The Crab Dribble Episode 2.19, The King’s Crowned
The Crab Dribble puts a bow on the 2011-2012 season by praising The Chosen One for finally reaching the top of the mountain. Not everyone on the podcast is pleased with the outcome, but we also dissect the lottery picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. The season may be over, but TCD lives on.
End of the Bench, Volume 2.18
We’ve reached the apocalypse in the NBA. The Lakers are winning without Kobe Bryant. The Heat are winning without Dwyane Wade. The Bulls are winning without Derrick Rose. Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony – neither of whom exactly conjures up images of John Stockton – are putting up double-digit assist games. Chaos has officially ensued. Forget everything you thought you knew about the NBA.
Okay, that’s perhaps a tad strong. Delonte West is still behaving bizarrely, to put it mildly. Kevin Garnett is still setting blatantly illegal screens all over the court. LeBron James is still filling out a stat sheet like few can. And the Bobcats are still embarrassing themselves. There’s so much to cover, and so little time, what with the playoffs right around the corner. But let’s get started, shall we? Pull up a chair and let’s see what it looks like from the best seat in the house. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.8, The Return
The hiatus is back off, again. The Crab Dribble returns after a brief break to get you caught up on All-Star Weekend festivities, and what they mean for the second half of the season. We also answer some fan mail, and it’s not too kind. Join us, won’t you?
All-Star Saturday Diary
Is there anything better than spending a Saturday night inside watching television? Sure, some people go on dates, hit the bars or go to a party, but here at The Crab Dribble, we’re all about basketball, even at the expense of our social lives. So for those of you unfortunate enough to miss the All-Star Saturday Night festivities, have no fear. We kept a running diary of the events – just for you – so you can relive all the excitement. Enjoy!
8:32: Welcome to All-Star Saturday Night, which for some reason, has its own pregame show. But we decided to skip to the good stuff, which means we’re opening with the required camera scan of the celebrities and players in attendance. Am I the only one who doesn’t get the black-framed glasses fad?
8:34: It’s time to meet the teams for the Haier Shooting Stars Challenge! Can you feel the excitement? (more…)
End of the Bench, Volume 2.10
All-Star Weekend has arrived, which means you need to sharpen your senses and clear your mind, so you can tell your grandkids exactly where you were when Vinny from “Jersey Shore” used a screen from Tankia Catchings to get enough space to launch a jumper over Common, while Penny Hardaway positioned himself for the rebound. Yes, it’s hard to put a price on entertainment like that.
The All-Star break brings us to the halfway point of the season, and there’s been plenty to like so far (unless of course you’re a Bobcats fan, in which case you’re already saving money for your Anthony Davis replica jersey). With a few days to catch our breath, let’s catch up on the latest from around the league. Pull up a seat, and we’ll review it all from the best seat in the house. (more…)
End of the Bench, Volume 2.9
Pretty boring week in the NBA, no? Sure, Jeremy Lin buried a game-winner, the Heat pulled off a feat not done in nearly 30 years, the Spurs are forcing their way into the contenders circle, the Blazers lost their best player, Rajon Rondo had a monster triple-double and Carmelo Anthony’s impending return has sparked endless debates about his worthiness as a player. But other than that, nothing to see here, right?
We are officially at the halfway point of the season (more or less anyway), and it’s safe to say we’ve had more than a few surprises. Sure, we knew the Heat, Thunder and Bulls would be good…but the Sixers over the Celtics? We figured the All-Star Game would feature the usual contingency of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce…but did anyone thing they’d be sharing the stage with Roy Hibbert? And we suspected the Knicks would be an interesting storyline, but did we think it would happen when both Carmelo and Amare Stoudemire were sitting out? If you’re overwhelmed by it all – don’t worry. Just relax, grab a seat and we’ll explain it all from the best seat in the house. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.1: East side!
The Crab Dribble is back, and we’ve made some changes. Check out the shorter, tighter version of the podcast while we break down the Eastern Conference from worst to first. We also hand out some preseason conference awards, and feature a new board game sure to be a treat for the whole family.
End of the Bench Vol. 21
Finally! An agreement has been reached!! Granted, it was an agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB players’ union, and as far as I can tell it will have no discernible impact on the NBA, but still….at least somewhere, in some sports, people can still find resolutions.
As for the NBA, we’re in Day 452,378, or thereabouts, of the lockout, and there is still no end in sight. You’d think by now that both sides would have put aside their petty bickering and started getting serious about reaching a deal, but no such luck. If anything, it’s gotten worse. But that doesn’t mean there’s still not some news from the wonderful world of hoops. So pull up a chair and let’s take it all in from the best seat in the house.
– Metta World Peace – aka Ron Artest - has challenged Michael Jordan to a game of one-on-one to end the lockout. EOTB normally doesn’t care much for Artest’s attention-seeking antics, and is one of the biggest MJ fans on the planet Earth, but if this would get the league going, then I’m all for it. And yes, I would be rooting for Metta. #BBNS (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 45, Amnesty for all
Just because the NBA isn’t in session doesn’t mean The Crab Dribble doesn’t have anything to say. We’re talking amnesty for teams that need a mulligan, the world’s worst game of Family Feud and some listener e-mails from our loyal fans.
Sorry fans…
Dear NBA fans,
I am indifferent about sorry to be reporting that significant differences still remain in the labor discussions between the NBA owners and the NBA player’s union. Because of the timing of these negotiations, it is now necessary to cancel the first two weeks of the upcoming 2011-12 regular season, and should progress not be made, it is possible that more of the season may be missed. This was our intent all along not what we wanted, but the players didn’t cave as we had hoped we have been left with no alternative. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 43, Cheat Codes
The Crab Dribble’s long-awaited episode on the best basketball video games is finally here. Enjoy 15 minutes of Rob, Ben and Jason discussing a handful of video games ranging from bad to horrible. There’s a lockout…. what do you want from us?
The Crab Dribble Episode 42, Moving Pictures
The Crab Dribble is in full lock-out mode this week, with a very-off-the-cuff discussion on the world’s best basketball movies. If you find this episode to be lacking in any area (actual basketball movies, common sense, etc.), please don’t hesitate to write us at thecrabdribble@thecrabdribble.com.
The Crab Dribble Episode 40, European vacation
The NBA players may be locked out, but The Crab Dribble is back this week to break down the lockout (sorry, we don’t know when it’s going to end) and the new “cool thing to do,” which is taking your talents to Turkey, China or anywhere but ‘Merica.
This is the first of several shorter, more pointed summer episodes. If you’ve got an episode idea during the lockout, hit us up at thecrabdribble@thecrabdribble.com or leave a comment below. You could also befriend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. It’s totally up to you.
Unlocking the lockout
Comedian Ron White isn’t exactly known for issuing words of wisdom, but as we settle into the NBA lockout, I can’t help but think of one of his catchphrases…
“You can’t fix stupid.”
Seeing as how writers have used nearly every cliché imaginable in describing the NFL lockout (millionaires vs. billionaires, fans are the real losers, etc.), I won’t copy their work. I’ll just instead start with this little tidbit, which may be relevant as we prepare over the coming weeks to hear how many NBA teams and owners are losing money.
Andrei Kirkilenko made $17,823,000 last season. (more…)
The curious case of LeBron James
Remember the good old days?
The days when passing to an open teammate was considered a good basketball play? When playing lockdown defense wasn’t shrugged off as insignificant? When winning mattered more than individual statistics?
I bet LeBron James would have enjoyed those days.
Now before you go off the deep end – this isn’t a pity party for LeBron. The man is a professional athlete who makes big money, and part of the burden that comes along with that is taking criticism. And sure, he brought a good deal of it on himself with The Decision this summer. Although in a world where high school kids hold press conferences to announce their college decision, I find it hard to get too outraged over an hour-long special, that by the way, raised money for charity. (And anyone who dismisses that aspect of it has likely not set foot in a Boys and Girls Club, where no donation is seen as hollow. Go ask the kid who now has access to his first computer if he cares if LeBron’s donation was a publicity stunt).
But we’ve officially reached the breaking point with the anti-LeBron campaign now. Seriously. When a player is ripped for making the right basketball play – in a game his team wins! – it’s gone too far. As J.A. Adande pointed out, Michael Jordan used to be praised for trusting his teammates and finding them in late game situations. Now, because we view LeBron to be arrogant, he is ripped and accused of shrinking in the moment for doing the exact same thing. (more…)
End of the Bench Vol. 15
By now, you’re probably already suffering from the deluge of NBA Finals coverage, even after just one game. The Heat have been crowned champions, Dirk Nowitzki is soft, the Mavericks’ window has closed and the Heat are sure to win the next five championships. Never mind that we’ve only had 48 minutes of basketball on which to make these assumptions, or that the series is far from over, especially if Dallas is able to steal Game 2 on Thursday. It’s much more fun to make definitive statements based on emotional reactions than to take a step back and try to be objective right?
With that in mind, EOTB is going to take a quick look at some other NBA stories besides the extensive Finals coverage. As always, check us out on Facebook and give the podcast a listen. Then settle in to the best seat in the house. (more…)
End of the Bench Vol. 12
Welcome back to the best seat in the house – the End of the Bench! It’s at this very place where we predicted the Lakers winning the West after beating the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. It’s here where we predicted the Knicks giving the Celtics a battle for the ages in the first round. It’s here where we predicted the Thunder were too young, and the Mavericks were too old, to be real contenders. So yes, it’s clear we were a bit off in our forecasting.
But on the bright side, there’s still plenty of time to make up for it. Be sure to check out this week’s podcast,become our friend on Facebook, and then settle in to enjoy the view. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 20: Bittersweet Endings
- “Peace out.”
Jerry Sloan leaves Utah with his legacy intact, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally win a game, and we wonder aloud about a Kobe Bryant-Ray Allen buddy-comedy not coming to theaters near you.
It’s The Crab Dribble, so start listening.
Dunk you very much
If you’re an NBA fan (and clearly you are, since you’re here), you know one of the highlights of every February is the NBA Dunk Contest. Even though the contest has lacked some energy and excitement in recent years, it’s still one of those nights that you never want to miss, because there’s a chance you’ll see something you’ve never seen before. Whether its Spud Webb’s aerial show in 1986, Michael Jordan’s free-throw line leap in 1988 or Vince Carter’s against-the-grain 360 windmill in 2000, the contest has produced some iconic moments and helped launch the careers of some of the most exciting players of the last 25 years.
With that in mind, the good people over at Hoopism.com put together a comprehensive look at every dunk from every contest dating back to the original in 1984. So grab some popcorn and a comfortable chair, because you’re going to enjoy this.
Kobe climbs the list
Kobe is now eighth on the all-time scoring list...but is he even higher on the list of all-time great players?
Midseason Position Rankings – Shooting Guards
Time for Day Two of our positional rankings, and as you can tell, today we’re looking at shooting guards. While not the first great shooting guard, Michael Jordan has certainly set the standard for today’s generation of stars. And while we’ve yet to find his equal, that doesn’t mean there’s not some serious talent in the league right now. Today’s rules allow greater freedom than ever before for the offense, and teams are placing a high emphasis on getting guards who can create their own shots, especially in the clutch moments of a game. With that in mind, here’s a look at the best today’s game has to offer. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 15: Brown Out
Another week, another basketball podcast featuring a talking computer. That’s right, The Crab Dribble returns the week after Christmas with suprising predictions, reflections on Larry Brown’s coaching career, and so much more, you’ll have to
Vinsanity indeed
One of the most popular games in the late 90s was trying to identify the “Next Jordan.” While the first players to be anointed as such failed to live up to the hype (Harold Minor anyone?), there were a few players at the turn of the century who appeared capable of claiming that mantle, be it Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady or even Allen Iverson.
But no player evoked the Michael Jordan comparisons more than Vince Carter. From his North Carolina pedigree to his jaw-dropping athleticism, Carter appeared cut straight from the MJ mold. By 2001, he had helped make the Raptors into Eastern Conference contenders, and his performance at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game Dunk Contest had already been immortalized. This was it. We had found the guy to carry on the legacy of Jordan – the player with the perfect mix of talent, flair, personality and charisma. The Decade of Vinsanity was set to begin.
Oops. (more…)
What they’re saying