- Function, flourish, and Donte Green. Also, irony. A Kings fan commenting on the D-League, when that team knows nothing about the D-League. You say D-League to the Maloofs and they think you're talking about the nastiest strip club in Reno.
- Playboy is apparently the mf'ing truth.
- The Bobcats' big three is pretty much equal to the Hornets' big three. Without Chris Paul. You know. That old chestnut.
- Great decisions of our time.
- Here's an eight for the list: Carlos Boozer loves getting blocked. Here's a ninth: three words. Regular season warriors.
- Somebody's gotta gamble on Jamaal Tinsley, right? Right?
- Sometimes I think Grizzlies' fans, and even Grizzlies' management, don't appreciate the trade asset they have in Crittenton. I'm not saying they can get a superstar for him. But you can really package something with him. Something better than him and Buckner for Butler, Ely, and a pick.
- That's right. The Spurs are too good for Jannero Pargo. Not for Francisco Elson, Fabricio Oberto, Jacque Vaughn, DerMarr Johnson, or Damon Stoudamire. But Pargo, no, that's too far.
- The Superstar Theory in Memphis terms. The problem with this theory is that acquiring a superstar outside of a top five market is a matter of luck (see:Duncan, Tim), and then building around him. You can't just force one into it. We'll revisit this later, but here's an important piece to start with.
- How crazy would it be if TJ Ford ends up being the leader on the Pacers that turns them around?
- ETB's bang-up series continues with the Ghostface Ziller.
- The Lakers' opening schedule is easy. I am shocked, SHOCKED I say.
- The best part about being an NBA fan is obsessing over the smallest stuff.
- How much is JR Smith worth? Please phrase your answer in gallons of malt liquor.
- Our boy Rob is looking to redefine superstar... with JR Smith.
- That's unfortunate for Spurs fans.
- Why in the hell is there no Kleiza jersey? ZOMGWTF?
- Burkett continues to lobby for overpaying Iguodala. This time, because he has heart. Burkett makes a great case, as usual, but still feel he's going to end up regretting it if it comes true.
- DreamShake. Now with 300% more confidence.
- This is the kind of thing that made us bring Mahoney on over here.
- At The Hive and Green Bandwagon have been KILLING the Olympic previews. Here's Spain's.
- My favorite of the best Olympic basketball posts on the web. Seriously, you put Skeets and Trey in a room, and anything that comes out is gold.
- Most favoritest picture, ever.
- Winderman smells change. Big change.
- Tim Kawakami is making a serious push for my favorite beat writer, closing in on Amick.
- Jazz owner Larry Miller talks about his health problems.
- Should Amare be on Team USA?
- 3QC thinks people have turned on Big Beastly Jesus.
- The Jawaibberwocky is patient.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Great Exercises in Internet NBA-Related Postings: 8.10.08
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4 comments:
Yep. Team USA could use Amare. Dwight can fill a highlight reel, but he is very limited. Pau will have an advantage over him when Spain meets USA. D12 is not that much better defensively to outweigh Amare's obvious offensive superiority. Also, isn't ovbious that Boozer doesn't belong on the team? He's the only player who CAN'T dunk when fed a great pass on a fast break (and he's a power forward? Picture Karl Malone not dunking those...). His own college coach is not using him! Hello!
Hey Matt,
Translate your Kobe Blog Day into mandarin, get some advertising money for it, and you might never have to work again.
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re: the Superstar Theory, etc.
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When the Lakers traded Vlade Divac for an unproven high school prospect, IMO, that was NOT a stroke of 'good luck'.
Neither was it 'good luck' when the Bulls chose Jordan #3 (overall) ... or, when Red Auerbach selected Larry Bird 1 year in-advance of his final season in college ... or, when the Lakers made the trade they did to secure the pick they eventually used for Earvin 'Magic' Johnson.
It takes considerable 'skill' to become a CHAMPIONSHIP organization and not everyone has THAT in them to the same degree.
Khandor, are you really going to sit there and tell me that 12 teams passed on Bryant, and it was just the genius of the Lakers front office that was able to see it? The draft, in and of itself, is a crap shoot. That's why it's so frustrating. It's only in hindsight that something is a genius move or a terrible move.
Second, you're missing one of the central tenants of the argument (amazingly enough), is I said "outside of a top five market." Who did you reference? Boston, LA, and Chicago. If the Memphis Grizzlies had won last year's lottery and picked up Greg Oden, what would we think about them? Or if they'd landed LeBron James? How about Dwyane Wade?
To build a contender, you definitely need brains. Atlanta has all the pieces to build a contender, but they're badly managed. But to say that there's not a heavy element of luck in it is absurd, and if you talked to any of them, any GM will tell you that. Every GM I've spoken with mentioned that. My favorite? An assistant East Coast GM.
"Everyone acts like a championship squad is full of geniuses. But when you get on the other side, you're amazed by how lucky you have to get."
HP,
I agree with Khandor that the Lakers saw what most teams missed in Kobe, I agree with you, in that, the Lakers also got lucky in the situation turning out as it did. They had to move Vlade, and the Hornets needed a center. Certain teams DO have to luck out in the draft.
Though everyone is clearing cap space, most teams are really angling for the rest of the FA's, because only 5 teams would ever have a realistic shot at landing a star of LeBron's caliber. Those teams are New York, NJ, Chicago, LA Lakers (who already have Kobe anyway....for now), and Cleveland, and as you pointed out, Cleveland makes it only because they lucked out in the draft to get him in the first place.
I don't think the draft is a crap shoot, though. Maybe for the Clippers. Maybe the only team dumb enough to let everyone dupe them into taking Michael Olowokandi #1 (seriously....he played at Pacific for a reason). It's only a crap shoot for teams who aren't good at evaluating talent properly, especially within the context of THEIR team.
San Antonio used their luck of getting Tim Duncan and maintained it with good coaching, scouting, and evaluation.
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