Lebron James has found his way in these playoffs. But the Detroit Pistons have given Lebron even more to think about aside from these playoffs, experience from a legit butt whooping. Like Jordan almost twenty years ago, before the championships, before the Chicago dominance, Lebron is feeling the wrath from the new crop of Pistons Bad Boys. Remember, it took Michael 7 years to get his first ring. And that’s a lot of Detroit butt whoopings before Jordan excelled passed the Pistons.

But when MJ finally broke through, the championship was his for the taking. It wasn’t until Scottie Pippen finally got passed the migraines and became the legitimate second option to the young Bulls team, and also the emergence of Phil Jackson’s triangle offense. So let’s not put too much weight on Lebron’s shoulders. His ascension to greatness is still years away. The Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of good pieces to put around Lebron, it’s up to management to have patience and it’s up to the team to attain the cohesion possible to get by Detroit. But not this season…so don’t fret Lebron. Your days of dominance are yet to come.

Whether hobbled or not…the Spurs got pasted yesterday in San Antonio. It was quite a site to see and Dallas is just the team to do that. If anyone is to take out the champs…leave it to Dallas or worse yet, the Pistons. Let’s face it, Dallas has tons of athleticism, and it showed when Avery Johnson inserted Devin Harris to the starting line up and Josh Howard went nuts to the tune of 27 points. Devin Harris was driving to the lane at will. And Josh Howard was a plain beast…the stats don’t do justice to how significant Josh Howard was. Throw in Jerry Stackhouse’s ability to score and ofcourse Dirk’s usual game…and you have (gulp) a championship squad.

Depth is the Dallas Mavericks’ main strength. The two headed beast in the middle for Dallas in Desagna Diop and Erick Dampier, proved to be a true force in limiting Timmy D. When Tim Duncan got that forth foul in the middle of the 2^nd quarter, the rout came and Dallas’ defense held San Antonio to only 16 points before the half. The two headed beast in the backcourt in Devin Harris and Jason Terry, destroyed Tony Parker and Nick Van Exel. The Mavs gameplan was simple, stay aggressive, and keep moving the ball. By the time the half was over, the game was a ‘W’ for the Mavs.

Expect Greg Popovich to make some major adjustments. And the three days of rest before game three will only help the Spurs. They’ve been hobbled all season. And they have to pull something out of their hats to win in front of the Dallas crowd. This indeed, will be quite a second round slugfest.

Can the Spurs limit the drives to the lane that seemed to come from Dallas on every possession? And can the Spurs get any type of offense from Manu Ginobili? The answer is wait and see. But none the less, the Spurs advancing will be a hard fought battle.

The evil spell on the Suns was lifted during game 6 of the Suns' matchup against the Lakers. It took a rousing game 7 to get the group back to speed.....Now, against the other L.A. team....they are at full throttle...and looking very hard to stop.

Can we all stop talking about Steve Nash not deserving the MVP? C'mon guys, aside from playing lockdown defense...what more can the Canadian Sensation do? 31 points, 12 assists, 10-15 FG, and 3-5 from the 3pt line, and not only that...Steve Nash kept the groove in Phoenix's step. As he always does. Mike D'Antoni has shortened the roster to 8 guys. 5 of those guys other than Nash scored in double figures.

And I'll say this one more time to make you true believers....Mike D'Antoni rarely calls plays. The team is a motion offense. Most shots are taken before the 18 second mark on the shot clock. Steve Nash just runs the ball, finds the open man, and the ball is always moving. But in all, Steve Nash is responsible for that team posting 130 points on a very deep and sizeable Clippers team in the first game of this series. And without Amare Stoudemire...keeping this offense as potent as it has been all season, is a remarkable job done. The Phoenix Suns' offensive attack would not be this potent if Steve Nash were not in the lineup. He makes this team go, and he makes this team better. And no offense is more effective than this unique offense.

So stop your griping and give the man his props....ya hoser.

It was all a fluke. And it's getting exposed right now. That 52-30 record was just there to make you think that the Miami Heat was a contender. Be reminded though that this team won a division where three of the 5 teams were under .500. And the other team posting above .500 was 42-40. Take heed at the fact that the Heat also had a #### poor record against the 5 best teams in the league during the season. All I'm asking is one thing really....

How bad did Pat Riley mess this team up when he decided to overhaul the roster after a great showing in the playoffs last year? This complete overhaul was clearly not needed. The star power on this team is over hyped. Aside from Dwyane Wade and Shaq's every crumbling body, there is still no distinct third option. Jason Williams, and Antoine Walker show up when they feel. Gary Payton is done. And no one on that squad aside from Flash would I trust to take a last second three point shot. And Flash is still lacking credible three ball skills.

Pat Riley's "pound the ball" approach just isn't cutting it in today's league. And Shaq is the poor victim of so many flops that I actually feel sorry for the big lug. He just dosn't have the footwork of the Old Shaq. Hence, many times, he turns and all the defender has to do is hide under his elbow and flop when it comes around....boom, foul on Shaq.

Credit the New Jersey Nets offense and Jason Kidd for such a blow out yesterday. Lawrence Frank did a fine job at pointing out Miami's weakness....a lack of perimeter speed, and no viable low post threat once Shaq sits with fouls. The Miami Heat simply can't turn it on and turn it off like they did with Chicago. The Nets, if you remember, were swept last year by the Heat. So they are out for blood.

And right now, Miami is bleeding badly.

Okay....that was "Jordanesque"....thats what draws the line right there....between being totally and utterly loved....or totally and utterly hated....meet anyone who grew up knowing and watching Michael Jordan play during the era that he played....there were two types of people...the people that thought Jordan was god.....and the other side that totally despised him.....I fell in love with him....but others totally hated him....why?....because he always found a way to shut his opponent down when it mattered....be it from scoring tons of points...dropping three bombs like butter then jogging back with his arms open...and shrugging like he didn't even know what he was doing....or totally cramming on not just the biggest guy...but pretty much anybody....or just by getting into his opponent's head enough that he made them choke....talking them to the ground...or just telling his oppenent  things...that he would totally be right on.....

What Lebron James did to put the nail in Washington's coffin....was "Jordanesque". I wanted to know so bad what Lebron said to Gilbert Arenas right before Gil choked on those two free throws....I waited for the press conference.....

"If you miss the both of these free throws....the game is over...."Lebron said with his hand on Gilbert's shoulder...staring down at him....and totally taking Gilbert out of his game....

He choked the two free throws...and remained emotionless the whole time, lightly shaking his head....as he sat during Cleveland's timeout...you saw how bad it effected him...he wasn't even listening to the coach...as the Cavs broke from the huddle....Lebron smiled as he walked onto the floor....

Along side him was Damon Jones....his first tick of the night....with 14 seconds remaining....the play runs....Lebron takes it up the court...the Wizards trap him at the top of the court with two people...Lebron passes to Larry Hughes...Antawn Jamison moves to Larry....but Damon Jones sneaks to the corner without Jamison knowing....the shot...once again with Antawn Jamison running towards him...#### dosn't that sound familiar..(Check out "EASY LAYUPS AND "PHANTOM DEFENSE"...its an earlier post.)...goes in...Cavs up one....just like the last game....the Wiz have zero timouts....so pretty much, the game ends with a desperation pass and shot....and now the Wizards go fishing....

All of these factor in to why the Wizards should have won...

1) Gilbert Arenas was having another monster game himself, 36 points, 11assists, 4-8 3pt...

2) Caron Butler turned into Dennis Rodman...18 points...20 rebounds...5 assists...

3) You had a one point lead..and two free throws coming with 14 seconds left....with taker of said free throws averaging 82 percent free throw shooting...

4) Oh yeah...The Washington Wizards were at home...

Call it what you wish...but the Wizards finally had the game in hand....then proceeded to choke in so many ways throughout that last Cleveland run before the end of regulation..Only to save themselves..over and over...up until 14 seconds left in overtime....when Lebron walked up to Gilbert Arenas...and said something to his ear...

"If you miss the both of these free throws....the game is over...."...Then Damon Jones walks to the floor, doing his best Kadeem Hardison impersonation....

"We going Sizzla, we going sizzla, we going Sizzla."......

Another shootout ends...and on the Cavs go....your gift for such an entertaining series...The Pistons....dance now...because there will be no dancing come Sunday.

Three games on the docket tonite. Three teams looking to seal the deal and get to the next round. And three reasons why this Thursday will be pretty boring.

New Jersey Nets at Indiana Pacers - Game 6

The series that the League couldn't care less about. We've got two very evenly matched teams. Both teams with their own respective Allstars. And about half of the television time as the rest of the first round games in the playoffs. Yet another game to be summed up in highlights, and game breaks....

Indy will be rocking tonite. And the Pacers will be fighting for their season. But it will be too little, too late. Oh look, Peja has disappeared in the playoffs...atleast he can blame his injury once again for why he's AWOL. Jamal Tinsley has all but packed his bags out of Indianapolis. With Anthony Johnson playing so well, and Jamal's oh so fragile posterior...you can kiss Jamal Tinsley goodbye...and I think the people of Indy are happy to see him leave as well. Jermaine Oneal will once again be a beast tonite. Mainly for the fact that no one on the Nets can stop him. But New Jersey's big three will be lighting it up against Indy's depleted roster. Expect another blow out....why are they not televising this game nationally again?

Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls - Game 6

It won't be the fact that these baby Bulls have pushed Miami to the limits in most of the games this series. It won't be the fact that Miami is yet to win a playoff game in Chi-Town since before the Jordan Championship era. It won't be to see if Dywane Wade can perform with a bum hip in his hometown. Or if Shaq will be the Shaq of old or just old Shaq. It will be if Michael Jordan sits in the skybox and cheers on his team again.

But his airness aside, this will be a pretty brutal game. Andres Nocioni has found his niche in the playoffs. He will no doubt be fired up. The only question will be if his team is just as fired up after being humbled in Miami during the last game. Lets face it, the Bulls need Tyson Chandler to win. He cannot be like he was in game 5. Period....If we see another playoff appearance by my new favorite player, Luke Schencher....consider this series over....

Chicago's defense will be key once again. Will they be able to put Shaq in foul trouble early? Can they stop Dwyane Wade? Can they keep the score low and still be able to put up enough points? The points question relies on Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon. If they don't show, be ready for that fishing trip.

I sense a very livid Chicago crowd...and a ton of bricks....this will be a low scoring affair...but I think that there is enough experience in Miami to know that they don't want to go seven games....not in the first round...and not with Wade ailing...I expect Miami to get the job done tonite and finally win in Chicago....but it won't be pretty.

Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers - Game 6

Who's gonna guard Kobe? Marion has the size but not the speed. Tim Thomas has the size but not the defense. Leandro Barbosa has the speed but not the size. The Phoenix Suns' season rests on shoulders of the reigning "Most improved player", Boris Diaw. Who has some of the speed, some of the size...and some defense too. And lets face it, you put Boris in to chase around Kobe, and the interior will open up like Moses parting the Red Sea. There is no other size to go against the Lakers front court other than Shawn Marion. Expect Lamar Odom to have a killer game. And expect Kwame Brown to get his. Basically put, the Raja Bell clothline takedown ended the Suns' season.

Phil Jackson knows that this game cannot go back to Phoenix. He also knows that without Raja Bell, Kobe is going to go off. In front of the Los Angeles crowd cheering his every step. The fire will be lit underneath Kobe and he will carry this team to the second round. Plain and simple.

The only way that the Suns can prevent this, is if they get alot more production from the bench, mainly Eddie House. And Shawn Marion shows up like he did in the last game. But it's going to be a stretch....and in L.A.....it will be just plain difficult.

One thought on Lebron's game winner last night in overtime against the Wizards. If you didn't catch it, here's how it went. The Cavs were down by one with about 3 seconds remaining. Double teamed, Lebron catches the ball down the baseline, commences to muscle his way down the base line, and makes an easy layup at with .9 seconds left. It was the most anti-climactic last second shot i had ever seen. Nobody was surprised. The first conclusion that popped in my head after the play was, "That was the most atrocious defense I had ever seen."

The Wizards gave him that lay up. There was no spectacular shot here, nothing exciting. Just plain, crappy, Washington Wizards defense. Antawn Jamison's reasoning for not sealing off the baseline when an extra two steps could have done this, was...he didn't want to be called for a foul. What!? It's the last shot in the game! You saw Lebron barrel through the two defenders! Screw the foul! There are zero lay ups allowed in the playoffs! And Lebron has been doing this all series long! All you had to do was get in his path, and stand there. Even if it was called a foul....better he make two clutch free throws to beat you than an easy lay up.

Please take note, I'm all about Lebron as well....he's a badmufo and his game is sick...but if or when the Cleveland Cavs advance....take note, that those easy lay ups will disappear in the next round. The Pistons will make the young phenom work alot harder than what he has against the Wizards' "Phantom" defense. He wil NOT be barrelling throught the lane with ease if he makes it to Motown.

And one extra thing about Lebron. The league will be all but certain to breakdown Lebron's footwork when he gets into the lane. And they will try to determine, if infact, he's traveling when he gets to his steps. Lebron claiming that he never travels when asked about that last play, will all but guarentee that. 

And one more thing to close, The King put on one hell of a show. I can't wait until he learns to play a little defense.

Watch out world. It's Luke Schencher.

I arrived home last night, eager to see the last half of the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat game. I took control of the remote, turned it to my favorite Turner Station and noticed my new favorite player, Luke Schencher, banking in a free throw. After asking my girlfriend, "Who in the hell is that?". My man Luke missed the second free throw and proceeded to defense. Luke Schencher...The Luke Man...Schencheriffic...The Schenmeister....Schendog...after watching Shaq pummel his way through the Schendog's inspiring defense for an uncontested layup I had figured that Tyson Chandler must have hurt his ankle that bad during the last game and wasn't suited up to play. Until Tyson was summoned back on the floor by Scott Skiles. And I said to myself, "Oh, Tyson is playing."

Tyson proceeded to get called for an illegal pick...TNT highlighted his stats for the night...."I guess he isn't playing.", I said to myself...Hence the Schenmeister's playoff appearance....Hey, John Paxson, you know what your team needs in the off season....some size!....or about three more Luke Schenchers would do as well!

What more could be said about Dwyane Wade, an awesome performance after a bad fall left his hip with a boo boo. If he can play that way hurt in Miami....Why can't he do the same when he's playing in Chicago? Wouldn't you be playing your best when your playing in your hometown? Are there some psychological scars left in Chi-town that Flash can't overcome? I'd really like to know. I'm pretty sure it's not because of the intimidating presence of Chicago's Luke Schencher fan club.

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"What! No! Really ref, I was trying to give him a hug!"

Okay, your up by fourteen points with about seven minutes remaining in the game. You've been doing your job well and your team has been playing like they should have been playing for the whole series. Everything is working for your team, the momentum is totally in your favor....you have to win this game and the next two to keep from going on that fishing trip too early...you're easily winning this game....so what do you do.....WHAT DO YOU DO!!!!

If your Raja Bell, the team's only viable option to defend Kobe Bryant. You extend your left arm....wrap it around Kobe's neck as he blows by you...and you proceed to throw him to the ground....Raja, I don't think that was in the Suns playbook.

After watching players get suspended for light (although intended) elbows, flying mouthpieces and shoulder takedowns...what do you think will happen to Raja Bell. If throwing a mouthpiece is deserving of a one game suspension...then how many games do you get suspended for for throwing someone's torso? Not a smart move Raja.

In a surprising twist, Kobe and Phil both say that they hope he dosn't get suspended for the next game. Is that reverse psychology? Or are they just wanting a focal point for hatred that the Lakers crowd can spend their energy on come the next game? Who knows, but either way, if a suspension is not served...I'd be greatly surprised.

No Steve, the real shame is that your real reaction should have been..."What a friggin ####! We were winning the damn game! Your the only guy that has atleast a slight chance at stopping Kobe...we are stuck in a situation where we HAVE to win the next three. And you lose your friggin cool and do something as lame-brain as this!!!! Oh and need I remind you that the next one is in L.A.!!!! (grabbing his head with both hands then punching the table with a very low scowl) WHAT A FRIGGIN HOSER!!!!!"

I wonder how ticked off Jerry West is right at this moment. How white and bloody are his knuckles after yet another sweep in the playoffs? How much can he be thinking about that last game before the season ended that his team should have tanked? Especially when he turns on the TV that same night and sees the Clippers squashing thirty years of mediocrity with a playoff series win against the team that his Grizzlies should have been playing. Instead, deciding to play a championship contender...with a seven foot MVP candidate...the reigning coach of the year....and a bench so deep that the second squad could beat many first squads of the NBA.

Let’s face it. The moves that Jerry West made weren’t close to enough. He threw in players with playoff experience (Bobby Jackson, Eddie Jones, and Damon Stoudamire). But neither of the three can actually be heralded as playoff winners. And what of Pau Gasol’s confidence? How shaken can he be right now? How much of a cornerstone can he be now that he’s proven that he can’t win in the playoffs for the third straight year? Or was it just too much weight on his back?

The finger should be pointed at Jerry West for not making enough moves and for letting some key players go. Mainly, Earl Watson and Stromile Swift. Now granted, Stromile Swift isn’t Shaq but Memphis was sporting a pretty legit two headed dragon with Stro and Lorenzen Wright. But when Stro walked, it seemed that Lorenzen did as well. And they could have used Earl Watson’s experience with the Memphis playbook, his defense, and his true point guard skills. Instead, Jerry opted to go with two new point guards. Both with a history of injuries. And both with a penchant for looking for their own shot and not really pumping the ball into the post.

What should be done now? I’d expect more changes coming from the Logo. If he can swing it, they need a legitimate stopper in the post so Pau doesn’t have to guard the best big guy on the opposing team. Let him roam, and sneak in his defense from the weak side. This would leave Pau with more energy for his offense and also save him a foul or two. They also need a true point guard that can play some defense, run the offense, knock down a jump shot and give this team some much needed swagger.

The pieces are there for some legit off season moves. Now it’s just up to Jerry West to get the job done. Or there will be more early exits and even more signs of futility by a Memphis team still trying to get out from the shadows of Graceland. Trips to the playoffs just aren’t enough anymore, Jerry. You need to get a win…four would be better…but right now, one would suffice.

Let the raucous chants begin. Let the banners go up and watch the home court advantage disappear. With the extinguishing of the Nuggets at the hands of the Clippers, what we could possibly have here is a first. A playoff matchup between two teams, from the same city. Barring any mindblowing setbacks that would give the Phoenix Suns three wins in a row, which I doubt would happen against a Phil Jackson coached team. We could have the first series ever in the history of the NBA where the two teams drive the same distance for home and away games.

Oh to be in L.A. at a time like this...a Clippers team that finally gets it. What has gotten into Donald Sterling? Obtaining Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley seems to be the move that actually has the NBA writers thinking that he actually wants to win with his team. No more cellar dwelling lottery fodder. Thirty years since the organization's last playoff series win, Donald Sterling and NBA Lottery permanent resident, Elgin Baylor, have actually done good this season making a playoff contender with tons of upside ahead.

And what of the Lakers? A year after missing the playoffs all together. And a whole season's worth of guessing if this team has enough to make this year's playoffs...we've seen the transformation of Kobe Bryant just in this current series alone. From a shot happy gunslinger to a true leader on a young squad that seems to be filled with tons of confidence. Confidence enough to rout a very good Phoenix Suns team to three losses and a very possible first round exit. Kwame Brown actually becoming a legit big man...actually getting it?! Lamar Odom, totally shutting down Shawn Marion for pretty much four straight games?! Who would of thought it would be like this....Only in L.A.

This is a once in a lifetime scenario. And yes, the Lakers still have to pull off one more win. But I think that we are on our way to what Billy Crystal predicted a while back as a true hallway series. And I think the rivalry between these two teams, and the fans of this great city...will have the basketball gods frothing at the mouth for this one. Oh to be in L.A. when this happens....

Okay, so maybe the elite teams in the NBA aren’t so elite…as the weekend has proven… the West is facing quite of a possibility that the 6^th,  7^th and 8^th seeded teams could be advancing into the second round of these playoffs. Detroit and Dallas aside, Miami has been man-handled by a young Bulls team that struggled to even make the playoffs this season. The Spurs are having trouble with finishing a very tough Kings squad. New Jersey is proving its weaknesses against a battle tested, lower seeded playoff team that has been riddled with two seasons of bad luck. The L.A. Lakers are quickly becoming a cohesive unit under the guidance of Phil Jackson and the play of Kobe Bryant. And like the L.A. Clippers, are fortunate for the way the playoff brackets have treated them to their strengths.

As the Spurs and Kings game proved yesterday…match-ups are key during the playoffs...the relentless pounding of Ron Artest has pretty much rendered Manu Ginobili useless….Bonzi Wells has proven to be too fast and too strong for an aging Bruce Bowen...Tim Duncan hasn’t been able to adjust to Brad Miller’s jumpshot, and Tony Parker couldn’t defend a hub cap, let alone, Mike Bibby. I don’t consider this series to be over by any means…the Spurs will have to make those adjustments, and the Kings have to steal one game in San Antonio…this series has proven that the Spurs will have to work to defend those rings… and the Kings are to be feared in the west once again barring any Artest crazy spells or Bonzi tantrums….things are looking up in Sacramento…

Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are a pair to be reckoned with. You can’t deny the 9 rings on the Zenmaster’s fingers anymore. He knows how to work it in the playoffs. And Kobe realizes what it takes to make his team better. The Suns are considered contenders for the championship this year even without Amare. But oh, how they miss the size now. Being totally exploited and totally out sized….Kwame Brown is playing like he gets it and Lamar Odom is making Shawn Marion perform a disappearing act…the whole Lakers team has responded to Phil Jackson’s game plan and are now about to pull off a major upset, leading the Suns 3-1 in the series.

The Chicago Bulls are proving, once again, that star power doesn’t exactly mean you win in the playoffs…four games have been played in this series with the Chicago Bulls playing excellent to near perfect team basketball, and the Miami Heat not knowing how to deal with a very cohesive defense. The Miami Heat are pulling a major implosion, and we will see if the Bulls can now hold off this veteran squad without the help of the oh so fragile Tyson Chandler. With no other sizeable players in Chi-town, Chandler’s injury may very well be a luck filled blessing in disguise for this Miami team that has struggled against the number 7^th seed in the east.

Add in New Jersey Nets vs. Indiana Pacers…and Cleveland Cavs vs. Washington Wizards…each teams evenly matched, or equally horrible, you make the call. And we figure to have a very exciting first round of the playoffs.

I’d elaborate on the Clippers vs. Denver series but I just don’t see this as much of a match up…credit this to the screwy way that the NBA seeds these teams in the playoffs…The Clips have the better record but the Nuggets won their respective division, thus the third seed…I just don’t like how that played out in this series…

I consider the Milwaukee win as more of a fluke than anything else. The 124 point barrage from the Bucks did nothing more than wake up a sleeping giant. If Michael Redd and company can do it again, then I might consider this a legit series. But for now, I think it was more the cat toying with the mouse than David beating Goliath.  

The Dallas and Memphis series…..well….maybe next season, Pau.

Other than the latter three games I stated. I think the upper five have proven to be very entertaining and a joy for the first round. Each game has proven to be a battle to the wire with a weekend filled with buzzer beaters and great plays in the end minutes. Four out of the eight series are tied up, 2-2. And two other series are advantage 3-1 to the lower seeded team. I don’t think too many people thought it would be quite like this.

Ya gotta love playoff basketball.

Forget the first two losses in Miami. Forget the game 3 blowout win in front of the eyes of the guy with the statue out front. Forget this season all together and you still have a whole future of promise in Chi-town. And I'm not just talking next season, but for years to come.

Since the arrival of John Paxson, the Chicago Bulls organization has seen bright spot after bright spot bless the halls that Jordan built.

We've seen the maturation of three young perimeter players drafted out of college (what?!...out of college!!!??) turn into a very deadly backcourt.

Kirk Hinrich is the precise passing point guard, credited by many experts as one of the best at the pick and roll. He has matured into a leader that knows his roll and knows how to make his team better.

Ben Gordon is the lights out assassin. Capable of hitting any shot from anywhere, at any time. His scoring flurries and speed make him a danger to any defender, and few are capable at stopping his shot.

Luol Deng is becoming the workman's worker. He can score, he can scrap, and he can defend.

Now you must also consider the fan favorite Andres Nocioni. An Olympic gold medalist and the dirty dog of the bunch. He's the guy that frustrates the opposing team's best scorer. The second coming of Bruce Bowen. With an even better shot and tenacious demeanor. He is Chicago's energy; he is heart and soul of this young squad. And the Chicago fans have fallen in love with this guy.

Throw in the ever lowered scowl of Coach Scott Skiles. He preaches defense 24/7. He preaches toughness 24/7. He takes no guff, and he tolerates zero whining. This is a man that challenged Shaq to a fist fight when both played for Orlando. Now how many players in the NBA can put that on their resume?

Before the season started, I concluded that when John Paxson moved Eddy Curry to the New York Knicks, that it was a mistake. The only thing the Bulls got in return was the shadow of Tim Thomas (now in PHX), Mike Sweetney's ever growing buddha belly and New York's first round draft pick. But like many, I figured that New York would at least not be the crappiest team in the league. Not with all of that talent and a championship coach. I've never been so happy to put my foot in my mouth. Enter this year's draft and you will see John Paxson smiling at a potential number 1 pick. And I'll make sure I get him to pick me some numbers for the Illinois State Lottery as well.

Because of the Eddy Curry trade, my man Pax is also sitting on tons of cap room to sign a very serviceable free agent or two during the off-season. One big move or a couple of well placed smaller moves, and you can consider the Bulls a championship contender in the year(s) ahead.

And all the while, Michael Jordan is looking on from his skybox cheering the home team. This young Bulls squad got it together by the end of the season and made the playoffs when most had left this team with not much size to be lottery fodder. They held today's most dominant center to 8 points in a playoff game. And that was the worst game that Shaquille has ever played in the playoffs. They also lead Miami's legendary coach to declare that his team straight up got their #### kicked in game 3, which by the way, was hilarious.

And yes, in the windy city.....the best is yet to come.

I gave this post that subject name just to see if you’d read this. If someone else has written about this, well, kudos to you on keeping up with some of the positive things athletes do for the community.

 Kevin Garnett has just been named this year’s winner of the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. This award is given to the person that has put forth the extra effort to do something positive for the community. And congrats to Kevin for being so deserving of this award.

After Hurricane Katrina, a whole slew of NBA players decided to help in any way that they could. Garnett took an extra step. He donated over 1 million dollars to Oprah’s Angel Network and built 24 homes for Katrina survivors. That’s one house per month for the next two years. I remember him talking about this during Kenny Smith’s NBA Players Hurricane Relief Game in Houston (in which he also participated), he described how helpless he felt. He wanted to do more than just donate money. He wanted to know that the money he was giving was going towards something that he knew would be worthwhile. So he took the extra steps and contacted Oprah’s Angel network directly. 1.2 million dollars later, 24 families had a home to live in after being so devastated by Katrina.

Aside from this, and this is even cooler. KG also started a foundation of his own called 4XL. I looked into the 4XL website and got some information on this program, and I’m impressed. 4XL stands for “For Excellence and Leadership”.  Here’s the excerpt of the mission statement straight from the website:

4XL®'S MISSION: to put young African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans and Native Americans on the path to business and community leadership.

If you're a high school junior or senior, or college student, 4XL® can provide you with opportunities to gain exposure and access to the business world, and get personal guidance along the way. It's ultimately up to you, and 4XL® can help you join the next generation of business and community leaders!

An athlete, a millionaire, and a man that jumped straight from high school to the pros…instilling a little help for some youngsters to get them the resources they need to be productive members of society, as entrepreneurs, leaders. This isn’t a basketball camp, this is a job program. If kids need anything today, its guidance into the professional world. Kevin Garnett realized this, and started 4XL. Now that’s giving to the community.

Aside from steroids issues, sex scandals, and the whole competitive nature that brings out the animal in men when it comes to sports…it’s nice to see that there are bright spots. The NBA player especially, gets stereotyped into being money hungry, self absorbed, and thuggish. Well in Kevin Garnett’s case, he is none of the above.

Congrats KG!

As I peer into many of my fellow bloggers respective blogs, I notice a peculiar thing about most but not all….are we so entrenched into our own hometown love that it clouds our actual view? Is someone that talks only about the town that they claim as home an actual sports fan? Of course we see this bias in our great sports writers today…I enjoy Mark Stein’s basketball articles…but then he gets on these rants about his beloved Cal team…and Bill Simmons….will he ever run out of things to say about Boston? The list goes on and on and you can also see where the “hometown love” creates a vacuum of more biased than actual unbiased journalism.

I will tell you the truth, the second I read a blog about one certain team, I immediately check to see where the writer is coming from. I see at times that the “hometown love” takes over and the writer is more entrenched in writing on feeling that actual fact. That’s when I stop reading. Because, if I wanted biased journalism, I’d listen to Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and Ann Coulter more.

It’s unavoidable, especially when a big city reporter or announcer talks more about their respective teams than most. That’s the way it should be. What I can’t stand though, is, say, when I’m watching an NBA game on a Foxsports channel from that respective city, and the color commentators are clearly showing more love to the Hometown team. I don’t care how much love you feel for the Hometown team…but, during a game, and a ref makes a bad call, it’s a bad call…plain and simple…for either team…not just for your beloved Hometown squad. It takes me back to the days when I watched Pro wrestling…and the “bad guy” color commentator always showed more love for the antagonist, and the “good guy” color commentator cheered on the protagonist. Totally biased…no true facts…just favoritism.

I love NBA basketball…all of NBA basketball…of course my heart belongs to the Chicago Bulls (thanks MJ). It’s the city I’m closest to, even though I live in Michigan…(I’m in the southwest, so Chitown is 1 hour closer than Detroit)…but when I try to write these articles, I try to span the many aspects of NBA basketball. I once wrote an article about the Detroit Pistons, and immediately started getting trash from many different bloggers….all of whom were admitted Detroit fans, living in or around Detroit…the only ones that saw my point, were the ones not from Detroit or Michigan.

Being from Michigan, I was chastised by many people, friends and family, for saying that the Spurs were taking the title last season. So I was labeled the enemy. All I did was look at both teams, took an unbiased approach, and predicted that the Spurs would win. Many figured that since I am from Michigan, that I SHOULD be rooting for the Pistons. I think that’s just hogwash if you are a true sports fan.

I’m a gambling man as well. And anyone who has lost money gambling on a team knows that when you place that bet, you must decide if you are betting with your heart or your head. If you’re betting with heart, you’re not actually gambling, your picking a favorite and HOPING that they win. A true gambler has no favorites…a true gambler looks at the stats, looks at the trends, and makes an unbiased guess. Most sports analysts have to go about it this way for the sake of keeping their job. And the same goes for nationwide sports writers as well.

So when your writing your umpteenth blog about your favorite team, remember that with this internet comes a broader audience. A worldwide audience that doesn’t care about where you come from. It’s great to love the “Hometown team”. But to call yourself a Sports fan…means that you should love the sport….not just the particular team that is playing that sport.

And GO BULLS!!!...

Okay, this is plain ridiculous…is this all we can talk about when it comes to the NBA. Lebron this, Lebron that. Sure, he’s a phenom. And sure, he can ball. But every sports website, and every other blog I see here is about Lebron “Coming Back to Earth” after his worldly performance in game one.

Let’s talk about this triple double real quick. What I saw was Lebron going nuts against a Wizards team that has lacked defense all season long. What I also saw was Lebron obtaining said triple double with a rebound in the final minutes of what pretty much was a blow out. So after this “awesome game”, we read about how impressed we were at how the “King” handled his first playoff experience…and now, after a dismal performance against the same Wizards team that still lacks the same type of defense, we keep being reminded of how young this “King” is. And he’s gonna make mistakes…awwwww…pooooooorrr King….

I’m not hating, Lebron is an awesome player. The best player in the game…well, lets not jump to that conclusion just yet…when he can look at his ring finger and see the shining metal and diamonds glistening from his hand…then we can call him the greatest. And I like many others, believe that this will happen in due time.

All I’m trying to say is that there are 15 other teams going at it right now. That’s 195 players involved in this year’s playoff run. I see no talk in the change of strategy from Eddie Jordan (did ya know that he’s the coach of the Wizards?) that pretty much was a brilliant adjustment….(hello playoffs)….of Gilbert Arenas and the 30 points that he plugged in game two…(in front of a Cleveland crowd)…of the defensive efforts of Jared Jefferies and Caron Butler, whom of which took turns in shutting Bron down…

But still Lebron is the headline on every NBA website I look at….and pretty much, the subject in most of these blogs I see….sheesh guys….its the NBA, not the NLA.

And with this, my Lebron article about the Lebron overkill is done…(now isn’t that ironic!)