IT TAKES TWO

Walt Frazier, a wonderful guard from back in the day talked about Jeremy Lin and James Harden playing together in Houston via Houston Chronicle.

While the Rockets work to mesh James Harden and Jeremy Lin, both scoring guards, Knicks legend Walt Frazier compared the pairing to the Knicks’ backcourt of himself and Earl Monroe and said making it work is “just a matter of time.”

“Jeremy is like me, and Harden is like Earl,” Frazier said. “He likes the ball. I was the guy who created. They have to find the harmony to make that happen. I’m sure as the season goes on, Harden is not going to want to be out here, 30 feet away, trying to maneuver to get in. It’s tiring, man. If he’s got a good guy like Lin who can set him up to get easy shots, that’s going to prolong his energy level.

“The thing with us, both of us could be a point guard or a shooting guard, which is rare today in the league. If Earl was having a good game, he would be the shooter and I would be the orchestrator, and vice versa. I liked when he was having a good game, because they would double him and I would get more shots.”

Frazier said the questions about the Rockets’ backcourt are similar to when the Knicks traded for Monroe, except he was a top rival. Frazier and Monroe won the Knicks’ second title together. Both are in the Hall of Fame, with their numbers retired in New York.

“It could happen for them because Lin likes to penetrate and dish,” Frazier said. “Harden likes to go to the open spot and shoot the ball.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

TWO THE HARD WAY

James Harden and Jeremy Lin make up a rather nice backcourt in Houston.

“It’s a new role for me. I think everybody knows that. My job is just to do the best I can every day, whether it’s in a game, in a practice, whether it’s off the court, charity events, whatever the case may be. I just have to be a leader out there.” -Harden on becoming the Rockets’ franchise player

In the Rockets opening game last night on the road in Detroit, Harden scored 37 points and handed out 12 assists. Lin scored 12 points and dished out 8 assists. The Harvard graduate was a +23 on the night.

The Rockets won 105-96.

“I think I just wanted to get out there and play,” Harden said. ”All the talking and all the craziness that has been happening this last week – I just wanted to go out there and play basketball.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

LET’S MAKE A DEAL

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports on the Thunder-Rockets deal.

Harden struggled in the NBA Finals, tried too hard and slowly, surely unraveled over the course of the series. When the rest of the Thunder were celebrating a Game 1 victory over Miami in the locker room, Harden could be heard grumbling over too few shots (five), and too few minutes (22).

Veterans Derek Fisher and Perkins laid into Harden, telling him essentially: We just won an NBA Finals game and the last thing in the world that ought to worry you are your individual statistics. Harden apologized, but it was clear his mindset wasn’t right. He never found his way back into a proper rhythm in the Finals.

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

OFFENSIVE REBOUND

Ron Artest has been suspended for 7 games. If you have been living on Planet Lovetron and missed it, this past Sunday the former LaSalle high school standout hit OKC’s James Harden with an elbow to the side of the head.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports with his take including solid comments from ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla.

“This is him,” said Fran Fraschilla, the ESPN college broadcaster who coached Artest at St. John’s. “You go back to when I first met him, 14 or 15 years old at La Salle Academy in New York, and his greatest strength has always been his biggest weakness – that true competitive edge.

“He is an over-the-top competitor. It’s what made him the player he is and what’s gotten him in trouble.”

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

AIR SPACE

“The willingness to do, creates the ability to do.”

-Peter McWilliams

Mike Brown finding employment in Los Angeles is a very good hire.  The guy’s a winner, he’s a grinder and he’s a good guy. Sure maybe Brian Shaw, Lakers assistant should’ve had the job but I think they want a fresh start at Staples. No more triangle offense. Curious to see how Kobe Bryant plays. Of course Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, both of ESPN, Brown’s last employer praise the hire. What do ya think they would do, bash it? By the way, did Brown have to fill out an application when he applied for the job? Did he have to show his social security card and provide drivers license too?

Have to love this quote from Van Gundy during last night’s telecast of Thunder-Mavericks. “Playoff basketball is all about winning and losing.” Huh?

While I’m on the subject of announcers, here’s another dandy from Jackson, also from the game last night, “Defending (James) Harden in the open court is like trying to guard Manu and LeBron James.” Oh no he didn’t!

Dirk Nowitzki is in the gym every night during the playoffs; so says his head coach Rick Carlisle. I believe him.  This guy has been very good in the playoffs. His footwork on the catch is unreal; it would make the late Pete Newell smile. Everyone always likes to talk about shooting form. Every coach under the sun will give you their take on how to shoot the ball; there’s many different ways to shoot it.  Dirk has a weird way of shooting, most of the time. He’s off-balance.  Or, he likes to shoot off one foot.  Imagine taking a kid in the gym and teaching him how to shoot like that? I’m ok with it though, I’m all about reps, the more you shoot, the better the shot gets. That’s what Dirk does, he shoots it the same way 24-7. I bet this summer at camps all around the country, coaches will be teaching kids the “Dirk”. Then everyone, including Herb Welling will be asking for the notes.

I wish TNT had the  coverage of next month’s NBA Finals.  Can we make that happen or what?

I have to start studying all the eligible players for the draft that is coming up. Is everyone so sure about the point guard from Duke, Kyrie Irving as the first pick?

Twitter has been very good to me. I have met some great people (not in person). But there are many wonderful minds tweeting their thoughts on the NBA playoffs.  Once again, I tweeted it and now I’ll blog it;  Kris Humphries, come on man!

Poor Doris Burke, the Western Conference finals have not been good to her this week. By the way, how did Rick Barry get a microphone for the Mavericks on-court championship celebration?

In last night’s close-out game, the final 8 minutes were not good to the Thunder. 6 turnovers and your best player (Durant) shooting 2-4 from field. The cat needs more FGA’s than that down the stretch. OKC will be back though, they are very young.  That is, if they keep their key guys. Last night’s shooting from the field: Russell Westbrook 11-28, Kevin Durant 8-20, James Harden 7-11, Dirk Nowitzki 8-15.

Will someone please tell me why in high school and college basketball that when you fall down in possession of the ball it’s a travel but not in the NBA?

This past Monday at a press conference for the basketball Hall of Fame inductees, Jim Nantz, who was the M.C this night said Chris Mullin is from the Bronx. Not a god thing. Guy is from Brooklyn, big difference.

Greg Anderson is coaching youth baseball? Is that a good thing or bad thing? Anderson was the trainer for Barry Bonds and went to jail when he failed to testify about Bonds’ steroid use. In 2005 Anderson pleaded guilty to distributing steroids. He served 3 months in prison for that crime and spent a year behind bars for refusing to testify.

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