Ben Gordon gets his money, the Pistons flip on their ex-coach, and more training camp injuries
Andre Iguodala, Dime #42It’s October, which means it’s time for the Pistons to publicly turn on their former coach for no good reason. Rip Hamilton got his shots in via the Detroit Free Press: “I was disappointed sometimes with the way Flip (Saunders) did things. That was the most frustrating thing about it,” Rip said. “More than anything I was frustrated with how Flip ran things. It’s a new season and I’m just happy [Michael Curry]’s coaching and hopefully we can get off to a good start. You can’t look to the past. You got to move on and you got to look at the situation ahead of us.” This is the typical cycle with a team that doesn’t accomplish its goals year after year while keeping the same core players. If the first coach (Larry Brown) is a hard-ass, the players get tired of it and hope for a more “player-friendly” guy (Saunders). When that coach’s act gets old, all of a sudden he’s too soft and the players ask for either more of a disciplinarian or someone who understands them better, like a former player (Curry). And on and on and on, until the team either wins the big one or the roster changes … The Ben Gordon saga is over (for now). BG finally relented and took the one-year $6.4 million deal qualifying offer, which will make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. Now that he’s on the roster, how do you think Gordon will play? He’s made it painfully obvious that he thinks he’s worth his weight in gold, but since he has to wait until next summer to try and get that, will he play tentative so he doesn’t get hurt? Will he be super-aggressive, trying to put up big-time numbers in a contract year? Will he go out there trying to be a point guard, since he’s gotta know critics see him as one-note? Ben is really capable of anything, and something tells us rookie Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro is the kind of guy he can step over even if he’s hurting the team with his play … Remember what we said in yesterday’s Smack about training camp bringing with it injuries galore? As expected, it seems like lots of feet have been landed on awkwardly over the first few days of practices across the League. Most notable in the ankle injury parade is Greg Oden, whose reportedly minor ankle tweak Tuesday caused him to to miss practice Wednesday, and Andre Iguodala, who sat out yesterday’s Sixers session. Sasha Vujacic also got hurt early into Lakers’ camp, but it’s nothing too serious … And what’s an injury discussion without the Rockets? Yao Ming says his foot is fine, but so far the team is limiting him to just walk-through practices. If we’re Rick Adelman — considering Houston’s roster includes Yao, T-Mac and Steve Francis — we might consider having every practice be a walk-through … The Bobcats have had their share of injury issues, but if they can pull it all together this year, they could actually sneak into the playoffs. Yesterday we previewed the ‘08-09 Charlotte Bobcats, who are in something of a now-or-never year as far as at least making some improvements. The roster is solid, the coach is proven, and (for now) all their key guys are healthy and (financially) happy and ready to go. One thing Emeka Okafor, J-Rich, Ray Felton and Gerald Wallace need to do is figure out amongst themselves who is the go-to guy for this squad. We read that LB thinks Wallace is looking good in camp, but is already getting on him for over-gambling on defense. Hopefully this doesn’t lead to a less-exciting version of Steph vs. Larry, with the phrase, “You gotta let Gerald be Gerald” being spoken at some point … Looks like we were all premature to assume Marcus Williams would be the guy taking over for Monta Ellis while Monta is out injured. Nellie said yesterday that C.J. Watson is the front-runner for the starting point guard job, which threw everybody for a loop, most definitely Marcus Williams. Was this Nellie’s thought process all along? Or had Williams been so unimpressive over the summer that C.J. jumped him on the depth chart? On one hand, we’re always rooting for guys like Watson, who battled his way into the League the hard way and now has a chance to get major minutes; but on the other hand, we’ve been waiting for a while to see if Marcus can cut it on the big stage … Before the ankle injury, before the moped revelation, but after the gigantic contract, we got up with Monta for a feature in Dime #44 back when he was simply one of the most exciting and underrated players in all of basketball. That issue dropped this week, and yesterday we ran an excerpt from Andrew Katz’s piece, “The Legend of Monta Ellis” … How’s this for a blast from the past: Michal Dickerson is in camp with the Cavs. You might remember Dickerson from his days at Arizona with Mike Bibby and Co., or maybe from his NBA run with the Grizzlies. Either way, dude hasn’t played since 2003 — and hasn’t played for real since ‘01, as his final two years in the NBA were derailed by a severe sports hernia that forced him to retire. Good to see Dickerson back on the court, no matter how this comeback attempt turns out … Hedo Turkoglu already said he plans to test the free agent market next summer, and Orlando GM Otis Smith confirmed it when he said the team isn’t looking to give Hedo an extension. If they have no plans on re-signing Hedo, the Magic can use the money they would have paid him to get a legit power forward to put next to Dwight Howard. We’re thinking Carlos Boozer, who lives in Florida in the offseason and has enough outside game to avoid fighting for space with Dwight in the paint. How nasty would a Howard-Boozer-Rashard Lewis frontcourt trio be? … Lost amidst the Stephon Marbury drama at Knicks camp is the subplot that New York has also been trying to get Jerome James to retire, since he’s making a lot of money for doing nothing and there’s absolutely no way ANYBODY in the League would ever trade for him. But Jerome won’t go away. “I want New York to say, ‘Jerome James, that cat could play,’” The Big Endless Shrimp Platter told reporters after practice. “I don’t want to sit out and take my money.” … We saw THIS several hours ago, and it hasn’t gotten any less frightening or any less funny. Is there anyone on your favorite team you’d trade straight-up for the man in the photo? … We’re out like Hedo in ‘09 …
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 am
solomon says:
uno!
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 am
solomon says:
player gotta stop acting like sissies and blame coaches for underachieving… what’s next? boston failing to repeat and “the best player in the world” reasons out that doc is too this, too that, yada-yada,, blah-blah-blah…
and right now, the legend of monta ellis would probably be most remembered for “signing a fat ass check one day and getting stupidly injured the day after”…
speaking of stupid, ben gordon nears the top of that list – doesn’t he use his brain? look at the bulls backcourt?: hinrich is paxson’s man crush, rose is to be showcased, tall 2-guard are necessary for a team to roll against kobes and lebrons (hughes / thabo)… he’s probably the odd piece among the bunch, and after this season, he’d probably bolt for maccabi tel aviv or armani jeans or something…
marcus williams probably over fed himself on a team buffet, pissed don nelson, and there you go…
we’re out like marcus williams’ starting gig…
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 am
Damon says:
is rip hamilton dumb or something? in those sentences there was absolutely no statement, just empty phrases.
if he wants to throw flip under the bus, say SOMETHING, not just this ” he ran thing the wrong way” shit.
as if the team wasn’t choking the last three seasons.
for the robert swift photo: very ugly guy. but i would trade jamaal tinsley for him, even though salaries don’t match. get this lazy guy of indy.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 am
Amar says:
Howard-Boozer-Rashard Lewis — great in imagination land.
let’s just make shit up now . . . deron william, kobe and chris bosh . . . on the CAVS after lebron goes to the nets . . .
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 am
smity far away says:
if you’re the first person to post something whats the use in posting something meaningless and then posting something meaningful (like a real comment) right after that. thats just stupid. If you post your meaningful comment first in the first place then everybody (you wan to care about you posting first) will be like, “oh, solomon posted first and he had good comments”. instead of “solomon posted first with “uno” and then 10 minutes later he thought of something else to say so he came back and said it…”
“If we’re Rick Adelman — considering Houston’s roster includes Yao, T-Mac and Steve Francis — we might consider having every practice be a walk-through”
^^ thats funny but also a suggestion adelman should consider.
forget winning a chip. the rockets should just focus on finishing the year out with nobody getting hurt.
@Amar- lol. you don’t like anybody messing with the jazz huh? i dont think boozer is really going anywhere though…he fits too well with utah and i think he’s aware of it too. would he really go to another team and have to become acclimated all over again (with a non hall of fame coach, non die hard fans and whatever else there is appealing about playing in miami (or orlando) besides wade and dwight) just to be closer to home? i don’t know…
also, dickerson used to be one of my favorite players to root for (along with the rest of that team, reef, bibby, and (wasnt michael adams with them for a year? if not, why am i thinking that?) but has he played anywhere these past years? whats sup wit cats trying to come back from retirement all the time now. can we chalk this up as another trend the G.O.A.T started or did cats used to do this sort of thing before 93? who’s next? tod mccollough? what about mashburn?
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 am
smity far away says:
god damn! i wrote a lot…
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 am
YOUNGFED says:
I think Rip was correct in is acusations regarding Flip. Most of the city felt the same way. 1st how are you gonna run a 8-10 man rotation all year then cut it to 6 in the playoffs? WTF!!! So I don’t see anything wrong with Rip calling it how he see’s it.
YOUNGFED: “However opions are like assholes, everybody’s got one.”
I’m out like Lebron, Hedo, Starbury, and Booz by 2009. HOLLA!!!
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 am
YOUNGFED says:
BTW Damon WTF are you talking about. Tinsley is a beast did it ever occur to you that maybe he just doesn’t want to be in indy, hell I wouldn’t either. And as far as the Rip statement goes, see above comments.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 am
solomon says:
smity… whatever… i can do what i want, feel free to rant and all..
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 am
YOUNGFED says:
Hey Dime I know it’s the WNBA but Damn it is the Finals and they get ZERO coverage. Whats good, is it be cause it’s the Shock in there?
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 am
schoops says:
solomon apparently needed 10 to gather his thoughts.
Marcus Williams should ask khalid el-amin (spl?) how it turns out when you’re a pudgy uconn PG.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
M Intellect says:
Solomon,
LOL @ Armani Jeans
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 am
smity far away says:
@schoops
khalid el-amin used to be raw. he was one of the best things the bulls had going for them back then…
he still playin’ overseas aint he?
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
iain. says:
I doubt C.J Watson will start for GS, Nelson pulls one or two of these interviews each year when he tries to throw everybody off, or just give the media somthing to write about. Remember this time last year “Bellinelli will start” or how about after the Webber signing “Chris will start and i think he can play 40 minutes a night” ermm, right, we know how that worked out.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 am
alf (from melmak) says:
my middle finger goes up to solomon. also, my meal allowance tomorrow goes to the next guy who could put him in a hospital bed for at least a month.
anyway, dime, you just made me sad. after hollinger in espn just predicted the jazz to go all the way to the nba finals, you come in with booz going to the magic. argh.
lastly, imagine the possibilities of isiah coaching the pistons instead. imagine what sheed would do to him.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
P... says:
im surprised no one said im out like robert horry. im pretty sure a team will take a chance on him before the playoffs start.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
shake&bake says:
I wonder if Nelson is just trying to motivate Chubby Williams.
I hope Dickerson and Allan Houston get matched up in a pre-season game so I can have flashbacks.
I’m out like “The Big Endless Shrimp Platter” – That was hilarious.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 am
Kobeef says:
@Dime
Walk through practice? Does Yao EVER run?
@Solomon
WOW – Ben Gordon is an idiot. Of all the options he had
the one-year deal with a team loaded with backcourt players better than him has to be the worst option. Thinkk about it…where is ben in the depth charts:
PG: Hinrich/Rose/
SG: Hughes/Sefolosha/Gordon
At best he is the 4th best backcourt player on the Bulls.
Boozer sucks – he is over-rated and would be a waste of money beside Dwight and Rashard. The Magic should get a true top-flight SF and move Rashard to the PF spot and make the team play uptempo instead of dragging boozer around.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
dapro says:
The Bulls are loaded in the backcourt but BG is still the Bulls best offensive threat when he’s on his game
Hughes will play better as long as the game is uptempo depending on how Del Negro uses Rose
If they slow the pace of the game down then the Bulls will struggle unless they use Rose to exploit the others teams interior d
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Sam I Am says:
@ alf (from melmak)
20 !!!! Jerk
you suck
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 am
that's whats up says:
concerning what Ben Gordon will do this year….
STRAIGHT JACKIN’ !!!!!!!!!!
every time he touches the ball he’s jacking up a shot.
He will try to shoot threes while inbounding the ball on side-outs. just you watch.
If you project selfish you are selfish
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Damon says:
@ youngfed
of course tinsley doesn’t want to be in indy right now.
but a beast? when he is healthy he is a good nba poiint guard. but you have to agree that he wasn’t healthy alot the last years.
and btw, its noz about the game with him only. those offcourt things go on somebodys nerves.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Michorizo says:
I think the Bulls are going to trade Gordon to a team Ben doesn’t want to go to … maybe that is why he waited so long for the 1 year offer. Ben knew he wasn’t going to get the big contract this year and he wasn’t going to play overseas. He might be worried the Bulls will trade him to (insert your worst team or location here).
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
smity far away says:
Its time for some of these east coast GMs to move on…I’m looking at you Pax, (and also you, Danny Ferry). (those the only ones on my mind right now. (no David Stern.)
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
The only person on the Lakers I would consider trading for that creature is Jack Nicholson, so he could sit in the front row and intimdate the opposing players.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Damon
All those off court things lost you guys 4 really good players. (S-Jack, Artest, Oneal, and now J-Tinz)also with those Departures goes any playoff hopes 4 atleast the next 5yrs. Maybe Larry Bird is the Bad Guy.
To quote Jay-Z “Say good-bye to the bad guy.”
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Damon says:
no question bird is bad. if he didn’t like the players behaviour, he should have gotten talent for them. not those trades he did.
i remember in 04 when we thought of a great pacers pistons rivalry for years.but detroit concentrated on winning and staying healthy. they are still on top, our team is garbage.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 am
loganlight says:
@ DIME – Have you guys seen this??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-8MJ84834
LL
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Amar says:
to be honest, boozer is a flawed player who does benefit from being in one of the very few PF oriented offenses that still run in the post bob pettit era. he plays no defense, and he’s not clutch. his asking price will be prohibitivly high for the magic methink . . . he’s going to want to max. you can’t have boozer making the max, and paying rashard half the GNP of planet earth — and still have enough money to throw at guards who’ll actually know how to pass the ball to the frontcourt without actually dribbling it too much, or off their feet, or whatever it was that carlos arroyo did all these seasons . . .
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Big Sia says:
Not that nasty….
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Will says:
The Lakers and Magic need to make a deal: Odom and Turkoglu as the main players! Lakers would get a versatile 3 who can shoot and Magic would get a passing 4 who can rebound!
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Ansonious says:
@ Will that actually sounds like a good trade both teams win , the players would stay on a contending team, and the contracts should be close(kudos.)
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Three Stacks says:
@ Will, if Orlando can throw in an expiring contract and a pick along w/ Hedo, I would do that trade if I were the Lakers. But two players heading into free agency getting traded for each other would be rare, I think.
@ Mox, how can you say such a blasphemous thing about Jack Nicholson? Jack is pretty much our unofficial mascot, since Chick Hearn is gone.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Michorizo says:
@ Will… you are on point. Makes sense.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Sccob says:
LMAO @ endless shrimp platter….
I really hope my boy did not cop those two tix….
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
solomon says:
damn, what’s all the hatin’ about?
middle finger ur own ass, alf (from melmak)… ur those ones who likes them there, eh?
meal allowance? why not do it yourself… anyway, ur probably in the same brain level as ben gordon…
we’re out like paying someone to do the dirty job