After a week in DisneyWorld, I join Michael to cover the last couple games of the pre-season, and then tackle a huge slate of items: Poor guard play, Picking up options on Xavier Henry and Aminu, Loving Ryan Anderson, arguing about whether Aminu is an NBA player in three years, Loving Ryan Anderson. We talk about Gordon and Rivers doing full-contact practice drills, then we Love Ryan Anderson, and then preview the games coming up this week.
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6 responses to “In the NO Podcast Episode 90: Broken Guards, Great Bigs”
And for all of you who didn’t see it, this is the article I keep referring to with regard to Ryan Anderson being ranked as the #3 big in the league according to WARP:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8548945/nba-best-power-forward-center-week-ask-big-barometer?addata=2009_insdr_mod_nba_xxx_xxx
We should just cut the cord with Aminu. He’s on a rookie contract, which means he’s cheap, but is there any reason to believe he’ll be a valuable player during the contract? We’re talking about a guy that can put up 2-3 shots a game that don’t hit anything but air or the side of the backboard. On an ideal team, you can mask his weaknesses and let him defend, rebound, and run the floor. But the guy just can’t play basketball right now, and frankly, finding an athletic wing is not hard to do.
I want Aminu to succeed so badly that sometimes I let the oooh plays convince me that he’s going to be something. But Gerald Green is more athletic than Aminu and just started finding time in the NBA. James White has bounced around the NBA. Terrence Williams still hasn’t found a niche. You can find these guys elsewhere. Sometimes they pan out, but if Aminu isn’t showing any improvement, why wait? Give Darius Miller the time instead.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one cringing at the pronunciation: Vaz-kwez, not Vaz-kez.
I love Ryan Anderson, too. So why isn’t he starting?!
I’m predicting a win against the Spurs. Last year was extremely dull in the hive, and after all of the suspense and excitement surrounding the pick, Davis, CP3, and so on the fans flocking out to see the game will be extremely motivated and ready for some basketball. Add in the fact that it is halloween and the beginning of the Benson/ Davis era and you have a typical Nola recipe for success.
Hornets picked up Vasquez’s option, declined Aminu and Henry.