[Jeff Hause]

Gosh, who could have known that the guy has issues?

Home of Chris 'Birdman' Andersen is searched by sheriffs

By Houston Mitchell
May 11, 2012, 7:17 a.m.

Denver Nuggets center Chris Andersen had his home searched by sheriff deputies Thursday as part of an investigation conducted by the department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit.

Andersen has not been arrested and Douglas County sheriff spokesman Ron Hanavan said no arrest warrant has been issued.

The department began investigating Andersen in February after receiving information from a law enforcement agency in California. Hanavan declined to release details, including the nature of any pending charges, citing an ongoing investigation. He said they are asking that the case be sealed.

The sheriff's office said it recovered property from Andersen's home that investigators believe is connected with the case. Hanavan wouldn't comment on what was taken or release a document listing the property, citing the pending investigation.

Mark Bryant, who serves as Andersen's agent and attorney, said: “At this time, I respect the process and I have no further comment to protect the integrity of everyone involved. We'll proceed from there.”

The Nuggets released a statement saying: "The Denver Nuggets are aware of today’s media reports involving forward/center Chris Andersen. It involves a legal investigation and we are awaiting further details. Chris has been excused from all team-related activities indefinitely as he deals with the reported investigation. Per team policy, the Nuggets will not comment on any ongoing legal circumstance involving any player or employee."

Andersen averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in the regular season but hasn't played in the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the Lakers.

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

[papalawrence]

Remember Popeye Jones?

Seth Jones, the top U.S. hockey prospect is former NBA star Popeye Jones? son | Prep Rally - Yahoo! Sports

[hack]

Do his ears fit in the helmet?

[Dave Bing]

[Jeff Hause]

Not one of THOOOOOOSE 3-time MVPs in 4 years...

[Mainevent]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hause

Not one of THOOOOOOSE 3-time MVPs in 4 years...

Well, technically that's accurate since he's the only player to win the award 3 or more times that doesn't have a ring (and I think every other 3 time winner has multiple rings).

[Jeff Hause]

Worst 3-time MVP ever. For shame...

[tin mad dog]

Originally Posted by Mainevent

Well, technically that's accurate since he's the only player to win the award 3 or more times that doesn't have a ring (and I think every other 3 time winner has multiple rings).

Moses Malone only has 1.

[Stefan S]

...

7 An Unusual Love Story

The story of Duncan's career begins on an island, in the summer of 1997. That's when Popovich flew down to St. Croix to meet his team's No. 1 draft pick. On the first day, Duncan took his new coach swimming. Out they went, one man tall and assured, the other short and as pale as the sand, his arms churning furiously. Duncan led them past rocky outcroppings into deeper water, the shoreline of the island quickly receding. Popovich began to think about how far out they were, about what lay beneath, about the waves cresting off the rocks. Still, he kept going, determined not to show weakness.


Over the next three days—or two or maybe four, neither can remember—the two men swam and lay on the beach and ate, talking about life and family and priorities. Everything but basketball. Despite a difference of nearly 30 years, they connected in a way few athletes and coaches do. Today Popovich tears up just talking about it. "I really cherish that time," he says. "It was like an instant respect and understanding of each other. Almost like we were soul mates."

From that point on, the two were on the same page. Other than a brief flirtation with the Orlando Magic in 2003, when Duncan was a free agent—he and Pop stayed up late drinking beers in Pop's backyard, talking it through—Duncan never wavered in his commitment to the team. This, in turn, allowed Popovich to build his highly successful system, the tenets of which were simple: The offense runs through Duncan, the defense runs through Duncan, and if you don't like it, you're gone. It holds true to this day. "I like role players who aren't very good but have a skill," Pop says with a chuckle, though he is not joking. "I know who's going to have the ball on our team, and need players who understand this."

...

TIM DUNCAN is the most successful player of his - 05.21.12 - SI Vault

[Whiteman]

Best Coach Ever

[papalawrence]

Originally Posted by Whiteman

Best Coach Ever

I don't think I would disagree with that.

But having Duncan (and at one point Robinson) sure helps.

[papalawrence]

Interesting Oden tidbit:

Greg Oden Interested In Joining Heat

May 16 at 5:27pm CST By Ryan Raroque
After recently undergoing microfracture surgery, Greg Oden had originally planned to sit out next season in order to rehab and return for 2013-14. His agent, Mike Conley Sr., indicated that Oden could actually be ready to play as far as "being effective and in shape" by this upcoming December or January and will explore his options this summer.
According to a report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Oden has entertained the idea of joining the Miami Heat next season. Conley Sr. had this to say:
"The Heat hasn't called but Greg has talked about Miami. He has interest. He's not retiring.”
Ben Golliver of CBS Sports also cited Jackson's article and further examined the possibility, saying that the move would be low-risk and wouldn't cost the Heat more than the veteran's minimum to take their chances on the oft-injured center. If Miami was willing to take on Eddy Curry as a reclamation project, writes Golliver, then it isn't out of the question for them to do the same with Oden.

[hack]

Not the best coach, IMO. He learned and grew with Dunca; he's much better as a coach now than in 99.

[ThaMaestro]

I'm interested in joining the Heat, also. I haven't talked to them, but I'm letting them know I'm interested. The ball is in their court now.

[Jangul]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

TIM DUNCAN is the most successful player of his - 05.21.12 - SI Vault

My favorite part of that article:

17 The Myth

Two weeks ago, before Game 1 of the series against the Jazz, Popovich was asked whom he'd be starting at center, and he answered, "Tim Duncan, like we have for the last 15 years." And thus the lamest ruse in recent NBA history finally came to an end. After two decades of being called a power forward, of showing up on All-Star ballots as a power forward, of engendering debate about whether he's already the greatest ever at the four, the Spurs have come clean. Tim Duncan's a center. Always has been.

[hack]

After all these years, my goodness what a dupe I've been! It's going to be hard for me to ever trust The Spurs again.

[Billl]

Not sure why there is always controversy about Duncan being a center or pf. He's definitely played both. He was clearly the PF when Duncan was around. Then they brought in Nestrovic and Duncan was splitting more time at the 5 since rasho sucked. They haven't been able to snag a quality center since, so Duncan has played lots of 5.

[Stefan S]

^^^ ... when Robinson was around.

[mn3]

It seems highly unlikely that Oden will ever be anywhere near the athlete he was if he even can stay injury free in the future. His calling card was defense, and it's hard to believe he'd ever be strong again at that end of the court.

[hack]

Matt, think before you post. For all we know Oden will sign with the Pistons, and Arnie Kander will have recently returned from a workshop in Bali in which he learned to heal backs and joints through the use of chants and drums made only from the heartwood of teak trees grown at above 5,000 feet on the south-facing slopes of extinct volcanos. If those two things happen your post is going to look mighty stupid...

[mn3]

Originally Posted by hack

Matt, think before you post. For all we know Oden will sign with the Pistons, and Arnie Kander will have recently returned from a workshop in Bali in which he learned to heal backs and joints through the use of chants and drums made only from the heartwood of teak trees grown at above 5,000 feet on the south-facing slopes of extinct volcanos. If those two things happen your post is going to look mighty stupid...

Good point. I stand (actually I'm sitting on my fanny) corrected and humbled.

Arnie is like a god to me.

[tin mad dog]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

TIM DUNCAN is the most successful player of his - 05.21.12 - SI Vault

I thought Duncan was a FA the same time as Hill and McGrady and Orlando was going after all 3.

[hack]

Good spot -- pretty sure that's an error.

[whoDean]

He had an opt-out option then, I think I remember.

[whoDean]

Pretty funny.

"I like role players who aren't very good but have a skill," Pop says with a chuckle

[tin mad dog]

[Jeff Hause]

Originally Posted by hack

Not the best coach, IMO. He learned and grew with Duncan; he's much better as a coach now than in 99.

You still have to go with Jackson and Riley before Pop. What he's accomplished is pretty damn impressive, though.

[Stefan S]

Jackson for sure -- maybe the best coach in any major sports.

It's hard to argue with Riley's five rings in different areas, with different teams, some of them against unbelievable competition (like our Bad Boys or the Celts in their glory).

I like Pop more, however. He seems to me less robotic, more human, more willing to connect with you on a person to person basis, just a nicer person. Also, for Riley it's but few years and his teams tune him out or something. One way or another, he starts looking for another job. Again, Pop is amazing in terms of his longevity and being able to stay in the same place like for ever.

[Billl]

I don't know if Pop is the best of all the great coaches, but I'm pretty sure he's the least douchbaggy of them.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Billl

I don't know if Pop is the best of all the great coaches, but I'm pretty sure he's the least douchbaggy of them.

quite insightful!

I remember moments when I was listening to/watching his interviews and felt that the so called "Zen master" is as conceited and arrogant as they come. Also, did he ever decide to coach a team of young guys who need lots of coaching and honing before they can compete for all?

[hack]

Of course he didn't. Jackson coached almost exclusively contending teams.

Pops's firing of Bob Hill wasn't exactly good behavior, but, as established here (and unfortunately not considered when we had our own elite coach/douchebag), the two traits seem to go together.

[Jeff Hause]

Nah. When Jackson took over the Lakers again he had one great player on a 34-win team. That team was HORRIBLE -- the starting center was Kwame, and the PG was Smush Parker...

[hack]

Hence the ``almost''.

[Jeff Hause]

Well, it's an important "almost," don't you think? That team went on to make 3 finals appearances and win two titles. (After they got rid of Kwame and Smush, of course...)

[hack]

Do you think the important transactions that explain that success are the dumping of Kwame and Smush?

[mn3]

You're only a great coach if you have Kwame as a starter and win a championship with him.

[Jeff Hause]

Easy: Play him the first 30 seconds, then sit him for the rest of the game...

[Stefan S]

by the way, what changes were they able to make to fortify their roster. I know they somehow got Pau from Memphis. But what else?

[Stefan S]

Speaking about the wolf: This season, in broader context | 48 Minutes of Hell

When Tim Duncan began to decline (some decline, huh?), the popular line had it that the Spurs’ decline would mirror that of their franchise player. The logic was straightforward: as Duncan goes, so goes the Spurs. We’ve learned that isn’t the case. My worry was more nuanced.

You’ve heard me say it before, but the Spurs’ ability to attract a championship supporting cast was fueled by veterans who signed on for an opportunity to chase a championship alongside Tim Duncan. Duncan was the draw. Not the city of San Antonio. And never the promise of more money. It was always Tim Duncan.

Not anymore.

The draw is the opportunity to play in Gregg Popovich’s system. It’s Tony Parker. It’s Spurs culture. It’s Pop himself.

It’s the confidence that the front office can always shore things up by adding a Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter or Kawhi Leonard. It’s the confidence that the front office will manage its books and never the saddle the team with a cancerous contract. It’s the confidence in the ability to improve through the internal development of guys like Danny Green.

The Spurs have it figured out. Players understand this.

Add yet another championship to the list…and, yeah, San Antonio will continue along as an attractive destination for I-Want-to-Win free agents.

Eventually replacing Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili is a tall order, but we’ve learned that it’s not an impossible one. The Spurs are already showing the way forward. The future is a happy place.

The Spurs have already transitioned beyond their last championship era, the one built around a dominant Duncan and worldclass defense. We’re not at the end of those days. A new day is already here.

So when the conversation comes around to “How much longer can the Spurs put great teams on the floor?”, the answer is not two or three years. And, with no disrespect to Tim Duncan, the answer is no longer, “Duncan is the window”.

The correct answer? Indefinitely.

[tin mad dog]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

by the way, what changes were they able to make to fortify their roster. I know they somehow got Pau from Memphis. But what else?

They already had Odom and Bynum and reacquired Kobe's babysitter, Derek Fisher. Picking up Trevor Ariza was an underrated move as well.

[Jeff Hause]

Bynum wasn't exactly good at the time, though. He was 18 and stupid. I forgot about Odom, though...

[tin mad dog]

Bynum was pretty good then, until he got injured at the end of every January.

[Jeff Hause]

Kobe was demanding a trade at the end of that 34-win season. He was mad they didn't go after Garnett, or trade Bynum and Odom for Kidd...

[tin mad dog]

Kobe's a bitch.

[Jeff Hause]

He was a HUGE bitch yesterday...

[papalawrence]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Red yet. Had a lot of talent, but he definitely revolutionized the game and won a helluva lot of titles. I agree Jackson's one of, if not the best coach - but I still like Pop more.

And let's not forget Mr. Daly.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by tin mad dog

Kobe's a bitch.

yeap!
and the Selfish Punk Jr.

[mn3]

Wade is fraying at the edges too. Big argument with his coach on the sidelines last night.

[alias gym rat]

Kobe and Wade, both showing their true prima donna colors; revealing their inflated view of themselves, egotistical and temperamental....keep shooting boys- screw team play!

[Lou Stefanic]

SVG and Otis Smith are out in Orlando. No big surprise there.