The Dugout - February 18
How About Those NBA All Stars, Aye?
That’s about all there’s been this week in terms of actual action, what with the NFL done for the season and baseball’s spring training still a while away. There’s ice hockey, but do we look Canadian? Oh, and college sports, but they’re just kids.
So NBA All Star Weekend it is.
The game was as farcically fun as always, just an exhibition of offence with no semblance of defensive effort whatsoever and that’s just the way we like it. In fact it’s what the New York crowd is used to as well, except that Melo wasn’t the only guy capable of scoring in double figures on call.
Nobody cares about the skills stuff other than the slam dunks and the three point contest. The dunks were a mixed bag, but between Victor Oladipo and Zach LaVine, the future of mid-air expression is in safe hands.
While the three point contest was supremely loaded, and it was every bit as much fun as it should have been. The league’s best deep shooter, Kyle Korver, didn’t even make the second round and neither did Marco Belinelli, the defending champ! But the Splash Brothers did, and so did former champ Kyrie Irving. Then Steph Curry went full heat check, hitting 13 in a row in the championship round to take the title.
Oh, and sure we had the actual All Star Game. Where LeBron did some cool things, Russell Westbrook did some crazy cool things and Dirk did one super crazy cool thing. Here, just watch the vid.
The most important thing that came out of the weekend though was Kevin Durant. He did bugger all in the game, but it seems like he’s one stupid question away from going full Marshawn Lynch in his pressers. Seriously, he hates that stuff. This is an understandable but an unexpected turn for Durant, whose first few years in the NBA saw him really nursing a squeaky clean image. He’s had a few little tiffs before, seemingly spiralling downwards towards the point where he turns into Dennis Rodman. He was a guy who reinvented himself as a badass, is KD going the same way? The Angry Thunder are for real.
Most All Star Appearances Ever
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 19
- Kobe Bryant 17*
- Tim Duncan 15*
- Kevin Garnett 15
- Shaquille O’Neal 15
- Michael Jordan 14
- Karl Malone 14
- Jerry West 14
- Wilt Chamberlain 13
- Bob Cousy 13
- John Havlicek 13
- Drink Nowitzki 13*
*2015 All Star
Taking Calls
While the players are all on holiday or living it up in NYC, the executives are getting down to brass tax. Presumably messing about on ESPN’s trade machine as the deadline draws near. There are plenty of folk that may be on the move, like every single Nugget aged 25 or over. Plus Boston, New York, Utah, Brooklyn, etc. will all be ready to listen to whatever you have to offer.
We’ve already seen several trades earlier in the season, so the deadline won’t exactly be a hotbed. Rondo’s already a Maverick, Cleveland did their thing swiftly and efficiently, Jeff Green’s a Grizzly and Boston and Philly have been dealing all year.
Charlotte did some good business in getting Mo Williams and Troy Daniels for Gary Beal and a second rounder last week, but the biggest confirmed move so far wasn’t a trade at all. It was Amar’e Stoudemire getting paid out, waived and released by the New York Knicks and ending up a Maverick. He says he’s chasing a title, he’ll need to bring plenty of punch to restore a depleted Mavs bench if that’s gonna happen. Which he’s shown he can still do in patches for NYK, with a much better coach and less pressure, we’ll have to see. Seems like a good pickup for Dallas who’ve struggled for production from their second unit since Brandon Wright left in the Rondo trade.
Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson are supposedly on the block if Brooklyn can get something they like. They’re in the midst of ownership issues, so lessening their payroll is something they’re keen on. Not without some future prospects though, especially since Boston owns basically every draft pick of theirs from now until Judgement Day.
However the one to watch is Goran Dragic. The Suns may be holding firm in the eighth spot in the West, but Oklahoma City are ready to roll and don’t count out a Sacramento/Boogie revival under George Karl. So when Dragic told Phoenix folk that he wasn’t extending his contract, they let that fact be known publically. Which makes it pretty obvious that they’re looking to cash in now before he leaves for free. Dragic had a superb breakout season last year and has kept up the pace enough that he’s clearly no flash in the pan. The 28 year old Slovenian PG can be a top player on a very good side, although he’s apparently leaning towards the Lakers, Knicks or Celtics. Eh, it’s his life. The Rockets are keen but there’s no guarantee he re-signs, so it’d only be a rental. So, yeah. Watch this space.
Amar’e Wrote A Farewell Poem to NYC
Poor Malcolm Butler
Super Bowl clinching interception or no, he’s never gonna be recognised on the streets until he gets himself a Subway endorsement deal or something. That’s what happens when you play in a helmet.
Chris Bosh, You Suave Little Devil, You
Post-ASG NBA Power Rankings:
- Golden State Warriors (42-9)
- Memphis Grizzlies (39-14)
- Atlanta Hawks (43-11)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (33-22)
- Houston Rockets (36-17)
- Toronto Raptors (34-20)
- Portland Trailblazers (36-17)
- Chicago Bulls (34-20)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (28-25)
- Dallas Mavericks (36-19)
- LA Clippers (35-19)
- Washington Wizards (33-21)
A-Rod Publishes A Handwritten Letter Of BS
NFL Off-Season Stuff
The NFL combine is coming up imminently, with Jameis Winston hurriedly trying to lose a couple more pounds, and teams are very focussed on getting the right draftees to push their squad over the line of mediocrity for the next season.
So we won’t hear too much about free agency stuff for a little while, but there are a few stories that are getting traction. Like Dez Bryant. He’s reiterated his dedication to the Cowboys, while suggesting that he maybe isn’t getting the same love back in return. And on the week of Valentine’s Day too! He’s a potential free agent but after the season he just had there’s no way that he’s going anywhere. He’ll get franchise tagged this upcoming season if there’s no contract extension coming (doesn’t sound like there is one) and possibly even for the next few seasons after that too. Dez is going nowhere, but DeMarco Murray… that one’s up in the air.
Meanwhile the Colts’ absolute disaster of a running back corps seems like it’s nearing its end, as Trent Richardson’s contract is soon to be voided and Frank Gore is almost a guarantee to sign as a free agent. Former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh had a great big dig at his former team this week, it’ll be curious to see how many Niners follow Gore out the door.
Quote of the Week:
"To be honest, man, I'm only here talking to y'all because I have to. So I really don't care. Y'all not my friends. You're going to write what you want to write. You're going to love us one day and hate us the next. That's a part of it. So I just learn how to deal with y'all." – Angry Kevin Durant
Good Week:
Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Kid’s got a reputation now.
New York Yankees Fans – Hey, A-Rod apologised! Phew, glad all that’s over.
Bad Week:
Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) – Sure, he made the All Star game, but he’s probably about to check in for season-ending surgery and he’s just lost a (mostly) valuable teammate in Amar’e. His team is useless. This is what he literally signed up for in free agency, though.
Kevin Hart – He’s really getting annoying.
Player of the Week:
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) – All Star Game MVP, he scored a record 27 points in the first half! And since nothing much else happened this week, he gets the award. Watch out for Rusty down the stretch, the Thunder need wins and he’s on a rampage. He dunked so hard he his his head on the backboard!