Ben Gordon, Dime #15Does Ben Gordon want too much? One of the League’s best sixth men wants to start and he wants elite starter money, something in that $12 million a year range that Luol Deng is banking. It’s a forgone conclusion that BG isn’t gonna get either one in Chicago (they’ll probably start Kirk Hinrich at the two alongside Derrick Rose while Larry Hughes becomes the League’s richest backup), so as the team is reportedly exploring sign-and-trade possibilities, wouldn’t Cleveland seem like an obvious place? The Cavs have enough expiring contracts — Wally Szczerbiak ($13M), Eric Snow ($7.3M), Damon Jones ($4.4M) and Joe Smith ($4.7M) — to make something happen, and the whole “Don’t trade within your division” thing doesn’t apply because these two teams just did business last season with the Ben Wallace deal. Gordon would step right in and start for the Cavs, and LeBron would have a legit second banana who can shoot and who bumps Big Z to being a very good third banana. Why haven’t we heard more about the Cavs pursuing this? … What we have been hearing is the Cavs being interested in J.R. Smith. He’s not as good of a shooter/scorer as Gordon, and his baggage is a different kind of baggage compared to BG’s possible diva-ish tendencies. If you’re the Cavs, which player is more appealing, J.R. or Gordon? … If you thought the Ron Artest acquisition meant Shane Battier was gonna be a sixth man, guess again. We’ve been hearing that Rick Adelman plans to have Ron-Ron play the power forward, keeping Battier at the three. That means Luis Scola is moving to the bench, and that means less minutes for guys like The World’s Worst Free Throw Shooter Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry and those other eight undersized power forwards Houston had on the roster last year. Artest is right around LeBron’s size and definitely has the raw strength to guard PF’s, and defensively it’s intriguing to have Artest and Battier on the court at the same time, but you have to worry about rebounding. Yao will get his 10-plus, but can Artest replace the boards Scola was getting? Can he be that interior enforcer for Yao? He’s physical and always gets after it, but he’s not a natural inside player … Next year’s NBA schedule is supposed to include a Celtics/Lakers game for Christmas Day. We thought they were gonna try to drum up the Kobe/Shaq rivalry again, especially after the Tell Me How My Ass Tastes Incident. Are their any real blood rivalries in the NBA anymore? Today’s best examples are Spurs/Suns and Cavs/Wizards, but those have nothing on other sports rivalries like Cowboys/Redskins or Cubs/Cardinals. Most of our readers agreed that the NBA’s paranoia about any kind of bitterness between teams has helped halt any potential rivalries; guys get 15-game suspensions for stuff that would have been nothing in the ’80s … We didn’t even remember the Dominican Republic having a national team, but they just got significantly better with the addition of Al Horford. Whoever’s tossing up shots for them, they’ve got to feel better knowing Big Al is down there to clean up their mess … NBATV replayed Game Six of the ‘03 Finals, where the Spurs clinched against the Nets and Tim Duncan destroyed K-Mart and crew for 21 points, 20 boards, 10 dimes and 8 blocks, David Robinson had 13 points and 17 boards in his final game, and K-Mart somehow went 3-for-23 from the field, which has got to be the worst shooting performance from an interior player we’ve ever seen. The Nets were leading for most of the game, but when Duncan and Robinson decided to dominate, they were unstoppable. And that was the game where Tony Parker was pretty awful (4 pts, 2 asts, 3 turnovers) and Speedy Claxton had to step in for the save. But the strangest part was watching Spurs starting two-guard Stephen Jackson. Now that we know what he would get into later in life, it’s amazing Pop decided to even put up with him. S-Jack was jacking back then, too: Pop yanked him less than two minutes into the game for Manu when S-Jack was being a nut. FYI, Brian Scalabrine was on that Nets team. He wasn’t getting any burn back then, either … Around time a lot of you read this, Team USA should be playing Australia in their final pre-Olympic exhibition. Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer haven’t gone up against a standout NBA big yet this summer; Andrew Bogut will be a good test for them, and the Aussies have some other decent players, but in reality it should be a rout for the U.S. … We’re out like rivalries …
August 5th, 2008 at 4:31 am
raf says:
you gotta start posting smack earlier
August 5th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Coop says:
Can’t see the Bulls giving up Gordon with the Division for nothing. You throw a 1st rounder and more talent in then maybe but otherwise why bother?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:43 am
chuck hayes says:
i called that free throw fake… its effective…
August 5th, 2008 at 4:57 am
kobe says:
try this trade MITCH….!!!
LA gets- Ben wallace
shawn marion
Miami gets- Chris “dunk on” mihm
Lamar “soft as gel” odom
cleaveland gets- VLad “snowboarder” radmanovic
luke “mr panic” walton
August 5th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Magnifico says:
cavs need any help for bron. Smith or BG would be an upgrade no doubt. i’d go for jr though.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Ferdiberdi says:
TD’s statline was sweet, especially for a Finals game.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:04 am
lebron james says:
dammit get Smith and gordon, plus yo’ kobe i like dat, send dem boys ryt hir so they hang around da 3pt line… i can kick out all day wid boobie, wally sexyback, d.west, jr smith, ben gordon, vlad and luke… trade or buy out every one expect Z, andy varejao, dat kid hickson… do that or i’ll LEAVE and to my homie, hova,.. - LeBron James
August 5th, 2008 at 5:37 am
K-Diggs says:
BG is the safer pick for LBJ & the Cavs. He is a proven scorer, clutch player, & one of the best gunners in the L.
JR Smith is also probably one of the best shooters in the L & brings things to the table that BG doesn’t like size and athletism. JR has the talent to be one the deadliest weapons in the NBA (how many players can hit 8 3’s & throw it down on opposing bigs?). The question is will he reach this potential or will become another Isiah ‘JR’ Rider. I remember watching that JR light it up with a similar inside-out game, but he was a head-case who would rack up numbers, not W’s, & overall be a detriment to his squad.
This isn’t an easy call, but I think I’d be optimistic & sign JR for way less $ than BG and hope that LeBron’s influence, work ethic, and overall greatness would rub off on his new teammate.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:40 am
K-Diggs says:
Tim Duncan: 21 points, 20 boards, 10 dimes and 8 blocks in a championship clinching game?
Greatest PF of ALL-TIME!
August 5th, 2008 at 5:41 am
K-Diggs says:
Or 5th best C of ALL-TIME!
August 5th, 2008 at 5:49 am
AB_40 says:
Ben Gordon on the 2? For a team that takes a lot of pride on defense. I am talking about trading for luol deng and ben gordon all summer long. And now people are finally seeing this. Cleveland should try to covet every good young player on the market. Including josh smith especialy after the way he torched the celts. They had nothing on him. Ben Gordon + LBJ = hmm ok. Luol Deng + LBJ = amazing duo won’t happen cuzz cavs is cheap. Josh Smith + LBJ = matchup problems for every team in the leauge. But it won’t go and wouldn’t work because the cavs rarely run fast breaks. What my point initaly was is that Ben Gordon is too short to man the 2. Delonte West ain’t gonna stop a kobe, a t-mac, a rip or a ray allen.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:06 am
that's whats up says:
@ K-Diggs, post #8
“JR Smith is also probably one of the best shooters in the L”
it’s way to early to be hittin’ them rocks - lay off the pipe pimpin’
August 5th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Coop says:
Gordon is a great gunner but not a great shooter
August 5th, 2008 at 6:25 am
YOUNGFED says:
JR Smith is a great shooter and virtually unstopable when he has it going. However neither of them play D. So who knows which is the best pick. JR is funner to watch so I say take Smith. He’ll be cheaper too.
TOP 5 FUN’EST PLAYERS TO WATCH:
1.)Kobe (K-HOVA) Bryant
2.)Jason Richarson (aka The Contortionist)
3.)JR Smith (aka The Illusion)
4.)Josh Smith (aka HammerTime)
5.)AI (aka Thug Changes)
August 5th, 2008 at 6:28 am
YOUNGFED says:
Honorable Mention: Lebron James, Rudy Gay, Manu, TP, CP3, YOUNGFED.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:58 am
shake&bake says:
I think K-Diggs got it right, the fact that there is such a debate they must be pretty similar. But, you can get JR for a lot less than BG is asking for. Plus Smith has more size & athleticism. Both are inconsistent but I think Smith has more room to grow. Imagine if the Cavs for Josh & JR Smith, they’d instantly become the most exciting team to watch. Mike Brown would have to change his style.
Also, I like Artest at the power forward, even though he might be overmatched on the boards, Battier and McGrady can make up for it because they have good size at their positions. And Yao can pick up some slack on rebounding since he is 8 feet tall.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Coop says:
Battier isn’t a good rebounder, Shake.
Pick up some slack? Oh right yeah so ‘just get more rebounds!’ you should be a coach!
Smith is the better option imo, all things considered.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:49 am
your english teacher says:
@ youngfed
its Funnier not Funner, dumb nigga…. i bet you mean, a lot more entertaining to watch,…Youngfed=YOung federline..
August 5th, 2008 at 8:01 am
YOUNGFED says:
Fukin’ lame a$$, it’s called a typo. And once again if you gone say something use ya name pu$$y. Sorry if I don’t proof read my post before I post them. SMDH.
What type of lame corrects spelling on a sports blog. Get a life cause if that makes your day your probably broke, stupid, or just plain lonely. lol
NUFF SAID!!! Or is it ENOUGH SAID…LMAO
August 5th, 2008 at 8:07 am
YOUNGFED says:
BTW it should of been “more fun” not funnier you moron. but FUNNER is quicker and I sure most people understand that. And Please don’t use racist terms on here dude. That really demonstrates your ignorance.
NUFF SAIDx2
August 5th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Coop says:
Should ‘have’ been.
Jesus.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:17 am
netstar_RZA says:
K-Mart had the flu in game 6! he was questionable to even play!
August 5th, 2008 at 8:32 am
YOUNGFED says:
should’ve been
August 5th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Dagomar says:
YOUNGFED.
For me Lebron’s #1 by a significant margin. Guy can do everything in a spectacular way. #2 would be Chris Paul. #3 is Kobe Bryant. #4 is Steve Nash - crazy ballhandling skills makes up for lack of D. #5 is KG - raw passion.
I love watching Duncan too though, just because his technique is absolutely perfect. That’s why I sometimes don’t like watching rough gems like Josh Smith.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:33 am
M-Intellect says:
@ netstar_RZA: You think if he had his vitamins he wouldn’t have got served?
Tim Duncan aka Jason Bourne would’ve eaten him.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Luigi says:
intresting.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Celts Fan says:
The Cavs should get JR. He’s got more hops, is much bigger (so he can start effectively, and isn’t just another undersized 2 w/ Delonte and Gibson,) and is still a solid shooter. He’ll also be much cheaper and easier to get (the Nuggets would probably give him up for a #1 and expiring deals.)
That was what was so ridiculously confusing about the Scal deal (Celts gave him $3M per for FIVE YEARS?!?! I can understand giving a young, big guy that can shoot 3s $3M per to see how they pan out, but for 5 years?! If Jason Kidd, at his absolute apex, can’t make you look good, you’re not good, at least not good enough to get paid for 5 years. He had to have reminded someone in the front office of Larry Bird’s retarded half brother or something.)
August 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
schoops says:
I highly doubt the Bulls make Gordon to Cleveland happen. Yes they did trade players mid season last year, but those players mostly sucked and the trade was a wash for the most part. Giving up BG and getting back someone like Wally (terrible slow, likes Coldplay… terrible human being), Eric Snow (last time he was any good was on the 2001 Sixers), Joe Smith (servicable), and Damon “gunner” Jones…. That’d be a terrible trade for the Bulls to make. It doesn’t improve any postion for them and gives a proven scorer and very good 4th quarter/ crunch time player…. The Bulls should look elsewhere.
Duncan is money… boring money, but money none the less…
August 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Dagomar
Yeah I’d probably put Lebron over at the 5th spot cause he only does the same couple dunks but he’s still nice has hell.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Coop says:
TD isn’t boring he’s effective, fundamental and awesome. Boring isn’t the same as consistent.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Celts Fan says:
@Youngfed, was your list supposed to be the most fun to watch or the funniest?
Either way, I’m game…
Most fun to watch:
1. KG (homer pick, I know, but the man is bat-shit crazy, has an amazing all-around skill set, and is on my team.)
2. CP3 (he’s Zeke before he started sexually harassing coworkers and ruining everything he touched.)
3. Kobe (the “better than MJ” talk was ridiculous, but to even get that talk however premature it proved to be, shows how amazing he is. There’s at least 5 times a game he does something that leaves you shaking your head and wondering how that’s possible, then he tops it the next game.)
4. LeBron (there’s nothing he can’t do and you can tell he’s a hard worker. Evidence: He used to not be able to shoot, he used to be terrible defensively. Made HUGE strides in both and is a willing passer whenever he has competant teammates.)
5. AI (if YouTube only showed basketball, he’d have 90% of it by himself.)
6. Rajon Rondo (anyone here knows I love PGs and Rondo is my favorite in the league for obvious reasons. He’s one of the best (if not the best) defensive and rebounding PGs in the league and his offense is slowly coming along too. Just know if he wasn’t on the Celtics, he’d still be one of my favorites, but wearing the green and having his game - I love quick, distributing PGs as you can tell by lots of other guys on the list - put it to a whole new level. Not denying the homerism, just saying I’d like his game regardless. The man crush probably wouldn’t be there if he wasn’t a Celtic though…)
7. Kevin Durant (the future, such an intriguing skill set.)
8. JSmooth (he can and will dunk on your head and throw your shot to the 8th row)
9. Steve Nash (shouldn’t have won 2 MVPs, but the man can pass. Watching him run an offense, especially the pre-Shaq Suns was really fun.)
10. Dwight (God help everyone if Pat can really teach him a few post moves - word is they’re working hard after the Olympics on a little runner and getting him to turn the shoulder over better. If he gets ANY range at all, beyond what now extends to just dunking, it’s over. As it is right now, he’s likely to rip the rim right off every time he catches the ball or spike your shot to the hot dog guy.)
Honorable mentions: Paul Pierce (good, but he’s got old man moves, not exactly super exciting, so out of the top 10) Manu (this guy has so many moves it’s unreal, take away the flopping and he’s probably on the list,) TP (again, really quick PGs are fun to watch,) Amare, Dwight, David West, and Baron.
Funniest guys to watch:
1. KG (he is insane. He screams at everyone, he’ll punch you in excitement for a good play before helping you up. He terrifies his own teammates. He finds a random white guy on opposing teams and makes a point of destroying him mentally for 48 minutes - Joel Pryzbilla, Zaza, and Jake Voskuhl have all been victims. What’s not to like?)
2. Ricky Davis (the man loves to shoot and there’s always the possibility he’ll do something like shoot at his own backboard, or my favorite story from this past year that really sums up his career and solidified his spot here: With 5 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, someone on th other team misses a FT and Mark Blount gets the board. Ricky screams, “I got it. I GOT IT,” while shaking his hands like an impatient 3 year old waiting for his GI Joes, gets the ball, sprints to half court and jacks up a half-court shot at the buzzer which misses, smiling ear to ear he walks back to the Heat bench. They were down 30.)
3. Kobe (the scowls when things aren’t going his way are great. The thinly veiled, “I hate my teammates, they all suck, but I’ll keep smiling this fake smile so people might think I’ve changed,” routine never gets old.)
4. Vlad Radmanovic (I mean, does it look like he’s ever played basketball before? Bonus points for also looking like he’s never showered either.)
5. Shaq
August 5th, 2008 at 10:01 am
YOUNGFED says:
It was most fun Celts
Funniest Guys to watch
1.)Sheed
2.)Artest
3.)Shaq
4.)Dalembert (Mowhawk)
5.)KG (with all those faces)
August 5th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Celts Fan says:
I KNEW I WAS FORGETTING SOMEONE. I think I owe Sheed an apology.
The revised list:
1. Sheed
2. KG
3. Ricky Buckets
4. Kobe
5. Vlad
6. Shaq
August 5th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Celts Fan says:
@fake Youngfed (post 33) Just stop man.
August 5th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Borgs says:
That’s what me totally dismissive of Chris Mannix and his SI.com article in the immediate aftermath of the Artest trade. NOT ONE utterance of the name Shane Battier! Like he’d been vaporised as soon as Morey hung up the phone.
August 5th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Ernesto says:
F___ me! Eric Snow is owed $7.3M!! For playing basketball!!! Aaaahhhh ha ha ha ha!!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Skeeter McGee says:
Team USA barely beat Australia 87-76 and the Aussies didn’t have Bogut in the middle either. Like I said earlier in other Smacks’, we’ll still win the gold but there will no longer be the days that we beat teams by 40, or at least the legit teams anyway. The worst part is going something like 21-33 from the free throw line, yikes! I guess Coach K has still got a lot of “tuning up” to do before the real games start…
August 5th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Celts Fan says:
@Dime, great job guys. thanks for taking that fake Youngfed clown’s stuff down. This woulda turned into 3rd grade recess real fast. well done…
August 5th, 2008 at 11:04 am
heavy d says:
Patrick Mills (Saint Mary’s) was real impressive for the Aussies. He was scary fast. Expect a big sophomore season from him this year.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am
YOUNGFED says:
Damn I must have missed it Celts. The Copycat is back huh. lol. If I was him I’d wanna be me too. lmao.
Alright I’m done.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
doc says:
Im taking JR over Ben all day.Ben stinks as much as he is good.Its every other game for him.The US dont gotta win by 40.Them days been over since 2000 so aint no sense in still thinking about it.YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Sir Lix-a-Lot says:
I don’t see the Cavs doing anything this summer. I would rather take a big-time scorer like Ben Gordon on my squad over Smith. I heard that Dan Gilbert said he was saving money to go after Bosh or Wade to play alongside LeBron in 2010. Imagine that ish.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
I think Gordon is a better player, but as has been mentioned, JR would be cheaper and isn’t far behind Gordon on the talent scale. He is a bigger risk on the character issues, but if he stays on-task he’ll be a good two-guard for them.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
doc says:
Whats JR character issues?I hear he got them but I never seen him make any headlines or get arrested.What he got smart with a coach before.Well Michael Jordan got character issues to.You can go to any ball game in the world and see somebody argue with a coach every now and then.If he aint commiting crimes or giving up on his teams whats the issue?
August 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Austin Burton says:
Why do you think JR’s been traded so many times already?
August 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Meica says:
As a big Chicago fan I would take J.R. over Ben Gordon. I’d certainly say Ben is a better player, but he’s very short and not all that much better. Sure he makes the highlight reels from time to time, but when he’s not it’s enough to make you tear your hair out. There’s a reason he’s started a starter only to be demoted to the bench two or three seasons in a row now, he just doesn’t produce consistently enough.
So you get a slightly lesser player in JR for probably less than half the price.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
doc says:
He got trade from the Hornets to the Nugs right.Where else he played.He aint getting traded now he a free agent right?Shit Shaq got traded more than him unless Im wrong,Im sure you will refresh my memory.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Young Lebron 23 says:
@ 21 and 23
I’m going back to school in a couple of weeks so nothing about grammar
BG and JR ain’t a good fit for the cavs because they can’t D’up. I will take Gordon though beause Smith is a hot-head
August 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Austin Burton says:
JR got traded to the Bulls (part of the Tyson Chandler deal), then a week later the Bulls shipped him to Denver. Shaq’s been traded twice too, but Shaq wasn’t traded twice before he turned 22.
JR beefed with Byron Scott in N.O., was involved in the Nuggets/Knicks brawl (second-longest suspension after ‘Melo), has beefed with George Karl in Denver, and was involved in nightclub incident the same offseason in which he had the car accident. And at the time of the accident he’d had like five license suspensions in an eight-month period.
Not saying JR is the worst guy in the world or that anything he’s done is so awful (depends on what you believe happened in the car accident), but — if the talent is somewhat equal — NBA teams would prefer a guy who you never hear from in the offseason over someone whose name pops up in “incidents.” Why do you think Dan Dickau keeps getting jobs?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
doc says:
If he got traded in a week he wasnt there long enough to cause problems.He beefed with Scott,that fight because it wasnt a brawl between him and nate was because nate fucked him up from behind I seen plenty worse.I never heard him say shit about George Karl so I think its more Karl beefing with him.As the Nuggets GM keep saying they want him so whatever Karl mad for it dont mean much.A nightclub incident,what like Pierce being pulled over and people saying he should be with his family because he didnt get booked in that incident.And if you gotta bring up the man was in a car accident then that means he dont got any problems.Dan Dickau keeps getting jobs because he knows how to control a NBA offense from the point guard position.It aint because he a dont pop up in incidents.Or a lot of dudes would be out and some would be in.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
doc says:
To me Ben Gordon got more issues than him thats the one I heard in the newspaper bitching all season.I didnt hear about JR complaining about shit.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Austin Burton says:
Again, I didn’t say JR’s incidents were awful, but they do exist. And given the choice between a guy who causes no problems and a guy who *might* cause a problem, NBA teams will take the squeaky-clean guy if the talent isn’t that different.
My point with JR being traded from Chicago is that he showed so much promise as a rookie and was still very young, so for a team to trade him without even giving him a chance to show what he could do for them on the court says something. After all, the Bulls traded JR for Howard Eisley and some second-round picks. If JR had his same talent but with a Shane Battier reputation off the court, no way that trade happens.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
frankie says:
Haha, I think if doc likes a guy well enough, even if he killed someone, he’d say, “it probably wasn’t premeditated - he aint do dat shit yo”. Face facts, idiot.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Celts Fan says:
@AB, that’s all true, just think teams need to ease up. The guy’s rich and only 22. If I had that bankroll and fame at that point in my life after hearing that I was the man for years (you don’t go straight to the NBA by being small time in HS,) I’d've gotten in much worse crap. Paul Pierce had a bad attitude early on too. You just hope that by the time he’s nearing 25-30, he’s got a more mature outlook, but that’s gained through experience and sometimes by making mistakes, and like you said, none of his are that bad. At 30, you’re an @$$hole who’ll never change, at 22, you’re just a 22 year old. That’s what they do, the rich/famous ones just have to do it on a larger scale and under a bigger spotlight.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
doc says:
@Frankie tell me what he did then.Instead of coming with your random BS.Ya mom a idiot pussy.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
doc says:
@AB.You right about the same talent they gonna go with the lesser headcase,but like celts said JR aint one.He never got arrested and a player and coach getting into something can be worked out.Magic Johnson got his first coach fired and they won in his 1rst year.Everybody dont mesh.Put JR on the right team and his ceiling is all star.Ben Gordon ceiling is 6th man of year.Give me the all star.And Ben will get his 6th man trophy complaining he should start while JR should’ve been stating over Ant Carter all season and didnt say a peep.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Wolves Fan #1 says:
NEW TIMBERWOLVES JERSEYS!!!!!!
http://www.mnsportsfans.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23116
and yes i know they look ugly as sin
August 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
Doc,
I don’t think you understand. Ballplayers don’t really care who they play along side but management and owners have a product to sell. They don’t want a tatted up, loud mouth, troublesome kid even though he might be uber-talented. Ben Gordon might be a diva, but I haven’t heard of any arrests or citations from his camp. The NBA is a business as we are reminded far too often, and the best way to sell a product is to make sure there are no complaints with it, and with JR, no matter how small the incidents were or what you think of him as a player, there is just always going to be a risk.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
GEE...Low down dirty even says:
First off if you are the Cavs lol you want both of them cause LeBron needs help lol. For real though you basically talking about getting the same player, on court wise. Putting all that off court stuff to the side, I would get dude (JR) for the low. Why spend mo money to get essentially the same dude?
Granted JR has had perhaps a few minor issues, but Ben has to just of a different kind. A lot of dudes get that act right in they system when they realize they on a squad that can go far.
So if I am Cleve I get J.R. for the low trustin he will be cool and hoping he does better playing wise than expected.
Artest at the 4 ….I can dig it. Plus it ain’t like it’s got to be a permanent thing the whole game. So Rick basically saying he will prolly start their but depending on his success against whoever they playing he might go whole game at that spot or if he ain’t cutting it be moved around.
Got to love the versatility you get with a player like Ron.
If the Rockets can just stay healthy (they really need new strength and conditioning coaches and prolly a team reverend lol) no tellin how far they can possibly go.
That pg position worries me though.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
daquest?on says:
team usa should b worried… it seems like as every game passes each team gets harder and they keep winning by less and dominating less. they cant play the way they did today and expect to win agaisnt spain and argentina
August 5th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
doc says:
@Skeeter JR never been arrested niether thats my point.How is Ben Gordon a diva and JR a headcase when they both dont do shit but complain,one to the coach,and one to the paper.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
doc says:
@daquest-how can you say that though honestly.What if Spain or Argentina play like the Aussies did today?Im tired of everybody talking like Spain and Argentina are so scary.I havent seen any of they tuneup games but they must be winning by 1000 points.Argentina was down by 19 to this same team but we cant beat them if we play like this.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
@Doc: People fear Argentina and Spain just because they’ve been together for years and have better players. Blah blah blah. I personally don’t understand how people on here will say after USA blows a team out by 40 that its expected, but then when we win by like 11, it’s “Oh, Team USA can’t beat other teams…” Look fellas, USA still has the best basketball players and the best league, but people can’t come to expect a 40 point piecing every game. 1992 was 16 years ago and since then Europe, Asia, Russia, etc. have all stepped their games up. Don’t be crying about how we only won by 11 cause, at the end of the day, when you win by 1 or by 80, a Win is a Win…
August 5th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
doc says:
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.amen skeeter.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
doc says:
I know they are good teams,but I doubt the people in Spain or Argentina watch every game and be like They cant do that against the USA.They cant,but they CAN in the game they playing so until they match up the games before dont really tell you how that games gonna go.We can beat Argentina by 4 and go beat Spain by 35.Not saying we will but if it happens will people be coming on here saying how did they do that.I doubt it.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Skeeter McGee says:
For those of you all who thought it was NEVER going to happen…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3520860
Imagine how ridiculous that would be…
August 5th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Meica says:
Why would Minnesota update their uniforms to make them somehow look even more ugly?