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February 9, 2006 ...The Kings walloped the tired Chicago Bulls tonight at ARCO Arena. The “Bob rule” was in effect inside the seven-minute mark—and I was well on my way back to Rocklin by the time the game ended. The “Bob rule” tells me when a game is decided—which allows me a jump start on the heavy traffic leaving the arena. The biggest and most amazing comeback from a late deficit that I have seen was the famous Maryland—Duke game where Jason Williams brought back the Blue Devils from ten points down with 54 seconds to play. Since seeing that I always have figured that anything less than a ten point lead with more than 54 seconds is not fully safe. I extend the rule thusly: 15 points at 2:54, 20 points at 4:54, 25 points at 6:54, etc… It has not failed yet. ...I’m weird. I know. ...The Bulls were tired because they won in Denver last night. Chicago’s offense was virtually non-existent tonight. Tyson Chandler must not have any confidence because there is no way a guy with his body and athletic ability should be barely able to score. ...I don’t care for Chicago’s offense or use of personnel. I think their record should be better. ...Brad Miller’s post defense has improved. He smothered an attempt by Mike Sweetney without hesitation. ...Air Slamson makes me laugh. ...I am trying not to get too excited over Ron Artest because I know how the story goes with comfort zones. Let’s not judge at all but be careful not to go overboard with the “Artest is a leader” talk. That being said, the Kings are markedly improved from just three weeks ago. Kevin Martin is playing fantastic basketball. I hope he does not fall in love with the three-ball too much though. He needs to keep developing that ‘Rip Hamilton game’ with floaters and curls in the lane. ...Francisco Garcia is starting to live up to my lofty expectations. Off the dribble as a point guard—Garcia is setting up open teammates. Furthermore—Francisco is playing terrific on-the-ball defense.
February 5, 2006 …And now a glance at some of the best college players that I have been looking at… I’ll rattle off 15 players worth starting to zero-in on. Freshman - Tyrus Thomas—LSU. He is 6’9” 215 lb—and is presently the most efficient player I know of. ...Shelden Williams—Duke. The SR. power forward is known as the “Land Lord” . He is 6’9” 245—and rebounds all day and all night and never takes a bad shot. He blocks shots too. ...Yemi Nicholson—Denver. Nicholson is a huge man with good instincts, and great timing. .He stands 6’10”. Nicholson was Sun Belt Player of the Year last season. He is a musician that started playing ball late in his career. He rebounds well, and blocks shots at a high rate. He gets his points on put backs and by beating slower bigs to the basket with his quickness. ...Patrick O’Bryant—Bradley. This big youngster is 7’0” 262 lbs. He is a sophomore with good hands, great size and length. Raw defensively, O’Bryant catches and turns to finish well. ...P.J. Tucker—Texas. Junior. Pro scouts may call him a “tweener” - I see a good basketball player. He is 6’5” 220 lb. ...Randall Hanke - Providence. A 6’11” sophomore that is efficient in an uncanny way around the basket. ...Adam Morrison—Gonzaga. This seems to be one case where the hype is deserved. Morrison is special. The most famous Zag is 6’8” and plays two-guard or small forward. He is a scorer with amazing confidence and the most advanced mid range game I’ve seen in a while. He plays hard, and competes too! ...Taj Gray. 6’9” 235 lb power forward from Oklahoma is amazingly quick for a man of his size. He is a step ahead of everyone. He finishes as well as anyone I've seen. ...Makes great catches that others would not make. ...Grant Stout - Northern Iowa. He is 6’8” 210 lbs. A small forward. Stout plays defense. He was Iowa's 2003 High School 1A Player of the Year. Stout is developing his outside game but has great size for a small forward. He is an athletic kid that ran track (sprints), and played football in high school. ...Nick Fazekas. The Nevada big man runs awkwardly but finds a way to get it done. He can knock down threes but is better around the hoop. At 6’11”, Fazekas was the 2004-05 WAC Player of the Year. You may have noticed that the Wolfpack have been on a great run in the last three years since Fazekas hit Reno. ...Brandon Rush. Kansas. He can score in a million ways and plays good ‘on-the-ball’ defense. A versatile performer with more game than either of his brothers Kareem or Jaron. Brandon Rush is a freshman shooting guard at 6’6”. ...Arnaud Dahi - Old Dominion. He is a 6’7” 220 lb. small forward from Ivory Coast, South Africa. He was a soccer defender that has taken to hoops. I like the way he plays defense. A glue player. ...LeMarcus Aldrige—Texas. He is 6’10” 230 lb. A sophomore that can rebound in traffic. He runs, catches, and finishes plays at NBA speed. A right hander - he played for the Global Games Select team. He was a McDonalds All-American high school player. ...Andrew Brackman. N.C. State. 6’10” 210 lb. big man is an athlete. He is a pitcher on the baseball team. Ohio's high school Division I Player of the Year in both basketball and baseball (pitcher). Now a sophomore, he can shoot and is active around the hoop. ...Curtis Withers - Charlotte. ...A 6’8” 230 lb. small forward that can rebound.
February 1, 2006 ...The NBA All-Star break is coming quickly. Here is our opinion on who deserves All-Star status this season. It appears the Eastern starters, as voted by the fans, will be Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Jermaine O’Neal, and Shaquille O’Neal. Jermaine O’Neal is injured and likely will not play. I believe the Eastern guys that deserve to be added (by the coaches vote) are Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Dwight Howard. What will most likely happen is that the coaches will reward the Pistons - putting Ben Wallace, and Rip Hamilton on the team. Those destined to be left out (again) include Gilbert Arenas and Drew Gooden. Richard Jefferson is another possibility. Out here in the West—it looks like the starters will be Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Yao Ming. In a tough, tough, call—I go with my seven reserves as: Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Dirk Nowitzki, Sean Marion, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Mehmet Okur. The other choices to backup Yao are Brad Miller or the oft-injured Marcus Camby. Camby is having a great season when he is on the court. If I had to guess—the coaches will not be progressive enough to vote Chris Paul in—so look for Ray Allen, or Baron Davis as the likely choices. Three players not yet named are having great seasons but happen to play forward in one tough conference. They are; Pau Gasol, Rashard Lewis, and Carmelo Anthony. Fans of these guards may gripe when their guy’s are snubbed; Sam Cassell, Mike Bibby, and Andre Miller. |