​Luka Doncic has set the NBA on fire it is truly something to behold as he makes a mind-boggling pass or hits a shot that defies logic. It may seem extreme to compare him to someone as great as Larry Bird but the similarities are quite real. In this article we will take a closer look just how eerily similar the two players are.
 
In their first three seasons both Bird and Doncic displayed high level scoring and rebounding ability the edge would actually go to Doncic as a playmaker. On defense you must give the edge to Larry Bird. Bird does a strong job of playing the passing lanes and is a better defender than you would expect posting an above average defensive rating. Luka Doncic has a more average defensive rating but same stellar basketball IQ.

The major difference is how early in his career Doncic is in comparison to Bird. Bird has three NBA titles, 2 MVP’s and over 10 all star appearances. Luka is in year 3 so it will be a bit longer before we know how much he racks up in the area of accolades.

Only time will tell us if Luka Doncic can be better than Larry Bird but it seems promising thus far.

Team Lebron And Team Durant took the court tonight in the NBA's 70th annual All Star game. Some of the luster was lost as Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were unable to play due to Coronavirus contact tracing. 

Once the action started, Team LeBron ran away with the game, winning 170-150. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was perfect. He was 16 for 16 shooting with 35 points. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Antetokounmpo recorded the highest field goal percentage (100%) for any player with a minimum 10 shots. For his play, he was named the game's MVP.

The bigger question looms for the 76ers when will Simmons and Embiid be available again. They can't afford too much time without them.

The knee itself is bony cap known as the patella  with tendons and ligaments as connectors without any muscles in it. However the Knee is aided by several muscles that run through it and act as stabilizers.  These include the quadriceps, hamstrings, and the muscles of the calf.

​These muscles work in groups to flex, extend and stabilize the knee joint. The simplest way to explain this is the muscles cover the knee cap running across it as a type of protective covering and help hold it in place. These motions of the knee allow the body to perform such important movements as walking, running, kicking, and jumping. We will dive into a bit more detail warning big words enclosed.
 
The anterior surface of the thigh contains the four muscles of the quadriceps femoris group (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris). These large muscles originate in the ilium and femur and insert on the tibia. 

The hamstring muscle group extends across the posterior surface of the thigh from the ischium of the pelvis to the tibia of the lower leg. Three individual muscles form the hamstrings group: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. The hamstrings work together to flex the leg at the knee.
In the calf region of the leg, the gastrocnemius muscle extends from the distal end of the femur through the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon to the calcaneus of the heel. The gastrocnemius forms the posterior muscular wall of the knee and acts as a flexor of the knee and plantar flexor of the foot.

 Other muscles that assist with the movements of the knee include the tensor fasciae latae, popliteus and the articularis genus muscles. The tensor fasciae latae contracts the iliotibial band of fibrous connective tissue that helps to stabilize the femur, tibia, and thigh muscles. Flexion of the knee requires some slight rotation of the tibia, which is provided by the contraction of the popliteus muscle. The tiny articularis genus muscle elevates the suprapatellar bursa and capsule of the knee joint to prevent pinching of this soft tissue during extension of the leg at the knee.
 
This sums up how the knee muscles connect and what they do. I hope this has been helpful for you.

​The 2006 NBA Finals were epic. They showed us the will of one man to carry his team to victory. Dwyane Wade was superhuman and put the Miami Heat on his back but things didn’t start out great. Dirk Nowitzki was incredible and the Dallas Mavericks opened the series up two games to none. It looked like Cinderella had reached midnight and the carriage was about to become a pumpkin. Wade averaged 34.7 ppg and 3.8 assists per game on his way to Finals MVP as the Heat came from behind to win in six games.

This was one of the most epic basketball battles ever. Dirk was also excellent with averages of 22.8 PPG and 10.8 RPG.  Game 5 featured a controversial foul call that gave Wade free throws. Mark Cuban and Dirk both both fined for their post game antics fueled by the losses frustration. The Mavericks would get their revenge in 2011 however.

What are your thoughts on the 2006 NBA Finals? Let us know in the comments. Full stats can be reviewed here. https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2006-nba-finals-heat-vs-mavericks.html
​

​NBA trade rumors the latest:
 
The NBA trade deadline is nearing, and the rumor mill is heating up. What follows is all the latest trade chatter and intel.
 
Sacramento Kings Trade Rumors
As the Kings fade from playoff contention, they have several veteran players currently being looked at by other teams with trade interest. The Mavericks, and Celtics have trade interest in Harrison Barnes.
Other Kings players with trade interest heading into the deadline:
Hassan Whiteside: trade interest from Lakers and Nets
Nemanja Bjelica trade interest from Miami Heat
The Kings have also been shopping Marvin Bagley but trade interest has been nonexistent.
 
LA Lakers Trade Rumors:
 
The Lakers have been shopping for a big man upgrade.
Hassan Whiteside, Andre Drummond both among names sources have confirmed.
PJ Tucker a name to watch as well.
 
Brooklyn Nets Trade Rumors:
The Nets are in on the PJ Tucker and Andre Drummond trade sweepstakes. Source confirms they have discussed both.
 
New York Knicks Trade Rumors:
The Knicks have discussed Victor Oladipo , Andre Drummond and are monitoring the Karl Anthony Towns situation.
 
Miami Heat Trade Rumors:
The Heat have discussed Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo and are monitoring the Karl Anthony Towns situation.
 
Dallas Mavericks Trade Rumors:
Determined to get Luka Doncic more help the Mavericks have discussed a Harrison Barnes trade. The buyout market is another possible avenue.
 
Boston Celtics Trade Rumors:
Andre Drummond and Harrison Branes are both trade targets. The Celtics have a 28-Million-dollar trade exception they can use as a trade chip.
 
Philly 76ers Trade Rumors:
Kyle Lowry and JJ Reddick are both trade targets.
 
Chicago Bulls Trade Rumors:
Lonzo Ball is a trade target and Bulls might look for additional help on buyout market as well.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

​Luka Doncic missed the Thunder game with back tightness. We take a closer look at this and whether it could be a deeper concern.
Doncic led the Mavericks to their first playoff appearance since 2016 last season and is the 2019 NBA Rookie Of The Year.
Assuming he can play in his 2nd straight all-star game Doncic was already selected by Lebron James to play on team Lebron.
Doncic has been carrying a heavy load this season on an injury riddled Dallas Mavericks team.
Luka averages 28.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game this season. He just turned 22 and on Tuesday it was announced that another event on All-Star Weekend - the Skills Challenge - will also feature the Mavericks superstar.
 
This looks like a precautionary move on the surface. Here are the areas of concern in Luka Doncic’s back.
The symptoms of low back pain may include:
·         Dull ache in the lower back;
·         Stiffness of the lower back;
·         Tingling or numbness of the leg(s);
·         Tingling or pain in a buttock;
·         Pain in the hip;
·         Muscle spasms or seizing up of the back muscles;
·         Sharp pain;
·         Difficulty walking or standing up straight;
·         Weakness of the leg or foot.
Muscle strains and a vertebral subluxation are the most common causes of back pain. Neither is a serious concern and both can be alleviated with medical treatment.
 
Most likely Luka’s back isn’t a serious concern but why take any chances with your young superstar?
 
 
 

Blake Griffin has a scary injury history and we have already done an  article on his knees. However for a veteran minimum flyer he is worth a shot. The Brooklyn Nets are widely considered the leaders to sign Blake Griffin when he clears waivers, sources tell Shams Charania and James Edwards III of The Athletic.
​
"Rival teams with interest are expecting Griffin to choose Nets as a title favorite for chance to win a championship," writes Charania. This will be the NBA veteran's 3rd team after a lengthy career with the Clippers and Pistons. 

 
NBA history is full of cautionary tales. Many of which are quite heartbreaking. When you start with nothing it's easy to get caught up in the lavish lifestyles and partying or turn to a substance to deal with the pressures of a highly demanding career.

The NBA has seen a number of players succumb to their addictions. Ed Badger said the 1986 draft alone was "an unlucky draft for many teams" since various players selected this year went on to have drug problems. The consequences of violating the NBA's drug use policy range from fines to suspensions to permanent bans. Sometimes, athletes can be eligible for reinstating but not always.

Regardless, addiction is no joke. It is not something to be laughed about or taken lightly. At its core, addiction can destroy not only the person with the addiction, but the people around them as well. It can also destroy the careers they've worked so hard to build. Some careers end before they begin. Here are 10 NBA players who ruined their careers because of substance abuse or who ended up in rehab.
 
10 David Thompson
David Thompson could have been an all-time great and he was great for a while. Hailing from North Carolina State, Thompson was drafted first overall in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Throughout his nine-year professional NBA career, he was a four-time NBA All-Star, the 1979 All-Star Game MVP, averaged 22.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and was Michael Jordan's role model growing up. All of the pressure eventually got to him and he turned to alcohol and drug use. The nail in his coffin was one night at Studio 54. Under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Thompson was pushed down a flight of stairs. Thompson even admitted the incident and his injury from it helped him blow his chances.

9 Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp was the 17th pick overall of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He spent eight seasons with the Sonics and averaged 16.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and played in MTV's "Rock n Jock" game. In 1997, Kemp was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and began having issues with his weight. After the 1999-2000 season, he was traded to the Portland Trailblazers where his alcohol and drug abuse came to light. He didn't even finish his first season with the Trailblazers and instead entered a drug rehab center. From there, he played a season with the Magic and was eventually replaced by a free agent. He did attempt to make an NBA comeback but failed and was arrested for cocaine and marijuana possession both in 2005 and 2006.

8 Michael Ray Richardson
Michael Ray Richardson was drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the 1978 NBA Draft, but it wasn't until the 1980s that he developed a cocaine problem. On the court, Richardson was doing great. He was a four-time NBA All-Star. He led the league in steals and assists in the 1979-80 season and was a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. His extracurricular activities off the court are what got him into trouble. In 1986, Richardson was banned from the NBA after three failed drug tests. In 1988, he was eligible to return to the NBA but instead went on to spend 14 seasons playing in Europe and a few with the CBA. During one of his seasons in the CBA he was suspended, not for drugs, but for making anti-Semitic remarks.

7 Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom was drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1999 NBA Draft and was named to the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team. In 2001, he was suspended for five games for violating the league's drug policy and eight months later was suspended again. After a brief but solid season with the Heat (03-04), Odom joined the Lakers. Odom spent seven seasons with the Lakers and won two Championships during his tenure there. During the 2011 off-season, things in his personal life began to go array and it didn't get better from there. In 2013, he was arrested for a DUI and in 2015, he was found unconscious due to substance abuse at a brothel in Nevada. He was placed on life support but regained consciousness after a few days. Plagued with a history of drug abuse it eventually shortened his NBA career.

6 Vin Baker
Vin Baker was drafted in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and won a gold medal with the US Men's Basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He played four seasons with the Bucks before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics and then the Boston Celtics another four years later. It was during his time with the Celtics that his skills started to diminish, and he admitted to be an alcoholic. In an interview with the New York Daily News in 2013, he said he was leading a "double-life"-playing ball and then binge drinking after poor performances. The Celtics suspended and eventually released Baker and he continued to bounce around teams for the next three years. After he left the NBA, he reportedly blew $100 million. In 2015, he made headlines again when he was starting to turn his life around and training to manage a Starbucks in Rhode Island.

5 Chris Herren
Despite failed drug tests, being kicked off teams and expulsions in college, Chris Herren was drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He played in 45 games for the Nuggets, averaging 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, before being traded to the Boston Celtics and developing an Oxycontin habit. He doesn't even remember his first game for the Celtics considering he skipped warm-ups to meet his dealer in the parking lot. He has said he couldn't play a game without heroin in his system. His 14-year drug addiction completely outlasted his two-year professional basketball career. Herren now travels the country sharing his story in the hopes of helping others overcome their own addictions.

4 Tyreke Evans
Evans was the 4th overall pick in 2009. He won Rookie of the year and for a couple seasons looked like a young star on the rise. Then came the knee injuries, a cocaine habit according to our source and black-market Xanax to help him manage the drug induced paranoia. A truly heartbreaking cautionary tale as he was kicked out of the league in 2019.

3 Chris Washburn
In 1984, Chris Washburn was one of the top high school recruits in the country. He went on to play college ball at North Carolina State University where he did well on the court, but off the court was another story. Despite his legal troubles and poor work ethic, he was the third pick overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1986 NBA Draft. He spent two months during his rookie season in rehab and admitted to having a cocaine problem. After three failed drug tests in three years, he received a lifetime ban from the NBA in 1989. Washburn said that he lost focus while he was in the NBA and started to "enjoy the party life more than the practice life." Sports Illustrated named him the second-biggest NBA draft bust of all time in 2005.

2 Roy Tarpley
A first-round draft pick, Sixth Man of the Year (87-88) and one time league leader in offensive rebound percentage, Roy Tarpley's demons eventually got the best of him. In the 1989-90 season, he was suspended after just five games when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. This was only the beginning of his problems. An additional DWI arrest and violations of the NBA's drug-use policy led to his suspensions throughout 1991-1994 seasons. When he violated the terms of a court-imposed personal aftercare program, he was permanently banned by the NBA in December 1995. He was never reinstated and tried to sue the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks, claiming that his addiction was a disability and they were in turn violating the Americans with Disabilities Act for refusing to reinstate him. The lawsuit was settled out of court. Tarpley died in 2015 at only 50 years old.
​
1 Len Bias
Len Bias never even got the chance to start his career. Just two days after being selected second overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, he collapsed in his dorm room and died. Traces of cocaine were found in his system. He spent his college career playing for the University of Maryland where many people compared to him to Michael Jordan. Coaches, players and fans alike were enamored by his leaping abilities, play-making skills and overall finesse on the court. In 1986, he was the ACC Athlete of the Year and a two-time ACC Player of the Year. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told the Boston Globe in 2003 that he felt Bias would have been one of the top players in the NBA. The biggest tragedy of all is that the world will never know exactly what Bias would have accomplished had he not succumbed to his addiction.
​

We released a top 100 two years ago let’s revisit and see who made our new list.
Here is our new top 100:
1. Lebron James
2. Anthony Davis
3. Giannis
4. James Harden
5. Stephen Curry
6. Kawhi Leonard
7. Nikola Jokic.
8. Joel Embiid
8. Jimmy Butler
9. Luka Donic
10. Kevin Durant
11. Damian Lillard
12. Kyrie Irving
13.  Donovan Mitchell
14.   Jrue Holiday
15.  Rudy Gobert
16. Ben Simmons
17. Nikola Vucevic
18. Khris Middleton
19. Pascal Siakim
20. Bradley Beal
21. Karl Anthony Towns
22. De'Aaron Fox
23. Julius Randle
24. Mike Conley
25. Jamal Murray
26. Devin Booker
27. Cj McCollum
28. Trae Young
29. Demar Derozan
30. Chris Paul
31. Clint Capela
32. Kristaps Porzingis
33. Tobias Harris
34. Buddy Hield
35. Kyle Lowry
36. Zach Lavine
37. Gordon Hayward
38. Draymond Green
39. Danillo Gallinari
40. John Collins
41. Andre Drummond
42. Al Horford
43. Bogdan Bogdanovic
44. Jayson  Tatum
45. Bam Adebayo
46. Caris Levert
47. D’Angelo Russell
48. Bojan  Bogdanovic
49. RJ Barrett
50. Myles Turner
51. Otto Porter Jr
52. Malcom Brogdon
53. Marvin Bagley
54. Lou Williams
55. Derrick Favors
56. Mitchell Robinson
57. Marc Gasol
58. Ja Morant
59. Derrick Rose
60. Jeremy Lamb
61. Paul Millsap  
62. Rudy Gay
63. Willie Cauley Stein
64. Serge Ibaka
65. DeAndre Jordan
66. Jonas Valancunias.
67. Thaddeus Young
68. Reggie Jackson
69. Taj Gibson
70. JJ Reddick
71. Richaun Holmes
72. DJ Augustin
73. Larry Nance Jr
74. Terrence Ross
75. Alex Len
76. Dwight Powell
77. Thomas Bryant
78. Spencer Dinwiddie
79. Josh Richardson
80. Brook Lopez
81. Eric Bledsoe
82. Dewayne Dedmon
83. Tj Warren
84. Thomas Santorasky
85. Robert Covington
86. Delon Wright
87. Joe Ingles
88. Kyle Kuzma
89. Ivica Zubac
90. Tristan Thompson
​91. Colin Sexton
92. Lamelo Ball
93. Norman Powell
94. Immanuel Quickly
95. Terry Rozier
96. Michael Porter Jr
97. Jalen Brunson
98. Javale Mcgee
99.  Daniel Gafford
100. Dejounte Murray


Tiers and explanation.
Tier 1
1-15 Superstars
Tier 2
16-45
​Star or all star caliber
Tier 3.
46-60
Borderline All Stars
Tier 4
average starter

​Let us know your thoughts in comments.