Lack of Mac
Tracy McGrady (photo. Marc Morrison)For 47 minutes and 47 seconds, it didn’t matter that the Rockets didn’t have T-Mac against the Pacers last night. After predictably blowing another second-half lead, Indiana appeared cooked, down double-digits with 6:30 left thanks to Carl Landry’s knack for getting putback dunks and Shane Battier’s knack for drawing charges at the most opportune times. But then Jim O’Brien pulled a genius move, going small with Troy Murphy at center. Since Yao couldn’t/wouldn’t run with him, Murphy capitalized on wide-open threes and transition layups to cut into the lead, then Danny Granger put the Pacers on top by tipping in his own miss at the 13-second mark … And that’s when T-Mac’s absence became an issue. On Houston’s last play, Ron Artest was given the rock, and when the D collapsed on his drive, he dumped it to Yao. Seven-foot-five/six dude with the ball right at the rim equals a Rockets win, right? Nope. Jeff Foster made a brick wall between Yao and the basket, and the big man air-balled a point-blank shot. One Artest fadeaway later, Granger was celebrating like the Pacers had just won a championship … That capped an overall rough night for Yao. In the first half, Murphy trucked him on a drive (no charging call) and Yao got up bleeding above his eye. When he returned with a band-aid covering the gash, Clyde Drexler said he looked, “kind of like Rocky Balboa” … The Rockets were actually controlling most of the first half until T.J. Ford went off. In the words of Drexler, “He’ll pick a spot in the game where he’ll go down like four or five straight times and just take over.” When T.J. picks those spots at the right time and he’s making shots, he’s honestly one of the better PGs in the League. Too often, though, he just drives his teammates, coaches and fans crazy with that … Battier was a soldier. One time he rejected Granger at the rim and came down on Granger’s foot, rolling his ankle. After hopping around on one leg, Battier stayed on the court, stepped in and drew a charge on Granger before finally getting taken out … There wasn’t a full-scale parade thrown for LeBron in his return to Cleveland, but his squad smashing the Thunder was reminiscent of LBJ’s NYC visit, with the Cavs working on a 30-piecing before halftime and LeBron mostly chillin’ on the bench. After posting 14 points and three blocks — including a head-at-the-rim ‘oop from Delonte West and a head-above-the-rim swat of Earl Watson — ‘Bron called it a night after just 17 minutes of burn, as Mike Brown treated it like a preseason game … Cavs’ announcer Austin Carr after Watson fired up one of the ugliest jumpers you’ll see all year: “Whoooo, what a brick!” … Deron Williams was back, but looking a little rusty. Alternating between his Nikes and a gigantic ankle wrap when he was on the bench, Deron was firing passes to the Memphis bench and air-balling runners from close range. But since he was playing the Grizzlies, he could afford some mishaps. Deron finished with 15 dimes and 11 points, and the Jazz won easy … Like we said the other day, this Jazz team is not what you’re used to seeing from Jerry Sloan’s squads. Not with plays like Ronnie Brewer’s mid-air touch pass lob to AK-47 for a buzzer-beating dunk, or Rudy Gay thinking he had a lefty banger over Mehmet Okur before Brewer snuffed it out from behind. We’re not saying Utah is better when Carlos Boozer is out of the lineup, but they are faster and more highlight-friendly … One time O.J. Mayo and Darko tried to run a high screen-and-roll, and you can guess how that turned out: Darko barely set a sufficient screen, neither defender went with him ’cause they figured O.J. wasn’t giving it up, and when O.J. did try to pass, he made the worst possible pass — trying to go between everyone’s legs — and turned it over. And that is why Marc Iavaroni will be missing his hair or out of a job by this time next year … Clippers fans didn’t seem too hyped about last week’s big trade; about 13 of them showed up for Zach Randolph’s L.A. debut against the Nuggets. For a while Mike Dunleavy Sr. tested a lineup with Camby, Kaman and Zach (7 pts, 25 mins) all on the floor, with Camby basically playing small forward. That didn’t last long, though, as Kaman’s sore foot was bothering him too much and he didn’t play after the first quarter … After Carmelo’s go-ahead bucket late, the Clips had a chance to win on the last possession. Baron brought it up, and everyone assumed it was either going to be him or Eric Gordon (24 pts) taking the shot, but Baron gave it to a trailing Camby, who was clear for a straightaway three. “That was the storybook ending right there,” Carmelo said later, but Camby’s shot was short … Rashard Lewis, on the other hand, hit his big shot. With Orlando down by one in the final 10 seconds, Hedo Turkoglu drove left and kicked it out to Rashard in the corner, who knocked down the three. It would be easy to blame Thad Young for leaving Rashard open to help on Hedo, but Young wouldn’t have had to do that if Elton Brand had done his job and cut Hedo off. Because Brand took a bad angle, Thad had to leave Rashard or else give up a layup … Devin Harris stepped up in the clutch at the end of Nets/Kings, too. Fifteen seconds to go in overtime, Devin skated past Bobby Jackson, stopped on a dime and spun on him, sending Jackson stumbling into bolivian and hitting a pull-up J. On Sacto’s last chance, Devin got a piece of Jackson’s three-point try that sealed it … Blazers/Heat didn’t even get a chance to get that close. Before Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez hooked up for one of the sickest ‘oops of the year — Fernandez finished it backwards — Portland blasted Miami right out of the gate and ultimately won by 38. After the Blazers had gone up 19-4 after what seemed like 45 seconds and Erik Spoelstra burned his second timeout of the first quarter, D-Wade scored Miami’s next bucket. Said Blazers announcer Mike Rice: “It took two timeouts for them to realize to get it to No. 3?” … And on that note, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there from the Dime family. We’re out like dieting today …
November 27th, 2008 at 6:44 am
YOUNGFED says:
Happy Thanksgiving everybody. It looks like Eric Gordon should’ve made my list, maybe next time.
“The Champ is Here” - YOUNGFED
November 27th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Nasty says:
Bosh had 39 and 11 last night!?
he’s putting up better numbers than Dwade, yet nobody knows about it.
heres a question.. do you think dudes playing in Canada get less pub/recognition than dudes hooping in the states?
Vince being the exception… or maybe he would have been bigger in GS like he was supposed to
November 27th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Sweet English says:
GOD DAMN at Fernandez with the turn around reverse oop.
HOLY F**K at Lebron having a good look down at Earl before swatting him in to the parking lot. He could have kicked that shot away.
Hooray for Smack with the heads up on the youtubeable plays last night!
November 27th, 2008 at 7:13 am
the_don_mega says:
Happy Thanksgiving ya’ll…
November 27th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Hi, Jurg from Denmark says:
Oh yes, hi hi it is me big Jurg from Denmark.
Thank you for wondering but I have been in England. Such a dirty place and women not so kind.
I want a big shouty shouty to a big favourite in Jurgy’s basketball community for the man Youngfeg. I always thought you were my favourite dime poster and now you have your very own column. You are almost revered like Prince Frederick here in Denmark. And what a wonderful column you write. I did not understand all of it because Jurg is not man of colour but just so funny it was in many parts.
And this is good time for Jurg to write to Mr Austin Burton and Mr Fantasy Doctor to say - it is time for Jurg to have a column on Dimemag.com for the top ten best European players. Because i am in many european countries and i know what the people like. And because at the night clubs Jurg says his name is Dirk Nowitski he see’s inside of lots of womens sheets in europe.
And Jurg would do this work for free.
Thank you good sir. This is from Jurg and I am from Denmark, Hi. And this is in europe.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am
rodnets says:
happy thanxgiving.
don’t be so hard with yao, he doesn’t look like rocky balboa. at least sylvester could control half of his face.
peace
November 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Sweet English says:
Hey, Nico Belic.
Women in England maybe not so kind to you because you smell like air freshener, wear leather jackets over track-suits and talk about your self in the third person, no?
And if Dirk is famous enough in europe that women will sleep with you, surely they would know what he looks like? Does the fact that you talk with a danish accent and arent 7 foot tall not give it away a bit?
November 27th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Toan says:
@nasty…yeah, he is definitely not getting enough attention, guy is posting 27.6/ 10.5 and shooting 56% from the field..by far the best scoring big man. rodriguez to fernandez was sick. have a nice day y’all
November 27th, 2008 at 7:46 am
rodnets says:
and jurg, you are from nashville you don’t deceive us!
November 27th, 2008 at 8:00 am
PDaddy says:
In the U.S., Bosh would be the 2nd comming of KG, but up here, he’s our Franchise player who gets mentioned once all the hockey highlights from the whole league is over.
Then after Rapts highlights, more from the NHL * sigh *
November 27th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hi, Jurg from Denmark says:
and who is this sweet england. you are a loud mouth and i don’t like you. you are one who stink because you don’t bath in england. and you have bad weather. and your sporting teams can not win anything ever. and you love taking anal.
hi from Jurg.
November 27th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Sweet English says:
I forgot you were from the sun soaked, sporting POWERHOUSE that is Denmark.
Hi from YO MOMMA.
November 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Lakeshow says:
F*ck Jurg!
Bring back Tyrone!
November 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am
that's whats up says:
DIME, don’t take any hand-written submissions from Jurg, aka Stinky Pinky…
The more I see George Hill holdin’ it down for S.A. the more I like his game. Hustle, hustle, hustle and he’s got the instincts. He’s a good player and this means there is finally someone to trust with TP’s minutes, meaning Parker can rest more during the regular season.
Dime, did I mention to stay away from drippy-dick Jurg??
November 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am
that's whats up says:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
even you FED - lmao
November 27th, 2008 at 8:56 am
YOUNGFED says:
Damn why all the hatin’ on Jurg, it’s the Holiday fella’s chill out.
@Thats whats up
Now that I’m a celebrity I’d like to thank all the little people. lol
November 27th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hi, Jurg from Denmark says:
Hi again, so many posts from me today. My typing finger nearly fall off like my drippy dicky.
I should remind you of Morten Andersen all time point scorer in NFL and also Mikkel Kessler former world boxing champion when you say Denmark has no good sports. We also love to say Mr Lars Ulrich from a heavy heavy band Metallica is from Denmark. And now you know.
And to you who say Jurg is stinky pinky. Pinky only stinky from spending time inside your mother. and yo mamma (what this mean?) to you sweet england. you are a spastic.
but don’t forget jurg loves basketball so much and wonders, what can chicago bulls do with ben ‘air’ gordon. does he get lots of money now when season over?
bye from jurg in denmark
November 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Richard from Cleveland says:
@ sweet English LOL the nico Bellic comment u gotta love gta4 happy thanks giving everyone. ….. Oh yea lebron did send earl Watson shot back so Oklahoma city
November 27th, 2008 at 9:28 am
hadoken says:
get used to that baseline alleyoop to fernandez. it’s going to be coming almost as often as cp3’s oops to tyson chandler.
November 27th, 2008 at 9:41 am
rangerjohn says:
@thats whats up
i completely agree, george hill killed the #1 pick derrick rose last night. mario chalmers who?
spurs might actually end up being dangerous once tony gets back. manu was in a little pain due o stiff ness in his ankle last night though, but if they keep him under 20 minutes for another month he will be fine. and he is back like he never left, hell the other guys cant keep up with him and the bullet passes he was throwing last night.
DIME thanks for not typing a single line about the spurs game, good on ya!
November 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am
rangerjohn says:
jurg
having 1 person in each sport does not make your country a sports power house. they do have some decent kickboxing over there though and some decent olympic quality judo
November 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Ansonious says:
Happy Thanksgiving everybody
November 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am
french says:
wow.
Bolivian?
really?…spun him into another nationality?
November 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am
baron von faulk says:
french that “bolivian” is a classic Mike Tyson line if I am not mistaken
RangerJ and t.w.u., I know you saw that sick dime from Manu to Udoka in the corner for 3, it was like a fake behind-the-back to an over-the-shoulder hook pass lookin’ thingy. Just siiiiick!
Now how dangerous would the Spurs have been if Splitter would have come over and Mahinmi starts contributing?
Man I was hoping Dime would mention GEORGE “THRILL” HILL lookin’ like Derrick Rose out there. Oh wait, Rose was out there, he just got outplayed big time by Mr. Thrill.
It was a Thrill Hill….Thrill Hill night!
November 27th, 2008 at 10:14 am
baron von faulk says:
oh and “GOBBLE GOBBLE!” from Texas
November 27th, 2008 at 10:54 am
that's whats up says:
props to Jurg for gettin’ “Denmarkish” on my ass.
Thrill Hill - nice one BVF. That’s a wrap - THRILL HILL
November 27th, 2008 at 11:17 am
GEE...mobile says:
Houston up!
No basketball talk today. Just wishing all Dime contributors, readers, and the Dime world HAPPY THANKSGIVING! GOD bless and yall eat good! GEE aka Dragonfly Jones
November 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Kevin says:
YOUNGFED, just Eric Gordon? What about Brook Lopez?
HEY DIME! Bolivian??? I think you meant Oblivion, unless there was a Bolivian in the crowd which doesn’t seem likely.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Chaos says:
There is no way the spurs could look less than competent for long. with manu back, the team overall just looks better. Roger Mason (VA baby!) and George Hill actually give them young active legs an can back up manu and mr. longoria when he gets back.
Bosh cant play any better basketball than he is playing right now. When did he develop a mean streak? damn olympics released something in him. too bad his team keeps getting beat on D
The mobley trade will signal the emergence of Eric Gordon (dude looks to be a sandwich away from being over weight). His shooting an athletic ability is great but he seems Ben Gordon-ish unless he becomes a better ball handler and passer
Melo is waaaaay more active and has expanded his game (albeit not on defense). he goes after offensive rebounds and is a better passer. maybe there is something to his cutting off the braids.
D-Wade needs some help. if the front office dont get him a 7 footer soon, he gonna beat the shit outta joel anthony.
Portland might have one of the most potentially talented yet least experienced team in the league. there really isnt a bad, BAD player on the sqaud.
Sloan said F***, he want some damn athletes on his team (unlike the 90s where utah was just hard too watch. sorry, i wasnt excited about watching jeff hornacek or greg ostertag)
Darko sucks ass
Spoelstra looks like something off of little rascals
Yao still a chump
Happy Thanksgiving
November 27th, 2008 at 11:43 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Kevin
I gotta see a lil more from brook.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am
JCARR says:
Smack em’
Happy thanksgiving everybody!!!
November 27th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Amar says:
Happy genocide day, Americanos! (puts ‘gobble gobble’ in a whole new light) Nah, let’s not get historical here, happy thanksgiving everyone. (It’s also my birthday, so that sucks, I’m at the age where you no longer count birthdays, my effing gym membership got more expensive!)
Deron had a few miscues, but he was really strong, posting up on memphis’ shirmpy guards, making solid passes (the one hander off the dribble benind his back to CJ for three was one, the cross court to an open memo was another example) including a really low bounce pass through two defenders that got to Brewer under the basket. He was also shooting well from distance (if not from close, where I think he was trying to bait the ref into calling a foul).
Other than that, your take on the Jazz game was my sentiments exactly.
Jazz deserve props for being one of the better teams out there, with so many people who have been out early. (Deron, Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko, Korver, Harpring, Brevin Knight, Jarron Collins have all missed 3+ games this season)
November 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
pishenis says:
About Yao:
I made a stat couting who misses most dunks in the NBA, melo and yao won, here the results:
Carmelo Anthony and Yao Ming: 4
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trevor Ariza, Andris Biendris, Tyrus Thomas, Russell Westbrook and Andrew Bogut: 3
Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Charlie Villanueva, Reggie Evans, Chris Bosh, Nicolas Batum, Ronnie Brewer, Shaquille O’Neal, Mickael Pietrus, Amaré Stoudemire: 2
Dwight Howard, Chris Kaman, Jason Thompson, JJ Hickson, Nate Robinson, Kenyon Martin, Cat Mobley, Brendan Wright, Tim Duncan, Paul Millsap, Mike Taylor, Ronnie Price, Josh Smith, Travis Outlaw, Spencer Hawes, LeBron James, Gerald Wallace, Andre Brown, Jeff Green, Brian Skinner, JaValle McGee, Danthay Jones, Marcus Camby, Aaron Gray, Josh Boone, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Nelson, Renaldo Balkman, Al Horford, Kwame Brown, Mareese Speights, Robin Lopez, Brook Lopez, Rasho Nesterovic, Vlad Radmanovic, Jamario Moon, Jason Maxiell, Hakim Warrick, Dirk Nowitzki, Kosta Koufos, Dominic McGuire, Kendrick Perkins, Carlos Boozer, Brandon Bass, Jermaine O’Neal, Ryan Hollins, Johan Petro, Solomon Jones, Drew Gooden, Yi Jianlian, Joakim Noah, Jerryd Bayless, Tracy McGrady, JR Smith, Robert Swift, Hilston Armstrong, Dwyane Wade, Al Jefferson, Anthony Randolph, Kobe Bryant, Jordan Farmar, Linas Kleiza, Kirs Humprhies, John Salmons, Ben Wallace, Mario Chalmers, Paul Davis, Matt Barnes and Kevin Love: 1
Russell Westbrook missed 3 dunks already, whats up with that guy??
Happy Thanksgiving, Dime!
November 27th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
rangerjohn says:
baron
yeah i saw that assist to ime, manu is just nasty. how about the baseline reverse layup he made with 4 bulls all the way around him.
george hill was looking ofly parkerish last night the way he was getting to the basket at will.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
D-NICE says:
DID ANYONE SEE JAMAL CRAWFORD DROP RAY ALLEN!?!?!?!?!??!!
November 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
QuEsT??? says:
happy thanksgiving everyone!
November 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
derrick says:
yeah, that crawford move was sick. i watched it like 10 times. i think allen actually stepped on crawford so that’s why he fell on his ass. but it looked good. so embarrasing for ray
November 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
drrrtysouth says:
happy thanks givin y’all. y’all ‘av a gr8 ‘oliday!
November 28th, 2008 at 12:03 am
E$ says:
Bad game, it happens…can’t say it’s been many