Tag Archives: Stephen Curry

by | October 2, 2011 · 1:46 AM

Highlights of Chris Paul’s Charity Game

Another exhibition game! Actually, the highlights from this one are pretty damn good. After a long day of labor negotiations, which turned out to be rather, well, fruitless, some players needed to blow off a little steam. Players, and their representatives, had been in a meeting with the NBA and the owners for seven hours, yes, seven hours, earlier in the day so it is no wonder that Chris Paul, LeBron James, John Wall, Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Rudy Gay, and others needed a venue to take out their frustrations on a rim. Luckily, Paul was hosting a charity game for the CP3 Foundation in which they could all play in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Saturday night.

The game was played at Winston-Salem State University in front of a crowd of 3,200. However, like many of the pickup games are now, it was also streamed live over the internet. According to Paul, 1,072,532 people viewed the game online.

Paul, who scored 39 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished eight assists, and had five steals, helped his team, along with Durant, who scored 48, get the 175-146 win over James” and Wade’s squad. It just really is not their summer. Wade scored 32 and James had 30. Nonetheless, the crowd was much more receptive to James in this game than they were in the “Battle of I-95.”

Fair warning, though. When James and Wall have the ball, they will showboat.

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by | July 14, 2011 · 10:57 AM

NBA Lockout Day 14: USA, Colangelo Gearing Up for London 2012

Colangelo would like to see the U.S. win a third consecutive gold

There are currently 34 players listed on the United States Men’s National Team roster. That is 22 more than will make the trip, reserves excluded, to London next summer to compete in the Olympics. With the NBA lockout now two weeks old, Jerry Colangelo must start considering who will make the final cut as training camp will begin early next July. Final roster selections have to be submitted by June 18, 2012.

One year is not a lot of time to assemble a national team especially with a lockout going on. Since Team USA won the gold at the FIBA World Championships last summer in Turkey they received an automatic bid for the Olympics. That means that they will not have to compete in the FIBA Americas Championship which begins August 30 and runs through September 11. However, it also means that Colangelo will not have an opportunity to see the players compete as a cohesive unit this summer and with a protracted lockout it may be some time before he can see them in game situations.

With the breadth of talent that Colangelo has to draw from it should not be a major concern when whittling down the roster. Most of the players already on the national team’s roster already have a well established pedigree of competing internationally and are household names in the NBA. Due to this, Colangelo has stated that there are really closer to 18 players who are under consideration to compete in London. He will begin contacting players in a month or so to gauge their interest in being a member of the national team.

Currently, each member of the Redeem Team that won gold in Beijing in 2008 is committed to returning to the program in 2012. This includes Kobe Bryant who stated his interest in returning to the Olympics last year. Other members of the Redeem Team including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, and Tayshaun Prince have yet to make a public statement of interest in returning to the team. Wad has said that he is on the fence about whether he should return but Chris Paul has stated that he will play.

Two players from the 2008 gold metal team, Jason Kidd and Michael Redd, are no longer with USA basketball which leaves at least two roster spots open but Colangelo has said that “three or four of those spots are vulnerable.” These spots will likely be filled by members of the 2010 FIBA World Championship team. That team was led by Kevin Durant and also featured Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook. A name that has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, though he is currently not on Team USA’s standing roster, is Blake Griffin.

These two pools of players present Colangelo with a combination of skilled veterans, players in their prime, and explosive young talent. What will play into the final roster decision is how Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski want to shape the team. Both the Beijing and Turkey teams are very different. In Turkey, Krzyzewski chose to stray away from the traditional five-man lineups that have been a cornerstone in basketball since its inception which was more indicative of how the Redeem Team played. Instead he went with players who were versatile and could play multiple positions on the floor. These players also used their length and quickness to their advantage which played into the stifling defense that the team showed during the World Championships. The team also went small. Chandler was the only true center on the roster and Odom started at the position during the tournament.

Based on the success that the smaller, speedier lineup had it would not be surprising if Team USA maintained this model for the Olympics in 2012. The team has a bevy of speedy guards to choose from who can either create for themselves, like Rose and Westbrook, or distribute, like Paul. However, position versatility will likely remain the most important factor when selecting players to fill the roster.

This is beneficial for players like James, Durant, Love, and Amar’e Stoudemire who can alternate around the wing and in the frontcourt. Though any incarnation of the 2012 team will likely feature Howard as the anchor in the middle, depending on his entry into free agency next summer, he would likely be one of only a couple of players on the team that played a fixed position. Paul would be another such player.

As Colangelo begins to contact players he must also weigh the present state of the NBA and what may or may not happen between now and next July. How will the lockout, and potentially newly structured collective bargaining agreement, play into the player’s decisions? If players continue to sign overseas, how will those contracts be structured in terms of eligibility to play on a national team? If the NBA season is canceled should he hold a minicamp for tryouts? How will Bryant’s knee hold up for another year? How will free agency play into the minds of Howard, Paul, and Williams? How much will each player require in terms of insurance if they get injured while playing for Team USA? If the lockout is protracted, what shape will the players be in? Phew! And those are only some of the questions that Colangelo must consider. At least the lockout does not prevent Colangelo from speaking with the players.

No matter the make-up of the future roster, the United States will be heavy favorites to repeat as gold medalists. Tough all of the players from 2008 opted out of playing in 2010, the Olympics are too big of a stage to ignore. Colangelo knows this as it creates even more “value to them in terms of their own brands.” These days, for many players, it is all about marketing themselves and what better place to do it than in front of the eyes of the world? James, for one, could certainly use some good press and another Olympic gold would go a long way. It looks to be a long year with many uncertainties for the players and Colangelo but the outlook is optimistic. “The one thing I do know,” Colangelo said. “We have an outstanding pool of players. Whoever the 12 turn out to be, they will represent our country very well.”

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by | April 28, 2011 · 10:33 PM

Golden Days Are Here Again

Are Joseph Lacob and Peter Guber ready to fix an ailing franchise?

Keith Smart may be out of a job and the Warriors may be shopping for a new coach but the situation out in Oakland is far from solved.

As you may know by now, Smart was fired after only one season coaching the Warriors.  New ownership brought him in during training camp after deciding to part ways with Don Nelson.

On July 15 of last year, franchise owner Chris Cohan sold the Warriors to Peter Guber and Joe Lacob for a record $450 million. The duo would not take complete control of the team until November. However, the two got busy really quickly by making the trade for David Lee and signed him to his six-year, $80 million contract with the then owners’ blessing of course.

Additionally, they fired Nelson and hired on Smart, a seven-year member of the staff, as his replacement with a one-year contract with a second year option.

Seems like a lot of work done by two men that hadn’t even taken complete control.  Yet, during an interview with Sports Illustrated on the day they bought the team, Guber was asked what his plan was as far as improving the team.  His answer:

“I wouldn’t be able to answer that even if I knew the answer,” Guber told SI.com. “We haven’t done the analysis. I honestly, truthfully don’t know the answer. That is the process of examination. There are a lot of forces at work. The collective bargaining agreement is looming. The issues of free agency and trades and all kind of things are going on. We have to transition and we don’t know how long this process will unfold.”

Sort of an odd answer from a guy that just worked a deal for Lee and Dorell Wright.  Not to mention the risky signing of Harvard standout Jeremy Lin and all before the sale was even finalized on November 13, 2010.

However, in the same SI interview, Guber stated that he is an impatient man and it’s pretty apparent now.  This season, the Warriors were 36-46, a 10-game improvement from last season.  Smart kept Golden State in the playoff hunt until a six-game losing streak in March knocked them out of contention.  They ended the season strong with a three-game streak with wins over Dallas, Portland and LA but even that wasn’t enough to convince them to retain Smart.

To some it may seem like a surprise that the team has decided to part ways with Keith but again, ownership declared that he was a transitional coach.  The mentality of this is odd considering that transitional period took up an entire year but the cards are still in the Warriors’ hands.  The only starter up for free agency is Reggie Williams and the only decent bench player up for it is Al Thornton who had the worst scoring season of his career.

Additionally, with the trades that sent both Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony to the Eastern Conference, right now is probably the best time to rebuild in the West.  Utah, Phoenix and Houston all missed the playoffs and are in their respective transitional periods as well.  Last season, Oklahoma City was the eight seed with 50 wins.  This year, Memphis made the playoffs with 46.

The new ownership is a breath a fresh air for the Warriors who dwelled in the mediocre shadows of the NBA for 15 years with Cohan.  They made the playoffs only three times under him.  Sports Illustrated rated him as the fourth worst owner right behind Michael Heisley (Memphis), Cablevision/James Dolan (New York) and Donald Sterling (LA Clippers).  It’s a rating he deserved too for keeping around Don Nelson who he even sued years ago for jumping ship for New York.

Chris Cohan, an absent owner.

The Warriors only had a handful of winning seasons under Cohan as he made bad decision after bad decision.  The 1996 draft featured players such as Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antoine Walker, Peja Stojakovic, and Marcus Camby. Cohan selected Todd Fuller.

Last season, they sent Stephen Jackson packing for an injured Raja Bell.  Before that, they traded Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling for Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis.

Do we really need to get into the Latrell Sprewell incident?

Off the court, Cohan hasn’t made the best decisions either.  In 2007, the IRS accused him of tax evasion.  He was sent a letter of Deficiency by the Department of Treasury stating that he and his wife, Angela, owed $95 million in taxes and $66 million in penalties.  He was accused of purchasing several tax shelters that are tied to a New York-based organized crime investigation.  While he wasn’t part of the criminal investigation, Cohan had his hands and money tied to some shady business practices.

Now, the new ownership is determined to move on from Cohan’s mistakes and they aren’t wasting anytime.  Smart was only a temporary solution but now that Joe Lacob and Peter Guber are going into their first, full offseason with the team, they will be able to make a more methodical decision as to who they wish to hire as their head coach.   In an ESPN report, even Lacob admitted they moved very quickly:

“At some level, and certainly I know some people will say this — that [Smart] deserved another year, that he didn’t have a full roster, and there’s some truth to that,” Lacob said. “But we felt that we could be better. I think to some extent ownership wanted more so to have their guy in.”

They knew it was time to move on completely and have even stated that the new coach will retool the entire staff if he wishes.

Several names have started to swirl around from Jerry Sloan to Jeff Van Gundy. Other names include former Cleveland Cavs coach Mike Brown and Lawrence Frank who is Doc Rivers’ assistant in Boston where Lacob previously held a small stake in the team.

While it is still unknown who the job will go to, one thing is for sure, he will have to be a player’s coach.  Ownership was impressed with how Smart related to the players and promised to place his own stamp on the team.  He even shook every player’s hand in the locker room on day one and made this promise.

However, he juggled Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry poorly and even benched the rookie Curry late in a few games.  His hardline approach strained their relationship but he still had the support of the team.

Larry Riley (left) and Bob Myers (right) have a long offseason ahead.

Bringing in Bob Myers as the new assistant manager is a step in the right direction for fixing this team.  Myers is a former agent who represented Kendrick Perkins, Brook Lopez, Antawn Jamison, Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans and current Warrior Dorell Wright.  When he took the job earlier this month, he forfeited his position under Arn Tellem, one of the most powerful sports agents in the game and assumed a position that puts him right under current GM Larry Riley.  However, Myers is expected to replace the 66-year-old Riley who was brought in back in 2009 to replace Chris Mullin.

Ownership believes that bringing in Myers will give them the edge since he knows the ins and outs of player management from his time as an agent.  He is also a former player that won the NCAA Title in 1995 with the UCLA Bruins and even grew up in the Bay Area.

It was a risky decision to bring over someone without any experience as a GM especially when the likes of Steve Kerr and Kevin Pritchard are possibly looking to return to front office positions.

The Warriors have stated that they are not shopping Ellis or Curry unless the offer was too good to resist.  However, they are very unhappy with starting center Andris Biendrins and state that he has to work for his position back with the team.  They have stated that they would be willing to move Lee over to the five position or simply give it to Ekpe Udoh.  They will also have the option to see who is available in free agency.

Myers will be given a large amount of power to retool both the team and offices. The Warriors’ director of player personnel, Travis Schlenk, and director of basketball operations, Kirk Lacob, the owner’s son, are the only other two names that are guaranteed jobs.  Those four, along with the owners, have the daunting task of putting the right people in place to get Golden State back in contention.

When Don Nelson left the Warriors, it meant that his style of fast-paced ball was on its way out as well; however, the team is still moving quickly but in a different way.  New owners are scrambling to fix a broken franchise that has been run into the ground by mismanagement and a revolving door of talent.  With the right people in place, glory will return to the Bay Area.

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by | November 9, 2010 · 12:59 PM

Power Rankings

It's good to be undefeated

It’s only a handful of games into the season but it’s these games that can set the pace for teams.  Some have started the season off well.  Some haven’t.  Some are building what could be formidable playoff teams while others are already snowballing into what will turn them into lottery teams next summer.  However they are starting the season, every team is setting a theme for both the best and the worst.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (7-0)

Being the No. 1 scoring team in the league should be at no surprise for the defending champs.  Point guards Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are both averaging only four assists per game and they are putting up 22 a game (9th in the league).  They are spreading out the ball and utilizing their depth very appropriately.  We could still question parts of this bench but Blake and Matt Barnes give them a lot more to work with.  As long as Pau Gasol is playing well both defensively and offensively, sky is the limit for the Lakers.

2. New Orleans Hornets (6-0)

The Hornets are only scoring 97 points a game.  This stat comes to no surprise when you look at who can really score in New Orleans but the fact that they are still undefeated really sticks out.  A team built around arguably the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul would be thought to be perfect this far into the season around offense.  Instead, it’s the defense that is propelling this team forward.  While giving up only 91 points a game, the Hornets have held Milwaukee to 81, Miami to 93 and San Antonio to 90.  This is the best start in franchise history for the Hornets but how long can the winning last?

3. Boston Celtics (6-2)

The pieces are coming together nicely in Boston.  Rajon Rondo is averaging 15.5 assists a game and has surely won over the respect of both his teammates and the pundits.  Scoring distribution will keep this team fresh and a good man running point will definitely help.  Five of their six wins are over teams that were in the playoffs last season.  We have yet to see Shaquille O’neal and Kendrick Perkins both active on this roster.

4. Atlanta Hawks (6-2)

It’s balance that is keeping these Hawks afloat and that’s the best thing to build a season on.  Josh Smith is making a case for early MVP consideration and will just get better over the course of the season.  It’s also looking like extending Al Horford’s contract is looking like a good decision.  They are averaging 104 points a game while still collecting 32 defensive boards a game. However, this team needs to recover from its recent two game slide.

5. Miami Heat (5-2)

For those of you that expected the Heat to win 82 games, sorry but that can’t happen now.  In addition, loses to both Boston and New Orleans should be nothing to be embarrassed about right now.  Erik Spoelstra needs to figure out the best rotation of the bench that wont hurt them too much.  Right now, the bench is being outscored and outplayed.  It’s a long season and three players cannot carry a team by themselves.

6. Orlando Magic (5-1)

Orlando should technically be 6-1 but issues at Madison Square Garden caused the Knicks to postpone their inevitable loss to the Magic.  Regardless, their one loss to the Heat is warranted and Rashard Lewis needs to put up more than 2 points for the Magic to win such a statement game.

7. Denver Nuggets (4-3)

Nene, Chris Anderson and Kenyon Martin are out with injuries.  They beat the Mavericks in Dallas with Sheldon Williams starting and that speaks volumes about how this team will perform when their big men return.  Their depth will increase tremendously.  If Denver keeps winning, it may translate to a happy Carmelo Anthony and when Melo is happy, everyone is happy.

8. Portland Trail Blazers (5-3)

Holding Phoenix to just 92 points and later Milwaukee to only 76 is what is helping this Trail Blazers team make the point that they are serious about defense.  Marcus Camby can defend well but Nate McMillen will need to figure out how to get some more scoring from his frontcourt.  His starting forwards only scored nine points against the Lakers on Sunday and they aren’t even breaking 100 points per game. It was, however, their fifth game in seven days.

9. Dallas Mavericks (4-2)

Dallas has seven players that will show up every night on the court. Jason Kidd is showing almost no signs of age while the frontcourt is stacked with Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler.  Dallas narrowly beat Denver last Wednesday just to lose to them Saturday.  The Mavs will rebound once Caron Butler and Shawn Marion hit their strides.  However, Dallas needs to clean up its turnovers that are at 16 a game and their bench is ranked second to last in scoring. Although there are no “statement” games in November, beating Boston is the closest you can get to having one.

10. San Antonio Spurs (5-1)

Their record is impressive until you see that they have only beaten one team that made the playoffs last season in Phoenix.  They are fourth in the league in scoring with 109 a game and their next three games are easy wins against the Clippers, Bobcats and the 76ers.  The youth in San Antonio surrounded by a mix of good coaching and veterans will spell out an interesting season.  However, Greg Popavich needs his young guys to get the minutes they need to grow.

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3)

It’s funny that a team with Russell Westbrook is ranked 30th in the league in assists per game but when you look at the depth in OKC, it begins to make sense.  The ball isn’t being spread out enough and sheer depth may haunt the Thunder again this season.  Again, it’s 82 games and it takes more than an sixth man to get through a season and make the playoffs out West.

12. Memphis Grizzlies (4-4)

Rudy Gay became the first player in franchise history to score at least 25 points a game in five consecutive games.  However, it’s their defense that needs to step up since they are allowing their opponents to score 107 points a game.  They are undersized and young which is a bad place to be in the Western Conference.  It’s going to a long season with hopefully some growth.

13. Utah Jazz (3-3)

Deron Williams and company are obviously hurting from loosing some of their star players.  With Mehmet Okur out, the Jazz are limited in size and they are obviously having a hard time scoring when they can only muster up 78 points against the Warriors.  It wont get any easier with them playing Miami, Orlando and Atlanta this week.

14. Phoenix Suns (3-4)

Steve Nash entered the season with reservations about the Suns’ chances this season.  Losses to Portland, San Antonio and LA aren’t something to be ashamed of this season.  In all three of their loses, Hedo Turkoglu has scored six points twice and nine points once.  Maybe it’s time to put some production into this starting lineup. Alvin Gentry is going to get to the point where he no longer asks permission to yell at his team.

15. Chicago Bulls (3-3)

Derrick Rose and the Bulls really took it to the Celtics last Friday in a come back that forced overtime.  They fell short in the extra minutes but the play of both Rose and Joakim Noah should keep Bulls fans optimistic.  If Tom Thibodeau and company want to win, Ronnie Brewer needs more minutes and Carlos Boozer needs to return from injury.

16. Golden State Warriors (5-2)

The Warriors have started the season off 4-0 for the first time in 20 years.  Subsequently, three of those four wins are against teams that failed to reach the postseason last year and Utah isn’t the beast it once was.  Monta Ellis has already had two very impressive outings of 46 and 39 points and the return of Stephen Curry will greatly help this backcourt.

17. New York Knicks (3-3)

A win in Chicago could or couldn’t be a big deal this early in the season since we have yet to see them form.  Their other two wins were against Toronto and Washington which both paint a better picture of what this team is truly capable of.  We all know that Mike D’antoni teams can get worn out and that Amar’e Stoudemire’s heightened level of play wont last.

18. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3)

Cleveland has the fourth best bench as far as scoring in the league.  That same bench never got LeBron James a ring so we don’t really expect the same to pan out for Antawn Jamison and friends.  Byron Scott is letting them grow but that’s about all we expect from this season.  An initial win over Boston is impressive until you see that they lost to Toronto and Sacramento the following days.

19. Sacramento Kings (3-3)

The Kings are scoring but still allowing their opponents to rack up 107 points a game.  DeMarcus Cousins has yet to record a 10-rebound game and Tyreke Evans is still trying to do too much on the court.  Good news is that their both young and when they click, it could mean a lot to wherever the Kings end up playing next.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (2-5)

Scott Skiles is having a hard time getting the Bucks rolling into this season.  They are 30th in the league in scoring at only 89 a game and it’s mainly due to their depth.  Drew Gooden is giving them some more power up front but with just Corey Maggette producing off of the bench, it may be a long road for the Bucks.

21. Houston Rockets (1-5)

All five of Houston’s losses came from very formidable teams this season (Lakers, Warriors, Spurs, Hornets and Nuggets).  Aaron Brooks will be missed and Kyle Lowry will not be able to carry the load by himself.  Luis Scola and Kevin Martin are working out well with all the injuries but Rick Adelman needs a healthy roster in order to compete.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (2-5)

Philly started the season off with losses against Miami, Atlanta, Indiana and Washington.  If you are surprised, close this window immediately.  Evan Turner’s scoring has been up and down but what can you expect from a rookie surrounded by a bunch of trash?  Surprisingly, their bench is ranked first in scoring.

23. Indiana Pacers (2-3)

At first, it’s looks like Darren Collison may be a little in over his head at running Indiana’s point.  Then again, look at who this young man is passing to.  He filled in when Westbrook went down at UCLA and stepped up last season when Paul went down in New Orleans.  However, the talent is pretty thin in Indiana.  Danny Granger seems to be approaching a nice stride but there isn’t much other good news coming out of Indiana.

24. Detroit Pistons (2-5)

The Pistons are bottom feeders in almost every statistical category. This does not bode well for a team that is striving to achieve mediocrity. However, they have won their last two contests. Pistons fans should take any small achievement as good news because there will not be much this season.

25. Los Angeles Clippers (1-6)

At least one team in L.A. has a tough start to their schedule. The Clippers have faced the likes of Portland, Dallas, San Antonio, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Utah in their first seven games with their only win coming against the struggling Thunder. It must be hard to be the bastard child of the Staples center and see the Lakers with a sugarplum and lolly pop schedule until late January.

26. New Jersey Nets (2-4)

Right now the Nets are on a better winning pace than last year. That is the upside. It doesn’t look like Avery Johnson is ever going to let third overall draft pick, Derrick Favors, into the starting lineup anytime soon now that Troy Murphy is back. In their most recent loss, the Nets did their best Washington Generals impersonation to the Heat’s Globetrotter act.

27. Washington Wizards (1-4)

John Wall and Gilbert Arena will be reunited again. That’s good.  Their one win however, well, that’s not so good. December is going to be a rough month for the Wiz so now is their best opportunity to get some wins under their belt. Hopefully, the Republicans won’t try to filibuster their next win.

28. Charlotte Bobcats (1-6)

They were in the playoffs last season and had the number one rated team defense in the league. Now, they have a defensive rating ranked 20th. Not good. Maybe His Airness can breathe some life into this franchise. Something needs to happen, and quick, if they want another playoff birth.

29. Toronto Raptors (1-6)

The Raptors are bad. We knew they would be. They were bad last year even with Chris Bosh on their roster so what are the expectaions of them now that he is gone? Right, there are none. One thing that Raptors fans can take delight in is that the so-called Young Gunz on the team will put on a decent show every night. Jose Calderon needs to be back in the starting lineup otherwise the team’s assists will continue to be dreadful.

30. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-6)

We wrote an open letter to David Kahn. This is something we normally wouldn’t do. However, the T-Wolves are terrible. Kurt Rambis coaches like a chicken with his head cut off and has no sense that Kevin Love is their best player. They are ranked last in most every statistical category. They only thing that Minnesota fans have to look forward to is the high draft pick that the team will get next summer…which Kahn will promptly waste on yet another point guard. KAAAAHHN!

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by | October 18, 2010 · 1:50 PM

Rookie Watch

Boom or bust, here is a list of rookies that could potentially make names for themselves in the coming season. Not all of them will be in the running for Rookie of the Year but they all have something to prove to their respective teams and to the fans alike. A few of these players are already predetermined starters on their squads. Unfortunately, some on this list will find themselves deep on their team’s bench despite their talent but that should not lessen the interest in them. For others, it is simply a matter of gaining the trust of the coaching staff and teammates so that they see an increase in the number of minutes that they play. It would also not be surprising to see some on this list fail to live up to the expectations surrounding them. Nonetheless, these are the rookies to watch.

DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings

So far this summer DeMarcus Cousins has been talking the talk. He has loudly professed that he feels that he should have been drafted higher than fifth and has taken shots at Derrick Favors. Lucky for him, though, that he fell to the Kings. In Sacramento he is teamed up with last year’s Rookie of the Year in Tyreke Evans. Together the two form one of the best young duo combinations in the league. Cousins will be the starting center in Sactown with the injury plagued Samuel Dalembert sidelined for the first couple of weeks of the season. With the numbers he is putting up in preseason, 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds, Cousins looks primed to be a double-double threat every night. However, he needs to limit the fouls he commits to be even more effective while on the court. Cousins wants to be Rookie of the Year and once the season begins we shall see if he can walk the walk.

Derrick Favors – New Jersey Nets

Favors was drafted third overall by the New Jersey Nets. Teams expect a lot from a top three draft pick but are the Nets really in a position to expect anything? They were a terrible team last year and have not made any significant moves to improve. They tried to trade for Carmelo Anthony but that deal fell apart. They brought in Troy Murphy but he has been battling a back injury so it looked as if the starting job was Favors’. Avery Johnson, the Nets’ head coach, had some early glowing praise for Favors saying he is as coachable as Tim Duncan. That, however, is where all similarities between Favors and Tim Duncan end. In six games this preseason, Favors has averaged five points (he did not score at all in his last two games) and five rebounds while shooting a dreadful 33.3 percent from the floor. He has only played two games in which his numbers were even note worthy. Due to his inconsistency, Johnson made the move to replace him in the starting lineup with Joe Smith. If Favors cannot find a way to improve he will find that his name will be synonymous with those of Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic, Greg Oden, and Hasheem Thabeet.

Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers

It will be Griffin’s second year with an NBA but his first in which he takes part in a regular season game; that is unless some kind of unthinkable mishap befalls him again. Griffin is a rebounding machine and will likely lead all rookies in rebounding this season. His numbers in preseason are already eye-popping. He is averaging 17.4 points and 12 rebounds per game to go along with 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Can I get a “daayum!”? I did not care for Griffin much in college but now that he has left Norman I can take my blinders off. This kid is going to be good. In fact he will be one of the best. If DeMarcus Cousins wants to be the ROY then he needs to outperform Griffin. As of right now, there is a short list for rookie of the year and Griffin, it can be argued, deserves to be atop of it. What has yet to be seen, however, is how he will match up with some of the more punishing frontcourts in the West.

Timofey Mozgov – New York Knicks

Mozgov is the second most talked about Russian in the NBA this season. The first, of course, is the New Jersey Net’s new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov. Before Mozgov signed with the New York Knicks, few if anybody had any idea who he was. He is still a seven foot one inch tall curiosity to fans and opposing teams alike. He played his entire professional career, up until this summer, in Russia with LenVo St. Petersburg, CSK VVS-2 Samara, and Khimki Moscow Region. This summer he played on the Russian national team in the FIBA World Championships which is where most people were introduced to the latest Knickerbocker. In FIBA play, Mozgov played a bench roll with his national team averaging 13 points and 4.4 rebounds. In the preseason, with the Knicks, he is averaging 7.5 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks per game. His play thus far has caused the Knicks’ coaching staff to consider him for the role of the team’s starting center when the season starts despite his foul trouble. With hamburger enthusiast Eddy Curry as the only other true center on the roster, expect Mozgov to be named the starting center.

Jeremy Lin – Golden State Warriors

Lin was the breakout sensation of the NBA Summer League this year. Undrafted out of Harvard University, Lin, the first Asian-American to play in the NBA, was invited to play for the Dallas Mavericks’ Summer League team. The Mavericks were the only team to offer Lin an invite to Summer League. Once there, he quickly impressed all who saw him play. In five games, Lin averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals while leading the team in field goal percentage with a mark of 54.5. The highlight performance of his Summer League experience was going head to head with John Wall and out playing him at every level, Wall scored more points but only connected on four of 19 shots while Lin was six of 12 from the floor. After he impressed in Summer League, Lin chose to sign a two year contract with his childhood favorite team, the Golden State Warriors. His numbers in the preseason are not as impressive as those he logged in Summer League play because his minutes have been extremely limited as he plays behind Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Aaron Miles, and Charlie Bell at either guard position. It would behoove new head coach Keith Smart to find some more minutes for Lin. He has the potential to be a break out player.

Larry Sanders – Milwaukee Bucks

For a time, Larry Sanders closely resembled Garry Shandling and hosted his own talk show. After massive reconstruction surgery and space-age age defying treatments, Larry Sanders is now an athletic forward for the Milwaukee Bucks. Sanders played second fiddle to Eric Maynor at Virginia Commonwealth for his first two years at the school and seemed very suited for that role. He became the standout player on the team during his junior season. He won back to back CAA Defensive Player of the Year awards his sophomore and junior seasons. Sanders is getting opportunities this season as he is averaging 17.2 minutes per game but his returns are not all bright. He was drafted by the Bucks for his defense and that is what he has provided for them thus far. He is averaging three defensive rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. His best game in the preseason came against the Detroit Pistons where he totaled 12 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. Sanders’ ability to alter shots will be the reason that Scott Skiles will bring him in off the bench once the season begins but he needs to improve his scoring and rebounding if he is to become a legitimate role player on a deep Bucks team.

Tiago Splitter – San Antonio Spurs

Another foreign player making the jump to the NBA this season is Tiago Splitter. Much like Mozgov, not much was initially known about the Brazilian big man (he is listed at 6’11”) when the Spurs finally were able to sign him this summer. San Antonio drafted Splitter 28th overall in 2007. Since he was drafted by the Spurs, Splitter has chosen to play professionally in the Euroleague, where he could make more money, with Saski Baskonia. He was named the Spanish League MVP in 2010. Where many people were first able to see Splitter in action for the first time was during the FIBA World Championships in Turkey this summer when he represented his birth nation of Brazil (he has Spanish citizenship). During the tournament he averaged 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Most notably, however, is that he played for the team that gave the United States the most difficulty during the U.S.’s gold medal run. The Spurs have held Splitter out of any preseason action thus far. Splitter has a reputation of being a smart and aware player on both ends of the court which should serve him well under the guidance of head coach Greg Popovich.

Evan Turner – Philadelphia 76ers

Only one player was drafted higher than Turner was this summer. Add to that the fact that he was drafted by a team that has been inconsistent in recent years and now has a new head coach. Now, combine that with him being yet another wing player on the roster. Talk about pressure. Good thing for Philadelphia that the returns so far look to be every promising and fitting of a number two draft pick. Turner has averaged ten points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in the preseason. He was able to record a double-double against the Toronto Raptors on October 13 with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The area in which Turner must improve is his shooting percentage which stands at 30.8 percent during the preseason. If he can do that, Philadelphia may have found a player who can take the scoring burden off of Andre Iguodala allowing him to focus on defense and off the ball movement, which is where he excels. Turner may also want to add few more pounds if he continues to alternate between the shooting guard and small forward positions.

Ekpe Udoh – Golden State Warriors

Udoh has a reputation of being a one man block party. This will be beneficial for the Warriors since David Lee and Andris Biedrins are not known for their shot blocking prowess. He won Defensive Player of the Year honors in both the Big 10 and Big 12 in college with Michigan and Baylor, respectively. Unfortunately for the Warriors, he will be sidelined for much of the season with an injury. (I still like his abilities and will wait patiently for his return and that is why he makes this list.) However, it is not known exactly where Udoh will fit into the Warriors rotation when he does return to the team. Golden State is loaded at power forward with players such as David Lee, Vladimir Radmanovic, Louis Amundson, and Brandon Wright. It may simply be the case that the Warriors are too stocked at power forward for Udoh, who was taken sixth in the draft, to see some, if any, minutes upon his return.

Greivis Vasquez – Memphis Grizzlies

Vasquez was a standout at Maryland where he scored the second most points in school history and was named the ACC Player of the Year during his senior year and was awarded the Bob Cousy Award which is given to the nation’s top collegiate point guard. Despite such accolades, Vasquez fell deep in the draft before he was selected 28th overall. During Summer League play, Vasquez injured his right ankle and had surgery on it in July to remove a bone spur. Because of this, he has yet to play in the preseason but should return in time for the start of the regular season. It is conceivable that if Vasquez plays with the tenacity he did in college at the NBA level he could challenge A.C. Law and Tony Allen for backup guard minutes behind O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley. It would also not be surprising if Vasquez out performed Memphis’ other first round draft pick, Xavier Henry. Before he can do all that, though, he must get healthy and establish himself in the Grizzlies solid young rotation.

John Wall – Washington Wizards

He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft; if he did not make this list then you would have permission to punch us in the gut repeatedly. Wall looks like a player selected number one with his performances in preseason. He opened up the preseason against Dallas and at halftime had recorded only one assists. However that would quickly change in the second half as he distributed the ball nicely on route to nine assists for the game to go along with 21 points and four steals. Wall is averaging 16.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, eight assists, and 2.2 steals thus far in the preseason. He is also shooting 42.7 percent from the field. Where Wall must improve is his three-point shooting. He does not have the range in his jump shot to hit from deep with any consistency. He also needs to increase his muscle mass as Jason Kidd easily forced Wall into the block and backed him down while posting up. Other big guards will likely do the same. Wall should find himself in the conversation for Rookie of the Year throughout the season as Wall looks every bit like a number one draft pick should, but must keep his focus on the task at hand. Hopefully, Gilbert Arenas’ odd behavior will not become a distraction him.

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by | September 27, 2010 · 9:49 PM

NBA Media Day and More ‘Melo, More Problems

Nugget for now

Ah, yes, media day across the NBA is upon us once again. The hardwood is polished, player edition sneaker boxes line the locker room, our Twitter feed is chalk full of goodies, Ira Winderman is as giddy as a schoolboy despite the fact that Brian Windhorst will cover the Miami Heat for ESPN, and the smell of freshly cut grass and hot dogs wafts through the air. Wait, scratch that last part. After a long and tumultuous summer, all 30 teams are fully assembled yet again as they prepare for their first practices which begin Tuesday. New faces are introduced to the media as well as the new numbers and jerseys that the players will don this year. The new adidas jerseys seem to carry a promise similar to that of PF Flyers. Yes, all is right with the league, faces are smiling, players are sounding allegiance to their teams, and every team garners some hope for the coming season. Well, not exactly. The Timberwolves have all but ruled out a championship run. Other teams are likely to follow suit in due time.

Since the two man staff here at the beef is not yet of the press ilk that are invited to events such as media day we will do our best to keep you informed of all the happening around the league. Here is what is transpiring across the NBA on the first day of the new season. Let the games…err, practices begin.

As of today the most pressing issue that has faced the league is where Carmelo Anthony will end up. Today, he reported to the Nuggets media day, spoke to the press, and will attend practices tomorrow. So much for the nonsensical rumor that he might not show up to camp. Who would honestly believe that anyway? The only possible scenario that would involve him not appearing at camp with the Nuggets would have been if he had been traded. They still pay him after all. The least he can do is show up. Anthony’s entire stance during the “Melo Drama,” as it is being universally called now, has been one of silence. He even went so far as to say that he never publically requested a trade. Adding further that, “I’m leaving my options open.” Really, ‘Melo? You are leaving your options open? Who could have guessed?

Anthony is likely leaving his options open because of the faltering four team deal that would end up sending him to New Jersey. Why is deal faltering? Anthony does not want to be sent to a Nets squad that will be forced to give up former All Star point guard Devin Harris, who is not too thrilled about his role as trade bait of late, to the Charlotte Bobcats which would leave the reigns of the offense in the hands of Jordan Farmar. If you ever watched Farmar quarterback in Los Angeles you too would have second thoughts about this arrangement. Naturally, Chris Paul entered the conversation because of his insistence that the New Orleans Hornets trade him after he ‘witnessed’ the scorched earth tactics of some of his fellow Beijingers. Yet, Paul could not be acquired by the Nets either later this season or in 2012 due to the teams issues with cap room if they did trade for Anthony and have him sign an extension with them.

Further complicating the proposed deal is the statement that the Utah Jazz made today concerning their role in the trade. In the original package, the Jazz were to send Andrei Kirilenko to the Nuggets. Now they are saying that they have no intention of moving the Russian box score stuffer. This is the second time a team has had misgivings about this deal. Charlotte did not want to move D.J. Augustin. Despite that, however, the deal appeared to be moving forward, albeit at the speed of molasses. As the four way trade began to catch snags other teams stepped up with offers of their own.

The Philadelphia 76ers were said to have been using the likes of Andre Iguodala to lure Denver into a trade for Antony. Then, the Golden State Warriors hoped into the fray with a half-hearted offer including Stephen Curry. Hell, even the Minnesota Timberwolves got involved. Everyone wants a piece of Carmelo Anthony. It was joked that any Minnesota deal for Anthony would require a point guard to be sent to the Timberwolves. Each of these potential deals was quickly shot down be one of the sides involved. Now that media day has drawn to an end, however, and Anthony has still not been traded, the goal of the Nuggets is to get him thinking about remaining in Denver. They might not get him to sign the extension they offered him but they could convince him to stick around a bit longer. At least that is their end goal even though it may appear futile at this point.

Hey now, you're an (potential) All Star

Jazz fans can rest easier tonight knowing that the team does not plan on moving Kirilenko and that Kyrylo Fesenko did not turn up in Houston for media day. Fesenko, after a long holdout, decided to resign with Utah. When asked why he did not take the Rockets’ offer he simply said that he did not want to move. The Jazz now have two viable options at center, the other being Francisco Elson, while Mehmet Okur is out. At present there is no set time table for Okur’s return. Even better news for the jazz is that Deron Williams has his eyes set on making new teammate, Al Jefferson, an All Star this year. That should not be that hard given Jefferson’s skill sets but his health will always be the one thing holding him back.

Unlike Fesenko, Erick Dampier still has yet to find a team to call home. However, the list he made is down to four potential suitors but only one will receive a rose from Dampier. Those teams are the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trailblazers, and the Toronto Raptors. If Dampier hopes to attend the playoffs this year in uniform rather than in the stands, he really has just three choices.

Another player who has been involved in the trade buzz over the summer is Rudy Fernandez. For quite some time it was rumored that the Chicago Bulls had interest in the Blazers’ spark off the bench. Well, that was then and this is now. Today, Fernandez tweeted (yes, we use Twitter as a valid source of information) that he “prefers the European style” and “I don’t feel good in NBA.” Wow, talk about a buzz kill. No one will touch him with a 10 pole now let alone want to trade for him. Can anyone explain why these Spaniards dislike the NBA so much? Pau and Marc Gasol seem to like it just fine. What is it about Spain? Is it their three hour lunches followed by a siesta every day? Is it the Iberian weather? Is the work ethic in the NBA too much for them? Seriously, throw us a bone. We have no clue what their deal is.

At least one European expressed his interest to remain in the NBA today and with the same team nonetheless. Tony Parker, after having been connected to joining Amar’e Stoudemire in New York to play for the Knicks at the start of the summer, reaffirmed his commitment to the San Antonio Spurs. “I hope Spurs fans know I want to stay here … I’m going to take Manu’s example from last year,” Parker said. The only example that we can think of that Manu Ginobili has ever set is flopping 101. Essentially, Parker will continue to end up on the floor 87 percent of the time he drives the lane for the Spurs for years to come.

Gilbert Arenas is back. Gone are the days of treating the locker room like it was the OK Corral. This is a new Agent Zero. Wait, he changed his number. He now wears the number nine. So what are the fans and media supposed to call him now? That is presently up for debate on Twitter with some of the better ones being “Cloud 9,” “The Ninth Wonder,” and “District 9.” Seeing as how he plays for the team located in the District of Columbia, “District 9” seems to be the most apropos. Hopefully that one will stick.

“I’ve gotten better.” Those simple three words are how Kevin Durant described his game today. He still does not think that he is on the same level of LeBron James, however. Durant is a modest player. Obviously, Durant is not on the same level as James. No, he surpassed that level this summer. He surpassed him in Turkey, he surpassed him in scoring last year, and he will surpass him in MVP votes this year. It is a good thing that Durant has such a good head on his shoulders. It would be a shame if he became “one of them” and did it all for the celebrity of it.

Curry should lay off the curry while he recovers from his latest injury

In some lighter news, Eddy Curry, the much maligned and hamburger loving center for the Knicks, injured his hamstring to day during running drills in which he was lapped several times. Mike D’Antoni must have been running them hard today. It must be noted that he was lapped before he pulled his hamstring. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. Curry, looked to be the third string center going into this season despite being paid around $11 million. The Knicks are going play some of their preseason games in Europe but Curry will not travel with the team because of his injury. The whole of Knicks fandom should jointly look up to the sky, shake their fists and yell, “ISIAH!!!” Go ahead, do it. You will feel better.

The Sacramento Kings probably will not make any playoff ripples this season, but that is not stopping one of their players from wanting to make as big an impact as he can. DeMarcus Cosins wants to be the Rookie of the Year. “When I’m on the court, I’m trying to show you … especially the people that doubted my basketball skills,” Cousins said. “I want to be the Rookie of the Year. I didn’t get a chance to be the Player of the Year in college. I need my own individual award. I want mine.” That should keep the cowbells ringing at Arco. At least half of the staff at the Beef gives him a legitimate shot at taking the honor home with him this year.

Down the 101 in Los Angeles, new Clippers head coach, Vinny Del Negro, is already complaining that Baron Davis is fat. Guess he has been hiding a second chin under that beard for all these years. This story has dominated all Clippers coverage so far. Blake Griffin seems to be a complete after thought…just like the Clippers themselves. It really is too bad that Eric Gordon is relegated to play for that organization. He needs to demand a trade.

Four-tet

As people who follow the Dallas Mavericks have come to expect over recent years, the Mavs began their season touting their roster depth at media day. It is beginning to sound like a record skipping. (Do kids even know what records are anymore?) The Mavericks are easily one of the most consistently deep teams put together every year. This season, however, they have one glaring omission. There is not a traditional power forward to back up Dirk Nowitzki. Time at the backup four spot will likely be given to Shawn Marion but that makes for a small lineup. Playing the four is nothing new to Marion but a more serviceable big might be needed down the stretch. Depth at the guard will also be an issue with Rodrigue Beaubois being out with a foot injury to start the season. The Mavericks had hoped to start the young and explosive guard alongside Jason Kidd this season in an effort to ease him into a replacement role down the road. Those plans will have to be put on hold for the moment.

These are just some of the stories facing the teams as the season gets underway. Soon the squeak of rubber on wood floors will be heard in 30 different places as players either try to make the cut or work on finding their rhythm after a long summer. What media day brings everyone is a great sigh of relief. Now all the filler stories and rumors can stop being written and everyone can get back to the business of basketball. What the upcoming season may hold no one knows. What is certain after media day, however, is that everyone still hates the Miami Heat.

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by | September 23, 2010 · 9:25 PM

Don Nelson Resigns as Warriors’ Head Coach

All good/bad/controversial/unorthodox things must come to an end

Turn out the lights, Nellie’s party is over. Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber, the new owners of the Warriors have had their wishes come true. The NBA’s all time winningest coach, Don Nelson, has resigned as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, a position he has held since 2006. Both Lacob and Gruber have wanted to oust Nelson since acquiring the franchise in mid July despite the fact that the sale of the team to the both of them by Chris Cohan has not been ratified by the league as of yet. Nelson will be replaced by assistant coach, Keith Smart.

The move is not expected to be finalized until later this week, but Nelson is definitely on the way out even though he has one year left on his contract worth approximately $6 million dollars. Nelson will receive the money he is entitled to under his current contract. Smart is expected to be announced as the Warriors new head coach in time for the team’s media day which takes place on Monday, just before the start of training camp which begins Tuesday. Nelson was actually a proponent of the new ownership hiring Smart as the new head coach. Smart is expected to sign a multiyear contract.

With Nelson’s resignation, one can only hope that there could be the off occasion of a wild small ball lineup in Golden State next season. Newly acquired players such as David Lee will never find themselves a part of the mad genius schemes that Nelson was apt at cooking up. For some this will be a blessing. Actually, many will cheer this change after the Warriors dismal previous two seasons. Yet, it leaves us to wonder how he might have schemed with Golden State’s present roster. Who would not want to see on the floor concurrently the likes of Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Jeremy Lin, Ekpe Udoh, and Lee? Well, Golden State fans for one. As for the rest of us, we will have to take such a lineup to the court on either NBA Elite or 2K11.

Nelson’s style of coaching has been much maligned wherever he has been a head coach. The lineups he employed were frequently unorthodox by NBA standards but have helped to shape the present state of the game. His small ball approach to the sport has now become prevalent across the league as many teams are discarding the traditional center in place of a more mobile big man with the ability to both run the floor and knock down a perimeter shot. This year’s incarnation of Team USA, which won gold at the FIBA World Championships, can give a lot of credit to Nelson’s style of offense as they were truly undersized with Lamar Odom as their starting center. If that is not derived from Nellie’s style of ball then what is?

Yet, his style also burned bridges. In both Golden State, the first time around, and Dallas, his stints as coach and subsequent departure from those organizations left a bad taste in the mouth of ownership and resulted in law suits over money that Nelson claimed that he was still owed by the teams. Certainly, not the best parting gifts. For Dallas, his departure was even bitterer as he led his eight seed Warriors past the one seed Mavericks, the season following his release as head coach, in the first round of the playoffs.

After recently returning from vacation in Hawaii, Nelson had remained optimistic about coming back for the 2010-11 season but knew the writing was on the wall and chose to resign rather than be let go. It has become widely believed that Nelson was given the option to save face and retire as the team was going to fire him in favor of hiring Smart no matter what. Last season, Nelson surpassed Lenny Wilkens for the most wins by a coach in NBA history on April 7, 2010. His accumulated wins total stands at 1,335 to go along with 1,063 losses in 31 seasons as a head coach in the league. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Warriors twice during those 31 years.

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by | September 11, 2010 · 2:05 PM

Team USA rolls Lithuania 89-74, will play for Gold

King Kong ain't got nothing on Durant

Redeem Team who? Who needs the ghosts of the United States last gold medal Olympic team hanging over them? This incarnation of Team USA certainly does not. Why? In two words: Kevin Durant. He is the team, essentially. He is the alpha and omega of what makes Team USA work in its present form. Durant has put on a clinic this summer in Turkey. There is not a single defender that can stop him as he scores at will from all areas of the court. If this is a preview for the upcoming NBA season then you can go ahead and award him the Maurice Podoloff Trophy right now. He has put the world on notice and he is coming for that number one spot.

Team USA headed into Saturday’s semifinal match against Lithuania, after defeating Russia and earning revenge for losing to them in the 1972 Olympic gold medal game, having seen some of their biggest competitors in the tournament fall by the wayside. Argentina, ranked number one overall, had fallen to the Lithuanians and Spain, ranked third, had been edged by Serbia. The United States is the sole team ranked in the top three remaining. Serbia and Lithuania are ranked fifth and sixth respectively.

For Lithuania, Linas Kleiza has been a standout averaging 19.1 points on 60.4 percent shooting from the field. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds per game. Kleiza is returning to the NBA this season to play for the Toronto Raptors after spending a season playing for Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece. Physically, he has become bigger and stronger and will have no trouble fitting back into an NBA system (if that is what you can call the Raptors’ system) as he will be able to shift between the forward positions with ease.

Against the United States, Kleiza would turn out to be a non-factor. He scored just four points and made just one of his eleven field goal attempts and missed all four shots that he took from long range. Where Kleiza left a dud on the floor the United States had a player that looked otherworldly. Kevin Durant simply played out of his mind. He had 12 of the first 14 points that Team USA scored and 17 of the 23 that the team scored in the first quarter. By the end of the third quarter Durant had 29 points on 10-18 shooting. He was not finished yet. Durant scored nine more points in the fourth to bring his total to 38 for the game. Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski left Durant in with two minutes to play so that he could reach the 40 point mark but Durant’s last two attempts missed. His 38 point performance is a new FIBA record for an American player. He also almost recorded a double-double but was one rebound shy of the mark. Durant might be a humble individual but his game is boisterous and has a swagger all its own.

Durant and company pounced early on and did not relent. After one quarter of play they led by 11 and by halftime the lead had grown to 15 points. By this point it was clear to see that one team, and more specifically one man, wanted it more. After three quarters of play the score was 65-53. Lithuania tried to stop the bleeding in the fourth quarter with the margin being 18 points with four minutes to play.  Mantas Kalnietis connected on a three-pointer to bring the score to 82-67. However, it was answered by none other than Durant who nailed a jumper. Kalnietis responded with another, two-point, bucket 13 seconds later. This time it was Russell Westbrook’s turn to return the favor as he scored on a layup. After that exchange, the score was 86-69 in favor of the United States and Lithuania’s last scoring push had been effectively stemmed. Kalnietis would finish the game with ten points. Each team missed their next two shots but with under a minute to play Stephen Curry nailed a three pointer to seal the already decided outcome. Even though Lithuania scored the last five points of the game, it was nothing more than stat padding at that point as the final score was 89-74.

Lamar Odom had another nice game as he recorded a double-double in the victory with 13 points and ten rebounds. He also had three blocks. Khloe should be very proud of the way he has played the last two games as he has effectively proven that he can hold down the paint despite not being a traditional center. Nothing about this team is traditional, however. This team is breaking ground with its approach to the sport and for how it is viewed by an American audience. Russell Westbrook was the only other player to record double digit scoring for Team USA with 12 points. To go along with that, Westbrook had seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal in 24 minutes for what was a very well rounded game for him.

Team USA forced the Lithuanians into 14 turnovers as their defense remained steady once again during the tournament. Ten of the turnovers came as the result of steals. The United States also recorded seven blocks and held Lithuania to 38.6 percent shooting for the game. Team USA will advance to the championship game where they will look to win their fourth FIBA World Championship title against the host country, Turkey, who made a furious comeback against Serbia to win by a score of 83-82 to advance.

Sorry, Chris Sheridan, the so-called “B-Team” that you have been harping about since the Las Vegas minicamp failed to materialize. B-Teams do not make it to the championship game of anything let alone the FIBA World Championships. This is not a team full of Charlie Buckets but they have found their golden ticket and Durant’s face is embossed on it. Kevin Durant is on a mission and the culmination of that mission will be wearing a gold medal around his neck on Sunday (game begins 2 PM EST) in Turkey against their national team.

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by | August 20, 2010 · 12:12 PM

Team USA: Decentered

Five is the loneliest number

This may be the unluckiest squad that USA Basketball has ever assembled. From the beginning the US national team had its problems with recruiting and with injuries. Jerry Colangelo made statements early on this summer which threw the future of the program and its ability to lure big name NBA talent to represent the country in jeopardy. With the entire Redeem Team choosing to opt out of playing for USA Basketball this summer at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey a whole new team had to be assembled. During that process, efforts to build a cohesive unit have been hampered by a slew of injuries, contract issues, and wary general managers. Most notably, these injuries, issues, and mononucleosis in one case, have had an adverse effect on frontcourt players. As Team USA readies to play exhibition games against Lithuania and Spain this weekend in Madrid, they are outfitted with just a single true center in Tyson Chandler. Despite this lack of size, Team USA is bourgeoning with speed and length in the backcourt and along the wing. What this team may truly be out to prove is that the role of the traditional center no longer applies in today’s game. Whether this team wins gold or not they have a task before them of tearing down long standing notions about the effectiveness and need for a big man in the paint.

The most recent player to fall victim to Team USA’s injury woes was Stephen Curry. He mildly sprained his left ankle during practice on Wednesday and was forced to miss crucial time with the team. As of now, Team USA has a 13 man roster which they must whittle to 12 just prior to the World Championships beginning on August 28. This injury has placed Curry squarely on the bubble to be cut as less participation at this point is viewed as a negative. However, he went through a no contact practice on Friday and hopes to be ready for exhibition play this weekend. Whether or not Curry is cut, the final player that will be released by the team is likely to be a guard as Team USA’s roster is replete with them. Where the team is lacking is at the center of a shift in attitudes and style currently taking place across the NBA.

For better or for worse, Team USA has unwittingly anointed themselves as the great experiment. No, they do not have trans-warp drive, but with the number of guards they have they sure do have speed. Their experiment is one that has been implemented by Jerry Sloan in Utah recently, Don Nelson throughout his career, and is the model for any Mike D’Antoni offense. They have all relied on speed, quickness, and athleticism over size and power. Essentially they are the architects who transformed what used to be standard role of a center into an arcane practice. With them the center has to be mobile and versatile, a long range jump shot is a must. Post play, as limited as it is in their systems of the pick-and-roll, will come from the power and small forwards. Team USA has fully embraced this concept, although unintentionally, with the roster they have composed. If they were so worried about their size in the frontcourt they probably would have kept JaVale McGee on the team. Team USA will be the test for whether the center position is obsolete or not and if the European style of basketball is the new model for the NBA.

The dominant center model is one that many teams have struggled to let go of as their quest to find the next Hakeem Olajuwon continues in earnest. He is not out there. Yes, there are players such as Dwight Howard in the league today but his skill set is limited at best. The two time reigning defensive player of the year (an award I still contest) is quite one dimensional in his offensive abilities. Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing (and possibly David Robinson) were the last of a now dead breed. Here is where one would attempt to inject Shaquille O’Neal’s name into the debate. O’Neal is more of a transition center built on the archetype of the dominant five. Each of his championships has come not as a result of his play alone, but because of his pairing with a versatile shooting guard. Essentially, O’Neal helped to usher in the demise of position he plays. His size has become cumbersome in today’s game. His first few outings with the Cavaliers last season were disastrous and opposing teams were using him and his lethargic body as they set screens and pick-and-rolls to lure him out of the comfort zone of the paint. It worked to perfection.

With Coach Mike Krzyzewski taking notes from D’Antoni’s playbook, Team USA is either adapting to an international style of play or embracing the future of the game. It is clearly the latter. Who will back up Chandler at center since he is the only legitimate five on the roster? Lamar Odom will. One of the most exciting dynamics that this presents is the possibility of a point-center. Odom is accustomed to being a point-forward in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense in Los Angeles so it would not be too far fetched to think that he would be called upon, at times, to run the point while he was the center on the floor. This concept could not have existed during the big man dominant days that litter the history of basketball. Some could argue that Magic Johnson played point-center for the “Showtime” Lakers in the 1980s but this is simply not the case. A team with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on it has no need or concept of a point-center.

In today’s game, smaller is better. Think of the dominant big man center as the Macedonian phalanx. For years they were the cornerstone of every NBA team. If a team did not have one, they were actively seeking one. When the opposing team had a dominant center the game was over even before the tip. Both the large dominating center and the Macedonian phalanx were thought invincible. Now the post game of the center is as obsolete as the formations of the phalanx. The center was one dimensional: grab rebounds, dunk the ball, and block a few shots in close. Centers were basically immobile using their sheer size to gain leverage over a defender. Now those same attributes have become hindrances, the center, in the traditional sense, has fought its Battle of Pydna. Team USA has embraced the future.

If Team USA is able to bring home gold for the first time since 1994 with the roster it has in place it will be the crowning achievement of small ball and the present sea change taking place, mostly in small markets, in the NBA. Already, many teams have adapted a backcourt of combo-guards instead of the traditional point and shooting guard lineups. Versatility has also become more important in the sport as players that have the ability to play two to three and possibly four positions are coveted over those with limited scope and range to their games. Coach Krzyzewski made it very clear from the outset of minicamp that player versatility was of the utmost importance. Only taking one center to Turkey fits the new model perfectly. The post game is dead; the center is no longer the queen, it has become the rook. Many will question whether the lack of size on the team may hamper their rebounding efforts. It may, but there will likely be no team in the tournament that can adjust, let alone matchup, with the lineups that Team USA can put on the court. However, Team USA may come to regret their center-less experiment when they face off against Greece in exhibition play on August 25. It is always a good thing to have a few big guys on your side when a fight breaks out.

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by | August 15, 2010 · 1:19 PM

Team USA cuts Two More

JaVale McGee: left behind

In further preparation to scale their roster size down to twelve for the upcoming FIBA World Championships in Turkey this month, Team USA cut two more members of their roster. Jeff Green and JaVale McGee have been let go just prior to the team leaving for Spain on Monday. This is the second time that McGee has been released from the team. He was brought back, after the initial cuts, when Brook Lopez left training camp because of mononucleosis.

Neither Green nor McGee participated in Saturday’s scrimmage against China at Madison Square Garden which led many to believe that they would be cut. Team USA won 95-81 behind Danny Granger‘s 22 points. Granger, it seems, is suffering no ill effects from the finger he dislocated at the start of training camp. The team announced its decision to part ways with the two players before Sunday’s scrimmage with France at MSG.

This has been a busy weekend for Team USA as they have been the focal point at the World Basketball Festival. They played a blue and white scrimmage on the stage before an audience at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday to kick off the festival before Jay-Z took the stage in a further attempt to assert himself on the the sport. (The Jigga Man is nothing more than a minority owner on the league’s worst team.) This was followed up by various appearances by players at events across New York City, including Kevin Durant stopping by Rucker Park. Sunday’s scrimmage against France will be the last event for the team before they depart for Europe.

Team USA’s roster now stands at thirteen. Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Granger, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook will all travel to Madrid as Team USA will hold exhibition games against Lithuania and Spain before the World Championships start. Many believe that Gordon and Curry are the most likely candidates battling for the final roster position.

Now that McGee has been cut, Team USA only has one true center in Chandler. If the team has any hopes of succeeding they will have to get rebounding contributions from every position. Odom and Love should get their share of rebounds but guards such as Rondo will need to make a concerted effort to get in the lane and scrap for boards.

With such a guard heavy roster, Coach Mike Krzyzewski might think about brushing up on his Nellie-ball. The team will be forced to play small ball for much of the game, with Odom playing center at times. Speed will be their friend and they must use it to gain an advantage. If they cannot do that, the gold metal that has eluded them since 1994 at the World Championships will continue to be out of reach.

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