It’s Not Your Fault. It’s Not Your Fault.
LeBron James (photo. Mannion)Guess we can all let Luol Deng off the hook a little. After dropping 82 points in two games against Deng and the Bulls last week, LeBron hit the Bucks — a little Richard Jefferson, a little Joe Alexander, a little Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and there might have been a little Sidney Moncrief in there when Scott Skiles was really running out of options — for another 41-point effort last night. Just like his previous 41-spot in Chicago, the game was close well into the fourth quarter before ‘Bron (5 rebs, 6 asts, 3 stls) went on a personal run to put the opposition to bed. This time it involved a breakaway dunk from just inside the free throw line, a pull-up jumper in RJ’s mug, and a finger roll in the lane. By that time the Cavs had stretched the lead to double-figures, and Mike Redd wasn’t around to shoot Milwaukee back into it … Charlie Bell would have played a lot better if he didn’t have a telephone pole tied to his leg. Did you see that knee brace? Insane. Charlie might as well have been wearing a full leg cast, and yet he was still twice as fast as Big Z … The Jazz got Deron Williams back in the lineup, and he was definitely rusty. D-Will (7 pts, 9 asts) shot 1-for-8 from the floor in Philly and got worked over by Andre Miller (25 pts, 6 asts), who is absolutely going to be the next Sam Cassell-type who plays PG at a high level until he’s 37 and still giving kids buckets with his old-man game … Utah got the win, though, thanks to Ronnie Brewer going off in the fourth quarter. Brewer scored all 16 of his points in the last frame and added six boards, nine dimes and four steals … Not sure what it means — if anything — but Dikembe Mutombo was sitting courtside at Sixers/Jazz with his agent. Either of those teams in the market for a shot blocker? … The day after the Celtics showed their championship heart, the Lakers got their first real test of the season and passed with title-contending colors. After looking awful defensively most of the way — like giving up 60 points in the first half and letting Gerald Green look like Latrell Sprewell in his prime — L.A. clamped down when they needed to and took over to grab the lead in the fourth quarter and keep it. Kobe pitched in 27 points, and Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol each had double-doubles, offsetting Jason Kidd‘s triple-double (16 pts, 11 rebs, 10 asts, 4 stls) … Of course once the Mavs were down, all eyes turned to Dirk Nowitzki to bring them back up. And again, he faltered. When he wasn’t passing up good-looking opportunities in crunch time, Dirk (14 pts, 5-for-17 FG’s) was air-balling threes. You hate to throw all the blame on him, and it’s not like Dirk hasn’t hit his share of big-time shots, but any accusations of Dirk being less-than-clutch are his own doing … If you were running a team, would you take Bynum or Al Horford right now? Horford was a monster in ATL’s win over the Bulls that kept them undefeated, posting 27 points, 17 boards and six blocks. Even Joakim Noah, who should know Al’s game more than anyone, was completely helpless out there … Allen Iverson dropped 30 on the Kings in picking up his first W as a Piston, and Chauncey Billups (16 pts, 5 asts @ CHA) ran Denver’s record to 3-0 since the trade, but you know who’s loving the A.I./Billups deal the most? Cheikh Samb. He actually got off the bench and played for about four and a half minutes last night, or approximately 4:10 more PT than he ever got with the Pistons. We’re not sure if Denver’s defense automatically got better with Chauncey in the lineup or if the ‘Cats are just that bad, but they’ve been getting stops when they’ve needed to … Meanwhile, Larry Brown was doing all he could to keep his head from exploding. You know LB hates how the ‘Cats settle for too many jumpers (for comedy’s sake, we’ve gotta put him charge of a team with Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, Antoine Walker and Mike Bibby on the roster), and last night Charlotte jacked 27 triples rather than attack the injury-racked Nuggets’ frontcourt. “I have never been with a team where you’re trying to figure out whether we drive the ball, whether we post the ball, whether we run pick-and-roll,” Brown said afterward. “It’s a real puzzle right now.” … Looks like the Knicks are the cure for the common slump. Even with Tim Duncan taking the court with four “starters” who wouldn’t be a lock to win a D-League chip (Roger Mason, Ime Udoka, George Hill, Fabricio Oberto), the Spurs were able to get past New York relatively easy. Duncan put up 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and most importantly, Bruce Bowen and Mike Finley hit those open looks they’ve been bricking all season … FYI, Bowen came off the bench for the first time in 550 games with the Spurs. If anyone liked him, that streak would have been as celebrated as Brett Favre‘s … Memo to the “NBA Gametime” producers: Ahmad Rashad, Gary Payton and Chris Webber should never be allowed in the studio together at the same time. It’s not a good look for any of them…If you haven’t already seen the greatest cover we never ran, stop reading now and check it out…We’re out like Dirk …
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November 12th, 2008 at 7:24 am
USA < International all stars says:
first hoes
November 12th, 2008 at 7:25 am
'keem says:
1st
November 12th, 2008 at 7:28 am
QQ says:
^Wow, ‘first’ eh? You win at life for posting that very original comment.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Damon says:
i think cwebb and gary are hilarious.
payton is just the biggest talker ever.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:40 am
John says:
Lebron is just nasty …
November 12th, 2008 at 7:51 am
sans says:
gotta take Horford over Bynum. Horford seems to have no ego (until his rookie deal expires) and is a legit workhorse, scrambling to get everything he gets on the court.
Dirk really isn’t even clutch in NBA 2K video games (god! they are so real)…
November 12th, 2008 at 8:03 am
rangerjohn says:
i agree, i take horford also.
how about the spurs LMAO so much for 1-81 this season. they are about to get pounded i think though, they might pull one out over the bucks but the rockets i think will kill them.
it was a pretty exciting game last night, which most of the people here are saying “WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!” because it was the spurs and the knicks! lol. take it where you can get it right?
November 12th, 2008 at 8:09 am
rangerjohn says:
oh and for all those “dirk is too clutch” or the “dirk is not soft” guys, LMMFAO!!!!! dirk proves you wrong once again. aaaaahahahahahahahhahahahahaha. fuck dirk.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:15 am
alf (from melmak) says:
“I can’t really explode going to the basket. I settled a lot for jumpers. It’s something I just have to get used to. Every day it’s gotten a lot stronger and every day I’m getting more courage to try things, to push off a little more. I think I probably can explode if I wanted to, but I’m just a little hesitant.” — dwill quoted in the deseret news
it scares me that he might have came back too soon. i hope this does not hurt the jazz down the line this season.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:31 am
sans says:
dude, I just got it…Utah is another planet–planet Melmak. Utah is a place where cats taste delicious…
November 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
MSkittle says:
Andre Miller doesn’t really get buckets. And Mutombo could maybe go back to the Sixers?
You’re not feeling NBA Gametime? I am loving it! So cool to hear Webber and Payton analysis. Ahmad can get annoying at times, though.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
E$ says:
You can not watch DIRK play without shaking your head @ his play…Like they say around the way “Butt-Naked Trash”
Bynum has Kidd in the post & Radmanovic bricks a 3…lol! Half the time he is running up/down the court keeping the teams even.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Fish says:
Feel terrible for the bobcats. Brown is really going to mess them up beyond repair.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Aaron says:
Hey guys, because of the horrible camera angles, I don’t many people saw Bron’s dunk last night. He took one dribble from half court and dunked just inside the free throw line! Unbelievable! Here’s a clip of it that someone made on a Cavs message board. (Scroll down a couple post)
http://www.realcavsfans.com/showthread.php?t=15018
November 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Ashlov says:
How do you say, “We’re off to see the Wizard” in German?
November 12th, 2008 at 9:20 am
sans says:
Fun Facts:
The 27 pts that Horford scored were his career high, but the 17 boards isn’t
Jason Kidd’s triple double was his 101st
November 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am
mavid says:
Dime,
Al Horford and the Hawks deserve a bit more attention after last night. This team is doing it big!
Huge game tonight against Boston, that should be nationally televised, but of course isnt, cuz the Hawks STILL cant get much respect.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:44 am
roby21 says:
where IS sprewell nowardays?
November 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
P_Dizzle says:
If the Jazz are smart they would drop Collins and pick up Mt. Mutumbo. At least then they would have some sort of inside presence, even if the cat is 53 years old.
I would take Horford and Bogut over Bynum. Can we all say OVERRATED! No one in history has gotten more publicity for doing nothing than Bynum, no disrespecting Paris Hilton on that. Can someone name me one person that has career #’s like these (7.3 pts 5.8 rebs) that has gotten more pub?
November 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Scott says:
Gotta say, I agree fully with Dime on Ahmad, Payton and C-Webb being in a studio together… ugh.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:36 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Horford is good, But Bynum is a franchise big man and has the potential to be a dominant center.
You have to take Bynum.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am
jl90 says:
CHEIKH SAMB!
November 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am
that's whats up says:
sprewell is in the bankruptcy office, filling out forms and shit, trying to figure out how to feed his family
November 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am
LakeShow84 says:
Bynums too young and didnt get polished in College like Horford did..
But even as a laker fan i would take Horford now.. I knew he was going to be special when he was doing his thing in the boston series last year..
RIGHT now i’d take Horford.. in 2-3 years i’d take Bynum..
November 12th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Speaking Gary Payton, his son goes to school here in Vegas. He’s a little short kid, plays pg and doesn’t get much run on the spring squad, but he can hit the three, but not much else.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:36 am
RENO says:
What’s the problem with Ahmad, G.P. and C-Webb!?!
November 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Amar says:
Glad to have D-Will back. He’s a tough kid, he’s not going to sit out half the season with sand in his vagina (like someone who’s nickname rhymes with p-mac who plays for the rockettes). The jazz looked so much better in the half court with him playing. let’s not forget that the JAZZ beat a team a lot of ‘experts’ were feeling this off season when the jazz were without Matt Harpring (our main bench weapon last season); Former All-Star Mehmet Okur (starting center); Kyrylo Fesenko (back up center who had a visa issue); Jarron Collins (10 year vet at center). and they beat them on the road. (where the jazz struggled last season) with a 19 year old rookie starting who has more pimples this season than rebounds.
take that elton/dalembeast.
seriously, i’d like to see some other contender win a game on the road against a potential playoff team with the TOP 3 guys from one of their position’s depth chart unable to play in the game. how good would the lakers be without bynum (#1 c), gasol (#2 c) and mihm (#3 c), and starting that ‘congo’ guy (as kobe calls him)?
November 12th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
K Dizzle says:
Andrew Bynum or Al Horford? Lemme guess what happened:
Bynum goes for his solid 11pt/10rb/3bk in a win against a legit western conference playoff team with two effective 7 footers, but big Al plays outta his mind against the Bulls against his college buddy and some stringbean named Ty Thomas so now it’s AB or Al. Somebody at Dime please check Al’s numbers before the Chicago game then reask the question.Al’s best previous best game against OKC when he finally hit double digit rebounds and like 4-5 blocks, but 8 points. Fact is, Al is 6’9 and after 2 years of school, STILL one year older than Bynum. Legit 7 footers who do what guys like Bynum and Chandler and Camby used to do don’t come around very often. That’s why LA told Kobe to shove it when he wanted AB traded for Kidd. Bynum now, Bynum in 5 years. Heads need to stop talkin this trash about “career” stats (post 19 – Bogut? Really?) Dude did not play before last season so his first 2 years are irrelevant (see Greg Oden if you wanna talk overrated- at least you seen what AB can do when healthy)
I’ll be back tomorrow for AB vs. whoever has a career game and if it ain’t Yao or Dwight, then best believe I’m takin AB. It’s funny how everytime a big man has a big game, Y’all at Dime pull out the would you rather have Bynum or dude who just had career high. That says plenty.
On another note, I was kinda hopin for some words on Trev Ariza’s hustle to the baseline, grab the rock and FURIOUS 2 handed cram on the souls of all Mavs, they fans and family. I was watchin the game with some Laker fans, mostly haters and after that dunk, we all got hype. Ballgame…
November 12th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
jjankechu says:
what? i thought that was ernie, jet and chuck in the studio…
November 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
QuEsT??? says:
hey guys who won the iverson shirt?
November 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Tbone says:
I agree with Reno
“Memo to the “NBA Gametime” producers: Ahmad Rashad, Gary Payton and Chris Webber should never be allowed in the studio together at the same time. It’s not a good look for any of them”
Can we get any kind of elaboration on this? I thought these guys were pretty funny together, laid back too. A nice change from the extra vanilla flavor NBA TV usually serves.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Tbone says:
and jjankechu, they’re not talking about TNT. Ernie Jet and Chuck are TNT, the memo was to NBA Gametime producers – NBA TV.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
doc says:
Give me Bynum or Horford and take Iggy.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
mavsgirl75 says:
Why are such an @ss, Rangerjohn?..
November 12th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
mavsgirl75 says:
Why are you such an @ss, Rangerjohn?..
November 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
that's whats up says:
because ranger voted for McCracka
November 12th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
jjankechu says:
yeah, i KNOW. But the Amahd Rashad = straight guy ernie, Glove = Jet, and Webber = Chuck. The similarities are eerie, at least to me.