Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pm  |  86 responses

Links: SLAM meets Blogs With Balls 2.0

Plus, free NBA 2K10 stuff…

by Lang Whitaker

OK, lots to get to today and not a lot of time. I’ve got to finish writing the SLAM NBA Preview for our upcoming issue, wherein I will once again correctly predict this season’s NBA Champion. I know who I’m rolling with, so that part’s not so difficult. The harder part is ranking everyone else, and trying to divine which teams are going to experience a let-down this season. Right now, before training camps open and the games actually begin, we all think our teams are going to be improved this season. Every team’s made moves, every team has added a player or two. Hope springs eternal right now. (Well, except for Timberwolves fans.) But the reality is not every team is going to be better.

So who is going to slip? Which team will let down their friends and families?

I have a few ideas. Some of you will be rather disappointed. But you’ll have to wait until SLAM 133 — which, incidentally, will be SLAM’s 15th anniversary issue(!) — drops in a few weeks. (Also, I have to write the preview first.)

Got a few things to run through:

• It was announced yesterday that I will be moderating a panel at the sports blog world’s biggest event of the year, Blogs With Balls 2.0. It’s going down in Vegas, October 15-16. I don’t know the exact time/date yet, but I’ll drop it here or on Twitter (or both) as soon as I find out.

The panel I’m moderating will feature ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose, as well as ESPN.com editor-in-chief Rob King. Someone asked me last night if there will be SLAM/ESPN beef, and the answer is no, there will not. Although I will probably be challenging Jalen and Rob to a freestyle battle at the end of our panel.

More details to come, but if you’re going to be in Vegas and you’re interested in sports and media, there are going to be a ton of really interesting events at BWB 2.0. I’m actually looking forward to catching several of the other panels. Ticket info, and discounts on tickets, is here.

• Hey kids, if you’re running around in Brooklyn tonight, you may want to swing by the Gelf Speaker Series tonight to see our former online editor, Mr. Sam Rubenstein. I have no idea what a Gelf is, but Sam is definitely one now. Sam is on a panel tonight themed around teaching. Here’s a funny interview with Sam about his teaching experiences over the last few years. It’s at 7:30 p.m., and it’s free. Details in that first link above.

• Really interesting column from Adrian Wojnarowski about the new Nets owner. This could be a lot of fun. I wrote the news post on this yesterday here on SLAMonline, and a few people in the comments wondered if Mr. Prokhorov will be on some Abramovich ish, spending mad money like the Russian owner of Chelsea has done in a quest for relevance. He very well could, but remember the NBA has a luxury tax and slotted salaries, unlike the Premier League. Also, having deep pockets does not necessarily mean your team is going to win titles — ask the Knicks or the Mavs. The key isn’t just spending money, but spending it wisely.

• Here’s a fun NBA quiz I posted on Twitter the other day. This is much tougher than you’d think. I got 22 out of 30.

• Here’s a crazy website I came across yesterday. Talk about a time-waster. Not that I spent ten minutes yesterday making abstract art yesterday or anything.

• Regarding last week’s NBA Live 10 contest — if you didn’t get an email saying you were one of the winners, then you’re not one of the winners. Thanks!

• Finally, speaking of basketball video games, earlier this week, Ryne and I had the chance to play NBA 2K10. We played one full game, Hawks against Bulls. Hawks won. Mike Bibby had no problem handling Derrick Rose, mostly because I played off Rose and let him shoot from the outside. How realistic was 2K10? Well, Rose couldn’t hit a perimeter jumper, so I’d say it was pretty accurate.

2K10 doesn’t drop for a few more weeks, but right now you can download the 2K10 NBA Draft combine for the Xbox 360 or PS3 networks. In the combine, you create a player and then run your through a bunch of drills and scrimmages to get him ready for the NBA. Then, once 2K10 drops, your player will get drafted by an NBA team and you can continue your career in the L.

So, our friends at 2K Sports have given me a handful of codes where you can download the Draft Combine mini-game for free. If you want to download it, leave a comment below and tell me why you are ready for the NBA. (And specify if you’re on PS3 or Xbox 360.)

You’ve got 24 hours to get it in, and tomorrow around lunchtime I’ll pick 10 winners and email you the code. If I don’t email you, you didn’t win.

Aiight, let’s do this…

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  • JB

    What team is on track to let down everyone…or those who still remain loyal? Easy, the Warriors. They have no sense of winning, management doesn’t know their heads from their ass, and half the team is angry at someone/something.

    Playoff drought continues.

  • http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/overdribbling/index276.html chiqo

    i’m unemployed and haven’t been able to pick up any games for my 360 in months. no madden, no odst, nothing. i’d feel like less of a loser if i declared these things to the world in exchange for something free to keep me occupied while i sit around and wait for the phone to ring.

  • Diego Giraldo

    (PS3)I`m ready for the NBA for three reasons
    1. Kobe`s going down and I am excited to see who will be dunking on him, stuffing him and staring him down.
    2.Denver is going up. Chauncey is now completely comfortable with his team, Melo has reached a new level and J.R. will finally start(hopefully).
    3.IT HAS BEEN WAY TOO LONG THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN BALL and I just cant wait to see my Denver team play.

  • http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://slamonline.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/kobe_bryant_top_50.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/nba/slamonline-top-50/& James the Balla

    pfffftttt easy. Kobe winning back to back. But I don’t want a code. Thanks.

  • JB

    Didn’t do as well as Lang on that quiz, but I was proud I hit Terry Porter correctly.

  • daniel

    I could perform a song like Shan Foster did back in the day about being ready for the NBA, but that didn’t work out so well for him. Instead, I’m going to tell you that I’m ready for the NBA because I’ve got the size and the skills to run the point (on PS3 that is). I’ve already smoked the collegiate competition, probably would’ve came right up from high school if Stern wasn’t such a stickler for rules. I was created (and thus will create myself) to run alongside the greats. Setting up the Melo’s of the league for that easy bucket, and gettin buckets on my own when I have to. For the opposing team it’s all about picking your poison when it comes to me, because I’ll get you one way or another. Now I just gotta prove my worth at the combine, because nothing’s given, I’ve gotta earn it.

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    Aww. Don’t they make these games for computers anymore? Don’t got either of those consoles. ahaha

  • riggs

    meh already downloaded the combine about 2 months ago…thanks for the hookup though but you shouldve hounded them about an actual demo

  • coolcrew23

    i am ready to see the rise of competitive basketball again gone are the days when the season starts and you know exactly who is going to be wearing rings the next year bring on the nba season!!!

  • http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/overdribbling/index276.html chiqo

    24 out of 30 on the quiz. missed the most commonly missed players, but i should have picked up mad max, being a rocket fan and all.

  • Silvernikolas

    xBox 360 – is nba ready for me? thats the right question :P

    seriously though cant wait for the new season to begin. Go Nuggets

  • SIXERSBOB

    I think the team thats going to let people down is the Cavs. The Cavs offense has looked exactly the same to me for the past 3 years. Have one man iso (usually LBJ), then everyone space out and get ready to shoot. This is a perfect system for Big Z, but i dont think shaq will thrive in this system. He needs to see ball movement and catch people off guard. They should still be contenders, but I dont think they will be where they are expected be. Disapointing friends and families accross the country.

  • Lorcan

    Because id play for free

  • Lorcan

    ps3

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    i can’t wait for the new season to start because it feels like we are back in the good old NBA where the top teams all have multiple stars ready for war! when there’re intriguing high-stake match-ups in each position, we are bound to witness something great.
    as for the game, i’ve finally got my hands on a PS3 and have been counting the days for 2k10 to drop. i spent a big chunk of my life playing the nba 2k series on ps2 and i’m DYING to experience what the best have to offer.

  • andrew sanchez

    Played 2K9 religiously and even beat a few of the team 2K members a few times in online play. Hook me up w the code and it will get me on the early track to become a member of the team 2K lineup this year! StarchyDirty (XBOX360) welcomes all challengers…

  • Tommy Patron

    Hey, that Twitter quiz doesn’t specify leader in what, ie percentage, 3′s made, or what. Got 21 of 30. Anthony Peeler?!

  • RM

    Well I just the most exciting 8 minutes of my day on JacksonPollock.org. Thanks, Lang!

  • The D Train

    As per usual, the story-lines going in are leaving me all aflutter. First off, I’m ready to watch Roy, LaMarcus, Rudy and Co. gel and hopefully move into the upper echelon (read: winning in the playoffs). I’m totally (Utah) jazzed to watch Derrick Rose hopefully move into CP3 territory and take along the Bulls with him. I’m crazy excited to watch the circus in LA with The Rottweiler doing crazy Ronny-style stuff and the Kobe-reactions to said crazy stuff. I cannot wait to see Vinsanity hook up with D12 to see if they can still be the same match-up problem they were with Turkoglu last year. I am psyched to see how the giant egos of Shaq and Lebron coexist in Cleveland, and the subsequent panic in “the mistake by the mi-lake” (GOULET!) if Cleveland doesn’t win it all. But mostly, I’m just excited to have Chaz Barkley back in my life. When a sports commentator can get my wife (who could give a flying-f less about sports) to laugh and enjoy basketball for a few minutes, well lets just say that allows me a bit more time to watch Timmy, Kobe, Dirk and Co.

  • The D Train

    oh yeah, xbox 360 is my platform

  • The D Train

    posted my platform, but it didnt show…xbox 360

  • Andishae

    Hi,

    I’d love to try this out on my PS3.

    I’m 24 and I never really got into using the online functions of my system maybe this can push me in the right direction or maybe I’m just too old.

    Thanks,

    Andi.

  • riggs

    sam once again proves that if u dont like him, somethings frigging wrong with you.

  • Bojangles

    Like Kobe, Lebron, KG and the less successful Kwame Brown I am ready to make the jump from highschool to the NBA. However in reality this isn’t going to happen, so why not do it in the game? Once i get drafted i will work and practice hard and i will show my skills. With my quick first step and sliky smooth j, I will school Lebron one on one like Iverson did on Jordan.

  • Bojangles

    btw im on the 360

  • Milan

    sprocle is a great website, I take the new quizes every morning I get to work (don’t tell my boss).

    I got 23 on the NBA quiz.

  • http://www.slamonline.com JL

    PS3 – Can’t wait for the game to drop! I want to create my player to play SF on the Clips, to play some serious D, and bring back the Staples center rivalry (or at least a budding one)!

  • SIXERSBOB

    xbox360

  • http://kb24.com Bigi

    13/30 damn!

  • la huey

    @riggs, I’m with you, man. I’ve been fiending for some 2K10 since I finished the combine (which was hella short) and the demo would give me the taste I need to get me to Oct. 6

  • wiznut

    xbox 360

    True Story. Caron Butler walked into the gym that i play at a couple days ago, and he ended up pickin me up on his team. One game i ended up scorin 8 out of our 11 points, and after the game he says to me, “Why u tryna steal my shine dawg?” A couple days later he comes again, but this time we’re on separate teams, and i guard him. I poke the ball from him a couple times, and i try to stay in front of him, although he does catch me one time wit that little dwade-on-eric snow-cross that he likes to do. From wat everyone was sayin after the game, it seemed that i did a decent job of guardin him, and i had a couple jumpers in his grill too. Because I think I legitimately believe that I earned his respect, I am ready for the NBA. I WANT TO GUARD KOBE NEXT

  • boy sanchez

    I did 14 out of 30! I s*ck, right…? :-D

  • Joints

    Can somebody post the correct answers to the 2K10 contest? I’d just like to see how many I got right. Thanks.

  • Joints

    my bad, NBA Live 2010 quiz.

  • http://slamonline.com Sam Rubenstein

    Kobe grew up emulating Michael Jordan the basketball player. I grew up (the last two weeks) emulating Michael Jordan the public speaker. ALL PETTY SLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS WILL BE ADDRESSED TONIGHT!
    Just kidding. I will have many anecdotes about the hilarious behavior of junior high and high school kids.

  • Gerard Himself

    Lang, that 3-point game was hard. Never knew Mookie made that many threes for Atlanta.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    I’m a HUGE NBA 2K fan but I’ma wait until the actual game drops on October 6th. I hope they improved Derrick Rose from last year.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    I’m led to assume that wiznut’s story was his retelling of an 2K9 experience he had?

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Great Links. The Sam interview is outstanding. People are sleeping if they didn’t click on it. The 3-point contest is great…SPOILER ALERT: The Peeler/Mo Pete ones I didn’t come close on. And Derrick Rose would never need to hit a jumper over Mike Bibby; he’ll get around him no matter how far off Mike is playing him.

  • Remo Williams

    I’m ready for the 09-10 NBA season to start because I AM GOING CRAZY!! I normally wouldn’t sit down and try to decipher hidden meanings behind Ron Artest’s version of “My Heart Will Go On”, but I recently did. I watched it 4 times. And I think he was telling opposing guards that he’ll follow them from the perimeter to the post with out hesitation (“near, far, wherever you are”). I need to get me some NBA!!!!

  • Remo Williams

    by the way… I play an xbox360 :)

  • Oli

    BAM!!! 25 correct shooters.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    That kid in Sam’s class needs a contract. That “poor depth perception” line is platinum.

  • ampd

    well, it all started when we decided to paint my living room. the xbox 360 ended up getting moved to the parlor where my brother and i could play nba 2k9 to our heart’s content. in the middle of a heated match, my dad decided it was time to move stuff back into the living room. he picked up the xbox while we were still playing and ruined my chances of ever playing 2k9 again. the disc was horrendously scratched and hopelessly ruined. luckily i had a friend kind enough to lend me nba 2k8 until 2k10 dropped, but it’s too difficult playing on outdated rosters with ancient controls and primitive graphics. please slam, i’m beggin ya. i’ve suffered for way too long playing 2k8. i’m totally ready for 2k10, so help me out! (oh, and i’m on 360, in case you didn’t get that)

  • Ron

    I’m ready for the NBA because I’m so hard up for hoops that I’ve been watching the WNBA playoffs. And if I have to say “YO! That layup was SICK!!!” one more time, I may burst into flames. No hate for the WNBA, But I’M FREAKING READY for the NBA.

  • Ron

    Oh and I hope this isn’t cheating, but I’m so ready for the NBA that I’m about to send in my subscription to SLAM.

  • Ron

    Er…Ron=PS3. My bad.

  • http://Slamonline Hotlanta

    first of all im ready cause im a Huge hawks fan believe me joe johnson is my fav player second i have no money and i have to pay for a physics book that was stolen 2 basketball tournaments and a dual credit class and im only 16, basketball is my heart and soul and i hope one day to my make it to the pros if i work hard enough. Im a huge bball junky whos life revolves around basketball i get in trouble for my obsession but its cool. All i ask is for you to please hook me up and ill represent the hawks in the best way everytime i play

  • http://Slamonline Hotlanta

    (PS3)
    first of all im ready cause im a Huge hawks fan believe me joe johnson is my fav player second i have no money and i have to pay for a physics book that was stolen 2 basketball tournaments and a dual credit class and im only 16, basketball is my heart and soul and i hope one day to my make it to the pros if i work hard enough. Im a huge bball junky whos life revolves around basketball i get in trouble for my obsession but its cool. All i ask is for you to please hook me up and ill represent the hawks in the best way everytime i play

  • Rich

    You have no idea how much I wanna get 2K10. I come to work everyday trying to see another video. I’ve been a fan since Ben Wallace was on the cover!!! I’ve picked it up every single year. No Live for me, I want the real thing. I play 82 game-seasons on 2K, 5-minute quarters… that’s how I love it.

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