I’ma Get Mine
Corey Maggette (photo. Tim Tadder)Part of my job in helping make Dime and DimeMag.com the best basketball magazine/website combo in the world involves watching as much basketball as possible without going crazy. But I can’t watch every game, and one NBA squad I’ll admit I haven’t seen much of over the past couple of years is the Clippers.
Blame it on the fact that they’re not good, or that there’s just an aesthetic factor — style of play, uniforms, court, comatose home crowds, etc. — that doesn’t do anything for me. Or maybe it’s just because I don’t have a strong connection to anyone on the team. (For example, even though the T-Wolves stink, having worked with Randy Foye and having read Ian O’Connor’s book The Jump about Sebastian Telfair gives me at least some interest in watching the occasional meaningless Minnesota game.)
But last night I sat down and really watched a Clippers game (versus New Orleans) for the first time in months, since an early-season contest they had with the Sonics. And over the course of the Hornets’ blowout, I found myself fascinated by Corey Maggette. Why? Because he NEVER passes the ball. Seriously, every time Maggette got the ball, if he wasn’t shooting, his first instinct was to look for a shot. Damn whatever play the Clips were supposed to run — as soon as Corey got the rock he was doing his own thing. It seemed he would only give it up when he’d exhausted the possibility of jacking up a shot, and even then would inevitably look to get the ball right back. When L.A. actually wanted to run plays and get some kind flow going, it was like they had to play Keep-Away from Corey. In 26 minutes off the bench, Maggette finished the night 2-for-11 from the field, making 10 trips to the line and scoring 13 points. (FYI, Corey can opt-out of his deal with L.A. this summer, so he’s essentially in a contract year.)
My editor Pat and I often talk about guys who we’d hate to play ball with: be it the ones who only pass when they absolutely have to, or the ones who don’t play defense, or the ones who bring an offense to a screeching halt because they’re more concerned with their own numbers. After last night, Maggette was looking like a candidate. Who makes that list for you?
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April 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
evan says:
I think most people that we’re going to name are shoot-first players like Maggette, Steph, etc. For me it’s definitely Carlos Arroyo.
As a Magic fan, I “get” to see him play all of the time and when he doesn’t have the P.R. jersey on, he generally stinks. Errant passes when teammates aren’t looking, screwing up the fast break tempo, lots of runners/leaners.
You can tell I’m hoping he gets traded this summer.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
control says:
AI and Melo…Any team with them and it would be almost like the Fresh Prince’s “Pass it to Will” play book…
April 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Juanito says:
Rashad McCants
Jarvis Hayes (although he makes occasional efforts to pass)
Flip Murray
April 16th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Jim says:
Blount. Big man who doesn’t D or screen and shoots 3s all the time, leaving his man in the paint to mess with weakside.
And the best part about people getting numbers in a pick up run…they are the only ones keeping track. “I got 7!” And now you got to wait.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
control says:
I gotta throw TJ Ford on the list as well. Since he got his block knocked off from Al Thorton, he’s been the most selfish guy in the league. If you have Chris Bosh on your team, your first and second priorities are “get the ball to Chris Bosh” and “get the fucking ball to Chris Bosh”. With Toronto’s good shooters, there’s no reason not to average 10 assists EASY.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
GEE...Life imitates art and art imitates....Deeeezzz nutzzz! says:
Dikembe has a history of not passing. Leon Powe = If you pass it, don’t really expect to get it back either.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Logan Light says:
I could never play with Stephen Jackson… NO DEFENSE and a knack for throwing up the illadvised 3. OH, I forgot to mention that “incredible” no-look pass that he tosses from time to time. You know where he watches the cutter all the way down the court and then starts his pass only to look away at the last minute? Yeah, he’s got skills. ARG.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Logan — That would be the “Rainier Beach No-Look Pass.” I was living in Seattle when Rodrick Stewart (Kansas) and Lodrick Stewart (USC) were playing at Rainier Beach High School, preceded by Nate Robinson and succeeded by Terrence Williams (Louisville). Those guys perfected the “Look at the man until the last possible second, pass, then look away/spin away real fast” dish, and the fans (and announcers if the game was on TV) fell for it all the time.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
sans says:
Earl Boykins. On the playground know one can touch him. Eventually, it goes three….three….three….three…whether guarded or not.
Nate Robinson. guaranteed to try and dunk on everyone all day. also guaranteed to bring the ball up all day to.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Chuck says:
I don’t believe anyone here hasn’t named Zach Randolph.
Stephen Jackson is off the chain too.
I can’t agree with the Melo statement though. I think he shoots because he honestly has the advantage on his defender every game, he can post you up, shoot over you, too quick for most small forwards. I mean dude is the truth.
Gilbert Arenas -OMG, dude wouldn’t pass the ball if it was on fire, I mean, he can shoot, but he’s streaky, and he doesn’t stop shooting even if he’s missing.
Ron Artest- This dude thinks he’s better than he actually is on the offensive end. He shoots 38 percent from the arc and he doesn’t hesitate to jack a 3 like he’s Jason Kapoono or something.
B-Diddy jacks a lot of shots too.
But the player I would most hate to play pickup ball with is Jamal Crawford. Dude a jack some shots!!
April 16th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
Michael Redd. He seems to love to play the “let’s see if I can go 1 on 5″ game and also the “let’s dribble for 8 seconds and jack an off balance long two” game.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
johng says:
CARMELO is the Biggest Gunner. Since he came in the league . I don’t think he knows how to pass. He is so Confident at times…he shoot over two players or charge the lane when 3 people are under the basket.. Biggest gunner in History. Watch him play once. IT a black hole when he get’s the ball
April 16th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
daquest?on says:
@evan:
first of all carlos arroyo doesnt suck, when he gets significant minutes he plays better than jameer, in fact he plays so little because he doesnt get very well with stan van gundy and otis smith(the gm) overpaid nelson and he doesnt want to look like a fool plus check carlos arroyos stats..he passes pretty well i might add plus dime had a segment about players who are better than u think and he was in that segment
well the players id hate to play with are:
Ricky Buckets: hes a loser and his name says it all
kobe bryant: hes selfish
darko: he just sucks
kwame: see darko
tj ford: nobody wants him
April 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
daquest?on says:
i forgot agent zeo that man simply never learned what an assist is plus hes supposed to be a point guard..
April 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
James says:
JR Smith would be a bad one- he is always looking for his
Rasheed Wallace would be antother one
April 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
evan says:
@daquest?on : My contention with Arroyo is not necessarily reflected by numbers, but his interaction with teammates. He doesn’t have any type of rhythm or sync with the other players and that’s what leads to his inefficiency. Errant passes happen because he tries to get the ball out too quickly or too late, he doesn’t pace the fast break and ends up with a jumper as his teammates get too far ahead and I can’t say that anyone likes him on the Magic.
On the playground, I know that big men are going to get the ball and there’s not much you can do to get the ball back if they don’t want to pass. With Arroyo, or other guards, I never want to play with someone that you don’t know what’s coming.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
everybody
they all just trying to get stats. all of em. some are looking for defensive stats; most looking for offensive stats.
but they all gunning for they own
all of em
April 16th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Steven says:
James,
Are serious with Rasheed? He has the opposite problem- he over-passes when he should be a more aggressive shooter.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Jams says:
From time to time, Ronron would not pass a kidney stone even when his a** was open. I know Eddie Curry can’t pass an open book SAT exam. Smush Parker wants to replace the jewish “Passover” with a “Shootover” celebration. Tim Thomas would not pass the tray around at the family Thanks giving dinner. Peja refused to touch his passport insisting he is a shooter and not a point guard. When Ricky Davis informed that passed his drivers Ed class and he started laughing, he knew it could not true, he would never pass anything regardless of the need. Arenas was told to go pass the open door, he went past the door and shut it. Bonzi Wells saw someone open and passed to himself in the mirror. Jason Williams was reading a book and saw the word “overpass” and nodded to himself, he was not alone in this world.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
control says:
I wouldn’t want to play with anyone from the Knicks except maybe Renaldo Balkman and David Lee.
Fat Zach is a slug, and I’d probabaly throw up watching that guy destroy a box of doughnuts. I bet him and Jerome James have some sick ass eating contests.
Marbury is an absolute crazy bastard, he’d probably try to molest my daughter or something.
Nate Dawg is the personification of “little man complex”, guy probably walks around beating his chest if you make eye contact.
Jamal Crawford is one of the most overrated gunners in the league, he really isn’t that good and he makes more bad choices than he does good.
You’d have to count your fingers after shaking Isiah’s hand…
Don’t get me wrong though, if the Knicks offered me a minimum salary contract, I would sign it in an instant.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
damn right. fuck the knicks and everything ny
that place is just a city mecca of rats n roaches
April 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
JHov says:
You could throw Kevin Durant on this list too! I understand dude is a newbie but come on KD draw the double and kick it out! A.I. only gets assist because his guys run but in the half court 9 times out 10 he’s gonna jack it up! AgentArenas actually seems to be turning the corner since he returned..he gives the ball up freely lately! Ricky Buckets is the worse if you pass him the ball..just start running back on D cause its going up!
April 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
ERIC says:
dont rag on steph and say he doesnt pass – he’s avg 8apg for his career. he’s like tim hardaway
April 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
daquest?on says:
i also 4got.. i would hate 2 play with all of the players on the knicks roster
April 16th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
daquest?on says:
@evan that might b so but the team has a better winning percentage when carlos arroyo starts or plays significant minutes
April 16th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
word says:
Ben Gordon
April 16th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
James says:
steven sheed mixes it up every night- if he starts off firing he is going to shoot and a lot- especially three pointers- add J-Terry to the list
April 16th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
I saw T-Mac put up a fade away jumper on a 3on1 break, and that was enough for me.
Buckets
Melo/AI/Smith-Im so happy the Lakers got them in round 1
Ben Wallace- Such a liabilty on offense, defense is fading
JJ “all I can do is shoot, so set me a screen” Reddick
Bowen-See Ben wallace+ he’s dirty
Gerald Green- oooooh that was a low blow…
April 16th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
hotdog says:
@daquest?on: sadly arroyo does suck coz he’s the MJ in PR. In the NBA he backs up Jameer “Inconsistent” Nelson so every time he steps in the court it’s like he needs to prove he’s better than Jameer. If he plays his game the way he should be like attacking the pick and roll with not just his jump shot he can really be an effective player.
I wouldn’t want to play with Ron Artest, he scares the hell out of me.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
daquest?on says:
i somewhat agree with u hot dog, i aint saying hes a super star or that hes going to be a super star im just saying that he doesnt suck and hes a decent player h and btw GOOOOOOOOOOO DENVERR!!
April 17th, 2008 at 1:24 am
nick says:
mo williams seems to be a ball hog.
eddy curry as well, its like a black hole once that ball goes in the post its not coming back out.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:27 am
bookkwormmaster says:
I think the player I would hate to play with the most is either Zach Randolph or Eddy Curry of the Knicks. Randolph is a selfish ball-hogging player who is always screaming at his teammates to give him the ball and when he gets its ALWAYS looks to score as opposed to looking for better scoring opportunities for himself or teammates. He also is one of those players who doesn’t look to give the ball up unless he absolutely has to and even when he does its a quick pass out and then he’s screaming for it again. Plus he is a horrible defensive player. I say Eddy Curry too because of the fact that dude is one of the most talented bigs in the game offensively but like Zach is a horrible defender and is softer than marshmellows. There’s nothing worse as a basketball player than playing with a soft ass big man who can’t rebound or block shots. At least Randolph can board gotta give him that much
April 17th, 2008 at 4:17 am
doc says:
Willie Green
April 17th, 2008 at 5:53 am
ngoogs says:
Big Z. dude is a blackhole.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Nautic says:
Kobe is a team player along with Starbury, T-Mac, Arenas, Iverson, and Carmelo…. They just expect you to be as good as they are and thus earn the ball and their trust. Why should they pass just cause your open? If you suck but your open, they’ll pass a couple times and if you do well, you’ll get it. If you mess up, your not gonna get it, especially when games are on the line…..Example: how many times were Kwame or Haywood or Ben Wallace be open out of their comfort zone, and on the floor when a game is on the line? Quite often most likely….how many times are they gonna get the ball in that situation when they make 1 of 5 or 2 of 8 shots or something like that…0 I’d rather have my best player take a tough shot, and win the game or lose the game, than give an offensively challenged player the ball when open to take the winning shot. Besides, if the player misses an open/easy shot, you’d get more pissed at that, than having your all-star ignore an offensively challenged teammate and take a tough shot and lose the game…besides…Would you want Ben Wallace or Kwame or whoever to take a 3 with a game on the line even if they are open…..nope. Thoughts?? Even Jordan wouldnt pass to those 2 with the game on the line and would rather take a shot himself over 2-3 defenders instead.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am
marcus says:
Rudy Gay
April 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am
dave says:
ANTOINE WALKER
April 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Tom S. says:
Larry Hughes. The guys can’t shoot, but he continues to pull up for 20 footers that brick off the rim. Plus, he’s admitted that he doesn’t care about winning, that he’d rather “have fun”. Which I guess means being a world-class bricklayer.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
sad but true says:
If you had a team with Ricky Davis, Nate Robinson, Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph and Yinka Dare, they would set the records for fewest assists in a game, season, everything. You could call the team – NoPassAtAll.
“Gotta Get Mine” would take the place of names on all their jersey’s.
..and they’d still pull in 75M – f***ing sad.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Kevin C. says:
Ok Ok…. everyone has a valid point, but there is ONE player in the league who is out for theirs everytime they get the ball. Yea, he may have double doubles occasionally but I dont think I’ve ever seen this guy get over 5 assists in a game…and Its understandable b/c when he gets the ball he JACKS…Antwan Jamison. You see some of the wild shots he takes (so what if they fall) he gets stuck and when he COULD pass, he flips the ball to the bucket… I’ve seen him on TV and several games @ the Verizon Center and I’ve gained a following once I point it out…check him out for yourselves and see what I mean!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Ian says:
arenas
melo
walker
any knick
iverson
kobe
jr smith
but ARENAS AND MELO ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
April 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am
sad but true says:
when Arenas and Melo step off the plane they’re both yelling “I’m open”!!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Big Freeze says:
I would never want to play w Matt Bonner. Not only is he sorry, but his red hair freaks me out.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Don Mega says:
TJ FORD is the worst .
April 17th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
KobeBUCKETS 08 says:
IMMA DO ME. MMMIIIIIIINNNNNNEEEE.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
CP3ForMVP says:
1) Antoine Walker (I saw the dude miss 7 threes in a row, in 7 straight possesions, without hittin rim once)
2) Mike James (He must think passing will give him some kind of STD, thus shooting is his safe sex)