The circus is coming to town! NBA All-Star Weekend will take place in Los Angeles from February 16-18 and this year’s event promises to feature a ton of intrigue on court and off. For anybody paying extra attention this year, you can bet on the skills competition,

the dunk contest and the three point contest at Bovada.

Before you get in there, read the details here for more info about them, since Bovada was the same site pushing the Mayweather-McGregor fight heavy, you can expect there to be some special features.

The betting lines for Team LeBron vs Team Stephen aren’t out yet but expect that to come out tomorrow.

Respect-Mag rounded up some of the juiciest storylines that are a bit harder to throw money down on but definitely what people are watching for.

Will Kyrie and LeBron James share the ball?

LeBron shocked everyone when he selected Kyrie Irving for his hand-picked All-Star team. He could have chosen any number of elite players, but instead he picked the one dude on the planet who vocally declared he wanted nothing to do with him.

Don’t forget, Irving was so intent on getting away from King James that he reportedly threatened to undergo knee surgery to force his way out of Cleveland. We now get to see these two together again and it will be fascinating to watch them (try to) coexist.

Will LeBron go out of his way to set up Irving?

Will Irving freeze out LeBron and go balls-to-the wall in an attempt to win MVP honors? No matter what happens, we all win.

Will Superstars Court LeBron?

All-Star Weekend is traditionally a great time for schmoozing, but this year it could turn into a recruitment fair. Don’t be surprised if James Harden uses the weekend to try to convince LeBron to bolt to Houston, or if LeBron and Paul George spend their downtime hashing out a possible future with the Lakers.

Will Draymond Green Get a Tech?

No player has ever been teed up for a technical foul in an NBA All-Star Game, but that could change this weekend thanks to Draymond Green. The fiery forward has already piled up 14 techs and three ejections this season, and is easily one of the most combustible players in league history.

Will Nate Robinson Dunk Win Butler into Oblivion?  

The league has revamped its Celebrity Game this year to include several former pros like Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady, Jason Williams, and Nate Robinson.

Most of them will barely work up a sweat, but it’s easy to imagine Robinson taking this exhibition way too seriously. The three-time Slam Dunk champ still believes he should be logging 30-minutes a night on a playoff contender. If he could dunk over Dwight Howard, just imagine what he can do to Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler.  

Will Kevin Hart Go too far?   

The NBA has decided to spice up its All-Star Game intros this year by giving the mic to Kevin Hart. It’s a fun idea in theory, but will the pint-sized comedian really be able to control himself when the cameras start rolling?

What will happen if he goes a little too far in making fun of Joel Embiid, or if he needs seven tries to correctly pronounce “Antetokounmpo”? Is this the year that we get to see a 5-foot-4 man get dunked on by a 7-footer?

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The post Scoop B: NBA All-Star Weekend Drama appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio

RESPECT Magazine columnist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted about the NBA on the Bud and The Manchild Show on Syracuse, New York’s The Score 1260 AM. Press Play Below To Listen!

Happy early-Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for during the early parts of the NBA season.

Despite losing Gordon Heyward to a season ending injury, the Boston Celtics are living their best life under the scoring machine of the masked man, Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics ditched his protective mask in the second half and led his team to a win over the Golden State Warriors. Credit Maddie Meyer/Getty Imageshe Boston Celtics living their best life under the scoring machine that is Kyrie Irving and winning 15 straight games.

The Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are playing inspired basketball in the NBA’s Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are going through growing pains in their respective conferences.

They’re all just  trusting the process!

Check Out Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson disuss the Philadelphia 76ers on CNN.

Did you know that LeBron James is the King of New York?

You’re welcome.. ?of NY #myfavoriteplayground #striveforgreatness?

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Nov 14, 2017 at 7:26am PST

For those tardy to the party, LeBron James and the Cavaliers’ train ride coupled with James’ declaration was inspired by a scene in the King of New York movie.

Hip hop artists have often used this movie as a muse in their music videos. Add Fat Joe’s “So Much More” and Fabolous “Lituation”to that list.

While on the show the crew and I also discussed Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as his former New York Knicks team.

Check out the recap of the chat from Inside The Loudhouse’s Paul A. Esden. 

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The post Scoop B: Kyrie’s Celtics & the Cavs’ LeBron James being the King of NY has given us a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin. Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin chats with Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin about small ball on Scoop B Radio. Press play below to listen.

On Friday, Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin was an unlikely hero in helping the Boston Celtics win their first game of their young season.

Larkin arose from the bench and scored 10 points, eight which came in the fourth quarter of Boston’s eventual 102-92 win at Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The last time that we heard from Larkin, he was in the U.S. playing for the struggling Brooklyn Nets. Now? He’s on a Celtics team that is giving him steady minutes alongside Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving.

Two point guards shooting at will? Say it ain’t so! “I do believe small ball is here to stay for a while,” Shane Larkin told me on Scoop B Radio.

Boston Celtics guard Shane Larkin shooting a jumper over Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

But why?

“Because the game always evolves,” Shane Larkin told me on Scoop B Radio.

“If it was 15 years ago you would see everybody throw the ball into the post, mid-post isos, cutting off the post and a lot of stuff like that. But over the last couple of years it’s turned into a lot of ball screens and dribble drives and things like that.”

Larkin believes that there’s a science behind it all. “So I think small ball is the new ‘wave’ in the league since the Spurs won the championship when they had Boris Diaw running the four,” he said.

Larkin added:

“Or even when Dallas won the championship in 2011. So the last few years, all the champions have had bigs who can stretch the floor and versatile wings who can guard multiple positions.”

Facts only. Respect the shooter named Shane Larkin!

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Paul George and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio TV

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted with Ben Troupe and B.J. Bennett on Southern Georgia’s ESPN Coastal “Three and Out.” Press Play Below To Listen!

The NBA season is here and we’ve seen a ton of injuries. The Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward and Brooklyn Nets’ Jeremy Lin are done for the season and the Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul is sidelined for two to four weeks.

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James embrace after Tuesday’s opening night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo Credit: USA Today

Lonzo Ball did not come out hot in his debut at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers and LeBron James and the new look Cleveland Cavaliers had something to prove in their home opener against former Cavalier, Kyrie Irving. Carmelo Anthony got revenge with his new team the Oklahoma City Thunder. He and his new teammates, Paul George and Russell Westbrook aided the former Knick in his victory over his old team.  Also click here to find out why I believe the Knicks should still retire Carmelo Anthony’s jersey.

My picks for this season:

6th Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Houston Rockets

Most Improved Player of the Year: Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gorbert, Utah Jazz

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Rookie of the Year: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

MVP: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Finals: Cavs vs. Warriors (Cavs win in 6)

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The post Scoop B: OKC Thunder’s Paul George & Russell Westbrook, The Cavs & More With ESPN’s Ben Troupe & B.J. Bennett appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

NBA 2K18’s alternate cover featuring Kyrie Irving in a Boston Celtics uniform. Photo Credit: Sporting News

NBA 2K’s Ronnie Singh dropped by Scoop B Radio and Chatted With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about a myriad of topics like Hoodie Melo and changing NBA 2K 18’s cover after Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas. Press Play Below To Listen.

In late August the Cleveland Cavaliers struck a deal with the Boston Celtics that shipped Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first round pick and and the Miami Heat’s 2020 second-round pick.

While that was great in the NBA world, there was one significant problem: NBA 2K18 had been promoting Kyrie Irving as the game’s cover athlete and he was donning Cavs garb.

For years, folks talked about a ‘Madden curse.’ Now it seems that a NBA 2K curse is ‘a thing’ for cover athletes too!

It all started in NBA 2K14 when Irving’s former teammate LeBron James leaves the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. The following year Kevin Durant graces NBA 2K15 and goes to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Paul George lands on NBA 2K17’s cover and heads over to the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. And then enter Irving gracing NBA 2K18!

Here’s the million dollar question: How difficult is it for NBA 2K brass to switch covers?  “I think it’s more of a headache than a lot of people think,” NBA 2K’s Ronnie Singh told me on Scoop B Radio.

NBA 2K 18 has amended the cover of the game with Kyrie Irving now donning a Boston Celtics uniform. Photo Credit: 2K Sports

Singh, better known to 2K gamers as Ronnie2K believes that the offseason trade and the need to update an NBA 2K cover is all in good fun. “The manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “We don’t turn on a switch and the games are produced. There is a lot of effect to retail, you know? Like there is signage that will  be there that is going to be Cavaliers.”

Meanwhile, Irving has had a decent NBA preseason. His best preseason game was his third against the Philadelphia 76ers.  Irving posted 21 points, and 3 assists in 25 minutes. Uncle Drew also went 5-7 from downtown. “He was such a focal point for the NBA this offseason,” said Singh.

“That’s a huge conversation piece. It is nice that people relate that huge transaction in the league to thinking about how it affects a 2K cover, so all in all it’s a good thing. But yeah, obviously there are procedural things that are difficult about it, but nothing that we are challenged by. We make it work.”

Forbes’ Brian Mazique reported late last month that 2K tweeted out the link to print out the new inserts that can be used to replace the outdated cover showing Irving in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey.

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The post NBA 2K’s Ronnie2k Says Changing Kyrie Irving’s NBA 2K18 Cover From Cavs to Celtics is ‘more of a headache than a lot of people think’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

NBA 2K senior producer Rob Jones. Photo Credit: Hoops Hype

NBA 2K’s Rob Jones Dropped By Scoop B Radio With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson & Discussed His Personal Journey and the new NBA 2K18

Unless you’re the man upstairs, nobody knows the interworking of the popular NBA 2K video game better than Rob Jones.

Jones, a senior producer of visual concepts at 2K has been part of the game since it was only available on Sega Dreamcast and the game boasted Allen Iverson as their cover athlete.

On Friday, NBA 2K18 was released on a day marked as 2K day. Although you can go head to head with your friends at the house or online, NBA 2K18, the 19th game of the NBA 2K series, features an all-new new Neighborhood feature.

In simpler terms, Neighborhood ties together game modes and allows for virtual interaction with other people playing the game. You can text message Lavar Ball, TNT’s Ros Gold Onwude and others. “The neighborhood is big because basketball is about competition and we’ve always known that but it’s also the lifestyle and it’s also social,” Rob Jones told me on Scoop B Radio. “The neighborhood is this open environment where we’re all together and socializing and doing things together and I’m still competing in basketball in different ways whether it’s mini basketball in the 2K zone or playing in the park, or playing in pro-am, or playing NBA games.

Added Jones:

“We’re giving you these different ways to play but instead of compartmentalizing it like well I got to go to the pro-am instead it’s all in one place and it’s unified so all of your rewards are the same. I mean the ultimate reward is I start with my guy at a 60 and I want to be a 99, the only way to do that last year was to play My Career this year it doesn’t matter you play whatever you want to so we are letting you dictate the way you want to play our game.”

NBA 2K producer Rob Jones discusses NBA 2K18’s Neighborhood game mode with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Brian Mazique

In between his busy schedule of navigating folks through the new version of NBA 2K18, Jones discussed his journey of being with the company since 2011.”It’s big because it tells me that people appreciate our game and it shows me how far we’ve come,” he said.

“We go back and look at the older games some days and we’re like: ‘man basketball was in sad shape back then.’ Even though for people who were playing it, it was like they were phenomenal, but we’re way ahead of where we were when we first started.”

Speaking of past to present, being part of the 2K family for some time, Jones said he has a few favorite installments of the game.

The floor is yours Mr. Jones:

“2K7 because it was the first game that gave me a glimpse of fluid basketball and 2K11 with Mike [Jordan] on it so it’s hard to top those two,” he said.

“The next one would be 2K14 with the story LeBron and I think ’18 is about to sneak in. I think we’re breaking the odd year curse when people would say we only put a good game out in odd years but I think 2K18 is going to be pretty good.”

Ahh yes, the odd year NBA 2K NBA curse.

For years, folks talked about a ‘Madden curse.’

Now it seems that a NBA 2K curse is ‘a thing’ for cover athletes too! 

Kyrie Irving’s Boston Celtics alternate cover. Photo Credit: Gamespot

Most recently,  Kyrie Irving, an NBA champ with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 is now a member of the Boston Celtics. NBA 2K18 had been promoting Irving as the game’s cover athlete, donning Cavs garb. This is the first time that a player on NBA 2K has been traded before a game has been released, but it’s not the first time conspiracy theorists have put together their theory.

It all started in NBA 2K14 when LeBron James left the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. The following year Kevin Durant graces NBA 2K15 and goes to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Paul George lands on NBA 2K17’s cover and heads over to the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. “I think it’s coincidental first of all,” Rob Jones said. “Secondly I think that free agency in the NBA as we know it has changed dramatically over the last three years and I think you’re going to see more of it.”

Jones thinks that the trend will continue and he likes the real life attention that it brings. “We just happen to be picking  the guys who have the most to gain by leaving,” he said. “For whatever reason they are making these choices, so it’s not a curse. It’s just that the ‘loyalty’ aspect is just no longer the way I came up on it. So I think you’re going to see more players making these choices to go to different teams every year.”

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The post Scoop B: NBA 2K Senior Producer Rob Jones Names His Favorite 2K Games & Discusses NBA 2K18’s New Neighborhood Mode appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

NBA 2K 18 has amened cover of game with Kyrie Irving now donning a Boston Celtics uniform. Photo Credit: 2K Sports

So the Cleveland Cavaliers struck a deal with the Boston Celtics that shipped Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first round pick and and the Miami Heat’s 2020 second-round pick.

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson joined ESPN’s Ben Troupe and B.J. Bennett “3 and Out” to break down the trade.

While that was great in the NBA world, there was one significant problem: NBA 2K18 had been promoting Kyrie Irving as the game’s cover athlete and he was donning Cavs garb.

The trade made official last night AND Irving’s new 2K18 cover got a facelift too!

Looks like 2k18’s cover problem wasn’t a problem ? pic.twitter.com/mDSALJ8jSn

— Kofeem Abdul-Jabbar (@KofieYeboah) August 31, 2017

For years, folks talked about a ‘Madden curse.’ Now it seems that a NBA 2K curse is ‘a thing’ for cover athletes too!

Why, you ask? It all started in NBA 2K14 when Irving’s former teammate LeBron James leaves the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. The following year Kevin Durant graces NBA 2K15 and goes to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Paul George lands on NBA 2K17’s cover and heads over to the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. And then enter Irving gracing NBA 2K18!

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The post Scoop B: Post Isaiah Thomas Trade, NBA 2K18 Switches Kyrie Irving’s Uniform From Cavaliers to Celtics appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.