Christmas Day in the NBA: Santa Claus Delivers Superstars In Top Form

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I'm so glad the NBA is back...

I don't think I could have endured another minute of hockey. I hope everyone's holidays have been triumphant successes, but let's cease the celebrating for a moment and get down to business...

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Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

When the Knicks were up 17 in this one, I really thought they were going to pull away with it -- and shame on me for that. I should know Doc Rivers' Celtics better than that by now; they don't roll over for anyone, especially Mike D'Antoni's Knicks.

With top scorer and emotional leader Paul Pierce injured and out of the lineup, the less explosive Celtics stormed back into a game that appeared to be slipping away. Point guard Rajon Rondo was simply outstanding, and newly-acquired power forward Brandon Bass was doin' work in the paint. 

Bass outworked Tyson Chandler, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman and Amar'e Stoudemire on the glass, and also served as one of Boston's leading scorers.

The Celtics fought back from 17 down to take a double-digit lead at one point, but the Knicks also refused to quit. Most of the credit for the Knicks' resiliency has to go to superstar Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 37 points and the majority of New York's clutch buckets.

The Knicks squeaked out a two-point opening victory and Melo was the hero, but they lost rookie Iman Shumpert and Jeffries to injuries in the process. We'll see what kind of effect this has on D'Antoni's bench in the coming games. Overall it wasn't pretty for the Knicks...but a win's a win.

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Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks

I don't think there's any question that the Heat are on a mission this season. Both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade came out flying yesterday, and Rick Carlisle's defending-champion Mavs had no answer for the dynamic duo's skill and athleticism. 

Erik Spoelstra's boys put a beating on the Mavs, and it was no fluke. The Mavs aren't the same team without two of their most explosive players in Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea. Yesterday they looked slow, old and un-athletic. They'll certainly be a playoff team but may not win their stacked division that includes the Grizzlies, Spurs, Rockets and Hornets. 

One of the keys for the Heat was the smooth outside shooting of SF James Jones. We know what Miami can (and will) get from LeBron, Wade and Chris Bosh, but when perimeter guys like Jones, Shane Battier and Mike Miller are knocking down open looks, this team is nearly impossible to guard. 

If the Heat stay healthy they're the best team in the NBA. It's a no-brainer.  

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Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers completely outplayed the Bulls in this one...and lost. Ouch.  I've been quick to point out the Lakers' weaknesses this season but they impressed me -- without suspended starting center Andrew Bynum -- in yesterday's opener. 

Kobe Bryant was spectacular, but that's hardly ever surprising. The pleasant surprises were SF Devin Ebanks, PF Josh McRoberts, PF Troy Murphy, PG Steve Blake and G Andrew Goudelock. 

The Lakers brass has been talking up Ebanks since he was drafted, and he did a nice job as a sneaky starter at the small forward position. I like head coach Mike Brown's decision to go with Ebanks over veteran Matt Barnes. These Lakers need more youth and potential explosiveness. 

McRoberts and Murphy played solidly as they collectively gobbled the minutes that would have belonged to Bynum. Both will have bench roles when Bynum returns from injury, but they'll likely end up battling one another for time. Blake (who I'm not a huge fan of) played a more well-rounded game than usual, and I was impressed with Goudelock's beautiful shooting form and touch. I didn't know much about him heading into the game. 

As for the victorious Bulls, they didn't play particularly well but I believe they're one of the top three teams in the NBA. I love their bench with C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik. I think that bench, as a starting lineup, would give the true starters on the Bobcats, Cavs, Warriors and Raptors trouble (to name a handful). 

MVP Derrick Rose's jumper looked smooth and effortless. If he maintains the form he showcased in the opener, he's going to be in for an even bigger season than the last. Newly-acquired SG Richard Hamilton seemed out of sorts, but I'm sure he and Rose will figure it out over time. Credit Tom Thibodeau's defense for clamping down in the final three minutes and allowing themselves the opportunity to get back into the game offensively. Rose capped the win with his patented, running one-hander in the lane. 

Needless to say, the Lakers and their fans were absolutely stunned. 

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Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma City Thunder

No surprises in this one. The Magic, a franchise in total disarray, couldn't have been expected to go into the hostile OKC environment and pull out a victory over one of the premier teams in the league. A Magic win simply wasn't plausible.

Stan Van Gundy's bunch got off to a blistering hot start in the opening seven minutes, but it was mostly downhill from there. The Magic are Dwight Howard and a group of average players, whereas the Thunder showcase dynamic young talent in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. 

Durant was spectacular yesterday, and this is just one blemish in what's going to be a long, hard, frustrating season for Orlando. 

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Chris Paul was just toying with the Warriors last night. It was pretty obvious. The deeper, more talented Clippers allowed the shallow, limited Warriors to hang around for most of the evening, but when Los Angeles wanted control of the game...they took it. 

CP3 spent most of the game trying to keep PF Blake Griffin, SG Chauncey Billups and SF Caron Butler involved, but when the Clippers needed timely hoops down the stretch, CP3 was their man. He hit four consecutive shots from the floor in the fourth quarter, essentially demolishing Mark Jackson's hopes and dreams in his professional coaching debut. He's in for a long rookie season as a coach. It's pretty clear that the Warriors are going to be one of the thinnest and weakest teams in the NBA. 

For more of my thoughts on this game, check out my updates on Twitter @RedSoxAuthor. Happy New Year, all. 

L.A. Confidential: Are the Lakers Quietly Falling From Grace?

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I know it's a (supposedly) meaningless preseason game, but the Lakers look absolutely awful against the Clippers right now. As I type they're trailing 96-74 with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. 

Over the course of the past few days I've come to an eye-opening realization: The current Lakers are literally a three-man team: SG Kobe Bryant, PF Pau Gasol and C Andrew Bynum. Keep in mind, the Lakers got embarrassed and swept out of the playoffs last season with Lamar Odom and Phil Jackson. 

Now they have Troy Murphy and Mike Brown. 

"Showtime" fans have to have a gag reaction to the preceding sentence. I have a gag reaction, and I could care less about the success (or possible lack thereof) of this year's Lakers. I'm going to keep it short and sweet -- this team has no depth, a major downgrade at the head coaching position and a third-best player (Bynum) who gets hurt every season. 

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I don't see any upside here. The Odom trade was a real head-scratcher. Kill your second unit and give him to the team (Dallas Mavericks) that swept you out of the postseason?

Are you feeling okay, Mitch Kupchak?

Watching them play tonight -- no rhythm, explosiveness, cohesion, versatility -- I honestly feel bad that the Chris Paul trade fell through. Independent of this preseason game (as ugly as it has been), I view the Lakers as no better than a five seed in the West. Fifth may even be a little generous. 

I'm confident that the Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies will be the top teams in the West. The second tier includes the San Antonio Spurs, Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers. 

I wouldn't be completely shocked if the Lakers finished seventh. They need to add depth and raw talent. Kobe's going to have nights where he feels like he's playing with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown again. 

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So what does this all mean? Well, I can guarantee one thing for you right now...

There is no way -- constructed as they are at this very moment -- that the Lakers can win the NBA Championship this season. You can book that.

Todd Haley Gets the Ax: That and More Tuesday Night Randomness

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I have a handful of things I'd like to touch on and, well, I don't feel like any of them require their own, personal post. And away we go...

1. Todd Haley's Firing

Am I the only one who gets really frustrated when head football coaches get canned amidst hopeless circumstances?

I mean seriously, what the hell is Todd Haley supposed to do with Tyler Palko under center and Jamaal Charles out for the season?

He has a quarterback who would be lucky to be considered average in the Arena Football League (does it even exist anymore?), and two of his best players -- Charles and S Eric Berry -- didn't even get a chance to make an impact this season. Charles played in one full game and Berry missed them all. 

It's funny because I actually thought Haley was having one of the better coaching seasons in the league. After Kansas City fell to 0-3 in ugly fashion, I thought they'd be lucky to win two games the entire year. But Haley eventually led them to the .500 mark (albeit briefly) and their current 5-8 record is hardly embarrassing given their devastating injuries. 

Haley's a good football coach. He was considered an offensive genius during his tenure as OC in Arizona; he's fiery and sticks up for his players. He shouldn't have any problem latching on elsewhere as an assistant.

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2. Jim Leonhard's Season-Ending Injury

C'mon, enough with the rah-rah crap. There was a two-page spread about the "impact" of Leonhard's injury in Monday's Daily News.

Really, two pages for a laughably undersized safety who has made two or three explosive plays the entire season?

I'd rather have a long, athletic safety who is a legitimate playmaker than a "leader" who gets toasted and run over by bigger and stronger opponents. Leonhard's greatest asset to the Jets is actually his ability to catch punts. Joe McKnight, Antonio Cromartie and Jeremy Kerley don't seem to be able to do that. 

Leonhard is a good "team guy" but his replacement Brodney Pool is actually a better football player. Gang Green won't be missing much here...I'm sorry.

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3. Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner

At least a few people have to be thinking..."who the hell are these two guys?"

I know, I can't believe it either -- I'm writing about hockey again. 

Well I've been watching the Islanders because the Knicks and Nets haven't been around, and I'm getting awfully frustrated with both Nielsen and Grabner. The Islanders "A" line of John Tavares, Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau has been outstanding and basically carries the team on a nightly basis, but the "B" line featuring Nielsen and Grabner has been a complete and utter disappointment. 

Nielsen was a "Fro Guy" last season, showcasing superb stick-handling and nifty moves in the offensive zone. This year he's been good on the penalty kill but sub-par in every other aspect of the game. Grabner was the Islanders best goal scorer a season ago, and this year he's nowhere to be found. Not only is he failing to cash in plays, he's also failing to distribute the puck and successfully assist his teammates. 

If the "B" line doesn't get it going (that includes Kyle Okposo even though he's been okay of late), Jack Capuano's squad has no chance to reach the postseason in the Eastern Conference. Another season, another disappointment?

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4. Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats

So I was looking over the current rosters in the NBA's Eastern Conference and I got nauseous while examining the Bobcats. Rotoworld says PG D.J. Augustin, SG Gerald Henderson, SF Corey Maggette, PF Derrick Brown and C DeSagana Diop are Charlotte's starters. Yikes. Yeesh. 

Kemba Walker, a rookie and UConn family member of mine, could end up being Charlotte's best player this year. Henderson and Maggette are both injury-prone, and Boris Diaw and Diop...well...you know...they both have four-letter last names beginning with "D" and enjoy Taco Bell as an offseason workout. 

If Silas knows what's good for him, he'll make Kemba the focal point of the team from the outset. Nothing to lose -- I don't think anyone's expecting this team to win more than 20 games. 

I also wanted to touch on Tony Sparano's firing, but I need to sleep. Peace! 

The Holdout Is Over: David Stern Shockingly Vetoes the Chris Paul Trade, and More...

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Between the rumors, speculation, actual trades and signings, my friends and I have been in an NBA frenzy the past handful of days.

Let me sort some things out with a team-by-team examination...

New Jersey Nets: My poor Nets. The CP3 trade to the Lakers gets vetoed and L.A. subsequently becomes the frontrunner to land Dwight Howard. We can never seem to catch a break. The Nets have C Brook Lopez and two first round picks on the table -- a reasonable offer -- but the Lakers have more to offer in the combination of PF Pau Gasol and C Andrew Bynum. It seems, at this point, that L.A. is still trying to determine if Gasol and Bynum are too much to part with. I hope general manager Mitch Kupchak decides he'd be getting the short end of the stick, which would keep the Nets and GM Billy King in serious contention for Dwight.

If Dwight ends up in L.A. or Dallas (I think the Mavs are a long shot though), I hope New Jersey lands PF/C Nene Hilario. The Nets have been linked to Nene in many reports, but a plethora of other teams have justified interest in him as well.

If Billy King doesn't pick up Dwight or Nene with the most cap space in the league, I'm going to have a difficult time watching the Nets this season. The next set of possible additions drops off to guys like SFs Andrei Kirilenko and Richard Jefferson. Ugh.

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New York Knicks: Is it worth it to add SG Jamal Crawford if they have to subtract G Toney Douglas? I'm not entirely sure. Crawford is superior to Douglas, but not by an awful lot. Crawford is one of the premier ballhandlers in the NBA and he's a more skillful passer than Douglas, but he doesn't look to pass very often. "JCross" is (and always has been) a shoot-first player. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as Crawford's head coach utilizes him correctly. Larry Drew and the Hawks had the right idea using JCross as his sixth man and leader of Atlanta's second unit. 

If the Knicks can add Crawford without losing Douglas -- which is obviously their preferred scenario -- it will be interesting to see how head coach Mike D'Antoni handles New York's backcourt rotation. He would have Crawford, Douglas, newly-acquired Mike Bibby and Landry Fields for two starting spots. Of course there's a possibility that Fields gets included in a sign-and-trade for Crawford. 

As far as the C Tyson Chandler signing goes, he's a perfect fit for the Knicks. New York added explosive offense in Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire last season, but they clearly lacked a strong defensive presence in the paint. Chandler will be that guy, and he's also well-equipped to run with D'Antoni's wide-open offense. Chandler is long, lean, athletic and an explosive open court finisher. Outstanding pick-up for New York.

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New Orleans Hornets: David Stern is delusional. SG Kevin Martin, PF Luis Scola, F Lamar Odom, PG Goran Dragic and a first round pick aren't enough for one player?

I understand that the one player, Chris Paul, is one of the top 10 players in the NBA, but it can be argued that Martin, Scola and Odom are all within the top 35-to-40. Martin is one of the premier scorers in the game, Scola is a tough, skilled power forward and we all know Odom is as versatile as they come. Dragic has a good reputation around the league as a lightning quick, up-and-coming point guard with some nice, natural ability. 

I actually believe that the Hornets franchise would be in better shape with those four players (and the first round pick) than CP3 by his lonesome. Maybe that's just me, but I'm not devaluing the quality of that package simply because Martin, Scola and Odom don't have the "superstar" label.

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Los Angeles Lakers: I've already discussed the Dwight Howard possibilities, but what if the CP3 deal went through? Would they definitely be better by adding Paul and subtracting both Gasol and Odom? That would leave the injury-prone Bynum as their only impact player in the paint. I love the idea of Kobe and CP3 playing side-by-side, but if Bynum went down (as he generally does) the Lakers' once-powerful frontcourt would be non-existent. It would have been a risky trade for Kupchak. Paul is injury-prone as well.

Dallas Mavericks: Lost Chandler and will likely lose JJ Barea, but added Odom and likely Vince Carter. They've downgraded but at least they aren't standing pat. It will certainly be difficult for them to repeat without Chandler and Barea who were clearly two of Rick Carlisle's most valuable players. It's going to be tough, but worst comes to worst, they still have last season's championship to cure any and all ills. 

More to come whenever I have the urge. 

Sandy Alderson's Wheelin' & Dealin': Did the Mets Get Any Better?

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New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was busy on Tuesday, adding four new players and subtracting one.

He began by inking free agent reliever Jon Rauch, last of the Toronto Blue Jays. Rauch is a tall drink of water who looks more like a professional basketball player than a pitcher. He's nearly seven feet tall, and he's angry at the home plate umpire most of the time. 

You would think a pitcher of Rauch's size, strength and demeanor would be an intimidating flamethrower; unfortunately for the Mets and their faithful, Rauch's fastball is consistently in the 89-to-91 mph. He's closer to a soft tosser than a fireballer. 

The good news is that Rauch's had a pretty successful career as a big league reliever, and he's known for attacking the strikezone. He may only throw 90, but to him it's 100. He trusts his stuff and generally that's a good thing. 

My opinion is that Rauch will work in the 6th or 7th inning for Terry Collins. His ERA should be in the 3.50 range. 

The other free agent signing brings another ex-Blue Jay to Flushing, late-inning reliever Frank Francisco. 

Francisco, a husky right-hander, features an explosive fastball in the 94-to-98 mph area. He's worked as a closer for both the Rangers and Jays, but never had a stranglehold on the job with either club. He struggles with his control and command at times, and that has to be a little concerning for a defensive catcher as poor as Josh Thole. 

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Nonetheless, I like the Francisco signing. He's spent the entirety of his career in the American League, and he should enjoy the less-explosive nature of the NL lineups. With Heath Bell off the market and Huston Street as the next viable option, I like Alderson's decision to lean in favor of Francisco. 

Street has struggled with injuries and his velocity is dipping annually -- the Mets are better off with Francisco's live arm and fresh start. 

Last is the trade that sent CF Angel Pagan away to the San Francisco Giants, and brought CF Andres Torres and RP Ramon Ramirez back. 

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I'd rather have Pagan than Torres, but I still think the Mets won the trade. Pagan will likely outproduce Torres, but the latter doesn't necessarily have to be handed the starting center field job. There's plenty of time to bring in competitors. 

Which means the key to the deal is Ramirez, who has been one of the better setup men in the game the past few seasons. Ramirez, like Rauch but better, also trusts his stuff and attacks the strikezone. He features a 90-to-94 mph fastball and a superb, hard slider. 

I've consistently seen opposing hitters going out of the strikezone after Ramirez's slider in the dirt, which indicates a legitimately nasty offering. I believe he'll be given the opportunity to shoulder the load in the 8th inning. 

I'd like to say the Mets came away winners after the four additions, but then there's the whole Phillies, Braves and Marlins in the same division thing. 

As of right now, we're still screwed. I wish we were in the NL West. Oh well...you know the deal...

This is life as a Mets fan. 

NFL Power Rankings: Foster Runs Toward the Offensive Player of the Year Award

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The Texans are without QB1 Matt Schaub, QB2 Matt Leinart, top pass rusher Mario Williams and can't seem to keep WR1 Andre Johnson on the field...and yet they're still finding ways to win. 

What's one of those ways? Well, I should say, who is one of those ways?

The unstoppable man pictured above, RB Arian Foster. See where the resilient Texans rank in my latest NFL Power Rankings via Bleacher Report. 

Ripping "NBARank" to Shreds, Part III: Is Rookie Kyrie Ready For the Big Time?

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Refresher course: "NBARank" was ESPN.com's attempt to rank all of the active players in order, based on the "current quality of each player."

Ranking 500 players in order is hardly an easy task, but I expected better from a panel of 90 "experts." That being said, I started ripping the list awhile back and continued with another post.  

After volume II, I took a little break because I was afraid there would be no season at all. And when I say "afraid," I mean I was extremely pissed at the players for their lack of sensitivity to the current financial state of affairs in America. 

Anyway, I digress. Let's get back to the action...

First, here's the running list of the most overrated players in NBARank:  

Rautins (471), Collins (383), Thabeet (376), Ross (372), Najera (367), Walton (318), Udoh (300), Mason, Jr. (279), Murphy (263), Blake (241), Splitter (226), Hayward (221), Rubio (204), Oden (184), Childress (175), Lopez (163), Casspi (158), Maynor (157), Redick (143), Fernandez (142), Dunleavy (141)...

140. Kyrie Irving, PG

This rookie, who was injured and barely had the opportunity to showcase his true abilities in his single season at Duke, is already better than Kris Humphries (145, should be 106), Nick Young (146, " " 104) and Andray Blatche (147, 82)?

I don't think so. I'd like to see him stay healthy and play effectively at the professional level before I rank him ahead of players with legitimate, proven NBA skills. 

I have him ranked 188th -- one behind Mike Dunleavy and one ahead of Mickael Pietrus -- heading into his rookie campaign with the Cavs.  

Rautins (471), Collins (383), Thabeet (376), Ross (372), Najera (367), Walton (318), Udoh (300), Mason, Jr. (279), Murphy (263), Blake (241), Splitter (226), Hayward (221), Rubio (204), Oden (184), Childress (175), Lopez (163), Casspi (158), Maynor (157), Redick (143), Fernandez (142), Dunleavy (141), Irving (140)...

139. Mehmet Okur, C

Last season he averaged five points per game and shot 35 percent from the floor. I have him 223rd. He's old, injury-prone and no longer a starter. 

138. Derrick Favors, PF

As a Nets fan, I know a lot about this kid. Decent finisher around the rim, but not nearly as explosive as I expected a youngster like him to be. He doesn't have "hops" or "springs" which is both surprising and alarming to me.  

The bright side is that he's already a very solid defensive player in the paint. That's not enough for him to be in the top 140 though -- I have him at No. 176. Even that seems a little high to me. The list gets thin around there, I suppose. 

136. Marcus Thornton, SG

NBARank loves big men who do absolutely nothing, but the voters don't seem to like players who can create offense for themselves against tenacious, professional defense. See Nick Young, Lou Williams, John Salmons, Randy Foye, Al Harrington, Shannon Brown and Carlos Delfino. 

Mr. Thornton is another prime example. Here's a guy who can score in bunches in a variety of different ways, but NBARank seems to think these kinds of players are a dime a dozen. 

And of course they are dead wrong. It's easy to find shooters (see Omri Casspi, Matt Bonner, J.J. Redick and Steve Blake) but it's very difficult to find and retain scorers. Shooters need playmakers to get them the ball; scorers are playmakers. I'm sure almost every coach would love to have a true scorer as their sixth man and offensive leader of their second unit. 

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128. Landry Fields, SF

The Knicks are one of my favorite NBA teams but I'm not a "Fields guy," so to speak. Landry surprised many when he cracked Mike D'Antoni's starting lineup early on, and proceeded to post impressive numbers through the first half of the 10-11 season.  

Fields is a relatively athletic swingman who plays hard, but his early statistical output was entirely a result of D'Antoni's wide open offensive style. Once Carmelo Anthony joined forces with Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks became more of a halfcourt team, Fields' production tapered off and his value diminished. 

He is a seventh man on a decent-to-good team. I have him ranked 174th; one behind teammate Toney Douglas who was unfairly No. 193 in NBARank.  

Most overrated (cont.): Rautins (471), Collins (383), Thabeet (376), Ross (372), Najera (367), Walton (318), Udoh (300), Mason, Jr. (279), Murphy (263), Blake (241), Splitter (226), Hayward (221), Rubio (204), Oden (184), Childress (175), Lopez (163), Casspi (158), Maynor (157), Redick (143), Fernandez (142), Dunleavy (141), Irving (140), Okur (139), Fields (128)...

125. J.J. Hickson, PF

Tough treatment for this explosive power forward whom I've ranked 80th in the league. Not too many big men have Hickson's raw athleticism in combination with ball skills. Needs to work on his jump shot but shows promise overall. A very nice pick-up by the Sacramento Kings franchise.  

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121. Vince Carter, SG

The artist formerly known as "Half-Man, Half-Amazing" is obviously on the downside of his career, but I believe he's still a top 100 player. He rarely cracks the highlight reels anymore, but still knows how to get to the rim and be a go-to scorer when his team requires it. 

 
I have him 95th. NBARank has Aaron Brooks (37% FG), Nick Collison and DeAndre Jordan ahead of him -- c'mon, really? Collison (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan) barely even touches the court some nights. Talk about getting caught up in a solid postseason run. 

120. DeJuan Blair, PF/C and 118. Aaron Brooks

Blair is clearly getting credit for being one of the only young players on a veteran, championship team. Unfortunately, he's been unable to lock down a spot in Pop's starting lineup because of a lack of versatility and a tendency to be banged up. He ends up sharing minutes with guys like Matt Bonner, Antonio McDyess and Tiago Splitter. 

Blair's not one of the most overrated players in NBARank, but he's definitely overrated (I have him 161st behind Andris Biedrins), and the same goes for Brooks. 

Brooks has NBA skills as an offensive performer, but he often ends up being a negative more than a positive. He's extremely small, his shot selection is generally questionable and with the exception of an occasional steal, he's a detriment defensively.

If I'm going to have a shoot-first player on my team, I want one who connects on better than 37% of his attempts and has more size and overall value. 

116. Carl Landry, PF

Here's a "Fro guy," as my friends would say. 

I like Landry a lot because there are no glaring weaknesses in his game at the power forward position. He's a very good offensive player -- faces up well at the elbow, shoots well from short-to-mid range and has a surprisingly deep repertoire in the post -- who is also committed to solid team defense. 

There is absolutely no question that he is one of the top 100 players in the NBA. I have him 78th, one behind Taj Gibson and one ahead of Thaddeus Young. 

115. Nick Collison, PF


Of the 90 (or so) voters in NBARank, not a one could have possibly ranked Collison ahead of Landry. And yet, that obviously wasn't the case if Collison finished ahead of Landry on their laughable list. 

Let's look at the stats:

Landry: 11.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 50.2% FG in 76 games 
Collison: 4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 56.6% FG in 71 games

As you can see, Landry nearly tripled Collison's points per game, and was able to do so despite a logjam at his position during his time with the Kings. Once Landry was traded to the Hornets and inserted into David West's spot in the lineup, he really thrived as a full-time starter. 

Landry also played in five more games because he would never be a DNP-Coaches' Decision. Collison has been exactly that at times. 

As far as skills go, Collison gets his rare buckets from hustle, whereas Landry gets many of his from refined basketball ability. I have Collison 162nd. 

Most overrated (cont.): Rautins (471), Collins (383), Thabeet (376), Ross (372), Najera (367), Walton (318), Udoh (300), Mason, Jr. (279), Murphy (263), Blake (241), Splitter (226), Hayward (221), Rubio (204), Oden (184), Childress (175), Lopez (163), Casspi (158), Maynor (157), Redick (143), Fernandez (142), Dunleavy (141), Irving (140), Okur (139), Fields (128), N.Collison (115)...

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114. DeAndre Jordan, C

And the NBARank obsession with size continues...

Jordan is a big, long, excellent athlete with sure potential, but he's completely raw at this stage of his young NBA career. Guys like Landry (116), Carter (121), Richard Hamilton (126) and Mo Williams (127) are refined professionals who have already developed into consistent, trustworthy players. 

NBARank's explanation said it was based on the "current quality of each player" and Jordan has a long, long way to go before he's a higher "quality" player than his teammate and starting point guard Mo Williams. 

Running around like a maniac, dunking and blocking shots isn't high-quality play, that's a raw athlete following his gut. I have him 166th. 

Most overrated (cont.): Rautins (471), Collins (383), Thabeet (376), Ross (372), Najera (367), Walton (318), Udoh (300), Mason, Jr. (279), Murphy (263), Blake (241), Splitter (226), Hayward (221), Rubio (204), Oden (184), Childress (175), Lopez (163), Casspi (158), Maynor (157), Redick (143), Fernandez (142), Dunleavy (141), Irving (140), Okur (139), Fields (128), N.Collison (115), Jordan (114)...

109. Michael Beasley, SF

I know he's a difficult man to understand, but Beasley is one of the more gifted scorers in the game. Lefties are already tough checks because of their unorthodoxy, and Beasley makes it even tougher because of his willingness to commit to his mid-range game. 

Defenders are used to righties who shoot threes or drive, and instead they get a lefty who favors the forgotten area of the court. There is no debate...he is unquestionably a top 100 player. I have him 65th, one behind Devin Harris and one ahead of Mike Conley (another lefty). 

Beasley is likely one of the top 15-20 scorers in the entire league. 

104. Udonis Haslem, PF

All he does is shoot wide-open jumpers from the elbow and rebound. Let's not give him too much credit for simply being on the same roster as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He's 136th for me, barely ahead of Darrell Arthur. 

103. Taj Gibson, PF/C

Like Landry at 116, here's another big "Fro guy." There's nothing not to like about Taj: he's long, athletic, relentless, rebounds, blocks shots, scores and provides all-purpose offense when Joakim Noah and Omer Asik cannot. 

As I mentioned earlier, he's No. 77 for me. 

Top 100 coming if I ever get the itch...

I'm Writing About Hockey? Islanders Moulson Explodes for 4 Goals

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I very rarely write about hockey; but as you probably know, due to the lockout, the NBA doesn't start until Christmas.

As a result, I've been watching more hockey than I normally would. I thought I'd be watching Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire around this time of year; instead I'm watching John Tavares, Michael Grabner and the man of the hour, Matt Moulson.

In Saturday night's surprising 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars, Moulson became the first NHL player this season to score four times in a single game. It was the hat trick plus one, and the Isles needed each and every one of Moulson's timely scores.

Moulson scored twice in the first period as the Isles jumped out to (what looked to be) a comfortable 2-0 lead. Both of his goals were reactionary in front of the net, which is typical for No. 26. Moulson is the best Islander in front of the net since the one-dimensional Mark Parrish. Both goals were assisted by Tavares, New York's all-around star.

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Newbie Dylan Reese put the Isles ahead 3-0 in the second, but the Stars shot back with three shocking goals in a very short period of time. Rick DiPietro was again shaky in net, but the Islander defensemen failed to handle their responsibilities during the Stars' second period rampage. Ricky was at fault, but not completely to blame.

Nevertheless, the score wasn't tied for long.

Moulson struck again, completing his hat trick within the first two periods of the contest. The Islanders took a 4-3 lead, and believe it or not, Moulson wasn't ready to pump the brakes.

After a phenomenal, long lead pass by captain Mark Streit, Moulson streaked ahead for a one-on-one with Dallas' struggling goaltender, Andrew Raycroft. 

On this particular occasion, Raycroft prevailed as Moulson attempted a simple, quick wrister to the goaltender's left. Raycroft was up to the task, and Moulson was denied his opportunity to become the first player this season to score four times in a game.

But given the flow of the game, particularly that of the second period, I had a distinct feeling that Moulson would get another quality chance to net number four.

And, for once, I was right.

Seventeen minutes and 10 seconds into the 2nd, P.A. Parenteau assisted Moulson on his incredible fourth goal of the evening. It was a magical night for Matt Moulson who was magnificent in the Isles' momentum-maintaining win.

So on the four-game road trip, Jack Capuano's squad picked up seven out of a possible eight points. Hopefully they'll be able to convert this momentum into a legitimate shot at one of the bottom playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

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In order for the Islanders to sustain their recent success, their "A" line of Tavares, Moulson and Parenteau will have to continue its domination, and their defensive pairings need to display better control of the puck, particularly in the third period.

Capuano's No. 1 goalie, Al Montoya, came on for the save after DiPietro had to leave with a groin injury. It certainly seemed like Montoya had more saves in the third period than Ricky had in the first two combined.

All things considered, only time will tell if this Islanders team is a playoff contender finally getting hot, or a pretender skating through a lucky road run.

I hope they're for real. 

Dramatic Finish: Jumpshooters Only Win the Island Garden Championship

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The Island Garden is a well-respected basketball facility in West Hempstead, NY, where some of the best non-professional basketball players in New York gather for intense, high-level competition.

In fact, the New York Knicks practiced at the Island Garden during the NBA lockout of 1998. It's a nice place to play. 

Last night at The Garden, my "Jumpshooters Only" franchise clinched its first Island Garden championship with a 64-51 victory over the tough, veteran squad known simply as "Franklin Square."

While starting SG Conrad Stewart (aka "The Franchise") and C Keith Goodluck ("Cousins") were stuck in traffic, the Jumpshooters sprung out to a surprising early lead thanks to the rebounding of G Joe Furman and defense of back-up C Andrew Meyer ("The Accountant").

Meyer, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in last year's opener, has been limited to 6-to-12 minutes a night as he eases back to health. However, that didn't stop him from picking up a couple of early steals and blocks. 

I hit a couple of threes before F Steven Summer ("Van Horn") drilled a back-breaker that forced Franklin Square into a timeout they did not want to take in the early going. 

When Stewart and Goodluck finally arrived, they entered the game for me and Meyer, respectively. Goodluck and Stewart arrived in rhythm, as the former immediately assisted the latter for an easy lay-up.

A live-action shot from the championship game. 

As the late-arriving duo continued to try to settle into the flow of the game, Jumpshooters veteran and team leader SG/SF Sam Ytuarte ("Anger Management") took command. Ytuarte -- the lefty swingman who has drawn comparisons to Chris Mullin, Manu Ginobili, Troy Murphy and even Andris Biedrins at times -- showcased his versatility as he put together a few buckets from different angles.

The Jumpshooters went into the half with a six-point lead, but Franklin Square did not intend to go quietly. They never do. 

Led by their combo guard who relentlessly attacks a la Allen Iverson, and a monstrous big man who is commonly likened to Ronny Turiaf, Franklin Square stormed back...all the way back, and then some. 

Franklin Square was leading by four, a few minutes into the second half. The Jumpshooters were bickering with each other after a few defensive lapses and miscommunications, but the wheels never truly came off. 

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After some internal fighting, the Jumpshooters were energized by Furman and his ferocious drives through the heart of Franklin Square's defense. With the score tied, Stewart took over. 

Stewart knocked down a couple of triples to put "J-Sho" up six, and they never looked back. Goodluck gained control of the paint, and Summer made it rain from the perimeter. 

Summer was Matt Bonner down the stretch, burying three bombs in the final seven minutes of the championship. 

After shooting well from the foul line in the last three minutes, the Jumpshooters celebrated their first Long Island championship by the final of 64-51 (in a 32-minute game).

The Jumpshooters franchise has two previous championship victories, but both came at the University of Connecticut thanks to football stars with basketball skills: G Darius Butler and F Danny Lansanah. Butler has played very well for the Indianapolis Colts, and Lansanah started for the Tampa Bay Bucs. 

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Shout out to G/F Mark Antoniewicz for his contributions to the three-on-three title as well. 

Last but not least, the Jumpshooters would like to thank Gianna Rey, Amy Madmon, Ferdinand Chan and Chris Pearsall for attending last night's win. Best fans in the world!