Luol Deng’s Spinal Tap Ordeal Continues as Wounded Chicago Bulls Fight on
Right now, the Chicago Bulls are, among other things, a walking, talking bundle of basketball cliches. They play hard, they play as a team, they play for each other, they play for their coach, and they play for the love of the game.
In these playoffs, they’ve shown resilience through all manner of adversity, persevering through pain to win one series (vs. the Brooklyn Nets) and make another (vs. the Miami Heat) more interesting than it otherwise would be.
But as romantic as it would be to simply lionize these Bulls for the way in which they embody the spirit of competition, there’s no ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room here. It’s the same elephant that’s been seated at center court since well before the 2012-13 NBA season began, and that is so often glossed over in the way we talk about sports.
Namely, that even the most superhuman among are mortal—subject to the same forces of gravity and decay that keep us all grounded—and that, as such, they must cope with all of the same physical and emotional sensations that we do.
Sounds silly to bring up, I know. Obviously, these guys aren’t invincible, right? So why bother harping on it?
Because, clearly, there are elements “out there” who would presume upon an athlete’s fitness, who would cast judgment on athletes who they deem to be something other than “tough” or “gutty” or “committed.”
Luol Deng knows what I’m talking about. He recently returned to practice for the Bulls after spending more than a week in hospital while dealing with complications from a spinal tap. As Deng described it (via KC Johnson of The Chicago Tribune):
“I did the spinal tap and, after that, I just didn’t respond well. I started having severe headaches, was struggling to walk. I started feeling really weak. I started throwing up, (had) constant diarrhea. I couldn’t control my body really. Because of that, I lost a lot of weight. And I still don’t feel right.
“I was really scared. I’ve never been through anything like that my whole life. It was scary for me, scary for everyone around me.”
Not surprisingly, the ordeal has left Deng 15 pounds lighter and unable to play the game he loves without feeling the residual effects of his illness:
“I want to play, but I don’t know what I can do,” he said. “I haven’t done anything. It really sucks. I’m weak and I have headaches. When I’m moving around a lot, my headaches increase. I tried to shoot a little bit and I struggled. I couldn’t do it.”
It’s not as though the Sudanese All-Star hasn’t played through plenty of pain and discomfort before, either:
“We’ve had a long season. I’ve played with a lot of injuries. I’ve gone through the torn ligament in the wrist. I had a fractured thumb earlier this year. I played with it. I went through all that to be able to play. I didn’t think something besides an injury would keep me out. And that’s what makes it really hard. I don’t know what you can do.”
And yet, Deng felt the need to take to Twitter to defend himself against those who assumed he could’ve (and should’ve) played in the last two games of the Nets series or somehow found his way into a game against the Heat.
(Note: Luol Deng won’t play in Game 3 against Miami while he continues his recovery from illness, per ESPN.com)
Deng reiterated as much at Bulls’ practice on May 9th (via KC Johnson):
“I just felt like everyone kept saying I was missing the game because of the flu,” Deng said. “I’ve been here for nine years. I’ve played games with the flu. I’ve come to the media and said, ‘I’ve had the flu.’ I don’t think the flu would make me miss a game. I might not play well. I might not play the minutes I play. But even if I had the flu, I would sit on the bench.
“It kind of bothered me a little bit that that’s what was being said when I had a totally different thing. It wasn’t just the flu.”
As if “just the flu” is something that’s can easily be overcome in service of playing professional basketball. It’s difficult to imagine getting out of bed or even sitting at a desk all day while dealing with the aches and pains, the fever and chills, the coughs and sniffles that come with a flu. How anyone could play a game amidst and against the best basketball players in the world under those circumstances is beyond me.
But the heroic efforts put forth by the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Nate Robinson under such sickly conditions don’t appear to have lent us any greater appreciation of the physical and mental efforts required to play through debilitating illness of any kind. Rather, those performances have raised our expectations to even more impossibly high places. We presume that professional athletes handle the flu like the rest of us handle the stubbing of a toe: they walk it off, suck it up, and get back to business.
Except, it’s never that simple, and sometimes, as in Deng’s case, it’s much worse than that. We think we know what guys like Deng are going through, we think we know what they should be doing (i.e. playing), but we don’t. We’re not their doctors, we’re not privy to the minutiae of their respective conditions, and we wouldn’t be able to evaluate those conditions since most of us lack the requisite expertise to do so accurately.
All we see is precedent and how we imagine these highly compensated athletes should respond in light of how others have, because they owe it to us…or something. We see some athletes battle through a flu and rip on Luol Deng for not doing the same, even if his illness was something far worse than a run-of-the-mill virus. We see Metta World Peace take just two weeks to “recover” from a torn meniscus and, as a result, we think that Russell Westbrook, a much younger athlete in the prime of his physical powers, might be able to make a similarly miraculous return, even though A) his injury and his body are different, as are all, and B) MWP’s timetable was ridiculously unrealistic to begin with.
We see Adrian Peterson rush his way into the history books as the NFL MVP after a sixth-month rehab from ACL surgery, we see Iman Shumpert playing his best basketball for the New York Knicks a year after tearing his ACL (and nearly four months since the end of his rehab), and we assume that Derrick Rose should be back as well, because he’s been cleared by doctors and has been practicing with the team for months now.
And, as such, that because he isn’t, he’s presumed to be mentally “weak” and/or unconcerned with the blood, sweat, and tears that his teammates have poured into their season. We ignore that, like us, athletes of Derrick Rose’s ilk experience fear, doubt, and uneasiness just as we do. We hardly consider that he might be at greater risk of injury if he sets foot in a live NBA game without complete faith and confidence in the integrity of his own body, even if his doctors have already assured him that his knee is good to go.
We think guys like Rose and Deng and Joakim Noah (who’s been battling plantar fasciitis for some time) should transcend pain and suffering, should shuffle off this mortal coil like Hamlet, to play basketball because we place “intangibles” in such high regard.
When, really, it’s the most tangible aspects that lie at the intersection between the game and the facts of life that truly dictate who plays and who doesn’t, as well as how those of us at home connect to who and what we see on TV.
And when the Bulls win without Rose and Deng and now Kirk Hinrich (whose calf is still severely bruised), we imagine what they might be able to accomplish with those player in tow and, in some cases, demand even more vociferously that they rise above the trappings of their humanity in order to entertain us.
At which point, I can’t help but spring into Chris Crocker Mode and implore everyone to LEAVE DERRICK AND LUOL (and everyone else who’d best not play right now) ALONE!!! We don’t know exactly what these guys are going through. We shouldn’t presume upon their condition and rip them if they don’t live up to our expectations.
In the case of the Bulls, even if we think these guys could play at less than full capacity, why would anyone want them to right now? Chicago’s chances of beating the Heat four times in seven games (now, three times in five games) would’ve been between slim and none if everyone were completely healthy and available to play. Tom Thibodeau has done a masterful job of squeezing every last ounce of energy and passion out of his remaining players to keep his team alive to this point, but such exertion isn’t sustainable from game to game. Just look at what happened to the Bulls in Game 2, when the healthy, well-rested Heat mopped the floor with them.
There’s much more at stake than just another win (or two) for the Bulls in these playoffs. Chicago has known for some time that there’d be no legitimate title contention this season, not without a fit and confident Derrick Rose to lead the way.
As such, the Bulls would do their best to turn this lemon-tree-of-a-season into lemonade enough to tide over thirsty fans in the Windy City, at least until the team had a better idea of who would be healthy when and what else the roster needed to contend for a title.
Urging Chicago’s walking wounded to rush back doesn’t and won’t change that. If anything, it would behoove the Bulls to continue to make the best of a bad situation, roll over their successes and lessons learned from this year, and come back stronger and better than ever in 2013-14 and beyond.
That’s the biggest cliche of all, isn’t it? That things can and will get better. That one need only exercise patience and perseverance amidst unseemly circumstances to live to see a brighter day.
The Bulls certainly will, once Derrick and Luol and Joakim have re-established the integrity of their own bodies, once the front office has surrounded them with players whose talents more perfectly complement a championship-caliber core.
Now, it’s up to us—fans, media, and otherwise—to take the long view, to recognize the value of patience, to set aside our frustrations and presumptions in the face of uncertainty, and to just enjoy the efforts of those who are playing rather than question and cast judgment upon the absences of those who aren’t.
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Iman Shumpert Continues His Emergence for New York Knicks
Every time J.R. Smith takes a shot, an angel loses its wings.
Times have been tough for the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, as Smith has shot a ghastly 28 percent from the field since serving his one-game suspension against the Boston Celtics.
Smith’s troubles are only compounded by Carmelo Anthony’s recent shooting woes, and one could imagine it would be very difficult for the Knicks to compete with their top two scorers in a funk.
Fortunately for the Knicks, Anthony seemed to have regained his shooting touch as he shot 50 percent from the field in the Knicks’ Game 2 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Additionally, the team is continuing to be fueled by the strong play of Iman Shumpert, who seems to be rounding into form at the perfect time when the Knicks most desperately need him.
Shumpert was the Knicks first-round draft pick in 2011 and had a very solid rookie campaign. He proved to be a solid fourth scoring option and immediately became one of the Knicks’ best defense players.
Unfortunately for Shumpert, he would go on to tear his ACL in the first round of the playoffs last year and missed a significant number of games this season as a result.
Shumpert worked extremely hard during his rehabilitation period and was able to return to the court much sooner than expected. When he returned, however, he was not quite the player that fans remembered from his rookie season.
It appeared that there was some hesitation and trepidation when he first returned to the court. Some of that can be attributed to rust and needing to get his “sea legs” back, but this was certainly not the same Iman Shumpert who proved to be such a valuable commodity last season.
As the season progressed, and the Knicks went on their thirteen-game winning streak, Shumpert appeared to slowly be rounding into shape, and as the playoffs began, he slowly began to assert himself in both series against the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.
In addition to his sterling defense, Shumpert began making clutch threes and taking on much more of a scoring burden. Per NBA.com, Shumpert is averaging 10 points per game to go along with over six rebounds per game in the playoffs.
His impact on both ends of the court have been invaluable for the Knicks, with Smith continuing to shoot his way out of his slump and the offensive liabilities that are Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.
Iman Shumpert might not be the best player on the Knicks, but as these playoffs continue, he may prove to be their most important player.
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Kevin Garnett Continues to Give Epic Post-Game Interviews
Kevin Garnett does not give very many interviews with the media. However, the grizzled Celtics veteran continues to give epic interviews after games.”We out here scrappin,” said Garnett after he lead his Celtics back from the dead with a 16-point, 18-rebound game to defeat the New York Knicks 92-86. Garnett then made some pretty fantastic construction metaphors to describe what his team had to do.
Garnett is always entertaining, but who could forget this interview.
Via CSNNE
Article found on: Next Impulse Sports
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Kobe Bryant Continues Streak Of Perfectly Not Modest Quotes
The quote machine, Kobe Bryant, was at it again when he was asked on Friday if he would be watching the Final Four. His answer was wonderful, as we have come to expect.
Is Kobe watching the Final Four tomorrow? “I ain’t watching s—. They should be watching me.”
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) April 6, 2013
[The Big Lead]
Article found on: Next Impulse Sports
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Tim Duncan continues to impress those around him
Duncan doesn’t worry about his approval rating, he just goes about his business
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NIT 2013 Scores: Maryland Continues Surviving with Lackluster Performances
The semifinals are beginning to take shape at the 2013 National Invitation Tournament, with Maryland surviving a lackluster outing to defeat Alabama. The Terrapins will now move on to New York, where they’ll play either Virginia or Iowa.
This is yet another sign of resilience from a team that has consistently displayed inconsistency.
Maryland outlasted Alabama by a score of 58-57. They shot 50.0 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc, thus establishing what would appear to be a great offensive effort.
With that being said, the Terrapins also shot 50.0 percent from the free throw line and committed 17 turnovers.
This is the third consecutive game in which Maryland has struggled taking care of the ball. They’re averaging 15.0 turnovers during the NIT and 14.8 for the season. They rank 336th in turnovers committed thus far in 2012-13.
Even still, the Terrapins have found a way to win. They pair elite rebounding with quality defense, thus leading to their current status in the NIT semifinals.
The question is, how far can they go with these type of performances?
The Alex Len Factor
During Maryland’s win over Alabama, Alex Len was sensational. He finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and five blocks.
This comes after two consecutive outings in which Len failed to top 10 points or five rebounds.
This has been the story with Len, as his world class talent has been on display on a far too inconsistent basis. Whether Maryland draws Virginia or Iowa, that will not be acceptable. Len needs to dominate as his ability suggests he can.
During Maryland’s past nine losses, Len is averaging 9.6 points per game. This is why the Terrapins need Len to step up, as his production is often the life of their putrid offense.
Maryland’s win over Alabama was evidence of that truth.
Can They Keep Shooting?
For the season, Maryland is shooting 33.6 percent from beyond the arc. Thus far in the NIT, they’re shooting 38.3 percent from distance.
The question is, can they keep on shooting at such a high clip?
Chances are, the Terrapins will cool down at some point during this tournament. They’ve been hot against Niagara and Alabama, but they made just 3-of-12 three-pointers against Denver.
If they shoot that poorly against Iowa or Virginia, Maryland will be on the outside looking in come the NIT Finals.
This is not to sell Maryland’s efforts short, as the talent is in place for them to win it all. Dezmine Wells is a legitimate star in the ACC, Maryland rebounds as well as any team and Len’s dynamic abilities have already been acknowledged.
Unless they cut down on turnovers and become a more consistent offensive team, however, the Terrapins will not reach the Finals.
The pressure is on.
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Jeremy Lin Continues to Play Key Role in Rockets’ Playoff Push
Unsurprisingly, the Houston Rockets have maintained a postseason spot and Jeremy Lin continues to have a significant impact.
Sporting an 8-3 record thus far in March, Houston has edged up to the No. 7 position in the Western Conference. Holding a three-game lead over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers as of Monday, Lin and the Rockets also only sit one half game back of the Golden State Warriors.
Their 39-31 record would be tied for fifth in the East.
Plus in an article by the Associated Press via the USA Today last week, coach Kevin McHale spoke of Lin’s impact after the victory over the Utah Jazz that sparked their current three-game win streak:
I thought that Jeremy made some big hoops coming down the stretch when we needed them. They were really intent on staying with James [Harden] in the second half and really not giving him a lot of room, so Jeremy really broke free.
And despite Lin’s numbers not wowing the stat sheet over the past two games, his court presence remains crucial for Houston’s overall output.
Lin accounted for 11 assists between the wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs. Without question was he outshined by James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik, but Lin isn’t going to put up 20-plus points on a game-by-game basis either—although he certainly has proven the capability.
Houston possesses the talent around him courtesy of the aforementioned players to challenge the best in its conference. The role for Lin simply needs to remain solid with assists and knocking down freebies when at the free-throw line.
Beckley Mason of the New York Times wrote of Lin in late February and puts it best by saying:
It is a complicated role for Lin. He not only has to be aggressive at all times, but also has to know how and when to get out of the way and let Harden run the show. Lin’s role parallels the one Derek Fisher once occupied with the Lakers next to Kobe Bryant, though the teams’ playing styles are much different. Lin must steady the offense while also regularly yielding control of it.
This is why Houston sits in its current spot as April nears.
Lin possesses the wherewithal to score at will, but on a when-needed basis. That reliability becomes a competitive advantage for the Rockets as the season wears on, because now opponents must defend multiple scorers.
With the threat of Harden taking over at any time, though, Houston’s offense brings a personnel and schematic advantage for various game situations. Factor in less pressure on Lin to perform with playmakers such as Harden, Parsons and Asik and it allows him to delegate accordingly.
Ranking No. 1 in scoring offense (106.4) and No. 5 in assists per game (23.3), the Rockets are a more dangerous postseason team with Lin orchestrating the point. Regardless of the numbers, his contributions and unselfish play increase Houston’s odds for a strong playoff appearance.
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College Basketball: Loyola Marymount’s Improbable Run in WCC Tourney Continues
There are nine teams in the West Coast Conference and Loyola Marymount finished the regular season in ninth place with a 1-15 conference record.
Using normal, everyday logic, no one gave the Lions a shot in hell of winning their first conference tournament game, let alone their second or third.
The Lions brought a 14-game losing streak into the Orleans Arena this week for the WCC Tournament, which has the most confusing bracket setup of any conference tournament.
Loyola Marymount has won three games in Las Vegas over the last three days while the top two seeds, Gonzaga and St. Mary’s still have not played a single game.
On Wednesday, the No. 9 seed Loyola Marymount took on the No. 8 seed Portland in the opening game of the WCC Tournament.
Against a team that they lost to twice during conference play by a total of 13 points, the Lions were in control throughout and they booked a spot in the next round against the No. 5 seed San Francisco with a 65-54 win.
By the time the second game of the Lions’ remarkable campaign started, the team, coached by Max Good, had plenty of confidence flowing within their veins.
Once again, facing a team that defeated them twice in the regular season, the Lions fought hard and were able to force an overtime period.
In that overtime period, only nine points were scored between Loyola Marymount and the Dons of San Francisco.
Luckily for the Lions, they were the team that scored the majority of the points in overtime as they squeaked out a 61-60 victory,
The next victim in the path of the Lions was No. 4 seed Santa Clara, a team which came into Las Vegas expecting to a victory on Friday night and to potentially challenge Gonzaga on Saturday night.
After 40 minutes of play, Loyola Marymount was the team that earned the high-profile matchup with a Gonzaga team that has thoroughly dominated the WCC all season.
The Lions did not make life easy for their small section of fans in the stands at the Orleans Arena as they committed two inexcusable fouls in the waning seconds of the game.
As the luck of a Cinderella team would have it, Santa Clara missed the front end of the second one-and-one opportunity at the free throw line and that miss would prove costly for the Broncos.
After Anthony Ireland sunk one of his two free throws with two seconds remaining in the game, the Loyola Marymount fans erupted in celebration of their team’s third consecutive upset in three nights.
As Saturday’s semifinal matchup with Gonzaga approaches, the national spotlight on Loyola Marymount is growing.
While many fans across the nation will not fully accept Loyola Marymount as a Cinderella team until they beat Gonzaga, what it has accomplished already has been given national praise by certain media outlets, including SB Nation.
If, and it is a big if, the Loyola Marymount Lions can upset Gonzaga they would play in the WCC Tournament final on Monday night.
Chris Dachille of WBAL-TV in Baltimore, who is also a voter in the AP Top 25, is optimistic about Loyola Marymount’s chances, at least for now.
If the Lions make an appearance in the WCC Tournament final, not only will fans of Loyola Marymount be watching the game with plenty of interest, the attention of the potential bubble teams will be solely focused on the Orleans Arena.
If Max Good’s team can do the unthinkable and pull off two more victories, we will have full blown madness on our hands.
Follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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Can Brooklyn Nets Win in the Postseason If Deron Williams Continues To Struggle?
The Brooklyn Nets will not win a postseason series if Deron Williams continues to struggle.
Williams hasn’t been the same player since aggravating an ankle injury in the 2012 Olympics. USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo told the Daily News that Williams was out of shape at the Olympics prior to aggravating the injury.
Colangelo claimed Williams was overweight, while Nets general manager Billy King maintained the star point guard weighed just one pound heavier than he did prior to being acquired from the Utah Jazz in February 2011.
Williams’ weight may or may not have been to blame for his ailment, but there’s no denying he’s been banged up this season. Through 58 games he’s been bothered by injuries to his shoulder, wrist, thigh and, most recently, his ankles.
Williams did not play in a December 26 108-93 blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. But the more concerning issue has been the ankle injury.
The 28-year-old has been dealing with inflammation in his ankles all season. He received a cortisone shot to treat a bone spur before the season, and was given two more cortisone shots during the All-Star break.
Williams underwent platelet-rich plasma injections the Monday before the All-Star break after suffering what appeared to be a setback in a game against the Chicago Bulls on February 1.
Instead of resting, the Nets point guard opted to play through the pain over the next four games. Brooklyn lost three of four over that stretch with Williams averaging just 15.5 points and 5.7 assists.
As reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York, Brooklyn’s floor general was averaging just 13.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 turnovers and shooting 38.7 percent from field prior to his prolonged rest.
The last time Williams attempted a dunk was November 23 when he was emphatically rejected by Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin.
“I can’t jump — I don’t know if you’ve noticed — I haven’t dunked. I can’t dunk,” said Williams (via ESPN NewYork.com)
Due to his nagging ankle injuries, he hasn’t dunked in an NBA game since April 13, 2012.
Williams has returned to form since the All-Star break, averaging 22.8 points and 8.4 assists. He carried the Nets to a big win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday, scoring a season-high tying 33 points.
The Nets leaned heavily on Williams in the fourth quarter against New Orleans, and No. 8 delivered, scoring the final eight points of the game. Having a go-to-guy in the fourth quarter will pay huge dividends for Brooklyn in the playoffs.
Particularly encouraging for Nets fans was the variety of ways in which D-Will got his points in New Orleans. He scored inside and out, and got to the free throw line early and often going 9-of-10 from the stripe.
He may not be Rajon Rondo, but this no-look dish to Brook Lopez is an example of why the Nets are a much better team with Williams orchestrating the attack. Passes like these are the reason he’s a three-time All-Star.
The Nets offense is at its best when Williams plays aggressive and acts as a facilitator. He averaged over 10 assists per game with the Utah jazz from 2007 to 2010. He’s vastly underrated as a passer, and is a big reason why center Brook Lopez is having a breakout season.
The biggest beneficiary of a healthy Deron Williams is Brook Lopez.
When Williams penetrates and pushes the ball on the fast break, he draws defenders away from Lopez, leaving the big man open to bury mid-range jumpers and uncontested layups, as seen in the video above. Moving without the ball, Williams gives Lopez a passing option both in the paint and spotting up on the perimeter.
When D-Will drives in the half-court offense, he has the option to kick it outside to an open shooter, convert on a layup, or get to the free-throw line.
There’s a reason the Nets gave him a $98 million max-contract in the offseason.
Elite point guards aren’t easy to come by, and very few NBA point guards possess the combination of his scoring ability, vision and ball-handling skills.
D-Will reached the second round of the playoffs with Utah in 2008 and 2010, and led them to the Western Conference Finals in 2007. He is a game-changer with playoff experience. This will be crucial for the Nets when they match up against teams like the Miami Heat, New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers in the postseason.
Backup C.J. Watson filled in admirably in February wins over the Pacers and Denver Nuggets. But in the end the Nets will only go as far as their star point guard takes them.
The Nets may win a game or two in the playoffs with D-Will struggling, but they won’t win a first round series if he’s not firing on all cylinders.
For more Brooklyn Nets analysis, follow Andrew on Twitter:
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Ranking Jim Boeheim’s Biggest Concerns as Syracuse Freefall Continues
Syracuse players walked onto the court for a Jan. 26 conference clash exuding confidence. The Orange were 18-1, unbeaten in the Big East and coming off consecutive wins over ranked opponents, including No. 1 Louisville.
A game versus struggling Villanova (three straight losses) seemed to represent just another stepping stone toward a dominant season.
Jim Boeheim’s squad lost more than a matchup that Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, home of the Wildcats and Philadelphia 76ers. Since suffering a 75-71 overtime defeat in Philly, Syracuse hasn’t been the same team.
The Orange, then ranked No. 3 in the nation, are 4-5 in the last nine games. Monday night’s loss at Marquette dropped them to 10-5 in conference play, two games back of first-place Georgetown in the loss column.
What’s gone so wrong for the Orange? Let’s attempt to uncover some of Syracuse’s key concerns with an analysis of their recent slide.
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