0 comments by Matt Zemek on 4/13/2016
On the night Kobe Bryant plays his last NBA game, keep in mind that Bill Russell engineered the best farewell of any especially great NBA player. It is an art, orchestrating the perfect NBA walk-off. Being able to create the perfect exit from an all-time career requires an exquisite sense of timing, but the attempt […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 2/12/2016
It is eternally true that human beings are biased. Yes, bias can be dealt with and restrained, but reining in that impulse is a lifelong process. It is normally the case that we will be biased in favor of events, people, organizations, and other entities which enhance the reputation of our own communities. As a […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 8/29/2015
Individual games are one thing, full series quite another. Matthew Dellavedova discovered this truth in the 2015 NBA Finals. He had a moment in Game 2. He enjoyed a magnificent Game 3. The full series, however, caught up with him and the rest of a shorthanded Cleveland Cavalier crew. Andre Iguodala, on the other hand, […]
1988: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls rests on the court during a game. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2001 NBAE Mandatory Credit: Mike Powelll/Allsport
0 comments by Joe Mags on 8/28/2015
We’ve been busy taking a look at the greatest championship and non-title teams, the best players at every position, and the greatest never to win a title — among other rankings — this summer. Today, I tackle the holy grail of basketball questions: Who are the greatest players to ever play the game? There’s no […]
PHILADELPHIA – APRIL 29: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after hitting a shot late in the game against the Detroit Pistons in Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Wachovia Center on April 29, 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
0 comments by Joe Mags on 8/27/2015
I wrote on Wednesday about the greatest non-title NBA teams of all-time, and Matt Zemek offered his take on what made the 1990s Utah Jazz so remarkable. Today, let’s discuss the best NBA players without a ring. Whether we’re talking about Gary Payton, John Stockton and Karl Malone, Reggie Miller or Charles Barkley, the Basketball Hall […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 8/26/2015
Almost. The word often speaks to excellence, but it ultimately weighs down the heart and the soul of any competitor. Spill your guts in a four-hour tennis match, gain match point, and almost win. Play the heavy favorite into overtime in an NFL playoff game… and almost pull off the upset. Take Michael Jordan to […]
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Assistant coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers is congratulated by former Laker champions James Worthy and Magic Johnson after receiving his 2009 NBA Championship ring before the season opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on October 27, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
0 comments by Joe Mags on 8/12/2015
Having one elite player on the floor is a seismic advantage when each team can only play five at one time. However, if a pair of superstars share the floor — Shaq and Kobe; Michael and Scottie; Kareem and Oscar — that team’s likelihood of winning the NBA championship skyrockets. And in the instances where teams have had […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
In our discussion of the best same-team player trios of all time, you’ll notice that only one of the five trios reached its zenith within a relatively short time frame. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were around long enough to win three titles, but not to build anything beyond that. The Bulls — […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 8/11/2015
Our “Best of the NBA Summer Tour” at Crossover Chronicles takes a brief detour from dueling top-5 lists. We narrow today’s discussion to A or B: Which NBA dynasty was — and is — better: The 1990s Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson, or the 1960s Boston Celtics of Bill Russell and Red […]
0 comments by Joe Mags on 8/10/2015
The 2014-’15 Golden State Warriors completed a historically relevant season in June — 67 wins, a 10.1 point differential (8th all time), and the second greatest home court advantage in NBA history. MVP Steph Curry completed a signature season, one that has unofficially confirmed he’s the greatest shooter ever. The Warriors were the best offensive and […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 8/6/2015
Our surveys of the greatest centers, power forwards, and small forwards in NBA history unavoidably left at least one player off the list who deserved better. An overcrowding of excellence rendered a top-5 list insufficient to some degree. Does the same dynamic remain in place for shooting guards? The answer — in this latest installment […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 6/13/2015
Best-of-seven becomes best-of-three for the NBA championship this Sunday evening in Oakland. The preliminaries are over: The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have probed, prodded and tested each other in four games and two cities. They’ve absorbed each other’s punches, though the Cavs have clearly thrown and landed many more of them. Now comes […]
0 comments by Jeff Garcia on 1/9/2015
They were Olympic teammates for the 1992 “Dream Team” and fought on the court for an NBA title. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were joined at the hip and were often seen joking around off the court, but things have changed since. Barkley, who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, called out MJ about how […]
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 19: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game with the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on December 19, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
0 comments by Robert Judin on 12/31/2014
As it slithers, slopes and slides, the black mamba locates and locks onto its prey with precision. Every move — carefully calculated — is in direct conjunction with the fleeting surroundings because the target is the only objective. But what happens after the fact? Once the black mamba catches up to its prey and devours […]
0 comments by Jeff Garcia on 7/25/2014
Now you can own a piece of Michael Jordan history as his 1997-98 contract is up for bidding. Jordan inked a 1-year, $33 million deal with the Bulls for the 1997-98 season. Historically, it was the last contract he would sign in the NBA. The contract is up for auction by Heritage Auctions and here is […]
