The Washington
Unlike the Celtics, the Magic apparently take lesser teams pretty seriously. To wit: Washington shot 37 percent (compared to Orlando's 55 percent), got outrebounded 53-25 (including 11-3 on the offensive glass) and was outscored 56-28 in the colored rectangle.
The Magic led by as many as 35 points before settling for a 112-83 win. Now imagine how lopsided the final score would have been if Orlando hadn't missed 14 free throws and given up 29 points of 21 turnovers.
Dwight Howard's foul shooting: The line: 9-for-19. Roughly the same number most guys in my pickup league could hit by accident.
John Wall: As Basketbawful reader LotharBot pointed out, Wall had a Calvin Murphy in his debut with 14 points and 9 assists. Sure, a lot of those points and assists were racked up during garbage time, but it's still a decent debut. Right? I mean, check out this killer crossover:
I'll say this much: The kid's a shooter. And by "shooter" I don't mean that Wall provides consistent, high-percentage, long-range jump shooting. I mean he apparently loves shooting the Eddy Curry loves Twinkies. Wall jacked up 11 of his team's first 24 shot attempts. He it three of 'em. Wall -- who, I should remind you, is Washington's starting point guard -- finished 6-for-19 on a night in which none of his teammates attempted more than nine shots.
The best part? Wall's first NBA points came off a goal tend by Brandon Bass.
But hey, I guess that's what happens when rookies are mentored by Gilbert Arenas. Speaking of which...
Gilbert Arenas: After missing most of the past three seasons due to injury and suspension, Mr. "I signed a contract for only $111 million to help my team" Arenas missed the game with strained blah blah blah in his blah blah blah. Does it really matter what's wrong with Gil this time? His contract was a bigger waste of time and money than Eddy Curry's copy of P90X.
Andray Blatche: Last year's late-season fantasy stud was a fantasy turd in his season debut: 6 points on 2-for-9 shooting to go with 2 boards, 2 dimes, a steal, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls. Man, I sure hope nobody around here has Blatche on their fantasy team...
Jason Williams: William's performance last night is forcing me to seriously consider giving out a "Worst Player of the Night" award in these posts. His line: 8 minutes, zero points, zero rebounds, 1 assist, zero steals, zero blocked shots, 3 turnovers, 1 personal foul, 2 technical fouls, 1 automatic ejection.
Of course, he still had a better plus-minus score (-2) than John Wall (-31).
John Wall, quote machine, Part 1: "It was tough. It's really telling me what I need to work on, but I already know."
John Wall, quote machine, Part 2: "But as a team aspect, we have a lot we need to work on."
Marcin Gortat, mildly broken English quote machine: "Honestly, I'm sick of listening every hour about Miami -- Miami that, how great they are, how big they are, what kind of record they gonna have. I get every day interviews back in Poland, people calling me about Miami, Miami, what you think about Miami? What you think about Big Three? I'm going to say the same thing: they are a great team, they have three superstars, they got a couple good role players on the team. They looking good on the paper, but they got to start winning."
Stan Van Gundy, quote machine: "You guys can decide what's a big game and what's not. If they give me two wins for tomorrow night, then it's a big game. I'm not big on the human-interest stories."
The Utah Jazz: Oh dear God. After receiving the scorched earth treatment in their season-opening 110-88 loss to Nuggets in Denver, the Jazz came home and got donkey-punched 110-94 by the Work-in-Progress Suns.
It's enough to make John Stockton's gonads shrivel up in his short-shorts.
The sad part of this loss is that Utah is HUGE compared to Phoenix. Hence the stat-paddery by Paul Milsap (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Al Jefferson (20 points, 9 boards). But the Jazz pulled down only one more total rebound and their Offensive Rebound Percentage (30.4) was barely better than the Suns' (27.9). Shooting 42 percent from the field and 3-for-13 on threes didn't help either.
Oh, and then there was the transition D, which gave up 20 fast break points.
This team definitely hasn't gelled yet. In fact, they're more of a gritty paste.
Deron Williams: Look, I'm a big Deron Williams fan. I really am. But I can't stop myself from reminding everybody that he proclaimed himself the best point guard in the league last season. And we all remember what that did for Stephon Marbury's career, don't we?
Anyway, Williams was crap in Utah's season opener (3-for-10, 6 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls) and he was crappity crap last night: 13 points on 3-for-12 shooting, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls and a plus-minus score of -16. The only Jazz player with a worse plus-minus was freaking Gordon Hayward (-17).
The obvious lesson: Never proclaim yourself the best [whatever] in the league.
Raja Bell: The Jazz signed Bell to (partially) replace Kyle Korver's shooting. Well, that wasn't happening last night, as Bell missed nine of his 12 shot attempts and went 1-for-5 from downtown.
Steve Nash, captain obvious: "Hakim [Warrick] was great on the glass and hustled. He finished and got to the line. He did a lot of little things that matter. But he also scored, and when he can do that, it makes us a better team."
So when a teammate can score, it makes you a better team? It's like Nash just gave my brain an assist. Thanks, Steve!
Steve Nash, the voice of realism: "We haven't got the chemistry yet and there are no shortcuts. It just takes time. You got to find the understanding and be unselfish and conscious of the other players on the team. But there is no easy formula."
In keeping with the recent overreactions to Nash quotes: STEVE NASH SAYS SUNS HAVE NO CHEMISTRY!!!!
Paul Milsap, quote machine, Part 1: "Things are not going our way."
Paul Milsap, quote machine, Part 2: "We've got to continue to stay with it. I mean we've got to continue to get better."
Paul Milsap, quote machine, Part 3: "We got punched in the mouth twice in our first two games."
Lacktion report: Chris had an easy but fulfilling night of lacktion reporting:
Bullets-Magic: Hilton Armstrong makes his first reservation in the lacktion ledger by countering one successful charity stripe shot (and two assists) in 11:14 with 5 fouls and two giveaways for a 7:3 Voskuhl. Hamady N'Diaye armed himself with a pair of fouls in 3:40 for his first ever suck differential, a +2 that also counted as a 2:0 Voskuhl!
Labels: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Worst of the Night
48 Comments:
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Bawful After Dark: October 28, 2010Worst of the Night: October 27, 2010
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Ughhhhhhh. Andray Blatche is the new Elton Brand. I hate the middle draft rounds.
Also, the reason why I'm so high on the Suns' chances? Videos like this. JMZ IS BACK BABY (Nash's shoes rule Suns rule)
Rose's shot-jackery has terrified me. So I'm treating it the same way I treat the monster under my bed: By ignoring it and pretending it doesn't exist.
If it happens again against the Pistons on Saturday, I will officially bug the hell out.
I'm pretty sure once Boozer has been stitched back together (human centipede style) then Rose's shot attempts will go down. The problem is till then I fully expect Rose to keep chucking up shots as he channels Eddie House.
In the 2nd coming of Nash era Suns (2004-05 to now), Suns have had 209 games with 10+ 3's made, at a record of 157-52 (75.1%). Even better, when they keep their opponents to 110 pts or less, that record jumps to 123-12 (91.1%) and even more arbitrary 100 pts or less, to 68-3 (95.8%).
If Grant Hill could just trust his corner 3 more instead of giving up the wide open shot and running into Fat Fesenko (or get tired at the end of the season and let Dudley start), and Hedo/Lopez Warrick/Frye really does give the best frontcourt results, I'll be feeling good about the team.
Deron is the team's best player, and any team suffers when his best man it playing like ####. If Nash was as clumsy last night as Williams was, the Suns would never win.
The undefeated preseason didn't help much either. Some were thinking the job of gelling the team was done, and it's not! New players, new roles... it takes time. And hard losses.
Well, 80-2 is a nice record, anyway...
Back in the SSOL + Barbosa backup days, yes. But now, a year after Dragic's breakout, the above statement is not true anymore. On those nights where Nash is shooting poor with high TOs, Dragic is fully capable of closing out the 3rd + playing the whole 4th quarter.
But you were right on Deron, he looked bad. Several times the Jazz cleared out on iso when Nash was on him, and he was just standing beyond the arc, looking around to force a pass. He could have just been aggressive and blown by Nash, but I'm sure Sloan would have yelled at him or something. Something's got to give, and hopefully for the sake of my fantasy team, Deron learns to go beast-mode every game by the end of the season.
Finally, Millsap was the only frontcourt force. Al Jef shot 8-18 from the field, which would have been way better if he didn't go 1-6 from outside.
I can't tell if the guy behind Hinrich is singing or if he just got punched in the nuts.
Seriously, if Mario West could write a regular feature on lacktivity here, the awesome meter of this site would rise higher than Antoine Walker's debt!
And, of course, the choice should always be made according to the lucky winner's salary.
Orlando vs Miami tonight. That's gonna be a big game for both teams. It should answer the question of whether Quentin Richardson is the team's best post plater or if Dwight actually picked up a counter move or two from Hakeem.
That move wasn't that sweet. It was caused by Duhon's "magnificent" turn to sprint (for no reason) defense. The bad D freed him up, not the crossover.
However, he did have the frame of mind to recognize the wildly out of position defender in the first place.
But what do I know? I'm just a hater.
As for teammates - I think even without Boozer he still has more talent around him than Wall.
Unfortunately, your assessment is spot on.
My biggest fear is that Rose will always be a second-tier star because he has been programmed to think score first. As you say, his court vision is lacking. He just doesn't have that Spidey sense the great PGs have. He's more suited for the two spot, but he's a little undersized for it and doesn't yet have three-point range.
At the end of the game, Saunders and van Gundy waving to each other, both too easygoing to approach for a handshake.
However, he did have the frame of mind to recognize the wildly out of position defender in the first place.
Huh. Upon further review, you may be right.
So when a teammate can score, it makes you a better team? It's like Nash just gave my brain an assist. Thanks, Steve! - that only proves you did not get what he was talking about...and probably means you could not catch a pass from Steve even if it hit you in the head...
Look, I really like to read your awful posts, but try not to make sarcastic remarks out of nothing. Just sayin'....
Look, I really like to read your awful posts, but try not to make sarcastic remarks out of nothing. Just sayin'....
Seriously? I mean...seriously?
A) Fuck up the play
B) Pass it right back to him
If this happens night in and out he'll develop the Kobe Bryant syndrome of "Fuck you guys I'll do it myself". It also doesn't help that they're a jump shooting team with sloppy ball movement.
Word verifiction: bronscro
Definition: What lebron calls his scrotum
As you interact with humans on your tour, please be careful not to make yourself out to look like a "douchebag" by assuming that a human is in fact serious when he is merely being humorous.
Thanks and have a great day!
@BadDave: I think the Generals had a really tough first game draw: @ Orlando, but my early, guarded enthusiasm balloon for the Wiz was utterly popped last night. And shame on me for actually thinking that Arenas might show up AT ALL this season. Sraight up fuck that guy. It sucks for Hinrich because he's surrounded by children, volume shooters, matador defenders, and gunslingers. RIP, Captain Kirk...
I expect a big year from Warrick, and possibly Childress due to the "Nash Factor". With Dragic and Dudley coming along nicely, our bench is probably scarier for most teams than the starters.
Obviously this isn't "WotN", but it's worth the view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iarm6tCYu3c
I'd also like to point out that Warrick had 18 and 11 last night and in his first game, Amare had 19 and 10. Of course Amare was one TO away from a Triple Bumble.
I'm not saying Warrick will replace Amare at all. I just think he's going to surprise people, and the Suns aren't in as bad of a place as people seem to think.
* I reserve the right to change this comment section after tonight's Lakers game.
Nope. I was introduced to logic's pimp hand right there.
I'm not saying Warrick will replace Amare at all. I just think he's going to surprise people, and the Suns aren't in as bad of a place as people seem to think.
* I reserve the right to change this comment section after tonight's Lakers game.
Do I think Nash will make delicious pudding out of the feces he's been handed by Robert Sarver? Yes. Do I think it will happen by tonight? No. And my tingling Spider-Sense tells me that a certain commenter/contributor whose name rhymes with "Mild Spams" is waiting, cat-like, to pounce on a Suns fail against the Lakers.
I agree in part with your assessment: Warrick seems more similar to Shawn Marion than he does to Amar''''''''e. Both Warrick and Marion are (were?) elite athletes. Both are also too small to play PF. Both are good playing off the ball and can't create on their own. Neither has much of a post game. Neither has enough bulk to play defense against real players in the post.
Nash is definitely going to make Warrick, like Marion, look better than he really is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qd-m1Ju24g&feature=player_embedded
Thank you ball don't lie!
In Wall's defense, no one else on the Wizards looked like they could score last night either. Sometimes i was wondering what kind of offense they were running. It was hard to watch. It was almost like Wall had to shoot 19 times because his man was playing 5 feet off of him and that was the best shot the Wiz could find.
Let's face it, based on his awful stat line last night, this is a good thing.
(furrows brow)
You bastard.
I'm really not trying to hate on Rose, because I do like him. He IS unselfish (an honest rarity in an NBA star), humble and very skilled. His court vision and situational awareness aren't great though. This doesn't mean they are terrible or even deficient, but they aren't very above average. A great point guard shouldn't always rely on other players to put themselves in positions to score before giving them the ball, he should create situations on the floor that put them in positon. Look at a guy like Jason Kidd. He makes bad players better almost against their will. He forces them to run themselves into easy fast break points, he serves them gimmies up on a platter and he always does what is best for the team as a whole. An involved Deng is better for the team than a listless one who isn't shooting. Even if he shoots 3-10 he will be more enthusiastic on defense, will cut harder to the hoop, draw fouls, etc. As great as Rose can be, he doesn't do this. Not consistently anyways. He flirts with it at times but he doesn't always look like he is truly in charge out there and orchestrating what his team does.
It isn't because he's a scoring point guard. We all know he isn't Stockton. His vision and inexplicable aversion to drawing fouls though are limiting him from being the very best player he could be: a Kevin Johnson type minus the injuries. He can still get there, and I hope he does, but right now I'm still not on the budding superstar bandwagon.
Your previous comment was approved, troll. I wonder why you couldn't figure that out.. wait, is it because you're a mentally retarded, barely literate asshole?
Wait, no, that could never happen, you're clearly a swell guy with lots of interesting and witty things to add to the conversation here...
Or could it?!?
This is probably true, not that I blame him. Why does everyone think the suns will suck? I think they could do just about the same without Amare. Amare does not block, does not rebound at a high rate, and plays defense with a red cape. I think the Suns and Nash will be better off with a rotation of guys who may not be as good as Amare, but will rebound and play defense in the paint, which they have missed for almost the entire Nash era. And they have a nice bench, with a good point guard.
Basically, the Slovenian gods told Sasha he could either have the trappings of greatness or he could actually BE great. Sasha chose the appearance of being great, and the gods gave Dragic all the skills, while Sasha has two rings, and a beautiful wife who will always be the better athlete than Sasha is.
Sometimes, it is more important to have a solid TEAM than it is to have a couple of nice pieces. Nash creates that team dynamic with his demeanor, cheering on Dragic from the bench, and being very involved with the rest of the team.
$hit, is Nash the Brett Farve of the NBA?!
Forget I said that.
@The Other Chris: glad I could help you out with posting that extremely smart and clearly Harvard-level style comment. I'll try to follow your swell and interesting posts - maybe I'll be able to learn something from your witty writing...
Fail.
sorry, didn't see my comment posted. Nice reply though
No offense. I'm sure your criticisms are very biting to some people. But let's face it, I've received comments and e-mails openly wishing for me to die or requesting that I commit suicide. One comment from a dude who didn't like one thing I had to say barely registers as a weak blip on my Me Hater radar. But I appreciate your input, and, as AK Dave said, I will continue to provide my Earth humor on a daily basis. Well, Monday through Friday, anyway.
Damn, that's gonna be good.