SB Nation User Blog: NormVanBeer

Bill Simmons goes ga-ga for Rose

NormVanBeer — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:21:30 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/081126&sportCat=nba

He pretty much anoints Rose as the next great PG in the game....while trashing the rest of the team and Paxson in the process. Fun read though.

1. Has Derrick Rose exceeded every conceivable expectation?
Yes, yes and yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Unequivocally, 100 percent, yes. As God as my witness, yes. May I get struck down by lightning if I'm lying, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes yes yes.

Ray Clay does PA for the Sky games?

NormVanBeer — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:38:06 -0000

Ray Clay does PA for the Sky games?

I honestly never knew this.

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Sky Office Address Chicago Sky 20 W. Kinzie St., Suite 1010, Chicago, IL 60654
Sky Training Facility Attack Athletics 2641 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612
Telephone (312) 828-9550
Home Court UIC Pavilion 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60607
Website www.chicagosky.net
Public Address Announcer Ray Clay
PR Manager Ronnie Ramirez 312.994.5984 rramirez@chicagosky.net

Source: Clips-Knicks trade in limbo over Mobley's physical

NormVanBeer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:32:52 -0000

Source: Clips-Knicks trade in limbo over Mobley's physical

The source said that the Knicks raised the concerns about Mobley and have yet to sign off on the deal as a result.
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There's still hope for a Hughes deal! Larry's had a 25-pt game and a game winner on this trip...do the deal now!

Once again - a player says the coaching staff should run different sets

NormVanBeer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:17:03 -0000

Once again - a player says the coaching staff should run different sets

Granted, this time it was Larry Hughes, so that already gives this fanshot no credibility...but I had to post it anyway. In today's DH:
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"We need to maybe slow it up a little bit, maybe run some different sets and try to figure out some things to keep those guys guessing rather than trying to go up and down with them. It's tough trying to do that."
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So first it was Lu saying this, now Hughes. So is the staff out of ideas already? I've never heard players really mention this, let alone so early into the season as well. Who are our X & O guys...Del? Bernie?

Gooden tweaks an ankle...Phil admires Rose's playmaking

NormVanBeer — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:44:16 -0000

Gooden tweaks an ankle...Phil admires Rose's playmaking

"...Drew Gooden aggravated his right ankle injury during Monday's practice and will be a gametime decision against the Lakers on Tuesday."
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As for Phil Jackson's comments:

"I think he's a playmaker, first and foremost," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said after practice Monday. "I think he's learning scoring in the NBA because we score so many points and it's really an open game. I think that's what he's going to find as he comes along this year. But, really, I think his playmaking, his teamwork and his capabilities of getting the ball to players is really what's an important aspect of his game."

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I think Phil is doing a little more than admiring though. Look for him to try and get the ball out of Rose's hands and make someone else direct traffic.

Bulls waive Demetris Nichols

NormVanBeer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:34:35 -0000

Bulls waive Demetris Nichols

[From the FanShots. Nichols' deal was unguaranteed, so this likely puts the Bulls back under the luxury tax after signing Hunter -ed.]

Nichols (6-8, 216), appeared in two games this season with Chicago and averaged 1.0 ppg in 2.5 mpg. Nichols was claimed on waivers by the Bulls on Dec. 7, 2007 and was re-signed by Chicago on July 24, 2008. He was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (53rd selection) of NBA Draft 2007.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

Went to the Knicks/Mavs game on Sunday

NormVanBeer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:58:11 -0000

Went to the Knicks/Mavs game on Sunday

I'm on a biz-trip in NY...I'll be here until Friday, so I thought I'd take in a Knick game. I'm going through major basketball withdrawls right now, not being able to watch the Bulls for over a week, so any basketball is better than no basketball. Plus, I've never been to the Garden, so that was an experience within itself.

Surprisingly, this was actually a pretty good game...until overtime, when NY practically choked the game away. Here are my observations:

- Watching the Knicks run D'Antoni's "7 seconds or less" offense was interesting. It looked like a real life game of NBA Live. The pace was absolutely incredible.

-Speaking of his offense, there didn't really seem to be any rhyme or reason the way the Knicks were running it. In Phoenix, there seemed to be some sort of controlled madness, but here, it just seemed like madness.

-Neither team played any defense. Dallas in particular looked really bad.

-Duhon still hesitates to shoot unless he has 5ft of open space around him (at the same time, he ended up having a pretty efficient 16pt/12ast game). He sucked in the first half, but his 2nd half was better. He hit a few big shots in the 4th. Typical Duhon...he'll disappear for the next 10 games.

-Marbury was on the court shooting around and warming up about an hour before the game started. With about 35 min before tipoff he went in.

-I've always liked Crawford, but he took some absolutely horrendous shots in this game.

-I'm not sure who has the worst shot selection between Crawford, Richardson, and Z-Bo. The only difference in this game is that Z-Bo knocked down most of his shots (he was 10-20, JC was 5-19).

-Nate Robinson always seemed like he was trying to do way too much. He would try to make the spectacular play instead of the simple one.

-Violet Palmer is still the worst official in ANY sports league.

-Eddy Curry wasn't even on bench. I know he's been inactive, but I thought he would at least be there.

-As much as I like the Luvabulls, the Knick City Dancers put them to shame (in looks and in routines)

-Along the same lines, the Knicks City Kids did a couple of nice lil routines. I would say they are better than the BullsKidz...but that wouldn't be nice to say. Is it mandatory for each team to have a kids dance group now?

-The Bulls really do have one of the most fan-friendly areas in the league. The Knicks seemed to be out of enterainment after halftime. Timeouts in the 3rd and 4th quarters pretty much seemed to consist of the dancers throwing t-shirts into the crowd.

-Speaking of halftime, the entertainment was those stupid Zooperstar blow up dolls...funny, but dumb

-Magic Johnson was sitting front row. They did a close-up and the stadium errupted into a standing ovation, which was pretty cool.

-Giants, Plaxio Burress and Brandon Jacobs were also at the game and got a nice ovation.

-It was cool hearing the Knicks organ player in person.

-The fans were pretty passionate throughout the entire game. They were into it from start to finish. There was no sandwich (or any other type of food) giveaway...which meant there was no stupid anxious moaning when the Knicks approached 100.

-MSG has that old stadium look, feel, and smell to it on the inside. On the one hand, I like the classic arena feel. But on the other hand, it seriously needs some upgrades. There were hardly any suites. You'd have to think if they renovated and/or built a new arena, they'd pull in tons of money.

-I wish we could somehow get David Lee (Noce for M. Rose and David Lee anyone?)

VDN: Give Rose the damn ball!

NormVanBeer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:13:24 -0000

VDN: Give Rose the damn ball!

[From the FanShots -ed.]

That's why it was so puzzling -- and borderline troubling -- that the ball was out of Rose's hands so much when the Bulls featured a three-guard lineup of him, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich during their 96-93 loss Monday to the Orlando Magic. Coach Vinny Del Negro made it clear after practice Tuesday that wasn't by design.

''We want him with the ball more,'' he said. ''We need to work on that a little bit, but we didn't have a preseason with Ben in the lineup and haven't had to really go to the small lineup in the first few games. That was the first time we went to that, and you have to find a way to work the kinks out.

''Obviously, we'd rather have Derrick with the basketball with [Gordon and Hinrich] spaced.''

Deng still trying to find his way in new offense

NormVanBeer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:39:46 -0000

Deng still trying to find his way in new offense

[From the Fanshots -ed.]

Lu: Hey coach, why does my offense stink so bad right now?

VDN: Get ur butt out of the post! Slash! Slash kid slash!

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"The way our offense is, I have to find a way to be effective," Deng said. "I don't know how yet, but I have to figure it out. I'm trying to find little stuff, cutting.

"It's a different style, and I'm trying to figure it out. We're penetrating, but guys are staying. I'm trying to shoot my shot, but there's a crowd."

I don't think I've frowned upon it," Del Negro said. "I just think it slows us down a lot. I don't think that's a strength of ours right now. There are times we need to do that. But I'd like to get up and down more than we are now.

"He's not leaving the page offensively. If he feels there's an advantage or if there's something we feel can work for him, we'll [post up] in a second. Right now, it's a feel thing for him. And we have to feel some things through ourselves."

Rose inks endorsement deal with Wilson

NormVanBeer — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:41:26 -0000

Rose inks endorsement deal with Wilson

Reigning NBA No. 1 pick and Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose has signed a major endorsement deal –-- with Wilson?

Yes, the lovable manufacture of numerous sporting goods, accessories and clothing now has the Bulls’ next great hope under its wing.

Rose is the latest athlete to sign with the Wilson brand, along with Padraig Harrington, Roger Federer, Venus and Serena Williams, Tom Brady, David Wright and Kerri Walsh.