Erick Blasco

How can statistical facts be bull[expletive]? Do you know what synergy does? They chart each and every possession in the NBA and record the statistical data. Bargnani has become a pretty respectable post-up defender. I've charted his post defense in an earlier game against the Knicks and he did okay. His rotations and other areas of his game are awful, but it's hard to account for defensive help in one-on-one metrics. Obviously there are things going on in Portland and with Batum that are causing him to be ineffective. He DOES usually guard really good players, and I think he comes off the bench so he's playing with young, inexperienced help defensive bigs. But Batum's defensive specializing hasn't had much effect. He's also not great at defending players who are quick, but ends up guarding them more often than not.

Over the Rainbow

It's the result of the Blazers drafting a guy with bad knees. This is the risk they took. The Spurs will probably go through this with DeJuan Blair in several seasons.

I knew LeBron's defense hurt Pierce's effectiveness, but I didn't know it hurt Pierce physically!

Dude, thanks for picking this back up, I really appreciate it. I'm $ 500 bucks in debt to my folks and I have a much tougher semester of grad school than last, while also being an RA. In other words, I don't have the money to shell out on the game and I have less free time than I did. I'll keep this league link though for when I actually have more time and more importantly, more cash!

Why does that color man have a job?!?!?!

That's the problem with rookies. The Clipper guarding Jamison called for Griffin to switch but he was too slow in recognizing it. PBP guy says the basketball gods are finally smiling on Cleveland. Nice line. And then the color guy repeats him before singing "Hit the Road Jack" over the air. I don't know who this guy is but the two times I've heard him, I've wanted to rip my ears off. He's awful!

Three players drop down into the paint giving Foye a wide open three. JVG or Hubie Brown or Steve Kerr would have said something about that but Cleveland's awful color guy spouts out "nobody said this was going to be easy" Well duh! As Williams misses a layup.

Woj hits another one out of the park. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Av8wbLLdfCOR_JpCGMpmolm8vLYF?slug=aw-sloanwilliams021111

I can't believe there are people who think Sloan would actually come in next year and coach the Lakers. Sloan has higher principals. I strongly doubt he takes another coaching job in the NBA. I'd expect to see him coaching high school or junior high kids than NBAers. He's a teacher first and foremost and he has character-based principals. It would be a great way for him to stay involved in basketball and inspire a next generation without dealing with NBA personalities. He's also stubborn and very rigid in his views on basketball and the world. Can you imagine him trying to curtail Kobe after Kobe breaks off the flex once or twice?

Oh...my...God...

Quick question. How come nobody has been saying the Spurs are too old and their time is done this year? People have argued that for the past three years. Were those people wrong?

Or how about we simply come up with a way of obligating people to answer non-inappropriate questions (*glances at Prodigy*)

You know...this may be the best advice.

Three deflections on one possession, nice defense

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/02/03/the-cavaliers-give-up-threes-cant-get-the-win/

He picked Dirk.

He's only played less than half the year. I don't think it's fair to a great crop of West bigs to give Bynum a nod. Plus, LMA was pretty mediocre until Roy sat down. I fundamentally don't like playing players on teams that have zero chance at making the playoffs which is why I don't have Blake and Love on my All-Star rosters.

Felton's been terrific, but if you look at his overall shooting percentages this year, they aren't that great. His TS% is only 52%. That's below average. A lot of the success he's had comes from pace. He's certainly had a good year, and he's helped turn the Knicks around, but people forget how solid Bosh has been the entire season. I'm not the biggest Bosh guy, but I think too much has been made over his bad first couple of weeks and people have ignored how consistently solid he's been this season. Felton would be my 13th man.

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1443

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/john_schuhmann/01/22/spoelstra-qa/index.html

He never was a great shooter, and age was sapping at his athleticism. He isn't an impact player anymore, so teams are looking for players with more upside.

I think these are terrific, intellectually stimulating questions.