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Nike Blue Chip Supreme - Caron Butler - Player Exclusive

Sun, 3 Nov 2008 10:00:24 GMT

posted by sneakernews

Nike has cooked up something special for one of the newest members of Washington’s “Big 3″, Caron Butler, who is quickly joing the ranks of players such as Gilbert Arenas and Atawn Jamison. Caron Butler, who has been on the Washington Wizards for the couple seasons, has made a big impact in his short time in the NBA. With his high point games and plentiful rebounds, it is about time Butler has a player exclusive Nike shoe to ball in. Nike has given Caron Butler an exclusive version of one of their newest basketball shoes, the Blue Chip, which promises to be one of the most popular performance basketball shoe this season. Butler’s shoe is comprised of Wizards colors with a blue bottom, a white midsole with the Nike Air bubble inner painted dark gold/bronze to match parts of the upper. The upper consists of mostly white premium leather with blue and gold/bronze accents as well as Butler’s number “30″ at the top. These kicks have been limited to 48 pairs, but air available now at OSneaker for a VERY reasonable price of $150.00. Pick them up while you can. If you are a Wizards fan, this is a must have, they look like they may have a very good season. via OSneaker

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2008-09 NBA Preview: Washington Wizards

Fri, 20 Sep 2008 17:35:49 GMT

posted by highlite15

See all 2009 NBA team previews

Washington Wizards

2007-08 Record: 43-39

Cool 2007 Stat: Is Antawn Jamison the most underrated player of the decade? Since 2000, he has the 10th most points in the NBA. The top 9 average 8.2 of 9 possible all-star appearances. Jamison made just his 2nd appearance this season.

Anticipated Starting Five

PG- Gilbert Arenas
SG- DeShawn Stevenson
SF- Caron Butler
PF- Antawn Jamison
C- Brendon Haywood

Key Reserves: Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Antonio Daniels, Darius Songaila

Biggest Strength - Washington’s Big Three

Antwan Jamison, Caron Bulter and Gilbert Arenas are one of the best three-man crews in the league. They all have different styles of play and strengths they bring to the table. At least to me it’s mildly shocking this group hasn’t been able to get out of the first round, especially against practically a one-man team. In the end the key is them all being healthy long enough to start clicking at the right time and working together towards the same goal. By the way who is the leader on this team? I couldn’t tell you to be honest. I think that is also a major factor for their success. Someone needs to step up and be that guy (not just the leading scorer), making sure people are doing what they need to do to win. Setting the example on defense, getting on guys for lack of effort and pointless showboating and being selfless. Who will be the extension of the coach on the floor?

Biggest Weakness - Health

Gilbert Arenas is having “proactive” knee surgery to remove floating debris from his knee. I’ve heard various reports about how long he will be out: one month, sometime in December and even January. Guess what - none of that matters. The fact that he is missing time again, combined with his style of play, puts Washington in another chemistry nightmare. Add to that, there is a good chance someone else is going to get hurt as well. Caron Butler’s games played has decreased each of the last three seasons. This team just hasn’t played together enough over a few seasons to build that chemistry and build on previous seasons’ successes or improve on failures. It’s another set back that just closes this core’s window of doing something more than losing to LeBron James in the first round.

Key Player in ’08 – Brendon Haywood

I think we all know what we are going to get from Jamison and Butler. Arenas is very good when he is healthy. But the key to this team getting out of the first round of the playoffs in my opinion is the play of Haywood. With Jamison not being the typical style power forward, I think it’s key for Haywood to provide a solid figure in the middle. Last season Haywood easily had his best season as a pro averaging 10.7ppg, 7rpg, 1.7bpg on 53% shooting. He only plays 27 minute though. He needs to continue to work on his conditioning and offensive game. I’d much rather see him be the Wizards 4th leading scorer than DeShawn Stevenson jacking up wild shots.

Their Thaddeus (exciting player 22 or under) – Andray Blatche, 22

Blatche looked like he was going to go the way of several H.S.-to-NBA prospects and just fade away into obscurity after his first 2 seasons. However, injuries to Etan Thomas and Michael Ruffin in 2007 got him some time, and he showed enough promise to garner a multi-year deal. Last season, he became a legit rotation guy, with 7.5 points and 5.7 rebounds a game in just 20 minutes. He was 8th in the NBA in blocks per 48 minutes (3.26). He showed his full array of skills against the Sixers in November, going for 26 points on 12-14 shooting. Wizards fans are expecting another year of improvement this season.

Pete’s 2008 Outlook: 3rd place, Southeast division / 8th place, Eastern conference / 16th place, NBA

You’d think before you sign someone to a $111 million deal, you’d give him a good enough physical to realize he’s going to need knee surgery before the start of the first year of the deal. Apparently, not so much for the Wizards. Even without Arenas they are a playoff team, as they showed last year. Caron Butler is the best player on the team and one of the most underrated players in the NBA. However, the Wizards are now locked into the Butler, Arenas, Jamison trio for the next couple years and seem content to be a low-seed non-contender for a bit.

Dannie’s 2008 Outlook: 2nd place, Southeast division / 7th place, Eastern conference / 16th place, NBA

Same team, same results right? Well, kind of. The Wiz will be as good as they were last season which will be good enough to get into the playoffs again. On the other hand the Eastern Conference is much better, and their lack of improvement pushes them down the rankings in my book. Washington has the “big three” most people seem to think is necessary to win a championship in the NBA. Ultimately I don’t think they have the right, or good enough, role players to get to the next level. Which is out of the first round and into real conference title contention.

Philly Connection: Randy Ayers

Ayers is currently an assistant for the Wizards, a job he held with the Sixers from 1997-2003. He was named head coach in 2003 and wasn’t even given a full season with the job, getting the axe after a 21-31 record as head coach. Ayers has 2 sons from the Philadelphia area as well. Ryan went to Germantown Academy and is entering his senior season as a SF for Notre Dame. His younger son, Cameron, currently attends GA and is one of the best players in the area. He is ranked as the 55th best player in the country by Rivals.com and is being recruited by Notre Dame, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson and Temple.

2008-2009 NBA Season Preview: Who to Watch

Tue, 5 Nov 2008 18:38:59 GMT

posted by tatiana

Image Source Getty

It’s that time of year again, when sports fans are itching for something more high-energy than baseball and with more agile athletes than football, which means it’s basketball season.

The NBA kicked off their 2008-2009 regular season last Tuesday and we’re here to tell you who’s worth watching. Obviously you’ll watch your favorite team, regardless of if they’re good or they totally suck, but we’re here to tell you who actually has a chance to make it to playoffs and the underdogs to keep your eye on.

The Boston Celtics
Kevin Garnett shakes hands with the commissioner David Stern during the 2008 NBA World Championship.
Yeah yeah, this first one is kind of a no-brainer. The Celtics took the championship last year, and are once again a team to be reckoned with. They were a totally remade team last year, but this season the roster is unchanged. They failed to pick anyone up in the off-season, and actually lost forward James Posey. Although they have staples Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, without Posey they may be hurting on defense. Also, Kendrick Perkins underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season, so we’ll see if he’s able to come back. The Celtics have seasoned players and experience on their side, and have a good chance at winning the East. Still, it’s hard to repeat, and although they’ll definitely have a good season, we’ll see if they can go all the way.

Los Angeles Lakers
Vladimir Radmanovic of the Lakers bumps fist with a referee.
It would be an understatement to say that Kobe Bryant wants another title, he’s hurting for one and the Lakers may get one this season, if they can step up their defense. With Bryant there’s usually no lack of offense and because of this the Lakers, as usual, will have a productive season, but with no solid defensive-minded forwards, it’ll be hard to make it to the finals. Still, the return of Andrew Bynum from a serious knee injury will add depth to the roster that just may be able to push them all the way. Bynum’s return frees Bryant up on the defensive end.

Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers and the Celtics face off in the final game of the 2008 season finals.
The Cavaliers took second in the Central Division last year with a team full of players unfamiliar with each other. This season looked for an improved and more efficient team. With the addition of point guard Maurice Williams, who averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists for Milwaukee last season, the Cavs have a decent shot at the finals, as long as LeBron James stays healthy.

Detroit Pistons
The Pistons face the Pacers on Oct. 23, 2008.
The Pistons weren’t really a team to look at two seasons ago, or even last season for that matters Sure they made it to conference finals, but they dropped the series to the Celtics. Still, general manager Joe Dumars has promised to shake things up and it looks like this season he’s serious. He fired coach Flip Saunders in the off-season and just last week made a big trade for Allen Iverson of the Nuggets. Iverson just may have the star power to ignite the Pistons, but Dumars gave up Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess in the trade, which just might backfire on him.

Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers face the Lakers.
Portland went 41-41 last season and failed to make it to playoffs, but with some key additions to the roster, in guards Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu this team could shake up the West, or at least give some top teams a big scare. Also, don’t forget about Greg Oden, the supposed superstar who missed all of last season after micro fracture knee surgery. Oden started the season off with another injury, severely spraining his ankle in the team’s first game against LA. This injury puts him out for at least two weeks. If he can come back from serious surgery, live up to the hype surrounding him and just stay healthy he could give this team what it needs to make a push for the postseason. The Trailblazers are definitely a team to keep your eye on.

A Season Littered with Injuries
Look for this season to be filled with injuries. Washington’s Gilbert Arenas is out until December recovering from his third knee surgery. San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili, who sustained an ankle injury, won’t return until the end of November. Greg Oden is out with an ankle injury for at least two weeks, after spending all of last season recovering from micro fracture knee surgery. In an interesting twist for the Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis will miss the first 30 games of the season after seriously injuring his ankle in a moped accident. After he tried to cover up the offseason injury he was suspended. Not only does he have to live with the embarrassment of somehow hurting himself on the lamest of all motor vehicles, the moped, but he loses $3 million from his contract and has to sit the first month of the season. Also, watch for Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson to miss at least some of the season with injuries. Both were plagued with injuries in the preseason.

Players to Watch
Josh Childress plays against the Boston Celtics on April 23, 2008.
It’s premature, and may seem a little silly, but it’s worth it to note that after this season Kobe Bryant can opt out of his contract and in 2010 big names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash, Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki could all be free agents. Why is this important? The European leagues are supposedly ready to make big bids for these players.

Don’t believe it? Well, it’s already happening, Josh Childress left Atlanta last summer and signed with Greek club team Olympiacos. It’s rumored that the same team has considered offering Bryant a three-year, $60 million contract. Who wouldn’t take that kind of money? And the prospect of living in Europe is only an added bonus.

So, catch these players in the states while you still can, plane tickets to Europe aren’t cheap.

Playoff Predictions
We're callin' it! Look for Cleveland and LA to battle it out for the coveted NBA Championship in 2009.

More Lakers and Trail Blazers Photos:

More Celtics and Cavaliers Photos:

Pic Recap: Tigger's All Star Basketball Game

Sat, 8 Jun 2008 23:24:00 GMT

posted by DCFabulous
It must have been the hottest spot in DC and not because of all the socialites, celebs and reporters/bloggers in the building. It was just HOT! In UDC's gymnasium (can we invest in central air conditioning please?!), the "Wizards" went up against the "Baltimore Bullets" to raise money and support Big Tigger's 7th Annual Celebrity Classic.

(Photo: The Wizards. Caron Butler, Tiffany Evans and Mellysa Ford were coaches)
(Photo: The Bullets. Roger Mason, Alesha Renee and 106 and Park's Rocsi (since when did she become so hood? Please stop.) were coaches)
(Photo: Tiffany Evans (also performed at half time...hilarious footage to come) poses with One Tree Hill's Antwon Tanner)
(Photo: Vernon Davis poses with Smack Energy Bar girls)
(Photo: Look who popped up? Free where you been? She looks hot.)
(Photo: Melyssa Ford trying her best not to look sweated out)

(Photo: Roger Mason showing love to a fan)
(Photo: Big Tigger interviewing Terrell Owens for his show "Rap City")
(Photo: Alesha Renee is pretty...)
(Photo: Fred Smoot and Freaky Ty get close...a little too close)
No one really cared who won...by the time everybody left we were just looking for the nearest air conditioner and snowball.

Mini Recap: Lebron James at The Park

Thu, 25 Apr 2008 13:40:00 GMT

posted by DCFabulous
So yesterday I told you that Lebron would be at The Park (920 14th St.) and he brought all of his 'friends' with him...

(Photo: Lebron looking quite swagged out inside The Park)
The Park was it's normally boughie self with everyone acting a bit too self-important and then letting it hang out a little when the drinks set in.
Still, it was the place to be last night after the Wizards spanked Lebron's beloved Cavaliers. Trying to dull the pain of losing, the Cavs were out including Damon Jones and Ben Wallace. Also in the building were the Wiz Kids (sexy fine) Caron Butler, Andray Blatche and...
DeShawn Stevenson. We've all heard about the tiff between Lebron and DeShawn when Lebron said that he was Jay Z and DeShawn was Soulja Boy...kinda funny actually (if you're lost, read more here). Anyway, DeShawn brought Soulja Boy to the Verizon Center yesterday...I don't know if it was to prove a point or to simply say touche but it definitely added fire inside the Center.
(Photo: Soulja Boy put on all his jelewry to help out his man DeShawn | Photo Credit: Ned Dishman - NBAE via Getty)
Okay, back to the recap...also in the building were Supersonic's Kevin Durant and of course the Redskin's Carlos Rogers and Clinton Portis.
p.s. Blocks away Brendan Haywood partied at Be Bar.