The Downbeat - 4 March 2010 - #178 - The Please Not Larry Hughes Edition

Why did they sign another guard? This just screams that logjam theory of there’s is completly false. I’d rather sign ostertag than another guard.

Take one site that some 7th grader makes at GoDaddy.com with Dad’s permission so he can blog about Lebron. Ya, Hughes played the point guard for Cleveland and would get tossed the ball on the side with 2-3 seconds left and throw it up, what would you do? He also took them to the Eastern Conference Champions and the finals, where they were swept. This means, he took them right through Cleveland and Chauncey Billips? RIng a bell writer? This is playing point, and Hughes this year, when started for a month, lead the NBA (whole league) in steals. Ya, he is that fast he still can cover the passing lanes. Look at stats, but don’t forget the players game, Hughes, always defense, it hurts to have to teach as a fan, but Hughes clock management, knowledge of the players (12 years in league of 400 best men in the world) would be a great asset down the stretch. Also remember, he was the first winner of the Austin Carr Award, as the most professional player on and off the court to fans, press and charity. Hughes is quiet and not well known, most writers are ignorant of facts, Hughes played one year at St. Louis U. You don’t get into SLU on being the top recruit, you have good grades and SAT scores, learn the game, know the players and don’t reference a 2005 website. Hughes stats are similar to his game his whole career. Instant defense, at $240,000, which Hughes earned in two nights this year, it’s the bargain of the day. A class act, who incurred many family medical tragedies with the lost of his brother and almost his wife and himself (career ending, but overcame), and at the age of in his twenties, kept his life, his family and his game on course. Many of us have know idea the challenges of losing our only brother, almost our wife. Hughes is a class act, you need to move up in the writer’s world and see what this man has overcome and what he does on and off the court. Again, Bargain of the Day!

Took them through Detroit, playing point for injured Eric Snow for whole season, then the next season. Was promised 2 guard. Injury, which ripped finger to the bone, had him learn how to hold the ball completely different to shoot. Yes, a tad lower stats, but look at the arms on Hughes at 6 foot 5. Steals, Rebounds, excellent defense and never demands minutes. Only in Chicago, when a rookie coach went to press, not Hughes and said that Hughes complained. Hughes only ask to contribute for the money they were paying him.
15 million? In New York, Curry, Marbury, Robinson benched for a month, Harrrington (not permitted to start, though leading scorer and the playing of Duhon for 50 games as the worst point guard of the year had numerous players and agents saying they wanted out. A closed door policy. Hughes pulled them out of their worst start in New York history, Then started a month, then after a three of four game injury to a hammy, got benched for a month? No answer from Coach, but see what D"Ants respect from players is now and if many players choose this as a start. Hughes, damn, no he is no superstar, but ball handling, career stats, making it 12 years, leading in steals this year, winning games for New York when started they almost had their best December in history, but writers are like school kids, They just do not do their research, “Let me google Larry Hughes, Oh, look at this site, someone bucked up $5.00 for a domain, I will reference that for my article”. Dig deeper, out scored Lebron in games, went to finals, has Cleveland been back since? And point guard is not his position, 2 guard is, he slashes to the hoop (high free throw average). Also, at 6 5, a small forward. Had to correct my error and add more. Someone will take him, Boston looks most probable, but broken finger and waiting two weeks is the real question. If not, season over, Larry earned 17 Million. He did something over 12 years to get that contract, some people just let money get into their stats, he did not “demand” that money. He wants one thing, any interview and I watched every Knicks game this year was one answer, I want to WIN. Knicks are the worst team since he left in wins. D’Antoni is an idiot that Steve Nash made look pretty. The boy from W. Virginia is not the coach that should demand the highest salary.
Sloan is 10 times the coach, he has earned the right to call his own shots in Salt Lake.
Never given the talent of other coaches.

Really, who else out there even has a shot at helping the Jazz? He’s not just another wing player, he plays SG/PG. Back-up PG isn’t exactly a strength of the Jazz. Also, how many guys on the Jazz can create their own shot? How about being good perimeter defenders? His FT% over the last few years is around 80% (another Jazz weakness), and even his 3 point shot, while not his strength, is respectable over the last few years. There’s been so much rumbling about the Jazz getting worse (Brewer) while other teams get better… well, this guy is the only one out there that COULD be a difference maker. I know a lot of fans want to see the Jazz get a guy like Moore because of his size, but where are Moore’s minutes going to come from? Honestly, if Millsap, Boozer & Okur are going to lose time on the court I’d much rather a big defender like Fes get those minutes. I liked Moore when he was in Utah a few years ago, but he’s not a big shot-blocker, nor is he a “big guy”. I say take a flyer on Hughes, worst case senario, he doesn’t fit in & complains about minutes, so he’s benched or released. Best case senario, he’s the missing piece to the Jazz puzzle. I think it’s worth the risk.