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October 20, 2009 ...The Orlando Magic are the team I think people should be talking about more than the Boston Celtics. Think about this with regard to their changes since being in the Finals last season. Hedo Turkoglu was upgraded to Vince Carter. Rafer Alston was upgraded to a healthy Jameer Nelson. Instead of too much playing time for bench players such as J.J. Redick, and Mickael Pietrus - the Magic now have more choices and better options in newly acquired Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, and Ryan Anderson (who may start). The only relative weakness I see in Orlando is at backup Point Guard where Anthony Johnson and Jason Williams (White Chocolate) are likely to be the guys who spell Nelson. Rashard Lewis is suspended for the opening ten games of the season for using a banned substance. ...I think it is silly that coaches will let an obviously hurt player continue to play until he motions to the bench that he needs to come out. Last night, Derrick Byars tweaked his left knee. We all saw it. Yet Vinny Del Negro let play continue for a trip up and back before the refs finally blew their whistles out of pity to get the poor kid off the floor. In the meantime - Byars tried to run on a hurt knee for 50 yards more than he should have had to.  That is not proving toughness. That is just being stupid. While I’m at it - why do some coaches feel that they can’t substitute in preseason crunch time the same way they would in a regular season or playoff game. “You play like you practice”, is what coaches espouse. Then, in a tight preseason game, down two points, and on offense after a timeout - a coach will trot out the same five players he had in the game previously even if he only has one three-point shooting threat in that five. ...Simply stated - all coaches should coach to WIN games. Preseason, regular season, playoffs, - especially at home, a coach should be showing the fans that he is engaged and trying everything he can to win. 

 

October 19, 2009 ...Join the BasslineSpin.com Salary Cap Challenge at SportingNews.com. It’s free! Click HERE.

 

October 18, 2009 ...I’ve been overloading on basketball. Within the last 24 hours I’ve seen the Kings-Warriors (live at ARCO), Knicks-Maccabi Tel-Aviv (NBA-TV), Boston-Toronto (NBA-TV), and now I’m watching the Clippers-Lakers on the web. ...Random thoughts on what I have witnessed (which by the way -  is always supported by current statistics.)  I am worried about Kevin Garnett. He doesn’t look right to me. He is clearly favoring one leg and watching him eerily reminded me of watching the late Derek Smith post knee surgery. KG is a complete player and I have no doubt that he can be efficient on one leg but the days of outrageous efficiency and being the highest rated Power Forward in the NBA could be in serious jeopardy unless he makes huge strides in his recovery. ...Kendrick Perkins looks good again for the C’s and Eddie House is as sharp as ever. ...The Raptors have an issue at Shooting Guard. Marco Belinelli and rookie DeMar DeRozan are battling it out but neither one is worthy yet of a starting position in the NBA. Making matters worse in Toronto is the fact that in-efficient players Sonny Weems, and Quincy Douby are the guys behind Belinelli and DeRozan.  ...D’Or Fischer of Maccabi should be in the NBA ‘fo sho’. Against the Knicks Sunday—Fischer had 19 points, 16 boards, four assists, and four blocked shots. For what it’s worth we listed Fischer #46 in our 2005 Draft Rankings. He went un-picked.  ...Larry Hughes of the Knicks was 0-18 from the field for the preseason before making a shot today. ...The Kings need to play Tyreke Evans at Small Forward. He is a big-time player and he needs to be on the floor but his assist-to-turnover ratio for the Vegas Summer League and preseason combined is 1.05 to 1. Any team is going to have a tough time winning when their Point Guard has numbers such as Evans’. He CAN get to the basket - but if you take the ball out of his hands to start with—I think his turnover numbers will go down. There will be less wild and ill-advised trips into traffic. Likewise - teammates will be more involved with Sergio Rodriguez or Beno Udrih as the primary offense starters. Evans is shorter than most SF’s but his long arms, and thick body allow him to guard opposing “Three’s”. As previously stated here—Desmond Mason is not the answer. He can’t score with consistency—and although he does play defense and is a good teammate - his inefficiency leads to losing. ...Omri Casspi - so far - has shown me that he is NOT ready for prime NBA minutes in the regular season. He is active and interesting and I see potential in him but for the combined Vegas Summer League and Preseason to date his Efficiency rating is .290. That is a number that leads to losses more than it leads to wins. ...Other newbies to the NBA that are struggling when you combine Summer League and preseason numbers include: Dionte Christmas (Sixers) .187, Gerald Henderson (Bobcats) .225, Wesley Matthews (Jazz) .234, Jermaine Taylor (Rockets) .247, Taylor Griffin (Suns) .250, Curtis Jerrells (Spurs) .250, Jerel McNeal (Clippers) .261, Danny Green (Cavs) .275, Wayne Ellington (Wolves) .276, and B.J. Mullens (Thunder) .294. ...So what rookies are playing well? DaJuan Blair (Spurs) .817, Blake Griffin (Clippers) .616, Garrett Siler (Hawks) .579, Ty Lawson (Nuggets) .540, Marcus Landry (Knicks) .537, Rodrigue Beaubois (Mavs) .532, Jon Brockman (Kings) .527, Dante Cunningham (Blazers) .507, Darren Collison (Hornets) .503, Taj Gibson (Bulls) .490, Austin Daye (Pistons) .489, Derrick Brown (Bobcats) .489, Jonny Flynn (Wolves) .489, James Harden (Thunder) .456, Brandon Jennings (Bucks) .452. ...Evans’ EFR is .448. ...The Houston Rockets have a dilemma.  Their front court is crowded with Luis Scola, Carl Landry, David Andersen, Chuck Hayes, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Brian Cook, and Joey Dorsey. Pops has proven he belongs . Dorsey was great this Summer and he looks good now as well—providing Ben Wallace-esque play. Andersen is an experienced European pro that will likely play big minutes along with Scola. Landry continues to be the most efficient BIG the Rockets have. That could leave the charge-taking Hayes out in the cold and Cook possibly out of the show. ...Or maybe they move someone.  ...In Dallas - Kris Humphries is playing extremely well. With a .904 EFR (just 94 minutes though), the former Minnesota Gopher could eat into James Singleton’s minutes.  ...My favorite player in the NBA today is Renaldo Balkman of Denver. You want to see some hustle? Watch Balkman. That is - if George Karl lets him play.