Which All-Star Weekend Is the Best?
The NHL All-Star Game was a blast this season; however, the NFL All-Star Game was not amusing at all. Now, the NBA All-Star Game is coming up.
Which All-Star Game would you prefer to watch if you had to choose just one?
In order, I break down the worst to the best All-Star weekends in the major four sports. Needless to say, the NFL needs to do some studying.
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Video: Rondo knocks out teammate with pass
During the first quarter of the Celtics’ 91-89 victory over the New York Knicks, Rajon Rondo passed the ball to Mickael Pietrus, hitting him in the head and knocking him over. I am sure this clip will make my end of the year blooper reel. In case you missed last season’s blooper reel, you can watch it here. Thanks to Jesse Dampolo for sharing the video!
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Kaman apparently headed back to New Orleans
The New Orleans Hornets have decided to reactivate 7-foot center Chris Kaman, whom they told to sit out while they tried to trade him.
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Are the Indiana Pacers the New Bad Boys?
The Indiana Pacers have continued their impressive start, now 16-6, and appear to be legitimate contenders.
Amidst this, they aren’t making any friends.
In the young season, there have already been numerous instances in which opposing players have been upset by the persona of the Indiana squad.
Minnesota Timberwolves star big man Kevin Love recently expressed his feelings about the rugged Pacers after their 109-99 loss to Indiana.
“I’ve said all along I’ve never liked the Pacers,” Love said. “I guarantee the next time we play them it will be just as physical.”
Love also added, “They take those pills and they’ve got all that toughness. I don’t know where that comes from. They all think they’re tough guys. I just don’t know where that comes from. That just blows my mind. They’re all tough. And it makes me laugh.”
Love isn’t the only once annoyed.
NBA MVP Derrick Rose expressed his annoyance with the Pacers’ postgame celebration a couple weeks ago, after Indiana won on the road at Chicago 95-90.
Rose had motivational words to say concerning this: “I’ll never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game,” he said. “I can’t wait to play them again.”
The drama surrounding this game didn’t end there. Pacers coach Frank Vogel took it up another level.
Vogel said, “I don’t know if we really celebrated any more than a lot of teams celebrated when they get a road win. I know they’ve got a couple guys on their team who celebrate on every play. I just think it’s the thrill of victory.”
It’s clear the Pacers are playing with a chip on the shoulder. They’re out to prove they’re an elite team. Right now, their play is communicating this.
But their unnecessary antics appear to be getting under the skin of opposing teams. Are they becoming the new Bad Boys?
The Detroit Pistons were the feared “Bad Boys” of the late 1980s. Their demeanor was hard-nosed and at times, dirty. But they backed up this style of play by winning two NBA championships.
The Pacers must be careful to not create a bad reputation before they’ve ever even won a playoff series together. Yes, they’re showing vast improvements this year, but making players like Love and the MVP angry is not wise.
It’s premature to label them the new Bad Boys, but their persona is rubbing off on teams like they are. At this stage in their success, they should stick to communicating to the league by winning, rather than foolishly getting underneath players’ skin and running their mouths.
There’s something to be said for letting your playing do the talking.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
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Jazz owner says Malone is lying
Karl Malone said the Jazz denied him tickets to a game last season. The team’s owner fired back at the legend, saying he’s lying.
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NBA All-Star Game 2012: Kevin Love and 7 Players Who Deserve to Be Starters
The starting lineups have been announced for the 61st NBA All-Star Game on February 26th at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Both rosters are loaded with big name star players: Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin and of course Kobe Bryant.
Both the East and the West look strong, but a case could be made for at least another eight players who deserve to start, none more so than forward Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Love may not make the highlight reel every night, but this season he’s averaged 25 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, to lead all forwards in both categories. If the All-Star players were selected on points scored alone, Love deserves to start purely on merit. Starting the 2011-2012 season with 15 straight double-doubles and dominating defenses should have also earned Love a place on the starters roster.
Kevin Love is not the only player who has a legitimate claim to be a starter. Here are seven others who can also consider themselves unlucky to not be starting the NBA All-Star Game.
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Report: Howard forcing his way to New Jersey
It’s entirely possible this has become worse than the Carmelo Anthony situation last year. Dwight Howard has reportedly chosen his destination.
Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com writes that Dwight Howard has chosen the Nets as his future home.
“Multiple sources believe Howard will force his way to the Nets and he certainly has leverage, just like Carmelo Anthony had last year when he would only agree to sign an extension with the New York Knicks. Howard wants to team up with Deron Williams, loves the idea of playing in Brooklyn and knows that the front office will involve him in the decision-making process.”
Kennedy went on to reference Jarrod Rudolph with RealGM, who says that nothing says the Nets have to trade for Howard this season if he insists on going to New Jersey/Brooklyn. They will have the cap space to sign him outright. Given how poorly the Magic have been playing lately, maybe it would be best to deal Howard this season. Look at how much better Denver…
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Top 10 Active NBA Players: Based on Career Achievments
As the All-Star break approaches, many people are debating who should be the starters in the All-Star Game this season. Most of the starters that were chosen are not only the the best players this year, but some of the best players in the history of the game. Where do the best athletes of the 2012 season stack up against the best active players on the career NBA statistic lists, and most importantly in the number of NBA Championships?
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Hawks C Collins to miss 2 weeks (AP)
The Atlanta Hawks say reserve center Jason Collins will miss the next two weeks with a sprained left elbow. Collins, the primary backup to Zaza Pachulia with All-Star center Al Horford sidelined the next three months, was injured in Thursday’s home loss to Memphis. Collins, an 11-year NBA veteran, has started 31 of 81 career games in three seasons with Atlanta.
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Rudy Fernandes Flops, Draws Technical Foul on Matt Barnes (Video)
Denver Nuggets guard Rudy Fernandes was able to draw a technical foul on Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes by flopping backwards and pretending he had been hit in the face with Barnes’ elbow during the fourth quarter of Friday night’s NBA game in Denver.
Fernandes was covering Barnes on defense near the sideline while Barnes had the ball. Barnes swung his elbows aggressively with the basketball to try to give himself some room while looking for a Laker teammate to pass to. Barnes did not hit Fernandes, but Fernandes flopped backward as if he had been hit in the face.
The referee was behind Barnes back, but he saw Barnes’ elbows flying and Fernandes’ fake reaction to being “hit”, so he called the technical foul on Barnes. Other referees, who may have been in better position to see how much air there actually was between Barnes’ elbow and Fernandes’ face, did not overrule the call.
Fortunately the call did not decide the game, a…
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