It was a choice, not boring readers throughout summer with my gee-where's-this-goin' thoughts on restricted free agent Josh Giddey. The Bulls long ago made a public choice with Giddey's future, identifying Alex Caruso's prime as its equal. There was nothing new to pass
The 1985-86 Philadelphia 76ers lost in seven games to a very good Milwaukee Bucks team in the second round of the 1986 Eastern playoffs, Philly's best player (Moses Malone) sidelined due to an eye injury throughout the series. A Sixers team with legitimate championship aspirations had good reason
If it is proven there was any glint of recognition from Clipper ownership to these charges, any oblique Nixon/Haldeman discussion regarding What Went Down, then Steve Ballmer deserves suspension, everyone he's hired needs to be replaced. Because they knew better, did it anyway. Pro sports, since the
Charles Barkley's legacy – brilliant NBA player, zero NBA titles – was so certain by his seventh pro season that he spent a hearty chunk of this 1992 autobiography discussing worries over never winning a championship. It was Barkley's mark to bear before he was traded from Philadelphia
Picked up and enjoyed a copy of Peter May's 'Top of the World,' which detailed Boston's 2007-08 title. It took me longer to write this hack What If column than it did to read the book, which is a pleasant must-have for Celtic fans.
The last episode of TNT's 'Inside the NBA' took place on May 31 in the Pacers' arena. I had to be there for it and was, somewhere off to the side but the closest to the set itself, dastardly attempting to avert direct eye contact
This is the first of two breakdowns of Jackie MacMullan's 1999 book 'Bird Watching,' a document of Larry Bird's post-playing career and initial season as coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997-98. It is a great book, a fun read, and this is the
Damian Lillard's decision to return to Portland, Marcus Smart's launch toward Los Angeles, Chris Paul and Bradley Beal's collusion to remain out West, these are not major deals, massive shifts. No team in the dilapidated East is particularly envious of the additions. We hope
There was a time when "Crazy Train" was not on classic rock radio. Readers might think that I'm worth a one-way ticket with this particular recollection, but not only was "Crazy Train" not on classic rock radio, the idea of "Crazy Train"
This is the spoiler alert. If you would like to enjoy Gene Wojciechowski and Reggie Miller's fine work in full, the book is very enjoyable and very affordable! There are many, crackling, moments I left out of this email. The book is a must-read for any Pacer fan,
Indiana Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard met the media on Monday, something he doesn't do often despite good reason to, as Pritchard built a near-NBA champion in 2024-25. Built it, watched it taken from him. The Pacers were in with a chance during Game 7, all-but-belief crushed with 88
Before we cap the offseason, another three-team boost! The Clippers traded Norman Powell and didn't do it for a future first-round draft pick (whom will enter seventh grade in a few weeks). The Miami Heat pick up Norm, good basketball there. Clippers pick up John Collins, ex-Jazz, good
We want to think that, when a large Boom hits, there exists a studied reason behind that big ol' noise. That, whatever the hell that was, it was well-considered. Someone or something thought long and hard before, listen, we still don't know, maybe a transformer went. Maybe
Myles Turner left Indiana to go to the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana's fiercest rival. The Bucks are the only team the Pacers fight, the Pacers are the only team the Bucks fight, but Myles Turner left one to join the other. Why? Tax. The Pacers did not compete with
And NBA free agency has overwhelmingly become the realm of the role player. Sorry, Paul George. I guess that's what you were last summer, hopping up on stage with ABC and Joel Embiid. A role player. Some former All-Stars switched teams as free agents on Monday, but, they
Free agency begins Monday and nobody will go anywhere because the union and the NBA decided to encourage players via pay raise to re-sign with their own teams. Worse, much worse, each side decided to smooth out the salary cap increase earned via the new streaming rights deal. Boring. Super,
When I loved baseball, really really loved baseball, it felt as if baseball fans my parents' age were more in love with the baseball players their parents liked than the baseball players their own age. Maybe it is the same trap, everyone reflecting fondly upon things from when they
Cleveland spiced its title approach a little on Saturday, adding Lonzo Ball to the spread. Ball is 28 in October and worked but 70 games over the last four NBA seasons, undergoing a full meniscus transplant on his left knee, the first comeback of its kind in NBA history. His
Is this a little late, maybe early? Sure, but you shoulda seen my front lawn. Had to mow it. And if I want to keep the patrolling cops off my ass about the cats running outside, I gotta keep a tidy front lawn. Back lawn? I could lose the 1986
The Wizards' role in Washington's trade is quite clear, Washington acquired C.J. McCollum and Kelly Olynyk for a recovering Saddiq Bey and whatever you think Jordan Poole will turn into. I'm on Poole's side, but creating a sensible career turnaround with the
"Fun," that's what I heard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander say four times in 183 words, "fun." I guess I wasn't paying attention to the parts where he talked about pick and roll, or whatever. Blah blah blah closeout. "Joy," that's
Good job, Mat Ishbia. Not only did he waste the last post-prime years of Kevin Durant's career on a Suns team which didn't need Durant, not only did he ruin the we-got-enough-already-pal afternoon of world events and also the NBA championship, but he did it with
Through the first four minutes of the second half in Thursday's Game 6, neither Finals participant could manage a point. No buckets, no free throws, no delay of game penalties, no second delay of game, turning into free throws. We'll miss the 2025 NBA postseason. It
Indiana 108, Oklahoma City 91 Series tied 3-3 Desperation is a force, it can take legs out or lift them well off the ground, enervate or enliven, Game 7 or go home. There was a very real and understandable chance that the Pacers, equal to these Thunder is several critical