New York Knicks Sign Knicks Sign Patrick Ewing Jr
Coming Home
Patrick Ewing Jr. is back with the team where his father became famous. The New York Knicks signed the Georgetown star but terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ewing was the 43rd pick of the 2008 draft by Sacramento Kings but wound up with the Knicks through a series of moves. He spent the 2008-09 season in the NBA Development League but missed all of last season because of injuries.
The six-foot-eight forward averaged 4.8 points in four games for the Knicks’ summer league team. Ewing’s father played 15 seasons for the Knicks before finishing his career with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic.
Penny Hardaway Wants Back In The NBA & With Miami Heat
No Longer Penny, He's Just A Peso
Former Orlando Magic, Phoenix Sun, New York Knick, and Miami Heat Penny Hardaway aka Peso wants back in the NBA at 39 years old. Peso, who hasn’t played a full season in nearly ten years, doesn’t just want any team for his comeback though, he wants to play with LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami.
Peso has said he’s reached out to Pat Riley, who hasn’t gotten back to him yet probably because he’s washed up. During his last stint with the Heat in 2007, Peso averaged 3.8 points and 20.3 minutes per game before being released.
Watch the interview HERE
Ewings On The Ewings
Former New York Knicks legend and forgettable Seattle SuperSonics player Patrick Ewing is the head coach of the Orlando Magic Summer League squad and is coaching his son Patrick Ewing Jr to which he wonders “there is no way in hell” he shouldn’t be in the NBA. At home and the bar that question is probably followed by why the hell am I not an NBA head coach?
Dwight Howard Has World Cup Fever
Adidas needs to step their game up and hurry up and make a size 18 in soccer cleats for Dwight Howard. Even if your not a fan of the happy Superman, you gotta admit he doesn’t do a half bad Charles Barkley impression.
2010 NBA Finals Most Viewed Since 2001
Est. 1946
ABC averaged a 10.6 rating and 18.1 million viewers for the 2010 NBA Finals, up 26% in ratings and viewership from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic last year (8.4, 14.3 mil, five games), up 14% and 21% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 (9.3, 14.9 mil, six games), and up 71% and 95% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 (6.2, 9.3 mil, four games).
This marks the most-viewed NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers on NBC in 2001 (19.0 mil), and the second most-viewed since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz in 1998 (29.0 mil), Michael Jordan’s last NBA Finals.
This is only the second time since 1998 that the NBA Finals has averaged at least 18 million viewers. This only the second time in the past eight years that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating.
Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics outdrew the last two seven-game NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs/Detroit Pistons in 2005 (12.5 mil) and Houston Rockets/New York Knicks in 1994 (17.3 mil).
Of the 15 NBA Finals since 1990 that did not involve Jordan and the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics is the third-most viewed, behind the Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers series in 2001 (19.0 mil) and Houston Rockets/Orlando Magic in 1995 (20.1 mil).
However the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics ranks as the fifth-lowest rated NBA Finals to involve the Los Angeles Lakers in the past thirty years (15 series). It’s ahead of only Los Angeles Lakers/New Jersey Nets in 2002 (10.2), Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics in 2008 (9.3), Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic in 2009 (8.4) and Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers in 1980 (8.0).
For perspective, the 2010 NBA Finals finished behind the 2009 World Series, which averaged an 14.7 rating and 23.4 million viewers for six games.
The final game of the 2010 NBA Finals saw its largest audience and it was its largest for an NBA game since the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 win over the Celtics drew a 15.6/27 final rating and 28.2 million viewers on ABC.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game on any network since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz Game 6 in 1998, topping the previous highs of 14.7 Indiana Pacers/Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 in 2000 and 23.8 million viewers Los Angeles Lakers/Sacramento Kings Game 7 in 2002.
Additionally, this is easily the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game ever on ABC, topping the previous high of 13.8 and 21.8 million viewers for Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons Game 5 in 2004. This is the first time since that 2004 series that any NBA game has surpassed 20 million viewers.
Despite the big numbers Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers finished behind previous Game 7s in the NBA Finals. New York Knicks/Houston Rockets Game 7 drew a 17.9 on NBC in 1994, Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 drew a 21.2 on CBS in 1988, and Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 7 drew a 19.3 rating on CBS in 1984.
NBA Finals Game 4 Overnight Ratings
Est. 1947
The Boston Celtics Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers drew an 11.6 overnight rating on ABC Thursday night, up 6% from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic Game 4 last year, which went overtime (10.9), up 12% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 in 2008 (10.4) and up 49% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers Game 4 in 2007 (7.8).
Thursday’s game drew the highest overnight rating of the NBA Finals so far, edging Tuesday’s Game 3 (11.5). Overnight ratings have increased from game to game.
This marks the highest overnight rating for Game 4 of the NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons Game 4 in 2004 (14.4). Additionally, the 11.6 is the highest overnight for any of the first four games of the NBA Finals since that 2004 series.
So far, every single game of the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics NBA Finals has hit a six-year high in overnight ratings, with the lone exception of Game 1 which was tied as the highest in six years.
Game 4 was the top program of the night on broadcast, helping ABC to another victory in primetime.
NBA Finals Game 3 Overnight Ratings
Est. 1946
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 win over the Boston Celtics drew an 11.5 overnight rating on ABC Tuesday night, up 14% from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic Game 3 last year (10.1), up 7% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 in 2008 (10.8) and up 47% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 in 2007 (7.8).
This marks the highest overnight for Game 3 of the NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons in 2004 (12.6). This is the highest overnight for any of the first four games of the NBA Finals since 2004.
Tuesday’s game drew the ninth-largest overnight rating for an NBA game on ABC since the network acquired the rights in 2002.
Game 3 was the top television program of Tuesday night, helping ABC to another victory in primetime.
Since Game 3 of the NBA Finals moved to a Tuesday night in 2005, the final ratings have declined between 11% and 17% from the overnight.
NBA Finals Game 2 Overnight Ratings
Est. 1947
The Boston Celtics Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers drew a 10.9 overnight rating on ABC Sunday night, up 10% from Orlando Magic/Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 last year, which went overtime (9.9), up 7% from Los Angles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 2 in 2008 (10.2) and up 58% from Cleveland Cavaliers/San Antonio Spurs Game 2 in 2007 (6.9).
The 10.9 overnight is tied as the highest for any of the first four games of the NBA Finals since 2004.
Additionally, this marks the fourth-highest overnight for an NBA Finals Game 2 since 1998 behind Philadelphia 76ers/Los Angeles Lakers in 2001 (14.5), Detriot Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 (12.3) and Indiana Pacers/Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 (11.9).
Since Game 2 of the NBA Finals moved to a Sunday night in 2005, final ratings have declined anywhere from 12% to 19% from the overnight.
NBA Finals Game 1 Overnight Ratings
Est. 1946
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics drew a 10.4 overnight rating on ABC Thursday night, up 17% from Orlando Magic/Los Angeles Lakers Game 1 last year (8.9), even with Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 1 in 2008 (10.4) and up 32% from Cleveland Cavaliers/San Antonio Spurs Game 1 in 2007 (7.9).
The 10.4 overnight is tied as the highest for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since Detriot Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 1 in 2004, which drew an 11.6.
This is only the third time that ABC has drawn a double-digit overnight for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Since 2000, final ratings for Game 1 of the NBA Finals have declined between 16% and 21% from the overnight with the lone exception of last year, when the Game 1 final dropped only 12%.
Orlando Magic Mickael Pietrus Made $17,000 For Afro
Mickael Pietrus
Since the beginning of the season we watched as Orlando Magic Mickael Pietrus grow a baby afro and it turns out it wasn’t all for fashion. Teammates Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis all dared Pietrus he couldn’t go all season with the look, now that he has his reward is $17,0000.
Now that he was collected he has no plans of cutting it off.
“No I like it. The last time I had a ‘fro was like 20 years ago. I was like 7 or 8 years old, and that’s the age when your mom never wants you to get a haircut. People love it, and the best thing is I don’t have to comb it.”
Looks like the NBA’s version of Nipsey Russell isn’t going away anytime soon.
Orlando Magic Jason Williams Is Pissed
After Game 3 loss for the Orlando Magic to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jason Williams aka White Chocolate was so pissed he took his frustration that his season would be over in a matter of days out on reporters.
I don’t know what I enjoyed more teammate Matt Barnes aka Jeff’s reaction to it all or Williams saying not to get smart. Does Williams know what smart is?
Kevin Garnett Runs Over Ron Jeremy
Come on Jeff your better than that. If your not Calvin Casey, Rudy J or Jeff you probably don’t understand and that’s all good. But back to the issue at hand and it really isn’t that Matt Barnes sent Kevin Garnett bowling into Ron Jeremy aka Stan Van Gundy, nope, it’s the disgusting basketball and heart the Orlando Magic displayed in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Let me say that again Eastern Conference Finals.
If you watched more than a quarter of this game then I feel sorry for you and know your pain. Was the assumption that this series was over with after game 2, sure. However you never wanna believe that professionals hang it up with still two games to be played. Apparently the Magic didn’t get that memo or don’t subscribe to that philosophy and would rather collect their checks and ride into summer vacation.
Looks as if Dwight Howard wont have to worry about the NBA Finals getting in the way of his reporting duties in South Africa for the World Cup.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Orlando Magic who lost Game 1 and Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on their home court to the Boston Celtics.
The Magic made little trouble of the regular season and in turn landed them the number two seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They went on to breeze through the first two round of the playoffs by virtue of sweeps and manhandling the Atlanta Hawks by an average of 25 points. However with a week worth of rest and all the Magics dominance before hand the opposite was on display for their home fans.
The Magic in Game 1 never saw them lead at any point in the game nor even tie it up. Players like Rashard Lewis, 4-16 in 85 minutes, Mickael Pietrus, 2-8 in 35 minutes, and Jameer Nelson 12-30 but 3-12 from behind the arch in 74 minutes played big parts in the Magic being down 0-2 on their home court.
In a must win moment Vince Carter missed two free throws that would made it a one possession game with under 31 seconds left in the game. The eight time all-star missing both free throws sucked all hopes of pulling out a victory for the Orlando reminiscence of former Magic Nick Anderson who missed four consecutive free throws in 1995.
WTF: Joe DeRosa
Last night long time NBA official Joe DeRosa had an altercation with a fan at the end of the first half between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic.
A fan behind the scorers table had words for DeRosa then the 18 year vet fired the game ball at the heckler, who actually caught it and threw it right back.
That’s when DeRosa made his second blunder of the incident by requesting assistance from security to handle the belligerent fan, which he should have done in the first place.
Atlanta Hawks Fan Offer Up Joe Johnson On Craigslist
Young Jeezy Has Even Erased Joe's Name From A Verse
After the Atlanta Hawks where swept by the Orlando Magic once again in blow out fashion, the Hawks will have plenty of moves to make to please their fan base beginning with their head coach and down to their star player. The Hawks fans took their anger out on Joe Johnson who was mercilessly booed at tip-off in Game 4 and suddenly offered up on Craigslist after the game.
All of it stems from the comments Johnson made about the fans after the 30 point loss at home in Game 3.
“We could care less if they show up”
Then followed a poor performance in Game 4,
“It doesn’t bother me, man,” said Johnson, who’s last shot was a 25-foot airball as the shot clock ran down. “I’ve got thick skin. I’ve been booed louder than that.”
Booing might not bother Johnson but he quickly found himself for sale by an Hawk fan on this Atlanta Craigslist Ad. Used NBA basketball player looking for a new home. Need to move ASAP!!!! $20,000,000 a year or $500,000 an hour.
Decent worker from December to April……….. WONT WORK OVERTIME!!!!
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz
Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz in being swept 4-0 in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Each team played formidable opponents in the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers but still never managed to win a game. Out of 16 games only one, game 3, was decided by one point in the Jazz and Lakers series. The rest of the games in the series had the Jazz loss by an average of 9 points.
The Hawks versus the Magic series was never close from the moment of tip off in game one. The series saw game one’s outcome decided by 43 points and an average of 25 points in defeat for Atlanta. The Spurs four loses to the Suns may have seemed close but that was until the second half got under way. The second half saw Phoenix pull away four straight times and proving to be to much for the Spurs in the end.
San Antonio Spurs Second Round Playoff Ratings Down
Est. 1973
Fewer viewers are watching the latest entry into the San Antonio Spurs/Phoenix Suns rivalry.
The Suns Game 2 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night drew a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.0 million viewers, down 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Orlando Magic/Boston Celtics Game 2 in the timeslot last year 2.9, 4.3 mil. Monday’s Game 1 drew a 2.7 and 4.1 million viewers.
To put the numbers in perspective, Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns/San Antonio Spurs first round series two years ago drew a 3.0 rating and 4.4 million viewers.
Through Wednesday, ratings have declined for four of the six second round telecasts (not including Utah Jazz/Los Angeles Lakers game since ratings where not available), with three games seeing double-digit drops. However, with the exception of Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic Game 1 on Tuesday, the ratings have been generally solid.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Atlanta Hawks and their 43 point loss to the Orlando Magic.
Since March the Hawks have been playing basketball with one foot already set in the NBA off-season and never was that more clear than in Game One of the second round playoffs against the Magic Tuesday night.
The Hawks went scoreless for near six minutes with seven turnovers in the second quarter and down at halftime 53-33. After scoring only 10 points in the second quarter and 11 in the third quarter, the Hawks were looking up from a 46-point deficit at one point.
The loss easily could have been more than 50 had the Magic needed to play their regulars for more than two quarters. All the while Orlando was shaking off the rust after sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the playoffs.
The Hawks where lead in scoring by Josh Smith 14 points and as a team didn’t reach the 50-point mark until Jeff Teague hit a 3-pointer with 8 minutes left in the game.
Hawks coach Mike Woodson said the team come out with “no juice” and that “it was an ugly game for us on both ends of the floor.”
No matter how you try to slice it up, the performance Atlanta displayed on Tuesday was disgusting and a major meltdown. Even the viewers at home watching on TV thought so with the game drawing a 1.9 rating and 3 million viewers on TNT ranking it as the lowest rated NBA Playoff game in two years.
Tim Duncan Makes 2009-10 NBA All-Defensive Team
Via Spurs Press Release
[Via Spurs Press Release]
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the 2009-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award presented by Kia Motors, and guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. By totaling 57 points overall, including 28 First Team votes, Howard edged Rondo (50 points overall and 23 First Team votes) as the leading vote-getter.
Also selected to the All-Defensive First Team are forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (45 points), Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (34 points) and Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (30 points).
Howard became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks (1973-74 was the first season blocks were kept as an official statistic) in consecutive seasons, averaging 13.2 rebounds and 2.78 blocks. He also became only the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding for at least three consecutive seasons. With Howard anchoring the defense, the Magic allowed 95.3 ppg, which ranked fourth in the NBA, and held the opposition to a league-low .438 shooting from the field, including 24 games where opponents shot under .400. Orlando held the opposition to less than 100 points 57 times and to less than 90 points 24 times.
The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Thabo Sefolosha of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and forwards Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Duncan has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive team 13 consecutive seasons.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Josh Smith
Dwight Howard, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty for life.
Dwightmare On Elm Street
This is a little corny but don’t hold it against Dwight Howard or the Orlando Magic because it was done by the Orlando Sentinel. On second thought I wouldn’t even blame the Sentinel after the performance you saw from the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1. That 43 point loss was just utterly disgusting Atlanta.
SGE 2010 NBA 2nd Round Playoff Picks
SGE PICKS
The NBA second round of playoffs began over the weekend with our predictions coming before the first tip off however the actual post for the website got lost in laziness. So without further ado here is our picks that probably in your eyes see very little shockers.
Eastern Conference
- Calvin Casey (8-0)
- Boston Celtics
- Orlando Magic
- Rudy J (7-1)
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic
- Salami (7-1)
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic
Western Conference
- Calvin Casey (8-0)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Rudy J (7-1)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Salami (7-1)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- San Antonio Spurs
Larry Brown Wants Out Of Charlotte?
Never Trust A Man Who Wears A Bow Tie
Now that the Orlando Magic have eliminated the Charlotte Bobcats from the NBA playoffs could coach Larry Brown be on his way back to Philadelphia?
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer the process getting Brown back to the team he coached from 1997-2003 and lead to an NBA Finals appearance in 2001 could very well be in motion. Just a month ago Brown emphatically told reporters that he would only coach for Michael Jordan however the Sixers could have the front office in mind for him instead of the sidelines.
Currently the president and general manager position is still held by Ed Stefanski but that job doesn’t look to be secure. At the end of the season Stefanski fired Eddie Jordan, who he hired, has yet to hear any support come from ownership, publicly or privately. That could very well mean his tenure with the organization be coming to a close, leaving an opening for Brown to return to Philadelphia where he has always stayed in close contact with Comcast CEO Ed Snider.
In addition to Brown’s close contact with the higher ups in the Sixers orginzation his family has remained in the Philadelphia area ever since Brown left the Sixers after the 2002-03 season. Brown is almost 70-years-old and might consider spending far more many nights closer to his family – wife Shelly; son A.J., 15; and daughter Madison, soon to be 13.
Sources are saying that Jordan has given Brown permission to return home if the position involves authority over basketball decisions, something Brown does not have in Charlotte. If the opening in Philadelphia does come available many believe that Charlotte considers the chances of Brown staying as minimal.
“I love my team,” Brown told the Inquirer two weeks ago. “I love coaching. I’m (almost) 70 years old. I want to coach for Michael Jordan. That’s where I’m at. I’m happy here. It’s no fun being away from my family and Shelly. That’s always going to be the case. But I love what I’m doing.”
Only Larry knows what Larry will do, however I do know I abandoned his word meaning anything to me long ago.
‘Basketball Wives’ Star Naked Pictures Leaked Online
Talent
Naked pictures of Evelyn Lozada, one of the stars of the VH1 show “Basketball Wives” and once engaged to former NBA player Antonie Walker have surfaced online.
On the show Lozada has claimed to be very up scale and even gone as far as degrading fellow “Basketball Wives” star current Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard’s baby mama Royce Reed. Lozada has called Reed trashy and raunchy a couple times and the show is only two episodes in.
To see the NSFW pictures, click HERE.
