Since You Brought It Up, Bill...
by Peter Bean on May 23, 2007 2:45 AM CDT
in Basketball
16 comments
I'm looking forward to Bill Simmons' next column. I really, really am.
Why? Well, we learned on Tuesday that Bill flew back to Boston to be with his father because, as he summed it up, this was too important an NBA Draft Lottery to risk pissing off the karmic forces of the universe.
That's not an irrational thought, given Simmons' belief that his decision not to be home with his Pops for the Tim Duncan lottery angered the Powers That Be.
That year, as this year, the Celtics missed out on a franchise player. Unlike this year, though, I wasn't reading Bill Simmons back then, so I have no idea whether he was tossing Tim Duncan's collegiate coach under the bus every other week.
Now, before we all point and laugh, let's note why we're upset with Mssr. Simmons. It's not that he criticized Rick Barnes; after all, AW and I are pretty damn demanding of our head coach.
No, the problem is that Bill, who I've said over and over has a real gift for truly insightful NBA writing, trashed Barnes as a lousy coach, and did so without qualification. Simmons didn't say, "Barnes has mismanaged Durant," which would have been at least been a defensible argument. Instead, he more or less said, "Rick Barnes blows."
Those are categorically different, and I've noted on many occasions since that I thought Simmons was fucking the Celtics' karma by being so thoughtlessly dismissive of Barnes. And though some may scoff at the notion of karma, Simmons assuredly doesn't. Hell, his whole lottery breakdown revolved around that shit.
To which I say:
You asked for it.
--PB--
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After listening to the podcast and reading
his latest blog you just had to laugh. Those video feeds of Celtic fans in Boston were just priceless.
It's even funnier that it went to Portland, the same team that fleeced Boston in a Brandon Roy (rookie of the year) for Sebastian Telfair (cut for playing with guns) deal. Danny Ainge was fun to watch as a pro, but good god does he suck as a GM.
The ESPN coverage was pretty nauseating. Saying Oden is the best center since Ewing was quite possibly the most innacurate hyberbole I've ever heard on that channel and that is saying alot.
Uhm, lets see, just off the top of my head...Shaq, Robinson, Duncan, Zo, Dikembe, Dirk, Dwight Howard, etc.
I think Oden will be good (despite a lack of domination or polished skills) -- but many thought the same thing about Yao Ming (overrated). It's possible that centers just aren't as valuable or important as they were just 5 years ago. Who knows...?
by EYESofBEVO on May 23, 2007 8:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah! oden seems to be better than those
It is highly subjective, but it's not that inaccurate. There is a good chance that Oden will become the next Russell.
Dirk is not a center by any account. Howard and specially Duncan are more of a power forward than a Center.
I'm not sure if Oden is better than Shaq and Robinson! But saying so, does not count for the most inaccurate thing ESPN has said. No doubt that Oden had a better freshman/highschool career than Shaq (I don't know much about Robinson early career) ...
PS. I just heard someone named his son "Espen" for ESPN
by Cyrus on May 23, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not better than Shaq or Robinson?
Shaq is in a category of his own. I don't like him, never have -- and I don't care for his brand of WWF butt ball. Yet it's impossible to deny he was the most dominate league changing player since Wilt.
The NBA landscape was altered the second he stepped on the court his rookie year.
He is a freak of nature and for almost a decade every team with championship aspirations has built themselves around trying to defend Shaq.
Oden could be good like Ewing, but until proven otherwise I have a hard time seeing him in the Robinson/Shaq category.
- Shaq/Wilt
- Robinson/Kareem
- Everbody else, including Ewing
by EYESofBEVO on May 23, 2007 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
shaq
Don't like Shaq? Really? Great sense of humor, dominant player, good guy...what's not to like?
by Jason Mayer on May 23, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ya
I get it, but he just rubs me the wrong way. It's probably because I can't stand the Lakers -- and he was the face of that franchise for so long. Plus I was a Rockets fan when they beat Orlando in the choke-heard-around-the-world series.
He can be funny and is an interesting interview, but I just don't like his syle of b-ball.
Shaazam!
by EYESofBEVO on May 23, 2007 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about the Dream
He was pretty good too.
by Bob LaBlog on May 23, 2007 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn
completely slipped my mind.
He's up there in the #2 slot.
by EYESofBEVO on May 23, 2007 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please don't forget...
Akeem Olajuwon, and yes I mean Akeem because this "Dream" was more uncut and raw. When Hakeem arrived he was just all-world and in my opinion better than all the centers you mention earlier. Oden reminds me of a hyped-up Michael Olawokandi....to Bill Simmons now you know how Jerry Sicthings felt when Olajuwon punch him in the face. Like Bart Simpson would say, ha - ha!
by slimmy on May 23, 2007 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on, now
by LonghornRoadTrip on May 23, 2007 11:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
Karma came back to bite Bill Simmons in the ass.
IT HAPPENED IN MY LIFETIME! IT HAPPENED IN MY LIFETIME!!!!
by jc25 on May 23, 2007 2:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
EYESofBEVO
"I think Oden will be good (despite a lack of domination or polished skills) -- but many thought the same thing about Yao Ming (overrated). It's possible that centers just aren't as valuable or important as they were just 5 years ago. Who knows...?"
Yao Ming overrated? You lost all your basketball credibility with that statement. Yao is the best center in the NBA. He's slow, but he could do even better if provided the appropriate role players. He was also banged up in the playoffs. Despite that, he still put up 25 and 10. You my friend, are getting yourself into an argument that you have ZERO chance of winning.
It's one thing to bash my Texans, but you're not going to get away with criticizing a Rockets player, unless the criticism is actually accurate (which is not in this case).
by goingforthecorner on May 23, 2007 4:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
For a guy that just got pushed
around by a 2nd round center from Utah, it's hard to say he's deserving of the hype and #1 status he received when entering the league.
I'm a fan of the Rockets, I want them to win, but Yao's impact on the team has been incredibly disappointing.
by EYESofBEVO on May 23, 2007 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hype?
The only statements from the media I remember from Yao's rookie year was Barkley saying that he makes Shawn Bradley look like Bill Russell, or all the million times that Tony Cornheiser called him a stick figure. Many "experts" predicted he'd be a bust, and Yao's proving them all wrong.
His performance against the Jazz was disappointing, but he's still the best true center the game has left.
I love JVG, and he deserves much credit for Yao developing his post game. However, Adelman will reignite some moves Yao has not used in awhile. Yao can shoot jumpers with ease and is a great passer. Adelman will utilize those skills. I don't know what Yao's numbers will be next year, but he will provide a huge impact on the team's success.
by goingforthecorner on May 23, 2007 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Free Throws
He's a great free throw shooter, which is an underrated skill for a big man.
by Bob LaBlog on May 23, 2007 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yao is the best true Center
and that just shows how much this league needs Greg Oden!
by Cyrus on May 23, 2007 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yao > Oden
Yao's been training with Hakeem the Dream... look out! Oden's offensive game is even worse than Dwight Howard, and that's saying something. He has much to improve on offensively if he wants to even be compared to Yao.
by goingforthecorner on May 24, 2007 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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