Stephon Marbury: NBA Stars Aren’t Prepared To Play In China

Thank you Derek Fisher for saying what every fan already knows: since the NBA went into a lockout, all we’ve heard is crickets. Fisher thinks it’s been oddly quiet ever since June ended. This week’s negotiating will deal with many of the “system” issues at hand, not necessarily the money. We like that approach. Get the fundamental stuff down first – like whether a hard cap could actually work – and then figure out the money. Talking money does nothing, outside of making everyone crazy. Make some progress people … Aaron Brooks to China? It could happen. Brooks has an offer from a team over there, and will undoubtedly be one of the more popular players (he played with Yao Ming…which nearly makes him a God in China). Even if he takes the offer, we believe he has some unfinished business in the NBA. He fell off HARD once he came to Phoenix (actually even before that, he started off 2010 shooting a pathetic 35 percent for Houston), and never adjusted to playing either behind or next to Steve Nash. Brooks was a terror for the Rockets for a few years, and back in college at Oregon, he was one of the few players that you had to actually gameplan around because of his speed and quickness. When he’s on, it changes the whole tempo. You would think Phoenix is a perfect home for him. Why hasn’t it worked out? … And Stephon Marbury acting as the voice of reason for other players? No way. But somehow, it’s happening. Starbury said yesterday he doesn’t think Amar’e and Carmelo are ready to play in China; he doesn’t think they can handle the “grittiness” of the basketball scene over there. It’s a different world. But do you really think these guys haven’t done their research, don’t know what they’re facing? There’s no way some NBA players are that naive. It would be an amazing experience, something different. But the adjustments on the court could be difficult … There are a few hidden gems on this top 10 plays of the week, including a between-the-legs dunk that rivals any we’ve seen outside of Desmond Mason (his joint in the 2003 Dunk Contest is unparalleled. We don’t care who else you bring up. That’s a perfect dunk) … How hard do the Bulls push it? So hard that even their coach had knee surgery. Tom Thibodeau underwent a knee replacement surgery earlier this month and says he’s feeling much better. Thibs might have to now change up his game. We’re thinking no more down-on-one-knees, no more squatting. You never know how these guys come back from those major knee injuries … Some of the Dime crew was in the City of Brotherly Love yesterday for the Red Bull King of the Rock one-on-one tournament. James “Jim Bob” Pope ended up taking the crown, winning in the finals over DeSean White. He’s on his way to Alcatraz, and his first words after the game ended? “Where’s my money?” But Antoine “Doo Dirt” Brown has the respect of everyone there. Our man played two games AFTER fracturing his hand. That’s love. That’s real. The few times we’ve fractured bones in our fingers/hands, it’s been brutal. We still don’t have a clue how Doo Dirt did it … We’re out like Rodman singing Pearl Jam.