A night after leading Boston to a come-from-behind win against the New Jersey Nets, Rajon Rondo was at it again. This time, though, he was joined by Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in leading the Celtics to a 106-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He was also joined by Ray Allen, but Ray would have hit just about as many shots while sitting on the bench in a suit as he did in 26 minutes of play in this one. Still, the first unit looked great and Rondo – despite a modest line of only 6 points, 8 assists and 4 steals – was the catalyst. Getting into the lane time after time, Rondo kept pressure on the defense all night long and created opportunities for his teammates.
But Celtics fans will probably be less excited about Rondo’s performance than they’ll be by his three alley-oop passes to Garnett. Only two of them were dunks but Garnett looked like he has “his wings” back. I think the focus can now get off Garnett’s knee and move onto other things; Garnett is progressing just fine and he’s going to be a force for the C’s this season (if you’re religious, or even if you just love the Celtics, please pray that that sentence does not jinx him… please).
Other standouts included Paul Pierce (ultra-efficient 17 points), Kendrick Perkins (a quiet but tough 11 points and 7 rebounds), Glen Davis (another solid performance, with 13 points in 19 minutes), and Lester Hudson (12 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 0 turnovers and great hustle). And without further ado, let’s get on to the running diary…
First Quarter
I’ll be watching this game on a computer in my school’s library. I should be doing 12 pages of papers due by tomorrow, but I’d rather watch a meaningless Celtics preseason game. Obsessed, you say? Thanks, but I prefer dedicated.
I can’t even hear the commercial advertising Sunday’s game, also against the Raptors, but the montage of KG slamming it home, Big Baby hitting the Orlando game-winner and Pierce scoring buckets still gave me goosebumps.
Garnett is one-of-a-kind. The intensity he brings, even in a meaningless preseason game, would make Ric Flair jealous. He just fired up the half-full house at the Hartford Civic Center with his normal pregame routine.
Perkins manhandles Bargnani down low for his first rebound. Toronto is talented, but very thin on the inside. And by thin, I don’t mean they don’t have good players. I mean they’re skinny.
Garnett with a jumper from the corner on the first possession, then Pierce with his patented up-fake… wait for defender to jump sky-high… lean in… draw foul move on the second possession. I like the way this is starting.
Pierce stepback fadeaway, then a pretty 3-on-1 fast break started by a steal that ends with Ray-Ray dumping one off to a cutting Pierce for an easy two.
The Celtics are running and gunning and making the game look easy. Whenever the C’s get out in transition and go they look like a different team. Then again, I guess any team looks good on fast breaks. But not every team has a Rondo-led fast break with KG and Pierce running the wings and Ray Allen trailing for a jumpshot.
Celtics up 14-5 and making the game look so easy. Ball movement is easy and effortless, Rondo is slicing and dicing, and everybody is making plays.
It all starts on defense though. Celtics stop getting stops and all of a sudden their offense is a little stagnant. And right as I’m saying that, the patented KG-from-Rondo alley-oop connects for the first time this year! 16-13 C’s.
Emailing my teacher for an extension on my paper. I could really, really, really use one.
My, how quickly things change. One minute, the C’s are winning and looking like a well-oiled machine. The next, the Raptors are running and gunning down their throats and KG is getting trucked while setting a screen. 19-16 Raptors.
When I said the Raptors frontcourt is thin, I obviously forgot about Reggie Evans. He’s a beast. And he also once squeezed Chris Kaman’s, ummm… genitals.
Sweetney in there early, with a couple minutes left in the first. And he looks hungry… to score buckets, that is.
Unfortunately, somebody forgot to tell Sweetney fouls weren’t double cheeseburgers. He’s racked up three fouls in only four minutes of play.
Quarter ends, 25-all.
Second Quarter
Missed the first three minutes, then came back to the sight of J.R. Giddens on the floor and Sonny Weems flying through the air for a dunk. I don’t know which one’s better for the Raptors. 31-31.
Shelden Williams with a running hook through the lane? Haven’t seen that one since the Duke days. Come to think of it, we might never have seen a running hook from Shelden. At least one that actually went in. And he follows it up with a jumper on the next play. I want a clear out for Shelden Williams!
Giddens seems less spastic this year. He hasn’t done anything good, but he doesn’t look completely lost on the court either. Small steps.
Shelden Williams with another jumper! Williams is taking over this game! 37-36 C’s. If this keeps up, I’m going to get my vision checked. I don’t believe it’s actually #13 making these plays.
By the way, I’m skipping a group meeting right now to watch this game. And I’m in the library where my group is meeting. One of my group members just walked right by me, with a very quizzical look on her face. She kind of looked like how I do when Tony Allen makes a nice pass. Good thing she didn’t see what I was doing on my computer; it’s tough to defend missing a meeting for watching a preseason C’s game.
Pierce with a pretty and-one over Turkoglu. He uses his body so well.
A technical foul has been assessed to somebody but, because I have the sound off, I have no idea who it was. House hit the technical free throw though.
Garnett looks the best he has so far, snatching a rebound well over the rim. Every game, he looks a little bit stronger. I think Doc made a good decision sitting the Big Three out yesterday. Right after I say that, he bumps his knee in a collision with Pierce and then the floor. But he comes back fine. Very good sign.
Chris Bosh is tough to guard. He’s a little like Garnett in that he loves the midrange game. But he’s a far worse defender than Garnett, which is why he’s only an All-Star and not the superstar Garnett is.
Rondo just had a very nice hesitation dribble on a hedging Bosh. Illustrating both Rondo’s speed and why Bosh is not as good as KG. KG would have contended that a whole lot better than a little wave at a passing Rondo.
Halftime. 51-46, good guys. Garnett looked really good, and Rondo was his usual penetrating self. Pierce leads the C’s with 12 points, Rondo has 4 assists and 4 steals, KG has 8 points and 5 rebounds, and Big Baby has 10 points. Ray, despite going 0-5, contributed 4 rebounds and 3 assists. On the other end, Bosh is killing with 20 points and Hedo is doing what he does… making plays.
Third Quarter
Rondo gets in the lane and kicks out for a Ray Allen three. Normally automatic, but Ray-Ray continues his 0-fer. Either way, it was a nice play and Rondo is really making the defense work with his aggressive drives to the hoop.
The Celtics come out strong for the second straight half. 60-52 now, good guys, and Rondo is spurning (UPDATE: Rondo is not spurning the offensive success, he is spurring it) the offensive success. If he could only get a hand up on Calderon shooting threes, the Celtics would be up a bit more.
And another Rondo assist, this time a lob pass to a sprinting KG on the fastbreak. Garnett and Rondo are really looking very good. Two possessions later, they do it again! Rondo and KG connect on their second alley-oop and everything is right in the world. Watch out ladies and gentlemen, the Big Ticket is baccckkk…
Rondo is getting whatever he wants against the Raptors D. He hasn’t scored much, but he’s getting into the lane and finding open Celtics time after time. When he’s energetic, the Celtics are so tough to stop.
Is it just me or does Chris Bosh kind of look like a crackhead? And not in a racist way at all… Chris Anderson is white, and he looks like far more than a crack head.
This is the Rajon Rondo show. He just hit a jumpshot in Calderon’s mug and has had a hand in more or less everything the C’s have done in the third quarter. He has only 6 points, but he’s completely contolled the game; especially the third quarter.
78-65 when Rondo goes out with about 3:30 left in the third. Keep that in mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if they struggle with him on the bench. He’s done so much for the C’s tonight.
During the commercial, a McDonald’s commercial was played. I couldn’t hear what the commercial said, but I can imagine it went something like this, “The deliciousness of our Chicken McNuggets is why Michael Sweetney does not have a guaranteed contract in the NBA. If he likes them so much that he’ll ruin his career for them, then you’ll like them, too. McDonalds: Sweetney’s loving it.”
Hudson and Williams in with just over a minute to go in the third. Shelden gets his first shot blocked. Somehow, I figured he wouldn’t play as well as he did in the first half.
With Rondo (and every other starter, to be fair) out of the game, the C’s don’t look nearly as smooth.
One thing didn’t change over the offseason: Eddie House can still shoot.
83-71 C’s to end the third. Red would be smoking his victory stogie but… the lineup right now is Hudson, House, Daniels, Big Baby and Williams. Not exactly awe-inspiring.
Fourth Quarter
The play has slowed almost to a halt as the second units do battle. I’d love to say my prediction of the team looking worse without Rondo has come true, but everyone else in the starting lineup got subbed out too. It might not be just the Rondo Effect, but I guess I'll take credit for my prediction; after all, it did come true.
House is doing a lot of the ball-handling when Hudson is in the lineup. Looks like Doc envisions Hudson playing a House-like role as a small shooting guard.
The Boston Globe now has a blog post saying that, get this, Rajon Rondo is wearing lowtops tonight. I know he’s had a few ankle problems, but I don’t quite find this earth-shattering news. Kobe seems to play okay in lowtops.
Hudson is looking very good. Aggressive shooting the ball, aggressive taking it to the hoop, and aggressive defensively. He has limitations with his PG skills, but Hudson certainly doesn’t lack when it comes to confidence.
Every time I watch Sweetney play, I wonder how good he could be if he kept his weight down... and then I thank God for my fast metabolism.
Scal is the last one off the bench. I’m wondering why. Tweet fiend and Celtics fanatic @MrTripleDouble10 thinks it might be because Rondo stole Scal’s lowtops.
I officially really like Hudson’s game. He’s fearless, tough, and he hustles. And Giddens is hustling right along with him. Giddens doesn’t have nearly the same line he had yesterday, but has a few rebounds and has kept a few more balls alive. I like Giddens’ attitude this year; he’s really fighting to keep from being demoted to Maine, and you can tell.
And my feed to the game just went out with about 2:30 left in the game. I suppose it’s for the better; there’s only so many times I can praise Lester Hudson before it starts to get a wee bit annoying. I guess that’s all for the running diary.
P.S., I just had to check the box score to see if Daniels did ANYTHING at all. And the verdict was no: 0 points, 0-6 shooting, and 2 assists in 17 minutes. But if you’re a super-optimist, he didn’t have a single turnover.
Boston Celtics continue preseason tonight against Toronto Raptors
So much for Boston's (brief and tiny) fears about Rajon Rondo. I guess he just needed to get those competitive juices flowing before regaining "Playoff Rondo" form. Last night, he begged Doc Rivers to keep him on the floor so he could lead the undermanned Celtics (playing without the Big Three, Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace) to a victory. It didn't matter to Rondo that it was only preseason basketball; his team was knocked down in the first half, trailing by thirteen points at halftime and getting embarrassed. So Rondo got up off the mat and came back throwing haymakers, finishing with 18 points, 13 assists, 9 assists and a win despite playing with such a depleted roster.
Tonight, Rondo will lead the Celtics into Hartord, CT., where they will play the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Rasheed Wallace will likely miss the game with a "tweaked ankle", but the Big Three should all be back from their one-day hiatus. Thankfully, Rasheed's injury isn't too bad; he looked great yesterday night when he got the time. He spread the floor beautifully with some long bombs, was aggressive every time he got the ball and even showed off the little youth he still has left in those 35-year old legs, rising up and dunking after a gorgeous feed from a driving Rondo.
With Rasheed out, look for Big Baby Glen Davis to earn more extended minutes. Davis has looked very good this year, seemingly becoming more efficient and taking advantage of his minutes off the bench. It seems as if his great run filling in for Kevin Garnett has given Davis a lot of confidence and he has taken that confidence into this year. I went to a preseason game last year and Davis was the worst player on the floor. He did little (if anything) productive, and even passed it directly to the 76ers on more than one occasion. The difference between Davis last preseason and Davis now is night and day. He's ready now to play a big role, whereas he wasn't at the beginning of last year.
The Celtics' depth had been evident throughout the first three preseason games, but was never more obvious than last night. With five (Five!) key players out, the C's still had enough to mount a comeback against the Nets. One of the heroes was J.R. Giddens, more or less the last man off their bench, who provided boundless energy and helped turn the tide of the game. Giddens came into the game in the first half like a man possessed, going after every loose ball and bringing a level of play he doesn't normally show. Thirteen rebounds later, Giddens could sit at his locker after the game happy, knowing he took advantage of the opportunity afforded to him when so many players ahead of him on the depth chart ended up on the sidelines for the night.
It's only preseason, but a great comeback still gets the juices flowing. Hell, I had the juices flowing even in a poorly-played first half that ended up with the C's down 13 points. Four more games and 13 more days until the Quickens Loan Arena hosts the Big Three and Lebron in the season's opening game. But for tonight the Raptors are the opponent, and the Big Three will be back to face them.
'Sheed says the Celtics could challenge Bulls' record... could they?
Monday, October 12, 2009
In a recent interview with Tom Halzack of the CT News, Rasheed Wallace claimed the Celtics could make a run at the Chicago Bulls' hallowed record of 72 regular-season wins.
"Oh definitely. Definitely, playing with those three other guys, also combining that with the guys we have on the bench, I think we can definitely can. Me personally, I think we can get that Bulls record. You know we have the talent for it. We have the will for it and…I think we have the defense for it."[Halzack:] Do you want me to use that?
"You can. Because honestly, I really do feel that. That was a good team. They had some HOFs on there, but we have a few on this team, too."
On the surface, comparing any team to the 1995-1996 Bulls squad would be sacreligious. They had Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and a recent Hall-of-Fame inductee who wore the number 23 (and 45, briefly). They had role players galore, the best player ever and possibly the best coach ever. They didn't only beat teams; they annihilated them. The Bulls won games by an average of 12.3 points, scoring 105.2 points per game while only giving up 92.9.
To say they were dominant is an understatement; the Bulls started the season with 41 wins in their first 44 games and ended it with a 15-3 record in the playoffs. They won their first 37 home games and became the only team in NBA history to win over 70 games. Their point differential was the second greatest in NBA history (behind only the 1972 Lakers), but if you adjust the differential for the pace of play the Bulls' point differential becomes the best in NBA history.
The Bulls nearly swept every major award. They had the MVP, Finals MVP and All-Star game MVP (Jordan), the Executive of the Year (Jerry Krause), the Coach of the Year (Jackson), and the Sixth Man of the Year (Toni Kukoc). The only major award the Bulls didn't win was the Defensive Player of the Year (Gary Payton won it, in case you were wondering), but they made up for it by becoming the only NBA team with three (that's right, three) players named to the All-Defensive First Team (Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman).
Could this year's Celtics possibly contend with that record, with such a storied team? They've gotten off to incredible starts the past two years, only to see stretches of poor play and injuries derail their quest of challenging the Bulls' mark. Now possessing a lot more depth than last year, could the Celtics rewrite the record books?
Why they probably won't
There are too many things that have to go right for a team to win that many games. For a team to reach 72 wins, it takes far more than outstanding talent. There has to be a bill of clean health. In '95-'96, Jordan didn't miss a single game. Neither did Steve Kerr. Pippen only missed five, Ron Harper two and Kukoc only one. Rodman was the only key player to miss significant time, with 18 games missed.
The Celtics had big injury issues last season and, with an aging roster, could face another injury-plagued season. Garnett missed a lot of time last season, and still isn't 100% heading into the season. Ray Allen has a history of ankle issues. Paul Pierce has been durable throughout his career, but he's getting older and seemed to visibly wear down by the end of last year. Kendrick Perkins has a long trail of shoulder difficulties, and Rajon Rondo's ankles have given him some problems in the past. The whole starting five is injury-prone, and an injury to any one of them could mean an end to the C's chances at cracking the Bull's record.
But even if they are healthy, the Celtics will face many other barriers to 72 wins. They aren't even necessarily the NBA's best team; the Cleveland Cavaliers, L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic could all stake a claim to being better than the Celtics, at least at this point. The cream of the crop in the NBA might be as good as it's ever been, with the top teams heaped together closely, head and shoulders above every other team. The Celtics play those teams a combined 12 times, and all those games will be losable. Not to mention that the second tier of teams, headlined by Denver, Portland and maybe Dallas, will be tough to beat too.
But let's say the Celtics will be the best team in the league, like Rasheed seems to think, and let's say everyone on their roster remains healthy for all 82 games. Even then, 72 wins is incredibly difficult to attain. With an 82-game schedule, lulls are far too easy to come by. Teams don't always lose because the other team is better. Sometimes a team loses because they're tired on the second night of a back-to-back, or because they simply don't bring their "A" game. The Bulls had Michael Jordan and his unrivaled will to win to keep them in check and make sure they brought intensity every night. The Bulls lost back-to-back games only once the entire year, and were able to bring effort basically every night out. Even a team that's far more talented than its opponent can lose on any given night; for a team to win 72 games it has to be able to severely limit the amount of times it doesn't "bring it".
Why they could do it
Intensity shouldn't be a problem for the Celtics. Their own leader, Kevin Garnett, approaches every play with fury, desire and competitiveness. The C's are a veteran-laden team that knows their window of opportunity won't be open much longer. They know they need to bring effort every night, and have been known for their great defense and high effort level. The biggest criticism of Doc Rivers over the past two years has been that he has valued regular season wins too highly and played his starters too many minutes. The C's want to win, and they work to win every game they play.
Health, on the other hand, could be a problem. But Kevin Garnett doesn't have a past filled with injury issues. His injury last year was the biggest of his career, but he has been, for the most part, a healthy player. Paul Pierce, as noted earlier, has been durable his entire career. And Ray Allen has a history of ankle issues, but he only missed one game last year and reportedly returned to camp in the best shape of his life. Kendrick Perkins has repeatedly hurt his shoulder in the past, but returned to camp lighter, more limber and entirely healthy. And Rajon Rondo, despite small ankle problems from time to time, has only missed 11 games in his three years in the NBA.
Their improved depth should help them limit the starters' minutes and, in the case of an injury, provide insurance behind the starters. Rasheed Wallace has been a starter every other year he's been in the league and, despite reports of his demise last year, his numbers were almost identical to his previous two years (seriously, check it out). And he's 6'11" tall with the ability to guard any power forward or center in the league, spread the floor offensively and play selfless team basketball. Marquis Daniels was a starter last year and averaged over 13 points per game. He also has the versatility to play any perimeter position. Big Baby filled in admirably for the Celtics when KG and Leon Powe were hurt, and now he'll likely be the second big man off the bench. And Eddie House set the Celtics' single-season record for three-point shooting. Their second unit could compete with most teams in the league, and will be a huge factor in limiting the starters minutes and keeping them healthy or filling in for injured starters.
The Celtics won 66 games two years ago and 62 games last year, and now they have a team that, on paper, is better than either of those teams. It probably won't ever happen, but if everything falls right the Celtics could theoretically threaten the Bulls' record. Rasheed has "guaran-Sheed" a lot of things over his career and his latest prediction, while not exactly a guarantee, is likely the most far-fetched one yet. It could happen, and the Celtics have a chance to do it. But only if everything works out perfectly and the stars align for the C's.
Me? I just hope the Celtics win another championship. If they happen to win 72 games on the way, terrific. But anything other than a Larry O'Brien Trophy is just gravy.
NBA Dunks: Top Ten Dunk Contest Dunks
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Today’s Top 10 list is the dunk contest edition and we’re in for a treat. If anybody wants to debate which professional sports league has the best athletes, I present these dunks as Exhibit A for the NBA cause.
I think I realized I’d never make the NBA after I watched my first dunk contest. Maybe I’d learn to shoot, dribble, and pass well enough, but I didn’t have the pixie-dust to fly like MJ.
My top 10 list will include a lot of familiar dunks and dunkers, but no foul-line dunks. Not Dr. J’s, not MJ’s. You guys can send me hate mail, but I stubbornly refuse to consider these great dunks. Any mediocre NBA athlete can dunk from the foul line. It’s just not that hard. Brent Barry did it!
Actually, there is one foul-line dunk, but it’s not going to be the one you guys expect!
10. MJ Leaner
Classic MJ dunk delivered with a lot of flair. Almost looks like he’s going to mess up the dunk before he recovers in mid-air in spectacular fashion. Look for the little hesitation to see what I’m talking about.
(NOTE: The dunk is 33 sec into the video)
9. Dwight Howard Volleyball Dunk
I’m choosing this dunk over the far more popular Superman dunk for one reason. He didn’t even dunk the ball! He just threw it in! Talk about an overhyped dunk.
8. Dwight Howard Behind the Backboard
Even though the Superman layup wasn't a dunk, you still have to respect the man’s dunking ability. Unbelievably hard dunk. Not only does he have to avoid hitting his head on the backboard, but he finishes with the left, too!
7. Vince Carter alley-oop through the legs
Another through the legs dunk. This Carter dunk ranks so high not because of the originality, but because of how clean the dunk is. Does any other dunker make the near impossible look so effortless?
6. Gerald Green Bday Cupcake
Sadly, this candle represents Gerald Green’s NBA Career.
5. Jason Richardson off the glass, between the legs
Off the glass, between the legs. Just had to say it again and let it sink in.
4. James White D-League FT Windmill
After stumbling upon this D-League All-Star Game gem, I’ve made the executive decision to include the dunk. I mean the D-League is part of the NBA , right? And how can this dunk not be on the list? A vicious windmill from the free throw line. Dwarfs all the other free throw line dunks in comparison, don’t you think?
3. Jason Richardson, another between the legs
A truly exciting, original take on the between the legs dunk.
2. 'Nique Windmill Tomahawk
This dunk followed our #10 dunk in the ’85 Contest and defies description. Is it a windmill? Is it a tomahawk? Nobody can combine power and grace the way Nique could.
(NOTE: The dunk is 45 sec into the video)
1. Vince Carter Reverse 360
The best individual dunk from the best set of dunks in NBA Dunk Contest history.
NBA Season Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder
Last year's record: 23-59
Head coach: Scott Brooks
Projected Starters: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Nenad Kristic
Overlook:
The Thunder are set for the future, with a starting five filled with young talent that must have Scott Brooks thanking the good lord every morning he wakes up. But for the present, they might be too young to figure into the playoff race. Either way, it will be exciting to watch these guys grow up and progress.
X-Factor:
Jay – Shaun Livingston. Some people forget, but Livingston was one of the most gifted young point guards in the league before his gruesome injury. At 6'7", Livingston reminded a lot of folks of Magic Johnson. I don't know if I would have ever gone that far, but if Livingston can regain some of his youthful athleticism the Thunder will have a hell of a point guard.
Tommy - Jeff Green. He's definitely not your normal power forward, but Green could present mismatches for almost any power forward in the game. Just imagine Kevin Love trying to handle Green's quickness...
TJ - Jeff Green is still a bit of a project at the power forward position; however his continued growth is essential to the success for this stellar young team.
Biggest question mark:
Jay – How quickly does this team progress? I think it's safe to say that, if this team sticks together, they should be a lethal mix in a few years. But can they do it sooner? With all the speed, quickness, and skill the Thunder possess, I wouldn't be too surprised. But I don't expect it. Not yet.
Tommy - Does athleticism trump experience? If it did, the Thunder would be one of the top teams in the league. Unfortunately, experience counts for a lot in the NBA. So the Thunder better grow up, quick.
TJ - Can Kevin Durant become the perennial NBA superstar that the media is making him out to be? Do not get me wrong I love KD, but up to this point he is just a long athletic shooter who can really fill it up. I would not be so fast to compare him to the likes of a LeBron James or Dwayne Wade.
Most compelling storyline:
Jay – Kevin Durant's climb towards NBA superstardom. With Durant, it isn't a question of when he will become a superstar, it's a question of when that day will come. It should be illegal to do half the stuff he can do at 6'10". I can still outbench him, but I probably couldn't do this...
Tommy – If you ever played AAU basketball, you're familiar with teams like the Thunder. Long, athletic teams who often don't quite play with any semblance of fundamentals.
TJ – The job that general manager Sam Presti has done up to this point is outstanding. If he can use the cap room that he has saved for next summer on a dominant big man like Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, this team will be title contender within the next three years.
Player to watch:
Jay – James Harden. I love this kid. He reminds me a lot of Paul Pierce, the way he plays slowly and methodically but always seems to get where he needs to go. I expect big things out of Harden, and I expect him to have an instant impact. This kid's game is far more mature than a normal rookie's. And, somehow, I went through an entire preview of the Thunder without mentioning Russell Westbrook or Jeff Green. That speaks to the amount of talent on this team.
Tommy - Shaun Livingston and his recovery. Once upon a time, he had the vision of Nash with the height of a small forward. Last year, he played more like a journeyman. This year...?
TJ - Two players you should watch on this team are Russell Westbrook and James Harden. This backcourt can become deadly if the chemistry is there. They both offer a wide variety of skills that could translate into the Thunder becoming the most exciting team in basketball next season.
Projected Record:
Jay – 39-43
Tommy – 38-44
TJ – 40-42
NBA Season Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, October 9, 2009
Last year's record: 24-58
Head coach: Kurt Rambis
Projected Starters: Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love, Al Jefferson
Overlook:
Minnesota hopes the tough inside duo of Al Jefferson and Kevin Love will be enough to lead them into the playoffs. Unfortunately for the T-Wolves, there is no chance of them realistically making a run at the postseason. However, for now they can hang their hopes on the development of youngsters Jefferson, Love and Flynn, not to mention a certain floppy-haired point guard currently playing basketball in Spain.
X-Factor:
Jay – Corey Brewer. There were high hopes for Brewer out of Florida. Many touted him as a Scottie Pippen-like defender with budding offensive skills. He's been injured throughout his short career, but even when healthy Brewer has failed to live up to his expectations. He still has length and athleticism galore, but he'll need to really develop to become a key player for these Wolves.
Tommy - A young team with some shocker potential. Kevin Love has to take another step forward in his development if they want to compete.
TJ - Ramon Sessions. He flashed some brilliance in Milwaukee, but must do so on a more consistent basis to bring Minnesota a few more wins.
Biggest question mark:
Jay – Point guards, point guards, point guards. Why the hell is Minnesota GM David Kahn going after so many point guards? WIth two picks in the top ten, Kahn selected two point guards, when he could have used at least one of those picks to shore up Minnesota's glaring lack of wing players. He then signed point guard Ramon Sessions and traded for point guard Antonio Daniels. On the bright side, they'll have a lot of ballhandlers.
Tommy - Frontcourt defense. Neither Jefferson or Love are known for their defense.
TJ - Why could I not find any good video of Al Jefferson's post game? The man has the best low-post moves in the NBA, but no good YouTube video of him going to work in the post. Can one of our video-savvy readers please make one? Please include the pretty drop-steps, gorgeous up-and-unders, and silky jump hooks.
Most compelling storyline:
Jay – Can Al Jefferson and Kevin Love coexist in the same frontcourt? Two slow, plodding big men not known as good defenders. Last year, they didn't play together often; Love didn't get much playing time until Jefferson went down with an injury. It will be interesting to see how they play off each other.
Tommy - The T'Wolves really seem intent on pushing the tempo offensively this year. But I don't see a fastbreak finisher on this roster and Al Jefferson is probably the best post up threat in the NBA, so why would you run away from him? Big Al was told to slim down – and did report to training camp at 262, the lightest he's played at in the NBA – but he has never been very fast up and down the court and he's always thrived in a half-court offense. Kahn has made some puzzling moves so far, especially since he whiffed on Rubio.
TJ – Al Jefferson signs his name as "Big Al". I don't know why, but that really cracks me up. If anyone ever asks for my autograph, it's definitely going to have to say "Big T".
Player to watch:
Jay – Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions. You know what you're going to get from Jefferson, and to a lesser extent you know what Love is going to give you. You know the wings probably won't give Minnesota much. But the point guards are wild cards. Sessions showed great potential with Milwaukee, and Flynn with Syracuse; but will either of them become an elite point guard? Flynn would if he could always play Rutgers...
Tommy - Al Jefferson; In my opinion, the best low-post player in the league. Think about it, Duncan is still good, but he's getting older and settles for outside shots more often. Ditto with KG. Howard has zero post game. Gasol is great, but not as strong or assertive. Boozer has a claim, but he seems like a complete douche.
TJ - Jonny Flynn. This kid has hops, quickness and a great competitive desire... And in a few years he'll be splitting minutes with Ricky Rubio in David Kahn's bizarro backcourt.
Projected Record:
Jay – 32-50
Tommy – 34-48
TJ – 30-52
Boston Celtics-New York Knicks running diary
The Celtics took a long time to get going, but started to come together in the second half of a 96-82 blowout. Led by Kendrick Perkins' 14 points and 7 rebounds, the Celtics had no problems dispatching the Knicks, despite a sometimes lackadaisical effort. Off the bench, Rasheed Wallace added 13 points and 12 rebounds, accounting for three of the Celtics' nine made three-pointers.
Kevin Garnett scored 10 points and 8 rebounds, but still looked unable to fully explode off his recovering knee. The other members of Boston's Big Three, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, scored 13 points and 9 points, respectively. Rajon Rondo has a solid game but didn't do too much, accounting for 6 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.
Playing a lot of point guard, Marquis Daniels struggled at times. But I don't think anyone is too worried about Marquis... yet.
In case you want more analysis, here's a running diary of tonight's game...
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Doc shortened his rotation from last game, and a bunch of guys have yet to get into the game. Lester Hudson and Shelden Williams were the two I wanted to keep an eye on. My brother was very impressed by their effort in the first game. But in the first half, at least, we won't get a chance to check them out.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts (Atom)
Posts
