Like most Americans, I stopped caring about the NBA when MJ retired. When I started watching again, it was 2002 and Chris Webber and the Sacramento Kings were the best team in the NBA. They were unselfish, fast-paced, high-scoring, and would have won a championship if they hadn't foolishly committed 58 shooting fouls in the fourth quarter of Game 6 against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. What were they thinking? Anyway, I haven't followed his entire career, but I loved watching those Adleman-coached teams with Webber and Divac in the high post throwing behind the back passes to cutters for easy layups.
The 2002, 2003, and 2004 (Webber was traded during the 2005 season) Kings Teams averaged 104.6, 101.7, and 102.8 points, respectively, when the league averages were 95.5, 95,1, and 93.4 points per game, respectively. It's unfortunate that they had to play during the NBA's Dark Ages (mid-nineties to 2004), when every coach hated offense and scoring. While it would have been more fun if they didn't have their opponents slowing everything down, they did help keep the NBA from sucking even worse during their time. And for that, they deserve thanks.
Here's to you, Chris Webber, a five time All-Star, one time 1st Team All-NBAer, three time 2nd Team All-NBAer, and a member of the Unofficial 2002 NBA Champion Sacramento Kings.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Brandon Jennings
In the McDonald's All American game, it was obvious that Brandon Jennings can pass and can run a flawless fast break again and again. I'm looking forward to that next year (assuming I go back to watching college hoops). I have a couple of concerns, though.
There are different kinds of point guards. Creators (such as Chris Paul or Steve Nash) dominate the ball, and do almost all the creating for teammates or themselves. Distributors (such as Deron Williams or Mike Bibby) sometimes create, but they can also play without the ball, or distribute the ball to teammates where they can create or where they've already gotten open by moving without the ball. UA point guards are usually distributors. Think of Jason Gardner and Mike Bibby. Neither one racked up a lot of assists, but the offense always ran smoothly. I'm not sure how the offense will look next year, with or without Jerryd Bayless, but it will be interesting how Lute Olson adjusts his system with someone who will probably be the best UA point guard ever, in the pros, if not while at Arizona.
Secondly, one of the duties of a point guard is to be an extension of the coach. This means making sure the team gets good shots, doesn't waste possessions, runs the right plays, etc. I can't tell from one game how well Brandon does this. However, I can go through the tape and point out about 8 possessions he just threw away, either with a turnover, a charge, or a rushed three. I wouldn't read too much into it, considering that's about par for an all star game, especially considering how much he had the ball in his hands. It remains to be seen what kind of decsionmaker he will be.
Basketball is a game of chemistry. A great point guard, a great shooting guard, and a great small forward aren't necessarily going to play well together. From what little I've seen, next season could be another one filled with lots a great highlights, exciting basketball, multiple future lottery picks, and 22 wins and a 6th seed. I'm hoping for much better.
There are different kinds of point guards. Creators (such as Chris Paul or Steve Nash) dominate the ball, and do almost all the creating for teammates or themselves. Distributors (such as Deron Williams or Mike Bibby) sometimes create, but they can also play without the ball, or distribute the ball to teammates where they can create or where they've already gotten open by moving without the ball. UA point guards are usually distributors. Think of Jason Gardner and Mike Bibby. Neither one racked up a lot of assists, but the offense always ran smoothly. I'm not sure how the offense will look next year, with or without Jerryd Bayless, but it will be interesting how Lute Olson adjusts his system with someone who will probably be the best UA point guard ever, in the pros, if not while at Arizona.
Secondly, one of the duties of a point guard is to be an extension of the coach. This means making sure the team gets good shots, doesn't waste possessions, runs the right plays, etc. I can't tell from one game how well Brandon does this. However, I can go through the tape and point out about 8 possessions he just threw away, either with a turnover, a charge, or a rushed three. I wouldn't read too much into it, considering that's about par for an all star game, especially considering how much he had the ball in his hands. It remains to be seen what kind of decsionmaker he will be.
Basketball is a game of chemistry. A great point guard, a great shooting guard, and a great small forward aren't necessarily going to play well together. From what little I've seen, next season could be another one filled with lots a great highlights, exciting basketball, multiple future lottery picks, and 22 wins and a 6th seed. I'm hoping for much better.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Why UA made the tournament and ASU did not
First of all, a game only counts once. I keep reading "ASU swept UA and finished higher in conference." You do realize that ASU's better conference record includes the series sweep?
Now, let's compare the two teams. The regular season consists of two parts: conference season, and out-of conference (OOC). For the round robin conference season, ASU finished slightly ahead of Arizona, 9-9 versus 8-10. ASU therefore has a better case for making the tournament, unless Arizona had a significantly better OOC record.
Let's compare OOC records: Arizona went 9-3 against the fifth hardest strength of schedule (SOS)*, while ASU went 10-2 against the 296th highest SOS. Arizona therefore had an OOC RPI of 5*, compared to ASU's 110*.
And their respective overall records?: UA: 18-14 against the #2 SOS* for an RPI of 38*. ASU: 19-12 against the #77 SOS* for an RPI of 83*. Given that the approximate cutoff for non-conference-tournament-champions is traditionally an RPI of 40, is a team with an RPI of 83 more deserving of a bid than a team with an RPI of 38?
* All statistics from ken pomeroy
Now, let's compare the two teams. The regular season consists of two parts: conference season, and out-of conference (OOC). For the round robin conference season, ASU finished slightly ahead of Arizona, 9-9 versus 8-10. ASU therefore has a better case for making the tournament, unless Arizona had a significantly better OOC record.
Let's compare OOC records: Arizona went 9-3 against the fifth hardest strength of schedule (SOS)*, while ASU went 10-2 against the 296th highest SOS. Arizona therefore had an OOC RPI of 5*, compared to ASU's 110*.
And their respective overall records?: UA: 18-14 against the #2 SOS* for an RPI of 38*. ASU: 19-12 against the #77 SOS* for an RPI of 83*. Given that the approximate cutoff for non-conference-tournament-champions is traditionally an RPI of 40, is a team with an RPI of 83 more deserving of a bid than a team with an RPI of 38?
* All statistics from ken pomeroy
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Bruce Bowen is suspended
Bruce Bowen's game can be broken down into three components:
1. Defensive Bruce Bowen: this Bruce works his ass off, takes twelve steps a second and guards the hell out of his man. He had to work hard to get into the NBA and he plays like it, too. I respect this Bruce.
2. Gamesman Bruce Bowen: this Bruce grabs jerseys, flops, hand checks, plays overly physical, etc. Basically, he does as much as the refs will allow. He's not alone in this behavior, and this is the refs' fault, not his. While I don't like this Bruce, he's at least somewhat tolerable.
3. "Bill Laimbeer" Bruce Bowen: this Bruce maliciously fouls players, sometimes with complete disregard for opponents' safety, and sometimes unmistakably with intention to hurt or injure (1). This Bruce has kicked Amare Stoudemire's ankle, kneed Steve Nash in the balls, kicked Wally Szscszscserbiak in the face, stepped on Amare's foot as Amare went up for a dunk, and on Wednesday, March 12th, repeatedly kicked Chris Paul after the two had fought for a loose ball (2). This Bruce Bowen is unlikable except to sociopaths and should have been reined in by the league a long time ago.
Finally, the league got its head out of its ass and decided that they shouldn't allow some asshole to go around occasionally assaulting NBA players. I have a hard time figuring out what took the League so long. Two years ago, when Kobe had a habit of following through on jump shots in search of contact from a defender, he was suspended for making an "unnatural motion", or some bullcrap like that. The League had to step in immediately to address this egregious habit of Kobe's. Meanwhile, two years later, they're finally responding to the 2000's Bill Laimbeer. Way to be on the ball, losers.
(1) Unmistakable to rational minds free of prejudice and familiar with the natural movements of basketball players.
(2) I'm not bringing up Bowen's infamous "foot defense" (placing his foot under airborne shooters so that they land on his foot), because in some of the instances, it wasn't necessarily intentional, at least not as much so as in the cases where he clearly measures himself and his victim before committing some dangerous foul.
1. Defensive Bruce Bowen: this Bruce works his ass off, takes twelve steps a second and guards the hell out of his man. He had to work hard to get into the NBA and he plays like it, too. I respect this Bruce.
2. Gamesman Bruce Bowen: this Bruce grabs jerseys, flops, hand checks, plays overly physical, etc. Basically, he does as much as the refs will allow. He's not alone in this behavior, and this is the refs' fault, not his. While I don't like this Bruce, he's at least somewhat tolerable.
3. "Bill Laimbeer" Bruce Bowen: this Bruce maliciously fouls players, sometimes with complete disregard for opponents' safety, and sometimes unmistakably with intention to hurt or injure (1). This Bruce has kicked Amare Stoudemire's ankle, kneed Steve Nash in the balls, kicked Wally Szscszscserbiak in the face, stepped on Amare's foot as Amare went up for a dunk, and on Wednesday, March 12th, repeatedly kicked Chris Paul after the two had fought for a loose ball (2). This Bruce Bowen is unlikable except to sociopaths and should have been reined in by the league a long time ago.
Finally, the league got its head out of its ass and decided that they shouldn't allow some asshole to go around occasionally assaulting NBA players. I have a hard time figuring out what took the League so long. Two years ago, when Kobe had a habit of following through on jump shots in search of contact from a defender, he was suspended for making an "unnatural motion", or some bullcrap like that. The League had to step in immediately to address this egregious habit of Kobe's. Meanwhile, two years later, they're finally responding to the 2000's Bill Laimbeer. Way to be on the ball, losers.
(1) Unmistakable to rational minds free of prejudice and familiar with the natural movements of basketball players.
(2) I'm not bringing up Bowen's infamous "foot defense" (placing his foot under airborne shooters so that they land on his foot), because in some of the instances, it wasn't necessarily intentional, at least not as much so as in the cases where he clearly measures himself and his victim before committing some dangerous foul.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Kevin Garnett scores 20,000th point
On March 8th, Kevin Garnett became the 32nd player to score 20,000 points in an NBA career.
The Top ten active players:
1. Shaquille O'Neal 26,038 (36 years)
2. Allen Iverson 22,488 (32 years, 9 mos)
3. Kobe Bryant 21,065 (29 years, 7 mos)
4. Kevin Garnett 20,010 (31 years, 10 mos)
5. Ray Allen 18,002 (32 years, 8 mos)
6. Tim Duncan 17,428 (31 years, 11 mos)
7. Chris Webber 17,181 (35 years)
8. Dirk Nowitzki 16,644 (29 years, 9 mos)
9. Paul Pierce 16,618 (30 years, 5 mos)
10. Tracy McGrady 16,352 (28 years, 10 mos)
The Top ten active players:
1. Shaquille O'Neal 26,038 (36 years)
2. Allen Iverson 22,488 (32 years, 9 mos)
3. Kobe Bryant 21,065 (29 years, 7 mos)
4. Kevin Garnett 20,010 (31 years, 10 mos)
5. Ray Allen 18,002 (32 years, 8 mos)
6. Tim Duncan 17,428 (31 years, 11 mos)
7. Chris Webber 17,181 (35 years)
8. Dirk Nowitzki 16,644 (29 years, 9 mos)
9. Paul Pierce 16,618 (30 years, 5 mos)
10. Tracy McGrady 16,352 (28 years, 10 mos)
Jason Kidd gets 2,000th steal
On March 3rd, Jason Kidd became the 11th player in NBA history to record 2,000 career steals.
The All-Time Steals Leaders:
1. John Stockton 3265
2. Michael Jordan 2514
3. Gary Payton 2445
4. Maurice Cheeks 2310
5. Scottie Pippen 2307
6. Clyde Drexler 2207
7. Hakeem Olajuwon 2162
8. Alvin Robertson 2111
9. Karl Malone 2185
10. Mookie Blaylock 2073
11. Jason Kidd 2004
Top Ten Active Players:
1. Jason Kidd 2004 (35 years)
2. Allen Iverson 1838 (32 years, 9 mos)
3. Eddie Jones 1617 (36 years, 5 mos)
4. Kevin Garnett 1356 (31 years, 10 mos)
5. Kobe Bryant 1294 (29 years, 7 mos)
6. Shawn Marion 1269 (29 years, 10 mos)
7. Chris Webber 1197 (35 years)
8. Paul Pierce 1164 (30 years, 5 mos)
9. Robert Horry 1154 (37 years, 7 mos)
10. Brevin Knight 1143 (32 years, 4 mos)
The All-Time Steals Leaders:
1. John Stockton 3265
2. Michael Jordan 2514
3. Gary Payton 2445
4. Maurice Cheeks 2310
5. Scottie Pippen 2307
6. Clyde Drexler 2207
7. Hakeem Olajuwon 2162
8. Alvin Robertson 2111
9. Karl Malone 2185
10. Mookie Blaylock 2073
11. Jason Kidd 2004
Top Ten Active Players:
1. Jason Kidd 2004 (35 years)
2. Allen Iverson 1838 (32 years, 9 mos)
3. Eddie Jones 1617 (36 years, 5 mos)
4. Kevin Garnett 1356 (31 years, 10 mos)
5. Kobe Bryant 1294 (29 years, 7 mos)
6. Shawn Marion 1269 (29 years, 10 mos)
7. Chris Webber 1197 (35 years)
8. Paul Pierce 1164 (30 years, 5 mos)
9. Robert Horry 1154 (37 years, 7 mos)
10. Brevin Knight 1143 (32 years, 4 mos)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Comments
Yesterday, I realized that the settings for my blog, which I hadn't fiddled with since I started it, disabled users without a google account from leaving comments. I have since enabled them.
So if anyone wants to comment on any of the posts, they can say whatever they want, as longs as I agree, and as long as it's flattering to me.
So if anyone wants to comment on any of the posts, they can say whatever they want, as longs as I agree, and as long as it's flattering to me.
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