That is Ben Handlogten. I don’t blame you if you don’t know who he is. No offense to the man, but he was never much of an NBA player. He played only 38 games in two seasons with the Utah Jazz and the most significant impact he’s had on the league is being part of the deal that has resulted in this year’s New York Knicks draft pick being in Utah’s possession. For some of us, though, he was more than that – he was the official player of The Links! Back when Lang Whitaker‘s online column was published daily, we loyal readers would hear about everything Handlogten-related whenever anything Handlogten-related actually occurred. In fact, I’m certain that if something Handlogten-related happened tomorrow, Lang would be right on it. If he had turned out to be a success story, we all would have felt like a part of it. With that in mind, I’ve chosen the official team of Outside The NBA, henceforth known as the All-OTN Team. You’re going to hear about these guys all the time if you keep up with this site, as I’m going to be starting a daily recap feature which will include a section on ‘em. They are not scrubs like Handlogten; rather,  they’re role players who I’m confident will pan out but still have plenty of room for improvement. The rules I stuck to: only one rookie, no two players from the same team, no starters, and no one who made Kelly Dwyer’s top 30 for his position in the Yahoo! Sports 2009 NBA Preview Magazine. Also, to qualify, I have to really, really enjoy watching the player and be confident that you will like him too. Let’s get to it. Continue Reading

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On Tuesday, I sat down with Julian Guy-McCarvill and Eric Wagman and recorded our second podcast. We were having so much fun that we went wayyy long, so I divided it into two parts. In the first part, we examine the Lakers, Blazers, Bucks, Spurs, and Bulls; try to figure out when the Timberwolves and Nets can get a win; and discuss Ron Artest’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Also, I make stat-geeks cry by referring to “WARP” as “VORP”. In part two, we cover the strange Tracy McGrady situation, the “nicer” Stan Van Gundy, a couple of choice rookies, Josh Smith and his Hawks, Jeff Bower and his Hornets, and the dysfunctional Wizards. We also hand out some awards. Enjoy, people.

Click here to listen to Part 1.
Click here to listen to Part 2.

I tried this weekly recap thing last week, using Twitter as a guide. This week, I’m at it again. Same idea, but I’m going to use video as a guide. These clips are mostly from a few fantastic YouTube uploaders, but there are a couple of NBA.com videos in here too. This won’t be quite as good as actually watching the games as they happen, but it should at least give you an idea of what you’re missing. Continue Reading

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I, and I think a lot of other Raptor fans have been impressed with Amir Johnson off of the bench. He has a very good motor, puts a lot of energy into getting on the glass, plays tough defense and seems like a good teammate who knows his role. Continue Reading

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This past week, I’ve been tweeting and League Passing my face off and loving every minute of it. I’ve seen buzzer-beaters, incredible dunks, and one of the most captivating individual performances I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. Here’s a recap of the week that was, using selections from the Outside Twitter account as a guide. Continue Reading

Ah yes a new season is upon us. It’s a time of wonderment, of unbridled optimism, of limitless possibilities. There are still a few weeks before the season starts and cold reality slaps the majority of the Association in the face, but I figured I’d get a head start. Optimism is running wild in Toronto, but there are a few pitfalls that Raptors Nation is overlooking. Continue Reading

Ah yes, a new season is upon us. It’s a time of wonderment, of unbridled optimism, of limitless possibilities. There are still a few weeks before the season starts and cold reality slaps the majority of the Association in the face, so I’m going to embrace the optimism. To those who know me, this is no surprise; optimism is practically my middle name. But this year just FEELS different for some reason. The Raptors have almost completely remade their team. With a new coach, new philosophy, new feel overall. Continue Reading