The Crab Dribble Episode 65,
Enjoy this week’s Crab Dribble as we discuss the Lakers (get used to it), and some other stuff. We go around the entire league in a little more than 80 seconds, and our Advanced Scout gives us the inside information TCD listeners have come to expect. It’s fair to say we had the time of our lives making this podcast, and we owe it all to 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…)
Game of the Week: Boston at Washington, Jan. 22
The Game of the Week is chosen because it’s likely to be the worst or ugliest game of that given week. Ladies and gentlemen, we just hit the nail on the head.
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.
Wizards finally Flip the switch
After weeks of some of the most painful NBA basketball I have seen in many years, the Washington Wizards finally put Flip Saunders out of his misery with the ol’ pink slip. Word is assistant coach Randy Wittman will be assuming the interim head coaching duties for the rest of the season. Because that Minnesota Timberwolves coaching tree is so rich and fertile… yeah.
Look, my opinion of Flip’s coaching abilities certainly hasn’t grown after his tenure in D.C. But it hasn’t really fallen either. Flip is what he is. He’s a players’ coach who is good at staying out of the way of a veteran roster. There is something to be said for that. Good Lord, though, his coaching skill set was a terrible fit with this team. (more…)
Thursday linkage: Jan. 12, 2012
Here we go – five-layer link NBA burrito.
* David West – from Xavier University – was offered $24 million over three years from the Celtics last month. The Pacers countered with $20 million over two. West signed with the Pacers. Some critics, including West’s could’ve-been-teammate Ray Allen, called the former Hornet all-star out for a blatant cash grab. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated explains that it’s not quite that simple.
* What do you think of the new Utah Jazz billboard campaign? Personally, they seem a little bit funereal for my tastes.
* Another huge injury situation has a playoff contender scrambling for answers. The Hawks without Horford is like an Arby Q without a bun. Shiz gon get messy.
* I’m sorry if I keep hitting you with Wizards talk. “Why talk about the Wizards?” you ask. “They were irrelevant last year, and they’re even more irrelevant this year.” Fair, fair. I just can’t help it. I’m utterly fascinated by this team’s disastrously awful performance this season. How are they this bad? They have John Wall running point, for goodness sake.
Oh, but they’re bad. Real bad. Sixty-four points last night, guys?
Sekou Smith is the latest to take a shot at sorting it all out.
* Speaking of the Wizards, time to start scouting Andre Drummond, Washington fans!
Ben Walpole is a producer and blogger for The Crab Dribble. He strongly advocates giving Jan Vesely more playing time, in case anyone was interested in how he’d fix the Wizards.
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.
Lessons learned…
Draft breakdown: Southeast
The 2011 NBA Draft is in the books, and we can only hope that the pending lockout doesn’t get in the way of seeing these new rookies take the floor. The draft had a strong international influence, and while it may be short on superstars, it’s certainly got plenty of interesting storylines. How will Jimmer be welcomed into the Sacramento locker room? Will Brandon Knight’s basketball IQ be wasted in Detroit? Will Raptors fans even bother showing up next season?
But don’t worry. In case you missed portions of the draft while Googling “Jan Vesely’s girlfriend,” TCD is here to recap it for you, division by division. As always, let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to check out our mock draft on the latest podcast. I promise I called Nolan Smith going #21, no matter what you may hear.
Today, we’re looking at the Southeast. Be sure to also check out the Atlantic and Central. (more…)
The Crab Dribble Awards Extravaganza
The Crab Dribble Awards Extravaganza
The wait was totally worth it.
This is the The Crab Dribble Awards Extravaganza. Imagine your typical awards show, but without celebrities and commercials. We hand out the typical NBA regular season awards, as well as a few atypical ones.
It’s fun; it’s basketball; it’s The Crab Dribble.
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.
K-Dogg’s Fantasy Island “Playoffs”
For me, fantasy sports are about one thing and one thing only, making your friends look stupid. While writing on their face when they are passed out does make them look stupid, taking down titles and putting up trophies makes you look way more intelligent than your creative work with a sharpie.
Ok, maybe luck has something to do with it, but if you can avoid injuries and make sound decisions based on a few strategies then a title run can be in your grasp. What strategies you ask?
Quick … to the island!
The Crab Dribble Episode 17: The Return
The Crab Dribble: Episode 17, The Return
"I can see my house from here!"
The Crab Dribble is back, and better than ever.
(Technical issues… solved. Personal problems… ignored.)
We’re coming strong this week, breaking down Blake Griffin’s rise to power, the Mavericks’ sinking ship, the Spurs’ quiet dominance and so much more you’ll have to listen more than once to catch it all.
The Crab Dribble Episode 14: Magical
It’s a special Christmas episode, and we’re breaking down Orlando’s busy weekend, Yao Ming’s legacy in the NBA and details emerge on our mysterious LA road trip.
Merry Christmas, it’s the best podcast you’ll hear until our next one.
The Crab Dribble Episode 13: The Doctor Is In
This week, The Crab Dribble debates whether the Knicks and Heat are for real, if Patty Mills is worth all the pub he gets on the show, and we look to the coming of NBA goodness.
The Crab Dribble Episode 12: The Magic Hour
In this episode, Rob, Ben and Jason break down Lebron’s return to Cleveland, Laker woes, DeMarcus Cousin’s issues with authority and so much more.
The Crab Dribble: An NBA Podcast – Episode 3 ‘The Heat Check’
The Crab Dribble: An NBA Podcast – Episode 3
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Is it getting hot in herre?
The Crab Dribble gives you a heat check of South Beach and beyond in the Southeast Division.
What they’re saying