Sports Blog

After a nearly five month break in the action, the 2009-10 NBA season is finally upon us as the Boston Celtics head on the road to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first of four games tonight. A lot has happened across the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers took home the title last season, but one thing remains the same at the start of every season — all 30 teams start with the same record and have aspirations to be world champions.

And what better way to kick off the new season than with some fresh NBA gear and goodies. Whether you are looking to pick up a new jersey from a star that has changed teams (like Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, or Ben Gordon) or want to relive the season through an officially licensed NBA DVD, there are plenty of awesome NBA related items to check out.

Here are a few discounts from the NBA Store to help you get ready for the season:

While today may mark the start of a new season, there are still plenty of reasons to sport a Lakers’ championship t-shirt from last season. This “NBA Exclusive Collection Los Angeles Lakers “Got Rings?” T-Shirt proudly shows off the Lakers 15 championship titles and is currently on sale for $19.99.

Of all players that changed addresses this off-season, Shaq is literally the biggest. Some day he will end up in the hall of fame and be recognized as one of the best big men the game has ever seen, but this season all anybody will care about is whether or not he can help King James bring a title to Cleveland. Whether you are a fan of the Big Aristotle or the Cavs, make sure to grab his jersey while it is still on sale for $44.99.

One of the more memorable NBA stories of the summer was the induction of Michael Jordan into the basketball hall of fame. He is arguably the greatest player in NBA history and provided numerous breathtaking moments for fans throughout the years. Celebrate his greatness with the “NBA Ultimate Jordan: 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD” ( and see how one of the greatest of the past generation stacks up against players from the current one.

Shop for discount NBA gear at Smarter.com.

Some people are a little down on this years NBA playoffs and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.

I realize people are busy with school, work and American Idol, but this years playoff race has been absolutely amazing and the very definition of must see TV.  With so many different things competing for our precious attention, though, I have compiled a list of the top ten reasons why you should be catching the rest of the NBA playoffs:

1] If you grew up watching basketball in the ’80s and ’90s there is a good chance you have found yourself reminiscing while watching recent games.  The amount of hard fouls and seemingly genuine distaste between players has brought old school basketball back.  If only the NBA would stop fining/suspending the hell out everyone!

2] Jumping on the NBA bandwagon is the perfect excuse to go drinking with friends after work on a Tuesday night without feeling like an alcoholic.  Down a few Jäger bombs on an ordinary weeknight and you apparently have drinking problems.  Doing the same in conjunction with your team winning and you’re just celebrating like any good fan would.

3] There are a few bona fide superstars still alive in the playoffs and one of them is Kobe Bryant.  A staple of excellent play for the last decade, the still elite Bryant can’t last forever so you better get your fill while you can.  Plus, for you casual fans, there is always a lot of drama and intrigue surrounding the Lakers, so making the transition from day-time soap watcher to Lakers aficionado is a breeze.

4] Long time NBA watchers have had a lot to enjoy in this years playoffs.  For instance, anyone who watched Boston hoist up another banner last year has had two questions on their mind since the playoffs started this year: can the Celtics repeat and will Kevin Garnett go all Willis Reed on us if Boston goes deep into the playoffs?

5] While there has certainly been a number of blowouts thus far, there have also been some legendary overtime thrillers.  The Boston/Chicago series featured many nail-biting games and will be talked about amongst hoop-heads for years to come.  With a little luck both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will do the same.

6] Remember back in 2005 when the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons?  Not many people do because both teams were excellent on defense and struggled to score a lot of points.  This year is much more casual fan friendly because there have been a lot of fast paced, high scoring games.  Three teams still in the playoffs average at least 100 points per game, and all teams that have a chance to go to the conference finals average at least 94.

7] People who love to hear some solid trash talking are basking in the playoffs back and forth banter. Technical fouls have been dished out by the bushel as players try to get in each others heads. When an owner (Mark Cuban) gets into it with a player’s (Kenyon Martin) mom, you know the trash talking is top notch.

8] If the last decade belonged in part to Kobe Bryant, the next one will have its lion’s share held by Lebron James.  Voted this years regular season MVP, James somehow continues to get better despite already being one of the best players in the league.  In other words, he is reason enough to watch this years playoffs.

9] Most TV series are coming to an end, and while we will all miss our favorite shows (go Scrubs!), the playoffs can certainly help fill the void. There is plenty of action, drama, suspense and comedy (both intentional and unintentional) to help hold you over until fall.

10] The last reason is by far the most obvious: basketball is awesome.  Seeing some of the best athletes in the world go at it in one of the best sports to watch on TV is a real treat.  I defy you to not get excited when James throws down a monster dunk or when Dwight Howard swats a ball into the third row.

Take it from someone who watches a lot of basketball — it’s not possible.

Image Source: therundown.tv

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for the NBA apparel and memorabilia you need to support your favorite team.

For the first time since Tim Duncan did it in the 2001-02 NBA season, a former rookie of the year took down NBA Most Valuable Players honors. That former ROY is Lebron James and he accepted the award yesterday from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.

Unlike the MVP race of the past few years, this years award went through little scrutiny.  Sure there were a few dissenters who favored Dwayne Wade (who received seven first place votes and finished third in voting) or Kobe Bryant (who finished second in voting and received two first place votes), but the most deserving player was clearly King James.

Here are ten reasons why James deserved to win this years MVP trophy:

1) The Cleveland Cavaliers 66-16 record was good for the number one seed in the east and home court advantage in the NBA finals should they get that far.  MVP voters put a lot of weight into team success and no team had greater regular season success than the Cavs.

2) At 39-2 the Cavs finished just one game short of the ‘86 Celtics all time best home court record (Cavs final lost was in the last game of season and they rested their starters).  Another team accomplishment, but James deserves the lion’s share of the kudos.

3) Unlike other top scorers in the league (Joe Johnson I’m looking at you) James is a two-way player.  While defense is hard to quantify in statistics, James did finish second in defensive player of the year honors.  He can guard nearly any player on the court and frequently slowed down opposing teams best weapons.

4) James finished second in the league in points per game with 28.4 and did it shooting a very respectable .489 from the field.  His mid-range game continues to improve and no one is better at finishing around the basket than Lebron.

5) Any player that knows how to drive is going to get his share of free throws.  James did just that finishing second in the league in free throws made per game with an impressive 7.3.  Add in his improved free throw percentage (78% this year, 71% last year) and James helped his team with a lot of easy points from the charity stripe.

6) James is also very proficient around the glass.  His 7.8 rebounds per game is good for second in the NBA among non power forwards and centers and is yet another testament to his versatility.

7) As if the shooting, rebounding and defense weren’t enough James also finished ninth in the NBA in assists and second among non point guards with 7.2 a game.  While it would be nearly impossible for him to average a triple double for a season, James is definitely the player most capable of accomplishing it.

Although he isn’t among the league leaders in blocks, he is responsible for popularizing the term come from behind blocks.  Anyone who saw him break up Jason Richardson’s 360 dunk attempt can certainly attest to that, and nothing jacks up a team like a monster block.

9) Another aspect of the game that is hard to quantify is team chemistry.  You could argue all day about how important it is to winning (very), but there is no question the Cavs have it in spades.  From their unique hand shakes to scripted celebrations, they genuinely seem to like each other and James is largely responsible.

10) According to stats from 82games.com, James has a better shooting percentage in the clutch (4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points) than either Wade or Bryant, and it’s not even that close: James, .556; Wade, .470; Bryant, .457.

Image Source: edeporte.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Lebron James memorabilia.

If you have been watching the NBA playoffs you probably feel like the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are destined to meet in the finals.  The reason so many people feel this way is simple — it is the only logical conclusion based on everything that has happened from the beginning of the season to now.  Well, that and the fact that it is David Stern’s dream scenario (kidding … sort of).

One thing that may be less clear, however, is what team is going to prevail.  So for all of you who are unsure about who is going to win it all, here are 10 reasons why the Lakers will be hoisting up another championship banner into the rafters.

1.  Revenge factor:  It is becoming increasingly unlikely that they will see the Boston Celtics should they make the finals, but avenging last years embarrassing game six performance is surely on the mind of everyone in the organization.  There is no way they let what happened then (or 2004 for that matter) happen again.

2.  Kobe Bryant:  Lest we forget amid the flurry of props for Lebron James and Dwayne Wade that Bryant is arguably still the best player in the game and certainly one of its best finishers.  A player of his stature, someone who is already in the top 20 all time and might retire in the top 10, can accomplish a lot on will power alone.

3.  Phil Jackson:  Some people refuse to give Jackson credit because all of his titles have come with either Bryant or Michael Jordan at the helm.  I am not one of those people. Jackson is a calming influence with championship experience and that will come into play during the Lakers run to the finals.

4.  Lock-down defender:  To get through the gantlet of quality players in the playoffs you need someone who can play shut down defense.  The Lakes have Trevor Ariza and he is a flat out beast.  He can guard multiple positions, run the break and knock down the three point shot.

5.  Weaker west:  This is the year the almighty Western Conference finally took a step back.  It still took a better record to get into the playoffs than it did in the east, but no one can argue it is as strong as it was last year.  Even traditional arch nemesis San Antonio is playing with a hurt Tim Duncun and without Manu Ginobli.

6.  Twin towers:  Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are one of the better front court combinations since Duncan/David Robinson won it all in 1999 (they did again in 2003 but Robinson had declined by then).  Bynum is coming off an injury, but if the two start clicking they can guard any front line in the NBA.

7.  Variety of styles:  The Lakers offense can play in half court sets or push it up-tempo.  Bryant and Derek Fisher execute Jackson’s heralded triangle offense to near perfection, making the Lakers the third highest scoring team in the regular season.  No matter who they play the Lakers will put plenty of points on the board.

8.  Team depth:  Part of what makes the Lakers so tough is the minimal drop off between the first and second units.  Their backup guards (Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown) and big men (Lamar Odom, Josh Powell and Luke Walton) are very capable and could start on some teams.

9.  Cavaliers match-up:  Assuming both teams make it the Lakers are best equipped to handle King James.  No one player can guard James, but a combination of Ariza’s quickness, Odom’s length, and Bryant’s all-around defensive efficiency could slow him down better than any other team.

10.  Hunger:  A lot of people in the franchise have something to prove despite the fact that none of them would admit it.  Bryant wants to win a title without Shaq.  Jackson wants to surpass Red Auerbach for all-time championships as a coach.  Gasol needs to prove his toughness.  Odom needs to show he can play a variety of roles in a contract year.  The list goes on and on.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through a variety of Los Angeles Lakers’ gear.

Image Source: ftaconcept.com

Fans of basketball may be locked in on the NBA playoffs, but for USA Basketball Director Jerry Colangelo, it is never too early to start thinking about the next Olympics. Word on the street is he plans for New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni to take over Team USA if Mike Krzyzewski decides not to come back.

Coach K, who guided the US to gold in Beijing last year after the 2004 squad brought home the bronze, has said his status as coach for the next Olympics is yet to be determined and that he would be comfortable coming back in a different role. Krzyzewski has publicly stated before that while he loved his experience on the international stage, it did take a lot out of him.

The US players thrived under the 62-year-old Krzyzewki, but the transition to D’Antoni would probably be smooth considering he served as an assistant during the team’s time in China and is widely regarded as a players coach. He also has strong relationships with many of the players that would be in contention for one of the 12 final roster spots, such as 2008 gold medalists Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.

D’Antoni seems to be a great fit — the players love him and he has coached overseas before — but I remain skeptical over the potential move. For one, I wonder how well his “seven seconds or less offense” would work at the Olympic level. I’m also curious how well he can command the respect of the NBA’s best players. It is one thing for a player to like a coach. It is something else for a player to accept (and embrace) criticism from one. Coaching a team with that much talent is as much about managing egos and touches as it is drawing up X’s and O’s.

What do you think? Do you want coach K to return? If he doesn’t, who would you like to see roaming the sidelines?

Photo Source.

Cleveland Cavaliers Gear  Lebron James Jerseys

Finally, Lebron James and the rest of the Cavaliers team can stop complaining and “making up words” to show their disappointment. Mo Williams is finally going to the All-Star game. He is going to take the place of the injured Chris Bosh.

There’s no greater sign of love, then when you’re not chosen last. But when you’re chosen only after 2 other people literally couldn’t run the full length of the court one time.

Hey, I’m still sure he’s happy to be there.

That is all. Carry on.

Photo Source.

The NBA just released the top selling jerseys for 2008-09 season.  And guess who’s #1?   Yes, it’s Kobe!  Kobe returned to his rightful place at the top of the list replacing Kevin Garnett, who was tops in 2008, of the champion Boston Celtics. I guess winning the MVP, leading the Lakers to the NBA finals, and leading Team USA to gold makes you pretty popular.  Also making the list was his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Pau Gasol coming in at #6. Here’s the rest of the top 10:

1.) Kobe Bryant
2.) Kevin Garnett
3.) LeBron James
4.) Chris Paul
5.) Allen Iverson
6.) Pau Gasol
7.) Paul Pierce
8.) Dwyane Wade
9.) Derrick Rose
10.) Nate Robinson

*this is based off the start of the 2008-09 season till January

The only player I’m surprised is not in there is Dwight Howard.  I mean, didn’t he just receive the most votes for this year’s All-Star Game? What do you think about the top 10?

“K.G., you may have won the NBA title! But my jersey is kind of a BIG DEAL!!”

Source: ESPN.com and NBA.com

 This week in sports blogs and news:

• Kenyon Martin’s new tattoo is… - The Sports Hernia 
• Buy artwork from professional athletes! - Sports by Brooks
• Patriots cheerleader fired for graffitti - NFL Juice
  
• Top 7: Worst Gold Glove Winners - Joe Sports Fan
• Brady Quinn’s debut spoiled in loss - The Big Lead
  
• Kendra Wilkinson gets engaged to Hank Baskett - Sports Crackle Pop
• New LeBron James State Farm commercial - Docksquad Sports
  
• Brandon Marshall planned a white glove/black panther TD celebration - Larry Brown Sports
  

YouTube - Watch 

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “Now that I’m at the top, now what!?”
• Basketball Commercial: LeBron James and Nicole Scherzinger Video
• Sports Fans Vote: Barack Obama and John McCain on MNF
• Fantasy Football: Week 9 Fantasy Stats
• Acrobatic Football Video: Lutzenkirchen’s Great Catch
• MTV Should Follow the Kids of Oaks Christian High
  

Basketball Equipment  NBA Shop  LeBron James Jerseys

This has to be, by far, the longest shoe commercial I have ever seen.

But, at least there was some eye-candy with the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger sharing the screen with LeBron James.

This is the first time I’ve seen the Nike commercial, advertising “After Six,” but if you have about four minutes to spare, check it out.

YouTube - Watch 

Source.

Photo Source.

This week in sports blogs and news:

• Let the Beijing Olympic Games begin! - CNN
• Top 7: Cards/Cubs Moments of the Decade - Joe Sports Fan
• Brett Favre didn’t want to go to the Jets? - Sports by Brooks
• The Headlines You Didn’t Read from Brett Favre’s Trade - The Sports Hernia
• Was Brett Favre Going to the Bucs? - Larry Brown Sports
  
• Kobe Would Take $50 million to Play in Italy - Boston.com
• Tom Brady Doesn’t Talk about Diapers - The Big Lead

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “They have to be staring at the award…Right?”
• Trouble Continues for Rampage Jackson
• Michael Jordan Says Kobe Would Not Even be a Contest
• Top Ten Things to Look Forward to this NFL Season
• LeBron James Price to Play in Europe: $50 Million a Year
• Packers Trade Brett Favre to the New York Jets

Photo Source.