Monday 25 July 2016

Knicks vs. Warriors: Examining what makes an NBA 'super-team'

What makes a team "super" and

how is it different based on context?

The NBA joke-of-the-week involves Derrick Rose and the New York Knicks. In an interview with NBA.com, the new Knicks point guard alluded to the idea of there being two "super-teams" in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson ... and Rose's Knicks, with himself, Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis.

From NBA.com, emphasis mine:

ROSE: (Expectations are) high. I mean, with these teams right now, they're saying us and Golden State are the super teams, and they're trying not to build that many super teams, and Adam Silver came out with the statement and this and that. And the expectations I think of us, we just want to win. Talking to Melo and all the guys who've been around. You've got Brandon who just signed for one year, he's got to show why he's there. I've got to show why I'm there.

Joakim has to show why he's there. Everybody's trying to prove themselves. When you've got a group like that, it's like, alright, I know everybody wants to do that, but we're going to break this down as simple as possible, and try to win every game. I think winning takes care of every category, as far as being an athlete. You look at endorsements, being on the floor, almost everything -- I think winning takes care of all that. And if you're in the league, winning takes care of all the mistakes, or if you have any problems on teams.

by Iyasele Joshua 10:44 AM

U.S. romps again with 49-point blowout of China

Durant, Thompson lead way in second tuneup for Olympics

LOS ANGELES — Again finding little more than a good workout in front of a big crowd, the United States continued to prepare for the Olympics with a 106-57 victory over China on Sunday at Staples Center as Kevin Durant scored 19 points and Klay Thompson added 17.

The United States opened its five-game exhibition schedule by blowing past Argentina by 37 points Friday in Las Vegas, and China provided no better competition. The Americans were in control almost immediately and built a 55-29 lead by halftime, shooting just 48.8 percent -- hardly the stuff of blowouts -- but overwhelming their opponents with a constant flurry of attempts.

The United States and China meet again Tuesday in Oakland, a game with subplots beyond Olympic prep as the first "home game" for new Warrior Durant before he begins play at Oracle Arena in the fall, and also a return for Harrison Barnes after he went from Golden State to Dallas as a free agent. Two returning Warriors are also on Team USA, Draymond Green and Thompson.

The United States goes to Chicago from there, to play Venezuela on Friday, and then to Houston, to face Nigeria on Aug. 1 as the final tune-up before heading to Rio de Janeiro. The basketball competition at the Olympics begins Aug. 6.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Coach Samson Siasia & assistant robbed of credit card, money and phones in Atlanta hotel car park

Olympic team coach Samson Siasia and his assistant were robbed of valuable possessions in the Olympic team's hotel car park in Atlanta, Georgia but he kept it secret in order not to distract his team and make them lose concentration ahead of the Rio Olympics according to a report by top Nigerian sports magazine, Sporting Life.

According to the report by the magazine published today, a close friend of the Bayelsa born coach revealed how Siasia's credit cards and money were stolen, his car damaged and his phones and phones of his assistant stolen by Burglars on Tuesday last week at the team's training camp hotel car park and how Siasia still kept it to himself because he wants total focus from his players.

"Coach Samson Siasia was robbed last week when he parked the car he is using for running around for the team at the team's hotel park'' the source said .

"He went to see the players after the evening session and also freshen up in his hotel room , but alas as he came back to pick his car he discovered that somebody had broken the door and the glass of the car and made away with his credit card, his two android phones, the phones of his assistant, Abu and some money too''

"Siasia was demoralized but after a few minutes he braced up and told us that the devil is a liar and that nothing can stop him from preparing this team for the Olympics task ahead."

When Siasia was contacted by SportingLife , the former Super Eagles coach asked " who told you, how did you know ?"

"Well it's true but I have done what I supposed to do so there is no cause for alarm.

"We are focused and preparing hard for the Olympics that is what I can tell you for now. But it is true that the car I am using here was burgled and they made away with my credit cards and other valuables . But no cause for alarm as I told you"

Posted by Iyasele Joshua at 10:25 AM

Saturday 14 November 2015

D-League Tips Off Jr. NBA Week
Thunder Host Halloween Party at OU Children's Hospital
Hoops For Troops: Clippers Team Up With Military To Feed The Community
Robin "Thor" Lopez Leads His Avengers From Garden of Dreams on Scavenger Hunt

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Swaziland hold Eagles to a draw

by Iyasele Joshua 14 November 2015, 1:45

Nigeria's Super Eagles and their Swaziland counterparts played out a scoreless draw in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba on Friday.

Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh this time opted for a centre-back pairing of Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona with Shehu Abdullahi and Elderson Echiejile playing as fullbacks.

The Super Eagles from the outset pressed high up against the King's Shield of Swaziland but lacked the sharpness to open up the defence of Harris Bulunga's men.

Tony Tsabedze was clearly the man pulling the strings for the King's Shield and in the 23rd minute he let fly from distance but his effort was straight at Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Five minutes later, Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi saw his free kick palmed away by Nhlanhla Gwebu in the Swaziland goal and Sylvester Igbonu's rebound attempt forced the custodian of the hosts into another save before Odion Ighalo turned the loose ball off target to let the southern Africans off the hook.

Though the Nigerians enjoyed the bulk of the ball possession at the half hour mark it counted for nothing as the Swazis' confidence level grew as the game progressed.

Dlamini nearly headed them in front in the 31st minute from a corner and then a Nigerian error at the back almost gifted them a scoring chance a minute later.

But Oliseh's charges finished the first 45 minutes better. Ighalo was slipped through on goal though he turned inside of his marker but had the ball cleared off his feet before he could shoot.

Before the start of the second half, Oliseh sent on Rabiu Ibrahim for Igbonu as he felt his team needed a creative spark from the middle of the park. Nigeria had the first chance of the business end of the game when Ighalo blazed over but it was Swaziland that showed a statement of intent.

Inside the opening five minutes of the second half, Mxolisi Lukhele and team captain Tsabedze got themselves into shooting range but failed to hit the target.

On 58 minutes, Onazi's free kick from 25 yards came off the upright to the relief of Swaziland.

Four minutes later, it was the turn of Nigeria to have their hearts in their mouths when Ikeme was forced to make a point-blank save by Lukhele following a ball over the top.

The Swazis continued to be fearless in their approach but in the 65th minute Nigeria had a scoring chance when Ahmed Musa's pass picked out Simon inside the box but the KAA Gent man's attempt to create space and shoot was blocked.

In the last 20 minutes, Swaziland captain Tsabedze turned on the style with his mazy runs but his impressive play still could not unlock the Super Eagles' backline.

Nigeria gaffer Oliseh tried as he could to get something out of the contest and sent on the attacking duo of Obafemi Martins and Kelechi Iheanacho, who made his international debut at senior level, but the Swazis held out for a famous draw in Lobamba.

The decisive leg of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier will take place next Tuesday when Nigeria play hosts to Swaziland at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

By: Iyasele Joshua

Friday 30 October 2015

Clippers down Mavs in DeAndre Jordan grudge match

30 October 2015, 08:19

The Los Angeles Clippers won their NBA home opener on Thursday, downing the Dallas Mavericks 104-88 in a contest spiced by the contentious off-season contract waffling of centre DeAndre Jordan.
Jordan reneged on a verbal agreement to join the Mavericks as a free agent, opting instead to remain with the Clippers.
Prior to tip-off, outspoken Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was dismissive of the Clippers, who have long played second-fiddle to the Lakers in Los Angeles.
But it was the Clippers who were in control for most of the game against a Mavericks team missing Chandler Parsons, JaVale McGee, Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams.
Williams suffered a left knee contusion in Wednesday's 111-95 win over Phoenix while Matthews, who scored nine points on Wednesday, was held out because Mavericks officials didn't want him playing two nights straight on his surgically repaired Achilles tendon.
Blake Griffin scored 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, guard Jamal Crawford added 15 points off the bench and Los Angeles led by as many as 28 points in the sometimes prickly contest.
Jordan and the Mavericks' German star Dirk Nowitzki had a brief altercation late in the first half after the two made contact under the Clippers basket.
Players from both teams traded barbs before technical fouls were issued to Jordan, Griffin and Mavs guard Raymond Felton.
The Mavericks then instituted a "hack-a-Jordan" strategy, fouling him on each of the Clippers' next three possessions.
He missed five of six attempts but Los Angeles still led 51-43 at halftime.
"I thought he handled it well," Griffin said of Jordan's response to an emotional night. "He was excited for it – but we should be excited for every game."
Knicks face tough climb
The climb back to the top of the NBA is going to be long and steep for the New York Knicks.
After a franchise-worst 17-65 campaign in 2014-15, the Knicks opened the season on Wednesday with a 122-97 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee.
But in front of their home fans at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, the Knicks were exposed in a 112-101 loss to the Atlanta Hawks – the team that finished with last season's best regular-season record.
The Hawks used their trademark balanced attack. Six players scored in double figures and Atlanta handed out a total of 26 assists on 42 made shots.
Guard Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 23 points and eight assists. Centre Al Horford added 21 points and shooting guard Kyle Korver contributed 15.
Atlanta led by as many as 22 and were ahead by at least 11 throughout the fourth quarter.
"We weren't ready for (the Hawks)," Knicks coach Derek Fisher admitted.
Star forward Carmelo Anthony led New York with 25 points. Centre Robin Lopez, a free agent acquisition over the summer, added 18 points, and rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Porzingis, whose selection in the draft prompted derision from Knicks fans unfamiliar with his game, drew the loudest cheers of the night with a third-quarter dunk – stealing the ball in the backcourt and spinning around Paul Millsap to go in for the jam.
A strong performance from the Knicks reserves in the second quarter saw the hosts take a 31-30 lead, but the Hawks quickly regained control with a 15-4 scoring run.
Anthony continued to struggle with his shot. He is a combined 14-for-43 (32.6 percent) from the field in New York's first two games, but Fisher didn't want to get bogged down talking about that kind of stat.
"We have to get to a point where we are concerned with winning percentages and not shooting percentages," Fisher said. "Being good takes time."

NBA Week in Pictures

TV schedule on SuperSport

Larry O’Brien Trophy’s visit to SA

Cavaliers seek first home win of the season

by Julio Chitunda 30 October 2015, 17:39

LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers host his former team, the Miami Heat, on Saturday morning looking to win its first game of the 2015-15 NBA season.
After falling short at Chicago in the season opener, and beating Memphis on Wednesday, the Cavaliers welcome the Heat, a team that they defeated twice at home last season.
In the first of their three regular-season meetings, the Cavaliers appear favourite to extend their home winning streak against the Heat.
However, Miami come from a home win over Charlotte, and having Chris Bosh back on the squad, after missing almost half of the season due to a health condition, gives the Heat a much-needed support at both ends of the floor.
It is going to be a special game for Bosh, not only for facing James for the first time since they teamed up at Miami, but especially because, it was in Cleveland where Bosh played his final competitive game last season before blood clots put his life in jeopardy.
It’s still early in the season, and whatever the outcome of this game, it won’t say much about the potential of either for the remainder of the season. But gathering so many All-Stars in a single game such as James, Bosh, Kevin Love, Luol Deng, JR Smith and Dwyane Wade turns the contest into a must-watch.
Despite playing only two of the Cavaliers seven pre-season games, James remains at his very best, but he will be put to the test against his former teammates.
"In order for us to be who we want to be long term, we've got to defend at a high level and we need to share the ball,” James said

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