Friday Hellbenders
by Seth on Jan 13, 2012 1:25 PM EST
in Mamphibitiles
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Photo: Brian Gratwicke
Good day, robomoms! We and the Knicks have a quiet Friday to lick our wounds from last night's spanking at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. Lick them wounds, and if you haven't any wounds, maybe go help lick Carmelo Anthony's ankle? No, it won't be weird. Also, take the jump for a few links.
- Yo, hellbenders live right here in the eastern United States. Tell me y'all have seen one of these before. They sound TERRIFYING, and the pro wrester-esque name just makes them even terrifyinger.
- Melo, regarding his ankle:
"Yeah, I’m beat up," he said with a smile. "I want to see how I feel by Saturday. I’m not going to force it. If my ankle’s not right by Saturday, then I’ll be looking at Monday."
He also claims to have no feeling in his wrist, which seems less than ideal. I guess that's why they give you two on your birthday.
- Also in that above link, another regretful quotation from Iman Shumpert:
"I made some bad decisions, didn’t knock down shots," he said, adding: "Instead of making other plays, I sort of just kept settling. That’s part of the game. I’ll get better at it."
Shump knows the deal. I'm looking forward to see how he comes back on Saturday.
- Speaking of Shump, Bethlehem Shoals wrote about him for the GQ sports blog, and it's worth a look. I love Shoals and tend to take his word as gospel, but this piece strikes me as the opinion of someone who hadn't seen much of Shumpert before the last game or two. Yes, his performance this week has been pretty grating, and yes, some of us Knicks fans have been hyping him up far too much, but the kid looked totally composed and game-ready in starts before that. I don't know why he suddenly started heaving, but I think those of us who have seen all of his work to date as a Knick will agree that he's already capable of much better. And let us not forget that this is 1. A rookie 2. A back-up and/or two-guard being thrust into the starting point guard spot of the Knicks. If the Knicks have problems, I don't think Shump is any sort of mascot for said problems. (Now don't go shoot 5-20 again, Shump.)
- Also speaking of Shump, the Knicks gave the rook some sliced tomatoes to eat before last night's game. The tomatoes were meant to prevent his leg cramps, but it seems like they gave him BRAIN CRAMPS instead, am I right!?
- Oh, and the meat of the article linked above (and here again) was that Carmelo Anthony got named a co-captain at the team's Christmas party. So, that's cool. Perhaps there are thoughts to be thought about Tyson Chandler not being named a captain, but...nahhhh.
- Amar'e Stoudemire gave somebody a tattoo. Yes, gave.
- Melo is shaping up to be an All-Star starter. Amar'e and Chandler are also pretty high vote-getters, though both will end up being reserves, if anything.
That is all for the moment. Have pleasant, bruise-free days, everybody!
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Yeah, I don’t really like the Knicks chances on Saturday, especially since I’m assuming Melo is out. MDA should be smart here and if the Knicks get down big early, he should pretty much make it a bench game and give his best players some rest.
Proud owner of over 20,000 comments. (most of them in the wrong place) Oh yeah, and Buster Posey
A little odd...
that Shoals would be unloading on a rookie, one who hasn’t even played 10 games in his career yet, as the symbol of James Dolan’s superficiality. Then again, the Free Darko crowd, with their penchant for English-Philosophy-Psychology major essays about basketball, are not exactly known for their restraint when it comes to hyperbolic writing. Think of them as your thinking man’s Adrian Woj…Woja…let’s just say Adrian Wojo of Yahoo Sports.
If Knicks fans seem irrationally exuberant about Shump and Jorts, that exuberance is simply that of devoted fans who have the tendency to think of their team’s players as folk heroes. That happens with all teams’ fans. Yet somehow, Shoals has inferred this exuberance as the purely irrational logic of a fanbase and of the team, both of whom supposedly see this rookie as the last piece of the puzzle in the quest for a championship, rather than as simply the exuberance of seeing a rookie with potential play well in spite of a depleted backcourt. It’s kind of insulting, really.
IMO, Shoals probably feels forced by his writing style (post-graduate Liberal Arts major) to come up with new angles of how he view things. It’s rather unfortunate, because sometimes, what you see on the court is simply what’s there, and nothing more. Ironically enough, my English professor in college was the first English teacher who taught me to read and infer text as what’s actually in the text, and not as symbolic metaphors.
by urban analrapist on Jan 13, 2012 1:59 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
Big rec
I’m a big Shoals fan. Been reading him since the early FD days, but sometimes he overreaches big time. As you said, its too early to be searching for subtext, especially considering that we don’t have a real understanding on what we’re dealing with yet on the surface level. The bi-polar nature of the opinions on Shump really just crystallize the need to give him some time. Let’s see what we really have here first.
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 13, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
@I_AM_IMAN Yo ur bad shooting night represents everything wrong with the Knicks organization going back 2 Isiah Thomas
@I_AM_IMAN Did U know u r merely a vessel for a decade+ of bad karma and the dividends of poor mgmt?
@I_AM_IMAN Its true, u r nothing more than Dolan’s latest snake oil (b/c combo guards r evil)
@I_AM_IMAN Gallo and Chandler died 4 your sins and u go 5-20 smdh
by flossy on Jan 13, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Your name is urban anal rapist
Holy Shit!! LOL
You just got Tysoned!!!!!!
Excellent
Agree 100 percent. Also. the unfortunate nature of sports analysis today (especially online) is that in order to gain popularity, you must entertain before you enlighten, which can result in the hyperbolic writing you mentioned. The subject is either shit or gold in these pieces; the middle ground seems to rarely entertain the masses.
I think I agree with Mr. Rapist
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Yo anyone down with giving Lin a chance?
I really want to see what he can do for 4 quarters.
He’s a pass 1st PG that could defend well and generate steals.
Knicks should start him for 1 game see how it goes… you never know until you try…
Bulls started John Lucas III when Rose was out for the wizards game.
"John Lucas III" scored 30 on John Wall.
Knicks should “experiment” more and see what happens when a team actually utilizes a “pass 1st PG.”
doesnt have
NBA athleticism. Needs to exert maximum effort to maintain below average production. D-Leaguer.
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 13, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
zzzzzzzzzzz.
Assumptions… are just that. Assumptions. Outdated form of thinking… i must politely interject.
Its crazy how quickly people can assume how good a player based on a limited data and statistical sample.
The dude barely got minutes. Everyone know it takes years to become average for some players…
politely interject..har
yea, no problem, we’ll just give him a few years and hope he becomes average, despite giving no indication whatsoever that he has NBA quality skills. SIgn me up!
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 13, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
You really like Lin....
I keep seeing you post about giving him a chance.
My Wife is a Patriot's fan...
by Giantssincesix on Jan 13, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
my feeling about lin's defense
is similar to amar’e’s defense. if you cheat enough you’ll get the big play. but you leave your nose open too often. and it burns the team more often than not.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
I don't know about starting him
but I’d like to see him get some PT, see what he can actually do in game situations
You just got Tysoned!!!!!!
This team clearly needs some help
And with Big Sheed looking to make a comeback, who better than him?
by Guess Who's Back? on Jan 13, 2012 2:37 PM EST reply actions
Can he play the point?
No? Then I’ll pass.
"It was one of those good, deep sleeps; you know, the ones where you wake up and a stream of drool is steadily racing down your shirt? Yes, that kind of sleep." -Landry Fields
by Thelonious Dunk on Jan 13, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
Although in fairness
I’m sure he’s never actually played PG before. Maybe he’s secretly a beard-ier Magic Johnson!
"It was one of those good, deep sleeps; you know, the ones where you wake up and a stream of drool is steadily racing down your shirt? Yes, that kind of sleep." -Landry Fields
by Thelonious Dunk on Jan 13, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think we need MORE weed smoking on this team
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
I usually just look at them to see if they have any corn in them, then flush it.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
shumpp
i think hes gonna have better decision makin less chuckin sat nite but id really like to see and think its gonna be intresting on D his matchup with westbrook his defense has still been great even this past game its gonna be his first real tough one
Golden State just waived Ish Smith...
Somebody get on the phone and sign that dude up…. Gotta be better than Lin!
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