Erick Blasco

But you're more special than the Nuggets, Suns, Mavs, and Jazz...

This isn't even the best basketball of his life. He played like this all the time during the Spurs glory years. Nobody paid attention because everyone loved the Suns, dismissed Ginobili because of his flopping, and assumed he traveled all the time. Now Parker is out, Duncan is regressing, and Manu's found his rhythm and people are realizing that Manu is really fricken good. I remember when I came up with my first Top 30 shooting guard list two years ago, I had Ginobili third and got trashed for having him above people like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Gilbert Arenas. Since then, two of those guys have been complete disasters, and Carter's not on Ginobili's level.

I'm just stating that its easiest to qualify a player in only one position, and then it becomes, do you qualify that player based on what he is in an ideal scenario, or what he is currently. Hayes has played Center since Yao went down. Do you look at him as a power forward because that's where he should be, or as a center because that's where he is? And that comes down to individual preference.

Phil's stated that if he wins a ring, he'll basically always be back to defend his title. If the Lakers win it all, or lose in such a way where there's unfinished business, (Say Cleveland humiliates them in the Finals, or they lose in the first round), then he'll be back. Vujacic...not so much...

The last two games the ABC crew did came when they neutralized the Spurs last week, and this Jazz game. The way the Spurs game ended and the Jazz game began is the Lakers' apex. And when they play like that, only the best of the best can stop them. We'll probably see that version of the Lakers at least three or four games every playoff series they play. Remember, Utah really struggles against LA's quickness and length when the Jazz try to run their flex and 1-4 junk. Most of the fouls and judgment calls seemed to be even. Okur pushed off and it was called a defensive foul, Millsap didn't push off and was called for a foul, Williams had all-ball on Fisher and was called for a foul, Williams shoulder bumped Artest and Artest was called for a foul, etc. What other Laker crediting was there? Kobe's place in the illustrious franchise. After signing his contract, of course he was going to be mentioned, and Lakers greats were going to be mentioned, and the franchise was going to be hyped up because the Lakers franchise has been one of the most glorious ones in professional sports. Van Gundy drooled over Deron Williams' passing the entire night. He also praised Utah assistant Phil Johnson, John Stockton, and always praises Utah's discipline. However, the Lakers were blowing out the Jazz, are still clear, clear favorites to win the West, and Utah still isn't a title contender. When the Lakers and Celtics are brought up, the franchise (franchises, not teams) will be hyped up. Same with the Yankees in baseball, Cowboys in football, etc. Utah still has work to do to be on LA's level when the Lakers actually decide to care.

I've posted a couple of clips of how the Thunder failed to execute late in games. Here's a very clever play the Thunder draw up to get a good look that they run twice to perfection. http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/04/01/two-jeff-green-threes-pointers-beats-the-celtics/

With the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks each residing in second place in their respective conferences, the tilt between the Magic and Mavs would be a good barometer to measure the playoff preparedness of each second seeded squad. Which team is a serious threat to its conference’s king, and which is doomed to being second fiddle come the playoffs. Whereas Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic answered the challenge with an impressive 97-82 victory in Dallas, the Mavs were soundly defeated on their home floor. Among the reasons for the score was the play of each team’s franchise player. Second-To-None The more and more Dwight Howard plays, the better he becomes. If last year’s Defensive Player of The Year award was granted to Howard strictly because of the media’s short attention span to Dwight’s ability to sell out defensively and block shots from the weak side, he’s evolved into an almost complete defender. While Howard still chases penetrations and commits one silly goaltend per game, he’s such an intimidating presence that opponents panic in the paint in fear of Howard swatting their attempts away. Against Dallas, Howard had five blocked shots, but his presence was also illuminated by Dallas’ shooting numbers in the paint—16-38. The Mavericks missed 22 shot in the vicinity of the basket, a staggering amount. Consider that a small handful of the makes came on fast breaks, and the number looks even more dismal or divine depending on your point of view. Aside from protecting the paint, Howard is much more comfortable defending screens along the perimeter. He’s able to move laterally well to prevent pocket jump shots that targeted him in the past, and he takes a low stance that can get fingertips on sloppy handles, as he did when he tipped away a J.J. Barea dribble after Dallas’ mighty mite tried to split Howard after a screen. And his rebounding has always been exceptional—20 REB. Indeed, Howard is quickly evolving into the most complete defender in the league, and is a deserving candidate for whatever defensive accolades are thrust upon him. Dwight’s offense has always lagged behind his defense. Against the Mavs, Howard was 3-7 when asked to create his own offense in the post, as opposed to 3-4 when finishing off cookies. His lone assist came on a simple pass out of a double team that Rashard Lewis converted into a three. His handle was suspect—3 TO—and he committed a traveling violation. Still, Howard is a threat in the low post simply because of his overwhelming measurables. And his threat-level is code red when he’s diving to the lane after setting a screen. Whenever Caron Butler was late dropping down to put a body on Howard after a screen, Howard tallied a dunk or a foul. And Howard set bone-shattering screens, pummeling Barea and Jason Terry to the ground on two separate occasions. If he ever becomes the same kind of threat from the post, the league will be his. Second Rate While Dwight Howard dominated the game on the defensive end and was a major factor offensively, Dirk Nowitzki was a non-factor defensively and disappeared offensively as it went along. Dallas’ pet move was to use a baseline cross screen to bring Nowitzki from the left to the right baseline, roughly 14-16 feet away, an area close enough to the basket where Nowitzki is dangerous, yet far enough where he can pick apart double teams with passes and spaced teammates. In transition, Dirk would run down to the basket, stop, turn, and set a target at either elbow or mid post. Dallas also ran a side screen/roll with Dirk that freed him up for a made jumper. Nowitzki was checked by inferior defenders—Rashard Lewis, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass—and over the first half, took full advantage with his series’ of twisting turnaround or fade away jumpers. Lewis was completely befuddled by Dirk and was ridden with foul trouble early in the third quarter, Bass was overaggressive and couldn’t help but fouling Dirk or biting on his pump fakes, Anderson isn’t good enough to defend a player of Dirk’s caliber, and Barnes isn’t strong enough. Midway through the third quarter, Dirk was playing as a star should—8-17 FG, 6-6 FT, 22 PTS. But without Orlando altering their gameplan—they never double teamed Dirk—or switching a better defender onto him, Dirk simply disappeared. He actually started off making eight of his first 15 attempts, and went 1-7 for the game’s final 21 minutes. The same awkwardly contorted shots he was making earlier were shot a little bit earlier, or from slightly more extreme angles. When he had a good look, he’d simply brick it. Either way, as the rest of the Mavs were disintegrating as Orlando turned up the pressure, Dirk joined them as Orlando developed a double digit lead and pulled away. He couldn’t get to the basket, he couldn’t get to the free throw line, and he couldn’t do anything to get the Mavs back in the ball game. A disappointing performance from a player who’s had way too big a share of disappointing performances. Nowitzki’s defensive highlights include slapping the ball out Vince Carter’s hands in transition, staying in front of Ryan Anderson on an up-and-under move, and containing Jameer Nelson on a switch. Otherwise, Dirk offered no basket protection and gave up far too much room to Lewis and Barnes, allowing them to square up and bomb away from downtown. As Howard was giving Orlando confidence that they could outclass any talented team in any building, Dirk was disappearing at home. Business as usual. Super Secondary Players While Howard was the main reason for Orlando’s defensive dominance over the Mavs, Orlando got contributions all around to pick up the win. Vince Carter has shaken off the dreadful slump that plagued him until February and has embraced the role of Orlando’s go-to perimeter scorer. If he still lounges around too often on the perimeter, he knocked down a brace of jumpers, ran Olando’s screen/roll game well, and abused Dallas’ small lineup in the post. If Carter’s defensive technique is poor—having his hands down, contesting shots only well after the shooter has gone into the apex of his shooting motion—he did prevent Caron Butler from sniffing the basket. Jameer Nelson has eclipsed Carter in replacing Hedo Turkoglu as Orlando’s primary screen/roll initiator. He frequently overhandled and forced passes—6 TO—but he also knocked down important shots when Dallas made a semi-run midway through the fourth. Lewis and Barnes were mostly non-factors but they took advantage of the slightest airspace to drill their threes—4-8 3FG combined. As is his habit, Mickael Pietrus played adhesive defense and made timely shots during critical junctures of critical games—6-6 3FG, 24 PTS. Bass abused Shawn Marion in the post and finished strong at the rim. With Anderson too limited on offense and too inexperienced on defense, Bass has taken the roll of primary backup power forward. Orlando closed out hard on the perimeter, chased over every screen/roll, stayed attached to the hip of curlers, and funneled Dallas into the paint where Howard was lurking. Plus, by not doubling Nowitzki, Orlando prevented Dallas’ secondary players from finding open three-point looks and trusted that Nowitzki wasn’t going to be able to beat the Magic by his lonesome, a winning strategy executed well. It’s that soundness on the defensive end that can carry the Magic to a title, even should their three-pointers not be dropping. And when Orlando is shooting 14-24 from downtown, it’s curtains for the opponent. Second-Class Citizens While Dirk certainly disappeared down the stretch, too many of his teammates never decided to show up. Caron Butler was dismal, missing layups, taking fallaway jumpers over Carter, and having no impact on the defensive end. Whereas Butler was a spark after being rescued from basketball hall, his play has trailed off after initially being acquired, and it’s no certainty that he’s going to provide a lift for the postseason. Brendan Haywood and especially Erick Dampier were overmatched by Howard, and were unable to contest Magic screen/roll jumpers. Jason Kidd couldn’t turn the corner, couldn’t convert open looks—2-8 FG, 1-5 3 FG, and struggled defending Orlando’s taller two-guards who shot over him or posted him up. Marion looks older and slower every time he plays—2-9 FG, 4 PTS. He was outquicked or overpowered on defense and is nowhere close to being the defensive player he was in Phoenix. Plus, he’s never been particularly adept at creating for himself. With broken plays less of a factor in the postseason, it’s doubtful that Marion will contribute much of anything in the playoffs. Without the open looks Jason Terry thrives on, he was forced to create off the dribble more than accustomed to and struggled—6-16 FG. Rodrigue Beaubois—0-3 FG, 0 AST, 2 TO, 2 PTS—overhandled, overpenetrated, made no-look passes that were intercepted by the Magic, and looked every bit like the rookie he is. Only Barea had any success, but only in garbage time. Plus all three pint-sized guards were obliterated on defense. Dallas is mostly an isolation offense that doesn’t have a great deal of team speed defensively, and doesn’t have size on the perimeter—all weak spots that can get picked apart in the playoffs. If Dallas’ supporting cast plays well, then Dirk won’t have the pressure of unilaterally carrying the Mavs scoring load. In turn he’ll player better and the team will play better. But if Dallas’ supporting cast can’t contribute, then Dirk will be asked to bear too heavy a burden and the Mavs will be doomed to an early exit. The latter is a more likely scenario than the former.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/rosen-analysis-033110

Another way of dumbing down the award and making everything a popularity contest.

The thing which may hep though, since I assume you'll be a junior after you graduate and transfer, if you graduate from UF or UCF, it will only take two or three years as opposed to four or five, which will be easier on tuition as opposed to if you were jumping into UF straight out of high school. It depends on your financial situation. If you're comfortable paying more and working it off right after, you may be okay in going to UF. If you're worried about loans, go to UCF. Paying back loans is a [expletive] from what I know. *All this assumes you'll be paying for college yourself and you're broke.*

He tried to get creative and throw two screens to free up Durant. I think Jeff Green was inbounding. Maybe having Green at the baseline setting the first screen and Westbrook inbounding would've been more effective. But then, you put a shot blocker at the rim as opposed to having Aldridge out near the three point line. Interesting play design nonetheless. Kobe's on such a level that all Jackson needs to draw up in a play where there's spacing to let Kobe go one-on-one. Here's a play from the site that Jackson used to free up Kobe. Everyone is out high after Artest cuts so if they deny Kobe, a lob gets him to the rim. If Kobe catches he either has the entire baseline, or if he gets trapped hard, Odom at the top of the key. I would've put Fisher over but that's just me. But look where Kobe catches the ball. Right at the elbow. Not 40 feet from the hoop. Much easier for him to attack. http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/03/10/how-the-lakers-free-up-kobe/#more-982

That's a really tough stretch for Chicago though. They can't slip against Milwaukee and Charlotte at home, will probably have to beat Charlotte, and split against Boston and Charlotte at the end. Toronto closes with gimmes.

HG, I guess for me it makes best sense to qualify a player's position based on what position he's played the most this season. No question in an ideal world Hayes is a power forward, but he's been listed as a center all year, and mostly defends the other team's centers this year. He is interchangeable, but adding him to best defensive center and best defensive power forward takes up a spot another player would occupy for recognition. It's like my top 30 lists I compile in the summer. Do I add Tim Duncan as the second best center AND the best power forward? I could. But people like set categories. And it gets other people, in this case good defenders, that might otherwise be overlooked. BTW my list: Varejao Hayes Mr. Smith Haslem Martin

If he catches the ball off the curl and is inside the arc, he probably goes right to the rim and scores. From there, anything can happen---a turnover, Portland missing free throws, and there's still some time. He panicked and made a judgment that there wasn't enough time for a two-for-one. On that one, it's a judgment call. I can't kill him for it. It's not so much that the play decided the game, but an example of a situation where a team doesn't execute a play of significant importance. How many times have the Spurs or Lakers saved their asses by ingenious creative and perfect execution? It's why you trust those teams with the game on the line. OKC hasn't reached that level of resolve yet.

The one thing, the Thunder were down three and not two. Durant probably thought it would take too much time to drive in so he took the three, despite having Miller guarding him. The way the play is designed, Durant curls right around the three-point line and has the option to catch-and-shoot or drive, or go back and use the (is that Serge Ibaka?) screen again. He can go for a quick two if need be. When he's strung out, he doesn't want to waste time with a two. Also, with how it's drawn up, If Batum can't get around the first screen and the Blazers switch that, and then switch onto Durant, Westbrook comes get the ball and Ibaka runs to the post against Miller for a quick score. But it wasn't to be. Not all point guards set bad screens. If Deron Williams sets a screen, you aren't getting around it. Same with Derek Fisher, and a lot of other well built points. Westbrook isn't that stocky, but I guess Scott Brooks practiced the play and thought Westbrook could do a good enough job. All you need is a split second to make the defender lose contact with KD, but Westbrook isn't to fault. His screen wasn't set up at all by Durant. Veterans know how to set up their screens, something Durant is still learning.

I hadn't seen anything NBA related from coachingBB so I deleted it from my bookmarks. I stumbled across this by accident, but the true hoop blogs are all pretty good. Haven't seen anything else, but I'll post if I ever do.

One thing to keep in mind though, Yao is an INCREDIBLY loyal person. I strongly doubt he'd opt out and look to sign somewhere other than Houston.

So if Rose says the Bulls are going to make the playoffs, and Chris Bosh says the Raptors are going to make the playoffs, will the universe implode?

All coaches try to design great looks, not good looks. Durant had a decently contested pull-up three in one situation, and in the second situation, their fourth option was taking the most important shot of the game. As drawn up, Durant gets free off a curl in the first look and gets an open look in the post in the other video if he's better at using screens. Those scenarios both cause defenses to scramble because of the pressure put on them. If you're, say the Spurs, which sounds more dangerous to you, Durant freed up in the post or Durant catching the ball at halfcourt with a defense all honed in to him? Sure the looks weren't terrible looks, Thabo was open and Durant can shoot over anybody, but all defenses will try to take away first options. If you don't think this kind of meticulous attention to detail is important, the Nuggets lost two playoff games almost directly because they couldn't execute inbound strategy. It's why, even at home, and even as good as the Thunder are, they're going to be prone to struggling in the playoffs should games be close. How many superstars get wide open looks? Here's an example where the Raptors gave Kobe a pretty good look at a pull-up jumper from the corner. http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/03/10/how-the-lakers-free-up-kobe/#more-982

Oh no, Grad school kills most of the free time I was using to edit, plus I hate my editing software. I found this site on the True Hoop blog and fell in love with it. Very nuanced stuff. My own video editing will probably be put on hold until the summer.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/03/29/andrew-bogut-does-the-little-things-in-a-bucks-win/

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/03/29/miami-rotates-correctly-gets-themselves-a-stop-and-a-win/

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/03/29/the-thunder-fail-late-yet-again/#more-1371

Michael Olowakandi was a first round pick. Oden is much better than what Olowaknadi ever was, and can still easily be the second best player of the 2007 draft.

You can see it with how Duncan has performed against the better teams. Good frontcourts lock him up. Look at the negligible impact he had against Boston and the Lakers this week. Yet neither team controlled Ginobili. This isn't Duncan's team anymore. It's Ginobili's, which isn't a bad thing for the time being.