SB Nation - Greg Oden

Preview: Suns @Trail Blazers - Something's Got to Give

Phoenix Stan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:47:47 -0000

The Blazers are missing the following due to injury:

Greg Oden
Rudy Fernandez
Travis Outlaw
Nic Batum
Jeff Pendergraph (who would be playing right now w/ Outlaw and Oden out)
Patty Mills (who would not be playing now)

The Suns are 0-16 on TNT

Something's got to give

Busy day today with a holiday party and some other stuff so you can a) suffer through this abbreviated preview b) write your own and we will reprise the Preview Mash-up c) suck it sucker and go read someone else's preview

Key Match-ups

There's two match-ups I am really interested in for this game.

Amare vs Aldridge

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2009 - Amare Stoudemire	25	34.6	7.4	13.3	55.9	0.0	0.1	0.0	4.7	6.3	74.1	2.2	5.8	8.0	1.0	3.0	0.8	1.0	3.6	19.6

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2009 - LaMarcus Aldridge	25	35.0	6.7	13.6	49.3	0.2	0.2	66.7	2.9	3.5	83.9	2.0	5.8	7.8	1.8	1.0	0.4	0.5	3.0	16.5

LMA has reportedly struggled this season early as the entire Blazers team floundered about trying to figure out what to do with Andre Miller and Greg Oden's sudden need for touches in the post. LMA seemed lost.

Recently though he's been playing much better but so has Amare who is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game in December.

In theory this match-up is a wash production-wise and if that's the case the Suns should win the game.

Dragic vs Bayless

This one is just plain fun. Both kids are playing well right now and both are explosive athletes with the edge there obviously going to Bayless. But Dragic seems to be the better all around basketball player who is by far the better outside shooter. Bayless is hyper-aggressive at getting to the rim and plays a lot like Barbosa.

Without Barbosa in uniform to counter Jareeryddd this task will fall on Goran. LB would have tried to match Bayless shot for shot. Dragic will try and stay in front of him and use his length and defensive tenacity to slow the kid down.

I don't think this match-up will turn the tide of the game, but I am looking forward to it.

Oh, and still no word if Richardson will play. It doesn't look good though and without him playing at a high-level it is going to be next to impossible to contain Roy. Ruh, roh..

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 12/17/09 10:19 AM MST ]

More time. More preview...

First a word from my favorite preacher/blogger, Dave from Blazers Edge who can string words together with the best of them. Here's what he has to say about the greatest Canadian point guard evah!

...Steve Nash is right behind with 18 per game, 53% shooting, 45.6% three-point shooting, 94% foul shooting, ran-the-table-again pool shooting, -18 handicap golf shooting, "one trick shot to bag my entire limit" duck shooting, "that guy on the Dos Equis commercials is only the second most interesting man" breeze shooting, oh...and 11.2 assists per game besides.

But since we are praising Dave I think it is only fair and balanced that we nitpick as well.

Dave, Lou Amundson is not a good shooter but he will bang with the best of them. He might give up 30 - 700 lbs to the Vanilla Gorilla but he won't be out-worked. Let's just hope that mild ankle sprain doesn't bother him. Something tells me it won't.

Oh and Dave, the Phoenix Suns are 12th in the league in defensive rebounding. I realize the Blazers are a great offensive rebounding team and in the past have killed the Suns in that department but without Oden, I would not expect too much advantage in that department. The Suns held the Magic to 10 second chance points and had 12 of their own.

And btw, Amare had 14 rebounds against Tim Duncan and the Spurs. No offense, Joel but you sir are no Tim Duncan.

The one point that Dave got right /sarcasm/ was about tempo. The Blazers operate at glacial speed holding down 30th place in a 30 horse race in the Pace Factor. That's slow.

While the Suns did manage to trick the Blazers into an up-paced game in the Rose Garden last season and and the Blazer did win said game, it took 52 points by Brandon Roy to make that happen. What are the chance of that happening again?

Did I mention this game is on TNT where the Suns are 0-16? I think that puts the odds of Roy going ballistic at about 2:1.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 12/17/09 11:00 AM MST ]

Commercial Break

Have you got your discounted tickets yet for the Blog Night at the Suns (Jan 23 vs Warriors)? You better hurry!!!

Do. It. NOW!!

Game Links

Suns vs Trail Blazers coverage
Blazersedge (check it out!)
RealGM: Basketball Wiretap Archives: Serbian Coach Helps With Dragic's Shot
"My coach from Serbia has been in town for the last four days, and we worked a lot on my shot," Dragic said. "Before when I shot, my arch was not so high. Today it felt great. The arch was higher."
Suns get chance to end TNT curse
"It's bizarre," Kerr said. "What are the chances of losing 16 in a row? I know the competition's tougher but it's not like we don't beat good teams on ESPN. There's no explanation. "Let's pin it on Charles. He brings that negative vibe all the time."

Pacers Win Washes Away That Familiar Feeling

Tom Lewis — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:39:12 -0000

More photos » by Ron Hoskins - NBAE via Getty Images

Troy Murphy had the trailing three-pointer going for the Pacers last night.

Browse more photos »

The Indiana Pacers finished their game against the Charlotte Bobcats last night in familiar fashion save for one detail.

How many times have we seen a good effort and apparent W slip through the Pacers' fingers with a late collapse. Usually the opponent dials up an incredible dagger to make it feel even worse. A couple of losses last year immediately come to mind with Devin Harris and Chris Paul each delivering the death blow leaving the Pacers lifeless at the buzzer and stuck with a loss.

But that one different detail, actually winning, changes so much. Suddenly, the late implosion is merely a collection of teachable moments. Plus, there was some decent defense on those late Charlotte possessions which the win rewards with a little positive reinforcement to build on.

With a road game at Memphis tomorrow night, we'll see if the Pacers can maintain their solid effort of late and indeed build on that winning feeling from last night.

After the jump, a few links of interest from last night's game.

PACERS: Inside the Game
Bruno breaks down the numbers and offers up post-game video reactions to the win.
AP: Murphy's double-double leads Pacers past Bobcats
Pacers nearly blow 18-point lead in win
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers hanging on to salvage a win after blowing an early lead.
Pacers Notebook: Ford passes first, then scores
T.J. Ford found it easier to pile up the assists with teammates moving to get open. Also, JOB plans to move Dunleavy's minutes down to 24 during the four-games-in-five-days stretch coming up. No problems and after last night's game Dunleavy mentioned that he feels fine, just want to stay cautious.
Bobcats rally comes up 1 shot short
Rick Bonnell reports on the Bobcats missing out on another comeback win.
Observations: Flip talks Pacer smack
Former Pacer Flip Murray jump into the head of his former Hawk teammate, Solo Jones.
Bobcats Lose to Pacers 101-98; TJ Ford Runs a Clinic
Rufus on Fire recaps the Bobcats' loss to the Pacers, including highlights and lowlights.
Pacers Insider: The Dunleavy factor Part II
Mike Wells emphasizes the impact Mike Dunleavy's made on the offensive flow for the Pacers.
Greg Oden Addresses Fans
Greg Oden remains positive in the early stages of his recovery from his season-ending knee injury.
The essential Reggie Miller documentary - TrueHoop Blog
Henry Abbott offers his review of the Reggie vs. New York documentary. I agree with Henry on Spike Lee and really hope he isn't the focus of New York's side of the story. I have a feeling I may be disappointed, though.

Is Al Horford playing out of position or just creating a new one?

hawksdawgs — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:21:05 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Browse more photos »

As soon as Al Horford came into the league, he was labeled an "undersized center" or a "power forward playing out of position." For people in the Hawks know, it was no big deal. We understood Josh Smith could not guard athletic threes or shoot well enough from the outside to play the small forward position. We knew Zaza made for a perfect backup center and a horribly annoying starting one. Horford had to play center. On the Hawks team, Al was a center. Debating whether he should or not have been in an ideal world was to have a conversation about the impossible.

And while the "what ifs" sprang up from time to time, Al has been able to spend the first two plus years of his NBA career adjusting to playing against bigger guys without the pressure of expectations of domination. After all, Horford was out of position. Could you really expect 20 and 10 by his second year? But Al did not bide his time under this protection. He has learned how to fight for position, box out, and use his athleticism to block shots and beat players to their spots.

Through Horford's first two years, he unceremoniously did the little things to make up for his strategic disadvantage. Woody forced Al to tread water and Al was damn good at it. He consistently put up average numbers at an incredibly efficient pace rate. It felt like a win for the Hawks. Efficient survival is all we asked for.

This year is different though. Al is a different player, a more skilled player, a more comfortable player. I look at the schedule, game after game, and there are only two teams that have a clear cut advantage at the center position, Orlando and Los Angeles. Yet those guys are not "regular" centers. If you hold out for an Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard, you are holding out for a Magic Johnson. They are players that have a unique combination of size and athleticism. They are not redefining the position, but they certainly do not define the norm. And even with that, six years ago people questioned whether Dwight was a center or power forward (don't get me started on the Tim Duncan thing). For years, centers were Shaqs. Maybe not as good as Shaq (ok, definitely not as good as Shaq), but they were 7 footers pushing toward 300 lbs.

Today, outside of the two names mentioned, Al Horford can dominate anyone by that description. The Roy Hibberts of the world do not scare the Hawks. Do people hope to see future Erick Dampier's and Chris Kaman's in their young players? No. They want guys that will fight for boards and get other bigs in foul trouble but still be athletic enough to play the pick and roll. This league is becoming increasingly a team defense league. You don't need one guy to shut down Dwight Howard. It is impossible for one guy to shut down Howard anyway. Just because Al can't do it, does not make him a center.

Right now, Horford has a PER above 20. He leads the team in win shares, shoots 57% from the field, actually makes his free throws, can shut down Greg Oden's and switch onto point guards. Shoot, he can lead fast breaks like a point guard. If Horford's usage was not below most almost every starter (and even his own backup) in the league, who knows what his offensive stats would be. These days Horford is more than survival, he is a borderline all-star. And as some centers increasingly are moving outside the paint (Andrea Bargnani and Mehmet Okur) having an undersized guy who will battle inside but can guard outside might be the best of both worlds. So with apologies to Mr. Howard, what does the future of the center position look like in the NBA? It might just be the power forward with a seven footers mentality.

Monday Practice Report

Ben. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:05:20 -0000

Thanks to his recent Achilles surgery, Nate McMillan rides on this wheelie cart when he's not on crutches.

McMillan spoke today about the "slippage" he has seen from the team's effort and execution. "My leg is in this cast because of slippage," McMillan said, prompting some light chuckles from reporters. "No, seriously," McMillan continued, "It was slippage then... communicating on defense and setting screens and talking and sprinting out and all of those things we're talking about now, we've got to do."

McMillan has recalibrated his goals for the season: he wants to make the playoffs. He also seems to have come to terms with the fact that Greg Oden is out for the season. I suppose a week watching your team struggle through a road trip on TV will do that. For the latest on GO, click on this morning's update.

Jerryd Bayless

After practice today, Jerryd Bayless was adamant in repeating his earlier statements on twitter, steadfast in saying that he was not referring to his teammates after the game in Milwaukee. Jason Quick tracked him down after practice and they spoke briefly. After that conversation, Bayless told Brian T. Smith that the incident had been a "miscommunication."

Much more, including the quote below, from Brian T. Smith here...

A miscommunication between both of us. He's not trying to start anything. It was nothing like that. It was just a miscommunication on both our parts. And I apologize. I'll take the blame for it. That's not what I was trying to say; maybe he took it the wrong way. Maybe I insinuated that. But that's by far something I was not trying to say. I would never put down Steve or Andre, because both of them are great. Especially Steve and Andre - they both do different things that help this team. It's just a miscommunication and things like that happen.

Soon after the media session was complete, Bayless showed some real class in tweeting...

J. Quick didn't do anything wrong.. It was an accident and bad communication between both of us

Drama aside, Bayless saw his playing time ramp up a little bit on the road trip and Nate McMillan spoke at practice today about the team's need to attack defenses more aggressively. Clearly, that's good news for Bayless.

Here's a quick question and answer I did with Jerryd Bayless at practice today.

Blazersedge: Have you talked to Nate about your role in the last few weeks?

No, I haven't really talked to him about my role. When he puts me out there I'm going to try to do the best I can to help this team. Any given circumstance. If he plays me at the one, two, three, four or five. I'm just going to do my best to try to help this team win games.

Blazersedge: Some people believe you'll have more success if you continue to play at the 2 spot instead of the 1. Would you agree?

No, I don't think so. The thing is, it's whoever gets it, really goes, with me and Andre or me and Steve or whatever. Last year when Steve was out I think I had a lot of success there too. Whatever this team needs like I said, right now I can't really be picky about where I play. I'm not in that position. Hopefully we can get better, try to win some more games.

Blazersedge: Back during training camp we talked about how you saw the point guard position as a competition between you, Steve and Andre. How has that competition shaken out? How do you feel you're doing compared to those guys?

I think I'm doing well. Everytime I get an opportunity I'm trying to do my best to contribute to this team. That's kind of the coach's decision when it comes down to it. What he wants and what he sees fit. I don't know I think I'm doing well. They're also doing well. Andre has had some really big games, Steve has had some big games.

Blazersedge: You seem like a different player from last year. Your shooting percentage is way up. Your turnovers are down. Nate really hasn't talked to you about that during the last month?

Nah, we haven't really talked about that. He told me 'good game' after the Houston game. Today is the first day I've seen him. The Houston game was the first game that Rudy was out. So it was the first game I really played besides that stretch I was playing one. I think I did well when I was playing one for a little bit, when they went to the three guard lineup and I was coming off the bench being the backup point. We haven't really talked.

Blazersedge: How do you feel about playing in a three guard lineup compared to a traditional two guard lineup?

I just like to play, man. I love basketball. Right now I can't really be choosy about my situation. Whenever I get on the court, whether it's one, two, three, four or five, I'm going to try to contribute to this team.

Blazersedge: Last week there were rumors that you had approached Kevin Pritchard for a trade. Did you?

No.

Blazersedge: Did your agent or anyone else approach Kevin Pritchard on your behalf?

Not that I know of.

Blazersedge: How do you think something like that gets started?

Probably because I wasn't playing. Someone wanted to write it.

Blazersedge: What's your reaction when you read people writing about your facial expressions during games?

I think it's just me being competitive. I don't think it's really 'grumpy.' It's just an intense look. When I get in there, I'm trying to win at any cost possible. It's just me. I can't really change that.

Starting Lineup

Nate McMillan indicated at practice that he is re-evaluating the starting lineup.

I gotta look at everything. Certainly we're looking at that. I want to talk to the coaches more about it but we're a different team now. We're a different team without the two guys early -- Travis and Nicolas -- and we're certainly a different group without Big Greg and now without Rudy. We gotta find a way to get a group out there, maintain and win games and try and stay in this thing until we can get some guys healthy. So yes I'm looking at that.

McMIllan claimed to be looking at all positions aside from Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Nate McMillan is finally bringing himself to reconsider the starting point guard position.

Jason Quick first reported on 95.5FM last week that McMillan was looking at starting Andre Miller in place of Steve Blake. He repeated that claim today, stating on Wheels at Work that he is receiving "strong indications that Andre Miller will move into the starting lineup tomorrow night." Quick also stated that he expects Jerryd Bayless to receive "very much more" playing time.

Rudy Fernandez

Rudy joined Nicolas Batum in attendance at practice today while Greg Oden and Travis Outlaw were not present. Rudy reported feeling much better after his surgery and said all the right things about getting back as soon as possible to help the team.

Shavlik Randolph

Ira Winderman is reporting that the Miami Heat have released Shavlik Randolph. Best of luck to Shavlik.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Loud Links: 12|09|09

daddydai — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:15:41 -0000

The Thunder spent yesterday afternoon giving $1,000 dollar shopping sprees to 10 families at a local Target. How cool would it be to go basketball shopping with KD?

The Thunder Will Make the Playoffs | Dime Magazine
[Dime magazine give the reasons why the Thunder "will" make the playoffs this year.] The focal point of the team is undoubtedly resting on that kid from Texas’ shoulders, but his surrounding entourage has a bright future ahead. Clay Bennett may not have made the right choice in moving his team from Seattle, but choosing young GM brainchild, Sam Presti, to lead the Thunder was genius. Presti has managed to pull the proverbial rabbit from a hat with many of his decisions.

For starters, the Thunder’s team core is built upon Top-5 Draft picks: Durant (2), James Harden (3), Westbrook (4) and Green (5). Presti also swung deals for Thabo Sefolosha—who has become their definitive defensive stopper around the arc—and 7-footer, Nenad Krstic, to roam the paint in OKC.

The young nucleus of this team, comprised of those four Top-5 Draft picks, is already playing at a high level. Durant is leading the team with over 28 points and 7 rebounds a game. While in the midst of a breakout season—which is strange considering he averaged 25.3 a year ago—Durant is also averaging the most rebounds, assists and steals of his short career.

The 6-9 Green, who’s averaging 14.7 and 6.3, is a solid inside-outside presence and will be very, very good in Oklahoma City for many years. Even at 23 years old, Green has only showed glimpses of what he is capable of doing.

Harden is also playing well and as he continues to loosen up to the NBA game, he will begin playing more fluidly—although he did drop 26 and 9 in a 104-88 win over the Warriors Monday night. With these pieces in place—and help coming from more experience—the Thunder are looking surprisingly composed this season. Wait, did I forget someone?

Oh yeah, that Westbrook guy.

In my opinion, Westbrook is the key to the Thunder’s success. Durant is your go-to-guy and can drop 40 whenever he feels his averages slipping, but Russell is the fire starter. Besides Aaron Brooks and Ty Lawson, Westbrook might be the fastest guy in the League with or without the ball. He clearly has a second gear and dices through defenses effortlessly. Westbrook gives the Thunder a stable point guard that knows—and can—when to score and when to pass (He dished out 15 helpers in a win against Philly a week ago). Westbrook understands the flow of the game and can adapt to what the defense gives him.

Durant On Oden: "I almost drew a tear" | Thunder Rumblings
[KD speaks out about the Oden/Durant debate.] "Once I heard he was having surgery, to be honest with you I almost drew a tear for him," said Durant, who became the no-brainer No. 2 pick behind Oden in one of the most highly-debated decisions in the draft’s history. Durant understands the link he will forever share with Oden and the unavoidable games of "What if?’ some are sure to conjure up. And Oden’s newest hurdle only heightens the historical significance of their selection order. After three seasons, Oden will have played just 82 games, or the equivalent of one full season. Durant, meanwhile, has taken his projected place as the face of a franchise.

He’s on his way to becoming an All-Star and an Olympian. Durant has missed only 10 career games and this season is averaging 28.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals, all career-highs. But in no way does Durant feel vindicated for being passed over, and he said the constant comparisons are pointless. "It’s unfair to him because people don’t know how hard he works every day," Durant said. "But they’re already ready to tear him down. That’s life I guess. But he works hard every day and he does his job every day and people don’t give him credit for that."

Despite their differing levels of individual success, Durant humbly credited the Blazers’ team success and said he doesn’t think Oden should have to worry about living in his shadow as a player. "Those guys are a playoff team and are one of the top teams in the West," Durant said. "Without him they wouldn’t be there. So I guess I’m living in his shadow. He was the No. 1 pick. I was the No. 2. And his team is doing better. I’m just trying to fight toward that with my team. So I wouldn’t say he’s in my shadow."

First-Quarter Report: Teams: Identities Have Developed, for Better or Worse - The Baseline - Sporting News
[The Baseline mention OKC while discussing the league surprises and disappointments.] Rising in OKC. They hustle. They play defense. They have better-than-expected depth. The Thunder are on the way up, and there's a lot more to this group than Kevin Durant. They're going to challenge for a playoff spot.

NBA Power Poll: The Baseline - Sporting News
[The Baseline also rank OKC #13 in the NBA.] 13. Thunder (13). Tough enough for the Blazers to watch C Greg Oden go down again to a knee injury. Even tougher when you get a look at Kevin Durant.

CANOE -- SLAM! Sports: DeRozan takes slow route
[Just in case you didn't know who else Harden is friends with...] Jennings and DeRozan were teammates back in the sixth grade and through high school played AAU and Nationals together. DeRozan counts Jennings, James Harden, and Jrue Holiday among his closest friends in the NBA. Jennings and DeRozan share the longest bond and have been

Thunder notebook: Practice time | NewsOK.com
You won’t see it on a stat sheet, but one area the Thunder has improved is deflections, a stat Brooks and his staff tracks in practices and games. Deflections lead to steals or can milk seconds off the shot clock. OKC recorded 10 steals and several deflections in Monday’s win over Golden State. "We’re doing a good job getting our hands on balls," Brooks said. "That’s what we want, to use our length."

NBA Rookie Rankings: Who has the most upside? - ESPN Insider
[ESPN ranks Harden the #10 rookie with the most upside. Not to be confused with ROY rankings, which Harden is still sitting pretty at #3.] To be fair, Harden is this low on the list only because he's already so polished. He has learned to play a smart and crafty game -- and has done so for years -- because he's not superathletic. As I've said before, he plays like a veteran with a steady pace, under control almost all the time. Sure, Harden can improve his athleticism to some degree, and that would help his overall game, but given the reasons the Thunder drafted him -- his passing skills, shooting and ability to mesh with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook -- the pressure on him to develop into a superstar is just not there; he may never even be an All-Star. But make no mistake, he has the talent to put up big numbers on a championship team.

SLAM ONLINE | " Chuck Hayes Hates LeBron’s Dancing, Too
[So the Rockets share their opinion of LBJ's antics.] James has already ticked off Joakim Noah, and now Chuck Hayes has voiced displeasure with LBJ’s dancing on the sidelines during blowouts: "Yeah (it was wrong), but if Joakim Noah and the Bulls have a problem with it, beat him, he won’t dance,’ Hayes said. ‘I notice that the Cavs, they do all their sideline acts in the game when they’re up big. When it’s a close game, they don’t do that. Make them respect you and they won’t do it. To showboat another professional, it’s disrespectful. If you feel disrespected, do something about it within the game, nothing dirty. Eventually, all the dancing and acting will stop. They only do it when they’re up big.’ Shane Battier, however, had another theory about why James danced. ‘Dancing With The Stars is quite the platform to launch a career,’ Battier said. ‘Maybe, he’s trying to launch a career. LeBron’s a smart businessman. I wouldn’t put anything past him."’ [Just in case you missed this fiasco last week, check out the youtube video.]

Twitter / Ric Bucher: Sources @ the bench on wha ...
[Oh and if you were wondering what Noah said...] Sources @ the bench on what Joakim said to LeBron: "This is so ****ing old" + the clincher that got LJ coming at him: "You're a b****."

IC Cold Links: Blazers, Pacers Prepare To Play Through Injury Setbacks

Tom Lewis — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:39:29 -0000

The Portland Trail Blazers arrive at the Fieldhouse tonight, sorting through their own injury woes, joining the Pacers in trying to figure out which combination of remaining healthy players gives them the best chance to win.

The Pacers of course, are without leading scorer Danny Granger and continue to play with Mike Dunleavy on a minutes limit as he returns from his prolonged injury-related absence. Within the past few days, the Blazers have lost Greg Oden for the season and utility wing, Rudy Fernandez for 4-6 weeks. So just what type of game we'll see tonight is anyone's guess, but I imagine the opportunity for playing time should have some reserves brining plenty of energy to the floor to take advantage of their chance to play.

After the jump, plenty of links on the topic including video reaction from Fieldhouse.

PACERS: Pacers-Blazers preview
Pacers' offense left with big hole
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers looking for offensive answers with Danny Granger and his 25 points per game on the shelf. Jim O'Brien wants to push the pace. "I don't think 97 points (a game) is going to make it with our basketball team," the Pacers coach said Tuesday. "It might work if we had a different group of players. We are individually not good enough to slow it down and play paint by numbers."
PACERS: Pacers Video on losing Danny Granger
PACERS: Pacers Video on Rush getting another chance to play
Pacers F Granger out at least 4 weeks
Cliff Brunt offers up his AP report on Granger's absence.
Pacers progress hinges on playoff pursuit carrying on minus Granger
Tony Mejia thinks the Pacers can still win enough games to remain in the playoff race, but some new faces will have to step up and play a larger role.
Game 23 Preview: Blazers vs. Pacers - Blazersedge
Dave is expecting all kinds of ugly at the Fieldhouse tonight with two teams trying to find their way amidst recent injury setbacks collide, or at least bump into each other.
UPDATE: Blazers' Rudy Fernandez out 4 to 6 weeks after back surgery
Jason Quick reports on the Blazers injury woes increasing with the loss of Rudy Fernandez.
Memo to Pritchard: No rash moves, please
Kerry Eggers is preaching patience for the Blazers, imploring the team not to trade their way out of the injuries issues that have them short-handed.
Conley's drive lifts Grizzlies over Cavs in OT
Michael Conley has always been one of my favorite local players who seemed to make the game simple for he and his teammates. His NBA career has been a struggle so far, so it was great to see him throw a little hesitation dribble at the Cavs defense before blowing by everyone for the game-winning layup last night.
Steve Nash Internet Day!
It's Steve Nash Internet Day, so check in early and often for more.

Loud Links: 12/08/2009

manifestus — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:18:39 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

about 1 month ago: Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, right, goes up for a shot in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Browse more photos »

Here's Tuesday's edition of Loud Links. Lots of recap articles, so I'll present really just the one. Same goes for more of that Durant/Oden debate, what with the injury and all. There's stuff on OKC's sales tax extension (you know, the one that paid for arena the Thunder play in) and talk about Clay looking at setting up some exhibition games.

Thunder 104, Warriors 88 | Thunder Rumblings | newsok.com
If ever you get sick of hearing about the character of the Thunder, about how the players genuinely get along, or how they’re good for the community, Monday’s game served as a reminder of the shade of green that lies on the other side. Golden State, in 48 minutes, should have shown you all you needed to thank the basketball gods after every game for the type of players being gathered in Oklahoma City. The Thunder has a locker room filled with 20-somethings who understand the meaning of team. They play hard and they play for each other. They spend time off the court and they do their damndest to ensure everyone excels on it. Golden State is a franchise in turmoil.

Tim Donaghy, Greg Oden among hot topics in NBA - NBA - SI.com
They made a mistake, but not because of Oden's injury. It doesn't take an NBA scout's mind to realize that Oden, while a big and capable center with superior defensive instincts, does not have nearly the same upside as Durant, a potential All-Star this season and a sure-fire MVP candidate within a few years. Oden will be back, no doubt, and I believe he'll have a long and productive career. But he won't be as dominant as Durant, which is what the Blazers were hoping Oden would become when they selected No. 1.

James Harden knows how to draw the line | NewsOK.com
Harden scored a career-high 26 points in the Thunder’s 104-88 win over Golden State Warriors on Monday night at the Ford Center. Half his points came at the line. Before last year’s NBA Draft, Harden was best known as a left-handed sharpshooter. What was rarely mentioned is he got to the line as frequently as any player in Arizona State history other than Ike Diogu.

The Associated Press: OKC voters to decide whether to extend sales tax | AP
Oklahoma City leaders pushed for the first MAPS plan in 1993 as the malaise from the early 1980s oil bust hung over the area. Approved by 53 percent of voters, it paid for the construction of a new arena in which the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder now plays, a baseball stadium and a canal that helped convert an aging warehouse district into an entertainment destination known as Bricktown.

Arkansas Exploring NBA Exhibition in Walton Arena | Arkansas Sports 360.com
Could Bud Walton Arena be used to host a future preseason NBA game? Apparently, it's being discussed. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long revealed that via Twitter on Monday night. He was in New York City and the idea was bandied about over dinner with Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett.

Happy Birthday, Dwight Howard!

Ben Q Rock — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:20 -0000

by John Raoux - AP

View full size photo »

For the second consecutive year, Dwight Howard will spend his birthday in Los Angeles, hoping to lead the Orlando Magic to victory over the Clippers. He turns 24 today, which makes him younger than every NBA regular starting center save for Andris Biedrins, Andrew Bynum, Spencer Hawes, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, and Greg Oden.

I'm not sure what else to say, really. Anyone who's watched the Magic since the 2006/07 season--turnover-plagued, sure, but check his splits from February--knew he'd be more than a defense and rebounding specialist, as not a few people predicted was his ceiling. Needle his unrefined post game all you want. Berate him for smiling (?) on the court, or for complaining about whistles who don't go his way. But in no way can anyone argue with Howard's overall results. Even his slump during the first 9 games of this season, when he could not seem to avoid foul trouble, Howard was average at the very worst among NBA centers who average at least 30 minutes per game:

"Slumping" Dwight Howard, Average NBA Center (min. 30 MPG), and "Post-Slump" Dwight Howard, 2009/10 NBA Season
Player	Pts	Rebs	Blks	Fouls	Mins	FG%
Dwight Howard (slump)	18.1	10.6	1.4	4.1	31.1	64.7%
Avg. NBA Center	14.3	9.3	1.5	3.0	33.0	52.5%
Dwight Howard (post-slump)	17.8	13.4	2.1	3.7	33.7	64.4%
Howard statistics from Basketball-Reference.com; avg. center statistics from Hoopdata.com

So he brought the stats just about every night, even if his commitment to defense wasn't quite there until recently. That's how good he is just when he shows up and tries a little. Think of what he can do when he's really engaged.

Maybe that last paragraph comes off as harsh, and I don't mean to disparage Howard (especially not on his birthday). But it was obvious to anyone who watched the first 9 games of the season that Dwight wasn't all there. Now? He's more into it. For me, the biggest statistical indicator of that is his fouls-to-block ratio. In the slump, he averaged 2.8 fouls per blocked shot. In the games since, he's improved that figure to 1.8.

We've gone way off the rails in what was meant to be a simple happy birthday post, so I'll conclude here before I get too carried away. In any event, I hope we appreciate Howard's improving work on the court, as well as his efforts in the community.

Many happy returns, Dwight.

IC Cold Links: Without Granger, Pacers Must Rely On Next Man Up

Tom Lewis — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:37:01 -0000

Here are a few links of interest, including the Indiana Pacers taking a little inspiration for dealing with injuries from the NFL team across town.

Caught in the Web: Pacers preparing for life without Granger
Bruno on the Pacers moving forward as if Danny Granger will be on the shelf for a bit. Like how T.J. Ford tries to pick up the 'next man up' mantra the Indianapolis Colts have used for years now. If only it could work as well for the Pacers as it does for the Colts.
Pacers Notebook: O'Brien preparing for worst with Granger
Mighty Mike Wells reports on all of the wonderful news coming out of the Fieldhouse, as Jim O'Brien prepares to go forward without Danny Granger and with T.J. Ford.
Blazers drop game to Knicks before arriving in Indy
The Portland Trail Blazers are in town on Wednesday to play the Pacers. I have a feeling they'll be fired up and ready to go after an emotionally draining couple of days that included losing Greg Oden and then losing to the New York Knicks. With a day off to regroup, the Blazers will try to get better against the Pacers.
Hinrich out the next two games. So...could VDN really be fired? - Blog a Bull
It appears from this Blog a Bull post that the Chicago Bulls are a step ahead of the Pacers but traveling down the same path, wondering what to do with the coach while players are underperforming. Worse for the Bulls, though, they have some serious young talent.
Tim Donaghy's claims on trial - TrueHoop Blog
Henry Abbott doesn't just take Tim Donaghy's word for it and instead investigates someo the claims he's made about other referees, players and coaches. Another similar post about claims against Dick Bavetta is here.
NBA Power Poll: Pacers slide down the rankings
Sean Deveney from The Baseline has the Pacers sliding eight spots to 27 in his latest rankings which seems about right. Still stings to read it.

The Downbeat - 7 December 2009 - #116 - The Push Off Remix Edition

Basketball John — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:51:36 -0000

Bryon Russell will be there, but will Jordan show? Tomorrow is the first home game of the season for the Utah Flash and the proposed date for the Jordan/Russell re-match. Flash Owner Brandt Andersen has said he will give $100,000 to the winner's choice of charity.

From Siler's twitter update we learn that "we'll know for certain around 1 p.m. Monday "Air Jordan time" whether MJ will be showing up." I put the odds of him showing up a little bit higher than the league calling a retroactive foul on MJ and have the game replayed from that point.

It sounds like Brandt has has significant discussions though with Jordan's people so maybe it could happen.

I feel bad for Greg Oden. There's just no way I would wish his injuries on anyone. Of course, BlazersEdge is all over it.

A double-whammy for me over the weekend. I hadn't been to an Aggie basketball game in a few years so we went over to see them take on St. Mary's from the WCC. Well, the Gaels (yes, that's spelled correctly) ended USU's 37-game home winning streak. That was the same night that the timber fell on the Jazz in Minnesota. Nothing redeeming about that night other than finally being able to play GOW2.

Yes, I'm that far behind on video games. In fact, my latest NBA2K game I have is from 06. But you know, the Jazz never make any roster changes so it's basically the same team.

The first results of the NBA All-star voting should be out sometime this week (based on when they've done it in previous years). So make sure to get out and vote for Deron, Boozer, Memo, and Millsap

What are the best Christmas gifts to give/receive as a Jazz fan? Any terrible ones you've received that are Jazz-related?