(This piece originally ran on The High Screen on Oct. 15, 2014) By: Joe Mags Somewhere between upsetting the San Antonio Spurs as a no. 8 seed in 2011 and nearly taking down league MVP Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder this past spring, the Grit and Grind-era of Memphis Grizzlies basketball sealed its fate as a critically-acclaimed team. (Let Mr. Simmons … [Read more...] about A Year in the Life of Marc Gasol
NBA
Dirk, Dallas back in NBA Finals discussion
(This article originally ran on The High Screen on Sept. 1, 2014.) By: Joe Mags The NBA belongs to LeBron James, the Larry O’Brien trophy is with the San Antonio Spurs, and coverage of the Association has never been more heavily focused on what happens off the court than what happens on it. I mean, for God’s sake, there were a few days this past summer when the … [Read more...] about Dirk, Dallas back in NBA Finals discussion
Horford, Hawks aim to fly north in East
(This article originally appeared on The High Screen on Sept. 29, 2014.) By: Joe Mags Following its pleasant performance against overwhelmed top-seed Indiana in April, Atlanta spent the opening months of the NBA’s off-season — which has become, in a way, an even more rowdy time for teams than the actual basketball season — as a sleeping giant. Head coach Mike Budenholzer, … [Read more...] about Horford, Hawks aim to fly north in East
Eric Bledsoe to stay in Phoenix
(This article originally appeared on The High Screen on Sept. 25, 2014.) By: Joe Mags The Suns are spending $29.3 million on the point guard position in ’14-‘15, the most of any team in the NBA, according to spotrac.com. Much of that can be attributed to Phoenix amping up its bench with mighty-might scoring guard Isaiah Thomas and first round pick Tyler Ennis. But what … [Read more...] about Eric Bledsoe to stay in Phoenix
The injury to Paul George leaves roster uncertainty for Team USA
By Joe Mags The USA Basketball Blue/White scrimmage was supposed to help the coaching staff narrow the field of players from 20 to 12 — help, in this case, being the key word. The gruesome injury that Paul George suffered on Friday night serves as a cautionary tale that nothing in athletics is ever guaranteed. The injury also drastically alters the shape of USA Basketball’s … [Read more...] about The injury to Paul George leaves roster uncertainty for Team USA