Dear Bill Simmons
David's Memphis Grizzlies Blog —
Please quit talking shit about the Memphis Grizzlies. In almost every article you write, you mention that Memphis is terrible. Either Memphis has no fans or Memphis is "Basketball Hell." Here's why you should stop talking shit: 1. We already know the Grizzlies ...
Rumor: Perk, Walker for #2 Pick
RedsArmy.com - The Voice Of Celtics Fans —
This latest rumor comes via Michael Felger and Gary Tanguay of Comcast: "We heard a rumble today, just a
little rumble. Danny’s throwing a bunch of stuff against the wall as
he likes to do. Memphis sitting there at number two. Perk and was it
J.R. Giddens?" (Tanguay clarifies it’s Bill Walker). Please, I'm praying this rumor is pure garbage. You don't take a 24 year-old tough as nails defensive minded center who makes just $4 million per year and trade him for the #2 pick in an average draft class. Even if the Celtics draft the 7-2 Hasheem Thabeet - is he ready to become the starting center on a ...
Simmons explains the 2008-2009 Lakers
Denver Stiffs —
Simmons explains the 2008-2009 Lakers
Finally somebody talks about how much better the Lakers team was ... not specifically Kobe. The monkey of winning without Shaq may be off Kobe's back, but he still needed that dominant big man to get the job done. This is THE team game.
Rumors, Bill Simmons, and Quinton Ross
CelticsBlog —
Some links from around the web.
Your next backup for Paul Pierce: Quinton Ross? | Celtics Hub "On a day where Celtics nation is being fueled by speculation of trades of members of the starting five that are (hopefully) unlikely to happen, I figure it..."
Bill Simmons: Did Kobe Bryant really change for 2009 Los Angeles Lakers - ESPN "Did Kobe Bryant really change between 2008 and 2009? Bill Simmons puts the Lakers star under his microscope."
Studying The Finals: News Desk: Online Only: The New Yorker "This past week, I ...
Word of the Day: Phil Jackson Face
Basketbawful —
Note: This post was nominated by Basketbawful reader kobefearslebron. Phil Jackson Face (fil jak'-suhn fas) noun. A facial expression that simultaneously conveys both supreme annoyance and resigned acceptance. Usage example: Every time Evil Ted sends one of his patented no-look passes sailing out of bounds, I make the Phil Jackson Face. Word history: The term was semi-coined by Bill Simmons in his article Take a retro look at Game 2 and then more fully explained in Kobe '09: Change we can believe in? I say "semi-coined" because ...
Lakers, Magic, thanks for the memories
NBAMate —
Having had time to reflect on the 2009 Finals I’ve come to a conclusion on what they really were. Not Kobe’s vindication, or Phil’s coronation. But something else: an anticlimax. There were at least four series that were more entertaining during these playoffs - Boston v Chicago, Houston v LA, Orlando v Boston and Orlando v Cleveland. Each of those series had at least one classic game or signature moment: Lebron’s shot vs Orlando and the subsequent OT game, Big Baby’s shot in Game 4 against Orlando and the Game 7 upset, Ron Artest’s meltdowns and Fisher’s hip’n’shoulder in a series that ...
Today’s Celtics’ Links 6/17
Boston Sports Nation —
Herald Magic say they’re willing to pay the price to keep Hedo Turkoglu
NBA might return to glory days
Timberwolves’ Kevin Love tweets that McHale will not return to Wolves
Globe Is Kobe in NBA Top 5
CelticsBlog Smoke = Fire
So Long And Thanks For KG
LOY’s Place Rumors are Heating Up
Celtics 17 Celtics Updates: Perk Leaving?
Celtics.com NSTAR Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston 2009
Red’s Army Why doesn’t Kobe just pay for the parade?
Rondo Wants Big Money?
Green Street Love: McHale will not return as ...
Fiddlin' and Diddlin' - Daily Links 6/17
LOY's PLACE a celtics green blog —
Herald Magic say they’re willing to pay the price to keep Hedo Turkoglu NBA might return to glory days Timberwolves’ Kevin Love tweets that McHale will not return to Wolves Globe Is Kobe in NBA Top 5 CelticsBlog Smoke = Fire So Long And Thanks For KG LOY's ...
Daily Links 6/17
CelticsBlog —
... What Could Have Been: 2005 NBA Draft LA Times Red Auerbach built a dynasty; he just happened to coach it Sporting News Larry Brown Reminds us that draft promises generally don't make sense Press Register NBA needs to call foul on draft rule ESPN Kevin Love tweets that McHale out as Wolves coach - Chat: Chat with Chad Ford Bill Simmons: Did Kobe Bryant really change for 2009 Los Angeles Lakers Detroit Free ...
Responding to Kobe’s Finals Critics
BallerBlogger.com —
Reed at Forum Blue and Gold compares Bryant’s 2009 Finals performance to Michael Jordan’s last three title runs, LeBron’s numbers against the Magic, and fires back at ESPN’s Bill Simmons for this “agenda-driven” article. It’s an interesting read. A favorite excerpt:
Kobe was as efficient as Jordan during his last three title runs. Jordan’s free throw and 3 point percentages were lower every year. Much is made of Kobe’s struggles in games 3 and 4 of the finals, but Jordan was equally capable of having an off night. In the 98 finals Jordan shot over 50% once and put up shooting nights of ...
The Top 10 Players in the 2009 NBA Finals
Basketball Fiend —
Yes, it's true. Kobe can count. The NBA Finals are done. The Lakers won their 15th title, Phil Jackson won his 10th as a coach, and Kobe Bryant proved he doesn’t need Shaq to take a team all the way. Now we all go back to life as normal. Which, for me, means breaking down the 10 best performers from this year’s championship series. By the way, I strongly considered naming this article ‘Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and 7 Other Guys’. Then I remembered how little I liked the thought of being burned alive the next time I set foot in Orlando. Reason #350 why I need a publicist. Anyway, here’s the list: Luke Walton wasn't spectacular, but he didn't need to be. 10. ...
Well, that sucked
The Moonball Blog —
"Congratulations" to Lord Kobe-mort. Now can we please start forgetting about the Lakers? I thought the BSM had a good take on the finals. I will say, despite some of his less than savory opinions, I am curious about his 700 page NBA book. If you haven't seen it, solid post by Britt on McHale finally getting the ax in Minnesota. It should be interesting to see what if anything Kahn gets done on draft night - it does seem clear they are trying to get Rubio, which to me is worth it. He might be a bust, but it's easy to forget that he's been playing at a very high level in Europe for two years and he's still only 18. He's ...
Simers and Simmons, on Kobe's likability
Lakers Blog —
Kobe at the parade Over the last 72 hours and change since the Lakers won their title, two articles have examined the Lakers' championship run, with Kobe Bryant's likability a central point. The Times' T.J. Simers is put off by Bryant's (and Phil Jackson's ) "unlikable" personalities, plus the "idolatry" heaped upon a team largely identified with said unlikable principles. ESPN's Bill Simmons , green Celtic blood pumping through his veins, concurs and thus questions the media's postseason narrative praising Bryant's willingness to share and teammate relationships (plus the how he stacks up against "you know who") . ...
Housekeeping, Some Lakers, Muggsy
Both Teams Played Hard —
I am not using the end of the Finals as an excuse to disappear for the summer. We will be here forever. Forever and ever. And ever and ever.
But some things are afoot — top secret special new things have come to light things — and between that and a few long-form, still-simmering-on-the-stove things that I need the weeekend to finish up, things round this way have precluded me from helping provide the nation with what it desperately needs. (Luckilly, Sports Guy was here for that. This was predictable, but, c’mon, Bill, we don’t need you wasting your time rebutting foolishness. I guess he won’t be buying this.)
Sorry ...
The Poetry of It All
48 Minutes of Hell —
The best thing written after the Finals was by Bill Simmons. He’s earned a long quote, but you can find the full piece here.
I’m all for appreciating Kobe’s greatness; it’s just that my colleagues sold the wrong angle. Since he squashed the Chicago deal, Kobe has won MVP, All-Star MVP and Finals MVP awards; he played in two straight Finals and won a title; he starred on an Olympic gold medal team, took over as its alpha dog down the stretch and handled business in what was shaping up to be Spain’s version of the 1980 USA-USSR hockey game; and most amazingly, he played in the maximum 164 regular-season games ...
An Astros Sweep so Sweet
The Crawfish Boxes —
... This. The Astros are a team that may have a problem with their manager, may have a problem with payroll, may have a problem with age, but they don't have a problem with each other. Kudos to Ed Wade for bringing together a group of players that although inconsistent, are also good guys, who genuinely like playing together. ...
LeBron in the Dunk Contest?
The Sports Geeks —
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