News

Some Things v3.11

1. I’d like to think I wrote this somewhere, but I specifically remember when the Billups-Iverson trade went down that I thought it would be huge for Denver, and said so to Bryan Colangelo. I feel the need to mention this because my record for prognostication is generally pretty spotty; though those ones usually end up in print.

2. If there was a contest and you could pick any one player’s offensive game to have for a day, I would pick Carmelo Anthony’s in a very tough call over Chris Paul’s or Steve Nash’s. Let’s face it, any of them would be great. The problem in being Dwyane Wade or LeBron would be that I would never, ever pass. I would just want to dunk on people and crush them in the process. And then humiliate them. Everyone, teammates included, would hate me.

3. But being ‘Melo would be just great. There is no more dangerous player inside 18 feet than this guy. Wicked touch, great patience and pace. I love the way he just puts guys on his shoulder and carries them to the basket and yet still finishes so gently; always in balance. And now – as he showed against the Raptors – he’s passing expertly and taking shots in the flow. And every once in a while he just walks into the lane and helps himself to an offensive rebound. The best pure scorer in the NBA, in my opinion.

4. This is the issue with Pops. There is no organization more attuned to productivity and efficiency than the Houston Rockets. This is a team that can see through the fact that Chuck Hayes is tubby and short and can’t score but recognize he’s a defensive whiz and screen-setting expert. (Henry Abbot at Truehoop.com had some interesting Chuck facts.

5. And Pops, as we know, is nothing if productive in the minimal court time he does get. He averages 13.7 rebounds for 36 minutes for his career, after all. He averages 6.5 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes for his career. That is simply astounding. Reggie Evans, himself one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, averages only 4.5 pulls per 36 minutes. And yes, small sample size, but he always averages ridiculous offensive rebound numbers; and we’ve seen it with our own eyes.

6. So why do organizations like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio – all forward thinkers – let him go?

7. My sense is the guy can’t run through a play to completion to save his life and his awareness and knowledge of defensive schemes may be similarly limited. He’s a terrible finisher; so all those offensive rebounds often end up missed shots; and there may also have been the sense that once his contract was guaranteed last year his ferocity diminished somewhat.

8. That said his deal is non-guaranteed until mid-December and if he can change the momentum of one quarter between now and then he’s well worth the signing. The tough decision comes when Evans is finally healthy. Can a team have Reggie Evans, Amir Johnson and Pops on one roster? I say no; there’s not enough bricks to go around.