Nobody has ever won a Finals after being down 3 games to 1, but it can happen this year. I believe that if the Pistons drop Game Five, then the Lakers have a great chance to win, and I bet they are thinking the same thing. This series seems very different than other Finals where one team had put themselves up a couple of games. The Lakers still only have to win one game in Detroit and then win at home. I hope that it doesn't happen, but I still think it can.
Detroit needs to close out LA tonight, or the momentum shifts and the Lakers have another championship. I will be very happy if Detroit beats LA for a few reasons.
Firstly, I would hate for the team who legitimately, however luckily, moved past the best team in the NBA, San Antonio, to win the Finals. That is because the championship will have been won in the Western Conference Semifinals instead of the NBA Finals. So we would have gone from the championship being decided in the NBA Finals, to the Western Conference Finals in the last few years, to this year being decided in the Western Conference Semis. This probably wrongfully (apparently) gives no credit to the Eastern Conference.
Secondly, if LA won, then it would be like saluting the practice of taking the best players from other teams to help push you over the edge. I don't think that there is anything wrong with getting the best players, but it is bad for Dallas, for instance, to try to buy out the entire free-agent market, and not for the rest of the teams who bid for them, but for Dallas. Dallas had a team last year that could have been champs, but the lost to a great team in a great Finals (Conference Finals). But if they had not wanted so badly to acquire the free agents de jour in the off season, they would have been able to improve that team and maybe win this year. They didn't hurt the NBA directly by taking free agents (in the sense that they took them away from another team), but they hurt the NBA by making their championship-caliber team worse, and that's bad for the league. So if LA wins, then other teams who are full of talent are going to look to add players instead of just getting better or changing strategy or player minutes or dealing with what they have, and that is bad for everyone.
Lastly, and this one is obvious to all of you, Karl Malone will have ended his career without winning a championship. It is unlikely that he will be back next year. He will have to live his life knowing that he could not even buy a ring with all his money. I mean, that's what Payton and Malone are trying to do, isn't it? They took pay cuts to join LA because they don't need the money. They have the money, and they spent it this season on piggybacking the Shaq/Kobe Championship Express. I hope they don't win one like this because I don't believe in the "charity" or "unselfishness" of their off season moves. People who say they made their moves for any other reason than the one that gives them a cool picture to hang in their hallowed basketball wings of their houses of them in a locker room full of reporters wearing a champagne hat with David Stern are wrong. Hey, I can respect players for making smart moves at any point in their careers, but I don't respect Payton or Malone for trying to buy a championship. And I hope they lose.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Malone's still here, but Artest may be taking his baton
I really hated Ron Artest last year. I don't hate him as much now and I do respect his game, but I still almost hate him.
He is a dirty player who is a good defender, but more importantly, he knows how to get away with fouling. He fouls more than any other defender in the league and he gets away with it, for the most part. But because he's such an asshole and nobody likes him (especially the officials, I suspect), he get no more respect than is owed him.
He won the Defensive Player of the Year this year and I don't think he should have gotten it. He isn't that good on the ball, as I've seen in the playoffs. He is very heady but goes for steals constantly. Unlike most defenders, he tries to dictate the offensive players moves and motion with the ball. Better defenders who have to play against the best players in the league regularly cannot afford to be so aggressive unless they have a great shot blocker behind them. Players like Bruce Bowen, Eric Snow, Tim Duncan and ever Kobe to a degree try to take away the comfort of a player and make it difficult for him to really get off. This is because no one guy can keep Kobe from getting his shot. Nobody can keep Shaq or Garnett from making baskets, but someone can make it difficult so that Kobe gets four jumpers rather than six. You can limit Dirk in getting out on the break and hitting some transition threes, if you are good. But this takes strategy and it takes a player who really knows his opponent's tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. Artest isn't that good yet.
Artest tries to make the player with the ball try to make a pretty obvious move whereas Artest can go for a strip. It looks like a good defender causing a bad move, but more often with better players, you see Artest just pushing up on the player trying to create contact. When he does this, he puts himself in a good position to get a steal because he is very strong and herky-jerky and the offensive player doesn't want the contact.
What I really want to point out is that Artest cleaned up his temper tantrums this year but still was dirty. He got away with little fines for very malicious elbows thrown for no reason other than because he wanted to hit somebody. Well tonight, he instinctively put an elbow into the face of a man wearing a faceguard to protect his broken nose. But instead of him getting the better of the situation, he sealed the Detroit win. The blow Hamilton took from Artest tonight gave Detroit two free throws and the ball. Hamilton hit the two free throws and Rasheed dunked a miss to put the Pistons up by four with 3+ minutes to go. But Hamilton was energized and Artest couldn’t keep up at all. Hamilton hit another jumper late and then Detroit used him as a decoy to get a wide open three point shot by Prince. It was a great way for a guy I almost hate to come apart and let his team down in a big game.
He is a dirty player who is a good defender, but more importantly, he knows how to get away with fouling. He fouls more than any other defender in the league and he gets away with it, for the most part. But because he's such an asshole and nobody likes him (especially the officials, I suspect), he get no more respect than is owed him.
He won the Defensive Player of the Year this year and I don't think he should have gotten it. He isn't that good on the ball, as I've seen in the playoffs. He is very heady but goes for steals constantly. Unlike most defenders, he tries to dictate the offensive players moves and motion with the ball. Better defenders who have to play against the best players in the league regularly cannot afford to be so aggressive unless they have a great shot blocker behind them. Players like Bruce Bowen, Eric Snow, Tim Duncan and ever Kobe to a degree try to take away the comfort of a player and make it difficult for him to really get off. This is because no one guy can keep Kobe from getting his shot. Nobody can keep Shaq or Garnett from making baskets, but someone can make it difficult so that Kobe gets four jumpers rather than six. You can limit Dirk in getting out on the break and hitting some transition threes, if you are good. But this takes strategy and it takes a player who really knows his opponent's tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. Artest isn't that good yet.
Artest tries to make the player with the ball try to make a pretty obvious move whereas Artest can go for a strip. It looks like a good defender causing a bad move, but more often with better players, you see Artest just pushing up on the player trying to create contact. When he does this, he puts himself in a good position to get a steal because he is very strong and herky-jerky and the offensive player doesn't want the contact.
What I really want to point out is that Artest cleaned up his temper tantrums this year but still was dirty. He got away with little fines for very malicious elbows thrown for no reason other than because he wanted to hit somebody. Well tonight, he instinctively put an elbow into the face of a man wearing a faceguard to protect his broken nose. But instead of him getting the better of the situation, he sealed the Detroit win. The blow Hamilton took from Artest tonight gave Detroit two free throws and the ball. Hamilton hit the two free throws and Rasheed dunked a miss to put the Pistons up by four with 3+ minutes to go. But Hamilton was energized and Artest couldn’t keep up at all. Hamilton hit another jumper late and then Detroit used him as a decoy to get a wide open three point shot by Prince. It was a great way for a guy I almost hate to come apart and let his team down in a big game.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Lakers - Spurs
The Spurs are cookin’. The Lakers are stuttering, but talented. The first two games of the series have been great. The Spurs are up 2-0. There have been defensive plays, offensive execution, offensive runs, great individual plays, and huge team breakdowns.
In game one, the Spurs came out aggressive and hot. The Lakers played great in the third and Kobe took over the game. But the Lakers felt like the control of the game could not be lost, and then Tony Parker took over. Los Angeles took a bunch of terrible shots to try to shoot match the energy of the Spurs and the crowd, but they were out of control and turned the ball over a lot. He dominated the game late in the third and by the fourth, the Spurs were firmly in command. This is not the Lakers’ year, but they still have the weapons to win. If Kobe would do more than just take difficult shots, they have a chance to beat anyone.
Tonight, Tony Parker was the key the whole game. He had 30 points and everything that happened in the game, except for Shaq’s great play in the post, was touched by his play. Payton cannot keep up with Parker at all. He can, however, take Parker to the post, but that takes LA out of the triangle. Incidentally, I think that Phil Jackson has done a poor job this year with LA during the season and in the playoffs. Gregg Popovich, on the other hand, has made all the right moves, including getting the Spurs to fight back in the first game. Kobe played better tonight and did something that I have not seen him do in a long time, score points out of the offense. I think he has created a bad habit of taking really hard shots, particularly in crucial times, that when made allow him the comfort of being the big-market hero, without the risk of failing to do the little things that made him a great player among great players 2 years ago.
Spurs in 6 games.
In game one, the Spurs came out aggressive and hot. The Lakers played great in the third and Kobe took over the game. But the Lakers felt like the control of the game could not be lost, and then Tony Parker took over. Los Angeles took a bunch of terrible shots to try to shoot match the energy of the Spurs and the crowd, but they were out of control and turned the ball over a lot. He dominated the game late in the third and by the fourth, the Spurs were firmly in command. This is not the Lakers’ year, but they still have the weapons to win. If Kobe would do more than just take difficult shots, they have a chance to beat anyone.
Tonight, Tony Parker was the key the whole game. He had 30 points and everything that happened in the game, except for Shaq’s great play in the post, was touched by his play. Payton cannot keep up with Parker at all. He can, however, take Parker to the post, but that takes LA out of the triangle. Incidentally, I think that Phil Jackson has done a poor job this year with LA during the season and in the playoffs. Gregg Popovich, on the other hand, has made all the right moves, including getting the Spurs to fight back in the first game. Kobe played better tonight and did something that I have not seen him do in a long time, score points out of the offense. I think he has created a bad habit of taking really hard shots, particularly in crucial times, that when made allow him the comfort of being the big-market hero, without the risk of failing to do the little things that made him a great player among great players 2 years ago.
Spurs in 6 games.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Well, actually...
If indifference is indeed the opposite of love, then I suppose that my top 10 list of players I hate would be full of players who I have seen, but by which I was not moved emotionally to the point of dislike. Having made my fascinatingly irrelevant comment, my least favorite players are:
1. The one whose name shall not be written...You know, Karl Malone.
2. The same, but only louder, in case a bus was going by or you were chewing something crunchy.
3. Antoine Walker, although I think he could be a good power forward (I said POWER FORWARD, Antoine, not guard)
4. Walter McCarty (I never know what he is supposed to be doing)
5. Ron Artest (who I also just hate)
6. There is no #6 (special thanks to the Monty Python - Bruces sketch - Series 2, Episode 22)
incidentally, the best Monty Python web page is here
7. Shaquille O'Neal (because he is boring to watch)
8. Luke Walton (because if he is playing, then his dad is usually one of the commentators, and it just gives Bill something else to say)
9. Austin Croshere
10. Bo Outlaw (because although he is tall, fast, well conditioned and strong, he has none to negative basketball skills)
11. The Heat
12. P.J. Brown
13. Keith Van Horn (because you never know if he will be the Van Horn who can't make a shot, can't get a rebound, can't run a lane, and can't pass to an open man or the Van Horn who isn't particularly needed on that night)
My least favorite NBA commentators are:
1. Doug Collins
2. Bill Walton
1. The one whose name shall not be written...You know, Karl Malone.
2. The same, but only louder, in case a bus was going by or you were chewing something crunchy.
3. Antoine Walker, although I think he could be a good power forward (I said POWER FORWARD, Antoine, not guard)
4. Walter McCarty (I never know what he is supposed to be doing)
5. Ron Artest (who I also just hate)
6. There is no #6 (special thanks to the Monty Python - Bruces sketch - Series 2, Episode 22)
incidentally, the best Monty Python web page is here
7. Shaquille O'Neal (because he is boring to watch)
8. Luke Walton (because if he is playing, then his dad is usually one of the commentators, and it just gives Bill something else to say)
9. Austin Croshere
10. Bo Outlaw (because although he is tall, fast, well conditioned and strong, he has none to negative basketball skills)
11. The Heat
12. P.J. Brown
13. Keith Van Horn (because you never know if he will be the Van Horn who can't make a shot, can't get a rebound, can't run a lane, and can't pass to an open man or the Van Horn who isn't particularly needed on that night)
My least favorite NBA commentators are:
1. Doug Collins
2. Bill Walton
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Who's your favorite?
My favorite players to watch in the NBA are (in no particular order):
Dirk Nowitzki
Tony Parker
Tim Duncan
Earl Boykins
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Nick Van Exel
Gary Payton
Jason Williams
Jason Kidd
Kenyon Martin
Baron Davis
Allen Iverson
Amare Stoudemire
Rasheed Wallace
Bobby Jackson
Peja Stojakovic
Emanuel Ginobili
Ronald Murray
Vladimir Radmanovic
Vince Carter
Andrei Kirilenko
Brendan Haywood
Chris Whitney
If you haven’t seen Seattle, Memphis, Cleveland, or Denver play, then you should. And if you haven’t seen the Lakers 2.0, San Antonio 2.0, Dallas 2.0, Portland 1.9, Sacramento 1.7, Minnesota 2.1, and the improved Rockets and Pacers, well, then you should.
Also, my favorite teams are now Seattle and San Antonio.
Dirk Nowitzki
Tony Parker
Tim Duncan
Earl Boykins
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Nick Van Exel
Gary Payton
Jason Williams
Jason Kidd
Kenyon Martin
Baron Davis
Allen Iverson
Amare Stoudemire
Rasheed Wallace
Bobby Jackson
Peja Stojakovic
Emanuel Ginobili
Ronald Murray
Vladimir Radmanovic
Vince Carter
Andrei Kirilenko
Brendan Haywood
Chris Whitney
If you haven’t seen Seattle, Memphis, Cleveland, or Denver play, then you should. And if you haven’t seen the Lakers 2.0, San Antonio 2.0, Dallas 2.0, Portland 1.9, Sacramento 1.7, Minnesota 2.1, and the improved Rockets and Pacers, well, then you should.
Also, my favorite teams are now Seattle and San Antonio.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Post No. 1
I say that we should make this blog page dedicated to sports (and spam) and that we hereby use the old site for all other stuff.
"I say there, I'll give it a try."
"Sounds like a solid one, there, boy."
"Good mind, that one."
"Okay, Jenkins, you've got my support."
"Here, here!"
"Ah, rubbish, he's always doing that kind of thing. But whatever, where are the hookers?"
"I say there, I'll give it a try."
"Sounds like a solid one, there, boy."
"Good mind, that one."
"Okay, Jenkins, you've got my support."
"Here, here!"
"Ah, rubbish, he's always doing that kind of thing. But whatever, where are the hookers?"
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