Wordapp!!!!!!

Nate Robinson and Shaq are on the same team.  This pleases me for many reasons.  One reason being that when they are standing next to each other, they are arguably this generation's Muggsy Bogues and Manute Bol.  Also, it's funny when a really short person stands next to a really tall person because you think to yourself, "Are these two really from the same species?" But in this case the answers is no, because genies aren't people.

But mostly this makes me happy because Shaq and Robinson are two of my favorite NBA Twitterers.  And now that they are both playing for the Celtics, they can combine their awesome Twit-Powers for an outrageous, spontaneous, you can't contain this kind of fun.

Melo Drama: Ex-Nets Ruin the Fun

So the Melo drama has come to an end, at least for Nets fans. Today, it became official that the proposed four-team megadeal that would send Carmelo Anthony to my beloved home state has been killed.

Which gives us the perfect opportunity to dedicate the necessary time to the most troublesome news bit from the weekend. Reportedly, after Kobe crashed the party, what added most to Melo's hesitancy about moving to Jersey was discussions with former Nets who "warned" him about the Nets' dismal fanbase and poor placement on the New York-area sports totem.

Look. We're not going to dive into the details here, but trust us, these criticisms are unfounded. Yes, we know games at the Izod Center in recent years had the atmosphere of a child's wake; we were there. But things are clearly very different now, so no former Net has any idea what being a Prokhorov employee means.

Bynum: Okay By Me!

So I must admit that this post is a bit weird for me to write. But after a discovery I made this morning, I realized I can no longer deny that I sort of like Andrew Bynum. Obviously, as an intense Celtics fan it doesn't make sense for me to like any Lakers, ever. Ironically, the following three reasons have led me to the conclusion that even though he plays for hated Los Angeles, Bynum is fine by me.

First and foremost, Bynum is a Jersey man. Born and raised in the Garden State, I automatically am drawn to him knowing that his basketball career started in my favorite place. Although, simply being an NJ native is not enough for me to claim that I somewhat admire this man. No, it's that this past June, he declined to immediately get the knee surgery he required to be ready for opening day and instead decided to attend the FIFA World Cup in South Africa!

I am on record as being a fan of soccer, so after hearing that Bynum will now miss the beginning of the season because he went to go watch soccer games in Africa elevates his status for me big time. Good work, Drew! You're not so bad after all.

Finally, he looks a lot like one of my favorite comedians.

Fantasy Voyage: So it Begins

If you hadn't already guessed it, we here at No Regard are pretty heavy into fantasy basketball. Throughout the season, we'll take the occasional moment to ignore real-life NBA implications and take a look at things from an IFL (In Fantasy Life) perspective.

For this first edition of Fantasy Voyage, we'd like to throw a question out there: Should Kevin Durant be the unanimous #1 pick going into this season? We're pretty positive he's got the scoring title on lock, but do LeBron's new surrounding weapons make him an even more dangerous fantasy option? What about CP3 and Kobe?

If you are fortunate enough to get that top spot, what are you doing?

Top Five Player Tweets of the Week - In Pictures!

From Skillanueva's half-time tweets to Gil's fateful outburst, we're keeping tabs on this whole Twitter thing.  Each week we wade through the rants, shout outs and sheer insanity to bring you the best micro-blogging the NBA has to offer.

5. "How do u hide ur Jim Johnson gettin excited in skinny jeans. Lol that's terrible. U r a boy. Get u some hammer baggy pants and go hard."

- Mike James







4. "I told yall yesterday about iguodala night right?? Yall ready for iguodala night????"

- Andre Iguodala

Team Dreamin' 2011: New York Knicks

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

So despite the emotional roller-coaster the Knicks have imposed on us this offseason, we at No Regard remain excited. I mean how could we not be? Dolan, Donnie, and D'Antoni (ahem, The Killer D's...) have cobbled together a team of guys that can really play. A low seed in the playoffs is no longer wishful thinking, but a reasonable expectation. For these Knicks, led by Amar'e, it's time to get serious, to focus on basketball; in other words, this ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around. Or is it...?

Tream Dreamin' 2011: Denver Nuggets

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

There has sure been a lot of 'Melo wants out of Denver' chatter since LeBron made his decision to play in Miami. The experts have spent the last two months breaking down the potential suitors for Anthony and it makes me sick. So, Denver Nuggets, I plead of you this:

Decide either way what you are going to do about Melo immediately! It's killing us out here!

It's not that I'm upset to hear that Carmelo might leave Denver. It's that I can't bear any more agonizing days in which I spend my minutes debating the different places he might end up and how that might effect the NBA.

Seriously, I cringe thinking about how, for almost two years, I was so obsessed with where LeBron was going to end up I found myself saying phrases like, "He's staying, bro. No way he leaves his hometown without a ring," and "He's coming to the Nets, dude. How could he say no to BK, Jay-Z, and one of the richest people in the world?" on a daily basis.

Now, with all the Melo conversation going on, I again find myself saying phrases like, "He's staying, bro. No way he leaves Denver without a ring," and "He's coming to the Nets, dude. They have the most to offer him. How could he say no to BK, Jay-Z, and Devin Harris?" on a daily basis.

So Denver, bro, get on your horse and move him already. Or don't move him. Whatever it is you want to do, do it ASAP. But send him to the Nets, dude. How can you say no to Melo in BK, with Jay-Z and Devin Harris?

Whoa Nellie!

Sorry for the Post headline, but I have to say, I was not expecting this news! It may have seemed obvious based on the Warriors performance issues over the last two seasons and cryptic words from owner Joe Lacob, but I would have put a fair amount of money on Golden State keeping the Don around for the last season on his contract, giving him the chance to continue to develop Stephen Curry and work with David Lee. It seemed like the easiest thing to do.

But, alas, Lacob and fellow new owner Peter Guber, could not wait until 2011-2012 for a total "rebuilding". And as much as I love Nelson on a personal, drinking buddy level, this might end up being a really smart decision. Barring a remarkably good season, Nelson would have probably been out after this year. With all the new pieces in Golden State, it makes sense to give them a new coach from the get-go, rather than disrupting things after one season. Additionally, Keith Smart seems like a nice fit. The players like him, he's been very involved with leading the team, and if things don't work out, the stakes aren't all that high, economically or for the new owners' reputation. It's a safe choice, yet one with a high ceiling that could produce surprisingly good results.

That said, we'll miss Don. A lot. His tenure with the Warriors has included so many great moments and for at least a couple of us here, some of the most fun-to-watch basketball we've ever seen. All we can hope for is that, since he'll still make his $6 million for the upcoming year, he's fine with covering the tab when we invite him out for Scotch.

Team Dreamin' 2011: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Maybe you are new to our Team Dreamin' 2011 feature, or maybe you could use a refresher. Whoever you are, here is a brief look into what we at No Regard have dreamed up so far for the NBA 2011 season; what the league would look like if we had our way.

Antoine Walker is back in Boston and taking advantage of the league's newly implemented 4-point shot, but the Celtics aren't the only team making a risky roster move, with the Nets signing a Harlem Globetrotter. Also hoping get to creative with its roster, OKC creates Hard Collison (James Harden sitting on Nick Collison's shoulders wearing a custom parachute jersey) to toughen up it's frontcourt.

Team Dreamin' 2011: LA Lakers

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

Pau Gasol and Brook Lopez are two of the best big men in the league right now. Pau was dominant all year alongside Kobe to help Los Angeles win it's second title in two years and Brook looks like he might someday be a 25 and 10 guy for the Nets. What do they have in common? For starters, they both have brothers who are big-men in the NBA.

How cool would it be to see the Gasols and the Lopezes on the same team playing with the Black Mamba?

Getting to Know the Rookies

Not really. These are actually the least revealing videos of all time. Oh really, DeMarcus Cousins, you thought you should have been a top-two pick? Oh really, Paul George, to be in the NBA is a blessing? Do you guys feel that? I think it's the earth shattering.

Also, I love how poor Ekpe Udoh is the only lottery pick to not have his own video. That Jeremy Lin looks innocent enough, but he's a goddamned scene-stealer, I tell you.

Top 5 Player Tweets of the Week - In Pictures!

From Skillanueva's half-time tweets to Gil's fateful outburst, we're keeping tabs on this whole Twitter thing.  Each week we wade through the rants, shout outs and sheer insanity to bring you the best micro-blogging the NBA has to offer.

5. "Man it's good to be back in the States. One more flight to catch b4 I'm in Charlotte. Don't worry chick-fil-a...I'm coming!"

- Stephen Curry

4. "Anybody got any info on where we're at with time travel? I've waited long enough!"

- Muggsy Bogues

KD B-Day Extravaganza

[via NBA Offseason]

Three Questions:

1. KD man, why you not inviting your boy Russell Westbrook?

2. Is Wale in love with Kid Delish? If so, I don't blame him.

3. What's with the Kings hat?

If I were KD I would invite Chris, but not Neef. Just sayin'.

Love Love

Two Questions:

1. Can somebody please give Kevin Love more playing time?

2. Can we get the announcer in this video to do play-by-play for the Timberwolves?

Bibby's World: Being A Man

Don't know how we locked this down, but we'd like to introduce you to No Regard's newest blogging sensation... Mike Bibby! He'll be checking in whenever he can, just to remind us: It's Bibby's World, we just live in it!

Hey everyone!

I know it's been (approx.) two million years since I last posted something. I'm really sorry about that. In the interest of full-disclosure, you should know that it's because I'm big into Labor Day. I actually treat it more like Labor Month than Labor Day - a full month reserved for kicking back and not going to work or school. My kids love it more than anything, not having to go to the first couple weeks of class. (Secret: Kids learn less in the first month of school than in any other month, so you might as well use September to hang out with them.) Which brings me to the point of this post: Manliness.

Da'Sean Butler is a Wonderful Person

All we know: The Heat drafted West Virginia forward Da'Sean Butler with the 42nd pick in the 2010 draft. According to his Wikipedia page, he is an aspiring writer. Very recently, he unleashed a short story (via a McFlurry of tweets) about a young boy named Da'Sean finding a dinosaur in New Jersey. Then a Website named Tauntr.com animated an abridged version of the story. It's pretty much the best.



So yeah, we might have a hero on our hands. Favorite lines go in the comments.

[Hat tip to Ball Don't Lie]

FIBA World Championships: 5 Things We'll Miss

The 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship was the "Freaks and Geeks" of international basketball tournaments. Each time I tuned in, it felt like I was one of about a dozen people watching magic unfold. It seemed like the barrier for entry was simply flashing your NBA Geek ID at the bouncer (who in this flight of fancy is played by that 300-pound Greek dude). But like Apatow's martyred TV show, this year's tournament, and specifically this version of the US national team, will prove its longevity in the minds of NBA fanatics.

So for the handful of you who were right there with us, watching Coach K and Kid Delicious conquer foreign lands, we think you'll argee with us on what we'll miss the most.

FIVE THINGS WE WILL MISS

1. This USA Team.
We'll never get to watch this collection of basketball players play together again. Which is a cosmic shame, because they were the personification of adrenaline, unity, and humility. Durant and Rose are a duo so forward thinking they probably drink Svedka vodka. Kevin Love is the most talented white guy to ever wave a towel on the bench (I'm too young to mention Celtics-era Walton). The Westbrook-Gordon combo was a Pollack painting off the bench. So raise a glass to the B-Team (and while you're at it, try to come up with a better nickname for them; they earned it).

2. The Turkey Fans.

Golden

More FIBA championship coverage to come, but for now, let's all just enjoy that photo.

NBA Happy Hour: FIBA Semifinals and Finals

TGIF basketball fans! It's the end of the week, so that means NBA Happy Hour, our almost-weekly basketball drinking game! Grab a beer, follow the rules and start the weekend with a Don Nelson-level buzz.

The FIBA World Championships have been great fun. We all know this. It's given us basketball games in a European soccer match atmosphere. It's given us one last, clear look at Tiago Splitter before he finally walks through the NBA's front door this season. It's given Louis Scola a very large stage on which to perform very strongly and this weekend, it all comes down to Turkey-Serbia-USA-Lithuania.

So grab a beer and drink...

A Tribute to the O.G.O

That stands for the Original Greg O. As you may have heard, Greg Ostertag may end up playing and/or assistant coaching with the D-League's Texas Legends, who have a name only our EndlessPat could love.

We hope that you're all as excited as we are about seeing Ostertag back on the court, and if you're not, we think this tribute will help get you there.

Suck it, Oden:

Team Dreamin' 2011: NBA All Star Weekend

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

I have believed for some time now that the Saturday night events at the NBA's All-Star weekend rank as the best All-Star events for any current American professional sports league. However, there is a certain competition that Stern has yet to implement that he needs to seriously consider. This event would kill it.

How about it, David? Host a 1 on 1 tournament in Los Angeles during this years All-Star festivities.

Whoa. I know, crazy right? But ponder it for a moment and try and come up with some sort of legitimate argument which suggests that hosting an 8 person 1 on 1 tournament during All-Star weekend is not a brilliant idea for David Stern to think about.

Here's how the single elimination style tourney should be played out. Select 8 potential 1 on 1 players in the NBA via fan voting. For argument's sake: Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Cp3, Wade, Howard, Durant, and Rondo receive the most votes and all agree to compete in LA. The names are put into a hat and the bracket is randomly selected by luck of the draw. First round and semi-final games would be played to 7 with 3's counting as 2's and 2's counting for 1. The final match will be played to 11. Please take a moment and picture what might be witnessed if this were to go down.

Everyone grows up playing 1 on 1. It is ball in its most basic and fundamental form. Undoubtedly, games are won and lost based on the outcome of individual 1 on 1 battles throughout 4 quarters of play. Being able to watch the most ridiculous ballers in the world go at it in a 1 on 1 situation would be unforgettable. Seriously, let's put aside the "What if someone gets hurt?" nonsense and facilitate the coolest thing ever this February.

Dear Matt Barnes,

and Chris Brown,

Please stop making people with neck tattoos look like monsters.

Love,

Deshawn Stevenson & Chris Andersen, on behalf of the People with Unfortunate Tattoos Association (PUTA).



Seriously. Stop hitting ladies. You know?

Earning Those Cheetos

Semi-Finals, baby! Team USA bested Russia behind inspired efforts from OKC's finest today in Turkey. Westbrook came up with steal after steal and was able to fly to the rim for some powerful finishes and KD was deadly as usual on the offensive end for the red, white and blue.

The Russians battled in the first half, keeping the game close with offensive rebounding and solid jump-shooting, but they could not find an answer to America's gambling defense during the 3rd quarter. It was a dominating half for the Yanks. Looking ahead, they potentially face a piping-hot Luis Scola-led Argentina team in a game that awards the winner a spot in the finals of this tournament.

Two more wins and Lady Liberty proves once again that basketball's international crown rightfully belongs to the United States of America. Enjoy those cheesy snacks, Westbrook; you burned off those calories, man.

Mixtape for LeBron

Our relationship with LeBron is reaching Inception-sized levels of confusion. He was so good and kind to us for so long; he made us happy. But this summer we realized he was more Zooey Deschanel than Meg Ryan, more manic pixie dream girl than stable and perfect object of affection. Or maybe he's most like Sarah Marshall.

See? He's got us all mixed up. Regardless, during "The Decision" and its aftermath, we finally realized we were in a destructive relationship. All the things he did that made us happy? He did them for himself, not us. We should have figured this all out long ago, but any time the thought trickled in, he swooned us with another new handshake or giggle-inducing look-away pass. "See?! He's a great teammate! He cares!" We know he's bad for us, but we just can't shake him. Reminders of the good times are everywhere... Jesus, we named our site after one of his grandest highlights.

So, as any heartbroken young adult is taught to do by John Cusack, we've made a mixtape for you, LeBron. Listen to the entire thing. Some is vicious, we admit; we want you to know you hurt us. But pay attention, because we have room for forgiveness and we want some form of success for you. We're compassionate. But we'll never go steady again.

The W: Ladies Be Ballin'

When it's the end of August/beginning of September and there are no trades being made, no big international games being played and no insane off-the-court drama, NBA news often finds itself replaced by something that can appear as filler: WNBA news. From the sports section of amNew York to case-pleading endorsements by Shoals, the last few weeks have offered the sports media the opportunity to turn their attention to the oft-neglected lady ballers. Now, as we approach the upcoming finals between the Seattle Storm and the winner of the New York Liberty-Atlanta Dream series, the fever pitch is forcing me to ask some questions of myself.

Every year--and particularly this year, when blogging has forced me to pay even closer attention to the goings-on of the basketball world--this end-of-summer interest increase gives me the same sense of the Guilties, for I have never paid close attention to the WNBA, and to this day I can count all the active players I can name on my hands and toes.

Top 5 Player Tweets of the Week - In Pictures!

From Skillanueva's half-time tweets to Gil's fateful outburst, we're keeping tabs on this whole Twitter thing. Each week we wade through the rants, shout outs and sheer insanity to bring you the best micro-blogging the NBA has to offer.

5. "Good Deed ALERT: Who wants to go help look for homeless people and feed the with me...."

- George Hill

4. "Things taller than me: giraffes, Shawn Bradley and most high school girls."

- Muggsy Bogues

Slippery When Wet

Eric Gordon made it rain yesterday. All over these hoes. Well not "these hoes" so much as Tunisian basketball players but the imagery still works. Sort of. Seriously though, Gordon sizzled draining multiple 3 pointers and finishing the game with 21 points as the USA cruised to an easy victory over Tunisia. I hope Coach K was taking notes for the future.

Onto the knock-out stage of the tournament where much tougher foes await like Spain and Greece. Will KD, Rose and Duke's Head Coach do enough to lead our heroes to FIBA immortality, or will Minnesota's lost boy carry Spain to international basketball triumph?

We'll just have to tune in to find out. How lucky are we to get to see the smile pictured below playing in one-and-done basketball games in early September?

Ridin' Dirty (On A Motorcycle)

Do not even consider calling it a comeback: He has been here for years. Delonte West is back in Boston.

This is a great signing by Ainge. Looking beyond the stories swirling about his off-the-court activities (which include West and his relationship with a former teammate's mother, and his infamous motorcycle joy-ride that involved high speeds, the police, and a shotgun in a guitar case) it is clear that this young man has serious potential to be a great guard in the NBA.

West is quick, a natural scorer, and a player that can come off the bench and ensure there is almost no let down when Rondo needs a break. He has been dominate for games playing in Cleveland and will provide much needed depth for Beantown at the guard position.

Miami at Boston opening day cannot come any sooner. There is so much to look forward to.