The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 101, Heat 93


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


December 12, 2013



MIAMI -- The Miami Heat came back and broke the hearts of the Charlotte Bobcats the last time the teams met. This time, it was the Bobcats who broke Miami’s hearts. The first quarter was all Dwayne Wade, who scored 13 of his 29 points in that quarter. Wade’s play helped propel the Heat to a 53-45 lead at halftime.


The Bobcats had tried to get the post game going, trying to ride Nerlens Noel and Derrick Williams in the first half but the Heat had made adjustments since the last time they met.


In the second half, the Bobcats gave the ball to Tyreke Evans and he responded in a big way. Evans began to drive in and score on Wade, testing the interior Heat defense. He missed only one shot the entire game, hit all eight of his free throws, and hit a clutch three. The Bobcats opened up a huge lead on the Heat in the third, going into the fourth leading by 11.


With the Heat now focusing on Evans, he began to dish the ball back inside to Noel who answered the challenge and routinely dunked over Chris Bosh.

The Heat closed the lead to four with less than three minutes to go in the fourth, but Tyreke Evans again took on the scoring role and helped end any chance of a comeback.


Evans finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Noel finished with 24 points and five rebounds.


Despite the outstanding play of Wade, who finished with 29 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, the Heat were let down by Lebron James who had 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists but shot 14-of-32 from the field.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

The Avengers


The Bobcats avenged their heartbreaking loss to the Heat the previous month and in the process did something they haven’t been able to do in years: they are now tied for the division lead at 14-6. Winning this game on the road, quieting the Heat home crowd, was an extra bonus. The young Bobcats are the surprise team of the NBA and could be in line for a playoff spot for the first time in years.

Another 50


Once again the Bobcats shot over 50 percent from the field and once again they won. The trend continues to be a measuring stick for the Bobcats success, as they are now the most efficient team in the league.

Too Hot to Handle


The Bobcats also shot 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, something that shouldn’t be counted on to happen again. The Bobcats are not a three point shooting team and their hot third quarter -- where they outscored the Heat 36-16 -- is likely an anomaly. Still, the Bobcats made the most of their opportunities from long range.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

The Quarterly Breakdown


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


December 13, 2013



The NBA season is underway and we’re already a quarter of the way through it. Some interesting trends have appeared and it seems, at least for now, that the playoffs will feature the return of some franchises that haven’t seen the postseason in quite some time. Here’s how things look after the first quarter of the NBA season.


Eastern Conference

1. 76ers (15-6)


The Sixers are rolling and that’s due to the emergence of Jrue Holiday as a go-to point guard. Holiday is averaging nearly 20 points and 10 assists a game, and is on one of the best contracts in the NBA. As he and Bynum continue to find a rhythm with one another, the Sixers plow on and through their opponents. This is what Philly fans envisioned when they traded for Bynum.

2. Bobcats (13-6)


Out of nowhere, the Charlotte Bobcats have burst onto the NBA scene. This is a team that screams underdog or undercat, as it were. Tyreke Evans was let go by the Kings and the Bobcats swooped him up, his only real suitor. Derrick Williams was given up on by the Timberwolves and the Bobcats took a flyer on him. Nerlens Noel went from a lock as a number one overall to a question with his injury. They all have assembled together to form a team that is the surprise of the NBA. Whether this season ends with the playoffs or not, the Bobcats have to be pleased.

3. Heat (14-7)


The Heat find themselves in good shape as the first quarter of the season comes to a close but are dealing with new threats … specifically, the emergence of the Bobcats and 76ers. Both teams feature a true big man who punish the Heat on the inside. Lebron’s stellar play continues and Wade seems like a younger version of himself. Chris Bosh’s numbers are down though and he’s shooting only 45 percent from the field. If the Heat are going to right the ship and get back into to the number one spot in the East, Bosh’s play will have to improve.

4. Cavaliers (13-7)


Kyrie Irving, Tristian Thompson, and Dion Waiters continue to improve and the Cavs are off to an impressive early start. Irving leads the team in scoring and assists. Thompson is developing in the low post and the team is gelling. It’s too early to tell if the Cavs will be able to hold on till the playoffs, but progress is being made and that can’t be overrated for an organization that was left for dead after Lebron exited.

5. Hawks (11-8)


The Hawks are in decent shape despite not making a major splash in free agency but that’s not going to be the case if Louis Williams doesn’t shoot better. Williams is making only 36 percent of his shots and has been in a prolonged slump over the last month. If the Hawks want to have any chance of sustaining their limited success, Williams must right the ship.

6. Pistons (12-11)


Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight are playing wonderfully off one another and the Pistons are looking like a team for the first time in years. With a true point running the floor the team is functioning much better. The coaching staff is giving this team a firm hand but is allowing them to explore what they’re all capable of. Don’t expect them to be around in April but the progress is welcome in the motor city.

7. Bulls (11-11)


The Bulls are a team that has had trouble finding its offensive identity after letting go of Carlos Boozer. No one would have expected that, not with the impressive play of Gibson in last year’s playoffs. Rose is back to full strength now but the scoring load is more on him than ever. The off-guard spot is a turnstile as the Bulls try to find someone there to help Rose. The defending conference champs are struggling but there’s still plenty of season left.

8. Wizards (9-9)


The Wizards are a very intriguing team. Danny Granger has made them a threat but an inconsistent one, as the Wizards live and die off their shooters (Granger and Beal). If neither is making their shots the defense will shut down the lane and make Wall win it with his unreliable jumper. The Wizards lost six straight than won five straight earlier in the season … this team is one that’s going to be fighting off others as much as itself.

9. Nets (9-12)


The Nets look like a team fighting off age. Gerald Wallace has been battling nagging injuries all season long and hasn’t been at full strength. Deron Williams is still recovering from his multiple offseason surgeries. The only one who is playing well is Brook Lopez, who is averaging 17 points and 11 boards so far this season.

10. Pacers (8-12)


Carlos Boozer not only haunts the Bulls, he also haunts the Pacers, as he hasn’t fit in quite as well as many would hope. Boozer is putting up his usual numbers (15 points and 9 boards a game) but the chemistry on the team is out of whack. The trade of Danny Granger is being felt by Paul George, who is struggling to adapt to the small forward position again. George’s numbers have dropped across the board and the Pacers may have set themselves

back.

11. Bucks (8-16)


The end of the Jennings-Ellis era has brought forth mediocrity from the Bucks but it competitive mediocrity. The Bucks are getting beat by more talented teams but look like they’ve made the right play this season. They won’t compete for a playoff spot but they will be loaded with picks in the 2014 draft, the most loaded draft in years.

12. Magic (6-14)


Shabazz Muhammad is as good as advertised and the Magic’s youth movement is under way. Don’t be surprised to see this team heavily involved in the trade market as the deadline approaches, as a number of veteran players are having solid years on a struggling team.

13. Raptors (6-16)


Too many wings and too much cap invested in Bargnani, the Raptors are a franchise that is quickly becoming synonymous with the word

“incompetent.” Where former dregs of the East like the Bobcats and Pistons have improved, the Raptors are stuck in the muck. If things don’t improve this team could be looking at a rough season.

14. Celtics (5-15)


Most aren’t used to seeing the Celtics sit this low in the standings and that’s because it hasn’t happened in years. Still, the Celtics are here, and they look to stay here. Both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnet continue to show the mileage on their bodies every night. The Rondo-centric offense isn’t getting it done and the Celtics are getting blown out most games. Danny Ainge has been waiting to blow things up for a few seasons now … it looks like this is finally the year he gets to push that button.

15. Knicks (4-16)


The Knicks aren’t horrible: they just have really bad luck. In the Knicks sixteen losses, twelve of them have come by four points or less. The Knicks are in these games but the ball hasn’t bounced their way. This isn’t stopping the fans and tabloids from calling for blood though … James Dolan is feeling the pressure to concede defeat and blow things up. After getting bounced from the playoffs last year by the rival Nets, to have the season start this way is just about the worst thing that could happen. The clock ticks in New York … they’ll have to have right the ship sooner rather than later.





Western Conference

1. Nuggets (15-7)


The Nuggets got off to a rough start in the season, losing four straight before the return of Ty Lawson. Since then they’ve gone 15-3 and are looking as lethal as they are fast. Speed kills and the Nuggets have just gotten better. Even with the absence of Wilson Chandler (who was traded to the Lakers), the Nuggets keep on chugging and look to get back to the conference finals.

2. Warriors (14-7)


The Dubs are excelling on defense like never before thanks to the return of a healthy Andrew Bogut. Bogut is in a contract year and the Warriors are wondering if he can stay uninjured for enough of the year to secure a playoff spot and advance to the next round, something they haven’t done since the “We Believe” era. If Bogut remains healthy, along with the ever scoring Steph Curry, the Warriors will be golden indeed.

3. Trail Blazers (15-8)


The Blazers started off the year slow due to an injury to big man Lamarcus Aldridge, but have righted the ship over the last seven games. They aren’t far behind the Nuggets for the number one spot in the conference. Damian Lillard continues to evolve before everyone’s eyes and is the focal point of the Blazers now. As he goes so does Portland.

4. Timberwolves (13-8)


It’s no longer the K-Love/Rubio show: Monta Ellis has entered the building and has made an immediate impact. Ellis’ unique makeup as a scorer first, second, third, and fourth guard is the perfect complement to Rubio’s passing and Love’s interior presence. Ellis has been given the green light to make offense happen and his percentages are up just about everywhere. Love and Rubio are also flourishing on offense, while Steven Jackson and Nikola Pekovic do the dirty work on defense. The Wolves could be a contender for a playoff spot if their current production holds true.

5. Spurs (12-9)


It took a while, but Paul Millsap is finally finding his fit with the Spurs. Brought in to help take some of the burden off Duncan in the post, Millsap is finding his place on the team. The steady as usual presence of Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili has helped the team adapt to the new player. The Spurs still look a step behind everyone else ahead of them but this is a marathon, not a race: expect them to move up the standings as the season progresses.

6. Rockets (12-9)


James Harden and company continue to dazzle the league with offense, but it’s the play of Josh Smith on defense that has the Rockets this far. Smith is making his presence felt at the three spot, punishing opponents with his athleticism. The signing of David West to provide experienced low post play at the four has made the front court surprisingly effective. This is still James Harden’s show but with the play of Smith and West, along with the solid effort of Lin and Asik, the Rockets look to make some noise as the season progresses.

7. Hornets (10-8)


Eric Gordon is finally showing that the money he was given was worth it. Gordon only played in roughly half the games last season and there were whispers that he was going to get traded this offseason … well, those rumors should be dead now. He’s shooting 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from three, and scoring 21 points a game. The Hornets aren’t world beaters but they have a very competitive team on the floor for the first time in years. As their young frontcourt continues to develop one has to wonder if the Hornets are prepping themselves for a leap.

8. Thunder (12-10)


The defending champions of the NBA have struggled this season due in no small part to trying to figure out how to score without Kevin Martin. Martin, who was deemed expendable in the offseason due to the emergence of Jeremy Lamb, has been missed. The Thunder seem to have gotten things on the right track but the rest of the season will be important … they’ll need to make up some ground to help secure home court for some of the playoffs, where OKC is lethal.

9. Suns (12-10)


Brandon Jennings was the right move for the Suns. It seems premature to say something like that but the numbers are impressive: 25.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 9.6 APG on 42 percent shooting. He’s made the Suns relevant in a way that hasn’t been true since Steve Nash. What makes this more impressive is that the Suns are doing this all without Jared Dudley, who’s out with a strained MCL. Once he gets back the Suns could go on a run. Whatever the case may be, they have to be happy in Phoenix.

10. Kings (11-10)


Letting Tyreke Evans walk was a tough move for the new ownership of the Kings. There were no sure takers for Evans large contract if they did re-sign him and the two sides had soured on each other. They made the decision and Evans is flourishing in Charlotte. But don’t feel bad for the Kings as they’re finding their footing without him. The offense is running through Cousins, who signed a long-term contract extension only a week ago, and he’s flourishing. Isaiah Thomas is growing leaps and bounds, averaging 19 a game, and the Kings look to be in good shape for the future.

11. Lakers (11-10)


LA is hanging on for dear life after the defection of Dwight Howard. Kobe, Nash, Gasol, and Wilson Chandler are keeping this team afloat while Tyrus Thomas is showing a surprising amount of effort on every play. The Lakers still lack depth, still lack youth, but aren’t dead yet … if they can just keep within striking distance of that last playoff spot they can make some noise in the postseason. It’s just a matter of them hanging on that long.

12. Mavericks (10-11)


Dwight’s new team is struggling as much as his old one, but that’s not due to poor effort: it’s due to injuries. The Mavs lost Dirk for the first ten games of the year and went 3-7 in those games, unsurprisingly. With his return the Mavs are beginning to climb out of the dregs of the conference. Howard is playing much like his old self, averaging 20 PPG and 12 RPG, and Kemba Walker is looking like a legitimate all-star candidate. Expect the Mavs to make a run and climb up the standings.

13. Jazz (8-11)


The Jazz are struggling to find their groove. The new frontcourt duo of Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors is not meshing as well as Utah expected and if the season continues to unfold in this way, expect someone to get traded (that’s you Al Jefferson). The Jazz upset the order last year in the playoffs, knocking off the Grizzlies, but just barely squeaked into the postseason.

14. Grizzlies (9-13)


The Grizzles are looking beat up despite the season just starting. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have both suffered early injuries but both should be back sometime this week. The Grizzlies can’t wait as they’re no one else on the team that can replicate the unique dynamics that duo possesses. Rookie Otto Porter is showing flashes of great things in his limited minutes … if the season continues to go this way expect him to get more time.

15. Clippers (6-16)
What’s wrong with the Clippers? That’s the question on everyone’s mind. Injuries haven’t bothered them. They made wise signings and draft selections. Chris Paul is back. Yet, the Clippers resemble … well, the Clippers pre-Chris Paul. Paul himself seems to be fine but his decision making is just a hair off … is this a case of a player losing something once he gets his max contract or did the Clippers underestimate the value of the departed Eric Bledsoe? Whatever the case may be, Vinny Del Negro’s head is on the chop block … he will be the one to get axed long before anyone starts pointing fingers at CP3.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story



12-20-13

The slick silver suit and the rose shaded sunglasses said it all to Ronnie.


It said that the guy before him was completely full of himself. “Would you like to repeat that?” Ronnie asked as he set his sandwich down. He had taken lunch out of the office today and was enjoying a sub out on the patio of this restaurant. Despite it being December, the weather in Charlotte was quite nice today.


But even nice weather brought out people like this. The agent pulled his glasses down and motioned towards the empty chair before him. “May I?”


Ronnie had wanted this lunch alone but his secretary had made the mistake of telling this guy where he was. He nodded with a frown. “You have ten minutes.”


“I only need five,” the agent said. He was Freddie Brigs, the agent for Derrick Williams. “Mr. Gold, as you know, my client is having a marvelous year.”


“He’s having a solid year, yes,” Ronnie said coolly. Williams was having a good year, truthfully, but Ronnie would never admit that to Brigs face.


“He’ll be on the market in 2015. We just wanted to make sure you know we appreciate what you and the Bobcats have done. We’ll give you a fair shot.”


Ronnie cracked a disbelieving smile. “A fair shot?”


“Yes. I’ve heard from other organizations that may be interested in my client’s talents … they value him highly.”


“Oh, do they?” Ronnie rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it a little early to be angling for a new deal barely two months into the season?”


“We’re not angling for anything.” Brigs flashed a smile. “We just wanted to let you know.” He stood from the table. “Have a good day.” He left.


Ronnie stared after him and shook his head.


Sharks. He wondered if Williams even knew his agent was doing this. He’d have to talk to him later.


A waiter came by the table and held out an envelope. “Sir, we’ve received this for you.”


Ronnie looked at the envelope questioningly. He accepted it and set it down beside his sandwich.


It took a moment, but it dawned on him that the envelope was probably from Brigs. The guy seemed the type for the theatrics. He opened it and a pile of pictures poured out of it.


Pictures of Desmond.


Pictures of him … no, it couldn’t be.


Ronnie leaned forward, his eyes taking in the details. Desmond was beating people in these pictures. Hurting them. Making them bleed.


He began looking through all the pictures before he found a post-it note.


On it were two sentences.

“He will die. Will you?” The note said.


Ronnie stared at it.


He had lost his appetite.


The only things on his mind now were questions.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 86, 76ers 72


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


December 21, 2013

PHILADEPHIA -- The game was a neck and neck affair for three quarters, as neither team could get their offense going and both looked out of sorts on that end of the court. Stars on both teams struggled to get going but that changed in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats led by only four points entering the fourth.


Once the quarter started the game changed. Jrue Holiday got going but on the other side, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Williams got hot too. The Bobcats rolled in the fourth, outscoring the 76ers 30-18. Despite Holiday finishing with 24 points and 11 assists, he got no help Andrew Bynum, who finished with only nine points.


Noel and Williams both finished with 22 points and Noel pulled down 16 boards. Tyreke Evans only scored 14 points o 4-of-14 shooting.


Here are three takeaways from the game:


Spreading The Ball Around


The Bobcats won this game not behind the efforts of any one player but behind the unselfishness of its players. The team dished out 21 assists and found the open man, whether inside or out. “We really did well in getting the ball to the open man … we just missed on some easy shots,” said Coach Mike Dunlap.


Turnover Fever


The Bobcats turned the ball over 12 times, double that of the 76ers. Most of these turnovers came due to poor dribbling technique from rookie Ryan Harrow, who had the most turnovers on the team in garbage time. Harrow scored on every shot he took but didn’t take care of the ball well.


Psycho T Goes Off


Tyler Hansbrough played a huge role in pulling away in the fourth quarter from the 76ers, scoring 10 of his 12 points in that quarter, pulling down five rebounds, and sinking all his free throws. Hansbrough was a handful for the 76ers and helped get crucial boards in the early part of the quarter.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story


12-21-13

He’d never seen him like this. It wasn’t his usual demeanor. “You okay?” Desmond asked as he looked over at Ronnie. The two were in his office, watching highlights from the NBA that night. They had won against the 76ers. They had throttled a conference opponent.


But Ronnie hadn’t been as in to the game as usual. He just sat there and watched, providing very little of his usual commentary.


The young man’s eyes found their way to him. Desmond felt a chill go up his spine. “I’ve been wondering something,” Ronnie said quietly.


“What?”


“How did you get those scars?”


Desmond turned back towards the TV. He didn’t want to talk about that and he didn’t have a good lie to cover. “Let’s just say I made some stupid mistakes and this is my payment.”


Ronnie reached down into his laptop bag by his chair, pulled out an envelope, and tossed it onto Desmond’s lap. “Explain that.”


Desmond looked at him with confusion and opened the envelope.


He closed his eyes when he saw the contents.


“I had that delivered to me at lunch yesterday.”


Desmond took the envelope and tossed it across the room. The pictures came flying out, floating in the air for a long moment before finding the ground. “It was a long time ago.”


“How long?” Ronnie asked as he stood, the air around him reverberating in anger.


Desmond couldn’t force himself to look at his friend … the shame made him want to hide away in a hole. “Over a decade.”


Ronnie took a deep breath. “They’re threatening to kill you.”


Desmond nodded, taking it in stride. “I know.”


A long silence descended on them. “You know because you know them,”

Ronnie concluded, the disappointment evident in his voice.


Desmond stood. “I’m sorry they threatened you. I’ll handle it.”


Ronnie shook his head. “They have people watching my house … they have people watching Liz.”


Desmond’s hands clenched into fists. “You know this for sure?”


“Liz had been commenting on the neighbor’s new car. I asked … they don’t have one. I haven’t told her,” Ronnie said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know what to tell her about this.”


“Tell her nothing,” Desmond insisted. “It’ll just worry her and tip them off that she knows. Better to be ignorant in this situation.”


“How do you know them?”


Desmond didn’t want to tell. He didn’t want to revisit that. But at this point, he had no choice. “I used to work for some people who were not friendly towards these guys. They did stuff to us and we did stuff to them.”

He was careful not to mention who he worked for … he still had his orders. The family wanted to remain out of the picture for Ronnie and Desmond was going to keep them out of it.


“Who’s after you?”


“His name is Gerard … a leader of a gang of thugs who think they deserve everything they want.” Desmond rubbed his scarred knuckles. “He left me with these.”


Ronnie’s eyes found their way to the knuckles and then back to Desmond’s face. “What do we do?”


“We make sure he knows we’re not to be messed with. I have some … friends.” He looked at Ronnie. “Not the nice kind. Let me deal with it.”


Ronnie shook his head. “I want to be involved. They threatened Liz.”


Desmond frowned, but nodded. He understood. He’d do his best to keep Ronnie away from the bad stuff.


Gerard had made the first move.


Now, it was their turn.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 97, Pistons 79


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


December 28, 2013



DETROIT -- The Bobcats continue to roll and have now won their sixth game straight. Detroit tried their best to contain Tyreke Evans but he would not be denied. Evans finished with 25 points, four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. It was a competition between him and Brandon Knight, who finished with 19 points but shot an atrocious 5-of-18 from the field.


The game was lost for the Pistons after halftime, where they entered the third quarter losing 44-33. The Boncats would outscore them in every quarter behind the ultra-efficient play of Nerlens Noel, who finished with 22 points and nine boards.


Greg Monroe bagged 18 points and nine boards, but the battle of the big men was won by Noel, who had a thunderous jam over Monroe in the third quarter that spawned a Twitter explosion. Monroe was forced to foul on the shot and Noel still converted the dunk. He even converted the free throw.


MKG netted 17 points and 11rebounds while also hassling the Pistons defensively, flying around the floor and contesting any shot that came near him.


Here are three takeaways from the game:


Evans A-Fire


Tyreke Evans is coming off his best three games as a Bobcat, where he’s scored over 25 points in each game on nearly 50 percent shooting. Evans seems to be in the zone and the rest of the NBA had better be on notice.


Block Party


The Pistons had difficulty getting into the paint with their guards as MKG was on patrol. He had three blocks and two steals in the game, punishing the Pistons with his defense and getting some tough buckets on the other end.


Back at 50


The Bobcats hit 50 percent of their shots for the first time in two weeks tonight. The effort was marked by efficiency around the rim by Nerlens Noel and Derrick Williams, who combined for 34 points and 20 boards. The frontcourt duo with different styles is meshing well and both seem to be growing together, something that is rare for big men.

[kjking]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Love all of the updates coming out, the Cats are playing great, and the storyline is intensifying! Great job! And go Gators

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Love all of the updates coming out, the Cats are playing great, and the storyline is intensifying! Great job! And go Gators

Yeah, I got a ton of them that have been backlogged that I haven't had time to post this past week, so we're going to be getting a lot of updates today. I'm glad you're enjoying them ... the storyline is going to be taking some very interesting (and possibly super-dramatic) turns in the future. And yes, Go Gators

Now, for some more game updates. The Bobcats are indeed rolling.

*********************
Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 96, Mavericks 83


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


January 1, 2014



DALLAS -- The Charlotte Bobcats have now won their ninth game straight and did so tonight behind the outstanding play of Tyreke Evans, who scored 24 point on 11-of-19 shooting, and Derrick Williams who finished with 20 points and 12 boards. Williams and Evans were both in prime form as they dominated the Mavs.


The Mavs, for their part, kept fighting throughout the game. OJ Mayo had 26 points, scoring fourteen of them in the second half, and Dwight Howard put up a solid 14 and 11. Kemba Walker, former Bobcat, had a rough game with only 10 points and six assists on 4-of-11 shooting. As the Mavs continue to struggle to find their groove, the Bobcats continue to roll.


Here are three takeaways from the game:


Evans An All-Star


The Tyreke Evans all-star campaign is on and there’s no shortage of Bobcats players who feel that Tyreke has earned the spot. “He’s obviously playing at an All-Star level,” said veteran Brendan Haywood. “I’ve played with guys who have that quality and he has that this season … he should get in.”


Knocking Them Down


The Bobcats shot 84 percent from the charity stripe in this game, converting on 21-of-25 attempts. Derrick Williams and MKG lead the team with fifteen attempts between them, converting on thirteen of them.


Another 50


The Bobcats again got at or above the 50 percent mark, getting 51 percent in tonight’s game. Coach Mike Dunlap was very pleased with the way his team is playing and the way they’re doing it: “It’s about taking the good shots, the ones we know we can convert a lot of the time … we’re not in love with the three-ball but we’re in love with the shots in the paint. We convert a lot there and until it stops working for us, I don’t see why we should change that.”

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story


1-2-14

The buzzer rang again and again Michael slammed it. It was too early. It was too damn early for something that loud to be ringing. He rolled over and forced his eyes shut again, his mind not willing to concede the dream he was having.


Well, it was less of a dream and more a living memory. It was his last championship … he was remembering how the trophy felt in his hands, how the crowd roared at his name, how the team gathered around them. They were the smelliest bunch of people he had ever known but they won. They won all the time and they won like it was nothing, like it was breathing …


“Michael, get up,” Yvette said from the doorway. She had gotten up early like he would do most days.


She didn’t have nearly as much to drink at last night’s party as he did though.


He opened one of his eyes and smirked. Even in her bathrobe she was a knockout. “How about you come to bed?”


She chuckled at him. “I have yoga in an hour. That’s the only exercise I’m doing this morning.” She turned on the lights and set the brightness to max. She then walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and turning on the shower.


Michael groaned. He would have to get up to turn off the lights and as soon as his feet hit the floor he would be up for good. “Should have gotten those clap lights installed,” he mumbled to himself as he stood from the bed and grimaced at how cold the floor was. Even with carpeting it didn’t seem to help.


He took a step towards the bathroom but, realizing she was in the shower, he proceeded to the hallway bathroom. After a few minutes of washing the sleep and partial hangover off his face, he went to the kitchen to get himself some coffee.


He stopped dead in his tracks as he heard the machine already running. Yvette had her own coffee machine, one that didn’t sound anything like his. She hated using his.


He turned the corner slowly and saw the slicked back hair of Vinnie.


Vinnie was in his home.


In the morning.


Without even a call.


Vinnie smiled at Michael and held out a cup of coffee. “I fixed you one.”


Michael rushed towards him, using a first step that he abused opponents with on the basketball court to close the distance between the two.


Before he could reach out and wring Vinnie’s neck, his bodyguard stepped between them.


Michael halted his movements. He was in no shape to take on one of

Vinnie’s goons. Especially his taller, younger, stronger goons.


“Michael, you must not have slept well,” Vinnie said from behind his guard. He set the coffee down and slid it over to him. “We need to talk. Just a few minutes.”


Michael took a deep breath and backed off. The guard stepped away. “You have five minutes.”


Vinnie sipped at his coffee -- he was using Michael’s favorite cup -- and sighed. “To make a long story short, we have a situation with a rival of the family. They’re going after your assistant GM and Gold.”


“Going after?”


“They’re going to try and kill them,” Vinnie said nonchalantly.


Michael’s eyes drilled into the slob before him. “We can’t let that happen. We’re winning. Gold and his front office are keys to that.”


“We know. But any active participation by us makes things … messy … if they get out into the public. We’ve contacted a few of our other friends and have made arrangements. But you should know that they’re in danger … just in case.”


“In case of what?”


Vinnie set down his coffee. “In case it’s easier to let them go.”


Michael stared at him. Was he saying what he thought he was saying? “Let them go … as in let them die.”


Vinnie’s smirk didn’t leave his face. “Michael, you can’t be blind to the good fortune we’ve stumbled upon. In one season your team has gone from dregs to playoff contender. The NBA hasn’t seen a turnaround like this in years.”


“You want to leave them to die? The family takes care of their people.”


“Gold has been taken care of,” Vinnie insisted. “He got his new job. His new house. His money. His status. He’s been launched thanks to us but that doesn’t mean we owe him anymore than that. He can go wherever he wants if he so chooses.”


“And Desmond?” Michael leaned on the bar angrily, his knuckles white. “He did time for you.”


Vinnie snapped his fingers and his guard went to open the door leading outside. “He did. And he’s had his dream fulfilled. He to can go where he wants now … things are getting dangerous for everyone Michael. We stand to lose a great deal if this situation gets out into the public domain. All those wins, all those profits, all that respect … it goes away if the press gets wind of this.” Vinnie straightened his tie. “We’re going to help them but that help may not be enough … and if it isn’t, it’s easier to let things play out then make them messier with more attempts at help.” He winked at Michael and left.


Michael stared after him.


The family was willing to sacrifice Gold and Desmond just to make sure they weren’t connected to the team.


They were willing to let two good men die.


Winning was important … but sacrificing lives for winning wasn’t worth it. He glanced at a picture of Yvette and he on the counter. People mattered … it had taken him a long time to figure that out after he retired.


“It’s time to get everything out in the open,” he whispered to himself.


It was time to explain everything to Gold.


He only hoped Ronnie could handle it. There was a lot to tell.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 105, Thunder 97


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


January 11, 2014



CHARLOTTE -- The Thunder came and got rolled late behind the dominant play of Nerlens Noel. Noel abused Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins on the inside for 33 points and 10 boards, as the rest of the Bobcats fed off his intensity. Tyreke Evans was engaged in a shooting duel with Russell Westbrook all night long and finished with 22 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.


Westbrook finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, but it was his teammate Jeremy Lamb who really flourished. Evans had trouble guarding the quick shooting Lamb all night long and Lamb finished with 34 points.


But the Thunder’s big cog, Kevin Durant, was stifled all night by MKG. Durant was held to only 16 points as MKG scored 20 on him. The Thunder were within three points of the Bobcats at the beginning of the fourth but were obliterated from that point on, with the Bobcats going on a 12-0 run at the beginning of the quarter. That run was started by a steal from Evans, a pass to MKG, and a thunderous throw down. It’s becoming a common sight to the home crowd and one that the Thunder, thankfully, don’t have to see for the rest of the season.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

Nitro Noel


Nerlens Noel continues to play well and is quickly securing himself the Rookie of the Year Honors. Noel took on both Ibaka and Perkins, getting both into foul trouble, and played under control on the defensive end. “Coach has been preaching discipline, control … channeling that intensity into something productive,” said Noel. “I’m doing that better now than I was at the beginning of the year and I’m glad to see it’s working.”

MKG Shuts Down Stars


MKG continues to improve his defensive game and is becoming the go-to defender to shut down stars on the opposing teams. “I take it as a challenge, every game,” said MKG. “The coaches come to me and say they need this guy to have a bad game. I just sit there and nod, cause I know they know I can do it. I like playing this way and I know a lot of guys don’t. I’m just glad the coaches respect me enough to trust me with that kind of responsibility.”

50 Again


In what is quickly becoming a daily stat for this team, the Bobcats again shot over 50 percent, finishing this game with 56 percent shooting. Coach Mike Dunlap continues to preach taking good shots but even he has to be surprised with the way this team is converting those shots. As the rest of the league watches in awe at Michael Jordan’s team become more like Jordan the player, the team itself chugs along … almost as if they expected this from the beginning like Jordan the player would.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Bobcats 114, Pacers 74


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


January 14, 2014



INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers supposedly came to the game but you wouldn’t know it by the way they played. The Pacers came out sporting their pin striped jerseys from the early 2000s and so the Bobcats matched with their racing jerseys.


The Bobcats jerseys worked better as the team blitzed up and down the court, confounding the Pacers on the fast break. The game was so lopsided that by the time the fourth quarter started the starters were on the bench. Nerlens Noel led the team with 20 points and 10 boards while Tyreke Evans scored 19.


For the Pacers, it was an abysmal game all around as only Jordan Crawford scored in double-digits, putting up 15 points for a team that looked anemic offensively and confused defensively.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

No Rest For The Wicked


The Bobcats continue to play a brand of nasty basketball, making opponents frustrated with themselves and the Bobcats. After losing the last game to the Wizards, Coach Mike Dunlap opted to run an intense practice yesterday to remind the team of the effort it took to win games. “It worked,” said Dunlap with a smirk after the game. “Maybe I’ll do that again in the future.”

Bench Brawlers


The Pacers and Bobcats bench came to a near brawl during the late fourth quarter as Jared Cunningham was fouled hard by Roy Hibbert. Cunningham was going up for a layup before Hibbert swatted the ball away and followed through with his arm, knocking Cunningham to the floor. Hibbert merely stood over him as Cunningham writhed in pain from the fall. Both teams have an intense dislike for one another, mostly due to the Bobcats winning every game against the Pacers so far by a wide margin, but both benches were held back by the coaching staff.

Cunningham Arrives


Before Cunningham (or JC as he’s called in the locker room) took that hard fall he had scored 11 points and dished out seven assists while operating the second unit for the entire fourth quarter. JC was efficient and explosive, getting to the lane for a number of dunks and layups before Hibbert took him down. Cunningham got up, sunk his two free throws, and then the Bobcats called a timeout to sub in rookie Ryan Harrow.


Harrow scored eight points in the final four minutes of play, showing that the future may be bright for the Bobcats backcourt.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story



1-15-14



“Do you know what this is about?” Desmond asked Ronnie as the two sat in the office of Michael Jordan. It wasn’t often the three of them met like this during the course of the season. Not unless Jordan wanted something done to the team but so far he had given the two of them freedom to do what they thought was best.


Ronnie had appreciated that. He knew how hard it must have been for Jordan to concede that he didn’t know better than the both of them … his pride was great but he was the ultimate competitor. It was expected.


The door to the office opened and close. Michael Jordan stepped in, the air around him whistling as he walked by. His stride was brisk and with purpose. Jordan had managed to get back down to his playing weight after Christmas … the man exemplified discipline. How he avoided all those Christmas treats was beyond Ronnie.


Jordan took a seat across from them and looked over both of them for a moment. “What I’m going to say isn’t going to be easy to hear.” His eyes locked onto Ronnie. “Especially for you.”


Ronnie felt his stomach tighten into a knot.


“What’s going on?” Desmond asked.


Jordan took a steadying breath and leaned back in his chair. “Desmond … I know about it all. I know them too.”


The words visibly surprised Desmond. He leaned back in his seat as his eyes danced. “You know … all of it?”


Jordan nodded. “We’re here to clear the air, once and for all. We all have pieces of the puzzle, we all have things we need to say … especially to Ronnie here.” Jordan shook his head. “Ronnie … you remember when I gave you this job? When I told you people I knew had great faith in you?”


Ronnie nodded. He couldn’t find his voice … he knew something big was happening. He knew that this was a moment he would relive in his mind for the rest of his life.


“Those people—”


“We can’t do this!” Desmond interrupted. “He’s not involved with them.”


Jordan narrowed his eyes. He took on that serious expression … the one Ronnie had seen only a handful of times since that first day the two met. “We’re all involved now. And we all need to know what’s really going on.” Jordan turned his attention back to Ronnie. “And the truth is … I never wanted you in this organization. You were some young punk forced on me by people who know certain past sins of mine that would ruin everything and everyone I love if it ever got out.” Jordan closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. “I didn’t believe in you when we first met.” He locked eyes with Ronnie. “But I believe in you now.”


Ronnie’s mind flew in a thousand different directions. Someone had forced him on Michael Jordan? Who could be that powerful? Who would do that?


“Why … why did they do that?” Ronnie managed to ask through the haze of confusion that had descended upon him.


Desmond looked away, shaking his head.


Jordan continued on. “Because of your father.”


Ronnie blinked and all questions in his mind were silenced. “My father?” He asked angrily. “My drunk of a father?” He stood from the couch. “What kind of BS is this?”


Jordan remained seated. “Ronnie, your dad worked for them … he was very skilled at what he did for them.”


“And what was that?”


Jordan didn’t hesitate to answer. “He killed people for them.”


Desmond looked at Jordan with surprise. “His old man did that for the family?” Desmond cupped his forehead with his hand. “No wonder they owed you.”


“Owed me what? A drunken father who walked out on me, my mother, and my baby brother?” Ronnie shook his head, trying to forget all the long nights where his mother would cry … where she would just sob for hours on end. After his dad left they had never heard from him again … gone, like he was never there.


But he had been there. Ronnie remembered. His mother remembered. Rick, thankfully, was only a few months old when their old man had left. Rick didn’t know anything about what went on. Rick didn’t have the memories.


Ronnie did. “He was a contract killer? He was a guy who murdered other people because he was ordered too?”


Jordan stood now, his full 6’6 frame on display. Even in a suit Jordan looked like he could crossover someone. “Your father was a drunk because of the work he did. He died last January in a hospice … liver cancer.” Jordan licked his lips. “He refused treatment. The family offered to save him and he refused treatment … to get you this.”


Ronnie stared at him. All of this … all of this had to be false. It had to be a lie. “My father’s dead … and he said no to treatment to give me a job as a GM?” He laughed, disbelieving, but Jordan wasn’t in the habit of lying to him. He wasn’t in the habit of being this serious about something that was false.


Jordan brought out a bottle of Scotch -- the good one from Denver -- and poured three glasses of it. He slid one over to Ronnie and handed the other one to Desmond, who sat in shocked silence on the couch still. “We’re all in deep … the family owns me.” He chugged his Scotch and breathed heavily. He could clearly feel the burn. “I’m never going to get out from under them. I know that but when I die, it ends with me. That much I know for sure.”


Desmond picked up the glass and stared into it. “I beat the hell of people for them … I did it for years.” He sipped at the Scotch and shook his head. “I did time for them and they repaid me with this job … I lost a decade of my life in prison because of those pricks. They gave me this and I was … I was grateful,” he admitted.


Ronnie moved over to the window, overlooking Charlotte, and blinked away some tears. His father was dead … he had expected that to happen at some point. The old man was such a heavy drinker that he was bound to kill himself with it. But to die like that … in some hospice, in the middle of god-knows-where, just to give him a shot at his dream … “I didn’t think he’d go out like that.”


Jordan set his glass down and stood by Ronnie. “We don’t get to choose how our loved ones die. They just do.”


Ronnie looked at him for a moment. Jordan knew what it was like to lose a father.


“Why are you telling us this?” Desmond asked, finally standing from the couch. “Why let Ronnie know? He was supposed to be kept in the dark. He was supposed to be uninvolved.”


Jordan turned quickly. “Because the family is done owing either of you anything. Vinnie met with a few weeks back … said they would help keep the gang off your backs this once and after that, what happens is out of their hands.”


Desmond shook his head. “They don’t do that, that’s not how they do things.”


“They used you both to get make this team a winner … and now we are one. We’re going to finish with a winning record this year and in the playoffs if things keep going the way they are.”


Ronnie turned to look at both of them. “So we’ve done our job and now we’re on our own.”


Jordan nodded. “They won’t help you anymore. They won’t keep the gang off you … they’re coming for Desmond. They’ll come for you if get in their way.”


Desmond picked up his Scotch and knocked the rest of it back. “Vinnie hinted at the fact that their help wouldn’t be around after this month … I asked, and I got it, but he said they didn’t know how long they could last … that things would get messier as it dragged on.” He set it down and cracked his knuckles. “I’m on borrowed time.” He looked at Ronnie and Jordan. “I can’t drag you guys down with me. I’ll resign and get of town … I can deal with them away from here.”


A decision had seemingly been reached. But Ronnie wasn’t about to let that stop him. He had just lost his father today … he wasn’t about to lose his friend too. “No.”


Desmond looked at him with confusion. “What?”


“We’re a team,” Ronnie said with determination. “We built this here … we made this. The three of us all made this … I’m not going to let them run you off.” He extended his hand. “Whatever our past sins, we’re in this together now. We have to fight, not run.”


Desmond looked at him like he was mad. “They’ll kill you. They won’t touch Jordan, he’s too powerful, but they’ll kill you, Ronnie.”


Jordan nodded. “Ronnie’s right. We’ve all put off this confrontation long enough. I can provide security for the both of you, hire men from a private security firm … we can stick this out.”


“And what about Liz? What about my relatives? What about his mother and brother?” Desmond shook his head. “These people aren’t the kind you dare. They don’t get turned away by that … they relish it. They will kill you and I’m not ruining anyone else’s life.” He looked between them both. “Consider this my resignation, effective immediately.”


Ronnie reached out but Desmond slapped his hand away. “Desmond, come on,” Ronnie pleaded. “We can fight this. We can’t be intimidated by these guys.”


Desmond shook his head. “I have to handle this my way and without anyone else involved. Good luck … and thank you both.” He left the office.


Ronnie looked back at Jordan.


Jordan sunk into his chair and poured himself another glass of Scotch.


“Now what?” Ronnie asked. His mind still swirled with questions, still was having difficulty absorbing it all, but he knew in his gut that letting Desmond walk away was wrong. He just didn’t know what to do. “We’re abandoning him.”


“No, he’s choosing to go about it by himself,” Jordan countered. “All said … he’s probably right.” He leaned back in his chair. “It’s out of our hands.”


Ronnie refused to believe that. He wasn’t about to let Desmond walk away. It was wrong. “Whatever … I’m going to help him.”


Jordan shot him a long glare. “Don’t do anything stupid.”


Ronnie didn’t pay the comment any mind.


He wasn’t about to let Desmond go.


Not without a fight.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story


1-17-14

“Ronnie, what’s wrong with you?” Liz asked. There wasn’t any reason for pretense or subtly … there was something on his mind. Something clearly wrong. “You’ve been in a funk for two days now.”


“I’m fine,” he said, his response robotic at this point. She had been hearing that for two days and each time he said it she knew it was a lie. He poured over the stats on his tablet before him, his eyes glancing up and down from the screen on the tablet to the TV. He was sinking himself into work but he wasn’t enjoying it like he usually would.


She was tired of this. She went to the TV and unplugged it from the wall.


“Hey!” He yelled.


She crossed her arms. “That’s the most passionate thing you’ve said to me in two days.”


He stared at her for a long moment before his shoulders slumped. He tossed the tablet onto the other side of the couch and shook his head. “Desmond … Desmond resigned.”


“Oh, Ronnie,” she said as she sat beside him and held his hand. “I’m sorry … but why?”


He looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head. “I don’t know for sure. He had some personal issues to deal with … he needed to get away from here. I just wish I knew how to help him. He’s gone off the grid, Liz … I know he wants to be alone but I think I can help.”


She sighed. “You can’t fix everything.”


“I can fix the worst team in the NBA in one offseason, why can’t I fix this?” He held out his hands. “He’s my friend, Liz … I’m leaving him hanging when he needs me most.”


“He may need something that’s not you,” she countered. “I know you think you can fix just about anything but people aren't basketball teams. People are more complicated.”


“I learned how to be a GM pretty fast.”


“Learning people takes a lot longer.” She shook her head. “When he wants your help, he’ll ask. You can’t force it on him.”


Ronnie frowned and crossed his arms. “I’d settle for knowing what he’s doing.”


Liz rolled her eyes and smirked. “You can always hire Scooby Doo and his friends to solve that mystery.”


Ronnie glared at her for a moment before his eyes lit up. “You’re brilliant.” He kissed her quickly on the lips and hopped up from the couch.


Liz watched in confusion. “Ronnie, what are you going to do?”


“I’m going to find Scooby Doo,” he yelled as he walked out the door. In a moment she heard the car start up and he was gone.


She sat there on the couch, dumbfounded.


“He’s insane,” she said to the empty house.


She loved him anyway.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

The Quarterly Breakdown


By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com


January 30, 2014



The NBA season has reached its halfway point and some teams have managed to already make their season one to remember. Here’s how things break down two quarters of the way through the season:


Eastern Conference

1. Bobcats (31-13)


The Bobcats are on pace to have the best season in franchise history and that’s in no small part due to a convergence of three factors: the signing of Tryeke Evans, the drafting of Nerlens Noel, and the hiring of GM Ronnie Gold. Those three cogs have turned an entire organization around and we could be staring at the best story in the NBA. Small market teams rejoice and David Stern, in his last waning days as commissioner, can rest easy knowing the best player to ever suit up (Michael Jordan, duh) is now in charge of the best feel-good story in the NBA.

2. Heat (30-14)


They trail their division rivals by only a game for the division title and are playing tough ball. Lebron is of course his usual brilliant self, as is D-Wade. Chris Bosh’s production has improved and the Heat are beginning to resemble that dominant playoff squad from their title run.

3. 76ers (25-19)


Andrew Bynum got hurt two weeks ago and the Sixers season has been just as injured since. Bynum isn’t expected to be back for at least another two weeks, which is bad news for the Sixers. Despite the outstanding play of Jrue Holiday and help from his supporting cast, the Sixers can’t keep people out of the paint. That’s because they can’t keep their big man on the court.

4. Cavaliers (23-20)


Dion Waiters missed a significant chunk of the last twenty games due to a severe ankle sprain but is back … just in time for the Cavs, who are staring up at the two top seeds and know they can’t reach those heights. But the Sixers? Yes, they can reach them. Kyrie Irving continues to dazzle with his play and Cavs fans are looking forward to the playoffs for the first time since Lebron last suited up for them.

5. Bulls (24-22)


It took some getting used to, but the Bulls have managed to figure out a way to win. Just don’t expect them to win a lot or consistently, as keeping their core five on the floor at the same time has been a difficult process for them. Coach Thibs continues to preach next man up, but how healthy will the Bulls be come playoff time? That’s the question.

6. Pacers (23-22)


Like the Bulls, the Pacers had an adjustment period but it seems to be leveling out for them. Paul George is beginning to resemble his pre-Danny Granger trade self and the Pacers are riding the hot hand of Jordan Crawford … yes, you read that ride. Crawford, gifted a starting role, has shown up in a big way, shooting his best percentage from the floor in his entire career. He’s no Reggie Miller but he’s improved and his improvement is part of the reason the Pacers are still hanging around.

7. Nets (21-21)


This is not what the Nets envisioned when they assembled their high priced core. Gerald Wallace has been in and out of the lineup all year with injuries. Deron Williams is in a prolonged slump. Kris Humphries is … well, Kris Humphries. Brook Lopez continues to perform well but his performance is overshadowed by the underperformance of his teammates. Only Joe Johnson seems to be living up to expectations but since he’s making the most money on the team, I suppose it’s easy for him.

8. Pistons (22-24)


The Pistons playoff hopes hang on the jaw of one Jonas Jerebko. He’s been out of the lineup for the last three weeks with a broken jaw and the Pistons have dropped a lot of those games in that time. The starting lineup has resembled something along the lines of Bledsoe, Knight, Random Player X, Drummond, and Monroe. Rodney Stuckey, perennial jacker of shots, has inhabited the three spot most nights and has shot his team out of the game most nights.

9. Hawks (18-23)


Speaking of players who shoot teams out of games, say hello to Louis Williams. He’s a recovering shot-o-holic and has had many, many relapses in the last month. Williams can’t seem to shoot himself out of his slump and he’s shooting a career-low 38 percent from the floor. The Hawks might still make the playoffs if they can get Williams under control. Maybe.

10. Wizards (18-24)


The Wizards are looking a no-win scenario. John Wall is publicly dissatisfied with the way the team has been built and isn’t happy in the least with the way they’re performing. Wall is having his best season statistically, but the some of the Wizards are struggling, especially Nene and Okafor. Beal and Granger are having good years, but neither can score reliably in the post. That’s what Nene was brought in for but it looks as if the Wizards miscalculated. Rumors are swirling on whether the Wizards will trade Wall before the deadline, work out a sign and trade during the offseason, or just bank on Wall playing for them no matter what.

11. Raptors (19-26)


Oh Canada … there’s a reason you only have one team. Rudy Gay is having a poor year, only averaging 16 points a game, while Bargnani continues to make every Raptors fan regret taking him number one overall. Kyle Lowry has declared he’s going into free agency and won’t be coming back (seriously) and the Raptors still have a glut of wing players. Yep, just another season in Toronto.

12. Bucks (19-26)


The Bucks are a team that plays competitive ball every night and won’t go down without a fight. Despite that, they are a team whose talent is inferior to the competition around them and are just biding their time till the offseason, where all those wonderful picks they have will come into fruition.

13. Magic (11-33)


Shabazz Muhammad continues to dazzle with his play and he’s making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. Of course, Nerlens Noel of the Bobcats is making a stronger one. Other than that, not much to report on the Magic.

14. Knicks (11-34)


Someone’s getting fired and it looks like a number of Knicks will be losing their jobs either before the deadline or during the offseason. Carmelo continues to play well, as well as Amare, but the two don’t play well with one another and obviously it’s not going to work. Amare’s contract makes a divorce difficult however and then there’s Tyson Chandler, who’s defensive presence is not making up for his severe lack of offense.

15. Celtics (10-34)


Celtic nation is enjoying this season. No, they’re not going to make the playoffs or get close to it, but they are witnessing the last season Paul Pierce will play. Pierce announced his intentions to retire on Christmas Day, saying that the time had come for him to move on. With his retirement, the Celtics will be able to do some things this offseason … the question is whether Rondo can be trusted to be the next franchise star. He’s taken on more of a scoring role this year and his assist numbers are down. The Celtics may be down on him, but whatever they decide, this year will go down as the last for The Truth. Enjoy him while you can fans.





Western Conference

1. Trail Blazers (34-12)


Damian Lillard continues to improve individually and improve the team as well. His play, combined with that of Lamarcus Aldridge, has given Blazer fans the first glimpse of a contending team in years. Injuries have mercifully left the Blazers alone after a rough early part of the season. Matthews and Batum are both having career years and the Blazers look legit.

2. Nuggets (30-15)


Denver is continuing to do what it does, but it has been hit with injuries to its bench recently. Andre Miller missed two weeks here, Anthony Randolph missed two weeks there, and with them gone the Nuggets deep bench looked shallow. They’re back now and the Nuggets look to do what they always do: run the floor, play manically fast, and make opponents pay for lackadaisical defense.

3. Hornets (29-15)


Anthony Davis is quickly developing into an All-Star caliber forward and Eric Gordon continues to drain everything that goes near the net. Rookie Cody Zeller is having a great year, averaging 17 points and eight rebounds a game. The Hornets lead their division by a decent margin and look to have made the leap so few thought would occur so soon.

4. Thunder (29-16)


The Thunder have righted the ship thanks to the outstanding play of Jeremy Lamb. Lamb had a rough early season but has since shown why he was promoted to the starting lineup, averaging 17 points a game and shooting a solid 41 percent from the field. He’s not as efficient as a certain bearded one, but who can blame him? He’s only 21, give him a few years to get a beard.

5. Timberwolves (27-18)


Monta Ellis is playing his way into a new contract, a really good new contract. He’s continuing to thrive in his role as a scorer and with the pressure off K-Love, the big guy’s numbers have returned to form. Love is averaging 21 points and 13 boards a game, looking like an All-Star. Rubio’s early season scoring streak has slowed a bit but he’s still more of a threat to dish than ever. The T-Wolves are likely going to make the playoffs and somewhere Kevin Garnett is angry about that.

6. Rockets (25-20)


James Harden continues to impress as the leading man in the fast and furious attack of the Rockets. After a slow start to the season Harden is averaging 23 points a game and five assists, putting his numbers back to the level we’re accustomed to. Josh Smith is still making people pay from the three spot, giving 21 points and nine boards from there, while Lin and Asik put up solid numbers. If the Rockets can keep the rest of the West off them, they’ll make the playoffs and make things very interesting.

7. Warriors (25-21)


Andrew Bogut got injured for a stretch of about ten games and the Warriors dropped seven of those games. Bogut’s back now but the question as to whether you can trust him to stay on the court still remains. He’s on course to play the most games since the 2010 season but can you trust him to be ready for the playoffs? More and more it seems that the Bucks got the better end of the Ellis-Bogut trade.

8. Mavericks (24-21)


It took awhile, but D12 and Dirk are clicking. With them finally on the same page, the Mavericks have clawed their way into the eighth seed in the West. It hasn’t been pretty and it hasn’t been easy, but the Mavs will have to continue to work at it in order to keep the rest of the West at bay. Dirk is only averaging 16 points a game and while Dwight is doing 21. The transition is now in effect for the Mavs who hope Dirk can give them more come playoff time.

9. Jazz (21-20)


The Favors-Jefferson frontcourt looked like a bad idea earlier in the year but things have straightened out for the Jazz. Jefferson is having his best year in four season and Favors is showing signs of growth at the four spot. Despite this, the Jazz are again on the cusp of missing the playoffs. They have roughly half the season left but consistency is going to be needed in order for them to make it to the postseason.

10. Lakers (22-24)


Kobe isn’t happy in Lakerland and when Kobe’s not happy, no one’s happy. Gasol is injured for the third time this year and the team doesn’t resemble anything close to the greatness the Lakers expect. Vultures are beginning to swarm in the front office, where GM Mitch Kupchack is under heavy pressure from the fans to do something. The thing is, the Lakers are so cap strapped that he has very few productive moves he can do. Rumors of internal strife between Jim and Jeannie Buss are also making their rounds in NBA circles and fans are wondering if the Lakers are ever going to be contenders again during the waning days of Kobe’s career.

11. Spurs (22-25)


It hasn’t been easy for the Spurs, who have finally fallen to father time and fallen hard. Duncan and Ginolbli both look a step slower while the vaunted Spurs bench struggles to get anything going. Tony Parker continues to play well, averaging 21 points and seven assists a game, but he can’t carry the team like Duncan could.

12. Kings (21-24)


An early season surge had Kings fans thinking playoffs, but the Kings have slid since thanks to a tough schedule. Cousins continues to play well, justifying his contract extension, but the Kings just don’t have that second player to take pressure off Cousins consistently. With the development of Tyreke Evans in Charlotte, the Kings might be second guessing letting him go.

13. Suns (20-25)


Brandon Jennings continues to pay brilliantly while the rest of the Suns around him do solid work. Michael Beasley continues to be a pain and the Suns front office is fielding offers … no one is biting, predictably. They’re not going to make the playoffs this year but they’ll have some cap to maneuver this offseason and could bring in some difference making free agents. This year has been a marked improvement over last and Jennings is showing himself to be a franchise caliber player.

14. Grizzlies (20-27)


The nasty duo of Gasol and Randolph isn’t producing this season as it did last. Despite added help on the bench for the Grizzlies, it seems teams have adjusted. Gasol and Randolph both are averaging far less than their previous season and Memphis could look to blow up the team before the deadline or during the offseason if they can find takers.

15. Clippers (15-20)


Chris Paul isn’t the problem but the rest of the Clippers might just have to go. Blake Griffin obviously not but his running mate, Deandre Jordan, isn’t doing much offensively except making weird faces. The Clippers will retool in the offseason and possibly move some pieces at the deadline to playoff contenders. Nevertheless, this year has been a huge disappointment in Clipperland and Vinny Del Negro looks to be on the outs once the season ends.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story


2-4-14

He pulled his pocket watch out and looked at it with trepidation. He hadn’t felt this way in a long time. In prison, he knew exactly what was going to happen and when it would happen … prisons operated on schedules. There was no randomness. There was only this or that.


But he wasn’t in prison anymore.


He was still dealing with thugs though.


He put the watch down and sipped at his drink. He gazed around the room, his eyes making note of all the things in it. He’d need these things soon.
“Anything else I can get you?” The woman behind the counter asked.


He shook his head. “I’m fine.” He glanced back at the watch in his hand.


She went into the back kitchen. He was the only one in this roadside diner. He was in some state … wasn’t sure which one at this point. Maybe Texas … it had all become a blur. As soon as he had left Charlotte he knew he was being followed. He got rid of his phone. He left his laptop.


He just had his binder, full of scouting information and potential trades, in his car. That was what he read every night. God, he missed being in the NBA. He paid for hotels with cash. He didn’t use his credit card. He was off the grid.


Gerard would find him of course.


And this day, his goons had.


But Desmond wasn’t worried about them. He just wanted to get it over with.


The door to the diner opened, the bell ringing out, and four pairs of feet entered the room.


The door shut.


Desmond put up his watch and turned in his chair.


These were the people he was waiting for. Two of them had crowbars. One had a bat. Another was sporting brass knuckles.


Desmond stood from the chair and cracked his knuckles. It had been awhile since he did this.


“We got a message for you,” the lead man said.


They rushed him.


Desmond didn’t let them come to him: he closed the distance between them quickly. He delivered a solid right hook to the lead man who slammed into the counter.


A crowbar came from his left. Desmond turned as fast as he could but he wasn’t as fast as he used to be … the crowbar caught him in the shoulder. Hurt like a mother.


He gritted his teeth, grabbed the crowbar, and pulled at it. The man didn’t let go but he wasn’t standing very firm. He lost his balance as Desmond pulled him towards the two men behind him.


The one with the bat swung but connected with the lead man, who was trying to pull himself off the counter. That slowed him down just enough for Desmond to throw the other man into his friends.


The three men fell back. Two hit the floor, but the bat man remained standing. Desmond didn’t let him get his bearings. He quickly went to work on him, delivering blow after blow with his fists to the man’s face and ribs.


He swung his bat but the blow was weak. Desmond shrugged it off, pulled the bat out of the man’s head, and cracked him across the face with it.
Blood sprayed in the air as the man’s entire mouth poured out red.


Desmond took the bat and turned his attention to the men on the ground.
One had managed to get himself back up while the other was grabbing his ankle.

Looks like a sprain … oh well, he thought to himself.



Desmond dropped the bat and delivered another right hook to the man standing. He fell back to the floor.


Desmond turned to the lead man, who was trying to get out the door.

Oh no. No escape.


Desmond closed the distance between them, grabbed the man, pinned him against the door, and delivered a gut punch to him.


“You tell Gerard that if he wants me, he’s going to have to come get me himself, you hear!”


The lead man nodded, unable to speak from the lack of oxygen. Desmond tossed him to the side and exited the diner.


The air was refreshing.


He took a deep breath, got into his car, and drove off.


His knuckles had splatters of blood on them. Some his. Some others.


He didn’t care. This wouldn’t be over until Gerard was dead.


He had issues the challenge.


Gerard would accept.


All he had to do was wait.