Apoligies

My internet has been out since Thursday. I will be putting in double work this week to make up for it

Name that Player

Y'all been sleepin. Last week's Player was the phenom, Alex English.



Here are the descriptors for this week's player:

• I went to college at UNLV
• I had a 40 inch vertical
• In October, I was sentenced to 30 months prison for not having a firearm owner's identification card and possession of drugs
• I'm an admitted alcoholic who "never played a game sober"
• My career high of blocks in a game is 12.
  

Defeating the Leastern

For what seems like an eternity, there’s been a serious gap between the NBA’s two conferences. There’s no real need to go over the discouraging facts; everyone knows the East has been losing a battle with mediocrity. Front-office moves almost as inane as some of the East’s starting line-ups have kept more than enough of its teams in the doghouse while the Bestern plays out the most exciting playoff race we’ve seen. Where does it all end? Here’s a few ideas for Leastern teams who want to overcome this stigma and restore balance to the league:

Atlanta Hawks:

AJ: Keep your core together. After years of futility it looks as though the Hawks’ young nucleus is finally growing up. Joe Johnson’s a bonafide scorer while Josh Smith has evolved from a raw athlete to one of the league’s most versatile players. Mike Bibby and Al Horford give them a steady floor general and a banger down low; two things they’ve been sorely lacking for years. They’re a likely playoff team with serious upside, who will hopefully not linger in regret about not drafting Chris Paul, invest in its future and avoid ending up like the Bulls.

Christian: The squad is nice and just needs some more time to gel. They should be a lock for the playoffs for years to come. They were in need of a deep threat so I love the Mike Bibby pick up. Horford/JJ/JSmooth are all the truth and Marvin is certainly on the rise. Keep Josh Childress! I love this cat. I don’t think they need to add pieces, they just need time.

Boston Celtics:

AJ: Win a championship in the next 2 or 3 seasons. Simple. Kevin McHale, excuse me, Danny Ainge engineered a remarkable turnaround in Beantown but with all three of their stars getting no younger, they need to seize this opportunity. With all of them also hungry for a first title, they might just get it.

Christian: Best record in the league huh? Can’t improve much on that. However, when you sign Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown, you know your window is small. The Celts have put it all on the line so lets hope they get some results. As much as I want to see the Big 3 get rings…I literally got $ on it not happening.

Charlotte Bobcats:

AJ: Find an impact player. This team’s way too talented not to be competing the in the East. They’ve been nagged by injuries all year, but still need to land a player who can really lead them. With a lottery pick, plenty of young talent to trade and loads of cap space, they need to make a run at a big name player. At worst, someone like Jermaine O’Neal who’s been to All-Star games, the playoffs and can bring the Bobcats their first taste of the playoffs.

Christian: Get healthy. I think this squad could be good with what they have, but not overwhelmingly good. The way they’re set up, they just need JRich and Gerald to carry the scoring load and have an array of nice roll players. Though they appear to be after thoughts, Sean May and Adam Morrison are part of this young core that was supposed to grow together. If they drafted Brandon Roy, where would the team be today?

Chicago Bulls:

AJ: Learn from your mistakes. Not cashing in on a chance to land Pau Gasol for an expiring deal. Over-paying an aging big man who doesn’t address your glaring needs. Failing to pay your two best players and sending your team into a season with nothing but uncertainty on the horizon. This is not how you improve young teams. In fact, review the logic that led to virtually every personnel move since MJ’s retirement, then in the future do the exact opposite.

Christian: Decide who to keep/ship. They possess some nice assets, they just need to get their priorities straight. They probably wish they pulled the trigger on anything and I mean anything. It really is just another, “what the fuck went wrong?” situation. The team wasn’t working the way it was, so you add Larry Hughes? Hmm we’ll see how that works out. I know we all love Nocioni, but if he’s the difference in getting a legit star….come on. How long will they wait for Tyrus to develop? I bet Ben Gordon is wishing he signed that extension…

Cleveland Cavaliers:

AJ: Appease King James. Memo to Danny Ferry: In the five years since your squad drafted arguably the most talented player ever, you’ve made strides to improve them, but they’re still a second-rate team. Don’t let the fact that Lebron carried his mediocre surroundings to the Finals fool you into thinking you’re anywhere close to winning a title. You need to make moves at all costs. Buyout contracts? Go for it. Luxury tax? Consider it paid. I know you play in a small market; you’re not the wealthiest team. But if you don’t give Lebron a contender by 2010, regardless of hometown ties, he’s heading somewhere that will.

Christian: I think these playoffs will be a testament to how much Lebron means to this team. That said, once they fall short, there needs to be a realization made; the God needs a second fiddle. Was Mike Miller really that far of a stretch? While you may have added some serviceable parts, the most glaring need still appears to be another shoulder for the scoring load. How far will Danny be willing to go because it will likely take a massive overhaul to get the right piece.

Detroit Pistons:

AJ: Quit Dreaming. The Pistons are occasionally brilliant, occasionally caught up in nonchalance, plagued by the sense of entitlement that their last seven 50-win seasons have brought. They need to keep in mind that they haven’t won the East since ’05 and that the Lebron show has left them seriously shook the last two years. With the exception of Tayshaun, their core is far from young and looking at a closing window, so start playing with a sense of urgency; no one’s entitled to anything in the Least.

Christian: A great team without real hope. Yes they’re contenders, but who really believes they’ll win a championship with this team? Even if they make the Finals, what then? How could they improve without breaking up this team? I think the Pistons will remain in the playoff hunt for years to come, but I think they will slowly fall from their perch atop the East. In my opinion, trading a couple players for a big name won’t help, but neither will keeping this current team. So it seems the Pistons need to be satisfied with two or three rounds of the playoffs and that’s all.

Indiana Pacers:

AJ: Commit to re-building. The Pacers have become one of the more mundane and irrelevant (at least on the court) teams in the league. The Palace Brawl resulted in the trades of most of their best players for less talented pieces, all in the name of repairing PR and remaining competitive. Sadly, their attendance has fallen to last in the league. Their players still fail drug tests, hang with murderers, have women being raped at their houses and involve themselves in high-speed shootouts. Not to mention they suck.

Christian: They have some good pieces, but still a lot of holes. In the NBA, let alone the East, that certainly won’t hold up. Use the draft and do something with Jermaine. If Dunleavy and Granger can keep it thorough, then the Pacers may have something to smile about in the future. It’s funny because they have a losing record and I still consider them to be overachieving. They’re still a couple years away from the playoffs I think.

Miami Heat:

AJ: Trust Pat Riley. The franchise is in general disarray, but also in the good hands of a legendary coach and respected authority. Riley was wise to leave his floundering team to scout the NCAA tournament this past week because he’s looking to the future. He knows most of the players currently logging minutes on his injury-ravaged roster won’t be in the rotation next year and it’s time to move forward. He’s coached three teams to the finals, winning titles with two; he knows what it takes to win so buy into his gameplan.

Christian: Be patient and pray to god you get the #1 pick. In a subsequent prayer, say a little something about DWade’s recuperation. It’s gonna be hard to essentially rebuild and keep Flash happy. If Marion does stay, you sign some nice free agents and get the Beast..we could be looking at a dangerous playoff team to play in the first round…next year.

Milwaukee Bucks:

AJ: Find an identity. The Bucks are a confounding squad; a torrid shooter leading some allegedly versatile players who don’t seem to be especially good at anything. They’re soft inside, don’t defend incredibly well and have a glut of players who can score in streaks but not as consistent second options. Perhaps it’s fair to say that Larry Krystowiajhsgdk has done a poor coaching job, but this team needs to figure out what the hell they’re about before they can build towards winning.

Christian: I grow frustrated with this team. With the stellar play of Charlie V, the Yi situation grows more complicated. Michael Redd is a great scorer, but well what else? Mo Williams is certainly legit, Bogut is legit and there are a slew of role players. With their team, they should be level with a team like the Sixers, but they aren’t. They need to mix thing up/get a new coach asap because this current arrangement is not cutting it.

New Jersey Nets:

AJ: Pray that Hova’s presence is enough to bring Lebron to Brooklyn in two years. Because the Nets just gave a career underachiever enough cash to severely handicap the team’s ability to address serious depth issues. Trust in the cold reality that handing Vincent Lamar max dollars leads to complacency and mediocrity. Enjoy your “franchise player”.

Christian: Focus on the future. I am anxious to see how the Nets do next year with Devin Harris right from the get go. They won’t be contenders, but they could be much improved. Carter is on the books for a while, but RJ is peaking right about now. Sean Williams is also on the rise. This team still has several years to find its niche, but if they don’t make the playoffs…in the East…a stern revamping may be in order. Question is, would anyone want Carter? (Holla if ya hear me Isiah…wait, you won’t have a job this summer)

New York Knicks:

AJ: Fuck. Who knows. It’s beyond obvious that so many things need to change with this team, but the dude calling all the shots seems bent on being a complete idiot. Unless Jimmy Dolan decides or is forced to sell the Knicks…if anyone’s got suggestions I’m sure Isaiah’s all ears at this point.

Christian: I could write a thesis on how fucked this team is so I’ll make it short and sweet. You overplay players, you have no concept of team chemistry and you are turning a basketball mecca into the laughing stock of the worst conference. So many of their players could be factors on other teams…..please set them free __________ (insert whoever will be running the team come July).

Orlando Magic:

AJ: Let Dwight do his thing. He’s still very raw, yet nearly putting up Wilt-only numbers. Hedo somehow stumbled upon the fountain of youth and gave them an unexpected boost this year, but for their next big free agent signing, try to remember that 18, 5 and 2 don’t equal $125 million.

Christian: Unlike some of the other teams in the East, time is on Orlando’s side. The starting line-up is tight, but they could use a really good power forward. I heard Udonis Haslem’s name come up, and I think they could contend with a little more depth. Who woulda put Rashard at the third option before this season jumped off? I am also of the opinion that they should upgrade from Jameer, and get a better floor general, but it might be easier said than done. The bench could use some more names, but as the Magic mature so will their place in the East.

Philadelphia 76ers:

AJ: Don’t stop believin’. They beat Boston last night to run their record above .500 and into the middle of the Leastern playoff bracket. Nobody saw this coming from a squad that’s arguably been a bigger surprise than the Blazers this year. Whether they can continue to perform now that the rest of the league takes them seriously is yet to be seen, but it’s been a promising season. Regardless of how the playoffs turn out, carry this momentum forward. Mo Cheeks is a player’s coach who should be able to motivate these youngsters who, like Atlanta, could become dangerous in a few years.

Christian: Keep doing what you’re doing. The team is young and very talented. The Andre’s, more specifically Miller has made a great impression on this team and he is really what holds it all together. They also have some scrills to throw around, so if they can find the right free agent then they are straight. It would seem they need to get a serious power forward to compliment Samuel on the block.

Toronto Raptors:

AJ: Grow some f***ing balls. Honestly. When a finesse player like Chris Bosh is the most hard-nosed dude on your team, you need to toughen up. This team is built like a ballet troupe, they excel at agility, ball movement and shooting. They’d clean up in the Euroleague but that fancy-ass featherweight ball doesn’t cut it in the NBA. Package TJ Ford and one of your swingmen for someone like Emeka Okafor who can wax boards and enforce the paint, easing the burden on Bosh’s shoulders. The Raps are too much Rey Mysterio and need a little more Steve Austin.

Christian: The issue for the raptors is that second scoring threat…still. As much as we want several swingmen, condense the fucking lineup and get another star. We understand u love having 2 starting point guards…but why don’t u assess another hole in your team instead? They have some nice piece to the puzzle, but it is going to take something massive to get them over the hump.

Washington Wizards:

AJ: Pray for health. Somehow through extended injuries to 2 of their top 3, the Wiz have stayed in the playoff picture and promising prospects like Nick Young and Andray Blatche have been effective in supporting roles. Agent Zero’s presence would surely boost them up at least on Cleveland’s level and if they can manage to stay healthy for a whole season, who knows? Gilbert’s preseason rants about Washington winning the East might not seem so far-fetched.

Christian: Who really knows what the Wiz are truly capable of? This team is scary when they are in full health. Chances are we won’t see their big three together to start next year. The Wiz should try to resign Antawn. Fuck the haters, THEY ARE NOT BETTER WITHOUT GILBERT, but he may dip with the cash. Nick Young, future all star ya heard?

Weekly Rap Line

This week's rap line comes from Jadakiss from Answer 5



"The young boss of the cross for four quarters
and from three-point land he's all water"

Mediocre Mavs

Why Dirk and Dallas are Destined for Denial in their quest for a title.

column by AJ

As San Antonio and Dallas faced each other on Sunday afternoon, one could not help but scoff at the relative unimportance of this late-season tilt. What would normally have been a crucial must-win to secure home-court in the playoffs had been reduced to a crucial must-win to remain securely in the playoffs at all; something that for Dallas, with their loss of the game and their MVP, seems increasingly unlikely. Both of these teams have become obscured by the Western boom this season, with teams like the Lakers, Suns, Hornets and Rockets stealing as many W’s as they have headlines from these perennial contenders. Although they’re mired in the bottom of the playoff bracket, there are plenty of reasons not to count out the defending champs…and some glaring flaws that will prevent this Dallas squad from making noise in the playoffs.

1. The Kidd Trade

Sure, adding a first-ballot hall of fame point guard to your roster in most cases would be a shrewd move. Kidd was the East’s second-most efficient point guard and is closer to averaging a triple-double than any player’s been in a very, very long time. Sadly for the Mavs, he’s not that quick of a defender and is routinely abused off the dribble by________(insert name of starting Western point guard here). He also doesn’t have the fast-break finishers he needs to push a transition offence like he did in Jersey. Then consider that the Mavs sacrificed Devin Harris’ youth for a 2-3 year window at a title, along with their best post defender when other playoff teams are bulking up down low. The move already looks questionable. Then compound it with the sad reality that the Mavs haven’t beaten a team over .500 since acquiring Kidd (in eight tries), and it seems safe to say it hasn’t made them a better team.

2. Disco’s Injury

I’ll be the first to call myself a Dirk hater; there’s nobody in the NBA I enjoy watching fail more than him. Despite this he isoccasionally a nasty clutch performer and easily Dallas’ best player. Losing him when your team’s already been gaining nothing but momentum towards the lottery is critical, maybe fatal. It remains to be seen if Josh Howard can be the focal point of an offense that has to outscore Phoenix, New Orleans, Denver, the Lakers and Golden State twice in the coming weeks. If Mark Cuban’s (who apparently now ghostwrites for the Dallas medical staff) prognosis of two weeks is on point, then Dirk will be working himself back into shape as the playoffs begin. Whether or not his team’s still a factor at that point remains to be seen.

3. The West’s Depth

In all reality, the Mavs are far from a bad team. They’ve stumbled a bit since a major acquisition but look, at least on paper, like a contender. Problem being, the West is just too damn good and even if Dirk makes a healthy return it’s hard to see them beating a team like Phoenix (who are suddenly looking very sincere) or the Lakers, or San Antonio in seven. The Mavs managed to lose to the Spurs yesterday despite Tim and Tony shooting a combined 7 for 329.

4. History

Here’s a brief lesson/reminder as to why the modern era Mavericks have been dubbed playoff underachievers by anyone with half a brain and an interest in basketball:

2003 – The third-seeded Mavs, fresh off of a 60-win season, go up 3-0 on the Portland Jailblazers, only to have them rally to force game seven, lead through three quarters, then collapse and allow Dallas to take the series.

2006 – The Mavs sweep the first two games of their only trip to the NBA Finals against the underdog Miami Heat, only to succumb to the Dwyane Wade show and lose four straight games, along with their dignity.

2007 – Having 67 reminders that they were still among the league’s best teams, Dallas strides into the playoffs with a #1 seed and are promptly dispatched by Golden State, marking the first 1/8 upset since the birth of the seven-game first round.

Case in point: When the Mavs have truly needed to win games, they either haven’t or have struggled mightily. This has been their burden for years, even when their poise and swagger has kept the conference on edge. With hardly anybody fearing them now, is anybody betting on them either?

When Mark Cuban bought the Mavs damn near a decade ago, he brought with him a revolution: a winning culture to a team that had sucked for years and bored its fans. He imported a legendary coach, threw millions at talented players and made a point of publicizing how well they were treated. His logic was simple: build a solid team, coach them well, keep them happy and they’ll win championships and sell tickets. Sell tickets? They’ve been one of the more entertaining teams in the league this millennium. Win championships? Still working on that one. What Cuban might need to consider this year when his team’s season inevitably ends sooner than he’d hoped or expected is that their future’s never looked so bleak. Unless his team can work some late miracles, they’ll become the first team to fall from a #1 seed to the lottery this quickly in who the fuck knows how long; a casualty of a conference filled with teams that at present look better and younger than the Mavs. They’ve always been fringe contenders; regular-season winners who have proven very little in the playoffs, and if Mr. Cuban wants to restore that winning environment to a team that’s disappointed time and time again, another revolution might have to be in store.

[The Mavs shoulda traded Dirk after his MVP season a la Moses Malone -Ed.]

While you were sleeping

There was something else going on last night while the Suns were busy getting into playoff form with a win against the Rockets. Somewhere between David West lighting up the Celtics (fresh off their Texas sweep) and the Magic falling to the Hawks, there was something brewing.While the Jazz were beating up on the Sonics and while the Bulls were re-affirming their shittyness by losing to the Pacers, there were stars aligning in Memphis.


In a seemingly meaningless game against the Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies came through with a nice W. It may not seem like much, but the Grizz had seven players in double figures. One of those players, was Darko Milicic. After my harsh criticism of him in a previous section, Darko exploded for 19,10 and three blocks on the likes of Spencer Hawes and Mikki "zero dimensional" Moore. Now, I know it might not seem like much, but maybe..just maybe it's more than that. Maybe this what we've all been waiting for. Maybe this is signaling a transformation. Maybe this is the culmination of everything Joe Dumars had hoped for. Maybe this is what the Magic thought they could harness. Or maybe it was just a fluke. Never the less, for that one night, for that one moment in time - Darko was a legit NBA big man. I know, I find it difficult to say as well, but maybe we were a little quick on Darko. While he may be a very minor step behind some other relative no names from the 2003 Draft(Melo, Dwade and CB4 immediatley come to mind), perhaps there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Presently the Grizzlies are 18-51, tied for second last in the Western Conference. Did I mention they share a division with playoff teams New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas? After sealing the next few years of Memphis' fate with the trade of Spanish hearthrob, Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies are looking to anyone from Javaris Crittenton to Jason Collins for answers. I can't speak for the organisation directly when I say this, but I am under the impression they aren't getting the answers they desire. So, Mr #2 pick Darko- with this brief instance of legitimacy, you have given the Grizzlies franchise the same glimmer of hope that Steve Francis denied, Shareef failed to reach and Michael Dickerson...well, to be honest he never really gave them any hope at all.

Player Spotlight - Jamal Mashburn

This week's player spotlight will take a look at small forward, Jamal Mashburn.

Did you know your boy is the 3rd youngest player to score 50 points? Impressive. Jamal had a stellar college career at Kentucky, being named an All-American in his junior year and it translated into a 4th overall selection in the 1993 draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Your boy led rookies in scoring, but it didn't earn him the ROY...all rookie first team would have to do. The first in a string of snubbs for Jamal. In his second year, he teamed with 3rd year guard Jim Jackson and rookie, Jason kidd to form "Triple J" which led the Mavs to the best turnaround in the L.

Injuries hit Jamal pretty hard, and its a shame. He was traded to the Miami Heat in the 1996-7 season, when his trade value had dipped and he was not the focal point of the offense. He bumbled through a couple of seasons, reaching the playoffs each year but never got to the big dance. In 2000 he was traded to the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets and became a leader to a very young squad (wuddup B Diddy). 2003 marked the first and only year that Jamal would make his presence felt in the NBA all star game, and I find that quite remarkable.

Jamal had continued knee problems for the 2003-2004 season and he was even forced to sit out the following year. Ya boy was even traded with journeyman Rodney Rogers to the Sixers for washed up, former "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson. Waived in 2006, Jamal has since retired and lives in Miami. You can still see Jamal on ESPN and NBA Fastbreak where he is well spoken and articulates his points nicely. As mentioned before, Jamal was a one time all-star with averages of 19.1, 5.4 and 4.0 a game for his career. He was snubbed early in his career, went through some major setbacks, but was finally able to be a deserved all-star after 10 years in the league!


[Editors note: Don't sleep on the 93' draft..Webber, Penny, Jamal, Vin Baker, Allan Houston, RIDER and lets not forget Sam Cassell and Nick the Quick...or everyone's favorite big, white, #2 overall pick - Darko........................................... just kidding, it was Shawn "The Mantis" Bradley- see video on the left side )].

Name that Player!

Last week's player was Bill Walton


Here are the descriptors for this week's player:

• I'm a seven time All Star
• I was in the Whoopi Goldberg "hit", Eddie
• I was a 2nd round pick
• I played small forward
• I was the top scorer of the 1980s

Weekly Rap Line

This week's line comes from Biggie.



"The shit she kicked, all the shit's legit
She get dick from a player off the New York Knicks
...We fucked in his bed, quite dangerous
I'm in his ass while he playin gainst the Utah Jazz"

Ante Up

In an effort to capitalize on my knowledge of the NBA, I've decided to start placing several bets a night. Here's how my efforts have gone thus far

March 13:

- $10 (1.91 odds) on CLE/WAS over 193.5 pts win $9.10 profit

- $10 (3.50 odds) on GS over PHX lost $10 (paid $35) down $0.90

March 14:

-$ 10 (1.94 odds) on PHI/CHI over 200 pts win $9.40 profit

- $10 (1.91 odds) on ORL +12 pts over MIA (only won by 9) lost $10 down $0.60 ($1.50 total)

March 15:

- $10 (1.91 odds) on ORL/IND under 225.5 pts lost $10

-$11 (1.95 odds) on MIN/POR over 200 pts win $10.01 profit

-$10 (1.91 odds) on SA over PHI lost $10 - $9.99 ($ -11.49 total)

March 16:

-$10 (1.91 odds) on DEN +15.5 over SEA win $9.10 profit

-$10 (1.91 odds) on DAL + 14 over MIA win $9.10 profit

-$15 (1.96 odds) on ATL over NYK win $14.40 profit
total $20.70 profit

Picks for tonight (March17)

-$10 (3.34 odds) on NYK over IND
-$10 (1.91 odds) on NO +5 over CHI

Houston's for real?

I called them a pretender about ten days ago even after they had won something like 16 straight. I'd like to stand by my prediction, so I will. That said, the Rockets impressed me with their win today, their 22nd in a row. They are just a very solid team all around. It all starts with their defense in my mind. Teams are struggling to put up 90 on these guys. I understand that the Lakers were without Pau, but they are still among the league's elite. Game in, game out this team plays like a team.



They are getting stellar effort out of all their players ( and only two from the image above). Sup Chuck Hayes? Whats good Bobby? Dikembe been nice and lord knows the Spurs probably still think about their dealing of Luis Scola to a division rival. Personally, I am not a fan of this team, but I'm respecting what their doing. If you believe that defense wins championships, then you should put your money on the Celts or the Rockets. In the West however, this likely won't be enough. It will be interesting to see how far this team goes. Keep in mind, my quam with their team since Yao went out is their need for a secondary scorer. Tonight, it was Rafer Alston who stepped up and who knows who it will be next game. I believe that responsibility lies on the shoulders of Tracy McGrady. It's up to him to create shots for his teammate and initiate the majority of the offense. Though they may not be the most talented, the Rockets are on the second longest winning streak in NBA history. That is some elite company, and when you look at the cast that is doing it, you can't help but be impressed.

An NBA analyst for 'Christians Thoughts' sums it up nicely;

"Winning 22 in a row in the face of roster shuffles and crippling injury is astounding. They're the first team without 2 consensus top ten all-time players to win 20 straight, so they're playing remarkable basketball"

Remember When?

-Column by AJ

Let’s take it wayyy back to April 1994. The Supersonics were riding the high of a 60-win season and the coveted #1 seed into a best-of-five with the Nuggets. Led by the young tandem of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton and supported by a deep cast of role-players, they were eyeing this series as little more than a tune-up for upcoming battles against Western powerhouses San Antonio and most likely after that, Houston. After all, eighth seeds were little more than formalities; doormats for the best team in each conference to sweep aside. They said Denver would never win. They also said Darko was the next Dirk. Five games later, Seattle’s season was a thing of the past and Mutombo was keeled over, rolling around the Key Arena hardwood, overcome by a reality that couldn’t have been real. There was no way that the disparity between the top and bottom of the playoff picture could be disparaged like that, no way the best team in the league could be silenced this early. But this was a fluke, surely there was no way a #8 could do this again, let alone make a deep run into the playoffs. There was talk of a uniform series length, a seven-game first round; that would make it even harder on the lower seed, pretty much guarantee we’d never witness such humiliation again. God only knew what would come next, if one day we’d see a league where seeds meant nothing; one so competitive that this type of thing was happening all around us, a real fight for supremacy where playoff victories were far from guaranteed. It was too good to be true; equal parts enticing and improbable…

Fast-forward 14 years, witness the ’99 Knicks win their conference, the ’07 Warriors upend a 67-win team and consider the situation out West. The race for playoff spots is perhaps as tight as it’s ever been with perennial contenders Phoenix and Dallas holding down the six and seven spots and getting mixed results since their recent blockbusters. If ever there was a season for playoff upsets and Cinderella stories, this has to be it. The postseason’s taken on a whole new meaning in the Bestern Conference; it’s about to be a complete dogfight full of the most intense and competitive basketball most of us will have seen, almost enough of an apology for that other conference. Times’ve sure changed since the Sonics suffered that historic loss, and now as the playoff stretch run begins, all we have to do is enjoy the show. [Who got next? -Ed.]

Player Spotlight - Oscar Robertson

Does anyone remember what team's streak the Houston Rockets just tied with their 20th win?

The answer is the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Lew Alcindor and the (then) recently acquired, Big O. Recognize.


Here at 'Christians Thoughts', we are concerned with giving the reader insight on both the present and the past of the NBA. With that said, it's time for a history lesson. This week I will be focusing on the point god, Oscar Robertson.

'The Big O' did big things on the court. He was the shit from day one. A two time player of the year in college, Oscar was taken first overall in the 1960 NBA draft and kept it movin. If you don't know who this guy is, you need to both step and brush your game up. He played for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks in his illustrious fourteen year career, and is membered, perhaps most notably for being the only player in NBA history to average a triple double for a season.

Check the files -

• 1959, 1960 USBWA College Player of the Year
• 1961 NBA Rookie of the Year
• 1964 NBA MVP
• 1971 NBA champion
• 9x All-NBA First Team selection
• 2x All-NBA Second Team selection
• 12x NBA All-Star (1961-72). 12 straight no less.
  
• 3x NBA All-Star Game MVP (1961, 1964, 1969)
• NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• 1960 Olympic gold medalist

Oscar won the national scoring title and was named an All-American in all three years of his college career. Though his pro career spawned only the one chip, he was unconscious. He narrowly missed averaging a triple doublefor the season, three or four times. Those who had the privledge of seeing him play claim he is most versataille player to ever grace the NBA. Also, realize that he was the only person to win the NBA award from 1960-68, not named Wilt or Bill. That is some elite company right thurr. Going up against the 76ers and Celts every year, is the reason Oscar doesn't have more rings on his 69 year old fingers.


The Big O, also did some things off the court which forever changed the game. He was president of the players association! For those of you who get your b-ball history from Will Farrel in 'Semi-Pro', "The Oscar Robertson suit" is largley responsible for merging the NBA and ABA people. This led to higher player salaries and encouraged the signing of more free agents.
Think about this, the Bucks were 59-23 in his last season, and in the next they were 38-44 even with Abdul-Jabbar. Cuz was nice with it.

Name that Player!

Last week's player was Moses Malone.


Here are the descriptors for this week's player :

• I've won the MVP and the 6th man award.
• I overcame a severe stuttering problem.
• I live in San Diego.
• I had a cameo in Little Nicky.
• I only played in one all star game.
  

Ham of the Week

Here at Christian’s Basketball Rants, we’re committed to the promotion of basketball excellence and the mockery of underachievement and stupidity. While we try to maintain an optimistic outlook, especially in the midst of the incredible season we’re being treated to, some individuals and groups take it upon themselves to redefine general shittiness, both in their play on the court and their misadventures off of it. We truly believe these players deserve the attention they desperately crave, so while the league presents no award for continual incompetence, we proudly present the first 'Ham of the Month award', sponsored by Pervis Ellison and Eric Montross. [Considering this is our first one, some of these are long overdue -Ed.]


The Runners-Up:


The Chicago Bulls for their continual inability to boldly go where Atlanta and Philadelphia have gone before: the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Predicted by many to crack 50 wins this season, the Bulls’ athletic and potential-filled team has been stuck in reverse all year. They missed out on the Garnett and Gasol giveaways and recently turned their biggest financial investment since MJ into (drumroll please…) Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden. Fuck.


David Harrison for his outstanding efforts to repair the Indiana Pacers’ sullied image in the eyes of their basketball-crazed fans. Mr. Harrison’s achievements this month include a suspension for a third violation of the league’s substance abuse policy (hey, he plays on the Pacers, of course he needs to get high to keep things interesting), a publicly-uttered death threat towards Spurs forward Matt Bonner and subsequent post-game outburst that damaged the visitors’ locker room and left poor David with three stitches in his head.


Isiah Thomas/James Dolan/Stephon Marbury, etc. No explanation required. In fact, the risk of redundancy is the only reason why they’ve been spared this dubious honour.





So who’s managed to surpass these sub-par standards and claim the first Ham of the Month award?


Chris Wallace, not Biggie, the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies, who in one fell swoop traded his best player for arguably the biggest draft bust in NBA history, handed him to what was already one of the top teams in the conference, and now boasts the fearsome low-post rotation of Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic and Jason Collins. While the looming sale of the team almost certainly prompted the move, expiring contracts are usually bonuses, not centerpieces in deals involving all-star calibre players. Wallace not only went for what had to be one of his weakest offers, but made the mistake of dealing Gasol to a relatively young Western contender. His arrival all but ensures the Lakers will be yet another team Memphis will need to overcome in a few years if they can climb their way out of the conference cellar. Gregg Popovich’s lambasting of the deal was inflammatory but completely legitimate; Wallace undersold his best player to one of the best teams in his own conference, leaving Grizzlies fans to pray for off-season salvation and earning the inaugural Ham of the Month award.

-AJ

Weekly Rap Line

This week's rap line come from RHCP in their song Magic Johnson

“From the hand of a man named A.C. Green
slam so hard break your T.V. screen”

Wade's Outtie

Dwayne Wade made the smart move today when he announced he will be shutting down his season. He's lucky nothing too serious happened in the past few weeks, I thought this call shoulda been made a fortnight ago. With a nagging knee injury and the Miami Heat an NBA worst 11-50, the time was right to start the rehabilitation process. Hopefully he can return in time for the Olympics. Now the Heat just have to hope they can get that #1 pick.

Is C-Webb 'Hall of Fame' worthy?

I was thinking about a few players today, and wondered - does his career warner a hall of fame bid? It is truly up for debate. Considering this is likely (hopefully) his last season, Chris Webber certainly has a shot at the hall of fame. Now far from effective, there was a time though, when C-Webb was the one of the most unguardable players in the L. However, he never won an MVP (was close in 2000-2001 with 27 and 11 per) and he never won a championship.

That said, lets take a look at his NBA accolades:

• 5 time All-Star
• 5 times All-NBA — 2001 first team, 1999, 2002, & 2003 second team, 2000 third team
• All Rookie NBA — 1994
• 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year
• 1999 NBA rebounding champ (13.0 rpg)

Pre-NBA
* 1990-1991 National High School player of the year
* NCAA Men's Division I Basketball All-American 1993
* NCAA All Tournament 1st Team (1992, 1993)
* Retired Jerseys: #44 Detroit Country Day School


Chris Webber was taken 1st overall in the 1993 draft by the Orlando Magic and immediatley shipped to the Golden State Warriors. C-Webb didn't dissapoint in his first season, bringing home the Rookie of the Year. He only played for the Warriors for a season before going cross country to join Washington for four seasons. This marked his first 20ppg season, of which he had eight in a row! (10 in total) His most memorable days were part of the flashy Sacramento Kings of the late 90s, early 2000s. Teamed with Peja, Mike, Vlade and White Chocolate, C-Webb was a force. He almost won the MVP and the Lakers were really the only thing stopping the Kings from taking the big prize.

The question remains though, will he make the hall. Well let's break it down. Chris is currently in his fifteenth season, and he holds career averages of 20.7, 9.8, 4.2, 1.4 and 1.4 steals and blocks respectivley. He really did fill up the stat sheet. Essentially he is a 20 and 10 guy for his career, he was one of the best passing big men of his era and evidently, he was active on the defensive end. The latter part of his career included a failed combination with Iverson in Phili and a botched playoff run with the Pistons last season. Chris only has the five all star game appearances, but I feel his numbers overshadow his lack of recognized awards. Though he never won it all, Chris lived up to the hype. He put those dreadful college memories (a whole other issue I may address) behind him and performed on the world's largest stage. Considering he had two seasons (95-96, 03-04) where he failed to play even 25 games because of injuries, Webber is still flirting with the 20,000 points, 10,000 rebound and 4,000 assist club (17,200, 8,100 and 3,500). If he had played those full seasons and been a bit more durable late in his career, he would be a shoe in for the Hall.

That said, I think Chris is a hall of famer. He has great averages and had a pretty lengthy career by NBA standards. He also had 80 playoff games, though no ring. He is certainly one of the best all around players of his time and in his prime, he was a great team player as well.

-C

AJ's MVP breakdown

'Christian's Thoughts' correspondent AJ Salah, has this to say on the MVP race up this point, March 9.

I’ve spent the last two weeks reading all kinds of wacky arguments about this season’s intriguing race for the MVP. Once as wide-open as the West playoff race, two incomparable superstars have solidified themselves above the rest of a league that’s been filled with outstanding performances. Seems like everybody with an outlet and an opinion’s been weighing in on this issue, so cliché as it might be, my first guest spot on Christian’s Basketball Rants is tackling the ever-popular MVP debate. After the “experts” bestowed the honour upon Dirk last year and fans everywhere were treated to the hilarity of the worst MVP ever (anyone going to prove me wrong?) receiving basketball’s greatest personal achievement mere days after the most humiliating playoff exit in history, I’m as excited as anyone about the prospect of a more deserving winner.

As much debate as there is over the MVP every year, there’s even more confusion about what the award actually means. “Valuable” is a pretty broad word and the league office doesn’t offer voting guidelines to the press as they do with other awards. While this encourages discussion it also promotes ambiguity. Does the most talented player take it? Or does the best player on the best team? The Podoloff trophy’s gotta be given to a player on a winning team, but I’m not a huge fan of the “his team’s better” argument. Dirk’s team may have won 67 games last season, but aside from his exploits they also had a talented, deep and well-coached squad; Zach Randolph put up similar numbers and wasn’t an All-Star. Team success has to play a role but give the MVP to the best player, let the best team hoist their hardware in June.

That being said, here are the players who in my pretty highly educated and completely uncertified point of view have put themselves in the MVP picture this year:

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

This feels wrong for so many reasons. It might be because his team plays in the Least, where no opposing center is anywhere near his level of play this season. It could be because he’s still a shell of the player he’ll become; he’s 22 and still learning more every year. It’s likely because he’s still got many serious flaws: His array of post moves needs to expand. Saying he passes poorly out of the double teams he regularly attracts is generous. His free-throw shooting’s reminiscent of the last Orlando ‘Superman”s. That aside, he’s got a serious chance this season to become the only guy never to score 100 in a game to average 20 and 15 while shooting 60% from the field, leading the Magic who have likely snared a top-3 seed, and because of that he can’t be slept on.

Odds: 15-1

Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

This, again, feels a little wrong. Garnett’s below his career averages in minutes, points, rebounds, assists and blocks while his Celtics have recently stumbled slightly atop the East and performed well in his absence. What KG’s done in Boston this season transcends his numbers: Long-respected as an unselfish, hard-working, archetypal team player, Garnett arrived in Beantown hungry for a title and immediately lifted them from playoff dark horse to legit contender. All season he’s been anchoring the league’s stingiest defence, facilitating the growth of Boston’s young guns (don’t claim you thought Rajon Rondo was going to have this kind of year) and restoring a winning culture that Boston fans haven’t truly seen since Larry Legend retired. Even after the deadline dealings, he remains by far the season’s best acquisition.

Odds: 10-1

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets have done things no one expected of them this year, largely because the league’s best floor general (arguably at both ends of the floor) has his whole team firing on all cylinders. Paul’s still been forcing more penetration than Ruben Patterson, giving his team-mates more than enough room to operate on collapsed defences. He’s added a reliable jumper to his arsenal and shoots 88% at the charity stripe, but more importantly has been the undisputed leader of a team that’s been hovering around the top of what could be the toughest conference ever for a few months. He’s a third-year upstart playing with the poise of a ten-year veteran while potentially becoming the first player ever(!) to average 20, 10 assists and 3 steals on the year. Unreal.

Odds: 5-1

Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

You know the rap sheet by now: 31, 8 and 7.5, 2 steals and a block every game. All-Star Game MVP. League’s leading fourth-quarter scorer and saviour of a questionably assembled franchise that went 0-6 without him this season and had a harder time scoring 80 points than Larry Hughes does hitting routine jumpers. Simply put, Lebron’s the difference between the finals and the lottery for the Cavs. His game’s remarkably complete for a player so young; some question his defensive intensity (who can blame the guy if he takes a play off here and there) but no player has single-handedly taken over as many games as the King this season. He’s been relying more on his league-best finishing ability and less on the Damon Jones jumpers he creates in the clutch and reminding us how many more Game 5-like emasculations are yet to come. So as ridiculous a season as he’s having, I won’t feel terrible if he doesn’t get his MVP this year…At least not as terrible as I did last season.

Odds: 2-1

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Considering that the Lakers, seven months removed from actively shopping their franchise player, are the trendy new pick as title favourites is a slight miracle and a testament to the maturity of Bryant’s game. Formerly perceived as the pretentious crybaby who forced Shaq out of L.A, Kobe learned through years of frustration that being a one-man show and a contender are mutually exclusive. He’s consequently channelled MJ circa 1990 when his greatness permeated to those around him and his team started winning championships. Bryant’s making smarter passes, putting trust in the team-mates he recently put on blast and has the Lakers playing inspired ball night in and out; they suddenly look like they could be the deepest team in the league. He’s long been the NBA’s most talented player but now he’s playing like its greatest. Bryant’s likely the best player never to win an MVP, but that should be rectified before long.

Odds: 3-2

-AJ