NBA Season 2011-2012

Nash can create for himself. When Fisher was with the Lakers he would often bring the ball up and then feed Gasol or hand off to Kobe for an isolation. Kobe would drive into traffic hoping for contact and hang time long enough after contact to adjust himself and make the shot. Kobe in isolation would also often feed one of the big men who would then score in the low post or feed a 3 point shooter.

So Nash will bring the ball up most of the time and probably more than Fisher did. If the defense is lapse in getting set, Nash will drive and shoot the jumper or dish for an easy layup. Kobe will get less isolations but more layups. Hypothetically, it is going to be hard for Kobe to mind if the Lakers score an easy 2 in less time than it would take for him to get set in isolation.

I think you can get an idea from Kobe the Olympian. Last olympics, Kobe rarely scored but he was the shut down defensive specialist. Did anyone hear him complain?

I also imagine it could mean more catch-and-shoot for Kobe, which sounds to me like less work (and pain) than driving into traffic to get the foul. Not a bad way to do things as you get older.

Actually I would amend my earlier post. I looked up the stats. Kobe was typical Kobe with a metric ton of attempts and makes but the worst ratio of those that scored a significant amount. What killed him is the large number of threes he took and did not have a good ratio of makes.

How is Jerry Stackhouse still getting 1.3 million to play basketball?

Nets, right?

They're a little thin on the bench after trading away all that filler to Atlanta, and $1.35m is the veteran minimum.

And the Nets have called it off with the Magic. No Dwight to Brooklyn. Yay?

Call me crazy, but I think the Nets are still pretty good. I am a bigger fan of Brook Lopez than some people, though.

Blind_Evil wrote:

Call me crazy, but I think the Nets are still pretty good. I am a bigger fan of Brook Lopez than some people, though.

Apparently the Nets like him too since they just gave him 60 million.

He was getting that from somebody, regardless. Bobcats and the Blazers were ready to pounce!

In all the clamor around Howard it gets lost that Lopez scores near 20 a night with solid efficiency, play good defense, and is a skilled passer. If only he could get that rebounding thing down...

People will likely cite injury concerns to decry the deal but he had never missed a game due to injury prior to last season. If Hibbert is worth the max, Lopez absolutely is as well.

fangblackbone wrote:

Nash can create for himself. When Fisher was with the Lakers he would often bring the ball up and then feed Gasol or hand off to Kobe for an isolation. Kobe would drive into traffic hoping for contact and hang time long enough after contact to adjust himself and make the shot. Kobe in isolation would also often feed one of the big men who would then score in the low post or feed a 3 point shooter.

So Nash will bring the ball up most of the time and probably more than Fisher did. If the defense is lapse in getting set, Nash will drive and shoot the jumper or dish for an easy layup. Kobe will get less isolations but more layups. Hypothetically, it is going to be hard for Kobe to mind if the Lakers score an easy 2 in less time than it would take for him to get set in isolation.

I think you can get an idea from Kobe the Olympian. Last olympics, Kobe rarely scored but he was the shut down defensive specialist. Did anyone hear him complain?

I guess winning does solve a lot of problems.

I read they are also talking about going into the Princeton offense, will be interesting to see how that works.

[mytimberwolvesblog]

Looking like the Wolves' offer of 4 years, 45 million to Nicolas Batum (which I think is too much for him) is going to be matched by the Blazers, and a rumored sign and trade won't be happening. Now I'm hearing their targets include Jordan Hill, OJ Mayo, and Courtney Lee.

I'd be really interested to see Mayo as a T-wolf. I like his shooting touch, and think he's kind of gotten a raw deal in Memphis the last few years. I'm not sure he's the best fit, as he tends to be a ballhandler rather than a catch and shoot guy, so Lee might be the better option.

I really have no idea what kind of money these guys are looking for, though. If they could get Lee and Hill, or just Mayo, I think the combination works out better. Mayo has a bit of starpower, though.

[/mytimberwolvesblog]

LeapingGnome wrote:

I read they are also talking about going into the Princeton offense, will be interesting to see how that works.

*confused*

Having seen this offense both at Princeton and Georgetown (where it's modified enough that it really shouldn't be called that anymore), I'm a bit confused. Has any NBA team run it in the shot clock era? It's a very patient, slow, deliberate offense that often uses most/all of the NCAA's 35-second clock. I struggle to see how it could work successfully in the NBA.

It also is completely counter to Nash's up-tempo style.

Yeah the Rockets and the Wizards have recently run it, with Eddie Jordan being a big proponent and the Lakers are talking about bringing him on as an assistant coach. I agree with you it is slow, but it does involve a lot of passing, backdoor cuts and outside shooting, which plays into Nash + Kobe + Gasol pretty well. That is why I said it will be interesting to see what happens.

Blind_Evil wrote:

a rumored sign and trade [for Batum] won't be happening

And thank god it won't. He would have been a nice addition but not two first round picks nice (and a second but, really, who cares about the second round). Sure, this team can't draft for sh*t but still.

I'm glad they didn't get him, but not because of the picks. They're likely going to have to give Pekovic a max contract next offseason and keeping the core of Love, Rubio, and Pekovic is the most important thing in my eyes.

On the flipside I'm bummed that we matched the contract. We way overpaid for a player who, by all rights, doesn't want to be in Portland. And for good reason. Portland is a disaster of a franchise currently.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I'm glad they didn't get him, but not because of the picks. They're likely going to have to give Pekovic a max contract next offseason and keeping the core of Love, Rubio, and Pekovic is the most important thing in my eyes.

I've been assuming that the size of the offer was meant to screw over Portland. I would hope that it would have been smaller if they thought they had any chance of actually signing him.

I've bought NBA Summer League broadband access (for a whopping $4.99). I'm watching summer league games. This qualifies me as an NBA junkie, right? I have a problem?

Wish I'd know they were selling this five days ago, though. July 9-22.

Oh! I can watch the last five days archived!

Blind_Evil wrote:

This qualifies me as an NBA junkie, right? I have a problem?

Yes. I barely ever even know who is on summer league teams, much less any scores or stats. And watching the games? What?

I think the problem stems from my intense passion for the draft. I like to see these guys play between the day they're drafted and the first day of the season in late October. Plus, I need a little fix to keep me warm on hoops til the Olympics.

If they are going to ignore Jerry Buss's dream of reinventing showtime, why wouldn't they stay with the triangle? The triangle is way more effective with 10 NBA championships to back it up. I'd love to see if there were any triangle teams that didn't make the playoffs.

fangblackbone wrote:

I'd love to see if there were any triangle teams that didn't make the playoffs.

Let me tell you about the '09 to '11 Timberwolves.

fangblackbone wrote:

If they are going to ignore Jerry Buss's dream of reinventing showtime, why wouldn't they stay with the triangle? The triangle is way more effective with 10 NBA championships to back it up. I'd love to see if there were any triangle teams that didn't make the playoffs.

Because Tex Winter retired.

Also: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...

Kyrie Irving broke his hand slapping some padding on the wall during practice.

Allen Iverson wrote:

"We talkin' about practice."

Reminds me of when Carlos Quentin broke his hand slapping his bat in frustration after a strikeout a few years back. At least that was during a game.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I've bought NBA Summer League broadband access (for a whopping $4.99). I'm watching summer league games. This qualifies me as an NBA junkie, right? I have a problem?

Wish I'd know they were selling this five days ago, though. July 9-22.

Oh! I can watch the last five days archived!

I think that qualifies you as a junkies, yes. That said, I saw that same offer and I was tempted.

Keep your heads up T'Wolves fans. Portland has the worst management.

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8166952

Apparently Paul Allen is blocking a Batum sign and trade where the T'Wolves are dangling three 1st round picks and Derrick Williams. Based partly on being bitter that Minnesota is trying to claw back compensation for the Blazers not telling them Martell Webster was injured.

I don't think they're talking three picks AND Williams, I think it's one or the other. In any case, I'd rather they not get Batum at this point. Maybe there's something to his argument that he's been used wrong in Portland, but I'd rather maintain the cap flexibility heading into next offseason.

Plus, I've soured on the guy. Like I said earlier, if you want to pick where you play you sometimes have to wait.

Liking what I've seen from Andre Drummond so far. He's a ways off in terms of offensive skills but he's got great instincts and natural movement for a guy that size. There are flashes of brilliance, but he's terribly inconsistent so far. Again, though, he's only 18. And the defense I think is near-ready. Bites on a few too many pump fakes, guys like Al Jefferson will give him fits for a little while.

But most importantly, he's giving it all and playing long minutes. Probably the biggest question was his motor, and I can say for sure that it's revving high.

Finally, to all Knicks fans! Looking like the Knicks might not match the Rockets' offer sheet for Lin. With that in mind, here's some tweets from Bill Simmons. Pay them heed.

1. To the Knicks fans who keep asking: If you're going to switch allegiance to Brooklyn, it has to happen this summer. But I'm fine with it.

2. Here's the thing - Dolan is NEVER selling. The franchise will ALWAYS be screwed up. You have a 2nd NYC team and a legit excuse to leave.

3. If Celtics were in same situation (with a Dolan owner), I'd stop rooting for them and be an NBA widow unless there was a 2nd Boston team.

4. The important thing to remember - Dolan is a complete buffoon. You have a 12-year track record to examine now. He's an incompetent owner.

5. So you have to ask yourself... "Do I really want to spend DECADES of my life with my NBA fate tied to this guy?" You control that answer.

6. And if you're a diehard, loyal down-with-the-ship type fan, that's fine too... stay with the Knicks. Just saying you have an out here.

7. My buddy @housefromdc quit on Orioles because of Angelos (Dolan-esque). Baseball widow for years, now a huge Nats fan. Totally happy.

8. Last thought - I have a great deal of respect for Knicks fans (and NYK history + MSG). They deserve better...

Take note: I'm not saying they absolutely should keep Lin. But the way the franchise is run otherwise speaks for itself.

Regarding the Knicks I think they should keep Lin and at least experiment with that group from last year. They were fun, energetic, scrappy and they cared. Chemistry matters. Not to Dolan/Isaiah, but it does.

Batum's situation reminds me of Dwight Howard's and bugs me for the same reason. You can totally choose where to play. Even push for it. But you're entitled to max money AND the team of your choice.

Sounds like Portland management, as usual, has been a mess.

So the Knicks don't want to pay Lin because of the luxury tax hit in that big 3rd year could be as much as $15 million. How much in merchandising are they going to make off him? In only 20 games as a starter last year didn't they make something like $10 million? Seems like a dumb business decision to let him go.