First Quarter
-Rough start to the officiating game. Varejao got called for having an extended arm on Dwight, already two fouls on him.
-Not a bad offensive start despite the bad shooting. Alston just hit a three, bad sign when the other team's worst player is hot. James answers with a two.
-Ben Wallace is ungodly slow. Good thing Rashard Lewis is inexcusably bad at finishing.
-James quickly hitting outside shots. Uh-oh.
-Dwight Howard loves to bring the ball all the way down to his knees when he catches it. Horrible idea for a big man...I wish we could take advantage.
-Early going to three little man line up.
-LeBron hit in the face, crowd booing the fact that a foul was called. The Magic fans complaining about calls this series is utterly ridiculous. What's more, the replay showed Hedo's forearm on LeBron's back...same foul called on Varejao in the first minute that sent him to the bench.
-Early on, this game has the feel of Game 7 at Boston. Let's hope he can get more help this time.
-First commercial, 15-12 Magic, Dwight going to the line.
-Cavs bigs really have to remember that fouling is supposed to be a last resort. At least Varejao was TRYING to keep Dwight from getting the position he wants.
-Boobie nothing but net on first shot. The difference between him in a zone and not is bigger than almost anybody ever. LeBron hits a three on next possession, 19-18 Magic.
-Howard finally misses, gets own rebound and scores. Z's shortcomings show up more against this team than any team in the league by far.
-Mo's shot rims out, Pietrus continues to give statistics the finger and hits another contested three. Magic have hit every three they've taken and are only up six...already mugging for the camera. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
-Second commercial, 3:33 in the first, 24-18 Magic.
-LeBron fantastic fade. 24-20, was about to say we can't let it get away from us...not sure he will allow that. Rafer scores...26-20.
-Wally airballs wide open three. I'm not sure why that happened. Good thing this isn't a college game ("aaaairball").
-In all honesty, Dwight Howard is the one getting the Superstar calls, not James. Just got "bodied" by Boobie Gibson for an and-1. LeBron forced out of bounds for a no-call. Cavs down 28-20 without the ball...gotta start scoring.
-Courtney Lee continues to hit some of the worst shots ever taken and I'm about to shoot myself. Dwight Howard continues to smile after every call, want to shoot Dwight Howard.
-Wally swishes a three...confused.
-LeBron assist to himself to end the first, 30-25 Magic. Just like the series, still alive in this game after a shaky start.
Second Quarter
-Rashard Lewis misses a three badly, leads to a discussion with John Glenn about what makes you question your three point shooting. Never has this topic been so important.
-Third commercial break. Bench staying in it with guts and, again, three small guards. 37-31 Magic. If we're going to win this game, it might have to be one of those games where we don't have the lead until the game is nearly over. How does Jada Pinkett Smith not know the Doctor Drama is not interesting? She really seems into it.
-LeBron back in the game at 8:50.
-Can't give up offensive rebounds. Pietrus hits another three. It's almost like he's good at threes...he's not though...this is incredible.
-Wally called for one of those fouls that the NBA is famous for. Off the ball offensive fouls that nobody sees and they don't replay on tv.
-The first time they run the LeBronfense, defensive three seconds for a free point. Dwight Howard back.
-Mo getting frustrated with rough officiating. 3 fouls.
-Fourth commercial, Magic shooting incredible percentages once again...not sure Cavs can really do anything about it. Magic 44-34.
-Back to Bron at the high post, foul on Pietrus. Bron misses both...horrible. Shard basically football holding on LeBron.
- Fifth commercial, 4:20 left in the second. Rashard Lewis open three...again. This is exactly how they closed out the other teams. Dwight dunk, Magic by fifteen. Rashard Lewis' 6 foot 10 knuckleball three will be haunting my dreams for the rest of my life.
-Offense playing tenative, defense giving up offensive rebounds...just avoided two wide open first half knockout punches.
-Delonte West two great moves yet Marv only reacts with the "Wonderful MOVE!!!" to Dwight Howard driving hard to his right with an ugly hook over the slowest center in the league.
-Crowd weirdly quiet for being up big in the first half of a close out game.
-Ball obviously poked out by Rashard Lewis but given to the Magic because Shard pointed that way. Open three made by Alston w/Alston mugging for the cameras. Honestly, the NBA needs help.
-Howard misses and-1...big smile. I really don't like this guy. Wish we would have fouled him harder and dirtier. 43 seconds left in the half, Cavs down 16.
-LeBron already having to shoot threes early in the shot clock.
-Game over in the first half. Absolute nightmare scenario for the Cavs. Magic shooting over 50% from three and Dwight Howard getting literally every call and no-call from the zebras. This team is impossible to guard, period. Mike Brown called for a Tech to end the Half. That's how bad this officiating is. No calls for the MVP, Dwight given the red carpet to the basket...and Orlando's the one complaining...
3rd Quarter
Prediction: The first play out of the half, LeBron will drive about the hardest you've ever seen to the basket and get a foul on Dwight Howard or die trying.
-Oh wait I forgot, the technical free throw is the first play out of the half...
-I was wrong, Mo from deep to start, first two possessions, Cavs not giving up.
-Before the first minute is up...Cavs only down 11. This game might have to be a microcosm of the series. By the way, not that those threes won't start going down immediately after I say this, but this is what can happen when you take two straight threes to start a half you fucking idiots.
-First commercial out of half, 59-48 Magic. Can we give them a taste of their own medicine?
-Touch foul on Turkoglu. Fouls going the other way now. This officiating objectively sucks. Another mystery foul on Ilgauskas. Not allowed to touch each other in the post. Z just played great defense on Howard...unforgivable call. Howard is not allowed to not score. If that is a foul, LeBron should shoot 55 free throws a game.
-Dwight in the post for five straight seconds. No call. Pietrus worst brick ever. All of the misses he should statistically have were in that shot apparently.
-Me: "Come on Mo, take him. You're better than Rafe." Mo gets an and-1 on rafe. Cavs down 11.
-Cavs struggling to get it to single digits. Dwight Howard offensively fouls quite a bit. Mo for three, 10 point game.
-Again, offensive foul on Dwight, called a foul on Z...and-1. Cavs out-playing Magic severely, still down double figures because of the zebras.
-Crowd booing an obvious foul call on Pietrus. Unbelievable. This happens after an effortless block on Rafer Alston. Rafer looks like a guy I would know and dislike.
-West answers a Turk three with another bad three. Pietrus defies logic once again. Cavs down 14.
-Turk draws a foul with a clumsy drive to the basket...the only kind of drive he does. I'm telling you people, watch the games. Turk gets more calls than LeBron James. If you're slow, weak and foreign, you will get calls because you react to contact. Watch a Lakers game and keep an eye on Gasol if you don't believe me.
-Dwight nudges Bron for an and-1. He did touch him...questionable. Dwight said to the ref, "That's bull." Isn't that a technical by Christian standards?
-Second commercial of the second. 79-68 Magic.
-Dwight Howard just tried to make an actual post move and very obviously hooked Ben Wallace. It's frustrating that a player with such a lack of skill is dominating us so effectively.
-Delonte is the only other person on the team man enough to go at Dwight. Another reason I love him
-Several threes just rimming out for the Cavs, rimming in for the Magic. Why are threes so easy for this team?
-End of the third, Cavs down 86-70. The roots of a comeback are there but it's still intensely unlikely.
Fourth Quarter
-Refs still not allowing Varejao to bump Howard. I never thought that Varejao would be in foul trouble because he was playing too physical with Dwight Howard.
-Pietrus rims in a three. Game essentially over. Refs reacting to the extreme to Stan Van Gundy's incessant bitching. It also seems to be a reverse reaction to how Shaq was officiated in his prime. They would basically give Vlade or whoever some calls early in the game but Shaq still dominated. Now, they aren't even allowing a shorter, skinnier, slower player touch Howard with his body at any time. This version of Howard is exactly as unguardable as Shaq was against the Kings but Howard is nowhere near as good as Shaq. Why do you think this is?
-The Magic pick-and-roll is about as obnoxious as it gets. When you roll, yet continue to pick your guy...is that not a moving screen? I mean...it is.
-Foul on Gortat after a rebound that actually hurt the Cavs. Thanks.
-Questionably foul on Dwight. Down 17 but somehow the game is never over when you shoot this many threes.
-Dwight is being called like he is 45 years old with arthritis and the refs are afraid he'll die if he gets hit. 6 and a half minutes to go.
-Low key horrible stat in this game, Cavs shooting 50% from the line.
-Wally shoots his second open airball. Can we get Boobie in here please? 5:24 to go, 94-78 Magic. Someone has to get insanely hot...again...Boobie anyone?
-Looks like Sasha is coming in. Our season is in the hands of Sasha Pavlovic.
-Marv just asked if LeBron is having a bad game because of the Magic's defense or because of fatigue. The answer is the officiating. Dwight just got his fifth foul, should be his seventh. LeBron missed another free throw. Curtains.
-I guess the case is this (as the Magic fans chant "M-V-P" with Dwight at the line): The officials would give the other team a chance with Shaq, as they do for LeBron. Physically dominating people who are almost unguardable within the rules. The refs would give you a flop every now and then. I'm not sure the refs were ready for Dwight to be so dominating, and they are giving him calls like he needs them, which he doesn't. He's not only getting those calls that refs give to the other team at times to keep it fair, he's getting calls that aren't even fouls. It's really a shame for the league that this team is in the Finals.
Bitterness aside, this season has been ruined by two things: Injuries and the officials. If Kevin Garnett were still here, the Magic would have lost in five, as Rashard would have been shut down by KG rather than feasting on Big Baby and Scalabrine. We all forget while watching this series, as Dwight gets every call against a group of bigs who already have no chance, he was almost played to a standstill by Kendrick Perkins simply because Perk could match his strength. Frankly that is embarrassing for someone nicknamed "Superman."
And the officiating? Well, every playoff game was officiated differently, yet all were officiated poorly. What is the result? My two least favorite teams in the league matching up in the Finals. Never have two more distasteful teams matched up in a Championship game since Super Bowl XXX with the Cowboys matched up against the Steelers. I'm not sure I'm going to watch any of these Finals, but I'm picking the Lakers in 6.
-Dwight Howard shoots a three as the game ends and smiles. What a class act. Final score: Magic 103, Cavs 90.
Sorry guys, we tried.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It's Over.
After the first half, the Cavs are playing like they don't care. The Magic are going to have this game won by the time the fourth quarter starts.
I TOLD YOU
Before I tell you what I told you, I'd like to say that we've reached my limit of how I can keep an acceptable blog. I'm totally out of sorts, and can't handle myself at this moment. This blog is turning into a twitter page basically.
What I told you is that Boobie Gibson would be needed and would show up. I TOLD YOU. BOOBIE GIBSON IS A STONE COLD KILLA!! BAAAHH!!!!!
I TOLD YOU
Before I tell you what I told you, I'd like to say that we've reached my limit of how I can keep an acceptable blog. I'm totally out of sorts, and can't handle myself at this moment. This blog is turning into a twitter page basically.
What I told you is that Boobie Gibson would be needed and would show up. I TOLD YOU. BOOBIE GIBSON IS A STONE COLD KILLA!! BAAAHH!!!!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How They Can Do It
While playing "the right way" has worked for Cleveland this entire year, it's time to stop.
How did another cursed and dreary city (Detroit) win an NBA Title? They punked the other team. They made a deal with the Basketball Devil rather than trying to appeal to the Basketball Gods. This is exactly what the Cavaliers have to do to win three in a row, and they can do it.
The Cavs play a style where they shrink the court on defense and out-muscle and out-execute you at the end. The problem is, Orlando plays so above the fray, that they completely take that style out of the equation. It's maddening and frankly a little creepy. The look on Hedo Turkoglu's face when he hits a potential game-winner in the Eastern Conference Finals is the same look on my face when I hit any random shot in the fifth pick-up game in a row against the same people I always play with. Do they even know where they are? And the Cavs are just crumbling around the frustration that this way of playing causes.
So what's the plan of action? Bring the Magic back to Earth. Hit them. Play dirty. Cheat...whatever.
Think about it. If a team, no matter how good, is letting you shoot open threes doesn't that make it much easier to then hit contested ones? You know they won't touch you. There might be some visible obstruction of your view to the basket but at this point, you have a pretty good idea of what it looks like. You know it's going in. So what bothers you when shooting threes? Being unsure of what the other team is going to do. Instead of thinking, "Oh, Ben Wallace is on me, I can shoot over him," you have to make them think, "Oh, Ben Wallace is on me, is he going to punch me in the face if I shoot this?"
Threes are hard because if any of the mechanics are off, it doesn't go in because it is such a long shot. But if you have infinite confidence with no obstructions, there is no reason your mechanics will be off.
In Game 5, I want Ben Wallace to be ejected. He has to foul Dwight Howard with the intent to injure him (he's too big, he won't get injured...don't worry). I want Delonte West to sag off Turk until he shoots a three, then box him out before he lands. If he gets called for a foul, good. They have to make Orlando afraid to shoot threes. For the final blow, send Tarence Kinsey out as an obvious goon, overplay the Rashard Lewis three, let him go to the basket and knock him to the floor for a flagrant-2. And really get your money's worth. I also want Kinsey and Wallace barking maniacally at anyone on Orlando as they're getting taken out. Then, if we win, have LeBron on 'Shard's face calling him, and everyone in the area, and "Punk-ass Motherfucker" as loud as he can with his murder face on.
I know this sounds horrible, but it is the only way to get Orlando to enter the fray. If the playoffs were just an all-out brawl, Cleveland would beat Orlando...so let's make it that. If Orlando has to actually play, Cleveland can absolutely win three in a row.
How did another cursed and dreary city (Detroit) win an NBA Title? They punked the other team. They made a deal with the Basketball Devil rather than trying to appeal to the Basketball Gods. This is exactly what the Cavaliers have to do to win three in a row, and they can do it.
The Cavs play a style where they shrink the court on defense and out-muscle and out-execute you at the end. The problem is, Orlando plays so above the fray, that they completely take that style out of the equation. It's maddening and frankly a little creepy. The look on Hedo Turkoglu's face when he hits a potential game-winner in the Eastern Conference Finals is the same look on my face when I hit any random shot in the fifth pick-up game in a row against the same people I always play with. Do they even know where they are? And the Cavs are just crumbling around the frustration that this way of playing causes.
So what's the plan of action? Bring the Magic back to Earth. Hit them. Play dirty. Cheat...whatever.
Think about it. If a team, no matter how good, is letting you shoot open threes doesn't that make it much easier to then hit contested ones? You know they won't touch you. There might be some visible obstruction of your view to the basket but at this point, you have a pretty good idea of what it looks like. You know it's going in. So what bothers you when shooting threes? Being unsure of what the other team is going to do. Instead of thinking, "Oh, Ben Wallace is on me, I can shoot over him," you have to make them think, "Oh, Ben Wallace is on me, is he going to punch me in the face if I shoot this?"
Threes are hard because if any of the mechanics are off, it doesn't go in because it is such a long shot. But if you have infinite confidence with no obstructions, there is no reason your mechanics will be off.
In Game 5, I want Ben Wallace to be ejected. He has to foul Dwight Howard with the intent to injure him (he's too big, he won't get injured...don't worry). I want Delonte West to sag off Turk until he shoots a three, then box him out before he lands. If he gets called for a foul, good. They have to make Orlando afraid to shoot threes. For the final blow, send Tarence Kinsey out as an obvious goon, overplay the Rashard Lewis three, let him go to the basket and knock him to the floor for a flagrant-2. And really get your money's worth. I also want Kinsey and Wallace barking maniacally at anyone on Orlando as they're getting taken out. Then, if we win, have LeBron on 'Shard's face calling him, and everyone in the area, and "Punk-ass Motherfucker" as loud as he can with his murder face on.
I know this sounds horrible, but it is the only way to get Orlando to enter the fray. If the playoffs were just an all-out brawl, Cleveland would beat Orlando...so let's make it that. If Orlando has to actually play, Cleveland can absolutely win three in a row.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Note to Self
I won't be able to watch Game 4 of Cavs/Magic, so I thought I'd just give myself some positive things to think about during my first round baseball playoff game.
1. We've been here before.
I'm pretty sure after we were down 2-0 to the Celtics last year, I guaranteed victory to my friend even with a worse team against a better team than the Magic. Why am I so down right now? in all honesty, it's because we've fallen so far from going undefeated throughout the playoffs to maybe getting knocked off by a three-point shooting team with a physical freak and emotional cupcake at Center. It is very possible that we win tomorrow, win at home, and then we're in great position once again (if we win our first round baseball game, I also won't be able to watch Game 5).
2. We actually played pretty good defense last game.
The real reason I felt so helpless watching Game 3 was because we couldn't stop fouling and they couldn't stop making those free throws. If we continue to foul Dwight and don't get called for those hideous touch fouls on Turkoglu and go on one hot streak at any point in the game, we will win tomorrow by ten. I'm really not against Boobie or Wally playing a little bit more just to see if someone can get hot. I know Sasha had a great Game 2, but that will not happen consistently, that's why he's Sasha Pavlovic. If it looks like Sasha doesn't have it that night, I'm not even against throwing Kinsey out there, or even Darnell Jackson. Darnell has just as many fouls as any of our other big guys, and he's actually built more like Kendrick Perkins than anyone else we have and might have the strength to force Dwight Howard away from the basket better than Z or Andy. It's not like Dwight is going to school the rookie with his vast array of moves. Jackson cannot play against Pau Gasol, but I wouldn't mind seeing him try his luck against Dwight.
That's all I've got. I'll try to find some way to play baseball with my fingers crossed and my breath held the whole game.
1. We've been here before.
I'm pretty sure after we were down 2-0 to the Celtics last year, I guaranteed victory to my friend even with a worse team against a better team than the Magic. Why am I so down right now? in all honesty, it's because we've fallen so far from going undefeated throughout the playoffs to maybe getting knocked off by a three-point shooting team with a physical freak and emotional cupcake at Center. It is very possible that we win tomorrow, win at home, and then we're in great position once again (if we win our first round baseball game, I also won't be able to watch Game 5).
2. We actually played pretty good defense last game.
The real reason I felt so helpless watching Game 3 was because we couldn't stop fouling and they couldn't stop making those free throws. If we continue to foul Dwight and don't get called for those hideous touch fouls on Turkoglu and go on one hot streak at any point in the game, we will win tomorrow by ten. I'm really not against Boobie or Wally playing a little bit more just to see if someone can get hot. I know Sasha had a great Game 2, but that will not happen consistently, that's why he's Sasha Pavlovic. If it looks like Sasha doesn't have it that night, I'm not even against throwing Kinsey out there, or even Darnell Jackson. Darnell has just as many fouls as any of our other big guys, and he's actually built more like Kendrick Perkins than anyone else we have and might have the strength to force Dwight Howard away from the basket better than Z or Andy. It's not like Dwight is going to school the rookie with his vast array of moves. Jackson cannot play against Pau Gasol, but I wouldn't mind seeing him try his luck against Dwight.
That's all I've got. I'll try to find some way to play baseball with my fingers crossed and my breath held the whole game.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Bad Times
I can't believe I'm writing this, but this is what I'm seeing.
Mo Williams and Delonte West have been described as the best back court LeBron has played with his whole career. While true, this statement really shows some of the incredible foundations this team is based on. Delonte West was at the end of the bench in Seattle two years ago and Mo Williams was a over-shooting point guard on the lowly Bucks. They are good pieces, but on this team, they are the second and third options. As we can see, that is not OK.
Neither can really get to the basket and both are streak outside shooters as well as being horribly undersized. This hurts on defense and in the getting-your-own-shot arena. What I'm trying to say is that this team can't score if LeBron isn't superhuman. He is often, but even when he is, sometimes it's STILL not enough. We're still in the exact same situation we have been in every year before this. If LeBron can't do it, it won't be done. After a lucky Game 2 victory, the "supporting" cast came out in game three and turned it over an endless amount of times. Some forced, most not. All of them seemed to be out of nerves. That is just not OK for a 66 win team. We have one guy on the court who isn't nervous in a big game? That's it? How can that be?? Mo Williams, where are you? Even the shots you make look nervous.
Notice I don't even have to mention the front court, who can only score if spoon-fed.
From all over the court, from all over their bench, Orlando looks like they can't help but score, whereas even Cleveland's starters can't shoot or drive or do anything that looks rhythmic. They score in transition off steals and they score off of LeBron and that's it. Against bad teams, or mediocre teams, the bench and role players can run a smooth offense because the Cavs concentrate and try harder than probably every other team. I believe that no other team wants this year's title more. There is really no other possible explanation for 66 wins or two straight sweeps. Now that they are losing, it's not because of lack of concentration like the Lakers or lack of intelligence like the Nuggets, it's because of lack of overall talent. Anytime people start off a sentence describing the Magic/Cavaliers series with, "Well, Cleveland is the better team," I'm not sure what they mean by that. They have more wins, they play well together, they play the right way, but they are not more talented than any of the teams left in the playoffs. Not even CLOSE.
In the end, LeBron will have to learn how to shoot threes at a consistently great level as well as develop a great post game because only then will he be able to literally everything for his team. I know this has been written before, about Cleveland's dominance given it's insane lack of talent, but I didn't believe it would kill them until I'm watching this series.
What does it all mean? It means the most depressing thing you're ever going to watch as a fan. LeBron James is and will continue to will this team to as far as they can go, but maybe it's just not that far. The Magic played poorly in this game and we still lost sort of easily. When a great jump-shooting team shoots under 45% at home, you cannot shoot 38% and turn the ball over without reason (It doesn't help that Hedo Turkoglu missed essentially all of his field goals and yet scored double-digit points because the refs decided to call touch fouls on pick and roll shows when the Cavs were in the bonus. Good calls, guys). I'm really not sure I can picture a scenario in which the Cavs can win this series.
Mo Williams and Delonte West have been described as the best back court LeBron has played with his whole career. While true, this statement really shows some of the incredible foundations this team is based on. Delonte West was at the end of the bench in Seattle two years ago and Mo Williams was a over-shooting point guard on the lowly Bucks. They are good pieces, but on this team, they are the second and third options. As we can see, that is not OK.
Neither can really get to the basket and both are streak outside shooters as well as being horribly undersized. This hurts on defense and in the getting-your-own-shot arena. What I'm trying to say is that this team can't score if LeBron isn't superhuman. He is often, but even when he is, sometimes it's STILL not enough. We're still in the exact same situation we have been in every year before this. If LeBron can't do it, it won't be done. After a lucky Game 2 victory, the "supporting" cast came out in game three and turned it over an endless amount of times. Some forced, most not. All of them seemed to be out of nerves. That is just not OK for a 66 win team. We have one guy on the court who isn't nervous in a big game? That's it? How can that be?? Mo Williams, where are you? Even the shots you make look nervous.
Notice I don't even have to mention the front court, who can only score if spoon-fed.
From all over the court, from all over their bench, Orlando looks like they can't help but score, whereas even Cleveland's starters can't shoot or drive or do anything that looks rhythmic. They score in transition off steals and they score off of LeBron and that's it. Against bad teams, or mediocre teams, the bench and role players can run a smooth offense because the Cavs concentrate and try harder than probably every other team. I believe that no other team wants this year's title more. There is really no other possible explanation for 66 wins or two straight sweeps. Now that they are losing, it's not because of lack of concentration like the Lakers or lack of intelligence like the Nuggets, it's because of lack of overall talent. Anytime people start off a sentence describing the Magic/Cavaliers series with, "Well, Cleveland is the better team," I'm not sure what they mean by that. They have more wins, they play well together, they play the right way, but they are not more talented than any of the teams left in the playoffs. Not even CLOSE.
In the end, LeBron will have to learn how to shoot threes at a consistently great level as well as develop a great post game because only then will he be able to literally everything for his team. I know this has been written before, about Cleveland's dominance given it's insane lack of talent, but I didn't believe it would kill them until I'm watching this series.
What does it all mean? It means the most depressing thing you're ever going to watch as a fan. LeBron James is and will continue to will this team to as far as they can go, but maybe it's just not that far. The Magic played poorly in this game and we still lost sort of easily. When a great jump-shooting team shoots under 45% at home, you cannot shoot 38% and turn the ball over without reason (It doesn't help that Hedo Turkoglu missed essentially all of his field goals and yet scored double-digit points because the refs decided to call touch fouls on pick and roll shows when the Cavs were in the bonus. Good calls, guys). I'm really not sure I can picture a scenario in which the Cavs can win this series.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I Think I've Finally Lost My Mind
Looking at BBS and seeing an article about Daniel Gibson seems more than a little stupid.
What I said about a potential Orlando series isn't that I thought Orlando was going to win (which I clearly may be wrong about), but I was sure that I wasn't going to enjoy it. Orlando shoots so many threes (and at an absolutely incredible percentage) that it almost doesn't matter what kind or how good of defense you play. They are going to make them or miss them because they are 6 foot 10 and shooting threes. If they shoot in the mid forties in three point % the whole series, they cannot lose.
With that said, LeBron is almost out of control. He's doing things that I'm not even sure he knew he could do. What you have to respect about him is that he gets things done at all costs. He is a leader in every sense and it is frankly amazing. That word is overused in sports and in life in general, but I am amazed by LeBron James.
There are several downsides to where Cleveland sits right now, but I don't feel like talking about them right now. Just, wow.
What I said about a potential Orlando series isn't that I thought Orlando was going to win (which I clearly may be wrong about), but I was sure that I wasn't going to enjoy it. Orlando shoots so many threes (and at an absolutely incredible percentage) that it almost doesn't matter what kind or how good of defense you play. They are going to make them or miss them because they are 6 foot 10 and shooting threes. If they shoot in the mid forties in three point % the whole series, they cannot lose.
With that said, LeBron is almost out of control. He's doing things that I'm not even sure he knew he could do. What you have to respect about him is that he gets things done at all costs. He is a leader in every sense and it is frankly amazing. That word is overused in sports and in life in general, but I am amazed by LeBron James.
There are several downsides to where Cleveland sits right now, but I don't feel like talking about them right now. Just, wow.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
In Defense of Daniel "Boobie" Gibson
During the Cavs' glorious run of 2009, the one disappointment (Sasha Pavlovic can't be disappointing if we know he sucks in case you were wondering) has been our baby faced friend known as "Boobie" Gibson. Whether it's his ailing toe, his decrease in playing time, possibly being intimidated by Mo Williams, a player who does literally everything better than Gibson...he is shooting under 40% from the field and around 38% from deep, where he makes his money, and when you add in the fact that most of his threes are wide open looks, 38% isn't particularly impressive. But before we start hating on Boobie, why don't we take a step back to appreciate what he's done with what he is.
Gibson's career started when he was drafted by Cleveland in the second round while he was still known as "Daniel." He had only played two years, strange for a player who didn't even go early in the second round. His numbers in his two years at Texas were essentially the same; just above 40% shooting from the field, just under from deep and the low teens in points. There was really nothing to make you think he was going to be a great player or even had potential to be great. Personally, when I'm watching him play, I'm not totally certain I would have a ton of trouble guarding him. Daniel was not that tall, not that fast...just not that good.Yet in his rookie year, he laid the blueprint for what LeBron needed as a partner: a great combo guard who could shoot well from beyond the three point line.
On a team whose point guard options were Eric Snow, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Shannon Brown and eventually Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson only played 16.5 minutes per game during the regular season. When the playoffs came around however, this 6 foot shooting guard with essentially nothing about him that screams "NBA talent," shoots almost 50% from three against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, even making 5 out of 5 in the close out game and scoring 31 points. Not bad.
The next season, the Cavs had two holdouts, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, and a generally horrible roster. Knowing what this season has taught us and thinking back about how Boobie Gibson was the starting point guard on a team that got out of the first round is amazing. But guess what...
On a team crippled by injury and other absences all season, Boobie shot a more-than-solid 44% from three, allowing the Cavs not to play Damon Jones or Eric Snow (at least as much). He was injured mid season but came back for the playoffs and shot ABOVE his season average from three, only to get hurt at the end of Game 6 of the Boston series. Cleveland loses by 5 in Game 7, with a potential game-tying open three missed by then newcomer Delonte West late in the game. It's not unreasonable to think that if Boobie Gibson plays in that game, Cleveland advances.
'08-'09 has been fantastic for practically everyone BUT Gibson. In the final game of the season, he played 38 minutes, not because of injury or because he had been playing well, but because he was now expendable. In an overtime loss to the 76ers playing at full strength vs. Boobie Gibson and the Cleveland backups, Daniel scored 28 points and had 7 assists and repeatedly hit big shots until they would finally succumb to the Sixers by one in overtime.
Now, of course that game was meaningless and you can call him a streak shooter if you like, but I call him an almost talentless player by NBA standards who is incredibly clutch. I guarantee you that there will be a time in this year's Championship run that the Cavs will need Boobie Gibson to step up and hit a huge three and you know what? He's going to make it. That's just who he is.
(And I will love it, not just because it helps the Cavs, but because hearing Marv Albert say, "Daniel.....'BOOBIE' GIBSON!" is probably the most enjoyable phrase possible.)
Gibson's career started when he was drafted by Cleveland in the second round while he was still known as "Daniel." He had only played two years, strange for a player who didn't even go early in the second round. His numbers in his two years at Texas were essentially the same; just above 40% shooting from the field, just under from deep and the low teens in points. There was really nothing to make you think he was going to be a great player or even had potential to be great. Personally, when I'm watching him play, I'm not totally certain I would have a ton of trouble guarding him. Daniel was not that tall, not that fast...just not that good.Yet in his rookie year, he laid the blueprint for what LeBron needed as a partner: a great combo guard who could shoot well from beyond the three point line.
On a team whose point guard options were Eric Snow, Damon Jones, David Wesley, Shannon Brown and eventually Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson only played 16.5 minutes per game during the regular season. When the playoffs came around however, this 6 foot shooting guard with essentially nothing about him that screams "NBA talent," shoots almost 50% from three against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, even making 5 out of 5 in the close out game and scoring 31 points. Not bad.
The next season, the Cavs had two holdouts, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, and a generally horrible roster. Knowing what this season has taught us and thinking back about how Boobie Gibson was the starting point guard on a team that got out of the first round is amazing. But guess what...
On a team crippled by injury and other absences all season, Boobie shot a more-than-solid 44% from three, allowing the Cavs not to play Damon Jones or Eric Snow (at least as much). He was injured mid season but came back for the playoffs and shot ABOVE his season average from three, only to get hurt at the end of Game 6 of the Boston series. Cleveland loses by 5 in Game 7, with a potential game-tying open three missed by then newcomer Delonte West late in the game. It's not unreasonable to think that if Boobie Gibson plays in that game, Cleveland advances.
'08-'09 has been fantastic for practically everyone BUT Gibson. In the final game of the season, he played 38 minutes, not because of injury or because he had been playing well, but because he was now expendable. In an overtime loss to the 76ers playing at full strength vs. Boobie Gibson and the Cleveland backups, Daniel scored 28 points and had 7 assists and repeatedly hit big shots until they would finally succumb to the Sixers by one in overtime.
Now, of course that game was meaningless and you can call him a streak shooter if you like, but I call him an almost talentless player by NBA standards who is incredibly clutch. I guarantee you that there will be a time in this year's Championship run that the Cavs will need Boobie Gibson to step up and hit a huge three and you know what? He's going to make it. That's just who he is.
(And I will love it, not just because it helps the Cavs, but because hearing Marv Albert say, "Daniel.....'BOOBIE' GIBSON!" is probably the most enjoyable phrase possible.)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Second Round Round Up
After one round of the playoffs, Buddies has a record of 5-3 in general series and got 3-5 exactly right (amount of games) which is pretty mediocre. I'm going to dish out two first round pick related awards:
Worst Missed Pick By Me: Cleveland in five
I know what you're thinking: "Gotta be Spurs in 7...no wait! You picked the Hornets in six?!?! That's gotta be it, they lost by 58!!"
Yes, those were horrible picks. No, they don't win this award.
I'm still of the opinion that the entire bottom half of the Western Conference Bracket is pointless. The two teams I wanted to see play the Lakers were playing each other so who even cares if I got those series HORRIBLY wrong.
The fact is, I watch the Cavs play basically every game, read every article by Brian Windhorst, I even look at his twitter page while watching games...and I picked the Pistons to win a game?? I don't know if I can ever forgive myself.
Worst Missed Pick That Wasn't My Fault: Orlando in five
The only pick that I blame the team I picked. I still believe that Philly was the worst team who made the playoffs, worse than Detroit. There is nothing threatening about the way they play, I don't even think they played that well in this series!! They got down by at least 15 in just about every game!! Orlando should be embarrassed they didn't sweep the 76ers and yet they're getting props for finishing them off with Marcin Gortat at Center. I thought you were supposed to be a title contender, Orlando...what happened? Add it to the reasons I'm done with the Magic.
Mini Mailbag
Cavs. It's not like they had the best record in the league or anything. Plus, I had LeBron third in DPotY and he got second in real life. Why don't you just leave me alone, whoever you are?
Second, you are right about the fact that male announcers are often just as bad in their factual errors and slobbering over certain players and it is just as annoying, except for one thing:
When I see a female color commentator on an NBA game, I'm already dubious. Whether it's right or not, it is counter intuitive to see or hear any sort of female anything in the midst of the playoffs. Your hope is that this woman worked harder than most people to climb up to this position (I'm not really sure how prestigious a position color commentary is...) and will actually be much better than the normal guys, whose appeal is inflated because of the simple novelty of them being a former player for the fans. In principle, I have no problem with a woman being a color commentator in the NBA.
The problem is, Doris Burke is WORSE than all the other color commentary guys, even the crappy ones. This can only mean that ESPN hired her, not because she is overly charismatic or knows her stuff, but because they thought, "Let's hire a woman." This attitude is frustrating to ESPN viewers because their decisions are aimed to please the wrong people (NOT the fans). I can guarantee you that nobody watching every game of the playoffs is talking with their buddies and saying, "Ya know what? I think I want a female color commentator...ANY woman, I don't even care if she sucks." It's in the exact same way they're not thinking, "I wish we could have a color commentator who is about 6 foot 11 from Turkmenistan who never played in the NBA for absolutely no reason."
I actually don't even know why I wrote so much about this, it really doesn't matter that much. For the record, my favorite color commentator is Hubie Brown, by far. And yes, we all want more Gracie Burtch (and more power rankings).
Second Round Power Rankings
Did somebody say power rankings? From first to eighth, here's who I like in the second round:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
In case you forgot during the past week, the Cavs are still in the playoffs.
There are some problems, yes, like Mo Williams hyperventilating his way through all the games, good or bad, none of our guards being able to stay in front of anyone quick, occasional horribly stagnant offense...etc. Still, they, excuse my language, swept the shit out of Detroit with all these problems, and it seems like LeBron is pretty determined to make none of the problems really matter in the end.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Still the most talented team in the league, by far. I honestly don't know how they lose games. The problem (you know I'm going to say this) is Kobe Bryant. If he had the mindset of a distributor or, I don't know, a leader, this team is talented enough to never stop scoring and play good enough defense. But Kobe plays like a lone wolf. Even when he gets an assist, he points at them as if to say, "Way to make it possible for me to make a great play. You are useful to me," instead of, "Nice cut."
Being a lone wolf is never ideal, but you can get by sometimes if you're Michael Jordan and almost no one else in history. But that is the delusion that Kobe is working under. If you're making your pick in a series and thinking as if Kobe Bryant is going to win you a game or two against a great team in a seven game series, you are mistaken, but if you think Kobe's going to be a team player, you're probably also mistaken. This is why he hasn't won a title since Shaq left and really, why I hate him and why other people who hate him hate him.
3. Houston Rockets
If the Rockets could trade Von Wafer for Brandon Roy, this team would sweep their way to a title. Their fatal flaw in the playoffs is their lack of a guard who can "score at will (nobody can really score at will)" at the end of a game (that's right, Aaron Brooks doesn't count). They very often end up taking bad shots on offense, but seem to have cleaned that up A LITTLE BIT in the first round. The best thing about this team is of course their defense. They have more than one guy who you are actually afraid of on when you have the ball. Yao Ming and Luis Scola are a fantastic foreign tandem up front and Houston probably has the smartest person in the league in Shane Battier.
And did you see Yao Ming cracking up at all of Artest's jokes in the post season press conference?? He was dying!!! I just love that. It's always good to have Karma on your side when facing the Lakers...it's really your only chance (Denver is really the only team who wouldn't have it against L.A.).
4. Boston Celtics
That's right, they're still here.
I know you think that they almost lost to a 7 seed and that should probably count against them. Well I got news for you: The Bulls beat the Magic in 6 if they play in the first round, I'm sure of it. There are no traditional assassins on this Celtics team (people would argue for Ray Allen, I would not. I just don't think he can beat you for a whole series), but they really try hard. You really can't say that for every team. Tip the cap.
5. Orlando Magic
I don't really like these guys at all, obviously. I still feel like nobody wants to play these guys, just because when threes go up, it's always stressful for the half second the ball is in the air when you're hoping it doesn't go in. When you play the Magic, your whole series as a fan is holding your breath for a bunch of half seconds as they throw 6 foot 10 guys at you who put up a million threes a game. Not Enjoyable.
6. Denver Nuggets
Denver is a very talented team but I still have absolutely no respect for how they play and I won't be fooled by them running up the score against a team who gave up in the first round. The Nuggs look like a front running team who can swallow you up with threes if you let them but will fold of you make them. Even after that blow out of New Orleans, I think a solid team would sweep them in a 7 game series.
7. Dallas Mavericks
I think I said that they were the second worst team in the playoffs at the beginning and I was way off. Dirk is capable of coming up huge and winning series' (it's actually true, remember game 7 AT San Antonio? In fact, him and Kobe have similar playoff resumes and Dirk is known as a choker and Kobe as the Ultimate Closer), but they just can't finish. I've really had enough of the Mavericks.
8. Atlanta Hawks
...BY FAR.
You know how I hate on the Nuggets for being stupid and front running? Well the Hawks are like that...only not as good and they don't have Chauncey Billups and they DO have Josh Smith so they're even dumber. Notice that everyone is playing someone close to their level except for the Cavs, who are the best and playing the worst. This is why the regular season matters folks.
Worst Missed Pick By Me: Cleveland in five
I know what you're thinking: "Gotta be Spurs in 7...no wait! You picked the Hornets in six?!?! That's gotta be it, they lost by 58!!"
Yes, those were horrible picks. No, they don't win this award.
I'm still of the opinion that the entire bottom half of the Western Conference Bracket is pointless. The two teams I wanted to see play the Lakers were playing each other so who even cares if I got those series HORRIBLY wrong.
The fact is, I watch the Cavs play basically every game, read every article by Brian Windhorst, I even look at his twitter page while watching games...and I picked the Pistons to win a game?? I don't know if I can ever forgive myself.
Worst Missed Pick That Wasn't My Fault: Orlando in five
The only pick that I blame the team I picked. I still believe that Philly was the worst team who made the playoffs, worse than Detroit. There is nothing threatening about the way they play, I don't even think they played that well in this series!! They got down by at least 15 in just about every game!! Orlando should be embarrassed they didn't sweep the 76ers and yet they're getting props for finishing them off with Marcin Gortat at Center. I thought you were supposed to be a title contender, Orlando...what happened? Add it to the reasons I'm done with the Magic.
Mini Mailbag
Cavs. It's not like they had the best record in the league or anything. Plus, I had LeBron third in DPotY and he got second in real life. Why don't you just leave me alone, whoever you are?
-
First of all, how did you get my picture, Kreepy Kev?
Second of all, your layout is super girly/60 year old man-y.
Third of all, I'm gonna tell my dad about this and I hope he comments about how dumb you are all the time.
-
I AM SO FAMOUS.
I should have those girls' jobs. All of them. Including Taco Bell Girl.
-
Shouldn't sports analysts of any gender know twice as much as the average sports viewer? Are there male sports analysts who make similar errors?
I think your section, "for the ladies," should actually be titled "for the dudes who want to make fun of the ladies."
MORE GRACE BURTCH!!! MORE POWER RANKINGS!!
Second, you are right about the fact that male announcers are often just as bad in their factual errors and slobbering over certain players and it is just as annoying, except for one thing:
When I see a female color commentator on an NBA game, I'm already dubious. Whether it's right or not, it is counter intuitive to see or hear any sort of female anything in the midst of the playoffs. Your hope is that this woman worked harder than most people to climb up to this position (I'm not really sure how prestigious a position color commentary is...) and will actually be much better than the normal guys, whose appeal is inflated because of the simple novelty of them being a former player for the fans. In principle, I have no problem with a woman being a color commentator in the NBA.
The problem is, Doris Burke is WORSE than all the other color commentary guys, even the crappy ones. This can only mean that ESPN hired her, not because she is overly charismatic or knows her stuff, but because they thought, "Let's hire a woman." This attitude is frustrating to ESPN viewers because their decisions are aimed to please the wrong people (NOT the fans). I can guarantee you that nobody watching every game of the playoffs is talking with their buddies and saying, "Ya know what? I think I want a female color commentator...ANY woman, I don't even care if she sucks." It's in the exact same way they're not thinking, "I wish we could have a color commentator who is about 6 foot 11 from Turkmenistan who never played in the NBA for absolutely no reason."
I actually don't even know why I wrote so much about this, it really doesn't matter that much. For the record, my favorite color commentator is Hubie Brown, by far. And yes, we all want more Gracie Burtch (and more power rankings).
Second Round Power Rankings
Did somebody say power rankings? From first to eighth, here's who I like in the second round:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
In case you forgot during the past week, the Cavs are still in the playoffs.
There are some problems, yes, like Mo Williams hyperventilating his way through all the games, good or bad, none of our guards being able to stay in front of anyone quick, occasional horribly stagnant offense...etc. Still, they, excuse my language, swept the shit out of Detroit with all these problems, and it seems like LeBron is pretty determined to make none of the problems really matter in the end.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Still the most talented team in the league, by far. I honestly don't know how they lose games. The problem (you know I'm going to say this) is Kobe Bryant. If he had the mindset of a distributor or, I don't know, a leader, this team is talented enough to never stop scoring and play good enough defense. But Kobe plays like a lone wolf. Even when he gets an assist, he points at them as if to say, "Way to make it possible for me to make a great play. You are useful to me," instead of, "Nice cut."
Being a lone wolf is never ideal, but you can get by sometimes if you're Michael Jordan and almost no one else in history. But that is the delusion that Kobe is working under. If you're making your pick in a series and thinking as if Kobe Bryant is going to win you a game or two against a great team in a seven game series, you are mistaken, but if you think Kobe's going to be a team player, you're probably also mistaken. This is why he hasn't won a title since Shaq left and really, why I hate him and why other people who hate him hate him.
3. Houston Rockets
If the Rockets could trade Von Wafer for Brandon Roy, this team would sweep their way to a title. Their fatal flaw in the playoffs is their lack of a guard who can "score at will (nobody can really score at will)" at the end of a game (that's right, Aaron Brooks doesn't count). They very often end up taking bad shots on offense, but seem to have cleaned that up A LITTLE BIT in the first round. The best thing about this team is of course their defense. They have more than one guy who you are actually afraid of on when you have the ball. Yao Ming and Luis Scola are a fantastic foreign tandem up front and Houston probably has the smartest person in the league in Shane Battier.
And did you see Yao Ming cracking up at all of Artest's jokes in the post season press conference?? He was dying!!! I just love that. It's always good to have Karma on your side when facing the Lakers...it's really your only chance (Denver is really the only team who wouldn't have it against L.A.).
4. Boston Celtics
That's right, they're still here.
I know you think that they almost lost to a 7 seed and that should probably count against them. Well I got news for you: The Bulls beat the Magic in 6 if they play in the first round, I'm sure of it. There are no traditional assassins on this Celtics team (people would argue for Ray Allen, I would not. I just don't think he can beat you for a whole series), but they really try hard. You really can't say that for every team. Tip the cap.
5. Orlando Magic
I don't really like these guys at all, obviously. I still feel like nobody wants to play these guys, just because when threes go up, it's always stressful for the half second the ball is in the air when you're hoping it doesn't go in. When you play the Magic, your whole series as a fan is holding your breath for a bunch of half seconds as they throw 6 foot 10 guys at you who put up a million threes a game. Not Enjoyable.
6. Denver Nuggets
Denver is a very talented team but I still have absolutely no respect for how they play and I won't be fooled by them running up the score against a team who gave up in the first round. The Nuggs look like a front running team who can swallow you up with threes if you let them but will fold of you make them. Even after that blow out of New Orleans, I think a solid team would sweep them in a 7 game series.
7. Dallas Mavericks
I think I said that they were the second worst team in the playoffs at the beginning and I was way off. Dirk is capable of coming up huge and winning series' (it's actually true, remember game 7 AT San Antonio? In fact, him and Kobe have similar playoff resumes and Dirk is known as a choker and Kobe as the Ultimate Closer), but they just can't finish. I've really had enough of the Mavericks.
8. Atlanta Hawks
...BY FAR.
You know how I hate on the Nuggets for being stupid and front running? Well the Hawks are like that...only not as good and they don't have Chauncey Billups and they DO have Josh Smith so they're even dumber. Notice that everyone is playing someone close to their level except for the Cavs, who are the best and playing the worst. This is why the regular season matters folks.
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This is not biased in any way towards the Cavs. You suck, this blog sucks, and I hate you. I hope you lose control and fall into the lava. DICK.