Friday Footnotes

by Tom Ziller on Nov 9, 2007 10:10 AM PST in Links

Sam Amick takes a nice, long look at all things Kevin Martin. A must-read.
Reggie Theus indicates he'll hold Spencer Hawes back for another two weeks despite Shawes wanting in now; Beno Udrih, on the other hand, might play tonight despite wanting to give his broken finger another few days.
John Abrams of the Los Angeles Times does a story on Sam Cassell's renowned pump fake. The relevant passage: "Last month during an exhibition game against the Sacramento Kings, Mike Bibby fell for it twice, fouling Cassell each time. Cassell said Bibby later asked him how anyone could defend the move." How do you defend it? As a team, you get a bigger guard on Cassell, and that guard sticks his arms straight up and lets Cassell shoot. Sam doesn't get too high off the floor; a Francisco Garcia type would make the shot fairly difficult if he recovered from the screen well enough. If you're Mike Bibby... getting near enough to foul Cassell is a win itself. Take the personal foul and call it a push. It's more than he accomplished in 2004. (By the way, Kevin Martin has the 'pump fake foul' down pat. A great tool most shooters don't use enough. Well, most Kings shooters anyway.)
Reggie Theus' daughter Raquel is a freshman on the UC Irvine women's basketball team.
Ron Artest lost a tooth in practice yesterday. He continued to play.
Olden Polynice is coaching in the ABA.

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Re: Friday Footnotes

O.P. Sucks! O.P. Sucks! O.P. Sucks! so many great memories of OP returning to arco.

by sactowns finest on Nov 9, 2007 11:07 AM PST reply actions

Re: Friday Footnotes

An Officer Polynice update... nice.

"Yankees Giants Giants Yankees Giants Giants Giants. Yankees."

by TerrenceLongsTaint on Nov 9, 2007 12:48 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Friday Footnotes

BRING ON SPENCER!!!!

by Z3nBall3r on Nov 9, 2007 11:47 AM PST reply actions

Guarding Sam

Don't jump. If it seems, all at once, too trite, too easy, and (on the other end) too much to ask, I can understand.

But you can't jump. In one of his books, Phil Jackson talks about having to take time before a game against the Celtics to visualize not jumping while trying to guard John Havlicek's up-fakes. How to stay on the floor no matter how good the fake was, and not care about the supposed lack of effort he was giving in defending the shooter.

Even when he's not trying to draw a foul, Cassell wants you in the air so he can start his jump -- not while you're on the way down -- but while you're still on your way up or at the apex of your jump so as to be at the apex of his jump (and shot release) with the defender on the way down.

by KD on Nov 9, 2007 11:59 AM PST reply actions

Re: Guarding Sam

Exactly.

by Tom Ziller on Nov 9, 2007 12:41 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Friday Footnotes

Nice read on Kevin Martin. And for those perpetually curious on why he dropped, and I am 1, I think the answer is the tale of that long article.

I'm glad Reggie is holding back. If he holds Beno Udrih back or not doesn't make a difference at this point.

A pump fake is a pump fake. To defend it is easier said than done.

Good for Reggie on his daughter.

I've blocked out Opey Dope on purpose.

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 Nov 9, 2007 12:30 PM PST reply actions

Re: Friday Footnotes

Not sure if everyone picked this up but in Amick's article about Ron's tooth, Reggie took a swipe at an unnamed player in which he mentioned a player sitting out an entire practice with a "hurt" shin as opposed to crazy Ron-Ron gutting it through with a smashed grill. Some of you may have heard Amick on this morning's Rise Guys show where when pressed as to the identity of this wuss he believed the offender to be no other than Sactown Royalty favorite Kenny Thomas. Looks like Kenny has shockingly made it into Reggie's doghouse for playing like a puss.

Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Nov 9, 2007 3:51 PM PST reply actions