NBA preseason tip-off, Raja Bell is a huge star, and Al Harrington has some X-Games in his game
Chauncey Billups (photo. adidas)There are two things NBA players NEVER want to happen in a preseason game: injuries and overtime. The first one is obvious. The second only increases the likelihood of injuries and means everyone goes to bed or gets to the airport (or gets to the club) later than they have to. Miami and Detroit went into OT in the League’s first preseason game of ‘08-09, with the Pistons eventually getting the win. Rodney Stuckey led the way with 23 points and five assists off the bench, and strangely enough, new starter Amir Johnson (2 pts, 4 rebs, 5 fouls) played the least (18 minutes) of all the starters; you’d think coach Michael Curry would want to rest Chauncey, Rip and Co. while giving Amir as much court time as possible. Mike Beasley led Miami with 16 points and six boards off the bench, D-Wade put up 11 points and seven dimes, and Chris Quinn got the starting nod at PG for the Heat, but Mario Chalmers played the most minutes out of the trio that includes Marcus Banks (Shaun Livingston didn’t play) … The Hornets beat the Warriors in the only other game, getting 19 points from David West, 14 from Hilton Armstrong (looks like GS still can’t guard the paint) and Chris Paul put up 13 points and six dimes. Tyson Chandler rolled his ankle in the first quarter and didn’t return, but said afterwards it was no big deal and he just sat out as a precaution … C.J. Watson started at the point for Golden State alongside Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins. And of course Marco Bellinelli, Mr. Ball-When-It-Doesn’t-Count, led the Warriors with 14 points … During an interview where he was trying to defend Monta Ellis‘ actions, Harrington bumped his gums a little too much. “You act like he killed somebody,” Harrington was quoted in the New York Daily News. “I mean, he could have stepped off a curb and broke his ankle. Whatever happened, happened, but I don’t think youth had anything to do with it. I mean, I ride jet skis and stuff I know I’m not supposed to, even though I’m 28.” Think. Before. You. Speak. Chris Mullin should be having a meeting soon with Al about the joys of jet-skiing and the other “stuff” he’s doing in his spare time … Mike D’Antoni must feel like an 18-year-kid trying to recreate prom night with a blowup doll; he’s learning that it’s just not the same without the authentic tools. If he’s gonna stick to what he did in Phoenix, Coach D has to figure out a way to turn Chris Duhon into his version of Steve Nash, how to make Eddy Curry into Shaq, how to get David Lee to be his Amare, and how to turn Old Q-Rich into Young Q-Rich. And, quite possibly, Nate Robinson has to be this team’s version of Leandro Barbosa moreso than Marcus Banks. But so far D’Antoni likes what he’s seeing from the little dude. “I’m really surprised with [Nate] and how good he is,” D’Antoni said. “I do think that the way we want to play an open court, that will benefit him as much or more than anybody. He’s scary athletic, and fast.” One thing Nate won’t do that Barbosa will do — he won’t challenge LeBron James in mid-air … An X-factor to watch in the East on a team that actually has playoff hopes? Andrea Bargnani. We featured AB as one of our summer Players To Watch in Dime #42, knowing that if he improved during the offseason and started playing like a No. 1 overall pick, the Raptors would have a useful weapon while trying to make some noise in the playoffs. A good sign that Bargnani is getting where he needs to be is that the Toronto Sun gave him its Most Improved Player award for training camp, saying the 7-foot Italian “Arrived bigger, better conditioned, healthier and in a better frame of mind than at any point last season.” We really wanna see what Sam Mitchell does with Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal, Bargnani and Jamario Moon in that front court rotation … E-mail from Dime crew member Aron: “Josh Boone, Yi and Stro Show were kickin through the Seacaucas, N.J., Best Buy. Also, P.J. Carlesimo’s brother.” What on Earth could Yi and Stro have a conversation about? … If anyone learned anything from Josh Howard’s offseason, it’s to be careful what you say when camera-phones are around. Phoenix’s East Valley Tribune had story about athletes dealing with our increasingly voyeuristic culture, which began like this: “Shaquille O’Neal. Steve Nash. Amaré Stoudemire. Raja Bell. Grant Hill. The Suns have some of the most famous and recognizable basketball players in the world.” Why did they try to throw Raja Bell in there and think nobody would notice? … Granted, we know that not every superstar athlete hangs out exclusively with other superstars (a la the LeBron-‘Melo-Wade-CP-Joe Johnson-Deron Williams clique), but it was still funny reading about Jared Jeffries supposedly trading text messages with T.O. seeking advice on treating his recently broken leg. We’d imagine those first few texts went something like: “Hey T.O. its Jared Jeffries.” “Who?” “From the Knicks. #20.” “The Knicks…basketball?” “Yeah what up.” “How’d you get my number?” … The New York Times featured Brandon Jennings over the weekend (HERE and HERE) on how he’s living in Italy. Breaking down Young Money’s perks, turns out he’s getting $1.2 million salary plus endorsements; a rent-free three-bedroom apartment for Brandon, his mom and his little brother; free Volvo wagon; eight round-trip plane tickets between the U.S. and Rome to use when and on whom he wants; and the team is paying for Brandon’s 12-year-old brother’s $20,000 sixth-grade school tuition. Why hadn’t anyone thought of doing this Europe thing earlier? … We’re out like jet-skiing …
October 6th, 2008 at 12:11 am
bballinca says:
Good for Jennings! Looks like he’s making enough money to have someone actually cut his hair instead of that Kid N play look he was rocking.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:45 am
kowtz says:
I’d bet Chuck will be laughing his ass off when Al breaks his leg while riding a jet ski….
October 6th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Luigi says:
Brandon Jennings is gonna be a stud. i have this gut feeling
ANNNNNDDDD ever since Jared left Washington. i forgot he was even on the knicks. he was so bad [except for the defense]. idk what the knicks saw in him. im glad we didnt match the offer…
n plus Coach DA has the perfect tools for the knicks. mostly O n barely any D.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Heaven is a Playground says:
Brandon is getting paid, Coach Mike D is liking lil’nate, and the athleticism he brings to the team, AB is coming into TO ready to play some serious basketball hahahahaha, sure he is, Mitchell might as well give the starting spot to Moon, and let Moon doing his thing. Monta Ellis’s story is pissing me off everytime I read it, I wish he never went out like that this summer. I’m sure Monta would have averaged 25.0 ppg. Stucky is going to be legit this year, and Suns are going to be eating Kobe’s ass, and than kobe will be asking Shaq how his ass taste.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:05 am
sans says:
Yi and Stro talk about bitches, shoes, and being able to walk around with your head held high when you cannot possibly become what everyone thought you’d become…
October 6th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Rat says:
1st!
October 6th, 2008 at 4:26 am
smity far away says:
good for jennings and even better for his family.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:37 am
VERTMAN says:
When will I get first on here!? Sucks man, you guys have no life. Prob refreshing the screen every damn 5 mins. losers.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Quedas says:
@VERTMAN
THEY have no life? ok…
October 6th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Lady S says:
He is professional. There are lots of his fans on ___tallloving.com___ for professional athletes, moive stars and modles talking about him recently? BTW, guys, lots of sexy girls and models turn up there. I’ve been there for day, it seems the girls are not hard to hook up.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Lady S says:
He is professional. There are lots of his fans on ___tallloving.com___ for professional athletes, moive stars and modles talking about him recently? BTW, guys, lots of sexy girls and models turn up there. They like to talk about sports and stars
October 6th, 2008 at 6:59 am
miamiVIS3 says:
You forgot to mention Chris Quinn went down with a foot injury unless it turned out to be nothing also the fact that Stuckey put the game in OT on a H.O.R.S.E shot.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:13 am
smity far away says:
Quedas says:
@VERTMAN
THEY have no life? ok…
@Quedas
perfectly stated…
October 6th, 2008 at 7:22 am
QuEsT??? says:
i would love to play in europe
October 6th, 2008 at 8:06 am
smity far away says:
@ QuEsT???
s**t, i would love to play anywhere (for pay). being talented enough to earn money for playing any game (and especially one as great as basketball) is truly a blessin (one that you have to work hard for, but still…) i’m one of these cats that will hoop till i can’t any more (literally). Like till my arms don’t work no more like mccain. the love is that real. so, pay me to play anywhere and i will…even antarctica. thats right.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:22 am
that's whats up says:
who doesn’t love moive starts and modles?
what kind of crap-ass board is this turning into?
DIME – SHUT ALL THOSE DUMBSHITS OUTTA THIS PLACE
them and anyone who says ‘first’ without referring to a team’s standing in their division
October 6th, 2008 at 8:57 am
rean pogi says:
whoa! that’s a lot man! good brandon j!
October 6th, 2008 at 8:58 am
rean pogi says:
whoa! that’s a lot man! good for brandon j!
October 6th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Lady Luck says:
I think that it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Going to college is not the only way to become educated. It is one way, but millions of people go to college and never finish, for whatever reason. Millions of people never go. But to essentially be paid to be an “exchange student” and learn to play professionally at the next-to-highest level….that is a blessing. I’m glad he has family support and is working hard. I will keep an eye on this young man. Sounds like a smart guy. I hope the best for him.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Lady Luck says:
Toronto is putting a nice team together. Hopefully Jermaine is feeling good and can put together a whole season. That is extremely frustrating to have to keep dealing with injuries. Players want to play. All the time. They never get enough. They could have a really scary team with highly skilled post players, three point shooters, athletic wing guys, and Jose Calderon. They will have to be taken seriously.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
. says:
.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Miami4Life says:
true story: I sat courtside immediately next to the Detroit bench last night with my brother. During a timeout late in the third my bro asked sheed “hey sheed! What’s the over\under on how many technicals u get this year?” sheed stared him down and said “”I might get one right now for attacking a fan”. Lmao! And btw, detroits trainer ran that huddle. Curry barely did anything the whole game.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Tim says:
what is this about Stuckey putting it to OT on a horse shot? can someone explain?
Stuckey is gonna be a beast!
October 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Austin Burton says:
Stuckey hit a baseline J that the Heat argued was released behind the backboard.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Miami4Life says:
Stuckey walked back to the bench with a smile on his face like how did that go in?