If you're the Los Angeles Lakers, you may have trouble fulfilling my request. Twice in a row, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have come out on fire in the first quarter only to see the lead disappear before their very own eyes. In Game 4, their inability to hold the biggest 1st quarter-lead in Finals history was the reason they lost and headed into last night's game down 3-1. In Game 5, the Lakers posted an astounding 39 points in the 1st period of play on a remarkable 65% shooting percentage from the field. Leading the attack for LA was the MVP, Kobe Bryant, with 15 first quarter-points which featured 4 three-pointers. All seemed well at the Staples Center.
However, watching the game, I had my doubts. Kobe was shooting lights-out, but that's just it. How long could he sustain this spectacular shooting? His rest at the start of the second quarter helped fuel a run made by the Celtics. He then re-entered the game with about nine minutes to go in the half. He was coming in cold though, which posed a major problem for the Lakers, in my opinion. Not surprisingly, Kobe struggled with his shot in the entire second quarter and the Celtics came within three points at the half. In fact, Paul Pierce, the star of this year's playoffs, had as many points in the second period as the entire Lakers team combined.
The third quarter of games has been dominated by the Boston Celtics in this series. The Lakers are always outplayed and outhustled for some reason. Game 5 saw a dramatic change. With roughly nine and a half minutes to play in the quarter, Kobe Bryant converted on an old-fashioned three-point play which was the start to a 14-5 run by the Lakers. They ended the third quarter on a 22-11 run. This game was different and after Kobe's crew responded, I knew the Celtics would not win.
The fourth and final quarter saw a flurry of scoring by both Pierce and Sam Cassell, who scored seven points in less than two minutes of game time. For LA, everyone was contributing, which was yet another sign that the Celtics would not be celebrating the series win just yet. At any rate, the game came down to free throws. Boston missed theirs; LA did just the opposite as the Lake Show took Game 5 with a 103-98 win.
Pierce had 38 points and 8 assists while battling foul trouble and was easily the most valuable player on the court for Boston. Kobe, after the hot start to the game, scored only ten points in the final 36 minutes of play, including a stretch of 15 minutes in which he was scoreless. Leon Powe, who replaced the injured Kendrick Perkins in the starting lineup, was a complete non-factor in the game scoring zero points in only five minutes of play. Kevin Garnett, who was in serious foul trouble for most of the first half, struggled with his scoring and was a paltry 1-for-4 from the charity stripe.
For the Lakers, Lamar Odom had his second good game in a row with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Pau Gasol also had a good game. Nevertheless, I'm still less than convinced about this guy. He's the biggest player on the floor most of the time, yet he plays so weak. I firmly believe that KG's being in foul trouble and Perkins's injury were the reasons he had a good game scoring-wise.
Looking ahead, Kobe Bryant needs to establish himself in the remaining games in a different way than he has. He either focuses too much on his penetration or too much on his shooting. He either concentrates too much on his facilitating of the team or his scoring. If the Lakers want to win the crown, they absolutely must have Kobe Bryant find a happy medium between these. He should first drive the lane which will open everything else up for his shooting. Bryant can't rely on one or the other all the time.
That being said, I would like to commend the Boston Celtics on being one of the finest defensive teams I've seen in the NBA. If not for the 65% shooting by LA in the first quarter, Boston easily keeps the Lakers under 90 points. They have been playing tougher defense than Kobe has seen in his entire playing career, which could be the main factor as to why he is struggling. I'll take the Celtics in six games. Los Angeles is too inconsistent.
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Showing posts with label Celtics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celtics. Show all posts
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The Seven Best from the NBA's Marquee Rivalry
From the days of Russell and Cousy against Baylor and West to the fierce battles of Kareem and Magic versus Bird and McHale. So many great players and so much tradition shrouds this series with all of the hype. Quite frankly, I am sick of hearing this and that about the upcoming NBA Championship. So I decided that I will dig deep into the past, which is somewhat difficult to me considering I wasn't even alive in '87 when they met in the Finals last. Without any further adieu, I give you the five best players to ever play in the NBA's best rivalry...
7. John Havlicek- He was a Celtic for life and now has his number hanging in the rafters. "Hondo" was a 13-time All-Star, who was ranked #15 on SLAM's Top NBA Players of All Time list. He was also a very clutch player that battled toe-to-toe with Jerry West. Havlicek had the luxury of playing in five Lakers/Celtics finals throughout his career.
Career Stats: 20.8 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 43% FG, 78% FT
6. Wilt Chamberlain- Some would wonder why he is down so low but you can't forget that his entire career was not spent in Los Angeles. By the time he played for the Lakers, his scoring ability had dropped off tremendously yet remained a dominant rebounder. Wilt the Stilt played in only one Lakers/Celtics finals, which took place in 1969 in an epic showdown between the Cinderella Celtics (they were a 4-seed that year) and the dominant Lakers.
Stats w/ LA (5 seasons): 19.3 ppg, 19.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 62% FG, 47% FT (blocks were not recorded)
5. Jerry West- Mr. Clutch played against Boston in six NBA Finals appearances yet walked away without a ring. He was, however, named the Finals MVP in '69 despite the losing effort put forth by the Lakers. West was a prolific scorer with a very solid all-around game back then. He was a 13-time All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA First-Teamer.
Career Stats: 27.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.7 apg, 47% FG, 81% FT (no 3-point line)
4. Bill Russell- One of the greatest defenders in NBA history and was an 11-time NBA Champion, winning seven titles by defeating the Lakers in the Finals. He is a 12-time All-Star and a 5-time NBA MVP award winner. He is widely considered a top ten player to ever play the game, yet he is #4 on this storied and legendary list of players.
Career Stats: 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 44% FG, 56% FT (blocks were not recorded)
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- He is widely considered one of the best big men of all-time and a top 10 player ever. Kareem also invented the Skyhook, his signature move that no defender could get a piece of. He was a 6-time NBA MVP award winner and a 2-time NBA Finals MVP. Abdul-Jabbar was also a symbol of longevity because he played into his early forties which is remarkable for a big man. Nonetheless, it was tough to give him a nod over the top two players on this list that gave the rivalry its credibility.
Career Stats: 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 56% FG, 72% FT, 2.6 bpg
2. Larry Bird- Larry Legend, as some call him, was one half of the NBA's greatest individual rivalry that was ever established. He catapulted the Lakers and Celtics to new heights. Without him, all the nostalgia going around right now and this blog itself would not even exist. He was one of the best shooters ever and could rebound and pass pretty well, too. Bird was also clutch with his performances. He stepped up when it mattered most. All of these reasons culminated into his beating out Kareem for the #2 spot on my list.
Career Stats: 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 50% FG, 38% 3P, 1.7 spg
1. Magic Johnson- Did you really expect it to be anyone else? The leader of the Showtime Lakers and the most exciting player in the game at the time falls on my list at #1. If you couldn't tell, he is the other half of that fantastic individual rivalry I mentioned earlier. Every single time Magic stepped on the floor, he created a mismatch. He was a point guard in a big man's body which allowed him to, basically, do whatever he wanted out on the court. Johnson was the definition a human highlight reel.
Career Stats: 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg, 52% FG, 30% 3P, 1.9 spg
Honorable Mention (in no order): Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy.
There it is. The seven greatest players to ever appear in the best NBA rivalry. Most of us can only hope that Kobe, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce will be competing for those same spots in five years. The Celtics are up 1-0 and, in my opinion, this next game is a must-win for the Lakers. They positively need to split a game in Boston if they want any chance at salvaging this series.
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Poll Results: 66% of voters believe the Phoenix Suns are in more trouble than the Dallas Mavericks.
7. John Havlicek- He was a Celtic for life and now has his number hanging in the rafters. "Hondo" was a 13-time All-Star, who was ranked #15 on SLAM's Top NBA Players of All Time list. He was also a very clutch player that battled toe-to-toe with Jerry West. Havlicek had the luxury of playing in five Lakers/Celtics finals throughout his career.
Career Stats: 20.8 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 43% FG, 78% FT
6. Wilt Chamberlain- Some would wonder why he is down so low but you can't forget that his entire career was not spent in Los Angeles. By the time he played for the Lakers, his scoring ability had dropped off tremendously yet remained a dominant rebounder. Wilt the Stilt played in only one Lakers/Celtics finals, which took place in 1969 in an epic showdown between the Cinderella Celtics (they were a 4-seed that year) and the dominant Lakers.
Stats w/ LA (5 seasons): 19.3 ppg, 19.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 62% FG, 47% FT (blocks were not recorded)
5. Jerry West- Mr. Clutch played against Boston in six NBA Finals appearances yet walked away without a ring. He was, however, named the Finals MVP in '69 despite the losing effort put forth by the Lakers. West was a prolific scorer with a very solid all-around game back then. He was a 13-time All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA First-Teamer.
Career Stats: 27.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.7 apg, 47% FG, 81% FT (no 3-point line)
4. Bill Russell- One of the greatest defenders in NBA history and was an 11-time NBA Champion, winning seven titles by defeating the Lakers in the Finals. He is a 12-time All-Star and a 5-time NBA MVP award winner. He is widely considered a top ten player to ever play the game, yet he is #4 on this storied and legendary list of players.
Career Stats: 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 44% FG, 56% FT (blocks were not recorded)
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- He is widely considered one of the best big men of all-time and a top 10 player ever. Kareem also invented the Skyhook, his signature move that no defender could get a piece of. He was a 6-time NBA MVP award winner and a 2-time NBA Finals MVP. Abdul-Jabbar was also a symbol of longevity because he played into his early forties which is remarkable for a big man. Nonetheless, it was tough to give him a nod over the top two players on this list that gave the rivalry its credibility.
Career Stats: 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 56% FG, 72% FT, 2.6 bpg
2. Larry Bird- Larry Legend, as some call him, was one half of the NBA's greatest individual rivalry that was ever established. He catapulted the Lakers and Celtics to new heights. Without him, all the nostalgia going around right now and this blog itself would not even exist. He was one of the best shooters ever and could rebound and pass pretty well, too. Bird was also clutch with his performances. He stepped up when it mattered most. All of these reasons culminated into his beating out Kareem for the #2 spot on my list.
Career Stats: 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 50% FG, 38% 3P, 1.7 spg
1. Magic Johnson- Did you really expect it to be anyone else? The leader of the Showtime Lakers and the most exciting player in the game at the time falls on my list at #1. If you couldn't tell, he is the other half of that fantastic individual rivalry I mentioned earlier. Every single time Magic stepped on the floor, he created a mismatch. He was a point guard in a big man's body which allowed him to, basically, do whatever he wanted out on the court. Johnson was the definition a human highlight reel.
Career Stats: 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg, 52% FG, 30% 3P, 1.9 spg
Honorable Mention (in no order): Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy.
There it is. The seven greatest players to ever appear in the best NBA rivalry. Most of us can only hope that Kobe, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce will be competing for those same spots in five years. The Celtics are up 1-0 and, in my opinion, this next game is a must-win for the Lakers. They positively need to split a game in Boston if they want any chance at salvaging this series.
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Poll Results: 66% of voters believe the Phoenix Suns are in more trouble than the Dallas Mavericks.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Word on the NBA Street
Last night, I witnessed the greatest player since Jordan close out on of the best teams of this decade. I am, of course, referring to Kobe Bryant and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Tim Duncan had his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists which would have made news had Kobe not been...well, himself. Bryant finished with 39 points and scored 17 of them in the final period. He completely dominated and led his team back from being down 17 points in the first half.
To any average fan, it would seem as though Kobe was the one who fueled such a comeback. However, the average fan would be wrong. This comeback was ignited while Kobe, Derek Fisher, and Lamar Odom were on the bench. Jordan Farmar had a great game, showing viewers that he definitely has a future in this league, with eight points, three assists, and a steal in only 17 minutes of playing time. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol helped out tremendously on the boards with eight and nineteen, respectively.
For the Spurs, they saw yet another tough game for Manu Ginobili. He was nursing a bum ankle while the Lakers forced him to use his off hand on penetration to the basket. The result? Nine points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field. Another problem, which is unusual for such an experienced team, has been their inability to close out games. They had a 20-point lead in Game 1 which they also ended up losing. I can only wonder what those "tweaks" Duncan was referring to after the game will be.
In the East (or Midwest for tonight's game), the Celtics will be looking to close out the Pistons on the road in Game 6. I firmly believe this game will be going the full seven games, and Detroit will win at home tonight. However, I do not see Boston losing at home in Game 7 so either way, all those nostalgic fans will get their wish and have a nice ol' Celtics/Lakers rematch that they've been waiting for.
The key for the Pistons is none other than Rasheed Wallace. I've said it all series long, and I'll reiterate it time and again. 'Sheed is essential if Detroit wants any hope at forcing a Game 7 back in Boston. He needs to bust his ass on defense and, also, to make Kevin Garnett work on both ends of the floor by taking it hard to the basket and becoming an offensive force. In their Game 5 heartbreaking loss, Wallace scored 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, which is a good game for him. But he didn't play his hardest on the defensive end against Garnett. He allowed KG to score 33 points on 11-for-17 shooting which, in my mind, was the simple and direct reason Boston won.
Now I'll take you much farther south in this blog to the land of NBA superstar-hopefuls in Orlando, Florida, the home of the League's annual pre-draft camp. First, I'd like to congratulate the Bulls on their superior luckiness. Next, I'd like to point out that either choice, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, would at least help your franchise somewhat in the future. But, in my humble opinion, Rose is the better choice. This is a Chicago team that has been looking to ship Hinrich elsewhere in order to get someone that could fill their frontcourt void. If that goes through, Rose would be the floor general and playmaker that he has proven he can be. My mock draft goes as follows:
1. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
2. Michael Beasley, SF, Miami Heat
3. Brook Lopez, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Jerryd Bayless, SG, Seattle SuperSonics
5. Kevin Love, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
6. OJ Mayo, SF, New York Knickerbockers
7. DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
8. Eric Gordon, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
9. Darrell Arthur, PF, Charlotte Bobcats
10. Russell Westbrook, PG, New Jersey Nets
I'm not completely sold on Anthony Randolph yet, and I'm not so sure many NBA scouts are either, which is why I have him going anywhere from 11-13. I also expect Gallinari to go somewhere in the 11-13 range as I'm not buying the whole Italian/D'Antoni connection with the Knicks. I would now like to warn NBA general managers of three draft busts although, sadly, 99% of GMs don't read my blog:
OJ Mayo- His many run-ins with the law is an obvious concern, but you can't forget his selfish and conceited decision-making that appears in his game from time to time. OJ can be very turnover-prone as well when he tries to do too much on the floor. All in all, there are way too many concerns and question marks about not only his game but also his image.
Roy Hibbert- All the success he has had thus far has been due to height and great teammates. He's not athletic and doesn't have the explosive first step to attack the rim in the post. When he plays against others of his size, he tends to be outplayed. Hibbert isn't a very good rebounder for being 7'2" and will struggle tremendously at the next level.
Donte Green- Many would be attracted by his athleticism and versatility. I, however, am not so easily fooled. His shot selection is downright terrible and, for as athletic as he is, Green doesn't get to the free throw line all that much. Finally and maybe most importantly, he's afraid of contact. In the NBA, the contact is ten times that of college.
I'd also be concerned with taking players such as Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, and Joe Alexander. The thing I love about the NBA Draft is that for every major bust, there is always that one great steal that no one sees coming. Well, almost no one. Here are my three "steals"...
Lester Hudson- This guy will most likely go down in college basketball history as "that guy from the mid-major school who recorded a quadruple-double". Nonetheless, he would be a perfect pick for the late first round. He can play both guard positions and put the ball in the hoop all the while making himself hard to guard.
Trent Plaisted- One of the premier big men in college this past season would be a great pick in the late first or early second round come draft day. He is a fantastic rebounder and a decent scorer even though he doesn't possess the athleticism and potential of someone like DeAndre Jordan. I find it difficult to believe NBADraft.net thinks he's just another Greg Foster.
JR Giddens- He's projected as a late second rounder but will do a lot better in the NBA than in college. His athleticism is out-of-this-world and plays tough on both ends of the floor. The only thing missing is the ability to attack the basket hard, which should be easy for NBA coaches to corral since he is such a phenomenal athlete.
So there you have it. Those are my views on the NBA world, from Los Angeles to Boston to Orlando and everywhere in between. Have a nice week and, hopefully, the Pistons can extend the series to seven games tonight.
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To any average fan, it would seem as though Kobe was the one who fueled such a comeback. However, the average fan would be wrong. This comeback was ignited while Kobe, Derek Fisher, and Lamar Odom were on the bench. Jordan Farmar had a great game, showing viewers that he definitely has a future in this league, with eight points, three assists, and a steal in only 17 minutes of playing time. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol helped out tremendously on the boards with eight and nineteen, respectively.
For the Spurs, they saw yet another tough game for Manu Ginobili. He was nursing a bum ankle while the Lakers forced him to use his off hand on penetration to the basket. The result? Nine points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field. Another problem, which is unusual for such an experienced team, has been their inability to close out games. They had a 20-point lead in Game 1 which they also ended up losing. I can only wonder what those "tweaks" Duncan was referring to after the game will be.
In the East (or Midwest for tonight's game), the Celtics will be looking to close out the Pistons on the road in Game 6. I firmly believe this game will be going the full seven games, and Detroit will win at home tonight. However, I do not see Boston losing at home in Game 7 so either way, all those nostalgic fans will get their wish and have a nice ol' Celtics/Lakers rematch that they've been waiting for.
The key for the Pistons is none other than Rasheed Wallace. I've said it all series long, and I'll reiterate it time and again. 'Sheed is essential if Detroit wants any hope at forcing a Game 7 back in Boston. He needs to bust his ass on defense and, also, to make Kevin Garnett work on both ends of the floor by taking it hard to the basket and becoming an offensive force. In their Game 5 heartbreaking loss, Wallace scored 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, which is a good game for him. But he didn't play his hardest on the defensive end against Garnett. He allowed KG to score 33 points on 11-for-17 shooting which, in my mind, was the simple and direct reason Boston won.
Now I'll take you much farther south in this blog to the land of NBA superstar-hopefuls in Orlando, Florida, the home of the League's annual pre-draft camp. First, I'd like to congratulate the Bulls on their superior luckiness. Next, I'd like to point out that either choice, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, would at least help your franchise somewhat in the future. But, in my humble opinion, Rose is the better choice. This is a Chicago team that has been looking to ship Hinrich elsewhere in order to get someone that could fill their frontcourt void. If that goes through, Rose would be the floor general and playmaker that he has proven he can be. My mock draft goes as follows:
1. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
2. Michael Beasley, SF, Miami Heat
3. Brook Lopez, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Jerryd Bayless, SG, Seattle SuperSonics
5. Kevin Love, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
6. OJ Mayo, SF, New York Knickerbockers
7. DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
8. Eric Gordon, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
9. Darrell Arthur, PF, Charlotte Bobcats
10. Russell Westbrook, PG, New Jersey Nets
I'm not completely sold on Anthony Randolph yet, and I'm not so sure many NBA scouts are either, which is why I have him going anywhere from 11-13. I also expect Gallinari to go somewhere in the 11-13 range as I'm not buying the whole Italian/D'Antoni connection with the Knicks. I would now like to warn NBA general managers of three draft busts although, sadly, 99% of GMs don't read my blog:
OJ Mayo- His many run-ins with the law is an obvious concern, but you can't forget his selfish and conceited decision-making that appears in his game from time to time. OJ can be very turnover-prone as well when he tries to do too much on the floor. All in all, there are way too many concerns and question marks about not only his game but also his image.
Roy Hibbert- All the success he has had thus far has been due to height and great teammates. He's not athletic and doesn't have the explosive first step to attack the rim in the post. When he plays against others of his size, he tends to be outplayed. Hibbert isn't a very good rebounder for being 7'2" and will struggle tremendously at the next level.
Donte Green- Many would be attracted by his athleticism and versatility. I, however, am not so easily fooled. His shot selection is downright terrible and, for as athletic as he is, Green doesn't get to the free throw line all that much. Finally and maybe most importantly, he's afraid of contact. In the NBA, the contact is ten times that of college.
I'd also be concerned with taking players such as Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, and Joe Alexander. The thing I love about the NBA Draft is that for every major bust, there is always that one great steal that no one sees coming. Well, almost no one. Here are my three "steals"...
Lester Hudson- This guy will most likely go down in college basketball history as "that guy from the mid-major school who recorded a quadruple-double". Nonetheless, he would be a perfect pick for the late first round. He can play both guard positions and put the ball in the hoop all the while making himself hard to guard.
Trent Plaisted- One of the premier big men in college this past season would be a great pick in the late first or early second round come draft day. He is a fantastic rebounder and a decent scorer even though he doesn't possess the athleticism and potential of someone like DeAndre Jordan. I find it difficult to believe NBADraft.net thinks he's just another Greg Foster.
JR Giddens- He's projected as a late second rounder but will do a lot better in the NBA than in college. His athleticism is out-of-this-world and plays tough on both ends of the floor. The only thing missing is the ability to attack the basket hard, which should be easy for NBA coaches to corral since he is such a phenomenal athlete.
So there you have it. Those are my views on the NBA world, from Los Angeles to Boston to Orlando and everywhere in between. Have a nice week and, hopefully, the Pistons can extend the series to seven games tonight.
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Pardon Our Incoherence
This is a brand-new blog created on FanNation.com by myself and another member of the site, CavaBearDians. I hope you enjoy our sports banter. On a side note, this is the edited version of our show.
IT's HERE!
We promised you all a great show, and we have it. It's PTI, the first-ever edition on FanNation! Read as GOAT and I (CavaBearDians) take on some of the sports world's hottest topics.
(All times given in CST)
Cava (5:48:16 PM): WAIT!!!!
GOAT (5:48:20 PM): what?
Cava (5:48:21 PM): we have no name yet
Cava (5:48:55 PM): Hairy Brown Goat
GOAT (5:49:01 PM): no thats not our name
Cava (5:49:06 PM): i was kidding
GOAT (5:49:50 PM): what about Pardon the Interaction?
Cava (5:50:03 PM): Pardon the Incoherence
Cava (5:50:04 PM): YES!
GOAT (5:50:08 PM): i like that
GOAT (5:50:11 PM): Incoherence
Cava (5:50:16 PM): alright
GOAT (5:50:28 PM): lets do this
Cava (5:50:35 PM): HEY!!
Cava (5:50:41 PM): And welcome to PTI. No, we're not Wilbon and Kornheiser.
GOAT (5:50:54 PM): I'm GOAT
Cava (5:50:57 PM): And I'm Cava.
Cava (5:51:08 PM): And this is PARDON THE INCOHERENCE. We're the craziest blog you'll ever read, and the best ESPN knockoff, too.
GOAT (5:51:36 PM): Even if we don't make sense half the time.
Cava (5:51:43 PM): I'm brown, and he's a goat.
GOAT (5:52:00 PM): Fair enough. Let's get started with today's topics.
Cava (5:52:18 PM): Our first segment is called Quick Hits. Quick Hits is like PTI's rundown.We cover 5 topics in 25 minutes.
Cava (5:53:15 PM): 25 on the clock…
GOAT (5:54:30 PM): Well, our first topic is the NBA Playoffs. After the Spurs gave up a huge lead in Game 1 and got manhandled in Game 2, they came home to the Alamo City where they defeated the Lakers quite easily to put the series at 2-1.
Cava (5:55:16 PM): And on the other side of the country, the Celtics overcome their road woes, while the pistons break the Celtics hot streak at home, and we have quite a series in the ECF.
GOAT (5:55:37 PM): So, Cava, who do you like in these matchups?
Cava (5:55:47 PM): I'm bitter from last year, so I have the Lakers; I honestly think the Lakers can do this. You?
GOAT (5:56:47 PM): I'm taking the Lakers as well. They won't just lie down after going up 2 games to none like the Hornets did. This is a Lakers team that has some experience in the postseason with Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant.
Cava (5:57:16 PM): Let's put it this way--if Kobe can play his game and share the ball, the Lakers go all the way.
GOAT (5:57:37 PM): Gotcha.
Cava (5:57:54 PM): Tell me about the ECF.
GOAT (5:58:58 PM): The Celtics finally won a game on the road. However, they also lost one in the Garden. The Pistons defense was terrible in the last few games, but I see them turning it around to take the series.
Cava (5:59:11 PM): Alrighty, so we both take the Lakers, and we’ll talk more about the rest a bit later.
Cava (5:59:18 PM): For our next topic we have the Mets.
GOAT (5:59:33 PM): If I might add, Rondo is the main problem for Boston. He doesn't make good decisions out there.
GOAT (5:59:38 PM): Continue, Cava.
Cava (5:59:56 PM): [glares] Willie Randolph stated earlier this week that he was viewed differently from white managers. How do you feel about this?
GOAT (6:00:35 PM): Well, I think he finally spoke his mind. I don't buy his apology at all. He was definitely put under pressure to make a public apology like he did. Do you think it was sincere?
Cava (6:00:49 PM): I don't know about the apology. I'm sure he was sorry, but for the right reasons? I don't know. But I think there's a bigger issue here. Randolph plays the race card. I hate when that happens--it cheapens what a problem racism really is.
Cava (6:02:05 PM): But at the same time, the Mets were rumored to have wanted to fire him--how do you feel about that?
GOAT (6:02:09 PM): He did play the race card and that probably wasn't the best approach, but I'm positive we all know that racism is still very prevalent in our country today. However, it would be a VERY bad idea for the Mets to fire him.
Cava (6:02:47 PM): I agree, the Mets shouldn't fire him.
Cava (6:03:33 PM): OK, let's move on. What's next, GOAT?
GOAT (6:04:14 PM): Next on our list of topics is the bad behavior of NFL players. It seems as though we read about a new athlete every day from the NFL who runs into trouble with the law. Your thoughts on this?
Cava (6:04:28 PM): First we had Cedric Benson, now Vince Young. Going back we had the whole Bengals' organization—it’s ridiculous.
GOAT (6:04:51 PM): And you can't forget about those ongoing problems such as Pacman Jones and Michael Vick.
Cava (6:04:57 PM): Of course.
GOAT (6:05:06 PM): As a whole, the League is having an image problem.
Cava (6:05:22 PM): We have real thugs, i.e. Pacman and Chris Henry, and then some not-so-real thugs like Vince Young and Ced Benson
GOAT (6:05:44 PM): As a Steelers fan, I appreciate your shots at the Bengals, by the way.
Cava (6:05:51 PM): I'm a Cleveland guy, so it's a fine line. Make the world a better place, punch a Steeler’s fan in the face…
GOAT (6:05:58 PM): But yeah, a couple pictures at a party never hurt anyone.
Cava (6:06:04 PM): Exactly. The guy was having a drink. And he was shirtless. People are always drinking. And they're always shirtless.
GOAT (6:06:31 PM): However, Goodell has to get the players on board with him so that the NFL doesn't continue tumbling downhill with stories such as these ones that keep surfacing.
Cava (6:06:36 PM): Heck, I bet half of you reading this are shirtless…
Cava (6:06:40 PM): If not pantless.
GOAT (6:06:52 PM): I swear I'm not.
Cava (6:06:53 PM): If the shoe fits, wear it.
GOAT (6:06:55 PM): Really, I'm not
Cava (6:06:59 PM): Riiiight…
Cava (6:07:09 PM): Goodell has been good. Still, he can make rules and punishments, but he can't force people to act a certain way. I'm serious when i say this--the NFL should have a definite policy--felonies mean you're out. Full-out ban, Pacman style.
GOAT (6:07:52 PM): I understand that, but they are giving a new meaning to the term "Rules are made to be broken."
Cava (6:08:09 PM): For misdemeanors, three strikes, you're out.
GOAT (6:08:16 PM): I agree with you there. Stricter penalties should reduce off-the-field problems.
Cava (6:08:22 PM): And for being a dillweed, you get to be ridiculed by the public.
GOAT (6:08:35 PM): Definitely.
Cava (6:08:41 PM): Less people commit a crime if you take something that matters to them.
GOAT (6:09:04 PM): Even though most are ridiculed already. (I'm talking to you, Mr. Owens)
Cava (6:09:20 PM): We'll leave it at that.
GOAT (6:34:32 PM): Anyway, what's our next topic?
Cava (6:34:43 PM): With ten minutes to go, the NBA Draft.
GOAT (6:35:00 PM): Ah, yes. How about the luck of the Bulls?
Cava (6:35:19 PM): They had a 1.7% chance of winning the draw, and the SOB’s did it.
GOAT (6:35:26 PM): Who should they take with the first pick?
Cava (6:35:38 PM): Does it matter? No matter who the Bulls draft, no matter how high, he ends up sucking.
Cava (6:36:13 PM): Now of course, they've had some hits, a la Michael Jordan, who was decent.
GOAT (6:36:20 PM): Yeah, I somewhat agree, but both Beasley and Rose have tremendous potential.
Cava (6:36:27 PM): Right
GOAT (6:36:32 PM): In this situation though, I'd take Derrick Rose.
Cava (6:36:34 PM): I'm a Beasley fan myself. You have to realize what the Bulls have.
GOAT (6:36:52 PM): There are trade rumors for Hinrich and with him gone, they will need Rose.
Cava (6:37:08 PM): If Hinrich leaves, then I’m ready to say Rose. But right now, they have a slew of at least decent guards. Ben Gordon is solid. Hinirich is decent. And I like Duhon.
GOAT (6:37:12 PM): Hopefully, they can get a interior offensive presence for him.
GOAT (6:37:38 PM): But not based on the team's needs, who do you think will have a better career: Beasley or Rose?
Cava (6:37:50 PM): Beasley for sure. He's the most talented player in this draft. The question is, what do the bulls want
GOAT (6:38:18 PM): Now, I doubt that. He is underweight for a 6-9 guy and will have trouble banging in the post as a power forward unless he develops some serious bulk.
Cava (6:38:31 PM): What if goes as a 3?
GOAT (6:38:55 PM): He's not so good a scorer as a 3 than as a 4.
Cava (6:39:01 PM): Imagine the lineup of Hinrich, Gordon, Beasley, Deng, and Noah. It's not too bad.
GOAT (6:39:12 PM): That's a small lineup though.
Cava (6:39:19 PM): They can play him as a big SF, and he can abuse the matchups. It is a small lineup, but Noah is the biggest the Bulls have. The Bulls are a small team.
GOAT (6:40:00 PM): Let's hypothesize, who would guard Dwight Howard or Kevin Garnett? Noah? He would be killed.
Cava (6:40:06 PM): They can’t. We already know. But Rose sure won't do it.
GOAT (6:40:21 PM): That is just more reason to trade Hinrich for someone in the post.
Cava (6:40:24 PM): Sure, but who can they get? Anderson Varejao may be on the market.
GOAT (6:40:45 PM): Eh...they would need to find a team in need of a point guard.
GOAT (6:40:52 PM): Who do you have going as the third pick?
Cava (6:41:07 PM): But I think at the third pick, Augustin wouldn't be bad, or Brooke Lopez. But remember-- I'm not too hot on draft topics, as I'm not a huge NCAA follower.
GOAT (6:42:54 PM): Lopez is the right choice in my opinion. Augustin going third is a little high for an undersized point guard, in my opinion.
Cava (6:43:00 PM): Sure, but he's very talented.
Cava (6:43:07 PM): Anyways, last topic for quick hits, as we near the end of time.
Cava (6:43:36 PM): SPYGATE!
GOAT (6:43:38 PM): As long as they don't take Mayo, they are fine. Let's just say I have some serious doubts about not only his play on the court but also his decisions off it.
Cava (6:43:47 PM): It won't go away, will it?
GOAT (6:43:56 PM): The media is blowing it way out of proportion now.
Cava (6:44:02 PM): Agreed. The issue is that the Pats DID cheat, but we all know that.
GOAT (6:44:22 PM): Just let it go. It won't happen again; the Pats have been penalized.
Cava (6:44:27 PM): But Goodell wants to pass the issue.
GOAT (6:44:39 PM): As he should, it is only further hurting his league.
Cava (6:44:41 PM): But we also know they cheated in the SB against the Rams. What can we do about it? Nothing.
GOAT (6:45:03 PM): Do you think Matt Walsh should take responsibility for his videotaping of the signals? Or is the Patriots' organization's fault?
Cava (6:45:19 PM): Pats are at fault. The other problem is, Senator Arlen Specter, an Eagles fan, keeps bringing it up.
GOAT (6:45:34 PM): Yeah, Specter has no business in this matter.
Cava (6:46:05 PM): Any last words?
GOAT (6:46:26 PM): I disagree with you. It is partially Matt Walsh's fault, too. As Mike & Mike in the Morning said, why would he keep these tapes from so long ago unless he was planning to reveal them to somewhat blackmail the Patriots?
Cava (6:46:39 PM): He wasn't planning jack…
GOAT (6:46:45 PM): It's ridiculous. He obviously knew what he was doing was wrong.
Cava (6:46:49 PM): He was forced to come out and reveal the truth. And he was paid by the Patriots, so why would rat on them right away?
GOAT (6:47:08 PM): He should have either revealed the truth as it was happening or just to let it go. Not now.
Cava (6:47:23 PM): We'll agree to disagreee.
Cava (6:47:30 PM): We're out of time on quick hits, a bit past actually. GOAT, tell them about our next segment
GOAT (6:50:47 PM): Buy or Sell, the game that was made famous by Around the Horn. Our first topic is Jason Taylor: Dolphin in Week 1?
Cava (6:51:05 PM): I like Jason Taylor, but I have a feeling he'll stay with the fins. I think Parcells is unreasonable. I’ll buy.
GOAT (6:52:18 PM): I'm buying that as well. Parcells is being a little ridiculous right now over it all, and it will settle down eventually. He will most definitely be in a Miami Dolphins uniform this season.
Cava (6:52:33 PM): If Parcells kept TO, he can keep Jason.
GOAT (6:52:46 PM): Good point. Haha.
Cava (6:52:53 PM): Buy or sell: Lakers-Celtics Finals.
GOAT (6:53:12 PM): Are you buying or selling this series reminiscent of something we would see in the 80s?
Cava (6:53:24 PM): I'm a buyer, too--both teams are truly amazing, and we'll have an instant classic. I'm assuming you buy. Am I right?
GOAT (6:55:06 PM): You're assuming wrong, buckethead. (Yeah, I went there.) The Celtics will not make the Finals. Their series is knotted up at 2 apiece right now and, as I mentioned earlier, Rajon Rondo is still making too many bad decisions on the court.
Cava (6:55:11 PM): Well, you know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of you and me. The Celtics won't lose three games straight, and the Pistons will not win a game 7 in Boston.
GOAT (6:57:31 PM): The Pistons don't have to win three in a row. If they win tomorrow night, they'll have control of the series and a safe 3-2 lead.
Cava (6:58:24 PM): The Pistons need to win the next two games to win the series. I have to say it again: the Celtics won't be beaten in a game 7 at home
GOAT (6:59:07 PM): They don't necessarily need to. They've won in Boston before and they can do it again. They just have to make sure they take care of business at home in Game 6.
Cava (6:59:08 PM): And I just don't think the Pistons will win these two games.
GOAT (6:59:20 PM): Alright. Next topic.
Cava (6:59:21 PM): Game 7 is a whole new ballgame, my friend.
GOAT (6:59:33 PM): What do you got for us, Cava?
Cava (6:59:40 PM): Buy or sell? Brady Quinn starts for the Browns Week 1.
GOAT (7:00:01 PM): I'm selling it and fast.
Cava (7:00:06 PM): Why?
GOAT (7:00:29 PM): It's not going to happen.
Cava (7:00:33 PM): It is (I'm buying). The Browns gave up too much and pay him too much for him to ride the bench. I predict Derek Anderson will either be gone, or he'll be very unhappy on the bench, come week 1.
GOAT (7:01:19 PM): Money doesn't guarantee playing time.
Cava (7:01:24 PM): Truth. Still, there's a connection.
GOAT (7:02:02 PM): I guess, but the Browns will play the QB that will win them games, not who they are paying the most money.
Cava (7:02:12 PM): True again. So we'll just move on.
Cava (7:02:20 PM): Buy or sell--and we'll do them together, since they're related: Indians make the playoffs and Yankees make the playoffs.
GOAT (7:02:47 PM): I'm selling both. And I know you're at least buying the Indians. *coughhomercough* I know this may sound dumb, but I'm saying the A's grab the wild card.
Cava (7:03:25 PM): I buy the Tribe, sell the Yankees. The Tribe are in a crazy division. The White Sox can't play this well with this little talent for this long.
GOAT (7:03:54 PM): Yes, but the Indians are 1-9 in their last ten games!!!
Cava (7:04:07 PM): But the Tribe can't play this bad with this much talent for this long. They're very talented, but they're on a team slump.
GOAT (7:04:39 PM): Well, right now they are. Their starting rotation is great, but their offense is in a major slump right now.
Cava (7:04:45 PM): I agree. But we'll get out of it.
GOAT (7:04:59 PM): Keep telling yourself that.
Cava (7:05:08 PM): And the Yankees won't get in, because the Red Sox and maybe even the Rays will. Either the Rays or ChiSox take the ALWC.
GOAT (7:05:24 PM): At least we agree the last-place Yankees are in dire need of Posada and are starting to regret the firing of Torre, right?
Cava (7:05:31 PM): Yeah. Plus, they're a team of aging stars.
GOAT (7:05:44 PM): I say the Rays falter and go back to being normal.
Cava (7:05:51 PM): Maybe, but my Sox picks are solid.
GOAT (7:06:05 PM): The Sox are the only ones out of the AL East playing in the postseason.
Cava (7:06:12 PM): Sure
GOAT (7:06:17 PM): Well, that concludes Buy or Sell.
Cava (7:06:20 PM): Yep.
GOAT (7:06:23 PM): Time for an old segment to come back to life. I am, of course, referring to Game-Planning. Some of you may remember it from my college basketball blog. Well, it's back, and in a somewhat different form.
Cava (7:07:08 PM): It sure is.
GOAT (7:07:16 PM): Our highlight game is the Pistons visiting the Celtics. Who do ya got for Game 5, Cava?
Cava (7:07:27 PM): Celtics.
GOAT (7:07:36 PM): I'll take the Pistons.
Cava (7:07:42 PM): I'll tell you the keys.
GOAT (7:07:52 PM): Let's hear ‘em then. [aside] This should be good.
Cava (7:07:59 PM): The Celtics need to make their shots, because they don't come easy at all.
GOAT (7:08:11 PM): Not in the East, they don't. They wonder why the games never get out of the 80s.
Cava (7:08:22 PM): The crowd needs to be crazy. KG needs to play the way he did against the Cavs.
GOAT (7:08:42 PM): So are you saying the Celtics are screwed for Game 6 on the road?
GOAT (7:08:55 PM): I'll give you the keys for Detroit now.
Cava (7:08:57 PM): I think between Ray Allen, KG, and Double-P, they need 65 points.
GOAT (7:09:11 PM): As you said, we need to make our shots. They shot horribly in their Game 3 blowout loss.
GOAT (7:09:35 PM): Next, Rasheed Wallace ABSOLUTELY HAS TO make KG work on the defensive end. He needs to attack the rim and wear Garnett down. Billups needs to assert his dominance as the better point guard, which he obviously is. But he hasn't always shown it this series.
Cava (7:10:09 PM): Yeah, but can he maintain discipline (I'm referring to Rasheed)
GOAT (7:10:41 PM): He better, or the Pistons are gone from the playoffs. He needs to keep his composure. Two more technicals and he has to sit a game.
Cava (7:10:54 PM): Well, the PG position is interesting. Rondo is young, and can be either brilliant or awful on any given day. Billups hasn't been playing to par.
GOAT (7:11:19 PM): I agree with both of your points.
Cava (7:11:20 PM): And Cassell has been rightfully benched. Bring him in for big shots, otherwise, ride it, sucka.
GOAT (7:11:31 PM): Cassell was an unneeded asset to the team.
GOAT (7:11:45 PM): Unneeded asset. That's an oxymoron if I ever saw one.
Cava (7:11:58 PM): You put the moron in oxymoron. Moron.
GOAT (7:12:12 PM): Moving on...
Cava (7:12:20 PM): This is my segment from my SIFS blog. You may remember Game Balls and Lame Balls.
GOAT (7:12:44 PM): I do.
Cava (7:12:50 PM): It's our last segment tonight, and it goes like this. We'll each pick one or so concept, person, or team from sports. One that was good (Game) and the other that sucked (Lame).
Cava (7:14:01 PM): So without further adieu, GOAT, name your Lame Ball.
GOAT (7:14:12 PM): Jenna Jameson has made quite the career off it. I would hardly consider it lame, but I digress…
GOAT (7:14:52 PM): My lame ball goes to Joakim Noah. I mean, how dumb can you be?
Cava (7:15:01 PM): Pretty dumb, I guess.
GOAT (7:15:01 PM): I'd also like to give a co-lame ball to Danica Patrick.
Cava (7:15:08 PM): Impressive. Lame Tire maybe?
GOAT (7:15:21 PM): She's a pro athlete, yet acts like a 5-year-old with her temper tantrums.
Cava (7:15:34 PM): I think she had a right to be ticked.
GOAT (7:15:35 PM): Grow up and act like a responsible adult, Danica!
Cava (7:15:43 PM): She reads this blog, so I'm sure she’ll obey.
GOAT (7:15:48 PM): No need to act the way she did.
Cava (7:15:56 PM): She didn't actually DO anything.
GOAT (7:15:59 PM): Who does your Lame Ball go to?
Cava (7:16:05 PM): My Lame Ball has to go to idiot umpires. I mean, are you SERIOUS?! They miss 3 homerun calls in a pretty short timespan. IDIOTS!
GOAT (7:19:58 PM): Quite idiotic.
Cava (7:20:06 PM): Indeed. But like you, I'll co-Lame Ball this.
GOAT (7:20:23 PM): Be nice on the umps though, they are only human. It's not like they could replay the home run in their mind.
Cava (7:20:25 PM): I give one to the Indians offense. I mean, what the heck is going on here?
GOAT (7:20:53 PM): No argument here with the Indians. They are completely inept at hitting the baseball.
Cava (7:21:09 PM): We have the best rotation in baseball (yes, 'Zona fans, I said that) yet our offense...well, does what a Hoover does.
GOAT (7:21:31 PM): If it weren't for their pitching, they'd have the worst record in the MLB. Moving on to Game Balls. Who do you got?
Cava (7:21:37 PM): You go first.
GOAT (7:24:43 PM): Alright, I'll take Jon Lester. What a story he has made.
Cava (7:24:52 PM): Classy pick.
GOAT (7:25:25 PM): From all the problems he has had the last couple of years, this guy sure deserved it. He pitched a no-hitter, the 18th in Red Sox history, if my memory serves me.
GOAT (7:25:42 PM): Who are you taking?
Cava (7:27:02 PM): I'm gonna have to take David Ortiz.
GOAT (7:27:17 PM): He did publicly yell at the commish.
Cava (7:27:20 PM): It may sound like a weak pick, but I think it's important he speaks his mind. Selig is a loser.
GOAT (7:27:38 PM): I agree. Who calls a tie in an ASG?
Cava (7:27:50 PM): He's horrible at managing this league. He can't stop players from cheating, so he's going to try to mess with the pace of the game? What an idiot.
GOAT (7:28:14 PM): Add to the fact that he just banned Little Leagues from using Major League teams as the names of their teams.
Cava (7:28:26 PM): That's what I'm saying. Oritz gets a Game Ball for telling that man to shove it.
GOAT (7:28:43 PM): Good choice. Haha.
Cava (7:28:54 PM): ANNNNND that's our show.
Cava (7:29:01 PM): Hope you guys enjoyed it
GOAT (7:29:04 PM): That concludes the very first edition of what will hopefully be many editions of Pardon the Incoherence. Don't forget to send mail to either myself or Cava for our Mail Time segment, and for general suggestions on style, flow, and topics.
Cava (7:29:13 PM): This is Cava, rolling out
GOAT (7:30:01 PM): Have a nice week, peoples...
[clap clap clap]
IT's HERE!
We promised you all a great show, and we have it. It's PTI, the first-ever edition on FanNation! Read as GOAT and I (CavaBearDians) take on some of the sports world's hottest topics.
(All times given in CST)
Cava (5:48:16 PM): WAIT!!!!
GOAT (5:48:20 PM): what?
Cava (5:48:21 PM): we have no name yet
Cava (5:48:55 PM): Hairy Brown Goat
GOAT (5:49:01 PM): no thats not our name
Cava (5:49:06 PM): i was kidding
GOAT (5:49:50 PM): what about Pardon the Interaction?
Cava (5:50:03 PM): Pardon the Incoherence
Cava (5:50:04 PM): YES!
GOAT (5:50:08 PM): i like that
GOAT (5:50:11 PM): Incoherence
Cava (5:50:16 PM): alright
GOAT (5:50:28 PM): lets do this
Cava (5:50:35 PM): HEY!!
Cava (5:50:41 PM): And welcome to PTI. No, we're not Wilbon and Kornheiser.
GOAT (5:50:54 PM): I'm GOAT
Cava (5:50:57 PM): And I'm Cava.
Cava (5:51:08 PM): And this is PARDON THE INCOHERENCE. We're the craziest blog you'll ever read, and the best ESPN knockoff, too.
GOAT (5:51:36 PM): Even if we don't make sense half the time.
Cava (5:51:43 PM): I'm brown, and he's a goat.
GOAT (5:52:00 PM): Fair enough. Let's get started with today's topics.
Cava (5:52:18 PM): Our first segment is called Quick Hits. Quick Hits is like PTI's rundown.We cover 5 topics in 25 minutes.
Cava (5:53:15 PM): 25 on the clock…
GOAT (5:54:30 PM): Well, our first topic is the NBA Playoffs. After the Spurs gave up a huge lead in Game 1 and got manhandled in Game 2, they came home to the Alamo City where they defeated the Lakers quite easily to put the series at 2-1.
Cava (5:55:16 PM): And on the other side of the country, the Celtics overcome their road woes, while the pistons break the Celtics hot streak at home, and we have quite a series in the ECF.
GOAT (5:55:37 PM): So, Cava, who do you like in these matchups?
Cava (5:55:47 PM): I'm bitter from last year, so I have the Lakers; I honestly think the Lakers can do this. You?
GOAT (5:56:47 PM): I'm taking the Lakers as well. They won't just lie down after going up 2 games to none like the Hornets did. This is a Lakers team that has some experience in the postseason with Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant.
Cava (5:57:16 PM): Let's put it this way--if Kobe can play his game and share the ball, the Lakers go all the way.
GOAT (5:57:37 PM): Gotcha.
Cava (5:57:54 PM): Tell me about the ECF.
GOAT (5:58:58 PM): The Celtics finally won a game on the road. However, they also lost one in the Garden. The Pistons defense was terrible in the last few games, but I see them turning it around to take the series.
Cava (5:59:11 PM): Alrighty, so we both take the Lakers, and we’ll talk more about the rest a bit later.
Cava (5:59:18 PM): For our next topic we have the Mets.
GOAT (5:59:33 PM): If I might add, Rondo is the main problem for Boston. He doesn't make good decisions out there.
GOAT (5:59:38 PM): Continue, Cava.
Cava (5:59:56 PM): [glares] Willie Randolph stated earlier this week that he was viewed differently from white managers. How do you feel about this?
GOAT (6:00:35 PM): Well, I think he finally spoke his mind. I don't buy his apology at all. He was definitely put under pressure to make a public apology like he did. Do you think it was sincere?
Cava (6:00:49 PM): I don't know about the apology. I'm sure he was sorry, but for the right reasons? I don't know. But I think there's a bigger issue here. Randolph plays the race card. I hate when that happens--it cheapens what a problem racism really is.
Cava (6:02:05 PM): But at the same time, the Mets were rumored to have wanted to fire him--how do you feel about that?
GOAT (6:02:09 PM): He did play the race card and that probably wasn't the best approach, but I'm positive we all know that racism is still very prevalent in our country today. However, it would be a VERY bad idea for the Mets to fire him.
Cava (6:02:47 PM): I agree, the Mets shouldn't fire him.
Cava (6:03:33 PM): OK, let's move on. What's next, GOAT?
GOAT (6:04:14 PM): Next on our list of topics is the bad behavior of NFL players. It seems as though we read about a new athlete every day from the NFL who runs into trouble with the law. Your thoughts on this?
Cava (6:04:28 PM): First we had Cedric Benson, now Vince Young. Going back we had the whole Bengals' organization—it’s ridiculous.
GOAT (6:04:51 PM): And you can't forget about those ongoing problems such as Pacman Jones and Michael Vick.
Cava (6:04:57 PM): Of course.
GOAT (6:05:06 PM): As a whole, the League is having an image problem.
Cava (6:05:22 PM): We have real thugs, i.e. Pacman and Chris Henry, and then some not-so-real thugs like Vince Young and Ced Benson
GOAT (6:05:44 PM): As a Steelers fan, I appreciate your shots at the Bengals, by the way.
Cava (6:05:51 PM): I'm a Cleveland guy, so it's a fine line. Make the world a better place, punch a Steeler’s fan in the face…
GOAT (6:05:58 PM): But yeah, a couple pictures at a party never hurt anyone.
Cava (6:06:04 PM): Exactly. The guy was having a drink. And he was shirtless. People are always drinking. And they're always shirtless.
GOAT (6:06:31 PM): However, Goodell has to get the players on board with him so that the NFL doesn't continue tumbling downhill with stories such as these ones that keep surfacing.
Cava (6:06:36 PM): Heck, I bet half of you reading this are shirtless…
Cava (6:06:40 PM): If not pantless.
GOAT (6:06:52 PM): I swear I'm not.
Cava (6:06:53 PM): If the shoe fits, wear it.
GOAT (6:06:55 PM): Really, I'm not
Cava (6:06:59 PM): Riiiight…
Cava (6:07:09 PM): Goodell has been good. Still, he can make rules and punishments, but he can't force people to act a certain way. I'm serious when i say this--the NFL should have a definite policy--felonies mean you're out. Full-out ban, Pacman style.
GOAT (6:07:52 PM): I understand that, but they are giving a new meaning to the term "Rules are made to be broken."
Cava (6:08:09 PM): For misdemeanors, three strikes, you're out.
GOAT (6:08:16 PM): I agree with you there. Stricter penalties should reduce off-the-field problems.
Cava (6:08:22 PM): And for being a dillweed, you get to be ridiculed by the public.
GOAT (6:08:35 PM): Definitely.
Cava (6:08:41 PM): Less people commit a crime if you take something that matters to them.
GOAT (6:09:04 PM): Even though most are ridiculed already. (I'm talking to you, Mr. Owens)
Cava (6:09:20 PM): We'll leave it at that.
GOAT (6:34:32 PM): Anyway, what's our next topic?
Cava (6:34:43 PM): With ten minutes to go, the NBA Draft.
GOAT (6:35:00 PM): Ah, yes. How about the luck of the Bulls?
Cava (6:35:19 PM): They had a 1.7% chance of winning the draw, and the SOB’s did it.
GOAT (6:35:26 PM): Who should they take with the first pick?
Cava (6:35:38 PM): Does it matter? No matter who the Bulls draft, no matter how high, he ends up sucking.
Cava (6:36:13 PM): Now of course, they've had some hits, a la Michael Jordan, who was decent.
GOAT (6:36:20 PM): Yeah, I somewhat agree, but both Beasley and Rose have tremendous potential.
Cava (6:36:27 PM): Right
GOAT (6:36:32 PM): In this situation though, I'd take Derrick Rose.
Cava (6:36:34 PM): I'm a Beasley fan myself. You have to realize what the Bulls have.
GOAT (6:36:52 PM): There are trade rumors for Hinrich and with him gone, they will need Rose.
Cava (6:37:08 PM): If Hinrich leaves, then I’m ready to say Rose. But right now, they have a slew of at least decent guards. Ben Gordon is solid. Hinirich is decent. And I like Duhon.
GOAT (6:37:12 PM): Hopefully, they can get a interior offensive presence for him.
GOAT (6:37:38 PM): But not based on the team's needs, who do you think will have a better career: Beasley or Rose?
Cava (6:37:50 PM): Beasley for sure. He's the most talented player in this draft. The question is, what do the bulls want
GOAT (6:38:18 PM): Now, I doubt that. He is underweight for a 6-9 guy and will have trouble banging in the post as a power forward unless he develops some serious bulk.
Cava (6:38:31 PM): What if goes as a 3?
GOAT (6:38:55 PM): He's not so good a scorer as a 3 than as a 4.
Cava (6:39:01 PM): Imagine the lineup of Hinrich, Gordon, Beasley, Deng, and Noah. It's not too bad.
GOAT (6:39:12 PM): That's a small lineup though.
Cava (6:39:19 PM): They can play him as a big SF, and he can abuse the matchups. It is a small lineup, but Noah is the biggest the Bulls have. The Bulls are a small team.
GOAT (6:40:00 PM): Let's hypothesize, who would guard Dwight Howard or Kevin Garnett? Noah? He would be killed.
Cava (6:40:06 PM): They can’t. We already know. But Rose sure won't do it.
GOAT (6:40:21 PM): That is just more reason to trade Hinrich for someone in the post.
Cava (6:40:24 PM): Sure, but who can they get? Anderson Varejao may be on the market.
GOAT (6:40:45 PM): Eh...they would need to find a team in need of a point guard.
GOAT (6:40:52 PM): Who do you have going as the third pick?
Cava (6:41:07 PM): But I think at the third pick, Augustin wouldn't be bad, or Brooke Lopez. But remember-- I'm not too hot on draft topics, as I'm not a huge NCAA follower.
GOAT (6:42:54 PM): Lopez is the right choice in my opinion. Augustin going third is a little high for an undersized point guard, in my opinion.
Cava (6:43:00 PM): Sure, but he's very talented.
Cava (6:43:07 PM): Anyways, last topic for quick hits, as we near the end of time.
Cava (6:43:36 PM): SPYGATE!
GOAT (6:43:38 PM): As long as they don't take Mayo, they are fine. Let's just say I have some serious doubts about not only his play on the court but also his decisions off it.
Cava (6:43:47 PM): It won't go away, will it?
GOAT (6:43:56 PM): The media is blowing it way out of proportion now.
Cava (6:44:02 PM): Agreed. The issue is that the Pats DID cheat, but we all know that.
GOAT (6:44:22 PM): Just let it go. It won't happen again; the Pats have been penalized.
Cava (6:44:27 PM): But Goodell wants to pass the issue.
GOAT (6:44:39 PM): As he should, it is only further hurting his league.
Cava (6:44:41 PM): But we also know they cheated in the SB against the Rams. What can we do about it? Nothing.
GOAT (6:45:03 PM): Do you think Matt Walsh should take responsibility for his videotaping of the signals? Or is the Patriots' organization's fault?
Cava (6:45:19 PM): Pats are at fault. The other problem is, Senator Arlen Specter, an Eagles fan, keeps bringing it up.
GOAT (6:45:34 PM): Yeah, Specter has no business in this matter.
Cava (6:46:05 PM): Any last words?
GOAT (6:46:26 PM): I disagree with you. It is partially Matt Walsh's fault, too. As Mike & Mike in the Morning said, why would he keep these tapes from so long ago unless he was planning to reveal them to somewhat blackmail the Patriots?
Cava (6:46:39 PM): He wasn't planning jack…
GOAT (6:46:45 PM): It's ridiculous. He obviously knew what he was doing was wrong.
Cava (6:46:49 PM): He was forced to come out and reveal the truth. And he was paid by the Patriots, so why would rat on them right away?
GOAT (6:47:08 PM): He should have either revealed the truth as it was happening or just to let it go. Not now.
Cava (6:47:23 PM): We'll agree to disagreee.
Cava (6:47:30 PM): We're out of time on quick hits, a bit past actually. GOAT, tell them about our next segment
GOAT (6:50:47 PM): Buy or Sell, the game that was made famous by Around the Horn. Our first topic is Jason Taylor: Dolphin in Week 1?
Cava (6:51:05 PM): I like Jason Taylor, but I have a feeling he'll stay with the fins. I think Parcells is unreasonable. I’ll buy.
GOAT (6:52:18 PM): I'm buying that as well. Parcells is being a little ridiculous right now over it all, and it will settle down eventually. He will most definitely be in a Miami Dolphins uniform this season.
Cava (6:52:33 PM): If Parcells kept TO, he can keep Jason.
GOAT (6:52:46 PM): Good point. Haha.
Cava (6:52:53 PM): Buy or sell: Lakers-Celtics Finals.
GOAT (6:53:12 PM): Are you buying or selling this series reminiscent of something we would see in the 80s?
Cava (6:53:24 PM): I'm a buyer, too--both teams are truly amazing, and we'll have an instant classic. I'm assuming you buy. Am I right?
GOAT (6:55:06 PM): You're assuming wrong, buckethead. (Yeah, I went there.) The Celtics will not make the Finals. Their series is knotted up at 2 apiece right now and, as I mentioned earlier, Rajon Rondo is still making too many bad decisions on the court.
Cava (6:55:11 PM): Well, you know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of you and me. The Celtics won't lose three games straight, and the Pistons will not win a game 7 in Boston.
GOAT (6:57:31 PM): The Pistons don't have to win three in a row. If they win tomorrow night, they'll have control of the series and a safe 3-2 lead.
Cava (6:58:24 PM): The Pistons need to win the next two games to win the series. I have to say it again: the Celtics won't be beaten in a game 7 at home
GOAT (6:59:07 PM): They don't necessarily need to. They've won in Boston before and they can do it again. They just have to make sure they take care of business at home in Game 6.
Cava (6:59:08 PM): And I just don't think the Pistons will win these two games.
GOAT (6:59:20 PM): Alright. Next topic.
Cava (6:59:21 PM): Game 7 is a whole new ballgame, my friend.
GOAT (6:59:33 PM): What do you got for us, Cava?
Cava (6:59:40 PM): Buy or sell? Brady Quinn starts for the Browns Week 1.
GOAT (7:00:01 PM): I'm selling it and fast.
Cava (7:00:06 PM): Why?
GOAT (7:00:29 PM): It's not going to happen.
Cava (7:00:33 PM): It is (I'm buying). The Browns gave up too much and pay him too much for him to ride the bench. I predict Derek Anderson will either be gone, or he'll be very unhappy on the bench, come week 1.
GOAT (7:01:19 PM): Money doesn't guarantee playing time.
Cava (7:01:24 PM): Truth. Still, there's a connection.
GOAT (7:02:02 PM): I guess, but the Browns will play the QB that will win them games, not who they are paying the most money.
Cava (7:02:12 PM): True again. So we'll just move on.
Cava (7:02:20 PM): Buy or sell--and we'll do them together, since they're related: Indians make the playoffs and Yankees make the playoffs.
GOAT (7:02:47 PM): I'm selling both. And I know you're at least buying the Indians. *coughhomercough* I know this may sound dumb, but I'm saying the A's grab the wild card.
Cava (7:03:25 PM): I buy the Tribe, sell the Yankees. The Tribe are in a crazy division. The White Sox can't play this well with this little talent for this long.
GOAT (7:03:54 PM): Yes, but the Indians are 1-9 in their last ten games!!!
Cava (7:04:07 PM): But the Tribe can't play this bad with this much talent for this long. They're very talented, but they're on a team slump.
GOAT (7:04:39 PM): Well, right now they are. Their starting rotation is great, but their offense is in a major slump right now.
Cava (7:04:45 PM): I agree. But we'll get out of it.
GOAT (7:04:59 PM): Keep telling yourself that.
Cava (7:05:08 PM): And the Yankees won't get in, because the Red Sox and maybe even the Rays will. Either the Rays or ChiSox take the ALWC.
GOAT (7:05:24 PM): At least we agree the last-place Yankees are in dire need of Posada and are starting to regret the firing of Torre, right?
Cava (7:05:31 PM): Yeah. Plus, they're a team of aging stars.
GOAT (7:05:44 PM): I say the Rays falter and go back to being normal.
Cava (7:05:51 PM): Maybe, but my Sox picks are solid.
GOAT (7:06:05 PM): The Sox are the only ones out of the AL East playing in the postseason.
Cava (7:06:12 PM): Sure
GOAT (7:06:17 PM): Well, that concludes Buy or Sell.
Cava (7:06:20 PM): Yep.
GOAT (7:06:23 PM): Time for an old segment to come back to life. I am, of course, referring to Game-Planning. Some of you may remember it from my college basketball blog. Well, it's back, and in a somewhat different form.
Cava (7:07:08 PM): It sure is.
GOAT (7:07:16 PM): Our highlight game is the Pistons visiting the Celtics. Who do ya got for Game 5, Cava?
Cava (7:07:27 PM): Celtics.
GOAT (7:07:36 PM): I'll take the Pistons.
Cava (7:07:42 PM): I'll tell you the keys.
GOAT (7:07:52 PM): Let's hear ‘em then. [aside] This should be good.
Cava (7:07:59 PM): The Celtics need to make their shots, because they don't come easy at all.
GOAT (7:08:11 PM): Not in the East, they don't. They wonder why the games never get out of the 80s.
Cava (7:08:22 PM): The crowd needs to be crazy. KG needs to play the way he did against the Cavs.
GOAT (7:08:42 PM): So are you saying the Celtics are screwed for Game 6 on the road?
GOAT (7:08:55 PM): I'll give you the keys for Detroit now.
Cava (7:08:57 PM): I think between Ray Allen, KG, and Double-P, they need 65 points.
GOAT (7:09:11 PM): As you said, we need to make our shots. They shot horribly in their Game 3 blowout loss.
GOAT (7:09:35 PM): Next, Rasheed Wallace ABSOLUTELY HAS TO make KG work on the defensive end. He needs to attack the rim and wear Garnett down. Billups needs to assert his dominance as the better point guard, which he obviously is. But he hasn't always shown it this series.
Cava (7:10:09 PM): Yeah, but can he maintain discipline (I'm referring to Rasheed)
GOAT (7:10:41 PM): He better, or the Pistons are gone from the playoffs. He needs to keep his composure. Two more technicals and he has to sit a game.
Cava (7:10:54 PM): Well, the PG position is interesting. Rondo is young, and can be either brilliant or awful on any given day. Billups hasn't been playing to par.
GOAT (7:11:19 PM): I agree with both of your points.
Cava (7:11:20 PM): And Cassell has been rightfully benched. Bring him in for big shots, otherwise, ride it, sucka.
GOAT (7:11:31 PM): Cassell was an unneeded asset to the team.
GOAT (7:11:45 PM): Unneeded asset. That's an oxymoron if I ever saw one.
Cava (7:11:58 PM): You put the moron in oxymoron. Moron.
GOAT (7:12:12 PM): Moving on...
Cava (7:12:20 PM): This is my segment from my SIFS blog. You may remember Game Balls and Lame Balls.
GOAT (7:12:44 PM): I do.
Cava (7:12:50 PM): It's our last segment tonight, and it goes like this. We'll each pick one or so concept, person, or team from sports. One that was good (Game) and the other that sucked (Lame).
Cava (7:14:01 PM): So without further adieu, GOAT, name your Lame Ball.
GOAT (7:14:12 PM): Jenna Jameson has made quite the career off it. I would hardly consider it lame, but I digress…
GOAT (7:14:52 PM): My lame ball goes to Joakim Noah. I mean, how dumb can you be?
Cava (7:15:01 PM): Pretty dumb, I guess.
GOAT (7:15:01 PM): I'd also like to give a co-lame ball to Danica Patrick.
Cava (7:15:08 PM): Impressive. Lame Tire maybe?
GOAT (7:15:21 PM): She's a pro athlete, yet acts like a 5-year-old with her temper tantrums.
Cava (7:15:34 PM): I think she had a right to be ticked.
GOAT (7:15:35 PM): Grow up and act like a responsible adult, Danica!
Cava (7:15:43 PM): She reads this blog, so I'm sure she’ll obey.
GOAT (7:15:48 PM): No need to act the way she did.
Cava (7:15:56 PM): She didn't actually DO anything.
GOAT (7:15:59 PM): Who does your Lame Ball go to?
Cava (7:16:05 PM): My Lame Ball has to go to idiot umpires. I mean, are you SERIOUS?! They miss 3 homerun calls in a pretty short timespan. IDIOTS!
GOAT (7:19:58 PM): Quite idiotic.
Cava (7:20:06 PM): Indeed. But like you, I'll co-Lame Ball this.
GOAT (7:20:23 PM): Be nice on the umps though, they are only human. It's not like they could replay the home run in their mind.
Cava (7:20:25 PM): I give one to the Indians offense. I mean, what the heck is going on here?
GOAT (7:20:53 PM): No argument here with the Indians. They are completely inept at hitting the baseball.
Cava (7:21:09 PM): We have the best rotation in baseball (yes, 'Zona fans, I said that) yet our offense...well, does what a Hoover does.
GOAT (7:21:31 PM): If it weren't for their pitching, they'd have the worst record in the MLB. Moving on to Game Balls. Who do you got?
Cava (7:21:37 PM): You go first.
GOAT (7:24:43 PM): Alright, I'll take Jon Lester. What a story he has made.
Cava (7:24:52 PM): Classy pick.
GOAT (7:25:25 PM): From all the problems he has had the last couple of years, this guy sure deserved it. He pitched a no-hitter, the 18th in Red Sox history, if my memory serves me.
GOAT (7:25:42 PM): Who are you taking?
Cava (7:27:02 PM): I'm gonna have to take David Ortiz.
GOAT (7:27:17 PM): He did publicly yell at the commish.
Cava (7:27:20 PM): It may sound like a weak pick, but I think it's important he speaks his mind. Selig is a loser.
GOAT (7:27:38 PM): I agree. Who calls a tie in an ASG?
Cava (7:27:50 PM): He's horrible at managing this league. He can't stop players from cheating, so he's going to try to mess with the pace of the game? What an idiot.
GOAT (7:28:14 PM): Add to the fact that he just banned Little Leagues from using Major League teams as the names of their teams.
Cava (7:28:26 PM): That's what I'm saying. Oritz gets a Game Ball for telling that man to shove it.
GOAT (7:28:43 PM): Good choice. Haha.
Cava (7:28:54 PM): ANNNNND that's our show.
Cava (7:29:01 PM): Hope you guys enjoyed it
GOAT (7:29:04 PM): That concludes the very first edition of what will hopefully be many editions of Pardon the Incoherence. Don't forget to send mail to either myself or Cava for our Mail Time segment, and for general suggestions on style, flow, and topics.
Cava (7:29:13 PM): This is Cava, rolling out
GOAT (7:30:01 PM): Have a nice week, peoples...
[clap clap clap]
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thoughts from the Playoffs
This year's playoffs has been more exciting than in recent years. The favorites, Boston, have been struggling mightily to far inferior opponents, yet somehow have found a way to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, has proven the voters right. He is the choice over Chris Paul and is playing better this postseason.
Last night, the Hornets showed their inexperience and youth quite a bit in falling to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 by nine points. To say CP3 had a bad series would be ridiculous. However, to say he wasn't at his best in the games following Game 2 is probably a valid assumption. In fact, in those five games, Paul averaged "only" 24 points, 10 assists, and 3 turnovers. (All of those averages would be good for any point guard in the League except him.)
A couple nights ago, Paul Pierce and LeBron James engaged in quite a scoring battle. They combined to score 46% of the points in the entire game with LeBron putting up 45 and Pierce scoring 41. Interestingly enough, this was not the story of the series. It would almost have to be Boston's inability to win on the road the entire postseason. They are 0-6 in games played outside of TD Banknorth Garden.
The home teams dominating has actually been the story of the second round. The visiting teams were an astonishing 3-22 with the only wins being the Spurs over New Orleans, Los Angeles over the Jazz, and Detroit over Orlando. Many bloggers and analysts would claim a reason as to why this is happening. The truth of the matter is I have no idea what is going on. Some of you could make a case for the fans, refs, or even the players' being more comfortable in their home gym. Whatever the reason, road wins have been remarkably hard to come by.
My predictions for the next round aren't really surprising. I think the Lakers will dethrone the defending champs in six games with Kobe's crew stealing a win in the Alamo City. With the other series, it's an extremely tough call. However, I'm going with the Pistons in seven games. They will most certainly have to win in Boston (which hasn't happened yet in the playoffs this year). At any rate, I am sorry to tell you that the hoped-and-sought-for Lakers/Celtics finals will not be. Better luck next year.
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Last night, the Hornets showed their inexperience and youth quite a bit in falling to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 by nine points. To say CP3 had a bad series would be ridiculous. However, to say he wasn't at his best in the games following Game 2 is probably a valid assumption. In fact, in those five games, Paul averaged "only" 24 points, 10 assists, and 3 turnovers. (All of those averages would be good for any point guard in the League except him.)
A couple nights ago, Paul Pierce and LeBron James engaged in quite a scoring battle. They combined to score 46% of the points in the entire game with LeBron putting up 45 and Pierce scoring 41. Interestingly enough, this was not the story of the series. It would almost have to be Boston's inability to win on the road the entire postseason. They are 0-6 in games played outside of TD Banknorth Garden.
The home teams dominating has actually been the story of the second round. The visiting teams were an astonishing 3-22 with the only wins being the Spurs over New Orleans, Los Angeles over the Jazz, and Detroit over Orlando. Many bloggers and analysts would claim a reason as to why this is happening. The truth of the matter is I have no idea what is going on. Some of you could make a case for the fans, refs, or even the players' being more comfortable in their home gym. Whatever the reason, road wins have been remarkably hard to come by.
My predictions for the next round aren't really surprising. I think the Lakers will dethrone the defending champs in six games with Kobe's crew stealing a win in the Alamo City. With the other series, it's an extremely tough call. However, I'm going with the Pistons in seven games. They will most certainly have to win in Boston (which hasn't happened yet in the playoffs this year). At any rate, I am sorry to tell you that the hoped-and-sought-for Lakers/Celtics finals will not be. Better luck next year.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The NBA...In January
Yes, this is the blog in which I'll tell you who the best of the best are in the League as well as mentioning the most MVP-worthy players of the 2007-2008 season. Anyways, there were some great finishes yesterday in the NBA. John Salmons had a game-winning runner for the Kings and Kobe had a game-winning pull-up J for the Lakers. So in the spirit of it all I found a YouTube video of Kobe Bryant Game Winners. Back to the actual premise of the blog though...
The STRONGER Rankings
1. Los Angeles Lakers (26-11) - Now I am a Suns fan but I'll admit that the Lakers are definitely for real. They're tied with my team, Phoenix, for the division lead and are riding a 7-game win streak. LA are also 9-1 in their last ten games. They haven't lost in the month of January. In those past seven wins, however, they've defeated their opponents by an average of 14.3 points including a win over New Orleans by 29. And, trust me when I say this, the Lakers are not a one-man show. Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar average a combined 48.2 points per game.
2. Dallas Mavericks (26-12) - The Mavs are only one game back of the Spurs as I type this and have pulled out wins in seven of their last eight games, which included wins over Atlanta and Detroit. Dirk and Josh Howard are averaging 22 and 20 points respectively; Jason Terry and Devin Harris aren't too bad either averaging 15 and 14 points apiece. A marquee matchup coming soon will be Dallas against the Lakers on January 25th. Alas, it is not on cable TV.
3. Boston Celtics (30-6) - The Celts have dropped two games in a row and three of their last four! What is up? Well, I suppose it's worth mentioning that they haven't scored more than 86 points in those four games. What bothers me even more is WHO they have suffered losses to. That would be the Wizards...twice and the Bobcats once. They should get back on their feet by the end of the week as they have both the Sixers and Knicks coming up on their schedule.
4. Phoenix Suns (26-11) - I tried to be unbiased in putting these guys fourth. The Suns are 7-3 in their last ten games. Recently, they've lost to Utah and New Orleans and have defeated Denver. This season Phoenix is 0-2 versus the #1-ranked Lakers. On the flip side, it's been a truly collective effort for this team as six players are averaging double figures in points. Back to addressing negatives though, they are being outrebounded by an average of 47-41 and that could definitely be this team's downfall come April/May/June (the playoffs are long!).
5. New Orleans Hornets (25-12) - Even if the Hornets don't get a high enough seed to get home court advantage, they'll still win. That is why this team is #5. They have the second-best road record in the NBA at 15-5 and are 8-2 in their last ten games. They don't have a particularly difficult schedule coming up either. The Blazers are the only tough foe in their next five games. After that, however, they'll have to go on the road to San Antonio for a divisional matchup.
MVPs- 35 to 40 Games In
1. Kobe Bryant - Sorry, you're probably getting tired of seeing all the Lakers atop these lists, aren't you? Yet can you possibly justify not putting him here? He's averaging 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists (which are all above his career averages, by the way) for the NBA's #1 team. If it matters, he shoots 86% from the line.
2. LeBron James - Does someone have any clue as to why LBJ is SEVENTH in NBA.com's Race to the MVP? I sure as hell don't. Yes, his team is only 18-17 but his team is playing well again as they've won seven of their last nine games. As for King James, he's putting up crazy-good numbers: 29 ppg, 8 rpg, 8 apg. Unless the Cavs fail to make the playoffs, he should finish in the top three of MVP voting.
3. Dwight Howard - The Magic's center is averaging a cool 23 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists per contest. In his last three games he's scored 66 points and grabbed 45 rebounds. He's been held to less than 10 rebounds only FOUR times all season so don't expect to stop this guy from hitting the boards hard every single game.
4. Chris Paul - CP3 is playing better than any other point guard in America right now (sorry, Nash) while averaging 22 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. He also shoots 37% from beyond the arc, 88% from the line, and 48% from the field. And did I mention the Hornets are 25-12?
5. Kevin Garnett - Anyone that lives north of New York is probably thinking to himself/herself, "What is this guy doing? Does he even watch basketball?" I got news for you: stats like his aren't as impressive when he plays in one of the weakest divisions, the weaker conference, and with two other amazing basketball players. As of today, KG is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. To the contrary, he's only had 15 rebounds in the last two games, both of which were against the Wizards and were losses for Boston.
In conclusion, I've realized that after reading this, 90% of people on the West Coast will absolutely love me. There's always next time though. But, to remind you, I wrote a blog similar to this one a little over a month ago and here were my lists way back when:
Rankings-
1. Spurs (New Rank: 6)
2. Suns (4)
3. Magic (9)
4. Celtics (3)
5. Hornets (5)
MVPs-
1. Dwight Howard (New Rank: 3)
2. LeBron James (2)
3. Kevin Garnett (5)
4. Allen Iverson (7)
5. Steve Nash (8)
That's all for now. Have a good week (if you can).
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Poll Result: 87% of voters deemed that the Tar Heels of North Carolina are unworthy of the top spot in the poll due to their recent play. However, 12% thought that as long as they were winning they should stay at #1.
The STRONGER Rankings
1. Los Angeles Lakers (26-11) - Now I am a Suns fan but I'll admit that the Lakers are definitely for real. They're tied with my team, Phoenix, for the division lead and are riding a 7-game win streak. LA are also 9-1 in their last ten games. They haven't lost in the month of January. In those past seven wins, however, they've defeated their opponents by an average of 14.3 points including a win over New Orleans by 29. And, trust me when I say this, the Lakers are not a one-man show. Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmar average a combined 48.2 points per game.
2. Dallas Mavericks (26-12) - The Mavs are only one game back of the Spurs as I type this and have pulled out wins in seven of their last eight games, which included wins over Atlanta and Detroit. Dirk and Josh Howard are averaging 22 and 20 points respectively; Jason Terry and Devin Harris aren't too bad either averaging 15 and 14 points apiece. A marquee matchup coming soon will be Dallas against the Lakers on January 25th. Alas, it is not on cable TV.
3. Boston Celtics (30-6) - The Celts have dropped two games in a row and three of their last four! What is up? Well, I suppose it's worth mentioning that they haven't scored more than 86 points in those four games. What bothers me even more is WHO they have suffered losses to. That would be the Wizards...twice and the Bobcats once. They should get back on their feet by the end of the week as they have both the Sixers and Knicks coming up on their schedule.
4. Phoenix Suns (26-11) - I tried to be unbiased in putting these guys fourth. The Suns are 7-3 in their last ten games. Recently, they've lost to Utah and New Orleans and have defeated Denver. This season Phoenix is 0-2 versus the #1-ranked Lakers. On the flip side, it's been a truly collective effort for this team as six players are averaging double figures in points. Back to addressing negatives though, they are being outrebounded by an average of 47-41 and that could definitely be this team's downfall come April/May/June (the playoffs are long!).
5. New Orleans Hornets (25-12) - Even if the Hornets don't get a high enough seed to get home court advantage, they'll still win. That is why this team is #5. They have the second-best road record in the NBA at 15-5 and are 8-2 in their last ten games. They don't have a particularly difficult schedule coming up either. The Blazers are the only tough foe in their next five games. After that, however, they'll have to go on the road to San Antonio for a divisional matchup.
MVPs- 35 to 40 Games In
1. Kobe Bryant - Sorry, you're probably getting tired of seeing all the Lakers atop these lists, aren't you? Yet can you possibly justify not putting him here? He's averaging 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists (which are all above his career averages, by the way) for the NBA's #1 team. If it matters, he shoots 86% from the line.
2. LeBron James - Does someone have any clue as to why LBJ is SEVENTH in NBA.com's Race to the MVP? I sure as hell don't. Yes, his team is only 18-17 but his team is playing well again as they've won seven of their last nine games. As for King James, he's putting up crazy-good numbers: 29 ppg, 8 rpg, 8 apg. Unless the Cavs fail to make the playoffs, he should finish in the top three of MVP voting.
3. Dwight Howard - The Magic's center is averaging a cool 23 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists per contest. In his last three games he's scored 66 points and grabbed 45 rebounds. He's been held to less than 10 rebounds only FOUR times all season so don't expect to stop this guy from hitting the boards hard every single game.
4. Chris Paul - CP3 is playing better than any other point guard in America right now (sorry, Nash) while averaging 22 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. He also shoots 37% from beyond the arc, 88% from the line, and 48% from the field. And did I mention the Hornets are 25-12?
5. Kevin Garnett - Anyone that lives north of New York is probably thinking to himself/herself, "What is this guy doing? Does he even watch basketball?" I got news for you: stats like his aren't as impressive when he plays in one of the weakest divisions, the weaker conference, and with two other amazing basketball players. As of today, KG is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. To the contrary, he's only had 15 rebounds in the last two games, both of which were against the Wizards and were losses for Boston.
In conclusion, I've realized that after reading this, 90% of people on the West Coast will absolutely love me. There's always next time though. But, to remind you, I wrote a blog similar to this one a little over a month ago and here were my lists way back when:
Rankings-
1. Spurs (New Rank: 6)
2. Suns (4)
3. Magic (9)
4. Celtics (3)
5. Hornets (5)
MVPs-
1. Dwight Howard (New Rank: 3)
2. LeBron James (2)
3. Kevin Garnett (5)
4. Allen Iverson (7)
5. Steve Nash (8)
That's all for now. Have a good week (if you can).
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Poll Result: 87% of voters deemed that the Tar Heels of North Carolina are unworthy of the top spot in the poll due to their recent play. However, 12% thought that as long as they were winning they should stay at #1.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The NBA Update
Okay, all you casual NBA fans, listen up! Now, you may have been paying attention to your favorite college football team or NFL team the past month, and you may have missed all the NBA action. So here's something to get you caught up...
The STRONGER Rankings
1. San Antonio Spurs (17-3) - Down deep, I just can't bring myself to putting an Eastern Conference team first in the power rankings. I just can't. The Spurs are very, very good this year thanks in large part to the stellar play of Manu Ginobili (21 ppg). Tony Parker (21 pts, 7 ast) and Tim Duncan (18 pts, 9 reb) have also been key contributors to San Antonio's 17-3 start. But they better watch out for the Hornets, who are nipping at their heels at the top of the Southwest Division.
2. Phoenix Suns (16-5) - Amare is healthy again and he's averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Steve Nash is playing just the way he always plays with 18 points and 12 assists per game. But you can't forget one of the main reasons Phoenix is so good: Shawn Marion (16 pts, 11 reb). Also worthy of mentioning is Grant Hill's (16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Leandro Barbosa's (18 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) play.
3. Orlando Magic (16-5) - Dwight Howard has been unstoppable to date and is a front runner for MVP. What was most impressive was how he shut down Kevin Garnett when the Magic defeated the Celtics not too long ago. Why are they higher than Boston? The beat the Celtics and all of their losses were to quality opponents. (#1 San Antonio and #2 Phoenix to name a few.) I mentioned Howard (24 pts, 15 reb), yet you can't dismiss what Rashard Lewis (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), Hedo Turkoglu (18 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) are doing out on the court.
4. Boston Celtics (17-2) - Okay, all you Boston Blowhards can just calm down. The Celtics are 17-2 in one of, if not the, weakest divisions in all of basketball. The Big Three are no surprise. Each are averaging great numbers and are doing their part. What is surprising are the role players. Rajon Rondo (9 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb), Eddie House (8 pts, 45% from deep), and Kendrick Perkins (7 pts, 5 reb) have all helped Boston to their great start. Their Achilles' heel? Injuries. Can the older guys on the team hold up for the entire season?
5. New Orleans Hornets (14-7) - If N.O. didn't have Chris Paul they would be doomed, most likely. Paul, who's averaging 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, is leading his troops like never before. It's quite impressive that they're playing this well in the rugged Southwest Division, too. David West has popped out of nowhere with his 18 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Peja Stojakovic (14 pts, 3 reb) and Tyson Chandler (12 pts, 11 reb) have also greatly aided the Hornets.
MVPs- 20 Games In
1. Dwight Howard - Maybe I mentioned his 24 points and 15 rebounds a game before? Oh well, I said it again. This guy is playing great right now. Against fellow USA teammate Amare Stoudemire, Dwight had 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a loss to the Suns. I rest my case.
2. LeBron James - LBJ is the ONLY active player with two games of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Well, in the Cavs one-point loss to Orlando, he had 39 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds! James has scored 40+ points three times this year so far. But, lastly, LeBron is averaging 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in only his fourth year in the League.
3. Kevin Garnett - Once again, all you Boston natives probably think this is way too low for "your star". Tough luck. Yes, he's averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists but look what he did against a good big guy in Dwight Howard: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 7-13 on field goals. Not to mention he fouled out and didn't get to the free throw line once.
4. Allen Iverson - Guess what? AI is back. He's averaging 25 points per game and...[gasp] 8 assists to go with 3 rebounds per game. He has scored over 30 points four times this year including a 51-point effort against the Lakers. Iverson also has four double-doubles to date.
5. Steve Nash - How could I justify leaving him off? Not only is he averaging 18 points and 12 assists but also he's led his team to the #2 spot in my STRONGER Rankings. Nash is shooting 95% from the line and 46% from three-point land. Also note that he's shooting 52% from the field. In the last four games, he's dishing out 17 assists per contest.
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The STRONGER Rankings
1. San Antonio Spurs (17-3) - Down deep, I just can't bring myself to putting an Eastern Conference team first in the power rankings. I just can't. The Spurs are very, very good this year thanks in large part to the stellar play of Manu Ginobili (21 ppg). Tony Parker (21 pts, 7 ast) and Tim Duncan (18 pts, 9 reb) have also been key contributors to San Antonio's 17-3 start. But they better watch out for the Hornets, who are nipping at their heels at the top of the Southwest Division.
2. Phoenix Suns (16-5) - Amare is healthy again and he's averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Steve Nash is playing just the way he always plays with 18 points and 12 assists per game. But you can't forget one of the main reasons Phoenix is so good: Shawn Marion (16 pts, 11 reb). Also worthy of mentioning is Grant Hill's (16 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Leandro Barbosa's (18 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) play.
3. Orlando Magic (16-5) - Dwight Howard has been unstoppable to date and is a front runner for MVP. What was most impressive was how he shut down Kevin Garnett when the Magic defeated the Celtics not too long ago. Why are they higher than Boston? The beat the Celtics and all of their losses were to quality opponents. (#1 San Antonio and #2 Phoenix to name a few.) I mentioned Howard (24 pts, 15 reb), yet you can't dismiss what Rashard Lewis (19 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), Hedo Turkoglu (18 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), and Jameer Nelson (13 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) are doing out on the court.
4. Boston Celtics (17-2) - Okay, all you Boston Blowhards can just calm down. The Celtics are 17-2 in one of, if not the, weakest divisions in all of basketball. The Big Three are no surprise. Each are averaging great numbers and are doing their part. What is surprising are the role players. Rajon Rondo (9 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb), Eddie House (8 pts, 45% from deep), and Kendrick Perkins (7 pts, 5 reb) have all helped Boston to their great start. Their Achilles' heel? Injuries. Can the older guys on the team hold up for the entire season?
5. New Orleans Hornets (14-7) - If N.O. didn't have Chris Paul they would be doomed, most likely. Paul, who's averaging 21 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game, is leading his troops like never before. It's quite impressive that they're playing this well in the rugged Southwest Division, too. David West has popped out of nowhere with his 18 points and 9 rebounds per contest. Peja Stojakovic (14 pts, 3 reb) and Tyson Chandler (12 pts, 11 reb) have also greatly aided the Hornets.
MVPs- 20 Games In
1. Dwight Howard - Maybe I mentioned his 24 points and 15 rebounds a game before? Oh well, I said it again. This guy is playing great right now. Against fellow USA teammate Amare Stoudemire, Dwight had 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a loss to the Suns. I rest my case.
2. LeBron James - LBJ is the ONLY active player with two games of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Well, in the Cavs one-point loss to Orlando, he had 39 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds! James has scored 40+ points three times this year so far. But, lastly, LeBron is averaging 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in only his fourth year in the League.
3. Kevin Garnett - Once again, all you Boston natives probably think this is way too low for "your star". Tough luck. Yes, he's averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists but look what he did against a good big guy in Dwight Howard: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 7-13 on field goals. Not to mention he fouled out and didn't get to the free throw line once.
4. Allen Iverson - Guess what? AI is back. He's averaging 25 points per game and...[gasp] 8 assists to go with 3 rebounds per game. He has scored over 30 points four times this year including a 51-point effort against the Lakers. Iverson also has four double-doubles to date.
5. Steve Nash - How could I justify leaving him off? Not only is he averaging 18 points and 12 assists but also he's led his team to the #2 spot in my STRONGER Rankings. Nash is shooting 95% from the line and 46% from three-point land. Also note that he's shooting 52% from the field. In the last four games, he's dishing out 17 assists per contest.
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Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tidbits To Start The Season
Good Surprises:
1. New Orleans Hornets (4-1) - They have a good record and are looking great with a healthy Peja (17 pts). Chris Paul (18 pts, 5 reb, 12 ast) is playing fantastic as his game is reminiscent of Steve Nash. On top of all that Tyson Chandler is contributing 12 points and 12 boards per contest.
2. Houston Rockets (4-1) - They are in the same division as the Hornets and are probably better than the team from NO but they are lower on this list because unlike the Hornets they were predicted to make the playoffs. But, c'mon, who would have guessed T-Mac would be averaging 29 points (high of 47 on opening night), 5 rebounds, and 6 assists? Yao is doing his part as well while adding 21 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Indiana Pacers (3-1) - This was a tough call. It was between the Pacers and the Clippers (4-0). But...the Pacers? Danny Granger (21 pts, 8 reb), Mike Dunleavy (21 pts, 9 reb), Jermaine O'Neal (12 pts, 6 reb), and Jamaal Tinsley (11 pts, 7 ast) have all been key players in their fast start.
Bad Surprises:
1. Miami Heat (0-4) - Their leading scorer is Ricky Davis with only 16 points a game. Shaq is getting 13 points and only 7 rebounds which isn't even the best on the team (Udonis Haslem, 10). The Heat's offense is horrid averaging 83 points a game and giving up near 90. I think everyone in the city is praying for Dwyane Wade's recovery. Oh, and did I mention their current 17-game losing streak?
2. Chicago Bulls (0-4) - Luol Deng? Yeah, he's averaging 16 points (2nd on team) and 7 rebounds which aren't terrible numbers but I think everyone expected a little more. Big Ben Wallace is only pulling down FOUR rebounds a game and Kirk Hinrich is only dishing out FOUR assists each game. I think the entire team needs to pick it up. They're being outscored 96-88 so far this season.
3. Washington Wizards (0-3) - Coincidentally, all three disappointing teams have been from the East. Gilbert GUARANTEED a win and then lost all while averaging 22 points which is pretty low for him. Their offense isn't that bad (92 points a game, 20 from Butler and 19 from Jamison) but their defense is giving up 105 points each game! That can't happen if they expect to win games.
MVPs...four games into the season? Yes.
1. Kevin Garnett - 23 points. 16 rebounds. 6 assists. I swear that wasn't one game's stats. Those are his averages! He's been a complete beast and is making me look like a fool for having him fifth in the Big Man Preview I did a week ago.
2. Tracy McGrady - Put up 47 on opening night better Kobe's 45 put up on his opening night. He's averaging 29 points a game while dishing out 6 assists and grabbing 5 boards. He's doing everything out there and it's no accident that his Rockets are number one in the toughest division in basketball.
3. Kobe Bryant - What did you expect? Kobe's a scoring machine. He doesn't talk as much as Gil Zero but is definitely scoring more right now. But that's not all. To go with his 31 points a game, he's averaging 8 rebounds and 5 assists. However, the trade talks have still not subsided, especially the ones involving Chicago.
4. Carlos Boozer - This guy is helping the Jazz any way he can. He's showing that size doesn't matter (he's "only" 6'9"). He's got them to a respectable 3-2 record with their only losses coming to the Rockets and Lakers. He's averaging 24 points--including two where he put up at least 30--and 13 rebounds.
5. Chris Paul - His team is 4-1. He's averaging 19 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds. This is only his third year in the league. He's proving to the world that he's the best young point guard in the league right now (not much is being heard of Deron Williams as I type) and even had a game with 21 assists while scoring 19 points.
I was going to do a bit on Rookie of the Year but is it even close? Kevin Durant is the clear-cut favorite right now. 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. End of story. His competition? Jianlian Yi, Al Horford, and Daequan Cook. But it really isn't even close...for now. By the way, my preseason pick was Jeff Green and he isn't doing that bad averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds while playing with KD.
The STRONGER Rankings (Note: This are the equivalent of anyone else's power rankings.)
1. Houston Rockets (4-1) - This was a tough call putting them number one but they have a good record while playing in the toughest division in all of basketball. They have wins over the Lakers, Jazz, and Spurs--all teams that made last year's playoffs--and their only loss coming to Dallas. They are scoring 95 a game and are allowing 92.
2. Boston Celtics (3-0) - This may be a bit premature putting them all the way at number two but they have looked very impressive so far. Besides KG's contributions, Ray Allen is scoring 24 points a game and Paul Pierce is averaging 22 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Their role players, surprisingly, have stepped up. Rajon Rondo is giving 10 points and 3 assists each night while Kendrick Perkins is scoring 6 points and grabbing 5 boards.
3. New Orleans Hornets (4-1) - They are the second team from the Southwest division so far. Everyone has come together very nicely as I mentioned earlier in this post. They have impressive wins over Denver and Los Angeles. Their only defeat came at the hands of the Portland Trailblazers of all teams!
4. San Antonio Spurs (4-1) - The Spurs are the THIRD team from the Southwest division so far. That's how strong the division is but someone's going to win and another's going to lose when they all play each other, right? Their only loss was against the number one, Houston. Tim Duncan is playing well as usual while averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds to date. Ginobili is giving 21 points (best on team) and 6 assists.
5. Orlando Magic (4-1) - The reason I chose them over the Clippers is simple: strength of schedule. The Magic have played Milwaukee (a team some believe will make the playoffs this year), Detroit (their only loss), Washington, and Toronto to name a few. The Clippers (4-0) have played Golden State, Seattle, Chicago, and Indiana. All of those teams are either mediocre or worse right now with the exception of the Pacers. Dwight Howard is averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds and Rashard Lewis is filling up the stat sheet with 23 points a night.
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1. New Orleans Hornets (4-1) - They have a good record and are looking great with a healthy Peja (17 pts). Chris Paul (18 pts, 5 reb, 12 ast) is playing fantastic as his game is reminiscent of Steve Nash. On top of all that Tyson Chandler is contributing 12 points and 12 boards per contest.
2. Houston Rockets (4-1) - They are in the same division as the Hornets and are probably better than the team from NO but they are lower on this list because unlike the Hornets they were predicted to make the playoffs. But, c'mon, who would have guessed T-Mac would be averaging 29 points (high of 47 on opening night), 5 rebounds, and 6 assists? Yao is doing his part as well while adding 21 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Indiana Pacers (3-1) - This was a tough call. It was between the Pacers and the Clippers (4-0). But...the Pacers? Danny Granger (21 pts, 8 reb), Mike Dunleavy (21 pts, 9 reb), Jermaine O'Neal (12 pts, 6 reb), and Jamaal Tinsley (11 pts, 7 ast) have all been key players in their fast start.
Bad Surprises:
1. Miami Heat (0-4) - Their leading scorer is Ricky Davis with only 16 points a game. Shaq is getting 13 points and only 7 rebounds which isn't even the best on the team (Udonis Haslem, 10). The Heat's offense is horrid averaging 83 points a game and giving up near 90. I think everyone in the city is praying for Dwyane Wade's recovery. Oh, and did I mention their current 17-game losing streak?
2. Chicago Bulls (0-4) - Luol Deng? Yeah, he's averaging 16 points (2nd on team) and 7 rebounds which aren't terrible numbers but I think everyone expected a little more. Big Ben Wallace is only pulling down FOUR rebounds a game and Kirk Hinrich is only dishing out FOUR assists each game. I think the entire team needs to pick it up. They're being outscored 96-88 so far this season.
3. Washington Wizards (0-3) - Coincidentally, all three disappointing teams have been from the East. Gilbert GUARANTEED a win and then lost all while averaging 22 points which is pretty low for him. Their offense isn't that bad (92 points a game, 20 from Butler and 19 from Jamison) but their defense is giving up 105 points each game! That can't happen if they expect to win games.
MVPs...four games into the season? Yes.
1. Kevin Garnett - 23 points. 16 rebounds. 6 assists. I swear that wasn't one game's stats. Those are his averages! He's been a complete beast and is making me look like a fool for having him fifth in the Big Man Preview I did a week ago.
2. Tracy McGrady - Put up 47 on opening night better Kobe's 45 put up on his opening night. He's averaging 29 points a game while dishing out 6 assists and grabbing 5 boards. He's doing everything out there and it's no accident that his Rockets are number one in the toughest division in basketball.
3. Kobe Bryant - What did you expect? Kobe's a scoring machine. He doesn't talk as much as Gil Zero but is definitely scoring more right now. But that's not all. To go with his 31 points a game, he's averaging 8 rebounds and 5 assists. However, the trade talks have still not subsided, especially the ones involving Chicago.
4. Carlos Boozer - This guy is helping the Jazz any way he can. He's showing that size doesn't matter (he's "only" 6'9"). He's got them to a respectable 3-2 record with their only losses coming to the Rockets and Lakers. He's averaging 24 points--including two where he put up at least 30--and 13 rebounds.
5. Chris Paul - His team is 4-1. He's averaging 19 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds. This is only his third year in the league. He's proving to the world that he's the best young point guard in the league right now (not much is being heard of Deron Williams as I type) and even had a game with 21 assists while scoring 19 points.
I was going to do a bit on Rookie of the Year but is it even close? Kevin Durant is the clear-cut favorite right now. 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. End of story. His competition? Jianlian Yi, Al Horford, and Daequan Cook. But it really isn't even close...for now. By the way, my preseason pick was Jeff Green and he isn't doing that bad averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds while playing with KD.
The STRONGER Rankings (Note: This are the equivalent of anyone else's power rankings.)
1. Houston Rockets (4-1) - This was a tough call putting them number one but they have a good record while playing in the toughest division in all of basketball. They have wins over the Lakers, Jazz, and Spurs--all teams that made last year's playoffs--and their only loss coming to Dallas. They are scoring 95 a game and are allowing 92.
2. Boston Celtics (3-0) - This may be a bit premature putting them all the way at number two but they have looked very impressive so far. Besides KG's contributions, Ray Allen is scoring 24 points a game and Paul Pierce is averaging 22 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Their role players, surprisingly, have stepped up. Rajon Rondo is giving 10 points and 3 assists each night while Kendrick Perkins is scoring 6 points and grabbing 5 boards.
3. New Orleans Hornets (4-1) - They are the second team from the Southwest division so far. Everyone has come together very nicely as I mentioned earlier in this post. They have impressive wins over Denver and Los Angeles. Their only defeat came at the hands of the Portland Trailblazers of all teams!
4. San Antonio Spurs (4-1) - The Spurs are the THIRD team from the Southwest division so far. That's how strong the division is but someone's going to win and another's going to lose when they all play each other, right? Their only loss was against the number one, Houston. Tim Duncan is playing well as usual while averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds to date. Ginobili is giving 21 points (best on team) and 6 assists.
5. Orlando Magic (4-1) - The reason I chose them over the Clippers is simple: strength of schedule. The Magic have played Milwaukee (a team some believe will make the playoffs this year), Detroit (their only loss), Washington, and Toronto to name a few. The Clippers (4-0) have played Golden State, Seattle, Chicago, and Indiana. All of those teams are either mediocre or worse right now with the exception of the Pacers. Dwight Howard is averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds and Rashard Lewis is filling up the stat sheet with 23 points a night.
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