Fuck Yea[h] NBA

Words about the NBA you should read if you have the time.

• The always sensible Ian Thomsen at Sports Illustrated reminding fans “Now is not the time to speak with finality about any team, good or bad.” Amen. Unfortunately, that doesn’t drive page views for most writers. Bonuses aren’t tied to the nuance of an NBA season, so people go ahead and make inflammatory statements after just three nights of action. [SI] Also, check out his 10 biggest NBA stories from 2011.
• New Jersey Nets coach Avery Johnson spoke with Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News about the recent string of boos for the decidedly mediocre (if not for the dearth of big men in the league) Kris Humphries. Avery doesn’t get the booing, but “Maybe because I don’t follow reality TV, I don’t know all the ins and outs of it but it’s pretty hilarious to me. I don’t know if they even know why they’re booing him.” I do. [Daily News]
• J.A. Adande on Mike Brown’s first win as the Lakers coach last night/early this morning against an awful Utah Jazz team that was playing its inaugural game this season. Older team on a third night of a back to back to back and a team that hasn’t played once yet, and the older team prevails…easily. Interesting how that played out. [ESPN]
• Matt Moore at Hardwood Paroxysm on the Denver Nuggets and the admission he enjoyed the Nets when Vince Carter was on the team. He also gives K-Mart DAP for his added benefits to the Denver Nuggets during the halcyon days of the Melo era. Also, wait till you read what he has to say about J.R. Smith, oh screw it—he thinks Smith is so crazy he makes the “SCOREBOARD” comment to coach George Karl when he’s unhappy with Smith’s shot selection (priceless imagery and not THAT far-fetched). In case you missed these two knuckleheads like Moore does, both K-Mart and Smith are stuck in China. [HP]
• Kevin Pelton, of Basketball Prospectus, on how the Kings have reverted to the bad habits that saw them finish towards the bottom of the league last year. Some examples from getting blown out by the Blazers (after beating LAL the night before) include turnovers, silly fouls (Cousins had to sit for a while), forced shot attempts from the perimeter, and poor transition defense (he mentions Kurt Thomas beating players back for a lay-up—never a good sign). [Basketball Prospectus]
• Brett Koremenos in NBA Playbook explains (with multiple videos and statistical analysis that always makes my head swim like I’m taking a Statistics Final) the Memphis Grizzlies offensive “solution.” [NBA Playbook]
• Basketbawful with their always entertaining and rather long roundup: Worst of the Night for December 26th, 2011. 
• And a real Christmas miracle involving Lou Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers, via the New York Daily News:

Lou Williams said he converted a would-be robbery into a bout of holiday cheer on Christmas Eve.

The 76ers guard told the Philadelphia Daily News that a man with a gun approached his car and knocked on his window. But once he recognized him through his work with the Lou Williams Foundation, instead of robbing him, he complimented him for his work in the community.

“He’s a Lou Williams fan so he didn’t rob me,” he told the paper.

Instead, Williams took him out for dinner - at McDonald’s.

“There’s crime everywhere,” he told the newspaper. “I was debating whether to pull off or help the guy. The gun was already out. He did all the talking and we came up with a solution before I could really say much.”