(Ed. Note: Matt's back for more, art selection was mine to pretty it up for the front page.)

Holy Hell, we did it. We've come out with at least a split on the LA-CLE back to back. I'm assuming a loss tonight, but then, I assumed a loss last night. Still, a roadie against LBJ? Oh, hey, their point guard is out. Wait, nevermind, Conley exists. Sigh.

But, after weathering the storm this week, sunny skies are on their way. Let's take a look at what's coming up for the Grizzlies, what they're doing well, and what they need to focus on.

Continue reading this post »

Editors note: From our good friend Matt, Grizzlies convert. Read and weep, with joy.

Well, then. That makes it eleven (IT GOES TO ELEVEN). Every time we think we have faced the insurmountable beast at home, the Boys in Blue manage to stab their way back into it. That's the best word I can use for it. Especially last night, they stabbed their way back into it. Orlando builds an eleven point lead? Mayo stabs in a three to get a run going. The Magic close on Conley in the paint? He stabs a pass to Gasol for the and-one.  All the while, Zach Randolph is stabbing, stabbing, stabbing his way to 19 rebounds,

So here we are, on January 26th, 2010, in the eighth spot of the Western Conference playoffs, winners of 11 straight at home. It may all go to hell from here on out, but we've got this moment to look at. So let's look at it. What's working well, what's not?

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There's no wrong way to be a fan, as long as you're not disrespecting your fellow fans, crossing lines of human decency, or generally being a Raiders fan. You can be pessimistic, optimistic, hedonistic, fanatic, dramatic, or just plain crazy. However someone chooses to exhibit their support of a sports franchise is within their rights.

But you've got to stick to your approach. What am I getting at?

Don't demand change then question the changes themselves.

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You want to make an omelet? You gotta break a few eggs. You want to rebuild a football team, you gotta get rid of a few good players. The question is, which eggs were the ones that when we break them, poison us and leave us face-down in our huevos rancheros waiting for the kids to come in an find us while Imagination Movers blares on the TV and the dog eats the toast?

The Chiefs have ditched their fair share of guys, many of whom are going to wind up on other teams if they haven't already. But as we've seen over the years, sometimes the guys we give away are the ones that come back to hurt us the most.

The one that always stands out the most to me is Rich Gannon (ptew!). After tempting us all with his promise, the Chiefs' coaching staff foolishly let him walk, resulting in him torturing the Chiefs over several years with the Oakland Raiders of all people. That one just stings.

So the question is, of the players the Chiefs have jettisoned, who are you most afraid of running into down the line?

Candidates after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Photo via David Eulitt of the Kansas City Star

From the FanPosts  -Joel

"It was Haley's flingin' flarnin' play-callin! He ran too much! If he didn't run, we coulda gotten back into it, fling-flarn it!"

"Cassel can't make the big throws! He's no better than Brodie!"

"LJ can't run worth a lick! Bench him!"

"That defense can't give up that many yards! Period! Our defense is terrible!"

Come along with me after the jump and I'll reveal how the only people in the firing line today should be the five guys up front, and the effect that created in yesterday's debacle. 

Continue reading this post »

I've just been handed an urgent, and horrifying news story. And I need all of you to stop what you're doing and listen.

(CHIEFSTRADEASECONDROUNDERFORCASSELANDVRABEL, CUTLERWANTSOUTOFDENVERTHEJJARRINGTONDEALISNTDONEANDTHISISPROBABLYTHELASTSNOWOFTHEWINTER)

CANNONBALL!

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON!

So with that in mind, let's all remember this day as one of the better ones. Soon the days of Damon Huard and Rocky Boiman will be behind us completely. We nab two veterans while only having to give up a pick we would have undoubtedly used on a defensive linemen who would end up playing second string in another city in two years, and the Broncos are pissing off their Pro Bowl quarterback. It's like God brought a little joy into the snow that fell here today.

HAPPY "THIS YEAR WILL NOT SUCK AS MUCH AS THE LAST" DAY!

Promoted for Front Page Friday!

Dear God:

We dealt with you allowing them to be delivered the Orange Bowl in 2007. We beat them, it was outlandish, but we understand not even you can make sense of the BCS.

We suffered through their NCAA Championship last March. Great team. Yeah, Memphis shold have put them away, but we're used to them having great teams.

And we even lasted through them winning the freaking Border War in the snow. Appparently Chase Daniel's pride irked you in some way and you felt the need to punish as all for it.

But we need this one. For one season, we need to have something to hold over them. They've held a chokehold on us in basketball for too long. It's only fair that you even the bar. C'mon, God, you know you want it. Just picture, all of the kuchebags, crying in their little arena. wondering how this could happen. Give in, God. Grant us victory.

Sincerely,

The Show Me State

I respect the idea that we need to keep the GM and coaching jobs seperate. I think that's a very sound approach to take and the only reason I'm in favor of violating it is in the pursuit of Bill Cowher, who is absolutely everything we've been looking for as the face of a franchise. Hard-line, family-man, xs and os. defense, offense, the works.

If we don't get Cowher because he decides to hang out in North Carolina with his daughters another year, no biggie. If we don't get him because the lure of the New York gig was too much, I'll be glad because that's not what I think Cowher is. If we don't get him because the Lions offer him everything he could ever want and more money than God, I'll wish him good luck and be fine with it.

What I will not be okay with is if we lose out on Cowher because the Broncos get him.

Imagine having to play Cowher twice a year for a half-decade with a franchise quarterback and a solid group of personnel. You know what it's like trying to get over the hump with Cowher on your schedule twice a year? Go ask the Browns or the Bengals.

I know that Hunt wants to exercise due dilligence and pick the right guy for the job. But we're going to lose out on most of the top candidates if we don't get a move on. We'll end up stuck with someone that wasn't our first, second, or third pick. And that's been our MO for too long. Clark Hunt, if you have a plan, execute it. If not, go get Cowher on a plane.

I just wanted to get this out there so we can look at it in context.

We're not going to keep Tyler Thigpen as our starting quarterback because he's an inexperienced, underwhelming quarterback who is only effective in the spread system which can't work in the NFL and though he plays with a lot of heart, has a solid throwing arm, good chemistry with the players and great athleticism, he can't win ball games, even when you consider how largely inept the rest of our team is.

So, we're either going to:

A. Draft a first round quarterback from the heaviest spread-offense system class in history and who will inevitably require two to three years of development before we can even judge how he's going to turn out as a pro.  We will then have to pay him upteen bajillion dollars which may eventually prove completely futile if he doesn't win us multiple superbowls like, oh, say, the other 90% of first round quarterbacks drafted.

OR

*B. Sign a free agent quarterback for upteen bajillion dollars who was released from his former team fore being unable to win ballgames, despite his heart/athleticism/cannon-arm and who already carries with him a heavy weight of expecations and given the fact that he's a veteran, will probably require something better than the weakly constructed plastic bubble we use as our offensive line, which actually collapses immediately upon any applicable pressure. Then, when he doesn't work back, we'll of course move back to plan A for upteen bajillion more dollars.

Meanwhile, we're going to let a backup quarterback who everyone likes and who has shown a great deal of promise probably go, where, while he might end up as nothing, he could end up in an efficient system with a competent coach who will use his talents to the best of their abilities and possibly use his limited skillset to their utmost potential culminating in a SuperBowl appearance.

Because we've never seen that before.

GANNNONGANNONGANNONGANNONGANNONGANNONGANNONGANNON

Does that just about sum it up?

Shoals points us to a pair of videos released by the D today, with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett stating their support for the D-League.

Shoals points out that it's a bad move to have these two stars support the D, given their automatic arrival in the league as premier players. It certainly does seem like a condescending sentiment coming from two players who needed no development and immediately impacted the league. And while the league doubtless had no such considerations for the spot, they only thought "Hey, let's get two of the biggest stars in the league to support the league on video," there is a certain amount of greater sense to this selection, if you choose to think about it.

For starters, these two players illustrate the two sides of good and bad development through their careers. Not with them, but their teammates. Kobe for example, has benefited tremendously from the Lakers long-term development decisions. Drafting Bynum and slowly integrating him. Sending Farmer to the D-League and then calling him up, bringing him in slowly. The Lakers are in win-now mode. Believe me when I say, though, that when the lights go down on this particular Showtime team, this franchise will lean heavily on the D-Fenders who they own.

Garnett, on the other hand, is a perfect example of how the old way of thinking can ruin you. Instead of building a foundation and developing players, the Timberwolves instead tried to just fill in holes with veterans through free agency and drafts. They didn't go out and acquire good players to develop, though the D was in its infancy then, regardless. And while Garnett's championship has come on the backs of massive superstar trades, there's still a heavy emphasis on youth development with the Celtics, and you'll continue to see that with the Celtics when they work with the new Portland, ME franchise that should be announced within the next two months.

The other reason this makes sense is a little more ethereal. The fact is, not every player is going to be Kobe and Garnett. Most are going to be average to below average players. Otherwise Kobe wouldn't be Kobe and Garnett wouldn't be KG. They are who they are precisely because they're better than everyone else. But you need guys who can work around them, and sometimes you need young guys to incubate for call-up duty. Kobe has Farmar. And the Celtics have been developing Pruitt. They'll develop Giddens.

It would be better to have Azubuike and Sessions on these commercials, but if you're going to have them, might as well build a case by contrast with two players who needed no development. Because with a little development, some of the greatest busts of all time might not have turned out so bad, and their comparison to Kobe and KG wouldn't hurt so much.

Okay folks, here's the action.

LIke we called it to start.

1. Tulsa 66ers: Chris Richard- Best overall prospect

2. Colorado 14ers: James Mays-

3. Idaho Stampede: Jamario Davidson

4. Sioux Falls Skyforce: Gary Forbes

5. Bakersfield Jam: Derrick Byars:

6. Fort Wayne Mad Ants: Coleman Collins

7. Erie Bayhawks: Erik Daniels: 6-8, PF, Kentucky.

8. Anaheim Arsenal: Tierre Brown

9. Utah Flash: Denham Brown

10. Reno Bighorns: Antonio Meeking: Listed at 250. LIE! 280.

11. Dakota Wizards: Marcus Hubbard

12. Rio Grande Valley: Smush Parker

13. Los Angeles Defenders: Jasper Johnson

14. Albuquerque Thunderbirds: David Noel: Albuquerque has the best backcourt in the league. Do they have enough bigs?

15. Iowa Energy: Cartier Martin

16. Austin Toros: Robert McKiver

17. Austin Toros: Muahmmad Akubar

18. Albuquerque Thunderbirds: David Monds

19. D-Fenders: Keith Butler: Can't coach size.

David Noel is plummeting. STILL PLUMMETING

via www.nba.com

Woohoo! After tonight we'll actually have rosters to discuss! Hurrah!

By the way, if you want to watch, the whole thing is on NBATV tonight starting at 7PM EST. They'll be streaming Rounds 2-10 online at D-League.com as well.

Talked to 66ers Basketball operations manager Brandon Barnett last night, and they were still waiting for the final list to decide. IF we hear anything, you'll be the first to know.

Also, spoke to Colorado Head Coach Bob MacKinnon. Again, you're not going to get the actual pick out of them, but he did give me his top players and they included Chris Richard, David Noel, Smush Parker, and James Mays.

Word has it there's a deal in the works to send Utah's pick to Dakota for Dontell Jefferson. Again, we'll keep you updated.

Consider this an open thread for any questions or comments.

We almost have rosters!

UPDATE 3:41EST: Couple of trade rumors out there. Utah is shopping their first round pick to Dakota for Dontell Jefferson. And the 66ers are asking for the Thunderbirds' second rounder for Keith Closs. Neither deal is done at this time.

Update: 4:28PM EST: Things are getting crazy. We hear Idaho and the 66ers, with the number one pick, are looking to trade. Sioux Falls should make a bid, as should Dakota. This might turn into the Chris Richard arms race.

Additionally, here's our preliminary mock of the top of the draft.

1.  Tulsa 66ers: James Mays: We can't believe it ourselves, but this is what we're hearing was last reported. 1 and 2 are almost locks, consider them the Beasley-Rose of the D-League Draft. (Update: We're hearing rumors that Tulsa is looking to trade their first rounder. Dakota's got the most assets, but there are a few others that could do so as well.)

2. Colorado Chris Richard: D-League vet. Everyone loves him. Almost made Minnesota's roster. Huge talent but also likely to be gone in a call-up.

3. Idaho Stampede: David Noel: This guy could go high as 1, low as 6. Consider him the OJ Mayo of the draft. 

4.Sioux Falls Skyforce: Jamareo Davidson- We here this is a lock.

5. Bakersfield: If Noel or Mays make it this far, this is where they're going.If not, look for Derrick Byars. Experience, experience, experience to complement Justin Reed, nursing a foot injury.

6. Fort Wayne Mad Ants: Smush Parker- It's Smush, but top point guards are hard to find. It'll be interesting to see if the Mad Ants try and replace Samb with another big.

Here's some other general observations. 

Big men are in short supply.

Here's the final draft list:

I'm big on nicknames. I think it's one of the funnest parts of being a fan. And so we have this kid, this young, raw kid that will probably amount to nothing but for a brief time today, looked like a real NFL Quarterback. He is awkward. He is young. And we do not have a cohesive name for him.

It's up to us to resolve this. I hear many being tossed around. Bones, of course, is my personal favorite. Why? It's ridiculous. It's based off this picture. He's a skinny guy. Every single snap is a gamble with him. Again, it's ridiculous. Those are the best nicknames. The downside? Subtle, vague, inside joke. Upside? Completely awesome.

You have Thiggy. Okay, I have a personal vendetta against this one. I'm an NBA fan, and this reminds me of Andre Iguodala, who was nicknamed Iggy and then said he didn't want to be called Iggy. Screw him, I'm still calling him Iggy. Tyler is not Thiggy. But we'll see if people want it. The downside? Simple, unrefined, simple play on words. The upside? Thiggy Thiggy Thiggy, can't you see, sometimes your throws just hypnotize me.

Then there's Pigpen. Quite possibly the worst nickname we could possible devise. Based off of a comic strip that hasn't run in 8 years. Based off a dirty character, when Tyler is squeaky clean. Downside: completely lame, and should only be used by people wearing bellbottoms. Upside: Um... it's easy? Haha, he's dirty...?

But what say you, Arrowhead Pride? Tyler could be gone next week, forever lost in Chiefs trivia history, so we should make this count.

Last week when Damon "Chicken-Wing" Huard went on IR, there was woe. Woe upon our franchise. The starter was announced as Tyler Thigpen, the young, unproven quarterback out of Coastal Carolina who put up "terrible numbers" against bad competition. The words came forth like water from the fountains of KC.

"NOT AN NFL QUARTERBACK."

"PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A QB"

"TERRIBLE."

"WILL NEVER DEVELOP THE ACCURACY TO BE AN NFL QUARTERBACK"

"WILL HAVE FOUR PICKS"

Everyone bagged on him. The media, and us. Especially us.

And you know what he did? He came out and did his job. He crossed the mark I've been waiting all season for. 200 yards. He ends with 280 yards, 69% completion rating (that's better than 50% by the way), 2 TDs, and he would have had more if not for some bad calls and terrible conservative play calls in the fourth quarter that didn't give him a chance.

Bones is mobile, he's got an arm, he has a connection with Bowe (WHICH IS HUGE), and most of all, the kid's a playmaker. We have none. This kid could have come out and folded, just tried not to get hurt, just tried to make the little small save throws (sound familiar?), and gotten out alive. Tyler did everything he could to help this team win, and who knows what would have happened if he'd been given a better chance on the second to last drive.

All this means is that Bones had one good game. That's it. But it also showed he's improved. And that he has some of the things we're looking for. We can bring in Culpepper if people think we should, but we have Gray if Tyler goes back to his old ways.

But for one day, even though we lost, Tyler Thigpen AKA Bones proved all the doubters wrong.

Go get 'em, kid.

HATERS! STEP UP!

Canis Hoopus is pleased that the Wolves ditched Ahearn for Ollie, even though Ollie had a higher turnover rate. He's just got that feeling, you know? There's just something about him!

Guys, that's just you getting woozy from the formaldehyde.

But don't worry, Ollie's going to help you out off the bench in all those tense playoff games where you need veterans. In 2011. When he's 38.

Golf clap, Wolves fans. Golf clap.

Via Ball Don't Lie

Oh, Samb. Buddy.

Man, there have been a lot of words written about Nick The Freak in the last day or so.

Nick gets cut by the Nuggets, because, you know, Nene is the only backup they need for KMart, really, and because George Karl has gotten to the point where he can't coach his way out of a box. 

Dave Berri of Wages of Wins is kind of like "Um...guys? No really, ... guys?!"

The Reno Gazette spoke with Bighorns owner David Kahn who says he's talked with Fazekas about coming on.

I'm beginning to wonder if the entire problem with Fazekas is that he just doesn't practice well. Because if you put him in the game, 5 out of 8 times you're going to get production. Which is about 3 more times than your average bench player. So I figure he just has to suck horribly in practice.

It's weird because the numbers add up for him. And the fans like him. And the pundits like him. And the scouts like him. But no one will sign him. Meanwhile, the Clippers are paying Paul Davis and Tim Thomas lots and lots of money. Got it.

It's days like today that are pretty disappointing. When all the hard work that goes into slumping through Bismarck and Rio Grande Valley, all goes for nothing because some coach or GM decides that the other guy is better because he's been in the league longer. Even if he's done nothing with that time that warrants the job. Because "veteran leadership" is so important, even for teams whose entire direction is geared towards youth and the future.

I'm disappointed for the D, I'm disappointed for the players, but mostly, I'm disappointed in the lack of vision.

******************************************

Let's play a game. You're probably familiar with it.

Player A is 35 years old, turning 36 years old in December. He's had numerous chances throughout his 11 year career to make an impact (at one time even averaging a whole 8 points a game!) and has failed to do so. He is competing for a job with a team that has no playoff aspirations, no need veterans to help them through clutch playoff moments, no need for anything but capability, talent, and youth.

In the preseason he averages 3.5 points per game, 14.4 points per 40 minutes, 1.2 assists per game (9.2 per 40 minutes) and shoots 38% from the floor. He does not attempt a single three-pointer.

Player B is 24 years old. He has never been put in an optimal situation to develop with an NBA team, but has succeeded at every other level with the right opportunity. He provides energy, coachability, determination, and perimeter scoring to a team that kind of/sort of sucks at it.

In the preseason he averages 7.8 points per game, 26.4 points per 40 minutes (!), 1.2 assists (4.1 per 40 minutes), shoots 52% from the floor (!) and 50% from the arc (!).

Of course you have to look at turnovers in a situation like this. After all, these players are being brought in to manage the game and the veteran is obviously going to have fewer turnovers...

Player A has 3.08 turnovers per 40 minutes. Player B has 2.7.

SHOCKING.

I am, of course, referring to Kevin Ollie and Blake Ahearn. Tonight Kevin Ollie, despite doing less for the Timberwolves in the camp and in the games, despite having no upside nor potential, despite being nothing more than a 35 year old ballboy is going to sleep in his hotel, safe in the knowledge that his inevitable end to a pedestrian career has been delayed for a few more weeks. Blake Ahearn is in a hotel, trying to figure out what D-League or European team to schlepp to as he keeps trying, just as he always does. He has no contract, despite having outplayed Ollie, being a link to solid market in Bismarck, and being a workaholic. But none of that matters because the same management team that wasted Kevin Garnett's career, that wasted the opportunity to return value for Kevin Garnett, that succeeded in helping the Sixers get Elton Brand,and that generally has proven to be inept at every phase of management, decided it would rather grant the minimum contract to a player that brings absolutely nothing they need to the table.

Bravo, Kevin McHale. Bravo.

Let's be clear. There are NBA D-League players I pull for because they're good guys and because I want to see them get a chance to redeem themselves. There are players that aren't especially good guys but who legitimately have the ability to play. I pull for Ahearn not because of some nostalgic preference or underdog sensibility, nor for his Missouri roots that I identify with. I pull for Ahearn because he was the first D-League player that made me sit back and go "Wow. This kid has talent." And he's shown that with coaching and the right opportunity, he can at least be good, if not great. Yet this archaic, backward sentiment that Ollie will better protect the ball (even though the numbers say otherwise) wins out.

Frustrating.

**********************************************

I really thought Hodge was going to make it. I thought with the impact he made on the coaches with his attitude, with the shooting training, with the roster space the Nets have, I thought he'd make it.

I thought wrong.

Hodge struggled to see the floor. This happened to a lot of the D-Leaguers. Instead of resting their starters or splitting games into solid rotations versus back end bench games, most coaches elected to just throw out the weakest lineups they could find that only used the middle of the rotation in an attempt to force them to gel. It was not succesful.

New Jersey went 2-4. Thing was, Hodge was showing stuff, on and off the court. Just last night, even though he was held to five minutes, he got 2 points and 4 rebounds. 4 boards in five minutes from a backup guard. On Monday he had his best game of the preseason, scoring 8 points with 3 boards and 3 assists in only 11 minutes.

But no.

Likely the injury to Josh Boone and Yi Jianlian (AGAIN) were contributing factors, but it doesn't make it suck any less. Hodge has proven he can play at this level, finally has his head on, and has put the time in.

Frustrating.

*******************************************

Yup, Chicago's just fine. No need for Elton Brown! No, not with Joakim Noah averaging 7.4 points per 40 minutes and Drew Gooden popping 15 foot baseline jumpers. Yup, everything's just great in ol' Chicago.

I blame Brown as much as the Bulls for this, though. You knew the Bulls weren't going to let him see the court. They had to get Rose used to playing with Thomas and Noah. They weren't going to experiment. Back to Europe,I would guess, for Brown.

Frustrating.

*********************************************

The rest were predictable. Chris Alexander lacks polish, and Sam Presti isn't looking for raw right now. Fazekas still doesn't have the upper body strength he needs and Denver's too tight right now to try anything new.

Mike Taylor is the obvious good story for the D-League out of camp. In LA he's solidified a backup role with the Clippers and could even end up as a primary backup at point. Not bad for the first rookie ever drafted out of the D.

The only real hope left for a non-drafted D-Leaguer is in San Antonio, where Desmon Farmer and Tolliver are still battling it out. Farmer's been solid, been coachable, and has earned praise. Popovich understands the D-League system and didn't just shut him out of minutes because he wasn't an "NBA player." If Farmer catches on, it'll be amusing to see him light up teams that ignored him simply because he played in the D. But still, people will fail to recognize that slowly, but surely, the D is producing NBA talent more and more. It will go unseen, and these players as blips on the screen.

Frustrating.

Great interview with the Prez (we'll hopefully have one next month as part of our D-League season preview. Once we know, you know, who's playing where.) over at ESPN The Mag today. He totally gave us a shoutout! He's dreamy. We totally think he'll ask us to prom and we will sooo say yes.

Some interesting notes:

• He mentions a possible shift in the playoff format where higher seeds would actually pick the teams they'd play.  How kickass is that? Here's a hint: If Dakota or Sioux Falls gets a top seed, they'll immediately answer: "NOT (SIOUX FALLS OR DAKOTA)."
  
• He refines the salaries and Europe question a little better than I think he did in his blog, honestly. I'm working on a piece about salaries I hope to have done in the next few weeks, but it's a pretty complicated issue. He does a good job here and this should be his "platform" so to speak. Don't worry about trying to rationalize the pay or extrapolate it over the year. Just focus on the fact that more guys make it to the L from the D than Europe. That's the bread and butter. No one grows up in this country saying "Someday, I want to play for Olympiakos."
• Great job by Reed of sticking with the support of blogging. Making the players accessible makes them interesting and real without a solid TV contract.
• Again,  he's our BFF. We're getting matching bracelets and everything.

We've discussed it at length in the threads. Most of us want him out of here as fast as possible. Even those that worried about the cap hit are advocating it. Chris apparently feels that we need to be prudent with our judgment. Chris obviously has not paid attention to American history. But in all seriousness, there's a time for prudence and a time to stand up to a jackass. But that's what I think. What do you think?

The Knicks Blog tips us off to a story that describes Mike D'Antoni discussing sending down Danilo Gallinari and Patrick Ewing Jr. to their D-League affiliate in Reno. From Newsday's Knicks Fix:

"Mike D'Antoni said the D-League was a possible destination for Danilo Gallinari, at the start of the season, if anything to get him extended minutes in game action to help him better prepare for his debut in the NBA lineup. The Knicks' affiliate in Reno is coached by Jay Humphries, who was on D'Antoni's staff in Phoenix and will run the D'Antoni system."

This would be huge for Reno, which was unlikely to get much attention this year from its other affiliate, Sacramento (regrettably). Sending down a pick that high would do huge for the league to show a major market team's coach having faith in the system. The Humphries-D'Antoni connection could pay huge dividends for Reno. This would equal the highest pick sent to the D-League on assignment, previously by the Blazers sending down Martell Webster in 2005.

As for Gallinari, this would be a good move for the youngster who has missed almost all of preseason with a back injury, including Summer League. Say what you want about the level of talent in the D versus Europe, it's the closest you're going to find in terms of speed and physicality, both of which Gallinari will need to develop if he's going to be succesful. Tucking him away for a season gets him away from the constant criticism and could allow him to get his confidence up. 

Get ready, Bighorn fans. If this goes through, you've got a bright season ahead of you in your inaugural season.

Living in Austin, this week has been a nightmare. I can't get away from the game. Everywhere I turn is a celebration of the Horns' rightful #1 ranking and their impressive win over OU. Everywhere else I turn is a discussion of "If OSU beat Mizzou, what's TEXAS going to do to them?" It's been horrible being unable to sling any swagger, to have to just say "Yeah, I don't know." I'm angry at that.

I started off fearing we'd get killed. Then I felt a little better. Then I thought about Shipley and Cosby. And I felt a little worse. Then I felt a little better. Then I thought about the 4 wide set. Then I felt a little worse. Then I felt a little better. Then I thought about Texas' front four and the possibility of our line playing the asshat game again and I felt a little worse. Today I'm feeling a little better. I'm not confident of a victory, but I cannot, I will not believe that this quarterback, this unit, this team will have back to back performances of that depressing magnitude of failure. And if we play to our ability, we can hang with anyone. ANYONE.

And with that, here is the email I sent to the local radio station regarding this weekend's game.

Okay. I had planned on laying out a complicated and in depth description of why Missouri was going to devastate DKR this weekend.  Then the Mike Gundy Signature Win (vomit) happened, and my faith has been shaken. However, after going back and forth, back and forth, I'm back to feeling better about this weekend. Here are 10 reasons why Missouri could beat Texas.

Continue reading this post »

So in two games where he's gotten significant burn in preseason, Blake Ahearn has 32 points.

I know I'm an Ahearn guy. I accept that. That's fine.

But I just have to make a polite request. I only ask this with the strictest of humility and the most devout sense of respect for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU JASON COLLINS, RODNEY CARNEY, KEVIN OLLIE PAYING SPAZOIDS, PAY AHEARN HIS MONEY! ALL HE HAS TO DO IS SIT THERE AND SHOOT! YOU HAVE GUYS TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE! EVERYTHING! JUST PAY HIM THE MONEY OR HE'LL MAKE YOU PAY! YOU'LL PAY! DON'T CROSS THE SHOW-ME, STATE, YOU BASTARDS!

Sincerely,

Matt Moore

I wanted to write a fanpost about why I'm upset with where we're at. I don't want to call for Herm Edwards or Carl Peterson to be fired, nor do I want to pin this situation on either of them. We are arguing about that in all the other threads, every day, have been for months. This isn't about draws on third down, on starting Macintosh, on the evaluation of Brodie, or anything else. It's just a reflection based on personal experience. So I would ask in the comments that if you disagree, try and steer the conversation to something positive or to making a separate point, rather than tearing m down personally by saying I am a bad fan or silly or anything else that's a personal attack. This is just a set of thoughts I've been having and I wanted to share with the community.

I'm depressed today. Badly, when I think about this team. When the Chiefs lose, I'm used to a funk. The dull ache of the plays that could have made the difference.  The anger at when teams aren't prepared to play (Pittsburgh and the late-night clubbin' game). The deep well of nothingness that the first round playoff losses cause. But this is different. We've been a bad football team before. Many times. And we'll be a bad football team again, long after Herm Edwards is gone, be it at the end of the season with nothing accomplished, or in seven years with a ring or two. But what we've lost, if only for the time being, is a sense of pride in this organization and a commitment to being a step better.

The 90's dominant defense team had some bad people on it. Let's be honest. Dale Carter. Tamarick Vanover. Even Derrick Thomas was known to have some question marks. But this team has also been home to some genuinely great people, and we've always had a relationship with them. Joe Montana will always be a Niner, but he was overwhelmed by how we treated him. Marcus Allen. Trent Green loved it here. Priest Holmes.

And today, we failed to reach an agreement to trade our all-world tight end. A tight end. The argument is that we couldn't have gotten equal value back and he'll be of too much value. For what? An offense that can't move anyway? I'm not trying to criticize the coaching or the team, but the fact is that having Tony around doesn't matter if we can't get him the ball. Then all we're doing is making his final years in this league bad. Instead of making memorable, important catches for a playoff team, even if that team doesn't win the Super Bowl, he's going to be shaking his head after not getting thrown to when he's open. He can be a guiding veteran for the youngsters, sure, but he's done that before. He deserved better from us. He didn't come out to the press and demand it. He didn't threaten to sit out. He didn't pitch a fit. He calmly told his employer that he'd rather be elsewhere than babysitting a team that does little right and that is made up of players that probably won't even be around by the time he retires. And we wouldn't grant him that. After all the charity work, all the memorable touchdowns, all the community involvement, all the wins he brought us, we refused to take care of a guy who stood by us when he could have bolted years ago in his prime, so that we could say "Well, we didn't get screwed." We're not New York, we're not LA. This is a business. But you can run your business with class and dignity. And right now we're not.

Our running back has had three separate incidents of violence against women. The latest is a minor brush with a woman he may or may not have shoved in a club. He's slacked off on rehab assignments to party in NYC with his ROC friends, cost us penalties in the redzone, bitched, moaned, and pouted, and what have we done? We've devoted so much money to him that he's not only the highest paid player in our history, but he's untradeable due to his salary and cap hit.

This is a business, but you can run a business with class and dignity. And right now we're not.

Marty lost it later on. There's no question. But for a run, there, we had quality guys who we were committed to as an organization. Kansas City isn't New York or LA. It's a midwestern city with midwestern values. Like family. And commitment. And a sense of doing right by the people you employ. And that means more than just paying their market wage. And that means drawing a line and saying what is unacceptable behavior for a representative of our city, and our team.

I wore my Chiefs jersey the day after the Colts drubbed us in the playoffs in 03. I've worn my gear out and taken the derision from friends about the losses and said "You know, every team goes through this." But today may have been the first time I legitimately started to feel ashamed of this franchise.

We've got to do better.

Just my feelings.

Here's the order for the 2008 D-League Draft.

1. Tulsa 66ers

2. Colorado 14ers

3. Idaho Stampede

4. Sixou Falls Skyforce

5. Bakersfield Jam

6. Ft. Wayne Mad Ants

7. Erie Bayhawks

8. Anaheim Arsenal

9. Utah Flash

10. Reno Bighorns

11. Dakota Wizards

12. Rio Grand Valley Vipers

13. Los Angeles Defenders

14. Albuquerque Thunderbirds

15. Iowa Energy

16. Austin Toros

Okay, so here's how this shakes out. 

• First off, Iowa Energy? Screeeewed. Small market, low income-base, 15th pick. Ouch. 
• The 14ers are going to be good. Again. If they can just keep their guys from jumping in February, they should be in the playoffs again.
  
• Idaho 3rd? Oh, that's just brutal. Raptors may end up sending Jawai down (if they're smart), Portland always uses the D-League well, they have a great fanbase, great facilities, and now the 3rd pick in the draft. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go ahead and pencil them into the title game, thanks. 
• Rio Grande Valley: Exceeding low expectations caused by fate since 2006.
• Bet you'd love for me to tell you who's in the draft, huh? Maybe do a mock draft? Fat chance. Here's how it works. The league waits until all the camps are done and the teams have made their final cuts and solidified their rosters. Then the D-League swoops in and in about three days signs anyone they can get their hands on to a contract, under the paradigm that these guys were "this close" to making an NBA roster. The league signs them to a contract, then teams can draft them to pick up the rights to that contract. Also, even if they do sign someone early, the League can't release it, because it would boost their value and they could conceivably lose out to a European team. So essentially, I have no clue who's going to be in the league. Whee! No, this system isn't broke-ass at all. Why do you ask?