Thursday, May 31, 2007

Live Blog: Cavs vs. Pistons, Eastern Conference Finals, Game 5

Some questions heading into tonight's game...

Can LeBron do it on the road? He was unreal in Cleveland, but his performances in Detroit have been lackluster. Something clicked, though, in Cleveland. I think we are in good hands.

Where is his help coming from? It is almost expected that Boobie Gibson is going to play well...who else will step up? I'm saying 17 from Sasha.

Will Chauncey play well? I think him and Rip are both going to have good games, but I think the Detroit bigs will struggle. I don't know why.

Was this one of the funniest things I've ever read? From Simmons basketball blog, but ironically, not from Simmons himself:

I thoroughly enjoyed this e-mail from Rob in Kailua, Hawaii: "I've been noticing that during the Detroit-Cleveland series Gooden and Rasheed get into arguments or little scuffles at least 2-3 times a game. Is there a history there? My theory is that Gooden's little patch of hair on his neck used to be the little patch of hair missing from Rasheed's head. Drew must have won some epic battle and now wears that patch as a medal of honor. That's the only logical explanation for such a ridiculous hairdo right?"
That is something I wish I had thought of; I'm jealous. I LOL'd on that one. I also like that epic battles that are rewarded with medals of honor are quite commonplace in Hawaii.

Alright, let's get to the game. As always, see you after the jump.


Read the Rest After the Jump...

humbly submitted by point 23 on Thursday, May 31, 2007 22 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Guest Post: Everyone in Los Angeles Just Calm Down!

So: Kobe wants to be traded. Didn't see that one coming.

Personally, I have no idea what to make of this. He seemed serious - the "No, bro" comment was probably the greatest thing he ever said - but then he backed off, like, 24 minutes later and said he'd chill if they fired the dude who blamed the whole Shaq fiasco on him (so...everyone?).

The big question is, What happens now? Do the Lakers trade the most unstoppable player alive? Do they trade everyone else? Do they even have a plan?

Maybe more importantly: what should the Lake Show do?

We haven't had a guest column around here in quite some time. In fact, as far as I can tell, this would be the first one since the first one. So I asked my boy, whom we'll refer to as The Commish (probably because he runs our fantasy football league with an iron fist; he even enacted a Personal Code of Conduct Policy, just like the real NFL), to step in and set the record straight and he graciously accepted.

No one I have ever talked to knows the Lakers better. Honestly, he got that NBA Ticket package just so he could stay up until 4 am watching the Lakers host the Hawks. That is credibility enough for me.

I asked him to simply give his take on just what KB24 might really be up to and what he'd like to see his squad do this off-season. His words are after the jump.

(While we are here: if anyone would ever like to write a guest post, just let me know. Doesn't matter if you have a blog or not. If there is something you'd like to write about and there are too many words in your head to relegate it to the comments section, just get ahold of me, and we'll set it up. Don't be shy.)

Read the Rest After the Jump...

humbly submitted by point 23 on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Live Blog: Cavs vs. Pistons, Eastern Conference Finals, Game 4

LeBron's Game 3 performance was so good, it almost makes a live blog of Game 4 mandatory. Hoping for a sequel performance is probably wishful thinking, and hey, as the saying goes, the sequel is never as good as the original. But what about The Mighty Ducks? Those movies just kept getting better and better, and there was three of them. So why not LeBron and LeCavs?

(Of course, this analogy means that the Cavs can only win three of the required four games need to advance...so maybe a terrible analogy. Wouldn't be the first time.)

Regardless, Cleveland needs to win tonight to make anything before June 7 remotely watchable. That's a tall task. Plus, Larry Hughes is out, and he has been giving Chauncey Billups fits (although I think Billups just hasn't tried yet...again, wouldn't be the first time). But that also means Boobie is going to get infinitely more run and we won't have to watch Larry try to dribble to air out of the ball. So maybe it is a watch. We'll see.

The live blog will start at tip off, right around 8:30, maybe a little before. As always, see you after the jump.

MisterMarcus said...
Hasn't it only happened once before, the jazz vs. bulls, when they came back from 3 games down in like '97? Or am I mistaken and it's happened more than once?
I have no idea what that stat is, but I know it ain't alot. Which is why Hughes maybe sacrificing Game 5 for Game 4 is completely worth it. I'd rather be down 2-2 and then 3-2 than down 3-1 and then 3-2. If that makes any sense.

Bron throws up an airball from the block. That was as ugly as the step back three was gorgeous. But he's attacked the rim and he's posted up. I love how this game is starting. Can't ask for much more, really. It'd be nice if they'd gone in, but still.

Oh, shit: a closeup of Chauncey Billups reveals that he is sweating. Not a good sign. Shit. He's trying.

Billups backtaps a Rasheed Wallace missed three (his second one in the last two minutes) and the Pistons get a second possession. If the offensive player backtaps the ball, I think the offense gets it back, like, 87% of the time. I have no basis for that argument.

Bronny hits a three. Just thought you should know. Billups answers with one of his own, though. Crap. Larry Hughes is visibly limping. That was a terrible 24 seconds. 11-8, Cavs.

Good God. LeBron beats Prince off the dribble, muscles by Chauncey like he wasn't even there (no small feat mind you) and then takes advantage of Rasheed Wallace getting the fuck out of the way to positively annihilate the rim. Seriously, Sheed learned from last night. He wanted no part of that. Wise man. Cleveland by three.

8 minutes in and Larry hasn't gotten a break. Hey, Mr. Brown? He is taking drugs to play. Think he can get a quick breather?

LeBron with a nice pass to Drew Gooden's Hair Patch. DGHP hammers it. Awesome. DGHP is on fire; he hits another J.

Son of a bitch. Billups pulls up and drills a three. I hate when he is aggressive. Bad things happen. CLE up 19-17 with a little over 2 minutes left.

Prince post up and, shockingly, scores with his left hand. Hey Sasha? That paper in your locker? Its your scouting report. Give it a once over sometime, eh?

Sasha responds with a three. Fair 'nuff, Sasha, fair 'nuff. Oh! Varajea with a gorgeous reverse layup over (under?) Rasheed. And by gorgeous, I mean "horribly awkward." Cavs up 26-21.

Does it surprise anyone else that the Pistons end quarters and halves with Rip Hamilton going 1 on 1 off the dribble? They do it every single time. I know he's gotten better at it, but your telling me Billups isn't more effective there? Maybe kicking it to Rip?

Cavs up 4 at the end of one.


Sheed starts things off with a turn around and then Chauncey nails another three. This ain't good. The Cavs need someone on Detroit to play crappy. At least one someone. No one on Detroit is going along with that plan, though.

Wow. A walk on King James in Cleveland. LBJ really doesn't get the super star call quite yet. Wonder why.

Hey! Mike Brown! Get Damon Jones the hell out of the game when Chauncey is in. It is the most unfair matchup in all of sports. I am dead serious. Chauncey scores every single time. That is terrible, terrible coaching. 100% Mike Brown's fault. Don't even blame Damon, he can't help it Billups completely own him. I'm sure he knows he has no chance.

Boobie gets to the rim and gets fouled. It really is jarring watching a Cavs game and seeing someone get to the rim.

Man, LeBron is pissed off. Maxiell (man, he can get up) gets away with a goal tend (well, maybe he got it) and an LBJ runner. That's two close calls, neither one going to LeBron. Just sayin'.

Boobie oops LBJ in transition...the lob was a little low; LeBron caught it at rim level with one hand, brought it up a half-foot above the rim to his other hand and then crushed it. Boobie to LBJ...has a beautiful ring to it, no?

Damon Jones is still in and Chauncey Billups is still killing him. Of course he is. If Dan Gilbert walked over and fired Mike Brown right now, I would be fine with it and honestly, Mike Brown probably wouldn't even be surprised. Aaaaaand Damon Jones just missed a three, which is the only reason he's in there in the first place. Get him the hell out!

Oh, Daniel Gibson. Penetrates, splits a double team, then hits a one-legged Billups-esque step back. Collins put it best: That was a confident move. damn right it was.

Gibson follows that up by sticking a jumper, getting fouled, and then relentlessly pounding his chest. I am loving the Boobie Gibson era. Cavs up, 37-30.

I can't believe the amount of time Larry Hughes is getting. There is no way in hell he plays in Game 5. With Gibson playing this well, there really is no need to play him, especially considering that Billups is on fire, anyways. Honestly, why is he out there?

Marv Albert says "Boobie" three times in a row. Terrific, just terrific. He then informs us that Mike Brown refuses to call him Boobie, but when Marv texts Boobie, he does not call him DGib, as Doug Collins would like, but does indeed call him Boobie. Of course he does. It was really much more riveting live. Marv Albert saying Boobie. He really did.

Cavs up 10 because Boobie is shredding the Pistons right now. He scores 9 straight on jumpers and drives and foul shots. Z gets a putback and pushes it to 10, 43-33. This is all with LeBron out, mind you. I can't believe the Cavs have a point guard that is playing like this. Let's hope Boobie can keep up his Daron Williams impersonation.

The Cavs ended the second half well, getting up by as much as 12, but Lindsay Hunter hit a stupid 3 and somehow the lead was only 7 at the break. Good, coulda been been better.

Now comes the third quarter. Gulp. This is where the Pistons have owned the Cavs the last three games. Don't expect to read the name "LeBron" alot over the next 12 minutes. I hope you do, but don't get your hopes up.

Rip starts the third by missing a bad three. You know, he just may be the Random Piston Who Ends Up Sucking tonight. Fingers crossed, anyways.

Of course he hits a degree-of-difficulty-8.5 jumper on the very next possession. CLE lead cut to 5.

A Billups step back cuts the lead to three. Man, for whatever reason, some teams just can't play in the third quarter. Cleveland is one of them. You know what the remedy is? More Boobie. Always is, my friend, always is.

Wanna hear a secret? Ms. 23 saw the commercial for the Fantastic 4 car and thought that flying cars now existed and could be bought at your local dealership. Direct quote: "This is huge!" Just thought you should know.

(Note: I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I hate when Simmons or someone references their significant other. Well, actually just Simmons; he takes it to an unnecessary level. So I try not to do that. But that just had to be mentioned and Ms. 23 was the best I could come up with. OK, back to the game.)

Detroit is within one, mainly because they are trying harder than Cleveland. Hamilton drills a J to take the lead. Listen, Rip, forget I said anything. Really, never mind. My bad, man, my bad.

I don't get why Cleveland's offense will just stand there sometimes. No one moves. I mean, its a choice, isn't it? Doesn't Mike Brown have a billion plays? Why not run one of 20 of them? I can't believe there is over 6 minutes left and this game is tied. What the hell.

Boobie drills a three from the corner. I am starting a Facebook group next commercial: I Heart Boobie. Have I mentioned yet that I love him?

Sheed gets called for a travel and flashes his yellow teeth in disapproval. Jack from the Lost season finale is jealous of his beard, too.

Oh, Weber hits Boobie unnecessarily hard and gets hit with a flagrant. Make that a T. He kinda threw him down, I dunno. Looked worse live. Either way, Boobie nails three straight feebies to push the lead out to 6. The crowd is into it a little bit, too. Thanks, C Web, 'preciate it!

Freakin Rip Hamilton.

Detroit is getting every big rebound. They are killing the Cavs on the offensive glass. They get two more possessions, and Boobie picks up his third "and 1" foul. Through no one's fault but Cleveland's, the Pistons are up 2.

LBJ: 0-4 so far. Least he's shooting. I guess. Guess who fouled him? Damon freakin Jones. Are we positive there is actually glass in Mike Brown's eyewear? Sure he didn't tip a plastic nose and mustache off them right before tipoff?

Cavs down 2 after 3.

Mike Brown wakes Donyell Marshall up from his nap and inserts him into the game. Thoughtful.

Varejao gets whistled for a quick foul, off the ball. The refs have been getting hammered for not being able to discern between flops and actual fouls and they are taking it on on Varejao.

There is just under 3 minutes left and the Cavs have scored 8 points. Needless to say, I have my Donyell face on right now.

LeBron misses the same back three he drilled two nights ago. LeBron is still 0-for-the-quarter. Can we just skip the third quarter somehow? Just play the second quarter twice or something? Please?

Boobie is killin' it. I can't stress this enough. He nails a floater with 10 seconds left around 3 Pistons.

Chauncey answers by driving and getting fouled with 2 seconds left. Guess who he was fouled by? None other than Damon Jones! I know, I am just as stunned as you are. Are we entirely sure that Mike Brown has actual glass in his eyewear? He didn'r rip off a plastic nose and mustache right before tip off?

Cavs down 2 after 3.

Bron nails a contested J with a toe on the line over two guys, fading away. Can we brainwash him into thinking there is no third quarter?

The Pistons are supremely confident they can win this series, I know. But they have to be legitemately scare of LeBron in the fourth quarter of a close game, right? Or are they that confident?

Beautiful pas from LeBron. Drives right, wraps it behind his back to Sleepy Marshall. Sleepy misses the and 1 free throw. Still, tied at 69. (If there are any ninth graders reading this, you can giggle now. Go right ahead.)

Why do Damon Jones and Sleepy Marshall have to play at the same time? One three point shooter isn't enough? Those two can't guard a soul. This is so stupid.

James drills a one-dribble pull up over Prince.

McDyess is killing Donyell Marshall. Cripes. Detroit up 3.

Hey, have you seen Drew Gooden around? Anywhere? Yea, me either. Weird. Wonder where he went?

That is crazy: as soon as I typed that, he lassos Rasheed Wallace and gets hit with a technical. Hey, thanks for stopping by Drew. You've been a big help.

What a move by LeBron. It looked kinda like MJ fakin out John Starts and then dunking on Ewing, cept it was from the wing and he laid it in. Lost the headband and got a foul, too. He actually finishes off the three-point play to boot. He did look oddly naked without that head band on, though.

LeBron just dribbled for the entire 24 second shot clock, somehow geta all the way to the charge circle and draws a foul. He knocks down both to pull Cleveland to within 1. Chauncey misses a bad three and Bron Bron feeds Gooden for a baseline J. I swear as soon as I rip someone, they do something great. So: watch this.

LeBron Sucks. LeBron Sucks. LeBron Sucks.

There, that should do the trick.

Sasha gets out ahead of the pack and lays one in, Cleveland takes the lead. Good God, I am nervous.

I think those two guys from the Sonic commercials should be the next commercial duo to get their own sitcom after the Cavemen (which I am positively ecstatic for).

Rasheed picked up a tech for throwing his headband during the commercial break and now refuses to put it back on. Boobie knocks down the free throw to push it to 4.

In response to the T, Rasheed wisely throws up a terrible three, which he airballs. Student of the game, Rasheed Wallace.

Goode nails back to back baseline Js. Lead out to six, and then Bron pushes it to 8 with an ungauradable step back from the top of the key. The Pistons have to be scared now, right? A little?

Three minutes left and the Pistons go zone. Its works, too: LeBron misses a bad three.

At the othe end, Billups drives, there is contact (actually, Boobie gets Billups' nuts right in his face), all three refs stare at each other for a second that lasted at least 15 minutes and then they call the charge on Mr Big Shot. The Q approves. (Boobie with another huge play. He's awesome.)

This zone is scaring the hell out of me. It just invited the Cavs to stand around and, wouldn't you know it, that is just what the Cavs love to do.

LeBron guarding Chauncey. INteresting. Rip brings the Pistons within 4.Boobie with a turnover, somehow the Cavs get it right back and Boobie promptly turns it right back over. Alrights, Boob, that play is over with. Don't let it rattle ya. Next play, homie, next play.

87-83. 1:30 left. Pistons ball. Huge, huge series. A cold Eric Snow checks in...he forces Prince to give it up to Billups, LeBron with a terrific close out and then Billups throws it away to Gooden. Hughes wasn't even on the court, Chauncey. What gives? Gooden hits 1 of 2. Cavs up 5.

Make that three. Rip elevates over Boobie like he isn't even there. 88-85, Cavs. 1:02 left. My hands are shaking. Leo DiCaprio in "The Departed," I am not.

This might not be the best time to bring this up, but the JumboTron is demanding that all fans do The Twirly Bird. What the hell is The Twirly Bird?

Detroit doubles LeBron at the top of the key and force him to give it up to Gooden, who gets the hell blocked out of him by Rasheed, leading to....Chauncey Billups taking a terrible, off balance, contested three in transition. Cavs clear it. 37 seconds left. TO, Cavs. Can LeBron do ittwo games in a row....no, he misses a bad three, but Detroit can't get the board, there is a scramble at midcourt and somehow Eric Snow is fouled...excpet he is cold as hell and shouldn't even be in. Of course he misses the first. He isn't even sweating. Gotta have the second to push it to 4....yes!

I swear LeBron just tipped it in for the Pistons. I swear it was him. 4.0 seconds left, Pistons foul LeBron....this is it, King James...gotta have 'em....makes the first!...and the second...yes! Unreal. Two games in a row LeBron steps up and pushed a lead from 2 to 4 when it really matters. We are watching this young man grow up! Sob. Don't cry, don't cry!

Sheed misses a three and that is it, kiddies. LeBron and Boobie just saved the playoffs. Well, at least the conference finals. Man...2-2 going back to Detroit, LeBron playing in attack mode, Boobie playing out of his mind...can't ask for much more than that, can you? I will definitely be live blogging that game in Thursday. See you then.

Read the Rest After the Jump...

humbly submitted by point 23 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Kobe Would Rather Not Play in LA Unless it is Being Run by The Logo

The impetus for Kobe's demand - which he is denying, of course - is that in his exit interview, Kupchak et al. informed Mr. Bryant that they would be doing exactly nothing to change the Lakers current roster, at least according to Chad Ford.

Now, I am no General Manager of a professional NBA team, but just from watching the Lakers on my television from the second cushion on my couch, I am pretty sure they need to do something to that roster. If I was Kobe, I'd demand they get me someone who knows what the hell they are doing, because Mitch certainly doesn't, or I'd want out, too.

How the hell can Kupchak have watched the last two seasons and not feel the need to do something? What does he expect to happen from now until next season? Kobe will get even better? Farmar will pull a Deron Williams? Cake Thrower won't be terrible? If Kupchak's general plan is to make no moves and just think this roster needs another year "to gel" then he is just a very, very, very bad talent evaluator and a very, very, very bad GM and/or he makes the worst plans ever. Probably both.

(You'd think Kobe would have taken this into consideration the first time around. I mean, he did see who Kupchak traded Shaq for, right?)

So, what could West do that Kupchak can't...er, refuses to? Well, for starters, something. It isn't like the Lakers don't have a few desirable pieces. Bynum seems to be coveted, they have a midround pick in a loaded draft, Lamar & Farmar could bring something back.

Really, all Kobe needs is one more above average player around him and they are title contenders. If they traded this year's pick, Bynum and Cake Thrower to Jermaine O'Neal (who knows if that'd happen; I'm just sayin, try it), they'd be in the conference finals.

The West is only getting better an deeper, and Kupchak's grand plan to restore the Lakers to prominence is to do nothing. Stand pat. Let Kobe destroy himself for another 82 games, sneak LA into the playoffs, and the lose. Again. This is ridiculous. Can't Kobe just fire him? Matt Millen is baffled by his job security.

The thing that is so dumb about the Lakers plan is that they have no direction. Either keep Kobe and Lamar and overpay via trade for some questionable veterans and try to win now, or ship Kobe outta there, even though you want get fair value (because there is none) and build around your young pieces. Make up your damn mind. Make a tough choice and have some frickin' conviction about it. My God, I couldn't care less about the Lakers and the stupidity of the whole thing has me all fired up.

The whole thing is a non-starter, though, because like Kupchak said, he isn't doing a damn thing to the roster and that presumably includes Bean. Besides, what the hell could you get back for Bryant that would make it worth it?

And if Kobe somehow did get traded to a contender - and the contender somehow managed to acquire him without gutting its entire roster - everyone would hate Kobe. The only reason he isn't hated right now is because his team has no chance to win. Imagine Kobe competing for titles every year? People would go right back to the "all he does is shoot," "he isn't a team player," "remember what he did to that poor girl in Eagle, Co." and my personal favorite, "he doesn't make his teammates better."

So Kobe is stuck in LA for at least another year or two, and he will somehow get people to feel sorry for him, even though he created this whole situation in the first place, partly because when he ran Shaq outta town (or at the very least, didn't do everything in his power to make it work) he entrusted the best year's of his career to someone who is not good at all at what he does. It's no one's fault but Kobe's, really.

humbly submitted by point 23 on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Monday, May 28, 2007

LeBron Has Me Getting Waaaay Ahead of Myself.

Without a doubt, we just witnessed the finest post season performance of young LBJ's career. Better than the debut trip-dub, better than the Washington buzzer-beaters, better than that three-game stretch against Detroit last year.

"Finally" isn't the right word, but it is the first word that comes to mind.

Bron in the fourth quarter was remarkable. Dunking on people, pull ups, step back threes. Did you expect all those shots - the jumpers, not the assaults on the rim - to go in? All of them? Even the step back? The pull up over Rip? You're a better man than me if your faith never wavered.

I know he has hit buzzer beaters in the playoffs before, but those were all around the rim. Hitting game-winning J's (or game-clinching, I should say) is on an entirely different level.

And the way he clutched up, pushing that two point lead to four, for all intents and purposes icing the game? That was an incredible shot: he had his entire body facing the corner, keeping he help defender still by hinting that he was going to pass (to the same spot that he hit Donyell Marshall in Game 1; maybe a subtle "screw you" to anyone who criticized that decision?) and then turned his body, as he was rising, toward the rim. Pure.

LeBron has insisted that it is going to take a team effort to compete with Detroit, and he's right, but even more than that, it is going to take performances like that. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled, geeked, pumped, excited, anxious I am the he has seemingly managed to find the middle ground between pure scorer and "just" table-setter. 32-9-9? Assuming the defensive effort stays constant, that is almost a guaranteed win (well, at least at the Q....I am aware that I may be getting a bit ahead of myself here; can't help it.)

After the game, Craig Sager asked if this was going to be the LeBron we see for the rest of the playoffs, and he gave about a 30-second answer, but I didn't hear anything he said after "yes" because I was running around the room, pumping my fist like amateur Tiger Woods.

It was more the way he did it than just that he did it. In Games 1 and 2, he fed his teammates early (and late) and then tried to play off them. He just can't do that; his supporting cast, God bless them, just doesn't have it in them. Game 3 was a 180: he dominated early and often and that opened everything up for everyone else.

(I can't believe I have written six paragraphs and I haven't screamed "BOOBIE!" yet. Unacceptable. Two HUGE threes. Cleveland's two most pressing needs are a shooter and a point guard. Did they find both? Good God, I really am getting ahead of myself. I'll try to reign it in.)

But back to LeBron - as much as he wants this series to be about the Cleveland Cavaliers, it will always be LeBron vs. Detroit. Anyone wearing a Cleveland jersey without a 23 on it might as well have "Extra" stitched above the number. The thing I was most unsure about - not scared, I guess, but unsure - was whether he was deferring to his teammates, both in the final seconds and throughout the game, because he was unwilling to stand in the spotlight by himself or because he truly believe in his teammates.

I think I have my answer. Did he looked even the littlest bit hesitant? That was a clutch performance, to be sure, but that was a veteran performance. Moving teammates and defenders around like chess pieces and then taking over when it was needed. Game 4 can't come soon enough. The Cavs are pulling this shit off.

Maybe finally is the right word.

humbly submitted by point 23 on Monday, May 28, 2007 0 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Sometimes, Two Wrongs Do Make a Right

You could make a pretty solid argument that two of the most unfair rules in all of sports are the NBA Draft Lottery and the NBA's Age Limit. But combining the two? Gold, Jerry...that's gold!

Forcing Durant and Oden to chill for a year in college ramped up interest in the draft beyond anything I can remember since LeBron and Melo. (And honestly? The hype around the '07 Draft will probably top that; it will get unprecedented attention.) And the randomness of the lottery only multiplied it.

Say what you want about the Lotto being a gimmick (it is) and unfair (it is), but man, it really delivered the goods this year, didn't it? Stern has to be freakin' thrilled with how that went. It was dramatic, plus the chalk picks, so to speak, weren't even close and teams that needed help are going to get it. I don't think the L could ask for a more exciting evening, do you? (Well, maybe if we were watching SA/PHX for the right to go the Finals instead of Jazz/Spurs afterwards...but still.)

So, so much happened. Boston got shafted into the 5 spot (that clown who had a C's Oden jersey on can wrap it around that Sporting News cover of Duncan in Celtic Green so they can bury him with them after he blows his head off). The Suns somehow missed out on the No. 4 pick in a loaded draft (D'Antoni is not having a good week, is he? And what the hell do you do with Marion now?). Atlanta has two top-10 picks (Let me be one of the first - but certainly not the last - to say that I cannot wait to see how they blow both of those - anyone wanna bet me they draft Conley at 3 and then Acie Law IV at 10 and then can't believe they are being bashed for finally drafting some PGs?).

And that doesn't even take into account the top two spots, the reason everyone was watching in the first place. Does Portland draft Oden and start him along with Aldridge and Randolph for like, a freaking great front line for years to come? Or do they fill that hole at the 3-spot with Durant? Either way, they are the Bulls of the Western Conference now...mad young guns for the next decade. Can whoever Seattle drafts - probably Durant - save basketball in Seattle?

One glaring problem: both Oden and Durant are going to the West. Wouldn't the league have been better off with Oden in Boston and Durant in Atlanta? Stern couldn't see to that happening? We could have LeBron, D Wade, Bosh, Oden, Durant and the Pistons at least making the East respectable, if not competitive. The All Star game would be more fun, at least.

Now the West is even more loaded, while the East's chances for young up-and-coming teams rest on the incompetence in Boston, the incompetence in Atlanta, and Milwaukee. Yeesh.

This draft is like the perfect storm...two franchise changers who are forced to go to school come out the same year that three lottery picks decide to return to school and win a second title...this year is a freak show. And the West won out again. Of course they did.

(Oh, and one more gripe...why do teams send this COO's and CEO's and shit that only the team's fans have ever heard of - and probably hate? I am glad Portland won just because they actually sent someone cool. Teams should take note for next season; the basketball Gods like these things. They couldn't throw a vote up on the team website with some decent options? This is too much to ask?)

Regardless, the hype leading up to the actual draft is going to be off-the-charts (I am pretty sure Al Gore invented the Internets and sports blogs just for shit like this). Might as well get started right now. Here is a quick mock draft of the lotto teams, which I am sure will change countless times by draft day.

1. The Luckiest Bastards in the L - Greg Oden.
I am not exactly sure how they will strategically pull it off, but how can you resist that aforementioned front line? Plus they have Przybilla and Magloire on the bench...I think that is an absolutely terrific problem to have. They will be freakin' huge. The NBA is moving towards skill and speed, push the ball, drive and kick, knock down threes...and Portland is going to ruin it. They are just going to beat teams into submission. Eventually.

2. __________ Super Sonics - Kevin Durant.
Hmmm...how do you feel about all this, Rashard Lewis? Think you might be staying? No? Didn't think so...you and Chauncey are going to look bad ass in those Cleveland uniforms. But Durant is the obvious no-brainer here.

(Just out of curiosity: what if either Portland or Seattle pulls a Mario Williams here? I know because of the cap, it is unlikely to happen...but what if? Would this be a bigger crime than Reggie Bush going second to the Saints?

What if Seattle says, "hey, we play in the same division as AI, Deron Williams, Randy Foye and Brandon Roye...we need to be able to protect the paint...we take Brandan Wright." You know, how the Texans took Mario Williams because they said they can't stop the Peyton and Co.? What would happen? Would they be kicked out of the league? Would it be the greatest draft screw-up ever?)

3. The Sweetest Throwback Jerseys in the Lottery - Brandan Wright
I can't believe I am saying this...but I kind of feel bad for the Hawks. They need a point guard and a center...and they barely miss out on franchise center and this is too high to take any of the PGs. They don't need to reach for a PG here, they'll be able to get Conley (or at least Acie Law) at 11. Just grab Brandan Wright and hope that when he balls with Marvin Williams at Chapel Hill over the summer, something clicks.

Too bad the Hawks couldn't have snagged the No. 1 pick, too: they could have made Oden and Conley's dream of playing together in the L come true. Single tear.

4. The Logo's Retirement Home - Yi.
I'm just going to call him Yi. Anyone mind? K, moving on.

5. At least we have the Pats & Sawx. Roy Hibbert
I don't know why, but this brought me absolutely glee. Glee, I tell you, glee. Maybe it is because I read too much Simmons, but Boston seemed like they were absolutely tanking - more than anyone else; whether that is true or not I don't know - and their front office was being dumb on purpose. They revolved their entire plan around a lottery. Not smart. I'm guessing that when they are fired, they will not be selling financial advice.

But they need a true big man. I think Hibbert is that. Man, this just sucks for Boston.

(Oh: I have never been this excited for a Simmons column. This is gonna be great. I can't wait to hear the rationalization here. To steal a line: good times, good times.)

6. Milwaukee - Corey Brewer
Frankly, I'd be shocked if he ends up really lasting this long. I think he is a middle-class man's Kevin Durant. Yes sir, I do. He is a better on-ball defender than Kevin Durant and he can do some of the same things offensively. He'd be the steal of the draft if he fell to No. 6.

7. KG's Kidnappers- Al Horford
I don't even want to speculate what a KG-Foye-No. 7 pick would look like because they should freaking trade KG and get at least another pick in this draft. Horford is the best available here though.

8. Charlotte Tar Heels - Jeff Green
Julian Wright would probably fit in better, but this team needs someone solid. I see Green as a stabalizer in the NBA. He seems to be the most mature prospect to me in the draft (don't even say Oden is; he is secretly 12 years old). On a team with this much young talent, I think that isn't something to overlook.

9. Blazers of the East - Spencer Hawes
The Bulls have to draft a post player. It doesn't matter if it is a reach. Spencer Hawes is far and away the best one available right now. They need to take him and not even think twice.

10. Queens - Julian Wright
Point guard is tempting here, but for the time being, they do have Bibby. Kevin Martin and Bibby are a solid backcourt. Is Mike Conley or Acie Law better than either of those two? That team needs an explosive finisher around the rim. Wright fits the bill.

11. Still the Sweetest Throwbacks in the Lottery - Mike Conley, Jr.
Now the Hawks can take a point guard. Finally. Only took them three years. Conley isn't going to be great right away - really, he can't shoot - but could he be another Tony Parker? Decent J, fast as hell getting into the lane? In a few years, absolutely.

12. The Iladelph - Acie Law IV
There are going to be a lot of teams clamoring for a point guard in the off-season - Cleveland, Los Angeles, Miami. Trade Andre Miller and draft Acie Law. You get younger and cheaper. Its a win-win.

13. NOOCH - Al Thorton
Paul and Peja in the backcourt, Chandler and West on the block, Desmond Mason can play the three, but Thorton adds some nice versatility. I'm getting sleepy.

14. Clip Show - Joakin Noah
Two years ago, the Clippers were an exciting up and coming team. Now I think I hate them. Might as well draft Noah and make it official. I mean, somebody has to draft him.

You are highly encouraged to tell me where I screwed up.

humbly submitted by point 23 on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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What Would The Global Icon Do?

LeBron needs to take that shot.


Not because he was already by Prince and is strong enough to finish, regardless of what help might have gotten there. Not because he is his team's best player and the face of the franchise. Not because he is the biggest star left in the playoffs.


LeBron needs to take that shot because he wants to be a Global Icon.


Global Icon's take that shot. All-Stars might make that pass, Hall of Famers might make that pass. But Global freakin' Icons dismiss Prince, finish at the rim and then win the game in overtime.


Don't get me wrong, there is a sound logic to making that pass. On the road, against a team that is better than you, you go for the win. Who wants to play a team that is better than you for five more minutes on thier home court? A dude who hit 6 threes in a close game a few days ago is wide open, you throw it to him and you steal homecourt. In most instances, that is a very good play.


But not when a Global Icon is the one throwing the pass. That's the exception.


Global Icons hit the game winner. They score the most points, too. If you are baseball's Global Icon, you hit the most home runs, not slap the most singles. Football's Global Icon scores the most touchdowns. If he is a great blocker, fine, but that isn't what he hangs his hat on.


And I get the LeBron is just 22. But no one asked him if he wanted to be a Global Icon. He came up with that all on his own. He raised the bar. He raised expectations. And Global Icons just do not hand in 10-point performances in the conference finals and then pass on the buzzer beater. 22-year old phenoms can, but Global Icons can't.


Hey, I have defended LeBron in the past when he deferred on the final shot, but this is different. He was a foot, maybe inches from the rim with no one in his way. Maybe if he is double-teammed, or stopped, then he passes. Maybe.


That final play, at least to me, was indicative of the game was a whole. LeBron was involved, sure, but not to any great degree and the burden of the game fell on everyone else. The Cavs ain't winning if Bron Bron keeps that up.


The thing about LeBron not scoring is that he is playing right into the Pistons game plan. Getting his teammates involved is what LeBron wants to do, but oddly enough, it is what the Pistons want him to do, too. The superstars offensive attack strategy rarely lines up so perfectly with his opponent's defensive philopshy, does it?


But when LeBron scores, it is devestating. It changes the game. Detroit gears up to stop it, realizes they can't and it has an effect. LeBron scoring - or hell, at least being aggressive - blows up the Detroit scheme. For that reason alone, he's got to.


It is a shame the Cavs blew a chance to steal home court, but this game means nothing in terms of the rest of the series. Both teams still have aces in their respective holes: The Pistons can unleash Chauncey Billups before 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter (and for that matter, just play better as a team). The Cavs, of course, can still hope Motivated LeBron shows up. If one, or both, of those happen, this series will be wildy different than that Arena League Football game we watched last night.


In a way, I kind of feel bad for LeBron. He is going to get hammered for not being more dominant, but he wants to win his way, partly, I would guess becuase he thinks it is the right way and partly to shut everyone the hell up. He's stubborn, I think, and everyone telling him that he is going about things the wrong way will only reinforce in him the notion that he has to do it his way, results be damned.


If that is the case, fine. He is talented enough to win his way - if not this year, then down the line with a better supporting cast. I just worry that he might genuinely be shying away from the spotlight. And that is a scary thought. These playoffs have made unheros out of more than a few stars - Dirk, T.Mac, Kobe - and I'd hate to see Bron Bron fall into that category. Of course, all those guys can easily redeem themselves. But still.


Game 2 should tell all. If LeBron drops another near triple-double but barely cracks double-digits...well, I don't want to think about that.

humbly submitted by point 23 on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 4 comments so far. Might as well add your own.

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Thursday, May 17, 2007

"Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn! And Turn Down That Damn Rock Music, Too!"

Some random, disjointed thoughts on the Second Season while wondering how the hell ESPN stole a Thursday night "Gone Fishin'" game away from TNT....

(Ha! I always wanted to start a post like that...)

--It is incredibly hard to cheer for the Cavs and especially LeBron. I try so, so hard...and they just screw around out there. I refuse to believe they are trying as hard as they can to win. They just aren't and no one will ever convince me otherwise. LeBron could come over, sit on my couch and watch game film with me and he couldn't convince me.
With a chance to close out the conference semi-finals on their home court, not only didn't they try hard, they looked disinterested. I just...I just don't get what kind of mindset that is.

I am a firm believer that a team takes on the demeanor of its best player. It isn't intentional, but it just happens. The Cavs all act like LeBron and since they all weren't hand picked by God Himself to be great at basketball, this is a very bad thing. They really should just be called The LeBrons. Every single one of them just dribbles around and then launches a bad shot at the end of the shot clock. It is infuriating. Anderson Varejao is the lone exception.

LeBron is the most exciting player in the league and all I get to watch is him bouncing around on failed pick and rolls and then launching a stupid shot. Someone coach him. Please. Teach him how to do basketball shit, because for as good as he is, he clearly has a lot to learn. Like "Letting the game come to you" does not mean "not shooting." And "getting my teammates involved" does not mean "just reversing the ball from side to side." And would it kill Mike Brown to pull him over and say "Drive! Drive to the rim! No one can stop you! You can't freaking shoot, just put your head down and go to the rim!" And if Vince Carter accidentally hears him, well, there would be worse things.

Part of me wishes LeBron would break his foot, kinda like young MJ. I would willingly sacrifice a year of Young LeBron if it instilled in him a joy for the game and made him realize he should play hard every night, if not in the regular season, then at the very least, in the playoffs.

- The Pistons are guilty of this, too. They should have swept the Bulls, but the put it on cruise control for two games. And listen, I know this is nothing new, but it is driving me crazy. I can see this happening in the regular season, but how does this happen in the playoffs?!?!

- This leads me to believe the NBA has a competition problem. I mean, after the Bulls got eliminated, it was all smiles and hugs and pounds - from both sides. I am not expecting them to reenact some senior from a mid-major crying when his Sweet 16 run comes to and end, but cripes fellas, at least act like you care. When T. Mac got choked up after losing in the first round, and everyone hammered him for it (Seriously, screw everyone on Around the Horn except Michael Smith and Stat Boy. And Maybe JA.), you know what the response should have been? Good! Someone cares! Is everyone else watching this! Take notes! It shouldn't take 20 straight first round exits to elicit this type of emotion!

Simmons points this out in his excellent article about the Suns/Spurs suspensions, but really, the NBA does not allow its players to compete as hard as they possibly can. It is a sanitized, watered-down product. Kinda makes me wish I was aware of basketball in the 80s. I hear it was intense.

I really feel like I am being a cranky old man screaming at kids to get off his lawn, but sheesh...just try hard. You don't even have to be good. Just try hard. K, I'm done. Pressure points, pressure points. Woo-sah, woo-sah.

- I am pretty sure I hate every single NBA announcer right now. Yea, every single one. They are all just so full of shit. No one says what they really think. It is just hour after hour of politically correct spin and making things sound a lot better than they are. I mean, that is what sportscasting has been reduced to, and I am aware of that, but I am just sick of it.

Take Hubie and Mike Tirico tonight. Two fine guys, not the worst at their jobs; in fact, they are probably more respected than the great majority of their profession. But any time there was a missed call or a controversial decision, the pair just either glossed over it or agreed with the refs, regardless of what the replay showed. Their own opinions were no where to be found. The only time we saw any genuine emotion was when Sheed got a T and they could pontificate and berate him.

I'm just...I'm sick of it. Can't we get two guys who don't sound like robotic cliche-spitting machines?

- All this time off: good or bad for the Jazz? Rest or rust? Considering the injuries they have had at the guard position, rest has to be helpful. Odds are it doesn't even matter, but the Jazz should be heading into the conference finals in the best possible position.

And how about AK47? Does someone want to explain that one to me? I am really happy for the dude, but how o you go from a crying mess to a dominant force like that? I think he started taking steroids.

- My new favorite meaningless debate: "Did the suspensions cost the Suns Game 5?" Well, it certainly didn't help them, did it? That whole situation is just disgraceful.

- To recap: of the four semi-final series, one features the two unguardable penetrators challenging each other to a jump shooting contest, the other features a team that let a series drag out to six games out of pure indifference, another featured the end of the greatest story of the playoffs so far in pretty disappointing fashion and the last, which should be the defining series of the 07 Second Season has been forever tainted with some bogus suspension and every single game is being called my a bunch of phonies. Ugh.

Alright, I'm gonna stop before I start kicking dogs or something. Bright spots, anyone?

humbly submitted by point 23 on Thursday, May 17, 2007

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