by Trevor Freeman
“The definition of “Tim Duncanitis” is when the media and followers of a sport make arguments that other players are best, because they just don’t want to state the obvious. In Tim Duncan’s case, pundits love to predict LeBron James or Dwyane Wade to be the MVP/Best Player in basketball even though it’s painfully clear to every rational human being watching hoops that the best player is indeed Duncan. This is why Tim Duncan has only won two MVP’s.”
by Trevor Freeman
Two men. One a giant in his sport and the other a literal giant had news that seemed to fly under sport’s radar last week. It is surprising considering the two names involved. However their news has the potential to impact the sports scene in 2008. For David Beckham being asked to rejoin England and Roy Hibbert deciding to rejoin the Georgetown Hoyas means there could be a little more sizzle on each side when they show up for America and Europe’s version of the Madness.
It happened again. Steve Nash and the Sun’s elimination from the playoffs produced a nation-wide question: Why doesn’t Nash, a two time MVP, get blamed when his team loses early? Well, that is not only a stupid question; it is an easily answered one. First, last season wasn’t Nash’s fault. They didn’t have Amare, and last I checked they still did pretty damn good. Second, this season was Robert Horry’s fault. He single handedly gave the Suns their exit tickets, and you can thank the NBA for that. The suspensions of Stoudamire and Diaw were ridiculous. But I don’t want to focus on the Suns. I don’t want to take it one step further and say,” Nash? What about Shaq and D-Wade?” I don’t even want to begin to dissect the many reasons why those two stars were heavily responsible for a drastic collapse and sweep by the hands of the younger Chicago Bulls. Wait, yes I do.
I’ve always had an affinity for the point guard position. More than any other position in basketball, I love how they can affect the outcome of a basketball game. Depends on who you ask, but more often than not, point guards have the ability to change the course of a game to their teams favor.
Yes, I still believe that “height equals might” in basketball, albeit with a little reservation. While it’s always convenient to have a low post presence on the offensive side of the ball and a “patrolman” on the defensive side, centers don’t have many responsibilities apart from scoring down low, guarding the rim, and getting rebounds.
by Trevor Freeman
My biggest objection with Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw being suspended for Game 5 was not the complete injustice of it. And that is saying an awful lot because the fairness of David Stern’s decision to suspend the two of them was only a slight notch below Vince McMahon forcing Bobby Lashley to have to defend his ECW title against him, Shane McMahon and Umaga in a handicap match on the last pay-per view. My beef with the commissioner lies in the absolute lack of testicular fortitude he put on display when he cancelled his scheduled appearance in Phoenix after making the suspension decision.
This is not the first time David Stern has shown that he is an incompetent twit who may also be smuggling a pair of raisins under his boxer shorts. Let’s take a quick look at some of the other “moves” he has made over the past fifteen years that have helped the NBA get passed by the NFL as the premier professional sports league in our country.
By David J. Cohen
It’s time for the NBA playoffs. This year is especially good, with storylines all over the place. I can’t remember a playoff year in the NBA with so much intrigue in the opening round.
Here’s how the Eastern Conference should play out.
Once again, I am mostly a baseball guy, but I’m a Sportscenter addict. I follow it like a religion. Plus my hometown Warriors are finally in the playoffs, so I’ve been inspired to take a stab at prediction this year’s NBA playoffs. And no matter what you think of my predictions, I guarantee they will be less annoying than anything Stephen A. Smith says.
It’s the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. All you need is 16 more victories and you are the NBA Champions. To be honest, I would settle for half as good of playoffs from last year. However, the way things shook up on the last night, you never know, we may be in store for some good match-ups.
Man did the Bulls blow it or what? Before game #82, they were the two seed looking at Washington in the First Round and then the winner of New Jersey/Toronto. It is a cakewalk to the Conference Finals. Nope, sorry, they couldn’t take care of the Nets on their home floor, and they get Miami, and then Detroit. If they beat Miami of course. How about those Warriors? Nellie’s old team versus his new team… I predict a lot of scoring. Here is the series breakdown and predictions for Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
by: Kyle Benson
Its the 2nd year in a row the Celtics have missed the playoffs. What has happened to this storied franchise? 16 NBA championships all time, but they can’t make it into the playoffs two years in a row. Even though they are one of the worst teams in the league, ending the season with a horrid record of 25-57, star players Paul Pierce and Al Jefferson have guaranteed the playoffs for the 2007-2008 season. So what I’m asking myself is, what Celtics will we see next year, the dynasty from the 80’s, or the car crash of the 2000’s?
Alright its the end of the season, playoffs are close, the divisions are all wrapped up, it is time for awards, predictions, results, and an occasional skeptical comment. I don’t mean to toot my own horn here, but I was 14 of 16 for my playoff teams that I predicted earlier this year. That isn’t bad. Of course, there are really only 5 or 6 teams in the NBA that are truly worthy of winning it all. Toronto and Utah are the two that proved me wrong, and Milwaukee and the Hornets are the two that let me down. I was four of six predicting the divisions (Miami, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix)…all-right those were softballs, I admit it. Utah and Toronto threw me a curve, but in my defense I said they were playoff caliber teams, especially Utah.