T-MAC VS V-SPAN!!! THE MCGRADY'S OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES!!
...errr... or not.
It's too bad V-span didn't play against us, it would of made for some spicy preseason tv. But I digress, what we got to see was some very solid all around game from the Rockets, minus Tracy McGrady. Not only did the Rockets score 107 points, but they also help Panathinaikos to only 70 points, though their perimiter defense was suspect at some points, with the Greek teams excellent 3 point shooting being somewhat troublesome for the good guys in white. Anyway, on to the winners and losers.
Winners!
Rockets: Luis Scola and Rafer Alston
What a game for Luis! 8-10 from the floor with several key defensive plays and excellent fast break awareness. He really stole the show playing against his European rivals. I can't say enough how excited I am to have Luis on this team; he, like Battier, are perfect role players, exactly what the Rockets need to surround T-mac and Yao.
Rafer had yet another excellent game, with teals, assists, and *gasp* 4-5 from downtown! Building on what he had in the first preseason game, he showed amazing court savvy and really took care of the ball well. It's no wonder that Adelman has called him a "perfect fit" for his offense.
Panathinaikos: Batiste
This man was a BEAST all night long. He showed range, defensive prowess, and solid post play. It's a wonder why this man isn't in the NBA.
Losers!!
Rockets: Aaron Brooks
It's too bad the little man's first NBA game had to go like this. He did show speed on that fast break layup, however he had several good looks from the outside, and missed them all, sometimes badly. I'm sure the nervousness of a first game had some to do with it, and we are all hoping lil Brooks can bounce back next game.
Panathinaikos: Zelimir Obradovic
The coach just got the bad end of not properly preparing for an NBA style game. Poor guy was frustrated with the rules all night, however it's hard to have much sympathy for him when Panathinaikos had several weeks to prepare. Oh well, it'll be worse when they lose to the Spurs =P
Until next time... GO ROX!
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Sunday, October 14, 2007
First Preseason Action!
Woohoo! The preseason is finally here... aptly filling the deep void left by lack of basketball action over the course of the offseason, being kept alive purely by the thin joys of offseason speculation. Let's get some Rockets analysis going!
Game1 vs New Orleans Hornets
I was so giddy at the beginning of this game, and the Rockets 1st quarter did not disappoint. We ran that offense like Steven Colbert runs his mouth; perfectly. Surprisingly enough, in addition to our newfound offense, our defense did not let up one bit, with all of T-mac, Rafer, Chuck, Scola, Yao, and James rotating effectively and giving substantial amounts of effort. Yes there were some errant passes (I'm looking at you, T-mac) that didn't exactly cover up a certain players piss-poor offensive showing (I'm still looking at you, T-mac), but overall, you can't complain with a 30-9 lead going into the second. Unfortunately, that's about the peak of the happiness that night. The rest of the game was sloppy and turnover infested, not to mention the incredible free throw shooting display. From the 2nd to the 4th quarter, it was about what I originally expected to see. But man, for that 1 quarter of pure unadulterated Rockets joy, it really makes a Rockets fan feel good about the season. On the winners and losers of Tuesday's game.
Winners!
Rockets: Rafer Alston and Bonzi Wells
We all knew this day could someday come. The day when Mr. Brick and Bouncy Whales have the best game out of a roster that is deeper than my affection for raw cookie dough. Rafer put on a display of tremendous court awareness, pinpoint passing, and solid shot selection without one turnover. What has this world come to?? With Rockets fans everywhere refusing to blink in anticipation of both Mike James and Steve Francis, all they saw was the brilliance that was Alston. Good work Rafer, in one game you've stapled the mouths of haters everywhere shut.
The second winner is our lovable bundle of unpredictability, Bonzi Wells. We had all heard the rumors that Wells had lost a ridiculous amount of weight (somewhere around 30 pounds... jeez!) and we could definitely see that the ground didn't shake the same way when he walked, but none of us could have anticipated a 32-year-old Bonzi Wells to show the quickness and athleticism he did after his lackluster, hungerbuster of a year last year. Making 5 of his 7 shots while running the floor like a madman, Wells really showed the importance of coaching Tuesday night. Here's to a seasons worth of that, my friend.
Hornets: Hilton Armstrong and Tyson Chandler
I didn't think I'd be including Armstrong in this category for a few more years, but DANG does he make for a valuable addition to the Hornets frontcourt! Both he and Tyson locked down the lane, frustrating the Rockets roster hopefully into near tears. If both these players reach their potential, it could be a downright mess down in New Orleans, where the Hornets do the swatting.
Losers!!
Rockets: Tracy McGrady
Oh boy. It was in the back of my mind that Tracy might start slow, but wow, did he look off Tuesday. Making a dismal 1-5 shots (with his misses not being close) and 2-6 from the charity stripe (I cannot say how much this annoys me), T-Mac also showed a surprising lack of judgment by throwing some very questionable passes that became turnovers. I don't doubt that T-Mac will find his rhythm, but let's hope for his sake it's sooner rather than later, with these Kobe rumors and all.
Hornets: David West
To whom much is given, much is expected. And everyone in the Ford Arena expected much more out of the Hornets star forward. Going 1-6 from the field with 4 turnovers, DWest will most definitely have to shake this one off.
Other notes:
Yao looks very solid. The way he ran the break and stretched the defense was extremely impressive. He nailed an 18-footer that made me grin ear to ear, and his ability to see over the defense and make correct passes (see his highlight to rafer) should be a deadly weapon for Rick Adelman to utilize this season. Luis Scola looked great as well, very active on defense and a perfect role player on offense. Who knew we got the Argentinian power forward counterpart of Shane Battier? Between Hayes, Scola, and Battier, the Rockets could lead the league in charges taken this year.
Overall I was satisfied. We broke down in the second half and ultimately lost due to some insane shooting by a guy called Huluska? who?? Oh well. Very promising game for both teams.
I don't know how I'm going to survive a week without Rockets Basketball. I'll do the Panathaikos game tomorrow! Until then, GO ROX!!
Game1 vs New Orleans Hornets
I was so giddy at the beginning of this game, and the Rockets 1st quarter did not disappoint. We ran that offense like Steven Colbert runs his mouth; perfectly. Surprisingly enough, in addition to our newfound offense, our defense did not let up one bit, with all of T-mac, Rafer, Chuck, Scola, Yao, and James rotating effectively and giving substantial amounts of effort. Yes there were some errant passes (I'm looking at you, T-mac) that didn't exactly cover up a certain players piss-poor offensive showing (I'm still looking at you, T-mac), but overall, you can't complain with a 30-9 lead going into the second. Unfortunately, that's about the peak of the happiness that night. The rest of the game was sloppy and turnover infested, not to mention the incredible free throw shooting display. From the 2nd to the 4th quarter, it was about what I originally expected to see. But man, for that 1 quarter of pure unadulterated Rockets joy, it really makes a Rockets fan feel good about the season. On the winners and losers of Tuesday's game.
Winners!
Rockets: Rafer Alston and Bonzi Wells
We all knew this day could someday come. The day when Mr. Brick and Bouncy Whales have the best game out of a roster that is deeper than my affection for raw cookie dough. Rafer put on a display of tremendous court awareness, pinpoint passing, and solid shot selection without one turnover. What has this world come to?? With Rockets fans everywhere refusing to blink in anticipation of both Mike James and Steve Francis, all they saw was the brilliance that was Alston. Good work Rafer, in one game you've stapled the mouths of haters everywhere shut.
The second winner is our lovable bundle of unpredictability, Bonzi Wells. We had all heard the rumors that Wells had lost a ridiculous amount of weight (somewhere around 30 pounds... jeez!) and we could definitely see that the ground didn't shake the same way when he walked, but none of us could have anticipated a 32-year-old Bonzi Wells to show the quickness and athleticism he did after his lackluster, hungerbuster of a year last year. Making 5 of his 7 shots while running the floor like a madman, Wells really showed the importance of coaching Tuesday night. Here's to a seasons worth of that, my friend.
Hornets: Hilton Armstrong and Tyson Chandler
I didn't think I'd be including Armstrong in this category for a few more years, but DANG does he make for a valuable addition to the Hornets frontcourt! Both he and Tyson locked down the lane, frustrating the Rockets roster hopefully into near tears. If both these players reach their potential, it could be a downright mess down in New Orleans, where the Hornets do the swatting.
Losers!!
Rockets: Tracy McGrady
Oh boy. It was in the back of my mind that Tracy might start slow, but wow, did he look off Tuesday. Making a dismal 1-5 shots (with his misses not being close) and 2-6 from the charity stripe (I cannot say how much this annoys me), T-Mac also showed a surprising lack of judgment by throwing some very questionable passes that became turnovers. I don't doubt that T-Mac will find his rhythm, but let's hope for his sake it's sooner rather than later, with these Kobe rumors and all.
Hornets: David West
To whom much is given, much is expected. And everyone in the Ford Arena expected much more out of the Hornets star forward. Going 1-6 from the field with 4 turnovers, DWest will most definitely have to shake this one off.
Other notes:
Yao looks very solid. The way he ran the break and stretched the defense was extremely impressive. He nailed an 18-footer that made me grin ear to ear, and his ability to see over the defense and make correct passes (see his highlight to rafer) should be a deadly weapon for Rick Adelman to utilize this season. Luis Scola looked great as well, very active on defense and a perfect role player on offense. Who knew we got the Argentinian power forward counterpart of Shane Battier? Between Hayes, Scola, and Battier, the Rockets could lead the league in charges taken this year.
Overall I was satisfied. We broke down in the second half and ultimately lost due to some insane shooting by a guy called Huluska? who?? Oh well. Very promising game for both teams.
I don't know how I'm going to survive a week without Rockets Basketball. I'll do the Panathaikos game tomorrow! Until then, GO ROX!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Kobe and the Matrix
^sounds like a sitcom... or a bad bandname...
So the newest premiere small forward to demand a trade is the Sun's Shawn Marion. Since they won't give him $60 Million, and he's playing third wheel to Nash and Stoudamire, he wants out. Apparently Kobe has been whispering sweet nothing's in his ear, brining up a much expected Odom vs Marion debate, seeing as that could be the trade, strait up.
Would the Lakers be better off with the Matrix? My gut reaction is yes. I've always assumed that the Matrix was much better than Odom. You don't see fantasy teams drooling over Odom the way they do Marion. However, many fans believe that Marion is simply a product of the Suns offense the same way that Diaw is. How quickly they forget the close to 20/10 seasons Marion had when "Starbury" was running things.
Comparing the two, however, is an interesting debate. On one hand you have Odom who had great size, ballhandling, and courtvision; able to play 1-4 and a constant triple double threat. He stands at a looming 6'10 which in this league, towers over Marion's gracious 6'7. However, while Odom can play the 1-4 on offense, Marion can guard the 1-4 with great success on defense. And this is where I see the best advantage for the Lakers. If you look at 82games.com's blueprint for an NBA Championship, you'll see that almost every Championship team has had a top 10 defender on their squad, and frankly the Lakers just don't have that right now. Marion brings a pretty solid 3 point shot, insane rebounding for a player of his size, and quality defense; all things that Odom can't really do and the Lakers need. Odom would do wonderfully in the high powered suns offense and do an adequate job filling Marion's shoes thanks to Nash and the rest of the squad.
All the Lakers need after this is for Bynum to step up his game, and for one of Jordan Farmar or Javaris Crittington to step forward and become a quality point. Then we'd see what Phil Jackson and Kobe can really do. Speaking of that dynamic (and I do mean that in the truest sense of the word) duo, a trade like this would probably silence their complaints for the mostpart, thus allowing chemistry to flow freely.
Let's all hope for the Lakers and the NBA's sake that this trade goes through. God knows we need something after Oden's unfortunate injury.
So the newest premiere small forward to demand a trade is the Sun's Shawn Marion. Since they won't give him $60 Million, and he's playing third wheel to Nash and Stoudamire, he wants out. Apparently Kobe has been whispering sweet nothing's in his ear, brining up a much expected Odom vs Marion debate, seeing as that could be the trade, strait up.
Would the Lakers be better off with the Matrix? My gut reaction is yes. I've always assumed that the Matrix was much better than Odom. You don't see fantasy teams drooling over Odom the way they do Marion. However, many fans believe that Marion is simply a product of the Suns offense the same way that Diaw is. How quickly they forget the close to 20/10 seasons Marion had when "Starbury" was running things.
Comparing the two, however, is an interesting debate. On one hand you have Odom who had great size, ballhandling, and courtvision; able to play 1-4 and a constant triple double threat. He stands at a looming 6'10 which in this league, towers over Marion's gracious 6'7. However, while Odom can play the 1-4 on offense, Marion can guard the 1-4 with great success on defense. And this is where I see the best advantage for the Lakers. If you look at 82games.com's blueprint for an NBA Championship, you'll see that almost every Championship team has had a top 10 defender on their squad, and frankly the Lakers just don't have that right now. Marion brings a pretty solid 3 point shot, insane rebounding for a player of his size, and quality defense; all things that Odom can't really do and the Lakers need. Odom would do wonderfully in the high powered suns offense and do an adequate job filling Marion's shoes thanks to Nash and the rest of the squad.
All the Lakers need after this is for Bynum to step up his game, and for one of Jordan Farmar or Javaris Crittington to step forward and become a quality point. Then we'd see what Phil Jackson and Kobe can really do. Speaking of that dynamic (and I do mean that in the truest sense of the word) duo, a trade like this would probably silence their complaints for the mostpart, thus allowing chemistry to flow freely.
Let's all hope for the Lakers and the NBA's sake that this trade goes through. God knows we need something after Oden's unfortunate injury.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Reflecting on what could have been
So after all the hype, analysis, 14 gm's biting their fingernails in anticipation of what could be a francise saver... what comes to your mind when you think of Greg Oden? Shouldn't it be "savior", "likable", "finally" etc? But now all I can think of is "what could have been", "sam bowie", and "not again". When I heard about the microfracture surgery, it really hit close to home. As an NBA fan, this is a worst case scenario. How could this happen? I was so excited to see "Durant vs Oden". Now the tables have completely turned.
The biggest problem is the Portland could've been soooo good. I love Brandon Roy. I love LaMarcus Aldridge. I love Josh McRoberts. And I LOVE SERGIO RODRIGUEZ! I honestly think this guy is the next Steve Nash. He's so good! They still have Channing Frye. And Jarret Jack. But honestly, their whole future was Greg Oden. I just don't know what to think now.
Now still, I have to say I though Oden was a little overrated. I projected him to be a 21/12/4 guy in his prime, which is still very respectable. Now, I can see him topping out at 16/9/2. He relied SO much on his explosiveness, and now it's gone. I honestly think people are underrating how devastating this injury is. However, they could end up getting a player like OJ Mayo in next years draft, and how crazy would that be? Oden and Mayo on the same team. All they'd have to do is trade for LeBron and they'd have the 3 most hyped high schoolers ever.
I think that Greg Oden is a class act. Have you checked out his blog? he's very warm and easy to like. It's so unfortunate that a guy that could've been a savior of the NBA has to go down with such a hard injury. Oh well. Here's to hoping that Durant lives up to the hype!
The biggest problem is the Portland could've been soooo good. I love Brandon Roy. I love LaMarcus Aldridge. I love Josh McRoberts. And I LOVE SERGIO RODRIGUEZ! I honestly think this guy is the next Steve Nash. He's so good! They still have Channing Frye. And Jarret Jack. But honestly, their whole future was Greg Oden. I just don't know what to think now.
Now still, I have to say I though Oden was a little overrated. I projected him to be a 21/12/4 guy in his prime, which is still very respectable. Now, I can see him topping out at 16/9/2. He relied SO much on his explosiveness, and now it's gone. I honestly think people are underrating how devastating this injury is. However, they could end up getting a player like OJ Mayo in next years draft, and how crazy would that be? Oden and Mayo on the same team. All they'd have to do is trade for LeBron and they'd have the 3 most hyped high schoolers ever.
I think that Greg Oden is a class act. Have you checked out his blog? he's very warm and easy to like. It's so unfortunate that a guy that could've been a savior of the NBA has to go down with such a hard injury. Oh well. Here's to hoping that Durant lives up to the hype!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Of Houston's Guard Glut
With training camp around the corner, it'll be very interesting to see who emerges from the ashes of what I'm sure will be a very competitive Houston Rocket's camp. If you go to Houston's Player Page you can see that the Rocket's have a staggering 22 players, including 11 guards:
Rafer Alston
Aaron Brooks
Steve Francis
Luther Head
Mike James
John Lucas III
Tracy McGrady
Brad Newley
Kirk Snyder
Bob Sura
Bonzi Wells
Many of these are point guards as well. So obviously there's increasing pressure on the borderline players like Luther Head, Kirk Snyder, Rafer Alston etc. I'm going to try and make the list include 3 players from every position, though that's not always how teams see it. Usually that 3rd player in every position is rarely used, and thus not a big part of what the team is doing. Now in order to whittle this list down we have to identify the players that will most likely be cut/shipped off. First off, Brad Newley will most likely go back to his home country, Australia, which is probably a good thing seeing as he's not ready for the NBA yet, let alone a team like Houston with such a thick guard glut. Next we can cut Bob Sura, as it's been apparent that he won't be making any sort of impact due to his unfortunate injuries, and will probably retire or be traded. Rockets management has made it clear that John Lucas III will probably be shipped out, as their newly acquired Aaron Brooks has a much higher ceiling and is basically the same type of player. These cuts bring our list to 8:
Rafer Alston
Aaron Brooks
Steve Francis
Luther Head
Mike James
Tracy McGrady*
Kirk Snyder*
Bonzi Wells*
I've taken the liberty of staring the guards that can also slide over to the 3 spot and back up Shane Battier. Now unfortunately, every player above those starred guards is either undersized or a point guard. However, all of them are very skilled, so it should be very competitive. In my opinion, it looks like Steve Francis is the popular choice to start at PG. Obviously, Mike James would back him up from there. The problem is, Rafer Alston and Aaron Brooks are pure point guards, and this doesn't leave much room for them. I believe Rafer would have to take the 3rd spot, which would probably send Brooks out. At the 2 spot we obviously have Tracy McGrady starting, as that's where he spend all his time last year. Behind him I'm have to put Luther Head, as the Rockets just picked up the 4th year option on him, and obviously have him in their plans. Kirk Snyder would probably go behind him, and I'd put Bonzi behind Battier, however the 3 isn't really the natural position for bonzi, and probably wouldn't be utilizing him as well as the Rockets could. This brings this depth chart to this:
PG: Steve Francis/Mike James/Rafer Alston
SG: Tracy McGrady/Luther Head/Kirk Snyder
SF: Shane Battier/Bonzi Wells/Mike Harris?
Still, this roster doesn't sit well with me. So I'm proposing a different approach. I believe the Rockets should slide McGrady over to the 3 again, which would put Battier on the bench, and move Francis over to the 2, opening up the PG position. This could allow a player like Aaron Brooks to be included on the Roster. With all the appropriate changes being made, the roster then looks like this.
PG: Mike James/Rafer Alston/Aaron Brooks*
SG: Steve Francis/Bonzi Wells/Luther Head
SF: Tracy McGrady/Shane Battier/Kirk Snyder*
PF: Luis Scola/Chuck Hayes/Steve Novak
C: Yao Ming/Dekembe Mutombo/Jakie Butler*
Obviously I've included the remainder of the the frontcourt, thus completing the roster. I've starred the players that I believe will be on the "Inactive List" with Aaron Brooks probably going down to the D-League. I've also given the starting nod to Scola, because I believe he gives us needed size down there and brings a competitive fire and poise that Hayes just can't provide. Hayes still holds a very key role as he proved last year he could be a legitimate starter in the NBA. I also put Novak on the top 12, as I believe his hard work this summer and his play style should be very appealing to a coach like Rick Adelman.
This list leaves out some players like Carl Laundry, Justin Reed, Mike Harris, Brad Newley and Jake Tsakalidis. Carl Laundry was a second round pick for a reason. Justin Reed doesn't have a place on this roster, especially considering his recent trouble with the law. Mike Harris is a borderline NBA player anyway, and will crack the roster only if something significant happens to a player like Kirk Snyder. Brad Newley already said that he wants to go back to Australia, and Jake Tsakalidis became a free agent.
So there you have it, my projected 15 players that make the cut. Man, that second squad could take on some of the lower tier teams by themselves! The Rockets look deep this year, and the preseason should help us all sort out just how deep they are.
Rafer Alston
Aaron Brooks
Steve Francis
Luther Head
Mike James
John Lucas III
Tracy McGrady
Brad Newley
Kirk Snyder
Bob Sura
Bonzi Wells
Many of these are point guards as well. So obviously there's increasing pressure on the borderline players like Luther Head, Kirk Snyder, Rafer Alston etc. I'm going to try and make the list include 3 players from every position, though that's not always how teams see it. Usually that 3rd player in every position is rarely used, and thus not a big part of what the team is doing. Now in order to whittle this list down we have to identify the players that will most likely be cut/shipped off. First off, Brad Newley will most likely go back to his home country, Australia, which is probably a good thing seeing as he's not ready for the NBA yet, let alone a team like Houston with such a thick guard glut. Next we can cut Bob Sura, as it's been apparent that he won't be making any sort of impact due to his unfortunate injuries, and will probably retire or be traded. Rockets management has made it clear that John Lucas III will probably be shipped out, as their newly acquired Aaron Brooks has a much higher ceiling and is basically the same type of player. These cuts bring our list to 8:
Rafer Alston
Aaron Brooks
Steve Francis
Luther Head
Mike James
Tracy McGrady*
Kirk Snyder*
Bonzi Wells*
I've taken the liberty of staring the guards that can also slide over to the 3 spot and back up Shane Battier. Now unfortunately, every player above those starred guards is either undersized or a point guard. However, all of them are very skilled, so it should be very competitive. In my opinion, it looks like Steve Francis is the popular choice to start at PG. Obviously, Mike James would back him up from there. The problem is, Rafer Alston and Aaron Brooks are pure point guards, and this doesn't leave much room for them. I believe Rafer would have to take the 3rd spot, which would probably send Brooks out. At the 2 spot we obviously have Tracy McGrady starting, as that's where he spend all his time last year. Behind him I'm have to put Luther Head, as the Rockets just picked up the 4th year option on him, and obviously have him in their plans. Kirk Snyder would probably go behind him, and I'd put Bonzi behind Battier, however the 3 isn't really the natural position for bonzi, and probably wouldn't be utilizing him as well as the Rockets could. This brings this depth chart to this:
PG: Steve Francis/Mike James/Rafer Alston
SG: Tracy McGrady/Luther Head/Kirk Snyder
SF: Shane Battier/Bonzi Wells/Mike Harris?
Still, this roster doesn't sit well with me. So I'm proposing a different approach. I believe the Rockets should slide McGrady over to the 3 again, which would put Battier on the bench, and move Francis over to the 2, opening up the PG position. This could allow a player like Aaron Brooks to be included on the Roster. With all the appropriate changes being made, the roster then looks like this.
PG: Mike James/Rafer Alston/Aaron Brooks*
SG: Steve Francis/Bonzi Wells/Luther Head
SF: Tracy McGrady/Shane Battier/Kirk Snyder*
PF: Luis Scola/Chuck Hayes/Steve Novak
C: Yao Ming/Dekembe Mutombo/Jakie Butler*
Obviously I've included the remainder of the the frontcourt, thus completing the roster. I've starred the players that I believe will be on the "Inactive List" with Aaron Brooks probably going down to the D-League. I've also given the starting nod to Scola, because I believe he gives us needed size down there and brings a competitive fire and poise that Hayes just can't provide. Hayes still holds a very key role as he proved last year he could be a legitimate starter in the NBA. I also put Novak on the top 12, as I believe his hard work this summer and his play style should be very appealing to a coach like Rick Adelman.
This list leaves out some players like Carl Laundry, Justin Reed, Mike Harris, Brad Newley and Jake Tsakalidis. Carl Laundry was a second round pick for a reason. Justin Reed doesn't have a place on this roster, especially considering his recent trouble with the law. Mike Harris is a borderline NBA player anyway, and will crack the roster only if something significant happens to a player like Kirk Snyder. Brad Newley already said that he wants to go back to Australia, and Jake Tsakalidis became a free agent.
So there you have it, my projected 15 players that make the cut. Man, that second squad could take on some of the lower tier teams by themselves! The Rockets look deep this year, and the preseason should help us all sort out just how deep they are.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Andrei Cries Out (again)
So Andrei Kirilenko has apparently basically asked for a trade, saying he doesn't like his fit on the Jazz.
I find it very interesting that he'd do this. The Jazz gave him a max contract, obviously because they believed in him and had him in their plans. However I find it more interesting thinking about the places he could end up, especially given the possibility that he could play his more natural position, as a running 4. I do think he'd thrive in Phoenix's system, as a running 3, but I doubt that would happen considering that Phoenix doesn't want to mess with the success they've had. The Lakers would be another interesting fit, though I don't see that happening either. There are several scenarios that could be potentially dangerous. Like the pipe dream I have of the Rockets trading Battier, the expiring contract of Bob Sura, and perhaps Luther Head with a draft consideration for him. I think I'd explode with excitement though, so maybe not.
Honestly, I think he'll stay, but it will affect the team chemistry of the Jazz. Personally, I don't think it's appropriate for a player as passionate as Kirilenko to strait up demand a trade. I do believe that it has alot to do with his success in the Euro Tournament. Unfortunately he's a very talented player and it would be very sad to see him leave the NBA due to the doings of a coach, but hey what can you do.
"Coach Sloan is one of the reasons. It's not the only reason. ... [Sloan's] main method to motivate players is to create a feeling of guilt. Our wages, our errors in games and whatever we do beyond playing for the Jazz is also an excuse to criticize us. I want to play basketball. I want to be happy playing basketball, but I don't want to be a robot in Sloan's system."
I find it very interesting that he'd do this. The Jazz gave him a max contract, obviously because they believed in him and had him in their plans. However I find it more interesting thinking about the places he could end up, especially given the possibility that he could play his more natural position, as a running 4. I do think he'd thrive in Phoenix's system, as a running 3, but I doubt that would happen considering that Phoenix doesn't want to mess with the success they've had. The Lakers would be another interesting fit, though I don't see that happening either. There are several scenarios that could be potentially dangerous. Like the pipe dream I have of the Rockets trading Battier, the expiring contract of Bob Sura, and perhaps Luther Head with a draft consideration for him. I think I'd explode with excitement though, so maybe not.
Honestly, I think he'll stay, but it will affect the team chemistry of the Jazz. Personally, I don't think it's appropriate for a player as passionate as Kirilenko to strait up demand a trade. I do believe that it has alot to do with his success in the Euro Tournament. Unfortunately he's a very talented player and it would be very sad to see him leave the NBA due to the doings of a coach, but hey what can you do.
Preseason Player Rankings
Today I've decided to rank the best players in the NBA as I see them. This is only my opinion, based on efficiency, effect on the game, and my perception of their dominance and importance. Obviously, the success of respective teams will have an effect on where they are ranked. This ranking is of the players as I see them coming into the 2007-2008 season. Again, this is only my opinion.
By Position
First comes the Center position. Many consider this position the most important. It's no secret that comparatively, the Center position has thinned in this era of NBA Basketball. However, I consider it to have just moved over to the Power Forward position. Interestingly enough, it seems that many of the players that are listed as 6'10-6'11 would probably have been considered 7'0+ 10-15 years ago, and placed at the center position. As you can see I've set Shaq relatively low, however I don't believe many will disagree that he's just not the same player anymore. Also I've placed Memet Okur above the likes of Okafor, Wallace, and Jefferson. I simply believe that his range and clutch play last season show that he's much better than his stats indicate. Regardless, here are my top 10 Centers in the NBA, divided into 2 Tiers. These tiers are applicable only to the Center position.
Center -
TIER 1
1. Yao Ming HOU
2. Amare Stoudamire PHO
3. Dwight Howard ORL
4. Marcus Camby DEN
TIER 2
5. Shaquille O'neal MIA
6. Mehmet Okur UTA
7. Emeka Okafor CHA
8. Ben Wallace CHI
9. Al Jefferson MIN
10.Tyson Chandler NOH
Second is the Power Forward position. In my opinion this is the strongest position in the NBA today. I can imagine many Raptor and Grizzly fans getting up in arms about where I have Bosh and Gasol, especially considering Boozer is not above them, but in Tier 1. Honestly, where to rank these 3 was a very hard decision. But after watching Boozer routinely surpass the 30/15 mark against my Rockets during the playoffs last year, I just had to give him the nod. He's an absolute beast offensively and on the boards, and he'll only get better as he meshes with an ever improving Deron Williams. Many would also question my placement of Jermaine O'Neal not only as a Power Forward, but so low on this list. I still consider him a Power Forward, and I just don't see how he's better than the 7 I have listed in front of him. Anyway, here are my top 10 Power Forwards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Power Forward-
TIER 1
1. Tim Duncan SAS
2. Kevin Garnett BOS
3. Dirk Nowitzki DAL
4. Carlos Boozer UTA
TIER 2
5. Chris Bosh TOR
6. Pau Gasol MEM
7. Elton Brand LAC
8. Jermaine O'Neal IND
9. Zach Randolph NYN
10.Antoine Jamison WAS
Next is the Small Forward position. I believe this is the second weakest position in the NBA today. Interestingly, I've always overlooked Paul Pierce, simply because the Celtics have always sucked. Now that they are hitting the headlines hard, Pierce has gone from underrated to almost overrated. The truth is he is an amazing rebounder, clutch, versatile, and an incredible overall player. Many would consider Marion to be too low on this list, however I believe because he plays 3rd wheel on a very strong Phoenix team, it lowers his value a bit. Kirilenko could also be considered low, but recent years have shown that he's been declining a bit, even at the ripe old age of 26. Perhaps if he is traded to a system that's a better fit, he could sneak back into Tier 1. Prince for me was a tough choice even at number 10... however I think that because Detroit is so stacked, his actually ability is overlooked. Obviously LeBron is the King, especially after his display against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are my top 10 Small Fowards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Small Forward-
TIER 1
1. LeBron James CLE
2. Carmelo Anthony DEN
3. Paul Pierce BOS
4. Shawn Marion PHO
TIER 2
5. Rashard Lewis ORL
6. Gerald Wallace CHA
7. Andrei Kirilenko UTA
8. Ron Artest SAS
9. Lamar Odom LAL
10.Richard Jefferson NJN
The Shooting Guard position is my personal favorite, given that I played the position in High School. For me, however, it was tough placing Carter, though one of my favorite players, in Tier 1. He's incredibly talented, there's no arguing that. Unfortunately, as New Jersey fans will testify, he's too streaky. His heroics in the playoffs however, solidify his greatness and I feel confident in where I have him placed. Like Pierce, Allen, in my eyes has suddenly gone from underrated to slightly overrated, due to Boston's recent craziness. I expect his stats to drop off a bit this year in regards to quantity, but not efficiency. Look for his 3pt% to increase from all those open looks he gets. I've also place Manu above players like Joe Johnson, Jason Richardson, and Richard Hamilton. While those players are incredible and have very important roles on their respective teams, Manu has shown incredible efficiency in regards to both offensive prowess and defensive ability, consistantly outplaying his opponents by a significant margin. If it weren't for both Parker and Duncan's prominate roles as scorers, we'd definitely see Ginobili show, at least statistically, how good he really is. Another notable point is how good Dwayne Wade will be upon his return from a very significant injury. Regardless, Here are my top 10 Shooting Guards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Shooting Guard-
TIER 1
1. Kobe Bryant LAL
2. Dwayne Wade MIA
3. Tracy McGrady HOU
4. Vince Carter NJN
TIER 2
5. Ray Allen BOS
6. Manu Ginobili SAS
7. Joe Johnson ATL
8. Jason Richardson CHA
9. Richard Hamilton DET
10.Michael Redd MIL
Last we have the Point Guard Position, which I believe is the second deepest position. Some choices here were easy, such as Steven Nash at number one. However, with Tony Parker's recent domination of the NBA Finals, it pains me to place him at only number 4. However, seeing as the talents of both Arenas and Iverson are undeniable, it had to be done. Another tough placement was Jason Kidd, seeing as his show of sheer brilliance as Team USA's court leader was a true testimate to Kidd's true ability. However due to his age and declining role as a scorer and his lack of athleticism, his placement at 5 is understandable. As you can see, the Point Guard Position is the only position with more than 4 Tier 1 players. This number could even increase in coming years due to the amazing young talents of Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich I could not leave off this list, due to his very impressive playoff run, and his obvious defensive ability. He might be the best defensive point guard on this list. Anyway, here are my top 10 Point Guards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Point Guard-
TIER 1
1. Steve Nash PHO
2. Gilbert Arenas WAS
3. Allen Iverson DEN
4. Tony Parker SAS
5. Jason Kidd NJN
6. Chauncy Billups DET
TIER 2
7. Baron Davis GSW
8. Deron Williams UTA
9. Chris Paul NOH
10.Kirk Hinrich CHI
By Role
Here I've narrowed down my rankings by the three dominate roles in Basketball; Bigs, Wings, and Points. I believe almost any player in the NBA can be classified into one of these ranks, thus why I've made a top 10 for each respective role. There are no Tiers here as I didn't think it was appropriate for this particular ranking. This list gives a better perspective as to where I rank each player.
BIGS
1. Tim Duncan
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Yao Ming
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Amare Stoudamire
6. Carlos Boozer
7. Chris Bosh
8. Pau Gasol
9. Dwight Howard
10.Marcus Camby
WINGS
1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Dwayne Wade
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Tracy McGrady
6. Paul Pierce
7. Shawn Marion
8. Vince Carter
9. Ray Allen
10.Manu Ginobili
POINTS
1. Steve Nash
2. Gilbert Arenas
3. Allen Iverson
4. Tony Parker
5. Jason Kidd
6. Chauncy Billups
7. Baron Davis
8. Deron Williams
9. Chris Paul
10.Kirk Hinrich
(Note: Obviously the PG list did not change, but I thought I'd still include it.)
OVERALL
My next ranking is where I rank the players overall. There are no numbers here, as I believe the Tiers should speak more as to each players role on their respective teams. They are not divided equally. I also have included what I believe their "video game rating" should be. This could also be considered as a response to the recent ratings from NBA Live 2008 and NBA 2K8.
TIER 1
Nash PHO 97
Kobe LAL 99
LeBron CLE 98
Duncan SAS 99
Yao HOU 95
Dirk DAL 96
Garnett BOS 95
TIER 2
Kidd NJN 90
AI DEN 92
Arenas WAS 93
Parke SAS 91
Melo DEN 92
Wad MIA 92
T-Mac HOU 90
Pierce BOS 90
Amare PHO 93
Boozer UTA 92
TIER 3
Billups DET 88
Davis GSW 87
Williams UTA 86
Paul NOH 85
Hinrich CHI 85
Allen BOS 88
Marion PHO 89
Carter NJN 88
Manu SAS 87
Dwight ORL 88
Bosh TOR 89
Gasol MEM 89
O'neal MIA 86
Camby DEN 85
Just for fun, here's a little table of some "top 3's" on some different teams that would qualify to have a top 3. Again, all my opinion.
PHO = 97+93+89 = 279
SAS = 99+91+87 = 277
BOS = 95+90+88 = 273
DEN = 92+92+85 = 269
HOU = 95+90+81 = 266
UTA = 92+86+84 = 262
NJN = 90+88+83 = 261
WAS = 93+84+82 = 259
So that does it for my rankings. We'll see how they compare to the players performances in the upcoming season!
By Position
First comes the Center position. Many consider this position the most important. It's no secret that comparatively, the Center position has thinned in this era of NBA Basketball. However, I consider it to have just moved over to the Power Forward position. Interestingly enough, it seems that many of the players that are listed as 6'10-6'11 would probably have been considered 7'0+ 10-15 years ago, and placed at the center position. As you can see I've set Shaq relatively low, however I don't believe many will disagree that he's just not the same player anymore. Also I've placed Memet Okur above the likes of Okafor, Wallace, and Jefferson. I simply believe that his range and clutch play last season show that he's much better than his stats indicate. Regardless, here are my top 10 Centers in the NBA, divided into 2 Tiers. These tiers are applicable only to the Center position.
Center -
TIER 1
1. Yao Ming HOU
2. Amare Stoudamire PHO
3. Dwight Howard ORL
4. Marcus Camby DEN
TIER 2
5. Shaquille O'neal MIA
6. Mehmet Okur UTA
7. Emeka Okafor CHA
8. Ben Wallace CHI
9. Al Jefferson MIN
10.Tyson Chandler NOH
Second is the Power Forward position. In my opinion this is the strongest position in the NBA today. I can imagine many Raptor and Grizzly fans getting up in arms about where I have Bosh and Gasol, especially considering Boozer is not above them, but in Tier 1. Honestly, where to rank these 3 was a very hard decision. But after watching Boozer routinely surpass the 30/15 mark against my Rockets during the playoffs last year, I just had to give him the nod. He's an absolute beast offensively and on the boards, and he'll only get better as he meshes with an ever improving Deron Williams. Many would also question my placement of Jermaine O'Neal not only as a Power Forward, but so low on this list. I still consider him a Power Forward, and I just don't see how he's better than the 7 I have listed in front of him. Anyway, here are my top 10 Power Forwards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Power Forward-
TIER 1
1. Tim Duncan SAS
2. Kevin Garnett BOS
3. Dirk Nowitzki DAL
4. Carlos Boozer UTA
TIER 2
5. Chris Bosh TOR
6. Pau Gasol MEM
7. Elton Brand LAC
8. Jermaine O'Neal IND
9. Zach Randolph NYN
10.Antoine Jamison WAS
Next is the Small Forward position. I believe this is the second weakest position in the NBA today. Interestingly, I've always overlooked Paul Pierce, simply because the Celtics have always sucked. Now that they are hitting the headlines hard, Pierce has gone from underrated to almost overrated. The truth is he is an amazing rebounder, clutch, versatile, and an incredible overall player. Many would consider Marion to be too low on this list, however I believe because he plays 3rd wheel on a very strong Phoenix team, it lowers his value a bit. Kirilenko could also be considered low, but recent years have shown that he's been declining a bit, even at the ripe old age of 26. Perhaps if he is traded to a system that's a better fit, he could sneak back into Tier 1. Prince for me was a tough choice even at number 10... however I think that because Detroit is so stacked, his actually ability is overlooked. Obviously LeBron is the King, especially after his display against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are my top 10 Small Fowards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Small Forward-
TIER 1
1. LeBron James CLE
2. Carmelo Anthony DEN
3. Paul Pierce BOS
4. Shawn Marion PHO
TIER 2
5. Rashard Lewis ORL
6. Gerald Wallace CHA
7. Andrei Kirilenko UTA
8. Ron Artest SAS
9. Lamar Odom LAL
10.Richard Jefferson NJN
The Shooting Guard position is my personal favorite, given that I played the position in High School. For me, however, it was tough placing Carter, though one of my favorite players, in Tier 1. He's incredibly talented, there's no arguing that. Unfortunately, as New Jersey fans will testify, he's too streaky. His heroics in the playoffs however, solidify his greatness and I feel confident in where I have him placed. Like Pierce, Allen, in my eyes has suddenly gone from underrated to slightly overrated, due to Boston's recent craziness. I expect his stats to drop off a bit this year in regards to quantity, but not efficiency. Look for his 3pt% to increase from all those open looks he gets. I've also place Manu above players like Joe Johnson, Jason Richardson, and Richard Hamilton. While those players are incredible and have very important roles on their respective teams, Manu has shown incredible efficiency in regards to both offensive prowess and defensive ability, consistantly outplaying his opponents by a significant margin. If it weren't for both Parker and Duncan's prominate roles as scorers, we'd definitely see Ginobili show, at least statistically, how good he really is. Another notable point is how good Dwayne Wade will be upon his return from a very significant injury. Regardless, Here are my top 10 Shooting Guards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Shooting Guard-
TIER 1
1. Kobe Bryant LAL
2. Dwayne Wade MIA
3. Tracy McGrady HOU
4. Vince Carter NJN
TIER 2
5. Ray Allen BOS
6. Manu Ginobili SAS
7. Joe Johnson ATL
8. Jason Richardson CHA
9. Richard Hamilton DET
10.Michael Redd MIL
Last we have the Point Guard Position, which I believe is the second deepest position. Some choices here were easy, such as Steven Nash at number one. However, with Tony Parker's recent domination of the NBA Finals, it pains me to place him at only number 4. However, seeing as the talents of both Arenas and Iverson are undeniable, it had to be done. Another tough placement was Jason Kidd, seeing as his show of sheer brilliance as Team USA's court leader was a true testimate to Kidd's true ability. However due to his age and declining role as a scorer and his lack of athleticism, his placement at 5 is understandable. As you can see, the Point Guard Position is the only position with more than 4 Tier 1 players. This number could even increase in coming years due to the amazing young talents of Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich I could not leave off this list, due to his very impressive playoff run, and his obvious defensive ability. He might be the best defensive point guard on this list. Anyway, here are my top 10 Point Guards, divided into 2 Tiers.
Point Guard-
TIER 1
1. Steve Nash PHO
2. Gilbert Arenas WAS
3. Allen Iverson DEN
4. Tony Parker SAS
5. Jason Kidd NJN
6. Chauncy Billups DET
TIER 2
7. Baron Davis GSW
8. Deron Williams UTA
9. Chris Paul NOH
10.Kirk Hinrich CHI
By Role
Here I've narrowed down my rankings by the three dominate roles in Basketball; Bigs, Wings, and Points. I believe almost any player in the NBA can be classified into one of these ranks, thus why I've made a top 10 for each respective role. There are no Tiers here as I didn't think it was appropriate for this particular ranking. This list gives a better perspective as to where I rank each player.
BIGS
1. Tim Duncan
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Yao Ming
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Amare Stoudamire
6. Carlos Boozer
7. Chris Bosh
8. Pau Gasol
9. Dwight Howard
10.Marcus Camby
WINGS
1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Dwayne Wade
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Tracy McGrady
6. Paul Pierce
7. Shawn Marion
8. Vince Carter
9. Ray Allen
10.Manu Ginobili
POINTS
1. Steve Nash
2. Gilbert Arenas
3. Allen Iverson
4. Tony Parker
5. Jason Kidd
6. Chauncy Billups
7. Baron Davis
8. Deron Williams
9. Chris Paul
10.Kirk Hinrich
(Note: Obviously the PG list did not change, but I thought I'd still include it.)
OVERALL
My next ranking is where I rank the players overall. There are no numbers here, as I believe the Tiers should speak more as to each players role on their respective teams. They are not divided equally. I also have included what I believe their "video game rating" should be. This could also be considered as a response to the recent ratings from NBA Live 2008 and NBA 2K8.
TIER 1
Nash PHO 97
Kobe LAL 99
LeBron CLE 98
Duncan SAS 99
Yao HOU 95
Dirk DAL 96
Garnett BOS 95
TIER 2
Kidd NJN 90
AI DEN 92
Arenas WAS 93
Parke SAS 91
Melo DEN 92
Wad MIA 92
T-Mac HOU 90
Pierce BOS 90
Amare PHO 93
Boozer UTA 92
TIER 3
Billups DET 88
Davis GSW 87
Williams UTA 86
Paul NOH 85
Hinrich CHI 85
Allen BOS 88
Marion PHO 89
Carter NJN 88
Manu SAS 87
Dwight ORL 88
Bosh TOR 89
Gasol MEM 89
O'neal MIA 86
Camby DEN 85
Just for fun, here's a little table of some "top 3's" on some different teams that would qualify to have a top 3. Again, all my opinion.
PHO = 97+93+89 = 279
SAS = 99+91+87 = 277
BOS = 95+90+88 = 273
DEN = 92+92+85 = 269
HOU = 95+90+81 = 266
UTA = 92+86+84 = 262
NJN = 90+88+83 = 261
WAS = 93+84+82 = 259
So that does it for my rankings. We'll see how they compare to the players performances in the upcoming season!
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