SB Nation - Tyreke Evans

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Blog Refresh Edition

Truzenzuzex — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:56:06 -0000

John Wall will be out there on the floor on Friday.

SB Nation has performed what they are calling a "visual refresh" of the blogs, and I hope you love it as much as I do. To me, the the site looks much cleaner and more readable. Great job by the code magicians at SBN.

Now, to business. The game last night drew pretty predictable commentary from around the Big Blue Nation, mostly expecting the ugly, disjointed nature of the game while marveling at the talent and athleticism. I think that's the best way to look at it, and I'm sure Coach Calipari learned a lot about his team last night. We will learn even more on Friday when John Wall gets to suit up and take the floor for the first time versus outside competition.

At the end of the day, I was not unhappy with what I saw. I expected this game to be ugly, and it did not disappoint. But I loved the way the team tried to play together, and the effort on defense was really quite remarkable, with a number of players hitting the floor hard trying to draw charges, and getting floor burns chasing after loose balls. You have to really admire all that effort, and even if the execution was sloppy, it was really good to see how hard the team played.

Now, for the news:

UK Basketball News

[SLIDESHOW] UK wins turnover plagued game against Campbellsville | The Kentucky Kernel
"I was really happy for Perry Stevenson," Calipari said. "Instead of pouting or anything, he just goes in and now he earns his space. Now all of a sudden he gets in that rotation."

That's what I like to see also, and Perry did a very good job in limited minutes. My guess is that if he keeps it up, he'll earn more.
Danny Jett's Inner Circle: An Exhibition In Ugly Basketball
Ugly, indeed.
Calipari: Bledsoe and Wall are better together | Vaught's Views
I agree, I think that together, they are pretty much unstoppable.
We can't judge UK by exhibition, but we can try | KentuckySports.com
The dribble-drive motion offense is very much a work in progress (which it should be in November of the first year it's being run).

Too many guys driving with no intention of actually getting to the basket was the verdict of John Calipari.

I think that's right. Not Perry Stevenson, though. He drove with bad intentions. We need more of that.
Calipari's first win an eye-opener | KentuckySports.com
Patrick Patterson, who left last week's Blue-White Game happy with his contributions from the perimeter, struggled. He made two of seven shots. Both baskets were dunks. He had no assists and six turnovers.

Tipton haters, shut your eyes, or you might turn to stone. I suppose that if Patterson is going to have bad games, now is the best time for that to happen. I'd be surprised if it happens again anytime soon.
Column: A long way to go, but Cats’ potential is there | The Kentucky Kernel
If DeMarcus Cousins scores, rebounds and downright terrifies opponents the way he did against Campbellsville, things might get scary. Cousins had 11 points and six rebounds. He scared the small Tiger team inside, even more so than his impressive four blocks may suggest.

People don't scare so easy in the SEC, though.
Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: Calipari era officially underway as UK rolls over Campbellsville University 74-38
All in all, I think this is exactly what Calipari expected when he warned us that UK had a lot of work to do. The big thing to look for is how improved UK is when Wall settles into the lineup in the next exhibition game.

I think that's right.
Tom Leach - Kentucky Football, Kentucky Basketball, UK Football, UK Basketball
Lots of good stuff from last night's game.
UK handles Campbellsville 74-38 | straitpinkie.com
Any illusions that Kentucky fans had about this team instantly jelling together, instantly learning the dribble drive, and instantly living up to their potential had a bit of a reality check in tonight’s second half against Campbellsville.

So true.

UK Football News

Newton's progress comes at Fidler's expense " Evansville Courier & Press
Fidler, who said he was expecting to take some snaps in the first half, was obviously disappointed to not get on the field. "I want to do whatever they need me to do to help us win," he said.

Fidler finds himself in an awkward position. He is rooting for Newton to play well not only for the good of the team but for the good of Newton himself. But it seems now the only way Fidler will get the chance to play is if Newton doesn't play well.

What a tough spot for Fidler. Unfortunately, next year it will only get worse. Well, that's how you get better at anything -- the cream must be allowed to rise to the top.
Rich Brooks Answers Questions about MSU Loss
"A week ago people thought we could win out," Brooks said. "Now they don't think we can even win another game."

Heh. How true.
UK Football Fan: SEC Bowl/Standings projections
The Pizza Bowl looks likely, unless we spring an upset. But we have to win at least one more SEC game for that to be a reality.
Cats prepare for EKU, try to salvage season | KentuckySports.com
It's not just the fact that Kentucky lost, it's the way they lost that really took away a lot of steam: 348 rushing yards allowed, three turnovers and a passing game that generated just 119 yards. The message boards and radio shows that were once buzzing about the Outback and Chick-Fil-A bowls are now playing the blame game, and the players say they can't get caught up in that.
Brooks asks players to help motivate | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
"Where some of our leaders in the past were vocal, our leaders are quiet and try to lead by example on this team," Brooks said. "Sometimes they don’t feel particularly comfortable in voicing an opinion in practice or in a meeting, where in the past some of our players did do that."

"Quiet" leadership rarely works.
Locke questionable to doubtful for EKU
AAARRGGHH! Locke just isn't very durable.

Other UK Sports News

Report: Top-50 player commits to UK women | KentuckySports.com
Finally. Man, it has been a struggle to get women's basketball back into contention in the SEC, but this type of player might just get it done.
No. 12 UK Turns in Complete Team Effort to Sweep Ole Miss - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

NCAA Sports News

Dan Wolken: Recruiting rules changing "
The NCAA is also going to shut the door on "package deals," which Memphis certainly engaged in under John Calipari. He hired Milt Wagner as director of basketball operations in 2000, which ultimately yielded a commitment from his son, Dajuan Wagner. Several months after Tyreke Evans signed with Memphis in 2008, his personal trainer from Philadelphia, Lamont Peterson, was hired to an administrative position.

I am very glad to see this go away. Calipari was not the only coach to do this by any means, but I'm glad to see it off limits.
You obligatory SEC Primer - Searching for Billy Edelin
A big step backward for Michigan, Rodriguez - College football- nbcsports.msnbc.com
Man. I hate to see this. I actually like Michigan football (in a semi-interested sort of way), and now they are looking very much like they are going through the same kind of decline that UK went through post Smith.

Rich Rodriguez probably (not certainly) gets one more season to get it right. After that, the former hot property from West Virginia might well follow Coach Gillispie into the depths of anonymity.
Rush The Court " 2009-10 Conference Primers: #5 – SEC
Rush The Court predicts the SEC for 2009-10, and tournament seeds as well. I don't think Florida will be NIT bound, though.

Other News of Interest

Celtics, Rondo agree on 5-year, $55M extension - NBA News - FOX Sports on MSN
Wow. What does that work out to, about $120,000 per game? Good for him.

The Daily Schadenfreude

Are Gators contenders? - College sports - BradentonHerald.com
Florida followed consecutive national championships with back-to-back NIT appearances, hardly the way coach Billy Donovan wanted to build off those title runs.

The drop-off humbled Donovan and made the Gators hungry to return to the NCAA Tournament. Getting back there could be a challenge, though.

Heh. I feel the need. The need for ... schadenfreude. Via Walter's Wildcat World

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Celtic Wildcats Wednesday

Truzenzuzex — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:25:06 -0000

More photos » by Greg M. Cooper - AP

Rajon Rondo worked hard to get where he is, and has learned how to lead by example.

Browse more photos »

Two stories this morning, one about Rajon Rondo, who is doing really well in the NBA, and one about Antoine Walker, who is doing really poorly in ... well, in life, I guess.

What is interesting is that these two guys have a lot in common. Both were two-year players at UK, and both had really good but not great careers at UK, both have championships (Walker at UK and Miami and Rondo with the Celtics), both were McDonalds All-Americans and both were first-round draft picks. Walker had a solid NBA career but throughout 12 years, he has always been pegged with an attitude problem. I suppose some of those chickens have come home to roost in his recent legal troubles.

Antoine Walker is a bit of a cautionary tale for Rondo. His current woes are what can happen if you don't make the most of your time in the NBA or take it for granted. I sincerely hope he is paying attention.

UK Basketball News

Pearl speaks on Selby
I don't really see anything here to get exercised about. I think Pearl is right, and I think that Kentucky and Calipari did not contact Selby after he committed.
Scout.com: Now There's a Problem
I mostly agree with this piece, but I have to take exception to this graf:

Why is it unreasonable for Wildcat fans to demand excellence when other programs of similar historic stature can do so? North Carolina, UCLA, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Connecticut, Michigan State and many other top quality programs wouldn't stand for a stretch that Kentucky has endured. There would be a lot of hand-wringing and complaining from any of those fans bases if recruiting had become virtually non-existent and if the quality wins became more and more rare.

Maybe the author has forgotten, but North Carolina, UCLA, and Indiana have gone through similar stretches. They did "stand for it" pretty much the same way UK has. One could argue that Duke is going through the beginnings of one right now.

UK Football News

UK Football: UK-Western deal a plus for state: WinchesterSun.com
This is great for UK and my alma mater. The question is, if I go to the game, who will I cheer for? Hmm ...
Should UK fans be concerned with the football recruiting?
Wildcat Blue in a Sea of Orange is wondering about our 2010 recruiting, too.
Countdown: UK vs. non-conference opponents John Clay’s Sidelines
New fact or issue each day for the next 40 days.
Seats Available for Kickoff Luncheon
Just so you know.
Hometown Report: SEC will challenge Brooks, Kentucky
The Sacramento Bee takes note of Rich Brooks' success, and his comments at SEC Media Days.

Other UK Sports News

None today

NCAA Sports News

Plenty of passers getting thrown in the SEC fire
I say it's slim pickings.
Anything but Gatorade: More Previews Not Written By Me
Funny, sad, bewildering story of the day
Truly, this saga just makes you wonder, "What the ...???"

Other News of Interest

Which is better, SEC football vs. Big East basketball?
Bozich picks the right answer, although I admit to a strong bias.
This is Sick - High School Highlights of Kevin Garnett
Yeah. He was pretty much above average back then, too.
Think before you tweet
Always good advice, before tweeting, talking or writing.

The Daily Schadenfreude

"What I did on My Summer Vacation"
June 30th.... Hung out with Ej today and ASked him if the story about him going to Kentucky waiving the Ku T-shirt was true, and he confirmed it was. To which I responded, while you were there did Calipari try to steal your recruitment too..... He laughed and said, Calipari was too busy finding someone to take John Wall's SAT's for him.

Have a laugh now, guys. I will enjoy your future pain.
Duke’s BIG Recruit: Josh Hairston | Box of M.E.S.S.
Did Kentucky or Memphis ever get in on your recruitment. If so, were you lured off by all the scandals that are going on there? No they did not.

Scandals at Kentucky? Please. What a bogus question.

Statistical Comparison: '08-'09 UK to '08-'09 Memphis

Ken Howlett — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:21:34 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

"Can I get my first Kentucky team to play as well as my final Memphis team?"

Browse more photos »

With the University of Kentucky releasing the official men's basketball roster for the 2009-2010 season, I thought this might be a good time to do a statistical comparison between UK and Memphis' 2008-2009 stats (and for those who spout-off about the pungent odor emanating from Conference USA, remember this while reading the statistics below; UK played the 61st toughest schedule last year, and Memphis' slate was rated 62nd). So yes, a statistical comparison is relevant, although not completely flawless.

But regardless, the question to be answered is this: Is Calipari capable of urging on his young-gun group of Wildcats, to at least perform as well as his team last year at Memphis?: Last year Cal led Antonio Anderson, super freshman Tyreke Evans, Robert Dozier, Shawn Taggert, and Doneal Mack. I believe that group of Tigers compares fairly to Patrick Patterson, John Wall, Darius Miller, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, and Darnell Dodson.

Another similarity, last year Memphis ended the season ranked in the lower half of the top-10, and this year's UK squad will begin the season ranked somewhere in that highly desirable upper-crust neighborhood (finally), but the 'Cats will be relying heavily on unproven youth.

The one major difference is that the SEC should be much tougher than last year. The entire SEC East (except Georgia) has a legitimate claim to being a top-30 team, as do SEC West leaders LSU and Mississippi State. So, I think it's reasonable to assume this years Kentucky team will at least play a moderately stiffer schedule than Memphis challenged last year.

But, hey, it's July, what else are we gonna do? Strap in, mucho information to follow:

Kentucky Memphis UK Opponents Memphis Opponents

Possessions Per 40 Min -- 70.2 68.6 70.2 68.6

Comment: Anyone surprised by those numbers? Most would assume Memphis would have averaged more possessions per 40 minutes. Not so, though.

Points Per Game -- 74.1 75.1 66.3 58.8

Comment: Allowing under 60 points per game, in any league, is impressive.

Points Per Possession -- 1.06 1.09 .94 .86

Field Goal Attempts -- 1938 2176 2080 2031

Comment: UK took 142 less shots than their opponents, while Memphis took 145 more shots than their opponents. Has their ever been a team that was roundly considered to be a "good team," which didn't take more shots than their opponents?

Field Goals Made -- 933 979 820 755

Comment: Wait, UK made 113 more shots than their opposition (more on that later), but that doesn't compare to Memphis' 224 made shot advantage.

Field Goal % -- 48.1 45.0 39.4 37.2

Comment: Stellar shooting by the 'Cats on-the-whole, but when a team fails at so many other aspects of the game, it renders solid shooting a lonely highlight.

3-Point FG Att's -- 573 681 715 574

Comment: Allowing 715 three-point attempts would be acceptable if the opponents made a low percentage, but as you will see below, UK allowed 35.5% from beyond the arc. A huge reason Kentucky didn't go dancin'. Raise your coffee mug if you thought Memphis shot 108 more 3-pointers than UK.

3-Point FG's Made -- 202 222 254 172

Comment: That's a point difference of -156 for UK, and +150 for Memphis (and a "win" difference of 33 to 22).

3-Point % -- 35.3 32.6 35.5 30.0

Comment: Sadly, there simply is no comparison between the type of perimeter defense the two teams played last year. UK's three-point defensive performance was the most abysmal effort since the '89-'90 season.

Free Throw Att's -- 777 868 718 720

Comment: Memphis' +91 over UK in free throw attempts is at least partly due to Cal's DDMO, along with having superior athletes. Lots of one-on-one, and when one is clearly a better athlete, one will be shooting more freebies.

Free Throw Att's Per Game -- 21.6 23.5 19.9 19.5

Free Throws Made -- 601 599 494 494

Free Throw % -- 77.3 69.0 68.8 68.6

Comment: Jodie Meeks' 90.2% free throw shooting certainly helped UK's number is this department. Unfortunately, I expect to see a stout statistical drop this upcoming season.

Rebounds Per Game -- 39.8 42.2 35.5 36.6

Comment: Even with a beast like Patterson patrolling the paint, UK only managed a +3.2 rebounding edge. That fact might be why I heard Billy Gillispie plead numerous times for someone, anyone, to help PPat down low.

Offensive Reb's Per Game -- 10.6 13.5 11.9 11.2

Offensive Rebound % -- 34.4 38.0 31.2 30.4

Comment: A weakness all year for UK, was the polar opposite for the Tigers. On the year, Memphis sported a +3.9 offensive rebounds per game advantage over UK -- Memphis averaged 2.3 more offensive boards than their opponents, and UK averaged 1.3 fewer offensive rebounds than their foes.. That's four more possessions per game from simply not giving up offensive position, and hitting the boards like you mean it.

Defensive Reb's Per Game -- 26.3 25.8 20.2 21.9

Defensive Rebound % -- 68.8 69.6 65.6 62.0

Assist % -- 60.7 53.7 46.3 48.2

Comment: Memphis' low assist rate is probably due to the DDMO. But, UK's 60.7% is impressive for a team without a natural point guard. Kentucky's ability to snuff out the assist was admirable, but with opponents running down the floor shooting uncontested 3's, a team's defensive assist numbers tend to look better than the reality.

Assists Per Game -- 15.7 14.2 10.6 9.8

Assist to Turnover -- .93 1.13 .71 .64

Total Turnovers -- 608 464 532 570

Comment: UK committed 144 more turnovers than Memphis, while playing roughly the same pace. UK was a +38 versus their opponents, while Memphis was -106. That's an average of four more possessions per game for Memphis, and yet another primary reason for UK's sub-par year. Committing 76 more turnovers than one's opponents is unacceptable if a team has any designs on winning.

Turnovers Per Game -- 16.9 12.5 14.8 15.4

Steals Per Game -- 6.6 8.9 7.7 5.9

Comment: Yet another major defensive difference in UK and Memphis. The inexperience of UK's guards last year is the primary culprit for UK's low steal number, but whatever the reason, the boys in blue lose another 4.1 possessions per game to the Tigers.

Blocks Per Game -- 6.6 6.0 3.8 2.8

Comment: The shot blocking was impressive last season for Kentucky. With both Patterson and Perry Stevenson coming back, along with the addition of Daniel Orton and DeMarcus Cousins, UK will not be absent at any time, the presence of at least two shot blockers on the floor.

Final Thoughts

So the question isn't, "Can Calipari teach these guys his offensive system in a timely fashion," rather it's, "Can Calipari get these guys to rebound and play defense with purpose?"

That's the way I see it. Last year Memphis didn't blow opponents off the floor with offensive explosions, instead they beat their foes with great defense, solid rebounding, and mindful ball-handling. All areas of weakness for Kentucky.

Now, is Calipari capable of delivering a defensive team which will be vastly improved over last season's sporadic efforts? Well, one thing I keep hearing about our man Cal is that his teams always play hard for him. And one of the by-products of such an arrangement is generally a solid defensive team, because defense is mostly about effort; I don't care which type of "D" one is playing, playing with effort is the key element to defensive competence.

Of course, a modicum flexibility in a coach's defensive philosophy is also an ingredient which should be liberally sprinkled into any successful defensive potion. At least THAT, should not be a problem this year.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Kentucky Basketball: Wheels Within Wheels

Truzenzuzex — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:35:12 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Would you buy what this man is selling? If you want to be an NBA star, you will.

Browse more photos »

I, along with others, have expressed concerns about implementing Calipari's now-famous Dribble Drive Motion Offense next year due to a lack of perimeter shooting, and there has been much give and take on that point. We all know how the DDMO is supposed to work -- players attack the rim with the objective of a layup, a dump-off to the big player on the weak side, or a skip pass to the open shooter depending on where help comes from. Simple. Elegant. Effective? Well, yes and no.

The obvious hole in the scheme is shooting. In order for the DDMO to be effective, you must have people capable of making the three-point shot. Kentucky has almost no proven perimeter shooting now that Jodie Meeks has moved on to the NBA. Does that mean that UK's season is doomed to failure? Can Calipari even run the DDMO with this bunch?

Before I attempt to answer that, let's take a look at this interview with Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal by Bluegrass State Basketball which does much to validate my concerns and provides an excellent opportunity for fans of the Big Blue to comment not only on the DDMO, but on all things John Calipari. But first, I want to look at some of Wolken's comments to BSB:

As far as the DDM itself, it’s definitely wide open; guys have freedom in that system, and it’s a good sell on the recruiting trail. Otherwise, I’m not a huge fan of it. I saw Memphis get taken out of that offense way, way too much by zones and junk defenses, and it can look downright ugly when that happens and shots aren’t falling. The fact is, when teams go zone, you can’t really run the DDM. You have to have make shots and force teams to go back to man. That was really the flaw for Memphis last year, and Calipari knew that. Every time I talked to him, he lamented the fact that they hadn’t recruited enough shooters and was really in the process of changing his recruiting approach to get more guys who could make shots even if they weren’t as athletic. If you look at the game tapes, Memphis barely ran the DDM at all last year. There’s no doubt that going to the DDM when he did made Calipari think differently about basketball, and I think it really rejuvenated his career. On the other hand, I know a couple coaches who would take you into the film room and just trash it. At the end of the day, it’s really all about players.

So can UK run this offense with the current players it has? Well, the answer to that may not be what you think, and there is still a lot we don't know about our perimeter shooting this year. But what I find even more fascinating than how effective the zone and junk is against the DDMO is Wolken's comments on recruiting.

I think Wolken validates perception that I pointed out on this blog some time back. The reality is (at least in my opinion), the DDMO is more valuable as a recruiting tool than as an actual offensive system. Does it work? Absolutely, under the right conditions. Can it be stopped? Sure, and the zone is the easiest way to clog up the works. But there is a much larger method to this madness.

The DDMO works best with big, quick, athletic players who can shoot. Well, let me tell you that basketball in general works best with big, quick, athletic players who can shoot, no matter what offensive style a team runs. Calipari is an innovative coach, but not in the way that many people have been lead to believe, i.e. adapting Vance Walberg's progenitor, the attack-attack-skip-attack-attack offense into some kind of X and O marvel.

No, Calipari's innovation is much more subtle and powerful. He has developed a system that he doesn't really need to run all the time, because its true value is how it is perceived by recruits throughout the country. They see the DDMO as a way to showcase their individual skills, and it absolutely is all of that, and when teams try to play man against UK next year, they are going to see just how effective it can be. But in reality, it can only be run well against a man-to-man defense. It is easy for good coaches to design defenses to make this scheme look and play ugly and ineffectively... BUT (and this is a big, big BUT), even the greatest defensive scheme in the world will not give the opponent bigger, quicker, more athletic players.

Calipari understands perfectly well that the DDMO is vulnerable to the zone. That's one big reason it isn't just a straight copy of Walberg's system. Walberg may be considered a guru by some, but his system is not only imperfect, it is downright vulnerable to a zone or junk defenses. And sticking with it in a zone without good shooting is a recipe for disaster, which is perhaps why Walberg is coaching at ~~Pepperdine~~ UMass and not Indiana or UCLA.

But Calipari's real genius is how he has marketed and packaged this stuff to appeal directly to the best basketball players in America, and if you don't think it does, just take a look at his recruiting success since he implemented it. If you put teams that include four or five first-round NBA draft picks on the floor, it doesn't really matter what kind of a scheme you run -- these guys are generally going to be too good for most teams under all but the most adverse of circumstances.

Now for another interesting tidbit:

BSB: How do you see Kentucky’s season playing out? How do you see Memphis’ season playing out?

Wolken: It will be extremely interesting to watch Kentucky this year with a whole team of guys who have never been coached by John before. Obviously, they’re loaded with terrific players, but it might take awhile for things to click. Derrick Rose wasn’t an elite college player until mid-February. Tyreke Evans was horrendous until mid-January. Even with guys of that ability level, it doesn’t happen automatically. Kentucky will certainly be a Sweet 16 caliber team. They’ll have an opportunity to go further if they figure out who’s going to make perimeter shots, since that seems to be an area of concern right now

I think this is a great point by Wolken. I know that everyone is all excited about this great recruiting class and all the marvelolus athletes and players UK has coming in, but we do need to take a reality pill -- it is rare for teams as young as UK will be next year not to have some growing pains, although for a fact, it has been a long while since this much freshman talent has been present on one team. But if guys like Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans struggled early on, you can best believe that even John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins aren't going to step in and be elite players from day one in the college game.

But if Wolken's examples hold true to form, there is a good chance that UK will be very dangerous by February, and that's when it counts. I think we will muddle through on superior talent in the early and mid part of the season, but it could get really exciting when these young freshmen begin to turn into sophomores. And of course, Patrick Patterson, Ramon Harris and Perry Stevenson will be there to provide leadership both on and off the floor.

Be sure and read the whole interview, it is jam packed with good stuff.

Minnesota's Draft Board Is Revealing

Sean Keeley — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:44:39 -0000

Via Canis Hoopus, The Blowtorch found the Timberwolves' draft board discarded among the trash from last night's NBA Draft. It explains a lot.

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Is Rajon Rondo a Problem Child?

Truzenzuzex — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:41:10 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

"Grow up, Rajon!"

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Before I get started with this, I will answer my lede question -- no, not by the measure of "problem children" we have seen in the past in the NBA, Rajon Rondo definitely is not a problem child. But he is also not a man, not yet.

During the time Rajon Rondo was at Kentucky, it was utterly impossible for any basketball fan not to see his extraordinary talent and physical gifts. From his huge hands to his giant wingspan to the way he seemed to be thinking one step ahead of his opponents, Rondo was always destined to be an NBA player, and a good one. His physical gifts alone all but ensured that.

But comes now all this trade talk, which, given Rondo's mostly stellar on-the-court performance makes one wonder just what in the name of Heaven is going on in Danny Ainge's mind. Well, we got a bit of insight into that yesterday from Ainge himself:

During the interview, Ainge commented that Rondo has "got to grow up,’’ and added, "his presence hurt us’’ against Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals, that Rondo wasn’t a "max contract player,’’ and acknowledged Rondo was fined for being tardy to postseason games.

Hmm. So there is some trouble in Paradise, it seems. The fact of the matter is, Rajon Rondo does have to grow up. At only 23 years old and while certainly an adult technically, we have seen many players both past and present who were little more than boys trying to be men at this point in their career, and at this tender age. The problem is, at 23 years old, Rajon Rondo is the starting point guard on one of the NBA's most prized properties -- the Boston Celtics. I know the guys at Memphis and Charlotte don't want to hear this, but a lot more people care who starts for the Lakers and the Celtics than who starts for your teams. Ainge gets this intuitively. Rondo, if these comments are to be taken at face value, does not.

Celticsblog weighs in on on these remarks from Danny Ainge thus:

However, I also think that things like this have the potential to sour a relationship quickly. The last thing you want is a public war of words between your front office and your starting point guard. Not only would that lower Rondo's potential trade value, but most importantly, it could easily lead to resentment. If Rondo really is stubborn and really does have problems hiding his anger / frustration, then calling him out in public potentially doesn't help that.

He's right on both counts. So why would Ainge fire this cannon shot across Rajon Rondo's bow? Well, usually when you call a player out in public like this, it is to draw his full attention to the problem and force a response. Certainly, the method and intensity of Rondo's reaction could help bring to pass just what Celticsblog fears. If Rondo reacts with impudence and/or irrational anger, it will have the effect of validating Ainge's comment and potentially lowering Rondo's trade value as well as damaging his relationship with the Celtics if they decide to keep him.

But it also has the effect of cutting through the bovine excrement. Candor like this must be answered with one of three things: Equal candor, outright anger or contrition. The way that Rondo responds will give Ainge, in large part, the answer to his problem -- does he deal Rondo and let somebody else mature him, messing up the Celtics chemistry and forcing at least a minor rebuilding, or does he hang on to Rondo and deal with the maturation process himself? It is also quite possible that Rondo was unaware of the gravity of his situation until just now, and the shock of that could do much to motivate him to grab an oar and begin rowing the same way as everyone else.

Bill Burt of the Eagle-Tribune in Massachusetts takes Rondo's alleged immaturity head on:

Starting point guard for the Boston Celtics. World Champion. Reebok commercials. Triple-doubles galore. Recognition as the next "great" point guard.

All by age 23.

This is the same Rajon Rondo who, on draft day in 2006, drew this comment from ESPN college basketball expert Jay Bilas, "The problem is he can't shoot."

Rondo still can't shoot, but he can run an offense.

Now comes the dirt.

He's pig-headed. He's not a leader. He's been tardy too many times to games, including a playoff tilt. And, maybe worst of all, he wants to be among the richest players in pro basketball.

And lest I forget, he still can't hit the open jump shot.

Ouch. There is some candor for you. Rondo, as good as he has been, could be a lot better in any number of ways, and some of his shortcomings will become glaring if they aren't addressed. His shooting has been a problem since he was in high school, and although he has made some progress, it is clearly not up to the standards of a star NBA point guard right now, and is not improving as quickly as most players do.

But the lack of a jump shot is not a fatal flaw for a player like Rondo, but a bad attitude absolutely can be. You don't get yours until you deliver the goods, and if this article is accurate, Rajon Rondo is demanding his money before he delivers the goods. If that sticks, he is looking at a one-way ticket to a small-market team, and even if he gets to the all-star game every year, the likelihood of winding up on a truly championship-caliber team tends to decrease when you are perceived as a problem child. That isn't always true, of course -- Rasheed Wallace, Dennis Rodman and others have proven it is possible, but the list of difficult players with NBA rings is a pretty short one.

Lets hope it all works out for Rajon and the Celtics. Now for the news:

UK Basketball News

Jody Demling talks about the "Fab Frosh Camp" at UK
Elite forward set to visit Kentucky
Chris Fisher blogs on Mychal Parker.
Jody Demling on Dominique Ferguson
Former Cat Gerald Fitch is Player of the Year in Turkey
Great find by BSB. Congrats, Gerald, you were one of my faves.
John Clay's thoughts on the Seth Davis article
"In my more idealistic youth, I saw such practices as failing to renew a player’s scholarship as outlandish behavior. I’ve softened my hard-lance stance over the years, and while Calipari’s spring cleaning makes me a bit uncomfortable, I’m far from outraged."
Seth Davis: Isiah Thomas, John Calipari hurting players in scholarship game
Some thoughtful comments from Straitpinkie on the subject I blogged about yesterday. I think most UK fans see this "waiving" of players as a problem, but only if it happens outside the confines of a coaching change. I know some who read this blog don't agree, and that's fine, but I think most people are offended by the practice and would like to see it stopped.
Seth Davis Criticizes John Calipari and Others
Just as BSB says, it is what it is.
A mock version of a mock draft
5. Minnesota -- Tyreke Evans: Evans' stellar rookie season will be interrupted when it's revealed that not only are his SAT results dubious, but he was never even enrolled at Memphis. When reached for comment, John Calipari says, "I don't know what you're talking about. I've been coaching Kentucky for the last 10 years." It's okay to laugh at this one. :-)
Deadspin - And It's Erin Calipari To The Rescue Again...
Offered without comment.
NBA Draft promises long night for fans | KentuckySports.com
"With Jodie Meeks in the mix, Big Blue Nation might actually turn off John Calipari's tweets and turn on Thursday night's NBA Draft, live from Madison Square Garden."
Meeks to the Lakers?
What do you think?

UK Football News

Locke's knee injury tested his mental toughness
Knee injuries truly suck. Kudos to Derrick Locke for his determination. I pray he is as good as new when he hits the field this year.
"Rumble at the River" to be Televised by ESPNU
The UK vs. Miami of Ohio game will be picked up by ESPNU.

Other UK Sports News

None today.

NCAA Sports News

With stars returning Horn, USC have a chance for big seasonw
The SEC East is going to be tough next year.
Some guys are easier to replace than others
I think UNC will have a devil of a time replacing Ty Lawson.

Other News of Interest

Ex-Scott County Basketball Star Mackey Indicted
This kid just can't stay out of trouble. I foresee gloomy prospects ahead for his life if he can't turn it around. Very sad.
Feldhaus medalist for 74th Chippeways Invitational after firing 69
Deron Feldhaus has game -- golf game, that is.

The Daily Schadenfreude

Chris Diggs asks a very good question
My guess is, the answer is no. Coach Krzyzewski is off-limits for criticism by most of the media unless he makes enough a a jerk of himself, in public, to garner criticism.
Commentary: Florida coach Billy Donovan's level of comfort still high
"We all know the success that you had when you recruited Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer and the rest of that group," said a booster who rose with microphone in hand. "Why can't you do that again?" Bwahhahaa! Yeah, Billy, why not? Oh, I love it when Donovan gets slapped around by a Florida fan.

Polling GSOM: Who do you WANT the Warriors to draft in the 2009 NBA Draft?

Fantasy Junkie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:23 -0000

Originally posted Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM PDT

Spread the word and tell everyone to vote!

There are two NBA draft polls on GSOM, make sure to vote in each. In this second one, who do you want the Warriors to draft? The first poll, who do you think the Warriors will draft, asked you to be pretend you're Don Nelson and make the 7th pick. This poll has the identical poll selections, but we want you to choose the draft pick who you want the Warriors to draft. Your reasons for wanting a player are your own, but I'd like to think you'll want the guy who will benefit the Warriors the most, not who will cause Rowell the biggest heartache or will most likely sit behind Marco and give him more playing time because you have a secret man crush on Marco. Again, choose the guy who you WANT the Warriors to draft.

Spread the word and tell all your friends to vote in the poll. Choose the guy who you WANT the Warriors to draft.

In 2005 and 2006, the GSOM community voted and Chris Mullin decided to pick that guy. In 2005 it was Ike Diogu (ooops) and in 2006 it was Patrick O'Bryant (ooops again). The GSOM community's draft record has not been so stellar. For the record, I voted for Danny Granger (2005) and Rodney Carney (2006). In 2007, the community voted for Yi (oops) and he turned out to not be available so we went with Brandan Wright instead. Then last year, Anthony Randolph wasn't even a possible selection since he wasn't expected to fall so far. Looks like picking by committee isn't such a good thing but that's not going to stop us.

Just like the previous poll, I've tried to limit the selections to who might be available (no Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, Hasheem Thabeet, or James Harden) and also left out guys that probably won't be the pick (DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansborough, Gerald Henderson, Earl Clark). That said, there are still a lot of guys to choose from because this draft seems pretty wide open. It's not clear who will be available. For instance, ESPN has Tyreke Evans going 4th, Draft Express has him going 6th, and NBA Draft.net has him going 8th. He could be available to the Warriors. Additionally, all that hype around Brandon Jennings seems to be gone now. He's 19th on ESPN, 17th on Draft Express, and, drum roll please, 7th on NBA Draft.net.

Also, be sure to check out Bill Simmons' podcast with Chad Ford (see the top right of the page) covering a lot of the draft picks. Tyreke Evans? It's a joke to think he could be an NBA point guard. Ricky Rubio? Special player and it's unfathomable as to why he would drop. Lots of good entertaining stuff in there.

Poll

Who do you want the Warriors to draft?

Terrence Williams

43 votes

Brandon Jennings

397 votes

Jrue Holiday

58 votes

Jordan Hill

266 votes

Jonny Flynn

127 votes

Tyreke Evans

234 votes

DeMar DeRozan

64 votes

Stephen Curry

394 votes

1583 votes | Poll has closed

Polling GSOM: Who do you think the Warriors will draft in the 2009 NBA Draft?

Fantasy Junkie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:22 -0000

Originally posted Jun 24, 2009 12:00 PM PDT

Which draft pick will be wearing this tomorrow?

There are two NBA draft polls on GSOM, make sure to vote in each. In this first one, who do you think the Warriors will draft? The second will be who you want the Warriors to draft. Using your best ~~Robert Rowell~~ ~~Larry Riley~~ Don Nelson impression, pick the player who you think we'll end up with in the 7th pick.

I've tried to limit the selections to who might be available (no Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, Hasheem Thabeet, or James Harden) and also left out guys that probably won't be the pick (DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansborough, Gerald Henderson, Earl Clark). That said, there are still a lot of guys to choose from because this draft seems pretty wide open. It's not clear who will be available. For instance, ESPN has Tyreke Evans going 4th, Draft Express has him going 6th, and NBA Draft.net has him going 8th. He could be available to the Warriors. Additionally, all that hype around Brandon Jennings seems to be gone now. He's 19th on ESPN, 17th on Draft Express, and, drum roll please, 7th on NBA Draft.net.

Choose the guy who you think the Warriors will draft. Release your inner Nostradamus.

Poll

Who do you think the Warriors will draft?

Stephen Curry

154 votes

DeMar DeRozan

33 votes

Jonny Flynn

40 votes

Tyreke Evans

49 votes

Jordan Hill

420 votes

Jrue Holiday

27 votes

Brandon Jennings

173 votes

Terrence Williams

19 votes

915 votes | Poll has closed

2009 NBA Draft Q&A: Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Part 3 of 3)

Atma Brother ONE — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:00:19 -0000

Don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this trilogy with Aran Smith from NBADraft.net.

How high would AR go in this draft? [via www.nba.com]

We get right down to business in this part. Do the same by J-U-M-P-ing!

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): Anthony Randolph is coming off a very intriguing rookie season with the Warriors. How does he stack up against this draft class? Where would you project him to go in this draft?

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): If the Randolph that played this year for the Warriors somehow was thrown back into the draft, he'd be the #2 pick. I think Randolph has a lot of upside and really liked that pick since he was the player with the most upside of anyone at 14. No sense in taking safe picks when you can pick up those types of players in free agency.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): With names like Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Patrick Mills, and Jrue Holiday this draft seems like it has plenty of point guard options to help the Warriors shore up their biggest glaring weakness. Is there a big difference between them in terms of talent and upside? Do you see any All-Star appearances out of this group?

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): There likely will be a few all star appearances from one or two of these guys. As far as difference in talent, yes there are a few tiers. Rubio and Jennings have the most upside. Flynn is a guy who combines solid potential with current ability. Teague might actually have even more upside than Flynn, but he's got a ways to go. Evans is not a true point guard in my book, and I'm also not sure why people haven't caught onto the fact that the big point guard is a failed experiment. The rest of those guys are late first round types.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors SHOULD select... Why?

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): The Warriors should take the best player available. I would take Jennings if he's there. He makes the most sense long term for them and goes along with the swing for the fences approach that brought them Randolph last year. DeRozan has a lot of upside and would make for an interesting pick. I also like Hill, but if they take him, we may never find out how good Wright is until he gets a fresh start with a new
team.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors WILL select... Why?

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): Nellie wants to win now so I anticipate they will go with the most NBA ready PG at their pick: Jonny Flynn. Flynn isn't a bad pick, but there will be other guys available with more upside. That would mean taking a risk and rolling the dice on a player for the future, so that may not be in the cards.

**********

All of us at GSoM wanted to thank Aran for taking the time to field these questions. NBADraft.net has long remained one of my favorite hoops destinations. It's ridiculously easy to lose hours on the site just flipping back through the draft archives (which is exactly what I did when I wrote this piece: Golden State Warriors 1st Round Draft History and Just My Imagination) and reading up about players that won't even be drafted till 2010!

Poll

Would Golden State Warriors sophomore forward Anthony Randolph go #2 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft?

YES: No Doubt

406 votes

NO-a: Definite lottery pick though

267 votes

NO-b: Post-lotto 1st round pick

18 votes

NO-c: 2nd round pick (I don't know hoops)

6 votes

NO-d: Undrafted (I'm just being silly)

7 votes

704 votes | Poll has closed

Intrigue and Scandal and Such

Exhibit G — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:55:35 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Browse more photos »

My brain is mush. A horrible season has caused us to be evaluating prospects and talking about the draft since January. Frankly, I'm tired. This draft has more smokescreens than a John Woo movie. But still I'm going to try to make sense of it.

The Grizzlies are trying to puff their chest out and be a big player, saying they'll draft Ricky Rubio, but nobody is buying it. Chris Wallace is already a bit of a laughingstock, and he can't afford to end up with egg on his face again. Deep down, he knows he cannot go toe-to-toe with Fegan. And he knows he would have zero leverage if he drafted Rubio and tried to trade him. Wallace has made some dumb moves, but I have faith that he is smart enough to realize this (can't be that dumb, right? Right?). So the Grizzlies will not draft him.

The bigger question then becomes whether or not they trade the pick. Based on everything Amick has reported, it doesn't sound like the Kings are going to blink. They'll stay at 4 and get what they get. This is actually a much bigger deal than we've realized up until this point.

It is being widely reported that Memphis actually likes Tyreke Evans, and would like to draft him. But Wallace thinks he can trade down and still get him. There is no incentive for OKC to trade up, so you're looking at any team after Washington. It is possible that this could happen. But the catch is that if Rubio is off the board, it is very likely the Kings will draft Evans. This is why the Kings refusal to trade up is so key. Memphis can draft Evans, or they can trade their pick. They, in all likelyhood, cannot do both.

But there is yet another wrinkle. Do the Kings actually like Evans that much? Personally, I think they actually do. But it could just be the single greatest smokescreen misdirection ever pulled.

Have I clarified the situation? Yeah, I didn't think so. Is it Thursday yet?

SB Nation - Tyreke Evans

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Blog Refresh Edition

Top Stories

UK Basketball News

UK Football News

Other UK Sports News

NCAA Sports News

Other News of Interest

The Daily Schadenfreude

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Celtic Wildcats Wednesday

Top Stories

UK Basketball News

UK Football News

Other UK Sports News

NCAA Sports News

Other News of Interest

The Daily Schadenfreude

Statistical Comparison: '08-'09 UK to '08-'09 Memphis

Kentucky Basketball: Wheels Within Wheels

Minnesota's Draft Board Is Revealing

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Is Rajon Rondo a Problem Child?

UK Basketball News

UK Football News

Other UK Sports News

NCAA Sports News

Other News of Interest

The Daily Schadenfreude

Polling GSOM: Who do you WANT the Warriors to draft in the 2009 NBA Draft?

Who do you want the Warriors to draft?

Terrence Williams

Brandon Jennings

Jrue Holiday

Jordan Hill

Jonny Flynn

Tyreke Evans

DeMar DeRozan

Stephen Curry

Polling GSOM: Who do you think the Warriors will draft in the 2009 NBA Draft?

Who do you think the Warriors will draft?

Stephen Curry

DeMar DeRozan

Jonny Flynn

Tyreke Evans

Jordan Hill

Jrue Holiday

Brandon Jennings

Terrence Williams

2009 NBA Draft Q&A: Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Part 3 of 3)

Would Golden State Warriors sophomore forward Anthony Randolph go #2 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft?

YES: No Doubt

NO-a: Definite lottery pick though

NO-b: Post-lotto 1st round pick

NO-c: 2nd round pick (I don't know hoops)

NO-d: Undrafted (I'm just being silly)

Intrigue and Scandal and Such