Al Jefferson scored 21 points, Paul Millsap added 12 rebounds and the short-handed Utah Jazz blocked 10 shots to hold off the Charlotte Bobcats, 83-78, on Monday night. The Jazz won despite being without star point guard Deron Williams for the third straight game because of a wrist injury. Stephen Jackson led Charlotte with 24 points, while D.J.
David Robinson Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman John Stockton
It's a good thing that you got to vote in the All-Star game starters.
It's good to have a piece, however tenuous, of the game you love. A connection to something real. A voice, in what counts.
It's just that ... some of you don't have League Pass.
And some of you haven't wasted your lives moving through stats and archived games and all manner of influence that might tell you that the most popular player at the position you're considering might not be the best choice.
Who were the best choices for next month's All-Star game? Gee, really? Well, thanks for asking.
In the American tradition, I didn't vote, but I sure can complain. Onto the East ...
CENTER
Fans picked: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
They should have picked: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
There's no way around this. He's probably the Defensive Player of the Year, he's a stud scorer no matter how he puts the points up, and he's the rock on a team that has gone in 15 different directions this season, while still trending upward as we hit the midpoint of the season.
What hits from here is something that needs to be shoved inside of every fortune cookie: Atlanta's Al Horford is having as good a season as any center outside of Dwight from the last few years, or Shaq from 10 years ago, or Yao Ming from five years ago. His work hasn't been as impactful as Dwight's this particular season, but it hasn't been far off, and we need to send kudos to this underappreciated should-be power forward.
FORWARDS
Fans picked: LeBron James, Miami Heat; Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
They should have picked: LeBron James, Miami Heat; Amar'e Stoudemire New York Knicks
I still believe, because his offense is way better than Amar'e's defense, and his defense is on par with Stoudemire's brilliant offense, that Kevin Garnett is at the very worst a coin-flip proposition for the other spot alongside LeBron. But Stoudemire has played 559 more minutes this season, and that stuff counts, so we're going with the big man that turned New York's fortunes around.
Nobody alternates awful and amazing like James. He's no joy to watch, as he dribbles for a good chunk of the time, but he changes the game of basketball. He's this game's most valuable player, and he's having a remarkable season. In several different ways.
GUARDS:
Fans picked: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat; Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
They should have picked: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat; Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
I respect Rajon Rondo's game, and appreciate his basketball instincts. But the idea of voting for a player amongst the top two guards in the conference, even if he's made just 25 free throws all season? That's too much for me to handle.
Of course there are several other important -- way more important -- factors to a basketball game. Several factors that Rajon, at times, dominates on his way to leading the C's to a win. But Derrick Rose is outright carrying the Chicago Bulls. And even if he weren't stuck putting those numbers up on a loaded team, Rose would still be the nazz.
And Dwyane Wade? You might think him gimpy, and hate the way he earns all those free throws. But most of you would trade your team's best player for him. "Would," and "should."
What gets tricky are the All-Star reserves. And we'll get to that next week.
John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones Michael Jordan
Los Angeles Lakers 120, Utah 91
As a fan, few things get me going more than a great night out offensively for the Los Angeles Lakers. With the spacing in place, the ball whipping around, Kobe taking it to the post and hitting turnaround bankers, and the occasional throw down from Andrew Bynum? Pau Gasol, doing it all? And then you bring Lamar Odom off the bench? It's a wonderful thing.
And yet, you couldn't walk away from this one feeling depressed about the Utah Jazz. This is a team without a clue in the first half of games (14-43 shooting on Tuesday), and it clearly is lacking in confidence. This is a team that takes one-second-on-the-shot-clock shots with 15 seconds left with which to work, and I can't for the life of me understand why. C.J. Miles, sure, he looks like he's eaten too many Twizzlers before the game. But Deron Williams and (especially, on Tuesday) Al Jefferson?
It was all over, baby blue, after that. No chance for a comeback, even from the NBA's most-celebrated comeback kids. 34 assists on 44 field goals for the Lakers, as an evenly-paced third quarter (both teams dropped 27 points) scuttled all hopes for a desperate fourth quarter surge from Utah.
***
Yin and yang work from the Bobcats and Kings in this game. Though both teams struggle to put points on the board and wins in the right column, Charlotte has been feasting of late by playing smart basketball and doing what it has with a limited rotation. Sacramento just takes bad shots and hopes for the best. And every time it felt as if the Kings were about to close out Charlotte's early lead, a forced turnaround jumper or needless crossover and 20-footer put an end to that momentum.
And it was a big hole to dig out of. Kwame Brown's early work (the guy finished with 13 points and 18 boards, good workin') gave the Bobcats a double-digit advantage heading into halftime, and the Kings certainly weren't going to win it back shooting 36 percent and missing 11 of 12 three-pointers. Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins were once again the main culprits (8-26 shooting), but guards Beno Udrih and Donte Greene also combined to shoot 6-23, so there was a lot to go around.
Also, I'm convinced that Eduardo Najera sets more proper screens in 15 minutes of play than some big men do in a year.
Wins like this are why Charlotte is a game up in the playoff race, clinging to that eighth seed. Father and son Silas have this crew working its tails off.
***
Dallas 112, Los Angeles Clippers 105
Don't dismiss the two obvious factors: Eric Gordon's absence, and yet another massive fourth quarter from Jason Terry. But believe me when I tell you that the Dallas interior defense was really what set it apart in this game, and especially in the second half. Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, and even Dirk Nowitzki used their length to sway both penetrating guards and wings, and both Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Hands up, feet set, watch the opposing bigs miss a bank shot.
Gordon, lost with a bum wrist for 3-4 weeks, was badly needed in this loss. The Clippers needed someone from the outside to draw attention both on the break and in transition, and though Randy Foye worked hard (I had to laugh as I even saw him go left, in the third quarter), and the Clips still put up over 116 points per 100 possessions (they were hitting everything from outside in the first half), just 43 second half points helped Dallas complete the comeback.
And JET went off. Fourteen points in the fourth quarter, including a game-clinching three-pointer in the corner in the final minute. Not sure why the Clippers weren't talking, and left him even as they had help for a driving Jason Kidd on the strong side in front of the basket but I just realized that these are the Clippers that we're talking about and I don't really know how to end this sentence so I'll just stop it abruptly and bring up someone we all love and cherish.
Blake Griffin was working hard underneath, but up against 7-footer after 7-footer, he had a rough go over things. Still, "rough go of things" meant 22 points on 16 shots with 11 rebounds and four assists, so that has to be a warming notion going forward. And Griffin did not like being taken out of the game with four minutes to go. Did not like it at all. And while the Clippers came back with him on the bench and made this a two possession game, and though they play again tonight ... I'm still not sure how I feel about the move.
Twenty-one points on 5-5 shooting and 11-11 marksmanship from the free throw line from Tyson Chandler, alongside superb defense. And Jose Juan Barea (25 points off the bench) was the drink-stirrer all night for Dallas.
***
I haven't seen a second of Basketball Wives, but I'm pretty good at jumping into judging character without having actually done the work needed to properly judge a character, and I can see what they're getting at with this Tweet.
Cleveland just doesn't have a basketball team, right now. But before you pin the recent woes on the loss of Anderson Varejao and others on this massive losing streak, understand that this team was defeated and shoe-gazing well before the injuries set in. That's what happens when you build your entire season around SpiteFest 2010, that home game against the Miami Heat in early December, and you get blown out on your home floor.
Boston moved the ball. It worked that complicated offense, its usual worry against lesser teams, and it took in easy buckets with either extra passes or straight shots in both delayed and typical transition. And it had Cleveland on the ropes early, though you had to appreciate the way Cleveland (J.J. Hickson, especially, kept plugging away). 29 assists on 42 field goals for Boston. So that's, what ... 25 assists? Not bad.
All-around goodness from Boston in the win, nobody really stood out to me. Twelve points, 17 rebounds and four blocks for Hickson in the loss.
***
They're just undisciplined. And while I understand that Flip Saunders' rep hasn't exactly been trending upward over the last four years, I don't know what any coach could do with this mess.
The Washington Wizards can shoot their way into wins. The team has enough raw talent and instinct on that end to keep teams on their heels defensively, and they'll even make the extra pass sometimes. But defensively, this team has no hope, no clue, and no interest. And it's the last of those that leads to the first of those. The middle of those can be helped, but do the Wizards care enough to listen to Saunders and then actually go out and execute? Initial findings say "no."
Fine offensive outing for Denver, let's not pin this all on the blow-bys and bum moves from Washington on that end. The team shot 12-23 from long range while scoring in the paint in transition, and you're going to have a hard time beating a team that is working expertly on those two angles. Nene continued his All-Star level play (he doesn't have a chance of getting in, but it's worth pointing out) with 21 points, nine boards, and a block, while Al Harrington hit six threes off the bench.
Andray Blatche and Nick Young combined for 51 points but, whoops, Ty Lawson just ran by them again.
Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman John Stockton Isiah Thomas
As Mr. Dwyer explained a little bit ago, this post by Henry Abbott on TrueHoop has taken our basketball corner of the Internet by storm Friday for claiming that Kobe Bryant is not as clutch as everyone thinks. By the numbers, Kobe makes a little less than one of every three shots when his team is down two, down one, or tied on the final possession, which makes him one of the worst performers among players with at least 30 attempts in those situations. Kobe also rates poorly in all situations in the final five minutes or overtime.
This is obviously surprising given his reputation as the best closer in the NBA. But the fact remains that Kobe does have this reputation, and it's there that we must question why it persists even if the numbers claim it's wrong.
The most obvious reason is that laymen and commentators across North America say Kobe's the best in late-game situations. Those comments feed upon itself, and eventually everyone just accepts that Kobe owns the fourth quarter.
At the same time, that reputation wouldn't seem viable to most observers if it didn't have some basis in reality. Kobe hits big shots at the end of games, sometimes, but the far greater reason for his clutch reputation is that the Lakers win in the postseason. Kobe usually plays a huge part in those wins -- he's been the first or second-best player on five championship teams -- and he wins acclaim because of it.
That doesn't mean that his clutchness is an illusion, because the term can apply to many situations apart from the end of games. In baseball, for instance, Barry Bonds once held a reputation as not clutch because of his terrible stats in all playoff situations, not just at the end of NLCS games. The same logic can apply to basketball: if a player performs well in any postseason context -- even if it's just starting a blowout at the beginning of a game -- he can be seen as someone who comes up big in pressure-filled situations.
Kobe has won a lot of big games for the Lakers, which means he's seen as a winner, which means he becomes seen as someone who turns the tide in close games. So even if he fails to make big shots at the end of close contests, those aren't remembered because they don't fall in line with the established Kobe narrative. That doesn't mean that his reputation is wrong -- just that it's not a complete picture of how Kobe performs in crunch time. When someone is seen as a champion, we tend to remember the great moments, like Kobe's big shot against Phoenix in 2006 or his dominance of the Pacers without Shaq in 2000. These moments stand paramount in our memories because they fall in with the larger view of his career.
Again, the numbers in Henry's post do not necessarily establish that Kobe is not clutch, if only because clutch can mean many things: coming up big in huge games, performing well at the end of games, the thing that makes cars shift, etc. What the numbers do show, though, is that the popular view of Kobe as an indomitable closer is oversimplified. He's not perfect, but he's also provided us with more memorable late-game moments than any other active player. The important question may not be whether Kobe's clutch or not, but why we insist on saying he's one or the other.
It's a good thing that you got to vote in the All-Star game starters.
It's good to have a piece, however tenuous, of the game you love. A connection to something real. A voice, in what counts.
It's just that ... some of you don't have League Pass.
And some of you haven't wasted your lives moving through stats and archived games and all manner of influence that might tell you that the most popular player at the position you're considering might not be the best choice.
Who were the best choices for next month's All-Star game? Gee, really? Well, thanks for asking.
In the American tradition, I didn't vote, but I sure can complain. Onto the East ...
CENTER
Fans picked: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
They should have picked: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
There's no way around this. He's probably the Defensive Player of the Year, he's a stud scorer no matter how he puts the points up, and he's the rock on a team that has gone in 15 different directions this season, while still trending upward as we hit the midpoint of the season.
What hits from here is something that needs to be shoved inside of every fortune cookie: Atlanta's Al Horford is having as good a season as any center outside of Dwight from the last few years, or Shaq from 10 years ago, or Yao Ming from five years ago. His work hasn't been as impactful as Dwight's this particular season, but it hasn't been far off, and we need to send kudos to this underappreciated should-be power forward.
FORWARDS
Fans picked: LeBron James, Miami Heat; Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
They should have picked: LeBron James, Miami Heat; Amar'e Stoudemire New York Knicks
I still believe, because his offense is way better than Amar'e's defense, and his defense is on par with Stoudemire's brilliant offense, that Kevin Garnett is at the very worst a coin-flip proposition for the other spot alongside LeBron. But Stoudemire has played 559 more minutes this season, and that stuff counts, so we're going with the big man that turned New York's fortunes around.
Nobody alternates awful and amazing like James. He's no joy to watch, as he dribbles for a good chunk of the time, but he changes the game of basketball. He's this game's most valuable player, and he's having a remarkable season. In several different ways.
GUARDS:
Fans picked: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat; Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
They should have picked: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat; Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
I respect Rajon Rondo's game, and appreciate his basketball instincts. But the idea of voting for a player amongst the top two guards in the conference, even if he's made just 25 free throws all season? That's too much for me to handle.
Of course there are several other important -- way more important -- factors to a basketball game. Several factors that Rajon, at times, dominates on his way to leading the C's to a win. But Derrick Rose is outright carrying the Chicago Bulls. And even if he weren't stuck putting those numbers up on a loaded team, Rose would still be the nazz.
And Dwyane Wade? You might think him gimpy, and hate the way he earns all those free throws. But most of you would trade your team's best player for him. "Would," and "should."
What gets tricky are the All-Star reserves. And we'll get to that next week.
Oscar Robertson David Robinson Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C: FanHouse. A great read on LaRue Martin, beleaguered former top NBA pick.
PF: TBJ. Do NOT ask Jay Triano about Toronto's former three-point streak.
SF: Eight Points, Nine Seconds. Solving the Jim O'Brien problem in Indianapolis.
SG: Truth About It. The Wizards will never win outside of Washington again.
PG: Magic Basketball. The super-efficient Orlando Magic. Everyone's hot, except for Gil.
6th: SRI. Grant Hill talks about the Suns' training staff, Vince Carter, and what James Polk was like.
7th: Tauntr. Very funny Miami Heat pie graphs.
8th: Get Buckets. Does Kobe get disproportionate credit when the Lakers win and lose?
9th: Indy Star. T.J. Ford is handling his demotion like a professional.
10th: Lakers Nation. Even Laker fans know the otherwise, fantastic Lamar Odom shouldn't make the All-Star team. I'm not entirely convinced Mark Jackson is an NBA fan.
Got a link or tip for Ball Don't Lie? Holler at me at KD_BDL_ED (at) yahoo.com, or follow me on Twitter.
Wilt Chamberlain Bob Cousy Dave Cowens Billy Cunningham Dave DeBusschere
Popular opinion says that the Miami Heat are big fat meanies who only care about themselves, mostly because they have three stars who are either oblivious to public opinion or just don't care about it. But the sins of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh don't necessarily reflect on the organization, unless you think Pat Riley is evil for trying to win a championship. Which he could be!
If you're the kind of person who doesn't like much of what Miami does and stands for, then the following story should act as a barometer for your level of Heat hate. Former Miami point guard Tim Hardaway, who helped make the franchise legitimate while still in its relative infancy during the mid-'90s, recently ran into trouble with the IRS. Then his old team bailed him out. From The Detroit News:
Hardaway, 44, ran into tax trouble in June despite being paid more than $46.6 million during his NBA career. The IRS filed a tax lien against his property and the bill listed his 7,542-square-foot mansion in suburban Miami.
On Sept. 3, three months after the lien was filed, Hardaway sold the mansion to Miami Heat Limited Partnership, which owns the Miami Heat. [...]
The Heat paid $1.985 million, according to public records. Today, the Heat is trying to sell the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath estate, which comes with a pool and private basketball court decorated with a Miami Heat logo, for $2.5 million.[...] Meanwhile, four months after the sale, Hardaway is still living in the mansion.
Hardaway owed $120,000 to the IRS, which seems like a small amount of money for someone who made tens of millions of dollars over a short-term period. But there's no telling how much of that money Hardaway spent during his career and what kinds of bad deals and investments he made after retirement. Plus, it's not as if Hardaway has an obvious source of income right now -- his disastrous stint as an ESPN commentator ensured that he'd never work in TV again.
Clearly, Hardaway needed help here -- he owed lots of money to the government and had no obvious way of paying it. But should the Heat have helped him out? On the face of it, this choice isn't too surprising. Hardaway made lots of money for the franchise over more than five seasons and, along with Alonzo Mourning, was instrumental in making them more than a mediocre expansion team. The Heat paid him a lot over the years, but he's still one of their own. It's a nice display of loyalty.
On the other hand, Hardaway was given more money than most people can dream of and he fumbled it away. Wouldn't the Heat have been better served helping out some of their most loyal fans who found themselves in tax trouble or were foreclosed upon during the financial crisis?
It's a difficult question that I can't answer here. But your response should tell you a lot about what you think of the Miami Heat beyond their loaded starting lineup.
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
Elgin Baylor Dave Bing Larry Bird Wilt Chamberlain Bob Cousy
Popular opinion says that the Miami Heat are big fat meanies who only care about themselves, mostly because they have three stars who are either oblivious to public opinion or just don't care about it. But the sins of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh don't necessarily reflect on the organization, unless you think Pat Riley is evil for trying to win a championship. Which he could be!
If you're the kind of person who doesn't like much of what Miami does and stands for, then the following story should act as a barometer for your level of Heat hate. Former Miami point guard Tim Hardaway, who helped make the franchise legitimate while still in its relative infancy during the mid-'90s, recently ran into trouble with the IRS. Then his old team bailed him out. From The Detroit News:
Hardaway, 44, ran into tax trouble in June despite being paid more than $46.6 million during his NBA career. The IRS filed a tax lien against his property and the bill listed his 7,542-square-foot mansion in suburban Miami.
On Sept. 3, three months after the lien was filed, Hardaway sold the mansion to Miami Heat Limited Partnership, which owns the Miami Heat. [...]
The Heat paid $1.985 million, according to public records. Today, the Heat is trying to sell the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath estate, which comes with a pool and private basketball court decorated with a Miami Heat logo, for $2.5 million.[...] Meanwhile, four months after the sale, Hardaway is still living in the mansion.
Hardaway owed $120,000 to the IRS, which seems like a small amount of money for someone who made tens of millions of dollars over a short-term period. But there's no telling how much of that money Hardaway spent during his career and what kinds of bad deals and investments he made after retirement. Plus, it's not as if Hardaway has an obvious source of income right now -- his disastrous stint as an ESPN commentator ensured that he'd never work in TV again.
Clearly, Hardaway needed help here -- he owed lots of money to the government and had no obvious way of paying it. But should the Heat have helped him out? On the face of it, this choice isn't too surprising. Hardaway made lots of money for the franchise over more than five seasons and, along with Alonzo Mourning, was instrumental in making them more than a mediocre expansion team. The Heat paid him a lot over the years, but he's still one of their own. It's a nice display of loyalty.
On the other hand, Hardaway was given more money than most people can dream of and he fumbled it away. Wouldn't the Heat have been better served helping out some of their most loyal fans who found themselves in tax trouble or were foreclosed upon during the financial crisis?
It's a difficult question that I can't answer here. But your response should tell you a lot about what you think of the Miami Heat beyond their loaded starting lineup.
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
Julius Erving Patrick Ewing Walt Frazier George Gervin Hal Greer
But as the details emerge, it turns out Colangelo made a nifty little move, acquiring the sort of asset that I'd hoped he'd pull in with Peja's deal a month from now. In one of those not-a-deal-technically-but-really-a-deal, the Raptors have taken in a verbal agreement from Stojakovic that has him signing with the Dallas Mavericks following his buyout and release from Toronto. As a bon mot, Dallas is likely going to send athletic center Alexis Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Raptors for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis, which (according to Rob Mahoney) also gives the Mavericks their own trade exception.
Ajinca's no sure thing, and Charlotte owner Michael Jordan took in a fair bit of criticism for drafting the 7-foot French big man a few years ago, but he does have raw talent. And in limited minutes this season, he's played passably well for the Mavericks. Toronto, a team that probably isn't going anywhere, would be well served to try out Ajinca, to see if he's worth taking a flyer on. Especially as the team leads the NBA in points given up in the paint.
Nate Archibald Paul Arizin Charles Barkley Rick Barry Elgin Baylor
The Rookie Game is one of the most-loved events of All-Star weekend, a chance for fans to see the league's youngest players entertain fans by throwing and finishing alley-oops against an entirely disinterested defense. But did you know that it's a relatively recent phenomenon? Up until the 1994 All-Star events, the league held a Legends Game featuring stars of yore, but it had to end that competition after David Thompson blew out his knee in Orlando in 1992.
Above, you can witness the introductions for the 1994 Rookie Game in Minneapolis. All your favorites are there: Chris Webber, Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Isaiah Rider, and even Shawn Bradley. But while most nostalgia-fueled events look a little ridiculous upon sober reflection, this Rookie Game features a bunch of players who went on to have solid, if not excellent careers. In truth, only the comparison between Lindsey Hunter and Isiah Thomas looks ridiculous today. Even Rider's introduction doesn't feel out of place -- he really was one of the league's most exciting players back then.
The Rookie Game eventually had to become the Rookie/Sophomore Game to bring more good players into the mix, but this roster shows that the idea was a pretty great one at its inception. Frankly, there are fewer ridiculous inclusions here than in that year's All-Star game. Mookie Blaylock?
Billy Cunningham Dave DeBusschere Clyde Drexler Julius Erving Patrick Ewing
"Yeah, back behind that curtain, through the tunnel, past the Secret Service."
"All right, well, three things, Mike. One: There's definitely no Secret Service agents over there, because as we've discussed before, you're not really President Basketball; that's just a creator-owned comic book you're working on. Two: I think Coach will get super pissed if he knows you're just wandering to the concession stand after you sub out, so you should probably just stay put when you get to the bench. And three: Those aren't Slim Jims. They're branded bracelets."
"Mmmm, no, I'm pretty sure they're Slim Jims, Garth."
[sigh] "Once again, Mike: Not my name."
"Yes, please."
"Didn't ask you if you wanted anything."
Just my take on a typical conversation between Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, probably. Best caption wins the opportunity to create your own comic, just so long as you don't infringe on the intellectual property of President Basketball (patent pending). Good luck.
In our last adventure: Crisp Bosh. One shot, two words, too good. Boom.
NOTE: Bonus points for creative diggin' in the memory crates. Also, sorry, Readers of Tennessee.
Runner-up, chaoz_golem: Bosh applauds the Toronto Raptors for not playing any defense. "Defense is how people get injured!"
Second runner-up, Mike G: Bosh: "That's the last time I let [Carlos Arroyo] try on suits for me."
Sam Jones Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone
Ask any kid who wore Rec Specs to play youth roller hockey, Dwyane Wade; we'll tell you what's up. Pull our coats and we'll let you know that you've got to be prepared for those joints to fog up on you during the game. It's a fact of vision-corrected life, and that's word to Mindy Cohn.
When it happens to your special migraine glasses — and, as you found out midway through the third quarter of Thursday night's prime-time contest between your Miami Heat and the New York Knicks, it will happen — you've got to remain poised. No more of this trying to defog them in the middle of the play, pulling a spin move, losing your handle and turning the ball over. That's not how a smooth superhero/secret agent/whatever operates.
The turnover was one of Wade's six in the game, which saw the newly named All-Star starter display both his customary brilliance — he spent most of the first three quarters devouring the New York defense en route to 34 points (on 14-for-22 shooting), 16 rebounds and five assists — and, at times, some discomfort. Wade missed eight of his 14 free-throw attempts and all seven of his field-goal tries in the fourth quarter, opening the door for the Knicks to rally late and put away the Heat to seal a 93-88 victory at a raucous Madison Square Garden.
How much the glasses affected Wade's stroke from the line and during his late-game cold snap remains unclear, but for one play, at least, they contributed directly to a (pretty funny) change of possession. And hey, Dwyane? If you're reading this, and you almost definitely are, please accept this crowd-sourced message-board collection of prospective anti-fogging solutions with my compliments. No need to thank me. Us GlassesBros have to stick together, you know?
International readers ("Int'l read'rs"): If the clip above isn't rocking for you, please feel free to peruse the eyewear-malfunction-induced turnover courtesy of our man @Jose3030.
John Stockton Isiah Thomas Nate Thurmond Wes Unseld Bill Walton
At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.
LeBron James: Watching the 69' All-Star Game. AKRON Own Gus Johnson out there repping and my fav Big O going ham!
Matt Barnes: I apologize 4 my comments made yesterday about Jay Cutler w/out knowing the facts, it was wrong of me 2 ASSUME that he really wasn't hurt ... I was caught up in the emotion of the game, but as an professional athlete I should have known better..
DaJuan Summers: I guess I am going to take a bday shot out of this hotel mini bar ... lol
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Detroit, when I meet with the mayor this summer, I'm telling him one of my plans is to open a Krispy Kreme in the city. We don't have ONE.
Kris Humphries: Hmmm, I think I can help you out. RT @KimKardashian: I want my son to look like this! http://twitpic.com/3slu0f
You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.
Bob Cousy Dave Cowens Billy Cunningham Dave DeBusschere Clyde Drexler
But as the details emerge, it turns out Colangelo made a nifty little move, acquiring the sort of asset that I'd hoped he'd pull in with Peja's deal a month from now. In one of those not-a-deal-technically-but-really-a-deal, the Raptors have taken in a verbal agreement from Stojakovic that has him signing with the Dallas Mavericks following his buyout and release from Toronto. As a bon mot, Dallas is likely going to send athletic center Alexis Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Raptors for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis, which (according to Rob Mahoney) also gives the Mavericks their own trade exception.
Ajinca's no sure thing, and Charlotte owner Michael Jordan took in a fair bit of criticism for drafting the 7-foot French big man a few years ago, but he does have raw talent. And in limited minutes this season, he's played passably well for the Mavericks. Toronto, a team that probably isn't going anywhere, would be well served to try out Ajinca, to see if he's worth taking a flyer on. Especially as the team leads the NBA in points given up in the paint.
Oscar Robertson David Robinson Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman
Grauman's Chinese Theater is one of the top landmarks in Hollywood, a place where some of the silver screen's biggest stars have forever placed their footprints and handprints in cement. Have you ever wanted to know the real shoe sizes of Cary Grant and Van Heflin? This is your chance!
Up until now, the cement was reserved for the biggest names in the history of film. However, according to the Associated Press, Kobe Bryant will become the first athlete to showcase his shoes and hands at the theater during next month's All-Star Weekend in L.A.
So what makes Kobe so deserving of the honor? A quick look at his IMDb page shows little acting experience besides playing himself on several sitcoms and making an appearance on "Moesha" as "Terry Hightower" back in the day. He certainly hasn't acted with as big a profile as Michael Jordan or Rick Fox.
The truth is that Kobe is going in the cement because of his new long-form Nike ad directed by filmmaker/cowboy hat enthusiast Robert Rodriguez. In fact, it turns out Kobe's cement probably won't even be on permanent display.
Before you hem and haw about the influence of commercialism on the theater, remember that the history of Hollywood is the tale of commerce and marketing coming together to create stars. Look at the names of most of the people in the cement permanently and you're likely to find a bunch of assumed names and non-people like Herbie the Love Bug and Darth Vader. So yes, Nike probably paid the theater a large deal of money to get Kobe this honor. But the movie studios probably did the same thing in the past for their stars, too.
Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale
It's a good thing that you got to vote in the All-Star game starters.
It's good to have a piece, however tenuous, of the game you love. A connection to something real. A voice, in what counts.
It's just that ... some of you don't have League Pass.
And some of you haven't wasted your lives moving through stats and archived games and all manner of influence that might tell you that the most popular player at the position you're considering might not be the best choice.
Who were the best choices for next month's All-Star game? Gee, really? Well, thanks for asking.
In the American tradition, I didn't vote, but I sure can complain. Onto the West ...
CENTER
Fans picked: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
They should have picked: Nene, Denver Nuggets
They shouldn't have had to pick Nene.
Or Tim Duncan, were he listed as a center. Or Tyson Chandler. All three are All-Star worthy, but this is a bogus selection at a bogus position that was shoe-horned down the fans' throats for no good reason. And, hopefully, this is the last year of an All-Star ballot that reads "guards, forwards, and centers" instead of "come on, you're smart, pick five good ones."
Nene has had a terrific year, but I don't think he should make the team even as a reserve. And yet he's had the best year of any center in his conference. This says less about the West, and more about the ridiculousness of the stringent position-based voting process. Hopefully David Stern does right in handing Pau Gasol the starting nod next month, even if he was listed as a forward on the All-Star ballot.
Wait, that means ...
FORWARDS
Fans picked: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
They should have picked: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
This is clearly the busiest order of the whole mess, and while Anthony has had a good enough year, there's no way he's had a more impactful year than Love, Blake Griffin, Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph or Lamar Odom. Odom's minutes might be lower than Carmelo's, and his per-minute production about the same, but I'd much prefer his help defense this season than Anthony's.
Love's the guy, though; 21.6 points and 15.7 rebounds? Shooting 45 percent from long range? This guy isn't just an All-Star. He's a candidate for the All NBA-Team.
Listen, there are always four or five beyond-terrible teams in an NBA seasons, squads that you watch and wonder how they'll ever make it to 10 wins. And yet, these squads never seem to produce players averaging 37 combined points and rebounds. If it were all about, "he's on a terrible team, that's why he puts up such great numbers," then why haven't we seen numbers like this in 30 years of terrible teams? Seems to me these terrible teams have had about 150 chances, in that time.
Also, Kevin Durant is the absolute business.
GUARDS
Fans picked: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets; Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
They should have picked: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Both selections are spot on. Paul is the best point guard this league has to offer. And it's not just that Kobe's the best shooting guard out West, he's the second-best guard in the conference. This isn't me choosing by position.
What worries here is the guard play left to the NBA's assistant coaches. Because Russell Westbrook, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash and Deron Williams have been just as good as both Paul and Kobe.
And Tony Parker hasn't been. Same with Monta Ellis.
Sorry, but there's a clear step in between the lot listed above, and the two players listed below them. Once you factor in pace, and efficiency, and work on the other side of the ball (that, apologies for pointing out, is one-half the game of basketball), Parker and Ellis just don't hold up. And yet, there's a groundswell.
Mainly because Ellis has been fantastic this season, keeping his team in games, and deserving of an All-Star nod in just about any other year. And Parker has been better, even if the per-game stats don't show it, on the league's best team.
But there are four guards who have been better. Hopefully the assistant coaches do the research necessary to seek this out, instead of dodging their responsibilities.
Stop laughing.
Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit
At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.
LeBron James: Watching the 69' All-Star Game. AKRON Own Gus Johnson out there repping and my fav Big O going ham!
Matt Barnes: I apologize 4 my comments made yesterday about Jay Cutler w/out knowing the facts, it was wrong of me 2 ASSUME that he really wasn't hurt ... I was caught up in the emotion of the game, but as an professional athlete I should have known better..
DaJuan Summers: I guess I am going to take a bday shot out of this hotel mini bar ... lol
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Detroit, when I meet with the mayor this summer, I'm telling him one of my plans is to open a Krispy Kreme in the city. We don't have ONE.
Kris Humphries: Hmmm, I think I can help you out. RT @KimKardashian: I want my son to look like this! http://twitpic.com/3slu0f
You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.
Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich
Utah Jazz guard Earl Watson was pushing the pace so much he left his own teammates winded Friday night. But after snapping a six-game losing streak with a 108-100 win over Minnesota, nobody was complaining. "It is a relief," Andrei Kirilenko said. "It's big time to finally leave it behind and start over." The smallest player on the court had perhaps the biggest impact.
James Worthy Kareem Abdul Jabbar Nate Archibald Paul Arizin Charles Barkley
As Mr. Dwyer explained a little bit ago, this post by Henry Abbott on TrueHoop has taken our basketball corner of the Internet by storm Friday for claiming that Kobe Bryant is not as clutch as everyone thinks. By the numbers, Kobe makes a little less than one of every three shots when his team is down two, down one, or tied on the final possession, which makes him one of the worst performers among players with at least 30 attempts in those situations. Kobe also rates poorly in all situations in the final five minutes or overtime.
This is obviously surprising given his reputation as the best closer in the NBA. But the fact remains that Kobe does have this reputation, and it's there that we must question why it persists even if the numbers claim it's wrong.
The most obvious reason is that laymen and commentators across North America say Kobe's the best in late-game situations. Those comments feed upon itself, and eventually everyone just accepts that Kobe owns the fourth quarter.
At the same time, that reputation wouldn't seem viable to most observers if it didn't have some basis in reality. Kobe hits big shots at the end of games, sometimes, but the far greater reason for his clutch reputation is that the Lakers win in the postseason. Kobe usually plays a huge part in those wins -- he's been the first or second-best player on five championship teams -- and he wins acclaim because of it.
That doesn't mean that his clutchness is an illusion, because the term can apply to many situations apart from the end of games. In baseball, for instance, Barry Bonds once held a reputation as not clutch because of his terrible stats in all playoff situations, not just at the end of NLCS games. The same logic can apply to basketball: if a player performs well in any postseason context -- even if it's just starting a blowout at the beginning of a game -- he can be seen as someone who comes up big in pressure-filled situations.
Kobe has won a lot of big games for the Lakers, which means he's seen as a winner, which means he becomes seen as someone who turns the tide in close games. So even if he fails to make big shots at the end of close contests, those aren't remembered because they don't fall in line with the established Kobe narrative. That doesn't mean that his reputation is wrong -- just that it's not a complete picture of how Kobe performs in crunch time. When someone is seen as a champion, we tend to remember the great moments, like Kobe's big shot against Phoenix in 2006 or his dominance of the Pacers without Shaq in 2000. These moments stand paramount in our memories because they fall in with the larger view of his career.
Again, the numbers in Henry's post do not necessarily establish that Kobe is not clutch, if only because clutch can mean many things: coming up big in huge games, performing well at the end of games, the thing that makes cars shift, etc. What the numbers do show, though, is that the popular view of Kobe as an indomitable closer is oversimplified. He's not perfect, but he's also provided us with more memorable late-game moments than any other active player. The important question may not be whether Kobe's clutch or not, but why we insist on saying he's one or the other.
Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit
No phone booth, no cape, no theatrics or set pieces. Just the shot clock winding down, a lightning step to get around one of the league's most gifted perimeter defenders in Andre Iguodala, a hell-bent-for-leather drive to the lane and an insane display of athleticism to elevate and finish. (And, of course, a little bit of luck to keep that fastball from clashing with unkind iron and rattling out.) He might not be worth every penny of the five-year, $82 million contract he inked this offseason, but when he turns in plays like this, Rudy Gay's darn sure worth the price of admission.
Gay's righteous dunk (or non-dunk, or vicious layup, or whatever we decided things like this should be called after Dwight Howard went Kal-El in the '08 Slam Dunk Contest) cut the Philadelphia 76ers' lead over the Memphis Grizzlies to two late in the fourth quarter, then hit a tough shot in traffic to put the Grizzlies up for good. Memphis scored 42 fourth-quarter points, doubling up the Sixers in the frame to erase a 16-point deficit and notch a 99-94 win that brings the Grizz within one victory of .500 for the season.
Gay finished with 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 22 points and 12 rebounds, posting his 13th consecutive double-double and his 33rd of the season. Jrue Holiday and Jodie Meeks each scored 16 for Philly, who lost despite hitting 13 of 20 attempts from downtown.
Video courtesy of our friends at Get Banged On.
Patrick Ewing Walt Frazier George Gervin Hal Greer John Havlicek
Many fathers dream of watching their sons play in the NBA, but it's usually a pipe dream. For Mike Dunleavy Sr., though, that hope was more like a strong possibility, both for his son's strong genes and longtime reputation as a top prospect. When Mike Dunleavy Jr. was drafted by the Warriors in 2002, it was a dream come true for both. With the elder Dunleavy's coaching career, there was only a question as to whether the two would ever join up on the same team.
With the father now out of the league and unlikely to get another coaching stint soon, it may never happen. But even if the son had the chance, it doesn't seem like he'd much like to be coached by his dad. From Chris Tomasson at FanHouse:
"Not really," Dunleavy Jr., an Indiana swingman, said Sunday when asked if it's a dream to one day play on an NBA team coached by his dad, Mike Dunleavy Sr. "There could be a lot of issues with it. If it were to happen, you'd make the most of it. But it's not something that I'm trying to do... If you were on a great team and you're winning, to do it with your dad, that would be great. But when things aren't going well, it could be kind of like hit or miss.'' [...]
"There just could be issues," said Dunleavy Jr., a nine-year man with a career scoring average of 12.1. "I'd prefer not to play for a family member. But if it happens, it happens... It's not something that I don't think either one of us is trying to make happen.''
Good for Dunleavy the Younger, who realizes that basketball is a business and charges of nepotism could only make things more difficult for himself in the present and future. Firmly ensconsed in the league as a veteran, he doesn't want to waste his time with the dreams of youth.
Then again, Dunleavey the Elder seems to think there's an act of subterfuge going on. From the same article:
"He doesn't want to just come out and say that and people might think he wants his father to coach the Pacers,'' Dunleavy Sr. said on Monday, although Indiana president Larry Bird has said Jim O'Brien will coach the team the rest of this season.
Whoops, it looks like the son never told the father that he doesn't think he's a very good coach. Something tells me there might be a short moment of awkwardness at the next Dunleavy family function, although it shouldn't last long once both remember they've been making loads of money off no-better-than-decent performances for years now. The only arguments that take place between people this rich are money fights.
There's never been a father/son duo on the same team -- Coby and George Karl came the closest last season, but Coby was never inactive and George wasn't with the team while undergoing cancer treatments -- but several could happen soon. The best opportunity looks like Doc Rivers and his Duke-bound super-recruit son Austin, except Doc would probably have to change teams since Austin figures to be a high draft pick.
Regardless of whether or not this ever happens in the league, let's not assume it would all be a joyful familial union. One bad stretch, and pretty soon the son is telling the press that his father didn't hug him enough as a child.
Elgin Baylor Dave Bing Larry Bird Wilt Chamberlain Bob Cousy
Now this is something you don't see every day: A man not only dunking the ball, but dunking himself! The videos below are absolutely insane.
During a Phoenix Suns halftime show, this guy gets massive air, but then it goes from cool-looking to scary. Luckily, ABC reports that the man staved off any injuries. Watch and marvel at how this is even possible (Video courtesy of ABC).
Goodness, gracious, sakes, alive. Amazing.
Here is another angle:
Not trying to go all Strict Constitutionalist on you, but I have Dr. James Naismith's original basketball rules copied and framed just inches away from where I type this, and I can't see anything that goes into the level of protection needed after you vault through the goal headfirst, before dropping 10 feet to your eventual end. While some other guy jumps on a trampoline toward your skittish legs and a gorilla exhorts the crowd to revel in this blood lust.
By the way if anyone cares, the Bobcats beat the Suns in this contest, by a 114 to 107 score.
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Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich
Sure, Kevin Durant broke the hearts of New York Knicks fans everywhere with his buzzer-beating beauty to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a home win on Saturday night. But he wasn't the only one pitching daggers.
A scant 1,340 miles away, in our nation's capital, star rookie John Wall banked home a 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Rajon Rondo with the shot clock winding down and 57 ticks left in the game to give his Washington Wizards an 84-81 lead over the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics. The banked-in 27-foot heave — which might be charitably described as "charmed," "touched by an angel" or "other late '90s/early '00s television programs," and less charitably described as "lucky," "not called" or "kind of gross" — proved to be the difference-maker, as the Wiz held on for an 85-83 win.
Credit 2010's top overall draft pick for accepting his good fortune after the game, telling the truth and shaming the devil. From the Associated Press:
... Wall made his team's first and only 3-pointer of the game to put Washington ahead 84-81 with 58 seconds remaining.
And, no, he didn't call the bank.
"I knew it was going to hit backboard, but I thought it was going to be a hard brick," Wall said. "It could've broken the backboard. Luckily, it went in."
As you can see in the clip above (and in another take, courtesy of our man @Jose3030), Wall was so excited after the bomb went in that he started jumping up and down, smiling and really showing off his wild gesticulation game. One of Wall's more interesting hand gestures was one described by Kyle Weidie of Wiz blog Truth About It as "double finger guns," which is probably not the best of all possible hand-gesture formulations to flash in the District, since, well, y'know, and also, y'know. But hey: Big shot! Game-winning stuff! Excitement! Let's not overthink it, huh?
Instead, let's toast what Gene Wang of The Washington Post called "the defining moment to date of [Wall's] brief professional career" — an end-of-the-shot-clock gift from the basketball gods, followed by broad smiles, infectious glee and sourpuss-inducing finger maneuvers. (While we're at it, let's hope prettier defining moments lie ahead.)
International readers ("Int'l read'rs"): If the clip above isn't rocking for you, please feel free to peruse the clangosity courtesy of our friends at Outside the NBA.
Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman John Stockton Isiah Thomas
Rubio was drafted by the Timberwolves back in 2009, in a move that never seemed like a good idea. It was a stretch even then, with Rubio's stock at an all-time high, that the Spanish point guard would come to the NBA at such a young age. And when you throw in the rebuilding process the Timberwolves were under, and the (I'm sorry) less-than-marquee setting of Minnesota home games (in relative terms, to a kid thinking of New York or Los Angeles), it's no surprise that nearly two years later the Timberwolves are no closer to bringing Rubio over.
And a column in Sunday's New York Times isn't helping either side of this mess.
It paints a picture of a struggling youngster who is completely and utterly disinterested in all things NBA, and completely willing (as has been the case for a while) to wait out the three-year rookie scale term that the NBA places on draftees. Come 2012, Rubio could negotiate a deal with the Timberwolves for whatever amount they have under the cap, which would then make it easier for Rubio to put together a sign-and-trade for his services. Because, let's face it, he's never going to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Not that they should want him, anyway.
Though 28 games in the 2010-11 season, Rubio has continued to struggle. He is shooting just 32 percent from the field, including 11 of 61 from beyond the arc, and his team has lost more games in the ACB and in the Euroleague than it did all of last season.
[...]
"I try to help the team," Rubio said. "It doesn't matter if you have to score 50 points or zero. If I help the team, I don't think of my stats."
Yeah, you probably should think of your stats. It might stop you from taking over two 3-pointers a game, when you only (on average) make one nearly every three games.
Rubio has long been a strange comp. His passing skills tend to excite, but he shoots in a way that would make even high-assist/poor-shooting point guards like Brevin Knight or Rajon Rondo blush. The fear in 2011 is the same that it was in 2009: Rubio can pass, sure, but what's the point when teams are going to play him for the pass, and back off of his terrible shot?
And then there's this:
"The bottom line is, why would he want to play in Minnesota?" a senior member of Rubio's camp said this month. "He'll continue to say all the diplomatic things, and Minnesota needs to keep his value up for trade purposes, but the family's preference is to be on the East Coast, specifically New York, Miami or Boston. He wouldn't be troubled if he has to stay another year."
Which is unfortunate, because Minnesota (as a city, at least, if not a franchise) has so much to offer. And that's not me being diplomatic.
A year and a half later, this is still a terrible move for the Timberwolves. They put themselves, and Rubio, into an awful situation. Youngsters with leverage and a paying gig in a league that they like aren't going to drop everything to nearly work pro bono (because Rubio would have to use his own money in a buyout package just to get out of his international contract) just to chase the NBA dream. And assuming that he was going to give it all up just for the right to play in the NBA was an incredibly naïve (and a little insulting) move by the Timberwolves. These aren't farmboys, wowed by the lights.
But that's what's to be expected from a team that chose both Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio two and five spots before Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings were selected.
Elgin Baylor Dave Bing Larry Bird Wilt Chamberlain Bob Cousy
In both the socialist and democratic Russian governments, dirty tricks and outright corruption have long been the order of the day. You wouldn't think it would eventually find its way to an otherwise innocuous NBA game program, but such is the influence, apparently.
Last fall, the Mikhail Prokhorov-owned New Jersey Nets played the Houston Rockets in Beijing and Guangzhou, China. Before touching down in China, however, the team decided to stop off in Moscow for a photo shoot.
[Rewind: Egyptian paper doctors photo of Obama]
In front of the stunning St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, the team (decked out in Nets gear) posed for a photo that would eventually grace the cover of the program handed out before Wednesday night's Nets game against the Utah Jazz. One that, with both Prokhorov and fellow Russian and Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko in town, took place on Russian Heritage night in the Nets' Newark arena.
The problem with the program is that the players listed in the program for Wednesday's game weren't all together for the picture on the program. This bothered the Nets, so they programmed the picture on the program to delete a few former Nets (Terrence Williams, Brian Zoubek, Joe Smith) from the Russian setting.
The problem here is that they didn't stop there.
[Read more: How ghostly images were altered before Photoshop]
The team, cynically, added guard Sasha Vujacic to the cobblestone steps in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. Vujacic (first row, sixth from the left ... kind of) is a Serbian-born guard who was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to New Jersey last month, and most crucial to the Nets, he is married to Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova. This is important enough to the Nets that they pasted Vujacic's head on Williams' body, even though Vujacic was in Barcelona at the time the picture was taken, as the Lakers readied themselves for a preseason game in Spain.
I was told that if you try and unfocus your eyes, and look directly through the program photo, you could see Yakov Smirnoff's smiling image, but I've been unsuccessful so far.
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