Archives › John Krolik
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With a recent four-game winning streak that included wins on the road against Houston and Dallas, the Boston Celtics are letting everybody know that rumors of their demise may have been exaggerated. Eastern Conference Player of The Week Paul Pierce has been the key to Boston’s recent string of wins, having scored 26 and 29…
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One reason some people don’t consider Dwight Howard quite on the level of LeBron James or Kobe Bryant is that he’s not the go-to guy for the Magic in crunch-time situations. In what 82games.com defines as “clutch” situations, LeBron averages 65.5 points per 48 minutes. Kobe averages 50.1 points per 48. Dirk averages 45.7. Carmelo…
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have made few bones about the fact they have modeled their franchise around the way the San Antonio Spurs do their business. They have put an emphasis on chemistry, they hired a former Spurs assistant as their head coach, and they’ve surrounded their superstar with solid veterans rather than unpredictable young players. …
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Mike D’Antoni was the toast of the NBA during his tenure in Phoenix. In New York, things haven’t worked out quite as well. Although they have diametrically opposed coaching styles, D’Antoni and former Knicks coach learned the same lesson in New York — you can’t fit square pegs into round holes. Brown’s mistake was…
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The NBA’s award races, usually a perfect topic for intense debate, might be a little anticlimactic this season. Barring a late surge by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James will almost certainly win his second consecutive MVP award. Dwight Howard is also a virtual lock to win his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. If…
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A week and a half after Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed on the court during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has been cleared to return to game action. According to Chris Iott, Pistons coach Jon Kuester says that there is a “very good chance” that both Stuckey and Wallace will play against the…
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According to the Detroit News, Former Detroit Pistons player and Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves has joined the Pistons broadcast team. Cleaves led the Spartans to an NCAA title in 2000, and has his numbers in the rafters at MSU. Cleaves never did have the same kind of success in the pros, spending time with…
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From a young age, every basketball player is told to get comfortable using their off hand around the basket and on drives, but few players master the skill. Even at the NBA level, the vast majority of players have a dominant hand that they would prefer to drive to, and most of them are good…
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It’s easy to think of Lakers backup center DJ Mbenga as a funny guy. He’s big, he’s goofy, he mostly rides the bench for a championship team, and he’s on the Lakers’ infamous “taco unit.” However, in a recent interview with Mike Trudell of the Lakers’ website, Mbenga showed that he’s got some important things…
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Bobcats swingman Stephen Jackson was part of the Pacers for some very good years. He was also an instrumental part of the lowest moment in Pacer franchise history when he gleefully charged into the stands after Ron Artest went up, punched a fan, and then egged on the crowd as he was escorted out of…
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According to a press release, the Oklahoma City Thunder have signed former Arizona Wildcat guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract. Shakur played four productive seasons at Arizona, but went undrafted in the 2007 NBA draft. He spent the next few years overseas, spending time with Prokom Trefel Sopot, TAU Ceramica, and Panellinios BC. This…
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Chris Paul hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 29th because of injuries, but he’s been keeping himself amused while he’s rehabbing. Via FanHouse, Morris Peterson recently put up a personal website, and there are videos on it featuring Hornets players. This one features Chris Paul in a parody of the micro-blockbuster “Paranormal Activity,”…
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As it currently stands, the #4 team in the West is 42-24 and the #8 team in the West is 41-28. In other words, it’s going to be a close race for home-court advantage in the first round. To try and pick who has the best chance of playing on their home floor at the…
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Hornets rookie point guard Darren Collison has come on strong in the last two months, to say the least. Collison averaged 21.6 points per game and 8.3 assists per game during the month of February, and is currently averaging 16.1 points per game and 11.4 assists per game in March. Unfortunately for him, Collison probably…
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Yes, the midrange game is dying. This much is known. However, there’s also a reason why the midrange game is dying. As players get more athletic and comfortable with the three-point shot, the midrange game becomes a worse and worse option. According to Hoopdata.com, shots taken from 10-23 feet are easily the least efficient shots…
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According to Nick Fridell of ESPN Chicago, Kirk Hinrich did not intend to bump a referee during an argument during the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Miami Heat on Friday. Hinrich received a one-game suspension for the incident, but here’s his side of the story: “I was following him. But, I feel like … I don’t know…
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According to the Associated Press, Phoenix Suns rookie Earl Clark has been sent down to the D-League. Clark was the 14th overall pick in last year’s draft, but hasn’t gotten off to a particularly quick start in the NBA, averaging 2.7 points per game on 35.5% shooting from the field. Clark has appeared in 45…
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Some NBA teams like to push the ball and get out on the break. Others prefer to slow it down and run their offense in the half court. Transition offense is one of the things that establishes the identity of an NBA team, and most fans know which teams are deadly in an up-tempo game…
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Portland Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby had a strange stat line in last night’s game against the Golden State Warriors. Camby was able to dominate the undersized Warriors on the boards, finishing the game with 17 rebounds. However, Camby bricked both of his jump shots in the game and had trouble finishing at the rim,…
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Of all the teams poised to make a run at a top free agent in the summer of 2010, none have a young star like Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. If the Nets manage to land the first overall pick and John Wall, there may be some debate, but even if that happens Rose has…
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Kevin Durant hasn’t racked up the assists so far in his NBA career, but he helps his teammates out in other ways. In this clip from a season-ticket holder event in Oklahoma City, it is clear that Durant has the power to bless the ball with his powers and make it go in when somebody…
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After the first month of the season, onetime international man of mystery Brandon Jennings appeared to have the rookie of the year award absolutely locked up. Jennings was raining slingshot threes in from everywhere on the court, getting wherever he wanted with his dribble, and proving that he had the passing acumen to run the…
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UPDATE 4:01 pm: This experiment is over: According to the twitter account of Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area (and you should believe everything you read on twitter) Monta Ellis participated in shoot around and is a go for tonight against the Trail Blazers. 2:25 pm: When Monta Ellis went down with an injury after…
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Sometimes you just can’t make this stuff up. Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times has written a profile of new Clippers general manager Neil Olshey, and it shows how the truth can definitely be stranger than fiction. Like a lot of people, Olshey was an actor in New York who moved to Los Angeles…
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According to TMZ Sports, Shaquille O’Neal has reached a divorce settlement with his estranged wife Shaunie. From the article: “Shaunie’s mega-lawyer, Sorrell Trope, tells TMZ Shaq and Shaunie have reached agreement on all terms of the divorce, including property, custody and support. Under the agreement, the Florida courts will have jurisdiction to officially divorce the…
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Video: Grizzlies ready for 'running' Spurs
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Video: Durant won't 'compromise himself' like other stars
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Video: Knicks avoid elimination
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Video: Heat finish off Bulls, James 'has no energy left'
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Video: Health woes make Heat vulnerable
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Video: Good news for Sacramento, Kings stay
