Erick Blasco

KG's been too slow off his feet this year. I'll go with these five in no particular order Kendrick Perkins Joel Pryzbilla Dwight Howard Rasheed Wallace Anderson Varejao with Garnett, Tim Duncan, Chuck Hayes, Josh Smith and Udonis Haslem rounding out the next five

I wouldn't call him lazy. He works very hard without the ball to establish good post position. And he really works hard near the basket. He's just so damn selfish. Since the Warriors are in a youth movement, I agree that he needs to go, but who will want him?

Awful shot selection? Effortless defense? Hidden agendas? No, the main thing on Washington’s itinerary during their 94-84 road win over Miami was winning basketball. Let’s examine each Wizards’ performance to see if their were any secret saboteurs suited up for Washington. Flip Saunders’ offense was extremely diverse with UCLA cuts, split-action, screen/rolls, handoff/rolls, and the occasional isolation on the strong side, with pindowns on the weak side. With the Wizards moving with purpose without the ball, and not massaging the rock, Washington was able to shoot 49 percent. Even better, the Wizards retrieved 16 of their own misses, held the Heat to under 42 percent shooting (under 46 percent eFG), and played with energy throughout the game. Saunders’ only agenda is to oversee the Wizards executing his multitudes of offensive sets, while getting them to play hard-nosed energetic defense. Against the Heat, his mission was a complete success. Antawn Jamison has never put defense on any to-do list, but his spot up shooting, drives to the cup, and post-up flippers make him one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. His ability to score in so many situations—11-20 FG, 2-4 3FG, 24 PTS—discouraged Miami’s defense. He was also active on the glass with 13 boards. It’s not so secret that Jamison’s agenda is to be a scorer and rebounder, and not a defender. But he’s not a selfish player—rarely forcing a shot against Miami and playing within the confines of Saunders’ offense. As long as the shots are dropping, Jamison is a valuable asset to any mission. Caron Butler was hesitant with his jumper, and out of control on his drives, twice barreling into stationary Heat defenders for offensive fouls. He also gave James Jones too much room to shoot and was slow getting a hand up on the perimeter. Whatever Butler’s goals were, he ultimately didn’t do much to help the Wizards win the game at hand. Plus, his jumper has been off, and he’s been turnover prone the entire season. Perhaps Butler is showing signs of slippage, perhaps he’s merely having a bad start to the season, or perhaps his covert mission is to get away from Gilbert Arenas and leave the Wizards. Whatever Butler‘s agenda, it appears Arenas had credence in calling Butler out after Washington’s miserable start to the season. Despite the attention to Washington’s big three, it was Nick Young who single-handedly frosted the Heat. Whether curling off weak-side down screens or isolating from the wing, Young consistently got his shot off against whoever was defending him—10-23 FG, 22 PTS. While he did force a few shots on offense, he showed quick feet, anticipation, and courage in defending Dwyane Wade on the other end. In fact, Young had more points, shot a better percentage, had equal rebounds, one less assist, and one less turnover than Wade in roughly the same amount of minutes. Young bought several pump fakes, and his individual defense is more advanced than his team defensive concepts, but his two-way play over the past two games as a starter has been exemplary. Young’s only focus is on playing All-Star caliber basketball. Brendan Haywood was active on the offensive glass (5 Off REB), played good help defense, and contested Jermaine O’Neal’s individual moves and jump shots well. For a team with so much firepower and talent, Haywood is the only player willing to do the dirty work necessary to playing winning basketball. Andray Blatche’s secret agenda is to be Washington’s point guard. While he executed an incredible behind-the-back crossover and dish assist, he also overhandled to a fault, showed terrible basketball IQ (especially in spending too much time showing off his dribble at the end of the third quarter instead of making an outlet pass, leading to time running out), and was sloppy in his defense. He also posted up Udonis Haslem and despite a size and quickness advantage, passively faded away missing the jumper. Blatche can do almost anything, but his poor fundamentals and terrible basketball IQ lead to more mistakes than good plays. Javale McGee plays with no conscious. He sent a Jermaine O’Neal fadeaway back in his face, goaltended a jump shot that was practically on the rim, showed poor upper body strength on Miami’s basket assaults, and failed to throw a hand up on an O’Neal jumper. McGee plays with such an intensity that he’s an automatic energy boost whenever he enters a game. But he has miles to go in learning basketball’s nuances and needs to bulk up in the weight room. Still a project, McGee’s agenda should be to devoting as much time to watching film and pumping iron as possible. Randy Foye showed a soft touch on mid-range pull-ups and played tight defense on Wade for stretches. Despite Washington‘s cast of characters, because of his personality and ball-dominating game plan Gilbert Arenas is Washington’s dynamic personality. However, while Arenas is known publicly around the league as an All-Star talent, Agent Zero also has a rogue side for forcing shots, displaying terrible judgment, and playing no defense whatsoever. Against Miami, Arenas put aside his double agent offensive personality, passing the ball, not overpenetrating, and cutting off the ball, including curling off a low screen without the ball to sink a short jumper. No coincidence that without Arenas dominating the ball, Washington’s support cast played terrific. However, Arenas also played with a total passivity, almost as if he were being defiant of not having his license to shoot. Defensively, Arenas was repeatedly broken down by Mario Chalmers, and was inexcusable on his weak-side defense, including sticking with Chalmers way over on the weak side elbow while a rotation left O’Neal open in the paint. Arenas never moved to cover his new responsibility, and O’Neal had the easiest of dunks. In fact, the Wizards played at their best when Earl Boykins was picking up full court (and ripping Mario Chalmers at the time line) penetrating, dishing, and making smart decisions with the ball—4-6 FG, 2-2 FT, 9 AST, 0 TO, 1 STL, 10 PTS. If Boykins also tended to overhandle, he was more concerned with breaking down the defense than looking for his own shot. If any Wizards’ player can be said to have his own agenda, its Arenas. Two seasons ago, with Arenas out for the majority of the season and the rest of the team relatively healthy, the Wizards were able to have a successful season and make the playoffs. Last year the Wizards were awful without Arenas, but they also played the season without their only interior defensive presence, their only space-eater, screen-setter, and muscle man. Against the Heat, the Wizards proved that they didn’t need Arenas to beat a good team on the road. It says here that the Wizards should dump Arenas if they want to stay true to their own agenda of making the playoffs.

Keep in mind my local market teams are the Knicks and Nets... What is it with the Mid-Atlantic and horrible basketball?

Jennings' defense was terrible, and he forced too many plays. That's one reason he was benched so quickly. Plus, the Bucks don't have the athletes the Thunder have, or a post presence. And Oklahoma City is getting better defensively with every game.

They can probably get away with him having a tendency to call his own number simply because they're starved for playmaking without him. But yeah, it is something to keep an eye on. Bad news with Philly though, I won't get a chance to do a write up of them until after the New Year.

Yeah, they shouldn't give up on a potential scorer like Martin so quickly. They're playing well, they should see if they can integrate Martin into their lineup. Long-term though, if Evans is a shooting guard and not a point guard, they won't be able to get away with Martin at the 3. He's too skinny. That's when they should trade him. Right now though, there's no hurry.

Who would've thought last season that a game featuring the Bucks and Thunder would be on National TV? And it's a fun game to watch too. Oklahoma City is running up and down the court and the Bucks are passing the ball and hitting their open shots. Plus Kurt Thomas comes in and the Bucks defense immediately picks up. Not a coincidence, though Thomas did get his ankles broken on a Jeff Green drive. Next year, I'm booking it. Nets vs. T-Wolves on TNT. It's going down.

Whether or not he's needed it, the important thing is that he doesn't have it right now. And learning post moves is never a given. Until he develops a post game, he's Hakim Warrick-lite. Which isn't terrible, but isn't starting for a real good team either.

It's only one game and I admittedly haven't seen any other Kings game this season, but from what I've read, it looks like Green is starting to put things together. He can't really create set offense for himself, but he's explosive without the ball and can get hot from downtown. He doesn't have the body to be a power player, but he was playing every position from shooting guard to power forward. I think small forward is his true position. I also think he'll play better the less that's asked of him. I don't know if he has a good enough handle to create for himself. He'll drive, but only when he has a clear path and can take off for a dunk. Hawes is a nice enough player who will probably become a nice enough backup. Like gunfighter hinted at though, he may be the least athletic player in the league (along with Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Miller, etc.). And he's not particularly strong. He doesn't do enough to warrant being a starter. Being a smart, hard working player who is a good teammate is nice. Most teams with space would love to bring him in as a fourth big man. I just don't think he's talented enough to be a starter on a halfway decent team. I mean Miller's been picked on defensively everywhere he's been, what will keep Hawes from being a similar liability? Thanks for the comment!

Not at all. They're both projecting as backups, but I actually like Thompson more. Thompson needs a post game because all non point guards, and especially power forwards, need a post game. To impose your will, to command double teams and force the defense into compromised situation, to get to the line, etc. Right now he only scores on hustle plays and a midrange jumper. That's a very limited arsenal when you aren't a good defender either.

In the midst of a total youth movement, the Sacramento Kings are playing their best ball in over a year. Their 111-97 drubbing over the Knicks was partially due to New York’s incompetence, but also to the young talent the Kings are beginning to acquire. Let’s look at the individuals. Tyreke Evans is Sacramento’s prized rookie and while he’s an uneven talent, he’s a talent nonetheless. He has the handle and the speed to get into the paint, and displayed a nifty left-to-right spinning banker among his more impressive finishes. He also forced numerous drives and passes, particularly in garbage time when his streak of 20-point games was in jeopardy. Hopefully he isn’t displaying a tendency to value his own numbers over team play? His jump shot is maddeningly inconsistent. He cocks the ball behind his head as he shoots, creating an awkward follow-through. Of his three misses, two were airballs. However, Evans used his uncanny size and strength to post up the Knicks and make timely passes when double teamed. Defensively, Evans was usually hidden with Chris Duhon and Toney Douglas shooting poorly. Evans needs a thorough ironing to smooth out all the wrinkles in his game. But he can create his own shot, make plays for others, and against the Knicks, rebound the basketball (11 REB). He has the talent, the strength, and the creativity to be the big-time athlete the Kings definitely need. If Evans is Sacramento’s prized possession, Donta Green was its best player against the Knicks. Exploding to the hoop, and splashing in triples, Green dominated New York from near and far—9-13 FG, 6-7 3FG, 24 PTS. Green also ran side screen/rolls expertly, made extra passes, made a veteran high-post flash and pass to a fronted Evans in the low box, terrorized the Knicks with his prime-time shot blocking (6 BLK), and played with jubilation not seen by Sacramento’s opponents. As extraordinary a game Green had, he was confused on several rotations and committed almost as many turnovers as assists (5 TO, 6 AST). Also, he had difficulty shooting and creating when the Knicks crowded him. Still, Green is a remarkable athlete who can boost the Kings through whatever doldrums they may experience. A definite keeper. Spencer Hawes showed a soft touch on several right hooks, plus he drained a triple. However, he plays below the rim, doesn’t move or jump quickly, and isn’t overly strong. While he showed nice touch, at least a pair of his hooks had the benefit of dancing around every possibly inch of the rim before crawling in. Hawes can be a useful rotation player, but if Sacramento becomes a good team, it won’t be with Hawes starting for them. Jason Thompson can hit mid-range springers and face-and-go, but he has no back-to-the-basket game, isn’t an effective defender, and is toothpick thin. He too looks like a useful athlete off the bench, but ultimately, a backup. Andres Nocioni and Ime Udoka are short-term stopgaps, but each played hard nosed defense that would be wise to emulate. If Nocioni was overaggressive at times, his activity on defense is a valuable lesson for his teammates to follow. He also splashed in a pair of threes in seven attempts. And when Danillo Gallinari briefly heated up in the second half, Udoka put a clamp on his early-offense step-in-rhythm triples. Sergio Rodriguez is a third stringer and nothing more. If he consistently got to the rim, it was the product of horrendous Nate Robinson defense as opposed to his own offensive creativity. He overpenetrated, forced several ill-advised shots and drives, and played no defense on Robinson. Omar Casspi is frail, shoots jumpers from his hip, has too much arm movement in his free throw routine, and is another poor defender. However, he cuts hard off the ball, is always moving, and has a number of tricky release points, as evidenced by an impressive lefty drive, righty floater, plus a foul. Jon Brockman is too undersized, and too underathletic. to be a valuable player. However, his smarts and energy will always find him on a roster as a practice player. Defensively the Kings packed the paint, sagged off, and relied on their length to close out shooters. Their defensive rotations sometimes had nobody covering a shooter, and sometimes had three players running at one guy. In short, the Kings players sloppy, inexperienced defense. Offensively, the Knicks offered no resistance, so the energetic Kings took everything that was given to them. All in all, the Kings are starting to develop a backcourt that can provide enough punch to lead to wins. Evans provides muscle in the backcourt to offset Kevin Martin’s flimsiness, and is a better passer. Ultimately, Evans may prove to be more of a shooting guard than a point guard though, which may facilitate trading the fragile Martin. As constructed, the Kings need an athletic low post scorer, better point guards, more practice time for Evans to hone his game, and a total frontcourt upgrade. However, considering how the only thing they appeared to have last season was Kevin Martin, they’re already making progress. Also, Paul Westphal appears to have the Kings well-coached on offense, and his strategy of selling out to protect the paint at the expense of jump shots is probably best for the Kings. While they’re still many players and several seasons away from becoming a playoff team, after two years of listless mediocrity and last season’s disaster, the Kings finally have a light at the end of their tunnel. And they don’t need K-Mart to provide it.

Is this really surprising news though? Bargnani's been clueless defensively his entire career. He's ended up being able to block several shots a game (which is enough for the clueless majority of Raptors fans on BR to believe that progress is being made), but he simply has no awareness of what is happening around him, nor how to initiate what he wants the opponent to do, instead of reacting to him. By the way BFT, how do you feel about the Raptors possibly being the best offensive team of all time, and the worst defensive team of all time?

The Raptors my wind up being the best offensives team and the worst defensive team of all time in each category. http://www.basketbal...p?articleid=796

If you give up 116 points to the Bobcats, you have problems. The Raptors are a very poorly coached basketball team right now.

No video of his bricking five of six shots before the game-winner, including the two pansy finger rolls and the backboard shatterer? And my goodness, that Dwyane Wade guy is kind of good.

Jones played well against the Magic and is still a valuable player. He can hit spot up threes and is a good defender. Two plusses.

As a lot of people have said, let's wait till Milwaukee plays some tougher opponents. Not only have they had an easy schedule, but according to basketball-reference.com, they've had the easiest schedule. Give them credit for beating the majority of the teams they're supposed to beat, but they're still a question mark. On the other hand, even when they lose, they're playing close games which bodes well for their future. Also, now that Redd's back, let's see if they can keep playing well with him.

Haven't been able to watch the game, but if Milwaukee's playing the same defense they were playing earlier in the year, the Spurs are taking advantage with Matt Bonner knocking down his jumpers. The Bucks are getting killed on the glass without Bogut, and the Spurs guards are doing a good job on Jennings based on how the numbers look. Looks like this is where the Bucks bubble bursts.

Maybe this weekend, if not, probably the weekend after.

The problem is that it's not timely enough so I'm waiting until around episode three when I'm not as backed up as much. Plus I think it can be a lot better.

It really could've, I was just dying to get a first episode out to see what I could and couldn't do, and how difficult it would be to do it. I'm restricted by time and the mercy of national TV, Knicks, and Nets schedules (I don't have league pass, get home from school and work around 10:00 Monday-Thursday, and have final research papers coming up). The next episode will focus on Emeka Okafor on the Hornets, and Denver's hyper-aggressive double team traps on the post and on screens. The next teams I plan on focusing on are the Kings this Wednesday night against the Knicks, Chicago on Thursday against Utah (this may not happen due to Thanksgiving though), and the Wizards on Friday against Miami. I try to wait until during an important moment of the game or after the game to discuss what topic I want to discuss. I didn't know much about Milwaukee's team going into the Knicks game but was immediately impressed with their defensive spirit so I chose to devote a segment to it. Oden showed a lot of different things, good and bad, against the Spurs so I thought it would be important to devote a segment to it. Other times, LaMarcus Aldridge might show something important, or Luke Ridnour, or Portland's lack of spacing with Andre Miller...it all depends on the game. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be open to suggestions though. If you guys want me to try and focus on something and it's relevant enough, I'll try to accommodate you. If there's anything you want me to focus on with the Kings, Bulls, and Wizards (particularly the Kings and Wizards since I might not get to do the Bulls), let me know. Aga

Today. Zones are a joke. How many times is a halfway decent team slowed down by a zone? Twice a game, usually as a surprise coming out of a timeout. Ever since they outlawed handchecking earlier in the decade, it's been easier to score. Around the early part of the decade, up until around 2005, the numbers were similar to what they were in the mid-late 90's. Early in the 90's absolutely nobody played defense.

With the Lakers payroll, they'll need to find guys who will play for cheap. Farmar's option will be for less than 3 million, while Brown will probably opt out and look for more playing time and money. Fisher will resign (or retire), and Morrison's gone. The Lakers would still be miles over the cap. If Brown is looking for a $4.5-5 million a year deal (not unreasonable), would the Lakers sign him, considering how expensive the team is everhwere else? They let Ariza go, even though he fit in great with the Lakers. Brown might be another victim of economics.

Hey, it's all well and good if you end up winning the ring. Kudos to Lakers ownership for opening the bank in order to win. They don't really get much relief in the near future either. They almost certainly won't pick up Adam Morrison's option, and they won't resign Derek Fisher for more than $5 million max. Mbenga and Powell would probably not be resigned either, and if the Lakers pick up Jordan Farmar's qualifying offer, I doubt they also resign Shannon Brown. Even with that said, they're looking at an $87 million payroll next season.