Greg Oden Scouting Report

Greg Oden is a 7’0″ Freshman center out of Lawrence North HS in Indianapolis.  Last night his Ohio St. Buckeyes visited Chapel Hill and lost to North Carolina 98-89. 

Greg Oden  – very little doubt that this kid is not 18 years old.  His hair is greying and his face appears to be showing the early sign of wrinkling.  He fills out his dress shirt better than any Frosh in the last 25-30 years.  There is no doubt he’s going to be a Diaper Dandy and by diaper I mean he’s likely to be changing the diapers of his grandkids in the next 5 years.  Cuts an imposing image on the sideline, reminding me of a middle aged John Thompson.  Lets get excited about the Greg Oden Era at OSU!

Who’s Uglier?

Anyone else you can think of?  Feel free to forward along the pic.  I’d love to compile an All-World All Ugly Team.

  Gregg “Cadillac” Anderson

 Shelden Williams

Ronaldinho

  George Muresan

Carlos Tevez

Raptors Win! Raptors Win!

Can it be?  A win in OKC?  Indeed you weren’t not seeing things.  In fact you weren’t likely seeing it at all as the game was only on Raptors TV.  Anyway, it looks like Andrea Zuckerman Bargnani is turning the corner.  He finished with 16 and 4 in 23 minutes.  Of course lets not forget that the Hornets were without Peja and David West which meant they started Rasual Butler and Marc Jackson.  Even the dregs of the Eastern Conference can handle those two.

Dunk of the Year!

Check out Ronnie Price putting a crown on Carlos Boozer!

Memories of The Man…aka Steve Nash

I’d like to start a little something on this blog and its going to require the help of my readers.  One of the favourite things that my basketball loving friends love to do is watch two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash play basketball.  Maybe its because he looks at bit like us and plays below the rim like us, but mostly I think its the pure joy and selflessness that Steve displays on the court.  Basketball is really all about building relationships with teammates/friends and turning those relationships into high quality basketball.  Its fair to say that Steve is the ultimate example of just how bringing players together can lead to great success.  On that note I’d like to share one of my favourite moments of Steve and then I’d love to hear from you about how Steve has affected your love of the game.

My favourite Steve Nash memory actually occurred while I was backpacking around Asia.  It was during the 2003 Western Conference Finals when the Dallas Mavericks were in tough against the San Antonio Spurs.  At the time I was in Haad Rin on the island Koh Pha Ngan and there was no way I was going to miss Nash in his attempts to lead the Mavs to the Finals.  Fortunately for me the Outback Bar was showing the game and I was set.   I was one of about 4 people watching the game but fortunately for me, Steve left me with something to talk about.  Part way through the 4th quarter Nash made a play that I still can’t believe.  He called for the pick and roll at the left elbow extended and when the Spurs doubled him off the pick he did a spin dribble through the double team, got into the lane and as the defense collapsed found Walt Williams in the right corner.  Williams was closed out hard so he returned the ball to Nash who had continued to move as all good players do, up to the right elbow extende.  Nash drove into the lane only to be met by Tim Duncan.  Fortunately for Steve he’s got a shot in his repetoire that even TD can’t handle.  Steve released the highest arcing running right hander you’ve ever seen that drop effortlessly through the hoop.  I gasped and let out a scream, which brought the entire bar over to the TV to see the highlight.  Even a bunch of Aussies with no clue who Steve was were in awe.  Just a great moment and one that I’ve been trying to re-live ever since with incessant attempts at the high arcing runner….

Carolina vs. Tennessee

Well folks, I apologize for not being able to report on the Tar Heels first loss of the season against Gonzaga on Wednesday.  However, I did manage to check out the UNC-UT game last night and I have to say its going to be a very bumpy ride for Heels fans this year.  Carolina has an enormous amount of talent, right now it is more a collection of individuals and by no means a team.  There are far too many plays breaking down and a lot of mental lapses on the defensive end, of course with so much talent they can still win going away against a top tier SEC team.  The ACC season will be a great opportunity for these kids to grow up and learn the value of teamwork and hopefully the time the postseason comes around they’ll begin to get it.  I know they are currently a favourite to reach the Final Four, but I an tell you that I won’t be booking my ticket just yet.  Below are my initial thoughts on the three heralded freshman in Carolina Blue (I will complete full scouting reports once I’ve seen more games):

Brandan Wright – the stud of the class.  Unquestionably an NBA player with a long career ahead of him.  Personifies the term length, but what really impresses me is that for a young big man he really plays the game with his head up and his eyes all over the floor.  Currently has a release point that is so high as to be unblockable at the college level…Oddly enough he has many of the same characteristics that a young Rasheeed Wallace had (vicious dunks, solid rebounder and shot blocker) but with a little more polish on his handle and passing ability and A LOT less emotional concerns.  Clearly needs more weight/strength to succeed in the NBA but appears to have broad enough shoulders to get there with some hard work in the gym.

Wayne Ellington – at one point Wayne was the star recruit of this class and I can only imagine how easily he would have scored in high school.  However, he has some serious flaws in his game from an NBA perspective.  His shot release is very slow by NBA standards, he does not have the size (listed at 6’4″, but looks shorter) or the incredible athleticism to have success at the NBA level.  Again similar to another former Heel…Joseph Forte.  There is no doubt he can be a great college player and one that could very well be around all four years, but there is absolutely nothing about him that screams NBA.

Ty Lawson – he’s got he build of Marcus Banks and wheels like Speedy Claxton, but at 5″11″ can he have success in the League?  Possibly, but right now he’s a long way off – 16 assists against 15 turnovers is enough to make Roy lose what is left on top.  At his size he will have to have a very good understanding of the game, limit turnovers and have a lethal outside shot to have real success.  Living in a city with a PG who has speed to burn and can’t shoot worth a lick (Toronto) is a great reminder of just how important it will be for Ty to learn how to shoot (based on the early returns he might be on his way.  I suspect that if he has the patience to stay in school he could very well become a borderline starter in the NBA, but should he choose to leave early his career will suffer for it.

Last 5 Minutes of the Raptors vs. Cavs

Raps up seven with 4:56 remaining.  Bosh at the line…makes one of two.  Cavs run Lebron off a P/R (pick and roll) but Lips Jones misses an open three.  Two consecutive fouls by the Raps…none of the shooting variety.  James draws 3 and finds Anderson V for a lay-up.   Raps finally start going to Bosh but Anderson V beats him to the spot…going left as usual.  Charge.  Goaltending on Joey Graham…89-85 Raps.  One thing worth noting is that the success the Cavs have when LBJ starts the offense on the left elbow extended.  Usually he comes off a screen and either gets to the rim, finds the roller off the screen, draws the entire defense and finds the open man in the corner for a 3.  Freddie Jones missed 3 instead of re-posting to CB4.  Missed 3 by Cavs….more offensive “sets” that involve less than 3 passes.  TJ Ford with a pull up jumper..Raps up 6.  Daniel Gibson with a terrible force…how can the rest of the Cavs not give the ball to the King?  He’s their meal ticket.  Bosh settles for a jumper and misses.  More missed jumpers from the Cavs and TJ Ford finally gets to the rim.  Raps up 8.   Hey Lebron gets the ball and scores…there’s a surprise.  Back to six but under 1 to go.  Raps move the ball well for once but Freddie can’t hit a wide open jumper.  3 misses from the Cavs and this game is over.  Despite poor execution for most of the 4th Q by the Raps, the Cavs managed to be even worse.  If the Cavs aren’t going to get Lebron the ball in a position to score when it matters, this team will struggle  Losing to the Raptors is unacceptable and Mike Brown has proven to be the magic elixir that might allow Sam Mitchell to keep his job for another couple of weeks. 

Dish Trouble…Carolina/Gonzaga not looking promising

I’m afraid my scouting report of the newest Tar Heels might have to wait a few days.  The dish is down…Sheisse.

Raptors – Cavs…Ugh

In a battle of the worst coached teams in the NBA, the Raptors and Cavs are proving once again that great athletes DO NOT necessarily make for great basketball.  The Raptors have just completed a stretch of 5 consecutive trips down the court in the 4th Q without getting the ball to Chris Bosh in a position to score.   Trip number six finally resulted in a touch for CB4 and a 3 point opportunity.  Lebron responds with a hard drive to his right hand and an easy finish.   On a separate note the Raptors are in the process of trying to become “Phoenix North”…unfortunately they run a fast break that reminds me more of my JCC run then anything involving Stevie Nash.

UNC?…I thought this was an NBA Blog.

I’ll take “What is this all about?” for $500 Alex. 

A: Becuase I want to.

Q: Why would an NBA Blogger be writing about college hoops?

In all fairness to those focused solely on the NBA game…I say its time to wake up to the beauty that is college ball.  I’m a basketball fanatic and while the name suggests NBA, I’ll be writing about basketball in all its wonderful variety.  Heck, I’m already planning a trip to Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv to check out a Maccabi game while I’m there in April.  This blog will know no limits.

 Hal