Category: NBA (Page 401 of 595)

      McHale hires himself as head coach

      December 8, 2008 /

      Kevin McHale is known as one of the worst GMs in the league. Now he has decided that he is better equipped to be the Timberwolves’ head coach.

      The Timberwolves relieved Randy Wittman of his job, though he should feel relieved after dealing with rumors of his imminent demise all season.

      Wittman hasn’t lived up to the “goals and expectations” considering the “talent” he had to work with, according to Wolves owner Glen Taylor. Those are curious claims considering what Wittman had to run out there every night courtesy of Kevin McHale and Taylor.

      Wittman could have coached Brandon Roy and O.J. Mayo. Instead, he had Randy Foye and Kevin Love. Those draft-day moves go on McHale’s ledger and perhaps it’s time for Minnesota’s favorite basketball son to answer for them. McHale stepped down from his post as VP of basketball operations to coach the Wolves once again.

      Since McHale put this team together, he ought to be the one dealing with this 4-15 mess. Other than power forward Al Jefferson, the rest of the roster is either unrealized potential or veterans, such as Mike Miller, who aren’t part of the future. Taylor sounds as if he’s not letting McHale off the hook lightly.

      “It is my expectation that Kevin will be able to get the most out of our team and our players,” Taylor said in a statement released by the team.

      The Wolves could have as many as four first-round picks next summer. Minnesota needs to hit big in the Draft and/or put together a package to ease the pressure off Jefferson, while helping the development of Foye, Love and Corey Brewer, who recently suffered a season-ending knee injury.

      “I truly believe that we have a talented group of players in our locker room who have a great amount of potential,” McHale stated. “I’m confident that we can get this turned around and get back to playing a brand of basketball that our fans can be proud of.”

      McHale has a close relationship with Taylor which is why he’s lasted this long given his performance as the team’s GM. This smells like Taylor might be getting a little tired of the losing (and/or of McHale blaming the coach for the team’s performance) so he wants McHale to step in and put up or shut up.

      What are the odds that there is a new GM and head coach in Minnesota next season?

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      The NBA’s Top 10 Young Shooting Guards

      December 5, 2008 /

      Here’s a quick list of the top 10 shooting guards under the age of 26, ranked in the order of a combination of current performance and trade value (regardless of salary).

      I’ll also list the player’s age and his Player Efficiency Rating.

      1. Brandon Roy, Blazers
      Age: 24
      PER: 22.93
      How do you like Roy’s smooth 21.1 points and 5.3 assists? He’s the cornerstone to a resurgent Portland franchise.

      2. Kevin Martin, Kings
      Age: 25
      PER: 18.90
      His line is a little thin – 2.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds – but boy can he score.

      3. Kevin Durant, Thunder
      Age: 20
      PER: 17.26
      His FG% is three percent higher this season and he’s hitting 47% of his treys. I’d rather see him play small forward, but he’s listed as an off guard.

      4. O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies
      Age: 21
      PER: 17.13
      It’s tough to argue with Mayo’s 21.3 points per game, especially when he’s shooting pretty well from the field (46%) and long range (39%). The Grizzlies have something going with their core of Mayo and Rudy Gay.

      5. Andre Iguodala, Sixers
      Age: 23
      PER: 14.56
      It has been a down year for Iggy, who has seen his scoring drop by 6.0 points per game since the arrival of Elton Brand. His FG% is down and his 3PT% is brutal (23%), but his rebounds and assists are up. Think the Sixers would trade him for Mayo or Durant straight up? I do.

      6. Rudy Fernandez, Blazers
      Age: 23
      PER: 18.35
      He’s been better than advertised. He’s only playing 26 minutes a game, but he’s scoring well (11.6 ppg) and is shooting the long ball often (2.3 made threes per game) and accurately (44%).

      7. Ronnie Brewer, Jazz
      Age: 23
      PER: 16.32
      Brewer is building on last year’s breakout season. He’s not a great three-point shooter (32%), but he’s improved in that area of the game. His contributions elsewhere – 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 steals – make him valuable.

      8. Ben Gordon, Bulls
      Age: 25
      PER: 17.77
      Gordon is playing for a contract and while his points are up (20.4), his three-point accuracy is down (37%).

      9. Delonte West, Cavs
      Age: 25
      PER: 14.52
      West has settled in nicely with the Cavs. He’s averaging 11.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists, and is shooting 50% from the field and 41% from long range.

      10. Nick Young, Wizards
      Age: 23
      PER: 15.03
      His line is thin, but he’s averaging 11.8 points in 24 minutes, and basketball is (mostly) about putting the ball in the hoop.

      Other lists:

      Top 10 Young Point Guards
      Top 10 Young Small Forwards

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      Couch Potato Alert: 12/5

      December 5, 2008 /

      All times ET…

      College Basketball

      Saturday, 3:30 PM: No. 4 Duke vs. Michigan, ESPN
      Saturday, 1:30 PM: No. 5 Gonzaga vs. Indiana
      Saturday, 4 PM: Ohio State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, ESPNU
      Sunday, 6 PM: No. 21 Florida vs. Florida State, ESPN Full Court

      College Football

      Saturday, 12 PM: Navy vs. Army, CBS
      Saturday, 1 PM: No. 17 Boston College vs. No. 25 Virginia Tech-ACC Championship Game, ABC
      Saturday, 4 PM: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Florida-SEC Championship Game, CBS
      Saturday, 4:30 PM: No. 5 USC vs. UCLA, ABC
      Saturday, 8 PM: No. 20 Missouri vs. No. 2 Oklahoma-Big 12 Championship Game, ABC

      NBA

      Friday, 8 PM: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics, ESPN
      Friday, 10:30 PM: Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz, ESPN
      Saturday, 9 PM: Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns
      Sunday, 1 PM: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors, NBA-TV

      NFL

      Sunday, 1 PM: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, Fox
      Sunday, 4:15 PM: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Fox
      Sunday, 8:15 PM: Washington Redskins vs. Baltimore Ravens, NBC

      NHL

      Friday, 8:30 PM: Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
      Saturday, 2 PM: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
      Saturday, 10 PM: Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks

      Boxing

      Saturday, 9 PM: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiano, HBO PPV

      Boxing, College Basketball, College Football, Couch Potato Alert, General Sports, NBA, NFL, NHL, Television

      Phil Jackson tweaks Andrew Bynum

      December 4, 2008 /

      It’s always interesting in the NBA how some coaches and players interact through the media.

      Andrew Bynum wasn’t happy about going to the bench midway through the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss Tuesday to the Indiana Pacers.

      Coach Phil Jackson had a not-too-subtle and perhaps all-too-predictable response before the Lakers faced the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

      “That’s none of his business,” Jackson said. “He just goes out and plays. That’s his job. … He’s a kid, he doesn’t know any better.”

      Jackson is always good for a condescending quote or two.

      It seems like if a coach had a weekly 15-minute meeting with each player, locker rooms would be much more harmonious.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      The NBA’s Top 10 Young Point Guards

      December 3, 2008 /

      Here’s a quick list of the top 10 point guards under the age of 26, ranked in the order of a combination of current performance and trade value, and regardless of salary.

      I’ll also list the player’s age and his Player Efficiency Rating.

      1. Chris Paul, Hornets
      Age: 23
      PER: 30.99
      He’s the best point guard in the league, regardless of of age.

      2. Deron Williams, Jazz
      Age: 24
      PER: 16.82
      Better jumper than CP3, but doesn’t have his quickness or vision.

      3. Derrick Rose, Bulls
      Age: 20
      PER: 17.51
      What he’s doing in his rookie year (18.7 points, 5.8 assists) is phenomenal.

      4. Devin Harris, Nets
      Age: 25
      PER: 27.81
      He’s absolutely blowing up – 24.8 points, 6.1 assists – right before our very eyes. That sound you hear is Mark Cuban grinding his teeth.

      5. Mo Williams, Cavs
      Age: 25
      PER: 15.91
      Mo is still figuring things out on the defensive end, but he’s a nice sidekick for LeBron, despite the so-so FG% (43.7%).

      6. Rajon Rondo, Celtics
      Age: 22
      PER: 18.73
      Handled the point during the C’s championship run. Does it with passing (7.2 assists) and defense (2.2 steals).

      7. Ramon Sessions, Bucks
      Age: 22
      PER: 17.67
      It was Sessions, not Ridnour, that prompted the Bucks to trade Mo Williams away. 15.6 points and 5.8 assists indicates he’s the point guard of the future in Milwaukee.

      8. Jordan Farmar, Lakers
      Age: 22
      PER: 14.84
      He’s struggling with his shot this season (41.9%) and is still playing behind Derek Fisher.

      9. Nate Robinson, Knicks
      Age: 24
      PER: 17.88
      He’s thriving in Mike D’Antoni’s system (14.5 points, 4.2 asissts), but at just 5’ 9”, is he limited in his upside?

      10. Russell Westbrook, Thunder
      Age: 20
      PER: 15.06
      He just joined the starting lineup, but is still averaging 12.3 points and 4.1 assists.

      Before you blast me for missing a player or two, be sure to check his age. All these guys are 25 years-old or younger.

      12/4 Update: Mo Williams is 25, not 23.

      Other lists:

      Top Young Shooting Guards
      Top Young Small Forwards

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

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