khandor’s sports blog

So far this off season, no team in the NBA … except, of course, the Miami Heat … has improved the its organizational outlook for the 2010-2011 season, and beyond, more than the Philadelphia 76ers.

Personnel Moves made, thus far, this summer:

i. Hired Doug Collins, as their new head coach;

ii. Drafted Evan Turner, as the No. 2 [overall] Selection in the 2010 NBA Draft

iii. Traded a mostly discontented Samuel Dalembert/C for Andres Nocioni/SF and Spencer Hawes/C, two highly serviceable players … with good-fit skill-sets;

and, now,

iv. Hired savvy veteran NBA executive Rod Thorn, as their new President … which re-unites him with Ed Stefanski [as the team's GM], in a similar set-up to what existed in New Jersey during the early part of the decade, when the Nets made back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals.

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Sixers hire Thorn as President

Thorn will move into the organization over general manager Ed Stefanski, a close friend who worked with Thorn for six seasons with the New Jersey Nets. The embattled Stefanski will stay on under Thorn, keeping with a similar arrangement they had with the Nets.

After a decade as Nets president, Thorn left the organization last month after deciding against staying on to work for the new Russian ownership group. Nevertheless, he still expressed a desire to work again in the league and now takes over the 76ers.

Thorn took over the Nets when they were considered perhaps the NBA’s worst franchise, and elevated them to the NBA Finals in his second season (2002) on the job. His trade for Jason Kidd transformed the Nets into Eastern Conference contenders and pushed them to consecutive NBA Finals appearances. New Jersey reached the playoffs six straight seasons until previous ownership forced them to dump salaries.

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Constructing a successful franchise in pro sports is not an easy proposition, and requires top notch, top down, Leadership … from the the owner, right-on-through the President, GM, Head Coach, and the Cornerstone Players … which effects the day-to-day operation of the organization.

After finishing last the 2009-2010 campaign in a very disappointing fashion, Philadelphia is now poised to be one of the main ‘rebound’ teams next season.

Kudos to Ed Snider for taking the 76ers in this new – but already highly proven – direction!

While it might be true that Darko Milicic is properly described as being a great many different things … including, possibly, the biggest bust in the last 10 years of the NBA Draft … it should also be duly noted that he is clearly not one of these, as well:

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For lack of a few crucial stops, Wolves lose 13th straight

Though the Wolves have won only one game since the 7-foot Serbian arrived in mid-February, Rambis said he has seen flashes of a player so promising seven years ago, when he was drafted ahead of [Chris] Bosh, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

“And I think he can be a lot better,” Rambis said. “As he gets in better shape and gets more comfortable and more confident, you’ll see him stretch his game.”

In fact, he’s already done that offensively. Milicic scored a season-high 16 points against the Lakers last Friday, and appeared to be more confident about taking good shots.

“The guys are learning how to use him,” Rambis said. “I’ve told him, whenever he’s comfortable, I’m OK with him shooting inside, outside, [from the] elbow, long distance. But he has to have the confidence to do that.”

For Milicic, who is still only 24 years old despite being a seven-year NBA veteran, it’s a matter of playing the way he was taught back in Serbia.

“I’m just trying to relax. I got used to playing this American way of running crazy, playing too fast. I’ve got to slow it down,” Milicic said. “When I came [to the U.S.], I stopped playing basketball the way I know how to play. Playing too fast, running like chickens without heads.”

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If he can successfully return to the roots of his “multi-headed” individual game … by learning how to slow down and play within the confines of the Triangle Offense, let’s say, with Ricky Rubio/PG, at the helm, beside Al Jefferson/PF, Kevin Love/PF, Corey Brewer/OG-SF and the T-wolves upcoming 2010 Lottery Selection …

Is there really any good reason to believe that Darko Milicic, at the still relatively tender age of 24, 

is somehow incapable of putting up “15 and 8″, on a game-to-game basis …

against the other “25 and under” starting calibre Centers, in the NBA today

EASTERN CONFERENCE		WESTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC		NORTHWEST
Boston	Perkins, K [25]	Denver	Petro, J [24]
Toronto	Bargnani, A [24]	Utah	Fesenko, K [23]
New York	–	Oklahoma City	Ibaka, S [20]
Philadelphia	Speights, M [22]	Portland	Oden, G [21]
New Jersey	Lopez, B [21]	Minnesota	Milicic, D [24]
CENTRAL		PACIFIC
Cleveland	–	LA Lakers	Bynum, A [22]
Milwaukee	Bogut, A [25]	Phoenix	Lopez, R [21]
Chicago	Noah, J [25]	LA Clippers	Jordan, D [21]
Indiana	Hibbert, R [23]	Sacramento	Hawes, S [21]
Detroit	–	Golden State	Biedrins, A [23]
SOUTHEAST		SOUTHWEST
Orlando	Howard, D [24]	Dallas	–
Atlanta	Horford, A [24]	San Antonio	–
Miami	–	Memphis	Gasol, M [25]
Charlotte	–	Houston	–
Washington	Blatche, A [25]	New Orleans	–

… over the course of the next several seasons?

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In what group would you place Darko Milicic amongst the other "25 and under" starting calibre Centers in the NBA today?

• 1-5
• 6-10
• 11-15
• 16-21

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Coming out of the annual All-Star Break and heading toward this week’s Trade Deadline  [Feb 19, 3:00 PM] … as different trade rumours swirl about the NBA [on-line & elsewhere] … it can be instructive to assess where certain marquee players rank amongst their brethren, at the specific position[s] they play the best.

When considering Big Men [i.e. Centers/C and Power Forwards/PF], it is also imperative to understand what their fundamental role is within the NBA game and what qualities are the most important for them to exhibit on a consistent basis, if their respective team’s are going to have a legitimate chance to win a League Championship, now or in the not-too-distant future.

Big Man Ranking Criteria

* Leadership
* Rebounding [which includes: i. Defensive; ii. Offense]
* Team Defense [which includes: i. Interior Rotations; ii. Perimeter Rotations; iii. Execution of Pick & Roll Techniques; iv. Transition Effectiveness; v. Shot blocking off the ball; Switching off the ball]
* Low-Mid Post Scoring
* Passing Effectiveness
* Individual Low-Mid Post Defense [which includes Shot blocking on the ball]
* Individual Perimeter Defense
* Screening Effectiveness
* Picking Effectiveness
* Perimeter Scoring
* Offensive Transition
* Physical Traits: i. Quickness; ii. Agility; iii. Explosive Power; iv. Size & Strength
* Psycho-Emotional Traits: i. Stability; ii. Intelligence; iii. Intensity; iv. Toughness 

These are the current rankings, according to this corner:

Use the “comments” section to provide your feedback.

Raptors fans …

Coming down the stretch of last night’s game versus Sacramento …

What did you learn about your favourite NBA team?

Player Alignment

PG – Jose Calderon vs Beno Udrih
OG – Anthony Parker vs Bobby Jackson
SF – Joey Graham vs John Salmons
2B - Chris Bosh vs Spencer Hawes
1B - Jermaine O’Neal vs Brad Miller

With 56.9 left in the 4th quarter, Brad Miller made 2 free throws.

Raptors 103, Kings 99.

Possession #1

The Raptors then advanced the ball into the front-court without the benefit of a Time-out and attempted to execute a set play in their half-court offense, i.e. PG dribble to the Right Wing; Right Wing cross-screen for 1st Big, Flash High off the clean-up screen from the 2nd Big. When Hawes successfully denied the entry pass to O’Neal [1B], Bosh went to set a pick on the Wing for Calderon. Calderon used the pick to drive to the middle of the court. O’Neal executed a Duck-in, and moved across the lane and into the Left Low Post position. Udrih was picked off. Hawes jumped out to Show/Help vs Calderon. Udrih recovered to Calderon. Calderon passed the ball to Bosh who had begun his roll to the basket and was stopped just outside the lane when Miller positioned himself to middle the Raptors’s two Bigs. Hawes recovered to Bosh. Miller re-positioned vs O’Neal. Bosh executed a shot-fake and drove baseline vs Hawes for a layup attempt. Salmons helped off Graham and was able to knock the ball free from Bosh’s hands as the drive unfolded. The loose ball was recovered by Jackson. Jackson advanced the ball into the front-court and Sacramento called a Time-out.

Possession #2

With 29.2 seconds left the Kings inbounded the ball with the following player alignment:

1 Beno Udrih vs Anthony Parker
2 Bobby Jackson vs Joey Graham
3 John Salmons [Inbounder] vs Jamario Moon [replaced Calderon]
4 Brad Miller vs Jermaine O’Neal
5 Spencer Hawes vs Chris Bosh

Sacramento then had difficulty completing their inbounds pass, after which Salmons had the ball returned to him, drove the Right Baseline vs Moon, and beside Graham, and was smothered under the basket by Moon & Bosh. Salmons’ attempted pass out from there was then intercepted by O’Neal [who had rotated down to the opposite baseline [in support of Bosh's rotation]. Toronto called a Time-out with 21.9 seconds left.

Possession #3

When play resumed the two teams were aligned in the following way:

1 Beno Udrih vs Jose Calderon [Inbounder, Right Sideline]
2 Bobby Jackson vs Anthony Parker [outside Left Elbow]
3 John Salmons vs Jason Kapono [Left Corner]
4 Brad Miller vs Jermaine O’Neal [Right Elbow]
5 Spencer Hawes vs Chris Bosh [Left Elbow]

at which point the Raptors then ran the same Sideline Inbounds play they attempted several weeks ago vs Portland but had failed to execute properly, which eventually contributed to one of their most dis-heartening losses this season.

The OG cuts over the top of stationary screens by 2B & 1B into the near Corner. The 1B pops out towards the Centerline, as a Pressure Release, to receive a pass from the PG. The PG cuts to receive a quick return pass from the 1B. The SF remains still in the Weak Side Corner.

The difference was … last time Kapono [Inbounder] and Calderon [Opposite Corner] were in the opposite roles.

After the Raptors successfully inbounded the ball, Sacramento then fouled Calderon with 18.3 seconds remaining.

Calderon stepped to the FT Line, in an effort to keep alive his league-leading consecutive FT’s Made streak … and to preserve a much-needed road W for the Raptors.

Calderon made both FT’s.

Raptors 105, Kings 99

At which point, Sacramento then called a Time-out and moved the ball into the front-court inbound position.

Possession #4

When play resumed the teams were aligned in this way:

1 Beno Udrih vs Anthony Parker
2 Bobby Jackson vs Joey Graham
3 John Salmons vs Jamario Moon [replaced Calderon]
4 Franscisco Garcia [Inbounder] vs Chris Bosh
5 Spencer Hawes vs Jermaine O’Neal

The Kings then had a difficult time making a successful inbounds pass and eventually took and missed a contested 3PT-shot [Garcia vs Graham, on a defensive Switch] that was rebounded by O’Neal, who was then fouled.

O’Neal made 2 more FT’s.

Raptors 107, Kings 99

At which point, Sacramento called a Time-out and moved the ball to the front-court inbounding position.

When play resumed, the Raptors used the same 5 players on defense.

Sacramento made a final driving layup [Salmons].

FINAL SCORE: Raptors 107, Kings 101
Game Info

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On Offense

1. When the game was on the line, the Raptors best match-up advantage was with Chris Bosh, facing up versus the Opponent’s Big, 12-15 feet from the basket, initiating a drive to the rim. 

On Defense

2. When the game was on the line, the Raptors best defensive match-ups were:

vs PG – Anthony Parker

vs OG/SF – Jamario Moon

vs SF/OG – Joey Graham

If these 4 Possessions in last night’s game actually did signal a New Awareness of these perceptions/FACTS? by the Raptors’ coaching staff then another corner may have been turned for this team.

Time will tell.