NBA Playoffs Preview – First Round

This is written by somebody who we are hoping will become a regular contributor. His name is Adam and he actually knows and follows the NBA which -as many of you know- is something we’ve been missing from this website. Either way, here’s his preview for the playoffs:

First off, I would like to say that I live in the greatest state for the NBA…Missouri, with two major cities St. Louis and Kansas City and a combined number of zero teams. So that means I have no team, but I love the NBA and always have since I can remember, of course I grew up a Bulls fan (who didn’t)!

The NBA seems to be somewhat rejuvenated from a competitive standpoint with a crop of true Superstars in LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and many more. Sure the defense is still lax for most of the game during the regular season, but for the Playoffs it is different. That’s why I’ve always said that for the casual basketball fan or the NBA hater that the NBA Playoffs are the time to watch. It’s when the greatest players in the world play their hardest and for the NBA fan, it’s the best time of the year!

Shaq’s New Show

For the last two Tuesdays I’ve found myself watching Shaq Vs., the new show on ABC.  In it, Shaquille O’Neal takes on top athletes from around the country in their respective sport.  The results are predictably hilarious.  In the first episode Shaq took on Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in a 7 on 7, two-hand touch football game.  Roethlisberger’s team won, but the highlight of the night came when Shaq left the sideline to pick off Big Ben’s pass and rumble down the field for a score (which did not count.)

In last night’s episode, Shaq took on the best sand volleyball team in the world, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.  Again, he lost, but he put forth a respectable effort.

I’ve stated my general disdain for basketball on numerous occasions.  I just really don’t like the game.  I must say, though, that I love Shaquille O’Neal.  I wish all athletes were like him.

LeBron’s Non-Handshake

LeBron James

Usually I go for a run at this time, but since it decided to pour rain when I got off work, I’m reading sports articles instead.  Unfortunately, everywhere I go, I find articles like this one.  I’ve stated before that I just don’t like basketball, so this is venturing into unknown (and probably unwelcome) territory for me.  Luckily for me, it’s not real basketball news; in fact, it’s not real news.  It’s kind of dumb.  If you haven’t heard already, LeBron James didn’t shake hands with anyone after the Orlando Magic beat James’ Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.  He also didn’t show up to a post game press conference.

Story ends there, right?  Of course not.

Glen Davis Apologizes…For Doing Nothing.

I had planned on putting this up before I went to a concert tonight, but it wasn’t meant to be.  Oh well, it all reads the same.  While I was at work this morning I ran across this article.  On Sunday, Big Baby Glen Davis hit a jumper at the buzzer to beat the Orlando Magic and tie their playoff series at 2.  After the shot, he turned to celebrate with his teammates and inadvertently bumped a 12-year-old boy.  Boo. Hoo.

February 2009 – Important Events

This is something new that I’m going to try to do each month. I will give each date and list important events, games and/or something in sports history that have happened on that date. I will do my best to provide at least one thing for each day. If I forget anything feel free to let me know if a comment. Without further ado, here it is:

Hansbrough vs. Harangody

The more college basketball I watch, the more I can’t help but wonder about the future careers of North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody. Both are elite college power forwards whose size doesn’t really translate to that position at the next level. Hansbrough is listed at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds. Harangody is listed at 6-foot-8 and 251 pounds. Now, this doesn’t mean they can’t be NBA power forwards. Elton Brand is a damn good power forward and he is 6-foot-8 254 pounds. I think what will determine the better NBA player is the combination of skill and versatility, which I think both go to the less-publicized Harangody.

Sonic Departure

As you know by now, I am not a basketball fan. I don’t really like watching it, I don’t really like playing it. If I do watch it, I watch the college variety because I actually have teams to root for and against. Now having said all that, the way the Seattle SuperSonics were treated over the last 2+ years is absurd.

In the summer of 2006, a group led by Clayton Bennett bought the Sonics. I happened to be in Seattle for that summer and heard most of the backlash that occurred. Bennett took out a full page ad in the paper saying how he intended to try his hardest to keep the Sonics in Seattle and blah blah blah. Bennett half-heartedly tried to get support for a new arena and turned down offers to pay for all of the improvements to the Key Arena. The arena opened in 1962 and underwent a 74.5 million dollar renovation in 1994. The arena was the smallest in the NBA, but it was not inadequate.

The city of Seattle sued Bennett to rescind the sale of the team, but reached a settlement yesterday saying that Bennett must pay the city $75 million. The unnamed Oklahoma City team will have to leave the logo, colors, and history in Seattle, as it should be.

Again, I don’t watch much basketball, but I will root against this new Oklahoma City team, just because of how their owners treated their former city. Imagine if you were a Sonics fan and some guy decides he wants to take your team from you and move them halfway across the country? It’s awful to think about.

Quite a day ahead of us

Sunday around my house are reserved for watching sports…much like every other day, I just feel like things get started earlier so it takes up all day. Today, there are so many sporting events, I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch everything I want to.

Right now, Turkey and the Czech Republic are 14 minutes deep in an elimination contest in the European Championship. If they tie, it goes into a shootout, which is always fun…unless you’re emotionally involved somehow.  I’m taking the Czechs 2-1 in this one.

Then at 3:30, Tiger Woods tries to keep his lead after his Kirk Gibson-like performance on yesterday’s back nine. I’m just convinced that he’s no longer human.

At 4, USA takes on Barbados in the first of a home and home series in the first round World Cup Qualifying. If you don’t like soccer because they don’t score enough, tune into this game. USA should put in at least 4 and could get more if they play like they can.

Then at 7:30, the Celtics try to close out the Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. I probably won’t watch any of this since the Braves are on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, but maybe Weller will be home for that.

So call your Dad, grab the remote and enjoy the day. If you’re watching from Missouri like me, it’s raining anyway so stay inside.

NBA Finals – 2 Games In

After two games of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears to be clear which of these two teams wants this championship more. The Celtics have played with a unity and desire to win that the Lakers have not shown. The Celtics seem to be rallying around their captain, Paul Pierce. After being down 5 at half time in Game 1, Paul Pierce started the spark that gave them the lead, and then when he was hurt the team rallied in his absence. When he returned it gave an emotional boost. I believe that this team lives and dies with Paul Pierce. As good as Kevin Garnett is, I feel that Pierce is the heart and soul.

So far in the series Pierce is shooting 62% from the field and 88% from behind the arc and is averaging 25 points per game. With KG getting a double-double in both games, Ray Allen averaging 18 points per game, and Rajon Rondo averaging 12 assists, this team is hitting on all cylinders. And I have yet to even mention Game 2′s player of the game, Leon Powe, who came in off of the bench and scored a staggering 21 points on only 15 minutes of action in last night’s game.

The Celtics have shown in Game 1 that they can come back from being down, and finish out a game strong to win and then showed in Game 2 that they can get a lead early and hold onto it despite a 4th quarter run by the Lakers. They have also shown that they can either contain Kobe Bryant and take him off of his rhythm and win, or that they can still win when Bryant has a 30 point performance.

From here on out the Celtics can have a losing record and still be world champions, and with the way they seem to be clicking I don’t see them losing game 3, and no team in NBA history has come back in the finals to win when facing a 3-0 deficit, and unless I’m mistaken I believe only one team has even come back to even force a Game 7. With that said, it sure is looking positive for the Celtics, especially if they can win tomorrow.

The King vs The Boston Three Party

As you very well may know, in the second round of the NBA playoffs the Cleveland Lebrons will be taking on the Boston Celtics. This is an intriguing matchup on many levels in my eyes. At first glance it seems that Lebron will be out matched. However if you look at the 4 times the teams met each other in the regular season you’ll see that they split the games at 2 to 2 and one of Boston’s wins came in a game in which Lebron did not play. So in reality, Lebron is 2-1 vs the Celtics this year.

In these three games against the Celtics Lebron has averaged 32.3 points, 7 boards, 9.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Those are some pretty good numbers on most any standard. The other four starters on his team, Delonte West, Devin Brown, Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas total for an average of 42.8 points, 28 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 0.75 steals, and 3.75 blocks.

On the other side of things, the Big 3 (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen) have totaled to average 52.6 points, 16.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 5 steals and 1.92 blocks. While the other two starters for the Celtics, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, combined to average 19.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.25 blocks.

In total, Cleveland’s starting five average 75.1 points, 35 rebounds, 20.3 assists, 3.08 steals and 5.08 blocks. While Boston’s starting five average 72.2 points, 27 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.17 blocks. So despite the fact that this matchup is indeed The King vs The Big 3, with starting 5 stats being so close, I believe the outcome of this series will come down to bench play.

Even though the Celtics are dangerous, and very talented, their play in the first round made me skeptical. If they play weak defense against Lebron like they did against the Hawks, then he will tear them apart. I’m picking the Cleveland Lebrons in 6.