It wasn’t all over ESPN and the casual NBA fan probably missed the news on the ole’ ticker last week, but Adonal Foyle retired from the game of basketball. It’s not much of a surprise, he’s only played in 10 games in the last two years (thanks to injuries), actually missing all of last season.
All in all, it was a solid 13-year career for the big man from the Carribean. He leaves the game as the Golden State Warriors’ all-time leading shot-blocker, along with finishing as one of their top rebounders. Foyle spent 10 of his 13 seasons with the Warriors, also making a very brief stop with the Memphis Grizzlies and a few seasons with the Orlando Magic.
Foyle was more than just a 6-foot-10 shot-blocking machine — he is a gentleman — straight up. There is no other way to put it. He has to be one of the most likable and interesting players in the game — that is if you know about him. Foyle is an intellect, far beyond the stereotype of NBA players. He reviews books for HOOP Magazine, writes poetry and is one of the league’s biggest humanitarians.
In addition to all of that, Foyle was also a Vice President of the league’s players’ association and is finishing up his masters degree in sports psychology, he even wrote a poem about his NBA journey. This most definitely isn’t the last we’ll be hearing of Foyle — I have a feeling he’ll be involved with the league for years to come — it’s definitely safe to say that there’s only one Adonal Foyle.
Here’s a great interview that he recently did with the Golden State Warriors, it’s a must watch — you need to know more about Foyle, his story was slept on by mass media.
Well, the NBA beat me to it. Big surprise. I figured I had another day before I started my NBA Award Winners series, “The Fresh Awards,” but I was wrong.
Make no doubt about it, the voters got it right. Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the league. It would be stupid to pick anyone else, based on their performances this year. Howard dominates the paint defensively. You saw it on live TV Sunday night. Howard had nine blocks, eight of which were in the first half. The record for blocks in a playoff game is 10, you figured by halftime, Howard was going to crush that record.
Howard controls the game with his defense, cause obviously his offensive game is not worthy of his superstar status. Fortunately for the Magic, his defensive game is so damn good that they can win a playoff game with Howard only taking four shots (as he did Sunday against Charlotte).
The NBA playoffs have started today, and don’t fear, I’m bringing you predictions as always. I get to start fresh and have the 16 teams that made the playoffs in front of me, this should be easy.
With the game tied Wednesday night in Atlanta, the Hawks were in search of their first win of the season against the Orlando Magic, they also could clinch a playoff spot with the win. No timeouts meant it was time for Joe Johnson to search for the game-winning jumper. Johnson gets a solid look as he takes Vince Carter off the dribble, but it goes off the rim.
Smith gets the put-back slam at the buzzer and the Hawks win a huge game in front of their home crowd, they’re currently tied with Boston for the third best record in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James is far too much of a d-bag to do the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest, after making a stink about it last year (more on that later). Dwight Howard is a former dunk champion, but without LeBron’s 2010 competition, Howard took his name out of the contest.
The two were able to give fans a dunk contest during the Super Bowl however, in the name of McDonald’s.
For the last six years Tayshaun Prince hasn’t missed a game, 496 consecutive appearances to be exact. The streak was the second longest active streak in the league behind Portland’s Andre Miller.
Prince didn’t play in Detroit’s 85-80 victory against Orlando Tuesday night, and it was the first time he’s missed a game since April 13, 2003. Shortly before tipoff the Pistons announced that Prince would miss the team’s next three games because of a lower back strain.
Prince wasn’t on the bench last night, and neither was Richard Hamilton whose missed the team’s last three games with a sprained ankle (at least an injury we all saw happen). Hamilton likely will return Friday in a rematch against the Magic.
Last night the Orlando Magic lost to the Detroit Pistons 85-80 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Magic were shorthanded, playing without Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus, but so were the Pistons who were without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.
Dwight Howard struggled all night, only playing 16 minutes, fouling out and turning the ball over three times. Ben Wallace and Kwame Brown both did a fantastic job on one of the NBA’s premiere centers, frustrating him all night long, as proven by this following video.
(Warning: Contains harsh language)
Howard was wrong though, he didn’t “F” anybody up, matter of fact he struggled with foul trouble all night and his team lost, as they normally do against Detroit. The Pistons have defeated the Magic in 20 of their last 25 regular season matchups, including bouncing them in two straight playoff series (2007, 2008).
The Pistons have flat-out owned the Howard and the Magic over the last few years and Orlando was denied of their first ever 4-0 start in franchise history.
Last fall Jason Williams retired from basketball, shortly after signing a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
He was a 32 year-old, 10-year veteran with a ring, but he still had some game left in him, which had to have surprised the Clippers. As the season went on, like so many other athletes, Williams showed the urge to play again.
Williams has decided to do his best Brett Favre impression, and make a return to the game.
The 33 year-old Williams has signed a one-year deal with the Orlando Magic, where he will compete with Anthony Johnson as the primary backup to all-star Jameer Nelson.
Williams is a shell of his former self, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He’s become a very efficient point guard through the years and could serve as a quality backup to Nelson on a very loaded Magic team, if he can stay healthy.
Williams boasts career averages of 11.4 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Change your NBA franchise? Recent NCAA POY. A.Davis,Jimmer,E.Turner,Blake,Tyler H,KD,Redick,Bogut,Jameer,TJ Ford,JWill,Shane,KMart,Brand.(via Twitter)5 hours ago
Posted by JaCoB 
