How is Joey Crawford refereeing in the NBA playoffs, let alone in the NBA period?  I will go out on a limb, and say it is IMPOSSIBLE for Kobe, while being guarded by Bruce (Edward Scissorhands) Bowen to not shoot one free-throw an entire game!  Along with the blatant no call on the travel of Duncan toward the end of the first half, to the FOUL on THE FLOOR by Derek Fisher at the end of the game, I guess it all evens out?  He (and many other officials) but Crawford most au####iously, makes blatant non calls and seemingly make-up calls during the course of the game.  Laker Fan is obviously happy because of the blatant home cooking that was overcome tonight and which also seemed evident in the Utah Jazz series- at least  in one game (but not as bad as tonight) much like the hacking and hand checking by the Spurs. 

Oberto is terrible, Horry looks way worse than his last days in L.A, Ginobli is a every third or fourth game guy (I mean those 30+ pt games at least...), UM MEMO TO SKIP BAYLESS!!!!!! But with all that said, the Spurs can play at times, and sometimes play very well, but closely watched, they hand check and foul constantly and whine and complain consistently, when they don't get defensive fouls called in their favor, and this is made more annoying many times by the fact they should all be basically fouling out in half of the games...especially our boy Bowen!   

 

 

The Sun's come up big against the Spurs, the match-ups look good because Shaq still seems to have the advantage on Duncan...he always has.  Shaq, Amare, Diaw, a pretty formidable 3,4 and 5!  Steve Kerr might have the right idea to beat the Spurs this post-season.  We'll still see how it plays out because the other teams are so good.  I also see where this might be the ONE game Shaq steps up out of four or five, kind of like the ONE good game vs. the Pistons during the Finals in 2004.  But at this point, I am happy to say, that the reports of the Suns demise are premature...at least for today...you have got to stay tuned for this run to the playoffs! 

Hollinger and them ain’t got nothin’ on me, I don’t crunch numbers, I just call ‘em as I see- 

I am not worried about player efficiency ratings and such.  I do like the situational numbers as they can tell a great deal about a player.  But what I really like to do is watch and study the game and the players.  Watching over 100 games per year the past 3 years on a rough average, and basically watching every playoff game possible since 1985 (and since 1999 I have missed very few playoff games), I’d like to consider myself well versed in these things...  Also I have found this is pretty difficult! 

 

 My Formula:  General season Preparation (does the player show up to camp already in shape and improved in someway?)

 Overall consistency (I think this speaks for itself)

Clutchness (this could be its own category; it can get you in, or out of the top 40) 

Overall Team Value (can be key…)  

Big Game Solid (otherwise known as BGS, when on a nationally televised game, on a TNT night or NBA Sunday afternoon, when the team needs the player to be HUGE, in rivalry’s, playoff games, division leaders meeting head to head, etc. does he show up BIG?)  

Team Player? (Speaks for itself)  

Intensity (Do I see this from the player in most each and every game (this can come in many forms) and/or is the player so crazy and talented enough to get away with threatening his teammates, getting a coach fired or threatening management, or even decking a teammate like Mike did Steve Kerr in a practice early in ‘96 I think it was?) 

Enthusiasm (Does the player make guys want to play harder, or does the player just ooze passion and joy for playing)  

Defense (it might make you, but it can’t break you…Mr. Nash)  

Finisher/Game Taker (Much, much different than clutchness, this is basically reserved for the high point men in the fourth quarters, but note; it is important to actually see games and see basically garbage time 4th quarter points vs. a game in true duress and true high intensity.  I also need to see this more than once a year, so that will leave most Hawks and Bobcats out of the mix…Tyrone Lue, that includes you Buddy)  

Double Dipper – this goes for the double-double guys that control the game with their rebounding and defense, this usually involves shot blocking, but not necessarily – see B. Bowen)  

Mover (can become any one of the designations at any moment, i.e. Game-changer, SGC…etc…) 

 *Special designation: True Superstar Game-changer – (Guys who can do it inside, outside, whenever it seems needed, and on the Biggest of stages, consistent to the Form, but not the glory of MJ) a notch below you will have the Superstar Game-changer and the Game-changer.

So here goes, my TOP FORTY...+1-

1. Kobe, Kobe, the one and only.  (The gsp, oc, cn, bgs are above the line, obviously scores high in finisher/gt category.  Tp needs work, but Enthusiasm and defense are usually at a high level – (a true superstar game-changer)

1A. King James-(true superstar game-changer) TP is Spectacular almost at all times-

1B. Chris Paul-(true superstar game-changer) TP is also Spectacular almost at all times-

4. Tim Duncan - game-changer

5. T-Mac (Finisher/Game-taker)

6. Dwight Howard (DD)

7. Nash-  superstar game-changer (if his defense was better, he’d be top 5) 

8. KG – game-changer

9. Dirk - Finisher/Game-taker

10. D. Wade (true superstar game-changer)

11. Ginobli (superstar game-changer)

12. STAT (DD)

13. J Kidd - (true superstar game-changer)

14. AI-(true superstar game-changer)

15. Paul Pierce

16. Tony Parker (finisher game-taker)

17.  Deron Williams

18.  Melo

19. Brandon Roy (Mover, game-changer)

20. The Matrix

21.. Barbosa

22. Baron Davis -(superstar game-changer)

23. Carlos Boozer (Mover)

24. Michael Redd (will move up quick with more exposure)

25. Tayshaun Prince-(game-changer)

26. Ray Allen

27. Lamar Odom

28. Devin Harris

29. Chauncey Billups

30. Josh Howard

31. Yao

32. Stephen Jackson

33. Chris Bosh

34. Pau Gasol

35. Ben Gordon

36. The Other A. I. (Andre Igudola)

37. Luol Deng

38. AK 47

39. Richard Jefferson

40. Bruce Bowen (DD)

40A. Alonzo Mourning (still on the list even though basically done)

Notable Omissions (in somewhat of an order)

Rip Hamilton, Lamarcus Aldrigde, Jason Terry, David West, Grant Hill, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Kevin Martin, Al Jefferson, Shaq, Jared Jack, Sam I am Cassell, Joe Johnson, Bibby, Jermaine O’neal, Stoyakovic, Andrew Bynum, Janero Pargo, Turiaf

DQ’d: Elton Brand, All Knicks at this point, Agent Zero

Let me know what you think!  Like I said, this is a chore, and I know I left a Blazer off the list and a few more folks!

 

 

 

The Celtic's are the number one team in the east by a VERY large margin. Detroit can definitely hang, but as long as KG and his crew keep moving the ball and are healthy at the end, I suspect they will be in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Detroit is definitely #2, but without the clear definitive leader, they will always lack the overall talent, (except for 2004 vs. a Malone-less Lakers team that had peaked too early amid the Kobe DRAMA et. all) , Orlando has had some GOOD wins and some close calls but they are slipping and not quite seeming ‘Elite’ at this point, BUT now with a Varejo and a healthy Larry Hughes, the Cavs are #3(t) with a Bulllet in the East …

 

 

That takes us to the West…

 

 

The Number one team is now the Dallas Mavericks. The Trail Blazers with their youth and long win streak against many sub standard teams (but they have been winning most of them with ‘relative’ completeness and ease) are actually the number three team.  The number two team after last night is now the LA Lakers.  While the Trailblazers play the true team game, the Lakers always have a go to guy- much like the Cavs that is too potent at crucial times, just too much at times.  And they too have the youth Factor, along with, the experience factor (ummm...just check out Kobe, Phil, Shaw, Rambis' and D-Fish's Jewelry...)  They have also learned a lot by their defeats to the Boston Celtics and are on the rise (quickly) along with Portland.

 With that said, the season is long and maybe we will get more midseason reports…

 Notes:  San Antonio is getting old and Oberto, Elson, Finley and Bonner? = stiffs many a night  …watch them closely…Suns= getting older, and keep mixing the chemistry too much (a trade a year 4 a “starter dam near”)…Bell looks lost with Hill, Utah-misses Fisher…slow 3 point shooting centers (See Okur) get stopped too often…GS, Houston…too inconsistent and their main players do not have good match up’s or are too one dimensional to go too far, or are always injured (see T-Mac)…The Nuggets have too many “good” players and shoot first guys…The Hornets, too many “shooters and not enough strong Defenders, plus Chandler needs to be a back up to a better Center…

 

 

The East has some excellent teams that must be mentioned if not for the entertaining games!  Toronto and Bosh, The Bucks and Redd and Yi, and the while the Nets flounder at times, Kidd is great even if he is turning the Ball over more…

 

 

 

If you have bothered to pay attention to the Miami Heat the past two years, you would know, it’s really, all about ZO; that is THE Alonzo Mourning.  In last years Eastern Conference Finals, Miami didn’t lose just because Dwyane Wade was badly injured. (he completely missed game six which was a close out game for the HEAT, and he’d gotten hurt in game 5)  They lost because in GAME 7, Stan Van Gundy decided to stay with Udonis Haslem, who was playing a brilliant game by the way, instead of going back to ZO the last 2 minutes or so.  What transpired was Udonis, among other small mishaps Zo probably wouldn’t have encountered, got beat for a deciding rebound and put back by Rasheed Wallace.  A ball Alonzo would have rebounded with complete authority (assuming he would have been in as good as position as Haslem) and the rebound would have never been.  Actually, for that matter, he had proven throughout the game, to be the ultimate deterrent and DEFENDER at the Piston basket and most of what transpired probably would have been altered greatly.  I screamed at the screen last year at Yankee Doodle’s in Santa Monica, “where is Zo, why isn’t Zo in the game!!!!!”, as Udonis finally ran out of steam and started to get beat late in the fourth.  I couldn’t help but wonder, why is Ron Jeremy coaching a basketball team with Eddie Jones, Alonzo Mourning, Shaq and the real “baby Jordan”?  I also couldn’t help but wonder if Shaq was going to call out his teammates-again- after they missed some open 3’s and such, when he can’t even attempt a jump shot and can barely hit a free throw….but that is a different subject for another day, you must understand my Love hate relationship with that man…love him, no hate him, no love him…

So that was last year, this is this year, and Alonzo Mourning has been the light, when times were grim with Shaq’s injury problem.  Shaq was as usual, a little slow to get started this year, but Zo’s intensity, defense, dunks, BLOCKS and enthusiasm fueled the Heat on many a night with or without Shaq!  If every team could have a Man with that much skill and heart coming off of their bench, then what can you say?  Remember Zo, is what I say, remember Zo he paves the way…

The block the energy, the desire…THE Dwyane Wade?  What more can you say about D Wade tonight.  The decisive demoralizing block on Rip, the great shooting, the heart, the passion!  Is he what we’ve been looking for?  The only thing else we could have asked for was the “Lebron treatment” from the refs (a joke, a joke, I kid, I kid) then Dwyane Wade could have had a most spectacular night. At the very end though, the Pistons flat out gave up, and it was a little sad.  Yes I know Lebron and the CAVS took them to seven, but the Heat also have some veterans that have been waiting to turn it on all year, in some ways, all of their careers.  The great Gary Payton, seems to have saved all of his energy since the 2004 finals to get back some respect from Chauncey Billups (well at least myself), for the whoopin’ Billups put on him en route to being the MVP of that finals.  The Heat have a very hungry veteran squad, with a great leader and STAR in Wade.  They could possibly throttle this Pistons squad.  I know it is only game one, but the Heat still didn’t play that great. With the fouls to Shaq and D Wade, they showed they are deep enough this year, and as a rag tag group of guys much like the Pistons were, are now becoming galvanized and helped along by the expert leadership of Pat Riley and the collective will of the team to win the ultimate prize and be NBA champions.  Riley knows to let these grown men work some things out on their own sometimes but to also have them be aware of the things they are doing on the basketball court.   I too questioned him at points during the season and playoffs, but I am sure, all he ever did, was question those guys hearts in the locker room.  The Heat have responded well and the tired Detroit Pistons really didn’t have a shot tonight.  It will be interesting to see what happens the rest of the Eastern finals.  Flip Saunders has already lost in years past to an overall inferior Laker team, and as it has been stated by many, he is the real unknown factor.  The Pistons are still very hungry for respect, so I expect a much different team the next game, but, I also expect Miami to be sharper and crisper as well.  As long as Pat Riley knows when to stick with Zo and Shaq, and ‘Toine and J.Will don’t go nuts, (GP also needs to pick and choose and not force) the Heat go deep and should win in 6.  But as the ball bounces, men's fortunes are made…Game two should be GREAT! 

 

Tayshaun Prince is definitely not a back-up singer.  Every since “The Block” on Reggie Miller, Tayshaun has arguably been the most Dynamic Detroit Piston.  The Pistons as a unit put the suffocating squeeze to the Cleveland Cavs to end their Playoffs.  Lebron as great as he is, could not summon the spirit and savvy of Magic Johnson to complete their magical run.  Joey Crawford the official, called a mostly horrific game on both ends of the floor. (Now I have watched the behind the scenes programs about the refs and he is a nice guy, but I am not sure what game he is watching sometimes and he seems to like being on TV too much).  But overall, the Pistons pulled out the old school whoopin’ stick, and laid the defensive pressure heavily on the Cavaliers shoulders.  The pressure of the game seven also seemed too much for Lebron and his merry band of men and they faltered as much as the Pistons pressured them.  22% or so shooting is abysmal for the supporting cast.  I must admit, they looked a lot like the Lakers this year in game seven, except Detroit’s offense isn’t nearly as good as the Suns.  The supporting cast of the CAVS except for a few minutes in the first half was virtually non-existent.  The Pistons meanwhile, had the stretch of offensive cohesiveness they needed in the third quarter, and really never looked back.  The game was over at that point, unless the 3 Larry Hughes hit at the beginning of the fourth had ignited the CAVS, but the Pistons and the HOME crowd shrugged it off and no one got going for the CAVS.  The Pistons perimeter defense was stepped up to the point, where I thought it was 2004 and they were playing the Pacers and Larry Brown was still stalking the Pistons bench infuriating his players to play the “right way”.  Pistons vs. Heat like we all thought is AWESOME anyway. There was so much drama to get here so it is a great ride… Still kinda wanted to see LJ vs. D-Wade though and Shaq trying to beat down Big Z and Z stepping out on Shaq...

Notes:  The other official actually made a good call of a charge on Lebron finally in the fourth.  I love Lebron, but he is a bull sometimes and gets away with numerous travels and charges.

The Pistons also went back to the bread and butter with Rip in the second half, Screens baby, screens!

Also, does anyone notice the screens set for Lebron, not always good, but they run a lot of pick and roll situations.

People seem to forget, that Detroit won 64 games in the EASTERN conference. The East had 4 teams that lost 55 or more games this season!  Now, two of the teams with the most talent in the east, are finally realizing their true potential during this post season.  Two teams that were changed in the off-season, and have young leaders and new players trying to find the right mix with the veteran leadership.  The Heat, obviously have Shaq and Alonzo Mourning as their anchors, while the Cavs have the tough Eric Snow at the point, and Big Zydrunas to rely on for the Veteran Leadership.  

The Pistons meanwhile lost their anchor, in the form of Larry Brown.  The Pistons have players that need to be coached constantly and consistently.  The Pistons players individually are not great talents but their TEAM has achieved great things.  They are not superstars on their own.  Even Rasheed proved long ago, he is not the anchor of a team like a Tim Duncan and that he needs constant direction on the court, or his focus gets easily lost.  The Pistons still can pull out the Victory at home in game 7, but they need to get back to the true team basketball, and the DEFENSE that got them this far.  They can’t go at it one on one and rely on the three pointers.  Any NBA aficionado knows relying on threes is generally a recipe for disaster in the playoffs.

It can easily be said, that the two best NBA teams are in the WEST.  San Antonio and Dallas through smooth trades and good & fortunate drafts are the most solid teams in Basketball right now.  The depth of talent is almost staggering at some points.  With the Spurs having Tim Duncan playing back at an MVP level and with the newcomer Finley as veteran anchors, the Mavs are anchored by the great German Dirk Nowitzki and the champion ex-Spur Avery Johnson as their coach.  These teams are beatable, but their depth is overwhelming to most teams on most nights.  Remember Stackhouse, yeah he’s the Mavs SIXTH man!   That is it, plain and simple, the versatility displayed by these teams makes either virtually unbeatable come playoff time.  The Mavericks actually seem a little tougher than the Spurs, but I will say the Spurs (mainly Duncan) are finally showing the true toughness that I feel has lacked from them over their championship years.  -(Finley also has helped in this area and is needed because Lord knows Frenchy has the propensity to fall apart in crucial situations)- Usually, the fork would have already been in the Spurs at this point, but this year will be a toss up in game 7 after being down 3-1.  Good Luck to All and Good Night-

 

Notes:

I applaud the Players on these teams for giving us the Game 7’s we so richly deserve!

Now only if the Refs would get on board!

How the BUBBLE has burst!  The season long offensive surge of the Pistons has been stymied by the raised expectations and pressure of being a front runner bring.  THE CAVS with their inspired play, have conspired with no real expectations, to bring Detroit to the edge of elimination. The fact is though, I am not really surprised by this, but the reason is simple.  The Pistons are now thinking they can beat a team with offense, instead of beating them with DEFENSE, that is the ultimate fuel for their offense.  The Pistons, (with the referee’s calling, let’s just say, a very ‘eyebrow raising’ –infuriating- game)…on both sides, are now playing as individuals, and helping to be divided by Lebron and  –I thought this was coming sooner I will screw up your team with ignorant fouls and reactions at the wrong time,  Rasheed the deed Wallace- .

The Cavs with the one SINGLE dominant player, the emotion of the very sad Larry Hughes situation and a comparable cast of players, have ridden their very lovable star and his merry band of men, to the brink of dethroning the ’04, 05’ EASTERN CHAMPS. 

People must realize it is incredibly difficult to even -r e a c h-  ONE NBA FINALS during a career, let alone win multiple titles, especially back to back titles.  It takes a lot of good fortune, and a few GREAT players.  To actually get to the NBA FINALS three times in a row is incredible, to win, is pure gold. But right now, the Pistons have played many more games the past 3 years than the CAVS and look ready to be beat by a very solid and well built team. 

With the cast of players the CAVS have, the solid veteran point guard  play of SNOW, and as long as they don’t get scared, the CAVS should close out the PISTONS with ease at home.  Lebron should be able to get them one VICTORY on his own if need be, (but he most likely won’t at home with the hobbled RASHEED getting booed to the ultimate distraction) against the finally seemingly, overmatched Pistons.  Larry will be back and the emotion should destroy the Pistons.  They are ripe and ready to be plucked; they have FORGOTTEN THE HARD WORK, AND BLUE COLLAR NATURE THAT HAS GOT THEM TO THIS POINT...  NO STARS!  But now they are the stars…

With the CAVS diversity, especially as long as BIG Z is out their stretching the defense hitting jumpers and at least every once in a while actually playing like he is over 7 feet in the paint, the CAVS, as I have witnessed this season are SCARY GOOD!  LeBron is THE STAR right now and we better watch out... And LOVE IT!

Notes: Tayshaun again played great, so we gotta give it up to him.  I must say even though not super dominant tonight, Lebron is looking like the MVP by far over Nash and Billups.  Rasheed = Bad tonight…again. 

Refs, for the love of the man upstairs, please, do not call charges on guys when the pass is L O N G gone and the man is dunking!  In that kind of game please! On a –gosh darn- 7 footer FLOP!!!!!  I don’t care who is playing, that is horrible!

Lebron on his incredible, dare I say "Kobesque" 3, at the half, was out of bounds on TNT's angles but apparently in bounds (even better) on NBA TV's angles,   (winning margin of victory -2-).  Rasheed was actually horrible and can definitely still be a detriment to his team with his general out of control attitude.  The officials as always were questionably marginal at best.  The Pistons may not be as great as we think. -Boy that Lebron really likes to pass, and he's good at it!-  The Cavs may be better than we thought and are possibly coming together like the...HEAT!!???! They do have a decent collection of talent... We will see! We will see! 

Incredible!  Did anyone even want to win that game?  If you missed it, Billups and Lebron air-balled a 3 pointer a-piece in the final two minutes.  Rip missed a tough chippy for the lead with 43 seconds left, and Lebron missed another jumper with 7 seconds to play that would have given the Cavs a three point lead. Lebron also went 1 of 2 at the line with 2 seconds left and I’m not even sure if anyone had a field goal in the last minute!  Donyell Marshall, proved in the second half to be much more effective than Rasheed Wallace (and his mouth and poor shooting) while Eric Snow decided to make Chauncey (even in a few man situations) and the Detroit Team Zone look like Kwame Brown was manning the basket!  A streak also came to an end for Rasheed with four straight wins following one of his “Namethesque” predictions.  But, the streak I am most interested in though, is Detroit’s season long offensive surge that seems to now not be firing on all "cylinders" (sorry). Detroit right now seems to be going in a few too many one on one situations and taking too many long bail out jumpers.  Rip in this game did not run through his typical myriad of screens to get his points.  It was a lot of dribbling and driving which in the end proved to be the Pistons demise…

Now Lebron, while not virtuoso, had just enough firepower within himself and in Donyell Marshall and Eric Snow to lift the Cavs to an interesting victory.  Also Varejao came up huge with his “defense” (charges by big men should be outlawed some how, especially when they run up under…I will digress –sigh-) and ability to get to the rim in position to receive a pass for a lay-up and/or open jumper.

I am very much interested though to see if now as the front runners FOR REAL, if the Pistons get tight, and revert back to 2004 shooting form.  If Big Ben does not become HYPER-active, and controlling all that is within the paint, and Rasheed is doing more talking than playing, the Pistons could be in very deep trouble.  Lebron can make a mockery of any defender and in some ways the Pistons see it, and right now, he is in their heads.  His combination of just plain being-SO BIG, SO STRONG, SO FAST AND SO QUICK is incredible and when honed can be one of the greatest spectacles of sport one day, if not already! 

Chauncey right now has no SWAGGER and I suspect Lebron’s skill and sheer power in this now long series and his now found “killer instinct” are having a lot to do with it!  Rasheed talked, but did not back it up, ankle injury aside, (and if you notice, he hasn’t always had great games when he jaw jacks so much).  Rip and Tayshaun are doing just fine, but like I said, the screens have disappeared and the Pistons need to get back to what made them successful.  They may have been taking the Cavs lightly, but I doubt it now.  The Pistons shroud of invincibility is slipping away at the hands of the Cavs and LJ, let’s get ready now, for pivital game 5, Wednesday at the PALACE!