AthlonSports.com Mobile - Pro Basketball

No Easy Buckets: Lakers need to avoid Shaq

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0600

It is absolutely hilarious that the only man capable of slowing down the Suns’ fastbreak has already started making plans for the 2010-11 season. Even funnier is Shaq's choice of venues.

NBA Power Rankings

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:56:52 -0600

The Atlanta Hawks took the Boston Celtics to the wire in the first round of last year's playoffs, and they did the same on Wednesday night before falling 103-102 on a brilliant last-second shot by Paul Pierce. It was Atlanta's first loss of the season, but it put the league on notice that the Hawks are a legitimate threat to make some noise in the East.

No Easy Buckets: Spurs looking for help

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0600

With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili injured, Gregg Popovich is looking for reinforcements these days in San Antonio, but not even a rag-tag contingent has arrived to help his Spurs and their flagging defense. Laugh while you can Spurs haters.

NBA Power Rankings

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:25:12 -0600

Andrew Bynum and the Lakers hang on to the top spot in our power rankings this week. So far this season, L.A. has outscored its opponents by an average of 21.8 points. While the West doesn't appear to be as crowded as it was last year, there's still plenty of talent to go around.

No Easy Buckets: Iverson must change to fit in

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:45:00 -0600

Pistons GM Joe Dumars promised changes after falling to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals last season. After an offseason of doing virtually nothing, Dumars finally delivered the promised shake-up Monday with the acquisition of Allen Iverson.

NBA Power Rankings

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:13:25 -0500

The season is awfully young, but each team has played at least one game, so we figure we've seen enough to assemble our top 15 NBA teams. The two squads at the top are quite familiar, but a few others might surprise.

No Easy Buckets: 2008-09 NBA predictions

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0500

The NBA had its dreams come true last year, when the Celtics and the Lakers squared off for the world title. There may be a similar scenario for the NBA this season, since both Boston and L.A. have enough talent to rule their respective conferences once again.

2008 New Orleans Hornets Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:04 -0500

The New Orleans Hornets are a team of now. A team led by the most exciting point guard in the league, built around a nucleus of young players who paved the way for 56 wins in a regular season that ultimately ended in a loss to San Antonio in the Western Conference semis.

2008 Boston Celtics Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:03 -0500

The Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen return with their sights set on winning the Celtics' 18th NBA championship, which would be Boston's first repeat since 1969.

2008 Los Angeles Lakers Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:02 -0500

The Western Conference will offer a stiff challenge heading into a new season. But clearly, after accomplishing so much in what had to be considered something of a transition season, the Lakers are primed to be major contenders, if not prohibitive favorites, to win it all heading into 2008-09.

2008 Philadelphia 76ers Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:01 -0500

The Sixers may have had the best offseason in the entire NBA, signing All-Star big man Elton Brand from the Clippers and re-signing homegrown rising star Andre Iguodala. Now, Philly hopes to have the same kind of success during the regular season — and playoffs.

2008 New Jersey Nets Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After trading away Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, the rebuilding Nets are left with Vince Carter and a young nucleus including point guard Devin Harris, versatile forward Yi Jianlian and rookie center Brook Lopez.

2008 Chicago Bulls Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After a disappointing season last year, the Bulls enter the 2008-09 season with a new coach in Vinny Del Negro, a new star in No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose and several new questions that need to be answered.

2008 Denver Nuggets Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Less than two years after going for broke by trading for Allen Iverson, the Nuggets achieved their objective. They went broke. Or at least close enough to begin deconstructing their roster only 20 months after adding the final piece to what they thought would be a championship contender.

2008 Detroit Pistons Preview

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

There are signs that the Pistons’ empire could crumble this season. President of basketball operations Joe Dumars has grown impatient with his core group. The starting lineup is one of the league’s oldest, and the bench is one of the league’s youngest. Does the current group of Bad Boys have one more playoff run left in the tank?