With the NBA Finals less than three weeks away, the NBA is beginning to release new BIG commercials relating to “big” championship shots. If you watched the Dallas Mavericks win the title a few years ago, you might remember a certain German man making many off-balance shots. In this particular commercial, the NBA reminds us of a particular clutch shot that this Maverick hit in Game 6 – the closeout game – of the 2011 NBA Finals. Enjoy his awkward greatness.
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The NBA Draft Combine gives college players a chance to separate themselves from the rest of the competition. Former Indiana Hoosier Cody Zeller impressed NBA teams with a single jump. Zeller tied former Florida Gator Joakim Noah for the highest max vertical (42 inches) by a 7-foot player in the last 10 NBA Draft Combines. This should increase his draft stock.
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In the battle out East, the Indiana Pacers are up 3-2 on the New York Knicks. Not only have these two teams been built differently, their players come from different time periods. The Knicks have one player one their roster under the age of 27 (Iman Shumpert) while the Pacers have one active player over the age of 27 (David West). It’s fairly obvious which of these two teams has the more promising future.
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During the Brooklyn Nets‘ Game 6 95-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls, Reggie Evans had himself a board party. The Nets big man grabbed 15 rebounds in 29 minutes, the lowest minute total by a Nets player that grabbed that many boards in an NBA playoff game. Evans’ 15 rebounds was the most in NBA playoff history by a player who had no points, assists, steals or blocked shots.
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With the San Antonio Spurs series-sweeping 103-82 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, Tracy McGrady has now advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in his NBA career.
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Guest writer: Josh McSwain
15. Minnesota at Green Bay – Week 12
Good old fashioned rivalry game, but the reason it makes the list is because Greg Jennings will make his return to Lambeau Field. They booed Brett Favre when he returned in purple. Jennings will get booed for sure.
14. Carolina at San Francisco — Week 10
This game features two of the most dynamic dual threat QBs in the game. Cam Newton has been brilliant at times and not shaky at others through his first two years, he must become more consistent to get Carolina into the playoffs. Who better to see him against than a top defense? Colin Kaepernick is out to prove last year was no fluke and that he’s the man in San Francisco.
13. Kansas City at Philadelphia – Week 3
Pretty simple on this one. Andy Reid returns to Philadelphia after fourteen years and numerous playoff appearances. We also will get to see Chip Kelly‘s new offense.
12. Washington at Minnesota – Week 10
Simple star power here- RG3 will be healthy by this time (assuming he doesn’t get hurt again), and Adrian Peterson for Minnesota. Both of those guys have suffered recent ACL injuries. ACL bowl?
11. Denver at New York Giants – Week 2
Pretty simple here- Manning Bowl III.
10. Atlanta at San Francisco – Week 16
Rematch of the NFC title game, on Monday night in a game that could be crucial in determining playoff position.
9. Green Bay at Detroit – Week 13
How does Detroit get up here? Well, it is a Thanksgiving game, and the Lions have this guy, who’s kind of a big deal. I also think Detroit will be much better this coming season after having a down year in 2012.
8. Dallas at New York Giants – Week 12
This could be a pivotal game in the NFC east. Not to mention these two have developed a pretty intense rivalry in recent years, and the Romo-Eli comparisons will never end.
7. New Orleans at New England – Week 6
If you like passing offense, this one is for you. Two bad secondaries and two loaded passing attacks. Kicker here- Tom Brady could tie Drew Brees‘ record of 54 straight games with a TD pass if he throws one in this one (assuming he throws TDs in each game until this one).
6. Houston at Baltimore – Week 3
Ed Reed coming back to Baltimore will be the headline in this one. But these two teams are powers in the AFC and this game could have early playoff implications.
5. Atlanta at New Orleans – Week 1
The rivalry in the Deep South should be enough to get it on this list. But think about the rest this game has to offer. It’ll be Steven Jackson‘s first game in a Falcons uniform. It’ll be Sean Payton‘s first game back from suspension and Rob Ryan‘s first chance to trot out his reconstructed defense.
4. Denver at New England – Week 12
Peyton vs. Brady again, and now Wes Welker is going to be catching passes from the former instead of the latter. Not much needs to be said.
3. San Francisco at Seattle – Week 2
Forget the big markets on the East Coast, these two staged the signing war of the offseason. Seattle added Percy Harvin, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Antoine Winfield, among others. The 49ers countered with Anquan Boldin, Glenn Dorsey and Nnamdi Asomugha among others. The 49ers also likely remember the beatdown they took in Seattle late last season. Early chance for some revenge.
2. Baltimore at Denver – Week 1
I don’t care that the Ravens lost a ton of guys. This is the season opener, a rematch of one of the best playoff games ever, and a chance for the Ravens to show that they will still be a contender this season. This would be number one, except for…
1. Denver at Indianapolis – Week 7
The Sheriff goes back to the house that he built. I don’t think there will ever be a warmer reception than the one he will get on that day. For the first time Peyton will get to play against the guy who Indianapolis chose over him in the 2012 offseason.
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He may not win Rookie of the Year but the New York Knicks 28-year-old undrafted rookie has certainly been a bargain for their franchise, especially throughout the last stretch of the regular season. During the last seven games, Chris Copeland averaged 20.1 points, including back-to-back 30-point games to finish the season. He is the first Knicks rookie to accomplish this feat since Bill Cartwright did it twice during the 1979-1980 season.
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