Ridiculous Upside

D-League National Tryout In Los Angeles Attracts Solid Talent ... On Sidelines

2012-05-14T20:21:32Z

The NBA Development League held its first national tryout of the season over the weekend and, while the talent on the court didn't include a lot of names your's truly was familiar with, the basketball players that paid the $150 fee were watched by plenty of talented talent evaluators.

The Los Angeles tryout was scheduled to have 20 teams with either 10 or 11 players on the roster and, while there may have been some stragglers added, the initial rosters I received didn't have any names that seemed destined for stardom (though I probably would have overlooked Dennis Horner on last year's list, too, so that may not be saying much).

However, I was rather impressed when I heard about the people that made it out to Golden Grove, Cali., to watch the prospective D-Leaguers showcase their wares.

Six D-League head coaches were in attendance including Coach of the Year Eric Musselman, Nate Bjorkgren from the Santa Cruz Wizards (?), newly-hired Duane Ticknor representing the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Bakersfield Jam head coach Will Voigt, Jay Larranaga from the Erie BayHawks and Canton Charge coach Alex Jensen.

Along with the head coaches, D-League assistants Larry Lewis (Los Angeles D-Fenders), Ira Newble (Canton Charge) and Mike Taylor (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) served as coaches for teams of the tryout players. Other coaches scheduled to be in attendance were NBA veterans Olden Polynice, Gary Trent and Sean Rooks.

Additional personnel in attendance included D-League assistant coaches Conner Henry (Los Angeles) and Chris Carrawell (Springfield Armor); general managers Jeff Potter (Fort Wayne), Glenn Carraro (Los Angeles); and former college head coaches Deane Martin (Idaho State) and Brad Greenberg (Radford) -- the latter two likely looking to latch on with a D-League team before next season.

It's a good sign to see so many teams sending their coaches out to Los Angeles to scour the talent available, both for the league and -- especially -- the players that pony up the money for the opportunity.

Will Acie Law's Ankle Prevent Him From Shot At Euroleague Title Against CSKA Moscow?

2012-05-13T11:00:19Z

Hope.

That's what Acie Law once banked on when contemplating the chance to compete for a Euroleague title against CSKA Moscow on Sunday.

On Friday, the Olympiacos point guard had to be helped off the court at the end of the game against FC Barcelona Regal after injuring his left ankle, and when the red and white stood victorious over Barcelona, 68-64, and celebrated on reaching the Final Four final, Law was seen leaving the arena on crutches.

From hobbled to hopeful, all signs now point to Law not being able to go.

While Law is determined to lace them up and be game ready, Olympiacos' coaching staff doesn't seem as confident. But looking back on the kind of season Law has had overseas, you really can't put anything past him.

Just when Law looks like he might be down and out for the count, he battles back.

It's been that way ever since he signed with Olympiacos -- maybe even longer.

After a five-month stint playing for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, some uncertainties clouded Law's departure from the team. According to Partizan, the 6-foot-3 point guard received permission from the team to return home for the New Years holiday and was expected to return to Serbia days later to attend an evening practice but failed to appear.

Law signed a one-year contract with the Serbian team last July, and the deal did not include an NBA-out clause that would allow Law to return to the NBA once the lockout was resolved, but instead Law took matters into his own hands and his decision not to return to Partizan left him in a state of limbo.

Was he going to give the NBA another go?

Or would a hiatus from Europe serve as the catalyst to recharge for another go-around overseas?

A first round draft pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2007, Law bounced around the NBA playing for the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies in a four year stretch. He began last season with the Warriors before being dealt to the Grizzlies, where he finished the season. Between the two teams, he played in 51 games and averaged 5.1 points and 1.8 assists in 8.5 minutes per game.

Law's play in Serbia was decent and split between playing in the Adriatic League and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. He averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steal in 35 minutes per game in the Euroleague, and 9.8 points and 2.5 assists in 24.8 minutes per game in the Adriatic League.

NBA teams kept close tabs on Law. Both the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks were believed to have him on their point guard radar, but when Law agreed to terms with Olympiacos in mid-January those plans changed actually for the better.

It's not that Law couldn't earn his keep back in the league. It's more about how he had some unfinished business in Europe and what better way to step back into the overseas game than signing with a team ramping up for a deep Euroleague run.

The transition in Greece was not smooth however.

He averaged just 2.2 points per game in his first five Euroleague games for Olympiacos.

Painful.

But then something changed for Law. He brushed the dirt off his shoulder, got in to a groove and become a contributing factor off the bench averaging 10.2 points per game over his last five Euroleague games leading into the semi-finals against Barcelona.

And then the ankle happened.

This isn't the first time Law has had to persevere. In a league where American-import players are constantly under the microscope for their performance and character on and off the court, Law very easily could have sulked and washed his hands with a 2.2 scoring average.

He could have been done.

He could be done now.

Law isn't one to count himself out, particularly knowing what is at stake on Sunday versus CSKA Moscow.

Don't be surprised that come game time, Law is out on the floor ready to replace hope with some championship aspirations.

Ivan Johnson Is A National Treasure

2012-05-11T15:32:46Z

Ivan Johnson Is A National Treasure

The former D-Leaguer flipped off a fan following the Hawks' series-ending loss to the Boston Celtics so I decided to take a look at his history with middle fingers!

Shved, Calathes, Hines, Ndong: Four Players To Watch At The Euroleague Final Four

2012-05-10T11:01:04Z

This story isn't about Andrei Kirilenko or Vassilis Spanoulis.

It's not even about Juan Carlos Navarro or Dimitris Diamantidis.

But when the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four begins Friday with the semi-finals between CSKA Moscow versus Panathinaikos, and FC Barcelona Regal against Olympiacos Piraeus in Istanbul, Turkey, those are probably the first four names that will be mentioned regarding their respective teams' chances at winning the prestigious Euroleague championship.

And for good reason too.

Kirilenko is "the man" in the Euroleague and best player in Europe for that matter. Spanoulis is MVP worthy and hard to handle. Navarro already has a Euroleague Final MVP on his mantle after leading Barcelona to a win over Olympiacos in 2010, and Diamantidis has the chance to be chosen as the Final Four MVP for the third time in his career.

But much like in the NBA playoffs, these Final Four games could easily come down to a bunch of role players stealing a superstars thunder when all is said and done.

Here are four players not named Kirilenko, Spanoulis, Navarro, or Diamantidis to keep an eye on in Istanbul:

CSKA Moscow - Alexey Shved

Don't let the footage fool you. There is more to Shved's game than putting away a twisting layup. The clip doesn't show the 6-foot-6 combo guard putting the ball on the floor and breaking down defenses by getting into the paint, or even connecting from deep.

We are talking about one of the more accurate three-point shooter in the Euroleague, shooting at a 50% clip from beyond the arc (82 attempts) and a guy was third on the team in scoring during Euroleague play (10.7 points per game). And while guys like AK-47, Nenad Krstic and Milos Teodosic will be looked upon to prevent Panathinaikos from winning its seventh Euroleague title, don't overlook the 23-year old sporting the protective arm sleeve.

Shved will catch you sleeping.

Panathinaikos - Nick Calathes

This is one of those cases where the numbers don't tell the whole story.

Looking at Nick Calathes' totals from the regular season and the points per game (7.8), rebounds (2.7) and assists (2.5) aren't going to scare anyone, but shooting 60% from the field should make CSKA take notice as Dimitris Diamantidis and Mike Batiste go about their business.

In the Euroleague 2010-11 Final Four semifinals, Calathes scored a career-high with 12 points against Barcelona, then turned around and put up 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 versus Montepaschi Siena, before finishing with 4 points, 6 assists and 2 steals to win a Euroleague title over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

What will Calathes do for an encore this time around?

Olympiacos - Kyle Hines

Here's the funny thing about choosing Kyle Hines as the one guy to keep an eye on from Olympiacos: this spot very easily could belong to Acie Law.

After struggling to adjust to a new situation with the team after signing during the middle of the season (he started the season with Partizan), Law has been killing them softly in the Euroleague. In five Euroleague games, the former Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies guard went from averaging 2.2 points per game to 10.2 over his last five games.

But this moment belongs to Hines -- the undersized and under-appreciated "shortest center in the Euroleague".

They may come bigger than Hines, but the heart and hustle he brings to Olympiacos really can't be measured. Just know the 6-foot-6 center has a way of elevating his game on the big stage.

Regal - Boniface Ndong

Die-hard Los Angeles Clippers fans will remember Ndong as part of the 2005-06 squad where the then 28-year-old, 7-foot rookie center from Senegal appeared in 23.

Ok, maybe not.

But Ndong is at least made an impact for FC Barcelona Regal this season in both the Euroleague and Spain's ACB League. The most glaring statistic is one that will likely help put him on display against Olympiacos - Ndong's shot blocking ability.

While he averaged 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in Euroleague competition, he also averaged 1.2 blocks per game and has strung together five-straight games where he's swatted away at least one attempt. And if he's not blocking shots, he is one of those big men who can alter shots and force turnovers.

There is no doubt Ndong will have his work cut out for him matching up against Joey Dorsey, but Regal still likes their chances. Knowing Ndong will be roaming the paint certainly makes guys like Evangelos Mantzaris, Vassilis Spanoulis and Acie Law a bit more leery for Olympiacos.

Charlotte Bobcats will interview Mike Dunlap, associate head coach at St. John's U, & Cleveland...

2012-05-09T01:14:27Z

Charlotte Bobcats will interview Mike Dunlap, associate head coach at St. John's U, & Cleveland Cavs assistant Nate Tibbetts next week, sources say.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported on Twitter that former D-League coach Nate Tibbetts will get to interview for an NBA head coaching job next week.

Duane Ticknor To Be New Fort Wayne Mad Ants Head Coach

2012-05-09T00:54:17Z

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants decided to open up their head coaching job following a less-than-stellar season and, despite interviewing interim coach Steve Gansey for the position, Jeff Potter decided to add a bit more experience to the sideline.

It would have been great to see what Gansey could have done with a full offseason, but new hire Duane Ticknor certainly shouldn't hurt the program. He's been one of the premier minor league coaches for quite some time, dating back to his days with the Black Hills Posse of the IBA, and has plenty of experience in the D-League as a former head coach of the Dakota Wizards and Sioux Falls Skyforce.

It's interesting that Ticknor's decided to take a head coaching position back in the D-League considering he had a pretty solid job in Korea he could've returned to and has turned down head coaching jobs in the past couple of years. Nonetheless, it's a pretty good get for a Mad Ants team that has never posted a .500 season as they struggle to put talented teams on the court.

Ticknor's coaching tree includes a lot of good coaches, by the way, including Memphis Grizzlies assistant Dave Joerger, New Orleans Hornets assistant Bryan Gates and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Nate Tibbetts.

Fort Wayne ended last season as the D-League affiliates of the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, but rumors around the league have indicated there's a chance the Pacers could make a move to buy the Mad Ants and operate both of Indiana's professional basketball teams.

This is Hank E. Franklin. He's apparently a Texas Legends prospect and one of my newest Twitter...

2012-05-07T20:31:15Z

This is Hank E. Franklin. He's apparently a Texas Legends prospect and one of my newest Twitter followers. Might be a story to keep an eye on for next year -- and if anyone wants to sponsor him for us, Ridiculous Upside will allow you to use our likeness (pending a talk with our lawyer).

Next Stop For Rashad McCants: Philippines Basketball Association, But For How Long?

2012-05-06T11:44:32Z

The 2002 McDonald's All-American basketball game roster was filled with a number of players destined for the NBA, some of whom are now keeping their teams' championship hopes alive this postseason.

Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Chris Bosh and J.J. Redick have all come a long way since then. These days they are trying to make it beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

And then there is Rashad McCants.

He was part of that 2002 squad. That's about the extent of his common bond with Anthony, Stoudemire, Bosh and Redick these days.

Every once and awhile the in-depth talent evaluation of a player becomes the furthest backdrop to a story when a guy who certainly has all of the tools needed to establish staying power in the NBA, yet somehow ends up on the outside looking in and trying to make a livelihood by bouncing around outside of the league.

It seems McCants has become the poster child for such a scenario as the former 14th overall pick in 2005 signed this week with the Powerade Tigers in the Philippines Basketball Association.

The addition comes at a time when the rest of the league is ramping up inking American-import players and teams start gunning for the PBA Governors Cup which begins on May 20.

Cedric Bozeman (Ginebra) and Marqus Blakely (B-Meg) also signed in the PBA this week.

Powerade can only hope McCants is worth the investment and the stay lasts longer than his recent stint in Puerto Rico. Back in late March, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard was signed and released in the matter of one day by Piratas de Quebradillas (after starting the season in Puerto Rico with Caciques de Humacao).

Yet this is what life in basketball has come to for McCants.

Instead of finding the right permanent situation overseas playing in Europe where he can develop his game and parlay that into a lasting career abroad, he's in essence become a hired gun shooting blanks that sadly enough amounts to a day job worthy of cutting a single check -- or at least was the case his last time around in Puerto Rico.

Some will look at McCant's situation and recite how went from North Carolina, to Minnesota, to Sacramento and spent four NBA seasons watching his stock fall further away from the expectations heaped on him as a first round selection and helping the Tar Heels win a national championship in 2005.

Others will simply shake their head and wonder what could have been based on the drama filled fallout from McCants' connection with China and the D-League.

Talent wise, McCants can hold his own on the floor. Still athletic. Still explosive. Still can hit from all over the floor. But as we've come to realize with a number of young players in his situation (he's only 27-years old by the way), that doesn't always translate to success in the NBA or established international leagues.

Now seven years later since turning pro, you have to wonder if McCants will ever stick it out with a team or in a league longer than a matter of days or weeks.

Lasting a full season with any team should be the goal. It would sure make it easier determining if his heart is really in this game.

The last time McCants was associated with an NBA team was with the Houston Rockets during training camp before the 2009-10 season, but that stint was short-lived. McCants suffered an abdominal strain and was unable to compete in camp. And although the Cleveland Cavaliers offered the guard a spot on their summer league team in 2010 -- which McCants declined for "personal reasons" -- it's now been three seasons since he last appeared in the NBA with the Kings.

Is the NBA still the final destination for McCants?

If so, you almost have to question the map and basketball journey he is on by taking gigs in Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Either McCants is receiving really bad advice (which you hope is not the case) and counseling regarding his options, or he just openly prefers to dabble in a league here, play a game or two with a team there. It's not a knock on those leagues or McCants' representation and reputation. That's just the reality of his situation. But knowing McCants' story, showing there is more to his game than being rented out to help a team make a "Cup" push would be a good start.

Something has to give.