Why You (Yes, You!) Should Watch the NBA Rising Stars Challenge

The purpose of the draft lottery is to help struggling teams get better players. This has the side effect of ensuring that you NEVER get to see the good young players on national TV, because they are on awful teams (don’t pretend you’d recognize Brandon Knight if you saw him walking around town). That said, the Rising Stars game gives a regular, non-League Pass NBA fan like myself something they don’t get to see: the good young guys. Sure, you’ve probably seen plenty of Kahwi Leonard and the Manimal, but there are a ton of talented young players that you basically heard about until they got drafted and never saw again. In this one meaningless circus of a game, you get to see all of them.

I had never seen Kyrie Irving play until last year’s Rising Stars game. He only played a handful of college games and, frankly, I don’t watch much college basketball anyway. I really had no idea what we were getting with this guy (the Uncle Drew video hadn’t happened yet). Kyrie went 8-8 from three in last year’s game and pretty much dominated everything, plus we got to see his fantastic handle.

I was sold. I immediately started watching every possible Cavs game I could get access to (mostly when they happened to be on at bars). I went to the first Cavs-Nets game at Barclays this season just to see that handle, and Kyrie didn’t disappoint. My girlfriend got me an Irving t-shirt for Christmas (thanks!) and I can’t wait to see him in the main event next weekend. The guy is already my favorite non-Celtic. All thanks to this silly exhibition.

Don’t get me wrong here, this thing is barely a game. It’s pretty much all behind-the-back, alley-oop windmill dunks, spin moves and centers shooting threes. There are almost no passes between two guys who are both standing on the ground and defense is limited to Greg Monroe messing with John Wall’s off-the-bounce self-oop. The game is played in 20-minute halves and guys get added last minute based on things like Linsanity and having a cool flat-top. Last year, the teams combined for 279 points. In short, it was awesome.

Wherever you are next Friday night, take this opportunity to check out guys who used to just be names to you. You probably won’t get many more chances to see Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Alexey Shved and too many Bobcats, Pistons and non-Irving Cavs play again. Oh, and Kyrie will be there too.

Also, THIS STUFF:

No Regard Presidential Previews: Washington Wizards (William Howard Taft)

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.

“I do not know much about politics, but I am trying to do the best I can with this administration until the time shall come for me to turn it over to somebody else.” - William H. Taft


William Howard Taft did not care about politics. He didn't know the system, didn't appoint the right people to the right positions within his party and didn't care about any of it. More than anything, Big Bill wanted to be a Supreme Court justice. Taft lucked into the presidency by gaining 159 more electoral votes than opponent William Jennings Bryan, but got only 51 percent of the popular vote. Four years later, in 1912, Taft won only eight electoral votes and suffered the worst defeat of an incumbent president in American history. In 1921 he got his wish of being named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, so there's that.

The Washington Wizards do not make sense. The "glory years" of early playoff exits are long over. The Verizon Center has not been a fun place to be since $111 million dollar man Gilbert deemed it necessary to pack heat and the Gil-Tuff Juice-Antawn Jamison core was split up. Our nation's capital has featured a heavy dose of Andray Blatche getting booed, Nick Young and Jordan Crawford shooting within three seconds of touching the ball, questionable trades and an incredibly slow maturation process for John Wall.

Taft, by all accounts our fattest and most epically mustached President, wanted badly to lower tariffs despite Congress' unwillingness to go along with it. His own party was also against it, thus alienating all sides. Willing to trade seemingly anyone for anything, the Wizards turned a ton of guaranteed cap space in Rashard Lewis into the bloated deals of Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. Okafor was brought in for veteran leadership while Ariza appears to be completely disinterested and has changed teams seven times in nine years. GM Ernie Grunfeld defended the move by saying free agents do not want to sign with the Wizards, so he had to do something. If you want to alienate both the players and fans, saying nobody would want to play with or for them is a pretty good start. If that's your thought process, you should not be an NBA general manager. (Also, what's he talking about? DC ain't half bad! It's at absolute worst the 11th best NBA city to live in.)

Our 27th President had his moments—helping to economically support Latin American countries using "Dollar Diplomacy," resisted unnecessary involvement in the Mexican Revolution and generally urged world peace. The Wizards, though not ready to actually compete for a playoff spot, have rid themselves of immature headcases Andray Blatche, Nick Young and JaVale McGee and replaced them with Okafor and Nene, two respected professionals. This is actually kind of a grown-up team now, and having responsible veterans around will help in the development of John Wall (once he gets healthy) and youngsters Bradley Beal and Jan Vesely.

Purchasing tickets to see this team appeals to me about as much as a trip to the William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati, but they won't be the laughingstock Taft was that one time he got stuck in the bathtub and told his aides to use butter to get him out. If Taft can lose 80 pounds after being President and achieve his dream of being Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Wizards may one day get back into playoff contention (hopefully re-branded back to the Bullets).

Rushed Pull-Up Jumpers

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

Headline we'll be most sick of reading: "Ernie Grunfeld Still Not Yet Fired"

Headline we're most looking forward to: "Jannero Pargo, Earl Barron Still in NBA"

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you enter the pearly gates?: "Sorry JaVale and Nick weren't allowed to play with you anymore. I know you guys had fun at your laser tag birthday parties."

No Regard Previews: Blood, Sweat, and John Wall

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs

With two games left on their schedule, the Spurs can still nab the best record in the NBA. No small feat for a team that many of us seem to forget exists on an almost daily basis. Then we remember that they still sport lifetime Spur Timmy Duncan, who continues to do what he does: back-board an orange ball into a hoop and occasionally get asked to fight with NBA official during a game. We remember that despite his injuries this season, Manu is still a crazy-athletic Argentinian dude who can Euro-step to the moon if he so pleases. We remember that while Tony Parker may or may not be sleeping with a teammate's wife, he's having quite possibly his best season yet and almost certainly is an MVP candidate. And finally, we remember that behind it all is a mastermind, Coach Pop, who not only has been able to quietly keep together one of the most consistently successful teams of all time, but also one day did this. He'll forever remain a favorite in our hearts as a result. 

As for Phoenix, after being eliminated from playoff contention last night, we face what might very well be the last Suns vs. Spurs game featuring Steve Nash in an orange Suns tank top. While the contest is ultimately meaningless for the Suns, perhaps recalling the blood gushing out of their captain's nose as a result of Tony Parker's big dome will provide motivation. If this is indeed the last time we are witness to this rivalry, let's hope that we get an effort that reminds us how hard these teams played against each other over the years.

One Game We Definitely Won't Watch Tonight: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards

If you think that for one second the only reason we are previewing this game is so that I could have an excuse to put up a picture of John Wall in a Red Bulls shirt, then you are way off. That is crazy talk. 

We are just really intrigued to see if the Wizards can continue the impressive form they have been in as of late...

Bibby's World: Traded

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!

So last night I'm running my typical 9PM Wednesday routine (playing Ms. PacMan and drinking red wine), when I see something ridiculous on the ESPN ticker: "Mike Bibby traded to Wizards." Now obviously I think it's a joke, because the last time my ESPN ticker said anything about me, it was, 'Mike Bibby traded to Lakers for a stack of Magic Cards', which just turned out to be a prank that Coach Mike was pulling on me. After checking on Twitter, it appeared that the trade was legit. "I'm going to the Wizards," I yell to my wife. "Mike," she says, "there's wine all over your lips." Sure enough, there was.

The White House

Instead of talking about what it means to be on that team, because we all know that's the boring stuff, I'm going to list some of the things that I'm looking forward to doing in our nation's capital:

No Regard Dance Therapy

It's no secret that this blog is partial to "The Dougie." Also, based on my post from this morning, I thoroughly enjoyed watching a basketball game that few other people cared about last night. I just wanted everyone to know about all the things they missed.

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.

Wall's 360 Layup

This doesn't suck to watch.



via Skeets

NBA Happy Hour: No Draft Necessary

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

Everyone is talking about a point guard today, so we figured what the hell.  No, not Chris Paul.  Not right now anyway, Friday is time to get happy-drunk, and if the last month has proven anything, there are no two words that can kill a buzz faster than Maverick and Carter.

Instead we looked back on the week to the story that made us happiest: the Golden State Warriors signed undrafted rookie point guard Jeremy Lin.

Most of you know Lin’s story by now, a Bay Area native and lifelong Warriors fan, he played ball at Harvard and managed to impress the right people in his summer league matchup against John Wall.  Much hoopla is being made about his race and education, both obvious rarities in the League, but few have had asked after his eating habits, favorite actress, or the items on his bucket list.  Well, some did, and it was charming and a bit confusing.  Cheers, Jeremy.

Drink Anytime:

Team Dreamin' 2011: WIZARDS (Bullets)

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.

Much to the dismay of many No Regard staffers, the Washington Wizards got the first overall draft pick this year and snatched up star-ready John Wall. Rewind to last December and remember a time where the future was not so bright for basketball in the District. A dark cloud hovered over local superstar Gilbert Arenas and his season-ending suspension for carrying firearms to work. With the loss of veteran sharp-shooter Mike Miller to the Heat, now more than ever, the Wizards need Gil to return to form and dominate offensively alongside the young sensation Wall. How then, can the Wiz make sure Gil feels comfortable returning to play with his teammates after such and ugly incident?

The Wizards can change their name back to the Washington Bullets.

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.

If You See Something, Say Something

[Photo by Josh Cruey]

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.

Orlando Sentinel Blog [via @jeskeets]: Oh, that picture up there? It's Dwight Howard at the grand opening of Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Why do you ask?

Slam Online: As long as Slam keeps posting videos of NBA players on stage at hip-hop shows, so will we. "If you like that defense make some noooiissseee!"

Bullets Forever [via Ball Don't Lie]: The slogan for John Wall's first Reebok shoe is "The energy drink for your feet." Exclamation point and question mark!? Because even though that doesn't mean anything, it's kind of perfect. And the sneakers themselves are like a glow-in-the-dark (honestly) throwback to the mid-'90s classic Shaqnosis shoes. Between these and KD's new Zooms, the current NBA sneaker landscape is strong. Your move Wesley Johnson.

Ball Don't Lie: Great piece by Trey Kerby that sums up the current free agent atmosphere almost as well as our own Endless Pat.

Yahoo! Sports: So not only did Kobe's otherworldly drive rub off on teammates like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James at the 2008 Olympics, but on a 21-year-old Lionel Messi as well. This should be Kobe's retirement plan: Become some sort of nomadic, mystical motivational speaker who jets around the world, pushing superstars to become legends.

If You See Something, Say Something

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.

FreeDarko: Photographic proof that there is more to Kobe than any of us know.

DraftExpress on YouTube: Let's all just remember to revisit these draft prospect interviews five years from now. Someone in Cousins' camp obviously told him he needs to act mature, but seems like he mixed up maturity with somberness; dude looks plain sad. But biggest lesson here: THESE GUYS ARE KIDS (except John Wall).

Robin Lopez Twitter: If you're wondering if Fropez had anything to say about his strong playoff performance on Twitter, I'll save you the time: He didn't. But reading his most recent tweet, from March 24, is well worth your time.

Slam Magazine: Z's thoughts on Mike Brown's exit just reinforce his stigma as the kindest man in the world. And Stan Van Gundy is also what he always is: Saucy and a little misguided.

True Hoop: [Affects Hubie Brown voice] Henry Abbott is the best NBA journalist we have in this game, and Greg Oden is the most heartbreaking player. Watching him talk about Durant is debilitating.