Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  104 responses

Post Up: D-League Dreams

Of Sundiata Gaines!

by Holly MacKenzie / @stackmack

Is there a better basketball feeling than seeing Derrick Rose explode to the hoop, blowing past everyone, rise up and score a layup?

So, so, so good to see him healthy.

No joke, that was the start of my Post Up…. before SUNDIATA GAINES.

Couldn’t script that. Sorry, Derrick, but there is something nicer than seeing you get your explosion back.

Buzzer-beater +D-League call up + this video +3-3 fgs in nine minutes + reaction of the Jazz bench = One smiling girl. Like, for real, this silly smile just won’t leave my face and I’m okay with that.

After LeBron was quiet through the first half, he –of course– went off in the fourth, scoring 20 points in the quarter, including back-to-back three-pointers that had him sauntering to the bench like he had the world and the win underwraps.

This wasn’t so as the Cavs allowed the Jazz a sliver of light that Gaines turned into a whole lot of sunshine. Sundiata Gaines, who was called up during the D-League showcase in Boise to a 10-day contract, hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. It was the first 3-pointer of his five-game NBA career and was his third make in three attempts in his nine minutes of playing time.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I can’t really express it in words, you’ve got to see it for yourself.

I think my favorite quote came from Jerry Sloan who said, “I found myself trying to jump.” when asked how excited he was to see the rookie hit the shot.

It’s crazy to think of how Bron owned that fourth quarter and the game until missed free throws down the stretch by his teammates allowed a unknown to steal the shine.

Sometimes, everything works out in a way you could never ever imagine, yet you  know instantly it’s absolutely right. This moment was one of those times.

I’m so damn happy!

Now, about Rose. He looked good. Noah looked good. Salmons made me continue to long for Ben Gordon back in a Bulls uni and the C’s looked tired on the second night of a back-to-back, although I thought they’d be rested, considering that they had blown out the Nets in the first Q on Wednesday night.

Seriously though, the Bulls won 96-83 and that’s all you need to know about this one. No KG or Sheed for the C’s, a great game Noah, Rose looks to be getting back and Perk was a beast in the loss.

Also, Eddie House is ridiculous.

Now, back to Sundiata.

It’s gonna be a great day.

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  • J

    lebron is not a dominant rebounder. period. but even if you put him alongside those greats he’s not bad at all. also on that list are we really comparing Bron to KG and Charles? those are completely different players from bron.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    Yea, naa they were different players i was just throwin KG and Sir Charles in there for fun cuz THEY were dominant rebounding hybrid forwards. Well Barkley was pure power but whatever. So yea i guess i was kinda comparing them to when they were the same age as Lebron is now. And naa Jukai i’m not saying Pippen was better than Lebron. But the first Slam i ever bought was the one with Pip on the cover saying “I am the Man”…so im kinda biased lol. Lebron is nice, but in my book Melo is right there with him. And D-Wade is right there too.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    Yea cuz that stat line from Jordan right there was the year AFTER he won the ’87-’88 MVP and was Defensive Player of the Year, AND All-Star Game MVP when he was 24. And two years after he averaged 37 ppg when he was only 23. Jordan was the best to ever do it.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    GametimeWeezy: Wade definitely is… it’s crazy how underrated Wade is. People go CRAZY when they mention how Iverson averaged 30 points with eight assists… but Wade averaged 30 points with 7.5 assists along with LOTS more rebounds, steals, blocks, and superior shooting percentages. Wade can literally do it all, it’s incredible.
    Melo… not so much. Melo is scorer who can dominate the game through his versatile offense. But I don’t think he has the defense or court vision and passing abilities that Wade or Lebron have; I’m talking a vast different in both. So, Melo has a ways to go.

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