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New York, 7:17 AM
Fri Dec 11
22 posts in the last 24 hours

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Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Book Excerpts That Don't Suck: The Art Of A Beautiful Game

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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Alright, I'm headed out. Thanks again for having me on. Great questions - only wish I had better answers. And, one final plug, the book is available everywhere or at [www.amazon.com] #bookexcerpts
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ClintonPortishead
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Alright, a final question about my Wizards. Does it make any sense that a team known for its atrocious defense went and hired Flip Saunders as their head coach? Did they simply think he was the best available coach, or are they consciously following "the best defense is a good offense" mantra from Phoenix? And if so, wouldn't that be epically stupid, since there is only one Steve Nash? #bookexcerpts
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Tony Reali's Winning Smile
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
I posed this question to Stephon Marbury during his UStream meltdown over the summer, but I was dissatisfied with his answer; Who is the toughest (i.e. could beat up everyone else) in the National Basketball Association? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@Tony Reali's Winning Smile: What did Marbury say? I don't claim to know the answer to this one, but I've certainly heard a lot of stories about Stackhouse being a badass. And I have to imagine Artest would be formidable. #bookexcerpts
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Fogg
11/12/09

@ChrisBallard: He didn't say anything. He did, however, eat some vaseline, rub toothpaste on his head, and masturbate. #bookexcerpts
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roland_t_flakfizer
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Can you give us a quick breakdown of Henry Abbott's game? What would the scouts say? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@roland_t_flakfizer: Scouts would say he moves well without the ball, hustles his ass off (is that a technical term?), finishes well at the rim, can hit the open J and plays good D. He's that guy you always want on your team #bookexcerpts
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ClintonPortishead
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Chase Budinger: Great White Hope, or Greatest White Hope? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@ClintonPortishead: Saw him live last week and the kid is good, real good. Even Houston is surprised by how good he is. Plus, he's been shadowing Battier, which is always a good sign. Maybe it's the volleyball background #bookexcerpts
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DennyCrane
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Favorite sportswriters (in any sport)? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@DennyCrane: Well, I'd have to list about 20 across all sports. So instead I'll say that when it comes to long-form feature writing - which is my preferred style - the guys I really admire right now are Scott Price, Chris Jones, Wright Thompson, Jeff MacGregor and Gary Smith. #bookexcerpts
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ChanHoParkour
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
chris, who has the most hilarious tattoo in the league? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@ChanHoParkour: For context, it's Marcin Gortat, who has a Jordan tattoo on his leg but is signed with Reebok, which of course pissed off Reebok. Great handle, by the way #bookexcerpts
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Bobby Big Wheel
11/12/09

@ChrisBallard: I'd still vote for DeShawn Stevenson's Abe Lincoln neck tattoo. #bookexcerpts
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David Hume
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Chris, is there any player in the NBA that stands out for clearly not deserving a roster spot, and could be replaced with a more effective d-leaguer, euro player or other?

Conversely, is there a guy out there who stands out for not getting nearly the playing time or opportunity his game merits?

Or does the water find it's own, correct level? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@David Hume: From a pure talent level, sure there are guys like that. But the NBA game is so often about personalities that often a 12th man's ability in the locker room is more important than his play (because really, how much is he going to play?). So yeah, there are guys out there more skilled than someone like Adonal Foyle or Speedy Claxton, but those two guys bring a lot to the locker room (and, in Foyle's case, to media relations, as he's one of the better human beings in the league and wonderful company) #bookexcerpts
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bevraj of choice
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Chris,

If Allen Iverson leaves Memphis on a plane at 11:30am on Monday to "resolve family issues", at what time and on what day will he never return? #bookexcerpts
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DirkToberFest
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Who of the 2010 FA class do you think is a logical fit to go to the Mavs next season (assuming Dirk also stays)? Fans are pushing for Chris Bosh (because he's local), but I think Joe Johnson or even Wade would be great. Thoughts?
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@DirkToberFest: If I'm the Mavs and I get any one of those three, I'm quite happy. As for fit with the team, I think Dirk's lack of ego is the key; as he's shown, he can assimilate to all manner of systems, from run-and-gun to defensive-minded to Dirk-as-post-player. So he'll be fine with all three. Get Wade and that's quite a team #bookexcerpts
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ClintonPortishead
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Is Mike Brown really as clueless as he looks? Or is his coaching actually hamstrung from having to placate LeBron on and off the court? Also, can anyone keep a straight face when discussing his Coach of the year award? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@ClintonPortishead: Mike is a very, very smart guy who plays the aw-shucks, self-deprecating public persona. To his credit, he handed power last year to Mike Malone and Kue to coach defense/offense. Now that Kue left for Detroit, though, it's showing #bookexcerpts
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roland_t_flakfizer
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
In your opinion, who sets the best screens in the NBA? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@roland_t_flakfizer: Probably Brad Miller, though Chuck Hayes is up there #bookexcerpts
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Artie Fufkin
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Better basketball/baseball player? Ainge or Jordan #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@Artie Fufkin: That could be a whole column. How do we weight each side? And does Dave Winfield factor in too? #bookexcerpts
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Bobby Big Wheel
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
1. Would you rather be here with us or breaking the Byron Scott getting fired story?
2. Does CP3 bail on New Orleans? How could he when he gets to play with Emeka Okafor? #bookexcerpts
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ChrisBallard
11/12/09

@Bobby Big Wheel: You guys are much better company than Byron Scott right about now, I'm guessing. I love Chris Paul's game. Love his demeanor. I imagine this move is made with an eye toward showing him the team is serious about getting back on track. Going to take more than that, though, I fear.
On an aside, when I asked players around the league about who else has a killer instinct, the names that came up most often were Paul, Duncan and Ginobili (and Kobe absolutely loves Ginobili - probably told me 3 times how Ginobili plays "balls to the wall," which is Kobe's preferred compliment) #bookexcerpts
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norbizness
11/12/09

@ChrisBallard: Every nugget you reveal concerning Kobe doubles my antipathy towards him. #bookexcerpts
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DennyCrane
11/12/09

In reply to Live Chat With Chris Ballard
Chris, thanks for answering my earlier question. I have one more:

Before the season began, Stern went nuts over a less-than-$1M difference in the referee contract negotiations, which was according to many a display of force for the upcoming players' negotiations. Did it work? Is there a work stoppage looming? How bad will it get?
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