Saturday, January 16, 2010

Georgia Loses against Mississippi State

We're 8 and 8 on the year, 0 and 3 in the SEC. Frustrating, since we were up 13 in the second half.

We're "close, but not quite" in a lot of games. I thought we were surely going to win when Albert Jackson hit double figures, but we can't advance the ball against pressure defense. That and some careless turnovers doomed Georgia in this game.

Coach Fox will have to diagram some set plays for getting the ball up the floor. Passing the ball to Jackson in the corner should be off limits.

Any other ball-handlers out there?

Dawgs face Dogs

UGA is up against Mississippi State today.

Jarvis Varnado is tough in the post. Alters a lot of shots. Just enough offense for stick-backs and buckets around the hoop.

Can we pull the upset? Unlikely, but that's what I thought about Georgia Tech, too. Let's get our first SEC victory.

Game-time is 3:00.

Jarvis Hayes Handles the Uncertainty

If these guys weren't making so much money, you'd feel sorry for them.

There are a lot of unknowns in professional sports. I'm sure it's hard to be on the road so much, then be the subject of trade rumors.

Jarvis, in particular, must be wondering, because he hasn't been able to shake the injuries that have plagued his career. Would another team take a chance on him? If I'm the GM, I'd have to pass. In my heart of hearts, I really don't expect Hayes to be in the League next year.

Hopefully, Jarvis will get one more shot, and his legs will hold up so that he can show that he can help a team that needs a defender and a shot-maker on the perimeter.

For the rest of the guys, there are just a bunch of questions, not many answers. Playing on the last place team in the NBA is tough.

But how many of us wouldn't trade places with them in a New York (or New Jersey) minute?

Friday, January 15, 2010

"Shot of a Lifetime"

Let's enjoy the moment with Sundiata and his Mom.

Sundiata Gaines Wins the Game!

I can't believe it. I stepped away from the t.v. and missed Sundiata's huge moment. Needless to say, the guy has won his extension. He won't be seeing the D-League again for a long time.

Who could have written it up any better? Gaines gets his call-up. Utah has to decide whether to give him a second 10-day extension by Friday. The starting point guard re-aggravates an injury, forcing the rookie to play more minutes. He plays Thursday night, and at about 2:00 a.m. EST, during a see-saw game against Lebron James and the Cavaliers, the guy knocks down a huge three-pointer to win it at the buzzer.

He finishes the game with the impressive stat line of 3 of 3 from the field, 1 of 1 from behind the arc (including the game-winner), and 2 of 3 from the free throw line.

Sundiata!

Anybody else watching the Utah-Cleveland Game?

Sundiata Gaines is doing a great job. Just had a three-point play a few minutes ago. He has really given Utah a spurt on the defensive end.

Although he did commit a turnover when double-teamed, Jerry Sloan left him in the game until almost the very end of the game. The Utah crowd gave Gaines a standing ovation when he returned to the bench.

Congrats, Yada!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Kentavious Caldwell Goes Off

Went for 41 points against Upson. Hit 7 three-pointers.

Caldwell is the kind of shooter that UGA needs. Looking at our current roster, Ricky McPhee will be graduating this year. We have Gerald Robinson who will be eligible next season, but I'm not sure if he can score it consistently from deep.

It would be great to bring in a shooter for 2010, and then Caldwell in 2011. A class of Julian Royal, Dai-Jon Parker and Caldwell would show that Fox can lock down the borders and start to pick up the best players in state. We have to get a center type, too, so a lot will be riding on whether Cady Lalanne shows he can rebound and defend.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Dawgs fall to Ole Miss

Ole Miss is a tough team, but Georgia should have found a way to win this one at home. Final score: 80 to 76.

We're now 8 and 7 on the year and 0 and 2 in the SEC.

Even so, there were some good points to this game.

Dustin Ware took the ball to the hole more aggressively. He probably has too much responsibility for bringing the ball up the floor on every possession. Maybe we can use a big man to set hard screens every once in a while to keep the opposing point guards from pressuring Ware all the way up the floor.

Defenses are really trying to take away the triangle offense by overplaying Ricky Mcphee. I would even recommend a clear out for either Travis Leslie or Dustin Ware, or running McPhee all the way from one side to the other.

Perhaps the key play of the game, other than the Ole Miss inbounds play, was the offensive foul against Chris Barnes. Looked like a flop to me, but I guess you have to call that one, since Barnes appeared to lower the shoulder. Doesn't help our cause any, but Shaq gets away with that move all the time.

Runner-up for missed opportunity of the game was the chance that Vincent Williams had to make two from the line. He missed, they got the rebound and their big man was fouled. The Mississippi player, a 60 percent shooter from the stripe, went to the line and sank both of them.

Trey had a terrific spin move and dunk. I was very impressed. He also had a beautiful feed to Leslie for an alley-oop.

Still think we're a couple of players short from being a team that can win in the SEC. Let's keep supporting the team and see how the season turns out.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dominique Wilkins Turns 50 Today

Good catch from the Lost Letterman website.

Here are his Top Ten Dunks.

Also an old Sports Illustrated article.

Wish the old guy the best.  :-)

Monday, January 11, 2010

5 Questions with Sundiata Gaines

Article has background information on Gaines and a picture of him in action in the NBA (the sleeve made it with him to Utah).

Q&A

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Charles Grant Likely on the Way Out for the Saints

I agree with the beat writer in this instance. If you have a guy who is on injured reserve, you have to ask the question whether he can recover and help the team.

If the player on IR makes a ton of money, the question is asked again.

IR, ton of money, and long in the tooth, then the question is asked with a lot more urgency.

IR, ton of money, long in the tooth, and very serious legal problems off the field, the kind that can make the whole franchise look bad, then some in New Orleans believe that the question has been answered.