The current top-five players in the NBA according to RealGM's FIC, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, were all on Team USA's 2008 Gold Medal team. How does the rest of the NBA rank?
Monta Ellis is still at least a full month away from his return to the court for the Warriors, but he recently called RealGM with the full story behind his ankle injury.
Just three installments remain in the series, with this chapter housing names like Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, and Carmelo Anthony. It was incredibly hard to leave off a number of players, and I’m sure after reading you’ll see exactly whom I decided skip over this time around.
Born within six months of each other in opposite corners of the world, two seven footers who are finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame this fall are two of the best ever to play the center position.
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by Andrew Perna
Did you know that there is nothing like October baseball?
Jermaine O’Neal claims that he’s finding his way with the Raptors in Toronto. He failed Sam Mitchell’s infamous free throw drill this weekend, leading to a number of sprints, but he appears to be gelling with his new teammates, nonetheless.
Mavericks' Coach Rick Carlisle plans to turn the team’s three-point shooters loose often this season. It’s not like Carlisle to allow his players to be let ‘loose’ on offense, but perhaps a year off and a roster full of talent has changed Rick’s established ways.
Lamar Odom’s salary has apparently been misreported as $14.1 million for the season. He will make $11.4 million in 2008-09, while his cap number is, in fact, $14.1 mil. Odom received a lump sum of cash as part of a trade kicker when the Heat dealt him to the Lakers, and it was spread over the life of his contract even though he was paid upfront.
The Phillies advanced to the NLCS on Sunday after defeating the Brewers in a swift four-game series. I like how quickly these divisional series go by, something David Stern and the NBA should have considered when they made their first round a two-week affair.
The Cubs 100-year World Series drought will continue after the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep on Saturday night. I feel badly for Chicagoans, especially since the Cubbies appeared to be favorites in the NL heading into postseason baseball. That makes it sting even more.
Retirement appears to be a possibility for Jim Edmonds after his season ended with the Cubs this weekend. The centerfielder is getting older, he’ll be 39, and has never been the healthiest player in Major League Baseball.
Mets' Manager Jerry Manuel, who received an extension over the weekend, won’t tolerate selfishness on the team next season. Manuel has a point, but some mental toughness and bullpen help would suit the Mets just fine, as well.
Bud Selig doesn’t want MLB owners to get ‘cocky’ with their ticket pricing as the United States economy continues to struggle despite a federal bailout. You know that clubs like the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox are going to continue to raise prices without a problem, but smaller market teams like the Twins, Royals, and Rays might have to be more careful.
Troy Aikman believes that a quarterback change is sometimes needed, hinting that the Patriots might need to replace Matt Cassel with rookie Kevin O’Connell. Cassel struggled against San Francisco at times on Sunday, but he showed that he does possess a strong arm. New Englanders would like to see more plays like the 66-yard touchdown connection between Cassel and Randy Moss.
Broncos' Coach Mike Shanahan has called the legal and personal issues of Travis Henry a ‘shame’. The former Denver running back, who was released back in June, was arrested following an alleged cocaine deal last week. It is a ‘shame’, but Henry was certainly given the opportunity, in the form of a 5-year, $22.5 million deal, by the team last season.
The Titans released Chris Simms on Saturday prior to their game against the Ravens but could sign him as soon as Monday. Tennessee needed another punter with Craig Hentrich hurting, and Simms was the only player Jeff Fisher felt he could cut. Hentrich ended up punting four times while Simms watched from home.
