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!
I'm glad I've never been like Sir Charles and would think to put money down on this game with my guesses! Key shots by Horry. Key defense by Horry in the first half. A relative no show for the notoriously no show Peja. Bowen, from Fresno CA, shuts him down. Pargo tries to make it a game, (and very well in fact) but if you are relying on Pargo to get you to the Western Conference Finals, well, I think we all know you are probably in some trouble. The champs overwhelmed the Hornets in the end with key plays that the Hornets could not quite muster. The matchup with the Lakers is exquisite, as are the players and the macthups within the game.
If you did not watch, you missed an all around performance, by an underated, yet sometimes overated Champion, that dispatched of a young great player (CP3) and really good team.
All hail Rafer Alston, all hail Mutombo, all hail the Houston Rockets...and let's pile on KB24. CP3 with a bum ankle was much more disciplined and team oriented in a loss to the charging Pistons. 30 plus shots are only good when you are actually open, or just unconcious, and neither was the case for Kobe today. Well, I guess he did keep shooting like he was in a coma and couldn't tell those were terrible shots! And while the Lakers NOW are the team falling in the west, the cracks are showing and have been showing even before Pau got injured Friday. The Rockets rise to the #1 spot in the west this week is capped off by 22 wins in a row. And even though the Lakers pulled within 2 points in the fourth quarter, KB24 sealed the loss with poor shot decisions and selfish play once again. The Lakers have lost their rhythm (and have been for a couple of weeks) as the Rockets are all singing the same song, while dancing and gyrating in unison like the cheerleaders on a timeout break!
Now the player rankings, 3-16-08. 3:30pm PST.
1. King James-TP is Spectacular almost at all times- Can overpower pretty much any defender in the league, draws lots of fouls, Jump shot is improving, it is not always soft, but when it is on, it’s in! -(a true superstar game-changer)
1A. Chris Paul-TP is Spectacular almost at all times- EATS EVERY POINT GUARD UP AND IS UNSTOPPABLE AT TIMES- MID RANGE IS TIGHT- drive and dish is spectacular an ELITE - DOUBLE DIPPER-(a true superstar game-changer)
3. T-Mac- (Finisher/Game-taker, game-changer)
4. Ginobli (superstar game-changer)- I’M SAYING THIS IS MANU’S TEAM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
5. KG – game-changer
6. Nash- superstar game-changer (if his defense was better, he’d be top 5)
7. Tim Duncan - game-changer
8. Dirk - Finisher/Game-taker
9. Kobe Bryant- AN EMBARRASSMENT ON SUNDAY, WE WILL SEE HOW HE RESPONDS, I AM RESPONDING… – (a true superstar game-changer)
10. Dwight Howard (DD)
11. J Kidd - (true superstar game-changer)
12. STAT (DD)
13. AI-(true superstar game-changer)
14. Baron Davis -(superstar game-changer)
15. Paul Pierce
16. Tony Parker (finisher game-taker)
17. Deron Williams - superstar game-changer
18. Melo
19. Brandon Roy (Mover, game-changer)
20. Rasheed Wallace
21. Carlos Boozer (Mover)
22. Ray Allen -(finisher game-taker)
23. Pau Gasol
24. Chauncey Billups (Finisher-Gametaker)
25. Shaq (DD)
26. Chris Bosh
27. Tayshaun Prince (game-changer and GG)
28. Caron Butler (GG, gametaker)
29. Stephen Jackson (Finisher-Gametaker)
30. Josh Howard
31. Rip Hamilton
32. Richard Jefferson
33. Barbosa (Gamechanger)
34. Rafer Alston (BIG TIME SUNDAY)
35. Ben Gordon (game-taker)
36. The Other A. I. (Andre Igudola)
37. Lamar Odom (DDL, GG)
38. AK 47 (DD, GG)
39. Devin Harris
40. MUTOMBO!
Notable Omissions (in somewhat of an order)
Antwawn Jamison, Michael Redd , Monte Ellis, The Matrix, Luol Deng,Lamarcus Aldrigde, Jason Terry, Bruce Bowen, David West, Rashard Lewis, Tyson Chandler, Vince Carter, Kevin Martin, Al Jefferson, Grant Hill, , Jared Jack, Sam I am Cassell, Joe Johnson, Bibby, Stoyakovic, Janero Pargo, Turiaf
DQ’d: Yao, Andrew Bynum, Elton Brand, All Knicks at this point, Agent Zero, Jermaine O’neal, D. Wade (true superstar game-changer), Alonzo Mourning Let me know what you think!
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 crazyand 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:TrueSuperstar 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!
A little bit about me. Ex sports guy. Football in College. Played everything in highschool etc. Above average, and I love to study the players reactions and faces to situations. Like this for example, was Chris Webbers ill fated timeout call just a mistake by a young kid, or indicative of behaviour. I say the latter if you remember tha Sac times and he had his hands on the ball during the clutch. Watch OUT! That ball is not going in the hoop. I will say this about C-Webb, he never quit at it and got better during the end of his time in Sacto. MY NBA PASS IS ON EVERYNIGHT! I hope you love all sports because I do!
