Josh Howard (Photo. Monte Isom)Thanks to a little blessing from the schedule gods, the Mavericks’ first game without Dirk Nowitzki in the lineup had them facing the Clippers. At home. Sitting somewhere between an actual threat and the stationary traffic cones that are the Miami Heat, the Clips gave the Mavs a chance to get somewhat comfortable playing without the ‘07 MVP before a pair of tough road contests in Denver and Golden State later this week. Josh Howard stepped right into the #1 role like he’d been The Man all year, putting up 32 points and not having any issues looking for his own shot (8-for-22 FG’s, 15-for-15 FT’s) … Having a Cherokee Parks flashback, Jerry Stackhouse went lefty and crowned Tim Thomas on one play. Luckily Tim doesn’t care, otherwise it would have been a little embarrassing for him … How good has Erick Dampier been eating since Jason Kidd joined the team? Damp had 19 points and 17 boards against the woefully undersized Clips, who started 6-9 Josh Powell at center and didn’t have another traditional big man on the active roster (Nick Fazekas and Thomas don’t count). It seemed like all of Damp’s points came on dunks courtesy J-Kidd’s passes … Smush Parker got the start for L.A., putting up 8 points and getting 4 steals. Is he in the League next year? Probably not the American one … On that note, reports started circulating last night that Chris Webber is going to retire, as his knee problems have become too severe. Not even the biggest C-Webb fan could watch his games with the Warriors and ignore the writing on the wall. His knees have him so he can’t even jump, run or cut with any kind of authority, which added on to the fact that he was clearly out of shape, made his positives (passing, mid-range jumpers, basketball IQ) irrelevant … The last couple of years aside, you can’t front on Webber’s overall career. During a 15-year run he averaged 20.7 points and 9.8 rebounds, had a handful of seasons where he was in the MVP discussion and led some of those Sacramento teams deep into the playoffs. Not to mention he was one of the most influential college players of all-time and helped revolutionize the power forward position in the pros. Is Chris Webber a Hall of Famer? We broke down his resume few months ago right HERE … Watching Tim Duncan take care of business against Dwight Howard was like watching Hakeem and Young Shaq back in the day, with the cagey vet deliberately out-executing the athletically-superior Hercules. While TD’s moves aren’t as smooth and pretty as Dream’s, he’s just as efficiently effective. Dwight had the better stat line (24 pts, 21 rebs) and the flashier highlights, but Duncan (19 pts, 15 rebs, 4 blks) came away with the win … Of course, a lot of that had to do with Hedo Turkoglu (wrist) leaving in the first quarter along with Jameer Nelson (jaw). Orlando isn’t deep enough to hang with San Antonio as it is, let alone without their best offensive player and their point guard … We’re not even gonna blame Tony Parker for getting dunked on by Dwight like he did on that first-half alley oop. For one, Tony’s giving up 9-10 inches and several hundred pounds of muscle. (Dwight could probably do curls with Parker.) Second, when Parker jumped and tried to swat Carlos Arroyo’s deceptively low lob pass, he had no idea what kind of monster was lurking behind him, kind of like the victim in a Friday the 13th flick. We will blame Tony, however, for that weak scoop shot he tried to slip past Dwight later in the game that got sent flying … Yesterday we posted the behind-the-scenes video from our Dime #39 photo shoot with Gerald Wallace, along with Associate Editor Austin Burton’s feature story on Crash … In the story, Wallace talks about his quest to bring winning basketball back to Charlotte. We were actually talking about this in the office yesterday: How long will it take for this team to finally get it together? On paper they have the talent, with Wallace, J-Rich, Okafor, Felton, Carroll, and even Nazr Mohammed, who’s been productive for them. And next year they get Sean May and Adam Morrison back, along with a Lottery pick. Yes, they have a rookie coach, but there’s gotta be something more to it than that, because the ‘Cats were terrible with veteran coach Bernie Bickerstaff. You look at teams like Portland who have improved by leaps and bounds and even the Hawks, and yet the Bobcats are still lagging behind. Last night they got waxed in Utah (no surprise there), getting picked apart easily by Deron Williams (14 pts, 15 asts) and beasted by Carlos Boozer (28 pts, 13 reb), who dunked on 6-10 Jermareo Davidson and 7-foot Ryan Hollins (who look like a gangly version of the Lopez twins from a distance) on the same play … Comedy: David Harrison having to guard Chris Paul (31 pts, 14 asts, 3 stls) on a switch. Have you ever seen a 7-foot tall man silently screaming for help against a 6-foot tall man? At least Harrison didn’t have to spend too much time in David West’s torture rack. West killed the Pacers for 35 points, 16 boards, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Is there anyone out there still questioning his All-Star status? … Yesterday we dropped our latest NBA Hit List power ranking, where the Hornets hold the #2 spot behind the Celtics. A lot of you felt N.O. deserved the top spot, primarily because they just beat Boston over the weekend. But consider that the C’s went into that game on the last day of a long, emotionally draining road trip against some super-tough teams, and still were right there with the Hornets well into the fourth quarter. And really, would you pick the Hornets to beat Boston in a 7-game series? We wouldn’t. Check out the rest of the power rankings HERE … Brandon Roy and Caron Butler took turns unintentionally injuring each other and scaring the hell out of fans in D.C. and Portland. Early on, Tough Juice picked off a pass and started to take it the other way, leaving B-Roy as the only guy between Caron and the basket. Roy faked like he was going to foul Caron, but at the last second backed off. Caron subsequently got caught up bracing himself for the bump and jammed his ankle. He was OK. At the end of the first quarter Caron shot a deep three to beat the buzzer, but got his legs tangled with Roy on the way down. Roy landed funny and ended up with a groin injury. He didn’t return … The Blazers announcers said that “in his day,” Raef LaFrentz was a good shot-blocker. In his day? We still remember watching Raef at Kansas. We remember seeing him get drafted. That made us all feel really old … Can DeShawn Stevenson please just admit defeat in this stupid bet he has with Drew Gooden? The beard is just atrocious on Drew right now. He gone beyond looking homeless — he looks like his home is in a bear cave. Gooden slapped 31 points and 16 boards on the Hawks yesterday and we just couldn’t get past that awful facial hair. It’s almost time for an intervention … We’re out like Raef the shot-blocker …
March 26th, 2008 at 4:20 am
fat lever says:
C-Webb will be missed
March 26th, 2008 at 4:36 am
the sad truth says:
no he won’t
March 26th, 2008 at 5:13 am
YOUNGFED says:
Quick Thoughts:
1.) Skip should apologize to West
2.) Drew=Noah (from the ark) lol
3.) YAWWWWW Trick YAAWWWWWWW!!!
4.) Ok 3 was cause I’m still hungover from last nite. lmao
March 26th, 2008 at 5:15 am
the_don_mega says:
yes he will
March 26th, 2008 at 5:16 am
YOUNGFED says:
Also everybody hatin’ on K-HOVA but yall like a name like Tough Juice. GTFOH….and yes thats “Get The Fuk Outta Here.”
March 26th, 2008 at 5:39 am
str8baller says:
Gay Hova.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
YOUNGFED says:
BIG UPS TO ALL MY HATERRRRRSSSS!!!!!!! lol
March 26th, 2008 at 5:58 am
the sad truth says:
it’s not that we’re hatin’ on you youngfed, it’s just that you’re an idiot.
oh, I’m sorry, you’re a K-Hidiot
March 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am
YOUNGFED says:
Get Money andf Stop HATIN’.
PS I’m an Idiot but you say C-Dubb want be missed “Beat It Cock Sucka.”
March 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
word says:
David West All star? Defintely, superstar? Not yet on the large scale, there is a difference imo.
CWebb was one of the reasons I loved the Kings back in the day, he should’ve retired after he left the 6ers cuz last couple years were no good for him.
Wow the Heat and Bulls both won a game this week, that is rare.
and i would still take goodens beard over that goddamn rat tail he had.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Logan Light says:
Yes, the beard over the rat tail is a no brainer… but I am waiting for Drew to put that thing in braids like some pirate from the Caribbean. Imagine if everytime he dunked the ball you could hear the beads from his beard rattle together!
Youngfed - There are no words to describe what you bring to this forum. Thank you.
C-Webb is out and when you think that he averaged 20 and 9 - including the past several seasons after surgery - it’s pretty impressive. Even if he couldn’t move around like he wanted to, he still had to be respected. Hall of fame? Yesh.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:20 am
YOUNGFED says:
Your Welcom Logan and C-Dubb definitely is an HOF’er
March 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am
crabhands says:
“Logan Light says:
Yes, the beard over the rat tail is a no brainer… but I am waiting for Drew to put that thing in braids like some pirate from the Caribbean. Imagine if every time he dunked the ball you could hear the beads from his beard rattle together!”
THAT is hilarious.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Celts Fan says:
Those of you hating on my comments yesterday missed the point. When you lock up the #1 seed, you then take the time to play around w/ rotations with the new guys on your roster looking towards the playoffs. I didn’t “blame” Doc for the loss, I said that he was messing around with rotations with a much larger goal than winning against the Sixers (though he obviously would’ve taken the W too) and just joked that, “maybe he was just dumb, since he’s a pretty bad coach.” It’s a fact Doc was playing a completely different rotation of guys together on Monday night than he usually does and kept the starters on the bench well into the 4th to keep their minutes down. That’s not to discredit the Sixers who won fair and square (which I openly said yesterday!) but you can’t deny that that was the case (and if you don’t watch the Celtics consistently enough to know their rotation, you should probably just not speak on the subject instead of just attacking me because you’d rather claim I’m an idiot than admit that a team that’s swept you every game til Monday’s and has nothing left to play for until the Playoffs start is thinking further ahead than one game against the Sixers, who will be swept by whoever they play in the first round.)
I donb’t know that he’s “definitely” a HOFer, but CWebb’s got a very good chance.
I think next year’s the year the Bobcats finally put it together and make a Playoff push (not necessarily making it, but at least being competitive.)
March 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
JA says:
I love Gooden’s beard. It’s like his war-paint. Think about if you were guarding him. How intimidating is that beard? You’d have to fight both him and his beard for every loose ball. You think you’d want that beard rubbing up against you in the scrum?
March 26th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Kobeef says:
Drew Gooden is carrying the Bulls to the playoffs (30 and 16 last night!!). You know, the Cavs could really use a low-post scoring machine like Drew Gooden……oh, wait.
This is horrible but the Hawks are looking destined to miss the playoffs. Bibby is hot and cold and so is the rest of the team. Last night Bibby was on but Marvelous couldn’t buy a shot…if they don’t make the playoffs the Suns get their lottery pick…so they are double screwed by the Bibby trade.
Could Dallas miss the playoffs? It could be decided in the next week.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Brown says:
Youngfed, why the hell are you calling him C-dubb? His nickname is C-Webb, and has been since his college days. You complain about Dime making up nicknames, yet you’re the worst one when it comes to that.
I’m not sure if Webber is a HOFer. He posted great numbers over his career, especially considering how little he’s produced in the past few seasons. He was the leader of one of the most storied teams in NCAA history and had a huge impact on the PF position. His influence is unquestionable, and if it was up to me he’d be in, but I’m not sure enough people would see it the way I do to get him in. He’s one of my favourite players of all time though.
David West is an all-star, maybe not a superstar (yet), but he’s easily the most uderrated player in the league.
Gooden and Stevenson should just end the bet now, shave their beards and both donate money to charity, I’m sure they can both afford it.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:08 am
YOUNGFED says:
Brown says: “why the hell are you calling him C-dubb? ”
Dude are you retarded, everyone calls him C-Dubb. Have you ever watch sports center or any of the Pistons GAMES. I didn’t make up C-Dubb but I did make up K-Hova and thats much better than “Tough Juice”.
Also if I gotta explain why he’s called C-Dubb that says it all right there.
NUFF SAID!!!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:11 am
fiyaman says:
C-webb wont be missed and isnt HOF material.. The main things u remember about Cweb are not the good things. His stupidity stands out more than his game.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:24 am
YOUNGFED says:
PS:
Some of yall is some real Whinny Lil Bitches. Stop Crying all the Damn TIME!!! Damn yall like the lil sister I never had or the ugly chick out the group thats always mad cuz they ain’t gettin none.
STOP BITCHIN’!!!!!!!!!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:42 am
jz_smoove says:
Webber does not deserve to be in the HOF. But, he will get in. he changed the game and the PF position. yeah i like him enough as a talent so i dont disagree with this.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am
djKianoosh says:
(Dime, been having issues with Firefox since yesterday.. but IE works fine)
yesterday’s poll got me thinking Phoenix vs Utah would be a really fantastic series. I hope it doesn’t happen in the first round though.
Utah and NO have been playing great most of the year. I hope they both make the second round… but the West right now is getting more intense and nothing is getting resolved. everybody’s winning at the same rate and we might go into April not knowing anything about how the seeds will shake out. so much fun.
First Houston, now Dallas wins without their main guy. It’s a mirage right? they can’t possibly win in the playoffs like this right?
March 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am
girlybballluver says:
what was that gooden bet about again? that he couldn’t go a whole season without shaving it or something like that?
March 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Steve M says:
It’s C-Webb Youngfed. I’ve never heard C-Dubb until today.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Sacto J says:
Hahaha - Feddy, u funny… It’s J-Dubb and C-Webb. What the hell the put in the water over your way ~ lmao. Fiyaman, you obviously inhaled 2 much smoke. If you ever watched C-Webb play before his injuries, you would understand. I understand if you’re east coast (though he did play for the Wiz…) Honestly, he stole the thunder from Kemp and made it his own, he beasted the Mailman into retirement, he was only stopped by a prime Shaq and Kobe. And I haven’t even started talking about his college career. The Fab 5 made NCAA relevent in the ’90s. You think people were enamored with Laetner and Hurley? Maybe Grant Hill, but come on… Laetner and Hurley barely made the L. Anyway, I don’t disagree that C-Webb (not C-Dubb) has his detractors (that means people who don’t think he deserves to get in) but he turned franchises around, and that’s the kind of thing that gets people into the HOF, not just championships and individual talents. I’d like to thank intelligence, diligence, and my HS B-ball coach for my excellent analysis and dissertation. Enjoy…..
March 26th, 2008 at 11:49 am
YOUNGFED says:
Oh nobody ever heard C-Dubb. Geesh, why am I even responding to this. I must this site fun, with all the responses I get.
To yall I say:
YAWWWWW!!!! BITCH YAAWWWWWWWW!!!!! LMAO
March 26th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
doc says:
C-Webb a HOFer in my opinion.He was one of the best PF’s the game has seen.If Bob Petit and them dudes is in C-Webb and his pirate-leg ass should make it.Celts the Sixers wont get swept yall not good enough for that.Boston still aint learn from the choking ass Patriots that the regular season dont mean shit.I seen teams in 6th place win the whole thing and Lebron gonna get the Celts out of here.Cassell washed up and yall think he the savior.He aint won shit since he was riding Keem coatails.Who since Shaqs Lakers or Mikes Bulls actually won the chip with the best record because I cant remember none.I cant wait until Game 7 against Bron and KG has the open 15 footer down 2 and throws the shit out of bound looking for a teamate just like he threw the shit away last week against NO.Send KG to the Wiz and yall might have a chance.Webb had a better career than that prick.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
rootsradical says:
Webber should get in just for his stay at Michigan. Whether he gets in as a pro is up for debate but you can’t argue about the Fab 5’s impact on the game.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Steve M says:
Youngfed, his restaurant in Sac is called “Center Court With C-Webb”. Google it if you don’t believe me.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
High Release says:
Nice Finding Forrester Reference! I use that all the time. Webber would be HOF if he maintained that peak Sac form for a few more years, but as it it…I don’t think so. Too journey man and too injured. On a more malicious note, let’s keep all mention of the lopez bitches to a hushed tone. Otherwise, some Awvee Storey treatment to the heads of robyn and his sister may prove to be irresistible.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
ML says:
I bet nobody anybody on Dime can grow Facial Hair. It’s like what 4 of you guys?
March 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
ML says:
I bet nobody on Dime can grow Facial Hair. It’s like what 4 of you guys?