| Trifecta Worthy Authored by Patrick Daher - January 30, 2008 - 7:03 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | Final Thoughts On The 2008 NBA Draft This year's draft was decidedly more calm and casual than the Oden/Durant showdown, which made for a more candid and personal experience.
Grading The Deal: Knicks Sign DuhonThe Knicks overpaid for a below average starting point guard, but the move should still pay dividends.
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Oh Danny Boy
Danny Granger, who has just three years of NBA experience under his belt, will undoubtedly be the man in Indiana beginning this summer.
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$10 Million For Five Players?
The Orlando Magic will be limited by the NBA's Luxury Tax in terms of filling the remaining spots on their roster. It is also possible it could cost them Keyon Dooling or Maurice Evans.
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Raptorland’s New Carnivore
The Raptors are bringing in a player who will have an immediate impact (unlike Hibbert or whomever the Raptors would’ve drafted at 17), plays a position of need (unlike Ford,) and carries a reputation of intimidation (unlike Nesterovic).
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More from RealGM's Columnists
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The Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout always seems to bring a good show on All-Star Weekend. Many even argue that it has supplanted the Dunk Contest as the best showcase that is held on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. Shooting greats such as Larry Bird, Mark Price, Craig Hodges, and Jeff Hornacek have lit up All-Star weekend with their precision trajectory and ultra-perfect form.
On February 16th, six participants will be chosen to participate in the Three-Point contest. Below, I have compiled a list of who I believe deserves a chance to showcase their shooting skills at this year’s exhibition.
Peja Stojakovic – Peja gets the nod. The best 3-point shooter on the best team in the West. Predrag is shooting 45.6 % from three with 110 makes. Stojakovic won back to back 3 point shootout titles in 2002-2003. He should be given the chance to join Bird and Hodges as the only players to win the 3-point Shootout three times. His comeback year after a barrage of injuries makes it all the more remarkable. He has over 1300 3-point makes in his career.
Jason Kapono – Last year’s champion will surely get an invite this year. Kap-gun is leading the league in 3pt shooting a blistering 51% in 96 attempts, which is the identical percentage that he was shooting last year at this time. His quick release makes him a deadly weapon when teams decide to double Chris Bosh. He plays a prominent role on a Raptors teams that has greatly improved and figures to play a key part in holding down a top 6 playoff spot this year.
Steve Nash – Nash deserves a spot in the shootout. After all, he is a fixture at All-Star Weekend. His All-Star resume includes 6 All-Star selections, winner of the 2005 All-Star Skills Challenge, and the infamous head ball off the backboard to Amare Stoudemire who was competing in the Dunk Contest. Shooting 48% from three land with 97 makes certainly doesn’t hurt his cause. One of the best shooting forms in the league.
Daniel Gibson – Some may think this is a big surprise here but the statistics don’t lie. Boobie is shooting 46.8% from three with 95 makes in 203 attempts. He has 28 more 3 pointers made than 2 pointers. His value to the Cavaliers is very high, considering he always seems to be on the receiving end of a King James dime. His 3 point prowess was on center stage in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals when he dropped 5 threes, 3 in a two minute span to upset the Pistons.
James Jones – Jones showed that he could be a reliable 3-point marksman when he was with the run and gun Suns. Now with Portland, JJ is shooting 50.4% from the land of three with 58 makes. On a team that does not have a big inside presence, Jones’ 3-point accuracy has been all the more impressive. Jones will have to keep knocking down 3’s for Portland to contend in a tough Western Conference.At 23 feet 9 inches away from the top of the key and 22 feet in the corners, the 3-point shot has been a game changer since introduced to the NBA in the 1979-1980 season. |
