Andris Biedrins, far right, won’t have Baron Davis, front, passing him the ball anymore

Biedrins has game.

Who?

Andris Biedrins. He just signed a huge contract with the Golden State Warriors for 62 million bucks.

62 million bucks for Bee runs?

No, Biedrins. Andris Biedrins. They also signed Monta Ellis for 66 million bucks.

Monta Ellis?

Golden State wanted to lock up some young talent and they did.

“We’re extremely happy to have Andris under contract for many years to come,” said Chris Mullin, the Warriors’ top basketball executive. “He is clearly one of the top young centers in the NBA, and much like (Ellis), he has continued to improve every season. It’s not easy to find quality young big men in this league, but we certainly think we have one of them, and he’s only 22 years old.”

Biedrins has improved his scoring average in each of his seasons with Golden State, developing from a skinny rebounding specialist into an all-around player and a low-post scorer for the uptempo Warriors.

source

Did you know Andris led the league in field goal percentage at 62.6 %? He is a 6′ 11″ center and brings what you would call a 10 10 game to the NBA, 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Andre is young and getting better.

As for Monta Ellis, he averaged over 20 points per game last year and will take over for Baron Davis. Baron left for the Clippers.

Should be fun to watch Golden State in their high speed offense with Monta Ellis bringing up the ball and Biedrins as a reliable scorer and rebounder.

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

All the after the fact analysts are now claiming the Jason Kidd deal was such a dumb move by Mark Cuban.

The facts? No victories against above .500 teams and the West is loaded with above .500 teams.

Now they have all this analysis about what Devin Harris brought to the team or even, oh yeah, get this, DeSagana Diop.

Excuuuuse me? What a bunch of baloney.

The Mavericks lost to the Warriors in the first round last year. The out of control Warriors took them down.

Was Devin Harris a good young player? Yeah, and he still is for that matter, but that is not the point.

Dallas needed to do something. The team they had was not going to win.

Jason Kidd turns his back on the nay sayers

Is Jason Kidd the answer? We don’t know yet, but he is getting blamed for everything including the stale hotdog buns in section 129 at the last home game.

It has been a difficult transition for Kidd, although he has played better the last week, averaging 19.7 points, 11 assists and 3.3 steals.

He is a positive person who is emboldened by the challenge: “If you want it badly, you’ve got to go through this. You kind of have no choice but to produce. That’s the fun part. You’re going to have good days and bad days, where you feel non-existent and everybody is on your back. That’s when you have to keep pushing.”

The Kidd trade was supposed to have positive leadership implications because the Mavericks have long been considered too soft — “too fragile,” as Jackson says. But the offense has struggled to find its flow and the defense hasn’t displayed consistent vigor.

source

Maybe the bigger question is when will Dirk Nowitzki be back. The Dallas Mavericks need to make the playoffs first and foremost and then worry about what Jason Kidd’s role will be.

The status for the Wednesday game against Golden State is not good.

There were hopes that Nowitzki could play Wednesday after the team upgraded his status to day-to-day following his 45-minute workout Tuesday. But that optimism faded after the shootaround session.

“I’ve got to be pain-free. If I can’t move out there and cut and try to defend and move my feet, it really doesn’t make any sense to try to get out there,” Nowitzki said. “Just hobbling around wouldn’t help anybody. I would rather have somebody out there that can go and give 100%.”

Nowitzki sprained his left ankle and knee March 23. He said his knee is fine.

source

Ultimately the team will be about Dirk Nowitzki and how far he can carry them, not about Jason Kidd.

NBA Basketball special comment The early returns mean nothing. The final polls are the playoffs. That is when the Jason Kidd trade will be fully tested. Can Jason get it done?

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain knocked down 100 points in a single game in 1962.

The Warriors won, 169-147, setting what was then a record for the most combined points in a game by both teams. But the game is most remembered for the 100 points scored by Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who demolished the NBA single-game scoring record. source

How good was Wilt?

In the following night, Chamberlain got the permission to travel back to New York with three Knicks players. According to Cherry, Chamberlain drifted in and out of sleep and got a kick overhearing the NY players talk about the “S.O.B. who scored 100 points on us”.[8] Another night later, the Warriors and the Knicks squared off again in Madison Square Garden. This time, Imhoff played all 48 minutes and got a standing ovation for holding Chamberlain to “only” 54 points.

Yeah, baby, only 54 points. Way to hold ‘em.

Kobe and the 81

In 2006, Kobe put up 81 on the Toronto Raptors.

Bryant scored all but 15 of the Lakers’ 42 points in the third quarter, shooting 11-of-15 including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Six of his points came during a 12-0 run to finish the period, giving Los Angeles a 91-85 lead. source

Is it possible to compare the two games? Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don’t Lie seems to think so.

First, number of possessions.

First, the context of the era: there were, way, way, way more possessions in an NBA game back then. This was a running league, much more than any NBA-style track meet you may have seen in any of the last 30 years. Not only did Wilt’s Philadelphia Warriors score 125.4 points per game, they gave up 122.7. A team featuring Wilt Chamberlain (50.6 on field goals) shoots 43.9 percent from the floor, and scored 125.4 points per game. Think about that.

Second, Wilt’s team tried to foul to set up the record.

I didn’t, but earlier this winter I read Gary M. Pomerantz’ Wilt, 1962. It’s a compelling account of Wilt’s life, that night, but it also details the ways in which a bemused Warrior squad tried to help Wilt pad his stats in blowout win: namely, they fouled the heck out of the Knicks in the game’s final quarter in order to get the ball back in Wilt’s hands.

Third, the defense.

They didn’t, but they had less of a chance than the Knicks team Wilt scored on. Starting center Phil Jordan missed the game suffering from equal parts cocktail and legitimate flu, and rookie Darrall Imhoff was forced into action against a player that was a good half-foot taller than and three times better than most centers in the NBA; Imhoff included.

It is always hard to compare era’s in any sport, but there is no denying that both of these accomplishments are unbelievable.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will anyone ever score over a 100 in a game?

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

Maurice Brooks writes for NBA.com and has an ongoing article keeping track of his Top Ten nominations for NBA MVP.

It is called Race to the MVP Weekly Leaders.

Let’s take a look at Maurice’s list with your intrepid author’s comments in italics.

LeBron says – It is all about team (yeah, right)

1. LeBron – Last Week’s Rank – 1
The Cavs are six games below .500 without James in the lineup and 13 games above it when he plays. This past week I received a large amount of e-mails pointing out that he is in the East. Do you really think his stats would be any worse if he were in the West? As well as he has balled this season, he has been even better lately, averaging nearly 33 points, nine boards and six assists over his past six games.

You will get no argument from me. LeBron is bringing it right now and his team is winning.

2. Chris Paul

Wow, Maurice goes out of his way to rake Deron Williams over the coals, but the Hornets are hot right now and that helps.

3. Kobe Bryant

Maurice seems to think Pau Gasol will reduce Kobe’s chance to win the MVP, but your gallivanting author thinks it will increase his chances. Pau will be a number two star that will keep the winning coming, especially when they get Bynum back.

4. Steve Nash – I know there are a bunch of fans checking out R2MVP right now and wondering how come this guy is always in the top five. We’ll start with the fact that he is a great teammate, shoots over 50 percent from the floor and over 90 percent from the line, leads the league in assists and is the best player on the best team in the West and go from there.

Nash is unbelievable, but it is how he incorporates Shaq that will make the difference.

5. Dwight Howard

Maurice kids Dwight a bit and he is an emerging star, but this ranking just seems too high.

6. Allen Iverson

The only person that plays less D is Melo.

7. Paul Pierce

An unrecognized star for years, there is still the question of how well he will play number two star to Kevin Garnett.

8. Dirk Nowitzki

Wait a minute, this guy plays less D than AI.

9. Baron Davis

Love watching this guy play, but then Stephon Marbury amazes me too.

10. Kevin Garnett

This guy has to be in the top five. Come on.

Love Maurice’s column, but does he have to get down on Rasheed Wallace being picked for the All Star game? Rasheed has his ups and downs, but the Pistons are nothing without him. He routinely shuts down opposing centers and power forwards and scores his share in the Pistons balanced scoring offense.

Defense needs to be included in the MVP award and sadly is not.

Where is Tim Duncan?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Who is missing from your Top Ten?

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

Tim Duncan says “You have to stop me to get to the finals

The Lakers picked up Pau Gasol, so they would not lose any momentum when Andrew Bynum was injured. When Bynum comes back, you have a front court of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom to go with Kobe Bryant. Arguably a powerful lineup.

The Phoenix Suns dealt the Matrix for Shaquille O’Neal. The Suns needed a center to get past the Spurs and because the Gasol deal had moved the Lakers ahead of them. If Shaq can turn it on one more time for the speedy Suns with Amare Stoudemire moving to power forward and Steve Nash wanting to win a ring before he retires, then the deal will look brilliant.

Even the San Francisco Warriors picked up Chris Weber, because they have playoff potential and are seeking any edge they can find.

So the Spurs looked around and decided to take…no one.

Yeah, that is right. No one.

“I never feel pressure to make a deal,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We talk to everybody, just like the other 29 teams. If something makes sense, we’ll do it. But making deals because you feel pressure is a recipe for failure.” source

Now the San Antonio Spurs did sign Damon Stoudamire to fill in for the injured Tony Parker, but that is it.

Their record does not look quite as sparkling as usual due to various injuries, but come playoff time you still have to knock off the Big Fundamental if you want to win the West.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Are the Spurs still the team to beat?

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

And LeBron shall lead them…

Winning.

Every team that experiences winning can tell you how great it feels. After a while a team that wins begins to think of themselves as winners.

That is where the trouble begins. Teams forget all the hard work, the lucky breaks, the momentum, the close calls that went their way. They seem to claim a divine right that makes them better.

Cleveland started to really play as a team when they faced the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs last year.

Detroit, on the other hand, was a tired and uninspired team. To be sure, they took the Cav’s lightly.

LeBron and teammates made them pay for that attitude and knocked them out of the playoffs.

Cleveland forgot that they were still learning, still getting better, still needed more help. The summer came and the front office made no moves.

Now Cleveland must relearn to be winners. It is a process and with LeBron, they can do it. Right now, though, Cleveland is struggling.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a team in disarray.

A 105-96 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night was their 10th in 13 games, and was met with a chorus of boos from fans of the defending Eastern Conference champions.

The latest loss, in which the Cavaliers never led and trailed by 28 points in the third quarter, was so bad LeBron James left the arena without talking to reporters. source

NBA Basketball Fan Question Is Cleveland out of the playoff picture all ready?

Visit my companion blog on the NFL at Squibkick.com

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

Tayshaun Prince

The story was not in the victory over the Warriors on this wintry Detroit day.

No, the 109 – 87 victory was nice, but under the circumstances, expected.

The real story is that the Pistons are on a roll and rejuvenated. They play a lot of youth and still have that menacing mix of Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, and, of course, today’s hero Tayshaun Prince.

Boston may be getting all the press clippings, but Detroit has quietly begun to play great defense and great offense. This had led to a lot of winning, despite injuries and a lot of road games to begin the season.

But how about that game in the snow storm?

Even though the snowstorm kept half the announced sellout crowd of 22,076 away from The Palace Sunday (10,050 fans actually walked through the turnstiles), and the schedule-makers may have hamstrung the Golden State Warriors by making them play a matinee after flying across the country on Saturday, the Pistons didn’t care about any of that.

“That happens,” said Chauncey Billups, after the Pistons ran roughshod over the Warriors, 109-87, raising their record to 17-7. “We are going to get it later on when we have to make a short trip to Phoenix on a back-to-back. Everybody has that. They came out not being aggressive and running and gunning like they usually do, so we tried to take advantage of that.” source

With Tay and Dice playing tonight’s important roles, Chauncey Billups explains how it works in the new all offense NBA.

Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess accepted that challenge. Prince led the way with 23 points, hitting 8 of 14 shots. McDyess, who only played 25 minutes, produced 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting, with 11 rebounds.

Prince and McDyess combined for 17 points in a 35-point second quarter.

“A lot of teams like to play small and fast and shoot a lot of 3-pointers,” said Billups, who produced 19 points and six rebounds. “That’s OK. We just stick to our guns and play the same way. We can do that because our bigs are pretty agile and they can stay with the smaller forwards. If you go small on us, we are going to punish you every single time.”

Look out NBA; the Pistons are coming to get you!

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will the Pistons win the Eastern Conference?

Visit my companion blog on the NFL at Squibkick.com

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

The return of James, your basketball author. Now the good and the bad. The good is that my most excellent boss and coworkers filled in quite nicely and that is most appreciated.

The bad is that James is diagnosed with Cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Fear not, they say the cancer is one that is curable, so let us move forward with our dreams of basketball!

Who you calling senile?

The Warriors are wild and crazy guys!

The thing about the Warriors is they make no sense. Basketball at the professional level isn’t supposed to work this way. In the mixed-up Warrior World, one-on-four pull-up jump shots are encouraged, not punished; a player who has been suspended six times is a source of inspiration and stability; and guys called Mully and Nellie are considered the masterminds of the operation. source

Now how many coaches tell you to shoot the ball? Now years ago while coaching amateur teams your intrepid author used to tell players if you get your shot take it or expect to come out of the game, but Don Nelson tells his players to just shoot the ball. That will get the defense to spread out.

“It’s a lot more organized than what it seems,” Baron Davis said.

It starts with rule No. 1 from coach Don Nelson: Shoot the ball.

“He actually said, ‘Don’t worry about making it,’” Austin Croshere said. “You have to take that shot in order to get the defense to extend to open things up. It’s within certain parts of our offense. To get the ball into the corner, you have to get that guy out there.”

GM Chris Mullins thinks it makes their version of small ball work. Chris was one of the all time great long range shooters, by the way. His shot was smooth and easy.

There’s nothing you can do to stop their style. You know how you don’t want to fight a crazy guy, because you don’t know what he is going to do? The same thought applies here. If the Warriors are going to shoot the first 25-footer they see, is there really any way to defend against it?

Oddly, their best player is Stephen Jackson, the prime suspect in the Malice at the Palace against the Pistons.

With the Warriors, he’s a source of inspiration. He plays with confidence, and it spreads.

“The guys on my team know that, the best player on their team, I’m going to make him work,” Jackson said.

The Warriors were 1-6 while he served a seven-game suspension for the shooting incident. Since he returned, they’re 9-2. Going back to the end of last season, the Warriors have won 25 of their past 32 regular-season games in which Jackson has played.

The Warriors play a game even stranger than the Suns, but will it be enough to win a championship?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you like watching the Warriors play?

Visit my companion blog on the NFL at Squibkick.com

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

More blogs about basketball.

Post from: NBA Obsessed