- The Beacon Journal: Rick Barry, in an interview on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s A Conversation With, Barry leveled some highly critical charges (on LeBron James).
”He’s got major flaws in his game,” Barry said of James. ”He’s six years into the NBA. How can a man six years into the NBA with his talent have a major flaw in his shot? How can he not use screens effectively?”
Barry said that there was only one direction the blame could be placed.
”I watch the game very carefully,” Barry said. ”He doesn’t use screens effectively and this is not LeBron’s fault. It’s the fault of the people who are teaching him.
”There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron, if shown these things, would do them because he wants to be a great player. He wants to win a championship, and as great as he is, he should be better.”
Brown took the high road.
”Rick Barry was a great player and obviously he must be in the media now — I don’t know if he’s in the media,” Brown said. ”He’s entitled to say what he wants. Our entire team can get better in a lot of areas. We haven’t scratched the surface of where we’re going to be at the end of the season. So whatever he says, I respect him for his opinion.”
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InsideHoops.com: John Paxson thinks his GM skills stink.
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Red’s Army wants some do-overs for the Celts:
April 1, 1967: A day after deciding not to call a woman named “Maureen”, 76’ers center Wilt Chamberlain takes the do-over and gives her a ring. Maureen has a “wild” idea that involves several other friends. Wilt, being Wilt, decides he can’t refuse the offer to “pad his stats.” However, it’s a decision that comes with disastrous consequences. The love-fest costs Wilt his legs for weeks, leaving him sluggish for the series against the Celtics. The C’s, in turn, decimate Philly in the conference finals and then sweep the San Francisco Warriors for their 10th straight title (and eventually 13 in a row).
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FIBA.com has Italian fans happy to see some Danilo Gallinari action:
D’Antoni seems to think there is no need to worry about his young star overexerting himself.
“I don’t think we have to be cautious too much,” D’Antoni said.
“I think with him not being ready (in shape), it kind of limits his number of minutes.
“You can kind of see when he starts to go downhill physically, and that’s when I try to get him out and try to get him out while he’s still playing well. You want him to end on a high note.”
D’Antoni knows Gallinari has the potential to be a superstar in the league for a very long time.
“He’s got a long career and a long time this year to get back,” D’Antoni said.
“We don’t need to push it.
“I don’t need to go to the well too many times that it would hurt the team, so just trying to gauge it and it could be 20, it could be 16, it could be 25, I don’t know.”
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Herald Online has another example of good genes flowing through in a sporting context. Former NBA star Xavier McDaniel’s daughter is playing alongside who appears to be the daughter of former Charlotte Hornet and Australian NBL Newcastle Falcon, Terry Dozier’s daughter in their middle school team.
The X-Man, McDaniel is well known to NBA fans, whilst many Australian fans will remember Dozier’s exploits as a former Defensive Player of the Year in Australia.
Dozier now appears to be doing public motivational speaking, whilst his daughter, Asia Dozier has WNBA aspirations.
SPRING VALLEY 56, SOUTH POINTE 36 — The South Pointe Lady Stallions hosted the No. 3 team in Class AAAA Wednesday night. The Spring Valley Vikings, led by Asia Dozier and Xylina McDaniel, showed why they are so highly ranked. Spring Valley used its press, its size, and 37 points from its two biggest stars, to defeat the South Pointe 56-36.
Spring Valley forced 24 South Pointe turnovers on the night, especially in the first half, many of them led to easy baskets for the Vikings. McDaniel, the daughter of former NBA player Xavier McDaniel, was able to score several layups in transition. She also found open teammates when she was doubled. She had 12 points in the half and Spring Valley led 36-21 at the break.
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Charlotte Observer tells us that former NBA big man LaSalle Thompson was once DaSagana Diop – yep, read on:
LaSalle Thompson is now Diop’s big-man coach. He once was Diop’s television stand-in.That was back in LeBron James‘ rookie season, when Diop was still a Cleveland Cavalier. Nike was filming a commercial the day before the Cavs’ season opener in Sacramento, and used several of James’ teammates.
The film crew needed stand-ins while they were lighting the commercial. Thompson, a former NBA center, was in Sacramento overseeing real-estate investments.
