Basketball Articles
The end's in sight, and the awards are starting to appear with a bit more clarity. I'm not entirely happy with the order, but it is what it is. No denying reality here. Damnit.
The end's in sight, and the awards are starting to appear with a bit more clarity. I'm not entirely happy with the order, but it is what it is. No denying reality here. Damnit.
The word 'superstar' is thrown around too easily these days. A promising rookie puts up big numbers for a lousy team and suddenly he's a superstar. Weak. I'm of the opinion that you're not an NBA superstar until you pass a few important milestones:
First, if you lead your team to an NBA title then, yes, you are a superstar. Current active players that can say this: Kobe, Shaq, DWade, Chauncey, KG, Pierce, Duncan, Manu and Tony Parker. That's it. Pau Gasol, Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo have legit gripes but if you go back and look at their Finals (not playoffs) stats, they really were supporting players, not superstars. They were basking in the glow of their more celebrated counterparts.
Which brings us to the second group of superstars: MVP candidates whose supporting cast hasn't been good enough to get them over the hump and into the class above. LeBron's the poster boy for this category. Dwight Howard, Dirk, JKidd, Carmelo, AI, Deron Williams, CP3 and Nash all fit in here nicely. Nobody can dispute that these guys are/were superstars, right? I want to include Durant here but it's hard to justify considering that he's only been in the L for a minute and his team hasn't sniffed the postseason yet. But he's close...
Speaking of close, Brandon Roy, Amar'e, Joe Johnson, Bosh and Boozer are all on the cusp. But it's safe to say that only their hometown fans/supporters would argue that they're undisputed superstars. And personally, I think Boozer is such a douchebag that I'd never include him even if he won 20 titles in row. Ditto for the eternally apathetic Vince Carter.
Now, on to the young guys. Newcomers get way too much shine before they've really proven anything. Sorry, Derrick Rose isn't a superstar yet. Neither is Tyreke Evans. Or Steph Curry, Monta Ellis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Josh Smith, Al Horford or any number of young guns getting All Star mentions lately. Nice numbers but no real accomplishments. The worst/best example of this 'next big thing' gushfest: the ridiculous hype around Young Money after his 55 on G State. Dude's nice but he's shooting under 40% for the year.
Historically, plenty of talented ballers have come and gone without truly distinguishing themselves from the pack. Mitch Richmond, Terry Porter, Damon Stoudamire, Nick Van Exel- all these guys made All Star teams but were never actual superstars. Just because your hometown retires your jersey doesn't put you in this conversation.
Fans HATE it when someone points out that their team's best player is not the next MJ. But who do these inflated expectations benefit? If you overvalue a player, then you have to overpay him. And if you look around the league, the worst teams are the ones paying top dollar to guys who clearly are not premier players. No way Iggy's a max contract guy. No way any GM should break the bank for Rudy Gay.
Not trying to be a hater. Just stating the obvious.
Pictured: one former superstar and three pretty good players
Peter D. Newmann of NBA Statistics and Information Research has tallied some numbers that take into account this season. Here are some of his findings:
- This season, Bryant has made seven of the 12 shots, with a chance to win or tie the game, in the last ten seconds of regulation or overtime.
- Bryant's the only player in the last decade who has made seven such shots in a season.
- Bryant has made 26 of the 89 potential game tying or game-winning field goals he has shot over the last decade. That's 29.2%, which is slightly above League average.
- His game-winners, against the Heat, Bucks, Kings, Celtics, Grizzlies, Heat and Raptors come in a season when no other player has hit more than three such shots. Derrick Rose has the second-most attempts, with eight.
- The best field goal percentage, on potential game-tying or game-winning field goals in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, belongs to Chris Paul. He has hit three of his four shots. Chris Bosh, Chris Duhon, Tim Duncan, Raymond Felton, Rudy Gay, David Lee, Rashard Lewis and O.J. Mayo are all two of three. This season, the League as a whole makes just 26.7% of its shots in that situation.
- Over the last decade, by field goal percentage the best shooters in this setting have been Carmelo Anthony (13-28, .464), Pau Gasol (9-22, .409), Tony Parker (11-29, .379), Chris Paul (9-24, .375) and Shawn Marion (10-28, .357). Bryant over the same period is 26-89 (.292).
- Bryant has attempted by far the most such shots of anyone over the last decade. His 89 is trailed by Vince Carter's 69, Paul Pierce's 57, Dwyane Wade's 51 and LeBron James' 50.
- Bryant's 26 makes also lead the League, followed by Carter with 20, Ray Allen with 17 and Allen Iverson's 14. Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce have each made 13.
"Will Manu remain a Spur?" That question will probably be asked millions of times between now and July when his contract with the Spurs expires.
There are reasons why the Spurs have stalled any contract renegotiation. During the 2008-2009 season Ginobili only played 44 regular season games and missed the entire 2009 NBA playoffs due to a troubled right ankle. His age coupled with his break neck style of play, are concerns for the Spurs in their decision.
Not to mention this "re-sign or not to re-sign" song and dance is not something new. Back in 2008, Manu underwent surgery to repair his ankle after he injured it in the Beijing Olympics playing for Argentina. His agent, Herb Rudoy, had this to say, “Contract negotiations for an extension have been put off until after the surgery,” Rudoy said. “The Spurs want to see how he recovers from the surgery.”
If you are the Spurs, you have to wonder just how much Ginobili has left in the tank. Add the fact that younger players like Malik Hairston and George Hill are developing, the Spurs would be interested in pushing for the future rather than sticking to the past.
But he has remained reasonably healthy this season, missing only five games in the early part of the season due a strained left groin.
In 56 games this season, he is averaging 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.7 assist while shooting 41.5% from the field and 37.4 from behind the arc in 27.7 minutes. This is his lowest point production since the 2003-2004 season when he averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assist in 77 games.
However, Ginobili has played better lately. In February he was the best Spur as he averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 11 games and led the Spurs five times in scoring during that stretch.
In the Spurs recent win against the Phoenix Suns, he led the Spurs with 21 points. 11 points of which came in the final quarter. But more than just stats, he also reminded everyone that he can still make spectacular plays and get the crowd up off their seats.
Just recently, Coach Gregg Popovich said this about Ginobili "The last two and a half weeks, Manu had his lift and quickness. He's making better decisions because his rhythm is back. He feels more confident in his shot."
Even in defeat Manu was at his best scoring 38 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 5 assist while adding 2 steals in 37 minutes of action. However, his efforts went for naught as the Spurs lost a heart breaker to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Still, it could be a sign of good things to come. As of late, Manu has been looking a lot like the Manu of old.
With that being said, it maybe wise for the Spurs to give him a contract extension before this season ends. But has he played well enough to convince the Spurs to extend his contract?
Perhaps. But the Spurs could be taking a little more time and probably want to see more proof he is worth the risk.
Ginobili doesn't seem to worry much about his contract extension saying that "Just because I don't expect the Spurs to extend my contract before it expires does not mean my days as a Spur are over." He said that for a reason. He knows that the NBA is a business and probably feels that the Spurs are going to re-sign him when the right time comes. But Spurs fans want to see his name across the dotted line soon!
There is one thing for sure. Should the Spurs not re-sign him, he will be a free agent in demand. What team would not want a player of Manu's caliber? Championship pedigree, clutch, passion for the game and his veteran experience all will make him an attractive free agent.
It will be hard to imagine Manu Ginobili playing for a team other than the Spurs. The city of San Antonio loves him and he's been a huge part of the teams' successes. The Spurs will never be the same without him and when the Spurs make their history books, the name "Manu Ginobili" will be etched as one of best and fiercest competitor to ever play for the Silver and Black. Not to mention, his jersey number is a sure lock to be hanging on the rafters of the AT&T Center for years to come.
What do you think? Has Manu proven himself to be re-signed by the Spurs or should the Spurs wait until the offseason to decide? Share us your thoughts.
About a month ago it was announced that NBA Jam will be remade for Wii and possibly other systems. The gears started cranking and I started thinking about today’s NBA players and how they would fare in the new version of the game. Before we get started, let’s set some ground rules: A) Without knowing who will allow their image to be used for the game (remember Jordan and Shaq were not in the originals because it would have cost too much money to license their images), let’s assume all current NBA players are available. B) This is based off of today’s roster - I am well aware that there are a couple free agents who could be changing teams before the 2010 season. C) The original teams I used came from the Sega Genesis version of the game – there were games made for a couple systems and an arcade version and teams varied from system to system. With that being said, here’s the top 10 NBA duos for the new NBA Jam.
10. Chris Paul and David West
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer
CP3 and DWest would be a very solid team in the new NBA Jam. Paul is obviously the star here and West is an ok sidekick. Both DWest and Laimbeer were average players who got the chance to play with half of fame caliber point guards.
9. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: John Stockton and Karl Malone
Nash and Amare have been one of the best twosomes in the NBA the last couple years, and their run and gun style would translate perfectly to the new video game. The Nash/Amare two man game is the Stockton to Malone pick and roll offense on crack.
8. Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: David Robinson and Sean Elliott
Really good and really boring. That’s the only way I can describe this duo. The Admiral and Elliott were good in the original game, but probably not as good as they should’ve been because they were so freaking boring. The same goes for Williams and Boozer.
7. Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Reggie Miller and Derrick McKey
Dwyane Wade is the only reason this team made the top ten. The Heat’s surrounding cast stinks and they may be better off surrounding Wade with their original NBA Jam duo of Harold Minor and Rony Seikaly.
6. Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Stacey Augmon and Dominique Williams
Rondo is not a Thunder Treats favorite by any means, but he is very good and the future of the Celtics. Paul Pierce can still get it done, but his best days are behind him – similar to ‘Nique when the original NBA Jam was released.
5. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Wayman Tisdale and Mitch Richmond
Durant is the best scorer in the NBA and Westbrook compliments Durant’s game perfectly. If the new NBA Jam came out in 2012, this duo could be in the top 3.
4. Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Patrick Ewing and John Starks
If it were up to me, I would put Rashard Lewis with Howard, but the old NBA Jam had a tendency to not put forwards on the same team as elite Centers. Howard’s game is very similar to Ewings (lots of dunks and put backs) and Nelson can be a pesky shooter and hard-nosed penetrator just like Starks was.
3. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning
The most dominant team in NBA Jam history had to be Grandmama and ‘Zo and the Lakers have been very dominant in real life as of late. Kobe is Kobe, but Gasol plays like a butterfly wearing a tutu. The Over/Under for number of shots taken by Gasol when you are playing with this team is 4. Go ahead and take the over, I dare you.
2. LeBron James and Antawn Jamison
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf
LeBron is the best player on the planet and for that reason alone his NBA Jam team couldn’t be ranked lower than 2nd. The addition of Jamison to the Cavs makes LeBron’s NBA Jam team even deadlier – otherwise he would be stuck with Mo Williams. Can’t you just see ‘Bron taking off from the 3-point line and shattering backboards in the new game. Shawn Kemp in the original NBA Jam was before he weighed 350 lbs. and had 25 kids – remember how sick the Rain Man was with the Sonics?
1. Chauncey Billups and Carmello Anthony
Original NBA Jam Team Most Resembles: Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley
Carmello is a dominant scorer and as much as I hate to admit it, a seriously underrated player. Chauncey can stroke it from anywhere and is the heart of a Nuggets team challenging the Lakers for Western Conference dominance. KJ and Sir Charles were a very underrated team in NBA Jam and Melo and Chauncey are used to being overlooked. I don’t think there is a better twosome for the new age NBA Jam than Carmello and Chauncey.
Just announced during the Spurs vs. Grizzlies game that Parker has fractured his shooting hand. Specifically it was an injury to his fourth metacarpal on his right hand. Basically his ring finger. Injury occurred in the first half of the game.
Add this to the list of injuries for Parker this season. Two ankle injuries, dealt with plantar fasciitis, a hip injury and now this. Expect Parker to be out 2-3 weeks or possibly the rest of the season.
Stay with Project Spurs for more details on this injury to Parker.
UPDATE:
X-rays revealed Parker's hand was fractured.
During the Detroit Pistons' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, Rodney Stuckey collapsed in the bench area in what was reported as a type of seizure. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stuckey and his family, in what must be a very scary time. At the end of the day, people forget that basketball is a game, which happens to also be a profession. The players and staff involved in the NBA have families and lives outside of the game and situations like this, caught on international television, must be incredibly difficult to deal with.
Reports immediately after the event suggested that Stuckey had been taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. At this point, his return date to the team is unimportant, as the more vital task of finding out what caused the collapse is carried out. Get better, young fella.
About a year ago I offered Tas Melas and JE Skeets of The Basketball Jones my help in regards to working with advertisers and other possible business partners. They were gracious enough to allow the privilege of being involved and for a couple months I tried my best to connect them with potential advertisers, helped make them an official media kit, and did my best to generally educate them on the world of monetization of online media.
In the end Bloguin started taking up all my time and I was bummed that I couldn't see the project through to the end.
Today though I have a huge smile on my face (not literally because I got a bad cold right now), that those guys have finally have made taken this time consuming hobby to the next level and made it a full time thing for the whole gang.
For those who don't know TBJ, check out the video below
The Basketball Jones Demo Reel from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.
For years these two friends and former classmates would wake up at the crack of dawn and record a podcast about the NBA. But it wasn't just a podcast, it was clearly much more as the two really put attention, research, and at times perfection into every nuance of the show. After a couple years, they moved to video all the while building their audience along the way. The show was comical, the rappaport between the two was perfect, the production quality was high end, but most importantly the commentary was right on and very entertaining.
I met Skeets at Blogwold 2008 and started a full court press to get them to work with Yardbarker. This ended up being one of my most proud additions to the YBN. Still though, Yardbarker wasn't really focused on monetizing video content so when I found myself with some extra time on my hands, I tried my best to help the guys out mainly because I liked the show and thought they should be rewarded for their hard work. A part of me also knew they were somewhat of a barometer for the sports blogosphere.
Revision3 passed on them despite multiple inquiries from myself (cue, "I told you so" and "your loss"). Mainstream advertisers were interested but at the same time usually they like to work with major media companies and not independent outfits like TBJ. Their thinking is "If you have a big audience and are really popular and growing, then why don't you work with a larger company".
Its this type of thinking that makes Yardbarker's partnership with Fox, Yahoo's foray into sports blogging, Bleacher Reports's work with the pro leagues, and SB Nation's partnerships stand out as it is the first couple of steps of corporate buy in to the sports blogosphere.
What's amazing to me is that Skeets and Tas explored countless ways to further TBJ's potential and income with minimal success. Skeets had landed a dream position at Yahoo as the editor of Ball Don't Lie while Tas cobbled together an income through a myriad of sports journalism positions with The Score and Yardbarker among others. Their producer JD, had his hands full elsewhere and they were lucky enough to bring on an intern this season to help shoulder the load.
With years of not having a major break through, the team continued to wake up at the crack of dawn and pound out awesomeness for their large fan base. Yahoo and The Score both experiment and flirted with doing more with TBJ, but both never pulled the trigger on fully adopting the orphan show that was loved by tens of thousands.
That ended today, when The Score stepped up to the plate and announced The Basketball Jones crew will now be over at The Score.
This is very well deserved and as easy as it would be to say those goofballs up north got lucky, the truth is they worked longer on harder to make this happen than most people work on anything in their entire lives. It would have been easy to make the show weekly, a 5 minute show, or just give up entirely when someone passed on the show. Even easier, the duo could have settled into other roles as a nice compromise of doing something cool, but not 100% their dream in TBJ.
But the team preserved and got it done and I am proud and happy for them. Congrats guys! Below is their video talking about the new partnership and speaking about the times they could have given up on the show.
The Announcement from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.
Skeets and Tas elude to improvements and more time to invest in the show. Glad to see Matt and JD coming along as well.
Curious to know if they technically sold The Basketball Jones to the Score or just partnered with The Score. I am guessing the ability to embed their podcasts will likely end, but hell that's a minor drawback to this big deal.
Another curious storyline unfolding is Y! Sports blogs, who I consider the best mainstream media blogging destination, losing another anchor blogger. Skeets' rationale for leaving is probably pretty easy to guess (more passion and loyalty to TBJ) but still this coupled with the fact that Eammon Brennan double dipped over at SB Nation before going to ESPN, potentially casts shadow over at Y! Sports blogs.
Not to say that Y! Sports blogs isn't awesome, but maybe the compensation for the lead writers is possibly not where it should be considering how successful of a venture its been thus far. Maybe I am reading in between the lines too much, but something to keep an eye on as other opportunities present themselves to those guys.
In closing, many congrats to the TBJ crew. Knock em dead over at The Score! [benkoo2]
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