Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Demby

Dwight Howard: Superman Has Now Truly Arrived

Michael Demby — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:58:00 -0400

Can it be true? Dwight Howard hits 7-of-9 from the charity stripe, including knocking down two crucial free throws down the stretch in overtime?

In Games Three and Four of the Eastern Conference Finals against the supposedly invincible Cleveland Cavaliers, Superman averaged 74 percent and 78 percent from the free-throw line.

Now, those may seem like pedestrian numbers to many. But for a player who has averaged roughly 60 percent from the free-throw line for his career, those numbers are remarkable.

I believe the basketball world is starting to witness Dwight Howard’s transition process from superior athlete and rock solid presence to a dominating force the NBA has not seen since Shaq in his prime. Not only is he knocking down free throws in key situations, but he’s demonstrating a passion and fire that seemed nonexistent before.

He’s demanding the ball more in the post. He’s picking up technicals after dunking on an inferior defender who mercilessly tried to be physical with him (see Anderson Varajeo). During timeouts, he appears to be more focused in team huddles.

Hey, he’s even called out his coach for not getting him the ball enough down the stretch in a game.

Even with all these positive signs, there are still significant areas of improvement if Dwight Howard wants to be mentioned along with the likes of Shaq, Hakeem, Wilt, and Kareem.

First, he must continue to improve his free-throw shooting. With his size and strength, he is virtually unstoppable in the paint.

Hence, he will be fouled frequently.

Teams are not afraid to foul him in crunch time because he is historically a poor free-throw shooter. If he gets that percentage up to at least 75 percent, look out NBA.

Secondly, he must develop a mid-range jumper. Howard loves to catch the ball in the post and face up the defender. He then proceeds to do a drop step spin move and either go with the hook shot or the fan favorite, backboard-rattling dunk.

However, that move is not always there. Sometimes he’s going to have to hit the 15-footer when the paint is clogged. He should study Yao Ming, an excellent shooter for a big man.

If Dwight Howard works on these key development areas in the offseason, the Eastern Conference, better yet, the entire NBA needs to be scared on how dominating Superman can be.

Oh yeah, he’s only 23.

Good grief!

My Top Five Athlete BS Scenarios

Michael Demby — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:37:19 -0400

It seems like no matter what sport it is, players give predictable, “full of you know what” responses to media questions. You’ve seen the press conferences in which a celebrated athlete responds to a media question that is so generic and calculated that you can’t help but roll over in laughter. You may almost get to a point where you’re saying what you know the athlete is going to say before they even respond. Here are some of the common scenarios I always see.

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Team USA: Will They Bring Home the Gold?

Michael Demby — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:44:43 -0400

Well, play time is over. Let the games begin! Team USA finished the pre-Olympic exhibition season 5-0, concluding with an unimpressive victory over Australia.

The Americans clearly demonstrated their athletic superiority when they were able to get out in transition against inferior teams such as Canada and Turkey.

However, they struggled in half-court offensive sets when teams like Russia and Australia packed it in, forcing the Redeem Teamers to beat them from the perimeter.

In the final game against Australia, Team USA shot a horrendous 3-for-18 from behind the arc and 20-for-33 from the free throw line (Dwight Howard was an embarrassing 0-for-6).

On the defensive end, the Americans were able to create turnovers with stifling and aggressive defense during the five games. However, they gambled too much when going for steals, which led to wide open shots.

Also, they lost focus in half-court defensive sets at times, allowing back door cuts and getting caught in screens.

Their first Olympic game is on August 10 against the Yao Ming-led Chinese team. Between now and then, Team USA has quite a bit to work on if they plan to get that gold medallion around their necks.

First, they must enjoy some free time, go out and have a night on the town. Some may say that’s not focusing, but everybody needs a mental break to stay relaxed.

Secondly, they must work on execution in the half court. The other teams know they are finished if Team USA can get out on the break, so they are going to pack it in and slow the game down.

It is imperative that players like Deron Williams and Chris Paul get into the teeth of the defense to set up open shots for others.

Next, they must practice shooting. Team USA struggled from the perimeter and free throw line against Australia, like they did in the '06 World Championships and in the '04 Olympics. They need players like Redd, Kobe, and Carmelo to shoot consistently on the perimeter or they will be in trouble.

Lastly, they must stay focused on the defensive end. I noticed that Team USA tries to go for steals too much and when they miss, someone is wide open for three-point shots.

Teams with good ball handlers such as Greece and Spain won’t turn the ball over as much, so the Americans must play smart D for a whole possession. Call out screens, watch the backdoor cuts, switch when needed. If they don’t stay attentive, they will lose.

This is the moment Team USA has been preparing for going on three years now. They have the talent and will to capture gold in Beijing. Now they just have to bring it home.

10 Mascots That Make You Go...Hmmm

Michael Demby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:05:51 -0400

We’ve all heard of popular mascots, such as those Bulldogs from Georgia, Kentucky Wildcats, and the Texas Longhorns. Although these examples symbolize big college sports and tradition, their names are, well, ordinary.

How many Bulldogs, Tigers, and variations of ‘Cats can there be?

So, I’ve endlessly searched the wonderful world wide web and have dug up 10 unique mascot names that you may not have heard of. I’ve represented Divisions I-III in this list.

Rose-Hulman Tech Fightin’ Engineers: I wonder if their mascot is a dancing T-Square.

Webster University Gorloks (pictured above): I don’t know about you, but it looks like Mufasa from the Lion King with a shirt on.

Academy of Art Urban Knights: What is an Urban Knight? My first thought is Batman or something.

Sweet Briar College Vixens (college for women): I don’t know how good their teams are, but something about their mascot makes me want to get season tickets.

Whittier College Poets: Nothing strikes more fear in an opponent than those vicious Poets! Hey, they say the pen is mightier than the sword.

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns: My favorite mascot name of all time. Creativity at its best.

University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans: Their sporting events must look like mini Star Trek conventions. What's up Spock!

UC-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs: Hey, you just have to love this mascot name.

Heidelberg College Student Princes: I’m good with Princes. But Student Princes sounds like they could kill their opponents in a game of problem solving instead of basketball.

Brooklyn College Bridges: I picked this one because it is unique. I didn’t say they were all creative. When choosing this name, a person must've just looked outside and said, “I got it…Bridges…all right, let’s go to lunch.”

Well, there’s my list. Do any of you have any creative mascot names to add to the list?

D.J. Augustin: Good Things Come in Small Packages

Michael Demby — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:20:59 -0400

The Charlotte Bobcats surprised many observers when they selected Texas point guard D.J. Augustin with the ninth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Even Augustin was surprised, especially since he did not participate in pre-draft workouts with the Cats.

During the Las Vegas Summer League, he has not disappointed. Through three games, he has average 19.7 points per game on 56% shooting, including 50% from behind the arc.

Augustin’s exceptional ball handling skills have been on full display, as well as his lightning quickness and Tony Parker-like ability to knife into the teeth of the defense and score with contact.

Drafted because of his playmaking ability and Coach Larry Brown’s affinity for point guards, Augustin has only averaged 1.3 assists per game to go with four turnovers.

However, this is to be expected.

Rookies must learn to adjust to the speed and intensity of the NBA game as well as new teammates, even in the summer league. As Augustin meshes with his new teammates this summer and in training camp, expect those assist numbers to increase.

Due to his diminutive size, Augustin has struggled on the defensive end against bigger guards and in pick and roll situations. Coaches will be sure to take note of this and make sure that their players are physical with him on both ends of the ball.

But, Augustin is a born floor general who simply knows how to play the game of basketball. There’s a reason why he was a First Team All-America last season and earned the Bob Cousy award as the nation’s best point guard.

Raymond Felton is the current starting point guard for the Bobcats and figures to be next season. However, Augustin will definitely see good minutes off the bench and will orchestrate his share of alley-oops to high flyers Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson.

Raymond Felton, you better step your PG game up next year because D.J. is coming for that number one spot.

76ers: Great Athletes, but are They Great Shooters?

Michael Demby — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:42:19 -0400

The 76ers, fresh off a season in which they surprisingly made the playoffs, are major players in this summer’s free agent market. They are wheeling and dealing, trying to clear up enough cash to bring in an All-Star player.

Rumors have it that they are aggressively pursuing power forwards Elton Brand and Josh Smith. The Sixers already have a talented young nucleus in Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, and Thaddeus Young. Also, they have an underrated veteran point guard in Andre Miller to run the show.

Elton Brand would provide the post scoring that they are lacking, plus another veteran presence. But, would he be able to keep up with a high-octane style with his history of injuries?

Josh Smith is a young and super talented player who can run the floor, finish on the break, and is a beast of a shot blocker. He has barely scratched the surface of his potential and would fit the Sixers’ style of play.

However, their current roster is missing something that even the addition of either one of these highly coveted free agents could not provide: a legitimate outside shooter. Guards such as Willie Green and Louis Williams, and even A.I., are only average shooters.

Now, I’m not saying they should not go after Smith or Brand, as either one of them would be a significant upgrade over Reggie Evans or oft-injured Shavlik Randolph.

Recent history has shown that championship teams have had perimeter threats that stretched defenses and allowed open lanes for penetration. Last year, the Celtics had Eddie House, Ray Allen, and James Posey.

The year before that, Tony Parker destroyed the Cavaliers with his penetration through the help of Brent Barry, Michael Finley, and Robert Horry there to space the floor. In the early 2000s, the three peat Lakers had Horry (again) and Derek Fisher. I could go on and on.

And, for a team that loves to get out in transition as much as the Sixers do, a three-point specialist adds a new headache for defenses. The D'Antoni-coached, Steve Nash-led Suns were a perfect example of this, having their perimeter shooters float behind the arc in fast break situations.

There are a number of free agents out there that could fill this need, including Ben Gordon, J.R. Smith, and Sasha Vujacic. If the 76ers can snag either Brand or J. Smith, along with a perimeter scorer, they could start to really make moves in the Eastern Conference.

No Passion, No Glory

Michael Demby — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:23:43 -0400

It was truly a pleasure watching the Spanish soccer team throughout the Euro 2008 tournament. Their exquisite display of pinpoint passing, controlled possession, and fluid attacks outclassed the rest of the field. They were the best team and deserved the championship.

Afterwards, my thoughts turned to the state of men’s soccer in the U.S. The American side has made strides over the past ten years, and are arguably the best team in North America.

Players such as Clint Dempsey, DeMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, and most recently, Jozy Altidore, have crossed shores to compete against the best in the great leagues across Europe.

And here on American soil, the MLS, while definitely not on the same level as the English Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A, has grown in size and popularity and has attracted talented players from across the globe.

However, will the U.S. Men’s National Team ever be able to challenge the more traditional West European and South American powerhouses for world supremacy?

Sadly, I don’t think so.

From the day the average American boy starts watching sports, he is exposed to the NFL, MLB, and the NBA. He grows up idolizing the likes of Peyton Manning, LeBron James, and Alex Rodriguez; not Kaka, Leo Messi, or Michael Ballack. He goes out in the backyard to shoot hoops or toss the ball around. He doesn’t kick a ball in a goal.

Now granted, soccer leagues are quite popular for young people in America. I, myself, played for many years while growing up and enjoyed it.

However, soccer is not this country’s passion, and never will be.

In countries like Spain and England, young boys kick balls around as soon as they learn how to walk. They go to matches at the Nou Camp or Old Trafford (if they can afford it), dreaming of the day to be able to run within the confines of those cherished stadiums.

On the international level, the achievements of a country’s national soccer team can even unify a nation. The team from Ivory Coast competed in the 2006 World Cup in the midst of a civil war, which was put on pause so rival sides could cheer on the national team.

Now that’s passion.

Soccer is a part of the identities of millions of people in countries across the globe. Just not in the U.S. I tend to think that many Americans see it as a foreigner’s game, preferring instead to sing “Take me out to the ballgame” or watch the jet fly over during the Super Bowl.

Money has been spent in this country to build training academies in order to serve as a breeding ground for future soccer talent. But as long as football, basketball and baseball reign supreme, European and South American countries will continue to top FIFA rankings and battle for the title of world’s best.

Wednesday's Best

Michael Demby — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:27:31 -0400

Chokovic upset at Wimbledon

Novad Djokovic, the young and supremely confident tennis star, recently stated that number one ranked Roger Federer was vulnerable after getting destroyed in the French Open final by Rafael Nadal. The outspoken Serb had plans on dethroning the Swiss champion, who has won five straight Wimbledon titles.

Well Novad, why don’t you try getting past the second round next time! Djokovic was shown an early exit after getting beaten in straight sets by former number one Marat Safin. You talk the talk, you better walk the walk.

From underdogs to…

The Fresno State Wonderdogs (Bulldogs for the uninformed) completed an unprecedented run by beating the Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 in the third and decisive game to win the College World Series.

Although I’m not a huge baseball fan, I found myself watching this team throughout their improbable run and the more I watched, the more I felt they had fate on their sides. These guys never gave up and survived SIX elimination games against much higher ranked teams.

They truly deserved the championship. One of the greatest stories in collegiate sports history.

The Scintillating Semifinal

Germany ended Cinderella’s run in the Euro 2008 semifinals, defeating Turkey 3-2. A last minute impressive strike by Phillip Lahm sealed the Turks’ fate. What a great game.

Too bad mother nature ruined the experience with a storm in Austria, causing technical difficulties during critical junctures in the second half! Because of her I missed the goals by Miroslav Klose and Turkish hero Semih Senturk and instead was subjected to clips of the fan zone and unnecessary commentating.

Turkey will not win the Euros but, to me and everybody who has watched them play, they’ve already won. Oh yeah, that goal by Schweinsteiger was a touch of class. Man, I love that name, Schweinsteiger.

It’s over, Thank You

Today was the last full day of endless NBA Draft coverage. Basketball is my favorite sport and I love watching it. But please, how much analysis can there be? Jay Bilas, Andy Katz, Ric Bucher, Stephen A., go away!

How about this, let’s just let the draft happen. Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley will be one and two. Let’s not over speculate that anymore. Oh I forgot, there will probably be three days of post-draft coverage too. NOOOOO!!!!

Another great day in the wide world of sports.

HOF Bound?

Michael Demby — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:18:30 -0400

Often, sports fans look at players in various professional leagues and speculate who are Hall of Fame bound and who is on the bubble.

Well, that’s my aim here and I’m going to focus on current NBA players.

In: Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash.

Their resumes and accomplishments speak for themselves.

Bubble: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady, and Alonzo Mourning.

I’m tempted to now move Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to the “In” section, but I’ll leave them on the bubble for now.

Until Dirk shows the mental toughness required in the postseason to be a champion, he stays on the bubble.

T-Mac, you know what you have to do to move up.

Break the first-round curse!

‘Zo is on the bubble, but, I have a feeling he’s not going to get the call. However, I give him props for coming back after having a kidney transplant and am glad he won a title in 2006.

Future: Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, and Amare Stoudemire.

Lebron will be a perennial All-Star and All-NBA performer. If Mr. Ferry can put some real pieces around him, I see a few championships in his future.

Wade is already a Finals MVP and, if he stays healthy, should continue to put up ridiculous numbers.

Now, the Miami Heat— moving on.

Both CP3 and D-Will had breakout seasons in ‘07-‘08 and will be battling for the title of “Best PG” for years to come.

Dwight and Amare are already dominant big men with untapped potential. Jot them down for many more All-Star games and All-NBA nods.

What do you think?

Back to the Basics: US Soccer needs improvement

Michael Demby — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:32:28 -0400

The United States men’s soccer team fell to the Euro 2008-bound Spain side 0-1 yesterday in a friendly in Santander, Spain.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi slotted a precision shot past U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 78’ minute after evading four U.S. defenders near the top of the penalty box.

Yes, the American side played better than their awful performance the week before against England. But, that’s not saying much.

Michael Bradley was sloppy again in the midfield, Clint Dempsey looked out of sorts and uninterested in the game, and Eddie Johnson couldn’t finish if his life depended on it.

The list goes on and on.

The one bright spot for the Americans was the play of Benfica midfielder Freddy Adu. He made his presence known through his exceptional ball skills in traffic, ingenious passing, and the aggressive manner in which he probed Spain’s defense in order to create scoring opportunities.

He was the only American who wasn’t outclassed by the Spaniard side and looked as if he belonged on the field with the likes of Fernando Torres, Xavi, and Cesc Fabregas.

Unfortunately, Adu was forced out of the game during half time due to injury, and subsequently, the aggressive and insightful play disappeared.

In the second half, the U.S. rarely held onto possession for longer than ten seconds and seemed content with trying to preserve a scoreless draw by aimlessly passing the ball around in their own half.

The U.S. Men’s soccer team needs to get back on the practice field and work on the fundamentals. Not strategy, not lineups, just the basic aspects of football such as precision passing and effective and controlled first touches.

While the Spaniards transitioned from defense to attack mode with ease, any signs of momentum generated by the Americans quickly stalled out from poor passing, indecision on how and where to play balls, and awful first touches.

It only gets worse from here.

Next up is a friendly against the world No. 1 ranked Argentine squad, fresh of a 4-1 romp over El Tri.

So, if the Americans plan on not getting slaughtered by the Messi-led Albicelestes on June 8, they better get on the practice field and get to work.

Chicago Bulls: Low-Post Scorer Needed, No More BS

Michael Demby — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:27:43 -0400

For a couple of years now, the Chicago Bulls have been actively looking for a low-post scorer. After making the egregious mistake of signing the offensively-inept Ben Wallace to a ludicrous $60 million deal two seasons ago, the hole has yet to be filled.

They tried to pull off trades for KG and Pau Gasol, but to no avail. As a result of the surprisingly disappointing 2007-2008 season in which the young Bulls failed to make the playoffs, they entered Lotteryville.

And boy was luck on their side, as they miraculously won the number one pick in the draft despite a less than three percent chance. Now, the opportunity presents itself again in this year’s NBA Draft.

The consensus top two prospects in this year’s draft are point guard Derrick Rose and power forward Michael Beasley, both early entrants after impressive one-year stints on the collegiate level. Honestly, if there was no minimum age requirement in the NBA, these two would’ve never stepped foot on a college campus.

Analysts from media outlets are divided as to who will be the number one pick, with many leaning towards Rose. And yes, I can understand the case for Rose. First off, he is a Chicago native and would immediately increase season ticket sales.

The second obvious reason is that Rose is a rare, supreme talent with size, otherworldly speed and quickness, excellent decision-making skills, and an even-keeled demeanor.

Lastly, the Bulls have a young and athletic team that could relish in an open floor game under Rose’s command. However, let me reiterate—THEY DO NOT HAVE A LOW-POST SCORER! Aaron Gray, Tyrus Thomas, and Joakim Noah are not legitimate low post threats. This is why if I were the Bulls' management, I would pick Michael Beasley.

The man is a beast. Beasley averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds and shot 54 percent from the field as a freshman. He had three 40-point games and ten 30-point games. And, as an added bonus, he shot 38 percent from three point range.

People, those numbers are insane! At roughly 6'9" and 235 pounds, Beasley possesses great strength, versatility, quickness, and athleticism. Some critics say that he is somewhat undersized to play power forward in the league.

I have two words for them: David West. West was doubted coming out of Xavier in 2003, even after winning a National Player of the Year award. He fell to the 18th pick and yes, he did struggle for a few seasons. But now, he is an All-Star and wreaks havoc on opposing teams in the post night in and night out. And, Beasley is much more talented than West (no offense Mr. West).

Now, of course, there are some areas of needed improvement. One, Beasley’s mentality is to score first, which leads him to taking ill advised shots in traffic. Although an above average defender, he does not always work hard on that side of the ball. Also, he is not a great passer out of the double team.

However, Beasley is still a kid at 19-years-old, which means he has time to mature and improve his game tremendously. He is undoubtedly a gifted scorer from all over the court as well as a ferocious rebounder on the offensive and defensive end. He has the ability to be a franchise player in the NBA and a perennial All-Star.

Mr. Jerry Reinsdorf, this may be your last opportunity to fill in this gaping hole. Don’t mess it up!