Shaquille O’Neal Ballin’ In Beijing
It’s tough to tell thanks to the Robitussin-less camera work, but I’ve got Shaq’s final stat line down at: zero points (on 0-2 shooting), two boards, one assist, one block, one steal and one blatant walk in just two minutes of heated three-on-three action. He doesn’t seem to be trying very hard, though, so I can only guess his mind is preoccupied with buying 24-inch dubs for Yao . . .
Shaq: I Will Give Yao Fancy New Wheels As Wedding Gift [China Daily]
Comments (13)The Ballad of Yao Ming
Does that Steve Nash kid have a five o’clock shadow? Because if so, I’m ready to call this the funniest sketch I’ve seen since Mr. Show.
See also: Yao Ming Grasps The Sparrow’s Tail
Comments (1)Yao Ming Wants Ice Cream
“Vanilla? … Chocolate? … Cookies and Cream.”
Yao Ming - I Want Ice Cream! [YouTube]
Comments (0)Quickies: Yao, Vanna White Style
- Dwight Howard — aka ‘Sergeant Snap’ — thinks the Magic can go to the Finals this year. I have no comment. (And oh, I’m slightly reading between the lines here, but it’s sounds like The Man-Child is going to be 2K Sports next cover boy.) [Orlando Sentinel]
- Chuck Klosterman on this year’s playoffs: “People overestimated the idea of the ‘team concept’, so when it got to Wade and Shaq (in the Finals), you get to that last tier, and it’s who has the guy that the other team can’t stop.” [Undeclared — SLAM!]
- As a Radio & TV grad, there’s little I love more than new basketball commercials. Check it: “[Amare] Stoudemire joined teammates Shawn Marion and Steve Nash and NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace for the photo shoot to introduce the new Nike ‘Air Force One.’ The commercial was shot in an airplane hangar with the players decked out in flight suits before playing basketball.” [East Valley Tribune]
- Paging Paul Lukas: The Raptors unveil their new-look; The Wizards rumored to be introducing an alternate — black and gold — road jersey. I like; sounds sort of pimp. [TheStar.com & The Washington Times]
- Stromile Swift is back in Memphis. Cool, cool… wait, when did he leave? [CommercialAppeal.com]
- Dear Sirius, when the f you going to return our calls? Look, if you don’t want The Jones on satellite radio, just tell us. [Uncrate]
- Update: Wow, I just pledged my (2nd) allegiance to the Rockets and look what happens! Bonzi agrees to a two-year, $5M deal with Houston. [ESPN]
Q&A Rocket Propellant
Every NBA season I select five or so NBA teams — in addition to my hometown Toronto Raptors of course — that I make a conscious effort to follow closely throughout the year.
There’s usually little to no reason for my selections — it may be that they have a favorite player (i.e. the Suns), it may be that their line-up interests me (i.e. the Magic) — but nonetheless, it’s something I like to do. Keeps me grounded, you know. (I have no idea what that means.)
Anyway, one of the team’s I plan on following this year is the Houston Rockets. Couple of reasons why, I guess: (1) I’m still waiting for Yao to unleash his Olajuwon-like beat down on the L. I know he has it in him. (2) I’m hoping T-Mac can open his droopy eyes and bounce “back” from all those injuries, and (3) I like the additions of Battier, V-Span, Davis Love Lucas the III, and Kirk Snyder a lot.
So I was happy to come across ClutchFans’ writer Jeff Balke’s spin on 20 questions to ponder this Rockets season. The entire thing’s worth a read — print it off; take a dump — but here are a few choice Q&A’s to wet your appetite:
1. Can Rafer Alston shoot a better percentage, particularly on 3s?
Can he? Yes. Will he? Probably. Alston has never shot 40 percent from behind the arc for a season. But for four straight years from 2001 through 2005, he averaged nearly 38 percent from behind the three-point line including two years he played in 80 and 82 games each. Given that history and the fact that he was, at times, one of the only legitimate scoring options on the floor last season, last year would seem to be an anomaly rather than the norm. With the return of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming plus the addition of shooters like Shane Battier, I have to believe Alston will improve on his poor shooting season in 2005-06.4. Is Shane Battier a four? He’s not going to shut down the studs. They don’t shut down each other. But can he make it tough enough to get the ball inside to make up for a lack of size once teams get it there?
Personally, I think he is and I think he can handle fours on the block. Setting aside Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand, very few guys at the position are legit fours in the west. Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, for example, are likely better guarded by a big, strong three like Battier than by a four like Juwan Howard. Plus, forcing big men like Duncan and Brand to play on the perimeter when Battier is out there provides much needed spacing and Jeff Van Gundy has said that he wants Yao to be surrounded with three-point shooters at every position when he is on the floor.6. Who is the backup point? Unless Bob Sura comes back, which is a question in itself, I’m guessing Vassilis Spanoulis, but it’s awfully tempting to put John Lucas’ outstanding shot on the court.
I think Sura is done. I wish he weren’t, but I don’t see him coming back. As a result, I think Spanoulis is the guy. He has that toughness and skill with the ball Van Gundy likes. He’s big for a one giving him size on opposing guards and can hit the three. Lucas will be an intriguing player to watch, particularly with the accuracy of his shot. My guess is that Van Gundy will lean towards him early given his experience in the NBA, however limited it may be. But V-Span has the look of a guy ready to contribute at the point in the NBA.
Answering the Chronicle’s 20 Questions [ClutchFans]
Comments (4)So… You Run Here Often?
OK, here we go again Yao. Just keep cool…
I’m cool, I’m cool…
Good. Now easy does it. What I’d tell you last time?
Head up, chest out.
There you go. You look good.
Are you sure? I feel sort of stupid. I mean, maybe I should put a shirt on, no? Yeah, I should probably put a shirt on…
No, no, you look good. Confident. Big China man be bull, remember?
Yes, big China man be bull…
Perfect. OK, now here they come. Just play it cool…
Oh my, they’re quite close. Um… um…
You stay cool, you hear me? Don’t be ridiculous.
But they’re so cute! Oh my, I don’t know about this. Maybe I should just turn arou–
No! You are not turning around! You’re a Goddamn All-star! Start acting like one!
They think I’m a freak.
They do not think you’re a freak! Jesus. Now get it together, man. OK, here we go.
Oh no, oh no, oh no…
Smile…
Oh no, oh no, oh no…
Keep smiling…
This is bad. This is sooooo bad…
Aaaaaand… done.
That’s it?
That’s it.
Did they look?
Um, yeah.
And?
Well… besides you lookin’ like you were pinchin’ a loaf, I’d say the girl in orange seemed somewhat impressed.
Seriously?
Yeah, she checked you out a little bit.
YES! SCORE!
Woah, easy there Romeo; she just glanced at you. Could’ve been wondering what happened to the sun for all I know…
TAKE THAT MUTUMBO! YAO IS TRUE SEX MACHINE!
Oh, shut up…
Yao Ming Photo [Yahoo!]
(Props for finding this gem: YAYHowie!)
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The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
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