If Griffin was an unknown person with a regular job, making a regular person’s salary, the fact that he punched a co-worker would likely mean Griffin would be fired and possibly prosecuted.
Share on FacebookArchive for the ‘NBA’ Category
Should The Clippers Release Blake Griffin?
Posted: 26th January 2016 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers, Matias Testi, punched, Steve Ballmer
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Fired Lakers Coach Mike Brown: Miscast in LA
Posted: 10th November 2012 by DavidBurnett in Coaches, Fired, NBATags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Brown, miscast in LA, Phil Jackson
I can’t say that I’m surprised by the firing of Mike Brown. I must admit though I didn’t think it would happen this soon. But I did think it would happen one day. Mike Brown just doesn’t have the “it” factor. Never has, probably never will.
There’s something about his demeanor, the way he carries himself, that’s always given me pause about his readiness to coach in the brightest spotlight. He’s never looked the part.
Share on FacebookNBA Returns: Will the Heat and Lakers Meet in the Finals?
Posted: 31st October 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBA, NBA FinalsTags: Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA season starts, Steve Nash
I won’t make the Heat the outright favorites to win it all this season. I think the Lakers will have something to say about that, now that Dwight Howard, the NBA’s best center, and Steve Nash the NBA’s best pure passer, have both joined Kobe in LA.
Share on FacebookPacers Pride: Reggie Miller and Mel Daniels Enter the Hall of Fame
Posted: 5th September 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, Hall of Fame, NBATags: Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Pacers, inducted, Mel Daniels, Pacers Pride, Reggie Miller
For 18 years, the boney, almost skeletal-looking, jump shooter from UCLA gave special meaning to the old advertising slogan – “Miller Time”. His deadly, high-arching shot became more thrilling than the most athletic windmill dunk
Share on FacebookLeBron James: Getting Fitted for His Crown
Posted: 20th June 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBA, NBA FinalsTags: coronation, crown, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder
With a victory Tuesday night over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now up three games to one, the Miami Heat are firmly in command and poised to win the NBA championship. But while basketball is a team game, a Heat title will really only be about one player.
The sport of basketball has been waiting a long time for this – a chance to crown King James, one of the most celebrated players in history. Game five in Miami on Thursday night should be his coronation.
In sports there is often a reference to “whose time it is”. It now seems that LeBron’s time has finally come.
Share on FacebookIndiana Pacers Finally Win a Playoff Series: Now They Must Win Respect
Posted: 9th May 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Danny Granger, David West, Indiana Pacers, NBA playoffs, Orlando Magic, Pacers win playoff series, Roy Hibbert
I doubt anyone gives the Pacers much of a chance against Miami’s Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. And as much I root for the Pacers I can’t in good conscience say they will win that series either.
But what they can win, something previous Pacer teams won years ago, is RESPECT. Whether they win the series or only a single game, the 2012 Pacers must give the Heat all they can handle and then some.
Where is the Love for Kevin Love?
Posted: 5th April 2012 by DavidBurnett in MVP, NBATags: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves, Most Outstanding Player, MVP
I am saying that this season, Kevin Love is the NBA’s most outstanding player. Period. And it shouldn’t be close. Love’s numbers speak for themselves.
Share on FacebookGreg Oden Reaches the End of His Oregon Trail: Is His Career Over?
Posted: 16th March 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Greg Oden, injury-prone, Is his career over?, Portland Trailblazers, waived
This is a truly heartbreaking story, not just because he had so much potential as a player, but he also seemed to be a young man with high intellect, an engaging sense of humor and insight far beyond the basketball court. From all appearances Greg Oden is a genuinely nice guy. The kind of guy the NBA can proudly market.
Share on Facebook100 Points: Wilt Chamberlain’s Indelible Mark Turns 50
Posted: 2nd March 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: 100 points, 50 years ago, Indelible marks, Wilt, Wilt Chamberlain
Growing up I devoured just about everything I could about sports. And reading about the story of Wilt’s 100 points was probably the first sports treasure that truly captured my imagination. It certainly hooked me on Wilt Chamberlain.
For those who don’t know the basic facts about that night, 50 years ago; the game was played in a little arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was personally witnessed by a small crowd of just over 4 thousand people. It was Wilt’s 3rd season with the Philadelphia Warriors.
Share on FacebookJeremy Lin: The NBA’s Best Story In Years
Posted: 11th February 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Harvard, Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks
Watching Carmelo Anthony, the woefully, underachieving “superstar” sitting on the sidelines in street clothes injured and cheering, made pulling for Jeremy Lin feel even better. If a “nobody” like Jeremy Lin can play so spectacularly and help the Knicks win games, why hasn’t Carmelo?
Share on FacebookNBA Commissioner David Stern: Is it Time For Him to Step Down?
Posted: 14th December 2011 by DavidBurnett in NBATags: Is it time for David Stern to step down?, NBA, NBA Commissioner David Stern
There was a time – a long time in fact – when David Stern was easily the smartest and best commissioner in sports. He was the first to understood the NBA’s international popularity and wisely began taking advantage of league’s rapidly expanding global reach. For years Stern’s vision for the NBA was much clearer and more focused than the commissioners of other sports.
NBA Commissioner David Stern
But this year Stern’s clumsy pronouncements during the lockout, and his even clumsier handling of the aborted trade of All-Pro guard Chris Paul, have exposed dangerous flaws in his leadership and for the first time suggest that the NBA might be better off without him.
Share on FacebookNBA Labor Deal Ratified: But Start of New Season Suggests Old Habits Die Hard
Posted: 9th December 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, New Orleans Hornets, trade
Despite a new labor agreement, just ratified by owners and players, it appears the NBA has still not figured out that it is not in the league’s best interests to continue to promote stars over teams.
The league must find a way to raise the profile and prestige of smaller-market teams or risk even more devastating financial problems and conflicts in years to come.
Share on FacebookThe NBA Lockout: More Complicated Than it Seems
Posted: 1st July 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: basketball, complicated, NBA, NBA lockout
At first glance its pretty easy to understand why NBA owners resorted to a lockout. Its about finding a way for team owners to protect themselves from their own actions. The lockout is also a way to close the ever-widening financial gap between large and small market teams, a gap that could destroy the gains the league has made in TV ratings, public perception and quality of play. But the truth is this lockout is much more complicated than one might think, and is not one that very easily can be blamed on well-paid players or their union.
Share on FacebookNBA Finals: The Mysteriously Shrinking LeBron James
Posted: 8th June 2011 by DavidBurnett in NBA, NBA FinalsTags: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, LeBron shrinking, NBA Finals, shrinking
No athlete has been more examined, reviewed and critiqued than LeBron James has this season. But now that the Miami Heat have reached the NBA Finals as many predicted, the spotlight is shining even more intensely on him. And what it seems to be illuminating are some very serious flaws. LeBron, the NBA’s highest profile player, who is often compared to Michael Jordan in terms of all-around ability, has not been Jordanesque at all against the Dallas Mavericks.
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