The Republic of Sport

barkking

barkking's Comments

Posted Friday April 03, 2009, About: Teams looking to trade down in weak draft

Blake Griffin with the first pick, no matter who has it. After that, you can put the next five to ten in any order, and everyone else in any order. It's a total crap-shoot year in the NBA draft. Don't even give me Rubio or Thabeet or Monroe as absolutely belonging there. Best guess, all the way.

Posted Monday December 22, 2008, About: Source: Larry Brown doesn't want Miller

Brad Miller is the only King that has any chemistry with the Kings best young players. He has throughout his career been the most likely player to develop a good floor chemistry with the shooters and cutters. Unfortunately, his toughness comes and goes (usually goes), he gets distracted when things don't go his way, and he is no low-post presence. But he's a great pick-and-roll guy. If the Kings were going anywhere at all, he'd be in Sac longer. But this season is lost, so what's the point.

Posted Thursday December 04, 2008, About: Nice guy Theus on hot seat

This team is trying to re-create the style it had with Divac, Webber, Stojakovic, etc. They may have some of the right pieces, but those pieces are very young. It doesn't appear that the veterans are really providing veteran leadership, and maybe it's because they know they are mainly something to wipe your feet on on your way to the club's future.

Everyone (including Theus?) must have known that he was hired to connect with this group of youth, see what happens for a couple of years while the kiddie corps gets collected, then hopefully begin making a run starting next year, or the following. That future only includes Theus if they make remarkable progress. So the subject of his employment should be moot until at least after mid-season.

Posted Monday November 17, 2008, About: Syracuse candidates include Kiffin

Is Kiffin a default candidate for every coaching job in the country?

Posted Tuesday August 12, 2008, About: Vagabond leading 49ers QB race?

Favre?

Smith will start opening day. I think this is mostly trying to light a fire under him. And, incidentally, Nolan doesn't get to decide who his quarterbacks are. They are handed to him and he has to make it work. So far, it hasn't worked. I would like to see what Smith can do with a competent OC for two years straight.

And...I wish Norv Turner would just be satisfied with being the best OC in football, instead of a not-so-good head coach.

Posted Thursday July 31, 2008, About: Yao's concerns about Artest

Yao could have been wiser about how he answered that question, but come on. He was totally baited into that and just answered a question. If you read the whole thing, you can see that he was mostly postive and very diplomatic. The jerk in the whole thing was the reporter who brought it up to get a headline with a small piece of Yao's response.

Posted Wednesday July 30, 2008, About: Rockets trading for Artest

Artest is a great addition for the Rockets, especially with the Adelman connection. He is a perfect complement to Yao and T-Mac. But the bottom line still is whether all three are healthy when it counts. The ygo nowhere again if they don't have all three in the playoffs.

If all three are healthy in April, then this is the best Big-3 anywhere outside of LA and Boston. LA should have made this deal, but they still have the best Big-3 in the west.

Sacramento took a good opportunity here. Ron-Ron wasn't going to be happy. He took a lot away from Kevin Martin's offense with his ball stopping style. He won't handle the ball as much in Houston. Sac now has a reliable back-up point guard for the same period of time they could have kept Artest, as well as a promising rookie who should have gone higher in the draft. And, this year, Sacramento is too young to make any real noise with or without Artest.

I think Sac has another move before the season starts.

Posted Thursday July 17, 2008, About: Camby 'insulted' by trade to Clippers

We're all back in context now. Give us the trade. What would work for Sac/LAC? I don't think that even if the personnel worked, Dunleavy would have him. Can you imgine those sparks?

Posted Thursday July 17, 2008, About: Camby 'insulted' by trade to Clippers

It would have been "special" if it included Brand. If it included Brand it wouldn't have included Camby. I think special is a stretch, but the sanity is refreshing, Hollywood. The truth is, the Clippers are on the rebound. The Nuggets are sinking.

Posted Thursday July 17, 2008, About: Camby 'insulted' by trade to Clippers

C'mon, everyone. Camby got traded for literally nothing. He's a serious shot blocker, defender and rebounder, and he's been around for quite a while. YOU would answer that you feel disrespected if you were asked under those circumstances.

Posted Thursday July 17, 2008, About: Camby 'insulted' by trade to Clippers

How Artest got into this I don't know. But let's go with it...

Doesn't this put Denver out front as a team seeking Artest? They needed more toughness and defense even with Camby.

Posted Tuesday July 15, 2008, About: Heat may have interest in Artest

Riley knows how to get it done. His ego is his biggest obstacle these days. But you have to have an ego to get to the top of that world.

Besides, building for one championship, blowing it all up, and starting over...that's just how things are done in Florida.

Posted Tuesday July 15, 2008, About: Heat may have interest in Artest

Artest can deal with a first-time coach. He did fine with Theus in Sac, and even as well as anyone with Eric Mussel-head before him. I could see him getting frustrated with three years in a row. His strength and his weakness regarding the coaches is that he will be very honest and not very discreet about whether or not they really have it together. So if Spoelstra (?) really has it together, Ron-Ron will be totally in his court.

Do not question what he brings to the court. His only drawback is that he stops the ball if he has any reason to believe he should be the first option on offense. On the court, the man can flat out play on both ends and is really a smart player. If anything, his expectations and his belief in his teammates are positive to a fault. Oh, one other thing, if he doesn't think the point guard is good enough, he will assume control of everything from bringing the ball up to running the half-court offense. He simply cannot leave it in hands he considers incompetent.

He will play hard for the new city, fans, team, and for the new contract he hopes to get by the end of the year. I believe he will be a monster this year. So the biggest issue, the baggage, won't show up this year if the team is together and competitive.

I think the Heat's biggest issue is that if they pick up Ron Artest, then either he or the rookie has to play power forward. Therefore, it is the same situation they have with Marion.

Regarding Kenny Thomas, he is truly a pouter when he doesn't et to play. Is that good or bad? In Miami, he'll play at least some more that in Sac.

Posted Monday July 14, 2008, About: Lakers offer Odom for Artest

The Lakers choked. Please stop avoiding it. It happened.

If history repeats itself, the Spurs will win next year again. Won't happen.

Artest can be the difference in LA. He is a reliable defender and scorer, and he won't stall the offense in LA like he does in Sac because he knows he is not the show.

The deal won't happen because the Kings will get a better offer elsewhere. Petrie is patient enough to get it done. But it would be a good deal for Sac if the KThomas contract moves with it, and a good deal in LA either way. The Lakers are just competition moving other teams to up the ante. The Sac/LA "rivalry" has nothing to do with it.

Lakers blogs are second to none. Cool! But the emotional rants are scary.

Posted Wednesday June 25, 2008, About: Source: Heat eyeing Boozer or Brand

Would anyone find Haslem and Marion to Sacramento for Artest, Kenny Thomas (makes $ work) and #12 intriguing? what are the reasons that wouldn't work?

Posted Tuesday June 24, 2008, About: Nets interested in Camby, Alexander

These are two teams that have to start over. It is rare that making change just for the sake of change is a good idea. But it is for these two teams. This is mediocrity that will blossom into just plain bad. Make the move!

Posted Monday June 23, 2008, About: Bobcats, T-Wolves talking trade?

Morrison was hurt most or all of last year.

Earth to timewalker: Beasley will not be there! Whoever drafts #2 will not permit it, period. If the Wolves and their fans are fantasizing about Beasley, you will have to move up to two. No way around it.

Mayo has the wildest range in the whole draft. I personally think he will be lightning. But he may...o...be the biggest bust. Nine could be considered just as good a pick as three. Which is why I actually don't know why the tar Heels, er, Bobcats would do this. Who are they so sure they have to be at 3 to get? Or is it that important to unload Dune Buggy Morrison?

Posted Monday June 23, 2008, About: Warriors may move Harrington

If there's one Warrior who is not leaving, it's Monta Ellis.

Is the Psycho Mr. Hyde Lopez twin a good fit? I'm not sure pick 14 is too high for him. After all, it gets really hazy after 10 or 12. Actually, it gets really crazy after 2.

Posted Monday June 23, 2008, About: Beasley won't fall past T-Wolves

Thursday night's gonna be crazy. Rose and Beasley go 1 and 2 regardless of the teams drafting in those positions. But after Rose goes #1 (no question?), the roof comes off. I hope it trade bedlam. That would be fun.

Then, in about two years, fans will be clucking here and groaning there and general managers and scouts will be standing in unemployment lines here and getting "Executive of the Year" there (whatever the heck that is).

I wouldn't watch the draft without a notepad this year.

Posted Monday June 23, 2008, About: Beasley won't fall past T-Wolves

Now Beasley is 6'7"? He is getting shorter by the day. I don't think he is a double-digits rebounder in the League, either. But he gets 8-8.5 because he wants it and competes. He is a huge offensive complement to Wade, giving him room to operate because he has to be paid attention to.

Rebounders rebound. Jason Kidd rebounds. It's more about Go Get It than anything else.

Posted Sunday June 22, 2008, About: Beasley won't fall past T-Wolves

Thank you, C Note. Beasley is for real. Everyone knows it. Any other rumor-mill craziness is posturing. He will go no later than 2. 6'8", 6'10", 7'. He scores, he rebounds. He's a ball player.