I’ve always been conflicted in my admiration for Allen Iverson. In some ways he has been the absolute worst thing that happened to basketball. Or at least, the figurehead of one of the NBA’s worst eras. Yet he carried so many redeeming qualities many of us wanted to believe he was simply misunderstood.
As a fan, I fear his legacy will be as misconstrued as the optimistic tag we labeled him with.
Once unguardable, Iverson is now merely untouchable. The season began with the understanding that the Grizzlies were it. The last chance. And he blew it.
The Clippers already have a dysfunctional point guard, Isiah Thomas is no longer employed in the NBA and Larry Brown has already picked up a malcontent shooting guard. Even the Knicks, simply trying to get through a year in an admitted throw away season refused to sign Iverson in favor of developing players who likely aren’t in their long range plans.
History will not be kind to Allen Iverson. Always a polarizing figure between old and young, purists and innovators, the last two years will now sadly be used as the closing arguments for his harshest critics.
But Iverson is as much a victim of timing as he is his mind set. His biggest flaw is not that he insisted on his game past his prime, but rather, that the game passed him up while he was still in it.
Iverson is like that ex-girlfriend met during a weird transition moment in life: she might have been all kinds of wrong but she was exactly what you needed at the time.
Allen Iverson was at his peak from 1999-2005 during one of the weaker moment in NBA history. He was THE post Jordan superstar in a league struggling to find a new identity and on the verge of rebranding its style of play. The talent was watered down and the coaches overbearing.
In the NBA he came up in, you could build a winning team around the singular talents of one player if you surrounded him by role players capable of grinding games to a halt. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago most NBA teams centered their offense around isolation plays for star athletes.
And in Iverson, Philadelphia had a superstar who was so unique from myriad of Jordan clones general managers were trying to build teams around. Even better, he was a far cry from the “we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money” aftertaste of the lockout. He played with passion. He cared.
Unfortunately his unique style of play may hurt Iverson’s legacy the most. Iverson appealed to a hip-hop generation with a style both innovative and flashy yet entirely opposed to everything we know about winning basketball. It was worshipped and mimicked on blacktops across the nation even as most experts acknowledged we’d never see anyone ever fully replicate Iverson.
Make no mistake about it, in his prime you could win with Iverson. He was that good. It may not have been THE formula for winning but it was a successful one. Why won’t we remember it as such. Because it cannot be replicated.
In the hands of lesser talents Iverson had a style that led to brutal displays of basketball. You can pull off a reasonable facsimile of Jordan if you can ignore all the dunk highlights and realize that his game was rooted in fundamentals and drive. Iverson played a flawed style that only works if you are as good as Iverson. And therein lies the problem: for what he does, no one has ever been as good as Iverson.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The case for starting Bonner and Finley
Exciting and promising as the early season is, some Spurs fans are still seeing red thanks to the continued presence of Michael Finley and the Spurs’ red-headed “center”, Matt Bonner, in the starting lineup.
When the Spurs signed Antonio McDyess it was assumed he’d join Tim Duncan in the starting lineup as the Spurs second best big man. Likewise, the signing of Richard Jefferson led many to believe Finley would also be pushed to the bench—if not retirement.
Instead assumed starters Roger Mason and McDyess find themselves, along with Manu Ginobili, anchoring a very stout second unit while many wonder why the Spurs don’t simply put their best five in the starting lineup.
Yes, despite the words and actions of some of basketball’s greatest minds (Ginobili and Lamar Odom have been both the second best players and sixth men of championship teams) the uninformed basketball mind (of which we can now confirm to include Allen Iverson) still holds onto an outdated concept of a hallowed starting five.
The criticisms of the Spurs current starting unit is that the defensive deficiencies put the Spurs at horrid starts leaving them at a huge disadvantage—as if the first five minutes won or lost games. Fast starts are nice, but they often go for naught if your second unit squanders the lead. Is it not better to have a slightly inferior starting five so that you can gain a significant advantage to end the first quarter and start the second?
I would argue the better use of a rotation is one that allows for the least amount of drop off in talent over the course of a game while maximizing the strengths of your lineup, keeping in mind that a fatigued version of your best lineup is still a lesser talented version of said lineup.
And I’m not sure starting Finley and Bonner doesn’t satisfy those requirements. Scoff if you must but in starting Finley and Bonner you not only mask their weaknesses but maximize the strengths of everyone else on your roster.
In starters Tim Duncan and Tony Parker you have two franchise caliber players that excel in creating shots for teammates. The flip side is that for all Parker’s speed or Duncan’s length neither is a particularly explosive player and thus each requires sufficient spacing to work at their peak. So the starting lineup is a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. Bonner and Finley need someone to create their shots and Duncan and Parker need people to create their space.
It can be argued that Ginobili, Mason and McDyess offer the same spacing without the defensive costs but neither are as effective shooting the three-pointer and both offer skills that are redundant in a Parker/Duncan starting lineup that are sorely needed in the second unit.
Case in point: Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have great chemistry and while both are capable off the ball their greatest strengths are as a team’s primary playmaker. Even though the combination is by far the Spurs best backcourt do you really want a combination that limits one or the other as a spot up shooter for long stretches? Or is it better to let each have their run playing to their strengths while staying in rhythm for that last stretch run?
Roger Mason, another strong candidate to start, is another interesting case. Like Finley he is strictly a shooter though at this point he’s certainly a better overall player. Unlike Finley, however, Mason has enough ball handling ability to create jump shots at times and this is vital in taking pressure off of backup point guard George Hill, who while improved, still does not create the same wide open looks Parker does (making it harder for Finley to find his own offense in a second unit). Thus a second unit with Mason and Ginobili in the backcourt actually makes George Hill a better player.
And finally there is Bonner. While I wouldn’t be alarmed to see McDyess eventually be inserted into the starting lineup I can give you some new viewpoint of why perhaps he’s not so far. The Spurs two primary second tier big men offer very different strengths while holding the same exact weakness: defense. For that reason alone you simply can’t play DeJuan Blair and Bonner together. Ever.
So as much as a fan favorite as Blair is—and it’s obvious he really is—by having Bonner AND Blair on the bench you practically guarantee that you can only effectively use just one from night to night, forcing you to use just one or the other instead of both on any given night. And at the end of the night do you really want to minimize a valuable asset?
And that’s what this starting lineup comes down to. Are Bonner and Finley still valuable assets to an NBA team? Finley may not be the defender he once was (not that it was ever his specialty in the first place) the numbers show he is still a quality ROLE player who needs to play next to a quality defensive wingman to hide his flaws. And stretch fours are a valuable commodity in the league and as much as we rib Bonner he’s not as hopeless in his deficiencies as shooting specialists like Steve Novak or Tim Thomas.
Ultimately we’ll hit the playoffs and our rotations will be shortened and perhaps both will find themselves on the outside looking in. But over a long season there are plenty of minutes to fill and the goal remains maximizing every single one of them without taxing your still aging core.
When the Spurs signed Antonio McDyess it was assumed he’d join Tim Duncan in the starting lineup as the Spurs second best big man. Likewise, the signing of Richard Jefferson led many to believe Finley would also be pushed to the bench—if not retirement.
Instead assumed starters Roger Mason and McDyess find themselves, along with Manu Ginobili, anchoring a very stout second unit while many wonder why the Spurs don’t simply put their best five in the starting lineup.
Yes, despite the words and actions of some of basketball’s greatest minds (Ginobili and Lamar Odom have been both the second best players and sixth men of championship teams) the uninformed basketball mind (of which we can now confirm to include Allen Iverson) still holds onto an outdated concept of a hallowed starting five.
The criticisms of the Spurs current starting unit is that the defensive deficiencies put the Spurs at horrid starts leaving them at a huge disadvantage—as if the first five minutes won or lost games. Fast starts are nice, but they often go for naught if your second unit squanders the lead. Is it not better to have a slightly inferior starting five so that you can gain a significant advantage to end the first quarter and start the second?
I would argue the better use of a rotation is one that allows for the least amount of drop off in talent over the course of a game while maximizing the strengths of your lineup, keeping in mind that a fatigued version of your best lineup is still a lesser talented version of said lineup.
And I’m not sure starting Finley and Bonner doesn’t satisfy those requirements. Scoff if you must but in starting Finley and Bonner you not only mask their weaknesses but maximize the strengths of everyone else on your roster.
In starters Tim Duncan and Tony Parker you have two franchise caliber players that excel in creating shots for teammates. The flip side is that for all Parker’s speed or Duncan’s length neither is a particularly explosive player and thus each requires sufficient spacing to work at their peak. So the starting lineup is a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. Bonner and Finley need someone to create their shots and Duncan and Parker need people to create their space.
It can be argued that Ginobili, Mason and McDyess offer the same spacing without the defensive costs but neither are as effective shooting the three-pointer and both offer skills that are redundant in a Parker/Duncan starting lineup that are sorely needed in the second unit.
Case in point: Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have great chemistry and while both are capable off the ball their greatest strengths are as a team’s primary playmaker. Even though the combination is by far the Spurs best backcourt do you really want a combination that limits one or the other as a spot up shooter for long stretches? Or is it better to let each have their run playing to their strengths while staying in rhythm for that last stretch run?
Roger Mason, another strong candidate to start, is another interesting case. Like Finley he is strictly a shooter though at this point he’s certainly a better overall player. Unlike Finley, however, Mason has enough ball handling ability to create jump shots at times and this is vital in taking pressure off of backup point guard George Hill, who while improved, still does not create the same wide open looks Parker does (making it harder for Finley to find his own offense in a second unit). Thus a second unit with Mason and Ginobili in the backcourt actually makes George Hill a better player.
And finally there is Bonner. While I wouldn’t be alarmed to see McDyess eventually be inserted into the starting lineup I can give you some new viewpoint of why perhaps he’s not so far. The Spurs two primary second tier big men offer very different strengths while holding the same exact weakness: defense. For that reason alone you simply can’t play DeJuan Blair and Bonner together. Ever.
So as much as a fan favorite as Blair is—and it’s obvious he really is—by having Bonner AND Blair on the bench you practically guarantee that you can only effectively use just one from night to night, forcing you to use just one or the other instead of both on any given night. And at the end of the night do you really want to minimize a valuable asset?
And that’s what this starting lineup comes down to. Are Bonner and Finley still valuable assets to an NBA team? Finley may not be the defender he once was (not that it was ever his specialty in the first place) the numbers show he is still a quality ROLE player who needs to play next to a quality defensive wingman to hide his flaws. And stretch fours are a valuable commodity in the league and as much as we rib Bonner he’s not as hopeless in his deficiencies as shooting specialists like Steve Novak or Tim Thomas.
Ultimately we’ll hit the playoffs and our rotations will be shortened and perhaps both will find themselves on the outside looking in. But over a long season there are plenty of minutes to fill and the goal remains maximizing every single one of them without taxing your still aging core.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Beer or Wine: The Spurs through three games
Three games into the season and the Spurs have already shown glimpses of their newfound strengths while leaving just enough reminders of familiar weaknesses.
Over the past few years the Spurs have been a team to be watched simply for a great appreciation and understanding of basketball. Not boring, as the casual observer would claim, but not the thrill a minute roller coaster other marquee teams offer. I suppose—borrowing from Gregg Popovich’s hobbies—one could compare it to wine tasting vs. a keg party.
You appreciate wine. Savor it. Intellectually break down its tastes and smells amongst other aficionados. Wine tasting parties are scripted and on schedule. Keg parties you enjoy the hell out of. At the end of the night there might not be a single coherent thought and often you don’t know who you’re with but damn it if it wasn’t fun. Both can be enjoyable. Only one is exciting.
The loss to the Bulls aside, if nothing else the first three games have at least interjected some of that frat party excitement back into Spurs fans lives. It’s a completely different feeling to watch one of our wings (Jefferson) fill the lanes of a fast break with an edge-of-your-seat anticipation (as opposed to appreciating how each teammate runs to a designated spot on the three-point line).
It’s one of many new skill sets the Spurs now boast that shows—through a small sample size of three games—the Spurs may have the best offensive team of the Tim Duncan era. Popovich was absolutely right in his decree that the Spurs would not longer suffer through 4-on-5 offensive sets. The team has finally moved away from surrounding their stars with limited spot up shooters in favor of role players with very diverse offensive skill sets.
In their two wins George Hills has proven to be a vastly improved shooter with enough slashing ability to keep a defense off balance. Blair, for all his faults, creates plays, opportunities and shots outside of the Spurs game plan like only Manu Ginobili or Robert Horry could. His steal last night against a Kings outlet past was absolutely Horry like. Even Mason, a jump shooter, has enough ball handling ability to create better jump shots.
Think about it. In two of their first three games the Spurs racked up 113 points, reaching the 100-point mark early in the fourth in both games before taking their foot off the accelerator.
Ah, but that one loss to the Bulls. At best it appears the Spurs could still have trouble with energetic teams on the second end of back to backs. At worst, the offense is still completely dependent on the three-pointer. Because the Spurs do not generate a lot of fast break points or free throws the Spurs need space for Duncan or Tony Parker to operate. While the new additions make it harder for teams to sell out running the Spurs off the three-point line, because we have so few elite athletes, ultimately it still comes down to hitting shots.
In the first two games we’ve also shown a still watered down defense. It could be a lack of corporate knowledge with so many new faces or a lack of Bruce Bowens. But what it’s lacked in field goal defense it’s replace with actual defensive plays. Turnovers, steals, blocks. Fast break points.
Now the defense can and will improve as everyone gets use to each other but the steals or defensive chaos. Those are new dimensions to the Spurs created by the likes of Hill, Blair and Ratliff. Popovich may have reduced the playbook to speed up the learning curve of our new players, but it’s the ability of our new players to create plays outside of the script that make this possible.
Through three games they’ve still been the Spurs, only it’s as if someone snuck in a case and blue jeans to our party.
(Editor's Note: I apoligize for not getting game by game recaps but this blog doesn't pay any bills--or generate a lot of feedback--as of yet. If you have any talent stringing together sentences and want to contribute, feel free to leave contact information)
Over the past few years the Spurs have been a team to be watched simply for a great appreciation and understanding of basketball. Not boring, as the casual observer would claim, but not the thrill a minute roller coaster other marquee teams offer. I suppose—borrowing from Gregg Popovich’s hobbies—one could compare it to wine tasting vs. a keg party.
You appreciate wine. Savor it. Intellectually break down its tastes and smells amongst other aficionados. Wine tasting parties are scripted and on schedule. Keg parties you enjoy the hell out of. At the end of the night there might not be a single coherent thought and often you don’t know who you’re with but damn it if it wasn’t fun. Both can be enjoyable. Only one is exciting.
The loss to the Bulls aside, if nothing else the first three games have at least interjected some of that frat party excitement back into Spurs fans lives. It’s a completely different feeling to watch one of our wings (Jefferson) fill the lanes of a fast break with an edge-of-your-seat anticipation (as opposed to appreciating how each teammate runs to a designated spot on the three-point line).
It’s one of many new skill sets the Spurs now boast that shows—through a small sample size of three games—the Spurs may have the best offensive team of the Tim Duncan era. Popovich was absolutely right in his decree that the Spurs would not longer suffer through 4-on-5 offensive sets. The team has finally moved away from surrounding their stars with limited spot up shooters in favor of role players with very diverse offensive skill sets.
In their two wins George Hills has proven to be a vastly improved shooter with enough slashing ability to keep a defense off balance. Blair, for all his faults, creates plays, opportunities and shots outside of the Spurs game plan like only Manu Ginobili or Robert Horry could. His steal last night against a Kings outlet past was absolutely Horry like. Even Mason, a jump shooter, has enough ball handling ability to create better jump shots.
Think about it. In two of their first three games the Spurs racked up 113 points, reaching the 100-point mark early in the fourth in both games before taking their foot off the accelerator.
Ah, but that one loss to the Bulls. At best it appears the Spurs could still have trouble with energetic teams on the second end of back to backs. At worst, the offense is still completely dependent on the three-pointer. Because the Spurs do not generate a lot of fast break points or free throws the Spurs need space for Duncan or Tony Parker to operate. While the new additions make it harder for teams to sell out running the Spurs off the three-point line, because we have so few elite athletes, ultimately it still comes down to hitting shots.
In the first two games we’ve also shown a still watered down defense. It could be a lack of corporate knowledge with so many new faces or a lack of Bruce Bowens. But what it’s lacked in field goal defense it’s replace with actual defensive plays. Turnovers, steals, blocks. Fast break points.
Now the defense can and will improve as everyone gets use to each other but the steals or defensive chaos. Those are new dimensions to the Spurs created by the likes of Hill, Blair and Ratliff. Popovich may have reduced the playbook to speed up the learning curve of our new players, but it’s the ability of our new players to create plays outside of the script that make this possible.
Through three games they’ve still been the Spurs, only it’s as if someone snuck in a case and blue jeans to our party.
(Editor's Note: I apoligize for not getting game by game recaps but this blog doesn't pay any bills--or generate a lot of feedback--as of yet. If you have any talent stringing together sentences and want to contribute, feel free to leave contact information)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Bank Shots: Oct. 27, 2009
Bank Shots: Scattered thoughts on the day's NBA action.
It's opening night and I must say this is as excited as I've ever been for an upcoming NBA season. Those old enough to be sports writers like to refer to the 1980s as the golden era of the league. But I'm not sure that the influx of talent in the league over the past decade isn't on par with the Jordans, Birds or Magics in terms of skill and personalities.
And the previous dreadful 90s era has finally weeded itself out to only the most useful of players (with Allen Iverson still hanging on for marketing), providing just enough of an old guard (Kobe, Duncan, Shaq and Garnett) to test the new guys (Paul, James, Wade, Howard) in their championship run. That being said, here's some thoughts on the NBA's first night of action:
Boston 95, Cleveland 89:
The addition of Rasheed Wallace at worst makes Rajon Rondo's jumpshot (or lack thereof) a bit more of a moot point. He's not quite an elite point guard but he's pretty good. His best shot charts resemble those of a big man, which works for Boston because their own big men favor jump shots.
Speaking of 'Sheed. I think at this point it's safe to say he's strictly a role player. Six of his nine shots were from behind the arch, which worked out fine tonight but he's not always going to shoot at a 50 percent clip. And three rebounds? For a night at least it was okay.
Garnett looked good. Will it hold up? I find it funny that everyone questions Tim Duncan while it's assumed that Garnett will be fine. KG relies more on his athleticism and let's remember, he's the one that had season ending surgery.
The Cleveland offense continues to be a joke. It's a testament to LeBron James that he could be so poorly utilized and still dominate. It's not easy to guard James but it's of at least some comfort that you never have to worry about where to find him: the top of the key, starting from a standstill, with the entire defense set and focused on him. With the bigger wings in the offseason I actually prefer their sets with Lebron at the power forward. Is it too much to ask for him to get the ball on the move or at more efficient spots on the floor?
Washington 102, Dallas 91
Gilbert Arenas is back. It was just one night but everything seemed in place for Arenas. It's so easy to forget how much of an elite player Arenas was given the developments of LeBron, Howard, Wade, 'Melo and Paul but he's one of the best offensive players in the league so long as he's healthy.
Arenas has an enforcer. Haywood is an overlooked part of the Wizards but right now he's the only one that provides size at an NBA rotation player quality. I also see that Fabricio Oberto got the start. While he's not going to get serious run he's a great pickup in terms of teaching Blatche and the Wizards young frontline how to find shots without having the ball.
The Mavericks need another player that can create offense. Right now Dirk just seems to have too much of a burden right now carrying the offense. Jason Kidd can still find the right passes but he's not exactly creating the passing lanes. Just about the rest of the Mavs offense needs to have their shot created for them. Can you rely on Josh Howard for this?
Portland 96, Houston 87
Where's Houston going to get their shots? There was a lot of talk this offseason about the Grizzlies setting records for fewest assists because the number of ball stoppers on their team. But what about Houston and their lack of creators? Scola can draw double teams in the right matchups and their best shot creator, Brooks, sets up primarily for himself. I'm just not sure who streses the defense enough to draw double teams or cause defenses to collapse. Who's their best passer? I'm not sure you can count on Lowry for eight assists a night.
At this point do you think the Blazers would rather have Oden or Brook Lopez? They're a highly efficient offense, we know. But they're primarily a jump shooting team which means you can automatically pencil them in for at least one loss every playoff series. Jumpers just don't fall every night. Can you picture Oden guarding combinations of Bynum/Kobe or Duncan/Ginobili without getting into serious foul trouble? And they're not exactly an uptempo team so somehow they're going to need to learn how to get easy shots.
Lakers 99, Clippers 92
I'm not sure what I can say about the Lakers that you don't already know. Kobe's good. Bynum can beast weak frontlines. Odom is versatile. We can nitpick all we want here but really Gasol is the one that makes this offense so dangerous and he was out tonight.
On the Clippers part, Davis looked bothered and a step slow. Lakers biggest weakness comes from an inability to guard point guards and Davis just couldn't take advantage. Kaman looked good, Camby overmatched. Gordon on the other hand is the real deal. He can shoot and he's strong. The Lakers towering front line didn't seem to bother him at all. He and Griffin are great pieces to build around. Not sure if Davis should be around when they take over.
The other thing that became obvious: No team that gives Al Thorton major minutes is a good team. He had a terrible shot selection and just doesn't seem to have a great feel for the game. He'll get numbers primarily because he'll force shots but he's not a part of a winning team. Probably my least favorite player to watch in the league right now.
It's opening night and I must say this is as excited as I've ever been for an upcoming NBA season. Those old enough to be sports writers like to refer to the 1980s as the golden era of the league. But I'm not sure that the influx of talent in the league over the past decade isn't on par with the Jordans, Birds or Magics in terms of skill and personalities.
And the previous dreadful 90s era has finally weeded itself out to only the most useful of players (with Allen Iverson still hanging on for marketing), providing just enough of an old guard (Kobe, Duncan, Shaq and Garnett) to test the new guys (Paul, James, Wade, Howard) in their championship run. That being said, here's some thoughts on the NBA's first night of action:
Boston 95, Cleveland 89:
The addition of Rasheed Wallace at worst makes Rajon Rondo's jumpshot (or lack thereof) a bit more of a moot point. He's not quite an elite point guard but he's pretty good. His best shot charts resemble those of a big man, which works for Boston because their own big men favor jump shots.
Speaking of 'Sheed. I think at this point it's safe to say he's strictly a role player. Six of his nine shots were from behind the arch, which worked out fine tonight but he's not always going to shoot at a 50 percent clip. And three rebounds? For a night at least it was okay.
Garnett looked good. Will it hold up? I find it funny that everyone questions Tim Duncan while it's assumed that Garnett will be fine. KG relies more on his athleticism and let's remember, he's the one that had season ending surgery.
The Cleveland offense continues to be a joke. It's a testament to LeBron James that he could be so poorly utilized and still dominate. It's not easy to guard James but it's of at least some comfort that you never have to worry about where to find him: the top of the key, starting from a standstill, with the entire defense set and focused on him. With the bigger wings in the offseason I actually prefer their sets with Lebron at the power forward. Is it too much to ask for him to get the ball on the move or at more efficient spots on the floor?
Washington 102, Dallas 91
Gilbert Arenas is back. It was just one night but everything seemed in place for Arenas. It's so easy to forget how much of an elite player Arenas was given the developments of LeBron, Howard, Wade, 'Melo and Paul but he's one of the best offensive players in the league so long as he's healthy.
Arenas has an enforcer. Haywood is an overlooked part of the Wizards but right now he's the only one that provides size at an NBA rotation player quality. I also see that Fabricio Oberto got the start. While he's not going to get serious run he's a great pickup in terms of teaching Blatche and the Wizards young frontline how to find shots without having the ball.
The Mavericks need another player that can create offense. Right now Dirk just seems to have too much of a burden right now carrying the offense. Jason Kidd can still find the right passes but he's not exactly creating the passing lanes. Just about the rest of the Mavs offense needs to have their shot created for them. Can you rely on Josh Howard for this?
Portland 96, Houston 87
Where's Houston going to get their shots? There was a lot of talk this offseason about the Grizzlies setting records for fewest assists because the number of ball stoppers on their team. But what about Houston and their lack of creators? Scola can draw double teams in the right matchups and their best shot creator, Brooks, sets up primarily for himself. I'm just not sure who streses the defense enough to draw double teams or cause defenses to collapse. Who's their best passer? I'm not sure you can count on Lowry for eight assists a night.
At this point do you think the Blazers would rather have Oden or Brook Lopez? They're a highly efficient offense, we know. But they're primarily a jump shooting team which means you can automatically pencil them in for at least one loss every playoff series. Jumpers just don't fall every night. Can you picture Oden guarding combinations of Bynum/Kobe or Duncan/Ginobili without getting into serious foul trouble? And they're not exactly an uptempo team so somehow they're going to need to learn how to get easy shots.
Lakers 99, Clippers 92
I'm not sure what I can say about the Lakers that you don't already know. Kobe's good. Bynum can beast weak frontlines. Odom is versatile. We can nitpick all we want here but really Gasol is the one that makes this offense so dangerous and he was out tonight.
On the Clippers part, Davis looked bothered and a step slow. Lakers biggest weakness comes from an inability to guard point guards and Davis just couldn't take advantage. Kaman looked good, Camby overmatched. Gordon on the other hand is the real deal. He can shoot and he's strong. The Lakers towering front line didn't seem to bother him at all. He and Griffin are great pieces to build around. Not sure if Davis should be around when they take over.
The other thing that became obvious: No team that gives Al Thorton major minutes is a good team. He had a terrible shot selection and just doesn't seem to have a great feel for the game. He'll get numbers primarily because he'll force shots but he's not a part of a winning team. Probably my least favorite player to watch in the league right now.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Not Another Team Preview: Previewing Fans in the Southwest Division
By now every major team publication or website's team previews have been out for some time (Hollinger and Dwyer are my two favorites) so other than adding a funny line (as if I had any) or rewording a particular sentence there is not much I can add you don't already know about the upcoming NBA season.
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Dallas Mavericks
Strengths: Blonde hair and silicon. Lots and lots of Silicon.
Weaknesses: Delusions of grandeur. Reflect all the worst traits of irritating owner Mark Cuban. Knowledge of the game (?).
In the mind of the fans:
"20 and 10 last year? Nah, Duncan is washed up. Now Marion on the other hand!"
"Mark Cuban now has stats that tell us to think it was a good idea to dump an aging, has-been All-Star point guard for the ability to sign two never-were centers.
"Mark Cuban now has stats that tell us to think it was a brilliant idea to trade an up and coming All-Star point guard for what's left of Jason Kidd."
"Mark Cuban still tells us what to think."
Houston Rockets
Strengths: You don't mess with a billion Chinese.
Weaknesses: All-Star voting. Stop it with Tracy McGrady already. Damn you China!
In the mind of the fans:
"At least we don't have to worry about whether or not Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will be hurt this year. D'oh.
Memphis Grizzlies(Editor's Note: after the offseason moves only the owner and players' moms remain as fans)
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
In the mind of the fans.....err....owner:
"Pau Gasol is overrated. Zach Randolph on the other hand!"
"Why does Chris Wallace keep giving me those death stares?"
"I wonder if I can trade Rudy Gay for Adam Morrison without getting more death threats from Gregg Popovich."
New Orleans Hornets
Strengths: Party with the best of them. Leads to a distinct homecourt advantage against less disciplined teams.
Weaknesses: Copying wrestlers Wooooooooo! chants.
In the mind of the fans:
"What the hell happened?"
"Is it okay to start ignoring our NBA team again?"
San Antonio Spurs
Strengths: Ability to celebrate championships without riots, looting, or setting fires. Eva Longoria.
Weaknesses: Live in the land of 1,000 taco stands and most of them hit up every single one of them on the way to the game. Any mention of "*".
In the mind of the fans:
"Jefferson and 'Dice are nice, but can we trade for the Suns entire training staff?"
"DuJuan Blair is the next Charles Barkley!"
"Holy crap...I'm sitting next to Eva Longoria!"
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Dallas Mavericks
Strengths: Blonde hair and silicon. Lots and lots of Silicon.
Weaknesses: Delusions of grandeur. Reflect all the worst traits of irritating owner Mark Cuban. Knowledge of the game (?).
In the mind of the fans:
"20 and 10 last year? Nah, Duncan is washed up. Now Marion on the other hand!"
"Mark Cuban now has stats that tell us to think it was a good idea to dump an aging, has-been All-Star point guard for the ability to sign two never-were centers.
"Mark Cuban now has stats that tell us to think it was a brilliant idea to trade an up and coming All-Star point guard for what's left of Jason Kidd."
"Mark Cuban still tells us what to think."
Houston Rockets
Strengths: You don't mess with a billion Chinese.
Weaknesses: All-Star voting. Stop it with Tracy McGrady already. Damn you China!
In the mind of the fans:
"At least we don't have to worry about whether or not Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will be hurt this year. D'oh.
Memphis Grizzlies(Editor's Note: after the offseason moves only the owner and players' moms remain as fans)
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
In the mind of the fans.....err....owner:
"Pau Gasol is overrated. Zach Randolph on the other hand!"
"Why does Chris Wallace keep giving me those death stares?"
"I wonder if I can trade Rudy Gay for Adam Morrison without getting more death threats from Gregg Popovich."
New Orleans Hornets
Strengths: Party with the best of them. Leads to a distinct homecourt advantage against less disciplined teams.
Weaknesses: Copying wrestlers Wooooooooo! chants.
In the mind of the fans:
"What the hell happened?"
"Is it okay to start ignoring our NBA team again?"
San Antonio Spurs
Strengths: Ability to celebrate championships without riots, looting, or setting fires. Eva Longoria.
Weaknesses: Live in the land of 1,000 taco stands and most of them hit up every single one of them on the way to the game. Any mention of "*".
In the mind of the fans:
"Jefferson and 'Dice are nice, but can we trade for the Suns entire training staff?"
"DuJuan Blair is the next Charles Barkley!"
"Holy crap...I'm sitting next to Eva Longoria!"
Not Another Team Preview: Previewing Fans in the Pacific Division
By now every major team publication or website's team previews have been out for some time (Hollinger and Dwyer are my two favorites) so other than adding a funny line (as if I had any) or rewording a particular sentence there is not much I can add you don't already know about the upcoming NBA season.
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Golden State Warriors
Strengths: Upside is amongst the highest in the entire league.
Weaknesses: Still tolerate management's presence in the building.
In the mind of the fans:
"We might hate Stephen Jackson, but even we can't blame him."
"Well, we still have a killer video game team."
Los Angeles Clippers
Strengths: The two Bills (Simmons and Crystal).
Weaknesses: Frankie Muniz.
In the mind of the fans:
"Holy Crap! We have a legitimate No. 1 overall big man. A motivated, stud point guard. A promising young shooting guard. Depth up front. And a crap load of cap space in one of the deepest free agent markets next year. Did Sterling die?"
"I can finally wear my team jersey in public!"
Los Angeles Lakers
Strengths: The most famous fans in the entire NBA. Cool under pressure (due to the sedated effect the drugs leave in their system).
Weaknesses: Arrive late, leave early. Bad knees created by years of being on them in Kobe's presence.
In the mind of the fans:
"Have I shown up on the Jumbotron or TV yet? As soon as I do I'm outta here. Can't miss rehab again."
"That person wrote a story that only called Kobe ONE of the greatest players in NBA history? What a hater!."
"ESPN has nothing but Kobe haters! Fox Sports has nothing but Kobe haters! Yahoo has nothing but Kobe haters! Everyone is a Kobe Hater! The Catholic Church thinks Jesus Christ is our savior? they're obviously Kobe Haters!"
Phoenix Suns
Strengths: Desert air apparently increases longevity as much as the Suns training staff. (A lot of old people). One awesome Gorrilla.
Weaknesses: Amare enablers. Still stuck on playoff suspensions of a few years back.
In the mind of the fans:
"David Stern is out to get us. It's a conspiracy, they only want big markets like San Antonio to win."
"At least we'll get to see 130-120 point games again this year. Hopefully we win some of them."
Sacramento Kings
Strengths: Cow bells. Once one of the loudest crowds in the NBA.
Weaknesses: Once being the operative word.
In the mind of the fans:
.....crickets.....
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Golden State Warriors
Strengths: Upside is amongst the highest in the entire league.
Weaknesses: Still tolerate management's presence in the building.
In the mind of the fans:
"We might hate Stephen Jackson, but even we can't blame him."
"Well, we still have a killer video game team."
Los Angeles Clippers
Strengths: The two Bills (Simmons and Crystal).
Weaknesses: Frankie Muniz.
In the mind of the fans:
"Holy Crap! We have a legitimate No. 1 overall big man. A motivated, stud point guard. A promising young shooting guard. Depth up front. And a crap load of cap space in one of the deepest free agent markets next year. Did Sterling die?"
"I can finally wear my team jersey in public!"
Los Angeles Lakers
Strengths: The most famous fans in the entire NBA. Cool under pressure (due to the sedated effect the drugs leave in their system).
Weaknesses: Arrive late, leave early. Bad knees created by years of being on them in Kobe's presence.
In the mind of the fans:
"Have I shown up on the Jumbotron or TV yet? As soon as I do I'm outta here. Can't miss rehab again."
"That person wrote a story that only called Kobe ONE of the greatest players in NBA history? What a hater!."
"ESPN has nothing but Kobe haters! Fox Sports has nothing but Kobe haters! Yahoo has nothing but Kobe haters! Everyone is a Kobe Hater! The Catholic Church thinks Jesus Christ is our savior? they're obviously Kobe Haters!"
Phoenix Suns
Strengths: Desert air apparently increases longevity as much as the Suns training staff. (A lot of old people). One awesome Gorrilla.
Weaknesses: Amare enablers. Still stuck on playoff suspensions of a few years back.
In the mind of the fans:
"David Stern is out to get us. It's a conspiracy, they only want big markets like San Antonio to win."
"At least we'll get to see 130-120 point games again this year. Hopefully we win some of them."
Sacramento Kings
Strengths: Cow bells. Once one of the loudest crowds in the NBA.
Weaknesses: Once being the operative word.
In the mind of the fans:
.....crickets.....
Not Another Team Preview: Previewing Fans in the Northwest Division
By now every major team publication or website's team previews have been out for some time (Hollinger and Dwyer are my two favorites) so other than adding a funny line (as if I had any) or rewording a particular sentence there is not much I can add you don't already know about the upcoming NBA season.
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Denver Nuggets
Strengths: Remarkable lung capacity due to yelling at extreme altitudes.
Weaknesses: Coors Light. john Denver.
In the mind of the fans:
"Chauncey Billups slowing down? Ridiculous."
"We'll probably have everything fall absolutely perfect again."
Minnesota Timberwolves
Strengths: Survived Kevin McHale
Weaknesses: Complacency likely given management has already admitted to not caring about the next few seasons.
In the mind of the fans:
"What's a shooting guard, small forward or center? It's been so long since we've seen one?"
Oklahoma City Thunder
Strengths: Enthusiastic glow remains from Honeymoon.
Weaknesses: They're not Seattle. They live in a market so small the city is named after the state.
In the mind of the fans:
"Holy crap! I still can't believe we have a professional team to root for besides the Soooners."
Portland Trailblazers
Strengths: were able to influence management to finally rid themselves of the Jail Blazers era.
Weaknesses: National Anthem. Pairing Bowie and Odom together in any sentence.
In the mind of the fans:
"I'm starting to think that this Oden over Durant thing was a bad idea."
"Roy's not overrated...he's....he's...he's better than Kobe. There, I said it."
Seattle Supersonics
Strengths: Passionate fans.
Weaknesses: Took losing their team to find said passion. No NBA team.
In the mind of the fans:
"Root for the Blazers my A--. F--- You David Stern!"
Utah Jazz
Strengths: One of the toughest places to play in the NBA. And with no night life, one can assume that it's directly because of the fans.
Weaknesses: Black dress pants and short sleeved white button up shirts with ties.
In the mind of the fans:
"Williams is just as good as Paul. No really. I mean it. He's better than Paul. He's bigger, a better shooter, and....and....why won't anyone listen to us."
"Sloan's induction speech wasn't too long, or too boring."
So rather than go into the usual cut and paste, blog obligatory features (positional rankings, over/underrated and power ranking) or breaking down the game of our 12th man to its most minute detail, I thought I'd flip the script and create a preview even the countless number of sports bloggers could use.
So without further ado-feel free to add and contribute to the list-here is the annual preview of NBA team fans.
Denver Nuggets
Strengths: Remarkable lung capacity due to yelling at extreme altitudes.
Weaknesses: Coors Light. john Denver.
In the mind of the fans:
"Chauncey Billups slowing down? Ridiculous."
"We'll probably have everything fall absolutely perfect again."
Minnesota Timberwolves
Strengths: Survived Kevin McHale
Weaknesses: Complacency likely given management has already admitted to not caring about the next few seasons.
In the mind of the fans:
"What's a shooting guard, small forward or center? It's been so long since we've seen one?"
Oklahoma City Thunder
Strengths: Enthusiastic glow remains from Honeymoon.
Weaknesses: They're not Seattle. They live in a market so small the city is named after the state.
In the mind of the fans:
"Holy crap! I still can't believe we have a professional team to root for besides the Soooners."
Portland Trailblazers
Strengths: were able to influence management to finally rid themselves of the Jail Blazers era.
Weaknesses: National Anthem. Pairing Bowie and Odom together in any sentence.
In the mind of the fans:
"I'm starting to think that this Oden over Durant thing was a bad idea."
"Roy's not overrated...he's....he's...he's better than Kobe. There, I said it."
Seattle Supersonics
Strengths: Passionate fans.
Weaknesses: Took losing their team to find said passion. No NBA team.
In the mind of the fans:
"Root for the Blazers my A--. F--- You David Stern!"
Utah Jazz
Strengths: One of the toughest places to play in the NBA. And with no night life, one can assume that it's directly because of the fans.
Weaknesses: Black dress pants and short sleeved white button up shirts with ties.
In the mind of the fans:
"Williams is just as good as Paul. No really. I mean it. He's better than Paul. He's bigger, a better shooter, and....and....why won't anyone listen to us."
"Sloan's induction speech wasn't too long, or too boring."
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