: This may be a surprise for some but I really believe in the Knicks and what they can do. I know this has a lot to do with the wealth and freedom of Derrick Rose. If the Derrick Rose can play at 60-70% of his MVP then watch out it could get really scary for the rest of the league. But that’s a big if though. With Joakim Noah also coming off an shoulder injury having your point guard and center possible missing time is a red flag. BUT they have a great starting five the includes Carmelo Anthony and Kristap Porzingis look for them to be a very difficult to defend. Jeff Hornacek will look to implement a more fast paced offensive system that will include components of the famed Triange. Despite about what’s been said I believe the Knicks have a good bench with Brandon Jennings, Kyle O’Quinn, Sasha Vujacic and 27 year old rookie Mindaugas Kuzminskas can really surprise people this season.
Houston Rockets: This may come to a surprise with the defection of Dwight Howard to the Atlanta Hawks one thing is for sure the Rockets will be very hard to stop. Mike D’Antoni idea to shift to the point guard look for the James Harden to average more than 9 assist a game. Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon will bring even more explosiveness to their offence. Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley will continue to bring some tenacity and toughness to the team. Nene and Clint Capel with try to equal what Howard contributed last season. If they can keep teams honest they will move up to this season. If that happens then look to Harden to be a strong MVP candidate.
Phoenix Suns: Now! This is a bit of a reach but you never know. Let’s start with the surprise play of the rookie Devin Booker last season. He was able to bring an unique mix of shooting, ball handling and defence that gave the franchise loads of hope for the future. Devin is averaging 20 PPG in the preseason so look for him to continue that trend in the new season. Eric Bledsoe will look to bounce with a healthy season and help push the pace. Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss have looked good so far but they are rookies so you never know what to expect. Alex Len will look to establish himself as one of they better skill two way big in the NBA. Jared Dudley will bring veteran leadership and 3 pt shooting.
So it will be interesting upcoming season with the Cavaliers and Warriors very likely to return to the NBA finals to face off for the third straight time but it’s a long season as they say a lot of things can change between now and June.
By
Ade
Contributor
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Steve Nash and José Bautista to Coach Alongside Drake
Rosters feature Jason Sudeikis, Michael B. Jordan, Anthony Anderson, Bryshere “Yazz” Gray and Nick Cannon
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that Grammy® Award-winning artist and Toronto Raptors Global Ambassador Drake and four-time NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP and actor Kevin Hart will face off as head coaches of the Canada and USA teams, respectively, at NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2016 on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air live from Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto on ESPN in the U.S. and on Sportsnet ONE and TSN in Canada.
Drake will be joined on the sidelines by two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Toronto Blue Jays All-Star right fielder José Bautista. Canada’s team will feature Stephan James (“Race”); Arcade Fire’s Win Butler; Drew and Jonathan Scott (W Network’s “Property Brothers”); professional tennis player Milos Raonic; actor and singer Kris Wu; seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady; NBA TV analyst Rick Fox; and Natalie Achonwa of the Indiana Fever and Canada Women’s National Team.
Hart’s USA team will include Jason Sudeikis (“Race”); Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”); Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “blackish”); Bryshere “Yazz” Gray (FOX’s “Empire”); Nick Cannon (“America’s Got Talent”); five-time NBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Chauncey Billups; NBA legend Muggsy Bogues; Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry; and WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky.
For the 12th consecutive year, ESPN will televise the game beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can also view the game on WatchESPN, available on your computer, smart phone, tablet, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Apple TV and Roku. The game rosters are subject to change without notice. Visit NBA.com/allstar2016 for more information.
Sportsnet and TSN television networks will simulcast NBA All-Star 2016 broadcasts in Canada, in association with Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage on TNT in the United States and ESPN’s coverage of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. This marks the first time the two Canadian networks will simulcast NBA All-Star events domestically.
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NBA UK win our first ever Corporate league and are crowned champions.
An amazing season which saw 8 top corporate organisations take part in London’s first ever corporate basketball league. Organisations such as Credit Suisse, AEG, KPMG and many more organisation took part in the 3 month season which had its mix of emotions, buzzer beaters and close games but there can only be one winner, congratulations to the NBA UK. NBA remained unbeaten the whole season (with exception to friendly game loss to league host team) and clinched the Corporate League final by beating a depleted AEG squad 40-33.
Tom Marchesi recorded 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, also notable for NBA Ed Jones recored 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Vanja Cernivic recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal and was named the finals Most Valuable Player. Notably for AEG their spark plug Nana had a near double double with 19 points and 8 rebounds for the losing side- For full game stats click here.
As winners of the Corporate League NBA UK were awarded a trophy presentation, private tour and lunch at the House of Lords with our Global Ambassador Lord Dr Michael Hastings and NBA and Team GB Legend John Amaechi.
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Newcastle Eagles and Leicester Riders will face off in this January in a mouthwatering clash for the coveted British Basketball League (BBL) Cup silverware.
The Eagles will go in to the game as favourites, following on from last season’s clean sweep of honours with an unbeaten start to the season. With a team boasting Fab Flournoy, the most successful coach in BBL History, last season’s Most Valuable Player Charles Smith along with star guards Rahmon Fletcher and Joe Chapman, it is clear why they carry the favourites badge.
The Riders however have also enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, picking up only one defeat so far and they will feel confident of repeating their 2014 Cup Final success against an Eagles team boasting many of the same players they faced that day. Back in 2014 the Riders were inspired by GB Captain Drew Sullivan, and they will be delighted to draw on his services again as he goes up against his old team. Add in to the mix flamboyant Head Coach Rob Paternostro, exciting big man TrayVonn Wright and young British stars Jamell Anderson and Conner Washington and you have a team capable of beating the Eagles to the title.
Be there as the teams lock horns for the third time in recent Cup Final history as they go head-to-head on Sunday 17th January at the Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham (formerly the National Indoor Arena) for the first piece of silverware of the season.
Also taking place on the day is the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) Trophy Final (12pm) which pits two of the top UK Women’s teams against each other in a winner takes all encounter.
But the entertainment doesn’t stop there with our full supporting cast featuring:
The BBL Slam Dunk Contest (2pm) featuring some of the finest dunkers from around the world! Check out footage of the latest two confirmed participants, Canadian’s Justin ‘Fly’ Darlington & Jordan Kilganon
Britain’s Got Talent finalists dance street group Flawless
BBL Dancers cheerleaders, dunking mascots and much much more
Be a part of it – don’t miss one of the biggest events in British basketball, book your tickets today and get ‘closer to the action’.
Dayo247 / International, NBA, News / Basketball, British Basketball, London, NBA, NBA Global Games, NBA Live, NBA Live Odeon / 0 comments
The Orlando Magic will return to London to play a regular-season game against the Toronto Raptors at The O2 on Jan. 14, 2016 as part of NBA Global Games 2015-16, this will mark the league’s sixth regular-season game in London.
Tickets for the game in London are sold out but Fans can search for resale tickets on Stubhub.co.uk also NBA have teamed up with ODEON Cinema to show the game live across the UK in 31 participating locations.
“We’re very excited to be bringing all the excitement and action of NBA Live to our cinemas,” said Ian Shepherd, Group Chief Commercial Officer, ODEON & UCI Cinemas Group.
“Live entertainment is hugely popular with our guests and growing rapidly, whether it be theatre, music or sport, and the NBA is a fantastic addition to our line-up. Like our guests, we’re thrilled that the adrenaline of the games and the atmosphere of the crowds will be beaming onto our screens around the UK to guests who are enjoying the comfort and hospitality of our cinemas.”
The Magic, led by four-time NBA Champion and 15-time NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal, first visited London for a pair of preseason games in 1993. More recently, the Raptors played back-to-back games in London in 2011, marking the NBA’s first regular-season games in Europe.
Along with the on court action, NBA Global Games London will feature a variety of off-the-court activities, including NBA Cares community programs and interactive fan events.
List of participating ODEON Cinemas:
Basingstoke
Kingston
Southampton
Birmingham Broadway Plaza
Lee Valley
Southend
Blackpool
Leeds
Stoke
Cardiff
Leicester
Streatham
Chatham
Liverpool One
Belfast
Dunfermline
Marble Arch
Hull
Edinburgh Fort Kinnaird
Metrocentre
Printworks Manchester
Glasgow Braehead
Milton Keynes Stadium
Swansea
Greenwich
Norwich
Telford
Surrey Quays
Sheffield
Uxbridge
Worcester
To prebook tickets at your local ODEON cinema and for more information, please visit: www.ODEON.co.uk/films/NBA_Live_ODEON/16203/
NBA Global Games London 2016 will also air live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Showcase.
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BT SPORT are close to agreeing a major media rights deal which could transform British basketball.
The broadcaster has been in talks with Premier League Basketball since May over a five-year deal to invest big money in the sport.
BT have pledged in writing to support a new eight-team summer league – which could spell the end of the current British Basketball League – showing at least two live matches a week, from 2017.
The deal includes an option for BT to extend the agreement for another five years.
BT has long shown interest in investing in UK basketball and is keen on televising a summer league that would not conflict with football or rugby.
Its understood further funding is needed to get a new league off the ground, but the BT deal is regarded as the key to making this happen.
The PLB set itself up as the future of British basketball years ago and has gone through several rebranding makeovers since.
Based in the USA, it has come under fire from fans, clubs and officials in the past for being out of touch and making promises it has failed to keep.
But in that time it has managed to assemble an impressive team, with former Toronto Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo the latest appointed to its Advisory Board.
And the PLB believe BT Sport’s interest is a game changer – with key figures from the organisation set to relocate to London next month to help push the plan forward.
Miami Heat and Great Britain star Luol Deng is among those who have supported the PLB, while former NBA player John Amaechi has also acted as an advisor.
Part of the proposal, which BT supports, involves a US-style draft to take place in April 2017 in New York and London, with 250 players invited to take part.
These will be divided by a selection committee into three pools depending on talent and experience.
It is understood NCAA and high school players will be invited, along with established professionals and players with NBA experience. There will be one designated British player per club.
Owners would invest in the league, with Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Cardiff and Sheffield proposed as the bases for the eight launch clubs.
If successful, the league would then expand to ten clubs in year three and 12 in year four. Bristol and Belfast are mentioned as potential expansion cities. Manchester and Leicester do not feature.
The mission statement includes a promise to: “Combine high-quality, competitive professional play with an exciting indoor game-day experience to differentiate PLB from the current UK professional basketball offering.”
BT Sport is already the exclusive home of the NBA on UK television and last summer screened Great Britain’s home qualifiers for EuroBasket 2015.
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The New York Knicks will return to London to play a regular season game against the Milwaukee Bucks at The O2 on 15 January 2015 as part of NBA Global Games 2015.
Tickets go on sale Friday 31 October at 9am
The New York Knicks are led by seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Carmelo Anthony, together with six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire. The team also currently features six international players, such as Andrea Bargnani of Italy and José Calderón of Spain. This season will see five-time NBA Champion Derek Fisher make his head coaching debut, alongside Knicks President and NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson, appointed in March. This will be the Knicks’ second trip to London, having played in 2013 against the Detroit Pistons. The Milwaukee Bucks feature Brandon Knight who led the team in points per game, assists and steals last season, and Jabari Parker who was the second overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. The team also features four international players, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece and Ersan Ilyasova of Turkey. This will be Head Coach Jason Kidd’s third trip to the capital for a regular-season game, having come with the New York Knicks as a player in 2013 and again last year as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
The four previous NBA regular season games at The O2, all sell-outs, included New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors in back-to-back games (2011); Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks (2013); and Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets (2014).
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http://youtu.be/JoQ1TnqPIX4
Caron Butler’s troubled was documented in a touching feature from Fox Sports Live.
The 33 year old Milwaukee Bucks forward grew up in a tough neighbourhood, where drugs and shootings were rife.
“I was always nervous, I was always scared,” he said. “just always looking over your shoulder thinking about being shot at, or seeing everyone in my inner circle die.”
Things were so bad in fact, that Butler was arrested “at least 15 times” as a teenager, culminating in him being sentenced to one year in prison at just 14 years old.
This was the turning point for him, but just when things were looking up, his house was raided and police found narcotics; which if they were to charge him, could’ve meant a ten year sentence.
Watch the video to find out exactly what happened…
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Luol Deng hit five 3-pointers while scoring 27 points, Anderson Varejao added 18 points and 18 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the spiraling Los Angeles Lakers 120-118 Tuesday night.
Deng was a perfect 5 for 5 from the line and had five rebounds and four assists, his first big game since joining Cleveland in a trade with Chicago a week ago. He led the Cavs to their highest-scoring regulation performance of the season, as they hit 13 of 17 3-pointers and outrebounded Los Angeles 48-35.
Deng and Waiters put the Cavs ahead during a 12-0 rally early in the fourth quarter, but Young hit three free throws with 25.3 seconds to play, trimming the lead to two points. Tristan Thompson missed two of four free throws in the final 16 seconds, but Young missed two late 3-pointers.
Deng played 38 minutes and said in after the game;
“We talked at halftime about coming out with a lot of energy, and I thought we responded well,” Deng said. “Once we got the lead, they tried to get back in the game, and it was back and forth. But I thought we did a good job of keeping the lead and controlling the game at the end.”
“There’s a lot more optimism and a lot more talent now that Luol has been added to the mix,” said Kyrie Irving, who had 13 points. “He’s a great addition, and to get him on this road trip was big for us.”
http://youtu.be/hRvsIqCUfAQ
also check out:
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The glitz and glamour of the NBA will return to London in January next week when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Atlanta Hawks in a regular-season match at the O2 Arena.
The game will take place on Thursday January 16, 2014, the event sold out in 3 days.
Both teams are still in the play-off hunt in a weakened Eastern Conference and will see this trip to the Capital – where they will play just once in a four-day trip – as a welcome break from the toils of their rigorous 82-game season.
Casual British fans could be forgiven for thinking they know the Nets team. The franchise played a pre-season game in London in 2008 and took part in the first two regular season games, along with the Toronto Raptors, in 2011.
But much has changed since then, as new billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov has sought to turn the team into a title contender. Prokhorov moved the team from New Jersey to a new $1billion home in Brooklyn and, with the help of Jay-Z, created the Brooklyn Nets.
Entering this season the Nets were supposed to be one of the NBA’s best. They had captured two of the biggest names in the game, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from Boston, to create a starting line-up comprised of five stellar names.
Pierce and Garnett were meant to add the defensive skills and toughness that would compliment the attacking flair of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, as well as showing off their own veteran talents.
Trading for the two veterans made Prokhorov’s team the most expensive in the NBA by some margin.
Their total salaries add up to $101million this season, $14m more than near-neighbours the New York Knicks who are second in the most-expensive list.
All that money meant the Nets were expected to win right away, but that didn’t happen.
Prokhorov took the surprising step of naming Jason Kidd, who only finished his Hall of Fame playing career in the summer, as head coach, and it’s fair to say the 40-year-old struggled initially.
On paper the Nets were the second or third strongest team in the East behind the Miami Heat, but slumped as numerous players missed game time through injury.
There was further misery when Brook Lopez, who had been their best offensive player this season, was ruled out for the rest of the season through injury after playing just 17 games.
At one point the Nets, a team expected to walk into the play-offs in a conference that currently boasts just three teams with winning records, had won just 10 of 31 matches.
‘I don’t know, honestly,’ said guard Alan Anderson on his team’s poor start. ‘It’s a surprise to a lot of us, with the ammunition we have on this team. We’re going to fight through it.’
‘It’s been great, I’ve got a good group of guys, a veteran group. It’s been exciting, they’ve helped me in a big way of making this transition easy,’ he said.
Senior members of his roster, such as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, have spent a number of years playing opposite the two-time Olympic gold medal winner. Garnett is known as one of the league’s greatest competitors and trash-talkers, but Kidd says his previous relationship with those players hasn’t changed.
‘No, no, no, [Garnett’s] a competitor, playing against him for a lot of years I know he comes with being competitive and wants to win, and now being a coach I’m just trying to put him in a position to be successful, that’s all that matters.’
And the big change in recent days for Brooklyn?
‘Health has been a big part, that’s been something we’ve been dealing with all year, now we’re healthy we’re starting to get some wins and guys are playing well together. It’s a good time now to go to London and showcase our talents.’
Kidd was part of the New York Knicks team who beat the Detroit Pistons at The O2 Arena in London last year. He is looking forward to returning to the city, but says he doesn’t mind that he’s doing it as a coach and not a player.
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Tuesday 14 January 2014 at the Ethos Sports Center – Imperial College, London