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.
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.
"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.
Said Steve Nash..."In this series, we haven't had many calls go our way,. . Kwame Brown elbowing Raja or standing over Boris or Kobe pushing Boris into Smush Parker . . . I don't understand what the real difference is in all these plays. But they're going to single out this play because it's against Kobe, and that's just a real shame."
No Steve, the real shame is that your real reaction should have been..."What a friggin moron! 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.
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 6th, 7th and 8th 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 7th 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.
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:
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