The Dugout – Birthdays, Bad Blood and So Long Steve Nash
Adios, Steve Nash
One of the worst kept secrets in basketball has been confirmed with Steve Nash retiring from the NBA. Now immediately we can forget the dramas of the busted era that’s ruined the Lakers, of the torturous injuries and the massive salary he was unable to prove that he deserved or not. Steve Nash has retired, and now we’re free to dwell on moments like these.
Nash made the announcement in an essay for Derek Jeter’s Player’s Tribune (which has some good stuff now and then). The post began simply enough: “I’m retiring”.
If you’ve seen the videos he’s done for grantland or heard him in interviews or anything recently you understand how hard the guy worked to stay at an NBA level of fitness and ability. The ability was there based on the small samples of Lakers games he managed but it simply became too much for a guy with a chronic back issues to play day in and day out.
The Lakers kept him around this season as a salary cap holder. It’s devastating to see a guy as good as he was having his hand forced by injuries, surely he deserved the chance to go out on his own terms, but so it goes. Farewell Steve Nash, you were one of the greats.
Active NBA Players Who Played in the 90s
- Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers)
- Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
- Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
- Paul Pierce (Washington Wizards)
- Vince Carter (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Shawn Marion (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Andre Miller (Sacramento Kings)
- Jason Terry (Houston Rockets)
- Elton Brand (Atlanta Hawks)
- Nazr Mohammed (Chicago Bulls)
- (Also maybe Ray Allen (Unattached))
Stuff That Happened in the NBA
Apparently the Rockets are expecting Dwight Howard back in the next few days. Considering how well they’ve done without him, throwing that giant spanner into the works is probably still something they have to do but it’ll be fun to see how he reasserts himself. Could be a chemistry nightmare, don’t count it out.
The Spurs are really good, and people are feeling bad for writing them off. Just like every season for the past decade. All it took this time was a fully fit Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard.
Basically every contender made a push in the MVP race. RussBrook’s still logging triple-doubles (though he lost one in the stat-checking aftermath), while the Cavs keep winning on LeBron’s (and Kyrie’s) back. Steph Curry bagged a couple double-doubles while his team keeps on winning too but James Harden did it best when he slammed 44 points on Indiana and 50 on Denver. The Beard, perhaps launching himself into favourite status…
Dirk topped 10k rebounds. Love ya, big fella. We’re all feeling for you after your buddy Nash’s retirement.
Oh, and some people actually think that Kentucky can beat an NBA team. Too much College Hoops hogging everyone’s attention and logic, kids are not beating pros, end of story. If they could then they’d already be pros themselves and not kids and therefore the whole thing is a catch-22. The only way it’s possible is if it’s impossible.
Plus this happened.
NBA Power Rankings:
(Last week)
- Golden State Warriors (1)
- Atlanta Hawks (2)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (3)
- San Antonio Spurs (5)
- Memphis Grizzlies (4)
- LA Clippers (NR)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (9)
- Houston Rockets (6)
- Phoenix Suns (NR)
- Dallas Mavericks (8)
Hey, I’m Walkin’ ‘Ere!
The New England Patriots vs the New York Jets. The don’t like each other, didja know?
Star cornerback Darrelle Revis won a Super Bowl with the Pats last season, but spent most of his career with the Jets and just re-signed with them for plenty cash. That seems like a win-win to be honest, but the Jets ain’t happy. They’ve filed a tampering complaint with the NFL over comments that Patriots owner Robert Kraft made on the radio about Revis’ free-agency. Here’s the offendin statement:
"I speak as a fan of the New England Patriots, we wanted to keep him."
Yeah, nothing in that at all. But there’s more to this. The complaint is likely a retaliation to the tampering charge they were stuck with in January when the Patriots complained about Woody Johnson, owner of the Jets, saying he’d like Revis back. He got him back eventually, but you ain’t allowed to be talking like that before free agency. Still, the Jets thought it was harsh and clearly feelings haven’t lessened. Worse case scenario, the Patriots are charged and lose a pick. Worst possible case. Most likely scenario nothing happens until the teams play each other and we all get excited.
Batter Up…
Spring Training’s been in full swing for a few weeks now, Kris Bryant in full swing for almost as long. 12 more days remain before the season officially begins with the Chicago Cubs hosting the St Louis Cardinals. We know the Cards will be good because they always are, but will Bryant and the Cubs have something special in the future? Your move, Joe Maddon.
Anyway, here are some Yankees recreating a scene from ‘The Sandlot’. The Yankees… they might miss the playoffs for the third time in a row, that’d be brutal. We may see the Mets dominating New York this season, especially if they can keep Matt Harvey healthy.
It’s wise not to read too much into Spring Training ups and downs, since the depth guys are all getting a run against each other and most veterans don’t even try until the regular stuff. Until then we can only speculate… so let’s speculate.
The Dodgers and the Nationals look like the early favourites. Both have ruthlessly good pitching options with more than a few slammin’ bats to go along with them. The Dodgers mostly from overpaid veterans while the Nats have a solid core of youth. Bryce Harper first and foremost, ready to blast off following the ol’ sophomore slump. The LA Angels are still bound by the contracts of Hamilton/Pujols, though any team with Mike Trout is gonna be a contender. The best hitter in baseball will do that for ya. You want a few more contenders to hang the hopes on? Try the defending champs San Francisco Giants, the Seattle Mariners and maaaybe the San Diego Padres. Maybe. They went crazy with some decent looking trades but we’ll have to see.
Also, the Dodgers just signed a defecting Cuban infielder to a six year $62m deal. Hector Olivera is his name and he’s supposed to be mighty talented. The guy is about to turn 30 so he’s no spring chicken, but he’s been a star in the Cuban leagues for a while. Though his health is an issue, and the contract involves clauses to cover the team if his faulty elbow needs surgery.
Adrian Peterson Celebrates His Birthday In… Style?
In related news, Adrian Peterson and his agent are busy making it damn clear that they don’t wanna seen AD/AP playing for the Minnesota Vikings anymore. You reading this, Jerry Jones?
Most Popular Throwback Jersey Sales By State
Happy 39th Birthday Peyton Manning
Randy Johnson, Duck Hunter
Quote of the Week:
“It’s been a circus, man. It’s been a complete circus. We got off to a hot start. Unfortunately, I got sick, so it ruined the look of the team. I take some blame for that. I know for a fact, if I wouldn’t have gotten sick, things wouldn’t have happened the way it happened. It was no way it could. At the same time, a lot of it is not my fault and we all know why. But this has been a disappointing year.”
DeMarcus Cousins is brutally honest about the Sacramento Kings season.
Good Week:
Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls) – If you haven’t stopped to watch this 24 year old Serbian do his thing yet, you’re missing out. The Bulls rookie has had a sheltered road to the NBA, being stashed in Europe for a while, and playing inconsistent minutes this season. But just recently he seems to have exploded. He’s hit 25 points in four of his last five games, averaging 23.4p/7.4r in that stretch despite a 8p/5r game in a blowout loss to Detroit. While the Bulls have struggled recently, Miro has stepped up, and with a playoff spot booked and Jimmy Butler back fit once more, they may be primed for a strong finish.
Phoenix Suns – Trading away both Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas was supposed to be the waving of the white flag for their season. That was before consecutive wins over New Orleans, Houston and Dallas all this week. They probably still won’t make the playoffs, but they probably wouldn’t have anyway. Instead they have a flurry of picks, an injured Brandon Knight to return next season and a group of players that continually refuse to live down to low expectations. Underestimate them a your peril.
Bad Week:
Oklahoma City Thunder – Results-wise it was pretty good with impressive wins over the Hawks and Heat. However with Serge Ibaka needing surgery and Kevin Durant now unlikely to feature again this season, things look stretched once more. Every year they have a key injury that seems to cost them. At least they have Steven Adams, who has double-doubles in five of his last six games. Best stretch of his young career. (p.s. Andre Roberson is hurt too, out for 2-3 weeks, but that’s probably a good thing.)
Indiana Pacers – Six consecutive losses, seeing them plummet out of the playoffs and behind the Celtics and Hornets. Whoops. But, silver lining, Paul George is back in training drills and Larry Legend reckons he’ll play this season.
Player of the Week:
Chris Paul (LA Clippers) – Look, DeAndre Jordan gets the shout outs from the coach for his defensive game but no Clipper is more important than Chris Paul. CP3 averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds a game, with 45 total assists to a mere 7 turnovers in four games, all LAC victories. Why do people keep ignoring him in point guard convos? He remains on par with Curry/Wesbrook, no lie.