tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44718277909562931022024-02-19T17:15:04.379-05:00Volume ShootersBasketball, jokes, and anything else we find interestingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-57655013552614661842014-01-13T14:55:00.000-05:002014-01-13T14:55:39.703-05:00Lord of the Championship Rings: Return of the TweenerThat's right! After a long absence, I'm bringing back my "Tweener" column! You can read the <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-tweener-inaugural-edition.html" target="_blank">original "Tweener" here</a>, and other examples <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/06/tweener-6-12-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-tweener-5-29-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-tweener-5-21-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a> and...ok enough already.<br />
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>>>> Mostly I decided to bring this back because the Australian Open started today/yesterday/I don't really understand how the international dateline works, but it was on TV when I woke up in the middle of the night. If you haven't seen or heard about the draw, well, <a href="http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/10271234/rafael-nadal-roger-federer-andy-murray-same-half-australian-open-draw" target="_blank">one half is a little stacked</a>. Here's what is important in this tournament:<br />
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<li>If Rafael Nadal wins, he ties Sampras with 14 career majors. Due to the draw and his streak of 24 consecutive matches won, the odds seem to be in Djokovic's favor. But you better believe if these two make the final I will be up at 3:30am that Sunday to watch it.</li>
<li>That's really the only important thing.</li>
<li>Serena will probably still be really good.</li>
<li>Oh wait - I'm reeeeally hoping we see something like this:</li>
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>>>> STOP THE PRESSES. Whatever you're doing, it isn't worth it. Instead, you should be spending the next 5 hours staring at the <a href="http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html" target="_blank">NBA standings</a>, since <i>four whole Eastern Conference teams</i> are currently above .500! Actually Toronto plays Milwaukee tonight, and Boston on Wednesday, so this may hold up for a while.</div>
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Wait. Who am I kidding? This is the Eastern Conference we're talking about! Relish it while you can.</div>
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>>>> In all seriousness, call me crazy, but Chicago (because no Luol Deng) and Detroit (<a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0110/grant_r_Goldsberry_Smith_Josh_1152.jpg" target="_blank">because Josh Smith lol</a>) are going to fall out of those standings. (When I told him this, co-Volume Shooter Paul Britton told me I was crazy.) Instead, the New York Suddenly-A-Real-Basketball-Team-After-Benching-JR-Smith Knicks will pull it together (much to Denver's chagrin, since they own the Knicks' first round pick), and the Charlotte (!!!!!!) Bobcats will also find a way in. I know...I really did just type those words, which virtually guarantees Charlotte will lose 10 of their next 11 games (though they'd probably still be within striking distance of the playoffs because the East is that bad).</div>
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>>>> This (s/o to Drake Varn):</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-50650967087967538212014-01-09T15:49:00.002-05:002014-01-09T17:37:14.774-05:00Oral Roberts to Forfeit Two Games Against Imaginary Schools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBP0QjR9yWxC8LjpxC26jmR8uM-2m119mfSJJxaukkPSfLSE5fVuhvTqV__Fuu5-62ZU00btp1cIsNxpVN7eUDCq19OUiIxfmBCn2Taqk08zV8OodlJOR6OuZJT1m47vhyl6_ZzYMletg/s1600/Oral+Roberts.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBP0QjR9yWxC8LjpxC26jmR8uM-2m119mfSJJxaukkPSfLSE5fVuhvTqV__Fuu5-62ZU00btp1cIsNxpVN7eUDCq19OUiIxfmBCn2Taqk08zV8OodlJOR6OuZJT1m47vhyl6_ZzYMletg/s1600/Oral+Roberts.jpg" /></a><br />
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Today, it was announced that Oral Roberts will have to forfeit two upcoming games against "Abilene Christian" and "Incarnate Word" because they've played too many non-Division 1 schools this year already.<br />
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According to NCAA bylaws, Division 1 teams can play a maximum of 4 non-Division 1 schools each year, including exhibition games. The Golden Eagles already defeated the non-Division 1 likes of Northwood, Rogers State, Cameron and Dallas Baptist, but apparently, they didn't think those victories would be convincing enough for the NCAA Selection Committee to put them in the NCAA Tournament later this season. <br />
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To amp up their résumé, they scheduled two "games" against Division 2 "schools" that they made up--Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word.<br />
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Really, Oral Roberts? Those don't even sound like real schools.<br />
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It's being reported that Mike Carter, Oral Roberts' athletic director, opened the Bible to a random page in Exodus, chose four words and pieced them together to make up the schools' names. <br />
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Come on, Mike. At least throw an A&M at the end. And what's their mascot? I bet it's a Wildcat. <br />
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To fortify the games' credibility, Carter and Manti Te'o reached an agreement early this season for Te'o to publicly announce he was dating a student at Incarnate Word.<br />
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However, despite their crafty efforts, the NCAA discovered the hoax and is now forcing Oral Roberts to forfeit the games. <br />
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Ultimately, the NCAA's decision will probably benefit Oral Roberts. They would've looked pretty silly when all 37 of their fans showed up, and there wasn't an opposing team. Plus, an inexplicable loss or two is something most teams can come back from. Mizzou is certainly hoping so.<br />
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In the end, I think we've all learned something: Words from the Bible are rarely believable.<br />
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In other news, I am now dating Anna Kendrick.<br />
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*The picture at the top is Oral Roberts playing Incarnate Word last year.
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Who won this trade?</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Paul:</span></b> Um, neither team? In a sense, the Bulls "won" by avoiding the luxury tax this season and trading away an expiring contract for something, even though it is likely to be a late first or second-round pick sometime a few years off. At the same time, you have to think Deng might have chosen to remain in Chicago after his contract expired, which now seems like something with no shot of happening. Meanwhile, the Cavs clearly got better this season by adding Deng, a very solid player who has played at an all-star level as recently as 2 seasons ago. Unfortunately, they are 11 games under .500, have the 4th worst point differential in the league, and even in the <strike>Big 10 Conference</strike> Eastern Conference, they have to be seen as a long shot to make the playoffs. Are you really making this trade to try and convince LeBron you are "serious about contending?"<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Joel: </span></b>First of all, I'd say the biggest loser in this trade is me. I literally just hacked the sleeves off of my "I'm just here for the Deng Bang" Bulls t-shirt, and now I'll look like a fool wearing it. I can imagine the situation now: I'm strolling down the streets in my DengBang sleeveless and 5 inch shorts, and some hot chick will be like "Hey nice shirt, nerd, Deng doesn't even Bang in groups or otherwise in Chicago anymore". Ugh, that will be the worst. Post-colonial sexualization of black men is only acceptable under the guise of TRUE FANDOM. But in all seriousness, after six years in Chicago and with my SuperSonics unavailable, I have adopted Los Bulls (it's Latin Night!) as my team, and I will miss seeing Luol attempt to dribble on the run with his hilariously long arms. That dude has like a ten foot wingspan (similar to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_Condor" target="_blank">Andean Condor</a>). The silver lining of this whole business is that Bynum was promptly waived which was funny, and maybe Chicago's front office will draft six replacement sets of knees for Derrick Rose.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Brian: </span></b>Hands down, the Bulls. They get 2 second rounders, the right to swap first round picks with Cleveland in 2015 if they finish with a pick in the 15-30 range, and potentially another first rounder if the Kings somehow finish outside the top 12 this year (c'mon, Boogie Cousins!!!). Ok, so realistically they aren't getting that pick. But what's more intriguing is the Bulls are subtly tanking for the most loaded draft in years. AND they get Charlotte's first rounder if they finish outside the top 10, which is somehow actually possible this year. But who says the Bulls can't finish with a top 5 pick based on their own record? They already lost Rose for the season, and just traded away their best perimeter defender/2nd best offensive weapon. So next year they could potentially roll out a lineup of Rose/Jimmy Butler/Boozer/1st round blue chipper/Noah. That team couldn't contend for the title? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.</div>
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As for the Cavs - what's the end game here? You now have 3 point guards that hate each other, a power forward that can't stay healthy for 20 games, and Deng, who is a good role player but will never be a star. Sure, you'll make the playoffs in the turrible East, but are you going to beat the Heat or Pacers in a 7 game series? Really? Dan Gilbert probably still thinks he can get Lebron this summer. LOL. This trade is at best a C for the Cavs.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Jack:</span></b> This whole roundtable is going to be hard for me, because it requires looking at <a href="http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html" target="_blank">the Eastern Conference standings.</a> Three teams are currently at or over .500. (Pause.) (Yes it is really that bad.) If we have to pick sides, I guess the Bulls won - being able to duck the luxury tax this year is so important, as they may run significant bills in the next couple of years as they pursue a title. Avoiding it this year resets the clock on the super-duper death taxes that begin in the third year of cap penalties. Tha being said, it's not like the Cavs <i>lost</i> this trade. They had about 68 draft picks over the next 3 years, and they upgraded at a position where they were straight doo-doo. I guess that counts as a win?</div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Will the Cavs make the playoffs?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Paul:</span></b> Well, as things stand at the moment, the 8th team in the East is projected to finish with a .400 winning percentage, meaning the Cavs could go 22-25 the rest of the way and theoretically finish ahead of that. At the beginning of the year, you would have thought that would be no problem, but after almost 3 months of shaky play, I'm not so sure. Deng is obviously a massive small forward upgrade over Earl Clark (lol), Alonzo Gee (LOL) and Anthony Bennett (<a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2014/01/grading-nba-draft.html" target="_blank">HAHAHAHAHAHA</a>), so they should improve. At the same time, you have to think that one of Brooklyn or New York will improve and that Detroit will win enough games to push the #8 seed up to about 36 wins. All of a sudden they have to go above .500 to beat that level, and I don't think they quite get there. I give it at 40% chance.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Joel:</span></b> Who cares if the Cavs make the playoffs, as long as Pepsi incorporates Kyrie Irving's new teammate into the "Uncle Drew" series of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DnKOc6FISU" target="_blank">REALLY SUBTLE</a> commercials. In this Deng iteration, however, Uncle Drew attempts to bring back the old team that starred in "Air Bud 69: This Time the Dog Athlete is a Condor that is Actually Luol Deng"), and they can wreak havoc upon the fake pickup games of South Sudan or whatever. I'd watch that BUT I STILL WONT BUY PEPSI MAX, PEPSI. Unless it is sugar-free, I'm not trying to get diabetes or anything. Update: I just googled Pepsi Max, and it turns out it is, in fact, sugar-free. GAME ON!</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Brian:</span></b> Of course! The East is freaking AWFUL! At 12-23, the Cavs are only 2 GAMES OUT OF THE 8 SEED! Yes, they will make the playoffs, and with it, the right to get taken to the woodshed by Miami or Indiana.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Jack:</span></b> Indiana, Miami, and...who else is certain to make it? Honestly, despite watching them get busted up in the third quarter against Golden State over the weekend, the Wizards look like the most likely team to hold their crap together. (Self-plug: I picked them to <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-triumphant-return-and-new-bullet-in.html" target="_blank">finish third </a>earlier this season.) Toronto, currently 16-17 and 4th in the Eastern Conference (must.not.look.at.standings.again.) could keep it together as well. Atlanta just lost Al Horford for the season, the politely nicknamed "shat-lantic" division is terrible, and Charlotte and Detroit are 15-21 and 14-21 and in 7th and 8th (WHAT). As long as Cleveland starts <strike>the climb</strike> <strike>the hike</strike> <strike>the uphill walk</strike> walking the right direction now, they should <i>easily</i> make the playoffs. For heaven's sake, they play against other Eastern Conference teams!</div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Can the Bulls afford to miss the playoffs?</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Paul:</b></span> On the flip side, you have Chicago, who would probably prefer not to make the playoffs and beef up their draft selection given that their superstar player will not return this year. Normally I don't see the purpose of tanking, ESPECIALLY in the East this year (if you can make the playoffs going 36-44, why not do it?), but the Bulls have nothing to gain in the way of "playoff experience," and extra games will just give Thibodeau an excuse to play Noah and Butler 73 minutes a game for longer. Unfortunately for them, they will absolutely make the playoffs, unless Noah goes down with an acute intensity tear and Boozer retires to hunt moose in Alaska for the next 4 months.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Joel:</span></b> The Bulls can clearly "afford" a lot of stuff with the $14.6 million they are saving. *Rimshot*.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Brian:</span></b> See above - absolutely. They are completely writing off this season, basically saying "we hope Rose comes back healthy, we get a top 5 or 10 draft pick, and Jimmy Butler continues his improvement so we can run it back next year." Hey, at least Chicago still has the Blackhawks, right?</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Jack:</span></b> It probably takes a decade off of Thibodeau's life, but yes. In fact, I hope the East sees enough of a rise that Thibs doesn't kill his players trying to snag the 7 seed to play Miami. What happens if the Bulls get a lottery pick, or even a decent pick, in this "loaded" draft, get Rose back, and sign Nikola Mirotic (the Spanish wonder-child!)? Suddenly they're contenders again after missing the playoffs? Yes, I think they can wait a season - and let Rose recover without constant calls for his early return to the team in the playoffs.</div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Where will Deng end up after this season?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Paul:</span></b> Now that is a good question. I don't have a good answer. It seems like every free agent ends up in Miami, New York or L.A. recently, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Lakers actually sign Deng with their plethora of cap space over the summer. Could L.A. be decent with Bryant, Gasol, Deng and team MVP Robert Sacre???</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Joel:</span></b> I think Deng will probably stay in Cleveland for far too long because he will quickly come to personify the Cavs's GRITTY BLUE COLLAR ONCE THRIVING MIDWEST INDUSTRIAL CITY playing style. Or something.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Brian: </span></b>Assuming Dan Gilbert can't lure Lebron to Cleveland (lol again), I've got an outside the box idea: Charlotte. They've got the cap space to do it, their new coach actually gives a shit about defense, Deng could provide a bit of offense without needing many touches to be happy, and it's very likely that The Cody Zeller Experiment will become The Failed Cody Zeller Experiment. Although selfishly I just want him to come to Charlotte so that a) they add a player that doesn't shoot as soon as they touch the ball, and b) so I can watch him hilariously mesh with Al Jefferson, Jeff Adrien, and Josh "McBob" McRoberts.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Jack:</span></b> SUPER CRAZY THEORY ALERT: Chicago clears more cap room, signs Lebron. The Lakers sign Carmelo. Chris Bosh goes to Boston (ok maybe that's a stretch). In their press to sign as many old players to long contracts as possible, Deng ends up...a New York Knickerbocker!</div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">What's next for Andrew Bynum?</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Paul:</span></b> Bynum is going to become the next spokesman for Head and Shoulders. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/andrew-bynum-hair-slickback-2012-12" target="_blank">It is destiny.</a></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Joel:</span></b> Andrew Bynum is most definitely going to star in Coca Cola's competing "Uncle Young Craig Robinson" series of fake commercials. Bynum is going to play Craig Robinson except sixteen years younger and ten inches taller. But seriously, am I the only one who thinks they look alike!?</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Brian:</span></b> He opens a barbershop and cross dresses in Tyler Perry's next movie. The dude could not give a fuck less about playing basketball competitively again.</div>
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Jack:</span></b> He'll be seated next to Greg Oden at the end of Miami's bench in about two weeks. That, or doing surprise cameos on every sit-com. Can you imagine him showing up in the final How I Met Your Mother episode to deliver <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/how_i_met_your_mother/news/1001747/" target="_blank">Marshall's final slap</a>? Ok maybe I'm just excited for the next HIMYM episode.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-47543416418154593352014-01-06T10:41:00.001-05:002014-01-06T13:16:18.135-05:00Grading the NBA DraftAt the start of 2014, it's important to look back on some big moments from 2013, like the NBA draft. Plus, we're far enough into the season that we can now take a bunch of small sample sizes and make really hyperbolic statements about how well some teams did during this draft. I'm bold enough to take that leap of faith. Without further ado, here's a look at the quality of some of the 2013 draft picks:<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#1: Cleveland Cavaliers - Anthony Bennett</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grade: LOL</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#2: Orlando Magic - Victor Oladipo</span><br />
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Here's how the NBA draft works: if there's one player that is clearly better than another player, you take that player, regardless of position or team needs. Cleveland botched this. Oladipo was, is, and likely will always be a better player than Anthony Bennett. They'll tell you they already had a shooting guard (Dion "chucker" Waiters, who early this season waged a meaningful campaign to join the ranks of our favorite volume shooters), but really they just messed up. Oladipo hasn't been super special, but his 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists averages over 32 games (playing 30 minutes per game) with 40-27-74 shooting splits are much better than Bennett's (small sample size alert) 2.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 26 games (playing 11 minutes per game) with 28-15-56 shooting splits.<br />
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Oladipo was ready to play in the pros. He will get better. Not the best pick in the draft, but certainly a good one.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Grade: B</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#3: Washington Wizards - Otto Porter</span><br />
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In a crappy draft, I think this was the correct pick. Because there really wasn't another option. <br />
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Porter was a hometown kid. The Wiz thought they had starters at four of the five positions in Wall, Beal, Okafor, and Nene. Porter fit as the 5th guy. The Wiz are currently the 5th seed in the East, and a healthy/marginally productive Porter probably secures that spot. Just so we're clear, a marginally productive Porter is still a lot better than the one we've seen so far.<br />
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EXTREMELY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ALERT: In the 12 games Porter has played, the Wizards are 4-8. However, when Porter attempts over 3 shots/game, they're 3-2. Let him shoot! Give him the green light!<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Grade: C</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#4: Charlotte Bobcats - Cody Zeller</span><br />
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And...<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grade: D-</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#5: Phoenix Suns - Alex Len</span><br />
<br />
Wait...Who?<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;"><strike>Grade: D</strike> The Suns are 19-12!? Who cares about this pick!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#6: Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans) - Nerlens Noel</span><br />
<br />
Here's what I don't get.<br />
<br />
If you're Charlotte, and you're going to draft someone anyone could have told you before the draft wouldn't end up being a major contributor on a playoff team, and you never play him, why wouldn't you draft someone who may contribute later? Are you telling me Charlotte prefers having Zeller? Instead of the possibility of incorporating Noel into their playoff push, or at least having more depth next year?<br />
<br />
I think you're wrong.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grade: C+</b></span> (a very average grade...since we know nothing about how this will work out)<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#7: Sacramento Kings - Ben McLemore</span><br />
<br />
Drafted into a difficult situation, on a difficult team, in a difficult conference, McLemore has at least been a respectable 35% from 3 this season. He's athletic. He'll get better. Maybe not a lot better, but enough that he could be a solid Jamal Crawford-like player.<br />
<br />
Ok maybe Jordan Crawford.<br />
<br />
Plus we'll always have this:<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grade: B</b></span><br />
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Speed Round!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#9: Utah Jazz - Trey Burke</span><br />
<br />
Taking a chance on a guy many thought was too small. If we've learned anything from guys like Steph Curry or Chris Paul, it's this: if you were really really good in college, you're probably going to be good in the NBA.<br />
<br />
Sorry, Adam Morrison.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Grade: A-</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#11: Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Carter-Williams</span><br />
<br />
Drafting the probable Rookie of the Year at #11??<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Grade: A+</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#12: Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto via Houston via David Stern via the space-time paradox via seriously how did the Thunder end up with a top 15 pick?) - Steven Adams</span><br />
<br />
Everyone hates OKC for once again finding a gem in the draft, especially a draft filled mostly with doo-doo. Ok maybe not a gem, but did they really deserve the quality rotation piece they ended up with?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grade: B+</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#15: Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo</span><br />
<br />
Just try and pronounce that. I dare you.<br />
<br />
The perfect pick for the team that strives to maintain mediocrity. Giannis has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIJtSZgPLes" target="_blank">already displayed flashes</a>, and may challenge Carter-Williams for ROY honors. He'll make a great trade piece for future picks when Milwaukee starts to get too good and their management wants them to take a step back.<br />
<br />
Plus his nickname is the "Greek Freak."<br />
<br />
Double plus - he's grown an inch since draft day!?<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Grade: A</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">#20: Chicago Bulls - Tony Snell & #24: New York Knicks - Tim Hardaway Jr.</span><br />
<br />
Two Eastern Conference teams that expected to contend this year made fantastic picks late in the first round. If they were healthy and in contention, we'd be talking about <a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3768389/hardaway.gif" target="_blank">great picks</a> that helped shore up their rotation and spare guys like Luol Deng and Iman Shumpert from playing 46 minutes per game.<br />
<br />
Instead we're talking about the experience they're getting as their teams tread water.<br />
<br />
The good news? At 14-18, the Bulls are THE SIXTH SEED in the East right now. And at 11-22, the Knicks are only 2.5 games behind the 8th seeded Pistons.<br />
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You're right, I'm not sure that is good news.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Grades: B+</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-73290576747534604152013-12-26T13:00:00.000-05:002013-12-26T15:25:01.963-05:00On the First Day of Christmas, I Really Tried to Watch: 12 Hours of Basketball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In case you had to spend your Christmas with family members, or doing something other than watching over TWELVE HOURS of basketball – don’t worry, I tried to do it for you. This was me at 12:30 last night:<a href="http://media2.giphy.com/media/qlm4uBz91ZOko/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://media2.giphy.com/media/qlm4uBz91ZOko/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><b>12:00PM EST – Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q1 – 12:00</span></b> – <strike>Scrimmage</strike> Game #1 today features a rematch from the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last May. You can understand why the schedule included these two teams – Derrick Rose was supposed to elevate the Bulls to ‘contender’ status, and the Nets have spent more money on players than...actually than nothing. They've spent more money on players than anyone has on anything. Ever. However, the teams are a combined 19-34 this year, somehow failing to be a part of the playoff picture in a dismal Eastern Conference. But Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich are both back in the Bulls lineup (they’re still missing Luol Deng), so maybe they’ll continue their upward trend from their last 10 games (6-4). The Nets, meanwhile, get Kevin Garnett back in action, which is a major boost after losing their leading scorer/rebounder/pickup line artist/basketball player Brook Lopez for the season. Plus...DJ Augustin!<br />
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Can you tell I’m trying to convince myself it is worth sitting in front of the TV for this game?<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">11:43</span></b> – Predictably, the Bulls first possession ends in a Carlos Boozer turnover.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>10:43</b></span> – After the second Bulls possession ends in a Carlos Boozer turnover, the Nets also turn the ball over. I will not be blogging much of the rest of this game.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">5:00</span></b> – 15-10 Brooklyn, and so far, Deron Williams is doing his best Utah Jazz Deron Williams impression. Really I’m done saying anything about this game, except that I just looked up stats for Chicago so far this year to find out they are LAST in the league in points scored per game, and are SECOND to LAST in points allowed per game. That’s going to have to change if they want to find themselves in the playoff picture.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q2 11:44</b></span> – HA. What are Jason Terry and Paul Pierce wearing, and why did it take me this long to notice?<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q4 8:45</span></b> – Chicago is up 82-61, which means the reason anyone would want to watch this game – the prospect that it would be a close finish, filled with multiple sets from either team that don’t create any offense and end with Dunleavy or Teletovic heaving 3-pointers – has completely disappeared. One thing I will note – Jimmy Butler doesn’t really look like someone who has made ‘the leap,’ or even a mini-leap. If the Bulls plan on making the playoffs, or if they were planning on contending with Rose around, that was something they needed. Anyway...snore...<br />
<br />
Is there a sim-to-end button?<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><b>2:30PM EST – New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q1 12:00</span></b> – This isn’t really a contest – I may skip this game entirely. Durant leads the NBA in scoring. The Thunder are top 5 in the league in both defensive and offensive efficiency. The Knicks are 9-18. The Knicks' only chance in this game (Carmelo Anthony going 25-40 and scoring 65 points) was just erased – Melo is out with a sprained ankle. The Knicks’ “point guard” Raymond “stick of butter” Felton is also out.<br />
<br />
Actually though, why is my TV on?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>5:12</b></span> – You may want to sit down before reading this...it is 18-18, and Andrea Bargnani is keeping the Knicks in this game. You know...this guy:<br />
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At 3:37 it was 23-20 Thunder, and the Knicks had the ball. The following Knicks possessions went: Beno Udrih attempts a shot over the backboard (and misses), JR Smith attempts a fading turn-around 20-footer (and misses), timeout, JR Smith contested three (miss) with a put-back from Chandler, Tim Hardaway Jr. contested three (miss), crazy possession with 2 near turnovers finishing with a Hardaway Jr. layup and foul, Hardaway fast break layup off a missed Westbrook dunk, a Smith layup, a missed JR Smith three after Amare Stoudemire nearly knocked him over (probably confused about why he was even on the court to begin with).<br />
<br />
At the end of the quarter it is 35-29. The Thunder could be up 39-25 without doing much differently.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q2 11:29</b></span> – Amare travels, meaning he has now messed up both possessions he has been involved in.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q3 2:42</b></span> – Westbrook, Durant, and Ibaka hit back-to-back-to-back 3s to put the team up 77-55. A few minutes later, OKC is up 82-60. At the timeout, Amare Stoudemire says some words, causing Kendrick Perkins to put his stank-face on and get ready to fight. Amare must have confused Perkins for Hansborough, and himself for Metta World Peace:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1492664.1382454065!/img/httpImage/scared-bro-hansbrough.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1492664.1382454065!/img/httpImage/scared-bro-hansbrough.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh, Ron, my bad, my bad."</td></tr>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Q4</span> - At some point, this happened. Lol:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Udrih, an open 3! ...ohhh..."</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">5:00PM EST – Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q1 12:00</b></span> – Game 3, or should I say nap 3, of the day features the defending champs against a team with a starting lineup roughly resembling the intramural teams I played on in college. Yet that Lakers team is 13-15, good enough to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve proved feisty at times this season.<br />
<br />
Make no mistake, I expect most of the game to go like this:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But...where's the Lakers' defense?</td></tr>
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So far the games that were suppose to be blowouts ended up being blowouts. My distaste for the Heaties is well documented, and while I will be rooting against them, I don’t expect to be sitting on the couch for more than a few minutes of the first quarter.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">9:37</span></b> – The Lakers start 4 of 4 to go up 10-5, followed immediately by a Wade dunk to pull it up to 10-7. Side note: these tshirt jerseys look so tight in the shoulders – does that really not affect a player’s shooting motion?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>5:45</b></span> – The Lakers are up 16-13 at the TV timeout. If I have to actually watch this game I’m going to be a little upset; it was almost naptime. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q2 12:00</b></span> – Lebron drills a 3 to end the first quarter, but the Lakers still lead 27-21. Can they score and play defense like this all game?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Can they come close enough to keep it competitive? I guess we’ll see.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>8:12</b></span> - Text from Paul: “New most interesting subplot of this game – can Nick Young aka <a href="http://jocksandstilettojill.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Swaggy-P-Valentine.jpeg" target="_blank">SWAGGY P </a>take a shot every minute?” Yet somehow, despite Swaggy’s 1-for-7 start, the Lakers are still up 34-31?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>3:42</b></span> – The Heat put together a run, and are now up 44-39. So the Lakers call a timeout. As they walk over to the bench, a camera catches Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni mouthing to a courtside fan, “See, I <i>told</i> you it wasn’t sustainable.”<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>0:00</b></span> – The Lakers recover to go into the half down only 5, 51-46. Kobe tells the courtside reporter, “See, if you add in the 13 points per half I would average in games like this, we’d be up by 4.” Confused, the reporter questions his math, to which Kobe responded, “Obviously I’d also have hurt Nick after his 5th field goal attempt so he would have scored a little less.”<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q3 5:00</span></b> – Somehow, it is 66-64, the Heat are ahead. Wait...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>4:17</b></span> – The Heat scored...but SWAGGY P went one on one to get another bucket! 68-66!<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q4 9:30</span></b> – Miserably bad call on what should have been a Norris Cole turnover. Instead, two points MIA to tie it at 81.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>5:11</b></span> – Lebron stares down Brian Kelly and says, “I’m bigger, stronger, and baster than you. Plus you’re <a href="http://d1warraxuf7xh1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/092013-NBA-Lakers-Ryan-Kelly-DG-PI_2013092022480350_660_320.jpg" target="_blank">ugly and pale</a>.” He then drives and finishes the play, putting Miami up 90-83. That was probably the game.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>1:51</b></span> – The Lakers play an offensive possession entirely through Nick Young, sorry Swaggy P, which ends in SWAGGY P hitting an off balance three. The Lakers are within 5. What???<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>0:00</b></span> – Well, this one was certainly closer than expected. I think we learn a lot more about the Lakers than we do the Heat here – the rag-tag group they’ve put together is beginning to understand how to play in a way that generates shot opportunities. They still need plenty of work on the defensive end (they gave up a lot of open corner 3s), but they certainly know how to make a good team sweat out a win. And in a loaded Western Conference, that’s bad news for everyone.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">8:00PM EST – San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets</span></b><br />
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1Q 12:00 – <b><i>FINALLY</i></b> we get a game with more than one good team! I have little more to say before this game – the names involved are enough: Leonard, Parker, Duncan, Ginobli (who, by the way, has decided he is over the severe bout of dysentery he must have been fighting during the NBA finals), Harden (gametime decision), Howard, Lin, Parsons (just kidding) (not really).<br />
<br />
<u>Welcome to Christmas Night.</u><br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q3 8:02</b></span> – Did I doze off? Yes. Did I turn the game on to find the score at 67-56 Houston? Yes. Did the next two possessions feature two classic Spurs possessions ending in easy buckets in the paint? Yep. Surprise.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Q4 4:45</span></b> – James Harden has scored 11 in a row for Houston to push their lead out to 100-90. He’s kind of good. I think that's all you'll need to know about how this game ended.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">2:27</span></b> – Time is running out on the Spurs, down 104-92. However, in a great moment for everyone, Tim Duncan just did his vintage “you called a foul and my eyes are bugging so far out of my head.”<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">10:30PM EST – Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q1 12:00</b></span> – Everyone’s darling out west, Golden State, currently holds the 8th seed in the Western Conference. Perhaps it’s a bit early to be concerned about exactly where everyone stands, but the Warriors could use a big win over the 20-9 4th seed, both in terms of their standings and for their confidence. Plus, the last time these teams played each other, blood boiled. This should be fun.<br />
<br />
Oh, did I mention Stephen Curry plays for the Warriors?<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Q4 0:00</b></span> – Cards on the table, I didn’t write this live. What! It's been a long day! I did watch almost the entire game, including the banked-in three at the buzzer, the ejection of Draymond Green, the second technical and ejection of Blake Griffin (lol got him!), Chris Paul’s teenage-girl-like fit with one second left when he didn’t get a call, and the scrap at the end. During this scrap I learned three things:<br />
<br />
1. Brian Scalabrine is an assistant coach for the Warriors? What? Yes – this guy is now a coach:<br />
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2. Stephen Curry does not want to actually fight anyone. <a href="http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/roy-hibbert-steph-curry.jpg" target="_blank"><i>Remember when this happened?</i></a><br />
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3. Perhaps the most important thing I've learned all day: Brian Scalabrine is an assistant coach for the Warriors.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-47725491595092974512013-12-23T17:01:00.002-05:002013-12-24T11:46:27.459-05:00ICYMI: There's A New JetsonWe now bring you the first part of a new and what we hope will be a season-long series: Did You See What Happened on "Inside the NBA on TNT?"<br />
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The Scene: December 19, 2013. Halftime of the Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs.<br />
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What: Charles "Chuck" Barkley fails to correctly remember Elroy Jetson's name, instead calling him Leroy Jetson.<br />
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Our favorite things about this segment:<br />
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1. The catch by Ernie at 1:08. If he doesn't call Chuck out, none of this would have happened.<br />
2. Shaq's reaction from 1:29-2:11, including:<br />
a. "Is that the black Jetson?"<br />
b. "His home-boy Leroy!" (sung to the Jetsons theme song)<br />
c. "Underdog - put that on a t-shirt!"<br />
d. His concluding facepalm with his script.<br />
e. The fact that Kenny "The Jet" Smith is trying to talk almost that entire time.<br />
3. The work by the production team to make the next segment pure gold - the graphic at 2:30 and the Jetsons theme song in the background.<br />
4. Shaq singing again at 2:40 - "Got dubs on his whip!"<br />
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Don't worry - we'll keep an eye out for future shenanigans from the Inside the NBA crew, since they deliver just about every night.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-81149763119301360732013-12-23T16:57:00.001-05:002013-12-23T16:57:19.058-05:007 Things You Can Do In 0.3 SecondsOn Tuesday, December 17, Florida Golf Coast had a game-tying shot in double overtime negated. They were playing South Florida and were trailing 66-68 with 0.3 seconds left when Chase Fieler caught a full-court pass and made a shot as time expired. He got the shot off before the buzzer sounded, but the officials ruled that it didn’t count. See it go down here:<br />
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Apparently, there’s a little rule in college basketball that states: </div>
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“In any period, when the game clock displays 10ths of seconds and play is to be resumed by a throw-in or a free throw when 3/10 (.3) of a second or less remains on the game clock, a player may not gain possession of the ball and try for a field goal. Such player can only score a field goal by means of a tap of a pass or of a missed free throw.” <br />
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It’s hard to blame Fieler for his failed attempt at “Just the Tip.” There’s not a whole lot you can do in 0.3 seconds, but there are at least 7 things you can do in that amount of time...<br />
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1. Lose your momentum unexpectedly.</div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-744e7da8-1b3b-a7e6-4b76-1c5f5625257e"><span style="color: black;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-744e7da8-1b3d-ddc3-81c4-deefbc275ad5"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
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</b></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;">2. Destroy an extremely elaborate sandcastle.</span></div>
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</b></span></b>3. Start and stop the timer on a stopwatch.</div>
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Author's note: What a talent. We will never forget the name Andy Pelfrey. Or the time the witness for a world record asked his mom to take his shirt off.<br />
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4. Recite all 50 states.<br />
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5. Have a prank backfire on you.<br />
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6. Ruin your chances of having children.<br />
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7. Fart baby powder out of your butt.<br />
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See? Step it up FGCU.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11899379037195532107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-52913534892408708902013-12-17T21:16:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:16:19.378-05:00So What's Up with Portland?What if I told you that an anonymous NBA team was led by a center that spends the majority of this time taking midrange jumpers - to the tune of 12.5 per game. Then I told you that their second best player was a second-year, shoot-first point guard...who doesn't shoot all that well, checking at 41.2% for the year. The rest of their starters were journeymen, having spent time playing for numerous other NBA teams, not to mention teams abroad. Their bench was just one year removed from being - by FAR - the worst bench in the league. And their coach was seen as a numbers nerd, who had never had a winning season as an NBA head coach before. How many games would you guess this team would win? 32? 25? Enough to get the #3 seed in the East?<br />
<br />
When taken separately, none of these facts seem to be strong indicators of NBA success. But somehow, in Portland this year, a wild and wacky collection of players has come BLAZING out of the gates (I crack myself up sometimes). At 21-4, they have the best record in the West to this point and sit behind only Indiana, who they recently beat, for the #1 overall seed in the league. More impressively, they are doing most of this work with solid team play rather than outstanding individual work, although Lamarcus Aldridge is a shoo-in for the all-star team if they keep performing like this. But how, exactly, did they get to this point?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7ddW0EM9E90sIiJqCAslooPuXkat6aYuBD4_VOUyOh6HmGpqq1Ytn_imU3d6uZeqSKBHjEgv9SQbO5odDi_U-W4wpVMzgf63nwuSvQpHBD8YPtMV1cBm99FEHqnm0znE-Srzejacowg/s400/2009-10+portland+trail+blazers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7ddW0EM9E90sIiJqCAslooPuXkat6aYuBD4_VOUyOh6HmGpqq1Ytn_imU3d6uZeqSKBHjEgv9SQbO5odDi_U-W4wpVMzgf63nwuSvQpHBD8YPtMV1cBm99FEHqnm0znE-Srzejacowg/s320/2009-10+portland+trail+blazers1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Here's a hint: None of these guys helped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming into this season, most experts predicted Portland would be a solid, but not spectacular team, that would struggle in a division with a title contender (OKC), contender for homecourt advantage (Denver), and an infamous "playoff contender-if-healthy" (Minnesota). Vegas only plugged their over/under at 38.5 wins - enough to get home field advantage in the East...but definitely out of the playoff picture in the West. For Portland last year, their starters typically played well, but once their rotation extended behind sixth man Meyers Leonard, they were a complete disaster. When players like Will Barton, Victor Claver, and the immortal Luke Babbitt (who Jack once guessed had 6,700 career points, roughly 6,000 more than his actual total) are getting big minutes, your starters hardly matter: your team is likely doomed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This offseason, amidst <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/portland-general-manager-neil-olshey-pretty-sick-darn-160203259--nba.html" target="_blank">rumors</a> that Aldridge wouldn't be willing to tolerate another rebuilding year, GM Neil Olshey made a number of changes to shore up the roster depth. He acquired center Robin Lopez from Phoenix to allow Aldridge to a) play power forward and b) focus more on offense, with Lopez being a major upgrade on former frontcourt-mate J.J. Hickson. Olshey also moved to shore up the bench, signing veterans Mo Williams and Dorrell Wright in an effort to keep Babbitt off the court whenever possible. Sure enough, replacing terrible players with competent ones is a remarkably effective strategy for improving your team, and Portland moved from dead last in bench PPG to...still only 25th. But that was certainly a good start for a team whose bench was such a disaster last year.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/164/files/2010/08/Mo-Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/164/files/2010/08/Mo-Williams.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"I'm replacement-level! Yes!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The real difference, though, has been in the play of Portland's starters. I listed some of their least desirable traits in the introduction, but clearly there have been a lot of positives in their games this year. Starting with Lillard, he has maintained a high shooting volume while being generally efficient, even though his standard FG% seems on the low side. A large number of his attempts come from the three point line, where he shoots 40%, and his free throw rate (number of free throw attempts per FGA) is up to .358 - a number in the top 20% of all guards, and the highest of any guard who shoots even close to as many three-pointers as Lillard. Thus even though his raw shooting percentage is low, his <i>true</i> shooting</span></span> percentage, which accounts for free throws, is a robust 56%, a completely acceptable number for a high-usage PG.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Don't have to tell me twice.</span></div>
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The complementary pieces in the starting lineup have also been effective behind Lillard and Aldridge. Matthews and Batum are both shooting over 41% from three on at least 5.5 attempts per game. Lopez, although limited offensively, is shooting a high percentage and pulling in almost 9 rebounds per game. All this is contributing to a ridiculous offensive rating of 118 (per 100 possessions) for the Blazers' starting five-man unit, which would have easily led the league in any season in recent memory. Some of this may be driven by <a href="http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/unit/shotchart/45885-batum-aldridge-matthews-lopez-lillard" target="_blank">unsustainable three-point shooting</a>, but with three 40% shooters from distance thus far, they clearly have the ability to keep it up. What's more, in the playoffs, when the bench is less important, Portland might be even better than it is in the regular season. Aldridge seems determined to make fools out of the advanced metrics community with his 12.5 mid-range jumpers per game, and if he keeps making them at a 50% clip, he just might do it. If they are able to keep this up, Portland just might set the NBA world...ABLAZE.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-56689695131936559592013-12-15T21:15:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:17:06.627-05:00What Can We Say About Kobe?Kobe Bryant is 14th in NBA history in total regular season minutes played. 45,502, as of this writing. He's 2nd in playoff minutes played, at 8,641, with only a playoff series or two separating him from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. That's 54,143 minutes played over his 17 years in the league. That's almost 38 <i>days</i> of playing basketball, and that only counts game time. He's amassed these totals despite being only 25th and 4th in total games played (regular season and playoffs), and 37th and 43rd in minutes per game (regular season and playoffs).<br />
<br />
That, my friends, is longevity. It is also the combined luxuries of frequently sharing the court with other great players and having a traditionally deep bench, allowing Kobe to get a bit more rest than teams that have leaned heavily on one superstar, like Kevin Durant's Thunder (16th and 12th in regular season and playoff minutes per game career averages) or Lebron James's anything (6th and 6th in minutes per game averages).<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
To add a little more context to the Kobe story, he currently ranks 10th in career points per game (regular season). Two active players are above him - Lebron and Durant. He is 12th in postseason points per game, .01 points behind Carmelo Anthony (lol). 3 players in NBA history have averaged 25 points per game or more in 12 different seasons: Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kobe.<br />
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Why am I telling you this?<br />
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Because you just cannot write off Kobe. The Lakers are 11-12, currently <strike>4th in the Eastern Conference</strike> 12th in the Western Conference (but only 2.5 games behind 8th-place Dallas). No, I do not think the Lakers will make the playoffs this year. The West is just too good and the Lakers do not have depth or youth on their side.<br />
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A lot has been made over Kobe's contract extension. The truth is, the Lakers are the Lakers. If Carmelo and Lebron both wanted to come play next year, you think they'd flinch at shelling out that much money, given the revenue they would make and their chances at a title?<br />
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No.<br />
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The examination of Kobe's contract should be more about what the Lakers can expect to get out of Kobe. I've read about achilles injuries; I know how long it took Derrick Rose to come back from his ACL tear, and how quickly things went south again; I know that Kobe is 35, and I know that, compared to career averages, so far (small simple size alert!) he is averaging 9 fewer shots per game, has seen a drop in his shooting percentages, and has nearly doubled his turnover rate (old man alert!).<br />
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But he's also dished the ball more in an "emergency point guard" role. And against the Bobcats (10-14 and 6th in the East) Kobe showed he can still create a shot (and hit it) when needed. The question is, if (and probably when) the Lakers bring in a new star, could Kobe handle playing second fiddle? Could he realize he has to rely more on role players, creating more moments like this?<br />
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I think the answer is yes. It isn't <i>terribly</i> difficult to imagine Kobe morphing into a Paul Pierce-type player over the next two years. He wants to shoot, he wants to score, but he's going to have to be more deliberate about when, how, and where. Over the last three years, that's how I've described Pierce's game: deliberate. Some may have said slow, but he got to his spot more often than not and created a quality shot.<br />
<br />
Imagine Kobe getting to pair with a Rajon Rondo-type point guard, while keeping a quality big down low (Pau, as much as I like him, may be getting a shade too old). Imagine Rondo opting out, signing with the Lakers, and Detroit unloading Greg Monroe. Is that a good enough trio to get you to the playoffs out West? Probably. Is it enough to take the load off of Kobe, allowing him to score, chase Kareem's point total, and keep a 6th title within reach? Probably.<br />
<br />
Would Kobe have to be vintage-Kobe to win a title? Probably.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-70041979074380614372013-12-12T21:15:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:15:27.347-05:00Madison Square Garden Rims Consider Lawsuit Against Bulls and Knickerbockers<br />
“The misses would have been more tolerable if only more of them were air-balls, and there were a good number of those, but we were wearing most of those shots straight to the chin. Who needs these work conditions?” said one rim. Upon review of the film, Daniel Gibson was not present, despite suspicions.<br />
<br />
At the halfway mark of the Wednesday night matchup between the Knicks and the Bulls, Chicago was shooting less than 30% from the field and New York was managing a measly 40%, though by comparison 40% was jaw-droppingly impressive. In a half-time interview with the rims from basketball’s most famous venue at Madison Square Garden, each identical twin confirmed, “it was a bloodbath out there.”<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
There is something particularly satisfying about completely uninspired effort by NBA players resulting in cacophonies of loud clanks and bangs (“ISO. ISO.” Brick soon to follow). Especially because it means that the TV crews operating the cameras, with such little good play to film on the court, pan to coaches showing the most comical of <a href="http://images.ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Woodson1.gif">disappointed faces</a>. Mostly they look like fathers whose sons didn’t call home enough, and stayed out too late with their mother’s station wagon.<br />
<br />
The twin rims bemoaned the play, “Chicago had 54 at the end of the third. It was harrowing. I remember when that Michael Jordan character scored 55 on his own back in ’95.” This performance against the Knicks follows two losses by the Bulls at home, unable to score more than 75 in each – clearly missing their leading and second leading scorers in Rose and Deng. <br />
<br />
Late breaking news: apparently this game is also being broadcast in Spanish. We’re a sports blog dedicated to appealing to as many markets as possible, and Mike Tirico is to broadcasting as tryptophan is to post-Thanksgiving napping.<br />
<br />
Los gemelos dijeron que el partido mejoro en el ultimo cuarto, “los toros parecian jugar con mas vigor, y los knickerbockers se durmieron, literalmente. Y cuando no estaban durmiendo, Snr JR Smith tiro. Dios mio.” Los cambios quedo los toros a hacer algo interesante en el partido, pero no fue suficiente. Chicago perdio otra vez sin ganando mas que 80 puntos por el tercer partido consecutivo.<br />
<br />
Enough of that. Thanks to 9th grade Spanish teaching prodigy, Mr. McPhaul (notice not a single accent mark. Take that in the eye). <br />
<br />
This unaffected play by both teams is part of what makes it easy as a viewer to feel completely unenthused by the Eastern as a whole – see 22 turnovers from Chicago. Both teams (granted before Rose shredded his meniscus) were plausible contenders in their conference to start the year, but once again prove the only things worth watching outside of the battle royale in the Western are in Indiana and South Beach. <br />
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Next up for the Bulls is a trip to Milwaukee on Friday while New York visits Boston. Asked for comment on the potential lawsuit by the Madison Square Garden hardware, Speaker Boehner mumbled something “…. tort reform….”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07671757108582024844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-9352865518886352492013-12-09T21:13:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:13:37.550-05:00Some Studs, Some Duds, and Kevin Love's Moustache<br />
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We’re back, baby! That’s right, after a lengthy hiatus due
to the off-season, other time commitments, and general apathy towards the sort
of NBA “news” typically found between July and October (Al Jefferson thinks the
Bobcats are “ready to take the next step!”), Volume Shooters is returning for a
second season. This year, in addition to the quality writing (OK, just quality
.gifs, but please bear with us here) you’ve come to expect from Paul, Jack and
Brian, we have a veritable stable of new writers coming into the fold this year
anxious to share their thoughts on the greatest professional league in the
world. We will have them introduce themselves when they write their first
pieces, but trust us when we say they all will have good insight into the
season – despite what you may think from talking to them every day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But onto the important stuff: this NBA season! Most teams
are 16-18 games in so far, so most of the extremely small sample size results
(the Sixers can win the East! The Nuggets will be favorites in the lottery!)
have evened themselves out. Despite this, there have been some major surprises
thus far, and people are starting to backtrack on some of their preseason
predictions. So which of these trends are likely to continue and which will die
out by season’s end? Considering I was correct on a full ONE AND A HALF out of
FIVE bold predictions <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2012/12/5-bold-predictions-for-nba-season.html">last
year</a>, I feel as though I’m uniquely qualified to answer that question. We
will examine some early season trends, and grade them as True, Truthy, Falsey, and
“Skip Bayless-certified.” So here we go…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Trend: Indiana is the
best team in the league</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysgFyVnRqsMrt9gVsacMy_XByFc9CtVwk4gx7tPvhHZXNdEmbCWPiD1rfqdSKhyphenhyphenhR9ppctE2Lhyphenhyphenl1UwPlDDg986KBH0p4LTeVoY2p4ctaTKfsF5giU9EtR2m8BpQ8o3xfKRsRo8DWOg/s1600/bilde.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysgFyVnRqsMrt9gVsacMy_XByFc9CtVwk4gx7tPvhHZXNdEmbCWPiD1rfqdSKhyphenhyphenhR9ppctE2Lhyphenhyphenl1UwPlDDg986KBH0p4LTeVoY2p4ctaTKfsF5giU9EtR2m8BpQ8o3xfKRsRo8DWOg/s400/bilde.jpeg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">In fact, they are so good it
bores Lance Stephenson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People expected Indiana to be just about as good as they
were last year: solidly a top-3 team in the East, with a great defense, decent
offense, and probably making a feisty opponent for the Heat to beat in 6 games
in the playoffs. Instead, Paul George has become Kobe Bryant, Lance Stephenson
has become Scottie Pippen, George Hill has become a less crappy version of
George Hill, and the Pacers are the juggernaut of the league at 16-1 and
sporting a ridiculous +11.1 point differential per game. With only 1 OTHER EASTERN
TEAM ABOVE .500 RIGHT NOW (which we’ll touch on later), all of a sudden it
looks like the Pacers could cruise to the #1 overall seed and move from “fringe
title contender” to “title favorite.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I, however, remain unconvinced. Paul George certainly seems
to have made “the leap,” but other than adding Scola, they haven’t made any
notable roster upgrades to last year’s team. Since the East currently consists
of the Pacers, Heat, and a pile of hot garbage, it seems feasible that they
could get the #1 seed, especially if Miami continues to coast as it has in the
early going. Unfortunately for the Pacers, they still have to beat Miami in the
playoffs, and realistically, I can’t see that happening. Lebron has somehow
been going under the radar despite shooting roughly 97% so far this year, and
he is driven to get a third consecutive ring (which would match several other
notable players I can think of). Could Indiana beat Miami in the playoffs?
Sure. Would they be favored to do so? Almost certainly not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Verdict: Falsey (could
get #1 seed in East, won’t make Finals)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Trend: The Warriors
are legitimate Finals contenders<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2012/12/20/01/22/Q82qb.St.4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2012/12/20/01/22/Q82qb.St.4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Don’t look know, but these
guys are for real<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though the Rockets ended up signing Dwight Howard, it
was debatably the Warriors that made the biggest offseason splash when they
were able to sign Andre “The Mole” Igoudala away from the Nuggets. Armed with
healthy versions of their two all-star caliber big men (Bogut and David Lee),
as well as America’s darling Stephen Curry, there were those out there who
thoughts the Warriors could be destined for big things (FULL DISCLOSURE: this
includes yours truly, who stands to win $450 if the Warriors win the title).
Through the first month of the season, the results have been solid, if not spectacular;
a 10-8 record, outscoring a brutal strength of schedule by almost 4 points per
game, and surprisingly sporting a 6<sup>th</sup> ranked defense. But all those
things indicate a 3<sup>rd</sup>-5<sup>th</sup> seed team, not a team that’s
supposed to contend for a conference title. So why do I think they will turn
things around?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As much as it pains me to admit it, the addition of Igoudala
was an absolute home run for the Warriors’ scheme under Mark Jackson. It allows
Curry and Thompson to save a bit of energy on defense, gives them a true
driving threat when defenses play tight, and adds another playmaker to a front
line that can already lay claim to being one of the best passing groups in the
league. Furthermore, it moves Harrison Barnes to the bench, where he can take
on more of a scoring role than as the starting power forward (performances
against Denver non-withstanding). But most importantly, their speed and
quickness presents matchup problems with most of the other Western contenders,
as they showed against San Antonio last year. And Curry hasn’t even played well
thus far! I think the Warriors have nowhere to go but up, barring any injuries
to key players (*<b>knocks on wood 50,000 times</b>*), and will emerge as
legitimate threats in a stacked Western conference…until the Nuggets upset them
in the first round as a #6 seed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Verdict: Truthy (far
more likely than you might think)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Trend: Nobody’s
tanking! (or at least not the 3 teams we expected)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of this season, there were a number of
teams that people had wildly divergent expectations for – the Lakers, Pacers
and Pelicans just to name a few. But there were 3 teams that pretty much
everybody expected to be bad: Phoenix, Orlando, and the team predicted to be
the worst of all, Philadelphia. While each of these teams had a few things
going for them (Phoenix with the Morris twins, Orlando with Michael Jordan
junior, and Philly with…sweet jerseys), it wouldn’t have surprised anybody to
see these three teams starting next season with Wiggins, Parker and Randle.
Instead…well…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="http://media.philly.com/images/062813-600-michael-carter-williams.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m 14 years old, and better
at basketball than you”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t look now, but these teams are doing pretty well! The
Sixers have faded after a hot start, but due to the atrocity that is the
Atlantic division, they are only a game out of a playoff spot right now. The
Magic are also losing most of their games, but again, this is a team that
people thought would win 23 games this season. Oladipo is the truth, Afflalo
continues to be one of the most underrated players in the league, and Vucevic
should go ahead and trademark the “Barbara Walters” nickname right now.
Finally, the Suns have the toughest playoff competition right now…but they are
over .500 at 9-8! Their roster is filled with castoffs, young players, and
Miles Plumlee, but they are somehow getting it done. The interesting thing is,
these teams are all so young that they should only get better as the season
goes on. I don’t think Phoenix has enough in the Western Conference, but you
heard it here first: either Philly or Orlando is going to win 36 games, get the
8<sup>th</sup> seed in the East…and get smashed by Indiana in round 1. Still,
something tells me those fan bases will take it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Verdict: True
(Phoenix), Truthy (Orlando + Philly)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Trend: The Nets are
awful (but still the best team in NYC)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now this is one that you would have been hard-pressed to
predict before starting the season. Sure the Nets were old, but they were going
to start 5 potential hall of famers! Sure the Knicks had a few holes, but they
finally had some bench depth! Well, so far, even in the worst division <a href="http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-nbas-atlantic-division-is-so-far-the-worst-divis-1475072684">IN
THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN SPORTS</a>, they are setting second to last and last in
the standings. For two teams picked by many as title contenders this season,
that is a truly shocking departure from expectations – the Magic could be 15-3
right now and I’m not sure people would be as surprised as they are to see the
Knicks with more losses than the Heat, Spurs, Thunder and Blazers…COMBINED.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the Nets case, they seem to have 2 clear problems: a ton
of injuries, and quite possibly the worst head coach of all time (soda
shenanigans non-withstanding). Of the aforementioned hall of famers, all of
them have missed significant time, and key bench players like Kirilinko and
Jason Terry have as well. Of course, at this point, it might not matter, since
I’m pretty sure Jason Kidd’s idea of diagramming an offense goes like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Brook Lopez post-up on block<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Joe Johnson does magic shakey dance with ball<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Garnett wills ball into basket with intensity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Punt, acquire superior field position<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something tells me Kidd will not last long in Brooklyn, and
I expect them to improve once he is removed. The Knicks, on the other hand,
can’t point to one clear problem with their team: the offense is bad, the
defense is worse, and when you have 2 “players only” meetings in your first 16
games, clearly something is up. Their roster pieces don’t seem to fit together
(not that Bargnani has ever seemed like he fit in with a team), Anthony looks
increasingly likely to leave, and people in the big apple are clearly hitting
the panic button. The Knicks could squeak into the playoffs just by virtue of
their division being awful, but even if they do get that lucky, they clearly
need a major rebuild sooner rather than later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Verdict: False (Nets
will improve); True (Knicks will not)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Trend: Kevin Love
could win the MVP!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-love-mustache.jpg" width="359" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ron Swanson meets Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, let’s talk about the player who has stood out the
most individually thus far. He’s averaging 24-14-4, has strong shooting splits,
and is leading a playoff contender through a difficult early season schedule.
So who is it? Not LeBron James, not Paul George, not Dwight Howard…but Kevin
Love, who finally looks healthy and ready to lead the Wolves into the playoffs.
His team has dropped a few games of late, but they are the darlings of the
advanced metric systems, and Love is leading the charge thus far. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know he will end up being an all-star and probably making
1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> team all-NBA if he stays healthy. But can he
win the MVP? Typically, an MVP candidate must hit a couple benchmarks: play for
a good-to-great team, be the clear #1 option on that team, be near the league
lead in a few different statistical categories, play respectable defense, and
pass the “eye test” – i.e., look unguardable a lot of the time. Love is clearly
the #1 option on the team, he should lead the league in rebounding, and may
finish in the top 10 in scoring as well. His defense is average, but his insane
rebounding numbers provide a significant impact on that end as well. And when
he is draining 3-pointers at 6’11”, there is pretty much nothing anybody in the
league can do about it. If Minnesota somehow manages to grab a #4 or #5 seed in
the West, I can definitely see voter fatigue setting in and LeBron losing out
even if he has superior numbers. Now Love only has to hold off Paul George…you
know what, maybe he’s not such a great bet after all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Verdict: Falsey (great
year, probably not a great enough team)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-56619939281441514452013-12-04T21:10:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:11:49.961-05:00Josh McRoberts’ Facial Hair Incites Chris Bosh Shooting Spree<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the first of December, the year of our Lord 2013, the Miami Heat managed to best the Charlotte Bobcats by a measly single point </span>99-98. The game itself was closely contested with the Bobcats leading by a point at halftime. In the 4th quarter the strangest of sequences took place.<br />
<br />
Charlotte started to pull away from the Heat and, by the end of the 3rd, were up a full 12 points over Miami. With just under 4:00 left in the game, Josh McRoberts took a scraggly-looking 6ft jumper to put the Charlotte Bobcats up 87-80. Chris Bosh, so incensed by the gross, patchy, I can only presume smelly, and roadside-possum-resembling beard of McRoberts, that he had not yet noticed, went on the most unlikely of shooting sprees.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Uncharacteristically trying 4 three-point shots, Bosh succeeded in sinking 3 - all within just more than a minute of each other. His four attempted threes in the 4th quarter was not only his season high for a single quarter, but also more than he had attempted in any other game this year.<br />
<br />
The singular most likely explanation for this rage-fueled flurry of shots from distance can be reasonably discerned from the absence of any other logical reason that Bosh would make us watch his ungainly shooting form. You can be sure Miami coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t huddle up LeBron James and Dwyane Wade at the end of the third quarter and say, “Ok let’s start finding Chris for the 3.” No, the only thing that makes any sense at all was that Bosh hadn’t noticed the unlikely Bobcats producer until McRoberts’ jumper in the 4th. <br />
<br />
As any other well-adjusted adult would similarly react, Bosh couldn’t take the sight of ugly Josh McRoberts’ facial hair and went into a blind rage of shooting. In fact, in the Charlotte timeout following Bosh’s final heave of the night, you even saw Bosh scream furiously in what one can only presume was the direction of Josh’s facial faux pas. <br />
<br />
The two teams meet again January 18th, and possibly we’ll see this riveting drama develop further. On Thursday Dec 5th, however, the Heat play the Chicago Bulls, and there’s no telling what heinous acts Joakim Noah’s haircut will induce from the Heat’s power forward.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07671757108582024844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-66808694781906239862013-12-03T21:09:00.000-05:002014-05-20T09:41:50.253-04:00A Triumphant Return, and A New Bullet in Washington<div class="MsoNormal">
I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear
what you’re thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s about damn
time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re sorry we were away for so long. We didn’t write during
the summer because, well, we didn’t think you’d want to hear about how a
simulated NBA2K13 season turned out if we each controlled 10 teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also we didn’t want to do that much work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But why did it take this long for us to come back?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s up there with the great mysteries of
the universe, right next to: why do athletic shorts' pockets <i>always </i>come out of the
wash inside out, why did they only make three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord
of the Rings</i> movies for those three books (but turned the novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hobbit</i> into 3 movies), and what does
the fox say?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually the reason is simple – we wanted to ensure two
things (yes...it only took 3 paragraphs before I made my first list of the
season): (1) We were committed to continuing to produce worthwhile content, and
(2) we had the writers and support to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The truth is, we loved doing this last season, but three people
producing 6 items a week was just too much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter: our new cast of writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know Paul, Brian, and me – if you’re new
to blog (hooray!) we started this around Christmas last year and largely
covered the NBA all the way through the finals in June when the San Antonio
Spurs mysteriously lost to some other team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t remember who it was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re not new, allow me to introduce Will Roberts, Joel
McMurry, Sean Cunningham, and Dane Callstrom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One sentence each, here goes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Will lives in Charlotte, hails from the Bay
area, and likes throwing one hand passes out of bounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Joel lives in Chicago, generally enjoys watching
athletic competitions on the television, and is apparently moving to Hawaii,
giving us a correspondent able to cover the nighttime broadcasting on ESPN8 –
The Ocho.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sean lives, breathes, and occasionally burps
basketball, is living in North Carolina, and plays basketball like a mix of
healthy Danilo Gallinari and 45 year old Antoine Walker.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dane lives in Kansas City, shaved his head after
losing a bet, only to have his hair not really grow back, and joins our staff
as a senior college basketball correspondent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As per usual, I am now 400 words into a piece and haven’t
really said anything of substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
here’s what I’ll say:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>John Wall.<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ll grant you that his assertions (“I’m the best point
guard in the league.”) may be a little crazy, at least in an era with a healthy
Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Russell Westbrook (although Russell Westbrook
prefers to play the “I’m a freak athlete” position instead of point
guard).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I legitimately think the
list of point guards ahead of Wall stops there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wait, I forgot Steph Curry, and this blog loves him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Wall is top 5.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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According to John Hollinger’s stats (on Tuesday, December 3,
2013), John Wall is 24<sup>th</sup> in the league in PER.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s 13<sup>th</sup> in Value Added.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wall’s overall field goal percentage is just slightly lower
than his career averages, but that should improve has he settles for fewer long
2-point jump shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, compared
to career averages, he’s shooting 8% better from beyond the arc, averaging 1
more assist per game (9.2 this season), averaging more steals and fewer
turnovers, and shooting 6% better from the stripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His supporting cast is decent, but there’s no
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">clear</i> second option while Bradley
Beal remains hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Wall knows this –
why else would he grab a board and race down the floor in 2.72 seconds to go
one on two (and still manage to score)?<o:p></o:p></div>
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A healthy Wall, with an eventually healthy Beal, will walk
the Wizards into the playoffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m
going to be bolder – if those two are health for 50 games, the Wizards will
grab a top 4 seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you go claw
your eyes out, please note two things: First, Beal and Wall are likely both all
stars this year if both remain healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More importantly, as of this writing, at 9-9 the Wizards are sitting
pretty at .500 on the season and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>are in third place in the Eastern
Conference</u></i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This won’t hold
up, but with a healthy roster the Wizards could lay legitimate claim to the
third spot in the East.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Really, teams
are battling for the 3 through 6 spots to avoid Indiana and Miami in round 1.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come find me in March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll either be proud and attending as many Wizards games as possible, or
hiding inside, pretending the nation’s capitol doesn’t house an NBA team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Welcome back!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-88369811872950174112013-06-24T16:54:00.001-04:002013-06-24T16:55:16.946-04:00Wrap It All Up: The Finals, Next Season, and a Grand Hiatus<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Well gentlemen, we've reached the end of the season. Already one of the best finals series in recent memory has been overshadowed by the trade talks between the Clippers and Celtics. But before we get to that, let's take a look back at that finals series.<br />
<br />
Three of the games were remarkable. Four were...underwhelming? Games 6 and 7 were the greatest culmination of a Finals series we could have asked for. So many different questions could be asked - about what this means for Lebron, what it means for Ginobli and his bald spot, where the Spurs and Heat go from here - but let's start with this: This Finals series was _____?<br />
<div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: It sounds cliche, but the only word that accurately characterizes that series is <b>epic</b>. Jack already mentioned games 6 and 7, which were without doubt the two best consecutive series-clinching finals games of my lifetime (cue the age jokes here), and each individually probably rank in the top 10 for finals games during that period, with game 6 possibly the best game ever. But beyond that, if you include coaches and executives, this series featured <b>10 SUREFIRE HALL-OF-FAMERS</b>. <b>Ten</b>!!! (for those of you who are curious, that's R.C. Buford, Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tracy McGrady, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen). And that doesn't even include guys for whom the jury is still out, like Bosh, Spoelstra, Kawhi Leonard, and Patty Mills's towel. I don't think we will ever see a series with that sort of star power again, at least until the NBA contracts and only has 4 teams each in Chicago, New York, LA and Miami.<br />
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Here's an interesting question though - how good will San Antonio be next year? People are already writing their obituaries, but last time I checked, that's become a yearly occurrence, and unless Ginobili retires, they should return almost the same roster they just won 60 games with. I think they are legitimate favorites again in the Western Conference. Do you guys agree?<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Paul I was actually going to use epic,as well, but since that's taken i'll go with <b>CLIMACTIC</b>. I don't think anyone with an education level above GED would ever use that word, but the way the series ended was about as exciting as basketball gets. Jack is dead on about 4 of the games being underwhelming (remember the blogger that said none of the games would be blowouts? yeah, me neither) but games 6 and 7 were everything I could have asked for.<br />
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In answer to Paul's question, San Antonio will unquestionably contend next year. As long as Ginoboli takes a serious pay cut, Parker stops having bar fights with Chris Brown, Popovich finds another excellent role player from an obscure country that none of us could find on a map, and Tim Duncan continues to receive deer antler spray from Ray Lewis, they will win at least 50 games and likely close to 60.<br />
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I think the far bigger question is what Miami will do. Do they flip Bosh for a big man that can play tougher defense and hit the 16 footer (i.e. David West)? Do they amnesty Mike Miller even though he was a key part in their winning this finals series? Do they keep their nucleus together and roll the dice on a threepeat? I think they should keep it together and find one more competent big man, but I'm a little worried they will deal Bosh even though he's an important part of their style, and the world's biggest scapegoat other than Mark Sanchez. What do you guys think?</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: <b>WELL-DESERVED</b>. The fans deserved this kind of final (between two teams that basically had never played each other), both teams deserved to win this final, and (I'm afraid to even say this, but...) David Stern deserved it as well for bringing the NBA to its nationwide and international status as he prepares to step down. Lebron showed he deserves this ring, but I wouldn't hesitate to say that about Timmy (TIMMAY!) and Pop if they had won as well.<br />
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The Spurs will definitely contend. We'll see what the Thunder do this off-season - with a healthy Westbrook and maybe a better version of Sefolosha or Kevin Martin they're definitely up there. You certainly can't call the Clippers "favorites," even if they somehow acquire Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Doc Rivers, until they've proven their worth. I think the best argument in favor of the Spurs is Kawhi Leonard and his massive double-doubles in games 6 and 7. He is going to be special, especially if he gets better at creating his own offense.<br />
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Miami. What to say about Miami? They won't blow things up. You don't mess with what works. If you're Pat Riley, you take your shot at a three peat, and if you don't get it, you retire when Bosh and Lebron leave and Wade, Battier, and Ray Allen all retire as well. If that happens I think I'll try out for the Heat. They're front-runners in the East as is, though the additions of Rose and Granger to the Bulls and Pacers makes things much more interesting. Do you guys think either of those teams make any off season moves? Who is going to make the biggest splash?</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: I'm inclined to agree with Jack when it comes to the Heat - you just won 2 titles in a row, and played one of the best series of all time to win the second one. You play in a garbage division in a garbage conference, with the only threats to your dominance likely to beat each other up for multiple series before having to face you in the postseason. Oh yeah, and you have the best player in the world. Three pretty good arguments for maintaining the status quo. At the same time, Stephen A. Smith, in a surprise move, made a good point when he pointed out that when you have Lebron James, things are going to work out for you almost regardless of what you do to the rest of the roster. Bosh has value as a spacing big man in their system, but when your toughest competition in the East comes from teams with elite big men (Hibbert, Tyson Chandler, and the ghost of Carlos Boozer), you have to think about moving him for somebody like West or Pau Gasol. If the Heat got Pau Gasol...you know what, let's not think about that. It will give me nightmares.<br />
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Meanwhile, the other teams in the East can make powerful arguments for staying put as well. Obviously the return of Rose is big for Chicago, who should take their place amongst the elite teams once again. For Indiana, however, I don't think Granger actually does that much for them now that Paul George has broken out. They could move George back to his natural position of SG, and just play a ridiculously tall lineup...but they still have minimal depth and will need to get a few more guys on the back end of the rotation to put them over the top. Really a tough position for them. I'd try and go after a competent backup PG, like Jameer Nelson (gulp) or Andre Miller (double gulp), and see what they can do with the core that they have.<br />
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In the West, other than OKC and San Antonio, the pecking order seems to be changing to a much greater degree. The 3-5 playoff seeds (DEN, LAC and MEM) all fired their coaches and have huge uncertainty going forward. Golden State and Houston have young superstars and appear to be on the rise. Nobody knows what's going on with the Lakers. The Wolves appear to be under some sort of satanic curse, but when healthy they have a crazy good lineup. Portland has a dynamite starting 5 and another high draft pick. Which team do you guys think will make the biggest moves up or down the standings in the West next year?</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: I would be just baffled if the Heat somehow ended up with David West. If I was Indiana I would pay David West somewhere between $15mil and $400mil to not go to Miami. Likewise, if I'm Chicago and it looks like Pau is headed towards Miami, I trade the Lakers my entire team. Ok maybe that's drastic. But besides Bosh (who the Lakers would probably actually like to have), Miami really doesn't have any trade pieces. Mario Chalmers alternated between border-line all-star and Dogus Balbay in the Finals (Paul would probably still take him for his intramural team). Everyone else is either a role player or old or both. Their available draft picks are garbage, especially if they expect to continue contending for titles.<br />
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Paul George's emergence makes me at least pause when thinking about Indiana. But they have always needed offense, and Granger provides that. The backup point guard slot is a real concern, but they could also get creative (a-la Miami?) and go with some point-guard-less line-ups instead of trotting out me/DJ Augustin for 20 minutes a game.<br />
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Out West the basketball is just way more fun. I would love to say I expect the Warriors to move up, banking on the solidification of their explosive back court and Andrew Bogut being in good enough shape to make it up and down the court more than three times before having to take a break. On the other hand, I'm just so worried about injuries on that team, and Jarrett Jack may depart (would he take a pay-cut to put Indiana or OKC over the top??). I would love to see a healthy Timberwolves team be a top 6 team in the West. Ok ok check this out - Granger to OKC for Reggie Jackson, Sefolosha/Martin, and a pick. Yeah? Or Granger to Golden State for Jack? Or Granger to the Lakers for a second round pick (since David Stern feels bad for torpedoing the Lakers' trade for Chris Paul in order to help out the franchise he was in control of)? Whatever happened to Eric Gordon? Is he still good?</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Granger to OKC really doesn't make a lot of sense, as he's basically the homeless man's version of Durant and doesn't really fill a need for the Thunder. They have also showed they will take drastic measures to avoid paying the luxury tax, so its unlikely they would trade for Granger and his $14 million dollar contract, even if they could.<br />
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That being said, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1678607-nba-rumors-indiana-pacers-would-be-foolish-to-hold-on-to-danny-granger" target="_blank">Bleacher Report informs me that the Pacers would be stupid to hang on to Granger</a> - so if they say it, it must be true! Granger to Golden State makes a bit more sense, but they are probably not a title contender for another 2 years, so I feel like its a better move for them to keep developing Harrison Barnes rather than have Granger take his place. The Lakers are an interesting option as well, except for the fact that they have the worst bench in the league, no young assets, and will pay about as much in luxury tax as the Rockets will pay in salary in 2013-2014. So where should he end up? What about Houston? They've got solidified starters at 3 of their 5 positions, but could push the 6'9" Chandler Parsons to the 4 spot and play their preferred small ball all season, or make some trade like Parsons/Thomas Robinson/half their army of D-league power forwards for Granger and a draft pick. <br />
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Brian, other than Bosh, do you see any potential trades swinging the NBA landscape next year?</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: You mean other than Jason Collins to Golden State? Here's how I see the "contenders" changing in the off season:<br />
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-<b>Miami</b>: stands pat with Bosh, resigns Ray Allen/Chris Anderson/Chalmers, asks Wade to take a significant pay cut...and pursues Josh Smith. Couldn't he get 25-30 minutes off the bench and basically be a better version of Anderson? As long as Lebron can convince him to stop taking stupid 18 footers, I think he gives Miami the defense/rebounding/athleticism at the 4 it's been missing<br />
-<b>Indiana</b>: ships DJ Augustin to Tahiti (where he could likely start for their national soccer team), pursues Nate Robinson as a backup point guard. Wasn't having a competent backup PG the one thing between them and the finals this year? Nate would provide instant scoring and energy off the bench for the Pacers.<br />
-<b>Chicago</b>: Hope that Rose returns to at least 90% of his former self, grabs another shooter to help their atrocious shooting percentages. Wouldn't Kyle Korver make a lot of sense for them? Oh wait, they let him go last year? Well this is awkward.<br />
-<b>New York</b>: Resign every player over 35 and tell JR Smith he isn't partying hard enough. Translation: the Knicks are screwed no matter what.<br />
-<b>San Antonio</b>: In the words of Kunu from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, "Do less." They were 30 seconds away from winning the title this year - why change anything? If they can convince Ginobili to take a major pay cut, maybe they pursue a young, athletic big like Al Horford to take the reigns from Duncan in a couple years. Because Tiago Splitter blows (sorry Skip Bayless!!!).<br />
-<b>OKC</b>: They need another shooter as well to take the weight off Durant's back. Think they could pry JJ Redick from the Bucks? Hmmmm. It would also help to have another big to take some minutes from Sergeballu LaMu Sayonga Loom DeerInHeadlights Walahas Jonas Hugo Ibaka. But maybe they can find a sleeper late in the draft for that.<br />
-<b>Denver</b>: Resign Iguodala, bury George Karl's cadaver, sign Bob McKillop to a 35 year contract.<br />
-<b>Golden State</b>: Silicon Valley entrepreneurs collude to sign Phoenix's training staff, and Mark Jackson actually watches game film this offseason. This team will be EXTREMELY dangerous in two years - no need to rush anything.<br />
-<b>Memphis</b>: Set aside 30 minutes per practice for offensive drills. Jesus was the Western Conference final painful to watch. Jokes aside, nab a cheap shooter in the draft or free agency and they will contend yet again.<br />
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So I guess it's bold prediction time from us. Want to pick next year's champ, along with MVP/Defense PoY/Most Improved/etc etc? And for fun, let's make one ludicrous prediction each, like "Kyrie Irving will win the scoring title" level of ridiculous.</div>
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Out of all of that, Nate Robinson to Indiana makes the most sense and the biggest difference. Imagine if his playoff performance had been during the Indiana-Miami series instead of the Miami-Chicago's D League team series? DJ Augustin playing for Tahiti also makes a lot of sense, so I think that trade is one Indiana should recklessly pursue.<br />
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Side note: I think Jason Collins may be one of the more interesting story lines this off-season. Some teams could a gain massive publicity boost by bringing him on - I would expect Golden State and Washington to be front runners here as two of the most gay-friendly cities in the country. The NBA has basically fully supported Collins thus far - so don't be surprised if other teams try and get into the mix (Minnesota, Toronto, Chicago, and maybe even Utah? Lols just kidding).<br />
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As much as I would love to see San Antonio back on this stage, barring a move that brings them both youth and talent inside, I just can't picture it happening. Let's start at the top and work our way backwards:</div>
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<b>Champion</b>: OKC. It's Durant's time. He'll be even more efficient, put on 5 more pounds, get better on defense, and have Westbrook at his side. They'll combine for 80 points a game in the playoffs, over-coming the #1 seeded Clippers in the Western Conference Finals. Oh wait, crazy predictions come later.<br />
<b>In the finals they will beat</b>: The Indi-cago Bull-cers. The Heat are the favorite, and the Pacers and Bulls may well beat each other up. But I don't see Wade's health making it another full season, and the injury bug struck basically everyone else this season. If Miami doesn't change things up, their helter-skelter, high-flying attack will wear down too many of their bodies. (Am I picking against Lebron? Yes. Is that probably a terribly dumb idea? Yes.)<br />
<b>MVP/Defensive POY/Coach of the Year/Most Improved</b>: Probably Lebron...although voter fatigue could lead to Durant winning this title, especially if he puts up 55-45-92 shooting splits. Boris Diaw probably wins Defensive POY, and if that somehow falls through, then I'll go with Paul George, who will be in the MVP conversation and win the defensive award as a type of consolation prize over his teammate Hibbert. Mark Jackson, after watching game film, will lead Golden State to a 5 seed and win <b>Coach of the Year</b>. Most improved will be Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard or someone else who fits that "wing-stopper" role and also breaks out on offense.<br />
<b>Crazy Prediction</b>: Someone will pay Marco Bellineli $8 million next season. Oh wait that might actually happen. Ok how about this: Despite picking Durant for the MVP less than 4 sentences ago, <b>James Harden</b> will actually win this award, along with the scoring title, and Houston, after making another serious move this off-season, (Dwight? Josh Smith? Bosh?) will be a top 4 seed in the West (along with OKC, the Spurs, and the Clippers). Harden's 33-7-6 averages will have people remember when Jordan averaged those kind of numbers.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Nate Robinson to Indiana! Now you guys are thinking! I could see the penny-pinching Bulls doing that deal for a draft pick or two, and I think it makes sense for both sides. But that is pure speculation, whereas the following paragraphs can basically be regarded as fact:<br />
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<i>Champion</i>: Looking back at the list of NBA title-winning teams that had a chance to three-peat, the results are surprisingly mixed. Successful three-peats (among teams that had won the last 2 titles): 2002 Lakers, 1998 Bulls, 1993 Bulls, 1961-1966 Celtics, 1954 Lakers. Unsuccessful three-peats: 2011 Lakers, 1996 Rockets, 1991 Pistons, 1989 Lakers, 1970 Celtics, 1967 Celtics. In some of these cases, though, the back-to-back champs were clearly not the best team in the league the following year - in 1996 Jordan returned, in 1970 Russell retired. Removing those two from the equation, and taking Russell's teams as just one team that successfully three-peated 6 straight seasons, you see a pretty darn good success rate for teams defending back-to-back titles when they come in as the favorites. And make no mistake: no matter what Indiana does (short of picking up Kobe Bryant if LA were to amnesty him), Miami will still be the favorites. I'm still taking the <b>Heat to win the title</b>.<br />
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<i>In the Finals they will beat</i>: Now here's a much tougher question to answer, because the West is, and continues to be, ridiculously stacked. I think you can safely eliminate all non-playoff teams from last year (too tough to rebuild in one year), the Lakers (too much drama/not enough bench), Memphis (not sure why they fired Hollins), and, as much as it pains me, the Nuggets (too much change from a successful season). GSW and Houston are still a bit too young. The Clippers might be the sexy choice, but until they start hitting some free throws and playing any defense, I can't take them seriously. That leaves OKC and San Antonio left standing, and assuming Westbrook is back from injury with no problem, I predict <b>Durant morphs into the Ubermensch</b> and carries them to the finals.<br />
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<i>MVP/Defensive POY/Coach of the Year/Most Improved</i>: As Jack said, MVP is really Lebron vs. voter fatigue/absurdly high expectations for Miami next year. I'll say Lebron pulls off a nearly unprecedented feat and wins his <b>5th MVP in 6 years</b>, narrowly edging out Durant, Tony Parker, and a surprise German league newcomer, Mobe Tryant-Stein. DPOY is a total crapshoot, but its going to be <b>Roy Hibbert</b>. Coach of the Year will be <b>Kevin McHale</b> once the Rockets figure out how to best utilize Harden. And most improved? If the Nuggets fail to resign Andre Igoudala, I'm going with the <b>French Mamba, Evan Fournier!</b>!! At least I'll have that to look forward to.<br />
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<i>Bold Prediction</i>: Kyrie Irving will lead the league in scoring. #haters.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Alright, time to wrap it up! Here we go:<br />
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<i>Champion</i>: Man, it's hard to go against the Heat here. But with the NBA as loaded as it is in the West, a legitimate emerging contender in the East (Indiana), and the difficulty of staying championship-hungry 3 years in a row...I just can't see it. I'll take the <b>Spurs</b> pending Duncan's health - if he cannot stay on the court, then it'll be Oklahoma City.<br />
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<i>In the finals they will beat</i>: Why not a rematch of this year? The Heat and Spurs were FAR and away the best two teams at the end of this season. I think the <b>Heat</b> get here, but limping badly after a gritty 7 game conference finals with Indiana/Chicago. I'll take Spurs in 6.<br />
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<i>MVP/DPOY/Coach of the Year/Most Improved</i>: That <b>Lebron James</b> feller is pretty good. And he's going to win the MVP every season until he gets hurt, which actually might be never because his bones are made of adamantium. So yeah. Paul is right that DPOY is a crapshoot, but there's a very good chance that <b>Marc Gasol</b> takes it again - his knowledge of the game is unbelievably impressive, and he doesn't need to rely on his athleticism. Coach of the year? Why not <b>Tom Thibodeau</b>, the best defensive coach in the league who nearly reached the conference finals with Jimmy Butler as his best player? With a healthy Rose, Thibs will get his due. Look out for <b>Kawhi Leonard </b>as the most improved - he looked like the best player on the court multiple times this postseason. I think he makes the leap.<br />
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<i>Bold prediction</i>: The <b>Wizards</b> claim the 5 seed and win a round in the playoffs. You heard me.<br />
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tl;dr<br />
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If you're still with us at this point, congrats. You have the patience of a nursing home bingo caller. It's been very fun writing for the past 6 months, but with the NBA season officially over we had a decision to make. After some deliberation we decided to go on a hiatus of sorts for a few months, partly because there's nothing but baseball to write about, partly because work schedules are catching up with us, and partly just to alleviate the pressure of having to churn out a new article or two every week. We will be writing periodically, so stop by every week just to see what we've put out (potential column idea that Jack may already be writing: Nadal losing in the first round to Steve Darcis at Wimbledon?!?). But thanks for reading us and be ready for another round of shameless social media spamming as we get closer to NFL season.<br />
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Peace, Love, and Danny Green,<br />
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Jack, Paul, and Brian</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-32131635584636596092013-06-19T16:06:00.000-04:002013-06-20T09:17:12.586-04:00Weener Wednesday - Game 6 Reactions<i>Once more, a hiccup in our weekly time-table has me posting on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Therefore, this column is now "Weener Wednesday" instead of "Tweener Tuesday."</i><br />
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It would be wrong of me to talk about anything other than last night's Game 6 of the NBA Finals. So let's get a few things out of the way.<br />
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1. The Spurs missed some free throws. I don't mean to imply I would have made them. But everything else can be taken with a grain of salt through the lens of...they could have made their free throws and it wouldn't have mattered.<br />
1.5. I just want to make sure I'm clear...the Spurs missed some free throws.<br />
2. WHY WAS TIM DUNCAN NOT IN THE GAME AT LEAST FOR THE SECOND TRIP DOWN WHEN THE HEAT NEEDED A THREE AFTER THEY GOT AN OFFENSIVE REBOUND THE FIRST TIME ray allen that was a great shot BUT SERIOUSLY POP WHAT WERE YOU THINKING DID YOU LEARN NOTHING FROM THE INDIANA DEBACLE YOU PLAY YOUR BEST PLAYERS PERIOD END OF STORY WHAT HAPPENED<br />
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<a name='more'></a>3. The Spurs didn't foul Chris Bosh on his second (SECOND - WHERE WAS TIM DUNCAN) offensive rebound in the last 30 seconds. Which is a tough thing to keep in mind in a scramble like that, and it would have been a remarkably gutless play, but as Paul said, it would have been the most "Spurs" move ever.<br />
4. I don't like that the refs swallowed their whistle in the last minute of regulation and OT. You don't want the refs deciding the game. But not calling a foul when there was a foul is still a bad call. Like when Ginobli got whacked across the arms. (Although he also took about 7 steps.)<br />
5. It baffles me that Lebron and Wade continue to complain about not getting calls. Like when Lebron elbowed Danny Green, still got the ball stripped, lost it out of bounds, and was complaining to the ref before he even landed. Or when Lebron just stayed seated on the floor and gave up an easy two.<br />
6. Ginobli popped open on that inbounds play before Leonard. Just saying.<br />
7. Chris Bosh: (a) had two huge rebounds (POP WHERE WAS TIMMY), (b) had a huge block on Parker, (c) made a fantastic read on the final pass to Danny Green (who should have pump-faked) and made another big block.<br />
8. Lebron continued to be the best and most mystifying player in the league, absolutely dominating the first 10 minutes of the 4th, and then committing 3 turnovers in the final 1:30, and then hitting a big three to keep the game competitive, and then missing his next look?<br />
9. Tim Duncan had his close-out performance. 30 and 17. But got no help from Green and Neal...and for that matter Ginobli, and for that matter Parker until the final 1:30. And then his coach DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO WIN THE GAME. I would (a) rather have Tim shooting my free throws, and (b) rather have Tim rebounding.<br />
10. Are Parker and Ginobli both 42 years old? (Paul: Ginobli was...like...really bad.)<br />
11. Mike Miller hit a three without his shoe on to give the Heat all kinds of momentum. That was actually really cool.<br />
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Given all of that, here are the two things I found most interesting.<br />
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>>>> Up double-digits going into the 4th, Popovich chooses to sit Duncan and Parker to start the 4th. Lebron does not sit. Guess what, San Antonio's offense becomes "lets let Ginobli mess up some," Lebron takes advantage of San Antonio not having a rim protector, and suddenly the lead is only 4.<br />
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Look, I know Duncan had already played 30 minutes and was clearly tiring, and I know Parker has been struggling with a hamstring issue. But this is <i>Game 6 of the NBA Finals</i>. You put this game away now, and you can rest for the entire summer! Or retire and rest for the rest of your life! Look if the Spurs win tomorrow, it will have plenty to do with Popovich. But I think he over-coached in game six by leaving Duncan out too long, and then pulling him out at the end. I guarantee he gets one of those two defensive boards if he's in the game.<br />
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>>>> If I'm a Heat fan, I'm conflicted. With 3:40 to go, the Heat had made a run and were about to take control of the game. Spoelstra put Wade back in. Jeff van Gundy noted this was a tough decisions given how well the Heat were doing. The truth is - in a half-court setting, small ball works the best without Wade. They can space and spread the floor better, and <i>nobody</i> wants to help off of a shooter, allowing Lebron to go 1-on-1. But with Wade, suddenly Danny Green can crash and force Lebron to turn the ball over, which happened twice once Wade came in.<br />
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Obviously you're not benching Wade. But that's a tough call for Spoelstra to make. It probably paid off (Wade was in the mix mucking things up on those offensive rebounds), but don't be surprised if Wade stays on the bench if the Heat need to start a run in Game 7.<br />
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I predicted the Spurs would win in 6 before the series started. Obviously, thanks to a monster quarter from Lebron, a great couple of plays from Bosh, and a killer three from Ray Allen, that prediction was wrong. But I came pretty close.<br />
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Do I think the Spurs can still pull it off? They'll be tired. They'll need Duncan to score more than 5 in the second half. But, against the odds, I'm going to believe Tony Parker will have a better day. I'm going to believe Ginobli will. I'm going to believe Danny Green gets two open looks instead of just 1. I'm going to believe Leonard is 22 and won't get tired. I'm going to believe Gary Neal hits a three (just one). I'm going to believe Tim Duncan knows he can reach deep in the tank, and I'm going to believe in Tim Duncan's tank. And I'm going to believe Pop will do what's best, because he always does whether we know it or not.<br />
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And I'm going to believe they'll make their free throws.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-13062849123599234162013-06-18T09:13:00.000-04:002013-06-18T09:15:13.092-04:00Obscure NBA...Finals MVP?What if we told you that through 5 games in this series, one team would hold a strong 3-2 lead over the other behind a record-setting performance by one of their role players, you'd probably assume that Ray Allen had woken up from a season-long slump...or that Kawhi Leonard had locked down Lebron like nobody before him...or that Chris Andersen would have shot 100% through 5 games again...or that Patty Mills would have successfully ripped a hole in the space-time continuum using a towel. Well, the first statement here is true, but the "role player" to step up is not one that many of us - OK, any of us - expected. Yes folks, if the series was a Best-of-5 rather than a Best-of-7, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenda02.html" target="_blank">Danny Green</a> would almost certainly have been named Finals MVP last night. That's the same Danny Green who was waived by the Cleveland Cavs after Lebron left, and was waived <i>twice</i> by the Spurs before finally catching on in 2011 after a desperation phone call to coach Popovich got him back on the roster.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">He also features hilariously in this video of Lebron's 25th birthday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet with a bit of coaching and a lot of hard work, Green reinvented himself as a deadly three point shooter, shooting 43% over the last two seasons and shooting a scorching 52% on over 6 attempts per game this postseason. He has made <b>25 THREE POINTERS</b> through 5 games, smashing Ray Allen's record from 2008 </span></span>(which, by the way, was set in a 7-game series), and has played incredible defense as well, notably on the fast break. This article will likely jinx him for games 6 and 7, but assuming he continues this pace and the Spurs win the series, would he be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell_NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award" target="_blank">most unlikely Finals MVP</a> in history? Let's look at some other candidates, rated on a 1-10 scale, where 1 is '93 Jordan and 10 is...well, '13 Danny Green.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: lime;">Tony Parker - San Antonio Spurs, 2007</span></b></span><br />
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Before the last couple of seasons, when people talked about the San Antonio Spurs, they usually thought of it as Duncan's team with several other "secondary stars" to carry him when he had an off-night. Yet in the 2007 Finals (ironically against Lebron's hopelessly out-manned Cavaliers), it was Parker who carried the load, averaging 24.5 PPG as Duncan struggled to assert himself inside against the Cavs front line. Parker's output was 6 points greater than his average during the regular season, but he was still the Spurs' second most productive player by pretty much any metric you wanted to choose. At age 24, Parker was not yet the star of that Spurs team, but after a great finals performance, you could tell he was on his way to greatness.</div>
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<a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/startracks/070625/eva_longoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/startracks/070625/eva_longoria.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Well, this is awkward.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">RATING: 5.6.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: lime;">Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons, 2004</span></span></span></b></div>
The last team to supposedly win a title without a superstar was the 2003-2004 Pistons, who rode 5 above-average starters and a punishing defense to a 5-game victory over the star-studded Lakers looking for their 4th title in 5 years. Billups did not fit the profile of a Finals MVP, averaging only 16.9 PPG during the regular season and 16.4 PPG in the playoffs. (Quick side note: also on that Pistons team? Darko Milicic! What was his playoff PER? -14!!! I love the fact that he has an NBA championship ring). Rip Hamilton (21.5 PPG) was the offensive star and Ben Wallace was the defensive star, but as the leader of a true championship team, it was Billups who took home the hardware (despite a monster 18-22 from Wallace in the clinching Game 5). Billups' numbers make him look like a surprising MVP, but he was the unquestioned leader of that team, and few were truly surprised to see him given the honor at the series' conclusion.<br />
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<a href="http://img.fanbase.com/media.fanbase.com/8/15326/4756d0a8e14eb739123440a5cd1bc88ad87c9099.jpg?x=480&y=744&sig=5f0326c307af924f7222a9113aa75f5f" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img.fanbase.com/media.fanbase.com/8/15326/4756d0a8e14eb739123440a5cd1bc88ad87c9099.jpg?x=480&y=744&sig=5f0326c307af924f7222a9113aa75f5f" width="206" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Hey Ben, you think we can get anybody cool to</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">come party in Detroit with us? Yeah, me neither." </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">RATING: 5.1.</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: lime;">Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell - Boston Celtics, 1981</span></span></span></b></div>
The 1981 Celtics' roster is littered with NBA legends - Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Tiny Archibald. But what was the common theme for these players? With the exception of Archibald, they were all young, with Parish in his 5th year, Bird in his 2nd, and McHale a rookie out of the University of Minnesota. During that Finals, Maxwell started slowly, scoring only 16 points in the first two games, but he led the C's in scoring the next 3 games, kept Rockets star Moses Malone in check, and provided an emotional lift for a young team on their way to another championship. Although Maxwell would be known more for his inspiration of Lance Stephenson during the '84 Finals (making a choke signal at James Worthy after he missed a free throw with 10 seconds to go), it was in '81 that he won a surprising MVP over Bird, Archibald and Parish (McHale would not become a major factor for several years). Maxwell wasn't the most skilled player on that team...but he still was a primary contributor throughout the season and, once again, was ready to step up when his team needed him most.<br />
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<a href="http://www.notinhalloffame.com/UserFiles/Image/article_images/Basketball/66.%20Cedric%20Maxwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.notinhalloffame.com/UserFiles/Image/article_images/Basketball/66.%20Cedric%20Maxwell.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gotta love those '80's shorts.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">RATING: 7.2.</span></b></div>
So what did we learn? What Danny Green is doing thus far is completely unprecedented...but Finals MVPs only go to players who contribute to clinching series victories. If he wants to take home the hardware, he'll have to somehow repeat his miraculous performance on the road. I wish I had bet on him before the series, but I wouldn't bet against him now.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/j3JSWmM8F9E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-28056575901904702742013-06-14T15:39:00.000-04:002013-06-14T15:39:07.091-04:00NBA Finals Gifs<i>The NBA Finals are tied 2-2!! Bosh and Wade are back!! Lebron didn't let three slow games in a row get in his head!! Tiago Splitter isn't actually good at basketball!!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Let's slow known on the knee-jerk reactions a little bit. In order to get away from all that, we've compiled some of our favorite gifs from the NBA Finals so far. You know how much we love gifs.</i><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><b>Best Plays in GIF Form</b></span><br />
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We'll start here, because this happened in Game 1, and because Norris Cole had no chance/got completely eviscerated:<br />
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Manu is a passing god. If you look closely, you can actually see the fan in the stands with a wand that is actually controlling the ball in the first gif:<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/social_assets/nba/NBA_Finals/Game1/ManuLeGs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/social_assets/nba/NBA_Finals/Game1/ManuLeGs.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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This just shows how strong Lebron is: Splitter wound up, Lebron went straight up, and Lebron said, "No thank you."<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/906/665/LeBronBlock2_original_original.gif?1370839279" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/906/665/LeBronBlock2_original_original.gif?1370839279" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember that time Green hit the deepest three of his life to set a record, and then poked the bear by hitting another one in Lebron's face?<br />
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<a href="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/4725471/danny-green-o.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/4725471/danny-green-o.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nesncom.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/lebron-give-up.gif?w=412&h=236" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://nesncom.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/lebron-give-up.gif?w=412&h=236" width="320" /></a></div>
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And of course, the greatest play of this series so far (or at least the most important):<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><b>Those Times People Did Ridiculous Things</b></span><br />
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Chris Bosh doesn't get to be in the "plays in gif form" section...because this is just a terrible flop:<br />
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<a href="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bosh-flop-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bosh-flop-2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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His coach was disappointed:<br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/AgrCiQz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imgur.com/AgrCiQz.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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This guy, however, is amped:<br />
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<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2632639/yesheatyes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2632639/yesheatyes.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember that time we gave you an over/under on 1.5 quarters until Duncan disagreed with a call and his eyes bugged out of his head? We hope you took the under:<br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/PZE6sXO.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://i.imgur.com/PZE6sXO.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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We wish they would bring back these hair-styles:<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/06/Spurs-Gif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/06/Spurs-Gif.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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So here we are...the NBA Finals are down to a best of 3 series. Will it end like this again? We hope so:<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">Best GIFS We're Missing Out On</span></b><br />
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Anything and everything Kent Bazemore:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-88078007614605462772013-06-13T11:29:00.001-04:002013-06-14T09:13:18.891-04:00Real Men of Basketball: The Baller Old Guy<i>Each week I will write about a type of player you see in pickup basketball games, along with their NBA equivalent. Basically, it will be a spinoff from the Real Men of Genius ads made by Bud Light. I started out with the <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/05/real-men-of-basketball-annoying-screen.html">annoying screen setter guy</a>. This week: the baller old guy.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Old people ruin everything - that's just a fact. Parties, highway driving, late night basement hookups...you name it. So what's worse than when a bunch of young bloods try to get a pickup game going and the only option for the 10th man is Old Man River and his replacement knees? I'll tell you...it's when Old Man River decides to put on a fucking clinic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kyrie-irving-old-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kyrie-irving-old-man.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too easy against these young bloods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the </span>unforeseen disadvantages of being 23 is that everybody <i>expects </i>you to be in shape. So when your legs have turned after jelly<span style="font-family: inherit;"> after 2 games, you have to suck it up or your team is going to give you the "what the hell dude?" treatment. This shame is multiplied tenfold where there is an old guy in better shape than you on court. God forbid that he beats you down the court in transition, or you might be excommunicated to Siberia. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The baller old guy has the perfect double standard: if you are winning the matchup, it's because he's old, and you're kind of an asshole for taking advantage of him. If he is winning, oh god: expect cat calls and a massive "OOOOHHHHHHHHHH" every time he scores. That's the worst. Maybe he drains a couple 3s in your grill, maybe he outhustles you for a couple easy putbacks, maybe he throws in 4 left handed hooks (an experience that still scars Jack to this day). Any way you slice it, you look like a jackass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyone that has watched these playoffs knows who the NBA's baller old guy is: Tim Freakin' Duncan. He's 37 and doesn't play a day older than 28. You all have been warned - do NOT remind Tim Duncan how old he is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://serialprincess.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/duncan-bug-eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://serialprincess.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/duncan-bug-eyes.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'LL SHOW YOU OLD!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Especially if you are Chris Bosh:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04234677786461221389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-67355171930474181062013-06-12T14:10:00.000-04:002013-06-12T18:31:53.027-04:00The Tweener: Danny Green, Danny Green, Danny Green, and Nadal (and Danny Green)<i>On February 26 I wrote an inaugural Tweener column. Due to our live blogging of Game 2, this week's Tweener is appearing on Wednesday - sorry if you had withdrawal yesterday.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><b><span style="color: yellow;">
>>>></span></b> This is how I felt last night watching Game 3 of the NBA Finals.<br />
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Check out Tony Parker in that clip. "Oh my god."<br />
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You know why? The big numbers are obvious and have been covered: the record number of 3s in a game - the trio of Neal, Green, and Leonard scoring the same number of points as Wade, Lebron, and Bosh in this series (which is NOT a good thing for Miami) - Tracy McGrady going 0-for-2 yet somehow getting the loudest cheers of the night and registering a solid +10 over his 7 garbage time minutes.<br />
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But here are some more numbers from that game:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>- Wade somehow led the Heat with 16 points. Lebron and Miller each had 15, Bosh had 12. Cole had 8. Allen had 4. Everyone else had 3, 2, or 0.<br />
- Spurs starters recorded the following +/- totals: +18, + 29 (Leonard), +26, +27, +23 (Green). Heat starters had: -13, -32 (Lebron), -21, -19, -29 (Wade). You read that correctly. Green and Leonard combined for +52, while Lebron and Wad recorded a -61. That's really an imperfect way to present that...but it still speaks volumes.<br />
- The Spurs recorded an assist on 29 of their 43 made baskets.<br />
- The Spurs had 19 offensive rebounds to Miami's 9, and 52 total to Miami's 36. The Spurs averaged 8 offensive rebounds a game in the regular season.<br />
- Miami committed 16 turnovers, at least three of which were on passes to players that had moved...so the ball went straight out of bounds.<br />
<br />
You know what all that says to me? The Heat are tired. The Indiana series really did take a toll. Lebron is being guarded by Danny Green in the post and not being convincingly effective. Wade has little to no lift in his legs. The Birdman isn't the Birdman. Chalmers was hot last game, but maybe was tired this game. San Antonio's offense is a machine, but that doesn't excuse you from having to box out.<br />
<br />
I'm sticking with my prediction that the Spurs will win this series, but not necessarily because of the skill level on the Spurs roster. I think Miami is tired, and Lebron can only do so much to cure what ails his team.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">>>>></span></b> Having said that, I believe Danny Green made one massive mistake in Game 3. His final three three pointers were basically perfect. They went like this:<br />
<br />
- The first one he was wide open, gathered, and hit nothing but net to tie the NBA record for 3s in a Finals game.<br />
- The second one was basically from the "S" at the end of the "SPURS" logo in the middle of the court. Ridiculously deep. Nothing but net.<br />
<br />
DANNY YOU SET THE RECORD. STOP THERE. WALK AWAY.<br />
<br />
But no. Danny Effing Green had to keep going. Just over a minute later, Green catches a pass in transition on the wing 3 feet behind the three point line. Lebron stands between Green and the basket about 8 feet away from Green. Either this was stupid from Lebron, or it was bait. Green doesn't hesitate to rise and hits <i>nothing but net</i>.<br />
<br />
Bad move, Danny Green. As if this wasn't painful enough, you just stared down the one man who can single-handedly turn a series on its head and eviscerate you. It was bad. Lebron was down, and he was going to come out angry next game. But then you, Danny Green, looked at Lebron and said, "Hey I'm on freaking fire, you're shooting poorly, you're slacking off me, we're up 28...yeah i'm gonna bang this one in your face and then saunter back down the court."<br />
<br />
Ruh roh.<br />
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(You can watch those three shots starting at the 1:40 mark of this video)<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">>>>></span></b> But this was just vintage San Antonio.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">>>>></span></b> You thought I wasn't going to mention the French Open? Or the instant classic Nadal and Djokovic had on Friday (while I was at work...thank you all for the texts and messages about how <i>great</i> of a match it was, I really appreciate it)? Or the instant clunker Nadal and Ferrer had on Sunday?<br />
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Nadal's 8th French Open title makes him the winningest player at a single major in history in all kinds of ways. 59-1 (sorry, I meant to say <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">59-1!?!?!??!?!?!?!</u>) is the best record by an individual at any major. 8 is the most titles an individual has won at any major. Nadal also hadn't played for 7 months until about a month ago. Don't mind him, he'll just show back up and cement his place as the best clay court player in history, while also getting a <i>much</i> needed win over Djokovic.<br />
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Look, right now, Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time. Statistically, he has just had the absolute best career. But if Federer doesn't win another major (I'm not going to go on about his demise, as the field of players in men's tennis just keeps getting deeper...but he did get plain ol' blasted by Tsonga), and Nadal gets to 15 or 16 while maintaining his 66% win percentage over Federer, then it's at least a debate then right? I will absolutely accept that Nadal needs to further diversify his portfolio. Winning 5 more French Opens (completely possible) to tie Federer at 17 doesn't really do it. But let's say Nadal wins...3 French Opens, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Then he sits at 17 with 6 of those coming at other majors. Then I think it's a question.<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/rafael-nadal-tweener-between-legs-djokovic_n_3403407.html?ir=Sports" target="_blank">Plus, he hit this shot.</a></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-44761233475496988072013-06-11T09:28:00.000-04:002013-06-11T09:28:27.832-04:00Obscure NBA Player of the Week: James Jones<i>Each week at Volume Shooters, we highlight an NBA
player, past or present, who doesn't spend much time in the spotlight
but is nonetheless a valuable cog in his team's quest for the
championship. Obscure players tend to be on obscure teams, but with the
playoffs going on, we tried to pick somebody out from one of the title
contenders. Here's this week's edition:</i><br />
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Well, the NBA Finals have finally arrived, and with them, most of the obscure NBA players have departed off the national scene. Let's see, who is left here...Matt Bonner? Too mainstream. Patty Mills? Already done. Rashard Lewis? Formerly the <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/13/rashard-lewis-don%E2%80%99t-blame-me-for-signing-a-huge-contract/" target="_blank">second highest paid player</a> in the league! He's out. Who else, who else...how about him:<br />
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<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/filepicker/7RJUHD6CRBWU4eFixu0H_jj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/filepicker/7RJUHD6CRBWU4eFixu0H_jj.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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Yes, it turns out the Heat do have obscure guys on their roster! That's <b>James Jones</b>. Know anything about him? Me neither. Let's try and see what his career has been like...<br />
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<i><b>Country of Origin</b>: </i>Jones was born in Miami all the way back in 1980, making him one of the older players we've profiled in this segment.<br />
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<i><b>Vitals</b>:</i> 6'8" / 215 lbs<br />
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<i><b>Position</b>:</i> SF<br />
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<i><b>Nickname:</b> </i>Jones may be an obscure player, but he has probably the least obscure given name in America. You really can't get much more generic than "James Jones" - in fact, here are some other people that come up in the first few pages of Google results for "James Jones":<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3Ibx7oAP3EDQI_-PpZcnf5MpdLjE6YAU0rl2WwlDgRJIFZjtvQbKbgffcXU3DLMvFi_xZezfkweyGXooTflMF6K0SILc4Cm_8ZhyGxM3kjQvz08wkh3grvvIlOxKI2EXkaZTyRhl3Mw/s200/jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3Ibx7oAP3EDQI_-PpZcnf5MpdLjE6YAU0rl2WwlDgRJIFZjtvQbKbgffcXU3DLMvFi_xZezfkweyGXooTflMF6K0SILc4Cm_8ZhyGxM3kjQvz08wkh3grvvIlOxKI2EXkaZTyRhl3Mw/s200/jones.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaezJ06JacVJwFCIgQiXW9TMPiXcIYrzxvQWiXCG7ZvOrBg2hDroubbGl761CF60vVIqf0qOdPEJoHB7zDiVa8X-7YKPzCQBuiyzpv-eQzb5a4W8Rxa6qMP8Fjh3fTQsZYMrSvYpyHhg/s1600/James-JonesDEFENSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaezJ06JacVJwFCIgQiXW9TMPiXcIYrzxvQWiXCG7ZvOrBg2hDroubbGl761CF60vVIqf0qOdPEJoHB7zDiVa8X-7YKPzCQBuiyzpv-eQzb5a4W8Rxa6qMP8Fjh3fTQsZYMrSvYpyHhg/s1600/James-JonesDEFENSE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Nope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Still not him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">There he is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you can see, </span> </span>James Jones is not a man that can get by on his normal name alone. That's why he has given himself the nickname "JHoops" - pronounced "Joops"- which is...well, to be honest its pretty boring. Almost as boring as "James Jones."</div>
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<i><b>Career Arc</b></i>: Jones attended the University of Miami for four years, where he developed a three-point stroke on his way to averaging 17 points and 6 rebounds a game his senior year. He was drafted by the Pacers in 2003 with the 49th pick, but played only sparingly his first few years in the league. His two most notable campaigns (2005-6 and 2010-11) still saw him average fewer than 10 points and 4 rebounds per game, although he does shoot 40% from deep on his career, which I hear is pretty good. But none of these things are really the reason you might have heard of James Jones...<br />
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<a href="http://mdd2403.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/fieldofdreamsmann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mdd2403.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/fieldofdreamsmann.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">That would be his performance in "Field of Dreams."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nope, the reason many basketball fans have heard of James Jones is that he has played on some really good teams during his career. He started by playing 2 years with the Reggie Miller/Ron Artest Pacers, making the playoffs in 2004-5. From there, he was traded to the Nash/Marion/Stoudamire Suns teams, making two more postseasons the next two seasons. After a brief stop in Portland, Jones came home to the Miami Heat, where he has made the postseason each of the last 5 seasons</span></span>. For a guy who averages 17 minutes a game for his career to have played in <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesja02.html" target="_blank"><b>91 playoff games</b></a> is pretty absurd. Jones hasn't gotten much run...or really any run...for this year's edition of Lebron and the Superfriends, but he just might pick up a second ring for his efforts.</div>
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<i><b>Buck-est "Joops" Mixtape Available on YouTube</b>: </i>We'll go with two different videos here, one to remind people that James Jones can shoot a bit...<br />
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...and one to remind people that the 2011 Heat had Mike Bibby and Zydrunas Ilgauskas starting playoff games for them.<br />
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Jones does drop 25 in that game, however, marking what I can only assume is his playoff career high.<br />
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<i><b>Notable Moments in his NBA Career</b>: </i><span style="font-size: small;">See above. Most of my Googling of James Jones produced highlight videos of Nash, Wade, Lebron, and of course, James Earl Jones starring in Field of Dreams.</span><br />
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<i><b>Will he ever make the big time?</b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The guy already has a ring, so who cares? He's 32, he's living in his hometown (which happens to be Miami), he plays professional basketball with one of the greatest players of all time, and he already won a title...almost everybody in the world would take that life. Chances are Jones will spend the next few years of his life enjoying the sun and sand in Miami-Dade county, shooting a bunch of 3's in practice, and working on his chemist game with Bosh, Wade and Lebron. If he wants people to call him Joops, who are we to tell him no?</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/L9nYJ3nkFXi*ZiJZptq1l9xuvYOAfQ4UNHhoDaJwePTgYIcUHkbSjFLZYBfuSPRrMzoTNPxte7P*bGcitwjJZrUNPIHsALES/James_Jones_Miami_Heat_NBA_Championship_Basketball_Wallpaper_2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://api.ning.com/files/L9nYJ3nkFXi*ZiJZptq1l9xuvYOAfQ4UNHhoDaJwePTgYIcUHkbSjFLZYBfuSPRrMzoTNPxte7P*bGcitwjJZrUNPIHsALES/James_Jones_Miami_Heat_NBA_Championship_Basketball_Wallpaper_2012.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"My life rules!"</span></div>
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<i>Please submit comments, questions, and recommendations for next week's Obscure NBA Player to <a href="mailto:pabritton42@gmail.com"><span style="color: #e69138;">pabritton42@gmail.com</span></a>.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-43005736876981965212013-06-10T12:02:00.000-04:002013-06-10T12:02:36.751-04:00Live Blog: Spurs/Heat, Game 2<i>With Jack sidelined for the weekend at the first of many weddings the three authors will be crashing attending as honored guests in the coming years, Brian and Paul fired up a lively discussion about the goings on in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.</i><div>
<br /><span style="color: lime;"><b>Brian: </b></span>Hey fans, we kick off this blog with 3:42 left in the first quarter and the Heat up 16-15. Early thoughts:<br /><br />1. Really like Wade's aggressiveness thus far. He's gotta keep it up for the Heat to win.<br />2. Steph Curry is apparently wearing a Danny Green mask tonight. Seriously, when did Danny learn to shoot?<br />3. LBJ strangely quiet so far. I expect that to change in the 2nd quarter after his teammates cool down.<br />4. I still really hate Ginobili and Duncan.<br /><br />And with that I'll kick it to Paul...what's happening my dawg?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>What's up Brian,<br /><br />Not sure I'll have too much to contribute since my brain is feeling rather squishy after a loooong evening out last night. I pretty much have the brain function of this kid:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a><br />That caveat aside, we're seeing a similar progression of the game as took place in game 1. Spurs jump out to an early lead, Heat storm quickly back before both teams settle into the game. Spurs are looking a bit sloppy with the ball thus far, although anything would look sloppy compared to game 1 when they had a ridiculous FOUR turnovers FOR THE GAME. Pretty sure I couldn't dribble the ball for 48 minutes without dribbling it off my foot and out of bounds more than that. Right on cue, Birdman!!!<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>Based on the early read from tonight's game, which of these scenarios do you predict will come true?<br /><br />a. Heat win <br />b. Spurs win<br />c. Bosh starts crying on the bench <br />d. Popovich chokes Joey Crawford to death at halfcourt<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Apparently Jack is already bored enough to ask to be removed from the group chat. In response to your question, I think a, c and d are the early favorites - when Mike Miller's corpse is drilling threes, the Spurs are gunna have issues. <br /><br />We also had a classic Pop halftime interview:<br /><br />Doris Burke: "Pop, other than the turnovers, what did you see from your offense that quarter?"<br />Popovich: "Um...all I saw was the turnovers."<br /><br />Classic.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Gary Neal sighting! During game 1 after he threw up brick after brick I wondered out loud why he was on the court over Tracy McGrady. You think there's any chance he will be dusted off before the series is over? If not, and the Spurs win, would this be the least legitimate "title run" for any superstar player?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>All of a sudden the Spurs are cruising and all Heat players not named Birdman are having trouble scoring. If the Spurs keep crushing 3's, it could be a long night for Miami. In a surprise move, we've yet to see a dubious call from Joey Crawford. Brian, over/under 7:00 in the third quarter before we see one?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>DANNY. GREEN. The man from UNC just hit his 4th 3 of the first half to re-tie the game for San Antonio. The pace of the game has really picked up in the last 5 or so minutes...until our first questionable Joey Crawford foul call. Guess we should have taken the under from that last bet...<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>Annnd I'm back. Entertaining if predictable first half. I'm really getting into this finals matchup - both teams play at such a high level that I can almost guarantee that every game will come down to the wire. Keys to the second half in my opinion:<br /><br />Spurs - Get Duncan/Splitter going down low, feed Danny Green, contain the drive and kickout from LBJ, FEED DANNY GREEN!<br />Heat - Get Lebron a few easy looks early, keep making their open shots, more Birdman, better job containing Parker<br /><br />Anything else to add there Paul?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>The Heat really turned on the defensive intensity for the last 3 minutes. I don't see any way San Antonio comes back if they can't start creating better looks in the paint - its not like Miami is known for their paint defense. <br /><br />In other news, the stupidest gimmick of the finals coverage so far is the "token social media guy" who takes pictures ON HIS CAMERA PHONE WHICH THEY THEN BROADCAST DURING THE GAME. I cannot possibly describe how dumb this is. Why do I want to look at somebody's camera photos when you have hundreds of high definition video cameras taking video at all times? Stupid Samsung.<div>
<br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>Completely agree. I think they could improve the gimmick by having someone photobomb all of the warmup pictures, but even then it's questionable at best.<br /><br />NBA teams should take a page out of minor league baseball's book and have some truly stupid entertainment - monkeys riding dogs, sausage races, etc etc.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Now there's an interesting stat line - Kawhi Leonard 4 points, 11 rebounds. I was just about to say San Antonio needs to bulk up on the boards, but it doesn't look like they are doing too badly. Meanwhile, DANNY GREEN HITS AGAIN. You cannot stop him...you can only hope to contain him? Where did this Green come from?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>DANNY. FREAKING. GREEN. Now 5/5 for the night on 3s. It's gotta be Steph Curry wearing a Danny Green mask - that's the only explanation.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Despite these heroics, this remains my favorite Danny Green moment:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Greg Paulus immediately regrets trying to draw the charge.</span></div>
<br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Very, very out of character for Miami to be giving up this many open looks from 3. Brian, you see any obvious adjustments they can make to prevent San Antonio from continuing their aerial assault?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>Too much ball watching - I think it's more of an effort thing than strategy. Although they are helping a little more than I would like, considering that they have an athleticism advantage at almost every position.<br /><br />Or they could put Juwan Howard in to commit a flagrant 2 on Danny Green. Actually, I'm very partial to that idea. Let's make it happen Spoelstra!<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Excellent game of basketball despite a massive no-show from Lebron thus far. Chris Bosh, however, was probably revitalized by seeing his twin brother Randall starring in his second major motion picture, "Monsters University," and is looking way better than in Game 1.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>SportsCenter also has provided us with this epic statistic from tonight: Lebron has as many misses in Game 2 so far (10) as Birdman has in THE ENTIRE POSTSEASON SO FAR. Maybe he should be getting a few more looks?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>The problem is that Birdman can't create his own offense - he's much better at finishing on putbacks and open looks near the rim. He basically takes out the trash for Miami.<br /><br />Also, if Miami can keep this shooting up, the Spurs literally have no chance. <br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Intense run of shooting by Miami to close the quarter with a 10 point lead. I would pay huge sums of money to see Doris Burke have to interview Popovich after this quarter. He might literally set her hair on fire by shooting flames out of his eyes.<br /><br />San Antonio will really have to bear down on defense if they want a chance to stay in this game.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Huge game for the role players on both sides but Miami has started to pull away. If you had Mario Chalmers and Danny Green as your leading scorers, I hope you enjoy the Bentley you are about to purchase with your winnings.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>I somehow hit San Antonio with the reverse jinx by saying that no games in this series will be a blowout. Miami's offense is looking just about unstoppable at this point.<br /><br />Spurs really need to get something going on offense. Where is the Parker dribble drive? Kawhi Leonard corner 3s? Duncan's annoying elbow jumpers? Seems like Danny Green is the only one that showed up.<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>Wow. Just a preposterous Lebron James sequence right there - huge block on Splitter dunk attempt, finds Ray Allen for the corner 3, steals the ball, hammers it home on the break. So much for him having a "bad game." I think this one's just about wrapped up with the Heat up 24. Brian, any final thoughts on what we can expect going forward?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Brian: </b>A lot more of the same for Miami, a lot of offensive adjustments in order for San Antonio. Defensively there was not much they could do - it was one of those "fuck it, see you on our home court" kind of games. Offensively they need to go back to what worked in game 1 - namely, having Duncan be more involved early and Parker being more aggressive in general.<br /><br />Despite the score there was a lot of quality basketball played. I cannot wait for game 3. Wanna give us your final thoughts?<br /><br /><b style="color: lime;">Paul: </b>I think more than anything this game showed us what makes Lebron the best player of his generation. He has, by his standards, a terrible game through 30 minutes...then completely blitzed the Spurs for 10 minutes and powered Miami's 33-5 run. When the Heat play well, they look like one of the best teams the league has ever seen, and there's almost no way San Antonio can match their combination of athleticism and scoring punch. But Game 3 should be phenomenal, you know Popovich will make some adjustments and keep getting good looks for his offense. To quote Bart Scott, "CAN'T. WAIT." See you all on Tuesday.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-46113850026160018692013-06-06T17:18:00.002-04:002013-06-06T19:01:28.490-04:00The NBA Finals: So Many Questions, Who Will Answer?<i>Tonight. 8:30. Miami. San Antonio. The NBA Finals. Don't worry - we've answered the 10 most important questions so you don't have to.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Here we are - the Finals have arrived. Are you surprised this is the match-up we ended up getting?</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>Brian</b></span>: Not at all. Everyone and their grandmother had the Heat representing the East, and although I had picked the Thunder at the beginning of the season, the loss of Westbrook immediately flipped my pick to the Spurs. You don't win 58 games by accident.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>Jack</b></span>: Not really. We knew it would take a stroke of really bad <strike>injuries</strike> luck for Miami not to make it to this point. I think the Spurs may draw some motivation from all the "Westbrook getting hurt completely changed the West" talk. Or at least I hope they do.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>Paul</b></span>: Before the season started, only one of ESPN's panel of 35 experts picked this particular matchup in the finals, so on one hand, this finals matchup is pretty surprising. That being said, everybody expected Miami in the East, and San Antonio brought every piece back from the West's best regular season team last year, so for anybody thinking objectively, it shouldn't have been a surprise at all.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>How many games will Joey Crawford be prominently involved in?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>Brian</b></span>: At least 2. He might be involved in every game played at Miami, if David Stern has his way. I'm already giddy for the inevitable Tim Duncan technical just because Joey Crawford feels like it.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: 1.6, after inadvertently ejecting himself with Norris Cole in the 3rd quarter of his second game refing.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: The only person both delusional enough and power-hungry enough to consider letting Joey Crawford ref a Finals game is...David Stern. Crap. I'll say 2.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">On a scale of 1-10 how excited are you for this Finals series?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: 8.5 - I can't give it a 10 because I hate both of these teams. That being said, they are clearly the best 2 teams in the league, and play extremely smart, precision basketball. As a basketball nerd, I'm salivating. Ok, I just bumped myself to a 9.5.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: 7.1. I don't want the Heat to win...I think that's well documented. So I can't be too excited. But it is going to be a ridiculously high quality series. Which is great.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Surprisingly, I'm about a 9.2 - not because I like either team, but because I expect to see basketball played at an extremely high level all series, even in pressure situations, with a lot of scoring thrown in. Throw in the 8-10 future hall of famers competing or coaching (and the unintentional comedy of Popovich's halftime interviews) and I expect to see the most entertaining finals since at least 2009. Bump this up to a 13.4 if the Spurs win and Popovich busts out this dance again:</div>
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<a name='more'></a><b><span style="color: yellow;">Pick out one "key" to this series.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Kawhi Leonard. His ability to guard Lebron (mostly) without help and make corner 3's may just decide this series. Runner up goes to Juwan Howard, who continues to be on the best roster in the NBA despite being 73 years old.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Spot up shooters vs. Spot up shooters. Who hits more of their open looks? Bonner, Leonard, Ginobli, Green, and Diaw (yikes)? Or Chalmers, Cole, Allen, Battier, and Miller (yikes)?<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Will the Spurs' role players rise to the moment? Both Green and Leonard have had outstanding games this postseason, but both struggled in some pressure situations in the Golden State series, and that is nothing compared to the intensity of the finals. If they stay calm, I'm not sure how Miami defends them, but if they tense up, it could be a quick series for the Heat.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Will Tim Duncan's eyes literally bug out of his head after he is called for a foul?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Yes.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Cause of retirement....<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Already happened - he'll have to use those newly-discovered arms to reset his eyes after every call Joey Crawford makes all series.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Which do you hate more: Ginoboli's bald spot, or Lebron's receding hairline?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Tough call, but I gotta go with the bald spot. At least wear a yarmulke on that thing. Jiminy fucking cricket.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: I can empathize with Lebron. But in 20 years I expect I'll look like Ginobli and pretend I can play like him. So I'll hate on Lebron more.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Lebron seems truly embarrassed to have a hairline that roughly resembles my father's at the tender age of 28. Ginobli, on the other hand, rocks the <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/05/manu-ginobilis-bald-spot-through-the-years/" target="_blank">tremendous bald spot look</a> without shame, and has done so since at least 2007, haters be damned. In response to the question, I'll take the hairline.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">Lebron said he is now 50 times better than he was when the Heat played the Spurs in the '07 Finals. While this is obviously an exaggeration (just like his "not one...not two...not three....claim), how much better would you say he is?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: At least 75% better. Lebron is SkyNet, and he has become self-aware. You are all fucked.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: In 2007 Lebron was one of the best...5? 6? players in the league? Perhaps that is under-rating him based on who else was on his team. But now he is undeniably the best player in the league. And much smarter and composed mentally. I'll give him 1.8 times better, and let Kanye do the rest: older, better, faster, stronger.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Lebron at 50x better than 2007 would have to average about 1400 points a game, so, yeah, he's not 50x better. I do think he's 50% better than he was, which is terrifying when you consider he took a starting backcourt of Daniel "Boobie" Gibson and Sasha Freaking Pavlovic (no, seriously) to the NBA finals.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">In two sentences or less, how would you play Lebron if you were Popovich?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Let him go crazy. I don't care if he averages 40 a game - if you let him find open shooters off the drive, the Spurs are toast.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: (1) Build a time machine. (2) Go back in time and tell Frank Vogel to play Hibbert at the end of Game 1.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: Play him straight up with players his size or smaller, and hope he doesn't decide to work in the post. Avoid letting his teammates beat you and force him to shoot jump shots.<br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">One role player is going to have a monster game and swing a game by himself. Who will that be? Shane Battier? Patty Mills?!?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Patty Mills!!! In all likelihood it's going to be Shane Battier having one of those "unconscious bad guy" halves where he hits 4 3's in a row.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Matt Bonner...but you know why? Every three he hits deflates the other team by about 4.3 times more than anyone else in the whole league hitting a 3 (except Javale McGee). He hits two in a row and Chalmers will be lying under the bench in tears.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: There is a proud history of role players stepping up huge in big Finals moments: Robert Horry, P.J. Brown, Nate Robinson/Glen Davis, etc. The most likely guy this year? None other than the sandwich man himself, the Red Rocket, Matt Bonner! Shoots the lights out from 3, has unveiled a nice lefty running hook this postseason, and has 6 hard fouls to give. Let's just say this (quoted from elsewhere): Matt Bonner is here to chew gum and cash 3's...and he's all out of gum.</div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">So who wins?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Brian</span></b>: Heat in 7. Too much Lebron, too much Joey Crawford, too much David Stern.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Jack</span></b>: Spurs. Too much rest if the series goes long. Too many favorable match-ups (I know no one can guard Lebron, but the Spurs hold advantages at the point and inside). The Heat's home court advantage worries me, but they've lost 2 games at home already this year. The Spurs close it out...<strike>on their home floor...in 6 games</strike>. Oops...I've been called out - the Finals are a 2-3-2 format, which means the Spurs will be closing it out...on Miami's floor. Oops.<br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">Paul</span></b>: I'd like to say Duncan will be inspired by his last chance to win the finals, but we all know he's a cyborg and the Spurs will be just as good next year. Also, the demise of Wade and Bosh has been greatly overstated in the media - these guys are still all-star players. I'll say Heat in 6.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-21285693308376895592013-06-05T10:20:00.002-04:002013-06-06T09:04:58.422-04:00Real Men of Basketball: The Hilariously Out of Shape Guy<i>Each week I will write about a type of player you see in pickup basketball games, along with their NBA equivalent. Basically, it will be a spinoff from the Real Men of Genius ads made by Bud Light. I started out with the <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/05/real-men-of-basketball-annoying-screen.html">annoying screen setter guy</a>. This week: the hilariously out of shape guy.</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing warms my heart quite like a competitive game of pickup basketball. Sure it's fun when you're the best player on the court and raining it NBA Jam style, but truth be told I'd rather play a tough game when all of the players on the court know what they're doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now it's no surprise that basketball is a physically demanding sport - you need to be in at least decent shape to play at a competitive level. Which is why nothing is funnier to me than walking out onto the court and seeing the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's doppelganger warming up at the speed of a three toed sloth.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Feed me on the block!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The hilariously out of shape guy could not be more out of place on a basketball court. He is physically maxed out after 3 trips down the court, and his body resembles a car wreck in slow motion. I would feel bad for him, but it's tough when he resorts to clotheslining anyone within arms reach because that is literally his last defense. But wait, NBA players are professional athletes. There aren't any such guys in the NBA, right?</span></span><br />
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Shaq used to be one of the most dominant athletes in the league, but as many of you saw, he went to seed quickly. I love you Shaq...but for the last 3 years of your career, you were the hilariously out of shape guy.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04234677786461221389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-69550031319202474272013-06-04T10:15:00.000-04:002013-06-04T10:15:14.213-04:00The Tweener: The Finals, Ejections, and an Actual Tweener!<i>On February 26 I wrote <a href="http://volumeshooters.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-tweener-inaugural-edition.html" target="_blank">an inaugural Tweener</a> column. It's that time of the week again - and as a special bonus, the French Open is going on! Here are this week's quick hitters:</i><br />
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>>>> Obligatory note here to acknowledge that Miami put in a dominant performance last night and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. My co-writer Paul turned out an amazing piece yesterday on Gerald Green, which was fantastic because we actually had a Gerald Green sighting in last night's game! I'll go ahead and throw out my ill-thought-out Spurs-in-6 prediction here. Once Westbrook went down I think we all secretly wanted this. And if someone tells you they know how this is going to play out - they're lying. Which is why we'll probably put out a piece on Thursday about how that series is going to go. And Gregg Popovich will react like this:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>>>>> I know it was his birthday. And I know he's won 7 of the last 8 tournaments at this venue, and currently holds the greatest record of all time at an individual major. But really, this is just excessive:<br />
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And because I know Bryan Kelly is itching to know my thoughts - yes I think Nadal wins this tournament. He put it together convincingly today against Nishikori. Here's a fun fact - Jo Wilfried Tsonga is the <i>only active player on the tour</i> that has beaten Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray <i>in a Grand Slam tournament</i>. The French crowd is going to be dizzy trying to figure out who to root for in the Tsonga-Federer quarterfinal. But expect Djokovic to walk through Haas, Nadal to make it to the semis with relative ease, Ferrer to gut out a win over some other person that will quickly be forgotten, and watch Tsonga-Federer go for 4 hours. Then it's a toss up (meaning either Djokovic or Nadal will win the whole thing), and when in doubt, go with the man that has only lost ONE TIME in his career at this tournament.<br />
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>>>> People that got ejected from last night's Game 7:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff Pendergraph, for releasing this picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norris Cole, for 'taking his talents to Mario Chalmers.' <br />
Which is actually a little bit significant if he gets suspended for any Finals games.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flo Rida's manager, which is one of these two guys, but I don't actually know<br />
what Flo Rida looks like. I'll assume the manager is the one not looking at the camera.</td></tr>
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>>>> Agnieszka Radwanska (bless you) played Ana Ivanovic. That in itself was enough to get me to turn on the tv. But then Radwanska...<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HIT A TWEENER</u>...and won the point!!!! It was only the second tweener I can remember seeing in women's tennis over the last decade, so she absolutely wins this column. On the other hand, she decided to go blonde, which I don't really understand at all. But I'm willing to overlook that decision...<b><u style="font-style: italic;">BECAUSE SHE HIT A TWEENER AND WON THE POINT</u>!!!!</b><br />
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So here's to you, Agnieszka (gesundheit).<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00478667803248017384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471827790956293102.post-5147124155979039182013-06-03T10:17:00.002-04:002013-06-03T10:17:51.227-04:00Obscure NBA Player of the Week: Gerald Green<i>Each week at Volume Shooters, we highlight an NBA
player, past or present, who doesn't spend much time in the spotlight
but is nonetheless a valuable cog in his team's quest for the
championship. Obscure players tend to be on obscure teams, but with the
playoffs going on, we tried to pick somebody out from one of the title
contenders. Here's this week's edition:</i><br />
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During the Pacers' run this postseason, one of their weak points has been a complete lack of bench production. Bench production is obviously not as important in the postseason as it is for a whole 82 game schedule, but when all 5 of your starters are averaging more than 35 minutes per game and no bench player averages more than 17, it is pretty clear you have a lack of balance on your roster. Surprisingly, Frank Vogel seems to be turning to players with limited offensive skills (hello, Sam Young) over more dynamic options available on the bench. It is obviously important to keep sound defensive players on the floor against the likes of Lebron James, but rather than keep throwing Sam Young out there for 10 minutes a game, you have to think the fans would prefer to see this guy:<br />
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The photo is a bit blurry, but yes, that's <b>Gerald Green</b>, and yes that is a 10-foot rim which <i>HE IS TRYING TO AVOID BANGING HIS CHIN ON. HIS CHIN. </i>Since he's played less than half of the games in this postseason, seems like a great candidate for this week's column! <br />
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<i><b>Country of Origin</b>: </i>Ye olde US of A - specifically, Houston, Texas.<br />
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<i><b>Vitals</b>:</i> Somehow, Green is listed at 6'8". When I heard this, I was very surprised - Green always seems like a smaller player when he is on the court - but three different sources all list Green at 6'8". This does, however, explain some of Green's most notable skill (destroying rims with the fury of a thousand suns), which we'll cover in more depth later on. Oh, and he's 200 pounds.<br />
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<i><b>Position</b>:</i> SF/SG<br />
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<i><b>Nickname:</b> </i>While in Dallas, his nickname was the extremely mundane "G-Money." D+. Ian Eagle supposedly gave him the nickname "The Green Light," however, which is a lot better.<br />
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<i><b>Career Arc</b></i>: Green has had a fairly interesting and unique career. Starting in high school, Green put himself on the map by making the McDonald's All-American team in 2005, where he won the slam dunk contest, hilariously defeating Josh McRoberts in the finals. Don't believe me? Here's the video. (also featuring powerful dunks by Jon Brockman. No idea how these participants were chosen.)<br />
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Green was drafted 18th overall by the Celtics, but struggled to stick in the league as a rookie, bouncing up and down (no pun intended) between the NBA and the D-League. The next season he improved slightly, averaging over 10 points per game and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuMoznI5UKk" target="_blank">winning the 2007 slam dunk contest</a>. He was then involved in the Kevin Garnett blockbuster trade that off-season, heading to Minnesota where he basically languished on the end of the bench all season. After brief stints with the Rockets and Mavs, Green headed to Russian powerhouse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBC_Lokomotiv-Kuban" target="_blank">PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban</a> (notable current player: former Florida shooting guard Nick Calathes!!!.....ok so maybe it is not exactly a powerhouse club), where he played one season before being released. After a few more stints abroad, he ended up back in the states, where he signed first with the Nets before settling a contract with Indiana this season. "Well traveled" doesn't even begin to describe it in this case.<br />
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<i><b>Buck-est Green Mixtape Available on YouTube</b>: </i>Now we get to the good stuff! As with any notable dunkers, there are some epic highlight tapes of Green on YouTube. Amongst the good examples:<br />
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Wow. I can't think of a player that gets his head above the rim more frequently than Green. If somebody who knew nothing about basketball watched that first video, he might think Gerald Green is the best player in NBA history.<br />
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<i><b>Notable Moments in his NBA Career</b>: </i>Probably this dunk:<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sweet Jesus. </span></div>
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<i><b>Will he ever make the big time?</b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite being very good at forcefully throwing the ball into the basket, Green is not an efficient shooter (41.8% for his career), and is probably destined to ride the pine for most of the rest of his career. But at least he will be remembered for a number of basketball trivia bits: winner of the only slam dunk contest to ever feature Josh McRoberts in a mullet, most consecutive one-year contracts, last NBA draft class to feature high school students, most candles ever blown out in cupcakes above the rim, most blatant robbing in slam dunk contest voting...the list goes on and on. At worst, Green makes nearly impossible feats of athleticism look routine on a nightly basis. Not the worst legacy in the world.</span></span><br />
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<i>Please submit comments, questions, and recommendations for next week's Obscure NBA Player to <a href="mailto:pabritton42@gmail.com"><span style="color: #e69138;">pabritton42@gmail.com</span></a>.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363064164807269851noreply@blogger.com0