Score a few more votes for Lionel Hollins in the Coach of the Year race, because he may have just figured out the best way to guard Kobe Bryant at the end of a game. Last night the Grizzlies were up two on the Lakers with 21 seconds left when Mike Conley blew a chance to ice the win and bricked two free throws. Then it was Kobe’s turn, and as he was going into his move to get space for his trusty mid-range jumper over O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol switched onto him. The 7-footer kept his arms up the entire time, and was quick enough on his feet to stay in front of Kobe long enough to force him to pass. Kobe did find Ron Artest wide open on the wing, but he missed and Memphis won. Read More »
Relevance is always an issue in collegiate athletics. Coaches will change, players will cycle through programs and records will fluctuate year-to-year; the “what have you done for me lately” mentality will always take over eventually. Lately, all signs coming out of Hollywood and the Southern Cal campus should point to throwing up a white flag on the current season. Thanks to former Trojan O.J. Mayo and the USC booster that supplemented him with compensation as a recruit, the NCAA has been sanctioned to dismiss any postseason for USC this year. No Pac-10 tournament, no NIT and certainly no NCAA come March. As USC wallows in the mud of basketball purgatory, the team actually – on the surface only I’m sure – remains upbeat about its current situation; although I doubt if Ovinton J’Anthony received any Trojan holiday greeting cards this past Christmas. Read More »
Though it’s tough to cover everything in a concise manner, let’s attempt to traverse this broad topic by way of using a simple grading system. The first letter grade after each player’s name will be based on their performance thus far, in addition to how they’ve fallen short of, met or exceeded expectations; and the second grade will be based on their expected value during the second half of the season. Read More »
AARON BROOKS (by Jack Jensen)
How many people do you think were ready to throw in the towel after the Rockets traded away Rafer Alston last February in favor of their second-year point guard out of Oregon? I’m guessing more people than care to admit it jumped off the bandwagon and thought Aaron Brooks wasn’t ready to lead Houston anywhere. He’s too small, too inexperienced and not ready for what’s expected of a starter. Read More »
MICHAEL BEASLEY (by Jack Jensen)
All previous off-court problems and lack of haircuts aside, both Michael Beasley and Luis Scola have become two of the most solid role-playing forwards in the League. Whereas I’d be happing having either guy grace my team’s frontcourt right now, Beasley has a better feel for the game.
Not only does Beasley’s future burn brighter than Scola’s, he has the chance to become a perennial All-Star — an opportunity that is fading for the 29-year-old Scola. Read More »
GILBERT ARENAS (by Austin Burton)
I wonder if Gilbert Arenas watches Warriors games — because Gilbert actually does spend his free time following the rest of the League — and sees traces of himself in the form of Monta Ellis. It makes sense. Both are quick and vicious scoring guards who play the point mainly out of necessity. Both are occasionally misunderstood, often criticized, and always overachieving; two second-round picks who weren’t supposed to cash eight figures a year as the face of anybody’s franchise. Read More »
JASON TERRY (by Gerald Narciso)
For the last three or so seasons, Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili have been arguably the best and most talented bench players in the league. Terry was last season’s Sixth Man of the Year winner, while Manu copped the award in 2008. Read More »
For six weeks leading up to the NBA season, I ranked and filed the League’s go-to guys. Using the rationale that even the most harmonious, balanced team has one if-all-else-fails alpha male that they look to in crunch time, I picked one player per squad for a final list of 30. (A concept that went over a lot of people’s heads; I can’t tell you how many “How is Ray Allen not on the list and Boris Diaw is?” e-mails I got.) Read More »
GERALD WALLACE (by Austin Burton)
It bugs me when we get into these kind of arguments and somebody responds with, “(Player X), and it’s not even close.” That’s the dumbest thing you could say.
This isn’t Tennessee vs. UNC-Asheville. When comparing two professional ballplayers of at least borderline All-Star caliber talent, it’s always close. If it’s Kobe Bryant against Adam Morrison, sure, it’s not even close. If it’s Kobe against Ray Allen it’s close. Read More »
BRANDON JENNINGS (by Jack Jensen)
For whatever reason, I had always discredited Brandon Jennings’ game. Since “Young Money” was being paraded around as the next sure thing at Oak Hill Academy in high school, I was sure he’d be more hype than value. The trash talking little guard from Compton would pan out like Darius Washington Jr. or Sebastian Telfair (who is just now becoming a reliable backup) and never quite reach his top-tier billing, I quietly thought. Welp, 15 games into his career and you can safely check that feeling off on my “Oops” list. Read More »
