The Cavaliers are leading the NBA in points per 100 possessions after finishing 19th in the category last season, which is a big reason why they are 2nd in our new rankings.
Monta Ellis is still at least a full month away from his return to the court for the Warriors, but he recently called RealGM with the full story behind his ankle injury.
Chris Paul led all players in Season FIC during the 2007-08 campaign and he is the current per 40 leader of the preseason. How are other players performing thus far?
Just three installments remain in the series, with this chapter housing names like Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, and Carmelo Anthony. It was incredibly hard to leave off a number of players, and I’m sure after reading you’ll see exactly whom I decided skip over this time around.
Born within six months of each other in opposite corners of the world, two seven footers who are finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame this fall are two of the best ever to play the center position.
RealGM Search
by Andrew Perna
Guess what folks?
One day until the NFL Season kicks off…
Bulls' guard Ben Gordonstill doesn’t have a new contract, and it’s becoming more and more likely that he’ll end up playing elsewhere next season. Gordon wants substantially more than Chicago is offering, but I’d say he deserves somewhere in between. Just don’t go to Europe, Ben.
Luol Deng is set to help Great Britain battle Israel on Wednesday as they compete in the Eurobasket qualifiers. Deng will quickly become the most talented player on the team, but then again, I have never thought of Britain as a basketball hotbed.
Donyell Marshall convinced the Sixers to sign him to a deal worth the league’s veteran minimum. Marshall, a Philadelphia native, reportedly wanted to sign on with his hometown team, asking his agent to get a deal done. No matter how he landed with the 76ers, he has made them even more talented.
Cliff Lee won his 20th game of the season for the Indians on Monday night against the White Sox. Winning twenty is one thing, but doing so the season after Cleveland sent him to the minors to work on his approach, is even more amazing. It’s too bad he won’t pitch in the playoffs.
Seattle’s Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle late on Monday night, becoming the second player to do so on Labor Day (Stephen Drew of the D’Backs). Two players have not accomplished the feat on the same day in 88 years, which puts the Cubs’ streak of championship futility in prospective.
Kyle Farnsworth admitted on Monday that he hated leaving the Yankees in late July when New York dealt him to the Tigers for Pudge Rodriguez. The reliever struggled mightily with the Yanks but started to show some promise this season. Perhaps Brian Cashman was looking to sell high.
The Phillies may start Cole Hamels against the Mets this weekend on normal rest despite giving him an extra day off the last time Philadelphia faced New York. I know Hamels has thrown a ton of innings this season, but aren’t the Phils in a pennant race with the Mets? So why wouldn’t they start a pitcher with a 3.13 ERA and 168 strikeouts?
Greg Maddux earned his 354th win on Monday night against one of his old teams, the Padres. Maddux, pitching for the Dodgers now, is tied with Roger Clemens on the all-time wins list. I’d imagine that a guy like Maddux is waiting for the chance to record another win in order to remove himself from alongside the Rocket.
The Lions agreed to terms with free agent running back Rudi Johnson on Monday night in an attempt to make their stable of runners stronger. He’ll provide nice depth behind rookie Kevin Smith in the place of Tatum Bell, who was released by Detroit to make room for Johnson in town.
Rookie QB Joe Flacco will start for the Ravens in their season opener against the Bengals, a decision that didn’t seem possible a few weeks ago. Injuries to Troy Smith and Kyle Boller forced Baltimore’s hand, but a few solid starts this month could make the Ravens forget that there was even a race to be named the starter.
Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson claims that he’s ready to go this season despite a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chad talks a lot, so it’s hard to tell whether or not he’s being truthful. Cincinnati needs ‘Ocho Cinco’ to be on the field if they are going to make waves in the AFC this season.
The Raiders needed help at wide receiver, so they signed free agent pass-catcher Ashley Lelie late Monday. Lelie was pretty highly-touted earlier in his career, but he’s been a huge disappointment, thus far. Fantasy Alert: Keep an eye on him but don’t pick him up yet.
New Lightning coach Barry Melrose would like to see some more rough play in the NHL these days, especially around the net. I’d imagine that Melrose will somehow find a way around the rules that sometimes restrict skaters from distributing the goalie.
I finally saw this, at an IMAX, and I wish I’d seen it earlier…
