Just some things in the sports world to get off my chest:
This is a brutal time of year unless your baseball team is in first place. Mine (the Giants) are far from it. That means, since the NBA finals are all but over, I have to wait until August before there is something interesting going on in sports. Fortunately, this promises to be one of the most interesting and entertaining NBA offseasons in recent memory. Of course, that may only be for me and other Blazer fans, but still…. I love that everyone is talking about the Blazers these days. I couldn’t help thinking as I saw Oden at last night’s game, that Portland may be on its way to where Cleveland is now. Cleveland merchandise is in the top 10 for the NBA even though they are a relatively small market that the rest of the country usually doesn’t care too much about. I don’t expect Oden to have that kind of marketing power (though Durant would), but Portland is relevant again in hoops even before they draft and that’s a good time.- Staying with the NBA for a bit, did you see Side Show Bob’s shot last night at the end of the game? The Cleveland Lebrons are down 2 with about 15 seconds left. LBJ dribbles into a double team and has to kick out FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RECOVERING HIS DRIBBLE, (this play happens almost every game in the NBA where the star or PG loses his dribble in a place where the play just needs to start over and they do a quick exchange with another player to get their dribble back. Apparently Varajao is the only guy in the league that doesn’t get this. Instead of passing right back to Lebron or even calling time out, he decided he should try to take the best defender in the entire league off the dribble. To his credit, he did avoid a blocked shot by throwing the ball a good 3 feet away from the rim, but alas avoiding a swat does not net your team 2 points and the game was over. I didn’t think I would see a worse shot than Varajao’s late game 3 pointer earlier in the playoffs, but he managed to top it last night and between that and Parker’s brutal dagger 3, the Cavs’ season came to a close. How did Lebron not immediately go over and snap his neck?
Also, Bowen obviously and I believe purposefully fouled Lebron in an attempt to keep LBJ from shooting a 3. Lebron got off a decent shot anyway and the foul was not called. My thoughts: First, no question at all that it was a foul. Can’t be debated. Second, if the foul had been called it would have been a non-shooting foul and would have essentially sealed the game for the Spurs. Third, it probably did affect Lebron’s shot as he was probably waiting for a whistle, but that’s on Lebron not the refs who made the right no call and thus gave Lebron a chance to win the game for his team. He just missed. Kind of like the 2 layups that rimmed out earlier. Part of what makes these finals so boring is that there are absolutely no subplots. Lebron isn’t choking or overcoming the odds. He’s just playing hard and it’s understandably not enough against a far superior team. SA is boring in a dominant sort of way with no one player standing out (though please stop the TP for MVP talk right now). Duncan is the MVP and there is no debate. Just ridiculous discussion. You really forget how good he is until you watch him play a full game and never be in the wrong place, never make the wrong play, never get in foul trouble, never let the refs or other team take him off his game. It is amazing. He may not even be human.
No matter how good you were, wouldn’t you be embarrassed if you were being marketed with the slogan “we are all witnesses?” Wouldn’t you cringe when someone was calling you “King” when you have no MVPs or rings? I sure would be.
Unless some terrible tragedy intervenes, I will be posting a running diary of the NBA draft on this blog on the 28th. I expect it to start with something like, “Well the Trailblazers one giant step toward the playoffs today when they broke the worst kept secret in the NBA and drafted Greg Oden with the number 1 pick. Oden immediately becomes the odds on favorite to retire as the greatest Blazer in history. ….oh and this just in, it appears that Kevin Pritchard has found pictures of the Sonics’ majority owner in compromising positions and in a related story has traded Zach Randolph to the Sonics for the number 2 pick and select, Mike Connely Jr…..just kidding, they take Durant.” I think that’s going to be how it plays out.
I know it is lame to pat yourself on the back, but sometimes if you want something done you have to do it yourself. My secretary was good enough to remind me that right after the all-star game I told her that the Spurs would win the championship in 5 games over the Cavs. Looking now like I’ll be off by one game.
I’m going to try to figure out a way to get to Vegas in mid July for the NBA summer league. Anyone want to join me?
I’m opposed to all this “we have to fix the finals” talk. Last year the finals were compelling. Just an off year. Settle down. There are bigger issues facing the NBA like when are we going to start having H-O-R-S-E as a part of all-star weekend? Also, why are the finals stretched out over 6 months with 3 weeks between each game. Totally kills the drama.
Tiger Woods is going to win the US open with a score of 1 under par and will win by 4-5 strokes.
Man I hope Bonds breaks that stinkin record and retires this year followed by A-Rod convincing the union to allow him to take a pay cut and force a trade to the Giants.
Also have to address the Blazer off season. Here is what I think they should do. KP, I hope you are reading this.
o Draft Oden and sleep like a baby knowing that you can not build any kind of team you want.
o Trade Jack and a second round pick for Atlanta’s number 3 pick. Draft Al Horford. I like Jack. I’m a fan and I think he is a legit starting PG in this league who has improved every year and will likely continue to improve. But I think he has taken all the trade talk and Sergio love too much to heart and I think he is a bit oversensitive and could hurt the chemistry of this team and since his trade value is pretty high right now, I would make this deal. I draft Horford because I think he is the 3rd best player available and I think he gives the Blazers and up and coming stud off the bench in the post who can play right away spelling Aldridge when Aldridge goes to the bench or spells Oden at the 5.
o Trade 2 of the remaining second round picks and cash to move back into the first round late to take Almond or Byars. You can’t have too many shooters and I like both of those guys.
o Sign Steve Blake to a modest FA contract.
o Re-sign Ime and Outlaw
o Trade Zach and Martel to Chicago for Nocioni P.J. Brown and Gordon. Maybe some other spare parts would be needed, but make this deal work. That would give the Blazers a starting lineup of Oden, Aldridge, Ime, Roy and Blake and a crunch time lineup of Oden, Aldridge, Nocioni, Roy and Gordon. That is a killer team. You also have Prz, Outlaw, P.J., Sergio and Almond off the bench. That’s a playoff team starting next year for the next 15 years.
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