lethalweapon3

Totally agree with PHX. Other than Nash, no returning guard gets to the line as often as Jamal, and none are sinking more than 1.5 threes per game. With only Pietrus and maybe Chills as their SG options, they will be relying heavily on Brooks and Nash to supply both the long-range shooting and passing duties. Nash and Craw at any time in the backcourt is not ideal defensively, but heck, it's Phoenix. They can slide Pietrus or Childress to the 3 spot to help balance things out a bit. ~lw3

I know I said to suggest teams other than “obvious title contenders,” but until late April, not many were ready to put the Grizzlies in that category. Not only am I putting them in that group now (even without Crawford), I am downright giddy about their ability to make noise next year in the West, especially with the return of Rudy Gay to the lineup. Even re-signing Marc Gasol and Hamed Haddadi, the Grizzles could still have under $60 million in committed salaries. I assume they will be trying to trade (successfully, this time) O.J. Mayo to get some depth up front. If that happens, behind Tony Allen and Mike Conley, Jr. is some young talent (Greivis Vasquez, Josh Selby, Xavier Henry) that might not be primed for title contention. Memphis was last in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game last season (3.8, the only team with less than 4), and far below everyone in three-point rate (3PA/FGA, just 13.6%). The Grizz were last in the Western Conference for 3-point FG% (33.4%), but second in the NBA in percentage of assisted three-point baskets (90.6%). Having a shooting guard that can seal the deal from outside can be a boost for Conley, who could move up in the tiering of the league’s starting point guards, while reducing reliance on guys like Gay to take open shots beyond 15 feet. Adding Jamal would give Lionel Hollins the luxury of a “change-up” approach to the SG position. Hollins can adjust to opponents with either a defensive stalwart (Allen) or an offensive sparkplug (Crawford). It would make Mayo expendable for backup depth at other positions, and can signal the seriousness of the Grizzlies to be a championship threat in the free-wheeling West. ~lw3

~lw3

It was supposed to get released in August or something*, so they'll throw a page up there soon. One thing is for sure... My dude Armond White is going to LOVE it! "Fresh!" * (From the website: "Jerusalem Countdown will open in select theaters/churches August 26th. Now is the time to plan and prepare...") Ya gotta love the use of the "slash." With the "select theaters-slash-churches" we got, you won't have a hard time finding it around these parts... I'll just leave it there. ~lw3

http://www.hawksquawk.net/community/index.php/topic/360885-kings-casspian-seeya/ Back to the drawing board for me! ~lw3

We're in "Win enough games to get some playoff revenue, then hope for the best" perpetual mode. ~lw3

http://www.niubball....nment-approval/ http://aol.sportingn...ith-nba-lockout In Arn Tellem's stable of locked-out players at Wasserman are Joe Johnson and Al Horford. Less likely to go are the Collins twins, and Etan Thomas, who is a tad busy at the moment. So, for Joe and Al, would it be worth the risk? ~lw3

And just in time for Bastille Day... http://www.asvelbasket.com/ ~lw3

Sactown just beat me to my Marv-Future 1st Rounder for Garcia-Casspi deal idea. Ah well. Now they can keep Garcia and Greene if they wish. I guess Whiteside is the backup 5 (Hickson the backup 4?) until they pick up a veteran FA. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/06/30/kings.trade/index.html ~lw3

Good luck to Woody, he's getting a second interview with the Pistons today. ~lw3

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/30/nene-makes-it-official-he-will-be-a-free-agent/related/ I say he's opting out just so he can get rid of that cheesy-grin pic once and for all. ~lw3

Once we go live with free agency, whenever that is, many of the obvious NBA title contenders may be beating down the door for the services of Jamal Crawford. I wonder if there are some less obvious places you can think of that may be a good fit for him. Here is my first suggestion… Trading off Stephen Jackson displays the confidence the Bobcats have going forward with the emerging Gerald Henderson. But there's not much depth behind him, and not much veteran experience in the backcourt overall -- Kemba, D.J. Augustin, Matt Carroll, maybe Garrett Temple -- for a team that claims a desire for an immediate return to the playoffs. As for Henderson, he connected on less than 20 percent of his threes last season. No 'Cats guard other than Jackson made more than 1.5 threes per game. Kemba and D.J. will help, but there will be times they'll need to rely on a shooting guard that can turn it out from deep. Jamal would certainly be better than having undersized guards on the floor together to boost the offense, and it would alleviate the need for over-reliance on Carroll. Even with Cap'n Jack, Charlotte ranked next-to-last in the NBA for 3-point percentage last season, and was near the bottom in free throw shooting and total shooting. Jamal was marginally better as a shooter compared to Jackson, and sank 85% from the charity stripe last year. (As an aside, quite a few that Jamal "missed" early on, I still suspect, were under a subtle yet deliberate protest over his contract non-extension. There's NO way I can prove it, though, so never mind!) The Bobcats are another low-pace team (like the Hawks) but one that lacks in the area of offensive efficiency, perhaps part of the reason they made a play for Corey Maggette. Jamal would be another definite boost in that area, and would be more proficient with his passing than Jackson was. Conceivably, a Crawford-Maggette wing would give up just as many points as they can muster, so they would probably start only one of them, with either Henderson or Tyrus Thomas playing alongside them. As long as he gets adequate minutes, the former Sixth Man of the Year is not likely to be grumpy if Silas chooses to start Henderson ahead of him. As a bonus for him, with Kemba and D.J. in the mix, he would only be pressed to play the backup point if needed as an injury replacement. If Crawford's asking price is below that of MJ's fellow Tar Heel alum Vince Carter, who would be more likely to pressure Henderson as a starter, I can see Rich Cho and the Bobcats making Jamal an offer. He can have some, if not most, of the salary that Morris Peterson had prior to his contract expiration ($6.6 million). Relocation expenses wouldn't be terribly bad. ~lw3

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH BOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEE! ~lw3

It looks like a globebuster! LOL Don't get excited if you run into COUNTDOWN: JERUSALEM (Also goes by "Countdown: Armageddon"; "In the tradition of 'The Omega Code" and "Left Behind"; The End Isn't Near... It's Here! Oh Noes!") at your local redbox. No relation at all with J.C. ("A Prelude to Armageddon"; "The Crisis of Tomorrow... Today! Oh Noes!") I, for one, have abundant hope for ANY movie that has Randy Travis, Jaci Velasquez, and Stacy Keach in featured roles. I know, the big-budget flicks get most of the attention come Razzie Award time, but here's a clear underdog that could be screaming out for a nomination. Don't you wish you could say with pride you were among the first to see Troll 2 in the theatre, back before it was cool? Or Showgirls, Waterworld, Highlander II, Battlefield Earth? This will be worth my time if it's nearly as bad. There are movies that come along every few years that become second-run movie house legends for generations, and this totally has potential. Somebody call T.O. I'm gettin' my popcorn ready! ~lw3

That should clear a path for No-Djok. We'll see if he takes advantage of it. ~lw3

And look who's posting over there as of this morning? Yeah, HS will be fine. I'd be a little concerned if I were thehighlightfactory.net, but I see dude already changed his blog to Soaring Down South back in March (perhaps in tandem?). ~lw3

If Marvin's moved and there remains a need for SF depth... c'mon down! ~lw3

Assuming Horf survived a sign-and-trade deal for Nene, between the "Twin Mid-Rises," who gets to play the 5? ~lw3

I will forward your concern to superiorblogman. Oh, wait...~lw3

ET's Hoopshype Blog Link The NBPA: Where a comparison of Players to parents, and Owners to spoiled children, happens. ~lw3

10th Round Fill-In Pick: C.J. Miles Tony Parker/Devin Harris DeMar DeRozan/C.J. Miles Carmelo Anthony/Trevor Ariza Tim Duncan/Emeka Okafor Brook Lopez/Channing Frye I believe capstone21 is still on the clock. ~lw3

9th Round Catch-Up Pick: Channing Frye 10th Round Pick in a few minutes. ~lw3

Hey gang, I got the all-clear to make a couple picks now that I'm taking over superiorblogman's squad. They'll be for the 9th and 10th rounds. I'll have them up momentarily once I finish sorting out who's available.~lw3

Josh Powell, Jamal Crawford, Etan Thomas, it was great knowing you. ~lw3