Thanks to the guys over at Basketbawful, I have been reminded why I spent 3 1/2 years mocking Drew Gooden's very existence. He has been quoted as saying the following:
"Yes, I can. And I will continue to work to get better at it. This is something that's not new to me, but I've got to brush off some of the old tools and put them back into use. Because I have had a couple years [playing with LeBron James] where I was the guy that goes out, works hard and grabs rebounds and becomes a defender with offensive capabilities...
"I possess the tools. I don't want to sound cocky, but I think I possess everything. I feel like I can pass, block shots, play great defense, play help defense, shoot threes.
"I believe that I can do it all. And confidence is the number one factor when it comes to offense. I can score in the post; I can score with my back to the basket, face up."
My big problem with Drew is that he thinks he can be and should be considered the same caliber player as other PF's by the likes of Dwight Howard, Boozer, Nowitzki, KG, Al Jeff and so on. Drew, you're not anywhere near those guys. Not even close buddy. Your problem is that when you get the ball, you think that you are the one who should be making the "big play" or the "highlight reel" dunk. You can't consistently hit a 10-17 foot jumper, but you think you can shoot. For a guy who is 6'10" and 250lbs. you are a distinct waste of size. You're not content just being a role player and for that you'll always be good enough to have a job in the NBA, but you'll never have the attitude to be a solid contributer on any team. Congrats, you beat up on the Atlanta Hawks. Sure they are having a good season by Hawk standards, but come on, one good game in your last who the hell knows how many. Great follow up performance. Thats the Drew I've come to know and hate.
I'm glad he's gone from the Cavs. Sure his PER has gone up significantly since joining the Bulls, but whose wouldn't? You're playing for a team who doesn't have a coach. You're playing for a team that is 22 1/2 games out of first in their division, that is 3-7 in their last 10, that is the 8th worst team in the league, and the 4th worst in the division. Luckily, you're still in the East, Drew. The Bulls are miraculously only 3 games out of the final playoff spot. That's sure a step up too. You went from a team with consecutive 50 win seasons to a team that can't spell consecutive. You have no one to answer to. You have the green light whenever because no one cares. Your coach won't be there next year, so he's just happy to be calling the shots. You're career is destined to take off from here...
In his final half season with the Cavs, Drew had this strange habit of looking at his hands if he were ever to make a few jumpers in a row. Yeah Drew, we are all just as surprised as you are that you hit 3 consecutive 10 foot jumpers. My 7th graders could do that on a consistent basis. This is a guy who says he feels like he can "shoot threes". Surprisingly he's taken 133 three point attempts in his illustrious career, making a whopping 30 of them for a 22.6% average. Here Drew, this is what I'll do for you. I'll write a letter to your coach for you:
Dear Jim Boylan,
Please design your next game plan around Drew's outside shooting touch and his finesse from beyond the arch. Please? At least try it on the last game of the year. What do you have to lose? It'll go down in history as the greatest single performance by a neck beard. And by greatest single performance I mean funniest single performance.
Thanks,
The Real A.C.
How can he insinuate that playing with Lebron James has hurt his career/production? Thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Yeah Drew, I 'd hate playing with the best player in the league too. I mean Lebron only gets every player on the court involved and does everything for his team. That sounds terrible. News flash Drew, you're not as good as you think you are. You need to just keep your mouth shut. If you are quiet and just play the game the way that its supposed to be played, you could be a decent player. You have the size to do it. Just stop trying to be a super star every time you get some touches. You'll never be the player you want to be. Be happy you have a job in the league and fill the role that your team asks you to fill; be a team player. Oh and stop doing stupid things like dunking the ball and hanging on the rim to show off after the whistle has blown. How old are you, 12? I will say that he does have a killer beard (the one on his face, not on his neck).
[Basketbawful]
Showing posts with label Drew Gooden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drew Gooden. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Wild Thing Returns to Cleveland
No, I'm not talking about Ricky Vaughan. I'm talking about Anderson Varejao. He agreed to terms with the Charlotte Bobcats, but since he is a restricted free-agent the Cavs can and will match the agreement. According to ESPN Insider the Cavs already have their 15 man roster full, meaning that when they match that offer they would need to cut someone. Instead of doing that, they apparently are exploring possible trade scenario's to maintain their pay roll and roster.
I'm not sold on Varejao's happiness in C-Town. I know contract holdouts turn personal fast, but lets be honest dude you're a role player. He has said publicly that he wanted to be traded and the contract that he agreed to with Charlotte has an opt out clause after the 2nd of 3 years. But as Insider pointed out that if Varejao does opt out in 2009, that is the same year that the contracts of Drew Gooden, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, and Eric Slow come off the books.
Varejao does provide a great spark to the team in some crucial situations, but I'm just a little curious as to whether or not that is going to continue or not. No one really knows how much of a diva Anderson really is. Who knows how excited he'll be about the Cavs matching that offer. I hope he can be a professional about it and just go out and do what he does best: grab that orange and squeeze it baby.
As I said before, he is a role player. And giving a role player a contract valued upwards of $52 million would have given the players of the NBA all the leverage they need to command outrageous and unworthy contracts. The Cavs won a great battle in free agency this off season and season. Had his original request been granted by any team, chaos would have ensued next summer in free agency. That'd be like giving Scott Pollard a 5 year $45 million contract. To quote the wise Larry the Cable Guy: "That's like wiping before you poop, it just don't make sense."
While I'm on the topic of the Cavs has anyone noticed that beastly beard that Drew Gooden has been sporting? That is a man's beard. I'm truly jealous. Apparently he has some bet going with the Wizard's DeShawn Stevenson for who can go the longest without shaving. Hasn't anyone learned yet? Drew Gooden will step up to the plate on any bet involving some sort of awkward hair growth. He did the neck beard last year, now the normal beard this year. We need a nick name for Drew Gooden. Kinda like how Deadspin dubbed Derek Anderson (quarterback for the Browns if you've been in unconscious since September) "Horse Balls". And speaking of Deadsping and Horse Balls, one of my buddies I work with happened to purchase the HORSE BALLS t-shirt.
I need to vent a little anyway about these Cavs. I know LeBron is the King and all, but how is this team that bad when he doesn't dress? They don't seem to have these problems when he gets his usual in game rests. No one seems to want to step up to the plate and lead this team. I wish someone would though. Why not someone like Damon Jones? He wants a trade, so what better way to get yourself in a good situation than turing into a locker room and on court leader for a team. If he can start to get his shot to fall again, then he has the personality to be a leader. I mean I don't care who steps up, just someone needs to. Mike Brown needs to get in the face of his team and get them to realize that they are putting way too much on the broad shoulders of LeBron James. And the addition of a role player in Varejao is not going to solve many problems. I will except no excuses for finishing .500 for the season after winning the Eastern Conference. I know a 42-42 team will make the playoffs at an 8 seed, but is that really where you are aiming Danny Ferry and Mike Brown?
The time to right the ship is now, with LeBron on the bench. If you can do that, you will get more out of your guys that you can ever have imagined. Think of the confidence that LeBron would have in his teammates when he comes back from injury if they can prove to the league that they aren't the JV team and LeBron is the Varsity team. I'm challenging Mike Brown right now to get this team headed in the right direction before LeBron comes back. Their best game without the King came on Sunday afternoon vs the new favorite out of the East in the Celtics. Step up and get the job done. I'm not asking to win every game, but just to put together a performance that you are proud of and continue to get better. Isn't that the goal anyway?
I'm not sold on Varejao's happiness in C-Town. I know contract holdouts turn personal fast, but lets be honest dude you're a role player. He has said publicly that he wanted to be traded and the contract that he agreed to with Charlotte has an opt out clause after the 2nd of 3 years. But as Insider pointed out that if Varejao does opt out in 2009, that is the same year that the contracts of Drew Gooden, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, and Eric Slow come off the books.
Varejao does provide a great spark to the team in some crucial situations, but I'm just a little curious as to whether or not that is going to continue or not. No one really knows how much of a diva Anderson really is. Who knows how excited he'll be about the Cavs matching that offer. I hope he can be a professional about it and just go out and do what he does best: grab that orange and squeeze it baby.
As I said before, he is a role player. And giving a role player a contract valued upwards of $52 million would have given the players of the NBA all the leverage they need to command outrageous and unworthy contracts. The Cavs won a great battle in free agency this off season and season. Had his original request been granted by any team, chaos would have ensued next summer in free agency. That'd be like giving Scott Pollard a 5 year $45 million contract. To quote the wise Larry the Cable Guy: "That's like wiping before you poop, it just don't make sense."
While I'm on the topic of the Cavs has anyone noticed that beastly beard that Drew Gooden has been sporting? That is a man's beard. I'm truly jealous. Apparently he has some bet going with the Wizard's DeShawn Stevenson for who can go the longest without shaving. Hasn't anyone learned yet? Drew Gooden will step up to the plate on any bet involving some sort of awkward hair growth. He did the neck beard last year, now the normal beard this year. We need a nick name for Drew Gooden. Kinda like how Deadspin dubbed Derek Anderson (quarterback for the Browns if you've been in unconscious since September) "Horse Balls". And speaking of Deadsping and Horse Balls, one of my buddies I work with happened to purchase the HORSE BALLS t-shirt.
I need to vent a little anyway about these Cavs. I know LeBron is the King and all, but how is this team that bad when he doesn't dress? They don't seem to have these problems when he gets his usual in game rests. No one seems to want to step up to the plate and lead this team. I wish someone would though. Why not someone like Damon Jones? He wants a trade, so what better way to get yourself in a good situation than turing into a locker room and on court leader for a team. If he can start to get his shot to fall again, then he has the personality to be a leader. I mean I don't care who steps up, just someone needs to. Mike Brown needs to get in the face of his team and get them to realize that they are putting way too much on the broad shoulders of LeBron James. And the addition of a role player in Varejao is not going to solve many problems. I will except no excuses for finishing .500 for the season after winning the Eastern Conference. I know a 42-42 team will make the playoffs at an 8 seed, but is that really where you are aiming Danny Ferry and Mike Brown?
The time to right the ship is now, with LeBron on the bench. If you can do that, you will get more out of your guys that you can ever have imagined. Think of the confidence that LeBron would have in his teammates when he comes back from injury if they can prove to the league that they aren't the JV team and LeBron is the Varsity team. I'm challenging Mike Brown right now to get this team headed in the right direction before LeBron comes back. Their best game without the King came on Sunday afternoon vs the new favorite out of the East in the Celtics. Step up and get the job done. I'm not asking to win every game, but just to put together a performance that you are proud of and continue to get better. Isn't that the goal anyway?
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