Basketball
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Als je dan toch maar één uitwedstrijd wint, dan maar in.....
Eerste uitzege is binnen
8 december 2006
Rubriek(en) : Competitie
Ivo Boom had het in de laatste time-out bedacht en zijn spelers duidelijk gemaakt: de eerste optie was Donald Wilson op de kop van de bucket en als hij vanaf dat punt geen goede schotoptie zou krijgen, moest de bal naar JS Nash voor een soloactie. En zo geschiedde. Hoe de uitblinker aan Leidse zijde de bal erin kreeg, vragen de 450 toeschouwers zich waarschijnlijk volgende week nog af, maar de ontlading was er niet minder om, toen vlak daarna het laatste Rotterdamse gevaar (de lange bal en een snel schot) door Mick Burger met een soort volleybalblok onschadelijk werd gemaakt en de voor de poorten van de hel weggesleepte 80-81 de boeken in kon.
Eindelijk lukte het Zorg en Zekerheid dan weer een keer om een overwinning te boeken, want op de drie uit de beginfase van de competitie ligt inmiddels al een flink laagje stof. Het was bovendien de eerste uitoverwinning van het seizoen. In Den Bosch, Zwolle en Leeuwarden en tussendoor thuis tegen Omniworld en Polynorm was de ploeg van Ivo Boom er heel dichtbij, maar lukte het steeds nét niet. De losing streak liep op tot negen en dan gaat het knagen aan een ploeg.
De overwinning in Rotterdam is daarom van zeer groot belang. Het geloof in eigen kunnen zal terugkeren binnen de ploeg en dat zal ongetwijfeld zijn vruchten afwerpen in de komende weken, waarin (tot Kerstmis) nog drie keer gespeeld moet worden: twee keer thuis (Matrixx en Amsterdam) en tussendoor uit bij Hanzevast.
Het paradoxale van de overwinning tegen Rotterdam Basketball is, dat het geen goede wedstrijd was van ZZ Leiden. De afgelopen weken is er beter gespeeld. Maar ja, daar praat je niet meer over als je gewonnen hebt. Een goede ploeg moet ook mindere wedstrijden kunnen winnen.
Het ging af en toe gruwelijk mis in het veld, vooral na een gemist schot. Herhaaldelijk anticipeerde de verdediging niet goed en kreeg Rotterdam bijna een vrijgeleide richting Leidse basket. Daarnaast was vooral in de eerste helft het balverlies enorm: zestien keer. Als je zó speelt wordt dat meestal flink afgestraft. Maar Rotterdam kon dat niet, omdat Anthony Dill het vizier niet op scherp had staan en zijn landgenoot Kenneth Henderson een fletse partij speelde.
De twee ploegen bleven daardoor voortdurend bij elkaar. Het grootste verschil was twee maal zeven punten in het voordeel van de thuisploeg (16-9 en 28-21), maar het antwoord volgde ogenblikkelijk. Dat was overigens ook het geval bij een voorsprong van ZZ Leiden. De maximale 45-50 was bij 53-52 alweer verleden tijd. Achttien ‘leadchanges' en tien keer een gelijke stand geven aan hoe close de wedstrijd was.
Bij ZZ Leiden werden de dingen die niet goed gingen in de tweede helft aardig gecompenseerd. En dat gebeurde vaak op cruciale momenten. Vaak door JS Nash, maar ook door Nick Curtis met twee driepunters in het vierde kwart en door Donald Wilson, die dan toch eindelijk mocht spelen, nog wat onwennig binnen het team stond, maar een paar prima acties had, waaronder een driepunter en een heerlijke dunk. Daarnaast verdedigde hij Vincent Krieger, die de Leidse basket had gebombardeerd met vijf driepunters, uit de wedstrijd, toen ZZ Leiden van een zoneverdediging weer overschakelde naar een man-to-man.
Cruciale momenten. Ze volgen elkaar in de slotfase in zeer hoog tempo op. Zo lijkt JS Nash de wedstrijd in het slot te gooien met een driepunter op 1:04 van het einde (75-79). Shelton Colwell heeft een prima blok, dat balbezit lijkt op te leveren, maar resulteert in twee vrije worpen, omdat de scheidsrechters de duw van Dill in de rug van reboundende Nick Curtis niet zwaar genoeg vinden, maar daarop wel een fout fluiten tegen Curtis.
Anthony Dill komt in die laatste minuut drie keer aan de lijn met drie punten als gevolg. En dan is het verschil dus nog maar één: 78-79. Vervolgens heeft Wilson de wedstrijd in handen, maar hij mist twee vrije worpen en direct daarop komt er een fout voor Mick Burger zo maar uit de lucht vallen. Arvin Slagter heeft daar lak aan en schiet twee keer binnen: 80-79 met nog 15.3 seconden op de klok.
Ivo Boom pakt een time-out. Heel bewust ná de vrije worpen, omdat je in de laatste twee minuten van de wedstrijd na de onderbreking dan de bal aan de middellijn krijgt. ZZ Leiden snoept vervolgens bij veertien seconden van de klok op, om de laatste score te maken.
Een laatste score dus van JS Nash. Maar Ivo Boom had zich geen zorgen hoeven te maken, meldden de andere drie Amerikanen na afloop in de kleedkamer. ‘We hadden zes handen bij de ring om de bal erin te tikken, als ie mis mocht zijn geweest...' Of was dat misschien toch een beetje grootspraak...
Kaboem! schreef:Bizar, nietwaar?! In voormalig Joegoslavië gebeurt nogal eens wat. Misschien kan Jabu wat meer over het gebeuren vertellen. Ik hoorde in ieder geval dat CNN en BBC News er over berichtte.
De rellen begonnen voor de wedstrijd toen zo'n honderdtal Partizan supporters opeens kwamen opdagen om PAOK te ondersteunen. Ondanks al deze rellen begon de wedstrijd maar een half uurtje later. :shock: Wellicht waren de spelers van Crvena Zvezda toch nogal onder de indruk, want normaal gesproken horen zij thuis makkelijk te winnen van PAOK. Over betrokkenheid van supporters van Olympiakos heb ik niets gehoord. De enige link die ik daarin kan leggen zij de overeenkomende clubkleuren van enerzijds Rode Ster en Olympiakos en anderzijds Partizan en PAOK.Deli schreef:Serviers en Grieken hebben elkaar door de jaren heen altijd gesteund. Ook in dit soort dwaze acties.
Griekse media bericht dat PAOK werd gesteund door Partizan en Rode Ster door Olympiakos.... :nooo:
Het gaat weer mooi naadje met de Lakers, net als je denkt dat ze goed gaan draaien verliezen ze thuis van teams als de Bucks en de Hornets.
De Suns zijn trouwens weer helemaal terug. 8 zeges op rij en gisteren een beest van een wedstrijd tegen de Nets: 161-157.
Wat zou er aan de hand zijn met de oostelijke teams? Koploper Thomas zou in de westelijke div nog maar net de nummer laatst, Kaboem!, voorblijven...
Zlatan Son of God is helemaal een geval. Vorige stand was hij nog eerste in de Oost, en nu... kijk zelf maar. :sad:
Δύση
Deli 0.737 - W 3
Dubbel 0.667 - L 1
Jabukajaja 0.667 - L 1
Monkey Tonk 0.647 - W 8
Kaboem! 0.625 - L 1
Ανατολή
Thomas 0.632 - W 1
Justin 0.444 - W 1
Steef 0.333 - L 1
Duke 0.294 - L 4
Zlatan Son of God 0.294 - L 5
De Suns zijn trouwens weer helemaal terug. 8 zeges op rij en gisteren een beest van een wedstrijd tegen de Nets: 161-157.
Wat zou er aan de hand zijn met de oostelijke teams? Koploper Thomas zou in de westelijke div nog maar net de nummer laatst, Kaboem!, voorblijven...
Zlatan Son of God is helemaal een geval. Vorige stand was hij nog eerste in de Oost, en nu... kijk zelf maar. :sad:
Δύση
Deli 0.737 - W 3
Dubbel 0.667 - L 1
Jabukajaja 0.667 - L 1
Monkey Tonk 0.647 - W 8
Kaboem! 0.625 - L 1
Ανατολή
Thomas 0.632 - W 1
Justin 0.444 - W 1
Steef 0.333 - L 1
Duke 0.294 - L 4
Zlatan Son of God 0.294 - L 5
Die situatie doet zich al heel lang voor. De Pistons waren daar de afgelopen jaren een uitzondering op, daarvoor moet je al bijna terug gaan naar de Bulls. De top in het Westen is al jaren veel breder. Omdat de topteams in het Oosten relatief vaak tegen andere matige teams uit het Oosten spelen winnen zij toch aardig wat wedstrijden.Dubbel schreef:Wat zou er aan de hand zijn met de oostelijke teams? Koploper Thomas zou in de westelijke div nog maar net de nummer laatst, Kaboem!, voorblijven...
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Alaindebanaan
- Berichten: 2467
- Lid geworden op: di sep 23, 2003 1:46 pm
- Locatie: Eindhoven
Aanstaande donderdag ga ik trouwens een naar het Nederlandse basketbal kijken. In Nijmegen gaan wij met een groepje naar de MatrixxMagixx vs Omniworld. Ik ben benieuwd.....
M-M schijnt ook veel qua spektakel te organiseren...
M-M schijnt ook veel qua spektakel te organiseren...
Vrouwen, je kunt niet met, maar ook niet zonder.
En speciaal voor de Dr.:
"Vrouwen, je kan niet met ze..."
En speciaal voor de Dr.:
"Vrouwen, je kan niet met ze..."
Partizan wordt erg gesteund door de 'kleinere' clubs in Griekenland. Zowel PAOK als AEK hebben erg goede banden met Partizan. AEK heeft in de tijd van de oorlog zelfs vriendschappelijk tegen ze gespeeld in Belgrado (voetbal).Jabukajaja schreef:Kaboem! schreef:Bizar, nietwaar?! In voormalig Joegoslavië gebeurt nogal eens wat. Misschien kan Jabu wat meer over het gebeuren vertellen. Ik hoorde in ieder geval dat CNN en BBC News er over berichtte.De rellen begonnen voor de wedstrijd toen zo'n honderdtal Partizan supporters opeens kwamen opdagen om PAOK te ondersteunen. Ondanks al deze rellen begon de wedstrijd maar een half uurtje later. :shock: Wellicht waren de spelers van Crvena Zvezda toch nogal onder de indruk, want normaal gesproken horen zij thuis makkelijk te winnen van PAOK. Over betrokkenheid van supporters van Olympiakos heb ik niets gehoord. De enige link die ik daarin kan leggen zij de overeenkomende clubkleuren van enerzijds Rode Ster en Olympiakos en anderzijds Partizan en PAOK.Deli schreef:Serviers en Grieken hebben elkaar door de jaren heen altijd gesteund. Ook in dit soort dwaze acties.
Griekse media bericht dat PAOK werd gesteund door Partizan en Rode Ster door Olympiakos.... :nooo:
Rode Ster wordt een beetje gezien als de club van de staat...
Olympiakos hoort ze dan juist te steunen... ;)
Victory over oneself is the greatest of victories-Plato
Dubbel van waar die plotselinge interesse in de Griekse taal ?Dubbel schreef:Het gaat weer mooi naadje met de Lakers, net als je denkt dat ze goed gaan draaien verliezen ze thuis van teams als de Bucks en de Hornets.
De Suns zijn trouwens weer helemaal terug. 8 zeges op rij en gisteren een beest van een wedstrijd tegen de Nets: 161-157.
Wat zou er aan de hand zijn met de oostelijke teams? Koploper Thomas zou in de westelijke div nog maar net de nummer laatst, Kaboem!, voorblijven...
Zlatan Son of God is helemaal een geval. Vorige stand was hij nog eerste in de Oost, en nu... kijk zelf maar. :sad:
Δύση
Deli 0.737 - W 3
Dubbel 0.667 - L 1
Jabukajaja 0.667 - L 1
Monkey Tonk 0.647 - W 8
Kaboem! 0.625 - L 1
Ανατολή
Thomas 0.632 - W 1
Justin 0.444 - W 1
Steef 0.333 - L 1
Duke 0.294 - L 4
Zlatan Son of God 0.294 - L 5
Ανατολή
Δύση
:xyxthumbs:
Victory over oneself is the greatest of victories-Plato
-
Alaindebanaan
- Berichten: 2467
- Lid geworden op: di sep 23, 2003 1:46 pm
- Locatie: Eindhoven
Ik ga a.s. donderdag eens hier in Nijmegen kijken. Bij de MatrixxMagixx, ze moeten tegen Omniworld, dacht ik. MM staat ook bekend om haar entertainment rondom de wedstrijd e.d. dus ik ben benieuwd!
Vrouwen, je kunt niet met, maar ook niet zonder.
En speciaal voor de Dr.:
"Vrouwen, je kan niet met ze..."
En speciaal voor de Dr.:
"Vrouwen, je kan niet met ze..."
Leuk stukje over de twee beste college spelers van vorig jaar: Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick. Voornamelijk over Morrison overigens. ;)
En nog veel meer over rookies:
En nog veel meer over rookies:
Rookie report: Disappointments and a surprise ROY
By John Hollinger
ESPN
Earlier this week, our Chris Sheridan wrote about a number of players who were in the NBA last year and aren't this year. Want to know why they're gone? Because a bunch of rookies came in and replaced them. Think of it as the birth and death cycle for NBA careers -- a new generation comes in and, in equal numbers, the old one leaves.
This year's new generation isn't exactly off to an eye-popping start, as many of the top first-round picks were drafted more with an eye toward long-term development than immediate impact. Nonetheless, we've played about a quarter of the season already, so it's time to take stock. Obviously, in a draft like this one with so many players who were picked more for what they can do in 2009 than what they can do in 2006, it's way too early to start pegging guys as busts, steals or anything in between.
But what we can do is come up with some loose groupings to describe their progress so far, especially when compared to the expectations for these players heading into the season.
I've done that below for every first-round pick who's in the league (sorry, Oleksiy Pecherov fans, you'll have to wait 'til next year), as well the second-rounders, Europeans and other hangers-on who are getting regular minutes. (I stress the latter part; you'll see no updates on the Chris McCrays or Robert Hites of the world in this column. Maybe their fans can hold a candlelight vigil with the Pecherov fan club or something.)
Here's one man's analysis of how they stack up so far, including the worst, the best, and my pick for Rookie of the Year (so far):
The Disappointments
They all came in with high hopes, but all have seen their PERs in single digits for most of the season:
Adam Morrison, Bobcats: Look, we knew he'd be fairly one-dimensional, but lordy. This guy makes Lara Flynn Boyle seem well-rounded.
Morrison is a 6-9 forward playing 35 minutes a night, and yet he's grabbed three offensive rebounds the entire season. While I'd expect the 38.5 percent shooting mark to improve, Morrison's marks of 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists aren't nearly enough to offset his occasional scoring outbursts.
In fact, his 4.5 rebound rate is the worst of any player 6-7 or taller, and only one player bigger than 6-3 (more on him below) is worse.
Marcus Williams, Nets: The Nets thought they were getting the next Mark Jackson, not the next World B. Free.
But Williams has shown much more willingness to create shots for himself than for others thus far, which wouldn't be a problem if some of those shots came in the paint or went in the basket. He's hitting 41.5 percent, including 20.0 percent on 3-pointers, and his turnover rate has stayed stubbornly high despite a lack of assists to compensate.
Dude, you've got Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson on your team -- share the rock.
Rajon Rondo, Celtics: I put Rondo here only because expectations had been so elevated by his spectacular preseason.
Now that the real games have started, Rondo's limitations have become more apparent -- namely that no matter how impressive the rest of his game is, his inability to score is a huge problem.
Rondo averages only 8.8 points per 40 minutes, on 35.1 percent shooting. He hasn't made a 3-pointer and shoots 56.3 percent from the line, and he has more turnovers than baskets. There aren't enough Tommy Points in the world to overcome that.
Quincy Douby, Kings: Kings fans will think I'm being harsh because he's played only 21 minutes. But the 21 minutes are a red flag in themselves, because it means he's failed to beat out Ronnie Price and Jason Hart for minutes; last I checked, neither was contending for an All-Star berth.
Douby was supposed to provide instant offense off the pine, and has been unable to do it.
Shannon Brown, Cavaliers: Brown is another rookie guard who has failed to make an impact, getting surpassed by second-rounder Daniel Gibson in the Cavs' rotation this week.
Despite competing for playing time against a bunch of corpses, Brown has played only 92 minutes and hasn't earned more with his play -- he's shot 10-for-29 from the field in his limited minutes.
Dee Brown, Jazz: I had to include him since the first Irrational Jerry Sloan Personnel Decision (IJSPD) of the new season happened this week, with Brown -- who is shooting 16.7 percent -- taking Ronnie Brewer's spot in the rotation.
Brown was a second-rounder so it's not like big things were expected, but he shouldn't be playing.
The Guys Who Should be Starting
These players have seen plenty of action, and have shown they're ready for the next step -- a spot in the starting five.
Jordan Farmar, Lakers: Farmar's athleticism has won him a steady gig with the second unit, although he's struggled in two respects -- he's a shaky shooter and he takes bad fouls when he tries to pressure the ball.
But with Smush Parker struggling and Farmar's penetration skills adding a bit of zip to the Laker attack, it's more a question of when he takes over than if.
Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers: Well, it's easy to say now. With the Cavs suspending their retread-of-the-week program (sorry Messrs. Wesley and Pavlovic), Gibson finally got to the opportunity to start on Wednesday and shined in the win over Toronto.
The knock on him in the draft was that he was a shoot-first point guard, but with LeBron effectively playing the point it won't be an issue in Cleveland. As long as he knocks down shots he'll play.
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors: If Chad Ford's podcast with Bryan Colangelo didn't get Sam Mitchell's attention, perhaps Bargnani's recent play will. After a slow start, the top overall pick has put together six straight double-figure efforts and seems to be getting comfortable with the NBA 3-point distance.
Sure, he can't guard a rock right now, but the Raps aren't getting much from Rasho Nesterovic anyway, and the kid's translated European stats suggest he's even better than he's shown thus far.
The Imports
Several players with years of experience in Europe crossed the pond this summer. The results have been mixed.
Jorge Garbajosa, Raptors: He's pretty much been exactly what I expected.
On the one hand, he knows how to play and is a solid defender, which is something Toronto really needed.
On the other, his near-total reliance on 20-foot jumpers makes it virtually impossible for him to post decent percentages. He's shooting 43.5 percent with a low free-throw rate, and that's why he's backup material until further notice.
Yakhouba Diawara, Nuggets: The French swingman was advertised as a defensive specialist, which is a good thing because he's surely no offensive specialist.
Diawara is shooting 36.4 percent and seems intent on shooting 3-pointers despite the fact that he can't make them. He'll lose his spot in the rotation unless more shots start falling.
Sergio Rodriguez, Trail Blazers: Spanish Chocolate has taken over the Blazers' backup point guard job, and played well enough as a distributor to overcome some seriously shaky shooting.
Rodriguez's assist ratio is 49.2 (percentage of the possessions he uses that end in an assist), which if he kept it up would be the highest mark since I began tracking it. Chances are it won't stay that high, since he's only played 171 minutes, but his passing skills are exceptional.
Mickael Gelabale, Sonics: Another French defensive specialist, Gelabale hasn't seen as much action as Diawara and appears even less talented offensively.
We might get a much longer look at him if Ray Allen's injury turns out to be serious.
Vassilis Spanoulis, Rockets: Note to Mike Krzyzewski: Spanoulis is shooting 26.7 percent on 3-pointers in the NBA this year. Thought you might want to know.
Because half of Spanoulis' attempts have come from beyond the arc, his wayward shooting has been a problem. This is consistent with his European stats, so his performance won't improve until he spots up less and gets to the rim more.
On a side note, the competition between Spanoulis and Jorge "Eight-Day Shadow" Garbajosa for the league's worst rookie beard should go down right to the wire.
Laker reps are trying to get Vladimir Radmanovic involved too, arguing that while Radmanovic isn't a rookie, his beard -- a loaner from Barry Gibb, it appears -- is.
The Projects
In a draft with several wait-'til-next-year types, these are the most prominent.
Tyrus Thomas, Bulls: Broke his nose opening night. Welcome to the NBA, kid.
Since then he's had trouble cracking the Bulls' rotation, mixing intriguing athleticism with several moments when his inexperience (just one year of college) has become apparent. A lack of offensive polish is the biggest shortcoming.
Thabo Sefolosha, Bulls: A future defensive ace, the Swiss Mister already has Chicago's brass beaming over his long-term future.
But for the immediate future, Sefolosha's offense pales in comparison to his defense, so he's not useful for more than spot duty on a team hoping to win the East.
Patrick O'Bryant, Warriors: The 7-foot lottery pick has played only 68 minutes, limited by Andris Biedrins' development, Don Nelson's taste for small lineups and his own ineffectiveness.
Don't plan on seeing much of him until next fall at the earliest.
Mouhamed Sene, Sonics: Here's another 7-foot lottery project, albeit much less far along in his development.
Remember, there are different levels of "project." If O'Bryant is a project in a "he needs to refine his skills" kind of way, Sene is a project more in a "he needs to learn the rules" kind of way.
Right now he's a poor man's D.J. Mbenga, but with his long arms and athleticism, Sene could be a ridiculously good defensive player down the road. The D-League was made for guys like this, so hopefully Seattle sends him down for a while.
Shawne Williams, Pacers: He was supposed to be a project after leaving Memphis following his freshman year, so the fact he hasn't played a minute shouldn't shock anyone. I'd expect him to get some D-League time except that the Pacers' affiliate is in Albuquerque, which doesn't make it real convenient.
Solid but not spectacular
These guys haven't made many highlight reels, but they've proven helpful right off the bat.
Randy Foye, Timberwolves: He defends and he makes some plays, but the Rookie of the Year talk might have been overblown.
While Foye has settled in as a solid reserve in the Minnesota backcourt, he's shooting 39.6 percent with a high turnover rate. It's going to be hard for him to increase his role unless there's an injury, because Mike James and Ricky Davis have been productive scorers and Trenton Hassell is defending like crazy.
Shelden Williams, Hawks: Williams earned Atlanta's starting power forward job despite some severe offensive limitations, because his muscle and defense were exactly what this team needed up front.
If the offense ever comes around he'll be a pretty good player, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Right now his only "weapon," if you can call it that, is a shaky 15-footer.
Hilton Armstrong, Hornets: Armstrong seems to have fallen behind Cedric Simmons in the Hornets' big-man rotation, which is strange because he's played much better. In the two games he's played more than five minutes, he put up 17 and 9 in a win at Detroit, and went 3-for-3 with eight boards in 12 minutes against Dallas.
But by all means, keep playing the guy who can't score.
Leon Powe: Boston's frontcourt injuries have forced it to use the second-rounder and he's proven competent, continuing Danny Ainge's strong track record with second-round picks. I'm not sure Powe's defense will ever be up to snuff, but he knows his way around the basket. The other concern with Powe is his knees -- that's why he went in Round 2 -- but so far they've held up.
Spectacular but not solid
They look great on "SportsCenter," but have giant holes in their games:
Rodney Carney, 76ers: So if you're 6-6 and everyone talks about how athletic you are and how you can jump out of the gym, shouldn't you grab a rebound every once in a while?
Remember above when I said that only one player over 6-3 had a rebound rate worse than Adam Morrison's? This is the guy. Yes, the super-athletic Carney is the worst rebounder of any forward, and of any player over 6-3. At least he's beating Earl Boykins.
Renaldo Balkman, Knicks: He's been an electric performer off the bench because of his rebounding and shot-blocking. Yes, you read that right. He's a reserve small forward playing 12 minutes a game, but he leads the Knicks in blocks.
However, Balkman is held back by poor ball-handling and a complete lack of an outside shot. He's good enough now to be a decent rotation player, but he won't be anything more unless he picks up some new tricks.
Cedric Simmons, Hornets: Simmons is the kind of long, athletic guy who gets scouts salivating, especially with his shot-blocking ability. But his offense is putrid -- he's shooting 40 percent and scoring 8.3 points per 40 minutes. Wednesday against the Lakers he turned the ball over twice when he was just trying to unload a defensive rebound.
I'm not saying he won't be good eventually, but he's got work to do.
Rudy Gay, Grizzlie: I had high hopes for Gay, but so far I'm underwhelmed, despite his Western Conference Rookie of the Month award.
The key is his shooting -- at 37.7 percent from the floor, 32.0 percent on 3s, and 62.2 percent from the line, he's been much less accurate than expected based on his results at Connecticut.
He also hasn't done much to dispel the doubts about his motor, as he's tended to settle for jumpers rather than attacking the rim. He's done a nice job on the boards, though.
The incompletes
Injuries and/or numbers games have conspired to keep these players off the court, so the jury's still out:
Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers: Roy was the leading Rookie of the Year contender after a solid start in the first five games, but a heel problem has him on the shelf indefinitely.
Kyle Lowry, Grizzlies: Lowry played the first 10 games and was so good that it's shocking he didn't get more playing time. He can't shoot, but his other numbers were attention-getters -- he rebounded like a forward, constantly got to the rim and drew fouls, and had a phenomenally high steals rate. Unfortunately, a wrist injury will keep him sidelined much of the season.
J.J. Redick, Magic: A back problem, the Magic's fast start, and the unexpected health of Grant Hill have conspired to keep the college player of the year bench-ridden for all but 12 minutes.
Smart-aleck comment: Orlando's lottery picks from 2005 and 2006 have combined to score six NBA points.
Maurice Ager, Mavericks: Ager won't get many chances in the Mavs' deep backcourt, and that 5-for-22 start from the floor isn't doing him many favors. He could be headed to the D-League.
Mardy Collins, Knicks: Another late first-rounder stuck in a deep backcourt, Collins is the fifth man in a four-guard rotation and has played just 34 minutes.
Josh Boone, Nets: New Jersey's other first-rounder was on the shelf with a shoulder injury until being activated earlier this week. In Nets' fans wildest dreams, he emerges as the answer in the middle and replaces Jason Collins. We'll see.
The under-the-radar studs
I'm saving the best for last here, so there's a little reward for both of you who read this far. These guys haven't received the hype of players like Morrison and Bargnani, but they've been excellent:
Ronnie Brewer, Jazz: A shooting guard who can't shoot from the outside, Brewer has been good enough in other areas to offset the shaky stroke.
He takes almost 60 percent of his shots on the inside (according to 82games.com), so his field-goal percentage is 52.1. And he averages better than a steal every 20 minutes.
But he fell out of the Jazz rotation this week because of the aforementioned IJSPD -- coming on the heels of another indignity when he served as C.J. Miles' backup for the first seven games.
Brewer will get more chances, though, and one presumes he'll keep producing.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers: The Blazers spent the whole summer sandbagging us, saying that Aldridge was a project and might not play much. Fuggedaboutit -- this guy is good.
He just reaches his arms way up and launches that 15-footer, and there's no way anybody can get near it. He's shooting 53.9 percent and put together his first career double-double on Tuesday to help Portland steal a win in Detroit.
Once he adds some muscle he'll be unstoppable.
Craig Smith, Timberwolves: Since I'm giving Sloan such a hard time, let's not give Minnesota coach Dwane Casey a free pass.
Here's a guy who is shooting 55.1 percent, has a high rebound rate and a prolific rate of steals for a big man, and is second among all rookies in PER -- and the T-Wolves are limiting him to 19 minutes a game so Mark Blount can stay in the starting lineup? Seriously? It's not like there's a question of untapped potential here -- we know Blount is a stiff.
Look, I realize Smith is only 6-7 and it's a tough hurdle mentally to think of your starting center conceding half a foot every night, but how obvious does it have to be that this is their best option before Casey makes a move?
The Rookie of the Year
Paul Millsap, Jazz: Who knows if he'll eventually win the trophy? A lot of guys are getting more minutes and will exceed him hype-wise, while Utah's deep frontcourt is going to limit him to 20 minutes a game or so. But to date Millsap has been the best rookie, hands down.
He's managed to earn steady playing time even though the Jazz didn't have a rotation spot for him when the year opened, and has been so good that the IJSPD factor (see above) hasn't been an issue. He's shooting 58 percent and has one of the highest rebound rates at his position, and despite a short, wide build he's a good shot-blocker. Overall, he's leading all rookies in PER, and he's done it for a team that sports the league's best record.
Speaking of which, perhaps it's time for the league's scouts to reevaluate their position on short power forwards. The two best rookies so far were second-rounders who lasted that long based largely on their stature -- even though both racked up huge numbers in college.
There's a historical basis in this, as 6-7 and 6-8 power forwards don't have a great track record of success. But one has to wonder whether the shift to smaller lineups in recent seasons has made it possible for these guys to thrive again, and whether scouting has to adjust to the NBA's new realities. Just food for thought as we close out the rookie report.
Ik weet niet uit welke vuilnisbak je deze tekst hebt gevist maar Smush is een fijne speler hoor. Eentje die ook nog weleens een emmertje raak schiet.Farmar's athleticism has won him a steady gig with the second unit, although he's struggled in two respects -- he's a shaky shooter and he takes bad fouls when he tries to pressure the ball.
But with Smush Parker struggling and Farmar's penetration skills adding a bit of zip to the Laker attack, it's more a question of when he takes over than if.
Het hele Lakers verhaal is eigenlijk vrij simpel. Odom en Bryant zijn altijd goed als ze spelen. Odom is de belangrijkste speler. Je zult zien dat ze zonder Odom(blessure) een .500 ploeg worden. Daar omheen loopt ook nog wel wat(Walton, Parker, Thuriaf, Farmar). Maar omdat de ploeg geen goeie center heeft(Brown) zijn ze kansloos voor de titel.
Geen flauw idee. Misschien heeft Dubbel het antwoord op zijn vraag in augustus niet goed begrepen. ;)
Jabu schreef:Sorry voor het late antwoord. :DDubbel schreef:De nieuwe jongens tot nu toe. Maartoe, kunnen we hier iets mee of is het weer een one-man-franchise komend seizoen?
Jordan Farmar
J.R. Pinnock
Vladimir Radmanovic
Shammond Williams
Jordan Farmar is pas 19 jaar oud en komt bij UCLA vandaan. Hij heeft het bij de Bruins heel behoorlijk gedaan. Danilo Pinnock (22) is ook een rookie die net van zijn college George Washington vandaan komt.
Vladimir Radmanovic is 25 jaar oud en een heel behoorlijke speler. Hij scoort gemiddeld zo'n 10 punten, is power forward en een redelijke driepunt schutter, zoals zovele spelers uit voormalig Joegoslavië. Kortom, een nuttige kracht om er bij te hebben.
Shammond Williams is inmiddels 31 jaar en geen hoogvlieger. De Lakers zijn alweer zijn zevende team, dat zegt eigenlijk al genoeg.
Al met al zijn dit geen supersterren die bij Kobe zijn niveau in de buurt komen.
De uitkomst van de knokpartij waar Deli het over had:
Bron: nu.nlBasketballer Anthony vijftien duels geschorst
Uitgegeven: 18 december 2006 21:35
NEW YORK - Topscorer Carmelo Anthony van de Amerikaanse basketbalclub Denver Nuggets is voor vijftien wedstrijden geschorst. Hij kreeg maandag die zware straf opgelegd door de NBA.
Anthony was een van de tien spelers die met elkaar op de vuist gingen tijdens het duel afgelopen zondag tussen de Nuggets en de New York Knicks. Ruim een minuut voor het eindsignaal voerde guard Mardy Collins van de Knicks een brute charge uit op J.R. Smith.
Anthony, topscorer in de NBA met gemiddeld 31,6 punten, schoot zijn ploeggenoot te hulp en sloeg Collins in het gezicht.
De langste schorsing was voor Anthony. Nate Robinson van New York en Smith van Denver kregen tien wedstrijden aan de broek.
Anthony komt in het rijtje van zwaarst gestrafte basketballers in de NBA. Hij kan nog niet tippen aan Ron Artest van de Indiana Pacers, die in 2004 liefst 73 wedstrijden schorsing kreeg nadat hij op de tribunes met fans slaags was geraakt.
Alle straffen met motivatie:
www.nba.comNuggets-Knicks Suspensions
Posted Dec 18 2006 12:59PM
NEW YORK, December 18, 2006 – In response to the events at Saturday's game between the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets, Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement:
“The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and, for good or bad, set an example for the entire basketball world, on and off the court. On the positive side, there is our players’ passion for the game, engagement with our fans, commitment to their communities and respect for the history and tradition of the game. With respect to the negative, while we have worked diligently to eliminate fighting from our game, there are failures such as Saturday night at Madison Square Garden that demonstrate there is still more to be done.
“It is our obligation to take the strongest possible steps to avoid such failures in the future and to make a statement to all who follow the game of basketball that we understand our obligations and take them seriously. Accordingly, I am issuing the penalties listed below, and will take the occasion to set forth some of the considerations that have influenced my decision here and will continue to guide us as we seek to demonstrate our determination that the NBA and its players be viewed as standing for the best in sports.
“Among the considerations that influenced my decision:
“Teams will be held accountable for the actions of their employees – management and players alike.
“Players must take advantage of a break or pause in a heated situation to stop and restore order, instead of escalating the situation.
“Players must heed directions from referees and others who are trying to maintain order and not continue to put fans, referees and peacemakers in harm’s way.”
The suspensions and fines are below:
# The Knicks and Nuggets organizations have each been fined $500,000 each as a result of the altercation.
# Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has been suspended for 15 games.
# Knicks guard Nate Robinson has been suspended for 10 games.
# Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has been suspended for 10 games.
# Knicks guard Mardy Collins has been suspended for six games.
# Knicks forward Jared Jeffries has been suspended for four games.
# Knicks center Jerome James has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.
# Nuggets forward Nene has been suspended one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.