The live blog of Denver and San Antonio will kick off as soon as the Cavs/Wiz game ends. The Cavs are, predictably, in a dog fight with the most severely undermanned team in the post season. So we will get to the Game of the Night as soon as Cleveland finds a way to dispatch of a team who doesn't have its two All-Stars.
Sadly, the game is on ESPN. The drop off from TNT to ESPN is so steep; it is almost like you are watching two different sports. TNT needs to step its game up next year and acquire every single game.
At the very least, that 40 games in 40 nights thing is a little misleading. If you are going to say that, I want at least one game every night. Noah didn't get to take weekends off, did he?
Anyways, live blogging will commence after the jump (nope, still not old) as soon as The LeBrons wrap up Game 3. See you then.
Thoughts? Predictions? Proclamations?
I think the Nuggets will win, I predict a breakout playoff game for JR Smith and I proclaim the winner of this series in the NBA Finals. Word.
Alright, let's get things crackin'. Cleveland goes up 3-0 on Washington (what absolute professionals; they just handled their business, didn't they?) due to Washington falling over a lot and Sasha Pavlovic making up for fouling a three point shooter and a shot clock violation on simultaneous possessions by drilling a dagger three from the corner to push it to two possessions. I'll take it, I guess.
First play I see is Melo draining a 3. Good start, good start. 11-8, Nugs. And Nene with a jumper forces SA to burn a TO.
Cripes, I go from Doug Collins - calm, understated, rational, logical - to Bill Walton - hyper, over the top, irrational, illogical, insane. This is like jumping straight from the whirlpool into the regular pool. I was just not ready for it; I may have a heart attack.
As far as I can tell, it is just Mark Whatshisname and Walton. Who's bright idea was this? Where the hell is Jon Barry? Mark can't keep Walton in check! He is going to be running wild with irrational comments and observations. What do you think Mark thought when he saw his assignment? "Uh, guys? It says here it is just me and Bill...that can't be right! Guys? Guys?!?!"
Melo goes up top and flushes an alley oop. Man, he really went up and got that. Every time Melo gets up, it catches me off guard. He's got some sneaky hops.
Ah, Parker with back to back baskets. Son of a bitch. The Nugs just can't keep him out of the paint. This is going to be a problem.
Iverson finally gets on the board with a nice little pull up. Why doesn't he do his cross over anymore? It is either just a hesitation move or a slower version of it. Baron Davis needs to give it back.
JR with a nice finish at the rim. I don't mean to say I told you so, but...I freakin' told you so. SA has Bruce Bowen guarding JR, so he may want to watch his ankles on any jump shots...you know, because JR is the dirtiest, slimiest prick in the NBA and all.
George Karl picks up a T for standing outside the coaches box. Good God, fellas, I think Melos jersey is slightly untucked in the back, might wanna ring him up, too.
Freakin Parker scores again. This is going to be a problem.
JR! Hell of an athletic finish off an alley oop. Some recurring themes are developing: Parker being a problem and JR Smith finishing at the rim. SA hits back to back shot clock expiring 3s to make it 25-22, Nugs at the half.
Mark takes us to the break with this gem: "Its turning into a Melo man march!" This commercial break can't be long enough.
I can't believe Jacque Vaughn is getting time for the potential World Champs. I remember being at the game where they lost to UTEP in the first round of the NCAA tourney in Dayton. I think that was Vaughn's team...
JR is attacking the rim like he's mad at it. What a great, random call by me. *Pats self on back.
Kleiza finds Nene under the rim...I'd like to nominate Kleiza as the worst player left in the playoffs. I'm willing to listen to arguments, though. I just don't see what he brings to the table. He runs around jacking bad shots, never, ever making them and not guarding anybody. What's the point, really?
Iverson misses a short fadeaway. As he's running down court, you can hear him scream, "He hit me in ma face!"C'mon AI, you couldn't have thrown the F word in there for me? That's too much to ask?
Mark Jones takes us to commercial. I have no idea what the score is.
Timmay misses back to back shots...he hasn't done a damn thing so far, at least from what I've seen - he may have scored 8 straight to open the game and I wouldn't know.
Iverson.....and one! And AI gets to the line for the first time in over 5 quarters. I'm surprised he made it, thought he might have forgotten what to do there.
And Parker scores in the paint again. I can't even blame Steve Blake because he isn't in...the Nuggets have no answer for him. He gets in there at will. Thank God SA doesn't seem interested in doing that every time down the court, because I really don't think it would be much of a problem.
They'd rather throw it into a doubled-team Duncan all the time, who isn't handling them all that well...cept for that time where he finds an open Mike Finley for 3. Spurs up 1, 34-33. Duncan throws it into the back court trying to beat a double team. Pop should try live-blogging the game, he might notice these things.
Walton: "Camby is a more statistical defender than Duncan." In fact, Duncan doesn't even get stats for his offense either. Here is his line for the series:
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Thanks, Bill.
Bruce Bowen: "I hope we can tally up all my runner up defensive player of the year awards." While we are at it, let's tally up all the ankles you've sprained by sliding your foot on purpose under a jump shooters foot, you dirty prick.
Mark Jones: "Something up about playing in this altitude really turns Manu on." Thanks, Mark. No, really, I needed reminded of that commercial where Parker and Ginobili are having phone sex with each other but they don't know it. "Man-ew?" "To-neeee?"
Melo drills a corner J, he has 14. Denver within 1. Make that down 3, The Dirty Prick scores in the lane. This game is really disjointed; no flow. SA has to be loving it. Duncan gets away with a charge, SA up 5. Denver has no home court advantage. It is oddly quiet. It just sounds like there is a strong breeze in the arena. Denver fans better wake the hell up.
Walton says Bowen is an "analytical" defender. Camby is a "statistical" defender. Blake is a "non-existant" defender. I may have added that last one.
Finley misses a drive and kick three; Duncan misses 97 putbacks in a row to end the half. Here come's the obligatory awkward Jim Gray interview. Lucky Tony Parker. That is one thing ESPN rivals TNT with: cover-your-face sideline interviewers. Craig Sager wins Emmies, though, so I guess he has been awarded for his awkwardness. Tough break, Jim Gray.
Close game at the half - 2, 3 points. No flow. Low scoring. No energy in the building. Why the hell is this game so flat? First 5 minutes will set the tone for the rest of the game. Here's my prediction: whoever wins the first 5 minutes wins the game. Jot it down. I am going to pound some coffee; hopefully, Denver and SA are, too.
Iverson is getting aggressive - he drills a 3 from the top of the key to bring Denver within one, then comes right back down for one of his patented high arcers off the glass, only Elson jumps to like the top of the freakin backboard and pins the hell out of it starting a SA fastbreak where Parker, of course, gets into the paint only to have Camby come out of nowhere for the pin - he got a stat for it, too - which triggered a Denver fast break, leading to a Nene blown lay up in traffic.
In other words: FINALLY. Things are starting to pick up, hopefully it only escalates from here. Denver seems to me to be the prototypical second half team. Thank God.
Hey, where the hell is JR? Haven't seen him yet this half.
Has Bruce Bowen ever committed a foul? Ever? He is hands down the dirtiest player in the NBA, and yet he is baffled every time he gets rung up. He just picked up a foul on Iverson, switched over to Melo, and Melo got one on him. We got the see the perplexed Bowen face after each one. Watch your ankles on those Js, fellas. Bowen won't stand for this much longer. Nugs still down 2.
The Nuggets are very, very bad at defensive rotations. They give up waaaay too many open Js.
"The poor man's Iverson" (?!?!) knocks down a three to cut SA's lead to one, but Duncan answers over Nene.
Melo throws Bowen to the ground as Camby knocks down a pull up. Things are about to get heated between those two. Blake finds Nene with a sweet dime in transition, but the Big Fundamental draws No. 3 on Nene. He just bores you to death, doesn't he? He makes both to give the Spurs a 1 point lead.
Iverson just shook the shit out of Manu. Manu got matched up on him in transition and you could see Manu's terror from the couch. AI will be at the line for 2 when we come back.
Uh oh. AI is getting it going. Nice little baseline J. Mark May lets us know he as 5% body fat. So basically he is all bone, notoriously hates weightlifting, gets the hell beat out of him on a regular basis, and is still one of the most durable athletes of the generation. Might not see another one like him for quite some time.
Oh, what the hell: Denver comes up with a steal, and somehow AI and JR lay heaped in a pile while Finley sticks another three. I am shaking my head in disbelief. SA has somehow opened up a 8 point lead...but JR Smith in transition with a chance at a three point play! I may have gotten everything else wrong, but I nailed this JR pick. Feels good, feels real good. JR cuts the lead to 5. 30 seconds left in the third.
Horry hits a wide open three because Denver is terrible, awful, horrendous at rotating and a Nene two at the buzzer is waived off. Denver up 8 heading into the third. Where the hell is that Denver run at? They better come up with one soon...
JR just rakes Manu from behind and gets hit with a flagrant foul. Walton is rambling on and on about how it isn't right that Manu gets hit so hard from the Nuggets...it is the freakin' playoffs. I wonder how Bill feels about the Pistons beating the hell out of Jordan all those years or a million other examples of hard playoff fouls. The NBA is turning into a bunch of soccer moms with the way they assess techs and flagrants and intentionals. Maybe after the season, all the players can get Participation Ceritificates, too. And ice cream!
Mark May: "It is not unusual for Denver to struggle at home." I am thinking that their ghost-like fan base may have something to do with that.
Denver is cold as ice, down 10, little over 9 to go. They need to get something going now. I can't begin to tell you how appalled I am with this fan base. I think we are going to need "Cheer Now" signs for Game 4.
Hey, did you know Tony Parker was getting married? Me either! Nice girl? Awwe, good for them!
Walton mentions another little known tidbit: Najera is the only Hispanic playing in the NBA. Yes, but a truly glorious day will be when we don't have to acknowledge such milestones.
For some unknown reason, Tony Parker is not playing. Finley buries another fucking three. What the hell, Denver. Melo follows his own miss with a tip dunk and the crownd yawns its approval. You guys know your paid admission allows you to cheer, right?
Now Nene with a tip! Nugs within 7. I think they are going to put Parker and Manu back in. Just when I thought there was a chance...
Poor Man's AI hits a toe-on-the-line 2 to cut the lead to 5. Get behind the line, Poor Man's AI! With a chance to cut the lead to 3, Duncan draws a charge on a driving Melo, even though Duncan bailed on it like a total skirt. Hey, Tony Parker just scored in the paint. Stunner, really.
Parker in the paint again. I have nothing to say. I am speechless. I am without speech.
Iverson drives, SA has like three guys there. Tony Parker drives and like three guys watch him shoot five footers. And I'm glad Tim Duncan was worried about the refs screwing with him, because he is getting away with all kinds of shit they'd ring Nene up for in a heart beat.
Holy shit. Sit down. Are you ready for this? The Nuggets just forced a shot clock violation. Melo wastes it with a forced 1 on 1 shot.
Wow. What a bail out on Manu. That was unreal. No one touched him. He jumped in the air, passed, no one touched him, and they put him at the line for 2. No wonder JR jacked him, getting calls like that. Nugs down 7.
Duncan just blindsided Nene, no call. Really, the Nugs have a legit gripe about the refs.
Wild sequence lead to a Nene lay up. This is the kind of atmosphere where you just want to jack someone. Atmosphere crazy, refs doing a lousy job controlling the game, playing against some one annoying as hell. Better make sure JR doesn't get in.
Iverson goes baseline and finds Nene who is just furious with the rim. Lead to 5.
You aren't going to believe this, but Tony Parker just scored in the paint. I know, I know, they do what you least expect.
Lead to 7. 1:04. Camby at the line to cut it to 5. Need both to make this finish remotely exciting. The Defensive Player of the Year rattles home both, lead to 5. Full court pressure from the Nugs.
And Robert Horry hits a ridiculous one dribble, fade away, why-the-fuck-not? jumper with 2 on the shot clock. Ha. That's all I got.
JR Smith dunks with 40 seconds to cut it to 5, Denver elects not to foul - Walton, along with the rest of non-comatose America, is "dazed and confused." (Did you know Wooden used to let Walton get high in his dorm and hotel room after games? Yep, read "Breaks of the Game." Its all in there. Of course, that was the one UCLA team that didn't win it all, so the lesson here is, drugs ruin everything. Unless you play football; then you can be a top 10 pick.)
Bowen misses a three; Denver gets a quick put back and then Denver takes forever to foul again. 4.5 left. Lead is three, but Manu - the hated Manu - is at the line. He makes the first, makes the second. Blake airballs a meaningless layups. Spurs win by 5.
What a flat, luckluster and disappointing performance from the Nugs. Their fans were pretty worthless, too. The entire city of Denver should be embarrassed with itself.
If they don't do better than that in Game 4, this series is a wrap.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Live Blog: Denver vs. San Antonio Spurs - Round 1, Game 3
Keeping Tabs on the Best Mock Drafters in the World and One Guesser.
***Read the live draft after the jump. Yes, after the jump. I enjoy saying that much more than you enjoy reading it. But yea: live blog after the jump.***
Here are the final mock drafts of, as far as I can tell, the four preeminent mock drafters in all of the world.
Are they worth having around? Well, we are about to find out. For whatever it is worth, I found myself aligning more with Todd McShay that anyone else. I'm sure Todd is thrilled.
Any thoughts or reactions throughout the day can be found after the jump. (Honestly, I am ecstatic that I got too type "after the jump." Giddy.) So when the Vikings miss their pick again, or Mel Kiper wears those preposterous dark sunglasses inside or Chris Berman tips another freakin' pick, it'll all be after the jump. (Again, just wanted to type that. I'll stop eventually. Maybe.)
| Mel Kiper, Jr. | Todd McShay | Peter King | Rick Gosselin | Point 23 | |
| | JaMarcus Russell | JaMarcus Russell | JaMarcus Russell | JaMarcus Russell | JaMarcus Russell |
| | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson |
| | Joe Thomas | Joe Thomas | Brady Quinn | Joe Thomas | Brady Quinn |
| | Gaines Adams | Gaines Adams | Gaines Adams | Gaines Adams | Gaines Adams |
| | Levi Brown | Adrian Peterson | Joe Thomas (to MIA) | Adrian Peterson | Joe Thomas |
| | LaRon Landry | LaRon Landry | Amobi Okoye | LaRon Landry | Amobi Okoye |
| | Adrian Peterson | Brady Quinn | LaRon Landry | Leon Hall | Adrian Peterson |
| | Amobi Okoye | Levi Brown | Adrian Peterson | Levi Brown | LaRon Landry |
| | Brady Quinn | Darelle Revis | Levi Brown (to ARZ) | Brady Quinn | Levi Brown |
| | Leon Hall | Amobi Akoye | Patrick Willis | Darelle Revis | Leon Hall |
| | Patrick Willis | Patrick Willis | Alan Branch | Patrick Willis | Patrick Willis |
| | David Harris | Leon Hall | Paul Posluszny | Marshawn Lynch | Alan Branch |
| | Jamaal Anderson | Jamaal Anderson | Leon Hall | Adam Carriker | Jamaal Anderson |
| | Reggie Nelson | Adam Carriker | Adam Carriker | Jamaal Anderson | Adam Carriker |
| | Lawrence Timmons | Lawrence Timmons | Darrelle Revis | Lawrence Timmons | Lawrence Timmons |
| | Marshawn Lynch | Marshawn Lynch | Ted Ginn Jr. | Robert Meachem | Marshawn Lynch |
| | Adam Carriker | Reggie Nelson | Jamaal Anderson | Ted Ginn, Jr. | Reggie Nelson |
| | Darrelle Revis | Alan Branch | Aaron Ross | Reggie Nelson | Darrelle Revis |
| | Ted Ginn Jr. | Ted Ginn Jr. | Robert Meachem | Dwyane Bowe | Tedd Ginn Jr |
| | Joe Staley | Joe Staley | Lawrence Timmons | Joe Staley | Joe Staley |
| | Alan Branch | Jarvis Moss | Jon Beason | Jarvis Moss | Jarvis Moss |
| | Aaron Ross | Dwyane Bowe | Chris Houston | Aaron Ross | Dwyane Bowe |
| | Justin Harrell | Justin Harrell | Marshawn Lynch | Amobi Okoye | Robert Meachem |
| | Robert Meachem | Aaron Ross | Jarvis Moss (to WAS) | David Harris | Michael Griffin |
| | Greg Olson | Anthony Spencer | Greg Olson | Greg Olson | Greg Olson |
| | Brandon Meriweather | Brandon Meriweather | Brandon Meriweather | Paul Posluszny | Brandon Meriweather |
| | Chris Houston | Greg Olson | Reggie Nelson | Justin Harrell | Aaron Ross |
| | Paul Posluszny | David Harris | Michael Griffin | Brandon Meriweather | David Harris |
| | Ben Grubbs | Ben Grubbs | Tony Ugoh | Ben Grubbs | Ben Grubbs |
| | Dwyane Bowe | Robert Meachem | Dwyane Bowe | Jon Beasley | Dwyane Jarrett |
| | Anthony Spencer | Jon Beason | Justin Harrell | Dwyane Jarrett | Anthony Spencer |
| | Jon Beason | Paul Posluszny | Joe Staley | Michael Griffin | Jon Beason |
Expectations and some questions heading into the draft after the jump. (Had to say it one more time.) And the live blog. After the jump.
What do I want the Niners to do? Draft Patrick Willis at No. 11 and then grab Sidney Rice in Round 2. That would make me happy.
I want the Lions to draft Calvin Johnson. I'm sure it will all work out in the end - he's just that good - but the look on his face when he sees he has been drafted by The Team Where WRs go to Die should be riveting.
Why wouldn't the Lions draft Brady Quinn? Don't you need a really smart QB in that Mike Martz offense? Although the biggest knock I've read on Quinn has been his accuracy, and I'm guessing you have to be pretty on point in that offense.
I don't care where they pick after a trade or whatever, but if the Cardinals do not draft an offensive lineman, they are being completely irresponsible and Ken Whisenhunt is drafting without ever watching that team play a snap. Edge is still a professional running back; he was just running behind the most porous offensive line in the league. If Joe Thomas isn't there, then you draft Levi Brown. Those are your only two options.
Other teams with HUGE holes that must be filled at the risk of incompetence: San Diego has to draft a first round wide receiver, Atlanta better find a way to get a decent pass catcher, too (you are investing all that green in Mike Vick and you give him no one to throw to; no wonder he'd rather watch pitbulls fight); and the Saints have to draft a corner back. They would have been in the Super Bowl last year if they had even a marginal guy knocking down passes on the perimeter.
Teams picks I can't wait for: Cleveland Browns (Quinn?), Minnesoata Vikings (Dare they pass on Quinn if he is there?) and the Patriots (What are they going to do with those two picks?)
12:00 I love ESPN's pre-draft intro. Like anyone's war room is anything like that. People shuffling papers and screaming on the phone like madmen. Well, maybe the Vikings. And I love how ESPN shows them listening to Mel Kiper, like any GM or coach gives a flying f--- what Mel Kiper has to say.
12:10 The Raiders are on the clock! They had months to come up with a decision, now they had 15 minutes to scramble like lunatics. I love how they are still trying to make trades...I thought I was bad handing my homework in at the last minute back in the day. This is ridiculous. They should use exactly 10 seconds of their alotted time to make their pick.
For what i's worth, JaMarcuss Russell is one cool customer. Never gets riled up; low, baritone voice; short, mysterious answers...I feel like he should be in a Quentin Tarantino movie beating the shit outta dudes and them muttering one-liners as he walks away. That should count for something on draft day, I think.
Aaaaaand he can gun it 64 yards from one knee. He can do a Powerade commercial without any of the special effects.
I think I'm with Steve Young. Take Calvin Johnson and then grab either Beck or Edwards at the top of the second round. If I remember correctly, the Chargers traded down in 2001, drafted LaDanian Tomlinson instead of Mike Vick, and then grabbed Drew Brees at the top of the 2nd. That worked out pretty well, I think.
When Keyshawn Johnson looks at Calvin Johnson, he sees a combo of himself and TO. Of course he does.
Goodell: "OK, Raiders fans..." And JaMarcuss Russell it is. I'm glad we waited three months for nothing exciting to happen. The Lions better blow this next pick or I am going to be furious.
Mel is saying that in 5 years, JaMarcuss could be blah, blah, blah. I can't take him serious after they showed him talking after Ryan Leaf got picked: "In 5 years, we will look back and say San Diego didn't give up enough to get him." Good one, Mel.
12:26 Calvin Johnson is giggling like a loon right now after hanging up the phone. Either his uncle is hilarious, or he just got drafted by the Lions.
Here's what I don't get: everyone says the Lions can't take a WR because they keep screwing the pooch on these WR picks. Well, isn't that the exact same reason they should take him? Because they have crappy WRs? Except for the awesome Roy Williams. Dude's a stud.
Who are these random yahoos walking across the stage? Go behind the partition, intern. You're fired.
Yep, Calvin Johnson at No. 2. And the Lion fans are loving it. Man, they are going ballistic. That's a hell of a young receiving corps they have now...is Mike Williams just a lost cause? Why does he suck? Could he be good as a No. 3 or No. 4 WR?
I think I can see Mike Martz' boner from here.
Good point by Mel: it is worth noting that in the past two years, the Lions have passed on Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler and now Brady Quinn.
ESPN needs to quit going to Mort for player analysis. If a trade breaks, let me hear Mort. But he is making some really stupid statement and completely deferring to Keyshawn. Why does he get to sit at the big boy desk? I want McShay!
By the way, me and the rest of the mock drafters are 2 for 2 right now. I have a feeling that percentage is about to plummet, however.
Steve Spurrier just said "Yea, yea...click, clack." The last two times I have heard from him have been an eloquent explanation of why the Confederate flag should be done away with and Click Clack and I'm just not really sure what to make of that.
12:32 Browns are on the clock. Steve Young wants the Browns to make a statement, damnit!
And the Browns do not make that statement. Joe Thomas' reaction can be seen on NFL Network, but that is like three buttons to press, and really, he isn't gonna be all the exciting, Screw it.
How much does Brady Quinn hate Joe Thomas right now? Not only did he go to Brady's hometown team, but his little fishing expedition means ESPN shows his reaction to not getting picked. He did a good job pretending like he didn't want to cry, even throwing in a solid chuckle when the crowd starting chanting "Cleveland sucks! Cleveland sucks!"
12:43 Why the hell wouldn't the Bucs take Brady Quinn here? Their quarterback last season was atrocious...I mean, they did add Jeff Garcia, but my God, I think you gotta pick Quinn here. If anything else, it will give NFL Network more films of Gruden just verbally destroying a young quarterback as they pathetically struggle to spit out a 10 line play call.
I'll say it for the last time: Mort free lancing about players is a bad idea. Not a good idea. Let's not do it anymore.
Me and Peter King have been eliminated from a perfect Mock Draft. Peter King screwed this up? I can't believe it. Really, I'm shocked.
Keyshawn: "When Jake (Delhomme) went down last year, we were stuck with nothing." I'm guessing Key and Chris Weinke aren't going to be inviting eachother over for barbecues, then.
Who was Brady Quinn's speech coach? He should get a raise. Brady has the perfect, upbeat, PR answer for every conceivable question. Well done, sir, well done.
This is getting stale. Someone make a trade. Please.
Gaines Adams it is. Wasn't this draft supposed to be volatile and unpredicatable and crazy and fun? This is boring as shit. Everyone except me and Peter King knew this was going to happen. I guess I will just have to revel in the plummeting Brady Quinn. I guess.
12:53 Arizona is on the clock. Either trade down and take Levi Brown or just draft him here. You have to take an o-lineman here. No arguments. I mean, c'mon Sean Salisbury agrees with me, for God's sake. If that isn't a stamp of approval, I don't know what is. And Michael Smith. Case closed.
Mark May makes no sense. He says it is too high right now to take Brown, but they could do it at 11 or 12. Why the hell does that make any sense? They have a glaring need, the guy was their highest rating at that position, if they don't take him he will get snatched up within the next three picks. This is why Mark May, among other reasons, is illogical. I do not care for him. No, sir, I do not.
Yes! I was right! You're an idiot, Mark May.
1:01 Skins are on the clock. I hope they draft Amobi Okoye, just so Tom Reinaldi can do that sob story on him again. Why is he Tom Reinaldo always so sad? Every story he does is depressing; Okoye is an uplifting, neat, exciting story and he made it sound like a ten care pileup in which several orphans were killed. He should drink some coffee or something.
I love how Kornheiser gets to provide no real analysis, even on his hometown team. Just go take a nap, Tony. We'll wake you Monday for PTI.
Maybe if Brady Quinn got a haircut, he'd get drafted.
Boomer: "They are gonna sing Hail to the Redskins and draft a guy named Landry?" Berman just lives for that kind of shit, doesn't he? Drive me frickin' nuts.
And Landry it is. I don't know what is worse, my bracket or my mock draft. Shambles, I tell you, shambles.
1:16 Miami is on the clock. You have to take Quinn. Running backs come and go in this league. Your QB situation was atrocious last year. Whatever the hell that dudes name was that came in at the end of last year - Taverus Jackson or whatever - was god-awful against the Packers. He ain't no good. Get Brady Quinn, Minny. Hell, just get your pick in on time. And no, I will never let that go.
I like how we have to interview these guys in the Green Room like they are in the waiting room with their entire families on their death beds. They have to wait 15 or 30 more minutes to make millions of dollars, have endless groupie sex (and if they get picked by the Vikings, on a boat!) be a public darling and live a charmed life for the foreseeable future. I think they are going to be OK.
And is it just me, or is Suzy Kolber a little giddy around Brady Quinn? That forced laugh seems a little higher pitched than usual, no?
And of course they draft Adrian Peterson. The best part of their offense is Chester Taylor, so of course they draft at his position. The Vikings are the worst drafters ever.
Actually, Peterson is going to be really really good. I just think the Vikings suck.
1:28 Atlanta is on the clock.
Wow. Jamaal Anderson. They traded up to get him? I'm no expert (see above) but I am fairly certain they could have gotten him at 10. If this ends up screwing the Niners out of Patrick Willis somehow, I will not be a happy mock drafter.
1:38 Miami is on the clock. Brady Quinn is a lock. Might want to change that Brown tie to a teal one there, Bradley.
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Tedd Ginn Jr.! The Dolphins done fucked up. I would imagine they did this because they lost ol' what's his name to the Patriots...but this is crazy. Dolphin fans have to be jacked. I'm getting my buddy who is a Dolphin fan on the phone. You'll have his reaction momentarily.
You think Houston is pissed they traded for Matt Schaub when they could have just drafted Brady? Methinks so. Maybe not, but methinks so.
Yea, my buddy the Dolphin fan - JP - is not pleased. Plans to cancel Sunday ticket were debated. Man is he furious. I can't even print what he said, and I already said the f word on here. Let's just move on.
Houston better not draft Patrick Willis. Or trade and let someone - Denver! - pick him instead. Just take Leon Hall and let me enjoy the next selection.
Amobi Time! Damn, I forgot about him. But screw that. Niners are on the clock. C'mon fellas...Carriker looks enticing, but Willis is the pick. Fingers crossed.
2:03 Niners are on the clock. Man, sweaty palms. I thought this was supposed to be fun.
Good point by Mort: all three of the pot smokers have gone in the Top 10. Did we learn nothing from Ricky Williams? If any of those three start rocking a wedding dress, take out an insurance policy.
Mock Drafters Update Through 10 Picks: Mel 7, Todd 6, Rick 5, Peter 3, Me 4. I am kicking Peter King's ass.
Brady has been invited into a public suite by Roger Goodell so ESPN cameras can't obsess over him. Damnit.
Keyshawn thinks the Panthers should take Brady Quinn. Not a real surprise, considering he said that they "were left with nothing" when Delhomme got hurt. That was awkward when they had to direct snap it to their running backs 73 times a game. They were so desperate they even ran a reverse to Keyshawn once. (Note: that wasn't a joke; they seriously did that.)
Steve Young says pencil in Patrick Willis. Can I do that in pen? Yes I can! I can carve that shit in stone. He was beasting on dudes with a frickin' cast on his hand. I am stoked. Phew. Deep breaths, deep breaths. Lot of picks in the first four rounds for the Niners.
Now, the question becomes: where does Brady Quinn go? Other than Roger Goodell's living room. Buffalo might be considered, but Losman is decent enough that they can address areas of much, much greater concern - like corner back (I say they go Leon Hall here). Carolina is an option, but do you really draft a back up in the first round? Jacksonville and Baltimore are serious options, too...but if for some reason he gets past them, he could go to the second round. Wouldn't that be some shit?
2:25 The Bills grab Marshawn Lynch at 12. Everyone in Green Bay starts absent mindingly shredding his cheese head. I am glad Buffalo loses two defensive studs and does nothing to replace them. And if Berman says anything about wagons and circles, I am throwing my TV through the window.
Berman makes some obscure tie between Marv Levy and Cal. Sweet Jeebus, Bommer, no one gives a shit. No one. Quit making these damn old time references. If you and Steve Sabol want to go salivate over some black and white film of people playing with out facemasks and say Raaaaaaaaaaaaaiders, fine. But knock it off during the draft.
2:30 St. Louis is on the clock. I predicted Jamaal Anderson; Peter went with Leon Hall. This is a huge pick if I am going to maintain my mastery of Peter King. Stupid Bills should have taken Leon and made this a done deal. Jerks.
Adam Carriker. Fine. Whatever. Moving on.
2:40 Carolina is on the clock. Brady? Yes? No? I predicted Carriker here, so I'm not happy.
Here's what I don't get about teams not taking Brady Quinn. Every Sunday, everyone and their brother sits around complaining about how much their team's quarterback sucks. When you wager on a game, half the time it boils down to, "You know what? Their QB blows. Gimme the other guys." Every analyst bemoans quarterbacks bad decision makers. And now there is a very, very good QB available and he is chillin' with Roger Goodell. Tell me how that makes any sense.
Well, we have a trade - NY is picking for Carolina, but ESPN won't tell us the details. The fans knew before Berman somehow. Wow. Seems like the Jets gave up a lot. They switch first rounders, NY gets a 6th rounder, and Carolina gets a 2nd and a 5th.
I have no idea what picks are worth in the NFL. The Bears and Jets just swap second rounders for Thomas Jones, but the Jets give up a second rounder just to move up 6 spots in the draft. I need a chart or something.
I love the reaction form Jets fans with the pick of Darrelle Revis. They were quietly paused, waiting to explode, Revis' name was announced, no sense of recognition registered on anyone's face, one yahoo screamed, and then the rest of the sheep all screamed like that's who they wanted all along. That was a terrific 15 minutes from the New York Football Jets.
2:54 Da Stees are on da clock.
Da Stees take Lawrence Timmons, which I so suavely predicted (read: copied from the three mock drafters who have some modicum of copetancy in this department). Peter King picked Darrelle Revis from Pitt in this spot solely so he could write this sentence, and for no other reason at all:
Ever been to the Steelers' training facility on the south side of town? Interesting place. Walk through the entrance of a big building on the left, and you enter Steelers headquarters. The door on the right is Pitt's place. Revis' pro locker room will be 20 yards from his college one.
Notice how Peter subtly brags that he's been there? Classy, I thought. If Revis attended USC, no way Peter makes this pick. Pete also dropped this gem on us when he predicts Adrian Peterson to the Falcons:
Peterson wins a battle in Falcons war room over Levi Brown. If not here, Peterson could sink like Big Pussy's body after it was thrown overboard off the Jersey coast. Much skepticism in draft rooms over his 2007 availability.
Forced analogy aside, did anyone else ever think they'd read the word "pussy" in a Peter King column? How does he look his family in the face?
3:00 Packers are on the clock. I am so sick of Mel's board. I do not care for it, no sir, not one bit.
Wow. 'Nother surpise. Packers go defense two years in a row in the first round. You think they are trying to subty tell Brett Favre, "Listen, my man, we appreciate everything you'd done - really, you'll never know - but its time to hang it up. You were great in that Prilosec commercial...is that a mediocre acting career I hear calling your name?"
3:14 Jacksonville on the clock. If they don't take Brady Quinn here, he might as well go borrow Tony Kornheiser's heated blanket and settle in for a long nap.
I hope Goodell stops doing that, "OK, Team X fans..." before every other pick. He doesn't seem like the most natural public speaker, does he? Seems like he is making an effort to open up a rapport with the fans, which is a nice gesture. Kinda like when the meanest principle you ever had tries to be your buddy, though. Aaaaaaaawkward.
If Jax takes Reggie Nelson, I am going to open up an insurmountable lead over Pete. C'mon Reggie. C'moooooooooooooon Reggie!
This is bullshit. Denver moves up to Jax' spot. They get Denver's 3rd and 6th rounder, too. Listen, Denver ain't screwin' around this year. They were all over the FA market and they are going to get their guy in this draft.
Denver goes with Jarvis Moss. Boomer just orgasmed over Jarvis Moss's speed, which I do not think Moss can put on a resume. I can't believe they screwed me out of a correct Reggie Nelson pick there. If Denver would have read my mock draft, they would have known that they could have stayed pat on still have gotten Moss. For being such a genius, Shannahan doesn't do too much research.
3:28 Bengals are on the clock. Too bad Carriker was already taken! Bada-bing! Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night.
Nice pick by the Bengals, grabbing Leon Hall. Filled a need and he shouldn't even have been there.
****Breaking News: Leon Hall has been arrested on suspicion of DUI. Hall, allegedly, was pulled over and then puked all over the arresting officer. Three semi-automatic hand guns were found under the front seat of the vehicle and a 10 pound block of marijuana was found in the trunk. Hall said it was his cousin's weed, his uncle's guns and his mother's car.***
3:33 Titans are on the clock. Why did Todd McShay get relegated to the little kid's table? This is bullshit. I think it is because Kiper secretly hates him. This is like on Playmakers when they drafted Omar Gooding and that old running back hated him. I see only one solution here: Kiper needs to get on 'roids. Sad, but inevitable. Hey, it's Mel's body!
Damnit, I went with Ginn Jr. here, probably because he would be the perfect fit since he is the best returner in the draft and the Titans lost their returner to The Goodell Crusades. I was actually really proud of thinking this one through and the jackass Dolphins blew it. After this and the Reggie Nelson debacle, Pete could make a big leap if they go with Dwyane Bowe here. This is not good.
I would just like to say now that the Titans are going to suck next year without Pacman. Vince Young was good, yea, but they won some games when he went like 5-21 for 54 yards because Pacman returned a punt and an INT for touchdowns.
Titans grab Michael Griffin and my mock is in shambles. At least Pete doesn't make up any ground. Whoa, Mel, calm down there homie...he may be good, but Ronnie Lott? These Big Boy desk is compating guys to all-time legends and enshrining guys in the Hall of Fame just a tad too quickly, aren't they?
I am holding my breath hoping that no one picks a WR. Because once one of them goes, they are going to come flying off the board. Think NE burns one of those picks on a WR? Bet they'd love to get Bowe and Reggie Nelson. Actually, I bet they get whatever they want; they usually do.
3:45 Giants are on the clock. Steve Young is just going nuts whenever teams refuse to draft players to help out quarterbacks. First he was pissed the Browns didn't make a statement by getting Quinn, then he was pissed they didn't give Favre any help, now he is mad Vince has no new weapons (never mind that this draft is so deep at WR and only one has been taken and they just lost their best player in the secondary for the season.) Hey, Steve: some teams are going to draft guys on the defensive side of the ball. Let's move on.
Hey, Brady was on the phone. I hope Cleveland gets him. Then they would all get A's on their report card from Mel, and a solid education is really what it is all about.
Two seperate groups of Giants fans have competing cheers going: the bottom section is screaming "Lets go Giants!" while the upper decks counters with "Giants! Giants!" and both are suffiiently drowned out. I never had an opinion on them before, but now I think all Giants fans are dumb.
The Giants get Aaron Ross. Fine. They did cut their starting left tackle, though, and have yet to replace him. Mr. Throw Off My Back Foot Every Time is probably thrilled.
I was worried about a run on WR (I really, really want a stud WR for the Niners at 42) but a run on d-backs is really what is going on. Veeeery intereeeeeeesting.
3:55 Jacksonville on the clock. Did I fall asleep or has Reggie Nelson not been drafted yet?
Mark May just said Dallas is the most likely destination for Brady Quinn. Where the hell is Tom Jackson when you need him? Give me one good reason why Brady Quinn would go to Dallas? To hold PATs? Don't they have a freakin' Pro Bowler at QB?
Hmm. Michael Smith just concurred. I guess I just don't get the NFL.
I think Jags fans are chanting "Revis! Revis!" Either I heard wrong, or they are dumber than those Giants fans.
And they do get Revis. I called this at 17, so I'm counting it. Take that, Pete. How about the Jags trading down, grabbing those extra picks, and still getting the player they were going to take anyways? Wonder if they knew all along, or they just have balls made of stone? Either way, A++++ for the Jags.
4:02 Dallas is on the clock. If Brady Quinn goes here, I will be baffled. Surely they have more pressing needs than a back up quarterback, right?
Ed Werder just revealed that he texted Tony Romo (!) and Romo would be "astonished" if they took Brady Quinn. So me and Tony Romo are the only two people that would be astonished here. And here I didn't think we had anything in common.
(I don't wanna jinx it, but it is looking better and better for the Niners getting a good WR at 42. Sshhhhhh.)
Dallas's "play caller" from last year was Tony Sporano? Is Peter King aware of this? How have we not had a fawning piece on Tony Sporano yet?!?!?
TRADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Browns are now on the clock! OMG! Brady Quinn is going to the Browns!!!!!!!
I can't believe the Browns got both of their guys. What a freakin' job by Cleveland. Seriously. That is phenomenal. Round of applause. Good thing he wore than Brown tie.
This might be one of the neatest draft stories ever. I can't believe how this worked out. Pretty cool. Preeeeeetaaaaaay, preeeeeeeetaaaaaaaay cool.
(Good job, Miami.)
4:17 Kansas City is on the clock. If they don't take a WR here, they are crazy. Crazy. OK, well not crazy, but their WR corps just blows, and there are a ton of WRs here that deserve to go late first round. Yes, this is a reverse jinx.
I love how Jaws ends his sentences. "Brady Quinn is not afraid to make the tough throw. And that is why he will be a terrific quarterback in the National Football League." I am geeked to hear this 10 times a night on MNF.
So KC goes Dwyane Bowe, which was really their only choice, in this guesser's opinion. Atta boy, KC.
4:32 New England is on the clock. I am curious to see if they go offense or defense here. If we go WR back-to-back, I may start involuntarily spasming.
Brandon Meriweather. Damnit. If Griffin wasn't already off the board, I woulda got that one. I can take solace in the fact that Peter wasn't even close.
Oh! I didn't know Meriweather was the infamous stomper in the MIA/FIA brawl. So Belichik openly screws with the NFL's injury list reports, and now he openly thumbs his nose at drafting "character" guys. Man, the Pats just drafted college football's answer to Albert Haynesworth. And he was in a "legal" gun fight!
I love when an on field brawl and a gun fight (!) are considered "minor" concerns. Fabulous.
4:45 The Panthers are on the clock. The NFL Live guys are arguing about Meriweather. Sean Salisbury called his antics "bush league." Completely underrated term. A+, Sean.
Mark May applauds the pick. Of course he does. I have yet to agree with Mark May. He is driving me friggin' nuts. I think he could proclaim that Point 23 is running the greatest live blog of an NFL draft ever and I would vehemently disagree. And his huge head with tiny little spectacles aren't helping matters, either. Get some contacts or some Lasik, Mark May; you look like the number 2 side of a die.
The Big Cats grab Jon Beason, another defensive player out of Miami. What, no brawl footage? No gun fights? What a disgrace to the U. Michael Irvin is in a purple suit somewhere, shaking his head in shame.
4:53 Philly is on the clock. Every single remaining player is saying, "Not me, not me, not me, not me..."
Berman: quit giving Keyshawn opportunities to bash Chris Wienke. Oh, and now Mort is in on the bashing. Poor Chris Weinke.
Oh, a trade! Dallas jumps up here for no good reason, really. Philly musta got some good shit for this. Don't take a WR you slimy bastards. Just don't do it. You leave Robert Meachem alone. He was growing on me and you already got two decent WRs. You know how your safety gets beat long like twice a game? Yea, maybe you should do something about that. Or draft a holder. Just not a WR.
New Orleans has to be holding its breathe, too, right? Isn't there one first round corner back left? And they need one of them i am pretty sure.
The Eagles got a 2nd, 3rd and a 5th. I guess Dallas can do that considering how much they got for Brady Quinn.
Did Cleveland give up too much for Brady? Well, they were going to have to draft a QB next year, anyways, probably, so they just used it a year earlier. So it cost them a second rounder this year. If you are Cleveland, I think you can live with that. They are being aggressive, they seem to have a definite direction they want to take this team, and as a fan of a rebuilding franchise, you can't really ask for much more than that.
The Cowboys take Anthony Spencer and the Dallas fans act like they just ate some bad sea food. Who did they want Dallas to take? I am guessing they just never heard of the guy. Dallas has really been all over the place this draft, but they have two No. 1's next year, one of them probably pretty high, so you can't really knock them.
5:05 The Saints are on the clock. Much like Miami had to take a QB and KC had to take a WR, the Saints have to take a cornerback. When a casual football fan can glance at a game and say, "Wow, the (fill in team name here) are awful at (fill in position here). They are just getting killed," then you, as a franchise, have a duty to address said position. They didn't do it in free agency, I don't think, so you have to go corner here.
Ross is already gone, so they have to take the next available. Take Chris Houston. Just do it, NO, don't ask questions. I don't care if it is a stretch or a reach, you have to do it. When a position costs you a trip to the Super Bowl, you fill it. I cannot stress this enough.
Of course, this is the franchise that found Marques Colston in the 7th round, so I'll chill. Wonder if they were high fiving in the war room or if they were like, "eh, we'll see if he can make it on special teams."
Have I mentioned lately that I love when Jaws breaks down films? Can we do this on MNF instead of commercials? Or at least instead of Pink? Jaws is the best analyst in the entire National Football League.
Wow. The Saints go with Robert Meachem. What the hell, New Orleans. He better be playing both ways, because people are gonna pass all over them.
New Orleans just decided to become the Phoenix Suns of the NFL. Screw it, we will just outscore you. Fair enough, at least they have a plan. Can I just draft "The Saints Offense" in my fantasy league?
5:18 New England is on the clock again. They went with a safety with their first first round pick. Come back with a little offense the second time around?
I think Mark May borrowed his sons glasses for the show today. Those poor little pieces of metal are about at their snapping point; his generous dome is about to snap them like twigs. He has yet to say a single thing I agree with. Even Michael Irvin made me agree sometimes.
They just showed that LeBron commercial where that idiot is driving around in his mower while LeBron shoots various faces if disapproval in his general direction and then rejects the poor bastard into next Tuesday, all without uttering a word and holding a cup of coffee. I think they filmed this commercial without telling LeBron. I really don't think he had any idea he was even in a commercial. He just got a check from John Deere in the mail one day, thought it was his weekly pay check and didn't think twice.
Orlando is up 5 on Detroit with 3:18 left. I'm not watching; I cost the Magic a playoff series one time because I watched - long story - so I'll leave them alone for now. I wish I would have paid close attention to this series, but if Detroit isn't going to care, then neither am I.
Oh, shit son. The Niners just traded with New England. That'll make you sit up in your seat. Wonder who they are gunning for here? They must love him. Wonder what they gave up. I hope it wasn't No. 42 in Round 2. I can live with anything else.
Who they going for here? A lineman? Staley? Maybe Grubbs? I want a playmaker on the perimeter.
Staley it is. Hey, they must have loved him to move up and get him. I trust Nolan's judgment. I'm really curious what they gave up. I am dying for a playmaker on the perimeter. Dying.
Details of the trade: Niners gave up their 4th Rounder this year, and their first rounder next year. Man. I don't know how I feel about that. Staley better be a friggin' stud, and the Niners better finish in the top half, top third of the league so that No. 1 isn't loaded with value. Basically the Niners are saying "We want to make the playoffs this year. Period." And you know what? I like that.
Baltimore took Ben Grubbs, which everyone above called - except Peter King. Good God, Peter.
But back to the Niners. I was a little disappointed that they gave up that second rounder, because it pretty much eliminated any shot at a top level WR (hey, maybe Sidney Rice will sill be there) but, from 49ersNews.com:
So. That would be something. I think I can live with that. I am going to need to see how this all shakes out before I give it a definitive answer. But that was an exciting 15 minutes.According to a league source, San Francisco and division rival Seattle are close to finalizing a trade that would send Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson to the Niners in exchange for one of their fourth-rounders, believed to be the Niners’ third selection in the round, No. 124 overall.
The deal is contingent upon Jackson passing his physical, scheduled for Saturday at the Niners’ Santa Clara, Calif.
5:45 San Diego is on the clock. Much like KC, they have to go WR here, although I don't know if they are in love with any of those USC WRs. We shall see.
Keyshawn: "Speed is overrated at the WR position." He is saying some really interesting things, is well spoken, seems to have done his homework, is articulate, can banter and argue without screaming at the top of his lungs...my God, he's a better analyst than a wide receiver. Trading Keyshawn for Michael Irvin is better than the Reggie Bush falling to the Saints at 2. Can he retire from football now?
Why does ESPN show us the picks hugging and crying on the phone before they get picked? Why do they let Berman tip the picks half the time? Why do they scroll scores during Sports Center? WE WANT TO WAIT. WE WANT TO BE SURPRISED WHEN THE COMMISH IS AT THE PODIUM. KNOCK IT OFF. Thank you.
Flipped over to TNT quickly: Bron Bron with two vicious dunks back to back. I'm not watching! I swear I'm not.
Well, at least I got the position right. They took Craig Davis out of LSU. Hey, they addressed a need. Can't complain. I think Jarrett is better, but whatever. LSU put two receivers in the first round of the NFL draft.
Good Lord, Mel is in love with measurables. Keyshawn is on fire. I am listening to him more than anyone else at this table combined. He should pull a Tiki Barber and retire. Keyshawn is 10 times better than Keyshawn. Can we just get Todd McShay and Keyshawn breaking down the draft? Everyone else is free to go home. G'night.
5:55 Bears are on the clock. I think they are taking Greg Olson. Word. The more weapons for the Sex Cannon, the better.
Yep, Greg Olson. Awesome. Moving on.
6:10 World Champs on the board. LeBron James just hit a freakin' ludicrous step back three from a foot behind the arc. Good day for the city of Cleveland, I'd say.
The Colts pick Brandon Stokely 2.0 in Anthony Gonzalez. That is crazy that he will never be the best receiver on his team at either level and he is a first round pick. Wonder who he played with in HS?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that is it for round one. That was long as hell, my ass is numb, and the Cavs are on. I need to lay down. If anything wild happens in Round 2, I'll add it here.
I'll figure out who won the First Annual Mock Drafter and Guesser Showdown. Early predications hint that Peter King may not have fared so well.
Second Season: Day 7
Golden St. drops the second worse beating of the playoffs on Dallas. For whatever reason, I wasn't on the Golden St. bandwagon at the start of the playoffs - I'll blame that on being very, very unfamiliar with their roster - but after watching them totally outplay and outclass the Mavericks, how can anyone - and I mean anyone; I'm including Maverick employees here - not be cheering for Golden St. to pull this thing off?
Golden St. is playing with an energy and an enthusiasm and a passion that is just very, very rare in the NBA right now. They are like the Phoenix Suns on ecstasy. They are the anti-Pistons. If you didn't know any better, you would think you were watching a college game tonight. Not to go all Bill Simmons here, but as a fan of basketball (I can't begin to tell you how condescending that is and how pissed off I get when I read it) how can you not be praying for Golden St. to send the moping, entitled Mavs on an early fishing trip?
You can X and O it all you want, go over matchups, question coaching decisions, but the fact of the matter is that Golden St. just wants it more. It is as simple as that. It doesn't even matter who they throw on the court. The Warriors are playing to prove something; Dallas is playing like they are entitled to the second round.
The Warriors are pushing the ball, making plays, knocking down drive and kick shots, playing as a team. And yea, they are making an unreal amount of shots, and a lot of their shots could be classified as "lucky," but really, they are making their own luck. I mean, when you get to the rim that often, you are going to shoot a high percentage, I don't care how many of them you double-pump and shoot over your head.
Do the Mavericks have any desire to stop penetration? Any? Baron Davis has borrowed Allen Iverson's crossover, circa 1998, and is getting to the rim at will. At will. No one can check the dude. Jason Richardson got the the rim whenever he wanted. Hell, I could name their entire roster. They lived in the paint.
And every time they did it, the Mavs just stood around, shooting each other dirty looks, bitching to the refs, talking under their breaths. I may have missed it, but did anyone in green look like a leader this evening? Maybe D Wade was right; maybe the Mavs don't have a leader. Every time they gave up a lay up - and this was fairly often - they just looked at each other, like, "Hey, shouldn't you be doing something about this?" No one showed even the tiniest bit of resolve.
The fact that they were losing didn't make me cheer against the Mavericks. The fact that they wouldn't wipe that entitled, pissy look off their collective face all night did. Combine that with the most joyful - yes, I said joyful - basketball I can recall seeing, and it is a no brainer: I believe.
If you want to X and O it a little bit...maybe Avery was onto something when he tried to go small ball with them. Usually when a team tries to play small ball, you go big, pound it inside, shoot two-foot shots over your shorter opponents and kill them on the glass at both ends. The team going small ball then has to rely on the three pointer and scoring in transition to make up for the difference. Height usually wins out in this instance, because, hey, it is easier to shoot layups than threes. This isn't the case in this series for a few reasons:
1. Dallas' big guys are not skilled enough to make Golden St. pay for guarding them with smaller players. Seriously, Diop & Dampier average like 4 points a game, combined. You'd think Dirk - hey, he's pretty tall, too - would just freakin' camp on the block and kill whoever the hell is guarding him, but that hasn't been the case. To be fair, GS has done a good job doubling him near the basket, but Dallas is still doing a pitiful job making the Warriors pay the price for going small around the bucket - partly because they are not skilled enough offensively to, partly because well, I don't know why.
2. Diop and Dampier - and basically their entire team - can't keep the Warrior guards - or anybody from Oakland, really - out of the paint. It looks like lay up lines. If I was more ambitious, I would look up the points in the paint, but please believe, believe it please, it wasn't even close. I remember seeing a graphic at one point and thinking, "Hey, if Golden St. was only allowed to shoot in the paint, it would still be a good game."
If Dallas had one guy - one guy - who could score from the block, this series would be wildly different. But as of right now, they don't. If Dallas is going to win this series, it is up to Dirk to get his ass on the block, say screw these double-teams, and just kill the Warriors in the paint. If he does that, Dallas will escape. If he doesn't, well...I think we need to recount those MVP ballots.
For all intents and purposes, Chicago sends Miami fishing. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, and something is telling me that Del Boca Vista (do you realize they give significant minutes to 5 guys who have been in the L for at least a decade? And their PG has been here for 8? Half their team could retire next week and I wouldn't bat an eye lash) doesn't have the energy to be the first.
I know Shaq has been complaining about the refs, and I know he is the hardest player ever to officiate in the history of the illustrious National Basketball Association, but my God, man...you gotta do better than this. Shaq should be killing the Bulls. They are guarding him with Ben Wallace who gives up like half a foot and almost 100 pounds. Yea, he's tough, but c'mon. The Bulls are basically just letting Shaq play one-on-one in the post. They come every so often with a half-hearted double team, or they'll maybe have a guard take a swipe or two once he puts it on the floor, but for the most part, he is free to score.
Usually, a 23-13 game is sufficient, but not when your playoff life is on the line, the other team doesn't even have a center and they are refusing to seriously double team you. Shaq from a few years ago would get 40 against this type of defense. The sad part is, Chicago doesn't have to double-team him because he doesn't make them pay anymore.
It is really bizarre that the two games I watched tonight featured teams winning playoff games with no semblance of a low post threat. Neither team has one, and both are in the driver's seat in their respective series. Same thing applies here, though, that applies with the Warriors - Miami doesn't make Chicago pay for going small, not enough to make them change their approach, anyways. And Chicago, as a team, just wants this series more.
Pat Reilly made a good point before the game. Basically, he said that once you become the champ, you think you dominated the entire season before. You don't remember that you doubted yourself, that there were times you didn't think you could win it, that teams got the better of you, how fortunate you were in certain instances. I thought that was a genuine, thoughtful peak into the mind of a champion, and an aging one at that. I guess that Reilly guy is pretty smart after all.
So, this series is over. The only question is how many games? If I were Chicago, I'd do everything in my power to make this a sweep. Detroit is going to close out Orlando in 4, and you don't want them getting any advantage in the rest department. Skiles will have them playing harder than ever, I am guessing - he is crazy intense: ESPN showed a close up of him staring straight ahead and I had to look away; I lost a staring contest to Scott Skiles that he didn't even know he was in - but Del Boca Vista has too much pride to go down in 4, I think.
Don't they?
And some other things:
I liked the wildly unpreicatbale, out of control Jason Williams better. Can he still do all that stuff, you think?
I can't believe Chicago "wasted" Antione Walker's performance. That ain't happening again.
Ben Gordon likes to shoot. But if I was that flippin' good at anything, I'd do it that often, too.
Vince Carter makes people in Toronto hate him ever more, if that is possible. Didn't watch it, but a few thoughts, anyways: that was one slick pass from J. Kidd. And did you see his stat line? If I told you someone had a 16, 16 and 19, you wouldn't even know what those numbers represented. What a dominant performance. Guess the knee is fine.
Vince Carter...well, if that 37 point outburst proves anything, it that he can be mentally shaken. Toronto has to steal Game 4, Vince will crumble in Game 5, and then they just have to come up with either 6 or 7. Sounds like a plan.
But seriously: 16, 16 and 19. Damn.
Quick programming note: Vote either here or in the upper left hand corner for which game should get the nod for tonight's live blog:
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