Jan 6th 2009 9:00AM by Brett Pollakoff (author feed)
Filed under: Bucks, Jazz, Kings, NBA Last NightSacramento’s Kevin Martin is one of the league’s most efficient scorers, but after missing most of the season with an injury, the team wanted to work him back in by bringing him off the bench. I think he’s ready to start now.

Martin poured in 36 points on 11-21 shooting (25 came in the first half) against the Nets, after dropping 45 on the Pacers in the previous game. Martin set an NBA record by scoring the most points off the bench in consecutive NBA games, besting Calvin Murphy’s 80 back in the 1980-81 season by a single point.

: The Bucks are 7-1 at home over their last eight games, and with performances like the one from Michael Redd put up against the Raptors, you can see why. Redd finished with 35 points, six rebounds, and four assists. His teammate Charlie Villanueva added 25, six, and four off the bench, including 13 in the fourth quarter to get the win over a previously hot Raptors team.

: It’s not usually fair to put up players’ stats when the play the Gol*en State Warriors (no D — see what I did there?), but Deron Williams’ 25 points and 15 assists — on 9-of-15 shooting with just three turnovers — is a line definitely worth noticing.

Jan 4th 2009 12:57AM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: 76ers, Bobcats, Bucks, Bulls, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Kings, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Rockets, Spurs, Timberwolves, Eastern, Western, NBA Last NightWhile everyone else was watching Darren Sproles make himself about a bazillion dollars en route to a San Diego win, the NBA had itself one heck of a night.

It started off with Kevin Martin unleashing a 45-point barrage in a losing effort against the Pacers and Danny Granger’s 35, 6, and 4.

Then the universe decided to implode as the Bobcats, yes, the Bobcats, polished off the surprisingly good Bucks by 10. The Bobcats cruised in this one, which was both a model for the ‘Cats’ success and completely bizarre. And not just because the ‘Cats won. It was a perfect setup for this roster because they were led by Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, and Boris Diaw, who continues to be brilliant since his trade to Charlotte. They got 12 points and five assists from D.J. Augustin, and they attacked the Bucks in the paint. It was bizarre because the Bobcats were outshot (50 percent to 47 percent), out-rebounded (35-32), and had only two fewer turnovers. Still, if the ‘Cats are going to get anything going this season, this has to be the model. Did I mention Wallace and Okafor only had nine rebounds between them? Bizarro World.
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Jan 3rd 2009 8:46AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Pistons, NBA Last Night

In the days following the 2007 draft, you’d be looked at as a joker if you insisted they’d someday chant Rodney Stuckey’s name in Detroit. You’d look like even more of a nutter if you said it’d happen two months into his sophomore season. But here he is, racking up 38 points and seven assists to lead the Pistons in a tough win over Sacramento to the spirited chants of “STUCK-EY! STUCK-EY!.” (However, the appearance of the wave at the Palace in the fourth makes me also question the Detroit crowd’s judgment.)

Particularly awesome is how thoroughly Stuckey wasted Kings point guard Beno Udrih, who not only could not dream of stopping Stuckey’s penetration but also couldn’t get a decent shot off against the kid’s physical pressure. Udrih finished with two points, three assists and two turnovers in 20 minutes.

Paul Millsap wasn’t gone long, and thank goodness. Millsap brought his lunch pail to L.A., and though the Jazz fell to the Lakers by a baker’s dozen, Millsap turned out a stellar game: 16 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, two steals, two steals and zero turnovers. Every night like this pushes Carlos Boozer closer to the edge of the world.

Knicks games typically create nutty lines … but not like this: Jared Jeffries had only one point for the ‘Bockers in 29 minutes, but racked up five rebounds and blocks. Someone needs to get Jeffries a copy of or a 2004-05 Phoenix game tape.

Jan 4th 2009 12:57AM by Matt Moore (author feed)
Filed under: 76ers, Bobcats, Bucks, Bulls, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Kings, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Rockets, Spurs, Timberwolves, Eastern, Western, NBA Last NightWhile everyone else was watching Darren Sproles make himself about a bazillion dollars en route to a San Diego win, the NBA had itself one heck of a night.

It started off with Kevin Martin unleashing a 45 point barrage in a losing effort against the Pacers and Danny Granger’s 35, 6, and 4.

Then the universe decided to implode as the Bobcats, yes, the Bobcats, polished off the surprisingly good Bucks by 10. The Bobcats cruised in this one, which was both a model for the ‘Cats’ success and completely bizarre. And not just because the ‘Cats won. It was a perfect setup for this roster because they were led by Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, and Boris Diaw, who continues to be brilliant since his trade to Charlotte. They got 12 points and five assists from D.J. Augustin, and they attacked the Bucks in the paint. It was bizarre because the Bobcats were outshot (50% to 47%), out-rebounded (35-32), and had only two fewer turnovers. Still, if the ‘Cats are going to get anything going this season, this has to be the model. Did I mention Wallace and Okafor only had 9 rebounds between them? Bizarro World.Continue Reading

Dec 30th 2008 1:00PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Bobcats, Clippers, Kings, Timberwolves, Wizards, Thunder.

This weekend’s historically bad matchup between the Wizards and Thunder stood on its own awful pedestal while telling a really depressing truth about today’s NBA: there are a bunch of really bad teams in the league.

For some of these teams, the depths are only a brief stop on the path to regained greatness. But for others, the stench of the blighted air they inhabit threatens to stick long after the current draft class matures and the Summer of 2010 passes.

For these — the NBA’s Bleak — no days look bright. Which teams do I speak of? Follow us into the future, after the jump.
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Dec 30th 2008 2:30PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Bucks, Celtics, Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves

* Kevin McHale: “I think some of the best lessons learned in life are earned. I know I had to work when I got a bike. I knew where that bike was every minute of the day. I was like, ‘You’re kidding me.’ ” — , via Ballerblogger

* “I like to call Rondo’s rise to greatness , and after poring through this tale, you will to.” — RealHoops Blog

* Former Celtics announcer Johnny Most calling a game in Detroit: “” — Basketbawful

* “San Antonio has a during the Tim Duncan era.” 48 Minutes of Hell, via TrueHoop

* “There’s how many people in the world, 10 billion?” [Mikki Moore] said. “And there’s only 300 people in the NBA. Wouldn’t you have enough pride to go out there and compete? (I’m) not even saying (how) you’re getting paid to do it, that it’s your job, that’s your 9 to 5, (that) you get a check for this. . (I’m) not even saying that. Wouldn’t you have enough pride to say, ‘Well, I’m one of the 300 people who’s in the NBA,’ and go out there and compete for your recognition? That’s how I feel about it.” —

* New Year’s Resolutions for NBA Players, next summer’s free agents and re-thinking Steve Nash’s greatness.

Dec 23rd 2008 12:30PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Kings, NBA RumorsOddly, not Travis Outlaw nor Lamar Odom or even Raef LaGiantExpiringContract have been the most spilled names on the rumor rags. It’s been all Brad Miller, all the time. From “sure deals” in Miami to Charlotte to Cleveland to Chicago and nearly all points in between, the Big Redneck is getting more ink than ever. Meanwhile, he’s had a mediocre season on a worse-than-mediocre team … and he is “blocking” Kings bright spot Spencer Hawes from playing his natural position.

Reggie Theus promoted Hawes to starting power forward before being fired; Sam Amick of the crunches the numbers. The result? In extra minutes with (theoretically) better teammates, Hawes has been worse. Why? It’s assumed the positional switch — Hawes is a natural center — has hurt the kid.

Fellow youngster Jason Thompson is a true power forward, and probably belongs in Hawes’ spot. But the real fix — the smart fix — would be for a Miller trade to upon up spots in the starting line-up for both Thompson (affectionately known as “Shock” due to his surprising lottery selection) and Hawes. The franchise needs to know whether the pair will work out going forward. As it is, the duo has gotten precious few games opportunities to work together. Miller’s good enough that he’ll be missed by the other Kings (namely Kevin Martin). It’s not quite addition by subtraction. But it’d clear one fairly major problem, and hopefully some ‘09-10 cap space. Think of it as the Mike Bibby trade, part two.

Dec 15th 2008 11:00AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Bobcats, Clippers, Kings, Pacers, Timberwolves, Warriors, Wizards, NBA Draft, ThunderBy this time last season, we knew a few things: Seattle and Miami were completely awful, and Boston had been darn good. At the extremes, the six-week mark is as good a time as any to take stock. So who’s on track to keep the fingers crossed one night in May? Here’s a look at the current status of the NBA’s Ping Pong Derby.

Each ping pong ball represents a 1% chance of the team winning the top overall pick in the June draft as of today. Oklahoma City — challenging for the worst record in NBA history — has a clear advantage in the Derby after 26 games. But Washington and Minnesota have been just awful enough to remain within spitting distance of the true bottom.

The Kings (lost 10 of last 11) and the Clips (two straight wins) are headed in opposite directions. The teams tied for sixth with seven wins apiece — Indiana, Charlotte, Golden State — could go either way.

Dec 15th 2008 1:55PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Kings, NBA Rumors, NBA TransactionsThis is just getting ridiculous: the Kings fired Reggie Theus this morning, becoming the sixth NBA team this season to replace their head coach. According to Sam Amick of the , assistant coach Chuck Person will join Theus in the unemployment line, while assistant coach Kenny Natt will take over as interim head coach.

Theus’ departure is hardly a surprise — the Kings have dropped 10 of 11 games and have a dismal 6-18 record on the season. And as Tom Ziller pointed out over the weekend, getting blown out by the Knicks erased whatever goodwill Theus earned by upsetting the Lakers last week.

Natt lacks head coaching experience but certainly has an impressive resume. He joined the Kings last season after spending nine years working under Jerry Sloan in Utah and three under Mike Brown in Cleveland. All in all, he’s spent 28 years preparing for this opportunity: after his NBA playing career ended after 49 games, he bounced around Europe and the minor leagues before doing everything from scouting, coaching and working in the front office.

That said, Natt might just be keeping the spot warm for Eddie Jordan, who was recently fired by the Wizards but rumored to be a favorite to take over in Philly and Sacramento. Stay tuned.

Dec 15th 2008 5:25PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Kings, Pacers, NBA RumorsFollowing Sacramento’s dismissal of Reggie Theus, there have been six coaches fired in fewer than seven weeks since the start of the regular season. You know what’s even more amazing? According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo, all six coaches share the same agent, Lonnie Cooper of Career Sports & Entertainment.

That’s probably a testament to Cooper’s expansive client base than anything else — he’s been called “The Coach Agent” for, well, being the agent for a lot of coaches. But still, that’s an incredible streak of bad luck. Who’s next? Doc Rivers and Nate McMillan, both Cooper clients, are probably safe, but I’m less confident about Jim O’Brien, coach of the 7-16 Pacers. Start polishing the resume, Jimmy, the writing is on the wall.