Draft/Playoffs
After a grueling semester and really late finals, I am done, at least for a few weeks. Finally I can reflect on the NBA playoffs so far, as well as the draft, and actually start wasting my time analyzing each and every nook and cranny of every player, coach, assistant coach, trainer, butler, etc. It should be a fun time.
Seeing as how my team, the Chicago Bulls, was not able to make the playoffs, this postseason has not been as interesting to me. However, as a fan of basketball, I have definitely appreciated what's happening out in the Western Conference, with so many teams getting over fifty wins. That's pretty special, but frankly, I'm not that interested. I'm more interested in the defense-driven, seventy point games that have made the Pistons and pretty much every offensively impotent team in the Eastern Conference so hated. I mean, I don't think it's that excruciating to watch. I agree that it might be more fun to watch the Suns run up and down the court, but who the hell cares if they can't STOP the OTHER team from running up and down the court? This whole Don Nelson philosophy boggles my mind, because in the end you're going to need defensive stops when under two minutes. If you plan to outrun them, you better have players who run marathons for recreation (which is exactly why the Suns got Shaq, right?). Yet I'm still fascinated by it because that's exactly what we, the Chicago Bulls, need: offense. We are absolutely horrible on offense because we don't have pure shooters nor do we have all positions absolutely filled. A few of my friends always tell me, "Don't worry about it. You'll just draft another point guard." As irritating as that is, it's also completely true. We seriously have countless guards or undersized forwards. We don't have completely untradeable players in any position, apart from Luol Deng, and possibly Thabo Sefolosha. That's why I'm thinking that we package this number one pick with Ben Gordon (who just inconceivably hoists up maybe .01% shots instead of trying to find the open man) and get a clutch player. I don't know the exact statistics, but I do know that we have melted down in the fourth quarters in most of our losses. We play okay to well in the first three quarters, and then we just lose all confidence in the fourth quarter, as our supposedly "clutch" shooters, a la Ben Gordon, just go ice cold. We don't have a player who we can trust to handle the ball, make the right pass, grab an important rebound, or anything else that is necessary to close a game. I'm honestly thinking we need a Manu Ginobili type. Yeah, the Spurs have been getting pounded by the Lakers so far, but Ginobili just seems like one of those scrappy players who makes big shots and big defensive plays in the fourth quarter. I also like a player like Gilbert Arenas, but I'm not entirely sure because he has also been known to choke and has frail knees. The point is that I think we should consider looking for offers for the draft pick instead of getting more raw talent in Michael Beasley (may I remind everyone that we also have Noah, Thomas, and Gordon?) or, even worse, Derrick Rose, another point guard.
That is the status of my Bulls right now. I know everyone is riveted. Now to something more interesting: the playoffs. To reflect on these playoffs, I'm absolutely shocked that home court has been such a huge factor thus far. I think that's the biggest headline, and the others follow:
2.) The Lakers' dynamic with a less selfish Kobe Bryant
This one hurts me the most. I absolutely despise Kobe Bryant, but this man has changed the way he plays the game. I still think his personality is contrived and he's still inherently selfish, but at least he's not showing it on the court anymore. He is averaging fewer points than in past seasons, but they are winning; this used to kill Kobe, but now he actually understands that basketball's a team game. I hate that little son of a...okay, sorry. Somehow Lamar Odom is playing like he's on the All-NBA Defensive Team, and Sasha Vujacic has legitimately become the second most clutch player on the team. Pau is still soft (yes, I might still be bitter that Paxson didn't pull the trigger to get him), but he helps them enormously. This team is legitimately scary, and with my favorite coach, Phil Jackson, at the helm, they are definitely the team to beat. And that's why it sucks. Oh, and I have some money riding on the fact that the Lakers don't win the championship, so that adds some extra incentive to hate them.
3.) The Celtics' inability to win on the road
So these guys win 66 games, and they haven't won on the road yet? Is this some sort of joke? This exemplifies why Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have never won. I don't know what it is about the playoffs, but they are not the same team that dominated the league. Ray Allen is averaging nine points in the playoffs right now. NINE points. Kevin Garnett's numbers are down too. Paul Pierce had a ridiculous game against LeBron in game 7, so he at least has been trying. Ultimately, this doesn't shock me that the Celtics are looking as if they're going to get pummeled by the Pistons in Detroit. I like them more than the Pistons too, but they better start reverting back to their season-like self as opposed to this strange "let's make this series interesting by sucking" mentality. Just bring the championship to the East. Please.
3.) The Spurs continuing to dominate despite their age
I don't understand. They're just really good, and really old, and really good. 'Nuf said. Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward ever to play the game. Manu Ginobili is a scrappy and clutch player. Tony Parker has Eva Longoria. That team has everything they could ever ask for. Oh, and they won the championship last year. Not too bad. Beat the Lakers for me at least. Please.
4.) The Pistons consistently going under the radar
This one hurts me. I really dislike the Pistons, particularly Richard Hamilton and to a lesser extent, Chauncey Billups. But I give credit where credit is due. They were almost a 60-win team this year, and they demolished the Magic and the Sixers (did we actually think the Sixers had a chance?) Now they stole a game in Boston, and who knows what they are capable of at home. They're really good, and I'll gladly take the Pistons winning it all over the Spurs or Lakers.
5.) T-Mac being the biggest choke artist since Jean Van de Velde
Honestly, even after their ridiculous winning streak, did we honestly believe Houston was going to win a playoff series? Yeah, didn't think so. Glad Luther Head showed up too. Poor T-Mac. The man just doesn't catch a break.
On that note, here are my predictions, much to my chagrin:
Lakers 4 San Antonio 1
Pistons 4 Boston 2
Lakers 4 Detroit 1
Here is what I want:
San Antonio 4 Lakers 2
Boston 4 Detroit 2
Boston 4 San Antonio 2
Okay, while you guys are enjoying the playoffs, I'm about to get some popcorn ready for the draft. I love you John Paxson. I really do...
Seeing as how my team, the Chicago Bulls, was not able to make the playoffs, this postseason has not been as interesting to me. However, as a fan of basketball, I have definitely appreciated what's happening out in the Western Conference, with so many teams getting over fifty wins. That's pretty special, but frankly, I'm not that interested. I'm more interested in the defense-driven, seventy point games that have made the Pistons and pretty much every offensively impotent team in the Eastern Conference so hated. I mean, I don't think it's that excruciating to watch. I agree that it might be more fun to watch the Suns run up and down the court, but who the hell cares if they can't STOP the OTHER team from running up and down the court? This whole Don Nelson philosophy boggles my mind, because in the end you're going to need defensive stops when under two minutes. If you plan to outrun them, you better have players who run marathons for recreation (which is exactly why the Suns got Shaq, right?). Yet I'm still fascinated by it because that's exactly what we, the Chicago Bulls, need: offense. We are absolutely horrible on offense because we don't have pure shooters nor do we have all positions absolutely filled. A few of my friends always tell me, "Don't worry about it. You'll just draft another point guard." As irritating as that is, it's also completely true. We seriously have countless guards or undersized forwards. We don't have completely untradeable players in any position, apart from Luol Deng, and possibly Thabo Sefolosha. That's why I'm thinking that we package this number one pick with Ben Gordon (who just inconceivably hoists up maybe .01% shots instead of trying to find the open man) and get a clutch player. I don't know the exact statistics, but I do know that we have melted down in the fourth quarters in most of our losses. We play okay to well in the first three quarters, and then we just lose all confidence in the fourth quarter, as our supposedly "clutch" shooters, a la Ben Gordon, just go ice cold. We don't have a player who we can trust to handle the ball, make the right pass, grab an important rebound, or anything else that is necessary to close a game. I'm honestly thinking we need a Manu Ginobili type. Yeah, the Spurs have been getting pounded by the Lakers so far, but Ginobili just seems like one of those scrappy players who makes big shots and big defensive plays in the fourth quarter. I also like a player like Gilbert Arenas, but I'm not entirely sure because he has also been known to choke and has frail knees. The point is that I think we should consider looking for offers for the draft pick instead of getting more raw talent in Michael Beasley (may I remind everyone that we also have Noah, Thomas, and Gordon?) or, even worse, Derrick Rose, another point guard.
That is the status of my Bulls right now. I know everyone is riveted. Now to something more interesting: the playoffs. To reflect on these playoffs, I'm absolutely shocked that home court has been such a huge factor thus far. I think that's the biggest headline, and the others follow:
2.) The Lakers' dynamic with a less selfish Kobe Bryant
This one hurts me the most. I absolutely despise Kobe Bryant, but this man has changed the way he plays the game. I still think his personality is contrived and he's still inherently selfish, but at least he's not showing it on the court anymore. He is averaging fewer points than in past seasons, but they are winning; this used to kill Kobe, but now he actually understands that basketball's a team game. I hate that little son of a...okay, sorry. Somehow Lamar Odom is playing like he's on the All-NBA Defensive Team, and Sasha Vujacic has legitimately become the second most clutch player on the team. Pau is still soft (yes, I might still be bitter that Paxson didn't pull the trigger to get him), but he helps them enormously. This team is legitimately scary, and with my favorite coach, Phil Jackson, at the helm, they are definitely the team to beat. And that's why it sucks. Oh, and I have some money riding on the fact that the Lakers don't win the championship, so that adds some extra incentive to hate them.
3.) The Celtics' inability to win on the road
So these guys win 66 games, and they haven't won on the road yet? Is this some sort of joke? This exemplifies why Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have never won. I don't know what it is about the playoffs, but they are not the same team that dominated the league. Ray Allen is averaging nine points in the playoffs right now. NINE points. Kevin Garnett's numbers are down too. Paul Pierce had a ridiculous game against LeBron in game 7, so he at least has been trying. Ultimately, this doesn't shock me that the Celtics are looking as if they're going to get pummeled by the Pistons in Detroit. I like them more than the Pistons too, but they better start reverting back to their season-like self as opposed to this strange "let's make this series interesting by sucking" mentality. Just bring the championship to the East. Please.
3.) The Spurs continuing to dominate despite their age
I don't understand. They're just really good, and really old, and really good. 'Nuf said. Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward ever to play the game. Manu Ginobili is a scrappy and clutch player. Tony Parker has Eva Longoria. That team has everything they could ever ask for. Oh, and they won the championship last year. Not too bad. Beat the Lakers for me at least. Please.
4.) The Pistons consistently going under the radar
This one hurts me. I really dislike the Pistons, particularly Richard Hamilton and to a lesser extent, Chauncey Billups. But I give credit where credit is due. They were almost a 60-win team this year, and they demolished the Magic and the Sixers (did we actually think the Sixers had a chance?) Now they stole a game in Boston, and who knows what they are capable of at home. They're really good, and I'll gladly take the Pistons winning it all over the Spurs or Lakers.
5.) T-Mac being the biggest choke artist since Jean Van de Velde
Honestly, even after their ridiculous winning streak, did we honestly believe Houston was going to win a playoff series? Yeah, didn't think so. Glad Luther Head showed up too. Poor T-Mac. The man just doesn't catch a break.
On that note, here are my predictions, much to my chagrin:
Lakers 4 San Antonio 1
Pistons 4 Boston 2
Lakers 4 Detroit 1
Here is what I want:
San Antonio 4 Lakers 2
Boston 4 Detroit 2
Boston 4 San Antonio 2
Okay, while you guys are enjoying the playoffs, I'm about to get some popcorn ready for the draft. I love you John Paxson. I really do...
posted by pavYedav at
6:26 PM
|
1 Comments
