Real Deal

Good God, just give McFadden the ball and let him run. CAMPBELL SUCKS.

I just need to chill out, really...figured I'd talk about it or something, but I'm just gonna change directions.

I'm close to just beating this dude's ass. He's been running his mouth to me and to my brother...didn't do it to our faces for a long time, but he caught me at the park by myself, came out there and wanted to fight, accused me of saying something about him (don't even know). I told him he didn't know what he was talking about, and that I'm not going to fight anyone because I'm not going to lose my other eye (and he knew I wouldn't fight, or else he wouldn't have done that). But he's still being a punk, and if he keeps bothering my brother, I'm going to take care of him myself. I usually don't get this mad, but it's to that point.

If you don't start Bayless over DeRozan or Weems (and I don't think you should), you probably shouldn't start him at the point, either. You don't want four of your five starters all wanting to do the same exact thing on the floor if the other is Reggie Evans and not Paul, Nash, Rondo or Williams.

Yeah, we're all pros at making predictions/assumptions based off of nothing.

Only three other rookies have put up 40 points and 15 rebounds (or more) in a game since the NBA/ABA merger. Michael Jordan (1984-85) Shaquille O'Neal (1992-93) David Robinson (1989-90) Stick Blake Griffin on that list after tonight.

Neither wanted to play defense, but to answer your question, most definitely. Amare can't even defend me in the post.

http://i56.tinypic.com/148er74.jpg

I'm sure he will, but that wasn't my point. The Spurs are playing faster than they ever have. They are feeding off of Parker and Manu. It's a much different game. How much success will this team have playing one way all season long, then going back to the "Duncan halfcourt offense" they've won four championships with? They will either go back to him, or they will continue to play this way and miss his contributions in the post, and elite teams will eat that up in a seven-game series. There's more good than bad when you rest players...but there's still bad. This is going to be an issue when April rolls in. And I wouldn't consider Duncan's playoff performance (overall) at a high level when you compare it to his other performances. His career playoff average, before the last two seasons, was 23.4 PPG and 12.7 RPG. In his last two, he has failed to average 20 PPG both times, failed to grab 10 RPG both times as well. His 2.6 APG in last season's playoffs were his lowest since his rookie season. Nine straight seasons of averaging 10.5+ rebounds per game in the playoffs until his last two post-seasons (and in four of those nine, he averaged over 14, including one just three seasons back). Coincidently, those last two seasons were wins of 50 and 54, one being the worst regular season of his career and the other being the third worst. The only time Duncan never found his way out of the first round? Two seasons ago (he didn't play in 2000). Last season, he was swept in the second round, something that has never happened to him before so shortly. I don't take in much from defensive rating numbers, but it's something to consider when Duncan's defensive ratings have been their lowest in his last four seasons in the NBA, and also the case in his last two playoff appearances (which show he has been a wreck on defense in those). Third lowest FG% of his career, lowest scoring of his career, lowest minutes, second lowest rebounds, lowest shot attempts...he's being pushed completely out of the picture by a Spurs team that has its highest offensive rating since 1995, and has not seen a defensive rating under 100 for three consecutive years now, after having 10 straight years under 100 (and that's amazing). I don't know what else needs to be said. Duncan is definitely not the same, and neither is this Spurs team.

Video game KO, for sure.

Knicks' wins + Gallinari's shooting... vs. TOR: 3-9 FG, 4-4 FT, 2-5 3PT, 12 PTS vs. CHI: 7-11 FG, 6-6 FT, 4-4 3PT, 24 PTS vs. WAS: 6-13 FG, 0-1 FT, 4-9 3PT, 16 PTS vs. SAC: 4-8 FG, 16-17 FT, 3-5 3PT, 27 PTS vs. GSW: 7-15 FG, 6-6 FT, 3-5 3PT, 23 PTS vs. LAC: 7-11 FG, 13-13 FT, 4-6 3PT, 31 PTS ---------- TOTAL: 34-67 FG (50.8%), 45-47 FT (95.8%), 20-34 3PT (58.8%), 22.2 PPG Knicks' losses + Gallinari's shooting... vs. BOS: 0-6 FG, 2-2 FT, 0-3 3PT, 2 PTS vs. POR: 2-9 FG, 0-0 FT, 0-3 3PT, 4 PTS vs. PHI: 4-11 FG, 5-6 FT, 2-6 3PT, 15 PTS vs. MIL: 1-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 0-2 3PT, 5 PTS vs. GSW: 3-9 FG, 9-9 FT, 0-5 3PT, 15 PTS vs. MIN: 6-17 FG, 9-9 FT, 4-11 3PT, 25 PTS vs. HOU: 4-7 FG, 6-9 FT, 0-1 3PT, 14 PTS vs. DEN: 6-19 FG, 7-8 FT, 2-10 3PT, 21 PTS ---------- TOTAL: 26-84 FG (31.0%), 41-46 FT (89.1%), 8-41 3PT (19.5%), 12.6 PPG Just how important is Gallinari to the Knicks? Looks to be pretty important, and a big reason for their struggles so far this season.

For the sake of giving props to who actually won those games in Phoenix, can we say it was Steve Nash's system? D'Antoni's offense is the same as Nelson's, if we're talking an up and down the court, fast-paced scoring offense. Many teams run it. But if we're talking strictly the pick and roll, and the seven-second pull-up or spot-up jumpers...it's all Steve Nash. There isn't a system D'Antoni will ever run that will equal what he had in Phoenix, and it's because what he had in Phoenix was, hands down, the best system-based point guard of all-time.

It's LeBron. I know some will think Wade or Paul, and maybe it's closer than some think...but James is just the bigger game-changer. He has as many holes in his game as Wade does, but he's the better offensive player.

I shoot threes with medicine balls all the time, when I'm out practicing.

S-Jax put up a trip-doub. Didn't think he still had it in him, but Phoenix just doesn't play defense...ranked 30th (worst) in the NBA.

Knicks will take the game, but their fans can't be too mad that everyone is star-struck by Griffin right now.

That's exactly why I hate looking at boxes and posting after it. I saw a lot of the fourth, and I wanted to see what Nene was doing to Lopez. The CBS box showed 48 minutes for Lopez at the end of the game. Garbage.

Dude...I don't even know what to say.

Could've been the players, could've been Spo. Even if they did foul, that basket was going to happen because drawing up a play would've given Memphis the chance to go in the post, and it's an even easier bucket that way. Miami would rather lose on a Rudy fadeaway jumper over the reach of the Defensive God, James, than Gasol or Randolph easily dropping one in over Bosh, or hitting one free throw to win. Not to mention, Rudy would've put the ball up on the foul, gotten to the line. You could tell he was actually anticipating it right before he continued his drive, because he delayed for a second, to take that foul. You lose on a mistake like that, and it makes the team look even more fragile. And I'm sure it would be Spo's fault once again, because the idiot wanted to foul. Acknowledging that the Grizzlies deserved the win, then pointing fingers at Spo...you do that every time. Good win by Memphis, Spo didn't call for a foul at a tie game, and it wasn't Spo that started the game cold or lost that fourth quarter for them. He started Big Z again, he limited Jones after he shot and missed his six threes, limited Stackhouse because he was playing like he was 50 years old, couldn't play Haslem much because it was Udonis fouling the hell out of everyone, and that's how the Heat had a chance to win this game in the end. The real problem was the fact that the Heat didn't get to the line like they need to. LeBron had six free throw attempts, the team a total of 12. Like I've said before, when the Heat are down and about out of the game, they bend their heads down and drive to the rim. They get their fouls, and they go to the line. Because Bosh is no true post player, and both LeBron and Wade are not off-ball players, this will be one issue they will have to deal with forever. Not having a legitimate starter at the point hurts, and the same goes for the five. Miami will not be equipped to beat a contender in a seven-game series, and it has nothing to do with shooting. Jones, Arroyo, Haslem, Big Z, they can all knock down open jumpers...but it's not enough. The offense is all about the three all-stars, and the defense is all about help, instead of on-ball. It's not going to work unless LeBron treats his teammates like he did in Cleveland, and they find someone who can defend the post (like a Varejao, even). You can quote me right now, but I'll be back in this topic in June if you decide to. You took offense to what I said about them being like Cleveland. Unfortunately, they will need to be. Give that Cleveland team a Dwyane Wade who doesn't mind deferring at the right times (key point there), and all of a sudden, Cleveland has a ring.

This team doesn't even need a 30-minute Duncan, let alone one for 20 minutes. That's fantastic for the organization, and good for Tim until he's actually needed. If the idea is to play like this every night, resting Tim...they can't change their style of play. They have to keep their identity, or they will get a swift kick in the throat once they start playing out of the post every single trip down the floor during the playoffs, because Tim is definitely, 100% not the same player he was a few seasons back. It may be Tim that has to adjust, come playoff time...and I'm not sure if he can.

Lopez was pretty soft this game, but why was he playing all 48 minutes? Did he ever come out once? I don't get that. Harris has to be more aggressive, also. I know he was in foul trouble for a little bit, but once you re-enter the game, it's go time when your best teammate (Lopez) isn't exactly dominating his opponent, and getting worn down when he (Nene) was playing like he was an all-star.

Memphis was on a five-game losing streak, coming off a back-to-back where they lost against Washington just last night (who didn't have Wall). They had just four wins on the season strolling into this game as a dysfunctional team. It's not Spo's fault that Randolph and Conley (a big and a point guard) dominated the Heat, just like most talented bigs and point guards do. Knew it was going to happen since the start of the season. Every single Heat loss, you have blamed Spo. Every one of them. You have been practically begging Riles to coach this team. When LeBron complained about the minutes, you begged Riles to come and give them a kick in the ass. When they lose, you hope it's Riley coming back. Did it ever occur to you that your Heat have big, gaping holes in the roster? Like we all knew since July? If you want to blame anyone, blame Pat Riley, or start blaming the players for not being able to play their positions up to par with their "all-star counterparts."

I don't see why Spo didn't just block Rudy's shot at the end of the game.

Rudy gave him that KB jumper. Never try that again, though.

Welcome to the best.