Real Deal

A non-superstar doesn't carry his team to the NBA Finals. He doesn't seem like that player right now, but he's still giving us 17/12 on 58% FG (nearly his career averages), and his defensive numbers (oppFG% and oppPER) are actually better than they were back in 2009. He gets stripped a lot because we have nobody to spread the floor, and it's very, very easy for the defense to take a step into the paint if we aren't threats from beyond the arc. How easy has it been to front him with multiple players? It's devastating, if a team can do that to us. It's one thing to front the post with one guy, and everyone else is spread out...but to be able to switch off with THREE DIFFERENT GUYS in one possession? That's insane. That's horrible, horrible spacing. It was never the right offense. It wasn't right for Dwight, Gasol, Kobe, even Nash...who is nearly 39 and struggling to come out of the P&R without being trapped 28 feet from the rim. Therefore, we changed it up significantly, making Nash the shooter, Kobe the facilitator...and it will work. ------------ Anyone old enough remember 1989, Chicago Bulls...Jordan's eight of nine games where he had triple-doubles? Remember when Craig Hodges was starting? He hit 22-31 from three in a stretch of six consecutive games for Chicago, and Jordan was racking up so many assists, he looked like Magic Johnson in a Bulls jersey. When Craig Hodges fell to injury, John Paxson replaced him...and Paxson wasn't a good three-point shooter at the time, shot maybe eight or nine threes in his last nine games of the season, and it was FAR too easy to defend Jordan...and the Bulls were dreadful to finish the season. Nash needs to be our three-point shooter. He's the greatest shooter at the PG position...ever. One of the greatest shooters, period. It puzzled me, seeing him pass up so many shots...but, with the change in our offense (as MDA and Nash pointed out), we can start winning games and make a serious push for the playoffs.

If there weren't instances of it happening in the past (with both Houston and New York, Hakeem and Ewing), I'd dismiss it as well...but nothing would surprise me, especially when Doc basically states that he'll do whatever it takes to win, and threatens that players will be up for trade. It would make sense for Boston to trade for a PG and a PF, move Jeff Green down to the three permanently. Is Calderon and Davis worth Pierce? Hard to say, but based off of NEED, probably so. Boston won't get anywhere with those two over Pierce, though...but, they were going to be tossed in the first round anyway, by Miami, New York or Chicago (the Bulls would have Rose back).

Guess this is Fan Night's game (on NBATV)...should be interesting, because these are the "trap games" we like to fall head-first into. We need a blowout here, to make a statement. It may not seem like one if it's against a bad team, but we have to show we are done losing against ANY team, not just the playoff squads. It's the easy games we MUST win if we want to get back into the playoff race.

Regardless of the reports, if it happens, it will be a three-way deal. Boston will likely send Pierce to Memphis. The Celtics need a PG now, and they could also use a PF like Ed Davis...makes sense if you bring them into the mix. The Grizzlies have wanted Pierce for a long time.

How can you NOT stick Cody Zeller at #2? You know you want to do it, lol. Is there any doubt that New Orleans selects Shabazz or McLemore if either of them fall? It's hard for me to say they'll take Zeller when they have Ryan Anderson locked up for 3-4 seasons, and Davis as their franchise player. If it was the middle of the round, maybe, but that top five could turn into another productive player in their starting five, for all they know. Sad thing about this upcoming draft is that there aren't many exciting point guards worthy of a lottery pick. Burke could sneak in, as long as Michigan keeps playing so well and ends up in the Final Four...but other than him and Marcus Smart (who I think will be more of a two-guard), it's tough to see any of the PG's hitting their own ceilings.

No different than last season, though, with Thomas Robinson coming off the bench to being a starter...and Tyshawn Taylor as Mr. Turnover Machine. That team wasn't supposed to make it out of the Sweet 16, to be honest. But, really, at least in my opinion, that is very telling of how great of a coach Bill Self is.

Toronto needs a legitimate primary scoring option. The Grizzlies want to get out from underneath Rudy Gay's contract, but just as much, they'd like to escape him taking so many shots (as a true second option, much like Granger is) without creating for his teammates. Honestly, I could see Rudy finding success with a coach like Phil or Pop, or playing on a roster with Kobe or Duncan...but in Toronto, nobody will be able to define a role for him, and he's just that kind of player to walk in and think he has to carry the load every night, especially since Toronto won't be contending. I started to like the direction the Raptors were headed, and they almost had me believing they were going to trade Andrea Bargnani. This team should be looking to do THAT, and even dumping Jose out there with him, and trying to get draft picks and pieces to fit with who they have right now. To me, Rudy is like Josh Smith and, as mentioned, Danny Granger. They are both second-option scorers who think they are franchise players (and who basically brainwashed their respective organizations into thinking they were). Toronto truly does have a lot of talent in Valanciunas, Lowry, DD, Davis and Ross...and they aren't old and out of their primes. Try and put something together.

This would piss me off. http://24.media.tumblr.com/c11966e17cff40dc64460bd9fb1c00c2/tumblr_mg2a4a3D8U1qfep67o1_250.gif

And here's D'Antoni talking about how much better the offense is through Kobe, how Nash can't make everyone better at his age (and Kobe can), etc.

Pretty sure it's scrapped! http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/35614/lakers-rise-as-dantonis-offense-ditched Tons of quotes from Lakers reporters, saying that both Nash and MDA are good with playing through Kobe. YES.

Offense runs through Kobe, Nash is establishing himself as a threat by doing a bit more without the ball. THAT is what's supposed to happen.

Don't think anyone else in the NBA defends Westbrook better than Kobe.

LeBron keeps going for that same exact shot, same exact location on the court, in last-second situations...and it's getting easier to defend. He misses it every time, it seems.

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/295590305653219328 http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/21619353/rajon-rondo-out-vs-heat-with-hyperextended-knee Well, that's the last thing Boston needs. UPDATE: Rondo has a torn ACL:

Bill Simmons Jay Bilas Marc Stein Alex Kennedy Ric Bucher Chad Ford Chris Palmer Chris Broussard Sam Amico Andy Katz Mike Bresnahan Brian Windhorst Stephen A. Smith Frank Isola Eric Pincus Marc Spears J.A. Adande Skip Bayless Doug Gottlieb Royce Webb I know there are far more out there. Hook me up...name some of the guys that were breaking news to us in the offseason, and that almost ALWAYS tweet about basketball (NBA and/or NCAA).

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278370

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http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400278360

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