New ball, Riles & Injuries

- On 1/1/07 the NBA dumped it’s new composite ball and went back to the old leather model.

My take?

Big deal.

Old ball, new ball, it really doesn’t matter to me. The players had adjusted to the micro fiber and scoring was actually up 2 ½ points per game, as were field goal and free throw percentages.

My only issue is that the league made the switch in the middle of the season. This means two things to me.

1) They are plainly admitting that they made a mistake.

2) More importantly, now the players have to adjust mid-stream to a more slick ball. I’m sure they will all get the hang of it again relatively quickly, but messing with the product on the court just when teams are finding their groove is not the best idea.

The reason Commissioner David Stern finally gave in was because of the so called injuries players and coaches were suffering. These “injuries” consisted of several little cuts on the finger tips that would then merge into one big cut.

That’s fine, but I hope this puts to rest the notion that the composite ball was tested “rigorously” before it was introduced. There’s just no way that could have been the case.

For all you leather ball fanatics out there, don’t get used to it’s return. I’m fairly certain that the NBA will be going to a *different* composite ball within the next two seasons.

Here’s to hoping that the Commissioner’s office learned it’s lesson the first time around and heavily involves the players in the picking of the new, new ball.

- On 1/3 Miami Heat President/coach Pat Riley took an “indefinite leave of absence” from the team because of knee and hip problems. He already had successful surgery to remove three large pieces of cartilage from his right knee on 1/5. Surgery on his left hip is not yet scheduled, but the recovery time is bound to be at least a month, if not more.

It’d be one thing if Pat didn’t have a track record with things like this, but he does.

Remember him quitting a few days before the 2003-04 season started (because the team was terrible) and shoving Stan Van Gundy into an almost impossible situation? (Where SVG completely made something out of nothing BTW.) Only to shamelessly run Stan Van from public sight (anyone seen his mug since?) 21 games into the ’05-06 season and take over a title contender.

To me this reeks of Riles saying to his troops, “You guys don’t care about the regular season, so neither do I. Here’s Ron Rothstein (named coach in Riley’s stead) for ya. Enjoy.”

But wait, it gets better.

Later that day Pat put James Posey and Antoine Walker on the inactive list for failing to meet a club “conditioning goal”. Said goal was to be at 8% body fat by 1/1. Both players could face suspensions if they don’t meet the “goal” by 1/15.

Wow.

Other then Gary Payton, Pose and Toine are the two guys I wouldn’t ever pull a stunt like this with. Reason being, Riley runs the risk of losing them for the entire season if and when they come back. Both players and their agent (Mark Bartelstein) have already had quotes expressing their displeasure.

For a bad team already without their two best players and coach, that is a bold (and somewhat idiotic) move.

Dwyane Wade has missed the last four games and is day-to-day with a sprained right wrist. The spin from Miami is that this is nothing too serious, but I beg to differ. This is the same wrist that has been bothering Wade since he hurt it in last year’s NBA Finals. This is also the second re-injury of it (FIBA World Championships), and even though the MRI’s keep coming back negative, you don’t have to be Quincy to figure out that this is turning into a chronic thing.

As for Shaquille O’Neal, he is said to be targeting 1/15 (in L.A. against the Lakers) as his comeback date from left knee surgery.

In my opinion, Pat’s return really depends on what the team looks like when those two are back. If the Heat still look disinterested on the defensive end when Riles is healthy, I don’t think you’ll ever see him roaming the hardwood again. However, if they show flashes, then I think you’ll see Riley “cowboy up” for one last hurrah.

These “flashes” I speak of will have to be led by Shaq himself. You see, the whole mind set in South Florida is “We’ll be fine when the big fella gets back.” That implies that the big fella actually gives a damn though. There’s also a chance that Shaq has reached the point where the mind is willing but the body is no longer able. Either way, it’s all on The Diesel.

All that said, the East is so bad that if a relatively healthy Miami Heat does sneak into the playoffs, they’d probably still be the favorites to win the Conference.

- Also on 1/3 the Charlotte Bobcats and New Jersey Nets completed a small trade. The Nets received Bernard Robinson and the Cats Jeff McInnis and cash.

Charlotte needed a backup PG badly with Brevin Knight out at least three more weeks while he recovers from abdominal surgery. This move also finally puts the Cats over the league’s minimum payroll by 1.4 million.

McInnis is a well known team cancer, but Charlotte is so bad that it probably won’t matter. On the court he should be fine as Ray Felton’s backup until Knight returns.

NJ made this deal to get under the luxury tax threshold, which they now are by a little more then 1 million. Conversely, I don’t see how Robinson improves the Nets at all other then giving them another warm body. Bernard hustles, plays hard, is athletic and a nice defender, but has ZERO offensive game. In other words, he brings the same things to the table as rookie Hassan Adams.

- On 1/6 the Philadelphia 76ers named Larry Brown Executive Vice President. Apparently his job will be to help advise President/GM Billy King on personnel decisions.

I….just….I mean…..it’s like…..umm….well…..

It’s rare that I don’t know what to say about a move in the NBA, but I really have no idea what the Sixers could be thinking here. NONE.

It kind of bums me out though, so maybe a metaphor will work.

Just as I was about to take my first step on the track where I could finally see the light at the end of tunnel, the entire tunnel collapsed before I could get started.

- The injury bug has been hitting NBA stars relentlessly over the past couple of weeks, so here’s an update for you.

1. Yao Ming (12/23 fractured right tibia, out a *minimum* of six weeks) – This is a major blow to the Rockets as Yao was having his best season yet. There’s really no replacing all he brings to the team. From low post offense to defensive presence, Yao has been Houston’s best player.

I worry about his return from this injury since the break was supposedly right below his knee, and with guys his size, you neva eva know. All the Rockets can hope for is that a healthy Tracy McGrady is enough for them to maintain a low seed for the playoffs until Yao is back. Then they can make their move and with a bit of luck get hot enough to go on a deep run.

2. Nenad Krstic (12/22 torn left ACL, out for the season) – I saw this one live and knew right away he was done. He planted to make a post move, his knee stayed straight and he just crumpled to the floor. It’s a shame really. I kinda like Nenad as a player because he’s one of the few young centers that actually has a back-to-the-basket game.

This is a devastating blow to the Nets who have nothing else to turn to in the post now. Clifford Robinson? Please. Jason Collins? Umm no. Mikki Moore is a nice energy guy, but not much else. Mile Ilic was brutal the one time I saw him play. That leaves rookie Josh Boone. A long shot I know, but he’s shown a few flashes thus far. Not on Krstic’s level (leads team in blocks, and is second in scoring & rebounding) for sure, but not terrible either.

New Jersey still has enough talent that they should win the Titanic, but any aspirations beyond that need to be put on hold for now. On the other hand, if things start to go South don’t be surprised to see President Rod Thorn make a bold move or two to reshape his roster.

3. Chris Paul (12/26 sprained right ankle, out *at least* a month)
David West (12/19 right elbow surgery, out up to eight weeks)
Peja Stojakovic (12/17 back surgery, out up to two months)
Bobby Jackson (11/28 five cracked left ribs, day-to-day) – No team has been hit harder by the injury bug then the Hornets. Just look at that list for cripes sake. It includes their three main scorers AND sixth man. Yikes.

Obviously, there’s really not much coach Byron Scott can do here. When your offense is centered around Desmond Mason, Rasual Butler and Jannero Pargo, you’ve got problems.

I’ve said before that I actually like New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s prospects when healthy. Unfortunately, I don’t think that they can stay close enough in the West to make a run when everyone gets back. It’s an extreme long shot that becomes no shot if at least two of those four are not back 100% healthy by the All-Star break.

4. Rashard Lewis (12/20 torn tendon right hand, out eight weeks) – R Lew was going along great in his contract year, then this happens. This is why NBA players are funny. Before this injury he was almost certain to opt out of his current contract and become a free agent. Now, post injury, he’s talking about signing a contract extension with the Sonics.

Anyway, Damien Wilkins is a decent fill in for Lewis, but he’s nowhere near as versatile offensively and doesn’t hit the glass as well either. Seattle seems to be heading into their annual tailspin right about now, but it’s hard to know what new owner Clay Bennett wants to do. My guess is that coach Bob Hill is the first to go. Then maybe a blockbuster trade of Ray Allen at the deadline follows that.

5. Paul Pierce (12/21 stress reaction right foot, out four weeks) – PP was going along great as usual, then he had an MRI that revealed the “reaction”. A stress reaction is a precursor to the dreaded stress fracture, so it’s a good thing Boston found out when they did. Paul was getting close to taking the boot off his foot, but is not healing as fast as originally anticipated.

Not like this is a news flash, but the Celtics are not good without Pierce. Nonetheless, PP (and Wally Szczerbiak to a lesser extent) being out has allowed young guys like Al Jefferson, Tony Allen and Gerald Green to step up and show what they are made of. The experience those three are gaining right now as primary offensive options is going to be invaluable when Paul and Wally are back to 100%.

Remember, Boston plays in the Titanic, so they are not out of it yet at all. The question I have is can the young players continue to contribute, while at the same time gelling with the “Truth” and “World”? If they can, the C’s will be a very dangerous squad (by Titanic standards, mind you) down the stretch.

6. Chauncey Billups (12/29 strained right calf, out 10-14 days) – Another news flash, the Pistons need their leader to be at their best. As long as “Mr. Big Shot” takes his time coming back so this injury doesn’t linger, Detroit should be fine in the long run.

Short term though, they won’t be able to run away and hide from the rest of the Eastern Conference. Especially with Ronald “Flip” Murray and rookie Will Blaylock having to run the point in Chauncey’s absence. (Normal backup PG Lindsey Hunter is day-to-day while nursing a sore right Achilles’ tendon.)

7. Kwame Brown (12/31 sprained left ankle, out four to six weeks)
Lamar Odom (12/12 sprained right MCL, originally out a month, but now it may be “longer then expected.”) – It’s hard for me to shed a tear when Kwame gets injured. Nothing against him personally, but I just like to see 19 year old Andrew Bynum starting. I also like the consistent energy Ronny Turiaf brings off the pine as an undersized backup C. Don’t get me wrong here, my boys do need Kwame come playoff time, if for no other reason then he’s a big athletic body.

(Sidebar: Since I had no blog at the time, I just have to get this out there. I was all for trading Caron Butler in the summer of 2005, just not for Kwame Brown. Butler was very inconsistent back then, but he should have brought more then Kwame in return. That’s just one of many grievances I have on file with GM Mitch Kupchak.)

The Lakers have impressed me thus far with their ability to hang around the fringes of the upper echelon without Odom. Clearly LA won’t hit their full stride until Lamar is back in the swing of the things, but guys like Luke Walton, Brian Cook, Maurice Evans and Vladimir Radmanovic are doing a fine job picking up the slack in the interim.

8. Josh Smith (12/22 hernia, out up to four weeks) – According to “J Smoove”, he had been playing with this injury since the start of the season. If that is really the case, WOW is all I can say. I watch the Hawks play a lot (they play hard every night) and he seemed just as athletic as ever when I saw him. Almost hitting his head on the rim when he’d dunk. Flying in from nowhere to block a shot or get a rebound. I can’t wait to see him play 100% healthy. Look out!