Down and Dirty Basketball Recruiting At Its Best

[Fennis Dembo]

This just in from CBS Sports

Ohio State freshman JaQuan Lyle spoke with an NCAA investigator this week about his recruiting visit to Louisville in June 2013 and confirmed the gist of allegations involving paid escorts during his trip to the school, a source with knowledge of the NCAA's investigation told CBS Sports on Thursday morning.
"He told the truth," the source said.

The allegations were made in a book published last Friday night called "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen." In it, Katina Powell, a self-described madam, writes that she took four escorts, at the request of former Louisville staff member Andre McGee, to do a "show" for a "new recruit named JaQuan Lyle."

"I took Rod-Ni, TooTall, Jazmine and Shay, who calls herself Sammi," Powell wrote in a journal entry. "TooTall made $100, Shay made $100, and Jazzy made nothing because she did absolutely nothing."
:lol

[Murph]

Don...your guy is lighting it up. Can you please come back and give a half page analysis with no paragraph breaks about why SJ is going to be the greatest Piston since Grant Hill???

Come back Don. The board isn't the same without you.

[Murph]

Holy crap!!! Brandon Jennings for Markieff Morris?

http://sircharlesincharge.com/2015/10/07/nba-rumors-pistons-interested-in-trading-for-markieff-morris/

Sebs dream come true.

[Oracle]

Rookies don't drop 26 points on an NBA team even in preseason while dishing out 4 assists and leading the team in scoring.

Of course rookies do have 6 turnovers and be a big factor in the loss due to at least 2 of those ugly turns.

But damn the rookie mistakes, this kid is showing flashed of being a true star in tis league!

He's not in awe, he just goes out there and handles his business like a pro!

Oh yeah KCP has a killer game as well, but we'll have to take it with a grain of salt because it was a home game. When he does that on the road, then we'll really have something!

Morris had a better game than the numbers would suggest, and EI needs to stop shooting so many 3's, especially when they aren't going in.

Dinwiddie better do something quick, he's largely ineffective on both ends of the court, getting blocked way too often for a guard with his size.

Overall, they had this game fully in their control, but sloppy defense and turnovers cost them all game long. I guess it's to be expected with so many guys who can't play PG, playing PG!

We really could have used Reggie & Blake to calm things down!

[Oracle]

The Ten Commandments for Lions Fans

10. Thou shalt not utter the words playoffs or winning record before the season begins or it will place a curse on the team that will last unto eternity.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy opponents players that were drafted after thy disappointing  underachieving choices.
8. Thou shalt not ever place a wager on the Lions to beat the spread.
7. Thou shalt honor Barry Sanders and Joe Schmidt.

6. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain while watching the Lions game even though you really, really want to.
5. Thou shalt not believe anything the front office or coaching staff say unto you, they are deceivers that bare false witness.
4. Thou shalt not pick anyone from the Lions roster for your Fantasy Football Team or they shalt be condemned to mediocrity and hell.

3. Thou shalt not watch or listen to a Lions press conferences or you will  lose ten IQ points and be turned into a pillar of salt.
2. Thou shalt see instant replay and the officiating crew as tools of the devil.
1. After each loss each fan shalt observe six days and six nights of darkness with much weeping and gnashing of teeth and bountiful belly aching.

But this is so good, I'm going to post it(saying who & where it came from) on the Lions board where I post!

Very good stuff!!!

[Oracle]

Yeah, he doesn't look like a rookie to me

Wow, what a coming out game for Stanley! The only bad part was when they kept letting him bring the ball up, and he was getting it stolen damn near every time! He can't deal with these tiny guards, that's asking too much from him!

But Murph, if he plays like this, NOBODY can keep him off the floor! He put up ROY numbers tonight!!!

[Murph]

It's nice to see Caldwell-Pope having a good training camp.  After two underwhelming seasons in the NBA, KCP really needs to step up and prove himself this year.  He's shown promise in the past, especially on the defensive end of the court, but he need to improve on a career 40% FG%, and a career 34% 3 pt%.  He's 22 years old, there are no more excuses, he really needs to fulfill all that potential.

I'd like to see a starting lineup of Jackson, KCP, SJ, Drummond, and either Illyasova or Morris at the stretch 4...whoever wins the job.

You're giving SJ the job while telling two vets to win theirs.  Dissention is imminent.  Let's at least fake a battle for position.

Yes Lemonpen, I am giving the starting job to SJ.

And so far in head to head competition, Morris is leading Illyasova by a nose.

[Fennis Dembo]

The Ten Commandments for Lions Fans

10. Thou shalt not utter the words playoffs or winning record before the season begins or it will place a curse on the team that will last unto eternity.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy opponents players that were drafted after thy disappointing underachieving choices.
8. Thou shalt not ever place a wager on the Lions to beat the spread.
7. Thou shalt honor Barry Sanders and Joe Schmidt.

6. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain while watching the Lions game even though you really, really want to.
5. Thou shalt not believe anything the front office or coaching staff say unto you, they are deceivers that bare false witness.
4. Thou shalt not pick anyone from the Lions roster for your Fantasy Football Team or they shalt be condemned to mediocrity and hell.

3. Thou shalt not watch or listen to a Lions press conferences or you will lose ten IQ points and be turned into a pillar of salt.
2. Thou shalt see instant replay and the officiating crew as tools of the devil.
1. After each loss each fan shalt observe six days and six nights of darkness with much weeping and gnashing of teeth and bountiful belly aching.

[Oracle]

I didn't anticipate seeing two seasons end in a weekend, but last nights L pretty much closed the door on 2015, and coincidentally on the same day the tabbies were cleaning out their lockers.        

I suppose that places the Stones and Wings front and center.  

I hope we're still in it come trade deadline.

They should have won last night, and to be robbed and jobbed by the refs, just adds insult to injury!!!

Detroit is 0-4 thanks to the NFL's ridiculous replay policy

There are always obstacles so forget the refs.  At least once a season we're blaming officiating.  
The Seahawks made their break by remembering to get at the ball carrying arm in the process of tackling.
Someone tell the other $80 million dollar man (CJ) to remember his training and do his freakin job.  SECURE THE BALL IN TRAFFIC.

Are you saying that blowing a call under 2 minutes when you should have had the ball inches from the goal line doesn't mean anything?

Of course it's the refs fault for that play, there's no two ways about it! Arguing anything else doesn't make sense, no team on the planet, in any sport,  can recover from similar situations!

That's equivalent to a last second shot going in in time and the refs saying time ran out and nobody can review it... let's get real!

What you're talking about is woulda coulda shoulda, none of that is in play, the facts are in play! Sometimes teams win UGLY, and this was as ugly offensively as I've seen, but that final drive was very good, and at a minimum deserved somebody having the ability to apply the rules of the game!

In an alternate reality, they should have been ahead by 7, he could have, and should have protected the ball, but who cares, he didn't cost us the game... just look at the rule book!

I don't believe in blaming the refs most times, especially when you have time to recover from their crap! This time is TOTALLY different!

[lemonpen]

I didn't anticipate seeing two seasons end in a weekend, but last nights L pretty much closed the door on 2015, and coincidentally on the same day the tabbies were cleaning out their lockers.        

I suppose that places the Stones and Wings front and center.  

I hope we're still in it come trade deadline.

They should have won last night, and to be robbed and jobbed by the refs, just adds insult to injury!!!

Detroit is 0-4 thanks to the NFL's ridiculous replay policy

There are always obstacles so forget the refs. At least once a season we're blaming officiating.
The Seahawks made their break by remembering to get at the ball carrying arm in the process of tackling.
Someone tell the other $80 million dollar man (CJ) to remember his training and do his freakin job. SECURE THE BALL IN TRAFFIC.

[Oracle]

It's nice to see Caldwell-Pope having a good training camp.  After two underwhelming seasons in the NBA, KCP really needs to step up and prove himself this year.  He's shown promise in the past, especially on the defensive end of the court, but he need to improve on a career 40% FG%, and a career 34% 3 pt%.  He's 22 years old, there are no more excuses, he really needs to fulfill all that potential.

I'd like to see a starting lineup of Jackson, KCP, SJ, Drummond, and either Illyasova or Morris at the stretch 4...whoever wins the job.

You're giving SJ the job while telling two vets to win theirs.  Dissention is imminent.  Let's at least fake a battle for position.

KCP is looking good so far, but remember, it's just practice and there is that road problem he has yet to face.

Having said that, he's a freaking 2nd year player(just starting his 3rd), you can't even call him a vet, so I'm not sure what to expect other than a nice bump in production. I've yet to see any player's potential fulfilled in year 3 of their career.

On Stanley Johnson, Lemonpen makes a good point, and I'm as guilty as you are Murph! I too have been leaning towards gifting him a position, and we all should remember one Rodney Stuckey when we do that, it sometimes doesn't end well!

Let's let SJ earn his position!

[Oracle]

I didn't anticipate seeing two seasons end in a weekend, but last nights L pretty much closed the door on 2015, and coincidentally on the same day the tabbies were cleaning out their lockers.        

I suppose that places the Stones and Wings front and center.  

I hope we're still in it come trade deadline.

They should have won last night, and to be robbed and jobbed by the refs, just adds insult to injury!!!

Detroit is 0-4 thanks to the NFL's ridiculous replay policy

[lemonpen]

It's nice to see Caldwell-Pope having a good training camp.  After two underwhelming seasons in the NBA, KCP really needs to step up and prove himself this year.  He's shown promise in the past, especially on the defensive end of the court, but he need to improve on a career 40% FG%, and a career 34% 3 pt%.  He's 22 years old, there are no more excuses, he really needs to fulfill all that potential.

I'd like to see a starting lineup of Jackson, KCP, SJ, Drummond, and either Illyasova or Morris at the stretch 4...whoever wins the job.

You're giving SJ the job while telling two vets to win theirs. Dissention is imminent. Let's at least fake a battle for position.

[lemonpen]

I didn't anticipate seeing two seasons end in a weekend, but last nights L pretty much closed the door on 2015, and coincidentally on the same day the tabbies were cleaning out their lockers.

I suppose that places the Stones and Wings front and center.

I hope we're still in it come trade deadline.

[Murph]

It's nice to see Caldwell-Pope having a good training camp. After two underwhelming seasons in the NBA, KCP really needs to step up and prove himself this year. He's shown promise in the past, especially on the defensive end of the court, but he need to improve on a career 40% FG%, and a career 34% 3 pt%. He's 22 years old, there are no more excuses, he really needs to fulfill all that potential.

I'd like to see a starting lineup of Jackson, KCP, SJ, Drummond, and either Illyasova or Morris at the stretch 4...whoever wins the job.

[Murph]

If say it didn't happen it didn't happen and screw public opinion as to if it did or didn't.  The truth remains that he was never charge, or found guilty of doing or saying anything other than turning a blind eye to what might have went on with that ugly woman.   Still today the media consistently poke and proud for some type of admission of guilt from him.   He all but admit to turning a blind eye which is why Madison Square was sued and paid the 10 Mil in damages.

Then they want to pry into rather he attempt suicide or not, he here alive in kicking and that should all that matter.   In the last 3 months I've heard this man in several interviews repeating the same thing over and over yet still the media finds it necessary to keep asking the same ****.  PLEASE LET IT GO!

One ugly lonely biotch screams rape, harassment, assault, and it's true,  now he's a predator, liar and whatever else they want to make of him.  What she was and always will be is an easy target because she's ugly and lonely.  That her truth not the lies she told once she realized she was a running joke in the organization.  This woman was never a victim just overly naive to think that anyone would take her seriously and find her actually attractive.  I'm not saying women deserve to be mistreated and abused but then they shouldn't set themselves up and she did.   Once she found out she was the ugly girl every man takes out after dark she became revengeful.

She has 10 Million and she still ugly, and she'll never be as fine as the women that most men really love and care about.  

The issue doesn't really involve whether Anucha Browne Sanders was attractive or not. By all accounts, she was and still is happily married. The issue was that Sanders saw an easy way to wring $10 million out of the Knicks and the Dolans. Sanders and her legal representation took notice of the "old boys network" that Marbury and Zeke had going at MSG, and her eyes lit up with dollar signs. Dolan tolerated the unprofessional atmosphere at MSG, and so the courts found the Knicks guilty of sexual harassment. Sanders was a gold digger, plain and simple.

[WTF]

If say it didn't happen it didn't happen and screw public opinion as to if it did or didn't. The truth remains that he was never charge, or found guilty of doing or saying anything other than turning a blind eye to what might have went on with that ugly woman. Still today the media consistently poke and proud for some type of admission of guilt from him. He all but admit to turning a blind eye which is why Madison Square was sued and paid the 10 Mil in damages.

Then they want to pry into rather he attempt suicide or not, he here alive in kicking and that should all that matter. In the last 3 months I've heard this man in several interviews repeating the same thing over and over yet still the media finds it necessary to keep asking the same ****. PLEASE LET IT GO!

One ugly lonely biotch screams rape, harassment, assault, and it's true, now he's a predator, liar and whatever else they want to make of him. What she was and always will be is an easy target because she's ugly and lonely. That her truth not the lies she told once she realized she was a running joke in the organization. This woman was never a victim just overly naive to think that anyone would take her seriously and find her actually attractive. I'm not saying women deserve to be mistreated and abused but then they shouldn't set themselves up and she did. Once she found out she was the ugly girl every man takes out after dark she became revengeful.

She has 10 Million and she still ugly, and she'll never be as fine as the women that most men really love and care about.

[Oracle]

Here's the highlights from the Pistons open practice,


We have a game on Tuesday, and based on his play so far, the only one I'm concerned about is Drummond!

Dre Struggles: Pistons center Andre Drummond was a nonfactor during the scrimmage and didn’t appear to have much energy.

Van Gundy suspected four days of two-a-days probably sapped the energy from the Pistons’ fourth-year big man.

“He did not get himself into enough pick-and-rolls today,” the Pistons coach said. “He did not roll hard. He did not seal. His skill level has improved. He had a tough day.

“That is no big deal but he's a guy who can dominate the game simply with his energy and athleticism if his mindset is right.”

Here's the projected lineups for the game

[Oracle]

Let's not count out SJ after the first week of practice.  He might not start at the beginning of the season, but maybe by the end.

SVG has a lot of options.  If Morris plays well, he can start at PF, with SJ starting at SF by the season's end.

I'm not counting him out, but his odds are longer than he realizes. I remember Kobe & Wade as rookies, and while the talent was there, they just don't know what they don't know.

I see a lot of that in Johnson, he talks as if he underestimates the challenges he's going to face, and IMO, it's likely to take at least half of the season for him to even realize what's going on. SVG sees this, but you never want to slap a rookie with too much reality, it has to be experienced.

But to be in the rookie of the year conversation, he doesn't need to put up huge numbers, just good numbers and show flashes of how good he can really be, and that much I do expect to see. however, I expect one of the big men to snag that this year!

Having said that, Johnson starting may be something that happens for other reasons, which you came close to predicting. I'd like to add one more case to that... EI is already hurt!

EI is not the most reliable, health wise, PF in the association(no news flash there)! I could see Morris starting at PF, even though I don't want to see that, sooner than we'd like, and that would likely push Johnson right into the starting SF position!

We're already starting an undersized PF in EI, so starting an even smaller PF doesn't give me a lot of confidence!

Losing Monroe is a huge problem: While we've improved the SF position, and we have great size and athleticism at PG, SG, and now SF, we've taken a step backward at the PF position.

We're going to have to address this problem because we have a mismatch with Morris at SF on most nights, and against the great SF's in the east, Melo & Lebron, etc., we at least have someone that won't just concede 30 to these guys, playing him at the PF is a LOSER!

[Murph]

Let's not count out SJ after the first week of practice. He might not start at the beginning of the season, but maybe by the end.

SVG has a lot of options. If Morris plays well, he can start at PF, with SJ starting at SF by the season's end.

[Oracle]

Morris is showing up and showing out! I'm loving what he's bringing, he seems like he has a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove something! Music to my ears!!!

Auburn Hills – Marcus Morris showed Detroit fans some serious hustle during the Pistons' open scrimmage at The Palace on Saturday.

He played with fire and attitude. He hit outside shots and he bulled inside for buckets to the delight to about 6,000 Pistons fans. Team Hustle beat Team Grind 72-64 in a game that started nicely but deteriorated into a glorified scrimmage that ended 36 seconds early because of attrition.

More on Morris: Morris is more than just a solid pro. He brings badly needed attitude to the Pistons. Morris is playing like he doesn't plan to give up his starting spot to rookie Stanley Johnson anytime soon. He dominated offensively early, and then finished up with nice defensive stops before ripping off his toe nail following an awkward shot attempt.

Morris means business.

[Oracle]

@Phillip - I'm looking for some of those things from Drummond as well, but I liked your DUMB comment!

I agree, Drummond isn't Josh Smith dumb, he seems more clueless at times and I'm hoping that it's inexperience than being dumb. He's been exceptionally easy to abuse in the post by other bigs, and his defense on bigs has been almost nonexistent!

He's going to put up even better scoring and rebounding numbers this season, that much I'm pretty sure about, but if he can add either much better defense or an improved post game, nobody can keep him out of the all star game, and he'll likely drag Jackson along with him.

@Fennis - Good stuff as usual

But if players REFUSE to listen to SVG, they're bound to get concussions or worse!!! When SVG says this, you've got to get your ass in gear and follow directions! What directions you say? Here they are...

[Oracle]

I didn't realize that Bulls fans are damn near through with this dude!

[Phil-Good]

1. Better basketball IQ. I'm not calling Drummond DUMB like Josh Smith for example. But I need to stop seeing foul trouble every game. That has to end. Yes, i want to see better low post stuff and I would love A developing jump-shot also. But if the bone-head fouls end, Drummonds is A NBA All Star all day long!

[Fennis Dembo]

The first week of training  camp and three players are injured.  What the hell is going on? The Marines in boot camp have less injuries.  I can only imagine what's going on and my imagination is running wild.

Training Camp Day 1
SVG: I am your senior drill instructor Sergeant Van Gundy.  From now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be "Sir". Do you maggots understand that?
Team: Sir, yes Sir.
SVG: Bullshit I can't hear you. Sound off like you got a pair!
Team:  [In unison, much louder]  Sir, yes Sir.

SVG: If you ladies leave my gym, if you survive training camp, you will be an all-star. You will be a minister of basketball praying for a game. But until that day you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even human freakin' beings. You are nothing but unorganized grabastic pieces of amphibian crap! Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn. I am hard but I am fair. There is no racial bigotry here. I hate all players. Here you are all equally worthless. And my orders are to weed out all non-players who do not pack the gear to serve in my beloved team. Do you maggots understand that?
Team: Sir, yes Sir.

Day 2
SVG: Tonight, you pukes will sleep with your basketballs. You will give your basketball a girl's name because this is the only sex you people are going to get. Your days of finger-poppin'  ol' Mary-Jane Rottencrotch through her pretty pink panties are over! You're married to this piece. This weapon of rubber. And you will be faithful. Port, hut!

Day 3
SVG: Did your parents have any children that lived?
Adonis Thomas: Sir, yes, sir.
SVG: I bet they regret that. You're so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece! What's your name fat body?
Thomas: Sir, Adonis Thomas, sir.
SVG: Adonis sounds like a Greek name . Are you a Greek God?
Thomas: Sir, no, sir.
SVG: That name sounds like a mythological god. Are you a mythological being?
Thomas: Sir, no, sir.  
I don't like the name Adonis, only gays and Philadelphia 76ers are called Adonis. From now on you're LeBron.
Thomas: Sir, yes, sir.

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