NBA and College Hoops

Maybe the first time you heard it, it went in one ear and out the other, but then once again, and with a public outcry, the poor word choice by an ESPN reporter made every viewer shake their head in disbelief.

The headline on ESPN’s mobile website was used for a story about a New York loss in which Jeremy Lin had nine turnovers. Using an Chinese slur, the reporter mentions a “CHINK in the armor,” a highly offensive term towards those of Asian decent. 

According to NBA.com, ESPN fired an employee responsible for the offensive headline about Jeremy Lin. They also released an apology, stating it is aware of two other “offensive and inappropriate” comments.  And not only did they fire the recent reporter under fire, but an ESPNEWS anchor who used the same phrase has been suspended for 30 days. 

-TishaJade

Usually the Rookie Challenge consists of the NBA rookies facing off against the sophomore players, but this year they’re trying something different. For the first time, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together, and is now called the “Rising Stars Challenge Game”

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley run the two teams and are picking squads. Here’s how their “draft” went. 

Team Shaq: Blake Griffin, Greg Monroe, Markieff Morris, Ricky Rubio, Jeremy Lin, Kemba Walker, Landry Fields, Norris Cole, Brandon Knight, Tristan Thompson.

Team Barkley: DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Williams, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, MarShon Brooks, John Wall, Gordon Hayward, Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, Evan Turner.

 The NBA Rising Stars Challenge game will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio

Even though every sports outlet is highlighting the success of point guard Jeremy Lin, the question on everyone’s mind is, how will the return of superstars Melo, and Amar’e affect the team?

Carmelo Anthony is out with a groin strain, and Amar’e Stoudemire is coping with the death of his brother.

I’m highly anticipating their return, and excited to see how Lin will play with the two.  Yeah, Melo, and Amare may disrupt the chemistry having not played with Lin, but that’s expected at first. More important than asking how their return will affect the team, NY, and the fans should ask HOW the two All-Star players will be UTILIZED? Melo is an offensive player, and used to having the ball in his hands majority of the time. How will he adapt to fitting to the new offense with a solid point guard, instead of the offense revolving around him? 

Amar’e should fit well, especially with how well Lin is at executing the pick-and-roll. Also, he has experience with playing under an efficient point guard, when he played with the Suns with Nash.

What do you all think, will the return help or hinder the Knicks?

-TishaJade

He has been passed over in the NBA draft, cut by two teams in the same preseason and sent to the D-League. Then the New York Knicks gave him a chance, but even then he wasn’t expected to put the team on his back, and give the Knick fans a reason to cheer again.

Jeremy Lin was signed to ride the pine. As one of the minimum salary players, he was expected to be one of the bench players, and fill in here, and there. But Lin is proving he may be just what the Knicks need to turn their season around.

It’s undeniable that the first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent in NBA history is definitely the point guard the Knicks have desperately needed.

Despite being his first season with the Knicks, he dictates the pace extremely well, and definitely has great court vision. He can shoot, pass and handle the ball. And with D’Antoni as coach, he’ll always have permission to shoot. I believe with both Melo, and Amare out of the lineup, we’re going to see more of a Knicks team play, instead of the ball dominated by the superstars, because Lin incorporates all team members into the game, and makes the other players better.

Although the start of Lin’s career has been nearly amazing, and he has won the heart of many fans, we can’t put him on too high of a pedestal. Before you hop on the Linsanity bandwagon, remember he is a NBA Rookie and although he is playing at an impressive level, and very consistent, he will make those rookie mistakes.

-TishaJade

The starters will be announced tonight live on TNT during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET, with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, followed by the Bulls and Knicks (8 p.m. ET) and Nuggets-Clippers (10:30 p.m.). There will also be a special one-hour pregame show on TNT on Feb. 9 to announce the All-Star reserves.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Heat forward LeBron James

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony

Magic Center Dwight Howard

Bulls guard Derrick Rose

Heat guard Dwyane Wade

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Clippers forward Blake Griffin

Thunder forward Kevin Durant

Lakers center Andrew Bynum

Clippers guard Chris Paul

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant