Danny Ferry Comes Home
While I know that Aaron will be furious with me for making any negative Danny Ferry comments, I have some questions about the intelligence of bringing Ferry in as GM for the Cavs.
Now, he isn't a 100% bad choice. On the plus side: He's very smart and understands basketball. He comes from an organization that has been doing things "the right way" and has managed to keep one of the leagues premier players (Duncan) happy for a long time by using a good mix of complimentary talent and role players, which is exactly what we need to do with Lebron.
BUT: He's never run a team before, and the learning curve may be too steep for an organization that needs to get its act together FAST if they want to impress Lebron and keep him long term. And to me, that is a big concern. We have no guarantees that he will be a good GM or that, if he is a good GM, he will become a good GM quickly.
All of this said, I like the idea of Ferry as a GM. I think players would trust him and want to work with him, but I am not sure he is the right fit for the Cavs right now.
Let's Make A Deal
Heard on ESPN radio this morning that the NBA could announce a new CBA as soon as today. Among the (reported) highlights:
Shorter contract terms. I'm not sure what the current maximum deal is, but apparently it will be shortened.
Raising the salary cap. No biggie.
Raise minimum age to 19. This will be the controversial one. To me, it seems like another way to protect owners from themselves. If Players right out of high school aren't good enough for the league, you can A. Not draft them or B. Create a new rule in your CBA to prevent you from drafting him. It reminds me of a constitutional amendment to force a balanced budget. Why not just do it because it makes sense, and not because you have to. I digress.
I like this rule, not because I'm unamerican and don't want people to be able to earn a living. I like it because it helps (a little) college basketball. Since I'd watch a Northeastern Idaho Tech vs. Des Moines College of Art and Design game at midnight on a Monday night, before I'd stay up until midnight to watch the end of tonight's game 6, anything good for college is good for BAR. Just like a third person reference.
Why I hate Chad?
I've been stewing over this post for a long time, and now I am going to add my comment to chad's post from below, within here. It's about refereeing. Two points. If you don't care about chad's point, read the Second post. I think it's really interesting
1) Chad, you are wrong about the Pistons being a dirty team, and the evidence that there's no coincidence that "a key player on the opposing team always gets hurt against them" is pretty poor. Looking only at the last two series, Shaq was hurt coming in and Wade injured himself on a crossover attributable, say the commentators, to the fact that he's played 100 games at breakneck speed; no dirty play. Manu's injury happens in basketball. He tried to run by someone; it's unfortunate, but it wasn't dirty. Watch the strips they had close-up, especially the one of Wallace (and Hunter) on Udrih at midcourt. It was not a foul. Hand all over the ball. You'll see that with most of their reach-ins. If you want to talk about dirty playing, watch the "Costas Now" interview with Reggie Miller from this past week where miller demonstrates 1)how to draw a three-point shooting foul 2)how to draw a fake charge while pulling the offensive player's hand into your body. And every guard uses their off-hand to push the defense away (I was irate (irate!) at Damon Jones in the last series. Chauncey is stronger and a helluva player; that's how he gets by. More to the point, the Pistons were near the bottom in fouls/games this year.
2) The initial intention of this post was to note that refs have a much, much greater impact on NBA games than they do in any other sport. The notion of a disqualification really doesn't pertain to any other sport besides basketball (unless you do something crazy that merits two personal fouls in football, or you argue with the ump in baseball). In basketball, as we all well know, you are only given six fouls. Mind you, you're guarding the best athletes in the world, you have to run around picks, you're tired from also cutting on offense, and if your hand slips once (or, more to the point, doesn't slip but the ref perceives it does), you get a foul. Two cheap fouls and your out for the first quarter. Three and you're done for the half (risk-reward of playing in crunchtime). The point is, any ref could have called that steal by wallace or some of the other Piston strips fouls, and the game would have turned completely. From personal experience, I really, really hate having referees (granted my refs don't train for the position). Two points. 1) don't bet on basketball, b/c I honestly think it's too much out of the players' hands. Especially college basketball, with only 5 fouls. 2) real basketball is where you call your own fouls and there is no such thing as an "and-1".
Why I hate the Pistons
These four games are the first four Pistons games I have watched in their entirety since last season and I have come to this conclusion: It is not at all a coincidence that they get "lucky" and a key player on the opposing team always gets hurt against them. The play such dirty, thuggish basketball that its a wonder more people don't get hurt against them. Yes, they hustle. Yes, they play hard, but the fact is a ref could blow the whistle every 5 seconds or so and there would be a foul on the Pistons that could be called. I haven't seen Chauncey Billups handle the ball once this series without pushing off on someone, the Wallaces hit anyone who comes in the lane. And it ruins the flow of the game and has made these two games unwatchable.
For the first 3 quarters of games 1 and 2, you had good, hard played, well defended basketball before the Spurs really kicked it in gear. That was fun to watch and really was just the Pistons and Spurs putting on clinics in good basketball. Games 3 and 4 have been ugly and filled with the kind of thuggery that has been KILLING the NBA since Jordan's retirement.
Just in case the horse wasn't quite dead...
It's 10:30 PM EST, and the NBA game 4 is at halftime. And San Antonio has 33 points. I'm so bored, I'm starting sentences with the word "and".
Seriously, does the NBA think that when they're shut down next year, that they won't be outdrawn by reruns of poker tournaments?
Cavs Trade
If the Cavs need a two-guard, and the lakers need a point guard (with good d and no need to shoot . . . ), why not try to move Eric Snow for Caron Butler? Get Snow's salary off of our books, get a good young slasher to test out for a year or two.
Whoa whoa whoa
Commentators need to slow down. In the Daily Quickie a few days ago (can't link to it, no time), there was a mention of Manu as the premier 2 guard in the world. That's absurd. Actually absurd. He's a very, very good player. A great player. An all-star. But he would get his ass kicked by Kobe, TMac, Lebron, Wade, etc. Honestly. He's not as good of a defender. Everyone needs to slow down their exclamations. It's useless. This was a boring posts. Most posts wont be this poor
And for my first post...
The Indians have won 4 straight and are just 5 behind the Twins and 9 behind the White Sox. So my question is, what constitutes a "successful" end of the season for the Tribe? Before the season started, I thought this team should be very much in contention for the AL Central and considering neither the Sox nor the Twins are likely to keep up their other-worldly paces, I still think that's true. I really think that to be a successful season the Indians need to go into the final week of the season with a legit shot at getting at least the wild card.
Exciting Moments
We all know those moments in which you yelled during a sporting event b/c goosebumps weren't enough. What are some of them. . . a few that come from 30 seconds of thinking
1. Maurice Clarett stripping the ball during the Fiesta Bowl
2. VC dunk contest
3. Albert Belle Grand Slam during the summer of '95. Tribe had been down a lot and it was the bottom of the 9th or 10th. In the car coming home, listening to the comeback. Get into the driveway, wait in the car for five minutes. TV is on in our den (I can see through the window). Sprint inside. See the homer. Unreal.
4. TMac 13 points in 30 seconds this year. Best ever (better than Reggie, forget the argument that his was in the playoffs).
5. Celtics 20 point comeback a few years ago
6. Reggie's turnaround 3 against the nets two years ago (last year?) to send it to Double OT. you also had RJ's block and another crazy shot sending the game to OT
I tried, I really did
OK, so it was Sunday night, and I figured I'd try to watch the Spurs-Pistons game. Actually, I didn't turn it on until around 10, and by then the Pistons were nearly dead. I lasted an hour. It just wasn't exciting. The thing is, I'm a big sports fan. I would watch if the Cavs were in it, but I watch the World Series and Super Bowl regardless of the teams involved.
Yes, I am old and curmudgeonly, but it's just too late. So the question is, how is it better for the NBA to show these games at 9 PM est, than to air them an hour earlier. Especially on a Sunday. I know, it sucks for the people of San Antonio (or LA, Portland, Seattle in other years) to have home games starting at 5 pm, but screw them. The NBA is a business, and isn't it better business to allow people on the East Coast to watch games to completion? Besides, the games would end at 10 pm EST / 7 West Coast. Isn't it better business for the whole country to be able to see the most exciting (ending) part of a game, vs. having them see the beginning only?
NBA "Length"
Just finished reading Chad Ford's update on the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp. Talking about Jason Maxiell, as he has previously, he writes, "The rumors were flying everywhere that he got a promise in the first round. That may be a little high for a 6-foot-6 power forward, but when you factor in his athleticism, strength, 7-foot-3 wingspan and aggression, maybe it's not a stretch after all. If he were two or three inches taller, he'd be a lottery pick."
I think this is absurd. Maxiell is a beast, and if he's good enough, height doesn't matter. He's going to be stronger than guys two inches taller, and his wingspan is long enough that he can block shots. Question his lateral quickness or something else, but not his height. Yao can't block shots even though he's tall specifically b/c he has a short wingspan. And few NBA players shoot high like Rasheed Wallace, so they're not going to play him like you would your little brother. There's no way 2 inches should make the difference between lottery pick and cusp of the second round.
Fluke Champions?
Scoop Jackson: "The Pistons and the Spurs are proof that winning an NBA title is the most difficult thing to do in professional team sports. There are no fluke champions in David Stern's league. There are no worst-to-first seasons. There are no Minnesota Twins or Florida Marlins. No Baltimore Ravens or Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
I think he's 100% right that there are no fluke champions in the NBA. Obviously seeding the teams 1-16 would be better. But, I'm not sure how I feel about MLB. I don't think any of those teams are "flukes." When the Marlins won twice, they were good teams. You could make the argument about the twins winning the Central (not. good. competition.), but they're not "champions" for that. So . . . what was the last flukey NBA champion? My only one would be the Spurs in 99, but only b/c that was the lockout season. And I don't really buy that they were a fluke.
Playoffs?!?!? Don't talk to me about playoffs....
Yeah, so the NBA finals are going on now? When? 9 PM?!?!? Last night's game 1 ended at nearly midnight. Who the hell does the NBA think stayed up to watch this game on the east coast? (By East Coast, I mean everything east of the Rockies, except SanAntonio and Detroit). ABC's ratings for this year's playoffs are down about 25% (LA Times) from last season, which continued a downward trend. Of course, it doesn't help that Detroit and San Antonio aren't very exciting to watch for the average fan. Can it be also because the games start after most kids are in bed? By the time Will Smith gets jiggy and Alanis gets Canadian, the game gets going before an audience that needs to get up in the morning, and can't invest nearly 2 1/2 hours in a basketball game.
There is a generation of kids growing up that will not have been able to watch, fom start to finish, an NBA Finals game (or a World Series game, for that matter). Doesn't that make it more likely that these kids won't give a rats ass about watching once they are old enough to stay up? Does anybody give a rats ass now?
Hubie on Tayshaun
"I think Tayshaun can get to the rim, can get a high percentage shot whenever he wants. . . " I'm still a little unsure about why he didn't play in the second quarter.
My midgame notes:
1. This is a great basketball game
2. The Pistons missed a lot of layups that they should have finished
3. I like Glenn Robinson. Wish he played more
4. Rip still travels
5. Chauncey could be great if he was a little more disciplined
6. Ginobili and Parker are f'in quick. Chauncey is f'in strong.
7.Lindsay hunter is really bad. They were commenting the othernight about how he always gets screwed with the ball at the end of the clock. That's b/c he dribbles the clock out.
8. Cavs should get Kiki.
9. Wish Tom Tolbert were involved somehow . . .
Finals and Philosophy
Here's the deal. Finals going to be good. I'm not going to predict it, because 1) that's as silly as me looking at a penny stock and guessing if it's going to go up or down 10% in one day 2) you don't care. I'm not a fan of betting on sports (besides, of course, betting against JJ Redick). The last thing I bet on was the Super Bowl, and only b/c the Eagles got a lot of points. We (you know, the fans) have no influence over anything. I don't want to put my heart and soul (really just my wallet) into the Spurs, a team that I've seen 10 times this year (and read a lot about), relying on Bowen/Barry/Horry to hit threes. Because if they don't, the Spurs lose. Similarly, how frustrating are two quick weak fouls against Rasheed that take him out of the game physically and mentally. My opinion is that the true sports fan loves the game b/c of the game; you want to see every matchup fulfill its promise for a good game.
My favorite players (save Danny Ferry), are the best players. Not b/c I'm a front-runner. But b/c I watch them looking for excellence. I enjoy the decent players too, like Tim Thomas, when they live up to expectations. There was a game this year where he was unstoppable. Literally. Inside and out, on the break and on the defensive end, he was just awesome. And it was fun to root for him (and root for him since). I saw why every player says he could be a top-10 guy. The joy for me in sports is watching the players go hard, and seeing something spectacular happen. I'm not just speaking about dunks (though one of the few times I was speechless was when VC stuck his elbow in the rim - and every other dunk that night by him, Francis and Tmac). I love to see the fantastic play, but I also love to see the domination. Nash coming off the screen in the playoffs, when his shooting stroke was on, was actually unstoppable. You could see the big man coming out and you knew what the Suns were going to score. A missed shot was stunning. That's awesome. And I will argue with you (and win) for weeks on end about why there is no way that Nash is the MVP this year. I mean, that was absurd.
My roommate from college last year (and I think my current roommate as well) thought I was crazy, b/c I was willing to pull for teams not from Cleveland (the Tribe/Cavs/Browns/Force being first always). Yes, the Bulls may have been in our division, but it was fun to watch them play this year. Much like the Stones and Pacers . . . If you're from K.C., you're telling me that you wont keep your eye out for other teams? You're going to live and die with the Royals every year? You will be sad every year. Or, you can enjoy the game for what it's worth; a game. Look for the dramatic and look for the excellence. I think that's the best way to watch sports.
Pistons in 8.
For Mike; WNBA; the Finals
"My goals are to play the piano and get really, really, really fat."
I know why his name is DMX. Because his real name is Earl. Imagine if his name was Earl the rapper.
More importantly, I watched ten minutes of the Sun/Storm game last night. That's right, the WNBA. They can play. I think I could play with them, but they can play. 8 or 9 straight shots made, a couple of good steals, some solid passing. Hard D. If the Pistons played that hard all the time they would beat the spurs. But they wont. So I don't know who will win (though everyone else predicts the Spurs). Maybe so. But I'll tell you what. Tayshaun Prince is the X-factor. No matter how good Sheed plays, he wont outplay duncan. Wallace/Mohammed will be in Ben's favor, but not by much (Nazr is solid around the basket). Parker/Chauncey is key, but will be a wash throughout the entire series (i.e. each will have their games). Manu is a stud. Rip will get his. Bowen will do nothing. It's about Tayshaun. He's a tremendous defender and I don't think there's anyone on the Spurs to guard him. Barry can't. Bowen is on one of the guards. And if Bowen is on Tayshaun, I think Tay is still too long for him. So. . . if Tay plays great (15-19 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks+steals, 2-3 assists), I think the Pistons win.
HEY!
CB: On Jerry Krause still being able to keep his job as GM of the Chicago Bulls: "Jerry Krause must have pictures of his boss's wife having sex with a monkey."
take two
About Craig Sager wearing a reflective silver suit to the 2001 NBA All-Star game: "I don't have anything against black people, white people or any kind of people, but when you start letting pimps interview people, that's where I draw the line."
Can't say there wont be more. But this one is rich.
Cavs
1.Still a little confused on why the Cavs didn't get Flip Saunders. More, however, why aren't we going after Vandeweghe?
2. We need to get a draft pick, just for the excitement.
3. Is there no way to trade for Elton Brand? Some three-way involving Z? Just Gooden and two of our young players (Varejao as much as I don't want to, Pavlovic, Jackson . . .). You know the Clips don't want to pay his full contract. Then we have Lebron, Brand, and a new two guard . . .
Barkley
Barkley - "Byron Scott just got out of the hospital."
EJ - "For what?"
Barkley - "He got stabbed in the back."
"These guys who have three or four babies by different women should have their balls cut off."
Kenny: Well my brother vincent always told me...
Charles: Is he still a skycap?
Check out http://clintcam.com/barkley/ It is actually Tremendous. A compendium of Barkleyisms. Well worth a five minute read every day.
I also like howstuffworks.com. I learned about lock picking the other day
Eddie George
Eddie George was good, right? I mean, everyone respected him for the first 8 years of his career, despite the fact that his rushing average hovered at 3.x every year. He's my argument, that I can't back up b/c I'm not that savvy. His mean was low, but his median was probably in the same range. That is, he never busted out for huge gains. But you were guaranteed three ypc every time. Any thoughts? I'm sure my brother will make an argument that he's no Chris Perry or A-Train. But that's because my brother is an idiot. zing.
Spurs v. Pistons
Does everyone really think the series will be boring? No Nash, Stoudemire, Wade, et cetera. BUT, you have arguably the fastest (Parker), craftiest (Ginobili), craziest (Rasheed Wallace), strongest (Ben Wallace), best (Duncan), best conditioned (Rip) in the LEAGUE, and others, all on the court at once. Honestly, look at the personalities. Look at how well the Pistons can pass. Look at the fact that they were one of the lowest fouling teams in the league (meaning that it wont be a bruiser series spent primarily on the foul line). Watch the give-and-take between Chauncey and Parker, neither of whom can even hope to shut down the others' strength. Everyone loved West Viriginia b/c they could hit threes and no game was ever over. Well (Chauncey, Tayshaun, Sheed, Hunter) v. (Parker, Ginobili, Bowen, Horry, Barry, etc.). Come on. Come onnnnnnnnnnn.
This is going to be very, very good.
Mock Draft Redux
The reason I created the mock draft postings were to give basic lists of who the players were . . . but you knew that. So the question is, in a five team league, drafting five players, who do you draft first? Do you put a premium on centers b/c there are few? Do you draft a center? I take my scorer first, then fit in the right pieces around him. Not sure if it's TMac or Kobe. But that's the everlasting question. You need someone who can score in pickup. They can do it.
What's your ideal pickup team?
I think in 5 seconds without a good analysis, Kidd, Kobe, Tmac, Garnett (every rebound). Then the question is, Ray Allen? Or someone who hustles. Maybe Shaq. But you have a PG who can't shoot . . . Duncan instead of Garnett? Probably not. An Elton Brand type? Maybe Ron Artest.
Day One Jitters
I think the Don Cheadle post is good, but maybe not self-explanatory. Simmons dubbed Robert Horry as Nate Dogg a few years ago (changed it the other day, but no matter). Can't lead a group, but if he touches it, you know it's good.
So, in that light, who is Don Cheadle? Patrick Swayze? Shyne (clearly Stephen Jackson)? In the NBA or something else, that is. . .
T.O.
The only person who's made the appropriate argument on T.O.'s behalf is Ice Cube, who on the "Hot Seat" a few months ago, noted how owners/gm's have no problem lowering a guy's salary or threatening to cut him after every off-season. So why shouldn't TO get more money now? Mind you, I don't think he's even in Randy Moss' league.
And somebody please remind me to write an article about why Skip Bayless sucks. Because he does and I want to get that out there
Question
I had a bet in March, saying that JJ Redick would not be a lottery pick. The tone of the argument, from the other side, was that he was awesome, the best shooter in the draft, and would no doubt be a top-13 pick. IF, as happened, Redick didn't leave school, should the bet still be on for next year? I think technically, yes (which is disappointing to me), though spiritually, no. Besides, if you were the other guy, you've got to be a little emasculated now, right?
The Stones
Just read the Daily Quickie, which reminded me of something I was thinking last night. If the Pistons beat the Spurs, regardless of the circumstances, will people take note that they beat a depleted Heat team? Much like everyone still notes the luck that the Patriots had with the tuck rule and other fortunate circumstances? I believe that you can make the argument that if Shaq and Wade were healthy from the start of the series, the Pistons would have played much better. Not to say they would have won, but I do believe they played down (as most teams do), to the level of their competition.
One other thing. Everyone writes about the up/down nature of the Pistons. I don't understand why they can't play hard D the entire time. When they were down at the end of the games in this last series, and decided to try to come back, they really harrassed the Heat, something that I think they could do more of. Too bad. . .
No idea about who's going to win this series. All that matters is that the Pistons won last year, which I predicted when they got Sheed. Take that, Eric Rhee.
Who would he be?
Who would Don Cheadle be if he were an NBA Player, and why? How about any other sport?
Or, any other person in a different profession. For example, Carly Fiorina would be Paul Silas. Disgraceful.
Big Man
I would like Yao on my pickup team. Just want to throw that out there. He wouldn't foul out, and he would KILL your big man, assuming he wasn't worn down from National Team commitments.
1. Shaq
2. Yao
3. Ben Wallace
4. Marcus Camby
5. Jermaine O'neal
6. Z!
7. Theo Ratliff (prob should be ahead of Z)
I need to stop this list before Emeka Okafor has the chance to appear.
4 - Now we're getting bored
There should be no power forward in pickup basketball. The ideal team is Kidd, TMac/Kobe, Garnett, Artest, Shaq.
Here goes, however. Enjoy.
1. Amare
2. Elton Brand (you take him over Duncan b/c he rebounds like it's his job. Your 4 in pickup needs to do this and do it well).
3. Duncan. I take that back. You should be Duncan ahead of Brand.
4. KMart (all D. Don't want his O on this team).
I refuse to put Drew Gooden as a power forward. He is not powerful. He is weak.
5. Rasheed. He could be anywhere on this list
6. Tyson Chandler/Dwight Howard
7. Dirk
8. Boozer? Who else, Bosh? Fortson? Stromile? Nene?
Come on. Two things. 1) Chris Webber hurts your team. He does so more with a shot clock b/c he eats all of it. 2) Robert Horry is not a good pickup player. He would be destroyed by anyone on this list.
SF
Small Forwards:
First of all, there are a ton of players who could be twos, threes, fours. I put Lebron as a Two-guard, and am putting Pierce as a SF, based on who I think they guard. Garnett is here, but could be anywhere . . . Again, I think your small forward is only good on certain teams. Peja is useless if he's not also with Kidd and Kobe, both of whom can get him the ball. Similarly, someone like DMiles, who is unsatisfied if he doesn't handle, will do squat with Francis
1. Garnett
2. Kirilenko
3. Artest
4. Lamar Odom
5. Pierce or Tayshaun Prince? Move the rest of the list down one notch.
6. Stephen Jackson
7. Marion
8. Joe Johnson (should be a two-guard, but I gotta put him here if nowhere else).
9. Rashard Lewis (very, very good. Wonder how tough he is. But can do it without the ball).
10. Antawn Jamison (by default). Maybe Antawn Walker. I just feel like he'd piss everyone else off. Maybe Stack. Probably should be Stack. Not Spre, Wally, Tim Thomas, Maggette, or Desmond Mason. Those guys don't do anything well enough to outplay their competition. Twan can post and/or bring a bigger guy outside.
Is Abdur-Rahim any good? Brian Cardinal certainly is, if on the right squad. And Varejao would be the kid that no one knows, everyone thinks they're better than; the guy who pisses everyone off with his hustle.
If I were an NBA Player
I think I'd be Eddie Jones. Seemingly a good shooter, but only 40% in games. A pretty good defender. Sneaky once in a while (when inspired) on the glass. Can drive right if you give it to me. But I need a good point guard and a good surrounding team that is fun to play with b/c they move the ball. As much as I don't want to make this pertinent only to those who know me, I do want to take this opp to classify one of my friends.
Mike: Clarence Weatherspoon
2-Guard
Shooting Guard
This is a tough, tough position. It is sooo important who your point guard is. Vince Carter is that much better with Jason Kidd than he would be with someone like Steve Francis. But Michael Redd and Matt Harpring are better with Francis (they can work well without the ball).
1. TMac (he gets pissed and plays tight D, thereby surpassing Kobe. Also, his are the only bball shoes that fit me and I just think he's the coolest).
2. Kobe
3. Lebron
4. Dwyane Wade
5. Ray Allen
6. Vince Carter
7. Manu
8. Michael Redd
9. Larry Hughes
10. Rip
Of course, that leaves out all of these fools, who may be TRE-mendous in pick up: Ricky Davis, Jamal Crawford, Harpring, Ben Gordon, Maurice Evans (I think he's the guy no one really wants to guard, who does the dirty work on the offensive glass b/c someone weaker is guarding him, who bodies you up and you don't want to call a foul every time so you get salty), Josh Howard (who's going to be a star), Q (who I don't think does much but I wonder what everyone else thinks), Sasha Pavlovic.
And Reggie. Who is the old guy with the goggles who does nothing but shoot really, really long threes that no one knows how to guard b/c they're running the pick and roll from 28 feet.
Pick-up Draft
What would happen if there were a draft of NBA players for pick-up basketball? The key being that you call your own fouls, no three seconds, etc. You can't call weak fouls (you could, but, come on, then you'd be weak). Any thoughts about what kind of players would be at a premium? Somebody strong (and solid on both ends of the court) like Chauncy should rocket up the board, but would he jack up too many shots and kill any teamwork? I don't think Nash would rank highly b/c: there would be limited pick/rolls; he would get rocked on the defensive end; his defender would body him up much more. Maybe it's worth ranking them by position . . .
Point Guard:
1. Jason Kidd (tie) Allen Iverson - They are completely different, but completely awesome
2. Chauncey Billups
3. Gilbert Arenas
4. Mike Bibby
5. Steve Francis
6. Andrew Miller
7. Stephon Marbury
8. Kirk Hinrich
9. Steve Nash
10. Tony Parker
Where does Bob Sura fit? Is Speedy Claxton any good? Nick Van Exel? Milt Palacio? As I write this, I'm thinking about Nash deserving to be higher, because everyone knows the pickup team that moves the ball wins. However, he's not coming off the pick-and-roll against a slow big man. This is a five team league. TMac/Amare/Garnett might be guarding Nash's big guy, not Nesterovic or Ryan Bowen. The one player who could be anywhere is Steve Francis. Wholly unguardable. Could play good D. But will probably not. I'd have no problem with him at the bottom of the list. And I think there's a premium on the guys who can make the fantastic pass, b/c they all want to (and will have to or will be kicked off the team. Or beat up).
Musing the first
1. Richard Hamilton travels every time he catches the ball at the top of the key. Watch him catch, pivot, swing the ball to the other side, switch pivot, dribble.
2. Richard Hamilton is a great player
3. Dwyane Wade is much, much better
4. Would you draft Tayshaun or Kirilenko first? Kirilenko, but Tayshaun can do it all. He's not nicknamed after a gun, however.
5. Barkley is hi-larious. "I'm not speculating that he took pain killers. But I'm saying he did.
Welcome, one and all
Greetings!
