Monday, March 23, 2009

NBA Strike Approaching?

For the 5 or so readers (joke) who come here often looking for updates, my sincere apologies for not blogging as frequently as I'd like. With March Madness upon us, the NBA takes a backseat to the NCAA, where my bracket has finally fallen below the average in ESPN's 6 million or so entries (although my entire South section is fully intact). We're fortunate this year to have a Cinderella story, with 12 seed Arizona making it to the sweet 16. We also see a future NBA star in the making, in Blake Griffin, as he completely dominates every game he's been in (his last game making 14 of 20 shots, finishing with 33 points and 17 rebounds). Let's just hope the god awful Wizards land the first pick in the draft.

Well, that's about it for my NCAA speak (although I'll finish with once again displaying my hatred for Duke basketball and hoping they lose).

Back to the NBA...

This weekends ESPN Daily Dime brings us a FAQ on the looming NBA lockout. With the salary cap going down, and economic struggles apparent for all NBA owners, a lockout seems inevitable. If David Stern is really going to make his mark on history, he's going to prevent this at all costs. The resolution will probably end with both sides being unhappy, and well, that means he did a good job, right? Fortunately, now more than ever, we're seeing NBA players understand their place in society, and the fact that their making enormous amounts of money while most people struggle. Unfortunately, the head of the players union takes that with a grain of salt, since his job is to get his players the best deal possible, or they walk.

Later in the weekend, David Stern did address the media to talk a bit about the future of the collective bargaining agreement, and how he plans to get it resolved sooner than later.

I'll be back in town on Wednesday. Currently enjoying the weather in sunny San Diego while I am out of town on some business, and also getting to see some family at the same time. Based on my schedule, I doubt I'll be able to blog again until Thursday or so, so I apologize in advance, and thank everyone who stops by for continuing to do so.

Next season, BDTG hopes to make it to the blogging playoffs, and get some more national exposure. But for now, we're very happy with the 6 or 7 times we've been on CBS, and the few times we've been in Newsday and our link/name being spread out throughout the blogosphere, meeting awesome basketball people from around the globe. So like any non-playoff bound team, we wanna keep practicing hard, keep improving, and next year make a big splash. That doesn't mean this season is over, in fact, we have a ton more to write about. The real March Madness is for that 8th spot in the east, and playoff position in the west.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tuesday Mini-Breakdown

*MJ doing a moonwalk on the Kwame pick? Super agent David Falk on MJ and more.

*75% of the season is over and Ken Berger sums up what's gone down so far. Add Raptors to the disappointment list, they were pegged as a top 4 team in the East.

*Dwayne Wade is incredible and easily top 3 in the league with Kobe and LeBron.

*Marc Stein, ESPN, reiterating what I said previously regarding Iverson possibly shutting it down and not accepting his role on the bench:

But he'll grudgingly accept it when he gets back. He has little choice.

We repeat: C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T year.

*Not much to like with the Wizards these days, but at least we have this feel good story about owner Abe Pollin, who refuses to quit and has his eyes on the prize.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Meet the Knicks

Thursday night brought about the annual "Meet the Knicks" Event for season ticket holders. Took a few pics with the Knicks Dancers, went into the locker room, got some autographs, and my favorite, took some shots on the garden floor. Good times. Here's a sample of me and my buddy Joan's night:





Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Can a Rookie Win the Most Improved Player Award?

Why not?? If there was any chance of this happening (and I'm going to assume there's no chance of that happening), then Russell Westbrook of the Thunder would be that player. Last night, not only did Westbrook get a triple double, but he beat a playoff bound Dallas team without his two best players (KD and Jeff Green). Check out Westbrook's monthly totals:

November: 12.2 points; 4.1 assists; 3.3 rebounds
December: 15.5 points; 5.1 assists; 5.1 rebounds
January: 16.5 points; 5.5 assists; 4.9 rebounds
February: 20.4 points 5.9 assists; 6.1 rebounds

Tell me, which players who have won the MIP Award have made a bigger improvement statistically than Russell Westbrook from the beginning of the season to now?? PLUS, add to the fact that's he's playing the toughest spot to shine (ask Derrick Rose, who was recently benched for end of games because of his lack of defense and decision making). PLUS, he was never a point guard in his life! He was a shooting guard and they asked him to learn the point position. Need more proof? Check out what ESPN Super Scout David Thorpe has been saying about his progress all season. How bout more? NewsOK made this great point yesterday:

Thunder officials like to point out how Westbrook’s averages of 15.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds nearly place him among an elite list of players who are averaging at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists — Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Cleveland’s LeBron James, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala.

So what did Turk do last year that was so special? Last year Hedo increased in points by 6 (check, 8), assists by 1.8 (check, 1.8) and rebounds by 1.77 (check, 2.8!).

Point is, how can anyone argue that Russell Westbrook has not been improving the most from start to finish of this season? MUST we agree with the common understanding of the award and give it to someone who improved in the off-season? I think that's close minded and unfair to Westbrook who has not only improved all year, but might be the perfect definition of how the award should be granted in the future. Yes, we can!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Monday Breakdown

*The Knicks' attempt to sell KryptoNate shirts came to a halt, when DC Comics wanted in on it. I guess Nike struck a deal with the comic giant, since the Nike KryptoNates are due to arrive in limited edition at the House of Hoops uptown.

*The new "Seven Seconds or Shaq" philosophy in Phoenix is working out well for Shaquille O'Neal. When he gets asked what's causing this "comeback," his reply? "It's what I do," O'Neal said. "I've been doing it since 1992. If you don't believe it, Google me." (Since, you know, if it's in Google, it's true). But that wasn't all The Big Diarrhea Mouth had to say. Shaq went on to call Chris Bosh the "RuPaul" of big men. That's gotta be top ten best things I've heard him say. I'm on record as saying I think Chris Bosh would be the first NBA player to come out of the closet while he's a player. I'm glad Shaq's with me on that assessment. Thanks to Hayden and Joan for bringing that to my attention.

*Jason Kidd recorded his 10,000th assist this past weekend. Pretty incredible. He joins only 3 (!!) other players, one of which he will probably pass before Kidd retires, and maybe two. Kidd trails John Stockton (15,806), Mark Jackson (10,334) and Magic Johnson (10,141) on the career list.

*Allen Iverson went back to Georgetown to get his back checked out. I wonder if it's the bruised back, or the bruised ego from being sent to the bench. I kind of doubt Ivo would play his cards like that. He's in a contract year, and has been around the league long enough to know he should play out the season and tell reporters that he'll embrace the 6th man position and be the best at it. He knows he's gotta look good for his new contract next year, since you know, he's gotta feed his family and all.

*Drew Gooden and Joe Smith were both bought out of their contracts this weekend, right before the deadline to get waived so they can sign with a team and remain playoff eligible. The Celtics pulled the quick trigger on both Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury, so their assumed out of the running. Both played previously in Cleveland, so both are ready to roll if they go there, but Joe Smith would seem like more of a "Spurs-Type" of player. However, based on reports out there today, it's looking like Joe is going to Cleveland while Drew is heading over to San Antonio.

*THANK YOU very much Basketbawful. Must see video's of Duke bullsh*t!

*The incredible mis-management of Stephon Marbury, by Real GM.

*Ken Berger breaks down an amazing week ahead, that starts tonight with LeBron v Wade, which for some stupid reason is NOT on NBATV, and instead I'm watching Dallas vs. Oklahoma. Really close to getting League Pass, but with no HD, no thanks.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Okay, Okay...

We'll get this back on track with a Monday Breakdown.

For now, some basketball bloopers to pass the time: