Every postseason there are players who make names for themselves with big shots and timely contributions. Daniel Gibson, Ben Gordon and J.R. Smith are guards that have made splashes, and in Gordon’s case, secured a big contract because of his playoff performances.
Sure these guards have been big, but despite the fact that undersized big-men usually get no love on Draft Day and fall to the second round, they are the ones who have proven to be the most valuable to teams making deep playoff runs. I left Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry off this list because I’m not convinced the Rockets will make the playoffs, and Paul Millsap didn’t make the cut because the Jazz are going to lose in the first round. Here are four undersized big men who will help their teams make deep playoff runs this year: Read More »
With three teams in the AP Top 10, the Big 12 conference is — behind the Big East — the strongest in college basketball. Baylor is not one of those Top-10 squads, but the 20th-ranked Bears (17-4) are creeping up on their top-heavy conference: beating Texas on the road last weekend, as well as losing close games to Kansas and Kansas State recently.
Coach Scott Drew has rebuilt a program that was in disarray just a few years ago following the Patrick Dennehy/Carlton Dotson murder case and the violations later uncovered under ex-coach Dave Bliss. (Dotson is currently serving a 35-year prison term; Bliss is no longer coaching.)
On the court, LaceDarius Dunn is the Bears’ leader. Read More »
Buy Low:
Kobe Bryant, as everyone knows, is very banged up right now. The Black Mamba’s lost some of his bite during the past month, thanks to poor shooting from the floor and the free throw line. But with All-Star Weekend on the horizon, expect Kobe to get enough rest to heal up a bit and bring sexy back before February’s done. Unless his fantasy owner is impatient, or if your league is incredibly shallow, you probably won’t be able to nab him for too little. Offering your second-best player might do the job though. Read More »
“‘Melo has also been banged-up, but seeing as he didn’t make All-Star last year, I think he’ll go even if he doesn’t play a lot of minutes.”
That was me last week, the same night the All-Star rosters were finalized, wondering if there would be any rooms for alternates. Carmelo Anthony hasn’t played since then, however — missing Denver’s last six games with an ankle injury — making it a possibility he could skip All-Star if he’s not healthy enough by next week. Read More »
You can see it all over the League. Rosters have less than 15 players, GMs are unwilling to make deals for players that have contracts past this season and the luxury tax/rebate is on everyone’s mind. Iowa Energy shooting guard Othyus Jeffers (last season’s D-League Rookie of the Year) calls this the “LeBron Act,” blaming the reigning MVP for the reason why there are not more D-League players in the NBA. Read More »
Anybody who’s followed the Pacers over the past couple of seasons would understand why T.J. Ford has been Marburied on Jim O’Brien‘s bench lately.
For all of his speed and attack-mode mentality that theoretically should be tailored for O’Brien’s up-tempo system, Ford’s poor decision-making, shot selection and defense was finally too much for the coach to deal with. So for the last 18 games, Ford has been racking up DNP-CD’s while Earl Watson and A.J. Price handled the point guard duties. Read More »
After Mike Dunleavy was relieved of his coaching duties last night, there is already speculation about who will replace him permanently. Dunleavy will stay on as GM because of the $5.5 million he is owed next season, and Clippers fans are praying that he makes better decisions choosing a coach than he did while pacing the sideline himself. Kim Hughes will most likely serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season, but with a good foundation of veterans and young talent, expect the Clippers to attract the attention of big-name coaches currently out of work, along with a good selection of assistant coaches and college coaches looking to make the jump. Read More »
Known as a basketball institution, the Kentucky Wildcat basketball program is widely regarded as one of the best programs in all of college sports. But it was the 1995-96 men’s team that was arguably the greatest team ever assembled. With nine NBA first round picks, and a 34-2 season that capped off with a NCAA Championship, the facts are hard to argue with. That’s why Derek Anderson has produced a must-see documentary, The Untouchables: The Greatest Team Ever, chronicling that legendary season. Read More »
This interview is from last year, but I just came across it yesterday and found it interesting for the comments regarding one Kobe Bryant. Have fun, L.A. fans…
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