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Ron Artest, Man of the People, on clutchfans.net

This is awesome

Now Sponsoring the Knicks: The US Marines?

That's what the MSG announcer said at the end of the half. Knicks basketball is brought to us, in part, by this, that, and the United States Marines. This is how our tax dollars are being used, sponsoring the Knicks? How do people outside of NYC feel about that? Do Dallas Mavericks fans tax dollars feel comfortable with the US Marines using Mavs fans' tax dollars to promote the Knicks?

Chris Paul: It's the Details

Everything you hear about the guy is true, he's that good, but it's the little stuff he does that I particularly enjoy. I've never seen a guy use more head and ball fakes while dribbling. He doesn't get tripping over themselves with each fake, but they're always just a little off balance, and Paul uses that to get the step he needs to get clean looks at the basket.

I also love how he lets the lets the ball bounce/roll when taking it out of bounds, if he's not being pressured, since clock doesn't start running until he touches the ball. Even if there are ten minutes left in the quarter, he wants to get the maximum time out of each possession.

Jared Jeffries Comments on Competition

What's His Name MSG reporter just asked the hobbled Jeffries about the progress of his broken leg, and then asked him the first time he saw "a little Wilson Chandler moment of magic." I like that. Chandler and Jeffries are competing directly for playing time at the same position and he's asked to talk up the guy who's going to keep him out of the rotation.

I always thought Jeffries would be a good player if he learned to shoot or developed a post game, but he never did, and he isn't. Who knows, D'Antoni apparently told the MSG folks that he wants to try Jeffries at center, so maybe he'll get something out of him that I don't see.

Knicks/Heat

I'm catching the Knicks/Heat game right now, and I like a lot of what I see in Miami. I don't think people appreciate Udonis Haslem enough, and understand how detrimental his injuries were to the team, last year. He's their glue guy, and he's strong enough and smart enough that he'll be able to cover most centers, so they can go small without serious deficit. Marion's defense and superior rebounding helps a lot too.

I also wonder if this is the year that Marcus Banks puts it together. I always wondered why he didn't get good. He tested huge in the draft camps, strong as hell, jumps through the roof, ultra quick, but he's mostly sucked since he got to the league. The problem was that he's a 6'2" shooting guard who can't shoot, and never was able to transition into a real point guard. But last year he seemed to learn to shoot, 39% from 3. If he really has learned to shoot well enough that he has to be guarded, he can be a serious force off the bench, because he's just firs-stepping it to the rim, against the Knicks, too quick and strong to be stopped by Duhon or Robinson.

I think pundits are selling the Heat short. I think they're in the middle of the playoff pack, with Wade giving them that all-important best-guy-on-the-floor factor, so that they always have a shot in a series, if he goes off (like he's been known to do) in the post season.

Stern and Cuban

I like this little piece by Henry Abbott, asking for predictions about the season, mostly because of Stern's and Cuban's responses. Stern is always, always, always on message: the NBA is Fantastic! Stern says the big stories of the season are going to be:

"1. The resurgence of the Eastern Conference
2. The young talent of Portland
3. The return of Andrew Bynum
4. What do Artest and Scola (off of an impressive Olympic showing) do for Houston?"

Mark Cuban is also always, always, always on message, his being "Will the NBA get its shit together?" Or as he puts it:

"Will the NBA proactively promote itself and its teams to take marketshare away from other entertainment options?

When the economy slows, and competitors have issues, that's the time to double down and take marketshare."

NETSantional

I just sent this picture to my father and suggested that after he fully recovers from knee replacement surgery, he should try out. I have no question that he could take the spot of either of those two cats in the middle. I'm not sure whether I was paying him a compliment or making fun of his oldness. It's like calling someone "spry". It just means lively and vigorous, but have you ever heard someone under 70 referred to as "spry"?

More Free Ballin' at Garden Grasp

You'll find the new article here.

regarding explosiveness

Gilbert Arenas had a third operation on his knee, yesterday.

"The doctor who performed the operation Wednesday said debris buildup is common in Arenas' type of injury, and that an MRI showed the knee to be structurally sound." - ESPN

Arenas is 26 and it sounds like he'll be fine, with plenty of prime years left. And in my inexpert opinion, this operation is no huge deal. If there's a problem, going forward, it would be due to residual effects of the injury, not this cleanup job. I hoop he's OK, because along with being awesome, Arenas is hysterical.



Still, if his problems were persist, his enormous contract would still eat up a third of the Wizards cap room for the next 6-years, with no way to get it off the books, unless he were to retire. Who would benefit from punishing the Wizards and DC fans for 6-years for making a reasonable investment decision (presumably their doctors gave Arenas the long-term thumbs up) in a tight spot? I'm fine with guaranteed contracts, but the Wizards should also be able to release Arenas and get the cap space back.

Adam Morrison on his recovery from his knee injury

"My explosion is not quite there, but that just takes time (since) I haven't played 5-on-5 in 12 months."

When did Morrison have explosiveness?