justball4ever

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He is part of the cast of Bringing Up Ballers, a docu-series on the Lifetime cable network that follows five Chicago-area mothers, who aside from being entrepreneurs also have in common being parents of highly-heralded basketball prospects. Bailey partook in last week’s MSHTV Camp, where he showcased his skills and demonstrated why D1 programs like DePaul were already courting him for his services early.

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Check him out in action in the video above by HoopDiamonds.

The post Amari Bailey, An 8th Grader Committed To DePaul, Shows Out At MSHTV Camp appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Tim Hardaway Jr. has made a commitment to the New York Knicks, but getting him to nail down his season predictions proves to be a bit more difficult.

Hardaway is a blank slate when it comes to preseason predictions, except when he’s not. The Knicks are expecting big things out of him this season, and it seems that Hardaway alternates between thinking the team is headed for the postseason or perhaps nothing at all.

Hardaway was asked by the media on Thursday about his hopes for the season. At first, he seemed uninterested.

“I don’t have expectations,” Hardaway said.

Then, suddenly, he had expectations.

“My expectation for this team is to go to the playoffs and nothing more,” Hardaway said. “It starts with practice tomorrow.”

Wait… what? I mean, it’s good that he thinks they’re a playoff team. But “playoffs and nothing more” is kind of a weird thing to admit out loud.

Hardaway signed a huge deal with the Knicks this summer, so it’s safe to say he’s got a lot invested in the team’s success. While most people aren’t expecting much from a team that finally jettisoned Carmelo Anthony and needs to find a way to keep Kristaps Porzingis happy, Hardaway seems both excited and unexcited about the start of the new season.

Which is OK! It’s good to contain multitudes. Opinions can change. Or, you can have no opinions at all.

  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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For the last year, Whalen, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson and Maya Moore have had to live with letting a championship slip out of their hands. Tonight, they finally avenged that heartbreaking loss by beating the Sparks 85-76 in another close-out Game 5.

Fowles, the regular season MVP and the Finals MVP, recorded 17 points and 20 rebounds. Moore hit a clutch shot that closed the door on the Sparks’ furious comeback. She finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Whalen put up 17 points and 8 assists, Augustus chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Brunson added 13 and 8.

With the exception of Fowles (she was traded to Minnesota in 2015 and now has two titles with them), the Lynx’s core four now have four ‘chips together, tying the Houston Comets for the most banners in WNBA history.

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The Lynx won despite trailing 2-1 in the series and now have the chance to write their names in the record books with another title next season.

Maya. Clutch. #WNBAFinals (via @SportsCenter) http://pic.twitter.com/3rNLBwtDLK

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 5, 2017

The post Minnesota Lynx Win 2017 WNBA Finals appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

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The Minnesota Lynx avenged last season’s Finals loss to the Los Angeles Sparks with a 85-76 win in the decisive Game 5 at home to earn the franchise’s fourth title (and fourth in the past seven years). What the San Francisco Giants were to even years in baseball, the Lynx have been to odd years in the WNBA, winning titles in 2011, 2013, 2015, and now 2017.

The league MVP Sylvia Fowles also earned Finals MVP honors and led the way for the Lynx with a tremendous performance as she racked up 17 points and 20 rebounds (breaking her own WNBA Finals record) in the win. Maya Moore led the Lynx in scoring with 18 points and 10 rebounds of her own, as all five Minnesota starters finished with at least 13 points.

The margin of victory doesn’t tell the story of how tight the game got late. Minnesota held a 12-point lead with under two minutes to play, but a furious 9-0 run by the Sparks in 57 seconds closed the gap to a single possession and made for some nervous home fans. However, the Lynx were able to regroup, and, unsurprisingly, it was Moore who hit a big bucket after a near turnover to stop the Sparks’ run.

The Lynx never trailed in the game, leading from the opening bucket through the final buzzer, but the Sparks made it interesting and never let them run away. Candace Parker led all scorers with 19 points and added 15 rebounds to keep Los Angeles in the game, but the balance of Minnesota’s starting unit proved to be too much for the Sparks in Game 5.

  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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George insisted on Tuesday that the team has the right chemistry. “Now it’s just up to us to perform,” he said.

“It’s a real brotherhood in this locker room. Everybody cares for one another. Everybody is pulling for one another.” […]

  “There’s no trio with me, Melo and Russ. Everybody is in the loop, and everybody is communicating and talking to one another.

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  “You have that. You have the trust factor. You have the chemistry factor. Now it’s just up to us to perform on the court.”

RELATED: Paul George: Russell Westbrook Deal Makes Free Agency Decision ‘Easier’

The post Paul George Calls Thunder Locker Room a ‘Real Brotherhood’ appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Well, that didn’t take long. A series of ads on the New York City subway system that made Knicks fans choose whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about the franchise will reportedly be taken down. According to Darren Rovell, Fox Sports 1, which is behind the stunt, didn’t think to get approval by the franchise before doing this.

A source said the Knicks, whose logos and players were used in the ad, did not approve the advertising and that it would be taken down by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“Today, FS1 featured statements on a New York City subway car intended to reflect the distinct emotions and opinions of passionate sports fans,” Fox said in a statement. “We regret the tone and are removing the content in its entirety.”

There were two sides to the ads. Optimistic Knicks fans got to see, among other things, a picture of Kristaps Porzingis with some text that said “Kristaps Porzingis is a unicorn sent back in time to show us how basketball will be played in the future.” You may be wondering how a unicorn can be sent back in time, and I do not have an answer.

Outside of the fact that those were silly, they weren’t especially bad. However, pessimist Knicks fans got on a car that included a picture of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Joakim Noah. Even worse, one of the seats said “Nothing will change until Dolan sells the team,” a reference to owner James Dolan, who was so mad that he reportedly called up 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch to complain.

Basically anyone could have seen all of this coming. Unfortunately for FS1, it is safe to assume they probably fired all of the people who would have mentioned that this was a terrible idea during their pivot to video.

(Via ESPN)

  Source: Ball4ever.com

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While not necessarily common, there have been other NBA prospects in the past that have also tried homeschooling. The No. 15th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Justin Jackson spent his prep days being homeschooled.

More from the LA Times:

“I’m going to make him the best basketball player ever,” LaVar said.

  He intends to check him out on Tuesday.

  LaVar had already been having concerns about Chino Hills’ new coach, Dennis Latimore.

  “It’s good for Melo,” LaVar said. “Less distractions. He just needs to focus.”

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  The next time people will be able to see LaMelo play is next spring in travel ball.

  “They’ll have to sit back and wait,” LaVar said.

  LaVar said LaMelo still intends to sign with UCLA.

  The loss of LaMelo from the high school ranks will have a major impact on Southern California basketball.

  The post Report: LaMelo Ball Will Withdraw From Chino Hills HS, Will Be Homeschooled Next 2 Years appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Kyrie Irving made his Boston Celtics debut on Monday night, suiting up for the team as it kicked off its preseason slate against the Charlotte Hornets. While the highlight of the game came when longtime Boston announcer Tommy Heinsohn said something kind of awkward about Celtics big man Aron Baynes, but the most notable moment came after thanks to one of Irving’s fashion choices.

Irving, who has never seemed like much of a hat guy, wore a lid that seemed to take a swipe at his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate turned rival, LeBron James.

Kyrie Irving wore a cap postgame that read: "Popularity contests are not truth contests." #celtics #cavaliers

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) October 3, 2017

Here’s a video that gives a look at Irving’s hat choice.

While one of their former teammates doesn’t think there’s any bad blood between the two, Irving and James seem to be going at one another in subtle ways. There was Irving’s appearance on First Take where he seemed kind of bugged at the thought of telling James he wanted to leave, and while that was happening, James posted workout videos with Kevin Love. Additionally, James spoke on the trade and made it clear that he went through a whole bunch of emotions after the deal went down.

Like every chapter in the rapidly-unfolding Kyrie v. LeBron feud, this is very weird and kind of silly. Hopefully the best player in the world fires back in a way that is appropriate, and by that I mean by wearing an absurd t-shirt or something. Anyway, Irving played 19 minutes and had nine points in Boston’s 94-82 win over Charlotte.

  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Few players have had as spectacular a downfall as Derrick Rose. He’s gone from being the league MVP and one of the game’s brightest young talents to perhaps one of the most disappointing career trajectories in NBA history. He was hobbled by injuries in the prime of his career that robbed him of the otherworldly speed and explosiveness that was a hallmark of his game.

After a disappointing season in New York, Rose is searching for redemption and a return to form, and playing alongside LeBron James in Cleveland might just give him the chance to add a new chapter to his on-court narrative.

The Cavs’ new point guard has admitted that everything has taken a toll on him psychologically but that he’s approaching the coming season with a whole new mindset.

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Via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:

“I was in a dark place years ago, man,” Rose said Saturday. “By a dark place, I mean, I was playing, like, revenge basketball, and that wasn’t my way of playing basketball.

“I enjoy competing, but when I came back it was about just trying to get back to the top and proving everybody wrong. Like, I know who I am as a man, I know who I am as a player or person. There’s no point in doing that anymore. It’s just being secure as a person and knowing who I am.”

With Isaiah Thomas rumored to be sidelined until the first of the year with a troubled hip, Rose should get plenty of opportunities to establish himself as a key member of the Cavs’ rotation. The real test, however, will come when he inevitably has to take a backseat to Thomas, who is replacing Kyrie Irving as the team’s No. 2 option on the floor.

(ESPN.com)

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  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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LaVar Ball drew a crowd every Big Baller stop this summer, and that’s not expected to change anytime soon. The father of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball continued to attract attention as his son’s team played in its first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While the Association’s first official preseason game tipped earlier and had a special presentation for Draymond Green, the hype train that is the Big Baller Brand’s patriarch was all that mattered in Los Angeles on Saturday.

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LaVar was in the house to watch his son Lonzo take on the Wolves just like he had been all summer, when the Balls helped sell out NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. But this scene at the Staples Center on Saturday was something else entirely. Check out how many people crowded around to see LaVar in person. https://twitter.com/JimPeteHoops/status/914302151291150336

It seems like everyone wants a piece of LaVar these days. Whether it’s because of his reality show, the growing shoe company he’s constructing on his own or just that everyone is hoping he’ll say something controversial while in their presence, there’s certainly reason to want to be near the Big Baller.

The hype at this point is almost too big to maintain, really. But Ball has a weird knack for speaking things — like his son’s drafting by the Lakers — into reality. Maybe he can somehow make his playoff prediction come true this season, too.

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  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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By April 6, 2008, the Sonics had a measly 17-59 record. The playoff-bound Denver Nuggets were in town, stacked with a roster that included veterans like Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin, Allen Iverson, a former MVP and Carmelo Anthony, then just a 24-year-old. Melo was smooth as silk back then. He averaged a cool 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists during the ’07-’08 campaign. He was coming off his second All-Star Game appearance and he was gearing up to be one of Team USA’s bucket-getters at the ’08 Olympics.

When the ball tipped in that early April game, Durant got right to work. He swished three consecutive midrange jumpers. Melo wasn’t wasn’t far behind, following up with his own connections from inside the arc. They both easily converted with the middies time and again. Though it was less than 10 years ago, there were fewer three-pointers in 2008. The Sonics only had four players even attempt a three-pointer during the game.

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Watch the video above to see how the double-OT game shaped up. Durant dropped in 37 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds, edging out 38 points and 11 rebounds from Melo. And shout out to Jeff Green for catching fire with a 35-point performance. Happy birthday, KD!

Video courtesy of Dawkins

The post Rookie Kevin Durant Outduels Carmelo Anthony in Seattle appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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LaMelo Ball is the youngest Big Baller, but some of his basketball “highlight” reels have already created their fair share of publicity in the hoops world for all the wrong reasons. At this point, LaMelo is best known for taking pull-up jumpers from half-court, cherry-picking his way to 92 points, and ball-hogging in a way that puts other ball hoggers to shame.

It’s not all bad. LaMelo Ball is only 16 years old, and he has his own signature shoe on the way. He also appeared on an episode of WWE Raw this summer, and he’s already committed his college hoops career to UCLA. Despite the theatrics, I can respect his hustle.

Ball’s latest viral highlight might be his best one yet. As you can see in the footage below, Ball is the recipient of a nice outlet pass resulting in a truly disrespectful poster dunk and stare-down.

This really is a perfect video. From the dunk to the staredown, to the over-the-top reaction, it’s almost too perfect. Allow me to explain.

I put my investigative journalist hat on and did a little digging. It appears as though Ball dunked on some YouTuber named JesserTheLazer. The YouTube upload description reads “Lamelo Ball plays pick up basketball versus youtube stars CashNasty, Kristopher London, JesserTheLazer, 50Kal Mal, Los. LaMelo Ball was having a dunkfest!” Red flags galore.

I’m not a YouTube expert, but “Person Does Thing To YouTuber” gives me the this was staged vibes 100 times out of 100. You’ve been warned. If this footage pops up on the Ball family’s Facebook reality show Ball In The Family, then I’m taking that as confirmation that something fishy is going on here. And if I’m wrong, and LaMelo Ball did disrespect JesserTheLazer in a totally natural setting, then I’ll go ahead and cop a pair of his new kicks. Fair?

  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Smith added that while he hasn’t been told who will start, he doesn’t mind coming off the bench (starting at 1:51):

“I’m not really going to focus on if I’m starting or I’m not. I’m still going to be able to play.

  “If coach needs me to start, I’ll start. If he needs me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench.

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  “I’m not going to sit here and get into a ‘blank’-measuring contest with Dwyane Wade. I’m not gonna win that.”

RELATED: Dwyane Wade: ‘No Better Place’ to Play Than Cleveland

The post JR Smith Won’t Get Into ‘Blank-Measuring Contest’ with Dwyane Wade Over Starting Spot appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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The FBI’s announcement that it is in the midst of an investigation into college basketball sent shockwaves throughout the sports world. We saw the impact that it could have right away, when Louisville head coach and National Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Rick Pitino was essentially fired by the University of Louisville.

Because it is an ongoing investigation, the implication is that a lot still needs to (and will) happen. Naturally, this has led to fans wondering exactly what would happen and how deep this runs. Most importantly, fans want to know which players and programs are dirty.

According to ESPN’s Jay Williams, some shenanigans may have occurred back when Kevin Love was the most highly-regarded power forward in high school hoops. Love was the No. 3 player in the nation and the No. 1 center in the class of 2007, so obviously, he was an in-demand prospect.

Williams appeared on ESPN’s Outside the Lines and claimed that Love’s AAU coach once received a hefty paycheck from Ceruzzi Sports and Entertainment, which employed Williams from 2007-09.

Jay Williams on working with a sports agency prior to getting into broadcasting. The firm funneled $250K to Kevin Love. http://pic.twitter.com/YGAyzXKHUT

— Reggie Williams (@regwilliams_set) September 27, 2017

“There were a lot of dealings that were being made that people didn’t know about,” Williams said. “There was a lot of money being exchanged. I know for a fact — there was a reported story from Yahoo! Sports back in 2009 — I know that we gave an AAU coach for a guy named Kevin Love who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. We gave him over $250,000. Now, at the time, we were also giving other players money because you were allowed to give players money through their AAU programs, which were essentially 501(c)(3)s.”

For the Win went to The New Republic and grabbed an excerpt of the Yahoo! Sports article that Williams mentioned. The Yahoo! Sports story made it sound like Love’s coach, Pat Barrett, was paid to deliver him to Ceruzzi Sports and Entertainment without his knowledge, as it said “What Love apparently didn’t know was a New York sports agency had donated $250,000 to Barrett’s team under the premise Barrett could deliver players such as Kevin Love – to dinner first, then as a client.”

Spending that kind of cash with the hopes that a player will sign with your agency when he goes pro is insane. This is the kind of stuff the FBI wants to investigate with its look into the NCAA, with the hope that there will be more examples of cases like Love and Williams.

(Via For the Win)

  Source: Ball4ever.com

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Montgomery, a 6-10 forward out of Wheeler HS in Marietta, Georgia, is ranked among the top 20 prospects in the Class of 2018. He originally committed to the Tigers in September of 2016.

More from Scout.com:

Five-star recruit E.J. Montgomery decommitted from Auburn on Wednesday, his father, E.J. Montgomery Sr., told Scout.

  “We are going to open EJ’s recruitment back up,” Montgomery Sr., said. “He hasn’t really gone through the process of being recruited and he wants to experience that.”

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  “We are just going to open it up and see who comes and kind of go from there,” Montgomery Sr., added.

  Montgomery is currently ranked as the No. 17 overall prospect and the No. 4 power forward in the 2018 recruiting class.

The post Top 20 Recruit EJ Montgomery Decommits From Auburn appeared first on SLAMonline.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

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Dwyane Wade is a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team made the signing official on Wednesday evening and Wade went through his first practice with the Cavs afterwards.

The signing ends Wade’s very brief time as a free agent, in which Paul George desperately tried to convince him to join the Thunder’s budding superteam, only to be thwarted by Wade’s friendship with James. LeBron was very open about wanting Wade to join him in Cleveland, reuniting after winning two titles in Miami.

Wade had plenty of on-court reasons to join James as well, considering his tremendous success with James in the past and the Cavs remaining a favorite in the East. So, after their first practice as teammates in Cleveland, the two friends got together to celebrate with, what else, some large glasses of wine.

DWade & LeBron after their first practice together in CLE…

(via mrdwyanewade/Snapchat) http://pic.twitter.com/PKNwaTaHld

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 28, 2017

We’ve long seen pictures and Snapchats of Wade and LeBron crushing some wine together — often with their fellow Banana Boat comrades in Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul — and something tells me this will probably be a pretty regular occurrence this season. If Wade isn’t just crashing in James’ guest house this season, they’ll assuredly be spending plenty of time hanging out in Cleveland and on the road, and we’ll get plenty of videos and images of them cheersing with tall glasses of red.

  Source: Ball4ever.com

[justball4ever]

There are going to be times in a game where as a ball handler or scorer you are going to need to isolate and score a big basket. This isn’t every time down the floor, but there are going to be late clock situations, mismatch situations, or times that you have a hot hand and can look to be more agressive.

This double crossover move in this training video is going to be broken down to set up a shot and also to attack the basket. If you can master this move and really sell the double crossover action, you fill give yourself plenty of space and time to get off a quality shot against your defender.

    Drill Name: Double Crossover Finish Drill

Similar Drills: Ball Screen Switch Mismatch, Hesitation Pull Up Shot, Tony Parker In and Out Crossover Pull Up

Drill Goal: Work on selling the double crossover to create space to get your shot off or attack the basket.

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

Tips: Stay low and athletic and really sell the each crossover. Lead yourself into your shot with the second crossover and really look to create space to get your shot off. Use your body, eyes, and foot positioning to sell the move.

Directions for Shot: The player is going to start out above the 3 point area with the basketball. They will begin to handle the basketball with a few rhythm dribbles. At the players discretion, they will set up the defender with a crossover move, slight pause, and then a second crossover move right into their shot.

Directions for Finish: The player is going to attack down hill off of a ball screen action and the imaginary defender is going to be a soft show post player. The ball handler is going to sell that they are attacking one way with a quick tight crossover to get the defender to shift, but immediately the player will follow up the first crossover with a second and go the opposite direction for a finish at the basket.

  The post Double Crossover Finish Drill appeared first on Basketball HQ.

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 Source: Ball4ever.com