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An InsideHoops.com reader named Matt once played high school basketball and was a true master at key fundamentals of the game; namely, jabbing an opponent in the gut with a swift punch, turning the ball over, and then tripping the player who caught the jab. Watch #33 and learn, people.
Now in his 20’s, Matt has gone on to accomplish great things in his short young tech/business-related career, but shockingly has still never been offered an NBA contract.
Here’s the video:
The Sacramento Bee (Sam Amick) reports: With eight games left and the Kings (16-58) on track to be the worst team in the 50-year franchise history, the inability to finish close games has significantly hurt coach Kenny Natt’s chances of returning next season. The Kings have lost 10 consecutive games decided by seven points or fewer, turning the in-house spotlight to matters of coaching creativity and late-game control. Combined with the defensive effort that has continued to worsen after the Dec. 15 decision to fire Reggie Theus and his defensive coach, assistant Chuck Person, Natt’s chances of having his 2009-10 contract option picked up do not appear promising. And according to two sources close to the team, a familiar name from a past Kings coaching search is seriously being considered for the job. John Whisenant, the Monarchs’ general manager, was the front-runner for the Kings’ head-coaching job in 2006 before Eric Musselman was hired. Whisenant now appears to be the unofficial front-runner again if Natt does not return.
Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson doesn’t get the attention he deserves NBA.com (John Schuhmann) reports: Teammate Mike Bibby is the conspiracy theorist. “It’s political,” he says about Johnson’s lack of exposure. “You know how it goes. That’s the way it’s been. That’s the way it’s always going to be. It’s political.” “[Johnson] is a quiet guy,” offers Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks’ vice president of basketball and color commentator. “He’s got a quiet demeanor. He never complains. He just plays the game like it’s supposed to be played. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, the way he handles himself on the floor.” Wilkins compares the lack of attention Johnson gets to the way he was treated when he was played in Atlanta. But that’s probably where the comparison ends. ‘Nique was a freak athletically, one of the two or three best dunkers in NBA history.
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal gave teammate/backup Robin Lopez a severe talking to on Sunday. The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: “Put somebody on their (expletive) back,” Shaquille O’Neal said he told Robin Lopez. “Don’t let anybody oopsy-doopsy layup on you and be laughing at you. Have you ever seen me get dunked on? No, because I put (expletive) on their backs. Period. “If you’re going to be a big man, be a big man. Don’t be out there (expletive) around. Lay somebody on their (expletive) back. Period. Wilt (Chamberlain) told me that. Bill Russell told me that. Hakeem (Olajuwon) told me that. All the great big men told me that. . . . That’s what I’m trying to teach him, instead of just being out there like a loose tree blowing in the wind. Do something.”
The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports (via blog): Bobcats coach Larry Brown made it clear Monday that Adam Morrison is no longer here because he didn’t want to be here, and couldn’t handle the pressure associated with being chosen third overall in the 2006 draft. “I was happy Adam got to leave because he was never comfortable here. You were hoping it would be a new lease on life for him. I still think it can be,” said Brown of the Feb. 7 trade that dealt Morrison to the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown said the other factors — the glut at shooting guard and small forward and Morrison’s recovery from a knee injury that cost him the previous season — were secondary to how expectations rattled Morrison.
The Akron Beacon Journal (George M. Thomas) reports: Rest is the last thing on the Cavaliers’ minds. With nine games left in the season, the Cavs have the league’s best record at 60-13. They are pushing for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, an edge that many observers believe the team needs to win its first NBA title. While it would be nice to sit out an occasional fourth quarter, Cavaliers forward LeBron James says he can’t. ”We’re fighting for a No. 1 seed and trying to continue to get better,” he said. ”You got to be careful with trying to get rest and things when you’re playing so well. You take someone out of the lineup when everything is going well — you may do it for one game or two games — it can mess up the whole thing.”
The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports: There were a lot of unknowns for Kevin Durant concerning what basketball and life would be like in Oklahoma. But in a short time, the budding superstar has come to a conclusion. “I love it,” said Durant in a telephone interview. “The weather is unpredictable. You don’t know when it’s going to snow or rain. But the people here are nice. Nice people. I didn’t know anything about it other than playing here in college [at the University of Texas]. Flat land. “But after coming here and seeing the city, I love Oklahoma. The fans have been with me every night. What more can you ask for?” What Thunder fans can ask for are more wins, as the former SuperSonics visit TD Banknorth Garden tonight with a 20-52 record. But with Durant, other talented young players, plenty of draft picks, and money to use in free agency, Durant believes the future is bright.
John Salmons has been named the Bulls CDW/Blackberry Player of the Month for March. Salmons joined the Bulls on Feb. 18, in Chicago’s six-player deal with the Sacramento Kings.
In 13 March contests, Salmons (6-6, 207 pounds) has started every game (the Bulls are 8-5) and he has averaged a team-best 22.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg (fourth on the team) and 1.5 apg in a team-high 41.2 mpg. He has shot a team-best .500 from the field, .400 from downtown (24-60 3FG) and .873 from the line (second on the team). During March, he has led the team in scoring five times, and he has scored 20 or more points eight times, including two games with 30 or more points, highlighted by a Bulls player season-high, and career-high tying, 38 points against Boston on March 17.
On the year, Salmons currently ranks second on the Bulls in scoring with 18.8 ppg (24th in the NBA), and averages 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.01 spg and 37.6 mpg (20th). He is shooting .480 from the field (44th), .837 from the line (36th) and .417 from downtown (23rd).
Los Angeles Clippers TV broadcaster Ralph Lawler is a legend and one of the best in the business.
InsideHoops.com was with him the other day and had a great conversation.
Read our Ralph Lawler interview and share it with other Clippers fans.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports: As LeBron James has matured, part out of necessity and part out of pride, he’s serious about preparing and maintaining his body for the rigors of an NBA season. That includes a wide range of measures from diet and recovery techniques to the Vajrasana, Virasana and the particularly stunning Salamba Sarvangasana. They are yoga poses, and they are also an essential part of James’ routine every week. “Yoga isn’t just about the body, it’s also about the mind, and it’s a technique that has really helped me,” James said. “You do have to focus because there’s some positions that can really hurt you at times if you aren’t focused and breathing right.” From the “thunderbolt pose” to the “hero pose” to even “downward facing dog,” James has become a devout believer in the benefits of yoga. He and Cavs assistant athletic trainer Mike Mancias have been developing a regimen over the past two years.