The Crab Dribble Episode 66, Our Big Break
This week on The Crab Dribble, Rob and Ben get the opportunity of a lifetime, but how long will that lifetime be? Find that out, along with reactions to Mike D’Antoni’s hire, the Knicks’ fast start, and so much more.
The Indecision
By the time you read this, Dwight Howard may be a member of the Brooklyn Nets. Or the Dallas Mavericks. Or the Los Angeles Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks or the Houston Rockets. Heck, at this rate, he may even be a member of the New York Yankees. But one thing is for sure. He’s not going to be a member of the Orlando Magic for much longer…and they should be thrilled about that.
No – Howard hasn’t embarrassed the franchise by committing an awful crime, a la Michael Vick with the Falcons. He hasn’t disrespected the game by using foreign substances to enhance his performance, as Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and hosts of other have done. He hasn’t even created disruptions on the court with inappropriate behavior, like Metta World Peace tends to do with his elbows. But what he has done is raise the bar on what it means to be a selfish, entitled athlete, dragging out a decision on his long-term future for well over a year and burning bridges in Orlando faster than you can say “and Dwight misses another free throw.” (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.14, the plot thickens
The Crab Dribble, unlike defending MVP Derrick Rose, is back in action this week, breaking down each bracket with the precision and accuracy of three fans who watch a lot of ball. We not only look back on what’s taken place, but we also look ahead to second round (and occasionally third round) match-ups. There’s a lot, so get comfy and hit play.
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.10, Rolling Thunder
The Crab Dribble talks “Best in the West,” with OKC looking like world-beaters, the Spurs defying their advanced age and the Lakers still struggling with substitution patterns. All that, plus a draft re-draft and a confusing, confusing Tweet of the Week. Check it out, then hit us back in the replies section.
Magic are biggest losers at trade deadline
For more than three months, ever since Dwight Howard notified the Magic he would opting out of his contract at the end of the season and they should look at trading him before then, every day has been filled with rumors of potential landing spots and questions about his future. Would he go to the Lakers? The Nets? The Mavs? The Warriors? The Knicks? The Bulls? How much would it take to land him? Where would he be the best fit?
Turns out, it was all for naught, as Howard’s latest flip-flop landed him right back where he started – in Orlando. Howard reversed course constantly leading up to the trade deadline, but ultimately chose to opt in for the 2012-13 season, meaning that we’ll get to enjoy this circus one more time next year. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.8, The Return
The hiatus is back off, again. The Crab Dribble returns after a brief break to get you caught up on All-Star Weekend festivities, and what they mean for the second half of the season. We also answer some fan mail, and it’s not too kind. Join us, won’t you?
End of the Bench, Volume 2.11
Hey there – welcome back! The second half of the NBA season has tipped off, Kobe Bryant is a masked man, trade rumors are flying and the Bobcats are…well…they’re still losing games. With a shortened season, the playoff push begins now for some teams, as the margin for error is slim. Just ask the Jazz, who currently sit in last place in the Northwest Division, yet are only a two-game winning streak from taking over second place. Or the Grizzlies, who currently own the seventh seed in the West, but are one win away from the fourth seed. And what about the Wizards, who…ah never mind.
At any rate, the second half of the season brings some intriguing storylines, and EOTB is going to be right up front for every one of them. Join me, won’t you? I’ve saved you a spot right here, in the best seat in the house. (more…)
All Star Recap: West 152, East 149
I understand how hard it must be to stay in front of Chris Paul, box out Dwight Howard or shut down Kobe Bryant. But none of that compares to the challenge at hand right now…how do you recap a game that featured 301 total points, 26 three-pointers, 73 assists, 22 steals and approximately 14,000 dunks? We could start by mentioning that the game’s MVP, Kevin Durant, poured in 36 points on 56 percent shooting. Or that Kobe chipped in with 27 of his own to become the leading scorer in All-Star game history. We could chuckle about the statline of Blake Griffin, whose nine field goals were comprised of eight dunks and a three-pointer, or marvel at his backup, Kevin Love, who threw in a couple three-pointers of his own on his way to 17 points of the bench. We could even point out that Love wasn’t even the highest-scoring reserve among former UCLA players, as Russell Westbrook sped around the court on his way to 21 points. And that’s just the West. Moving East, it’s hard to overlook LeBron James’ 36-point effort, which included 23 in the second half. But we also don’t want to do a disservice to Dwyane Wade, who put up a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists (and also provided possibly the most physical play in an All-Star game since Pete Rose broke Ray Fosse’s thumb in 1970 ). Plus, we can’t forget about Rajon Rondo, who dished out eight assists off the bench, or Deron Williams, who came off the pine to put up 20 points. We would also be remiss to leave out the fact that the Amway Center rims survived not one, not two, not three, but four three-point attempts from Dwight Howard, who not surprisingly, came up empty.
Clearly, there’s no good way to try to cram this all into one article. So we’ll let the fine folks at NBA.com do it for us…in the form of a video. Here’s the top 10 plays from last night’s game. Enjoy.
All-Star Saturday Diary
Is there anything better than spending a Saturday night inside watching television? Sure, some people go on dates, hit the bars or go to a party, but here at The Crab Dribble, we’re all about basketball, even at the expense of our social lives. So for those of you unfortunate enough to miss the All-Star Saturday Night festivities, have no fear. We kept a running diary of the events – just for you – so you can relive all the excitement. Enjoy!
8:32: Welcome to All-Star Saturday Night, which for some reason, has its own pregame show. But we decided to skip to the good stuff, which means we’re opening with the required camera scan of the celebrities and players in attendance. Am I the only one who doesn’t get the black-framed glasses fad?
8:34: It’s time to meet the teams for the Haier Shooting Stars Challenge! Can you feel the excitement? (more…)
End of the Bench, Volume 2.10
All-Star Weekend has arrived, which means you need to sharpen your senses and clear your mind, so you can tell your grandkids exactly where you were when Vinny from “Jersey Shore” used a screen from Tankia Catchings to get enough space to launch a jumper over Common, while Penny Hardaway positioned himself for the rebound. Yes, it’s hard to put a price on entertainment like that.
The All-Star break brings us to the halfway point of the season, and there’s been plenty to like so far (unless of course you’re a Bobcats fan, in which case you’re already saving money for your Anthony Davis replica jersey). With a few days to catch our breath, let’s catch up on the latest from around the league. Pull up a seat, and we’ll review it all from the best seat in the house. (more…)
K-Dogg’s Fantasy Island, The B-Team
33 percent factual tweets from actual readers…
“When is @TCDKDogg going to write another stellar blog on fantasy bball? My team is slipping…” – @average_smo
“I’m lost in the fantasy world without direction from the fantasy island and @TCDKDogg’s advice” – @MathewBerryTMR
“I was living the fantasy, but apparently my ex-wife wants me back. So much for the fun single life.” – @Kobe24
Back by popular demand, it’s the Fantasy Island!
We have a lot on the plate today so let’s get to it.
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.7, Insert Lin pun here
The Crab Dribble gets swept up in Linsanity, along with the rest of the league. We share our take on the Knicks’ Linning ways, along with All-Star reserves and snubs. We answer some fans around the league in search of some good advice, and share the Tweet of the Week, which had everyone shaking their heads. It’s almost too much show for one week, but you’ve been good and deserve a treat.
Wednesday linkage: Jan. 25, 2012
It’s my dad’s 60th birthday. Let’s celebrate with some links.
* Kevin Love has a thicker beard, longer hair and a new contract. The Minnesota Timberwolves will not post a more important victory all season.
* Jason and I each picked Kawhi Leonard as our preseason Rookie of the Year in the Western Conference. A little overstated, perhaps. Leonard clearly won’t win the Rookie of the Year award – in either conference. But that’s not to say he isn’t making major contributions for the Spurs.
* Flip Saunders got fired yesterday. But look at this. The problem was there two months ago. And it’s still there today.
* I’ve about had it with the Deron Williams drama, haven’t you? It’s getting to be a little bit like the Carmelo Anthony situation of last year in that we’re spending so much time wondering which team will get him that we’ve forgotten to notice that teams might be better off just avoiding him altogether.
* This might be the most important story of the year in terms of playoff impact.
Ben Walpole is a blogger and podcast producer for The Crab Dribble. Follow him on Twitter @TCDBen.
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.3, Dissing Cousins
It’s been a crazy first week, and The Crab Dribble gets you caught up on the week that was. We talk surprise performances thus far, rookies making waves, Clipper-mania and Ben and Jason dispute the professionalism of DeMarcus Cousins. It’s all here, just hit play.
Tough break
Tough break.
Well, this certainly complicates things.
New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez broke his foot Wednesday in a preseason game against the Knicks. Word is surgery soon with Lopez hopeful for a return to the court in four to six weeks. So what’s the fallout here?
A. The Nets are going to be bad. I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to be pretty weak anyway, but this news just cements it, at least for the next two months. I mean, their frontcourt was thin before the injury. The team did trade a second-round pick to the Jazz for Mehmet Okur. Bringing back Kris Humphries helps, but now you’re looking at a heavy dose of the Williams boys (unrelated) – Shelden, Jordan and Shawne.
B. Could the struggles put a damper on the team’s chances of retaining the services of Mr. Deron Williams? I have no idea what D-Will is thinking about his future there, but it’s certainly a storyline worth following.
C. This might be the messiest part of the Lopez injury – how does this affect a would-be trade for Dwight Howard? Lopez certainly was the centerpiece of any trade the Nets could propose along those lines. We keep hearing that New Jersey is among the most likely trade destinations for Superman. I just don’t know if they have the pieces, especially with Brook’s bum foot, to make it happen.
So much intrigue and the season hasn’t even started yet!
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.1: East side!
The Crab Dribble is back, and we’ve made some changes. Check out the shorter, tighter version of the podcast while we break down the Eastern Conference from worst to first. We also hand out some preseason conference awards, and feature a new board game sure to be a treat for the whole family.
End of the Bench Vol. 21
Finally! An agreement has been reached!! Granted, it was an agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB players’ union, and as far as I can tell it will have no discernible impact on the NBA, but still….at least somewhere, in some sports, people can still find resolutions.
As for the NBA, we’re in Day 452,378, or thereabouts, of the lockout, and there is still no end in sight. You’d think by now that both sides would have put aside their petty bickering and started getting serious about reaching a deal, but no such luck. If anything, it’s gotten worse. But that doesn’t mean there’s still not some news from the wonderful world of hoops. So pull up a chair and let’s take it all in from the best seat in the house.
– Metta World Peace – aka Ron Artest - has challenged Michael Jordan to a game of one-on-one to end the lockout. EOTB normally doesn’t care much for Artest’s attention-seeking antics, and is one of the biggest MJ fans on the planet Earth, but if this would get the league going, then I’m all for it. And yes, I would be rooting for Metta. #BBNS (more…)
Lockout may hinder Team USA
Is it over yet?
It’s been less than three weeks since the NBA lockout officially went into effect, but the consequences are already being felt. We’ve seen players – including one superstar – leave to go play overseas, with the door open for more to follow. We’ve seen the cancellation of the summer league, which normally allows undrafted rookies the chance to make a roster. We’ve seen teams have to cut all communications with their players, leading to some humorous, and awkward, stories. We’ve seen posturing from both the players’ union and the owners, as both sides try to sway public sentiment to their side even as they’re busy ruining the game we all care about.
But one more damaging aspect of the lockout came to light early this week, when it was reported that NBA players may choose not to play in the 2012 Olympics if the lockout is still going. While that’s a ways off, it’s certainly not out of the question to think that the 2012 Team USA could be vastly different than the one we’ve imagined, especially given the success at the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 World Championships. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 39, Getting picked
The Crab is back after a nice vacation, and we’re breaking down the rookie class and all things NBA Draft.
End of the Bench Vol. 3
Once again, it’s time for the view from the best seat in the house. With March Madness in the rearview mirror, it’s now time for the NBA playoffs to take center stage. The playoffs are where legends are born. Where legacies are created. Where dynasties are formed. And where Paul Pierce has to be helped off the court in a wheelchair only to miraculously return minutes later.
So let’s get right into the last regular–season edition of the End of the Bench. Enjoy the view!
– EOTB has noticed a disturbing trend recently. Whether it’s Cleveland’s Baron Davis (#85), Boston’s Sasha Pavlovic (#77), Dallas’ DeShawn Stevenson (#92) or Portland’s Nicolas Batum (#88), more players seem to be donning the high–level jersey numbers than ever before. With the exception of Jason “White Chocolate” Williams and the #55 he rocked in Sacramento, no basketball player should wear a jersey number above 50. Come on guys – you’re NBA players, not defensive linemen. Get it together. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 22: Deadline deals
The Crab Dribble is back this week, and unlike about 80 NBA players last week, we’re staying right where we are. TCD is breaking down the major trades of the week, getting you ready for the fantasy playoffs and hanging out with our many friends.
Listen to the podcast (it’s fantastic), “like” us on Facebook, find us at the iTunes store, and come back next week for more insanity and information.
Ben’s trade deadline winners and losers
In some ways I like following NBA roster movement more than the actual games. So of course trade deadline week every February is one of my favorite times of the year.
This season we’re getting bonus love here, with multiple deals going down BEFORE the trade deadline.
Let’s break it down, and see who made good decisions and who really screwed up big time.
The Crab Dribble Episode 20: Bittersweet Endings
- “Peace out.”
Jerry Sloan leaves Utah with his legacy intact, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally win a game, and we wonder aloud about a Kobe Bryant-Ray Allen buddy-comedy not coming to theaters near you.
It’s The Crab Dribble, so start listening.
Midseason Position Rankings – Point Guards
"This is easy."
It’s day five of The Crab Dribble’s midseason position rankings, and today we’re looking at point guards.
Often the smallest players on the court, the point guard is responsible for keeping the offense flowing, pushing the fastbreak, and keeping the other point guard from causing too much havok.
It’s not an easy job, but the men on this list make it look easy.
Here are the top 10 point guards in the league:
What they’re saying