NBA Experts Blog
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Bummed about Yao Ming
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 5:10 pm EST
It's been day since the news
hit, and I'm still incredibly bummed about Yao Ming having to sit
out the rest of the season.
I'm bummed that I couldn't watch him last night, taking on someone like Brendan Haywood. Or on Friday, taking on something like a Darko Milicic.
I'm bummed that with both Yao and Andrew Bynum out, the league paucity of versatile post-playing centers has dropped to nil. Guys like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Shaquille O'Neal, Andrew Bogut and Amare Stoudemire have success down low, but nobody can go from either block, over either shoulder, with either hand, showcasing equal amounts hooking and jump-shooting like Yao and Bynum. They simply had a move for every occasion, and now we're all out of occasions.
I'm bummed that I have to wait another 14 months, probably, for Yao and Tracy McGrady to make it out of the first round. They weren't a lock to make it out this season, but matched in a first-round series with anyone in the West outside of the Lakers, and that's a coin-flip pick. With Yao up front, that team was just as good -- if not better -- than the Spurs, Mavs, Suns, or Jazz. Read More (198 additional words)
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NBA Poetry: Tracy McGrady's 'Broken Wall'
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 4:10 pm EST
Thanks to Wolves' wordsmith Rashad McCants, more and more of today's NBA players are picking up the pen to express themselves through poetry. It's a beautiful thing. And today we showcase one such poem: Tracy McGrady's poignant piece entitled "Broken Wall" ...
I ask you to pull a chair, Wall
Stretch and lighten
and peel away your frustration
Create a window
and walk thru to me
They tell me, Wall
that the rings have blinded you
That a red ring chokes you
while the black ring consumes your soul
They tell me, Wall
that the torch weighs heavy
upon your mighty frame
That your corners ache
not the trembling floor
All they want to demolish us, Wall
I see it, feel it
They take Great pleasure in
cracking our foundation
But one nail can't break us, Wall
One chip can't stop 'chips
We will build you again, Wall
Stronger
But until then I shall hold you
Us
Yes, yes
stress THIS
We will rise again, Wall -
Dwyane Wade 'threw' the NBA Skills Challenge
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 3:10 pm EST
As you may recall, Dwyane Wade's All-Star Saturday night was pretty rough. "A grand slam of Skills Challenge suck-a-tude," I called his performance at the time. It was horrible. But this ... this "throwing" of the contest ...
HOW COULD YOU, D-WADE!?!?Thanks for opening my eyes, Nick Nolte. I loved you in Blue Chips.
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The 10-man rotation, starring four more years of Charles Barkley
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 2:10 pm EST
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C: Sports Media Watch. Turner Broadcasting is prepared to offer Chuck a deal for the next four years.
PF: Comics, via P&T. Man, even Satchel from the Get Fuzzy comic strip is ripping on the Knicks.
SF: The Court Reporters. Emeka Okafor keeps his school diploma tucked in his spandex.
SG: PhDribble. A simple conversation between Commissioner David Stern and Fidel Castro.
PG: Salt Lake Tribune. Ross Siler gives us an inside look at the life of a Jazz beat reporter.
6th: The Sports Hernia. NBA caricature t-shirts, featuring Stockton, Dr. J and Spud Webb wearing a crown.
7th: Tacoma News-Tribune. Luke Ridnour is back from the dead and he brought 15 assists with him.
8th: Hardwood Paroxysm. Ian Mahinmi. Remember the name, ladies and gents.
9th: Sports By Brooks. The Lakers are suddenly 2-to-1 favorites to win the NBA title.
10th: Doug Smith. The question's buried somewhere deep inside Smith's monster mailbag, but Most Improved Player -- David West, Jose Calderon or Hedo Turkoglu? Who you like? -
Where we at: Buyouts and free agents
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 1:10 pm EST
Sam Cassell, Clippers
It sounded like a done deal yesterday, but the Boston Globe is reporting that the buyout talks between Sam-I-Am and the Clippers-They-Are have hit a bit of a snag. Cassell’s agent David Falk has given the Clips a deadline of Saturday to complete the negotiations or else ... or else ... um, I don’t think there is an or else. Sam will probably have to forfeit a little more of his $6.1 million contract than he’d like to, but this buyout should occur. A legitimate shot at the Finals with Boston is just too good to pass up.
Brent Barry, free agent
Sorry, Boston, Houston and Dallas ... Brent Barry has whittled his imaginary candidate list down to San Antonio and Phoenix. I say "imaginary" because I don’t believe for a second that Barry is/was considering joining any other team besides his Spurs. He just played it up to avoid another Stackhouse-to-the-Nets-only-to-return scenario. That was ugly. Also, Barry lives in San Antonio, he's familiar with the system and staff, and the Spurs are believed to be sweetening the pot with a third year. Barry will remain in the silver and black. I bet my house chores on it.
Antoine Walker, Wolves
Might as well start hanging some photos, Employee #8; you’re not leaving your Minny office anytime soon. Walker asked to be dealt to another team before the trade deadline last week, but no dice. And while he’s requested a buyout from the Wolves, you know he won’t be quick to give up too much of that fat $8.5 million contract. ('Toine sleeps in a bed of money.) Plus his contract expires next year. That's a key trade piece the Wolves can shimmy-shimmy with this summer.Gordan Giricek, Sixers
As soon as Brent Barry stops teasing Steve Kerr and resigns with the Spurs, the Suns could turn their attention to Sixers guard Gordan Giricek. He has played only twice since joining Philly and could be bought out by Saturday, which would make him playoff eligible if it happens by Saturday. But as Paul Coro points out, Giricek wouldn't fill the playmaker role that Barry could. Add to the fact that GG is shooting under 35% from 3-point range on the year (36.7% career), and well, the Suns are better off finding more minutes for Eric Piatkowski. -
Too much Rod Benson: Living the good life
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 12:10 pm EST
While I was in New Orleans, I became big time for two days. For two days of my life, I was close to being an NBA All-Star. Even if I was the 12th man on an NBA roster, I wouldn't have been treated nearly as well as I was this past weekend. I mean, yeah, I could probably just afford to treat myself to a great New Orleans vacation if I were on an NBA salary, but let's face it, I'm not.
I'm what you call a "baller on a budget," and as such, I thoroughly enjoyed my free stay at the Riverfront Hilton hotel, my free SWAG, and the tickets to the NBA Dunk contest. I guess I should thank the D-League for that.
I should thank my agent for the tickets to the ESPN party. Although it was tight walking down the red carpet and everything, it was slightly awkward when photographers asked me what my name was as I walked in. I know they were thinking I was Amare, or K.G. or someone like that. Heck, they may have even thought I was Francisco Elson. I told them I was Rod Benson and they pretended to care. They pretended like I mattered. Maybe I did matter right then, if not, they did a good job of making me feel like I did.
They snapped my photo before I walked in, just like I see celebrities do all the time. The only difference was, I was caught so off-guard that I didn't even flash my usual smile. I was caught in an awkward smirk that really made me look like I didn't belong, but they still let me in. I'm glad they did too because there was an open bar and Common took the stage and rocked that bad boy. Read More (302 additional words) -
Nate Robinson and Meredith Vieira beat the Flint Tropics
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 11:10 am EST
Lil' Nate Robinson helped the Knicks to a rare win on the Today show, er, yesterday, as he and lil'er Meredith Vieira upset Semi-Pro stars Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson in a game of two-on-two. The action starts up around the 3:30 mark, so feel free to skip the clips of Jackie Moon fighting a bear.
Not surprisingly, with the involvement of referee Bennett Salvatore, the game is riddled with free throws and questionable calls. Sigh. When will David Stern step in and end this madness?
(Bowler hat tip to Brinson at The FanHouse)
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The Internets are alive: Reaction to Yao's stress fracture
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 10:10 am EST
Now that everyone knows where the tarsal navicular bone is, here's what they're saying out in the ether about Yao Ming's season-ending stress fracture ...
The Dream Shake: "I've now had about 3 hours to digest the Yao Ming news. A few things I have concluded: 1.) The Rockets are going to make the playoffs. Even without Yao. 2.) "Luis Landry" is going to step up huge for us. 3.) When Yao returns in October 2008, he's going to be very, very angry. This is bad news for the rest of the NBA. While I am still heartbroken and pissed off and confused and dealing with an entire range of emotions commonly associated with grief and mourning -- do not doubt for a second the talent still on this team. The Rockets will compete every night (okay, maybe not Rafer). [Ed. He did last night.] The Rockets will make the playoffs."
ClutchFans: "I certainly don't believe the Rockets are a contender without Yao, and that is what this roster was supposed to be built for. I wouldn't throw in the towel on the playoffs with how well they've been playing, but it's probably safer to say today than it was yesterday that the Rockets could be owners of a lottery pick this offseason. It's a very good thing that they didn't cough up their first rounder."
Christopher Sells, Hoopsvibe: "I can't figure out whether I should curse or cry. I may do both. [...] I'm trying to be optimistic here, but I'm starting to realize that the [Rockets] franchise may in fact be destined to do just enough to not suck every year. There will apparently be nothing that can be done. So this is me, resigned to the fact that I'll be watching the playoffs from the perspective as an outsider looking in. Through teary eyes."
The Commission: "You lose 22 pts and 11 rebs. No inside presence. You're depending on McGrady to lead you ... in the west. And there's no guarantee that McGrady won't go down with a season ending injury. Think about that again. You really think they'll make the playoffs?"
InsideHoop: "I feel sorry for Rockets fans. They don't deserve this. Between Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady the team over the last few years has had more injuries than the local hospital. Here's what they should probably do now: Give Luis Scola a bigger role. If he's good enough to carry top international teams to victory, he can do more for the Rockets than he's been asked to so far. [...] Put Gerald Green out there and let him try to dunk three-pointers. [...] Tell Luther Head to make like Leandro Barbosa and try to score 20 whenever possible." -
Behind the boxscore, where the Bucks (almost) get it right
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 9:00 am EST
Hullo to punters and partiers alike: I've a new column
up on Yahoo!'s main NBA site.
I don't use individual player plus/minus often, especially within the small sample size of one game, but when it accurately described what I saw on the court, it's worth a reference: Ben Wallace was -14 tonight, worst on the Cavs, and Mike Brown obviously did not read my open letter to Danny Ferry from last week.
Mike, you can't let this guy set your screens. Teams don't have to guard him, they don't guard him, and the result often sees LeBron James having to rise over a double-team just to make a desperate pass some 28 feet from the goal, with the shot clock winding down. Wallace pulled in 11 rebounds (five offensive, mostly tap-outs, impressive stuff), but he's killing your team if you leave him in too long, and/or involve him offensively.
With Zydrunas Ilgauskas sick and Anderson Varejao in foul trouble, leaving Wallace out there for 32 minutes was passable to a point (even that's stretching it), but Brown has to take more advantage of Joe Smith's career year.
Mo Williams was hot tonight for the Bucks, squirreling past Delonte West (no excuse for that), Damon Jones (plenty of excuses for that) and LBJ at times for a series of well-placed jumpers. Rory Gallagher is better at playing guitar than anyone you've ever heard even when he's out of tune, and Michael Redd showed some nice moves in the post in the Milwaukee win.
Next step for Milwaukee? Connecting on high fives. Charlie V? Eye contact is key. Read More (266 additional words)
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Andrea Bargnani, please report to the NBA
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 4:10 pm EST
So this is where Andrea Bargnani
came to hide.
Restless, but apparently far from unnerved at the idea of going from Toronto's second-to-fifth option on offense, all within the span of a quarter. Seeing his minutes stay about the same while his shot attempts fluctuate wildly, noting how play after play might be called for the ball to come his way during one stretch, mitigated by his role as a taller Jason Kapono during most other stretches. This can't be what Bargnani; and, more importantly, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo had in mind.
On the other hand, things are working in Toronto. The ball is moving, players are happy, wins are piling up, the team is on pace for 47 wins, and the Raps are comfortably ensconced in the East's fifth seed.
Left for dead upon Colangelo's hiring as GM this time two years ago, coach Sam Mitchell has Toronto playing some of the league's most efficient offensive basketball, and he's created an above-average (11th) defensive team in spite of a roster that suggests otherwise. Mitchell's pass-happy half-court offense (the Raptors average only 88 possessions per game, 27th in the NBA) consistently leaves opposing defenses a half-step short as they race out to try to cover the dead-eye shooter that is spotting up some 25 feet from the hoop.
But why, way more than we're seeing right now, can't that shooter be Bargnani? Or, more specifically, why can't Bargnani consistently find a way to offer steady production within Mitchell's (working) offense? Bargs is averaging 9.1 shots per game (down from 9.6 last season), but he only hit double-figure shot attempts eight times during December and January. February's been his best month (about 14 points and four rebounds in 29 minutes), but he only managed to make one shot last night in five attempts.
And it's the "five" that is more troubling than the "one in five." Read More (311 additional words)