4th Quarter Hoops aims to be the premier blog for all things basketball related. Basketball is our niche and we provide you with access to exclusive interviews, footage,scouting, commentary and highlights with an inside access to the game of basketball. The opinions posed are entirely objective and are intended to add to the game of basketball and enlighten the masses about the game we love so much.
Coming out of Duke nobody really expected much out of Miles Plumlee. He had a very, very lackluster career in college. However, during the summer after he got drafted by the Pacers with the 26th pick in the first round I was privy to see his NBA combine measurements where he boasted a 40 inch vertical leap. Now a 40 inch vert is very impressive. To show you how impressive a 40 inch vertical leap is neither John Wall(39' inch) nor Dwayne Wade(36.5' inch) posted a 40' inch inch vert during the combine and both of those guys are two of the NBA's best leapers. So for a guy who stands 7 feet tall to have a 40 inch leap is astonishing and very rare. To put it in perspective of how mind-boggling that is let me show you a pic of one of the most celebrate high-flyers in NBA history:
This is the Shawn Kemp aka the Reign Man with his head clearly above the rim and his arms extended so far you'd think that he could almost touch the top of the backboard. Like Miles, Kemp too boasted a 40' inch vertical but look at this picture and imagine Kemp 3 more inches in the air because Kemp was only 6'10 and Miles is 7 feet! so that right there alone shows the potential athletically that he possesses and this year thus far he has no disappointed. Beyond his leaping ability he has obviously worked very hard during the summer and has added a legitimate post game to his arsenal and displays a reliable mid range shot as well. In college he was a good rebounder and that has translated to the NBA but he has also shown that he has the tools to be one of the best shot blockers in the NBA as well. Looking at his stats this year I'd definitely give him my vote as the NBA's MIP (Most Improved Player) a quarter into the season:
So with a 18-11 record Mile Plumlee has paid off dividends for the Suns this year and has shown to be one of the most promising up and coming center in the NBA. And a 40' inch vert definitely helps because no other center in the NBA touch his "cloud!"
I'm not sure if MJ really had a 48 inch vertical leap which he was reported to have. However, I have seen players jump higher than him but I have still haven't seen anyone that can get as much "air time" as MJ. It was like he could float or walk on air in the way his body contorted or the ways he could sway his legs in a way that made is seem like he was literally flying. These dunks are simple but at the same time very hard to do in terms of their degree of difficulty. I don't think there's anybody in the college or the NBA today with this much "hang time!"
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-kobe-bryant-says-michael-jordan-stole-moves-too/2013/10/11/ I'm so glad Kobe Bryant responded to Michael Jordan's assessment that Kobe stole all of his moves. In the article is states: Bryant joined Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Power 106 FM and was asked about Jordan’s comment about stealing moves: “I’m a student of the game, you know, so I know the
history; I know where Michael’s moves came from,” said Bryant about
stealing moves. “I know they came from David Thompson. I know they came
from Dr. J. I know they came from, in particular, Jerry West. So Michael
didn’t invent the wheel. He stole a lot of moves from a lot of great
players. “I just so happened to steal some moves from him, and I just probably
stole them better than anybody else has. You have to learn from the
greats that came before you, that’s how it should be done. As a student and historian of the game, I absolutely agree with Kobe. There was nothing Jordan really did in terms of innovation say for a few moves like his backwards lay-ups where he would draw contact and spin with his back towards the basket and clap his hands together while the ball went in and Jordan was the first guard to really develop most of the post moves from the block which exists today but he didn't invent post play from a guard. Other than that everything he did we saw before more or less. If you combined Dr.J with David Thompson and Jerry West you would have Michael Jordan. Jumping from the free-throw line, reverse lay-ups, scoop shots, the ability to sky-walk and the ability to change his shot in the air were moves that Dr.J was doing 20 years to 30 years before Jordan. Especially the ABA version of Dr.J when he was the undisputed best basketball player in the world, a multiple champion and MVP.But nobody scolds or demeans Jordan for walking in Dr.J's shadow especially earlier in his career the way people hate on Kobe for taking away from a player he idolizes and reveres.
The ABA version of Dr.J is where Jordan got his ability to change his shot and improvise in the air because they both had those huge hands that allowed them to have "hang time" but the "Doctor" is the originator of "hang time!"
David Thompson taught MJ how to truly "sky-walk" and Jordan "stole" David Thompson's triple-threat jab step move which Jordan used to "massacre" opposing defenders from 1984 to 1989(sic)!
And as you can see Jerry West was the first SG to be a lights out shooter and scorer as evidence by his career 27 ppg average. He had the ability to back his back down his defender and shoot the fade away jumper, or up-and-under shot, or spin jumper and he mastered the one/two dribble pull-up decades before Jordan! West masteredthe art of the mid-range game of which Jordan would eventually become known for as the greatest. West was also known as the premier defender at the SG position where he had the ability to shut down opposing guards and had an uncanny ability to dominate the passing lanes for steals and use his long arms to strip the ball from opposing ball handlers and block their shots from behind. West was so skillful and masterful that Jordan's silhouette is the Jumpman logo but West is the Logo of the NBA! He is the word made flesh! West also sported a reported 37 inch vertical had a 6'9 wingspan and was actually 6'4 1'2 so he was a very, very, good athlete. Jordan is the greatest SG of all-time in terms of stats and his accomplishments but in terms of being a student of the game Kobe mastered Jordan's style and added to it. I don't think there has ever been a guard with as many moves as Kobe. When Kobe came into the NBA he had a developing post game by his second year in the NBA. It took Jordan almost 4 to 5 years to really develop his post game. Kobe definitely has a tighter handle than Jordan had and from 1997 to 2006 was one of the greatest acrobats the game has ever seen. So of course Kobe "stole" some of Jordan's moves but why not learn from the best? I hope today's SG's like Demar Derozan or James Harden "steal" some of Kobe's moves and learn the art of the mid-range game because love him or hate him, copy cat or not when Kobe is gone the NBA is going to miss him terribly. Kobe is the only NBA player that I can honestly say that any young kid coming up no matter what position they play whether they be a PG or C can learn something from watching Kobe's game. He is arguably the most skilled basketball player of all-time and that includes Magic, West, Jordan, Maravich, James, Bird and Olajuwon.
The greatest 21 points and 8 dimes that you will EVER see! I believe Kobe is not human,
rather, like B-Hop he's an alien! What a great way to showcase your
talent by beating the Bobcats in epic Kobe fashion while Jordan
painfully watches from the sky box! People love to compare Kobe to
Jordan but like I always say Jordan is like Optimus Prime and Kobe is
like Rodimus Prime. Who is better between the two is irrelevant because
they are both PRIMES!Kobe Bryant has mastered the game of basketball. for him to be able to move like this at his age coming of an achilles tendon injury is an emphatic feat! of skill, supreme twitch fibers and intestinal fortitude!
LaMarcus Aldrige has been playing wonderful this season and much to my surprise has been very dedicated to hitting the boards this year. I always knew he could score 20 to 30 points on any given night but the fact that he only averages 7.9 rebounds per game for his career was the biggest knock I had on him considering his talent. This year he has boosted his rebound total to 10.6 per game and subsequently the Blazers have been looking like a championship caliber team thus far early in the season!
Kobe Bryant, one of the game's greatest players, one of it' most fiercest
competitors returned to action last night after suffering from an
achilles heel injury. Many naysayers predicated that his legacy was
done, that his career was finished but they were wrong! He's back! Last night
he looked rusty but considering this is his first in-game
action since last season that's to be expected. The positives are that his IQ is still in tact and his skills are still sharp. I'd say we have to give him about 20 games before he can round into shape but the main point is it's exciting seeing him on the court period especially with all the injuries that have happened to major stars during this season thus far! Welcome back Kobe!
Former number one overall draft pick John Wall has been coming into his own. With Rose being out he has my vote as the most athletic PG. Many will give it to Westbrook but Wall is faster and can jumper higher. In terms of PG's in the NBA he's quickly moving up into the top 5 consideration and he's is definitely coming for the #1 spot. His court vision is amazing and his end-to-end speed is blistering. There is not defensive strategy that can prepare you for his type of speed and we know when it comes to sports that "speed kills!"
I'd that the Bulls GM should go and an "blow" the team up and focus on getting Jabari Parker another Chicago product who may one day be an MVP. I love Rose but having bad knees is not a good thing for the long run no matter who you are! Also he's been having knee problems since his playing days at Simeon high school for those that don't. Athletically I think he's too supreme for his frame and I know that was a non-contact injury but I still think he's not going to change his style of play when he get's back. I just hope Adidas doesn't do another "Return" marketing fiasco. The Bulls GM is god awful because they should've never let Nate Robinson go. Now with Butler being hurt the fans have to cringe as either Marquis Teague or Tony Snell start! Former NFL great Bo Jackson was too good to be true and I'm fearing the same way for Rose. I mean let's be honest he wasn't the same after taking the year off and going through a rigorous rehab. He still had yet to round into shape from one knee injury and now he has to focus on the other knee as well? Rose won't be ready until sometime in 2015! These are facts and Bulls fans just have to soak it up and move on because life goes on and the Bulls GM have shown that they are not is not focused on bringing in more quality players. I guess Reggie Rose was right and now this travesty. I hope Rose get's healthy because the NBA is missing out on his unique style of play and the dedication he brings to the game. At some point I think he will recover and be a good player because he is still very young but I think those days of him dunking on Centers are gone! What a blow!
John Wall finally got off the snide and posted a big scoring game. Besides his woeful FG% which currently stands at 39.8% John Wall has been playing very good this season by averaging 17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpb and 9.1 apg and has shown signs of maturation and he looks to get his team involved and has shown he has a basketball IQ that is better than what most perceive of him! Hopefully he can carry this momentum thru the all-star break as the Wizards look to make their first playoff birth in what has seemed like ages!
It's nearing time for Kobe to return back to the court and I can't wait to see what the game's most skilled player is gonna look like. Kobe, 35, is coming off a major injury that forced Zeke Thomas to sit down and slowed down Grant Hill. One advantage Kobe has is that his game is not predicated on speed or supreme athleticism anymore and skills are something you just don't lose and hindered or not Kobe is still by far the owner of the the most expansive bag of skills at his position so I'm sure he will find ways to adjust. On the bright side, one way I think this might actually improve his game is that he won't take as many of those ill-advised shots which he famously is capable of making. Nobody besides Larry Bird specialized in the degree of difficulty the way Kobe pre-injury did. If he can take a page out of Jordan's book and be more efficient from the post he will still be a dangerous threat. Kobe has the most lethal fadeway since "Captain Marvel" but it's a move in which he doesn't use as often as Jordan. Kobe is more akin to back you down and shoot a bevy of shots which include all types of counters complete with pump-fakes, hooks and drive to the basket. As Jay-Z once said said likening himself to His Airness, "MJ, fadeaway perfect!" Jordan was going to post you up, back you down, fade away and shoot over you or back you down, shimmy and then fade away almost into oblivion. Don't get me wrong Jordan had as many counters as Kobe but his post game was more precise especially after he took off the the number 45 jersey whereas I think Kobe has a tad bit better footwork than MJ so he improvises more. This will be a new chapter for both Kobe and the Lakers. Prior to the injury he was playing so great I felt he could go another 3 years as the best SG off skills alone. This may be his swan song but either way it goes he deserves to go out on the court unlike Iverson.
Mark Price one of the forgotten greats of the
game. Growing up he was one of my favorite players in the NBA and one of its
greatest shooters as evidenced by him being one of only 6 members of the prestigious
"50-40-90" club and a former NBA 3 point contest winner. However his shooting
touch, although a strength of his was not the only strong point of his game. Mark
Price was a flat out terrorist on the court! Not only was he a great shooter, he
was also a great passer, pesky on defense and was one of the PG’s who was the “blueprint” for
the modern day NBA PG! I said that because Mark Price basically either invented
or pioneered a PG having the ability to split double-teams off the pick!
He could weave thru traffic like a whirling
dervish long before Wade, Nash or Paul. What was routine for him is now considered
to be a rare skill in which only the elite guards today possess. Let’s take a
look at how good Price was overall in terms of his stats. I like to use the metric of Per 36 for NBA players who average less than 36 mpg for their career
as Price did (he only averaged 29.9 mpg). Per 36 normally truly tells the tale
of the tape when measuring how truly effective a player is versus per 48 or per
40 data. Face it nobody plays 48 minutes a game so it’s not accurate to me in terms
on actual on court performance nor is per 40 because only a few players average
40 mpg and that would give them an advantage in terms of them having great
stamina but that doesn’t mean they were effective for those extra time they
were in the game.
So per 36
is great to use because most player players under 36 minutes per game and as a most players age past 30-years old their minutes are normally reduced but that doesn’t mean
their on court production has. So per 36
Mark Price averages 18.1 ppg, 8.1 apg, 1.4 spg while shooting 47.2% from the
field, an insane 40.2% from behind the arc combined with a jaw-dropping 90.6%
FT%. Chris Paul is regarded by most as
the best PG in the NBA and his numbers per 36 are 18.3 ppg, 9.7 apg and 2.4
steals while shooting 472% from the field, 35.4% from the three point line and
86% from the charity stripe! So in the 90’s Mark Price was like Chris Paul but with
a better shot.
This video of him dueling with Zeke Thomas who at
that time could not only be regarded as the best PG in the NBA but also he was
considered by many to be the best player in the NBA( including the likes of
Magic, Bird and Jordan) shows how dangerous he was in his prime. That’s how
good he was and Mark Price gave him everything he could ask for and more. Too
bad for the Cavs that they had to face the Bulls as Price was in his prime or I
imagine he might have had a better chance at going to the ECF’s or a trip to the
NBA Finals because around this time those Cavs were pretty good.
I waited a very, very long time for this match-up
and I will say that I was very disappointed and very disgusted at both Derrick
Rose and Kyrie Irving. They both played like crap and I actually lost respect
for both of them! Derrick Rose won the match-up by playing smothering defense on
Kyrie so in terms of him making his mark on Irving he drew first blood which is
actually great for his confidence because his ego obviously has been bruised. Why?
This match-up was likened to be the battle for PG supremacy. Rose has been in a
slump since the first game and has played horrible since but this was this was
the one opponent he could not let outshine him in terms of his respective
position.
Kyrie
basically has done what Rose did over the last two years in terms of outplaying
every NBA PG he’s faced and moving the spotlight on him as the NBA’s next great
PG. Rose and Kyrie have never faced each other so I’m sure the fans were hoping
to see both players dazzle the crowd and shine while bring their A+ game. But they
didn’t. In fact Irving played so bad he didn’t score a field goal until the 4th
quarter! Rose has looked better over the last two games but mentally something
is still not clicking. Normally when players suffer from an ACL injury the one
part of their game that come back improved is their shot because that’s all
they can work on. And Rose has been shooting for over a year now. His shot and touch seemed to be on par with
that theory during pre-season while he shot a blistering percentage from behind
the arc.
Flash forward to the second week of the season and his jumper is still
broke. That’s all mental because the speed of the preseason versus the regular season
has nothing to do with him missing wide open jumpers, missing 5 foot floaters
and those pull-up jumpers he can’t seem to knock down! Plus there are many PG’s who still are not a big,
strong, fast or have as many skills as him who are still player better than
him. Then to top it all off got injured and now is listed as day-to-day with an
issue with his hamstring.
Now to talk about Kyrie the Bulls played
phenomenal defense on him especially Rose like I mentioned earlier in but he
wasn’t being aggressive at all and he played so bad it’s not even worth
showcasing his highlights. He scored 16 points but most of that came in garbage
time and clearly was not representative of how horribly he played. It was as if
he was intimidated by Rose whom Irving should’ve attacked considering Rose has
been limited as of late. He was playing so bad he got ripped by Kirk Hinrich! Kudos to Rose for showing him that Kyrie
still needs to work on his atrocious defense as well. Kyrie is one of the worst
defenders in the NBA in terms of a player that has his type of elite talent. And
I imagine eventually the game will click for Rose and his will find his groove
which potentially spells trouble for Kyrie the next time they play because
nothing was wrong with Kyrie physically before he proceeded to have the worst
game of his career!
##IVERSON VS STARBURY##WHAT I EXPECTED##
I imagined this game was going to have the same
electricity and excitement like the
first time Iverson and Marbury faced each other in the NBA but boy was I wrong.
The NBA today just doesn’t have that same luster. Players today are not as
competitive as they were back in the 90’s. Rose or Kyrie would rather call for
a screen and create than to at least give the fans some type of excitements by
displaying their individual skills. I love the way the NBA teams run their
offenses today. I think PG’s have to be a lot more systematic in order to best
successful but damn it I miss the days when at certain moments of the game when
a star player would tell the team to clear out and two stars would go at it!
The NBA
also is entertainment for the fans that pay good money to either watch the game
at home or in the stands and Kyrie and Rose both need to give their salary for
that game to charity! I hope the Commissioner Silver gives that memo to the players that the fans are not getting the best product for their purchase! Who wants to see player like Rose and Irving call screens and picks all night against each other? Are you crazy? What is wrong with them? A young Iverson or Marbury would’ve tried to tear their
hearts out! There weren’t calling pick
after pick. They both had a point to prove and the best man during that time
team usually won. Why wouldn’t Rose or Irving want to really test their skills against
each other to really show who is the best?
If Compton, CA, bred Brandon Jennings in terms
of his game could be compared to a rap
song I’d have to compare it to the Dogg Pound’ s classic , “Sooo Much Style!”
This guy has incredible talent but he hasn’t been able to harness it and be
consistent. Brandon Jennings is the type of player where when you check the box
score one night and he has 34 points and 8 assists then the next night he goes
3-for-17 and finishes the game with 10 points and 5 dimes. In high school he
was basically christened as a left handed version of Allen Iverson. They both
are of similar size and quiet as kept Jennings probably has a 40+ inch vertical
leap like Iverson but you would never know unless you watched him in high
school because he doesn't use it to his advantage.
So that goes to say he doesn’t maximize his
talent. I remember when he scored 55 points during his rookie season against
the Golden State Warriors and the Bucks won the game. After his incredible performance
he had publicly stated that he wasn’t going to score like that anymore because
he wants to be known as a guy who can distribute the ball and get his team involved.
Now I can understand if the Bucks had lost the game but they won. And why in
the world would you want to “dumb down” your game if you are not then going to
at least average 10+ assists per game which is a feat he hasn’t even come close
to! After he said that to me it
presented e red flag and he’s proved me true since then by his “burst and burn”
type of pay! For example during this game he outplayed reigning ROY Damian
Lillard another very promising PG but the reality is that Damian Lillard will
probably end up having a better season and this is the case with Brandon and
most of the guards he faces on a nightly basis.
Even this article presents a problem with his identity
as a player. To quote, “That's one thing me and Joe talked about," Jennings said.
"That was my first problem in the beginning, when I came back, trying to
please everybody, trying to make sure I was being a pass-first point guard
instead of just playing basketball!”- Brandon Jennings. I imagined that after
leaving the Bucks and coming to Detroit and playing with the likes of Monroe,
Smith, Stuckey, Billups and Andre the “Giant” Drummond which is a better
supporting cast he would really blossom but after three straight loses he is
tampering with is style of play again! I wish for his sake he would just make
up his mind and stick with a consistent style of play because he has too much
talent because their aren’t 10 point guards in the NBA that were born with more
natural talent than Jennings and it’s about time he shows that in the NBA and
not just during the summer street ball tournaments where his “true” talent is
always on display.
I like many young people at the time was a fan of Sebastian Telfair in highschool. I remember the hype surrounding him the record he broke, the celebs like Jay-Z appearing at his televised game and the consensus that he was going to be the next big thing and one of the great in a long line of great PG's to come from NYC's streetball/playground tradition. Flash forward today and as of right now I don't even think Sebastian Telfair is on an NBA roster. But shorty after Telfair exited Lincoln Prep's gym a and entered the ranks of the NBA(I thought college would've been great for him but I understood his personal situation) there was talk of another player from Telfair's hood who was better than Telfair! A young kid they called "Born Ready" the player who bested Telfair and is currently the all-time leading scorer in New York school history! Considering that names of guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tiny Archibald, Stephon Marbury, Kenny Anderson and so many, many great names and players have came out of NYC for him to be #1 is just awe-inspiring. The first time I saw Lance Stephenson play was at the 2007 Elite 24 Classic game broadcasted on ESPN which showcased some of the nation's best HS talent on display at one of the most revered and legendary courts which is Rucker Park in Harlem, NY. Check the game out:
I was amazed as you can see at this 6'4 200 pound kid who was ruggedly built with a smooth jumper and crowd pleasing ball handling ability that most shooting guards are not supposed to have. But the rep early on was that even though he was obviously phenom he garnered the reputation as being very difficult to coach do to his arrogance and poor attitude and he got into some off court legal trouble(which I will not discuss) as well which also plagued his only season in college as Cincinnati things were not looking well for the young man. Nonetheless, he was drafted by Pacers in the 2010 draft and after rocky start he's found a perfect home in Indiana and now at very "beastly" 6'5 225 pounds complete with a polished jumper and all around skills he's starting to live back up to his nickname as "Born Ready!" Lance Stephenson has arrived and that spells even more trouble for Miami as the Pacers seek to dethrone the champs and make their trip to the NBA Finals.
Rubio may or may not ever lead the NBA in assists but one can make an argument that few if anyone has better court vision than this kid no disrespect to Lebron, CP3, Wall or Rondo. You combine his defensive intensity, ability to handle the ball, his speed and appetite for the spectacular and he has the essential ingredients to really be special if he ever develops a consistent jumper. In reality, Rajon Rondo hasn't thus far developed a dependable jump shot or and he is an NBA champions and amongst the best at his craft so if Rubio keeps playing more efficient like this the T-Wolves will challenge for a playoff spot because he simply makes the game so much easier for Love and company. Rubio (a former child prodigy) is really starting to blossom into a fine young NBA point guard. Many people who watched this skinny 10th grader throw those "Magic" Johnson-esque passes in the Euroleague could clearly see he always has had this type of ability. The fact that he was a professional at age 16 was testament enough to his talent and I'm especially happy to see he's fully recovered from his ACL injury. I don't know if he will ever live up to the Pistol Pete comparisons because in my opinion they are two completely different players with different styles but I'm sure young Spaniard kids (especially the guards) are now seeing their dreams of one day making it to the NBA become more plausible thanks to Rubio who is their version of "Pistola Pete!"
The kid's name is Javonte Douglas who is a 6'7 sophmore at Central Florida and this is one of those dunks where a person jumps so high they scare themselves! Wow!
Just three games into the 2013-2014 season the Bulls are
1-2. This isn’t a time to start panicking because the team obviously is trying
to find a chemistry since this is the first time their starters have played together
in regular season play. The Bulls overall seem to be a good team as they have
been since Tom Thibodeau became their coach. Their defense still looks great
but the problem so far has been the play of Derrick Rose. Besides the game
winner he hit against the Knicks in his home debut he has been playing
absolutely horrible! Over the course of three games he has averaged a very
dismal 14.3 ppg, 4.4 apg while shooting a wretched 28.8 % from the field to go
along with 5.7 turnovers!
In the preseason he looked great like a fine tuned Ferrari
and was working on all cylinders. Over the first 3 games he looks like a 2003
Chevy Malibu with a leaking head gasket! Many NBA pundits have said he’s rusty
and there is a difference in the speed of the regular season versus preseason.
I don’t agree because Rose has shown that he’s still arguably the fastest
player in the NBA, one of the strongest and still one of the most explosive.
The problem is he like Lebron at times tends to rely on their athleticism too
much the difference is Lebron can get away with it because he's 6'8 260 pounds and Rose is 6'3 and probably around 215 pounds. Rose is playing like a running back
instead of playing like a point guard. He needs to understand that he has some
of the best ball handling ability in the NBA besides a Kyrie Irving or Chris
Paul and that he has some of the best footwork and use these things towards his
advantage until he finds his rhythm.
The Bulls offense has also been very stagnant. They run very
few pick-n-roll plays and Rose on offense has resorted to passing the ball and
getting out of the way. It’s still early
in the season but as the Bulls and Rose are seeing the NBA is way more
competitive overall and especially at the point guard position since he last
played. Don’t believe me? Go ask rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams is
he intimidated by Rose. I have said over the last 2 years that Rose could learn
a lot by watching film of Tony Parker and Chris Paul. Those guys are good
athletes but not great but they know how to use picks and screens toward their
advantage because their IQ and fundamentals are supreme.
Rose strikes me as
the type of person that wouldn’t take that type of advice. He seems very stubborn
and resistant to change judging by how much more physical he has been playing. But the Bears could use a good running back so
if Rose wants to put on a helmet I’m sure with his size, speed and agility he
would be great but right now the Bulls need him to raise his game and not his
athleticism. As a fan of the Bulls I’m not in panic mode I’m more so surprised
at how he’s slumping after playing so great in the preseason. But nonetheless this will be over soon as he rounds into regular season form!
I will admit that like many NBA critics that Dwight Howard
is a bit of a goofball. I like the fact
that he is all about having fun but he doesn’t have the same charisma as his
arch-nemesis Shaquille O'Neal aka "Superman!" Dwight at times does indeed come off as very improvident with some of the things
he says. He also has the reputation that he doesn’t take the game seriously because of his “goofball" personality and thus doesn’t play up
to his perceived gargantuan ability. This is despite the fact he’s really only
about 6’9 ½ feet tall and weighs about 265 pounds! There’s
so much that has been said about him during this past off-season because of his brief tenure with the Lakers that I’m not
going to rehash all of that crap. What I will say is that I was very disappointed in
the way NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar attacked him in the media because in essence Dwight truly just wants to be liked and I think he came to LA with the right intention and essentially Kobe, D'Antoni and Jim Buss drove him away.
Whether or not Kareem was being sincere during his ESPN's First Take tirade is the question
because why didn’t he offer the critique of Dwight prior to him coming to LA or
while he was a Laker? Like Howard said before he was a Laker he was the NBA’s
best center and now all of a sudden after he decided to leave he’s the worst!
That’s a bit of exaggeration but in reality so are the claims and false
allegations made against him regarding his basketball IQ, scoring ability and
lack of post moves. Kareem said that Dwight basically doesn’t have what it takes
to dominate or be a superstar. In reality Dwight is already a superstar and has
been dominating for the last several years.
Many of his critics contend that he doesn’t have any post moves but this
is simply not true. The summer in which Dwight worked out with Hakeem Olajuwon was successful in that it elevated
his game and the following season (his last season in Orlando) he averaged a
career high 22.9 ppg while displaying a revamped post game complete with jump
hooks, better footwork and a few counter moves.
The following season
he injured his back which plagued him for most of last season. But if one actually
checks the stats (numbers never lie) Dwight averages 18.3 ppg for his career while
shooting 57.7% from the field off while taking only a measly 11.3 shots per game. He also is a 3 time NBA Defensive Player of
the Year, has led the NBA in blocked shots 2X, rebounds 5X and once led the NBA in field goal %. So to
say Dwight isn’t a superstar or lacks a high b-ball IQ is asinine. In reality
his true achilles heel isn’t his post game it’s his dismal FT% which has plagued
him ever since his rookie year. He sucks worst than Shaq from the free-throw
line but isn’t as dominate offensively which tremendously limits his game in the 4th quarter. The bottom-line
is not every big can have footwork like the Dream or McHale but guess what? Dwight has access to the Dream and McHale and will continue
to develop his game by having their coaching and mentorship readily available. And
how does he respond to his haters who felt he made a mistake leaving LA or
that he wouldn’t ever return to his “Superman” form? He destroys the competition
in his debut by notching 17 points and 26 boards! Dwight Howard is still the NBA’s best center
because of his defensive intensity, ability to protect the rim, his herculean power and his accuracy from the
field.
If you are a religious person then you know the number seven
is symbolic as being the number of God and represents divinity. Well Seventh's parents knew exactly what they were doing when they named him and they
must’ve knew something we didn’t know because if you have never watched this
kid play you are about to have one of the biggest thrills of your sports life
because this kid is a freak of nature! When he was born 3 angels must’ve visited his
mother in the manger or something because in terms of his athleticism he’s
already on the level of an NBA superstar but he's only a child! Jesus spoke as a baby and I guess Seventh was catching lobs as a toddler! He’s also an elite defender compared to other high school prospects, has
very good ball handling ability, is only going to get better because so far he
has shown a great work ethic! I’d also say his vertical leap has to be upwards of
42 inches! For a child who was 14 at the time of this video It wouldn’t be a
stretch to day if he stays healthy his vertical will max out5 more inches by the time he finishes
college!
If I were an NCAA coach I’d be drooling at the chance to recruit him.
I’d bring the Pope with me, the Dali Lama
and three wise Magi if I had too! The
only high school players less than 6’4 I have ever seen with this type of
athleticism was a guy named Allen Iverson, somebody named Derrick Rose and a
man who goes by the name of John Wall. There are others but either way it
goes there isn’t any access to the type
of footage we have available to scout players today and I never saw footage of Rose or Iverson at age 14 so for me he’s the most athletic 14 year old I’ve seen under 6’4 until somebody proves otherwise!
Michael Carter- Williams almost recorded a quadruple-double
in his rookie debut which led to the upset of the reigning champion Miami Heat.
This kid looked amazing out there and if he continues to develop his shot he’s
going to be a very good player! Most NBA PG’s over 6’5 tend to have great
careers! If you don’t believe me then go
see Oscar, Penny and Magic. Even Shaun Livingston who suffered that freak
injury which almost ended his career has finally found his place in the NBA as
one of the better backup PG’s. This is the most impressive debut from a rookie
that I can clearly recall in a very, very long time if not ever! MCW posted 9 steals which set an NBA record
for player in his debut to go along with 22 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds and
only one turnover. That’s just silly and
he made a key defensive play against Lebron in the closing moments and hit two
clutch free-throws to seal the game! What a stud performance!
So how do you respond to a horrible shooting night in your return to your hometown with the game on the line? You hit the most important shot of the night to end the game! In my opinion besides Kobe Bryant there is no other player in the NBA who I would want with the ball in his hands to take the last shot other than Derrick Rose. Not Lebron (as most NBA players have voted), not Wade, nor KD or anyone but Rose. And the fact he showed no emotion as was cool was Iceberg Slim as he trotted back to the Bulls bench was a sign of many more great things to come. Spike Lee's reaction was priceless but he should've known not to show his face in the United Center aka the "Madhouse on Madison" wearing his Knicks attire in front of the "Red Nation" massive! Some people will never learn but he learned last night!
In terms of his basketball IQ CP3 would be basketball’s equivalent
of a Rhodes Scholar. He’s the prototypical “point god (sic)!” He really has no flaws except that he hasn’t
won anything of note and has only lead his team out of the first round twice in
his otherwise illustrious NBA career. The question is what is it going to take
for him to get to the NBA Finals? The Clippers restructured their team this year
and bring in one of the game’s best coaches in Doc Rivers who is from my
hometown. However, already I’m seeing some flaws in the Clippers team and that’s
their defensive liabilities. CP3 has to do too much. It’s no problem for him to
destroy the competition from an offensive standpoint in the regular season but
come playoff time Blake and DeAndre are going to have to shine in the big
moments and not rely on CP3 to score 30 or 40 points which he can do with relatively
ease. But for now let’s marvel in his regular season play as he becomes only the
second active NBA player to record a 40 point and 15 assist game! That’s almost
comical from a stat standpoint! CP3 might be the NBA’s most cerebral player!
Demarcus Cousins is a brute!
Standing 6’11 weighing about 280 pounds his size reminds you of Mighty
Joe Young! He’s arguably is the most talented big man in the NBA at least in
terms of his offensive capabilities. I have always liked his game since I first
scouted him coming out of high school in Alabama. Little did I know back then that
he would have behavioral issues not because he was a bad kid but simply because
he wasn’t mature enough to handle the mantle of leadership that someone with
his talent commands? One of the reasons is that Demarcus Cousins plays with an exuberant
amount of emotion. He is a throwback to guys like Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning
meaning that he is downright mean and nasty which are traits you love in a big
man especially in this era of the NBA (which has a reputation for its player
being soft and passive). The difference in Cousins and Zo’ or Ewing is that he
has had an extra long learning curve and erroneously has received a bad reputation
for being a head case. This is a guy who arguably should’ve or was at least at
once project to be the number 1 overall pick of the 2009 NBA draft.
In terms of his skill he’s the most talented frontcourt
player I’ve seen since Chris Webber with maybe a higher ceiling because he’s
bigger. He reminds you of him in the way he can hit the jumper from the
midrange, gallop for a coast-to-coast finish off the defense rebound, make
those wonderful no-look passes from the post and displays great footwork and
like Webber in his prime. He is a very good
rebounder and it’s almost impossible to box him out. He said his goal was to be the best center in
the NBA and with Shaq tutoring him he’s definitely on his way. However, it’s going to take games like this
more often and he's going to have to keep his emotions under control since he
is now the face of the Sacramento Kings newly managed franchise. I hope that
this is his coming out moment because the NBA desperately needs more big men to
blossom.
What a great way to begin my blogging career here at
4thQuarterHoops by showcasing the highlights of my favorite NBA player Derrick
Rose. If you are a fan of Rose or the Bulls then you know that this has been a
very long time coming but the wait is finally over! ##THERETURNISHERE## Like
many people I was dismayed at the fact that he didn’t ##RETURN## last season
after undergoing a successful ACL surgery. However, I unlike most pundits didn’t
compare his return to Adrian Peterson’s amazing exploits in the NFL. I was
waiting and waiting and I thought after the Bulls defeated the Brooklyn Nets
during the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs that Rose was definitely going
to play against their arch-nemesis the Miami Heat.
There were so many things said in the media coming from his
camp and the Bulls GM that made me think that they weren’t on the same page.
What bothered me most regarding his comeback timetable” was that he hinted that
it was up to “God” basically telling him when he was able to return to action.
Also when he stated that he’s not coming back until he was 110% I was livid
over that statement. I saw him working
out before game, I saw him dunking, I saw his improved shooting mechanics and I
even saw him explode off the ball. But that's in the past; it’s of no
consequence today and has no bearing on his future. Now we finally get to see
the player whom I regard as pound-for-pound the best player /athlete in the
NBA.
The question was would he still be able to showcase his Jordan-like forays to the basket,
would he still be able to blow by defenders off the dribble like Iverson and weave through defenders with those supreme fast-twitch fibers on display like a prime Vick. Prior to the game Rose stated that the main
reason he didn’t return during last year’s playoffs was that he knew that he
was capable of blowing by one defender but not two, which is important given
the type of defense that teams would try to attack him with. Once he was able to get past two defenders he
knew he was ready thus the anticipation for his first pre-season game was of
epic proportions. Watching him play on Saturday night it was as if he had never
left! Everything was there minus his timing and the absence of his jump shot
but those things will come.
When he drove to the rack against Roy Hibbert
(who saw massive gains during the summer and is now reportedly 295 pounds ) and
attacked his frame, missed the shot then out muscled the rest of the Pacers’ front court for a put back rebound I knew he was back. From
then on he made the same type of plays which lead him to become the youngest
MVP in NBA history. I didn’t expect him to play that hard and the game was
played with an almost playoff like atmosphere. That’s how much pressure Rose
puts on the NBA defenses. Rose like any other NBA player could injure himself
again but barring that happening I think he will prove all doubters especially those
at ESPN, CBSsports and Sports Illustrated who all have him ranked outside the
top 10 in their annual list of the top 100 wrong. Derrick Rose is back and that
is a major problem for the NBA.
