Polls
Loading ...
Team USA mission complete
Team USA, a.k.a The Redeem Team, completed their mission by winning the Gold Medal beating Spain 118-107. Looking back over the 8 games, Dwayne Wade was the teams MVP, playing brilliantly, and showing flashes of his pre injury stardom. Coach K called this his most rewarding accomplishment, which is saying alot given his resume. So now what? Well summer vacation begins for these superstars, which will last about 20 days. Training camp for most teams begin the end of September.
One of the sickest dunks you may ever see in International play happened earlier, when Rudy Fernandez dunked on Dwight Howard. Check it out:
Rudy is gonna bring alot of excitement to the Blazers.
![[Digg]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Google]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[Newsvine]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/newsvine.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://www.layupdrill.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
The Reignman is back
Shawn Kemp, a.k.a the reignman, is playing professional basketball again, kinda. The 40 year old will play in Italy for Premiati Montegranaro this season. Kemp is going to be playing in the same league as high school phenom Brandon Jennings, and their two teams will matchup on December 21st.
I will always remember a young Shawn Kemp dunking over Chris Gatling and the Golden State Warriors in a playoff game, then Gatling giving him dap after it, like “yeah I got dunked on, that was nice.” You can see that dunk in the highlight video below.
The best head coaches in the league
The role of head coach in the NBA is one that is often thankless and underrated. When everything goes well, the players get the praise. When things go bad, management fires the coach. Now of course there is always exceptions to the rule, those coaches whose reputations alone make them bigger than the team they work for. Looking back at this past season, and ahead to the 2008-09 season, LayupDrill.com assesses every teams leaders, from the best to the worst. You might be surprised that the worst teams in the NBA don’t necessarily have the worst coaches.
Head of the Class
These are the best of the best at what they do right now.If your team is lucky enough to
have one of these masterminds running your squad, rejoice.
Doc Rivers - Boston Celtics
Lets set aside the magical turnaround Doc and the Big 3 did for Boston this past season. Since joining the coaching ranks with Orlando in 1999, Rivers has been one of the best on the sidelines year in and year out in coaching. Sometimes it did not result in wins and losses, but as a teacher, mentor, and leader, Doc’s passion for what he does in unparallel.
Record with Boston 168-160
Overall 339 - 328
Gregg Popovich - San Antonio Spurs
Popovich, or Pop as he’s known to his team, also is dynamic leader, who over the last decade has led the Spurs to 4 NBA titles. He has coached 2 first ballot Hall of Famers, in Tim Duncan and David Robinson, and developed Tony Parker, Manu Ginobilli, and countless others into solid NBA players.
Record with San Antonio and Overall 632-302
Jerry Sloan - Utah Jazz
Entering his 20th season in Salt Lake City, Utah head coach Jerry Sloan has been a symbol of consistency. In 19 season, he has only missed the playoffs 3 times, a stretch earlier this decade which was before the new era ushered in by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Sloan coached one of the greatest duos in NBA history in Karl Malone and John Stockton, and reached the NBA Finals twice, losing both times to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
Record with Utah 995-596
Overall 1089-717
Phil Jackson - Los Angeles Lakers
What can’t you say about Phil Jackson? 9 championships coaching, including an incredible 3 different 3-peats. Phil has coached four of the greatest players in NBA history, in Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe. Though his last two trips to the NBA Finals ended up in defeats(to Detroit and Boston), the drive and hunger for that elusive 10th ring still burns for Phil. His window of opportunity to capture that title is closing fast, and all hopes will rest on the shoulders of Kobe and company in LA this season.
Record with LA 144-102
Overall 976-418
Bryron Scott - New Orleans Hornets
Like many of his other counterparts, Byron Scott has achieved coaching success in different locations. Scott received his first head coaching position in New Jersey in 2000, and within a few seasons, was able to turnaround a pitiful franchise into a force in the East, and 2 NBA Finals appearances. Scott would later leave NJ and head to New Orleans, where with young Chris Paul, the Hornets are poised to being one of the teams to beat in the West for a long time to come.
Record with New Orleans 151-177
Overall 300-316
Read more
Would the Celtics win Olympic gold?
Would the Celtics have won gold?
I remember reading online a few months back an interesting entry on what if the World Champion Boston Celtics were representing the USA in the Mens basketball competition in China this summer. The column went on to say since they had just won the NBA title, they were the unofficial “best team in the world today.” So how would The Big 3 adapt to the international game? Would role players like Leon Powe, Glen Davis, and Eddie House come up big against the Spains, Argentinas, and Chinas like they did the Lakers, Cavs, and Pistons? LayupDrill.com sizes up how we feel the Celtics would have done against the top 3 teams(including Team USA).
Boston Celtics vs. China
Size would be a problem for the Celtics, as Yao Ming and company would have a distinct advantage. The Celtics would control the tempo of the game, and the streaky James Posey and Sam Cassell would give the C’s enough to defeat China.
-
LayupDrill.com Simulated Score
Boston 86 China 81
Boston Celtics vs. Spain
The Spanish national team is the perfect balance of finesse and power, and the C’s can’t keep up with them early on. Paul Pierce warms up in the second half, and spearheads a ferocious comeback, but the play of Rudy Fernandez(Trailblazers) and wonderkid Ricky Rubio overwhelms Rajon Rondo, and Spain beats Boston.
-
Spain 102 Boston 89
Boston Celtics vs. Team USA
Lebron and Kobe get their revenge vs the team that sent their squads home ringless this spring. With Chris Paul and Dwayne Wade in the backcourt, Ray Allen never gets his offense going and gets in foul trouble early. Combine that with KG having his hands full with Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard, and Lebron getting unsung hero Deron Williams involved early and often. Too much firepower for Boston to handle.
Team USA 114 Boston 90
Boston Celtics vs. Argentina
The defending gold medal winners from 2004, Argentina, led by Manu Ginobili struggle early against Doc Rivers’ defense. Louis Scola and Kevin Garnett offset each other on both ends of the court, and Paul Pierce is too strong for Andres Nocioni, getting his way late. In a close game to the end, Argentina pulls out a victory late.
Argentina 83 Boston 69
So we give them 1 win, to 3 losses. No medal, but a nice consolation prize as NBA Champs heading into this season. International play is truly much different than what we see throughout the season in the league, and putting together a team that is capable of winning on the olympic level is much different than the team Danny Ainge put together in Boston. Take nothing away from the Champs, it would be very exciting to see them get a chance to go against the rest of the world in this type of format.