Links: The Dirty 30

by Lang Whitaker

The weather outside is frightful here in NYC today, to say the least. Really, it’s snowing like a scene out of Medellin outside. But we’re still here, grinding, trying to get some stuff done before we break for the holidays.

A few quick notes before we get dirty…

• Quote of the Year thus far comes from Tim Thomas:

“Who gives a —?” — Tim Thomas, on Stephon Marbury showing up at the Knicks game in L.A.

• The Toronto Sun is mad as heck and they aren’t going to take it anymore…

“For reasons that defy all logic, people have tried to compare Bargnani to Nowitzki. Maybe it’s the European connection, the colour of their skin, the fact each can put the ball on the floor and extend their offence as seven-footers. It’s really an exercise in futility to even attempt to group the two because Bargnani is never going to earn league MVP honours.”

Hey, hey you! How dare you compare a seven-footer from Europe with range to another seven-footer from Europe with range! I’m just guessing here, but why are people comparing Dirk to Bargnani? It’s probably all three reasons given in the article! Doesn’t mean it’s a good or bad comparison, but those are three relatively important things that they have in common (well, the first and third are important, but especially the third). And does this mean we’re only allowed to compare MVP’s to other MVP’s? Canada confuses me.

• Michael Curry is emerging as one of my favorite coaching quotes now that Sam Mitchell is on the chilling list. Check out Coach Curry’s explanation to those who don’t understand why Curry has to mix and match his lineups at the end of games (and why Rip Hamilton got benched in the fourth the other night)…

“We said at the beginning that we looked at Rodney Stuckey and Antonio McDyess as starters. So if you look at it like we have seven starters, two guys are not going to be on the court down the stretch. That’s just the way it’s going to be. I don’t want it to be a story every time one of those guys doesn’t play down the stretch. We have a deep team in certain areas and because of that we will have a quality guy who’s not on the court.”

OK. So if you look at it like Detroit has seven starters, then yes, two guys will not be on the court AT ALL TIMES. Hopefully Coach Curry understands the NBA only allows five players on the court at any given time. But if you look at it like they have seven starters…then you’re not looking at an NBA team, I guess. Although that would be pretty awesome if they tried to start a game with seven dudes one night. If Curry tries that he’s definitely getting my vote for Coach of the Year.

• And finally, not sure what they’re smoking in Oklahoma City, but it must be good stuff…

Sam Presti and his fellow NBA general managers are clearing salary cap space for the free agent class of 2010, which includes stars who will visit Oklahoma City this weekend.

It’s doubtful the Thunder can sign Bosh, James, Dwyane Wade or Amare Stoudemire. But you never know. Presti is clearing about $40 million of cap space for the 2010-11 season.

But you never know? Hey guess what? I know! The Thunder aren’t signing any of those dudes.

Anyway, let’s get it Dirty up in here. This is the new table thingy, and I don’t think it’s quite as functional as the previous table system we used. But it is what it is. Dirty…