Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm  |  41 responses

Links: Live From New York…

Plus, we have a winner(s)…

by Lang Whitaker

OK, first of all, let’s pick some winners for our Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot DVD/t-shirt contest. I read through all the entries and I’m going with: Miguel Rodriguez, Homie, Eboy, Carlos Rhodes, and Dwyane. I’ll be getting at you guys in the next week or so to get your addresses. Thanks to everyone for entering.

• Got another thing to plug here: Our man Joel Kimmel, the official illustrator of The Links, has released a book of all his NBA Friday drawings, and he’s calling it Portraits In the Paint. Joel blessed me with a copy and it’s really fresh. It’s dope for the coffee table or just to have around the crib, and it would make a great gift for any NBA fans out there. For more info, check it out here.

• Linkstigator Jared emailed with a great Separated At Birth:

Sup, Lang. Someone on /sp/ pointed out how striking the resemblance between Al Horford and Nien Nunb. I got a kick out of it and thought you might like it. Also wanted to say thanks and keep up the good work; absolutely love SLAM and The Links.

Thanks, Jared. I had to look up who Nien Nunb is, but man if you aren’t correct.

• I went to the Knicks game last night, but I left at halftime, when the Knicks were down by a staggering 58-34. (As I told Russ and Sherman when I left early, it’s the preseason for me, too.)

As we walked to the press room at halftime, the PA announcer yelled out that they were about to have a halfcourt shot contest. “Your first contestant,” he blared, “all the way from Italy…”

And Russ and I finished the sentence in unison: “Danilo Galinari!” We were wrong, but it would’ve been nice to see him on the court at The Garden.

Watching the same Knicks players who spent all of last season methodically throwing the ball into the post to Eddy Curry instead playing D’Antoni ball last night was simply jarring. It reminded me of playing NBA Live or NBA 2K with a team other than the Suns but trying to make them play like the Suns — running, passing, getting up as many shots as possible, etc. It’s fun to do for about a quarter or so, but then you start missing shots, and you fall behind and you realize there’s no possible way your team can play like the Suns and actually score as many points, which, or course, was the entire point of playing like the Suns played.

Before the game I hit the locker rooms. The Boston locker room was pretty empty, except for Kevin Garnett, who loved the new covers, and my main man Tony Allen, who was remarkably subdued.

The Knicks locker room was a lot more lively than in years past, I suppose because the Isiah era hath come to an end. I spent some time talking with Nate Robinson about his hometown Seahawks’ problems with their receiving corps, when someone came over and told Nate that earlier in the day the Kings had cut Bobby Jones, who played with Nate at the University of Washington. Nate was devastated by this news and immediately suggested the Knicks should sign Jones. Sitting to my right was Patrick Ewing Jr., who is fighting for his life for the final roster spot on the Knicks. When Nate Dogg said the Knicks should sign Jones, Junior Ewing didn’t say anything, but I imagined a voice in his head saying, “Um, no, no we shouldn’t sign anyone else. We’re good just the ways things are right now.”

But the truth is, these Knicks as they’re constructed right now are not a good fit for D’Antoni’s style of play. What made Phoenix so amazing was Steve Nash’s ability to penetrate, draw defenders and then kick the ball to open teammates. The closest thing to that the Knicks have is Stephon Marbury (honest), but the Knicks are using Steph in odd positions — he started at small forward last night. Nate loves to shoot but he can’t get to the basket and get his shot off. Jamal Crawford never drives to the rim. And we haven’t even touched on the Knicks lacking anyone resembling a big man.

Right now D’Antoni’s trying to squeeze a bunch of square pegs into his offense. And it ain’t fitting.

(BTW, I know Steve Nash is under contract for two more seasons in Phoenix, but you know which coach he’s experienced the most success under? And do you know where Steve lives in the summers? D’Antoni and New York City are your answers, respectively. I’m just saying…)

And check out Sherman’s game notes here.

Finally and completely unrelated to anything, if you have problems with this sort of thing, here’s your answer (via Gawker)…

Let’s hit The Links…

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The flying dog, or whatever that’s called? No, I’m not good at it.” — Roger Mason Jr., on Gregg Popovich having the team do yoga together.

THE LINKS…
• This is a heckuva story.

• Nearly a decade ago, Stephen Jackson was barely hanging on to the NBA and was scratching his way onto the Nets. Now he’s working without an agent and negotiating his own contract extension directly with the Warriors president. Chris Mullin must love not being involved in that.

• I have no doubt whatsoever that any beef between Josh Smith and Mike Woodson was a joke. But I’ll let everyone else out there say they hate each other, blah, blah, blah.

• Luckily for Blazers fans, apparently Rudy Fernandez is the greatest basketball player who ever lived. Is this story for real?

• Good stuff from Houston about a kid (he’s 26!) named Sachin Gupta, who used to work for ESPN, where he invented the trade machine, who went to work for the Rockets. How did ESPN get scooped on this story?

• Finally, let’s give a shoutout to the retiring Elmer Bennett, the former Notre Dame PG who had a legendary career in Europe. When I went over to Barcelona to do the Ricky Rubio story last year, Elmer was playing on Juventud with Ricky. My main man Pat Burke got me touch with Elmer and we exchanged some text messages while I was over there, but we never ended up hooking up. He made himself into a superstar in Europe, and I regret we never gave him proper love in SLAM. But here’s just a little bit, and hopefully this helps make up for it.

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  • DP Posted: Oct.22 at 4:07 pm
    …

  • dma Posted: Oct.22 at 4:14 pm
    what’s wrong with the rudy love? the man is a non traditional euro. he’s got game and skills. he won’t be ROY because of the depth of the team, but he’ll get at the very least 2nd team all rookie team.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Oct.22 at 4:14 pm
    I can’t believe you put that video on here. It was even funnier yesterday when Lang iChatted it to me with the note: you should show this to Carla (my one-year-old daughter). Also, big congrats to the Gunnin’ DVD winners. That was such a dope contest. My favorite entry by far was Miguel Rodriguez, since he was watching at the same time as me. I used to love those games at Rose Hill. I saw Kenny there, Red Autry, Malik and, as I mentioned in the contest post, Jamal Mashburn. Within that same five or six year period I saw other classic city dudes like Danny Basile, Jerry McCullough, Shandue McNeil and Charles Jones. So fresh.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Oct.22 at 4:24 pm
    lang, you already have eboys address, dont front.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Oct.22 at 4:33 pm
    that video was crazy, i expected mr. hanky the christmas poo to pop out. i totally forgot to submit something for the contest. it would have been about jeff hawkins. ive known him since kindergarten, and he led my high school to a couple state titles, he then went on to sit on ku’s bench, and occasionally have a good game

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Oct.22 at 4:35 pm
    as far as elmer bennett, youre nobody til somebody kills you, right?

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Oct.22 at 4:38 pm
    D’Antoni’s trying to make lasagna out of bacon and eggs.

  • Eboy Posted: Oct.22 at 4:52 pm
    Man, that’s the first time I’ve ever won a contest of any form with the SLAM fam. Thanks, Lang.

  • j Posted: Oct.22 at 5:00 pm
    Everyone is pushing books now….no offense to the guy, but eh. $44.95? Where’s the SLAM discount? Lang if your book is that much, can’t help you….recession..recession….recis

  • TADOne Posted: Oct.22 at 5:02 pm
    Shoot, Joel can look for my order here in the next few days. Those pics were dope and well worth the money for the time and energy Joel put into them.

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 5:21 pm
    You lucky c()nt Eboy lol. And that video is F()cked!!!

  • Double R Posted: Oct.22 at 5:44 pm
    re: potty training video: Wow just…wow. After watching the poo sequence I don’t think I will be able to eat nuggets anymore.

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 5:49 pm
    And what is so special about buddies drawings. Concepts are cool… but not to be rude, they arent the greatest. I come from Halifax, where we have alot of basketball players and alot of them go to the arts univeristy. Ive seen some really detailed work on NBA and D1 players .. this seems, average. Check T-Mac … i dont see what the craze is all about? Id be happy to hear what people have to say and maybe i can enjoy them more.

  • ti-sizz Posted: Oct.22 at 5:53 pm
    that video is gonna haunt that kid for life, so good luck lil trooper

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Oct.22 at 5:59 pm
    James, people were commenting on Joel’s work every single Friday of last season. Check Lang’s archives.

  • Michael NZ Posted: Oct.22 at 6:48 pm
    Is James the balla the worst commentator on here ever? Please go away.

  • David Posted: Oct.22 at 7:26 pm
    I think that’s a bit harsh, Mike. Judging by the recent top 50 posts, I think the worst comments have been made regarding the differences between USA-born and Euro-born players.

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 7:32 pm
    Hey BEn … i commented on some to. Some are good. But like the T-Mac one … and yeah Michael i am the worst. Ill go away

  • The Ghost of Wilt Chamberlain Posted: Oct.22 at 7:34 pm
    Michael NZ – I would give the award to BETCATS, hands down.

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 7:38 pm
    O wait no i wont … now Michael, i know you and alot of other people think these comment sections are about praising everyone from SLAM, and d1ck riding everyone and everything that SLAM puts articles up about. But a comment section involves people cemmetning on how they feel. Likes and dislikes. I know the world revolves around jean-iussses like yourself, but even if i am the worst commentator which i probly am. The more you say it the worst it will get. Thanks for the love.

  • TADOne Posted: Oct.22 at 7:46 pm
    James: You obviously love the writers and the mag as well, since you are here. No one “d*ck rides” anybody. I have no issue with voicing a displeasure when I have one. Most of the time, everything that is put out on here is very good and I like to give compliments when they are warranted. Most of the bad stuff I have seen is comments about the writers works (go figure).
    Anyway, I like Joel’s work. He didn’t have to do them and he didn’t get nothing out of them except exposure. Not everything he did I slobbed over, but 95% of them were very good.

  • Homie Posted: Oct.22 at 7:56 pm
    Thanks Lang!

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 8:03 pm
    I agree Tad … and i love the writers and the mag. lol i dont agree with the list though!! But people like Mike … anyways lol. But yeah, i do like some of his work … but i was asking what people were so “slobbed over” his work for. If there something there .. but anyways, im going to get my boys link and show you something hold up. Ill see if i can get it tonight.

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 8:06 pm
    Alright lol … i got the link, when he signs online msn ill ask if he doesnt mind me putting it up. He may not get back to me for a day or two so ill put it up in anther article!!

  • BETCATS Posted: Oct.22 at 8:43 pm
    Wilt’s Ghost, dont you have a house to haunt

  • James the balla Posted: Oct.22 at 8:50 pm
    lol yo BET i was hoping you would see that!! Whats good?

  • Michael NZ Posted: Oct.22 at 10:30 pm
    Oh, and Joel Kimmels’ work IS impressive. But to get it here in NZ? I’m thinking $$$.
    @David – You might just be right. The top 50? Any publicity is good publicity! 1000s of comments say so.
    @James – the writers are great, yeah, but the ‘d!ck riding’ thing? Huh, what? As someone who reads the columns AND comments here (can’t comment much, stupid timezones)… your posts… just suck. I dunno, sorry I guess.

  • Narles Posted: Oct.23 at 12:05 am
    I WON LANG check your e mail the subject is Winner gunnin for that number 1 spot.

  • Dacre Posted: Oct.23 at 1:41 am
    I wanna be a pa pa pants man…

  • chintao Posted: Oct.23 at 3:07 am
    I wanted to give the guy a chance, but D’Antoni is not rewarding my faith. The essence of coaching is looking at what you have a determining the most effective way to use it. That’s why, to me, Pat Riley is probably the greatest to ever stalk an NBA bench. Square pegs in round holes? Even my two year-old son doesn’t do that anymore.

  • Bigi Posted: Oct.23 at 3:33 am
    There is a little San Te(36 Chambers)http://bp2.blogger.com/_0pnGSMos2bE/RuEQo9m4OvI/AAAAAAAAAPA/394JseFqhz4/s1600-h/GordonLiu.jpg in Horford too…

  • Dacre Posted: Oct.23 at 5:26 am
    d’aNTOni will get it working…you watch. Eddie Curry will be averaging… 13 and 9 by the playoffs…?!
    O_o
    I’m going to lock in a 39-43 record and the 8th seed for the Knicks right now.

  • TADOne Posted: Oct.23 at 9:00 am
    Knicks won’t be in the playoffs. Is 13 and 9 supposed to be impressive for a legit 7-foot center??

  • Simon S.Y Lawy Posted: Oct.23 at 10:54 am
    helluva video…,

  • KA Posted: Oct.23 at 11:13 am
    oh, so the black man is like that fugly alien sidekick guy who speaks in tongue (who ironically was sidekick to the black guy). I see how it is.

  • Co Co Posted: Oct.23 at 2:48 pm
    I do not appreciate that pic of the whatever the hell that is beside Al! Booooo! Al is adorable. Haters! :P

  • Allenp Posted: Oct.23 at 4:46 pm
    Eboy’s punk @ss won?
    Who did he blow?

  • niQ Posted: Oct.23 at 5:16 pm
    the video made me cry from laughing.

  • Hursty Posted: Oct.24 at 5:15 am
    That video is really f*cked up in a hilarious way.

  • Eboy Posted: Oct.24 at 12:32 pm
    Punk ass? Really Allen? Big words for such a small minded dude.

  • LordGef Posted: Oct.26 at 10:44 pm
    I once was on a DC to Seattle flight with Nate Robinson. He was in first class…and I’m pretty sure no one else recognized him.

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