Empty the Bench

- Mike Bibby has made a lot of his Atlanta Hawks’ teammates better since arriving last month, but perhaps none moreso than All-Star Joe Johnson. In the first 16 games of Bibby’s stint with Hotlanta, Johnson has just torched the competition, averaging 23.6 points, 5 boards, 6.1 assists, and 3 three-pointers/per—all improvements on his overall season avearages. Veteran Anthony Johnson, who was traded to Sacto as part of the deal, was a decent fill-in for awhile, but the Hawks have lacked a real threat at point guard for some time now. That forced Johnson to surrender some of what he does best—scoring—in the name of moving over to the point and becoming a distributor. It’s not that he isn’t a good passer, it’s just that he’s much better suited to the off-guard position, where he doesn’t have to worry about setting up the offense, getting teammates involved, etc. Josh Smith has nutty skills and Al Horford is one of the finest gems from the 2007 class, but Johnson is clearly this franchise’s cornerstone.

Of course, Atlanta already had two golden opportunities to solve their PG problem for the next 10+ years. As revisionists such as myself point out from time to time, the Hawks passed up both Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the 2006 draft, instead opting for Marvin Williams, who is getting better and turning into a fine player but was somewhat redundant to talent already on the roster. Given a mulligan one year later with the fifth-overall pick, the Hawks pulled quite a head-scratcher by taking BS (Big Stiff) Shelden Williams… one pick ahead of Brandon Roy, who you may have heard of and is pretty good. Big Shelden averaged 4.2 points and 4.2 boards over his two seasons in Atlanta; he’s now Sacramento’s problem.

- Watch any Boston Celtics broadcast—which shouldn’t be hard if you’re an NBA League Pass subscriber since Boston’s crew is chosen 8 times out of 10 over the opponent’s—and you’ll understand why color commentator Tommy Heinsohn might be the biggest homer in the league today (play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman comes in a close second). When the Celtics are whistled for a foul, it’s a bad call. When James Posey knocks down a three, he’s one heckuva player. And when things start going south for Gang Green and a loss seems eminent, Tommy doesn’t need to say anything—you know he’s f’ing pissed off and wishes he could choke the officiating crew.

Case in point: Friday night’s game against the Utah Jazz, which Boston eventually dropped 110-92. The Celts were called for seven more fouls overall than the visitors, a fact that was clearly wearing thin on Mr. Heinsohn as the game spiraled towards its conclusion. He was already fed up and had made numerous disgusted comments about the officiating… then ref Violet Palmer blew the whistle on a phantom offensive charge (I think on Rajon Rondo, but not positive). Andrew and I waited… and waited… and waited for Tommy’s remark. Silence. More silence. Then, after a full minute or so… “I gotta say this…” Silence—Tommy is rethinking what he was initially going to say. Finally, the Heinsohn Payoff: “Violet is no flower tonight.” Ha! Classic Tommy.

Now, don’t mistake my assessment of Tommy’s rampant homerism as a criticism, because it’s not. The man has been associated with the Boston Celtics franchise for over 50 years as a player, coach, play-by-play announcer, and now color guy. He’s an institution not just in Boston but in the NBA. Sure, his whining can be grating at times (especially when you’re rooting for the other team), but his opinionated personality and knowledge of the game generally lends itself towards an entertaining broadcast. One question though: does this recognition of his perepheral contributions to the game earn me a Tommy Point?

Thoughts on Glen Davis’ actual weight, Seattle’s shameful on-court product, and why the Dallas Mavericks are (eventually) screwed after the break…

- During Monday night’s Boston-San Antonio broadcast on League Pass, the San Antonio crew couldn’t help but marvel at the size of Boston’s rotund rookie forward, Glen “Big Baby” Davis. At one point when Davis walked past the booth on his way to the bench, the camera slowly panning along with the big man, color commentator Sean Elliott said that “he may not look that big on television, but when you see him up close and in person he might make you faint.” His play-by-play partner, Bill Land, thought about it for a second, then replied “I think there should be a rule that allows us to weigh one player on every team right before the game starts.” If we could weigh Big Baby right now, I’d take the over on his currently listed weight of 289 pounds.

Two other things real quick about that Celtics-Spurs game: this was the most we’ve seen Sam Cassell thus far for Boston minutes wise—just over 27—and he notably was on the court for the last 4 minutes of the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, while Rondo watched from the bench until checking in with under a minute to go. Cassell rose to the occasion like the “Big Balls” Cassell of old: 17 points, including a three with 46 seconds left that put Boston up for good. Of course, Rondo had his moment too, sneaking his way into the lane to grab an offensive rebound with 16.6 seconds to go then sinking two eventually game-clinching free throws. This won’t be the last time we see the well-traveled vet on the floor at the end of close games… but Rondo (20 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals) is still very much “the guy” of Boston’s present and future at point guard.

And take solace, heartbroken Spurs fans, for good news awaits those in the San Antone area: if the Game of the Century on Wednesday, March 26, against the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers sells out, every fan in attendance will receive a coupon for two free tacos. Two! Last time I checked tickets were still available, so make sure you scoop them up immediately–two free tacos for f!%$#’s sake!

- So, Dallas Mavericks… we’ve heard a lot about other teams “getting old” (Detroit, Boston, Phoenix, etc), but the Mavs are one of a few select elite teams—the Spurs being the other—that stands out to me as truly aging. In acquiring 35-year-old Jason Kidd and committing to him for at least one more season, they traded away a guy who showed steady improvement, is still in his early 20s, and could likely play the position at a high level for the next decade in Devin Harris. Dallas also gave up two first-round picks, along with ‘06 late first-rounder Maurice Ager. Josh Howard, who’ll turn 28-years-old in April, is the youngest top-flight player on the roster, though second-year forward Brandon Bass has really come on this season. Dirk is 30, Jason Terry turns 31 in September.

While the Mavs have thrown all their eggs in one basket in the name of winning a title in the next two seasons (Mark Cuban will never be associated with the word “patient”), other top-tier teams like the Pistons and even Celtics have wisely started bringing in young, talented players that will eventually play much bigger roles. Call me crazy, but I don’t think Dallas’ gamble on Kidd is going to result in a championship. So what then? An aging roster, no draft picks, massive contracts for Nowitzki, Dampier, Terry, and Kidd (for one more year), and the discouraging memory of a squandered trip to the NBA Finals in 2006. NBA powerhouses are not an eternal beast, and this is one that could be on its way down quicker than you think.

Jason Kidd, Avery Johnson Photo Credit: Icon SMI

- Finally, it’s a shame what Seattle SuperSonics fans have had to endure this season. Their team is by all indications on the way to Oklahoma City, and as if that wasn’t bad enough they also must have a rancid taste in their mouth after suffering through what’s been a putrid product on the court. This isn’t the way you want to remember your favorite NBA franchise. The Sonics are one of the worst defensive teams in the league—by now you know they were absolutely embarassed in Denver Monday night in giving up 168 points—that’s brazenly cleared out all but its youngest talent, filled its bench with has-beens and expiring contracts, and prepared itself for a glorious rebirth in another locale. At 16-51, the Sonics have a lower winning percentage than the Knicks, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Timberwolves and have clearly thrown in the towel on the remaining 15 games. If this does indeed wind up as the Sonics’ last season in Seattle, it’s a sad, pathetic end to their 40+ year stay in the Great Northwest. Nothing like departing with a big middle finger defiantly raised at your (former) fans.

Tags: Joe Johnson, Boston Celtics, Jason Kidd, Seattle SuperSonics