Bernucca: Who is stepping up in the postseason?

Leave a comment

Curry-sportsillustratedOne of the most intriguing elements of the NBA playoffs is what the spotlight reveals about certain players – especially those who weren’t expected to be in the spotlight at all.

We expect established superstars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant to welcome the pressure of the postseason and elevate their play. That is part of the reason they are among the game’s best players.

It is also not that surprising to see very good players such as Stephen Curry and Mike Conley lift their games. The only doubts we may have had were created by the fact that their previous postseason experience was limited.

Pages: 1 2 3

SH Blog: Broussard doesn’t agree with homosexuality, Pau Gasol senses change for next season

6 Comments

130429144053-jason-collins-cover-single-image-cutMonday’s headlines were dominated by Jason Collins’ decision to open up about his sexual orientation, which opened up the door for athletes everywhere to be able to do the same one day. For the most part, there was wide-spread support around the league about his decision.

Jason Collins reveals he is gay 

Emeka Okafor was one of the first to know that Collins would break the news nationally, from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:

“The Washington Wizards’ Emeka Okafor had no idea that the phone call he took from a teammate Monday morning would include a heads-up on news that would forever change sports. Okafor was one of the select people Jason Collins gave advance notice that he was telling the world he was gay in a first-person article posted on Sports Illustrated’s website. Collins’ announcement made him the first active player in one of the U.S.’s four major pro sports leagues to come out. Okafor said Collins was “calm, collected and cool” during their conversation.”

Some, however, weren’t all necessarily 100 percent supportive. Chris Broussard of ESPN created major controversy by stating his opinion about what it means to be a homosexual on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”, transcribed by Ben Golliver of SI:

Pages: 1 2 3

Hubbard: Need we be reminded that it’s a players league?

1 Comment

Mike Brown Anderson VarajeoWhen Mike Brown was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, there were multiple feelings of déjà vu. One was obvious – Brown was returning to a team that had fired him three years earlier.

We have all been here before.

But the other was more subtle and had to do with the fundamental reality not only of today’s NBA, but also of today’s professional sports.

Pages: 1 2

Heisler: What would happen if Lakers played Spurs?

Leave a comment

Magic Johnson believes the Lakers would defeat the Spurs in the first round.

Mark Heisler’s opinion: “Spurs. Easy.”

So what we have here is a difference of opinion, and Heisler goes on to explain why San Antonio would pick the Lakers apart with speed, precision and 3-point shooting.

Schayes: On NBA Coach of the Year, and Coaches in General

Leave a comment

220px-Erik_SpoelstraWith the NBA season winding down, award season is right around the corner. The Coach of the Year award this season is a very tight race.

I have a tremendous history with coaches. It started by growing up with an NBA Coach of the Year living across the hall from me for my entire childhood.

That helped me grow up to have an 18-year NBA career playing for 15 different coaches. And when you consider that I had one coach (Doug Moe) for eight of those years, that means that I went through 14 coaches in the other 10 years. I was not a coach-killer, but it does show the life expectancy of a coach is about the same as a fruit fly. 

Pages: 1 2