Nate’s passing now?(Photo. Colin Brennan)
The NBA went 3-1 yesterday in its World Tour preseason schedule: the Knicks smashed Maccabi Tel Aviv at MSG, the Rockets worked over Panathinaikos (Greece) in Houston, and the Grizzlies demo’d some mediocre Spanish team called The Students across the water. The Raptors — minus Chris Bosh — lost a close one to Real Madrid in the main event to Memphis’ undercard game … T.J. Ford (18 pts, 8 asts) and Jose Calderon (6 pts, 6 asts) were both solid and didn’t have any trouble with RM’s Raul Lopez, but they couldn’t do anything about blast from the past Lou Bullock, who rained on the Raps by dropping 27 points and sticking free throws at a Redick-like clip. At one point someone in the office saw Bullock and said, “He looks a lot older.” Response: “That’s because the last time anyone saw him play was 10 years ago.” Charles Smith, the G’town product who played in the League for a sec, hung 5 treys on Toronto … How is Jorge Garbajosa even playing right now, let alone playing well? Isn’t he still supposed to be recovering from that horribly broken leg? AND he played in the FIBA tournament over the summer? Forget the Euro stereotype; Garbo is a warrior … Bosh didn’t play due to a sore knee, which on top of the plantar fasciitis already bothering him, has to have Toronto fans uneasy. That’s one of the reasons we called Bosh “Out” in yesterday’s Hall of Fame Watch — he always seems to be hurt. And yes, we know it’s super-early with CB4, but there’s no harm in trying to predict the future. The H.O.F. candidate we’re analyzing later today has a more complete body of work, however, and could even pick up a ring in the near future … Maccabi came out strong against the Knicks behind aged Vonteego Cummings busting from outside and tubby Marcus Fizer bull-rushing Z-Bo inside, but New York ran away with it once the benches got involved … Nate Robinson looked good. He was actually passing the rock (12 pts, 5 asts, 5 rebs), and doing it in spots where he would have taken silly shots last year … Jamal Crawford has clearly put on muscle over the summer. He’s not swimming in his jersey anymore, and he hasn’t lose that ultra-quick crossover … Is Fred Jones really 29? That makes us feel old … Maccabi — or “Macarvi” as Clyde Frazier put it — also had Terence Morris (Maryland), David Blumenthal (USC) and Will Bynum (Georgia Tech). Bynum didn’t play … Yao went for 21 points and 8 boards in Houston’s win. T-Mac didn’t play. The visitors had Sarunas Jasikevicius (6 pts) and Alabama product Kennedy Winston (3 pts, 0 FGs) … We didn’t recognize anyone on The Students, who played patsy for the Grizzlies. Darko (who has already caused one fantasy hoops argument in the Dime office this year) played well, putting up 13 points, 7 boards and 2 blocks … In other overseas news, Olympiakos of Greece snatched up Marc Jackson. Someone alert the Euroleague to prepare for facefuls of elbow jumpers … Jerry Buss‘ admission that he’s listening to Kobe trade offers sounds like public negotiation. Some team the Lakers have been talking to could get baited into upping their offer … We’ll say it’s 150% likely that J.R. Smith gets traded before the deadline. He might get traded before you’re done reading this. George Karl was done with him last year during the Spurs series, and since then has taken some shots at him through the press. Here’s Karl on J.R. after Denver’s first preseason game: “I just think J.R. had too many bad plays for a team that wants to be a championship team,” he told the Rocky Mountain News. “Last year, we tolerated it. This year, it probably won’t be tolerated.” … Should Pat Riley rip Antoine Walker for showing up to camp in “portly” shape? (Reporter’s word, not Riley’s.) Some of you have said Miami should trade ‘Toine, some have said Riley needs to work him harder, and some feel like Smack reader Teddy, a Heat fan who wrote, “I say cut his ass so he could be lazy on his own damn time.” Check out the responses to the Riley/’Toine issue here and give us your opinion … So now Damon Jones isn’t even the best “D. Jones” on the Cavs? Big man Dwayne Jones racked up 13 boards and 5 blocks in Cleveland’s win over Detroit last night … College ball starts up this week with Midnight Madness. Is Seton Hall on the come-up? Our guy Andrew over on High School Hoop says the Big East could have another heavyweight on its hands soon … Etan Thomas underwent open heart surgery yesterday to repair a leak of the aortic valve. Chances are Thomas won’t play this year, and in fact his career might even be over. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Etan for a full recovery … We’re out like J.R. …
October 12th, 2007 at 6:26 am
Ak47 says:
Florent Pietrus on MMT Estudiantes is Mickael’s older brother. He once played during nba summer leagues a couple years ago but never really left the bench..
October 12th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Easy says:
“Forget the Euro stereotype; Garbo is a warrior”
Stereotype? Explain yourself.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:41 am
Moi says:
Sergio Rodriguez, the Portland PG, was playing for MMT Estudiantes before he went to the NBA.
Estudiantes has always been one of those teams that young players get the opportunity to play huge minutes so that they can make a good contract - on other teams, of course.
Pepu Hernandez, the Spanish´s National Team Coach was for many years Estudiantes´ coach.Also, I think they won the Spanish League once, under Pepu’s coachment.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:52 am
The Jed says:
150% chance that JR Smith gets traded huh? What would the odds be on something like that. 150% must translate into crazy odds. I’d say 150:1 ish. Okay Austin, I’ll take the bet. 5 bucks on JR Smith not getting traded by the deadline. You win, you get 5 bucks. I win, and according to the 150% lunacy, I get $750. Deal?
October 12th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Austin Burton says:
Oh, Smart-Aleck Jed is feeling fiesty this morning! The point is, there’s no way JR Smith doesn’t get traded.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Coldchain says:
Most of the European dudes are soft
October 12th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Mustard says:
#2, Euro’s have the perception to be soft when it counts. The two sports in which this perception holds true is basketball and hockey.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
djKianoosh says:
after AI got trade there I started watching some Denver games and can totally see Karl’s point. JR makes some boneheaded and selfish plays sometimes. And they’re at critical times of games. He’s got potential, but until he cuts out the bad plays he’ll be in the doghouse.
Still, I think it’s just a threat of playing time, and not trading him, but what do I know… What could they get for him? it’s not like he does anything spectacularly well…
October 12th, 2007 at 9:43 am
foolio_iglesias says:
I’m not familiar with the word ‘coachment’.I am however familiar with the phrase ‘fade to bolivian’.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:23 am
jas says:
As far as the whole Euro-soft thing, I find it amusing that anyone would consider NBA players to be warriors. Don’t get me wrong but love NBA ball, but every player in the league is “Euro” to borrow your term. Garbo’s more of a Canadian hockey players.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Amar says:
props to foolio for the ‘bolivian’ comment.
nate rob has impressed me with his development. he just doesn’t want to be the sideshow, and he is learing the pg spot. no, that doesn’t mean i think he’s john stockton or mark price or anything like that, but it means that he’s developing into the change of pace PG that most teams need.
I remember riley had a weight clause put into tim hardaway’s contract back in the day. why can’t he do this with ‘toine? I do remember timmy suggesting strongly that he didn’t care though, because “i gets my strength from my cheeseburgers.”
October 12th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Ak47 says:
Euros are soft…we play rugby…you play football with protections
Did you ever think that the game is not played the same way overseas (i.e less based on physical abilities). NBA players start by building their bodies first…Euros start by learning individual and collective fundamentals..
October 12th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Faris in Tdot. says:
The Jed: Since 100% odds are 1:1, 150% odds are 1.5:1; where you put in 1.5 to potentially win 1. Real simple dawg.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:26 am
SidViscious says:
50% would be 1:1 odds.
100% would not have odds because only an idiot would bet against something that has a 100% chance of happening.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Jeff LeGrand says:
I don’t think it’s that Charles Smith,I believe that’s the one from New Mexico,they used to call him “Spider” because of his long arms. Where is that ‘Smitty’ from G-town,did he ever play again after he left the minor leauges of basketball?
October 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Austin Burton says:
Whatever, Spellcheck Berger … Point is, J.R. Smith should sell his crib in Denver.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
E-ROC says:
JR Smith is done in Denver. They won’t give him any tick because of his bad play. They’ll probably cut bait or trade to the Cavs or somebody.
I guess people take exception to the ‘’Euro stereotype'’ quote. I didn’t know it was that serious. I would say that when the European players arrive in the NBA, they do not like the contact and it takes them awhile to get used to it.
Is T-Mac already injured or Adelman didn’t want to risk injury to T-Mac?
October 12th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
nick says:
as much as the team hates jr’s boneheaded plays he is really the nuggets only threat from 3. they probably have to play him to help preventing players from doubling ai and melo because no one else on the team has as good range as jr.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Rodnets says:
Hey Luis Scola dropped 17 and 6 boards for the Rockets. Remember he is a rookie. You’ll listen to that name in the league, don’t tell I didn’t tell you.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
doc says:
They should trade Kobe to the Sixers for Iggy, Dalembum,Miller, Lou Will, Korver, Mo Cheeks I don’t give a fuck just get him and sign some of those Euroleague bums they keep playin and some D league dudes we in the East we would make moves.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
sans says:
Kobe is going to the Knicks. For any of these reasons: Steph, Jamal, Q-Rich, Curry, Z-Bo, Nasty Nate, David Lee, renaldo Balkman, Alan Houston, Nichols, Randolph Morris, Fred Jones, and four other guys they have signed. That’s a lot of options for a 7:1 deal. Five bucks says that Kupchak makes them take Kwame, too.
And JR Smith can shoot. The problem is, he believes he can hit from anywhere, LITERALLY ANYWHERE, on the court. He just can’t touch the ball until he’s within 25 feet, or else. But good trade bait nonetheless. For Sammy2Step, perhaps?
How come you guys gave no props to Martell Webster for dominating a game that doesn’t mean anything? C’mon, this kid was so hyped coming into the league, and Rip City needs something to smile about. Other than weed that is.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Austin Burton says:
Martell is at his best when the game doesn’t matter. Be it preseason or in the regular season when Portland is down by 20 or up by 20, that’s the only time he shines. I’m waiting for him to do something meaningful.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Kahnight says:
Hey Charles Smith Played for New Mexico not G-town Hoyas
October 15th, 2007 at 11:17 am
2 Easy says:
I wonder how Damon is copin wit not bein the best D Jones on the team. lolol I wonder if he had to give Dwayne all the shit that he owns that has D jones on it