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November 22, 2009 ...The Houston Rockets have started better than many (including me) thought they would. Credit should quickly be given to Rick Adelman and his staff and also to GM Daryl Morey for providing efficient players deep into the roster. Carl Landry was an outright steal by the Rockets. Houston obtained his draft rights by sending a future second-round selection and cash considerations to Seattle on June 28, 2007. He is shooting 56% FG, and 89% from the line. Next - you have to nod at Luis Scola for his skilled play in the post despite giving up size nightly. Finally - Kyle Lowry has been a HUGE part of Houston’s success. He sets the table well for Landry, and Scola. ...I can think of three teams that could really use Nick Young who is rotting on the Washington bench. Cleveland would be more efficient than with Young rather than Daniel Gibson. Charlotte could use anyone that can score, and so could New Jersey.  ...Evaluating talent is a moving target. I disliked Will Bynum’s game as a college player. But some players DO improve and become more efficient with experience. Bynum is now a top-tier Guard in the NBA any way you slice it. ...In doing my bi-weekly NBA stat audit—I was shocked to see how poorly Ronnie Brewer is performing in Utah. His .325 EFR is a career low for him. ...Also in Utah - I’m proud of Wesley Matthews for making an NBA roster without being drafted - BUT - the Jazz will be so much better when C.J. Miles or Kyle Korver return from injuries, pushing Matthews to the bench. ...The Portland Trailblazers need to be better than Steve Blake as a minutes playing major contributor. ...Jason Kidd has now logged 463 minutes this season with only two trips to the free throw line. ...For all the tools Al Thornton has—he is not efficient at all. The better Thornton is in New Orleans. He is the rookie - Marcus - that was not being played by Byron Scott. Marcus Thornton can score! ...In OKC - it is becoming more evident by the minute that James Harden should be playing more than Thabo Sefolosha. ...Holy smokes! John Salmons’ EFR for this season to date is a woeful .277. Yuck. ...He hasn’t been great so far this year - but Ramon Sessions needs to be playing more than 23 minutes per game for the T-Wolves to have a chance to win. If it means playing small with Sessions and Jonny Flynn together—so be it. ...I watched the Grizzlies the other night and I still feel like O.J. Mayo doesn’t understand the game. He takes bad shots. ...Also - in his one year at Ohio State - I saw Mike Conley killing teams with his uncanny ability to make the right play off the pick n roll. I don’t see enough of that in Memphis. ...Brandon Jennings isn’t the only one balling in Milwaukee. Ersan Ilyasova is also getting it done. ...Okay - here are your players with the highest efficiency ratings (EFR).  EAST: Guards: Jennings .620, Dwyane Wade .612, Rajon Rondo .566, and Paul Pierce .547. Forwards: Lebron James .838, Chris Bosh .830, Josh Smith .717, Al Horford .649, David Lee .635, Danny Grainger .611. Centers: Dwight Howard .714, and Joakim Noah .663. WEST: Guards. Chris Paul .862, Steve Nash .651, Kobe Bryant .635, Kevin Durant .597. Forwards: Tim Duncan .771, Dirk Nowitzki .719, Carmelo Anthony .718, Landry .659, Corey Maggette .653. Centers: Greg Oden .697, Marc Gasol .667, Andrew Bynum .659.

 

November 20, 2009 ...Our first 2010 NBA Draft list is here. //// November 18, 2009 ...So much has transpired since we last blogged. I was busy with racing stuff but also just as busy watching NBA games and studying numbers. Brandon Jennings is playing at a high level. For rookies—early in the season - to get a better feel for their game - I use a combination of all the numbers I can get my hands on. So I look at Summer League, Preseason, and the small amount of minutes logged so far in the regular season. I do this to produce a more stable EFR number than basing it on a the small sample of the regular season to-date. Jennings’ .521 would have ranked 12th among all Point Guards—based on last season’s final EFR rankings. I truly believe that the best in the pro basketball personnel business are the guys that can recognize a mistake and try to move on from it quickly without getting their pride so hurt that they become stubborn. I obsess over the NBA Draft but I have to say that barring a sudden implosion - Jennings is a guy I was dead wrong about. I really examined his overseas numbers from last year - and they were horrible. In hindsight I should have given more credence to what he accomplished at Oak Hill Academy as a high school Senior.  He averaged 32.7 points, 7.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game and set the school record for points in a season. He won the Naismith High School Player of the Year award, as well as the Parade Magazine, and EA Sports P.o.Y. awards.  ...In Kings-land, we were at ARCO for the most recent game which was a loss to Chicago. Joakim Noah is playing fantastic basketball for the Bulls, and Luol Deng looks as good as I’ve ever seen him. He has really improved his shooting stroke. ...Around the NBA - The Atlanta Hawks are playing very well right now. Jamal Crawford has really added the bench scoring punch that Atlanta lacked. Josh Smith is playing a more efficient game; turning down outside shots to use his length as a weapon closer to the basket. Al Horford too deserves praise for his mid-range shot-making ability, toughness, and professional approach. Finally—Joe Johnson has become more than just a good shooter. He is now a GREAT shooter. I’m happy for Mike Woodson, and  his long-time Assistant Coach Larry Drew. ...I guess the New Jersey Nets are after the first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Their inefficient play is taking futility to a new low. I’m of the opinion that Trenton Hassell should never play meaningful NBA minutes but with injuries to others - Hassell is averaging 36.6 minutes per game. If they had someone else in his roster spot, or in Eduardo Najera’s spot - the Nets may well have won at least a couple games. Najera has aged ten-fold in the last two years. He is no-longer an NBA caliber player either. ...Byron Scott was fired in New Orleans. It seems B. Scott is a coach that can do his thing for a couple years but after that - his ways wear on his players. ...I think the Hornets can be better with less of Devin Brown, and Bobby Brown. ...The Warriors trade of Stephen Jackson is step one in what would be a three-step process were I in charge in Oakland. Step two is trading the talented but pouty Monta Ellis. Step three would be firing Don Nelson and any and all in his circle. ...The Timberwolves stink. I think they have a huge hole on the wings where Sasha Pavlovic, Wayne Ellington, and Damion Wilkins are the guys playing behind Corey Brewer. Pavlovic tantalizes with his natural ability but he just is not efficient. Never has been. Ellington never goes to the hole. One wing player that is about .100 points more efficient than Pavlovic would make a HUGE difference in Minnesota. ...If, if, if. In Indiana - I can foresee good times IF Mike Dunleavy returns and replaces Luther Head in the rotation, and IF Troy Murphy can regain his form after an injury. ...Eddy Curry saw NBA action last night for the Knicks in their road win at Indy. Curry is in the best shape I’ve seen him be in. If he could make a free throw and hand out more than one assist a month - he might help the Knickerbockers. ...Time for the Bulls to get rid of the shiny road uniforms. The “shinys” were the rage in 1994. Fifteen years later - it is not a good look. ...The Hornets have new special uniforms that they will wear during Mardi Gras.

 

November 9, 2009 ...Allen Iverson is a hard dude to figure. Did he not know that he was going to be a backup in Memphis? ...Jason Kidd is not playing well in Dallas. He has exactly TWO free throw attempts in the first six games of the season. ...Brent Barry came off like a jerk on NBA-TV—going at the guy that does the NBA.com power rankings. Lighten up Brent. ...In seven games, Mike Bibby has only been to the free throw line three times. ...For as horribly as he played in the preseason, Larry Hughes has been surprisingly good so far in the regular season. Chris Duhon is stinking it up and was replaced as the Knicks crunch time Point Guard by rookie Toney Douglas.  ...Your players balling at high-efficiency after two weeks of NBA play: East - Guards - Rajon Rondo .632, Mike Miller .604, Dwyane Wade .581, Lou Williams .548. Forwards - Chris Bosh .855, Lebron James .777, Josh Smith .708, Shelden Williams .698, David Lee .690, Paul Pierce .603. Centers - Dwight Howard .808, Marreese Speights .806, Joakim Noah .714. West - Guards - Chris Paul .874, Kobe Bryant .687, Steve Nash .650, Deron Williams .647, Forwards - Tim Duncan .766, Carmelo Anthony .731, Dirk Nowitzki .707, Zach Randolph .656, Carl Landry .616. Centers: Chris Kamen .685, Marc Gasol .676, Marcus Camby .668.