June 30, 2009
When it comes to naming a team in the National Basketball Association, in my opinion, the name can fall in any one of five categories. Unbeknownst to many so-called “fans” of basketball, there is an unspoken hierarchy among the various team names. Well, unspoken until now. In a “Paints in the Point” exclusive, we go…
INSIDE THE NAME
Part 1: Animals
While the most desirable type of nickname for a basketball team, selecting which ferocious animal can be challenging.
Some sort of wildcat is an obvious choice, but team owners must be careful, as they tread the fine line of ferocious killing machine and cuter, smaller cats that are more likely to lightly scratch a person than maul them to death. A team selecting the latter type of mascot is likely to be mocked and banished to the WNBA.
Tiger: Ferocious Killing Machine
Lynx: Adorable
(Photo Credits: Save China’s Tigers; Norbert Rosing, National Geographic)
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5 Comments | 
The Freelancer | Tagged: Bobcats, Bucks, Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Grizzlies, Hornets, Inside the Name, Lynx, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, Raptors, Tiger, Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, Wildcat | 
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Posted by The Freelancer
June 29, 2009
The Rockets are a team that defies most explanations. Their chemistry should not exist with T-Mac, Yao, Battier, and Artest who are all very different players with very different ways of playing the game. The only way to fully explicate the eccentricities of each of the players is to compare them to countries and/or nations around the world.
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Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: Aaron Brooks, Brent Barry, Canada, Carl Landry, Cherokee, China, Finland, Great Britain, Lakers, Luis Scola, Mexico, North Korea, Puerto Rico, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 25, 2009
We (The Custodian, The Franchise, The Freelancer) are at The Champ’s house. The following will be an approximate representation of what happened.
8:11 PM: Discussing the virtues of having Shaq on the Cleveland Cavaliers with The Franchise. He thinks he is the only one who has doubts about Shaq with the Cavs, but The Freelancer reassures him that he is not alone.
8:12 PM: The Champ wants to “put money” on Curry going to the Knicks with #8 pick in the draft.
8:15 PM: The Champ and The Franchise love Kevin Durant.
8:16 PM: Curry to the Warriors. “The Knicks got robbed.” The Champ claims that the Knicks’ plan is entirely ruined with the Warriors’ pick.
8:19 PM: The room is treated to a Champ gun show.
8:21 PM: Jordan Hill to the Knicks. “Holy cow, he’s huge.” “I can see this guy being good.”
8:24 PM: Jordan Hill = Donté Stallworth? You be the judge:
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1 Comment | The Freelancer | Tagged: Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland Cavaliers, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jordan Hill, Donte Stallworth, DeMar DeRozen, Brandon Jennings, Terrence Williams, Gerald Henderson, Tyler Hansbrough, Earl Clark, Burn Notice, Melodica, Austin Daye, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Eric Maynor, Omri Casspi, Slamball, Taj Gibson, DeMarre Carroll, Wayne Ellington, Christian Eyenga, Cold Case, Stuart Scott, Glass Eye, The International, Congo, Republic of Congo, DeJuan Blair, Beard, Danny Green, Robert Dozier, The Republic of Congo, Conan O'Brien, Strike Beard, Joaquin Phoenix, Live Blogging, NBA Draft, 2009 NBA Draft, Live Blog | Permalink
Posted by The Freelancer
June 25, 2009
Sometimes in the Association, two players will meet at one junction or another on a team and true chemistry will form. These are the top 12 pairs of players in the league right now, duos that complement each other’s capabilities on the court.
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Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: Al Horford, Amare Stoudemire, Andre Iguadala, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul, David West, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Hedo Turkoglu, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, Ron Artest, Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Yao Ming | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 25, 2009
The annual NBA draft is already upon us and we are nowhere near ready to fully comprehend the magnitude of greatness or stupidity that each of the teams will achieve Thursday night. Every year, teams will pick out a player among the hundreds available to either lay the foundation for their franchise, or to sew up any loose ends. Often, however, they will make a critical mistake that could cost them in the long run and be mocked nationally on radio shows. You could draft the next Michael Jordan, or the next Chris Mihm.
So, with the first pick, whom do the Los Angeles Clippers choose to be their favorite disappointment? Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: 2009 NBA Draft, Brandon Jennings, Chase Buddinger, Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Los Angeles Clippers, Mike D'Antoni, NBA Draft, New York Knicks, Reggie Miller, Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, Tyreke Evans | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 22, 2009
Steve Nash may just be my favorite player in the entire Association. He is the greatest Canadian export since Celine Dion. The way he goes about playing the game of basketball is not only pleasing to the eyes, its also pleasing to statisticians and basketball purists. A modern day Bob Cousy, Nash glides around the court with ease and has all the tools necessary for him to be one of the greatest point guards of all time.
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1 Comment | The Custodian | Tagged: Dallas Mavericks, Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix Suns, Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 21, 2009
Joe Johnson may be one of the most frustrating employees of the Association. Blessed with superstar talent, Johnson has never quite filled out the superstar suit. He always seems to be missing something, and that something is the heart to be the best.
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Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 19, 2009
Well ladies and gentlemen, another NBA season has come and gone and before we throw it away and prepare for the draft, let us all take a look at what we learned.
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Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix Suns, Shane Battier, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Trevor Ariza, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Rodney Stuckey, San Antonio Spurs, Tyson Chandler, Adam Morrison, Greg Oden, Steve Kerr, Mike Brown, Marko Jaric, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, Josh Childress, The Big Cactus, Agent Zero, Mark Cuban, Twitter | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 17, 2009
Some people like to claim that basketball is like a giant game of chess. Taking this idea, I would like to expound upon it by making relevant comparisons to the modern day basketball player.
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1 Comment | The Custodian | Tagged: Allen Iverson, Andre Miller, Ben Gordon, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Damon Jones, Derek Fisher, Deron Williams, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Jason Kapono, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Redd, Peja Stojakovic, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
June 15, 2009
There you have it ladies and gentlemen, curtain call for the NBA Finals and guess who ended up with all the marbles. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | The Franchise | Tagged: Adam Morrison, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Charles Barkley, Didier Mbenga, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash | Permalink
Posted by The Franchise
June 14, 2009
When comparing dynamic twosomes in the Association, it all comes back to Pippen and Jordan. They are obviously the Batman and Robin of their era, but that raises an interesting query, what does that make everybody else? All of their competitors and teammates must fit somewhere in this superhero spectrum. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | The Custodian | Tagged: Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Dean Smith, Dennis Rodman, Isaiah Thomas, John Starks, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen | Permalink
Posted by The Custodian
