Runnin - n - Gunnin

R-n-G Award Picks: Coach of the Year - Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs; Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

Yes, I know it’s a cop out choosing two coaches to win, but it’s also happening everywhere else.  There are great reasons why either coach should win this award, so why not push for a tie?  

Gregg Popovich has done an amazing job giving his San Antonio Spurs 50 wins in a 66 game season.  Those 50 wins include three different double-digit win streaks with a lot of new players to the roster like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Cory Joseph, Patty Mills, and as well as rejuvenating both Boris Diaw’s and Stephen Jackson’s seasons.  Pop still had his main guys Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, but Tim was playing a career low 28.2 minutes per game, while also sitting out 8 games (DND - Old) and Manu missed several games with a broken hand.  

Most impressively, though, Popovich was able to turn his slow paced, defensive minded Spurs team into an offensive powerhouse that can run the floor. The Spurs ended the season #1 offensive efficiency with 108.5 and #7 in pace at 95.1.  

With Tom Thibodeau, you can argue that he had an easier time with very few roster changes.  Rose, Noah, Deng, Brewer, Boozer, Korver, Watson, Gibson, and Asik all returned from the prior season, with the biggest change being Keith Bogans getting replaced by Rip Hamilton — a big improvement.  So why does Thibodeau get the other half of this award?  Some of his best players missed many games due to injury.  Derrick Rose, Rip Hamilton, C.J. Watson, and Luol Deng all missed a total of 94 games.  In that time, some new guys like John Lucas III and Jimmy Butler were able to show that they are able players in the NBA, and Thibodeau was able to lead the Bulls to another 50 win season.  

The Bulls are also more in sync with each other this season, which relies both on having the team together for another year, and that the players all listen to Thibodeau and have his back.  They are #1 in deffensive efficiency once again with 95.3, and that’s credited to the coach having the players play team defense.  

Joakim Noah is a silly, silly lion dude.  See, it’s fun when actual guns aren’t involved, right Gil?

(video via TBJ)

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Something Special Happened These Past Two Days in the NBA World

It’s not too often that people begin talking about “Dunk of the Year” as early as January (especially in a shortened season)… but it’s even rarer for that supposed DOTY to be replaced within 24 hours.

Lebron’s dunk over John Lucas III on Sunday is one of those in which you had to double-take once it happened.  First, you barely even noticed what happened since Dwyane Wade was handling the ball, looking for the alley.  Once you see the replay, that’s when you got apeshit.  It’s a glory to watch Lebron totally soar completely over Lucas in slow motion.

On the other hand, yesterday you had the living highlight reel in the reigning Slam Dunk Champion, Blake Griffin.  To appreciate his dunk, you have to watch it in real time.  That grunt, and the earth-shattering sound of the ball going through the hoop, added with his stone cold stare could send shivers down your spine.

These are reasons why I love twitter.  After both of these dunks, NBA writers, analysts, bloggers, as well as enthusiasts and fans alike, kept posting youtube link after youtube link of some of the greatest dunks of all time in order to reminisce.  You got Vince Carter’s unforgettable slam over France’s Frederic Weis, Carter’s crazy extension over Alonzo Mourning, Baron Davis over AK47, Shawn Kemp on Alton Lister, etc.  

By the way, if you haven’t gotten a chance to see these dunks yet, please do yourself a favor and click on these links:

• Lebron James Completely Clears John Lucas III
• Blake Griffin All Over Kendrick Perkins

All I gotta say is this: basketball is a beautiful sport.

Derrick Rose’s Game Winning Floater vs. the LA Lakers on Dec. 25th

All I can say is that the Lakers will be better than people expected after that lackluster offseason.  Did anyone else notice how the Lakers’ bench outplayed the Bulls’ bench during the second half?  They will still be good on defense, and once Bryant’s fully healthy and Bynum’s back, they have a good chance to continue to succeed.  

In no way am I a Lakers fan, but you still have to remember that they are the Lakers and they still want to win.

As for the Bulls, they’ll still be the better team in my opinion, and they’ll be fun to watch.

2011-2012 Bold Statements: Eastern Conference Standings

In my opinion the Eastern Conference standings will more or less be the same.  The same eight teams will be in the playoffs with shifts in standings that will definitely be effected by the shortened season.  As for the other 7 teams… let’s just say that they are still pretty bad.

Playoff Picture

• Heat (1) vs. 76ers (8)
• Bulls (2) vs. Hawks (7)
• Knicks (3) vs. Pacers (6)
• Magic (4) vs. Celtics (5)

The Miami Heat are undoubtably the clear favorites to win the Division title this season, and more than likely will have the best record in the league.  I find no reason why they won’t plow through the Eastern Conference and eventually end up in the NBA Finals once again.  They had a full year to create chemistry and added Shane Battier, an elite perimeter defender who can create space on the court and knock down the open 3.

The Chicago Bulls organization feel like they found the answer to their problems when they picked up Rip Hamilton this offseason, and they’re right.  He’s the scoring shooting guard that the Bulls needed last year to take offensive pressure off of Derrick Rose.  Furthermore, the Bulls have the same core players from last season and they’re still a relatively young-middle aged team.  With Rose signing an extension this week, expect the Bulls to be contending for a title for years to come.

The New York Knicks with the third seed?  I believe it.  Their addition of Tyson Chandler is their greatest move because he will be able to hide Carmelo’s and Amar’e’s defensive liabilities without needing to do much on offense.  Rookie Iman Shumpert, while having an awesome name, also looks like he can become a solid role player behind Douglas, Fields, and Baron when he comes back from injury (no comment on Mike Bibby). Also: JORTS!

The success of the Orlando Magic depends on one thing and one thing only: when will Dwight Howard be traded?  If Dwight stays with the Magic all season, they have the 3rd-4th seed on lock.  If he gets traded (which I believe he will be), then they will definitely drop in the standings, based upon who Orlando gets back.  Either way, the team needs to find some sort of identity, and guys like Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson, and Big Baby need to step up and stay consistent all year.

If this was a normal 82 game season, the Boston Celtics would no doubt be the 3rd seed again.  With this compressed 66 game season, though, I expect them to only be good enough to make get a lower seed, and then work their hardest during the playoffs.  Garnett, Allen, Pierce, and maybe even O’neal won’t be playing 66 games each, which leaves Brandon Bass, Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling, and Chris Wilcox cleaning up the mess.  Yikes.  Bass will have a good year, though, filling in for Garnett in Doc’s system.

I am actually very high on this Indiana Pacers team.  They have upgraded their roster and have a deep bench, so they might have a chance to take that 5th seed (depending on how many games the Celtics veterans take off).  They replaced guys like Mike Dunleavy, Josh McRoberts, James Posey, and Brandon Rush with George Hill, David West, Louis Amundson, and 2 more inches on Paul George.  You read correctly, Paul George grew 2 inches taller this summer.  Also, a full year under Frank Vogel sure won’t hurt.

I’m probably as low on the Atlanta Hawks as I am high on the Pacers.  I don’t think the Hawks will realize how much Jamal Crawford meant to the offense of this team until it’s too late, and Tracy McGrady sure as hell isn’t the answer.  Also, the Hawks are now the NBA’s oldest team with an average age of over 30 years old.  They still have enough talent to earn a solid Playoff spot, but I don’t see them going far.

The Philadelphia 76er’s roster hasn’t changed very much from last season, so you can’t say they haven’t gotten any better, but they also haven’t gotten any worse either.  This team will basically earn their 8th seed because no other team in the Eastern Conference is good enough to have better records.  Sorry to the Nets and the Bucks.

The Unfortunate Ones

• Milwaukee Bucks
• New Jersey Nets
• Washington Wizards
• Detroit Pistons
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Charlotte Bobcats
• Toronto Raptors

The Milwaukee Bucks were the 9th seed last season.  They are a very good defensive team that needs a lot of help on the offensive end.  Their answer?  Stephen Jackson and Mike Dunleavy. 9th seed sounds right.

The New Jersey Nets will have a full year (and hopefully more) with All-Star point guard Deron Williams. In spite of this, their 10th seed is more-so related to the other teams being worse than getting any better, especially with Brook Lopez being out until February with a foot injury.

The Washington Wizards are the youngest team in the league, but with 2nd year John Wall looking more like a leader, they have an okay chance at maturing.  They will still be pretty bad, though.  The bright side? They will be exciting (though sloppy) to watch. Dunks on dunks on dunks!

I actually have a lot of hope for this Detroit Pistons team this season.  Lawrence Frank should be a good coach, coming from Doc Rivers’ system in Boston.  I’m expecting Austin Daye to have a breakout season.  Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight will be great.  Blame their poor record on Joe Dumars for locking Charlie V, Gordon, Stuckey, and Prince long-term. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have Kyrie Irving who will be great in this league.  Problem? No one else will be able to give him much help.  To the draft it is!

Just look at the Charlotte Bobcats’ roster and don’t tell me that they won’t be one of the bottom 3 teams in the league next year.  Kemba Walker will be great, but I doubt he will get enough touches with Corey Maggette on the court.  Plus, Boris Diaw is 30 pounds heavier and will play point-center.  Take that how you will.

Jonas Valanciunas will not be with the Toronto Raptors this year.  Players like Aaron Gray, Jamaal Magloire, Gary Forbes, and Rasual Butler will not change anything.  Dwane Casey has a lot on his plate for this team.

Wanna see Derrick Rose’s Christmas day kicks?  Of course you do.

The Holiday Season means Christmas!  And Christmas means NBA action! (At least since November 25th 2011, forever known as the day the lockout died.)  And Christmas day NBA action means players are gonna have awesome Christmas day shoes!  If you’re into that kind of thing at least.

Here’s the “Christmas Edition” aka the “Windy City” Edition to D.Rose’s latest signature shoe, the adidas adiZero Rose 2.  I’m actually really diggin’ the subway map in the sockliner.  I’m personally not the kind of guy that’s really into shoes, but these are dope, and if you want ‘em Adidas is gonna start selling them on Dec. 15th, so put it on your Christmas wishlist now! There’s also a promotion on adidas Basketball’s Facebook page if you wanna go for a chance to get them early.

source: Dime

Day 25 of Lost NBA Games

14 games originally scheduled.  Am I really gonna go through this?  It’s the day after Thanksgiving and everyone’s lethargic from all the food and exhausted from Black Friday shopping.  Today would have been a perfect day to just sit in front of the TV and watch a few games.  (It would have been a) good thing there’s a lot to pick from.

Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Bobcats - Firstly, I need to stop typing “Charlotte Hornets.”  That’s the 3rd time I’ve caught myself.  Secondly, I’d watch this just to watch their two tiny point guards in Jameer Nelson and DJ Augustin go at it.

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves - I never thought I’d see the day when the Timberwolves have a bigger (and possibly even better) front court than the Rockets.  This is arguable, but the Wolves have a good amount of potential now.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics - Two great defenses would be going at it.  Boston wins 75-70.  Forreal tho, out of the 3 games these two teams played last season, they reached over 90 once in an overtime game.  And the last one?  The Bucks only scored 56 points.  FIFTY-SIX.  Jesus christ the Bucks need to find some offense.  I guess they’re hoping S-Jax’s streaky shooting helps them.

New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets - I think these are just worth watching because this will be the Nets’ last year in New Jersey before moving to Brooklyn.  Then it’ll forreal become a New York battle.

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat - The Raptors would have gotten kiiiiiiiilled.  No way will the league’s worst defense contain Wade, Lebron, or even Bosh.

Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers - Hello first round of the 2011 playoffs.  That doesn’t really mean anything, but this time the Pacers have George Hill who is the closest person they have that can keep up with Derrick Rose.  But then again, no one can keep up with Derrick Rose (unless you’re 6’8”, 250 lbs, with a 7 ft wingspan, but then again you’re a freak of nature).

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ah, a meeting from the WC Semis.  That really was a great series going into game 7.  I hope that these two squads keep going at it because both teams are pretty similar in my opinion.  Great matchups.  Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see Rudy Gay go up against Kevin Durant?

Washington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons - I don’t even think Detroit or DC fans would want to watch this.  Or maybe I’m just a hater.  At least there’s John Wall?

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs - I’d honestly watch this just for Kyrie Irving going up against Tony Parker.  Otherwise… c’mon, it’s the Cavs.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets - If the Thunder and Grizzlies weren’t meeting, this would definitely be the game of the day.  Two great and exciting teams with crazy, tattooed Shooting Guards.  Who wouldn’t want to see this?  (Yes, I was talking about JR Smith and DeShawn Stevenson). 

LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns - I just wanna see Blake Griffin get this dunk back from Marcin Gortat (even though that was a Clippers home game).  Otherwise, this would’ve been a super fun game.  Fast pace + highlights = NBA gold.

Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trailblazers - I’d watch this just to see the Jazz throw all of their big men at LMA.  Also, Wes Matthews should have a good game, if last season is any indication.

Sacramento Kings vs. LA Lakers - Tyreke vs. Kobe looks cool (both matchup wise and name wise).  Cousins vs. Bynum also looks fun.  With that said, Metta World Peace would kill in this game.  Just a hunch.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Golden State Warriors - 2nd meeting of the year.  Dope matchup.  I’m super sad this isn’t happening.

I’m only allowed up to 10 photos?  lame.