Excellence of Execution
“Have your ball back, Chauncey.” (Photo. Gary Land)Early on it looked like the Pistons were going to make life miserable for the Nuggets: It seemed every Detroit bucket in the first quarter was a layup or a wide-open jumper, and every play Chauncey Billups called was executed to perfection. But some 1-on-1 play by A.I. (28 pts) and ‘Melo (23 pts) kept Denver within range, and the blowout was avoided during a stretch where the Pistons (namely Rip Hamilton) started forcing shots … Down by three with 30 seconds left, the Nuggets got lucky when Rasheed missed an open three, and again on the other end when J.R. Smith took a terrible shot but was fouled in the act. Stepping to the line with 6.5 seconds left, J.R. hit the first but missed the next two, and Chauncey (20 pts, 8 asts) made his free throws to ice it … With George Karl out sick, Adrian Dantley coached the Nuggets. He said beforehand that he wasn’t nervous, but we wouldn’t be either if we had Denver’s extra-extra-brolic strength coach Steve Hess (the guy with the blonde dreads) standing behind the bench on security detail … Digital Underground performed at halftime. Not that we’re complaining, but who approved that one? We can just see David Stern watching League Pass at home and going ballistic hearing “Humpty Dance” lines like, “Hey yo, fat girl; Come here, are you ticklish?” and “I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.” Someone got fired last night … The Celtics, meanwhile, ran a clinic on the Clippers that never let up, falling just short of a 30-piecing. Granted, the VIPs didn’t play a whole lot due to the blowout, but how long is KG going to stay in the MVP discussion if he keeps putting up 11-6-4 stat lines? (Garnett did have 4 blocks, too.) And can you really give MVP to a guy who is probably his team’s THIRD option if it needed a game-winner? In that situation, Doc Rivers goes Pierce, Ray, then KG, right? … J-Kidd did J-Kidd things (11 pts, 9 rebs, 8 asts, 4 stls) against the Bulls in his first Dallas home game since the trade, and everyone from Stackhouse to Dirk (29 pts, 10 rebs) to Jason Terry was keeping up with his pace … The Bulls got more production from their bench guys — namely Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden — than the starters … We know the Spurs have this thing about starting slow, but FIVE points in the first quarter? Against the HAWKS? Of course, after scoring just 30 total in the first half, Tony Parker (15 pts, 9 asts) led San Antonio to a 27-point third quarter, where they grabbed a double-digit lead and coasted from there … The defense never failed the Spurs; Atlanta’s top four guys (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Bibby and Horford) went a combined 13-for-46 from the floor. That’s 28 percent … Not that Bibby was ever a speed demon, even at Arizona, but the difference between him and Parker is glaring at this point in their careers. Bibby simply cannot hang with TP anymore … DeShawn Stevenson was like a more-tatted version of Gilbert Arenas in New Orleans. He dropped 33 on the Hornets, made a crazy circus shot at one point, hit a go-ahead free throw with 14 seconds left, then stuck the game-winner on a fadeaway triple at the buzzer. The only thing DeShawn didn’t do was turn and raise his arms before the shot fell. Or take his jersey off and lay it on the Hornets’ court. Or make up some weird reason to have a vendetta against New Orleans … The Hornets’ defense on DeShawn’s last shot was pretty terrible. He took the ball out from the inbounds and weaved through a few guys — totally losing Peja in the process — and was able to find the precise spot he wanted to shoot from and let it go unchallenged … For the first time in a long time, T.J. Ford was the better Toronto point guard, going for 16 points and 7 dimes off the bench while Jose Calderon posted 4 and zero in the Raps’ win over the Pacers … Down three in the final seconds, we’re not buying that the play Indiana really wanted to run involved Kareem Rush holding the ball and firing a fadeaway over Chris Bosh … Is Gary Payton one of the 10 best point guards ever? We asked, you answered. Our Seattle contingent feels vindicated … ESPN got Kevin Durant on the phone during Texas/K-State to talk about his former team and his buddy Michael Beasley. Even if KD didn’t really foresee the Longhorns being a Top-10 without him, he did a good job of acting unsurprised. In the game itself, Texas came from behind to get the win despite Beasley’s 30 points and 15 boards, getting 24 points, 5 dimes and 4 steals from D.J. Augustin … As good as those two were, Bill Walker really couldn’t have been worse. He went 0-for-14 from the field, finishing with 1 point and 6 rebounds. One time Beasley was yelling at Walker because he had seemingly zero interest in running a set play. Beasley came up to set a back-pick on Walker’s man while Bill just stood there watching the ball. Then, instead of continuing on with the play, Walker decided to post up three feet away from where the best player in the country was supposed to be posting up. Amazing athlete, but the kid still has a lot to learn … We’re out like the Pacers’ playbook …
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February 26th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Toan says:
still with a broken leg
February 26th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Str8baller says:
I’m going with… DAMN, it feels good to be 1st
February 26th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Str8baller says:
TOAN…
c’mon bro… you hurt my feelings…. set up my alarm and had my mom waking me up to say that ish….
just kiddin…
Stop the presses…. Bron 4 MVP… nuff said
February 26th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Toan says:
sorry man…i really got nothing else to do
February 26th, 2008 at 6:28 am
YOUNGFED says:
Dime I got a nickname idea for you guys since your so into giving bums nicknames. Lets call JR “Choke Artist” aka “Picaso Negative” or better yet “Young Nervous” aka “Fidgets” or “Sweats Alot at the Line Guy” (LOL).
Dime you guys have said what I’ve been saying about KG maybe now everyone will quit Dik Ridin’ and finally give Kobe his Damn award that he deserved for the last 4yrs. MVP should go to the best player in the league e.g. Kobe or Lebron every year maybe Howard in a couple years from now. If this was a fantasy draft e.g. 2k8 style those guys get draft 1st allday.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:06 am
ian says:
best player on the best team
not those shitty lakers teams
February 26th, 2008 at 7:39 am
YOUNGFED says:
Even those teams he single handedly took them to the playoffs by you logic Lebron shouldn’t be considered for MVP because his team is garbage.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Njagge says:
anybody see episode 9 of the Wire??? Craaaaazy
February 26th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Hoveys Home says:
Dont forget the classic lines in the Humpty Dance like
“I’m the one that said just grab em by the biscuits”
Or even better
“Cuz in the 69 my nose is known to tickle your rear”
Hahaha hope Stern didnt hear those
February 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
GEE... be clear says:
How bout “Yea I called ya fat, look at me I’m skinny”
Denver is just having a hard time. Honestly though every time I look it’s coaching.
Piston have to be the shiznit in the East right now. Seriously in 7 I don’t see nobody getting them.
Yes of course Boston has the best chance.
Right now I am seeing Detroit and L.A. in the Finals with L.A. winning. Just GEE
Congrats Washington, cause they been needing a win like that for a while. DeShawn and J.R. Smith remind me of the same type of guys. Cept of course DeShawn won his game.
Um Mike Bibby come on step yo game up pimpin for real!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Dennis says:
decision making is hard…
at least JR smith can dunk
http://www.squidoo.com/JRSmith
February 26th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Nico says:
I looked at the Marquette/Villanova game last night and I was wondering why Marquette’s players and coaches go on the floor during timeout, can somebody explain me ?
February 26th, 2008 at 9:14 am
doc says:
Bron team aint garbage. He bust the Pistons ass last year whats so different. Yall got a bench now or something. Bron gonna destroy them jokers on yall bench that be gettin all this hype for their 7 point averages.Boston been frauding all season .All their stars aint nothing but choke artists and we will see it again.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:51 am
YOUNGFED says:
Choke artists Doc come on Ray Allen is clutch incarnate.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:20 am
for real says:
Digital Underground should have played “FREAKS OF THE INDUSTRY”
that would have been dope
the booty’s two feet from your head, should you…???
http://www.mp3lyrics.org/d/digital-underground/freaks-of-the-industry/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WalE8hYzONM
D. all of the above
February 26th, 2008 at 10:21 am
isotope says:
Whats with the hornets? Its scary how the West teams have their runs. Portland had theirs (doesnt that seem so long ago). Utahis still kind in theirs but they’ve cooled off a bit. Now its the Lakers and the Rockets. Looks like the winner of the West will be whoever is able to have a winning streak at the right time (end of season)
February 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
GayforRudy says:
Hey doc,
Nice job “keeping it real”. I have no idea what the fcuk you said.
MVP is supposed to go to the guy that is the most valuable to his team in the entire league in a given season. It’s not suppposed to go to the BEST player on the BEST team. How stupid is that?
You mean I am supposed to sit around all season and listen to ESPN go down on the Celtics and then I am supposed to take it in when Garnett wins the MVP. That’s ludicrous (go look up the definition doc)!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:04 am
doc says:
Youngfed how is Ray Allen clutch. He got to a conference finals 1 year with sam and Big Dog and couldnt beat the Sixers with a hurt AI sitting out a game. That was his best chance,its a wrap now.And Gay for Rudy what the hell are u talking about.Keeping what real.Go holla at Rudy u damn Homo.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
YOUNGFED says:
LOL Doc Lol
February 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Also Bron bust the pistons ass last year not his team they’re GARBAGE (say with a french accent)LOL…
February 26th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Austin Burton says:
Would you take ’07 Durant or ’08 Beasley on your team?
February 26th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Celts Fan says:
MVP = Chris Paul (KG’s slipping fast down below Kobe (2), Bron (3), at the very least, and you guys are dead on – in clutch spots, it’s Pierce/Ray as the first options, then KG’s the third choice)
Ray Allen is clutch (he’s hit a lot of big shots/winners this year.) clutch doesn’t necessarily mean he’s won a lot, just that when they need a big shot, he can make it and does more often than you’d reasonably expect him to.
Since I didn’t get a chance to post yesterday, i wanted to bring up a few other things.
did you guys see the Drew Gooden dunk on Yao on Sunday? GREAT line by Jon Barry afterwards, “Yao, Yao. That just happened!”
another submission for worst trade ever from yesterday’s discussion:
Warriors give up a top 3 draft pick (turns into Kevin McHale) and Robert Parrish for Joe Barry Carroll. In other words, the Celtics got 2 of the original Big 3 for a huge waste of life. At least Memphis knew they weren’t getting crap for Pau…
February 26th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
’08 Beasley. I think he does more all-around.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
isotope says:
Yao is **here it comes** out for ***wait for it**
the rest of the season
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5571212.html
sigh. I was just about to spend a huge amount on some tix to the Rox/Celts game too.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
YOUNGFED says:
How can we debate a guy that ain’t even in the NBA yet. Also Durant still ain’t shown a whole lot. Sick of this prototpye ish talking about he was better than Lebron in Highschool who cares he will never eva eva….eva eva eva (to quote Chris Tucker) be on Lebrons level. Lets just wait and see what Beasley does befor we start hyping him to.
Oh by the way What Up Celts ain’t seen you n here in a while.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
K-Dizzle says:
Gee
sorry, playa
that’s a nasty blow
I’m thinkin Hibbert in the draft
February 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
Ya, was sick and usually don’t get on too much over the weekends anyway. Went back and put in my 2 cents on GP though (have him 6th)
the Beasley/Durrant issue was ’07 Durrant vs. ’08 Beasley (both for college teams I’d assume) so it’s an apples to apples thing.
sorry GEE, tough blow on Yao. Didn’t realize you could miss the whole season from getting dunked on. what’s the box score gonna say, “DNP – Tea-bagged” The good news is that you should get a nice pick in the draft that maybe you can trade for another role-player that takes a lot of charges…
February 26th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
GEE... be clear says:
Preshate it.
Yea I am hurting for Yao, Tracy, Houston …just hurtin. LOL @ the DNP – Tea bagged…that’s cold Celts.
K-Diz I am hoping Mutombo will still pull 12 – 14 rebounds even at the age of 55. Otherwise, yea I am thinking Hibbert.
Man y’all don’t understand how bad this hurts.
I feel like the last kid on the court that didn’t get picked….again.
This junk hurts so bad.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
isotope says:
this not only kills cuz i’m a Rox fan and live in Houston but dude was a major contributor on my fantasy team. This is crazy!!!!!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
nick says:
i would say beasly at this point, but really depends on if durant fills out because if he does he could become a deadly 3 or 4. look at bosh as an example, he was rail thin when he came into the league and no one said he could bang with the big boys and well he is an all-star. i think you really can’t argue this until march madness hits.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Austin Burton says:
“How can we debate a guy that ain’t even in the NBA yet.”
I mean if you were a college coach. Would you want freshman Durant or freshman Beasley?
February 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
for real says:
is anyone else thinking the Rockets will miss the playoffs now???
Tough break for Yao – pun intended
February 26th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Celts Fan says:
just messing around GEE. I actually like the Rockets (they’ve been one of those teams I’ve liked for no real reason ever since Dream) and I like TMac a lot so this stinks for them. I was hoping they’d win a series this year just so TMac could finally shed that label. I feel like he had a bad rap on the Magic (oh really, a max deal’s worth of cap space being used for nothing but ankle rehab but you expect them to compete? fair…) and hasn’t had much around him except Yao in Houston. You should be in good hands w/ Deke. He did really well last season when Yao was out, and we get a fairwell finger-wave tour too. Send him out right Houston, dude deserves it.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
GEE... be clear says:
Yea he gone get some boards if nothing else. Who gone double Deke though? NOT NOBODY LOL.
Cruel and Unusual this is.
Iso I had Yao on the Fantasy team too.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
dagwaller says:
First and only season I played fantasy bball (though I’d like to get back into it next year), I drafted a BUNCH of SG/SFs, and really no Center. I think I had Dan Gadzuric. But it was the year Kobe got 81, so I was still leading the league. Then someone offered me Yao Ming for Paul Pierce. I figured that I needed to grab ANY center, and Yao was near the top of the league anyway, so I did it. Win-win, right? The NEXT DAY, Yao went down with a broken leg. I was PISSED. Still love the big guy, though.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Who knows beasley could end up playing with durant in seattle if seattle gets lucky with the ping pong balls.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Ian says:
youngfed
yes by my logic lebron isnt the mvp
i dont know where u got that i had lebron for mvp
kobe missed the playoffs once i think
but anyways
mvp is
C.PAUL by my logic (which isnt mine btw just one of the ways people measure mvp)
February 26th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Ian says:
so denver and the warriors get a lucky break (get it see what i did there with yaos fracture…. nevermind) with yao and now will make the playoffs
younfed cleveland is not garbage. third best team in the conference
gayforrudy
best player on one of the top teams
has been the measuring point for the mvp for a while dont know where the fuck u have been
stats are no good because if u can score and u play for a bad team u will put up 40 a night but u r no mvp.
austin
freshman durant everyday
for me
isotope sorry man
but anyways u were losing in the first round
i traded yao for camby 3 weeks ago fuck yea
February 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Ian says:
celts fan
1. wow u didnt but rondo on the top ten ever thats a surprise
2. allen is not as clutch as people make him out to be
3. parker will have better numbers than most of the pgs on the list because hes only 25 has three rings and counting and has at least another decade of stat buffing
4. love how people say that old school players like cousy and ruth wont cut it today because the game is more advance and players are more athletic
guess what????? so would they cousy would be trained by todays standards and be a john stockton type player brain and hustle
babe ruth wouldnt be fat the be all muscle like todays players because he would have the same diets and exercise programs that players do today
u know what the real question is
if players like bonds and payton could hand with ruth and cousy if they played back then without their trainers , diets , and steroids. think about that for a while
February 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Celts Fan says:
true Ian, but we’re going with the version we know of each of those old-school pros. good point though…
Ray Allen, THIS YEAR, has made a ton of big shots. I won’t pretend I watched him a ton over the few years before that, but this year, he’s been huge in the clutch.
Parker may have better numbers, but numbers aren’t everything (see Marbury, Stephon.) He doesn’t play any D and isn’t a top 2 guy on his team, so he does get penalized a bit for that in my book. Still nasty, but he’s not top 10 (if you think he will be, name the 2-3 guys that come off that list, cuz CP3 and Deron are well on their way and, barring injuries, are better and will be remembered as better than Tony)
February 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Ian says:
yeah but its unfair to compare players like that
the situation has to be the same to compare
im not watching allen this season i was talking career wise for me
u cant compare the cancer marbury with parker that has played for a winner he has three rings already and will be the spurs best player in a couple of seasons remember hes the young one of the trio and he has a finals mvp so is not that hes just coasting for the ring
what i meant is that he will have the rings and the stats to make a case for it
cousy wasnt the best on his team
either
February 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Ian says:
mayweather will get 20 millions to be in a wrestling match
whattt
February 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Ian says:
celts fan
i didnt say parker will be for sure
i listed the players with a shot at the list and of the young pgs in the league i mentioned
deron paul and parker as the players that have a shot at it
February 26th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
isotope says:
ian. Yeah, he’s going to be fighting “the big show”. a 7 foot giant. Good thing for him, it isnt real fighting. Dude would have his pretty face crushed.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Ian says:
parker is just two years older than the others and is way ahead of the others in everything
February 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
isotope says:
gotta love Houston fans though.
http://media.odeo.com/3/3/4/yao_sad.mp3
gotta listen to this
February 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Ian says:
lol iso if it were real the fight lasts 1mn
February 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
isotope says:
it was so funny when i saw the youtube video of their ‘confrontation’. Dude had to take a knee before Mayweather could start fake-punching him. What a joke!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Philander says:
hmm…somebody is a closet Bret Hart fan. come out Dime!