Posts Tagged ‘Maurice Evans’

Bragging Rights Championship: Texas vs. Duke

April 4, 2011  ·  10:58AM

by Micah Hart

In the final of All Ball’s inaugural Bragging Rights challenge, it’s no surprise to see the dominant college basketball program over the last two decades make it thus far. It is a little surprising to see their competition, traditionally known as a football school — but one that has churned out a sizable number of NBA players over the last decade. Who will win? That’s for you to decide. And if you need a refresher on the Bragging Rights rules, read up on them here. For a view of the entire bracket and how both teams got to the finals, check here. Onto the finale: 

VS

Texas Longhorns

Starters (all stats per 48 minutes, through 4/3):

LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers: 26.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 steals
D.J. Augustin, Bobcats: 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.8 steals
Kevin Durant, Thunder: 33.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.4 steals
T.J. Ford, Pacers: 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 steals
Maurice Evans, Wizards: 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.0 steals

Missed the cut: Damion James, Nets; Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers; Royal Ivey, Thunder; Dexter Pittman, Heat; Avery Bradley, Celtics

How they got here: Talk about March Madness. After easily dispatching Washington, the Horns beat UCLA literally at the buzzer, winning their matchup against the Bruins by a single vote in the Elite Eight. In the Final Four, the Horns edged out UConn in their closest match of the tournament, winning by a 52%-48% margin.

Team synopsis: As expected, the Durant-Aldridge combo has proven too much for any opponent thus far. Augustin is having a breakout season in Charlotte, and makes for a solid third option. Ford is somewhat redundant with Augustin on the floor, but his track record is a little better than rookie Damion James. Mo Evans is no star, but he is a capable defender and rebounder who can hit the corner three when needed.

(more…)

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Bragging Rights Bracket: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Washington

March 21, 2011  ·  2:00PM



by Micah Hart

For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. With 70% of the vote, the Washington Huskies defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 5-4 play-in game, and for their trouble they get the Kevin Durant-led Texas Longhorns. Let’s take a look:

VS

Texas Longhorns

Starters (all stats per 48 minutes):

LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers: 26.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.3 steals
D.J. Augustin, Bobcats: 20.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.9 steals
Kevin Durant, Thunder: 34.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.4 steals
T.J. Ford, Pacers: 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 steals
Maurice Evans, Wizards: 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.0 steals

Missed the cut: Damion James, Nets; Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers; Royal Ivey, Thunder; Dexter Pittman, Heat; Avery Bradley, Celtics

Team synopsis: A real title contender, with both Durant and Aldridge providing matchup problems for just about any potential opponent. Augustin is also having a breakout season in Charlotte. Ford is somewhat redundant with Augustin on the floor, but his track record is a little better than rookie Damion James. I could see an argument for James over Ford, but he hasn’t really played enough yet to cement a place over Ford or even Daniel Gibson. (more…)

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Stephen Jackson, how do you rate on the Horry Scale?

February 13, 2011  ·  12:15PM

by Micah Hart

So far this season, it seems like GWBBs come in fits and starts. There won’t be one for weeks at a time, then there will be two or three in a matter of days. Thursday night it was Arron Afflalo’s turn in the spotlight. Saturday night, it was Stephen Jackson who added his name to the growing list of players who are finding themselves Horry Scale worthy this season.

Once again, the Horry scale examines a shot  in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time), importance (playoff game or garden-variety Clippers-Nets game), and celebration, and give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys.

How did Cap’n Jack do? Let’s take a look:

Difficulty

Man — that was a tough shot. With the Hawks’ Maurice Evans draped all over him and Al Horford closing in as well, Jackson takes one dribble to his right and hits the fadeaway from just inside the three-point line. Jackson had plenty of time to set up what he wanted to do, and chose arguably the most difficult option short of bouncing it off of Evans’ head, but kudos to the man for sticking it.

Game Situation

The Hawks and Bobcats were tied at 86-86 before Jackson’s buzzer-beater, so there was no penalty for a miss.

Importance

Charlotte is in a battle for their playoff lives. The Pacers and Sixers, who currently occupy the 7th and 8th seeds in the East, are both playing arguably their best basketball of the season. If the Bobcats somehow pass one of those teams to make the postseason, they’ll certainly look back on a game where they overcame a 22-point deficit on the road as one of the big victories that paved the way. As an added bonus, the win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Hawks, and erased the stain of a home loss to the Nets the previous night. All in all, a pretty important win.

Celebration

You’re never going to see a huge celebration on the road (though Atlanta isn’t necessarily known as a hostile environment), but the Bobcats players are certainly pleased with this outcome. However, I’m going to penalize them half-an-Horry for Eduardo Najera jumping up on the scorer’s table. Eddie, you didn’t make the shot. Table jumping is reserved for the hero, not the sidekick.

Grade

3 Horrys. A high-degree of difficulty play, but the tie-game situation and the Najera penalty means this one can’t go above three.

What do you think?

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Posted in Hey man nice shot, The Horry scale / Comments (17) /