That time Nelly described how great it was to be Nelly

Being Cornell Haynes, aka Nelly, in the early 2000's was probably pretty sweet.

On the heels of the success of his breakout classic album Country Grammar, Nelly was one of the most popular artists in hip-hop. His popularity even stretched across industries, as the St. Louis rapper was featured in movies and television shows, and he even launched a clothing label or two.

Image from commandtalent.com

At a time when physical albums still sold and platinum plaques were regularly awarded, Nelly-Nel was truly living the life.

For all those people in the world that aren't Nelly however, and don't know what it felt like to be the 'E.I.'; hit-maker at the height of his hype, Nelly left a solid in-song description of what it is like to be him on the St. Lunatics' 2001 classic Free City album.

From 'Show 'em What They Won':

"What's it like being Nelly? Aye, let me break it down.

It's like a shootout and you the only n*gga with rounds,

It's like a weed drought and you the only n*gga with pounds,

It's like a Freaknik and you got the only rubbers in town.

I'm like a shoe-in, for the poster boy 'thug of the year',

GQ-style Ma, let me put a bug in your ear

Have 'em asking 'yo, how the hell he get a gun up in here?'

I can bring them chrome things for that drastic shit, 

Metal detectors no problem got that plastic shit.

Witnesses: 'I ain't see 'em they had masks and shit,

Whoever it was was in a rush 'cuz they was fast and quick.'

Oh, I'm just a player Mo' these ain't my rules, 

Peep game, I'm wearing Jordans, Summer these my shoes.

I'm like the heir to the throne, me and my niggas fast-break through your home,

Get your coach on the phone, temm 'em 'go'on.'"

I mean, sounds pretty good. A lot of advantages. Being the only one in a shootout with rounds seems as though it would be extremely advantageous, as does being the only one with rubbers at a 'freaknik.' Plus, if you had pounds in a weed drought you could always share with your friends, and then it's a good time for all.

While Nelly's popularity may have waned, no one can deny him his time at the top. Peep game.

Sixers to host sneaker conference Shoetopia prior to Saturday's game against Dallas

Last March, Shoetopia, D.C.'s premier sneaker conference, took over the Wells Fargo Center for a Saturday Afternoon prior to a Sixer showdown with Detroit. 

Photo taken by Michael Kaskey-Blomain at Shoetopia

I attended and covered the event, which proved to be an excellent atmosphere for sneaker enthusiasts, better known as sneakerheads, to buy, sell, barter, and just admire some of rarer and more unique sneakers out there.   

After the popularity of the first event, Shoetopia is headed back to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, November 29th. 

From the 76ers: 

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 26, 2014 – The Philadelphia 76ers will host regional sneaker conference SHOE+Topia on Saturday, November 29 from 12:00 to 4:30 p.m. on the arena concourse prior to their game that evening against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:00 p.m. Sixers guard and known sneaker aficionado Tony Wroten will make a guest appearance at the event.

For the second season in a row, the Sixers and SHOE+Topia will give fans an exclusive opportunity to purchase some of the rarest, most exclusive sneakers on the market from local vendors. Trading is also accepted at this event. Vendors interested in participating should emailinfo@theshoetopia.com.

Admission to SHOE+Topia is free for all ticketholders for the Sixers game that evening. Fans can purchase specially-priced tickets to both online atSIXERS.COM using promo code SHOETOPIA76.

Tickets to Saturday’s game and the SHOE+Topia event, along with all other Sixers single game tickets and ticket packages, are available now online at SIXERS.COM, by phone at 215-339-7676 or in person at the box office.

It is cool that Tony Wroten will be making an appearance, as he has one of the league's better sneaker collections. 

After last season's Shoetopia event the Sixers snapped their 26-game losing streak to beat the Pistons and avoid the history books. Maybe they will get their first win of the season after this season's event. 

Caption this photo of Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Turner

"Don't worry, you guys will win one eventually."

@therealmikekb two guys with broken jump shots have a laugh about getting paid millions
— Philadunkia (@philadunkia) November 25, 2014

@therealmikekb Glad to see you're not suited up tonight, Michael.
— Tom Blomain (@TomBlomain) November 25, 2014

I made it out fam, soon you will too. RT@therealmikekb: Caption this photo: pic.twitter.com/VNt9qXbM5r
— Nev Palmer (@N3vDMC) November 25, 2014

Michael Carter-Williams' early second season struggles for the Sixers

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here.
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Michael Carter-Williams continues to round in to shape after May shoulder surgery kept him sidelined for the summer and greatly hindered his ability to work on and improve aspects of his game.

The reigning Rookie of the Year has played in less than 10 games so far this season and thus it is too early to make any sort of sweeping statements about his status as a player. Carter-Williams’ play in his second season however hasn’t been pretty, and will begin to be cause for concern if it isn’t improved upon.

Image from express.co.uk

In his 30 minutes of action per game this season, Carter-Williams is averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.1 steals. All of these numbers are down from last year, but the statistical drop isn’t the only cause for concern. One of the biggest flaws in Carter-Williams’ game last season was his inability to shoot consistently, as he ended his rookie campaign with a true shooting percentage of 48. While improving upon his shot would have been at the top of Carter-Williams summer to-do list, shoulder surgery put a wrench in those plans, and it shows.

Carter-Williams is shooting an uninspiring 36% from the field after seven games, and that number drops to an anemic 20% when he takes it past the arc. At this point, those numbers give Carter-Williams a true shooting percentage of 42. Not very good for a starting point guard in a league where the ability to hit the long ball consistently is becoming increasingly important. 

Check out the rest of the article here. 

K.J. McDaniels should start for the Sixers this season

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here.
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K.J. McDaniels first tattoo was his initials, K.J., on his left bicep. He got the ink the summer after he had completed eighth grade.

Situated slightly below his initials on that same arm is another tattoo that reads ‘Gods Will’ in a cursive font.

While McDaniels’ upper body is covered in ink, those two tattoos are of particular importance. What they represent to McDaniels are confidence, and faith; two pillars with which he has begun to build his basketball career on.

Despite confidence in his skills, coming out of Central Park Christian High School in Birmingham, Alabama, McDaniels was not heavily recruited. Clemson was in fact the only ACC school interested in his services. Instead of feeling slighted however, McDaniels, who grew up watching the ACC, saw his college recruitment as an opportunity, a blessing, and most importantly, part of a greater plan.

“Gods will is because I’m fortunate enough to be out of ‘Bama and get somewhere.”

McDaniels is used to overcoming odds and obstacles. He believes that people are placed in certain situations for a reason, and thus it is his duty to find that reason and make the most out of every opportunity.

Jason Richardson expects to play this season

Check out the original article, from Philly.com, here.
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Although he hasn’t played in an NBA game in almost two years, Jason Richardson remains signed to the Sixers, and despite the widely-held belief that he may stay sidelined for the entire season, the former Slam Dunk Champion has other intentions.

When asked prior to the Sixers’ loss to the Celtics Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center if he expected to play this season, Richardson replied:

“No doubt in my mind.”

At 33, the once high-flying Richardson is not ready to call it a career just yet.

“I’ll definitely be back before the All-Star break,” he continued, before sliding the timeline up a bit.

“Or January, or maybe even before this year is over with. I’ll see how my body takes all the training and getting ready for it.”

Richardson will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, so he would use any time he received with the Sixers this season to show the rest of the teams across the league’s landscape that he still has some left in the tank. If he actually does have anything left or not is yet to be seen, but it is always nice to see a once-great player like Richardson get another opportunity. If he is able to play, it certainly couldn’t hurt the Sixers to give him some burn. 

Eric Bledsoe thinks that the Kentucky Wildcats would beat the Sixers in a seven-game series

Ha-ha. The age old argument of if a college team could beat a professional team. Funny that this debate rages on every time a college team is really good, or a professional team is exceptionally bad. The answer is, of course, that the professional team would prevail, but hey, people like silly arguments.

Check out the original article, from Philly.com, here.
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Despite the Sixers’ struggles to start the season, the common train of thought is that even the worst NBA team could beat the best collegiate team, as what is an NBA team made up of if not a collection of the best collegiate players?

Image from blacksportsonline.com

At least one prominent NBA player disagrees with this logic when it comes to the Sixers’ current crop however, as Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe said he would take Kentucky, college basketball’s top team, against the Sixers in a seven-game series. 

"I’m definitely taking Kentucky," Bledsoe told SiriusXM Radio when asked who would win in a seven-game series between the two teams. "I think Philly would get probably, maybe one game.”

Bledsoe acknowledged that the Philadelphia faithful likely wouldn’t be happy with his opinion.

“I know [the Sixers fans] are going be mad, but I love my Wildcats.”

It is of course worth nothing that Bledsoe attended Kentucky, spending a single season there before declaring for the Draft, so his opinion may be a bit biased.

While in all likelihood the professional team would prevail in such a series, Bledsoe’s comments demonstrate a low level of respect for the Sixers amongst the league’s players. 

Evan Turner has a cool E.T.-themed chain

Evan Turner, by nature of his name and not because he looks sort of like an alien, is often referred to as E.T. Sharing in the nickname E.T. is popular film alien, E.T. Thus, it is only logical that E.T. (Turner) would get an E.T. (alien) chain. Because of the whole E.T. thing.

The chain is pretty cool though:

Image from balldontlie.com

When will the Sixers get their first win?

Check out the original article, from Philly.com, here.
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After a lopsided loss to the Spurs on Monday evening, the Sixers sunk to 0-10 to start the season. While the record may not be completely representative of their talent as a team, as they dropped several close contests and were without reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams for the first seven games, they remain the only team across the league’s landscape without a win.

While the first eighth of the season hasn’t been comely, the Sixers still sit several games away from the all-time futility record to start a season, which was set by the 2009-10 iteration of the New Jersey Nets, who dropped their first 18 at the season’s start.

The ’09 Nets went on to tally 12 wins on the season, and avoided the worst record ever, which, for a full season of course belongs to the ’73 Sixers. In order for the Sixers to avoid being on the wrong side of history again they must win one of their next nine contests, a task that, with their current crop, may be easier said than done.  Nonetheless, a look ahead on their schedule shows a couple opportunities where the ’14-15 Sixers could potentially pull out a win and avoid the history books.

K.J. McDaniels proving to be the steal of the 2014 NBA Draft

Check out the original article, from Philly.com, here.
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K.J. McDaniels waited for over two hours to hear his name called from the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on June 26.

With the former Clemson Tiger, who had declared for the 2014 NBA Draft after three stellar seasons in Orange, was close to forty friends and family members who had made the trip from their home of Mobile, Alabama to Brooklyn to see McDaniels called up on that stage.

McDaniels, who was projected as a late first-round picks in some mock drafts, hoped to hear his name called by Commissioner Adam Silver, who announces the first round picks. However, as the later picks of the first round came and went, MCDaniels and his dozens of supporters were left in anticipation.

Michael Carter-Williams expected to return Thursday

Check out the original article on Philly.com, here.
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Looks as though Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel will finally be reunited on the court in Sixers uniforms.

The Sixers season is off to a shaky start, but help may be on the way.

After missing the team’s first seven games, all of which resulted in Sixer losses, the team’s reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams is set to make his season debut on Thursday, November 13 in Dallas.

Carter-Williams had shoulder surgery in May, and has been methodically recovering since. He returned to full practice last week. November 13 was targeted as a return date by the team several weeks back, and barring any setbacks this week, Coach Brett Brown expects that Carter-Williams will make the mark.

Joining him in return may be Nerlens Noel, who has missed the team’s past two contests with a left ankle sprain. With no games on the calendar between Sunday’s blowout loss to the Raptors and Thursday’s showdown with the Mavericks in Dallas, Brown is optimistic that Noel will be fully healed and ready to return. Prior to the injury, Noel was averaging 7.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Despite both being drafted by Philadelphia in the 2013 Draft, Carter-Williams and Noel, former AAU teammates in Massachusetts, have yet to suit up for the Sixers simultaneously.  Thursday could represent their debut as a duo in Philadelphia. 

Nerlens Noel showing some signs

Check out the original article from Philly.com here.
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Nerlens Noel sat slumped in front of his locker, his head in his hands, talking on his cell phone in a low, inaudible tone.

Noel had just played his first home NBA game of his young career, and it hadn’t gone as well as he had hoped. Days earlier Noel had talked about aiming each game for a double-double and then building out the box score from there. With a final stat sheet that showed only two points and five rebounds, he had fallen well short of those marks in his first game in front the Philadelphia faithful.

Though he had just downplayed it to the mass of media members huddled around him in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center, he was clearly upset with his performance. 

Noel yearns to be great. He truly cares about basketball. You could see it on his face in Brooklyn at the 2013 Draft when injury issues forced him to slip to sixth after being hyped as the probable top pick for much of the college season, and you could read it in his body language after his first game in Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson explains in simple terms why he could never be a basketball coach

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here. 
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Allen Iverson hasn’t played professionally in several seasons, and at last season’s jersey retirement ceremony, he seemed to be at peace with the fact that his basketball playing days were behind him.

“I wouldn’t change anything for anything in the world,” he said after the ceremony.

Iverson is currently in the Philippines coaching a celebrity basketball game and running some camp for kids. Despite being past playing professionally, ‘The Answer’ plans to keep the game that he loves as a central aspect of his life.

However, unlike many players after they hang up their high-tops, Iverson has no interest in pursuing a career in coaching. His reasoning is quite simply.

“No I would never want to coach,” Allen recently replied to a question about his interest in it. “We would never practice.”

Iverson’s well-received response was of course a reference to his infamous ‘practice’ presser from May of 2002.

Clearly, even in retirement, Iverson is uninterested in practice. 

Michael Carter-Williams gets his own doll

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here.
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Michael Carter-Williams has gained quite a bit of popularity since he was drafted by the Sixers last summer, and now a Plymouth Meeting-based producer of children’s toys has crafted a doll in the reigning Rookie of the Year’s likeness.

Bleacher Creatures has designed a 10-inch tall doll in Carter-Williams’ likeness, and the Sixers star himself will be making an appearance at their King of Prussia kiosk to promote the doll, have a meet-and-greet with fans, and answer questions about his exploding career with the Sixers.

On Tuesday, November 25, Carter-Williams will be appearing at the King of Prussia Mall from 6:00-7:00 for the event. 

The appearance is in conjunction with the Bleacher Creatures’ ongoing contest, “Win a Bleacher Creature..of You, where fans are encouraged to come and take ‘selfies’ with their favorite Bleacher Creatures.

Carter-Williams returned to practice on Thursday after missing the SIxers’ first five games of the season. He is expected to return to action sometime in November. 

Nerlens Noel is an early Rookie of the Year favorite

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here.
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On his way to winning Rookie of the Year last season, Michael Carter-Williams benefitted from the Sixers’ pace of play and increased on-court opportunity. Now it is Nerlens Noel’s turn.

On Wednesday, the NBA released its first rookie rankings since the season’s play started, and the sixth pick of the 2013 NBA Draft is slated in the top spot.

Noel, who was right above Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins, respectively, in the rankings, is looking to recreate what Blake Griffin did in 2011 when he was named Rookie of the Year after sitting the entirety of his initial season with injury issues. From NBA.com:

                “Two games with 10 rebounds, one with five, and another with one board is a choppy start, but also typical rookie inconsistency. It’s only a problem if it lasts. Besides, Noel has also had three blocks in two of the outings, six steals and five assists one night, and broke double digits in scoring twice.”

Noel’s advantage in the rookie race may be his ability to fill up the stat sheet in several categories, just as his former AAU-teammate Michael Carter-Williams did for the Sixers last season. While Noel’s offensive production might not be as prolific as say Jabari Parker’s, the former Kentucky Wildcat is able to impact the game in more ways.

Dajuan Wagner to sign with the ABA's Philadelphia Spirit.

What could have been. Dejaun used to get comparisons to Iverson. Dang.

Check out the original article from Philly.com, here.
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Camden, New Jersey native Dajuan Wagner will continue his professional playing career in Philadelphia.

Wagner, maybe best known for scoring 100 points in a game for Camden High, has agreed to terms with the ABA’s Philadelphia Spirit. The terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. Wagner will hold a press conference on Thursday evening to announce the news.

Will Kobe Bryant pass Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list this season?

The answer is, in short, barring any injury issues, yes. 

Kobe sits about 500 points away from MJ, and a week into the season, he is leading the league in scoring. At 36 years old.

The Lakers are terrible, and they aren't going to get any better this season. Kobe has the green light to do pretty much whatever he wants out on the court, and that usually means shooting.. a lot. 

So, barring any further injury issues, Kobe will cruise past MJ's 32,292 sometime this season. 

I remember debating in college whether or not Kobe would break the all-time scoring record. Once he passes MJ only two players, and about 6,500 points stand in his way.