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Ay, the yambs sitting courtside next to the Spurs bench 
Official NBA 2012-2013 Season Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by Spectacular23,
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a friend of mine asked me that during the Knick game last night. My answer...define athletic I vaguely remember him at Kentucky but his first couple years in Boston he had his explosive games/moments. Not that it would have made a difference but that Boston team was so close to beating the Nets in the ECF.
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Memphis is scary... WROTEN brings a new dimension to them and when Arthur and Bayless is playing well :x
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How did ATL just hit a Mario Kart arrow and blow past the Celtics like that ?
?
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Ay, the yambs sitting courtside next to the Spurs bench
Bad *******.
Tony ******g all of em tonight.
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Durant
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cause the celtics are old and ran outta gasHow did ATL just hit a Mario Kart arrow and blow past the Celtics like that?
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How did ATL just hit a Mario Kart arrow and blow past the Celtics like that
2nd night of a back-to-back, in double overtime, with KG fouling out in the last few minutes.
More or less a guaranteed L.
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Celtics were up 27 at one point and up 19 at half, you forgot to mention that.
Rookie Watch: Midseason awards.
Armed with a full set of summer league games, training camp and preseason games, this season's class of rookies had a huge head start over what last season's rooks had to contend with. But last season's class featured some very special players, including a couple of guys who had huge impacts on the league. (Check out last year's midseason awards here.)
This season, the effect has been less dramatic. But with half a season left to develop, there are a number of players in this class who have shown enough thus far to get us excited about their futures. Let's hand out some first-half awards:
Lillard
Most impressive rookie: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
Jumping from a mid-major college team to a basketball-crazy franchise and community desperate to be playoff-relevant again, Lillard has his team in the playoff hunt. As talented as he is, that was hard to imagine at the beginning of the season. Playing huge minutes is tough enough for a rookie. Doing so as the team's starting point guard adds a mental element that makes it even tougher. Yet Lillard continues to shine and shows no signs of letting up.
Runner-up: Anthony Davis
Davis has shown he is going to be more than just a defensive specialist and looks to be every bit the franchise player Hornets fans hoped he'd be.
Waiters
Best scorer: Dion Waiters, Cavaliers
A scorer is someone who can create his own points, not just rely on others to get him open and then make uncontested shots. This is a weak class of scorers, but Waiters has proved he can put up big numbers when he gets rolling. He is the best in this class, but still has a long way to go to be both a productive and efficient scorer on a consistent basis.
Waiters has the requisite athletic, physical and ball skills to be a terrific partner to Kyrie Irving. They could form the most potent set of scoring guards in the league if Waiters figures out how to play the right way.
Runner-up: Lillard
The Blazers have a decent offense, but only because Lillard is not just trying to get the ball to his veteran teammates. He is always on the lookout for his own shot, able to get buckets inside and make open perimeter shots.
Prigioni
Best passer: Pablo Prigioni, Knicks
At 35, Prigioni had better be able to make the kinds of plays he does. He started playing pro ball before some of these rookies touched a basketball, so he knows how to read the game -- most rooks are only playing it.
Prigioni is not special in any way as a player, but he is smart and patient running the pick-and-roll, waiting for his primary scorers to get open or simply moving the ball and forcing defenders to chase the pass rather than the dribble.
Runner-up: Alexey Shved, Timberwolves
Shved is no Ricky Rubio, but he still shows talent at making plays beyond the obvious one.
Drummond
Best rebounder: Andre Drummond, Pistons
Some rebounders are tall and long, so they can get their hands on a lot of balls. Others have great hands, so the ball sticks when they touch it. Undersized players need a motor, along with good hands, to get to the ball and rebound. Then we have Drummond, who has combined all three components to become dominant on the glass. He has also added some craft to his art, deftly tipping the ball away from opponents to spots he can get to first. Drummond has the potential to one day lead this league in rebounding.
Runner-up: John Henson, Bucks
Great size, length, hands and agility help Henson overcome his strength issues.
Beal
Most likely to break out in second half: Bradley Beal, Wizards
As we have mentioned in this space before, Beal got off to a slow start for the Florida Gators last season and then finished with a flourish. It appears he's starting to figure the pro game out a little faster. And now that John Wall is back and up to speed, Beal's half-court and full-court looks should improve dramatically. He probably has been the best rookie in January, proving to be one of the league's best shooters in 2013. Considering his age, that is the best news Wizards fans could possibly hope for.
Runners-up: Harrison Barnes, Warriors; John Jenkins, Hawks; Jared Sullinger, Celtics
With Golden State in the thick of the playoff race and Barnes being possibly the Warriors' best wing defender, Mark Jackson has a good reason to play his talented young rookie more and more. Jenkins is also in line for more minutes now that Lou Williams has been lost for the rest of the season, and he has the shooting talent to take advantage of those chances. And the Celtics need Sullinger's young legs and finishing talents if they are going to right their sinking ship.
Jenkins
Best shooter: Jenkins
Jenkins has a quick trigger and, like all special shooters, even his misses look good. He has made deep shots consistently the past two months and, with his playing time likely to increase, we will get an even better look at just what kind of shooter he can be.
Runners-up: Chris Copeland, Knicks; Beal, Wizards
Copeland is an even more unlikely success than Gary Neal, the Spurs' sharpshooter who is invaluable now after playing overseas for years.
Lillard
Most dynamic off the dribble: Waiters
Like last year's winner, Isaiah Thomas, Waiters does not rely just on quickness and slick ball skills to beat defenders at the point of attack. His secret is power, and it gives him the ability to charge past defenders who can stay with his first or second step because they are physically unable to slow him down. The next phase for Waiters is to use this talent more than he does his step-back shooting, for which he is prone to settle.
Runner-up: Lillard
Lillard relies more on craft to get past guys -- that and his solid midrange game, which keeps defenders from guessing correctly most of the time.
Drummond
Biggest surprise: Drummond
Questions about his desire to play hovered around Drummond last June, as did concerns about his offensive game and feel. But it's clear that Drummond should have gone second in this draft, which easily makes him the biggest surprise. Players like Drummond -- glass-eating, shot-blocking, paint-finishing, lob-catching, quick-in-transition beasts -- are exceedingly rare. He looks to be a franchise big man with very strong All-Star potential.
Runner-up: Andrew Nicholson, Magic
He has been more than satisfactory for the Magic, capable of handling some of the low-post scoring load and a guy they can build around moving forward.
Drummond
Davis
Best shot-blocker(s): Davis and Drummond
To share this award with Davis says a lot about Drummond, considering what a special shot-blocker Davis is and will be for a decade-plus. Davis is more calculating, in part because he needs to play big minutes for his team, so risking fouls is something he has to be mindful of.
Drummond blocks more shots per minute, but he is less concerned about fouls, so he goes after more shots. Having Greg Monroe next to him helps him. It is fair to think that one day these two rooks will both be in the top four in this category in the entire league.
Davis
Most likely to win rookie of the year: Davis
If he plays in most of the remaining games, Davis should have the requisite stats to win this award. The improved way New Orleans is playing will help, and having Eric Gordon on the court should allow for more open shots for Davis, especially in the pick-and-roll, which will give him a more regular spot on "SportsCenter." His impact on all three phases of the game, and his overall minutes per game, should trump all others.
Runner-up: Lillard
Should Portland make the playoffs and New Orleans fall flat this spring, there will be a strong case for Lillard to take home the crown.
Rivers
Biggest disappointment: Austin Rivers, Hornets
Rivers has been awful. He is struggling to make shots, including free throws. If we did not know his name or his pedigree, there is no way anyone could think he was an NBA player. He is likely the worst player in the league who is actually getting playing time. I do not expect this to continue, but the facts are the facts, and he's getting worse, not better.
Runner-up: Thomas Robinson
Robinson gets somewhat of a pass in that he's playing for a disaster of a franchise and behind some quality players. He will likely not have both of those excuses next season.
Armed with a full set of summer league games, training camp and preseason games, this season's class of rookies had a huge head start over what last season's rooks had to contend with. But last season's class featured some very special players, including a couple of guys who had huge impacts on the league. (Check out last year's midseason awards here.)
This season, the effect has been less dramatic. But with half a season left to develop, there are a number of players in this class who have shown enough thus far to get us excited about their futures. Let's hand out some first-half awards:
Lillard
Most impressive rookie: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
Jumping from a mid-major college team to a basketball-crazy franchise and community desperate to be playoff-relevant again, Lillard has his team in the playoff hunt. As talented as he is, that was hard to imagine at the beginning of the season. Playing huge minutes is tough enough for a rookie. Doing so as the team's starting point guard adds a mental element that makes it even tougher. Yet Lillard continues to shine and shows no signs of letting up.
Runner-up: Anthony Davis
Davis has shown he is going to be more than just a defensive specialist and looks to be every bit the franchise player Hornets fans hoped he'd be.
Waiters
Best scorer: Dion Waiters, Cavaliers
A scorer is someone who can create his own points, not just rely on others to get him open and then make uncontested shots. This is a weak class of scorers, but Waiters has proved he can put up big numbers when he gets rolling. He is the best in this class, but still has a long way to go to be both a productive and efficient scorer on a consistent basis.
Waiters has the requisite athletic, physical and ball skills to be a terrific partner to Kyrie Irving. They could form the most potent set of scoring guards in the league if Waiters figures out how to play the right way.
Runner-up: Lillard
The Blazers have a decent offense, but only because Lillard is not just trying to get the ball to his veteran teammates. He is always on the lookout for his own shot, able to get buckets inside and make open perimeter shots.
Prigioni
Best passer: Pablo Prigioni, Knicks
At 35, Prigioni had better be able to make the kinds of plays he does. He started playing pro ball before some of these rookies touched a basketball, so he knows how to read the game -- most rooks are only playing it.
Prigioni is not special in any way as a player, but he is smart and patient running the pick-and-roll, waiting for his primary scorers to get open or simply moving the ball and forcing defenders to chase the pass rather than the dribble.
Runner-up: Alexey Shved, Timberwolves
Shved is no Ricky Rubio, but he still shows talent at making plays beyond the obvious one.
Drummond
Best rebounder: Andre Drummond, Pistons
Some rebounders are tall and long, so they can get their hands on a lot of balls. Others have great hands, so the ball sticks when they touch it. Undersized players need a motor, along with good hands, to get to the ball and rebound. Then we have Drummond, who has combined all three components to become dominant on the glass. He has also added some craft to his art, deftly tipping the ball away from opponents to spots he can get to first. Drummond has the potential to one day lead this league in rebounding.
Runner-up: John Henson, Bucks
Great size, length, hands and agility help Henson overcome his strength issues.
Beal
Most likely to break out in second half: Bradley Beal, Wizards
As we have mentioned in this space before, Beal got off to a slow start for the Florida Gators last season and then finished with a flourish. It appears he's starting to figure the pro game out a little faster. And now that John Wall is back and up to speed, Beal's half-court and full-court looks should improve dramatically. He probably has been the best rookie in January, proving to be one of the league's best shooters in 2013. Considering his age, that is the best news Wizards fans could possibly hope for.
Runners-up: Harrison Barnes, Warriors; John Jenkins, Hawks; Jared Sullinger, Celtics
With Golden State in the thick of the playoff race and Barnes being possibly the Warriors' best wing defender, Mark Jackson has a good reason to play his talented young rookie more and more. Jenkins is also in line for more minutes now that Lou Williams has been lost for the rest of the season, and he has the shooting talent to take advantage of those chances. And the Celtics need Sullinger's young legs and finishing talents if they are going to right their sinking ship.
Jenkins
Best shooter: Jenkins
Jenkins has a quick trigger and, like all special shooters, even his misses look good. He has made deep shots consistently the past two months and, with his playing time likely to increase, we will get an even better look at just what kind of shooter he can be.
Runners-up: Chris Copeland, Knicks; Beal, Wizards
Copeland is an even more unlikely success than Gary Neal, the Spurs' sharpshooter who is invaluable now after playing overseas for years.
Lillard
Most dynamic off the dribble: Waiters
Like last year's winner, Isaiah Thomas, Waiters does not rely just on quickness and slick ball skills to beat defenders at the point of attack. His secret is power, and it gives him the ability to charge past defenders who can stay with his first or second step because they are physically unable to slow him down. The next phase for Waiters is to use this talent more than he does his step-back shooting, for which he is prone to settle.
Runner-up: Lillard
Lillard relies more on craft to get past guys -- that and his solid midrange game, which keeps defenders from guessing correctly most of the time.
Drummond
Biggest surprise: Drummond
Questions about his desire to play hovered around Drummond last June, as did concerns about his offensive game and feel. But it's clear that Drummond should have gone second in this draft, which easily makes him the biggest surprise. Players like Drummond -- glass-eating, shot-blocking, paint-finishing, lob-catching, quick-in-transition beasts -- are exceedingly rare. He looks to be a franchise big man with very strong All-Star potential.
Runner-up: Andrew Nicholson, Magic
He has been more than satisfactory for the Magic, capable of handling some of the low-post scoring load and a guy they can build around moving forward.
Drummond
Davis
Best shot-blocker(s): Davis and Drummond
To share this award with Davis says a lot about Drummond, considering what a special shot-blocker Davis is and will be for a decade-plus. Davis is more calculating, in part because he needs to play big minutes for his team, so risking fouls is something he has to be mindful of.
Drummond blocks more shots per minute, but he is less concerned about fouls, so he goes after more shots. Having Greg Monroe next to him helps him. It is fair to think that one day these two rooks will both be in the top four in this category in the entire league.
Davis
Most likely to win rookie of the year: Davis
If he plays in most of the remaining games, Davis should have the requisite stats to win this award. The improved way New Orleans is playing will help, and having Eric Gordon on the court should allow for more open shots for Davis, especially in the pick-and-roll, which will give him a more regular spot on "SportsCenter." His impact on all three phases of the game, and his overall minutes per game, should trump all others.
Runner-up: Lillard
Should Portland make the playoffs and New Orleans fall flat this spring, there will be a strong case for Lillard to take home the crown.
Rivers
Biggest disappointment: Austin Rivers, Hornets
Rivers has been awful. He is struggling to make shots, including free throws. If we did not know his name or his pedigree, there is no way anyone could think he was an NBA player. He is likely the worst player in the league who is actually getting playing time. I do not expect this to continue, but the facts are the facts, and he's getting worse, not better.
Runner-up: Thomas Robinson
Robinson gets somewhat of a pass in that he's playing for a disaster of a franchise and behind some quality players. He will likely not have both of those excuses next season.
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Always nice to see Tommy H crying. Goodnight beantown.
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I'm trying to think back to his early years, and I just can't picture him being like AI, TMac, or Steve Francis back in the day. It's kinda weird.How did ATL just hit a Mario Kart arrow and blow past the Celtics like that
2nd night of a back-to-back, in double overtime, with KG fouling out in the last few minutes.
More or less a guaranteed L.
*alonzo mourning*
D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
**** Kevin Martin
Ja's 2¢
formerly vcshoxj6
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Time for Lakers to pounce on Ersan. Ya'll said he needed to show what he can do, and now he's ballin with Skiles out of the picture. Dude is made for that Pringles system
Last 3 games:
1/25 30pts/7rebs with 5 threes, 2 assts, 1 blk, 1 stl, .524FG% in 39 min
1/22 27pts/16rebs with 2 threes, 2 assts, 1 blk, 3 stls, .588FG% in 36 min
1/19 27pts/14rebs with 3 threes, 4 assts, 1 blk, .417FG% in 26 min
Last 3 games:
1/25 30pts/7rebs with 5 threes, 2 assts, 1 blk, 1 stl, .524FG% in 39 min
1/22 27pts/16rebs with 2 threes, 2 assts, 1 blk, 3 stls, .588FG% in 36 min
1/19 27pts/14rebs with 3 threes, 4 assts, 1 blk, .417FG% in 26 min
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Lakers & Celts going down in flames, in there own ways though.
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**** Kevin Martin
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My man Isaiah Thomas has to get his warm ups hemmed
Looking an old preacher's dress pants.
Ja's 2¢
formerly vcshoxj6
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shoeking2101
Banned
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My man Isaiah Thomas has to get his warm ups hemmed
Looking an old preacher's dress pants.
Bruh's shorts be touching the floor
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No. Lillard is ROY.
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So far, Dwight Howard looks like 2011 Dwight Howard.
Don't play with my heart Dwight.
Don't play with my heart Dwight.
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D
Deleted member 38182
Guest
he was the worst neighbor ever!
The things he did in Sac were appreciated tho
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