NBA First Round Playoff Ponderings: Kicks, Cup Checks, Barbs, Charges, Nurses, Nuggets and Old Man Strength

The Toronto Raptors have fired Nick Nurse, which immediately ranks as one of the most inexplicable coach-cannings in recent memory.  Four years ago, under Nurse, the Raptors won an NBA championship, becoming the first (and remaining the only) Canadian team Continue reading NBA First Round Playoff Ponderings: Kicks, Cup Checks, Barbs, Charges, Nurses, Nuggets and Old Man Strength

SportsChump and the Full Court Pest debate the 2021-22 Lakers and where things went so horribly wrong

Welcome to the umpteenth article, interview and soundbite you’ll encounter discussing the disaster that was the 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers basketball season. In a recent social media squabble, I ran into an old friend, Wally Os, a.k.a. The Full Court Continue reading SportsChump and the Full Court Pest debate the 2021-22 Lakers and where things went so horribly wrong

Sights, sounds and suggestions on the Orlando Magic

I experienced a moment of sheer nervousness scant minutes before the Magic game was about to start.  Having arrived ninety minutes before tip-off to catch a glimpse of the five, future Hall of Famers that would grace the floor that Continue reading Sights, sounds and suggestions on the Orlando Magic

Milwaukee Maxes Out

“This is my home.  This is my city.” -Giannis Antetokounmpo The Bucks got their man.  “Whew!” sighed Milwaukee collectively. While Bucks fans (there are some, yes?) waited with bated breath to see whether Giannis Antetokounmpo would re-sign for the supermax Continue reading Milwaukee Maxes Out

Discrediting the NBA MVP Award

Kenny Smith tells one of my favorite NBA stories. It was May 1995 and San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson had just been awarded his first and only regular season MVP.  Later that evening, in Game Two of the Western Continue reading Discrediting the NBA MVP Award

I miss…

I miss hearing about the drama between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and seeing how the Philadelphia 76ers would have either overachieved or underachieved in this year’s NBA Playoffs. I miss seeing what could have been between LeBron James and Continue reading I miss…

Russell Westbrook’s MVP season?

In February, New York Times writer Sam Anderson wrote a spectacular piece about one of today’s most misunderstood athletes: Russell Westbrook.  By the time the article was set to print, Westbrook was in the middle of chasing history: the NBA’s Continue reading Russell Westbrook’s MVP season?

Karl Malone tells current NBA players to get off his lawn

Old guys are getting crotchety again. Whether it’s Oscar Robertson criticizing Steph Curry or Goose Gossage blasting Bryce Harper, every six months or so we’re graced with the glorious soundbite (or these days, Tweet) from athletes of yesteryear cracking back Continue reading Karl Malone tells current NBA players to get off his lawn