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At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

NBA Hoops: Madison Square Garden is Open for Business

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Last night, the New York Knicks lost their home opener to the Portland Trail Blazers 100-95.  The Knicks held a nine point lead with 5 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter but poor free throw shooting, and a clutch performance by Brandon Roy, ultimately sent fans at the Garden home feeling very disappointed.

This view comes from my buddy Dave, who went in on Knicks season tickets with his brother.  After a summer where they could not land either Lebron James or Dwyane Wade, Dave, like most Knicks fans, has been forced to talk himself into the Amare Stoudemire era.  The NBA season may be less than a week old but it is still not a good sign when Dave tells me that the two Knicks players who impressed him the most in person where Ronny Turiaf and Landry Fields.  One things for sure, if Danilo Gallinari doesn’t start contributing, NY is going to have a much harder time convincing the Denver Nuggets to trade Carmelo Anthony.  Fields/Turiaf for Anthony just isn’t going to get it done.

Will the Knicks puzzle their fans once again this year?  Will Raymond Felton and Amare learn how to run the pick and roll effectively?  Will Carmelo successfully force a trade to NY? Share your views.

NBA Opener Continued: The Debut of “Loud City”

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I had a colleague, who is just now getting into the NBA, ask me what team he should follow this year. I told him to go with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  With a combination of emerging young superstars (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook), strong supporting cast (Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka), a good coach, great/loyal fans, and a wide open western conference the Thunder are poised for a breakout season.  Many are predicting a second place finish behind the Lakers.  So, will the “Durantula” live up to expectations or will the Miami Heat continue to steal the headlines?  Share your views.

NBA Season Opener: The Miami Heat Will Not Go Undefeated

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This just in, the Miami Heat have lost a basketball game. Fans must now wait at least one more game before crowning the 2010-2011 Heat the best team since the ’96 Chicago Bulls.  Tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics was not as close as the final score makes it seem.  In the second half, Lebron James did the best he could to salvage a poor performance by Dwyane Wade, while the Celtics were led by their own version of “The Big Three” plus a very active/creative Rajon Rondo.

And while on the subject of nicknames, James, Wade, and Chris Bosh need a better nickname than “Miami Thrice” or “Three Degrees”.  Suggestions? One things for certain, it’s impossible for even casual NBA fans to not feel strongly, one way or another, about the Heat.  Love ’em or hate’ em, you’re going to be seeing a lot of them on TV this year.  So, you better get use to the view.