Allen Iverson as Example of Failed Families

In a column blasting basketball player Allen Iverson, Jason Whitlock makes an interesting observation,

Iverson is a one-man, no-country Army, more than likely the victim of a dysfunctional upbringing that left him incapable of embracing the concepts essential to teamwork, winning and sacrifice for the benefit of others.

We're a nation of Allen Iversons, and the unchecked Wall Street greed that has us on the brink of collapse is nothing more than our chickens coming home to rot.

The assault on, the destruction of and lack of appreciation for the American family has created a nation of independent contractors. We're no longer connected.

Iverson is infamous for a press conference he gave where he derided practice, saying it wasn't a big deal that he missed them. What's the big deal, right? It's only practice. The importance of family often receives the same treatment. It's just tradition. Unnecessary, even. Sometimes it's through simple neglect, other times from intentional assault. Either way, family as the fundamental unit of society is forgotten.

Charlie Rosen on Phenom Lance Stephenson

From basketball columnist Charlie Rosen:

Here's what's wrong with high school, AAU, college and professional basketball.

Lance Stephenson is a 6-5 senior at Lincoln HS in New York, and one of the best schoolboy players in the country. But he's strictly a one-man show, who always insists on dominating both the ball and every spectator's attention. Mark him down for lots of points and sensational plays, as well as plenty of ill-advised shots and turnovers. Plus, every mistake he makes is somebody else's fault.

Stephenson was featured on the cover of SLAM when he was 14, was the star of an online reality show, and has been celebrated as the epitome of a hip-hop hoopster.

Which is all well and good, except that the kid also happens to be a jerk.



Last fall, Stephenson was arrested on a Class B misdemeanor charge of sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl on the school grounds. Midway through his junior season, he was involved in an in-school altercation with a teammate that drew blood.

The outcome of his arrest has not yet been decided, but Stephenson was suspended from school for five days (and two ball games) for the fight.

OK, youngsters sometimes get into trouble. But consider his behavior late last month during a game in upstate Glens Falls, N.Y., that matched the Big Apple's public school champions (Lincoln) vs. the private school champs (Rice).

Late in the first half, Stephenson executed a power dunk, but instead of letting go of the rim he chose to swing-and-sway to emphasize his accomplishment. This led to one of the refs' tooting him for a technical foul, which under local rules simultaneously counts as a personal foul — Stephenson's third.

Much to Stephenson's displeasure, his coach, Dwayne Morton, quickly — and appropriately — yanked him from the game. Stephenson responded by loudly cursing the coach — something he's done all season-long — and sitting himself on the floor beyond the end of Lincoln's bench. Still cursing.

Morton has put up with his star's antics for two reasons:

# The kid's extremely talented and has helped Lincoln to four straight PSAL championships.
# Like most very successful high school coaches, Morton is undoubtedly yearning to graduate into a college job.

Rice won the game 77-50, with Stephenson — the state's career scoring leader — scoring only 14 points.

According to reports, if Stephenson doesn't choose to pursue a hefty contract overseas — good riddance! — he'll pick Kansas, St. John's or Maryland as his next stop.

But why would any self-respecting college coach want anything to do with Stephenson?

Especially since he'll only be around campus for one season before declaring for the NBA draft.

Just what the NBA needs — another spoiled, self-indulgent, knuckleheaded player who thinks he already belongs in the Hall of Fame.

So what's wrong with the game?

Too many colleges recruit players on the basis of their talent. Ditto for the NBA's draft process. And hardly anybody recruits/drafts on the basis of a player's character.

The truth that so many recruiters/drafters don't get is that talent and character are not always mutually exclusive.

Deron Williams is Better Than Chris Paul

Here's why, according to Charlie Rosen:

# He's much stronger than CP3 and should therefore be more resistant to serious injuries.

# Because of his size and strength, Williams can post up smaller opponents (like Paul), and can avoid being posted himself (unlike Paul).

# It should be expected that an injury or Father Time will eventually diminish Paul's amazing speed and quickness — and when speed guards lose a step, their effectiveness is greatly reduced.

# Williams is much more versatile, so much so that it's not inconceivable he could make a successful switch to the shooting-guard spot as he ages.

# Williams is a much, much better jump-shooter than CP3.

# Whereas Paul does most of his half-court scoring in conjunction with high screen/rolls, Williams benefits from weak-side screens, staggered screens, and isolations.

# Williams goes left better than Paul.

# In half-court situations, Williams' power makes him a better finisher.

# Paul is a sniper-type defender, while Williams' defense is more fundamental and less chancy.

None of this is meant to suggest that Paul is anything less than the most dangerous speed guard in the league. He's also an incredible passer, and he plays in a system that maximizes his considerable skills.

But, I'll bet your mortgage that Williams will have a better all-around career than Paul.

Deron Williams is Good

The Jazz, led by Deron Williams, beat the Lakers last night. Though to read espn.com's write up on the game, you couldn't be really sure the Jazz actually played. In fact, the one time all season a Jazz game makes espn's Daily Dime, and it's all about the Lakers.

But the last few games have all been about Deron. 5 straight 30+ point games. Averaging 32 points and 9 assists in February after a 21 and 10 January.

Yeah, he's pretty good

It's Official: Jazz Suck

They just lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder - a team which had only won 6 times all year.

I realize the Jazz are missing Boozer and Millsap, and Deron isn't really Deron yet - but come on.

NBA Players

In an interview with Charlie Rosen during his final season in the NBA, Drazen Petrovic said,

"I don't really like most of the players in the NBA," he confided to me in the Nets post-game locker room. "They have no sense of personal responsibility. Every mistake they make is always somebody else's fault. And look at how they just drop their sweaty uniforms, socks, and jocks on the floor. And how they do the same with the tape they've cut off their ankles. They've been pandered so much all their careers that they pay no attention to cleaning up their own messes. In here, and in their private lives, too. I've had enough of these prima donnas. Players are more mature in Europe."

Breaking News: Jazz Draft Kosta Koufos

So it's old news. Sue me.

I (mostly) like the pick. A seven footer with skills is always nice. He was expected to go much higher, so either we got a steal, or other teams know something we don't. He's done ok in summer league so far, but nothing spectacular. I don't like that he's "a seven footer who can shoot from outside." We've already got one of those, and I'd just as soon have a seven footer who plays like a seven footer. Regardless, I get the sense that if I want to watch him this season I'll have to head to Orem for a Flash game.

So who could the Jazz have had instead? There was a power forward who fell out of the lottery, but I don't think much of him. I really liked two guys, but neither really filled a need for the Jazz. They were Mario Chalmers and Chris Douglass-Roberts. Chalmers is a point guard who was drafted by Miami in the second round. I think he'll be a great pro, and would have made a perfect backup to Deron Williams. But again, not really a need right now. Douglass-Roberts was drafted by New Jersey in the second round. He's listed as a shooting guard, but I had him pegged as a small forward. I watched him a bit in the NCAA tourney and liked him a ton; I see him as an upgrade over AK. However, if his espn bio is accurate, he's probably a little small for a forward position, and frankly the Jazz have a ton of shooting guards to sort through right now.

So the Jazz did pretty well. I don't think anyone drafted after Koufos will have a better career than he will.

As for the second round of picks, the Jazz had two: Ante Tomic and Tadija Dragicevic.

Tomic is 7'2", espn loved the pick, but he'll be overseas for a while. Whatever.

Dragicevic? He's a small forward of whom Chad Ford had this to say, "I've never seen this guy." Nuff said.

BYU alum Trent Plaisted went in the second round as well, to the Detroit Pistons. We'll see if he sticks or if he's off to Europe. Utah State grad Jaycee Carroll wasn't drafted at all, which is a shame. He's on New Jersey's summer league team, but will probably have to go to Europe. The kid can shoot, and during the college season I had hoped the Jazz would spend a late second round pick on him. Oh well.

Bill Simmons

I really like this guy. He's a huge Boston sports fan, loves basketball, and writes a good column. From his latest:

"for the Lakers' fans to have the gall to question any other NBA star's character is three times as insane. In retrospect, Pierce's only mistake was not diffusing the Lakers fans before Game 3 by settling with his right knee out of court and buying it a $4 million diamond ring."

"For the final shot of the first half, Kobe spotted Salvatore on the right side in front of the Lakers' bench, then drove right so he could be as close as possible to the ref if there was any contact. ... Of course, Salvatore obliged with a quick whistle for him. When a referee is affecting basketball decisions specifically by his particular place on the court, you know he has accomplished something special in life."

"here's a guy with a can't-miss 20-footer, superb footwork on the low post, great passing skills and legitimate athletic advantages over every Laker who will defend him in this series. Is there any reason Garnett shouldn't be averaging 30 a night? I can't think of one. Either way, there isn't a more fascinating character in the 2008 Finals with the exception of Kobe, who might end up killing Lamar Odom with his bare hands if the Lakers lose this series."

"All I can say is I sat close to the court for Games 1 and 2 and can confirm everything -- the glares, the yelling, the extended staring, the poisonous body language and everything else. If this had been pickup hoops, some of Kobe's teammates would have intentionally thrown a game just to get back to the sidelines, then done the "No, I'm running with these four guys" routine when he came over to ask if they wanted "Next" with him."

"Kobe is a wonderful basketball player. We all concede this point. Just don't keep trying to sell us on the fact he's a good teammate. We have a decade's worth of evidence that says otherwise. When the going gets tough, he goes into "me mode" and it's way too late for him to change. Sorry."

"Here's what I'm trying to tell you: Not only has the table has been set for a dramatic, memorable basketball game Thursday night, I think it's going to happen. After three choppy games, these teams are about to bring out the best in each other. Now, if they could only do the same for the Laker fans, we'd really have something."

NBA Finals

"The Laker fans conveniently forget that Kobe was a GRADE-A CANCER from 2001-2006. He was having probs with Shaq as far back as 1999. Of the 25 greatest players ever - and he's one of them - he was by far the worst teammate over the course of his career. Just because he's settled down and embraced principles like "not showing up guys on the court" and "not being a jerk" doesn't change what happened from 2001-06."

Bill Simmons, ESPN

On Plaisted & Hibbert

This pretty much sums up my thoughts.

Lifted from the Deseret News comment board:

McDuck | 8:10 a.m. June 4, 2008

Hey, I take pride in my ability to get winded on my walk to the fridge and get beatin off the dribble by 14 year olds in church ball. It elevates my soul when I put icy hot on my back as I sit on a conference call in the office under life draining flourescent lighting. Good luck to Plaisted, he'll get to play somewhere and play better than 99.**% of the people on planet earth, maybe not at the NBA level, but good enough to get paid for it. I'd rather be shooting jumpers than chewing on an office phone. As for the Jazz, Hear! Hear! To another lathargic, unmotivated 7 footer who irritates all fans with his great potential, and less than mediocre results.

Kobe, We Love You!

Member that time when you hurt your back, and, um, you still played? That was awesome.



Member that time when, um, you like, won the game? That wasn't you? Stupid! I'm so stupid!

Stop The Presses, Jazz Owner Doesn't Watch Games on Sunday!!

This received some press last week leading up to Sunday's game, and it left me slightly amused at all the attention. But here's a pretty good interview with Jazz owner Larry Miller covering a range of topics and conducted while Miller drove around instead of watching the game:

On the next coach of the Jazz:

Miller says Sloan wants to coach for at least another season, maybe more. But when he does call it quits, longtime Jazz assistant Phil Johnson will get first crack at the job. That's written in stone.

If Johnson takes a pass, Miller is likely to make a run at John Stockton. They've discussed the job in the past, but Stockton's interest in the position -- or, more correctly, in coaching in the NBA -- has cooled. For now.

On when the Jazz will change their name:

"I'll change our name right after the Lakers change theirs,"

(The name "Jazz" came with the team when they moved to SL from New Orleans, just like how the name "Lakers" came to LA when the team moved from Minneapolis. What, you thought there were lots of lakes in Los Angeles?)

He doesn't listen on the radio either:

Miller could probably listen to the game without incurring the wrath of God. Same goes for watching it on TV. After all, there are actual Mormons at the game.

"I'm not trying to be holier than thou," he says. "I've got plenty of faults. But the radio … TV, we're talking shades of gray. It would be hard for me to compromise it."

Miller has a set of primo tickets for every game. He called five Mormon friends to see if they wanted his Game 4 seats.

"You going?" each one asked.

Miller said no.

"Then I'm not going."

Guilt. A powerful thing.

Jazz - Lakers Tied, Williams A Stud

Well it's about time! From J.A. Adande on ESPN's Daily Dime:

Deron Williams forced himself back into the NBA conversation just as much as the Jazz clawed their way back into this series with the Lakers over the weekend.

Actually, the second part of that sentence depended on the first. For a young team seeking consistent efforts in these playoffs, Williams is turning into the Jazz's most reliable option. Carlos Boozer had his best game of the postseason Friday night, then regressed to a 5-for-15 shooting performance Sunday. Williams followed a solid effort in Game 3 with an even better Game 4, a 123-115 overtime win, the central recurring character in the two Jazz victories that evened these Western Conference semifinals at 2-2.

So while Chris Paul has the accolades, the Sports Illustrated covers and all that, Williams has coaxed his team to the conference finals once, and now is halfway to another. Just saying.

And Williams was named SUNDAY'S BEST for good measure:

Deron Williams, Jazz guard: Goes for 29 points on 9-for-13 shooting along with 14 assists in Utah's Game 4 win over the Lakers. Sinks all eight of his free throws, too.

Deron Williams had a truly great regular season and has had an outstanding postseason but is the only star to not receive much attention. While dispatching the Rockets in round 1, most of the talk was about Tracy McGrady's failings instead of Deron's role in winning. Anyone watching these games realizes that Deron does so many things for this team. He's an all-around talent. I am admittedly biased, but I think Deron Williams is a better point guard than Chris Paul, and it frustrates me that Paul gets all the attention. It's kinda nice to see him and his team get worked over a bit by the Spurs.

Rockets Fans = Bitter

I love it! Clutch City? Try

"We lost game 7 on our home court last year" City

or better yet,

"Our star has never made it past the first round of the playoffs" City.

HT: KVNU

Utah Gets No Love - Again

From Ric Bucher of ESPN:

"Let's be honest: They're Mormon, and they're in Salt Lake, and there's nothing else there. You gotta smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious."

Those darn smiling happy Mormons will get you every time.

On the bright side, two computer models picked the Jazz to go to the Finals, and one of them picked them to win.

What If Sports
John Hollinger

That'd put a lot of smiles on Mormon faces.