NBA

[fersanti]

Olympic qualifier starting today. This time around, my bet is clearly on team USA gliding easily through. Only Brazil could eventually make a run for their money, but not even Donaghy calling the game would bet on that. Second Olympic post: probably Brazil; Argentina (without most of its elite players: no Nocioni, Ginobili, Oberto nor Pepe Sanchez) will have to really fight and have extremely good performances by Luis Scola (recently signed by the Rockets)and (his former teamate in Spain, PG) Pablo Prigioni; plus, and when that pick and roll combo is contained, the 3.
We'll pray.
Cheers.

[fersanti]

   OK, guess you guys did not follow the Olympic Qualyfier.
   The US A-Team gave the Argentina B-Team a sollid whopping yesterday, but we did not care. Our "final" was the semifinal with Brazil which we won by 11 after bein down by 11 during the 3rdQ. Luis Scola proved his mettle one last time before having to do it in the NBA and boy did he do it... With 19.5 points and 7.5 boards per game, he was elected the Championship MVP. For those who dont have him on their radars, let me tell you that Houston will get harder this year with Scola adding to Yao and McGrady.
   Cheers!
   

[kam]

The games came on very late in the East Coast.  And they lacked much drama.  Kobe Bryant looked good in his first International action.

[fersanti]

Well, this was the closest thing to resemble the original Barcelona 1992 Dream Team the USA has assembled since. It sure looks like you guys want to get back the throne of the only American sport which is seriously played around the globe. And it'll be very hard to prevent it.

[bodiddley]

Well, you're forgetting the 96 Olympic team.

7     David Robinson C     216     31     1965     San Antonio Spurs, NBA
4    Charles Barkley PF    198    33    1963    Phoenix Suns, NBA
8    Scottie Pippen SF     201    31    1965    Chicago Bulls, NBA
10    Reggie Miller SG     201    31    1965    Indiana Pacers, NBA
14    Gary Payton PG           193    28       1968    Seattle Supersonics, NBA
                 
13    Shaquille O'Neal C    216 24    1972    Orlando Magic, NBA
11    Karl Malone PF             206    33    1963    Utah Jazz, NBA
5    Grant Hill SF                  203   24    1972    Detroit Pistons, NBA
9    Mitch Richmond SG    196    31    1965    Sacramento Kings, NBA
6    Anfernee Hardaway PG    201    25    1971    Orlando Magic, NBA
                 
15    Hakeem Olajuwon C    213    33    1963    Houston Rockets, NBA
12    John Stockton PG    185    32    1964    Utah Jazz, NBA

The team was comprised mostly of experienced vets (31-33 years old), but also had a young Shaq, Penny, and Grant Hill, plus a 28 year old prime Payton.
Look at the centers: Robinson, Olajuwon and Shaq.
And then Malone and Barkley at the PF.
Pippen and Hill at the SF.
Reggie and Mitch Rich shooting guards
Payton, Stock and Penny at the point.

Big difference to this year's dream is the expereince.
Anthony and LBJ and Wade are fantastic players but are pups still learning the game and how to win.  That's why the addition of Kobe and Kidd and Billups is important.  They have experience and mental toughness. 
The other big difference is the beef up front.
Howard, Bosh, Chandler and Amare aren't much of a match for those 96 Bigs.
At least not at this stage of their careers.

[bodiddley]

Saw the end of the Bucks-Bulls game.
The last 2 minutes was some of the sloppiest stuff I've seen since ... well, since the Rockets blew a 12 point lead opening night to the Lakes, but that was one-way sloppiness, this was a mutual affair.

Bucks had no idea how to use a possession or handle the shot clock down the stretch.  They got off terrible shots, which included a pair of 3 point airballs, both launched with about 14 on the shot clock.  Amazingly, a Buck under the basket caught both of them, but then rushed a follow shot which missed.  Bucks really had no idea how to manage the clock or set plays to get off a good shot.  Rookie coach and some young players.
Bulls not much better (and couldn't corral loose end-of-4thQ rebounds).
Lots of bad shots by both teams.

Nocioni schooled Yi on both ends in the few minutes I saw.
Stole the ball and got Yi to foul him on a made breakaway layup.
Then when spotted up in the corner,  Noc's head fake got Yi to over-commit in rotation coverage, allowing Noc to dribble in for a layup.  Which was one of the only FG's made in the last 2-3 minutes.

Still nice to see that Yi was hit a lot of long jumpers.  Mostly just a step or so inside the 3 point line.  Though his one 3 point attempt clanked badly.  But if he's got 20 foot range now, he should be able to hit some threes next year.   Still there's no reason to run pick and pops from the three point line.  Better to get Yi in closer to get open 15-18 footers.
Should be an up and down learning year for Yi, but he's doing allright.

Bucks were my Cinderella pick, but not going to win much looking so shaky down the stretch.
They did scrap for rebounds, which kept the Bulls at bay.
Bulls 0-3.

[srnich]

Stern can stuff his all star game.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/1107allstar-ON.html

[fersanti]

   Hey, Bo, guess somebody is interested in basketball after all. Havent had a chance to see a game this season, yet. We are getting one on Tuesdays and another on Sundays, but still no Spurs (nor Bulls, Raptors, Rockets either, so no Argentines playing.)
   For what I've been reading, the Spurs look strong again. Houston will be a real test for anyone if they remain healthy, and Luis Scola will prove a great addition once he improves as the season develops.
   Hows the Celtic experiment going?

[bodiddley]

I think they've stepped up the number of games being shown in China slightly.  probably largely due to Yi.  But actually the % of Rockets (and now Bucks) games seems lower than before. 

Seems a lot of sloppy, ragged play from what I'm seeing.  Watching Denver v. Cleveland now, and Denver had at least 4 turnovers on fast break passes.  Just bad passes, mostly whipped too high or fast.

Something to keep an eye on: Iverson seems as quick and slick-handling as ever, but I'm noticing that at the end of his moves his shots are coming up short.  Could just be early season rust/conditioning, or a poor spell, but sure looks like his energy is spent on the move, with not much left for the shot.

For the Cavs, Hughes doesn't get much done out there.  LBJ falling back on fall-away J's (often just inside or on the 3-point line).  He's doing teams a favor when he takes those long off-balance shots.

As for the Rockets, Tmac also still taking many tough, long off-balance shots.
Scola doesn't look comfortable yet.  I haven't been impressed with their new offense yet, but maybe just because they're not running it well yet.  Yao is looking good.  And Mike James and Bonzi are tough players on the 2nd unit.
Good that Houston is winning while not playing great.  I just don't think they have the experience and cohesion to do too much damage in the playoffs.

Good luck getting some games.

[bodiddley]

Sean Williams with 14, 7, and 4 blocks in 29 minutes.
Didn't see the game, but he looked plenty feisty against KG and teh Celts a few days ago.  So guess Frank went back to him.
Krstic and Collins only totaled 22 minutes between them, without foul trouble.

Saw Lakes knock off Rocks.
McGrady went out early after dinging his elbow.
Kwame is probably the best one-on-Yao defender I've seen.
Leans on him hard, doesn't let him set up, challenges his turnaround jumpers.
The guy's got a specialty.

Bonzi played hard for Houston. 
Finished with 21 & 10 (2/2/3/2) (a/s/b/to).
Took it to the basket strong against all comers (mostly Odom, Luke, some over-matched Radman, and even Tauriaf).
Bonzai missed a few contested layups and some late FT's, but got to the line 12 times. 

Also D-ed up on Odom and just wasn't letting Odom post him up.
Bonzi credited with 2 steals, but knocked the ball out of Odom's hands 2 or 3 more times (one Odom had to dive on the floor to recover, another Bonzi stole but stepped out hauling it in).  Really showed some good quick hands.  Bonzi also covered Luke and even Tauriaf solidly as well.  Quite a contrast when Mike James came in for Bonzi early/mid-4th and the Lakes (Mo Evans, Luke) went right at him.

Bonzi often stayed behind to try to swipe a defensive rebound out of Bynum (9 boards) or others hands, effectively stymieing any break.  And Bonzi was impressive slamming young Bynum to the baseline on Yao's late free throw attempts.  Unfortunately Yao was off, doing 1-of-2's, while Bonzi missed 3 late FT's.  And that was the game. 

And yes, I'm a big (unapologetic) Bonzi fan.

Down by 2, Rockets missed three 3-pointers on their next to last possession.  After Bynum nicely swished 2 FT's, Yao got fouled, and made the first.  Down by 3 with 1 second left, Yao did a nifty clang off the front rim, straight back to himself, quickly tossed it out to the 3 point line, where Battier missed a game-tying buzzer 3.

One other note: coming back from a commercial break, they were discussing Marbury's situation with Marbs' pic and stats on the screen ... and then the cameras zoomed in on Steve Francis, in warm-ups, clowning around.  The Chinese announcers chuckled a lot.  Sigh.

[luee]

Bad fantasy offers; Starbury and Bynum for Curry and Roy. I dont even want Steph on my fantasy team.

[fersanti]

Got to see Rockets at Spurs on Friday (second half at least). I guess Scola did get in tune with 10/11 FG's... and boring old Tim got on just when it mattered, with a nice block on Yao. Speaking of whom, I saw a great defensive game on him by Oberto.
As I said before, guess the Rockets will depend on their health...
Anybody see the Bulls' game in which Nocioni was accused of just about anything short of ethnic cleansing? I love that guy, and would hate him if he played for an opposing team...

[oilcanboyd23]

Trivia:

Name a former NBA player whose name is a complete sentence.

[kam]

Trivia:

Name a former NBA player whose name is a complete sentence.

World B. Free

[oilcanboyd23]

World B. Free

Yeah, I thought of that, but it only works if he spells his middle name "Be".  Otherwise, it only works phonetically or whatever, so it's not really a winner.

Anyways, the one I thought of was Cherokee Parks.

Are there any others?