Around the League: Week 12 1/9-1/15

[ShelC]

I think Hornacek is a good guy and a smart person, but he may not have the toughness necessary to be a NBA head coach. It seems like he is kind of soft and isn't good at corralling strong personalities when they have problems or disagreements.

The same could be said for MikeD. Look at his stints in NY and LA vs PHX and HOU. It's all about situation and personnel.

[Superbone]

http://clutchpoints.com/chucky-brown-co ... years-ago/

Chucky Brown confirmed Charles Oakley slapped Charles Barkley in the face years ago

“We had a lockout in… 1999, so the players’ union decides to fly all the players up as a sign of solidarity that we together and all of that. So, I’m standing in the hallway talking to Dream, laughing with Dream about our days in Houston, and I look down the hallway and see Charles Barkley. Well, not down the hallway, Barkley was next to me talking to this white guy, I don’t even know who he was. Some lawyer or something, I don’t know. So, I look down the hall, I see Derrick Coleman, Anthony Mason – God bless his soul – and Charles Oakley. Back in the day, those were three of the guys you didn’t want to mess with.”

“I see Oakley coming, I’m looking at Oakley, and it looks like he’s looking at me. Barkley is standing right over here. Oakley and I had gotten into something on the court, so I’m thinking, ‘Damn, I don’t want to fight this dude.’ But if I gotta do it, I gotta do it, know what I’m saying? He walks past me, walks up to Charles Barkley, and he’s like, ‘What’s that sh*t you were saying?’ Barkley just kind of looked at him, and Oakley open-hand slapped him.”

[ShelC]

Oakley's like the angriest dude out there.

[carey]

I don't know how long he'll stick in the league but it brings me endless amounts of joy to see TJ McConnell having even a tiny bit of success in the NBA.
https://twitter.com/Sixers/status/819372021687554048

[ShelC]

McConnell's solid. Fills up the stat sheet.

On the other hand, the Knicks look like toast. They're 1-9 in their last 10, Rose went AWOL on Monday but subsequently came back and had a good game last night. Melo is his usual sad sack self and KP looks like he starting to understand the kind of karma the Knicks have going for them.

[carey]

McConnell's solid. Fills up the stat sheet.

On the other hand, the Knicks look like toast. They're 1-9 in their last 10, Rose went AWOL on Monday but subsequently came back and had a good game last night. Melo is his usual sad sack self and KP looks like he starting to understand the kind of karma the Knicks have going for them.

PJ is a mess of a GM though I give him credit for selecting KP. That probably wasn't the easiest call. I can't think of another move he's done to earn that $12M/yr GM salary though.

McConnell really needs to add the 3-point shot to his game if he wants to stick in the league. You can't really play PG without it. Ask Ish Smith who is on a new team almost every year despite being the fastest player with the ball in the NBA.

[djy2j]

Just noticed, how has Minnesota only won 1 more game than the Suns?

They have a good coach and a boat load of young talent. I know they are young but they should be better by now.

[Mori Chu]

That was really sweet the way the other players swarmed McConnell and were hugging him and congratulating him. The Sixers are starting to show the tiniest signs of being an actual basketball team.

[Indy]

Just noticed, how has Minnesota only won 1 more game than the Suns?

They have a good coach and a boat load of young talent. I know they are young but they should be better by now.

Maybe that coach isn't a good fit for that team. I haven't watched enough to know for sure, but typically that style doesn't go well with a team just beginning to learn how to play basketball at a world-class level.

[OE32]

What makes Derrick Rose think he can get a max contract, when just the other day he was considering going all Larry Sanders on us?

Even the Nets would balk at that, I'd think.

[Mori Chu]

Minnesota seems to me like it needs more 3-point shooting. And just in general they need time to grow and get experience. That's how young teams are; they underachieve.

[Indy]

Minnesota seems to me like it needs more 3-point shooting. And just in general they need time to grow and get experience. That's how young teams are; they underachieve.

I don't agree with this at all. Underachieving for the players would be performing less than expected. I don't see that as a product of being inexperienced. If they are lacking experience, and that is why they are losing, then they are not underachieving... they are doing what is expected.

[carey]

That was really sweet the way the other players swarmed McConnell and were hugging him and congratulating him. The Sixers are starting to show the tiniest signs of being an actual basketball team.

They've won 4 of 5.

[Mori Chu]

Minnesota seems to me like it needs more 3-point shooting. And just in general they need time to grow and get experience. That's how young teams are; they underachieve.

I don't agree with this at all. Underachieving for the players would be performing less than expected. I don't see that as a product of being inexperienced. If they are lacking experience, and that is why they are losing, then they are not underachieving... they are doing what is expected.

Maybe we're just mincing words. I meant that young teams tend not to get a ton of wins. You're right that the word "overachieve" can mean something different because achievement can be about player growth, chemistry, various stats, etc. even if wins don't always come along with it.

[Ring_Wanted]

What makes Derrick Rose think he can get a max contract, when just the other day he was considering going all Larry Sanders on us?

Probably looking at his buddy Noah.

[Mori Chu]

Even in the current crazy salary climate, no way any team gives a huge contract to Derrick Rose this summer. If you look at his stats/performance, his attitude, the way his team is performing, his age, his injury history ... A few teams are going to want him, but they'll want him to come cheap and/or take a reduced role. He's just not a star any more.

[carey]

Even in the current crazy salary climate, no way any team gives a huge contract to Derrick Rose this summer. If you look at his stats/performance, his attitude, the way his team is performing, his age, his injury history ... A few teams are going to want him, but they'll want him to come cheap and/or take a reduced role. He's just not a star any more.

He shouldn't even make more than Brandon Knight. He's shooting 5% better from the field than BK but something like only 25% from 3. Idk it seems like you could have Jennings for half that and do just as well.

[Split T]

Just noticed, how has Minnesota only won 1 more game than the Suns?

They have a good coach and a boat load of young talent. I know they are young but they should be better by now.

We were even ahead of them in the standings just a few days ago.

One problem Minnesota has always had is finishing games, even in the Kevin love days. They always seem to have a point differential of a decent team but a terrible record in close games. I read a few days ago that their record in games decided by 3 points or less was like 0-10.

[Shabazz]

Even in the current crazy salary climate, no way any team gives a huge contract to Derrick Rose this summer. If you look at his stats/performance, his attitude, the way his team is performing, his age, his injury history ... A few teams are going to want him, but they'll want him to come cheap and/or take a reduced role. He's just not a star any more.

He shouldn't even make more than Brandon Knight. He's shooting 5% better from the field than BK but something like only 25% from 3. Idk it seems like you could have Jennings for half that and do just as well.

I think he'll end up getting a deal like the one Rondo got this offseason. And whichever team signs him will feel the same way Chicago does about Rondo right now.

[Superbone]

Even in the current crazy salary climate, no way any team gives a huge contract to Derrick Rose this summer. If you look at his stats/performance, his attitude, the way his team is performing, his age, his injury history ... A few teams are going to want him, but they'll want him to come cheap and/or take a reduced role. He's just not a star any more.

He shouldn't even make more than Brandon Knight. He's shooting 5% better from the field than BK but something like only 25% from 3. Idk it seems like you could have Jennings for half that and do just as well.

I think he'll end up getting a deal like the one Rondo got this offseason. And whichever team signs him will feel the same way Chicago does about Rondo right now.

Sounds about right.