Eddie Jordan to be Announced as the new Philadelphia Sixers Head Coach

‘Dr. Dino’ a.k.a. James Borbath from Dino Nation Blog, is a Broadcast Journalism Grad turned basketball blogger. He has worked as the publisher and writer of the Dino Nation Blog for almost 2 years. Dino Nation Blog is part of the sports federation of theScore.com. James also live blogs many NBA games for The Score.

The Philidelphia 76ers are expected to announce Monday that Eddie Jordan will be hired as the coach of their squad for the 2009/10 season. He has coached 518 games for a career record of 230-288(.444) . He has coached in 26 playoff games with only an 8-18 record(.308). Looking at the numbers it may not look that impressive. However when you consider that Jordan coached a Wizards squad that always had injury issues yet he still kept the team competitive until this last season, it’s not as bad as it may appear. This year he and the Wizards just ran out of steam and had a 1-10 start to the season. He had to deal with having his best player, Gilbert Arenas, out for the best part of the last few seasons. Let’s face it, Arenas has been more a blogger than baller for quite some time, and has been eating a huge amount of cap space in doing so. For what Eddie Jordan had to work with I think he did a great job during his time in Washington. There was talk he was in negotiations with Sacramento where he got his start as a head coach in the 96-97 season. He was not given a real chance only getting to coach one full season in 97-98 in which he was just 27-55.

He has a great offensive system and maybe he can figure out a way to use both Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand effectively together. That was something Mo Cheeks could not seem to do. I like Eddie Jordan so much that I considered him a good candidate for the team I cover the most, the Toronto Raptors. But the Raptors decided to bring back interim coach Jay Triano as he signed a 3 year deal a few weeks ago with the club. Jordan has been a coach that has been able to take teams that had injury issues and still lead them to the playoffs in the east. We will see how he does against the Triano, D’Antoni, Frank and Rivers teams. The Sixers heading into last year had big hopes of challenging Boston for being top dog in the Atlantic. They fell far short of that and a 6th seed and a first round exit to the Orlando Magic, the surprising Eastern Conference Champions, was not exactly what Philly fans had in mind. Philly is a tough town and let’s hope Eddie Jordan is given a chance to do his thing. I think if Brand can stay healthy, and Jordan is given a fair shot, the Sixers could be a better team for it.

Charles Barkley Calls His Producer a ‘Pussy’ On Air

Sir Charles Barkley, what has gotten into you? Your public relations representative has got to be on the verge of letting his/her most important client go, lol. Just when you think things have settled down for the TNT NBA analyst since his drinking and driving incident, he calls Kenny Smith ‘Numbnuts’ and his producer a ‘pussy’ on air on the same telecast.

After the Magic beat the Cavs last night to end the Conference Finals and signal the start of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Magic, the TNT crew was sitting down to thank the TNT team for their hard work and dedication. Charles decided he would speak his mind of course, and that live TV is the place to do it. Oh Charles, you certainly are entertaining aren’t you? Having trouble believing Barkley would actually call his own producer a pussy? Enjoy the video replay:

(H/T to Sports By Brooks where we saw the video)

New Orleans Hornets: Honeybees Dancers

If you want to get to know the New Orleans Honeybees Dancers a little better head on over to their official site for more photos, video, and news about the women. But for now, just enjoy our gallery of the lovely ladies.

Kobe Jumps ‘Into’ A Moving Car This Time

Last year Kobe Bryant made waves on YouTube for his viral video where he jumped over a moving Aston Martin. Then we all had a good laugh when he joined the Jackass crew and jumped over a pool filled with snakes. But you may not have seen this one coming. Especially since his Lakers just last night advanced to the NBA Finals by beating the Denver Nuggets. Kobe has now jumped ‘into’ a moving car. And the kicker in all of it…Lebron James was driving. Don’t believe me? See for yourself:

The Truth About How Lebron Got His Skills

Lebron James seems to be the most ‘complete’ player the NBA has seen in quite some time. Maybe ever. So have you ever sat watching a game, and wondered to aloud “how the hell did he acquire all those skills”? Well if you answered, yes, never fear we have found the answer. Courtesy of our favorite sports comedians over at The Global Sports Fraternity, we think this video may shed some light on the issue.

Only flaw I see with this video is that Lebron is trying to steal Michael Jordan’s ‘crossover’. I’m pretty certain if i’m going to try and steal one, and only one, skill from Michael Jordan it would have to be his most lethal. The turn around fadeaway jump shot. Unstoppable. Enjoy the video, it’s good for a few laughs:

(H/T for the video to The Global Sports Fraternity)

Should Vancouver Get Another Shot at an NBA Franchise?

‘Dr. Dino’ a.k.a. James Borbath from Dino Nation Blog, is a Broadcast Journalism Grad turned basketball blogger. He has worked as the publisher and writer of the Dino Nation Blog for almost 2 years. Dino Nation Blog is part of the sports federation of theScore.com. James also live blogs many NBA games for The Score. Beyond that James says: “I am one of the few people you will find north of the border that thinks basketball first and hockey last.”

The Grizzlies never got a fair chance in Vancouver. In a recent article in Forbes the Memphis Grizzlies were given the honor of being named the worst sports franchise in all of sports. While the Toronto Raptors are set to celebrate 15 years in the NBA, next year the Grizzlies have little beyond the second pick in the draft to celebrate. Oh and by the way Ricky Rubio has made it known he has 0 interest in playing for the Grizz. Up here in Canada there has been a movement to bring a 7th NHL team to Canada in the Southern Ontario region. To be specific Hamilton, Ontario. Jim Ballsille, the head of RIM (the company that makes the blackberry), is the money behind this push. He is looking to take the Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Ontario. Hamilton, Ontario is home to the CFL Ti-Cats and wouldn’t you know is also my home town. It is about an hour to 45 minutes outside of Toronto. Being a basketball fan in Canada can be tough. Hockey is the first, second and sometimes third most popular sport. Ballsille in the effort to drive home his point created a site called makeitseven.ca.

Well I say why not makeit2.ca. Is it Vancouver’s fault that Stu Jackson had not a clue how to run a basketball franchise? He drafted Bryant ” Big Country” Reeves after all. Was it Vancouver’s fault that Steve Francis is a jerk and did not want to play for them? The franchise had sold to a guy that had an agenda to move them and the Vancouver Grizzlies were no more. Since the move to Memphis things have not got any better for the franchise on the court. In terms of off the court activities, I think you could argue they had more support in Vancouver than they have now in Memphis. There was a rumor that a management group was looking to buy the Pacers and move them to Vancouver. I’m not saying the Pacers would be the team I would want to be moved. People in Indiana will come to games in the long run. However David Stern has been honest about the state of the league and there is no doubt teams are in trouble. So why not give Vancouver another shot. The NBA has done it before in places like Charlotte, New Orleans and elsewhere. One thing is clear, that if the economy does not turn around, be it Vancouver or somewhere else, teams could be on the move. Maybe that is why the NBA, MLB and NFL have all got into the court case in Arizona in support of the NHL. No leagues want to lose control of where their franchises can go.

NBA Photo Fun: Cavaliers in the Playoff Pressure Cooker

This week’s photo fun is brought to you by none other than ‘The Master’ of sports photoshopping, Cuzoogle.com. If you aren’t currently an RSS subscriber of Cuzoogle.com you may want to get right over and subscribe, before you miss even just one of his entertaining pieces.

Dwight Howard Hits Half-Court Hook Shot

As if their on court battles in the Eastern Conference Finals thus far weren’t enough to satisfy the wants and needs of every NBA fan, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers have also been battling it out for supremacy of the trick shot. Before each game and sometimes at half-time, when the camera’s are rolling Dwight Howard and Lebron James seem to be spending at least a couple minutes trying to ‘one-up’ eachother by hitting ridiculous half-court shots.

Until now I would have to give the upper hand to Lebron James for hitting this underhanded half court shot. But my vote after seeing the following video of Dwight Howard shooting a sweeping hook shot from half court and making it, will have to go to ‘Superman’. Let’s see who will get the last laugh on the court. though. The series is at 3-2 in favor of the Magic. Can’t wait to watch Game 6.

Video: Jerry West Explains his Comments on Why Lebron is Better than Kobe

Jerry West is one of the greatest NBA guards of all-time. He played the game with more energy and toughness than probably any other guard I can remember. He broke his nose over 9 times during NBA games throughout the course of his career. If that’s not a measure of throwing yourself head first into the action, than I don’t know what is. West is also the player the NBA has used for many years as the silhouette on the NBA Logo. Hence his nickname ‘the logo’, ‘mr.logo’, or just plain ‘logo’.

‘The Logo’, Jerry West, shocked the world last week when he publicly stated in an interview that he felt “Lebron James has surpassed Kobe Bryant as a player”. It’s nothing all that shocking for someone to believe Lebron is better than Kobe, as there is a growing King James fan base who would be eager to argue just that. What is surprising however, is that Jerry West would publicly state his opinion on the matter given his past relationship and friendship with Kobe Bryant. After all Jerry West was the Lakers executive who orchestrated bringing Bryant to Los Angeles in a trade that sent Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets.

But then again, given the hype around a potential Kobe vs. Lebron NBA Finals this year, who wouldn’t want to get in on the action, right? We found the full Jerry West interview for you where he discusses Lebron vs. Kobe, and whether or not Lebron James has a shot at becoming the next G.O.A.T:

New Jersey Nets: Nets Dancers

If you want to get to know the NJ Nets Dancers a little better head on over to their official site for more photos, video, and news about the women. But for now, just enjoy our gallery of the lovely ladies.

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