Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 9:01 am  |  196 responses

Post Up: Gil, Tex & the Cs

Oh yeah, LeBron scored 38, too.

by Holly MacKenzie/@stackmack

Good Morning SLAMmers,

After rambling my little heart out yesterday, my wrists are B-U-R-N-I-N-G, tonight. I just finished a liveblog, I’ve transcribed almost 5k words today, written a practice report and of course, tweeted it up all evening. In other words, there have been too many words, today. Gonna take some time for my hands to get used to this much typing every day and night. Don’t worry, though. I’ll get there.

Opening day absolutely destroyed me. It’s only 1:35 a.m. and I’m entirely exhausted. Got a little overwhelmed tonight. Especially when Tex Winter receeived his ring. Could he have looked any more precious sitting in the stands, smiling as he watched basketball? That man’s love, undestanding and respect of the game inspires me. When Kobe Bryant said “He basically raised me when I first got here,” my night was complete.

I thought the Cavs were going to come out firing on all cylinders at home, but those damn Celtics took the 95-89 victory. I’m sure our boy Tzvi was loving it, watching his boys take down the Cavaliers, watching Ray streaking to the hoop and seeing KG back on the floor. Celtics are going to be tough, man. They look like they haven’t lost a step and new additions Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace look like they’ve been there all along.

Now, this Big Baby madness: Breaking your hand a day before the regular season starts is a big dummy move. I can’t even imagine the wrath of Rivers and the big four (Yes, I’m including Rondo in there as the big four, cool?), as they have to deal with someone potentially messing up their fast start. Yikes.

Speaking of KG, check this tweet from Marcus Wiliams: KG cussed me out my rookie yr, i kinda laughed and he said “bejbvhjebvjdsbcajbce” and i said “huh??” and looked at me with REDEYES! #scared

Love it. I also tweeted him to ask if KG was the most intimidating player he’s gone up against. This was his response: No, Robert Swift is! Go google em RT @stackmack: @mw1ll is KG the most intimidating to go up against?

Clearly, he doesn’t know who he’s tweeting with. As if I need to google Mr. Swift! For real though, I had a great chat with MW in Las Vegas this summer and I’m happy he’s got a home in Memphis this season.

Now, my favorite part of the night that didn’t involve Tex: Gil. Gil Arenas is back, baby. He had 29 points (!) on 10-21 field goals and shot 8-9 from the line as he led the Wizards to a 102-91 victory over the Mavs in Dallas. Last season, the Wizards had one road win at Christmas. Here’s to hoping this was only the first of many, many more.

And, um, hi, LeBron. Thanks for scoring 38 and having people not rave about it because you’re just that good. Also, the block show? Beautiful. Especially that block on Rondo. My goodness.

As for the Lakers, they didn’t look very good and led by only one at the end of three to the Blake G-less Clips. Still, they turned it on when they needed to and Kobe finished with 33 points. On 26 field goal attempts. No easing into it for that guy, hey?

Everyone making jokes about the LA crowd cheering “MVP” for Kobe, saying it shouldn’t be allowed when he wasn’t the regular season MVP last year. Two words for you: Finals MVP. That’s the one that matters the most, anyway. Just saying.

Notice Greg Oden pull down 12 rebounds, but score just two points? He only attempted three field goals in his 26 minutes of action as Travis Outlaw had 23 points off of the bench and the Blazers took down the Rockets, 96-87.

Ugly stat of the night: Baron Davis and his 1-10 night from the floor. Blame the injured foot, but yuck. Eric Gordon, however, he got to the rim with ease. Every single time.

Okay for real, I’ve gotta get moving. It’s somehow suddenly 3 a.m. (shoutout to late night phone calls to discuss opening night!) and I’ve got two shootarounds starting at 10 a.m. and then the home opener against Cleveland here in Toronto. Wish me luck.

Tell me your thoughts. I want the Post Up convos back. K thanks!

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  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    lol @ Teddy. Banned!!

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Oh yeah, someone please tell Rondo that he is no Jordan Crawford.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Izzo

    Brad: You did, last night…

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Can we like not compare Bron and Kobe for one day? They both had great games yesterday, how about that? / DJ is a gunner lol. For real. He has to lead the league in shots per garbage minutes. He likes to think of himself as a marksman from the elbow. If he’s got daylight, forget it he’s gone.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Hey anybody read the new SI? They wrote that Arenas will average 10 a game. And Curry from GSW, i going to average 28!!!!!

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Agreed Z lol, DJ is hilarious man… it looks like his head is located on his chest!!

  • http://slamonline.com Holly MacKenzie

    My goodness! It’s only day two and we’re at 102 comments. I’ve gotta take some time to go back and see what everyone is saying. So… Just got back from Raps shootaround where I accidentally cut off Jay Triano while trying to get my question in. Ooops. Gotta work on a shootaround report (read: transcribe far too many words), then head to the game for my first nba.com story! AND, I made some moves on working towards securing a guy for a piece I’m very excited for. It’s been a great day. And, Hi R. Jones. I see your boy tonight!

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    Sorry, but if any thought Cavs were going to triumph last night, a big dose of reality was in order. Same goes for progressing to the NBA Finals

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Hitting all those jumpers in the preseason may have been the worst possible scenario for Congo. I think I saw Phil Jackson cringe ever time one went in during the Denver game last week.

  • http://slamonline.com Russ Bengtson

    So the Cavs are only gonna lose eight more games this season, right?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Sheed’s bald patch has been consumed by his new ‘fro-do. Its actually probably still there, just the bald patch is so deep and long that its like a dark tunnel now.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Russ, look at their schedule before the X-Mas games. It’s a walk in the park. How does losing the first game or the 32nd game to Boston make a difference in the overall record? Nobody else in the league can touch the 5 best teams. I expect to see those five teams win 60+ and a lot of teams win less than 30 and some teams even less than 20.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    lol @ Teddy. I think someone is using your name like someone was doing to me last week.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    …..

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Since when do we call people by their country of origin? You call Sasha Slovenia too? Why not call Yao a Chinaman?

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Thank you Russ.

  • http://realcavsfans.com Anton

    James the balla blew his load while reading about Sheed.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I am not Wayno. I am Myles.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Twice. Right onto your sister’s chin.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Anyone know anything about those D Rose speed wraps? If they work or not? And if so, where can you purchase them?

  • Robert

    Kobe looked very well rested, there was an extra bounce in his legs that wasn’t evident in last season’s finals although it is the first game of the season and he had a summer with no olympic obligations. Ron’s addition really helps him out especially on the defensive end cause Kobe plays the passing lanes more and it showed last night when he had four steals. But when he did defend Thorton and Eric Gordon, they had a hard time trying to get a shot and you could really see that he’s one of the best perimeter defender in the league. As for the starting point position, I like Shannon Brown more because he’s bigger, more athletic and has more upside than Jordan although Jordan played better last night.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Russ:So that list of also rans you named off earlier in the preseason are gonna have a better year than Bynum? I’m pretty sure health is the only thing that can keep him out of the ASG.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I am Wayno. I am not Myles.

  • http://slamonline.com Russ Bengtson

    It’s been one game.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Russ, is that even your name? I just wanted to ask a skeptical question too.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Izzo

    Chris Kaman will have a better statistical year than Bynum. I’m willing to bet virtual money on it.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I am not Wayno. I am Myles…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    There. Thats better.

  • http://slamonline.com Russ Bengtson

    And like it or not, health is part of the game.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Co-sign Robert. Kobe is an amazing DeFeNdErrrr.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Wow, Bynum is a ‘lock’ for the All Star game on October 28th? That has to be some kind of record.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    I said if he was healthy, which of course is a HUGE if, so no he’s not technically a lock. Two centers will be named to the ASG in the West. Yao will not be one of them. Name two centers who will have better seasons than Andrew Bynum in the West. On your mark…get set…GO!

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Chris Kaman, Greg Oden, Emeka Okafor….health permitting, of course. That is 3, do I get a cookie for extra credit??

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    @Brad … With brown playing solid. Sasha is falling out a bit …

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Does Al Jefferson count as a center?

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Al Jeff is hurt. And Kaman hahaha, Oden hahaha, EMEKAAAA HAHAHAHAHA.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    Oden is in his 3rd year and I don’t think he has had a game above 10 points in a regular season game. Kaman is great every 5th or 6th game. Emeka, I don’t even have to say anything on that.

    Now, Al Jeff, that i good pick but he is hurt right now.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Kobe Bryant has some of the best defensive abilities out of any shooting guard in the league, when he wants to play defense. But he’s often way overrated in specific games when he actually doesn’t do that great of a job defending. Like yesterday’s game.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    TAD, don’t forget a healthy Marcus Camby.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Ahhhh….I know when the season is in full swing by the number of cocky Lakers fans’ commenting. (with all due respect to Holly, Myles, Marcel….)

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    However, I actually have a feeling Bynum will make the All-Star game, even though he isn’t that great. His stats are most likely going to improve this year and, coupled with the Lakers hype, almost makes him a lock for the game this year. Almost. But I also have a feeling Bynum’s numbers will dip later on when Gasol gets back to full form.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    The only department in which any of those three players will be statistically better is rebounding and that has more to do with the rebounder’s they are on the court with than actual skill difference.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Brad Long
    Chris Kaman, Al Jefferson, Nene, Okafor,

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Brad Long
    Kaman is a better scorer. He’s also a better defender and rebounder.
    Jefferson is a better scorer and rebounder.
    Okafor is a better defender and rebounder.
    Nene is just better period.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Nene is an acceptable answer. I think Bynum will have a better year, but Nene is acceptable.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    You have determined all of this off of 1 game? Really?? What is tonight’s lotto number? Oh, and Kaman had 18 and 16 last night against Quizno’s boy, so he should be in the discussion by your parameters.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Based on last nights performance, Bynum is an Allstar…based on the VASTLY larger sample of the majority of his time in the league, there’s no way he’s an all-star this year…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    Al Jefferson should be playing PF, but he counts as a center. And if he doesnt make the All Star team, I aint watchin.

  • NUPE

    Looks like Oden is trying to be a defensive specialist like Ben Walace, versus the Pat Ewing type player that people thought he was going to be. He’s been hurt so much it’s hard to tell, but he’ll be interesting to watch.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Brad Long
    I would rather have Okafor and Kaman than Bynum if I were the Lakers.
    Okafor is a stud defensively. Just nasty. Bynum is foul prone and lazy.
    Kaman hits the glass and really is nifty around the rim. He’s not great, but in the triangle I think he would be WAY more effective than Bynum.

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