To try and motivate our bloggers to get inbound links we're going to have a contest to see which blogger can get the most inbound links to their blog. The contest begins now and ends July 31st, 2008. To be entered in to the contest all you have to do is go out and get as many websites to link to your blog as you can and at the end of the month send us an email listing all those links. All links must be active from August 1st through August 7th when we'll be judging the entries - a winner will be announced on August 7th. All entry emails must be received by Midnight on July 31st, 2008. You can email them to sportsfan@nbabasketballonline.com

We're going to impose some restrictions on the types of links you can get so please see below for the full list of links that do NOT count.

To get started simply go to Google and find other websites and blog that are about the sports and teams that you write about. Email the website owner and ask them for a link by explaining that you think your blog would be a good resource for their readers. Or offer to write a guest post for them with your by-line and URL at the bottom of the article. Or offer to exchange links with them by writing a quick write up of their site and a reciprocal link back to them. Some webmasters will be happy to add you to their blog roll even if you don't give them a link back (which is ideal) but some may want you to link back to them - you can easily do this with a quick blog entry on your blog about their website.

To learn more about inbound links and marketing your blog in general check out this post:--b... [read more]

"It's not a game, it's an arms race" - Kanye West and Fallout Boy belt this hook over and over again on a recent hit with that same title. In that context, Kanye and the Fallout Boy guys are referring to the battle of musical artists not only surviving in a competitive worldwide market, but one with hindrances around every music sharing online ripping program. While that's an issue for another day and another blogsite, it's relevance is crucial when talking about the current state of Major League baseball and the National Basketball Association.

It all began on one fateful day in January when the Memphis Grizzlies gift-wrapped a late Christmas Gift for the Los Angeles Lakers in the mold of Pau Gasol, the center that solidified Showtime as the front-runner in the Western Conference. The arms race began! The domino effect led to two desperate acts of self-destruction in Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns and Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. Those moves pushed the usually level-headed Spurs into making a level-headed move in picking up Kurt Thomas... yet the games had just begun. 

Now, in the baby driven NBA, it shouldn't be a shock that the newest game craze is not guitar hero, but the preschool favorite musical chairs. The winner seemingly being the Philly Sixers- who just landed the Worst Friend of the Year Winner Elton Brand who's handshake and word are seemingly as reliable as a teenager making curfew or A-Rod making curfew. (While I will get back to A-Rod later in the week, didn't anybhody learn from the Carlos Boozer fiasco a few years ago? A... [read more]

I predicted Shaq would go to New York and be the latest embarrassment for the Knicks.  You can't blame me.  Admit it, you thought that it made great sense.  It would have been the latest overture in the Isiah symphony.

I have long believed that NBA GMs have a secret contest where they decide who can make the worst decisions.  The Spurs GM is never invited so he gets back at the rest of the league by having the Spurs in title contention every year.  Steve Kerr was on the outside looking in.  He was mad.  Steve wanted to be in that conversation of 'hey, did you see that terrible trade?'  Congrats broseph.  Welcome to the jungle.

Shaq isn't healthy.  While he was in Miami, he talked about shutting it down for the rest of the year.  Now, he's supposed to come back with a team that wants to get a shot off in under 7 seconds?  I have a great recipe for mustard covered chocalate cake.  Oh what's that?  They don't go together?  Shaq labors up and down the court for 26 minutes a night, has to have the ball in his hands to be effective and grinds any offense that thrives on anything besides '4 guys stand around and wait for the double team' to a screeching halt.  Square peg, this is my boy round hole; I'll leave you two to chat.

Here's why this deal was made: The Phoenix Suns were concerned about 2 things.

1) They watch big man after big man have career nights against them.  The West has big guys that you have to contend with.

2) Shawn Marion ... [read more]

I know it's more traditional to do this kind of report after the first twenty games. I, however, am a very non-traditional fellow. So here is your twenty-six game report.

Let's start with what we know about the Dallas Mavericks: nothing. Okay, we know a couple of things. However, if you take everything we know and shine a light on it, what you end up looking at is, well, nothing. At least nothing of any significance. But let’s try anyway.

First, they are playing poorly against the East. After finishing last season a blistering 27-3 versus the Eastern Conference, the Mavs are a lackluster 6-5 so far. If nothing else in basketball universe is knowable, it is certain that the best way to pad your record is by playing teams in the East. How else could the Toronto Raptors make the playoffs? To be considered an elite team, the Mavericks must put away Eastern Conference opponents.

Second, they are playing well against division rivals (6-2). This includes a perfect 3-0 against Houston so far and a thirteen-point victory over defending champs, San Antonio. Unfortunately, they also suffered a two-point loss to the Spurs who were without Tim Duncan. The Mavs currently own the best in-division record in the Western Conference. What does that mean? Nothing, right now. But down the road in an admittedly very low probability tie-break situation, it could be the difference between winning and losing the Southwest Division which could easily be the difference between being seeded first or second come playoff time.

Finally, coach Avery Johnson is struggli... [read more]

Magic sign free-agent PG Anthony Johnson (AP)

The Orlando Magic signed veteran free-agent point guard Anthony Johnson on Tuesday. Johnson will back up starter Jameer Nelson as he enters his 12th NBA season. He played in 69 games last season for the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings. Johnson had a brief stint with Orlando in the 1999-2000 season, appearing in 18 games. [read full article]

Posted Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:05:47 PDT - via Yahoo! Sports