Defense: Going into these Olympic games, there were a few basic concerns for Team USA on the defensive end. How would an undersized US team defend the post with only one and a half centers (Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh) and how would they effectively defend the perimeter against hot shooting European or Latin American teams? In the gold medal game against Spain, Team USA’s defense was horrific. While this team had gotten progressively better defensively throughout the Olympics, Team USA allowed Spain to shoot over 60% from the floor in the first half. Marc Gasol was having his way on the inside. Spain repeatedly ran alley-oop, pick and rolls which the U.S. was unable to stop. Juan Carlos Navarro scored at will with running jump shots, breaking down whoever was covering him. And future NBAer Rudy Fernandez, 7-13 from the floor, looked like he could have started for the Americans. In the final game, rather than rely on their defense, which to date had been their staple, Team USA counted on their offense to bail them out.
Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest player in the league, was saddled with foul trouble, picking up two fouls in the first quarter against Spain. In the second half with the game on the line, Kobe, rather than driving the lane, more often than not relied on his perimeter jump shot. While Kobe’s box score might not necessarily reflect a poorly played game, there were several times late in the game when Kobe settled for ill-advised jump shots. Long ones. While he ultimately proved to be the hero by hitting key baskets late, those could easily have gone the other way.
Size/Rebounding: Late in the game, Coach K opted to play Chris Bosh over a relatively ineffective Dwight Howard. Late in the second half, Marc Gasol shoved the considerably lighter Bosh to the ground like a rag doll without a foul being called. Team Spain easily out-rebounded the Americans 37-31 and was much more effective on the interior. Going in to the games, the U.S. knew size would be a problem. Dwight Howard, who looked like the second coming of Patrick Ewing in this year’s playoffs, was held scoreless in the first half against Spain.
Jump Shooting: As noted earlier, Kobe Bryant often took some ill-advised jump shots. LeBron James did as well. Despite a shorter three-point line, Team USA was relatively ineffective from the perimeter in the Olympic Games. When the US drove to the basket, a la Dwyane Wade in the gold medal game, then kicked it out, they shot a much higher percentage. Team USA had 28 three-point attempts in the final game. Had they made any fewer than 13 of those, Spain would have been breathing down their necks more than they already were. The three-pointers were much more effective off dribble penetration, not off isolation play.
Isolation: Team USA relied upon their athleticism to best their opponent. While the Spaniards ran a more motion-oriented offense, setting pick and rolls, resulting in easy baskets, the Americans would go possession after possession after possession without even setting a screen. Their final game was in many ways emblematic of what’s wrong with the NBA. Too many isolation, take-your-man-off-the-dribble plays, too little passing and too few pick and rolls. The Americans’ one-on-one game nearly cost them the gold.
Spain: Team Spain was good. Very good. And although Bill Walton pointed out that of the seven NBA players on Team Spain, not one would not have made the US roster, Team Spain was still loaded with talent. They played as good as could be expected, almost good enough to beat Team USA. Rudy Fernandez will add a nice element to an up-and-coming Portland Trailblazer team and 17-year old Ricky Rubio will eventually be an welcome addition to whatever NBA team drafts him when he becomes eligible. Team Spain’s coaching staff had a great game plan against the Americans. With Jose Calderon out due to injury, their backups repeatedly broke down Team USA’s perimeter defense. They narrowed the American lead to only two points in the fourth quarter.
Why Team USA won…..
Dwyane Wade: One blogger (mistakenly) listed Wade as one of the top five most overrated players in the league. This is the same Dwyane Wade who only years ago won Finals MVP in leading the Miami Heat to a title. Coming off the bench, Wade kept Team USA in the lead when Bryant and James were on the bench in foul trouble. Wade drove the lane allowing that to set up his perimeter game. He is arguably the third best player on this team. While Bryant received much of the glory with his late-game performance, it was Wade who led the team in scoring with twenty-seven points. When it mattered most, Wade kept the Americans in the game, scoring on his first seven attempts. Saddled with injuries for much of the 2007-8 season, Wade proved he’s back to form and one of the toughest covers in the league. Miami will gladly welcome him back this year as he proved he’s one of the best players in the game.
Coaching: While Coach K and staff may not have been overly effective in encouraging his players to run the pick-and-roll, they did preach team unity. Coach K openly ranked the honor of coaching USA basketball over his three national titles with Duke. As Wade pointed out, the coaching staff reminded them that the name on the back of the jersey was not as important as the three letters on the front. He convinced Team USA to put their egos aside, not an easy thing to do among NBA athletes. His rotations and substitutions were consistently appropriate. While Chuck Daly led the original Dream Team to a gold medal without ever calling a timeout, in 2008, international talent has clearly caught up to the modern American game. Coach K was unquestionably the right man for the job.
Unity: Seeing Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, Wade and Dwight Howard giggle gleefully after the victory told fans everything they needed to know about the makeup of this team. They put aside NBA team rivalries, understanding that they were on the court as one nation, eager to prove that the NBA’s brand of basketball was the best on the planet. Seeing them all step up to the gold medal podium, arms intertwined, is a credit to both them and the coaching staff. They kept their eyes on the prize and represented their country with class, pride and dignity.
Composure: Team USA knew Spain (and Argentina) would stoop at nothing to get inside their heads. Spain was extremely physical. Marc Gasol was a terror on the interior. The game got chirpy to say the least. While Spain did their best to disrupt the American’s game plan, Team USA maintained their composure and it paid off in gold.
Depth: In what world would Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams come off the bench? Not even on the interplanetary team would Chris Paul not start at point guard. While international teams went to their bench to inferior talent, Team USA simply reloaded. It showed when Wade came in and scored at will while James and Bryant were forced to sit against Spain. When Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd get limited minutes, rest assured that was a deep team.
Kobe Bryant: While Kobe may have settled for ill-advised jump shots late in the game, he ultimately showed why he is the fiercest competitor in the NBA. Kobe’s late game heroics were largely responsible for US gold. Throughout the games, Kobe defended the opposing teams most skilled guard. His four-point play against Spain simultaneously fouled out Rudy Fernandez while sealing the gold medal. He scored 20 points and added six assists in the final game.
Determination: Dubbed the ‘Redeem Team,’ these twelve Americans were not going to be denied. They wanted to put USA basketball back on the map as the best in the world. After a loss to Spain, the NBA would have lost a great bit of luster. Team USA would not let that happen. So Kudos to all those who committed to USA Basketball for the past several years for reminding all us basketball jones that we proudly boast the best players on the planet.
When the original Dream Team tore through the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, it was like the Beatles reunited. With the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler suiting up, the team touted so much star power that opposing teams didn’t mind getting drubbed by over forty points a game. Although a gold medal for Team USA was a forgone conclusion before the games even began, the team was still a joy to watch. It was arguably the greatest sports team ever assembled.
It became clear to marketing wizard David Stern that the NBA could significantly expand its fan base, and revenue, by actively promoting itself overseas. As fans worldwide became more enamored with the game, the NBA soon found out that young Americans were not the only ones who wanted to ‘be like Mike.'
At that point, international competition paled in comparison to the American version. In the 1980s and early 1990s, foreign players in the NBA were few and far between. There was Detlef Schrempf, Drazen Petrovic, Rik Smits, Sarunas Marciulionus and of course, Hakeem Olajuwon. While these players were all talented, Hakeem was the only foreign player to have a significant impact on the league, having won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in the mid-1990s.
Fast forward to the present-day NBA and find a dramatically different league overrun with international talent. Three of the last four MVP award-winners were foreign-born (Nash in 2004-5; 2005-6 and Nowitzki 2006-7). Tim Duncan, born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has four NBA titles. Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France) were alongside for three of them. Andrew Bogut (Australia), Andrea Bargnani (Italy), Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) and Yao Ming (China) were all number one draft picks.
In the past, there were few, if any, Latin players. And zero Asian players. Now the league features possibly the most recognizable athlete in the world in Yao Ming. International competition has proven it is currently on par with the Americans. The game has truly become global.
To date, the league has benefited from the influx. Until now.
The NBA has recently seen one of its players leave overseas. Former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress recently made news when he announced he was signing with the Greek professional team, Olympiakos, for three years and twenty million dollars. While Childress is far from a big name and has largely failed to live up to his potential, other athletes of note have also opted for international waters. University of Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings decided to join the Italian professional league instead of going to college. And during the recent Beijing Olympics, both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have hinted that they would at least entertain the idea of playing overseas if the offer was on the table. There was talk of international teams dangling as much as $50 million to top tier athletes to woo them overseas.
The NBA has a rich tradition and is currently in great shape. Despite still struggling with image issues, this year’s Lakers-Celtics Finals garnered the highest ratings in recent memory. The league’s talent and star power are arguably at an all-time high. The NBA still features the greatest basketball players in the world. That being said, could the league survive an exodus of one of its biggest names?
This is not the first time the NBA faced competition from a rival league. In the 1970s, the ABA gave the NBA a run for its money. The ABA was able to pay more for college athletes and landed such big names as Rick Barry, Louie Dampier, George Gervin, Connie Hawkins, Spencer Haywood and of course, Julius Erving. Since the ABA was able to throw more money at young college stars, the NBA had difficulty competing for the nation’s best college athletes, often losing out. Many considered the ABA’s talent on a par with, if not better than, the NBA. Ultimately, the NBA won over and forced the ABA to merge. Yet, the ABA offered players something the NBA could not. International leagues may be poised to do the same.
The NBA’s salary cap, which is adjusted every year, does not allow for a team to sign one player anything close to what certain international leagues are rumored to be offering. The entire team salary cap for the 2008-9 season will be $58.68 million, nowhere close to the purported $50 mil Olympiakos wants to offer King James. And while most star athletes make up for their (lack of) league salary through endorsements, what’s to say those same deals would not exist abroad. After all, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Nike all do fairly well overseas.
While players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James might yearn to be considered the best to ever play the game, accomplishing that feat now means having to win six NBA titles a la Michael Jordan. Accomplishing that with the parity in the league these days is a near impossibility. Most scoring titles are out of reach as well. Kareem Adbul Jabbar is the league’s leading scorer after playing for twenty seasons. He also holds six MVP trophies. Both those records are likely unattainable considering LeBron hasn’t won one yet and Kobe just won his first.
So what is a player’s incentive to remain in the NBA? The league’s rich tradition? The hopeless quest to chase the legacy of Michael Jordan? Dealing with a commissioner who won't allow them to wear a hat backwards or play basketball until completing two years of college? Kobe and LeBron owe the league nothing. If anything, the league owes them for its success. Remember, even Michael took two years off from the league to pursue other endeavors. Television ratings dropped as a result.
The league potentially has a serious problem on its hands. Forget Brett Favre leaving the Packers. If Kobe Bryant were to leave the NBA, that would be the sports story of the decade. We’re not talking about a veteran player opting to finish his career elsewhere. We’re talking about one of the greatest talents the game has ever seen thumbing his nose at the league in his prime. It would serve as a harsh reminder to most ethnocentric Americans that our brand is not the best, or at least we can’t afford it.
David Stern will soon be faced with some difficult choices. It is now Stern who will have to make adjustments, and the NCAA and/or multinational corporations may have to be involved. Athletes are free to do as they please, unless they’re locked in to a contract, which LeBron won’t be in 2010. This is a huge bargaining chip for the players’ union. While the NBA has pushed for a franchise overseas, Stern may have to take a closer look at how the league now interacts with rival international leagues, possibly doing so on its own terms to ensure it does not cost them an exodus of talent. Although the Association is currently thriving, it can likely not cope, if even survive, if Kobe and/or LeBron James leave the league. Take a look at how PGA television ratings and attendance drop when Tiger Woods isn’t on tour. While the NBA has more balanced star power and a more exciting product than the PGA, losing its biggest name(s) would undoubtedly have a devastating impact.
Of course, this could all just be talk. Those offers might not be on the table. Today’s player might have a change of heart and realize that the NBA is where they belong, for it made them into the stars they are today. After all, there’s loyalty in business, right? In the end, all it will take is one big signature on the dotted line to reverse all the good that Stern’s international impetus has brought to the NBA.
She was a worthy adversary to be sure. Prior to posting, we’d discuss potential debate topics and allow each other to choose a side. It was a great exercise in writing and we received enthusiastic support from the blogosphere.
When Danny Ainge pulled off a coup by landing both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the 2007 off-season, Bluegrass and I debated whether that move guaranteed a Celtic title. While I was still (a little) skeptical, Bluegrass chose the side of the C’s. One has to figure that if you took the field against the Celtics pre-season, you’d have to like your chances. Then they tipped off.
The Celtics tore through the regular season, losing only 16 games. When the playoffs hit, they slowly picked up tempo, building up confidence, then absolutely destroyed the Lakers in a Finals that should not have made it to six games.
Looking back at my argument, I felt I had some valid points which the Celtics players, coaching staff and entire operations eventually put to rest to ensure their team hoisted the O’Brien Trophy by season's end.
Point Guard Play: After watching Rajon Rondo throughout his college career at Kentucky, I never questioned his talent. I just questioned whether he’d be able to lead a team to a title in his sophomore year in the league. Not only was Rondo impressive, but he outplayed every point guard that tried to cover him, including Mike Bibby, Delonte West, Chauncey Billups and Derek Fisher, ALL of whom have more playoff experience and years in the league. Rondo was consistently quicker than his defenders and made great decisions on BOTH sides of the ball. He came through with timely steals throughout the playoffs and his assist/turnover ratio was as good as can be expected (over 3:1). Heck, in Game Six, he even took Kobe Bryant off the dribble and drew a foul for a three point play. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have three of the most potent offensive players of this generation to play alongside. The addition of Sam Cassell was also key as Sam I Am came off the bench throughout the playoffs and provided offense, or at least shot attempts, to a sometimes sputtering Celtic offense.
Back Court Defense: While Rondo never had to face the likes of Deron Williams or Chris Paul, he still was effective against opposing point guards. His quickness and instincts forced turnovers, Celtic fast breaks and key swings in momentum. The rest of their backcourt also combined to take Kobe Bryant out of his element, holding him to 40% shooting for the Finals.
Cap Space: Credit Danny Ainge. The old Celtic earned his keep, and a GM of the Year award, by making key acquisitions in PJ Brown and Sam Cassell, veteran presences who provided quality minutes throughout the second season. In fact, the entire Boston bench outplayed the Lakers. The Celtics featured a near perfect blend of starters and subs. There were few players that didn’t make memorable contributions. Each player knew their role and accepted it for the common goal: an NBA Crown.
Age and Health: While the Celtics got more dinged up as the playoffs progressed, their communal will and determination helped them rise above. Doc played the Big Three a fair amount of minutes throughout the regular season. But it’s not like Garnett (32), Allen (32) and Pierce (30) are THAT old. They certainly didn’t play like it when it mattered. In fact, despite their injuries (and questionably staged re-entries) the Celtics’ Big Three looked as energetic and spry as their twenty-two year old point guard. In the end, they would not be denied. No bumps, bruises or nagging injuries would stand in their way.
Coaching: Okay…. here I owe a sincere apology. Remember, Doc Rivers used to coach my Orlando Magic. Before that, he was one of the finest and most articulate TNT announcers to work the mic. When Doc underachieved with the Magic, Orlando fans were bitter. But it was wrong to ever question his smarts, leadership or class. Sure, he had a roster full of talent, but he should be credited for discovering exactly what it took to lead this team to greatness. And he did it with flair. When Ray Allen struggled early, he always backed his man. Heck, most would argue he even out-coached Phil Jackson in the Finals. Case in point, early in Game Six, with the outcome of the game still in question, Doc received a technical for arguing that Kobe Bryant tossed aside Eddie House while moving through a pick. We’re talking about the ninth man off the bench against the biggest name in the league. There was no way House was going to get that call. In fact, it was a great move by Bryant to get around the pick. But for Doc to receive a tech with his season on the line and have the back of his ninth man says something about the man’s character. The Celtics have themselves a great coach and leader, and we can now add his name to a select few that have won a title. One gets the feeling this will not be his last.
Competition: The Celtics may have played down to their opponents on occasion, dropping three to both the Cavaliers and Hawks, but when it mattered most, they got the job done. It is pure speculation to wonder whether they could have made it through the West unscathed, but considering how they dismantled the Lakers, as well as having dominated against the West all-season, it’s safe to assume the Celtics are without question the best team in the league.
If you weren’t moved by watching Kevin Garnett in tears as the confetti fell in the Garden, then you're not a fan of the game and simply don’t have a heart. Anything is possible.
So congratulations to Celtics fans everywhere. I'm glad to stand corrected.
Lady Bluegrass knows her hoops. Heck, she’s from Kentucky. It’s her birthright.
Let this be a lesson to us all. Before you get into a debate with a woman, rest assured you’ll end up on the losing side of the argument.
After one of the most memorable (or forgettable) collapses in recent sports history, the Los Angeles Lakers now stare at a nearly insurmountable 3-1 deficit against the far superior and eventual champion Boston Celtics. In Thursday’s Game Four, the uninspired and now downtrodden Lakers led by as many as twenty points midway through the third quarter, yet they somehow managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. To be sure, it was the largest comeback in Finals history in the shot clock era. It was the 2007 Mets, 2004 Yankees and 1978 Red Sox all rolled into one. And all Kobe Bryant had to say in his post-game press conference is how he wanted to go out and get drunk on… wine, beer and twenty shots, to be exact. Is this a champion’s reaction? Can we once and for all end the comparisons between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan? Michael never lost in the Finals. Kobe’s about to lose his second.
Honestly, is there anybody inside or outside that locker room that thinks the Lakers still have a chance at a title? How is this the same Lakers team that beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs? The team that suited up last night didn’t look like they could beat an NBDL team. They scored 33 points in the second half. That's two less than they scored in the first quarter. So much for consistency.
What’s even more amazing is that the Lakers led the first quarter by the largest margin in Finals history, outscoring the Celtics 35-14. Then they got lazy. They abandoned the triangle and failed to keep their foot on the neck of their opponents by settling for jump shots. How did the Zen Master let this happen?
I can’t lay all this on the Lakers. The Celtics played a great game. In fact, they probably should have won Game Three. Technically this series should be over by now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a proponent of more basketball, but not this brand. I’m not even a Lakers fan and I feel deflated after watching that massacre. I can only imagine what they’re going through. It got so bad last night, Lakers fans were cheering on the Celtics. Who does that??
At the beginning of this series, Kobe Bryant said his Finals experience has shown him that a team can want it as bad as anyone, but it all boils down to execution. Well the Celtics are doing both… wanting and winning.
I give tremendous credit and praise to Doc Rivers and his coaching staff. They were able to tap into and inspire a team of men in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce that wanted to be remembered as champions. If you’re an NBA fan, you have to be happy for these guys.
Meanwhile, somewhere, Kobe sits in a bar drowning his sorrows. Hope he’s a good tipper.
The prospect of Roger Clemens having sexual relations with a 15-year old country music star
But that’s about all I could think of. This Lakers supporting cast is THAT bad.
Going into this series, many boasted that the Lakers bench would have a clear advantage over Boston’s. Au contraire. In Games One and Two, the Lakers bench has been outplayed, out shot, out-hustled, outclassed and outmanned. Their only somewhat useful players are Ronny Turiaf because of the energy he provides and Sasha Vujacic when he can hit a jump shot. Luke Walton has been absolutely awful, dare I say hooooorrrrrible. Luke, Bill is NOT your father. The apple fell VERY far from that tree. And the only thing about Jordan Farmar that belongs in this NBA Finals is his first name.
The Lakers were outscored by 14 in the second quarter of Sunday’s Game Two, partially because Vladimir Radmanovic failed to cover Paul Pierce, but primarily because the Lakers bench simply cannot function as an independent unit.
Here’s a summary of the first two minutes of the second quarter….
11:42 Luke Walton bad pass (P J Brown steals)
11:30 Trevor Ariza defensive rebound
11:29 Trevor Ariza lost ball (Sam Cassell steals)
11:27 Trevor Ariza personal foul
11:21 Sasha Vujacic misses 22-foot jumper
10:36 Luke Walton bad pass (James Posey steals)
10:30 Ronny Turiaf shooting foul
10:21 Sasha Vujacic traveling
10:07 Luke Walton shooting foul
9:55 Jordan Farmar misses layup
If you’re not counting at home, that’s four turnovers, three fouls, two missed shots and one rebound in less than two minutes. Even our economy’s not that unproductive. That may very well have been the worst five players on the floor at the same time in ANY Finals EVER. My jump shot got worse just watching them.
With PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, Leon Powe, James Posey and even House and Davis, the Celtics bench is giving Doc Rivers exactly what he needs. The Lakers bench is giving Phil Jackson indigestion.
Look, bench play is not the only reason the Lakers are taking it on the chin in this series. Boston wants it more and they’re playing like it. Kevin Garnett’s desire is contagious, Paul Pierce cannot be stopped and Ray Allen is coming back to form. The only thing L.A.’s bench is contributing is to a larger Lakers deficit.
The supporting cast on Phil Jackson’s championship teams have always made key contributions, but Phil doesn’t have any confidence in this bunch, with good reason. While Cassell, Powe and Brown can, and have, give the Celtics double digits and quality minutes, on any given night, the Lakers bench don’t have that. Rick FOX could outplay these guys.
With the Lakers starting cast all having a sub-par series to date, the Lakers are struggling to find any spark whatsoever. It’s definitely not coming from the pine. This does not bode well for the Lakers and their fans.
Yes, the series now shifts back to Los Angeles for three straight games and the tide can potentially turn to L.A.’s favor. But if the Lakers continue to get no production out of their supporting cast, this series may not make it back to Beantown.
In the beginning of Game One of the Lakers-Spurs series, Tim Duncan went up for an offensive rebound. As he was coming down, before his feet hit the floor, he tipped it to a wide open Bruce Bowen on the perimeter. Duncan wasn’t even squared, touch-passing it sideways across his body, with laser-like accuracy, knowing exactly where his teammate was on the floor. Bowen went on to miss that jump shot, but it’s that type of play which illustrates, that despite all the big name, free agent signings of Phoenix, Dallas, L.A. and Boston, there is no substitute for a talented, well coached and cohesive unit of individuals working in near perfect synchronicity for an(other) NBA title.
As in years past, most pundits, including myself on occasion, have consistently and inexplicably counted out the San Antonio Spurs. After going 3-3 against the upstart New Orleans Hornets, the Spurs minced no words in a Game 7 victory IN the Big Easy. In the first half of tonight’s opener against the Lakers, the Spurs once again show the world why they are the NBA’s best team this decade.
This core group of Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and their supporting cast continue to impress true basketball fans with their execution and teamwork. And Gregg Popovich remains the most underappreciated coach the game has ever seen.
Let’s now assume the following. IF the Spurs shock the world and knock off BOTH the Lakers and Celtics (assuming Boston’s in), this may be the most impressive run of their dynasty. Yes, the Lakers and Celtics both have more talent on paper. Kobe is the single, most impressive talent in the game. Garnett is playing like a man possessed. But let us not forget Tim Duncan is likely the best power forward any of us have ever seen.
This season, the NBA saw a slew of teams spending big time dollars and possibly jeopardizing their future, jockeying to acquire talent for a run at a title. In retrospect, when has this EVER worked in building a basketball dynasty. They are not created overnight.
Amazingly, GMs still fail to look at the San Antonio model to see how titles are won, which is by landing a heady, determined coach that knows the game and trusts his players as they trust him in return. (Landing the opportunity to draft Tim Duncan doesn't hurt either).
Nobody expected Tony Parker to come into the league and do what he’s doing. Not only has he landed the homecoming queen, but he continues to put up high percentage shots while breaking down opposing point guards. Ginobili continues to get off shots as he pleases. Per Reggie Miller, the league has STILL not figured out that he’s left-handed. And Tim Duncan is well… Tim Duncan. The role players of Bowen, Finley, Vaughn, Horry, Barry, Udoka, Oberto and Thomas never force the issue and play within themselves much like the supporting cast of the 1990s Bulls. Pop goes eleven players deep into that bench and nobody gripes about touches, knowing that in the course of events, they’ll get theirs. That’s coaching, friends.
If the Spurs somehow knock off the giants of the league (they should really be considered one themselves), they’ll have beaten the Lakers, Celtics and Hornets, teams with the three best records in the regular season. After tonight's performance, does that at all look unrealistic?
By looking at San Antonio, and to a lesser extent Detroit, shrewd GMs league-wide may finally second guess (but probably not) the way championship teams are constructed, opting for the long-term prize rather than the quick fix. The Spurs offense is crisply executed, like players who have been running together for years. The Lakers and Celtics, while extremely talented, do not yet have that luxury. It shows when they face a quality defense.
If the Spurs pull this off, while impressive, it should really come as a surprise to no one. I mean, we’ve been watching this team for years, haven’t we? I know we live in a world of immediate gratification but isn’t long-term, sustained success better than rolling the dice? I think Gregg Popovich knows the answer to that question. Why doesn’t anyone else?
It happens every year. I felt its onset again this week. Its advance is inevitable. I’m speaking, of course, of my post-NBA season depression. Perhaps I should consult Brooke Shields on how to cope.
Yes, I know we’re smack dab in the middle of the NBA playoffs. The action is (finally) starting to get good, and I should just enjoy it while it lasts. But I still feel it coming on. Nothing on television to watch until football season. Ugh!!! That’s right, I said it. Baseball’s unwatchable.
Now, back to the NBA. I was just one among many who was eagerly awaiting this year’s post-season. With the parity and talent in the league and the intense competition, particularly in the West, these playoffs promised to be among the best ever.
So far it has failed to live up to the expectations. Teams once thought to be on a par with one another have distanced themselves from the pack, often in impressive fashion, sometimes inconsistently. While the Lakers look like the team to beat, the Celtics have yet to win on the road, dropping three in Atlanta and one in Cleveland… by 24!!!
Very few games have been memorable, if even competitive. The majority have been blowouts (65% of the games so far have been decided by ten points or more!!!). After the double overtime Game One of the Phoenix-San Antonio series, I thought for certain we were in for one heck of a ride. As is turns out, that has been the only overtime game so far (until today... finally). Game Three of the Spurs-Hornets was an instant classic with Parker battling against Paul. Other than that, the playoffs have been relatively lackluster, particularly after the hype and anticipation surrounding them.
Let’s recap the inactivity to date, shall we? In the first round, the Lakers seamlessly dispatched Denver, a talented, yet defenseless team in four straight games. Few of those games were competitive, if even worth watching. The smallest margin of victory was by six points in the final Game Four. The Lakers won every other game by fourteen or more.
New Orleans dismissed Dallas, leading to the immediate firing of their head coach. Three of their four wins came by double digits. While Houston made every effort to give Utah a series, most fans knew that without Yao Ming, the Rockets would have a tough time advancing. Once again, Tracy McGrady finds himself watching the playoffs from home in mid-May. And a Suns-Spurs series that so many fans looked forward to saw the Suns set in five. Their coach now works in Madison Square Garden.
In the East, Orlando handled Toronto who made Dwight Howard look like Wilt Chamberlain. While the Wizards and 76ers both took their opponents to six games, the series favorites were never in serious jeopardy of being upset. Same with Boston. Although Atlanta took advantage of Boston’s inability to win on the road and took the Celtics to seven games (the only Game 7 we’ve had so far), Boston won that yawner by 34 points.
Similarly, the second round has been anti-climactic. Only three games in this second round have been decided by single digits. While Utah has played well at home, are Lakers fans really concerned about dropping this series? Detroit has again created mismatches against the Magic and beat them without employing the services of their starting point guard. The Celtics have more talent than Cleveland and have made LeBron look human… in Boston. The only real watchable series is San Antonio-New Orleans and even those first three games have all been decided by ten or more points. In fact, 37 of the 57 games played to date have been decided by double digits. So much for TNT knowing drama!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be watching regardless. I got a basketball jones and I have to feed the mo nkey. But I would like to see some more competitive basketball (Note: As I write this, the Lakers have made a ten-point, fourth quarter lead disappear in the final minutes… finally!) Maybe they’re weeding out the pretenders and saving the best for last. Celtics-Lakers? Could be. As long as the Celtics don’t lost a game at home, they’ll be hoisting the O’Brien trophy. Even that doesn’t quite seem as predetermined as it was a few months ago.
Regardless, I sure could use a few more Game Sevens thrown in there to postpone the summertime and get my heart racing a little bit. I guess I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Even though the games have been anti-climactic, it’s still better than the alternative.
Let me preface this post by congratulating Kobe Bryant on his first MVP award. Kobe is (in)arguably the best player in the Association. He’s cutthroat. He can score on anyone at nearly any time. He may be the best perimeter defender in the league. He can, and has, willed his team to victory and very possibly another NBA championship. He’s the closest thing we have to Michael.
There’s a newfound love for Kobe in the air. And I’m okay with it. I have no problem with the best player in the league receiving the award, even though that rarely happens (See: the past three winners of the award or any of the years anyone else in the league won when number 23 was still playing).
Some have claimed that this was a lifetime achievement award for Kobe and that voters granted him the trophy for not having won it in the past (he finished 3rd in both 2002-3 and 2006-7). Regardless, his numbers warranted serious consideration and hence, the MVP … 28 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game, 46% FG. Lakers management finally surrounded him with talent, Kobe’s game matured and he did a significantly better job of incorporating that talent into his all-around game, and ultimately his team’s success.
This blog does not intend to define what an MVP is. Everyone has their own opinion. It’s a subjective award. Some argue the MVP should go to the best player in the league. In that case, Kobe should have won it. Others argue the MVP should be awarded to the player that is most valuable to his team. In that case, Kobe maybe should have won it. Again, I don’t have a problem with Kobe winning the award. It’s too difficult to deal with hypotheticals and what if’s, for example ‘What if you took Kobe off the Lakers or Garnett off the Celtics.’ We can only judge by what we saw on the floor.
What I DO have a problem with was how lop-sided the voting was. Chris Paul, point guard of the New Orleans Hornets, had a spectacular year. Paul averaged 21 ppg, 4 rpg, 11.6 apg and 2.5 turnovers per game. That equates to a 4.6:1 turnover ratio. By the way, he’s increased that notably in the playoffs (84 assists to 9 turnovers = 9.3:1 a/t ratio). More importantly, for most of the season, Paul had his Hornets competing until the very end for the Western Conference’s best record. They finished second. This is a team that won 18 games three years ago. This is a team that played few home games last season and has considered relocating the franchise due to lack of fan support.
Paul has single-handedly put that team, and its city, on his back and rejuvenated them both. Every time you hear Paul speak about his team’s success, he says he’s doing it for the city and the people of New Orleans as if he’s their guardian angel sent from above. Chris Paul’s season was nothing short of phenomenal and in only his third year in the league, he’s already being compared to Nate Archibald, Kevin Johnson and Isiah Thomas. And NOBODY has a problem with those comparisons.
Now, Kobe garnered 82 of a possible 126 first place votes. Paul received 28 of them. Kevin Garnett and LeBron James split the remainder with 15 and 1, respectively. (Dwight Howard didn’t even receive a first, second or third place vote??) Chris Paul also received four 4TH PLACE VOTES!!!! Let me ask you… what basketball season were these people watching? And should we immediately revoke their voting privileges?
Paul’s intangibles translated on and off the court. As he goes, so go the Hornets… and their entire fan base. And they thought they had it good when they had Baron Davis! Again, I have no problem with the best player in the league winning the award. Kobe’s a worthy champion, but I honestly don’t think the decision this year was as clear cut as the voting indicated. Kobe won that MVP in a landslide. He shouldn’t have.
So again, congratulations to Bryant on winning his first MVP. Either way, it’s clear both would rather have an NBA title than an individual award. Who knows, the way things are going, the Lakers will play the Hornets in the Western Conference Finals. Then we’ll find out who the real MVP is.
The following article will be published in the May issue ofCampus Talk, a magazine local to Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee. If you're a local, pick one up and increase their circulation. They also have lots of pictures of pretty girls for extra motivation. Please excuse the brevity, fellow basketball joneses... had to keep it to 750 words or less.
Lakers. Celtics. These franchises dominated the NBA in 1980s. This year’s Finals might see the return of that storied rivalry.
If you like drama, this post-season will not disappoint. Celtics-Pistons. LeBron James. Shaq versus Kobe. The emergence of Chris Paul. The rock steady San Antonio Spurs. The fact the league features no clear cut champion or MVP illustrates how competitive the game has become. Furthermore, a flurry of unprecedented roster reshuffling should make this post-season the most thrilling in recent history.
While Boston has ruled the East, Western teams have jockeyed for playoff position in a league now characterized by its parity. Whoever hoists the O’Brien Trophy at season’s end is anyone’s guess.
Boston Celtics: The off-season addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett instantly propelled Boston into title contenders. Boston should boast home court advantage throughout the playoffs and although the Fleet Center doesn’t have the mystique of the old Boston Garden, beating the Celtics four times in seven games will prove difficult in any venue.
Detroit Pistons: Detroit has been a pillar of consistency, returning Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace. If any team threatens Boston in the East, it will likely be Detroit, who have a chip on their shoulder after losing to Cleveland last year.
Orlando Magic: While many have already crowned Boston and Detroit, the three-headed frontcourt of Lewis, Howard and Turkoglu could present mismatches for other Eastern opponents.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James single-handedly deflated Detroit last year in a playoff performance for the ages. The Cavs added Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak to give him some support.
Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, and Philadelphia round out the remaining Eastern conference playoff teams, but should not pose much of a threat. The Western Conference, however, is rife with teams that can ALL be the last team standing.
New Orleans Hornets: Having played most of last season in Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina, few expected greatness from the Hornets, however, MVP candidate Chris Paul has been nothing less than sensational. New Orleans has flirted with the West’s best record all season.
Los Angeles Lakers: L.A. pulled off a coup, obtaining Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Andrew Bynum’s return to the lineup, along with Gasol, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant pose one of the most formidable rosters in the league.
Phoenix Suns: The Gasol acquisition sent a shockwave through the NBA as teams league-wide made moves to compete. Enter the Big Aristotle. GM Steve Kerr brought Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix to add some size to their lineup. At 36, Shaq is no longer the player he once was, but his presence frees up Amare Stoudamire to wreak havoc in the lane. An eventual match-up pitting O’Neal and former teammate Kobe Bryant is enough to make even the fringe fan salivate.
San Antonio Spurs: Winners of three of the last five championships, the San Antonio Spurs quietly prod along with their unassuming and disciplined play. Foreign born Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili continue to prove that basketball is more than ever a global game.
Utah Jazz: Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer led Utah to the Western Conference Finals last year. There’s no reason to think they can’t repeat that same success. Although it would be ironic for Jerry Sloan to finally win a title with this team when he couldn’t with Stockton and Malone.
Dallas Mavericks: The runners-up two years ago have had a spell of bad luck. They were defeated by 8th seed Golden State last year and Dirk Nowitzki is sidelined with a ankle and knee sprain. Although Mavs owner Mark Cuban added Jason Kidd, only time will tell whether that duo can lead Dallas to their first title.
Denver Nuggets: Despite being the worst defensive team in the league, nobody wants to face Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. If coach George Karl can reign in this talent, Denver could do some damage.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets were dealt a blow when they lost Yao Ming for the season, however, in his absence, they still won 22 consecutive games. Role players like Shane Battier, Luis Scola and Rafer Alston have assisted Tracy McGrady in the recent Rocket success, but Houston will be hard-pressed to compete for a title without their big man.
May and June promise to showcase the most competitive basketball in recent memory. And although the NFL still rules the nation, the NBA’s post-season will unquestionably feature some spectacular moments to add to the league’s rich history.
