So far looking like an even matchup because both teams can run. The heat are only down to 7 healthy players, so I don't know how long they can last. There was a beautiful 3 on 1 play that involved Sjax making the no-look pass to Biedrins who makes a no-look pass to Pietrus for a dunk. I don't like Jason Williams, but he is so entertaining to watch. No look behind the back kickout pass to the trailer cutting inside.
This game is boring... time to open up the playing time for the rooks. Anyone think the reason why Kelenna and Bwright don't get as much playing time is because they just don't run as hard as Pietrus and Barnes? **** Now Nelson is playing big ball in the blowout: C: - Patrick O'Bryant PF: Brandan Wright SF: Austin Croshere SG: Matt Barnes PG: CJ Watson I love it! Nelson is doing well now
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy @ Mar 8 2008, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What a blowout. Hopefully it continues tonight when we kill the Magic. </div> I want to see another killing, but Nellie's going to go small ball because we can't match up inside against Doh. And we better guard the perimeter because the Magic like to shoot 3-balls like the Warriors. We're going to have to score in order to win. It's going to be run and gun festival.
This Magic game is displaying why small ball is ineffective if nobody can knock down the open jumpers inside the arc or try to drive the ball inside. You can't get a high % shot if they're just launching behind the arc. That's a give-me shot and you can take that any time you want. The warriors are just getting lazy right now. Meanwhile, Wright is stuck on the bench. He could have made a good power forward against their 6'10 small forwards. POB gets no burn... sigh... On the plus side... I just saw Monta Ellis post up Jameer Nelson. That's pretty nice since the last time he probably ever posted up somebody was in high school. You figure he had that part of his offensive game to score 72 points in an entire hs game.
Matt Steinmetz just said he'd take Yao Ming over Dwight Howard as franchise center. I can see the logic to that, but I just don't agree. I love Yao Ming's game and especially because he's the first of his kind to possess that much talent at that size, strength, and weight. He can handle the ball, he can catch, he can block shots, he can rebound, he can defend, he can post up, he can shoot inside and out, he can pass, he can pump-fake, face-up, back-down, finesse move, power move, and he's got a variety of moves which are designed to give him a good look at the basket or get to the foul line where he'll get Dirk Nowitzki type %'s. Terrific player and he's virtually un-guardable when he's getting touches and good spacing from the rest of his teammates. But here's the thing, I think durability and athleticism count for something on the defensive end. I just think Yao Ming is way too big for his own good and his body just can't handle the rigors of all year long basketball. His knees, feet, joints, and bones just can't take it. Howard can so far (USA basketball + nba). If one were to take Dwight Howard now, Yes, you wouldn't get that much skill from him but he's got a lot of room to grow still. He's only averaging 20/10 at his young age and he's a defensive beast. If championships have said anything in the last decade is that championships win rings and especially at that center/power forward matchup. I think Howard can defend both positions whereas Yao can only defend one. I think Howard is a better in-transition defender, he's more energetic, quicker, and more explosive as a leaper. Now, the question is can Howard develop some versatile, reliable go-to moves on either sides of the posts and can he defend crafty players like Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki if that's his cover? What Howard needs is more finesse and overall skill in his offensive game, but I already like his defense and tenacity on hitting the glass. That will be super important in countering guys like Duncan who aren't that athletic, but they'll beat you in other ways like strength, skill, and craftiness. Right now Howard is a bit predictable in some aspects, especially his post game. That's not to say that Howard isn't crafty, though. He has a few tricks which allow him to get good defensive positioning. He's really good at finding the best position to get to the ball and it doesn't involve bullying other players. He uses his smarts. One example is when boxed out, he'll touch somebody on the left side thinking he'll push off from the left side. So the defender might resist and go left a little to continue boxing out, but Howard's really going right and he then can get around him for inside position. That could be a basic fundamental in basketball rebound positioning, but I'm not even sure most nba players practice that.
Well both are great centers, but I'd probably take Yao and then Dwight. Yao just has so much length to disrupt opponents.
I have to agree with Custodianrules2. Yao has missed 86 games over the past three years, Dwight is more well-rounded and is just as offensively potent this season. The kid is also five years younger, and that's quite valuable for a Big Man.
