- Feb 3, 2010
- 5,215
- 837
no way they let Artest go...he still capable of guarding the best player
great defense last night by the Lake Show
great defense last night by the Lake Show
OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by bigmike23,
- Start date
- Feb 3, 2010
- 5,215
- 837
no way they let Artest go...he still capable of guarding the best player
great defense last night by the Lake Show
great defense last night by the Lake Show
Dwight, Love, Ebanks, Mayo and Will is nice, but Westbrook is good enough for my 2014 Lakers honestly. I could settle for Russ. I don't wanna be greedy.
I highly doubt the trade Artest rumors, mostly because it was probably me starting them.
Dwight, Love, Ebanks, Mayo and Will is nice, but Westbrook is good enough for my 2014 Lakers honestly. I could settle for Russ. I don't wanna be greedy.
I highly doubt the trade Artest rumors, mostly because it was probably me starting them.
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,898
- 129,220
I've acknowledged a healthy Chris Paul is better than Deron Williams (and just about the entire league) plenty of times on here.
- Sep 5, 2010
- 92,898
- 129,220
I've acknowledged a healthy Chris Paul is better than Deron Williams (and just about the entire league) plenty of times on here.
[h3]
[/h3][h3]Trending player: Greg Monroe, C, Detroit Pistons[/h3]
This year's crop of rookies has been a bust thus far. Aside from Blake Griffin and John Wall, and second-round surprise Landry Fields, first-year players have provided relatively little production for their teams. It may be time to add Greg Monroe to that list of exceptions. The Detroit center has stepped up as a starter in the month of January, moving up to fourth among rookies in estimated wins added, John Hollinger's measure of player value. He's fifth in Basketball Prospectus' wins above replacement player, trailing the aforementioned three players and Al-Farouq Aminu of the Los Angeles Clippers.
During the month, Monroe has averaged 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. His performance was highlighted by four consecutive double-doubles. Monroe benefited from additional playing time with Ben Wallace sidelined by an ankle injury, averaging 33.9 minutes per game after playing just 19.3 minutes a night during November and December. Even accounting for the playing time, however, Monroe has been more effective as he adjusts to the NBA game.
Monroe has been strong on the glass all season. He's grabbed 16.0 percent of all available rebounds, good for fourth among rookies, and that figure has not changed appreciably in the month of January. What has improved has been Monroe's accuracy. He shot 44 percent from the field in November and December, but has made 58.5 percent of his attempts this month.
Instead of operating in the high post as he often did at Georgetown, Monroe has been able to hang around the basket to finish feeds from teammates or convert second chances. According to Hoopdata.com, two-thirds of Monroe's field goal attempts this season have come at the rim. In the month of January, he's been hitting 76.9 percent of those shots. While he surely will not continue to shoot such a high percentage -- Wilson Chandler and Tayshaun Prince are the lone two players so accurate at the rim in at least 100 shot attempts this season -- Monroe's judicious shot selection should enable him to keep his shooting percentage safely above 50 percent. In combination with his rebounding, that will make him valuable to the Pistons, who have gone 5-6 this month as they try to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
[h3]Trending team: Charlotte Bobcats[/h3]
Detroit is chasing the Bobcats, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. A listless 9-19 a month ago when new coach Paul Silas replaced Larry Brown on the sidelines, Charlotte has since gone 8-6. While Silas has benefited from a friendly schedule -- the Bobcats have played 10 of his 14 games at home -- there is no question they have been a different team under his leadership. Adjusted for schedule, Charlotte's point differential with Brown was 5.0 points per game worse than average. With Silas, the Bobcats have improved to 0.8 points per game worse than average.
Charlotte has gotten better at both ends of the floor, but especially on offense. There was plenty of room for improvement, too, since the Bobcats had been scoring just 102.2 points per 100 possessions, which was 28th in the NBA. Under Silas, their offensive rating has jumped up to 106.7, which is good enough to lift Charlotte out of the league's bottom 10 offenses.
[h4]Charlotte's turnover rates[/h4]
The Bobcats have seen their individual TO rates dip under new coach Paul Silas.
[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Brown[/th][th=""]Silas[/th]
.J. Augustin .124 .093 Kwame Brown .134 .156 Boris Diaw .209 .149 Gerald Henderson .181 .065 Stephen Jackson .169 .142 Shaun Livingston .193 .133 Nazr Mohammed .136 .096 Tyrus Thomas .143 .148 Gerald Wallace .146 .093
The improved efficiency has nothing to do with shooting. In fact, the Bobcats' effective field goal percentage has actually dropped slightly. Instead, Charlotte has benefited from getting more looks at the hoop. The percentage of the team's plays that have ended in turnovers has dropped from 16.7 percent under Brown to 12.8 percent under Silas. The Bobcats were so prone to turnovers during the season's first month and a half that they are still last in the league in the category despite being better than league average since the coaching change. At the individual level, the comparison is striking. Seven of Charlotte's nine rotation players have improved their turnover rates. In some cases, the drop is a dramatic one.
Rick Bonnell, the Bobcats beat writer for the Charlotte Observer, has theorized that the team is turning the ball over less because players have the freedom to take the first shot available rather than worrying about the execution of every play as they did under the notoriously strict Brown. The new philosophy has clearly paid off.
[h3]League trend: Stats at the half[/h3]
Last Wednesday, the NBA passed the midpoint of the 2010-11 regular-season schedule, which makes for an ideal time to take stock of the league's overall stats as compared to this time a year ago. For the most part, they remain consistent.
[h4]Leaguewide stats for the first half[/h4]
Halfway through the NBA season, the pace of play appears to be down.
[th=""]Stat[/th][th=""]'09-'10[/th][th=""]'10-'11[/th]
Pace 91.7 91.0 ORtg 108.4 108.3 eFG percent .497 .497 OR percent .265 .262 TO percent .130 .131 FTA/FGA .304 .307
Offensive efficiency is down ever so slightly, but the difference is small enough that a couple of hot-shooting nights could make it up. Elsewhere, there have been fluctuations in offensive rebounding and the rate of trips to the free throw line, but the only significant change in the way the NBA is playing basketball appears to be a decline in the pace of games. That means a move back toward the pace at which the league played in 2008-09 before things sped up a year ago, when the league finished the season at 91.3 possessions per regulation game.
Behind those overall numbers lie some intriguing trends. For example, 3-point shooting is up from 35.1 percent during the first half of 2009-10 to 36.0 percent thus far. Since shooting tends to improve over the course of the season, that means the all-time high-water mark of 36.7 percent (set in 1995-96, when the 3-point line was moved in, and matched in 2008-09) is in some danger. Overall, shooting from the field has been no better because the league-wide 2-point percentage is down from 48.8 percent this time a year ago to 48.4 percent. Since there are more 2-point attempts than 3s, a smaller change has had an identical impact on the NBA's effective field goal percentage.
http://[h3][/h3][h3]Vasquez and the Magic[/h3]
11:42AM ET
[h5]Orlando Magic [/h5]
UPDATE: According to a translated version of a recent Sport.es article on Vasquez, he reportedly has a formal three- or four-year contract extension on the table from Barcelona.
So it's possible he will weigh that versus a gig with the Magic comes this summer.
---
Fran Vasquez was selected by the Magic with the 11th pick of the 2005 draft.
He's yet to come over to play with the team from Spain, but his one-year contract extension with Barcelona expires after this season.
And Magic GM Otis Smith indicated in a recent fan interview on the team's website they've discussed the possibility of him coming over next season.
"Those are the conversations we're having now," he's quoted as saying. "His contract is up. There are a few things that are keeping us in limbo too. The CBA has been the main one, probably the biggest one for him. Then from there, you just negotiate out from there. But we probably started talking to him seriously about it few months ago. But how we do it, that remains to be seen."
Vasquez plays center for Barcelona, and with the Magic now looking for a backup big sans Marcin Gortat, it's possible Vasquez could fill that void next season if the team fails to make a trade or bring someone else in beforehand.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Knicks still hunting for PG[/h3]
11:35AM ET
[h5]Sebastian Telfair | Timberwolves [/h5]
As the trade deadline nears, it's been widely reported the Knicks are looking for two things: more frontcourt depth and a backup PG.
But according Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, their point guard search has come up empty so far, and that includes rumored target Sebastian Telfair.
"In terms of finding a better playmaker than Toney Douglas, the Knicks have not come up with a solution," he wrote. "That includes Telfair. The Lincoln High School product has had his name linked to the Knicks, but as one team source put it, 'he's not the answer.'"
It's been reported the Knicks could look to bring in such a backup PG on a smaller expiring contract, so names like T.J. Ford -- who could be out soon in Indiana -- Jason Williams, Earl Watson and Ronnie Price could be in the mix.
Though, these names may likely also fall into the non-solution pile for the Knicks at this juncture as well.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Wes still working Bulls for Melo[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets [/h5]
UPDATE: Updating the below item from last week, Wojnarowski is reporting Wednesday that "one of Anthony's agents, William Wesley, is still working the Bulls, sources said."
But as noted below, there may just be too many hurdles here for anything to get serious.
---
When Carmelo Anthony trade winds began blowing earlier this season, the Bulls were listed as a possible suitor, as Anthony reportedly found Chicago an agreeable locale for his basketball future.
But with Denver after Joakim Noah and the Bulls reluctant to trade their valuable center -- and also wanting the Nuggets to take on Luol Deng's large-%%! contract -- such prospects died.
But with Nets talks stalling a bit, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports is now reporting Melo's representatives have engaged the Bulls in hopes they'll become a "serious bidder" for Anthony.
As Wojnarowski notes, "the Nuggets want an array of young players and picks the Bulls will have a difficult time providing."
As such, we'll classify such a move by Melo's camp as far-fetched at this point.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Pops future tied to Duncan's?[/h3]
10:35AM ET
[h5]Gregg Popovich | Spurs [/h5]
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich did an interview with Greg Papa on Monday and said he's not ready to retire.
"I still love it and can see myself coaching for awhile," said Popovich.
That also means he'll still be in charge of the Spurs when Tim Duncan retires in the next few years. Duncan's contract expires after the 2011-12 season and Popovich will talk to him at some point about his future as a player.
"I'm anxious to do that with him at some point, but right now, we're so focused with this season and what we can do this season," Popovich said. "I'll worry about at the end of the season and in the summertime we'll talk to him and see what he's thinking."
Popovich has been the head coach of the Spurs since the 1996-97 season and he may continue for another six to eight years.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Melo uneasy about his future[/h3]
10:09AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets [/h5]
The future of Carmelo Anthony took a major turn when Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said he was no longer talking to the Denver Nuggets about a trade. Does Anthony think he'll get dealt by the Feb. 24 deadline?
"At this point, I really don't know," Anthony told The Denver Post on Tuesday. "New Jersey took that deal off the table. In order for me to consider them, I'd have to agree to the meeting. Now, it's washed under the table."
Anthony did agree that only four teams -- Knicks, Nets, Bulls and Nuggets -- are on his radar. He does understand that Denver will control what happens and he could end up anywhere. Anthony is fully aware that he'll have a tough decision to make if he doesn't end up in one of his preferred destinations. He can sign an extension worth about $65 million, but what happens if he lands in a place he really doesn't want to be?
"Screwed," he said. "There are a lot of things that come into play when you look at this situation. The fact that they can send you wherever they want to. The fact that, wherever they send me, would I sign the extension there? It's a lot of stuff I think about through all of this."
There is going to be a new collective bargaining agreement next season, which could drastically reduce the maximum amount a free agent can get and that's why it's important to get a contract locked in before the current deal with the owners expires.
Anthony may not be out of luck because many around the league feel the Nuggets and Nets will get back together at some point before the trade deadline.
"I've seen better acting in soap operas than [Mikhail] Prokhorov's performance," an NBA executive tells Yahoo! Sports. "The Nets will be back in this thing, but they'll be back in on their terms -- not Denver's."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Ford would welcome a trade[/h3]
9:24AM ET
[h5]T.J. Ford | Pacers [/h5]
During the Pacers recent 0-4 road trip, T.J. Ford was dropped to the third-string point guard, while A.J. Price was elevated to the backup behind starter Darren Collison. Ford has been demoted at various times over the last two seasons, so the move by head coach Jim O'Brien wasn't a surprise.
"It wasn't anything that was discussed to me," Ford told The Indianapolis Star. "It kind of just happened. Going into the season, I felt at some point it would happen. In my view, I'm not too surprised. Just a little shocked it happened right now."
The Pacers have been trying to trade Ford for the last 18 months, but have found no takes. Ford is hoping that a deal can happen by the Feb. 24 deadline.
"By making the decision (of sitting me), I would hope that's the case," he said. "I don't see why it would be best for me to be here the whole year. That's their call. Either way it goes, I'm here and I'm going to still stay ready because anything can happen at any given moment."
Ford has been reluctant in the past to accept a buyout because it was too much. The Pacers, if they can't deal the point guard, will probably come in with a reasonable offer if Feb. 24 passes without a trade.
All players on NBA roster must be waived by March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Landry loves Sacramento[/h3]
9:19AM ET
[h5]Carl Landry | Kings [/h5]
Most would think that Carl Landry wants out of Sacramento because he is no longer a starter and the franchise is struggling again this season and won't make the playoffs. Landry says that's not the case.
"I love it here," Landry tells FanHouse. "I love the city, love the community, definitely love the fans. Without a doubt (he would consider signing with the Kings this summer)."
Landry is in the final season of his contract, paying him $3 million, and he knows there are rumors about him being traded and he reiterated his desire to remain with the Kings. Landry did admit that winning is most important to him, so he could change his stance if he can go to a team that will be in the playoffs.
"Nah, that's not the case," Landry said. "Without a doubt, I wouldn't mind coming back to Sacramento. The only thing is I want to win, and it's not looking that way right now, so it is what it is. This organization needs to find a way to win. For the last few years, this organization has not had success at all. I want to win."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Dalembert accepting his role[/h3]
8:03AM ET
[h5]Samuel Dalembert | Kings [/h5]
Samuel Dalembert was not happy initially when he was moved to the back up behind rookie DeMarcus Cousins, but now he is fine with his role.
"I accept my role now, and I see what it is," Dalembert told The Sacramento Bee. "I don't know when I'm going to play or not, but I just get ready so when they do play me I'm ready to go, because I don't want to have the excuse that I'm not ready."
Kings head coach Paul Westphal says Dalembert's minutes are dictated by the way Cousins is playing and defensive matchups.
"That's sort of (Dalembert's) lot in life right now, too, and I know that's frustrating," Westphal said. "He's handling it as well as can be expected, I think."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Allen could play Wednesday[/h3]
7:45AM ET
[h5]Malik Allen | Magic [/h5]
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Stan Van Gundy said Allen might play Wednesday against the Pacers.
The plan is to give him 8-10 minutes each game at center behind Dwight Howard.
----
Malik Allen has not played since Dec. 20 when he sprained his left ankle. Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy says Allen should return soon and when he does the backup big man will be activated.
"There's no question that when he's ready to go we'll activate him," Van Gundy told the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic are thin in the frontcourt, so when Allen does return the team will probably put one of the backup point guards -- Jason Williams or Chris Duhon -- on the inactive list.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Another 10 days for Owens?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Larry Owens | Spurs [/h5]
UPDATE: The Spurs did not make an announcement regarding Owens' future on Tuesday. However, he did travel with the team from San Francisco to Salt Lake City.
"They haven't given me feedback (about being re-signed)," Owens told the San Antonio Express-News. "I just can't worry about any of that. If I get minutes, I have to go out there and bust my tail. After that, we'll see what happens."
Owens, if he does get another 10-day contract on Wednesday, will be available for five games between Wednesday and Feb. 4. During that time the Spurs will play the Jazz, Rockets, Blazers, Lakers and Kings.
-- Nick Borges
----
Larry Owens' 10-day contract expires on Tuesday, and there's yet to be an indication on whether he'll be back or not on another one from management, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Owens did see time in all five games since joining the team. McDonald also reported that after Monday's shootaround "assistant coach Mike Budenholzer held Owens after class, drilling him through the team's offensive sets with help from a handful of other reserves."
As such, it's possible Owens may get a re-up with the team on Tuesday.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bucks being cautious with Jennings[/h3]
6:26AM ET
[h5]Brandon Jennings | Bucks [/h5]
UPDATE: Jennings is getting close to returning. However, it has been delayed just a bit. He was not cleared for full contact practice on Tuesday and his return is uncertain.
"I just got some X-rays again, and everything looks fine," Jennings told the Journal Sentinel after Tuesday's practice. "But they're going to hold me back awhile. It's discouraging, of course. Six weeks would be next week (Monday). They just want to make sure everything is all right."
Jennings hopes to play against the Clippers on Monday, but that won't happen if he can't practice.
"We're kind of day by day turning it up a little with him," Skiles said. "Maybe tomorrow or the next day, 1-on-1, 2-on-2 will start coming, and then we'll see. He hasn't done really done any cutting or anything like that, so we have to get him doing that and see how he reacts. We're definitely not going to rush it. We want to make sure he's fine and can get through that. He's been out quite awhile with a legitimate broken foot, so we've got to make sure."
-- Nick Borges
----
Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings has been out since Dec. 18 when he went down with a broken foot.
But he's expected to practice Tuesday, according to NBA.com, and it's possible he could return Wednesday against Atlanta.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports is reporting similarly Monday, writing that "he hopes to return by the end of the month, possibly as soon as Wednesday's game against the Hawks. "
While Wednesday is far from a definite at this juncture, it does appear that Jennings could be back on the court within a week.
When Jennings returns to the lineup, Keyon Dooling, who's been starting in Jennings' absence at point guard, will likely slide back to a reserve role.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Howard could return Monday[/h3]
6:09AM ET
[h5]Josh Howard | Wizards [/h5]
Wizards head coach Flip Saunders, according to Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner, said Josh Howard is improving and that the small forward could play Monday against Dallas.
Howard has been out since Jan. 5 with tendinitis in his left knee.
-- Nick Borges
----
After undergoing surgery on ligament damage in his left knee back in March, Josh Howard was able to return to Wizards' lineup in December.
But tendinitis in his left knee has hindered him from staying on the court. He hasn't seen game action since Jan. 5, and according to Gene Wang of the Washington Post, Howard "is at least several weeks from getting back onto the court."
"It's the same thing it's always been as far as his knee," Coach Flip Saunders said, according to the paper.
Howard is on an expiring contract this season, and if his injury woes continue, it may be more difficult to snag a new contract next summer -- either back with Wizards or with another squad.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]MRI for Aldridge[/h3]
5:07AM ET
[h5]LaMarcus Aldridge | Trail Blazers [/h5]
According to The Columbian, Aldridge's MRI only showed a hip contusion and he should play Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
----
Portland power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been dealing with soreness in his right hip and he will have an MRI on Tuesday to help determine what is causing the problem.
According to The Oregonian, Aldridge had X-rays on Monday and general manager Rich Cho said they came back negative.
Aldridge, who was named the Western Conference Player of the Week, did play Monday against Sacramento. He only scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Griffin's bruised left elbow[/h3]
4:51AM ET
[h5]Blake Griffin | Clippers [/h5]
The Clippers found out on Tuesday that Eric Gordon will be lost for three to four weeks with a wrist injury. It could have been a disastrous day for the team because Blake Griffin suffered a bruised left elbow after a Flagrant Foul-Penalty 1 from Brendan Haywood, but luckily it doesn't appear that it is a serious injury.
"It's not too bad," Griffin told ESPN.com's Marc Stein after the game.
Griffin's elbow did undergo some X-rays and they came back negative. He should play Wednesday against Houston unless something happens over the night.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Gordon out 3-4 weeks[/h3]
4:35AM ET
[h5]Eric Gordon | Clippers [/h5]
UPDATE: The Clippers announced Tuesday that, after visiting several doctors, Gordon will be sidelined three to four weeks because of the sprained right wrist and a small bone chip fracture.
Foye did take Gordon's spot as the starting shooting guard aginst Dallas and will continue doing that until Gordon can play again.
-- Nick Borges
----
Eric Gordon sprained his right wrist on Saturday against Golden State, and it's possible it could keep him out a few games.
As Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reported Monday, Gordon did not practice Monday and though it was possible after seeing another doctor he could join the team and be a game-time decision Tuesday night at Dallas, Dillman tweeted Tuesday Gordon did not arrive for shootaround and that she "suspects we won't see him for a few days."
The Clippers are currently on a back-to-back as they play Wednesday at Houston, and then don't play again until Saturday at home against Charlotte -- so it's possible Gordon could remain in Los Angeles until the team comes back home.
Gordon is also dealing with a torn tendon in his right ring finger at the moment.
Starting shooting guard duties will likely fall to Randy Foye in Gordon's absence.
[h3]
[/h3][h3]Trending player: Greg Monroe, C, Detroit Pistons[/h3]
This year's crop of rookies has been a bust thus far. Aside from Blake Griffin and John Wall, and second-round surprise Landry Fields, first-year players have provided relatively little production for their teams. It may be time to add Greg Monroe to that list of exceptions. The Detroit center has stepped up as a starter in the month of January, moving up to fourth among rookies in estimated wins added, John Hollinger's measure of player value. He's fifth in Basketball Prospectus' wins above replacement player, trailing the aforementioned three players and Al-Farouq Aminu of the Los Angeles Clippers.
During the month, Monroe has averaged 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. His performance was highlighted by four consecutive double-doubles. Monroe benefited from additional playing time with Ben Wallace sidelined by an ankle injury, averaging 33.9 minutes per game after playing just 19.3 minutes a night during November and December. Even accounting for the playing time, however, Monroe has been more effective as he adjusts to the NBA game.
Monroe has been strong on the glass all season. He's grabbed 16.0 percent of all available rebounds, good for fourth among rookies, and that figure has not changed appreciably in the month of January. What has improved has been Monroe's accuracy. He shot 44 percent from the field in November and December, but has made 58.5 percent of his attempts this month.
Instead of operating in the high post as he often did at Georgetown, Monroe has been able to hang around the basket to finish feeds from teammates or convert second chances. According to Hoopdata.com, two-thirds of Monroe's field goal attempts this season have come at the rim. In the month of January, he's been hitting 76.9 percent of those shots. While he surely will not continue to shoot such a high percentage -- Wilson Chandler and Tayshaun Prince are the lone two players so accurate at the rim in at least 100 shot attempts this season -- Monroe's judicious shot selection should enable him to keep his shooting percentage safely above 50 percent. In combination with his rebounding, that will make him valuable to the Pistons, who have gone 5-6 this month as they try to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
[h3]Trending team: Charlotte Bobcats[/h3]
Detroit is chasing the Bobcats, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. A listless 9-19 a month ago when new coach Paul Silas replaced Larry Brown on the sidelines, Charlotte has since gone 8-6. While Silas has benefited from a friendly schedule -- the Bobcats have played 10 of his 14 games at home -- there is no question they have been a different team under his leadership. Adjusted for schedule, Charlotte's point differential with Brown was 5.0 points per game worse than average. With Silas, the Bobcats have improved to 0.8 points per game worse than average.
Charlotte has gotten better at both ends of the floor, but especially on offense. There was plenty of room for improvement, too, since the Bobcats had been scoring just 102.2 points per 100 possessions, which was 28th in the NBA. Under Silas, their offensive rating has jumped up to 106.7, which is good enough to lift Charlotte out of the league's bottom 10 offenses.
[h4]Charlotte's turnover rates[/h4]
The Bobcats have seen their individual TO rates dip under new coach Paul Silas.
[th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Brown[/th][th=""]Silas[/th]
.J. Augustin .124 .093 Kwame Brown .134 .156 Boris Diaw .209 .149 Gerald Henderson .181 .065 Stephen Jackson .169 .142 Shaun Livingston .193 .133 Nazr Mohammed .136 .096 Tyrus Thomas .143 .148 Gerald Wallace .146 .093
The improved efficiency has nothing to do with shooting. In fact, the Bobcats' effective field goal percentage has actually dropped slightly. Instead, Charlotte has benefited from getting more looks at the hoop. The percentage of the team's plays that have ended in turnovers has dropped from 16.7 percent under Brown to 12.8 percent under Silas. The Bobcats were so prone to turnovers during the season's first month and a half that they are still last in the league in the category despite being better than league average since the coaching change. At the individual level, the comparison is striking. Seven of Charlotte's nine rotation players have improved their turnover rates. In some cases, the drop is a dramatic one.
Rick Bonnell, the Bobcats beat writer for the Charlotte Observer, has theorized that the team is turning the ball over less because players have the freedom to take the first shot available rather than worrying about the execution of every play as they did under the notoriously strict Brown. The new philosophy has clearly paid off.
[h3]League trend: Stats at the half[/h3]
Last Wednesday, the NBA passed the midpoint of the 2010-11 regular-season schedule, which makes for an ideal time to take stock of the league's overall stats as compared to this time a year ago. For the most part, they remain consistent.
[h4]Leaguewide stats for the first half[/h4]
Halfway through the NBA season, the pace of play appears to be down.
[th=""]Stat[/th][th=""]'09-'10[/th][th=""]'10-'11[/th]
Pace 91.7 91.0 ORtg 108.4 108.3 eFG percent .497 .497 OR percent .265 .262 TO percent .130 .131 FTA/FGA .304 .307
Offensive efficiency is down ever so slightly, but the difference is small enough that a couple of hot-shooting nights could make it up. Elsewhere, there have been fluctuations in offensive rebounding and the rate of trips to the free throw line, but the only significant change in the way the NBA is playing basketball appears to be a decline in the pace of games. That means a move back toward the pace at which the league played in 2008-09 before things sped up a year ago, when the league finished the season at 91.3 possessions per regulation game.
Behind those overall numbers lie some intriguing trends. For example, 3-point shooting is up from 35.1 percent during the first half of 2009-10 to 36.0 percent thus far. Since shooting tends to improve over the course of the season, that means the all-time high-water mark of 36.7 percent (set in 1995-96, when the 3-point line was moved in, and matched in 2008-09) is in some danger. Overall, shooting from the field has been no better because the league-wide 2-point percentage is down from 48.8 percent this time a year ago to 48.4 percent. Since there are more 2-point attempts than 3s, a smaller change has had an identical impact on the NBA's effective field goal percentage.
http://[h3][/h3][h3]Vasquez and the Magic[/h3]
11:42AM ET
[h5]Orlando Magic [/h5]
UPDATE: According to a translated version of a recent Sport.es article on Vasquez, he reportedly has a formal three- or four-year contract extension on the table from Barcelona.
So it's possible he will weigh that versus a gig with the Magic comes this summer.
---
Fran Vasquez was selected by the Magic with the 11th pick of the 2005 draft.
He's yet to come over to play with the team from Spain, but his one-year contract extension with Barcelona expires after this season.
And Magic GM Otis Smith indicated in a recent fan interview on the team's website they've discussed the possibility of him coming over next season.
"Those are the conversations we're having now," he's quoted as saying. "His contract is up. There are a few things that are keeping us in limbo too. The CBA has been the main one, probably the biggest one for him. Then from there, you just negotiate out from there. But we probably started talking to him seriously about it few months ago. But how we do it, that remains to be seen."
Vasquez plays center for Barcelona, and with the Magic now looking for a backup big sans Marcin Gortat, it's possible Vasquez could fill that void next season if the team fails to make a trade or bring someone else in beforehand.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Knicks still hunting for PG[/h3]
11:35AM ET
[h5]Sebastian Telfair | Timberwolves [/h5]
As the trade deadline nears, it's been widely reported the Knicks are looking for two things: more frontcourt depth and a backup PG.
But according Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, their point guard search has come up empty so far, and that includes rumored target Sebastian Telfair.
"In terms of finding a better playmaker than Toney Douglas, the Knicks have not come up with a solution," he wrote. "That includes Telfair. The Lincoln High School product has had his name linked to the Knicks, but as one team source put it, 'he's not the answer.'"
It's been reported the Knicks could look to bring in such a backup PG on a smaller expiring contract, so names like T.J. Ford -- who could be out soon in Indiana -- Jason Williams, Earl Watson and Ronnie Price could be in the mix.
Though, these names may likely also fall into the non-solution pile for the Knicks at this juncture as well.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Wes still working Bulls for Melo[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets [/h5]
UPDATE: Updating the below item from last week, Wojnarowski is reporting Wednesday that "one of Anthony's agents, William Wesley, is still working the Bulls, sources said."
But as noted below, there may just be too many hurdles here for anything to get serious.
---
When Carmelo Anthony trade winds began blowing earlier this season, the Bulls were listed as a possible suitor, as Anthony reportedly found Chicago an agreeable locale for his basketball future.
But with Denver after Joakim Noah and the Bulls reluctant to trade their valuable center -- and also wanting the Nuggets to take on Luol Deng's large-%%! contract -- such prospects died.
But with Nets talks stalling a bit, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports is now reporting Melo's representatives have engaged the Bulls in hopes they'll become a "serious bidder" for Anthony.
As Wojnarowski notes, "the Nuggets want an array of young players and picks the Bulls will have a difficult time providing."
As such, we'll classify such a move by Melo's camp as far-fetched at this point.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Pops future tied to Duncan's?[/h3]
10:35AM ET
[h5]Gregg Popovich | Spurs [/h5]
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich did an interview with Greg Papa on Monday and said he's not ready to retire.
"I still love it and can see myself coaching for awhile," said Popovich.
That also means he'll still be in charge of the Spurs when Tim Duncan retires in the next few years. Duncan's contract expires after the 2011-12 season and Popovich will talk to him at some point about his future as a player.
"I'm anxious to do that with him at some point, but right now, we're so focused with this season and what we can do this season," Popovich said. "I'll worry about at the end of the season and in the summertime we'll talk to him and see what he's thinking."
Popovich has been the head coach of the Spurs since the 1996-97 season and he may continue for another six to eight years.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Melo uneasy about his future[/h3]
10:09AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets [/h5]
The future of Carmelo Anthony took a major turn when Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said he was no longer talking to the Denver Nuggets about a trade. Does Anthony think he'll get dealt by the Feb. 24 deadline?
"At this point, I really don't know," Anthony told The Denver Post on Tuesday. "New Jersey took that deal off the table. In order for me to consider them, I'd have to agree to the meeting. Now, it's washed under the table."
Anthony did agree that only four teams -- Knicks, Nets, Bulls and Nuggets -- are on his radar. He does understand that Denver will control what happens and he could end up anywhere. Anthony is fully aware that he'll have a tough decision to make if he doesn't end up in one of his preferred destinations. He can sign an extension worth about $65 million, but what happens if he lands in a place he really doesn't want to be?
"Screwed," he said. "There are a lot of things that come into play when you look at this situation. The fact that they can send you wherever they want to. The fact that, wherever they send me, would I sign the extension there? It's a lot of stuff I think about through all of this."
There is going to be a new collective bargaining agreement next season, which could drastically reduce the maximum amount a free agent can get and that's why it's important to get a contract locked in before the current deal with the owners expires.
Anthony may not be out of luck because many around the league feel the Nuggets and Nets will get back together at some point before the trade deadline.
"I've seen better acting in soap operas than [Mikhail] Prokhorov's performance," an NBA executive tells Yahoo! Sports. "The Nets will be back in this thing, but they'll be back in on their terms -- not Denver's."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Ford would welcome a trade[/h3]
9:24AM ET
[h5]T.J. Ford | Pacers [/h5]
During the Pacers recent 0-4 road trip, T.J. Ford was dropped to the third-string point guard, while A.J. Price was elevated to the backup behind starter Darren Collison. Ford has been demoted at various times over the last two seasons, so the move by head coach Jim O'Brien wasn't a surprise.
"It wasn't anything that was discussed to me," Ford told The Indianapolis Star. "It kind of just happened. Going into the season, I felt at some point it would happen. In my view, I'm not too surprised. Just a little shocked it happened right now."
The Pacers have been trying to trade Ford for the last 18 months, but have found no takes. Ford is hoping that a deal can happen by the Feb. 24 deadline.
"By making the decision (of sitting me), I would hope that's the case," he said. "I don't see why it would be best for me to be here the whole year. That's their call. Either way it goes, I'm here and I'm going to still stay ready because anything can happen at any given moment."
Ford has been reluctant in the past to accept a buyout because it was too much. The Pacers, if they can't deal the point guard, will probably come in with a reasonable offer if Feb. 24 passes without a trade.
All players on NBA roster must be waived by March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Landry loves Sacramento[/h3]
9:19AM ET
[h5]Carl Landry | Kings [/h5]
Most would think that Carl Landry wants out of Sacramento because he is no longer a starter and the franchise is struggling again this season and won't make the playoffs. Landry says that's not the case.
"I love it here," Landry tells FanHouse. "I love the city, love the community, definitely love the fans. Without a doubt (he would consider signing with the Kings this summer)."
Landry is in the final season of his contract, paying him $3 million, and he knows there are rumors about him being traded and he reiterated his desire to remain with the Kings. Landry did admit that winning is most important to him, so he could change his stance if he can go to a team that will be in the playoffs.
"Nah, that's not the case," Landry said. "Without a doubt, I wouldn't mind coming back to Sacramento. The only thing is I want to win, and it's not looking that way right now, so it is what it is. This organization needs to find a way to win. For the last few years, this organization has not had success at all. I want to win."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Dalembert accepting his role[/h3]
8:03AM ET
[h5]Samuel Dalembert | Kings [/h5]
Samuel Dalembert was not happy initially when he was moved to the back up behind rookie DeMarcus Cousins, but now he is fine with his role.
"I accept my role now, and I see what it is," Dalembert told The Sacramento Bee. "I don't know when I'm going to play or not, but I just get ready so when they do play me I'm ready to go, because I don't want to have the excuse that I'm not ready."
Kings head coach Paul Westphal says Dalembert's minutes are dictated by the way Cousins is playing and defensive matchups.
"That's sort of (Dalembert's) lot in life right now, too, and I know that's frustrating," Westphal said. "He's handling it as well as can be expected, I think."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Allen could play Wednesday[/h3]
7:45AM ET
[h5]Malik Allen | Magic [/h5]
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Stan Van Gundy said Allen might play Wednesday against the Pacers.
The plan is to give him 8-10 minutes each game at center behind Dwight Howard.
----
Malik Allen has not played since Dec. 20 when he sprained his left ankle. Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy says Allen should return soon and when he does the backup big man will be activated.
"There's no question that when he's ready to go we'll activate him," Van Gundy told the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic are thin in the frontcourt, so when Allen does return the team will probably put one of the backup point guards -- Jason Williams or Chris Duhon -- on the inactive list.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Another 10 days for Owens?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Larry Owens | Spurs [/h5]
UPDATE: The Spurs did not make an announcement regarding Owens' future on Tuesday. However, he did travel with the team from San Francisco to Salt Lake City.
"They haven't given me feedback (about being re-signed)," Owens told the San Antonio Express-News. "I just can't worry about any of that. If I get minutes, I have to go out there and bust my tail. After that, we'll see what happens."
Owens, if he does get another 10-day contract on Wednesday, will be available for five games between Wednesday and Feb. 4. During that time the Spurs will play the Jazz, Rockets, Blazers, Lakers and Kings.
-- Nick Borges
----
Larry Owens' 10-day contract expires on Tuesday, and there's yet to be an indication on whether he'll be back or not on another one from management, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Owens did see time in all five games since joining the team. McDonald also reported that after Monday's shootaround "assistant coach Mike Budenholzer held Owens after class, drilling him through the team's offensive sets with help from a handful of other reserves."
As such, it's possible Owens may get a re-up with the team on Tuesday.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Bucks being cautious with Jennings[/h3]
6:26AM ET
[h5]Brandon Jennings | Bucks [/h5]
UPDATE: Jennings is getting close to returning. However, it has been delayed just a bit. He was not cleared for full contact practice on Tuesday and his return is uncertain.
"I just got some X-rays again, and everything looks fine," Jennings told the Journal Sentinel after Tuesday's practice. "But they're going to hold me back awhile. It's discouraging, of course. Six weeks would be next week (Monday). They just want to make sure everything is all right."
Jennings hopes to play against the Clippers on Monday, but that won't happen if he can't practice.
"We're kind of day by day turning it up a little with him," Skiles said. "Maybe tomorrow or the next day, 1-on-1, 2-on-2 will start coming, and then we'll see. He hasn't done really done any cutting or anything like that, so we have to get him doing that and see how he reacts. We're definitely not going to rush it. We want to make sure he's fine and can get through that. He's been out quite awhile with a legitimate broken foot, so we've got to make sure."
-- Nick Borges
----
Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings has been out since Dec. 18 when he went down with a broken foot.
But he's expected to practice Tuesday, according to NBA.com, and it's possible he could return Wednesday against Atlanta.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports is reporting similarly Monday, writing that "he hopes to return by the end of the month, possibly as soon as Wednesday's game against the Hawks. "
While Wednesday is far from a definite at this juncture, it does appear that Jennings could be back on the court within a week.
When Jennings returns to the lineup, Keyon Dooling, who's been starting in Jennings' absence at point guard, will likely slide back to a reserve role.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Howard could return Monday[/h3]
6:09AM ET
[h5]Josh Howard | Wizards [/h5]
Wizards head coach Flip Saunders, according to Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner, said Josh Howard is improving and that the small forward could play Monday against Dallas.
Howard has been out since Jan. 5 with tendinitis in his left knee.
-- Nick Borges
----
After undergoing surgery on ligament damage in his left knee back in March, Josh Howard was able to return to Wizards' lineup in December.
But tendinitis in his left knee has hindered him from staying on the court. He hasn't seen game action since Jan. 5, and according to Gene Wang of the Washington Post, Howard "is at least several weeks from getting back onto the court."
"It's the same thing it's always been as far as his knee," Coach Flip Saunders said, according to the paper.
Howard is on an expiring contract this season, and if his injury woes continue, it may be more difficult to snag a new contract next summer -- either back with Wizards or with another squad.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]MRI for Aldridge[/h3]
5:07AM ET
[h5]LaMarcus Aldridge | Trail Blazers [/h5]
According to The Columbian, Aldridge's MRI only showed a hip contusion and he should play Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
----
Portland power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been dealing with soreness in his right hip and he will have an MRI on Tuesday to help determine what is causing the problem.
According to The Oregonian, Aldridge had X-rays on Monday and general manager Rich Cho said they came back negative.
Aldridge, who was named the Western Conference Player of the Week, did play Monday against Sacramento. He only scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Griffin's bruised left elbow[/h3]
4:51AM ET
[h5]Blake Griffin | Clippers [/h5]
The Clippers found out on Tuesday that Eric Gordon will be lost for three to four weeks with a wrist injury. It could have been a disastrous day for the team because Blake Griffin suffered a bruised left elbow after a Flagrant Foul-Penalty 1 from Brendan Haywood, but luckily it doesn't appear that it is a serious injury.
"It's not too bad," Griffin told ESPN.com's Marc Stein after the game.
Griffin's elbow did undergo some X-rays and they came back negative. He should play Wednesday against Houston unless something happens over the night.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Gordon out 3-4 weeks[/h3]
4:35AM ET
[h5]Eric Gordon | Clippers [/h5]
UPDATE: The Clippers announced Tuesday that, after visiting several doctors, Gordon will be sidelined three to four weeks because of the sprained right wrist and a small bone chip fracture.
Foye did take Gordon's spot as the starting shooting guard aginst Dallas and will continue doing that until Gordon can play again.
-- Nick Borges
----
Eric Gordon sprained his right wrist on Saturday against Golden State, and it's possible it could keep him out a few games.
As Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reported Monday, Gordon did not practice Monday and though it was possible after seeing another doctor he could join the team and be a game-time decision Tuesday night at Dallas, Dillman tweeted Tuesday Gordon did not arrive for shootaround and that she "suspects we won't see him for a few days."
The Clippers are currently on a back-to-back as they play Wednesday at Houston, and then don't play again until Saturday at home against Charlotte -- so it's possible Gordon could remain in Los Angeles until the team comes back home.
Gordon is also dealing with a torn tendon in his right ring finger at the moment.
Starting shooting guard duties will likely fall to Randy Foye in Gordon's absence.
- Nov 11, 2007
- 17,688
- 24,137
Nas is a Deron fan, but he's not stupid.
Originally Posted by PMatic
Chris Paul is the best PG but Deron Williams is still my favorite.
- Nov 11, 2007
- 17,688
- 24,137
Nas is a Deron fan, but he's not stupid.
Originally Posted by PMatic
Chris Paul is the best PG but Deron Williams is still my favorite.
- Jan 29, 2007
- 7,084
- 45
I'd LOVE TJ Ford as our backup point.
- Jan 29, 2007
- 7,084
- 45
I'd LOVE TJ Ford as our backup point.
We're past the midway point of the NBA season, just a few weeks away from All-Star Weekend. If the season ended today, who would be this class' award winners? For some categories, there's only one choice. For others, a few candidates emerged.
This class is not long on talent, but there are superstars in the group and they dominate our annual midseason awards. It's Blake Griffin's night, with John Wall as his co-star.
Most Outstanding Rookie: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Who else could it be? We could call this "Most Outstanding First or Second Year Player" and he'd still win a unanimous vote. He's not just a one-man highlight reel, he's a ticket seller who has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.
Wall
Best Prospect: John Wall, Wizards
Griffin is hands down the best player among rookies. But if we look forward five to seven years, Wall probably has the biggest upside. Already a productive and exciting player, he still has lots of room to grow.
DeMarcus Cousins will have a lot to say about this, as he'd be my pick purely based on size and skill level. But when taking into account heart and head smarts, too, Wall is my choice.
Most Surprising Rookie: Landry Fields, Knicks
It would have been understandable if Fields had been drafted but didn't make the team. Or if he had made the team but wasn't activated to play. Or if he was activated but mostly got DNP-CDs next to his name. Or if he got occasional minutes in routs or other extreme circumstances but didn't earn any regular rotation minutes. Or if he earned a rotation slot off the bench, but didn't produce much. Or if he produced but didn't start.
Of course, what we have seen is him both starting and producing. He's one of the best stories of the season.
Turner
Most Disappointing Rookie: Evan Turner, 76ers
Let me start by reminding everyone that there is half a season left. I do not think Turner is doomed to be labeled a bust or a disappointment just because he had a rough first half. But he's just not making shots right now and it's tough to find a groove as a No. 2 pick and stat-stuffing guard when you can't score or shoot with any consistency.
DeMarcus Cousins got some consideration here, mostly because it's now clear that he dropped to No. 5 in the draft because the reported immaturity issues are real. Still, the issues aren't serious enough that he should have dropped out of the top three picks.
Best Defender: Omer Asik, Bulls
Part of the reason why Asik gets the nod is the lack of good defense being played overall by this class. But he's deserving as well, thanks to his attentiveness to scouting reports and his willingness to move his feet and contest every shot.
He does jump a bit too much for the shot block, costing him valuable rebounding position, but for the most part he's an excellent pick-and-roll defender and a tough guy to score on inside.
[h4]ROOKIE 50 RANKINGS[/h4]
We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.
• Click here for the complete rankings »[h2][/h2] [th=""]Rank[/th][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Stock[/th]
1 Blake Griffin 
2 John Wall 3 Landry Fields 4 Greg Monroe 
5 DeMarcus Cousins 
6 Derrick Favors 7 Ed Davis 8 Gary Neal 9 Al-Farouq Aminu 10 Wesley Johnson
Best Passer: John Wall, Wizards
Special mention goes to Eugene Jeter and Greivis Vasquez for their excellent passing, but Wall gets the nod here thanks to his outstanding focus on moving the ball while also carrying the weight of being a franchise player.
Wall is a good passer now, but as he improves both his shot and his understanding of how NBA defenses work, I expect his assist numbers to make a big jump.
Best Dunker: Blake Griffin, Clippers
If I picked anyone but Griffin, I think even the other rookies would march in the streets. Simply put, he's the most powerful, athletic dunker since Dominique. (Yes, 'Nique trumps LeBron, who is better at running dunks. Blake is like 'Nique in that he gets some of his best dunks off pure vertical jumps or one-step dunks.)
Best Shooter: Gary Neal, Spurs
I know he's open a lot thanks to the talent around him, but shooting over 39 percent from deep is impressive nonetheless. Many of his shots have been clutch for the league's top team.
Best Scorer: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Griffin takes another award easily. There really aren't any scorers in this class, save Cousins -- and he's nowhere near the scorer Griffin is right now.
Most Improved Rookie: Greg Monroe, Pistons
He looked lethargic playing 18 minutes a game for a bad team in November. Now he flirts with double-doubles most nights in 30-plus minutes a game for an improved team. His 1.9 steals per game in January tells us he's fighting to make winning plays. He's starting to look like a long-term starter as well -- gold for the Pistons.
Biggest Beast: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Griffin would win this award if we looked at the entire league. But Semih Erden has been beasting dudes, too. He is huge and forces opponents to deal with his size all game long.
Fields
Most Confident Rookie: Landry Fields, Knicks
Part of why Fields has been such a surprise is that he doesn't seem surprised by his success. He's not afraid to yip and yak at opponents, which is gutsy coming from a second-round pick who has to guard scorers most nights. But that's why he's made it thus far.
Likely Last Rookie Standing: Gary Neal/Tiago Splitter, Spurs
Both rookies play very different roles for the Spurs, but they are integral for the team to maintain its successful run. Today, the Spurs are the safest bet to be playing in late June.
Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde Award: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
Next year this award might be named after Cousins, who has lived up to his billing as a terribly talented player who just doesn't get it. Think of it like this: Griffin's mind on Cousins' body equals All-Star candidate. This season. The great news this year for the Kings is that we're not seeing just Mr. Hyde. Cousins has shown us many excellent minutes during which he's the best player on the floor.
Best Recovery from Injury: Ed Davis, Raptors
After missing serious time in college with a broken wrist, we thought Davis could ill afford to miss time as a rookie. He just had so much catching up to do. But he suffered a knee injury during the summer, forcing him to miss all of the preseason and the first full month of the regular season. He has returned and been a strong player in multiple games.
Favors
Best Trade Bait: Derrick Favors, Nets
Favors gets this award, though he's done nothing wrong. In fact, it's because he's done so much right. As the third or fourth best prospect in this group (Griffin, Wall, Cousins), Favors is the only player of this foursome on a team that has interest in acquiring a superstar immediately for reasons that go beyond the court.
If Favors was playing like he did this summer -- unpolished and uninspired -- I don't think there would have been so much speculation about sending him to Denver. But he has been terrific and already acts like a pro, so New Jersey can entertain thoughts of moving him for a star like Melo. It's quite a compliment. He presents a huge reward but little risk for any team acquiring him.
Best Combination of Rookies: Clippers
More than a few teams have multiple draft picks on their roster. In San Antonio, there are two rookies who are experienced pros, so it's no surprise they are contributing well. But the Clippers' big three (I'm not ready to include Willie Warren) has a real chance to be dynamic. Griffin alone is enough, but Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu have shown flashes of special talent. No one would be surprised if those three formed a strong core in L.A.
Forbes
Best Grinder: Gary Forbes, Nuggets
As mentioned in this space before, Forbes' road to the NBA was a challenging one -- from being diagnosed with diabetes in college to playing a few seasons overseas and in the D-League. But he finally made it to the Association this season.
However, as it turns out, his team is the one that has led the trade talk rumor mill three times a day. So even now, with a guaranteed contract, he's one massive trade-haul import from potentially looking for a new job. Fortunately for him, he's done enough in Denver to have value for another team.
[h3]This week's rookie updates[/h3]
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings -- Jan. 26: Foul trouble continues to plague Cousins. He played a combined 36 minutes in recent back-to-back games because of it. If there is one specific thing that would help him more than any other, I'd have to say ... more »
Eric Bledsoe, Clippers -- Jan. 26: Studying his turnovers, it's clear that Bledsoe has issues with concentrating on every possession. It's a common problem with young players, especially guys without much experience playing the point. It's like ... more »
Gary Forbes, Nuggets -- Jan. 26: Getting limited minutes thanks to the relative health of his team, Forbes is struggling some from distance, hitting just three of his last 15 shots. It's hard for a young player to make 3s when he gets few opportunities. ... more »
Jeremy Evans, Jazz -- Jan. 26: He's not part of any set rotation in Utah, but he always gets himself noticed when he does play. Scored 10 points in eight minutes in a blowout loss to the Lakers. ... more »
Wesley Johnson, Timberwolves -- Jan. 25: Nice to see Johnson respond to his first DNP-CD in Portland five days ago with a breakout performance against Houston. He scored 19 points, and his three steals and five free throw attempts were both ... more »
Christian Eyenga, Cavaliers -- Jan. 25: Eyenga continues to start for Cleveland but is not producing much. He's an active player, but he's struggling as a shooter -- never a good thing when you're a guard. He's just 6-for-20 in his past five games and ... more »
Evan Turner, 76ers -- Jan. 25: With an injury to Andres Nocioni, Turner figures to get more consistent run in Philly and he took advantage of that Monday night in a big win over Phoenix. His stat line of 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and ... more »
Trevor Booker, Wizards -- Jan. 25: Booker is exactly what we saw this summer -- an energetic beast of an athlete who plays and scraps all the time. He's a quicker version of Lou Amundson. ... more »
Larry Sanders, Bucks -- Jan. 25: With three blocks in back-to-back games, Sanders reminded everyone of his defensive potential. He also added four offensive boards and 12 points in the latter game, and it bears mentioning that he's a "young" ... more »
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings -- Jan. 25: There's no telling if Cousins will grow up this season or next. It might be years away even. But it's likely he will learn to play and compete without fouling -- soon, even before the end of the season. And that ... more »
Chris Johnson, Blazers -- Jan. 25: The second-year pro from LSU just got called up from the D-League by Portland. He is rail-thin but tougher than you'd think.
Paul George, Pacers -- Jan. 24: George is having a bit of a breakout month and added a career-high 17 points on Sunday night. He's finishing shots at a good rate and earning the trust of his coach. More minutes seem to be in his immediate ... more »
Derrick Favors, Nets -- Jan. 23: Favors' offensive production will rise and fall considerably because he's rarely a part of any "action" directed at him. But one thing he typically does well is finish shots. Those shots may be from close range, but ... more »
Semih Erden, Celtics -- Jan. 23: Simply put, Erden presents a big problem for opponents because of his combination of size and hustle. He's also someone who plays his role well, staying within his skill sets. Starting in place of Shaq, he put up ... more »
John Wall, Wizards -- Jan. 23: Wall did not play well in the Wizards' upset win over Boston, but he was a catalyst in every sense of the word. His competitive drive and confidence (in his team and himself) are contagious; his teammates feed off ... more »
Gordon Hayward, Jazz -- Jan. 23: Hayward started at small forward in Philadelphia and was overmatched by Andre Iguodala. He hustled and found ways to impact the game, but committed five turnovers in 28 minutes. ... more »
Greg Monroe, Pistons -- Jan. 22: If Monroe ever becomes a longtime starting center in this league, we can point to January 2011 as being his arrival. He is averaging close to a double-double (11 and 9) and has helped the Pistons play better basketball. ... more »
Solomon Alabi, Raptors -- Jan. 22: Got his first real run in Toronto's blowout loss to Orlando (where Alabi's host family lives), logging 10 minutes. He totaled more fouls (three) than points (two), rebounds (two) or blocks (zero). However, he ... more »
Garret Siler, Suns -- Jan. 22: Logged one minute in an easy win over Washington and made both of his field goal attempts with fine post moves. His size suggests that he still has a long way to go before he's ready to play even a five-minute rotation ... more »
Kevin Seraphin, Wizards -- Jan. 22: Seraphin looks to be in better shape than when he first got to Washington, and his strength is now combined with good agility in his new body. He has a good bounce to his game in the paint. However, he's not close ... more »
Jordan Crawford, Hawks -- Jan. 22: Crawford got some extended minutes in the Hawks' terrible loss to New Orleans but is still struggling to make shots. He made just two of his nine attempts and has now made just over a third of his attempts ... more »
We're past the midway point of the NBA season, just a few weeks away from All-Star Weekend. If the season ended today, who would be this class' award winners? For some categories, there's only one choice. For others, a few candidates emerged.
This class is not long on talent, but there are superstars in the group and they dominate our annual midseason awards. It's Blake Griffin's night, with John Wall as his co-star.
Most Outstanding Rookie: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Who else could it be? We could call this "Most Outstanding First or Second Year Player" and he'd still win a unanimous vote. He's not just a one-man highlight reel, he's a ticket seller who has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.
Wall
Best Prospect: John Wall, Wizards
Griffin is hands down the best player among rookies. But if we look forward five to seven years, Wall probably has the biggest upside. Already a productive and exciting player, he still has lots of room to grow.
DeMarcus Cousins will have a lot to say about this, as he'd be my pick purely based on size and skill level. But when taking into account heart and head smarts, too, Wall is my choice.
Most Surprising Rookie: Landry Fields, Knicks
It would have been understandable if Fields had been drafted but didn't make the team. Or if he had made the team but wasn't activated to play. Or if he was activated but mostly got DNP-CDs next to his name. Or if he got occasional minutes in routs or other extreme circumstances but didn't earn any regular rotation minutes. Or if he earned a rotation slot off the bench, but didn't produce much. Or if he produced but didn't start.
Of course, what we have seen is him both starting and producing. He's one of the best stories of the season.
Turner
Most Disappointing Rookie: Evan Turner, 76ers
Let me start by reminding everyone that there is half a season left. I do not think Turner is doomed to be labeled a bust or a disappointment just because he had a rough first half. But he's just not making shots right now and it's tough to find a groove as a No. 2 pick and stat-stuffing guard when you can't score or shoot with any consistency.
DeMarcus Cousins got some consideration here, mostly because it's now clear that he dropped to No. 5 in the draft because the reported immaturity issues are real. Still, the issues aren't serious enough that he should have dropped out of the top three picks.
Best Defender: Omer Asik, Bulls
Part of the reason why Asik gets the nod is the lack of good defense being played overall by this class. But he's deserving as well, thanks to his attentiveness to scouting reports and his willingness to move his feet and contest every shot.
He does jump a bit too much for the shot block, costing him valuable rebounding position, but for the most part he's an excellent pick-and-roll defender and a tough guy to score on inside.
[h4]ROOKIE 50 RANKINGS[/h4]
We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.
• Click here for the complete rankings »[h2][/h2] [th=""]Rank[/th][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Stock[/th]
1 Blake Griffin 2 John Wall 3 Landry Fields 4 Greg Monroe 5 DeMarcus Cousins 6 Derrick Favors 7 Ed Davis 8 Gary Neal 9 Al-Farouq Aminu 10 Wesley Johnson
Best Passer: John Wall, Wizards
Special mention goes to Eugene Jeter and Greivis Vasquez for their excellent passing, but Wall gets the nod here thanks to his outstanding focus on moving the ball while also carrying the weight of being a franchise player.
Wall is a good passer now, but as he improves both his shot and his understanding of how NBA defenses work, I expect his assist numbers to make a big jump.
Best Dunker: Blake Griffin, Clippers
If I picked anyone but Griffin, I think even the other rookies would march in the streets. Simply put, he's the most powerful, athletic dunker since Dominique. (Yes, 'Nique trumps LeBron, who is better at running dunks. Blake is like 'Nique in that he gets some of his best dunks off pure vertical jumps or one-step dunks.)
Best Shooter: Gary Neal, Spurs
I know he's open a lot thanks to the talent around him, but shooting over 39 percent from deep is impressive nonetheless. Many of his shots have been clutch for the league's top team.
Best Scorer: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Griffin takes another award easily. There really aren't any scorers in this class, save Cousins -- and he's nowhere near the scorer Griffin is right now.
Most Improved Rookie: Greg Monroe, Pistons
He looked lethargic playing 18 minutes a game for a bad team in November. Now he flirts with double-doubles most nights in 30-plus minutes a game for an improved team. His 1.9 steals per game in January tells us he's fighting to make winning plays. He's starting to look like a long-term starter as well -- gold for the Pistons.
Biggest Beast: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Griffin would win this award if we looked at the entire league. But Semih Erden has been beasting dudes, too. He is huge and forces opponents to deal with his size all game long.
Fields
Most Confident Rookie: Landry Fields, Knicks
Part of why Fields has been such a surprise is that he doesn't seem surprised by his success. He's not afraid to yip and yak at opponents, which is gutsy coming from a second-round pick who has to guard scorers most nights. But that's why he's made it thus far.
Likely Last Rookie Standing: Gary Neal/Tiago Splitter, Spurs
Both rookies play very different roles for the Spurs, but they are integral for the team to maintain its successful run. Today, the Spurs are the safest bet to be playing in late June.
Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde Award: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
Next year this award might be named after Cousins, who has lived up to his billing as a terribly talented player who just doesn't get it. Think of it like this: Griffin's mind on Cousins' body equals All-Star candidate. This season. The great news this year for the Kings is that we're not seeing just Mr. Hyde. Cousins has shown us many excellent minutes during which he's the best player on the floor.
Best Recovery from Injury: Ed Davis, Raptors
After missing serious time in college with a broken wrist, we thought Davis could ill afford to miss time as a rookie. He just had so much catching up to do. But he suffered a knee injury during the summer, forcing him to miss all of the preseason and the first full month of the regular season. He has returned and been a strong player in multiple games.
Favors
Best Trade Bait: Derrick Favors, Nets
Favors gets this award, though he's done nothing wrong. In fact, it's because he's done so much right. As the third or fourth best prospect in this group (Griffin, Wall, Cousins), Favors is the only player of this foursome on a team that has interest in acquiring a superstar immediately for reasons that go beyond the court.
If Favors was playing like he did this summer -- unpolished and uninspired -- I don't think there would have been so much speculation about sending him to Denver. But he has been terrific and already acts like a pro, so New Jersey can entertain thoughts of moving him for a star like Melo. It's quite a compliment. He presents a huge reward but little risk for any team acquiring him.
Best Combination of Rookies: Clippers
More than a few teams have multiple draft picks on their roster. In San Antonio, there are two rookies who are experienced pros, so it's no surprise they are contributing well. But the Clippers' big three (I'm not ready to include Willie Warren) has a real chance to be dynamic. Griffin alone is enough, but Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu have shown flashes of special talent. No one would be surprised if those three formed a strong core in L.A.
Forbes
Best Grinder: Gary Forbes, Nuggets
As mentioned in this space before, Forbes' road to the NBA was a challenging one -- from being diagnosed with diabetes in college to playing a few seasons overseas and in the D-League. But he finally made it to the Association this season.
However, as it turns out, his team is the one that has led the trade talk rumor mill three times a day. So even now, with a guaranteed contract, he's one massive trade-haul import from potentially looking for a new job. Fortunately for him, he's done enough in Denver to have value for another team.
[h3]This week's rookie updates[/h3]
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings -- Jan. 26: Foul trouble continues to plague Cousins. He played a combined 36 minutes in recent back-to-back games because of it. If there is one specific thing that would help him more than any other, I'd have to say ... more »
Eric Bledsoe, Clippers -- Jan. 26: Studying his turnovers, it's clear that Bledsoe has issues with concentrating on every possession. It's a common problem with young players, especially guys without much experience playing the point. It's like ... more »
Gary Forbes, Nuggets -- Jan. 26: Getting limited minutes thanks to the relative health of his team, Forbes is struggling some from distance, hitting just three of his last 15 shots. It's hard for a young player to make 3s when he gets few opportunities. ... more »
Jeremy Evans, Jazz -- Jan. 26: He's not part of any set rotation in Utah, but he always gets himself noticed when he does play. Scored 10 points in eight minutes in a blowout loss to the Lakers. ... more »
Wesley Johnson, Timberwolves -- Jan. 25: Nice to see Johnson respond to his first DNP-CD in Portland five days ago with a breakout performance against Houston. He scored 19 points, and his three steals and five free throw attempts were both ... more »
Christian Eyenga, Cavaliers -- Jan. 25: Eyenga continues to start for Cleveland but is not producing much. He's an active player, but he's struggling as a shooter -- never a good thing when you're a guard. He's just 6-for-20 in his past five games and ... more »
Evan Turner, 76ers -- Jan. 25: With an injury to Andres Nocioni, Turner figures to get more consistent run in Philly and he took advantage of that Monday night in a big win over Phoenix. His stat line of 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and ... more »
Trevor Booker, Wizards -- Jan. 25: Booker is exactly what we saw this summer -- an energetic beast of an athlete who plays and scraps all the time. He's a quicker version of Lou Amundson. ... more »
Larry Sanders, Bucks -- Jan. 25: With three blocks in back-to-back games, Sanders reminded everyone of his defensive potential. He also added four offensive boards and 12 points in the latter game, and it bears mentioning that he's a "young" ... more »
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings -- Jan. 25: There's no telling if Cousins will grow up this season or next. It might be years away even. But it's likely he will learn to play and compete without fouling -- soon, even before the end of the season. And that ... more »
Chris Johnson, Blazers -- Jan. 25: The second-year pro from LSU just got called up from the D-League by Portland. He is rail-thin but tougher than you'd think.
Paul George, Pacers -- Jan. 24: George is having a bit of a breakout month and added a career-high 17 points on Sunday night. He's finishing shots at a good rate and earning the trust of his coach. More minutes seem to be in his immediate ... more »
Derrick Favors, Nets -- Jan. 23: Favors' offensive production will rise and fall considerably because he's rarely a part of any "action" directed at him. But one thing he typically does well is finish shots. Those shots may be from close range, but ... more »
Semih Erden, Celtics -- Jan. 23: Simply put, Erden presents a big problem for opponents because of his combination of size and hustle. He's also someone who plays his role well, staying within his skill sets. Starting in place of Shaq, he put up ... more »
John Wall, Wizards -- Jan. 23: Wall did not play well in the Wizards' upset win over Boston, but he was a catalyst in every sense of the word. His competitive drive and confidence (in his team and himself) are contagious; his teammates feed off ... more »
Gordon Hayward, Jazz -- Jan. 23: Hayward started at small forward in Philadelphia and was overmatched by Andre Iguodala. He hustled and found ways to impact the game, but committed five turnovers in 28 minutes. ... more »
Greg Monroe, Pistons -- Jan. 22: If Monroe ever becomes a longtime starting center in this league, we can point to January 2011 as being his arrival. He is averaging close to a double-double (11 and 9) and has helped the Pistons play better basketball. ... more »
Solomon Alabi, Raptors -- Jan. 22: Got his first real run in Toronto's blowout loss to Orlando (where Alabi's host family lives), logging 10 minutes. He totaled more fouls (three) than points (two), rebounds (two) or blocks (zero). However, he ... more »
Garret Siler, Suns -- Jan. 22: Logged one minute in an easy win over Washington and made both of his field goal attempts with fine post moves. His size suggests that he still has a long way to go before he's ready to play even a five-minute rotation ... more »
Kevin Seraphin, Wizards -- Jan. 22: Seraphin looks to be in better shape than when he first got to Washington, and his strength is now combined with good agility in his new body. He has a good bounce to his game in the paint. However, he's not close ... more »
Jordan Crawford, Hawks -- Jan. 22: Crawford got some extended minutes in the Hawks' terrible loss to New Orleans but is still struggling to make shots. He made just two of his nine attempts and has now made just over a third of his attempts ... more »
- Mar 8, 2010
- 21,800
- 3,553
this.
- Mar 8, 2010
- 21,800
- 3,553
this.
- Jun 24, 2005
- 17,326
- 3,613
What is this I keep hearing about the Grizz and Warriors?
I keep hearing Curry, OJ and Zbo names being brought up. I know it was mentioned a few weeks back that they were interested in Zbo even though I don't think he would be involved in the deal.
I keep hearing Curry, OJ and Zbo names being brought up. I know it was mentioned a few weeks back that they were interested in Zbo even though I don't think he would be involved in the deal.
- Jun 24, 2005
- 17,326
- 3,613
What is this I keep hearing about the Grizz and Warriors?
I keep hearing Curry, OJ and Zbo names being brought up. I know it was mentioned a few weeks back that they were interested in Zbo even though I don't think he would be involved in the deal.
I keep hearing Curry, OJ and Zbo names being brought up. I know it was mentioned a few weeks back that they were interested in Zbo even though I don't think he would be involved in the deal.
- Jan 3, 2011
- 10,371
- 653
What have you heard/read recently? I can't find anything.
