Latest news with #ALLTHESMOKE
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Legend Isiah Thomas showers praise on coach Mark Johnson's basketball legacy
NBA Legend Isiah Thomas showers praise on coach Mark Johnson's basketball legacy (Image Source: Getty) Former NBA player and Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas, who also led the team, Detroit Pistons back in the 80s and 90s, has had an experience with a very different set of players and environment. In an interview, Isiah Thomas talked about how the NBA has changed in the last few decades, and credits coach Mark Johnson for his leadership and contribution. How the NBA changed from the 80s In an interview from 2023, Isiah Thomas opened up about several aspects of his life. He spoke about who he believes was the best defender and the rivalry between him and Scottie Pippen was developed. On the All The Smoke Podcast, he speaks up. Isiah Thomas - Part 1 | Ep 176 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball He said , 'The eras are different, some people say the 80s was the best era for basketball, while some people have said the 90s wasn't one of the greatest eras of basketball, then, 2000s, as the rules started changing, and coaching schemes started changing, when you say the game has evolved, has the game really evolved? and what does that mean when we say it has? What has changed and the guy who doesn't get credit for changing the game in this so-called evolution of the game, his name would be coach Mark Jackson. ' Further he says, 'Let me tell you how Mark Jackson changed the game, because he saw a guy named Steph Curry, and a guy by the name Clay Thomson, and Mark Jackson as a coach made it acceptable for Steph Curry and Clay to shoot from that range, people shot from the range, but people didn't do it as part of their offensive scheme.' Who were Isiah Thomas' best defenders? Much talked about rivalries were shaped by good games and brilliant results, that made the player focus on different aspects of the game. In an interview, Thomas opens about his rivalry with Scottie Pippen, despite the mutual respect they had for each other. Regarding who he believed were the best defender, Thomas named Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen. He said: 'As a defender, he doesn't get enough credit, when we talk about the greatest and best defenders that have ever played in the NBA, Chicago had two of them — Rodman and Scottie Pippen, Scottie was different, At his best, I may have to say that he and Rodman were the one-two best defenders to ever play the game. I want to give him his respect and his props. And then, as a facilitator, Scottie — he was the real deal.' Also Read: NBA Legend Charles Barkley Throws Direct Criticism At Karl-Anthony Towns' Face After New York Knicks' Game 5 Win Against Indiana Pacers It has been a pleasure for Isiah Thomas to be able to see how the NBA has turned out over the years, for its fans, for the players, for the coaches and most importantly, for the teams.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"It doesn't look good" - Gilbert Arenas explains how the Timberwolves are thriving in this year's playoffs
One of the most pleasant surprises of this year's playoffs is the hungrier-than-ever Minnesota Timberwolves squad. The T-Wolves aren't just winning their matchups, they are making a statement against the favored and more experienced squads. They booted the Luka Doncic and LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers in just five games and are now just one win away from punching their ticket to a second straight Western Conference Finals, this time against a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors. Advertisement While Anthony Edwards definitely leads the charge for Minnesota, he is not alone. The spotlight is undoubtedly on "Ant-Man," but what's really a difference maker is their offseason addition of Julius Randle. Randle has been criticized all season long Randle's road wasn't smooth. He had a tough time finding his rhythm early in the season, getting used to Chris Finch's system and figuring out how to coexist with a high-usage star like Edwards. But now, when the lights are the brightest, he's doing exactly what the Timberwolves hoped he would. "Beyblade" is averaging 23.3 points, 5.7 boards, and 6.0 dimes a contest, all while shooting efficiently and playing with the kind of poise that screams playoff basketball. Advertisement The pace slows, half-court execution takes over, and your ability to create your own shot becomes the difference between moving on or going home. That's been Julius' bread and butter for years now, and Gilbert Arenas, the former Washington Wizards star, claims that this is exactly why the T-Wolves are thriving. While it isn't necessarily the prettiest way to play basketball, it works wonders when the pressure is the highest. "It doesn't look good. I'mma just be honest with you, man. I'm a Laker fan, and they beat us, so I can't really speak on that series. But when you look at a team that can match the youth, it's a struggle basketball. I really don't think they do their chemistry. You know, because of the payoffs and the style of the game that they have to play, it fits (Julius) Randle better," Arenas pointed out in his appearance on "ALL THE SMOKE" podcast. "Now the game is slower, you gotta get to the half-court, they're loading up on you, you gotta come to me. In regular season… he kinda got lost in the offense. His style is old-school style, iso, let me take advantage. That's playoff basketball," the Wizards icon added. Randle wasn't always seen as the most natural fit next to Edwards, but now that the game is simplified and physical, his value for Coach Finch has skyrocketed. He's attacking mismatches, making smart reads, and giving the Wolves a steadying force in half-court sets — something they lacked last year. Advertisement Related: "When I needed cash, he said, 'how much?'" - John Salley says Shaquille O'Neal loaned him $70,000 when he was broke and didn't want it back Minnesota wants to go all the way They've been building toward this moment, gradually figuring out how to merge all that talent with the kind of toughness you need in May. Edwards is the face, but the rest of the team gives him the much-needed support. Players like Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert have stepped up when it mattered most. McDaniels' defense and timely buckets have swung momentum, while Gobert's interior presence has been on full display, especially in Game 5 against the Purple and Gold, when he dominated with a monstrous double-double of 27 points and 24 rebounds. Those contributions don't always grab headlines, but they're the kind of performances that win playoff games. Advertisement The Timberwolves have a real identity now. They are deep, locked in and have a unique blend of youth, grit and ego. And if Randle keeps playing at this level, Minnesota might not just make noise — they might even go for the ultimate prize. Related: "For a guy who get paid $300 million, he should be a Top 10 player...I don't think he a Top 30 player" - Oakley shreds Brown's historic contract
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TEAM: NBA CHAMPION MATT BARNES NAMED CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, BRIAN DAILEY NAMED PRESIDENT AND COO
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS today announced the appointment of co-founders Matt Barnes and Brian Dailey to formal roles within the company. Barnes, the NBA Champion-turned-media entrepreneur, will serve as Chief Executive Officer, while Dailey, a former Showtime Sports programming executive, will assume the role of President and Chief Operating Officer. ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS was founded in 2024 following the closure of Showtime Sports, the television network division that helped launch the sports and culture-shaping digital series ALL THE SMOKE WITH MATT BARNES AND STEPHEN JACKSON in 2019. The ATSP ethos stems from its flagship series, focusing on unfiltered, authentic storytelling led by athletes themselves. "We founded ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS to change the game and that is what we are doing," said Barnes. "We are telling authentic stories that matter, and it's been an incredible journey to see the impact we've had in such a short time. Year two of this company is about expanding that vision and creating more opportunities for athletes to have a voice in how their stories are told." "The world of sports media is rapidly evolving," said Dailey, "and ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS is at the forefront of that transformation. We're not just creating compelling, important content—podcasts, series, documentaries and brands—we are leading a movement to amplify varied and diverse voices, inspire audiences and engage fans on a deeper level." In 2024, the company made significant strides to quickly re-establish infrastructure, launch new intellectual property and continue to grow its already sizable digital audience. It also launched a new content division, ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT, bringing its total digital reach to over 20 million. The company signed Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr., to key roles and established a progressive distribution strategy across social platforms, YouTube, and all major podcast outlets. New deals are pending with major OTT and streaming services. Additionally, ALL THE SMOKE expanded its brand with a coffee table book from Simon & Schuster, a new premium Mezcal, a limited-edition sneaker collaboration, and a premium merchandise line. The company partnered with Live Nation to launch a live series, Smoke Tour Live, strengthened its alliance with online sports betting leader DraftKings, audio giant iHeartRadio and formed strategic partnerships with Meadowlark Media and Kevin Durant's Boardroom brand. Today, just one year after its founding, ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS produces more than eight regularly scheduled premium digital series at the intersection of sports and culture, including ALL THE SMOKE, UNPLUGGED, THE ART OF WARD, MORNING KOMBAT and, in conjunction with Kevin Garnett's Content Cartel, KG: CERTIFIED and TICKET & THE TRUTH. Additional series along with multiple documentary film projects are currently in development to be announced this year. Barnes, a member of the 2007 "We Believe" Warriors and the 2017 NBA Champion Warriors, transitioned into media following his 14-year NBA career. Along with fellow Champion and friend Stephen Jackson, Barnes founded ALL THE SMOKE in 2019, and the series quickly gained success, earning multiple awards and industry accolades, including the 2024 NAACP Image Awards, 2023 Webby Awards, and the 2021 iHeart Radio Podcast Awards. Dailey served as Senior Vice President of Sports Programming and Strategy at Showtime Networks from 2019 until the department's closure. His leadership played a key role in transforming Showtime Sports into a leader in innovative, culturally relevant sports content and distribution. Dailey's connections with athletes, artists, and creative brands set new standards in collaborative promotion and fan engagement. He has produced several unscripted sports films and series for both linear and digital distribution. Prior to Showtime, Dailey worked at ESPN, where he developed key partnerships and pioneered broadcast integrations. Media Contact:Chris DeBlasioE: Cdeblasio99@ @AllTheSmokeProductions * @allthesmokeprod * @ * All The Smoke Productions View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ALL THE SMOKE PRODUCTIONS
