Links: Quick Shots
Download the Deng.
Sorry I’m running late today. I got called in to play for the company softball team last night, ending my two year retirement. We won, I went 2-for-3 with a walk, Sam got a few hits…good night all the way around.
Stayed up late last night to watch that Lakers/Suns blowout, then had an early wake up call this morning. Spent all morning in Brooklyn with an NBA player for an upcoming story, but can’t tell you who. Back to the office a while ago.
While I was watching games last night I made a few random notes…
• When Andrei Kirilenko started crying at practice, do you think Jerry Sloan called him a … actually, never mind.
• You know those Southwest Airlines commercials where they suggest you go to their site and download the “ding?” Here’s a great idea: Get Luol Deng as a spokesman and then let people download a “Deng.”
• During the second half of that Bulls/Heat game, Pat Riley had to go to a zone defense just to stop Chicago’s outside shooting, which I loved because it runs completely contrary to conventional hoops wisdom. Since I was a kid I was taught that a zone is used to pack people in the paint and force outside shots, while a man-to-man is the best way to the perimeter though it might leave the middle open. But against Miami’s man-to-man, Chicago was running a series of cuts and screens going from side-to-side, and Miami’s dudes were just too slow to keep up. The zone put guys closer to the arc and made it easier for them to close out against the jumpers. When they went to the zone the Bulls were 8-for-10 on threes. After that they went 3-of-7, so it apparently had some success. I wouldn’t be surprised if thy use it a lot more in Games 3 and 4.
• By the way, the Heat are screwed right now. They look like a team of old dudes at the Y playing against a team of young guys, and they just can’t figure out how to slow the tempo. And did Pat Riley really think Antoine Walker would be able to effectively defend Luol Deng when they were in that man-to-man?
• I think Steve Kerr is the best analyst in basketball right now. He’s great at seeing the whole floor, seeing trends develop and keeping an eye on the flow of the game. And he’s funny, too. And as a writer for Yahoo Sports, well, he’s a great announcer.
• Also, Luol Deng should host a series of luaus.
• I wish Dwayne Wade would stop watching old videos and playing golf with Charles Barkley and spend more time trying to get the Heat to practice their perimeter defense.
• At one point during the Suns game, I heard “Summer Love” by Justin Timberlake over the P.A. system. Should I be embarrassed that I knew that song? I’m not, but should I be?
• Hey Sonics fans, good luck with Lenny Wilkens in charge.
• The biggest mismatch during the Playoffs might be Dick Stockton trying to call a fast-paced game.
• When Yao Ming runs down the floor he looks like either Beavis or Butthead looked on those episodes when they’d leave their house and go outside.
36 Responses to “Links: Quick Shots”
Apr.25 at 2:09 pm
J3K says:
You know the Suns are rolling when Nash kisses his biceps.
Apr.25 at 2:11 pm
Adrian from Qnz says:
No mention of the Nets-Raptors game at all? Was it because it was in Canada?
Apr.25 at 2:11 pm
ALX8725 says:
where is the Dallas/Warriors game 1 recap!!! btw, Lang, did you check out your readers’ comments for your statements concerning the Warriors?
Apr.25 at 2:30 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Raptors/nets was done by the time I got home last night. Don’t know where the G-St/Dallas Game 1 recap is…not my series to write about. And yes, I saw the reader’s comments.
Apr.25 at 2:32 pm
Shotcaller21 says:
Yes Lang, you should definitely be embarrassed.
Apr.25 at 2:36 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I hope you told Bassy I said hi.
Apr.25 at 2:42 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
What is the name of the SLAMDome team (or is it a collection of Harris Pub. people)? I hope you all have basketball related nicknames
Apr.25 at 2:46 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Miami has a chance. Dwyane Wade is due for a 20 plus free throw game. It’s the playoffs in Miami. “They” will make it happen.
Apr.25 at 2:47 pm
M.K. Petrik says:
Now that Bassy looks to be on the outs with the Celtics, where do you guys see him ending up? Knicks? New Jersey? Being one of the few who own “Through The Fire” (and who enjoy it thoroughly) I am somewhat rooting for him to succeed. Maybe he’s better off leaving Boston!
Apr.25 at 2:53 pm
Gilbert0 says:
I think Justin Timberlak is pretty awesome as a solo performer but his work with nsync was just as brilliant
Apr.25 at 2:59 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i concur on steve kerr. i think we think on the same wavelength. sometimes i find myself commenting on plays and on the games just before he said them on tv. i’m not boosting myself, but maybe i should look into broadcasting. i think i’ll be able to contribute positively to that, especially when it comes to replays. i can’t count how many time i was frustrated by replays with terrible angles and comments.
whoa. drifted way outta topic there. hey Lang, those are some funny points you had up there.
“Deng!”
Apr.25 at 3:03 pm
dAnieL Lee says:
If the refs screw Chicago and call thin air fouls on whoever is calling D Wade then I’m never watching a game featuring the Heat again. That biased ish just drives me nuts.
Apr.25 at 3:07 pm
DubsGonDoIt says:
I thought the flagrant foul called on PJ Brown last night when he got Posey was BS. Wade is going to get his in Miami, get ready for 20+ free throws like S.A.M. said.
Apr.25 at 3:08 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Wasn’t Bassy, Ryan. And the softball team is a collection of people who work for Harris Publishing, the company that owns us. I don’t think we have a nickname.
Apr.25 at 3:16 pm
dAnieL Lee says:
And don’t even get me started on the ‘Shaq has to be treated differently by the refs because of his size’ ish. Yeah right, just cause he’s 300 pounds he can knock people over, right, it’s their fault, sure.
Apr.25 at 3:17 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Sure, Lang. Just whisper it to me, like Connie Chung got Clinton’s mom to do back in the day..
Apr.25 at 3:21 pm
dAnieL Lee says:
Funny thing about Chicago is that here in England they’re claimed as having lots of UK players, particularly Luol Deng (who did actually live here for a good while at least), and Ben Gordon (who I think was born in England weirdly).
Apr.25 at 4:00 pm
Mr. 416 says:
The Raptors Nets game was loudest crowd wise, I think that’s what helped the raps come away with the win I watched Miami/chicago and Phoenix/L.A. and none of them compared. oh yeah there was this as well….. http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/dotn/dotn_070424.asx
Apr.25 at 4:37 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Lang - You need not be embarrased. It happens. I blame it on the “Shuffle” mode on the IPod.
Apr.25 at 5:00 pm
Hersey says:
Summer Love is a good song, nothing to be embarrassed about.
Apr.25 at 5:03 pm
Mash says:
Tell me something guys: why Americans are so insecure about their masculinity? Why would Lang have to be embarrassed to know a song from JT? Is his music too “girly” or what? Must be tiring to you guys to prove to your homies everyday that you’re not gay cuz you only listen to DMX. Travel. Go to Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, France etc. You’ll see that there’s a lot more to being a man than only listening to macho music. JT rocks! If it’s good enough for Timbaland, it should be good enough for ignorant homophobes!
Apr.25 at 5:07 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Mash, tell me something: Why are you so gay?
I jest.
Apr.25 at 5:12 pm
t-rocc says:
i love the comment about Dick Stockton… the guy just can’t keep up sometimes. what’s even worse is when he tries to continue a joke that Fratello makes. it’s painful. i hope we get to see a reunion of the Marv Albert, Steve Kerr and the Czar at some point during the postseason. that was a fun team to listen to.
Apr.25 at 5:15 pm
Mash says:
I rest my case.
Apr.25 at 5:18 pm
James says:
EXCUSE ME ryan, that was newt gingrich’s mom whispering to connie chung. Check your wikipedia.
Apr.25 at 5:30 pm
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
So, Ryan, how big is your lead nowadays in number of comments?
Apr.25 at 5:49 pm
WeS says:
Butthead! HELLLLL NAWWWWW
Apr.25 at 6:11 pm
Dylan Rice-Leary says:
The Yao-Beav/Butthead thing is a mind-blowing observation, Lang. Thanks. Aside. Why doesn’t anyone ever just call Yao, “Ming”? all in all, he has one of the best 1-2 punch names in the league. Also an aside: Kerr has been the man. His end of the game euphamizing (coinage?) of the Chi-town crowd heckling Posey (Well, the fans are chanting something to the effect of ‘we don’t like’ Posey. ‘We don’t like’ Posey) was brilliant and hilarious. Just a great person all around with a keen basketball mind.
Apr.25 at 6:38 pm
tedturner says:
lang, you know its DWYANE.
Apr.25 at 7:29 pm
FLUXLAND says:
well, well, well Lang..(your boy) one play Sammy M. wins the COY. WOW!! I wonder how Khalid feels about that? I know, I know… we were not 20 games above .500 so who cares, right?
I’m sure you also know that the 6th man was announced and, hate to break it to ya, looks like Stern gave ya the shaft. No worries, MVP is still up for grabs. GO #54!! lol.
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Also, are you sure you didn’t want to get into marketing or advertising? Every few Links you seem to throw out some kind of marketing ploy involving a player or team.
Apr.25 at 8:01 pm
Dennard C says:
T-Rocc, I noticed that about Old man Stockton myself, he needs to stick to football.
Apr.26 at 2:53 am
what says:
It’s not about masculinity, it’s about the fact that Justin Timberlake sounds like a crow. Timbaland also sucks.
Apr.26 at 7:16 am
Phildo says:
Hey Lang, good one on advising Southwest to use Luol as an endorser for their ads. I haven´t seen the commercial because Southwest doesn´t operate in Europe and with our broadcast of the NBA here in Germany we have all the commercial breaks filled with old highlight reels and no ads. But I think that they used “Ding” in the context of the ongoing trend in advertisement in the US to implement german words into the american english language (see newer Volkswagen ads for example). A “Ding” is a colloquial german word with the meaning of “something”. You actually use it when the correct term doesn´t jump to your mind and you want to replace that word you are seeking with “Ding” that the person adressed understands what you meant because of the context of the rest of the sentence.
Apr.26 at 6:30 pm
Joel O's says:
Thus Spake Spokane’s Most Wanted: “It’s okay to cry.”
Apr.26 at 6:37 pm
Joel O's says:
The Heat technically SHOULD be a better defensive team… but right now they’re the Galacticos of the NBA; too many guys wayy past their prime, some prematurely. I don’t know how guys like J-Dub and Walker fell off so hard; they’re barely 30 and they’re underperforming gimpy dudes. The Whit Eboy of olde would be racking up 10+ assists running this team, and Wade wouldn’t have to do everything. Sheesh.
Apr.28 at 6:17 am
Harlem_World says:
Let the records show, I always said Loul Deng would be a star in the L. He’s killing the Heat right now. How many more cliches are Riley, Shaq and Wade going to throw out there before they realize they are about to be bounced? ‘Now is the time’ ‘Seize the day’ ‘Ultimate test’ this isn’t Hallmark Cards **$3%”&! This is the PLAYOFFS!