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HammerDown! Basketball Journal Archives September 2003 - By Bobby Gerould - Rocklin, CA.

09/29/03 ...Denver made a smart move by re-signing Chris Andersen. We see lots of potential in his energetic game. ...We like Detroit's move to bring in Tang Hamilton. While Justin Hamilton is more likely to make the team, Tang can score, and we like that. ...The Kings scored points for luring back Jabari Smith, a skilled power forward that should be in the league. Orlando, or was it the Kings got young Alton Ford. The Sacramento Bee reported Ford would be in Kings camp but NBA.com says Alton signed in Orlando. ??? ...Good job by the Knicks for looking at durable four year Notre Dame starter Matt Carroll. We like this kid's shooting ability and toughness. He was First Team all Big East as a Senior. He is a bit slow but shoots it well, and understands the flow of offense. He makes basketball plays. Foot speed will be a concern for guarding NBA two's. He would be better suited as a three but will be overmatched at 6'5" with limited athletic ability. He is an 84% free throw shooter, right handed, a leader, and he showed coolness under pressure in college. ...Derrick Dial is guy we think should be in the NBA, coming off the bench. He is in Orlando's camp. The Magic get an affirmative nod for that camp signing. ...San Antonio gets a free pass from me for getting Devin Brown. I love him. So Igor Rakocevic, and Sean Marks don't matter. ...The Grizzlies could use some more size. Pau Gasol, Lorenzen Wright, and Stromile Swift are formidable, and will command playing time. Ryan Humphrey plays bigger than his size, but after that, Cezary Trybanski, is the "depth". The perimeter players are suddenly plentiful in Memphis. Competitive camping could lead to some bruised egos with minutes only spreading so far. Troy Bell, Michael Dickerson, Dahntay Jones, Wesley Person; all scoring guards. Depth at Three is apparent with Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Theron Smith and James Posey. Jason Williams, Brevin Knight, and Earl Watson at point. Seems to me the Grizz should be the team to hit if you were lacking good guards, or wingmen. For example, Atlanta sure could be better than Dan Dickau/Jacque Vaughn at the point. While were are at it. Brevin Knight seems to be the guy forgotten about. Brev can ball, y'all. Don't forget that Brevin Knight plays defense. Stanford's all-time leader in assists (780) and steals (298) is a true point guard. No, he's not better than J-Wil, and Earl Watson has made serious strides. Brevin is now 28 years old, a veteran of seven NBA seasons. He's yet to play all 82 games in a season. But now that we know the deal (he's not a guy that starts and plays huge minutes), Brevin Knight is the perfect backup point. Orlando could use Brevin Knight. They have Ty Lue (overrated), Keith Bogans (rookie), Shammond Williams (more two than one), and Dial.

09/27/03 ...Shawn Marion has supposedly bulked up for the 2003-04 season. It's no secret we love Marion. We rate him behind only T-Mac, Kobe, Dirk, and Paul Pierce at his position. ...I still believe Frank Johnson deserves a ton of credit for the Suns success last season. ...I am extremely happy that the season is just around the corner.

09/26/03 ...Good Job by the Hawks in bringing back Dion Glover. ...Nice job by the Jazz getting Ademola Okulaja into training camp. ...Kudos also to Denver on signing the big man Chris Marcus. Marcus is a HUGE question mark. He hasn't played in a game since January 18th, 2003. He seems to be constantly hurt. The 2000-01 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year is a HUGE man. 7'1", 301 lb.., with a measured wingspan of 7'8". He had the largest wingspan of any player measured in Chicago, June 2003. Marcus was hurt most of his Senior season (broken foot). He led the country in rebounding as a junior. Playing hurt, late in the season as a Senior, he labored to get up and down the floor. His hands are not that great. All that being said, Marcus is still the rare SUPER-BIG man that is coordinated. His right handed jump hook is virtually unguardable. He is a SUPER rebounder, good shot-blocker, needs to work on his passing. The foot probably kept him from being drafted. The foot is carrying 285 lb. at least, and he is only going to get heavier. ...He has decent touch, 70% Free Throw shooter, He stays within himself offensively. He has no illusions of being a perimeter player. Marcus led the Hilltoppers to two straight Sun Belt championships. ...Can't sign off on the Bimbo Coles signing in Miami. ...Even worse, Rick Apodaca of Hofstra signs with Orlando. That boy gots a hell of a agent! He shot 35% at a small D1 school. I'm sure that will translate well to the NBA. I am scoring at home and Orlando must be questioned for the Jeryl Sasser selection, let alone Steven Hunter. I believe Reece Gaines will prove to be an overrated pick. Their good move though was getting Drew Gooden for Mike Miller. Why they signed Tyronn Lue is a mystery to me. Lue ranked 54th in efficiency among those point guards that played 300 minutes last season. Keith Bogans was a good pick. ...Seattle has invited six free agents to their training camp. Good job by them getting Mikki Moore, and Jason Hart in their camp. Sacramento's Matt Barnes was also invited with Galen Young, Richie Frahm, and DePaul's Sam Hoskin. ...

09/24/03 ...People are being signed. I am snoring. Peter Cornell, Darvin Ham, Ken Johnson. zzzzzzzz ...The best recent signings were Kenny Anderson to Indiana, and Voshon Lenard to Denver. Good move by Larry Bird in getting a veteran point guard that can get it done for the Pacers. Kenny Anderson sets up teammates. Big help! ...Lenard to Denver, I guess I'm lukewarm on that one but Voshon is better than many of the other choices available. ...Portland did well by getting quality reserve Scott Padgett into their training camp. Padgett should make that team easily. He rebounds,shoots the three and played in all 82 games last year in Utah. ...I bet Austin Croshere wasn't mad to see Isiah go. Croshere can play. Why he didn't in Thomas' Pacers lineup is odd to me.

09/11/03 ...Sarunas Jasikevicious (spell?), the point guard for the Lithuanian National team was beyond impressive in the European Championships last night. His skill in executing the pick and roll, and knocking down the three ball left no doubt that he is NBA worthy. He did force some shots but you take that when a point guard is aggressive. He pluses outweighed his minuses. ...Again, we applaud the decision to show the international basketball on NBA-TV. The League cannot do enough to familiarize fans with players who import to the NBA. Case in point. In one game we were reacquainted with the games of Darius Songaila, Marko Jaric, and Predrag Drobnjak. ...Says a family female, "Kings fans will love Songaila. He's ten times cuter than Scot Pollard." Songaila was obtained in trade with Boston over the summer. As previously stated, he can help the Kings. Songaila runs the floor tirelessly, and finishes around the hoop with either hand. A smart player that takes good shots! ...Siskauskas, who we learned is called the "Baltic Scottie Pippen", was also an eye opener, busting 27 points vs. Serbia-Montenegro

09/08/03 ...Holy smokes! The Hawks bench is horrible! I just looked at their team. Yo, Atlanta, you might need a little more than rookie, Travis Hansen, Randy Holcomb, and Nzar Mohammed. Let's make your moves for you. Waive Cris Crawford. Sign guard Nate Green, and forward Derek Hood. NBDL players both of them. They are versatile and athletic. Hood rebounds, and runs the floor, and Green is a smooth team player. Sign Rodney Bias, and bring back Dion Glover. Also, start Dan Dickau over Jacque Vaughn, with Jason Terry, Boris Diaw, Shareef, and Theo.

09/05/03 ...Rafer Alston to the Heat is another positive vibration by the improved Miami team for 2003-04. Alston was good last season after a string of poor years. He has fantastic vision, adding to the mix of assist men (Lamar Odom, Dwayne Wade) on Pat Riley's team. Among free agent point guards left out there, Alston makes sense. Cheaper than Mark Jackson or Kenny Anderson, and still a guy with an upside. "Skip" is a playground point guard legend with a cult following. The Heat have street cred. More importantly, the Heat made their second team a better team. ...Unlike the Hawks who signed Jacque Vaughn. Vaughn is tough but he doesn't score enough. It is important not to hate. I simply call em like I see em. Poor move by the Hawks. Since we are on record, I like Nate Green, or Tierre Brown better.

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