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Showing posts with label Clippers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clippers. Show all posts

Lamar Odom: Flesh and Blood

by Matt Silverston


Say what you want about Lamar Odom, and go ahead and criticize his lifestyle and the choices he's made, but I will never hesitate to stand up for those human beings who suffer from addiction and mental illness.

Given that Odom's story as well as his whereabouts are uncertain and up-in-the-air at this time, the biggest issue at stake here is so much more than money, a reality TV drama, or a basketball hoop. His future livelihood as a healthy, spirited human being is under attack and in immediate jeopardy.

Podcast: 5G Sports Talk "Turning up the Heat"

Check out the latest podcast from 5G Sports Talk as they get into the hot topics in sports including Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals

Player After Jump

Playing in the Red: The New NBA

As a Dallas Maverick fan, I have to wonder why teams like L.A., Miami, New York, and even Brooklyn can acquire the players that they have under the new collective bargaining agreement, yet a team that has operated well above the salary cap since Mark Cuban took over can not. Those teams have made a decision to operate in the red and a NBA championship is worth it.

The new agreement was supposed to level the playing field by requiring a much higher luxury tax for teams over the salary cap. What has happened is the plane between contender and non-contender has grown exponentially. At the start of the 2012-13 season, the number of teams with a legitimate chance of winning it all is few and far between. Struggling franchises are finding it hard to attract top free agents and additional revenue streams to compensate for increasing their payroll. The original thought that low salary cap teams will be the go-to destination if a superstar wants to make big money was totally wrong. Lebron is not going back to Cleveland, Dwight is not going to Charlotte, and Chris Paul is not requesting a trade to Milwaukee. The NBAPA forgot that teams have low salaries for a reason; the owners don't want to spend the money.

The league on the other hand is different situation. David Stern and company have decided to help the big market teams get bigger. Recently, the league office allowed teams to place advertisements on game jerseys. An ad on a Knicks or Lakers jersey will be quadruple the price of an ad on a Timberwolves jersey. The Knicks and Lakers also have local TV deals that help balance financial spreadsheets. They also have merchandise sales blow smaller market teams out of the water. The bigger the market, the bigger luxury tax you can afford to pay.

To Mark Cuban's credit he knew this was going to happen before the new agreement was signed. There are reports that he wanted to have a hard cap, meaning that a team can't go over the cap and pay a luxury tax. Imagine the parity of the NBA if that was true. Instead of 5 teams with a chance to win, there would be 20. Cuban has made a good decision to let the dust settle. For the first time his franchise will operate under the cap which gives him great flexibility to do anything. His new challenge is to play the cap game and win another title using the flexibility to his advantage. He already has proven the other way works.

NBA Playoffs Round 2


Despite early exits from Utah and Dallas, the playoffs have gone as expected. We started with 16 and now we are down to 8. As we move to the second round, teams to watch are the Thunder, Pacers,and the Clippers.These young teams are built to win now and in the future. With and least 1 or 2 superstar and a wealth of talent on the bench, they can easily be crowned this years champions. With such a compact season, these young guns are primed mentally and physically to challenge anyone for the championship. Its hard to watch and at the same time hate to see the old guys struggle to compete with the next generation of superstars.Take a good look now because I suspect that we are about to see the a new NBA Champion!


- Royce Fisher, RF Sports Radio


Drinking Games: Lakers vs Clippers

Here is a list of 5 great drinking games for tonight's Lakers vs Clippers preseason match-up

  1. Alley-Oop - Take a shot every time Chris Paul throws an alley-oop dunk to Blake Griffin. Be warned, this could be a long night
  2. Star Gazer - Take a shot every time they show a celebrity in the crowd. This is only for people with a high tolerance level
  3. Say My Name - Take a shot every time the broadcast mentions "Dwight Howard" or "Lamar Odom". Depending on the score late in the game, this may get you trashed.
  4. I'll Pass - Take a shot every time Kobe passes the ball. Great game for light drinkers.
  5. I'm too old for this - Take a shot every time Chris Paul makes Derek Fisher look like father time. This is also for high tolerance level drinkers. Enjoy and drink responsibly.