- Jeremy from Roundball Mining Company has serious insight into why it is Carmelo Anthony might have made a stink (and gotten suspended) about not wanting to come out the game against the Pacers on Sunday: "In the first quarter Melo started off ice cold missing his first three shots. With 2:18 left in the first quarter he drove the baseline and was fouled. He made both free throws to score his first two points and then the next trip down the floor he received the ball on the right block, got a pick from Kenyon dribbled twice to his left, rose up and hit a 14 foot jumper. It looked like he might have been hitting a groove and then Karl took him out of the game. Fast forward to the third quarter and Kleiza got off the bench to enter the game at the 2:20 mark when the game was tied at 62. Melo had just missed a contested 13 foot jumper (another one in a long line of contested jumpers he attempted that night). However, between the time Karl called Kleiza's name and there was a dead ball Melo hit a (contested) 17 foot jumper in transition and he made a (contested) 22 footer. It was the first time Melo made two consecutive jumpers since the Atlanta game (and that is being generous as those two jumpers were separated by a little break called halftime). Melo had basically played eight straight quarters without making consecutive jumpers. I doubt that he realized that fact, but you better believe he knew he had not been shooting well and may have felt like he was finally heating up. Now take into account that he plays the entire third quarter about one third of the time (fact), he had done so for three straight games (fact), he had finally hit consecutive jumpers (fact) and that he may have felt like he was removed from the game in the first quarter when he was starting to heat up (speculation) and I can see why Melo would have wanted to stay in the game."
- The NBA Players Association sends a letter of support to German players who are protesting their league's lack of collective bargaining. As the business goes global, presumably so shall the labor.
- Yao Ming's fancy new hat.
- What is the point of dance teams? Quite honestly, the thing that bothers me most is not so much the dancers themselves, but this big, public, children-welcome environment where the only prominent work for women is to be half-naked. If you're female and smart, or female and ugly, or female and not in your twenties ... this is one of the last places on the planet that really does not have an evident way to value you. That's weird.
- Niall Doherty of Hornets247 tells the truth about Andre Miller: "Andre Miller is a tough customer. I love that guy, even when he's not providing chicken for the masses. I'm amazed at how much the Sixers play him off the ball considering he's a point guard. He's also a handful down in the post, as Antonio Daniels can no doubt attest to after this one. Miller finished with 28 points on 12-of-16 FGs (!), adding 7 dimes and 6 boards."
- Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, on his team philosophy, in an interview with Hogs Haven: "No jerks allowed. Implement a no jerk policy. Draft and develop and keep high character people. Team chemistry is vital to success. Make sure the best and highest paid players are coachable, show respect to the system, want to be in the city, love to welcome new, young players to the team, have respect for the fan base, show joy in their occupation, get the system, believe in the coaches, have fun in practice, and want to be gym rats. Dump quickly distractions. Life is too short to drink bad wine." (Via Sactown Royalty) I'm very interested in this idea of team chemistry right now.
- The Rockets' mascot has his own tricked out custom van? Is this really a recession? (Via NESW Sports)
- A guy makes a half-court shot underhanded, wins $77,777, and then jumps around for a good long time. (Via PG-13 but funny With Leather)
- Kevin Arnovitz of ClipperBlog with the truth about Baron Davis: "Zach Randolph's absence hurts Baron more than anyone. Baron needs someone in the low post to feed, not only because it helps lure the defense away from the perimeter, but it also enables Baron to work off the ball. And if Baron is working off the ball, by definition, he's not heaving up contested 23-footers off the dribble."
- Zach Lowe of Celtics Hub does the Herculean work of comparing current Celtics to various Greek gods. For instance, Rajon Rondo is "A basketball version of Hermes, the god of speed and athleticism and the patron saint of thieves. His speed (the product in part of his winged sandals) made him the messenger-helper god, known for transferring important goods and information to those who needed it at exactly the right moment. He lent Perseus his sandals, for instance, to help the famous hero slay Medusa (Pau Gasol?). Hermes was also precocious; he learned to play an instrument and herd cattle before he was a week old. He dealt well with touchy personalities, as, according to some myths, he was among the only gods welcome in the Underworld without objection from the presiding god."
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TRUEHOOP CONTRIBUTORS
Henry AbbottTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
J.A. AdandeTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Kevin ArnovitzTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Chris BroussardTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Chad FordTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
John HollingerTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Chris SheridanTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
Marc SteinTrueHoop ESPN Archive |
