11 1/2 more years

By Paul Gotham

Time to grab a couple of rebounds and go for the quick basket.

Missing the point

In response to the gun situation with the Washington Wizards, the New Jersey Nets announced a ban on gambling on its team plane. Leave it to the Nets who struggled to win for the first two months of the season.

The gambling is not the problem!  Guns! Guns are the problems. We do not need gambling banned on team planes. We need some counseling for players who think that guns can serve as a joke. While you are at it, can you look into the assertion that 75 percent of the players in the Association carry a piece.

Bosh a Rocket?

With the NBA trade deadline approaching, the Houston Rockets are looking to add some inside punch, and Toronto’s Chris Bosh is on the radar.  ESPN’s Marc Stein reported the possibility exists. Bosh in the lineup with Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Trevor Ariza and Sahne Battier would make the Rockets a sleeper in the West.

DiPietro Returns

More than one year after injuring his knee, New York Islander goalie, Rick Dipietro returned to the lineup. DiPietro made 24 saves as the Isles fell to the Dallas Stars, 4-3.

DiPietro still has 11 1/2 years remaining on his record 15-year contract. A 15 year contract? What were they thinking?

Coaching Tilt-A-Whirl

The college football coaching situation is moving so quickly in can’t be considered a gentle carousel. Brian Kelly for Charlie Weis.  Tommy Tubberville might have reached the end of his road at Texas Tech. Rick Leach is out. Mark Mangino is gone. Turner Gill is in and Jayhawk fans are not happy.   Jim Leavitt is looking for work. And Urban Meyer has made Brett Favre his career consultant.  Oh yeah, and Bobby Bowden is no longer a Seminole but not by choice. Geez…anyone else’s head spinning?

No need to adjust your set

Don’t worry.  You are not seeing things. The NHL standings are correct. Yes, the Chicago Black Hawks lead the league in points.

Got any rebounds and putbacks of your own? Post them here.

By Paul Gotham

Reckoning Season

Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady face personal crossroads this upcoming season. Both entered the league with much fanfare. Golden State chose Carter with the fifth choice of the ’98 draft. Toronto picked T-Mac ninth in the ’97 draft.

Since draft night Carter has played on teams that have won three playoff series. As of now, Carter does not know the NBA playoffs beyond the second round.

McGrady is still waiting to celebrate the winning of a playoff series.

Carter joins an Orlando Magic team that fell one game shy of the NBA title.

When Hedo Turkoglu opted for Toronto and its Turkish community, Magic GM, Otis Smith, acted quickly and acquired Carter. On the surface, Carter seems like an upgrade.  The ’99 Rookie-of-the Year is physically imposing. Orlando’s half-court set thrives on 4-Out around Dwight Howard leaving plenty of open floor. Carter should be able to capitalize and use his ability to go off the dribble.

But Carter will need to play a role supporting role with the Magic – something he has never seemed comfortable with in the past. Turkoglu’s biggest contribution to the Magic might have been his ability to let the game come to him. Rarely, did Turkoglu force a shot. Carter, on the other hand, might be responsible for single handedly exposing the limitations of the Iso set.

Making Carter’s plight more challenging is the overall improvement of the Eastern Conference. Add to that the loss of Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee (traded for Carter) and Orlando could find themselves exiting early in the 2010 playoffs.

Can Carter pick up the slack?

McGrady watched as his Houston Rockets eliminated Portland in the first round and lost in seven games to the eventual champion, Los Angeles Lakers. Many stuck a fork in the Rockets. McGrady spent most of the season sidelined with a knee injury. Then the Rockets shuffled Alston to Orlando leaving second-year man Aaron Brooks to run the point guard position. Rather than collapsing, the Rockets had a revival.

With the return of McGrady to lineup, will Houston improve? Or will the Rockets regress to a previous state of playoff incompetence?

Beasley Checks Into Re-Hab

ESPN is reporting that Miami Heat first round pick, Michael Beasley checked himself into a rehab center in Houston. Details are unclear, but it appears the rookie is suffering from chemical dependence.

This is not meant as a cut on Beasley, but how many of us saw this coming? Beasley lacked maturity at Kansas State. He argued with teammates and coaches. Sure, he is an impressive physical specimen with incredible athletic abilities. When will NBA teams figure out that it takes more than athleticism to be a professional?

Beasley was Miami’s second leading scorer. Perhaps, the best statement about Beasley might be that from Dwyane Wade. While Wade hasn’t come right out and directly criticized Beasley, the Heat’s leading scorer is making waves about his future. Wade has lobbied for the Heat to bring in more talent. Is that because Wade knows Beasley is four years away from consistently contributing?

Beasley, as many young players, needed an opportunity to grow without the pressures of playing professional. Instead he gets thrust into a spot where he lacks the coping mechanisms to succeed.

Here’s hoping Beasley gets the help needed to work through his problems. Here’s hoping NBA execs let kids make their mistakes in an environment that has the potential to nuture.

Got some Splinters to share? Post ‘em here.