Dirk Nowitzki, Dime #32Kicking off the last weekend of play in the Vegas Summer League, the Knicks were without Nate Robinson (day off) and Danilo Gallinari (back). That left Wilson Chandler free to score 31 points and pull down 12 boards in a win over Phoenix, which included some ice-water shots down the stretch. If Wilson ends up being a solid pro, that’s at least one bright spot on Isiah Thomas‘ Knicks legacy … Mike D’Antoni was interviewed during the game. We can’t pinpoint it, but he had this uneasy vibe about him the whole time, like a kid who knows he’s in trouble once Mom and Dad get home, but he’s still trying to sound hard even though he’s really terrified. In this case, we can assume “Mom and Dad” is “the NBA season.” Maybe he was just nervous or out of sorts (it’s like 105 degrees in Vegas right now), but it was noticeable. D’Antoni also admitted it was kind of strange watching the Suns play. Makes sense, considering that Alando Tucker (19 pts) and D.J. Strawberry (21 pts) were doing most of the damage, and D’Antoni probably doesn’t recognize either one … Strawberry has been particularly good this summer, and his offense has improved. Terry Porter should give him a long look in training camp; he could be an effective backup for Steve Nash, a change-of-pace guy who will actually guard opposing point guards … For most of the first half, the announcers kept calling Phoenix big man Vladimir Golubovic (a rookie from Serbia) “Rod Benson.” Nevermind that Benson is Black and plays for an entirely different team (Toronto). Anyone could have made that mistake … Quincy Douby torched the Warriors for 36 points and Jason Thompson posted a 20-10 line in Sacto’s win … Andray Blatche went for 22 and nine boards in Washington’s win over Cleveland. Tractor Traylor had five points and eight rebounds, while the Original LeBron-aires — Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce — saw the floor for a combined 2:30 … With Rodney Stuckey and D.J. Augustin out, Pistons/Bobcats didn’t have much marquee appeal. Starting in Stuckey’s place, Will Bynum had 16 in Detroit’s win. Mustafa Shakur (8 pts, 4 asts, 6 turnovers) took D.J.’s spot … Who said Joey Dorsey can’t score? He dropped 22 points along with 12 boards, but his Rockets lost to Denver in OT … Yesterday on DimeMag.com we debuted a new series: “The Loser List.” Why is it that some ballplayers always seem to be on bad teams? Why will some guys retire without sniffing a championship ring? We’re looking at the League’s anti-Jordans and anti-Duncans. First up to the plate? Vince Carter … Don’t know if it was because of, in spite of, or had nothing to do with the Sam Dalembert drama, but Team Canada got waxed by Croatia in the Olympic qualifying tournament quarterfinals. The only names on the Croatian roster most of you will recognize are ex-Net Zoran Planinic — who came off the bench for six points and three dimes — and Raptors ‘08 draft pick Roko Ukic, who had three points, three steals and five boards … Dirk Nowitzki put up 20 points, seven boards and five assists, and Chris Kaman added 12 points and 14 rebounds in Germany’s win over a Brazil team that did have NBA mock draft legend Tiago Splitter but didn’t have Leandro Barbosa, Nene or Anderson Varejao … Puerto Rico beat Slovenia, getting 17 points and five dimes from Carlos Arroyo, and Greece blew out New Zealand in the last quarterfinal … Out of the tourney’s final four, we’ll take Greece, PR and Germany for those last three Olympic spots … Can we please be in the same room with Allen Iverson when he finds out that the Nuggets are trying to replace Marcus Camby with guys like David Harrison, Chris Andersen and Francisco Elson? … Correction from yesterday’s Smack: The Clippers signed Kelenna Azubuike to an offer sheet, not a straight contract, so the Warriors have a week to match. If you’re Chris Mullin, do you want Azubuike for three years and $9 million? On the court he fits Nellie’s system, a strong athlete with the tools to be a good defender. GS does have a bit of a logjam at the 2-3 spots, though, especially depending on what they wanna do with Matt Barnes (sign him or not) and Marco Belinelli (play him or not), so Kelenna could be expendable … Speaking of Nellie Ball, do you think that system will ever generate a championship for any team? Yesterday we asked the readers, “How should the game be played?” If you were a coach, what systems/philosophies would you employ? Are you more run-and-gun or grind-it-out? Offensive-minded or defensive-minded? Let us know HERE … The next items up for bid in our Dime Summer Cleaning Giveaway: an autographed Stephon Marbury copy of Dime #8, and a pair of special-edition LeBron Air Force 1s. Keep coming back to the site this weekend, as we’ll have some more giveaways, plus we’ll start the process of breaking down all 30 NBA teams, their needs going into next season, and how they can solve those needs … Were it not for Manu Ginobili, Toronto’s Carlos Delfino would have at least been in the discussion for Sixth Man of the Year; he put up 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds a night for a playoff team and threw in a handful of 20-point games along the way. But next year’s he not even gonna be in the League, after coming to an agreement with Khimki Moscow (Russia). Delfino’s teammates will include Daniel Ewing, Pat Burke and the infamous Maciej Lampe. There’s a living-in-Toronto versus living-in-Moscow joke in there somewhere, but we’re not touching that at risk of inciting the Raptors fans … But the strangest overseas-related news of the day is that Olympiakos (Greece) is trying to lure Ricky Davis across the water. We’re having visions of Ricky Buckets taking horrible shots and not thinking twice while his coach screams at him in Greek in a futile effort; or Ricky not speaking five words all season to most of his teammates; of Ricky running up phone bills and takeout taps into the six figures. Qyntel Woods played for Olympiakos last year, and Lynn Greer and Baby Shaq are on the current roster … Is Bobby Hurley the greatest college point guard ever? Top three? Top five? The argument has been raging in the Dime office for the last few days. Feel free to weigh in … Down in the famous Goodman League at D.C.’s Barry Farms park the other day, Kevin Durant dropped 60 points, which included 10 triples (reports say many of the threes were from at least 30 feet out). Playing for a team called “Sweat Mob,” KD lit up an opposing squad that included ex-Georgetown/NC State guard Tony Bethel and none other than Lawrence Moten … We’re out like Qyntel …
July 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am
GMuneeKLIK says:
FIRST!!!!
As if Delfino left my Raptors. He was a good role player and played some D which we honestly needed. Wish the Raptors would’ve made him a better offer.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:59 am
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
PR BABY YEAAA U WATCH THEY GONNA BEAT GREECE TOMORROW AND WILL BE ON OUR WAYS TO THE OLYMPICSSS
July 19th, 2008 at 1:00 am
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
@
July 19th, 2008 at 1:00 am
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
@ dime when are u gonna announce the winners of the stuff u guys are giving out??
July 19th, 2008 at 1:01 am
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
AGAIN GOOO TEAM PUERTO RICOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Borgs says:
“D’Antoni also admitted it was kind of strange watching the Suns play. Makes sense, considering that Alando Tucker (19 pts) and D.J. Strawberry (21 pts) were doing most of the damage, and D’Antoni probably doesn’t recognize either one.”
Credit where credit’s due - that was funny, Dime.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Kobe says:
YAAAAAAAAA GO PR! PR > USA!
July 19th, 2008 at 2:11 am
nick says:
no mention of how players on the raps did? i know it is summer league ball and everything but seems every other team gets some love.
Also I am curious as to what the joke would have been about “living in toronto vs living in moscow” statment and i’m from toronto. pretty sure most tdot fans wouldn’t take it seriously.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:35 am
SkyGriever says:
I really like that when playing international, guys like Carlos Arroyo, JJ Barea and Peter John Ramos step up their game so much. Maybe it’s the pride to be representing the country or something, I don’t know. All I know is I hope we win so we can go to the Olympiads again. Go Puerto Rico! Despierta Boricua!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 3:11 am
Austin Burton says:
PJ Ramos still stinks in international ball. From August 2007:
“Did you catch Uruguay upsetting Puerto Rico in the FIBA tourney? PR blew a 19-point halftime lead, just falling apart down the stretch and getting beasted by Esteban Batista (34 pts, 15 rebs). Carlos Arroyo was hampered by foul trouble, Jose Juan Barea just didn’t make plays when he had to, and Peter John Ramos was 100 percent undeniably TERRIBLE. The dude is like 7-3 and the entire second half he did nothing except rebound a couple of made shots. Between turning the ball over, bobbling catches, not boxing out, getting scored on, not challenging anything defensively and one crucial offensive foul, P.J. probably lost the game for PR. If he’s lucky, no NBA scouts were watching that game…”
http://dimemag.com/2007/08/the-massacre/
July 19th, 2008 at 3:19 am
Damon says:
so lets guess for the greece vs. puerto rico game:
will greece win by more than 10, more than 20 or more than 30?
I would go with a little bit more than 20.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Damon says:
exactly austin. ramos has averages of 8ppg and 6rpg.
he just is a bad player who just got drafted because of size.
there are some players in this tourney who are almost exactly like this guy. remember rafael araujo?
it gets on my nerves when guys who actually have skills end up undrafted because of some 7ft stiffs who can’t even walk in a straight line without falling down…
July 19th, 2008 at 3:54 am
SkyGriever says:
Damn Austin, just let me dream a little. On another note, besides Arroyo and Barea, is there anyone on the Puerto Rico team you think could have a shot in the NBA?
July 19th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Austin Burton says:
Who is Araujo playing for? I still can’t believe he got picked #8 in the draft.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Austin Burton says:
@SkyGriever — Daniel Santiago was in the NBA for a minute. Ricky Sanchez’s rights are owned by the Sixers, but I haven’t heard anything about them ever making a push to get him on the team. He was drafted coming out of high school.
Larry Ayuso has gotten looks with the Spurs and Nuggets in training camp.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:09 am
SkyGriever says:
I hate that Santiago, he thinks he’s an All-Star when he’s obviously not. He almost didn’t play for PR this year. It was a huge mess.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:40 am
Stiletto says:
i think greece will beat pr but i also think that croatia will beat germany and it won’t be an upset they have a very strong and deep line up but germany then will beat pr.is there any chance we will see a kaman nowitzki frontcourt in the nba it looked pretty good when dirk had a center who have some offensive moves.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Damon says:
Araujo plays for brazil, and he wasn’t THAT bad yesterday. but thats only because i remember him bringing nothing to the table when he was in the league.
and yes, pick # 8 was an unbelievable mistake, one of the biggest of the last years.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:54 am
mambo mamba says:
@ SkyGriver…Larry Ayuso’s pretty good
July 19th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Logan Light says:
D’Antoni also admitted it was kind of strange watching the Suns play. Makes sense, considering that Alando Tucker (19 pts) and D.J. Strawberry (21 pts) were doing most of the damage, and D’Antoni probably doesn’t recognize either one
That was hilarious. I laughed out loud at the airport… kind of embarrassing. Thanks Dime.
Ricky Davis overseas? I love it. Ricky plays with no conscience in the NBA - on teams that could have had a shot - overseas he would be incredible to watch and horrible to play with. BUT can Ricky Davis be added to the “Loser List?” It seems like when your team signs him, your team is in the lottery.
Big ups to Dime for hooking us up with the giveaways. For real, this is the only site I check on a regular basis (seriously, all day) and you’re always looking to bless the faithful readers. ‘Preciate that.
Once, I would really like to see Kobe go play in the Vegas League just to give us all a point of reference as to how good these other guards are. Alando Tucker dropping 19 is nice… but would it mean anything when held next to KB24’s 90? Just a thought…
LL
July 19th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Dave says:
1st
July 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am
GMuneeKLIK says:
yeah Austin that Araujo pick at #8 was just garbage by the Raps and to think Andre igoudala was still on the board. Him and Bosh and on the Raps along with O’Neal and Calderon would just be nasty. Plus with Moon at the 3 that’s a great line-up
July 19th, 2008 at 9:10 am
miamiVIS3 says:
No mention of Ronny Turiaf officially becoming a Warrior?
July 19th, 2008 at 9:14 am
miamiVIS3 says:
@ Austin
Larry Ayuso is that bald dude with the jumpshot and the headband right?
July 19th, 2008 at 9:19 am
doc says:
Im just glad Toronto got him instead of Iggy.And unless Team USA is in the competition that national shit lacks credibility.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Damon says:
nobody said the pre olympic qualifier determines the best team in the world or anything. so how does it lack credibility?
July 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Dagomar says:
Yo Toronto is a nice city, I live there, but Moscow? Okay most of Russia is pretty bad still . . . but Moscow is real nice.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:54 am
doc says:
Because if the USA team isnt there,whoever wins the whole thing people just gonna say they didnt beat the real teams.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am
jamesagee says:
delfino, another solid draft choice from the Dumars draft pool. Darko and him should get together, go bowling together and talk about how to grow a pair.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Skeeter McGee says:
Delfino always looked like he could be a solid player, but I guess the money and tick overseas was too attractive for him…
July 19th, 2008 at 11:19 am
doc says:
We wont miss Carlos at all.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Damon says:
@ doc
its not about that in this tournament. nobody would say that since its just a qualifier. it doesn’t lose credibility because team usa, argentina or the best team(spain) aren’t there. the teams who made it deserve it because they beat the remaining teams who had the chance to qualify.
if it was a world championship and team usa wasn’t there, ok, but not here.
would you say the eurobasket loses credibilty because team usa isn’t there? no
July 19th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Damon says:
btw, 30 min until Dirk can finally fulfill one of his dreams. go germany!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
Germany gonna do like they did against Spain in soccer…get a lotta hype then CHOKE. Haha I’m just playing I felt like putting a futbol reference to any soccerheads out here…
July 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
doc is just probably pissed cuz his pt gets lower as each day passes .. anywayz ayuso is good but not good enough to play in the leauge because he is too small to be a shooting guard and does not have enough handles or court vision to play point guard. I am a puerto rican and i think that PJ Ramos sucks hes 7 3 and cant do anything, ricky sanchez needs to mature but i think he can make it in the league if he keeps improving,he is still young. Arroyo is very good as always in the international games and barea is underachieving in my opinion. He is in the nba and he is not dominating putting up 7 ppg. Thats not good enough. But i still think PR beats greece if they play team ball and if they dont fall in love with the 3 point shot like they always do
July 19th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Damon says:
well, greece now plays puerto rico and everybody thinks its no contest and greece will advance. but respect for staying behind your team.
remember when PR had eddie casiano? another undersized sg with a good shot. funny how he and tmac got into it one time.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
@ damon yea man i was at that game ppl wanted to riot hahah but it dont mattter we got revenge at the olypics
July 19th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
*olympics … i forgot to say that i think PR’s coach sucks thats the reason why we are underachieving they should have gotten the coach from the last olympics,julio toro
July 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Arno says:
Croatia downed the Germans, despite Dirk 30 and 13 (but Kaman goes for 3 boards). Predictable, since they had a much better bench and a pocketfull of shooters. And Croatians are born ballers.
Now, the Germans need to beat PR (who will get busted by the Greeks). Possible, but not so easy.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Damon says:
i was really wondering about the end of the game ger-cro.
after a huge comeback we were down 2 with 35s remaining and we foul? never seen that.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
its baby shaq!!!!!! lol
July 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
greece beat pr by 25 points i think, but it was close up until the 3rd quarter when inexplicably pr’s coach took out the starting lineup and barea who was having a very good game. Greece is a great team, they play defense, they play fast and play half court and they shoot three pointers but also they played in their home court so congrats to them. Next up are the germans, whom PR beat last week on a friendly game, however kaman dint play so the third spot is up for grabs.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
oh i forgot arroyo played only one quarter and a half and scored 0 points
July 19th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
K Dizzle says:
“D’Antoni also admitted it was kind of strange watching the Suns play. Makes sense, considering that Alando Tucker (19 pts) and D.J. Strawberry (21 pts) were doing most of the damage, and D’Antoni probably doesn’t recognize either one”
still LMAO
and Raps will miss Delfino. Great shooter, best defender on the squad and played the 1 2 and 3 spots
July 19th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daQUEsT?on says:
i lost a lot of respect for team pr’s coach
July 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Damon says:
it was close until the end of the 3rd q?
the lead was double digits all the time. PR just had no chance.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daQUEsT?on says:
@ damon did u watch the game?? PR trimmed down the lead to 6 points during the third quarter, thats when pr’s coach decided to take out barea and several other players and that sparked a run from greece. plus arroyo dint play because he injured himself and now PR is in a lot of trouble for tomorrow
July 19th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
AB_40 says:
I think germany is gonna win tomorrow especialy if carlos arroyo doesn’t play he’s out with an injury he got in the seccond quarter in todays raping of PR by greece.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
@ ab i think ur right man.. also if anyone wants to see the game they are gnna give it n espn 360.com