Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington Making a Case for 6th Man of the Year
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the more entertaining teams to watch this season for a number of reasons.
They are constantly looking to push the tempo of the game, they are full of athletic defenders and they score in big bunches.
But when you consider who the most valuable contributors on this team might be, there are the usual suspects, and then there is this guy.
That’s right. Al Harrington. The man with a used car salesman’s first name. The man with the K-Mart shoe deal. The man who is willing to go the distance.
Historically speaking, I am not a fan of Al Harrington.
Over his career much of what he has brought to the floor represents exactly what I dislike in an NBA player.
Don’t get me wrong, he has always been able to score the basketball; however, there have been those black-hole stretches where chucking the ball without any conscience was the norm.
It’s not really my place to judge, but this is a guy who would have been better served by spending a year or two playing in college before the NBA.
Anyway, now that I have run Big Al’s game through the dirt, allow me to describe exactly why he is my Sixth Man of the Year.
Al Harrington has found himself another niche in the NBA.
Over the course of his career, his value has never been higher than when he is coming off the bench as a nice complementary piece. So too is the case here in Denver.
He is not burdened with the brunt of the scoring responsibility night in and night out, and as a result, Harrington is able to enter a game and take over for short bursts. This provides the Nuggets with some relief in moments of stagnancy.
Scoring is what he hangs his hat on; he has a nice jumper, clever ball fakes, an excellent handle and has a real nose for getting to the hoop.
Take for example this past weekend. The Nuggets and the Knicks in New York. A double OT thriller. How many times was Al Harrington there to bail the Nuggets out late with a score? He finished with 24 points off the bench. Impressive.
What has been most surprising this season is the efficiency with which Harrington is scoring the ball.
In just over 25 minutes a game, Al is averaging 16 points a game while shooting 53 percent from the field.
Mind-boggling numbers.
Along with that he is shooting just under 40 percent from three-point range.
And Harrington’s shot selection has been on point so far this season as well. He is averaging about 3.5 makes at the rim, and about 1.8 from behind the arc.
He is taking high percentage shots (and more importantly) making high percentage shots, and he has been able to react to situations based on the defense rather than just bailing out with an ill-advised, contested jumper.
Are you impressed yet?
It seems like when the pressure to score is removed, Harrington thrives. This comes from the balanced roster that the Nuggets have amassed, thanks to Carmelo Anthony.
The Nuggets are using Al Harrington as the role player that he is—a straight up scoring threat.
If he keeps this type of production up, the Nuggets will be able to make a run in the playoffs.
Keep your eyes on Al Harrington and his Denver Nuggets. They are going to be a very large thorn in somebody’s thigh come playoff time.
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Chicago Bulls: Making a Case for Carlos Boozer to Be an All-Star
Carlos Boozer is one of those NBA players that have you scratching your head curiously. Fans see this imposing figure in Boozer, yet they question his passion for the game.
The majority of the criticism is aimed at his indifference on defense. His lift is lacking the explosiveness that he once had—although he was never much of a leaper.
Two of the knocks on Boozer coming out of college were that he wasn’t athletic enough, and that his size at the power forward position didn’t match up to those entering the draft alongside him. (Here is the USAToday.com draft capsule on Carlos Boozer once he declared to enter the 2002 NBA Draft.)
Boozer in many ways is an overachiever with several successful seasons in the NBA. Many saw him as a role player, even likening him to Alan Henderson. A career average of 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds isn’t terrible for a prospective “role-player.”
This season, his second with the Bulls, is perhaps the best in his nine-year tenure in the NBA—one that suggests that Carlos Boozer is deserving of some serious NBA All-Star conversation.
While his scoring average is down, so are his minutes—under 30 per game for the first time since his rookie season. His 8.4 rebounds a game—down from the 9.6 that he snagged last year—lead the Bulls.
But his improvement has been his overall activity. Boozer is chasing down loose balls and is using better footwork on defense.
During some third quarter stretches, Boozer has become the go-to player in the high post. His mid-range jumper has never looked better.
His best work of the season has come with Derrick Rose out while nursing a toe injury.
During the four-game time frame Carlos Boozer has averaged 21.5 points and nine rebounds. He also got eight steals. Good players are at their best when their teams call upon them.
It is this stretch that should begin a debate about whether or not Boozer belongs in the All-Star Game. Locks for the Eastern Conference All-Stars are: Rose, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh. Rajon Rondo will most likely take up a spot while either Joe Johnson or Josh Smith will be the representative for the Atlanta Hawks.
That leaves three available spots.
Who is worthy of them?
In normal seasons, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce would be in the discussion, but the Celtics have struggled mightily and are not even .500 at this point.
No one player has had a complete bust-out season for the Pacers or 76ers despite their good records. In fact, if you look at the numbers of Boozer, Danny Granger and Andre Iguodala, the comparisons are interesting.
Carlos Boozer: 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals per game.
Danny Granger: 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.69 steals per game.
Andre Iguodala: 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.1 steals per game.
If you add a much-deserving Luol Deng to this group, you have four players vying for two spots.
Why only two spots? One of the three positions must go to a center.
Dismiss Joakim Noah for the time being. A late run of good games by Noah would perhaps make him a lock, as no other center in the east has distinguished himself from the others.
Milwaukee‘s record eliminates Andrew Bogut’s name for now as well.
That honestly leaves Tyson Chandler (no way do the Knicks deserve three All-Stars) and Roy Hibbert.
The Bulls have the best record in the NBA, and that should count for something. If Luol Deng should take one spot, does Carlos Boozer take the other?
It’ll all depend on which second center is chosen. For now, Roy Hibbert edges out Chandler and Noah thus leaving the final spot up for grabs.
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Report: Fine accuser wants case dropped (AP)
The attorney for a Maine man who accused fired Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him says he’s dropping a civil lawsuit filed in Pittsburgh. Jeffrey R. Anderson, attorney for Zach Tomaselli, says in a statement that he “will be dismissing his case” against Fine.
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College Basketball Top 25: Making a Case for the Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt has the reputation of an underachiever.
How could it not? Despite being favored in each of their past three tournament appearances, the Commodores haven’t escaped the first round, losing to the likes of Siena, Murray State, and Richmond.
This year, too, they have underachieved to the tune of a 13-4 record after being ranked No. 7 in the preseason.
Home losses to Cleveland State and Indiana State are resume-killers, and overtime losses to Xavier and Louisville aren’t as acceptable as they were one month ago. Both the Musketeers and Cardinals have cooled off tremendously since their torrid starts to 2011-12.
However, Festus Ezeli missed the first three losses, and while he played against Indiana State, he still was not 100 percent recovered from the knee surgery that sidelined him for the season’s first month.
Ezeli’s athletic defensive presence down low was the main reason Vanderbilt cracked the Top 10 in the preseason. Without him, the Commodores probably would have ranked closer to No. 15.
That’s how valuable he is to Vanderbilt—if you haven’t realized that already.
Since Ezeli returned as a regular to the Commodore rotation, Kevin Stallings’ team has reeled off five straight victories. He hasn’t quite played like the Festus Ezeli who averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks a season ago, but it’s not a coincidence that the Commodores are winning with him on the floor.
This is—almost, pending Ezeli returning to 100 percent—the preseason No. 7 team.
Yes, the Commodores have beaten up on three of the many woeful SEC teams—Auburn, South Carolina, and Georgia—but they also picked up a much-needed victory at Marquette with Ezeli contributing eight points and seven rebounds.
This week, Vanderbilt came in at No. 26 in the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls and No. 27 in the B/R Writers Rankings, but some of the teams ahead of the Commodores aren’t any more deserving of cracking the Top 25.
Kansas State, which edged Vanderbilt for the No. 25 spot in the AP Top 25 and the B/R Writers Rankings, is one of those teams. While the Wildcats have beaten Alabama and Missouri—both at home—they played an easier non-conference schedule than the Commodores, according to Kenpom, and rank two spots lower in the RPI.
Kansas State nearly defeated Baylor but it followed its 75-73 loss to the Bears with a nine-point loss at Oklahoma.
Despite beating a then-ranked Florida State team that had struggled immensely until this weekend, Harvard also doesn’t deserve a spot over Vanderbilt in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. The Crimson lost to Fordham and are No. 53 in the RPI.
Compare the Commodores to the Wildcats and the Crimson.
Vanderbilt is 13-4 and No. 30 in the RPI. Its hot streak is current.
Kansas State is 12-4 and No. 32 in the RPI, but the Wildcats have lost three of their last four.
Harvard is 15-2, but the Fordham loss is an indelible stain on its resume.
Although the Wildcats have played tougher competition recently and have a very similar record and RPI, the Commodores’ early struggles without Ezeli should be taken with a grain of salt.
Would Xavier have made its late comeback to force overtime with Ezeli playing? Would Peyton Siva have been able to knife through the lane for his game-winning layup as easily with Ezeli looming under the hoop?
The Commodores are hot now, and the Wildcats are not. The Crimson lost at the wrong time—right before Ivy League play.
Vanderbilt should be ranked over those teams right now, but wins over Alabama and Mississippi State this week would cement the Commodores as a Top 25 squad.
If not, it’s because they’ve become known as underachievers.
And that’s not fair.
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Atlanta Hawks in Survival Mode: The Case for Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive
More than a few analysts have written off the Hawks‘ 2012 title aspirations in the wake of Al Horford’s injury, and for good reason.
Over the last four years, Horford has been instrumental to the Hawks’ steady ascendancy in the Eastern Conference, efficiently contributing 12 to 15 points a game along with solid rebounding and defense.
Nevertheless, the Hawks’ response to such a setback should be measured. Under no circumstance should they make moves that impinge on their ability to be successful in the near future. This is still a young team whose best days very well may be ahead.
But Hawks fans shouldn’t get rid of those season tickets just yet. Larry Drew’s perpetual underdogs are likely to once again make the playoffs, and when they do, it would be premature to write this team off. Hawks general manager Rick Sund will take a look at opportunities to improve the team, but admits they may stand pat.
Contrary to popular pessimism, Hawks fans have at least two reasons to view this cup half-full. Yes, they may look to compensate via the trade market, but even in it’s current form, this team shouldn’t be dismissed.
First, if Horford’s injury costs him three months (instead of four), there’s the very real possibility he can make it back in time for the playoffs. He wouldn’t be playing at 100 in all likelihood, and the Hawks clearly must prepare for the worst-case scenario.
But, if the Hawks can gut it out in a long first-round series, they certainly give themselves a chance to bring Horford along in time for the second round.
Even without Horford, Atlanta has low-post depth many teams would envy. Zaza Pachulia would get more minutes with a lot of other clubs, and he’s been with the Hawks long enough to slip into the starting lineup pretty seamlessly.
Even Jason Collins (now in his 10th year) gives the Hawks a serviceable backup center with experience as a starter in the NBA. Collins has never been much more than a solid post defender and intelligent team player. On a team with more scoring options than its previous iterations, the Hawks shouldn’t need much more than that.
Second, Atlanta can and should go “small,” push the tempo, and spread the floor.
The Hawks were committed to a faster-tempo this season even before they lost Horford.
Historically, Atlanta has squandered its speed and athleticism in favor of a more disciplined half-court offense. Combined with the kind of defensive effort Drew’s team displayed against Chicago and Miami, the formula appeared to have some success earlier this season.
Without the anchor of their low-post defense, however, that formula may need to change.
In many respects, the Hawks have an ideal roster for a more aggressive transition game.
In his second year, Jeff Teague has been a revelation running the point in Kirk Hinrich’s absence. While Teague may lack Hinrich’s experience and defensive acuity, he’s a perfect (and speedy) fit for a team that can run.
Josh Smith is unquestionably one of the most explosive power forwards in the game and excels at running the court end to end as a finisher and shot-blocker alike. Smith must play like an all-star this season, and if he starts taking on opposing centers (which isn’t a stretch when you think about guarding guys like Udonis Haslem or even Joakim Noah).
Meanwhile, frontcourt partner Marvin Williams has good length that could help compensate for the lack of a more traditional post presence. He’s not a conventional power forward, but then again, the point of “going small” isn’t doing what’s conventional.
Joe Johnson and Tracy McGrady are big wing players at 6’7” and 6’8” respectively. The Hawks should increasingly rely upon a lineup with Smith, Williams, Johnson, McGrady and Teague on the floor at the same time.
None of these players will replace Horford in the post, and none of them have the strength to guard Dwight Howard. But the combined length and athleticism should allow them to rebound the ball and push the tempo.
And, outside of Orlando how many other playoff-bound teams in the East have dominant 7-footers?
The Miami Heat has proven that teams in the East can succeed without a quality traditional center (their closest option being Joel Anthony). Of course, the Hawks don’t have the same star talent to compensate, but there’s reason to believe they can still compete.
Atlanta should also continue to spread the floor with 6’10” forward Vladimir Radmanovic, a more than capable shooter from range.
With Vlad on court, opposing big men are forced to step outside the paint (both diminishing the value of their size and opening lanes for guards to penetrate).
Of course, the Hawks may very well flame out and lose focus in a year beset by such difficult news.
But, with storied veterans like Jerry Stackhouse and Tracy McGrady bringing a hardened professionalism to the locker room, the Hawks have all the makings of a sleeper in the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
How do you think the Hawks will fare without their star center?
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Mediation ordered for Big East, WVU case (AP)
A Rhode Island judge has ordered West Virginia University and the Big East to enter non-binding mediation in their competing lawsuits over WVU’s plans to quit the conference and join the Big 12. Providence County Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein signed an order Tuesday and scheduled a status conference for Feb.
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Battery Case Against Kobe Bryant Will Proceed
A battery case against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant may proceed. The battery case involves the DEATH of a fan who was hit by Bryant back in November 2005 while attending a the L.A. Lakers/Memphis Grizzles basketball game.According to legal documents, the victim Geeslin and his friend attended the basketball game at the Grizzles home arena, FedEX Forum in Memphis, TN. The two were seated court side. During the game, a L.A. Lakers player recovered a ball at the Grizzles end of the floor. The player then attempted to pass the ball to Bryant, but Bryant wasn’t able to fully control the ball. While trying to control the ball, Bryant came into contract with a Memphis player, as both players careened out of bounds.As they went out of bounds, the legal documents say that Bryant hit into or onto the plaintiff.Geeslin alleges that when Bryant got up, trying to get himself back into the game, and then he pushed his forearm into Geeslin’s chest in a RUDE, UNNECESSARY manner, which caused…
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Questions raised about DA in Bernie Fine case
A New York prison inmate has come forward with accusations that he was sexually molested by ex-Syracuse assistant basketball coach.
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Case against Boeheim, Syracuse could be tough to prove
Attorneys say defamation action could hinge on whether former ball boys Bobby Davis and Mike Lang are ruled to be public figures
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Warriors Guard Charlie Bells Shows Up Drunk to DWI Court Case
The unfortunate spiral of NBA veteran Charlie Bell remains in full effect. The Warriors guard, who spent the lion’s share of his career with the Bucks, was arrested in October in Flint, Michigan for being liquored up, driving on a suspended license and not paying attention to stop signs. That’s 0 for 3. Bell made matters worse for himself by showing up to his court date last week…again, liquored up.
Bell hasn’t had it easy as of late. His wife allegedly stabbed him in May and he had another DUI-ish brush with the law back in February. And to add insult to injury, the Warriors waved in this weekend.
(via HuffPost)
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