Everything Life Has to Offer, Including the Jumbotron

Sometimes we go to a basketball game and nothing happens. Players set picks, coaches scribble lines on a white board and fans crush concessions. Then there's the once-in-a-hundred-years game where just about every emotion one experiences in life seeps through the cracks of an arena and overwhelms us. It  leaves us feeling strange, confused, ecstatic, moved, hopeful, emotional, depressed, perplexed, angry, embarrassed, amazed, drained, grateful, delighted and awkwardly dancing for thousands to see. That was my afternoon on a chilly Sunday in Boston.

NBA Things I'm Thankful For

Last night I attended the Celtics 12-point loss to the Spurs. I used to live in Boston and went to Cs games all the time during the 2009-10 season (cheaper cost of living = more disposable income!), and being back at the TD Garden with one of my best friends from my time living there just felt like home. As such, I got the corny idea to make a list of NBA things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving, both about the game last night and the NBA in general. Enjoy!

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.

No Regard Recap: Four More Years!

One Team We Haven't Watched This Year: Boston Celtics

Record: 2-2

I refuse to bore you with the details of why I haven't been able to watch my favorite team, the Boston Celtics, this year. You've got the Internet: You're familiar with weather, democracy and whatever other dumb excuse I have for not keeping up with Rajon and the gang.

To make up for it, here's a summary of their season so far. I might not have watched the games, but like you, I've got the Internet and I've got some functioning eyeballs. 

No Regard Previews: Brain Burner

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

After one disappointing and three amazing games, the Miami Heat host the Boston Celtics tonight in what has the potential to be a historic battle. An historic, even, if that's how you choose to speak. Then again, as my partner-in-crime, Andrew Abides, noted last night during a conversation we had over the Internet, it could potentially fall flat.

“I have no idea what to expect out of this series anymore,” he typed. Mr. Abides’ astute observation is well-noted. So far, this series has given us just about everything. And with a guaranteed two, potentially three more games, just about anything could happen.

NBA Middle Names: Rajon Rondo

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?

Rajon Pierre Rondo

A Smart Man Talks About Rajon Rondo

My Dad has been a lifetime Celtics fan. When I was a kid, he often told me about one of his favorite plays and calls ever, the famous "Havilcek stole the Ball!". He loved watching Bird, the Chief and McHale dominate the NBA. He knows Celtic basketball. So when he tells me his opinions on the current outfit, specifically Rondo, via email on a Friday night, I take the man's words seriously. Here's the unabridged email he sent me, without warning, in response to the trade rumors surrounding Rondo. Enjoy.

Power Trio

Big-ups to Andrew Abides for finding this picture for me (from Rondo's Twitter feed). The two best players on my favorite soccer team in the world standing next to my favorite point guard in the world. My mind just exploded along with some other parts of my body that may or may not have exploded.

As Andrew and I sat there last night drinking black n' cans (Saranac Black and Tans, in cans), his streaking Nets took it to my first place Celtics with dead-eye three point shooting and passionate defense, which stifled Paulie Walnuts and Rondo.

We bet $5,000 on the game. Neither of us have close to that. I owe him 5k and I don't have it. Celts are now tied with Chicago for first place in the East due to this loss.

None of that matters because of this glorious picture this game produced.

Thank you, Twitter. It's moments like this when you prove why you're the best invention ever.

Rajon Rondo: Legitimate MVP Candidate? Legitimate MVP Candidate.

About two weeks ago, PeteB11 and I had a very short Gchat conversation:

Peter: Adam

When do we start throwing Rondo in theMVP conversation

Adam: right now?

Peter: He's an MVP candidate

there I said it

As you should know, Pete is a very funny guy, and I thought it was a very funny dialogue. "What a jokester, that Pete!" I thought to myself.

At the time, the only Celtics game I had watched was their opening statement against the Heat. Since then, I've watched five more of their contests, and I'm starting to realize that there's a good chance Pete was being as serious as your life.

New Regard Daily Previews: Weekend Edition

One Game That We Will Definitely Watch This Weekend: Boston Celtics Vs. Chicago Bulls


If you've been diligently reading my previews as of late, you're probably thinking to yourself, "this guy is a one-trick pony, all he writes about is point guards." If you are thinking that, then you are pretty much dead on. Can you blame me though? Tonight's matchup of Rose and Rondo is going to be epic. Look for these two studs to try and one-up each other all night long. I expect them to be co-mayors of Highlight City.

Don't forget that this is also the return of former Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeou and former Celtics towel-waver Brian Scalabrine to Beantown. (I don't use the F-Bomb too often in my writing by why the FUCK did Doc Rivers put him in during game 7 last year?). Predictions: Boston pulls off a close one, Joakim Noah plays hard, and KG calls Scal a honky. After the game, KG clarifies that he actually meant that he honked his horn at Brian when he saw him walking into the stadium before the game.

One Game That We're, Frankly, Not Watching: Charlotte Bobcats Vs. Detroit Pistons

There are times in life where you just have to be frank. This is one of those times. It sucks watching the Pistons these days. It sucks, hard. Not only is it horrible witnessing a Tracy McGrady that is about 1/100th of the player he once was but the entire squad is hapless. What happened to the Detroit team that won a ring with maybe the most balanced starting five ever? Seems like decades ago.

We don't know what to say, T-Mac. We hate watching you decline. We hate it.

Musical Chairs: Rondo Withdraws from World Championships

Who would have thought our WBF video of Rajon Rondo finding himself without a seat would have been so prophetic. Yesterday Rondo announced that he will be withdrawing from competition in the FIBA World Championships, an obvious face-saving move for the man who was a starter just a week ago. A man who as a starter, was doing this:

6 Questions Raised By USA vs. France

"Did Granger just foul out?"

"He has to learn there are consequences for his actions."

The above exchange was just one of many questions that had to be addressed during No Regard's field trip to Sunday's exhibition game between USA and France. The game was great, but for some reason, the afternoon spent at the culmination of the World Basketball Festival's takeover of New York City raised more questions than it answered. Here are a few of them.

1. Is Team USA's lack of bigs going to hurt them beyond repair during the tournament?
Don't think so. The Gasol brothers will surely prove a tough match-up, but that would be the case even if the US trotted out two or three all-star caliber big men. Instead, Coach K is going to champion this team's outrageous athleticism until he's hoarse. Using Sunday's match as a barometer, this tactic should work well against every team not named "Spain."

2. Have Rudy Gay and Andre Iguodala always been this good?

No Regard Video Exclusive: Russell Westbrook Gets The Gold Treatment

NRVE (No Regard Video Exclusives) are our videos. We shoot them, we cut them, we post them. You watch them. It's that simple. Check back for more on-the-spot video updates from major basketball events and original content that hopefully makes you laugh as much as Steve Nash's YouTube channel.

Before you watch this video, you're going to need SOME context. Russell Westbrook had just finished playing for the White Team at last night's World Basketball Festival. Unfortunately, Westbrook's team lost, but you wouldn't know it if you compared Rondo's post-game treatment to Westbrook's. Though the Celtic's PG was denied a seat at the Jay-Z show, our man Russell was given center stage tickets and TWO bags of Cheetos upon losing. We know that this video is just a really long clip of one of our favorite OKC boys eating chips, but pay attention to the way he signs every autograph and high-fives a dude even though he's got cheesy-fingers! What a man.

Want to know what Rondo thought about all this? Keep reading...

No Regard Video Exclusive: Rajon Rondo Wins, Then Loses

NRVE (No Regard Video Exclusives) are our videos. We shoot them, we cut them, we post them. You watch them. It's that simple. Check back for more on-the-spot video updates from major basketball events and original content that hopefully makes you laugh as much as Steve Nash's YouTube channel. 



We told you there was more.

Our second NRVE showcases two of our favorite moments from Thursday night's WBF Radio City festivities: Rajon Rondo throwing an insane, game-winning, alley-oop pass to Tyson Chandler during sudden death overtime, and then subsequently standing around awkwardly trying to find a seat in a packed Radio City Music Hall.

Rondo's alley-oop was a moment unlike anything we've ever seen in a basketball game. Granted, there was really nothing but pride on the line for this game, but we still couldn't believe it. You see, basketball just doesn't do sudden death overtime. They do double-overtime, or triple-overtime, but never 'you get dunked on, you lose'. Not unless there's a good reason, and the good folks at the WBF had one hell of a good reason.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Jay-Z."

No Regard Video Exclusive: LeBron James Bored By Basketball

So we were wrong about missing out on tonight's festivities at Radio City Music Hall. Really wrong. So wrong that we were given exclusive courtside access to cover the game with a high-def video camera. SO wrong that we were there to capture incredible on and off court moments, including Rajon Rondo being denied a seat to watch Jay-Z perform, LeBron James texting while his friends play ball in front of him, and Russell Westbrook eating Cheetos. Yes, we know it's epic. And of course we're going to share it with you. Look, here's one for you right off the bat. It features LeBron James' lack of interest in basketball and his incredible interest in... well, you'll see:



We hope you enjoy our very first NoRegard Video Exclusive! NRVE brings you the very best in on-the-spot NBA coverage, as well as topical, yet hilarious, edited video content. Subscribe to our YouTube page for immediate updates on all our latest videos!

And now, for our take on the LeBron video above.