The Association

Monday Morning Point Guard

By Craig Kwasniewski 

Here are a few takes from the past weekend of hoops: 

Does Steve Nash realize he's a defensive sieve?:  How does it go... if you can't pick out the defensive liability in the room, then YOU are the defensive liability...or something like that. Rajon Rondo and later Paul Pierce took turns playing H-O-R-S-E (or is it G-E-I-C-O?) on Steve Nash all Sunday afternoon. Finger rolls, 5-foot runners, 10-foot jump shots... they literally took uncontested shots anywhere on the floor as soon as they noticed Nash was matched up on them. I really would love to see exactly how many points were scored specifically on Nash alone because I saw something like 65 maybe 70. Does it bother the two-time MVP winner that everyone he defends drops a career-high on him?  He's a modest, intelligent and introspective guy, does he understand that he's the worst defensive player on his team? I actually like what he brings to Phoenix and hope he sticks around for a few more seasons, but the Suns need a young defensive-oriented two to help out on defense.  Somewhere at the Glendale, AZ Applebee's is a solemn Terry Porter screaming, "EXACTLY!!!!" 

Question for Pistons Fans: Do you like A.I.? This isn't a rip on Allen Iverson because quite frankly he's one of my favorite ballers of all time. But do Pistons fans blame A.I. for Detroit's sudden collapse? Since the Billups-Iverson trade, the Nuggets are clearly the 3rd best team out West whereas the Pistons long run as a title contender has come to a crashing halt. Are there very audible groans when A.I. puts up the occasional 4-16 night? Or is there a reverence for one of the best players in the past 25 years? Seriously, I'm curious how Detroit feels about watching A.I. on a nightly basis. 

In my opinion, and this is why I do this site, A.I. is just a pawn in the NBA money game. Dumars traded for A.I. to clear up cap space next year and the Pistons are stuck with a terrible coach and a poorly assembled team. This summer makes or breaks Joe D's legacy as a GM. Does he clear even more salary for 2010 or does he make a move (via free agency or trade) that saves the franchise? To me, Pistons fans have to look at the recent track record: drafting Darko, hiring Flip Saunders, hiring Michael Curry, and trading Chauncey... any questions? 

Kobe and the MJ fade-away: Boston Sports Guy pointed it out during one of his 1,312 anti-Kobe rants... Kobe Bryant is developing the same post-up fade-away that MJ lived off from 1996 to 1998. What better time to work on a low-post game than during Bynum's (hopefully not) annual knee injury. The Triangle Offense sets up nicely for it and MJ carried the Bulls to three titles with the virtually unstoppable move. You can see Kobe hasn't completely mastered it but there were a few nice spurts, especially during Friday's OT win against the Hornets. This is the one MJ signature move that Kobe NEEDS in his arsenal if he wishes to play until his late 30's. It conserves energy and is hard to defend, as Jordan showed during the 2 years in D.C. that never existed. 

Larry H. Miller's passing: I never knew the guy, I never attended a Jazz game and I've never been to Salt Lake City, but I feel the NBA lost a HUGE personality when the Jazz's owner Larry Miller died. The league needs to honor a guy that has made a franchise located in Salt Lake City (one of the smallest TV markets in professional sports) one of the most successful in NBA history. I'm not a religious man, but you have to credit a guy for skipping out on a few of the NBA Finals games that *HIS* team was in. Simply reaching the Finals is a rare opportunity and Miller stuck to his religious beliefs and sat out all games on Sunday.  Now THAT is dedication!  I hope for the Jazz fans that the next-in-line (his son?) runs the franchise in the same manner. The NBA needs more owners like Larry Miller. 

I love me some me: Is there anything cooler than seeing your name on the jumbotron? Once a year the Lakers honor their upper deck season ticket holders with a halftime snack (beer, wine, chips and salsa) and a meet and greet with the ticket reps in a private suite. It's a small but very cool gesture and they put your name in lights. Friday's game against New Orleans was my turn and as you can see (and to establish my NBA street cred) I've been a season ticket holder for 10 seasons (BTW - that's not me in the Gasol jersey). 

And finally... 

Rip off Jack Nicholson + Die = Academy Award: Simple math eh? Heath Ledger blatantly rips off Jack Nicholson from The Shining (even down to the tongue thing!) and he's THE GREATEST ACTOR IN THE WORLD! I know this is a hoops blog but does a below average 8 hour long comic book movie really deserve any Academy Awards? Seriously, all this means is that we'll get yet another 321 more comic book movies this summer. YUCK! Heath Ledger was a good actor but TRUST ME, years from now people will react with the same "huh??" as they do now with Marisa Tomei's award from My Cousin Vinny. Oh and Mickey Rourke deserved the Best Actor Oscar!

 

Detroit Needs More than McDyess to Challenge Boston

by Craig Kwasniewski

The Antonio McDyess in Denver, Part Trois has officially ended... and with his departure follows are those fond memories of the past week; like the team physical or that time he refused to practice or that other time he refused to practice... parting is such sweet sorrow.

Since everyone knows that he's pulling a Brent Barry (I mean faking interest in other teams for 30 days and returning to the Spurs last season, not standing behind the three point line for 20 seconds screaming "Woooo, I'm open!!!!!") let's now look at what effect Dyess' return to Detroit will have in the Eastern Conference.

Absolutely nothing!!!

Sorry Detroit, maybe that was a little strong. But as a person who has a lot of respect for the Pistons and their fans, I really want to see them roll to the finals and it's frustrating to see them morph into the Atlanta Braves of the NBA.

Anyway, Boston clearly exposed Detroit's true weakness in Sunday's 88-76 thrashing: a lack of front court depth. While Boston lost key veterans James Posey and PJ Brown they still have KG and a few young bigs with aggressive size like Kendrick Perkins. Detroit obviously seized the opportunity and one-upped Boston by signing... Kwame Brown??? (Somewhere even Darko Milicic is laughing.)

As a Lakers season ticket holder I witnessed 2 1/2 seasons of Kwame. Sure you'll get a sculpted body with defensive end quickness who's probably one of the strongest players in the NBA. He's actually a fairly decent defensive player... however... you also get a player with zero handles and whose offensive skills resembles elementary kids playing tether ball. Basically you're going four-on-five at the offensive end.

Next, I see that Detroit rolled out Fabio Walter Hermann in the first half to defend Paul Pierce. He actually held his own forcing Pierce into foul trouble with his "stifiling" defense (translation: Pierce was insulted that Hermann matched up and committed a very aggressive offensive foul in frustration). Anyway Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman and Spider Sally collectively rolled over in their graves just the sight of that guy on the floor in a close game.

So I guess I'm arguing against my own case for McDyess's return? He'll definitely fill their needs up front and carry Detroit to the Finals, right? Deeeeee-troit basketball!!!!!!

Ummm, no! A 34-year old power forward with bad wheels ain't the answer against the likes of KG, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe or even Glen Davis (who's weeks away from joining Oliver Miller, Tractor Trailer and "Hot Plate" Williams (the best nickname ever!) in the worthless fat guys stealing money in the NBA hall of fame).

Clearly, the Pistons need a young bruiser with post moves up front. Jason Maxiell's still making too many dumb fouls and hasn't improved enough for starter's minutes, Sheed's getting up there in age and is showing that he's not willing to grind it out down low for a full 82-game season, Amir Johnson's not really a starter and they're giving key minutes to Kwame Brown and Walter Hermann... that's not enough to deal with Boston.

On paper, I really liked the deal for AI. Detroit sorely needed to inject some new life in the franchise and with AI you get a player who's never intimidated by Boston's tough physical defense. Plus you add one of the league's most exciting players with a great fanbase. Detroit will LOVE AI!

It's just too bad the trade, along with Antonio McDyess's expected return, will not be enough to get by Boston or even Cleveland.

One thing Fabio always had... THE FINGER ROLL!!!

One Simple Question

by Craig Kwasniewski

First off let me preface with this... I am not a Pistons fan nor am I a Cavs fan. I have to give Cleveland their props for showing up and out-hustling Detroit in a gritty 74-72 win in game 4. The Cavs fans (minus the obvious sportstalk topic of cheering Rasheed's injury) are bringing playoff-level intensity that has never been seen in Cleveland hoops history. (Seriously, did the Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty, Mark Price era ever bring the noise to the Richfield Coliseum as MJ was in the process of ripping out their hearts?)

That being said, I have one simple question...

When is stiff-arming the defender on a drive to the bucket a defensive foul?

I know many superstars in the league are allowed a little leeway with their signature move, but are we allowing LeBron three different ones? He's allowed to travel in the lane, palming/carrying the ball is part of the repertoire... and now he's given Earl Campbell rights to the endzone hoop... and drawing a foul in the process!

This happened twice in the fourth quarter of game 4. Both times LeBron drove down the lane from the left side and both times he was allowed to stiff-arm the man guarding him. And both times a foul was given to the defender receiving the stiff-arm!

Detroit had their chances to erase those disgraceful actions and blew it. Cleveland played with greater intensity than Detroit did the entire game and deserved the win.

But if 90% of the sports world can claim conspiracy after the Lakers miraculous win in game 4 versus the Suns, can somebody give attention to the fact that LeBron's getting away with a TON of illegal moves.

After all... WE'RE ALL WITNESSES.

Clyde Billups?

by Craig Kwasniewski

Okay this may be blasphemous to any Knick fan older than 40, but is Chauncey Billups the modern day Walt "Clyde" Frazier?

Growing up, I remember my dad always telling me how cool Clyde Frazier was. He told me the guy was a good defender, a good team leader and a great clutch player. His best games were in the Finals. Remind you of anyone?

Clyde was a 6-4, 200 pound point guard for two time NBA Champion New York Knicks. Chauncey is a 6-3, 202 point guard for a potential 2 time NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. Frazier's Knicks are famous for their teamwork and defensive play with all five starters working as one with no real superstar/dominant player. Their first title came in 1970 against the Los Angeles Lakers, led by the dominant Wilt Chamberlain. Clyde's best game of his career came in a Game 7 clinching win with 36 points, 19 assists and five steals. (Unfortunately overshadowed by Willis Reed hobbling dramatically onto the court from injury)

Billups heads up a Piston team defined over the past three seasons by their defense and teamwork. All five starters work in unison, with no true superstar/dominant force on their team. Their first title came in 2004 against the Lakers, led by the dominant Shaquille O'Neal. Chauncey won the Finals MVP trophy, destroying Gary Payton in the process.

Now Chauncey doesn't have the off court style that Clyde had. No one else in the history of the NBA will capture the pimp look in the pimpin' golden era of the early 70's like Clyde. But Chauncey has the same demeanor on court. The guy is a level-headed assassin. He never looks pressured, and when necessary, he takes over for the clutch play.

Now the career stats don't truly match up (Walt Frazier vs. Chauncey Billups). Billups really came into his own over the past 4 seasons whereas Frazier was an All-Star his 3rd season, but the on-court style and leadership is the same.

Am I barking up the wrong tree here? What do you think?

No Tridecaphobia Here

by Brett Edwards

Before we get to tonight's match-ups, there were 13 games last night, with plenty of items that warrant discussion. Here's a sampling of some of the events that caught our interest last night:

-The Mavs won their 10th straight game, coming from 10 down in the 4th quarter, and 3 down with 40 seconds left to beat the Grizz in Memphis. There was some D in Dallas, as they held Memphis to 13 points and 28% from the field in the 4th quarter. Predictably, Mark Cuban was excited.

-What happened to the Nuggets? After winning 11 of 13 games, including 7 straight, the hype machine was in full force, until they lost two nights in a row to the Clippers by a combined 51 points. Now they've lost 4 straight, and the wheels are coming off the Carmelo Campaign.

-It's worth mentioning that the Lakers got killed in Indiana by a squad that rolled out Scot Pollard and Jeff Foster in the starting lineup, and that featured substantial contributions from David Harrison and Danny Granger. The Lakers scored 79 points and lost by 26. It appears that unless Kobe scores 40+, L.A. is in for a long night.

- The President triple-doubled en route to the Cavs beating the Nets. LBJ was really on his game, and although he was only 8-21 from the field, he was smart enough to get to the line 12 times. As for the Nets, there was no way the wife beater was going to pull another game out of his ass like he did against Detroit the night before. In that game, J Kidd went for 23, 12, and 7, and made 5-8 3-pointers. Last night Kidd played more like he always does, which means 4-15 from the field and only 5 assists. O-ver-RAT-ed clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.

- It was Super Bowl night at The Palace, as many players from the Steelers rolled in and sat courtside. Combine this with the fact that the Pistons lost the night before, and that they were playing their new coach's former team, and the result was no surprise: an easy 14-point win for your 2005-06 Champs. I wonder if Big Ben hit the party scene again after the game?