NBA Obsessed - NBA Basketball News

Shaun Livingston Signs with the Miami Heat

james — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:48:39 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Today we bring you guest blogger Marquis Chapman.

What’s up NBA Obsessed fans. My name is Marquis Chapman and it’s an honor to lend some of my opinions about the latest NBA news and headlines for NBA Obsessed. Writing about the NBA and its players is a hobby I picked up while in college. I hope to one day contribute articles for SLAM and DIME magazine or any other publication that represents the young NBA sports fan.

Livingston hopes to bounce back from this devastating knee injury and start fresh with the Heat

Free agent and former Los Angeles Clipper Shaun Livingston signed a two year deal with the Miami Heat on Friday. Coming off a devastating, and what most expected to be a career ending knee injury two seasons ago, Livingston is ready to compete for the Heat.

“I’m anxious to prove and show what I can do,” Livingston told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I feel like I have a lot to prove, not just from being healthy, but also performance-based. I feel like I can be a lead guard, with no disrespect to any of the guards down here.”
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Before suffering the infamous left knee injury that tore three ligaments and dislocated his knee cap, Livingston was emerging as a reliable young player with unlimited potential for the Los Angeles Clippers. The 6-7 point guard showed flashes of brilliance and a basketball I.Q. well beyond his years for someone who was drafted out of high school in 2004 as the No. 4 overall pick.

A healthy Shaun Livingston with a lot to prove to his naysayers could be a great addition for the Miami Heat. Livingston provides the Heat with something they’ve lacked for a while, a legitimate true point guard. His length and presence on the court is going to alleviate the constant pressure for Dwayne Wade to create for himself and others around him, and he could prove to be a big help to Shawn Marion by penetrating and dishing, giving the small forward some easy buckets.

While Livingston has been cleared to practice since Spring, and has participated in 5 on 5 scrimmages; playing an actual game will truly determine if he has fully recovered from the knee injury.

However, Livingston’s potential backcourt mate Dwayne Wade remains optimistic about the newly acquired point guard stating, ”I talked to everybody,” Wade said. “For the future of Miami, that’s a good start when you talk about point guard. It’s a great move. I’m really happy; excited to see our team continue to build for the future.”
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Photo source Newscom

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Tags: basketball, clippers, Dwyane Wade, free-agent, Miami Heat, nba, pat-riley, Portland Trailblazers, san-diego, Shaun Livingston

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Jamal Tinsley to the Nuggets

james — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:14:50 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

The latest, the greatest, the rumors we are all seeking. They are all right here.

It looks like Jamal Tinsley will be leaving the Indiana Pacers, since they loaded up on point guards this past spring. The most likely suitor is the Denver Nuggets.

The proposed deal would send point guard Chucky Atkins and center Steven Hunter to the Pacers. Both would have backup roles with the Pacers.

Atkins will make $3.2 million this season and $3.5 million next season, with $760,000 of it guaranteed. He is expected to be out until at least next month following right knee surgery last month. The 7-foot Hunter will make $3.9 million this season and $3.7 million next season. Tinsley will make $21.5 million over the next three seasons. The trade would benefit both teams. The Nuggets need a point guard, and the Pacers would save money, get two players with shorter contracts and, more important, end their relationship with Tinsley.
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Check out this YouTube of Jamal.

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Tags: basketball, chucky-atkins, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, jamal-tinsley, nba, steven-hunter, trade-rumors

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Rip Hamilton rips Flip

james — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:37:50 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Yeah, Rip rips Flip. Say that 10 times quickly. Heck, say ‘10 times quickly’ ten times quickly.

Enough with the quickly. Rip was unhappy last year in what should have been a very happy year.

“I have always been happy,” Hamilton said Wednesday. “I had a son (at the start of last season), which was one of the greatest times of my life. That was not a disappointment. Nothing off the court was a disappointment.”

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Instead of having a great year Rip was often out of the game mentally and emotionally. He became the mini-Rasheed Wallace, in terms of mood swings on the court. Too many Rasheeds is not good for the soup.

One thing my own coaching years in multiple sports (and the addition of being a father) has taught me is that young people want to have discipline. No they don’t want to be punished or spanked or benched. That is not what is being said here. What they want is an informed notion of how they should behave. It makes life easier. What they want is to know what is expected of them and how they can be their best. They need the accountability to be their best.

Coach Michael Curry agrees.

“Players like to be challenged, and they want discipline, even if they fight at times,” coach Michael Curry said.

“Rip was frustrated because he didn’t feel that everybody was being held accountable. Our goal as a coaching staff this year is to do a better job holding everybody accountable every day.”

Hamilton has been a happy camper thus far and is anxious to turn the page on last season.

“I don’t want to talk about (Saunders), either,” he said. “It’s a new season, and I am glad MC is the coach. You can’t look to the past. I am glad to move on and focus on the season ahead of us.”

Photo source Newscom

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Tags: basketball, Detroit Pistons, Flip Saunders, michael-curry, nba, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton
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Michael Curry - 7 out of 8 coaches advise using Michigan connections

james — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:13:42 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Michael Curry will try to right the Piston ship

The NBA is proud to bring a brand new coach to your area. They did it for 8 teams.

Think about that. 8 new coaches.

Ever heard of a brand new coach immediately winning it all? It has probably happened, but not to my knowledge.

Usually you just fired the last coach because the team stunk so bad he could not make them win.

So this year we bring you the 8 trying to make the magic happen.

Michael Curry, Pistons

Curry, 40, was an assistant to last year’s coach, Flip Saunders, who was fired. From 2000 to 2004, Curry was president of the National Basketball Players Association. He’s also a former NBA vice president for basketball operations and played for six teams in an 11-year career.
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Michael is lucky. He inherits a veteran team with a real honest to god chance to win it all. The team knows him. The GM, Joe Dumars, knows him. Heck, the hotdog vendor in section 133 knows him. Michael Curry was a defensive minded team oriented over achiever as a player. He even used to plan out bike trips and movies for when the players were on the road.

But can he coach? Well, he can as an assistant, but can he as the head coach?

Vinny Del Negro, Bulls

Del Negro, who has no coaching experience at any level, follows interim coach Jim Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles. Del Negro, 42, formerly was assistant general manager for the Phoenix Suns and played for five teams in a 12-year NBA career.

Scotty Skiles and Jim Boylan is a tough act to follow. Vinny has his hands full with that crew in Chicago. Skiles whipped and beat them to play defense and play as a team. Boylan found out they are lacking depth, size, speed, etc. Good Luck!

Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Club President Pat Riley named Spoelstra, a seven-year assistant, to succeed him. Spoelstra, 37, is the youngest coach in the league.

This guy just has the job on loan until Pat Riley sees a good enough team to take over. Sure doesn’t hurt to have Dwyane Wade and the Matrix auditioning for jobs.

Larry Brown, Charlotte Bobcats

Have witnessed Larry up front with my Pistons and he is an amazing coach and complicated man. He is always chasing after something that is missing in his life. Some think he is looking for his father that left him at young age, not literally, but figuratively.

Larry will put them in half court sets and make them play playoff style basketball. If teams listen, they win, but most young players do not want to play that way. Example: Chauncey Billups was close to a triple double one night and Larry pulled him and said “You don’t have a clue as to how to play point guard for me, do you?” Think about it.

Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks

This one will be fun to watch. The Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki were often shooting before crossing half court and now will be playing half court. Rick was the Piston coach before Larry and he alienated so many people that he had to be fired with a winning record. Chauncey Billups used to say they knew exactly what plays would be run in the last two minutes as Carlisle called all the plays. Rick also does not like to double on defense. Can Dirk defend?

Mike D’Antoni, New York Knicks

Mike has his hands full until the Knicks can clean house and find some D’antoni style players. He needs speed and outside shooting to go along with a pass first dribbling point guard, a la Steve Nash. Mike is a great coach and the players love his style. The ball gets shared and the pace is quick.

Can he play enough defense to win a title though?

Must be Michigan week in the NBA or something

Michael Curry, Detroit Pistons
Larry Brown, former Detroit Pistons coach
Rick Carlisle, former Detroit Pistons coach
Vinny Del Negro replaces Jim Boylan former assistant at Michigan State University
Before Jim Boylan was Scott Skiles former player at Michigan State University
Mike D’Antoni was brought in to replace Isiah Thomas former Detroit Piston
The D’Antoni wanted to trade Zach Randolph former player at Michigan State University
Terry Porter, former Detroit Pistons assistant coach
Scott Skiles, former player at Michigan State University
Scott will work for GM John Hammond and he worked under Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons.

Terry Porter, Phoenix Suns

A hustling guard as a player and an average coach at Milwaukee, Terry will have some talent to work with, but will drastically change the style for the Suns. Terry is a real believer in defense.

Scott Skiles, Milwaukee Bucks

Scott will have some hungry players in Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. Maybe not enough talent to win, but that has never been an issue with Scott. He just wants you to bring the desire.

Photo source Newscom

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Tags: basketball, Charlotte Bobcats, Chauncey Billups, Chicago Bulls, coach, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, dirk-nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, erik-spoelstra, Flip Saunders, joe-dumars, john-hammond, larry-brown, mark-d'antoni, matrix, Miami Heat, michael-curry, michigan, Milwaukee Bucks, nba, New York Knicks, pat-riley, Phoenix Suns, rick-carlisle, scott-skiles, Steve Nash, terry-porter, vinny-del-negro, Zach Randolph

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Tracy McGrady hurt again

james — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:23:07 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Tracy McGrady and Joe Smith playing the little known sport of basketball wrestling

Are the Rockets the most screwed up team in basketball or destined to win the championship?

Huh?

Yeah, you heard me, are they screwed up or going to be winners? Or maybe is it winners or whiners?

And now we get the news that T-Mac is hurt again, both the shoulder and the knee.

“My knee is about 75, 80 percent right now,” McGrady, 29, said. “It took longer than expected. I was expecting to recover 100 percent in four months, but e_SLps the doctor told me it would be six months or even more. My shoulder had, after surgery, kept bothering me. I had another MRI and discovered I have arthritis in there, so I have to have surgery again on my shoulder. That’s something I have to deal with again this season, but my knee should be ready by opening night (Oct. 29).”

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NBA Tracy McGrady factoid - What did T-Mac lead the team in last year? Assists. Surprised? So was your intrepid author.

So Tracy McGrady is going to play with nagging injuries all year and Yao Ming has missed tons of games (over 80) in the last 3 years and then you add Ron Artest to the mix?

So what does Tracy think of Ron Artest?

McGrady said after last season that the Rockets needed one more player to get over the hump. Hello, Ron Artest, whom McGrady described Monday as a godsend and a beast.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a while,” McGrady said. “I know I get criticized a lot for not leading my team out of the playoffs, but it’s hard. When you don’t have those pieces you need to elevate you to the next level, it’s hard. I don’t care how good a player is; it’s really hard.

“If you don’t have that, it’s tough. Now, I have that. We’ll see what happens.”

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This team should be loads of fun as they either self destruct or bring destruction on the other teams.

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Tags: basketball, Houston Rockets, Injuries, nba, ron-artest, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming

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Pistons Rodney Stuckey - in with the new

james — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:14:07 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Rodney Stuckey going to the hole

The Pistons have enjoyed phenomenal success through the recent years to the point that making the Conference NBA finals and not making the finals is seen as a major disappointment.

Heck, last year Joe Dumars even put the whole starting team up for fire sale, if anyone would trade for them.

But there is one guy that was ruled untouchable. That guy is 6′ 5″ Rodney Stuckey. Here is a point guard that can go to the hole at will. Here is a point guard that is brimming with confidence and can’t wait for the season to start. Here is a point guard… well you get the point guard point.

New coach Michael Curry has all the confidence in the world in Rodney Stuckey and vice versa.

Curry has indicated that he likes the scoring Stuckey and veteran big man Antonio McDyess could bring from the bench.

“When you have both of those guys anchoring your second unit, it allows your other role players to play their roles and not play outside of themselves,” Curry said.

Stuckey and Curry have formed a mutual admiration society — Stuckey thinks the new coach will fully exploit the talents of the team; Curry has indicated he will emphasize more running and more pressure defense, stuff that Stuckey wants to hear.

“He’s going to give us opportunity to showcase our talent, and when the young guys get out on the court, we are going to do what we do and go out there and play hard and play good defense and it’s going to lead us to victories,” Stuckey said.

source

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Tags: basketball, Chauncey Billups, joe-dumars, michael-curry, nba, nba-finals, playoffs, Rip Hamilton, rodney-stuckey

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Knicks still crazy after all these years

james — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:36:26 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Now if you think of the craziest thing the New York Knicks could do right now, what would it be?

No, dropping out of the NBA is not an option.

How about giving Stephon Marbury a chance to make the team? Yeah, that’s right, Stephon “bad press” Marbury is being given a chance to make the roster.

Stephon Marbury cannot believe the latest Knicks move

Let’s hear what the President Donnie Walsh had to say.

Walsh could be dragging this out to give himself a few more weeks to try to trade Marbury. Or he could be keeping Marbury around to prevent the point guard from making a smooth transition to a new destination (possibly Miami or Boston). Or he could be keeping him in case new point guard Chris Duhon doesn’t shine or gets hurt.

Walsh gave a clue he would still try to trade Marbury if things don’t work out with the Knicks.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Walsh said. “I can’t remember buying out a contract. I’d try to trade him. That isn’t good management if you have to do it.”

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You know, if you gave the Knicks a gun they would point it at a foot and miss, but the bullet would ricochet and blow off the foot anyway.

Stephon did not get along with his teammates or coaches. What are the Knicks thinking?

On whether his teammates like Marbury, Walsh said: “You might not like the guy but you can work with him.”

And what about Marbury’s pattern of battling coaches such as Larry Brown?

“There’s a history and pattern with Larry, too, and I love Larry,” Walsh said. “I’m not going to say I don’t like him because he got into a public argument with Larry.

Photo source Newscom

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Tags: basketball, chris-duhon, donnie-walsh, larry-brown, nba, New York Knicks, stephon-marbury

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Dwight Howard overrated

james — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:51:57 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Dwight Howard can’t even dunk the ball with Dirk Nowitzki holding on to him

Ouch! Ooooover rrrrraaaated. OOOOOoooover RRRRrrrrated.

Dwight Howard? Come on, what are you talking about?

Fantasy Hoops, my young man. Not real hoops. Hey, who wouldn’t want Dwight in Real Hoops? You know, like the NBA. He is spectacular. No, he is Superman.

Superman, (or should we call him Ironman because he has never missed a game in his entire career) averaged a mind-boggling 14.2 rebounds, 20.7 points (on 60% shooting), and 2.2 blocks per game last season. As a point of comparison, Shaq never averaged 14 boards a contest in a given season, and Timmy Duncan never averaged 13. In fact, since 1980, there have been only three other players to average over 14 rebounds and 20 PPG in the same season: Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Not bad a sign when you are keeping Hall-of-Fame Company as a 22-years-old.

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He does all of this in spite of still having few moves around the basket. What is he going to do if someone teaches him some moves?

But you said Dwight Howard is overrated?

You are not listening. Fantasy Hoops, Not NBA hoops.

In Fantasy Hoops there is very little relation to winning basketball. In fact, one of my favorite Fantasy Hoop players was Chris Weber early in his career. He would amass enormous stats, but win few games. Partly because he played little defense and partly because he played on bad teams.

So what is wrong with Dwight’s Fantasy Hoop game?

Well, you have to take into account a couple of his glaring deficiencies. He can’t shoot free throws, much like Shaq or Wilt Chamberlain. And at times he has stone hands and makes bad ball decisions.

The despicable free-throw percentage (he actually shot a lower percentage from the line {59%} than he did from the field), combined with the league-leading 11 attempts per game, is an anchor than will sink your team in roto-leagues. In addition, the turnovers are a killer.

So don’t waste a high pick on Dwight in your Fantasy Hoop draft.

Of course, Dwight Howard is not totally worthless, so if you can get him cheap, go for it.

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Tags: basketball, charles-barkley, Dwight Howard, fantasy-basketball, hakeem-alojuwon, moses-malone, nba, Olympics, Orlando Magic, Shaq, superman, wilt-chamberlain

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Boston Celtics still the kings of the East

james — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:46:43 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Kevin Garnett dreaming of a second NBA Championship

The Boston Celtics will come into the season as the odds on favorites and for a reason. They are loaded. Just having Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen gives you the early nod, but other players and a staunch defense were developed last year as well.

Before we go all gaga over the Celtics, keep in mind that LeBron James took them to 7 games, until his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers held him back. Also, don’t forget the Pistons with their young players starting to stretch their muscles. Orlando will also have some say with Dwight Howard. And lest we forget, the young Philadelphia team picked up Elton Brand.

Boston lost some key players too and it is always hard to come back after winning.

Will winning the title temper the fire and selflessness they displayed last year? How will they compensate for the loss of reserves James Posey and P.J. Brown? Will age finally catch up to Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett (both will be 33 by the end of the season)?
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And what changes were made in the Celtic roster over the off season?

Added: Patrick O’Bryant (Golden State), Darius Miles (Portland), Bill Walker (rookie)

Lost: James Posey (New Orleans), P.J. Brown (retired), Scot Pollard

Posey and Brown played key roles in the playoffs, but Darius Miles is an interesting player trying to comeback in the NBA.

The Boston Celtics are still the kings until someone knocks them off.

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Tags: basketball, bill-walker, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, darius-miles, Detroit Pistons, Dwight Howard, elton-brand, james-posey, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, nba, Orlando Magic, p.j.-brown, Paul Pierce, Philadelphia 76ers, playoffs, Ray Allen

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Stephon Marbury will be free

james — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:32:07 +0000

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Stephon Marbury may never find his potential

For better or worse and most of the time worse, Stephon Marbury has been the face of the New York Knicks. He was like a plague to both Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas. Now the Knicks are prepared to face life without him.

The rumor is that the Miami Heat will go after Stephon. That may be a bad idea even though the Heat need a point guard.

Yes, yes, if Stephon Marbury would mind his ways the backcourt of Marbury and Dwyane Wade would be awesome, but therein lays the problem. Would he mind his ways. Stephon once admitted that he only played for the money.

Miami seems to be the wrong team for that to happen. Where is the leadership? Matrix is unhappy. Beasley if off to a ‘fined for smoking’ start. Wade is off and on injured. Riley is getting old. Just where is the strong leadership?

The Knicks are preparing to put Marbury on waivers by the end of the week, several sources with knowledge of the situation told Newsday. The team must await the go-ahead from Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, however, because it would involve eating another large chunk of money in a buyout, Newsday reported.

Marbury is entering the final year of his contract, worth $21.9 million.
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Two stories…

Years ago my Detroit Pistons picked up NBA troublemaker Mark Aguirre. It will never work the experts said, but the experts failed to take into account the strong leadership of Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer. Aguirre was everything the Pistons wanted and the reward was an NBA title.

Story number two…

One night while playing against my Pistons, Stephon Marbury buried shots from all over the court in the fourth quarter. You know that shot chart they show with the circles that are red for made shots? Stephon had about 10 of them all from different places on the court. It was amazing. Don’t even remember who won.

So that has always had me wondering if Stephon went to a team with strong leadership and could display those kinds of talents, just how good could he be? Just how good could the team he played for be?

We may never know.

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Tags: basketball, bill-laimbeer, Detroit Pistons, Dwyane Wade, free-agent, Isiah Thomas, larry-brown, Miami Heat, nba, New York Knicks, stephon-marbury

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