Tag Archives: center

Shut-Up Old Man: Dwight Fires Back at Shaq

5 Oct

Shaquille O’Neal is jealous of all the attention that fellow inside the NBA commentator Charles Barkley gets and has decided steal the spotlight. O’Neal was asked who he thought were the best centers in the NBA, “I’m going to go with Robin Lopez and Andrew Bynum.” If you are wondering who the hell Robin Lopez is, he actually meant Brooklyn Net’s Brook Lopez. If that weren’t enough O’Neal went on to insult Los Angeles Laker Dwight Howard. “What we have now are centers that are going to the European style, which is a lot of pick-and-roll. Dwight Howard, who’s a pick-and-roll player, some people say he’s the best center in the league, but me being an old-school center.” 

I don’t know what O’Neal is smoking but I think we can all agree that Howard is the best center in the NBA. He averages 20.6 points per game, 14.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. Compare this to Lopez who averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds,.8 blocks. And Bynum who averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. The stats don’t lie Howard is the best center in the NBA. I’m not sure if Lopez would even make the top 10.

You can see why Howard would be offended by the comments. He responded by saying, “Shaq played the game and he is done. It’s time to move on. He hated the fact when he played that older guys were talking about him and how he played. Now he’s doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There’s no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. Sit back and relax. Your time is up.”

O’Neal is entitled to his own opinion but maybe he should do some research before talking. And at least get Lopez’s name correct.

-M

 

Dwight Howard Could Hit the Court Soon

1 Oct

It’s been a long time since Dwight Howard played basketball. In April the star center had back surgery and has been in recovery ever since. Already the Howard’s new home Los Angeles Lakers has ruled out him playing in the preseason opener on Oct. 7. But there are rumors now that Howard will be healed enough to play in the regular season opener on Oct. 30th. Although Lakers’ fans are anxious for Howard to start playing I think we all want him to be 100% better. An injury this season would not be a good thing.

Also Howard is now saying that he is excited to learn from Laker star Kobe Bryant. It was previously rumored that Howard “didn’t want play with Kobe, he wanted to be Kobe.” So I guess moving to LA has taught him humbleness?

-M

 

Nice Smile Bynum

16 Aug

Usually when one of the biggest teams in the NBA franchise dumps trades you for an even bigger star it would make you a little sad. Not Andrew Bynum. He was grinning ear to ear at his first press conference with the Philadelphia 76ers. Bynum looked happier than he has in a long time. It was obvious that Bynum did not care for the Los Angeles Lakers but he could at least face a few tears. Not only that but now Bynum is talking about extending with the 76ers. I guess he is really happy to be closer to his hometown of Princeton, NJ.

It’s fine Bynum, the Lakers will be totally over you once Dwight Howard hits the court.

-M

 

It’s a Four-Way With Dwight Howard

9 Aug

Just as I was giving up hope that the Los Angeles Lakers would land Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard trade talks have resumed. Of course it is a complicated four-way trade involving: the Lakers, Magic, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers. In this proposed deal the Lakers would get Howard and Nuggets’ forward Al Harrington. Than the 76ers would give up Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets. Then Andrew Bynum would go to the Magic 76ers. The Magic would get Laker Pau Gasol and Nugget Arron Affalo.

Now of course it seems weird that the Magic would take Gasol rather than Bynum. But Bynum would only stay with the Magic for one season so they would rather take Gasol as an asset for future trades. I would be  sad to see Gasol go but my happiness of dumping Bynum might heal the pain. Bynum has regularly said that he doesn’t care where he plays and his lack of loyalty to the Lakers makes it hard to like him.

-M

And You Thought No One Could Top LeBron

2 Jul

Just as LeBron James is going from NBA villain to NBA Hero it seems that Dwight Howard is taking his place. After much debate Howard had committed to the Orlando Magic for the 2012-2013 season. That was until he sat down with their new GM and asked to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. This actually worse than James’ situation with the Cleveland Cavaliers because at least his contract was up. Howard literally just told them he was staying another year. Not to mention the Magic just got rid of coach Stan Van Gundy in an attempt to appease him.

If I were the Magic I would have traded him when he first started bitching. It is impossible to make a team feel comfortable when their star player doesn’t really want to be there.

-M

 

Dwight Howard Can’t Commit

23 May

I thought we were done with this story. Remember like a month back when Dwight Howard was positioning himself to be the next LeBron James by abandoning the Orlando Magic. Then his mother intervened and he should stay with the Magic. Around the same time there were rumors that Howard wasn’t too happy with coach Stan Van Gundy. So the Magic fired Van Gundy to appease the star, although they won’t admit to that. Now despite all of this Howard is still considering a move. Did Howard’s mom change her mind? What gives?

The source who had this conversation with Howard says that he is considering the: Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers. So the field is wide open. If I were Laker Andrew Bynum I would be a little worried that I might be heading to Orlando soon.

-M

New! NBA Bracket

18 May

So as I preach all the time a true bracketer never stop bracketing. So I have updated my NBA Playoffs Bracket. As you can see my left side is looking pretty clean. I am still sticking with the Lakers to beat the Thunder. I realize that might not happen but I’m going out on limb. I originally hadn’t picked a overall winner but I have always felt it will be the Spurs.

I blame the craziness of the right side on injuries. Here’s the list so far of how injuries have messed with my bracket.

1. Chicago Bulls- They lost Derrick Rose in Game 1 of Round 1 against the 76ers. Then in Game 3 they lost  Joakim Noah so basically that sealed the deal.

2. Orlando Magic- I’m not sure why I thought the Magic could do this with Dwight Howard but I was obviously wrong. Howard never even made it to the post-season.

3. Miami Heat- Chris Bosh in Game 1 of Round 2 against the Pacers. I had hope that maybe they would pull this series off without him. It is obvious from Game 3 terrible loss that this is not the year for the Heat. It feels like Dwayne Wade is minutes away from being out due to injury too.

I have no excuse for picking the Hawks over the Celtics. In fact the Celtics have proved to me recently that I should never doubt them.

-M

Another Bull Down

5 May

I am really going to have to update my NBA Playoff Bracket. I had the Bulls going all the way. Now they have lost center Joakim Noah who rolled his left ankle in the third quarter of the game Friday night. The Chicago Bulls were already hurting from their loss of Derrick Rose and now they are even further in the whole. Noah is not going to be playing in Game 4. Once Noah left the game the 76ers rolled over the Bulls erasing their lead and eventually winning, 79-74. Right now the 76ers are winning the series, 2-1. The Bulls are going to need a miracle to come back from this.

-M

Dwight Howard Out For Now

14 Apr

The playoffs are just around the corner and the Orlando Magic is missing their star center Dwight Howard. Howard has already missed 5 of the last 7 games. Now he is saying that he is giving his back a two week break. He is suffering from a herniated disk, which usually takes at least a month to heal from, if not longer. I will be surprised if he makes it back for the playoffs. This definitely puts the Magic in a hole. And surely makes those who wanted to trade for Howard feel a little relieved that it didn’t go threw.

 

 

 

Who Needs Education?

6 Apr

After proving he couldn’t hack it in the academic world Syracuse sophomore Fab Melo has decided to enter the NBA. As many of you remember Melo screwed with your bracket after being banned from the NCAA Tournament over cheating on a test academic issues. It was the second time this season Melo had missed games based on academics. So I guess it was an obvious decision of his to enter the NBA. Melo’s stats are less than stellar for a 7 foot center he averages 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. What Melo does have is good blocking skills. He is a player that would have benefited from another year of college ball.

On another education related note the University of Connecticut was denied their appeal to waive academic requirements to allow them to play in the NCAA Tournament next year. I guess the NCAA is really putting their money where their mouths are on this whole smart jock campaign. UConn is lobbying to let them submit newer scores (averages of all team players) that show that their athletes have improved or that they have recruited very smart bench warmers. I finally understand that awkward short white kid you see on the bench that never plays . . . he does have purpose! Maybe the NCAA just wants to cram as much knowledge as possible in before these kids turn pro. How much can you learn in a year?

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