NBA Miscellany -- Part II

NBA League Pass is the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. College basketball is in the midst of its annual pre-conference play boringness, so I’ve spent a lot of time watching The Association lately.

If you're not familiar with how League Pass works: the games that aren’t nationally televised are carried by each team’s regional network; each team has the same announcers call each of its games – home or away. As a result, I’ve developed a rapport with some broadcast crews, and I’ve been forced to mute others.

It’s fun to pick up on funny/quirky/downright uncomfortable things said during these games. For instance, these dudes will comically call a player exclusively by his nickname for the entirety of the game. Here are my favorites thus far:

“Banger” – Aron Baynes – San Antonio Spurs/FSSW

Near the beginning of the season I was watching a Spurs game while I was preoccupied with something else. I didn’t even see Baynes enter the game, but heard Bill Land and Sean Elliot say “Banger” three or four times in as many possessions. I literally had no idea what the hell they were talking about, until I put two and two together. It was glorious. Unrelated note: these two are a Top 5 Homer Crew in the league (probably because they’re so spoiled by the Spurs). After the Spurs lost at home to Portland in triple OT last week, the gloom with which Land signed off the telecast was both hilarious and worrisome.

“Dragon” – Goran Dragic – Phoenix Suns/FSAZ

The best part about this one is Dragic always has the ball in his hands – leading to more and more exclamatory "Dragon" calls from Steve Albert.  Unlike Baynes, Dragic plays big minutes so if Albert exclusively called Dragic by his nickname it would be unbearably hammered into the ground. This crew is a hoot. 

“Flamethrower” – Ryan Anderson – New Orleans Pelicans/FSNO

This is my favorite. Sure, there are stretches when Anderson is unconscious from anywhere on the court, and at 6’10, that causes big problems for opposing defenses. But this guy is shooting 34% from 3, and has reached the 40% clip in only one season. It may be time for Joel Meyers and David Wesley to retire this nickname until further notice.  

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Now a few tidbits from the last couple days:

Spurs Gonna Spur

The Spurs continue to consistently generate the best half-court looks of any NBA team. In this first sequence, Marco Belinelli gets a back-screen from the Red Rocket, and cuts toward the rim. LaMarcus Aldridge, not wanting to leave Bonner (40% 3-pt. shooter) open from 3, fails to bump Belinelli on his cut. End result is a great look from one crafty foreigner to another for a lay-up. If you watch the video a few times, consider this: I have zero idea what in the world Chris Kaman is doing hugging Thiago Splitter 18 feet from the basket on the weak-side, but he is. 

Jrue "Insert Holiday Pun Here" Holiday

I've become a big fan of Jrue Holiday's floor game this year. Much like John Wall, Holiday has always been incredibly gifted but is just now harnessing that wealth of talent. Holiday is 5th in the NBA in AST/TO ratio among 30+ mpg players. He rarely seems to play at a pace that he's uncomfortable with -- an encouraging sign from a guy who has the ability to run with/stay in front of anybody if need be. 

Look at these two, late 4Q defensive possessions against the Thunder. Holiday did a terrific job staying in front of the weapon of mass destruction that is Russell Westbrook: