I said to her, “You have to read it out loud.”

So she goes, “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” out loud so everybody could hear her. It worked. It turns out she ended up asking me to marry her.

I was like, “Oh my God!!!” and started screaming like the girl who gets asked normally does. “I can’t believe you asked me!!!! Of course I will!!! Oh my God, it’s been six long years, what took you so long???!!!??? Oh my God!!! This is unbelievable!!!!”

Everyone started cracking up and laughing.

Normally, I wouldn’t bother posting something like this, but (A) it’s Hibachi, and (B) according to him, this was the entire reason:

Right before dinner I was thinking about how I was going to propose. Everybody wants to make it memorable, but I have this statistic that I’ve never, ever asked a girl out and I didn’t want to change that. Never, ever. In life. I was like, man, I got to keep this streak going.

Per usual, all about the stats. (Campaign image, circa Wizznutz.)

And sure enough, he’s teaching them to double-dribble habitually. Why, I do not know. He also looks really rigid and awkward while doing it to the point that I’ll now be questioning his health going into my fantasy drafts.

Meanwhile, one fellow NBA-fan cogently pointed out that this may have been the first time that the media, President Bush and The Truth have all appeared together in the same room.  It looks like Rajon agrees.

Of course, when it comes to post-championship athlete visits to the White House, no one can top the comments of the man who made this blog possible:

From the Detroit News: To say that Rasheed Wallace is less than thrilled to be meeting President George W. Bush on Monday is an understatement. When asked about the Pistons’ trip to the White House, Wallace said, “I ain’t going to say [shit]* to him. I didn’t vote for him. I’m not excited at all, it’s just part of the thing.”

Said Chauncey Billups: “He ain’t lying, either. He won’t say nothing to him.”

* I’m presuming he said “shit.” The Detroit News article actually says “[nothing]”. But since it’s Sheed, I suppose it could also have been “dick” or “a muthafuck” just as easily too. 

“I got a few stitches in my chin and the doctor said don’t shave for a few days, so I didn’t shave for about 10 years.”

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying

We’re very happy to welcome aboard the current Mavs owner, Dancing with the Stars graduate and fashion afficianado. “It’s actually a pretty shitty site that’s updated with baffiling infrequency,” said the Yahoo!-created billionaire. “But in the end, the offer was just too good to refuse.”

The terms of the deal have not been released but when asked for comment, Cuban replied “Straight cash, homie.”

Unfortunately, even the world’s most famous hall monitor cannot save the Chinese National Team. So let’s get to it.

(Saeed Kahn/AFP/Getty Images)

1st Quarter

10:00 - They’re playing the John Tesh-orchestrated NBA on NBC theme in the stadium, which used to be my favorite song until the moment just now when play-by-play guy Mike Breen said to color commentator Doug Collins, “Hey, they’re playing your song.”

Also…What is Bushie doing in the Team USA huddle? Is he suiting up? Ball boy? Craig Sager tries to shed some light on this by contemplating who would win in a one-on-one game between Dubya and the Chinese President. I do think they should have put Obama on Team USA though. I’ve heard he can actually ball. And, yes, that is the only reason I’ll be voting for him. (Calm down, Republicans. I’m only kidding. I’ll once again be voting for Eric B.)

9:38 - Kobe is ball-hawking ferociously to start the game, forcing his man to give up the ball. Too bad it’s Yao who gets it at the top of the key and drills a triple. “How apropos,” says Doug Collins.

8:37 - Kobe takes a corner three and hits nothing but…the side of the back-board. Ouch. Melo missed one earlier so it’s 0-2 from three so far for the Americans. This may be an issue.

8:15 - USA gets off in transition and Dwight Howard finishes with a strong dunk. This won’t be an issue.

8:02 - China, looking fantastic in their Ronald McDonald-inspired uniforms, hits another trey to take a 6-2 lead.

7:20 - LeBron gets to the hoop and finishes plus the foul. He knocks down the freebie to put the USA up 7-6. Let’s hope China doesn’t lead again.

6:40 - China hits a jumper. Takes the lead. Then Golden Boy Jason Kidd turns it over and China scores again. USA trails 11-7.

6:15 - LeBron makes a slick move left and finishes off the glass. Down 11-9.

5:35 - Kobe goes to the hoop and gets his shit swatted badly by Yao. A billion-three go absoultely nuts. China breaks out in transition but LeBron makes a Tayshaun-esque trailer block and pins some weak nonsense against the glass. A timeout gives me time to realize that Team USA looks like crap.

4:45 - LeBron puts down a ridiculous leaner, tomahawk fastbreak finish after a CP3 dish.

4:35 - Kobe hits a three in transition off a CP3 drop pass.

3:50 - Flash takes the ball from a Chinese perimeter dribbler and takes it to the house. Team USA better hope for like 20 points per game this way if they’re gonna continue to play as badly as they are in the halfcourt game.

3:06 - Chen Jianghua penetrates all the way to the hoop with a sweet move to tie it up at 16-16. I like this guy.

2:47 - For the first time since he played at Marquette, Flash gets called for a walk.

1:10 - After a minute-and-a-half of sloppy ball and boring commentary, Flash breaks some ankles and dices through China’s zone. He can’t finish but gets hammered and knocks down two from the line. USA now up 18-16. This better be the lead that never gets relinquished.

0:26 - Dwight backs down a large Asian dude and dunks young-Shaq-style in his grill, embarrassing him in front of a billion and change. Plus his mom.

0:05 - In trying to explain what Team USA needs to get back to dominating international competition, Doug Collins says, “the word I always use is synergy.” Please don’t.

0:00 - The quarter ends: USA 20 - China 16.

2nd Quarter

10:00 - In talking about how the world was able to catch up with Team USA, Collins and Breen pontificate that the first signs came when the Americans just barely survived Lithuania in a 2000 Olympic game after Sarunas Jasikevicius narrowly missed a buzzer-three that could have won the game. When the camera shows a shot of JKidd on the bench, Collins mentions that Kidd was the one guarding Sarunas on that play, along with help from Antonio McDyess. I think we pinpointed the problem then. What the hell was Antonio McDyess doing on Team USA?

Team USA should have re-evaluated its whole philosophy as soon as this guy almost beat them in Sydney.

8:34 - Mamba saves the ball under his own hoop right to a Chinese player who lays it in. Then, KB10 misses a three on the next trip down. My high school coach is having flashbacks — minus the “Venessa” with a crown tattoo, of course. Mine says “Mom” with a heart because I’m a good son. Also, I have this one.

8:14 - LeBron makes another absurd, pin-it-against-the-backboard block after a nice drive by some Chinese dude. He throws a full court chest-pass to Flash who dunks all alone.

7:06 - After China hits a three, Dwight gets to the line while trying to dunk. He’s already in double digits. While he’s shooting, the camera shows Bush I, Bush II, Laura Bush and the Chinese foreign minister all sitting in the same row. Henry Kissinger is also sitting right behind them and appears to be napping.

6:02 - China hits a three to tie the game. How apropos.

5:15 - Michael Redd (surprisingly) misses a three (he was 12-24 in the prelims). Bosh grabs the O board, however, and dunks on three guys. Collins mentions that, if JO can stay healthy next year, the Raps could be very good. As a Pacers fan, I chuckle.

4:45 - Kobe gets back-to-back dunks, one on his own penetration over a dude and one in transition after a (sloppy) behind-the-back Bron dish.

4:38 - Craig Sager interviews Jerry Colangelo on the sideline. Sages looks so depressed that they made him wear a standard-issue Olympic polo shirt instead of a Dumb and Dumber tuxedo. How can they do that to this guy? Asking him to give horrible courtside reports without looking ridiculous is like asking Iron Man to save the world without his suit.

Seeing Sager sans silly suit saddens souls.

3:23 - LeBron freighttrains his way to the hoop and finishes plus the harm.

2:48 - Kidd makes a slick thread-the-needle pass through the lane to Bosh for a lay-in.

2:21 - USA scores on an obscene alley-opp in transition from Flash to Bron. The pass was way off, but King James went and got it anyway like that Grant Hill dunk at Duke and just turned it into an vicious tomahawk. The next play is a Kobe to Bron alley attempt that gets broken up. Kobe grabs the loose ball and dunks anyway. China might wanna stick to table tennis and diving.

1:40 - Bosh dunks to culminate a 16-3 USA run.

1:05 - Yao hits two free throws. USA up 47-36. Wade then scores on a pretty drive with a double-clutch lay-in, and Yao subsequently abuses Bosh in the post. He doesn’t score but gets fouled, and in the process looks about 80% back from the stress fracture.

0:04 - Mike Krzyszaeswsraswekski calls a timeout to set up a final play. The Redeem Team has now used more timeouts in the first half of its first game than the Dream Team did in the Barcelona Olympics.

0:02 - And, boy oh boy, is it a great play. Kobe travels.

Halftime

The halftime show didn’t quite match up to the Opening Ceremony.

3rd Quarter

10:00 - The Marvin Gaye Star-Spangled Banner Nike commercial is the best Olympic ad since Dan vs Dave.

9:35 - Kobe makes a sick move to the hoop and dunks with two hands. LeBron swats yet another shot on the other end.

9:12 - JKidd turns the ball over in transition once again. That makes eight turnovers for Team USA thus far, which nicely complements the squad’s 1-12 shooting from three. Jason Kidd might not even be the third best PG on this team.

8:14 - In the middle of Doug Collins ripping Yi for his poor play (with good reason since he’s, I think, 0-11 from the floor) the Chairman throws down a monster dunk on an offensive rebound tip in over Carmelo. Yi may not be able to bring the Soon To Be Brooklyn Nets to the Playoffs, but he’ll now always have a place in my heart for further proving my theory that Doug Collins is a nitwit.

5:50 - Not much interesting happens for a while aside from me eating eggs until LeBron goes coast-to-coast and dunks. USA is now up 55-39. Feel the excitement.

5:07 - USA breaks out a full-court press. They don’t get a turnover, but China misses a three after a long, hurried pass upcourt. I’m not sure why Coach K doesn’t just press the whole game like a high school team who’s clearly more athletic, talented and deeper than its opponent.

3:56 - After yet another missed three by USA, Bosh grabs another O board and scores. He’s looking solid.

3:37 - LeBron scores on a breakaway. USA back up 17.

2:02 - As Flash finishes at the hoop plus the foul, Yao goes down and is grabbing his formerly fractured foot. Uh-oh. That’s really not good. Meanwhile, Wade is 6-6 from the floor and 5-5 from the line. Being able to bring both Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade off the bench is insane.

0:52 - Kobe does the LeBron tomahawk on a breakaway. I mean, seriously, it works as a non-bourgeois, signature finish for LBJ and all, but can everyone else in the League please go back to breaking out windmills, reverses and double-clutches when its one-on-none?

0:22 - Now that’s what I’m talking about. Right on cue, Flash picks the pocket of a perimeter dribbler and does a nice little rockababy, double-clutch reverse on the breakaway. Really, that’s all I’m asking for here. Team USA is now up 25.

4th Quarter

10:00 - I’m already sick of the animated LBJ/Yao Coke commercial.

8:58 - Deron tries to dunk on Yao’s head. It doesn’t work. The crowd cheers.

8:02 - Deron hits a pull-back jumper, then gets fouled on the next play down on an aggressive drive. It looks like he’s the only one out that who isn’t bored of this game. God knows I am.

7:24 - Sure enough, Deron scores on a transition up-and-under lay-up. Meanwhile, Dubya and Laura have had enough and get up to leave. Surprisingly, he doesn’t get the same star treatment Kobe did when he trying to walk through the crowd earlier today. The low-level of visible Secret Service is encouraging, however.

Bushie, his pops and his wife all showed up. Unfortunately, he had to leave midway through the 4th Quarter. I mean, Misty May’s ass isn’t gonna spank itself

5:32 - Michael Redd misses another three. I’m sure he’ll do fine and all, but I’m shocked that Coach K and Colangelo didn’t bring one more shooter. What happened to Mike Miller? Is Tayshaun really necessary?

3:34 - After a nice finish by Yi, Redd misses another three.

3:14 - Then, Redd again misses another three and Yi again dunks.

2:32 - Yi scores again. Is “Jianliang” Cantonese for “ARod”?

1:09 - CP3 hits a trey to keep everyone on the edge of their seats for this thrilling conclusion.

0:33 - Redd finally hits a three. Team USA is now 7-24 for the game. That’s not getting it done against Spain or Argentina.

0:00 - And…The most watched basketball game of all-time is now officially complete. Team USA wins 101-70, and 1.3 billion plus are underwhelmed.

-

Joe Maloof: Ummm-mmmm…God damn, Daryl. This some serious gourmet shit. Me and Gavin here woulda been satisfied with some freeze-dried Taster’s Choice, right? And he springs this serious gourmet shit on us. What flavor is this?

Daryl Morey: Knock it off, Joseph.

Joe: What?

Daryl: I don’t need you to tell me how fucking good my coffee is, okay? I’m the one who buys it—I know how good it is. When Van Gundy used to go shopping, he bought shit. I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drink it, I wanna taste it. But you know what’s on my mind right now? It aint the coffee in my office. It’s the bipolar mothafucka in my gym.

Joe: Oh, Daryl…don’t even worry about—

Daryl: Oh, no, no, no, no. Don’t tell me not to think about anything. I wanna ask you a question: When you came pulling in here, did you notice sign outside the Toyota Center that said “Bipolar Muthafucka Storage”?

Joe: Daryl, you know I aint see no sign that said—

Daryl: DID YOU notice a sign outside the Toyota Center that said “Bipolar Muthafucka Storage”?

Joe: No. I didn’t.

Daryl: Do you know why you didn’t see that sign? Cause it aint there ‘cause storing bipolar muthafuckas aint my fucking business…That’s why.

Joe: Daryl, we’re not gonna store—

Daryl: No, no, no, no. Don’t you fucking realize, man, that if Leslie Alexander gets back and finds out that I gave up a rotation player for a guy who was accused of dog abuse, I’m gonna get fired? No meetings, no demoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations—I’m gonna get fucking fired. And I don’t wanna get fucking fired. Now man, fuck, I wanna help you—but I don’t wanna lose my job doing it, alright?

Joe: Daryl, he aint gonna fire—

Daryl: Don’t fucking “Daryl” me, Joe. Okay. Don’t fucking “Daryl” me. There’s nothing you’re gonna say that’s gonna make me forget I love getting paid millions of dollars for a ridiculously easy job with no accountability. Is THERE? … Look, he comes back from the French Riviera in a day-and-a-half. You gotta make some phone calls? You gotta call some people? Well then do it. And then get the fuck outta my office before he finds out you were here.

Joe: That’s Kool and the Gang. You know, we don’t wanna fuck your shit up. All I wanna do is call my people and get Ron off our roster.

Daryl: You don’t wanna fuck my shit up? You’re fucking my shit up right now. And you’re gonna fuck my shit up big time if my owner finds out. So just do me that favor, alright? The phone is in the over there. I suggest you get going.

David Stern tends to notice shit like you’re driving a car drenched in blood.

[cut to a Manhattan skyscraper rooftop with David Stern sitting at a table and talking on a mobile phone]

David Stern: Say Leslie comes back, what do you think he’ll do.? … No fucking shit he’ll freak—that aint no kinda answer. I mean, you know. I don’t. How much? A lot or a little?

[cut to Joe Maloof back in Daryl Morey’s office talking on the phone]

Joe: You gotta appreciate what an explosive element this Ronnie Situation is. Leslie comes back from a two-month vacation and finds a bunch of sleazy Vegas casino owners in his GM’s office doing a bunch of sleazy-Vegas-casino-owner-shit, aint no telling what he’s liable to do.

Stern: [on phone] I grasp that, Joe. All I’m doing is contemplating the ifs.

Joe: [on phone] I don’t wanna hear about no muthafuckin’ ifs. All I wanna hear from yo ass is “You aint got no problem, Joe. I’m on the muthafucka. Go back in there, chill them niggas out and wait for the cavalry, which should be coming directly.”

Stern: [on phone] You aint got no problem, Joe. I’m on the muthafucka. Go back in there, chill them niggas out and wait for The Logo, who should be coming directly.

Joe: [on phone] You sending The Logo?

Stern: [on phone] You feel better muthafucka?

Joe: [on phone] Shiiiiit, nee-gro. That’s all you had to say.

[cut to a residential bedroom with The Logo sitting on a bed talking on the phone]

The Logo: He the hysterical type? … When is he due … Uh-huh … Give me the principals’ names again. Joe [writes “GREASY DOUCHEBAG”] … Gavin [writes “GREASIER DOUCHEBAG WITH MOUTH SORES”] … Darryl [writes “DESPERATE GM”]… Ronnie [writes “ONE-YEAR CONTRACT”… “NO SANITY”] … It’s three hours away. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.

[Nine minutes and thirty-seven seconds later, The Logo’s helicopter lands at the Toyota Center]

You can call me Mr. West.

The Logo: You’re … Daryl? Right? This is your team?

Daryl: Sure is.

The Logo: I’m Jerry West. I solve problems.

Daryl: Good. We got one.

The Logo: So I heard. May I come in?

Daryl: Yeah. Please do.

The Logo: You must be Joe. Which would make you Gavin. Let’s get down to brass tacks, gentlemen. If I was informed correctly the clock is ticking. Is that right, Daryl?

Daryl: One hundred percent.

The Logo: Your owner, Leslie Alexander, gets back on August 1, is that correct?

Daryl: Uh-huh.

The Logo: I was led to believe that if he gets back and finds out you traded a worthwhile player for a dog abuser, he wouldn’t appreciate it none too much?

Daryl: He won’t at that.

The Logo: That gives us forty hours to make this happen and get the fuck out of Dodge, which if you do what I say, when I say it should be plenty. Now, you’ve got a clinically psychotic, fan-punching, dog-abuser on a one-year contract, minus an opt-out clause – let me see him.

[cut to the basketball court where Ron Artest is pretending to shoot jumpers and dribble around sans ball like that weirdo from Above the Rim]

The Logo: Daryl, do me a favor would ya? I thought I smelled some coffee back there, would you make me a cup.

Daryl: Yeah sure … Um, how do you take it?

The Logo: Lots of cream. Lots of sugar … About this crazy fuck: Is there anything I need to know? Is he injured? Did Stern catch him smoking weed? Does he have any upcoming court dates? Anything?

Joe: Aside from having done flown over the cuckoo’s nest, Ronnie is cool.

The Logo: Positive? Don’t get me to the paperwork and I find out he can’t pass a physical.

Joe: Far as I know, the muthafucka’s tip-top.

The Logo: Okay. Let’s go back to the office.

[cut back to the office. The Logo sips his coffee and nods to Daryl approvingly]

The Logo: Okay. First thing. You two call Ronnie’s agent and his wife to make sure he isn’t about to take six months off to record another rap album, found an organic pumpkin patch or get his masters degree in ice sculpture … Now, Daryl, this looks to be a pretty well-run franchise. So that would lead to be to believe you’re under the luxury tax and you gotta bunch of future draft picks, mid-level exceptions and contract rights to random Europeans who will never make the NBA? Shit like that?

Daryl: Yeah, yeah, Mr. West. We’re right under the tax.

The Logo: Good. What I need you two fellas to do is start putting together a package that your GM and the public can live with. I’m talking fast, fast, fast. You need to look at your roster and find a quality young player that no one will care about and plan to get em outta there. When it comes to how this will look to the public, it don’t need to be Spic and Span. They don’t gotta be ecstatic about it. Just give ‘em a good headline …

Now Daryl, we need to raid your shitty assets. I need late First Round draft picks and washed up veterans—the more fan-friendly the better, the more overpaid the better. No Second Rounders—can’t use em. We need to camouflage this deal so it looks like both teams are getting a steal. We’re gonna line one side with picks that won’t amount to anything and we’re gonna line the other one with pie-in-the-sky hope that will never pan out. If a hardcore NBA fan breaks this thing down and starts sniffing his nose around, the subterfuge won’t last. But at a glance the trade will look mutually beneficial …

Daryl, lead the way. Maloofs, get to work.

Gavin Maloof: A “please” would be nice.

The Logo: Come again?

Gavin: I said “a ‘please’ would be nice.

The Logo: Get it straight, buster. I’m not here to say “please.” I’m here to tell you what to do. And if self-preservation is an instinct you possess than you better fucking do it—and do it quick. I’m here to help. If my help’s not appreciated—lots of luck, gentlemen.

Joe: No, no, no, no, no. Mr. West, it aint like that. Your help is definitely appreciated.

Gavin: Mr. West, listen. I don’t mean any disrespect, okay. I respect you. I just don’t like people barking orders at me, that’s all.

The Logo: If I’m curt with you, it’s because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast and I need you guys to act fast if you wanna get this nut-job out of Sacramento. So, pretty please—with sugar on top—find a quality young player know one’s fucking heard of.

[The Logo and Daryl walk out of the office.]

Gavin: [to Joe] Don’t be looking at me like that. I can feel your look.

-

So…What’s with the outfits? You guys going to a volleyball game or something?

But if a bunch of Josh Childress/Nenad Krstic players bounce from the League, who really cares? Since that is about as much time as I plan to spend on this, I leave you with this here quote from The Machine, which is so far the best thing to come out of the entire trend.

“‘I was a nervous wreck,’ Vujacic said. ‘Well, nervous might not be the word. I think what I learned last year from P. J. [Phil Jackson] is equanimity. That’s one thing that just helped me in a tough situation—being calm.’”

Equanimity? Look at the big brain on Sasha (who ended up re-signing with the Lakers for three years/$15 million). On the other hand, let’s hope he didn’t also learn the meaning of “alliteration” from the Zen Master (who, while I appreciate the passive-aggressive refusal to apologize for a pretty innocuous joke, I can only assume meant “allusion”).

via TrueHoop

The leather suits play, but you might wanna try Sasha’s hair dresser.

The return pieces, however, are also pretty nice. TJ will be the team’s best PG since Mark Jackson and although his contract is maybe slightly high and, oh yeah, his career could end on any given play due to his congenital spine disorder, the upgrade from Travis Diener is worth celebrating. And Rasho and Hibbert, while unspectacular, should each help clog up the middle.

But a lot of people haven’t seen much TJ Ford of late since he’s missed a lot of time and Calderon. Fortunately, the Toronto Raptors do a pretty sweat recap of (I think) all their games in a thing called “Game in 6 Minutes.” Since it’s YouTube, the quality is obviously not ideal, but they’re well-edited and you can find dozens of them, but it is a good way to get a look at him in situations that aren’t just highlights. Unfortunately, there is generally more Jose than TJ in these
six minute clips, but you can still get a more nuanced look at his game/abilities than other TJ YouTube vids, which tends to be only his sickest assists, ankle-breakers or dunks set to bad music. And regardless, the Raps are a pretty fun team to watch anyway (unless you’re Lou Dobbs).

Here are a few I just watched.

——————————————————

November 2, 2007
Boston 98 - Toronto 95

TJ’s highest point total of the season (32 pts) comes in his fifth game of the year. Pretty good game by him overall and the tape does a good job showing some of his positives and negatives.The first play is TJ drilling a mid-range pull-up J, something he’s pretty good at in space and does lightning quick. At 0:35 he begins his overdribbling show, however, which is probably the biggest criticism of him from Toronto’s Jose Calderon. After an offensive board, he does manage a nice little scoop finger roll though. He’s crafty on the interior for a midget.

More dribbling antics at 1:18. It again ends well when TJ drops a sweet dime to Rasho who finishes with an up and under, but he did dribble 11 times in the front-court and had the ball in his hands for the first 13 seconds of the possession.

At 1:52, Rasho looks absolutely lost playing helpside D and more resembles Kevin McHale trying to count the screws in the parquet floor until he feels the breeze of Paul Pierce racing by.Great rotation by TJ at 2:42 to react to a very nice cross-court skip pass from Pierce enough to disrupt Ray Allen’s jumper. Not so great is at 3:18 when he has a sloppy, telegraphed, one-handed entry pass just snatched away from him by Rajon. Good pass at 3:37 to get out of (self-imposed) trouble.

Later, at 4:50 (and it OT), TJ shows why he’s arguably the quickest guy in the League. Then he turns into Mr. Clutch and gets to the rim again at 5:11 to finish with a crafty lay-up. Next play, “Onions, baby…Onions,” according to the Raps play-by-play man as TJ drills a triple to tie the game with 0:04 to play. Too bad they leave Ray Ray wide open to drill a three of his own on the ensuing in-bounds play. Wow…nice D, Sam Mitchell.

——————————————————

November 8, 2007
Lakers 117 - Toronto 108

Great post sequence by Rasho at 0:40. Strong screen on Fish, decent show with Gasol behind him, nice pass to the cutter, and fantastic mismatch recognition by going right to the hoop and man-handling Fish. Later, he shows his range nicely at 4:30ish and chases down an O board at 5:15.No TJ sightings until 3:04, when he makes a great pass. More size-related D issues at 3:45 on Farmar, but then he makes a nice steal and has a ballsy, sick dunk attempt in Kobe’s grill (although it doesn’t work out so well). More bad D at 4:50. Creates his own shot nicely on the next play (though misses the J).

More sloppy D at 5:45…There’s really no reason to collapse that far when Kobe’s going to the other side of the lane (especially when you’re too little to possibly affect his shot), although it does take a great pass from Mamba for him to get burnt on it. Nine times out of ten, TJ won’t get bitten by that cause few people can make that pass. Unfortunately, that’s also the reason people develop bad habits.

——————————————————

November 18, 2007
G-State 106 - Toronto 100

We see TJ get abused in the paint twice to start things off. Then also see him push the ball up the floor, smoke The Beard off the dribble (though he misses the J) and make a creative cross-court pass to Bosh.Later he makes a nice transition lob to Maceo. At 3:30, you’ll see what people don’t like about his defense. People make him out to be a real ball-hawk, which he can be at times, but he also falls asleep or gets muscled out of position quite a bit (or just sags off guys he’s quicker than for no real reason). Honestly, you really can’t guard a screen/roll any worse than he does right there. The next play, however, shows his best asset — his ability to beat the D up the floor. And it’s not just with his feet…it’s a mindset. Here, he makes a sweet lead pass to Kapono.

Around 4:00, you see him also not put much pressure on Monta and then be unable to disrupt Baron even remotely on a reach-in hedge. Then, at 5:05, you see something we will see a lot of next year. This drive-and-dish game is going to get us an absurd amount of open threes.

——————————————————

March 17, 2008
Raptors 100 - Sacto 106

Rasho shows one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses early. On the first, Rap possesion, he sets a solid screen at 0:23 and then after Parker gets the ball in the post on the other block, he makes sure to drift all the way down to the baseline to open up as much space as possible in the middle. That also makes it tough for his guy to recover if he goes for the double. It’s a minor thing, but few players pay that much attention to spacing — something that is absolutely vital to Jim O’Brien’s offense.On the next play, however, he lumbers down the court and sort of oafs his way around the paint. He doesn’t really clog anything up and he’s not really guarding anybody or committing to anything. He tends to do that and the result is him “playing smaller” than he is at times. If he would just take up more space, he could at least be a better deterrent. In general, he does a lot of this undecided, hopping around on both ends. It makes him slow and off-balance often.

At 2:27 is more subtle, good offense though. He shows hard in the post, gets the ball, kicks it back out nicely and then again pulls his Mikki Moore 15 feet from the hoop. Moore has to respect his jumper on Parker’s ball fake, and is unable to close the gap to prevent him from penetrating.

At 2:56, you see him execute a great screen/roll. Not only does his wide body pick prevent Udrih from getting through quick, he also times his release well and should have gotten a dunk if Calderon hadn’t pulled up for the jumper so quickly. (It’s worth noting that this was pretty horrible D as well…but still shows his acumen for ball-screening.)Sick dunk for Jamario at 3:30. And…nothing else happens.

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April 28, 2008
(Playoffs - First Round, Game 4)
Magic 106 - Raptors 94

TJ starts the game with a great pass to Andrea that hits him in the perfect location to shoot. (A PG’s ability to do that is, IMO, the most underrated aspect of the position…and just passing in general. As a shooter myself, that really is the difference between me making it and missing it like half the time. If it hits you square in the pocket in rhythm, the ball may as well already be in the hoop.)He abuses Jameer at 0:45, but tries to do too much on the next trip down and forces a bad shot (another one of his flaws.)

Not about TJ, but Bosh looks exactly like 2004 JO at 3:15.

Shows his quickness at 3:40. Then shows horrible screen/roll D at 3:55. Great drive-and-dump at 4:03. At 4:28 and again at 4:58, you get to see more another of his lazy defensive habits — ball-staring while standing still. IMO, a guy with his size and quickness should just be more active, and no one should just stand in the paint with their back to their man and watching the dribbler like he’s 1987 MJ or something.

Tru Warier isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Shawn Marion.

But, in a surprise move, Baron Davis opted out today.

So did Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, but those were more expected. Brand is (publicly) still trying to re-sign long-term with the Clips, while Maggette will now be the biggest name free agent other than The Beard (I know…hard to believe).

There’s only one reason to remain a Clipper: Boat loads of greenbacks.

Antawn Jamison already re-signed with DC for 4-years/$50 million (though SI is reporting it as $44 million) after opting out earlier this Summer. So now that Gilbert’s hostage demands have theoretically been met, Wiz President Ernie Grunfield can move on to inking Hibachi. The current reported offer is 6 years/$100 million, which would be about a $20 million discount over 6 years from the max. Jamison expects that Gil may take a little less now that his partner-in-crime has been taken care of.

“I just signed. We got it out of the way,” Jamison told The Associated Press.

“He said he’d take less money if they got me, and they got me,” Jamison said. “So I think everything will get worked out with Gilbert.”

$11–12.5 million per is quite a price-tag for the 32-year-old, creaky kneed Jamison, but he is coming off a 79-game All Star season and I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to keep fan-favorite and franchise reinvigorater Agent Zero on the roster — even if Arenas’ own knees have become questions marks themselves (not literally, jackass).

So maybe Baron saw Arenas-sized dollar signs in his head and rethought his strategy?

Either way, it will be interesting to see what happens now that he turned down his final year at $17 million. No one on the open market can give him that much aside from a sign-and-trade. Does he go to Detroit for the Chauncey Billups/Sheed package? Does he end up in South Beach for Marion? Or just re-sign long-term back with Mully, Nellie and Co. in Golden State? The rumor mill is claiming that Baron opted out because they couldn’t reach an agreement on an long-term extension, so going back to GState might be less likely now. Other rumors point to the Lakers, although all of these could just be complete shenanigans.

Who knows really?

Regardless, the free agent market just went from complete trash to “Hey, wait a minute.” It will at least be interesting to see where the next domino falls. Also, it should be good to see what Bulls GM John Paxson and new Coach Vinny of the Black decide to do with Deng, Gordon, et al. I mean, you know they’re gonna screw it up…But how?

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one.” – traditional Greek saying