Video: Tim Duncan Goes Old School On “Birdman” Andersen

My Denver Nuggets won a close, hard fought battle Sunday night in San Antonio. There were plenty of highlighting plays and numerous dunks. But the one that stuck out the most came from the old man, Tim Duncan. With Chris “Birdman” Andersen guarding him from about 18 ft. out, Timmy decides to cut right but ultimately knocks Bird in the face with the ball and causes him to stumble a bit as he goes to block the ball, and the rest is history .. Damn!

The More Rajon Rondo Is Doubted, The Better He Is

It might look like it is, but it’s certainly not easy being a point guard for three future Hall of Fame players. Ask Rajon Rondo. The 26-year-old  had the game of his life on Sunday against the Knicks in Boston. With a 115-111 OT win behind an historical performance, Rondo’s ending stat line looked like this: 18 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds.

Think about that – That’s your point guard putting up Oscar Robertson-like numbers, despite being the headline of most trade rumors for much of the season and dealing with nagging ticky-tack injuries. Double-R’s been in the league 6 years now and has a handful of accolades in his young career (NBA champion, 3x NBA All-Star, 2x All-Defensive First Team and All-Defensive Second Team); yet, Rondo remains of the most head scratching figures in the league, along with one of the most overrated according to fans and a handful of media personnel.

How can a kid who’s a walking triple-double and a Top 5 point guard in the league be overrated? Well, despite his averaging of 14.9 points (47 percent from the floor) and 10.5 assists per game this year, Rondo’s moodiness is what hurts him and keeps him out of most “The best point guard in the league” conversations. His Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde personality even has Celtics management wondering if this is the guy they can build their future around once Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett — and possibly head coach Doc Rivers — are gone.

Could he put up those kind of numbers if he was on a team like, let’s say, Charlotte?

If you asked me that question two years ago, I’d probably say no. But now? Absolutely. There’s no doubt in my mind. He’s just that good. He understands the game and the way it’s played and doesn’t rush. He’ll wait for his guys to get where they need to be on the court before he makes any kind of decision. He makes sure that his teammates have the best possible shot at producing on the court. If anything, at this point in his career, his game is being slowed down by the aging Big 3.

There’s no question he has the ability to be the guy that runs around the court trying to setup teammates (i.e. Steve Nash), but with his speed and vision, he’d certainly thrive in an up-tempo offense (Imagine if he was dealt to Oklahoma City in exchange for Russell Westbrook).

Rondo brings a rare, unique skill set to the table and does things other players can only dream of. He’s in a class of his own when it comes to the way he stretches his body and bends around opposing players while in mid-air (Some believe he’s from Moron Mountain). His speed with the ball and ability to stop on a dime are qualities that aren’t taught in the gym. That’s God-given. His court vision and knowing where his teammate will be before he gets there is the best in the league. Hands down. No one, not even Deron Williams or Chris Paul, is a better passer than Rondo. And just to pad the stats a little bit more, his basketball IQ is through the roof.

Someone with those kinds of abilities should be far, far away from overrated conversations, and should not be questioned on whether or not he’s a player you can build around. Right now, Rondo’s only competition is himself. There’s no reason he should think he knows more than his coach — who was a former point guard in the NBA — and players who have nearly a decade of experience over him. Those are the kind of people most players would be dying to get advice from or be taken under their wing. Rajon needs to look in the mirror and realize what he has around him because they’re only people who want him to succeed, who want him to become the best he possibly can be.

When Garnett first came to Boston, the Big 3, along with Doc Rivers, doubted Rondo’s ability on whether he could lead this team to an NBA championship. He was the right phone call away from being dealt but he showed that he was more than capable to lead an NBA offense to the Promise Land. It’s like KG said: “He’s a “I’ll show you” type of player.” Which means it’s almost as if Rondo needs to hear something negative about him in order for him to go out and perform as if he were an untouchable player. And because of that, he’ll forever have the wonders and doubts of others floating over his head until he learns how to perform like that on a nightly basis.

In his defense, he’s only 26. Practically a kid in the game that’s still learning to color inside the lines. Consistency is the most important word in basketball. And if Rondo wants to retire in Boston and lead another young Celtics team to a title somewhere in the future, he’ll need to throw ego and all aside in order to understand that whatever team he’s on needs him at his best. Always.

Nothing is given in this world, only taken.

And for Rondo’s sake, I hope he fights hard as hell to keep what’s his: The keys to run Boston.

Commercial: Powerade – The Dance #MarchMadness

It’s the underdog vs the world. #PowerThrough.

By the way, you might recognize a face or two in this commercial…

Video: Deron Williams’s 57-point Game Vs. Charlotte

Nowadays when folks mention the top point guards in the league, the most immediate names that pop up are Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. But what about that No. 8 in New Jersey? You know, Deron Williams (who I believe is still a Top 3 point guard in the game). Yes, he’s no longer in Utah putting up highlights and getting TV burn. But he’s certainly making sure that we don’t forget who is he and what he’s capable of doing just because he’s under the gray cloud in Jersey. D-Will’s averaging a whopping 21.7 points per game this season (40.8% FG, 36.1% from 3s) and 8.3 assists. Just in case you missed the Sports Center highlights, Deron dropped 57 points against the Bobcats. I don’t care if it was against Charlotte, 57 is a lot of points to score against any team. But not when you make 21-of-21 of your free throws.

Video: Arizona-Commit Gabe York With The Dunk of The Year!

Holy sh*t!!!! That kid who got caught trying to jump with Gabe York is going to be having nightmares about this play for years! He might need to have an early retirement from the game of basketball. Arizona has always recruited skilled guards and Gabe York looks like he’ll be carrying on that tradition next year when he suits up for Coach Sean Miller. Hit the jump for some different angled videos.

Source – JerseyChaser

Read more

SNL: Blue Ivy Carter & Jeremy Lin Skits

Saturday Night Live stepped their game up last night. Check out these two funny skits on the country’s two biggest stories right now: Blue Ivy Carter and Linsanity.

MSG Commercial: Jeremy Lin Is The Cinderella Man

SEVEN, yes count them, SEVEN straight victories for the New York Knicks since the basketball savior The Cinderella Man has entered into their lives. The kid Jeremy Lin is official and he’s officially in the league to stay!

NBA’s Best Dunker?! LeBron James vs. Blake Griffin

Incase you’ve been under a rock these past few days – Blake Griffin MOZGOV’D Kendrick Perkins while LeBron James JUMPED OVER John Lucas III for the alley-oop. Both players are not human. Who’s the better dunker? And for all you dunk enthusiasts out there, enjoy 2 bonus dunks after the jump: LeBron posterizing Bill Walker and Andre Iguodala going off the glass to himself.

Read more

“What The F*ck Does That Mean, Kobe Bryant?” – Kanye West

Level 6 of the #KobeSystem – BEASTION

“Tonight Was A Bar Fight! A Bar Fight!” – Kevin Garnett

Classic post-game KG interview! In a span of 1 minute and 23 seconds, KG:

• referenced the game to a bar fight
• brought up Charles Barkley’s alcoholic past
• shouted out Ray Allen’s 7-12 lb. new born baby
• told Craig Sager he looked good tonight, dog