Thursday, July 31, 2008

Monday Morning Manute Links

Further Developments in the Ron Artest Saga

Is it ever not a saga with Ron Ron? I've often wanted to be a fly on the wall in an NBA locker room or front office but never have I wanted to be privy to a conversation more than the Yao-Artest makeup phone call. First Yao made some comments questioning Artest's ability to not be insane (legit concerns but probably best left unvoiced for the time being... Yao also probably could have stuck to "chemistry issues" rather than "going into the stands and fighting") and then Ron Ron questioned if Yao had ever played with a "black player that really represents his culture". This seemed kind of silly because Yao probably has a better understanding of black culture than any other Chinese guy alive and Rafer Alston seems pretty "ghetto" to me... but I digress. I think things are progressing nicely. Yao have proved to Ron Ron that he's going to speak his mind and Artest handled the situation well. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Nash and B-Diddy - If the Clippers miss the playoffs (which history says is a good bet) I think Baron is going to quit basketball and direct movies.

Who would win Jordan vs. Kobe one-on-one? - Jordan's concession that Kobe would beat him due to their age disparity reminds me of a great quote from Ty Cobb. A reporter asked an elderly Cobb what he would hit against today's pitchers and then seemed surprised when Cobb said "about .300". "Only .300?", the reporter asked. Cobb replied, "You've got to remember, I'm 73."

D-Wade = Sampson?

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Ron Ron

Ron Artest is heading to Houston and this could be just what T-Mac and Yao need to finally experience the second round of the playoffs... if Ron Ron can gel with the rest of the team. (And, of course, if Yao and T-Mac can stay healthy.) Let's stay positive and look at the best case scenario. The Rockets run with Rafer Alston, T-Mac, Artest, Battier/Landry/Scola, and Yao. Alston is serviceable and his shooting percentages theoretically should rise with the increased offense around him. T-Mac is still their #1 guy (if only by virtue of the fact that it's easier to get him the ball than Yao) and he is still an elite, if injury prone, superstar. Artest averaged 20/6/3.5 last year and, in my humble opinion, he is the best defender in the league. I watched a ton of Kings games this past season just to watch him play defense and it's criminal that he didn't make the All-Defensive team even considering he only played in 57 games. (As much as I love Chris Paul he isn't even in the same league defensively as Ron.) At power forward the Rockets have Luis Scola and, if they can sign him, Carl Landry who both can finish and rebound. Round this team out with Yao up front and Houston could be dominant, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

Artest is really the guy who can make or break this whole scheme. Great chemistry allowed the Rockets to reel off a 22 game win streak last year (the last six games without Yao) and no one has ever described Ron Ron as a "chemistry guy". Off the court distractions aside, Artest tended to force shots in Sac-town as the first (if you ask him) or second (if you ask anyone else) option but that won't be necessary with Yao and McGrady on the floor. Will the troubled St. John's product finally put it all together with Houston?

I think he will. Artest, McGrady, and Yao all have their legacies at stake here and they know it. This is probably the most talented team either of them will ever play on and they need to at least make the conference finals if they want to start shaking the "can't win the big one" labels already hovering above them. Artest will have to sacrifice shots and glory if this team is going to make a run in the playoffs and Queensbridge's finest isn't stupid. Ok, granted, he's done stupid stuff over the course of his career - a lot of stupid stuff - but he knows the game and he's definitely capable of working well with these teammates. Rockets-Hornets conference finals... it's not possible, is it?

Yao Ming with the most real and honest take on the whole situation

Artest singing to Pierce

artest mix and another

ron ron rapping

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Chris Paul Lovefest


It's been too long since I told the world how incredibly awesome Chris Paul is so let me take a few minutes to do that now.

I have a serious man crush on Chris Paul. He is the best point guard in the League and possible the best player too. (He should have won the MVP this year but the voting members of the media were too busy apologizing to Kobe for not giving him the award in past years... but I digress.) I first realized he was special in college when he avoided a defender while sprinting down the open floor with a through-the-legs dribble and never even broke stride. I hit the gym the next day and consider myself a decent dribbler but I couldn't even come close to replicating the move at full speed. Paul was drafted by the Hornets in 2005 but he was never on TV so my mancrush on him somewhat faded.

Fast forward to the 2007-08 season. It's November and I'm already debating whether or not I should seek help for a clinical addiction to NBA League Pass. (I just can't explain to my coworkers anymore that my bleary eyes in the morning aren't a result of drinking or staying up all night getting laid, but rather, because I stayed up to watch Clippers-Grizzlies because I like Kyle Lowery's game or because Hawks-Kings was "way more exciting than you might have imagined".) And then I rediscovered the joy that is watching Chris Paul ball.
Why is he so good? First, The Standard has unbelievable hand eye coordination in a league full of guys who are absurdly coordinated. He stands 6 feet even but he averages 4.5 boards a game (and 2.3 steals per game) for his career because he reacts to the ball as fast as anyone I have ever seen. If the ball is on the ground and Chris Paul is in the mix, he will come up with it. His vision is rivaled by only a few others in the League (Nash and Kidd come to mind) but, at this stage in their respective careers, Paul gets to the rim better than both of them. When he wants, he can attack the rim as well as anyone in the league. He doesn't have a wide almost-but-not-quite-a-carry crossover like Iverson but he still can cut people with the best of them. Finally, Paul is a leader. I know I'm biased but he just exudes leadership on the floor to the point where other comparable talents (LeBron, Kobe, Melo) should really be taking notes. He might be hard on his teammates but he doesn't embarrass them. I think this motivates more than the eye rolls and exasperated shrugs of some other aforementioned superstars. Ok, enough Chris Paul love for now... there will no doubt be more coming but I just had to get my fix for the summer.

Chris Paul Mix - watch the play that starts at around the 46 second mark... the look-off pass is just straight nasty.

Chris Paul's tribute to his grandfather - moving piece about his late grandfather.

Crossover of the Day - this series of moves was so nasty that even the goaltending couldn't keep it off the highlight reel. That said, I like the move by Kenyon Martin to blatantly goaltend the shot... if your teammate gets cut up, it's your duty to keep him off someone's youtube mix be it by fouling or goaltending.

Lamar Odom Blooper - Lamar again tries to play while stoned and it doesn't work out too well.

Monday, July 28, 2008

WNBA Plays of the Week

Today we provide you with a viewing guide for the WNBA's Top 10 Plays of the Week.

10. Tan White - White tosses up a prayer and it drops. I'd be almost impressed if I wasn't convinced the shot was entirely luck.
9. Delisha Milton-Jones to Candace Parker - Nifty little play with a strong finish by Parker (far and away the best finisher in the WNBA). Milton-Jones, of course, is famous for being the first WNBA player to punch an opposing coach in the back of the head.
8. KB Sharp - nice play... I guess.
7. Becky Hammon - Finally a decent play I can appreciate. Hammon slices to the hoop with a nice jumpshot and puts up a creative and skilled finish. Am I biased because she is the cutest player in the W? Probably.
6. Monique Currie - Nice backdoor cut, nice dish, nice reverse finish. Another good play.
5. Alexis Hornbuckle - Nice steal and a stylish bounce pass feed for a layup. I can't even find something to complain about here.
4. Hammon, again. - Solid move to the hoop and solid finish. Did I mention she's hot?
3. Lindsay Whalen - Nice layup. How is this any better than the last four plays?
2. Crystal Smith - Typical WNBA "play of the week". Smith loses the ball not once but twice and then heaves up a prayer to beat the 3rd quarter buzzer. I guarantee you there were better plays that happened in this actual game let alone during the entirety of the week.
1. Diana Taurasi - I mean, I guess it's a decent play to beat the halftime buzzer but what was impressive about it? It was kind of long? Taurasi isn't even impressed with the play. I am not impressed.

So there you have it. Apparently the people in the WNBA video department are wowed by lucky heaves and quarter buzzer beaters. Isn't this league all about inspiring young women to play the game at a higher level? Excuse me while I go explain to my 13 year old sister how she shouldn't be practicing half court prayers and no look layups.


Random dunk mix - starring Deion Sanders and others. The highlight of the mix comes at around the 36 second mark when Mike Conley Sr. (Mike Conley's father, triple jump Olympic gold medalist, and 3-time celebrity slam dunk contest winner) throws down a monster 2-hander from the free throw line.

Rick Mahorn - a rare clip of him not punching someone or getting punched.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Links 7/27/2008

Crossover of the Day - Deron Williams crossed up Hinrich hard. The only thing I didn't like about the play was that it reminded me of how many awesome Jason Kidd passes I will never get to see because they bounced off the hands of Jason Collins.

Jason Collins or Eric Snow: the worst starters on Finals teams in the last 20 years? Discuss... (It's really sad how badly I'm haunted by Jason Collins and his nonexistent offensive game. Even his brother blowing a layup conjures up nightmares.)

video about driblings in the NBA

supremely pass

Top 10 plays from the Las Vegas Summer League

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Two Guys You Meet in Pickup Basketball

Mr. Hustle
NBA Equivalent - Dennis Rodman, Mark Madsen
He's not the most skilled player on the court but he knows this. He never throws up wild shots (and sometimes barely shoots at all). Instead, he will try to make up for his lack of skills by hustling, rebounding, setting screens and playing relentless defense. He's always boxing out which is great if he's your teammate but it gets old if he's guarding you and he shoves his ass into your gut every time a shot is launched. He's often an old guy who has lost some of his skills or a football player who was never that good to begin with but can't stand losing. Either way, this is a guy who you always want on your team. If you ever find yourself on a two on zero breakaway with this guy you better give him the layup because he probably deserves it more than you.

The Prima Dona
NBA Equivalent - Antoine Walker, Stephon Marbury
This guy thinks he is significantly better than he is and he takes shots in accordance with this belief in his own awesomeness. He's the guy that won't swing you the ball early in the game because you don't look like a basketball player (aka you are short, Asian, wearing jean shorts or not black). Then he jacks up a three and mumbles something about you not setting screens. If he's one of the more skilled players in the game this is very frustrating because your team may need him to score which will only encourage his selfish habits. Of course, if he's one of the less skilled players in the game this will be even more frustrating because he will be dragging your team down. He overshoots, underpasses and has no idea how to play the game. Ideally he will be on your team with a friend he has brought who is more skilled than he is. If this is the case, you may be able to win this kid's respect and then politely ask him why he is letting his friend kill the team. Of course if you don't have this scenario and you aren't willing to confront the kid outright then you just need to take a few deep breaths, remind yourself this is all for the cardio and freeze the ball hog out of the offense.


Crossover of the Day - As Bill Walton drones on about the purchasing power of Mexicans in the United States... Romel Beck crosses the Mamba.

money fan

Qyntel Woods mix - This is the guy who once tried to give a cop at a traffic stop his basketball card instead of his license... aren't you at least a little nostalgic for the jail blazer days?

amazing high school dunk mix

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Pickup Basketball

Pickup basketball is the greatest social activity this side of taking shots with hot chicks. And, frankly, if the pickup game is good enough I'd probably choose that over socializing in some bar. Why is it so great?

Exercise
I'm convinced that playing three games to 11 is actually a more effective method of burning calories than riding an elliptical for 3 hours. The running, cutting, and jumping all provide a great all around workout. Best of all, you can always increase the intensity of the workout by running the floor harder, going for every rebound, or playing tougher defense.

Camaraderie
Isn't cooperation between two people who have never met a beautiful thing? Isn't the random Mexican dude at the park setting the down screen for the old Asian guy who receives a pass from the teenage black kid a truly beautiful sight? Isn't it great when you make a shot or get a rebound and people you've never met before that game are suddenly your close friends?

More to come on pickup basketball and why it's the best thing ever but now a few links (a few extra to make up for the lack of a post yesterday).

Crossover of the Day - Chris Paul is disgusting.

10 more crossovers

Really old school Jordan

young vince dunking on helpless kids

dikembe... and friends

Monday, July 14, 2008

'07 FIBA Asian Champions

The Rocky Mountain Revue, an NBA Summer League run by the Jazz, kicks off this Friday. Apparently they had some trouble recruiting NBA teams to play in the event because they resorted to letting the D-League Ambassadors play. Also of note, the 2007 FIBA Asian champions are going to participate in the Revue. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. The 2007 FIBA Asian Champion was Iran. Apparently this is supposed to be some sort of secret because online resources for the Revue seem to be hesitant to publicize this fact. Using a small sample size of one athlete, empirical evidence indicates that Iranians aren't good at facing Jews in athletic competition... so it's a good thing Lior Eliyahu and Jordan Farmar are skipping the Revue this year. Seriously though, I'm kind of puzzled at why steps would be taken to hide the identity of this team. Isn't this what international sports is all about? Isn't it beautiful that while two countries talk about destroying each other, two teams of basketball players from those countries join together to compete and learn from each other? Won't various blogs/deadspin just pick up on this story even harder if they know smell a cover-up? More importantly, if the 2007 FIBA Champions decide to choose a slogan, shouldn't it be "Denying the post and denying the Holocaust since the late 1940s"? (Credit to Matt for that one... but I wish I had thought of it.)


Starbury's head tattoo...

The Lior Eliyahu youtube mix you knew was coming...

Crossover of the Day - Baron jukes a few times before catching Paul Pierce (a respectable defender... especially after the 2008 Finals) with a beautiful inside-hand-change-crossover move and then finishes with the emphatic dunk. Need more B-Diddy... grainy but nice highlights from his Charlotte days.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Running Up the Score

At the youth sports level...
Running up the score in youth sports (up through high school) is usually a classless act by an egomaniac coach. In any case, it's actually a good thing because it gives us a great opportunity to teach our children (and by "our children" I mean all the kids besides those of the offending coach) how to handle victory and defeat by large margins. Neither team should ever be compelled to stop trying but you shouldn't intentionally try to embarrass the other team. At the same time, you can't really complain if someone is running the score up on you because you look like a, for lack of a better term, whiny bitch.

In professional sports...
You are getting paid a lot of money... suck it up and practice more.

In adult recreation sports...
You are doing it for cardiovascular exercise... running up and down a court chasing players who are superior to you while being motivated by the potential for embarrassment seems like a great way to burn calories. Suck it up.


Crossover of the Day

Making the NBA Summer League Watchable

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Play of the Day

Thank God for Gerald Green and the Summer League Play of the Day because I was going to gouge my own eyes out if I had to watch another breakaway layup passed off as the most exciting thing that happened that day. Don't get me wrong, occasionally (usually when Ticha Penicheiro is involved) the WNBA play of the day is pretty good.

Summer League Box Score Notes
Eric Gordon dropped 30... on 5-18 shooting.
OJ Mayo had 15 points and 5 assists... with 8 turnovers. Backcourt mate Mike Conley dropped 14 points and 6 assists in the Grizzlies win over New Orleans.
Anthony Randolph scored 30 as the Warriors beat the 76ers. Thaddeus Young had 27 in the losing cause.

Crossover of the Day

Awesome basketball shot

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Environment

The environment is in the news a lot these days but I could care less about a vague term for plants and air that dominates the news with boring stories about oil spills and global warming. I do, however, pathetically still care about the NBA during its most boring time of the year. The point of all this... environment is very important in the NBA. Will a change of scenery do any of the free agents good? It worked out pretty well for Pau Gasol.

Brand to the 76ers

Elton Brand instantly makes the 76ers contenders. They have a solid true point guard in Andre Miller, a do-everything athletic 3 who can play defense in Iguodala, and an All-Star power forward in Brand. If Samuel Dalembert doesn't suck (possible) and Louis Williams develops a Jesus Shuttlesworth-esque jump shot (probably not possible) over the summer then the 76ers will contend in the East. Apparently they don't have much cap space but they still need to resign Andre "I should have won the 2006 Slam Dunk contest" Iguodala.

Corey Maggette to the Warriors
This team missed the playoffs with Baron Davis and they didn't upgrade with Maggette. This team probably isn't playoff bound but at least between Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, and Nellie Ball they will be fun to watch.

Baron Davis to the Clippers
Baron Davis thought he was returning home to lead the Clippers to the playoffs. At least now Baron will have a few extra months to shoot more gems like this.


Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors

This could be the perfect example of a guy getting revitalized by a change of scenery. O'Neal was so happy to be traded that he claims to have shed tears... which begs the question, can you really trust a starting center who is that susceptible to crying?

Random Dunk Videos You Should Watch

The best dunker under 6 feet in the world?

James "Flight" White - through the legs from the free throw line (4:50)

Shawn Kemp Top 10

The best dunker... ever

The Offseason

The 2008 NBA season came to a close when the Boston Celtics, much to the surprise of the experts, massacred the Lakers in the Finals. I'll just come right out with this... the Finals were a major let down for me. It's not that they weren't exciting... it's just that they weren't as exciting as the regular season. Plus the media can only cram the Boston-LA rivalry nostalgia down our throats for so long before it gets old. Also, sometime during Game 2 I had already started dreading a column like this...

In any case, the 2007-08 regular season was so downright awesome that it more than made up for any minor issues I could find to whine about during the finals. Now we have four months to kill before the start of another NBA season which I can only hope is as enthralling as the last one. How will we pass the time? Summer Leagues... the Olympics... free agent signings... youtube... inane NBA gossip? Yeah, I think we'll manage.