LUKE_MELLOW

Chat with Vesely: Online chat with fans, Wed. @ 3pm CET

2011-07-06T08:19:00.006+02:00

On Wednesday, Jan Vesely stops by to chat with his Czech fans.
http://basket.idnes.cz/basketbalista-jan-vesely-0xy-/odpovedi.asp?t=VESEL

Send your questions now and join Vesely Wed. at 3 p.m. CET.
http://basket.idnes.cz/basketbalista-jan-vesely-0xy-/odpovedi.asp?t=VESEL&akce=otazky

Q&A: Vesely deals with wedding gift ideas, not Lockout

2011-07-05T10:23:00.013+02:00

From this Saturday's denik.cz article:
http://www.denik.cz/ostatni_sport/vesely-resi-misto-vyluky-v-nba-svatebni-dar.html

It seems like you are not dismayed by the lockout happenings and a potential delayed start of a new NBA regular season. Aren't you surprised by lockout?

"We all reckoned with lockout, we knew that the lockout would begin the 1st of July. You got to find something good in there too. Summer League is cancelled, but actually it is a plus for me. At least I'll be resting. Otherwise I would have to be in Vegas now and practice and play. So I have all summer free and I can start preparing for the regular season."

That's nice, but there's a possibility the two sides fail to reach a deal and the start of the season begins to delay...
"I'm not afraid about that, even if that can happen. Right now they are negotiating, so we'll see. Everything's being dealt with. We can only wait and believe that both sides find a solution."

What's your personal estimate? When the new season gets going?
"[The Lockout] Won't take too long. I think by the end of year [the regular season starts], at the latest."

Can the lockout process be the same as the one 13 years ago? They played only 50 games instead of 82...
"I think that they find an agreement sooner, everything will be okay and there will be no reduction of games. Even with less games, nothing terrible happens. I don't care how many games I play in my first season, I'm mainly looking forward to my premiere game."

Aren't you afraid that you will be deprived of the full experience? After all, you wouldn't take solace in a trimmed season...

"I don't take it like that. I don't have anything to worry about. For me the most important thing now is that I got drafted by an NBA team already and I belong to Washington. Moreover, I suppose I'll play in the NBA more than a year, so I don't think about it."

So what's in your head now?

"I'm going to Belgrade on Saturday. Petar Bozic, Partizan Belgrade's captain, where I played the last 3 seasons, invited me to his wedding. I'm trying to figure out what I'll bring him."

Didn't you buy the wedding gift yet?

"I still have a lot of time. I was not intrigued by anything in Washington, moreover I didn't think it was exactly the best idea to carry something across the ocean. I'll pick something here, in Czech Republic."

Have you at least an idea already?

"Perhaps Ostrava sausage. Just something traditional, something that has connection with Ostrava."

You already celebrated in Belgrade recently. Was your good-bye party at the end of season a blast?

"Yeah, my farewell lasted a long time. I invited all my friends together and we celebrated at full blast."

Were you able to overtake Boston hockey players, who after 39 years had a pricey celebration of the victory in the Stanley Cup?

"I don't even know how much they spent. Four hours and three million Czech crowns in one of the bars where they celebrated? Our bill was probably slighty lower. Although who knows, it was without bill."

Someone who doesn't follow basketball much can't imagine everything what an NBA Draft involves. Describe your days in America...

"I arrived last Friday, had a practice on Saturday, on Sunday a special workout for four teams that were interested in me. Then began the whole Draft carousel, you can even say chaos."

How many interviews you actually had to take?

"Just after the Draft, it was two hours long. You go to the backstage and you are constantly available to the media. Then yet another [obligation], official press conference, more talks over the phone. There is really a lot of obligations. The most demanding part was on Thursday evening after the Draft. But I think I managed it without problems."

On Wednesday you came back home to 'your' Ostrava, where went your first steps?

"I was at home at my mom's house in Pribor [a small Moravian town], on Friday at dad's house. I wanted to engage in more things, but I had little time. I also slept a lot, I'm still a little confused because of jet lag."

How will you fill your time after returning from Serbian capital?

"I'm going to be visiting my relatives, I would like to go to the sea, too. I can't say specifically where, I deal with everything at the last minute."

John Merry Mini-Bullets

2011-07-03T19:33:00.005+02:00

From this Friday's iDNES.cz article:
http://basket.idnes.cz/basketbalista-vesely-poblaznil-ameriku-ted-pojede-na-svatbu-a-k-mori-1gm-/nba.aspx?c=A110701_180109_nba_bem

* Jan started playing basketball in the youth system of BK Snakes Ostrava, in Ostrava, Czech Rep.
* He came back home to Ostrava on Wednseday and slept a lot. He was confused because of jet lag.
* He met with Czech journalists in the famous 'Stodolní ulice'.
* What wedding gift to buy? "Has to be something traditional, local. Perhaps Ostrava sausages," he said, grinning.
* On NBA lockout: "I hope we start playing by the end of year. I will talk to my agent about all possible scenarios. Even playing in Europe if there is a long lockout."
* On Summer League being cancelled: "At least I'll be resting. Otherwise I would have to be in Vegas now and practice and play. So I have all summer free and I can start preparing for next regular season."
* He wants to visit relatives, friends in the summer and to go on vacation to sea. (Maybe with his girlfriend Eva, too.)

FiCS Retired; The 1st Day of Vesely Coverage

2011-06-28T23:28:00.004+02:00

D.C. Sports Bog' Dan Steinberg:

. . . And with the Wizards now putting much stock in their newest first-round pick, Jan Vesely, someone’s gonna have to start monitoring the Czech media. The natural outlet would seem to be the FICS basketball blog, FICCS standing for “Foreigner in CzechoSlovakia,” whose author is “six-feet tall and able to dunk,” with a writing style that “ain’t serious but entertaining” and who’s searching for “a girlfriend that doesn’t kill him with a chair after three hours of watching hoops.”

Follow him on Twitter here. And in his first Vesely post of the year, we get translated answers from this Idnes.cz interview, headlined “Výluka v NBA je jistá už teď, dozvěděl se Veselý.” . . .

The FiCS is retired. Long live the Luke_mellow!

Lockout in the NBA is already certain, learned Vesely

2011-06-28T11:32:00.003+02:00

http://basket.idnes.cz/vyluka-v-nba-je-jista-uz-ted-dozvedel-se-vesely-fqz-/nba.aspx?c=A110627_211020_nba_jok

iDNES.cz / basketball -- 28th June 2011 4:59

He’s not played a regular NBA game yet, but Jan Vesely’s journey to the NBA already hit a snag. "On July 1st the lockout begins, it's for sure. Now I have to talk [to Wizards] on other matters, in the coming days and weeks we will see," said Vesely from USA.

Photo #1>
THE FIRST PHOTOSHOOT. The third Czech in the NBA, Jan Vesely already donned the jersey of his future team - the Washington Wizards. Whether it happens in the game, it’s not on him, but on the collective bargaining between players' union and employers. The competition is threatened by lockout. | Photo: Washington Wizards

Photo #2>
I'M SHY, BUT I'M GETTING USED TO IT. A girlfriend of Czech basketball player Jan Vesely, Eva Kodouskova, famous for a kiss in the draft, in an interview for American television ABC.

The most famous basketball competition in the world stops because of the dispute about the money between owners and players. Vesely has to wait, too, until the feud is resolved. However it does not diminish his experiences from the draft, in which on Thursday he became only the third Czech in the NBA history. "It's unbelievable. The whole thing. Just the fact that Washington drafted me," he said.

Next topics of discussion?

On the famous kiss in the draft. A video of the moment when Vesely gives a kiss to his girlfriend Eva Kodouskova, is an Internet hit. "To me that kiss was a normal thing, which wouldn’t be noticed by anybody in Europe. Just here there was kind of disarray because of that. But of course, I don't mind publicity. They will talk about it for a long time."

On being adored by fans. With a spontaneous kiss he won over audience and journalists. Washington newspapers emphasized that Vesely enjoyed the role of the fans‘ darling in Serbia, too. "I'm laid-back. I managed to be friends with fans and other people in Belgrade, I have no problem with anyone. Neither with Americans. Just sit down and have a talk."

On Washington. Wizards team, the new employer of Vesely, seems a good choice. "I'm very happy. We knew in advance about the interest, but even then there was a lot of nerves. It is a beautiful city and a young, fast team. We will put on a show, the team will be growing in the coming years. Moreover the advantage is that Washington is on the east coast of America, thus closer to Europe. "

On his NBA jersey number. In Europe he was accustomed to dunk wearing '24' on the back, a familiar number to his fans. "I don’t have a new jersey yet, but they say it's not a problem. At least that's what they said to me. So I hope the number 24 will remain mine."

On the competition. Despite a promising start, Vesely will hardly succeed just byt "showing up", the fight for spots in the rotation will be tough. However the Czech supertalent maintains the nature of phlegmatic. "I've not particularly tried to found out yet who on the Wizards team plays on my position(s). Competition is a big everywhere."

On hockey in Washington. His fellow countryman Michal Neuvirth is the Capitals‘ goalie. And Vesely certainly plans to go see him play. "I know that he‘s a goalkeeper, I like hockey. I follow more our national team than team leagues. Now I guess I'll start with NHL. When I will have time, I will gladly go watch hockey."

On shopping in USA. With his 211 centimeters, the big man enjoyed America in another aspect: in stores. "I bought some clothes. Often I can't find anything for me, but here there is an incredible supply for tall people."

On looking forward to vacation. Vesely’s career in the NBA can be an impulse for Czech basketball, Vesely himself talks that he would gladly help raising the prestige of his sport. Now he flies home – end of stress and infinite interviews? "I’m looking forward to just laying, relaxing. The question is, if I will have a tranquility in the Czech Republic. I'm sure we're going on vacation, we will see where and for how long."

NBA Teams TWITTER FOLLOWERS GROWTH Rankings (Nov '09 - Dec '10)

2010-12-16T16:40:00.004+01:00

1. lakers 454,408
2. magic 165,970
3. celtics 75,644
4. heat 60,341
5. bulls 36,685
6. knicks 32,427
7. cavs 29,243
8. suns 25,595
9. nets 21,766
10. spurs 20,802
11. mavs 19,450
12. raptors 17,749
13. nuggets 17,345
14. thunder 16,977
15. jazz 15,746
16. rockets 15,397
17. warriors 13,234
18. wizards 11,130
19. bucks 10,760
20. sixers 10,749
21. kings 10,677
22. hornets 10,514
23. hawks 10,422
24. blazers 10,332
25. pistons 10,254
26. grizzlies 10,170
27. clippers 9,734
28. bobcats 9,698
29. pacers 8,962
30. t-wolves 7,161

***

TWITTER FOLLOWERS RANKINGS - December 2010

1. lakers 1,733,164
2. magic 1,030,885
3. celtics 98,431
4. heat 72,895
5. bulls 60,718
6. cavs 58,596
7. suns 45,560
8. knicks 45,161
9. spurs 39,124
10. rockets 34,558
11. mavs 33,856
12. nuggets 30,284
13. jazz 26,373
14. nets 26,070
15. thunder 24,402
16. blazers 23,736
17. clippers 22,525
18. raptors 21,545
19. sixers 21,249
20. kings 19,803
21. pistons 19,033
22. hornets 18,201
23. hawks 17,318
24. wizards 17,071
25. bucks 16,929
26. grizzlies 16,362
27. warriors 15,666
28. pacers 15,363
29. bobcats 14,599
30. t-wolves 13,212

***

TWITTER FOLLOWERS RANKINGS - November 2009

1. lakers 1,278,765
2. magic 864,915
3. cavs 29,353
4. bulls 24,033
5. celtics 22,787
6. suns 19,965
7. rockets 19,161
8. spurs 18,322
9. mavs 14,406
10. blazers 13,404
11. nuggets 12,939
12. clippers 12,791
13. knicks 12,734
14. heat 12,554
15. jazz 10,627
16. sixers 10,500
17. kings 9,126
18. pistons 8,779
19. hornets 7,687
20. thunder 7,425
21. hawks 6,896
22. pacers 6,401
23. grizzlies 6,192
24. bucks 6,169
25. t-wolves 6,051
26. wizards 5,941
27. bobcats 4,901
28. nets 4,304
29. raptors 3,796
30. warriors 2,432 (unofficial, they didn't have twitter account)

TWITTER FOLLOWERS RANKINGS

2009-11-26T13:16:00.008+01:00

1. lakers 1,278,765
2. magic 864,915
3. cavs 29,353
4. bulls 24,033
5. celtics 22,787
6. suns 19,965
7. rockets 19,161
8. spurs 18,322
9. mavs 14,406
10. blazers 13,404
11. nuggets 12,939
12. clippers 12,791
13. knicks 12,734
14. heat 12,554
15. jazz 10,627
16. sixers 10,500
17. kings 9,126
18. pistons 8,779
19. hornets 7,687
20. thunder 7,425
21. hawks 6,896
22. pacers 6,401
23. grizzlies 6,192
24. bucks 6,169
25. timberwolves 6,051
26. wizards 5,941
27. bobcats 4,901
28. nets 4,304
29. raptors 3,796
30. warriors 2,432 (unofficial, they don't have twitter account)

--
team average: 82112 (team average w/out lakers & magic: 10656 followers)
--

Your New NBA Talk Sage: TrueHoop Network

2009-01-20T19:00:00.000+01:00

The Opening Night Roster
The TrueHoop Network will grow to cover every NBA team and then some. The charter members are:

Atlanta Hawks: Since 2007, Hoopinion has focused exclusively on providing analysis of and a place to discuss the Atlanta Hawks. Hoopinion was created and is operated by Bret LaGree who has written about professional and college basketball for several web outlets.

Charlotte Bobcats: QueenCityHoops is a source of statistical analysis and discourse on the Charlotte Bobcats. Brett Hainline started the site as the first of his internet ventures, and it remains his passion.

Chicago Bulls: By The Horns provides detailed insight into the Chicago Bulls from the perspective of an impassioned fan. It was founded by Matt McHale, who has covered the NBA for both his personal NBA-wide blog Basketbawful and Deadspin.

Dallas Mavericks: The Two Man Game, founded by Rob Mahoney, promises biased and unbalanced Mavericks information. Mahoney, a University of Texas student, has written for the blogs Upside and Motor and Hardwood Paroxysm.

Denver Nuggets: Roundball Mining Company focuses on game strategies and player strengths and weaknesses. It was created by Jeremy Wagner who has been watching the Nuggets his entire life, and previously ran the blog Pickaxe & Roll.

Detroit Pistons: Piston Powered covers the Detroit Pistons. Dan Feldman, a sportswriter for The Michigan Daily, started the blog this year.

Los Angeles Clippers: Clipperblog offers in-depth analysis and discussion of the Los Angeles Clippers. It was founded in 2006 by Kevin Arnovitz, now ESPN editor for the TrueHoop Network.

Los Angeles Lakers: Forum Blue and Gold focuses on the on-the-court issues and highlights of the Lakers. It was developed by Kurt Helin, a professional journalist from Long Beach, CA, who has written for a number of publications from NBC online to Entrepreneur.

New Orleans Hornets: Hornets247 aims to spread information, provide analysis and encourage discussion for the New Orleans Hornets. Launched in 2003, Hornets247 features the personalities of Niall Doherty and Ryan Schwan, and a knowledgeable community of Hornets fans.

New York Knicks: Since 2004, Knickerblogger has offered statistic-based analysis of the New York Knicks and the NBA. The site features an advanced stats page and a half dozen writers, including its founder Mike Kurylo, who provide comprehensive insight into the team.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Daily Thunder offers in-depth analysis and discussion of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was founded by Royce Young, who recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a journalism degree and has covered Oklahoma Sooner sports for the Oklahoma Daily.

Phoenix Suns: Valley of the Suns is the home of commentary, analysis and news updates on anything and everything Phoenix Suns basketball. It was founded by Michael Schwartz, who has covered Arizona Wildcats basketball for the Arizona Daily Wildcat and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers for MLB.com.

San Antonio Spurs: 48 Minutes of Hell offers in-depth commentary on the San Antonio Spurs and their D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. It was founded by Graydon Gordian and is coauthored by both Graydon and Timothy Varner.

Toronto Raptors: Raptors Republic is the online community for Toronto Raptors fans everywhere, providing unbiased analysis, podcasts, interviews, events and exclusive tools. RR is the collaboration of five "day one" Raptors fans and veteran bloggers AltRaps, Arsenalist, Dinosty, Raps Fan and Realizar.

NBA-Wide: The Wizznutzz are among the funniest sports satirists on the web. They have chronicled the fate of basketball in their own ludicrous and iconoclastic way since 2002.

NBA-Wide: Hardwood Paroxysm discusses the wide expanse of the NBA, providing insight, analysis, humor, and perspective on everything in the Association. It was founded by Matt Moore and Matthew Cornelius.

NBA-Wide: The Painted Area celebrates basketball in all its forms, with a focus on league-wide analysis of the NBA as well as in-depth coverage of major FIBA international competitions. It is run by the team of M. Haubs and Jay Aych.

By Henry Abbott, rewritten by Foreigner in CS - Jan 20 2008 7:00PM

December's Been Great. And Now Look At This:

2008-12-31T07:06:00.008+01:00

Yea, that's Robert Swift out there dunkin'. I gotta fix that title: December's been G-R-E-A-T! Those faces of Amare & Shaq are priceless. It's like, gee, Jesus Christ came back to play hoops?

p.s.: Keep this particular [Spurs] game in mind as the season progresses. While the too-cocky Lakers occasionally lose games they should win, the Spurs win several games that they could easily lose. However their season eventually plays out, for the tough, resourceful, courageous Spurs, no excuses will ever be necessary. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.2: Jamaal Tinsley is so toxic that he's been quarantined. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.3: There aren't many growth industries in our current economic state, but apparently "interim NBA head coach" is one of them. (-Tim Keown)
p.s.4: I once heard a story that Dwyane Wade set the unofficial U.S. record for longest time to produce a urine sample - almost four hours! - at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. (-Chris Sheridan)
p.s.5: *I did nothing to earn my money. They [the players] coached. They communicated. They changed defenses, called plays. I just substituted players,* said Gregg Popovich after his team's 101-85 win over the Kings.
p.s.6: Other than Gregg Popovich's snow-white beard, the closest thing to Santa in those parts [Arizona] will be Shaq, so chubby and plump that neither reindeer nor elf would feel comfortable around him at mealtime. (-Richard Oliver)
p.s.7: I'm guessing Scotty Brooks [OKC head coach, I know you definitely didn't know this fact] will happily endure all of these cracks about being the winningest coach in Thunder history - at 2-13 - if it means less talk about how his kiddies are still stuck on a dreaded 9-73 pace. (-Marc Stein)
p.s.8: [T-Wolves H.C.] Kevin McHale said he is especially impressed with Duncan's efficiency on the court. *He doesn't move around a lot. He's very efficient. Conversely, our young guys move around like chickens with their heads cut off and don't get much accomplished. Then, they don't understand why they're tired and Tim is not.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Dec 31 2008 7:06AM

G-Hill, You're A Blessing

2008-12-11T16:50:00.001+01:00

-On the brink of war, Hill de-scrambles-

Gregg Popovich will teach his young point guard, George Hill, many things.

Such as Black Sea geopolitics.

This week, Popovich, ever the student of Russia, guessed where Hill would be playing today if he had continued to perform as he did in the summer league.

South Ossetia. The disputed region between Russia and Georgia.

Told of that possibility, as well as the location of South Ossetia, Hill shook his head and smiled. “I don't do wars,” he said.

Everybody laughs now, but no one did last summer. Hill's showing then was so depressingly awful that no one within the franchise wanted to hear how the kid was learning a new position, or that low first-round picks often need time.

For the Spurs, Hill was a symbol of something more. Which is why Wednesday night was a symbol of how everything has changed. Then, Popovich benched Tony Parker for the final seven minutes of a tight game.

And went with Hill.

Hill didn't star. He had a few impressive sequences in the third quarter, and he finished with seven points and five assists in 22 minutes. But at the end, he was mostly playing defense and watching Manu Ginobili.

Still, finishing off Atlanta said more than any numbers could. Popovich ran a play for Hill, and he put his arm around him during a timeout and called him “Georgie.” And he trusted him.

In July, Popovich could never have seen this happening. Then, Hill was a deer caught in Vegas lights, shooting 2 of 25 over three games, and other NBA execs were telling stories.

From one Eastern Conference exec: Had the Spurs not taken Hill, he would have likely dropped to the middle of the second round.

“We wondered, geez, is this guy going to be able to do it?” Popovich said.

The Spurs reacted accordingly. They brought in another point guard, Salim Stoudamire, and they tried to sign another, Jannero Pargo. They also delayed signing Hill to a contract.

The Spurs also tried to counsel Hill. According to Popovich, they talked to him about “not being a place taker.”

A place taker?

“He was a zero. Not doing anything. We could go out there and pass the ball from A to B at the top of the court and not do anything. You have to try to make things happen. Go ahead and turn it over. Get a feel. Do something.”

The words reflect the frustration of that time. The Spurs had needed to find someone with this draft pick after coming up empty in previous years, and all they had was, well, a place taker.

Could R.C. Buford have been the one sent to South Ossetia?

“I'll take on a pass on that one,” Popovich joked Wednesday.

Again, Popovich had fun with that question because of what has followed. The Spurs began to see a few bursts from Hill in practice, and then he started to throw in some 3-pointers with the set-shot form of Magic Johnson.

“We thought,” said Popovich, “does he have a little skill here we didn't know he had?”

Then the games began, and Popovich saw something he loves. Toughness. “He wasn't intimidated by anything.”

He was coachable. He absorbed information. And when he made a mistake?

“Not a change of expression, not a change of body language, not a change of emotion or intensity,” Popovich said. “He just went on to the next play, and that's a helluva skill for an NBA player.”

Then Parker sprained an ankle, and Hill showed something else. A 23-point game against Utah, a 19-point, 11-rebound game against Chicago.

ESPN ranks rookies every week. And right now, Hill is fourth, ahead of Greg Oden, Michael Beasley and others.

So what was going on in the summer? “His brain was scrambled,” Popovich said.

Hill admits to all of this now, and he admits to something else. “I didn't want the organization to be asked, ‘Why did you pick this guy?'”

Now others are asking why they didn't. Now Hill is finishing games while an All-Star sits, and now Buford is remembered as the one who also found Parker and Ginobili.

Now it's clear Hill has come a long way.

From South Ossetia to South Texas.

p.s.: [Chris] Paul is the most talented point guard in the game, but [Tony] Parker is the best point guard. (-Jalen Rose)
p.s.2: I hope you caught the Greatest Show on TV on Tuesday night - C-Webb, GP and Ahmad on NBA-TV - when GP called out Luol Deng for robbing the Bulls with the $70 million extension, followed by C-Webb asking if Deng wore a mask during the robbery and GP answering that not only did Deng walk in there without a mask or a gun, he had his finger pushing into his coat pocket and pretended to hold a gun as he committed the robbery. Now THAT, my friends, is comedy gold. (-Bill Simmons)
p.s.3: Since he drafted Kevin Garnett with the fifth overall pick in 1995 - an outstanding choice, obviously - [Kevin McHale's] his reign [in Minny] has rivaled that of Isiah Thomas in New York for sheer idiocy. (-John Hollinger)
p.s.4: [Dan] Gadzuric jumped around, and fouled out in 9 minutes. (-Charley Rosen)

By Buck Harvey, rewritten by Foreigner in CS - Dec 11 2006 4:50PM

Enjoy The Photo-Blog & My NBA Champs Prediction: The Cavs

2008-12-04T14:13:00.003+01:00

p.s.: If you're claiming you expected Memphis to be peering down at the Mavericks and the Spurs in the Southwest standings at any point this season, you are invited to attach yourself to the nearest lie-detector. (-Marc Stein)
p.s.2: Scot Pollard [now an unemployed player] spent 11 years in the NBA without ever making a 3-point shot (career 0-for-2) and he told me when he was a rookie that he didn't want his NBA legacy to be that he painted his toenails. So if and until he returns, it appears the NBA's only toenail painter is Oklahoma City center Robert Swift. (-Chris Sheridan)
p.s.3: Knicks F Quentin Richardson on the talkative Celtics: *I'm just real curious to see what those guys will be saying if we weren't in a basketball league and didn't have referees.*
p.s.4: The Clippers are certainly not a good team. In fact, they can barely be called a team at all. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.5: It's such a bad scene [Clippers] that Jason Williams decided even before the season started that taking a million dollars to play with them wasn't worth the trouble. (-John Hollinger)
p.s.6: At their worst, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were no better than brats in a sandbox. (-Chris McKendry)
p.s.7: Even worse, the [Heat] middle was open [vs. Rockets] as a six-lane highway in rural North Dakota at 3 a.m. on a Monday morning. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.8: Stephon Marbury on his coach Mike D'Antoni: *I wouldn't trust him to walk my dog across the street.*
p.s.9: Steph on his teammates: *They left me out for dead. It's like we're in a foxhole and I'm facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death.*
p.s.10: George Hill, keep up the great work!

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Dec 4 2008 2:13PM

Something That MIGHT Happen

2008-11-13T08:51:00.011+01:00

Chapter One

Bought-out pro players Eddie and Stephe rest in one of the town’s gyms, on their way to a nearby Arena where they expect to sign new contracts. They have left the last place where they played, following an incident with the team’s brass involving both of them. Eddie pleads with Stephe to tell him over and over again about their dream new team.

Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the street and entered the God-forsaken gym. They had walked in single file down the street, and even in the gym one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in baggy shorts and in practice T-shirts with the ‘Nix’ logo. The first man was smaller and agile, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Behind him walked the opposite, a huge man, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.

The first man stopped, and the follower nearly ran over him. Using a forefinger, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. His huge companion drank from the bottle; drank with long gulps, like a horse. The smaller man stepped nervously beside him.

‘Eddie!’ he said sharply. ‘Eddie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.’ Eddie continued to drink. The smaller man shook him by the shoulder. ‘Eddie. It’s second-class water. You gonna be sick like you was last night.’

Eddie sat up on the bench. ‘Tha’s good,’ he said. ‘You drink some, Stephe. You take a good big drink.’ He smiled happily.

‘I ain’t sure it’s good water,’ Stephe said. ‘Looks kinda scummy.’

Eddie caught the bottle with his big paw and threw it to the other side of the gym. He watched it fly. ‘Look, Stephe. Look what I done.’

Stephe stared morosely at the bottle. He said angrily, ‘We could just as well of rode clear to the Arena if that bastard cab driver knew what he was talkin’ about. *Jes’ a little stretch,* he says. God damn jes’ a little stretch. Damn hot day.’

Eddie looked timidly over to him. ‘Stephe?’

‘Yeah, what ya want?’

‘Where we goin’, Stephe?’

The smaller man scowled over at Eddie. ‘So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you’re a crazy bastard.’

‘I forgot,’ Eddie said softly. ‘I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, Stephe.’

‘OK - OK. I’ll tell you again. I ain’t got nothing to do. Might jus’ as well spen’ all my time tellin’ you things and then you forget ‘em, and I tell you again.’

‘Tried and tried,’ said Eddie, ‘but it didn’t do no good. I remember about the shots, Stephe.’

‘The hell with the shots. That’s all you ever can remember is them shots. OK! Now you listen and this time you got to remember so he doesn’t think you’re a cotton picker. You remember playin’ under Coach Brownie and scorin’ buckets?’

Eddie’s face broke into a delighted smile. ‘Why sure, Stephe. I remember that ... but ... what’d we do then besides this?’

‘You remember about us winnin’?’

‘Oh, sure, Stephe, I remember that now.’ His hand went into his pocket.

Stephe looked sharply at him. ‘What’d you take outa that pocket?’

‘Ain’t a thing in my pocket,’Eddie said cleverly.

‘I know there ain’t. You got it in your hand. What you got in your hand - hidin’ it?’

‘I ain’t gt nothin’, Stephe. Honest.’

‘Come on, give it here.’

Eddie held his closed hand away from Stephe’s direction. ‘It’s on’y donut, Stephe.’

‘Donut? Fresh donut?’

‘Uh-uh. Jus’ stale donut, Stephe. I didn’t buy it. Honest! I found it. I found it stale.’

‘Give it here!’ said Stephe.

‘Aw, leave me have it, Stephe.’

‘GIVE IT HERE!’

Eddie’s closed hand slowly obeyed. Stephe took the donut and threw it across the hardwood to the other side. ‘What you want of stale donut, anyways?’

‘I’m hungry.’

‘Well, you ain’t eating no donuts while you are with me. No overeating! You remember where we’re goin’ now?’

‘Eddie looked startled and then in embarrassment hid his face against his palms. ‘I forgot again.’

‘Jesus Christ,’ Stephe said resignedly. ‘Well - look, we’re gonna ask to play under Coach Brownie.’

‘Oh, sure. I remember. ‘

‘Their Arena we’re goin’ to is about a quarter mile away. We’re gonna go in an’ see the Coach. Now, look - I’ll ask him if he wants us, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are now, you won’t get no contract, but if he sees ya play before he hears ya talk, we’re set. Ya got that?’

‘Sure, Stephe. Sure I got it.’

‘OK. Now when we go in to see the Coach, what you gonna do?’

‘I ... I,’ Eddie thought. His face grew tight with thought. ‘I ... ain’t gonna say nothin’. Jus’ gonna stan’ there.’

‘Good boy. That’s swell. You say that over two, three times so you sure won’t forget it.’

Eddie droned to himself softly, ‘I ain’t gonna say nothin’ ... I ain’t gonna say nothin’ ... I ain’t gonna say nothin’.’

‘OK,’ said Stephe. ‘An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in the City, neither.’

Eddie looked puzzled. ‘Like I done in the City?’

‘Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain’t gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again.

A light of understanding broke on Eddie’s face. ‘They run us outta the City,’ he exploded triumphantly.

‘Kicked us out, hell,’ said Stephe disgustedly. ‘They didn’t want us there.’

Eddie giggled happily. ‘I didn’t forget that, you bet.’

‘God, you’re a lot of trouble,’ said Stephe. ‘Try to be like me. I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. But they need a big man more than a guard. And together, we’re a lethal one-two punch.’

For a moment Eddie stood quiet, and then he siad hopefully, ‘We gonna play for a new team, Stephe.’

‘Awright. You got that. But we’re gonna sleep here because I’m superstitious. If we sleep in this hole, we get contracts tomorrow.’

The day was going fast now.

‘Stephe - why ain’t we goin’ to the Arena and get some supper? They got supper there.’

‘I told you why. Tomorra we’re gonna go there. Tonight I’m gonna lay right here on these mats. I like it.’

Eddie looked at Stephe. ‘Ain’t we gonna have no supper?’

‘Sure we are. I got two cans of beans.’

Eddie said, ‘I like beans with ketchup.’

‘Well, we ain’t got no ketchup.’

Eddie ate and strolled along the opposite baseline. Stephe ate and whistled softly to himself.

In a moment Eddie came crashing back to Stephe. ‘Awright,’ Stephe said brusquely. ‘Gi’me that donut!’

But Eddie made an elaborate pantomime of innocence. ‘What donut, Stephe? I ain’t got no donut.’

Stephe held out his hand. ‘Come on. Give it to me. You ain’t puttin’ nothing over.’

Eddie hesitated, backed away. Stephe said coldly, ‘You gonna give me that donut or do I have to sock you?’

‘Give you what, Stephe?’

‘You know God damn well what. I want that donut.’

Eddie reluctantly reached into his pocket. His voice broke a little. ‘I don’t know why I can’t keep it. It ain’t nobody’s donut. I didn’t steal it. I found it lyin’ right on the street.’

Stephe’s hand remained outstretched imperiously. Slowly, like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball to its master, Eddie approached, drew back, approached again. Stephe snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Eddie laid the donut in his hand.

‘I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, Stephe. Jus’ smelling it.’

Stephe threw the donut through the open window as far as he could. He heard Eddie’s whimpering cry and wheeled about. ‘Blubberin’ like a baby? Jesus Christ! A big guy like you.’ Eddie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes. ‘Aw, Eddie!’ Stephe put his hand on Eddie’s shoulder. ‘I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness. That donut ain’t fresh, Eddie. You get another donut that’s fresh and I’ll let you eat it.’

Eddie sat down on the court and hung his head dejectedly. ‘I don’t know where to find one, there is no other donut. I remember my chick used to give ‘em to me in the City. But that chick ain’t here.’

Stephe scoffed. ‘Chick, huh? Don’t even remember that chick lived. She made you overweight!’

Eddie looked sadly up at him. ‘I wish’t we’d get the balls pretty soon, Stephe. I wanna shoot some.’

‘The hell with the balls. We gotta sleep here and be fresh tomorra. No ball.’

It was almost night now. Stephe brought out two cans of beans.

‘There’s enough beans for three men,’ Stephe said.

Eddie said patiently, ‘I like ‘em witch ketchup.’

‘Well, we ain’t got any,’ Steph exploded. ‘Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want, except for a new contract. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job, an’ no trouble.’ Eddie’s face was drawn with terror. ‘And whatta I got,’ Stephe went on furiously. ‘I got to be with you! You can’t keep a job and you get in trouble. It’s not like I don’t get in trouble, but you know what I mean... I’m good even with troubles, you’re not.’ Stephe’s voice rose nearly to a shout. ‘You crazy son-of-a-bitch.’ He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when they are mimicking one another. ‘I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million donuts an’ let you have fun.’ Fortunately, his anger left him suddenly.

Eddie crawled slowly until he was close to Stephe. ‘Stephe,’ very softly. No answer. ‘Stephe!’

‘Whatta you want?’

‘I was only foolin’ Stephe. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.’

‘If it was here, you could have some.’

‘But I wouldn’t eat none, Stephe. I’d leave it all for you. You could cove your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it.’

‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.’

‘Stephe, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’

‘Where the hell could you go? Who besides them wants a lumbering big man?’

‘Well I could go somewhere. Some place I’d find a team.’

‘Yeah? In the Association? You gotta be kiddin’ me, dude.’

‘I’d find some team, Stephe.’

Stephe looked searchingly at him. ‘I been mean, ain’t I?’

‘If you don’t want me I can go off an’ find a team just for me. I can go away any time.’

‘No - look! I was just foolin’, Eddie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me. We got better chance as a duo.’

Eddie had sensed his advantage.

‘If you don’t want me, you only jus’ got to say no, and I’ll go off and play without you. An’ I won’t get no donut stole from me.’

Stephe said, ‘I want you to stay with me, Eddie. Your chick wouldn’t like you being without me.’

Eddie said craftily, ‘Tell me - like you done before.’

‘Tell you what?’

‘About the playin’ and winnin’.’

Stephe snapped. ‘That’s the same ol’, same ol’ stuff.’

Eddie pleaded, ‘Come on, Stephe, Tell me. Please, Stephe. Like you done before.’

‘You get a kick outta that, don’t you. Awright, I’ll tell you, and then we’ll eat our supper ...’

Stephe’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhytmically as though he had said them many times before. ‘Guys like us, that play like All-Stars, are the loneliest guys in the world. Everyone envies us our success, that’s it. But the dream team for us plays in this town. We’ll be good.’

Eddie was delighted. ‘That’s it - that’s it.’

Stephe went on. ‘We got a future. We got somebody in the Arena to talk to that gives a damn about us.’

Eddie laughed delightedly. ‘Go on now, Stephe!’

‘You can say it yourself.’

‘No, you. I forget some a’ the things. Tell about how it’s gonna be.’

‘OK. Some day - we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna be All-Stars and our team’s gonna be a title contender and ...’

‘AND SHOOT WHENEVER WE WANT TO,’ Eddie shouted. ‘And win GAMES. Go on, Stephe! Tell us about what we’re gonna have in the trophy case. Tell about that, Stephe.’

‘Why’n’t you do it yourself? You know all of it.’

‘No ... you tell it. It ain’t the same if I tell it. Go on ... Stephe. How I get to score in the low post.’

‘Well,’ said Stephe, ‘you’ll be the best scorer in the Association and I’ll be the MVP. You’ll be a beast down low... I ain’t got time for no more.’

They filled their mouths with beans and chewed mightily. A few beans slipped out of the side of Eddie’s mouth. Stephe gestured with his hand. ‘What you gonna say tomorrow when the Coach asks you questions?’

Eddie stopped chewing and swallowed. His face was concentrated. ‘I ... I ain’t gonna ... say a word.’

‘Good boy! That’s fine, Eddie! Maybe you’re gettin’ better.’

Eddie choked with pride. ‘I can remember,’ he said.

Stephe motioned with his hand again. ‘Look, Eddie, no words, okay?’

‘I won’t get in no trouble, Stephe. I ain’t gonna say a word.’

‘OK. It’s gonna be nice sleepin’ here, I know it.’

They made their beds on the mats. Several minutes later, Eddie called from the darkness, ‘Stephe - you asleep?’

‘No. Whatta you want?’

‘Will you pass me the ball to the low post?’

‘Sure I will,’ Stephe said sleepily. ‘Each and every trip down the floor.’

‘’Cause I can jus’ as well go away, Stephe, an’ play elsewhere.’

‘You can jus’ as well go to hell,’ said Stephe. ‘Shut up now.’

P.S.: Chapter Two coming up someday.
P.S.2: Stephon Marbury says he'd like to play for the Spurs. Well, we'd like to be a cabana boy at the Playboy Mansion. One is about as likely to happen as the other. (-Jeff McDonald)

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Nov 13 2008 8:51AM

The Kiss Of Death: Parker’s 55-10-7

2008-11-10T09:29:00.000+01:00

THE GOOD DAY

It was your typical autumnal evening. The wind sweeping through the streets. People wearing parkas walking the street in front of our house. The sitation in my mind was like this: *I’ve got a nice hunch feeling: tonight, the Spurs play the T-Wolves in Minneapolis and something good is about to happen... I just know it. No, we can’t go 0-4. Yes, we can’t.*

The horn sounded. The end of the ballgame. After two overtimes, no less.

Tony Parker
Points: 55
Rebounds: 7
Assists: 10

Seems that being 0-3 really bothered him. What a show. Layups, feathery jumpers, even those French teardrops falling into the net. A career-high 55 points - including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime. San Antonio 129, Minnesota 125.

*I just wanted to win so bad. I was going to try to do everything I can,* said TP9. *It's just one of those games. Everything you do, it works. Obviously, everybody knows if I make my jump shots, I can do whatever I want. Tonight was just one of those games that everything was working. I couldn't believe we were 0-3. Dallas came in Tuesday and just kicked our butts. They were hitting every shot, and they had played so bad against Cleveland. But they came to San Antonio and shot the ball very well, so I said we have to do the same thing and come into Minnesota and play well and be aggressive. I don't know why, but Minnesota does a great job on Timmy, so every time we've won against Minnesota, it was either me or Manu who had a good game. Last year, it was Manu who twice had big games to beat them. So I knew I was going to have to be aggressive.”

Play of the Game: after Al Jefferson backed down Tim Duncan (30 pts, 16 rebs) and sank a turnaround hook to put Minnesota up 116-114 with 2 1/2 seconds left in the first overtime, Parker took the inbounds pass, dribbled right, pump-faked once and let the ball fly. Count it. Jefferson, who had 30 points and 14 rebounds, just shook his head as if to say, *What more can we do?*

Mike Miller had 12 of his 25 points in the first quarter for Minnesota, which held a nine-point lead twice but lost its edge late in the third while the Spurs closed with a 26-14 run. The Wolves, threw everything they had against Parker, Duncan and the rest of the bunch.

Parker scored six of his team's first eight points in the second overtime to stretch the lead to four, though Randy Foye made a 3-pointer from the corner to cut the lead to one. The Spurs were in perfect position to rebound a pair of missed jumpers, before Parker finally went to the line with 19 seconds left and made it 128-125.

*I saw it in his eyes, man. I could tell,* said Roger Mason, who had 26 points. *He was in that zone, like they say. He kept his foot on the pedal and just kept going and going and going. When a guy's like that, who knows?*

Parker was 22-of-36 from the field and added 10 assists and seven rebounds. Tthe last NBA player to have at least 55 points and 10 assists in a game was... Michael Jordan. He had 57 points and 10 assists for Chicago against Washington on Dec. 23, 1992.

*Just an unbelievable effort, especially with the minutes he's played to continue to push like that,* Duncan said.

Later, Tony Parker's knees were wrapped in ice bags, both feet stuck, ankle deep, in a tub of ice water. The Spurs guard looked in amazement as a statistics sheet floated in the icy water between his legs in the visitors locker room at the Target Center. George Hill approached and tapped Parker on the shoulder. *I've seen you score 70 points before, but that was in a video game. I've never seen anybody do what you did tonight with my own eyes.*

Parker’s 55 matches Hall of Famer George Gervin for third place on the Spurs' all-time scoring list. Only David Robinson's 71-point game, on April 24, 1994, and Gervin's 63-point output on the final day of the 1977-78 season, exceed Parker's Wednesday night total. He joined some select company. Only LeBron, Oscar and Be Like Mike have had games with at least 50 points and at least 10 assists.

What about TP’s 50 minutes and 32 seconds of court time?

*Whew, I am tired.*

Parker was so aggressive that the other four Spurs starters - Duncan, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and Matt Bonner - were scoreless in the first 12 minutes. *I would say that he was aggressive. He was magnificent. He pulled us through, that's for sure,* said coach Popovich.

What a night. Even ice hockey star Marian Gaborik, who’s big here in Slovakia, was in attendance.

THE BAD DAY

I couldn’t watch the Friday night game versus the Heat. And I had a hunch that it would backfire. That something bad is about to happen. Like a loss to Miami, at home... And we got much worse thing than that. Anxiously, I turned on my PC the following morning, fast-forward to www.mysa.com/spurs. And what I saw there? This subject heading of the article by Jeff McDonald of The Express-News:

***
Parker hurt: Spurs down to Big One
***

The Spurs lost 99-83 on Friday to a Miami Heat team that won 15 games last season. On any other night, the AT&T Center scoreboard would have been the most of the Spurs' worries. On this night, however, everything for the Spurs was worse than the final score indicated.

Tony Parker - two nights removed from a historic 55-point game in a double overtime victory at Minnesota - limped off the court in the first quarter and out of the building on crutches, a victim of a sprained left ankle that could keep him out for as many as four weeks.

Already down an All-Star guard with Manu Ginobili recovering from offseason surgery on his own bad ankle, and already off to a 1-4 start that matches the worst after five games in franchise history, the Spurs are left to face a hazardous few weeks ahead. *t's tough,* guard Roger Mason said. *At this point, we can't feel sorry for ourselves, because nobody in the league is going to. We've got to find a way to pick ourselves up and keep going.*

Dwyane Wade scored 33 points and multitalented rookie Michael Beasley had 20, as the Heat won a game in San Antonio for only the second time in the club's 21-year history. It was Miami's first victory in San Antonio since Dec. 23, 1996, and its first at the AT&T Center. The Heat were 1-20 in the Alamo City before Friday night's game. The only other time Miami left San Antonio International Airport victorious, its sixth man was a 24-year-old power forward named Kurt Thomas. Thomas, now the Spurs' 36-year-old center, remembers little from that game. *There have been a lot of games between that one and tonight,* Thomas said.

The Spurs would just as soon erase the Heat's latest San Antonio triumph from their memory banks. With two-thirds of their ‘Big Three’ incapacitated, the Spurs turned to Tim Duncan, the ‘Lone One’, to carry them. Duncan was game, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Miami was in the middle of an 18-0 run, and already ahead by 13 points, when Parker began his ill-fated drive to the basket late in the first quarter. There was no contact on the play; Parker's ankle just buckled beneath him. He eventually hobbled to the locker room, where X-rays of his swollen ankle were negative. Parker, the NBA's leading scorer before Friday, is scheduled for an MRI exam today [Saturday].

Doubling the disaster for the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich had chosen to designate backup point Jacque Vaughn inactive for the game. That left rookie George Hill as the team's lone true point guard for the final three quarters. Parker's injury certainly wasn't helpful to the Spurs' bid to claim their first home victory of the season. But it was hardly the only reason for their demise. Popovich fumed about his team's lack of hustle, particularly by the starting unit. *I didn't see the energy, the competitiveness, the physicality,* he said. *I was very disappointed in our starting group.*

The Spurs were behind by 18 points at the half, a deficit that ballooned to as many as 24 in the third quarter. To send a message to his veterans, Popovich used a youth-heavy lineup of Mason, Hill, Desmon Farmer, Anthony Tolliver and Thomas for much of the fourth.

That group cut the Miami's lead to nine points, 89-80, with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter before the Heat pulled away. *From the jump ball, our intensity wasn't where it needed to be,* Mason said. *That's unacceptable.*

Less than 48 hours earlier, Parker bailed out the Spurs time and time again in Minnesota. Without him, there was nobody to save them against Miami. For the Spurs, the going is only going to get more difficult from here.

THE ORDINARY DAY - TODAY

Just learned that TP, after taking MRI on his ankle, is expected to miss as many as four weeks. And the Spurs are officially in trouble. Can Tim Duncan save us, baby?

I’m gonna do a marathon-like NBA watching tonight, I’m eager to find out if it’s humanly possible to watch 5 games a day. The action begins with Pacers at Thunder. I didn’t see live any of OKC’s home games this season, so this will be a first-timer for me. Those loud crowds there... man I wanna hear it. And Indiana is in the flow - I’ve got no clue who loses. Then I wanna watch Grizzlies at Suns. OJ Mayo scored 31 points yesterday, go Griz go! And here comes the tape-delaying part: 1) NBATV’s Blazers at Magic (Howard-Aldridge battle), 2) Raptors at Celtics (Boston is like a smack-dab punch, but Chris Bosh can do some noise), 3) Nets at Heat (zzzzz...). Pray for me tonight. And pray for the Spurs the next four weeks. (Huh, just noticed that the first game is at Conseco Fieldhouse... Danny Granger over Kevin Durant. IND over OKC. This game/season, I’m sayin’.)

p.s.: *We were dead in the water. Our guys didn't even jump for the ball a couple of times,* said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan on his team’s dismal performance in NYC.
p.s.2: The way the champs have been playing this season, the only place Detroit's going next summer is Heartbreak Hotel. (-LZ Granderson)
p.s.3: *He's like a ghost out there. Like a shadow. Just all of a sudden he shows on a screen, he's gone. He's a blip and he's away,* said Phil Jackson about the valuable ‘stealth player’ play of Trevor Ariza.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Nov 10 2008 9:29AM

Week-Long Memory - 5 Studs That Busted A Move

2008-11-04T21:53:00.001+01:00

What's up everybody? FiCS here. And NBA, where The Thunder happens...

SEASON OPENER

Well remember that night as the Boston Celtics 17th championship banner ceremony, a night, highligted by those superb-glossy champs rings and that emotional speech by Paul Pierce, who looks like a guy women love to be with. Because ladies love emotions. I love em, too, and watching PPs face with tears in the eyes made the evening even more enjoyable. The game itself had its own gloss, ending with the C's on the winning side of the final score, this one a 90-85 victory. At least for one game, we got the memo: no lack of hunger or poise. PP led all scorers with 27 points after that teary-eyed speech to the crowd. As something weve come to accept like a traffic jam, somebody outside of the best three players (I hate that nick Big Three, thats why I dont use at all. I just say every team has three best players, like it has two best players or four best players. Honestly, the term Big Three annoys me.) stepped up. In a final 12 mins in which Ray Allen, Pierce and KG combined for only eight pts, the champs let Tony I-aint-Rays-brother Allen (seven points) and second-year pro Leon Powe (four points) handle most of the load. In a similar note, LBJ wasnt a biggest boost for the Cavs in the fourth, because the scrappy Andy Varejao, who got the boards (7) and let KG shoot as many as one shot in the final 7:30. Predictably due to the ceremony before the game, the Celtics were sloppy over the first 24 minutes, but they seized control of the fight in the second half. James (who now looks like a guy destined for his own piece of jewelry, whatever that means baby) had two chances to keep Cleveland within striking distance late in the fourth, but he missed the first of two FTs with 10.6 seconds left, blowing a chance to pull the Cavs within one, then missed the first of two with 4.8 seconds left when a pair of makes would have gotten the deficit down to two. (By the way, I love calling LeBron James. What, that sentence doesnt make a sense? I just call him James. No LeBron. For me, hes James. Thats kinda cool to me.) Very nice and unforgettable evening, overall. Ive got a hunch that Tuesday night was a preview of the East Finals.

ODENAUSEA

As the NBA season opened up Tuesday, we got the rare chance to see the last two No. 1 overall draft picks play on the first night. Derrick Rose survived and has a very bright future ahead of him. Like MVP-bright. However, as everybody confessed, we came to watch Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden. Wow, it couldnt have been a shorter performance. Wrist. Knee. Ankle. Who knows whats in store for him next? Being a Blazers fan now gotta be like losing the drivers license - youre not allowed to have one because you just caused a road accident. Youre going to get it back at some point, but this whole situation sucks and you wonder if this is your fate, filled with bad luck. If anybody saw a Blazers fan smiling the following morning, send me his e-mail. Oden played 13 scoreLESS mins and pulled in five rebs before leaving with a foot (2-4 weeks of grueling inactivity, gents) injury in a 96-76 loss to the Lakers (after the opening week of play, they look like a juggernaut of juggernauts). He showed flashes why hell be a superb defender, though. But Oden got destroyed by Pau Gasol in transition. His reaction to missed shots was: its time to catch my breath. Wasnt: Its time to race back! I wonder when/if hell have that 100 per cent agility. Another big concern, as experts say, is that G.O.s upper body is so much bigger/stronger/heavier than his lower body. That may cause even more injuries to his legs. However, one game doesnt make a career. Though with Oden, you just root for him to heal and be able to play several of those games. Greg, get well soon dude!

KNICKS & THEIR SACRED DUO/TRIO

If being a GM or team executive was easy then... having the mess the Knicks have in their house, you would... send Steph Next question Marbury ASAP as far as it gets. Just say Italy. Or Saudi Arabia. But youre helpless. You see him in street clothes on the bench, you see him everywhere you look. The only thing you can do is make sure your coaches dont have weapons in their pockets. Having the mess the Knicks have in their house, you would... trade Eddy Curry for two balls, a shooting coach and, perhaps, someone like Desmon Farmer. We all know that those two arent in Mike Antonis (no D, baby!) strategies/plans. Marbury was inactive again Sunday when the Knicks lost badly to the Bucks. The mess is heating up. Knicks president Donnie Walsh plans to speak with 'Antoni and his mannequin point guard this week in hopes of clearing up an uncomfortable roster situation. (Best of luck, Donnie.) The Marbury situation is so unpleasant that we got to see 48 game-mins of bench-time for Jerome James, who is a disgrace in his own magnificent way. I bet my hands hes not in coachs plans, either, but at least has his mouth shut so Im not going to criticize him too much... Antoni could have got himself in the comedy HoF if he had let Jerome play just one second. Because for his new-brand up-tempo Knicks having a 7-foot-1, 290 pound stiff on the floor, that basically means big-time-craziness, for a lack of better word. But so far, Starbury is a model citizen, saying all the right words. (If political correctness didnt exist, these two sides would have been in a (word) fight from Day 1.) Its gotta be nice to have a contract that will pay you more than $21 million this season and watch NBA games from the first row and be with the team wherever the team may be. Thats a fans ultimate dream. But hes named Marbury... Hes impossible to trade. He won't take a buyout for less than his full salary. The ultimate moment of this saga (at least for me) came in the Knicks opener - Marbury in his jersey prepared to play only finishing with DNP-CD - when some fans started chanting *We want Steph!* and Antonis head almost blasted into three pieces. This recent Antonis quote clearly solved something: *He does make a lot of money and you never know what happens. Obviously we went into a different direction but at the same time we owe him money and if an injury happens I wouldn't hesitate [great word, Coach!] putting him back in. I wouldn't even hesitate putting him back in as a starter [!], but if an injury happened at a certain spot. But until that happens, then I think common sense is just that he's inactive right now.* In the top of my e-mail box, I have a line from Marbury that makes my each morning a funnier one: *Im every disease you could possibly think of.* Good luck with him, Knickerbockers.

ASG 2010, CROWD OF 100,000?

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Theyre right. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (great job, Mark!) joined forces with Dallas Cowboys to stage what will be an unforgettable and historic weekend in the February of 2010. The 59th NBA All-Star Game is coming to the Cowboys' new $1 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas. *The NBA All-Star Weekend has become the biggest party weekend in the country,* said Cuban. This time, hes right.
Cuban happily envisions an amazing scene of 100,000 fans (I guess that number is too high, but if an over/under would be 80,000, Id take over.) packing the stadium for Sunday's West-East showdown. That Sunday will romanticaly fall on Feb. 14, so if you wanna marry somebody, what would be better than asking her during half-time? The 2010 ASG will shatter the All-Star attendance record of 44,735 set at the Houston Astrodome in 1989. (For David Stern, a crowd of 80,000 would be a success.) The NBA traditionally controls 16,000-18,000 tickets for the midseason exhibition, which are distributed to league partners, thus ASGs are impossible to attend because the actual, ordinary fan is left with no tickets to buy. So here comes Cuban, the savior! Now, probably over 50,000 tickets will be available worldwide. Its your chance to be at the ASG. In 2010 or never. One of the highlights of the stadium is the massive 60-yard video board stretching from one 20-yard line to the other. Wow, this game will be a classic of classics!

PISTONS ANSWER

Just two games into the season and we have such a trade? With A.I. involved? Gee! Thats your annual trade deadline megadeal... in November. Thats just the risk-taking genius of Joe Dumars. Its basically a Billups-Iverson swap, considering Denver is expected to waive McDyess, who has no interest in playing for any team other than Detroit. Perhaps hell change his ways when Gregg Popovich comes knocking on the door of his house. Hed be an ideal frontcourt mate for TD. The Spurs should lure McDyess. Somehow. Please. Back to the backbone of the trade: Chauncey Billups is a perfect player for the Nuggets - suddenly, theyre another playoff contender out there in the West. A Denver native, who starred collegiately at the University of Colorado and is a former Nugget as well, Billups adds defense, playmaking and leadership to the team. And hes capable of hitting some big shots. I think Carmelo is very excited, because at the end of the day, hes better off with dude such as Chauncey as his teammate and point guard. The Pistons got star material. Billups became expendable thanks to the development and rise of R-Stuckey. Although Iverson is past his prime (anybody to argue about that?), hes still an elite player/scorer. The most important question is this: Can Detroit break the conference finals ice and be a basketball champs city again? Remains to be seen. Were gonna see whether A.I. makes the Pistons a better t-e-a-m. He has 80 games to gel with his new teammates. Should this fail, hes in the final year of his contract and becomes a free agent in the summer 2009. So his salary is off the books by then and Dumars can continue his reboulding efforts. Like another makover highlighted by acquring some summer 09 FA star. One way or another, the season just got even more intriguing. I cant wait for a DEN-DET game. I have to look up when theyre scheduled to meet. Allen highfiving Rasheed Wallace after a successful play in the postseason? I love this game!

*****
My predictions for 2008-09 NBA awards and the like:
MVP: LeBron James
ROY: Derrick Rose
Most Improved: Al Jefferson
Comeback Player: Gerald Green
Defensive Player: Ron Artest
Sixth Man: Andrei Kirilenko
Coach: Jerry Sloan
1st Team All-NBA: Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tim Duncan
*****

p.s.: *It wasnt my idea. It was fine with me to weigh it year to year. But they came to me and wanted me to commit to three years and, uh, Im pretty excited about it. Its quite an honor really to be wanted. At my age, youre lucky if anybody wants you. Hopefully your wife,* said Warriors head coach Don Nelson on his contract extension.
p.s.2: November 4, McCain or Obama! My pick? Barack!

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Nov 4 2008 9:53PM

Outdoor Games, Brutal Versions

2008-10-26T12:13:00.002+01:00

Okay, few weekends back we had the no-show dubbed the Autotrader.com. Lets shoot stright and say the game could have been better. And should have been. Before the game, Shaq said that the only challenge of playing outside could be the weather: *Its not like playing in a vented air conditioned building.* Right after the game, we were excited... just about the weather. The shivering Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets couldn't have been more aware that fateful Saturday night that the best basketball league in the world, for the first time in nearly 40 years, had taken the game outside. Stevie Nash: *I don't think anyone expected it to be this cold here. It felt like Edmonton, Alberta... not Palm Springs.* Added Shaq: *It was colder than a motherfucker out there. And you can quote me on that.* Mere days after temperatures in the 100s (F), that Saturday's continuously crisp breeze dropped the temp at tipoff to about 70 degrees, with a further dip all the way down to 64 degrees (successfuly accompanied by gusts of 15 mph) in the fourth quarter. Finding ways to stay warm on the bench became the evening's prime mission. Thank God for warm towels. Of course, by the chilly fourth quarter, Chuckster Barkley was calling the game with a scarf wrapped around his neck. But what if the NBA teams dont have those cozy indoor arenas/centers? What if the games have to be played outdoors? Just imagine... every home team would wanna use the playing conditions to its best advantage, trying to create the best insurmountable edges. Like some brutal edges. And thanks to the respective teams nicknames, I set the home table for each NBA franchise. Just pondering about these silly drafts makes me giddy. Itll never happen... but you can imagine it for yourself and for your funny part of the soul. Just dont send this ideas to Mr. Sterns NBA Office, Im warning you.

[NBA Franchises Nickname --- The New Site Of Home Games]

The Bobcats, indigenous to the Carolinas but infrequently seen because of their stealth and nocturnal habits, are fierce and swift. They attack with the aid of an expansive 10-foot leap. --- Somewhere in the woods.

When you say the Bucks, the name reflects the area and the predominance of bucks. The bucks are indigenous to Wisconsin. --- Cottage filled with antlers.

The fighting Bull has a persistent fighting attitude along with the instinct to never say quit. --- Toreadors arena in Spain.

The Cavaliers represent a group of daring, fearless men, whose lifes pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds. --- Saloon bar.

The Celtics? The name has a great basketball tradition from the old Original Celtics in New York (1914-1939). And Boston is full of Irishmen. --- Somewhere in Ireland.

The Clippers are the Clippers because the original teams city was known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay. --- Any kind of USS.

The Grizzlies came into existence in Vancouver, British Columbia. Grizzly bears are indigenous to BC. --- Somewhere in the woods.

Because Sauk Indian Chief Black Hawks tribe was located in Rock Island and a major part of the 1831 Black Hawk War was fought in the surrounding areas, the team was named the (Black)Hawks. --- Indian reservation.

The Heat. When you think of Miami, thats what you think of. --- South Beach.

The Hornets names genesis goes back to the Revolutionary War, when British General Charles Cornwallis wrote to the King of England in his battle report from the Carolinas that *This place is like fighting in a hornets nest.* --- Military base.

Despite no history of Jazz music in Utah... --- Jazz club.

The Kings... --- Royal palace.

The term Knickerbockers traces its origin back to the Dutch settlers who came to the New World - and especially to what is now New York - in the 1600s. Specifically, it refers to the style of pants the settlers wore... pants that rolled up just below the knee, which became known as knickerbockers or knickers. --- Somewhere in the Netherlands.

The Lakers nickname chosen for the team was based on the Minnesotas motto, The Land of 10,000 Lakes. --- At the lake.

This place is like Magic. The name referred to the magic of Orlando - a tourist hotspot with lots to offer visitors and those who called the area home. --- Disneyland.

The Mavericks. --- Some unusual place.

The Nets, after one of the most important parts of the basketball game - the net. --- Place filled with nets.

The Nuggets refers to the 19th century mining boom in Colorado, when people rushed to the area, hoping to make their fortunes by panning for gold and silver nuggets. --- Somewhere in the mountains.

The nickname Pacers was chosen because it was reflective both of the Indianas rich history with harness racing pacers and the pace car used for the running of the Indianapolis 500. --- Some circuit.

A foundry that manufactured Pistons primarily for car, truck and locomotive engines. Detroit - the nations automobile capital. --- Some metal factory.

An aggressive, sharp-toothed dinosaur dribbling a basketball. Raptors... --- Museum.

The Rockets was picked because it reflected the outstanding growth of space-age industries in San Diego. Houston - the nickname still fits because of the NASA space programs operation center there. --- Outer space.

76ers... --- Some 76th avenue.

Spurs... --- Somewhere in the cowboys land.

Suns... --- On the Sun.

A most appropriate nickname (Timberwolves) was chosen for the state's NBA team, as Minnesota is home to the largest population of timberwolves in the lower 48 states. Wolf range covers the northern third of Minnesota, with most wolves found in the least accessible forested areas. --- Wolfs den.

The Trail Blazers name reflects both the ruggedness of the Pacific Northwest and the start of a major league era in Oregon. A trail to guide others. A pathfinder. A pioneer. The actual name came from a practice by explorers making paths through forests and marking the paths by chopping a white blaze in trees bark so others could follow. --- Somewhere in the forest.

The Golden State Warriors - symbolizing a team belonging to all of California, the Golden State. --- There, where you can find any warriors.

The nickname Wizards depicts energy and an omnipresent power and brings to light what is hoped to be the wise and magical nature of the team. --- The circus.

Oklahoma City Thunder... --- Place, where it thunders.

p.s.: Eddy Curry sat on an exercise ball and it exploded. No one saw it coming, and yet, when you think about it, that should've been expected. (-Ric Bucher)
p.s.2: Larry Brown is most dangerous when he has a roster that doesn't make sense. (-Jemele Hill)
p.s.3: The Wiz can't catch a break. No pun intended. Abe Pollin's roster couldn't walk through the airport without getting hurt. (-Chris Broussard)

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Oct 26 2008 12:13PM

Roster Cuts Arent Exactly A Depredation, But Bear Depression

2008-10-20T13:25:00.002+02:00

Good times. I kissed a girl. And it felt good. We have good times, really - I mean those who arent competing for roster spots. Of course, the economy crisis is spreading like a tuberculosis in the yesteryer... more expensive tickets and the like, but well survive. A little bit busy times, but I should be okay and finish the month of October with my obligatory at-least-four-blogs-a-month approach. You tought Im passing away? No way! Im here with my insight, as worthless as it may seem. Hey Shaq, shut up! Make free throws instead! Amare, you look fly with those goggles! OK, lets start the real hoops blogging... The Spurs preseason? So far, so good. Looks like the spotlight is on the other contenders. Except for that Pops prehistoric beard, for sure. The Spurs will begin the season in relative anonymity and without that well-known pressure of repeating, which can suit the Celtics, however, in my humble opinion, it certainly does no good for the silver and black. After some everything but fertile years (I mean, is there a worse official team site than the Spurs one? I dont follow other teams nba.com/---/ sites, but I gotta say, our spurs.com house stinks. Like the whole Spurs team has a ban speaking with spurs.com staff (is there any?)... if you wanna find some in-depth info about the Spurs players, just dont click on nba.com/spurs/. Search elsewhere. Since I dont wanna be so pessimistic, they started posting some yummy videos last season, much to my delight. But the writing/blogging stuff? Non-existent. Just give me a job there as a blogger and the site would crash the party... even possibly beatin the Lakers legendary, all-user-friendly site.) nba.com/spurs/ launched Roger Masons Videoblog Training Camp, where he accompanies you through the Spurs practices/scrimmages/yogas and all. Really good stuff. When they posted Episode Four the other day, I even kept looking for Big Shot Robby, and after 7 seconds I realized that hes not on the Spurs roster anymore. Crazy. I knew that Horry isnt with the team, but something in my brain kept popping up, like Heck, wheres Roberts smiley face?. The results of the Spurs preseason games dont even merit any mention here, they are totally irrelevant. But since the official NBA roster, that has to be submitted on Monday, Oct. 27, bears 15 names, lets investigate with the best guess who might find yourself on/off when the actual season begins. Of course, the most interesting part is created by bubble players, guys with non-guaranteed contracts who wanna make the last cut. As of now, the spurs have 13 deals set in stone for 2008-09. The last two spots remain free. Guards-Parker, Vaughn, Mason, Geroge Hill (the rook looks very promising on the court, hes a flat-out good guy, talented and commited two-wayer) Ginobili (started running last week, but Coach Popster is very cautious with Manus injury, I mean he lets him shed the suit just before the X-mas if everything goes well and is healed), The Leaner Version of Finley; Forwards-Bowen (actually, can you call Bruce a forward?!?), Udoka, Duncan, Bonner, Ian Mahinmi (battling with sprained ankle, unable to play in the preseason); Centers-Thomas, Oberto (my mother thinks hes her third cousin from Argentina). Anthony Tolliver, the rookie free agent, hopes to prove he merits a spot on the Spurs' roster. He already has shown coach Popovich he understands the most important truth of pro basketball: Shooters, and hes a shooter, must shoot, no matter what. He can be a revealting during the season, because the 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward not only sweet-shoots, but is eager to learn the defense and rebound. Timmy D said sometin like that an over-abundance of adrenalin likely resulted in long-range inaccuracy in his first preseason games, but thats fine with younger bucks who can get too excited in their first stints. I agree. Its pretty obvious. And his stroke will get even better in time. *I think there's something going on with his shot,* assistant coach Mike Budenholzer said. *Whether it's pressing, or he's just too excited. We've noticed that most of his shots are on the back of the rim. He's geeked up. We've got to get him to cut back on the Cheerios in the morning.* Cut it back, thony. *I think the fact he keeps shooting and stays aggressive is a great sign,* said Bud. *He's a great shooter, and when you're a great shooter you've got to keep shooting.* Then theres a group of perimeter guys trying to impress the coaches and to make the cut. It consists of Malik Hairston (2008 2nd-round pick), Desmon Farmer and Devin Green. Each has good moments intertwined with bad ones. Like last week in the game against the Pistons (in that game, Hill did a very solid job defending Stuckey). Dont forget center Darryl Watkins, who possesses some defensive skills (blocks and boards). The coaches keep sayin that this years bunch of bubble players on the roster is the best in years and they have a tough task ahead of them to pick two winners who get deal and roster spot. What makes things even more perplexing and hard to evaluate is the Salim Stoudemire Situation. This vet FA, 2008 Hawk, was a victim of a nagging right groin strain (suffered in the first day of training camp) until the last game vs. Pacers on Saturday. I had one of my online-buddies at AT&T Center at 10AM, the Spurs had a workout open to the public there: *If I have to pick two players, based on what I saw in that workout, just from the interaction between players, Tolliver and Salim would be my survivors.* Popovich is in no rush to make roster cuts. *I'm a coward,* said Pop. *It's hard to tell a young kid who has worked as hard as these guys we're not going to keep you. Until I have to do it, I'm not going to do it. Thus, we have to wait and guess. Good luck guys, I know its megahard to swallow being cut. But keep on working no matter what! Last thing: The Blazers are the team on the rise, but head into the 2009 summer with seven players hitting (or, to say it better, they can hit) the FA market (=some difficult decisions regarding Martell Webster, Channing Frye, Ike Diogu, Sergio Rodriguez, Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake & Raef LaFrentz). GM Kevin Pritchard is going to be active during the season, trades and all. I just hope Ill find Outlaw on the Spurs 2009-10 roster... Viva la basketball vida!

p.s.: Matt Bonner admitted that no amount of stretching or meditation will be enough to get him fully balanced: *My body hasn't been in balance with my mind since the day I was born. I still think I can dunk from the foul line.*
p.s.2: Bonner spent whatever downtime he had during his hectic summer working out in San Antonio, enduring a regimen that included, among other things, flipping truck tires. *If a fan throws a giant tractor tire on the court, I'll be the first one to help.*
p.s.3: PHX at UTH. The 7-foot-1, 300-pound Force of Ukraine, Kyrylo Fesenko vs. The Last Remnants of Shaquille ONeal. Fesenkos words: *It was really hard. I realize that I am not big, I am not strong. I am small girl compared to Shaq. One time after I push him in the back, he look at me and this look I will see probably in my nightmares.*
p.s.4: In Detroit, Coach Pop rather didnt play TP9 at all due to some minor soreness in Parkers left Achilles' tendon. Pop: *With Ginobili out for a while, we dont want to lose him, too. If that happened, I wouldnt even want to go to the games. Id just go have dinner and check the results in the morning.*
p.s.5: Micheal Redd tells Richard Jefferson: *China is actually better than Milwaukee, except for three things - beer, more beer and even more beer.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Oct 20 2008 1:25PM

Lovable Ballers (Pt III.) ... Stars Rule!

2008-10-01T08:00:00.001+02:00

When you check the NBA’s team rosters out, on every squad there’s a player you like the most out of that respective bunch. Here are my choices:

Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs’ top playmaker is ready to play 82 games for Dallas this season. The Mavericks didn't truly adjust to his presence after a mid-season trade changed their point guard position entirely, but with a new head coach Rick Carlisle and a full training camp we should see plenty of eye-popping dishes from Kidd in 2008-09. But will that translate into bigger success in comparison with the past? Not probable.

Hedo Turkoglu
Orlando Magic
Hedo was the guy the Magic turned to at the end of games all last season, and he plays a lot of playmaker at the top of the key. That could change this season, with more playmaking options, but if last season was any indication, Hedo seems to be the guy the Magic will turn to in tight games. Whatever the result may be.

Ronnie Brewer
Utah Jazz
Brewer is an absolutely great kid. He's also an incredible athlete who has a chance to develop into one heck of an NBA player. This season will be a very important one for him. With so many swingmen on the roster, Utah has been waiting for a player to assert himself and definitively claim the starting job. Brewer seems to be on the odds on favorite, but after failing to do so during his first two seasons, he may be running out of chances.

Shane Battier
He’ll miss the Camp thanks to an injury. But he’ll be back in November. One of the most common mistakes NBA fans make is to talk wistfully about the Rockets' Rudy Gay-Shane Battier trade. People love to say the Rs would like to have that trade back, but the truth is Battier is every bit as indispensable as Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady. He's easily one of the top five defenders in the league, brings a tremendously valuable voice to the locker room, and is the consummate teammate. He accepts any assignment without complaint and plays as hard as anyone. The reason you hear his name come up so often in trade talks is because every team wants him, not because the Rockets are shopping him.

Grant Hill
Phoenix Suns
G-Hill is the personification of class and dignity. There is not another guy who has overcome more injuries to stay in the league than Hill. It would have been easy for Hill to retire and take with him all the money he made largely as a result of the lucrative deal he signed in Orlando. However, Hill truly loves the game of basketball and wants to play for absolutely as long as he's physically capable. People who point to modern-day athletes as folks who care about money and nothing else, obviously haven't ever met Grant Hill. He's not the same player he once was, but he's every bit the person.

David West
New Orleans Hornets
NOH’s top offensive player, D-West. While Chris Paul scored about a point more per game than fellow All-Star West, it's hard to argue the value of a guy that score in the post and move out to knock down relatively deep jumpshots. Paul runs the offense and makes things happen, but without a guy like West, CP3's assist numbers wouldn't be quite as high. If Paul is the grease that keeps the wheels moving, West is the steam that powers the locomotive. He had his first All-Star appearance last season and while that will be hard to repeat there's certainly no doubting that he has become one of the team's leaders and very easily could lead the team in scoring this season.

Andrew Bynum
Los Angeles Lakers
Without minimizing what the Lakers need defensively from Bryant (a regular on the All-Defensive Teams), LA needs a true center protecting the basket. Bynum has the potential to be a game changer with his shot blocking and rebounding. After watching from the sidelines last year with his knee injury, Bynum says he's and healthy and well aware of what he needs to do to on the defensive side of the ball. Before he got hurt, Bynum's growth was exponential. As the season progressed he began to look dominant. He still needs to cultivate his low post game but his potential is off the charts. If he can stay healthy, he's arguably a top four or five center. In the 35 games he did play last season, he averaged 13.1 points on 63.6% shooting, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Perhaps even more significant was his 2.8 personal fouls spread out over 28.8 minutes a game. Foul trouble is often the weakness of a developing big but Bynum's body control keeps him on the floor.

Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs
Ya gotta love Timmy. You cannot overstate the value of the Big Fundamental. Even with his production dropping Duncan remains the leader of The Team on and off the court. Despite being a surefire Hall-of-Famer Duncan remains the Spurs' hardest worker, something that coach Pop (Sorry Gregg for that last blog’s crazy photo, but that was a historic moment for my blog. The first appearance in the TrueHoop’s Bullets!) refers to as a vital part of their success. He's still the foundation of this team and everything runs through him. Duncan has gotten more rest than he's accustomed to this summer, and it's a good thing because with Manu out the Spurs need him to get off to a quick start.

Rodney Stuckey
Detroit Pistons
When Billups was injured last year, Stuckey came out of nowhere to develop into a more than affable NBA combo guard. With proper playing time (which he'll likely get as one of the first guys off the Detroit bench this season) he'll become quite a scoring threat. Maybe those early comparisons to Ben Gordon weren't so far off, after all. This young man is the future of the Detroit Pistons. If and when Joe Dumars makes a move to trade away one or more of his veterans, you can bet that Stuckey's name won't be involved in the deal. He's a Piston for now and for the future.

Rajon Rondo
Boston Celtics
Before ever playing in a game with him, Kevin Garnett predicted Rajon Rondo would be one of the best point guards in the next three to four years. Rondo, 22, is on the right path. Garnett's confidence in the young gym rat is a testament to his potential and room to grow. RR is definitely in my NBA Players Fave Five (the Spurs don’t count, obviously).

p.s.: The San Antonio Silver Stars of WNBA are in the Finals! What a success! Let’s go for that first championship, ladies!
p.s.2: *I like what [Coach Pop] he's going for, an intimidating look,*T-Duncan said. *I actually had a full beard going, but I came in and saw his beard and was intimidated by his beard and shaved it off.*
p.s.3: If you wanna know something about European basketball, look a this site: http://www.ballineurope.com/

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Oct 1 2008 8:00AM

Einstein? Popovich!

2008-09-23T08:48:00.003+02:00

This image is in the Pantheon of The Greatest Photos Ever. Period. Let's Go e=mc2!

Playing H-O-R-S-E Against Billy Walker

2008-09-21T19:18:00.002+02:00

I’ve got an interesting story about Celtics’ rookie Billy Walker. Who’s he? Bill Walker was born on October 9, 1987 in Huntington, West Virginia. He was selected out of Kansas State University by Wizards with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Celtics in exchange for cash considerations. In the year ’06, Billy started his college career, but he saw action in just six games with five starts as a freshman, because he suffered a season-ending rupture of ACL in his left knee against Texas A&M. He had successful surgery on Jan. 19, 2007, and then began the rehabilitation process. Walker enrolled at KSU as a part-time student in order to be eligible to play on December 16, 2006, the start of the second semester. He had an immediate impact on the team, averaging 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his first six games. However, then came the devastating injury. But for him, this wasn’t news - it was the second time he suffered this type of injury, going through surgery and rehab in his right knee back in 2003. In the 2007-08 season, Walker averaged 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 31 games. He tied his career-high with 31 points. On April 14, 2008, Walker announced along with teammate Michael Beasley that he would enter the 2008 NBA Draft and thus forgo his last three years of NCAA eligibility.

His S&W, according to Draft.net:

Strengths: An absolutely jaw dropping, electrifying dunker capable of getting air like the greatest dunkers of all time, Jordan, Dominique, Vince Carter, Josh Smith etc. ... His leg strength and explosiveness is off the charts ... His skill level is still catching up, but he has shown tremendous progress over the past year ... Improvements have been seen in shooting, feel for the game, as well as creating offense off the dribble ... Over powers opponents with his body strength, and it will only get better as he's just a 18 year old pup ... Has a killer instinct, with a real nasty side to his personality. Has no problem dominating inferior competition, competes hard ... His upside is incredible, but for now he's a superstar athlete developing into a quality basketball player ...

Weaknesses: Can get away with using his athleticism to dominate on the high school level, but he's also working hard on his skill set and it's showing positive results ... A little stuck in between positions as a 6-5 small forward, but can become a shooting guard with work on his skills ... Has a bit of a temper, which can get the best of him at times ... Needs maturity and composure ... Has very thick legs, and while he is quick, he lacks some of the quickness in his first step that many thinner wing players posses ... Despite his aggressiveness and ability to tap into a nasty side, he also can coast at times ... He must learn to develop better work habits and stay focused to maximize his abilities ... His jumpshot off the dribble is a work in progress ... Has had some knee tendenitis issues over his high school career, but it doesn't appear to be a lingering problem ... Had some off court issues (fighting with a classmate) along with OJ Mayo in his junior year ...

Many considered Walker, who was a childhood friend and high school teammate of more heralded prospect OJ Mayo, a lottery pick, but he suffered the third knee injury in his career during a workout at Warriors facility on June 15. He remained in the draft despite the injury, and was selected with the 47th overall pick. As an NBA prospect, he was compared to Ruben Patterson. But that doesn’t seem too appropriate to me. He looks like Jerry Stackhouse, honestly. As a second-round pick, Walker doesn't merit a guaranteed contract, and will make a minimum of $442,114 if he makes the team. He watched the draft in Topeka, Kansas, with his AAU coach, mother and other family members.

A column about Billy Walker, written during his pre-draft camp workouts:
***
Walker was working heavily on his perimeter shooting (he shot just 31% from behind the arc this season), and indeed looked very focused on shooting the ball correctly. He’s had a tendency throughout his career to rush his release and not fully set his feet, and it’s pretty clear that they’ve been working with him on slowing down and using a more pronounced follow-through. The results were fairly solid, but not overwhelming, indicating that he still has work to do on this part of his game. He looked quite a bit better with his feet set than he did shooting off the dribble. His ball-handling ability is another part of Walker’s game that is still a work in progress. Despite having the strength to get to the basket at a very good rate thanks to his powerful strides, he needs to improve his ability to change directions with the ball and cut down on turnovers.

From what we were told, Walker has been shooting the ball a lot better in most of his workouts, which is the reason he’s created so much buzz over the past few weeks. *His shooting is very underrated,* Mike Procopio told us, *because he’s such a great athlete. It’s a little inconsistent at times, he needs to get his elbow out and elevate as high as he can. That’s what we’re working on, and he’s responding really well. I compare him to Jerry Stackhouse. He can knock down shots from 15-17 feet, and that’s what team will need him to do. That will open up his drives, and his 3-point shot will get consistent in time. When he’s open, he’ll hit them. He gets up and down on himself quickly. We’re just keeping him confident in himself. He’s impressed with the ability to make deep shots, but now he needs to just do it a little more consistently.*

Regarding the other parts of his game, Procopio had a lot to say as well. *His ball-handling is getting better. Right now he’s not a guy that will bring the ball up the court. He can score effectively off of 1 or 2 dribble drives, and that’s what he needs. In time he will improve on his ability to iso and play the pick and roll. He’s good enough to create offense for himself. If he needs to get better, bring the ball up the floor, we want him to be able to do that down the road. We do ball-handling in between sets of shooting drills. It’s a confidence thing. It will come in time. Again, I go back to Stackhouse - he was a total off the ball, alleyoop, post-up guy. Now he does everything. Billy has the fundamentals down, he’s probably the best athlete in the entire draft, and you have to respect that. The handle will come. He’s a competitive, aggressive kid. He’s a mean guy on the court, in a good way.*

Something that was especially impressive was the incredible amount of weight Walker has lost since arriving here in Chicago, according to him, over 25 pounds. His body is clearly NBA ready, and the athleticism he lost seems to be coming back, although from what we can tell, it’s still not quite at the level it was in high school.

Another thing that caught our eye was the intelligence Walker exhibits off the court. We had a chance to spend some time with him and really came away thinking that he’s an extremely bright and articulate guy, which will surely go a long ways in helping him reach his very high ceiling. It doesn’t seem like Walker will be playing in the pre-draft camp next week. He’s not ruling out going back to Kansas State, but that doesn’t seem all that likely at this point.

Thoughts from Procopio: *Frank Martin, who is one of my best friends, told me that he’s one of the smartest players he’s ever coached. I passed judgment on him before we started, and I was proven wrong. ... He absolutely loves watching tape. Right now he’s learning how to use his athleticism better and not rely too heavily on it. We’re helping him expand what he does by simplifying the game for him. Things like jabs, post-ups, turnarounds, and using athleticism to finish, instead of just creating. He’s become more effective this way now. He’s a lot more efficient using his footwork and setting people up. He’s just a very systematic player. His attitude has been fine here. He’s just an emotional kid. He’s one of our favorite guys, because he works so hard. He wants to get better. He asks so many questions. He pays attention. He’s working on the stuff we’re giving him. He is going to be a very good NBA player.*
***

And, here we are, I promised you an intriguing tale about Billy. Let my friend’s brother James Simmons tell the story:

As one of many crazy shots hurtled gracelessly away from the rim, Bill looked at my disgusted face and bluntly cried *Air-ball!* I had been here in Manhattan, Kansas, longer than he, so I should have known the playground and its rims better than this new guy from West Virginia. Hell no... Before that airball, before our contest with Bill happened, I was relieved when I found some familiar faces at Kansas State Campus Playground. It was a perfect day for basketball, shooting, one-on-one, whatever, a warm, breezy afternoon, far removed weather that it’s supposed to be in October. I stripped down to my long green athletic shorts and basketball jersey and produced a shiny new ball from my backpack. The lines and rims of the our campus’ court were immaculately kept, a sharp contrast to the hoopless rims set on slabs of pavement in some American city parks. There are lights in place for the latecomers who play into the night. The court was crammed with players; even in the US places where the game thrives more and si more traditional, basketball courts are never this busy on a weekday afternoon. Why such a huge crowd of people today? Because the young man named Bill Walker, former Cincinnati’s phenomenal high schooler.

I sized up the players - Bill and his friends while idly dribbling my ball. In the stands, there were guys sporting NBA jerseys, girls with Kansas State’s ‘Wildcats’ tops, students in pressed trousers and collared shirts, all kinds of people. When I hit the court I was introduced to Bill, a new student and our new basketball team icon here. He told me that he wants to play H-O-R-S-E not against his pals, but against somebody else. I agreed. I’m a master. My battles with my daddy are legendary.

Students started gathering around the rack to watch out contest. Bill, in his fly hoops wear, asked the question that I was looking to hear for about 20 neveredning seconds. *Game?* Wow, we dew a big crowd. In a second, the benches on the baselines were filled up with people exchanging cigarettes and observing the action, even from outside of the playground, people who don’t care about basketball came by to catch a glimpse. If the game did not intrigue them, maybe the sight of a tall black to-be-pro player did. I felt like an undeserving celebrity drawing this much attention. After all it was just a little game of shooting and we weren’t exactly Rolling Stones.

(For the people who don’t know, what is H-O-R-S-E? Every American hoops junkie has played many games of H-O-R-S-E over the course of his basketball life. The debate is it's the greatest game of all-time. Everyone loves H-O-R-S-E. During my high school years, we played were often and I had three money-in-the-bank shots at my disposal... weapon no. 1 - the free throw facing the other way, shot over my head with one hand, weapon no. 2 - the three-point shot with closed eyes and weapon no. 3 - the be-in-the-corner-of-the-court, throw-the-ball-in-the-air, run-to-the-top-of-the-key-and-back-for-the-ball-and-shoot gimmick.)

The game started. And I got my butt kicked by Bill. Simply, Billy Walker is great H-O-R-S-E player. I started the contest with my weapon no. 2... but I missed badly. He then made make consecutive shots off backboards and blacktop which I wasn’t able to repeat. I had some bad luck with my shots. In and out sort of thing. Then Bill hit a 3-pointer from the right corner while standing out of bounds. Whoa, I had a C in a couple of secs. Plus the aforementioned airball on my resume. I finally gave Bill a sweat when I got the chance to perform my weapon no.3 and a reverse layup with left hand. Walker curiosuly missed that layup. My mood climbed up the ladder. But then came the worst sequence of the day - he matched up my sitting-on-the-ground shot and hit a half-court shot. His first attempt and it was in! The he executed a peffect pass-yourself-off-the-backboard-and-slam-it-home dunk. The crowd was absolutely delirious. The atmosphere like when the Wildcats are playing actual games. As you might have guessed it, I wasn’t able to make that dunk on the first try, although I was very close...

I got an E... Game Over.

And, Bill, you’re the best. Good luck in your pro career.

p.s.: *The Star Spangled Banner’s going on right now, and I don’t celebrate that shit. I’m black,* said Josh Howard.
p.s.2: Who on earth would want to associate themselves with the radioactive Howard right now? (-Stephen A. Smith)
p.s.3: Perhaps Mark Cuban will buy out Howard's contract so that the young man can resume his career in a more sympathetic environment. Like Russia. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.4: If you don’t know this site - http://dimemag.com/ - enjoy it. It’s a fascinating view into the world of NBA players.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Sep 21 2008 7:18PM

Lovable Ballers (Pt II.) ... Training Camp’s In The Air, Can You Smell It?

2008-09-16T13:07:00.001+02:00

When you check the NBA’s team rosters out, on every squad there’s a player you like the most out of that respective bunch. Here are my choices:

Sacramento Kings
Bobby Jackson
Bobby “The-Sixth-Man-Of-Those-Bibby-Christie-Peja-Webber-Divac-Kings” Jackson is a lovable man on the Kings. Almost everyone associated with the Kings in some capacity (fan, coach, executive, janitor, etc.) is excited about the return of Bobby Jackson. A leader and fan favorite, Jackson comes back into Sacramento as a savvy veteran capable of helping a collection of youth really grow into professionals that find success in the NBA. Oh, and he's still a darn good basketball player, too. The 08-09 Kings only have one go-to scorer in Kevin Martin and when the game is on the line, he's likely to be the one with the ball in his hands... but it's possible Bobby J., who has hit some clutch shots in his career, might be a go-to scorer as well.

Philadelphia 76ers
Andre Iguodala
I can’t hide my affection for AI 2.0. Regardless if he was deserving of his large contract or not, he was the 76ers' best playmaker last season. With his ability to post small guards and blow by small forwards, Iguodala established himself as one of the NBA's young stars and Sixers' top playmaker. Now with Elton Brand controlling the post, Iguodala will have plenty of chances to expand his game even more this upcoming season. Remember, after turning down $57 million dollars just before the start of last season, Andre played through the 07-08 season knowing he might have passed up a lot of money, but he knew something no one else did. He had his best season as pro, which earned a bigger contract offer this time around in the amount of $80 million. With all that money comes great expectations, and with his continuous progression expect Iguodala to have a monstrous year that could earn him his first All-Star selection.

Toronto Raptors
Jamario Moon
On the Moon and back... last NBA season, we discovered Moon. Raptors’ top defensive ace, Jamario was a revelation in 07-08. After bouncing around the NBDL and everywhere in the world, J-Moon led Toronto in blocks and was a close third in steals. For less than $800,000 the Raps have this generation's Bo Outlaw: a 6-8 gym rat with boundless energy, defensive intensity and a legendary vertical.

Portland Trail Blazers
LaMarcus Aldridge
He knows exactly what he is capable of. Now, it's time for the rest of the league to find out how legit Aldridge really is. He was the best second-year player in the league. He put up some big numbers. And this summer he put up some big weight (he’s really huge now). Word is, Aldridge - who averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, after posting 9 points and 5 rebounds his rookie year - has spent a lot of time in the weight room this offseason, and added some muscle and definition to his 6-11 frame. Aldridge's third year should be something to behold. Oden + Aldridge... I’m scared.

Washington Wizards
Gilbert Arenas
Yes, he’s cocky... but he’s funny, knowledgeable and opinionated, as well. Agent Zero is back for the long run. Gilbert Arenas will return to take the Wizards leading scorer's role away from Antawn Jamison season. Expect another All-Star campaign from this max contract player (if he’s healthy, which is no small if). Even though the Wizards had a better record without Gil last season, his monster deal says he is still "the man" and will run this team. Considering the Wizs were one of the worst ball handling teams in the league, Arenas will be welcomed in the backcourt with open arms. (Note: There are times when Arenas bites off more than he can chew. Then again, that is just part of his persona. Arenas, a self-proclaimed "entertainer," may not always be right but at least he is always exciting to watch (and read).)

Cleveland Cavaliers
Boobie Gibson
Don’t ever call him Daniel! He’s Boobie! Gibson, the second-round pick out of Texas University, exploded on the scene as a rookie during the famous 2007 Eastern Conference Finals versus Detroit. He does an excellent job of stretching the floor when he’s knocking down his outside shot, which makes LeBron's life easier. Gibson was named the team's starting point guard at the start of the 07-08 season, but succumbed to injuries and struggled through the second half of the season and the playoffs. With Delonte West still in the mix and Mo Williams the new starter at point, Gibson will go back to a role he has proven he can be effective in - instant offense off the bench. With Williams running the show, Gibson may see some time as an off-guard, if the Cavs choose to play small ball.

Golden State Warriors
Stephen Jackson
Make no mistake, S-Jax ain’t just shooter (both on and off the court...), he’s Warriors’ top defender. Remember what Stephen did to Nowitzki when the Ws beat the Mavs? That's the kind of defense the athletic and long Jackson can consistently lock down opponents with when he puts his mind to it. Jackson has the size and strength to go with that length and combines that all with solid lateral movement, making him a formidable defender. Jackson has a reputation around the league as being someone that is a bit difficult to coach at times, but he has been nothing but a model citizen so far in the Bay Area. A captain and veteran leader for Don Nelson's team, Jackson is one of the best teammates in the league (I like him so much cuz he was an important member of the title-winning Duncan-Robinson 2003 Spurs), really taking the idea of a team as a family and running with it. The Warriors' locker room is full of stories of things that Jackson has done for his teammates that have really helped them out. Oh, and he's a pretty darn good basketball player, too. Jackson is currently positioning himself for a contract extension, likely his last big deal in the NBA, so it'll be interesting to see how Jackson balances that personal goal with his team-oriented nature. I wish him well.

Denver Nuggets
Allen Iverson
This legendary blog started with a poem about A.I. - don’t be surprised he’s my fave Nugget. Iverson is best known for his scoring and with good reason given the fact he's one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. However, he's also not bad at setting up his teammates. Last season he averaged 7.1 assists per-game, a number which might surprise some given his shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later reputation. Obviously, Iverson won't ever be confused with John Stockton or Magic Johnson. However, his playmaking ability is underrated, and due to the fact he has the ball in his hands so frequently, his teammates are going to count on him to be the primary creator again this season. (Long side note: It really is fun to watch this guy play. His small stature and fearless mentality makes him worth the price of admission on a nightly basis. Whether or not he will finish his career in the Mile High City and lead the Nuggets to the Promised Land remains to be been, but all basketball fans in Denver should feel fortunate they get the chance to watch this guy compete for at least one more season. After the 08-09 campaign, he’s an unrestricted free agent. (Okay, I think the Nuggets will trade him before the All-Star break (they need some lottery draft pick), because they have no chance this season with their roster in the wild West.) Given current projections, five teams - Thunder, Grizzlies, Blazers, Heat and Pacers - will have significant money under the cap to spend on FAs. ...at the age of 33, AI’s still great. Last year he shot his highest field-goal percentage and had his lowest turnover average in a decade. By all accounts he's still a dominant player... but several nagging questions hurt his case for a big deal in ‘09. One, with the exception of that one magical season in Philly under Larry Brown, is Iverson a winner? Two, at some point his amazing physical gifts have to start deteriorating. When he loses his speed, what will be left of his game? Three, who gives him the big paycheck? No in Miami, they need cap for 2010. No in OKC, MEM, IND, POR - all want to build teams with new generation of players. So where will he be in 2009-10? Shouldn’t he sign for less bucks with any legit contender? What about bolting for money in Russia? No matter where he ends up, Iverson has one thing going for him - he still sells tickets.)

Hey, most of the teams around the NBA are beginning to hold "unofficial" workouts and scrimmages. Mmmmm. Basketball season.

p.s.: The only semi-available player I'd trade Ginobili for would be Joe Johnson (27). Failing this, the Spurs would be advised to stand pat, hope that their elder statesmen can squeeze out another quality season, that Ginobili's rehab will be successful and that Roger Mason is a big surprise. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.2: You can't beat three incompetent FIBA refs speaking different languages for providing an I-hope-this-doesn't-turn-out-like-the-last-three-seconds-of-the-'72-Olympic-gold-medal-game edge. Just when Spain was fading, Fernandez caught the on-fires from Navarro and YouTubed Howard with a hellacious dunk. But he fouled out on an egregious touch foul (Kobe's game-altering four-point play), and Spain cried conspiracy after. Problem is, those bozos called a whopping 55 fouls and looked more wobbly than a 93-year-old backing out of a driveway. Fun wrinkle, especially if you wanted to have a two-hour heart attack. (-Bill Simmons)

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Sep 16 2008 1:07PM

Every Franchise’s Got A Lovable Baller (Pt I.)

2008-09-10T19:07:00.002+02:00

When you check the NBA’s team rosters out, on every squad there’s a player you like the most out of that respective bunch. Here are my choices:

Miami HEAT
Dwyane Wade
The HEAT’s A) top offensive player. Maybe someday Mike Beasley will take D-Wade's place on ‘O’, but for now nobody fills it up better than Miami 's latest Olympic gold medallist. B) top playmaker. We've seen Wade twist his body to sink some of the more incredible shots the league has seen in recent years. He takes a pounding by getting so close to the bucket, but once he's there he makes some pretty incredible things happen in traffic. C) top clutch player. Is there anybody else on this Miami’s that would ever take the final shot of a close game? No way. What else? It undoubtedly comes as a huge shock that I like one of the league's biggest superstars. Yeah, but who doesn't like this guy?

Oklahoma City Thunder
(I’ll write it three times - I gotta get used to that new name... OKC Thunder... OKC Thunder...)
Kevin Durant
OKC’s offensive player, he was the team's leading scorer as the Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 at 20.3 points a game. Expect that number to go up in the 2008-09, and look for his 2.4 assists a night to take a jump as well. He’s a clutch performer, too. Not only is Kevin Durant the team's most clutch player, but last season he proved to be sixth-most clutch player in the league according to 82games.com. As a rookie. Safe to say OKC feels good with the ball in Durant's hands when they need a bucket. He was much better down the stretch of the season than he was earlier in the year. In April he posted a scoring average of 24.3 points, dished 4.1 assists, and grabbed 6.4 rebounds, by far his best month for each category. (Send your hankies to Seattle. Seriously.)

Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Love
Before K-Love was a senior in high school people (outside of The Sports Guy, of course) and were questioning how good of a pro he could be he's on track to prove them wrong. He is in the best shape of his life and his incredible basketball IQ could be just what the Minnesota offense needed. With Al Jefferson alongside him in the post Love should be a real force on the boards. Expect a lot of plays run through Love because he's one of the few players on this team along with (gulp) Bassy Telfair that can get people the ball in places they can score. Hey, everyone loves Love.

Memphis Grizzlies
Rudy Gay
Griz’s top scorer, Rudy G. led the team in scoring last season with 20.1 points per game and will only get better as the team around him improves. He’s not a weakling in the clutch category, too. He was the man in Memphis, as much as one of the worst teams in the league can have a man. Mike Miller was probably their best clutch player last season, but in his absence Gay will rise to the occasion. Really, until someone proves otherwise, Rudy is the franchise player in Memphis. He doesn't get enough attention because the team loses so much, but with the right combination of players around Rudy this team can go far. He encourages his teammates, demands more from them, and is one of the most explosive players in the league when the break gets going.

Los Angeles Clippers
Al Thornton
The second-year forward will have ample opportunity to do what he loves best - score. After a slow start as a rookie, Thornton blossomed as his minutes increased. Coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. believes he's capable of scoring over 20 points a game - and the Clips will look to him as one of the team's primary offensive weapons.

New York Knicks
David Lee
While some say he’s unheralded, it’s tough to call Lee unheralded considering Knicks fans love him (their only 2007-08 pleasure) and GM's around the league inquire about him constantly, but the fact remains that David Lee has never been named a starter and has averaged just 25 minutes a game over the course of his career. Once again, it appears he will spend the 2008-09 season coming off the bench. Still, whenever he steps on the floor and sees consistent minutes, he is a double-double machine. He is also a very efficient player, finishing among the team leaders in both FG% and FT% two years in row. I can’t help myslef... I gotta show David even more love - on a team that endlessly irritates NYC basketball fans with their consistent refusal to play defense or hustle, Lee sticks out like a sore thumb. It is the intangibles, blue-collar work ethic and endless hustle supplied by Lee that have been in such short supply in New York as of late. Lee also plays with a unique unselfishness and cerebral court awareness.

Milwaukee Bucks
Richard Jefferson
The Bucks’ new addition, RJ turns their small forward position from a weakness into a strength and provides a perimeter threat to replace Mo Williams. Milwaukee lacked size at small forward last year, but now have a mismatch waiting for opponents with Richard manning the spot. He also will replace the scoring of Mo Will, which allows the Bucks to have a point guard (Luke Ridnour?) that focuses more on controlling the tempo of the game, distributing the basketball and reducing turnovers.

Charlotte Bobcats
Emeka Okafor
Being their top defensive player, it was supremely important for the Cats to get Emeka Okafor taken care of this summer. He's easily the team's best defender and can hold his own with basically any other center in the league. Okafor has his shortcomings on the offensive end, but defensively he's a rock.

Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose
The League’s top-tier playmaker for years to come, he'll start off slowly, but once he gets going he's going to split opposing defenses wide open. He'll be very fun and exciting to watch once he finds his groove in the NBA. The kid was the #1 pick in the draft... he’ll be phenomenal down the road. (Note: Nobody's really sure what the Bulls are going to get this year with Rose, but we all know what he's capable of. If he can integrate his undeniable talents early this season without too many growing pains, Chicago will see some serious improvement.)

New Jersey Nets
Devin Harris
When he was a Maverick, I hated him cuz he’s so good defending Tony Parker and so quick to score on you. Now, as a Net playmaker at 25, Devin Harris is already a top-flight point guard. Playing with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas has taught him to move without the ball; now that he's in Jersey, he handles all of the primary playmaking duties and has done a relatively good job taking care of the ball (2.7 turnovers per game as a Net compared with 6.5 assists per game). Jason Kidd may have been the franchise, but acquiring a solid 25-year-old point guard who is signed through 2013 for a 35-year-old that makes $21 million a year is the type of move that can reverse New Jersey's fortunes. During last season, his fourth, Harris proved he can dish (ranked 15th last season in assists per 48 minutes), score (15.4 PPG as a Net) and get to the line (21st in free throws per 48 minutes). And who can feel bad about entrusting the ball to a guy who hits well over 80 percent of his free throws?

Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger
Although just in his third season, Danny Granger lead the team with more than 19 points in 36 minutes on the floor. If all goes well with contract negotiations, he will be the future of Indiana basketball. His agent believes he can be an important building block: "I think Danny's best basketball is ahead of him". He'll certainly get a chance to show that this season, as the team will look to him as a catalyst for everything they do offensively. He exhibits nowhere close to the capacity for clutch play that the Pacers great Reggie Miller displayed nightly through his career, but Granger is also a clutch scorer. Most of his shots in crunchtime are simple jumpers, providing a high-percentage shot in a low-percentage environment. His desire to be "the man" in Indiana will be key to their success in 2008-09. (Note: it’s not a secret that he’s excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead. He wants to lead the team, and more importantly he believes in his teammates. Good luck, Danny.)

Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford
Sure, fans in Atlanta know what an outstanding player Horford is, but almost everyone largely ignores him and he was completely dissed when it came time to vote for Rookie of the Year. He appeared in 81 games as a rookie, starting 77, and averaged just under a double-double for a playoff team. Don't expect him to be the Hawks' best-kept secret for long. One thing that often gets glossed over when experts talk about building successful teams is the character of the players. The Hawks have made character a priority, and no one personifies that better than Al. Humble and soft-spoken off the court, fired up and hungry on the court, Horford is going to be a huge part of Atlanta's success for years to come.

The second part of this series will be posted someday in September. Before I go, I wanna tell you... it’s good not having your own blog - at least from ‘free-time’ standpoint. But when your mailbox is full of e-mails like “Hey FiCS, good job, can you say who has higher fantasy value, Darko Milicic or Marko Jaric?”, it’s worth the work. (Last note: that aforementioned duo is likely headed to NYC for Zach Randolph. That’s a damn good trade. It’s comic when these three guys are involved in one trade, but seriously, good trade.)

p.s.: D-Wade’s answer on “Who has the bigger ego, Shaq or Barkley?”: *I'm gonna say Shaq. It's been documented. He's renamed himself eighty times, he proclaimed himself the most dominate center ever, which he is, but still he self-proclaimed it.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Sep 10 2008 7:07PM

The Top 40 NBA Surnames* That Make No** Sense (Part II.)

2008-09-05T09:43:00.001+02:00

*Only American players were eligible
**In fact, too much sense to take them lightly and without fanfare

Rank - Name - Surname in English
[Surname in German - Surname in Spanish]

19. Eddie HOUSE
[Haus - Casa]
House generally refers to a shelter or building that is a dwelling or place for habitation by human beings. The term includes many kinds of dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to high-rise apartment buildings. However, the word can also be used as a verb ("to house"), and can have adjectival formations as well. In some contexts, "house" may mean the same as dwelling, residence, home, abode, accommodation, housing, lodging, among other meanings.

18. Acie LAW (IV.)
[Recht - Derecha]
Law is a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading swaptions on a derivatives market. Property law defines rights and obligations related to transfer and title of personal and real property, for instance, in mortgaging or renting a home. Trust law applies to assets held for investment and financial security, such as pension funds. Tort law allows claims for compensation when someone or their property is injured or harmed. If the harm is criminalised in a penal code, criminal law offers means by which the state prosecutes and punishes the perpetrator. Constitutional law provides a framework for creating laws, protecting people's human rights, and electing political representatives. Administrative law relates to the activities of administrative agencies of government. International law regulates affairs between sovereign nation-states in everything from trade to the environment to military action. Law manifests itself throughout the community in many more ways, and serves as the foremost social mediator of relations between people. "The rule of law", wrote the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle in 350 BC, "is better than the rule of any individual." Legal systems around the world elaborate legal rights and responsibilities in different ways. A basic distinction is made between civil law jurisdictions and systems using common law. Some countries persist in basing their law on religious texts. Scholars investigate the nature of law through many perspectives, including legal history and philosophy, or social sciences such as economics and sociology. The study of law raises important and complex issues concerning equality, fairness, liberty and justice. "In its majestic equality", said the author Anatole France in 1894, "the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread." The central institutions for interpreting and creating law are the three main branches of government, namely an impartial judiciary, a democratic legislature and an accountable executive. To implement and enforce the law and provide services to the public, a government's bureaucracy, the military and police are vital. While all these organs of the state are creatures created and bound by law, an independent legal profession and a vibrant civil society inform and support their progress.

17. Carlos BOOZER
[Trinker - Bebedor]
Boozer may refer to:
-A person who boozes (drinks alcohol), especially one who drinks to excess
-Slang for pub, a drinking establishment which sells beer in a homely setting
-Slang for an unwise person (dummy).
-The "Boolean zero-one reduction" program used to find minimum expressions for logic systems
-A device used in Second World War British bomber aircraft to alert the crew that they were being tracked by enemy radar
-A dog who served as mascot to the military base on Shemya Island, whose name may be a combination of the first, second, and fifth definitions above.

16. Steven HUNTER - Othello Hunter
[Jäger - Cazador]
Hunting is the practice of pursuing animals for food, recreation, or trade. In modern use, the term refers to regulated and legal hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of animals contrary to law. Hunted animals are referred to as game animals, and are usually large or small mammals, migratory gamebirds, or non-migratory gamebirds. Hunting can also involve the elimination of vermin as a means of pest control. Hunting advocates claim that hunting can be a necessary component of modern wildlife management, for example to help maintain a population of healthy animals within an environment's ecological carrying capacity when natural checks such as predators are absent. In the United States, wildlife managers are frequently part of hunting regulatory and licensing bodies, where they help to set rules on the number, manner and conditions in which game may be hunted. The pursuit, capture and release, or capture for food of fish is called fishing, which is not commonly categorized as a kind of hunting. Trapping is also usually considered a separate activity. Neither is it considered hunting to pursue animals without intent to take them, as in wildlife photography or birdwatching. The practice of hunting for plants or mushrooms is a colloquial term for gathering.

15. TJ FORD
[Ford - Ford]
Ford (Motor Company) is an American multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen. Based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, the automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands sold in the US and elsewhere, Ford's international brands also include Volvo of Sweden; and Ford owns a one-third controlling interest in Mazda of Japan, and a small holding in former subsidiary Aston Martin of England. Ford's former UK subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors of India in March 2008. Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars and large-scale management of an industrial workforce, using elaborately engineered manufacturing sequences typified by moving assembly lines. Henry Ford's methods came to be known around the world as Fordism by 1914.

14. Elton BRAND
[Brand - Brand]
A brand is a collection of images and ideas representing an economic producer; more specifically, it refers to the descriptive verbal attributes and concrete symbols such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme that convey the essence of a company, product or service. Brand recognition and other reactions are created by the accumulation of experiences with the specific product or service, both directly relating to its use, and through the influence of advertising, design, and media commentary. A brand is a symbolic embodiment of all the information connected to a company, product or service. A brand serves to create associations and expectations among products made by a producer. A brand often includes an explicit logo, fonts, color schemes, symbols and sound which may be developed to represent implicit values, ideas, and even personality. The key objective is to create a relationship of trust. The brand, and "branding" and brand equity have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".

13. Caron BUTLER - Rasual Butler
[Lakai - Sirviente]
A butler is a senior servant in a large household. In the great houses of the past, the household was sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantries. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for entire house and its appearance. Housekeepers are occasionally portrayed in literature as being the most senior staff member and as even making recommendations for the hiring of the butler.

12. Jason HART
[Hirsch - Ciervo]
The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), commonly called hart in the United Kingdom, is one of the largest deer species. The Red Deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Algeria and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red Deer have been introduced to other areas including Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In many parts of the world the meat (venison) from Red Deer is widely used as a food source. Red Deer are ruminants, characterized by an even number of toes, and a four-chambered stomach. Recent DNA evidence indicates that the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and the East Asian and North American Elk (Wapiti, Cervus canadensis) represent two distinct species. They give also hint for an additional primordial subgroup of Central Asian Red Deer. The ancestor of all Red Deer probably originated in Central Asia and probably resembled Sika Deer. Although at one time Red Deer were rare in some areas, they were never close to extinction. Reintroduction and conservation efforts, especially in the United Kingdom, have resulted in an increase of Red Deer populations, while other areas, such as North Africa, have continued to show a population decline.

11. Nazr MOHAMMED
[Mohammed - Mohammed]
Muhammad ibn Abdullah [=Mohammed] (ca. 570 Mecca - June 8, 632 Medina), is the central human figure of the religion of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as the messenger and prophet of Allah, the last and the greatest in a series of prophets of Islam. Muslims consider him the restorer of the uncorrupted original monotheistic faith (islam) of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Noah and other prophets of Islam. He was also active as a diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator, legislator, reformer, military general, and, for Muslims and followers of several other religions, an agent of divine action. Born in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca, he was orphaned at a young age and was brought up under the care of his uncle. He later worked mostly as a merchant, and was first married by age 25. Discontented with life in Mecca, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains for meditation and reflection. According to Islamic beliefs it was here, at age 40, in the month of Ramadan, where he received his first revelation from God. Three years after this event Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "God is One", that complete "surrender" to Him (lit. islam) is the only way acceptable to God, and that he himself was a prophet and messenger of God, in the same vein as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and other prophets in Islam. Muhammad gained few followers early on, and was met with hostility from some tribes of Mecca; he was treated harshly and so were his followers. To escape persecution Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina (then known as Yathrib) in the year 622. This event, the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina Muhammad managed to unite the conflicting tribes, and after eight years of fighting with the Meccan tribes, his followers, who by then had grown to ten thousand, conquered Mecca. In 632 a few months after returning to Medina from his Farewell pilgrimage, Muhammad fell ill and died. By the time of his death most of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to Islam and he united the tribes of Arabia into a singular Muslim religious polity. The revelations (or Ayats, lit. "Signs of God"), which Muhammad reported receiving until his death, form the verses of the Qur'an, regarded by Muslims as the “word of God”, around which his religion is based. Besides the Qur'an, Muhammad’s life (sira) and traditions (sunnah) are also upheld by Muslims. They discuss Muhammad and other prophets of Islam with reverence, adding the phrase peace be upon him whenever their names are mentioned. While conceptions of Muhammad in medieval Christendom and premodern times were largely negative, appraisals in modern times have been far less so. Besides this, his life and deeds have been debated by followers and opponents over the centuries.

-TOP 10-

10. Alando TUCKER*
[How to say “bib” in German or Spanish? I don’t have a child, so you gotta look it up yourself)
Tucker may refer to:
-Tucker, an Australian word for food in general
-Bush tucker, an Australian word for food obtained from the bush
-Tucker decomposition, a mathematical decomposition for tensors
-Tuckerization, the act of using a person's name in an original story as an in-joke.
-[=bib*] An item of clothing for babies tied around their neck to protect their clothes from getting dirty when eating.

9. Rudy GAY
[Gay - Gay]
In the English language, "gay" is an adjective that in modern usage refers to homosexuality. In earlier and in literary usage, the word means "carefree," "happy," or "bright and showy." From the 1890s, it had begun to carry a connotation of promiscuity, as in a "gay house" referring to a brothel. It began to be used in reference to homosexuality in particular from the early 20th century, from the 1920s at the latest. Among younger generations, the word 'gay' sometimes has a non-sexual pejorative meaning, equivalent to 'rubbish' or 'stupid'. Some view this as homophobic, though others cite it as an example of the evolution of living language, pointing out that some who use it do not intend it to have any relation to the meaning of the word as homosexual.

8. Travis OUTLAW
[Räuber - Bandido]
An outlaw or bandit is a person living the lifestyle of outlawry; the word literally means "outside the law", by folk-etymology from the original meaning "laid outside" of the Old Norse word “utlagi”, from which the word outlaw was borrowed into English. In the common law of England, a judgment declaring someone an outlaw, known as a "Writ of Outlawry", was one of the harshest penalties in the legal system, since the outlaw could not use the legal system to protect himself if needed, such as from mob justice. Though the judgment of outlawry is now obsolete (even though it inspired the pro forma Outlawries Bill which is still to this day introduced in the British House of Commons during the State Opening of Parliament), romanticised outlaws became stock characters in several fictional settings, particularly in Western movies. Thus, "outlaw" is still commonly used to mean those violating the law or, by extension, those living that lifestyle, whether actual criminals evading the law or those merely opposed to "law-and-order" notions of conformity and authority (such as the "outlaw country" music movement in the 1970s).

7. Eric SNOW
[Schnee - Nieve]
Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. The process of precipitation is called snowfall. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by external pressure. The METAR code for snow is SN.

6. Jamario MOON
[Mond - Luna]
The Moon (Latin: Luna) is Earth's only natural satellite and the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System. The average centre-to-centre distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384,403 km, about thirty times the diameter of the Earth. The Moon's diameter is 3,474 km, a little more than a quarter that of the Earth. This means that the Moon's volume is about 2 percent that of Earth and the pull of gravity at its surface about 17 percent that of the Earth. The Moon makes a complete orbit around the Earth every 27.3 days (the orbital period), and the periodic variations in the geometry of the Earth–Moon–Sun system are responsible for the lunar phases that repeat every 29.5 days (the synodic period). The Moon is the only celestial body to which humans have travelled and upon which humans have landed. The first artificial object to escape Earth's gravity and pass near the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 1, the first artificial object to impact the lunar surface was Luna 2, and the first photographs of the normally occluded far side of the Moon were made by Luna 3, all in 1959. The first spacecraft to perform a successful lunar soft landing was Luna 9, and the first unmanned vehicle to orbit the Moon was Luna 10, both in 1966. The United States (U.S.) Apollo program achieved the only manned missions to date, resulting in six landings between 1969 and 1972. Human exploration of the Moon ceased with the conclusion of the Apollo program, although several countries have announced plans to send people or robotic spacecraft to the Moon.

-TOP 5-

5. Derrick ROSE - Malik Rose
[Rose - Rosa]
A rose is a perennial flowering shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family rosaceae, that contains over 100 species. The species form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp thorns. Most are native to Asia, with smaller numbers of species native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Natives, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, with sharply toothed oval-shaped leaflets. The plants fleshy edible fruit is called a rose hip. Rose plants range in size from tiny, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 20 metres in height. Species from different parts of the world easily hybridize, which has given rise to the many types of garden roses.

4. Brevin KNIGHT
[Fürst - Principe]
Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. In the Commonwealth of Nations, knighthood is a non-heritable form of gentry. Elsewhere, the Spanish Caballero (related to "chivalry"), the Italian Cavaliere, the German Ritter (related to the English word "Rider" and the Swedish word Riddare), or the Polish Kawaler (for Modern Era knighthoods or Rycerz for medieval knighthoods) are commonly used in Continental Europe. Outside the British Commonwealth, the title is respected but may carry less significance, and thus may or may not appear, for example, in the mass media and other publications. There are technically differing levels of knighthood, but in practice these are even more symbolic than the title itself today and thus only express the greatness of the recipient's achievements in the eyes of the Crown. The British legend of King Arthur, popularised throughout Europe in the Middle Ages by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae ("History of the Kings of Britain") written in the 1130s, and Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (The Death of Arthur) written in 1485, were important in defining the ideal of chivalry which is essential to the European ideal of the knight as an elite warrior sworn to uphold the values of faith, loyalty, courage and honour such as Knights Templar.

3. Tayshaun PRINCE
[Prinz - Principe]
Prince, from the Latin root princeps, is a general term for a monarch, for a member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in some members of Europe's highest nobility. The female equivalent is a princess.

2. Kevin LOVE
[Liebe - Amor]
Love represents a range of emotions and experiences related to the senses of affection and sexual attraction. The word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure to intense interpersonal attraction. This diversity of meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states.As an abstract concept love usually refers to a strong, ineffable feeling towards another person. Even this limited conception of love, however, encompasses a wealth of different feelings, from the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love to the nonsexual. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts. Spiritual love, or longing for God, is highly valued and sought after by many religions of both Eastern and Western origin.

-And The Winner Is... My Personal Favorite Surname...-

1. DJ STRAWBERRY
[Erdbeere - Fresa]
Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide. Like other species of Fragaria (strawberries), it belongs to the family Rosaceae. Technically it is not a fruit although it is known as an accessory fruit, in that the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries (achenes) but from the peg at the bottom of the bowl-shaped hypanthium that holds the ovaries. The Garden Strawberry was first bred in Europe in the early 18th century, and represents the accidental cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America, which was noted for its flavor, and Fragaria chiloensis from Chile, which was noted for its large size.

I hope you enjoyed my Top 40. Thanks for reading.

p.s.: hmm, weird times in the n.b.a. ... manu’s ankle injured again (get well soon!), ellis’ fishy high ankle sprain (did he chase bears, sharks or what?!?), rooks Chalmers & Arthur caught with pot (a.k.a. weed, a.k.a. marijuana) at rookie camp (how dumb!), so tonight’s Hall of Fame Ceremony (Hakeem, Ewing, Riley, Dantley, etc.) saves the day and the whole Association!

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Sep 5 2008 9:43AM

The Top 40 NBA Surnames* That Make No** Sense (Part I.)

2008-09-04T19:41:00.002+02:00

*Only American players were eligible
**In fact, too much sense to take them lightly and without fanfare

Hey, let’s start! Lemme tell you, this list does not include cool surnames like Green (Willie, Gerald), Brown (Kwame, Shannon, Devin, Bobby) or Young (Thaddeus, Nick) - they’re too ordinary in comparison with this list’s diamonds. Okay, onto the Top 40 - rankings based on the voting of BAFS team, the final order formed here at The FiCS HQ...

Rank - Name - Surname in English
[Surname in German - Surname in Spanish]

40. Anthony MORROW
[Morgen - Manana]
Morrow is an English word meaning "the next day" (the morrow of the feast) or "tomorrow".

39. Sean MAY
[Mai - Mayo]
May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is also a month within the northern season of spring. The month may have been named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Although some historians claim that May was named after the Latin word majores which means older men since they say that May is dedicated to old men. In Japan, there is a so-called 'May sickness', where new students or workers start to be tired of their new schoolwork or jobs. (In Japan schoolyears and fiscal years start on April 1st.) In any calendar year, no other month starts on the same day of the week as May.

38. David WEST - Delonte West
[Westen - Oeste]
West is most commonly a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south. By convention, the left side of a map is west. To go west using a compass for navigation, set a bearing or azimuth of 270°. West is the direction opposite that of the Earth's rotation on its axis, and is therefore the general direction towards which the Sun sets. Moving continuously west is following a circle of latitude, which, except in the case of the equator, is not a great circle. The English word "west" is cognate to the Old High German word westar, which may derive from an Indo-European root from which the Latin word vesper, meaning "evening", derives. "The West" often denotes the Western world. Although a somewhat subjective term, it always includes the noncommunist countries of Europe and America.

37. Grant HILL - George Hill - Steven Hill
[Hűgel - Cero]
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of scarp slope without a well-defined summit (e.g. Box Hill). A hillock is a small hill.

36. Sean MARKS
[Marken - Notas]
In education, a grade (or mark) is a teacher's standardized evaluation of a student's work. In some countries, evaluations can be expressed quantifiably, and calculated into a numeric grade point average (GPA), which is used as a metric by employers and others to assess and compare students. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is the mean GPA from all terms, whereas GPA may only refer to a single term. The concept of grading students' work quantitatively was developed by a tutor named William Farish, and first implemented by the University of Cambridge in 1792.

35. Brandon RUSH* - Kareem Rush
[Erregung - Excitacion]
Rush may refer to:
-*Rush or thrill, sudden burst of emotion associated with certain chemicals or situations
-Rush, slang for nitrite inhalants, often used as a recreational drug
-Rush or formal rush, regulated period of new member recruitment for fraternities and sororities
-Rush plant or Juncus, grass-like plant of damp or wet soils

34. Calvin BOOTH
[Kabine - Cabina]
Booth may refer to:
-Isolation booth, device used to prevent a person or people from seeing or hearing certain events
-Photo booth, vending machine or modern kiosk which contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor
-Voting booth, where voters attend to cast their ballot in an election as part of the voting process in a democracy or republic
-Telephone booth, small structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience
-Ticket booth, place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to a venue
-Toll booth, road on which a toll authority collects a fee for use
-Food booth, a temporary structure from which food is sold to the general public.

33. Raja BELL - Charlie Bell
[Glocke - Campana]
Bell may refer to devices that produce sound:
-Altar bell, a bell rung during the Catholic Mass.
-Bell character, a character that produces an audible signal at a terminal.
-Bell effect, a musical technique similar to an arpeggio.
-Bell (instrument), a simple sound-making device.
-Bell unit (bel), measure of the ratio between two quantities.
-Bell (wind), the round, flared opening of a wind instrument opposite the mouthpiece.
-Bell cymbal, a small cymbal. The bell is also the center, rounded part of a cymbal.
-Bell (school), a bell that signals transitions during a school day.
-Bell tree, instrument made of nested bells
-Bermuda carriage bell, used in vehicles as a warning to pedestrians
-Carillon, an instrument which utilizes bells, normally housed in a bell tower, and played from a keyboard -
-Chime (bell instrument), similar to a carillon, but with fewer bells
-Church bell, a bell hanging in a church tower
-Electric bell, such as a doorbell or buzzer
-Handbell, a handheld bell, rung singly (such as a school bell) or in tuned sets played by a bell choir
-Jingle bell, a spherical bell that produces a distinct "jingle" sound
-Last call bell, a bell that signals the closing of a bar
-Mark tree, a set of small hanging chimes, sometimes mislabeled as a wind chime
-Orchestra bell, better known as Glockenspiel
-Ship's bells, bells which mark time on a ship
-Slave bell, used to regulate slavery
-Tubular bell, used in tuned sets as in a longcase clock, orchestral chime, organ, or tower

32. Ronnie PRICE
[Preis - Precio]
Price in economics and business is the result of an exchange and from that trade we assign a numerical monetary value to a good, service or asset. If I trade 4 apples for an orange, the price of an orange is 4 - apples. Inversely, the price of an apple is 1/4 oranges. Price is only part of the information we get from observing an exchange. The other part is the volume of the goods traded per unit time, called the rate of purchase or sale. From this additional information we understand the extent of the market and the elasticity of the demand and supply. In general terms price is the result of an exchange or transaction that takes place between two parties and refers to what must be given up by one party (i.e., buyer) in order to obtain something offered by another party (i.e., seller). Yet this view of price provides a somewhat limited explanation of what price means to participants in the transaction. In fact, price means different things to different participants in an exchange: The concept of price is central to microeconomics where it is the single most important pieces of information derived from human interaction and is crucial in resource allocation theory (also called price theory). Price is also central to marketing where it is one of the four variables in the marketing mix that business people use to develop a marketing plan.

31. Brandon BASS
[Bass - Contrabajo]
Bass, when used as an adjective, is used to describe tones of low frequency or range. Played in an ensemble/orchestra, such notes are frequently used to provide a counterpoint or counter-melody, in a harmonic context either to outline or juxtapose the progression of the chords, or with percussion to underline the rhythm. In popular music the bass part most often provides harmonic and rhythmic support, usually playing the root or fifth of the chord and stressing the strong beats.

30. Brian SKINNER*
[Bauer - Campesimo]
A skinner is a person who makes a living by working with animal skins or driving mules*.

29. Mike MILLER - Brad Miller - Andre Miller
[Műller - Molinero]
A miller usually refers to a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents in other languages around the world. Milling existed in hunter gatherer communities, and later millers were important to the development of agriculture. The materials ground by millers are often foodstuffs and particularly grain. The physical grinding of the food allows for the easier digestion of its nutrients and saves wear on the teeth. Non-food substances needed in a fine, powdered form, such as building materials, may be processed by a miller. The most basic tool for a miller was the quern-stone - simply a large, fixed stone as a base and another movable stone operated by hand, similar to a mortar and pestle. As technology and millstones (the bedstone and rynd) improved, more elaborate machines such as watermills and windmills were developed to do the grinding work. These mills harnessed available energy sources including animal, water, wind and electrical power. Mills are some of the oldest factories in human history, so factories making other items are sometimes known as mills, for example, cotton mills and steel mills. These factory workers are also called millers. The rynd in pre-reformation Scotland was often carved on millers' gravestones as a symbol of their trade.

28. Antoine WALKER - Bill Walker
[Fussgänger - Peaton]
A pedestrian is a person travelling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates, skateboards, and similar devices are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case historically.

27. Josh SMITH - JR Smith
[Schmied - Herrero]
A smith, or metalsmith, is a person involved in the shaping of metal objects. In pre-industrialized times, smiths held high or special social standing since they supplied the metal tools needed for farming (especially the plough) and warfare. This social standing might be a reason for the prevalence of "Smith" as an English family name (and similar names in other languages, such as German "Schmidt").

26. Brian COOK* - Daequan Cook
[Koch - Cocinero]
Cook may refer to:
-Chef, a person who cooks food as a profession
-Cook (profession)*
-Cook (servant), a servant who cooks food for his or her employer
-Cook (software), a program for directing compilation
-Cook (crater), a lunar crater
-Cook, an an unintended solution that spoils a chess problem

25. Luther HEAD
[Kopf - Cabeza]
In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part (from anatomical position) that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth (all of which aid in various sensory functions, such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste). Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do.

24. Brian CARDINAL*
[Kardinal - Cardenal]
The word cardinal comes from the Latin cardo for "hinge" and usually refers to things of fundamental importance, as in cardinal rule or cardinal sins.
Cardinal may refer to:
-Cardinal (Catholicism), a senior ecclesiastical official, of the Catholic Church*
-Cardinal (color), a vivid reddish color
-Cardinal number, in mathematics
-Cardinal vowels, the standard reference points for phonetic description.
-Cardinal (bird), a family of passerine birds living in the Americas
-Cardinal (grape), a wine and table grape
-Cardinal veins

23. Gilbert ARENAS
[Arenas - Arenas]
Arenas is the plural of arena, a sporting event venue.

22. Ronnie BREWER - Corey Brewer
[Bräuhaus - Carveceria [=Brewery]]
Is a person involved in brewing. Brewing is the production of alcoholic beverages and alcohol fuel through fermentation. This is the method used in beer production, although the term is also used to describe the fermentation process used to create wine and mead. It can also refer to the process of producing sake and soy sauce. The term is also sometimes used to refer to any chemical mixing process. Brewing has a very long history, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt. Descriptions of various beer recipes can be found in Sumerian writings, some of the oldest known writing of any sort. The brewing industry is part of most western economies.

21. Marcus BANKS
[Banken - Bancos]
Banks is the plural of bank, a financial institution.

20. Eddy CURRY
[What the hell I don’t know the equivalents of “curry” in German & Spanish]
Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes, best known in Indian, Pakistani, Afghani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, and other South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines, though curry has been adopted into all of the mainstream cuisines of the Asia-Pacific region. Along with tea, curry is one of the few dishes or drinks that is truly "Pan-Asian". But specifically, its roots come from India. The concept of curry was later brought to the West by British colonialists in India from the 18th century.

Part II. of this crazy-awesome-pathetic-mad-useless list - tomorrow morning. Do you have that thrill who’ll be in the Top 5? Who’ll capture the gold in surnames’ greatness? Me neither... but at least you’ll learn somehing new about Mohammed!

p.s.: The Clippers own [the Greek forward] Sofoklis Schortsanitis' rights but won't bring him over until they've been assured that he won't try to eat Eric Gordon. (-John Hollinger)

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Sep 4 2008 7:41PM

The Goose-Bumps Ending, No Less

2008-08-25T22:49:00.001+02:00

The final buzzer sounded and I had goose bumps. Yeah, right. It was such an awesome ending to this basketball tournament that some of my buddies were on the verge of shedding tears of joy and happiness. We got the ultimate summer present - an ultra-competitve gold medal game that had everything you want when you wanna see some classic game. *That'll probably go down as one of the greatest Olympic games ever,* said LeBron. USA’s thrilling 118-107 victory over Spain... but both teams were winners in their own way. The redemption for the hoops cradle. The pride for de la Espana valiant effort.

The United States sent their best to the Beijing Games and it’s a good thing they did because the Americans needed every weapon in their arsenal to beat Spain in the gold medal game at the Olympics. After steamrolling the competition and charging into the final as huge favourites, Team USA had to put on an incredible performance to win the prize.

They blew out Spain in their Group B preliminary round encounter 119-82 and nearly everyone believed they would be convincing winners again. But a dynamic performance from Rudy Fernandez (22 pts; Nate McMillan gotta be double-giddy, Trail Blazers are the force of the future with Rudy), who even dunked (do you like to be posterized, Superman?) over D-Howard in the second half, and a brilliant offensive effort from JC Navarro (18 pts), who came out of huge slump and was hitting his patented one-foot runners like a machine, kept the world champions close for the entire game.

*Spain were unbelievable,* said LBJ. *Every possession counted. You couldn't take one second off. If it wasn't for our determination and the will power that we have on each other (shakes head)... much respect for Spain but USA is back on top again.*

Spain fell behind by 14 in the first half but maintained their concentration and only trailed 69-61 (where were teams’ Ds?) at half-time. Aito Garcia Reneses’ men eventually closed the gap to 91-89 with 8:13 left when Rudy hit a three-pointer. The Arena was rockin’. Kobe Dobermamba (20 pts) went to the other end and scored in the lane (on his patented ill-advised but bull’s eye shot) and following a Rudy miss from behind the arc, the USA rushed the ball up the floor and a wide-open D-Will drilled a three to open up a seven-point advantage.

After D-Howard scored to extend the lead to 98-89, Rudy (he was everywhere, he’s like a better version of Josh Howard) gave Spain hope with another three. Yet Kobe replied immediately with a bomb. Spain soon after suffered a major hammer blow when Kobe, from several feet beyond the arc, made a three and was fouled by Rudy - his fifth of the game! Fouled out! Kobe sank the FT for a 108-99 lead but Spain, even with Rudy out, kept their poise. The excellent Navarro scored with a runner in the paint and Spain captain Carlos Jimenez buried a three to make it 108-104 with 2:28 remaining. That was an epic battle. D-Wade (game-high 27 pts) answered with a sealing trey for the USA and Spain got no closer than six the rest of the way.

Spain’s bench was hit with a technical and 17-year-old (M)Ricky (M)Rubio was also called for one in the final minute and the Jerry Colangelo-Coach K guys took advantage by making three of four free throws to pad the score at the end. *It has been a very beautiful game to play,* said Pau Gasol. *I think this final game says a lot about what team we are and how we deserve to be in this position. We should be very proud of what we have accomplished here. We never backed down and played a tough game.*

Spain played well despite the absence of star point guard Josema (I like those Spanish names) Calderon, who missed his second straight game with a groin injury. RR(MM) had six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in more than 28 minutes on the floor. Even my mom was impressed by his performance. To be under 18, play in the OG gold medal game and play a great game, that’s pretty amazing. He’s become the youngest basketball player at the age of 17 to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

Pau, Kobe’s Lakers teammate, had 21 points and six rebounds for Spain while his brother Marc (I think the Grizzlies got something in him, actually. He’s got a huge body, is a plug in the lane and can score a little.) scored 11 and pulled down five boards. The unheralded hero of Spain, Felipe Reyes, played a very solid game, as well. For the Americans, LBJ finished with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while the outstanding motor C-Paul and not-so-mellow Melo each scored 13. Team USA accomplished their goal of winning gold in China with a great performance on and off the court.

*Spain showed why they are the world champions,* said Kobe. *This is a testament to the system that Mr. Colangelo put in place, what you saw today was the team. Everyone wants to talk about NBA players being arrogant, selfish, being individuals but what you saw today was a team bonding together, facing adversity and coming out of here with a big win.* When asked if the team would stay together, Colangelo joked: *What these guys didn’t know is they actually signed up for an eight-year commitment.*

The USA didn't dominate in the final game, they performed. They closed it out, finally.

Moments that you should never forget if your fave sport is basketball:

*Dwyane freaking Wade’s big-time steal and reverse dunk.
*Rubio’s behind the back dribble at the top of the key past J-Kidd before splitting D-Howard and Melo to to drop in a finger roll.
*At one point, the U.S. was on pace to have a 138-point game. And it's a 40-minute game. This was officially an unbelievably fun game to watch.
*Spain down 91-84, Rudy initiates a stunning alley-oop with Pau.
*Rudy’s monster slam.
*Kobe’s best play a human can make, a four-point play. Psst!
*Wade’s dagger-trey. Explosion!

Henry Abbott: *This game had so many major storylines. The redemption of USA basketball. Dwyane Wade's perfect start to the game (he finished with 27). Kobe Bryant's end-game heroics. Rudy Fernandez's major-league 22 tough points on 13 shots. Ricky Rubio - at 17 - looking at home on the court with All-Stars in the place of injured Jose Calderon. Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro hitting big shots. Spain coming close to defending their World Championships. You know what? This could be the biggest win in the history of Team USA. In 1992, no single game really meant all that much. Probably the team's most famous game was that rigged 1972 loss to the Soviet Union. But has there ever been a bigger win?*

With American Redemption completed, the celebration begins. It begins with hugs and player’s circle in the middle of the floor. Straight forward to the medal ceremony: congrats, Argentina, for your bronze finish (Manu, get well soon! You’re my Hero, hombre!), Spain for your silver metals. Here we go... the Americans locked arms and stepped onto the medal podium as one, then raised their arms in unison toward the American fans. ...LeBron’s receiving his -GOLD- medal, reaching down, grabbing it and staring at it. He’s holding it inches from his eyes and just gazing at it, transfixed. Unable to move. They’re handing him a bouquet of red roses, he’s holding ‘em to his nose and inhaling two huge breaths, the sweet smell of victory filling his nostrils and lungs. Kidd got a happy look on his face, the one that you got when you know it’s your last great accomplishment in your HoF career. Paul’s smiling like he already knows there’s more to come in 2012 & 2016. Boozer is purely happy just to stand there. Deron Williams is savoring the flavor of every mouthful. Mike Redd’s smile is cool. Dwyane’s waving at fans, like sayin’ ‘I’m back in November!’, Tay Prince’s ecstatic in his own manner, Chris Bosh’s emotionally kissing the hardware while Dwight H.’s got his eyes closed, gold in his fingers, reminiscing the long road to redemption. Melo Anthony’s wiping a tear from his right eye as they’re raising the American flag above the court and playing the U.S. national anthem. Kobe’s singing along as James is standing nearby, stone-faced, his right hand on his heart...

Chris Sheridan: *It was an overwhelming sight to behold, the possession of those gold medals made so much more fulfilling because of what had transpired on the court for 40 immensely entertaining minutes. The members of Team USA didn't just win their gold medals, they earned them against the first opponent that finally gave them a game.*

*We were at America's lowest point in '04,* said Melo, one of four players who were in Athens. *And to be sitting here in front of you guys tonight [the press] and be on top of the world, I think we did a hell of a job of putting American basketball back where it's supposed to be.*

THE REDEEM TEAM, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Aug 25 2008 10:49PM

Introducin’ The Universe’s Most Electrifying Creature, Micky Mubio

2008-08-19T20:50:00.000+02:00

Bring this alien to the Earth. When you consider the NBA being the Earth of basketball, outside of this Earth is, you know, outer space filled with non-NBA ballers. And the Universe’s most electrifying creature is Ricky Rubio (el chico de ESP), a hoops 17-year-old phenom. No, I don’t count him as the best basketball player in the Universe, just the best creature. I mean, you know, creature. A thrilling, eye-popping, what’s-he-doin’? creature. You blink once and you miss what he’s doing on the court. Like fullcourt-pressing like a speeding bullet. Like hustling in a play that’s 95-percent lost and can’t be retreated. Like holding the ball on the floor and being under teammate’s crotch in a pose that’s beyond intelligent description at the very same time. Just look at that picture above. Unreal. He’s freakishly creature-ish. And I want him in the NBA. In 2009-10, he won’t end up being a Spur, but I can live with that. I just want him in the fold, hoping he can last there for some 20 years, retire at the age of 38 with a look of ancient Barbarian. Marvelous. Heck, I can’t wait. Really! 2009 Draft, where art thou? (By the way, the notion that he might be picked by the new-look Knicks seems interesting, but my gut feeling has him headed to Maloofs’ Kings. Sorry, the city of Sacramento, but that would be the scenario which has only one happy-crazy ending - RR and the Kings relocating to Las Vegas... and creating the buzz that has eluded the Kings since the glory days of Bibby-Christie-Peja-Webber-Divac quintet.)

Some facts about RR:

Ricky Rubio; born October 21, 1990 in El Masnou, Barcelona (In fact, he’s the first 90’s child who’ll be in the NBA! Am I that old?!?); is a Spanish professional basketball player. Considered a child prodigy in basketball, Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League, arguably the top domestic league in Europe, on October 15, 2005. The 6-3 tall Rubio is playing the point guard position for Joventut Badalona in both the ACB and the Euroleague, which is regarded as the world's top professional club annual basketball competition outside of the NBA.

Displaying amazing talent and maturity despite his young age, Rubio is commonly regarded as the best European guard prospect since Drazen Petrovic. Due to his scoring dominance and creativity, Rubio has been compared to Pete Maravich (Have you seen those youtube clips?). Former NBA guard Pepe Sanchez, who at the time played at the point guard position for ACB rivals Unicaja Malaga, made this comment in a February 2007 interview for a Euroleague profile on Rubio:

*I think he's a freak of nature - being so young and being so skilled and also so cool all the time. You can see that he knows what he's doing. He's not playing out there with pros based only on his talents. He knows the game and he can only improve. I think he'll be a great player. It all depends on him, but I personally think he's going to be great.*

Despite his notability, he is being carefully shielded from excessive media attention. Joventut and the Rubio family have agreed that he will not be available for interviews until he turns 18. Rubio was featured in SLAM Magazine in April of 2007. In the piece, the author noted that he considered him to be the best non-NBA player in the world and compared him to Magic Johnson (I don’t think that’s the best comparison out there. The best comparison I can make is to compare him with a current NBA player. RR is the next Rajon Rondo (unbelievable, that’s another RR! the gods gotta be kiddin’ me!) but even a little bit faster and, of course, wilder and sicker).

Rubio made his Euroleague debut on October 24, 2006, versus Panathinaikos of Athens. He displayed extraordinary maturity as Joventut's backup point guard for Elmer Bennett. He lead the 2006-07 Euroleague regular season in steals, averaging 3.2 steals per game, although playing in only 19 minutes per game. He also averaged 2.8 assists per game (assists are awarded more stringently in the Euroleague than in the NBA).

In August of 2006, Rubio led the junior Spanish national team to the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. During the tournament (excluding the final game), Rubio achieved two triple-doubles and one quadruple-double (!!). In the 110-106 double overtime finale victory over Russia, Rubio scored 51 points (including a three-point, buzzer-beating shot from mid-court, to force the first overtime), grabbed 24 rebounds, made 12 assists, and stole the ball seven times, a performance unprecedented in the tournament's history (Wait, that was NBA Live game? Was it, right?). Rubio also was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after leading it in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

The young Spaniard has been selected to take part in the Spanish National Team which participates at the 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament in Beijing, China. The team, after its five preliminary games, has a very good chance capturing some medal.

***
Here’s a very good ESPN Mag’s piece about RR:

LA PISTOLA
Sure, you're still tingling about the NBA draft, but it's our job as responsible journalists to … launch the buzz for next year's! Introducing Spain's Ricky Rubio, basketball's best-kept secret. (Oops.)
by Chad Nielsen

The best point guard you've never heard of walks through the streets of El Masnou, a seaside village 10 miles outside of Barcelona. His dark eyes hide behind a mop of black hair. He rocks Tupac on the Nano, but his drooping shorts are more skater than hip-hop. At 6'3", Ricky Rubio is tall enough to stand out in Spain, but this spring morning, among the whitewashed walls of his hometown, he's just another 17-year-old high school senior on his way to take final exams.

That night, though, Rubio is in nearby Badalona, the home of DKV Joventut, Spain's small-market hoops factory. On the floor, the third-year pro disrupts passing lanes and creates plays that don't make the stat sheet. Several times he even outpositions 7'1", 280-pound Marc Gasol for rebounds. When Pau's younger brother lays him out with a vicious elbow, Rubio gets up (eventually) and even with a hard drive and an easy dish to a man Gasol has left open. No wonder Rubio is an open secret among NBA scouts.

So why haven't you heard of him?

Because no one was talking. The kid never spoke after games nor gave one-on-one interviews; neither his club nor his parents allowed it. The Rubios turned down million-euro endorsement deals to keep their superstar son's life as regular as possible. And scouts kept quiet about the Spanish Pistol Pete Maravich to avoid the NBA's hefty fine for commenting on underage prospects. Rubio lives in a bubble, but it is decidedly about to burst. As soon as the 2008 NBA draft ended, Ricky Rubio officially became one of the hottest prospects for 2009.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rubio was 12 and hardwired for hoops when he joined DKV Joventut's developmental program in 2002. "He reads basketball at a velocity very few can achieve," says Marc Calderon, his U14 coach. One year later, Rubio made his Spanish pro debut. The rest awaits you on YouTube. Even in grainy videos, his elegance and court awareness show clearly. Watch him chase a loose ball, toe the sideline and fake the obvious pass before flipping a no-look, behind-the-head fling to a teammate streaking to the rim.

It's okay, you can swoon a little—like the crowd of teenage girls who begged for snapshots and signatures after a recent road game in Valencia. Or the Western Conference GM who calls Rubio "a tremendous talent," then stops to make sure the rest of his comments are off the record before gushing for five more minutes. An Eastern exec cites the NBA fine before dropping this bomb. "He's the European LeBron James," he says. "He's not so crazy strong, but he does other things: the creativity, the Maravich-type stuff. He brings people out of their chairs, and he'll put them in your stands. He's a top-three pick."

So far, the bubble has kept Rubio from the hype. His is a double life: high school everyboy by day, hoops Jonas Brother by night. Even as pressure has mounted from sponsors, the team and the league to let Rubio be heard, his folks have resisted. But now Ricky has been chosen to play on Spain's Olympic team, and that will be that. Everyone is about to find out about Ricky Rubio.

His first press conference was convened in early June. Earlier in the day, Rubio sat on his bed under a Michael Jordan poster. He praised Chris Paul and Lamar Odom, lamented the NBA's emphasis on the individual and blamed poor team play for USA's international struggles. "Basketball isn't one-on-one," he said in his native Catalan. "It's five-on-five, plus the bench."

Switching to effective if blocky English, he explained how he lulls foes into thinking they have a passing lane before closing in for another steal. No, he's not ashamed to resort to trickery, not even when playing Parcheesi against Laia, his 11-year-old sister. "If I'm losing, I'm going to do everything possible to win," he said. "I do the same thing on the court." He spoke of practicing no-look passes and emulating moves he saw in videos of Maravich. "If I can do some magic, I do it." Over and over, Rubio reminded the listener that he's 17, going so far as to spin queries about his NBA future into a case for the value of higher education.

Yeah, right. Four big-market European clubs have already offered him NBA-type money, up to 2.5 million euros (nearly $4 million) after taxes in the first year. But Rubio is too competitive to pass up the chance to play night after night against the world's best. Why else would he have spent half of June in LA, working with a shooting coach hired by his stateside agent, Dan Fegan?

Then, just before the draft, Rubio left the country unnoticed, like any normal kid.

Probably for the last time.
***

Now, the last thing - why I wrote Micky Mubio instead of Ricky Rubio in my blog title? Because, thanks to our BAFS buddy George, we call him Micky Mubio. (Roughly four years back, we were sitting in my living room and George announced the *Guys, have you seen the kid named Micky Mubio doing tricks?* line. It turned out that George didn’t keep his correct name in mind. That’s why RR is a actually MM for us.)

---
HOW I’M GONNA WATCH THE SLATE OF OLYMPICS’ QUARTERFINAL GAMES (err, MATCHES):

*Spain-Croatia 8:30AM (my land time)
Location: my house
Participants: me & my sister
*Lithuania-China 10:45AM
Location: SPURROOM
Participants: me & my BAFS buddies
*USA-Australia 2:00PM
Location: an anonymous bar
Participants: me, Valdes & any girls over 18 who are interested in deciding who’s more cute - Americans or Aussies
*Argentina-Greece 4:15PM
Location: our weekend cottage
Participants: me & my dad
---

p.s.: Another staggering number from the (ESP-USA) box score: The fast-break points were listed as 32-0. *First time I've ever seen that happen,* said Carmelo Anthony.
p.s.2: Chris Paul played with the ball like a magician flashing a gold coin. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.3: Jorge Garbajosa played like a stumblebum. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.4: Carlos Boozer: *D-Wade's like Flash. We've got him, we've got Superman, we've got King James. I mean, we've got a comic book over here.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Aug 19 2008 8:50PM

The Games Begin With CHN At USA

2008-08-10T00:21:00.000+02:00

First off, The Redeem Team will win The Gold. Pencil it in. On another note, Opening Ceremony, all I can say, wonderfully done. But make no mistake, The Games start today when United States play the hosts from Maoland. I’ve got a friend from Australia, Sonny, who’s in China since the beginning of August. His mission? Hoops-hunting, especially following what in every other country except U.S. call The Dream Team. Hey, it’s the Redeem Team, do you want a punch in your face?

The topic I wanna dig into in this blog, is the real/fake popularity of NBA player in the Far East. Yup, it’s not bogus, it’s real. It’s a fact, not fiction. Sonny stopped where Team USA stopped along the way to Beijing. The first stops were Macau & Hong Kong. Then Shanghai. He departed his home Aussie soil on August 1, flying north. He told me he did some additional research regarding Team USA, like watching The Road To Redemption or studying Coach K’s college sets. Oh, and what couldn’t be missing was a 1992 Basketball Tourney DVD. Just for as good as it gets times.

Team USA arrived to Macau a couple days later. So, what was the affection thrown at the NBA guys? Huge. They love them, whether it’s in China, Macau or wherever in the Southest Asia region. He told me a story how some young men were walking in front of his hotel, carrying US flags and chanting “Kobe!”... “LeBron!”. Amazing. When the D-Day came, Krzyzewski’s guys constantly got bombarded every where they went (note: D-Wade writes for the Associated Press about their journey to Beijing 2008.), especially The Holy Twosome - James and Bryant. Sonny’s not saying each and every player is chasing like those two, but they are. One through twelve. When 500 people chase you, it’s not fun. It can be for a while, but that’s it. That’s why Team USA isn’t in Olympic Village with other athletes. But, sure, they like going there. The bottom line, they’re popular as much as it gets.

Flash-Not-Crash Wade writes: *We did a lot of goofy things because we get real silly when we are all together. The first morning LeBron could not sleep so he woke everyone up at about 5:30 a.m. just to have breakfast at Cafe Deko. We weren't happy. By the end of the week we created a trend of having an early team breakfast which allowed us to continue to bond with each other.*

By last Saturday Sonny was with Team USA on an early flight to Shanghai. They were only there for four days, playing two games in four days, it was like an NBA season to some extent.

I asked Sonny if we should consider these games as meaningful. He said no. USA beat Russia by 21 points - and everyone started saying that USA might be beatable. Crap. As Wade said, *just because we won by 21 and not 36*. The next game they played Australia and, according to Sonny, they won by nine points, because AUS caught some lucky breaks. *Don’t believe the false hype that US Team won’t’ win it. I’m Australian and I should be in the front row shouting that we can beat Americans. Nah, that’s impossible. Okay, Spain can beat ‘em in one game off ten games... shoot, Sonny! Team USA can’t be beat.* I agree. This is gonna be the best hoops tournament in the history of OG, but lined with U.S. domination.

On Wednesday they were headed to Beijing, a moment Sonny have waited for. He says the affection for American players here is off the charts. He even saw the USA women's team. Lisa Leslie and Co. joined their fellow men in Shanghai so that they could arrive in Beijing together. Sonny: *Once they got to Beijing they were met by a ton of fans all chanting the same thing: Kobe! Kobe! Kobe! It’s like they’re in the United States.*

Today, Team USA plays China in China, but you might be surprised how many fans will wear American players’ jersey and root for them. George Bush will be there. USA on its home land in China? Quite possibly. The sure things in Maoland are these: smog, police state, modern venues and idolizing NBA hoopsters. Get ready for a night full of USA banners.

It will be one of the most watched games ever because they are estimating that it will be over one billion viewers. The game features two of China's favorite teams and two of China's favorite players, Yao and Yi of the Nets. So why would Chinese root for Americans when their icon Yao will be on the floor? A great post from Truehoop explains that:

***
-Yao Ming is No Kobe Bryant-

...a reader writes some thoughts about the mind of the typical Chinese basketball fan...

Style and scoring ability.

This is why Kobe Bryant is the greatest sports icon in China; not Yao Ming, not Yi Jianlian, not even groundbreaking hurdle-champion Liu Xiang.

This was the prevailing sentiment amongst those polled in the sold-out Qizhong Arena in Shanghai that was painted with 24s and 8s.

Perhaps it is part of the emerging young generation in China and their unquenchable thirst for all things foreign, but it is shocking how few fans list their fellow countrymen as their heroes. The fans in attendance were easily pleased, cheering even for referees calling fouls.

Witnessing the excitement for Kobe Bryant and this young Team USA, it is not unreasonable to expect there will be wavering allegiances among the locals when Team USA laces it up against an overmatched Chinese team this Sunday.

It is something that I have found the most fascinating in my two years over here in Shanghai. I am constantly asking Chinese friends, taxi drivers, and others I encounter if they like basketball, which players they like, and if they like Yao Ming.

The experience has left me convinced that I like Yao Ming a lot more than the vast majority of Chinese.

Few of them even say they like Yao Ming.

They like Tracy McGrady a heck of a lot better than Yao Ming, often expressing that Yao is lacking a quality that translates literally as "resolute heart”, but means something like determination.

I came to China with the erroneous perception that basketball has become popular in China because of Yao Ming, but it appears that he is a small piece of the puzzle. The main reasons I see that Yao Ming is not as much of a national hero as he used to be and that common sense would dictate are:

-He has yet to win a playoff series.
-His size makes him very hard to relate to for 99% of the population. Chinese fans want to idolize a player that they can imitate or relate to from a size standpoint. This is one of the main reasons hurdler Liu Xiang is much hotter and more popular than Yao Ming these days. The Chinese respect and admire people that were not given as many god-given talents, but work their tails off to become great. They can relate to that, even dream about that. That's tougher in the case of Yao Ming.
-Yao Ming is boring compared to a lot of players. I have played quite a few pickup games in China and from the 5'4 point guards to the 7-footers are all they are all showcasing their And One skills. (Yes, there are quite a few tall Chinese players all around. With the economic prosperity that China is enjoying currently, they are privy to the type of diet that was impossible before. Not to mention the one child policy allows parents to feed their children with food that was previously divided between many kids.) They are all about the flash, excitement, dribbling through the legs, behind the back passes. Yao Ming, while being one of the best centers in the NBA, just doesn't have that. That's why even if Houston were to win a title (and I think they can now with Artest) I suspect that in the U.S. and China alike you will find it boosting T-Mac's popularity more than Yao's.
-There is no doubt in my mind that the Chinese crowd will be divided on Sunday, the question is simply by how much. It is clear that if China had a better chance (maybe if Yao Ming was 100%) that the vast majority would be cheering unequivocally for China.
But because the true basketball fans realize that their chances are relatively slim, it is a harder question to answer. I asked several of the Chinese fans at the game last night about who they will be cheering for on Sunday and there was definite hesitation. After hesitating, the general consensus was that they want China to win, but that they will still be cheering for their favorite players, mostly Bryant, but for Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard too.

I relate it to the weird dynamic with fantasy sports when you have a star that is playing against your favorite team. On one hand you want your team to win, but some part of you wants to see your player shoot the lights out. If they could pick they would pick a Chinese victory, but they know that is slightly unrealistic so they will be cheering for great plays from their favorite players more than anything.

And after playing China, every game will be like a home game for Team USA. None of the non-Americans can garner the type of excitement and idolism that Kobe, Bron Bron, Melo, Howard, and Wade can deliver.

As the Chinese prospects keep maturing, it is certain that China will become increasingly relevant in the international basketball scene. It will be interesting to see how many great Chinese players it will take to start to swing popular sentiment strongly back towards China. It might just take some Iverson-type players to make that change (point guard Chen Jianghua, for instance). But my guess is it could take quite some time, and many exciting wing players, to truly change allegiances in China.
***

Now you know why I chose that freaky blog-post title. Let the basketball begin, let the frenzy begin. (And let the Wade-to-James alley-oops burn that beautiful Wukesong arena!)

p.s.: *It's like a pimple on his behind for Cuban, but $6-plus million is a big number for me... It's good to know I'm going to get it.* Ex-Mavs coach Don Nelson on winning $6.3M in arbitration against M. Cuban.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Aug 10 2008 12:21AM

Gold Medals Waitin' For These Guys

2008-08-02T20:38:00.016+02:00

p.s.: *For some reason, I like Artest,* Yao Ming said on his new Houston teammate Ron Artest. *Because in the games we play against him, I hate him*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Aug 2 2008 8:38PM

In The Stern Garden, NBA Player Contract Ain’t Rosy

2008-07-27T12:57:00.002+02:00

The Warriors have found their Man For The Future - and they didn't have to look far. This week, they, the Warriors signed Monta Ellis, their 22-year-old RFA, to a six-year, $67 million contract. The most stunning part, though, is that Ellis is receiving one of the largest raises in NBA history. As the 40th player selected in the 2005 draft (hold your breath, CDR of the Nets), Ellis was paid just $770,610 last season. He will earn $11 million in 2008-09...

...but he’ll have to abide by the rules of the contract. And these rules don’t contain stuff like sipping mojito or having your legs on the desk:

-NBA UNIFORM PLAYER CONTRACT-

1.TERM.
The Warriors (the Team) hereby employs Monta Ellis (the Player) as a skilled basketball player for a term of 6 years from the 1st day of September 2008.

2.SERVICES.
The services to be rendered by the Player pursuant to this Contract shall include: (a) training camp, (b) practices, meetings, workouts, and skill or conditioning sessions conducted by the Team during the Season, (c) games scheduled for the Team during any Regular Season, (d) Exhibition games scheduled by the Team or the League during and prior to any Regular Season, (e) if the Player is invited to participate, the NBA’s All-Star Game (including the Rookie-Sophomore Game) and every event conducted in association with such All-Star Game, but only in accordance with Article XXI of the Collective Bargaining Agreement currently in effect between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (hereinafter the “CBA”), (f) Playoff games scheduled by the League subsequent to any Regular Season, (g) promotional and commercial activities of the Team and the League as set forth in this Contract and the CBA, and (h) any NBADL Work Assignment in accordance with Article XLII of the CBA.

3.COMPENSATION.
(a) Subject to paragraph 3(b) below, the Team agrees to pay the Player for rendering the services and performing the obligations described herein the Compensation described in Exhibit 1 or Exhibit 1A hereto (less all amounts required to be withheld by any governmental authority, and exclusive of any amount(s) which the Player shall be entitled to receive from the Player Playoff Pool). Unless otherwise provided in Exhibit 1, such Compensation shall be paid in twelve (12) equal semi-monthly payments beginning with the first of said payments on November 15th of each year covered by the Contract and continuing with such payments on the first and fifteenth of each month until said Compensation is paid in full.

(b) The Team agrees to pay the Player $1,500 per week, pro rata, less all amounts required to be withheld by any governmental authority, for each week (up to a maximum of four (4) weeks for Veterans and up to a maximum of five (5) weeks for Rookies) prior to the Team’s first Regular Season game that the Player is in attendance at training camp or Exhibition games; provided, however, that no such payments shall be made if, prior to the date on which he is required to attend training camp, the Player has been paid $10,000 or more in Compensation with respect to the NBA Season scheduled to commence immediately following such training camp. Any Compensation paid by the Team pursuant to this subparagraph shall be considered an advance against any Compensation owed to the Player pursuant to paragraph 3(a) above, and the first scheduled payment of such Compensation (or such subsequent payments, if the first scheduled payment is not sufficient) shall be reduced by the amount of such advance.

(c) The Team will not pay and the Player will not accept any bonus or anything of value on account of the Team’s winning any particular NBA game or series of games or attaining a certain position in the standings of the League as of a certain date, other than the final standing of the Team.

4.EXPENSES.
The Team agrees to pay all proper and necessary expenses of the Player, including the reasonable lodging expenses of the Player while playing for the Team “on the road” and during the training camp period (defined for this paragraph only to mean the period from the first day of training camp through the day of the Team’s first Exhibition game) for as long as the Player is not then living at home. The Player, while “on the road” (and during the training camp period, only if the Player is not then living at home and the Team does not pay for meals directly), shall be paid a meal expense allowance as set forth in the CBA. No deductions from such meal expense allowance shall be made for meals served on an airplane. During the training camp period (and only if the Player is not then living at home and the Team does not pay for meals directly), the meal expense allowance shall be paid in weekly installments commencing with the first week of training camp. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Player shall be considered to be “on the road” from the time the Team leaves its home city until the time the Team arrives back at its home city.

5.CONDUCT.
(a) The Player agrees to observe and comply with all Team rules, as maintained or promulgated in accordance with the CBA, at all times whether on or off the playing floor. Subject to the provisions of the CBA, such rules shall be part of this Contract as fully as if herein written and shall be binding upon the Player.

(b) The Player agrees: (i) to give his best services, as well as his loyalty, to the Team, and to play basketball only for the Team and its assignees; (ii) to be neatly and fully attired in public; (iii) to conduct himself on and off the court according to the highest standards of honesty, citizenship, and sportsmanship; and (iv) not to do anything that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of the Team or the League.

(c) For any violation of Team rules, any breach of any provision of this Contract, or for any conduct impairing the faithful and thorough discharge of the duties incumbent upon the Player, the Team may reasonably impose fines and/or suspensions on the Player in accordance with the terms of the CBA.

(d) The Player agrees to be bound by Article 35 of the NBA Constitution, a copy of which, as in effect on the date of this Contract, is attached hereto. The Player acknowledges that the Commissioner is empowered to impose fines upon and/or suspend the Player for causes and in the manner provided in such Article, provided that such fines and/or suspensions are consistent with the terms of the CBA.

(e) The Player agrees that if the Commissioner, in his sole judgment, shall find that the Player has bet, or has offered or attempted to bet, money or anything of value on the outcome of any game participated in by any team which is a member of the NBA, the Commissioner shall have the power in his sole discretion to suspend the Player indefinitely or to expel him as a player for any member of the NBA, and the Commissioner’s finding and decision shall be final, binding, conclusive, and unappealable.

(f) The Player agrees that he will not, during the term of this Contract, directly or indirectly, entice, induce, or persuade, or attempt to entice, induce, or persuade, any player or coach who is under contract to any NBA team to enter into negotiations for or relating to his services as a basketball player or coach, nor shall he negotiate for or contract for such services, except with the prior written consent of such team. Breach of this subparagraph, in addition to the remedies available to the Team, shall be punishable by fine and/or suspension to be imposed by the Commissioner.

(g) When the Player is fined and/or suspended by the Team or the NBA, he shall be given notice in writing (with a copy to the Players Association), stating the amount of the fine or the duration of the suspension and the reasons therefor.

6.WITHHOLDING.
(a) In the event the Player is fined and/or suspended by the Team or the NBA, the Team shall withhold the amount of the fine or, in the case of a suspension, the amount provided in Article VI of the CBA from any Current Base Compensation due or to become due to the Player with respect to the contract year in which the conduct resulting in the fine and/or the suspension occurred (or a subsequent contract year if the Player has received all Current Base Compensation due to him for the then current contract year). If, at the time the Player is fined and/or suspended, the Current Base Compensation remaining to be paid to the Player under this Contract is not sufficient to cover such fine and/or suspension, then the Player agrees promptly to pay the amount directly to the Team. In no case shall the Player permit any such fine and/or suspension to be paid on his behalf by anyone other than himself.

(b) Any Current Base Compensation withheld from or paid by the Player pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be retained by the Team or the League, as the case may be, unless the Player contests the fine and/or suspension by initiating a timely Grievance in accordance with the provisions of the CBA. If such Grievance is initiated and it satisfies Article XXXI, Section 13 of the CBA, the amount withheld from the Player shall be placed in an interest-bearing account, pursuant to Article XXXI, Section 9 of such Agreement, pending the resolution of the Grievance.

7.PHYSICAL CONDITION.
(a) The Player agrees to report at the time and place fixed by the Team in good physical condition and to keep himself throughout each NBA Season in good physical condition.

(b) If the Player, in the judgment of the Team’s physician, is not in good physical condition at the date of his first scheduled game for the Team, or if, at the beginning of or during any Season, he fails to remain in good physical condition (unless such condition results directly from an injury sustained by the Player as a direct result of participating in any basketball practice or game played for the Team during such Season), so as to render the Player, in the judgment of the Team’s physician, unfit to play skilled basketball, the Team shall have the right to suspend such Player until such time as, in the judgment of the Team’s physician, the Player is in sufficiently good physical condition to play skilled basketball. In the event of such suspension, the Base Compensation payable to the Player for any Season during such suspension shall be reduced in the same proportion as the length of the period during which, in the judgment of the Team’s physician, the Player is unfit to play skilled basketball, bears to the length of such Season. Nothing in this subparagraph shall authorize the Team to suspend the Player solely because the Player is injured or ill.

(c) If, during the term of this Contract, the Player is injured as a direct result of participating in any basketball practice or game played for the Team, the Team will pay the Player’s reasonable hospitalization and medical expenses (including doctor’s bills), provided that the hospital and doctor are selected by the Team, and provided further that the Team shall be obligated to pay only those expenses incurred as a direct result of medical treatment caused solely by and relating directly to the injury sustained by the Player. Subject to the provisions set forth in Exhibit 3, if in the judgment of the Team’s physician, the Player’s injuries resulted directly from playing for the Team and render him unfit to play skilled basketball, then, so long as such unfitness continues, but in no event after the Player has received his full Base Compensation for the Season in which the injury was sustained, the Team shall pay to the Player the Base Compensation prescribed in Exhibit 1 to this Contract for such Season. The Team’s obligations hereunder shall be reduced by (i) any workers’ compensation benefits, which, to the extent permitted by law, the Player hereby assigns to the Team, and (ii) any insurance provided for by the Team whether paid or payable to the Player.

(d) The Player agrees to provide to the Team’s coach, trainer, or physician prompt notice of any injury, illness, or medical condition suffered by him that is likely to affect adversely the Player’s ability to render the services required under this Contract, including the time, place, cause, and nature of such injury, illness, or condition.

(e) Should the Player suffer an injury, illness, or medical condition, he will submit himself to a medical examination, appropriate medical treatment by a physician designated by the Team, and such rehabilitation activities as such physician may specify. Such examination when made at the request of the Team shall be at its expense, unless made necessary by some act or conduct of the Player contrary to the terms of this Contract.

(f) The Player agrees (i) to submit to a physical examination at the commencement and conclusion of each Contract year hereunder, and at such other times as reasonably determined by the Team to be medically necessary, and (ii) at the commencement of this Contract, and upon the request of the Team, to provide a complete prior medical history.

(g) The Player agrees to supply complete and truthful information in connection with any medical examinations or requests for medical information authorized by this Contract.

(h) A Player who consults a physician other than a physician designated by the Team shall give notice of such consultation to the Team and shall authorize and direct such other physician to provide the Team with all information it may request concerning any condition that in the judgment of the Team’s physician may affect the Player’s ability to play skilled basketball.

(i) If and to the extent necessary to enable or facilitate the disclosure of medical information as provided for by this Contract or Article XXII of the CBA, the Player shall execute such individual authorization(s) as may be requested by the Team or as may be required by health care providers who examine or treat the Player.

8.PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.
The Player acknowledges that this Contract may be terminated in accordance with the express provisions of Article XXXIII (Anti-Drug Program) of the CBA, and that any such termination will result in the Player’s immediate dismissal and disqualification from any employment by the NBA and any of its teams. Notwithstanding any terms or provisions of this Contract (including any amendments hereto), in the event of such termination, all obligations of the Team, including obligations to pay Compensation, shall cease, except the obligation of the Team to pay the Player’s earned Compensation (whether Current or Deferred) to the date of termination.

9.UNIQUE SKILLS.
The Player represents and agrees that he has extraordinary and unique skill and ability as a basketball player, that the services to be rendered by him hereunder cannot be replaced or the loss thereof adequately compensated for in money damages, and that any breach by the Player of this Contract will cause irreparable injury to the Team, and to its assignees. Therefore, it is agreed that in the event it is alleged by the Team that the Player is playing, attempting or threatening to play, or negotiating for the purpose of playing, during the term of this Contract, for any other person, firm, entity, or organization, the Team and its assignees (in addition to any other remedies that may be available to them judicially or by way of arbitration) shall have the right to obtain from any court or arbitrator having jurisdiction such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including a decree enjoining the Player from any further such breach of this Contract, and enjoining the Player from playing basketball for any other person, firm, entity, or organization during the term of this Contract. The Player agrees that this right may be enforced by the Team or the NBA. In any suit, action, or arbitration proceeding brought to obtain such equitable relief, the Player does hereby waive his right, if any, to trial by jury, and does hereby waive his right, if any, to interpose any counterclaim or set-off for any cause whatever.

10.ASSIGNMENT.
(a) The Team shall have the right to assign this Contract to any other NBA team and the Player agrees to accept such assignment and to faithfully perform and carry out this Contract with the same force and effect as if it had been entered into by the Player with the assignee team instead of with the Team.

(b) In the event that this Contract is assigned to any other NBA team, all reasonable expenses incurred by the Player in moving himself and his family to the home territory of the team to which such assignment is made, as a result thereof, shall be paid by the assignee team.

(c) In the event that this Contract is assigned to another NBA team, the Player shall forthwith be provided notice orally or in writing, delivered to the Player personally or delivered or mailed to his last known address, and the Player shall report to the assignee team within forty-eight (48) hours after said notice has been received (if the assignment is made during a Season), within one (1) week after said notice has been received (if the assignment is made between Seasons), or within such longer time for reporting as may be specified in said notice. The NBA shall also promptly notify the Players Association of any such assignment. The Player further agrees that, immediately upon reporting to the assignee team, he will submit upon request to a physical examination conducted by a physician designated by the assignee team.

(d) If the Player, without a reasonable excuse, does not report to the team to which this Contract has been assigned within the time provided in subsection (c) above, then (i) upon consummation of the assignment, the Player may be disciplined by the assignee team or, if the assignment is not consummated or is voided as a result of the Player’s failure to so report, by the assignor Team, and (ii) such conduct shall constitute conduct prejudicial to the NBA under Article 35(d) of the NBA Constitution, and shall therefore subject the Player to discipline from the NBA in accordance with such Article.

11.VALIDITY AND FILING.
(a) This Contract shall be valid and binding upon the Team and the Player immediately upon its execution.

(b) The Team agrees to file a copy of this Contract, and/or any amendment(s) thereto, with the Commissioner of the NBA as soon as practicable by facsimile and overnight mail, but in no event may such filing be made more than forty-eight (48) hours after the execution of this Contract and/or amendment(s).

(c) If pursuant to the NBA Constitution and By-Laws or the CBA, the Commissioner disapproves this Contract (or amendment) within ten (10) days after the receipt thereof in his office by overnight mail, this Contract (or amendment) shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force or effect and the Team and the Player shall thereupon be relieved of their respective rights and liabilities thereunder. If the Commissioner’s disapproval is subsequently overturned in any proceeding brought under the arbitration provisions of the CBA (including any appeals), the Contract shall again be valid and binding upon the Team and the Player, and the Commissioner shall be afforded another ten-day period to disapprove the Contract (based on the Team’s Room at the time the Commissioner’s disapproval is overturned) as set forth in the foregoing sentence. The NBA will promptly inform the Players Association if the Commissioner disapproves this Contract.

12.OTHER ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES.
The Player and the Team acknowledge and agree that the Player's participation in certain other activities may impair or destroy his ability and skill as a basketball player, and the Player's participation in any game or exhibition of basketball other than at the request of the Team may result in injury to him. Accordingly, the Player agrees that he will not, without the written consent of the Team, engage in any activity that a reasonable person would recognize as involving or exposing the participant to a substantial risk of bodily injury including, but not limited to: (i) sky-diving, hang gliding, snow skiing, rock or mountain climbing (as distinguished from hiking), rappelling, and bungee jumping; (ii) any fighting, boxing, or wrestling; (iii) driving or riding on a motorcycle or moped; (iv) riding in or on any motorized vehicle in any kind of race or racing contest; (v) operating an aircraft of any kind; (vi) engaging in any other activity excluded or prohibited by or under any insurance policy which the Team procures against the injury, illness or disability to or of the Player, or death of the Player, for which the Player has received written notice from the Team prior to the execution of this Contract; or (vii) participating in any game or exhibition of basketball, football, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, or other team sport or competition. If the Player violates this Paragraph 12, he shall be subject to discipline imposed by the Team and/or the Commissioner of the NBA. Nothing contained herein shall be intended to require the Player to obtain the written consent of the Team in order to enable the Player to participate in, as an amateur, the sports of golf, tennis, handball, swimming, hiking, softball, volleyball, and other similar sports that a reasonable person would not recognize as involving or exposing the participant to a substantial risk of bodily injury.

13.PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES.
(a) The Player agrees to allow the Team, the NBA, or a League-related entity to take pictures of the Player, alone or together with others, for still photographs, motion pictures, or television, at such reasonable times as the Team, the NBA or the League-related entity may designate. No matter by whom taken, such pictures may be used in any manner desired by either the Team, the NBA, or the League-related entity for publicity or promotional purposes. The rights in any such pictures taken by the Team, the NBA, or the League-related entity shall belong to the Team, the NBA, or the League-related entity, as their interests may appear.

(b) The Player agrees that, during any year of this Contract, he will not make public appearances, participate in radio or television programs, permit his picture to be taken, write or sponsor newspaper or magazine articles, or sponsor commercial products without the written consent of the Team, which shall not be withheld except in the reasonable interests of the Team or the NBA. The foregoing shall be interpreted in accordance with the decision in Portland Trail Blazers v. Darnell Valentine and Jim Paxson, Decision 86-2 (August 13, 1986).

(c) Upon request, the Player shall consent to and make himself available for interviews by representatives of the media conducted at reasonable times.

(d) In addition to the foregoing, and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article II, Section 8 of the CBA, the Player agrees to participate, upon request, in all other reasonable promotional activities of the Team, the NBA, and any League-related entity. For each such promotional appearance made on behalf of a commercial sponsor of the Team, the Team agrees to pay the Player $2,500 or, if the Team agrees, such higher amount that is consistent with the Team’s past practice and not otherwise unreasonable.

14.GROUP LICENSE.
(a) The Player hereby grants to NBA Properties, Inc. (and its related entities) the exclusive rights to use the Player’s Player Attributes as such term is defined and for such group licensing purposes as are set forth in the Agreement between NBA Properties, Inc. and the National Basketball Players Association, made as of September 18, 1995 and amended January 20, 1999 and July 29, 2005 (the “Group License”), a copy of which will, upon his request, be furnished to the Player; and the Player agrees to make the appearances called for by such Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Group License or this Contract, NBA Properties (and its related entities) may use, in connection with League Promotions, the Player’s (i) name or nickname and/or (ii) the Player’s Player Attributes (as defined in the Group License) as such Player Attributes may be captured in game action footage or photographs. NBA Properties (and its related entities) shall be entitled to use the Player’s Player Attributes individually pursuant to the preceding sentence and shall not be required to use the Player’s Player Attributes in a group or as one of multiple players. As used herein, League Promotion shall mean any advertising, marketing, or collateral materials or marketing programs conducted by the NBA, NBA Properties (and its related entities) or any NBA team that is intended to promote (A) any game in which an NBA team participates or game telecast, cablecast or broadcast (including Pre-Season, Exhibition, Regular Season, and Playoff games), (B) the NBA, its teams, or its players, or (C) the sport of basketball.

15.TEAM DEFAULT.
In the event of an alleged default by the Team in the payments to the Player provided for by this Contract, or in the event of an alleged failure by the Team to perform any other material obligation that it has agreed to perform hereunder, the Player shall notify both the Team and the League in writing of the facts constituting such alleged default or alleged failure. If neither the Team nor the League shall cause such alleged default or alleged failure to be remedied within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice, the National Basketball Players Association shall, on behalf of the Player, have the right to request that the dispute concerning such alleged default or alleged failure be referred immediately to the Grievance Arbitrator in accordance with the provisions of the CBA. If, as a result of such arbitration, an award issues in favor of the Player, and if neither the Team nor the League complies with such award within ten (10) days after the service thereof, the Player shall have the right, by a further written notice to the Team and the League, to terminate this Contract.

16.TERMINATION.
(a) The Team may terminate this Contract upon written notice to the Player if the Player shall:

(i) at any time, fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to standards of good citizenship, good moral character (defined here to mean not engaging in acts of moral turpitude, whether or not such acts would constitute a crime), and good sportsmanship, to keep himself in first class physical condition, or to obey the Team’s training rules;

(ii) at any time commit a significant and inexcusable physical attack against any official or employee of the Team or the NBA (other than another player), or any person in attendance at any NBA game or event, considering the totality of the circumstances, including (but not limited to) the degree of provocation (if any) that may have led to the attack, the nature and scope of the attack, the Player’s state of mind at the time of the attack, and the extent of any injury resulting from the attack;

(iii) at any time, fail, in the sole opinion of the Team’s management, to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability to qualify to continue as a member of the Team; provided, however, (A) that if this Contract is terminated by the Team, in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph, prior to January 10 of any Season, and the Player, at the time of such termination, is unfit to play skilled basketball as the result of an injury resulting directly from his playing for the Team, the Player shall (subject to the provisions set forth in Exhibit 3) continue to receive his full Base Compensation, less all workers’ compensation benefits (which, to the extent permitted by law, and if not deducted from the Player’s Compensation by the Team, the Player hereby assigns to the Team) and any insurance provided for by the Team paid or payable to the Player by reason of said injury, until such time as the Player is fit to play skilled basketball, but not beyond the Season during which such termination occurred; and provided, further, (B) that if this Contract is terminated by the Team, in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph, during the period from the January 10 of any Season through the end of such Season, the Player shall be entitled to receive his full Base Compensation for said Season; or

(iv) at any time, fail, refuse, or neglect to render his services hereunder or in any other manner materially breach this Contract.

(b) If this Contract is terminated by the Team by reason of the Player’s failure to render his services hereunder due to disability caused by an injury to the Player resulting directly from his playing for the Team and rendering him unfit to play skilled basketball, and notice of such injury is given by the Player as provided herein, the Player shall (subject to the provisions set forth in Exhibit 3) be entitled to receive his full Base Compensation for the Season in which the injury was sustained, less all workers’ compensation benefits (which, to the extent permitted by law, and if not deducted from the Player’s Compensation by the Team, the Player hereby assigns to the Team) and any insurance provided for by the Team paid or payable to the Player by reason of said injury.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 16(b) above, if this Contract is terminated by the Team prior to the first game of a Regular Season by reason of the Player’s failure to render his services hereunder due to an injury or condition sustained or suffered during a preceding Season, or after such Season but prior to the Player’s participation in any basketball practice or game played for the Team, payment by the Team of any Compensation earned through the date of termination under paragraph 3(b) above, payment of the Player’s board, lodging, and expense allowance during the training camp period, payment of the reasonable traveling expenses of the Player to his home city, and the expert training and coaching provided by the Team to the Player during the training season shall be full payment to the Player.

(d) If this Contract is terminated by the Team during the period designated by the Team for attendance at training camp, payment by the Team of any Compensation earned through the date of termination under paragraph 3(b) above, payment of the Player’s board, lodging, and expense allowance during such period to the date of termination, payment of the reasonable traveling expenses of the Player to his home city, and the expert training and coaching provided by the Team to the Player during the training season shall be full payment to the Player.

(e) If this Contract is terminated by the Team after the first game of a Regular Season, except in the case provided for in subparagraphs (a)(iii) and (b) of this paragraph 16, the Player shall be entitled to receive as full payment hereunder a sum of money which, when added to the salary which he has already received during such Season, will represent the same proportionate amount of the annual sum set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto as the number of days of such Regular Season then past bears to the total number of days of such Regular Season, plus the reasonable traveling expenses of the Player to his home.

(f) If the Team proposes to terminate this Contract in accordance with subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 16, it must first comply with the following waiver procedure:

(i) The Team shall request the NBA Commissioner to request waivers from all other clubs. Such waiver request may not be withdrawn.

(ii) Upon receipt of the waiver request, any other team may claim assignment of this Contract at such waiver price as may be fixed by the League, the priority of claims to be determined in accordance with the NBA Constitution and By-Laws.

(iii) If this Contract is so claimed, the Team agrees that it shall, upon the assignment of this Contract to the claiming team, notify the Player of such assignment as provided in paragraph 10(c) hereof, and the Player agrees he shall report to the assignee team as provided in said paragraph 10(c).

(iv) If the Contract is not claimed prior to the expiration of the waiver period, it shall terminate and the Team shall promptly deliver written notice of termination to the Player.

(v) The NBA shall promptly notify the Players Association of the disposition of any waiver request.

(vi) To the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph (f), the waiver procedures set forth in the NBA Constitution and By-Laws, a copy of which, as in effect on the date of this Contract, is attached hereto, shall govern.
(g) Upon any termination of this Contract by the Player, all obligations of the Team to pay Compensation shall cease on the date of termination, except the obligation of the Team to pay the Player’s Compensation to said date.

17.DISPUTES.
In the event of any dispute arising between the Player and the Team relating to any matter arising under this Contract, or concerning the performance or interpretation thereof (except for a dispute arising under paragraph 9 hereof), such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the Grievance and Arbitration Procedure set forth in Article XXXI of the CBA.

18.PLAYER NOT A MEMBER.
Nothing contained in this Contract or in any provision of the NBA Constitution and By-Laws shall be construed to constitute the Player a member of the NBA or to confer upon him any of the rights or privileges of a member thereof.

19.RELEASE.
The Player hereby releases and waives any and all claims he may have, or that may arise during the term of this Contract, against (a) the NBA and its related entities, the NBADL and its related entities, and every member of the NBA or the NBADL, and every director, officer, owner, stockholder, trustee, partner, and employee of the NBA, NBADL and their respective related entities and/or any member of the NBA or NBADL and their related entities (excluding persons employed as players by any such member), and (b) any person retained by the NBA and/or the Players Association in connection with the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, the Grievance Arbitrator, the System Arbitrator, and any other arbitrator or expert retained by the NBA and/or the Players Association under the terms of the CBA, in both cases (a) and (b) above, arising out of, or in connection with, and whether or not by negligence, (i) any injury that is subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, (ii) any fighting or other form of violent and/or unsportsmanlike conduct occurring during the course of any practice, any NBADL game, and/or any NBA Exhibition, Regular Season, and/or Playoff game (in all cases on or adjacent to the playing floor or in or adjacent to any facility used for such practices or games), (iii) the testing procedures or the imposition of any penalties set forth in paragraph 8 hereof and in the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, or (iv) any injury suffered in the course of his employment as to which he has or would have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The foregoing shall not apply to any claim of medical malpractice against a Team-affiliated physician or other medical personnel.

20.ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Contract (including any Exhibits hereto) contains the entire agreement between the parties and, except as provided in the CBA, sets forth all components of the Player’s Compensation from the Team or any Team Affiliate, and there are no other agreements or transactions of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA) (a) concerning any future Renegotiation, Extension, or other amendment of this Contract or the entry into any new Player Contract, or (b) involving compensation or consideration of any kind (including, without limitation, an investment or business opportunity) to be paid, furnished, or made available to the Player, or any person or entity controlled by, related to, or acting with authority on behalf of the Player, by the Team or any Team Affiliate.

EXAMINE THIS CONTRACT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING IT.

Good luck with your new deal, Monta.

p.s.: The "new" NBA team in OKC is going to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, which may come as a surprise to the owners of the domain name OklahomaCityThunder.com. For some reason, the name belongs to two women whose site is dedicated to "Card Making, Paper Crafting and Scrapbooking".

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jul 27 2008 12:57PM

Clipper Banner: Elton, You Effing Traitor; Summer Hoops & D-Miles

2008-07-21T21:28:00.001+02:00

Every day, once I’m done reading all the daily NBA-related colums, I continue with the discipline I named ‘mouse-running’. Basically, the rule is read as quick as possible and never think too much about the things you see - especially when you’re browsing through various readers’ comments or basketball message boards. Why? Because once you get too into it, it’s too dangerous. A) You’re losing time that you could spend better (Like, why to ponder about any freakish posts from ever-present moronic fans? Isn’t spending that time with your dog or doing yourself any tasty food a better option?), B) You could suffer some ugly heart attack when some so-called expert tells you that nobody’s better than Chris Bosh. But...

The night after Elton Brand fled east from Los Angeles, I couldn’t wait to jump on Clippers message boards, catching some fun (because, you know, malevolence always remains unbeaten). Here are the best pearls from betrayed Clippers fans:

Fan No. 1: I imagined Brand with Sixers jersey and went apeshit over it.

Fan No. 2: I don’t like Brand anymore, he’s an ass.

Fan No. 3: For me, Brand is a complete asshole. Period.

Fan No. 4: Back stabber! Back biter!

Fan No. 5: I believe that Brand is a real bastard.

Fan No. 6: He’s a bone-head.

Fan No. 7: He can play in his movies like a bullshit artist.

Fan No. 8: Busta!

Fan No. 9: If someone like Brand is changing face, can it get lower?

...

It’s my duty to note that I had something like onehundred angry comments about Brand, I lined all up alphabetically - those first nine are under A and B letters. It’s funny to be a collector of angry quotes, but you need a strong mind to keep doin’ that on a regular basis - therefore I rather dumped those quotes into my computer bin. You got first nine posted here, so have fun, but simultaneously my job is to protect you from wasting your time... all 100 quotes on ficsing.blogspot.com? No way.

Quickly...

Congrats to national teams of Greece, Croatia and Germany for grabbing the last three free spots in the Beijing basketball tourney. Also, congrats to T-Blazer Jerryd Bayless for winning the MVP of Las Vegas Summer League (honorable mention: T-Wolf Kevin Love, Grizzly O.J. Mayo & Hornet surpise Bobby Brown).

During the weekend, I observed LV Summer League with my friends, all in all, a nice happening. Here are some notes from what we’ve seen:

Saturday night’s optimistic approach

*New York Knicks have a nice combo there in Vegas, namely Wilson Chandler and Mardy Collins. Seems like Mike D’Antoni is salivating somewhere. Nate Robinson, a four year summer league veteran, is in the stands, cheering his teammates up. Phoenix Suns are no slouches, either, playing the fearsome D.J. Strawberry - Alando Tucker - Robin Lopez trio.

*In game two, you can see the Detroit Pistons farm team, featuring guys like Will Bynum, Arron ‘AA’ Afflalo, Cheikh Samb or Amir Johnson. They play quite well with together. Detroit’s foe in this game, Charlotte Bobacats are without their Man, D.J. Augustin is out with knee injury. The dud of the game is easily recognizable, Bobcat Mustafa Shakur turned the ball over 6 times and shot 2-7 from the field.

*Game 3 features the beast called Andray Blatche of Wizards. It’s a pretty good victory when you better Cavaliers’ secret rookie weapon J.J. Hickson. Also, hoopheads in Washington, D.C. can be proud of guys like Dominic McGuire or JaVale McGee. He’s probably the first guy ever who has four capital letter in name and surname. Classy.

*Joey Graham is simply a great Summer League player. Every year, he comes to Vegas and seems like he can dominate at will. Now, Joey, it’s time to step your game up in the November-April span. Also for the Raptors, John Lucas III has his best game this summer. I would not wish to play on the Lakers summerleague team - it seems like they care more about shaking hands with Phil Jackson than to impress the scouts and GMs in the stands.

*Quincy Douby, (no, that isn’t some character from Harry Potter) is a great scorer, scoring 36 points on a variety of outside jumpers. Now Sac Kings coach Reggie Theus has a guy who can back SG Kevin Martin up. Nice game from forward Jason Thompson, too. Golden State is influenced by Warriors’ regular A-team, it’s funny to watch. Guys like C.J. Watson, Anthony Randolph or Marco Belinelli stuffing the stat sheets. Well, Beli with 1-10 from the field...

*Nugget Dahntay Jones has an aggressive night, making 17 of 19 free throws. Rockets are led by Aaron Brooks and Joey Dorsey (25 points and 10 assists; 22 points and 13 boards). Donte Green of Rockets is a never-asking jacker, he basically shoots everything.

Sunday night’s in-and-out approach

*A meaningless game between Knicks ad Bobcats, showcasing the worst pick ever by Bobs (and remember, they have ‘Stache Morrison on the team), big man Alexis Ajinca. What to do, Larry Brown?

*The goof news for the Raptors truthers here: newcomer, Aussie, Nathan Jawai looks very solid.

*Coby Karl should make the decision and instead of trying to be the third PG in two PGs rotation make a successful career in Europe. Plus, you gotta love euros (I mean money here).

*I’m cheering Washington’s Dee Brown. I’m his fan. Joey Dorsey wants to fight with him after Dee’s hard foul. You gotta love Dorsey’s real passion...

*This interesting Bucks-Wolves matchup is not so glittery because Kevin Love is out due to injury. Former Spur Darius Washington plays for Milwaukee. Luc Mbah a Moute, Bucks rookie, is good. Is Joe Alexander Morrison’s bust-brother?

*Bayless is phenomenal in Summer League. Portland 74. Phoenix 73. He’s single-handedly taking out the Suns, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter. 36 points on 14-26 shooting. GM Kevin Pritchard has to be clapping his hands, because even Petteri Koponen’s not-so-good today’s game, he’s a real NBA playmaker.

*Last game, thrilling game. New Orleans 79. Cleveland 78. Hornets GM Jeff Bower is satisfied with the performance of Bobby Brown. Robert Traylor is trying out for the Cavs. Whoops, is he gonna dunk off alley-oops from LeBron?

***

Marc Stein reported that all 30 NBA teams were notified this week by league memorandum that the drug which earned Portland Trail Blazers castoff Darius Miles a 10-game suspension to start next season - if Miles can find a job - a weight-loss drug, basically.

Steep as a 10-game ban is, then, Miles' mistake is nothing bound to scare teams away from signing him. He's expected to command no more than a minimum salary in his comeback from long-standing knee problems, because the 26-year-old still has $18 million in salary coming from the Blazers.

The bigger obstacles for D-Miles will be convincing teams that his right knee can withstand a comeback. He also first has to properly lose the needed weight for a return to basketball shape.

Reports from those who have seen his workouts to date so far are mixed, ranging from claims that he'll be in the league for sure next season as a bargain-priced, irresistible reclamation project that has something left to suggestions that Miles' explosion is shot after undergoing the microfracture knee surgery dreaded by NBA players.

Miles underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in November 2006 and has not played since. The Blazers waived him in April after an independent doctor appointed by the league and NBA Players Association ruled that the knee injury was career-ending, enabling Portland to erase its financial obligations to Miles from its payroll even though it must continue to pay him.

If Miles makes it all the way back (Hang on, Darius!) and plays 10 games next season or the following season, Miles' considerable contract numbers will be reinstated to Portland's payroll.

p.s.: Jazz 2007 second-round draft choice Kyrylo Fesenko had this to say about his scoreless, four-foul, seven-turnover, 17-minute performance in Utah's Revue opener vs. San Antonio: *That was probably my worst game ever.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jul 21 2008 9:28PM

Mike, Wanna Play Some Pickup B-Ball With Us?

2008-07-11T21:53:00.004+02:00

I'm gonna do my blog homework during the upcoming weekend. And man, we've got some hoops topics to chime in. Here's the list of the biggest biggies:

*Elton-Brand-and-Clippers Split Up. (Note: I wanted to name my upcoming blog 'My Dad Follows Hoops Again - His Clippers Are Back!', but EB kicked out this scenario and now Mike Dunleavy and my daddy are crushed big-time.)

*Seattle-&-NBA-Basketball Split Up. (Note: This is waaay worse than that aforementioned split up. And that's saying something... Ugly.)

*Spurs Miss Out on Maggette, Sign Ex-Wizard Roger Mason Jr.

*Spurs Draft Picks, George Hill, Malik Hairston and James Gist. (Note: Saying goodbye to you, Brent Barry. I'll miss ya!)

*Summer Leagues in Orlando & Vegas.

*Team U.S.A. & Beijng Olympics. (Note: I've added a new link to my Blogville - 'Beijing 2008 - Basketball'.)

OK, here's the reason I'm doing this blog. My buddy Coco has found some good video about girls playing hoops in South Beach. I'm going to post it, but first, read this excerpt:

Miami Heat.com: *Being just 19-years old, do you think you can handle the fame, money and SOUTH BEACH?*

Mike Beasley: *Yes. I have good people around me who are going to make sure I’m not doing anything I’m not supposed to do. I know right from wrong. I know what to do and what not to do. Anyway, Coach Riley told me to STAY AWAY FROM South Beach.*

Hmm, I'm not a Heat fan, but I believe in you, Mike. Quite frankly. But really, how are you going, especially if you are a fly young man, to stay away from such a hot thing like those bombshells? I'm not saying it's that bad like, say, Florida snow (coke a.k.a. cocaine), but he's a pro and he can't have a bad day off the court. Again Mike, good luck to be a good citizen with those hot looking girls around you.

Part I.

Part II.

Part III.

p.s.: Beasley missed 12 of his 13 shots in his second summer league game. His response? *You can't have a great game every night. It wasn't that bad of a game. We still won the game. Nobody died.*
p.s.2: Asked when Baron Davis last spoke to Brand, davis said it was yesterday, laughing and adding, *I can't tell you what I said to him.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jul 11 2008 9:53PM

Recapping The Lucky Draft Night

2008-07-01T12:30:00.002+02:00

*We’re the champions! We won the BAFS-BAFS Freaks series - clinching the title in a thrilling Game 5. In the end, the team we thought it’s too tough and good to beat succumbed to BAFS by 2 points, 89-87. Twice they had 8-point leads in the second half. We were on the ropes as we lost Enrico due to injury (he played just three minutes) and George due to family reasons (he didsn’t play whatsoever in the G5). I came off the bench (we started Enrico, Valdes and Coco, the subs were me, Pieter and Marco) and together with Coco rallied BAFS to a 82-75 lead. But make no mistake, it was far from over. Jamie Rupp was their man in the final game. 87-82, Rupp made a huge block and BAFS Freaks had the ball. Then Rupp hit 2 free throws and converted a 3-point play in the next possession to tie it with seconds remaining. But we had our golden hero, too. Marco came out of his game-long shooting slump and hit a off-the-glass shot over his shoulder with three ticks left and then stole an inbound pass to clinch our victory. It was fun, the whole June’s series. The BAFS-BAFS Freaks series 2, dubbed The Chapter Two, is going to be held in the New York City in June 2009!

*...With the 26th pick in the NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select... George Hill of IUPUI!

I was lucky, because I know Hill is a good player and citizen, and he’s ready to play. However, almost everybody had to ponder two simple questions. Who? And, from where? The Spurs chose Hill over a handful of more highly touted guards from more prestigious basketball schools – this seems like they truly and really had him as a priority No. 1. A little-known player from a little-known college, Hill will arrive in San Antonio with a chance to earn backup minutes behind Tony Parker (TP was in the war room with Pop and RC, a lot of fun that must have been. And did you see Pop in the post-draft interview with that white beard? He looked like Moses. Hilarious.) at the point, and a chance to score points for overlooked mid-major players everywhere.

*He's a very, very committed kid,* Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. *He works hard, he's tough. More than anything, he's really grounded. Those type of guys and Pop tend to work well together.*

The Spurs, however, coveted Hill for more than just his winning personality. They think he can play a little basketball, too. One NBA scout, after watching Hill up close for much of the year (and every team watched him at the Orlando pre-draft camp where he showed his very good skills, so it’s not like noone knows him), said he thought the guard could have started for any college team in the country (Hill signed for IUPUI only because he wanted to be around and near his ailing grandfather.

Hill's gifts - the stunning quickness, dogged finishing ability and beyond-his-years basketball acumen – remind a slightly more famous Spurs point guard, Parker. His college coach says: *He's a freak of nature. He's a guy that could play three-straight NBA games, then go out and run a mile - and run it in five minutes.* Hmm, looks like Pop has a player who can play back-to-backs. About time!

What are the top moments from Hill's IUPUI career?

Two will always top the highlight reel: One came last season against Massachusetts. Hill had struggled in the first half against Gary Forbes, a player at the time rumored to be an NBA prospect. Hill scored just four points in the first half. He finished with 30, leading his team to victory in the second half. Another watershed moment came two years ago, during an early season game against Fairleigh-Dickinson. Hill had been hobbled with a stress fracture in his foot, but he begged to play anyway. His coach eventually relented, but didn't expect much out of his injured star. Playing on one leg, and without having touched a ball in weeks, Hill scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. A few days later, team doctors would shut the guard down for the rest of the season, and he took a medical redshirt. IUPUI lost that game and its star, but a local legend was born.

Earlier the last week, the Spurs put the finishing touches on acquiring Hill. They targeted himl from the get-go of the draft, telling him in the days leading up to it to expect a call if he remained on the board at No. 26. The Spurs were somewhat surprised Hill lasted so long. Probably, team officials surmised, his availability had a bit to do with the anonymity afforded him at IUPUI. *That late in the draft, most often, there are unusual circumstances for a great player to land there,* RC Buford said. *Probably, this is one of those where he was at a small college, didn't play against the best teams all the time, and didn't get much attention.*

The Spurs also grabbed SG Malik Hairston from Oregon, who doesn't do anything that wows you, but the guy really knows how to play. He can shoot the ball, has an NBA body and is very steady. The Spurs were looking for a swingman and I think he actually has enough talent to contribute a bit, even for a coach as stubborn with rookies as Popovich. The third fish in the net, PF James Gist, is one of the better athletes in the draft. He's not that skilled but he can really fly up and down the floor, rebounds and scores in the paint a bit, too. Probably a player for Spurs’ D-League team Austin Toros, but down the road he can be a supporting piece in two years.

What a lucky Draft night it was!

*Now, recapping the Draft night not from the Spurs’ perspective. (Note: This is a piece from ESPN’s Broussard, I’m going to post it here as it was written, with one caveat - I added my tiny observations, notes or disagreements here and there.)

Here re some observations. I won't comment on every team because some situations were cut-and-dried. For instance, the top selections by the Bulls (Derrick Rose /aka The Guy That Wants To Win Before He Eats and Drinks/) and Heat (Michael Beasley) were no-brainers /Hmm, not so quickly, whay every expert kept telling us Riley would not pick Beasley? They didn’t know his slick games? Read my p.s. section for the quote of the century. You won’t be that surprised.), as I think they got the only two players guaranteed to be stars in the league.

I seem to find myself praising Portland every year. Last year, of course, was easy, as the Blazers snagged Greg Oden with the top pick /Don’t forget he’s back in November!/. But remember, the year before, they got Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. This year, they did another wonderful job, parlaying the 13th pick into point guard Jerryd Bayless. While Bayless is more of a scorer who needs to learn to be a better distributor, having him share the backcourt with another combo guard like Roy (who can also run the offense and pass the ball) will take pressure off him. Now with Oden, Aldridge, Roy, Bayless and small forwards Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster, the Blazers are set /Downright scary in three or four years/. I would have lavished more love on them if they hadn't sent Darrell Arthur /Why is every expert so high on him? We’ll see if they’re right./ and tough man Joey Dorsey to Houston. I really like Dorsey as a strong, energetic role player in the league. We saw the importance of toughness in the Finals, and Dorsey would've given the Blazers plenty. Even so, they still had a good night.

Danilo Gallinari may one day prove to be a great player. Scouts say he's better than Andrea Bargnani and - this is key - tougher than most Europeans. But I have reservations about bringing a 19-year-old (he turns 20 in August) foreign player to New York, where many will expect him to be some sort of savior /I agree and don’t forget that going to Knicks is like going to hell, GM Walsh si far from a total cleaning of the team, there are still a lot of worms. Maybe it’d be better to do a total cleansing./. The transition to a new country and a new, better league is tough enough without having the pressure that New York's fans and media will put on him. They already booed him lustily and they haven't so much as seen him take a dribble. That's not to mention the dysfunctional group of veterans he'll be playing with. You want this kid to learn from true, polished professionals, not the bunch of characters /I love this word!/ the Knicks have assembled. Gallinari better be as tough as they say he is -- physically and mentally - to survive this. My gut tells me that if he ever becomes a great player, he'll do so in another uniform.

I like the Pacers' trading of Jermaine O'Neal for T.J. Ford. They weren't going anywhere with O'Neal, and Ford's contract protects them from getting hammered financially if he suffers a debilitating spinal injury. I also like Brandon Rush a lot and think he'll be a productive player in the league. But at best, Rush is probably a smaller version of Danny Granger. Plus, they already have Mike Dunleavy. I also don't expect the Pacers to get much help from Roy Hibbert. /Hell, give Larry Bird the credit he deserves, the After-Draft Pacers look like a promising team./

Minnesota continues to sputter. Kevin Love will be a solid role player and nothing more. I'm not sure O.J. Mayo will be a star either, but he has a better chance of being one than Love, so why the trade? Mike Miller is a good shooter, but he's also a role player. The Wolves better hope Randy Foye becomes a star because if he doesn't, they'll remain weak. /I don’t agree here with Mr. Broussard, ‘cos the Wolves got a bunch of guards and adding a big man like Love is better than adding the next rookie guard like O.J. Plus M-Miller is a bull’s eye shooter./

Mayo didn't look too happy to be going to Minnesota, but I'm not sure being shipped to Memphis will put a smile on his face. A year ago, Mayo handpicked USC to get publicity, and now he winds up going to a team hardly anyone cares about. Wow. He should be able to play shooting guard next to Mike Conley at point, and with Rudy Gay at small forward, that's not a bad young perimeter. Still, it's going to be a long season for Mayo and Memphis. /Better hope that GM Chris Wallace doesn’t screw this up like with the Gasol Trade, Grizzlies fans. He just might accept New York’s offer of David Lee and 50 million dollars for Mayo. Keep your fingers crossed./

If Russell Westbrook pans out, watch out for the Sonics. Not next year, of course, but in the future. Westbrook, Durant and Jeff Green /In a few years, Green will be the next holder of The West Anonimous Award (Mr. David West is the founder) - given to a player who’s on the verge of being a star in the league, but if you meet him across the street, you just don’t know him./ could be a threesome of consequence a few years from now. I also like D.J. White, who can provide the Sonics with some much needed bulk.

I like the Bucks' trade of Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons for Richard Jefferson. In Jefferson, Mo Williams and Michael Redd, the Bucks have one of the most offensively productive perimeters in the league. They still need to upgrade at power forward, but this was a step in the right direction. I like Joe Alexander, though I'm not sure he'll be a star, and playing behind Jefferson will allow him to learn and grow. I also like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute out of UCLA. With Scott Skiles calling the shots, the Bucks should be able to make a run at the playoffs. /The one thing that’s interesting with Alexander is this: my sister is in love with him and that’s a very, very bad omen. Sorry, Bucks fans, I have to tell you, my dear sister liked J.J. Redick some years ago. He’ll make career in the Czech republic./

The Nets' trade was all about clearing salary cap space for the summer of 2010, when LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh are free agents. This move puts them in position to do that, and since they're not going to win big now, that was a good deal. But their draft was solid too, as Brook Lopez gives them a strong big man who can play in the post on both ends of the floor. He won't be great, but with Josh Boone, Sean Williams and (perhaps) Nenad Krstic, the Nets are getting bigger and stronger up front. Ryan Anderson's a big who can shoot, and getting Chris Douglas-Roberts at 40 was definitely a boon. /Quickly: LeBron is a Brooklyn Net in 2010. Brooklyn Rules! Time for the NYC Showdown: LeBron vs. Danilo!/

I like Phoenix's pick of Robin Lopez. A bouncy, athletic, high-energy defender, he'll fit in well with the Suns. I also like Cleveland's selection of J.J. Hickson. Hickson, one of the 10 freshmen drafted, might have been a lottery pick had he stayed in school one more year. A 6-9 power forward with nice strength and athleticism, he averaged 15 points and 8.5 boards at NC State. This was a great pick at 19. When it's all said and done, I think Anthony Randolph can be one of the top players in this draft, but Golden State has an almost identical player in last year's rookie, Brandan Wright. So I don't know how that's going to work. /No notes needed./

I must confess. The first time I ever heard the name "George Hill" was when David Stern announced him as San Antonio's pick at 26. /Well, Mr. Broussard, are you a hoops fan? Yeah? So, how the freaking hell YOU HEARD THE NAME HILL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY?!?!?! I don’t get how people who work for the worldwide leader in sports journalism don’t know at least player’s names. Hill was in Orlando! You know, to say the least./ A 6-2 point guard out of IUPUI doesn't get much hype. But I have to give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt. They got Tony Parker with the 28th pick in 2001 and Manu Ginobili with the 57th pick in 1999, so I'm going to assume the dude can play.

With all the questions surrounding DeAndre Jordan, who dropped all the way to No. 35, the Clippers aren't the place for him. Some say he's kind of lost right now, and it's hard to see him finding his way with one of the league's most futile franchises. /You can call me mad or crazy, but I do think the Clips have a decent team, if Shaun Livingston is healthy and can play. Elton Brand opted out of his contract, but he’ll re-sign with them for less, thus creating (plus with Maggette going elsewhere) a cap space for antoher good player. Eric Gordon, Cuttino Mobley, Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas (!), Al Thornton, Brand, Chris Kaman, Livingston + Free Agent X.Y., quite solid 9-man rotation, ain’t it?/

Oh, by the way, I like what Toronto did in getting Jermaine O'Neal. At first, I didn't, thinking O'Neal was just an older, more broken-down version of Chris Bosh. Well, he is that. But I still think the duo can be effective together. With Jose Calderon running the show by himself, the Raptors should be a factor in the East next year. They'll be more of a half-court team, but they'll be tough. /Last note today: Best wishes for Baby Face’s knees./

*The Free Agency Madness just started, so here’s a list of agents I like for my Spurs:

UFA 2008:
James Posey, Celtics
Matt Barnes, Warriors
Gerald Green, Rockets
Quinton Ross, Clippers
Maurice Evans, Magic

RFA 2008:
Sasha Vujacic, Lakers
Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers
J.R. Smith, Nuggets

p.s.: Pat Riley explains the Beasley pick by saying: *I don't think there was any question on our part, we love Michael.* Liar, liar?

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jul 1 2008 12:30PM

Slick Riley Fooling Us (?) About B-Easy

2008-06-24T20:20:00.000+02:00

There are rumors that Micheal Jackson sleeps in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stall the aging process.

There are not rumors that Heat’s Pat Riley is fooling us, big time.

A couple of weeks ago, the official/unofficial word was that the Heat continue to wait and hope that somehow Derrick ‘PG Diamond’ Rose falls to them at No. 2. And that if the Bulls take Rose with the first pick, there are growing signals out of Miami that the Heat will either trade the pick or select O.J. Mayo (Good game, bro!) at No. 2. The Heat’s private workout results with Mayo were very positive. Look, much has been said about the conundrum the Bulls face, but I don’t see that much knotted. The Bulls GM John Paxson hasn’t got the grit to pick Micheal Beasley over Chicago-area son Rose, whose desire to win under any circumstances is amazing. And he’s a great guy... meanwhile, B-Easy is a... crazy guy. So the Bulls will take Rose at No. 1, that’s set in the stone, even if: A) they sorely need a big man scorer, B) B-Easy is going to be way better pro than Rose. Pencil it in.

During the NBA Finals, the Heat continued to sing that they want Mayo and that they want to trade No. 2 for, say Grizzlies’ sharpshooter Mike Miller plus anything. It’s a tought choice - Minnesota (No. 3) and Seattle (No. 4) don't have any tradeable assets the Heat want. That (reportedly) leaves Miami trying to cut that deal with Memphis and hope that Mayo's still on the board at No. 5. And he won’t be there.

ESPN draft guru Chad Ford’s words: *I really don't see Beasley wearing a Heat uniform.* Fooled?

Turn the clock one week later and another round of mock drafts. (By the way, I love them all.) Everybody’s mock draft notes kept telling us that the Heat continue to wait and hope that somehow Rose will fall to them at No. 2. Wait a minute. That was the first time someone came with this question: *Or do they?*

Source close to the process said Pat Riley thinks Rose is a bad fit in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade, because drafting Rose would give Miami two athletic slashers who are subpar shooters (Rose’s J improvement is just the matter of two, three pro seasons) and would have to try to share the ball. The Heat are bluffing about their interest in Rose in the hopes that Beasley falls to them at No. 2! Revealed!

We just exaggerate things, like Beasley isn’t the type of player Riley appreciates and that has to lead to ‘Riley doesn’t want Beasley’ conclusions. Just look at the 2006 Heat championship team, was that a roster of 15 Saint Angels? Nope.

John Hollinger’s mad numbers work sometimes and sometimes not. He projected (by formula that is, frankly, beyond my comprehension) players’ PER for the third season. Beasley's rating is the highest of any player going back to 2002 (higher than everyone’s from the famed 2003 class, for example), and it's the best by a pretty sizable margin.

Nobody doubts this guy's talent level. However, I’m not sure if Riley is a magician or the public just doesn’t like B-Easy, but hey, wake up, he had a better college season than Kevin Durant! If you remember the time before last year’s Draft, everybody was drooling over Durant. Now, look at Beasley’s body and game and tell me he’s not gonna be better than Durant (His good friend. The possibility of Durant-Beasley combo in the Sonics jerseys in Oklahoma City really intrgues me.). Shit! I shit you not!

Unless Beasley is such a train wreck off the court that he sabotages his own career, he’s the next big superstar of the league. Bigger than Durant, Oden or Rose. Really, he might be way better than people realize. Somehow Beasley didn't resonate quite as strongly, (perhaps because of the aforementioned concerns over his character), but if he keeps his head on straight he's going to be insanely good. Bet your car on it.

Yesterday I read an updated draft notes and rumors and what struck me was that the Heat might really deal (a very long list of trade scenarios) way out of B-Easy pick. (Fooling us, Padre?) I don’t believe it. I just don’t. One trade I’d approve in three seconds is Elton Brand and Clips’ No. 7 swapped for Miami’s No. 2 and Shawn Marion. Yup, one respected GM holds the forth about taking Beasley over everyone: *"Michael Beasley is far and away the best player in this draft. He's going to dominate in this league. How could you pass on him? I know everyone is talking about character this and character that, but come on, he's not a bad kid.* Miami passing on him at No. 2? *"It's a joke. He's so much better than anything the Heat are going to get offered. I don't understand it.* Me, too. Padre Riley is joking. He can crack jokes with B-Easy on the podium.

What's not to love about Kansas State’s Beasley? The sweet lefty stroke that pulls the D away from the basket? The handle borrowed from a shifty guard? Those coast-to-coast forays that start with a space-clearing rebound and end with an emphatic slam? A dizzying blend of grace, power and skill. Lack of determination? *You don't have to worry about that,* Beasley says. *There is nobody who's going to play harder. I don't want to be the next anybody. I want to be the best there ever was, plain and simple. No disrespect to MJ.* Beasley is as accomplished a goofball as he is a baller. (I call him the next Chuck Barkley.) At Kansas State, postpractice high jinks were the norm: impromptu dodgeball games, mock interviews, dunking contests on lowered rims. A YouTube clip that follows his ongoing fascination with an iPod that keeps showing up at his press conferences has drawn more than 30,000 hits. *I'm not a serious person, I like to have fun,* he says. *But I know when to turn it off.*

His best quote according to me: *Losing makes me stronger, but winning makes me invincible.*

His tattoo reads ‘MARRIED TO THE GAME’. What's not to love?

You know what? At the end of the day, Riley is fooling himself. And B-Easy creates The Two Minny Towers. Micheal Beasley & Al Jefferson. What’s your cell phone number, Mr. Riley?

***
BAFS vs. BAFS Freaks Update: It’s tied, 2-2! Game 5, Thursday!

Game 1: B-Freaks 83, BAFS 73.

Game 2: B-Freaks led virtually the entire half and quarter. But there would be seven lead changes in the final three minutes of play. Enrico hit a huge three-pointer to put us ahead 82-80 with 55 seconds remaining. B-Freaks’ captain Chris Tobey hit a three-pointer to them back on top. The game came down to BAFS’ Coco taking the ball out of bounds for one last play. Marco popped free and was momentarily open. But Coco found George, with Jamie Rupp in his face, and George drained an 15-footer to win the game!
BAFS 84, B-Freaks 83.

Game 3: This was a wonderful game. Valdes was hot (33 points!) and Enrico joined the party (23 points). The most exciting moment belonged to Pieter, whose 17-footer with 15 seconds remaining gave us the lead (78-77). Eddie Davidson then missed a 10-footer with five seconds remaining that would have given B-Freaks the lead. Our defense held Tobey to only 2-of-14 in this game and scored only 10 points.
BAFS 78, B-Freaks 77.

Game 4: Coco and Kevin Downey battled it out. Downey scored 20 points in the last 15 minutes. He hit a shot with two minutes left left to give B-Freaks the lead. We were just a couple of plays from winning the series! But after that shot, we were totally frozen and couldn’t hit anything. They scored 10 unanswered points to finish the game off.
B-Freaks 90, BAFS 79.

***
Spurs Draftee?

I’d love to have Courtney LEE (No. 26) on the Spurs roster.

Courtney Lee
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
Age: 22
School: Western Kentucky

We need help at the shooting guard slot. With Manu as the sixth man, Courtney Lee can step in from day one and become an important shooter. His ability to shoot and score would be a big help. It's no secret that the Spurs are looking for a 2 guard. Now they got a chance. Either Lee or CDR, Chris Douglas-Roberts. Lee is the better shooter, while Douglas-Roberts is more of a slasher.

Nos. 45 & 57:
*Josh Duncan, SF, Xavier. Skinny: An athletic forward, Duncan can shoot the 3-pointer and run the floor. Plus, having two Duncans would be funny.
*J.R. Giddens, SG, New Mexico. Skinny: On talent, Giddens is one of the top 30 players in the draft. But his off-the-court antics have hurt his stock. He is starting to get his life back together and would be tough to pass on this late in the draft.

Sleeper Pick:
Trent Plaisted, C, BYU
Plaisted's athleticism, energy and toughness would be major assets. He hasn’t a big offensive repertoire, thus he’ll likely fall out of the first round.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jun 24 2008 8:20PM

17th Party For Beantown

2008-06-18T20:44:00.000+02:00

Congrats, Boston Celtics. I’m not writing a blog this time, because when we got times when Boston is the champion of NBA, noone can sum things up better than The Sports Guy. And that’s why I’m posting his column on my beloved blog.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Notes from a good ol' fashioned Garden party

BOSTON - If legendary poet Tyrone Green rewrote "Images" about Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals, it could have gone something like this:

Dark and lonely on a summer night
Kill the Lakers
Kill the Lakers
Kobe barking, do he bite?
Kill the Lakers
Kill the Lakers
Raining 3s and and grabbing their neck
Then their hopes we start to wreck
Got every reason -- what the heck?
Kill the Lakers
Kill the Lakers
C-I-L-L
The La-kers

This was an obliteration. There's no other word. Obliteration. The Celtics did more than just capture their 17th title Tuesday night, playing their finest game of the season and crushing the spirit of a longtime foe in the process. Boston 131, Los Angeles 92. And you know what? It wasn't even that close. For Celtics fans, the only way Game 6 could have been more satisfying was if Kobe flipped out in the fourth quarter and punched Sasha Vujacic during a timeout, then got dragged to the locker room by five teammates screaming, "This isn't over! This isn't over!" while Sasha sobbed into a towel. Maybe that didn't happen, but everything else did.

You know you attended a special game when you're trying to fall asleep that night and the following things are in place: Your palms are swollen and pink, almost like when someone allergic to shellfish accidentally touches a lobster. Your voice sounds more hoarse and scratchy than Lindsay Lohan after an all-night bender. Your body is caked in sweat, only you don't want to shower because it kinda feels like you played. You just lie there smiling and thinking about everything, and if you concentrate hard enough, you can still hear the crowd cheering and cheering. I climbed in my bed at 2:30 a.m. and didn't fall asleep until 4.

There are different ways to win a championship; all of them work, but ideally, you'd like it to happen at home so the fans can share in the happiness, and you'd like a butt-whupping so everyone can spend a stress-free fourth quarter soaking it in, carrying on like maniacs, watching the boys celebrate on the bench and everything else. The Celtics clinched the 1986 title in Boston by effectively destroying the Sampson/Olajuwon Era Rockets. The game happened 22 years ago almost to the day, and I just remember standing and cheering for three hours and thinking Larry Bird was superhuman. Everyone thought we were headed for another dynasty that day -- we had the best player, one of the greatest teams ever, the No. 2 pick in the '86 Draft ... I mean, life was good. Then Lenny Bias died from cocaine abuse and sent the franchise into one of those Goose/Maverick tailspins. Bird and McHale got injured, Reggie died, and within seven years, the Celtics weren't the Celtics anymore.

On the surface, Tuesday night was about reclaiming an old territory, a little like Avon Barksdale getting released from prison and reclaiming the streets of Baltimore. But it went much deeper than that. This was a generational thing. For older fans weaned on the Russell Era (like my father), this was about stumbling into another banner well after the point when they had started wondering to themselves, "Good God, I don't know if I'm ever going to see another championship team." For fans weaned on the Hondo/Cowens teams or the Bird/McHale teams (like me), this felt like climbing into Doc Brown's DeLorean, back to those springs in New England when the weather started getting nice, pollen collected on the streets and everyone started getting geared up for a two-month run of Bruins and Celtics playoff games. And for the under-30 fans, this was about breaking from the past and forming their own memories. Instead of hearing about the time Gerald Henderson stole the ball or Glenn McDonald saved the Triple-OT game, they finally had their own stories to tell, like the time Pierce dropped 41 on the Cavs in Game 7, or the time we came back from 24 down to beat the Lakers.

So everyone was three levels beyond euphoric Tuesday night. Say what you want about sports, but I can't think of anything else that brings random people together quite like winning. You should have seen Causeway Street before Game 6 -- just green everywhere you looked, everyone walking with a purpose, fans chanting different things, everyone just happy to be involved, like we were attending some Celtics Fan Fantasy Camp or something. I can't speak for everyone else, but I pounded my hands together for three solid hours. I jumped up in delight at least 50 times. I fought off a lump in my throat when Pierce and Doc Rivers were hugging near the end. I hugged people I didn't know and briefly turned into James Posey at one point.

Everything was a happy blur. Looking through my notebook Wednesday morning and trying to decipher the incoherent notes, fortunately, a few things from that happy blur stand out:

Note No. 1: "6/17"

If you're a numerology buff, then you'll enjoy this one: Game 6 was played on June 17 -- in other words, "6" (the number for June, as well as the number of games in the Finals) and "17" (the number of Boston championships if you include one for 2008). Two of the four greatest Celtics of all-time -- Bill Russell and John Havlicek -- wore "6" and "17" respectively, and if you add 6+1+7, you'd get "14," the number worn by Bob Cousy, another one of the four greatest Celtics ever. (If you want to really stretch it, 3 + 3 = 6, and "33" was worn by Larry Bird, the fourth in the "greatest Celtics ever" group.) If that's not enough, the area code for Boston is "617." And on a somber note, the 1986 draft happened June 17 -- really, the last day the Celtics felt like they were invincible. I don't know what all of this means, but it means something, right?

Note No. 2: "KG Head-Butt"
After a brutal Game 5, Kevin Garnett admitted afterward he "played like garbage." This made me happy. We needed him to show up for Game 6, and as I wrote Tuesday, it sure seemed like he was either A.) shrinking from the moment, or B.) totally worn down from keeping his engine in fifth gear for the duration of a grueling 107-game season. Before the opening tip, Garnett stood in front of the basket near Boston's bench, muttered a few things to psyche himself up and finally head-butted the basket support as hard as he could. Watching from about 50 feet away, my Dad and I raced to make the "Uh-oh, I think we're getting the KG from the regular season tonight" comment.

And that's exactly what happened. Garnett finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds and played his usual terrific defense, but more importantly, he found his swagger again, a level of passion and intensity that's unique to him and only him. Now I'm convinced Garnett just wore himself down as the playoffs went along. The whole thing meant too much to him; he wanted it too badly. By the end of Game 5, a cooked Garnett was standing flat-footed in the paint as key rebounds ricocheted by him in every direction. For someone who once averaged 15 boards a game, it seemed almost incomprehensible that he couldn't grab any of them. Was he choking? Was he injured? What the hell? Now we know the answer -- if the season wore him down, then Tuesday night's crowd gave him one last energy boost, like 18,000 people were pouring a giant Red Bull down his throat. He ended up playing a monster game when Boston needed it most, and if there was a signature KG moment, it had to be the three-point play near the end of the first half when he hopped into the paint, got knocked to the floor and flung a line drive as he was falling that banked in, followed by Garnett lying on the floor with his arms raised, screaming at the ceiling.

Let the record show KG played one of his greatest games to help clinch a championship. It's something Elvin Hayes can't say, or Karl Malone, or Patrick Ewing, or Chris Webber, or anyone else from the not-so-clutch group that Garnett escaped. Much like John Elway after the '97 Super Bowl, any lingering questions about Garnett's ability to raise his game in big moments vanished into thin air for good Tuesday night. They will never be asked again. It's funny how a championship can do that.

Note No. 3: "Posey 3, 43-29, BEDLAM"
Here's where things started looking good -- midway through the second quarter, after the Celtics survived a hot start from Kobe and some curious officiating -- when the Celtics pulled away with some stifling defense and a few timely 3s and finally rewarded a crowd that was ready to burst for a solid hour. You could actually see the Lakers wilting. I'm not kidding. They looked like they wanted to hop on the plane right then and there. More importantly, this was when the fans pushed themselves to another level -- I know this sounds crazy, but out of all the sports, only in basketball can a crowd reach a point where everyone collectively decides, "There's no way we're losing tonight." You don't know when it's going to happen, you can't make it happen, but when it does happen ... you know.

43-29. Bedlam. That's when we knew.

Note No. 4: "84-53, 21 asts, 5 TO, 13 stls, 34-17 reb adv."
Here's where the night became a little surreal, with the Celtics leading by 31 in the third quarter and dominating the game statistically to the degree that I actually felt obligated to write those numbers down. The guy who keyed everything after halftime was Rajon Rondo, who played out of his mind and made the Lakers pay for the "let's cover everyone else and make Rondo beat us" strategy. If you applied my Table Test to Rondo's second season, you'd say he brought a ton of forks and plates to the table, and he definitely took off a bunch of knives and spoons. In other words, maybe he didn't give you everything you needed, but you could still eat dinner with him. If Rondo played well in the same game when Allen and/or Pierce were scoring and Garnett was controlling everything else, the 2008 Celtics were unbeatable at home. Repeat: Unbeatable. Just like Tuesday night.

Note No. 5: "PP -- 'I'm tired'"
A direct quote from Paul Pierce after he airballed a 3-pointer with the Celtics winning by 30, got yanked for a much-needed sub and limped back to the bench. The guy was dead. You could see it.

Quick tangent: We're basically rooting for laundry in sports. Of the 10 best guys on this particular Boston team, seven of them weren't Celtics during last season's despicable tank job, and two of them weren't Celtics as recently as January. As much as I like the new guys and everything they brought to the team, I still feel like I'm getting to know them. Posey, House and Brown were hired guns. Garnett belongs to Minnesota. Allen belongs to Milwaukee and Seattle. Powe, Rondo and Big Baby just got here. This season was like having a great fantasy team -- the guys were thrown together and made some magic happen, but still, they were thrown together.

But Pierce ...

I mean ...

We watched that guy grow up. We watched him become a man. We believed in him, we gave up on him, and we believed in him again. I don't mean to sound like the old man in "Pretty Woman," but part of me wanted to walk on the court Tuesday night and just tell Pierce, "It's hard for me to say this without sounding condescending, but I'm proud of you." The guy gave us everything he had, altered his NBA tombstone, earned a place in the rafters and brought us a 17th title -- just like he promised, by the way -- and his sterling play in Games 4 and 5 ranks among the all-time greatest Celtic performances. We spend so much time complaining about sports and being disappointed that our favorite players never end up being who we wanted them to be, but in Pierce's case, he became everything we wanted him to be. When he held up the Finals MVP trophy after the game and screamed to the crowd in delight, I don't think I've ever been happier for a Boston athlete. How many guys stick with a crummy franchise for 10 solid years, then get a chance to lead that same team to a championship? Does that EVER happen in sports anymore?

Note: No. 6: "You feel safe?"
My Dad asked me that one when we were leading, 89-60. My answer? No. The memory of the Game 2 meltdown still lingered And, of course, the Lakers still had No. 24.

But as Bryant kept throwing up bricks and looking like Mike Tyson in Japan -- remember when Buster Douglas kept clubbing Tyson in the head, and after the initial shock wore off, we came to the gradual realization that Tyson wasn't as dominant as we believed? -- I started to feel safer and safer, and everything crested with those two Ray Allen 3s that practically caused the roof to cave in. Leading to ...

Note No. 7: "P.J. smiling, PP nodding"
My favorite moment of the game, as well as the one I'll always remember. The Lakers called timeout after those Allen 3s with the Celtics leading, 101-70. (By the way, I can't remember another playoffs in any sport quite like the one Allen had; it was like watching a dead person climb out of a coffin at an open casket funeral like nothing ever happened. Amazing. Twenty-two threes in the Finals???? They would not have won the series without him, and that's an understatement.) Everyone could smell the trophy at this point. It was going to happen.

I glanced over to the Celtics bench and noticed P.J. Brown just sitting there grinning; he looked like a proud parent watching a son or daughter giving an Oscars speech. He couldn't have been happier to be there. It wasn't possible. Standing next to him, Pierce faced the crowd behind the Celtics bench, watching everyone dance to the Jumbotron music as he nodded happily. You could see him soaking in the moment. He wasn't even doing it for the cameras; it was one of those times when you could study someone from a distance and read every single thing they were thinking. He was thinking about the last 10 years, and all the bad things that happened, and all the times he gave up hope, and now, he was reminding himself to enjoy the moment. You could see it. All of it.

Note No. 8: "Gino!!!!!!!!!"
They finally showed him with a little less than three minutes remaining. Once upon a time, we had Red Auerbach's cigar. Now, we have a long-armed dancer with a creepy beard working his magic on an "American Bandstand" episode from 30 years ago. As soon as the music started, the crowd erupted and Pierce quickly hopped onto a chair to dance along. This wouldn't have happened 22 years ago; back then, the players exchanged sweaty high-fives and hugs, the stadium played organ music, Red's cigar smoke drifted toward the rafters and the fans prepared to charge the court and eventually spend the rest of the night getting drunk at one of the 50 bars surrounding the Garden. Now? We stay in our seats cheering and clapping, we can't celebrate after the game because nearly every bar was closed down for safety reasons, and we celebrate victories by dancing along with dead background dancers from long-defunct disco shows. Things are different now. S--- happens.

But you know what? I still loved every second of it. I feel guilty about condoning anything about the Jumbotron Era, but in this case, I gotta say ... it worked. Fifty years from now, everyone able to remember Game 6 of the 2008 Finals will remember Pierce and Gino dancing together. And that's just the way it is.

Note No. 9: "Deee-fense! Dee-fense!"
This chant happened after the game, when they were interviewing Doc Rivers on the podium after the celebration. (Important note: I was wrong about Terry Francona in 2004, and I was wrong about Doc in 2008. That's not earth-shattering news because I'm wrong many times. But this time, I was really, REALLY wrong -- the guys gave him everything they had in the Finals. This had to be mentioned.) Doc mentioned the defense as the biggest reason for the victory, and out of nowhere, the fans started a "Deee-fense!" chant and drowned him out for the rest of the interview. It was the perfect way to end the season -- everything started with the defense this season, from the Garnett trade to the Tom Thibodeau hiring to the Posey and Brown signings to Pierce's emergence over these last few months as a truly great defensive player. Time and time again, the defense saved this season. If there's a lesson with the 2008 Celtics, it's one we already knew: Defense wins championships.

Note No. 10: "I gotta say, I never thought I'd see another championship in my lifetime."
My father said that during the celebration. He said it without a trace of seriousness, humor or emotion. Less than 13 months earlier, after our lottery hopes went down in flames and it looked like we were headed for the Yi Jianlian Era, we both wondered if professional basketball effectively had been murdered in Boston. Dad bought a single season ticket for the Celtics for the 1973-74 season and carried me into the Garden for the next four years, sitting me on his lap and even letting me sleep on him during the famous Triple-OT Game against Phoenix in 1976. When I became too big to sit on his lap, he bought a second ticket even though we really didn't have any money at the time. And we've had those two tickets ever since. How do you repay someone for a lifelong experience like that? You don't. You can't.

For the past 15 years, he shelled out a substantial amount of money for one dreadful memory after another (with the exception of an improbable playoff run in 2002). What made him keep sending those checks with no daylight in sight? He hoped for another game like the famous Bird-Dominique duel in 1988, when Larry had come through enough times that you could actually feel it coming before it happened. After that masterpiece of a sporting event -- really, it was a life experience -- we were too wired to head right home, so we found an ice cream shop called Bailey's in Wellesley and ordered a couple hot fudge sundaes. I don't think we said anything for 20 solid minutes. We just kept eating ice cream and shaking our heads. What could you say? Can you put something like that into words? We were speechless. We were drained. We were lucky.

So maybe you can't walk away from the potential of more Bailey's moments, even if the NBA stacks heavy odds against such bliss happening for more than three or four franchises at the same time. After Reggie's death in the summer of '93, the Celtics stopped being lucky and they definitely stopped being smart. That didn't stop my father from steadfastly renewing those tickets every summer with his fingers crossed, hoping things would somehow revert to the way they were. Then the Allen trade happened, and McHale delivered KG on a silver platter, and Posey and House came aboard, and suddenly, we were alive again. Although the 17th title meant something different to everybody, for the lifers like my father and every other fan who kept their tickets as prices kept rising and the team kept stumbling, Tuesday night resonated with them on a whole other level. Had they given up, had they packed it in, had they watched Game 6 happen on television and spent the whole time thinking, "I could have been there" ... now THAT would have been cruel. Instead, they were inside the building and feeling part of everything that was happening, mainly because they were.

Anyway, my father deserved the title as much as anyone. I was somewhere between 100 and 500 times happier for him than I was for anyone else. We parted ways after the game, shared a hug and successfully avoided getting choked up, although, in retrospect, that wouldn't have been a bad thing. I headed down to The Greatest Bar to commemorate the victory with a packed house of deliriously happy Celtics fans, threw down a few celebratory beers, turned down about 25 offers to do shots and had a series of "Can you believe this?" conversations with basically everyone in the bar. Nobody really knew what to say. We all agreed that, as great as the night was, that it happened at the expense of the Lakers really pushed everything over the top. Boston fans hate the Yankees, we hate the Canadiens and we hate the Lakers. It's in our DNA. It just is. Blowing the Lakers out of the building in Game 6 was the proverbial cherry on our hot fudge sundae. If it were the Jazz or the Spurs, it just wouldn't have been the same.

At one point, someone asked me, "How are you gonna write about ... THAT? I mean, how do you write about what just happened?"

I didn't know, and I didn't care. The Celtics were the champs. The Lakers had been vanquished. The city of Boston was hopping. Everything was right with the world again.

And that's when I decided to do a shot.

p.s.: *My play tonight, I though it was trash,* said K. Garnett about G5.
p.s.2: K. Bryant said he spent some time reading a Harry Potter book to his daughters. *It was awesome,* he said. *He had more problems dealing with Voldemort than what we have dealing with the media and the Celtics.*
p.s.3: *We just wet the bed,* Kobe said about Cs’ comeback in G4. *A nice big one, too. One of the ones you can't put a towel over. It was terrible.*

By Bill Simmons, rewritten by Foreigner in CS - Jun 18 2008 8:44PM

Everything's Bad. Well, NOT Everything.

2008-06-14T18:25:00.001+02:00

If you read my blog carefully (ahem, I don't expect it), in one of my recent blogs I wrote that the BAFS-BAFS Freaks series have the start set on June 7. Well, I can't tell you the real reasons why (other than that we had 3 guys from our team with severe 'Saturday-morning' headaches), but Game 1 must have been rescheduled, meaning June 7 start has been scratched and set for June 12. (The complete schedule is: June 12, 15, 19, 22* and 26*; *if necessary.)

Don't get me started on Game 1. Thursday was so bad I was still slapping my face yesterday - it's just a nightmare, ain't it?

After the game, we questioned our team's physicality and focus and execution, as well as a few other things.

Game 1: B-Freaks 83, BAFS 73.

On a night in which I had an injured ankle in the first half, few other things did not add up in our favor, either.

Such as lots of turnovers, plus the worst shooting night you can imagine. This was supposed to be our well-known home rims! This all equals one ugly defeat.

It was a night so bad for us, we couldn't even make free throws over 60%.

I said the guys, we could live with the turnovers, we could live with shooting airballs from the field. We could even live with being outplayed. But we could not live with the lethargic effort.

Our foes from B-Freaks built a 16-point lead in the first half and never trailed again.

We had our moments, too. Like playing an inspired ten mins of the second half to pull within a point before coming unraveled again.

By halftime, we had produced more turnovers than field goals, according to our unofficial stats-makers, and were lucky to be behind only 44-32.

After closing to within a point midway through the second portion, we continued by missing three field goals, two foul shots and committing four turnovers before recording another point.

On Sunday, we swear we'll be better. You bet!

To my pleasure, the life didn't stop making me believe everything's bad afterwards.

All the time trough the week, the new Donaghy thing kept floating around our heads, casting a shadow on the great finals and, personally, making me angry. Couldn't that wait a little longer? Like after these Finals. You have to love Donaghy's timing.

Again, I don't think the NBA takes action into picking a winner here and there. It's insane. When the situation reachs the level like Stern has to say one-hundred times referees don't manipulate games, something it's wrong with the fans. The don't care about the fantastic Finals we have, they rather chat about theories and allegations made by felon.

Yes, Stern makes mistakes, refs make blunders, but I'm with the commish on this one - some questionable games might have been officiated poorly, but honestly and not illegally.

The NBA conducted a separate investigation of its refs by former federal prosecutor Pedowitz, the FBI ivestigated it and nothing was found. Yet, the fans still believe that criminal is right. Do they actually care about NBA? Are those real, pure fans? I simply don't get it.

Game 4 C's vs. L's had to bail me out of this low moments and... the blowout was about to take place. Nothing amazing, exciting. LA kickin' Boston's asses.

Lamar Odom drained another 16-footer. He was hot and so were the Lakers. It's 24-7, Lakers.

Pau Gasol got to the line for two freebies. 30-12, Lakers.

Trevor Ariza hit a 3 and it was 34-12.

Ariza shoved James Posey out of the way for an offensive rebound and slammed it in. 37-14, Lakers.

And Kobe didn't have a field goal yet, truly amazing!

The score: 45-21, Lakers

Posey for 3 and a 14-point game, all of sudden.

Jordan Farmar banked in a garbage running 3-pointer at the buzzer, our halftime score: 58-40, Lakers.

A steal and a fast-break layup for Ray Allen, Lakers 72, Celtics 61.

Eddie House for 3... and it was a six-point game! I started to believe we actually could get a barn-burner game!

When Paul Pierce passed to P.J. Brown and he dunked over Bryant to end the third quarter, I jumped out of my sofa and started giving high-fives to the wall - and I'm not a Celtics fan.

Leon Powe tied the game with a turnaround jumper: 73-73. What a comeback! What A COME-BACK!

The Lakers didn't give up that easily, after Kobe fast-break dunk, L.A. by four with 5:47 remaining.

My man J-Pose drained a huge 3-pointer. Unbelievable.

Eddie House drained a 20-footer for a one-point lead. The Celtics got over the hump! I swear, at the moment House released the ball, I thought it would rim out.

Ray Allen drove for a gorgeous up-and-under layup (and a 3-point Celts lead). The Drama! Everything's NOT bad!

Kevin Garnett in the paint, scored! Celtics by 5, 2:10 remaining.

Just when it looked like the Lakers would make a final rally, Posey killed them again! Boston 94, L.A. 89, 1:10 to go. He's entitled to be Mr. Horry-Light.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Ray Allen whittled the next 20 seconds off the clock before completely abusing Sasha Vujacic for a back-breaking layup. Boston by five, 17 seconds left. It couldn't get better when they showed a dejected Vujacic on the bench. My father thought he was going to kick Phil Jackson's clipboard. By the way, Doc Rivers had a great coaching game. Kudos to him. And his speeches are a hot commodity.

Game over, Boston 97, L.A. 91. What a great classic game! That was the greatest comeback in Finals history! Thanks God for bailing me out of my life slump. I know everything's not bad. It only seems so. Does it means we'll win Game 2? Huh?

p.s.: How could we spice The NBA Finals up, Ron Artest? *Maybe we need to focus more on a great halftime to liven it up. The Super Bowl has big-name performers. We can too. Or they can just have me perform at halftime. Yea, that'd be the best thing to do.*
p.s.2: Tony Parker said: *When I was young, I drank Sprite and ate McDonald's after the game. But I've changed. I'm lucky to have a wife who cooks.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jun 14 2008 6:25PM

Smelly-oop; Knee; Rondo’s Ears, Michelle’s Eyes; Powe-Show; 2-0

2008-06-09T11:58:00.004+02:00

I'm very pleased to stick my NBA Finals Game 2 Blog here. My buddy Valdes, BAFS Freaks (more on our streetball series in Thursday’s blog) PG & captain Chris Tobey and our friend from Boston, Michelle, joined me and here’s what transpired. I was at home, Valdes was in our own special SPURROOM, Chris was in his team’s hotel and Michelle was in Boston, blogging from her house near the TD Banknorth Garden. What a foursome, isn’t it?

Smelly-oop: Welcome to the show! All right, let's get this going.

Valdes: Wait, who’s Smelly-oop?!?

S: That’s me, FiCS. I got that nick through nba.com’s Nickname Generator. It’s awesome.

V: That name sucks. At least for me. Incidentally, I saw PP saying he’s good to go tonight. The swelling is down somewhat. He moved pretty ewell at the team's practice.

Chris: His knee is already a legendary item. Twenty years from now, you’ll got a chance to buy Pierce’s knee through NBA Store.

S: The defensive end will be the real test for PP. It’s easier to play with such a knee on offense. What’s with Perk?

Michelle: Hi guys, what’s up? Perk will be okay. He looks like a big elephant but he’s ready.

V: Did you see Gasol, and Kobe in a shoot-around? It was fun.

C: Kobe plays the game in his mind in his pre-game routine.

S: In a press conference before the game, David Stern was brazenly anti-fireworks at games. A few minutes later: we are watching fireworks. And people call him controlling! Here is one thing he clearly does not control.

M: Perkins gets himself in the right spot offensively - don't need mobility if you are in position. I like him.

C: Paul Pierce didn't show any lift heading to the basket on that drive.

S: Radmanovic had five fouls in about 17 minutes in Game 1. Now two fouls in the first couple of minutes here. And an Ariza sighting! Ariza!

V: Trevor Ariza is presumably here to guard Pierce. First two times Pierce gets it vs. Ariza, he waltzes straight to the rim. Just look on that look of PJ’s face.

C: Kobe was begging for a hi-lo. LO messed it up. Means Lamar Odom.

S: Thanks Chris, we appreciate your explanation.

M: Nobody guarding Rondo - all alone on weakside. I like his headband, it’s cool.

V: Seeing KG ask for the ball. I can’t believe he’s a 7-0 jump-shooter with his body.

C: If Ariza can get any kind of offensive game going, Phil will have found his answer to PP. He can't shut the Truth down, but he's so much better than Vlad on D. Don’t bet on it, Ariza seems to be too rusty.

S: Phil Jackson has already whistled a couple of times when the Celtics had the ball. I have been trying to deduce its meaning, but it's tough. It’s like a secret password.

M: Walton has been bad. What’s up with him?

V: I don’t know, maybe he lost his girl. Perkins just funneled Pau to the baseline and choked off his move. Textbook D, bad O.

S: Classic stuff from KG.

C: Why are the Lakers going over the screen and letting Ray fade to the corner? He’s too dangerous for this tactic.

V: Gasol got smart and attacked middle on Perkins that time. And I doubt Rondo will fall for Derek Fisher's next pump fake. He bit hard on that last one.

M: That's 2 bad calls on Kobe. Shockingly bad.

S: Kobe Bryant is posting up, as he told Dr. Jack Ramsay he planned to do, but an awful lot of the time he never gets the ball. Many possessions he doesn't get his hands on it at all.

V: The fouls off the ball are affecting the outcome. Get your crew together, Bob Delaney!

M: Odom would be great with KG's heart.

C: Who’s that? Leon Powe?

V: Celts still winning more 50-50 balls.

S: I'm still shocked by how bad Walton has played. Powe is killin’ him.

C: Comedy stat note from the first quarter: One player I don't remember making a single good play, Trevor Ariza, had the best plus/minus of everyone, at +4.

V: The Celts D is metling the Lakers backups.

M: Powe a man against little boys.

S: I'm noticing that Kobe Bryant is 1-4. Picking up exactly where he left off. He hasn't been really hot in 13 consecutive quarters against the Celtics.

V: Bottom line - Celts tougher than the Lakers. For now. Lakers can raise their intensity level. But will they?

C: The Lakers are playing Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Ronny Turiaf. They have four turnovers and no points yet in the quarter. Big risk by Phil Jackson. 10-2 run for the Celtics, who are also playing bench players. Now Bryant, Radmanovic, and Odom come back...

M: How about Kobe going sideways after the shot fake rather than going to the rim. Can't get to the foul line going toward the sideline. I’m a girl and I know the basic principles? Does Kobe know them, too?

C: Ninth turnover already for the Lakers. Bad...

V: Celts need more of that from KG - fewer jumpshots.

S: Paul Pierce driving and dishing to Kendrick Perkins for an and one. Those are the two guys who were questionable for tonight. Not questionable on this play! By the way, PP’s knee is forgotten.

V: No one at the rim for the Lakers to discourage them. LA doesn't even foul hard. Who is the Laker enforcer?

M: LO showing up a bit now. Mini-enforcer.

C: How many more Lakers can PP get up in the air with his shot fakes?

V: The Lakers feel, to me, like they're playing in goo, a little. Nothing is to easy, crisp, or energetic, Gasol is keeping them in - he's 5-5 from the field - but this isn't fun to watch, I'm guessing, if you're a Laker fan.

S: I’m glad I’m not. Hmm... I like those chants ‘Let’s-go Cel-tics!’

M: The Celtics have been called for ten fouls so far. The Lakers have been called for 16. I’m surfing the net.

S: Hey, Michelle, did I tell you that you’ve got nice eyes?

M: At least 7 times. Thanks, of course. Again, I like Rondo. And I love his ears, so cute.

V: We shouldn’t have invited you to do this with us. We’re blogging about ears!

C: Calm down, relax, it’s fun so far.

S: Lakers down by 17.

V: Sorry, Michelle. Lakers outscored by 12 each from both lines. Wow. Free throws are 19-2 in favor of the Celtics.

C: The Lakers have been tentative. Where the Celtics have been going to the rim, the Lakers have not, with the exception of Gasol. I thought he was fouled on one of those, but didn't get the call. Kobe has been on the fringes.

S: Kobe is in the attack mode.

M: I feel great chatting with you, boys. The Celtics are shooting 70% from downtown. Nice. Garden is rockin’.

V: LA has missed a stunning number of point blank layups. Red Auerbach’s ghost?

C: The Lakers look listless. It's puzzling.

S: This game will change only when the Lakers put somebody on the deck. Then it's Game On! Come on Lakers, we don’t wanna see a blowout!

V: This game just got 50% saltier. Ever since Kobe Bryant for that technical, I'm starting to get the feeling that these two teams are suddenly a little miffed with each other. And for the moment at least, the change in mood has been pretty good for the Lakers.

C: Beast play by KG!

S: LA needs to put more effort into locking up the backboards. Boston will miss shots, but those second shots are killers.

M: Layups beat jumpshots. Somebody told me this truth.

V: Wow. Great Odom save off a fallen P.J. Brown. Smart thinking. Just before that, it was the loudest it had been in here all series.

M: Walton may get cut this summer. Luke, you can play one-on-one with me!

C: Kobe is crying to the refs while his man is hitting a 3 in the corner. Where’s the real Kobe from the Spurs series?

S: Enter the Powe-Show! Wow. Leon bad knees Powe with an alley-oop finish on the break. It's LOUD. Celtics by 20. These are now fans who think they can win a title. By the way, Rondo can play. I also like him, Michelle.

C: The Celtics are playing very well. Sharing the ball, moving to the open man. The Lakers have to fight for everything, and never get second chance points. The Lakers appear to have given it up. Now Kobe Bryant is sittin’...

V: The heck with next year. Walton may get cut tonight.

S: Lakers bench getting killed, 21-5. What’s your predictions for the series now, dudes?

C: Teams that win NBA titles don't get punked at the rim and dunked on like that - no matter what the score. Purple and gold is done. 4-1, Celts.

V: Leon Powe has 16 points on FIVE shots. Series? I still have a feeling this goes to seven.

M: One of the guys out theres just said that Leon has outscored the entire Laker bench 18-17. Powe is 8-11 from the free throw line and the Laker bench hasn't attempted one free throw. I had Celts in six before and I have Celts in six now.

C: Just got a funny text from my friend asking how big the fine will be for Phil Jackson's post game comments!

V: Pretty big, I suppose.

S: Kobe, you have 7:22 to close a 23 point gap and achieve a new level of Finals immortality. I believed in you before the series! You stabbed me in the back! Gear up, Kobe!

C: Four Celtic coaches went after the referees on that last call. Everyone in the building wanted Leon Powe to get that takeaway. Your pre-Finals prediciton, Smelly-oop? Uh-oh.

S: Not over yet... I had Lakes in 5, I’m ashamed.

M: 32-8 free throw discrepancy in favor of the Celtics. Look like C’s are playing Bobcats.

C: And none of those fouls that led to the 32 free throws were the hard, message sending kind.

V: Just nine points. Sensing somethin’ good.

M: Six!

S: Oh my god, four! They heard me begging ‘em!

C: In a timeout like this, Doc typically says something like ‘Now if you want this game, you have to get it. Now let's go! And take care of the ball’ He’s my favorite.

V: At least the Lakers will have more confidence on Tuesday.

S: A fantastic Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce duel down the stretch has turned into a bunch of free throws. We want some buzzer-beater dagger.

M: I’m curious what the Lakes will do after the timeout.

C: Kobe has to shoot. Get him the ball.

V: What the hell, Vujacic’s ugly shot! This is the end. Posey is the man when the games are on the line. He saved that loose ball, again.

S: You’re right, Posey is everywhere when it matters. So, 2-0, Boston. Interesting.

M: I’m sad it’s over tonight.

C: Man, I’m tired. Step no. 1: Press conference and step no. 2: bed-time. Anyway, take care. And remember, Ray Allen can shoot again!

V: Tuesday, it’s gonna be a classic. I’m looking forward.

M: Bye, kisses on cheeks! Rondo, Rondo, Rondo...

S: That's a wrap. Boston leads. Thanks very much Valdes, Chris and Michelle for joining me and blogging with me. Surprise, surprise: The chat-blog returns for G5! No way the Lakers lose the next two. Good night and expect Mamba shoot the lights out in LA, something like 45.

p.s.: Bryant said, *You run into Perkins and Pau in an alley, you're probably going to go Pau's direction.*
p.s.2: Leon Powe's coast-to-coast dunk. Where was LAL's D? Quite possibly the single worst defensive play of the playoffs. Phil Jackson: *We were so at ease on defense, it was "at disease".*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Jun 9 2008 11:58AM

Green-Yellow-ed

2008-06-04T09:40:00.002+02:00

Two teams left. You know the names. No, the preview of 2008 NBA Finals would be just too cheap from me. Instead, let’s roll with the intriguing piece of Bird-Magic history: 1984.

(Note: The next few weeks, I’m not going to mention the Finals teams’ names and the star players’ names - it’s not the necessity by any measure these days. I feel like I’m living in the green-yellow world. I mean, I’m afraid that on Thursday morning, I’ll wake up with KB in my bed, KG’ll eat my breakfast, RA’ll watch TV with me, PP’ll cheer on me from our streetball’s courtside, PJ’ll send me an e-mail, the Yellow team will cook me my dinner and the Green team will kiss me before the start of coverage. It’s crazy to be a hoops fan this week. I’m green-yellow-ed. I don’t know if it’s more good or bad, but one thing is sure: it’s better than being drunk.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bird & Magic: 1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1984, the two players who would begin a golden period of basketball met for the first time in the NBA Finals. The result was a verified classic.

It was 1984 and Big Brother was watching. Big Sister, Big Daddy and Big Mama, too, were tuned in to network television to see the C*** and L*** - Larry vs. Magic - in the 1984 NBA Finals, a historic showcase that went down as the most-watched basketball championship series of its time and now is recognized as arguably the greatest NBA Finals ever.

Its reason for such relevance is manifold.

You had the greatest rivalry in sports about to take place for the first time in that decade. The Boston C*** had already won the first, in 1981, of what would be three 1980’s NBA Championships, and the Los Angeles L*** had already booked two, in 1980 and 1982, of what would be five titles in that decade.

You had the two greatest players of that generation entering their prime, Boston’s Larry Bird, 27, and L.A.’s Magic Johnson, 24, with five NBA regular seasons under their belts, squaring off for the first time in an NBA Finals.

You had future Hall of Famers galore filling out the marquee, whether it be players (Boston’s Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, L.A.’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy), coaches (Boston’s K.C. Jones and L.A.’s Pat Riley), general managers (Boston’s Red Auerbach and L.A.’s Jerry West with an assist from the true architect of his squad, Bill Sharman) or even team play-by-play announcers (Boston’s Johnny Most and L.A.’s Chick Hearn).

It was a new-and-improved NBA Playoffs. The postseason was a marathon for all - the top four teams no longer received first-round byes. It was David Stern’s first year as NBA Commissioner. The Western and Eastern Conference Finals went six and seven games, respectively, and the Finals went the ultimate seven games for 17 thrilling days. America was watching in record numbers... and the NBA would never be the same again.

*We came along at the right time,* says Magic. *That’s all I can say. I needed Larry and he needed me. We pushed each other, meant so much to each other and meant so much to the game. It was a fun time.*

It was a new era in pop culture, as well, with such diverse musical trendsetters as Prince, Run DMC and Madonna breaking new ground - it was only fitting that basketball maestros Magic and Larry bounced to the beat of their own drummer. Their pass-happy games gave the NBA a new image - where it was better to give than to receive - and America warmed up quickly to the two originals that made everyone around them better.

Predictably, they made the 1984 NBA Finals better, too - a classic, if you will.

*They were supposed to be the physical team, and we were finesse,* says Magic.

G1
So smooth were the L***, they overwhelmed the C*** immediately from the get-go in Game 1 in the famed Boston Garden. The L***’ ‘Showtime’ unit did the run-and-gun to a 24-9 lead in the first seven minutes, as 6-2 Celtic point guard Gerald Henderson helplessly attempted to slow down Magic, his 6-9 fast-breaking counterpart. Magic got two-thirds of a triple-double - his trademark - with 18 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, and set up his venerable teammate, 37-year-old center Abdul-Jabbar, for numerous skyhooks, leading to his 12-for-17, 32-point performance. Parish, the C*** center who finished with only 13 points, eventually fouled out with seven minutes left in the game, and the C*** never got within four points of the L*** as L.A. finished Game 1 with a 115-109 victory.

G2
Game 2 could have been more of the same, but the C***’ blue-collar crew fought all 48 minutes just to remain close. Led in part by a 36-26 first-quarter lead, Boston established some semblance of control with double-digit scoring coming from several C***’ reserves - sixth-man power-forward extraordinaire McHale (13 points), Danny Ainge (12 points) and Scott Wedman (10) - keeping them within range.

That was all the C*** needed to keep the game close when, with the L*** leading 113-111, Worthy inbounded a pass intended for Byron Scott under the C*** hoop. It was intercepted by Henderson, who laid it up for the tying bucket that forced overtime. Magic dribbled away the remaining seconds in regulation, with the L*** not getting a shot at the basket, forcing an overtime that Boston eventually went on to win, 124-121, thanks to some clutch Bird shooting.

The C*** stole one, and the spin doctors on both sides tried to get inside the heads of their opposition. At the time, Riley said, *We did what we came here to do. We got a split, and now we’re going back home to L.A., 1-1.* Bird countered saying, *They should be up, 2-0,* thus implying that even though the C*** were outplayed twice, they were tied. Touché.

G3
In L.A., the L*** outplayed the C*** - this time more convincingly than ever, blowing out their East Coast rivals, 137-104. Magic had the Lakers running on all cylinders with the whole team getting into the playmaking act, setting an NBA-record 21 assists in one quarter - leading to 47 third-quarter points - in what became an 80-point second half. It was Showtime basketball at its finest.

G4
In Game 4, the C*** decided there was only one way to outrun the Lakers in a basketball series that had become a track meet: knock ‘em down before they cross the finish line. Getting physical in the backcourt was Dennis Johnson, bigger than Henderson at 6-4, and now assigned the task of slowing down Magic. DJ did a solid job, forcing what would eventually be a Finals-record 31 turnovers on Magic.

*I was bigger than Gerald and it helped having a bigger defender on Magic since he was so strong,* says the C***’ Johnson, whose offense was limited in Game 3, but seemed reborn offensively with the switch - scoring 22, 22, 20 and 22 in the remaining games.

The best example of the C***’ newfound physicality came with the L*** controlling a 76-70 lead. Magic was again out on the break hitting Kurt Rambis for what should have been a routine layup - until McHale clotheslined Rambis around the neck, sending the hustling power forward to the floor. Benches emptied, but order restored until a minute later when Abdul-Jabbar swung elbows at Bird on a rebound, and another shout-and-shove confrontation was on. It was like this the rest of the game - smackdown ball - with the L*** holding onto a 113-108 lead with 56 seconds left.

The C*** eventually won the physical war, taking the battle of the boards the rest of the way with Parish - 25 points, 12 rebounds - getting an offensive rebound putback-and-one call for a three-point play, followed by Bird grabbing a key defensive rebound that fouled out Abdul-Jabbar on an over-the-back call.

After Bird’s made free throws tied the score at 113, both teams missed last-second attempts, thus sending the game into overtime.

In OT, with 35 seconds left and the score tied at 123, Magic came up short at clutch time, missing two free throws. Bird countered with a bucket and C*** M.L. Carr stole yet another Laker inbound pass and dunked in the game-clinching points.

In postgame interviews, Riley tried to gain the referees’ attention by calling the C*** thugs, while Bird tried to get inside the L***’ heads saying they should have swept Boston. Instead, the series was 2-2, with the C***' confidence building; they could be outplayed - and still win the game.

*Chemistry is so important in the NBA,* says Parish. *There are times in games when you’re down and some players will begin losing hope. But when you’ve been to war with teammates for years like we had, you know not to quit. That’s why chemistry is so important.*

The L***’ building chemistry - with new breeds Worthy, Scott and Rambis becoming acclimated to Magic and Abdul-Jabbar - would result in ’85, ’87 and ’88 NBA titles. But for ’84, the C*** nucleus had logged more time together, and knew how to steal a win in the closing moments of a tight game.

G5
In Game 5, the C*** showed they indeed had their swagger back and returned to Boston for some home-court cooking... literally. In a game that was played in 97-degree heat in Boston Garden, players on both sides needed oxygen - even ref Hugh Evans dehydrated and fainted at one point.

*Everybody talks about Boston having a leprechaun, but I always thought that leprechaun’s name was Red,* says Magic, breaking into his trademark laugh, referring to the suspicion that Auerbach may have been responsible for the arena's air conditioning not working.

The C*** seemed prepared for such heat, showering and changing into fresh uniforms at halftime, with bench players fanning Bird on the sidelines. The 6-9 small forward, in turn, responded with a superb 29-point, 21-rebound performance, while the C***’ heated defense limited the Lakers to 33-percent shooting in a 119-108 victory.

G6
In Game 6 at L.A.’s fabulous Forum, the L*** stalled for a while, but showed late they still had some run in them. Old head Abdul-Jabbar was in top form, scoring 30 and grabbing 12 rebounds. Rookie Scott gave the Lakers new life, especially in a 36-21 fourth-quarter run with clutch shooting that gave the Lakers’ a 119-108 come-from-behind win.

G7
In Game 7, Boston made sure it maintained a large enough lead throughout the game - six points after halftime, 13 points after three quarters - so they could avoid the trademark L*** run at the end of the game. The L*** made their run - trailing 105-102 with 1:14 left - but that was as close as it got in the C*** 111-102 championship-clinching victory, with Boston getting all the key rebounds at the end of the game.

That was the key. With concentrated effort on offensive rebounding and second-chance points, the Celtics finished with 52 rebounds - 20 offensive - to the L***’ 33. After all, the L*** couldn’t run if they couldn’t control the boards, could they?

That’s what made the regular-season MVP Larry Bird the obvious choice for NBA Finals MVP. Not only did he average a series-high 27 points per game, but his 14-rebound average was exactly what the Celtics needed... and he knew it.

*That’s what made Larry so great,* says Ainge, now the C***’ executive director of basketball operations. *If you needed a basket, Larry would get it. A rebound? Larry would get it. He always knew what you needed to do to win.*

Magic had a great series, as well - 18 points per game and a Finals record 95 assists (14 average). But his best was yet to come.

Posted by Foreigner in CS – Jun 4 2008 9:40AM

God Damn, Why? ... It’s Odd, But It’s An Odd Year

2008-06-02T06:44:00.000+02:00

Game 4, Lakers-Spurs. That Was a Foul!!!

When I got up from my bed the following morning, I turned on my personal computer, clicked on truehoop site and saw this headline: ‘That Was a Foul!’ I felt even more disappointed, just like you feel when your girl tells you is over, you go to the bed, then open your eyes in the morning and, all of a sudden, you realize it’s realy love over. That morning, my frustration got on the level that hasn’t been reached, well, since Game 7 Spurs-Mavs 2006. What the fuck with those even years! I realized it’s too late to catch a train like 3-1 Lakers. Not after that horrible bummer of Game 1, not after that stinking ending of Game 4. Not with Manu playing with just one foot.

But why there was that maniac Joey Crawford in G4? Got damn, why? NBA won’t tell ya. They’ll just tell ya ‘sorry’.

Derek Fisher left his feet and landed hard into Brent Barry. The Spurs were down two and time was running out. That's a foul in my pickup game. That's a foul in high school. That's a foul in college. That’s a foul if Barry had been a rookie at that moment. And, at just about every moment of NBA basketball that I have ever seen except this one, that's a foul in the NBA. That just simply must be called a foul, if nothing else to allay the fears that the League may be fixing up the Finals for big ratings.

Well, I don’t believe in conspiracy theories and I know refs have a very tought job, ‘cos NBA is so fast and here and there, a mistake can occur. But, seriously, this can’t happen in such a important game.

Look, I’m not crying about one foul. The foul should have been whistled, but let’s face it, the Lakers were a better team. The Spurs were too tired, Manu was too injured and we have an even year now. So, unfortunately, neither luck nor some divine intervention could’ve helped the Spurs.

Someday soon, the Spurs might pause to ponder the ‘What ifs?’ of the Western Conference finals.

If they had only held on to a 20-point lead in Game 1, or made three baskets instead of one in the final 7 1/2 minutes. If they had only gotten another rebound or two in a 93-91 loss in Game 4. If Joey Crawford’s whistle had sounded in their favor at the end of it. That’s the part of being a human, questioning yourself, what you should, could have done better.

In a perfect world, in an odd year, they might have headed to Southern California on Wednesday up 3-1 on the Lakers, instead of down 3-1. Then came Game 5. The frustration - sequel. Again, when you look back on the series, you've got to figure it's a series the Spurs let slip away.

The Spurs returned home focused on next year after dropping the series 4-1 to the Lakers. Nah, that’s not a joke. San Antonio will be a title contender next season. A couple of tweaks here and there plus the year of 2009 will do the magic for them.

Some good comments from Spurs fans on what to do to with out team in the offseason. I definitely identify with them:

*I love how everyone on here thinks they know what's best for this organization! It's so easy for us to sit back and point at this or that, and blaming it on the Playoff exit. The difference in this year is that the Celtics and Lakers made incredible changes that worked and put them in the Finals. I mean, come on, the management and direction Buford and Pop have provided this organization is beyond any other major league organization in the last 10 years (ESPN has ranked this team within the top 3 of all majors for the last 6 years they've been doing it). So they have never won a back-to-back, but for pete's sake, they have continued to have stellar seasons and have pulled off 4 championships in there, too! In my opinion, it would be so much harder to win championships that are NOT back-to-back. These Spurs will pick themselves up and brush off, only to come back to yet another unbelievable year next year. They will learn from mistakes. They will have even more drive to win next year. And all of the naysayers and media will still say the same things again, discrediting the dynasty that lies in San Antonio! Go Spurs Go! Great year and I look forward to following you and cheering you on next year the same as I have the past 18 years! Your dedicated fan in Terre Haute.* (-andyjohnson)

* 1. Keep in mind with all doom and gloom, if Manu is healthy, we beat Lakers in my opinion; I say that in part, since we lost two tight games where he was 2-8 and 3-13.
2. Scola - obvious now, HUGE mistake;
3. Timmy - could have shot higher % vs Lakers, but all in all was huge in playoffs against some tough defenses. This summer, continue to work on legs (weights and jumping rope) to fight losing lift; continue to develop 'lefty' hook, as big guys age, that is a deadly shot that combats it. Too often, Tim overplayed for right hand sweeping drive.
4. Manu - Obviously get healed. Olympics should not be a big deal if POP gives him time off like he did Tony this year in camp. Continue to develop left to right cross-over and finish with RIGHT. Teams are catching up with left. Work on isolation low post, he's better here then folks think.
5. Tony - great improvement each year. Continue to work on jumper (mid range). I'd love it if he or we, could hire John Stockton for 4 weeks to 'coach' Tony on playmaking.
& Kurt Thomas - try to keep him. Toughness we need and MAJOR blunder by POP to not play him more against Lakers, esepcially Game 4.
6. Finley - love the guy, but time to retire. His "D" is gone and he's limited as spot shooter only.
7. Barry - similar to Finley, but, he can put ball on floor and pass well, thus, keep him (plus, he did come up big late).
8. Horry/Damon - done, thanks though for the effort. JV, serviceable, but we really need a greater scorer to relieve Tony.
9. Oberto - a solid backup. But his lack of scoring threat really hurts Tim. Smart guy though and good to have around. Disagree with today's write up that front line wasn't problem; Fab is 'average' rebounder and lack of scoring hurts us.
10. Udoka - next year he should get more time. Let's see how he develops.
11. Mahinmi - let's see what he's got! For better or worse. Be great if he could add energy, shot blocking and a few dunks.
12. Free Agents? - Hmmm, I do like Warriors' and Tony's countryman Mickael Pietrus.* (-JIM)

* Spurs should try to pick up:
Shawn Marion
Travis Outlaw
Danny Granger
Matt Barnes
Boris Diaw
Jamario Moon
CJ Miles* (-care8free)

* Duncan, Parker, Bowen, Thomas, Udoka, Barry, Vaughn. Let's keep these. Let's get rid of some age. Notice Ginobili is not on my list of keepers. As great as he can be, he can be just as bad. What we need is consistency. Manu is too erratic and takes too many risks. For the sake of future success, lets revamp this team this summer. San Antonio should have the advantage over Phoenix and Dallas next season, considering their coaching and recent trade problems. L.A. and New Orleans will be the ones to beat in the West.* (-Najera)
(Note from FiCS: Ginobili’s a keeper! You just don’t understand his real value, that’s a shame.)

* I still believe they will come back next year and do well. They were awesome this year and they have nothing to be ashamed of. They had a lot of injuries this year and still believe they have a lot of fight in them to win another championship. I like how they gave credit to the Lakers and said they were the better team this year. They will be ready to play next year. Go Spurs, you’re still champions in my book and have a great summer.* (-Naomi Doughty)

* In summary, the Spurs will be looking to get a little more athletic on the perimeter and maybe pick up a back-to-the-basket scorer to complement Duncan. But what team doesn't want those kinds of additions? Yes, the West will be tougher than ever, particularly with the addition of Greg Oden to the Trail Blazers. But you know which team will be in the thick of the fight again? Yes, you do.* (-Jack McCallum)

p.s.: Ray Allen has reportedly hired Sherlock Holmes to locate his missing jump shot. Without Allen's shooting serving to extend the Pistons defense, the Celtics' backcourt is committing suicide. (-Charley Rosen)
p.s.2: The Spurs spent most of today's shootaround watching game film. To listen to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, it was pretty routine stuff. *We learned a little of this, a little of that,* Popovich said. *Basketball. Try to do this better. Try to do that better. Typical coach stuff. You are always trying to get your team to do things better, execute better.* Chances are, though, it really wasn't as mundane as Popovich described. In a 1999 interview with the New York Times during the Finals series against the Knicks, Mario Elie shared what it's like to watch game film with Popovich. *Pop stays on us, man,* Elie said. *We watch a lot of film. Lord knows we don't want to lose a game because if we do, we know we're going to have to sit through a one-hour film session with Pop. And he'll bring up everything that we did wrong. So the guys say, 'Let's not lose' because we don't want to have to sit through film with Pop.*
p.s.3: Barry's five 3-point makes and career playoff high 23 points in G4? *It's like whipped cream on a pile of manure,* he said.
p.s.4: The officials shouldn't decide the game with their whistles. But they did. They (refs) decided the game by not using their whistles. This wasn't incidental contact. This wasn't a call that could have gone either way. This wasn't small, slight contact. This was a foul, a clear, blatant foul. (-Chris Broussard)
p.s.5: Rasheed Wallace embarked on an unprovoked verbal assault on the officiating crew of Eddie Rush, Mike Callahan and Ken Mauer: *All that bull (bleep) calls they had out there, with Mike and Kenny, you've all seen that (bleep),* Wallace spewed afterwards. *A lot of them phantom calls, cats are flopping and falling all over the floor and they're calling that (bleep). That (bleep) ain't basketball out there. It's all (bleeping) entertainment. You all should know that (bleep). It's all that (bleeping) entertainment.*
p.s.6: Ray Allen improbably found his mojo and turned into a certified bomber again; not only was it like seeing someone come back from the dead, but every shot electrified the crowd to the point that you would have thought some female fan was flashing her breasts on the Jumbotron. (-Bill Simmons)

Posted by Foreigner in CS – Jun 2 2008 6:44AM

Guys Better Get Our Shit Together Before June 7

2008-05-25T14:10:00.003+02:00

The Boston Celtics won their first road playoff game! As un-fucking-believable as it sounds, it doesn’t mean they have the Eastern Finals series in the bag. With the Pistons, noone knows what’s gonna happen. Finally, I gotta confess: I’m pulling for Boston. But I like Rodney Stuckey, Detroit’s rookie.

This Friday was horrible. We (BAFS) had our first official practice before June’s best-of-three series with BAFS Freaks... and the practice must have been cancelled. Then Friday’s blowout Spurs loss served only to reinforce the frustration, doubling the displeasure we (with the Spurs) experienced in their Game 1 loss on Wednesday, when the Spurs coughed up a 20-point lead in the final 18 minutes.

The sole consolation for the Spurs Friday: Gregg Popovich was able to get much-needed rest for key players who put in tough time in three games in five days. And for us? We were able to come to an agreement - the practice is Sunday afternoon.

Tonight is G3, and we can only hope that Manu Ginobili’s health is as good as can be. You know what? When our buddy Coco is able to come and play ball after two months of hoops-fast, the hobbled Manu’s able to score 20 on the Lakers and the next hot-thing - Sasha ‘I’ll-do-whatever-to-harass-you’ Vujacic. (If the Lakers win the title, I’m sure he’s capable of cutting his long freaky hair.)

So guys, the Spurs and BAFS, better get your shit together. Before Game 3 of the Westen Finals and before June 7, when the G1 of BAFS-BAFS Freaks (streetball) series is scheduled.

Quick for those who don’t know much about playing on the tarmac (no pun intended, my Spurs friends), but also for those who wanna know the rules and other matters...

Streetball is a city game, played on playgrounds and in gyms around the world. Streetball also doesn’t involve a rigorous schedule - participants may choose to play ten games in one day (if you have young legs and good lungs) or one game in ten days (if you’re a couch potato or your girl wants to go shopping with you day in and day out). Usually only one side of the court is used, but otherwise the rules of the game are very similar to those of professional basketball. The number of participants in a game, or a run, may range from two players, known as one-on-one (or mano-a-mano), to two full teams of five each.

Streetball is a popular game worldwide and some cities in the United States have organized streetball programs, such as midnight basketball (a very good thing, really), as a way for young people to keep out of trouble and avoid problems such as juvenile crime and drugs.

What about the rules and the look of streetball?

While the rules of streetball are essentially/theoretically the same as normal basketball, streetball places a higher emphasis on one-on-one matchups between the offense and defender. Often the attacker will perform numerous flashy moves while attempting to drive to the basket, including crossovers, jab steps, and other fake-out tricks. Streetball often features spectacular dunks and alley oops, impressive ball handling and trash talking (gotta love that!). Also featured in streetball - moves. A move is either used to trick the defender to look away or just to confuse. There are many different moves in the streetball world.

Certain rule violations in traditional basketball, such as carrying, do not apply in streetball. Style is often the determining factor in what is and is not legal in a streetball game - the proverbial if it looks good, it's not against the rules. In this sense, streetball is as much performance art as it is an athletic contest.

However rules vary widely from court to court. Almost invariably a ‘Call your own foul’ rule is in effect, and a player who believes he’s been fouled, simply needs to call out ‘Foul!’, and play will be stopped, with the ball awarded to the fouled player's team. The etiquette of what rightly constitutes a foul, as well as the permissible amount of protestation against such a call, are the products of local social norms, as well as of the level of seriousness of a particular game. An outsider at a playground should closely observe the status quo in these matters. Some areas where different interpretations of rules are likely to occur are: Travelling - whether a step is permissible prior to dribbling, and how many more than the nominally permitted one and a half steps should be allowed at the end of the dribble. Hand-(and leg)-checking on defense - how much can one touch the person one defends and how much physical pressure may one apply in so doing.

A common feature to streetball is the ‘pick-up game’. To participate in most streetball games across the world one simply goes to an outdoor court where people are playing, indicate a wish to participate, and once all the players who were at the court before you have played you will get to pick your team out of the players available and play a game. Many games play up to 7, 10 or 11 points with all baskets counting as one point (sometimes shots beyond the 3 point arc count as 2 points). Ballers often play ‘win by 2’ or ‘win by 3’, which means that the team has to win by a margin of at least 2 or 3 clear points. Sometimes a local ‘dead end’ limit applies; for instance a game may be played to 7, win by 2, with a 9 point dead end, which would mean scores of 7-5, 8-6, 9-7 or 9-8 would all be final, while with scores of 7-6 or 8-7 play would continue. The most common streetball game is 3-on-3 played half-court though often 5-on-5 full-court can be found. (Our series with BAFS Freaks: 3-on-3, half-court, winners out, two 20 mins halves.)

And now, we can do an quick interview with the leader of BAFS Freaks:

~(me) Hi dude, do you spend as much of your time as possible playing basketball?
#(leader) Hi my man, don’t worry, we do, we do.

~ What’s your daily routine?
# Outside of watching NBA playoffs ball, we practice some plays within our team and then we play quick games to seven of three-on-three all the way until the sun is well below the horizon.

~ Can you give me a sense of the level of play?
# The games are intense. We have also a regular physical training daily, so everyone is in good shape.

~ We need to know your rule: Winners outs or losers outs?
# What’s the rule for our June’s series?

~ Winners out.
# Yep, we use winners ball, too.

~ Are there a lot of arguments about calls?
# It all depends on the game. It varies from game to game.

~ After a day's jobs, aren't you all too exhausted to play?
# Sometimes it’s an issue, to get everybody on the same page, but we can’t take it lightly. We wanna beat you! But surely, occasionally there are days when we are just too busy or we just watch the NBA channel.

~ Are you looking forward to the series? Got any tricks prepared for us? Take care
# Definitely. And of course, we got tricks. You’ll see when we meet on the court. Bye boy

p.s.(special): Today in the morning, I had a call with my buddy Valdes about the 2008 free agents (How about the Bulls getting the first pick in the Draft? Is that fair?!). Last summer, a large group of free agents got a terrific dose of the realities of the new NBA hard cap. While Rashard Lewis, Billups, Gerald Wallace, Vince C. and Darko came away with big deals, only a handful of the rest of last season's free-agent class found anything near the money that free agents typically get on the open market. You still remember the Varejao debacle in the beginning of the season. As we know, a total of only six players from the 2004 draft who were eligible for extensions, cashed in. Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, Kevin Martin, Devin Harris (way to go, Dallas), Jameer Nelson and you-wouldn’t-have-guessed-it, Kris Humphries in Toronto. The other 24 first-round picks, including stalwarts like Luol Deng, Iguodala and Okafor walked away empty-handed. (And got a harsh words from about everybody, including Mr. Agent Zero.) With fewer teams having cap flexibility, the opportunities for free agents to switch teams have largely dried up. That emboldens some owners to make lower-than-expected offers to players eligible for extensions. If teams are unable to pay them big money next season, why give them huge extensions now? Second is the league's nefarious luxury tax. The NBA has a hard cap. And for FAs, it’s a nightmare. That's terrible news for the stellar free-agent class of 2008. Here’s a list of 2008 FAs, you can guesstimate where they’ll end up this busy summer: ETO (early termination option) candidates: Elton Brand, Arenas, Marion, Baron Davis (headed to NYC), Jermaine O'Neal (headed to NJ), Iverson, Maggette (wants out), Artest (a big mystery); Top restricted free agents: Deng, Okafor, Iguodala, Biedrins, Josh Smith, Ben Gordon, Childress, Calderon, Monta Ellis, Shaun Livingston, Nenad Krstic, JC Navarro, Boobie Gibson, JR Smith & VU-JA-CIC (!); Unrestricted free agents: Antawn Jamison (who wants to pay a 30-something?), Ricky Davis (who wants to pay this troubled guy??), Mourning (maybe a retiree) and Kwame Brown (who wants to pay Kwame???).
p.s.2: *I thought Kobe went on vacation. I thought he went to Bermuda or something. I thought he went to the Bermuda Triangle instead of the sideline triangle, but we got him back this quarter,* said Phil Jackson on Bryant, who scored just two points in the first half but still finished with 27 in G1.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - May 25 2008 2:10PM

Funny, The Lakers In 4? The Power Of TMT’s Team

2008-05-21T15:37:00.001+02:00

Sunday and Monday, we got lucky with two G7s. That’s good.

We got even luckier when the Spurs won G7 on the road. Okay, that’s even better.

In the meantime, Tuesday, the Bulls had their lucky Draft lottery day. We got lucky, too, because Nos. 1 and 2 go East.

Yes, the Lakers got lucky, too. They’re a great team and that’s a no-brainer. Add the Spurs’ sleepover and weariness and that’s the best. For them?

Some guys say the Lakers win this series simply because the Spurs are old, slow, have no depth, have trouble scoring when the jumpers aren't falling. Duncan is struggling this whole playoffs. The Spurs bench sucks they have no one who can produce big numbers for them.

Some guys say the Lakers win series in 5. Hell, they say even in 4.

Some guys say, the Spurs are too slow to keep up with the MVP and his supporting cast. The Lakers bench will be the huge difference maker. Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza is back. Look out. That is the best depth in league, hands down. The other major factor will be Lamar Odom - the Spurs have no answer - Oberto and Kurt? Can anyone say MISMATCH? Lamar will be a BEAST in this series and Kobe will get his while Pau Gasol will virtually match Duncan in the stats department. Add it all up, and the Lakers with their youth are going to run circles around this Spurs team.

Some guys say, anybody talking about the Spurs bench being better than the Lakers bench is down right remedial, if the Lakers brought there best player of the bench he would still outscore the Spurs starters by himself. Take away Ginobili's points and what does the bench score 6 maybe 7 points. DJ Mbenga could get that by himself! Kobe will score on anybody that guards him. Pau and Duncan are a wash. Get Ariza in there to slow Manu down.

...

Pretty cloudy, isn’t it? Okay, stop your blabberings, “guys”.

Stuck on the tarmac, with hours to waste, Brent Barry had one regret. He wished he’d bought the guitar in New Orleans.

The Spurs instead ate and they talked and about 2 a.m., they turned out the lights. Then they recreated a trans-Atlantic flight while never leaving the ground.

Gregg Popovich still tried to make sure they didn’t crash. *I just told everyone we would have a sleepover,* he said later. *Got pajamas for everybody.*

Those on the plane said Popovich did more than laugh. Walking around the charter, he added to the humor with words that had an edge.

*Just another challenge,* he kept saying.

The Spurs have few other things on their side tonight. They would have been tired had their charter flight been on time and then the league’s oldest team tried to sleep in reclining seats.

Michael Finley and Robert Horry may never be able to return their spines to the locked and upright position.

If Joey Crawford shows up, the evening will be complete. Popovich might as well activate Ian Mahinmi, start Damon Stoudamire, Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner and get ready for the second game.

The only drawback to that, besides a 0-1 start to the series, is that it never gets easier for the Spurs. The every-other-day schedule in the Western Conference finals won’t ever give the Spurs time to fully recover.

They also don’t have time to spend much time on the game plan, but the Spurs aren’t completely lost. They have advance scouts and they do something else that not every team does. They split up the league, assigning different opponents to different assistants. That means someone is responsible for knowing the Lakers.

Then again, they already know Phil Jackson and the Triangle and they know Kobe Bryant and his habits. They know the Lakers might be the best passing team in the league and that they have versatility and length. They know, too, that Derek Fisher can hit a shot.

They know two other things. The Lakers, as it was with the Mavericks and Suns, haven’t been together for a full season. Two, they haven’t been tested as the Spurs have.

The prize for winning the West was the easier side of the bracket. The Lakers earned that. But, to the Spurs, the Lakers are different but not significantly better than the Suns or Hornets.

So the Spurs are tired, and they shouldn’t be ready, and Manu Ginobili, especially, needs a few days to recharge. But having just survived two elimination games, they have something else going on.

Rudy Tomjanovich knows all about that. When his 6-seed Rockets followed a title with another in 1995, he stood on the floor and bellowed his famous quote.

*Don’t ever underestimate,* Tomjanovich said then, *he heart of a champion.*

Many repeat that line, and most get it wrong. They think Tomjanovich said, *Never underestimate,* and they turn it into an uplifting message.

Tomjanovich instead was scolding as an angry parent would. Don’t EVER.

*People were doubting us, saying we had lost it,* Tomjanovich would say years later. *It was a response to a lack of confidence, disrespecting who we were.*

The Spurs don’t talk about disrespect publicly, but they’ve had this kind of toughness all along. Now they’ve added another powerful layer. They’ve pushed with Shaq, won in double overtime, come back after being down 0-2, chased Chris Paul and pulled out a seventh game on the road.

Tony Parker scored at least 30 points three times in the first round against Phoenix and he assumed a complementary role in the conference semifinals before hitting the game-sealing jumper in Game 7. What’s good that he led the Spurs in scoring against the Lakers this season with 20.7 points per game and committed only five turnovers compared with 18 assists.

Manu Ginobili, among the NBA's active playmakers, might rank second only to the Lakers' shooting guard Kobe, moved into the starting lineup before Game 3 of the conference semifinals. The Spurs won four of the next five, in spite of a calf injury that has robbed him of some of his explosiveness in recent weeks.

Bruce Bowen , our perennial NBA all-defensive team member will once again get a chance to harass Bryant, the man he was brought to San Antonio to slow down. He helped turn the conference semifinals around when he switched from defending Chris Paul to Peja Stojakovic and essentially shut down Stojakovic for five games.

Tim Duncan, three-time NBA Finals MVP and possibly the greatest power forward in league history... After a dominant series against Phoenix, was slowed by illness and double-teams against New Orleans but still made a big impact. - averaging better than 19 points and 13 rebounds per game in the playoffs, including a 40-point game vs. the Suns and a 23-board game vs. the Hornets.

Fabricio Oberto is the epitome of the “value not found in the stat sheet” player which sparked each of the Spurs' final two victories against New Orleans with his work on defense, relentlessness in chasing loose balls and precision in the high-low post game with Duncan. Depending on how the Spurs' staff sees the matchups, could start or come off the bench to spell Kurt Thomas.

What about Spurs bench? Playing in the conference semifinals for the first time, Ime Udoka arguably was the Spurs' most consistent performer against the Hornets. Veterans Robert Horry and Michael Finley both made huge shots to put away New Orleans. Rugged part-time starter Thomas will get plenty of minutes against Gasol. Brent Barry could get opportunities this series.

Coach Gregg Popovich, along with his adversary Phil J. in this series, is one of five coaches in NBA history with four or more titles. He earned his 100th playoff win by beating the Hornets in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, passing Red Auerbach for all-time playoff victories and tying him with Larry Brown.

Easy team to beat, ain’t it?

Yeah, we know the Lakers are perfect and without any flaws. “We” are the Lakers fans.

...

Before they fell asleep, the Spurs huddled inside the grounded plane, all 15 heads.

They talked together. About the upcoming series, of course. About their system, plan, roles and everything. Coach Pop was also with them, with a clipboard, of course. After some time, Pop urged everybody, *It’s time to sleep, gentlemen.*

*THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO KILL US IF WE MEET THEM IN THE PLAYOFFS,* said the Spurs’ captain, chuckling.

Everybody knew what he meant.

We got lucky, because we’ve got the battle-tested (and life-tested) TMT trio. And the Team. And the Coach. That’s the best.

In the end of these series, when the Lakers look at their birthday certificates, they’ll know what we know already now:

Don’t mess with the real power of TMT... after Game 1 - the Lakers blowout win.

p.s.: Monday night is precisely why we love this game so very much - because Game 7 is NBA heaven. (-charley rosen)
p.s.2: *Tell the refs to do the interview. They were just as important,* said Celtics head coach Doc Rivers who felt some crucial calls didn't go Boston's way in G6.
p.s.3: *We're maybe the dirtiest team in the NBA, we always have been,* Gregg Popovich said, his voice sopping with sarcasm. *We're known for that, our physicality. We wear black.*
p.s.4: Paul Pierce was fouled in the crunch time and went to the line with a chance to ice the Game7, his knees seeming to knock as he raised his right arm and released the first free throw. Off the back rim it bounced and straight up it went. The entire arena held its breath as the ball began to come down and the place erupted when it went through the net. *The ghost of Red [Auerbach] was looking over us,* Pierce said. *I think he kind of tapped it in the right direction and it went through the net. That's just kind of the way it was going.*
p.s.5: All in all, Popovich seemed in fairly good spirits about the whole ‘Plane’ episode. At least, he said, the Spurs weren't stranded in New Orleans after a Game 7 loss. *If it had been a loss, there would have been fighting on the plane,* Pop said. *We would have fought the people who are serving us. We'd have been fighting each other. We'd have been pointing fingers. There would have been deaths on that plane.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - May 21 2008 3:37PM

Finally, Pondering About Some Pretty Good Pieces Of The Last 8* Survivors

2008-05-14T18:01:00.004+02:00

*Ooops, that number dropped to 7, after the Magic were eliminated 1-4 by the mighty Pistons.

Some things that really really interested me in these conf-semi-final battles:

Yes, the Pistons caught some breaks in their series, but there’s no doubt that they’re better than the up-and-coming Magic - even without their floor leader Billups. Remember when four of five from Pistons starting five were chosen for the All-Star Game? And what about that one guy coming short? He’s now the best overall player for Detroit. Tay Prince has a two-way game as good as only a few guys in the world have.

Tayshaun Prince is a long, lean robot, a super cyborg sent from the future, as one of beat writers has written. He is already cut at sharp angles, neck to shoulder, shoulder to elbow, as if metal were welded just beneath the flesh. He rarely shows emotion. He doesn't sweat easily. And if you could crawl behind his eyes during crucial moments, I swear you'd see those flashing screens that give you digital info about everything in front of you.

Here’s Tay’s take of his series-altering hook in Game 4: *When Rasheed passed up the shot and started driving I just kicked out to the corner. Once I recognized Dwight was on him, I told him to come set a pick and roll to see what they would do. Would they switch it? Or would Dwight leave Rasheed and could I kick it back to him for a wide-open jump shot?* All of this, in microseconds, ran through his head. None of it ended up happening. Instead, Tayshaun dismissed hypotheticals 1, 2 & 3, and took No. 4 - he drove the paint himself. He floated a hard one-hander and put the Pistons up to stay.

Yup, even the experts are saying that make no mistake - the Pistons are where they are largely because of Prince. Against Philly, he all but undressed its star player, Andre Iguodala. Prince shot an insane 66% for that series, averaging 16 points and five rebounds. He shot around 50% vs. Orlando and averaged even higher stats. His numbers are up in every significant category from the regular season - a sign he is rising to the occasion. Oh. And we didn't mention defense. In Game 4, he stopped Turkoglu in the remaining seconds, in Game 5 he sealed the victory with another monstrous block.

Not that all people care about him that much. ESPN rather interviews Hamilton than Tay, one of the most unusual, multi-functional and valuable players in the league, who went quietly to the locker room.

It’s kinda stunning with him, because last postseason his numbers dwindled in each of the four consecutive losses to Cleveland. He couldn’t buy a basket. This time, it’s reversed. So far, Prince has been playing point guard as well as both forward spots, extremely well. His game has expanded every way except in ego. He is the same soft-spoken man who admits, laughing, that if Billups had been in the game, *I highly doubt I would have taken that last shot.* For ‘em, God bless that he emerged.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have a tougher task. The Jazz are a team that noone is expecting to advance. Being tied 2-2, tonight’s game (and the series) hinges on Kobe and his health. Is he too hurt to shoot without spasms? What bummed me after that scintillating and flattering Game 4 overtime loss for LAL, is that people immediately went after Bryant and dissing him for his performance in the added time. It's the story of his career: Bryant finishes a game any ordinary player would have left with a sore back, but his overtime performance draws criticism. What the hell? He can’t win all games! Kobe will play today. One writer has written that Kobe would play if they had to wrap him from head to foot like a mummy. Bang! Two things are certain with Bryant: A) he's the gamer of gamers and B) he'll never take a breath without creating a controversy, as he did once more Sunday. If the Lakers had won, then Kobe would have been hailed as a Jesus Christ. Yes, only one thing kept Bryant's performance in Game 4 from rising to the mythic level of Willis Reed limping out for Game 7 in 1970 and the flu-ridden Michael J. beating the Jazz in 1997 - the Lakers didn't win.

Just the fact that he played in OT, in a situation where his body belonged to the hospital, is amazing. An ordinary player wouldn't have even seen the fourth quarter, much less found a way to lead the rally that forced the overtime. And, after all the soap operas he has starred in, he's perceived more as a cartoon character than a person. The all-timer was last week's most-valuable-player ceremony when one unnamed TV guy was apparently surprised to learn Bryant actually knew his teammates.

Since Phil Jackson's return in 2005, Bryant's leadership of, and involvement with, his teammates has been unquestionable. Actually, since Bryant tried to trade this set of teammates for another in Chicago last fall, we should say since Kobe's return in 2007, his leadership has been unquestionable. This is Kobe on Top of His Game, not only willing to play with teammates but be brilliant at it and as excited as anyone in the Lakers' organization at their future.

So if the offense broke down and/or Bryant took too many shots, he was still great Sunday, playing 46 minutes with a back that seized up on three separate occasions. On the last, Bryant charged into Andrei Kirilenko and sank to his knees in pain, looking as if he couldn't stay in, although, of course, he did. *I don't know how I made it through the game to begin with, to be honest with you,* Bryant said.

He was even trouper enough to go to the interview room after the game although he couldn't sit down, and conducted the interview standing up, talking into a hand-held microphone. Cool. *Even talking about him possibly not playing,* said Derek Fisher, *I mean, I'll entertain questions, but it's not an option, really. I mean for him.*

One things is sure - Kobe will score tonight. And it might be enough, for sure, even against this superb Utah team.

The next thing to ponder... the Celtics harrasing LBJ to a shooting percentage that is as unreal for James as Larry Brown coaching three years in Charlotte. And even more shocking, and I mean SHOCKING, is that Boston’s uncapable of taking the reins of this series. It’s even worse for them, ‘cos today is Game 5, yes in Boston - at home, but don’t forget, Mr. James hasn’t had a monster game yet against the Celtics. Don’t be surprised if he scores 50% of the Cavs points today - with a 50% shooting percentage. What the hell’s with Boston?

What happened to the Celtics everyone loved this year? Do they have anything going for them other than their own Boston Garden? Are the 2007-08 Celtics fated to melt down at home and watch their title dreams go down the drain?

In the wake of Game 4's fourth-quarter fold (12 points), which led a 2-2 series draw with the Cavaliers, it's hard to see the Celtics as anything other than front-runners. Nobody looks better when they have it going. But when the going gets tough on the road, the Celtics collapse. It looked like they might finally win a road playoff game last night. Boston trailed by a mere 3 points after three. But the New Three (Of Desperation?) vanished in crunch time. Garnett and Ray Allen swallowed fourth-quarter donuts and Pierce forced a bunch of shots while scoring 6 of the paltry dozen.

It was the latest chapter in an annoying postseason in which the Celtics suddenly can't win on the road. (Not that the Spurs or someone else can...) The NBA's best regular-season road team is 0-5 away from home in the 2008 playoffs. They resume tomorrow night at the Garden and, of course, they are expected to win. Then they must return to Cleveland Friday. *We can play better at home, then break the road streak and get everybody to stop talking about it,* said Pierce.

The talk will not stop until the Celtics win one away from home. Does any Celtic fan feel good about this team now? Nope. Going a combined 0-5 in Atlanta and Cleveland does little to inspire confidence. And a glass-half-empty person might say that, sooner or later, somebody (read Mr. LeBron-ski) is going to crash the Party and walk out with a win. And then what?

Everybody then James broke loose for a backboard-shaking dunk (the image of 2008 Playoffs so far) to make it 84-75 with 1:45 left. Exploiting a Joe Smith pick, LeBron blew past Pierce, Posey, and Garnett en route to the royal flush. What about tonight? Boston has to play better, that’s the bottom line. (Leaguewide, home teams are 17-1 in this round. How does Commish Stern feel about a league in which it seems the home team is guaranteed to win every playoff game? *That's what people play the regular season for.*)

I’m not going to write about Spurs-Hornets. Simply, I’m embarrassed after that ass-kickin’ Game 5. I’ll wait ‘til after Game 6. Hmm... I might be in a much worse condition.

My early predicition for the Draft Lottery winner:

My gut-feeling that with the odds of winning the lottery 19.9 percent, the Seattle SuperSonics will cash in. Really, somethin’ good must happen after such filthy things.

In March, we were salivating over the idea that the Sonics could land both Durant and Beasley in back-to-back years. A few of the GMs thought it would be an amazing combination. Beasley and Durant are close friends and, together, they could give the Sonics the most potent inside-outside, young scoring duo in the league. However, the Sonics, too, have become enamored with Rose, and a source close to the team said the idea of matching an elite point guard next to Durant would be too good to pass up. So with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Sonics pick Derrick Rose! Oklahoma City Sonics...

p.s.: *Gregg Popovich’s got this bully pulpit up there, and he tells you what he likes and dislikes,* Brent Barry said jokingly. And he asks you, ‘OK, what do you think?’ And before you have time to answer, he’s like, ‘OK, let’s get started.’ That’s not fair. That’s what my wife does.*
p.s.2: *What's crazy about life is when things happen, even what you perceive to be negative at a certain point, it's all preparation and practice for what's to come next,* said D. Fisher.
p.s.3: As reporters waited to interview Ginobili at his locker after the game, a mouse jumped out of his laundry bag as a clubhouse attendant picked it up. *I guess I’ve got to do laundry more often,* Ginobili joked.
p.s.4: If the Celtics think that the Cavs will automatically go belly-up in Boston, then their season won't survive the weekend. (-Charley Rosen)

p.s.5: *I tried to flex like Lebron did [after LBJ’s tomahawk], but I didn't have any muscle to flex,* Cavs coach Mike Brown said. *So I flexed my jaw and said 'Game 5.'*
p.s.6: Okay, the Knicks have D’Antoni. The tougher homework is to bring LeBron James to The Apple. And would D’A & LBJ work? *I think it'll work,* Donnie Walsh said. *If it can't, I guess I'll be down in Indiana hanging out with the cows.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - May 14 2008 6:01PM

Express Yourself: Our Favorite Spurs

2008-05-11T22:11:00.001+02:00

Are you a Spurs fan 24/7? Do you know a guy named Mike Mitchell? If your responses are yep and yep, you can express your thoughts on your most favorite Spurs past and present. By the way, here are some Spurs-related research lists.

Most Spurs NBA Seasons 1977-1989
1. Johnny Moore 10
2. George Gervin 9
3. Mike Mitchell 7
4. Mark Olberding 6
5. James Silas 5
5. Mike Gale 5
5. Billy Paultz 5
5. Artis Gilmore 5
5. Alvin Robertson 5
10. Larry Kenon 4
10. Paul Griffin 4
10. Coby Dietrick 4
10. Gene Banks 4
10. Dave Greenwood 4
10. Frank Brickowski 4

Most Spurs NBA Seasons in the 90’s
1. David Robinson 10 (‘99 ring (and ‘03 ring))
2. Sean Elliott 9 (‘99 ring)
3. Avery Johnson 8 (‘99 ring)
4. Terry Cummings 6
4. Willie Anderson 6
4. Vinny Del Negro 6
7. J.R. Reid 4
7. Will Perdue 4 (‘99 ring)
9. Rod Strickland 3
9. Sidney Green 3
9. Antoine Carr 3
9. Monty Williams 3
9. Chuck Person 3
9. Carl Herrera 3
9. Cory Alexander 3

Most Spurs NBA Seasons since 1989-90
1. David Robinson 14 (‘99, ‘03 ring)
2. Sean Elliott 11 (‘99 ring)
2. Tim Duncan 11 ! (‘99, ‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring) (! = active)
4. Avery Johnson 10 (‘99 ring)
5. Malik Rose 8 (‘99, ‘03 ring)
6. Tony Parker 7 ! (‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring)
6. Bruce Bowen 7 ! (‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring)
8. Terry Cummings 6
8. Willie Anderson 6 (7 overall - 1988-89)
8. Vinny Del Negro 6
8. Manu Ginobili 6 ! (‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring)
12. Robert Horry 5 ! (‘05, ‘07 ring)
13. J.R. Reid 4
13. Will Perdue 4 (‘99 ring)
13. Jaren Jackson 4 (‘99 ring)
13. Antonio Daniels 4 (‘’99 ring)
13. Steve Kerr 4 (‘99, ‘03 ring)
13. Brent Barry 4 ! (‘05, ‘07 ring)
19. Rod Strickland 3
19. Sidney Green 3
19. Antoine Carr 3
19. Monty Williams 3
19. Chuck Person 3
19. Carl Herrera 3
19. Cory Alexander 3
19. Charles Smith 3
19. Terry Porter 3
19. Danny Ferry 3 (‘03 ring)
19. Devin Brown 3 (‘05 ring)
19. Rasho Nesterovic 3 (‘05 ring)
19. Sean Marks 3 (‘05 ring)
19. Beno Udrih 3 (‘05, ‘07 ring)
19. Michael Finley 3 ! (’07 ring)
19. Fabricio Oberto 3 ! (’07 ring)

Most Spurs NBA Seasons 1977-2008
1. David Robinson 14 (‘99, ‘03 ring)
2. Sean Elliott 11 (‘99 ring)
2. Tim Duncan 11 ! (‘99, ‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring)
4. Johnny Moore 10
4. Avery Johnson 10 (‘99 ring)
6. George Gervin 9
7. Malik Rose 8 (‘99, ‘03 ring)
8. Mike Mitchell 7
8. Willie Anderson 7
8. Tony Parker 7 ! (‘03, ‘05, ‘07 ring)
8. Bruce Bowen 7 ! (‘03, ‘05, ‘07 ring)
12. Mark Olberding 6
12. Terry Cummings 6
12. Vinny Del Negro 6
12. Manu Ginobili 6 ! (‘03, ’05, ‘07 ring)

Former Spurs Ultimate Roster (retired/*inactive Spurs; at least 5 seasons/**4 seasons)
- Robinson
- Elliott
- Moore
- Johnson
- Gervin
- Rose*
- Mitchell
- Anderson
- Olberding
- Cummings
- Del Negro
- Silas
- Gale
- Paultz
- Gilmore
- Robertson
- Kenon**

p.s.: this is a special edition for poundingtherock.com spurs fans site.

Posted by Foreigner in CS - May 11 2008 9:58PM

Let’s Keep It Real Here, We’re Not Gonna Win AKA David West Stings

2008-05-05T20:18:00.000+02:00

Yep, everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout... how easily LA Lakes with KB24 swept and embarrassed Nugs.
...how Jazz with D-Will outfought tougher-than-expected Rockets.
...how Celts couldn’t get rid of Hawks ‘til G7.
...how Pists turned on their engines when it mattered vs. Sixers.
...how Magic with Dwight Superman dominated Raps.
...how Cavs with LBJ eliminated Wizs in a smack-talk series.
...how Spurs got Suns into oblivion.
...and how Hornets with CP3 flew past Mavs to the Semifinals...

...however, everybody keeps overlooking a real hero of NO Hornets. And it’s not Paul. It ain’t their mascot Super Hugo, either.

He’s 27-year-old leader. Again, Paul is the best Hornet. But David West (my buddy Valdes calls him ‘Stings’) is the real leader and soul of New Orleans basketball.

West attended and graduated from Xavier University, where he spent all four college years. (It’s not a typo, baby.) West was a four year starter and his jersey was retired immediately following his senior year in which he led Xavier to a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. West was named as a first team All-American his senior year and the 2003 Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Year, averaged 20.1 ppg. and 11.8 rpg. as a senior. West led Xavier to 94 wins in his four seasons while finishing as Xavier's all-time blocked shot leader (228 blocks) and second on XU's all-time scoring (2,132 points) and rebounding (1,308 rebounds) lists. West was also named as the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year three years in a row.

So why he was still overlooked in the 2003 Draft? Noone knows.

West was drafted by Hornets, eighteenth overall. After two out-of-the-radar seasons, in 2005-06, West stepped up, averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and .512 FG%, while starting all 74 games he appeared in. He came in second in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2005-06 season, behind Boris Diaw. He also saw some time at center, due to the team's lack of a true big man, while also showning clutch capabilities, converting three game-winning jump shots. The following season he ended with averages of 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He also had five 30+ games and thirteen 20+ games, although he missed 30 games due to an elbow injury. West's powerful displays continued in 2007-08, as he increased his statistics again, and was chosen as a reserve player for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.

You know this guy now, don’t you?

He’s got Xavier’s ‘X’ tattooed on his arm which displays, on either side, "My life, my way". His ‘DX’ nickname is a combination of his ‘X’ tattoo and the first letter of his first name, while he also claims to be the Hornets' X-factor.

Coming into the series with Spurs. We knew he’s very good. But we still overlooked him when things revolved around ‘The Best In The NBA’ lists. His PF’s regular season, 20.6 ppg/8.9 rpg/2.3 apg wasn’t considered as a wake-up call for NBA bandwagon fans. The truth is, while he’s not involved in the highlights that much, West is one of the league's best but least-known players. He does some of everything - averaged 22.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks against Dallas. He's a terrific spot-up shooter and almost as good off one or two dribbles. He's adept at dribbling from open spaces and driving to the rim and will hit the jumper if his defender explodes away to prevent the drive. He'll post up anyone as well. He's definitely a tough matchup for anybody and plays with an enforcer's attitude. If Paul is out or struggling, Hornets look to West for leadership and scoring. He's very good on the other end as well as the team's best shot-blocker and he's very good at taking away his opponent's best stuff. Bottom line, he plays like a beast, but a very skilled and smart one.

I love West and his game and, overall, Hornets are a symphatetic bunch of guys (except for Wells, Bonzi), but I’m not so pleased that I see him on the floor when my Spurs are involved. And while his skills are superb, it’s his behavior and persona that are much more frightening. Simply, he’s an Anti-Amare. And that creates real troubles, dude. Look at Harvey’s column about ‘Stings’:

***
David molds David, and Spurs feel it
/abbreviated version/
By Buck Harvey

David West was always a Spurs fan. He loved David Robinson, and how Robinson handled himself, and West talked about that Sunday. This should make Spurs feel even older. Those who grew up liking them are now beating them. This should also worry Spurs. West is averaging 30 points this season in Hornets' wins over Spurs, and he isn't some airhead who will get caught up in the glory. He will also not throw a party and invite Josh Howard. West stayed in school for four years, and he believes in being steady and professional, and he doesn't care that few in the country realize how good he is. As role models go, Spurs have been too good. As defenders go, Spurs have not been so good. West did what he wanted to do Saturday; had he not started slowly, including missing a dunk, he might have gone for 40 points.

Few saw this coming, even after West was named the Associated Press' college player of the year in 2003, his senior year at Xavier. Coincidentally, that was the year Robinson retired. Also coincidentally, Robinson won the same award 16 years earlier. But whereas Robinson's size and athletic ability were undeniable then, West was seen as a 6-foot-9 power forward without much power. West heard the critiques, and some came firsthand. *I remember one NBA guy sitting me down and saying, ‘At your size, you're going to have to do something drastic - either gain 40 pounds to become a Danny Fortson, or lose 30 pounds to adjust playing on the wing.'* He went 18th in the draft behind, among others, players named Reece Gaines and Troy Bell. And when West showed up at his introductory press conference in New Orleans, he came with no jewelry and a small entourage. Only his parents and girlfriend were with him. *One of the things I like about David,* Tim Floyd, the then-Hornets coach said that day, *is he lists his favorite basketball player as David Robinson.*

West worked, and his 17-foot jumper became automatic. He could always rebound, and defenders have found that his splay-footed first step seems to always get him to the basket. Only Amare Stoudemire compares to West and his inside-outside combination, and West is surer and smarter. Little wonder West was an All-Star this year. And with the All-Star Game in New Orleans, West should have been impressed with himself then. He wasn't. During a media session he saw Robinson, and West walked over, waited his turn and introduced himself. He told Robinson how much he admired him, and he met his sons.

Asked about that Sunday, West smiled and implied the two had just bumped into each other. But a Hornets staffer who was there that day said West was more excited about meeting Robinson than anything else that weekend. West thought it had been *the coolest thing*. So why Robinson? *He was one of those guys that, regardless of what negative things people said about him, he was a winner,* West said Sunday. *He never got out of character in terms of what he was, who he was. He didn't let things around him get to who he is. He may not have said it, but I always got that from him.* West has thought of Tim Duncan and all of Spurs in similar ways. *They go about their business,* West said. *They don't have to be flashy, all the bravado and stuff. Just get it done.*

Now West has become the Robinson/Duncan of Hornets. No player has been with the franchise longer. But West might be the NBA's least-known star outside of New Orleans. Gregg Popovich addressed that Sunday. *For some reason, he continues to be this underrated guy.* Popovich should know the reasons by now. West doesn't play to the hype, and he doesn't work in a large market. These are all parallels Spurs would enjoy. Except for now. The one player they can't figure out also wants to be like them.
***

There you have it. You read the picks before G1 of Spurs-Hornets and everybody picks Spurs in 6. Or 5. Even the most experienced NBA experts and pundits overlook Hornets’ great team. So why? Because they don’t consider
DX as a top tier player. All the talk is about Paul and his chance of single-hanedly burning the champs. Look, I’am not sayin’ San Antone can’t win this series and advance. They can. And they should. But...

...after watching in our SPURROOM with my buds how Hornets glide past Spurs behind 30 points from West in G1... the hope seems dim for us.

Heck, we aren’t done yet. There’ll be no residue from fire-extinguishers on the floor, TD will bounce back strongly, Pop will counter with his new master-like game plan, Manu will be crazy and maybe, Bowen will get ejected along with Paul. That’s all good news. All we need is a split after these two games.

But there will be DAVID WEST (one of the best in the NBA and better player than Amare), too, tearing Spurs apart, probably buildin’ the foundation for another blowout of Spurs.

p.s.: c.j. watson of warriors: *one thing that shocked me was during a timeout coach nelson doesn't say nothing. he just sits there and rubs his head.*
p.s.2: i thought of a great trade last night as melo was doing everything but taking his clothes off during the second half of the lakers game... what about a trade with melo and josh howard as the principles? obviously dallas would have to throw in more because melo has more value than howard, but wouldn't that make sense for both teams? dallas gets a much needed scorer to team with dirk - denver gets a much-needed intangibles guy who doesn't care if he gets the ball and also has some good weed connections. everyone wins. (-bill simmons)

Posted by Foreigner in CS - May 5 2008 8:18PM

Feb. 7: But, Ask Yourself, Who The Hell Is Going To Guard Tony Parker?

2008-04-27T18:35:00.001+02:00

April 25, 2008. Game 3: Spurs 115, Suns 99. TP, 41&12.

Check out one of my post-Shaq-trade blog where I finished it with a simple question: in a possible Spurs-Suns series, they got Big Cactus on TD, but with Matrix gone... ask yourself, who the hell is going to guard tony parker? It seems, through G1 to G3, nobody at all. Just what we witnessed on Friday night:

FIRST QUARTER

Parker had 13 points, Spurs led by as many as 15 points and finished the period with a 33-19 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

Parker had 19 points, Spurs took a 61-47 halftime lead.

THIRD QUARTER

Parker has 30 points and 11 assists, Spurs lead 91-72 at the end of three.

FOURTH QUARTER

Parker burned the Suns for 41 points and 12 assists as Spurs rolled 115-99 to take a 3-0 (!) series lead.

Well, that’s a nice beating. The French Kiss turned to The Kiss Of Death for Suns.

Some nice lines/info about Tony Longoria before tonight’s Game 4:

Tim Duncan turned a year older Friday. Pressed, Spurs forward admitted his first day as a 32-year-old didn't feel much different than his last day at 31. *I feel about the same,* he joked. *Old and slow.* Luckily for Duncan, and unfortunately for Phoenix, he has a younger, quicker running buddy. Tony Parker scored a career-high 41 points and handed out 12 assists to lead Spurs to a 115-99 victory in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series at US Airways Center on Friday.

It gave Spurs a 3-0 series lead, pushing them within a game of eliminating Suns for the fourth time in six years. They get their first crack at that with Game 4 on Sunday. No team in NBA history has recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series. There is a reason Spurs stand on the brink of a sweep. *We possibly played our best game of the year,* coach Gregg Popovich said. Parker played the game of his life.

The 25-year-old Frenchman became the second Spurs player to score 40 points in the series. Duncan had 40 in Game 1. *C'est magnifique,* Spurs guard Brent Barry said, describing Parker's night in the point guard's native tongue. Or, roughly translated: *It was awesome.*

The only team in the NBA not to suffer a three-game losing streak during the regular season, Phoenix became the first team this year to suffer one in the playoffs. If they can't break that slide Sunday, Suns' season is over. *Whatever we tried to do, it seemed like they had an answer for it,* Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. *Everything went their way, they made it go their way, or we contributed to it.* Before the game, Parker sheepishly admitted he hadn't given Duncan anything for his birthday, but no matter. Suns are the gift that keeps on giving.

*We learned from our past mistakes where we go up 2-0, and can't get a win on the road,* Parker said. *That's why we came out firing. Me personally, same thing. I always like to start great.* Parker opened hot, throwing in jumper after jumper in the first quarter, which was a bad sign for Suns. Less than six minutes into the game, he had 10 points and six assists, and Spurs were up by double digits. Even the old, slow Duncan flashed some young and quick moments. Early in the first half, he took a feed from Parker - and promptly dunked on Stoudemire.

All of other Spurs’ highlights were lost in the glare of the most dazzling game of Parker's still budding career. For Phoenix, the frustration hit its zenith just before half. Again, Parker was the cause. After a timeout, Spurs inbounded to Parker, who weaved 60 feet in 4.2 seconds to toss in a floater at the horn. After Parker's 18th and 19th points of the first half, Stoudemire grabbed the ball from the net and flung it into the goal support. *My only focus was be aggressive, learn from the past and just be more mature,* Parker said.

Duncan celebrated a birthday Friday. Young and quick, Parker grew up as well.

*****

Star of today: Parker learned from the past
By Buck Harvey
San Antonio Express-News

Tony Parker always admits his mistakes, so I might as well do the same. Yes, I predicted Suns would win Friday night. Yes, I also said this series would go seven games. But back to Parker, and back to how he's acted since he arrived in San Antonio as a teenager. He's always admitted what he couldn't do, and he always brought up his failures, and it's something that has helped him as much as his quickness has. Friday, in a powerful evening that said as much about his stature as a Finals MVP trophy did a year ago, Parker didn't have to admit to anything. Players always like to say the right things, as do coaches. They write instructions and inspiring messages on locker-room grease boards, and Suns had their own messages Friday night. Among them was this declaration: "We Will Make Every Big Play!"

Yes, others can be wrong, too. Parker may have said something foolish over the years, but it's hard to remember any false projections. He had confidence from the first day, but he quickly announced he'd never faced 7-foot defenders in France. He would have to learn how to shoot over them. Thus came the floater, and it was on display at the end of the first half Friday. Then, with Suns within a dozen points, Parker went the length of the floor to score at the buzzer. Amare Stoudemire stood staring at the rim, as if confused by the pregame proclamation. Who will make every big play? For Parker, the addition of the floater was just part of it. He'd lost to Shaquille O'Neal's Lakers, and he'd seen why. Parker couldn't take advantage of O'Neal's failure to defend the pick and roll.
Mike Bibby did for Sacramento then, and Parker announced what he wanted to become. *I want to be Bibby,* he said. He's become more, but the Bibby angle was in play Friday night. Then he took advantage of O'Neal, making jumper after jumper in the enormous space the Suns provided.

Shaq and Steve Nash could be the worst pick-and-roll defensive combination in the NBA, and the Phoenix crowd had reason to boo. Suns have given up 40 points to Tim Duncan and 41 to Parker in the span of three games, and just a few weeks ago the Spurs weren't breaking 80. Parker had options from the first possession, and he would have others on his way to a dozen assists. Phoenix also never challenged him, never made him shoot before he wanted to, never showed him something that confused him. It wasn't that way once before. Parker was once known for starting fast in playoff series, then disappearing. Again, he brought that up last week before anyone else could. *We can't be satisfied,* Parker said then. *Since I've been here, we've been in all kinds of situations. In 2004, we were up 2-0 against the Lakers and they came back.*

Parker was admitting to everything, as if he wanted to confront his failures. What he didn't acknowledge, however, is that Phil Jackson threw a few things at him that caused him to trip. Parker didn't care Friday about the details. He came out with his floater, with his jumper and with the realization everything had gone wrong before. When he put 19 points and seven assists on Suns in the first half, an ESPN reporter asked him on the way to the locker room why he and the Spurs came out as they did. Parker said, *We've been in this situation before.*

Nothing changed. Gregg Popovich would say later, *We possibly played our best game of the year,* and that was because Parker played better. And after he had scored more points than he ever has in the NBA, after he had sent Spurs to a 3-0 lead in the series, he stayed on message. *I learned from the past,* he said.

*****

Yep, it looks good. Suns can’t find some way to slow Spurs’ pick-and-roll play. Parker has torched them for 33 points per game in the series. Steve Nash, apparently weary of being abused by his quicker Spurs counterpart, said Saturday he would prefer the Phoenix defense get the ball out of Parker’s hands. Asked if that scenario would create a whole different set of problems for Phoenix, Nash just chuckled.

*Right now, I’d like to see those other problems,* he said.

Parker, meanwhile, has no plans to rest on his laurels. *In the NBA, it’s all about the next game,* he said *Until we win the series, it doesn’t mean nothing.* We’ll see tonight whether Tony sends Suns fishin’.

p.s.: after making a 3-ball and with the wiz trailing by 16, deshawn stevenson had the effrontery to blow on his shooting hand to cool it down. with the way he's been shooting - his jumper and his mouth - it would have been far more appropriate for him to cock his shooting hand into the approximation of a gun, and then shoot himself in the head. (-charley rosen)
p.s.2: *better learn not to talk to me,* kobe bryant said of jr smith's trash-talking. *You shake the tree, a leopard's gonna fall out.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Apr 27 2008 6:35PM

The Shot Of Fate, Are We Gonna Celebrate?

2008-04-21T10:23:00.003+02:00

Spurs down by three, 15.1 seconds left... Finley hits the 3-pointer!!! It’s overtime!
***

Spurs down by three, screen-n-roll, Ginobili turns the corner, passes it back to Duncan, oh-what-the-fuck, Tim is beyond the 3-pt line... yeah!!! Duncan sends the game into a second overtime!!!
***

It’s tied, 1.8 seconds left in the second OT... Ginobili drives for a layup, good!!! 117-115 double-OT victory!!!
***

*You can imagine my horror when it went that direction,* Gregg Popovich said on The Tim Trey. Holy cow, we felt the same way, Gregg. Everything turned great.

p.s.: a columnist asked raja bell to elaborate on manu ginobili's greatness: *i'm not going to suck up to him for you, dog,* bell said, storming away.
p.s.2: *i hope he can just remember what sport he's playing before the playoffs begin,* coach popovich said about brent barry in the end of regular season. *i don't want him to come to the arena with a bat or anything.*

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Apr 21 2008 10:23AM

Does Bennett Deserve His Own Team? Hell Yeah

2008-04-17T21:19:00.004+02:00

Nothing is for sure, but it seems that Sonics owner Clay ‘Liar-n-Butthead’ Bennett’s desire to have Seattle in Oklahoma City is fulfilled. I hope it doesn’t come true somehow and SuperSonics remain in the great city of Seattle. Hey Clay, you should purchase THIS following team, settle in OKC and be a proud owner:

PG Marbury; Banks
SG R. Davis; Hughes, Francis
SF T. Thomas; Morrison
PF Randolph; A. Walker
C B. Wallace; Milicic, K. Brown
Coach I. Thomas

*Ladies and gentlemen in the great city of Oklahoma City, this is our own basketball team! I hope we’ll win the championship in two years. We got a lot of talent. I hope we’ll be based here for at least 41 years. Let’s enjoy our quest to be the best franchise in the mighty NBA! Last but not least, hopefully you’ll get accustomed to the nickname THIEVES. Oklahoma City Thieves, baby!!!* - C. Bennett

Stephon Marbury, PG

Zach Randolph, PF

Kwame Brown, C

Darko Milicic, C

Tim Thomas, SF

Larry Hughes, SG

Ben Wallace, C

Ricky Davis, SG

Marcus Banks, PG

Steve Francis, G
Adam Morrison, G-F

Adam Morrison, G-F

Antoine Walker, F

Isiah Thomas, Head Coach

p.s.: [regarding ny knicks] *there is no environment that demands winning. you can watch it on the bench and you see zach randolph shoot an airball from three, come out of the game and get congratulated by everybody. i think jeff van gundy would have spit on him,* said ex-msg president dave checketts.
p.s.2: hey, maybe bucks fans have something to be proud of! did you catch the play of bucks rookie ramon sessions in the last games of regular season? he’s a flat-out candidate for m.i.p. 2009. in the score-fest versus bulls, this bucks guard dished 24 (!) assists (one short of the rookie record), scored 20 pts and grabbed 8 rebs, then finished the work off by a line of 25/14 in the last bucks game.
p.s.3: pat riley on his heat team: *i'm like a mosquito at a nudist colony. i know what to do; i just don't know where to start.*
p.s.4: spurs-suns again!!!!! let the playoffs begin!

Posted by Foreigner in CS - Apr 17 2008 9:19PM