Sharp-shooter Michael Redd returned to the Milwaukee Bucks and is expected to make his debut with the team in the next several days.
This is a story HBIQ has been following since June.
It is the end of a year-long process of grueling rehab and loneliness for Redd. One of the most explosive scorers in the NBA, he was robbed of his ability to play the game he loves when a knee injury in the first month of 2010 ended his season.
He worked hard to get himself back and is in position to try and help the only team he has ever played for get to the playoffs, where it is guaranteed that no one will want to face them.
Milwaukee has been destroyed by injuries this year, so their record in no way indicates what type of team they are. A relatively healthy Bucks team would have already qualified for the playoffs.
Brandon Jennings, Redd and Andrew Bogut give Milwuakee one of the most dangerous inside-outside combinations in the NBA. And they have Corey Maggette and several complementary co-stars.
The additional depth and scoring threat Redd represents will do wonders for the entire team. For the worst-shooting team in the NBA, seeing Redd do this had to be exciting.
Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova are expected back shortly as well, giving Scott Skiles everything he needs to get to the playoffs and make some noise once he's there.
The addition of Michael Redd makes Milwaukee capable of beating anybody, although that may not show this season due to the limited amount of time the team has played together.
But for next season and beyond, Milwaukee is as close to championship contention as almost anyone.
There is no reason why Milwaukee shouldn't do everything it can to re-sign Redd and let him retire a Buck.
By all accounts, he is an all-around great guy, a hard worker and represents everything the organization stands for.
Most importantly, he would make the Chicago Bulls and instant contender.
And unless Skiles and general manager John Hammond want to live their worst nightmare watching Redd hang banners with a division rival, they better put their thinking caps on and figure out a way to keep Redd in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future.
But all of that can wait for the summer. For now, Milwaukee has a playoff run to make.
Michael Redd articles: Redd to return in February; still determined; Redd looks better than before; Skiles wants Redd to help.
Comment or e-mail: thenbaoutsider@yahoo.com
Showing posts with label playoff race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playoff race. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Hoops
Not very much was gained from the two meetings between Boston and Los Angeles this year.
Boston won the first game in Los Angeles, and Los Angeles won the second game in Boston.
On the positive side for Boston, they were able to beat the Lakers when the Lakers had all of their key players available.
On the negative side, they were able to trim only one point off of a four-point deficit while Kobe Bryant sat on the bench for the first half of the fourth quarter in their defeat on Thursday night.
And Boston is 5-5 in its last 10 games and no longer the top team in the East.
It's hard to cover the Jerry Sloan resignation without getting into the whole Sloan-Deron Williams feud. And I don't work for TMZ, so I really don't want to get into it.
From a basketball perspective, it's hard to imagine Tyrone Corbin being the equal of or an upgrade over Jerry Sloan.
But you never know. Stranger things have happened.
FAST DON'T LIE
When I wrote about the best point guards in the NBA earlier this season, Derrick Rose wasn't included with the top point guards in the game.
He was quickly becoming one of the best but wasn't there yet because he hadn't shown the court vision and didn't execute Chicago's offense to perfection in his first two years in the league.
But fast don't lie.
Without question, Derrick Rose has elevated his game and is one of the best point guards in the NBA. I can't say which one is best, but no one is better than Rose.
There may not be a player at any position better than Rose.
He makes passes now that remind me of Chris Paul and Andre Miller. A defender has to be only one step out of position for Rose to zip a pass to his man and make him pay for slipping.
And his silly handles and ridiculous athleticism make his all-around game so sensational that even his toughest critics turn into adoring fans.
Rose does something awe-inspiring almost every night and makes the Bulls appointment viewing when he plays with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
And behind all of the crossovers, shakes and hanging, double-clutch, reverse layups and three-pointers is a will to win matched by few in the NBA.
Using a little trick I learned from reading Zach Lowe, I was able to use Basketball Reference to provide the list of others who averaged at least 24 points and eight assists in a season, starting in 1960.
Hint: It is very exclusive company.
Derrick Rose is almost beyond description.
Note: Marc Stein did a similar comparison of Rose through the first 10 games, when he was averaging 25 points and eight assists.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
David Aldridge came up with one of the stories of the season when he wrote about how Richard Jefferson worked with Gregg Popovich and other San Antonio coaches to improve his game.
Because I am a big Jason Kidd fan, I've been watching Richard Jefferson since he came into the league as a rookie with the New Jersey Nets in 2001.
And all the way back then, he still couldn't shoot.
But it really didn't matter because all you wanted to see was him catch an alley-hoop off of the backboard anyway.
But by the time the 2010 playoffs rolled around, Jefferson, with his absentee jump-shot, was getting old.
I mean, damn.
How many years is he going to miss these shots?
It was getting ridiculous.
That's where Aldridge and his story pick up, one of the greatest stories in the NBA this season.
There is nothing greater than a player who gets better, and the home improvement by Richard Jefferson and the San Antonio coaching staff has helped lead San Antonio to the best record in the NBA.
It shows that you don't always have to get a lottery pick, make a big trade or sign a big-money free agent to improve your team.
Sometimes you can take what you already have and make it better.
THE RACE FOR 8TH
The race for the final playoff seeds looks like it is going to be a dog-fight from now until the end of the season.
In the West, only five games separate the No. 5 New Orleans from the No. 10 Phoenix, with Phoenix and Memphis coming on strong.
In the East, six games separate No. 6 New York from No. 10 Milwaukee.
Frank Vogel has Indiana playing inspired ball, and Doug Collins has had Philadelphia balling (small-balling) for months now.
Current playoff teams Utah and New York are struggling.
The dark horses in the West are Houston and Golden State, and in the East it is Detroit. The teams in the East seem to change places daily.
Players possibly returning from injury who could lead their teams into the playoffs are Emeka Okafor, Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Michael Redd and Drew Gooden.
These races will be closely monitored and updated until the last day of the season, which is how long it may take for all of this to be settled.
Comment or e-mail: thenbaoutsider@yahoo.com
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Boston won the first game in Los Angeles, and Los Angeles won the second game in Boston.
On the positive side for Boston, they were able to beat the Lakers when the Lakers had all of their key players available.
On the negative side, they were able to trim only one point off of a four-point deficit while Kobe Bryant sat on the bench for the first half of the fourth quarter in their defeat on Thursday night.
And Boston is 5-5 in its last 10 games and no longer the top team in the East.
It's hard to cover the Jerry Sloan resignation without getting into the whole Sloan-Deron Williams feud. And I don't work for TMZ, so I really don't want to get into it.
From a basketball perspective, it's hard to imagine Tyrone Corbin being the equal of or an upgrade over Jerry Sloan.
But you never know. Stranger things have happened.
FAST DON'T LIE
When I wrote about the best point guards in the NBA earlier this season, Derrick Rose wasn't included with the top point guards in the game.
He was quickly becoming one of the best but wasn't there yet because he hadn't shown the court vision and didn't execute Chicago's offense to perfection in his first two years in the league.
But fast don't lie.
Without question, Derrick Rose has elevated his game and is one of the best point guards in the NBA. I can't say which one is best, but no one is better than Rose.
There may not be a player at any position better than Rose.
He makes passes now that remind me of Chris Paul and Andre Miller. A defender has to be only one step out of position for Rose to zip a pass to his man and make him pay for slipping.
And his silly handles and ridiculous athleticism make his all-around game so sensational that even his toughest critics turn into adoring fans.
Rose does something awe-inspiring almost every night and makes the Bulls appointment viewing when he plays with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
And behind all of the crossovers, shakes and hanging, double-clutch, reverse layups and three-pointers is a will to win matched by few in the NBA.
Using a little trick I learned from reading Zach Lowe, I was able to use Basketball Reference to provide the list of others who averaged at least 24 points and eight assists in a season, starting in 1960.
Hint: It is very exclusive company.
Derrick Rose is almost beyond description.
Note: Marc Stein did a similar comparison of Rose through the first 10 games, when he was averaging 25 points and eight assists.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
David Aldridge came up with one of the stories of the season when he wrote about how Richard Jefferson worked with Gregg Popovich and other San Antonio coaches to improve his game.
Because I am a big Jason Kidd fan, I've been watching Richard Jefferson since he came into the league as a rookie with the New Jersey Nets in 2001.
And all the way back then, he still couldn't shoot.
But it really didn't matter because all you wanted to see was him catch an alley-hoop off of the backboard anyway.
But by the time the 2010 playoffs rolled around, Jefferson, with his absentee jump-shot, was getting old.
I mean, damn.
How many years is he going to miss these shots?
It was getting ridiculous.
That's where Aldridge and his story pick up, one of the greatest stories in the NBA this season.
There is nothing greater than a player who gets better, and the home improvement by Richard Jefferson and the San Antonio coaching staff has helped lead San Antonio to the best record in the NBA.
It shows that you don't always have to get a lottery pick, make a big trade or sign a big-money free agent to improve your team.
Sometimes you can take what you already have and make it better.
THE RACE FOR 8TH
The race for the final playoff seeds looks like it is going to be a dog-fight from now until the end of the season.
In the West, only five games separate the No. 5 New Orleans from the No. 10 Phoenix, with Phoenix and Memphis coming on strong.
In the East, six games separate No. 6 New York from No. 10 Milwaukee.
Frank Vogel has Indiana playing inspired ball, and Doug Collins has had Philadelphia balling (small-balling) for months now.
Current playoff teams Utah and New York are struggling.
The dark horses in the West are Houston and Golden State, and in the East it is Detroit. The teams in the East seem to change places daily.
Players possibly returning from injury who could lead their teams into the playoffs are Emeka Okafor, Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Michael Redd and Drew Gooden.
These races will be closely monitored and updated until the last day of the season, which is how long it may take for all of this to be settled.
Comment or e-mail: thenbaoutsider@yahoo.com
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