Tweets From The Past Two Weeks

Just in case you're interested in what our NBA players are up to but don't want to be a twitterer. Here you go!

Dnt y'all hate when people close to u lie? I knw I do #wordaapp but it's life so forgive them #wordaapp (Nate Robinson) [Nate's fortune cookie tweet]

Night people!!! Watching the old school Family Matters...I love Steve's pants! i may do that one day to the game!? (DeAndre Jordan) [I hope I'm at that game]

SHUTTER ISLAND. Womp womp enough said... (Dwyane Wade) [I don't care, I'm still going to see it]

Im off this twitter thing for a while..some of yall say sum of the most ignorant, hateful things...so ill holla (Kevin Durant) [cyber bullying?]

going into surgery today on my thumb, will be out for a min but when I return it is on, win da ring for da king! Luv my team, Cavs baby! (Shaq) [let's hope he's right]

This aint the same Jerry Springer show I used to watch with my Grandpa! Smh its crazy now (Rudy Gay) [Ah family memories]

Man we had that game! We played well tho. Despite the loss it was a gr8 way to start the roadtrip. On the way to Orlando now. Back to back! (Stephen Curry) [well I guess that's how the Golden State Warriors measure success]

My baby pic Goodnight folks Ps My son asked my wife was that him:) http://twitpic.com/15t5t6 (Ron Artest) - [Really funny young pic of Ron]

Man I'm soo bored tha mall was weak I'm chillin in my room watch celeb rehab sheeesh I feel bad for these people (Austin Daye) - [hahahhaha]

Just saw like 50 cop cars!!! On the 405, what's going on?! (DeAndre Jordan) [DEANDRE! GET OFF TWITTER WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING]

EXCLUSIVE: Inside the convo between Clippers season ticket holders and head coach Kim Hughes and Team President Andy Roeser

Crap, I gotta talk to the season ticket holders after this loss?

(Photo from LA Times)
As you may or may not know, I am lucky enough to have season tickets to the Clippers this season and March is known as MVP month where season ticket holders get all kinds of cool offers such as autograph sessions with the team, free jerseys, and what I went to on Friday night after a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Coach's Chalk Talk, a Q n A with head coach Kim Hughes and team president Andy Roeser. TV color analyst Ralph Lawler was asking both of them PRE SELECTED questions from me and my fellow season ticket holders.

Now I know what you're thinking.

Pre selected questions?! I thought the same thing. I was expecting questions such as: who is your favorite Clipper? What was it like becoming a head coach? What do you work on in practice? And all the other BS you hear TV interviewers ask. But alas, this wasn't TV. The cameras were gone. President and head coach were faced with nothing but pissed off Clipper fans who have little to no reason to renew their season tickets. Here's a rundown of what happened.

A spokesman welcomes us with, "Hey, how's everyone doing?!" which was followed with moans and groans and sputtered applause. Spokesman responds to that by saying, "Yes, I know, it was a tough loss but better times are ahead, I promise." He proceeds to thank all of us for our support and introduces Ralph Lawler who also thanks us for all of our continued support but also shared with us in our frustration. He said something along the lines of, [paraphrase quote] "We have to wait for results and if you're not sick of hearing that, well then you're probably not a Clipper fan" [end paraphrase quote].

He proceeds to ask Kim Hughes those pre selected questions, here are those highlights:

Question: People see you as a defensive coach, what exactly does that mean?
Answer paraphrased: Yes I'm a defensive coach. I believe that defensive rebounds are key to winning games. The offense will come. These guys know how to score. But defense is key. [My thoughts - well get at least some offensive game! Current offense = if we don't score a fast break, feed Kaman in the post and everyone stand at the 3 point line in case they double team him.]

Question: What are three goals for this summer?
Answer paraphrased: To find a leader. Kaman is a good player but he's not a leader, he's too quiet. [My thoughts - excellent point. Plus no one seems to respond to Davis, and Eric Gordon is a little too young to be a leader.] He also said he wants Eric Gordon to work on his dribbling, specifically dribbling with his left hand.

Question: How do you motivate your players?
Answer paraphrased: You can't. You can only control playing time. [My thoughts - another excellent point. He elaborated more on this answer in a very well thought out response, but the main point of it was that these guys get paid millions of dollars, you can't really motivate them beyond that. All you can do is control their playing time. If they don't do what he (Hughes) asks (get defensive boards), they get benched].

Question: Is the team opposed to trading Baron Davis? (Followed by a surprising amount of clapping and cheer in favor of trading Baron)
Answer paraphrased: We're building this team around Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. Anyone can be traded, this is a business. [Read between those baselines].

These next questions were for team president, Andy Roeser.

Question: What are your plans with Travis Outlaw?
Answer: The team's left for the plane right? Look, we made moves before the deadline and it all depends on what we do over the summer. If we get a big name, we'll have less money to spend on role players. If we don't get a big name, we'll have more money to retain some of our FAs that we want to keep. [My thoughts - hey, he's keepin it real. I hope they do get a big name and don't go out of their way to overpay guys like Outlaw and Craig Smith].

Question: Why should we renew our season tickets?
Answer paraphrased: Building memories are important and that a lot of memories will come from Staples Center. This team is going to turn it around. We're in a good position with regards to cap space and draft position. This team will be good etc. [My thoughts - I think I might get a portion season tickets next season].

Question: What's more important, operating income or winning?
Answer: Winning. [My thoughts, as well as many people around me - HA!]

Why Send Thabeet to the D-League? So we don't have a blog called FreeHasheem

(Photo from Yahoo)
Here's an update about Hasheem in the D-League by Marc J. Spears. From the article:

People in the NBA are “definitely looking at it negatively,” Thabeet said. “ ‘He’s the No. 2 pick. He’s not supposed to be there. I can’t believe that guy is over there and he’s the second pick.’ But you got to go and work your way up there. I’m working my way up here, working on my confidence. “When the time comes, I’ll be able to answer the call.”

Take that however you want it, but I believe it. He's not getting playing time in Memphis and the Grizzlies are fighting for a playoff spot, so putting Hasheem in game action in the NBA to learn on the fly isn't quite an option at this point in the season.

I'll repeat that.

Putting Hasheem in game action in the NBA to learn on the fly isn't quite an option... at this point in the season.

People seem to think this automatically means that Hasheem Thabeet is a BUST and that the Memphis Grizzlies are dummies who should have picked Tyreke Evans or James Harden or ANYONE ELSE not named Blake Griffin. But for reasons already stated, hey it's just not happening AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON. I keep saying that. Because people think that going to the D-League means you are in the D-League forever. False. Your team can call you up whenever they want you back, which for the Grizzlies is if they fall out of contention for the playoffs!

Let's look at some other players who after being drafted, were assigned to the D-League:

Jose Barea, January 17, 2007 (Wiki) - After appearing in only 12 games getting less than 5 minutes, the Dallas Mavericks sent their undrafted rookie to the D-League, called him back two weeks later. He still didn't get a lot of playing time, but he did get more, appearing in 21 games for the second half of the season. He now averages 20 minutes a game for a playoff bound Mavericks team. Again, undrafted. D-League success.

Aaron Brooks, December 6, 2007 (NBA.com) - After appearing in 2 games, getting 3 minutes in one and 30 seconds in the other, the Houston Rockets sent their 1st round 26th draft pick to the D-League, called him back a week later, and proceeded to play in every game for the next two and a half months. He had a bell curve going from 5 minutes to 10 to 20 at the top in the middle of January, and then back to around 5 minutes at the start of March. He now averages 36 minutes and 20 points as a starting PG for the Rockets. D-League success.

Jordan Farmar, March 31st, 2007 (NBA.com) - After getting sporadic play behind... Smush Parker, the Lakers sent Farmar to the D-League to get some game action. After his first D-League game, the Lakers called him back to the team, that day to play against the Kings. His second season, he played in all 82 games and averaged 9 points and 3 assists playing behind Derek Fisher. Now he's struggling on the bench not getting the bulk of back up PG minutes with Shannon Brown but he's still averaging 18 minutes. He also won a championship! I'd call this a D-League success. He's probably going to be the next starting PG for the Lakers.

Marcin Gortat, November 20, 2007 (NBA.com) - The 2nd round draft pick hadn't played in a single game. The Magic sent him to the D-League and didn't call him back until March. He still hardly played. The next season, he doubled his minutes to 12 per and was made famous in the playoffs and Finals against the Lakers. So much so that Dallas offered him the mid level exception to play significant minutes for the Mavericks who needed a big man behind (or even to start in place of) Erick Dampier! The Magic matched which was so idiotic (but I won't go into that again, see my previous posts: Orlando Offseason, Gortat Update). He can play, it's just the Magic only play him 12 minutes. I label this a D-League success.

I could delve into more draftees/rookies being sent from their team to the D-League and getting better (Brandon Bass, Ramon Sessions, Martell Webster). I could delve into D-League success stories where players started out in the D-League and got signed to NBA teams (Rafer ALston, Chris Andersen, Matt Barnes, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Von Wafer). But my main point is that the D in D-League stand for development, not dog house, not dunce, not dumbass draft choice, but development. Of course we'd like to see Memphis play Thabeet but they have a chance at making the playoffs and he's not there yet. Sending him to the D-League gets him solid game action and playing time. He will NOT be another infamous #2 draft pick, such as Darko Milicic.

My tangent - Darko Milicic

(Photo from NY Times)
Why didn't Detroit send Darko to the D-League? Granted there were no D-League teams near Michigan at the time (Wiki), he seriously could have used the playing time. His rookie season he averaged 1.4/1.3/.2, 4:40 minutes in 34 games for the playoff bound (eventual champions) Detroit Pistons. Doesn't this sound familiar? Why would Larry Brown give him decent minutes to a young PF/C for a team trying to get into the playoffs and win a championship? Why would Marc Lavaroni Lionel Hollins give decent minutes to young C Thabeet, for a team trying to make the playoffs. Compare the numbers: Thabeet this season - 2.5/2.9/.1, 10 minutes in 50 games. Better than what Darko was putting up.

The D-League would have kept Darko in game shape and he would have gained valuable in game experience, which is exactly what Hasheem will get. Hasheem shouldn't be ashamed of going to the D-League. He should be thanking the Grizzlies for a chance at some real playing time. If he didn't go to the D-League, he'd still be laughing stock of sports writers and in 3 years, he'd be the next Darko. There is no blog called FreeHasheem and if Hasheem takes the D-League seriously, which it sounds like he is, there won't be need for one. He said “When the time comes, I’ll be able to answer the call." I believe him.

Read Between the Baselines, come on now.

Why NBA Superstars Change Numbers Without Changing Teams

OH YEAHHHHHH!!!

(Photo from Zimbio)
Well, isn't this already old news! I started writing this last night and got tired hoping to finish it today only to be outdone by Yahoo Sports, drats! But maybe I can provide some more insight with a little history thrown in. Anyway...

LeBron James is changing his number from Le23 to Le6 to honor Michael Jordan (who never played for the Cavs and had one of his many famous shots AGAINST the Cavs that sent the Cavs home out of the playoffs).

Sike.

LeBron James's 23 was because of Jordan in the first place (Cleveland.com). Changing his number isn't honoring Jordan. Picking his number was. And as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo mentioned, LeBron calling out the league to change their 23 jerseys is so... (insert vocab word for "are you fucking kidding me?") Mr. Holier Than Thou wants to "honor" the greatest ever and wants everyone to change their 23's so it masks what he's really doing; getting paid.

Let's look at some jersey sales:

This year (through Jan 2010):
1) Kobe Bryant
2) LeBron James
3) Dwight Howard
4) Derrick Rose
5) Dwyane Wade
6) Kevin Garnett
7) Chris Paul
8) Paul Pierce
9) Shaquille O'Neal
10) Pau Gasol
11) Carmelo Anthony
12) Steve Nash
13) David Lee
14) Allen Iverson
15) Kevin Durant
Inside Hoops

2008-2009
1. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
2. LeBron James (Cavaliers)
3. Chris Paul (Hornets)
4. Kevin Garnett (Celtics)
5. Allen Iverson (Pistons)
6. Dwyane Wade (Heat)
7. Paul Pierce (Celtics)
8. Nate Robinson (Knicks)
9. Pau Gasol (Lakers)
10. Dwight Howard (Magic)
11. Derrick Rose (Bulls)
12. Ray Allen (Celtics)
13. Steve Nash (Suns)
14. Shaquille O'Neal (Suns)
15. Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets)
NBA.com

2007-2008
1. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
5. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
6. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
7. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
8. Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns
9. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
10. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
11. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
12. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
13. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
14. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
15. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Post

2006-2007:
1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
2. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
3. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets
5. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
6. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
7. Stephon Marbury – New York Knicks
8. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
9. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards
10. Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets
11. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets
12. Shaquille O’Neal – Miami Heat
13. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
14. Ben Wallace – Chicago Bulls
15. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs
NBA.com

2005-2006
1. Dwyane Wade
2. LeBron James
3. Allen Iverson
4. Kobe Bryant
5. Stephon Marbury
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Tracy McGrady
8. Carmelo Anthony
9. Vince Carter
10. Ben Wallace
ESPN

2004-2005
1) Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
2) Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
3) LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
4) Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks)
5) Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
6) Shaquille O'Neal (Miami Heat)
7) Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets)
8) Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
9) Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
10) Vince Carter (New Jersey Nets)
11) Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
12) Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
13) Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers)
14) Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
15) Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
16) Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)
17) Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs)
18) Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Inside Hoops

2003-2004
1. LeBron James
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Allen Iverson
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Jason Kidd
7. Shaquille O’Neal
8. Paul Pierce
9. Allan Houston
10. Tim Duncan
11. Vince Carter
12. Kevin Garnett
Inside Hoops

Let's look at the other superstar that changed his number without changing teams:

Kobe Bryant

His per year sales rank:
2003-2004 - 7th
2004-2005 - 5th
2005-2006 - 4th
(Summer of 06, changed from 8 to 24)
2006-2007 - 1st
2007-2008 - 2nd
2008-2009 - 1st
2009-2010 - 1st (so far)

Changed numbers, went from 4-7 range to 1-2 range. And it's not like the Lakers did anything significant after 05-06. They got bounced in the first round by the Suns. And you know what? The same thing happened the very next year and he still had the most jersey sales. Why would he stay at the top of the jersey sales if people already have his number 8 jersey? Change the jersey number, double your jersey sales. But what if you don't change your jersey number? How else can you get jersey sales? Well you could change teams ala

Kevin Garnett

His per year sales rank:
2003-2004 - 12th
2004-2005 -18th
2005-2006 - not in the top 10
2006-2007 - not in the top 15
2007-2008 - 1st (Went to Boston - also went from #21 to #5)
2008-2009 - 4th
2009-2010 - 6th

Well there you go. Even after his MVP 2004 season, his sales took a hit. People already had KG jerseys. All they have to do is keep wearing it to show their support. But changing jerseys? Hey, fans have to update their wardobe, regardless of whether he kept #21 or not (KG changed numbers by default as his Minnesota #21 could not transfer because the Celtics have retired #21 for Bill Sharman.) The best example of the power of changing team jerseys is

Shaquille O'Neal

Per Year:
2003-2004 - 7th (Lakers)
Traded to Heat
2004-2005 -6th
2005-2006 - 6th
2006-2007 -12th
Traded to Suns
2007-2008 - 8th
2008-2009 - 14th
Traded to Cavs
2009-2010 - 9th

His rank always jumped when he changed teams, then filtered down. Went from 7th to 6th when he went to Miami, dropped to 12th. Went to the suns and 12 turned into 8th, but that dropped to 14th. Went to the Cavs and 14 jumped to 9th. Why... it's like one of those annoying roller coasters that never does a huge drop, just a bunch of hilly kinda drops. Like Colossus at Magic Mountain. So what does this look like for LeBron?

LeBron James

Per year:
2003-2004 - 1st
2004-2005 -3rd
2005-2006 -2nd
2006-2007 - 3rd
2007-2008 - 3rd
2008-2009 - 2nd
2009-2010 - 2nd

Even LeBron got to taste what it's like when something's new. As soon as he got an NBA jersey, he went to #1 and has hovered around the top since he entered the league. Now what we don't know is how much money these sales are generating, we just know the ranks. But I'm going to go ahead and guarantee that LeBron goes to the number 1 spot, and that everyone who bought his 23 Cleveland jersey goes out and buys his New York #6 jersey.

--UPDATE 3/3/10 3:21 --It turns out that in the NBA, a players TEAM gets all the jersey sales money and splits it among that team. So LeBron will see an increase in money, but not 100% of it will go to him. Varajao, Shaq, Jamison and the rest of the Cavs will see a piece of his jersey sales. I apologize for jumping to that conclusion. --

And that's honestly it. To LeBron, enjoy your many more millions (not even being sarcastic) but don't penalize Marcus Camby, Jason Richardson, and the other players who wear 23. You wore 23 and they have every right to wear it just like you have the right to wear #6. Superstars jerseys don't sell because they flame out, or people already have them. More jerseys = more jersey sales. It's simple. It's between the baselines.



AND NO ONE CAN WEAR #8!