The behind-the-back pass! Dare I say, Maravich/Nash-esque?

(Thanks, Hoop Doctors.)

And here’s an interesting little morsel from livebloggin’ Jay Onrait:

What! Roko Ukic’s father Zoran played drums in a famous Croatian Rock Band? Are you kidding me? Wow they just showed a shot of his Dad behind his drum kit wearing a bright yellow tanktop and a bright purple headband! I didn’t realize WHAM! was Croatian.

Zoran’s band was called Daleka Obala – translated “Far Coast” by Google. And based on the Wikipedia photo, it looks more like a tribute to Croatian WHAM!

Check out their discography here.

Big Bargnani is defending the 3 just fine. (Photo by Nick Wass/AP)

Stern: Well it all sounds like positives. He’s definitely got that outside stroke. So offensively it sounds like he’s not struggling, with that 17ppg average in the last week.
12:40PM Pete: Yeah. He seems comfortable and confident. Must be playing the 3. It’s his natural position, apparently, much more so than the 5.
He’s been a perimeter-oriented player all his life. He’s like a swingman trapped in a center’s body.
12:41PM Stern: The Terry Mills of Europe?
Pete: (short pause while I Google Terry Mills…)
Stern: Hahahaha…
12:42PM Pete: Uh, yeah, like Terry Mills.
Stern: Yep, a 6′10″ three point shooter. Mills also had the unfortunate fact that he was a little “well-covered” as a problem.
12:43PM But yeah, there are plenty of examples around of big men who get forced to play down low when the perimeter is where their game is at.
Pete: The good thing, though, is AB’s now rebounding better,
12:44PM slashing to the hoop, swatting shots.
Stern: Swatting shots!
Pete: Yessir, he can block. Isn’t he tied with JO on the team?
Stern: Nice… if he is, that’s impressive. I have to admit that I didn’t know he was a shot-blocker.
12:45PM Even if he doesn’t want to play on the low block, the ability to swat shots in combination with Bosh/JO is a great thing to have.
Pete: The only thing is, what to do once JO is gone?
Stern: Is that a certainty?
12:46PM Pete: It seems to me that he’s on the downward slope of his abilities.
12:47PM Stern: Definitely. I still don’t understand where that came from though. I was hoping (for his sake) that it was merely a couple (or less than a couple) of “off” seasons and that he would be back on track now, “refreshed.”
Pete: I think there’s been too much damage to his knees. Well, hopefully I’m wrong.
12:48PM Maybe the best is yet to come.
Stern: On the damage to his knees, hopefully you’re right. I mean the way he slid as he punched out that fan in Detroit must have caused some strain!
Bargnani’s 1.4 blocks per is impressive, particularly if he’s playing the 3.
12:49PM Pete: Averaged 1.3 last week.
Stern: It’s not Dwyane Wade territory though… that guy is phenomenal for his size! Last time I looked he was averaging 1.6…
Pete: Is this the segue to our swingmen discussion?
Stern: Well, why not, I guess!
12:50PM Pete: Okay, I want a swingman for my Raptors. Who’s out there?
Stern: I’m still coming to terms with why J-Moon is not a suitable option. I mean, he lit the league up last season it seemed… or was that just a highlight-reel sensation?
12:51PM Pete: He did play better last year, but I don’t know – Is it just a cold start this year? Is he not getting himself focused?
Stern: He doesn’t seem to be getting the same minutes. Is that a result of his play, or the cause?
Pete: Result of his play. He’s not hitting his shots. He’s biting on every pump fake.
12:52PM Stern: 27mpg last season, 22mpg this.
Pete: What’s his FG% this year?
Stern: 46% this season, 48.5% last. Blocks down from 1.4 to 0.9.
Pete: Smitch: drop 2.5%, you outta there!
Stern: Rebounds down from 6.2 to 3.0.
Pete: Aha, there’s another telling stat.
12:53PM Stern: Smitch is a tough’un!
Yeah, the rebounds drop is a big one, non-commensurate with his drop in minutes. Remarkably his steals are up 1.0 to 1.3. whoops – 1.2 I meant.
12:54PM Pete: Mmm. Marginal. Sorry – having lunch.

Jamario Moon’s seat is a lot warmer lately. (Photo by Adrian Wyld/AP)

Stern: Yeah. I guess though most of the time it’s an intuitive thing for a coach, if he doesn’t look like he’s in synch, then he doesn’t want him out there. You’d know more, as I haven’t seen enough Raps action to comment.
12:55PM What are you eating?
Pete: PBJ. It’s Back-To-School Day in my lunch bag.
Stern: Nice. One of my all-time faves. Right up there with peanut-butter and banana!
12:56PM Whoops. I’m conscious of time here now, as I realise I will have to do a bolt in about 5mins…
Pete: D’oh!
Stern: Well I can stretch it a little I’m sure. I have to get to a movie though.
12:57PM Wall Street — that’s right, it’s 1985 all over again here!
Pete: I hear they’re doing a sequel.
Stern: Really? That might be the impetus for the screening then. Makes sense with the current financial climate.
12:58PM Everyone is cutting costs to get their hands on LeBron. That is what has caused the crisis!
Pete: I knew it!
Stern: On that note are you worried about Bosh being a target and leaving?
Pete: Nah. I trust what Bryan Colangelo is trying to do. And I think CB thinks likewise.
12:59PM Stern: It seems like there is a great environment in T-dot and they’re building something good. He’s having a great season!
Pete: He’s been awesome. Thank you, Olympic experience.
Stern: Spot on. I think the Olympics has helped a few players out. Back to the topic of your swingman… that’s a tough one.
1:00PM What do the Raptors need at that position? A scorer or a defender? A facilitator a la Odom?
Pete: A 2 who can be a top-2 or 3 scorer, or a lockdown defender. I’ll accept either.
1:01PM Stern: A better scorer than Anthony Parker?
Pete: Yeah. AP, I think, is done once the season’s over. Back to Europe.
Stern: Ah, I thought I’d hear word of that.
1:02PM Well, in the lockdown defenders department, you’d have to think that Battier would be on the market, given the Artest-McGrady combo being in Houston.
Pete: Is Battier still getting minutes? Is he aging before our eyes?
Stern: He’s been injured to start the season. I’m not sure what his stats have been like since…
1:03PM Pete: I wonder if there’s anybody worthwhile in the 2009 draft.
Stern: Battier has not played yet.
Hmmm. I can’t profess to know much of who is coming in 2009.
Pete: The Raps haven’t much wiggle room salary-wise.
1:04PM So I figure trade or draft. Kapono? Expiring contracts? Not much else worthwhile. Fans are suggesting Bargnani. (How’s that for full-circle?)
1:05PM Stern: Wow! hahaha! That is full-circle…I don’t know what sort of value you get for Bargnani.
1:06PM He is on the up at the moment, so perhaps now is as good a time as any to pull the trigger. He’s by no means a Darko anyway.
Pete: Yeah, sell high, Wall Street.
Stern: Greed is good!

Greed is good. Bargnani is better.

Hmmm… other swingmen?
Pete: Monta Ellis!
Stern: Golden State has all of those …
1:07PM …you beat me to it!
Pete: Beat ya to it!
Stern: Well, Monta would be a handy replacement for Parker at the 2. However, he’s on big bucks now, after signing that pre-moped contract.
Pete: Well, that’s out then.
1:08PM Stern: Kapono… *shakes head*
Pete: A shooter who won’t shoot.
Stern: That was always going to be one of those signings where people said afterwards, “why did you sign that guy to a contract on the weight of playing on one championship team?” He’s a big Damon Jones.
1:09PM Without the attitude and the Chinese shoe contract.
Pete: I think it made sense, as long as he shoots. I wonder if he worries about being labelled a chucker.
Stern: True. Has he been hesitant on his shot? If you’ve got lowpost guys (e.g. Bosh, JO) drawing people, he’s perfect for the Raps.
1:10PM Pete: You’d think! But he’s not shooting enough for some crazy reason. If I had a 50% on 3PT, I’d be hoisting it everytime I get the ball. And he’s got a quick trigger.
Stern: Me too. I don’t need an invite!
1:11PM Strange.

Pete: Someone said his big contract messed with his head.
Stern: Perhaps. Or maybe not having Shaq feeding him the ball did it?
Pete: Or the threat of Shaq sitting on him?
1:12PM Stern: That is enough for anyone! Even Oden got scared by that.
Pete: We need a scared-Oden photo right here…
Stern: Definitely!

Trust us: Oden looks scared here. (Photo by Paul Connors/AP)

Ohh… can we do a “to be continued” on this? I really should hit the subway.
1:13PM Pete: Sure.
Stern: Thanks for this, it’s been fun! Hopefully we can do it again sometime.
1:14PM There’s plenty more we can talk about of course…
Pete: Yep, we can do it again another time. Enjoy the ’80s hairdos!
1:15PM Stern: Great. Thanks. Talk to you soon!
Pete: Thanks for dropping by!

Really, KG. Enough already. First you taunt our gimpy point guard, now this:

“I don’t know the situation here or what [Chris Bosh] is going through but tonight he looked pretty frustrated,” said Garnett. “When you’re a good player and trying to be better, trying to be one of the premiers in this league, trying to set your mark, you want the help around you. He has to make a decision on whether he wants to be here.”

Can players get fined for tampering? Please?

(via Fanhouse)

Alternative title: Stop playing with my Bosh

Here’s the latest video analysis from Coach Raul Jimenez. Perfect timing, after the Celtics easily handle our Rappies…

I really like some of the offensive situations from the champions, the Boston Celtics. This one is a special offense for the end of the quarter. They clear out for the point guard, and place their center and power forward on the opposite side. What they want using this offensive set is to assure that Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett’s defenders will help when the PG, Rajon Rondo, drives to the basket. As we can see, the defenders are ready to make that help. Then, Davis sets a back pick and Garnett goes to the corner to receive the pass for an open shot.

It could have been an easier shot had the PG gone harder towards the rim, but anyway, Garnett has time and space to make his shot, although this time he misses.

This is the first of many, many posts, I hope, by Raul Jimenez. Get set for video highlights and analysis of NBA and European players from a professional coach.

Rudy Fernandez has an important role for a rookie of the Portland Trail Blazers (currently 6-5, seventh in the Western Conference). Playing beside Brandon Roy, who makes a lot of shots and is the go-to guy in critical situations, we can say that Rudy is finding his place.

Some days ago, against Utah, Rudy showed some of the skills that allowed him to reach the NBA. Portland ran a diamond set for him, and he finished in three different ways, showing that it’s a hard task to stop him. He can go hard to the rim, he can give the extra pass, he can make his shots… a lot of options! He has the skills and the will. It’s not strange that Portland fans are already impressed by Rudy.

In the video we watch the three situations, the first two in consecutive plays. In the first one, he receives and drives to get fouled. In the second one, he curls and assists on LaMarcus Aldridge’s dunk. In the third one, he comes off the screen and hits the three (breaking a 0-9 run against Portland).

Would you like to win adidas Raptors gear? Then head on over to Hoops Addict and comment in the Brotherhood of Ballers post. One commenter, randomly chosen (I think), will win this stuff:

1 Bosh Raptors Swingman Jersey
1 Garnett Celtics Swingman Jersey
3 adidas Basketball t’s
3 Raptors wristbands (3 pairs, I would imagine)
1 Raptors headband
7 Raptors Flex Fit Hats

That’s over $500 worth of gear.

So go comment!