Yardbarker: Morris Almond

Breaking Down the 2009 Free Agent Class: Shooting Guards

Fri, 29 May 2009 09:24:17 -0500

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be examining the 2009 NBA Free Agent class. In an effort to break this down in a useful manner, I am sorting by position first rather than by team. Up next are the Shooting Guards...

D League Playoffs Underway

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:25:05 -0500

The D-League playoffs are underway and Celtics rookie JR Giddens will be in action with the Utah Flash tonight as the Bakersfield Jam vists the Flash at 9:00 PM ET. The Flash have reaped the benefits of NBA assignments this season on their way to a division title, and no less than three NBA first-round draft picks could suit up for Utah on Wednesday night. Utah's Morris Almond, who led the D-League in scoring on assignment from the Jazz in 2007-08, is joined by this season's Jazz fir...

Flash Beat Arsenal 2nd Game in a Row

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:08:19 -0500

The Flash beat the Arsenal for the second game in a row. All five Flash starters scored in double-figures. Utah Jazz assignees Morris Almond and Kosta Koufos added 23 and 14 points, respectively. Boston Celtics assignee Giddens added 13 points. Kevin Kruger chipped in 12 points for the Flash. Former Celtics draft pick Kedrick Brown, scored a game-high 32 points for the Arsenal but was unable to connect on a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. Celtics rookie JR Giddens filled up...

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:21:10 -0500

Here's a list of this offseason's free agents, both restricted and unrestricted. I'm bringing this out because I think its obvious we are going to need better bench players for next year's team:http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story...ents-09-10ATL RESTRICTEDThomas GardnerOthello HunterMario WestJosh ChildressSolomon Jones Marvin Williams UNRESTRICTEDZaza PachuliaMike BibbyRonald Murray CHARESTRICTEDRaymond FeltonSean MaySean Singletary (T)UNRESTRICTEDJuwan HowardCHIRESTRICT...

NBA Players I Think I Could Beat in a Fight

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:25:26 -0500

This is me. I am 6 feet 5 inches tall, and I weigh around 220 pounds. I am 25 years old. According to this 2006 survey, I'm just about the average NBA player, except the 4ish years of experience. Unfortunately, I've yet to be called up from the Glendale Heights Park District Men's A League. I'm surprised, too.I'm pretty even-keeled. I don't have a terrible temper, but I also won't back down from a confrontation. Two Sundays ago, I nearly started a riot at my men&#...

FIO Preview: Utah Jazz

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:39:37 -0500

2008-2009 Utah Jazz season preview and fantasy impact, courtesy of Fantasy Insider Online. Read the team preview here in the Yard, and then visit the FIO link for the rest. - Zach Harper Last Season Recap: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly During the 2007-2008 season, the Utah Jazz not only destroyed any idea that they were a flash in the pan success, they also cemented their spot as one of the top six teams in the league. The Jazz won 54 games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season an...

Team Preview #8: Utah Jazz

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:46:11 -0500

LAST SEASON The Jazz won the Northwest Division, but lost in the 2nd Round to the Lakers. They finished 5th in scoring, 2nd in assists, 2nd in FG%, and 3rd in steals, but 1st in personal fouls, 24th in rebounds, and 26th in threes made. Over the past 20 years (all with Utah!), Jerry Sloan has compiled an impressive 995-596 (.625) coaching record and reached the Conference Finals 6 times, but has yet to win it all or be named Coach of the Year. OFFSEASON MOVES Key Additions: Brevin Knig...

12 Non-Rookies to Watch in Summer League (Western Conference edition)

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:19:00 -0500

Rookies tend to get most of the hoopla during Summer League action, but the reality is that very few of them will make an immediate fantasy impact. So here are a few non-rookies to look out for. Not all of them are worth drafting, but all have the potential to put up nice numbers if they continue to improve and the opportunity presents itself. Some non-rookies who looked great in Summer League 2007 and carried that momentum into the regular season include: Louis Williams, Francisco Garc...

Fantasy Basketball: Rookies on the Rise

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:09:24 -0500

We are at the point of the season, well to be honest, where our attention begins to wane. The basketball season is long, really long. Plus, we have to start preparing for our fantasy baseball drafts, right? So to help you make the most of the time you have left to spend on your fantasy basketball teams, let's take a look at a group of players that could have a significant impact in the last month and a half of the season: the rookies. It is hard to still call these first year players ...

RookieWatch 07-08, #21-25

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:38:35 -0500

As a break to all the trade news, we present you with the next installment of RookieWatch 07-08, with picks #21-25 of the 2007 NBA Draft. Don't forget to check out the fantasy analysis of first round picks #1-20 here: #1-5 | #6-10 | #11-15 | #16-20.

NBA Live 2008's Dynasty Mode (Part III) - Trade and Triple-Double

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:02:43 -0500

This is the third of a series of articles on my first ever Dynasty Mode Season. You can read the past articles here: http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/My_first_crack_at_NBA_Live_2008s_Dynasty_Mode/29959 http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/NBA_Live_2008s_Dynasty_Mode_Part_II/30085 Finally had a chance to sit down and check out the latest NBA Live 2008 Dynasty GM features. Here are some highlights: ? Free agency ? Josh Smith, Anderson Varejao, and Jose Manuel Calderon all have one-year pacts. Looking ahead, I'm sure they are expecting big paydays and I just know I can't keep all of them, especially since I am over the salary cap. This early, I foresee Anderson Varejao holding out (the real one has, why not his NBA Live counterpart). ? Team Chemistry ? A majority of my players don't think too highly of Anderson Varejao. Is he my team's albatross? ? Free Agents ? Charlie Bell and Matt Carroll are available. Game 7: Suns @ Magic (139-118) Looking at my schedule so far (6 wins ? 1 loss), I've only had two home games to this point but all things being equal, I would most probably have a slew of consecutive home games :) Now down to business. Best player: Dwight Howard (30 points and 3 steals); Chris Bosh (my team's Shawn Marion) comes up with 23 points and 9 caroms. While Luke Ridnour is a steady force with 11 assists and David Lee has his second straight productive game finishing with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals off the pine. The Magic were led by point guard Kirk Hinrich (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists), Manu Ginobili (29 points), and Haiti-born center Samuel Dalambert (16 points and 15 rebounds). Game 8: Knicks @ Suns (133-170) Before I get to the game, I came to the conclusion that I don't want to deal with free agency. I know that it sounds premature but it is still something that needs to be considered. With this in mind, I proposed a trade (Josh Smith, Mike Miller, and Jose Manuel Calderon) to the Sacramento Kings for Dwyane Wade. It looks promising, but I worry about my team's chemistry as in NBA Live 2008, it seems to have repercussions ? I haven't seen it yet but I hope I don't rue the day I pulled the trigger on this one. Now to the game. Despite Kobe Bryant's Herculean scoring effort (Judged the best player in this contest after finishing with 89 points and little from everyone else) and all-around game of rookie PG Morris Almond (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists), the Knicks fell to the Suns 170-133. For the Suns, Chris Bosh topped all Suns scorers with 28 points and 4 blocks. Dwight Howard contributed 18 points (9-9 FG) and 10 caroms in this effort. While guard J.J. Redick broke out of a slump a finished with 20 points (2-11 3-point FG). Mike Miller (25 points and 5 steals) and Josh Smith (20 points; 10-10 FG) also gave a good account for themselves despite rumors of a blockbuster trade swirling around the two players. November 14, 2007 ? Sacramento Kings approve the deal of Josh Smith, Mike Miller, and Jose Manuel Calderon for Dwyane Wade. The Kings added that they believe that this trade "would benefit both teams." I hope so? ? Charlie Bell signs with Suns November 15, 2007 ? Matt Carroll joins the Suns. Game 9: Bulls @ Suns (134-184) After the Chicago Bulls took one point lead at the end of the first quarter (44-43), the Phoenix Suns never looked back as they scored a blistering 65 points in the next period on their way to their best performance in a half (108 points). Inspired by Luke Ridnour's 1st triple-double of the season (20 points, 18 assists, 12 steals, and 14 TO; Best Player), the Suns survived the dominating post presence of the Bulls Twin Towers: Paul Gasol (70 points and 6 rebounds) and Yao Ming (32 points and 9 rebounds). When the smoke cleared, all but three of the eleven Suns that suited up for this contest scored in double figures with Wade (37 points), Varejao (25 points, 6 steals), and Bosh (20 points) leading the way. Team Chemistry: I really don't know?the feel of the team was different. Right now, I have a ton of two-guard shooters who are playing out of position at shooting forward (either Jason Kapono or Kyle Korver). I need a slasher?this is where I really miss Josh Smith. Oh well?adjust?adjust?adjust?