LeBron pulls a Magic move, Team USA faces Lithuania next, and the Sixers keep getting better
LeBron James (photo. Mannion)Obviously Mike Brown could learn a thing or two hundred from Coach K, and if Coach B was watching yesterday’s Team USA exhibition against Turkey, he should have taken some notes on things to try with LeBron James. Even against a Turkish squad heavy with 7-footers, ‘Bron saw a few minutes at the five and didn’t do too bad. Is that something Brown may want to explore next season? If Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao happen to be hurt or in foul trouble and you’re down to using Ben Wallace and Dwayne Jones in the pivot, why not give ‘Bron a few possessions at center? We’re not suggesting anyone pull a Magic Johnson and have LeBron play center for a whole game, but we’d at least wanna see what would happen for a few possessions. Mike Brown has what might be the NBA’s most versatile offensive player in the game at his disposal; he might as well try and take advantage and experiment with some things … LeBron put up 20 points, six boards, four assists and five steals in Team USA’s 114-82 win. Right away you knew the ankle wasn’t an issue: on the game’s first possession after tip-off he snatched a rebound off the rim and went coast-to-coast for a layup. ‘Bron later caught a sweet alley-oop from Kobe, and had a few other highlight-reel dunks … The Turkish team wasn’t bad, definitely a lot better than Canada, despite not having Hedo Turkoglu or Mehmet Okur. They forced 17 U.S. turnovers (committing 19 of their own) and had 12 offensive boards, but otherwise just didn’t have the athletes to hang. This morning’s game against Lithuania will be the first serious challenge for the U.S. squad; Lithuania has a few Olympic bronze medals under their belt and a few NBA names on their roster, plus last year’s Euroleague MVP Ramunas Siskauskas. The USA/Lithuania game airs at 8 a.m. EST and against at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN2 … As good as LeBron, D-Wade (13 pts) and ‘Melo (17 pts) looked, Kobe struggled. His numbers were fine (7 pts, 7 asts, 5 stls), but there were times when Kobe was a black hole on offense, as if seeing a legit NBA player on the other team’s bench (Hedo) gave him recurring L.A. flashbacks … Dwight Howard (14 pts, 8 rebs) also didn’t play his best. He had one just nasty dunk over four defenders, but in the first half he turned the ball over on two straight possessions that led to points for Turkey … It’s weird going from NBA playoff coverage where they show too many replays to these USA games where they hardly show any of the best plays twice. In the Canada game, Chris Paul’s ridiculous bucket at the end of the third quarter never got a replay, and one of yesterday’s top highlights — Wade going up and crowning a dude who tried to run and jump with him in transition — didn’t get a replay until the game was almost over … Just like with the FIBA Americas games last year, it was obvious the ESPN2 announcers weren’t in the building. They likely weren’t even in the continent and were watching the TV feed just like us. Which was probably why the crowd seemed so quiet, because Rick Kamla and Fran Fraschilla’s mics needed to be loud enough to hear … The hell was Kamla talking about when he said, “If it were up to me, they would all be $20 million a year players”? And yes, he was talking about every single NBA player. Kamla also declared Team USA’s starting five as, “Five future Hall of Famers.” Jason Kidd and Kobe are locks, but it’s a little early to christen LeBron and Dwight (on the “If their career ended tomorrow” scale), and especially ‘Melo … One of these days Fraschilla is gonna stop calling it “BEE-zhing.” Hopefully … On paper at least, the Sixers should be better than the Cavs next season (assuming Andre Iguodala re-signs). Yesterday Philly re-upped with Lou Williams, another guy Cleveland had their eyes on and missed out on. Lou is still trying to figure out if he’s a point guard or a two, but either way he’s good for the Sixers with his off-the-bench scoring … The Clippers keep making moves, signing Brian Skinner to shore up the front line. Skinner gives the Clips a little more toughness and experience up front — think a poor and hungry man’s Kurt Thomas — and is decent insurance if/when Marcus Camby and/or Chris Kaman gets hurt … Josh Howard to the Winston-Salem Chronicle on the fallout from his weed admission: “It took me to the point to where it made me want to work harder. It let me see that a lot of people form an opinion about things they don’t even know about without asking the person that said it. It’s sad that the world is like that. I flipped it around and turned it into a positive. That’s my motivation now. I’m going to keep using it.” … After Yao Ming had some potentially inflammatory comments about Ron Artest the other day, Ron-Ron responded in his own mature and hilarious fashion. Check out Artest’s words HERE. Hopefully this whole thing goes away now, everyone’s cool going into training camp, and Rick Adelman doesn’t have to sic Joey Dorsey on ‘em to play peacemaker in that old reliable “You two get along or I’m whuppin’ both of your asses” style … Forget modesty: MJ says he’d bust Kobe’s ass if the two played 1-on-1 in their respective primes. Would you argue with him? … Mike’s (former?) buddy Sam Vincent is going about this whole coaching thing all backwards. His first-ever head coaching job on any level was with the Bobcats, and now job #2 is gonna be with the D-League’s Anaheim Arsenal. So we’re guessing from there it’s onto college, then high school, then Sam will wrap up his career like Nick Nolte at the end of Blue Chips, teaching kids on the playground how to shoot jumpers … JamesOn Curry was waived by the Bulls, another twist in one of the stranger almost-careers we’ve seen in a while. JamesOn almost played for North Carolina before a high school arrest caused UNC to pull their scholarship, then he almost played for the Bulls before getting the axe partially due to a recent arrest for public urination. There’s a pissed-off/pissed-on, JamesOff/JamesOn joke somewhere in there … Tractor Traylor had his moments during his summer league run with the Cavs, and the next step in his comeback attempt is a tryout with the Lakers that was scheduled for Thursday. Quite the contrast for the Lakers, who went from almost landing Artest to trying out a guy who can fit four digits on his jersey … We’re out like JamesOn …
August 1st, 2008 at 5:52 am
knoc says:
lbj at centre. could work against teams like gs
August 1st, 2008 at 6:00 am
budz says:
this exhibition games are only for show.
i doubt if lithuania or other olympic contenders for that matter will show all their cards for the USA team to scout.
2nd!
tagaytay na to pre!
August 1st, 2008 at 6:30 am
David_Brandon says:
so does team usa really sweep??
i’m not gonna lie…seeing lebron trap a weak ass 5 in the chamber every now an then in the regular season wouldnt be too bad. imagine new jersey’s frontline on the block w/ bron. wrap city.
josh howard will be the exact same hooper he’s been. just a lil more swag since he feels he’s gotta prove himself all over again.
how many teams HAS brian skinner been on? lol!
mj an kobe in their primes. 21. sick.
who gets hurt first: marcus camby or baron davis?
ok, i’m just rambling now…peace kids.
August 1st, 2008 at 6:44 am
Three Stacks says:
Does Josh Howard mean he’ll keep using the hating as motivation? Or that he’ll keep smoking the herbs?
*sigh* I miss college.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:11 am
sans says:
At least it wasn’t a Trailblazer that said it. Although the weed here in OR is damn impressive. Fire Mike Brown, because you can’t demote him.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:32 am
dmitry of jersey says:
Mike Brown is alright… he talks defense and succeeds with defense. None of the individual players in Cleveland are defensive specialists really, but as a team they play really well. …. it’s quite the opposite from the Nets, where Lawrence Frank talks defense non-stop and his teams don’t play defense OR offense.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:37 am
Tek says:
Depending on how you want to take it, some people could glean a defamatory vibe from MJ’s words and yet the truth is always a complete defense to defamation.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:59 am
Logan Light says:
@Dime – Really, you’re not going to go ahead and call D Wade, LeBron, and Melo Hall of Famers?? I get your point with Melo, but really? LeBron goes in just off his numbers alone, and Wade has the chip and Finals MVP in a finals series for the ages (the destroying of Dirk’s career).
We can’t tell the future of course, but I’d take that bet.
LL
August 1st, 2008 at 9:02 am
Bruce says:
MJ all day, any day.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:04 am
Knickhopeful says:
exsqueeze me, baking powder. did dime just state “Mike Brown has what might be the NBA’s most versatile offensive player in the game at his disposal”??? Give me more 3 moves that Lebron has OTHER than the runaway freight train coast to coast (which doesn’t really count as a move- just poor transition defense)
I’ll help you start- one, the ill advised off balance step back 3….
Or maybe Dime was talking about Boobie,,,?
August 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Jason says:
Knickhopeful-
Do you watch basketball?
Just in the last game for Lebron
-Jab step, side step, stepback 18 foot jumper
-Several drives with passes
Last year in the playoffs I remember a finger roll and several different floaters in the lane.
The versatility comes in with the ball-handling. He is big enough to play D on a center and skilled enough to play point on O. Name another play in the NBA that can do that? AK47? It’s a stretch to say AK has the size to defense down low. Granted he doesn’t have a hookshot- but he doesn’t need one.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
LakeShow84 says:
Lebron is the most versatile offensive player in the league?? Wow i knew you guys were posting his pic up so much out of lust..
I think Lebron needs more of a post game and be more of a consistent 3 threat.. But what about the most important aspect of offense?? His midrange game isnt to sowed up.. In 3-4 years he might be the most versatile but until then can you take some more pices of him.. i have seen those pics on 80 different articles.. givin me the heebiejeebies..
August 1st, 2008 at 9:44 am
LakeShow84 says:
I think if Lebron went out there and beasted Centers in the L it would say more about the sad state of centers.. but he would get beasted if he tried to play center against ANY teams in the west besides Golden State.. And Detroit, Boston, Toronto, ORLANDO, Milwaukee would love for them to try it.. maybe not milwaukee lol
I think it could maybe work though because if he falls the whistle blows even if the next opponent is 2 feet away..
August 1st, 2008 at 9:46 am
LakeShow84 says:
Wearin the HyperDunks in my tourney today.. Wish me luck Fellas!! Im sending someone to the HDRC!!
August 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
isotope says:
More from Artest:
“Yao reached out,” Artest said. “He said some real nice things. I really appreciate it. It was nice of him.”
“Definitely playing with Tracy, I’ve got a guy that can take over a game,” Artest said. “I got my thing. I can take over a game defensively.
“Rafer, he’s my idol. I grew up watching him. I watched him at Rucker Park (in New York). Everybody looks up to Rafer and is proud of Rafer. He grew up in a tough environment, playing street ball and adjusted his game to be a star in the NBA. I not only have admiration for him, but I’m happy for him.
“Me and Shane have been playing together for quite some time. Every time we played it’s always a battle. When we first played against each other (15 years ago) Shane used to be way bigger than me. I really admire Shane because Shane at Duke was the star and he’s still playing defense, hitting big 3s and is such important part of the Houston Rockets. That’s why I wouldn’t mind coming off the bench as a sixth man or seventh man.”
read the rest here: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/5918737.html
August 1st, 2008 at 10:51 am
P_Dizzle says:
Wow, the Artest and Yao thing is getting blown up more than it needs to be. We always want cats to say what they are thinking and then Yao gets blasted and it blows up as some huge thing.
MJ would bust Kobe’s ass hard.
Kobe and Melo will never give up the rock. Those 2 and their lack of passing will be Team USA’s kryptonite.
Crunch time is where you draw the line of MJ and Kobe. MJ did whatever it took to win. Look at clips of him passing to Paxson and Kerr to win games in the Finals. Kobe is keeping the rock no matter what.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:09 am
Jim says:
“I’m going to keep using it.”
August 1st, 2008 at 11:13 am
ERIC says:
All this Paul Pierce “I’m the best player” comments are very similar to when Marbury said he was the best point guard in the NBA.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am
P_Dizzle says:
Lebron can play any position and kill 90% of the league at each position.
Watch a Cavs came and in the timeouts Brown looks clueless when drawing up an offensive play. I know the guy is a defensive guru, but sack up in the timeout huddle. It’s YOUR team. You call the shots. It’s like he is looking for Lebron to help draw a play up.
Brown could experiment with Lebron at different positions, like LA and Magic, and would look like a genius, instead we get that stupor look.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:22 am
the kid says:
during the turkey game the announcer noted that lebron weighs the same and is only one inch shorter than karl malone. that’s pretty impressive. imagine karl malone playing like a point forward.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:42 am
doc says:
Yeah barring injury Bron and Wade going to the hall and you can say Melo to because he will be up there in scoring.Where K-Dizzle at.I gotta call you out dog.You was trying to make your point in that Kobe Mike debate and made some facts up.You said Mike won his 1rst chip at 30 when he had 3 and was striking out on the diamond by then.And you said Baylor watched Oscar.Baylor came 1rst pimp.Respect the game you love.This a b-ball site so Im calling your bluffs just like I expect you to do mine.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
LakeShow84 says:
Oooooooooooo Doc callin out K-dizzle!!
August 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
doc says:
@lakeshow-I aint forget about you either Shaq’s old number 1 fan.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
David Brandon says:
damn…forget lebron lockin somebody up in the chamber. lets just watch doc tee off instead!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
GEE...hood watch! says:
doc I don’t think K-dizzle comes on till later like 4 to 5 hours later. I could be wrong. I just don’t recall him on in the mornings or afternoon lately.
ol boy got his gunz blazing today. Gone be a shootout lol.
So who is going to get silver since the Gold is locked up in Basketball?
Tractor to the Lakers wow. I guess if they got dude they would have an enforcer, don’t know how much pt pimpin would get though.
Man if USA takes an L somehow can you imagine the press. They are going to go bonkers. Although it would be something to get rid of all the Brett Farve (who they should just let play) headlines. Still I don’t want USA to take any L I am just saying it would be crazy.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Callin me Shaq’s number 1 fan is like calling shit a good replacement for chocolate.. shit i dont know, but it just aint poppin bruh bruh lol
August 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
LakeShow84 says:
I think Argentina and (my sleeper pick) Spain take Silver and Bronze, respectively..
I think Spain got a lot of cats who have NBA experience.. it helps in the toughness area.. and i cant go against Ginobli cuz in the Olympics that man is just plain CRAZY..
But who from the Greek Squad is in the NBA?? Serious question..
August 1st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
jmg says:
kobe was a blackhole? maybe on 2 possessions but he lead the team in steals and had a lot of dimes (i think he lead the team in assist)! get over bashing Kobe because its getting old and tired and no way will he the teams Kryptonite as some idiot stated
August 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
K Dizzle says:
I’m right here, playa. I said Mike got his first chip at 30 and it was his 3rd so that means I got no love for the game? Oscar came in 2 years before Elgin so I mixed up the two so Elgin watched Oscar. I’m glad you actually read the post, but my point was that players take from the past and evolve the game.Kobe still watched Mike and took from his game. Read into the fact that I coulda just read the article and been like 99% of the dudes in here with the witty “Mike would bust Kobe’s ass” No explanation necessary? I seen Kobe do things I never seen Mike do. Seen dude get 62 against Dallas in 3 quarters. Seen him get 81 when his team was down 20 and bring em back for a win. Seen dude get 49 with 10 dimes wit a torn finger cuz he saw Mike beat Utah with a flu.seen him put up playoff averages of 30, 5, 5 with that torn finger and nobody else on his team showin up in the finals. I seen Mike have some bad games and been in some matchups that tested him. Heads love to say Mike won everything but conveniently forget that Detroit whooped on him for years like Kobe was gettin it from Phoenix. So when Money comes out to say he’d crush Kobe, I’m gonna defend my guy. I think it’s crazy to say what would happen in a 1-on-1 matchup in they primes when Kobe ain’t even hit his prime yet. Thanks for rightin the wrongs, but my argument remains the same. Peace
August 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
LakeShow84 says:
OOoooooooo K-Dizzle ate ‘im!!
Lol i love the blogs.. im hooked..
August 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
dukesman2000 says:
Dime, are you out of your rabit ass mind. Put Lebron where? Yeah put him up there all you and have Duncan, KG and them boys put him in the “cobra clutch.”
August 1st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
isotope says:
dont forget Kobe had that string of 30+ point games.
And dealing with the rape case, coming from court(law) and killing on the court(bball).
And Jordan was crazy selfish many times but the moment Kobe looks selfish people jump on him. Dude’s def had to face more criticism. Yet still persevered.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
LakeShow84 says:
And good stuff for reppin KB K-dizzle.. honestly i put MJ would win because of the MAJOR fact of what you said.. Kobe aint even hit his PRIME yet.. the next three years will show everyone whats up..
I been holding back on saying this because athletes NEVER are to use excuses but everyone says Kobe got shutdown and PP clamped him and yada yada.. but lets not forget even at his feeling best he could only be 90% because of the fact dude GOT A TORN FINGER ON HIS SHOOTING HAND.. now if you are shooter (which i like to consider myself) even STUBBING your finger on the OPPOSITE hand will throw off your shot a little.. But doo never said it and no one said it for him.. its bunk excuse but nonetheless its the TRUTH..
August 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
IAMRICH says:
random thought—>where’s lester earl…lol
August 1st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Kudabeen says:
Kobe vs MJ one on one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pj-DG9MDVk
August 1st, 2008 at 7:45 pm
GEE...hood watch! says:
MJ folks been silent for a while??? LOL