Rudy Gay (Photo. Tina Williams)How did the Grizzlies lose to Unicaja Malaga yesterday? You could chalk it up to the Spanish pro team having more continuity and Memphis having a lot of new guys to break in. You could say it was because Malaga was basically playing a home game, while the Grizzlies had a lot of youngsters playing on foreign ground. But the bottom line is that Malaga out-worked their NBA opposition. Guys like Marcus Haislip (18 pts, 11 rebs), Boniface Ndong (16 pts, 12 rebs) and Daniel Santiago (14 pts, 10 rebs) — who have each played in the League but did a whole lotta nothing while they were there — were getting busy in the paint on Pau Gasol, Darko and Hakim Warrick … It was a great game, actually, with the Grizzlies looking like they were gonna coast at first, then Malaga coming back to take a double-digit lead, then Memphis shooting their way back into it before losing out at the end when Kyle Lowry didn’t get a call on a drive and then Mike Miller missed a long trey at the buzzer … Rudy Gay is so freaking athletic and could be so good, it’s a shame he isn’t better. Think about it: physically, Rudy doesn’t have anything Kevin Durant doesn’t have (maybe the long-range accuracy), but he probably won’t ever be a superstar like KD can be because Rudy simply doesn’t go hard all the time. He made some amazing plays yesterday — crazy dunks from all over the place, and one block where he looked like Mike Powell jumping out at a three-point shooter — but there were also times when you could see Rudy start to drive, then blow an opportunity because he didn’t want the contact. If Rudy needs a “Don’t do this to your career” manual, he should look down the bench at Stromile Swift … We weren’t feeling Juan Carlos Navarro at first (the whiny face needs to stop ASAP), but when he started busting threes during Memphis’ comeback, he looked like he should be their starting PG. If Memphis ever gets good, Navarro (21 pts) will be the next Manu; the guy everyone hates partially because he’s so aggravatingly good … And why was Navarro still breaking out the whiny face in the post-game press conference? … Damon Stoudamire got the start at PG, but between Navarro, Mike Conley having some moments and Lowry, the vet didn’t get much burn … Darko? Eh. He was aggressive on both ends, but it didn’t translate to production. One time Darko spun into the lane, lost the ball and, trying to get it back, spiked it off the glass so hard he almost broke something … There was a halftime feature on Pau and Miller where Miller was calling Pau “Meal Ticket.” Preceding all of Mike’s praise, though, was a “When he comes to play” line. As in, When Pau comes to play, we all eat for free; When he comes to play, no one can guard him. You don’t hear that about guys like KG and Tim Duncan … Exhibition star of the night: Marcus Camby, who put up 13 points, 23 boards and 3 blocks against the Clippers … Yi Jianlian, meanwhile, fouled out and scored 3 points in 15 minutes against the Bulls … Is Paul Pierce a Hall of Famer? Cases were made for and against The Truth yesterday. Check them out here and tell us what you think. And come back to Dimemag.com later today for the next part of our “Hall of Fame Watch” series. The man in question this time is one of the premier big men of his era, but another superstar who doesn’t have a ring … Juwan Howard (free hint: he’s not the H.O.F. candidate) has made it known he’d like to be traded to a contender, and included Boston in that group. OK, we know everyone wants to win ballgames, and we don’t wanna single out Juwan, but why do some NBA vets think they deserve to play for a title contender? Especially when some of them have been paid insane amounts of money over their careers specifically to make their teams into contenders and could never do it? And we’re not even gonna start on Marko Jaric … With all the talk about LeBron rocking his Yankees cap at Jacobs Field, Allen Iverson avoided controversy when asked who he was pulling for in the Rockies/Phillies series. The guy who for a long time defined Philly said he was going for Colorado, in part because Rockies’ star Troy Tulowitzki is one of A.I.’s neighbors … Tired of getting your pockets picked on the playground? Over on High School Hoop we’ve got Kenny Boynton’s ball-handling workout to help you out. Boynton is one of the best prep guards in the country, a junior at Florida’s American Heritage who’s getting shown love from Duke, Florida and Louisville, among others … Also, UConn is quietly putting together the next Fab Five … We’re out like Darko’s offense …
October 10th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Captain America says:
The Griz first half was horrible.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Jimmy says:
Saying that Manu is hated because he is “aggravatingly good” is completely incorrect. Everyone hates him because of his style of play is so irritating to watch and the way he tries to play the refs more than playing the game. The guy is worse than a soccer player when it comes to faking “contact” and hitting the floor like he was shot with a sniper rifle everytime someone looks at him.
If anyone tried to play Manu’s style in any pickup game in any gym/playground in the country, he would be laughed and/or thrown off the court. He would never play at any pickup games though, mostly because there aren’t gurneys courtside waiting to wheel him away.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Tom Toronto says:
Hey Jimmy, that’s why they used the qualifier “partially”. Also, nobody would hate him if he didn’t get buckets, he’d just be some bench warmer that flops. You have to be good to get hated.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:54 am
djKianoosh says:
damn why so much hate on manu? there were TONS of examples this past postseason that should have put this issue to bed. examples of OTHER guys actually faking contact. manu in reality takes the contact. of course he embellishes it, but to claim that he doesn’t take the hit is wrong. cause it is. now Varejao, that guy fakes it, hard.
this is the great thing about the Spurs. they get it done with guys like Ginobili and Bowen. I love how they play, and I’ll take those guys and their heart, game, and championships every single day.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Fish says:
Bowen? Don’t get me started…
October 10th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Jimmy says:
djKianoosh:
All of the contact Manu takes, Manu creates. Everytime the guy drives he jumps in the air and has a seizure, flailing his limbs around like he has epilepsy, then hitting the ground and rolling around until the refs blows their whistles. As soon as he hears the whistle, he pops up like a champ with a huge grin.
His style of play completely ruins the game. The only way to describe it would be “emo”…huge show and drama, but nothing behind it. Give the guy a studded belt already, let him wear big rimmed glasses and have him read a poem delivered from his very soul before the national anthem is sang.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Mustard says:
Hey Jimmy, not sure who your team is but I would be willing to bet that you would want a guy like him on your team. For sure he plays reckless, flops and draws fouls…but he is good and gets under the other teams skin. This is something every team wants.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:54 am
TBone says:
Jimmy HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 10th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Jules says:
heh heh heh…
you said “N’Dong”.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Amar says:
just watch game 4 of the jazz/spurs series to see manu work his magic and get mild mannered derek fisher thrown out of the game.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Rob says:
Brad Miller rocking some sort of cornrows in the preaseason debut…hmmmm check out the pic.
http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/10/09/23/297-3S10MILLERHAIR.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.JPG
October 10th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Lucky Lester says:
I can’t agree more about flopsy cotton tail soccer star Manu… The thing is, if he came to the gym, he’d just take over the game, and probably never touch the floor - he’s good. But like most of you, I’m sick of his damn dives - it’s just pathetic.
Does anyone realize how bad he must feel for cutting his hair - when he had long hair he got way more foul calls because when he jerked his head back all fast, his hair would make the fake contact easier for the referees to pretend they saw something.
Basketball refs need to stop calling fouls that “probably” happened, and start calling fouls they actually saw happen - the game would be better, and Manu would quit his shit.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
dank says:
Look, being from Manu’s country, where he is a national hero and is the Maradona of basketball, im supposed to agree. he is a good player, has a great shooting range, and will make his way down the lane. no doubt he belongs in the NBA…
having said that, though, the dude plays like a marica (spanish for faggot). i support guys like scola, nocioni, and delfino for example. those are the real Argentinean heroes of basketball, the real player. but if you guys wanna get on the subject of basketball players who are pussies for flopping, and your gonna put Manu ginobili at the top of the list, then please include Stevie “BPAT” Nash (Biggest Pussy of All Time), Raja Bell, Anderson Varejao, Memo…etc
lets not leave out the obvious ones alright?
and yes, please, lets hope the league starts handing out suspensions like they said they would last year.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
fo sho says:
Spain is the world champion, an average Spanish team beat an NBA team with NBA rules and american refs, I think Stern should think about keep calling “world champion” the NBA champion cos they aren’t.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
da man says:
Did you saw the Kings-Sonics game and did’nt say anything about the haircuts? Brad Miller was hilarious with his Iverson hair, Bibby was very bizarre with hair (not a bad haircut, just hair) and Robert Swift was the star of the game with that hair!! Please someone get a photo of that thing!!
October 10th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
JC says:
Total on point call on vets calling themselves “entitled” to play for a contender. Yes you put in years, but certainly not for the wolves. Why do you get allowed to pick who you play for? Did you play for a franchise for your ENTIRE career faithfully while being a pillar in the community (example: KG)? no? Then shut up…
October 10th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
chrisGO says:
aye DIME,
when are we going to get a review of NBA 2K8 vs NBA Live ‘08.
i’ve been hearing a lot of conflicting opinions on which one is worth picking up.
sorry if this is the wrong place to post….
October 11th, 2007 at 12:06 am
jamesinva says:
hey dime this has nothing to do with ur smack talk for today, but for all this zach to new york trade and not giving portland props…well the game isnt even over yet and yes it IS preseason but u gotta give some props to lamarcus aldridge. hes putting up randolph numbers, NOT clogging the post, AND portland is more of a running team now. frye isnt doing bad at all either. props where it is deserved you guys.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:12 am
jamesinva says:
oh also martel webster havin a great game
October 11th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
rank says:
ya dood, nash flops like all of teh tyme yooo! taht maykes hime teh wurst lololol
October 12th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Coldchain says:
Martell needs to have a big year this year. If not he’s gonna be out of the NBA.