Monday Footnotes

by Tom Ziller on Dec 17, 2007 9:38 AM PST in Links

Great story in the New York Times concerning Ron Artest. One quote in there shows a remarkable sense of self-awareness which is typically invisible in Ron: "You're not going to understand the real me in a single paragraph." Read the whole thing; one of the more fair pieces you'll read in a major publication.
Another Ron-Ron piece which has been discussed in the diaries is also worth a detailed read. It's Ian Thomsen's SI.com look at judging Ron as a basketball entity.
The newest batch of MVP and Rookie of the Year rankings from the extended SB Nation Hoops family is up at ClipsNation. In retrospect, I should have put Chauncey Billups on my ballot. He's been silently marvelous.
Another funny guy takes his typing skills to the college basketball sector.
Justin Williams also endorses trading for Boris Diaw. (WARNING: Half-naked Frenchman.)
Sometimes, I wish we could fast-forward to the point when Miami actually trades for Mike Bibby and/or Artest, not because I'm so eager to lose either for spare parts, but because it's sort of exhausting to parse the repeated mentions of the plausibility of such a deal. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune gives us the latest. (Via SLAM.) Expiring contracts only for both the valuable chaps? Umm...

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Those Whacky French

Boris 3-ow!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 17, 2007 10:13 AM PST reply actions

Hmmm

"After that fight, David Stern sided with a felon over me," Artest said of the N.B.A. commissioner. "The guy who threw beer on me was already on parole."

David Stern is one for placing blame on individuals, and making sure the organization doesn't look bad publicly or politically. That bastard. Did I ever mention my spite for David Stern?

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 17, 2007 12:30 PM PST reply actions

If there is talk bring it on!

There's still talk, though, that Miami is trying to use the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to put together a deal for Mike Bibby and Ron Artest.

If that's true let's get Dorell Wright. It can't hurt the Kings to have him can it?

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 17, 2007 12:36 PM PST reply actions

Whether you did it advertently or not TZ

That beginning of Sam Smith's article is interesting to say the least. Especially when talking about how Derrick Rose is being tutored by Rod Strickland.

For the record Strickland was a terrific guard. Much better than younguns would remember him as. When I was growing up there was Gary Payton, and then Jason Kidd, and then you had Rod Strickland. But because Strickland was an asshole, and acted like it his whole career, the coaches made sure he was never an All-Star. The only actual difference between Payton and Strickland, despite where they grew up, is their actual size.

The NBA is an eyes-wide-open world, and Strickland has seen most of it. Rose sees the court perhaps better than anyone in college today. Strickland should be able to provide him with a penetrating view. It should be a heck of an education.

Having read Sam Smith quite a few times before, than isn't an endorsement from Smith about Strickland, but probably just an in-print warning about him to Derrick Rose.

I brought this up because I do think Rose will be the most coveted commodity, especially if his potential is that of Deron Williams, or at least around there. Williams was considered a lottery pick at the time he was drafted, and by NBA insiders as the best player out of that draft now. If you tell me that Beasley is more important because he's big I think you're ignoring the impact Rose could have on a team. On the other hand one could be cynical and say Williams' success is due in large part to the system and Boozer. Or you could say the system is successful because of Williams. I suppose it would be how you look at it.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 17, 2007 12:45 PM PST reply actions

Won't matter

Both Beasley and Rose will be long gone by the time we pick.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 17, 2007 12:48 PM PST reply actions

I can pray can't I?

What else do I have to root for? What else!

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 17, 2007 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry

I don't mean to pee in your Cheerios, but I'm going to be the first to call it (wrong):

With the 9th pick of the 2008 NBA draft, The Sacramento Kings select Roy Hibbert, Center, Georgetown University.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 17, 2007 1:31 PM PST up reply actions

RE: Sorry

No way we already have a slow unathletic white center for the future, no need for bigs anymore. Besides which we have a chance at rose its called a lottery for a reason.

Oddly enough I like our slow unathletic white centers, it must be the cow town in me.

by moproblemz on Dec 17, 2007 8:56 PM PST up reply actions

Cowtowns are evil indeed Mo

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 18, 2007 1:48 AM PST up reply actions

yeah

Vlade, Hawes and Brad. What's not to like? (Ostertag and Pot but that's a different story)

by kingme on Dec 18, 2007 1:51 AM PST up reply actions

PF

I don't mind a highly skilled though somewhat athletically challenged center so long as our 4 brings some athleticism. This team's biggest need is a PF - not a PG. However, we all know GP and he'd go after what he considered to be the best player available regardless of position.

by Kusian on Dec 18, 2007 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

Wait...

Screw Boris... check out the naked Serena on the links to the right of the page. Can we trade for her? I'd trade Kenny Thomas and Mike Bibby straight-up.

by Mityt on Dec 17, 2007 1:46 PM PST reply actions