LeBron on #31Some might disagree, but we think the Cavs did get better with its haul from the 11-player deadline deal. That said, they didn’t cover up all of their flaws, at least one of which came to light in Wednesday’s loss to the Celtics. While LeBron (26 pts, 8 rebs) struggled with his shot (7-for-24 FG’s) and the left ankle he tweaked in the first half, the fact that Cleveland doesn’t have another guy who can consistently create off the dribble became obvious. Delonte West scored 20 in the loss and Wally Szczerbiak had 12, but those two are mid/long-range shooters in the halfcourt setting, not necessarily penetrators. When LeBron isn’t there to generate offense, all you have is some guys who can post, some guys who can spot up, and not much else. But it’s nothing for Danny Ferry to panic too much about right now; he’s still protected by the “At least I did something” grace period that doesn’t run out until some time next month … LeBron left in the second quarter when he landed funny following a driving layup, but came back after halftime with enough lift in his legs to catch a dunk on KG while exploding off that same ankle. KG didn’t try that hard to challenge it, as opposed to Leon Powe, who still has some things to learn and got crowned by the King in the first half … Garnett had his best post-injury game so far, giving Ben Wallace 18 points, 11 boards, 5 dimes and 4 steals. Ray Allen dumped 22 on Wally, whose “Chase you around a screen with my hands up and arrive a moment too late” defense was somehow ineffective … David Stern’s nightmare NBA Finals matchup, Pistons vs. Jazz, was the best game of the night. Chauncey Billups (21 pts) and Rip Hamilton (22 pts) were lights-out to start and had Detroit on its way to another blowout win in the first half, but the Jazz — unlike the Suns over the weekend — didn’t fold up the tent. Mehmet Okur (24 pts) and Paul Millsap (19 pts) led the comeback, with Millsap showing a little range on his jumper and Memo hitting a couple huge threes in the last two minutes to help Utah get the win … If this were in fact a Finals matchup, did you know Utah has now beaten Detroit six times in a row? … Early third quarter of Hornets/Suns, Chris Paul took a close game and turned it into a rout. CP (25 pts, 15 asts, 6 rebs, 3 stls) was all over the place: pulling down rebounds and starting one-man fast breaks, hitting Tyson Chandler for alley-oops left and right, hitting his own jumpers and runners, and setting everyone else up while finding holes in Phoenix’s defense. The Hornets went up by 20 in the quarter and pretty much ended it there … Grant Hill caught another sick dunk, this time over Hilton Armstrong. It just makes you wonder how ridiculous the Grant Hill era would have been if he’d stayed healthy. This is mid-30s Grant Hill with a history of leg injuries who’s crushing on 7-footers still. Think of what his prime years would have been like … New Dime office hero D.J. Strawberry got off the bench for a little more than a minute. Why’s he our hero? Check this out … Backcourt mismatch? How about Andre Miller and Willie Green outscoring Orlando starters Jameer Nelson and Mo Evans 52-2 in a Sixers rout. It got so bad for the Magic that Stan Van Gundy dusted off J.J. Redick and played him for about 15 minutes. Perhaps The Best Shooter To Every Play The Game put up 10 points, going 4-for-10 from the floor … If not J.J.’s, we think this kid’s been watching someone’s instructional tapes. 11-year-old Jayshaun Agosto out of Seattle shows his too-good-for-his-age handle over on BeBetterThanLeBron.com … Did Mike Bibby do something to Beno Udrih in Sacramento? For the second time since the trade Bibby and Beno went head-to-head, and for the second time Beno gave Bibby the business, to the tune of 25 points and 8 dimes. Bibby gave it right back, though, notching 24 points and 12 dimes and a Hawks win … Shelden Williams, who just doesn’t fit with the Kings, played three uneventful minutes. Way to show ‘em what they missed, bro. Of course this would all be a lot more interesting if either of these teams was any good … For whatever reason, Jim Boylan insists on bringing his best players off the bench. When you look at who started for the Bulls last night (Hinrich, Thabo, Deng, Ty Thomas, Noah) and who didn’t (Hughes, Gordon, Nocioni, Gooden, Gray), isn’t it very conceivable that the backups would consistently beat the starters during team scrimmages? Is there any other squad in the L built like that? … Hughes scored 29 in Chicago’s win over Indiana. Travis Diener had 22 and 9 dimes for the losers. D-Wade would definitely swap his Marquette PG Diener for Jason Williams straight up at this point, wouldn’t he? … It’s not at Manu levels yet, but Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s bald spot is an up-and-comer. He’s gonna be looking like his Pops here pretty soon … In yesterday’s Smack we talked about the Sonics’ inability to guard anyone. Last night they gave up 138 points while getting 40-pieced AT HOME by the Nuggets … If you haven’t peeped the new Kobe Nike commercials yet, here they are. The message: Kobe is a genius. Whether that’s an evil genius or not depends on who you ask … We’re out like Dunleavy’s hair …
February 28th, 2008 at 6:14 am
knoc says:
Luvin the kobe ads.
Magics need better guards. waitin for those contracts to expire
February 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Sam I Am says:
Kobe is the man….Go Celtics! Def feel bad for the Suns and the old timers, cause the trade and pickups were nice, but they just don’t have it. My pick is if the Lakers are healthy and KB is 88% healthy then watch out, and for the East, I got the Celtics pulling the UPSET over Detroit, cause clearly Detroit is a machine.
Go Me from DC, Maryland !!! Love DIME…WOOOOOO lol
February 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
mrcanadian says:
what no knicks news???? i was out at madison square garden for the first time ever last nite and what started off looking like a ymca friday game turned into a knicks exhibition. if jamal made that off the backboard?????
greattimes.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:39 am
GEE... let the finger waving commence! says:
Sam I am is going to be up to go somewhere soon. Boston is getting his locker ready!
Yea different players, but everyone knows no LeBronnnnn no nothing after that lol. I still think they need a new coach.
Alert! Alert! The Suns are in the 5th spot. Houston sure needed Detroit to beat Utah. Got to give the jazz there props for the win.
Denver let out some agressions last night.
DIME I got to agree. After seeing Grant drop two nasty mcfilthy dunks. If dude could have stayed healthy, I got to go Duke Tango …oooooOOOOOHHHH Baaaaaby!
I still don’t know why his eyes always be so wide though lol. I honestly think Grant is one player who would play for little to nothing. I just really feel he loves the game.
Atl. needs wins like that to get their ish together.
Love the Kobe commercials! I am going to have to go with “Pure” Genius!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Celts Fan says:
wow, two Celtics got absolutely crowned last night by the King. tough to watch. fellas, just cuz Perk got a piece of a King dunk doesn’t mean you should jump. Leon’s still trying to get the pubes out of his mouth! Great, great effort that’s truly loved and appreciated, but just duck outta the way. Only bad things can happen…
PJ Brown has arrived (didn’t know til we noticed him in a suit on our bench pregame last night! VERY VERY NICE SURPRISE!) Sam Cassell next? We’ve been clamoring for this all year, and we’re 48 hours away from possibly making it happen.
by the way, if Doc Rivers and Mitch Kupchik win Coach and Executive of the Year, is that the least talented, lucky-to-still-be-in-the-situation-they’re-in tandem to ever win that award? I say yes and it’s not even close.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Amar says:
David Stern should be so lucky to have two evenly matched teams, that have no criminals, or alleged criminals, on their respective teams, play in the finals.
I guess having guys like Brewer, Millsap and Carlos dunking it down isn’t flashy enough, or having guys hit the three ball like Chauncey, Okur, ‘Sheed, etc.
They aren’t primary markets that the NBA is trying to sell (otherwise it would be the knicks vs. houston in the finals, thanks yao). That doesn’t mean it’s not good basketball.
Number one thing that you saw in the jazz/pistons game last night? The fact that both offenses have guys who move without the ball, instead of the boring ass, AND-1 style of play all the other teams employ (one really good guy with the ball, and everyone else just watches).
February 28th, 2008 at 10:46 am
K-Dizzle says:
Hornets-Suns was a game til Chris Paul got his mind made up. That pass to Chandler for the vicious cram before halftime set the tone. Nobody stood in front of that. It’s only a matter of time before dude is the best point in the l.
Impressive win by the Raps, beat the teams you supposed to beat. Right, Orlando???
I’m lookin at Houston’s Yao problem thinkin maybe tradin a low-post scorer and rebounder like Bonzi wasn’t such a smart move.
Anybody actually believe that Brent Barry is gonna switch up to the suns and leave the spurs?…. Didn’t think so. We get it, y’all don’t wanna look like stackhouse in the nets trade but stop givin teams false hope. sign and sit a month
February 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
jz_smoove says:
grant hill would probably been what kobe is right now. he was really rally good
February 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Celts Fan says:
k-dizzle. That time is now. CP3 is the best PG in the league. He’s every bit the distributor Nash is, not quite the shooter, but MILES AHEAD of him defensively.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
isotope says:
I think Brent Barry was really considering Houston till the Yao injury. I mean, dude planned to make the announcement on tuesday. Thats the same day we heard about Yao’s injury and nothing out of the Barry camp.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:10 am
dagwaller says:
Attention Dime: Jesus Shuttlesworth is a career 21 pt scorer. Wally’s defense was about as good as anyone else’s has been over the course of Ray’s career. Give the Cavs some time. Imagine if Lebron had played - what? - like one more minute? If he hadn’t hurt his ankle? You have to figure the Cavs would’ve won that game.
Everyone knows that I’m a huge Nash fan, but I’m quickly becoming a Chris Paul fan. I have to admit that CP is a better point right now. We’ll see at the end of the season, but right now, CP is better fsho.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Jules says:
ha! I totally noticed that lil’ bald patch on Dunleavy yesterday for the first time.
And what’s up with the Pacers announcer yelling “HOME RUN!” after a Pacer hits a 3? that’s just terrible.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Ian says:
“if Doc Rivers and Mitch Kupchik win Coach and Executive of the Year, is that the least talented, lucky-to-still-be-in-the-situation-they’re-in tandem to ever win that award? I say yes and it’s not even close.”
celts fan
fuck yeah u r right
k dizzle barry is going back to the spurs
he would never leave the spurs for the rockets
February 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am
GEE... swag it out! says:
Dang Celts P.J. and Sam. Come on Houston lost Yao, Boston could have let the Rockets get P.J. lol.
If Boston gets Sam, I am really going to have to root for them East team wise.
They would have so many of my favorite players. K.G., Paul, Ray, Sam and P.J.
I still don’t see no one getting the Lakers in the West.
Also if Boston gets Sam, that changes the complexion of Boston vs. Detroit a lot. I would normally say out of 7 Detroit would win clearly with Boston. With Sam, cause the experience at the point is so important, I would have to say toss up right now.
They better make that happen.
Houston could use Brent sure, but they already have like 20 guards. No need for him really, they need low presence. If Brent wants the ring best chance is with the Spurs. If he just wants to play more, find one of those lower squads.
Hey I put this in another room. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be hilarious to have Charles Barkley as a coach. I would love it. Think of every media report, and you know he would call out everyone from refs, to players to opposing coaches.
He might actually do well as a coach considering players would respect him on legacy alone and already know he is going to call it straight.
Plus Chuck knows the game well.
I think he would do better as a coach than Gov. of Alabama.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
tobacher says:
anybody seen the sick dunk chandler had on a trying-hard-to-stay-off-that-poster-wall-but-somehow-couldn’t-help-it Amare on a break?
cp3&chandler rule
February 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
rean the man says:
well, ghill is the man. im part of that genre who witness “grant hill w/ the explosion” everytime. man… and,his first point/s in the L is an alley-oop from joe d. sick. nothin. just trying to be rean the genius…
stern nightmare? haha.. nightmare wud be another spurs cavs again…
52 to 2?! come on…
February 28th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Ian says:
gee
the less power chuck has the better
so i rather see him coach than be a gov
February 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
GEE... swag it out! says:
Well there it is. I doubt he will coach or be gov. anytime soon because he just got a new contract or extension with TNT.
Still a coach Barkley would be funny.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Mo says:
CP3 is just so damned fun to watch. Even if you’re not a fan, you gotta like watching the guy. And then if you are indeed watching him, I can’t see how you wouldn’t be a fan. tobacher, are you talking about this dunk?…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBLD9gJyK4s
SICK!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
apollo 33 says:
no love for t.dot winning like it’s last 8 home games by over 20 pts per, but you give a mouthful to chicago/indy. good job dime crew, you sure are impartial.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Celts Fan says:
and that mouthful was straight clowning Chicago and Indiana. You want that kind of mention? christ, you guys that get upset your team didn’t get mentioned are ridiculous. You’ll get your mention in the Hit List and the respect you’re due. Plus, check the schedule, you haven’t even won 8 straight at home, much less 8 straight by 20+, and they’ve been mostly against average-at-best teams. Wow you beat Minnesota by 20 on the back end of a back-to-back for them. stop the friggin presses…
February 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
GEE... swag it out! says:
LOL Celts so true but funny as heck! LOL!
Woooooo my team just the Miami Heat! What DIME didn’t mention it…awwww hell naw lol!
Get over it, if anything just mention about your team yourself.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
doc says:
If the Sixers make the playoffs shouldn’t Dre Miller get at least 1 MVP vote. He is running the show in the Illadelph better than people like Wadein his town.And Dime just keeping it real,nobody cares about the Raptors until they do something in the playoffs.They beat bums and get smashed by good teams.To me it looks like Cleveland is worse. Wally stinks on D and Delonte is not a point guard.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
doc says:
Delont isnt a starting point on a chip contender at least.And Barkley needs to stay where he at.TNT wouldnt be the same without him.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Celts Fan says:
na, probably not Doc (delonte not a starting point), but he’s a solid role player that can defend, shoot, and play both guard positions. one of those guys off the bench that every good team needs. He’s a keeper in Cleveland even if he’s not the starter of the future (dime’s right on, probably need a guy that can penetrate starting at the point)
February 28th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Tim says:
Detroit has not won in Utah in 7 YEARS!!!! It is hard to believe but true… last time they won, Jon Barry and Clifford Robinson were stil on the team in 2002.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Apollo
Why didn’t you just leave shit alone? When you cry about the Raps not gettin ink, it brings out facts that yeah, they whooped the Magic by twenty, but then they lost to the knicks, then beat the knicks, indy and minny? like I said, you supposed to beat them. What the props for?
Celts
you must be jokin when you say Kupchak is “lucky” to be in his situation. Playa, luck got nuthin to do with it. If he had given to Kobe, Bynum, Farmar and Odom are in Jersey right now for Kidd.That’s 3 core dudes on the squad for a dude who can’t guard the quicks in the west. Shit, even kobe wanted to be traded, then he didn’t, then he did. Instead, the man ignored Kobe and let Bynum develop, drafted Farmar and Turiaf and keeps em, steals Gasol and gets the pickup of the offseason in D-Fish, who the clippers were also pushin for and let’s face it, needed him way more.
When you go against the demands of #24 and success follows, that’s not luck
Doc, on the other hand, is obviously lucky, cuz a chimp could coach that team
February 28th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Big Al says:
was anybody else incredibly pleased to see Nash get demolished by CP3?