No Regard Recaps: A New Source of Clean Energy

One Game We Watched Last Night: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Nuggets: 114, Thunder: 104

This game is the answer the America's clean energy question. Watching Russ and Kenneth and Iggy and even Reggie Jackson blur across the floor like manic jaguars in fast forward presents an idea: Harness this energy to power cities. A Westbrook drive could heat a school for three days. A Faried offensive rebound and dunk could run a fleet of buses for a week. A JaVale goaltend could power one goaltending-powered joke machine for eternity.

If we want to get that highly coveted federal grant, though, somebody has to talk to Kevin Durant. In the fourth quarter, he was not being absurdly athletic and energetic (even though he is). He was being unfailingly polite. On most possessions, he stood behind the three line to the left of the key and called for the ball, which never came. On two consecutive possessions he calmly waved at Westbrook like someone who has run into a friend he is only sort of excited to see. Russell is too constantly hopped up on fury and Cheetos to notice such tepid pleas. Kev didn't get the ball. He is and will always be the most important piece of the Thunder's government proposal, so he needs to act like it.

Sure, this whole energy experiment has its risks (as Serge's bloodied head discovered on its own), but what revolution doesn't? A playoff series between these two teams would ween us of foreign oil in seven games.

One Game We Didn't Watch Last Night: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings

Clippers: 101, Kings: 116

Haha, ok. So happy the Kings didn't waste a 19-point, 7-assist game by Toney Douglas.

No Regard Previews: NBA Forever

One Game We Will Watch Tonight: Miami Heat vs. Memphis Grizzles

How could we not suggest that this is the game you watch tonight?

No Regard Presidential Previews: Denver Nuggets (John Quincy Adams)

Oh the season. Oh the season! Election or NBA, both are upon us. We're getting into the spirit by bringing you our season previews (with a little help from the presidents). One per day for the next 30 days—which will bring us to the Day of Reckoning. So please join us on the campaign trail as we shake hands, kiss babies and sink jumpers.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” - John Quincy Adams

While he would never be as famous or well-remembered as his father, John Quincy Adams was a fantastic diplomat and a surprisingly progressive president. Elected in 1824 after a highly successful eight-year stint as Secretary of State that included acquiring Florida from Spain and authoring the Monroe Doctrine, John Quincy Adams opposed slavery and pushed for the modernization of American infrastructure.

The Nuggets were not supposed to matter after Carmelo Anthony forced a trade to the Knicks. Denver was destined to become Cleveland West, acquiring Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and others for Melo, Chauncey Billups and others. Well, Gallinari turned into a star, Ty Lawson began coming of age and the Nuggets drafted Kenneth Faried and traded for JaVale McGee, two phenomenal physical specimens.

An incredible diplomat, Adams was known for working peacefully with leaders around the world. The Nuggets seem to be willing to trade with pretty much anyone. This summer, after already shipping Nene to Washington for McGee, Denver dealt Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington for Andre Iguodala, another incredibly athletic, hard-working player to lead their young team. A team that took the Lakers to seven games in the first round the year after trading the biggest star in franchise history is only getting better. Where John Quincy Adams was a sneaky-good leader of the free world, the Nuggets are a sleeper team that could make noise in the Western Conference for years to come.

Will the young, upstart Nuggets continue to grow under super-coach George Karl? Will GM Masai Ujiri stir things up once more? Can the Nuggets reach the second round?

(On a separate note, do yourself a favor and search YouTube for "JaVale McGee dumb plays" you won't be disappointed. Keep in mind, this man is getting paid $10 million this year.)

Rushed Pull-Up Jumpers

Pokemon who the team should adopt as its new mascot: Zapdos

Headline we'll be most sick of reading: "Andre Miller a Great Teacher for Lawson"

Headline we're most looking forward to: "Stuff JaVale Bought"

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you enter the pearly gates?: "Why are you here? I thought you couldn't be killed."

No Regard Previews: Is The Future Anything?

One Game We Will Watch Tonight: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

Face it: You're going to try to explain JaVale McGee to your kids one day. Sorry. It's not going to be easy, but most things in life worth doing are hard. His game five performance will be a crucial part of your presentation, seeing as that game was the realization of everything promised, but rarely delivered, by that seven-foot six-inch wingspan.



Then he hurled the game ball into the stands three seconds after Craig Sager told him to hold onto it. It was a great moment because Sager was kind of a jerk to him in the interview ("You've had a rather uneventful career in Washington..."), but also because it ensured that we'll never lose Pierre McGee, even as JaVale hopefully blossoms. You'll probably include that video in your presentation, too.

"Then, in game six," you'll next explain to your now-enthralled child... But we don't know what you'll say next. Hopefully, you'll be able to say that JaVale continued his progress towards his first All-Star Game. But it's just as likely that you'll simply pull up an embarrassing GIF (like this one) and begin wrapping up your presentation. Regardless, tonight's game seems like a pretty crucial block in JaVale's narrative, so how could we not watch?

One Game We Probably Won't Watch Tonight: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls

(photo via @cjzero)

There are enough things that bum us out in this world. No need to tune into another.

NBA Middle Names: JaVale McGee

We at No Regard spend a lot of time in our NBA knitting circles trying to figure out the human side of these players. Whether it's musing about their commutes to work, how much "Call of Duty" they play, or what their favorite snack food is, we like to remind ourselves that NBA players are nothing more than young men with enviable jobs. What better way to humanize our heroes than look up their middle names?

JaVale Lindy McGee

No Regard Recap: Ever Since The Weigh In, I Knew He Was Petro

One Game We Watched Last Night: Indiana Pacers vs. New Jersey Nets

Pacers: 108, Nets: 94

No one will believe me, but there was a 60-second stretch last night when Johan Petro made three positive plays in a row. Honestly. This happened. I rewound the DVR four times to make sure. In the second quarter, the Pacers secured a defensive rebound and got an outlet pass to Louis Amundson. Petro, trailing, changed his path, cut off Amundson from behind and blocked the layup attempt. I swear. On the following trip back down the court, he parked himself at the right elbow, caught a pass, squared his shoulders and made a jumper. This is true. The Pacers then got the ball down to the other end, someone missed a shot and Petro (I swear) got the rebound. This is all true. (But I will admit, I just checked the box score again to make sure he recorded at least one rebound. He did.) He then made a few boneheaded plays that forced Avery to yank him, but I mean, when you play with woefully uncoordinated French fire, you're going to get burned.

Oh, also, Mr. Candace Parker played great, despite the 1-9 shooting. Really, he played very good defense.

Another also: Free Jordan Farmar.

One Game We Didn't Watch Last Night: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets





Bucks: 86, Nuggets: 91

No Regard Preview: Work To Be Done

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Indiana Pacers vs. New Jersey Nets

You know how going to work is the worst? How even if you have a pretty alright job, going to work in the morning is the worst? So does Deron Williams. He has to go to work every day and pass the ball to Johan Petro, who is bad at catching basketballs.

So you know what? Johan Petro also probably hates going to work because he's very under-qualified for the job he's been hired to do, and his work day is televised.

In fact, right now all the Nets look like they hate going to work. I don't blame them, it's been awful for us fans as well. But tonight we're all going back. I hope there's at least a birthday today so I get a cupcake.


One Game We Probably Won't Watch Tonight: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets

I would love to watch this game. Love to. But I'm just trying to be honest here. A holiday week was an odd time for the season to start. Family commitments, friend commitments and drinking commitments have prevented me from watching many games other than my Netsies. So as much as I'd love to check in on the Brandon Jennings-Stephen Jackson Tower of Terror (and seriously, I can't wait to see what this looks like), I just don't have enough eyeballs.

Tonight I need to check in on Greg Monroe and Jonas Jerebko as they try and not let Dwight grab every rebound ever made. I need to watch Mike D'Antoni drool over the most Mike D'Antoni player ever in Andrea Bargnani. I need to be reminded that Ricky Rubio is real. I need to see if the Mavs are ready to prove how important the second win of a season can be. I need to learn what Enes Kanter looks like. I need to find out what new vaccine LeBron and Wade have invented for tonight. Heck, I even feel compelled to see what new way the Washington Wizards have found to waste talent.

There's just too much I haven't seen yet in this young season to spend any time peeping Nene and Bogut bump into each other. And that's after I watch the Nets lose another one.

No Regard Daily Previews: Holden Caufield

One Game We Will Watch Tonight:
Denver Nuggets Vs. Orlando Magic

I'm not in love with what is going on with either of these franchises these days.

I understand that Orlando is still one of the top teams in the East record-wise, Dwight Howard's offensive game has improved since last year and Stan Van Gundy is a great coach. Fine.

No Regard Daily Previews: Tortoise and Hare

One Game We Are Definitely Going To Watch Tonight:
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets


Tonight's featured match up pits a classic run-and-gun high octane offense against a stone-cold, blue-collar defense. It should be great to watch and see if George Karl's hectic style can solve Boston's lockdown D. The key battle will be between Pierce and Anthony: can the Truth handle the jab-step and smile, or will Melo be able to handle the Truth?

Speaking of Melo (can you believe he's still on the Nuggets?), despite a drop in his scoring average, 22.8 down from last season's 28.2, he remains one of the best closers in the league and perhaps the purest scorer of his generation. (I'd love to hear some feedback in the comments section on that debate!) Off the bench, George Karl has found himself a sprightly backup for Billups in the form of former Tar Heel Ty Lawson, whose 8.8 points and four assists per contest have been pivotal in Denver's 13-7 start.

No Regard Recap: 11-16-10

One Game We Watched Last Night: New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets


Knicks: 118 Nuggets: 120

Mike D'Antoni is confusing. And maybe a religious zealot. I get it that he's got a style of play he believes in, but the way he refuses to bend to any suggestion of defense or more patient offensive sets is mind-boggling. It borders on religious mania, a blind worship of the three-pointer.

Surely, two people who won't be attending mass anytime soon are Knicks announcers Walt Frazier and Mike Breen.

No Regard Daily Previews: 11-11-10

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat

It seems like just yesterday that we were sitting here, jittery, waiting for these two teams to open up this season in Boston. Before that kickoff on October 26, expectations could not have been higher to watch these teams play each other, to see if the reigning Eastern Conference champs would be able to defend their turf against the newly-created behemoth.

We now find ourselves two and a half weeks into the season, and here we are, just as anxious to watch sparks fly, this time in Miami. Sure, we know more than we did then. We now know that this Heat team, at 5-3, is very human indeed, and also that the Celtics are more ready than a lot of us expected to reassert their dominance. We know that LeBron James probably won't give KD a run for the scoring title, but that there's a damn good chance he finishes in the top ten in assists. We know that Rajon Rondo is pretty much definitely going to finish first in that category, and probably in steals, as well. We know that Kevin Garnett is not the most sensitive person in the world (okay, we already knew that).

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?