Worth Every Dollar
Chris Paul (photo. Zach Wolfe)And that’s why the Hornets spent so much money on James Posey. In the fourth quarter against the Suns — a game no one would have blamed them for losing considering that, (1) Tyson Chandler was in street clothes, (2) Peja missed most of the second half after turning his ankle, and (3) they’d just won a tough game at Golden State 24 hours previous — when Phoenix was creeping up on N.O.’s lead, Posey started knocking down daggers. In the last six minutes or so he hit three backbreaking triples, each of them stretching out the Hornets’ lead a little more and sending another handful of Suns’ fans to the parking lot … Chris Paul (20 pts, 8 rebs, 10 asts, 3 stls) was sick as usual, but here’s something to think about: If the Hornets have more nights like last night, when their shooters are hot — not just Posey and Peja, but Mo Pete and Rasual Butler, too — and Chandler is around to catch those pick-and-roll lobs, and David West is hitting that top-of-the-key jumper, CP could seriously average 13 or 14 dimes per game this year. And yes, it’s only a few days into the season, but the evidence is mounting that we’re headed for an amazing Lakers/Hornets conference finals … To one of our top commentators, “Celts Fan” – You won the Reebok Talkin’ Krazy Contest. We have a whole bunch of great goodies for you. Drop us an email at smack@dimemag.com … Anyone else get the impression that Amare (21 pts, 12 rebs) was trying to pad his stats there at the end? With under 30 seconds left and the game out of reach, Amare was going HARD trying to get another bucket … Steve Nash (24 pts, 9 asts) is stronger than you think. A few times he got stuck guarding David West on a switch, and while you’d think West would just bully Nash to get where he wanted and score, West had a tough time getting around/through him … Robin Lopez was too impressive in the preseason to only get 1:30 of PT last night. He at least deserves more run than Louis Amundson. It might have something to do with Robin picking up three fouls in the first 90 seconds he was on the floor … Was that Joan Rivers sitting courtside behind Terry Porter on Phoenix’s sideline? Whoever it was, her hair looked like something made of plastic … Somewhere out there, Sam Vincent is grinning an evil grin. Ever since the Bobcats gave him a raw deal — firing him after just one year on the job so they could bring in the big name in Larry Brown — the team hasn’t won a single game, going 0-8 in the preseason, then getting smoked in yesterday’s regular season opener at Cleveland. There wasn’t much to like about the ‘Cats: Jason Richardson scored 24, and Adam Morrison (9 pts) looked salvageable coming off the bench, but the rest was just bad. Ray Felton couldn’t throw it in the ocean, and Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor were too quiet for two guys scheduled to take $106 million of Bob Johnson‘s money for the next five years … Then there was Sean May, who was kind of awful (2 pts, 0-for-6 FG’s) on both ends of the floor. Said Larry Brown, “The big people we’re playing against seem to be more athletic and getting things done.” More athletic? Really? The ‘Cats were up against Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace‘s mummy … LeBron put up 22 points, nine boards and nine assists, but he was on the bench when the Cavs pulled away in the late-third/early-fourth quarter, letting Daniel Gibson (25 pts) and Mo Williams (17 pts, 7 asts) do the work … Note to Wally Szczerbiak: When you can’t even keep Adam Morrison in front of you on D, you should get used to playing only five minutes a night … T-Mac‘s gotta love having MVP candidate Ron Artest around. Mac (16 pts, 5 rebs, 7 asts) didn’t have to do a whole lot as Artest (29 pts) helped Yao (30 pts, 13 rebs) carry the load in beating the Mavs … The TNT studio crew (have you seen their signature sneakers?) was killing Dallas. Barkley said that Dirk‘s 36-point outing “didn’t make an imprint on the game” and was the quietest 36 he’d ever seen, and Chris Webber went on a tangent about how when he was in the League, his teams went into Dallas thinking “They’re the weakest team” and “This is gonna be so funny.” C-Webb did have a point about none of the Mavs’ players doing anything when Artest stuck his nose into a scuffle and picked up a tech (undeserved) … Play of the night: Brandon Bass dipping a shoulder into Luis Scola and knocking him back about three feet, then cramming on him almost as bad as Rudy Gay did … Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, who also owns multiplexes in Utah, has banned Zack and Miri Make a Porno from his theaters. But if he really wanted to do the people a favor, he’d ban all the High School Musical flicks and anything involving Nicolas Cage … And don’t forget, today is the last day to register to win the free Mitchell & Ness gear. To enter to win go HERE … We’re out like Wally’s defense …
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October 31st, 2008 at 3:12 am
Kavs says:
1st!!!! Just so that nobody else can say that…
October 31st, 2008 at 3:22 am
Kavs says:
I just read about Bynum’s contract extension! 4 years for $58 mil??? What the hell are they smoking? Dude hasn’t done jack in the league and he pulls a LeBron, D Wade type extension. Talk about putting all ur eggs in one basket! The Knicks might as well give Wilson Chandler an extention if he’s due one the way he’s playing right now(on second thoughts Isiah would have just done that!)
On a side note, keep up the good work DIME! Been a reader for about a year but never posted b4… (and I hate the “1st” comment already!)
October 31st, 2008 at 3:23 am
Kavs says:
And I’m out like Sean May starting…
October 31st, 2008 at 4:05 am
solomon says:
and just like that, tyson misses another game…
we’re out like an ironman award for tyson
October 31st, 2008 at 4:15 am
sans says:
Boobie needs to get a new nickname already…how do you make it to the League with that as your moniker?…GO CAVS!! They played Boston tough but faltered late, and Bron hasn’t had to do everything out there…I’m out like the impressive athleticism of Big Ben Tutanhamman….
October 31st, 2008 at 4:21 am
Jay says:
I don’t understand how Wally Szczerbiak can have a solid career in this league (starting for a few teams) just getting buckets and playing absolutely terrible D, but guys like JJ Redick and Steve Novak can’t get any tic other than garbage time.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:58 am
sans says:
Wally hit a lot of shots in his first few years with KG making up for his defensive lapses, plus, his knee surgeries made his lateral movement that much worse, killing his D. He wasn’t always this terrible. Never Bird, but rarely this bad.
JJ deserves a shot.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:16 am
Soopa says:
Is there anyone in the league who can be a vital part of a team, play an outstanding game and his stats say 2 pt, 2 dimes and 3 rebounds? Im talking about Varejao. If you arent watching cavs games, you have no idea how valueble this guys is.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:38 am
Coop says:
Wally is also 6’7, not some dwarf like Redick. Wally can easily hit shots when open or over smaller guys, Redick simply can’t.
Chris Paul, quite simply, is ridiculous.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:58 am
DK35 says:
Speaking of Joan Rivers, Robin Lopez is a Big Mouth Fag.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:29 am
AB_40 says:
why don’t they show the entire tnt overtime show online anymore? Big(old)Ben 5 blocks niceeeee
October 31st, 2008 at 6:32 am
Dagomar says:
Webber’s just pissed the Kings lost to the Mavs in the playoffs and he got a career-changing injury in the same series (if I remember correctly). Gonna be a long, long year for Larry . . . .
October 31st, 2008 at 8:09 am
Chaos says:
did yall see the cram rookie jj hickson had on okafor. you cant jump in the air to block a shot then change your damn mind half way up. thats not a shot blockers mentality…..
October 31st, 2008 at 8:18 am
The Real Tyrone says:
Why you gotsa be hatin on mah High School Musical? Dat Zac Efron has some pretty eyes yo.
True Thugs Never Lie
Tyrone
October 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
Kobeef says:
Larry Miller’s fat ass is going to send his heart to the grave early..fate takes care of problems like him.
Bynum is raw but Steven Smith made the point that in today’s NBA, where guys like Emeka and Deng get $16million per, Bynum is absolutely worth that kind o $$.
The Bobcats are looking really bad. Something has to change and I can’t see Larry getting fired after the noise they made about him..so I expect some trades.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:26 am
NB says:
I wonder if Chris Webber’s team was laughing when Dallas beat them in the playoffs.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:27 am
it aint easy being green says:
i wish posey was still in green.
why is bynum gettin that kinda extention/$$$? not that i matter, but i aint seen him do anything to warrant that shit. who said somthing about eggs in a basket?
the D was suspect, if not non-existant, in wally’s world before the knee injuries. dude couldent stay in front of a building.
did i mention i wish posey was still in green??????
October 31st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Sweet English says:
LOL @ post 14.
Tyrones new sign off should be ‘Go Wildcats’.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Ashlov says:
“Ben Wallace’s Mummy” gets a +1. I stopped reading the article to comment on that.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am
GEE....No barkin just hard bites says:
Foremost Houston up!
How bout that Rocket D in the 4th. Or was it lack of Dallas o? Either way the squad is lookin tough, although I don’t like that you give up a 14 point lead. Still got that fresh W, on a back to back too.
I put Brooks up in a race with the ball from end to end of court against anybody. Dude is fast.
Yesterday someone said Ron was straight garbage, no sorry they said he was nothing. Well, he seemed to be a lil something last night. True Thugs don’t have the internet.
LOL poor Dirk scores what 1 in the 4th? LOL THAT’S gonna help his image.
N.O. is the beast in the west, I am really convinced on that. They appear to seriously be on the same page and all on a mission. Imma say they get the 1 or 2 seed now.
You can ban all the movies you want in Utah, that still won’t get you closer to a championship lol
Aight runnin my wish list for the year and I am out.
1. The Rockets get out the first round. I know a lot of folks are talking championship. When you been down with the squad like I have though (I go back to Robert Reid era)then gettin out the first helps more than one knows for this fan.
2. I need someone this year, Kobe, Lebron or somebody to drop 70 something points.
3. I need Atl to make more noise this year during the season, so their % chances increase in playoffs.
4. I need a shock team to come up this year besides Portland. Clippers, New Jersey, and co. I am talking to you.
5. I need someone to set George Karl up in a scandal so he can be fired (just kidding), but I would like for A.I. or Melo to call him out, start the controversy that sends him on in the pasture.
6. I need for someone to dunk on Greg Oden visciously once every two weeks.
7. I need for NY fans to stay humble if they really start doing well and remember the hard times (we know that ain’t happenin).
8. Being that KG has rabies I am lookin for the Big Kujo to literally foam some at the mouth this year in trash talkin an opponent and talking to himself.
9. I want a serious Brawl this year that calls for someone to be suspended like 20 – 30 games (no fans involved and no one from the Houston Rockets).
10. I want Craig Sager to don a pimp chalice, cane and hat during at least 1 segment. 10b. I want Marv Albert to go to commercial with “The Freaks Come Out At Night” playing.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:07 am
GEE....No barkin just hard bites says:
Please feel free to add to the wish list or make 1 of ya own lol.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:09 am
Ansonious says:
Glad I got cp3 on my fantasy squad, it was just brutal in the 4th quarter last night suns seemed like they were creeping up to make it a game, but as dime put it daggers were coming from every direction like the suns basket was my friends mom. I’m out like the suns guarding the 3 point line peace!
October 31st, 2008 at 9:23 am
BALLZ says:
I’m not hatin, but 4 real tmac looks to be edging closer and closer to “washed up.” He’s lost most (all?) of his explosiveness with all the injuries. If Ron Ron keeps his lid on though…
October 31st, 2008 at 9:52 am
jl90 says:
did u see peja jawing with matt barnes after he stuck a j in his eye last night? too bad he got hurt cause he was on fire.
i was surprised with how little the rockets used tmac in the waning moments too. i mean everyone knows dallas cant close a game but mcgrady was just chilling. extra dimension that artest adds
loius amundson for MVP!
October 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Kudabeen says:
The point I’ve been making about Oden’s weight/body type contributing to his injuries echoed by David Thorpe:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-35-117/David-Thorpe–Trouble-Signs-for-Greg-Oden.html
He is going to stay injury prone until he loses weight up top. His lower body isn’t strong enough to bare the pounding…
October 31st, 2008 at 10:08 am
Tom S. says:
Good point Kudabeen. The Cavs limited Z’s upper body workouts to lessen the strain on his surgically-repaired feet.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:16 am
doc says:
I’d rather Amare go for his instead of quit though.But they keep putting that foriegn dude in over my youngin Sean and I aint seen why yet.Dude stinks.@gee-yall look good but yall do every time around this year and I would put my money on a 30 game win streak and 1rst round exit.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am
karizmatic says:
Don’t count out Houston making a run for the western conference finals, if McGrady gets healthy they could be a real problem. Dallas won’t be good until they realize Nowitski is nothing but a 7’0 small forward and stop the botched experiment of masquerading him as a power (less?) forward. He doesn’t even want the ball on the block. Expect that to be a recurring comment all season. Dallas should start Bass at PF and Dampier at center, let Nowitski play small forward and move Howard to shooting guard, then they might just have a chance if only because that is a big lineup.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:20 am
that's whats up says:
Tyson Chicken Chandler.
Why couldn’t he sit out the Semi’s last year against the Spurs?
@ Gee, on 10b – I’d hate to think what Marv would be wearing undeneath that suit. Yikes!!
also, Houston will probably have a great run this year, even when T-Mac and Yao miss A LOT of games with injury. I still don’t see the team falling off much as long as Ron-Ron is in the game. that fool is crazy
October 31st, 2008 at 10:23 am
karizmatic says:
Oh yeah and the Lakers did overpay for Bynum, that’s my team though, they’ll look like geniuses if they win a championship this year which they seem on their way to doing. And I guess they figured they’d have to pay Bynum more in the offseason if they let him on the market as a free agent.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
TXBOY23 says:
CP3 is the truth!!! First time speaking on this forum. I’m in the military, currently holding it down overseas. I get to catch a few games here and there. Big Spurs fan. I might catch heat from KoBeef for admitting it!! For real though. Dime keeps me up while I’m out here feeling down. Appreciate Austin and Co. for doing a great job. For the rest of yall reader/bloggers, I hope to catch yall at an open run when I get back tp the states…One
October 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am
P_Dizzle says:
I am surprised to read a Dime Smack w/out Bynum or the Knicks being mentioned.
Lakers overpaid on Bynum. They didn’t need to pay him now, they should have dangled that in his face all year to get production out of him and see if he can play a full season. They can match any offer he gets and I don’t think he wants out of LA, so I don’t get the rush in signing him.
Bynum will NEVER be a 30/15 guy like everyone is hoping with Kobe, Odom, and Gasol on that team.
The ironic thing about what Webber said is that everyone in the league thought that about HIM when they played the Kings. “Webber’s the weakest player”.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am
sans says:
alright Gee…
1. I want Lebron to jump over someone in an actual game. It’s only a matter of time.
2. I want to see a quadruple double from somebody, not including TOs. Hakeem (twice!), Alvin Robertson, Nate Thurmond, and Admiral are the only players to have pulled it (although BIG O had to have gotten one if they kept records correct back then).
3. Although he hasn’t done it yet, I want Larry Brown to start talkin’ bout how his players’ mothers didn’t raise them right–apparent by their lack of hustle and discipline on the court.
4. I need to see Steph tattoo “$20 MILL-A-MINUTE” on his forehead somewhere, for his contributions to the Knicks this season.
5. I need to see Captain Kirk knock someone out like Little Mac in SUPER PUNCHOUT! You know, with the uppercut that makes Mac jump and ish. Just have him take out Yao like that would make YouTube history.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Sam I Am says:
lol @ post 14
October 31st, 2008 at 11:00 am
control says:
After watching the Houston/Dallas game, I have to say that Houston needs to get rid of Skip to my Lou. I used to love watching the guy play, but he looks to be the only one not buying into the team concept, he’s out there to get his. Even Crazy Ron was playing like he’s had an epiphany…if he does it like he did last nite all year, I’ll be eating my words about him.
BTW, wtf was up with Dirk, he got to 35 then apparently decided he filled his quota and disappeared. Did he get hurt or something in the 4th quarter? Dallas could have won if he didn’t leave the game in the 3rd quarter.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:32 am
dapro says:
H-Town looks solid, my pick for last season and this season to make the finals vs Boston
Dallas
@GEE
Brooks is fast but my money is on Derrick Rose as the fastest cat with the ball in his hands
Rose
AI
CP3
TJ FORD
His moves are lightning quick
October 31st, 2008 at 11:54 am
Willis says:
@ NB post 16
When did Cwebb lose to the Mavs in the playoffs?
Oh, thats right. NEVER.
The only series Webbs Kings lost to the Mavs was the one where he blew out his knee.
Get your facts straight or go home.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
QuEsT??? says:
yo congrats to celts fan, the suns made too much silly mistakes.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
parinaz suns says:
that game was awful i dont think it is possible for them to have had any more turnovers. and amare was too passive last night and barbosa pissed me off with all of his bad choices. but it was good to see raja bell come back to life. they need to burn those orange jerseys they are nothing but bad luck.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
LBJ wasn’t even playing hard. Yao was beasting Diop and Dampier. Not sure why the Suns can’t get it going. Matt Barnes is ok but I think Diaw needed more PT.
True Chefs never microwave.
-Nuff
October 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Celts Fan says:
Thanks guys, those shoes and goodies will be amazing, ‘preciate it.
I’m surprised Miller didn’t ban HS Musical also, don’t they show ankle in that?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Gee-don’t blame the players for Miller’s narrow-minded views. Remember they made it further than the Hornets the last two years. Although I will admit the Hornets look pretty damn good, we haven’t seen the Jazz at full strength yet this year.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Line of the night: Kevin Harlan to Craig Sager (in his orange suit) “You are a piece of work”.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
NB says:
@ Willis
“Oh, thats right. NEVER.
The only series Webbs Kings lost to the Mavs was the one where he blew out his knee.”
My fact are correct and it seems yours are too, you just don’t know what never means. Regardless, that’s the last time C-Webb played a memorable game. No one wants him anymore. It appears he’s a little bitter that Dallas was the team that ended his career.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
jackass says:
my money says CP3 comes closest to quadruple double, with steals
October 31st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
GEE....No barkin just hard bites says:
johnsacrimoni it’s bridesmaid but never the bride. Or Ho but never the pimp lol. Either I don’t see Utah getting anyone’s championship anytime soon.
Of course I admit I am heavily bias.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
VERTMAN says:
Morrison is pretty quick if you guys haven’t noticed. Funky monkey has a cool game.