26 October 2008
A Little About Last Night in the NBA
10/30/08 14:24 Filed in: NBA
It has only been two games and they have yet to play
a team that reasonably expects to make the playoffs,
but you have to be totally amazed by the play of the
Lakers. 710 ESPN's Steve Mason has caused a stir by
predicting they will win 70 games, and while I won't
go that far, they may get close. On the other side of
the court, the Clippers looked great in the first
quarter, but were never heard from again.
The debuts of the two one-year-and-gone locals were to form as I see it, and as I mentioned yesterday. Kevin Love, in 18 minutes off the bench, shot 5 of 8, scored 12 points, collected 9 boards, and had one steal, in Minnesota's victory over Sacramento. I checked Memphis' stats at half-time, and saw Simpson Mayo with 8 points. In his typical fashion, in a game that started close as the fourth quarter began, but which Houston then won going away, SM was nowhere to be seen, despite playing 40 minutes. He finished with 10 points, shooting 5 of 20, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range.
Elsewhere, former Bruin Jason Kapono, who had the highest 3-point pct. in the NBA in each of the past two seasons (they aren't crediting him with the title last season for sightly too few attempts), got off to another great start with 3 of 4 from downtown and 15 points in Toronto's win.
theHoundDawg
The debuts of the two one-year-and-gone locals were to form as I see it, and as I mentioned yesterday. Kevin Love, in 18 minutes off the bench, shot 5 of 8, scored 12 points, collected 9 boards, and had one steal, in Minnesota's victory over Sacramento. I checked Memphis' stats at half-time, and saw Simpson Mayo with 8 points. In his typical fashion, in a game that started close as the fourth quarter began, but which Houston then won going away, SM was nowhere to be seen, despite playing 40 minutes. He finished with 10 points, shooting 5 of 20, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range.
Elsewhere, former Bruin Jason Kapono, who had the highest 3-point pct. in the NBA in each of the past two seasons (they aren't crediting him with the title last season for sightly too few attempts), got off to another great start with 3 of 4 from downtown and 15 points in Toronto's win.
theHoundDawg
More on the New NBA Season
10/29/08 14:12 Filed in: NBA
A few more thoughts about the new NBA season:
Greg Oden is the re-incarnation of Sam Bowie, but not as talented. Like Bowie, Bill Walton, and some other touted big men coming into the NBA, he's started off with the injury bug and you have to wonder will his carer mirror Bowie's, never to be fulfilled?
Barring their usual rash of injuries, which started in the preseason this year, the Clippers do figure to be improved, and their tip-off vs. the Lakers tonight should be interesting. The Clippers, from this perspective, have nothing to lose in playing the Lakers, who looked totally dominant against Portland.
More question marks abound in Charlotte, where it looks like it will be tough for Larry Brown to work much of his prior magic, unless he stays a lot longer than his track record would indicate he will, and in New York, where except for the new coach, it doesn't look like much has changed. Charlotte looks set at point guard and power forward (depending on the health of Sean May), but the rest of the team looks like it needs improvement to be a work in progress. As far as the Knicks are concerned, their only visible improvement is Stephon Marbury starting games on the bench.
Terms that may surprise: Minnesota and Kevin Love (UCLA), and Philadelphia and Elton Brand.
Teams in the dumper: Sacramento and Memphis. How did Sacramento get so bad so quickly, and Memphis will soon learn that in crunch time, the last guy you want on the court is OJ Simpson Mayo.
theHoundDawg
Greg Oden is the re-incarnation of Sam Bowie, but not as talented. Like Bowie, Bill Walton, and some other touted big men coming into the NBA, he's started off with the injury bug and you have to wonder will his carer mirror Bowie's, never to be fulfilled?
Barring their usual rash of injuries, which started in the preseason this year, the Clippers do figure to be improved, and their tip-off vs. the Lakers tonight should be interesting. The Clippers, from this perspective, have nothing to lose in playing the Lakers, who looked totally dominant against Portland.
More question marks abound in Charlotte, where it looks like it will be tough for Larry Brown to work much of his prior magic, unless he stays a lot longer than his track record would indicate he will, and in New York, where except for the new coach, it doesn't look like much has changed. Charlotte looks set at point guard and power forward (depending on the health of Sean May), but the rest of the team looks like it needs improvement to be a work in progress. As far as the Knicks are concerned, their only visible improvement is Stephon Marbury starting games on the bench.
Terms that may surprise: Minnesota and Kevin Love (UCLA), and Philadelphia and Elton Brand.
Teams in the dumper: Sacramento and Memphis. How did Sacramento get so bad so quickly, and Memphis will soon learn that in crunch time, the last guy you want on the court is OJ Simpson Mayo.
theHoundDawg
Jumped the Gun with Lute - He Didn't Deserve the Criticism
10/28/08 22:18 Filed in: College
Basketball
I feel bad for my criticism of Lute Olson, now that
it has been revealed that all of the actions and
mystery were due to medical reasons. If you missed
it, Olson's doctor held a press conference wherein he
stated that Lute suffered a stroke a while back, and
that the effects of the stroke became evident at the
beginning of practice, preventing Lute from being
able to properly handle the team, and that he, Dr.
Steven Knope, advised Lute to retire.
I do feel that my statements were reasonable due to the lack of information and the manner in which things were handled.
In a related note, Lute's prize recruit, Abdul Gaddy, has apparently now chosen Washington over UCLA in his third attempt at finding a basketball home.
theHoundDawg
I do feel that my statements were reasonable due to the lack of information and the manner in which things were handled.
In a related note, Lute's prize recruit, Abdul Gaddy, has apparently now chosen Washington over UCLA in his third attempt at finding a basketball home.
theHoundDawg