NBA Random Thoughts: Talk of Teeth, Politics, and Twitter Rule the NBA Week

No such thing as a boring week in the NBA.

Dirk's new teeth

It's a wonder it doesn't happen more often. 

Nowitzki drives to the hoop with elbows and legs flying.  Carl Landry sets to take the charge.  Apparently, with his mouth open.  Dirks elbow, meet Carl's teeth.  Landry's teeth apparently took a liking and decided to stick around. 

The collision dislodged five of Landry's teeth with two embedded into Nowitzki's elbow.  Ouch!

The look on Nowitzki's face after the contact was, well, interesting.  He knew something was wrong. He knew it hurt more than he expected it to, but you could tell by the look in his face he didn't know WHAT was different about this pain.

Maybe I tore a muscle?  Maybe I broke a bone?  Maybe I have teeth in my elbow!!!

I bet that last one never crossed him mind.

Foul was called on Landry.  I guess his teeth were inside the restricted area.


Kobe: Player of week, month, year, and decade

Player of the week honors to Kobe are official and not open to debate or discussion.  The other honors I bestow on the most amazing player in the Association this year.  Bryant has a feel about him, corny to say an aura, but it's the only word that applies.  I get the feeling he is just hitting his stride as he fits into what is arguably the best starting five the NBA has seen in some time.

The Black Mamba is deadly, and whatever downturn he is suffering through due to age he is compensating for with increased smarts.  He is simply the best.


Nate's escape from New York

What happened to Great Nate?  The guy had charisma, great game, and out of the building hops.  He played in the media capital of the world.  He didn't just win the Slam Dunk contest last year, he OWNED it.  Jumping over superman was pure showmanship.  He should be King of New York.

Instead, he is riding the bench, pining for a new team.

Lets hope he ends up somewhere he can continue to amaze us.


A.I. Oh. No.

As a sports fan, there is nothing worse than watching the team you adopt as yours go through a dry spell.  Trust me, I know.  I'm a Clipper fan!

A short second in the "nothing worse" category, however, is watching any once-great athlete's slow decline as he struggles to compete.  Joe Namath as a Los Angeles Ram.  Mohamed Ali vs. Larry Holmes.  David Ortiz in the first half of last year.  No matter who you root for, watching a former stud wiff away at an 85 MPH fastball from a late season call up is painful.

I still believe A.I. has some game left.  I fully expect him to return, play well and even have a game or two that remind us of the player he was.

Those games, however, will be the exception, not the norm. 


Twitter Twilliness

No tweets during games.  Sure, got it, makes sense.

No tweets while actually playing IN the game.  Ok, logical stuff so far.

No tweets until the team has spoken to the media.  Hm, well, ok, if you say so.

Seems the NBA wants the story, whatever the story might be, to come from the writers, not the players themselves.

"Back to 500. Yess!!! "500" means where doing good. Way to Play Hard Guys."

That's the $7,500.00 tweet.

How dare Jennings break that story to the world before the beat writers!

How dare Jennings encourage his team!

How dare Jennings celebrate a win like most 20-somethings would!

Twitter Twilliness...Totally.

Jennings response to the madness? 

"Looks like no Gucci and Louie for Xmas."

I don't understand why Jennings would want my Italian cousins over for the holidays, but I'm sure they are still willing to come over if you want them, BJ.


Dudley for Governor!

Want to be a doctor?  Go to school.

Want to be a judge?  Pay your dues as an attorney.

Want to be Governor in the USA?  Some time as a movie star works in California.  Former NBA player Chris Dudley is hoping his eye-popping career totals of 3.9 points and 6.20 rebounds do the trick in Oregon.

Dudley, a Yale graduate who played with the local Portland Trail Blazers, has no political experience.

Experience? I don't need no stinking experience.

"I believe it is a strength, not a weakness, that I have not spent the last 30 years in politics," Dudley said.

I wonder if he would be ok having me operate on him? 

"Seriously Chris, its ok.  I believe its a strength, not a weakness, that I have not spent the last 30 years cutting people open and removing appendices.  Or is it appendici?  Wait, what am I removing here anyway, nurse?"


Seen on milk carton in Chicago, Missing: Bulls Pride.

2 plus 2 = 4

Tiger plus opportunity = mistress number xxxx

A squared plus B squared = C squared

Phil Jackson plus reporter = eloquent and well thought out quote

I before E except after C

Bulls up by 35 points with 8:50 left in the third at home and lose = Bye Bye Vinny

Pointing the finger on the players instead of diffusing criticism by accepting the loss as a team = Don't let the door hit you on the way out Vinny.

"Players win games, you gotta execute. We kind of got a little bit complacent there and they jumped on it, they took advantage of it. We didn't answer when we had to," said Del Negro.

Any assistant coaching jobs available?  Team manager?  Stats guy?  Cheerleader?  I'm pretty sure Del Negro is open to anything and will be available soon.


Return of the NBA's highest paid player

$23.2 million a year for Tracy McGrady.

That's $12.9 million per point he averages.

T-Mac is still only 30 and should see several more years in the NBA.  I'm sure when he looks back and tells the story of his playing days to his grandkids the year he was the Highest Paid Player will come with tales of 30 point outbursts with double-digit boards and a handful of dimes.  The kids will be in awe.

Truth is, as of this posting, his best "outburst" thus far was a Dec. 15 game against Detroit.  He went 1-2 from the field, making one three-point shot and collecting three boards and no assists.

Your secret is safe with us T-Mac.