- Why did Kobe Bryant shoot two 3s so quickly in the final minute? Probably because he was playing for an extra possession, as the clock approached 24 seconds left in the game.
- Plus/minus is imperfect, and lacking in some ways. One of the things it has been lacking, I realize now, is a chart loaded to the gills with crazy facial expressions.
- Derrick Rose is magical in his ability to avoid defenders. But if he avoided them a little less, especially in the lane, wouldn't he get to the line more?
- The Mavericks may offer some insight in how to defend Rajon Rondo. They went crazy chasing Celtic shooters -- his passes are less deadly when the guy on the receiving end is covered. They also switched a ton on the perimeter -- if you want Rondo to shoot, who cares who's guarding him out there? In the paint, however, it was a total team effort, with almost everyone collapsing. That lets him pass it back to Kevin Garnett at the elbow, but that's not the worst thing in the world.
- A nice little chart comparing the average age of NBA rosters and the average age of who actually gets the minutes. For instance, the Cavaliers' average age is pretty young, somewhere below 27. But the average age of who actually plays (weighted by minutes) is older than 28.
- John Hollinger says Monty Williams is the coach of the year so far, because New Orleans was the NBA's 22nd ranked defense a year ago, and now they're first.
- Kyle Singler, Duke star, indulges his inner eighth grader with a video camera.
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks star, indulges his inner eight grader with a still camera.
- And they say Kobe Bryant doesn't like to pass. He likes passing so much, he found a way to pass to himself! In all seriousness, it's beautifully executed, and he was wide open in the lane ...
- Serge Ibaka is so jumpy.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic quoting Alvin Gentry: "We're just so (inappropriate term) small but we fight. We tried everything we could to get Pau moved out. That guy's so (inappropriate term) long and he's a lot stronger than anybody thinks he is. We don't have that real physical guy that can be physical with him."
- Does the Suns' fast pace really make opponents run their own offenses more quickly? It sure looks like it on this video.
- Some tough talk from Kobe Bryant about the collective bargaining agreement.
- Jeopardy's big loser: Tim Duncan.
- Who's the better Raptors point guard. Jose Calderon or Jarrett Jack?
- Rashard Lewis has been a bad offensive player this season.
- Recently retired NBA journeyman point guard Kevin Ollie has an optical mishap with of one of those stretching bands.
- Jacob Mustafa of Rockets blog Red94: "Of all of the terrible things that can be said about the 2010-11 Houston Rockets, no one can ever say that they are the New York Knicks. And for that, we should all be very, very grateful."
Henry Abbott | email
TrueHoop, NBA- Senior writer for ESPN.com
- Founder of TrueHoop blog and network
- Began writing about NBA for magazines in 1999
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