Like us, Smush had the day off.(Photo. Tim Tadder)
You know how in baseball spring training they do the split-squad games? That was what Heat/Pistons looked like last night. Miami left Shaq, D-Wade and Zo at home, while Udonis Haslem, Smush Parker, ‘Toine and Penny were in the building but didn’t play either. That left a starting lineup of J-Will, Jeremy Richardson, Dorell Wright, Marcus Slaughter and Michael Doleac (a good D-League team, no doubt), with guys like Slaughter and Brian Chase carrying the scoring load. Detroit, meanwhile, brought their whole crew and coasted to a W. Rodney Stuckey dropped 15 points off the bench while the Pistons regulars put in light work … Shockingly, Wayne Simien did play — yeah, he’s still in the League — but apparently was doing so on a sore knee. Whether the big dogs are playing or not, it just doesn’t seem like a real Heat game unless Wayne can be seen on the bench in a nice suit … Just yesterday we told you about Eddy Curry’s willingness to share go-to guy status with Zach Randolph. Then, right before New York opened its preseason schedule, we find out Curry will be out for a few weeks with a shoulder injury. That left Z-Bo to have free reign against the Sixers last night, where he scored 17 in a win. David Lee, the NYK big no one is talking about, put up 18 points … Further evidence that Allan Houston will be a Knick this year: Jared Jeffries has switched from #20 back to #1 … Dwight Howard is already in beast form, hanging 30 points, 11 boards and 4 blocks on the Hawks. Isn’t Atlanta’s front court supposed to be all tough now? What happened? … Rashard Lewis‘ debut wasn’t so hot. He shot 3-for-10 and left the game with cramps at one point … Speedy Claxton got the start at PG over Acie Law, but the rookie got more minutes and went for 7 points, 5 dimes, 3 steals and committed just one turnover … Last week our Fantasy Doctor took a break from planning his ‘07 championship ring ceremony to drop this year’s Top 40 Fantasy Point Guards. Be sure to come back to Dimemag.com later today when he unveils the Top 30 Fantasy Shooting Guards … Also, after getting railed all weekend for mentioning Jermaine O’Neal and “Hall of Fame” in the same sentence, today’s Hall of Fame Watch candidate has a much stronger case. He’s arguably one of the five greatest players in the history of arguably the League’s greatest franchise. Come back later today and see who we’re talking about … It looks like the Raptors starting five will be T.J. Ford and Anthony Parker in the backcourt, either Jason Kapono or Carlos Delfino at the three, Chris Bosh at the four, and Andrea Bargnani at center. Interesting move. Offensively, with the way Toronto plays, Bargnani as a center will work. But what about defensively? … Don’t even wanna try explaining this … Five picks and one fumble lost, and they’re still trying to compare Tony Romo to Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach? Just stop it until the guy at least wins ONE playoff game, alright? … Having the day off yesterday meant some daytime TV for the Dime crew (not our usual NBA TV/”Sportscenter” re-run routine in the office). Which led to this from Austin: “Maury Povich is doing the same topic he always does: Who’s the Baby’s Daddy? The guy on stage is proven to not be the father, the girl runs off crying, Maury goes to console her — y’all know the script. But while Maury was talking to her, his envelope that (allegedly) has the paternity test results in it was flipped over to where you could read the paper that’s SUPPOSED to be the DNA test. Turns out it’s not even test results; it’s a plain piece of paper that says ‘When it comes to 5-month-old Johnny Jr … Johnny … You are NOT the father!’ All this time I thought Maury was looking at the actual test results from the lab, come to find out he’s been reading flash cards!” … We’re out like the Heat varsity …
October 9th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Coldchain says:
Does the NBA do like the NFL and charge full price for pre-season? Cause I know I’d be pissed if I paid to watch the Heat and none of their good players even played. I understand D-Wade is hurt, but why couldn’t any of those other guys play?
October 9th, 2007 at 9:20 am
ben says:
i can understand WWE occasionally making its way into smack….but MAURY???
October 9th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Austin Burton says:
It was an off day. Don’t judge me!
October 9th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Sho-Nuff says:
One day I’ll be as smart as DeShawn Stevenson.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Marques says:
If you look at the black card the one he’s holding has different numbers on it, than the one they show the close up of.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Austin Burton says:
Does his grill say “Poppa Smurf”?
October 9th, 2007 at 10:27 am
P Diddy wears pink says:
Deshawn turned down 10 mil from Orlando for 7 mil from the Wizards. After taxes that 3.5 Million. I wouldnt go on too many shopping sprees there Deshawn or father too many out of wedlock babies. Otherwise you will be playing for then and1 team soon. And you have no J whatsoever.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:45 am
seth says:
Is it bad to admit that I got a semi reading the stats from some honest to God actual ball from last night? I’m laid up right now post-ACL surgery, and reading this blog everyday reminds me why ball is above all…and worth a few excruciating surgeries. As for the Raps proposed lineups, Barngani will do fine as a five. I mean, who has a TRUE five in the East outside of Miami? He’s gonna get buckets on his end, and most nights he’s not going to face an offensive demon on the other end. In the mid-90’s with Ewing, Admiral, Dream, Young Shaq and even second tier guys like Smits and Mutombo (first tier defensively, but what a hideous post game!), there’s no way in hell a guy like Bargnani masquerades as a 5, but in today’s L, we see it all the time. 10 years ago, Centaur, STAT and others would not be taking a crack at the pivot position. This is a different era. Not to say that guys like Shaq, Curry and Yao aren’t going to light his ass up, but Mitchell will be smart enough on those nights to toss a guy like Rasho in the game and slide Andrea to the 4 or even 3. I really like watching the Raps. They play quick, move the ball and shoot the hell out of it. It’s great that after a decade of slugfest baskeball (thank you Pistons and Riley-era Knicks) we’re moving back towards the fluid, beautiful game of the past. Teams like the Raps, Warriors, Grizzlies and Suns are hella entertaining, and don’t tell me that style can’t win it all, I refuse to buy into that.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:46 am
seth says:
Oh yeah, I’ll include the Knicks as having a legit 5 as well, at least on the offensive end.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Austin Burton says:
Bargnani’s comp: Zaza/Shelden (ATL), Perkins (BOS), Okafor/Brezec (CHA), Big Ben (CHI), Big Z (CLE), Maxiell/Rasheed (DET), Jermaine (IND), Shaq/Zo (MIA), Bogut (MIL), Magloire/Krstic (NJ), Curry (NY), Dwight (ORL), Dalembeast (PHI), Haywood/Etan (WAS).
I like his chances. A lot of those guys are gonna be miserable chasing him around offensively — unless they put them on Bosh and have the PF guard Bargnani — and aren’t much to worry about as scorers. The real problems come up with Dwight, Shaq, Curry and Jermaine.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
sans says:
Pierce deserves to be in the hall. You guys should do one on CWebb, just for kicks.
October 9th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
mjax says:
I am not even a Bargnani fan, if one at all, and I say he will do just fine in the East at center. Especially fine if you break down the list Austin B. put up. Atl is a wrap, Boston could be a wrap, he’ll have issues in (Char) due to the committee defense. Big Ben is drama for anybody just cause. Cleveland is a wrap, (Det) will eat him alive, Jermaine will be hurt by the time they play, (MIA) will beat him down. He should coast thru (MIL) and (NJ), and (NY) curry will be to thick AGAIN to hang. Now he don’t wanna see Howard anywhere, and Dalembeast will be on the bench in foul trouble, and (Was) is a wrap, for various reasons… Call him Xmas, with all that wrapping he’ll be doing… His chances fare well.. I mean what more can you ask?
October 9th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Lucky Lester says:
the biggest thing is, guys won’t be able to guard Barg… think about it, which one of those Centers you listed will be out on the P following him around? zero anybody? yes, zero.
October 9th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
DefSP says:
LMAO @ Maury…
October 9th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
mavid says:
Don’t forget about Horford (there is a lot of buzz coming out of ATL about him; he already appears to have surpassed Shelly).
Horford (or Smoove) would do just fine on Bargnani offensively. Defensively J-Smoove or Marvin would probably guard Bargs with Horford or Smoove on Bosh (Smoove and Bosh is always a nice battle when that match-up goes down).
I wanna see Bosh and Bargs D up Smoove and Horford; it cuts both ways. If Horford works out for ATL, that’s gonna be an insanely athletic front-court.
Atlanta and Toronto is gonna be a good match-up all season.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
rean says:
“…it just doesn’t seem like a real Heat game unless Wayne can be seen on the bench in a nice suit…” -haha! funny. but as what you have said, it’s cold, just plain cold man…
October 10th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
DOC says:
Shaq never plays thats why he always a fat slob the begining of the season and stop calling the dude dalembeast he stinks