Your Sporthunterz Top 5 Sports Blogs

I'm sure that, if you're into sports, you always ought to look on the sports updates every day, about trades, injuries, rumor mills, when will the season start? Who is the best player? And many more things that always come into your mind. Well that's why I highly recommend these Top 5 Sports Blogs/Websites to keep you always updated about what's happening in the World of Sports.

1.) ESPN - http://espn.go.com/

2.) NBA.com - http://www.nba.com/

3.) Sports Illustrated - http://www.si.com/

4.) Rappler - http://www.rappler.com/

5.) Powcast.net Sports Hub - http://www.powcast.net/

NBA Free Agency: Rajon Rondo is Now Part of the Chicago Bulls!

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

After just meeting with the Bulls in Chicago last Friday, the unrestricted free agent point guard is now officially a Chicago Bull. Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated released the news via Twitter:

Bulls to sign guard Rajon Rondo to a two-year, $28 million deal, he confirmed to @TheUndefeated.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 3, 2016 

"I'm excited. Great organization with pieces around me that I'm excited about," @RajonRondo told @TheUndefeated about going to @chicagobulls

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 3, 2016

The Bulls agreed to sign Rondo in a $28 million worth of a two-year deal, according to ESPN.com and NBA.com. Rondo has been doing great lately for the past season with the Sacramento Kings, after leading the NBA in assists with 11.7, in addition to that, he also averaged 11.7 points and six rebounds. As a point guard, he was a stat-sheet stuffer. He made 37 double-doubles and six triple-doubles.

Although, there have been also problems with Rondo's attitude. Last season, Rondo was suspended after he targeted a referee by using a homophobic slur. He also clashed with different coaches, Rick Carlisle of Dallas Mavericks and Doc Rivers, who was still coaching with the Celtics at that time.

Chicago did a right move in trading Rose, but we can't still conclude if Rondo will be able to mesh with Chicago Bulls' coach Fred Hoiberg, who has an easy-going personality.

After all, Rondo said that he is excited to work with the Bulls. Let's just wait on the things he will bring to the table for the upcoming NBA season.


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Free Agency News: L.A. Lakers - If They Can't Land Kevin Durant, The Back-Up Plan is to Choose From Their Wish List

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

The Los Angeles Lakers are going All out in pursuing free agents this offseason. There are a lot of talents in mind that they're aiming to acquire before the NBA Season starts.

The Primary Objective is to land Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant to the Lakers. Durant has been one of the hottest topics in Free Agency this year. It has been reported that the 27-year-old small forward has already talked to different teams, but the Lakers were not among the list.

But aside from Durant. The Lakers have also been eyeing on some players like Hassan Whiteside, Al Horford, Nicolas Batum and Harrison Barnes.

It is still unclear if they'll get one from the list, but we're hoping and still waiting for the Lakers to make their move.

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2016 NBA Draft Profile: Brandon Ingram

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

On June 23, Brandon Ingram was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall selection of the 2016 NBA draft.

Let's look back at Ingram's profile before he was drafted in NBA.

Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight 6-9 / 190
Birthdate: 09/02/1997
College: Duke

• Prospect Analysis

Strengths

• 7-3 wingspan
• Great course awareness/vision
• Good passer
• Excellent 3-point shooter
• Has a turnaround jump shot
• Good midrange game
• Can create off the dribble
• Can excel in pick-and-roll situations
• Good footwork
• Stat sheet stuffer

Weaknesses

• Needs to add strength and bulk
• Could cut down on turnovers
• Has to improve free-throw percentage a bit

NBA projection: The debate among NBA Draft analysts rages on whether LSU’s Ben Simmons or Ingram will be the top pick in the draft. Adding fuel to the argument is that Ingram, who has been compared by some to Kevin Durant, is more than a year younger than Simmons.

2015-16 Season
Ingram was voted the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the USBWA freshman All-America team after helping lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16. He was just the fourth freshman in the Mike Krzyzewski era at Duke to average at least 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, along with Luol Deng (2004), Jabari Parker (2014) and Jahlil Okafor (2015). Ingram’s eight double-doubles ranked fifth among Duke freshman all-time, and his 14 20-point games were second all-time among freshman in the program, behind only Okafor.

Key statistics: 17.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 tpg, 1.1 spg, 1.4 bpg, 34.6 mpg, .442 FG, .410 3PT, .682 FT

Cool statistic: Ingram was the only freshman in Duke history, and only the second player ever (Shane Battier was the first), to make at least 60 3-pointers (80) and block at least 40 shots (49) in the same season.

-- Profile by Chris Dortch, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

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2016 NBA Draft Profile: Ben Simmons

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

On June 23, Ben Simmons was selected by Brett Brown and the 76ers with the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. 

Let's look back at Simmons' profile before he was drafted in NBA.

Prospect Analysis

Strengths

• High basketball IQ
• Unselfish playmaker/facilitator
• Good handle
• Excellent rebounder
• Good in transition as scorer or passer

Weaknesses

• Has to develop a consistent face-up game in the midrange
• Needs to cut down on turnovers

NBA projection: Draft analysts have long considered Simmons to be the No. 1 overall pick.

2015-16 Season
Ben Simmons was chosen the national freshman of the year by the USBWA, The Sporting News and USA Today, was the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year, and also made the All-SEC first team. He was a first-team All-America pick by the USBWA and second team by ESPN, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. Simmons left LSU was a trophy room full of individual honors, but the Tigers struggled early in the season and again in March, failing to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament or even the NIT. Some critics placed a lot of the blame for that on Simmons, but unfairly so. He performed as most recruiting analysts expected he would, ranking in the top five in the SEC in several statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding and assists.

Key statistics: 17.4 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.0 tpg, 3.4 spg, 34.9 mpg, .560 FG, .333 3PT, .670 FT

Cool statistic: Simmons racked up 23 double-doubles, tops among power conference players and fifth nationally. One of those double-doubles was a 40-point, 10-rebound effort against North Florida. He also added five assists and five steals, making him the first freshman in 20 years to put together a 40/10/5/5 game.

-- Profile by Chris Dortch, editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

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Where is Ray Allen? - The Question that everybody has in their mind up until now that needs to be answered

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

It has been almost two years now, since Ray Allen last played in the league. It is still a mystery for most of the NBA fans. All of them have one question in mind. Where is Ray Allen?

The last appearance of  Allen was back when the Heat lost their championship run last 2014 against the Spurs. 

After that, Allen was nowhere to be seen.

Ray Allen has passed on multiple offers to return to the Heat, sources told the Miami Herald.

The Heat has reached out "multiple times through multiple channels to Allen," and in addition 

to having a "standing offer" to return since the 2014 offseason, Miami "made additional overtures as recently as this summer." Despite keeping himself in excellent shape, it's hard to see the 40-year-old returning to the NBA after sitting out the last year.

Before the 2015-2016 season started, a statement was released by Allen. "Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me," Allen said in a statement released by his agent. "I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming off-season, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season."

It was previously reported that despite not playing the entire season last year, future Hall of Famer Ray Allen has yet to formalize his retirement.

According to cbssports.com, Allen spoke about his hiatus  and his possible retirement. "I haven't said anything about that and I won't officially retire," Allen said. "Because if something came to the table, contractually and situational-ly, I want to be able to take a strong look at it. I don't want to be that guy that says he's retiring and then is coming back."

There's even a rumor that Allen may be coming back to the NBA and a possible reunion could occur. As per axs.com, the Los Angeles Clippers are still in pursuit of the sharpshooting guard.

If head coach Doc Rivers can convince the retired player to comeback, it would be a mini-reunion of the 2008 Boston Celtics championship team with Rivers as the coach and Finals Most Valuable Player Paul Pierce in the roster.

Allen has been gone for two seasons, but one thing's for sure. As long as he doesn't decide to call it quits, there's still a ray of hope that Jesus Shuttlesworth will be back in the league. All we have to do is, just wait for his comeback.

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No One in the World Could Ever Beat this Guy in Basketball - "The White Mamba"

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

The "White Mamba" was the total opposite of Kobe Bryant being called the "Black Mamba." Not just because of the color, it has also something to do with the way they play differently.

Brian Scalabrine is an NBA player that ‘plays’ the forward position. He was selected during the second round of the 2001 NBA draft. He had horrible stats and was a non-factor in any game or team he sets foot in. 

As a joke, NBA fans will typically proclaim how great and amazing his basketball talents are, call him the ‘White Mamba,’ or propose ridiculous scenarios or trades that could involve Scalabrine.

Below are some Memes that circulated throughout the web:

The jokes have started since the 2008 NBA finals, being spread on mediums such as the comments section on NBA.com as well as YouTube. Fans have even called him the G.O.A.T. - that holds the meaning "Greatest Of All Time."

Brian Scalabrine was also called "The Man, The Myth, The Legend."

Over the years, his performance fueled this fire and it spread onto nearly every medium.


See The Epic Fails in his career and the Best Highlight Plays below:



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23 Years Ago Today - Michael Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

June 20, 1993 at Phoenix  - John Paxson hit a clutch 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left and Horace Grant blocked Kevin Johnson's shot in the final second that lifted Chicago to a 99-98 win at Phoenix in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, clinching the Bulls' third consecutive NBA Championship. 

Chicago became only the third NBA franchise (along with Boston, 1959-66, and Minneapolis, 1952-54) to win three straight titles. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was named the NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year after averaging a Finals record 41.0 points per game, along with 8.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Magic Johnson is the only other player in NBA history to win at least three NBA Finals MVP awards.

See the Bulls vs. Suns Game 6 Highlights below:

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After two years of losing the Finals - LeBron reclaims his title, takes Cleveland to the promised land

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

OAKLAND - The Cleveland Cavaliers wins Game 7 of the NBA Finals over the Golden State Warriors 93-89. 

LeBron James was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals after averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists over the seven-game series.

LeBron had a long journey before reaching this far. Over the Past two years, LeBron had always tasted defeat. First was when he was still with the Miami Heat in 2014, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1. Last year he was with the Cavaliers and it was versus the Golden State Warriors, where they also lost 4-2.

After 2 years of losing, LeBron James has finally won it for the Cavaliers. He just made history after winning the Finals being down 3-1 and he ended the 52-year drought of not winning a championship for Cleveland, fulfilling the promise he made for the fans by taking them to the promised land.


Below are the photos of LeBron and his fans after winning the 2016 NBA Finals. 

(LeBron getting emotional after the Cavaliers captured their first championship since 1964.)

(Cleveland fans celebrating and thanking the Cavaliers after finally ending the 52-year drought.)

(LeBron and the Cavs celebrate as they finally won after receiving the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.)

See the Whole Reaction below after the Cavs finally won their first NBA Finals championship.

Photos used, courtesy of Getty Images
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Before Stephen Curry, LeBron James Had also a Rival Back in 2008 and It Was "The Truth."

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

It was back in 2008, where the Cavaliers and Celtics faced off in a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Boston. It was a showdown between two of the NBA's best small forwards at that time, trying to carry their teams to the next round.

It was an All Out battle between LeBron James and Paul Pierce who were answering each other's shots. Both dropped a humongous amount of points, LeBron had 45, while Pierce scored 41 points.

It was a tight game until the end, but the Celtics pulled away in a narrow victory, beating the Cavaliers 97-92.

Watch the epic battle between LeBron James and Paul Pierce below:

  

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8 Years Ago Today - The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship, defeating the Lakers in a lopsided fashion with a score of 131-92

(Artwork by Sean Curate)

The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship, defeating the Lakers 4 games to 2. Boston's 131-92 win in Game 6 is the most lopsided closeout win in NBA Finals history. Paul Pierce is named Finals MVP.

The 39-point margin of victory was the largest ever in an NBA championship-clinching game, breaking the old record of 33, also set by the Celtics over the Lakers in Game Five of the The 1965 NBA Finals, 129–96. This lead was close to the Finals point-spread record set in Game 3 in 1998 where a Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team beat the Utah Jazz by 42 points, 96–54.The Celtics also improved their overall record against the Lakers to 9–2 in Finals meetings, beating them in the Finals for the first time since 1984.

This was the Celtics' 17th championship, their first since 1986, extending their record for most NBA championships won by a single team. All this capped off the Celtics' best regular season (66–16) since their previous championship season in which they went 67–15. It was also a sense of relief, as the Celtics set an NBA record for most playoff games ever needed to win a championship, with 26, surpassing the previous record of 24 by the Lakers in 1988.

Watch the final game below where the Celtics won the 2008 NBA Finals

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Justin Melton Proves that his dunking skills were definitely not a joke after KC Montero challenged him as he recalled the failed blindfolded dunk attempt last PBA dunk contest

     Justin Melton in #DameTimeManila

      By Sean Benedict B. Curate I curate.sean@gmail.com

        MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Justin Melton of the Purefoods Star Hotshots proved the

       doubters wrong that his dunking ability was not to be belittled of.

(Photo by Sean Benedict Curate)

       Melton performed a windmill dunk after KC Montero recalled the viral video of 

       him dunking while being blindfolded in front of NBA Superstar Damian 

       Lillard who’s currently visiting the Philippines to share his #NeverDoubt journey in 

       #DameTimeManila at Araneta Coliseum with his fans here in the country.

                                                           
       Melton said that the video was just a prank. His knees were already tired during that time,   

       so he decided to not take the dunk seriously and told his teammate Joe Devance to help

       him carry out the prank. Melton performed the dunk by coming up short, after jumping 

       while aiming to touch the rim. 

       KC Montero then challenged Melton to prove to Lillard and to all basketball fans who were

       also on the #DameTime event that his dunk on the viral video was just clearly a prank,           

       having Melton left no other choice but to perform a real nasty dunk. Melton was assisted        

       by his teammate Alex Mallari by preparing the things needed before executing the dunk, 

       Mallari held the ball. While Melton was preparing for a takeoff, Melton suddenly 
       jumped from his feet and grabbed the ball from Mallari and took it to the rack 
       to put a monster slam that made the crowd wild.

       With that slam, Melton showed everyone that he was “The Real Deal,” and one of 

       the league’s elite high flyers.

       See the video below:

(Video by Royce San Antonio)

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