knbaallstarrockets

720 Slam Dunk

2006-08-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really any All-Star news, but maybe you will be seeing something like this in future slam dunk contests? 720 degree slam dunk by Taurian Fontenette AKA "Air Up There" from AND1.

Best Hotel Rate Guarantees

2006-07-31T22:31:00.000-07:00

The basic deal is that the hotels want you to make reservations directly on their sites but if you find a cheaper rate on some other site (except for Priceline and Hotwire usually), they will match the lower rate plus offer something else. There are a lot of rules and restrictions so make sure you read them.

A list of hotels in Las Vegas that offer this:
Match lower room rates plus 25% off
Caesars Palace
Las Vegas Hilton
Bally's Las Vegas
Flamingo Las Vegas
Paris Las Vegas

Match lower room rates plus 10% off
Aladdin

Big update coming this weekend about how to find the best hotel and airfare deal. I will be in Las Vegas for the Vegas Summer League games and will find out my information on where and when to get tickets to the many events going on that weekend.

KG World Tour

2006-07-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Nine-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett and adidas have teamed up to announce an extensive six-city international tour. The KG tour will tip-off in Beijing July 13 followed by stops in Shanghai, Delhi, Agra, Bangalore and wrapping up on July 19 in Taipei.

The theme of this year’s KG Tour is “We.” We believe in 5. We believe that no one player is better than all five on the floor. When five players come together, with their individual styles, skills, personalities and dreams, the impossible can happen at any moment. All successful teams have one thing in common, the mentality that together “we” are stronger as a whole then as separate parts. Together “we” can make the game better.

The KG Tour will feature a number of events ranging from a Garnett ‘06 limited edition Asia-only shoe launch, Garnett ’06 limited edition India-only shoe launch, community events, basketball clinics, basketball tournament games, a visits to the Great Wall and Taj Mahal.

Nash sucker-elbowed by Dallas PG and resident bitch Jason Terry ...

2006-07-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

Nash sucker-elbowed by Dallas PG and resident bitch Jason Terry…

Draft Trade Rumour: Raptors trade the No. 1 overall pick to Portland for their number 4 and draft UConn PG Marcus Williams...allowing Portland to draft local boy Gonzaga SFAdam Morrison.

Regular Trade Rumour: Pacers send PF Jermaine O’Neal to the Warriors for PFTroy Murphy and either SG/SF Michael Pietrus or PF Ike Diogu.

The Mavericks defeated Phoenix 95-88 last night to take a 2-1 lead in the series…the Diggler was fantastic with 28 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks while SF Josh Howard added 22 points and 12 rebounds….the Suns were flat nad had no depth without Raja Bell…in fact, the bench was atrocious with Eddie House and James Jones combining for just 6 points on 1-of-8 shooting including 0-3 from downtown…Leandro Barbosa, who had 17 points filling in for the injured Bellwas a spark along with PG Steve Nash, who had 21 points and 7 assists and SF/PF/C Boris Diaw who had 20 points…

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat easily on Game 3 at home Saturday 98-83, and went up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals...how? Well. They shot 35 of 58 from the floor (64%!!!) outscoring Detroit 50-16 in the paint…Dwyane Wade was bananas scoring 35 points while Shaq-fu added 27 points and 12 rebounds…together the dynamic duo combined to shoot 24-for-32 from the floor for the Heat…As for the Pistons, the main culprits were Tayshaun Prince who went 1-for-7 for 3 points, Rasheed Wallace who only had 11 points and Ben Wallace who was 0-1 from the floor and 2-10 from the line for 2 points…these horrible performances wasted great efforts from Chauncey Billups, who was 11 of 17 from the floor for 31 points and Richard Hamilton who had 20 points before fouling out and …by the way, the Heat outrebounded the Pistons 40-27…

Ricky Williams an Argo? Wow…there must be considerable joy in places like the Friendly Stranger and other local TO hemp stores…

Did you know this? At a Blues practice, apparently Jamie McLennan, the St. Louis blue’s backup goalie a few years ago took an Al MacInnis slap shot squarely in the groin, shattering his goalie cup and rupturing not one, but BOTH of his testicles…oh my God…

1) Chad Ford with his draft workout update:

Now that the lottery is over and the draft process is in full swing, I'll be on the road for the next month at draft camps and gyms across the U.S. (and Italy) to watch some of the most interesting prospects. I spent the weekend in Chicago watching prospects work out at Tim Grover's A.T.T.A.C.K. Athletics. Here's who I saw:

Rajon Rondo: Rondo's a conundrum for NBA talent evaluators. Some NBA guys love him. Some hate him. But few have seen him in the right environment to make a fully informed decision. Rondo has earned positive reviews for his workouts in Phoenix, Houston and Boston. The word is that his shot has improved and his athleticism ranks near the top of the draft. One big question remains, however: Is he a point guard? It's almost impossible to determine that in an individual workout. And it was difficult to discern the answer at Kentucky this year. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith played a slow-paced, half-court offense, while Rondo is a rev-it-up, super-quick guard who thrives in the open court. I asked Grover and Rondo's agent Kevin Bradbury to give me a better feel for Rondo's point guard skills by arranging a five-on-five game on Saturday morning in Chicago. Also partcipating were Mustafa Shakur of Arizona, Denham Brown of Connecticut, and one of the draft's mystery men, Brad Newley of Australia.
Rondo has put on 10 pounds of muscle since we saw him last at Kentucky, and his shoulders and arms are noticeably thicker. His hands are freakish as advertised -- the guys in the gym jokingly call him "E.T." because of his long fingers. At 6-2 (in shoes), Rondo can palm a basketball off the dribble. Very few players his size can do that. Guarded by Shakur for the whole game, Rondo was stellar. He pushed the ball up the floor at a breakneck pace, made a number of pinpoint, dropjaw passes and got to the basket at will against Shakur. Rondo showed off his nuclear athleticism and uber-quickness in the open court. He changes directions in a split second, explodes to the basket and pushes the ball relentlessly in the open floor. His ball-handling is one of his best attributes. His huge hands give him maximum control over the ball. He never bobbles or loses it, no matter how heavy the traffic. On three occasions, he drew oohs from the spectators after delivering a beautiful pass. Defensively he was also rock solid, causing frequent problems for Shakur and picking off a number of passes for fast breaks on the other end. Rondo showed a style that scouts haven't seen from him since he played for Team USA's junior squad in Argentina last summer. He came out of that camp rated as the top point guard in the draft and a potential top five pick. In Chicago, he showed why. What about his jump shot? He didn't take a jumper in the game. Afterwards I watched him in drills for about 45 minutes. His form does look a lot better than what we saw in Kentucky. He hit more shots than he missed, especially from the NBA 3-point line. But more than likely Rondo's never going to be a great shooter. Hitting shots without a defender on you is one thing. Hitting them in the course of a game is another. His free throw shooting is also going to need a lot of work. He actually missed more free throws than 3s in the workout I saw. That's going to be a problem for a guy who's going to draw a lot of fouls in the NBA with his penetration. Teams don't draft a player like Rondo because he can stroke the ball. Rather, they'll look at his athleticism, quickness, defense and point guard skills. Put him on the right team and let him run and he's going to be a great point guard in the pros. Put him in a conservative, slow-down offense and it's going to get ugly. Based on what I saw on Saturday, I think he's the best point guard prospect in the draft. Along with everyone else, I have been calling UConn's Marcus Williams the best pure point guard. The implication has been that Rondo is more of an athlete than a pure point. From what I saw, I no longer believe that. I think Williams is craftier and a better scorer, but Rondo's court vision is excellent and he is a much better athlete and defender than Williams. Given what we've been hearing about Williams' weight (up to 220 according to the Celtics) and his obvious off-court baggage, Rondo might end up ahead of Williams at the end of the draft. I sat down with Rondo after the workout to get his take on his critics and the draft process. Rondo said he realized by midseason that the style of play at Kentucky was hurting his draft chances, and so making the decision to jump to the NBA was relatively easy. "Coach agreed that the style we were playing probably wasn't the best fit for me," Rondo said. "I knew after this summer that I could play with everyone, but I'd do best in a Phoenix Suns style where the point guard is really allowed to push the ball and create." Rondo said that his early feedback in the draft process gave him a better idea of what he had to work on. "I've been working real hard with Tim to put on some strength, work on my NBA moves and of course my shooting," he said. "From the feedback I got in the workouts, I think it's going pretty good." Rondo said that he thinks his game most resembles that of Tony Parker, another super-quick point guard who has also struggled with a suspect jump shot. Rondo's main frustration in the draft process is that he hasn't had a chance to go up against Williams. "I want to work out against the best so that I can prove that it's me," Rondo said. "I think teams would want to see us against each other." They do. I talked to three GMs who said a Rondo-Williams workout would be ideal. They think the problem is that Rondo's and Williams' agents -- both affiliated with BDA Sports -- won't allow it. Not so, according to Rondo's agent. "No teams have asked, so it hasn't happened," Kevin Bradbury, Rondo's agent, said. "We tell all of our guys when we sign them that if teams want them to work out together or compete against each other, they need to do it. If a team wants to see them against each other, we'll try to make it happen."

Other prospects in Chicago:

Brad Newley: Newley, a 6-5, 21-year-old shooting guard from Adelade, Australia, has been the best young player in Australia the last two seasons. He won an NBL All-Star MVP award his rookie year and dominated the Commonwealth Games last fall. A former teammate of Andrew Bogut, Newley is known as a tough player and big-time scorer who attacks the basket and sticks the J. He averaged 19 points per game, five rebounds and four assists in the NBL last season. I watched him in workouts on Thursday and Friday and saw him play in the five-on-five game on Saturday, matched up against Denham Brown, one of the better defenders in college basketball last season. When I first saw him in workouts, I assumed he was a jump shooter like many European two guards. But in the scrimmage, Newley showed he is very aggressive putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the basket. His game resembles Manu Ginobili's more than it does that of most Euros. He doesn't have the quickness or creativity of Ginobili, but he's a good athlete, and he actually likes contact. He held up well against a very physical Brown. Those who remember how Danny Ainge used to play would recognize some of the same feistiness in Newley. "He's one tough S.O.B." one of the players scrimmaging said after the game. International scouts say Newley isn't known for his jump shooting over there, but his shot was falling in the game. He hit several NBA-distance 3s and a couple of midrange shots. That confirmed what I saw in workouts. I wouldn't call him a pure shooter, but he can get it in the basket. His jump shot form needs a little work (he has a slow, low release), but it isn't really broken either. Newley also is a good passer and with a feel for setting up his teammates. Defensively he was pretty good. He moved his feet very well and showed he is stronger than he looks. He told me his coach always put him on the Americans playing in Australia, so he has some experience defending against quicker players. On the down side, he hasn't totally adjusted to the speed of the game. He had a number of turnovers because of bad crosscourt passes. Rondo picked him off several times, and Newley admitted afterward that he's going to have to get used to how quick and long the players are here. He's going to play in the Orlando pre-draft camp, and it will be very interesting to see what he does there. Given his great feel for the game and his aggression on the offensive end, he could be an Orlando pre-draft camp sleeper, just as Beno Udrih was a couple of years ago. Only three NBA teams -- the Clippers, Pistons and Rockets -- have gone to see him play in Australia, so he's a bit of unknown.

Mustafa Shakur: Shakur was up and down in the scrimmage. Against Rondo he was pretty shaky at both ends of the floor. He couldn't stay in front of Rondo on the defensive end, and Rondo forced him into a number of wild shots. He also became so engrossed in his individual matchup that he missed several opportunites to find open men in the workout. After Rondo was moved off him, Shakur's game opened up. He had a number of good drives to the basket and showed the ability to finish around the rim. He also got more comfortable running his team and made a number of excellent passes, setting up Newley for some easy scores. Shakur's biggest weakness right now is his jump shot. His form is pretty ugly. He releases the ball in a sort of heave motion from his chest. It's going to take a while for him to work out what looks like a fairly serious kink.

Denham Brown: We've seen enough of Brown at Connecticut to know what he does and doesn't do well. He's an excellent scorer who can get it done with the jumper or by driving to the basket. Defensively he's great on the ball. He's physical and committed to shutting his guy down. He has a good NBA body and always plays hard. Athleticism is his biggest issue. He's not a terrible athlete, but on the NBA level, he's going to struggle in that area. He just doesn't move as quickly, up or down or laterally, as most NBA athletes. He's been working on his explosiveness with Grover, but it isn't there yet.

While some NBA general managers are conducting workouts for draft prospects, other GMs are traveling the globe gathering information. Here's a look at what's happening around the league. The Celtics had UConn's Marcus Williams, Michigan State's Shannon Brown, Rutgers' Quincy Douby and Northeastern's Juan Jose Barea in on Thursday. Once again, Brown shined. He shot the ball well, showed his excellent athleticism and strength and was solid on the defensive end. The biggest question with Brown remains his handle. His struggles dribbling the ball could be a problem at the next level. Williams was a disappointment for the second straight workout (including his previous workout with the Raptors). His shot wasn't falling, he wasn't in the same league athletically with the other guys in the workout and there was a concern that he might be out of shape. I was told he weighed in at 220 -- that's about 15 pounds heavier than Williams needs to be. Despite all the negatives, Williams still displayed his excellent court sense and ability to run a team. Douby shot the lights out, but struggled with the more physical Brown and Williams defensively. Barea was impressive, showing grittiness and scoring ability. I overheard one Eastern Conference scout call Patrick O'Bryant the top prospect in the draft. While that may be one lonely opinion, it does appear that O'Bryant's stock is on the rise. He's long, athletic and the only legit center in the draft. He might have a big draft drive in his near future. Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez has been fantastic in the Spanish playoffs, generating significant interest from NBA teams. Rodriguez is a Jason Williams-type point guard with lots of flash and just so-so substance. After a slow start to the season, Rodriguez has looked brilliant of late, and some of the international scouts are sold. He'll be here as early as next week and has workouts scheduled with the Suns, Bulls, Celtics, Grizzlies and Rockets. Rodriguez's agent, Herb Rudoy, told me that Rodriguez will stay in the draft as long as he has a guarantee to be drafted in the first round. Another international man of interest is Senegal's Mouhamed Saer Sene. Scouts and NBA executives say that his stock has risen into the late lottery to mid-first round. Why? Because they've been going to Belgium the last few weeks to see him play and come away impressed. Gonzaga's Adam Morrison will likely schedule only four workouts before the draft, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told me today. The Blazers, Bulls, Bobcats and the Raptors look like the lucky four. Most people who have read my column over the past few years know that I'm not a fan of mock drafts, especially this early in the process. A mock draft is just really our best guess at what a team will do with the pick. Considering there's still five weeks to go in the draft process, that means we're trying to figure out what a team will do even before it knows. Only the other hand, one of the benefits of doing a mock draft is that my cell phone starts going crazy. I got calls from half the teams in the league offering and seeking info. But it's very dangerous for the next five weeks to take teams at face value. Teams have a lot of incentive to put out half-truths this time of year. As I sifted through what I heard the past 24 hours or so, I found a few notes I think are worth passing on:

Toronto Raptors: It seems as though everyone is predicting LaMarcus Aldridge as the Raptors' pick at No. 1. The thinking I hear almost every time is that Aldridge fits a need at center, so they have to take him. I think that's wrong. GM Bryan Colangelo will likely fill his needs via trade, with the $13 to $15 million he has in cap room this summer as an important part of the bargaining. And he'll likely use his draft pick to get the player he wants. All of the evidence points to Andrea Bargnani. For those who wonder why Colangelo would take Bargnani when he plays the same position as Charlie Villanueva, here's a thought. Colangelo could package Villanueva and a player like Alvin Williams for a center. Two decent prospects look as though they'll be on the block this year -- Jamaal Magloire and Samuel Dalembert. Magloire would be a local favorite. He is from Toronto and would give the Raptors a physical big man to put beside Bosh. But Dalembert is a better prospect. He's younger, more athletic and a better shot blocker. Neither guy has a great contract. Magloire is looking for a big extension this summer and Dalembert has five years, $55 million left on his contract. Would the Sixers or Bucks pull the trigger on that deal? I think so. Villanueva's stock is very high around the league right now and both teams could use the move as a bit of a salary dump, as Williams' contract is only partially guaranteed, starting this summer. The question is whether Colangelo is willing to spend that amount of cash to solve the Raptors problem in the middle? I think getting the No. 1 solves some of that. The team can draft Bargnani to play the three, put Dalembert at the five and still have a boatload of cap room to either pay a free agent point guard (Jason Terry and Speedy Claxton will be available) or find a team willing to trade one (Marko Jaric or Jamaal Tinsley, perhaps) for cap space or another prospect. And don't count out the Raptors' 2005 second-round pick, Roko Ukic. Colangelo is a fan and could try to bring him over from Europe this year.

Portland Trail Blazers: It appears there's going to be a fire sale in Portland this summer. Multiple league executives say that just about everyone, with the exception of Martell Webster, will be available this summer as Nate McMillan and company try to clean house. Zach Randolph, Darius Miles, Theo Ratliff and even Sebastian Telfair can be had. The 30th and 31st picks in the draft are also for sale. The price? The Blazers want another top-10 draft pick to go along with No. 4. The targets? They'd like to get a scorer like LaMarcus Aldridge or Adam Morrison with one pick and Brandon Roy with the other one. The Timberwolves at No. 6, the Celtics at No. 7, the Rockets at No. 8 and the Warriors at No. 9 could all be potential trade partners. All four teams are looking for more immediate help than the draft can provide. Speaking of the Blazers, check out the studs in this big-time workout scheduled to go down in Portland on June 15: Morrison, Rudy Gay, Roy and Randy Foye. Will be interesting to see, with the Blazers falling to No. 4, whether they can still get all four of those guys in.

Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks could also be in the Samuel Dalembert running this summer. They seriously considered making him an offer last summer but were fearful the Sixers would match. Sixers GM Billy King told me on Tuesday it was unlikely he'd be willing to trade Allen Iverson to Atlanta, but Dalembert might be another story. Al Harrington, via sign and trade, could be the bait.

2) Chris Eckstand of SI.com with an opdate on the Eros:

The old world is new again - Bargnani, Splitter have NBA eyes focused on Europe

Andrea Bargnani and Tiago Splitter have some important things in common. They are tall, athletic and immensely promising basketball players who play key roles for two of the best teams in Europe. Both reportedly are under contract to their respective teams through the 2007-08 season. Both have been heavily scouted by NBA teams. And both will eventually have to make the transition from European prodigy to high NBA draft pick, with all the inherent pressures that status represents. The good news for Bargnani, the 6-foot-10 Italian forward from Benetton Treviso of Italy, and Splitter, the 6-foot-11 Brazilian-born center from Tau Ceramica of Spain, is that when they come into the NBA, they will be joining a league that has evolved dramatically over the past two decades thanks to David Stern's vision of becoming a global sports brand. NBA teams today are better equipped than ever to guide international players through the gauntlet of cultural, linguistic and lifestyle adjustments that await them. In places like San Antonio and Phoenix, players with international backgrounds have flourished in systems that are similar to the brand of basketball they grew up with in Europe. Those teams demand that players big and small be able to pass the ball, shoot the ball with range and put team goals first. And that involves more than just feeling comfortable in a drive-and-kick offense as opposed to one relying on the pick-and-roll as the main course. It's about embracing a basketball philosophy that celebrates group achievement rather than individual expression. And it's about integrating the fundamentally sound games of well-schooled Europeans with the explosive, flamboyant style favored by most American players.
Longtime NBA people chafe at the idea that these are "European basketball values." They would argue, correctly, that five-man basketball at its highest level was taught and practiced by American coaches such as John Wooden, Red Auerbach, Red Holzman, Pete Newell and Clair Bee for decades before any European player found his way to the NBA. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told USA Today just this week, "The Euros and foreign players and coaches are doing things in some ways we have forgotten about and used to do." It's amazing how quickly the NBA landscape has changed. A scant decade ago, a basketball scout describing a player as "European" would most likely be criticizing him as lacking in athleticism and being soft defensively. Today, if a scout says a player plays "like a European," he's more likely complimenting his perimeter shooting or overall fundamental play. What has been the catalyst for this change? It's simple, really. The achievements of two generations of European stars have pulled NBA scouts, coaches and general managers in the direction of the new-old approach to the game. The success of early 1990s pioneers such as Sarunas Marciulionis, Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic paved the way for the second wave of European superstars to gravitate to the NBA in the mid-'90s: Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja and Arvydas Sabonis. When those stars, who were already established European veterans in their mid-20s, met with similar success in the NBA, the next logical step in the continuum was achieved: NBA teams started drafting unproven teenage European prodigies with the same breathless (and in some cases mindless) anticipation as they did young Americans. By 2001, a 20-year-old Spaniard with one good season in the ACB (Spain's top league and the best in Europe) was deemed good enough to be chosen with the third pick in the draft. In five seasons, NBA All-Star Pau Gasol has been everything the Memphis Grizzlies could have wished for. And no one needs to be reminded that Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, already a five-time NBA All-Star, is a perennial NBA Most Valuable Player candidate. But not every player born outside the United States has been a success in the NBA. If current Hawks GM Billy Knight is to be commended for wisely trading for the rights to Gasol when he was running things in Memphis, Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe has to take his lumps for selecting Nikoloz Tskitishvili with the fifth overall pick in '02. And though Hedo Turkoglu, Vladimir Radmanovic and Nenê (a Brazilian player whose draft rights Vandeweghe slickly acquired from New York on draft night) have already validated their high selections in the draft, Bostjan Nachbar and Jiri Welsch have yet to do so. And then there's Darko Milicic, who had to endure hearing what a bust he was in Detroit while never being given any playing opportunity. As his late-season performance after a trade to Orlando suggested, Milicic just might turn out to be a top-flight NBA player after all. He doesn't even turn 21 until June. This track record proves only that there are hits and misses when choosing European players in the draft, just as there are hits and misses when drafting players from the United States. And for all the hopes attached to Bargnani and Splitter, it's not certain that either will keep his name eligible for the '06 draft or, even if they are drafted this year, that they would join their NBA teams right away. Once drafted, both players will have to negotiate buyouts of their contracts from their clubs. While NBA teams can now contribute up to $500,000 to an international player's buyout from his team (the maximum before this year was $350,000), the player must pay the rest from his own pocket. To that end, it behooves Bargnani and Splitter to make sure they will be drafted high enough that it won't be prohibitively expensive to leave comfortable situations in Europe for the NBA. Just a year ago, the Orlando Magic spent the 11th overall pick on promising center Fran Vazquez of Unicaja Malaga in Spain. Vazquez didn't feel he was ready for the NBA limelight, however, and left the Magic at the altar by signing a lucrative contract with another Spanish team, Akasvayu Girona. Orlando retained his NBA draft rights, and the Magic rebounded nicely with the acquisition of Milicic, who might benefit from Vazquez's decision to remain in Spain. Bargnani and Splitter both have attributes that would make them attractive to any NBA team. Bargnani, who has earned increased playing time as his season has progressed, has the skills of a small forward despite his height and length. He is quick off the dribble and loves to take the ball to the basket. In addition, he's a high-percentage shooter facing the basket and has improved his three-point shooting to a respectable 37 percent. On a team blessed with scorers such as former college stars Drew Nicholas (Maryland) and Marcus Goree (West Virginia) and respected Lithuanian Ramunas Siskauskas, Bargnani has carved out a role providing instant offense off the bench. He is a big reason that Benetton (23-7) is tied for first place in Lega A with four games to go in the regular season. Splitter is a completely different type of player, but his list of attributes is just as long. Tau Ceramica (21-9) is a powerful team that for the second straight season has reached this weekend's Euroleague Final Four, the pinnacle of European basketball. It's the culmination of a season of play among the top teams in all the major basketball-playing countries in Europe, played outside of the teams' national league competitions. Despite his youth, the 21-year-old Splitter has already made his bones by playing well in many important European competitions, and he'll add two more highly scrutinized games to his portfolio this weekend in Prague. Splitter starts alongside Luis Scola, an '02 draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs and arguably the best power forward in Europe. While Scola gets most of the post-up opportunities and shots, Splitter is an opportunistic offensive player who can score by beating opponents to offensive boards and with an improving hook shot. He is averaging a solid 10.4 points in ACB play and 10 points per game in just 22 minutes against Euroleague teams. But it's on defense where Splitter really excels. He gets great position in close and uses his length to block and bother shots. He also plays exceptional help defense, with enough athleticism to switch out and challenge a perimeter shot. Bargnani and Splitter aren't the only international players that NBA teams will be looking at leading up to the draft in New York on June 28, just the ones with the best chance to be chosen early in the first round. In a change from recent years, a number of interesting international guards are in the mix this year. Rudy Fernandez, an athletic scorer from DKV Joventut in Spain, Thabo Sefolosha, a Swiss guard playing for Biella in Italy, and Yotam Halperin, an Israeli point guard playing for Union Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia, all are being carefully evaluated by NBA teams. For each of these players, receiving serious consideration from NBA teams is expected, given their attributes and potential. If NBA talent evaluators should describe them as "typical" European players, they can hold their heads high and smile. They are on the receiving end of a compliment from the architects who are reshaping the new-old NBA.

3) Marty Burns of SI.com reports on the sudden star that is Boris Diaw:

The Sun also rises - Diaw develops into a star on NBA's playoff stage

You might say Suns center Boris Diaw, the hero of Phoenix's Game 1 victory at Dallas, was born to make big leaps in basketball. His mother, Elizabeth Riffiod, is considered the best center in women's basketball history in France. His father, Issa Diaw, is a former Senegalese high jump champ. But even longtime NBA observers are amazed at the 6-foot-8 Frenchman's meteoric rise from obscure part-time player in Atlanta for the past two seasons to key starter on a team making a serious bid for the NBA Finals. "It is remarkable. I don't know how often you see a player in his third year come out of the shadows quite to the extent Boris has, particularly on this kind of stage," says Celtics GM Chris Wallace, who has been in the NBA 15 years. "It's like that Bill Parcells line: 'After awhile you are who you are.' But in this case who Boris Diaw is is a lot more than he was a short time ago." Diaw, who won this year's Most Improved Player award, basically has accomplished the NBA equivalent of jumping over the Grand Canyon. In two enigmatic seasons in Atlanta he averaged 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He was so lackluster that the Hawks agreed to package him along with two first-round draft picks into last summer's sign-and-trade for Joe Johnson. Given the chance to play with Steve Nash, however, Diaw has blossomed. Despite often playing out of position at center, he averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists during the regular season. Only two other players averaged at least six boards and six dimes this season: LeBron James and Jason Kidd. A gifted passer who can handle the ball and make plays, Diaw often initiates the Suns' offense. Playing center, he can pull his man out and drive right around him. Or he can beat him down the floor for easy layups and lobs off Nash feeds. His versatility is so impressive that Lakers coach Phil Jackson earlier this season cited Diaw as the player who most reminded him of Scottie Pippen. In the playoffs Diaw has emerged as a legit star, joining Shawn Marion as one of Nash's main supporting weapons. He is averaging 17 points, six boards and six assists while shooting 53 percent. He had 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in Phoenix's Game 5 win over the Lakers, and 21-7-8 against the Clippers in Game 4. But that was only the warmup for his heroics Wednesday night in Dallas. On the road against the favored Mavs, Diaw scored 23 of his career-high 34 points in the second half to lead the Suns to victory. He even hit the game-winning shot, a 10-footer over Jerry Stackhouse, with 1.5 seconds left.
"Boris was amazing," Nash said afterward. "I'm very, very proud of him. He's just getting better and better. And he's doing it on a big stage now."
Diaw, who was drafted by the Hawks in the first round in 2003 (No. 21), showed signs of being a good player in his first two seasons. He was a solid defender with size and quickness who could rebound, handle the ball and create off the dribble. But he was a reluctant shooter, almost too unselfish, and his jumper wasn't very accurate. Of course, Diaw might have been stunted as well by Atlanta's famous organizational instability. After playing for Terry Stotts his first season, Diaw found himself under a new coach in Mike Woodson the following season. As Mavs guard Jason Terry, a former Hawk himself, recently told the Dallas Morning News, "It's all about the system. There was none [for Diaw] in Atlanta. Now he gets to Phoenix and plays freely, handles the ball and uses all his God-given talents." Diaw, 24, grew up in France, where he became close friends with Spurs point guard Tony Parker. He spent five years playing professionally in his native country before coming over to the NBA. Diaw says the chance to play for a coach like D'Antoni, who has vast international experience, has helped him come out of his shell as much as playing alongside Nash. "I think maybe the fact that the coach has been playing and coaching in Europe [and] kind of knew the way I was playing and what I was looking [for] on the basketball court," Diaw said after Game 1, "[he] just gave me his trust and his confidence and also ... my teammates. And just the way we play. I like the way we play. [We're No. 1] in assists in the NBA. [We're] a very unselfish team." In some ways, Phoenix's unselfish team approach fits Diaw's personality. In addition to being a talented player, he is known as a genuinely nice person off the court. It is possible that he simply deferred too much to teammates in Atlanta. "You know, at one point there was a label on him that he was a soft, non-competitive player," D'Antoni said after Game 1 of the Western finals. "That's who we got from Atlanta. And I'm telling you what, he's just the opposite. "It's easy to put labels on people, and a lot of times it's definitely not even close to the truth. He's one of the best competitive guys we have, and just an intelligent basketball player that knows how to play. And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy, that's for sure."

Monday Morning Randomness...

2006-07-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I got a midterm tonight, and you want to know what the sports dude did last night to prepare for it? That’s right, studied… the NBA All-Star game that is! Damn it all to hell Pistons, how could you do that to me? Of all the years to go and get four players in it had to be this year, didn’t it? I mean, if it was just Ben I probably would have skipped out on it, for me it is hard to watch Ben suffer when he is all alone out there. What do you mean suffer there sports dude? Well, just ask Pau Gasol who learned first hand, back to back, in a matter of two seconds why Ben is there in the first place… his defense! How cool was that watching Ben stuff the shit out of Gasol like that and how quickly he blocked him not once but twice? That is why I say suffer because if Ben were out there without his partners in crime he is like the sore thumb sticking out, why are you playing defense Ben? We don’t do that here! But seeing the four of them together, damn, that was cool and it was also the first time I watched an All-Star game in years.

Speaking of them being all together, can anyone else deny the fact that it was the four of them being in there together in the late third and early fourth quarters that brought the East back? Personally, if you ask me, Chauncey was the MVP because he was running the show when the comeback began, but we all know it goes to the “pretty” boy on each team, so it makes sense Lebron got it. Besides, Lebron can have that MVP, Chauncey already got the better one a couple years ago in the Finals and could (or should!) be in line to win the league MVP, plus maybe another Finals MVP as well. The point is something tells me Chauncey ain’t feeling too bad this morning, all things considered.

How out of place did Paul Pierce look in there with the Pistons, especially in the first quarter? I think he shot every time he touched the ball (shocking!) and boy did he look like a wet bag of shit misplaced and uncoordinated as hell. But hey, Flip had to use someone, maybe he used Pierce because he knew it would make him look bad and wanted to embarrass him, I don’t know, but he really looked like shit. Hey, did I mention yet that Pierce looked out of place out there?

Lastly, is there any doubt now that the Pistons are not only the best team in the NBA but they clearly have the five best starters in the league? I mean, they erased a 21 point deficit against the “Best of the West” without one of there own, and the “other guy” usually looked so out of place I felt bad for him? If anyone doubts what the Pistons have and what Joe D. has helped build then shame on them, they need to go get their head checked.

In other news, the Olympics apparently are still taking place and the Ice Dancers that train in Canton are in second place with only today’s event left. Yeah, I admit, I have watched a little ice dancing, but that is only because Tanith Belbin is so damn hot! In all honesty is there any other reason to watch that stuff? (If you said yes, and you are a male, please leave you man card at the door!) I also enjoyed the replay of that snow boarding race in which the Lindsay Jacobellis totally bought it at the end and lost the gold, what a screw up that was! Guess she must have thought someone stole her Visa Check Card or something and freaked out! (Yeah, I am sure no one else made that joke yet either!) But whatever that event was called, the downhill motor cross half pipe snow board thingy was awesome, how about that other wipe out in the final where the chick bought it and went into the fence? Man, if all the Winter Olympic Sports were like that I would tune in all the time.

Lastly I guess there was some race somewhere with these fast cars that go in a circle, well actually more like an oval, for about 100 some odd laps or so and every now and then one crashes or something? Did that happen over the weekend? Yeah, if you guessed it, I am not a big NASCAR fan, I put it right up there (or should I say down there?) with hockey. In fact, I always mess with the “token” hockey fan here at work and tell him that hockey is simply NASCAR on ice. The rink and the track are about the same shape and every now and then someone or something flies into the boards. The NHL has intermissions and NASCAR has pit stops, there is a zamboni in one and a pace car in the other, see what I am saying? He doesn’t appreciate it too much but what do I care; I just love messing with the dude.

Well, there you have it, the sports dude showed up on a Monday and gave you all a post to chew on and digest, enjoy! Oh, and please, no choking… the sports dude.

Nets To Look Closely at Farmar

2006-07-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA point-guard Jordan Farmar heads the list of players whom the New Jersey Nets will work out this week in preparation for the upcoming NBA draft, as reported in the New York Post.

The Nets may be looking for an eventual successor to their veteran point-guard Jason Kidd.

Kidd, who turns 34, will be starting his 13th NBA campaign next season.

Farmar has been projected to be a mid to low first round draft pick; and the Nets own the 23rd pick in the NBA draft this year.

Some basketball experts have compared Farmar's style of play at the point-guard position to Kidd.

Although not as big or strong as Kidd, Farmar is similar to the NBA All-Star veteran in both are saavy point-guards with very high basketball IQs which make up for some of their athletic deficienices, and both Kidd and Farmar are natural-born leaders on the court.

Getting drafted by the Nets would be an ideal situation for Farmar who could learn from one of the best point guards in NBA history without having the pressure to perform right away in a starting role.

The Nets only have Jeff McInnis under contract after this season to back-up at the point - and some feel McInnis will be traded during the offseason.

Former Kansas Jayhawk Jacque Vaughn was the Nets' main back-up at the point this year but he becomes a free-agent after this season.

Jordan Farmar has repeatedly stated he would likely enter the June 28th NBA draft if he is guarenteed a first-round selection.

At this time, Farmar is committed to participating in only private NBA team work-outs, although, its been reported he may still attend the NBA pre-draft tryouts (June 6-10) in Orlando to improve his draft position.

(BruinBasketballReport.com)

If It's A Girl, She'll Be Shiloh. If It's A Boy, We're Going With ...

2006-07-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

it's not often that i get to break major news on my meager blog. and what i'm about to drop on you is bigger than major. this is some "brace yourself" shit, homes.

yeah. that's what i'm talking about.

let me flip the background color for you so you can see things a little better.

and if you can't read it because it's a weak snap from a cameraphone, i'm going to spell it all out for you.

m-r-s-b-i-s-p-r-e-g-n-a-n-t-a-n-d-t-h-e-b-o-y-s-a-r-e-g-e-t-t-i-n-g-s-o-
m-e-c-o-m-p-a-n-y-i-n-a-b-o-u-t-s-e-v-e-n-m-o-n-t-h-s

here's what we know:

we found out about two weeks ago.
the doctor checked it all out this afternoon.
she's seven weeks in.
she's definitely starting to show.
it's as big as a grain of rice.
it has a strong heartbeat.
i am pretty sure it's mine.
the due date is february 23
that means i will be unable to cover the nba all star game in las vegas
we are waiting another couple of weeks to tell ab & jb.
most importantly, there is only one lump growing in there.

speaking on behalf of the mrs, i am excited beyond belief, happy as hot fudge on a sundae, and itching to get our asses to namibia as soon as we can.

The Top 20 White American Players of the Last Twenty Years

2006-07-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here’s Jones on the NBA’s list of the greatest white boy ballers of the last 20 years. This list is only comprised of American bread basketball players. The exception to the rule goes for international ball players that played college ball in the United States (I.E. Steve Nash). So don’t all email me with cries about Dirk, Toni, or Peja not making the list.

When composing this list, I also had to determine where "on the brink of being a white boy" players like Jason Kidd and Mike Bibby would fall on the list. And after spending much time pondering this thought, I decided that they too would have to be omitted.

When you think of good white NBA players you usually think of guys who have overcome a PERCEIVED lack of athletic ability to become one of the best ballers in the world. They usually have a knack for the game and an ability to hit three pointers and free throws pretty consistently. But some of them were able to overcome these stereotypes and go beyond just shooting prowess to become some of the best dunkers, passers, and defensive players in the history of the game. This tribute is part to show off my knowledge of the game and part to pay tribute to guys I used to get made fun of for wanting to emulate. Believe me, I didn’t get many points back in the day as a black kid in L.A. saying that Mark Price was one of my favorite players. Anyhow, enough of the babbling already…Let’s get to the list.

Mark Price: Although many of you probably don’t recall this, Price was the clean cut, southern boy version of Steve Nash. Long before Nash was even in the mind of NBA fans, Price was known for ripping the hearts out of NBA teams across the league. As with Nash he was ultra quick, deadly off of the pick and roll, and fantastic from behind the three point line. As well, he loved to draw double and triple teams driving to the basket and then dish out to open teammates. If not for Michael Jordan (how many players have their bios prefaced with this statement), Nash and his Cavs probably would have made the Finals in 1992.

Mark Eaton: Other than being certified as the official missing link, this Sasquatch look a like was known for being one of the best shot blockers of all-time. He is currently the all-time leader in blocks per game (3.5 per contest) and is third all-time in total blocks (behind Hakeem and Kareem). When former coach Frank Layden drafted him out of UCLA with little to know playing experience, Layden squashed his critics by stating “You can’t teach height.” I always say, if Eaton would have come along a little bit later, the Jazz would have at least won one championship.

Tom Chambers: Um yeah, if you’ve ever played the EA sports classic Lakers v. Bulls, you probably think Tom Chambers is the greatest player in the history of the game. I mean, who else could double clutch dunk from the three point line? Chambers best years were spent in Seattle and in Phoenix. While in Phoenix, he and KJ would form one of the most deadly pick and roll combos in the league. In the 1990 season Chambers was an MVP candidate, scoring 27.2 points per game and leading his Phoenix Suns team to a second round upset over the team with the best record in the league that year, the Magic Johnson led Los Angeles Lakers.

John Stockton celebrates after hitting a big three to send the Jazz to the 1997 NBA Finals

John Stockton: I really don’t have to write much here, do I? Stock is the All-Time leader in Steals and Assists. He played tough as nails defense and set picks like he was Charles Oakley. His use of the pick and roll was even more impressive than both Nash and Price. A lot of players around the league called him the dirtiest player around. I don’t doubt it, but I know he got away with a lot of it because of his Boy Scout haircut and those damn short, shorts. The most impressive thing about Stockton was his consistency. For 18 seasons he hardly ever missed games and always provided solid leadership, passing, scoring, and defense to his Utah Jazz teams. He’s another one of the greats that will have that “if not for Michael Jordan” asterisk by his name.

Jack Sikma: Why is it that white boys love all of the teams that wear green? I mean think about it. In the 70s, 80s, and early 90s it seemed like all of the white boys in the league were either in Milwaukee, Seattle or Boston. Of course teams like Indiana and Utah have now replaced the green teams with that distinction, but still. Jack played for two of the three (Seattle and Milwaukee). He was a member of seven NBA All-Star teams, and was one of the best players on the Sonics only championship team. Regarded as a poor mans Bill Walton, Sikma somewhat lacked both leaping ability and physical strength, but had a tremendous shooting accuracy and good passing skills, especially for a man his size.

Larry Bird: Not only the greatest white boy to ever touch a basketball (sorry Jerry West), but also one of the greatest basketball players of All-Time. Bird rocked the hick stash way before Adam Morrison was even a drop in his daddy’s sack. Along with Magic Johnson (and his Lakers), Bird and his Celtics helped turn the NBA into an international multi-billion dollar business. Larry Legend was a winner of three NBA Championships, three (straight) MVPs (1984 through 1986), and also a member of the original Dream Team, the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, and the Basketball Hall of Fame. More than anything, Bird was just gangsta. I mean take a look at old videos of him getting into fights with Laimbeer and Dr. J. Also who else but an O.G. would come in to the locker room before a three point shooting contest and ask: “so who’s taking second tonight” and then go out and win the entire contest without so much as taking off his warm up suit? Bird is the personification of the old “he can’t run or jump, but somehow he finds a way” mantra. He was a 6’9” forward who made plays like a point guard, shot the three like a two guard, rebounded like a bruising power forward, and hustled like a 12th man searching for playing time. It’s safe to say that Magic’s HIV and Bird’s bad back deprived the league of a few more years of classic playoff battles.

Jeff Hornacek: The definition of white boy consistency. Jeff was just a solid player and an all around good guy. I mean, who else, other than a good guy would wipe his brow before every single free throw attempt in order to throw a shout out to his wife and kids? Let’s just say I don’t really think Jeff Hornacek had a pose, a weed carrier, or side bitches. The reason Jeff was so humble is that he came from humble beginnings. He was a walk on at Iowa State and was always fighting to prove that he belonged. Hornacek was a deadly outside shooter, shooting 40% from three for his career. He also once made 67 straight free throws (during the 2000 season). Hornacek was best known for his years with the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz. He did spend a year or so (depressed) in Philadelphia after being traded to the Sixers for one Sir Charles Barkley. The Jazz were then able to steal Hornacek away from the Sixers for Jeff Malone. They must have told the Sixers they were sending them Karl Malone or something, because while Hornacek went on to play another solid seven seasons with the Jazz, J-Malone went on to pretty much retire a couple of years later.

Dan Majerle: I really think that the makers of the old EA sports video games looooved the Phoenix Suns, because between Tom Chambers three-point dunking exploits and Dan’s deadly three point shooting, you pretty much couldn’t lose when you picked the Suns back then. Anyhow, “Thunder Dan” was best known for his deadly three-point shooting during the early 90s while a member of the Phoenix Suns. The funny thing is that when he first came into the league he was more of a slasher. But the arrival of a solid low post threat in Sir Charles Barkley along with an offensively liberal head coach in Paul Westphal allowed Majerle to become one of the best three point shooters in league history. While a member of the Suns, he made 3 All-Star teams (1992, 1993, and 1995) and was a key member of the Barkley led team that made lost to the Bulls in the 1993 Finals. He owns the Phoenix Suns record for three-pointers in a regular season game (8), and tied Michael Jordan’s NBA finals single game record for three-pointers by dropping five of them (ironically against Jordan and his Bulls) in game 3 of the 1993 Finals. Thunder Dan was also known for his defensive prowess, making the 1991 and 1993 All-Defensive second teams.

Kevin McHale: Confirmation that Dr. Frankenstein did exist. Although he might be one of the worst GMs in the history of the game, that certainly is no reflection on his skills as a player. Named as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players of All-Time, McHale used his deadly post moves to help guide his Boston Celtics teams to three championships in the 80s. A seven time NBA All-Star, McHale also lead the league in field goal percentage in the ’87 and ’88 seasons, shooting over 60% from the field in both seasons. Early in his career he was used primarily as a sixth man, and won the sixth man of the year award in 1984 and 1985.

Little known fact: Former Celtics GM Red Auerbach owned the first pick of the 1980 draft, but was shrewd enough to trade the pick to the Golden State Warriors for Robert Parish and the rights to a lower pick. He used that lower pick to draft McHale and thus formed one of the greatest front lines of All-Time. The rest (as they say) is history…

Rex Chapman: After an unbelievable college career at Kentucky, Rex surfed into the NBA on a wave of hype. He was the first ever draft pick (number 8 overall) of the then expansion Charlotte Hornets in 1988. Chapman will best be remembered for being one of the few white boys to be able to hold his own in a dunk contest and for some of his crazy fall away three pointers he made throughout his career, most notably some of the one’s he drained as a member of the Phoenix suns during the 1997 playoffs vs. the Seattle Sonics.

Christian Laettner: Another player who’s college career set them up for a let down in the NBA. Laettner was probably one of the 10 greatest college players of all-time (white or black), yet was just a solid NBA player during his thirteen year pro career. It seemed like the first half of his career he was dealing with the burden of living up to the hype that he came out of college with. He had a few 18 point and 8 rebound per game seasons (in 93, 96, and 97), made one All-Star team (in 97), and was probably the first or second best player on every team he was on for the first 10 years of his career. Although he was only a member of the team because of his college accomplishments, Laettner was the also a member of the original Olympic Dream Team in 1992.

Bill Walton: Okay so Bill only had one significant season during the last twenty years, but I must say that his one season was pretty significant. His addition helped turn the 1986 Boston Celtics into one of the greatest teams in NBA history. The funny thing is that during the summer prior to that season, Walton first inquired about joining the Lakers before signing with the Celtics. Now imagine the 1986 Lakers with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as their starter and Bill Walton as their back up. Seems like pretty much money in the bag, right? I guess not to all of us.

Danny Ainge: Rumored to be a five tooled baseball player, Ainge passed on an opportunity to be a big leaguer in order to shoot hoops in the hallowed halls of Boston Garden. Ainge was probably the worst starter on the Celtic’s 80s championship teams. But I think that was more of a testament to how good of a team those Celtics teams were than anything. Following his championship years with the Celtics, Ainge would go on to spend a couple of years in Sacramento as the Kings go to guy before finally wrapping up his career as a three-point shooting specialist for the Blazers (90-92) and the Suns (92-95). My favorite Danny Ainge moment (of many) was when he threw a basketball at the back of Mario Elie’s head at the end of a Phoenix v. Houston playoff game in 1995. Of course Elie got the last laugh in that series, after hitting his famous “kiss of death” corner three pointer, but yeah the ball throwing incident still sticks out my mind. Especially because he played it like he was just trying to throw the ball off of him to make a basketball play. Just classic…

Brad Miller: Big Brad is one of three players in league history to go undrafted and then make an All-Star team (two in Brad’s case). The former Purdue Boilermaker is known for his hard hat style and his ability to hit mid-range jump shots. He’s another player that the post Jordan Bulls had and got rid of before he had a chance to develop. Think about this: the post Jordan Bulls once had a starting front line of Elton Brand, Brad Miller and Ron Artest before rushing to trade them all for less than market value. Yeah, Jerry Krause really knew what he was doing. Anyhow, Brad has had a solid career and continues to be a solid 15 point, 8 rebound a game guy for the Sacramento Kings.

Scott Skiles: The current Chicago Bulls head coach is best known for his playing days with the Orlando Magic where he was able to capture the single game record for assists (30 against the Denver Nuggets during the 1990-1991 season). His best years were spent as the best player on the expansion Orlando Magic. In 1990-1991, he rode his record breaking assist performance all the way to the NBA’s most improved player award. Scott was traded to Washington after the Magic needed to make room for their star draft pick, Penny Hardaway.

Great Skiles Quote: "Basketball is like religion: many attend, few understand."

Steve Nash: The reigning two time MVP and one of the four best white point guards of all-time (I’ve got Cousy, Stockton, and Price as the others on my list). A late bloomer who seemed to come into his own once he was placed in Mike D’Antoni’s run and gun system in Phoenix. He’s best when he’s running the fast break or facilitating screen and roll sets. Has a solid jump shot, and shoots above 50% from the field. Steve is also the most accurate free throw shooter in the league. He lacks the lateral movement to be a great defender, which in my opinion keeps him from being mentioned above Payton, Stockton, and Kidd on the list of best point guards from his own generation.

Brent Barry: The best of the Rick Barry offspring, Barry made a real name for himself when he won the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest with a Dr. J style free throw line dunk. Other than his early career in air antics, Barry is best known for being a solid passer and a very accurate three point shooter. I really started to like Barry when I met him at my family’s automobile brokerage. While all of the other players and celebs were getting their Hummers and Escalades hooked up, Barry rolled up in his VW surf fan. Any dude, (especially and NBA player) cool enough to come into our shop and get his VW van hooked up is alright with me.

Bill Laimbeer: The enforcer on the Pistons 1989 and 1990 championship teams, Bill was best known for kicking ass and taking names. He also was a pretty savvy three point shooter, defender, and rebounder. He parlayed this into four all-star appearances in 1983,1984, 1985, and 1987. Other than Bird, he’s the one guy on this list you don’t want to meet in a dark alley. Also finished tops in the league throughout his career in field goal percentage. He’s known now a days for leading the WNBA Detroit Shock to the 2003 WNBA championship.

Chris Mullin: Best known for his silky left handed jump shot. The only baller straight off of the outdoor playgrounds of New York City to make this list. I’m pretty sure Mully was a brotha in another life. He had to be. I mean this dude didn’t carry himself like a white boy. There’s a part of me that wishes he would have played in NYC during his career, because I’m sure that he would have went down as the most popular player in Knicks history. Mullin is another guy that you can just go off with on the old EA Sports NBA games. A member of the first Dream Team and a five time All-Star, Mullin had his best years in the late 80s and early 90s along side Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond as a member of the Golden State Warriors famed high scoring triumvirate (aptly named RUN TMC). Chris made the All-NBA first team in 1992, second team in 1989 and 1991 and third team in 1990. He had his best season in 1992 where he average 26 points, 5 rebounds, and almost 4 assists per night.

Detlef Schrempf: When I was a kid in L.A., watching the Super Sonics play was a joy for me just because it gave me a chance to hear the Supersonics P.A. announcer say: “Detlef Schrempf for THREEEE POINTS, THHREEEE POINTS Schrempf!” Can I ask you this? Why is it that every German/Russian ball player comes into the league looking like an Ivan Drago knock off? I mean, I’m sure Kirilenko and Shrempf have to share some lineage with Dolph Lundgren. Anyhow, despite being born in Germany, Schrempf did play high school and college basketball in Washington, which makes him eligible for this prestigious(?) list. He first made his mark in the league as the sixth man for the early 90s Pacer teams winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in both the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He made his first All-Star team in 1993 when he averaged 19.1 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Pacers. Inexplicably, prior to the 1993-1994 season Schrempf was traded by the Pacers to the Seattle Sonics for their defensive standout Derek McKey. Schrempf went on to have a fine career with the Sonics, becoming one of the best three point shooters in the league, making two more All-Star teams, and (along with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp) helping to lead the Sonics to a 1996 NBA finals appearance.

Honorable Mention: Chris Kaman, John Barry, Luke Ridnour, Luke Walton, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Pat Garrity, ~~Mike Dunleavy Jr.~~, Craig Ehlo, Eric Piatkowski, Mike Miller, Wally Szczerbiak, Jason Williams, Don Maclean, Matt Harpring, Troy Murphy, Austin Croshere, Jeff Foster, Tom Gugliotta, Raef Lafrentz, Kirk Hinrich, Kelly Tripucka, Keith Van Horn, Kiki Vandeweghe, etc.

Keep your eyes and ears open, cuz I’ll be back later this weekend with my picks for the 20 WORST white NBA ballers of the last 20 years.

2006-05-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

For the second time in the event’s history, Houston has been

selected as the host city for NBA All-Star. The 55th annual

All-Star Game will be played at the Toyota Center, home of the

Houston Rockets on Feb. 19, 2006.

Houston first hosted the midseason classic in 1989 before a record

crowd of 44,735 at the Astrodome. In that game, the West posted a

143-134 victory behind MVP Karl Malone’s 28 points and John

Stockton’s 17 assists, which included an All-Star record nine in a

single quarter. Chicago’s Michael Jordan scored 28 points for the

East, while the Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic

Johnson’s injury replacement on the West roster, played a record

18th and final All-Star Game. In All-Star Saturday night

festivities at the Summit, New York’s Kenny Walker took home the

Slam Dunk trophy with a record high score of 148.1 in the final

round and Seattle’s Dale Ellis collected the Three-Point Shootout

crown.

knbaallstarrockets

2006-02-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

Other major events include Friday Night's Rookie Challenge and Saturday Night's Slam Dunk Contest, Three Point Contest, and the Skills Challenge event (started in 2003) which pits the league's top point guards in an obstacle course of dribbling, shooting and passing, and the new Shooting Stars Competition which features a retired NBA player, a current NBA player and a WNBA player representing their team's city in a shooting competition.