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February
11, 2008 ...If it is true that Mark Cuban is unwilling to trade for Jason Kidd because he does not want to part with
Devin Harris - then
Cuban is smarter than I thought he was. Kidd is the better player but Harris
is ten years younger and no slouch in the Point Guard department. ...The team
who should try to get Kidd is Cleveland. The Cavs PG situation is really bad.
If Cleveland cannot pull off a trade - I believe they should consider playing
LeBron James at the
ONE. He is older, and wiser and certainly skilled enough to handle the ball
full time. Cleveland’s efficiency would improve unquestionably. ...We watched
USC again over the weekend and again we were not impressed with O.J. Mayo. We did love the game of Kyle Weaver—which happens virtually every time
we see him play. ...Saw Louisville beat Georgetown as well. I like the
enthusiasm that Terrence Williams plays
with. February
7, 2008 ...Last night we watched one live and one on the
DVR. The live game was the Kings being drilled by the Seattle Supersonics. Earl Watson had a triple-double for Seattle and
the Kings looked like crap. Kevin Martin was in
a fog. ...On DVR—we watched Duke dominate North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The
Tar Heels were playing without Ty Lawson -
their ultra speedy and skilled Point Guard. It showed. They looked lost. Plus
Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green offered very little in the way of
help. Tyler Hansbrough was
rock solid as usual, and Marcus Ginyard played
well but without Lawson they were no match for Duke’s toughness, and talent.
The Blue Devils this season have heart, and moxie unlike previous versions.
Freshman Kyle Singler is a
future NBA player. Point Guard Greg Paulus is
finally healthy and he is playing almost 100% better than he has in any other
season. Paulus was a former high school football standout at quarterback, and
he plays the game with the toughness of a grid iron guy. Gerald Henderson Jr. has freakish athletic ability and he
is showing signs of putting it all together at SG. ...Try saying “Rivalry
Week” four times fast. I think ESPN should change that title next year.
Basically, each week of college hoops has a theme. This week is Rivalry Week
—which seemingly no announcer can say with precision. How about, “Seven Days
of Rivalry”? Or “Nothing but Rivals”? February
6, 2008 ...Shaquille O’Neal to the
Suns? For Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks? Marion is younger, more efficient,
and less hurt. Banks is a guy that could be a solid backup on most teams but
will likely be the best guard not named Dwyane Wade on the
Heat. Phoenix will have a better, second option BIG in Shaq (than Brian Skinner) but what is gained in Shaq does not
come close in my mind to what is lost in Marion. The former UNLV star is
still a great rebounder and floor runner. If you look at Marion as a Small
Forward—he is the second rated player in the league. As a PF - Marion is
rated seventh. I do expect Shaq to be good in Phoenix simply because he will
be playing with such a smart Point Guard in Steve Nash. I can’t stress enough how bad the
guards (outside of Wade) are in Miami. Shaq should be rejuvenated in PHX. His
present efficiency is down but he is still the 15th best Center in the NBA.
Plus he will give Phoenix another BIG body to bang against the likes of Tim Duncan, Andrew Bynum &
Pau Gasol, and Yao Ming. February
4, 2008 ...Bob Knight resigned.
I never cared much for him or his style but I do respect his basketball
philosophy. The first offense I learned as a kid was the motion offense which
was taught to me as ’what Bobby Knight runs at Indiana’. In college, as a Sac
Stater, I took Joey Anders’ basketball
theory classes which went in-depth into playing Knight’s, ‘man-to-man’
defense. Position is critical, I learned, in a man-to-man with zone
principles. …
Dickie V. is back.
...On Saturday I was all hyped for the Arizona visit to Pauley
Pavilion. What a waste of anticipation. UCLA crushed the Wildcats. It was not
close. I had previously stated that I didn’t think the Bruins were as good
this year as they have been in past seasons. I want to recant that statement.
UCLA IS good. Kevin Love is
performing at a Player of the Year type level. They have athletic guards and
they play stifling team defense. ...Arizona just has zero depth. After Jerryd Bayliss, Chase Budinger, Jawann McClellan, and Jordan Hill there just isn’t much. Budinger
looked superb against USC but he was passive and pouty at UCLA. ...Bayliss
was unremarkable at UCLA after prior showings that had me too excited about
his potential. ...I can say with certainty that this is the toughest year yet
to try to narrow it down to only 60 guys that are NBA draftable. Some of it will sort itself out as players
decide whether to stay in school or go pro but right now I can make a case
for about 110 players that I think are capable of playing in the NBA. The
talent pool is DEEP. ...One of those
110 is St. Mary’s Diamon Simpson.
Right now I have him outside my top 60 but if he can improve his shooting and
cut down on turnovers—he has a shot. Simpson is a 6’7” Small Forward that has
NBA athleticism (think Matt Barnes).
Simpson rebounds like a champion and is said to be a hard worker. February
1, 2008 ...The Lakers get the highest kudos for acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis. Gasol is a gifted
offensive player that will have the luxury of playing alongside Andrew Bynum (once Bynum is healthy). Pau’s short
comings are all related to his soft defensive approach. He is not a stopper
at Center. But if he can have less responsibility with a Bynum to save him on
the backside, then Gasol should be all gravy for the Lakey. Pau rates as the
eighth best player by efficiency in the NBA at either PF or C. For the
record—I am a fan of Javaris Crittenton who
was sent from L.A. to Memphis. Crittenton has size and ability as a point
guard. The curious thing to me is... Why is Memphis stockpiling young PG’s?
They already have Mike Conley Jr., and
Kyle Lowry.
...Kwame, Kwame, Kwame. I’m just not a fan of Kwame Brown and I think the Lakers were lucky to
find a taker. ...Okay … now some hot wind in regard to the All-Star reserves.
First off, everyone can’t make it. I understand that. But if you don’t think
reputation, being coachable, being mentally tough and having the approach of
pro’s pro, isn’t a big deal, then think again. That is the only way you could
put Brandon Roy on the
Western team ahead of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Josh Howard or Shawn Marion. Roy is the new darling of the NBA.
I also do not understand the fascination with Joe Johnson in the East. Really? Ahead of Jose Calderon? ...Tonight we took in the Kings win
over the Hornets at ARCO. Sac played well again. ...For the second
consecutive game the Hip Hop Crew danced to music that was anything but hip
hop. WTF? |