OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?

[pmatic]

Chris Paul playing in New York tonight.

I'm curious to see how he'll perform.

Edit:

A new role model for Chris Paul?

I've watched almost every minute of New Orleans Hornets basketball this season, and I'm telling you this:

At the tender age of 25, Chris Paul is not what he once was.

Now, before you freak out, let's consider what he has been. He's already been an MVP runner-up, a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA first- and second-teamer, and (but for fans of Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash and now Derrick Rose) the league's best point guard since he came into the league.

This season he is among the league leaders in PER, double-doubles, steals, assists, free throw percentage, 3-point shooting and assist-to-turnover ratio. For most of the season, he has looked like a prime MVP candidate.

But the Hornets have won only three games in the past month, and I've started to worry about CP3. No, I'm not worried about his visit to New York on Wednesday and what it means for his future in New Orleans -- that's too distant a concern. Instead, I spend my time worrying about the meniscus tear he suffered in his left knee about 13 months ago, on Jan. 28, 2010.

The surgery was shortly thereafter. The rehab, it appears, will go on for the rest of his life.

Among the side effects, tragically: Paul has lost one of his best weapons, the explosive first step he once used to beat any player to any spot on the floor.

Paul generally refuses to discuss his physical ailments, but he has talked about the knee injury in vague terms lately. On Jan. 29, he told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is "on it every day. I'm still strengthening it, trying to get it as strong as possible. At some point, it'll be where I need it to be."

At the All-Star Game last month, he said, "As I get older and older, I'll probably slow down a little bit more. I probably won't jump as high. Hopefully I just keep getting better in basketball. Just continue to work on ballhandling and shooting."

So what does it mean? Whereas Paul was once on track to be Isiah Thomas 2.0, he has become something else entirely without that lightning first step. It might be time for a new comparison: Paul has become John Stockton 2.0.

Paul was never just an athlete. To go with the blazing speed, he had an incomparable handle, court vision and basketball smarts reinforced by one of the most competitive and ruthless on-court personalities in the league.

He's still quick, elusive and able to free himself and his teammates for baskets, but these days, his play in the half court is almost entirely reliant on misdirection and clever ballhandling. He goes to the basket less, but compensates by shooting at a better clip than he has ever before. With his strength and low center of gravity intact, he often relies on running into opposing players to force them to retreat and give him room to shoot.

Or he forces the contact and draw fouls. OK, I'll admit it. He flops. A lot.

Regardless, it has been an amazing transformation over the course of less than a year. As he's encountered new limitations, he has shifted his focus to being the best floor general he can be.

Throughout his career, CP3 has been the subject of a fierce debate regarding who is the better point guard, he or longtime Utah Jazz point man Deron Williams, now plying his trade in the swamps of Jersey. In the 2005 draft, Williams went one spot ahead of Paul, and he holds the better head-to-head record, while Paul has generally put up better overall numbers and been more decorated with leaguewide honors over the years. In this debate, Paul was usually considered the speedy creator who thrived because he was untethered from obligation to run a rigid offensive system, while Williams was often believed to be constrained by Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's scripted flex offense.

But the script has flipped now. These days, it's the Utah point guard of yesteryear who comes to mind when I watch Paul play. And while it's hardly what I expected, the similarities have become striking.

Like Paul, Stockton directed his team's offensive system almost to a fault, ignoring open shots early in the shot clock to keep trying to generate open shots for his teammates. When fans want CP3 to take the open 3, he's waiting for power forward David West to pop open for a short jumper -- Stockton had Karl Malone in that role.

Paul is the current master thief, while Stockton holds the all-time record with 3,265 steals, far ahead of No. 2 Michael Jordan. In addition to great anticipation, Paul and Stockton have shown a masterful understanding of opposing offensive schemes. And each in his own way, Paul and Stockton have been known for gritty, sometimes physical play, to the point of being accused of dirty play to stymie opponents and gain an advantage.

After noticing this tendency and drafting this article, I contacted Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus and ESPN.com, who has a statistical system that identifies similar players. Pelton usually runs it for three seasons of a player's career at a time, but at my request, he examined Paul just this season, since his injury. And when Pelton ran the numbers, who did his computer cough up as the player most similar to the current Chris Paul? John Stockton.

Is it a perfect comparison? Paul turns the ball over less and rebounds far more. He also harps at referees all game while Stockton was known for his hardwood stoicism. As for Stockton's freakish hand size and short shorts, Paul isn't even in the same league.

And on his best nights, CP3 reminds us of those electrifying days from earlier in his career and the early part of the 2009-10 season. We Hornets fans harbor a secret wish for him to explode as the Paul of old when the playoffs begin -- is there some chance he has been taking it easy? -- and proceed to demolish the competition en route to a deep postseason run. Furthermore, there's hope that his knee will heal more fully by next season, whenever that begins.

In the meantime, we have to accept that he is now a different kind of incredible than he once was. That might not make him MVP, but it may still make him one of the best point guards of all time.

Link

 

[proshares]

Originally Posted by University of Nike

So... LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing well the last few months... 

  

Bryant and Howard have the Dream to thank for their fancy footwork
Kobe Bryant drives hard down the right side of the lane in a January matchup with the Suns. Coming to a jump stop on the low block, he picks up his dribble and the defense, as usual, converges. Bryant fakes a shot, which sends Grant Hill airborne. But Hill's teammate Channing Frye doesn't bite, so Bryant quickly pivots on his right foot, turns his back to both Suns and fakes a pass to an imaginary cutter. Then, just as quickly, he steps back and launches a fadeaway jumper. His feet never stop moving.

Basketball aficionados will note that Bryant's footwork has improved in recent years. What they may not know is that his mentor is Hakeem Olajuwon, the Hall of Famer whose balletic moves helped redefine low-post play.

A few seasons ago Bryant realized his game was changing and he was spending more time in the post. With larger defenders lurking in tighter spaces, he needed to find more ways to get his shot off. Before the 2009 season, that led him to Olajuwon's gym in Houston. "I was curious to see what else I could learn," he says, "so I went to the best."

Olajuwon's game was based on purposeful moves made possible by quick, well-placed steps. "Effective footwork allows you to change direction at a moment's notice," says The Dream, "without losing balance and wasting movement."

Now Olajuwon, who generously doled out lessons during his 18-year career, has become the go-to guru for advanced post tutorials. This past summer, Dwight Howard made a trip to Houston to expand his offensive game beyond putbacks, dunks and a jump hook everyone knew how to defend. What Howard wanted to learn was Olajuwon's signature move, the Dream Shake, a series of ball fakes and misdirections that personified grace on the low block. "Of course I started with his feet," says Olajuwon. He walked the Magic center through each step -- without the ball -- and went through the numerous ways a defender would react before showing him how to counter.

Howard learned that, despite how showy the Shake was, there was a purpose behind every fake and pump. "The first fake is to clear space," says Olajuwon. "The second pump is to get the defender off his feet." The results can be measured not only on the stat sheet, but with the eye. Howard is averaging a career-high 22.6 points per game and displays more fluidity than in his previous six NBA seasons. "I work on the stuff he taught me every day and use it each night," Howard says.

Olajuwon, whose lessons are free and include videotapes of every workout, breaks his instruction down into four steps: 1) theory of a move; 2) demonstration; 3) imitation and criticism; and 4) repetition. The fifth, unwritten, step is practical application. In a Jan. 28 game against the Bulls, Howard caught the ball on the left block, shoulder-faked right and spun left toward the middle. He pump-faked and then deftly stepped through, freezing the defender, before dropping in a soft finger roll. "You can see how much better he is," Olajuwon says of Howard. "He is a great student."

Of course, there's one more rule that the Hall of Famer is glad to see his pupils following: Pass it on. "When I watch the Lakers," says Olajuwon, "I see Pau Gasol doing things I taught Kobe."

A league full of Dream Shakers? To Olajuwon, that would be a well-placed step in the right direction.

 

[proshares]

Originally Posted by University of Nike

So... LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing well the last few months... 

  

Bryant and Howard have the Dream to thank for their fancy footwork
Kobe Bryant drives hard down the right side of the lane in a January matchup with the Suns. Coming to a jump stop on the low block, he picks up his dribble and the defense, as usual, converges. Bryant fakes a shot, which sends Grant Hill airborne. But Hill's teammate Channing Frye doesn't bite, so Bryant quickly pivots on his right foot, turns his back to both Suns and fakes a pass to an imaginary cutter. Then, just as quickly, he steps back and launches a fadeaway jumper. His feet never stop moving.

Basketball aficionados will note that Bryant's footwork has improved in recent years. What they may not know is that his mentor is Hakeem Olajuwon, the Hall of Famer whose balletic moves helped redefine low-post play.

A few seasons ago Bryant realized his game was changing and he was spending more time in the post. With larger defenders lurking in tighter spaces, he needed to find more ways to get his shot off. Before the 2009 season, that led him to Olajuwon's gym in Houston. "I was curious to see what else I could learn," he says, "so I went to the best."

Olajuwon's game was based on purposeful moves made possible by quick, well-placed steps. "Effective footwork allows you to change direction at a moment's notice," says The Dream, "without losing balance and wasting movement."

Now Olajuwon, who generously doled out lessons during his 18-year career, has become the go-to guru for advanced post tutorials. This past summer, Dwight Howard made a trip to Houston to expand his offensive game beyond putbacks, dunks and a jump hook everyone knew how to defend. What Howard wanted to learn was Olajuwon's signature move, the Dream Shake, a series of ball fakes and misdirections that personified grace on the low block. "Of course I started with his feet," says Olajuwon. He walked the Magic center through each step -- without the ball -- and went through the numerous ways a defender would react before showing him how to counter.

Howard learned that, despite how showy the Shake was, there was a purpose behind every fake and pump. "The first fake is to clear space," says Olajuwon. "The second pump is to get the defender off his feet." The results can be measured not only on the stat sheet, but with the eye. Howard is averaging a career-high 22.6 points per game and displays more fluidity than in his previous six NBA seasons. "I work on the stuff he taught me every day and use it each night," Howard says.

Olajuwon, whose lessons are free and include videotapes of every workout, breaks his instruction down into four steps: 1) theory of a move; 2) demonstration; 3) imitation and criticism; and 4) repetition. The fifth, unwritten, step is practical application. In a Jan. 28 game against the Bulls, Howard caught the ball on the left block, shoulder-faked right and spun left toward the middle. He pump-faked and then deftly stepped through, freezing the defender, before dropping in a soft finger roll. "You can see how much better he is," Olajuwon says of Howard. "He is a great student."

Of course, there's one more rule that the Hall of Famer is glad to see his pupils following: Pass it on. "When I watch the Lakers," says Olajuwon, "I see Pau Gasol doing things I taught Kobe."

A league full of Dream Shakers? To Olajuwon, that would be a well-placed step in the right direction.

 

[CP1708]

Hakeem. 

Welcome back U of  N.   Bout time. 

 

[CP1708]

Hakeem. 

Welcome back U of  N.   Bout time. 

 

[mronegative]

That CP3 artcicle

 

[mronegative]

That CP3 artcicle

 

[GaBeGRaMz]

Originally Posted by MrONegative

That CP3 artcicle

 

[GaBeGRaMz]

Originally Posted by MrONegative

That CP3 artcicle

 

[do be doo]

bhzmafia14 wrote:

---

Grizz up 87-67 against the Spurs without Gasol and Rudy. 
Let's keep it up. I told DBD they were in for an +@# whooping after all that cheating on Saturday.

Congrats on your "We beat the SPURS in the regular season championship"

When is the banner going up?

 

[do be doo]

bhzmafia14 wrote:

---

Grizz up 87-67 against the Spurs without Gasol and Rudy. 
Let's keep it up. I told DBD they were in for an +@# whooping after all that cheating on Saturday.

Congrats on your "We beat the SPURS in the regular season championship"

When is the banner going up?

 

[GaBeGRaMz]

Yo BHZ, we put our banner up already.

 

[GaBeGRaMz]

Yo BHZ, we put our banner up already.

 

[got shoes]

Originally Posted by bdis1986

Originally Posted by Just bLAzed

Originally Posted by YoungTriz

everyone was %**@+%@% on bosh for getting 1 rebound, but dont say !!@% when amare gets 2?

both are pu*%ies

 GASOL

soft, but grabs boards though. 

 

[got shoes]

Originally Posted by bdis1986

Originally Posted by Just bLAzed

Originally Posted by YoungTriz

everyone was %**@+%@% on bosh for getting 1 rebound, but dont say !!@% when amare gets 2?

both are pu*%ies

 GASOL

soft, but grabs boards though. 

 

[do be doo]

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

 

[do be doo]

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

 

[noblekane]

Originally Posted by Do Be Doo

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

shut up already

 

[noblekane]

Originally Posted by Do Be Doo

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

shut up already

 

[do be doo]

  

Nah but really SPURS better pray they dont play the Grizz is the1st round.

 

[do be doo]

  

Nah but really SPURS better pray they dont play the Grizz is the1st round.

 

[mronegative]

Originally Posted by Do Be Doo

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

So they WERE right about you... 

 

[mronegative]

Originally Posted by Do Be Doo

Surprise there is room on the rafters in MSG with all the " The Knicks never winning but are back championships" banners.

All we got in the AT&T center is 4 NBA championship banners.

Knicks "great history" tho.

   

So they WERE right about you... 

 

[nicedudewithnicedreams]

Ain't that serious.

 

[nicedudewithnicedreams]

Ain't that serious.