Remember Voshon Lenard?

-Three point threat for the Heat way back in the Pat Riley days. Often lit it up including a memorable 3pt contest victory in 2004. Did I say memorable? Exactly right my people, he came back and destroyed the field hitting 16 points in the final round after a rough start. On wikipedia, it states that Voshon is currently a free agent. That's right NBA GM's, its time to get on the wire and bring this flamethrower back into the league for your playoff push. Celtics? Anyone?

-Does Olimpiakos have the dumbest set of player personnel team assembled? Willing to argue yes based on the fact that there is interest in Stephon Marbury. European teams are particularly notorious for not putting up with "me first" personalities and one would imagine that Steph wouldn't last much longer then a couple weeks before his coach and teammates would be at his throat.

-Chris Paul keeps edging closer to the vaunted quadruple double with 27, 15, 10 and 7 steals. I can't put it into words how much this statline blows my mind. The little one grabs so many boards which I continue to point out has nothing to do with size, and much more with effort.

-Remember this game? Played it a couple times at Aaron Sawyer's house back in the day. Sick, sick find!

-Have you been watching the Basketball Jones Videocast? Love their analysis and humor that they bring to the table most weekday mornings. However, doesn't it it take away from their credibility when seeing them on video? Looks like neither of them have picked up a basketball at any point in their lives.

-Another NBA podcast that has been on my radar recently. The guys at Talk Hoops have one called The Weekly Fix. It's a little long, but pretty funny and a little more explicit then The Jones. Also, looking forward to The Hardwood Paroxysm's Podcast which has yet to be started but has been advertised. They have quite a collection of NBA minds that should blend well for a solid podcast. Not enough hours in the day to listen to all of the things I'd like to.

NBA Draft

Greetings, its your draft specialist Pooty Love, here to break down the mock draft in unfortunately poor fashion due to the lack of college bball i have watched this season. Still some topics of discussion:

1. Blake Griffin - No qualms with Griffin here. He is the premier athlete in the NCAA and will surely succeed once he gets a few go-to moves in the post at the next level.

2. Hasheem Thabeet - Whoever drafts Hasheem here is setting themselves up for disaster... Guarantee he will drop a bunch of spots come July. If one thing can be learned from this decade its draft the best player at whatever spot / not necessarily the one with the most athletic potential, and be VERY weary high using your high pick on a center. Hasheem is far from the answer for a struggling NBA team, is he even killing it at UConn?

3. James Harden - Oh yeah. This guy is the real. Polished, smart and gutsy player who along with a great supporting cast at Ariz St. is tearing it up. OJ Mayoesque ladies and gentlemen, not as athletic, but has got the will to get it done.

4.Jordan Hill - Not sure how Mr. Hill has jumped so far up the draft board. Everytime I watch him at Zona, he is lethargic 80% of the time, and the remaining production are put-backs or alley-oops. Not sold on this athletic big man.

5. Brandon Jennings - If you haven't read PW's world the past few months, this guy is the definition of brilliance. Could do what Jason Williams and Allen Iverson did to re-stylize the NBA. #1 on this Poot's Big Board

---Don't know enough names after this... Budinger is projected too high, Jeff Teague and Wake Forest are on the rise. More to come. Poot, I can't listen to your radioshow, the box is blacked out. Very disappointing.

Monta Countdown - I'll give it 2 weeks

4.

Taking Full Advantage

Happy to see Jerryd Bayless get some action last night against the Nets. He scored 23 points in his Blake-less debut due to a shoulder injury and added 3 boards and assists along with a robust 11-11 at the stripe. The kid was meant to be a serious player in the NBA and its a damn travesty that Maryland's own Blake gets a majority of the play. His consistancy is nice, but Bayless' ability to explode offensively and his sturdy frame and ridiculous quicks providing enough on the defensive end should warrant a spot in the starting rotation. Or at the very least, big minute 6th man. Brandon Roy said this about Bayless.

"He's strong, strong as hell,' Roy said. 'Just play against him and you'll see why he gets there. Tell him to drive on you one time. He puts that body on you ... I mean, I was falling back (going) 'Whoooooa!'' After that happened a couple times in Blazers practices, it struck a chord with Roy. This was not common, he thought. It got him thinking which other players in the NBA posed the same problem when he was guarding them. 'It's the Dwyane Wades that give you that type of problem,' Roy said. 'You look at the young players, it's Rodney Stuckey. Those dudes that get low and power to the basket, those are the toughest to guard. And he has that."

Would have liked to see him grab a couple of steals during his 25 minutes stint, but you can't complain about this monster dunk he threw down....

The Kids We Love

If there was any doubt about a ballplayers age, Ricky Rubio is not the place to start. He looks about 15...maybe? Enjoy the viral vid.....

Booty Star Glock Talk: Central Division

Continuing with our "watchability"review up to this point in the NBA season is everyone's favorite, THE CENTRAL! Beware, a couple of these reviews could be incredibly biased.


Cleveland Cavaliers: The Lebrons always rank high on my watchability index. During my freshman year of college in the dorms of UC Riverside, my doormates would constantly tell me that Lebron was going to be a complete failure in the NBA. I'll continue to stand by my opinion of him turning in to one of the greatest players in NBA history. Of course, I did say the same thing on Johnathan Bender. C'mon, the guy was a 7'1" shooting guard who could slash with and pass with the best of them. His jump shot was butter when left open all the way out to the 3pt line and he boarded like CRAZY! Points per minute were through the roof but his problem was 2 incompetent knees and a couple of untrusting coaches. Jury's still undecided on that one....right? Anyways, besides the obvious draw of Lebron, Mo Williams is fun to watch on the offensive side of the floor and their array of 3pt shooters genetically engineered to compliment Lebron's strengths provide for a GREAT VIEW every time.
Watchability: 9.0


http://www.youcastr.com/casts/archive/nateorious-poots-world-watchability


Decided to get some of my watchability piece on radio. Enjoy, I was tired and couldn't even remember what day of the week it was. Turn down your speakers when listening to the music. ITS WAY TOO LOUD!

Booty Star Glock Talk: Atlantic Division

Having nearly reached the halfway point of this fine NBA season with my equally gorgeous subscription to League Pass, I felt it pertinent to reflect on the games I have been watching and assess the "watchability" of certain teams. Too many factors went into this grading system so I'll just fire out a list and explain the reasons. Take into account that these are incredibly biased reasons for disliking or liking to watch a team play. The scale is from 1-10 with 1 being an automatic channel change and 10 a "locked in and no switching, even during commercial mode."

Boston Celtics: The defending champs are slowly becoming one of the least interesting teams to watch in my opinion. Ray Allen has never been a favorite of mine, and the excessive attempted punking by Pierce and Garnett is just getting annoying. Rondo's all around brilliance and freakishly long arms continue to keep me coming back for more. And the added inscentive to watch the continual growth of Bay Area's Leon Powe.
Watchability: 7.5

New Jersey Nets: Devin Harris is my main draw here for me. Got to meet him a few times during his stint at UW (I even walked into his apartment when he was in nothing but his boxers ;) and the guy is truly a nice person. Very level-headed and not a dick with his star status. Easy to root for him as he ascends to All-Star levels in his newfound role. Having said all this, it is incredibly difficult for one player to bring me to a team's attention. Devin is close, but if he rests, I often switch and just forget the Nets were even on in the first place. Was getting a little ticked off that Sean Williams was never playing, but with his recent D-League struggles, I suppose Frank's reasons were legitimate.
Watchability: 7.0

Philadelphia 76ers: No offense to the major sixer following we have aquired on PW, but I just can't stand watching this team play basketball. All of the parts are in place for me to being a fan of this team. Andre Miller dropping mad dimes, Thad and Dre providing the much needed athletic freaks I so enjoy watching, and a fantasy basketball favorite, Sam Dalembert. Even with the injured Brand, I was continually ticked off by their underachieving nature and the fact that I expect so much more from them leads to the infrequency of view time.
Watchability: 2.5

Toronto Raptors: Another team I should love watching on a daily basis is sinking fast due to my high pre-season expectations. Chris Bosh was easily my favorite player on Team U.S.A. last summer and Jose Calderon's assist to turnover ratio and smooth stroke has always been a huge turn on for this blogger. Maybe its the bitterness at J.O. for always being injured during his tenure with the Pacers, or perhaps its their oft-stagnent offense that should be cutting through defenses around the league like a hot knife through butter. Sad story, but I often change the channel after a couple minutes of watching this team ball. The one thing that pumps them up a couple notches is that they always provide me with a Sunday morning NBA fix with their 11:30 starts when playing at Air Canada Centre.
Watchability: 4.0


New York Knicks: This is one of the few teams I can't stop watching due to one player. Mr. David Lee has me hooked on the Bockers like one of those Blue Magic heroin addicts in American Gangster. He has an incredibly quick first step, finishes in all shapes and styles, runs around on defense like a fiend, and has those springloaded calves, supremely important for grabbing rebounds even after misjudging the ball off the rim. Nate Robinson should be enough to offset my love of Lee, but I do my best to ignore the annoying little bastard. IF he wins the slam dunk contest this year, I might get more angry than last night watching the Lakers-Pacers game.
Watchability: 6.5

Its a New Year

Like the title says, Poot's World is ready for big and better things. Although I am too, entrenched back into the university, my commitment to PW will never wane (except when I succumb to inexplicable laziness).

-My love for Anthony Randolph beginning in July has rapidly decreased with his overall rookie effort through January. I'm not one to rag on a guy for not knowing plays, because 1. An NBA team is not an easy system to incorporate yourself into at such an early age, 2. I never learned plays very fluidly, nor used them even though i was the starting pg under Coach JB, BUT have you ever seen a guy look completely lost on the offensive end, and on the way to huddles have his teammates ignore or reject frustratingly his asking of help? What makes both of those things untolerable is the fact he seems extremely hard-headed which leaves unforeseeable improvement. I'm already tired of the guy and despite his flashes of freakish athleticism, have little hope for his future. I say trade him while he is still hot off the first round pick, along with Maggette, for Gerald Wallace, if Charlotte would do that.

Concerning such a deal for PW's COVETED Gerald Wallace, Matt Steinmetz, my new daily NBA read, lists 10 players who would "fit" Don Nelson's style. . Although I hardly ever disagree with what the man says, this article appauls me. He gives a nod to: Andre Blatche, Andrea Barngani, Tony Allen, YI JIANLIAN, Darko Milicic, Darius Miles, Acie Law, Marquis Daniels, Tyrus Thomas, YET, says this about GW... Gerald Wallace, Charlotte: It’s hard to imagine Wallace coming to the Warriors and making any kind of significant positive impact. He seems like just another player you'll bring in and get marginal results. But he’s Nelson’s kind of power forward, isn’t he? Aside from baller Marquis Daniels, if any of those players were traded to the Warriors, I would proceed to puke my intenstines out. I probably couldn't make a list of NBA players I think suck more than that this set of names in particular, and Gerald Wallace is at the bottom? He works hard as fuck, scores at the power forward position, swats, steals, plays D. I'm waiting for him to come our way but something tells me a much darker force, (aka those names above) may reveal itself in the coming month...

-I haven't gotten to watch Rodney Stuckey in his recent tear, and I am asking myself why I am even saying this, but if I had to pick a PG for the future and it was Rondo or Stuckey, isn't it obvious I would pick Stuckey? Let's see, I can't even fathom the damage a Stuckey run Celtics could deal, whereas, Rondo's role has been so nurtured and perfected within that "Big 3" structure, they have just masterfully made that situation work. They turned an NBA type athlete in Rondo, into a PG that kills it in their system. I know he has a lot of fans, so I won't say much more, but if he was to be in Detroit, I wouldn't see him doing near as much. Just look at the hype surrounding Rondo at Kentucky in '04. Like a deflated baloon.

Brain Stir

-I'm starting to believe I could cut it as a coach in the NBA. Here is my argument.....

Coaching middle school is exactly like coaching in the league in that their are 15 nearly impossible ego's to please and manage on a daily basis. The ultimate goal is to have everyone work together, but more often then not, the stars of each team just end up duking it out. Then it turns into a damage control scene for playing time and figuring out painless explanations to the other 13 egos as to why they just aren't very good. Installing offensive and defensive systems often goes to the wayside during games as 1 on 1 lane clearage takes full effect. Couple in multiple player run ins with the law, scattered drug or sex scandals, and I've got the perfect resume. Sure the age difference is slightly significant, but I'd have to say the elements are there. I am fully aware that my tenure will probably last no longer then a year and am OK with the complete lack of job stability. Sign ME UP!

-I will continue to tell EVERYONE to ease up on NBA betting. I swear Vegas has already watched all of these games and knows exactly where to set the lines. The most enraging part is it always seems to come down to a meaningless foul or layup in the final seconds. Smart peeps they got.

-Watching the USC Rose Bowl victory and they cut to a shot of Taylor Mays just standing their in all of his 1st round draft pick glory. In a room of 3 guys, Brett and Kirk Herbie, we all fell silent for about 10 seconds. Kirk broke the silence with, "It should be illegal to look that good in a football uniform." Couldn't have agreed more. Not only is he one of the brightest young football minds of this defensive generation, but he looks like Terrell Owens warming up in the Under Armor. Only he is in full gear! Lebron and Dwight couldn't even compare to #4.

-It concerns me that Josh Smith only has one game this year with at least 4 steals and 4 blocks. It happened 5 times last year. And no, I'm not taking the injury as an excuse.

-Sad I missed the epic battle at A.V. High School. Did not think that the empress of Boonville would make an appearance on the hardwood floors, but I'm guessing she is the one that had the keys and was forced into the game. Epic analysis comparing Jim to Amare S.

-DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Dan Patrick's real last name is Pugh. He decided to not use the name during his time on air. Looks like the Pugh's of the world only do BIG things. NASA, Swiss Robots, sports radio...

-It's a new year and another chance for us to put a little more effort into PW. I say this only to myself come to think of it, as my life over the past 6 months has just been entirely too hectic. Post January 23rd, concentration and effort will be restored on my front, and I look to do a little more fun and entertaining writing. Maybe weekly editions of certain topics of my/our choices.