Don’t Believe The Hype
Paul Pierce, Dime #5On the same day we ranked the Magic as the 4th-best team in the NBA, they didn’t do anything to back it up or make us look good. Although Dwight Howard’s crew had some legit excuses — namely a grocery list of injuries that left them in a spot where only seven guys played in Boston last night — they didn’t live up to the Top-5 billing in losing to the Celtics. The first half was close, as Rajon Rondo (16 pts, 12 asts) picked his spots and liberally destroyed Anthony Johnson whenever he felt like it, but Orlando pounded it inside to Howard (14 pts, 15 rebs, 4 blks) and got to the line to make up the difference. The third quarter saw the C’s extend the lead when Paul Pierce (24 pts) went off on Hedo and Rashard Lewis and whoever else was trying to stick him, then Boston closed it out in the fourth as the bench mob (Tony Allen, Eddie House, Leon Powe and Big Baby) put in work … Rough stretch for Tony in the second quarter, when he drove smack into Howard (of course Tommy Heinsohn went nuts when no foul was called) and had his shot thwarted, then on the other end of the court he banged knees with House and had to go to the locker room. Fortunately, Tony was back on the court jacking shots and refusing to pass a couple minutes later … Ugliest shot of the year: Brian Scalabrine went left on Rashard and, while swooping across the lane like The World’s Worst Magic Johnson Impersonator, threw up a running hook that missed everything. No rim, no backboard, no side backboard, no net; the ball hit a fan before it hit anything attached to the basket. Is there still a debate over who is the worst player in the NBA? … Sam Cassell’s first night in uniform, and he gets ejected in the first half. FROM THE BENCH. The funniest part was that nobody seemed surprised at all. As soon as Cassell got the boot, Heinsohn casually asked, “So what happened to Gabe Pruitt?” … Heinsohn’s overall opinion on the officiating: “They’re calling chicken fouls on one end, and people gotta bleed on the other!” Tommy had another gem following a J.J. Redick brick: “He didn’t do that at Duke. He better look at the tape he made.” Hilarious. We’re all for Better Basketball references during NBA broadcasts …
Michael Beasley (photo. Matt Brown)Even before Michael Beasley hit the go-ahead free throw with three seconds left in overtime of Heat/Warriors, one of the GS announcers groaned, “How many ways can you find to lose a game?” Ahead by four with less than 30 seconds to go in the extra frame, the Warriors squandered chance after chance to close the game out in OT and earlier in the fourth quarter — at every turn they did the wrong thing and kept Miami alive. In the last sequence of overtime, Chris Quinn hit a game-tying three in front of a frozen Corey Maggette (who should have fouled him on the ground), and then Beasley stole a lazy inbounds pass and got himself to the line. Jamal Crawford even had a great look at a game-winner after Beasley’s FT, but it rolled out as the Heat celebrated like they’d won the championship … No matter what jersey he’s wearing, D-Wade doesn’t like seeing Crawford. The Dime crew was in the building a couple years ago when Crawford dropped 52 on Wade’s head at MSG, and in this year’s Knicks opener Crawford gave Wade 29. Last night Crawford finished with 40 points. Wade was a beast in his own right, though, putting up 37 points, 13 dimes and three blocks … Stephen Jackson has to take some of the blame for this one. Throughout the fourth quarter and OT he couldn’t stay in front of Wade, and it was Flash’s penetration that set up everything Miami was able to do offensively … Did you see Emeka Okafor yesterday? (Don’t worry, most people didn’t.) He went for 24 points, 10 boards and five blocks in a win over the Wolves, and helped hold Al Jefferson to just eight points … J-Rich provided all the highlights, though. He caught two disgusting alley-oops, both of them while twisting in mid-air: one of them he finished with his back to the basket, the other did he did a 180 and spiked it on Mike Miller … As the Bobcats were wrapping up garbage time, Wolves color analyst Jim Peterson (who played eight years in the League from 1984-92) was asked if he had any particularly memorable run-ins with Michael Jordan. Peterson relayed a story about beating Mike at the pool table once and taking some money off him. We’re pretty sure 75% of the guys who played during Mike’s era have a story involving the G.O.A.T. and pool, cards, casino games or high-stakes golf … We’re out like Capt. Jack’s D …
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 am
Toan says:
The C’s and Lakers dominate as if it was the 80’s…funny how a couple of trades can change the league
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 am
Big Sia says:
NETS ARE HERE
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 am
DPGC says:
Warriors, Warriors, Warriors…how can you lose like that?
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 am
Big Sia says:
Wade played great
Top 3 SG’s in the L
1. Kobe
2. D wade
3. Vince
4. Joe Johnson
5. Jrich
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 am
Big Sia says:
Brian Scalabrine > 90% of the Raptors roster BTW
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 am
GoEasy says:
@Big Sia
Not. Even. Close.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 am
Markito says:
take it easy on S-Jack. Few defenders could stay in front of D-Wade. G-State isnt really known for team or individual D.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
Craig says:
Big Sia, are you serious?
Vince? Faded…
JRich? Peaking and still not top 5….
That was almost such a bad list i couldnt forgive you…Roy is better then JRich and Carter and I wouldnt put him top 5
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 am
Big Sia says:
3 players averaged 21-6-5 last year
VC
And two guys named Lebron and Kobe
Plus he’s playing better this year on a winning team.
But i could squeeze B Roy or Ginobili onto that list
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 am
Big Sia says:
Thats what i thought
Anyone who doesnt put VC top 5 SG is a Cornball
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 am
Big Sia says:
or a Raptor fan (aka a cornball)
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:26 am
Hi, Jurg from Denmark says:
Hiya everyone from Jurgy and beauti country of Denmark.
I hope you like my new opening words,.
And another hi hi to dimemag. Many thanks to you for allowing us little people of basketball to ask questions to Mr Ronn Artest. A big favourite of big Jurgy and he is tough.
And I must say I see so many top ten lists on dimemage so lately, yet don’t forget Jurg has already prepared a list of great entertainment to show you for top euro players in nba. and one for top euro players of all time in nba. yessy yes. give me that holla mr youngfed, my great idol.
and this is time to say bye from jurg. hi hi.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 am
solomon says:
not to be the anti-”change” guy, but it seems like the warriors are more out-of-sync when jamal came along… i’m a JC fan, hands down, but it seems he messed up whatever special they had going there in GS…
or something like that…
…we’re out like speaking like borat…
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 am
Ashlov says:
I’m guessing the Heat were celebrating because they won a high scoring game in overtime on the road. Not exactly their thing.
And yes, Jamal Crawford apparently has repressed memories about Pat Riley touching his no-no spots or something; the guy’s eyes glaze over at the site of a Heat uni. Not sure what his beef is, but he needs to bottle that and apply it every game.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
jn says:
I’m pretty sure it’s Jim Petersen, not Peterson. I seem to recall he was once voted “most handsome NBA player”, back in the day.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 am
Sweet English says:
Wow. Tracey McGrady has made exactly ZERO dunks this entire season. As far as i can tell he is the only starting SF/SG to do so.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
JCARR says:
Warriors wont make playoffs.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
srb says:
HAHA jurg from denmark is hilarious.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Sho-Nuff says:
The Better Basketball reference was classic.
Reddick is a bum, he can’t guard a lamp post. When you’re paid to be a shooter, you can’t brick one off the backboard, not even getting close to the rim.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Ross says:
I hate that picture of Michael Beasley. I feel like I’m spying on him through the peep hole of the room across from his.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
that's whats up says:
do you think Stern secretly suspended Jordan for gambling on NBA games, and only then Jordan decided to play baseball during his ban?
and jurg’s probably from south philly.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
GayforRudy says:
Jurg from Denmark needs to stop hanging out in the red light district. I think the clap is eating his brain!
Hi Hi & Yessy Yes
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Chris says:
Last year when the wolves played Indiana, the wolves broadcast team found a picture of Jim Petersen dunking on Larry Bird and wouldn’t stop showing it. Bird didn’t look to impressed. Got to do something to keep the viewers entertained when the team hasn’t won a game all month
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
jl90 says:
whats up with shawn marion disappearing every other game? at the clippers he was a no show then he drops 21 and 15 on the warriors. im tired of his inconsistency
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
garbageman33 says:
Jurg is from Denmark the same way Borat is from Kazhakstan.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Clive says:
brian scalibrine looks like michael rappaport..
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
derrick says:
yeah, i actually look forward to jurg’s posts now…