Channing Frye (Photo. Jeff Forney)The NBA’s hottest team finally fell in Portland last night. The Hornets were leading the Blazers at halftime behind a monster performance from David West, but once the second half started, Martell Webster force-fed Peja a faceful of jumpers, and the next thing you know, N.O. was down double-digits. A frustrated Tyson Chandler soon picked up his second tech, and it was basically over from there … It was the Blazers’ home opener, complete with the requisite elaborate intro. The O’Jays came out and sang “Give the People What They Want,” which kind of had a “When the Funk Hits the Fan” vibe going. With the band still playing, Greg Oden walked out to a huge ovation to introduce the players, who came through the crowd onto the court. Before Oden read each guy’s name, The O’Jays would sing part of the chorus, so it sounded like, “PEOPLE WANT…Darius Miles! PEOPLE WANT…Channing Frye!” … West was an animal. Usually he just hits mid-range jumpers and quietly ends up with 18-20 points without you realizing it, but last night he was pulling down offensive boards, going to the rack and getting dunks off of great feeds from Chris Paul (18 pts, 12 asts). Late in the first half, when West had 20 points and no one else on the team had more than 5, one of the Blazers announcers blurted out, “David West has become Shaquille O’Neal!” He ended up with 34 points and 18 boards … Will Travis Outlaw ever pan out? He has this bad habit of taking (and missing) jumpers with one foot on the three-point line, and one time on a fast break yesterday — when an athlete like him should shine — he fumbled and bobbled the ball before getting it swiped by Peja. On the other end, West was abusing Outlaw so bad that the Portland announcers were wondering aloud when Nate McMillan was going to put someone else in to guard West … The Blazers reward the team’s hardest worker with the parking spot closest to the door at their practice facility. Jarrett Jack currently owns the spot … So are we still idiots for ranking the Hawks 8th on this week’s NBA Hit List? They’ve now beaten the Mavs and Suns, simply outplaying Phoenix yesterday in front of a surprisingly lively (and present) Atlanta crowd. Several guys stepped up for the Hawks: Josh Smith and Marvin Williams turned in 20-10 stat lines; Josh Childress barely missed joining them with 19-10; Al Horford pulled down 15 boards (ATL owned the glass without Amare around); and Joe Johnson handed out 10 assists … We’re guessing George Karl will have the Nuggets working on defense a lot over the next few practices. After being unable to stop the Knicks on Tuesday when they needed to, Denver went out and got destroyed by the Celtics; at one point, Boston was up by 41 and looking like they’d never miss a shot. With the Celts up 37 at the end of the third, KG (23 pts, 13 rebs, 7 asts, 4 stls) was telling the team to keep it serious and not joke around on the bench. That man is focused on getting a ring … Paul Pierce had a stat-stuffer line, too, going for 26 points, 5 boards, 5 dimes and 5 steals … Deron Williams did it again. After LeBron hit a three to tie with 6.8 seconds left, Deron quickly called for the inbounds, skated past Devin Brown and hit a scoop shot with 1.3 showing. He did that multiple times last year to win games for Utah — you’d think Cleveland would have an idea it was coming … Damon Jones was just gross. We’ll forgive the no-chance-in-hell attempt at a game-winner he threw up after Deron’s shot. But on a critical possession late in the fourth, with LeBron (32 pts, 15 rebs, 13 asts) leading a 3-on-2 break, Damon got it on the wing, decided against a catch-and-shoot, made a move and took a fadeaway trey that missed EVERYTHING. Earlier in the game, Damon threw arguably the worst alley oop in basketball history. Two-on-1 fast break with Damon and LeBron, and Damon lobbed it literally over the Cavs bench. Hubie Brown was disgusted. “Ugh. What are you doing?” he said almost under his breath, like he was talking to himself … Is Yao Ming a future Hall of Famer? We asked the question yesterday, and the responses from the readers seemed pretty split. Just to clear things up, when we make “Our Call” on these H.O.F. candidates, we’re more thinking about what will happen down the road, not necessarily who we think deserves to be in or out. Trust us, no one over here thinks Yao has had a better career than Dirk. But at the end of the day (unless the Mavs win a ‘chip), Dirk’s rep as a softy prone to choking in the clutch won’t look good — whereas Yao’s status as an international ambassador and the best center in the League at one point will get him the nod from Hall voters over Dirk … The Pacers’ 3-0 start did have some shaky undertones. Last night they got smoked at home by the Clippers, letting Sam Cassell bust ‘em for 35 points. And most of it happened without Cat Mobley, who got hurt (groin) in the first quarter … Good thing for the Bobcats that Ray Felton’s knee injury isn’t supposed to be too serious, ’cause they looked lost against Philly without him. The ‘Cats had no kind of offensive flow, Jeff McInnis was bad, and they finished with 63 points while taking a 30-piecing from the Sixers (who aren’t exactly the ‘83 Denver Nuggets) … This is crazy. First Michigan State lost to a D-2 school last week. Then Ohio State lost to a D-2. (Granted, they were exhibition games.) Then last night, Kentucky got blown out at home by Gardner-Webb in a game that counted. How’s that for Billy Gillespie’s first week in front of the UK fans? … We’re out like Chandler …
November 8th, 2007 at 5:45 am
sam says:
uh, correct me if i’m wrong but isn’t dirk from germany? wouldn’t that also make him an “international ambassador”?
November 8th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Johann says:
Dirk is probably the best European player ever. Superstar on all levels. Playoff choker? Maybe, but does that make Kevin Garnett not a HOF-er? What are his memorable playoff games other than that 34 points in game 7 vs Sacramento in ‘04? I can’t remember. He almost always got owned in the duels with premiere big man from opposing team in playoffs. Couldn’t lead his team to playoffs last 3 years. He’s a great player and future HOF-er, but Dirk isn’t? Yeah, wright.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:25 am
jalanc says:
i agree with johann and sam. if you’re gonna base it(HOF) on being an international ambassador and being the best at your position, Dirk has the same or even a better credential than Yao does. A better argument is that we still haven’t seen the best of Yao, but we’ve probably seen what the best Dirk has to offer.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:30 am
buckets says:
Yao is on another level of international ambassador than dirk..the nba is playing games in china now because of yao..and you always hear about how many chinese people are watchin the rockets games,u never hear that about dirk..granted china is 10 times bigger than germany..
also yao came in hyped out the ass and (kinda) lived up to it whereas dirk wasnt so big for his first couple years and didnt have much fan base right away..
at the end of the day u dont see dirk as that ambassador type.didnt he spend his offseason everywhere else other than germany?
November 8th, 2007 at 7:44 am
djKianoosh says:
Johann, good choice of words, cause right now, Ginobili has had the best career for an int’l player (he’s not from Europe though). But what about Vlade? oh yeah, i went there. For some reason, and I might be crazy, but I think I might actually pick Vlade over Dirk, maybe. still, i think we’re all undervaluing dirk just cause he’s had a real bad ending to his most recent two playoffs.
Denver was pathetic last night. and they supposedly worked on Defense all preseason? whatever. that was disgusting defense. as much as i hate to admit it, a beast rises in the east, and its name is boston…
why are the sixers still winning? please stop messing around and get us a high lottery pick!
November 8th, 2007 at 7:53 am
struan says:
I was reading David West but thinking of David Wesley HAHA
November 8th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Gee says:
I seen the Alley-oop from Damon Jones. I was thinking W.T.F! Considering they lost by two, that kinda looms large now!
Can we rank him with J.R. Smith decisions lol.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:37 am
smity says:
“Trust us, no one over here thinks Yao has had a better career than Dirk. But at the end of the day (unless the Mavs win a ‘chip), Dirk’s rep as a softy prone to choking in the clutch won’t look good — whereas Yao’s status as an international ambassador and the best center in the League at one point will get him the nod from Hall voters over Dirk”-
why explain yourselves after you’ve already done so in th HOF watch description of what you’re doing. Have these people that talk about how you’ve lost “credibility” with them gotten into you heads? Don’t back pedal. You guys know what you’re doing and you have enough confidence in your assesments to post them so stand by them. I wouldnt argue that Yao has had a better career than Dirk either but i don’t have to make that known just because people continuosly misinterpret my the reasoning behind whatever point i’m trying to make.
Is Boston (offensively) that much better than Denver or is Denver (defensively) that much worser (so what if it’s not a word) than Boston? A 40 point lead at any time (especially when you have AI AND Carmelo on your team (not to mention Camby) is dispicable.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Amar says:
hey dime . . . glad you watched the jazz game this time, but no mention of ronnie brewer and paul millsap? (or andrei’s block on king james?) brewer, millsap and kirilenko form a pretty good young core of defenders that’ll help the jazz come playoff time.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:18 am
João says:
Hey guys, what about discuss some day about Oscar Schimitd from Brazil ? I’m from Brazil and I think that he will make. Play for 5 Olympic games, all time leader scoring in Olympic games, and guess what ? All time leading scorer of Basketball History. Plus he destroyed USA in the PanAn 87 Indianapolis for 45 points I guess, and in 96 Olympics with almost 40 years old drop 25 in USA with Pippen all over him in about 20 minutes. Give some love to Brazil, I’m out like my Miami Heat ,,, peace
November 8th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Vlade Divac will get in to the HOF as the guy who killed Chris Webber’s chance at a ring.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Kobeef says:
As of last night I was pumped to notice the following:
- Al Horford is averaging 10.8 rbs/game, “Marvelous” Marvin Williams is averaging 18pts and 6rbs/game and the Hawks are at .500
- Darko is averaging 2.3 blocks per game. Memphis looks like they are starting to figure out their starting lineup..still not mucb sign of Conley on the floor
- Rashard is averaging 58% from 3.
- What stinks? The Raptors so far this season. They just aren’t playing well. Bosh is not at full speed yet and I think it is killing them.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:36 am
smity says:
chris webber will get into the HOF as the guy who killed Chris Webber’s chance at a ring…wait a minute…
November 8th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Ok that’s not true, but every time I think of Vlade, I think of him spiking the ball directly to Horry…what a heartbreaker that was!
November 8th, 2007 at 9:43 am
mike says:
No mention of the Spurs or Manu at all? What’s up with that?
November 8th, 2007 at 9:55 am
heavy d says:
What I remember about Vlade was a comment from a teammate about the World Championships they took when George Karl was the coach of the US team that finished 6th. “Vlade is so serious about winning this that he even stopped smoking during practice.” I always imagined him at the high post with a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth. Very Eastern European.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Yo for real…Manu is quickly becoming one of my favorite players EVER…that guy is REDICULOUS!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Dag, what’s with me today? I’m overexaggerating everything!! Manu’s just a ton of fun to watch. That’s all. Geez…I’ma fall back from commenting for a while…hahaha
November 8th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Dame says:
Detlef schremp was dirk without the hype - hes not going to the hall (is he?)
November 8th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Tom from Cleveland says:
And Damon Jones was upset that the Cavs didn’t trade him in the offseason? It’s because no one wants you, Damon, because you are a one-trick pony (and you’re not even that good of a shooter).
November 8th, 2007 at 10:22 am
3Ball says:
Denver’s D was definitely hurtin’ last night, but let’s just get this straight for those who missed the game, picked up the SC highlights today, & called it good… these Celtics are already looking like they can be a truly special team. It’s clear within 5 minutes of watching them play that the new Big 3 have established their chemistry, and it’s making everyone else around them much, much better. The scary thing is that it’s only going to get a whole lot better as the season goes on.
Team loyalties aside, as a fan of the game of basketball, I couldn’t help but appreciate what they’ve got going on in Boston right now… even as they were pantsing my squad. Yes, they’re THAT good. As for my Nugs, gotta leave this one where it lies and move forward.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Bron42 says:
yao has done way more internationally then dirk. wayyy more. And how can u say dirk is the best international player ever when umm..he has no rings? toni has 3-4,manu has 3 plus some olympic medals, drazen petrovic busted up magic and MJ and was way more popular than dirk was in his time (and not a softie in the cruntch). So lets not over hype dirk too much just for bein kyle korvers taller brother because he got to the finals once (and choked) and then had a really good season once (and choked) like hes been winning championships left and right or something. KG did more for his team individually than dirk has done for his.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Bust Jlaze says:
KG did more for his team individually than dirk has done for his? How so?
November 8th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Duke says:
Manu was making Miami look foolish.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Bron42 says:
Dirk has NEVER had to carry his team by himself. EVER. First it was nash’s team, and now its a toss up between dirks team and josh howard. Even this year, when dirk has bad games, you have howard putting up 20 points or jason terry putting up 30. So its not like the mavs record was all dirk. While any win the wolves got, was pretty much ALL KG. Its not often u heard about marko jaric or trenton hassel goin for 30 to keep the wolves in the game. And even gettin double teamed and what not KGs stats are still better than dirks. So individually in the NBA KG has done more than dirk. Dirk just has a better win % cuz his team is better ala duncan and the spurs.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Bust Jlaze says:
I see what you’re sayin’ bron, as far as who’s the better player…I agree KG all the way, but your previous joint said something like “all Dirk has done is gotten to the finals once and had a really good season once” and I was like KG has done more than that HOW?
But yeah, I feel you on the KG vs. Dirk tip, he was definitely a much better player stuck on a much worse team.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Duke says:
Duncan has done more than both combined.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Bron42 says:
were talkin individual..not team. And like i said, in a head to head comparison KGs stats last year were better than duncan and dirks. So obviously he was doing more for his team. The team just had a crappy supporting cast.
and the “all dirk has done was get to the finals” part wasnt comparing him and KG, it was to the kid who said dirk was the best international player ever meanwhile manu and tony have rings.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Willis says:
Samaki Walker is the guy who blew Webbs chances of getting a ring. He hit a 3 after the half-time buzzer in Game 4 that shouldn’t have counted, but here we sit. They don’t count that and Big Shot Bob doesn’t mean anything in that game, and kings win series in 5. Vlade (and this is sad to me) was probably one of the top three centers ever to play for the Kings.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Vlade on the 2000-2003/4 kings was dang effective; you gotta give him that…
And I TOTALLY forgot about Samaki Walker!! Is he still in the league? They made that dude WAAAAY too nice in Live, that’s the one thing I remember..
November 8th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Gee says:
Ok ok ok what more can I say Alamode get the…sorry had a Brand Nubian flash back.
Anyway ok this is just Gee
I think lol …the reason the Raptors are doing so bad is because of the Toronto fans that post on this site. Remember that big stink they caused about Zo and V.C. and how they shouldn’t be in the H.O.F. because of how they swindled Toronto lol. I think bashing of Zo and V.C. is coming back to haunt them. They should have let it be. LOL
Or it could be they just suck right now.
Perhaps if they post now saying they change their minds and that Zo and V.C. should be in, their team might do better.
The choice is yours and now you know ….and knowing is half the battle.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:56 am
smity says:
for real?
November 8th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
skurv says:
manuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
November 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Eric says:
Did anyone else realze that the end of the Jazz/Cavs game was very similar to the end of the Jazz/Knicks game at the Garden last season? Deron Williams hit a shot to tie, and instead of calling a T.O. David Lee inbounded to Stephon Marbury who took it coast to coast for a game-winning layup. This time it was the Jazz on the winning end of it.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Amar says:
yeah, it was like the opposite of that game, instead of steph over okur, it was deron over Z
November 8th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
nbastaffblogger3 says:
Very interesting debate regarding international players. I work for the league office, and we recently released our annual NBA.com GM survey, in which nearly 75 percent of all general managers identified Dirk Nowitzki as the top current international player. Yao Ming finished second (11 percent), with Steve Nash and Tony Parker rounding out the top four. Dirk has been named the top international player since the inception of the survey six years ago. Interesting to note that GM’s (61 percent) identified Golden State’s Marco Belinelli as the international rookie likely to have the greatest impact this season. After a blistering summer league, Belinelli is averaging 4.3 points in 13.7 minutes in three games for the Warriors. The current international player tally is 76 players in the NBA from 31 countries. Check out the complete GM Survey when you have a chance.
http://www.nba.com/preview2007/gmsurvey_predictions.html
November 8th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
jay says:
still can not believe the heat are rockin a donut still. damn they need the Flash!!!!
November 8th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
djKianoosh says:
for real, manu was killing miami last night. and he was getting angry at somebody on the Heat too.. i forget if he was talking trash to jason williams or ricky davis, but he was getting hot at the beginning of the 2nd half, and then just proceeded to drill threes on people, drove through the lane and put up some crazy stuff up and over shaq, played great D as usual… does anybody know what transpired between him and the heat verbally?… how the GM’s didn’t list Manu in the top 5 int’l players is beyond me. he’s fully healthy and rested after taking the summer off and you can tell he’s taking a bigger share of the Spurs production as Tony recovers from his summer injury (forget what it was, ankle?) and as Pop figures out his rotation.
Detlef totally slipped my mind. he was really really good, and you’re right, not the same hype as they give Dirk now.
Joao is right though, Oscar Schmidt gets props for being a pioneer int’l baller…
November 8th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
DOC says:
all these dudes hate on dirk. I take him on my team cause his game is nice.You know how many HOF’s didn’t even take their team that far once. So what he got Josh. Manu and Tony wouldn’t win shit without Tim. Tell TP take France somewhere in the summer cause they be getting bombed.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Duke says:
Dirk didn’t win shit when he had Nash and Finley.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Amar says:
Duke — because Don Nelson was their coach, and they would get fined for playing defense. Now with Avery, dallas is finally allowed to keep the “D” in there . . .
November 8th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Kudabeen says:
Dirk is just a matchup nightmare. IF he asserts himself he can look like a problem, but with truly great players ‘IF is never apart of discussion. I would take some time to chime in on the KG comments, because I respect his passion and tenacity as a leader more than any other player in the league. Duncan is a winner, but I don’t view him in the same as far as being a leader. Pop is the general and Manu and crew are real disciplined ball players that just know how to play team ball. Yes Duncan falls in line and enables Pop to coach and be the general, but guys seem like they’d run through a wall for KG. I remember that year when KG got the MVP and the wolves went to the conf finals. Cassel, Spree and crew spoke wonders of KG, but the most impressive comments was from Ervin Johnson. He said that his body told him to retire, but he’d be willing to run till he breaks down to help KG get a ring. After that season he retired.
Just me, but I put a lot on what players say and how they react to a leader. Dirk is no Duncan and KG doesn’t have Duncan’s rings…but let’s not get it twisted and say KG didn’t hold his weight in the playoffs. The best teams win…period. It’s not the best player, it’s the best assembly of players that win Chips. But I’m sure KG’s total career will speak for itself in the end.
Also simply put and I think someone may have laid it out already…Dirk German fan base isn’t generating the $$ that Yao’s fan base is period. While the HOF isn’t affiliated with the NBA brand, it does and will see the $$ in the end.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:54 am
Big Aaron says:
It’s not just the money with Yao either. Spreading the word of the game to the biggest nation on the planet and creating a fanbase to rival America’s is damn impressive.
Dirk hasn’t done that. No European will ever do that simply because of football (soccer). Basketball will never be as popular as football over here. I’m in the UK. I’m currently waxing lyrical to anyone who listens about Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Kelenna Azubuike but they have no idea who they are and what they can do. I mention a semi-obscure footballer in the Spanish football league and they know exactly who I’m talking about.
It’s a sad state of affairs but it’s the truth.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:13 am
QQ says:
Damon Jones IS always gross