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BasslineSpin.com Bobby
Gerould Basketball Blog July
8, 2008 ...I found myself pumping my fist today when I read
that Hassan Adams will
sign a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. It was about this time
last year that I was writing about how Adams was too good to not be in the
NBA. ...I watched most of the three games yesterday from the Orlando Summer
League. Michael Beasley was
phenomenal. Kasib Powell, David Padgett, Mario Chalmers, and Stephane Lasme all played well for Miami. The Heat beat Chicago. Bulls that looked
good were Tyrus Thomas, Keith Langford, and Marcel Jones.
...Former NBA player Haywood Workman is a
referee in the Orlando Summer League. ...The Pacers summer ballers proved me
wrong by winning their opening game.
Indiana was led by Earl Calloway but
they also received good play from Josh Davis, Courtney Sims, Stephen Graham, Aleks Maric, and Vladime Golubovic. July
7, 2008 Part II ...Give me Chicago and New Jersey as the
best
rosters in the Orlando Summer League. I’ll be surprised if Orlando or
Indiana win a game there (unless they play each other). Indiana’s summer
roster does have 27 year-old Josh Davis (Wyoming)
- who I’ve long thought should be in the NBA.
Games start today at 3 PM Eastern. They will be
streamed
live on the Magic’s web-site. July
7, 2008 ...I heard the question, ‘where would the Kings
backcourt of Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih rank in the NBA at present?’ Based on
my Efficiency Ratings the answer is 14th out 30. Solely based on the combined
EFR’s of a point guard, and shooting guard tandem from each team, the results
were: 1. San Antonio (using Manu Ginobili as the TWO even though he comes off
the bench). The combo of Tony Parker and
Ginobili is head and shoulders the most efficient. 2. This may surprise you
but second ranked is the new Indiana backcourt of T.J. Ford, and Mike Dunleavy. I
personally think of Dunleavy as more of a SF but with Danny Granger playing alongside - we’ll call
Dunleavy the offensive SG in Pacers-Land. Now - can Ford stay healthy? If so
- we think Indy takes a big jump in the East. 3. The Lakers duo of MVP Kobe Bryant, and Derek Fisher. 4. Utah with Deron Williams and Ronnie Brewer. 5. If you used common sense and
considered defense - Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton might be ranked second. 6. New
Orleans is top heavy in efficiency with Chris Paul dragging
Morris Peterson into
the top-fifth of 30 teams. 7. New Jersey’s combo of Devin Harris and Vince Carter. 8. Dallas. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. 9. Denver using Anthony Carter (free agent), and Allen Iverson. 10.
Toronto’s Jose Calderon is the
fifth rated PG in the NBA by efficiency. Teamed with Anthony Parker they are in the top-third of all
Association backcourts. 11. Phoenix would rank higher if I used Leandro Barbosa with Steve Nash but I used Raja Bell. 12. Milwaukee’s Mo Williams and Michael Redd are underrated in the media. 13.
Miami. Even using Chris Quinn
alongside Dwyane Wade—the
Heat rank in the top-half of NBA backcourts. 14. Sacramento’s Udrih, and
Martin are better than 16 other teams in this study. 15. Memphis. Kyle Lowry, and Rudy Gay. (O.J. Mayo could
easily be a starter here). 16. Boston. Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen. 17. Charlotte. Ray Felton, and Jason Richardson. 18. The Clippers. Baron Davis and Cuttino Mobley (could be Eric Gordon, and might be ranked higher with him
rather than Mobley). 19. Atlanta. Mike Bibby, and Joe Johnson. 20. Houston. Rafer Alston, and Tracy McGrady. I see T-Mac better suited to be a
SF but Shane Battier plays
there in Houston. 21. Chicago. Kirk Hinrich, and Ben Gordon. (Could be Derrick Rose in time). 22. Washington. Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels. 23. Golden State. C.J. Watson?, and Monta Ellis. 24. Portland. Steve Blake and Brandon Roy. 25. Philly. Andre Miller, and Willie Green. 26. New York. Nate Robinson, and Jamal Crawford (lower yet if using Chris Duhon instead of Robinson). 27. Seattle. Earl Watson, and Jeff Green. 28.
Minnesota. Randy Foye, and Rashad McCants. 29. Cleveland. Delonte West, and Devin Brown. 30. Orlando. Jameer Nelson, and Courtney Lee (or JJ Redick or Keith Bogans). July
5, 2008 ...Clay Moser, a
former scout for the Sacramento Kings has
been
named head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of
the NBA D-League. …I like Chris Duhon but if
Knicks fans are expecting a savior in him—think again. His offensive game is
limited. What he does do well is play defense and run a team. I don’t know if
things went too far in New York for Stephon Marbury to be
welcomed back. But if his teammates gave him another try in Mike D’Antoni’s shoot-quick offense - I think Marbury
could do just fine. The Knicks need someone in the paint that can block a
shot or take a charge. Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry don’t do it much. Read more about the
Knicks, Duhon, and Marbury. |