Tag: Basketball

The Business Beyond the Baskets: Shoe Deals

August 7, 2018

Basketball is so much more than just entertainment, there’s a massive business behind the scenes. For most spectators going to a game, they think they’re going to marvel over a player’s athleticism, they don’t realize that in reality, they’re watching a live commercial. For shoe companies, these athletes are a prime spotlight for their product. The NBA is a direct marketing opportunity for shoe companies that generate billions of dollars annually and fight tooth and nail for the NBA’s big-time player endorsements. So, how big is the sneaker industry in the NBA, and how has it changed throughout time?

Assessing the Odds: A Gambler’s Look at the 2019 NBA Season

August 3, 2018

Caleb Mynatt | August 3rd, 2018 The 2018 offseason has been one filled with a promising draft class, a loaded

Golden State Warriors 2018-19 Season Preview

August 2, 2018

Oscar Rzodkiewicz | August 2nd, 2018 Coming off back-to-back NBA Titles, the bar for the Golden State Warriors remains as

How LeBron James 2012 Takedown of Boston Celtics Helped Him Shape His Career

August 1, 2018

Pranav Ramasubramanian | August 1st, 2018 It was the year 2012 and the Boston Celtics had just taken a 3-2

Concussion Protocols Vary Between Leagues

July 31, 2018

Concussions are a risk in any sport, some more than others. All professional sports governing authorities have established concussion protocols including criteria that must be met in order to return to participation. The protocols are similar, but they do have several unique tweaks specific to that league. This article will review the concussion protocols and the return to play criteria adopted by MLB, NBA, and the NFL.

Without Melo, the New-Look Thunder Are Poised to Shine

July 31, 2018

After Paul George and Carmelo Anthony joined the Thunder via trade last offseason, Oklahoma City fans were ecstatic. Feeling that George would contribute a lot of the scoring they lost when Kevin Durant left, as well as gambling on Carmelo Anthony’s upside, OKC felt that they could compete for the championship in the 2017-2018 season. The loud and loyal fanbase was prepared to capture the feeling of success they once knew, a feeling they lost when Durant left. But like many teams in the NBA before them, things didn’t exactly work out as they planned.

The NBA’s Forgotten Superstars

July 30, 2018

Every year, dozens of new players enter the league and new stars rise to prominence. As these new players rise to fame though, the older players are downgraded, a shadow of their prime. All of these players were at one point superstars in the league, but today they get paid a fraction of what the once were as their stats deplete. As the 2018-2019 season approaches, here’s a list of five overlooked players who are far beyond their prime but deserve more recognition for how great they once were.

Is the NBA Draft Losing Its Value?

July 29, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers, the most storied franchise in the NBA, have been in rebuild mode for at least five seasons. Ever since Kobe Bryant’s body gave up on him (he missed 139 games in his last three years), the Purple and Gold have been outside the playoffs and looking to acquire new talent through the draft.

Did LeBron James Have a Boxer’s Fracture?

July 26, 2018

A lot was made about Lebron James playing in the NBA finals with an injured right hand and Christian Vazquez was initially placed on the 10-day DL after injuring his hand sliding. The punch to the blackboard that injured Lebron’s hand is the classic mechanism for boxer’s fracture, but the fact that Vazquez’s injury is to his pinky or 5th digit makes that type of injury likely for him too.

Are International Players On the Verge of Taking Over the NBA?

July 25, 2018

Who is the best player in the NBA under the age of 25? Like all questions based on opinion, the answer will vary depending on who you ask. Nevertheless, there will be a few names which are mentioned frequently. For fans who love watching jaw-dropping dunks from players with superhuman athleticism, they would lean towards Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you prefer a positionless playmaker with a sky-high IQ, Ben Simmons is your pick. Those more into dominant centers would perhaps say Joel Embiid. While each of these players is in the discussion for different reasons, they have one clear characteristic in common; they are all international players.

Entertaining Cavs-Lakers Clash Bodes Well For Both Sides

July 21, 2018

The cynical, stereotypical view of the NBA Summer League is that it offers no real indication of how teams will perform when the season starts for real in October. That can often be the case as, with the rosters being dominated by players scrapping for merely a place in the G-League, all squads are missing the vast majority of their key personnel.

Kawhi Must Recognize Opportunity in Toronto To Realize LA Dream

July 20, 2018

A little over a year ago, Kawhi Leonard had it all. Entering the 2017 playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs forward was considered the best two-way player in basketball and seemed destined assume the mantle as the leader of the most successful franchise in the NBA since the turn of the century. When he averaged 27.8 points per game on 52% shooting through the opening two rounds of the postseason, everything was going according to plan.