The Perpetual NBA Thread

[ILuvDetailing]

In Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Amare Stoudamire and Chris Bosh they already have more than enough low post threats so I think Brad Miller would be a nice complement with his midrange shooting and passing.

Badtrip talaga dial-up bagal ng pag download sa you-tube.

[kimpOy]

ild anong youtube ang dl mo ?

[BlueBimmer]

good choice on Joe Johnson!

[ILuvDetailing]

Bluebimmer: tiba tiba ka kay JJ sa fantasy league :D

Kimps: yung link na pinost ni M54.

[kimpOy]

ild ok madaya nga he got a little boost sa goft cart

astig pa rin yung 720 dunk..ang hinahanap ko yung 360 betwen the legs niya

edit
eto medyo nakakahilo lang yung footage sa umpisa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEmcX...rch=360%20legs

[tsupermario]

the dunk wouldve been more impressive if he took off from the free throw line

[theveed]

A delicate balance
Marty Burns, SI.com

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski can breathe a sigh of relief. A minor injury to Suns forward Shawn Marion (knee) made it that much easier to make "cuts" Tuesday for the 15-man squad that will represent the U.S. at this summer's World Championships in Japan. It also makes for one less headache, even if Marion's all-around versatility will be missed.

Marion's injury left Krzyzewski, who had to trim three players from the 18 who have participated in the Las Vegas training camp this week, with essentially one tough choice: Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, who has been battling a leg injury, or Sonics guard Luke Ridnour at point. One could make a strong case for both players, but Coach K ultimately went with Hinrich. Captain Kirk can play both guard positions and is a better three-point shooter.

The other player sent home, Adam Morrison of the Bobcats, came as no surprise. The former Gonzaga sharpshooter could be a major weapon for the Olympic team down the road, but he's not there yet. Morrison, after all, is still a rookie -- and he was stuck in a crowd of small forwards. In this case, Coach K had no choice but to trim the 'Stache.

It's hard to argue with Team USA's selections. Keep in mind, several key players were already out of this year's World Championships with injuries or prior commitments: Chauncey Billups (personal reasons), Kobe Bryant (knee), Greg Oden (wrist), Lamar Odom (personal reasons) and J.J. Redick (back). But all will be back in the mix for the '08 Olympics.

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While Coach K might have dodged a proverbial bullet on this "cut-down" date, he now faces the real challenge. The 15 players who will travel to Japan next month are all great players: Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Amar Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade and Hinrich.

How do you pick a starting five from this group?

Before listing my choices, I want to make one thing clear: Team USA's stated goal this time around is not to put together another All-Star team. It is to put together a group that plays a cohesive game and, most important, can thrive within the international rules. In other words, I'm not saying these five are the best NBA players. I'm just saying these are the guys I would make the starting core.

My starting unit when official practices for the World Championships begin next week would be Hinrich at PG, LeBron at SG, Battier at SF, Brand at PF and Miller at C.

Yes, I know. I can hear the catcalls already. Where's Dwyane Wade? Where's Carmelo Anthony? Where's Dwight Howard? Hinrich at point guard? Ahead of Arenas and Paul?

Again, I'm not saying Wade and Anthony aren't superior NBA talents. I'm not saying Hinrich is a better NBA point guard than Arenas or Paul. But for this team, and in this particular tournament, this starting lineup makes the most sense.

The U.S. has struggled in past international tournaments because foes zone up on them and take away their penetration. When Team USA has tried to make them pay from outside, it hasn't made enough outside shots. At the other end, the U.S. has been unable to play cohesive team defense, partly because individual stars were too used to freelancing and partly because the group didn't have enough time together.

My lineup features five players who all know how to share the ball, know how to play team defense and can knock down the open shot. Hinrich (37 percent from downtown a year ago) is a better three-point shooter than Paul (28.2 percent) and doesn't look to score first like Arenas. With Billups sitting out the World Championships, the Chicago bulldog is the best combination of three-point shooter/defender/setup man at the point of attack.

Battier should be on the floor because he defends, rebounds, scraps for loose balls (like Hinrich) and shoots a high percentage from three-point range (39.4 percent last season) without needing a lot of touches. Anthony is a scoring machine, and reports out of Vegas are that he's been tearing up his fellow All-Stars, but he's not good enough yet on defense. Team USA is going to have enough offense. It doesn't need another guy looking to create as much as it needs somebody who is willing to shut down opponents and take them out early.

Brand (6-9) gets the nod with a slight advantage over Howard at power forward because he's smart and unselfish, a good defender and more experienced in international competition. Miller (7-feet) provides some much-needed size and physical defense under the basket, and he's a gifted passer who can work the high post. This could be a key, since the U.S. won't be able to rely on one-on-one play as much for its offensive attack.

Stoudemire eventually could supplant Miller at center, if Team USA can establish its defense in other areas and play a more up-tempo style, but he's still at less than 100 percent health-wise. For now, Brand and Miller are the right one-two punch because they provide a low-post (Brand) and high-post (Miller) dimension while being able to step out and hit jumpers -- a necessity in the international game.

As for LeBron, he's a no-brainer. The Cavs superstar is the designated offensive catalyst and penetrator when it's needed. Period. He gets the nod over Wade because he's bigger and a better passer and rebounder.

The starting unit doesn't have to feature the best players. It just has to feature the right combination of skill sets. Hinrich and Battier and Miller aren't as good as Arenas/Paul and Wade and Stoudemire. But the former trio will be willing to set screens, give themselves up on defense and spread the floor better than the latter trio.

The last point, by the way, can't be emphasized enough: Team USA needs to have at least two three-point threats on the floor at all times. This will open it up for James and Brand, who are more than good enough to carry the team offensively.

It's going to be tempting for Krzyzewski and his staff to fall in love with the sublime scoring skills of guys like Wade, Anthony, Arenas and Paul. But the international game is different than the NBA's. There is less of a premium put on one-on-one ability. Those guys should instead be used strategically off the bench, against certain matchups and to fit certain needs. The starting unit, by contrast, needs to have balance, play hard-nosed defense, knock down long-range shots and set a tone. Too many cooks will leave the U.S. once more in the soup.

[theveed]

Celtics sign another 3pt Center

Pittsnogle signs free-agent contract with Celtics
July 26, 2006

BOSTON (AP) -- Free agent Kevin Pittsnogle signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Pittsnogle, a 6-foot-11 center who is West Virginia's career 3-point leader, was passed over in June's NBA draft along with Mountaineers teammate Mike Gansey. Both played for the Miami Heat in a summer league, and Gansey signed a two-year deal with the Heat.

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Pittsnogle led the Mountaineers with 19.3 points per game last season and was named to the All-Big East first team. He led West Virginia to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament the past two seasons.

"Clearly, Kevin's strength is extending defenses with his range. He's big enough and he's got a quick trigger," agent Dan Tobin said. "He's a unique player, somewhat of a specialist at this point. We're trying to expand other areas of his game and I think that's what's going to help him make the transition."

Pittsnogle made 253 career 3-pointers and his 41.1 percent 3-point accuracy rate ranks second in school history. He is sixth in career scoring with 1,708 points.

[Eismann]

Reason why Iverson is suddenly off the trading block? Looks like C's will have another short season. I say this becasue the east is stronger now and what have they got to show - Rookies around Pierce and Delonte?

[empy]

astig pa rin yung 720 dunk..ang hinahanap ko yung 360 betwen the legs niya

edit
eto medyo nakakahilo lang yung footage sa umpisa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEmcX...rch=360%20legs

ano kaya vertical leap nitong hinayupak na to?? sarap siguro maging superhuman...