Points in the Paint

» February 4, 2009 8:17 PM | By Brandon Hoffman

Matt Watson of FanHouse argues that players should vote for the All-Stars: “If All-Stars are selected by players, there’s no room to complain about being snubbed. If you didn’t get picked, it’s because your fellow players didn’t respect you enough — and whining about that lack of respect will only make things worse.” Watson has a point. I’m really tired of seeing guys play the “disrespect card.” But I agree with Big Ben Wallace. Players are just as biased as fans.

Dwyane Wade on why he continues to answer questions about 2010: “You try to do it out of professionalism. I think everyone knows you really don’t want to talk about it.” Then don’t talk about it. I understand the desire to remain professional. And I appreciate players who are cordial with the media. But I wouldn’t be the least bit disappointed if LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Wade decided they weren’t going to talk about 2010 any longer. 2010 would be a story with or without the sound bytes, but it continues to pick up steam because there are a few guys (ahem LeBron) who enjoy fanning the flames.

What’s Gilbert Arenas been up to? Agent Zero hasn’t updated his blog in months. Ivan Carter of the Washington Post thinks Gil may have been given a gag order. A return to action seems unlikely at this point since the Wizards are dead last in the East. I hope Arenas makes a full recovery. The NBA is a lot more fun with Gilbert around. [Via Gilbertology]

Charley Rosen breaks down the flaws in LeBron James’ shot mechanics: “His release is often too low and too far away from his body, LBJ generally has more palm on the ball than he needs. This leads to too much wrist-action and an absence of touch on long-range shots. Consequently, LeBron shoots too many front-rim clangers and too many air-balls. Watch his release closely and you’ll see that it varies slightly from game-to-game and sometimes from shot-to-shot.”

Ira Winderman of NBCSports.com: “At the start of this season, Shaq had already started a personal countdown clock to the expiration of his contract in 2010. At the time, not even he could have envision the statistical renaissance he is currently is enjoying. Now there again is a future, albeit probably not one in Phoenix, where he more and more has become associated with the end of one of the most enjoyable eras of open-court basketball. But in L.A. he was as revered upon his return as during the three championship seasons there. There never was the backlash upon his departure that he received in Orlando or probably will receive with his March 4 return to Miami. No, when Shaq made his return to L.A. in 2004, it was to a special pregame embrace, a video montage on specially designed curtains, an enduring ovation, genuine affection. That is why he now loves, not loathes, Kobe, why Phil has again become his ultimate guru.” [Via TLN]

OKC has improved in both offensive and defensive efficiency. That’s the good news. The bad news: “they had nowhere to go but up.”

There have been 387 fifty-point performances in NBA history. Basketball Prospectus came up with fifty 50-point game facts. For instance, “the most typical age for a player scoring 50 or more points in a game is 25.”

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