Fascinating charts, compiled from years of data, using color coding to show areas on the court where the most shots are taken and made, as well as where most assisted shots are made from. One thing that really stands out to me looking at these: if you want to get big assist numbers, play with good three-point shooters. That's where the assists are.
Picture draft night. David Stern emerges from the secret back room, steps to the podium, and says "with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select Derrick Rose, of the University of Memphis." And then, if this guy has his way, Derrick Rose would then have the right to say: "No thanks, Mr. Commissioner, I'd rather not play in Miami, so, even though it'll cost me money, please put my name back in the hopper and have the Heat pick somebody else." That'd be pretty crazy, right?
Pat Riley and Shaquille O'Neal have some parting words for each other. Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel: "It's funny, when Shaquille O'Neal left the Heat, some asked about the team eventually retiring his jersey. Now the question is whether they will burn it. Or give the number to Earl Barron."
When players make the NBA, many owe tens of thousands to pay off insurance policies that pay out if they are injured before signing their professional contracts.
Dan Reed, head of the D-League, demonstrates he's one of the most lucid people in sports. He talks about complicated things and makes them sound simple. I like the idea that guys like him are the future of NBA executives. (Also, a lot of people may not know this, but Reed was once the star of an intramural team at the University of Chicago that was -- by some accounts, nominally -- coached by blogger Dan Shanoff.)
Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty, with good news for people who don't have DVRs: "When the cameras get a close-up of Darko, or when he touches the ball, the universe comes to screeching halt. He's the human slow-mo button."
Why is Pamela Anderson covering her son's face at a Laker game? My first thought was: does the queen of the scantily clad not want her son to fall under the spell of the Laker Girls? But then I thought more about it, and my new best guess is: she spied the photographer, and wanted to protect her child from the hassles of publicity. I respect that.
Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: "On one hand, you have a luminous all-star, a 23-year-old who is the NBA's fourth-highest scorer, who has improved his rebounding and who often unleashes a thought-you'd-seen-it-all move. On the other hand, you have a lackadaisical defender who has never gotten his team past the first round of a playoff series, who is continuously 'maturing,' who is a star on a ninth-place team. The juxtaposition that is Carmelo Anthony is a continuous debate in Denver in barrooms, locker rooms, and newsrooms. As good as he is, should he be doing more? Notably, as a team leader and a defender?"
Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun: "Jose Calderon's stock around the NBA just got better with his selfless act of wanting to come off the bench, even though the Spaniard is a legitimate starter in this league. Not that anyone doubted his skills to lead a team, but Calderon's team-first approach was reinforced when he took the unusual step, one that's unheard of in the me-first NBA, of asking the Raptors to play T.J. Ford with the starting unit. Calderon is a restricted free agent this summer in a market where not many teams have a lot of cap space. Still, there will be interest in Calderon, but the Raptors have said that they will match any offer. With Ford in the starting lineup, the Raptors will be in a better position to peddle the lightning-quick point guard, assuming he stays healthy for the balance of the season." Calderon explains his thinking, saying he plays for the Toronto Raptors, not Jose Calderon.
John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News: "We know about the rapid development of rookie forward Thaddeus Young and valuable improvement of guard Lou Williams, but Carney is one player who has really benefited from [new GM Ed] Stefanski's request that coach Maurice Cheeks give the young players more minutes to aid in the evaluation process."
Basketbawful: "Remember all that smack Gooden was talking after Tuesday night's 31-point, 16-rebound performance against the Hawks? Well, here's a sample: "I don't want to sound cocky, but I think I possess everything. I feel like I can pass, block shots, play great defense, play help defense, shoot threes. I believe that I can do it all.'' He also hinted that LeBron James had been holding him back in Cleveland. Well, one night later, Mr. 'I can do it all' didn't do much of anything, scoring 2 points (0-for-5), grabbing 8 rebounds, and committing 3 turnovers against the 76ers. And that thud you just heard was Gooden crashing back down to earth."
Channing Frye on reality television: "It just seems so set up. They get free booze all day; they really don't have serious jobs. I don't know. I really just appreciate real drama. Now reality TV is just like watching something made up because it's so set up. But even though I'm complaining about it, I'm still gonna watch it every week to see the lengths that people will go to win or at least get their own show."
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