The Oubliette
Photo. Marc MorrisonOubliette — “A form of dungeon which was accessible only from a hatch in a high ceiling. To exit an oubliette was nearly impossible without outside help. The word comes from the French oublier, ‘to forget,’ as it was used for those prisoners the captors wished to forget. Most prisoners were left to die of starvation.”
Last night, Tracy McGrady put Andrei Kirilenko and the Jazz in the oubliette (pronounced “oo-blee-ette”), dropping 47 points on ‘em in their home opener. At first, Mac had to score just to keep Houston in the game; Deron Williams had Skip on puppet strings, Carlos Boozer was destroying Yao, and the Rockets looked ready to fold. T-Mac forced the issue long enough to stay within striking distance, and Houston made its move once Boozer sat down with foul trouble and the bench — Luther Head, Mike James (15 pts, 7 asts) and Bonzi Wells (looking like the victim of a HeadBlade accident) — got involved … Throughout the night, T-Mac was doing whatever he wanted, but was mostly torturing Utah with pull-up jumpers. He had 26 in the first half, and whenever Utah got close in the second, Mac would hit another shot to keep them at bay. Jerry Sloan didn’t know who to put on him; AK, Ronnie Brewer and Gordan Giricek were all getting the business … In general, Houston played better when Yao wasn’t on the floor. Chuck Hayes (13 rebs) was more effective guarding Boozer (30 pts, 16 rebs) and Hayes can actually run … The Rockets announcers are just ridiculous homers. They were arguing every call against the Rockets, agreeing with every call against Utah, and you could hear the disdain in their voices the few times that T-Mac got popped in the mouth or poked in the eye. After the Jazz crowd booed a Luis Scola flop (called “embellishing” by the announcers), one of them said, “This crowd should appreciate a flop. Their team does it more than anybody in the League.” … Did C.J. Miles put on some muscle in the offseason? He seems destined for one of those Travis Outlaw/Dorell Wright-type careers, where the potential always exceeds the production … That’s not gonna be the case with Kevin Durant. The kid hung 27 on the Suns, but just like against Denver in the opener, the Sonics lost the game by giving away key possessions and breaking down defensively in critical spots … Grant Hill (13 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts) isn’t a three-point shooter. He never had been, never will be. Mike D’Antoni needs to realize that and try something else. Grant is too talented to have his biggest liability exposed so often; he went 1-for-7 beyond the arc last night. Marcus Banks looked like Craig Hodges next to Hill … Yesterday we put Grant Hill in the Hall of Fame debate. Judging off his Duke career and the first six years of his pro career, Hill’s resume is strong. It’s everything post-injury that damages his case. We think he’ll ultimately get in, though. What do you think? … Did you see when Wally Szczerbiak tried to beast Raja Bell in the post? Raja bodied him up, slapped the ball away and was yelling, “No! No! No!” afterwards … How many putbacks did Chris Wilcox miss? At least three or four, right? Why doesn’t he just dunk it when he’s up there instead of trying to drop it in? … If Shaq‘s gonna carry Miami to a decent record while D-Wade is out, he needs to stay on the court. Shaq got into foul trouble in the first half against Detroit yesterday and ended up with only 9 points in the loss. You can look at Ricky Buckets‘ stat line and roll your eyes — 23 points, zero assists — but he was the only one who looked willing to take the scoring load … If you’ve picked up the new issue of Dime, you saw our feature on Joe Johnson, which included a sidebar on JJ’s absurd “Super Truck.” Yesterday we dropped a video of Joe taking you on a tour of the truck, as well as another one where he gives a “Cribs”-like tour of his ATL mansion … When we said the Kings needed to sign someone who can handle the ball, we weren’t exactly thinking Beno Udrih, but they could have done worse … The D-League had its draft last night. It was fantasy snake-style, and it was about as interesting as watching someone else’s fantasy draft — except for when the studio analysts were trying to come up with stuff to say about guys they obviously knew nothing about. Eddie Gill went #1 overall to the Colorado 14ers. Darvin Ham, Jamaal Tatum, Nik Caner-Medley, Jelani McCoy, Kedrick Brown, Kevin Kruger and Kevin Pittsnogle were also among the first-round picks. Jamison Brewer, Carl Elliott, Brent Petway and Daniel Horton went in the 2nd round; Shagari Alleyne went in the 4th; Isma’il Muhammed and Keith Closs went in the 5th; and none other than Schea Cotton went in the 9th round … Speaking of high school phenoms, over on High School Hoop we took a look back at the prep scene 10 years ago, when Q-Rich was dominating at Whitney Young H.S. in Chicago and Al Harrington was teaming with Sam Dalembert at St. Patrick H.S. in Jersey. And how was a team with JaRon and Kareem Rush only ranked #25 in the country? … We’re out like Grant’s trey …
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November 2nd, 2007 at 5:46 am
Daniel L. says:
1st…ive always wanted to do that!
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 am
Julien says:
With such a title, I was expecting a piece on Frenchman Boris “Was it one year ago I got the MIP ?” Diaw…
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 am
Bust Jlaze says:
hahaha….Daniel…you got me son, you got me…
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:48 am
Fish says:
How frustrating to be a Rockets fan. Why should McGrady need to score 30+ on any given night for his team to be in with a chance? Hopefully Adelmen can shake this team from standing around waiting for someone else to step up.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:00 am
Captain America says:
Shaq looked awful with too many TOs and fouls. Ricky Buckets did what he always does, take the majority of the shots and less than half drop. It will be interesting to see how well he shares the rock once D’Wade returns.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:08 am
wat_helmet says:
well fish,
utah is a tough team… they have pretty much the same players and the same excellent coach, whereas the rockets they’ve got lots of new players and a new coach… taking a win away from a conference finals team their 1st game isnt too shabby
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:08 am
wat_helmet says:
at home*
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:39 am
Gee says:
Roooooooooockeeeeeeeets! Busta Rhymes (L.O.T.N.S.) -”Try to step to this I will twist you in a turban”
Tracy was just straight twisting dudes last night. When the back is not hurting dude, call the E.R.
Rooooooooockeeeeeeettssss!
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:47 am
Kobeef says:
Great to see that kind of fire from t-mac. He was awesome to watch in orlando and it has been a while since we’ve seen him in full-blown scoring mode + show his great handle/passing. It reminds you why he was and is a bona-fide superstar
I never believed the hype about Houston being Yao’s team and that Yao is an MVP candidate (John Hollinger/ ESPN.com). Watchimg him get hammered by Boozer (who is 7 inches shorter) is not impressive. Yao can’t jump and is slow as hell so his height is less of an advantage than people suggest.
Durant will be ROY. No way any other rookie gets as many chances to put up huge numbers as Durant. His freak-athlete build doesn’t hurt either (how long are those arms??). This kid was made to play Basketball.
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 am
Amar says:
First of all, Tmac — wow. A career record vs. the Jazz, it wasn’t that he was going to the rim a lot, or doing crazy amazing things, his shot was just ‘on’ last night. It was a good night for him. And the rockets deserved the win because they did what they had to do to win. Respect earned, and respect given by a jazz fan.
It was nice for Okur to continue to suggest that Yao can be single teamed, and he showed up enough to score 16 more points than he did vs. ‘State. Boozer continues to be a beast. Two big reasons why the jazz lost (aside from the obvious): As ‘on’ as Tmac was, Deron was ‘off’. He still finished with some positive production for his team, but he just kept missing shots that we’ve come to expect him to make. The second reason is that the Utah bench pulled a Rockets bench, circa Round 1, Game 3. Utah is only as strong as it’s bench is. Jason Hart is already enemy no.1 for jazz fans. The Jazz looked like they were going to smoke the rockets, then he comes in, and it’s all turtles from there.
Scola (despite some veteran flopping … much better than baron’s omega flop from opening night, youtube it) did some strong boardage, he and Hayes cleaned up. Scola was great when he was against Jarron Collins, after Booz came back in I didn’t see him get another board all night.
Lastly, Brewer is athletic.
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:18 am
Amar says:
it’s not on youtube — just checked. speaking of flops, when is the nba going to start fine-ing people for that stuff? I would love to see people stop flopping, and play defense again. when was the last time shane battier actually got a blocked shot?
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
Gee says:
Don’t know but when was the last time Shane dropped a three to beat the Lakers! Wooooooooooooo (Like Ric Flair)!
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:39 am
smity says:
Ricky Davis- 10-19, thanks Captain America-i’m sorry- Captain Incorrect Comment Submitter
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:43 am
smity says:
By the way, Dime, nice smack today (particularly the introduction of a new vocabulary word that i will never use) (I’m not being sarcastic…at least i dont think i am…)
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
Zach says:
My boy Tayshaun put 34/12/1/1 last night and not even a mention, whats up??? I made a case the other day for him to be on the cover of dime when ya’ll were asking but I guess theres no chance of that happening if he can’t even get in smack
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 am
smity says:
I would like to seen tayshuan doing more of the same scoring that he is definately capable of doing. I hope he starts getting some more shine outside of detroit.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
Fish says:
Agree with you wat_helmet, just a bit worried that they have learned nothing from last season i.e. if McGrady has to carry the load unnecessarily he will be in for a short season. Would be encouraging if a few other players were to step up in the early stages. Quite like the James resigning so far as at least he will always *try* to put up some numbers.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 am
Coldchain says:
Steve Francis didn’t get any PT again? Damn. He probably feels dumb for re-signing with Houston now.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
kg fan says:
what was the deal about one of the sideline reporters, i think during the heat game, puttin down reggie miller
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Gee says:
Ok this has nothing to do with anything. I was just reading this and thought this was cold!
“Either way, Bryant’s going to the Hall of Fame. Best of luck finding a teammate to make that induction speech.”
Ian O’Connor
Special to FOXSports.com
Like I said that was cold!
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
zpurz says:
kieth closs is back? BOO YA. i use to throw down with him on nba2k. the OG.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Coldchain says:
Shaq’s not dominant anymore; he’s just a good center. There’s a handful of guys I’d take over him, and a few years ago you would never say that.
Brent Petway is gonna win the DLeague dunk contest. Mark it down now. He’ll never make the NBA though.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Tom Toronto says:
Tayshaun isn’t going to get a cover because there isn’t a camera lense wide or long enough to fit his arms in. I would like to see Prince, Kevin Durant, and Keon Clark (Free Keon!) on the same team playing zone d. Pippen could coach!
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
Prince, Durant, T-Mac, Garnett and Saer Sene playing zone.
“My defense is impregnable!” – Mike Tyson
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Bron42 says:
1) brent petaway couldnt even win the college dunk contest so lets not hype him up too much. tons of top dunkers choke in dunk contests….james white…jameel pugh etc..
2) you forgot to mention my boy forrest fisher aka white cloud from and1 going to the LA defenders.
3) hence why no one questions tmacs killer instinct or heart
3b) and people thought I was crazy when I said yao was more of a liability. cuz cant play d or make it down the court.
3c) k brewer, your in the starting lineup, now guard tmac.
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Kudabeen says:
Thanks for the definition of Oubliette. I was preparing the hit up dictionary.com
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Austin Burton says:
James White didn’t choke; he lost his handle on a BETWEEN THE LEGS DUNK FROM THE FREE THROW LINE! If that’s choking, you’re mad harsh.
Jameel Pugh did choke, though, I’ll give you that.
White Cloud can shoot. Where did he go to college?
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:49 pm
jonny says:
Kobeef: So you’re saying Yao sucks because boozer is 7″ shorter, and then you say his height is not an advantage? which is it?
Let me make this simple for you — boozer is a matchup problem for yao because he’s quicker. that’s all there is to it. yao shouldn’t be guarding boozer anyway except on help defense.
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Bron42 says:
He choked. as a guy who has gone against james before in dunk contests at hoopz explosion. He chokes alot. He does the same 4 dunks and gases himself alot. then he got robbed by david lee in the mcdonalds one and then during the college contest tried a dunk we all knew he could do. So much that he bs’d most of his time away (kinda like my boy jameel) and then missed it. Tried again, missed again. When your considered one of the top 50 dunkers in history and miss dunks you can do when the tv cameras are on, thats chokin. He got cocky and ended up pullin a nate robinson. Not sayin the dunk wasnt hard, but its do able and he missed it more than once.
jameel on the other hand just fell off. Hes been doin between the legs since high school and then missed it like 4 times as a senior in college. Now hes playin in australlia
Cloud was in the military, not college.
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Kudabeen says:
Just wanted to add that Marcus Banks is doing so far what I project he was able to do…He is changing the pace (as much as it possible for the Suns) and he is scoring. 12pts in 13mins. I’m keeping an eye out, because Suns may still trade him…
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Bron42 says:
johnny..99% of the leagues big are quicker than yao and mutumbo who is the 1%, is on his team. so who does that leave yao guarding that wont burn him easy?
and they will try to trade banks because the suns are penny pinches and he makes a decent amount of money
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
But no one will take Banks because he makes too much money.