Erick Blasco

After dealing with a selfish, egotistical player with off-court issues who turned the team into a laughingstock, why would the Knicks be interested in another selfish, egotistical player with off-court issues?

Plus opening the season vs. Boston is a great way to kick of 2009-2010.

Most of those Sunday Day Games will also be on ABC. Cavs-Magic and Cavs-Celtics look superfun! Cavs-Kings...not so much.

That means I have fans! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! B) B) B) B) B) B) B) It's okay, I'm sorry your favorite team/player isn't all its cracked up to be.

Well, Rosen does give reasons for his angles.

BFT, you're one of the few Raptors fans (and NBA fans) who doesn't categorically glorify Bosh as a star. Look at all the press Bosh receives about possibly being a free agent next year. It's done because people assume Bosh is a mega-star. He's certainly very good. A good shooter, an average rebounder and defender, he can score a little bit inside against slower or shorter defenders, but he's a very complimentary player who gets treated as if he's a legit MVP candidate, and that's certainly not the case. Bosh is a nice jump shooter who is average at almost every other thing he does, or is needed of him to make Toronto elite. He'd be a nice third, or perhaps second option on a really good team. Since most people don't realize that, he's overrated. With your Iverson-Paul analogy, be careful, that Sixers team wasn't special and took advantage of the worst NBA conference in history to get to the Finals. Winning a game against LA was nice, but Iverson and the Sixers were never really contenders. Again with Paul, fans and the media glorify Paul as an elite defensive player and an MVP-caliber offensive player. In reality, he's not a good shooter off the dribble, not a great finisher, and he's limited by having no off-hand. And defensively he makes his living by gambling, though he does have extraordinary anticipation to rip players' handles as often as he does. He's a notch below Kobe, LeBron, Wade, and probably Dwight Howard on the game impact scale, and might not even be the best point guard in the game, yet he's hyped as someone who should win MVP awards.

Go watch Garnett single-handedly lose Game 5 of the Finals and you'll see what Rosen sees. Here's what he did that Game: My article He's one of the most futile fourth-quarter pressure players in the league yet people think of him as a mega-star and it just isn't the case. Most of the other players listed are grossly overrated as well (though I'd hesitate to put Birdman on the list because most people know all he can do is block shots, and his niche is strictly to block shots. Even Chris Paul is assumed to be flawless. Denver exposed every shortcoming he had. Squat on his right hand and force him left. Rough him up with a quick, strong, tall, ultra aggressive defender in Dahntay Jones while forcing him left. Trap all screens forcing him to pick the ball up around taller defenders. Force Paul to win games by shooting and finishing. And on defense, when Paul customarily sags off the entry passer to try and steal entry passes, Chauncey Billups would just step in rhythm to open three after open three. It's why I hesitate to place him ahead of Deron Williams as best point guard. Bosh is an oversized jump shooter, Boozer, as Real Deal and HG have mentioned many times on this site, don't even try to play defense, and go into the Wizards threads to see the opinion of Arenas.

I'm not as gung ho about the signing as most are. It's not a bad singing by any means, but Ratliff is an ordinary defender and is ancient.

I like how the Raptors are getting tougher. Now all they need is some athleticism. They could have enough to slip into the postseason.

He's not James Posey but he'd be a big help.

The weeks roll on, and so do the deals. Let’s take a look at how the latest crop of changed addresses will play out. Andre Miller—Portland Trail Blazers A point guard mastermind, Miller may have the best court vision in the NBA. Only Chris Paul throws a better lob, and few point guards are as adept in the post. Miller can also create his own halfcourt offense by pulling and popping from 16 feet, and is a terrific finisher. Where he really shines is on the break, where his vision, passing, and powerful strides make him a bear in the open court. Miller’s presence will invigorate an anemic Portland fast break offense and lead to more easy points—a necessity until Greg Oden becomes a more potent post player. Of course Miller is one of the worst individual defensive point guards in the NBA, and he has no range on his jumper. But the benefits of having the veteran Miller running the youthful Blazers far outweigh the drawbacks. Zach Randolph—Memphis Grizzlies Randolph is a mammoth scorer who uses his huge body and a clever array of post moves to get his points inside. He can also rebound and shoot jumpers, even behind the three point arc. Unfortunately, Randolph is a black hole on offense who contributes nothing when the ball isn’t in his hands. His decision making can be deplorable, his defense is non-existent, and his laziness is well-documented. Randolph gives the Grizzlies some much needed muscle inside, but with so many talented young impressionable players on the roster, at what expense? Than again, perhaps tasting more victories will do more for the team’s growth, regardless of Randolph’s lazier-faire attitude. Quentin Richardson—Minnesota Timberwolves The offseason’s everywhere man, Richardson’s gone from New York, to Memphis, to Los Angeles, to Minnesota on his “traded all across America campaign.” He’s a streaky shooter, and a sometimes post player who doesn’t have the talent Minnesota needs to surround Al Jefferson. Expect him to field a new jersey or two before the season’s trade deadline. Kris Humphries—Dallas Mavericks Humphries can take up space in the middle, moves fluidly without the ball, and is an earnest defender. He isn’t a difference maker, but considering Erick Dampier’s age and liability to foul trouble, an extra big man can’t hurt. Sergio Rodriguez—Sacramento Kings Rodriguez is marginally talented as point guards go, and isn’t particularly quick, nor a good shooter. He has good instincts and takes care of the ball well, making him essentially, a facsimile of Beno Udrih. For a team in need of an athletic signal caller with experience, Rodriguez doesn’t fit the bill. Sean May—Sacramento Kings When May was healthy, he showed no explosion, no defense, and was strictly a below-the-rim player. With bad knees, those flaws won’t be corrected. The Kings are taking a flier on him with only a roster spot to lose and some potential post offense to gain. Despite the low risk, don’t expect a reward. Jarrett Jack—Toronto Raptors Jack is tough as nails, can defend both guard positions, and will finish at the rim. While Toronto sorely needs more athleticism, they also need toughness. Jack will surely supply the latter. Devean George—Toronto Raptors George used to be an exceptional forward defender, though today he’s just okay. His shooting touch has become frosty, and he’s never been much of an athlete. Perhaps in some matchups George can be called upon to harass an opposing backup forward, but at this point in his career, George is strictly an end-of-the-bench guy. Antoine Wright—Toronto Raptors Wright is an average athlete and defender who doesn’t have much of an offensive repertoire. He’ll probably start and guard the opposing team’s best player until DeMar DeRozan eventually takes the position. Matt Barnes—Orlando Magic Barnes is a pure athlete who can run forever, jump, finish on the break, and play long-armed defense. A lack of court discipline, and an inconsistent jump shot have been his biggest drawbacks. He’ll be Orlando’s fourth or fifth wing on the depth chart, providing energy and athleticism when the Magic hit dry spells offensively. Plus, with Dwight Howard rebounding, Barnes should have ample opportunities to showcase his soaring in transition. Aaron Afflalo—Denver Nuggets Afflalo is a long-armed, rangy defender who doubles as a knock-down three-point shooter. With the loss of Dahntay Jones, the Nuggets were in the need for a replacement stopper, and Afflalo fits the bill. He may not be as belligerent as Jones, but he’s equally athletic, tough, and has a tremendous work ethic. He’ll be recognized as an ace defender before the season is over. Sebastian Telfair—Los Angeles Clippers Telfair doesn’t have the size, the speed, or the smarts to be an NBA starter. He’ll be a backup in Clipperland, but isn’t the kind of player the Clippers need. Who will dog Baron Davis if he continues to go through the motions? Who will be the classic pass-first point guard that will allow Davis to play the two-guard, his true position? The Clippers have so many talented pieces, why can’t the go after the right guys to put it all together? Craig Smith—Los Angeles Clippers Smith is a hard-working grunt who’ll contest every rebound, defend with zeal, and clean up around the basket. A perfect fit as a fourth big man in a rotation. Mark Madsen—Los Angeles Clippers Madsen is a glorified cheerleader and assistant coach who’ll be responsible more for tutoring Blake Griffin than for anything he’ll provide on the court. When Madsen does get off the bench, all-out effort is the least you can expect, though it’s also likely the most you’ll get. Chris Wilcox—Detroit Pistons Wilcox will rebound, finish, knock down his share of right hooks, and play adequate defense. He’s athletic enough to defend power forwards, and long enough to defend select centers, but he’s prone to losing focus on the defensive end. Wilcox fits into Detroit’s plan to get younger and more athletic, but he’s too inconsistent to be reliable. Jamario Moon—Cleveland Cavaliers Moon gives Cleveland another pure athlete that can defend small forwards. With Wally Szczerbiak too slow, and Delonte West too small, the Cavs were picked apart by talented forwards whenever LeBron James took a seat. With Anthony Parker and Moon on board, the Cavs should be much better equipped to handling the array of talented three-men in the Eastern Conference. Moon can also finish on the break and knock down wide-open jumpers, but his role will be as a backup defender with everything else being secondary. Theo Ratliff—San Antonio Spurs Ratliff has been on his last legs forever, but he’s still hanging around. He can still intimidate shots and commit smart fouls but he isn’t the defender or rebounder he once was. He’ll attack the glass and set good screens offensively, but is nothing more than a garbage scorer. However, Ratliff will take up space and allow Tim Duncan to play the power forward position. The less they need Ratliff, the better off they’ll be.

I think Bynum has the goods to be an elite center. Biedrins is mostly a hard-working, overachieving rebounder and shot blocker (not that there's anything wrong with that). But Biedrins is still very average offensively and isn't a great one-on-one defender. Bynum didn't look completely healthy during the postseason last year and is still so young. If he gets over his injury woes and grows up, he can be a top-3 center in this league. That's why I take him over Biedrins.

I like this list a lot. I have doubts that Bargnani will ever be deserving of a number 1 draft pick, but the other four players are all unheralded with big time talent. Wilson Chandler can become this year's Danny Granger. He's that good. Courtney Lee will be New Jersey's third option and should put up nice numbers, and Aaron Brooks is very talented. I haven't seen too much of Anthony Randolph to have any real opinion, but he too is supposed to be a phenomenal athlete. I expect big things from each of the players. Good work Yama.

And they're each shooting under 31% in those situations. Look at Hedo Turkoglu with that beautiful 50% shooting percentage with the game on the line.

When I talk about the big three, I look at Kidd with Scott coaching him and Carter in Toronto. I'd like to think each of them played better before Frank than during Frank, especially as each player didn't really play his best towards the end of his run with Frank. Carter's played more passively the past two years than previously, and Kidd too seemed to lose some of his spark (though some of that is also age). Jefferson's harder to lump in because he played really well before Frank, with Frank, and after Frank.

He says it to take pressure off his team and to put the pressure on himself. He also gives the Spurs a lot of confidence with statements like that.

I disagree with a lot of the writer's observations. First of all, I think the Nets Veterans' have underachieved for years under him. RJ, Kidd, and Carter played worse for Frank than they did previously. I think Frank is an excellent teacher (which is why his young players play well for him), but isn't much of a motivator. That isn't a major problem. In the NBA, your veterans need to be able to motivate themselves, but it is a mark against him. Also, the Nets have basically only run two offenses. They ran a modified Princeton (with a lot of basic isolations and screen/rolls) for a few years, and then this year they switched to a spread dribble-drive offense. A lot of wing isolations, drives-and-kicks, and high pick-and-rolls with only one man inside. The Princeton kind of worked because the Nets weren't an overly athletic team but had smart players. With the Nets becoming more athletic under Harris and with the spread getting so much attention after Memphis' run to the Final Four, the switch was made and it seemed to work. Frank was sort of obligated to stick to Yi because he was the prime piece of the Richard Jefferson trade, and he's a young player the Nets have high hopes for the future. Obviously Yi is a bust, but the Nets have to see if they can get Yi to play angrier than the timid softie he is. If you asked nine people their opinions on Bobby Simmons, you'd get nine different answers. Some people were mad he got any minutes, this guy wants Simmons to get more minutes. And with situation 3, Frank is trying to win games. He can't sabotage his rotation. If Lopez gets too tired, he's wasted for the second half and that affects everything the Nets want to accomplish. With late game isolations, everybody runs them. You trust your best player will be better than the other team's best defender. Some of it is bad coaching, some of it is Carter's inability to handle intense pressure (except against the Raptors apparantly), but that's not a major deal.

Sell, they just don't have enough talent outside of Jefferson. Buy/Sell: The Phoenix Suns return to the postseason next year.

What the declining salary cap will do is force teams to be smarter with their free agents and not shell out huge dollars to mediocre players. Obviously some of that is still going on to an extent, but players like David Lee probably won't be getting 10 million a year contracts this year that they really don't deserve.

I think they were at their best two years ago because they had Posey. He made such a difference on that team, and he really made that defense exceptional. They still haven't replaced him.

Pierce's minutes will be reduced when Boston gets more backcourt depth. It's not like they have James Posey on board anymore.

Ahhhh, thanks!

Yeah I realized that after the fact (it should be deals), but how do I change the thread title? It only lets me edit the article itself.

The first wave of free agency has passed with aspiring contenders making the biggest splash. Let’s see which players will allow their new teams to hang ten, and which will belly flop in the surf. Ron Artest—Los Angeles Lakers When surrounded with a no-nonsense head coach, and mature, disciplined players, Artest is least vulnerable to going off the deep end. This is why Artest behaved himself in Houston, and with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol in LA, the Lakers have the support group to handle any of Artest’s potential shenanigans. Artest is guilty of a few boneheaded possessions a game, but he isn’t the perpetual ball-stopper some of his attackers make him out to be. He’s an accurate standstill shooter, who at worst, should duplicate Trevor Ariza’s success when spotting up behind the arc. Artest is also quick enough and powerful enough to drive all the way to the cup and finish, though his pull up game is extremely erratic. Artest is a willing, if not talented, passer, a ferocious rebounder, and a bear in the pivot. Remember, the triangle offense is extremely dangerous when a wing player can successfully operate in the post. It forces individual mismatches, unconventional double teams, and allows more spacing for various shooters and cutters. The Bulls were at their best when Michael Jordan, and occasionally Scottie Pippen would back their defender into the post and attack from the inside. Last year’s Lakers were at their best when Kobe Bryant was able to dominate his defender in the post and create easy scores. However, with an assortment of long or strong post-defending wings existing in the Western Conference—Shane Battier, James Posey, Andre Kirilenko, Richard Jefferson, Matt Harpring, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, Shawn Marion—Kobe is rarely able to simply overwhelm an ace defender down low. Having Artest on board will punish teams who play their strongest post defender on Kobe, since Artest is much too strong down low for most forwards, and all but the most rugged of two-guards. Should Artest figure out the triangle, not revert to his ball-stopping ways on lesser teams, and continue to be on his best behavior (none of the three is a guarantee), then his presence should open innumerable options for the Lakers’ halfcourt offense. Defensively, Artest is a touch overrated because he no longer has the quickness to shut down the fastest players in the league. Who he will excel against are the stronger wings who either have, or can do serious damage to Los Angeles—Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson, and LeBron James to name a few. And since the one player Artest can’t guard is also his teammate, his relative lack of quickness won’t even be a damning factor. Essentially replacing Ariza with Artest leaves the Lakers with less team speed and athleticism which will hurt their full-court game, but their ability to execute in the halfcourt on both ends of the court will more than make up for it. The Bottom Line: Should Artest retain his marbles, he’s gives the Lakers a lockdown defender, and an offensive battering ram. The favorites before the signing, the Lakers just got better. Trevor Ariza—Houston Rockets Ariza can sprint and soar, knock down standstill threes, and finish athletically on the break. He has lightning quick reflexes on defense and tremendous instincts, meaning any wayward pass or dribble in his vicinity has the chance to be intercepted. Given his athleticism, those interceptions are often converted into slam dunk touchdowns. What Ariza can’t do is create his own shot within the arc, pass, or consistently defend bigger, stronger wings at a consistent level. The Bottom Line: With Yao Ming out indefinitely, Ron Artest in Houston, and Tracy McGrady a likely candidate to miss a chunk of the season (if he doesn’t find himself traded), the Rockets need a player who can create offense, something Ariza can’t do. They have a feisty enough defense to perhaps survive a trip to the playoffs, but the Rockets need firepower, not another role player. Rasheed Wallace—Boston Celtics The absence of Kevin Garnett, and to a lesser extent, P.J. Brown, from last year’s Celtics exposed a chink in Boston’s armor. There was very little length on Boston’s second unit. The addition of Rasheed Wallace, whether he starts or backs up Kendrick Perkins, provides the Celtics with another long, disciplined defender, and a ferocious rebounder. He’s versatile enough to defend centers and bigger fours, and his belligerent trash talking will fit right in with his teammates. Offensively, Wallace can occasionally score going towards the hoop in the post, or by dropping his pet reverse-pivot fall away from the left box. However, he’s lacked the desire to bump and bag for nearly half a decade. What he prefers to do is lounge around behind the three-point line and launch jump shots, which can still be an asset with Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce making their living attacking the hoop, and Kevin Garnett or Perkins playing in the low post. The question becomes, how hard does Wallace want to compete in order to win a championship? He’s had an inglorious history of checking out of situations he couldn’t master. Should Cleveland or Orlando prove to be potent, will Wallace be game to join the fray, or will his tail tuck in between his legs as he fumbles around in the post, or launches ill-fated treys in crunch time? The Bottom Line: The less responsibility given to Wallace, the better he’ll play, especially offensively. Since the Celtics have a stacked roster, adding Wallace could be the move that puts Boston over the hump. Antonio McDyess—San Antonio Spurs Antonio McDyess is a hard working defender and rebounder, who sets solid screens, and is positively lethal on 18-foot baseline jumpers. He can also finish around the basket and guard both centers and power forwards. The pick-and-roll, and pressure release possibilities are endless for the Spurs. The Bottom Line: The Spurs still can use an athletic shot blocker up front, but McDyess is the quintessential Spurs-quality role player—talented, professional, and unassuming. Ben Gordon—Detroit Pistons Gordon is a streaky, but prolific perimeter scoring who torches nylon when he’s on one of his hot streaks. He has unlimited range, and can create his own jump shot off the dribble. He’s also never been afraid to take, and often make, big-time jump shots in big-time situations. What can’t/won’t Gordon do? Defend, fight through screens, guard the post, abstain from taking a half dozen bad shots a game, or finish at the rim. Because of his lack of stature, Gordon gets punished by bigger stronger opponents, and he has the distinction of being somebody who gives up on plays—traits that aren’t suited to championship-contending teams. The Bottom Line: The Gordon acquisition, along with the other deals the Pistons have made (or failed to make) signify the dissolution of their rugged, defense-first identity. Gordon gives the Pistons more youth and athleticism, but it’s doubtful it will translate to playoff victories, should the Pistons even get there. Charlie Villanueva—Detroit Pistons Charlie Villanueva is athletic enough to score from near and far, but he’s also a soft finisher, an erratic shooter, and a useless defender. Like Gordon, he’s best served as a scorer off the bench, though the Pistons will probably start him. The Bottom Line: While Rasheed Wallace lived on the perimeter, at least he played exceptional defense. The Pistons hope they’ll be able to outscore team—they better, because aside from whoever Tayshaun Prince is checking, the Pistons will be hard pressed to stop anybody. Brandon Bass—Orlando Magic Bass is a bouncy rebounder and shot blocker who is a capable finisher, and a terrific mid-range jump shooter. His presence will likely indicate Orlando’s return to a conventional lineup with a center, small forward, shooting guard, and point guard, with himself taking the role of power forward. He gives Dwight Howard some much needed help on the boards, and is tougher, more athletic, and more reliable than Tony Battie. The Bottom Line: A small upgrade, but an upgrade nonetheless. Quintin Ross—Dallas Mavericks Quinton Ross is strictly a one way player, but he’s one of the better wing defenders in the business. He’s improved his shooting range enough to keep from being a complete offensive liability. The Bottom Line: For a team that struggled with depth at the wing, Ross gives the Mavericks back-end defensive depth off their bench. Channing Frye—Phoenix Suns Channing Frye is diaper soft at both ends, and loses confidence in his shooting when defenses start contesting his mid-range jump shots. When left alone, he’s a classic pick-and-pop shooter from 18 feet. The Bottom Line: A soft, defenseless shooter? He’ll fit in perfectly in Phoenix. Dahntay Jones—Indiana Pacers Jones has the athleticism, strength, and disposition to harass shooting guards and point guards alike. And his underhanded tactics give him an edge as the stakes get raised. On the other side of the ball, Jones is a dynamic finisher, who can sometimes sneak to the cup off the bounce, and sometimes hit the uncontested jump shot. More often than not, though, he’s collecting his points by filling lanes, running the baseline, and finishing broken plays. The Bottom Line: Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy can carry the load offensively, but with a sluggish frontline, the Pacers are often overmatched defensively. Jones isn’t a savior, but he’s a step in the right direction. Anthony Parker—Cleveland Cavaliers The other Tony Parker, this one can do a little bit of everything. Parker can shoot, pass, defend, and occasionally post up or create his own offense off the dribble. If he isn’t a terrific playmaker, he’ll be a supporting option on a team that will feature LeBron James, Mo Williams, and Shaquille O’ Neal. Considering how much attention that trio will garner, Parker should thrive under the radar. He gives the Cavs a little more size than Delonte West when defending two-guards, can play the three with LeBron at the four to give the Cavs a smaller, quicker lineup, and can team with West in the backcourt to give the Cavs its best defensive unit. Plus, he’ll take the pressure off of LeBron so James doesn’t have to guard the opposition’s best wing. The Bottom Line: The Cavs get much more versatile and talented on the perimeter. After only the first handful of games, the likes of Sasha Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak will be long forgotten. Jannero Pargo—Chicago Bulls Jannero Pargo’s a shoot-em-up guard who’ll operate as a facsimile of Ben Gordon. Playing defense, running an offense, finishing at the hoop, and doing anything off the ball aren’t in Pargo’s playbook, but he can shoot the Bulls into fluky wins when he isn’t turning sure wins into losses. The Bottom Line: As long as Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich are in Chicago, Pargo won’t have to play point guard. As a backup shooting guard, Pargo has value as a bombs-away gunner. Shawn Marion—Dallas Mavericks On the downside of his career, Shawn Marion isn’t the athletic specimen he was in his salad days. Even so, Marion can bring a lot to the table. He’s an excellent finisher on the break, cuts well around the basket, is an above-average defender, and against mediocre defenses, can create his own shot opportunities. At worst, he’s a huge upgrade over Antoine Wright and Jerry Stackhouse. The Bottom Line: Marion gives the Mavericks a touch more toughness and athleticism, both characteristics in need of replenishment. Still, he’s not the creative scorer or ace defender the Mavs will need to overtake the Lakers and Spurs. They’re still a second-tier contender. Hedo Turkoglu—Toronto Raptors Both Hedo Turkoglu and Toronto will quickly realize that Turkoglu and Orlando were perfect for each other. Without a dominant post presence, defenses won’t have to suck in harder on Turkoglu’s screen/rolls in Toronto, meaning defenses won’t be left as open. Plus, Chris Bosh isn’t strong enough to wipe defenders out, at least not as well as Dwight Howard. This means that the screens Turkoglu would use to perfection in Orlando won’t have the same crispness in Toronto. Turkoglu also isn’t exceptional at creating his own offense one-on-one, something that will plague the athletically starved Raptors. And with Turkoglu in and Anthony Parker out, Toronto has subpar defenders all over the court. What will Turkoglu deliver to the Raptors? Big time shot-making in the final seconds of games. More court awareness, more ball movement, and a touch more firepower, but not enough to make up for Toronto’s other deficiencies. The Bottom Line: The Raptors needed an athletic scorer, not a clever playmaker. They still don’t have the firepower or muscle power to be anything more than a blip on the Eastern Conference radar.

You know the joke is coming, and it's still funny