News and Items to Think About
50/50
Buckets: Aaron Brooks
No no, not Michael Vicks inaccurate cousin, but the miniature scoring machine that currently plays for the Rockets. I’ve been meaning to profile him and give him his appropriate props since he was at OU. Flat out, he has the speed to get to any spot, especially around the arc, anytime he wants. With a smooth shooting stroke, he is a prolific long bomber. He also can penetrate using his blazing quicks and great handles. He started off in the NBA rather slowly because they wanted him to back up Rafer Alston. Yet, with time, he has exceeded the Rockets expectations. Bucket by bucket, he may be a Rocket starter for quite some time.
Tags: eddie house, rafer
…goes three overtimes and we lose because we make two straight 3-pointers with our toes on the line, then a WNBA player dunked on Paul Pierce…
…when Noah stole the ball from Pierce and dunked on him, I threw a tantrum like a little kid. I screamed out a slew of F-bombs. I ran outside my house and screamed some more. How could the 2008 Finals MVP commit such a dumb foul? He had five! Didn’t he know he had five???? And what’s worse than a Jo-No celebration at the expense of your own team? I screamed and screamed and screamed. That play ripped my heart out.
…My best-case scenario would be the Celtics winning in quintuple-OT, followed by Ray Allen and Ben Gordon collapsing into each other’s arms like Apollo and Rocky as Allen says, “Ain’t gonna be no rematch.”
No no, not Michael Vicks inaccurate cousin, but the miniature scoring machine that currently plays for the Rockets. I’ve been meaning to profile him and give him his appropriate props since he was at OU. Flat out, he has the speed to get to any spot, especially around the arc, anytime he wants. With a smooth shooting stroke, he is a prolific long bomber. He also can penetrate using his blazing quicks and great handles. He started off in the NBA rather slowly because they wanted him to back up Rafer Alston. Yet, with time, he has exceeded the Rockets expectations. Bucket by bucket, he may be a Rocket starter for quite some time.
- Miller thinks that Tyler Hansbrough will be a better NBA player than Blake Griffin. Miller says Griffin is nowhere near 6-foot-10 and will be an undersized NBA power forward. Reggie thinks that Hansbrough will end up on a better team and be in the playoffs more often. Whereas Griffin will likely end up in Sacrament. Dan doesn’t agree.
Hilarious. Reggie, Reggie, what have you been inhaling? Are you even watching basketball anymore? Blake Griffin has been a one man team. The guy has a NBA body, can finish around the rim and is miles ahead of Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough is at best Mark Madsen.
Griffin has the upside of being as good as Elton Brand. Reggie, stick to making bad commentary on TNT. You are off buddy.
Tags: Blake Griffin, Hansbrough, Reggie Miller
Simply put, they are too old and their talent level is not good enough to contend. Without Amare, they’re not competitive. They did not stand a chance against the 7th best in the West. They really need to look to change their team around.
Unfortunately, as of today (2/9/09), Al Jefferson’s season is over to a torn ACL. The average fan knows that these types of injuries are tough to come back from for athletes. However, I profile Jefferson today because I feel he will return to be the same All Star worthy player he has been for the last two years. Why? Am I the knew Nostradamus? No, simply because Al Jefferson’s game has always been about a soft touch around the rim. He just knows how to drop the ball in the bucket. Hence, Buckets. He’s a big 6′9/6′10 forward, but he’s not exactly a bruiser. His offense has always relied on his quicks and variety of finishing skills. He has nice little baby hook, a nice up and under, and a feathery touch.
from ESPN.com and AP Photo/Jim Mone
Quick stats for this season (midway through 2008-2009): 23ppg, nearly 2 blocks, 11 rpg, 50% fg, 73% ft. Those are numbers and they come while his team has been improving.
Tags: al jefferson, all star, minnesota timberwolves, power forward
from NBA.com
New Mexico U. Wow. Good for the Coyotes Lobos (Bradley prior) and poor scouting from the big colleges, dont you think? An awful lot of buckets for this guy. Now in his fourth year, he’s selected to participate in the All Star game, averaging 25+ points, a block, a steal, 3+ assists and 5+ boards a game. Granger was a steal for the Pacers at the #17 spot in the draft. He’s another guy overlooked because of a 4 year career in college.
Who to compare this cat to? Granger is one of these versatile swingmen that score, defend, and have remarkable athleticism. More of a forward than a guard, Granger is most like another young star, Rudy Gay. Really, their games are similar- three point shot, high flyers, length….He is currently on a bad team right now…not his fault. He may not need to be paired with another star, but he does need better support than what Dunleavy, Murphy, Daniels and company can provide.
Related Links
Hoops Hype writes of Granger’s Royalty Status and his .01 Second Free Throw to Beat King James
Tags: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, Small Forward
:::: 1-27-09
re: Rooting for the underrated is overrated. Unless it’s for one of these two guys. Bill Simmons recently wrote an article, titled above and linked here, on Kevin Durant and Manny Ramirez. I’m not going to summarize it too much as you can read for yourself if interested. However, in his attempt at showing the world the meaning of underrated in terms of sports, he fumbles the ball out of the end zone. Below is his definition of underrated:
My personal definition of underrated has three parts. First, it needs to refer to someone currently achieving at a crazy high level, only nobody seems to realize it. Second, that guy has to resonate in a unique way with his fans, even as nobody outside that circle realizes the degree of his resonation. (And if I just made up that word, so be it.) Third, he needs to make you think, I bet that dude would be really fun to follow on an everyday basis, except hardly anyone is actually thinking that.
First of all, Manny Ramirez has never been overrated. The guy has been paid crazy money for quite a long time. No underrated player gets top dollar. That argument done for. I will agree that he is fun to watch, the same way I tuned in to every Barry Bonds at bat. Durant is not given superstar status by the NBA world yet, but that does not mean hes underrated. He’s still in his rookie contract and as soon as the option comes around, hes making the max. Hows that underrated? He was never underrated coming out of college neither. Even though he was second in the draft, it was only because Oden looked to be the next coming of Shaquille O’Neal. Even then, everyone said it would be a toss up. Kevin Durant is a great player. He’s already a prolific scorer and the average fan knows that. So, how is he underrated?
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Tags: kevin durant, ok thunder