Deron Williams: I'm not saying he
directly forced Jerry Sloan out of Utah. I don't think that's quite how it went down. However, by all indications, it seems as though dealing with day-to-day bullshit from new school players killed Sloan's passion for the game. Yeah, well,
almost getting into a fist fight with your All-Star point guard will do that.
So, sure, Williams and his issues -- which may or may not have revolved around Sloan's super-strict adherence to the flex offense --
may have only been the final straw. But I'd still like to take that straw and set it on fire.
As for Sloan, he represented a lot of what I appreciate and love about the game. He was no-nonesense and a real man's man. I'll miss ya, coach Sloan. Good luck and Godspeed.
The Golden State Warriors: That whole "Outscore The Other Guys" strategy works if you're scoring...and the Warriors weren't doing that last night. They were missing from everywhere: 36-for-90 from the field (40 percent), 6-for-20 from downtown (30 percent) and 10-for-17 from the line (58 percent). Their eFG% was a dismal 43 percent and they were scoring at a rate of 93.2 points per 100 possessions.
Meanwhile, Phoenix had an eFG% of nearly 60 percent and an O-Rating of 118.6. The Suns -- a notoriously weak rebounding team -- won the Battle of the Boards 47-32 and, despite having far fewer misses, finished with an ORB% of 34.3.
Let me put it this way: The only thing the Suns didn't do was physically put the Warriors over their knees and administer what Grandma Bawful would have (in all her Hoosier glory) referred to as "a learnin'." Remember: The Warriors want to run-run-run-and-gun. And the human body isn't built to run a track meet every day.
Said Golden State coach Keith Smart: "You share with the younger players how hard it is that you have to play every night in the NBA, back to back in particular, but there's nothing you can do with it. We didn't play well to start the game off in the first half. We didn't have the energy we needed to have against this team."
Added David "I can't believe I left New York for this shit" Lee: "It was bad from start to finish, similar to the last game we played them. I feel like we got outplayed at all five positions from the start of the game to the end."
Um, that's 'cause you did get outplayed at all five positions from the start of the game to the end, David. As Air Supply would say, it's more than a feeling.
The Suns went on a 20-0 run between the second and third quarters and led by as many as 33 -- their biggest lead against any team this season -- before resting Steve Nash (18 points, 11 assists) during the fourth quarter of this 112-88 beati...er, learnin'.
Random: Rookie Zabian Dowdell, who was signed to cover for the injured Goran Tragic, almost doubled his NBA career-high by scoring 10 points.
The _allas Mavericks: Defense: It works bitches!
Assuming teams actually, you know, use it.
Apparently, _allas and _enver decided to take Lawler's Law to its most illogical extreme. The Mavericks hit 53.6 percent of their shots, went 11-for-25 from beyond the arc, had an eFG% of 60.1 percent and an O-Rating of 128.4. The Nuggets converted 52.4 percent of their field goals, including 48.4 percent of their treys (15-for-31), and had an equally mind-numbing eFG% (61.3) and O-Rating (129.5). _allas had six players in double-figures, while, for _enver, Carmelo Anthony scored 42, Chauncey Billups had 18 of his 30 in the first 12 minutes, and Aaron Affalo blew up for 19 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Considering that nobody could stop anybody else, it's appropriate the game came down to this:
You may have noticed 'Melo wasn't involved in that final play. That's 'cause he'd fouled out of the game. That's right: The Mavs couldn't defend one possession...even when the opposing team's best offensive player was sipping Gatorade on the sideline. And did I mention that _allas had a nine-point lead with 2:51 left?
Said Dirk Nowitzki: "It was a tough finish. Afflalo was basically a non-factor for three quarters, and all of a sudden he throws everything in that he got."
Added Jason Kidd: "This is the NBA. You win games sometimes when you're not supposed to and you lose games when you're not supposed to."
I think that was Jason's passive-aggressive way of saying the Mavericks should have won this one.
Random: According to ESPN Stats and Information: "It's the first time since the 1999-2000 season that Denver had players score 40-30-20 in the same game. On Jan. 20, 2000, Antonio McDyess scored 40, Nick Van Exel had 31 and Ron Mercer had 22 in a 122-115 loss to the Rockets."
Being mentioned in the save breath as the Holy McDyess-Mercer-Van Exel Trinity is pretty special. Soak it up, guys.
More random: The game's best plus-minus score? Brian Cardinal was +18 in his 16 minutes. By contrast, Nowitzki was -11 in his 36 minutes. Clearly, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle should be starting Cardinal and bringing Dirk in off the bench.
The Boston Celtics: Excuses? You want excuses?
I love that scene. Anyway...
...the Celtics have four All-Stars. But three of them are old men by NBA standards and the fourth was forced to play 44+ minutes because his one and only backup (Nate Robinson) went down with a bruised knee after only three minutes and 39 seconds of lacktion.
Remember, this Boston team was supposed to go deeper than Ron Jeremy. During the offseason, they signed Jermaine O'Neal and Shaq to counter L.A.'s superior size. And The Drain and The Big Creaky might have made a difference if they could actually suit up and shuffle up and down the court. As it was, Pau Gasol (20 points, 8-for-13, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) and Andrew Bynum (16 points, 6-for-10, 9 rebounds) got pretty much whatever they wanted and the Lakers outrebounded the Celtics 47-36 while racking up an ORB% of 33.3.
Speaking of depth, the combination of Robinson, Marquis Daniels and Delonte West might have been one of the best backup backcourts in the league. Unfortunately, Lil' Nate got hurt, and Daniels (bruised spinal cord) and West (broken wrist) on on mid-season vacation. As a result, Doc Rivers had to get nearly 20 "quality" minutes out of Von Wafer, who due to matchups (and Ray Allen's foul trouble) had to try and guard Kobe Bryant for long stretches of the second half. Even rookie Avery Bradley was given a turn at checking Bryant.
Do the words "thrown to the wolves" mean anything to you?
It's no surprise that Mamba got into a groove, scoring 20 points in the last 24 minutes, including 13 points in the final 12 and 8 (on 4-for-6 shooting) in the final 4:51. About the only thing Kobe didn't do in clutch time was flip a big middle finger at all the people who have been questioning his ability in the clutch.
The American education system: If you're going to be a douchebag, couldn't you at least be a creative, witty douchebag?
Update! Israel State Cup final fight: From Basketbawful reader Czernobog: "What, my brawl video wasn't Bawful enough? It has everything! A a 30 point blowout, a cheap punch from behind followed by an awesome takedown, cheap shots by a Greek giant in the scrum, and Refs who want nothing to do with it. Here, look at that shit again."
Chris's one-line lacktion ledger: Avery Bradley may have not had much to celebrate, but at least he came out of tonight's matchup richer, with a 1.3 trillion (1:17).
Labels: Worst of the Night
If D.Will was actually the main cause of this, I will throw rocks at him during a game.
Anyway, rapid fire bullet points:
- By one point or a million, I'll take any win over that sack of bastards
- Even if it turns out strife between D-Will and Sloan was just the final straw, either that straw was REALLY heavy or there were lots of other big straws we don't really know about. For Sloan to just up and leave means serious shit must have gone down. After 23 years you don't just quit because your team is having an off year. With Sloan gone and Jackson retiring, Pops is going to have to pick up the slack as crusty elder statesman.
- Any more news on how Marquis Daniels is doing? Freak injuries suck.
Part of the NBA, and basketball itself, died yesterday.
Jazz organization is known by the work ethic, etc, etc... I would hate to see headcases in Jazz uniform just to please a "star", either is Williams or someone else...
Some average players had the time of their careers in Utah (check Donniel Marshall)... even like that, players don't want to go there... and it's not only because of the all-white-no-fun city... it's because there was a clear hierarchy, in which the players knew their place... and that strategy may fall...
TAWM BRADY IS MVP! GO SAWKS!
Normally I'm not prone to violence or encouraging it either but I wish Sloan would have just taken the opportunity to sock him right in the jaw.
As a rule, I would not give odds to a 68 year old man fighting an athletic 26 year old BUT I would be willing to bet that Williams has never been in a fight (after middle school) in his life. He has no actual real life fighting experience. Modern blue chip basketball athletes don't get into many rough and tumble street brawls. Sloan, on the other hand, has probably had to maim a person or two in order to escape some backwoods hole in the wall intact.
Williams just moved down a couple of notches in my (meaningless) book.
Also: David "I can't believe I left New York for this shit" Lee
Moving from New York to Golden State is no way go through life, son.
How about the scene in Carlito's Way when Lalin is giving any and every excuse he can think of as to why he is wearing a wire?
It wasn't on...
I was going to give you a signal...
They tricked me...
It was something else...
You have everything, I have nothing...
Just shoot me...
I'm no good in the joint...
Also, did anybody catch Melo awkwardly hugging Barea from behind last night. I shouted an understandable "WTF" and my friend Travis pointed out the following: "That's just how it goes. Midgets are always getting picked up when they don't want to, hugged when they don't want to. People think they're cute."
It has everything! A a 30 point blowout, a cheap punch from behind followed by an awesome takedown, cheap shots by a Greek giant in the scrum, and Refs who want nothing to do with it. Here' look at that shit again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgYWbXO_fbE
Exactly! When I was watching the kid (Wafer) in the first half last nite I thought "OMG another Celtics star is born today!" he played very well. Second half was a different story, Kobe totally DOMINATED Ray Allen. He ruined Ray's record breaking night which I'm so glad it's over. I don't think think the result would've been different if Shaq and Jermaine Oneill was on the court. When Shaq plays he gets a couple quick fouls in the first minutes of the game and spends the rest of the half on the bench. Jermaine O'neill is a non-event. but Nate Robinson's injury badly hurt the Celtics. Boston fans have to admit the Cs blew it. They had 15 point lead in the second Q. My guess is they thought "Oh the Lakers are soft, they lost key games this season so we should win this game w/o any effort". Overall it was a good W for the Lakers.
While I like Sloan as much as the next guy, I'm not sure he'd be a good fit in LA at all... He'd most definitely have the descipline for it, but I imagine he's a much more intense coach that Phil "Zen Master" Jackson. I really don't know if the players, Kobe with his ego especially, would respond in successful ways.
It's posslbe that Sloan's no-nonsense attitude could be what the Lakers have been missing the last few years when they fall into their "ho-hum, it's only the regular season" bullshit and lose games to JV opponents that they have no discernible reason to lose against.
Regardless, the league is certainly less intelligent, intimidating, and less of an institution now that Sloan is gone.
Oh and I'd put money on a Sloan vs D.Will fight. Sloan wouldn't even need to lay a hand on Williams, he'd just need to stare hard enough at him and Williams would just melt away into pudding.
You know, I'm guilty of quick-triggering DW for Sloan, but after reflection I'm okay with it. Here's why (in case you cared):
1 - Sloan is one of my role models. I'm emotional. It sucks. If players and coaches all acted like him, the league would be the most competitive sport in America.
2 - He has such an amazing work ethic that I can't see him retiring (quitting) mid-season without a large reason.
3 - DW is suspect. He's placed his foot in his mouth too many times for me to not suspect him.
4 - I need someone to vent on. In the whole Jazz organization, DW is the most likely target for me. The other players seem kosher, and the Millers are just flat out too awesome for me to think of them.
5 - This site is about negativity. Usually couched in humor, but there is nothing funny about Sloan retiring.
That is all.
Due to height disparity, that looks more like a spinal tap to me...
Oh, pffft, that's not true. I know, in my heart, Scott Wedman was a better player than LeBron. My soul feels clean.
Steve Nash: Uhh.. explosive. He's a crowd-pleaser, he's an entertainer.
(mumbled question)
Steve Nash: Umm.. He's-he's one of the great targets on the break.. in the league.. Just enjoy the.. just watch him take flight.
Reason 61,214,934,1231 why Steve Nash is amazing.
"Kids In 'Scared-Straight' Program Visit Horrifying Cleveland Cavaliers Practice"
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/kids-in-scaredstraight-program-visit-horrifying-cl,19156/
Lots of gold, but my favorite part is:
""What are you laughing at?" added Hickson, staring directly at a snickering 14-year-old. "You think getting blown out by the fucking Toronto Raptors is funny? That's what I thought once. But this is some serious shit right here. I wish this life on no man.""
RotY debate:
Dunks-A-Lot?
Dougie well?
Pshh. Nothing.
Landry Fields for RotY based on this commercial alone.
I thought he might retire when his wife died, but he kept on going (probably a good idea, so he wasn't staying at home brooding).
If I had to guess, Williams' antics just precipitated an "I'm too old to put up with this shit" moment. Sloan is approaching the age where most coaches retire, plus or minus a couple of years. So, probably we can blame Williams for being the straw that broke the camel's back. My money is that Sloan would have retired before 70.
Who was guarding Affalo for that game winning shot? A "franchise player," I believe.
@dumbass Boston student. Dude, the role of "dumbass friend" in "Good Will Hunting" was filled a long time ago, tryout videos not needed. It gave us over a decade of bad Ben Affleck films.
And I loved the uncontrolled giggling at the hilarity from the one filming the shenanigans. So we can be certain that this wasn't simply lone stupidity.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/542059/IMG-20110211-00030.jpg
That sounds like an excuse...
just saying..
But Boston is gonna have some real issues if Marquis Daniels is indeed out for the rest of the season (which remains to be seen), because without him, even at full strength the Celtics don't really have a backup for Paul Pierce. When Delonte West and Nate Robinson are back, that gives Boston depth at the PG and SG spots (although Delonte and Nate Rob makes for a pretty tiny backcourt), but who is going to spell Pierce? Is Boston gonna have to go super small and try Ray Allen in spot minutes at SF alongside Delonte or something? Even if Marquis Daniels does come back in a few months, who's gonna back up Pierce in the meantime?
Watching that game last night I was again reminded of how much I think the Celtics miss Tony Allen this season. If the Lakers and Celtics do meet in the Finals Boston is going to have a hell of a time trying to guard Kobe Bryant, and that's true even if they're at full strength. Now while this might help if it encourages Kobe to go one on five like he did two weeks ago, odds are Kobe won't do that for a full series. But Kobe has now shown twice this year that he can pretty much get whatever he wants against Boston's defense, and Tony Allen not being there is a big reason for that. Ray Allen can't risk guarding Kobe that close cause it gets him in foul trouble (as it has in both Boston-LA meetings this year), but beyond Ray there really isn't anyone to guard Kobe. That could really be a problem for Boston if they rematch the Lakers in The Finals.
Now it's not to say Sloan is a lazy coach, its just that in all his hard work through the years, you simply cannot blame him for losing the desire.
He cared so little that it resulted in a expletive laced tirade?
Likely story. *eye roll*
Which scenario is more probable?
A young dynamic guard wanted to be released from the highly structured offense of a coach who is old enough to be his grandfather or one of the most hardened coaches/players the league has ever seen all of a sudden became soft and lax?
and yes it is quite likely Jerry Sloan became "soft and lax" why does that shock you? He's old as hell and gave a lot of hard years, The jazz have been a middling 40-50 win team for a while. Decent but unspectacular. You just lose it after a while. Watch the clips of Sloan through the years. In the 90's he was fiery and passionate and you look at his recent clips, it's like two different people. I'm sure the end was on his mind since before the season, but it culminated within the past few weeks.
I don't feel right villfying Deron Williams. He's not a Marbury.
I was thinking the same thing.
A young dynamic guard wanted to be released from the highly structured offense of a coach who is old enough to be his grandfather or one of the most hardened coaches/players the league has ever seen all of a sudden became soft and lax?
You know my answer.
Sloan got older and a little less demonstrative. But frankly the man, and his work ethic, certainly didn't change. In any of these clips you talk about with Sloan, he is always involved, usually on his feet, and working his team.
And I'm not shooting the messenger. I'm vehemently arguing against the man that listens to him. I will retract my arguments the day that Sloan himself gives me a different story and not before.
Wormboy - seriously. Some part of me hates to admit this, but I actually like that clip of Affleck. Probably because it's his best role as himself. Literally everything else he does makes me wince.
Basketbawful, thy home is Toronto (at least tonight).
I can't imagine what it was that caused Jerry Sloan to just throw in the towel, but I refuse to believe it was a disagreement with a star player. Disagreeing with a star player is an NBA coach's job. Sloan has been doing this, and doing it well, for longer than I've been able to spell. Narrowing the discussion down to him and Deron is just naive.
And Affleck has been good in a few movies other than Good Will Hunting. I liked him in a lot of his early career roles (Dazed and Confused, Mallrats, Chasing Amy) and even thought he was decent this past year in The Town. I can't believe I'm defending Ben Affleck. :facepalm:
Should've been goal tending. No OT.
Should've been a four point play too! Refs feeling bad for the rust belt serfs.
Cleveland play by play guy called Jamison's 3 the biggest shot of his career. You know, that might be true. Maybe that's another reason LeBron is in Miami.
Blake Griffin, first chance you get, get out. Don't stick with this farce of a franchise. They beat the Knicks in MSG. How hard is it to beat the Cavs? Really?
Extreme bawful ruined, by the Clippers. Is anyone really surprised?
Also, with all of the talk with Sloan, we all failed to comment that Phil Johnson also left. A lot of that, I'm sure, is personal loyalty. However, it adds even more to my belief that *something significant* would have made staying not worth it.
I'm not arguing with you, I'm disputing Bucher's (or your framing of) far fetched rationale.
Once again, I'm supposed to believe Williams wanted "harder" practices and more preparation and upon hearing this Sloan goes into a tirade and quits. What was the tirade for? Did Williams interrupt his (standard) halftime nap?
Re-cap:
He quit because his star player wanted to practice and prepare harder and Sloan simply didn't have the chops for it anymore because he decided he was to old mid-season so he quit.
Yeah, right.
Sigh.
I mean, Yeah. Thats it. I'm sure a podcast is up if you guys wanna listen. I didn't get it word for word, but that was the point he was making. I just don't see it as something so absurd or far fetched like you do *shrug*
And as we continue to argue this, the Jazz have blown a 15 point lead and Suns are leading in the 3rd.
I think sloan was not happy of the moves Utah has made the last year. I think he was not happy with Milsap contract and the let go of Boozer and he was not happy with Jefferson _efense and the fact that he didn't have a decent guard or a SF. He did not have any solutions to their fucked up year because he did not have a team to coach. Illadvised shots, bad jumpers sloppy _efense and players not having the winners mentality from years ago got to Sloan.
In the press converence he looked awful, he lost support of the owners because in this bad economy you have to sell tickets to survive as a team, jazz had an off year, ads revenues and all of that dropping and having sloan barking at them for not having a decent group of players was not on their liking. Huge mistake that will cost Jazz franchise. I don't think you can find a better coach in this league who teaches hardness the way Sloan did, but you have to have players that are willing to listen, not half soap opera actors that are franchise players now.
The new scapegoat is Gordon Hayward. Get up to speed!
Man... Jazz are so... hmmm... Lohaned?
The team has his flaws... loosing Mathews was a HUGE mistake... Maynor was the perfect sub for williams... the NY pick didn't result as expected... Jefferson IS an upgrade over Boozer, but still the team misses Millsap as a sub... AK is, well, AK... Okur is out... and CJ stated on 6th-man-award mode, and then became... CJ.
Is it Sloan's fault? Did Sloan get pi$$ed with management? I don't know... what I know is that Williams complained several times about the game book's complexity... and that he complained about management moves more than once...
F### IT, this season is done!
And do not fear, some Jazz fans wanted Sloan out... they considered him the reason why some players didn't live to their potential... you know, guys like Deshawn Stevenson, Kirk Snyder, Pavlovic, etc...
Because he is too fragile to be pounded by large PF 35 mins per game...
stephanie g comes through with a gem once more.