Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am  |  125 responses

The Post Up: ROY Race?

Show us what you’ve got, Tyreke.

by Holly MacKenzie/@stackmackBrandon Jennings

September 23, 1989 a star was born. Clap for him.

November 14, 2009, the basketball world was introduced to this star as he shot his way into the record books.

Yes, it’s Brandon Jennings Appreciation Monday over here. Did you expect anything less?

Hope you’re still all basking in the glory that is the goodness of this game.

So it’s a couple of days later and I’m still so happy. I don’t need to recap that for you because I know you’ve all seen/heard/read/thought about the ridiculousness of this by now, but of course I’ll do a brief little rundown anyway. With 12 scoreless minutes in the first quarter and 40 minutes played in the game, those 55 points were scored in a silly 28 minute span. Twenty-nine of them coming in the third quarter where I literally lost my mind.

I was laughing and screaming, smiling and then crying. That’s the amazing thing about sports. You can’t predict it. You can’t ever know when a rookie is going to go off and score 55 points in his seventh NBA game. These are the moments when I realize that we are the lucky ones. To love and appreciate this game so much, imagine if  we saw the ticker on ESPN and it didn’t make us feel anything.  How lame would that be? How much would we be missing out on if it was just interesting, rather than ridiculously amazing.

I’m glad we can all agree that loving this game makes everything better.

Even when it hurts. I know Raptors fans were hurting after their team lost their 11th straight in Phoenix after dropping a 101-100 decision last night thanks to Steve Nash getting a layup and the free throw to give the Suns the lead. I was shockingly impressed with the defensive effort the Raptors put forth after their first quarter (and minus the six three-pointers Channing Frye hit).

You’ve seen Ron Artest throwing Trevor Ariza’s show by now, I’m guessing?

I’m convinced that is at least part of the reason why the Rockets won this game. Okay, not really. They won because they are a team and they play like one, regardless of who they’ve got on the floor, on the bench, injured or healthy, the 12 guys representing the Houston Rockets get the whole “playing for the name on the front of the jersey” thing and it’s really, really fun to watch. Career-high for Aaron Brooks with 33, too. If I had to pick a “favorite” team to watch right now, I’m going Milwaukee, Houston and Denver. Love each of these teams and the success they are having.

New Jersey.

0-10.

I felt so damn badly for them in Miami when Dwyane had to go all superhero flashman and hit that amazing three to give his guys the win at home. It is his house and that’s why it’ll stay his house through 2010 and beyond. I think he’s sticking around. Q. Rich has become one of my favorites to watch this year because his story of reemergence is so great. I’m also really enjoying watching the evolution of Mario Chalmers. Not so great is Jermaine O’Neal missing time with a bruised hip. Hope he’s back asap.

For real, Nets. Get healthy, get your guys back and go get that W.

Don Nelson. Madness. Mayhem. Who is going to stop the mess that is Golden State?

Atlanta stand up. ATL has been fantastic. Quietly taking down their opponents, casually climbing the standings in the East, not so casually taking down the Celtics. It’s been a nice start for the Hawks.

Big win for Indiana against the Celtics, as well. Dahntay Jones is looking like a really nice pickup for the Pacers, and I’m happy I decided to pick him up in my fantasy league.

I feel like there were 80 million things that went on in the L this weekend and my brain is still firmly fixated on Brandon. It feels great to see it all falling into place for him. All of his hard work and dedication is paying off. Silencng his critics and paying off. He’s having fun. How amazing must it be, at 20 years old, to have your name now mentioned among Wilt, Kareem, Earl.

Amazing. Picture-perfect story. Everyone at SLAM knew this was coming though. I was a fan, then saw him in Las Vegas and his court vision floored me. I still can’t stop thinking about that third quarter and I didn’t even mention the Nuggets annihilating the Lakers on Friday night. An eight point third quarter from LA. Did not expect that. Most impressive part for the Nuggets? Leading by two at the half when Melo had been in foul trouble for the first and played just 12 of the first 24 minutes. Arron Afflalo has been solid for them so far this season. JR Smith was great — and controlled– in the game and Melo attacking is so much fun to watch. I really, really like Denver’s team.

I really, really like watching Ty Lawson. Brad Long said it best: Of the 80 point guards the Timberwolves drafted, the one they trade is playing the best. I know you’ve seen Lawson’s dunk from Friday night. How many of you have seen Lawson dunk while at UNC? I certainly can’t recall him ever throwing it down like that.

Speaking of Minnestoa point guards: You see Flynn getting into it with Dirk on Friday night? Crazy. I love that it’s still just November and yet, tempers are flaring, emotions are running high and every game matters. Unless… You play for the Knicks. Yikes.

Two more things: Get well asap, Chris Paul and thoughts and prayers remain with Deron Williams and his family.

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  • http://www.slamonline.com Nima Zarrabi

    When Brandon Jennings was a junior, I watched a lot of his AAU games with Southern California All-Stars. Their optimal starting lineup consisted of Jennings at PG, Daniel Hackett at 2G, Taylor King at the three, Renardo Sidney at the 4 and Kevin Love playing center. During the Big Time tourney in Vegas that summer, I saw them take on Chicago’s Mean Street Express, featuring Derek Rose and Eric Gordon. After watching Jennings that day, I told myself that I had never seen a more impressive high school player in person. The thing that stood out to me was his killer instinct. In the first half, Jennings did whatever he wanted to do offensively. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon was getting his for Mean Steet. He even had a breakaway dunk in the first half that sent the fans onto the court and halted the game for a few minutes until Sonny Vaccaro came inside and restored order. In the second half, SoCal All-Stars switched Jennings to Gordon. He took it personal. Jennings locked down Gordon (might of had one basket the rest of the game) that half and SoCal All-Stars cruised to victory. The kid may have been 160 pounds at the time, but he exerted his will on all who crossed his path.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    @Eboy. Steve Nash is one dimensional? That aint right. Can score on anyone and is such a threat at doing so, the defense gets completely sucked in to his driving and leaves open any 2 shooters at a time?! Thats not one dimensional. The way I see it, BOTH Miami and Phoenix have great chances to get to the WCF’s this year. If you considered both rosters staying healthy through out the season. I would happily back either team to get deep into the playoffs.
    ___
    sleeper watch: Eric Maynor: Filling in for D Williams at Utah for 2 games, strung together a pair of double doubles, one convincingly against Philly and lost to cleveland by 4.
    ___
    It seems that LeBron and Kobe are under ALOT more pressure this season than in the past, has anyone else picked up on that? LeBron really needs to win a championship, and the Lakers are being straight up HUNTED down this year. Houston, Denver, you don’t want to face those two teams back to back, come the playoffs…

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Bryan, I think I should ignore your comments from now on since you clearly don’t argue out of good faith. 1- Liking LeBron’s game doesn’t mean that I can’t see that he’s full of himself (like about every superstar) and doesn’t prevent me from criticizing the attitude of other stars. Because I like someone’s game, I can’t comment on anything from another player? That’s whack. If you like Shaq, you can’t say that Dwight sucks at FTs?! 2- This doesn’t even apply here because LeBron is THE most supportive teammate out of all the superstars in the league right now. He NEVER gets down on teammates during games. The only guy I remember him actually smirking at was Drew Gooden. That’s it. 3- So yeah, f-ck off.

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

    That’s a great story, Nima.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Z
    To be fair, Bron was pissed when Varejo came in fat and out of shape after that holdout. But that was justified. Bron and Dwight Howard are easily the most easygoing of the current top four or five accoridng to Slam.
    That said, out of that Top Five, only Kobe and Wade have rings.
    Maybe pouting works.

  • http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

    The way you talk about lebron its not just “liking his game” you’re on that dudes d*ck more than his old lady. The shaq and dwight thing are not the same. Since lebron is merely twice as arrogant as wade is BUT you defend him for it I just basically pointed out that your statement made you look like a jagoff, which I guess is not unusual so I shouldn’t have been surprised.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    If you really think that Bron is twice as arrogant as Wade ON the court, then your hate for Bron is making you irrational. Bron is as good of a teammate as you can find. My statement had nothing to do with Wade off the court (which I couldn’t care less about). F-ck off, Bryan. Sincerely. It’s clear that your preconceived ideas will never move one bit regardless of how sound arguments might be. I defend Bron for being arrogant? Really? On the court? Really? Show me that post. It doesn’t exist. You’re a simple minded f-cker that can never construct a solid argumentation. That’s why you always revert to ad hominem attacks over the freaking Internet. I refuse to engage in further discussions with you.

  • http://Www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Holly was going bonkers on twitter as Jennings put on his show. Bonkers. Oh and after Flynn got into the shouting match with Dirk, Nowitzki proceeded to spank that azzz in the 3rd quarter. Wake a sleeping giant, Johnny? Rookie no-no

  • http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

    Z: when bron made his check his stats statement , when he refused to shake hands you were there defending him. You kill me because I like lebron , but people like you make me hate him because of the way you jock on him so hard. I really wish you wouldn’t engage in discussions with me because you flip flop so much you’re a brett favre wanna be.

  • http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

    Just for good measure you’re the stupidest person I’ve ever encountered on slam. You spout off all this nonsense about facts but you only use which facts suit your argument at the time. You’re a ridiculous homer for the cavs you’re about as objective when it comes to lebron as bill simmons when it comes to the celtics.

  • http://Www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Love how Drew Bogut still got a 19/11 while Brandon was taking 34(!) shots. Asked him about that and all he said was “well, he WAS on fire though”. Dry wit, gotta love them Aussies.

  • http://fdjksl.com Jukai

    Eboy: you need to relax bud.
    First off, the Heat are making it way past the sixth seed this season, and they may actually make it past the next round. The heat, outside of Wade and Jermaine, are still horrible. Arroyo is still making bonehead plays which is why he was out of the league and Joel Anthony still can’t do anything. I did forget about Q-Rich, dude’s looking good, but he’s purely a defense guy.
    What makes this team a playoff team is Wade. He can take control and dominate night in and night out. I think the team has been more segmented into role (ie you just do that, you just do that) so things are simplified and Wade’s “I have to do it ALL?” playing style is lessened. Jermaine O’Neal averaging 13-7 with a block and a half is superior to averaging injured.
    What you said about the Suns is correct, as correct as what I’ve said about the Heat. It wasn’t bad mouthing. You know me buddy, if I wanted to bad mouth the heat, I woulda done a much better job. I don’t think the team’s improved, I think things are just simplified, and they’re more healthy. What I said was, last year they got a fifth seed REGARDLESS of the team sucking because Wade was so ungodly good, so it only makes sense for them to move up.

  • http://fdjksl.com Jukai

    Although I will state that my hope riding on Steve Nash can continue this day when he’s 36, while I doubt you can depend on Gimp Wade when he’s 29!

  • http://HOTMAIL.COM STEVIE GEE

    TYREKE EVANS!!!!!!!!!!!!TYREKE EVANS!!!!!!!!!!!!BRANDON PLAYED THE WARRIORS 0 DEFENSE!!

  • Hangtime Hec

    I was waiting for someone to hate on this performance. Is this a slam record?

  • http://fdjksl.com Jukai

    Dirk is a stud!

  • http://Www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Nowitzki! That is all. (naah not really, waiting for tomorrow’s Post up to REALLY annoy the Dirkbashers here, but for now…. Nyaaa nyaaa)

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    ^^^ “Love how Drew Bogut still got a 19/11 while Brandon was taking 34(!) shots. Asked him about that and all he said was “well, he WAS on fire though”. Dry wit, gotta love them Aussies.”
    Yo DS, when/how did you talk to Andrew Bogut? Or was that something else?

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Eboy, the ‘hate’ (dislike?) towards J.O is a bit unwarranted imo. The dude did great with his interior D against Shaq in the TNT game I saw. Shaq barely moved him, and JO was able to rotate to contest shots from the other side of the lane too. He aint that terrible.

  • http://fdjksl.com Jukai

    Hursty: Eboy was just so intent on ‘getting me back’ that he hated on JO. Trust me, the next time someone bad mouths JO, Whit-E will be down their throats.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    3 things to say: young buck has a swagger about him thats undenieble!2- TY LAWSON LOOKS REAL GOOD BUT TOOK 3/4 STEPS WITHOUT DRIBLING WHEN HE SMASHED DJ AND POWEL´S FACES!! and the Trail Blazers were ROBBED BY THE REFS IN atl tonight!!

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Teddy, it’s called the press. What Drew said, was very Australian though.
    And Jukai I can see that. I only skimmed the comments before. Duly noted. Might entice some interesting posts here occasionally.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Also, WTF are you doing awake at 2.30? .. Although I’ve done that before for no reason.

  • http://Www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Hey Teddy, i had a b-ball camp in S’Pore this July where Andrew was the guest coach. We got along nicely, had a few early morning shoot arounds and coached the kids. We now stay in touch via Mail & Twitter DM’s.

  • J

    about the wade/bron; every single superstar in this league has an a**hole/d-bag inside of him. well except for stock i guess.

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