tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28490786054696061642024-03-05T10:07:55.230-08:00CW's NBA ThoughtsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-27500374478633286872010-06-24T08:32:00.000-07:002010-06-24T08:33:16.621-07:00NBA Draft 2010 ProjectionsAll-stars: John Wall, Evan Turner <br /><br />Top 3 on Champ: Derrick Favors Starter on Champ: DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Ed Davis, Xavier Henry, Ed Davis <br /><br />Strong Reserve: Wes Johnson, Epke Udoh, Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, Darrington Hobson, Willie Warren, Gordon Heyward, Elliot Williams, Jordan Crawford <br /><br />Deep reserve: Al-Farouq Aminu, Paul George, Larry Sanders, Luke BabbittUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-69973849253701825932010-04-09T07:35:00.001-07:002010-04-09T07:35:23.666-07:00MillsapDespite playing without Anrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Matt Harping, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams for an extended period of time so far this year, the Utah Jazz are 17-13 and only 1.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division. A significant factor to the Jazz's success has been the development of power forward Paul Millsap. <br /><br />Millsap is an undersized power forward, who fell to the seventeenth pick in the second round in 2006. The Jazz were hoping that Millsap would continue to dominate the glass once he arrived in the NBA, as he did during three seasons at Louisiana Tech. Millsap led the nation in total rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game in each season he played college basketball. However, Millsap has shown an ability to do much more than just rebound.<br /><br />Millsap has been able to overcome his height disadvantage by using his wide body effectively and having unusual quickness for one with his great strength. The next important piece for him to develop will be an effective mid-range shot, which will allow him to stretch the defense. A main concern has been his propensity to foul, which has been an obstacle for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan in giving Millsap more playing time.<br /><br />Rank Player Name Team Fouls Per Game Minutes Per Game PAR Per Game<br />1 Paul Millsap Uta 3.9 31.8 25.8<br />2 Andrew Bogut Mil 3.9 31.5 24<br />3 Danny Granger Ind 3.9 36.3 32.8<br />4 Andris Biedrins GS 3.8 32 28.5<br />5 Nene Hilario Den 3.6 33 23.1<br /><br />At the beginning of the season, many still believed that Millsap is simply a glorified energy player. However, in Boozer's absence, Millsap has shown he is much more than just that. Since Boozer went out with an injured knee on November 19, Millsap has filled the starting power forward spot admirably:<br /><br />Points/Game: 17.5<br />Rebounds/Game: 10.7<br />Assists/Game: 2.2<br />Blocks/Game: 1.2<br />FG Percentage: 58.5%<br /><br />In fact, Millsap has joined the top echelon of power forwards this season, who average 15 or more points per game, 1 blocked shot per game, and 8 rebounds per game. <br /><br />Rank Player Name Team Reb BS Pts<br />1t Al Jefferson Min 10.1 1.9 22.4<br />1t Amar'e Stoudemire Pho 8.9 1.1 22.4<br />3 Dwight Howard Orl 13.9 3.7 20.3<br />4 Tim Duncan SA 10.4 1.8 20.3<br />5 Yao Ming Hou 9.6 1.8 20.1<br />6 Kevin Garnett Bos 8.9 1.4 16.4<br />7 Paul Millsap Uta 9.0 1.3 15.0<br /> <br />The Jazz power forward has recorded a double-double in each of his last 15 games, including a league-leading 11 in the month of December. He also leads the Jazz in total points, rebounds and blocks on the season. Millsap is one of only six players in the NBA currently leading his team in all three categories. Only six players in the Western Conference have more than thirty blocks and thirty steals on the season. Both Millsap and teammate Andrei Kirilenko are apart of this group.<br /><br />At the end of the season, Boozer will likely opt out of his current contract allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Millsap will also be an unrestricted free agent as his contract expires at year end. Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor will have a difficult decision whether to lock up both players long-term or to allow one of them to leave as a free agent. By the way Millsap has played this season, it will certainly be a critical choice for the Jazz franchise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-88995965279169565492010-04-09T07:34:00.001-07:002010-04-09T07:34:52.602-07:00ManuThe Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on their home court Friday evening, closing out the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the Western Conference finals. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers averaging 29.2 points per game during the series and he shot 53.3% from the field. To me, however, the bottom line in the series was Manu Ginobili’s inability to get it going.<br /><br />A combination of a sore ankle and terrific Lakers defense led to Ginobili’s struggles. Ginobili is a game-changing wing player, who relies on running, cutting and leaping to be effective. Swelling and chronic arthritis in the ankle has bothered Ginobili since late June, but he was able to work through it and play well at time. However, the Lakers defensive schemes against the Spurs guard cannot be understated. The Lakers emphasized forcing Ginobilli to the right and crowding his penetrations. They forced him to expend a great deal of energy on the defensive side of the ball by posting him up and forcing him to defend bigger players.<br /><br />Coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers decided to use several different players to defend Ginobilli one-on-one in an effort to make sure he did not get too comfortable playing against one specific defender. Both Kobe Bryant and Sasha Vujacic took turns guarding Ginobilli throughout the series. In the five game series, Vujacic played 25.5 minutes per game, up from his regular season average of 17.8 minutes per game. Vujacic was able to use his quickness and size to shadow Ginobilli all over the court. Bryant, a 2007-08 NBA All-Defensive First Team member, had similar success slowing down Ginobilli's effectiveness for the Spurs.<br /><br />In the four Spurs losses, Ginobilli really struggled mightily. He was only able to get to the free throw line sixteen times in the entire series. Additionally, Ginobilli was unable to create opportunities for the Spurs by getting into passing lanes and creating steals. During the regular season, Ginobili ranked seventeenth in the NBA in steals with 1.5 per game. In the entire series, Ginobilli had one steal, which occurred in game one. Here is a look at Ginobilli’s offensive production in the Spurs four losses:<br /><br />Game # FG% FT Made Assists Points +/-<br />1 23% 2 3 10 -22<br />2 25% 3 2 7 -12<br />4 25% 2 1 7 +4<br />5 33% 2 7 9 +1<br /><br />Game three was the one big night for Ginobilli. He showed no trace of his lingering ankle injury and single-handedly carried the Spurs offense when the game was still in the balance. Coach Popovich changed his teams’ offensive game plan to limit screen-and-rolls in favor of spreading the floor. By keeping the floor spread, the Spurs were able to create open spaces for Ginobilli and Parker to drive into. The spread of the offense also was beneficial because it did not allow the Lakers to double-team.<br /><br />Ginobilli’s numbers in game three were stunningly opposite from the rest of the series. A direct relationship with his performance occurred in relation to the Spurs success against the Lakers. In game three, Ginobilli played well and the Spurs were able to win, 103-84.<br /><br />Game # FG% FT Made Assists Points +/-<br />3 60% 7 1 30 +17<br /><br />With Kurt Thomas, Robert Horry, Michael Finley and Damon Stoudamire all entering into free agency, it is likely that the Spurs will have changes to their roster. Youth on the perimeter, a reliable backup point guard and another big body inside will be atop of the Spurs needs. However, their top priority to me will be for a healthy and effective Ginobilli all the way through the playoffs. Without that third scorer next to Parker and Tim Duncan, the Spurs do not have enough to reach the NBA Finals.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-31477544683777617692009-06-25T10:25:00.000-07:002009-06-25T11:41:20.371-07:00Potential Bulls TradeChris Bosh 15,779,912 <br />Reggie Evans 4,960,000 5,080,000 <br />Kris Humphries 3,200,000 3,200,000 <br />Joey Graham 3,441,104 <br /> <br /> 27,381,016 <br /> <br />Luol Deng 10,370,425 11,355,850 12,341,275 13,326,700 14,312,125<br />Jerome James 6,600,000 <br />Tim Thomas 6,466,600 <br />Tyrus Thomas 4,743,598 6,256,806 <br /> <br /> 28,180,623 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Bosh, Evans, K Humphries, Joey Graham for Luol, Jerome James (exp contact), Tim Thomas (exp contract), Tyrus, #16 pick. You in? <br /> <br /> <br />Chicago Bulls <br />PG Rose <br />SG Gordon Hinrich <br />C Noah Miller <br />PF Bosh Evans Humphries <br />SF Salmons Graham #26 pick <br /> <br /> <br />Toronto Raptors <br />PG Calderon Banks Ukic <br />SG #9 <br />C Ty Thomas James <br />PF Bargnani #16 <br />SF Deng Tim ThomasUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-36233775163718078482009-06-23T07:23:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:27:01.490-07:00NBA Draft ProspectsAll Stars<br />Blake Griffin<br />Tyreke Evans<br /><br />Starters on Champions<br />James Harden<br />Terrance Williams<br />Hasheem Thabeet<br />Ricky Rubio<br />Johnny Flynn<br />DeMar DeRozan<br /><br />Rotation Guys<br />Stephen Curry<br />Jrue Holliday<br />Gerald Henderson<br />Brandon Jennings<br />Jodie Meeks<br />Dante Cunningham<br />Dionte Christmas<br />Earl Clark<br />BJ Mullens<br />Jeff Teague<br />Tyler Hansborough<br />James Johnson<br />Patty Mills<br />Ty Lawson<br /><br />Short Career<br />Jordan Hill<br />DeJuan Blair<br />Eric Maynor<br />Sam Young<br />Darren Collison<br />Chase Budinger<br />Austin DayeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-60524951163645523842009-04-22T12:09:00.001-07:002009-04-22T12:09:25.124-07:00Billups Leads Nuggets' TransformationWritten December 16, 2008.<br /><br />Billups Leads Nuggets' Transformation<br />Upon beating the Golden State Warriors this past Saturday night at home, the Denver Nuggets have now improved to a 16-7 record after 23 games. Even more impressively, they have now won 15 of their last 19 games, with their only losses being against the Cavaliers, Lakers, Hornets and Spurs - arguably four of the top teams in the NBA. Along the way, they have beaten the Celtics in Boston and took one off the Spurs beating them in San Antonio. The culprit behind this success? Chauncey Billups. <br /><br />The Nuggets limped into the playoffs last season losing 4 of their last 9 games and then got swept by the Lakers in the first round, losing the first three games by 14 or more points. Before this season got underway, the Nuggets traded starting center Marcus Camby in a salary dump to the Los Angeles Clippers for a second round pick. They also allowed Eduardo Najera and Yakhouba Diawara to leave in free agency. NBA analysts predicted the Nuggets to fall out of the playoffs this year. As the season began, the Nuggets looked like they would be supporting this prediction, as they lost three of their first four games with their only win coming in overtime.<br /><br />Since Billups arrived in a trade from Detroit for Allen Iverson, the Nuggets have transformed themselves from a shoot-happy, defenseless team into a ball controlled, tough-nosed defensive squad. A look at the numbers before and after Billups arrived certainly shows a vastly different squad:<br /><br /> Before After <br />Record 1-3 15-4 <br />PPG 101.3 104.5 <br />Opp PPG 104 96.9 <br />FG Pct 45.40% 47.20% <br />3-Pt FG Pct 27.00% 36.90% <br /><br />Billups brings stability at the point guard position and does a much better job of keeping his man in front of him, rather than constantly trying to get into passing lanes to create turnovers as Iverson so often attempted to do. The Nuggets have slowed down their pace and have become a strong defensive team. This has really shown through their ability to maintain leads going into the fourth quarter. The Nuggets are the only team in the league to not lose a game when leading after three quarters. The Celtics, Cavaliers and Lakers have lost once when winning after three, but the Nuggets stand alone undefeated with 11 wins. <br /><br />Despite becoming a smarter and more conservative team with Billups running the show, they still have found opportunities to push the ball up the court and score in transition. They currently lead the league in fast break points per game, with 17.7 points scored.<br /><br />Working with Coach George Karl and his staff, Billups has allowed Carmelo Anthony to simplify his decision making. Anthony can spend more time in the post because he does not have to concern himself with spacing the floor for Iverson, who needs room to create a scoring opportunity for himself. Billups has made Nene Hilario a more precise player and has gotten Kenyon Martin the ball in spots where he can be more productive.<br /><br />Billups brings the Nuggets a player who always plays under control, rarely takes ill-advised shots and has won a championship before. Nuggets coach, George Karl, recently said, "I think the team and the coach and the organization and the city all feel that we can win every game. I don't think we were there even in our best moments. But now, even with San Antonio and the Lakers, on the road or at home, we feel, if we play at a good level, we can beat anybody. And that's a good feeling."<br /><br />With Billups aboard, this certainly appears to be the case.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-37282063932634854982008-12-26T13:43:00.000-08:002009-01-02T19:59:59.098-08:00Chicago-Minnesota Trade ProposalThe Trade:<br /><br />Chicago trades Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Thabo Sefolosha to Minnesota for Mike Miller and Jason Collins.<br /><br />The Breakdown:<br /><br />Joakim Noah<br />Salary: $2,295,480 Years Remaining: 2<br /><br />Kirk Hinrich<br />Salary: $10,000,000 Years Remaining: 4<br /><br />Thabo Sefolosha<br />Salary: $1,931,160 Years Remaining: 2<br /><br />Jason Collins<br />Salary: $6,200,000 Years Remaining: 1<br /><br />Mike Miller<br />Salary: $9,028,575 Years Remaining: 2<br /><br />The Case for Minnesota:<br />Randy Foye has shown two things so far in his NBA career: he can score and he's not a point guard. The Timberwolves would benefit from moving Foye off the ball and starting Hinrich at the point guard spot. Both Sefolosha and Noah are young, developing players who would fit in with the group Minnesota is building.<br /><br />The Case for Chicago:<br />The Bulls rid themselves of two players who have failed to develop in Chicago: Sefolosha and Noah. Hinrich was signed to a long-term extension before Derrick Rose was drafted by the Bulls. Now that the Bulls have Rose, there is no longer a need for Hinrich. Acquiring Miller would give them a big guard, who can shoot with the best of them to play alongside Rose. Collins would likely fill Noah's spot in the rotation and his contract expires at year's end. Miller's contract expires before the summer of 2010, allowing them to either extend him if he meets expectations or to depart and create cap space to persue one of the top free agents available.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-45654431082296717922008-12-03T08:57:00.000-08:002008-12-03T09:04:40.325-08:00Rose Among NBA's EliteOne month into the NBA season and Derrick Rose has already staked his claim as the top rookie selected this past June. Rose has clearly been the most consistent player on the Bulls, who finish this month with an 8-9 record, despite playing the last seven games on the road. <br /><br />Coming into the league, it was obvious that Rose possesses great size and quickness along with a knack for finishing in traffic. His main knock coming out of the University of Memphis was that his jump shot is shaky. However, opponents have seen that Rose uses his speed while dribbling so well that when he accelerates and stops on a dime, his man is nowhere to be found. Rose can rise up and take a midrange jumper completely unguarded. <br /><br />Rose’s next step in development will be to improve his shot off the catch and increase his range. These are both traits that fellow NBA star point guards, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, needed to develop to become what they are today. As analysts have tried to compare the Bulls rookie point guard these two guys are always the first mentioned. Taking Paul and Williams’ rookie season averages in comparison to Rose’s thus far, you see that Rose has them beat in many statistical categories:<br /><br />Rose – 37.9 MPG, 48.7 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 85.2 FT%, 4.1 RPG, <br /> 6.0 APG, 1 SPG, 2.7 TO, 18.4 PPG<br /><br />Paul – 36.0 MPG, 43.0 FG%, 28.2 3P%, 84.7 FT%, 5.1 RPG, <br /> 7.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 2.3 TO, 16.1 PPG<br /><br />Williams - 28.9 MPG, 42.1 FG%, 41.6 3P%, 70.4 FT%, 2.4 RPG, <br /> 4.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.8 TO, 10.8 PPG<br /><br />Some may argue that Rose’s assist numbers are not nearly as high as they should be for a true point guard. However, this is a reflection of his teammates around him. The Bulls are currently 25th in the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting 43.4% from the floor. Chicago does not have a big man averaging over 14 points per game, which also hurts Rose's ability to rack up assists. In fact, two of the Bulls top big men, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomaas, are shooting only 40% and 33% respectively.<br /><br />Since the ball tipped in the first game this season, Rose has not only been the most consistent player on the Bulls, but in the entire NBA. He has scored in double-digits every game, except on November 19 against Portland, where the Bulls lost 116-74 and Rose played just under 30 minutes. He also ranks 11th in the NBA in total minutes played and leads his team in assists.<br /><br />Rose is one of only seven players to average more than 18 points per game, 4 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game.<br /><br />1) Dwayne Wade – Heat, 28.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.6 APG<br />2) LeBron James – Cavs, 27.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.4 APG<br />3) Joe Johnson – Hawks, 22.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.4 APG<br />4) Stephen Jackson – Warriors, 21.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.4 APG<br />5) Brandon Roy – Blazers, 20.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.3 APG<br />6) Chris Paul – Hornets, 20.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 11.6 APG<br />7) Derrick Rose – Bulls, 18.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.0 APG<br /><br />Most importantly, Rose has already gained respect from opposing players and coaches just 17 games into his professional career. <br /><br />Warriors head coach Don Nelson said, “"We're big Rose fans here, love to watch him play, love to watch him as he gets better in games. Wow, second half, he put on a show, an incredibly talented point guard. He's right up there with the best of them, in a short period of time.”<br /><br />Suns guard Raja Bell said, “He's obviously very explosive. He's a highlight reel waiting to happen,'' Bell said. "I'm excited to see where he goes from here. He's a really, really good player.''<br /><br />Warriors forward Stephen Jackson said, "Rose is good, oh man. For a young guy to take over that game like that, regardless of who he's playing, that's real impressive. I'm definitely a Derrick Rose fan. I will have one of his jerseys up in my house."<br /><br />Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien stated it best when he said, "That's a rookie that's going to blossom sooner than people think he is. He's going to be a great player, maybe as soon as the end of this year. When he's knocking down 3s, he's a very, very difficult guy to guard.''Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-18945220500861384562008-12-02T07:47:00.000-08:002008-12-02T07:48:30.737-08:00Tyler Hansbrough/Mark Madsen<p>As we move along in November, I feel it is now the perfect time to remind people of the truth behind everyone's favorite Caucasian, power forward with multiple All-American awards. Described by many to play with "sharp intensity" and a "real winner", he certainly is a high motor guy, who plays with great strength and toughness. Unfortunately for his future, he possesses minimal ball-handling skills and lacks any type of lateral quickness. Despite being a 6'9" power forward, he has no go-to post move beyond a quick turnaround jumper and certainly has no counter move to this. </p><p>His stats? He has been nearly a double-double guy in each of his three college seasons and has shot above 52% from the field each year. His shot blocking numbers show a lack of ability to protect the basket - never averaging over 1 block per game. His teams' success? Despite winning 23 or more games in each of his college seasons, and playing with multiple NBA players, the team has lost in the final four once and been upset early in their other two tournament appearances. </p><p>Nicknamed for his passionate play, Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen parlayed his senior season of college into becoming the 29th pick in the 2000 draft. </p><p>In the name of Joakim Noah, Bobby Hurley, Adam Morrison, and of course, J.J. Redick, enjoy your senior season of college basketball, Tyler Hansbrough. This is the last year you will be an impact player on a basketball team.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-75914014893126738402008-10-23T08:24:00.000-07:002008-10-23T08:31:10.298-07:002008's Top 25, Under 25This year's top 25, under 25 sees two guys depart - Tony Parker and Gerald Wallace - because they have since turned 26. Additionally, Luol Deng, Andrea Bargnani, and Yi Jianlian have been removed from the list after disappointing seasons. In their place, rookies Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley have entered. Rudy Gay, Leandro Barbosa, and Devin Harris have all entered the list. Deron Williams certainly saw himself make a big leap into the top 7 as did Josh Smith, moving from 19 to 13. At this time next year, I certainly expect last years top picks - Kevin Durant and Greg Oden - to make a jump in the rankings.<br /><br />1.) LeBron James<br />2.) Chris Paul<br />3.) Dwight Howard<br />4.) Dwyane Wade<br />5.) Carmelo Anthony<br />6.) Amare Stoudamire<br />7.) Deron Williams<br />8.) Al Jefferson<br />9.) Chris Bosh<br />10.) Kevin Durant<br />11.) Greg Oden<br />12.) Kevin Martin<br />13.) Brandon Roy<br />14.) Andrew Bynum<br />15.) Josh Smith<br />16.) Derrick Rose<br />17.) Danny Granger<br />18.) Monta Ellis<br />19.) LaMarcus Aldridge<br />20.) Devin Harris<br />21.) Al Horford<br />22.) Michael Beasley<br />23.) Andre Iguodala<br />24.) Rudy Gay<br />25.) Leandro BarbosaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-71315354732283361982008-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:002008-10-10T11:00:57.861-07:00Chris Paul Story<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280212004">http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280212004</a> <br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280212004">http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280212004</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-53696022175635097492008-10-02T13:55:00.002-07:002008-10-02T13:58:55.621-07:00Larry HughesLarry Hughes<br />2008-09:<br />2009-10:<br /><br />Kenyon Martin<br />Al Harrington<br />Darko Milicic<br />Bobby Simmons<br />Quentin Richardson<br />Joel Pryzbilla<br />Brad Miller<br />Kenny ThomasUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-10734461626306561632008-09-24T19:36:00.001-07:002008-09-24T19:36:42.504-07:00Road to Redemption Episodes<a href="http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikebasketball/en_US/athletes/redemption?episode_name=episode_1">http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikebasketball/en_US/athletes/redemption?episode_name=episode_1</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-91742282354130231902008-08-19T08:56:00.001-07:002008-10-07T13:22:54.875-07:00Free Throw Disparity, Lamar Odom and Vladimar Radmanovic the Difference for the Lakers in BostonSunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped game two in Boston by six points. The Lakers now head back home without stealing a game at TD Banknorth Garden. If they lose tonight on their home floor, the series will essentially be over. So what do the Lakers need to do to in order to change the outcome of the game? Fixing the free throw disparity, getting Lamar Odom involved in the offense and changing the role of Vladimar Radmanovic should be the focus of the Lakers and their coaching staff.<br /><br />The difference in free throw attempts between the teams in the first two games was staggering. After game two, all the Lakers - from the coaching staff to the players - complained about the officiating. In a few isolated incidents, the Lakers had something to gripe about. However, the real difference was the aggressiveness between the teams on the offensive end. The Celtics were forcing the action, while the Lakers offense was simply stagnant.<br /><br />Game 1 FT<br />Lakers 21-28, 75%<br />Celtics 28-35, 80%<br /><br />Game 2 FT<br />Lakers 10-10, 100%<br />Celtics 27-38, 71%<br /><br />Total FT<br />Lakers 31-38, 81.6%<br />Celtics 55-73, 75.3%<br /><br />To me, the problem starts with Kobe Bryant. In the first two games combined, Bryant shot 13 of 13 from the free throw line. In comparison, Bryant attempted nine free throws a game during the regular season and 9.3 free throws per game so far in the playoffs.<br /><br />A share of the praise needs to go to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and James Posey for their outstanding defense in Boston on Bryant. The other share should go to Celtics coaches Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau for stressing to the team the importance of crowding Bryant and then coming with an extra defender as he readies to square-up and shoot.<br /><br />If the Lakers are going to comeback in this series, Kobe Bryant needs to become more aggressive, draw contact and get to the free throw line at a greater rate. Settling for fifteen to eighteen foot jump shots will not help to get the Celtics into the bonus and the Lakers onto the free throw line.<br /><br />Lamar Odom has really flourished as the third scoring option since the trade for Pau Gasol. Odom is a versatile, left handed scorer who is a tough matchup for the opposition. The only true matchup for the Celtics on Odom is Kevin Garnett. However, Garnett is busy defending Gasol. Therefore, Odom should be free to dominate his matchup. Unfortunately, Odom has had minimal impact in the series thus far.<br /><br />Game 1:<br />FGM 6<br />FTA 11<br />Reb 6<br />Assists 1<br />Plus/Minus -8<br />Points 14<br /><br />Game 2:<br />FGM 5<br />FTA 11<br />Reb 8<br />Assists 2<br />Plus/Minus -13<br />Points 10<br /><br />Odom’s strength is his ability to put pressure on the opposing defense and get the big men in foul trouble. Instead, he has mainly settled for mid-range jump shots in the two games against the Celtics. When Odom has gotten into the paint so far in the series, he has botched layups and even missed a dunk in the third quarter of game two.<br /><br />When defended by anyone besides Kevin Garnett, Odom needs to be put in a position where he can face-up at the high post and drive the ball to the basket. Odom is also effective in this spot when he forces the opposition to double-team or help on him, then passes out on the perimeter to one of the many effective shooters on the Lakers.<br /><br />Lastly, by my estimation, the Lakers need to change their defensive matchups. Pierce has been the motor behind the Celtics offense in the first two games of the series. He has been defended mainly by Vladimir Radmanovic, who struggles mightily to keep Pierce in front of him. I would move Bryant over to defend Pierce and limit Radmanovic’s minutes altogether. From the start of the game, Radmanovic should be assigned to shadowing Ray Allen. In other situations where Radmanovic is in the game, he should be defending Kevin Garnett, who has spent most of the series shooting jump shots from around the key. Sasha Vujicic should receive more playing time and be assigned the task of chasing Allen around the perimeter. Although Radmanovic has produced from the perimeter on the offensive end, the Lakers can afford to play him less.<br /><br />If the Lakers plan to turn around this series, they need to reverse the free throw disparity, get Lamar Odom more involved on offense and change their defensive assignments around in order to slow down the Celtics offense. If the Lakers fail to make these key adjustments during the day layoff, then I expect this series to be over by the end of the weekend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-69348253743443757152008-08-19T08:54:00.005-07:002008-10-07T13:38:38.038-07:00Tim Duncan Leads the Spurs Past the HornetsA grueling seven game series between the New Orleans Hornets and the San Antonio Spurs wrapped up last Monday evening with a Spurs 91-82 win on the Hornets home floor. To me, the deciding factor of each game came down to how well the Hornets controlled ten time NBA All-Star, Tim Duncan.<br /><br />Right from the start of game one, it was obvious that Hornets coach Byron Scott decided they were going to force the Spurs peripheral players to beat them. Every time Duncan caught the ball in the low post, he saw two Hornets defenders in his face. The Hornets wanted the Spurs to rely on Tony Parker's penetration into the paint and Manu Ginobili’s ability to knock down stand-still jumpers, rather than Duncan hitting turnaround jumpers. Not allowing the Spurs to get into any type of offensive flow was the goal. With some of the other Spurs players, such as Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley and Brent Barry, now past their prime, the Hornets wanted to force these guys to have to make shots for them to win.<br /><br />In the three Spurs losses, they were really dominated by the Hornets in the paint. Duncan’s impact in the game was limited and the Hornets were able to come away with a victory.<br /><br />Game # 1<br />Rebound Differential -8<br />Paint Points Differential -11<br />Duncan's Points 5<br /><br />Game # 2<br />Rebound Differential -1<br />Paint Points Differential +15<br />Duncan's Points 18<br /><br />Game # 5<br />Rebound Differential -9<br />Paint Points Differential -4<br />Duncan's Points 10<br /><br />In the four San Antonio wins, Tim Duncan and the Spurs were able to really control the painted area. In the Spurs four wins, they held the Hornets to an average of 15.8 free throw attempts, compared to an average of 24 free throw attempts in games the Hornets won.<br /><br />Game # 3<br />Rebound Differential +2<br />Paint Points Differential +16<br />Duncan's Points 16<br /><br />Game # 4<br />Rebound Differential +9<br />Paint Points Differential +7<br />Duncan's Points 2<br /><br />Game # 6<br />Rebound Differential +5<br />Paint Points Differential +2<br />Duncan's Points 20<br /><br />Game # 7<br />Rebound Differential +9<br />Paint Points Differential -16<br />Duncan's Points 16<br /><br />With Duncan double-teamed every time he touched the ball in the low post, the ability of the Spurs perimeter shooting became the true test in this series. He was forced to quickly pass out of the post and then his teammates would swing the ball to an open shooter on the perimeter. Therefore, the shooting ability of the Spurs from the perimeter became the key.<br /><br />In the four games where the Spurs shot below 43% from the field, they went 1-3. Shooting above 43% meant the Spurs went undefeated. From the three point line, a similar trend occurred. In the four games the Spurs shot below 40% from the three point line, they went 1-3.<br /><br />However, when the Spurs perimeter shooting was effective, the Hornets’ strategy was unsuccessful.<br /><br />Game # 1<br />Spurs Lose, 82-101<br />SA FG%: 40.8%<br />SA 3PT%: 38.7%<br /><br />Game #2<br />Spurs Lose, 84-102<br />SA FG%: 42.5%<br />SA 3PT%: 29.6%<br /><br />Game #3<br />Spurs Win, 110-99<br />SA FG%: 48.2%<br />SA 3PT%: 44.0%<br /><br />Game #4<br />Spurs Win, 100-80<br />SA FG%: 51.3%<br />SA 3PT%: 30.8%<br /><br />Game #5<br />Spurs Lose, 79-101<br />SA FG%: 37.7%<br />SA 3PT%: 39.1%<br /><br />Game #6<br />Spurs Win, 99-80<br />SA FG%: 49.4%<br />SA 3PT%: 52.4%<br /><br />Game #7<br />Spurs Win, 91-82<br />SA FG%: 39.5%<br />SA 3PT%: 42.9%<br /><br />Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich, was effective in moving Duncan around and using him in different ways after the first two games - both Hornets wins. Placing Duncan at the free throw line, rather than in the low post, gave the Spurs a different look. Using Duncan in handoff-and-roll situations with Tony Parker also worked well for the Spurs.<br /><br />For the Hornets, they had a terrific season, but in the end, they were beaten by the more talented, deeper team. The Hornets strategy was to dare the other Spurs outside of Duncan to beat them and four times they did just that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-47180850202640262332008-08-19T08:54:00.003-07:002008-10-17T07:13:11.285-07:00Who Deserves NBA MVP?Since the 1955-56 season, the NBA has given out the Maurice Podoloff Trophy to the league’s Most Valuable Player. This year’s voting for the award will certainly be one of the closest ever. With LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett all considered for the award, the voters will have to consider what their criteria are and who is most deserving.<br /><br />For me, the NBA MVP this season is Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. Paul joined the record books among the leagues greatest little guys. In the NBA’s history, only six times has someone played in at least 75 games, scored 20 points per game, handed out 10 assists per game, and had two steals per game.<br /><br />Player<br />Team<br />Season<br />Games<br />PPG<br />APG<br />SPG<br />Chris Paul<br />NO<br />2007-08<br />80<br />21.1<br />11.6<br />2.7<br />Tim Hardaway<br />GS<br />1991-92<br />81<br />23.4<br />10.0<br />2.0<br />Kevin Johnson<br />Pho<br />1990-91<br />77<br />22.2<br />10.1<br />2.1<br />Isiah Thomas<br />Det<br />1985-86<br />77<br />20.9<br />10.8<br />2.2<br />Isiah Thomas<br />Det<br />1984-85<br />81<br />21.2<br />13.9<br />2.3<br />Isiah Thomas<br />Det<br />1983-84<br />82<br />21.3<br />11.1<br />2.5<br /><br />Beyond just having a great offensive statistical season, Paul was the leader of this Hornets squad, who improved their record from 39-43 in 2006-07 to 56-26 this season. New Orleans had the second best record in the Western Conference, competing in the Southwest Division, which also featured three other 50 plus win teams - San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. Only the Lakers in the West and the Pistons and Celtics in the East won more games this season than New Orleans.<br /><br />Paul also made those around him better. David West achieved career highs in points per game (20.6) and rebounds per game (8.9). Tyson Chandler reached a career high in points, averaging 11.8 per game. Peja Stojakovic shot a career best from behind the three point line (44.1%).<br />Paul didn’t just excel on the offensive side of the floor. He led the NBA in steals per game (2.7) and finished third in defensive rebounds per game amongst point guards (3.2). Upon trading point guard Bobby Jackson to the Houston Rockets on February 21, the Hornets played the rest of the season with no backup point guard to Paul. Playing with merely average defensive players in Morris Peterson and Stojakovic, Paul was forced to generally defend the other team’s best guard every night.<br /><br />As a point guard, Paul also did an outstanding job taking care of the ball. Paul finished third in the league in assists to turnover ratio (4.60) and sixth in steals per turnover (1.08). Directing the Hornets offense, the team finished ninth in the NBA in fast break points with 13.6 per game and eighth in field goal attempts with 82.9 per game.<br /><br />With a roster of players limited to scoring from the perimeter (Morris Peterson, Peja Stojakovic, Jannero Pargo) or from inside the paint (Tyson Chandler, Bonzi Wells, David West, Hilton Armstrong), Paul was really the only true playmaker on the squad.<br /><br />Some telling statistics of Paul’s dominance and where he ranked within the NBA:<br /><br />Category<br />Amount<br />NBA Rank<br />Double-Doubles<br />56<br />2<br />FTM/Game for Point Guards<br />4.2<br />2<br />Points+Assists+Rebounds/Game<br />36.6<br />3<br />3P% for Point Guards<br />36.9<br />13<br /><br />Bottom line: Chris Paul really did it all this season. He excelled on the offensive side - scoring in all different ways, handling the ball and creating shots for his teammates. On defense, he created fast break opportunities and extra possessions by forcing steals. His team exceeded all expectations from the media and won seventeen more games than last season. Paul made his teammates better – evidenced by several of them having career years. The Hornets won the second most games in the Western Conference, and their point guard, Chris Paul, is the main reason for the teams’ success.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-86881185835714112412008-08-19T08:51:00.000-07:002008-08-19T08:53:42.946-07:00Thibodeau Top Candidate<p>With the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and potentially others all looking for new head coaches this summer, Boston Celtics associate head coach, Tom Thibodeau should be at the top of teams’ lists.</p><p>Last summer, Thibodeau signed a one year agreement with the Celtics to work with Doc Rivers and his staff. As he finishes his eighteenth season in the NBA, Thibodeau has been a staple of success on NBA benches. This season with the Celtics will be the eleventh time he coaches in the postseason. Unlike his 1998-99 NBA Finals appearance with the Knicks, this time, Thibodeau hopes his Celtics squad ends the season as champions.</p><p>As you can see by the numbers, Thibodeau is seen around the league as a defensive mastermind, whose teams regularly finish in the top of the NBA in defensive field goal percentage and opponent’s points per game.</p><p></p><p>Year<br /><br />Year Team Wins Losses FG% Rank PPG Rank<br />1992 San Antonio 49 33 4 9<br />1993 San Antonio 55 27 4 2<br />1994 Philadelphia 24 58 16 10<br />1995 Philadelphia 18 64 27 26<br />1996 New York 57 25 1 5<br />1997 New York 43 39 2 2<br />1998 New York 27 23 2 4<br />1999 New York 50 32 3 2<br />2000 New York 48 34 1 1<br />2001 New York 30 52 13 14<br />2002 New York 37 45 26 20<br />2003 Houston 45 37 2 5<br />2004 Houston 51 31 2 3<br />2005 Houston 34 48 2 4<br />2006 Houston 52 30 1 3<br />2007 Boston 66 16 1 2 2</p><p>Thibodeau stresses the importance of slowing opponents’ offensive transition and defending the post. This season, the Celtics led the league in defensive fast break points, allowing only 9.1 per game. Challenging opponents shots and team rebounding are other points that Thibodeau has been known to place great importance on. The Celtics finished second in the NBA this year in opponents rebounds, giving up 38.9 per game. </p><p>Player development is another area Thibodeau has received praise. During his career as an NBA assistant coach, Thibodeau has been credited with helping to incorporate Dennis Rodman into the Spurs team, being Jeff Van Gundy’s righthand man in New York and developing Yao Ming in Houston.</p><p>This season, he has received recognition for his work with rookie big man Glen Davis and second-year point guard Rajon Rondo. Davis and Rondo have been capable in pick-and-roll defense situations, as well as, their ability to limit their opponent’s offensive effectives. Because of this, both players are expected to play major roles in the Celtics championship run this season.</p><p>For teams looking for an accomplished coach to help improve team defense and skill development for their young players, Tom Thibodeau would be an excellent selection as a head coach. Rather than recycling a guys who have already had a chance in the league - such as Terry Porter, Scott Skiles, Rick Carlisle, or Larry Brown – Thibodeau is the one that should get the chance at the top jobs this summer. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-25635855426018296422008-07-18T08:21:00.001-07:002008-07-18T08:25:49.428-07:00port trade<a href="http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_jersey.htm">http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_jersey.htm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nba.com/blazers/roster/">http://www.nba.com/blazers/roster/</a><br /><br />Lafrentz-13 fa, Frye-3, Sergio Rodriguez-1 for either wing scorer or veteran pg<br /><br />wing<br />VC, g wallace, stack, melo, marion, redd<br /><br />pg<br />billups, hinrich, andre millerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-83977641568969457922008-06-24T14:41:00.000-07:002008-06-24T14:53:42.160-07:00NBA Prospects ThoughtsPerennial All-Stars:<br />Derrick Rose<br />O.J. Mayo<br /><br />Fringe All-Stars:<br />Michael Beasley<br /><br />Starters on Champions:<br />Jerryd Bayless<br />Kevin Love<br />Danilo Gallinari<br />Anthony Randolph<br />Darrell Arthur<br />Brook Lopez<br />Brandon Rush<br />Mario Chalmers<br /><br />Rotation Guys:<br />Russell Westbrook<br />Eric Gordon<br />Joe Alexander<br />Kosta Koufos<br />Donta Greene<br />Chris Douglas-Roberts<br />DJ White<br /><br />Short Career:<br />Roy Hibbert<br />Robin Lopez<br />Marreese Speights<br />Joey Dorsey<br />JaVale McGeeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-36593671493307422742008-06-03T06:43:00.000-07:002008-06-03T06:50:45.530-07:00"Russian Revolution"Posted: Tuesday April 22, 2008 8:21AM; Updated: Thursday April 24, 2008 5:26PM<br />Ian Thomsen<br /><br />"Russian Revolution"<br /><br />The home of Stalin, Putin and Langdon -- Langdon? -- is trying to embrace American-style (read: capitalist) basketball . . . with a little Elvis thrown in.<br /><br />The world's most elegant cheerleaders take the court like a troupe of ballerinas, dressed simply in lilac tops and low-rise black pants for their role as arm candy to the star of this brief show. The iconic main attraction is decked out in the telltale white body suit and has the familiar upswept hair. During his brief time on earth, the original Elvis Presley typified the Western entertainment that was banned by the Soviet Union as "tumors on the social organism." But in this incarnation he is belting out bastardized Russian-and-English lyrics to the tune of Blue Suede Shoes as the twirling ladies encircle him. "Come on, SESS-ka!" sings Elvis, leaning into the crook of his glittering elbow.<br /><br />SESS-ka refers to CSKA, or Central Sports Army Club, the home team for this February basketball game in Moscow. The celebrated organization dates to the Soviet days of Stalin and Khrushchev and Brezhnev, who ruled the army generals and also, by chain of command, the gold medalists competing for CSKA. The Red Army athletes were the most intimidating of competitors: fundamentally disciplined basketball stars, ice hockey players and figure skaters who tormented the U.S. in the Olympic Games every fourth winter and summer.<br /><br />Then in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, and soon the Soviet system collapsed. But the teams of CSKA Moscow have continued to thrive, though they bear little more than symbolic allegiance to the military. Instead, they answer to a former disc jockey.<br /><br />It's true: CSKA is run by a deejay named Sergey Kushchenko, a genial, outgoing 46-year-old who was spinning LPs of the Beatles and bootlegging cassettes of the Rolling Stones even as Soviet coach Alexander Gomelsky and five CSKA players were leading the U.S.S.R. to an 82-76 win over the U.S. at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. That Sergey the deejay happened also to fall in love with basketball has resulted in his spectacularly unpredictable rise to president of CSKA. Sitting courtside in a dark suit and tie -- uncomfortable attire during his deejay days -- he watches the team that he has reinvented to become the best in the world outside the NBA.<br /><br />Two decades ago Soviet stars such as Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis earned disposable income by selling athletic gear and black-market caviar out of their hotel rooms during international road trips. Now, the high-end clubs of the Russian Superleague have more money to spend than most of their European rivals. Russia's vast natural resources and the ambitions of president Vladimir Putin (who will move to the prime minister's office on May 7) have recast basketball as a metric of the nation's new identity -- even if that identity is often cast by foreigners. The coach of what is still commonly referred to as the Red Army team is Ettore Messina, an Italian. He yells at his three American players, two Greeks, a Slovenian, a Lithuanian, a Belgian, an Australian and a half-dozen Russians in English -- English! -- proof that the new Russia is competing for talent on a global scale.<br /><br />Sergey the deejay is driving this revolutionary trend in Russian basketball. He is striving to create an open-market environment for the American-born sport within an old-world government of Russian secrecy (in which investigative journalists are routinely found murdered) and strong-arm politics (as manipulated by Putin, who prolonged his influence by handpicking his presidential successor in a March election that was free of viable opposition candidates). The NBA has recognized the ambitions of Kushchenko, and over the last three years he has patiently negotiated a unique relationship between his progressive club and the NBA. Commissioner David Stern usually prefers to marry himself to international federations or leagues, but so important is CSKA to all of basketball in Russia, and so visionary is Kushchenko, that in February the NBA was ready to sign a deal with CSKA that would open the Russian frontier to opportunities benefiting both sides.<br /><br />On this afternoon the Superleague meeting between CSKA and visiting Khimki is tight into the fourth quarter as CSKA's cheerleaders return yet again to the court. Their elegance is part of Sergey the deejay's larger vision for basketball in the CSKA Universal Sports Hall, a steeply tiered arena of 5,500 seats built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. As the young women sweep gracefully onto the floor, they are met by dozens of colored lights spinning and strobing from the ceiling, another of Kushchenko's innovations. "Like disco," he explains.<br /><br />An and-one drive by the visitors cuts CSKA's lead to 65-64 with 25 seconds remaining. Trajan Langdon, the former All-America guard at Duke who is one of CSKA's go-to scorers, responds with a free throw. Another drive by Khimki fails and CSKA seizes a 68-64 victory, one of 23 it will earn (against just one loss) domestically this season to claim first place in the Superleague.<br /><br />Basketball is important to Russia because, in the beginning, it was important to the U.S. The Soviets embraced basketball after World War II for no other reason than to try to prove they could beat the U.S. at its own game, to demonstrate that their collective approach could overcome superior talent. They started by dominating the sport in the old world, dividing the first six European Champions Cups among ASK Riga, the army team of Latvia (winner of the first three titles, all coached by the legendary Gomelsky); Dinamo Tbilisi, the police-sponsored team from the Soviet republic of Georgia; and, of course, CSKA Moscow.<br /><br />Today there are at least 1,500 Americans playing basketball professionally around the world, but this trend began in Europe when they were imported like mercenaries to repel the Soviets. In 1962 Real Madrid became the first Western European club to break into the finals of the Champions Cup (known today as the Euroleague) after its Hall of Fame coach, Pedro Ferràndiz, had traveled to Philadelphia to recruit 6' 8" power forward Wayne Hightower, an African-American who had left Kansas a year before he was eligible for the NBA draft. Europe had never seen an athlete like Hightower, and though he would return home to spend 11 years in the NBA and ABA, his one season in Europe created demand for more Americans to stand up to the Soviets.<br /><br />The U.S.S.R. ratcheted up the standards of international competition by turning games into metaphorical life-and-death struggles with the free world. The common denominator for many of the nation's significant basketball victories was Gomelsky, who began an 11-year term as CSKA's coach in 1969 and later served as the team's president while guiding the Soviet national team on and off over three decades. "He was a wily little guy, politically shrewd, considered one of the 100 most powerful men in Russia, disliked by many, connected with higher-ups in the Politburo," says Dan Peterson, the expatriate American who coached in Italy during the Gomelsky era. "A ruthless winner, a brilliant guy."<br /><br />Gomelsky's most important -- and final -- triumph was the 82-76 semifinal win over coach John Thompson's collegians in the '88 Games, which prompted USA Basketball to assemble the original Dream Team four years later. That last Soviet team, like the U.S.S.R. itself, was on the verge of splintering amid ethnic quarrels and demands for freedom, but Gomelsky achieved temporary unification in his locker room, according to Peterson, by persuading Mikhail Gorbachev to allow the players to sign with clubs outside the country provided they won the gold medal.<br /><br />After the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, most of its famed basketball generation scattered throughout Europe and the NBA, for in the first tortured decade of independence there was little money for Russian hoops. The proud clubs of the former empire were unable to pay their bills -- CSKA included, though that did not stop the team from winning nine straight Superleague titles. Gomelsky's search for his eventual replacement as team president, someone capable of responding to the problems and opportunities of the new millennium, led him to the isolated Russian city of Perm, a former Soviet weapons-manufacturing base 800 miles east of Moscow that was closed to foreigners until 1989. Perm was home to a small start-up club known as Ural Great, which had dethroned CSKA to win the 2001 Russian championship and which was owned and operated by none other than Sergey Kushchenko. "I visited Perm in 2001," recalls Roy Kirkdorffer, an American financial adviser based in the south of France who represents European basketball players. "And I had breakfast with Gomelsky, who said of Kushchenko, 'He's our bright young hope.' "<br /><br />Three things that illustrate the paradox of Russian basketball:<br /><br />1. It is not run as a business. While the NBA exists to make money, there is no tradition for profitability throughout European basketball. The major clubs are funded by private financiers or parent sports clubs and exist simply to win games for their city, region and country -- red ink be damned.<br /><br />2. Kushchenko wants to run it as a business. Kushchenko, who took over CSKA's basketball team in 2002, talks of creating a market for basketball, of eventually developing sources of revenue that will equal or exceed his club's budget of more than $40 million, which makes it among the richest in Europe. (The average NBA team's budget is more than $100 million.) Over the last three years he has made several trips to the U.S. with his CSKA employees, and together they have studied everything from the marketing to the merchandising to the administration of the NBA website in hopes of acquiring the perspectives of an organization that is built for profit. As foreign as this may be to his Russian colleagues, Kushchenko sees no other future for basketball in his country.<br /><br />3. There is no compelling need to run it as a business. CSKA is funded by a billionaire oligarch, Mikhail Prokhorov, 42, who made his initial fortune in the 1980s by selling stone-washed jeans in the U.S.S.R. When the state-owned industries were privatized in the '90s by Boris Yeltsin, Prokhorov leveraged his chairmanship of a bank to acquire Norilsk Nickel, the world's leading producer of nickel and palladium. He has since relinquished his stake in Norilsk, though he retains control of sister company Polyus Gold, the largest gold producer in Russia.<br /><br />Despite standing 6' 9" and having played basketball in grade school, Prokhorov has shown minimal interest in the team. It appears to Western observers that he is involved with CSKA because Putin has instructed billionaire oligarchs to invest heavily in basketball and other sports to raise Russia's profile around the world. As it is, Prokhorov, the 24th-richest person in the world according to Forbes (net worth: $19.5 billion), rarely attends hoops games, and he tends to be impressed neither by the spectacle nor by the American need to profit from the sport. During the NBA Europe Live exhibitions in Moscow in 2006, where the carnival of NBA sideshows was on display during timeouts, he turned to a few international guests and said, "This is all bulls---."<br /><br />Prokhorov's passive interest has not prevented the team he bankrolls from becoming the most talented outside the NBA. CSKA has reached the Euroleague Final Four a record six consecutive times, and next week in Madrid the Russian power is favored to win the title for the second time in three seasons.<br /><br />The leading scorer throughout the season (at just 13.4 points per game, befitting the club's balance) is 6' 11" center David Andersen, a 27-year-old Australian who plays on a Danish passport and is considering a move to the NBA next season. (The Atlanta Hawks drafted him in the second round in 2002.)<br /><br />The point guard is a surprisingly talented player from Bucknell named J.R. Holden, 31. In his six years with CSKA he has become, according to coach Messina, the best point guard in Europe. The 6' 1" Holden's skills are so highly valued by the Russians that he was naturalized in 2003 -- despite not having met residency requirements -- so he could play for the national team. (A former national team general manager, Kushchenko helped persuade the government to grant Holden an exemption.) Last September, Holden hit a contested jump shot with 2.1 seconds left to give Russia a shocking 60-59 victory over Spain in the European championships, a victory that promised to maintain political interest and money in Russian basketball for years to come.<br /><br />The CSKA roster is overloaded with renowned Europeans such as Theodoros Papaloukas, 30, recently named one of the 35 greatest players in the 50-year history of the Euroleague; his fellow Greek guard Nikos Zisis, 24; and Lithuanian forward Ramunas Siskauskas, 29, who chose to leave Euroleague champion Panathinaikos to move to Moscow this season. The 6' 8" forward Marcus Goree, who grew up playing with Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin in Dallas, is a 30-year-old who, according to Messina, "could be the European Ben Wallace." Messina himself was named one of the top 10 coaches in Euroleague history, and he views his team leaders as Holden and Langdon, who last season was the only American to make first-team all-Euroleague.<br /><br />The man who put CSKA together, the open and sincere Kushchenko, is in every way the opposite of the stern, cold authoritarian whom one would expect to be presiding over the Red Army club. It helps that he doesn't particularly need basketball. He and some friends from Perm also cashed in on the privatization boom of the 1990s, and their ownership of Kam Kabel -- a manufacturer of electronic cables with 5,000 employees -- has made a millionaire of him. Today he lives with his wife, Svetlana, and their three children in a gated community outside Moscow, in a modern, four-story house with heated floors, a skylit penthouse and fixtures designed by Italian architects.<br /><br />In 2006 Kushchenko was rewarded with a promotion to the presidency of all of CSKA and its 41 sports, which is a far more political position than simply managing the daily affairs of the basketball club. At All-Star weekend in New Orleans, he was welcomed by the NBA to finalize their long-sought partnership. The agreement appeared to be in place: CSKA would put up close to $10 million to serve as host of NBA events in Moscow, including the charitable youth event Basketball Without Borders and preseason exhibitions involving NBA teams. NBA and CSKA officials would work side by side in Moscow, enabling the Americans to grow their league in Russia while providing CSKA with expertise in transforming basketball into a market-based business. CSKA games would be broadcast in the U.S. on NBA TV. Left unsaid was the eventual possibility that CSKA might become an NBA franchise during the league's planned expansion to Europe over the decades ahead.<br /><br />The meetings in New Orleans were expected to be a formality -- sign the papers, shake hands, bring in Stern for group photographs -- but Kushchenko unexpectedly revealed that he was unable to agree to the terms. He also was unable to explain why. He grabbed the arm of NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver and whispered, "Don't worry. We'll get that done."<br /><br />The NBA isn't giving up on Kushchenko. "Russia remains an important market for the NBA," says Silver. "We are encouraged by the discussions we've had with Sergey and his colleagues. We remain hopeful that we're going to work out a long-term deal with him."<br /><br />But something had changed, in spite of all of Kushchenko's successes in moving basketball forward in Russia. Was he unable to persuade the politicians to run the sport as a business? Were they, in spite of their reliance on foreign basketball talent, unwilling to form a partnership with the Americans? The story of Sergey the deejay, though it is not yet finished, is that Russia, for all of the promise of its new frontier, is still mired in its old ways.<br /><br />Find this article at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/04/22/russian.revolution0428Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-27175960795970342602008-05-06T13:34:00.001-07:002008-05-06T13:34:51.286-07:002007-08 <br />38-33 <br />reg season + playoffs without Arenas<br /><br />Antawn Jamison<br />Caron Butler<br />DeShawn Stevenson<br />Brendan Haywood<br />Roger Mason<br />Andray Blatche<br />Antonio Daniels<br />Nick Young<br />Darius Songalia<br />Oleksiy Pecherov<br /><br />U-FA Jamison, Mason<br />R-FA Arenas<br />Etan Thomas returning<br /><br />Either bring back Arenas with a true pg and play Arenas at the 2<br />Or<br />Let Arenas go<br /><br /><br />-they were starting Arenas at pg and Stevenson at sgUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-20399725125788687892008-04-17T14:59:00.000-07:002008-04-17T15:00:20.279-07:00"The Lakers' film star"Wednesday, April 16, 2008<br />Smith column: The Lakers' film star<br /><br />Chris Bodaken spends hours of time in the video room, helping to prepare the Lakers for their next opponent.<br /><br />MARCIA C. SMITH<br />Register columnist<br /><a href="mailto:masmith@ocregister.com">masmith@ocregister.com</a><br /><br />TBD – to be determined – is like a curse phrase. It's the ugly, unnerving unknown and quite possibly the worst three letters anyone can tell Chris Bodaken.<br /><br />As a Lakers scout and director of video services, Bodaken has to think ahead. He's the guy who sizes up the next opponent, considers the next contest, writes statistics-loaded scouting reports, strings together highlight footage for each player and coach and anticipates each one-on-one matchup, game situation and crunch-time scenario.<br /><br />And with "TBD" as the Lakers first-round opponent in NBA playoffs for much of the last frenzied week in the wild, wild Western Conference, Bodaken has had to fight a panic that strikes like a medicine ball to the kidney.<br /><br />"It's a crazy time, not knowing," said Bodaken, a 1990 USC grad who latched onto the Lakers 15 seasons ago as an intern. "The uncertainty of the playoffs is hard. When this happens at the end of season, I have to ask myself, 'Can I be a gambler? Can I wait until the last minute and pull an all-nighter?' "<br /><br />A week ago, the Lakers' playoff picture was scrambled. As games played out and teams flip-flopped positions, there were four possible opponents, then three, and after the Lakers locked up the top seed with Tuesday night's regular-season-finale victory over Sacramento, two.<br /><br />Bodaken had to wait until the final buzzer of the league's regular season sounded Wednesday night for the Lakers' first-round foe – TBD – to turn into either the Denver Nuggets or the Dallas Mavericks.<br /><br />Denver or Dallas? Denver or Dallas? Denver or Dallas? The teams rattled in Bodaken's head and twisted his stomach for days.<br /><br />He's the gambler he was a decade ago when he would wait to know the opponent, get the coffee pot going on a constant drip and spend 24 tense hours scanning through boxes of videotape.<br />He doesn't want that work stress anymore. He's 40 now. He has children.<br /><br />So by Tuesday morning, Bodaken and his assistant, Patrick O'Keefe, had prepared for both the Nuggets and the Mavericks, knowing all along that they would ultimately have to chuck half their work into the trash.<br /><br />"I'm afraid to guess how many days and hours of watching film it takes to get ready for the playoffs," said Bodaken, of Pasadena. "It's probably a scary number."<br /><br />Bodaken and O'Keefe can pace themselves and even get ahead during the regular season because the next game and the next opponent are on the schedule. Playoffs usually kick their work into fast-forward.<br />Their workplaces at Staples Center and at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo are cramped, chilly climate-controlled quarters with just enough room for two chairs, a video editing station, 10 TV screens, four TiVos, a couple VCRs, a DVD recorder, walls lined with thousands of hours of archived NBA footage, stacks of blank DVDs and a clock.<br /><br />There are no windows. Only a timepiece tells Bodaken whether it's day or night in these rooms where it's always gametime.<br /><br />"It's like a Vegas casino in here," he said. "You keep going, watching, working, not knowing what's happening outside."<br /><br />Getting ready for the Nuggets and the Mavericks began with poring over the Lakers' games against both teams and meeting with the Lakers assistant coach assigned to study that team throughout the season.<br /><br />The Lakers went 3-0 against the Nuggets, but they haven't faced Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony since a 116-99 victory on Jan. 21. So Bodaken had to pull footage from the Nuggets' more recent games to see how they're playing now against other teams.<br /><br />The Lakers went 3-1 against the Mavericks in close contests with an average score of 107-106. Fortunately for Bodaken, the Lakers played the Mavericks on April 4 and won, 112-108.<br /><br />Bodaken and O'Keefe also retrieved the fourth-quarter action of every close game the Nuggets and Mavericks played this season to see what the teams did in critical situations. They watched the game both teams played this week, checked injury reports and analyzed statistics from the minutes the star players played to the team's free-throw shooting percentage.<br /><br />"About 98 percent of NBA games are on DirecTV, so it was just a matter of going back and finding the game," he said. "It was a lot harder before the days of digital TV and the Internet."<br /><br />For each Lakers coach, Bodaken and O'Keefe made highlight DVDs – or in the case of some less tech-savvy assistants, VHS tapes – of game footage featuring both teams.<br /><br />"Phil (Jackson) likes to see the flow of the game, so he won't get quick cuts but segments of action," said Bodaken of the Lakers coach's viewing preferences. "He watches more video than any coach I know."<br /><br />For each Laker, they put together 15-20 minute DVDs featuring about 60 game scenes of the Nugget or Maverick player or players whom the Laker will be defending.<br /><br />"It's all about finding the tendencies of the other player in the matchup, things like whether a guy dribbles twice to his left before pulling up and shooting," said Bodaken. "Knowing the details, especially for a student of the game like Kobe Bryant, really helps them get ready."<br /><br />His eyes have burned from all the watching, scanning in fast-forward and focusing frame-by-frame in slow-motion. But Bodaken is at ease knowing he will be ready to hand the Lakers their customized DVDs and written scouting reports when they leave their first practice in preparation of the playoffs.<br /><br />His job will be done – until the next gametime, when he will log Sunday's action live from his Staples Center workroom. His day could last 15 hours. His eyes could be tired. His hands could cramp, his back ache.<br /><br />But Bodaken knows that the Lakers depend on him to leave as little as possible to TBD.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-40952558145207856382008-04-07T13:55:00.000-07:002008-04-07T14:04:48.166-07:00More on Tom Thibodeau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM0_XLzPTf2MnZCe2kvY_wmeGRkgzylmwoZUCEO3FNrW8l3vRyPcRERLt_OKBeYPLjRwvcoUNkDtvzga36HO7kZQj-D5NjcV_XV-pbzppz3IwToykU07dKTJ6beQFpocFDCpIPY-FpylC/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186612302945652114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM0_XLzPTf2MnZCe2kvY_wmeGRkgzylmwoZUCEO3FNrW8l3vRyPcRERLt_OKBeYPLjRwvcoUNkDtvzga36HO7kZQj-D5NjcV_XV-pbzppz3IwToykU07dKTJ6beQFpocFDCpIPY-FpylC/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Outside of two seasons, the teams that Tom Thibodeau has been an assistant coach for have been very successful on the defensive side of the ball - thirteen times finish in the top ten in defensive points per game in the league. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-50769413407891512782008-04-02T14:23:00.000-07:002008-04-02T14:32:40.626-07:00Another Quick Mock Draft1.) Miami: Michael Beasley<br />2.) Seattle: Derrick Rose<br />3.) Memphis: Brook Lopez<br />4.) Minnesota: O.J. Mayo<br />5.) New York: Eric Gordon<br />6.) LA Clippers: Danilo Gallinari<br />7.) Milwaukee: Blake Griffin<br />8.) Charlotte: D.J. Augustin<br />9.) Chicago: Anthony Randolph<br />10.) Indiana: Jerryd Bayless<br />11.) New Jersey: Kevin Love<br />12.) Sacramento: Russell Westbrook<br />13.) Portland: Darren CollisonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2849078605469606164.post-31313770487002127072008-03-27T12:48:00.000-07:002008-03-27T12:51:10.780-07:00"Policies ensure futures"Policies ensure futures<br />Insurance protects top college athletes<br /><br />Robbi Pickeral, Staff Writer<br />CHARLOTTE - North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough doesn't worry about his NBA future despite being bruised, nicked, bloodied -- and sometimes broken -- by his aggressive style of play.<br /><br />"I think it does concern my parents at times, though,'' he said.<br /><br />Which is why the All-America is one of three Tar Heels starters, along with point guard Ty Lawson and shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who has a special insurance policy that protects him in the case of a career-ending injury.<br /><br />"I don't even want to think about, talk about, the possibility of him getting seriously hurt,'' said Gene Hansbrough, who first took out a policy on his son when Tyler was a senior in high school. "But it does give him some level of protection to fall back on, just in case."<br /><br />The investment is expensive. Once they leave school, players get bills for premiums usually in the range of $20,000, although they can top $50,000. And the protection rarely pays off, mostly because of medical advances and the limited instances of devastating injuries.<br /><br />Still, the insurance has become as standard as autograph requests and ESPN highlights for elite college athletes who stand to make millions in the pros.<br /><br />Hansbrough, a junior, originally was insured by Lloyd's of London, but he switched to an NCAA-sponsored program during his freshman season, his father said. His policy is worth close to $4.4 million, the NCAA's current maximum for men's basketball players. Ellington and Lawson, both sophomores, also became eligible and signed up for policies through the NCAA during their freshman seasons. Their parents declined to disclose the amounts of their policies, but even players projected to be chosen near the bottom of the first round of the NBA Draft are eligible for $500,000 policies.<br /><br />Eventually, UNC forwards Deon Thompson and Danny Green could be candidates. On top 10 teams, it's not unusual for multiple players to be insured, said Keith Lerner, an insurance underwriter and CEO of Total Planning in Gainesville, Fla.<br /><br />"There won't be a player drafted in the first round this year that doesn't have insurance," predicted Lerner, who has been in business 20 years. "... These are guys who are going to be making millions in the NBA. So it makes business sense to protect that. ... The cost will come out of their first paycheck."<br /><br />A variety of reasons<br /><br />Insurance policies have been available through private underwriters for decades.<br />The NCAA launched its Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance program in 1990 for men's basketball and football players. Baseball was added in 1991, hockey in 1993 and women's basketball in 1998.<br /><br />The reason for the program isn't to protect student-athletes' pro careers but to safeguard their college ones, said Juanita Sheely, the NCAA's manager of travel and insurance.<br /><br />"Back in its original inception, the idea was to help get agents out of the mix," Sheely said.<br />"Agents would promise, 'I will get you this insurance coverage if you sign with me.' And immediately, if there was any kind of agreement there, the student-athlete lost his eligibility."<br /><br />One company, HCC Specialty Underwriters of Wakefield, Mass., is the administrator of the program and also handles other insurance needs for the NCAA, including protecting its signature event of the year -- the men's basketball tournament -- in the case of disruptions, cancellations or other trouble.<br /><br />Roughly 100 to 150 athletes per year have the insurance at any one time, Sheely said. And at certain points in the year, as many as 40 basketball players can be in the program, said Jeff Stanley, senior sports underwriter at HCC.<br /><br />Eligibility and the amount of coverage are based on projected draft status.<br /><br />Football players are eligible for up to $3 million of insurance if they are projected to go in the first three rounds. Men's basketball players can get up to $4.4 million if they have top-five potential.<br />Which players are eligible and for how much is determined in large part by several confidential scouting services.<br /><br />"We try to base our coverage on 50 to 60 percent of their after-tax salary on their contract, only for the first two years,'' Sheely said. "We can't include any bonuses or endorsements, because we don't know exactly what those will be."<br /><br />Projecting when, or whether, athletes will be drafted is not an exact science, however. UNC coach Roy Williams said that in September 2004, the school applied to get the insurance for center Sean May. The junior, who went on to become MVP of the Final Four, was denied.<br /><br />"They wouldn't approve it because they weren't comfortable saying he was going to be a first-round draft choice,'' Williams said. "And then 10 months later, he was the [13th] pick in the draft. So it's also a deal where everyone's not perfect."<br /><br />Security at a price<br /><br />For those who are approved, NCAA premiums cost about $6,000 per year (plus interest), per $1 million of coverage.<br /><br />UNC encourages Tar Heels who want insurance to go with the NCAA program, UNC senior associate athletic director Larry Gallo said, to make sure the players stay in compliance with NCAA rules. But it isn't required.<br /><br />Players who choose to go with private insurance companies and banks outside the NCAA program must still check in with their school's compliance office to make sure their interest rates and payment schedules are within the rules. But there are benefits.<br /><br />Through Lerner's company, Lloyd's of London offers policies worth up to $12.5 million for projected top NBA draft picks, almost three times more than the NCAA allows for basketball players. Those premiums cost more -- usually $8,000 to $10,000 per year for every $1 million of coverage. But for about double that bill, a rider can be added to the policy that also protects an athlete's draft status -- meaning that if he falls from his projected draft status because of injury, he still could be paid.<br /><br />The NCAA's policy pays out only if an injury is so catastrophic it ends the athlete's chances at any pro career.<br /><br />Either way, payouts are rare. Stanley, of HCC, estimated that only about five claims had been paid under the ESDI program in the past seven or eight years. Lerner's company has paid twice, to a football player and to a hockey player.<br /><br />Buying peace of mind<br /><br />But business is still booming. Only about 10 percent of Lerner's policy-holders are basketball players, but he said hoops interest has increased since the NBA passed the 19-and-under rule, eliminating almost all prep players from jumping straight to the NBA.<br /><br />"I've gotten a lot more calls from parents, because they anticipate their son only being in college a year -- and they want him to be protected,'' said Lerner, who insures athletes throughout the ACC, SEC and Big East.<br /><br />"There are even kids in high school [taking out policies],'' he added. "Those are still few and far between, ... but it's happening more than it used to."<br /><br />Hansbrough was one of those kids who qualified for a private policy when he was a McDonald's All American at Poplar Bluff (Mo.) High.<br /><br />Seeing the aggressive way he played and anticipating a possible pro future, his father had no qualms about insuring him then -- or now -- despite the expense.<br /><br />Lawson's mother, Jackie, did not want to comment on her son's involvement in the insurance program. But Ellington's dad, Wayne Sr., lauded the opportunity to buy insurance as "a good business decision."<br /><br />"It does help take the pressure off kids to come out early, or think that they should come out early, because they're scared that they may get hurt ... especially the kids with no financial pressures,'' he said.<br /><br />Wayne Ellington Sr. said his son will evaluate all his options after this season. Meanwhile, Gene Hansbrough said he doesn't anticipate that having the policy will affect whether his son leaves school early for the NBA. Tyler Hansbrough has said the biggest factor will be whether UNC wins a national title.<br /><br />To that end, No. 1 seed UNC will play fourth-seeded Washington State in the NCAA's round of 16 tonight.<br /><br />"For Tyler, playing is not about the money,'' Gene Hansbrough said. "He's a pretty frugal guy; the most he spends on is food. He just wants to win.<br /><br />"But it [the insurance] gives me a little bit of piece of mind. I love the way he plays, I love how hard he plays. But every time he goes down, I hold my breath till he gets back up."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/1014707.html">http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/1014707.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0