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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  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Is that an actual trade rumor or are you just making it up, James?

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

    100 percent true man!!!

  • http://sportzin.com Joey E,

    i dont understand how lebron only averages 1.7 fouls per game. last night he only had 1, are you kidding me?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    ohh my bad on the grant hill thing. looked at per36 minutes numbers on accident. bryan thats my fault. but your still wrong about LeBron needing to shoot less and rebound more. Actually if he shot more he would probably get more rebounds, considering he wouldn’t be away from the basket setting up teammates.

  • Monday Night Live

    I have to side with Bryan, Lebron is not really dominant at anything except scoring (inside the three point line)and he’s a pretty damn good playmaker too.

  • http://sportzin.com Joey E.

    James, thats not true. there’s a new rumor that Mavs and Sixers might be looking at Iggy/Sammy for Damp/JHoward

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

    Just read on yahoo … maybe that is a rumor too!!

  • jdn41

    I just picked the Sundiata Gaines for my fantasy team and drop gilbert this kid is just straight inspirational

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    so you don’t like winning in your fantasy league

  • Monday Night Live

    ^^^^^^^^^^ LMAO

  • thalilbigkahuna

    The Sixers had better not trade Iguodala for T-Mac. I don’t really care what happens to Dalembert, but if they trade Iggy they better get something freakin great in return.

  • jdn41

    im actually first and had an extra spot jsut lying around

  • http://www.michaelcho.com M Cho

    i didnt think it was possible… but as an announcer, Reggie Miller jus gets more annoying. He tries to put his imprint on every amazing play that he sees, thus ruining basketball

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    then your in a terrible fantasy league

  • michael scorn

    @M Cho – Here’s how it could get worse. If reggie just yelled “That’s just like the 3 pointer I made over Michael Jordan in the 1998 ECF!” everytime someone made a big shot.

  • http://myspace.com/showbread Bryan

    By the way Lebron averages 7.2 rebounds per game not 7.8 also nbk your wallace vs howard argument only cements my point. Wallace is dominating the boards this season, so is howard even with the one board difference. Still both DOMINATING. So if Lebron at 7.2 is dominating the boards then why isn’t Melo at 6.2? Or Kobe at 5.5? Or why wasn’t Steve Francis called a dominant rebounder when he was grabbing 7 a game at 6’2 which is far more impressive than Lebron.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    IDK bryan i’m not the guy who gets credit for saying who is and isn’t dominating the boards. I actually have no problem with how much Melo rebounds. And Steve Francis grabbin 7 a game i think was kind of a big deal….atleast with true fans. And Kobe is the best rebounding 2 in the league not named thabo. so he should get more credit. But none of that merits you criticizing LeBron’s rebounding numbers, especially considering Mike Brown (sooper moron) just like 2 games ago figured out that putting LeBron against 4′s is a good idea. His rebounding numbers should start to increase the more he plays on the block

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    LeBron is a small forward and grabs 7 rebounds a game. That is more than enough.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    but he still is their primary playmaker, scoring and passing. Its hard to focus on rebounding when your doing everything else. Its like your upset because LeBron isn’t better then everyone else at everything instead of accepting that he is very good at everything, as opposed to most players who are only very good at 1 or 2 things, if anything at all.

  • http://myspace.com/showbread Bryan

    Nbk you and everyone else misunderstand my point. I’m not upset because lebron isn’t better at everything than everyone. I’m “upset” because of assh*les like Z who insist he is better than everyone at everything. I can’t stress it enough that I like Lebron as a player and think he’s great my only agenda in arguing against him is to get some of these moron jock hunters to get realistic about what he is. He’s a good rebounder but if you’re gonna call him dominant (looking at you Z) he better be better than 7 a game. If he’s a dominant defender he better shut people out and if he’s a “great three point shooter” he better shoot better than 35% from three. I can’t understand how you don’t get my point. I don’t disagree Lebron is second or the best player in the league. But the way people carry on about him is ridiculous. Especially Z.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    That was a good effin game last nite!!! lebron is the truth and all but i like to root against the cavs for some reason. jazz was up like 8 points or so with 3 mins to go so i was like iiiight. but then lebron jus did what he does best and jus looks like a man amongst boys. he took the cavs back single handedly so i was like…dayum, whatever. but Coach Sloan (underatedest coach ever) never lost his cool and didnt call a time out after lebrons last freethrow. Korver hit that HORSE shot from behind the backboard. Z went to the line and hit 1 of 2. Jazz was down 2 with like 8 seconds left. The rest was magic. Bigtime shot…good for Yata Gaines!

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    yea btw i agree with Bryan one-hundred! pippen sure was good for twice as many steals and 100 blocks. lebron do be swattin shots but his d aint up to pippen or jordan status yet. lebron is nasty and all, but im from the Jordan era. the young King James aint showin me nothin i aint seen before. even his dunks remind me of Shawn Kemp. Melo my man! Peoples champ.

  • J

    missed free throws cost us the game. and i don’t like the fact that lebron was the one inbounding the ball. let him be fouled. if he missed then so be it. missed or made would make him even more confident the next time he will be put on that pressure. great shot by gaines.

  • J

    and please. we need someone who could create on his own.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    LeBron is not a great defender, but he IS a very good rebounder. 7 boards a game is no joke for a small forward. If Mike Brown put him at power-forward you don’t think LeBron could get at least 8-9 rebounds a game, Bryan?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Okay nevermind, I agree. LeBron is a good rebounder but not a dominant rebounder yet. I agree.

  • J

    this loss just proved that we still have that hole we had ever since. that OTHER SCORER ASIDE FROM LeBron. i can’t ask anything from bron anymore(well except for FT)…

  • J

    trade HICKSON while the stock is up. that guy have wet hands all the time. damn is he still nervous? i like jawad better, not so athletic but a more composed more concentrated player than JJ. and again where the heck is boobie?

  • J

    this is a true story. after gaines was taken out of the game i said to myself that my applause for him will come later after the game. and then the he was inserted again and hit the final shot… and i was right..

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    guys, can we lose the hate on the 2 best players in the L??!!! if you like basket, you should love both their games. Bron was amazing down the stretch, I JUST HAVE 1 QUESTION: with Mo fouling out, WHY DID HE NOT TAKE THOSE FREEBIES, cause you CAN NOT CONVINCE ME MIKE BROWN HAD A SAY IN THAT…IF HE WANTED TO TAKE THOSE FAUL SHOTS HE WOULD HAVE, THATS THE STRANGEST THING…HE WAS ON FIRE, WHY ANTHONY PARKER AND BIGZ?? if Mo was there i would get it…WHO MADE THE DECISION OF HIM NOT TAKING THOSE SHOTS LOST THE GAME, AND I REALLY DONT BEALIVE IT WAS MIKE BROWN. also congrets to gaines and who the f)ck cares if he averages 7 or 9 rebounds?!?!?!?!?!?

  • http://www.luketynan.blogspot.com litetitan

    I got really really Annoyed with the way reggie was going on about Kyle Korvers block on LeBron James. Reggie is the worst commentator out there and I LOVE it when the ‘Czar’ and Marv pull him up on his colour commentary.

  • http://www.luketynan.blogspot.com litetitan

    i don’t get whats being said about LeBron NOT taking the final stretch of foul shots. PARKER and BIG Z were the ones that got fouled…hence THEY were the ones that had to take the shots, no one else could take them…!?!? Am I wrong?

  • http://www.luketynan.blogspot.com litetitan

    Derrick Rose TOOK OFF over Big Baby. That was nice to see.

  • jun

    sundiata owes kyle korver a beer

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    Bryan said an incredibly stupid comment about Lebron needing to be like Pippen. Who is going to be like Michael Jordan? Just plain dumb.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    James (at 25): 29.5-7.2-7.8-1.5-1 on 51% and 37% from downtown
    Pippen (at 25): 18-7.3-6.2-2.4-1 on 52% and 31% from downtown
    Hill (at 25): 21.1-7.7-6.8-1.8-0.7 on 45% and 14% from downtown
    So, what Bryant wants is for Lebron to drop his scoring average down 8-10 points, grab .4 more rebounds a game, pass less, shoot worse in every percentage, but grab another steal. Great!!!

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    and yes, I know I’m taking Bryant’s comment out of context, but it’s ridiculous to say “well, Lebron should do what Pippen did this one time and what Grant did this one time” when you never look at what the players actually accomplished in one year and at their age. Pippen NEVER averaged 21-9-7-3. He never averaged most of those numbers, and Pippen was a great focus player— when he’d average more rebounds, his scoring and passing would drop. To pass more, he’d average less rebounds, etc. etc.
    A better comparison was how Grant Hill did things, at 21-9-7… but with far less defense than James does it, and at a far lower clip percentage wise.
    In essence, nothing Pippen and Hill did are notably better than Lebron while Lebron outscores them by a large margin. So the comparisons are dumb.
    If you want Lebron to score less and focus more on defense, just say “I think Lebron should score less and focus more on defense.” You’d still be wrong, but at least you wouldn’t be making awful comparisons.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    how can u compare Pippens numbers to those guys when he played next to Jordan? the two years Jordan was in baseball Pip averaged 22ppg, 8.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 3 steals an a block…Lebron is superior offensively, and flashier, but hes def not a better rebounder. Pip had better Defense…which wins championships. Period. But yea like i said i’m from the Jordan Era. If Lebron wants to show me he’s an outstanding rebounder he gotta grab at least 10 a game. Rodman was 6’8″ 210 and Lebron aint seein those numbers.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    Pippen was the MOLD for a guy like Lebron….please.

  • Mvp23100

    Dont ever mention second fiddle players to lbj he’s to good to play robin to someones batman unlike hill,pippen,kobe appreciate that performane and appreciate the efficiency he does it in 1

  • http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3357407353_c868c2d95c.jpg larrylegend

    about pip…you all forgot the 93-94 season…he did things 4 his team that lbj can only dream of…

  • http://Vikturus Vikturus

    Someone should make a movie about Sundiata Gates basketball career from being a youngster until now, with this as the epic ending and a “they lived happily ever after”(He and the Utah Jazz) text to finnish it off. Basketball story of the decade so far!

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Who cares if LeBron gets more than 7 rebounds a game? Who cares? He has two lumbering big men and Andersen Varejao on his team.
    And telling LeBron to rebound like Dennis Rodman doesn’t make any sense. ALL RODMAN DID WAS REBOUND. He is probably the worst scorer to ever have won a rebounding title–maybe even worse than B. Wallace. Rodman played great defense too, but come on now. The only thing Rodman had to do was lock his man down and catch rebounds while Isiah Thomas/Joe Dumars, and later Jordan/Pippen shot the ball.
    What is it with these comparisons? LeBron James is NOT Scottie Pippen, nor is he Dennis freaking Rodman, nor is he Michael Jordan.
    And seven rebounds per game is VERY GOOD for a small forward.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    teddy bear sees my name and automatically assumes hes the smartest guy in the room lol… you yourself said lebron isnt a dominant rebounder, teddy. i was merely agreeing. i said rodman because HE was a dominant rebounder, and 40 pounds lighter. 7 rebounds is very good for a small forward. sure. i see larry legends name popped up…larry bird was a small forward and averaged 10. why cant king james?

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    nothing wrong with comparisons, its acually fun (when theres nothing else to do lol) james numbers actually do kinda kill pippens and grant hills at 25 years old. but if you put him next to some of the greats, hes still right there
    lebron james at 25 y/o….30 ppg, 7 rpg, 8 apg
    larry bird at 25 y/o….21ppg, 11 rpg, 6 apg
    magic johnson at 25 y/o….18 ppg, 6 rpg, 13 apg
    michael jordan at 25 y/o….32 ppg, 8 rpg, 8 apg
    dr. j (wit Nets in ABA) at 25 y/o….28 ppg, 11 rpg, 6 apg
    oscar robertson at 25 y/o….32 ppg, 10 rpg, 11 apg

    kinda cool

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    kevin garnett at 25….22ppg, 12 rpg, 5 apg
    bernard king at 25….23 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg
    charles barkley at 25….26 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg
    dominique wilkins at 25…26 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg
    clyde drexler at 25….27 ppg, 7 rpg, 6 apg
    kobe bryant at 25….24 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg

    so its safe to say lebron is easily one of the greatest ever, but i think melo and d-wade are right there too

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    GametimeWezzy: Are… are you saying Pippen is better than Lebron? I mean, not to knock on Pippen, most underrated player of all time (in the top 7 best SFs of all time) but… Lebron is just hands down better.
    Pippen was a better rebounder (slightly) and defender (a lot) but Lebron is a wayyyy better offensive player (better offensively than Pippen is defensively) and a much better passer.
    Small forwards in my opinion go:
    Larry Bird
    Dr. J
    Rick Barry
    John Havlicek
    Elgin Baylor
    Lebron James (I don’t actually believe Baylor is better than Lebron, but I know I’d be crucified if I reversed them)
    Scottie Pippen
    Of course, if Lebron broke his leg tomorrow and ended his career completely, I may change my mind.

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    Man, look at Jordan’s numbers at 25… 32-8-8… I think we can officially retire Lebron out of the “maybe he can be better than Jordan” sweepstakes.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    as a note, LeBron being the way he is physically, should prolong his peak a few extra years. idk how much that will matter, but its food for thought

  • http://fjkld.com Jukai

    NBK: Disagree, I think he just will peak earlier.

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