HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

On Tuesday night Dirk Nowitzki finally got the help he needed, and it was all the more timely because the Mavericks’ star was playing with a fever of 102. His help didn’t come from a surprise source or as the result of a last-minute lineup change; rather, it came from exactly the person Mavericks fans have become accustomed to seeing deliver huge clutch performances for the team. In the Mavericks’ hour of need, it was none other than perennial sixth-man of the year candidate Jason Terry who delivered in the clutch.

With nine seconds left and the Mavs up one with possession, Rick Carlisle called Jason Terry’s number when everyone in the country expected Dirk to be the savior once again, and the decision paid off. He ran nearly three seconds off the clock before LeBron James caught him to foul him, and he coolly dropped both free throws to ice an 86-83 win for the Mavs. Terry finished with 17 points, and desperately needed to have a good game after running his mouth quite a bit in the hours leading up to what was a must-win game for the Mavericks.

“I thought Jet took it really upon himself today in the fourth quarter when we were down nine,” said Nowitzki after the game. “He made two back-to-back plays to get us right back plays to get us right back into the game, so he was phenomenal today.”

Jet has always been a vocal player, but it seemed unwise for him to call out LeBron James as he did in the hours before Game 4. He said he didn’t feel James could guard him for seven games, and to his credit he put his game where his mouth was. He missed a couple of open looks in the fourth quarter, but as a whole Jet gave the Mavericks everything he’s given them since coming over from the Atlanta Hawks. His 17 points were pivotal, but his mental toughness, his leadership, and his determination to take and make the big play at the end to ease the burden on Nowitzki were huge as the Mavs tied the NBA Finals series at two games apiece.

“(Dirk) is one of the greatest ever,” said Carlisle post-game. “He wants the ball, and he wants the responsibility of winning or losing the game, so we make every effort to put him in those situations. It’s not easy, because teams do a great job of trying to deny him the ball. In those situations, you know, Jet has been one of the best fourth quarter performers players in the league for a number of years.”

Admittedly, when Terry called out LeBron, it seemed like a silly move, especially in light of the “Caught In The Matrix” theme that has defined the HEAT star in this series. While Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have had their way with the Mavs, James has managed just 17.3 points on 46% shooting through the first four games of the NBA Finals. A week ago people were asking if LeBron was better than Michael Jordan and now they’re wondering when he’s going to show up (see Eric Pincus’ take on that story here!). Sure the talk of Shawn Marion dominating him defensive and Jet Terry’s open challenge would be enough to elicit a 50-point outburst from LeBron, but it wasn’t. Instead we saw Terry apparently talk himself into the series for the first time.

“The aggression was there for me personally,” said Terry. “And I like that that I was on the attack, which I said I would be. But as far as that relating into baskets, it didn’t really happen for me. But again, if I continue to get the looks that I’m getting, I’m going to have some success. I’m going to have to continue to be aggressive and take advantage of my opportunities.”

The assembled media really wanted Jet to dig into James personally, asking him repeatedly about his suggestion that the HEAT star couldn’t shut him down for an entire series, but Terry wisely avoided the trap and shifted the focus back onto himself.

“(I was) being aggressive, looking to attack instead of settling for the jumpshot. His length obviously is going to bother me if I shoot it in his face, it’s going to be contested. So percentages on those shots are going to go down. But if I can get in the paint and draw the defense and then make the pass or make the shot, then that’s going to be advantageous for us. That’s something I looked to do tonight.”

Whatever it took for Jet to get going, whether he was really calling out LeBron or just trying to fire himself up, it worked. He stepped up for the Mavericks when they needed him most, and when his captain was almost too sick to even be on the court. The Mavericks desperately needed more from Jason Terry to get back into this NBA Finals series, and it may very turn out to be that Jet, as much as Dirk, is the key to Dallas winning their first championship.

New Twins In Town

For the last couple of seasons the Lopez twins have shown promise as one of  the better brother duos to play in the NBA (See Joel Brigham’s Top Five NBA Siblings here!). Brook Lopez, in particular, looks like a player who could be a factor in the league for years to come. Now, however, it looks like a new set of brothers will challenge the Lopez twins for the honor of being the best brothers in the league, at least if Kansas Jayhawks forward Marcus Morris has anything to say about it.

“Not to take anything away from those guys – I think they are great players – I just think me and Markieff [Morris] have been through a little bit more,” Marcus Morris tells WSSP in Milwaukee. “I mean, I think we have different aspects of our game that are just a little bit more than those [brothers]. They are both just strictly centers, so there’s not too much they could do as far as stretching the defense and creating open shots off the dribble and things like that. I think me and Markieff both can really do that real well, so at the end of the day I think me and Markieff are probably going to be better.”

Marcus has gained ground on his brother in the draft through the workout process, largely because of his impressive mid-range game. Marcus also has no problem with confidence, comparing himself to Carmelo Anthony.

“I think the Al Harrington comparison is a little accurate, but I think maybe Carmelo, I would say, because I’m a mid-range king. I love the mid-range game. I think that’s what I can really hang my hat on being a mid-range player. On the defensive side, I think that being versatile and guarding many positions. I think it can definitely work for me and just being so athletic and being versatile on the defensive side because I can guard any position.”

NBA executives look at just about every aspect of a player’s personality as they try to weed out players in their quest to find just the right fit. One thing that could work in Marcus’ favor is that he isn’t afraid to step up and lead, even when there are older, more established players on his team.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” says Morris. “I mean I wouldn’t say that I was the only leader because I did have my brother. I did have a couple of seniors on the team that helped me lead, but we just try to stick together through personal situations and not break apart. That’s probably the worst thing that could happen is guys in the locker room don’t respect each other or don’t trust each other and they don’t get along. The most important thing that we tried to do was to just keep each other together and make sure we didn’t get down on ourselves when everyone else is looking at us the wrong way. We made sure we stayed together and didn’t point fingers.”

There has been a significant amount of discussion of late about whether or not college players should get some kind of stipend or financial benefit in return for all of the money they make for their college programs. Morris doesn’t agree, saying it just makes college players hungrier.

“I wasn’t given anything. I don’t think so. I don’t think the players need to get anything, honestly. It keeps you hungry. It keeps you hungry. It keeps you working. You know what I mean? A guy like me, I came from being not even ranked in the top 100 coming out of high school and just happened to end up in a great situation at Kansas. By not getting anything I think it makes you work and see how much you really want to get to that next level. I don’t think players should be paid. That takes away from the game.”

With roughly two weeks remaining before the 2011 NBA Draft, Marcus Morris seems to have climbed into the top ten. The Charlotte Bobcats like him at #9, but if he continues to impress at workouts he might just be off the board before the Bobcats get a crack at the board. He’s clearly one of the rising stars in this year’s class.

Listen to Marcus Morris on WSSP in Milwaukee by linking here!

Finals Ratings Continue To Soar

NBA Finals Game 4 on ABC Highest-Rated Program of the Night with 11.1 Overnight Rating 23rd Consecutive Time Finals Generate Highest-Rated Program of the Night

The NBA Finals Game 4 on ABC, in which Dallas rallied in the fourth quarter to edge Miami 86-83, delivered an 11.1 overnight rating and was the highest-rated program of the night in prime time (according to Nielsen). It is the 23rd consecutive time The Finals have generated the highest-rated program of the night. The 11.1 overnight rating was the second highest-rated Game 4 in the last seven years. Based on overnight ratings, the broadcast peaked with a 15.5 rating from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET.

Last night’s Game 4 was up 22 percent compared to a 9.1 rating for Game 4 in 2006, when these same two teams met in The Finals. In the last seven years, the game only trailed last year’s 11.6 overnight rating for Game 4 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

In Miami, the game registered a 34.2 metered market rating, up 19 percent over Game 4 in 2006 (28.7 metered market rating). It is the second highest-rated NBA game in Miami (records through 2003). The game generated a 30.5 metered market rating in Dallas.

The Finals on ABC continue with Game 5 Thursday, June 9, at 9 p.m. ET. Mike Breen calls The Finals on ABC with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke. The Finals are also available on ESPN Radio (Mike Tirico and Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown) and ESPN 3D (Mark Jones and Bruce Bowen for Game 3). Coverage will begin with the Buick Regal NBA Countdown pregame show at 8:30 p.m., hosted by Stuart Scott with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon.

Yao Facing Life Without Basketball?

One of the saddest stories in the NBA world today revolves around Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. Whether or not you’re a fan of the Rockets themselves, you can’t help but marvel at the amazing play of their former number one pick from China. Yao Ming is one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, and his mixture of scoring, rebounding and passing threatened to redefine the center position, just as Hakeem Olajuwon did while wearing a Rockets uniform a generation ago.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Sadly, Yao’s body seems unable to take the pounding of an 82-game season, particularly when he has been expected to play another full season of Chinese basketball during the NBA’s offseason. He missed all of the 2009-10 NBA season due to a foot injury, and then missed the bulk of the 2010-11 season with yet another. Now Yao is facing the reality that he may never be able to play basketball again.

“A championship ring has become not so important in my plans,” Yao said in a recent interview. “My main thought for the next 10 years is to look after my family and continue my community activities.”

That doesn’t exactly sound like a guy who’s confident that he’ll be able to play next season. In fact, his own prognosis is far more negative than Rockets fans dared to dread.

“Walking or jogging is okay… but I need to get 80 percent of my strength back to play. I have got only about 30 percent at most now.”

One of the primary factors driving Yao’s desire to return to the NBA is that he would like his young daughter to see him play live, rather than relying on old videos of her father’s previous greatness.

“I wish she could watch me play and even win a championship, not only see through video highlights how her dad played. She is definitely a big motivation for me to continue, although my foot still needs lots of treatment.”

It’s been suggested that if the Rockets don’t pick up Yao’s extension he might look to join a contender later, when his foot does eventually heal. That seems a bit too far in the future for Yao to even speculate.

“I don’t know if I would join some champion team in the future …I don’t even know if I can play again.”

The Houston Rockets have certainly banked any championship hopes they might have on the return of Yao Ming, but if Yao can’t return to the NBA it will hurt more than Houston’s championship hopes. Yao Ming is one of the most unique and amazing athletes to ever play the game of basketball, and if he never plays again it will be a loss to the entire global basketball community.

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