Archive for June, 2007

BEST DAMN GUARD: KOBE BRYANT

Posted by meandovine on June 20th, 2007

KOBE BRYANT
(Mouse over photo to view hidden images)

The one and only, Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is the son of former NBA player, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant.  In only his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers he was voted a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming at 19 the youngest All-Star in NBA history.

Pre-NBA:  Bryant was the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania schoolboy history with 2, 883 points, breaking the marks of NBA legend and Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (2,359 points) and former St. Joseph’s player Carlin Warley (2,441 points).  Bryant earned USA Today’s National High School Player of the Year honors as a senior (1995-96), averaging 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.8 blocked shots.  He led Lower Merion to the Class AAAA state title as a senior, propelling the Aces to a 31-3 record, including a 27-game winning streak to end the season.  Kobe was named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions high School Player of the Year, and to the McDonald’s All-American Team.  Bryant led his high school team to a 77-13 record in his last three seasons and was a four-year starter.

NBA: Kobe became the youngest player ever to score 10,000 – 16,000 career points, to be named NBA’s All-Defensive Team (1999-2000), to start an All-Star Game (1998), and to earn All-Rookie honors (1996-97).  In 1997, Bryant won the Gatorade Slam Dunk Championship.  He is the second youngest player in Los Angeles franchise history (behind Andrew Bynum) to appear in a regular season game (18 years, 2 months and 11 days) and is the third youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game (only Andrew Bynum and Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal were younger).  Kobe has been selected Western Conference Player of the Month 5 times and has earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors 14 times.  He captured the 2005-06 scoring title with 35.4 points per game, the eight highest scoring average of all time.  Kobe scored a career-high 81 points (55 in the second half) 1/22/06 against the Toronto Raptors — the second highest game (81) and half (55) points totals in NBA history.

SUMMARY

FG% 

3PFG% 

FT% 

Rebs 

RPG 

Asts 

APG 

Stls 

Blks 

Pts 

PPG 

 769

 .452 

.338 

.837 

3,990 

5.2 

3,492 

4.5 

1,291 

0.6 

18,726 

24.3 

Full Name: Kobe Bean Braynt
Born: 08/23/78 in Philadelphia, PA
College: N/A
Drafted: Charlotte Hornets (1st Round, 13th Pick), 1996

Nickname: Mamba, Black Mamba, KB24
Height: 6-6; Weight: 220 lbs.
High School: Lower Merion (PA)
Honors: 8-Time All-NBA, 6-Time NBA All-Defense, 10-Time All-Star (8-Time Starter) Western Conference Team, 2002 & 2007 All-Star MVP, 2005 & 2007 NBA scoring champion (2005 @ 35.4 ppg was the 8th highest scorng average of all time).  Scored a career-high 81 points (55 in the second half) 1/22/06 versus the Toronto Raptors, 1997 Gatorade Slam Dunk Champion, 3-Time NBA Champion.

Compiled from NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/index.html

Photos: NBAE/Getty Images

BEST DAMN GUARD: 06-07 FINAL RANKINGS

Posted by meandovine on June 19th, 2007

click for>   05-06 FINAL RANKINGS

Introducing your 2006-2007 BEST DAMN GUARD participants.


PREDATORS

06/07 Playoff Stats

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

20  48.0  33     68   3.4   1.1   .00  5.8   20.8

Tony Parker (Bruges) 16-4

(Sitting in the lap of luxury)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

20  41.6  28     75   8.1   1.7   .50  8.0   25.1

Lebron James*** (Akron) 12-8

(Headed in the right direction)

 

G    FG%   3PT% FT% Rebs  STL   BLK   AST   PTS

11   46.2  48    89   3.2    .36   .09    13.3   18.9

Steve Nash (Johannesburg) 6-5

(Dig deeper still)

 

G    FG%   3PT%  FT% Rebs   STL   BLK   AST PTS

12    43.2  42    52   10.9     1.83   .42   10.9  14.6

Jason Kidd (San Francisco) 6-6

(Last of a dying breed?)

 

G    FG%   3PT% FT% Rebs  STL  BLK  AST  PTS

11    51.3   37   77   4.5    2.91  .64     6.5    25.3

Baron Davis (Los Angeles) 5-6

(Lead with less emotion)

 

G    FG%  3PT%  FT% Rebs  STL   BLK   AST  PTS

17   45.1   33     79    4.3   1.53    .24     8.6   19.2

Deron Williams (Parkersburg) 9-8

(A big-time comer)

 

G    FG%   3PT%  FT%  Rebs  STL  BLK  AST  PTS

5     46.1   36      92    5.2      1.0   .40    4.4   32.8

Kobe Bryant (Philadelphia) 1-4

(Reassess your loyalties)

 

G   FG%  3PT% FT%  Rebs  STL  BLK   AST   PTS

4   42.8    00      69     4.8   1.25   .50    6.3  23.5

Dwyane Wade (Robbins) 0-4

(Refine handle and jump shot)

 

G  FG%  3PT%  FT%  Rebs  STL  BLK   AST  PTS

7   39.3   25      74      5.9    .71    .86    7.3  25.3

Tracy McGrady** (Bartow) 3-4

(Allow teammates to contribute more)

 


HUNTERS

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

20  40.1  33     84   5.5   1.65  .20  3.7   16.7

Manu Ginobili (Bahia Blanca) 16-4

(The best grinder in the game)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

16  42.8  40     86   4.3   .88   .13  3.8   18.8

Richard Hamilton (Coastesvile) 10-6

(Still the best from mid-range)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

16  43.5  39     83   3.3   1.19  .13  5.7   18.6

Chauncey Billups (Denver) 10-6

(Some need salvation. You, redemption)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

11  47.6  35     70   6.7   1.27  .45  2.0   19.1

Jason Richardson (Saginaw) 5-6

(Looking for a big follow-up season)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

12  39.6  39     69   6.8   .92   .58  5.3   22.3

Vince Carter (Daytona Beach) 6-6

(Inconsistency killed the cat)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

10  41.4  44     92   3.8   .90   .10  3.8   20.4

Ben Gordon (London) 6-4

(Eliminate the disappearing acts)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

11  37.8  36     82   3.6   2.0   .73  3.6   19.9

Stephen Jackson (Houston) 5-6

(Exercise better self-control)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

11  40.5  30     72   3.5   1.09  .18  2.2   15.8

Leandro Barbosa (Sao Paulo) 6-5

(Can you elevate your game yet again?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

5   36.8  29     81   0.6   1.4   .00  5.8   22.8

Allen Iverson (Hampton) 1-4

(New team. New day. New attitude.)

 


BLOODHOUNDS

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   48.6  50     81   1.7   1.17  .33  4.0   16.0

T.J. Ford (Houston) 2-4

(Become a big-time distributor)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   42.3  28     83   2.3   .83   .33  3.7   17.0

Jason Terry (Seattle) 2-4

(Reputations are earned in the post season)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   34.8  35     88   3.7   .67   .17  2.5   14.3

Jerry Stackhouse (Kingston) 2-4

(Still got game)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

4   44.7  20     86   4.5   1.25  .25  11.8  13.3

Antonio Daniels (Columbus) 0-4

(Picked up your team like the pro you are)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

10  37.6  30     77   4.2   .90   .30  7.5   12.1

Kirk Hinrich (Sioux City) 6-4

(Must become stronger in-game leader)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   41.9  40     79   5.3   1.5   .33  1.0   15.2

Anthony Parker** (Naperville) 2-4

(Bigger game equals bigger success)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

4   50.0  00     67   5.5   .25   .38  3.8   15.0

Grant Hill** (Dallas) 0-4

(So you still believe you’re a contender?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   49.2  30     74   2.0   1.0   .17  5.0   13.2

Devin Harris (Milwaukee) 2-4

(Time to earn your coach’s high praise)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   50.7  25     83   1.7   .83   .00  5.3   13.0

Jose Calderon (Villanueva de la Serena) 2-4

(Needs more playing time)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

11  45.9  44     86   3.0   .91   .18  1.8   10.2

Raja Bell (St. Croix) 6-5

(How bad you you still want it?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

16  40.4  37     93   1.6   1.0   .13  2.6    9.2

Derek Fisher (Little Rock) 9-8

(We know you still want it)

 


KENNEL CLUB

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

18  34.5  35     75   3.9   1.39  .44  2.4   11.3

Larry Hughes (St. Louis) 12-8

(Get healthy)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

20  38.0  34     53   2.6   .95  .25  1.6    9.2

Sasha Pavlovic (Bar, Yugoslavia) 12-8

(Add consistency to your game)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

7   33.7  32     77   6.9   1.86   .43  5.0   10.9

Rafer Alston (New York) 3-4

(Clutch is as clutch does)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

11  39.0  11     82   2.3   .91   .18  0.9    8.0

Monta Ellis (Jackson) 5-6

(Now you know you gotta bring it!)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   51.7  50     83   4.5   .33   .33  0.3    6.8

Morris Peterson (Flint) 2-4

(Numbers are great, just needs more run)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

5   38.4  38     00   1.6    00    00  0.6    5.0

Maurice Evans (Wichita) 1-4

(Laid it all on the line despite injury)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

7   30.5  26     50   2.7   .43   .29  1.1    4.6

Luther Head (Chicago) 3-4

(Gotta dial it in better from long range)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

4   25.0  29     80   2.0   1.25  .25  3.5    5.8

Jason Williams (Belle) 0-4

(How much game do you have left?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

6   38.0  25     00   0.7   1.17  .00  0.5    3.0

Juan Dixon (Baltimore) 2-4

(So much promise, so little fulfillment)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

3   22.2  16     83   2.0   .33   .33  1.7    3.3

Eddie Jones (Pampano Beach) 0-4

(Perhaps it’s not meant to be?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

4   27.2  00    100   2.3   1.0   .25  0.5    4.5

J.R. Smith (Freehold) 1-4

(Who said growing up is easy?)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

4   19.5  15     43   2.5   .50   .75  1.8    6.0

DeShawn Stevenson (Fresno) 0-4

(If ever you become more dedicated …)

 

G    FG%  3PT% FT% Rebs STL   BLK  AST  PTS

5   15.3  16    100   1.4   .60   .20  0.6    1.8

Smush Parker (New York) 1-4

(You’re in the pros. Act like it)

 


** Officially listed as G/F

*** Officially listed as Forward

Photos credit: NBA.com/ESPNPlayer Profiles
Predator: Released June 12, 1987 by 20th Century Fox
Rambo: Released October 22, 1982 by Orion Pictures Corp.

We’ll See Y’all Next Season!

BEST DAMN GUARD © 2007. All Rights Reserved.

BEST DAMN GUARD: AND THE WINNER IS…

Posted by meandovine on June 15th, 2007

 click for>  05-06 BEST DAMN GUARD

 

TONY PARKER

Tony Parker, Finals MVP & NBA Champion

Congratulations, William Anthony Parker Jr.!!!

You are the 2006-07 BEST DAMN GUARD.

Parker, age 25, is the second International player to ever win the NBA’s Finals’ MVP award (first-ever, Hakeem Olajuwan), and the sixth-ever point guard to be named Finals MVP. At only 6-foot-2, TP shot an outstanding 56% from the field while averaging 24.5 ppg in the Finals. Parker, a Frenchman, is the fist European-born NBA Finals MVP recipient.

It was a pleasure watching TP “break ‘em off” this season. As the second-ever award winner of the Best Damn Guard award (Inaugural winner, Dwyane Wade), Parker is now granted induction into the guard-wing of the honorary, but fictitious Pantheon of NBA Greats. By capturing the Finals MVP, as well as the Best Damn Guard title, Parker has secured his place alongside the truly great guards to ever play the beautiful game of NBA basketball.

Parker is now granted immunity throughout all of next season. He will reign atop the Best Damn Guard board until another guard unseats him during the 2007-08 playoffs, unless he retains his crown.

Having studied the game’s guards the entire regular season, this experiment was equal parts empiricism, faith, humility, instinct, and trust — trust in the work being put in, and trust in the data being churned out game-by-game, and via the BEST DAMN GUARD board during the playoffs.

Final Guard Rankings on Tuesday! See ya then.

Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

BEST DAMN GUARD © 2007. All Rights Reserved.