- Rajon Rondo is an amazingly quick and long athlete, with a tenacious approach to defense and a nose for the ball. He often uses those qualities to leave his man and create havoc on defense. But leaving your man is a double-edged sword. Here's a tidy video analysis showing how Rondo's roaming ways can also hurt Boston.
- Larry Coon, salary cap expert, assesses LeBron James' suitors.
- Rahat Huq of Red94: "Tracy McGrady is unfulfillment personified, the most uniquely gifted player this league has ever seen, but likely to be remembered as the biggest 'loser' in its history. He not only had the vision and length that Jordan and Kobe didn’t, but also the fine footwork that Lebron has still yet to develop. At 6-8, with a handle matched only by the league’s point-men, and raw springs bestowed from the heavens, McGrady possessed a tantalizing mix of gifts and painstakingly developed talents that should have ensured a place among the league’s legends. But ultimately, his legacy will be as history’s biggest loser. The 90’s quartet of Stockton, Malone, Ewing, and Barkley became infamous for their inability to capture the throne, the punchlines of much derision; in our era, T-Mac has not even passed the first round. But to appraise a man’s worth by such simplistic calculus is a grave injustice. It is true that McGrady could have done more -- he refused to drive in the final seven minutes of Game 7 in ’07 with the Jazz in the penalty; he disappeared completely in the deciding 3rd quarter of Game 6 against Utah in ’08, deferring to an aging -- and hopelessly ineffective -- Bobby Jackson; and he missed almost 2/3 of his shots in Game 7 against the Mavericks in ’05. Yes, there was much he could have done -- I completely concede he wasn’t perfect. But the stigma still is unfair."
- The soap opera surrounding the Pistons ownership situation is intensifying.
- A deft bit of interning, I'd wager: A letter from Latrell Sprewell at his peak, telling a child he would not sign his trading card.
- Kobe Bryant has been watching Olympic hockey.
- Garfield Smith has largely been forgotten, as an NBA player, but the former Celtic still holds the record for worst free throw shooting ever, over an NBA season. Andris Biedrins, however, is threatening.
- Adonal Foyle's foundation has people traveling to New Orleans looking for a basketball court in New Orleans to refurbish, and are looking for your suggestions.
- There had been rumors that, if Zydrunas Ilgauskas is bought out by the Wizards, the League would prevent him from returning to the Cavaliers. Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press quotes an unnamed NBA official, who "told the AP the league would only step in if there was proof of an agreement before the trade was completed."
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer: "In order to lose to the team like the Los Angeles Clippers these days, something bad has to happen. Something did. Stephen Jackson shot 1-of-16 from the field. And predictably he lost his temper. And then he fouled out." Another factor in the loss: D.J. Augustin got caught in the air without a plan. And, the new Clippers have been playing well.
- Have the Pacers ever been worse than they are right now?
- A nice little chart showing offensive and defensive efficiency. You have to believe that the NBA champion will be one of the teams in the top right quadrant.
- Trainer Gary Vitti is the person Laker players go to first if they have any kind of medical concern at all. It's a fantastically important job, and he commands a team of professionals (athletic performance specialists, trainers, massage therapists) who all must do their parts if the team is going to perform at its peak. Weird, though, isn't it, that he's also the guy who coordinates the team's travel? In the era, when NBA jobs are so specialized (they have coaches just for shooting, or big men, for instance) it seems like it might make sense to let Vitti worry about things like Kobe Bryant's health full-time, instead of dealing with the hassles of making sure everybody's hotel suites are ready.
- If Goran Dragic can lead the Suns while they play well, he could not only be next in line to replace Steve Nash one day, but he could also add years to Nash's career by reducing his minutes approaching the playoffs. With Nash sitting out, tonight Dragic gets his chance to show if he's ready to take that next step.
- John Hollinger says the Laker point guards played well as the team expected more of them in Kobe Bryant's absence. Also, Pau Gasol has been getting a lot more touches. Nevertheless, by every measure Hollinger has, the Lakers are, of course, much better with Bryant than without.
- The Wizards may not be tanking, but Josh Howard's ACL is.
- Kevin Durant's game is better than his national profile.
- Tony Parker strained ... something.
- Great Allen Iverson Philadelphia moments.
- How good was Penny Hardaway?
- Deron Williams cried during "Lion King," and may make Jarron Collins cry by calling him the least athletic player he has ever played with.
- The Kings' starting big men are Jason Thompson and Carl Landry, neither of whom is particularly big.
- Was Dwyane Wade right when he said he needs more help in Miami? What about when he said he will be in his peak for four or five more years?
TRUEHOOP CONTRIBUTORS
Henry AbbottTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
J.A. AdandeTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Kevin ArnovitzTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
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Israel GutierrezTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
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