Playing Basketball: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Syracuse Assistant Coach Accused of Molesting Two Boys

Longtime Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine stands accused of molesting two boys associated with the program in the 70s and 80s, ESPN's Outside the Lines is reporting. According to the two accusers, Fine molested them for years starting in the late 70s when they were working as ball boys for the Orangemen basketball program. The alleged abuse took place at Syracuse basketball facilities, at Fine's home, and on road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.

According to a statement issued by Syracuse's senior vice president for public affairs, the university was made aware of the allegations in 2005 after police declined to pursue the matter, as the statute of limitations had passed. The university conducted its own investigation at that time, interviewing a number of people the accuser said would corroborate his story. None did. The university went on to say that Fine would have been fired and reported to the police if there were any evidence to support the accusations.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was a bit more vehement in his response, telling The New York Times, "I believe they are looking for money. I believe they saw what happened at Penn State, and they are using ESPN to get money. That is what I believe."

University chancellor Nancy Cantor issued another statement to Syracuse students, faculty and staff, saying that Fine has been placed on administrative leave pending a new investigation by police.

I'll reserve judgment on Fine and the allegations until more information becomes available - at this point, it seems best to let the police conduct their investigation. That said, one thing doesn't really add up. In New York, there is no statute of limitations for first degree sexual conduct against a child - a crime defined as engaging in at least two acts of sexual conduct with a child under age 13 in a span of at least three months. The allegations, as reported, would seem to fall into that classification.

(For lesser crimes, the statute of limitations is five years, starting from the victim's 18th birthday.)

Another bothersome point - ESPN notes that Dennis Duval, Syracuse's chief of police when the initial report was made - played basketball for the Orangemen from 1971-74. Jim Boeheim was an assistant coach with the team at the time. Seems reasonable to suspect that any allegations of a cover-up will begin there.

View the original article here

Politicians, Restaurant Owners Launch Protest Against NBA

New York State Senator Malcolm Smith and representatives of New York's restaurant and bar owners are launching their own occupy Madison Square Garden movement with a protest outside the arena today.

A press release from Smith's office has the details:

NEW YORK -- Senator Malcolm A. Smith will join Knicks and Nets fans and season ticketholders today,?Wednesday November 23, 2011 at 12 pm as they request a full refund for the whole season due to the NBA Walkout.? They will be also unveiling a 6 foot petition for over 1 million fans to sign in front of Madison Square Garden.? An upcoming National Basketball ??Solidarity Day will be announced that will take place in arenas and stadiums across the nation.
Officials from the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association along with other New York City merchants and vendors will join in tomorrow's news conference after losing over million dollars worth of revenue due to the cancellation of basketball games. The Association represents over 3,000 bars and restaurants in the tri-state area.

I applaud the sentiment behind this, as NBA fans have gotten fairly royally hosed by this labor mess. That said, I have a few suggestions to make.

First off... the Knicks and Nets - and every other NBA team - has a very clear policy for refunds in place and has since late July. When games are cancelled, ticket holders have the option of a full refund, or a credit - with 5 percent interest - towards next season's tickets. (Worth noting - 5 percent interest is a lot more than you'd get from a typical bank savings account these days.)

Second... what, exactly, is the "NBA Walkout?" That word choice seems to imply that the players are on strike, and that simply isn't the case. Whatever you think of the players' negotiating strategy to this point, or some of the decisions they made leading up to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, the league has been shut down by management. It's a lockout, not a strike.

Of course, Senator Smith won't be the first politician to grab for headlines despite a less-than-complete understanding of the underlying issues.

View the original article here

Winningest Coaches

Jul 28 2011

Mike Krzyzewski has more wins than any other active Division I coach... and he's rapidly climbing up the list of all-time greats. Barring a shocking collapse by his Blue Devils -- who will enter this season as the consensus number one team -- he'll pass Adolph Rupp (876) and Dean Smith (879) on the all-time wins list this season. He's closing in on the all-time wins record of 902, held by his mentor, Bob Knight.

Winningest Active Coaches

Mike Krzyzewski - Duke: 868
Jim Boeheim - Syracuse: 829
Jim Calhoun - Connecticut: 823
Bob Huggins - West Virginia: 670
Gary Williams - Maryland: 649
Homer Drew - Valparaiso: 617
Roy Williams - North Carolina: 614
Bo Ryan - Wisconsin: 599
Mike Montgomery - California: 593
Cliff Ellis - Coastal Carolina: 586
Larry Hunter - Western Carolina: 581
Rick Byrd - Belmont: 579
Pat Douglas - UC Irvine: 573
Rick Pitino - Louisville: 572
Ben Braun - Rice: 570
Bobby Cremins - College of Charleston: 541
John Beilein - Michigan: 522
Stew Morrill - Utah State: 512
Rick Barnes - Texas: 496
Dave Bike - Sacred Heart: 494

Note: Official NCAA Division I records count victories from any four-year college in the United States, so long as the coach has spent five years at the Division I level. Bo Ryan's record, for example, includes 353 victories from his run as coach of Division III UW-Plateville.

Win totals as of November 9, 2010

View the original article here

NBA Lockout: A Reason to Be Thankful?

NBA fans have one more reason to be thankful this week. Reports from Yahoo! Sports and the New York Times have confirmed that settlement talks between the league and what used to be called the National Basketball Players Union have begun. I feel like a kid in some TV movie, hoping desperately that the spirit of nondenominational holiday goodness will stop my divorced parents from squabbling long enough to realize that they really do love each other after all.

It seems a very small group has been meeting since Tuesday, likely with attorney David Boies leading the discussion on the players' behalf. It is not clear who is representing the NBA in these talks; the league has not commented except to say that it is "in favor of a negotiated resolution." The first matter of business may be reaching a settlement in the anti-trust lawsuits filed by the players last week. The settlement could then become the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement.

The next few days will be crucial. NBA commissioner David Stern has repeatedly said that the league needs 30 days after reaching a deal to tip off the 2011-12 season, and parties on both sides would love to save the league's annual high-profile showcase of games on December 25. As of this Friday, there will be 30 shopping days left before Christmas.

View the original article here

NBA Lockout: Assigning Blame

Nov 15 2011

It seems increasingly likely that the 2011-12 NBA schedule will go the way of the dinosaurs, the 1994-95 NHL season and the 1995 World Series. The players have taken steps to renounce their collective bargaining rights and take the league to court. David Stern and the owners haven't blinked. The most powerful player agents continue to push their own agenda.

I've been fairly optimistic throughout this process, because it's very clear there's a deal to be made if both sides are willing to give a little. They aren't. So instead, we've got a battle between CEOs, professional athletes and trial lawyers - probably the three most competitive breeds on the planet. And I vastly underestimated their collective willingness to put winning ahead of making a deal that benefits all parties.

I won't make that mistake again.

Today is November 15th. I should be writing about a playing-time battle between Toney Douglas, Landry Fields and Iman Shumpert... or how Paul Silas is finding ways to play undersized guards Kemba Walker and D.J. Augustin in the same backcourt... or about Enes Kanter getting re-acclimated to competitive hoops after a full year in limbo.

Instead, I'm looking at the bleak possibility of a long winter with no NBA. And I'm looking for someone to blame. There's plenty to go around.

Blaming David Stern and the Owners:

It's easy to portray the owners as the bad guys in all this. After all, they're billionaires who spend their time swimming in piles of coin a la Scrooge McDuck. But that's an awfully simplistic view of what's going on. I think it's more than fair to say that the collective bargaining agreement that expired in June was tilted entirely too far in the players' favor. And while some of their losses have probably been exaggerated by clever accounting, it seems equally clear that several teams are having serious problems. And while David Stern has taken a great deal of criticism for continually citing the payroll disparity between the Lakers and Kings - doesn't it seem that a system that has a salary cap but allows one team to spend three times as much on players as another is at least a little bit broken?

That said... there's a certain virtue in quitting while you're ahead, but that seems lost on the owners. They could have locked up a deal with a 50-50 split of basketball related income weeks ago, but continued to insist on draconian changes to the luxury tax and free agent rules, essentially creating a hard salary cap in disguise. They had a 20-point lead in the final minute, but they kept shooting three-pointers.

Blaming Billy Hunter and the NBPA:

In the overly simplistic view of the negotiations, the players are the victims. The league claims $300 million in losses? Well the NBPA, out of the collective goodness of its heart, has offered to take a $350 million pay cut. That should make everything right, right?

A couple of problems with that argument. The players made that concession very early in the process... and then became passive. It seemed the union was content to let the owners make proposal after proposal - letting David Stern set the agenda for all discussions - only to cry foul whenever the league attempted to reduce the payroll disparity between the Knicks/Mavs/Lakers/Celtics and the Hornets/Kings/Pacers. The union's bargaining position seems to be, "How about we give back some money and keep everything else the way it was?"

Followed by, "But wait. We offered to give back some money. How about we keep everything else the way it was?"

It has been clear for months that the union didn't have much leverage, and that their only real play was to consider decertification and the threat of an anti-trust lawsuit. But even with that, the NBPA let David Stern take the lead. The NBA filed a pre-emptive lawsuit asking a federal judge to block any decertification as a negotiating ploy. That move could render yesterday's move moot, but it had an added benefit; it set New York as the venue for future litigation, and the New York courts are seen as far more friendly to management than other districts. The union finally did move to disband... but waited until mid-November to do so, all but insuring that a large chunk of the season would be cancelled.

I'm not a labor law expert, but I have trouble seeing the union's disclaimer of interest as anything but a negotiating ploy - and therefore, a "sham". But even if it does stand up in court, why wait so long to go this route? And what can you gain? Anything you recoup - a percentage point or so of BRI or a little more flexibility in player movement - will almost certainly be cancelled out by the game checks you'll lose by not getting the season started.

Blaming the Agents:

While they theoretically represent the best interests of their clients, it's hard not to see NBA player agents as a third faction in this dispute, motivated by very different interests.

In simple dollars-and-cents, it makes sense for the players to get back to work as soon as possible. NBA careers are relatively short. Losing a month's worth of game checks is far more damaging to most players than getting an additional half-percent of BRI will be over the life of the next CBA.

The agents, on the other hand, can afford to take a much longer view. They can make back this season's losses over time; they'll still be in business when most of today's players are retired. It's hard not to see that as a motive when they push for the most aggressive stance in negotiations.

Blaming LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul:

Wondering why the owners are so eager to place restrictions on player movement - particularly among superstars? James and Anthony are exhibits A and B. To recap:

James' pending free agency was the primary motivation for every personnel move made by the Cleveland franchise for years. James then took his talents to South Beach - a move many believe was planned two or three seasons in advance. The Cavaliers franchise lost about half its market value in the process.
Anthony used the Larry Bird exception to the salary cap - a clause put in place to help teams retain their own top players - as a means to force a trade to a team of his choosing.

Let's be clear - both players were well within their rights. But James' Decision and Anthony's Melo-drama showed exactly how much power the players could exert over their teams' when given the opportunity. It's not hard to see why the owners are seeking a more restrictive system.

Blaming Gilbert Arenas and Eddy Curry:

Meanwhile, Arenas and Curry have become cautionary tales, living examples of the evils of long-term guaranteed contracts.

Arenas signed a massive contract, ruined his knees, and then brought a handgun to the Wizards' locker room. But the only way Washington could be rid of him involved taking on a rapidly-fading Rashard Lewis - who still has two years and $45 million remaining on his deal.
Curry, on the other hand, basically ate his way out of the league, appearing in ten games total during his last three seasons with the Knicks.

If you're looking for reasons why the owners want an amnesty provision in the next CBA and a way to waive bad contracts without destroying a team's salary cap, look no further.

Blaming Isiah Thomas:

The mid-level exception was intended as a way for teams over the salary cap to add key players, as the Pistons did in 2002 by signing Chauncey Billups. But as Newsday's Alan Hahn points out, for every Billups deal there are five examples of the MLE being wasted on an end-of-bench guy. Thomas is responsible for two of the most notorious examples: Jerome James and Jared Jeffries.

Several of the "system issues" that still separate the players and owners involve the mid-level exception and whether or not teams should be allowed to use it when over the luxury tax threshold. You can thank Zeke for that.

View the original article here

Sports Nutrition at Kansas

Anyone that's ever downed an ice-cold Gatorade has experienced the connection between sports nutrition science and college athletics. The field has expanded far beyond keeping players hydrated; some elite programs like the newly-crowned NCAA basketball champion Kansas Jayhawks employ full-time nutritionists to help keep their student athletes in peak condition.

In an e-mail interview, Kansas sports nutritionist Randy Bird talked about the role of a sports nutritionist in college athletics and shared some tips for aspiring coaches and athletes.

Q: Please describe, in general terms, the role of a Sports Nutritionist, with some detail on how you work with the various Jayhawk teams.

A: Sports nutritionists at the collegiate level are generally responsible for nutrition education for teams and individual athletes concerned with lean muscle gain, fat loss, and performance improvement.

I also provide assistance with menu planning for our training table, where our scholarship athletes eat, as well as for pre and post-competition meals.

I perform all body composition testing and analysis, and I also evaluate the safety, legality, and efficacy of nutritional supplements.

Q: How big is the focus on sports nutrition at Kansas? Do you concentrate on specific athletes and their specific needs or a general focus on maximizing performance or both?

A: There is a big focus on sports nutrition at Kansas. I believe our athletes and staff are definitely open to and enthusiastic about the benefits that proper nutrition can offer them. I work with the entire athletic department and see a variety of issues, so I have to focus on both the individual athlete and maximizing performance as a whole. I will give educational talks to teams as a whole, typically at the start of a season. I meet with individual athletes on a daily basis to address a variety concerns, whether it be gaining lean muscle mass, or using nutrition to aid in recovery from an injury.

Q: When I was in college in the early nineties, the closest thing we had to a sports nutrition program was "the athletes get unlimited meal plans as part of their scholarships." How many college programs use sports nutritionists these days? Is it a major advantage for Kansas? Or is it necessary now for any program that wants to "keep up?"

A: Having a sports nutritionist is a major advantage for Kansas. Currently out of 119 schools that are Division 1A in football, only about 17 employ a full-time Sports Nutritionist and a handful of others employ someone part-time.

In my opinion, this is an indictment against those schools that choose not to. They are not only missing out on a great opportunity to improve their athletic programs, but they are failing to provide a necessary service to their student-athletes. More schools are seeing the value of sports nutritionists, but we have a long way to go.

The Big 12 is especially poorly represented; only KU, Nebraska, and Texas A&M have a full-time sports nutritionist.

Q: Do you have any specific "success stories" you can share?

I have many success stories, but these two examples of tremendous fat loss are ones that I (and he athletes themselves) am particularly proud of. One offensive lineman from the football team I worked with lost 27 pounds of fat, while gaining three pounds of muscle over the course of a semester. I analyzed his diet and we met on a weekly basis to monitor progress.

I had similar results with a pitcher on the baseball team. He lost 30 pounds of fat and gained two pounds of muscle.

These two athletes are great examples of how paying attention to what you put in your body will enhance the results you see from your workout.

Q: What do KU ballplayers eat the night before a big game? What about game day?

A: This completely depends on the sport. For basketball, the meals for the night before and pre-game are very similar. I generally have 2 meat options (chicken and a lean beef choice), a pasta dish, potatoes, vegetables, salad, and fruit. Drinks would include: Skim milk, 100% fruit juice, Gatorade, and water.

So for example, a Jayhawk basketball player might eat the following at their pregame meal: a 6oz piece of lemon chicken, a side of baked ziti, a baked potato, a small green salad with Italian dressing, a banana, 12oz of skim milk and 12oz of apple juice. I try to give our athletes a variety of healthy choices at their meals. The focus of the meal is on getting plenty of high quality carbohydrates with a source of lean protein.

Here's one option: Homemade Chili

Q: The Jayhawks' high-energy play -- particularly on defense -- was a major key to the championship run, especially in the first half against Carolina and during the comeback in the final game. How much credit are you taking for that? (That's intended to be a tongue-in-cheek question, but only slightly.)

A: I’d like to think I have a little something to do with all of our athletic teams’ performance, but I will give our guys all the credit for that awesome comeback!

But seriously, how the players take care of themselves nutritionally on a daily basis is directly related to their performance. Proper nutrition and hydration will give them:

More energy to train and compete
Faster recovery from training and competitions
Less down time due to illness and injury

So, taking care of themselves nutritionally allowed the basketball team to see maximal results from the hard work they put in all season.

The meals for our guys were designed to provide the most readily available energy for the game. This, in combination with our hydration strategies, gives our guys the energy they need for the entire game as well as overtime.

View the original article here

Friday, November 4, 2011

Point Guard Cheat Sheet

Oct 26 2011

Point guards will be your primary source of assists -- one of the eight cardinal categories tracked in most leagues -- making it important to draft at least one and possibly two of the better point guard options. But not all point guards are created equal -- teams like the Lakers, Heat and Kings don't really initiate their offense through the point guard position, and instead use the point guard primarily as a three-point shooting threat.

Another factor to consider -- some leagues will either count turnovers as a fantasy statistic, or use assist-to-turnover ratio instead of assists as a category. Because they handle the ball so much, point guards tend to rack up more turnovers than players at other positions. If you're playing in one of those leagues, take a closer look at the guards you draft; you could do your team more harm than good.

Players are ranked in terms of overall value in an eight-category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, FT%, FG% and three pointers made) rotisserie-style league. While these rankings do not factor in turnover potential, players who are particularly likely to hurt you in that area are called out in the notes.

The NBA Lockout is also factored in to our rankings. With no summer leagues and training camps likely to be abbreviated, it will be particularly tough for rookie point guards to transition to the pros. That's the main reason that top overall draft pick Kyrie Irving and Spanish import Ricky Rubio didn't crack the positional top 25.

The number in parentheses is each player's rank on our Top 100 Fantasy NBA Players for 2011-12.

The Top 25

1. (3) Chris Paul: PG/Hornets - Knee issues make CP3 the riskiest pick among the true fantasy basketball elites, but when he's healthy, he's as good as anyone.

2. (4) Derrick Rose: PG/Bulls - Marked improvement in his outside shot made Rose a top-five player - and the league MVP - last season. Have to wonder if his numbers will be as great if he isn't picking up the slack for injured teammates as much...

3. (5) Russell Westbrook: PG/Thunder - Don't worry over-much about his growing pains during the playoffs… he's just 22, and didn't even run the point in college.

4. (7) Stephen Curry: PG/Warriors - The arrival of Mark Jackson could signal a major change in Golden State's system, but Curry is a special talent who should thrive no matter what offense the Warriors opt to run.

5. (16) Deron Williams: PG/Nets - When healthy, D-Will is just a hair behind Paul, Rose and Westbrook in terms of overall fantasy value.

6. (23) Jrue Holiday: PG/Sixers - This should be the season that Holiday joins the ranks of the elite fantasy guards; he could lead the league in steals.

7. (26) Chauncey Billups: PG/Knicks - Billups three-point shooting lends itself well to Mike D'Antoni's offense, though he may be a bit old to

8. (27) Steve Nash: PG/Suns - Still a top assist man, still has outstanding percentages… but he has to slow down eventually, doesn't he?

9. (32) John Wall: PG/Wizards - Put together a very impressive rookie campaign despite a series of nagging injuries. But should probably still be considered a significant risk in the turnover category.

10. (35) Rajon Rondo: PG/Celtics - Rondo started the season like an MVP candidate, but his production took a nose dive after the Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins. Look for a return to pre-trade levels this season, but don't forget; Rondo still can't shoot.

11. (36) Mike Conley: PG/Grizzlies - For years, it seemed the Grizzlies were desperate for someone other than Conley to win the starting point guard job. But last season, he stepped up and helped lead the team on an impressive playoff run. How are you enjoying job security, Mike?

12. (40) Tony Parker: PG/Spurs - Before last season, it seemed Parker was on his way out. But after the trade of George Hill, he seems a larger part of the Spurs' short-term plans than he has in years.

13. (47) Kyle Lowry: PG/Rockets - Put up very impressive numbers after taking over the starting job, but has never been able to stay healthy for an extended period of time.

14. (51) Brandon Jennings: PG/Bucks - Over-rated? Some would argue he's still living off that 55-point outburst against the Warriors during his rookie year.

15. (54) Jason Kidd: PG/Mavericks - Kidd is an excellent example of a player developing a new skill late in his career; he's become a very effective three-point shooter. But he'll likely cede minutes to JJ Barea (if he's back in Dallas) and/or Roddy Beaubois this season.

16. (62) Raymond Felton: PG/Trail Blazers - Won't have to share the point guard job in Portland, but the Blazers play a much slower pace than the Nuggets or Knicks.

17. (65) Darren Collison: PG/Pacers - The acquisition of George Hill could help Collison by giving Indiana another capable ball-handler.

18. (69) Ty Lawson: PG/Nuggets - Finally getting a chance to run the team, without having to share with Felton or Billups.

19. (78) Devin Harris: PG/Jazz - The Jazz seemed less than thrilled with his play and were reportedly eager to draft a point guard last Spring. One of the league's most notorious injury risks.

20. (81) Andre Miller: PG/Nuggets - Faster pace of play in Denver could mitigate the playing time he'll lose as Ty Lawson's backup.

21. (84) Mo Williams: PG/Clippers - Could be a nice fit as a third guard. Or could find himself looking for a job if the rumored "amnesty provision" becomes reality.

22. (87) George Hill: PG/Pacers - Nice fit in Indiana, where he should help stablilize a shooting guard spot that's been in flux since Reggie Miller retired.

23. (93) Toney Douglas: PG/Knicks - Played much of last season with a shoulder injury; streaky scorer is a good fit for D'Antoni ball.

24. (94) Jameer Nelson: PG/Magic - Doesn't excel at any one category - including games played.

25. (95) DJ Augustin: PG/Bobcats - The Bobcats reportedly plan to play Augustin alongside Kemba Walker. Hard to imagine that working for any length of time.

The Next Five:

Jeff Teague (Hawks), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Jose Calderon (Raptors), Kemba Walker (Bobcats), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves)

View the original article here

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Lockout Links

Today would have been the first of the 2011-12 NBA season. Instead, it starts Month Four of the NBA Lockout, which began way back at midnight on June 30 and has now officially out-lasted the Kardashian-Humphries marriage.

The latest round of labor talks broke down last week with the sides still unable to agree on a split of basketball related income. But in what seems to be the standard NBA news cycle these days, the end of talks has been followed with a series of more optimistic stories. Here's the latest from around the Web on the talks and when we can expect the NBA to get back to business.

David Stern made it clear - there's zero chance we'll have an 82-game 2011-12 season. But word is a 78-game season is still a very real possibility. (Matt Moore, Pro Basketball Talk)
The owners continue to insist on a 50-50 split of BRI. The players' offer stands at 52.5 percent. Each point is worth approximately $40 million; the current divide is about $100 million. (Kurt Heilin, Pro Basketball Talk)
The players and owners have made some progress on the "more punitive" luxury tax, with the union signing off on increased penalties for teams that are well above the threshold. Under the proposed system, the Lakers' 2010-11 tax bill would have more than doubled, from $20 million to $45 million. (Howard Beck, New York Times)
Two columnists have suggested that the union is losing faith in Derek Fisher due to suspicions that Fisher is attempting to use the labor negotiations for his own benefit. (Alan Hahn, Newsday)
The salary cap for the 2011-12 season is likely to be very similar to last year's, in the neighborhood of $58 million. And next year's cap could grow to $60 million or more. (Mark Berman, New York Post)
Miami Heat owner Micky Arison was hit with a $500,000 fine for talking about the lockout on Twitter... partly because other owners are tired of Arison laying blame at their feet. (Brian Windhorst, ESPN)

View the original article here

Amnesty Clause

Definition: The NBA's next collective bargaining agreement may include some form of "amnesty clause," allowing teams to eliminate bad player contracts under certain conditions.

The last time the NBA offered an amnesty period, the benefit was somewhat limited. In 2005, teams were offered the opportunity to waive a single contract. Players waived under the 2005 amnesty rule still received their paychecks and still counted against the salary cap, but their teams did not have to pay luxury tax on the waived salaries.

(In an ironic twist, the 2005 amnesty was generally known as the "Allan Houston Rule," after the high-priced, oft-injured New York Knicks guard most thought would be among the first players waived. But the Knicks opted to hang on to Houston, gambling that his injuries would force a retirement and that they'd recoup more money via an insurance settlement.)

The amnesty scenarios being discussed as part of the current CBA negotiations are a bit different. One option: if owners succeed in pushing through a "hard" salary cap - or a soft cap at a much lower number, teams would be given a one-time opportunity to remove a contract from the salary cap as a way to help reduce payroll. Or, teams might be given the opportunity to waive a contract periodically - say, once every other year - as a means of getting out from under the most onerous contracts without shifting to NFL-style non-guaranteed deals.

Examples:

Orlando management is hoping an amnesty clause in the new CBA will allow the team to terminate Gilbert Arenas' enormous contract.

View the original article here

Fantasy NBA Cheat Sheet: Top 100

Oct 26 2011

Here's our first attempt at ranking the top 100 players for standard fantasy NBA leagues.

Players are ranked in terms of overall value in an eight-category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, FT%, FG% and three pointers made) rotisserie-style league. Allowances have been made for positional scarcity -- players who qualify at center are worth a bit more. Injuries and concerns over playing time are also considered.

For added fun, this season we're also factoring in the NBA Lockout. That means Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith - both of whom signed deals to play this season in China - don't make the top 100, veterans like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan get a slight downgrade on the chance that a compressed 2011-12 regular season will mean more back-to-backs, and guys with notoriously poor conditioning habits (I'm looking at you, Boris Diaw) drop even further.

It also means that unsigned free agents - notably Jason Richardson and David West - are particularly hard to rank, and might be better to avoid in early fantasy drafts.

The Top 50

1. Kevin Durant: SF/Thunder - Concern over how Durant and Russell Westbrook shared the ball during the playoffs is overblown. Durant's potential is not. Scary thought: he's still years away from his physical prime. He's just going to get better.

2. LeBron James: SF/Heat - Sure, James' individual numbers suffered a bit from sharing shot opportunities with the other Heatles. He was still the most valuable player in most fantasy formats last season.

3. Chris Paul: PG/Hornets - Knee issues make CP3 the riskiest pick among the true fantasy basketball elites, but when he's healthy, he's as good as anyone.

4. Derrick Rose: PG/Bulls - Marked improvement in his outside shot made Rose a top-five player - and the league MVP - last season. Have to wonder if his numbers will be as great if he isn't picking up the slack for injured teammates as much...

5. Russell Westbrook: PG/Thunder - Don't worry over-much about his growing pains during the playoffs… he's just 22, and didn't even run the point in college.

6. Dwyane Wade: SG/Heat - Continues to be one of the top all-around performers in fantasy basketball; Wade is a surprisingly good shot-blocker for a guard (1.1 bpg in 2010-11).

7. Stephen Curry: PG/Warriors - The arrival of Mark Jackson could signal a major change in Golden State's system, but Curry is a special talent who should thrive no matter what offense the Warriors opt to run.

8. Kevin Love: PF/Timberwolves - Rebounding machine who could take another leap forward this season, now that the Timberwolves are abandoning Kurt Rambis' god-awful version of the triangle offense.

9. Tyreke Evans: SG/Kings - Glad the Kings seem to be ending the "Evans at the point" experiment; I think he has a chance to become a truly elite "shooting guard that initiates the offense sometimes" a la Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant.

10. Kobe Bryant: SG/Lakers - He's clearly on the down side of his career - but Kobe's down side is a lot better than most players' prime. How will the switch to Mike Brown affect his play?

11. LaMarcus Aldridge: PF/Trail Blazers - Last year's numbers got a boost because Portland was hit by so many injuries at the center position. What happens if Greg Oden actually plays?

12. Carmelo Anthony: SF/Knicks - Melo shot more threes as a Knick than he ever did as a Nugget - and hit over 42 percent of them after the big trade.

13. Monta Ellis: SG/Warriors - Lots of questions about Ellis' short-term future. Will he be traded? Will Mark Jackson look to change his role?

14. Dwight Howard: C/Magic - Howard's value increases in H2H formats and nine-category leagues, where his dismal free-throw shooting isn't as big a liability.

15. Amare Stoudemire: C/Knicks - It's still unclear how much Anthony's arrival at Madison Square Garden will impact STAT's stats.

16. Deron Williams: PG/Nets - When healthy, D-Will is just a hair behind Paul, Rose and Westbrook in terms of overall fantasy value.

17. Josh Smith: PF/Hawks - Still one of the league's elite shot-blockers, but his numbers in that category have decreased significantly from his career bests.

18. Danny Granger: SF/Pacers - One of the league's top players when healthy, but always seems to be slowed by nagging injuries. Name surfaces in a lot of trade rumors, but we think he's staying put in Indy.

19. Manu Ginobili: SG/Spurs - Be wary of Ginobili and other veterans if the lockout compresses the 2011-12 schedule; more back-to-backs could mean more time off.

20. Dirk Nowitzki: PF/Mavericks - Tremendously valuable in scoring and percentage categories, but doesn't board particularly well or shoot as many threes as he did in the past.

21. Kevin Martin: SG/Rockets - Martin's reputation as an injury risk is well-earned, but he did play in 80 games last season (after averaging 53 per season in the previous three).

22. Pau Gasol: PF/Lakers - Gasol continues to improve; he's now finished with a double-digit rebounding average in two straight seasons, and he shot over 80 percent from the line in 2010-11.

23. Jrue Holiday: PG/Sixers - This should be the season that Holiday joins the ranks of the elite fantasy guards; he could lead the league in steals.

24. Al Horford: C/Hawks - Posted career-bests in scoring and assists last season, but we'd like to see his rebounding average in the double figures.

25. Al Jefferson: C/Jazz - Took a little time to get acclimated in Utah, but was one of the league's better bigs in the second half of 2010-11.

26. Chauncey Billups: PG/Knicks - Billups three-point shooting lends itself well to Mike D'Antoni's offense, though he may be a bit old to

27. Steve Nash: PG/Suns - Still a top assist man, still has outstanding percentages… but he has to slow down eventually, doesn't he?

28. Paul Pierce: SF/Celtics - A top talent, but Boston's stars have long been willing to sacrifice individual numbers for team goals… Jeff Green's presence for an entire season (assuming he re-signs) could impact Pierce's numbers.

29. Paul Millsap: PF/Jazz - Has always produced when given the opportunity, but where does he play? Does he have the foot-speed and agility to be a full-time small forward?

30. Marc Gasol: C/Grizzlies - That trade that brought Marc to Memphis and sent his brother Pau to the Lakers doesn't look so lopsided now, does it?

31. Dorell Wright: SF/Warriors - Emerged as a top three-point threat last season, though the coaching change and arrival of Klay Thompson could impact Wright's numbers.

32. John Wall: PG/Wizards - Put together a very impressive rookie campaign despite a series of nagging injuries. But should probably still be considered a significant risk in the turnover category.

33. Zach Randolph: PF/Grizzlies - Z-Bo was, at times, the best player in the 2011 Playoffs. But can we really trust one of the league's most noted off-court knuckleheads to build on that success?

34. David Lee: PF/Warriors - Lee wasn't an ideal fit for Golden State's guard-centric offense last season, but still managed to produce pretty solid numbers. Those could improve if new coach Mark Jackson opts to get his big men more involved this season.

35. Rajon Rondo: PG/Celtics - Rondo started the season like an MVP candidate, but his production took a nose dive after the Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins. Look for a return to pre-trade levels this season, but don't forget; Rondo still can't shoot.

36. Mike Conley: PG/Grizzlies - For years, it seemed the Grizzlies were desperate for someone other than Conley to win the starting point guard job. But last season, he stepped up and helped lead the team on an impressive playoff run. How are you enjoying job security, Mike?

37. James Harden: SG/Thunder - Such a good passer, he basically gives the Thunder a second point guard on the floor and enables Russell Westbrook to look for his shot.

38. Kevin Garnett: PF/Celtics - Have to assume Doc Rivers will watch KG's minutes very carefully, especially if the reconfigured season features more back-to-backs.

39. Brook Lopez: C/Nets - Went into last season billed as the league's top young center, but a horrid year on the boards has cooled that buzz considerably.

40. Tony Parker: PG/Spurs - Before last season, it seemed Parker was on his way out. But after the trade of George Hill, he seems a larger part of the Spurs' short-term plans than he has in years.

41. Serge Ibaka: PF/Thunder - Rapidly becoming a force on the low block at both ends of the floor - and at 22 years old, still has plenty of room to improve.

42. Luol Deng: SF/Bulls - Adding the three-pointer to his offensive repertoire made Deng a more valuable fantasy option in 2010-11. His 115 made threes more than tripled his previous career high.

43. Chris Bosh: PF/Heat - Dwyane Wade and LeBron James didn't show much of a dip in production, but Bosh's numbers took a dive in Miami.

44. Eric Gordon: SG/Clippers - Developing into an ideal complement to Blake Griffin; should be the Clippers' second option.

45. Gerald Wallace: SF/Trail Blazers - "Crash" continues to be one of the league's top box score fillers when he's able to stay healthy. And his inability to stay healthy makes him a perfect Trail Blazer.

46. Ray Allen: SG/Celtics - Clearly on the down side of his career, but Allen still has one of the prettiest jumpers in the league, and no one is better at running off screens.

47. Kyle Lowry: PG/Rockets - Put up very impressive numbers after taking over the starting job, but has never been able to stay healthy for an extended period of time.

48. Nene Hilario: C/free agent - Where will he play this season? His value could fluctuate wildly depending on where he signs.

49. Wesley Matthews: SG/Trail Blazers - Has the potential to put up big numbers, but how much time will he give up to Brandon Roy?

50. Andray Blatche: PF/Wizards - Should be an excellent complement to John Wall, if he can keep his head on straight.

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The NBA's Worst Player Contracts

Aug 2 2011

The NBA's latest CBA proposal reportedly includes an "amnesty clause" - a one-time opportunity for teams to remove their worst contracts from the books.

NBA teams have had this opportunity once before. In 2005, teams were given the chance to waive a single player contract. Teams were still bound to pay the players' salary, and the salaries continued to count against the cap, but teams were freed from any obligation to pay luxury tax on those salaries.

That rule came to be known as the "Allan Houston Rule" - based on the general assumption that New York would jump at the opportunity to waive their oft-injured, high-priced guard. (In an ironic twist, Houston was not waived under the rule that bears his name - the Knicks gambled that Houston's injuries would prove to be career-ending, and that they'd get cap - and insurance - relief as a result. That turned out to be the team's savviest personnel move of the decade.)

The provision in the owners' CBA proposal may be similar, though it seems reasonable to assume that this amnesty clause would remove contracts from the salary cap number as well, especially if accompanied by a substantial reduction in the cap number or the elimination of cap "exceptions."

That's interesting for a couple of reasons. A big wave of amnesty-clause free agents would make the 2011 free-agent class a lot deeper -- and if we assume that the waived players would still collect money owed under their existing contracts, those new free agents might be willing to work for very little. It would also give teams that are struggling under the weight of some bad decisions to add some talent over the summer.

Which players would be impacted? A quick look at each team's payroll offers quite a few clues. (All salary figures are from the invaluable team payroll listings at HoopsHype.com.

The NBA's Worst Contracts: 2011-on

Atlanta: Joe Johnson's mammoth contract (which will pay him nearly $25 million in 2015-16) is generally regarded as the league's worst. But can the Hawks afford to part ways with their best player? Kirk Hinrich ($8 million in 2011-12) might be another candidate, given Jeff Teague's emergence in the playoffs.

Boston: The Celtics still have Rasheed Wallace on the books for over $6.7 million in 2011-12. He's the obvious choice.

Charlotte: Their draft-day trade with Milwaukee cleared Charlotte's ugliest contract - Stephen Jackson's - off the books. Corey Maggette is significantly overpaid, but at least his deal expires after the 2012-13 season.

Chicago: The Bulls are in excellent shape, payroll-wise; their core is locked up through 2012-13, and no player is making a really outrageous sum.

Cleveland: The Cavs would happily part ways with Antawn Jamison (owed over $15 million in 2011-12) or Baron Davis (owed nearly $29 million over the next two seasons).

Dallas: I suspect the Mavs would rather not have Brendan Haywood on the books for $42 million through the 2015-16 season, especially if it means losing their flexibility to re-sign Tyson Chandler and replace an aging Jason Kidd when the time comes.

Denver: The Nuggets only real contract extravagance is Al Harrington's deal, which runs through the 2014-15 season at an average of over $7 million per year.

Detroit: Joe Dumars has been trying to part ways with Rip Hamilton for the better part of a year - this could be his chance.

Golden State: A lot depends on what sort of team the Warriors want to be. If they decide to get away from their offense-first philosophy, they could re-think their long-term commitment to David Lee. Andris Biedrins could lose playing time to 2010-11 rookie Ekpe Udoh, and ($9 million/year through 2013-14) would also make a lot of sense.

Houston: Unloading Brad Miller on draft night cleared the Rockets' worst liability off the books. Hasheem Thabeet doesn't give the team much, but he's still on a rookie deal and could be gone after this season.

Indiana: Danny Granger is the only Pacer signed beyond next season (if you ignore a variety of player/team options). Indiana could clear a little space for 2011-12 by cutting ties with James Posey ($6.9 million) a year early.

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Amnesty Clause

Definition: The NBA's next collective bargaining agreement may include some form of "amnesty clause," allowing teams to eliminate bad player contracts under certain conditions.

Examples:

Orlando management is hoping an amnesty clause in the new CBA will allow the team to terminate Gilbert Arenas' enormous contract.

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