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Bill Simmons' Modest Literary Offering

Posted Aug 28th 2008 3:37PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch

ESPN scribe Bill Simmons has taken much of the summer off to work on his NBA-focused book. While a huge firebrand for all sports fans, his NBA stuff has been mostly well-received over the years. He clearly loves the game (he has Clippers season tickets, for self-mutilation's sake) and has some good insight.

That said: the title of his tome might be a little ... presumptuous.

Oh, I hope that's a working title. (He's got plenty of time to change it. May '09? In the middle of the second round of the playoffs?)

For volumes which don't purport to be the greatest ever (but might have a better shot than Simmons' effort), might I suggest Free Darko Presents ... The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats, and Stars in Today's Game or Men with Balls: The Professional Athlete's Handbook?

[Via KOGOD's Reader shares. Seen also at Deadspin.]

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Celtics Roll the Dice on Darius Miles

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 3:05PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Trail Blazers, Eastern, Western

The Boston Celtics signed Darius Miles to a non-guaranteed contract today, a mere 860 days since he last appeared in an NBA game. Does this make him officially relevant again? Not yet -- he still has to survive training camp cuts. From the Boston Globe:

"He's coming to training camp and he's going to try to prove that he can make the team," said Celtics general manager Danny Ainge. "He has come in for a couple of workouts. He'll try to make the team somehow."

That's hardly a ringing endorsement, but as Henry Abbott notes, the fact that they gave him a non-guaranteed contract rather than a simple training camp invitation suggests Miles can still play. We'll have to wait and see in the exhibition season if that's really the case.

Even if he makes the team, though, he'll have to sit out the first 10 games for apparently testing positive for Phentermine, an appettite suppressant, at some point over the last two years. Phentermine is a controlled substance, which makes it illegal to possess without a prescription, and is banned by the NBA's drug policy, which Lindsey Hunter found out the hard way in May 2007.

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NBA Gives Best Christmas Present Ever: Quintuple Header

Posted Aug 6th 2008 2:10PM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hornets, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Spurs, Suns, Trail Blazers, Wizards, Eastern, Western, NBA Media Watch

In a move that is both awesome for NBA fans and terrible for NBA fans with families, the NBA has scheduled a quintuple header for Christmas Day. That's right, five games. Oh, so they probably overlap, right? Nope. There's basketball from 12PM EST till approximately 1AM EST. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Starting you off on the long road to divorce and estrangement from your family is New Orleans at Orlando at noon. So after opening presents, enjoying your Christmas morning coffee, and inevitably calling your sister to ask why she hated you enough to buy your kid that obnoxious talking Monk doll or plotting to return the sweater that your grandmother got you for an iPod charger, you can sit back, relax, and watch Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard beat the crap out of each other.

Then the blood rivalry resumes with San Antonio traveling to Phoenix at 2:30PM EST for what should be a warm and happy holiday greeting between the two teams as Amare Stoudemire tries to go Silent Night, Deadly Night on the team that's bounced him from the playoffs two years in a row, while Bruce Bowen attempts to give Steve Nash the gift he's never wanted, two severed Achilles' and a partridge in a pear tree.

Continue Reading NBA Gives Best Christmas Present Ever: Quintuple Header

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PJ Brown and Dr. J Talk Basketball

Posted Jul 28th 2008 4:00PM by Elie (author feed)
Filed under: 76ers, Celtics, Spurs, NBA Videos

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded NBA Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

In this exclusive video we talk to NBA Champion PJ Brown about his 15-year career in the NBA. Among other things PJ tells us the player he most admires is Hall of Famer Julius Erving. Around 1:05 into the video we catch up with Dr. J himself and ask him which NBA team he would want to play for these days -- his answer may surprise you.

AOL Video link.Youtube link.

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After One Crazy Summer of NBA Free Agency, Vegas Shifts Their NBA Title Odds

Posted Jul 28th 2008 12:13AM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Lakers, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Wizards

Every summer, teams do everything they can to give their teams the best chance to win an NBA championship. Sometimes that means a big free agent signing, other times a cap-clearing move to set up future success. Sometimes teams are patient and let their assets develop.

Through it all, Vegas watches. And judges.

Immediately after the end of the NBA season, betting sites popped out their odds for winning the 2009 title, which we told you about before.

Since then we've had Elton Brand go east, Baron Davis go south, Josh Childress head to Greece, and the Cavs do absolutely nothing of note. As a result, Raptors blog Cuzoogle clues us into at least one sports book making significant movement on their lines.

The highlights?

The Sixers moved up considerably (+4000 from +6000) after acquiring Mr. Brand. The Heat move up a bit (+3000 from +4000) since, you know, they're not a MASH unit anymore, hopefully. And the Wizards move up (+4000 from +6000), despite essentially returning the same squad as last year.

On the downer side? Well, two you can probably guess, both the Clippers and Warriors' odds get worse. Cleveland drops as well, since they haven't really done much. The Hawks go from a longshot to a longer shot. The Blazers' odds have also dropped, strangely. The only conclusion I can reach is that of a hesitance by handicappers regarding the hype about the improvement the young Blazers will take in their first season with Greg Oden.

The Lakers and Celtics remain the favorites, though, at 3-1. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

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James Posey Leaves Celtics After Finding His Fourth Year in New Orleans

Posted Jul 16th 2008 5:30PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Hornets, Eastern, Western

James Posey wanted to stay in Boston, but in the end he wanted to get paid even more: he signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Hornets earlier today. From Marc Spears of the Boston Globe:

"We liked James and we wanted him back," Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said. "He got a good deal in New Orleans. We were unwilling to go four years."

By choosing N'awlins over Beantown, Posey will get more than one extra year of the MLE; as I mentioned yesterday, he'll also get a chance to compete for a starting job.

Posey is a natural small forward but can defend most of the league's two-guards, and if Byron Scott decides he wants to instill a bit more defensive grit to the starting lineup, Posey could supplant Morris Peterson, the incumbent starter who signed a four-year deal of his own last summer. Mo-Pete has been more consistent from long range over his career, but Posey has closed the gap in that regard, as well.

It'll be interesting to see how exactly the Celtics replace Posey, who was undeniably one of their most important reserves this past season. The number of viable free agent swingmen has been shrinking almost daily: James Jones has signed with the Heat, Jarvis Hayes with the Nets, and Carlos Delfino just defected for Moscow. The most likely candidates left on the market would require a minor miracle (Josh Childress) or a big leap of faith (CJ Miles).

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James Posey Wants to Stay in Boston

Posted Jul 15th 2008 1:30PM by Matt W. (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Hornets, Eastern, Western, NBA Rumors

It's a good thing that James Posey is letting his agent handle negotiations with the Celtics. As an unrestricted free agent, Posey has received interest from all over the league, but he made it clear that he's still holding out hope to stick with the Celtics. From the Boston Globe:

"That's my No. 1 choice," said Posey. "I've stressed that to the organization and to everybody. At the same time, I'm still waiting. So we'll see what's going to happen."

We've known for a while that Boston's offer wasn't up to par, and now we know the details: Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe revealed that the C's are apparently offering the full MLE for only two years, while Posey is hoping to receive the full MLE for at least four seasons. So far no other team hasn't stepped up to meet his demands, though the Hornets have been talking with his agent since the first day they've been allowed.

Continue Reading James Posey Wants to Stay in Boston

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Psych! Tyronn Lue Skips Out on the Heat, Looking at Suns and Celtics

Posted Jul 15th 2008 12:44PM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Suns, Eastern, Western, NBA Rumors

So, I was totally kidding about Tyronn Lue understand his worth and probably signing with the Heat. Gotcha!

The next day, Lue skipped town, leaving Miami without undergoing the physical for the Heat. He's now reported to be in talks with the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. Which is kind of an upgrade, and sticks more with the "ring-chaser" reputation he's been building.

According to the Arizona Republic, Lue thinks Phoenix is his landing spot, saying "I think we're going to get it done in Phoenix." Lue's been courted by friend Shaquille O'Neal, but is also getting significant interest from the Boston Celtics and good friend Kevin Garnett.

Lue's obviously hunting for the best situation that can bring him a championship at age 31. Apparently he sees that as Phoenix. Glad someone still does.

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Sam Cassell Has Added 'Confirmed Celebrity Judge of Pole Dancing Contest' to His Resume

Posted Jul 12th 2008 1:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, Eastern, NBA Gossip

The debate on the legitimacy of pole dancing will likely rage on for years. Is it real exercise? Is it an acceptable avenue of employment? (I say "yes" and "of course".) But tomorrow, starting at 5 pm at the Element in Hollywood, we'll at least know who the world's best pole dancer is, after the the First Annual Pole Star Invitational.

And luckily for all of us, Sam Cassell will supposedly be there to judge.

1^st Annual Pole Dancing Competition, POLESTAR Invitational is presented by X-polesitions and film/TV casting director Leah Daniels-Butler.

Special appearance by Platinum R&B artist RayJ. Hosted by Mike "Boogie" Malin and xxx star Ashley Fires. MC actor Faizon Love. Confirmed Celebrity judges: NBA Star Sam Cassell, Cassie Walton, XXX Star Amber Rayne, comedian Chris Spencer. Other celebrity guests / VIP expected.

See, that's why Cassell is perfect. An event like this begs for a true, veteran judge of talent capable of helping to "find the ultimate pole dancing champion who best embodies the spirit of pole dance". And Sam I Am embodies all of that.

Cassell will be required to indentify "areas of excellence in strength, flexibility and performance in those people that have a real flair for the art of pole dancing and performance". It's with his help and expertise that one day, we'll talk about "Pole Dancing" right next to the "Virginia Reel" when discussing the agenda on our children's cotillion classes.

Via SBB

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Paul Pierce Finally Got That MRI

Posted Jul 12th 2008 9:44AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Celtics, NBA Injuries

A month after sending chills through the NBA by crumpling to the ground in Game 1 of The Finals, Paul Pierce finally had an MRI done on his much-discussed knee. And things look just fine.

"It's what we thought all along," Danny Ainge said. "He had a sprained MCL and a bone bruise, and he'll be fine."

Pierce reported this week that he had some lingering soreness, prompting him to get the MRI while he was in town to host his youth basketball camp.

Based on the sheer importance of Pierce's continued health for the Celtics to continue to be successful, I'm still flummoxed it took this long to get an MRI on that thing. It's one thing to avoid verdicts in the middle of a championship series. But there's been roughly three weeks to get it looked at. Has The Truth been celebrating that entire time?

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