For the first time ever, NBA.com will stream live the 2K Sports NBA Real Training Camp, providing fans unprecedented access to five teams’ training camps, including the defending NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Offering fans an exclusive first look at team practices, along with interviews from their top players and staff, 2K Sports NBA Real Training Camp lineup will include the Denver Nuggets (Sept. 29), NBA Champions L.A. Lakers (Oct. 1), Boston Celtics (Oct. 3), Washington Wizards (Oct. 5) and Atlanta Hawks (Oct. 6).

Every weekday until the NBA season starts on October 27th, I will be asking a question that's bugging me (QTBM) about the upcoming campaign and attempt to answer my own query.  Comments are welcome.

The Los Angeles Clippers have the talent to be really good, even out in the loaded Western Conference.  Call it a curse, a series of unfortunate events, or the fumbling around by owner Donald Sterling - the Clippers cannot be consistently good.  Consistently bad, however, is another story.

The last time the Clippers made the postseason three years in a row, they were called the Buffalo Braves (1974-76), and that was the only time they've ever performed the consecutive playoff appearance trifecta.  How about back-to-back playoff appearances, any consistency there?  Of course not.  The only other time they went back-to-back was in 1992 and 1993, getting bounced both times in the opening round.  Other than that, add in the other two appearances in 1997 (first-round exit) and 2006 (conference semi-finals loss) and you have to wave your hand in front of your nose.

Well, I think they actually turn it around, and considering the 19-63 record from last season, they do it big.  Uh oh, I'm sure villification will rain down on me now.

If there was ever a time where the term, "a little birdie..." applies, it's now. Free-agent Allen Iverson tweeted that he will be joining the Memphis Grizzlies, so expect an official announcement soon. By the way, will a Mayan shaman tweet the end of the world in 2012? It just seems all the breaking news is coming from Twitter. But, how awesome would that be - "Y'all better kiss your mother effin ass goodbye!"

Thanks to Hugging Harold Reynolds for e-mailing me this. And what is "this"? RESPECT. Blogs With Balls, run by the people at HHR, is a meeting of the minds where sports bloggers/writers get together to share ideas and validate the medium.  Part of this mission is reaching out to the MSM (mainstream media) and professional teams in order to share thoughts about what we all love - sports!

In any case, BwB's latest collaboration is an interview with Mitch Germann, Vice President of Business Communications with Maloof Sports & Entertainment (Sacramento Kings and Monarchs), and panelist on the "Access" panel at Blogs With Balls.  Here is an excerpt from the interview:

"We have just recognized through observing this space that there’s some blogs in Sacramento that work hard and that cover the team...There’s a lot of interaction, there’s a lot of comments, a lot of fans are loyal to those sites and really as an organization our philosophy is that we want to be where our fans are We don’t expect to hold everyone hostage and make everyone come to Kings.com for what they want."

So, check "this" out and show some support to this great thing called sports blogging. It's only going to get better for all of us fans because, in essence, blogs are written by passionate fans of respective teams and sports and with more pro teams like the Kings recognizing bloggers, the fans' voice will be heard.

It was recently revealed that Dallas Mavericks forward, Dirk Nowitzki, is not expecting a baby with ex-fiancee, Cristal Taylor... she's not pregnant! However, she is incarcerated.  If this isn't Maury Povich-worthy, I don't know what is.  Enjoy the video.

Into fantasy basketball? Check out the Four Fingers Of Fantasy 2009 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide. For just $7.99, it's a bargain and only one day of skipping lunch during your work week. Check the Table of Contents and see if you could use information like that OR get fat eating that value meal.

Let's keep it real here... just like the title says, Ricky Rubio is being a set of beef curtains.  And I'm happy that when someone types in "Ricky Rubio" and "beef curtains," in Google or Bing (official Bloguin sponsor), this post will be at the top of the list.  You know, because a lot of people type those keywords in search engines.

But, anyway, why would I be happy?

Because Ricky Rubio needs to be called out on some vaginal shiznit.  I actually feel bad for Minnesota Timberwolves decision-maker, David Kahn, because he tried his damndest to get Rubio in the NBA, Rubio's so-called number one goal.  Kahn met Rubio and his family, as well as DKV Joventut, a few times in Spain to cut a deal to get Rubio in a T-Wolves uniform.

I'm glad that in their official statements both Kahn and DKV Joventut put the blame on the failed attempt to get Rubio in the league squarely on Rubio's shoulders.  There was a deal done between the T-Wolves and DKV Joventut to make this happen. But then Rubio backed out after repeated confirmations that he did want to play for the T-Wolves.  Here's what he officially said:

As a society, we all like new and fresh things.  It’s even in the way we express our excitement in looking for THE NEXT BIG THING! Conversely, with a nonchalance and seeming indifference, when it comes to something that’s been around for some time, we’ll usually say, “Oh, that old thing.”  And, you know what?  There’s nothing wrong with trying to catch on to something exciting when it’s on the come-up.  So, with that in mind, don’t expect to see the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, or P.J. Brown in the below list of players under 25 years of age making their marks in the NBA right now!  Incoming rookies are not considered. The breakdown will be by first and second teams classified by position.

ALL-UNDER 25 FIRST TEAM

Point Guard: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (Born: May 6, 1985)
Is there any doubt that CP3 is the lead guard on the first team?  Not only would he be numero uno on the All-Under 25 list, but he would be tops on an All-Galaxy team.  Paul is the undisputed best point guard in the world with the ability to score (22.8 PPG in ’08-09), drop dimes (11.0 APG), and rip rocks (2.8 SPG) at a high rate.  His quickness with and without the ball is top-notch, the court vision is ridiculous, and for a guard, Paul even shoots well from the field (50.3 FG%).  Paul is no joke and that’s keeping it 100.

Lang Greene over at Hoops Vine wrote a post about Shaquille O'Neal's campaign to be relevant, which you should read.  Below is my response to Lang's post and a special shout out to him for inspiring the below.  Lang is the wind beneath my wings.

I couldn't agree more in regards to Shaq trying hard to stay in the spotlight.  Personally, I'm close to the point of saying that I hate Shaq.  Yeah, HATE.  It's definitely a strong word, but all of this publicity that he's generating is an obvious call for attention.  Sure, I get it... it's Shaq, he's always been a jokester and he's just having fun.  Fine, I'll give you that, but that's only on the surface.

Now, I won't make believe that I know Shaq's inner psyche or anything, but his "look at me" act is getting ridiculous and seemed to have happened in the past year when, coincidentally, 1) Shaq knew he wasn't going anywhere with the Phoenix Suns, 2) Dwight Howard was getting more popular by being that lovable youngster with as infectious a smile as Shaq ever had, and 3) former teammate Kobe Bryant continued challenging for a title, eventually winning a fourth this past season.  Ass taste, indeed.

Shaq has nothing of substance at this point... in fact, he stole the idea for "Shaq Vs." where he plays against other sports' athletes from Steve Nash, which is why Nash has an executive producer credit on the show.  Yeah, freakin' weak sauce right there.  Enough already.  I wish O'Neal would just shut his trap, stay out of the spotlight, and do it Rocky IV style and train hard in the woods away from the world, knowing that this could be his last chance at greatness.  Do work, not television shows.  Win a title, not an emmy.  And for all the Shaq defenders, feel free to defend him, but I've had enough of Shaq, in fact I try to avoid him at all costs - don't watch his new show that he stole from a former teammate, I don't subscribe to his Twitter, and I've stopped watching "Blue Chips."

However, as much as I try to get away, Shaq always seems to find me thanks to his last desperate grasp to keep his legacy going.  I wish there was some way that I could TiVo this whole act and "accidentally" delete it all.

Hey all... I haven't been around much because I am working on a fantasy basketball guide, the Four Fingers of Fantasy Draft Guide, to be specific.  Go ahead and peep the TOC and register to be one of the first people to get the guide when it goes live on September 1st.  Yes, we'll be ahead of the curve compared to other fantasy basketball sites and magazines.  And, yes, we will be charging you a small fee of $7.99, which is the cost of lunch for some people.  Am I asking you not to eat lunch for a day?  Yes, but only because this guide will be worth it!

In any case, I anticipate my presence in the next couple of weeks to be sporadic and I apologize for that now, but I guarantee that once this draft guide is published, we WILL be kicking butt on here like you're used to getting your butt kicked, you masochist!  But hey, I don't judge.

But, speaking of fantasy basketball, my good friend, Alvin Lai, is doing damage on his own mock draft on Endscore.com and you NEED to check it out.  Alvin, along wtih Ronald Chow, won the Dropping Dimes Expert League last season that included the likes of writers from ESPN, CBS Sports, DIME, SLAM, etc.  Unfortunately, I was the one that lost to Alvin and Ron, but they pretty much dominated the league all season, so a championship was not surprising.  Anyway, check out the first five picks written by Alvin:

Round 1, Pick 1 - LeBron James
Round 1, Pick 2 - Chris Paul
Round 1, Pick 3 - Dwyane Wade
Round 1, Pick 4 - Kobe Bryant
Round 1, Pick 5 - Kevin Durant

I can't really argue with the above, although my personal preference would be to take CP3 with the first overall pick, but really, he and LBJ are more like picks 1A and 1B.  You can't go wrong with either one.