Dirk Nowitzki vs. Team USA, Steve Nash gets his backup plan, and who is the “Velvet Hammer”?
Dirk Nowitzki (photo. Monte Isom)It’s the last day of pool play, and Team USA has a couple of familiar faces on its schedule in Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Kaman and the German national squad. Pretty much everyone on the U.S. team has, at one time or another, directly or indirectly, been served the hot plate by Dirk while he’s playing for the Mavs. And odds are everyone on Team USA has witnessed Kaman doing his double-double thing first-hand. But as a whole, Germany doesn’t bring anything to the table that suggests they have a chance at upsetting the Americans. They’ve gone 1-3 so far in these Olympics, with their only win coming against Angola. Even if Dirk drops 30 and Kaman gets 20 and 15 boards, the U.S. could still run away with this game thanks to their depth, defense, shooting and confidence coming off the annexing of Team Spain … Germany’s best chance is if Coach K benches some key players to rest them for the medal round, but even if he does that he’s still rolling out an NBA All-Star roster. This would be a perfect time for Coach K to get Carlos Boozer, Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd a lot of PT before the rotation gets possibly even shorter when it’s one-and-done time … If you had to hand out a Team USA MVP through the pool play round, who would it be? D-Wade is our front-runner, followed closely by LeBron … In other Monday action, Andrew Bogut scored 23 to lead Australia to a surprising 31-point rout over Lithuania; Greece looked like the Greece everyone was afraid of before they ran into Team USA, smacking China behind Vassilis Spanoulis‘ 19 points; and Croatia destroyed Iran, holding them to 16 first-half points on the way to a 30-piecing … Iranian 7-footer Hamed Ehadadi put up 17 and 14 boards in his Olympic capper, but he made his biggest splash over the weekend when news broke that the NBA has sent a letter to all 30 teams forbidding them from discussing any kind of contract with Ehadadi’s people. There’s a federal statute prohibiting the U.S. from engaging in business dealings with Iranian nationals, and the NBA would have to get a special license in order to start talking with Ehadadi. This makes us wonder how the NBA pulled off bringing Team Iran to the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league last month, and if they got in any kind of trouble for that. The 23-year-old Ehadadi obviously has the eye of NBA scouts, and he said he’d been talking to a couple of teams, including the Grizzlies. So if you’re scoring at home, Memphis GM Chris Wallace has the mess of the Pau Gasol trade under his belt, and now he’s almost caused an international incident … Good news for Steve Nash and bad news for Shaun Livingston and D.J. Strawberry, as the Suns can bring in prized draft pick Goran Dragic after he reached a buyout agreement with his team in Spain. Everything is being put in place for Dragic to assume the #2 point guard spot behind Nash, and if Dragic is good, Terry Porter can cut down on Nash’s minutes in the regular season. As for Strawberry, who could’ve had that primary backup spot after a solid summer, and Livingston, who would’ve been a sensible free-agent risk for Phoenix, they’re in limbo again … The Cavs and Delonte West are still at an impasse in negotiations, but seeing as Delonte just lost a TON of bargaining power with the Mo Williams acquisition, he’s likely to just sign the $2.7 million qualifying offer and try the market next year. Now why Ben Gordon won’t do that with the Bulls, we don’t know … We caught some of the U.S. women’s game against New Zealand, our first long look at the team who — unlike the men — have always been expected to cruise to the gold medal. New Zealand wasn’t expected to put up much of a fight, especially considering two of their players (one starter) sat out the Sunday matchup because they’re Mormon … The game was close for a sec, but then Team USA went on a 21-0 run in the second quarter (sounds familiar) and put NZ to bed. Tina Thompson scored 15 points as the U.S. kept feeding the post against their undersized opponent, and Katie Smith added 13 … First there was the “Babyface Destroyer,” the nickname we decided we had to steal from the Ethiopian Olympic distance runner and give to someone in the NBA (if you’ve got a better candidate than Chris Paul, let us know). Then yesterday while watching badminton, one of the announcers called a shot a “velvet hammer.” That’s kind of tight; not sure if it’s a nickname for a player or a way to describe a smooth play like one of Ray Allen’s dunks … We’re out like Ehadadi …
August 18th, 2008 at 5:09 am
hahns says:
first!
wow…ive gay as it is, ive always wanted to do that.
btw, dime, i subscribed for your mag 2 months ago and still havent got my copies yet…wtf!!
August 18th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Luigi says:
nice smack dime.. i like how the euro is influencing the NBA in ALL kinds of ways..Team USA.i think will have pressure on them 2 win. but i think they can [hopefully] n the Velvet hammer?
is that someone who is smooth?. or who i think has a nice J. or nice Drive [kinda like Glide]
August 18th, 2008 at 5:25 am
iceman anaba says:
Was going through the comments section the other day and came across a reader who commented that he didnt quite like the moniker ‘redeem team’. It got me thinking. I wanted to come up with an appropriate sobriquet that was catchy as well as appropriate..I gave up when I came up with this;
K Kobe
Wa Wade
Me Melo
Bron LBJ
That’s the Kwame Bron team folks! wait.. oh well, i guess it wouldn’t work out for so many reasons and on so many levels.
I am out like lightning bolt.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Camp Lo says:
Rubio is killing it in the 1st half of the Spain-Angola game (check it out on nbcolympics.com). The kid’s timing on playing the passing lanes on D & finding teammates on O is out of this world. In about 12 minutes of play he had like 4 steals & 4 assists (at least), not to mention numerous deflections & dimes his guys didn’t finish. This one’s gonna be special.
Anyone know what the deal is regarding the buy-out of his contract & what are the chances he’ll be in the 2009 draft?
August 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Alf says:
velvet hammer? hmmm. kinda fit for boozer, i think.
now, for the babyface thing. how about chris quinn who looks absolutely like a baby in a mans world?
dont wanna watch the us vs germany game. its gonna be one lopsided thing. what i do hope is for team usa to get another go at it against the aussies and hopefully spain or lithuania in the finals.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Haslem says:
Kevin Durant has a real baby face (for the nickname baby face destroyer) and he gets buckets.And he’s only gonna improve. it coulda been a good nickname for shaq back in the day.
I think CP would make a good “velvet hammer” to be honest. CPs moves are silky smooth.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Haslem says:
heck the way Rubios playing one of those 2 nicknames could be his 1 day
August 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Luigi says:
sooner or later. dimes gonna have to write about Rubio sometime in the coming months. the guy is TOO good
August 18th, 2008 at 6:19 am
imung lolo upaw says:
spain has 98 points in like 3 quarters.. looks like somebody has a chip on their shoulder..
August 18th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Luigi says:
THE REIGN MAN is in Italy..in other random news
August 18th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Camp Lo says:
Damn!! I wanted to see Part 2 of the Tricky Ricky Show but Spain’s coach sat him the entire 2nd half. Spain dominated Angola like a Barkley elbow, winning 98-50 (Pau had 31pts & brother Big Foot sat this one out in street clothes).
I got a fever…..and the only prescription is more Rubio!
August 18th, 2008 at 6:32 am
AB_40 says:
That Iranians can’t work in the US is rascist. Like every person from Iran is a terrorist? Kinda wack ain’t it.
Funny how Kaman is better then Boozer and plays for germany while he’s born in the us and Boozer was born in Germany…
Man australie raped lithuania who would have guessed that.
No one would have guessed that russia would be out of the tournament right now.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:00 am
P..just hand over the GOLD says:
Lebron is making the debate for best player in the world not even a Question….but Wade is definitly special…Australia surprised me lithuania was playing great Ball before this ….
August 18th, 2008 at 7:00 am
dj ho says:
hey u guys should do a Rest of The World squad post. Who would you guys put in it?
August 18th, 2008 at 7:27 am
BALLZ says:
The Velvet Hammer=Oliver Miller
August 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
sans says:
I love how easily the race card gets bandied about in the comments here…is it racist that you can’t talk to Cuban players either until they defect to the States? Stuff Hamed into a gym bag and sneak him into the States, he’ll get international immunity just like the Cubans that come to this country every day.
And please, just because most people are ignorant of this: coming from Iran, what race would he be? I’m out like Hamed being Arabic…
August 18th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Ztrini says:
Okio.. I have an odd question.. that whole not talking to Hamed Ehadadi applies to Toronto as well??…
I mean not that we need another 7 footer, but having one in our backpocket is a neat little trick…
Our team, our policies???
August 18th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Ztrini says:
Velvet Hammer = Chris Bosh! Brings the pain with a silky smooth touch…
August 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am
josh says:
Velvet Sledge Hammer is Matthew Lloyd.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:46 am
SD32 says:
Go the aussies!! Bogut has finally shown up – he’s shooting 18/25 in the last 2 games & 5/6 from long range!! Must be loving the shorter 3 line. BTW to clarify for post 18 – matthew lloyd plays aussie rules football. But for someone in the nba I reckon the name suits jr smith
August 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am
SD32 says:
*post 19
August 18th, 2008 at 8:52 am
turambur says:
@sans:
Iran is ethnically mostly Persians. Which is very different than Arabians, and either will likely bet VERY offended if you confuse the two.
And it’s not racist to refuse to do business with citizens of a nation that has repeatedly threatened the US. If he wants to play in the NBA, all he has to do is defect and revoke is Iranian citizenship. I know that turning your back on your home country like that is not something to be taken lightly, but you can’t expect the State Department to make an exception to international policy just because a guy can ball.
Oh, and the NBA will not be in trouble for letting the Iranian team play in the summer league. They got permission from the State Department for that. It’s what they call “sports diplomacy,” and is supposed to ease tensions between the nations a little. Kind of like the Olympics, but on a more personal scale.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
smity far away says:
@turambur
“It’s what they call “sports diplomacy,” and is supposed to ease tensions between the nations a little. Kind of like the Olympics, but on a more personal scale.”
so why wouldn’t “sports diplomacy” be practiced in a case of “the State Department to make an exception to international policy just because a guy can ball” when, as you just pointed out, they did make an exception to international policy in permitting the iranians to hoop in the summer league…(one of the reasons being) just because they can ball…
August 18th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I bought some weed from an Iranian once. I hope the State Department doesn’t come after me.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:18 am
schoops says:
@post 9… ut oh, big bad spain has a chip on their shoulder so they’re going to show their “might” by beating up on the crappiest team in the bracket. They’re just a bunch of ignorant punks.
@AB 40… It’s not racist. Because they won’t enter into negotiations over the nuclear weapons programs and for other reasons we have many trade embargos and sanctions (along with the rest of the western world) against the country. If you make exceptions then that defeats the pupose of sanctions. But as Dime said, teams CAN apply to sign him, if they do the necessary paper work…. and well put turambur.
I think the “velvet hammer” title should go to someone who throws down hard but doesn’t bring the rim down (richard jefferson style).
And Wade and Bron should be the MVP, and Kobe and (somewhat suprisingly) Bosh should grab Defensive MVP.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Kaman has the first ever faux hawk mullet.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
schoops says:
@Smity… they brought the TEAM over (and didn’t PAY them). That’s slightly different than having one guy come over and sign a large contract. That being said, I love having the NBA be an international league and I hope a team gets the paperwork done and brings him over to play in the states. The US’s policy makes sense, but this guy also deserves a chance. Weird, complicated issue.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Dagomar says:
Damn, Velvet Hammer is nice. Give that one to Bosh!
And Bron would be the MVP for me, dominating on both sides of the floor and doing everything. Plus he’s the team’s leader. But Wade is close. And I couldn’t imagine where the team would be without Paul.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
that's whats up says:
I like “Velvet Hammer”, its just kind of messed up that you guys were watching badminton
August 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Bruce says:
No love for Shawn Kemp? Go Shawn go. For the record, Shawn is 38 years of age not 40.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:41 am
the_baconator says:
Velvet Hammer is a sweet nickname! Like Dagomar said, it fits Bosh nicely; I’m not a huge fan of CB4 as a nickname…
August 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am
sans says:
@ turambur…I’m well aware that Iranians are Persian and really stoked that other readers know that. Nice. I hate the quick ode to racism, when the idea of race only exists because people allow it to; seeing differences instead of similarity. It’s the same when people lump Muslims together (or Christians/any group) like they’re all the same. Decades ago, you couldn’t do biz with China and look how that changed.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
alex says:
i agree with the others who said velvet hammer would be good for Bosh. I don’t think baby face destroyer applies to cp3, he’s more like an assassin than a destroyer.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:30 am
that's whats up says:
BABYFACE DESTROYER = MONTA ELLIS
dude looks 15
August 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Noter says:
Monta Ellis should be the ‘baby face destroyer”
August 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
MJAX says:
I thought the “Velvet Hammer” was the name of the punch Todd Day tossed at Larry Johnson back in the day!!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
ALF says:
LOL…somebody stole my alias, but whatever…no biggie.
Velvet Hammer is a cool name, but I would reserve it for current Bucks players. Years ago, if you gave that to Desmond Mason or RayRay while they were still with Milwaukee; then yes it fits.
However, I see it more appropriate for Richard Jefferson now.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Philip1thru12 says:
Hi guys. Hi DIME! Remember me?
fantasyshark.net
go to the forums and talk with us
we are all mostly former dime members back on foxsports.com
August 18th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Philip1thru12 says:
hey dime, did you guys ever receive those shoes you promised to send ace? are they still on that camel?
August 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
doc says:
It aint no MVP on this team.Its 12 beasts playing as one unit.Why we always gotta say who MVP or who the best?All I hear is Wade shining the most,Wade shining but the whole team got parts in that.This team dont give a rats ass who score the most points so checking stats for averages on this team is for show.All this team care about is W’s and L’s and been showing that for 2 years now.Because they beat a scrub ass Spain team(compared to US team) we getting who MVP talk and all this we playing our best crap.Dont switch up now.Keep throwing out random teams thats gonna beat us so you dont mess the chemistry up.They feeding off the negative shit they read about every day.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
NYCBalla says:
There are mormons in New Zeland?
August 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Austin Burton says:
Before I saw the thing about the New Zealand players, I was actually wondering how many other Olympic athletes didn’t compete Sunday for religious reasons.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Mavid says:
I agree with Monta Ellis being the babyface destroyer.
Joe Johnson should be the velvet hammer. Dude’s game is real smooth, but he’s a STRONG dude who gets a lot of his shots off by bumping people around.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Homeless J says:
Velvet Hammer sounds like a gay porn star’s name.
John Amaechi?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Mac22 says:
Velvet Hammer = Tim Duncan
August 18th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
that's whats up says:
Tim Duncan will smack Mac upside the head with his Velvet Hammer
August 19th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Pizzle says:
To say that the US Womens team will ‘cruise to the gold medal’ is extremely ignorant. You have disappointed me DIME. If you check the last world championships, you will see that AUSTRALIA actually won and they have been rolling through all there games to date. I think the final will be a close game between the Aussies and the US. By know means will it be a cruise to victory. This is how Americans give themselves a bad name.