Here are some random thoughts on the only one-week old season
1- The Celtics will be good, just as advertised. I think the more impressive win was at Toronto with Pierce VERY cold and even KG with only 13 at the end of regulation. But then KG had 10 in OT and Ray Allen scored a bunch. When one is cold, the others will take over. Opening night Allen was quiet, but he took over in Game 2. He can really shoot.
2- Indiana is 3-0?? Amazing what a coaching change can do. They have new attitudes and Jermaine O’Neal is excited about playing ball again. I don’t know if they can keep it up, but they look like they are playing hard.
3- New Orleans 3-0. Chris Paul is hitting that 3rd year bump and raising his game. West and Chandler can own boards. They have talent. This is clearly a playoff team.
4- I am surprised the Lakers are 2-1. They barely lost to Houston and then won at Phoenix and over Utah. Solid wins. They really don’t have much after Kobe. And when will Bynum start starting? Kwame Brown should not be a starter!
5- Putridness. How bad are the Kings?? When will Minnesota, Seattle, Portland, and Sac get wins? These are not good teams and will help make some gaudy records for other Western teams. How bad is Miami right now? They couldn’t win in exhibition or now in the regular season either!
6- How cold is Gilbert Arenas? His 3-pt shooting percentage is currently in the single digits! Notice how Washington cannot win with him shooting this cold.
7- Kevin Durant is for real. When was the last time a rookie came into the league and in his first three games had 17, 27, and 24 points? The second two nights he was shooting right at 50% from the floor. 10-19 and 3-6 for 3’s. These are such great numbers for a kid just starting out. He doesn’t have much help on his team either. I heard he needs to work on rebounding but he is already a very tough guy to stop from scoring.
GO WCA Eagles!!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Western Fast Picks
I do not have time to truly preview the West...yet! So lest anyone accuse me of making my picks after the first games, here is how the West will end up:
Way Out of the Playoffs:
Portland
Seattle
Minnesota
LA Clippers
Sacramento
Close...but no playoffs:
LA Lakers
Memphis
You're in!!! Barely
Utah
Golden State
New Orleans
Solidly in:
Denver
Houston
Dallas
Phoenix
San Antonio
Your Western Conference Champion: San Antonio
The FInals: Truly a classic match-up of Celtics vs. Spurs. Will go 7 games before all the good vibes flowing through New England enter the C's giving Boston its first NBA title in a long time.
Way Out of the Playoffs:
Portland
Seattle
Minnesota
LA Clippers
Sacramento
Close...but no playoffs:
LA Lakers
Memphis
You're in!!! Barely
Utah
Golden State
New Orleans
Solidly in:
Denver
Houston
Dallas
Phoenix
San Antonio
Your Western Conference Champion: San Antonio
The FInals: Truly a classic match-up of Celtics vs. Spurs. Will go 7 games before all the good vibes flowing through New England enter the C's giving Boston its first NBA title in a long time.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Eastern Conference Preview
Here is the Monster preview to answer all your questions about the upcoming season. We will try to group this clearly and get the picks right at the same time.
I. The Snow Group
That is Snow...as in “There’snow way these guys are making the playoffs,” or “It will snow in Bangladesh before these teams make the playoffs,” or “These teams are moving forward as fast as Eric Snow.” You heard it here first...no way they are making the playoffs. Who are these guys?
Philadelphia They could be historically bad (along with a few other teams this year). They get rid of AI to create cap space and do NOTHING with it at all. They have Iguadala, a washed up Andre Miller, and Kyle I-can’t-cover-my-grandmother-on-D-or-create-my-own-shot Korver. Why do you think they still bring him off the bench? How can this team win more than 20 games??? I don’t know.
Atlanta I actually feel like the Hawks are moving in the right direction, but that does not mean they will have a whiff of the playoffs. Joe Johnson is as good a guard as anybody. Marvin Williams is developing and could be a player. Remember how young he was when he was drafted. Al Horford was a good pick, has lots of college experience and is ready to play. I like Acie Law (even tho I’ve never seen him play). So they have a decent nucleus and could win some games. But...no playoffs.
Miami Yes, you read that right and heard it here first. Even the Knicks have a better shot at the playoffs than the Heat. Let’s see what they have: 1) D Wade. He is truly a top 5 player...but who will we see. First, he won’t play for at least a couple weeks. Second, when he returned last year he couldn’t leap like before. Third, with him in that condition they got swept by the Bulls...that’s right, they won ZERO playoff games last year. Will he even be healthy enough to play big minutes?? Who knows. 2) Shaq. He played in 40 games last year and now is a year older. Who can he cover? I will say he is still tough to stop in the low post, especially compared to Ilgauskas, etc. But he is a mere shell of his former self. 3) Haslem. A good complement player. But if there is nothing to complement then what? 4) Nothing. There is nothing else here. The-artist-formerly-known-as-Antoine-Walker? O my! Jason Williams? Dorrell Wright? No one. They even lost Jason Kopono, the only guy who could shoot. There is just nothing in Miami. The good news. A lottery draft pick will give Wade help next year.
PS...They have just officially Jumped the Shark! Getting Ricky Davis is a sure sign of desperation. It is the final nail in the casket of the team that gets him. Look at Boston and then Minnesota. O sure, his PPG looks tempting...but you are kidding yourself that he can make your team a winner.
II. The Tornado Group. In other words, a lot of wind but too much running in circles to make the playoffs.
Charlotte I like their direction too. J-Rich can score, Felton can play point, Gerald Wallace can just plain play, and Okafor is a fine big man. The problem: Morrison is already out and hurt, Sean May can’t stay on the court, and how long will Okafor’s back last? Too many injuries and not enough depth.
Indiana As much as I respect Larry Bird, I don’t see any direction. They have an unhappy superstar in Jermaine. They traded for Murphy and Dunleavy...there is a reason GS didn’t make the playoffs with them. Danny Granger hasn’t stepped up yet, even though we keep hearing that he will. What is going on here??
Milwaukee An interesting mix of players with Redd (great scorer), Mo Williams (emerging scorer at point), Bogut (has skills) and Yi. OK, we can expect nothing from Yi but they have to play him 20 minutes a game to keep the Chinese government from putting out a hit on the Bucks management. Villanueva has skills, but can you win with him as your PF? This team will win some games but I don’t see any chemistry happening.
New York My highest ranked non-playoff team. I love the scoring ability of their starting 5. Talent-wise they should be better than at least two of the playoff teams. BUT they are a train wreck waiting to happen. Look at the personalities on the edge here—Marbury, Randolph, Curry, Coach Isiah, and the owner Dolan. I mean, they have lawsuits hanging over their heads, personality conflicts awaiting, tempers galore. There should be an explosion at some point this year. If (the hugest if in the preview) they avoided all the personality issues, this team could make the playoffs.
III. The Sunny Day Group
Why is it a sunny day? Because these guys are making the playoffs. Barely for some but here they are.
Washington They should not make the playoffs but I have to put them here because of Gilbert Arenas. What about him? Two words...Contract Year.
Toronto They are the perfect candidate to not be successful this year but I didn’t like anyone behind them well enough (the Hawks??) to bump them out. They had perfect chemistry last year and that can’t follow again. On the other hand Chris Bosh continues to be better and more dominant and maybe Andrea will be a player after all.
New Jersey Here they are again. Kidd, Carter, etc...a decent mix that play well together. As long as Kidd stays healthy they are a fine playoff team. Let’s see how Carter does not playing for a contract though.
Orlando I put them 5th in the East but if thing fell right they could be 4th. The biggest reason? Not Rashard Lewis or the emergence of JJ Redick. No, it is Dwight Howard taking the leap. He was good last year but is ready for the next level. Here is a guy that had some 20-20 nights last year and is getting better. He has improved shots inside and can make free throws. Who will stop him? Not many teams below Orlando can put a body on him. Lewis was overpaid but he can still shoot and score 20+ a night, so he is an upgrade over Hill right there. Let’s see how the rest of the team plays but it could truly be sunny in Orlando this year.
IV. The Cyclone Group or in other words, the teams that are true contenders and blow up a storm of news and coverage. In reverse order, here are the top 4.
Cleveland Everything went so well for the Cavs last year but how much can LeBron do? He will have to do even more this year unless the ghost of Larry Hughes actually shows up, stays healthy, and blends well. They have lost energy off the bench and are still weak up front in comparison to the other contenders. I actually could see a worst case scenario here where LBJ has to do too much, can’t contribute because of exhaustion (he played a lot this summer too) and the Cavs lose every game without him for a week or two. That drops them to the 6 or 7 seed and a 1st round exit. Let’s see what happens but I don’t think Detroit or Chicago is going to let him have his way without getting physical on him and making him pay for every drive to the hoop.
Chicago They have every piece and play hard and I see Deng having a huge year. But every piece is just slightly below top quality. Hinrich is good, better than most at point...yet not a championship PG. Gordon is just too streaky to be counted on night in and night out. Thomas is untested, Ben Wallace can’t score and Noah is a Wallace clone. Nocioni is a nice player but is just that. Can Deng lift them to the next level? They will be good but no title is coming to this group.
Detroit A lot of people like this team to be the East’s representative in the Finals. I think they will be good, very good, but I think they have just enough holes to be 2nd in the conference. Can Saunders coach a team to the Finals? Can Flip and Rasheed Wallace get along? Can Rasheed keep his cool against Dwight Howard and KG? This team is famous for its D but they let one man beat them (LBJ) in the biggest game of their playoffs last year. I don’t see them in the Finals although they will be close.
Boston I am on the bandwagon! Yes, KG, Pierce, Allen and any 2 other guys will win the East! These 3 guys are focused and want nothing but a title. They have great balance in their abilities—a shooter, a slasher, and a post player who is the poster child for post play. KG brings D inside as well as great passing. The only worry for me is Coach Doc Rivers. But with these three on board, even he can coach his way to the finals. On top of that, great feelings are flowing through New England. That opening night in Boston can be an amazing start to the year as it will come a few days after the World Series. Boston fans are loving it all. I say good times will continue to roll in the Hub. Celtics to the Finals!!
I. The Snow Group
That is Snow...as in “There’snow way these guys are making the playoffs,” or “It will snow in Bangladesh before these teams make the playoffs,” or “These teams are moving forward as fast as Eric Snow.” You heard it here first...no way they are making the playoffs. Who are these guys?
Philadelphia They could be historically bad (along with a few other teams this year). They get rid of AI to create cap space and do NOTHING with it at all. They have Iguadala, a washed up Andre Miller, and Kyle I-can’t-cover-my-grandmother-on-D-or-create-my-own-shot Korver. Why do you think they still bring him off the bench? How can this team win more than 20 games??? I don’t know.
Atlanta I actually feel like the Hawks are moving in the right direction, but that does not mean they will have a whiff of the playoffs. Joe Johnson is as good a guard as anybody. Marvin Williams is developing and could be a player. Remember how young he was when he was drafted. Al Horford was a good pick, has lots of college experience and is ready to play. I like Acie Law (even tho I’ve never seen him play). So they have a decent nucleus and could win some games. But...no playoffs.
Miami Yes, you read that right and heard it here first. Even the Knicks have a better shot at the playoffs than the Heat. Let’s see what they have: 1) D Wade. He is truly a top 5 player...but who will we see. First, he won’t play for at least a couple weeks. Second, when he returned last year he couldn’t leap like before. Third, with him in that condition they got swept by the Bulls...that’s right, they won ZERO playoff games last year. Will he even be healthy enough to play big minutes?? Who knows. 2) Shaq. He played in 40 games last year and now is a year older. Who can he cover? I will say he is still tough to stop in the low post, especially compared to Ilgauskas, etc. But he is a mere shell of his former self. 3) Haslem. A good complement player. But if there is nothing to complement then what? 4) Nothing. There is nothing else here. The-artist-formerly-known-as-Antoine-Walker? O my! Jason Williams? Dorrell Wright? No one. They even lost Jason Kopono, the only guy who could shoot. There is just nothing in Miami. The good news. A lottery draft pick will give Wade help next year.
PS...They have just officially Jumped the Shark! Getting Ricky Davis is a sure sign of desperation. It is the final nail in the casket of the team that gets him. Look at Boston and then Minnesota. O sure, his PPG looks tempting...but you are kidding yourself that he can make your team a winner.
II. The Tornado Group. In other words, a lot of wind but too much running in circles to make the playoffs.
Charlotte I like their direction too. J-Rich can score, Felton can play point, Gerald Wallace can just plain play, and Okafor is a fine big man. The problem: Morrison is already out and hurt, Sean May can’t stay on the court, and how long will Okafor’s back last? Too many injuries and not enough depth.
Indiana As much as I respect Larry Bird, I don’t see any direction. They have an unhappy superstar in Jermaine. They traded for Murphy and Dunleavy...there is a reason GS didn’t make the playoffs with them. Danny Granger hasn’t stepped up yet, even though we keep hearing that he will. What is going on here??
Milwaukee An interesting mix of players with Redd (great scorer), Mo Williams (emerging scorer at point), Bogut (has skills) and Yi. OK, we can expect nothing from Yi but they have to play him 20 minutes a game to keep the Chinese government from putting out a hit on the Bucks management. Villanueva has skills, but can you win with him as your PF? This team will win some games but I don’t see any chemistry happening.
New York My highest ranked non-playoff team. I love the scoring ability of their starting 5. Talent-wise they should be better than at least two of the playoff teams. BUT they are a train wreck waiting to happen. Look at the personalities on the edge here—Marbury, Randolph, Curry, Coach Isiah, and the owner Dolan. I mean, they have lawsuits hanging over their heads, personality conflicts awaiting, tempers galore. There should be an explosion at some point this year. If (the hugest if in the preview) they avoided all the personality issues, this team could make the playoffs.
III. The Sunny Day Group
Why is it a sunny day? Because these guys are making the playoffs. Barely for some but here they are.
Washington They should not make the playoffs but I have to put them here because of Gilbert Arenas. What about him? Two words...Contract Year.
Toronto They are the perfect candidate to not be successful this year but I didn’t like anyone behind them well enough (the Hawks??) to bump them out. They had perfect chemistry last year and that can’t follow again. On the other hand Chris Bosh continues to be better and more dominant and maybe Andrea will be a player after all.
New Jersey Here they are again. Kidd, Carter, etc...a decent mix that play well together. As long as Kidd stays healthy they are a fine playoff team. Let’s see how Carter does not playing for a contract though.
Orlando I put them 5th in the East but if thing fell right they could be 4th. The biggest reason? Not Rashard Lewis or the emergence of JJ Redick. No, it is Dwight Howard taking the leap. He was good last year but is ready for the next level. Here is a guy that had some 20-20 nights last year and is getting better. He has improved shots inside and can make free throws. Who will stop him? Not many teams below Orlando can put a body on him. Lewis was overpaid but he can still shoot and score 20+ a night, so he is an upgrade over Hill right there. Let’s see how the rest of the team plays but it could truly be sunny in Orlando this year.
IV. The Cyclone Group or in other words, the teams that are true contenders and blow up a storm of news and coverage. In reverse order, here are the top 4.
Cleveland Everything went so well for the Cavs last year but how much can LeBron do? He will have to do even more this year unless the ghost of Larry Hughes actually shows up, stays healthy, and blends well. They have lost energy off the bench and are still weak up front in comparison to the other contenders. I actually could see a worst case scenario here where LBJ has to do too much, can’t contribute because of exhaustion (he played a lot this summer too) and the Cavs lose every game without him for a week or two. That drops them to the 6 or 7 seed and a 1st round exit. Let’s see what happens but I don’t think Detroit or Chicago is going to let him have his way without getting physical on him and making him pay for every drive to the hoop.
Chicago They have every piece and play hard and I see Deng having a huge year. But every piece is just slightly below top quality. Hinrich is good, better than most at point...yet not a championship PG. Gordon is just too streaky to be counted on night in and night out. Thomas is untested, Ben Wallace can’t score and Noah is a Wallace clone. Nocioni is a nice player but is just that. Can Deng lift them to the next level? They will be good but no title is coming to this group.
Detroit A lot of people like this team to be the East’s representative in the Finals. I think they will be good, very good, but I think they have just enough holes to be 2nd in the conference. Can Saunders coach a team to the Finals? Can Flip and Rasheed Wallace get along? Can Rasheed keep his cool against Dwight Howard and KG? This team is famous for its D but they let one man beat them (LBJ) in the biggest game of their playoffs last year. I don’t see them in the Finals although they will be close.
Boston I am on the bandwagon! Yes, KG, Pierce, Allen and any 2 other guys will win the East! These 3 guys are focused and want nothing but a title. They have great balance in their abilities—a shooter, a slasher, and a post player who is the poster child for post play. KG brings D inside as well as great passing. The only worry for me is Coach Doc Rivers. But with these three on board, even he can coach his way to the finals. On top of that, great feelings are flowing through New England. That opening night in Boston can be an amazing start to the year as it will come a few days after the World Series. Boston fans are loving it all. I say good times will continue to roll in the Hub. Celtics to the Finals!!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Random Preview Comments
Ok, after many days...we are back! Here are very random thoughts on the upcoming season. This is in no order and is not a prediction...that will come later.
The Celtics. Getting the new Big 3 together was the best move of the off-season. Yes, I think they have a legitimate shot at the Finals. It will still be hard to beat whoever comes out of the West but Boston has to be the favorite for the East, don’t they? They certainly can beat the Cavs in a 7 game series even if LBJ went crazy. The presence of these 3 will make everything for everyone else easy.
Portland. It is absolutely unfathomable that Oden and now Brandon Roy are going to be out now. What have they got left?? Who cursed them?? They could be historically bad.
Miami. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Wade isn’t fully back from surgery and we don’t know what he will be bringing to the table. Shaq, we know. Maybe he will play 40 games...maybe not. And after these two, Miami has nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Obviously I am looking forward to the Kevin Durant era. He will have off nights (like 5-22 last night in pre-season) but he will get his shot opportunities and they will go in.
To all the whiners and complainers (Marion, Kirilenko, Jermaine O’Neal)...shut up and play. It is amazing that Marion and AK want a trade so bad when they are on 2 of the final 4 teams in the West! I guess it is the ultimate of selfishness that they want to be where they can shine but who cares about the team. And this is AK, who is vastly overpaid to be in Utah anyway. Give me a break.
NY Knicks. So much happened to them this summer and Zach Randolph in NY is asking for trouble. Can he and Eddy Curry cover anybody? The league better suspend Isiah for disorderly conduct. they are like a car wreck that is so awful that you know you should look away but you can’t stop staring.
OK, lots more later. Outta here for now. I can’t give too many player comments until after our Fantasy League draft. Besides it is hard to think about basketball when the Red Sox are 7 games away from a title.
The Celtics. Getting the new Big 3 together was the best move of the off-season. Yes, I think they have a legitimate shot at the Finals. It will still be hard to beat whoever comes out of the West but Boston has to be the favorite for the East, don’t they? They certainly can beat the Cavs in a 7 game series even if LBJ went crazy. The presence of these 3 will make everything for everyone else easy.
Portland. It is absolutely unfathomable that Oden and now Brandon Roy are going to be out now. What have they got left?? Who cursed them?? They could be historically bad.
Miami. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Wade isn’t fully back from surgery and we don’t know what he will be bringing to the table. Shaq, we know. Maybe he will play 40 games...maybe not. And after these two, Miami has nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Obviously I am looking forward to the Kevin Durant era. He will have off nights (like 5-22 last night in pre-season) but he will get his shot opportunities and they will go in.
To all the whiners and complainers (Marion, Kirilenko, Jermaine O’Neal)...shut up and play. It is amazing that Marion and AK want a trade so bad when they are on 2 of the final 4 teams in the West! I guess it is the ultimate of selfishness that they want to be where they can shine but who cares about the team. And this is AK, who is vastly overpaid to be in Utah anyway. Give me a break.
NY Knicks. So much happened to them this summer and Zach Randolph in NY is asking for trouble. Can he and Eddy Curry cover anybody? The league better suspend Isiah for disorderly conduct. they are like a car wreck that is so awful that you know you should look away but you can’t stop staring.
OK, lots more later. Outta here for now. I can’t give too many player comments until after our Fantasy League draft. Besides it is hard to think about basketball when the Red Sox are 7 games away from a title.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Offseason Moves Discussion
PB: Sitting here in our Sitting Room by the Sea, we realize we need to post an analysis of this summer’s NBA moves. Since we are in the same location, Dr. Hartnett (working on his MBP: Masters of Basketball Philosophy degree) and I will weigh in on the big moves. Of course, the biggest is the moving of KG to Boston for most of their roster. I’ll let you have the first say here, Dr. H.
AH: Hi there, I just finished a long paper on how many stars a team needs in order to be considered championship material. Talking about biggest moves, what about my man Rashard Lewis to Orlando? Isn’t that a huge move? ….. in the wrong direction!
PB: The interesting thing about Rashard Lewis’s deal is that even though Orlando overpaid, it looked like a decent move a month ago in the watered down East.
AH: Are u saying 120 million for a 3 point shooter is a decent move!????
PB: Hey, Phoenix overpaid for Nash and everyone said how can you spend that kind of money on a slow PG who can’t play D or consistently hit a long jumper. Orlando needed a scorer to go with Howard and he was best available. But it was a decent move ONLY if the East stays weak. Now look—Billups re-signs with Detroit, Jason Richardson comes to Charlotte making them competitive, VC re-signs with the Nets and the, of course, the Celtics become title contenders (yes, read that again, title contenders) with KG on board to play with Allen and Pierce. Orlando looks to still be a player away with no money left to get one.
AH: Anyway, lets not get started on these otherwise we will never finish this. I do have to agree that the signing of KG should have the biggest impact. But Title contenders? Let the season start.. I remember getting all excited in the 2004 season.. about a certain team that had 4 future Hall-of-Famers on it.
PB: OK, a few years ago Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker (yes, that Antoine Walker) led the Celts deep into the playoffs against the Nets. Now Pierce has THE best 3 point shooter in the NBA (stats back that up…non-debatable) in Ray Allen and KG. KG, the man who gets 20-10-5 every year. Only Larry Bird and Wilt have numbers like him. And now they are all on the same team??!!! I could play point for these guys. You can’t play 5 guys against them and double team all 3. And all 3 can beat their man one-on-one. The only question is can they play D? But KG is a GREAT defender and the LEADING REBOUNDER in the league and Ray can dig deep…he played at UConn. So yes, title contenders. Great move by the Celts. They have needed to make a move like this for 15 years. I am officially on their bandwagon!
AH: (grudgingly) I guess I have to concede that point to you, and I actually do like KG on the Celtics, he is probably one of the best players to never make the finals and it will be exciting to see what he can do with 2 other good players with him. Pierce and Allen will make things exciting, but as far as you playing point! Hmm…I think Tony Parker, and Steve Nash will be quaking in their shoes!
PB: As far as other moves…Lewis does make Orlando better, but not so good now that the East is improved (all really rides on Howard’s continued upward curve)…Billups re-signing keeps Detroit very dangerous. Remember this team had the best record in the East last year and would have been in the Finals if not for the breakout performance of LBJ. With Billups they are still very good…VC on the Nets again, ummm, whatever. They will win some games but have no chance of winning more than one series in the playoffs…Hey, Smush Parker in Miami. How bad are they!! They have got nothing besides a broken down Shaq (still a good move to get him a few years ago, though, as they did win the title; but it is 2007 now)
AH: Hey they have Smush at point! They could have had you!
PB: No way. Remember, I am only playing PG for the Celtics. But I am concerned about Wade’s health. He still hasn’t shown us if he is 100% recovered from his surgery. Remember this team got SWEPT out of Round 1 of the playoffs…And then ZACH RANDOLPH (my all-time fantasy league MVP) to New York. He and Eddie Curry will either bounce the defenders away or enter a steel cage match against each other. Should be fun to watch since Marbury is such a great team player as well.
AH: Haha I know, all they need is Ron-Ron and Sheed and you have The Nu York Knicks a reality show for the ages. Marbury is doing great stuff off court with Starbury, hope he has something in the soles to help him this season. The Knicks have potential but I think the Celtics will be the team to beat in the East
PB: Let’s move on to the West. What if I told you that your back court was Steve Francis and Bonzi Wells? Well, that is what Houston got to play with Yao and T-Mac. It is a great experiment that will either end with a team that will be very dangerous in the playoffs OR they will have their own reality show with everyone attempting to get along with each other. Good stuff. Do they eat pizza when they all get together or Chinese food?
AH: Francis is not the player he was, but he may be able to provide some help to the Rockets. Hmm then again, what did he do last year for the Knicks? Nothing… I wonder what they did at Yao’s wedding… and how different Yao will be now that he is married.
PB: He will be eating bigger meals…we’ll see if married life slows him down. The Suns got Grant Hill, which really means nothing since he will get hurt trying to keep up with the Phoenix fast break. LA Lakers got Derek Fisher and Elton Brand of the Clips just tore his Achilles. In other words, there will be no basketball in May in LA. Any other big deals in the West? Not really. Except, of course, the arrival of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant!!
AH: The West will be interesting, I just hope we haven’t hyped the 2 super-rookies too much. The Sonics will be intriguing because Durant will be the man from day one with both Allen and Lewis gone; lets see what happens with this team. I really want to watch the no-longer Jail-Blazers. Oden should make an instant impact. The only thing is that it is the West and it is still tough. The Lakers did nothing, what do u think Kobe will do?
PB: We have another two months for the Lakers to make Kobe happy. If not, I see him getting a mild injury, saying why should I bust my butt to play, and sitting for few months in “rehab.” That would be his payback to management for not getting new players. I can’t see Bynum going crazy but that is what they need to have happen. They could have a hard time with Portland: Oden and Brandon Roy are good building blocks.
PB: Well, that is about all for now. We will be back as the days click by. Let’s hope that in the next few weeks Jermaine O’Neal moves somewhere just to keep life interesting. Until then…go Celtics!
AH: Hi there, I just finished a long paper on how many stars a team needs in order to be considered championship material. Talking about biggest moves, what about my man Rashard Lewis to Orlando? Isn’t that a huge move? ….. in the wrong direction!
PB: The interesting thing about Rashard Lewis’s deal is that even though Orlando overpaid, it looked like a decent move a month ago in the watered down East.
AH: Are u saying 120 million for a 3 point shooter is a decent move!????
PB: Hey, Phoenix overpaid for Nash and everyone said how can you spend that kind of money on a slow PG who can’t play D or consistently hit a long jumper. Orlando needed a scorer to go with Howard and he was best available. But it was a decent move ONLY if the East stays weak. Now look—Billups re-signs with Detroit, Jason Richardson comes to Charlotte making them competitive, VC re-signs with the Nets and the, of course, the Celtics become title contenders (yes, read that again, title contenders) with KG on board to play with Allen and Pierce. Orlando looks to still be a player away with no money left to get one.
AH: Anyway, lets not get started on these otherwise we will never finish this. I do have to agree that the signing of KG should have the biggest impact. But Title contenders? Let the season start.. I remember getting all excited in the 2004 season.. about a certain team that had 4 future Hall-of-Famers on it.
PB: OK, a few years ago Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker (yes, that Antoine Walker) led the Celts deep into the playoffs against the Nets. Now Pierce has THE best 3 point shooter in the NBA (stats back that up…non-debatable) in Ray Allen and KG. KG, the man who gets 20-10-5 every year. Only Larry Bird and Wilt have numbers like him. And now they are all on the same team??!!! I could play point for these guys. You can’t play 5 guys against them and double team all 3. And all 3 can beat their man one-on-one. The only question is can they play D? But KG is a GREAT defender and the LEADING REBOUNDER in the league and Ray can dig deep…he played at UConn. So yes, title contenders. Great move by the Celts. They have needed to make a move like this for 15 years. I am officially on their bandwagon!
AH: (grudgingly) I guess I have to concede that point to you, and I actually do like KG on the Celtics, he is probably one of the best players to never make the finals and it will be exciting to see what he can do with 2 other good players with him. Pierce and Allen will make things exciting, but as far as you playing point! Hmm…I think Tony Parker, and Steve Nash will be quaking in their shoes!
PB: As far as other moves…Lewis does make Orlando better, but not so good now that the East is improved (all really rides on Howard’s continued upward curve)…Billups re-signing keeps Detroit very dangerous. Remember this team had the best record in the East last year and would have been in the Finals if not for the breakout performance of LBJ. With Billups they are still very good…VC on the Nets again, ummm, whatever. They will win some games but have no chance of winning more than one series in the playoffs…Hey, Smush Parker in Miami. How bad are they!! They have got nothing besides a broken down Shaq (still a good move to get him a few years ago, though, as they did win the title; but it is 2007 now)
AH: Hey they have Smush at point! They could have had you!
PB: No way. Remember, I am only playing PG for the Celtics. But I am concerned about Wade’s health. He still hasn’t shown us if he is 100% recovered from his surgery. Remember this team got SWEPT out of Round 1 of the playoffs…And then ZACH RANDOLPH (my all-time fantasy league MVP) to New York. He and Eddie Curry will either bounce the defenders away or enter a steel cage match against each other. Should be fun to watch since Marbury is such a great team player as well.
AH: Haha I know, all they need is Ron-Ron and Sheed and you have The Nu York Knicks a reality show for the ages. Marbury is doing great stuff off court with Starbury, hope he has something in the soles to help him this season. The Knicks have potential but I think the Celtics will be the team to beat in the East
PB: Let’s move on to the West. What if I told you that your back court was Steve Francis and Bonzi Wells? Well, that is what Houston got to play with Yao and T-Mac. It is a great experiment that will either end with a team that will be very dangerous in the playoffs OR they will have their own reality show with everyone attempting to get along with each other. Good stuff. Do they eat pizza when they all get together or Chinese food?
AH: Francis is not the player he was, but he may be able to provide some help to the Rockets. Hmm then again, what did he do last year for the Knicks? Nothing… I wonder what they did at Yao’s wedding… and how different Yao will be now that he is married.
PB: He will be eating bigger meals…we’ll see if married life slows him down. The Suns got Grant Hill, which really means nothing since he will get hurt trying to keep up with the Phoenix fast break. LA Lakers got Derek Fisher and Elton Brand of the Clips just tore his Achilles. In other words, there will be no basketball in May in LA. Any other big deals in the West? Not really. Except, of course, the arrival of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant!!
AH: The West will be interesting, I just hope we haven’t hyped the 2 super-rookies too much. The Sonics will be intriguing because Durant will be the man from day one with both Allen and Lewis gone; lets see what happens with this team. I really want to watch the no-longer Jail-Blazers. Oden should make an instant impact. The only thing is that it is the West and it is still tough. The Lakers did nothing, what do u think Kobe will do?
PB: We have another two months for the Lakers to make Kobe happy. If not, I see him getting a mild injury, saying why should I bust my butt to play, and sitting for few months in “rehab.” That would be his payback to management for not getting new players. I can’t see Bynum going crazy but that is what they need to have happen. They could have a hard time with Portland: Oden and Brandon Roy are good building blocks.
PB: Well, that is about all for now. We will be back as the days click by. Let’s hope that in the next few weeks Jermaine O’Neal moves somewhere just to keep life interesting. Until then…go Celtics!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Draft Diary
The NBA’s biggest event in the off-season is the draft and for the first time in many years, I am watching tonight! So in the spirit of the Sports Guy here is a little Draft Diary:
7:15pm EDT We are 15 minutes away from coverage. We all know Oden and Durant go first and second respectively. After that, it might get interesting. Of course, every year there are heaps of rumors yet no big deals. So I am expecting nothing even though I just heard rumors of Ray Allen to the Celts and KG rumors are still in the air. Other storylines tonight involve the fine suits of the draft picks, who will be left in the Green Room last, and what kind of ice cream my wife will get me at the store since I am parking my rear in front of the TV tonight.
7:45 There went Oden and Durant. No surprises. Oden looks like it is his retirement, he looks so old. Durant looks like he is in Middle School. What a difference in their faces. Durant could score heaps of points in Seattle next year…he will get a lot of chances to shoot, especially if Ray Allen gets traded, which seems like it will happen. It also looks like they got rid of the Green room and let the draftees sit with their families in the crowd. Fine touch.
7:48 Atlanta takes Al Horford of Florida. They get another big man when they really need a point guard. Horford may be good but when are they getting a PG? They have passed on Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and now Mike Conley. Hmmm.
7:59 We actually have a big trade! Ray Allen to Boston and Jeff Green, Sczerbiak, and West to Seattle. Boston had to do something and this was better than them picking the Chinese guy. He would not have helped Pierce much. Now they have Allen, Pierce, and Jefferson against the Eastern Conf. Not bad. Better than before. Seattle is making their team over with Durant. Good deal. He will be the Man. They definitely are not resigning Rashard Lewis with Green and Durant as forwards and Sczerbiak as a shooter. Seattle will be fun.
8:04 Yi to Milwaukee. He is 6’11” so that is good. The Bucks need a 4. Fits pretty well but I am not sold on him yet. Besides, there are not a lot of Chinese restaurants in Milwaukee. Will he be happy with Milwaukee egg rolls? I wouldn’t.
8:07 There was some commercial about people trying out for the NBA. You just need to send in a video. Should I send in some videos from Bangladesh? Then they select 30 guys to compete for pro scouts or something. That could be interesting to see. Keep working, guys in Chittagong, maybe you will get your chance someday! (As long as all of you grow to 6’11’)
8:11 Minnesota takes Corey Brewer and I still don’t have my ice cream. All the suits so far have been very conservative but at least Joakim Noah is there. I caught a glimpse…bow tie, hair (a lot of it) brushed down, quite the look.
8:26 Noah sighting!! Great suit and bowtie. He goes to the Bulls. He has a lot of energy but can’t score a lot, which is what the Bulls need from their big pick here. They don’t need another Ben Wallace. Charlotte just picked too. Enough of the Michael Jordan emphasis. He stays in a luxury box, not on the court. But actually, if the Bobcats can sign Rashard Lewis, we could be watching them in the playoffs next year.
8:30 Great ad for the Espy’s with LeBron. I might actually have to watch. I never have. I still don’t have any ice cream.
8:33 Spencer Hawes to Sacramento. Fine pick for them since Brad Miller has absolutely fallen off the cliff. Besides, in the interview he said he has skills. Wow, he said he likes George Bush. He should get along very well with Ron Artest in the locker room.
8:41 Acie Law to Atlanta. They finally get their PG. I would love to hammer them for this pick but I actually like Acie Law a lot, so maybe the Hawks can turn things around. Then again, they are the Hawks.
9:00 OK, a bunch of random, average picks. The Clippers take Thornton, a guy who plays the same position as a bunch of their players, so they will probably be trading later. They just said 2 guys left in the Green Room, so there will be a guy left last. Gotta hate that. The Pistons pick next. I will be interested to see if Billups stays with them. If they pick a PG it will mean they think he is going. Otherwise they need a center (doesn’t everyone). Hey, I got my ice cream!
9:14 The KNICKS take Zach Randolph!! Actually, a great trade for them. Everyone knows I love Zach Randolph. I can’t pick him on my Fantasy team now that he is a Knick…but still. I will have to think about the new Portland team. But Steve Francis and Greg Oden could be a good pair, along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Very interesting. By the way, the Nets then pick a guy that ESPN had to explain the police report for. No highlights…just cop report. THAT’s not exactly what I would be looking for in a player. Also, the Pistons did take a guard, but not a PG.
9:28 GS took some Marco somethingNelli guy because he has the same name as their coach. Now we wait on LA. And the Lakers pick…Crittenton, a PG from Ga. Tech. Who knows what that means but I doubt he is enough to make Kobe want to stay in LA and play hard. They better get KG to keep Kobe happy.
10:03 Ok, I don’t know any of the guys left so that’s it. I am moving on in my TV viewing and will read about the rest of the picks later. It was a good night. A lot of these guys will be good pros. I will ponder the picks a few days and post more comments later.
Gotta love the draft. I’m outta here.
7:15pm EDT We are 15 minutes away from coverage. We all know Oden and Durant go first and second respectively. After that, it might get interesting. Of course, every year there are heaps of rumors yet no big deals. So I am expecting nothing even though I just heard rumors of Ray Allen to the Celts and KG rumors are still in the air. Other storylines tonight involve the fine suits of the draft picks, who will be left in the Green Room last, and what kind of ice cream my wife will get me at the store since I am parking my rear in front of the TV tonight.
7:45 There went Oden and Durant. No surprises. Oden looks like it is his retirement, he looks so old. Durant looks like he is in Middle School. What a difference in their faces. Durant could score heaps of points in Seattle next year…he will get a lot of chances to shoot, especially if Ray Allen gets traded, which seems like it will happen. It also looks like they got rid of the Green room and let the draftees sit with their families in the crowd. Fine touch.
7:48 Atlanta takes Al Horford of Florida. They get another big man when they really need a point guard. Horford may be good but when are they getting a PG? They have passed on Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and now Mike Conley. Hmmm.
7:59 We actually have a big trade! Ray Allen to Boston and Jeff Green, Sczerbiak, and West to Seattle. Boston had to do something and this was better than them picking the Chinese guy. He would not have helped Pierce much. Now they have Allen, Pierce, and Jefferson against the Eastern Conf. Not bad. Better than before. Seattle is making their team over with Durant. Good deal. He will be the Man. They definitely are not resigning Rashard Lewis with Green and Durant as forwards and Sczerbiak as a shooter. Seattle will be fun.
8:04 Yi to Milwaukee. He is 6’11” so that is good. The Bucks need a 4. Fits pretty well but I am not sold on him yet. Besides, there are not a lot of Chinese restaurants in Milwaukee. Will he be happy with Milwaukee egg rolls? I wouldn’t.
8:07 There was some commercial about people trying out for the NBA. You just need to send in a video. Should I send in some videos from Bangladesh? Then they select 30 guys to compete for pro scouts or something. That could be interesting to see. Keep working, guys in Chittagong, maybe you will get your chance someday! (As long as all of you grow to 6’11’)
8:11 Minnesota takes Corey Brewer and I still don’t have my ice cream. All the suits so far have been very conservative but at least Joakim Noah is there. I caught a glimpse…bow tie, hair (a lot of it) brushed down, quite the look.
8:26 Noah sighting!! Great suit and bowtie. He goes to the Bulls. He has a lot of energy but can’t score a lot, which is what the Bulls need from their big pick here. They don’t need another Ben Wallace. Charlotte just picked too. Enough of the Michael Jordan emphasis. He stays in a luxury box, not on the court. But actually, if the Bobcats can sign Rashard Lewis, we could be watching them in the playoffs next year.
8:30 Great ad for the Espy’s with LeBron. I might actually have to watch. I never have. I still don’t have any ice cream.
8:33 Spencer Hawes to Sacramento. Fine pick for them since Brad Miller has absolutely fallen off the cliff. Besides, in the interview he said he has skills. Wow, he said he likes George Bush. He should get along very well with Ron Artest in the locker room.
8:41 Acie Law to Atlanta. They finally get their PG. I would love to hammer them for this pick but I actually like Acie Law a lot, so maybe the Hawks can turn things around. Then again, they are the Hawks.
9:00 OK, a bunch of random, average picks. The Clippers take Thornton, a guy who plays the same position as a bunch of their players, so they will probably be trading later. They just said 2 guys left in the Green Room, so there will be a guy left last. Gotta hate that. The Pistons pick next. I will be interested to see if Billups stays with them. If they pick a PG it will mean they think he is going. Otherwise they need a center (doesn’t everyone). Hey, I got my ice cream!
9:14 The KNICKS take Zach Randolph!! Actually, a great trade for them. Everyone knows I love Zach Randolph. I can’t pick him on my Fantasy team now that he is a Knick…but still. I will have to think about the new Portland team. But Steve Francis and Greg Oden could be a good pair, along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Very interesting. By the way, the Nets then pick a guy that ESPN had to explain the police report for. No highlights…just cop report. THAT’s not exactly what I would be looking for in a player. Also, the Pistons did take a guard, but not a PG.
9:28 GS took some Marco somethingNelli guy because he has the same name as their coach. Now we wait on LA. And the Lakers pick…Crittenton, a PG from Ga. Tech. Who knows what that means but I doubt he is enough to make Kobe want to stay in LA and play hard. They better get KG to keep Kobe happy.
10:03 Ok, I don’t know any of the guys left so that’s it. I am moving on in my TV viewing and will read about the rest of the picks later. It was a good night. A lot of these guys will be good pros. I will ponder the picks a few days and post more comments later.
Gotta love the draft. I’m outta here.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Draft Preview
Since I am on a road trip this week (I think my life is on a permanent road trip...I mean, I live in Bangladesh!) and don't have the time to preview next week's draft yet, I thought I would link you to a preview. This one is the most fun. So until later...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070620
PS. I am in Ohio. The Cavs were definitely just happy to win the East. They were thrilled with that...which means they had no chance at beating the Spurs.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070620
PS. I am in Ohio. The Cavs were definitely just happy to win the East. They were thrilled with that...which means they had no chance at beating the Spurs.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Thud!!
It isn't good for your sport when it really THUDS to a close. The Finals used to be the culmination of interest in the NBA. This year it was the first round with the Dallas-GS and Miami losing. The Spurs play great basketball but for some reason, we all find them very hard to watch. The ratings for the Finals were the lowest ever. Of course, watching the Cavs brickfest was not high level entertainment. So another season is in the books.
BUT now comes the fun part. next week is the NBA Draft...always entertaining and fodder for discussion (esp. this year). The there are FA signings and trade demands. And to keep us from getting bored this off-season, we give you, Kobe Bryant! Ok, there is no way LA is trading him regardless of his demands. I go thru this every winter with Manny on the Red Sox and every year he is still here, so don't believe that a trade is imminent. LA can keep charging high prices with Kobe on board since you never know when he might go off for 50, 60 or 81 points. So they need him in LA. But it does mean that they will have to do something big to keep him happy. So that should be fun to watch.
All right, more on all that later. I'm outta here.
BUT now comes the fun part. next week is the NBA Draft...always entertaining and fodder for discussion (esp. this year). The there are FA signings and trade demands. And to keep us from getting bored this off-season, we give you, Kobe Bryant! Ok, there is no way LA is trading him regardless of his demands. I go thru this every winter with Manny on the Red Sox and every year he is still here, so don't believe that a trade is imminent. LA can keep charging high prices with Kobe on board since you never know when he might go off for 50, 60 or 81 points. So they need him in LA. But it does mean that they will have to do something big to keep him happy. So that should be fun to watch.
All right, more on all that later. I'm outta here.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I ordered this!!??
Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ordered something that just looked delicious in words and wound up stinking on the plate? Or you bought something at the store based on the great picture on the box cover, only to find out at home that some assembly is required and your model is half the size of the box picture...and breaks after one full use. Well, that is me...because I ordered the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, granted, I had seen none (count them , zero) of their games on TV this year (thank you ESPN South Asia for the E. Conf. Finals--NOT) and was giving my "expert" opinion on info heard second hand and read about. But now that I ordered Cavs du jour for the Finals...well, waiter, please take this away!
LeBron is still LeBron. He is too unselfish for his team but that is a good fault if it is your only one. But oh, his teammates!! Has there ever been a more one-man team in the Finals--ever?? Really! Let's look at these jokers. When you break it down, Drew Gooden is the second best player on the team. Drew Gooden! He couldn't even get drafted in our Fantasy League until the 5th or 6th round. Yes, on some trips he can make shots and get to the basket. But on other trips he airballs from close range. He is serviceable. But he is their 2nd best player! Look at the rest of this bunch.
Ilgauskas can cover no one, not Duncan or Elston or Umberto. He is amazingly slow and bricks a lot of jumpers that he needs to make on pick and rolls since he isn't fast enough to get to the hole. Larry Hughes was a mess in every way possible but at least he didn't hurt his team in game 3 (he didn't play). Sasha and Verajo are OK and hustle. But they too are wildly inconsistent. Daniel Gibson was their 2nd best player until 1-10 in Game 3 but that is to be expected from a rookie who didn't get the minutes he should have during the season (coach's fault). Eric Snow?? If his shot hits the rim we cheer! Donyell Marshall--how bad has his shooting been!! And whenever the announcers talk about a Cavs defensive breakdown see if Marshall is not in the game at that time. What a mess. It is truly amazing and a testament to LBJ that they made it this far. Believe me, this is not what I thought I ordered when I picked them in 7.
So can they come back from 3-0 down? Of course not! No team in basketball ever has. I mean, only one team in baseball ever has (the SOX over the Evil Empire in 2004, of course!!). So the Cavs have no shot now. We will see if they have some character and keep pushing or if they fold. I would love for LeBron in game 4 to just say to hsi teammates, "All of you are a joke. I will shoot every trip." And then I want to see him shoot EVERY trip. Maybe then they would have a chance.
I am cold in Seattle. I think many are wet in Chittagong. Hang in there. I'm outta here
LeBron is still LeBron. He is too unselfish for his team but that is a good fault if it is your only one. But oh, his teammates!! Has there ever been a more one-man team in the Finals--ever?? Really! Let's look at these jokers. When you break it down, Drew Gooden is the second best player on the team. Drew Gooden! He couldn't even get drafted in our Fantasy League until the 5th or 6th round. Yes, on some trips he can make shots and get to the basket. But on other trips he airballs from close range. He is serviceable. But he is their 2nd best player! Look at the rest of this bunch.
Ilgauskas can cover no one, not Duncan or Elston or Umberto. He is amazingly slow and bricks a lot of jumpers that he needs to make on pick and rolls since he isn't fast enough to get to the hole. Larry Hughes was a mess in every way possible but at least he didn't hurt his team in game 3 (he didn't play). Sasha and Verajo are OK and hustle. But they too are wildly inconsistent. Daniel Gibson was their 2nd best player until 1-10 in Game 3 but that is to be expected from a rookie who didn't get the minutes he should have during the season (coach's fault). Eric Snow?? If his shot hits the rim we cheer! Donyell Marshall--how bad has his shooting been!! And whenever the announcers talk about a Cavs defensive breakdown see if Marshall is not in the game at that time. What a mess. It is truly amazing and a testament to LBJ that they made it this far. Believe me, this is not what I thought I ordered when I picked them in 7.
So can they come back from 3-0 down? Of course not! No team in basketball ever has. I mean, only one team in baseball ever has (the SOX over the Evil Empire in 2004, of course!!). So the Cavs have no shot now. We will see if they have some character and keep pushing or if they fold. I would love for LeBron in game 4 to just say to hsi teammates, "All of you are a joke. I will shoot every trip." And then I want to see him shoot EVERY trip. Maybe then they would have a chance.
I am cold in Seattle. I think many are wet in Chittagong. Hang in there. I'm outta here
Friday, June 8, 2007
Thots on Game 1
Thoughts on Game1. First of all, it was great to be able to watch with a bunch of guys. I will miss that as I move on to the US. Hopefully I can watch some of the next few games with my brother-in-law in Seattle, because watching with my mother-in-law doesn’t sound too exciting (even Mushfiq knows more about hoops than her!) Nonetheless, even a boring game can be fun in a big group...so thanks guys for my last group game of 2006-07 season and with the Seniors...although, hopefully we can have some hoop reunions. OK, enough of the sappy stuff and on to the game.
1- Tony Parker. What a mismatch for the Cavs! Parker was far and away the best player on the floor. The-artist-formerly-known-as-Larry-Hughes had no chance of staying with him at all! A lot of Duncan’s stuff was set up by Parker. Cleveland must find a way to keep him out of the paint.
2- LeBron James. He must be more assertive. He seemed passive for 3 quarters, being content to pass out of double teams. I saw enough of Donyell’s bricks and Ilgauskas’ misses...enough. LBJ MUST shoot more. In the 4th we saw him keep the ball more. He can break down the double teams but he must be more assertive.
3- Daniel Gibson. Is there a reason he only plays half the game? He doesn’t have the experience to really defend parker well but at least he has some foot speed, as opposed to Hughes. On offense Hughes gives them nothing. Gibson proved he can still knock down those 3’s and he can be Parker-esque in driving the lane. If Coach Brown (Nowshad’s long lost older brother) has to start Hughes to keep his ego in check, then please make the sub 3 minutes into the 1st and 3rd quarters...not later!
So is the series over?? No way. Remember how dead Miami looked last year after Game 2. Remember how tough Detroit looked 2 weeks ago after Game 2. A lot of ball is left to be played. Obviously Cleveland has to get it together against, really a great team in the Spurs...but they could. LBJ can still be the best player on the floor at any time if he asserts himself. Dig deep LeBron.
Now a message to ABC...please, no more pieces on relationships at halftime. This is not the same audience that watches Oprah. We would like more basketball-related pieces that get us pumped up for the 2nd half. Thank you.
If you are interested here is a link to the ever-interesting Sports Guy’s take on Game 1 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070608 I will be on the road a few days, so no update until after Game 3. Until then, I’m outta here.
1- Tony Parker. What a mismatch for the Cavs! Parker was far and away the best player on the floor. The-artist-formerly-known-as-Larry-Hughes had no chance of staying with him at all! A lot of Duncan’s stuff was set up by Parker. Cleveland must find a way to keep him out of the paint.
2- LeBron James. He must be more assertive. He seemed passive for 3 quarters, being content to pass out of double teams. I saw enough of Donyell’s bricks and Ilgauskas’ misses...enough. LBJ MUST shoot more. In the 4th we saw him keep the ball more. He can break down the double teams but he must be more assertive.
3- Daniel Gibson. Is there a reason he only plays half the game? He doesn’t have the experience to really defend parker well but at least he has some foot speed, as opposed to Hughes. On offense Hughes gives them nothing. Gibson proved he can still knock down those 3’s and he can be Parker-esque in driving the lane. If Coach Brown (Nowshad’s long lost older brother) has to start Hughes to keep his ego in check, then please make the sub 3 minutes into the 1st and 3rd quarters...not later!
So is the series over?? No way. Remember how dead Miami looked last year after Game 2. Remember how tough Detroit looked 2 weeks ago after Game 2. A lot of ball is left to be played. Obviously Cleveland has to get it together against, really a great team in the Spurs...but they could. LBJ can still be the best player on the floor at any time if he asserts himself. Dig deep LeBron.
Now a message to ABC...please, no more pieces on relationships at halftime. This is not the same audience that watches Oprah. We would like more basketball-related pieces that get us pumped up for the 2nd half. Thank you.
If you are interested here is a link to the ever-interesting Sports Guy’s take on Game 1 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070608 I will be on the road a few days, so no update until after Game 3. Until then, I’m outta here.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Finals Preview
Before previewing the finals, let’s wrap up Cleveland’s improbable run to the East championship. What was more amazing, the Cavs’ run or the Pistons’ collapse? I think it was more the Cavs run but what a collapse by Detroit. They even rolled over in the 4th quarter of the last game. I believe their coach, Flip Saunders, a nice guy, is gone. But this also could mean that Chauncey Billups will leave as a free agent this summer. Why should he stay? They clearly will not win a title as they are presently constituted and Rasheed is ready to implode. Detroit has no chance of beating LeBron ever again, as his confidence is sky high against them now. So he might as well leave…maybe Billups will go play with Dwight Howard in Orlando. Let’s see.
But really, the series was all about LeBron. He won games and got inside Detroit’s head doing it. He looked like DWade did last year on the Heat’s title run, except this guy is so much bigger and stronger. Wade would drive and finish with fade away bank shots; LeBron finished with hard slams. They both count for 2 points but one is more demoralizing to the defense than the other. And then LeBron has started making jump shots too. He clearly is reaching for another level and we are seeing the ascent of a possible all-time great. His Game 5 was one of the best all time and could have been THE best performance in a non-finals playoff game. Bird and Dominique had an amazing game in 87, Reggie Miller had some against the Knicks, but LeBron willed his team to that win on the road against a team that does not easily get rattled.
But now on to the Finals Preview. This is a very interesting matchup. The Spurs should be favored and should win. That does not mean they will. Let’s break it down a bit:
Inside Game. Z. Igauskas and Drew Gooden against Tim Duncan and me inside would be an advantage to the Spurs. Duncan is one of, if not THE greatest power forward ever. But can Cleveland keep him from asserting himself? Can they foul him enough to get him frustrated at the line? Maybe. That being said, this is a big advantage Spurs.
Guard Play. Daniel Gibson was huge for Cleveland against Detroit. He even made heaps of big shots in the 4th Q of the last game when the outcome was in doubt. SO even though he is a rookie, he is not afraid of the big games. BUT, both Parker and Ginobili have been in a few big games in their lives (understatement) and come out pretty well. Tony Parker is just a real good NBA point guard. He is underappreciated sometimes, but he is a great player. I am not a big Ginobili fan, but he has stepped up at times. The artist formerly known as Larry Hughes plays in the backcourt for the Cavs, as does Eric Snow off the bench. Ummmmm….advantage Spurs.
Intangibles. I am concerned with the huge celebration Cleveland had after beating Detroit. They were celebrating like they had won the title. They have never been in the Finals before and the city is desperate for a winner…but you haven’t won yet! Another intangible pointing toward San Antonio is Tony Parker’s fiancé. I am not sure what celebrities are in Cleveland (I am sure a lot will show up now to try to get in LBJ's posse). BUT last year Wade won in his first trip so there is no barrier for LeBron to do that this year. So intangibles are EVEN.
Coaches. We don’t really need to discuss this. Popovich is a great coach. Mike Brown is lucky he has LeBron. Advantage Spurs.
The Three. Now we get down to business. LeBron vs. Bowen. Detroit has a great defensive team, like the Spurs, and LBJ cut through them like a hot knife through butter (old cliché but it fits). Can Bowen slow him down? NO. Does LBJ have the confidence to take it to SA? YES. He will be the dominant player on the court throughout the entire series. More so than Duncan because 1) Duncan plays in the post and needs someone to get him the ball, 2) LBJ is a better FT shooter than Duncan, and 3) LBJ can bring up the ball and make outside shots if you play off him too much. So, yes, the series does hinge on LBJ. Will he continue his historic run through the playoffs? That is the whole series in one sentence. He has shown that he can will his team to wins. But can he against the Spurs. I say yes. Advantage Cavs.
PREDICTION: All the advantages but one point to the Spurs. Duncan and Parker are tremendous players. Michael Finley can go off and shoot 3’s like crazy at any moment. I would Robert Horry could do something, but I don’t think so. He can push the Suns around but not the Cavs. Drew Gooden is crazy enough to go off on him in a fight. I should write here Spurs in 6…but I am not. Just like Wade last year stepped way up in the Finals, LBJ can do that this year. Remember, this is the NBA, a league of stars. Defensive rules DO allow one player to take over games. Look at history. So with that in mind, here is my prediction…CAVS in 7.
Interesting point that must be said here. Game 7 is scheduled for June 21. I will be in suburban Cleveland on that date. I definitely would be wanting to watch with a big crowd of Cavs fans. So I hope my prediction is correct. Anyway, Friday morning is Game One. Party at my house! I’m outta here.
But really, the series was all about LeBron. He won games and got inside Detroit’s head doing it. He looked like DWade did last year on the Heat’s title run, except this guy is so much bigger and stronger. Wade would drive and finish with fade away bank shots; LeBron finished with hard slams. They both count for 2 points but one is more demoralizing to the defense than the other. And then LeBron has started making jump shots too. He clearly is reaching for another level and we are seeing the ascent of a possible all-time great. His Game 5 was one of the best all time and could have been THE best performance in a non-finals playoff game. Bird and Dominique had an amazing game in 87, Reggie Miller had some against the Knicks, but LeBron willed his team to that win on the road against a team that does not easily get rattled.
But now on to the Finals Preview. This is a very interesting matchup. The Spurs should be favored and should win. That does not mean they will. Let’s break it down a bit:
Inside Game. Z. Igauskas and Drew Gooden against Tim Duncan and me inside would be an advantage to the Spurs. Duncan is one of, if not THE greatest power forward ever. But can Cleveland keep him from asserting himself? Can they foul him enough to get him frustrated at the line? Maybe. That being said, this is a big advantage Spurs.
Guard Play. Daniel Gibson was huge for Cleveland against Detroit. He even made heaps of big shots in the 4th Q of the last game when the outcome was in doubt. SO even though he is a rookie, he is not afraid of the big games. BUT, both Parker and Ginobili have been in a few big games in their lives (understatement) and come out pretty well. Tony Parker is just a real good NBA point guard. He is underappreciated sometimes, but he is a great player. I am not a big Ginobili fan, but he has stepped up at times. The artist formerly known as Larry Hughes plays in the backcourt for the Cavs, as does Eric Snow off the bench. Ummmmm….advantage Spurs.
Intangibles. I am concerned with the huge celebration Cleveland had after beating Detroit. They were celebrating like they had won the title. They have never been in the Finals before and the city is desperate for a winner…but you haven’t won yet! Another intangible pointing toward San Antonio is Tony Parker’s fiancé. I am not sure what celebrities are in Cleveland (I am sure a lot will show up now to try to get in LBJ's posse). BUT last year Wade won in his first trip so there is no barrier for LeBron to do that this year. So intangibles are EVEN.
Coaches. We don’t really need to discuss this. Popovich is a great coach. Mike Brown is lucky he has LeBron. Advantage Spurs.
The Three. Now we get down to business. LeBron vs. Bowen. Detroit has a great defensive team, like the Spurs, and LBJ cut through them like a hot knife through butter (old cliché but it fits). Can Bowen slow him down? NO. Does LBJ have the confidence to take it to SA? YES. He will be the dominant player on the court throughout the entire series. More so than Duncan because 1) Duncan plays in the post and needs someone to get him the ball, 2) LBJ is a better FT shooter than Duncan, and 3) LBJ can bring up the ball and make outside shots if you play off him too much. So, yes, the series does hinge on LBJ. Will he continue his historic run through the playoffs? That is the whole series in one sentence. He has shown that he can will his team to wins. But can he against the Spurs. I say yes. Advantage Cavs.
PREDICTION: All the advantages but one point to the Spurs. Duncan and Parker are tremendous players. Michael Finley can go off and shoot 3’s like crazy at any moment. I would Robert Horry could do something, but I don’t think so. He can push the Suns around but not the Cavs. Drew Gooden is crazy enough to go off on him in a fight. I should write here Spurs in 6…but I am not. Just like Wade last year stepped way up in the Finals, LBJ can do that this year. Remember, this is the NBA, a league of stars. Defensive rules DO allow one player to take over games. Look at history. So with that in mind, here is my prediction…CAVS in 7.
Interesting point that must be said here. Game 7 is scheduled for June 21. I will be in suburban Cleveland on that date. I definitely would be wanting to watch with a big crowd of Cavs fans. So I hope my prediction is correct. Anyway, Friday morning is Game One. Party at my house! I’m outta here.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Welcome to the BBB!
Welcome to the BDeshi Basketball Blog. Mr. Hartnett and I are the bideshis that will be talking basketball. We will see what kind of shape this blog takes. I, for one, have never blogged before. We will see what kind of topics we cover and what kind of comments are posted. You can shape the blog’s topics by your own comments. It is kind of funny that we are starting a hoops blog as the season is ending, but there are still endless topics to cover. Here are a few that come to mind and a few thots about the current NBA playoffs.
1- I would like to thank Espn-Star Sports for NOT showing us the Eastern Conf. finals. Why can’t they show these??? What is that all about??? I watched 2 minutes and 24 seconds of the entire San Antonio-Utah series because it was nothing but boring blowouts. Meanwhile, Detroit-Cleveland has had close finishes, LeBron’s breakout party, and one of the overall best series ever. At least they showed the Red Sox and Yankees game this morning!( off i guess bball means baseball too!) Then again, when ESPN signed up for the conference finals, they thot they were going to get Dallas-Phoenix, Nash vs. Nowitzki, the battle of the last 2 MVP’s of the league. Too bad they are watching on TV too.
2- We will need to cover the results of this year’s playoffs. Do you realize this is the5th time 4th time Tim Duncan has been in the finals? If the Spurs win, that would be 4 titles for him. Not many stars in history have 4 rings (even Larry Bird only had 3). I already have him as a Top 10 player all-time. He has a quiet but impressive resume.
3- Of course LeBron James has been the Man these playoffs. Let’s see how it all plays out but certainly it is history in the making as he is only 22.
4- A fun topic will be the NBA Draft at then end of June. Always is fun but especially with Oden and Durant this year.
5- Trades and all are always interesting too. Like Kobe, who says he wants to be traded out of LA. This of course, will never happen but is merely a ploy to try to get better help for him. My advice is that LA should give their whole team for KG and let Kobe and KG take on the world. They would have a chance.
That’s just a preview. I’m outta here for today.
1- I would like to thank Espn-Star Sports for NOT showing us the Eastern Conf. finals. Why can’t they show these??? What is that all about??? I watched 2 minutes and 24 seconds of the entire San Antonio-Utah series because it was nothing but boring blowouts. Meanwhile, Detroit-Cleveland has had close finishes, LeBron’s breakout party, and one of the overall best series ever. At least they showed the Red Sox and Yankees game this morning!( off i guess bball means baseball too!) Then again, when ESPN signed up for the conference finals, they thot they were going to get Dallas-Phoenix, Nash vs. Nowitzki, the battle of the last 2 MVP’s of the league. Too bad they are watching on TV too.
2- We will need to cover the results of this year’s playoffs. Do you realize this is the
3- Of course LeBron James has been the Man these playoffs. Let’s see how it all plays out but certainly it is history in the making as he is only 22.
4- A fun topic will be the NBA Draft at then end of June. Always is fun but especially with Oden and Durant this year.
5- Trades and all are always interesting too. Like Kobe, who says he wants to be traded out of LA. This of course, will never happen but is merely a ploy to try to get better help for him. My advice is that LA should give their whole team for KG and let Kobe and KG take on the world. They would have a chance.
That’s just a preview. I’m outta here for today.
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