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Game Notes: Bulls at Lakers

2009-11-20T16:14:15Z

by John Krolik

Pre-game, Phil Jackson says he doesn’t see any potential problems with Gasol coming back into the lineup, even though he’s had very little on-court with the Lakers. He also has this classic exchange with a Laker TV guy about the Bulls’ annual “circus trip”:

“This road trip, it’s given them some tremendous problems over the years.”

“Even when you were there?”

“No.”

– During the game, Gasol makes his presence felt immediately, snagging the first of his 7 offensive boards and tipping in a miss for the Lakers’ first basket. Not only is Gasol a tremendous offensive rebounder, but the fact he never brings the ball down makes him a force when he gets the ball near the basket.

– Los Angeles wins the first quarter 25-19 despite Kobe, the League’s best first-quarter scorer thus far, going 1-5 from the field. Not only does this bode badly for the Bulls, but the rest of the League might be in trouble.

– Ten points for Gasol in the first 6 minutes of the game. He doesn’t look too rusty.

– Great moment early in the game: Joakim Noah has the ball at the elbow. Andrew Bynum is playing off of him. They stare at each other, and Bynum makes it clear that he has no intention of closing out on Noah. They stare at each other for a few seconds, and Noah finally drains a UFO jumper. “I’ll give you that shot” happens in the NBA.

– Another playground basketball note about Noah-he will occasionally close out on people while yelling at the top of his lungs to try and distract them. Absolutely hilarious.

– Derrick Rose cannot buy a layup. He goes 2-11 from the field in the first half, with a lot of his misses at the basket after double-clutch, whirling dervish attempts. No whistles, and no buckets.

– Bynum has some trouble with the lack of space and Noah’s pesky defense, rushing some shots in the post and finishing 5-12 from the field. It’ll be interesting to see if this is just an adjustment or a symptom of Gasol and Bynum’s strengths overlapping.

– Kobe didn’t have his best game from the field, but was passing the ball beautifully, finding the open man from the post and finishing with 8 assists. His passing’s fallen off a bit this year, but with his full roster around him he looks like he’s ready to pick apart some defenses.

– Kobe also passes Kareem for second all-time on the Laker scoring list in this game-a great moment, and an amazing achievement. Now only Jerry West has scored more points in a Laker uniform than Kobe.

– The 2nd unit looks completely transformed with Odom coming off of the bench.

– When Rose struggles from the field, the Bulls really struggle to get points. It’s a lot of one-on-one play, and with Deng struggling from the field, the Bulls just never got into an offensive flow.

– Hinrich played shooting guard alongside Rose in the 2nd quarter. Normally, I’m a big proponent of undersized shooting guards, but Kobe is one of the few guys in the League who can kill an undersized 2-guard. He takes Hinrich to the post every single time, and Kirk ends up with a game low -20 +/- in only 26 minutes.

– If you’re wondering whether or not members of major publications give each other crap about how many twitter followers they have, the answer is a resounding “yes.” By the way, twitter and live-blogging make press row feel completely different from only a season ago.

– Brad Miller honestly thinks he’s the world’s tallest point guard. Another good moment was the first time he went to the line-a small contingent of Laker fans booed him because he played with the early-decade Kings, while most of the building just didn’t care all that much.

– Bright spot for the Bulls-the ultra-long rookie James Johnson blocked a Kobe jumper, which almost never happens, and used his length to get a post-up basket just before garbage time officially began. He’s got some tools.

– After the game, Kobe says the Lakers “Didn’t miss a beat” with Pau Gasol back into the lineup. Considering the Lakers won an NBA championship the last time Gasol officially suited up as a Laker, the rest of the League should be very afraid right now.

Game Notes: Cavs at Wizards

2009-11-19T18:40:07Z

by Aaron Kaplowitz

Making his season debut count, Antawn Jamison led the Washington Wizards to a convincing and much needed victory at home on Wednesday night, thumping the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91. Jamison scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, offering The District a glimpse of the team’s potential with its star power forward back in the lineup.

Trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, Washington clawed back and entered the final stanza with a three-point lead, 75-72.

“We didn’t get any player movement and we didn’t get any ball movement in the second half,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said after the game. “Washington was the more aggressive team tonight…especially in the second half.”

With 10:30 to play, Earl Boykins blurred toward Mo Williams, spun away, and nailed the long jumper to the crowd’s delight. Three minutes later, he sneaked past Williams and scooped in a lefty finger-roll to push Washington’s lead to 92-78. On the following possession, Boykins drove down the lane before hitting a short pull-up while getting fouled. His free throw pushed the lead to 19, allowing the Wizards relative peace of mind over the final six minutes.

“People don’t realize because of my size that I always have an advantage,“ said the diminutive Boykins. “I never have to change the way I play basketball, and everyone has to adjust to me.”

Behind LeBron’s nine points and seven assists, Cleveland established early control, leading 32-22 after the first quarter. Jamison’s 13 points kept the Wizards within reach, while the rest of the team shot a combined 3-14 from the field.

Washington went stone cold to start the second quarter, going scoreless over the first five minutes before a Jamison runner snapped the drought.

Sitting on a comfortable lead, Brown pulled James for most of the second quarter. Mike Miller, a proven catalyst, drained back-to-back threes. As he has been quietly doing all season, Miller consistently takes the right shots, makes the right cuts and throws the right passes. Although his three at the buzzer was fractions of a second late, Miller led the Wizards into the locker room trailing be seven.

On the night, James finished with a business-as-usual 34 points and nine assists. He had no shortage of highlights, following a forceful left-handed slam with his signature one-handed, soaring throw-down. Icing his wrist after the game, James admitted that he may have slammed the ball down too hard.

NOTES:

- The Washington Redskins’ London Fletcher waited outside of the Cavs’ postgame locker room, perhaps joining Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini in the LeBron Pursuit. Earlier Wednesday, Mangini invited James to boost his floundering team. “I think he should come down,” the coach said during a press conference. James was an all-state wide receiver in high school.

-The half-time show was easily the most ridiculous exhibition by man I have ever witnessed. Words cannot describe the absurdity of a man contorting his body through a tennis racquet. If anyone has a video link, please post it.

- It took me 45 minutes of basketball to figure out Caron Butler’s role in the Wizards’ offense: shoot technical free throws when Gilbert Arenas is on the bench.

- With three minutes to play in the third, Jamison hit a tough layup while fouled. The Verizon Center Jumbotron displayed a slow motion replay, unintentionally (I presume) showing Jamison clearly yell “Hell yeah, motherf—er.” This was the wholesome moment of the night.

- Arenas shot 6-for-22, including 1-for-8 on three-pointers. After the game he referred to this first month as “an extended preseason” for himself.

- Shaq’s absence was apparent. Cleveland lacked an inside presence, and, with Jamison’s return, Haywood was able to focus on what he does best: rebound and block shots.

- You can have Kobe, LeBron, Dwight, Durant and Darko. I’ll take Earl Boykins as the most fun player in the NBA to watch.

A Basketball Story

2009-11-18T22:25:52Z

by Nick Rotunno

Small-college basketball never receives a lot of media coverage, and junior college hoops gets almost none at all. Sometimes a Division I program will snag a legit JuCo guy, a player who’s developed in the minor leagues and can make an immediate impact, and that will make headlines or maybe even scroll across the ESPN ticker – but mostly those tiny two-year schools stay on the frontiers of the college basketball map.

Yet the JuCo level is still high-quality basketball, and even though it is basketball played with little fanfare, usually in front of very few fans, the games are often first-rate and laden with competitive drama. So, they’re worth seeing every now and again.

The other day I drove 30-odd miles down Interstate 90 to watch the fifth-ranked junior college team in the country play ball. North Idaho College (NIC) is a nice little school in Coeur d’ Alene, ID, with a neat balcony-lined gym, a strong fan base and a top-notch program. The NIC Cardinals are perennially ranked among the best teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association, luring solid ballplayers from across the Northwest and beyond.

On that particular Wednesday night, NIC squared off against Salish-Kootenai College (SKC), a Native American school located in Pablo, MT. The SKC campus is smack in the middle of the Flathead Indian Reservation, a lovely stretch of rolling big-sky country not far from Glacier National Park. Of course, western Montana, despite its beauty, is not exactly a basketball hotbed, and SKC suffers from severe recruiting limitations. Not surprisingly, the Bison aren’t ranked very high –- and they most likely never will be.

I arrived at the gym early and watched most of the pre-game shenanigans. Right off the bat I could tell things would go badly for SKC. The first clue was the quasi-dunk contest the Cardinals performed during warm-ups; every NIC player could throw it down, even their shortest guard. Over on the Bison end of the floor things were a bit more pedestrian. SKC wowed the crowd with a dazzling display of… basic layups. Very fundamental, but not exactly inspiring.

OK, I thought, maybe these SKC kids can shoot the lights out. I figured that would be their only chance against the Cardinals –- a barrage of accurate three-balls. Alas, the Bison were misfiring from beyond the arc, and they weren’t even being guarded yet. NIC, on the other hand, had some sharp long-range bombers who could splash from anywhere on the floor. Man for man, NIC outclassed SKC at every position. The Cardinal guards were quicker, better shooters, and the forwards were full-bodied men who could jump out of the gym.

This was clearly going to be a bloodbath, but basketball being the wonderful game that it is, where anything can and does happen, I held on to a few drops of misguided hope. Maybe, I thought, the Bison play defense like wolverines, and maybe – like those vicious wolverines that occasionally fight grizzly bears – they could scratch and claw NIC into submission.

Foolish thoughts. The Cardinals easily won the opening tip (their center is huge; it wasn’t exactly sporting), raced downcourt, missed an easy two, snagged an offensive rebound and dropped in the first bucket of the night. A couple steals, fast-breaks and jump shots later, NIC was up 10-0 and firmly in the driver’s seat. For the Salish-Kootenai College Bison, it was time to settle in for a long, long game.

NIC put on a clinic. The Cardinals boast several players with Division I talent, including two –- Renado Parker, from Seattle, and Lakeland, Florida native Idell Bell –- who will be playing for the University of Idaho next winter. Parker is a beefy 6-6 forward with a nice scoring touch; he’d finish with 16 points on the night.

Another big frontcourt presence for the Cardinals was center Guy-Marc Michel, hailing from Sainte Marie, Martinique. Standing at a lighthouse-like 7-1, Michel is lean and rangy, with a mile-long stride and a wingspan like a bald eagle. He can put the ball on the floor and hop-step to the rack all in one smooth maneuver; oddly graceful for someone so large. Rumor has it Gonzaga University (just half an hour west of Coeur d’ Alene, in Spokane) is holding Michel at NIC until he’s ready for a transfer to the big leagues. To my untrained eye, he has all the physical tools to be a big-time Division I center, though he seems a little raw on the offensive end. But what team couldn’t use an athletic seven-footer?

The best player on the floor, though, was also the shortest: NIC point guard Michael Hale III, another Seattle boy, who’s listed at a generous 5-9. Dreadlocked and sneaky, he’s one of the quickest players I’ve ever seen live, and he was getting to the rim at will. Granted, SKC had absolutely no one who could stay in front of Hale, so who knows how well he can play against legit competition -– but still, he was a blur out there. I remember one play when he dribbled upcourt along the left sideline, faked left and changed direction with a satin crossover (almost Iverson-like), then charged to the rim for an easy layup. Very pretty.

Hale was also unselfish, the ideal PG, running a quicksilver fast break and finding open teammates. He racked up 19 points, six assists and four steals against SKC –- though he probably could’ve dropped 40.

The Bison played hard despite the caliber of their opponents. They had some kids who could hold their own out there, kids with elegant Native names like Pius Takes Horse, Terrance Lafromboise, Joe Yellow Horn and Stephen Old Elk. SKC’s best player was Sonny Eppinette, who’s listed as a 6-6 center but plays more like a nimble power forward. He has a rugged game, a grinder’s game, with a decent jumper and pretty good footwork. Eppinette was one of the only Bison to score in double digits; everyone else was clanking shots with abandon.

For all intents and purposes, the contest was over in the first 10 minutes. By halftime SKC was down 30, and North Idaho College coasted through the second 20 minutes playing mostly reserves. The final score was Cardinals 120, Bison 46.

I stayed until the last buzzer, enjoying the first college basketball game I’d seen in a long while. The NIC fans were expecting an easy win, so of course the atmosphere suffered, but a little gym like that is a fun place to watch a game -– you’re right along the sidelines, like high school, and the Cardinals were very good and they were jack-hammering dunks over those poor little kids from SKC. Good times.

You can learn a lot about human character whenever you’re watching sports, but nothing is quite so poignant as the somber death throes of a team getting blown out of the gym.

A compelling thing happens when players realize they have zero chance to win. There’s a fleeting moment of anger –- somebody invariably throws a towel or water bottle, slaps the ball against the floor or screams an obscenity. Then comes sad acceptance, and that acceptance is sad for the crowd too, because you can actually see a team giving up its will to fight. The bench falls quiet, eyes drop, the coach is no longer standing and screaming. The squad has officially capitulated, and from that point on the rest of the game is a foregone conclusion. It’s over, and everyone knows it.

And yet, sometimes, a team refuses to accept its own inevitable defeat. I think that has something to do with being young and determined to control your own destiny, no matter how long the odds or how lopsided the contest. Perhaps I’ve been on the Custer side of a massacre too many times, but I generally realize I’m going to lose well before the clock hits zero. I’m getting older and more bitter, though.

When basketball players are very young, like the Bison –- who are all freshmen and sophomores -– they tend to believe there is always a chance to win, because they are naïve and passionate and they know in their hearts that basketball is beautifully unpredictable. When a team is young, it has this wonderful faith in its own invincibility, even when that invincibility has never been tested – and, while preparing for a big game against a far better opponent, the players find solace in the romanticized notion that scrappy defense, prayerful three-pointers and well-run plays might somehow be enough to conjure victory from certain defeat.

Without these youthful delusions, a 15 could never beat a 2, and Cinderella wouldn’t even make it to the ball. Without belief, David cannot slay Goliath. So, understandably, sometimes young men simply won’t quit –- even when they’re 50 points down and most of the crowd has already left the building. They hold onto scraps of faith, shavings of belief. And that, in itself, is damn-near heroic, and adds a measure of allure to the sport we all love.

For SKC –- to its credit -– acceptance took quite a while, even while the Cardinals were quickly turning the game into a blowout. The Bison kept playing hard, double or triple-teaming NIC’s big forwards, moving their feet on defense against the shiftier, savvier Cardinal guards. They kept shooting –- tough three’s with a hand in their face, running layups that glanced harmlessly off the rim. As the game wore on the frustration mounted, the acceptance complete and the intensity mostly gone. But they tried, and that’s what counts.

Forgive me if this sounds like a thoughtless generalization, but from what I’ve seen and read, a lot of Native American teams play with a chip on their shoulders. There’s a lot of pride -– pride in the team, in the reservation, in the colorful traditions and brave histories of the tribes. The Bison played nobly, their large group of fans cheering them on from the bleachers, even as the team was beaten into the ground.

That pride was particularly evident at halftime, when a troupe of Native dancers honored the memory of a former SKC player, Tim Wolfe, who was murdered in Coeur d’ Alene last spring, shot during an altercation at a neighborhood bar. By all accounts Wolfe was a fantastic athlete, a dynamic point guard who always thought of his teammates first. He had a girlfriend and a toddler-aged daughter; he was earning an education so he could support his family.

Wolfe was 21 years old when he died.

The ceremony was very cool to watch. Dancers spun across the floor wearing feathered headdresses, beaded moccasins and ornate, handmade jewelry, whirling in a kaleidoscope of color and motion. A tribal drum cadence kept the beat, throbbing loudly in the small gymnasium. It was a vibrant tribute, an honor to Wolfe and his heartbroken family.

Watching those dancers and listening to those drumbeats, I was a distant observer, a small part of something important and powerful. Remembering the scene later, I thought of the Bison and their fallen teammate, the courage it took to stand on that hardwood. By halftime SKC was thoroughly beaten, down by dozens, but a blowout matters little in the lives of young men who are still living, who can still play the game they love. Wolfe was handsome and strong, he was a good man and a great basketball player, and it was far too early for his story to end in sorrow.

Basketball is consuming, and beautiful, and it is often a metaphor for the lives we lead. It’s important, though, to keep in mind that a game is just a game, and the apparent tragedy of a tough loss is never truly tragic, especially when we remember young men like Tim Wolfe.

Sorry, now my thoughts are just rambling. But it’s amazing how much thinking you can do in the bleachers of a tiny gym, and it’s equally amazing how interesting a junior college basketball game can be.

Game Notes: Pacers at Nets

2009-11-18T19:00:51Z

by Russ Bengtson

The story is told by the starting lineups. For the visiting Indiana Pacers, it’s Dahntay Jones, Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Rush and T.J. Ford. For the Nets, it’s Terrence Williams, Trenton Hassell, Brook Lopez, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rafer Alston.

Wait a minute, scratch that. This story is told by one starter: Trenton Hassell. Trenton’s a nice guy and a great story, but when he’s in your starting lineup, you’re probably in trouble.

Not that you need look so hard to realize how much trouble the Nets are in. They’re 0-10 for starters, and speaking of starters, Devin Harris and Yi Jianlian are over on the bench in what appear to be matching velvet blazers. I’m not sure what Courtney Lee is wearing, but it sure isn’t a Nets uniform. And Jarvis Hayes, Eduardo Najera, Tony Battie and Keyon Dooling won’t be joining us, either. So, yes. Trouble.

FIRST QUARTER

Danny Granger opens things up with an and-1, and less than two minutes into the game the Nets have three team fouls and are being shut out.

Trenton Hassell comes with the old-man style back-in, takes a wild shot, and looks around because he didn’t get the call. Um, hate to be the one to break it to you, but you’re Trenton Hassell.

Dahntay Jones delivers a mean fake, and coasts in for an easy layup. He’s got six, and the Nets call a timeout down 11-2 with 8:36 to go. Too bad there isn’t a “wait until Devin Harris is healthy” timeout.

The Nets make a little run, i.e. score some points, but Luther Head buries a three on the break, it’s 25-12 Pacers, and the Nets take another timeout. The funereal silence is worse than boos.

When you’re going to Trenton Hassell in the post, you’re probably…well, you know.

Hey look, it’s Tyler Hansbrough! Travelling. Besides the bulgy eyes, he runs kind of like a zombie. It’s honestly kind of scary.

Brook Lopez is good. He cleans up a miss, has 10 points and five boards early.

Pacers lead, 31-21, after 1.

SECOND QUARTER

The Nets come out and start the second with a crisp over-and-back turnover, just like Lawrence diagrammed.

Second way you can tell the Nets are depleted: Sean Williams is in the game.

Perhaps buoyed by the rousing success of their over-and-back, the Nets are turning the ball over every way possible. Offensive fouls, travelling violations, maybe even a three seconds. Keeping the refs on their toes.

And we have a center battle brewing. Hibbert gets isoed in the post, hits a hook over Lopez. Lopez misses an outside jumper, and the Pacers go right back to Hibbert, who scores again. Lopez hits his next jumper, and Hibbert gets another iso, this time on the baseline. He tosses up a tough shot off the glass. Buckets. Nets trail 41-27 with 6:55 to go in the half, and call another timeout.

Josh McRoberts, who looks like an all-growed-up version of one of the Cobra Kai, is the only Pacer in white shoes. Apparently the NBA lifted the whole matching-shoe rule recently, but it still looks kind of silly. Especially since he’s wearing black socks. PUT HIM IN A BODYBAG, YEEEEAAAAAAHH!!!!!!!!

To be honest, Danny Granger looks kind of lackluster out there. He’s got 14, which is respectable, but he’s just drifting. Coasting. Whatever.

Pacers lead 54-46 at the half.

THIRD QUARTER

The Pacers open the third with a 9-0 run before Brook Lopez catches a dunk and follows with a jumper. He’s got 21 points and six rebounds and my All-Star vote. Heck, it’s not like he’ll beat Da-white anyway.

Lopez from the outside again. Has 21 points, six boards, three assists.

Time passes. Pacers are offensively ineffective for the remainder of the quarter, yet still lead 67-60 at the end. After that 9-0 barrage, they’re outscored 14-4 the rest of the way. What the NBA needs more of is 14-13 quarters. Sigh.

FOURTH QUARTER

This game doesn’t really have much going for it, half the half-crowd has already left, the outcome was determined two minutes in, and here’s Roy Hibbert diving after loose balls in the fourth quarter up 12. You gotta like the guy.

And you have to reward the effort. TJ Ford hits Hibbert underneath for a pretty reverse layup. He’s got 17 and 8 on 8 of 10 shooting. Get this guy more touches!

Brook Lopez buries another 12-footer. Nice arc, although the Nets need to keep him closer to the basket. That’s 24 and 12.

Hibbert again, with the putback. 79-67 Pacers. Timeout, 5:36 to go.

TJ Ford swings the ball around the perimeter to Lawrence Frank.

Lopez mosesmalones his own miss. 26 and 14 sounds like an All-Star to me.

The Dread Pirate Chris Douglas-Roberts scores, and inexplicably it’s a six-point game with three minutes to go, 83-77.

That’s their best (and last) punch, though. Final score, Pacers 91, Nets 83.

POSTGAME

Pacer coach Jim O’Brien (who I’d entirely forgotten was coaching the Pacers until the final minute of the third quarter) opens his remarks with a statement that could be almost seen as patronizing: “They’ve competed against every opponent, and it’s a shame that they haven’t been able to get a victory, but it’s not for lack of effort.” Says the guy whose team shot 39.2 percent (the starting backcourt of Rush and Ford went 4-20), scored 13 points in the third quarter, and still led wire-to-wire.

In the locker room, an iced-down Danny Granger is more succinct: “That was an ugly-ass game, huh? Did we even break 90?”

Hibbert finishes with 19 points on 9-11 shooting. Never forget!

The good news for the now 0-11 Nets? They can’t dwell on the latest loss. They’re in Milwaukee tonight to take on the Bucks, where a white-hot Brandon Jennings will go up against Rafer, who played 42 minutes and has no real backup. Um, did we say that was good news? Nevermind.

Game Notes: SIUE at Illinois

2009-11-17T21:56:11Z

by Quinn Peterson

A day after Jay-Z and N.E.R.D. rocked the stage, Assembly Hall was still the place to be for excitement. This time the spaz was for over the start of the regular season for Illinois men’s basketball, as the Illini defeated the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars, 96-69.

Friday marked the beginning of a new era for Illinois.

You know that recruiting drought that’s plagued the Illini over the past few years? Gone.

Expectations were high for Illinois’ class of recruits this year, as it is without question the best group of diaper dandies to set foot in Champaign thus far in the Bruce Weber-era. (Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head were all brought in by Bill Self.) Highlighted by highly touted guards Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson and Joseph Bertrand, the trio will look to revive the energy in Champaign to levels of ‘89 and ‘05.

And in Friday’s season opener, they didn’t disappoint. Though Bertrand was out with an injury, Richardson and Paul wasted no time etching their names in the history books, becoming the first freshman to start in an Illini season opener under Bruce Weber since Brian Randle in 2003. They put themselves in even better company as it was the first time more than one freshmen started for Illinois since Brown, Williams and James Augustine in 2002. It was that group that would make it all the way to the Big Dance just three years later.

“We took a lot of pressure on us, but we just wanted to come out and play hard. Show that we’re two freshman that work hard, get on the court, and compete,” said Paul on the play of him and Richardson.

Continuing with the record book theme, Paul set the new mark for points by a freshman in a season opener as he finished with 22 to lead Illinois in scoring, topping Deon Thomas’ 19-year-old record of 21. Paul looked awesome from the moment the ref threw up the jump ball. He came out blazing, starting 4-4 from the field, 3-3 from downtown, scoring Illinois’ first bucket of the game and 8 of their first 12 points. Official. He would receive a well-deserved round of applause as he left he game late in the second half.

“He played great, you know. He played up to his potential. Sometimes he lollygags a little bit out there, but today he played hard for all of his minutes. He rebounded, he passed the ball, he shot the ball well, he did everything well. We’re gonna need him this year in the Big Ten,” said junior forward Mike Davis.

“It was the debut, first game, so I had a few butterflies. But after the first couple plays, we just went after it. All of the butterflies came out, and I just had a lot of confidence,” added Paul.

His defense was on point, as well.

“I thought even just as impressive [as his scoring], we had him start on [Mark] Yelovich. And he did a nice job of not letting him get going. Going into it it looks like he’s their best player, and he really did a good job,” said Weber. “One thing we’re gonna have to find is a defensive stopper. He has length, he has athletic ability. If he can just get some good fundamentals defensively, he can be that kind of player.”

Richardson wasn’t quite as spectacular, but he had a strong debut, as well, finishing with 14 points on 3-5 and 8-10 from the line, to go along with 4 assists. He was slowed up a bit by an elbow he hyperextended in practice the day before.

“You see my shot percentage went down from last game. I attempted more last game”, he said joking after the game. “I was ready to get my teammates open shots, and just do a different role for tonight,” he continued.

Not to be too far outdone, the upperclassmen played solid games, too.

“We still gotta have the leadership, gotta have the production from our older guys,” said Weber, cautious not to put too much on the shoulders of his new batch of recruits.

Junior bigs Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale had strong nights, each going 4-5. While Davis notched the 10th double-double of his career, going for 10 and 10, Tisdale had a modest 8 and 6. Domique Keller added 9 of his own. Even walk-on senior Bubba Chisolm got some burn, much to the crowd’s enjoyment. His 15-foot jumper with 2 minutes to go sparked the strongest crowd reaction of the night.

Junior guard Demetri McCamey also had 11 to go along with his 7 assists. He looked good all night, constantly putting pressure on the Cougars by way of on-ball defense or pushing it up the floor to get Illinois easy buckets.

“Whenever we made shots, McCamey was right down our throat again. And they had some easy baskets with that”, said SIU-E coach Lennox Forrester.

The Illini shot a scorching 55 percent on the night. Not done with the record books quite yet, Illinois’ 96 points was its highest point total since 2002, and the second-highest point total ever since Weber’s been at the helm.

“Today, the whole thing was energy, excitement, and get off to a good early start. And we did that,” said Weber.

Not only are Illinois’ recruiting struggles over, but their scoring woe’s are too, as they look to be well past the days of failing to crack 40 points which was, at times, the case last season.

With one game down, and at least 30 to go, the Illini aren’t getting too ahead of themselves after just one game, but it’s safe to say a new day has arrived in Illinois, as they look to make record book talk a normality, and mot just a one time thing.

Pop Champaign.

Game Notes: CSUF at UCLA

2009-11-17T21:47:00Z

by Sean Ceglinsky

Let the games begin. Let the upsets begin.

In an unprecedented move, ESPN began its around-the-clock coverage of college basketball on Monday night with the Cal State Fullerton and UCLA game, the first of 12 contests that the network planned to air on one channel over a 24-hour span.

Not to be outdone, SLAMonline was also in attendance. That’s right, we were in the house, and our appearance in Westwood turned out to be a pretty good idea considering the Titans pulled off the 68-65 upset in double overtime at Pauley Pavilion.

Somewhere, John Wooden is shaking his head in disgust.

The tip was set in motion at 9 p.m., PST, a tad bit late for us on the West Coast and an unheard of thing for those on the other side of the country. Then again, before Monday, the Bruins losing to the Titans was an unheard of thing.

Nevertheless, Cal St. Fullerton ended up defeating UCLA for the first time in 10 career meetings between the Southern California schools and snapped the Bruins’ 37 game winning streak at home against unranked, non Pac-10 Conference teams.

PRE-GAME

*** The Bruin backers create quite a buzz before things get started. Alumni and students alike are chomping at the bit to see how UCLA responds in its first game without Jrue Holiday and Darren Collison, both selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.

*** Malcolm Lee looks relaxed during warm-ups. He is, after all, used to being in the spotlight. It‘s worth mentioning that the Bruins sophomore played in the McDonald’s All-American Game a couple years ago, alongside Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans and DeMar DeRozan, cats who are currently making a name for themselves in the League.

*** For those unfamiliar with Cal St. Fullerton, here’s some interesting background information about the relatively unknown Titans. They were picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the Big West Conference. Think UCLA is worried about the bottom-feeders?

*** Any exposure is good exposure, at least that appeared to be the message Titans coach Bob Burton was trying to get across to the media beforehand. He said: “What could be better than to be playing UCLA in Pauley Pavilion on ESPN… Unless we get our tails kicked… It will be a whole different world for our kids.’’

FIRST HALF

*** Both teams come out cold. Ice cold, that is. Finally, at 17:16, the Titans score the first points of the game, on a layup by Bryce Webster. It’s about time.

*** The Bruins get on the board, but it takes nearly four minutes to do so. Lee gets to the hoop for a bucket to cut the Cal St. Fullerton lead to three points with 16:29 left.

*** Suppose these guys should be given a pass. ESPN is televising the game nationally. Perhaps the pre-game jitters are tough to shake and looming much longer than expected.

*** Michael Roll nails a three-pointer for UCLA at 12:26, and the next time down the floor, he finds Drew Gordon along the baseline for a two-handed dunk to tie the score, 11-11.

*** Lee begins finding his rhythm, always a good thing for the Bruins. He scores 6 consecutive points to give UCLA one of its few leads, 17-15 at 7:55, before intermission.

*** Aaron Thompson answers for the Titans. The Los Angeles native has 8 points over the course of the final 4:53 to give Cal St. Fullerton a five-point lead at the break. He finishes the night with a career-high 22 points and nine rebounds.

SECOND HALF

*** In the opening minutes, Lee goes down with what appears to be some kind of leg problem, perhaps a knee. No news on the severity of the injury at this stage of the game.

*** A Jer’Vaughn Johnson jumper extends the advantage to eight points and Thompson follows with basket to give the Titans their biggest lead of the game, 41-31, with 15:48 left.

*** Lee returns, the Bruins step up the defensive pressure, go on a 9-0 run and hold Cal St. Fullerton scoreless for more than five minutes. At 10:33, the deficit is cut to 43-42.

*** Minutes later, Gerard Anderson flexes his muscle. He dribbles the length of the floor, fending off the pesky Lee the entire way, takes the ball to the hole and ends up posterizing Nikola Dragovic, throwing down a one-handed dunk. The momentum-changing play enables the Titans to regain the lead, 52-50, with 4:02 left on the clock.

*** Tied at 57-57 with less than :10 in regulation, Jerime Anderson gets a really good look at the basket for the Bruins, but his floater goes in and out as time expires.

1st OVERTIME

*** Nothing exciting to report from the first five minute extra session.

*** Anderson makes a free-throw and Jacques Streeter adds two of his own for the Titans. Roll knocks down a three-pointer and Lee misses one from downtown at the buzzer.

2nd OVERTIME

*** Thompson is at it once again. His jumper gives the Titans some confidence and Streeter makes a three-pointer. All of a sudden the Bruins are down 65-60 with 2:20 left in the game. At this point, you can hear a pin drop in Pauley Pavilion.

*** After getting dunked on, Dragovic attempts to atone for his earlier mistake by hitting a big three-pointer. Before that shot, he was 1-11 from the field and 1-7 from beyond the arc. UCLA trails by a basket at 1:51. Maybe, just maybe, the Bruins have a chance.

*** Unfortunately, it’s not meant to be. Lee gets a tough shot along the baseline to fall with :27 left, but the Titans put the game away with free-throws down the stretch.

*** Lee finishes with 17 points. Roll ends up with 17 points as well. Reeves Nelson scores 11 off the bench. Beyond that, the contributions are few and far between.

POST-GAME

*** Burns was all smiles afterward, saying: “I was very happy with the way we played tonight. We still have a long ways to go, but we played together and ran the fast break well. We got the jitters out of the way.’’ And the Titans got the proverbial monkey off their back with the big-time win over a big-time program.

*** Made every attempt to track down UCLA coach Ben Howland when all was said and done, but wasn’t able to find him anywhere. In all honesty, his absence was expected, not the least bit surprising, given the fact his team played so poorly. Can’t imagine anyone got a good quote from the Bruins head honcho after this one.

Game Notes: Warriors at Knicks

2009-11-16T21:42:48Z

by Matt Lawyue

Tonight’s game features the (2-5) Golden State Warriors vs. the (1-8) New York Knicks. How perfectly disastrous is this match-up on Friday the 13th? Let’s breakdown both teams starts to the season:

Knicks: They’ve lost five straight and are one loss away from starting out 1-9, which would be the worst ten game start in franchise history. They’re averaging a league leading 29 three’s per game, but only hitting 8.4 of them (a dismal 29.1 percent clip). Chris Duhon has broken down faster than it takes Anderson Varejao’s dignity to be stripped from him. Jordan Hill, the teams ’09 draft pick (taken ahead of Brandon Jennings), has been non-existent. The team’s annoyed by the 2010 talk and Coach D’Antoni will soon have to borrow Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s Rogaine. For his mustache.

Warriors: They’re coming off a horrendous loss to the Pacers Wednesday night, and suffered an even more embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Kings on Sunday. Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis have tag-teamed this and are at odds with Coach Nelson. Stephen Curry has sputtered out of the gate and has already lost his starting job seven games into the season. It’s surprising he even lasted seven games, considering Nelson might start a pigeon from Washington Square Park if he could.

Three things that will certainly happen tonight:

1. Both teams will combine for more than 230 points (not including any overtime).
2. I will be attacked by a shape-shifting Eddy Curry lite, who transforms into Eddy Curry regular (+60 lbs), when the moon shines brightest, or when the Jumbotron turns on. Either or.
3. Danilo Gallinari and Stephen Curry will engage in a “who has the sweetest jump-shot” competition, only to be outdone by an Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson competition, where they battle for the most ill advised shot of the night.

I am ready for anything tonight. If Stephen A. Smith get’s his job back on the eve of Friday the 13th, what madness will be in store tonight?

Pregame

– Coach D’Antoni says Toney Douglas has been sick the past couple of days and won’t be starting tonight (started the previous game). He doesn’t know if it’s the flu or not. Nate is back after spraining his right ankle a while back.

– When asked why Stephen Curry wasn’t in the starting lineup anymore, Don Nelson says, “I took him out of the starting lineup because he doesn’t have enough tattoos…in fact he doesn’t have any tattoos. How can the guy start in the NBA with no tattoos?” He did go on to say, “He just needs experience more than anything. We think he’s going to be terrific. He’s got all the ingredients to be a really special player. We’ll bring him along slowly.” Wait, didn’t Curry start the first six games of the season?

Starting Lineups

–Knicks: Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, David Lee

– Warriors: Monta Ellis, Anthony Marrow, Stephen Jackson, Kelenna Azubuike, Mikki Moore (As Russ points out, any team starting Mikki Moore at your 5 is in trouble)

– I can’t stand this video introduction. It’s a digital train wreck, with cheesy music.

1st Quarter

– First Knicks possession ends with a Duhon lob to Lee for the layup. And we’re off.

– It looks like Gallo got a haircut. He looks 10 years old. Hits his first three however. Long live the haircut.

– Somebody brought a cowbell to the arena. [Insert mean joke about Eddy Curry's *former weight].

– Absolutely no Knicks defense as Azubuike soars to the rim. Swiss Cheese D! It’s Monta Ellis’ turn.

– Gallo with a quick 7 points. Al Harrington enters the game. His battle with Jackson begins now.

– It’s 18-20 Warriors with 4:38 left in the first. Prediction here we come.

– Toney Douglas and Nate Robinson enter the game together. Big ovation. Let’s see how the ultra small ball plays out. Once again, Ellis gets to the hoop with nobody stopping him. A theme for the night?

– Jackson drills a shot in Harrington’s face, almost to say, “It’s on.”

– Toney Douglas hits his first two shots and the guy behind me feels good about himself for the rest of the night because he called it. You go.

– It’s 32-26 Warriors at the end of 1. Knicks shoot 10-23 and turn the ball over 5 times. The Warriors are 14-22 from the field. Stephen Curry doesn’t touch the floor.

– My friend is at the game and she texts me, “There’s a reason they dim the lights when the dancers come on. Ew. Haha i see you.” No part of that text message is flattering of my friend.

2nd Quarter

– Douglas is 3-3 to start. He dishes to the always unreliable Jeffries for the easy deuce. The Knicks are on the break and Douglas again puts the ball where it needs to be for Chandler, who gets hacked. Douglas is looking good so far.

– We get the 1st quarter report and it says Andris Biedrins is out with “Osteitis Pubis.” Clearly a very serious ailment of the pubis variety. (I look it up and it’s a: result from inflammation of the pubis symphysis and is characterized by sclerosis and bony changes of the pubis symphysis. Right.)

– They just showed Jordan Hill in a snuggie. I don’t know who I feel worse for. Hill or the snuggie?

– Jackson has 14 points. C’mon Harrington, you’re 10 behind.

– Knicks have a 4 on 5 and still manage to turn the ball over. Douglas then channels his inner Knoblauch, who sails one into the third row. It’s 46-38 Warriors with 6:34 left in the second.

– Maggette is jealous and wants to get in on the competition tonight. He’s been banging Harrington down low for the last couple of possessions. This time he spins and wins with a quick move for the layup.

– Azubuike gets the “and one” on Harrington and the lead has ballooned to 12. Still no Curry. I wonder if he’s at a tattoo shop getting inked up as quickly as possible.

– Azubuike is getting his money’s worth down low where the JV team is patrolling the paint.

– Nate puts up a horrid shot and Maggette does him one better on the other end, an air ball from the top of the key. Everything you don’t love about basketball was found in that sequence.

– It’s now 60-46 Warriors with 2:14 left in the second. Slipping, slipping…

– Now CJ Watson is even getting in on the action. CJ WATSON. This is becoming pathetic for the Knicks.

– Stephen Curry comes into the game with 1:05 left in the second and gets a nice ovation from the crowd. Either because Monta Ellis picked up his third foul or Curry has a butterfly tattoo on his ankle.

– It’s 66-52 Warriors at the end of the half. Dismal play by the Knicks and pretty much what you expect from the opposing team playing the Knicks. Even if they are the Warriors.

– D’Antoni is clearly unsettled with his rotation or finally falling out of love with Duhon and Jeffries who log about 13 minutes and 3 minutes a piece.

– Nelson praised Anthony Randolph pregame, only to get the kid on the floor for about four minutes. Oh Nellie.

3rd Quarter

– Jordan Hill starts the 3rd quarter for Wilson Chandler and drains his first bucket. The youth movement has begun. It’s also not a good sign for Chandler, who’s been touted as one of the “attractions” of playing for the Knicks in 2010.

– Jackson introduces Hill into the League by drilling a J in his face. Jordan is unfazed and comes back down and nails a jumper of his own. Jackson comes right back at Hill and draws the foul on him. Game, set, match.

– Duhon bricks yet another three, but Hill is right there to clean up the mess. He’s looking manageable so far. Duhon is still ice cold. He just air-balled a running floater, but the Warriors can’t put anything together on their end. Gallo hits a three and suddenly it’s a 9 point game with 5:40 left in the third.

– Toney Douglas comes in for the struggling Duhon and the Knicks finally have their rookies on the floor together during meaningful minutes.

– For Monta’s size, he’s getting to the lane with ease against the Knicks frontcourt. Will somebody lay a body on him please?

– CJ WATSON for three!

– Chandler returns for Hill with 3:05 left in the 3rd. Now there’s a Darko Milicic sighting (two DNP’s the past two games). D’Antoni clearly has to do something with this lineup and he’s throwing out guys who weren’t in his rotation thus far. Very odd game right now. It’s 82-74 Warriors with 2 minutes to go in the third.

– Nate is rusty. He’s jumping as if he’s going to shoot it, only to throw it away mid-air. He’s done this a couple of times tonight.

– It’s 86-80 to end the third. The Garden is in it as the Knicks finish strong. Still, once again they’re going into the 4th quarter having to comeback to win it. We all know this story — Knicks go on a run to make it close and then fall short. Role credits.

4th Quarter

– Anthony Morrow silences the crowd with a three to start the 4th. Of course. Then C.J. Watson hits his own three. So does Jackson. The Warriors are 4-4 to start the quarter, with three three’s to their credit. Knicks timeout. It’s now a 13-point lead for the Warriors. So much for the Knicks starting strong.

– The loudest ovation of the night goes to: Fat Joe. It’s that kind of night.

– Monta Ellis, once again, to the rack and finishes strong. Kid is lethal going to the hoop. Douglas then does his Monta impersonation and finishes at the rim to cut the lead to 11. Monta comes right back, again to the dish, for the “and one.”

– This really is embarrassing for the Knicks right now. Ellis gets to the hoop at will and nobody on the Knicks puts a body on him. Azubuike gets to the lane and the boo’s rain down. It’s now a 16-point lead with 6:14 left in the quarter.

– Now Marcus Landry is in the game. D’Antoni threw darts at his roster this morning and decided minutes based on that. Or the fact it’s a 16-point game with 5 minutes left.

– The Knicks lineup right now is: Douglas, Landry, Duhon, Lee and Hill. It is Friday the 13th after all. D’Antoni’s emptied his bench, but Nelson sticks with this guns. Curry still sits on the bench.

– It’s 113-97 Warriors with 3:14 left. Most of Nelson’s starters are still in.

– Marcus Landry has a breakaway and lays it off the glass instead of dunking it. The fans erupt in boo’s. What else did you expect them to do?

– This whole scene right now is upsetting. The Knicks are down by double digits and all the fans care about are free t-shirts, getting their mug on the Jumbotron and dancing around. Where have all the die-hards gone? Where is the passion? Why aren’t people booing right through this entire timeout? It’s making my stomach upset.

– Stephen Curry comes in with 1:30 left in the game. For a guy who started and played heavy minutes for the first six games, to coming in during garbage time with a minute to go, well it is Nellie’s team right?

– Final Score: 121-107, Warriors over the Knicks. None of my predictions came true. Eddy Curry didn’t attack me. Combined points were under 230. Jackson and Harrington didn’t duel. Curry played a total of 2:35, while Watson played 27:13 (he hadn’t topped the 13 minute mark in any previous game). The Knicks turned the ball over 21 times for 31 Warriors points. On the season, Duhon is now 18-79 from the field and 9-42 from downtown. Yikes. On the bright side, Gallo notched his first double-double with 19 and 10.

Post-game

– Asked what kind of warning Curry had about his minutes diminishing, he says, “None really. You don’t really know what to expect coming into each game. It’s just how it went.” That’s encouraging.

– Coach Nelson explained his minutes distribution because of balanced scoring (four guys with +20 points) and decided to keep the unit he had out there because it was working. He didn’t feel like he needed to make a change, case in point: Curry stuck to the bench.

Euroleague Weekly Review

2009-11-13T22:21:59Z

by Erildas Budraitis

After the fourth week in Euroleague, it is now clear who are the strongest teams in this year’s European tournament. In the Euroleague, where all games are important like in the NBA Playoffs, only three teams are currently left unbeaten, and next week at least one of those teams will a blemish on its record.

European basketball experts thought Group C is the most powerful group in the Euroleague. There were big names like CSKA Moscow, Caja Laboral Vitoria and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Lottomatica Roma, Brandon Jennings’ former club, proved that not only ’superclubs’ can win. In the last three weeks, the Italian team showed excellent form and started the season with three wins in a row. The other Group C leader, Maccabi Tel Aviv, on the other hand was strong enough to hand Lottomatica its first loss.

GAME OF THE WEEK

The Israeli powerhouse Maccabi club won a very important and tough game in overtime against Lottomatica, 92-90. Now Maccabi, Lottomatica and Caja Laboral all are tied with 3-1 records at the top of Group C.

The entire game was played in point-by-point style. At the end of the 4th quarter, Lottomatica had a three-point, but Maccabi‘s guard Andrew Wisniewski tied the score sending the game into overtime. Within the last five minutes, everything was the same – there was a tough fight, which ended with a Maccabi win. Italian team leader, Ibrahim Jaaber, failed to score in the last period, and Maccabi won the game only by 2 points.

“We made plenty of mistakes, we didn‘t use our opportunities, and we missed open shots,” said Maccabi head coach Pini Gershon. It shows that the Jewish club wants to be on the top of the Euroleague.

That night ex-Bobcat Alan Anderson was unstoppable, finishing the game with 27 points, 4 boards and 4 assists. Another American team player, Chuck Eidson, added 14 points. Wisniewski – 13.

Roma was led by Jaaber‘s 20 and Kennedy Winston’s 21 points. Andre Hutson scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Olympiakos Piraeus center Ioannis Bourousis won this week’s MVP award just in 12 minutes. Yes, that’s right — this Greek player, in only 12 minutes, was able to score 23 points and grab 1 rebound. By the way, the Olympiakos played against other B group leader the Efes Pilsen Istanbul. Nevertheless, it was enough to get a 32 index ranking and the award.

Second in this week’s ranking is Taquan Dean from the Unicaja Malaga. The Spanish club won its fourth game in a row and Dean played a spectacular game with 30 points (7-12 three-pointers) and 4 rebounds (31 index ranking).

Ex-Cavalier Tarence Kinsey took third place. The American in a principled match with the Italian powerhouse Montepaschi Siena put-up 20 points and grabbed 5 rebounds (29 index ranking).

Next week the Euroleague will have a break, but on November 26, we will have a ‘dessert’ game – Regal Barcelona will fight for the first place in Group A against another unbeaten club, Montepaschi Siena. Who is better for now…the Italians or Spaniards?

Signing Day Showdown

2009-11-13T18:22:39Z

by Rodger Bohn

While many of the top ballers in the nation were busy signing their lives away for the next four years, there was a matchup of two of the better prep schools on the Atlantic coast going on in tiny Mouth of Wilson, VA.

Located deep in the forests of Virginia, Oak Hill Academy can be a bit of a nightmare for GPS-dependent travelers looking to catch a game. The back roads that take you to this perennial power offer no street lights, have more curves than a playboy bunny, and boast blazing 25-35 mph speed limits for the majority of the ride. Thankfully for us, Oak Hill coach Steve Smith’s wife (Lisa) was gracious enough to give us a short cut, noting that our GPS likely wouldn’t work in the area.

Once we got to the gym, we were immediately taken back by the mystique of the walls completely filled with championship banners and college jerseys of former Oak Hill stars. The shoebox of a gym offered an intimate environment to catch a game and was at full capacity with a blend of die hard hoops fans, college coaches and faithful alumni.

The game started off close early on, but Oak Hill was able to pull away by the half. The frantic pressure defense by Oak Hill resulted in tons of highlight plays for fans in attendance and ultimately proved to be too much for Flora MacDonald. Maintaining a 30-point lead throughout virtually the entire second half, Oak Hill got the W with a final score of 105-76.

Here’s a look at some of the top players from both teams:

Roscoe Smith | 6-7 | SF | Oak Hill Academy | 2010
Baltimore’s finest came in to his matchup with Luke Cothron with a chip on his shoulder, playing every possession out there like it was his last. He used his crazy length to put tons of pressure on the ball, forcing turnovers from both forward positions and finishing with 28 points and 16 rebounds. The activity and energy that he provided on the hardwood made him a monster on the glass, also showing the intangibles that have made him one of the elite forward prospects in the country. Roscoe is still transitioning to the small forward position, but his handle and jumper looked much improved from the summer. Smith told SLAM that he’s down to Duke, UConn, and Georgetown…and that Harrison Barnes’ looming college decision (Barnes is considering Duke) had zero effect as to why he’s waiting til the spring to sign.

Luke Cothron | 6-8 | PF | Flora MacDonald | 2010
Though his FMA squad did not have the best showing as a whole, Cothron got his with a 42-point, 12-rebound performance. It was clear that he was equally as hyped for his matchup with Smith, demanding the ball from the second he stepped on the floor. Not a crazy athlete, the Alabama native showed the game of a skilled four man who has the ability to step out beyond the arc. He converted on a number of unorthodox moves in the paint against bigger defenders, while also showing an improved perimeter game, drilling five three-pointers. The NC State commit told us that he’s still firmly committed to the WolfPack, despite the fact that he will not sign in the early signing period. When asked if his decision not to ink had anything to do with State’s recruitment of freak show CJ Leslie, Cothron gave us a laugh and said, “Nah, I’m just not ready yet.”

Doron Lamb | 6-4 | SG | Oak Hill Academy | 2010
Lamb led the way for Oak Hill with a sick 33-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist outing. The combo guard has continued to prove time and time again that he is one of the best pure scorers in his class, but also showed better playmaking skills from when we last saw him. Lamb appears to be working hard to improve the consistency of his shot beyond the arc and also told us that he’s been putting in some serious time in the weight room. The NYC native was rocking a KU shirt (for all you Jayhawk fans), but said that he’s still nowhere near ready to commit and is still looking at Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, Arizona and Oklahoma.

Juwan Staten | 5-11 | PG | Oak Hill Academy | 2010
After winning three straight AAU national championships with All Ohio Red and reaching the Ohio D-2 state championship game with Thurgood Marshall HS, Staten opted to take his game to Oak Hill for better competition on a daily basis. Playing for arguably the top high school in the country, he sure got that and you can see it in his game via his 22 points and 12 assists. The Dayton native still showed us the same scoring ability that made him one of the nation’s finest small guards but also proved that he can run the show at a high level, which he didn’t have the chance to do playing off the ball in AAU and for his old high school. Staten is the top recruit headed to the A-10 for next year at the moment, and should make an instant splash at Dayton from the time he steps on campus.

Baye Moussa Keita | 6-11 | C | Oak Hill Academy | 2010
As if Syracuse didn’t already have enough length this year for their renowned 2-3 zone, they’ll be getting 7 feet more of it in Moussa Keita. He’s definitely still a work in progress, but the native of Senegal is making strides in the right direction. Baye did a great job running the floor and established himself as a forced to be reckoned with in the paint defensively, despite his slender build. Moussa Keita had a number of dunks en route to his 11 point, 15 rebound performance, but still needs a ton of work on his hands before he can even possibly be considered a consistent threat on the offensive end.

Derrick Martin | 6-9 | PF/C | Flora McDonald | 2010
The second Alabama native to make the move to FMA, Martin showed a nice amount of long term potential against Oak Hill. He’s got a wiry frame that will certainly need to add weight, but owns the length and athleticism that you look for in a big man at the high major level. Martin stepped out and drilled a pair of three pointers, ran the floor exceptionally well, and blocked a handful of shots. He’s a bit under the radar now, but could very well be one of those late signees that show up at a high major program near you.

Game Notes: Suns at Lakers

2009-11-13T21:46:10Z

by Graham Flashner and Sean Ceglinsky

Andrew Bynum is back for the Lakers. And “Flashinsky” is back for SLAMonline.

We were deeply moved by your Facebook updates. We were gratified by your tweets. We appreciated it when you stopped us on the street, even though you didn’t know what in the world we looked like. The cries for a “Flashinsky” sequel could not be ignored after our debut at the Lakers season-opener.

And so, there we were — Sean Ceglinsky in plain type, Graham Flashner in italics — sitting courtside at Staples Center on Thursday night to bring you our special brand of coverage from the Suns and Lakers early season showdown.

It was supposed to have been a statement game for the Suns. A chance for Phoenix to show the rest of the NBA, or at least the Western Conference, that they could hang with the big fellas.

So much for the “showdown.” The only statement the Suns made was, we will not let Lakers fans go home with tacos. A driving shot by Louis Amundson put the Suns over the century mark, sent fans home taco-less, and preserved the team’s streak of scoring 100 points in every game they’ve played. Unfortunately for them, the game was already long out of reach, and the Suns’ aspirations to best in the West were dead, at least for now.

A statement was made, rest assured. Bynum took care of that. The big man made his return from an elbow injury and didn’t miss a beat in the 121-102 victory, scoring 26 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 3 blocks in 36 minutes of action.

PRE-GAME

*** An elevator ride down to the pressroom with Lakers commentators Stu Lantz and Joel Meyers proves interesting. Both acknowledge the importance of this game. TNT is covering all the action for the entire nation to see for a reason.

*** It’s good to see the welcome revival of the run-and-gun Suns, now that the Big Lane Clogger has departed to Cleveland. Even if the Suns are really getting shots off in 15 seconds or less, as opposed to seven, that’s still a vast improvement over a year ago, when they suffered a complete identity crisis under coach Terry Porter, whose down-tempo, half-court offense eventually cost him his job.

After slashing their way through the East, with impressive victories at Boston, Miami, and Philadelphia, it was time to test their mettle against a team that boasts the one component the Suns don’t have – size.

*** Pau Gasol appears upbeat despite being sidelined for eight games with a troublesome hamstring injury. He’s accessible during warm-ups, standing adjacent to the court, although there’s still no timetable for his return.

*** I catch up with Jason Richardson, who’s been on a tear of late, averaging 28.3 ppg while shooting 62 percent, including an eye-opening 72 percent from downtown. “It’s just a matter of me being more aggressive,” he says. “On this team, I get a lot of open shots. I’m just making the most of my opportunities.”

Richardson admits to a tough adjustment period following his trade to the Suns a year ago. “It was hard to find my place,” he says. “Some nights I was the Number 5 option. But then, we got back to the old style everyone was used to playing. Running and gunning, getting up and down the court, sharing the ball. By us going back to that level, it’s made everybody’s game better.”

The Suns’ helter-skelter style of play doesn’t generally lend itself to stellar defense, which has been their albatross in the playoffs, when defense, like pitching in baseball, tends to win basketball games. But this year, the Suns have stepped up that part of their game as well.

“We know we’re not going to be a lockdown team, holding teams to 80 points a game,” says Richardson. “But we’re playing great team defense right now. It’s about accountability. Everyone’s got a job to do. Having that chemistry where we trust each other, not leaving a teammate hanging.”

*** At his pregame presser, Coach Alvin Gentry echoes Richardson’s sentiments: “We’ve made a concerted effort to simplify things defensively, and hold everyone accountable,” he says.

Gentry is a nice man with the easygoing, laidback style of Doc Rivers. He seems put off by the notion that the Suns and their scorched-earth offense are not built to win a title. “The Lakers played this style,” he says, citing the Showtime Lakers of Magic and Worthy. Note to Alvin: this team ain’t them.

Gentry praises Amar’e Stoudemire for having grown as a teammate, voices concern about the Lakers’ being “the longest team we’ve faced,”, and draws laughter when he talks candidly about having to limit the minutes of the 35 year-old Nash. “He plays 34 minutes a game,” says Gentry. “That means 14 minutes that make me nervous as hell.”

On the Suns’ whiteboard before the game: “Space the ball and attack”! And—“No easy baskets!”

FIRST QUARTER

*** Bad omen, on the Suns’ first possession their vaunted offense can barely get a shot off in 24 seconds, let alone seven.

*** Bynum hits the boards early on, grabbing 4 rebounds. He’s rewarded for his efforts too.

*** Lamar Odom dribbles the ball the length of the floor, with Amar’e Stoudemire on his hip the whole time, and lobs a left-handed pass to Bynum, who snatches the ball out of mid-air and finishes the alley-oop with an authoritative dunk to give the Lakers a 12-6 lead at 7:28.

*** Stoudemire responds, taking Bynum to school in the lane with a dazzling series of head fakes that leaves Bynum looking, at least momentarily, like an unschooled rook. Stoudemire is fouled, nails the short jump hook and converts the free throw. It’s his last highlight on the way to a forgettable 2-15 shooting night.

*** Not to be outdone by Bynum, Kobe gets it going, with his newfound game in the post, no less. He backs down Grant Hill, uses a spin move to create space and finishes at the rim with little resistance. With 4:22 remaining, the Lakers are up 20-11.

*** Down 20-11, the Suns are not themselves. The Lakers are outmuscling and outrunning them, and no one appears in sync. As I write that, Channing Frye blasts through the Lakers’ interior D like an express train, ending with an emphatic slam.

*** The only thing Bynum doesn’t do well in the opening 12 minutes is make a bucket just before the buzzer sounds. Let it be known, he takes the shot a bit off-balance and the short jumper is contested by a pair of Suns. Regardless, the Lakers enjoy a 31-24 lead at the end of one.

Gentry had talked pre-game about the difficulty of trying to double Kobe in post, and his fears are realized: Kobe finds a wide-open Odom for a jam. LA up 25-16.

Jason Richardson has drawn the unenviable task of guarding Bryant, and the effort has sapped his offense. He’s throwing up bricks, and no points, in the first twelve minutes. The Lakers, meanwhile, look more like the Suns: alley oops and back door cuts leading to countless open baskets.

SECOND QUARTER

*** With most of the starters sitting, the Bench Mob takes over for the Lakers and subsequently struggles. Before you know it, the Suns get back into the game, cutting the deficit to 33-31 at 8:27.

*** There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Lakers defensive lapse. “Luke Walton has got to be one of the worst.” says Sean. He went on a similar rant last time around, and nothing I said could dissuade him back then. I’m about to defend cool hand Luke, but then he tries to dribble-penetrate and tosses up a half-shot, half-pass that slams off the backboard.

*** Jordan Farmar does a good job of saving face for the second unit, handing out a pair of assists to Sasha Vujacic and Bynum. Walton decides to make a contribution. He finds Josh Powell for an easy hoop and proceeds to bury a three-pointer of his own. All of a sudden, the Lakers lead 47-37 with 5:11 left.

*** Wonder what Sean thinks of Luke now…

*** For the record, and I hope no one takes any offense, I’m still not convinced that Bill Walton’s kid is that good.

*** As lethargically as the Suns are playing, the Lakers let them back in the game. Two floaters by Hill are followed by a three from Steve Nash and a reverse layup from Richardson, his first basket of the game, over 20 minutes in. Finally, a three-point bomb by Hill narrows the lead to 51-45 with just 1:33 to go in the half.

*** Ladies and gentlemen, we might have a game on our hands after all.

*** The Suns are right in the thick of it. And then, just as suddenly, they’re not. Stoudemire’s blown dunk begins the demise.

*** Kobe’s spirited play certainly doesn’t help matters.

*** Jared Dudley attempts to keep him in check this time around, but it doesn’t work. Bryant is feeling it and after draining a couple jumpers, he gets loose on a breakaway. With everyone holding their breath for something spectacular, he plays it somewhat safe, throwing it down with both hands and tapping the backboard with his right before landing.

*** I give Kobe a 5.5 on that dunk. Where’s the 360? How about a double-pump reverse?

*** Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Bryant sparks an 8-0 run and the Lakers take a 14-point lead into the locker room.

*** It appears that the Suns road-warrior log - this is their seventh game in the last 10 days - has finally caught up with them. And no one’s more frustrated than J-Rich. On the last play of the half, he hammers Bryant under the basket which leads to a heated exchange. Fittingly, Richardson heaves an airball in desperation to close things out.

*** The Suns shoot 52 times, making 17 in the first half. But the most telling stat is points in the paint: The Lakers have 42 and Phoenix has managed 22.

THIRD QUARTER

*** Sean is bewildered: “What, nobody in double-digits for the Suns yet? Where is this high-powered offense you were talking about before the game?’’ he says. Truth be told, the Suns have no answer for the Lakers’ vertical advantage, and it’s killing them on both ends. They can’t get inside shots and nothing is falling from the outside.

*** After a relatively quiet first half, Derek Fisher begins to find his range from the perimeter. He takes an Odom pass, uses a pump fake to send Nash flying bye and then hits a baseline jumper to make it 63-51 at 9:29.

*** A few possessions later, with 6:56 remaining, Fisher knocks down a three-pointer, is fouled by Nash in the act, but fails to complete the four-point play, missing the free-throw. Odom, however, is there for the rebound and layup to extend the lead to 72-55.

*** I could swear the Suns are playing four-on-five. Why is everyLaker so wide open?

*** One of the highlights of the night comes at the 5:37 mark. Odom throws a lob up toward the front of the rim, and out of nowhere, Kobe flies into the frame, grabs the ball and does a sick reverse dunk to bring the crowd to its feet.

*** Now that’s what I’m talking about! That’s a slam. For SLAM. Get it?

*** Speaking of slams, Bynum, who the finished the first half with 16 points and 9 rebounds, picks up where he left off. His dunk, two jumpers and basket inside demoralize the Suns, who end up trailing 92-71 at the end of three.

*** As Chick Hearn would say, “The eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard, and the Jell-O’s jiggling. This game’s in the fridge, folks.’’

*** Gotta give Flash some props, he comes up with some good ones from time to time.

*** Linsky - put that on your Twitter feed.

FOURTH QUARTER

*** Right off the bat, Kobe and JRich exchange pleasantries. Again. This has got to be the third or fourth time. Whatever the case, it’s not a good idea. The Black Mamba is fired up now.

*** Any more fired up, he’s likely to spontaneously combust.

*** Bryant scores the next 6 points in a row and the rout is on. The Lakers lead 100-75 with 9:10 left in the game. Shortly thereafter, he heads to the bench for good, finishing with 29 points on 13-21 shooting from the field.

*** Afterward, during a post-game interview, Kobe comes up with the best line of the night. When asked if there was enough ball to go around with Bynum back in the lineup he said: “It’s not an issue. I eat first, everybody knows that.’’

*** When Adam Morrison checks into the game with 8:24 to play, you know things have gotten out of hand. Let garbage time begin.

*** Garbage time or not, Shannon Brown has some unfinished business to care of. He has a reputation to uphold, a reputation as one of the top dunkers in the League.

*** Brown delivers with 8:10 left, taking off a foot behind the restricted area and soaring to the rim for the one-handed flush. If this guy doesn’t participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend this year, I’m not watching.

And if Goran Dragic doesn’t particpate in the Skills Challenge - I’m not watching either.

POST-GAME

*** Bynum was mobbed by the media and had plenty to talk about: “I felt great,” he said. “My teammates were looking for me. A lot of those baskets I got tonight were lobs. Their team relies on their outside game and their legs, so our plans was to beat them up on the inside.”

“Outside the locker room, Gentry spoke quietly and tipped his cap to L.A. “They took us out of our game,” he says. “The Lakers are a great team without any weaknesses. We couldn’t match up with Bynum. We didn’t come out loose, playing our game. We ran out of gas. It was a long trip.”

*** In the locker room, a drained Nash faces the questions. He ended the night with 13 points, 5 assists, and a host of uncharacteristic turnovers. “We were flat. We had tired legs. We missed shots that we normally knock down, he says. “When the legs go, that’s what happens. No excuses, they played a great game. We’ll put this one behind us.”

*** Phil Jackson was typically subdued: “It’s a good win,’’ he said. “We have to take it into perspective. They played a back-to-back game and came off the home floor on a road game.”