Deron Williams (photo. Monte Isom)Of all the Chris Paul vs. Deron Williams head-to-heads we have seen and will see over the years, last night’s won’t exactly go down in history. The Jazz got the win — which has kind of been the norm in the series so far — clinching the Northwest Division and proving to themselves they can beat a quality team on the road. From an individual standpoint, neither point guard played great. Deron had 4 points (2-for-11 FGs), 16 dimes, and 6 turnovers, while CP had 4 points (2-for-11 FGs), 9 assists, 3 turnovers and 3 steals. The standouts were actually two guys on the Rafer Alston Memorial “Superstars on Their Team But Not in General” squad: Mehmet Okur (22 pts, 17 rebs) and David West (14 pts). West started out on-fire, raining jumpers in Memo and Carlos Boozer’s faces, but pretty much disappeared in the second half … The Jazz really took the air out of the building in the last 30 seconds of the third quarter. Already up by a dozen, Paul Millsap went sky-high to tip in a Boozer miss; one Hornets announcer called the play “remarkable,” while the other snapped back, “What’s remarkable is that no one boxed him out.” Then Utah got a defensive stop, after which Ronnie Price knocked down a jumper. Millsap then stole the inbounds pass and laid it in, and the next thing you knew, the lead was 18 going into the fourth … One of CP’s better moments came in the second half, when he got out in front of a 3-on-1 break. Realizing he had Mo Pete and Peja running the wings, Chris slowed down just enough to allow them to catch up but for the group to remain in transition, then bought Peja an extra step by giving a head-fake towards Mo Pete before feeding Peja for a layup. That’s how you run the break. Sherron Collins should watch Chris Paul tapes all summer, because he could be a nasty point guard if he learns to get his speed under control … One of the Hornets announcers called West one of the best mid-range shooters in the game. Not just among bigs, but one of the best, period. Do you agree? We do know that, in his own Robert Horry kind of way, West is high on the list of guys we’d want taking a mid-range shot with the game on the line … We said it in this week’s NBA Hit List Power Ranking: the struggling Warriors need Baron Davis to carry them to some wins as they vie for a playoff spot. Dropping 33 points and 9 dimes on the Kings yesterday was a good start for Boom. The Warriors in general had some bounce back in their step while dumping 140 points on Sacto … Forget what he did in last year’s playoffs; Matt Barnes‘ ongoing stint in Nellie’s doghouse isn’t ending anytime soon. Barnes played less than 30 seconds last night. D-League call-up C.J. Watson and Patrick O’Bryant (who was just recalled from the D-League on Tuesday morning and played with the Warriors on Tuesday night) got more tick than Barnes. Just when we thought the career journeyman had found a home, now it’s all but certain he’ll be on another team this summer … The Nuggets and Mavs also took care of business last night. Denver blew out the Clippers behind Carmelo’s 36 points, while Dallas held off the Sonics behind Jason Terry’s 22 … Wasn’t it only two years ago when the Clippers beat the Nuggets in the playoffs? Doesn’t it seem more like five years ago? Both teams had so much promise back then — and if you’d told us Denver would add Allen Iverson to the mix the next season, we would have predicted right there they’d be a serious Western Conference contender. And the Clippers? That one year of success now seems like a cruel joke someone was playing on their fanbase. They’re probably losing Elton Brand this summer, Chris Kaman is showing signs of being a can’t-stay-healthy tease, we’re not even sure if Shaun Livingston is going to play again, and even if Corey Maggette sticks around, he’s turning into Ricky Davis … Some of the Dime crew has been in Portland this week for Nike’s Beijing ‘08 Innovation Summit. In addition to spending some time with Kobe and getting a look at some of Nike’s upcoming product, we got to check out the Blazers/Lakers game from a suite with our friends at the Swoosh. In front of a rabid Rose Garden crowd, Brandon Roy (23 pts, 12 asts) delivered some daggers to take down the always-hated Lake Show, nullifying Kobe’s 34-point performance … While it’s great to catch a pro game somewhere other than often-depressing Madison Square Garden, and it was definitely weird seeing two decent teams going at it, the whole Rose Garden experience was a little much. Tons of techno during the game, constant sound effects, things flashing everywhere, and by the time the first quarter was over they’d already had like three or four fan contests. (E-mail from Austin: “That’s better than KeyArena in Seattle, where they’ve taken a ‘Talk amongst yourselves’ approach to creating gameday atmosphere.”) As someone in our group put it, “I’m kind of freaking out in here. It’s like an LSD trip or something.” … With Joel Przybilla out for the rest of the season with a broken hand, Channing Frye is the starting center. Whenever Frye (22 pts, 11 rebs) did something yesterday, the scoreboard lit up with the words “C Money.” Being real generous with the nicknames, are we? … At least Isiah Thomas finally got to smile this season. Before the Knicks/Pistons game at The Palace, the Pistons unveiled its 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, which included Zeke, Dave Bing, Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, Joe Dumars, Grant Hill, Bob Lanier, Jerry Stackhouse and Ben Wallace, among others, along with present-day Pistons Chauncey, Rip, Rasheed, Tayshaun and Lindsey Hunter. When you put Isiah next to all the former Bad Boys, he’s by far the most in-shape. Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, Rick Mahorn and crew are looking rather rotund these days … Yes, Dennis Rodman did make the squad. And to no one’s surprise, he didn’t show up. During Isiah’s speech he said, “Worm, wherever you are, you’ve got to come home.” … Then after the pre-game celebration, Isiah’s Knicks went out and actually beat a pretty-much intact Detroit team. It was 100% the high point of Isiah’s season. In fact, he should have just announced his retirement right there on The Palace floor after the game and avoided getting axed by Donnie Walsh … Few people watched and no one cared (not even fantasy hoopheads, most of whom are done for the year), but Al Jefferson dropped 40 points on the Bobcats in a loss … Triple-double for Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee’s loss to the Celtics: 15 points, 15 boards, 10 turnovers … The Tennessee Lady Vols beat Stanford to claim their second straight national championship, Pat Summitt’s eighth ‘chip and a fitting capper on the college career of Candace Parker (17 pts, 9 rebs, 4 stls). The game’s most critical sequence came in the first half, when Stanford was struggling with Tennessee’s trapping defense and unable to get good shots, but still in position to make it a ballgame. Down by eight, the Cardinal finally solved the press and had an easy look in the paint, except they missed a gimme layup. That led to UT’s Shannon Bobbitt (13 pts) hitting a three on the other end, putting the Lady Vols up by 11 and effectively ending Stanford’s biggest threat … In the second half, UT freshman Vicky Baugh, who is supposed to be Parker’s heir apparent, went up for a layup and blew out her knee coming down. After Summitt and the trainers helped Baugh up to her feet before carrying her off, Baugh looked over at her teammates and started screaming, “LET’S GO, Y’ALL! LET’S GO!” There was no way Tennessee was losing after that. When they brought Baugh back to the bench sporting crutches, she got a standing ovation … In the aftermath of Alexis Hornbuckle’s game-winning putback in the Final Four, no one really talked about Nicky Anosike, who missed the layup leading to Hornbuckle’s shot. (Anosike was the one hugging Hornbuckle afterwards and telling her “Thank you” over and over again.) Last night Anosike was one of the best players on the floor, putting up 12 points, 8 boards and 6 steals. Good for her to go out on a positive note after a potential disaster … Yesterday morning, Dime’s Editorial Assistant, Andrew Katz, took part in a tryout for the new season of “Slamball,” the trampoline/basketball hybrid that debuted a few years ago. Check out Andrew’s Slamball diary of his first day — after which he was invited to the next round of tryouts in Florida this week … We’re out like Matt Barnes …
April 9th, 2008 at 3:25 am
Baller ryan says:
first bitches 305
April 9th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Baller ryan says:
Wade, Marion, rose/beasley, 2009 eastern conference champions. Stuckey sux
April 9th, 2008 at 4:04 am
What is this!? says:
For the last time, the Nuggets need a damn coach..sh*t! LOL!! Get them a new Coach with a half way decent defensive plan and problem solved. Had Denver won 5 or 6 games they gave away and should have won they would be sitting on top of the West right now and no one would have anything to say, so lets stop frontin’. Get them a new Coach with a new concept and they will be fine.
Also, the Jazz seem like they have had CP3’s number this year and have figured that Hornets team out…the Hornets better hope they don’t face the Jazz in the playoffs if either makes it out the first round.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Willis says:
speaking of rivalrys
Kevin Martin and Monta Ellis is turning into a mini-one.
They were going at it back and forth in the 1st quarter, but K$ won this time out. 29 points on 12 shots? ridiculous. So for all the haters that said Monta would ice Kevin in that 1-on-1 thing, pay some more attention. Quite honestly, they are matched in terms of quickness, and Kevin can do a little more with the ball, but Montas handles are better. So I like what that is turning into.
As far as the Warriors go, even if they do get the 8th spot they aren’t doing ANYTHING against anybody who is a top seed. They barely beat the Kings and they had to get 140 to do it. Also, Nellie is an asshat. Harrington is a teenage mutant ninja turtle. CJ Watson looks like a baby Jay Z.
Also, what the over/under for points combined between Denver and GS on Thursday? I think they may go Sparta style and get 300.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Borgs says:
Defense is as much a mindset as anything else, so it doesn’t matter who the Nuggets coach is, he won’t get them to win regularly with shot-happy, sticky-fingered, one-ended players like ‘Melo, AI and JR Smith. For goodness sake, their starting PG is Anthony Carter - how far do you think that takes you in the NBA?! It’ll never happen for Denver as they are now constituted.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:03 am
karan says:
firstly, the comment on neither pg playing great in the deron vs. CP3 matchup the BS… deron had 16 dimes (SIXTEEN!) and led his team to victory against the best team against the west.. so he had a bad shooting night, but he held CP3 to a bad night too… i’d call that a good game..
secondly… i think isiah is playing a sick joke on the world.. the knicks play like the worst team in the world all season, and the noose on his neck gets tighther… and just when teh donnie walsh signing makes it inevitable that he’ll get fired, he goes along and beats the magic (east #3) and the pistons (east #2) in consecutive games, making walsh rethink again.
FIRE ISIAH!
April 9th, 2008 at 6:12 am
GayforRudy says:
Hmm Karan… a “noose” around Isiah’s neck huh? Interesting choice of words there.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:45 am
K Dizzle says:
Pargo crossin up Korver was nasty as well as Granger and Pietrus’ volleyball spike blocks
April 9th, 2008 at 7:42 am
rangerjohn says:
just wondering where the pistons fans are
“deeeeetttttrooooooooiiiiiittttt ……………………..” silence.
lmao stucky for 3rd string no nba team
April 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Tux says:
Dennis Rodman was last seen in Australia of all places. No doubt getting his fill of Ozzie Poontang.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am
GEE...What up 901, Da N.H., The Burn, The Conglomerate and Ch's. 16 all day! says:
First off Houston Up!
K-Dizz Pargo did catch him nasty, froze dude like Sub-Zero and nailed the shot.
Anyway this is just pretty much like West on West crimes.
Cause this whole battle for positions got the roll players even going hard.
So in light of that props to whoever made the schedule this year, thus helping the Rockets get not only a 22 game winning streak but also make the playoffs. The schedule guy(s) needs a raise for real.
Oh yea and the Rockets will get out the first round this year. It’s not a point I am going to argue or debate, I am just going to keep saying it, they will beat whoever they play.
Kobe and I will both be bringing out new shoes Thur. for a game. He gone bring his cable joints, and I am busting out the GEE2’s (just some custom shoes I got online from RBK). We’ll see who has more points at the end of the night. Prolly Kobe lol.
Anyway in a good mood today because each night it’s like you got some teams that really have to go at it. You know usually by now all seeding has already been done, so teams rest stars and play lazy and bench guys get all these minutes. So it’s good to still see stars playing and going at it.
It’s funny cause everytime I see the Denver Nuggs (I still say Nuggets would be the ladies) playing I am expecting them to lose because they just let everyone score. I am sorry but coaching would make a difference, not necessarily a 359 degree turn-around but certainly a change. If you gone blame their lack of defense on the players totally then why even have a coach? They should be having a rally in Denver to get G.K. gone! He on the hot seat anyway according to ESPN. They say if dude don’t at least make 2nd round, it might be a wrap and that is IF they even make it.
just thinking, how would the game change if they took away 1 foul from the total that players get before they our out the game. I am thinking the game gets way more serious and you have way more complaints about refs. and their calls. Also what about giving coaches a flag they can throw to dispute a play like in football, this might be key in crucial moments when refs make bad calls. I most def. think they should take that three-point line out some more. Finally take that shot clock down about 5 seconds.
All of these suggestions are reasons why I will never be an NBA commisioner. I still think some of them would work.
Houuuuuusssssssttooonnnn!
April 9th, 2008 at 8:01 am
GEE...What up 901, Da N.H., The Burn, The Conglomerate and Ch's. 16 all day! says:
LOL Ranger I forgot that. YOUNGFED WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!
How ya boys gone take that L?
He might be a no show today.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Amar says:
no mention of deron’s two hander, ak47’s improving play, or the fact that utah held the spurs to 64 and hornets to 66 in consequitive games? i aint mad at cha . . . youll have to write about them for a few rounds after tmac is bounced from the playoffs again.
utah can score with anyone and play d against anyone. even on the road with home cooking refs limiting utah to a grand total o 5 foul shots for the game.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Amar says:
in three seasons cp has 2 wins against deron, and deron has 8 wins vs. cp3. when was the last time a great player and media darling was owned 80 percent of the time by his chief rival?
kj and stockton? admiral and hakeem? larry bird and chuck person? dime should do a piece on this . . .
April 9th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Logan Light says:
Amar is right. Deron’s throwdown was nice… even if it was one of the only buckets he picked up.
Karan: He had 16 assists… but 6 turnovers too. Not saying he didn’t play well, but you and I both know that Deron has better in him for sure.
Gee: That is Hilarious… can you imagine George Karl with a challenge flag? I can see him throwing it after an uncontested layup and saying, “That shouldn’t count, my guys were supposed to play defense!”
Has anyone seen THIS VIDEO posted for Horford’s rookie of the year campaign? Incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KirH_9lkew
Hahaha…
April 9th, 2008 at 10:34 am
for real says:
Am I on the DAME website?
I could have sworn there was a mention of women’s basketball. That just ain’t right
April 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Amar says:
i’ve been keeping an excel spreadsheet on deron and cp3, and over their entire career against each other deron is beating him.
anyway, i’m on the kobe for MVP bandwaggon now. some other guys had a similar idea to mine: http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2008/04/if-cp3-is-mvp-t.html
April 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
SAS Sizzle says:
Check out D-Will’s gold AND silver necklaces, just in case Jesus prefers one precious metal cross over the other or something
April 9th, 2008 at 11:30 am
SAS Sizzle says:
wait maybe that is diamonds
April 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Jim says:
I know nobody mentioned this, but looking at the standings now, isn’t the 4th seed the second most desirable seed right now? Utah gets Houston, instead of Dallas or Phoenix, and then gets NO in the 2nd round, instead of whoever makes it out of the LA/SA/Dallas/Pho bloodbaths. Getting to the Conf. Finals out of the 2/3/6/7 seeds is going to be insane.
I’m not disrespecting Houston or NO, but I assume most teams would rather have them than any of the 2/3/6/7 teams when they roll the playoff ball out there.
Maybe I’m just saying this as a Spurs fan, because we all know Mavs are a bad matchup for them…what’s that? They traded Harris and Diop? Oh…
April 9th, 2008 at 11:55 am
yallallreadyknow says:
jim
good point(s). havent thought about it that way.
see folks….this is what we need on this board. insightfulness. not all that bitchassness most of yall bring to the forum
April 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
GEE...What up 901, Da N.H., The Burn, The Conglomerate and Ch's. 16 all day! says:
Jim that is a good point, but just to throw this in. It’s not written in stone that Houston will remain in that spot. With the way the west is beating up on each other they could go up by default or down because of losing some games they should win.
Still your point is taken and good.
Houston gone beat whoever they play first round though, Imma keep saying that regardless!
Watch this.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Amar says:
the best chance for utah to get to the west finals (again) is to play houston in the 1st round (with or without homecourt), and then play the hornets in the second. Dwill is in CP3’s head. So, please hornets, win the rest of your games — esp the big game against the lakers coming up. Do it for utah, as a thank you for not drafting you.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
word says:
in other news the heat beat the bulls to which the bulls announcers depressingly couldn’t believe and began calling miami a group of midgets.
utah announcers thought last night was a playoff game going off about how everyone underestimates them but they are good as the top teams which i have to agree they could pull off some huge upsets
joke of the day: kevin love claims to rap.. really now.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
What is this!? says:
Borgs…regardless if playing defense is a “mindset” or not, that team needs a new Coach with a new concept. Anyone with half a brain can look at that team and tell that they are not being utilized right. Saying they can not work the way that team is constructed is a cop out…considering the fact that they have almost 50 wins this year. Like I said, get them a new Coach with a decent defensive mindset (which Karl has never had) and watch what happens.
I have seen that Nuggets team beat San Antonio at their own game (defensively) and turn around and beat the Suns at their game (offensively). So its not like Denver is unable to play defense and don’t have the tools to do so. That “mindset” you speak of also starts with the Coach. Coach Pop, Larry Brown and Van Gundy all have defensive mindsets, therefor their teams mirrors them. Attitudes reflect leadership. Denver has been very inconsistant this year because Karl is very lackluster himself. The right Coach for the right team can change a good team into great.
Denver is a good team with too much talent to just sit around and waste. Sure you can blame the players for missing their shots or sometimes defensive assignments, but you can not blame the players for questionable substitutions or timely timeouts, thats the Coaches Job. I have sat back this season and watch Coach Karl get out coached by almost every Coach in the league. Like “gee” said, why even have a Coach if you are just going to blame the players for everything? The Nuggets have been 1 and done in the playoffs for four years (since Carmelo came)…they aquire Iverson…they are still one and done, the constant here is Karl. Coach Karl is a good Coach, just not the right Coach for that team at this point. They need a more hard nosed Coach. Its time for them to move on.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
rangerjohn says:
when exactly did the nuggets out DEFENSE the spurs again?
April 9th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
what is this
“….attitude reflects leadership…captain”
classic. remember the titans.
excellent reference
April 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
RonNation 801 supsup says:
most of dwill8 to’s came in like a 3 minute span where he tried to go And 1 and made like 2 jump passes over okurs head. other than that he was money.
also how does him splitting 2 defenders and then throwing it down not make it to nba tv top 10 lordeeeeee.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
What is this!? says:
#26 rangerjohn, the Nuggets have beat the Spurs this year twice (nearly three times) playing their style and on defensive stops. They held the Spurs to 77 pts in one game and held them to 96 pts while still being able to score above their average (they scored 109 pts that game) in the other…do your research before responding. People should stop being “sheeple” and listening to whatever the media has to tell them and just use your eyes, the Nuggets have the capability to play defense against anyone…its just about them applying themselves night in and night out. But, yes, they have actually played the Spurs very well this year. They are not on the Spurs level when it comes to defense, not many teams are…and they don’t need to. But if they at least applied that same effort 50% of the time as they do on offense the Nuggets would be sitting pretty right now…they have the capability to do so.
@yallallreadyknow….you know whats up!! That comment is the perfect situation for the Nuggets right now. And I love that Movie…to bad the Nuggets don’t have Denzel as the Coach. LMAO!!
April 9th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
rangerjohn says:
excuse me “whatisthis”
but while your correct they did beat the spurs 80-77 the spurs where not beaten on “D” but by pour shooting due to 2 of their best shooters being out, (manu and barry neither played that game)spurs had only 8 turnovers to 13 for the nuggets, and that game was not lost on d it was lost on the foul line (nuggets fouled 3 more times and gave up 10 more freethrows which the spurs missed making only 17 of 27)
as for your other denver win you speak of, how could you even closely consider that defense, spurs scored a little higher then their average (2 points more) and shot 50% where is the D in that?
so before you start calling people sheeple you should FINISH the research before you go posting it.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
rangerjohn says:
AND BOOM GOES THE DYNOMITE!
April 9th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
What is this!? says:
They beat the Spurs before with Manu and Barry…so whats your point? That close game that the Nuggets had against the Spurs came down to defensive possesions, period. Denver did something they act as if they can only do in a blue moon… and that is make the proper stops in the 4th. All that “turnover” and “freethrow” nonsense you are speaking of is irrevent…because no one was ever talking about that. We were talking about defense.
And have not scored over their average against the Spurs in some games? Doesn’t that happen in the NBA everyday? Doesn’t mean they are not playing defense. You are missing the entire point of my post…and that is that people act as if the Nuggets are incapible of playing defense and I said they have had some good showings in games where they have been able to play it very effectively. So its not that the players can’t play defense, its just that they sometimes seem to lack the discipline it takes to play it night in and night out and they also seem to be completely lost on it at times with the defensive schemes…or lack there of. Some of that can come from the individual players, yes, but that also discipline also starts with Coaching…that was the point.
Before you go ranting and raving about the Spurs…Tim Duncan is my favorite player, so I probably watch that team just as close as you do. Next time, take time out to read a comment and understand it before calling out irrelevent info. Thanks for the unnecessary commentary…”AND BOOM GOES THE DYNOMITE”…next!
April 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
rangerjohn says:
yes they beat the spurs with manu (no barry, he was out in la la land on a “break”) and that game the spurs shot 50%
and for someone who thinks they know so much, turnovers and freethrows ARE DIRECT REFLECTION OF DEFENCE, in other words (for the layman) defence causes turnovers (this is why the spurs, detroit, boston and houston all lead the league in opp turnovers) and fouling is not good defence it is “an attempt” to defense but is not to be confused with defence.
nobody said the nuggets where “incapable” of playing d just that they do not.
and at least we have ONE thing in common, duncan is my fav as well.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
doc says:
I dont know if its just me but I watched Camdace Parker game yesterday and for her to be the best girl ever she dosen’t really wow you with anything as far as dribble jumpshot shit like that.Give me Diana.