The Crab Dribble Episode 67, Get Real
The Crab Dribble returns to break down Kevin Love’s hate-hate relationship with the Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors’ fast start and Rob plays general manager with smashing results. Check out the show at www.thecrabdribble.com or on iTunes and don’t forget to write reviews and leave comments for the show.
The Crab Dribble Episode 64, New Beginnings
The Crab Dribble is back to dissect a slow start for the Lakers, James Harden’s impact on the league and comment on those players receiving contract extensions in the hours leading up to the deadline. It’s a fast, fun-filled show, so enjoy it responsibly, and leave your comments below.
What’s the Story?
Outside of fans located in San Antonio and Oklahoma City, most people don’t have a strong rooting interest in the Western Conference Finals, other than to see an entertaining series between two great teams. Well, few things are more entertaining than witnessing the rush to bury guard Russell Westbrook when the Thunder lose. In fact, judging by the commentary that has followed the first two games, you’d think Westbrook, when he’s not kicking puppies and stealing purses from old ladies, was deliberately sabotaging the series. After all, he’s…wait for it… taken more shots than Kevin Durant. That has to the reason Oklahoma City finds itself in a deep hole as they head home for Game 3, right? (more…)
End of the Bench, Volume 2.23
All those who had the 76ers outlasting the Bulls, Lakers, Mavericks and Grizzlies in the playoffs, raise your hands. Anybody? Hello?
A truncated season full of twists and turns has – not surprisingly - led to a crazy, turbulent postseason. The defending champs were sent packing before winning a game while the odds-on favorite to win this year’s title didn’t even sniff the second round last year. Last year’s young upstart (Grizzlies) was dispatched by this year’s young upstart (Clippers). The Bulls/Heat rematch in the Eastern Conference Finals was derailed by injuries, and at the time of this writing, it’s not farfetched to think a LeBron James/Derrick Rose showdown will be replaced by a Roy Hibbert/Lavoy Allen matchup. It’s been a wild ride, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down. Let’s see if we can figure it all out from the best seat in the house. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.15, Sure thing
The Crab Dribble is back with more playoff talk than you can shake a stick at. A big stick. The Spurs are a runaway train, the Sixers won’t go away and the Thunder have struck the Lakers. We cover it all, and revise those picks that went horribly wrong.
End of the Bench, Volume 2.21
Before we get started, EOTB regrets to inform everyone that we are all out of the Knicks’ “2012 NBA PLayoffs First Round Game 4 Championship” shirts. However, there are rumors that pieces of the Madison Square Garden floor will be available, as the club tries to help fans memorialize the historic occasion when they went from being down 3-0 to being down 3-1 in their matchup with Miami. Stay tuned for more details.
In the meantime, the playoffs are still rolling. Gone are Utah, Orlando, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and New York, having won a whopping six games between them. The Thunder and Spurs aren’t looking ahead, but we are, and their matchup in the Western Conference Finals could be epic. The East was a jumbled mess, with injuries, inconsistency and just all-around ugly play pervading in the opening weeks, but Miami looks to be coming on at the right time. Let’s see if we can get a handle on it all. Grab a seat and we’ll take it in from the best seat in the house. (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 2.13, Making Noise
It’s time for The Crab Dribble’s playoff preview! We break down each series, each game, each quarter, each … OK, we just make our first round picks. It’s timely, considering the playoffs start right now. Listen to the show, and tell us what’s what.
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.12, The Beginning of the End
The Crab Dribble returns just one week prior to the start of the NBA playoffs with a special show dedicated to Dwight’s (temporary) exit from Orlando, the start of the playoffs (April 28!) and the regular season awards. It’s a lot, so listen real slow in case in miss anything. We’ll be back next week with playoff talk in other assorted bits sure to make you squeal with delight.
The Crab Dribble Episode 2.11, Playoff positioning
The Crab Dribble returns with Episode 2.11. This episode finds the guys discussing possible playoff matchups that have likely changed since the discussion. They’ve probably changed again as you read this. The guys also ask “Is he the Answer?” and take part in perhaps the worst game of “Jason Vs.” in the history of man. It’s fun, so listen however you listen and let us know what you think.
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.
The Power 5
Every Tuesday, The Crab Dribble will bring you “The Power 5,” a ranking of the best five teams in the NBA for the previous week. Here at TCD, we don’t use a complicated mathematical formula or complex statistical analysis to determine the best teams – we just call them like we see them. Don’t agree? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Chicago Bulls (37-10)
Ready for a suprising stat? The Bulls are 9-4 this year when Derrick Rose doesn’t play. Want another one? In those 13 games, CJ Watson and John Lucas have combined to average 19.7 points and 5.9 assists…number that aren’t a far cry from Rose’s season averages. Does this mean the Bulls don’t miss Rose? Not at all. But this is far from a one-man team, and they’ve got the NBA’s best record to prove it. They have a deep rotation, and a roster full of guys who know their roles and fill them to perfection, such as the aforementioned guards, but also guys like Ronnie Brewer, Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver. They’ll need Rose to be 100% once they get to the playoffs, but until then, they’re not missing a beat without him. (more…)
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 Power 5
Every Tuesday, The Crab Dribble will bring you “The Power 5,” a ranking of the best five teams in the NBA for the previous week. Here at TCD, we don’t use a complicated mathematical formula or complex statistical analysis to determine the best teams – we just call them like we see them. Don’t agree? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Chicago Bulls (31-8)
Regardless of the schedule, injuries or the spotlight, the Bulls just continue rolling along. Road wins over the Spurs and Sixers showed Chicago’s toughness, and they’re approaching a six-game homestand that should allow them to pad their lead in the East. Derrick Rose continues to be, well, Derrick Rose, but perhaps the biggest key has been chemistry of their core players. Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer play well together, and Rip Hamilton, when healthy, has proved to be a nice addition. The Bulls remain one of the league’s stingiest teams on defense, and they carry a business-like approach into each game. The only question that remains is how they’ll fare against Miami in the playoffs, who has had their number recently. (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?
The Surprising 5
Because of the All-Star break , there’s only been a handful of games since last week’s rankings, and there seemed to be little purpose in reading too much into them. Instead, with half of the season now in the rearview mirror, here’s a look at the five biggest surprises so far in the season. Think we’ve missed one? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Boston Celtics (15-17)
Everyone knew Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were getting older, and a condensed season might pose some problem, but few probably envisioned the Celtics struggling this much. Losing Jeff Green for the season didn’t help, and Rajon Rondo missed eight games with a wrist injury (plus two more for a suspension), but even that doesn’t explain how mediocre the Celtics have looked at times. There was the five game losing streak in mid-January (with four of those at home), plus unexplainable losses to the Hornets, Cavs, Suns, Pistons and Raptors. Twelve Celtic players have started a game this year, including somebody named Greg Stiemsma, and the team just hasn’t been able to find a rhythm. It would still be a major shock if they don’t pull together and make a run at the playoffs, but as of right now, they no longer strike fear into their opponents. (more…)
The Power 5
Every Tuesday, The Crab Dribble will bring you “The Power 5,” a ranking of the best five teams in the NBA for the previous week. Here at TCD, we don’t use a complicated mathematical formula or complex statistical analysis to determine the best teams – we just call them like we see them. Don’t agree? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Miami Heat (25-7)
Six wins in a row, including five on the road, with an average margin of victory of almost 18 points, will earn the top spot every time. The Heat are 9-2 in February, and look as though they’re on cruise control right now. As a result of putting teams away early on most nights, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh have seen their minutes go down this month as they’ve spent many a fourth quarter resting on the bench. This not only will help keep them fresh through the condensed season, but also helps some of the backups establish some confidence. Mike Miller is shooting 52% from beyond the arc, and Norris Cole continues to bring energy off to the second unit, including a 20-point effort against the Pacers on Tuesday. In short, Miami is looking very dangerous right now. (more…)
The Power 5
Every Tuesday, The Crab Dribble will bring you “The Power 5,” a ranking of the best five teams in the NBA for the previous week. Here at TCD, we don’t use a complicated mathematical formula or complex statistical analysis to determine the best teams – we just call them like we see them. Don’t agree? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Oklahoma City Thunder (21-6)
The Thunder somehow dropped a game to the Kings, but because everyone behind them lost at least once as well, they retain the top spot this week. Stop us if you’ve heard this before – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continue to provide the fireworks for this team, Serge Ibaka gets better every time out, and James Harden has a legitimate case for being left off the All-Star team. The only chink in the Thunder’s armor is finding a backup to Westbrook, as rookie Reggie Jackson has been up and down since Eric Maynor went down with a knee injury. Still, with two of the most explosive players in the league, OKC fans should feel pretty good about their chances. (more…)
The Power 5
Every Tuesday, The Crab Dribble will bring you “The Power 5,” a ranking of the best five teams in the NBA for the previous week. Here at TCD, we don’t use a complicated mathematical formula or complex statistical analysis to determine the best teams – we just call them like we see them. Don’t agree? Let us hear about it in the comments section.
1). Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5)
The Thunder have reclaimed the top spot this week, on the strength of wins over Dallas, Memphis and Portland. They did suffer a hiccup in a loss to the suddenly-hot Spurs (see below), but there’s little doubt the Thunder are among the league’s elite. Kevin Durant continues to pour in buckets, and Russell Westbrook has turned up his play a notch, averaging over 25 points and six assists in his last 10 games. It’s hard to judge them against Miami and Chicago as they haven’t played, but for right now, the league’s best team may well reside in Oklahoma City. (more…)
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 2.4, Surprising disappointments
The Crab Dribble is back for a weekly dose of NBA discussion and argument. This week’s show discusses the inevitable end of the Big Three in Boston, New York’s struggles with their own “Big Three,” and we also break down the various surprises and disappointments of the early season. Stop reading and play the podcast already….
End of the Bench, Volume 2.3
The calendar has turned, and in a typical year, that means we’ve reached the point where we’ve got a pretty good feel for each team. However, this year is anything but typical. Last year, most teams had played 25-30 games before the ball dropped; this year some teams hadn’t even played five. So with barely two weeks under our belt, is it too early to draw any conclusions? Of course not! In fact, snap decisions and knee-jerk reactions are what we do best at The Crab Dribble!
So pull up a chair and let’s see what it looks like from the best seat in the house.
– Tough break for two of the West’s best, as the Spurs learned Manu Ginobili will be out up to two months with a broken hand, while the Grizzlies learned Zach Randolph will miss 6-8 weeks with a torn MCL. Combine those with Dallas’ slow start and the Lakers still adjusting to a new style, and the West certainly looks like it’s Oklahoma City’s to lose. (more…)
Wednesday linkage: Jan. 4, 2012
It’s the best Wednesday of the year so far. So let’s take a trip around the league.
* Rookie sensation Norris Cole isn’t competing against Mario Chalmers for minutes. They actually work well together.
* And here we thought the rush of player movement was about over. The Bleacher Report says, ‘Not so fast, my friend.”
* Lee Eric Smith of 3 Shades Of Blue is pumped up about the big trade going down this morning.
* The fans (read the comments section) in Philly are not so pumped about the big trade going down this morning.
* Timothy Varner of 48 Minutes Of Hell breaks down the fallout in San Antonio following Manu Ginobili’s broken hand.
* I, for one, foresaw big things for the Washington Wizards this season. I thought those new uniforms alone would be good for an eight seed in the East. But wow, the Wiz iz off to a terrible, terrible start. The guys at Truth About It attempt to sift through the wreckage, touching on such topics as a potential coaching change and the possibility of, dare I say, trading for Demarcus Cousins.
* Here. YOU try to sort out the Golden State backcourt.
All you need is Love
Kevin Love is apparently now just another victim of our “what have you done for me lately” society.
Love, the Timberwolves’ rebounding machine, has reached the rarified air that is typically only occupied by superstars, that level where greatness is expected and people don’t bat an eye at otherwise spectacular accomplishments. While Love is an All-Star, it’s probably a bit much to call him a superstar…and yet he’s now reached that superstar level where his play is taken for granted. Here’s how I know that.
“Kevin Love led the Wolves with 31 points and 20 boards last night as they fell to the Bucks.”
Those words greeted me as I turned on the radio this morning, and yet I wasn’t even moved in the slightest. There was a time, even just five or six years ago, when a 30/20 game would have me calling my friends to see if they saw it. But monster games like this have become so commonplace for Love, it’s hard to get too excited. But let’s look a little deeper at how rare these types of games are. (more…)
What they’re saying