Show Us What You Got
Photo. Gary LandDay 1 of the Celtics’ long-awaited West Coast road swing was light work, a blowout W over the Kings at normally-tough Arco Arena (which obviously would have been tougher had Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby been around) in which we didn’t really learn anything we didn’t already know about the C’s: they play suffocating defense (holding Sacto to 69 points), Ray and Pierce (6 treys combined) knock down open looks, and they’ll put you away with the inevitable big run (35-13 in the second quarter) … It was a physical game, and of course Ron Artest and KG were prominently involved in the physicality. Going to the benches during a timeout, someone on Boston said or did something to set Artest off — he started walking over to the Boston bench until Dahntay Jones jumped off the Kings’ bench to sprint down the court to corral him. Coming out of the timeout, KG (14 pts, 10 rebs, 2 stls) was jawing with multiple guys on Sacramento … When the game was basically over, Francisco Garcia was going to the bench yapping at Garnett, and KG just waved good-bye at him … The Jazz needed Wednesday’s win over the Mavs; maybe now they can get out of this slump they’ve been in. Dallas got ripped inside by Carlos Boozer (21 pts, 9 rebs) and Utah’s interior passing, which again made us wonder why DeSagana Diop only played 6 minutes. Brandon Bass is nice, but he can’t block shots or create a presence like Diop. Is the big guy in Avery’s doghouse for some reason? … Jason Terry: 0-for-10 from the field, six of the misses from beyond the arc. Ugh … NBA TV’s Rick Kamla called C.J. Miles a “Ray Allen clone, at least in the face.” We don’t see it either way. And Ray’s calves are about as big as C.J.’s torso … We also have to give a big thanks to C-Booz for taking time out of his Christmas Day to knock out a quick interview for the Dime crew. You’ll see the results in the next issue … Sometimes a team turns out an inspired effort for a new coach — either because they love the new guy so much and have something to prove, or because they hated the old guy so much and feel like they’ve been let out of jail. That wasn’t the case with the Bulls yesterday. Not that the players don’t like Pete Myers (his second high-profile replacement job for Chicago; remember who was the team’s new two-guard after Michael Jordan left?), but no way they were taking down the Spurs on the road. Even without Manu (finger) in the lineup, San Antonio cakewalked behind Tony Parker (28 pts). Tim Duncan didn’t even have to do anything … Parker put a serious deke on Joe Smith in the open floor before hitting a layup, faking right and going left while keeping his dribble with his left hand the whole time. You saw Joe’s ankles damn near buckle on that one … Triple-double for Marcus Camby against the Bucks: 10 points, 11 boards and 10 blocks. That included a three-pointer (SO ugly) and a swat on Yi that hurt the rookie’s feelings … It’s a shame the Wolves are so bad, otherwise people would be talking a lot more about Al Jefferson. He stamped 20 points and 19 boards in a loss to Golden State … Of course the Heat would bounce back from an embarrassing Christmas Day loss by playing even worse and making the Sixers look good. Not only did Shaq fail to assert himself in the paint, he can’t even say Sam Dalembert was in the way. The Dalembeast didn’t even clock 20 minutes due to foul trouble, meaning Calvin Booth got significant burn … Louis Williams caught Udonis Haslem on a gross baseline cram. We kinda feel bad for Udonis, though; he and D-Wade seem to be the only guys on the Heat roster who aren’t folding up the tent already … While Gilbert sits out, the Wizards aren’t going to win unless they get contributions from their other guys outside Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. So far we’ve seen guys like DeShawn Stevenson, Brendan Haywood and Andray Blatche step up on occasion. Yesterday the man was Roger Mason, who dropped 24 points on the Bobcats in a win. Don’t look now, but Mason’s in a contract year and he’s only making about 770 G’s this year. Last night’s game is definitely going on his resume this summer … Caron (25 pts, 7 rebs, 8 asts, 3 stls) got Matt Carroll on a nasty dunk that would have been nastier if it wasn’t on Matt Carroll. Kinda like when Flip Murray crowned Kirk Hinrich last year … Apparently the Grizzlies have problems containing Chris Paul. He hung 40 points on ‘em last night, after dropping 43 on Memphis earlier this month and 28 last month. Multiple times CP was left wide open to stick jumpers, with no one even thinking of guarding him. We know he’s not exactly Mark Price, but you at least need to pretend to step out on him … We’re out like Boston being tested …
December 27th, 2007 at 7:59 am
coldblooded says:
….damn it feels good to be a gangsta….
December 27th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Belize says:
Is it just me or is Dime boycoting the Denver Nuggets and the new A.I?
December 27th, 2007 at 9:23 am
calvin brodus says:
Amen, Belize. The nuggies never get their dap from the fine dime folks. The dime dudes are gluttons for pain and focus most of their press on that disaster in new york that is supposedly a professional basketball team.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Sam I Am says:
Freaking love DIME!… Sux I gotta jump over here now but at least it’s updated… Sorry I just got excited…go WOLVES! boo Mavs
December 27th, 2007 at 10:14 am
E-Luv says:
FYI… Roger Mason was in a contract year, last year as well. He pullled Captain Jack and turned down a bigger offer from the Spurs so he could prove that he is worth more!
December 27th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Quarter-Mayne says:
Dime is just gonna ignore my Hawks huh? give us our props sucka’s
December 27th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Myrie in NY says:
No talk of the Knicks and their new starting lineup? Zach Randolph came off the bench (no big deal), but David Lee is now a starter (very big deal)
December 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Russ says:
Thank you for calling out Rick Kamla! Is there a bigger tool out there?? How did this guy get his job??? He is constently stumbling over himself like a giddy little school girl, and he constantly is saying the wrong names. “Too cool for school”?!?!?! Who says that?
December 27th, 2007 at 10:50 am
YOUNGFED says:
Great way to end the article Dime because somethings going on here w/the Celtics schedule being oh so easy. When do the play the Spurs, Phoenix, or Pistons again.
Belize and Calvin AI just got a whole article on him not to long ago so I doubt they are boycotting them like they’re doing my Pistons atleast they finally gave us a decent rank (#1)LOL.
PS I wanna know more about the Artest incident.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:00 am
kobeef says:
“Sweet” move by Isiah last night to shake up his lineup -he must be experimenting with reverse-voodoo-psychology by benching Z-bo and Nate and starting ECity and Q.
Isiah’s got the right idea- he just got it backwards and upside-down (?).
Speaking of voo-doo…wow…the heat sucked worse against the sixers than they did against the Cavs. Andre & Andre were killing them for most of the game before Wade popped some uppers (or something) and started to play. Too bad shaq had already sweated all of his bodily fluids onto the floor by that time (seriously) and couldn’t help a short, weak comeback attempt. Heat are officially the second worst team in the league and getting close to Minnesota. If the Wolves don’t watch it their gonna lose some ping-pong balls to Miami.
What’s up with Al Horford lately? He seems kind of off since he smacked TJ (5-13 last night). Any news on TJ? It’s been oddly quiet for such a serious issue.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Myrie in NY says:
Calvin Brodus (#3)–
New York is getting a professional basketball franchise when the Nets move to Brooklyn. LOL.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:08 am
one66soul says:
Hawks 5 n a row and no mention, Whats up show some love for my hawks
December 27th, 2007 at 11:16 am
kobeef says:
Just read this (could the knicks get any more ridiculous?):
“Thomas indicated the Knicks would fight the grievance that Marbury filed which stemmed from his being fined a game’s pay ($200,000) for skipping a trip to Phoenix in mid-November”
Steph is lucky to still be in the NBA for crap sakes – and how does he respond? By starting a legal battle against his team!!?!!
December 27th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Myrie in NY says:
Why is Steph making $200Gs per game? That is an outrage!!
December 27th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Rob says:
So where is the link for HS page? Been searching the site and cant seem to find it…lil help folks?
December 27th, 2007 at 11:33 am
i Fux aka Etheraldinho aka Farouq Obama aka the Immaculate Ejaculate says:
Yo is it me or isnt Rick Kamala the king of hyperbole and bullshit and I am not talking in the tongue in cheek Bill Walton way, but the straight up STFU kinda way. Dude is Garbaaaaaage! Caron Butler is fucking balling, if your the Nets/Wizards would you do a Jason Kidd for Gilbert Arenas deal?
December 27th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Brown says:
Only way I’d deal Gil is if he plans on leaving this summer, which is a possibility. The Wizards aren’t that good, so I doubt Kidd would be able to make them that much better. Without Gil, they’re a two-man team and nothing more.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:48 am
doc says:
Miami stinks thats all there is to it. Shaq is washed up and Wade need a J and to stop turning the dam ball over but my Sixers are winning to many games again for a top pick.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Ian says:
steph makes 200 000 a game the nba is fantastic
rick kamela is the worst thing on tv
like someone mentioned walton is boring but kamela is a just stupid
but then again maybe being a tool works for him
i watch fantasy hoops just because he sucks
December 27th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
i Fux aka Etheraldinho aka Farouq Obama aka the Immaculate Ejaculate says:
rick kamela is the worst thing on tv
like someone mentioned walton is boring but kamela is a just stupid
but then again maybe being a tool works for him
i watch fantasy hoops just because he sucks
^^^ Co-sign everything you said about Kamala, dude is fucking horrrrrriblllllleeeee(c) Bill Walton…..Yo Bill is dope, I saw him a while ago here in Diego rocking green dockers and an Orange turtle/mock neck. I was like Whats Up Bill, how you doing dawg? he was like I am doing well…..I actually wanted him to drop a 15 minute gem on me(no homo)
December 27th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Kevin says:
Kamla is enthusiastic enough and good enough at what he does.
I’ve never been able to telerate Bill Walton on the other hand. Dude always has to say crap like, “Who’s gonna be the one to step up?” “Who’s gonna take on the challenge?”
What a flake! Drives me F’in crazy!
December 27th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Mike C says:
Seriously, its time for Miami to do SOMETHING.
Whether its to make a trade to improve the current team or start tanking for the next draft, they gotta do something now.
They’d have to go on some extended winning streaks to make the playoffs and I just don’t see that happening, with the way they’re playing right now.
The only tradable asset of any value that they have are Shaq and D-Wade. Since they can’t part ways with Wade, I say they have to trade Shaq.
December 27th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Celts Fan says:
Who would want Shaq’s contract though? If he’s like this now, who wants to be on the line for $20M/year through 2010? Never thought I’d utter those words, but damn the big fella’s fallen off quick…
December 27th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Mark says:
Now Mitch Kup. is looking like a damn genius, isn’t he? First he traded Shaq 2 Miami and then he traded for Bynum.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Celts Fan says:
Mark, he didn’t trade for Bynum, he drafted him, and the man still made teh Caron for Kwame trade, so let’s not crown his ass just yet…
December 27th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Mark–
Kupchak traded Shaq before his decline. Shaq was still producing. Miami won a chip with Shaq, while Kupchak hasn’t been able to escape the 1st round.
He also has not been able to get a legit point guard in LA. Smush Parker was a bum and Chucky Atkins is/was not a full time starter.
So…NO…he’s no genius.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Mike C says:
Yes, he’s lost a step or two or three steps, but I still think the Heat are not using Shaq enough.
No matter how slow he got, he should never get less than 10 shot attempts per game. Not with his still-enormous size advantage in the paint.
I watched their last 3 games, and Wade is just not involving Shaq at all on offense..
Shaq’s media outburst against Riley and Wade is coming and its coming soon.
And when that happens, it’s gonna get ugly and Shaq will be shipped out.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Kupchak made the right decision on the Shaq deal. Both Shaq and Kobe were giving him the whole “Him or Me” ultimatum, and although Shaq hadn’t FULLY declined, he was definitely past his prime, and the only direction to go after your prime is DOWN. Kobe HADN’T reached his prime yet, so faced with a decision to choose ONLY ONE, do you go with the future or the present? If someone told you that in just a few short years, you would either be in LAST PLACE in your conference after getting one more ring if you chose Shaq, versus rebuilding and maybe competing again for multiple rings if you chose the best player on the planet bringing in a packed arena, which choice is better? I say good move.
That being said, he’s STILL an IDIOT for his Kwame for Caron foolishness. But I guess by that logic, so is MJ. That’s hindsight for ya!
December 27th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Celts Fan says:
Bust, the thing is, until the Lakers actually get that ring, the Heat have gotten the better of that deal, no question. I like where the Lakers are at, but they’re still not gonna be competing for a ring this year or even next, so there’s no guarantee.
and ya, MJ was dumb for taking Kwame, that’s been said, but at least he doesn’t have a laundry list of other retarded moves like Kupchak that moves him from one idiotic move to terrible and doesn’t deserve his job…
December 27th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Kupchak just gave Phil Jax $12 million per year!!
….$12 million for a coach?!!?
Jeanie Buss must also have some good puss…..Phil Jax must feel like he’s in heaven.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
You’re right Celts, they so far have gotten the better end of it, but my point was just that if this was ‘04, and you’re faced with a decision to make between Kobe and Shaq, i feel like you’d be wise to choose Kobe. I mean, no one expected the Heat to actually GET that ring even after landing Shaq, ’cause so many West teams should have swept them in the Finals anyway. (Stupid Mavericks!!) Now looking back, you might say the Heat got the better end of it, but that’s only ’cause they had DWade. If Shaq stays in LA and Kobe bounces, then who’s the Guard that takes over in the Finals and basically wins the whole thing by himself? I think you can build around Kobe and get a ring, but you can’t build around Shaq and get a ring – He’s gotta have another mega-star to hold him down.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Celts Fan says:
I don’t know that I totally agree w/ that Bust, but I know what you mean, and agree about keeping Kobe over Shaq back then (though I fully expected Miami to, at the very least, make the Finals, once they got the Diesel.)
December 27th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Dang I’m such a Shaq hater, I know…I can’t help it. But Detroit had handled them pretty well even with Shaq, they just couldn’t contain Wade! And even in ‘06 with Wade and Shaq at full speed, they almost beat ‘em again, with the exception of a few key plays that they screwed up royally on. So I feel like overall Kupchak has consistently done things that appeared to be rediculous at the time, and then they happened to not turn out so bad in the end. I’m out, nice jawin’ with you again Celts…peace!
December 27th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
girlybballluver says:
Since my precious Heat have decided to suck this season (with the exceptions of Wade and Haslem of course), and I’m not worried about my Spurs (they’re going to do what they do best). I’ve decided to cheer for Denver this season. I said at the beginning of this season that this is Carmelo’s year. I love watching him play.
BTW how nice was Nene’s dunk last night?…I think he’s feeling better. Too bad it won’t last. Countdown to the next injury begins.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Willis says:
I was at the Kings – Celts game and I thought something was gonna happen lol. Kings played them good, they were only down 4 at one point in the 4th, but then the C’s realized that they need to beat teams like this so they went out and the Kings only scored 8 more points, almost all off free throws. And what the hell is James Posey doing. Under a minute left, the Kings are down 14 and Posey goes and shoots a 3, and then with like 18 left he sticks another one. Talk about classless. Oh yeah, Ron Ron poked KG in the eye while going for a rebound. On purpose.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:47 am
doc says:
dam girly you like everybody