Old Man Moves
The best players in the league are obvious… LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, Dwight Howard, etc… But those guys are like a great movie we watch all the time. We know the outcome and we are addicted to seeing it time and time again.
But the feeling we got when they first took off is what gets us hooked. So what we do is crave for the next person to hook us and grab our attention every game they play. We find ourselves flowing right to their name in the boxscore every time they play. We find ourselves rooting for them to continue their great play and we are disappointed when they don’t have a big game. Only in sports is it OK to be unfaithful to your first love and start training your eyes to someone else. I am doing that right now in football with the Arizona Cardinals. I am a die hard Bears fan, but I live in Arizona and the Cardinals are my second love and they have my heart right now.
Coming into this NBA season, I target a number of players I enjoy watching – like James, Wade and Howard – but a few others have taken my attention away with their fine surprising play.
Shaquille O’Neal has been unbelievable not only with his consistent play, but his free-throw shooting has been great compared to past seasons. Shaq has always been one of my favorite players and although the Suns are off to a slow start I look forward to watching him perform.
Mo Williams is another player that has grabbed my attention with his consistent play and big-time shooting playing alongside LeBron, but my favorite player to watch is on a team that is 16-27 but competes every night. He personifiesold-school and has one of the best old-school players watching him every night – Larry Bird.
Danny Granger is the real deal. I remember watching him at the end of the year last season and I came away saying if I had to pick a player in today’s game that played like I did it would be Granger.
Granger is a very good athlete, but someone has gotten in his ear and convinced Granger that playing below the rim will give him a tremendous advantage and save wear and tear on his body while still putting up huge numbers. I watched him a few weeks ago against the Suns and marveled at how he easily scored using a method we called back in the day Old Man Moves.
(Definition: Old Man Moves means a player who is mentally tough and has a smorgasbord of shots that keeps the defense wondering and off balance. He plays below the rim. He takes what the defense gives him. He plays with a level head. He does not waste energy with his dribble. He uses his teammates to get open. He uses a variety of shots to score. He takes big shots and makes them in the fourth quarter. He gets to the free throw line to maintain consistent confidence and he comes to score every night and is relentless).
Granger would drive to the basket and when Shaq and Amare Stoudemire went high in the air to challenge him, he in turn went economical and went low for easy non-spectacular shots. Most players in today’s NBA think poster or mano-a-mano, which is fine if you are LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Amare or Vince Carter. These players can elevate higher than everyone, but Granger somehow realizes his percentage of winning that battle is not in his favor. So he pulls up for the basic 12-foot shot or he shoots a running hook or maybe he uses his off hand. And I have also seen him execute the up and under – very much Old Man Moves.
I had an interesting conversation with Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins last week about when he felt his game actually took off and he told me when he started using the Old Man Moves to keep his defenders off balance. Most who read this will say, “No way.” But again, I must remind people that the sports programs never showed the basic moves – only spectacular ones – and Wilkins became really unguardable when he slowed down his game and started to play on the floor.
‘Nique really got excited about how Danny Granger was wearing defenders out with basic moves that looked like he was going in slow motion. We started bantering back and forth about how Granger even with these great numbers would have still had a difficult time making an All-Star team back in the day with the plethora of scorers at small forward that competed in the 80s and early 90s.
We started playing the name game and it went like this. I said Bird, he said Alex English. I said Bernard King, he said Adrian Dantley. I said Mark Aguirre (my high school teammate), he said James Worthy. I said Kiki Vandeweghe, he said Purvis Short. I said Jerome Kersey, he said Dale Ellis. I said Orlando Woolridge…
The only reason we stopped is because we both had to get back to our jobs commentating for our respective teams – the Suns and the Hawks. But before we parted, we both said Danny Granger reminded us of the past because of his scoring abilities at small forward.
The challenge for Granger as it is for any player that craves stardom is to lead his team to victories and right now with the Pacers record at 16-27, an All-Star berth could slip through his fingers, but I say it should not. If you look deeper into the Pacer season, I think Granger should get the nod as a forward on this year’s team.
Granger has missed two Pacer victories due to injuries, but he has averaged 27 points per game in the other 14 wins. We also must remember that key injuries to TJ Ford and Mike Dunleavy this season had made consistency more difficult. Also the Pacers are extremely competitive this season with a minus 2 point differential and 7.4 point differential in their 27 losses, which I think shows that they are better than their record indicates. Finally Granger, over 11 of the last 12 games, has averaged 30.1 points per game and the Pacers are a respectable 6 and 6.
So when the reserves are picked for the All-Star team, let’s hope the guy who reminds us of the small forwards of the past will be chosen and he gets a chance to show us those Old Man Moves.
Michael Bennett Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 10:35 am
I absolutely, 100% agree. I wrote a post on here a few weeks back talking about him. Danny Granger is amazing. He should and WILL be an All-Star this year. These should be the All-Star reserves for:
THE EAST
Danny Granger - F
Paul Pierce - F
Joe Johnson - G
Mo Williams - G
David Lee - C
Rashard Lewis - F
Devin Harris - G
THE WEST
Dirk Nowitzki - F
Pau Gasol - F
Brandon Roy - G
Chauncey Billups - G
Shaquille O’Neal - C
David West - F
Tony Parker - G
JY Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 11:14 am
Michael Bennett, David Lee instead of Chris Bosh (who coaches can vote in as a centre if they wish as a reserve)?? That is asinine. Mo Williams? 16pp , 4ast gets you an all-star nod? Ridiculous.
Lupe Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 11:46 am
I like your list MB with the exception of Shaq. I rather put Al Jefferson in as the reserve center, he plays at C often for Minnie. My counter-argument in case anybody says,”Shaq’s team is winning” Their record says they are, but they would miss the playoffs. If you’re not in the playoffs, you’re not winning. Also Al has played in the NBA full time vs. Shaq taking games off for his health. I love Shaq, but Al deserves the spot for the reasons mentioned.
Granger is tough, gets his teeth knocked out at Boston, and he still plays! In an era of primadonnas, Granger is a breath of fresh air.
Michael Bennett Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
I forgot Bosh, too, for some odd reason. Bosh over Rashard Lewis. Sorry. I just tried to post this but it didn’t show up.
Conan O'Brien Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
BOSH should be there over! NOT PAUL PIERCE!
This is how the EAST should be:
F-Granger
F-Bosh
G-Joe Johnson
G-Devin Harris
C-David Lee
F-Rashard Lewis
G-Jameer Nelson
In the WEST, CAMBY SHOULD DEFINITELY BE IN THERE!!!
F-Dirk
F-Pau
G-Roy
G-Billups
C-Camby
F-West
C-Al Jefferson
Lupe Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
Everyone has forgotten Bosh, he was on fire at the start of the season. Now he seems to be coasting(not as bad as Amare) since it looks like the Raptors might miss the post-season. I do hope they acquire Marion from Miami, then they can play more up-tempo without J.O. anchoring the team down. Andrea is playing well since O’Neal went down, and they need a SF. They will get massive cap relief as well if they choose not to resign.
C-Andrea
PF-Bosh
SF-Marion
SG-Parker
PG-Calderon
This has the potential to be Phoenix Lite, though it looks like it might be too late to turn it around.
Justin Green Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
It has been great watching Danny Granger progress through the years. This year, he has vastly exceeded the expectations we had for him. This guy is going to put the Pacers back on the map as a competitive and respectable team in this league. He is an amazing player and great guy. I think the league needs a few more of those.
KME Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Granger is my favorite player in the NBA!! GO Granger!!
Both Teams Played Hard Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Danny Granger invented puppies.
paulot Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
please try to work Jameer onto the East. The object of the game is to win and he does that.
Brian Boitono Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
In all my years of figure skating ive learned one thing: Mo Williams is not an all-star. A good player on a really good team, yes. This role in cleveland is perfect for him. Look at his numbers when he had a larger role in Milwaukee. They were far greater than what he is putting up now. He was able to be a good player on a bad team. Winning is the most important thing and he is clearly an intrical part of what cleveland is doing. It is in my eyes very similar to the question is Robert Horry a HOF. BS Bob won like it was going out of style ie: Houston, LA, San An but he has never been more than a role player his entire career. a part time-starter that at times could bang a 3, D up your best big or make a great feed to a cutter. in closing: role player’s shouldnt be in the hall. Good players shouldnt be in the Allstar game. I would rather A Bosh or a Granger put up stellar numbers on a bad team, because face it win or lose no GM in the NBA would prefer MO over either of them. Not for his team, not for a late game shot, not now not ever. Liked the Rest of the all star team MB, not bashing it
Melvin Said,
January 24, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
I agree. Most players nowadays don’t really consider playing under the rim and I think thats why some defenders actually can easily read what are they gonna do. Another player I think moves like an old man is Paul Pierce. If you watch him play he’s like slow and old man…
baitboy Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 12:00 am
agree melvin granger reminds me alot of Paul. i like the old man style of play cause thats how i play
Tee. Tee. Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 2:47 am
yes i 100% agree, but isn’t that exactly how BRANDON ROY plays?
i mean BRANDON is amazing as well but never gets credit for it.
Jams Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 4:35 am
There’s no way Shaq aint in the All-star team this year especially since its in Phoenix. Ask yourself if you’d rather have Shaq in the playoffs or Al Jefferson and the who’s better right now argument goes right out the window. Also Shaq is fan favourite so he’s definitely gonna be there, remember the All-star game is a popularity contest.
Lupe Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 9:18 am
I still think Al is more deserving, and to be honest I’d rather have Al in the playoffs since he’s just plain better now so it doesn’t go out the window. If this was Shaq of Old rather than Old Shaq, no question who’d it be. I do agree that Shaq will most likely take it since it is held in Phoenix/Fan Favorite.
Gerome Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Why is it ok for Bosh to make the allstar team with a losing record, but its not ok for Granger? In my opionion, Granger is having a better season. Indiana has beat all the top teams in the league or played them down to the wire. I was under the impression that an allstar is determined by the season & not what you’ve down in years past. I’m not a Pacers fan, just disgusted with the bias that exist among stars…they’re already good, but yet they get all the calls! How can anyone play good basketball, when he being guarded by a star or have to guard a star? The stars reach & hack all day, w/o a foul being called. A regular player barely touch him & its a foul!!!
mookie Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
I agree with Tee.Tee: If you play the nowadays-old-man-moves-game with the (shooting) guard position, i think you would say the same words about Brandon Roy.
I don’t question Granger is the real deal, but do you really think he is an above the average defender?
The Dude Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
Bosh NEVER gets “star-calls”, so if anybody is going to go to the all-star game from a team with a losing record it should be Bosh.
eddie Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Tee Tee
you are correct—Roy and Pierce have old man moves as well—-but this is Grangers Article. Roy gets plenty of attention my man. they are on National TV every week and he made the All Star team last year.
Tee. Tee. Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 2:47 am
yes i 100% agree, but isn’t that exactly how BRANDON ROY plays?
i mean BRANDON is amazing as well but never gets credit for it.
Danny Granger Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
Thanks for this mad props guys. I do not care about the All-Star right now, I am happy with where I stand as a player and happy to help the Pacers win a few games. I know in due time we’ll get where we are supposed to be, we are a few players away for playoff contention and with that in mind, I am confident that someday the Pacers will show y’all we can definitely do it. I only have one goal in mind right now and that is to lead the Pacers and its fans to the playoffs, I know we are shaky on that this season but with the support of fans, we’ll get there.
DG
DJ Skills Said,
January 26, 2009 @ 1:00 am
Bosh should be there.. Granger is okay player, but Indiana has no good players that can score other then Granger. Bosh has been playing really solid for 4 years now and is getting better.. Yes raptors are struggling but they will turn it around and make it in the post season..
Shaq has to be in the allstar game !! he is funny and goofy, but at the same time He is the God Father of basketball rite now..
Jorge Said,
January 26, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
I really like Granger, and to think that Boston almost got him….
Also Like Bosh, but there is no way in hell that he should be an all star over Pierce….just look at how many games Pierce took over at clutch time not to mention team record…..
I do think Shaq should be there, and AJ is really playing great lately. There are not so many spots as players…
Brian Boitono Said,
January 26, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
WWBB- what would brian boitono do?
Lupe Said,
January 26, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
I’ll eat my words, Phoenix is still not quite as dead as I thought in regards to the playoff hunt so I’ll eat crow for this one. To be fair Utah is injured heavily, and Dallas is choking. I’ll also admit that I do love Shaq’s zany antics, he’s my favorite crazy sheriff/woman stalker in the world. If the all-star was based on entertainment value, he’s a starter. I honestly wouldn’t be disappointed to see Shaq in the game despite Al being better. So I’m eating crow, and admitting my secret hope he does get in. I’ll go hide under a rock now till the next article.
Omar Aberilla Said,
January 27, 2009 @ 4:16 am
Michael Bennett, if you were to choose a reserve point guard, Jameer Nelson deserves a nod over Mo Williams and it’s Chris Bosh over Rashard Lewis, who I think is interchangeable with Hedo Turkoglu. Come to think of it they are of the same value to the Magic, while we all know that the Raptors will only go as far as CB4 takes them.
Michael Bennett Said,
January 27, 2009 @ 9:47 am
I already admitted to accidentally leaving off Bosh. I just overlooked him somehow. Read post #4.
As for Jameer Nelson over Mo Williams… why? Mo Williams is the starting point guard on the East’s best team. I love Jameer Nelson - I’ve thought that he should be Magic’s starting PG for a long time now, but the Cavs need two representatives in the All-Star game. Statistically, they’re almost identical:
Mo Williams (Cavs Team Record: 34-8)
16.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, .471 FG%, .374 3P%, .940 FT%
Jameer Nelson (Magic Team Record: 33-10)
17.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.1 bpg, .503 FG%, .445 3P%, .878 FT%
Pretty even race. But, then you add the most important (and most overlooked) part of basketball. Defense. Mo Williams has never been a defensive minded basketball player. But, he came to Cleveland and bought into their defensive system. Now, he’s not only the starting PG on the best team in the East, but he’s the starting PG on the best DEFENSIVE team in the league.
If the Magic had a better record that the Cavs, I’d pick Nelson. He’s been amazing from behind the arc. But, he has the luxury of playing with the best post man in basketball. That draws in defenses giving him more time and space for 3s. Rashard Lewis and Turkgoglu receive the same nice present every night.
And, yes, LeBron makes life easier for all of his teammates, obviously, but Mo Williams is the man when LeBron sits for 10 minutes a game. He has to keep the score close or maintain the lead - a lot more responsibility. He’s the only other player on the Cavs that can create his own shot.
c money Said,
January 27, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
Granger has progressed every year. I remember draft night in 05, waiting with anticipation as fave team (Magic) were on the clock at 11. I’m like we need EVERYTHING except center. I see Granger, Antoine Wright, Hakim Warrick and Gerald Green Available. BUT witht he 11th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft the ORL Magic select…….WHAT? FRAN Freakin VAZQUEZ…..who the *%#@ is that? What the ^%$# is that? ….kinda felt the same way when they picked Reddick too…..but thats another story. Granger def. deserves to be an all star he is the face of the franchise right now. With injuries to FORD, DUNLEAVY, and DANIELS he has shouldered most of the load to have those guys in playoff contention.
east all stars allstars
NELSON and LEWIS are both not making it. I would choose LEWIS because guard play is tight.
F-Granger
F-Bosh
G-Joe Johnson
G-Devin Harris
C-(do you have to pick a C) Pierce
F-Rashard Lewis
G-Mo Williams
Brian Boitono Said,
January 27, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
Mr michael bennett just a casual observation from training for the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver (im making a comeback) Jameer nelson has been the starting point guard for the orland magic since post all-star break 05-06/ the stats you put up in comparison clearly point to Jameer being the better of the two players.
Also I believe that you are the only person not related to Mo Williams that thinks Mo is a better defensive player than Jameer nelson. you are right about the cavs being a better defensive team than the magic. But I could argue Mo williams is the worst defensive player in the teams rotation(fine Wally is). its easy creep up on D when you have Big Z, Ben Wallace and Anderson V guarding your back. Not to mention Lebron James putting up redunkuluss block numbers from the guard 2 or 3.
your argument for Dwight being the best post defender in the leagues is valid, but I would argue. He is often in foul trouble and when he isnt on the floor Marcin Gortat or Tony Battie man the post. Yea marcin Gortat!!!!!!!!!
Michael Bennett Said,
January 27, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
Mark Jackson agreed with me, too, about Mo Williams. And, so does every other progressive NBA mind.
I bet the coaches select him as a Reserve. 21-0 at home. Best Record in the League. Top 5 in the League in FT%.
Michael Bennett Said,
January 28, 2009 @ 10:01 am
Bad timing guys. I think Mo Williams read this and decided to prove you guys wrong in a last ditch effort to get that All-Star reserve spot. These were his number from last night:
43 pts, 8 rbs, 11 assts, 15-24 FG, 7-12 3PT, 6-6 FT
…which raised his PPG above Jameer Nelson’s.
Like I said, I like Jameer Nelson. I think he’s a great PG. But, if you don’t think Mo Williams should be an All-Star reserve over him, then you don’t know the game of basketball.
Brian Boitono Said,
January 28, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Mo blew up, nice game. still think your wrong. The game of basketball is new to me so I do appreciate your vast knowledge and understanding of the game. Thank you for passing it on to the less progressive minds like my own.
Michael Bennett Said,
January 28, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
I expect limited knowledge and slower mind from a figure skater.
eddie Said,
January 29, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
Mo Williams deserves to be in the All-Star Game, but the same argument can be made for Jameer Nelson. i must admit Williams has made an impression over the last few weeks. he might even crack my new top player list due out soon.
c money Said,
January 29, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Guess i was wrong. NELSON and LEWIS can both make the all star team. Though the Magic are my Team, I kinda feel that CLV was screwed with the selection. How can they have the best record in the East and have only one all-star? I know Lebron is Good but he only scores like 28 or so points a game, he only defends one position, but they still have the best record in the EAST. It is still a team game right?
Brian Boitono Said,
January 30, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
Michael Bennett says: if you don’t think Mo Williams should be an All-Star reserve over him, then you don’t know the game of basketball.
is this one of those situautions when the janitor knows more that the students i.e Goodwill hunting??? or is it possible the NBA coaches may know a little more than Michael Benett.
Jury’s in 3 magic in the game including Jameer
Michael Bennett Said,
February 6, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
Let’s get the Kobe/LeBron debate going again… Eddie, I know you’re working on a new Top 25 List. So, this should help you with the top 3 slots.
LeBron is the best player in the world. Kobe is a close second. DWade is a close 3rd. But, all players aren’t even in the same tier as Michael Jordan. MJ was/is the best ever.
What makes LeBron better than Kobe is not just his numbers, but his ability to make his teammates better and win ball games. Now, Kobe makes his teammates better, but they’re already really good. LeBron makes average players look like champs.
Here’s a test: Take away Kobe and LeBron from their respective teams. If you take LeBron away from the Cavs, they are one of the worst teams in the league. If you take Kobe away from the Lakers, they would still be a Playoff team. Although this doesn’t paint the whole picture and it’s built on assumptions (and some facts), it’s a good way to analyze this debate.
I think the two Knicks’ games were great examples of the similarities and differences between Kobe and LeBron. Lakers and Cavs won. Kobe scored 61, LeBron 52. But, LeBron had a triple-double while Kobe had zero (0!) rebounds and only 3 assists. LeBron is just as good of a scorer as Kobe, if not better. But, he brings the entire package offensively.
Their defense in past years was night and day. But, LeBron is in contention for the Defensive Player of the Year Award this year. That says a lot. So, you can cancel out their defense. Both are brilliant.
LeBron is the best. Sorry, Lakers fans.
Oh, and Kobe has the best selling jersey because he changed his number. So, fans had to buy the new jersey. It’s that simple. Duh!