The Sixers add a shooter, Travis Outlaw wants his shots, and Karl Malone is still a beast
A.I.2 Photo. Kelly TursoEvery legit contender needs a few key pieces to complete the championship puzzle: A go-to scorer who can become the Alpha Dog in crunch time, a few guys who are dedicated to defense, a couple (ideally) dependable ball-handlers who can bring the ball up under pressure, at least one beast of a rebounder, and at least one guy who can line it up and knock down shots consistently beyond the arc. For the Sixers, trying to build their title team around Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, they added another shooter to the roster — alongside Kareem Rush — to feed off those EB double-teams and Andre Miller drive-and-kicks when they agreed to a deal with Donyell Marshall yesterday. The only problem with Donyell is that his reputation as a solid shooter might be all he’s got: he shot 28% from three last year … If you’re old enough to remember Donyell back when he was at UConn, did you ever see his career going where it has? His last year in college Donyell dropped 25 a game and took his share of threes, but he wasn’t drafted #4 overall with the idea he’d be a spot-up shooter who can’t do anything else but shoot. Has anyone else in the League seen their game change so much from college to now? Quentin Richardson was a versatile guy who’s strictly a shooter now. Rafer Alston was a playground magician who only breaks out the goods in garbage time, if that. Shelden Williams, he went from a guy who was good to whatever you want to call him now … Travis Outlaw isn’t exactly the same player now that he was back when he came to the NBA out of high school (he averaged 10 blocks a game as a prep). In a feature story from the Oregonian, Outlaw — who for our money is the best SF on the Blazers’ roster although he doesn’t start — talked about being a sixth man behind Martell Webster and having to compete for shots with second-teamers Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez. “Shots are going to go down somewhere, and I feel I’m the lowest guy on the totem pole, so it may be me.” … How bad is it that Karl Malone is 45 years old and could still put a hurtin’ on a lot of NBA bigs? Malone apparently still works out for about two or three hours almost every day, including some 40-mile bike rides. Meanwhile, Eddy Curry may not even be able to identify a bike at this point … Remember Jason Caffey? He played with the Bulls for two of the three championships during Michael Jordan’s second three-peat and was on those Ray/Cassell/Big Dog Milwaukee teams. Caffey retired in 2003, and recently filed for bankruptcy despite pulling down about $28 million in NBA money over his career. It probably didn’t help finances that dude has TEN KIDS by eight women … With no basketball to watch on TV (except for the occasional 3BA repeats if you have Fox Sports Northwest and feel like watching Shawn Kemp exhausted and out of his element), we’ve watched that “NBA Vault” show of memorable playoff moments on NBA TV a few times recently. Remember when Jason Kidd had blond hair and Kobe (with an Afro) was giving him buckets back when Kidd played for Phoenix? Remember how athletic and quick Shaq used to be? Remember how every Knicks fan is mad at Reggie Miller for pushing Greg Anthony down during the 8-points/9-seconds flurry, but no one asks why Anthony Mason decided to inbound to somebody who was already on the ground? … We’re out like E-City’s cardio …
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 am
obmb says:
Ninth!
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 am
jay says:
third!
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 am
A-Slam says:
LMAO! “Meanwhile, Eddy Curry may not be able to identify a bike at this point” great stuff. As For Karl Malone, I never liked him, he was an asshole and probably one of the cockiest players ever. Apparently his mindset now is that 40-mile bike rides will re-open your championship window. But none of it matters anyhow, you know why? ‘Cause the Mailman don’t deliver on sundays!
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 am
that dude says:
sixers are doing the boston thing last year, hope it all work out… philly needs a great team… philly= great fans, great city, pro sport teams SUCKS… hope this 76ers change, word…
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 am
that dude says:
steve blake, broy, martell wester< jbayless, rudy fernandez, t-outlaw…. one great player aint got shit against 3 good and up and coming players…oh they got sergio “spanish white chocolate” rodriguez and that kid nicolas batum also on the bench… Its good to be nate mcmillan and portland… that kind of problem is all other nba teams want…
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 am
Aussie-Dutchman says:
“Meanwhile, Eddy Curry may not be able to identify a bike at this point” great stuff” – I LOL’d
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 am
alf (from melmak) says:
its nice to remember the stockton-to-malone days. it was fundamental but very much precision basketball done by two players very much committed to winning.
how i wish booz would grow up or just watch old reels of malone to learn what it takes to get things done on both sides of the court.
d-will already is playing very much on the stockton level right now and i want to see booz have at least half the toughness of the mailman.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
Magnifico says:
Blazers are really going to push their way up but there’s always someone who will want out after sharing the spotlight too much. Outlaw’s a good bet. Probably Rudy also might bolt if the ideal situation doesn’t present itself.
Seems like its Phoenix all over again (freakingly like the teams with Joe Johnson and Q-Rich as wings). Hope they make it work this time.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
goonther says:
For the question who’s had the biggest change in their game since college? I’d have to go with JJ reddick – from being “the man” at duke to being the bench bitch in
Orlando-dudes a ghost of his former self
Were out like coach k showin his balls to JJ
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am
J-Lod says:
LMFAO at “Meanwhile, Eddy Curry may not be able to identify a bike at this point”, an instant classic from guys at SMACK, give the dude a tricycle.that woulda do it from EC..
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
schoops says:
JJ and Adam Morrisn both are good calls, and their turn around was quick. But they had a lot of doubts. Who was the biggest sure thing who then had to find a niche to fill to stay in the league?
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
josh tha roc says:
this is kinda like the jailblazer days…except wothout the alfoil.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 am
Dagomar says:
Juwan Howard used to be a star in college, now he’s a reason for Lebron to leave Cleveland, if the Cavs sign him.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Amar says:
being on a bike for 40 miles years after you stopped playing has nothing to do with wanting to open up the championship window — it has everything to do with having discipline. which is what Austin alluded to. you may not like Malone, fine, but he’s no more cocky than Amare is now. Stop hating just because he couldn’t beat Jordan in the finals — who could? Dude has the 2nd most points in NBA history, he was abviously good at something. (aside from fathering athleticially gifted children from a variety of mothers)
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
shake&bake says:
It’s too bad Eddy Curry doesn’t realize how easy it would be for him to be one of the top big men in the league. What a waste.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Kobeef says:
Rob Horry is probably a good candidate for the player who transformed from a college stand-out to an NBA one-trick pony.
I don’t like the Donyell Marshall pick-up. There are quite a few young guys who can give you more than he does which at this point is “move slowly and miss jump-shots”
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Korady says:
Shelden Williams went from a guy who was good to the best player in the WNBA’s fiancee who also happens to play basketball
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
shake&bake says:
Yeah, Shelden went from one of the best players in the nation, to the worst player in his relationship.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Tom S. says:
Going back to yesterday about the Cavs. They aren’t looking at Lorezen Wright or Juwan Howard as starters or even role players. They’ll be the 5th big man who will only play if one of the top 4 are hurt. Just typical NY media trying to make up stories about LeBron leaving.
Fact is the Cavs have over $20 million in expiring contracts on the roster this year, so they can make a trade before the deadline to get another star player from a team looking for cap space. If they don’t then, then the year Lebron is a free agent, they’ll have at least $30 million in cap space, plus be able to re-sign LeBron for more years and money than anyone else. If the Cavs are title contenders and the Knicks and Nets still suck, why would LeBron go to a rebuilding team?
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
deegee says:
i always liked malone more for his d than when the dude had the rock. he owned the middle. and those elbows when he hit the boards were legendary.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
that's whats up says:
eddy chicken curry could be decent….DECENT….if he had one ounce of pride.
as it is now, he’s just a never-has-been that’s getting a lot of dollars for doing close to nothing. It’s like an overly inflated unemployment program. It’s pretty sad.
EDDY – THIS IS YOUR CONSCIOUS TALKING…….IT’S TIME TO FINALLY GIVE A FUCK !!!!!!!!!! IT AIN’T THAT HARD
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
P_Dizzle says:
Malone, I wish there were some cats in the league that worked as hard as that guy. Dude came into the league with a horrendous FT % (48.1%). Worked his ass off and became a high-mid 70% (high of 79.7%, 74.2% career). Name one guy in the league that has started out in the 48% range and has improved it to about 80%?
Also, I loved his knock the hell out of you and ask questions later routine. He dropped David Robinson like a ton of bricks with an elbow to the temple and knocked the sanity out of ‘Zeke with an elbow above the eye. That’s probably about the time that Isiah jumped onto the “crazy train”.
I also loved his pull the chair out from under you routine on Defense. That was classic watching Tim Duncan back Malone up and then watch Malone take an extra step back and Timmy would shuffle his feet and get whistled for traveling.
Malone looked great at the Dunk Contest in NO. All the other ex-NBAers (‘Nique, Dawkins) looked like they had invested their retirement earnings into “Krispy Kreme”.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
P_Dizzle says:
LMAO at post 17 and 21
and this from post 9
“Were out like coach k showin his balls to JJ”
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Ashlov says:
Eddy Curry reminds me so much of Oliver Miller. If only he’d give enough of a fuck to lose the weight and be a man.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
dapro says:
LMAO @ Dime
“Meanwhile, Eddy Curry may not even be able to identify a bike at this point”
Nice
The Mail Man was an all time ass but he worked hard and played the game with his all. Can’t say the same for alot of catz out there
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Did you segue to Shawn Kemp right after talking about Caffey and his ten kids on purpose?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Wolves Fan #1 says:
jr smith’s game has changed a lot since his high school days… just like you guys said in high school he was a raw athlete and now he’s a shooter.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
GEE...Go Dawgs! Still #1 for now baby! says:
Great Smack today!
Wish Kobe would have kept the Fro.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
schoops says:
@ that’s whats up… that s shocking, Eddy “hotdog eating champion” Curry has a conscious!?!?! I can’t believe that one.
@ Ashlov.. don’t insult Oliver Miller.
As a knick’s fan at times I am so damn frustrated with Curry, but honestly it’s what most of us expected when we signed him. Dude was overrated back then and Isiah thought it was a great signing (an immediate cause for worry). The sooner Curry’s gone the better. I’d take a dude with 10% of his talent who honestly cared about the game over his fat ass any day.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Austin Burton says:
On a related note, the only time I saw Jerome James moving around last season was when he’d be on the exercise bike during games.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
yoda says:
nice one on curry
as for malone, well guy had and still have working habits. if shaq had malones or kobes working habit, he would be top scorer and probably best player of all time. alas, company time and too much donuts slowed him….
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
soylentbaz says:
Re Donyell:
I didn’t know ghosts could play basketball.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
solomon says:
damn, from karl’s athletic kids, to shawn kemp’s kids, to jason caffey’s best kemp imitation… this is getting crazeh…
by da way, shelden williams – from being a landlord to being a benchlord
we’re out like jason caffey’s child support…
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
kowtz says:
Malone on 40 mile bike rides? What on his chopper?