No Regard Previews: Alliteration

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics

No doubt beaming about their first opportunity to meet the BrooklyKnight in person, Doc Rivers and the gang head to what is affectionately known as "BK" tonight for an Atlantic Conference showdown with the Nets (formerly of New Jersey, FYI). The dubious storyline for tonight's basketball match is the health of the ever-spectacular, Rajon Rondo. If he suits up, fans will be treated to a game of point-guard chess between two of the world's best round-ball quarterbacks. If Rondo is in formal wear on the bench, then Deron Williams and Joe Johnson should be able to "run this town tonight." That's a Jay-Z lyric, FYI. He's part owner of the Nets, FYI.

Either way, Rondo will likely make the trip, look his best and beam outwardly when he accepts an autograph from the world's most important mascot, the BrooklyKnight.

Both Brooklyn and Boston are coming off victories in their previous basketball contests. The Cs put the ball in the hoop more frequently than the Jazz last night while the Nets did the same against the Cavaliers a few evenings ago.

Some other food for thought: Who will guard Paul Pierce? While Joe Johnson definitely has the size, one has to wonder if he's a skilled enough marksman (yeah, that word makes sense for a defender also) to slow down the always clever, never predictable Pierce. Word around the grapevine is that rebounds are important too, in winning games, so it should be tantalizing to watch and see if KG can slow down the absolute rebounding monster that is Kris Humphries. Even your little sister who hates sports knows that Boston doesn't have to worry about Brook Lopez on the glass. Rumor around the water-cooler is that he's literally allergic to rebounds.

One Game We Won't Watch Tonight: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks

Sorry but I'm not looking to party like it's 1999 tonight. Allan Houston ain't walking through that door. He's watching the game with a tie on from a luxury box.

Comparing Williamses to Geralds

The 2011-2012 Nets have been defined by two distinct eras. The first: "Williams to the Fourth Power." The second: "Gerald Squared." The former, aptly named because during that period, the team dressed four players with the last name Williams (Shawne, Deron, Sheldon, and Jordan). The latter—and current—version of the Nets is also aptly named (by me) because the team dresses two players with the first name Gerald (Green and Wallace).

In doing a brief, but thorough, statistical analysis, it's clear that these eras define two completely different teams. There's no arguing that New Jersey Net success this season has been wholly dependent on if their game-day program listed four players with the last name Williams or two players with the first name Gerald.

NBA Middle Names: Deron Williams

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?

Deron Michael Williams

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.

If You See Something, Say Something: Bullies, Bibby and Starbury For Life!

IYSSSS is our semi-regular internet intelligence report, a liberal arts approach to following the NBA on the Web. E-mail us at jewsforjesusshuttlesworth@gmail.com if you've got any suggestions.

Starbury Dominating Life in China: Fear not, Stephon Marbury lovers, the former Lincoln High School superstar is having his cake on the other side of the world, and crushing it too. According to William Rhoden's New York Times piece, Steph writes for a local paper, is a therapist to the other American players in China, is at peace with his life, and has an amazing apartment. All while averaging 22.3 points per game and leading the Beijing Ducks to an undefeated season to date. Get some, Steph.

David Stern Demands Lunch Money: According to this ESPN.com article, Deron Williams isn't so fond of the commissioner's propensity to give wedgies, push other kids on the playground and smoke cigarettes on school grounds. "You're fighting a bully, man. David Stern is a bully," the superstar guard stated when asked about the Chris Paul situation. Williams did confirm, though, that he does have at least one ally at school: "But I have friends, like, Dwight's my friend, so if I wanna call him and talk to him, I'm gonna call him and talk to him."

No Regard Staffer Joins Knicks!: Popular NBA blogger Mike Bibby has a new team and a fresh start in New York City. The former member of the Grizzles, Kings, Hawks, Wizards and Heat stated that he's "always wanted to play for Mike D'Antoni," in this YouTube video. We couldn't be happier for our special little guy and we expect to hear from the man himself soon!

Clippers Seeking CP3 For Two Reasons: With the Lakers no longer in play, the Clip Show is apparently doing its best to land the most wanted point guard in the league, according to this NBA.com article. If you like players with two first names and alley-oops, check out the 2011-2012 Los Angeles Clippers!

Regarding This NBA Lockout

I have lived through an NBA lockout, but the the stakes did not seem nearly as high then as they appear to be right now. The consequences of this current mess truly have the potential to change the meaning of the NBA for years to come. During the first lockout, the prospect of superstars gracing the courts of Turkey or China were impossible. The legitimacy of those leagues was so far behind the NBA that for someone like Allen Iverson in 1998 to even mention balling abroad was not just laughable, it was non-existent.

Things are different in the post-modern world of 2011. We live in a global society, a global market and a global sports universe. You want proof?

Mixtape for Deron

Nets fans are riddled with psychological complexes; that'll happen when you're constantly trying to convince people you exist. So when NJ shocked the world by trading for the superstar they craved in Deron Williams back in February, we didn't need the media's brash reporting to kickstart our anxiety. Once we heard the term "player option," our collective paranoia and inferiority leaped out of bed and bound down the stairs to fight for a seat at the breakfast table. I've since been able to push down the fear of losing Williams to free agency and the resulting Brooklyn oblivion. I'm trying on a brand new outfit for a Nets fan: Confidence.

A lot of Nets supporters seem to have done the same; I guess that's the reach of a great point guard. As Nets fans, we're suddenly optimistic about Williams' future with the team, and all it took was a five-game winning streak, 14 rebounds a game by Mr. Kardashian, and Brook Lopez playing like every day is Free Comic Book Day.

But, as we're told by everyone with a voice and a Nets press pass, the length of Deron's tenure with this squad hinges on the plan laid out by Billy King and Avery Johnson and endorsed by Prokhorov. Williams' Facebook page says he's thrilled about the glimpes of future that King has dropped into Williams' brain, but who knows what's real life anymore.

But you know what? We don't care. We're in love. We've fallen harder for this point guard savior than we did the last. The result is this mixtape, which is as much about Deron Williams as it is about Nets fandom and all its uncertainties. Is it filled with our begging him to stay? Yeah... it is. But it's also about what one man can do for a community; about what one man can do to the wounded hearts of so many faithful. Are we nervous about the future? You bet. But at least now we have a partner to share the anxiety with. Will he leave us? Maybe. But we dealt with heartbreak before, and it's taught us an important lesson: Love what you've got while you've got it.

Now for the tracklist...

D-Will Loves Mexican Food, Other Stuff

Last night, No Regard and friends attended the first home game for Deron Williams in a Net uniform. If you haven't heard about it, the game was incredibly exciting and featured clutch shots, serious dimage from Jersey's newest point guard and a heartbreaking and controversial loss for the home team.

Outside of the amazing basketball, half-court buzzer beater by Vujacic, rowdy crowd, and free D-Will tee-shirts for the first 10,000 fans (I didn't get one though, damn PATH train) the Nets also had a pretty cool introduction for Williams on the Jumbotron in between quarters. During this, the newest Net discussed some of his favorites. Seeing as I had imbibed in a fair amount of sodas before and during the game, I don't remember most of them. (Although, I was giddy about them at the time.) That said, I do recall him stating that Mexican is his favorite kind of food, specifically steak burritos, or steak something.

Sasha, you listening?

No Regard Previews: A New Show On Broadway

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight:
New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The scene is going to be wild tonight during the first game of the Melo Era in Madison Sqaure Garden. After almost a decade of terrible decisions, and pathetic basketball teams, New York Knick nation has a right to be ridiculously excited. And who better to take over the Big Apple than one of its own, Carmelo Anthony? This evening's game marks the start of something special for both New York City and the NBA. Seriously.

Nets Trade Lands Deron Williams

...and totally redeem yourself! Maybe more thoughts later, but for now we're busy looking for our old Sean Williams jersey.

No Regard Daily Previews: 11-3-10

One Game We Definitely Won't Miss This Time, I Swear!: Sacramento Kings Vs. Los Angeles Lakers


That's right, I'm doing it. I am going to watch the Kings tonight. It gets wonkier, I've got them winning, straight up. It's the least I can do after twice suggesting that I wasn't going to watch them play with the end result being that they won two exciting and offensive games. I'm on the King's Express tonight!

The Lakers will struggle this year on the 2nd night of back-to-back games and Tyreke Evans will blow by Derek Fisher all evening long. Let's Go Kings! Don't let me down Kings because there is also this...

One Game That If I Didn't Feel So Bad About Not Watching The Kings I'd Definitely Watch: Phoenix Suns Vs. San Antonio Spurs

These match ups are always battles because these teams hate each other. Look for Steve Nash to require some sort of organ transplant after being demolished by one of the Spurs and then come back right onto the court after receiving it. Duncan's good for 14 points and appearing as though his puppy was just recently hit by a car. The Suns look to get to .500 while the Spurs aim for 3-1. Expect Hedo to light it up tonight and for Phoenix to beat their Western Conference rivals.

One Game We Probably Won't Watch: Utah Jazz Vs. Toronto Raptors

What can I say? I understand that Deron Williams physically dominates opposing point guards but the Jazz have looked less than impressive in their first three games so far and to me it looks as if many of their problems are related to a lack of effort. Strange for a Jerry Sloan team. Toronto is also 1-2 and most likely won't put up a fight in Utah.

Weird how I didn't say I was watching either the Celtics or the Nets tonight.

No Regard Daily Preview: 10-28-10

Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Washington Wizards vs. Orlando MagicTonight marks the beginning of two eras in the Eastern Conference: the era of John Wall, and the era of Dwight Howard realizing he can fly and having a little self-respect. While Wall obviously has a lot to prove based on the lofty expectations that have been heaved his way for months, it may be Howard who will be watched most closely this game. As we noted in our Season Preview, it's just about do or die time for Howard to step up his post game and become the MVP-caliber player he physically has no right not to be. The East sure as shit isn't getting any weaker, aside from the gradual cellular decay of the Celtics, and Howard must be fully aware of how important it is for the Magic to prove this year that, Big Three be damned, they are team to beat not only in Florida, but in all the land. Personally, I think we're going to see a fierceness from this man that we've not seen before, and I greatly look forward to him owning the paint with an iron fist. A huge, Christian, iron fist.

This is not to say that I won't be loving every minute of watching John Wall begin his own reign of terror. With Gil's absence, Wall needs to make an instant claim to leadership of the Wizards, and even with a likely loss tonight, he has the chance to prove that there's no such thing as hyperbole when he is the subject of the conversation.


One Game We Probably Won't Watch Tonight: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz

It's nothing personal, Suns and Jazz. There are only two games tonight, and you know as well as I do that there's a hell of a lot more intrigue in the other one. That said, Nash vs. Williams is a consistently great point guard duel, and both these teams are trying to avoid an 0-2 start. I'm calling for a Jazz win in a high-scoring affair, leading Steve Nash to further consider his move to the MLS.

And for the record, duh, I'm going to watch some of this game tonight. It's the only 10:30 EST matchup, for Pete's sake! But I have to be at work early tomorrow, so I'll probably go to bed before it's over, thereby qualifying it as a game I probably won't watch (in its entirety). In other news, I really miss the Lawrence Welk show.

We Got Now

As a fan of the NBA during the inception of the WNBA, I specifically remember one of their earliest advertising slogans, "We got next." Fair enough. Whose got now then? The golden-era of current point guards in the NBA, that's who.