Grizzlies

I did a post over at Hardwood Paroxysm recapping the weekend. Obviously, it was really all a big excuse to post the animated GIF you see below, but there’s some other stuff, too, if you’re into it.

Here’s a sample.

If the NBA wants to keep elevating the level of this contest, they need to bring in better — or at least more willing — talent. It’s not like your average sports fan knows who Shannon Brown or DeMar DeRozan is any more than The Air Up There or some obscure French dude with ridiculous springs. Nor do they care who the person dunking is if it isn’t someone who is already famous. Sure, the NBA wants to promote their young players and the occasional Nate Robinson will emerge to semi-stardom, but it’s not like even great performances from guys like Gerald Green turned them into anything more than footnotes on the All-Star Weekend Wikipedia page.

And one more teaser:

It took a while, but I have learned to accept that Zach Randolph has redeemed his career by becoming a high-caliber veteran who taught his teammates how to win rather than being just a career malcontent who brought sadness and orphan tears wherever he went. It’s weird. But I’m cool with it. What I was still not ready to see, however, was Z-Bo being the guy who would start playing defense in an All-Star Game and spur everyone else to start taking it seriously.

Head over to HP for the rest.

GIF via the inimitable @jose3030

UPDATE: This “virtual high five” from Deron Williams made for a pretty sweet photo and completely makes up for his whole “I’m a PG who didn’t know time/score/situation” thing when he unnecessarily fouled Dwayne Wade, who went to the line for a pair of go-ahead free-throws with like 20 seconds left in what was previously a tie game.

Evil Chris Bosh and Used Car Salesman Kaman are also both pretty great. Gotta love Chocolate Thunder, too.