Lakers,Sixers,Rockies,ect

Hey its Ryan again filling again..lets jump into what happened friday night

• LA closes out Denver on the road 119-92..and for a close out game 6,I was expecting alot more from Denver.They had no energy as a unit and honestly I thought they quit..and at home no less.JR Smith and Carmelo carried the team scoring 24 and 25 but Billups turned into the Billups who just loves to simply be in the conference finals instead of win conference finals.He had 10 pts(2-7 shooting),9 asts and 5 turnovers...a night he would like to forget.Nene had a similarly bad stat line and that is 2 of your starters mailing it in..you cant win like that.Kobe on the other hand had "that" look in his eyes,and it showed during the sequence of the last play of the 1st half.He shot a corner 3(wide open,no less) and on the following play Carmelo was driving the lane and laid the ball up and Kobe blocked it as the half ended,take notes everyone.He had 35 pts,10asts and 6rebs..it was arguably one of his greatest games in the playoffs.The supporting cast helped alot;Pau added 20pts,12rebs and 6asts,Odom added 20pts of his own even Luke Walton(!) chipped in 10 of his own...it was about as well as the Lakers could play from the regular contributors and it showed in the 4th when the lead pushed to 20+,they now have a week off to rest for the Cavs or Magic.

Elsewhere....

• Phillies pitcher Brett Myers is having hip surgery for his torn labrum and could miss the rest of the season.The pitching staff was already in shambles for the most part and losing pitchers to injury isnt the way to solve that answer.It would be amazing to see Philly to make any kind of push like they did last year.But that was mostly off the bats.
• Rockies fire manager Clint Hurdle.I never understand how these things happen.The GM doesnt stock the team with talent that is capable of winning,yet the manager gets the ax for going 18-28.I actually think 18-28 is about right for that talent level,so why are people losing their job?...is anyone going to do better?...I doubt it..were they like the D-Backs and underacheived?...nah not really..I just dont understand
• Sixers hire former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan.I like the move for the most part,it will be interesting to see how he can include Elton Brand into the offense that didnt really need him this year.But with the status of Andre Miller up in the air,it may be harder than advertised

Big Z,Lakers,Manny and More

Hello again everyone its Ryan in the guest blogging role for a little bit until Brad gets back from his travels of the world..anyways lets jump right into it

• You gotta lead with the NBA Playoffs...LA beats Denver 103-94 to go up 3-2 in the series.The game was actually a really close game until the 4th quarter where Denver just went flat..bad timing really and then combine the foul troubles/ineffectiveness of Nene,Billups and JR Smith its going to be very hard to overcome on the road.On LA's side Lamar Odom was the main surprise guy adding 19 pts and 14 rebs which is easily his best game of the series.If he is doing this off the bench things seem a little smoother from Kobe who only took an economical 13 shots for 22(Lamar was the leader with 15 attempts).And while his box score was a little light,the contributions from Shannon Brown were very big with a big dunk on the Birdman as well as jumper late in the shot clock.He helped the momentum swing.Denver's back is against the wall for Game 6 at home,no one wants to play a potential closeout game against Kobe Bryant.
• Another thought on the NBA..I think its a really bad idea to have the league take back every technical and flagrant foul as well as give people flagrant fouls the day after..clearly the people who are giving these fouls out the 1st time arent doing a good enough job...soooooo lets try to do better you know?...its killing the crediblity of the sport.
  

In the MLB

• I would steer clear of pitcher Carlos Zambrano for a few days...on an close play at the plate against the Pirates today,the runner was called safe and he erupted..he bumped the ump so he got the toss...he then mocked the ump by...throwing him out?...or he gave the motion of that..he then launches the baseball somewhere short of the wall throws his glove on the ground and walks to the dugout....is he done?...why would he?...he picks up a bat and wales on the gatorade machine(sidebar when did gatorade machines become automatic like restaurants?...I want one) for a few minutes...a pretty nice meltdown if I do say so myself
• Toronto is in complete free fall these days..after posting an out of the blue record early..they've lost 9 in a row.And if there was ever a division to not do that in..its the AL East.Today they choked away a 7-3 lead going into the 8th against the Orioles...read that one again..yikes..they lost the game 12-10 in the 11th..
• Who would've thought that the Padres would be pitching better AND hitting better than the Diamondbacks?
• Manny Ramirez is still capable of starting for the NL all star team as an outfielder...yeah the suspended for drugs Manny..that one...if that isnt a clear cut signal that no one really cares about steroids like that I dont know what else will.In the end it will always be a big cut in the sides of writers and the purists of the sport..but for the fans they just want to win...its not like people are showing up much anyways to the games.

I thought about covering soccer and tennis..but I doubt Brad would be happy with that lol...but I will say that

• Manchester United fell to Barcelona 2-0 with goals by Rossi and Eto..it wasnt as competitive as people would have thought it should have been.
• Sharapova needed 3 sets to pull it out over Petrova;Safina,Nadal(30 in a row in the French)and Andy Murray all advance as well

A few days off...

Headed out of the country until Monday... Wi-fi is an unknown... May have a guest blogger at some point but bear with me folks... I appreciate you all that actually read this daily.. More than you realize

Lakers/Nuggets, The Padres, etc....

To the most pressing issue...

• Other than Nuggets 120, Lakers 101...the next biggest numbers from Game 4? 84 Free Throw attempts total (including an absolutely insane 49 for Denver), and 55 total fouls...That's not basketball...that's especially not playoff basketball...and it's a league-wide issue that just happened to manifest itself tonight...let them play...please let them play....I'm begging the Commish right here and now...No more Flagrant fouls for hard, on-ball swipes (Andrew Bynum), no more 5 minute sequences where every single trip is a touch foul (mid-4th quarter in Game 4)....just stop it...do it now....

Okay, that's over...

• To the actual game...a huge win (and a must-win at that) for Denver... Factor in that Melo shot 3-16 and they still win easily....hm...JR Smith's 24 points were slightly flawed (3 late triples) but he was huge... So was the Birdman's 14 boards...And even NeNe's 14 and 13 effort (Quick name a non-Yao/Howard center better than him....I'll wait) But the thing I can't get past...I know the game was called ridiculously...but Denver is just borderline insane...like it always seems like they are on the fence of going over the line...and that's a George Karl issue... reign it in... For LA? Other than the typical Lamar Odom absolute no-show (getting old to Laker fans I'm sure lol)....I had one major issue...Phil Jackson let this game get out of control....Yes, I just berated Phil Jackson...that Phil Jackson...but hear me out... With the lead bordering on the 10-12 point fulcrum... Phil trotted this lineup out for an extended time frame.... Shannon Brown/Sasha Vujacic

Shannon Brown

Sasha Vujacic

Luke Walton

Trevor Ariza

Andrew Bynum

• Now, first of all...I don't have an issue with any of these guys getting minutes (save my personal stance on Vujacic, especially when he isn't making jumpers)...but to sit Kobe, Pau, and Odom at the same time for 4+ minutes with the leading nearing insurmountability is inexcusable...especially when Kobe is glaring down the bench trying to get into the game and Pau had 21 and 10 (on 8-11 FG) at the time......Okay that's over....It's a 3-game series...and I love the drama...
• Uhh...the Padres have won 10 straight...the same Padres who have exactly 4 even average bats (Gonzalez, Kouzmanoff, Eckstein and Headley) and exactly 2 average starters (Peavy, and Chris Young if he's firing)....aberration? definitely if you ask me...but a nice story...
• MLB Roundup: Other than the obvious Francoeur meltdown to be worried about (0-4, 2 K, 7 LOB after he looked to be breaking out), I can't deal with Buddy Carlyle still be on this Braves team with so many young arms ready and waiting...the 8.84 ERA speaks for itself... We may have seen the breakout from Travis Ishikawa of the Giants .... 4-4 with a HR... and not even the best batting line of the day....how bout former batting champ (lol) Freddy Sanchez with a 6-6 day including a homer...2 teams are JUMPING for joy about pitching performances today... The Cardinals and Chris Carpenter... 8 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER...if he's healthy, they suddenly look like the favorite in the NL Central somehow.... and The Yankees and Phil Hughes... So THAT'S why they didn't wanna deal him huh? (8 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER vs. the devastating Texas lineup)

Big game tonight....Must-win for the Lebrons... I say they steal one... and I won't make the mistake of bashing a guy who went for 41 and 9...lol

Orlando keeps Control, Papi Struggling....

To the Conf. Finals yet again...

• Orlando holds serve and keeps their homecourt... Props to Dwight for making his free throws but he's gotta stay out of foul trouble...Pietrus was fantastic yet again and is their emerging player so far in these playoffs....but SVG and company should feel lucky to win (and win semi-easily) with how bad Turkoglu was (1-11 FG)....Let me get this out of the way for Cleveland...that may have been the worst "great" game of Lebron's career...yes, he ended up with 41, 9, and 7...ludicrous numbers for any mortal...but he was inconsistent with his ball handling, appalling bad with his jump shooting, and looked human for most of the night (including an awful 1-5 FT in the 4th)...that being said...how good do you have to be to put up those numbers on an "off" night? Crazy.... It didn't help that Cleveland got ANOTHER bad shooting game from both Mo Williams and Big Z...Can't keep getting those or they'll be going home no matter what Lebron does...

Elsewhere...

• David Ortiz has hit the wall and hit the wall hard....he's hitting under .200...he has 1 home run...I've deliberately stayed away from this "panic" type of thing b/c the national media does it for me...but he's sitting out today...with no injury...uhhh...
• Has any event jumped the shark more than the Indy 500? With the rise of Nascar coinciding with the general decline in interest in Auto racing (including NASCAR's leveling off and even declining lately)...I can't find anybody interested in what used to be the crowning race of the automotive season... 
• Milton Bradley is nuts... He's on a platform of thinking umpires are calling more strikes on him in retaliation for his ridiculous umpire-driven behavior... I'm gonna say this...they should take it out on him for being an inept moron....
• The Braves get the sweep? Not words I've been saying alot lately... they stole the first two despite some late-inning bullpen shakiness (including Mike Gonzalez getting yanked late in Game 2), but pulled away with a power barrage late on Sunday and behind Brian McCann (2 HR yesterday) and company...suddenly have it going....still waiting on Mr. Hanson to appear...but the pitching has been darn good other than Reyes and that blip from Medlen and Jair Jurrjens has allowed 2 runs or less in 9 of 10 starts...that's amazing

That'll be it...thanks to the troops and veterans for everything...

Kobe Bean and Fatal Inbounds Pass #2

Leading with the West...

• Kobe Bryant decided he wasn't letting the Lakers lose (not coincidentally the night after Lebron made alllll the news...hmm)...dropping 41 including  a gigantic 3 in JR Smith's mug late and ending things at the line....but the play of the game IMO (other than that Bryant 3) was ANOTHER failed inbounds pass... This time it wasn't a coaching mishap, but rather a misjudgment by a veteran (K-Mart)....but at the same time I think these little things separate great coaches from mediocre ones...for instance...Phil Jackson has put Lamar Odom on the ball with every intention of actually being ON TOP of the inbounder to put that extra impetus behind the play...both times (a small sample I know) this play has frustrated the passer...whereas Stan Van Gundy went with Lewis on a preventive basis (not in the face of the inbounder) last night instead of either pressuring the ball or completely taking him away and doubling Lebron (either of which would've been better)...Just an observation.... For Denver? Carmelo utterly disappeared late in this one...culminating in his late foul-out... but I have to say The Birdman was EVERYwhere...very impressed.... 2 interesting subplots to close.... 1) JR Smith took 10 threes in that game...that's unacceptable when you are only hitting 2 of them and aren't your teams 1st or 2nd option...I know he has no regard...but I'm gonna need him to reign that in (4-15 FG too)....and 2) Andrew Bynum hasn't played over 20 minutes in the series and has become a complete non-factor....congratulations to the Lakers for having his extension START next year at 12.5 million a year when he is already feuding with Phil over playing time AND getting glared at by Kobe for lack of effort...I just want everyone to keep the fact that he's a no-show in mind when factoring that this team is still the favorite with him underperforming/not playing
• A tampering investigation of the Redskins is underway over the early signing of Albert Haynesworth...there had been an underground swell of this ever since the signing...I'm interested to see what kind of stamp Roger Goodell puts on this one compared to what he did to the Pats over Spygate...
• MLB Roundup: The Braves are hot...and the Jays have suddenly hit the wall...needless to say I'm fine with this... 1 good sign and 1 bad sign for the Red Sox.... Josh Beckett was dominant (8 IP, 0 ER) but the invincible Papelbon imploded in the 9th and blew the save to the Mets... Possibly the best slugger you NEVER hear about? Joey Votto of Cincy...who blasted 2 HR's today and is hitting .371 with 7 HR despite missing 10 games with an inner ear problem....Watching Derek Jeter play defense now makes cringe a little bit...he has the fluidity of Edgar Renteria (not a good thing) and has lost the ability to make the "wow" plays he used to...not a good combo for Yankees fans....

Realllyyyy looking forward to tonight's Game 3 in Orlando... I think Cleveland takes the homecourt advantage back, and Orlando could easily be out of this series quickly depending on how they respond to getting their hearts ripped out....Keep in mind SVG nearly cried in his post-game presser...

The 2 Big Stories...at least for me...

Okay the First one is big for everyone...you win...you always do...

• Lebron James drives the stake in.... an unbelievable instant classic buzzer beater with several problems (Rashard Lewis not aggressively covering the inbounds so why have him up there at all? Lebron getting completely single-covered, etc.) on the defensive end...but immediately a legendary moment and perhaps the biggest shot of his career....Oh yeah, he had 35 points too....lol... For Orlando... Dwight Howard gets 8 shots? I know he's not on offensive force but that's a balance issue...1-1 going to Orlando is all the Magic can really hope for but it could easily be 2-0...

And one that I witnessed in person...

• Kenshin Kawakami outduels...Roy Halladay? Didn't see that coming...the first 1-0 final I've ever seen live in baseball...Both starters were absolutely masterful...Kawakami (8 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 7 K) gets the W in his best start to date...and while Halladay was virtually perfect as well (7 IP, 5 hits, 0 ER), his bullpen let him down and Mike Gonzalez slammed the door....Nothing is easy for this Braves team though....with 2 out and a man on 3rd in the top of the 9th... there was a chopper to 3rd that took a weird hop and Martin Prado booted it...but he was fortunate enough to get a great bounce and somehow still gunned Vernon Wells to end it.... Fitting....

That's all for now

1-1 in the West, Some NBA Coaching News, etc.

To the actual hardwood action first...

• Denver evens things up....An indication of Denver's ability to win the game last night happened when they were actually down 41-27 in the 2nd... I was in a conversation regarding the game and was absolutely in disbelief that they were ONLY down 14 and actually killing LA for their inability to put teams away.... minutes later Denver had cut the lead to 1 by halftime and they were in full control... It's a fatal flaw for LA...they lost this game despite probably the best offensive game of Trevor Ariza's career (6-7 FG, 20 points), a good night from Kobe (10-20 FG, 32 points), and an advantage in pretty much every category (rebounding/turnover/FG%/3-pt % edges).... Carmelo and Billups were huge...any time they can get 61 points that's enough for them to win...but Linas Kleiza was the key to me... Dahntay Jones somehow contracted 4 (FOUR!!!) fouls in the first 6 minutes of the game...and JR Smith is/was banged up and totally ineffective...Kleiza came off the bench for 16 points including 4 enormous threes... 1-1 going back to Denver...and I'm not convinced LA will win a game in Denver now... can they? Yes...Do I think they will? yes...but I'm not sold like I was a few days ago....

Elsewhere....

• Jake Peavy declines the deal to the White Sox...he's apparently completely on the block still...but various experts are discounting the ability to actually deal him b/c of lack of options...his apparent unwillingness to go to the AL, his 2013 option pickup, and the fact that he is only willing to play on the West Coast.... Good luck to the Padres on that one....
• Jay Wright talks to Philly...but goes back to Nova....would've been an interesting fit...but I'm vehemently opposed to college coaches getting NBA jobs...He'd certainly be in the top tier of college guys...but take that for what it's worth...
• Mike Woodson is a lame duck....No extension for Woody after his post-season meeting with Rick Sund...leaving him without a deal past 2009-10...never a good sign when he already doesn't get along with his 2nd-highest paid player...
• Aaron Cook throws a 4-hit shutout gem vs. the Braves last night....let's just I can't watch James Parr pitch without cringing openly...

That'll do it....Magic/Cavs Game 2 tonight....and Roy Halladay on the mound in Atlanta...let's get it

Twitter....

For those of you that care (or even a little bit), I have a twitter page....I'd say probably 95% of my thoughts on there are sports related...so there you go...

http://www.twitter.com/browismyhero

Down Goes Lebron, Peavy to Chi-town?, etc....

The big story for me is...

• The Cavs going down... if there was a game for Orlando to win it was Game 1 with the Cavs coming off the long layoff...but let me tell you 2 stats you won't see again in this series....Orlando shooting 55% from the field (and 45% from 3) and scoring 105 points...that won't happen again...in fact they might not approach those numbers... That being said, big-ups to SVG and company...Orlando got max production from Rafer Alston (8 dimes, 1 TO), Dwight Howard (30 and 13), and Hedo (14 dimes!)...but Rashard Lewis is the key to this series...Mike Brown seems content to play Varejao on him...that won't work... I've seen that....Oh yea...have I mentioned Lebron shot 20-30 and had 49 points, 8 dimes, and 6 boards? RIDICULOUS stat line...all for nothing...but 30 shots is too many for him...that means he was making jumpers...but that also means he "only" took 10 FTs...not a small number...but he should be taking 15+ per in this series...
• Jake Peavy to the White Sox? There is apparently a deal in place to send him to Chicago...I won't examine the package...it can't possibly be enough but San Diego is desperate to move him to shed payroll (and be even WORSE than they already are)...but here's the thing....why does Chicago wanna become a buyer in the trade market? They're in 4th place in the AL Central, 17-22, and 5.5 games out...this isn't a playoff team with or without Peavy...I don't get the move...but hey, if they can hold on to their top prospects...I guess you take the flier?
• Phil Mickelson takes a leave of absence to be with his ailing wife...this is a big step by Phil and I applaud him for it...it helps to be in great financial shape...but the willingness to simply put golf to the side shows a side of Phil many people would never have seen...big-ups to him and I wish his wife well....
• I'd like to thank Victor Martinez (the Indians C) for hitting .400 this year...the year AFTER i picked him quite high in my fantasy league and he unceremoniously bombed...I'm not bitter...lol
• One more baseball note...This came to my mind while watching my hometown favorite Jeff Francoeur flail away at a slider the other night...do you realize that the Braves front office openly turned down a Jeff Francoeur/Zach Greinke swap in the past year? That happened...Greinke (he of 7 wins and 0.60 ERA) would be a nice fit....

Keep an eye out for Lakers/Nuggets Game 2 tonight...that's a big game for Denver...

Lakers Take Game One, Draft Lottery, etc.

Fairly Busy morning....

• On the court.... LA takes Game One....It almost felt like they stole this one even though they were favored and at home...Denver seemed to control the tempo/style of the game throughout... Kobe may have had the quietest 40 points I can ever remember him having....very even-keel and he was (as usual) perfect at the line down the stretch to seal it... Carmelo Anthony is what he is at this point...39 points is great... except that he didn't score in the last 3:30 and it almost felt like he disappeared for the entire 2nd half of the 4th quarter (and ALL of the 2nd)....just not as consistent as you'd like him to be.... This Andrew Bynum situation is a mess for Phil Jackson to deal with....5 fouls in 16 minutes and though he had 6 boards, it felt like he was in the way... One under-the-radar thing.... Denver's bench gave them next-to-nothing...Chris Anderson was solid, but JR Smith (2-7 non-existent until late) and Anthony Carter (0-4 and flat-out abysmal) didn't help George Karl's cause....add in that he inexplicably had the 6'0 tall Carter inbound the ball on the late throw-away sequence....yikes.... But Denver just needs to split to make this a series.... Big game in game 2....
• The Clips win the Lottery....and apparently have already decided on Blake Griffin? That's pretty disturbing to me based upon their front-court situation...I'm not saying you don't take him...b/c I still would...but they better be sure when they are paying a combined $300 million (lol) for Kaman, Camby, and the infamous Zach Randolph.... I was discussing this with my trusted basketball cohort Ryan and we decided that it's inexplicable that a team with no glaring holes is/was as bad as the Clips...it makes no sense... they seem to be "set" at every position...and yet, are still terrible....Good luck to you Blake...
• Mike Vick released... I'm not gonna cover this with the same fervor as most media outlets (hm, ESPN) but it's still a story...he apparently escaped the media throng upon his release...good work by somebody...I'm impressed....Will he play this year? ehh... Too early to tell IMO...
• This Dirk Nowitzki thing just got sicker....this crazy woman he was engaged to (that has multiple aliases, etc.) is now pregnant....great work Dirk...
• And a positive story....Dontrelle Willis throws 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball for the Tigers yesterday...Love to see that (as a Tigers supporter, thanks Dad) and as a baseball fan, it's pretty cool to see the guy who was once the brightest young arm in the game potentially get his form back...

Until next time.....

Hoops Heavy....

Sorry for the lapse...back in full....With 2 mini-previews for the conference finals....First? The west...

• Who?- Denver vs. LA Lakers (LA Homecourt)
• Why Denver can win: Chauncey Billups is known for stepping up huge in the playoffs, and despite his age/slight decline he is the main instigator for this team's turnaround, couple that with the depleted LA point guard situation and yikes.... Who guards Carmelo Anthony? Melo is the X-factor for me...he needs to average in the high 20's in this series for them to have a chance...maybe even 30...I'm guessing Trevor Ariza and maybe Lamar Odom get the majority of the looks on him..... NeNe is an impossible matchup for Pau Gasol...can Bynum give them minutes? Do they even turn further down their bench? And speaking of benches... Denver's 6-8 of JR Smith, Chris Anderson, and Anthony Carter have been suddenly fantastic...I don't trust Carter in the slightest...but the other 2 need to play big
• Why LA WILL win: Kobe Bean Bryant....really nothing to say...Dahntay Jones and JR Smith get the call....Jones is a heady defender with some athleticism but is giving up at least 2 inches...Smith is a no-defense scorer...no chance.... Chauncey isn't a speedy guard... this is big...yes, he's an elite-level player..but he's not the pure matchup problem that Aaron Brooks or Tony Parker would be... Pau Gasol has been big-time against Denver this year....he's the offensive key (well, Lamar Odom always is an enigma, but you know) and can pretty much do as he pleases on the block when he plays with aggression.... and the biggest thing... Phil Jackson vs. George Karl.... Let's just say this is a significant advantage for LA b/c Phil has 9 rings...and George Karl is...well, George Karl....
• Prediction: LA in 5

To the East....

• Who? Orlando vs. Cleveland (Cleveland homecourt)
• Why Orlando could win: This is going to be a stretch... Dwight Howard is an athletic mismatch for any team...but it's especially true with Cleveland....Big Z is a 7'3, lumbering jump shooter who is defensively adequate, but not against someone like Howard and the Ben Wallace/Joe Smith combo isn't scaring anyone.... The 3-ball....it's the great equalizer... but that said, it's more of a College threat than an NBA one...they'll need to do more... Who guards Rashard Lewis? Okay...Lebron will lock down (to a point I mean) Turkoglu or Lewis...My guess is Turkoglu...but who guards the other one? Anderson Varejao is a good defender, but he's more of a post guy... Rashard can (and in the Boston series absolutely did) get to the rim when they put a power forward on him....
• Why Cleveland WILL win: The depth of Cleveland stems from the fact that they can trot out playoff-tested vets AND youthful exuberance at the same time off their bench...whereas Orlando's bench consists of a bunch of a guys who haven't been there and the immortal Anthony Johnson... The backcourt of Cleveland isn't normally where their significant advantage lies...but it is in this series... Rafer Alston is a liability as a starting PG in this league and Mo Williams should take advantage....add in Delonte West's steady hand and lock-down D and I like their odds... Mike Brown won't lose the coaching battle... I'm down on Mike Brown as an elite coach...after all, he basically trots out "The Lebrons" on a nightly basis...but for him to NOT be at a huge disadvantage is a huge ADvantage for this team... and finally... The King resides in Cleveland...the best player in the world... and Orlando isn't exactly brimming with perimeter defense (Courtney or Mikael Pietrus are their best options and both will be giving up 3 inches to Lebron)... I'm thinking he trots out a series average of 32-11-8 or somewhere in that range....
• Prediction: Cleveland in 4, yes 4

Well that's that.....In other news....

• The Draft Lottery is tonight...no dog in the fight this time (haha a Vick pun for the release) but I'm interested...there are some teams with good #1 odds that really don't need Power Forwards but Blake Griffin is the guy...interesting....
• Speaking of Vick...get ready for the 3-ring jail release circus from ESPN....don't say I didn't warn you...
• Kentucky Basketball is back....John Wall commits and certifies to me that they should be the preseason #1....it's a freshman-driven sport and they have by far the best class...add in Patrick Patterson and even the possible return of Jodie Meeks? scary....That being said...they have 16 scholarship players....seems high right? Umm...they're only allowed 13...good luck with that Cal...

That'll do it....Tune in at 9 for the Nuggets/Lakers Game 1...

One Was Expected...The Other Was Not...

At least from my perspective I was a little surprised by one thing last night...

• Boston goes down in a heap...the defending champs hit the proverbial wall in the 2nd half last night losing by 19 points (including 35-21 in the 4th) thanks to abysmal team shooting (under 40% for the game) and sub-par efforts offensively from Paul Pierce, Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins.... but Orlando earned this one.... they were balanced, Stan Van Gundy (who had been getting quietly mentally dominated all series by Doc) played Pietrus perfectly and was rewarded, and the more talented team won... An impressive title defense from Boston based on their injury circumstance and lack of depth this year...but Orlando moves on to get decimated in the East Finals by the Lebrons...
• The Lakers hold serve....unceremoniously ridding themselves of Houston from the tip... Let's just say this...no one in Houston's starting 5 had a +/- rating better than Chuck Hayes' -12....that won't win you a game on the road.... this is the way LA should have disposed of them all series...the caveat? They didn't do so...this is a significant factor going forward....the Lakers simply don't have that fire from 1-12 to put teams away consistently...Kobe has it...Phil has it...Derek Fisher even has it (but we're not sure he can still play...), but other than that? I have no idea....Impressive effort by Houston nonetheless to get this thing to 7 with a depleted roster...
• A crazy baseball story....Rays Manager Joe Madden messed up his lineup card and ended up putting 2 different third basemen instead of correctly writing that Evan Longoria would be at DH....long story short...he ended up having to hit Pitcher Andy Sonnenstine in the 3 hole...in an American League game....somehow this didn't kill him b/c they won the game...but wow...never seen that...
• This just in.... Roy Halladay is the best pitcher you never hear in the "best pitcher" conversation...he pitches in Toronto...but no one has more wins since 2002... no one.... not Johan even... How bout this? If he pitches 3-4 more years like this...he's a hall of famer....there I said it...
• Who on EARTH gives any attention/notice to Michael Phelps' return in some meet in Charlotte? Swimming is a once-every-4-year sport to 99% of sports fans...even if Phelps is a big-time celebrity... no one actually cares about his results in some small-time meet....no one...

And finally...

• I really want to live in a town that shows their sporting fire.... don't get me wrong... I love Atlanta...and I never see myself leaving (I'm sure that's unrealistic, etc.) but just being in Boston this weekend makes me long for the day that Atlanta would catch fire (and HOLD IT!) for our sporting franchises.....yes, the Thrashers will never garner that type of attention...but for all the big-time sports fans in Atlanta, I wish they were big-time Atlanta sports fans....Just a longing of the heart....

RIP Wayman Tisdale, etc...

Blogging from the iPhone per lack of WiFi... So forgive the sloppiness and such.... That's dedication son

---Wayman Tisdale dead at 44... The former 2nd overall pick, 3-time NCAA all-American and all-time leading scorer succumbed to bone cancer after a 2 year battle... Mr. Tisdale is close to my heart bc after his career in the NBA he transformed into a world renowned bass guitar player and best-selling jazz artist... Anyone that knows me recognizes that music is my other passion aside from sports and he was one of the best... Also, the "greatness" of athletes as people can often be vastly overrated but ALL reports are that Wayman Tisdale was a fantastic human being.... RIP sir...

---There are 2 big time NBA game 7's tomorrow and being that I am flying out of Boston Sunday afternoon it's only fitting that the Celtics are involved... As a sidebar, Boston is booming with sports fire and it's beautiful to see... I long for this in Atlanta.... I'm gonna pick Boston based on the coaching edge, the home court and the fact that Ray Allen almost lives for this kind of thing... And he's due to break out of this current slump....In LA? The Lakers are a huge favorite in this one...they are leaps and bounds better than Houston as currently constructed and are playing at home....the key for Houston to stay in it is absolutely Aaron Brooks...when he's gone off on Derek Fisher and the like...Houston has been propelled...

---And finally.... The Braves almost killed me again... But despite the sudden gopher ball syndrome from Mike Gonzalez they pulled it out late... 18-17 is suddenly respectable and the bats seem to be at least partially alive... AND JoJo Reyes is out of the rotation!!! I'm fired up beyond belief about this.... Kris Medlen gets the call instead of Tommy Hanson on Tuesday...but don't fret Hanson fans... he's only not coming up b/c the Braves want to avoid the Arbitration deadline that would potentially cost them money down the road....but Medlen has been spectacular in AAA this year...

That's all for now...

A Concession from me....

Let's get it...

• Denver disposed of Dallas in 5 games....Overall? Not shocked at all by the results of last night (it was a pretty foregone conclusion this series was ending IMO) but I am a little surprised at the relative ease at the series win... The lone bright spot for Dallas in the series? Dirk Nowitzki was very effective....I am a self-proclaimed Dirk-hater for his lack of defensive effort/production and I'm still not on board with him as a 1st-team all NBA player...but he was fantastic offensively in this series... For Denver? Billups....Melo...the usual suspects...and I look forward greatly to the LA/Denver series that's upcoming....
• Now for my concession... I wasn't going to mention hockey at all on this blog...but I can't hate on Crosby/Ovechkin for 7 games including a game in the series that featured BOTH of them with hat tricks....it's what the game needed....
• Ryan Zimmerman's hit streak ends at 30....we shouldn't follow these things until they hit 40....I've been saying this for years...
• Dwight Howard apologizes.... I was anticipating this...all signs point to Howard being a great guy...amicable, nice, etc.... but I was actually hoping he wouldn't.... I'm really enjoying his mean streak lol...I hope he has a big-time implosion in Game 6 just b/c I love him...
• The Braves blew 3 different leads in yesterday's game.... and... won? That's the type of game this version of the Braves never wins....but yesterday would've been absolutely crushing when you factor in the Tuesday collapse... on the other hand...this one could be a propellant.... I'm excited...

One important note...I'm leaving town for Maine this morning.... no idea on the internet prospects from Friday-Sunday.... so if I have an unexplained absence...well...it's explained...

2 Intriguing NBA Results and more...

Last night had everything....a late-game meltdown, a 40-point statement blowout, and even an umpiring massacre in a Braves game...

• Boston comes back from 14 down in the 4th to beat Orlando.... Let me say this now... Doc Rivers absolutely destroyed Stan Van Gundy late in that game... Stan got tight and coached as much... Doc even managed to ride Steph Marbury to 12 in the 4th, and executed 2 separate "foul while up 3" circumstances late in the game (the ONLY defensible thing to do).... but in the end, this is a crushing blow to Orlando's chances to win this series and while I don't agree with Dwight Howard saying it so publicly, they flat-out HAVE to start getting him the ball more, and he was absolutely correct on the substitution patterns (namely the inexplicable Redick-for-Pietrus sub late)... Just a wild night
• 7 guys in double figures... 32% defensive FG percentage... a realization that Derek Fisher can't guard Aaron Brooks... rebounding and turnover advantages....just some of the reason's LA pounded Houston by 40... yes, 40...points last night... There's not a whole lot of analysis needed....
• Warning: Homer-ism.... That being said...the Braves got jobbed last night... Carlos Beltran was thrown out at 3rd while trying to steal while the Braves led 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th...he was called safe, then one pitch later he was sacrificed to the plate for the tie...and the Braves subsequently lost in the 10th...now, I won't rant and rave on the 3-2, 2 out bases loaded walk to Beltran in the 10th that won the game... it was a borderline pitch and it was in New York...fine... but the base-running call....no excuse
• Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell (author of "Outliers" and other things) are engaging in an epic e-mail interview/argument/etc. on ESPN.com this week...check it out...
• Jason Taylor returns to Miami....not something I would have foreseen after the less than amicable divorce between him and Parcells...but he'll look right in that uniform...

That'll do it

The End of a Season....

The Hawks "mythical" (laughter inserted here) 47-win, 2nd-round-making season ended in a heap last night at the hands of the LeBrons....I was in the building...here are some observations...

• Lebron is 1a to Kevin Garnett's 1b in terms of physical specimens you don't even believe until you've seen them in an arena...and I was in the upper deck...that should tell you something...
• I've come to the conclusion that at least half the reason I dislike Josh Smith so much stems from the mental lapses/breakdowns that happen throughout a game...in the 1st quarter a loose ball bounded within 5 feet of him...he simply watched it...didn't move a muscle... Lebron swooped in, went the length and there was a dunk...can't make this stuff up...well...and he still shoots jump shots too....
• The most under-rated thing in this series...the rebounding advantage...some of this can be chalked up to Al Horford not being Al Horford....but in the 2 games IN ATLANTA the rebounding ended up at 94-56 Cleveland....inexcusable....
• The biggest moment of Game 4 in my opinion was a sequence with around 3:30 left in the game....Hawks down 7... in one trip they missed 3 open threes....and it was the best 3 shooters on the roster shooting them...first Flip,then Bibby, then Joe...all missed...nothing on the trip...Cleveland went down and scored...game over
• In reference to my Josh Smith bashing...I thought he played about as well as he can play in his current state (still enigmatic, etc.)....he attacked the rim...that's all I can ask for...
• 7 points TOTAL for Williams, Horford, and Bibby won't win you any games....
• That brings me to my call to Rick Sund/Hawks Ownership....do NOT bring Mike Bibby back... unless it's at an absurdly reduced rate....he may be the worst defender at the PG spot in the entire association (with apologies to Steve Nash, who is at least a little bit crafty in his ineptness)... his #1 skill is jump shooting...not passing...not running a team.... and the offense seems to stagnate.....in fact, it does stagnate...regularly...This is a PG responsibility above all else... he's past his prime..he's not the answer...
• Is it possible to have a "quiet" 27-8-8? I didn't think Lebron played well at all....in terms of Lebron of course...and he still ends up with a crazy looking line....It never fails....
• Say what you want about Mo Williams lack of production in this series...he hit the 2 biggest shots of the night....
• I can't fathom the reasons for Acie Law to never get a look....not even 10 minutes a night at the point? We're just content to let Flip play the point at all times.... I'm not the biggest Law fan in the limited time I've seen him...but he's never been given an adequate look to run this team...
• Quick Off-season plan... Let Bibby go (approx. 13 million off the cap)....bring back Flip Murray ONLY at near the same pay-rate as this year (he's a role player only)... do the same for Marvin Williams....it'll be difficult with him being a restricted free agent...you can only hope nobody comes over the top but if they do...let him walk and concentrate on locking up Al Horford.... Then go PG shopping (Jarrett Jack?) and draft a young big...

All-in-all I can't be too upset with the result of the year....pre-season with the loss of Josh Childress, and replacing him with Mo Evans and Flip Murray I had no less expectations...Progress....I just hope they won't be content....but they will....

On to the rest of the sports scene...

• Dallas fights off elimination.. gutsy effort late from Dallas...44 from Dirk (I can't even hate on the way he's played in this series) in a game that was basically for pride....I'd be happy to be a Mavs fan and see my team respond that way... If there's a reason Denver didn't win this game, the stats point to NeNe's lack of production (just 2-5 shooting) and aggressiveness....I'd go on a limb and say Dallas hasn't had 6 guys in double figures many times this year...and especially not when one guy has 44....Series ends in 5 IMO but a nice effort...
• Go away Roger Clemens....nothing to see here....
• Big Baby Davis wasn't trying to push that kid....he just drained the biggest shot of his career (and his life) and he did a swim move to get around the kid....they're demanding an apology? get a life...

Two 3-0 leads...

The NBA slate consists of 2 series that have the favorite leading 3-0 and playing on the road in Game 4.... Does Atlanta have a chance? Does Dallas have what it takes to bounce back from that grueling loss?....

Atlanta/Cleveland....Let's just say, as a Hawks fan, I'm not optimistic....

1. Al Horford isn't healthy...the only reliable post defender/rebounder on this team (sorry Zaza) is visibly bothered by that ankle injury....after Pachulia's ejection forced him to play all but 90 seconds of the 2nd half in Game 3, Horford showed a noticable limp, and combined to commit 5 fouls and garner 0 rebounds and 0 assists in the final 11 minutes...
   
2. Joe Johnson can't seem to shake Delonte West....I was encouraged by the side of fire that Joe showed against West after they minced words late in Game 3...let's see more of the attack...the only way West can deter him is to keep him from attacking using his frustrating quickness....
3. I know the Lebron argument...let him get his and stop the other guys....but that only works if you stop ALL the other guys...which honestly doesn't seem plausible in this series...you're always going to be allowing something...whether it's open 3's from Williams/West/Gibson/Wally....or open 15 footers from Joe Smith and Big Z (who, by the way is absolutely automatic from midrange)... BUT I was, in fact, on board with playing well off Lebron and making him shoot jumpers...he was unconscious on Saturday....but that's the only way to attack him at this point...
4. Josh Smith, entering game 3, was 7-37 on 2-point jump shots and 2-14 on 3-pt jump shots in the playoffs....needless to say...that's unbelievably mortifying.... he's a putrid NBA jump shooter, but has not, and may never realize this.... I charted him at 4/8 on 2 point jumpers (not good, but not terrible), and 0-1 on 3-pointers in game 3..... making him 11-45 on 2's and 3-15 on 3's for the playoffs.... and these aren't the kind of jumpshots that Joe Johnson takes where he's fading and covered...the vast majority of these are uncontested... TRANSLATION: If you're reading this Josh...stop shooting jump shots altogether....and stick to the intermediate/attacking game...where you have shot a combined 46-84 in the playoffs (55% including 78% on layups/tip-ins/basket finishing attempts)...it's simple math really.
5. 2 things won't happen in Game 4...Lebron won't shoot the jumpshot as well as he did in Game 3....and the rest of the Cavs guards (Williams, West, Gibson, Wally) will shoot better than 9-26 FG, 1-10 3's.... 

Do I think Atlanta wins this game? Absolutely not...but the chances of them competing for 4 quarters and POSSIBLY sneaking a win in this one hinge directly on the health of Al Horford, the conscious decision to attack the rim by both Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, and the close-out defense on the perimeter jump shooters for Cleveland....Cleveland 95, Atlanta 86...Lebron finishes with 34, 13 and 8....

• I won't go to the detail on the Dallas series simply b/c I'm not as familiar with the parties... I do think that Denver closes them out tonight....and in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I thought Dallas could win this series outright and at least take it to 6-7 games...but after the way game 3 ended (a ludicrous result that the NBA even admitted was so egregious that they swiftly issued a negative statement toward the no-call)...and the way Josh Howard/Mark Cuban/et. al reacted to the ending....I see a letdown for Dallas...that was their Game 7...and was so gut-wrenching that I don't see them pulling the same sort of effort tonight.... Denver by 9...

A Great NBA Game, etc...

• Boston and Orlando was an absolute classic on Sunday... Boston wins it on a buzzer-beating mid-range J by Glen Davis...a back-and-forth battle in every sense... 23 and 17 from Dwight Howard wasn't enough to combat 93 of the 95 points for Boston by it's 5 starters including 12+ from all 5 starters... How does Rajon Rondo lead the C's in rebounding like...every night?.... A very good iso coaching move going to Rashard Lewis on the last trip by Stan Van Gundy instead of his normal Hedo clearout...Lewis had Big Baby on him....advantage Orlando... and I can't imagine that was the play Doc called...it worked out well....that's called execution....
• The Surprise of the day? Houston absolutely running away from LA...sans Yao no less... Aaron Brooks had his coming out party with 34 points, and Houston also got 23 from Shane Battier and 12 from Kyle Lowry... Raise your hand if you saw that result coming....that's what I thought...I don't take a whole lot from it...I still don't think Houston can win this series...but an encouraging effort if nothing else..that oughta wake LA up...
• I watched Jonathan Papelbon turn it up about 5 notches at the end of the Rays game to strike out the side in the 9th...impressive...
• Tiger implodes...yes, he would've needed to shoot a ludicrous 6-under to force a playoff...but he isn't right...you can tell...
• The Braves have something going....I'm going to jinx it right now....but the lineup is getting some pop all the sudden (and timely so), and any production from Kawakami and Reyes is considered to be gravy... 
• Okay...time to put Manny to bed until early July when he comes back...

There it is...

Hawks/Cavs, Mavs/Nuggets, etc.

Obviously I go to the Highlight Factory...

• Lebron James is good at basketball.... 47 points, 12 boards, 8 dimes, 5 3-pt fg, only 2 fouls.... Typical night for the King...he's absolutely unstoppable...we all know this...but when he gets every call on both ends? Even scarier...add in that he was shooting the jumper as well as he can possibly shoot it?....recipe for disaster...The fact that Cleveland got 7 points from their ENTIRE bench...and the Hawks lost by 15 at home...should tell you all you need to know...Joe Johnson was average, Josh Smith was typically dreadful with flashes of competency, Mike Bibby can't handle the ball, run a team, or defend at the level of an NBA point guard anymore, Zaza Pachulia got ejected for reasons unknown to the announcers, players, coaches, or fans, Marvin Williams only played 13 minutes even though he seemed completely healthy and was effective on both ends....I could go on for days.... I'm frustrated...this is the high point of any fan's frustration with a team.....
• And I can't compare to how Mavs fans must feel...really? You TRY to commit a foul and they won't give one to you? In a game where there were 60+ fouls committed? and then Melo hits the dagger...game over, series over...3-0 lead for Denver....done and done...I will say this...I respect the effort from Dirk tonight...33 and 16 is nothing to sneeze at for anyone....
• Yao Ming out for the year....a shame for the Rockets who really came together late....you can turn the lights out on that series now...
• Zach Greinke threw 8 IP of 1 ER baseball...and lost.... I've never seen a weirder stat line than 6-1 with a 0.51 ERA...that's almost impossible....but he's still been incredible.... 53 IP, 3 ER, 59 K, 8 BB, 0 HR allowed....speaks for itself

That's all for now...Climbing off the ledge...

Chuck Daly Passes, NBA Playoffs, etc...

Leading today is the passing of Chuck Daly at age 78... He is best known for coaching the Bad Boy Pistons to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990 and coaching the Dream Team in 1992... Definitely an innovator and one of the best coaches ever....RIP sir....

On to less relevant things...

• Orlando beats up on Boston... If Orlando is going to get 52 points from Lewis and Turkoglu AND a monster (though foul-ridden) effort from Howard....they'll likely win... Anthony Johnson was better than I've ever seen him (and I'd know) and the bench contributed in a solid way... For Boston? Eddie House continues to be absolutely unconscious....but him only taking 7 shots in that state doesn't help quite as much...Pierce was great in the 2nd half... but the Celtics can't afford below-average games from Allen, Rondo, Perkins, and Davis all at once....not without KG to help.... Not taking too much from this...I still think Boston can steal Game 4 and even things....
• LA pulls away... All 5 starters in double figures for the Lake Show headlined by Kobe's 33...but Jordan Farmar was big...no he wasn't outstanding...but he doesn't have to be...he's a better defender than Derek Fisher at this point...he's quicker... and all he has to do is take care of the ball and be at least adequate jump shooting...he did that... and Lamar Odom was the "good Odom" putting in 16 and 13.....I need more touches from Yao....they can't stop him when he catches within 8 feet of the rim...so get him the ball...more entry passes...come on Brooks, Lowry, Wafer....Speaking of Wafer...no conscious at all...but you should've known that...same for Artest who went through a dry spell in the 3rd that not-so-coincidentally led to the Lakers winning the quarter by 10 (b/c he kept jacking)....man, I love Carl Landry's game....
• Oh you thought Brett Favre was over? hahahahaha
• MLB Roundup: A-Rod bombs in his first plate appearance....meh.... the bigger story there (by far)? CC Sabathia snapping into form with a CG shutout victory...huge stabilization for their staff.... Justin Verlander followed CC's footsteps and is officially back to his former Cy Young form... I, for once, am ecstatic about this but the effort wouldn't have happened without a LUDICROUS catch by Curtis Granderson to rob Grady Sizemore of a walk-off 2 run HR in the 9th...big-ups.... JoJo Reyes vs. Cole Hamels... I can't think of a less entertaining matchup for a Braves fan...and it went according to plan...for the Phils... Good news for Twins fans.... the 2nd most disappointing starter in the Bigs this year (behind sir Chien-Meng Wang obviously) has been Scott Baker...but Mr. Baker bounced back with 7 shutout innings....
• I've been purposefully avoided Stephen Strasburg's name... but I can't do it when throws a no-hitter with 1 walk and strikes out 17....while throwing 102 mph fastballs....the lock #1 overall pick in the MLB draft may reportedly be called up this year...no really...this year....that doesn't happen...

Big day for me....Hawks/Cavs Game 3... The only chance to make this series not SO ridiculous...the pick? Cavs by 9...

A Non-competitive Playoff Game, Manny, Bob Melvin fired, etc.

To the obvious lead...

• I can't decide of there was a bigger gap in this Cleveland/Atlanta game last night or in the payroll disparity of Major League Baseball.... Let me throw this at you....At one point, in non-garbage time even, the Hawks trotted out the lineup of: Solomon Jones, Zaza Pachulia, Mo Evans, Flip Murray, Mario West....I wish I was kidding....this was in the 1st half... Now...there are excuses (Horford and Marvin in street clothes, Joe writhing in pain)....but that doesn't account for the fact that 1) Acie Law is better than Mario West and Solomon Jones....2) Mario West isn't an NBA basketball player....3) Mike Woodson's insertion of West in the "2 seconds left" defensive role is possibly the dumbest running subplot in the playoffs...and that's not as bad as playing him in regular minutes..... In addition to the simple personnel, factor in that Wally Szczerbiak scored 17 points on 9 shots...without hitting a 3...the Cavs shot 54%, Delonte West looked like a profilic scorer whenever he wanted to, and Anderson Varejao routinely did whatever he wanted on the block (without remembering he can't score)....let's just say it was a pathetic defensive effort...and that doesn't even get into the putrid offensive sets/plays/player movement/ball movement/ball handling/crispness/open jump shooting/finishing/et al of the other end of the floor...So all of that to say.... Cleveland by 30....Will the Hawks win a game at home now? Well, if you're gonna tell me Joe Johnson, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams will all be 80% or less, Acie Law won't play until after Thomas Gardner, and Mike Woodson will stand there with his arms crossed...I'm going to say no....okay? Okay.

Sorry for the rant....You thought I was leading with Manny huh? Okay...

• Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games...There is some question here...b/c the banned substance he was suspended for isn't exactly a steroid...now, the suspension is warranted simply b/c this drug is in the by-laws....done.... But, there's the "legacy" issue...if they never prove he was on steroids....I don't know if you can keep him out of the Hall of Fame on this alone....I heard the McGwire argument (from a legit source I normally listen to), and I didn't buy it...Manny is in a different class of baseball player than McGwire...he's the best right-handed hitter I've ever seen (Pujols will likely pass him, but I digress)... but the shock about this? I'm right there with you...he's about the last power hitter (other than Griffey) I would suspect doing this....
• Bob Melvin fired in Arizona...this is just a knee-jerk reaction...they've played 30 games....I can't get behind a guy being fired unless they are like 4-26....Yes, they are underachieving, but the lack I don't see about these early exit baseball firings is... what is Bob Melvin's role in making Chris Young hit .170? Did Bob Melvin injure Stephen Drew and his Cy Young winner Brandon Webb? Is it his fault Conor Jackson is a trainwreck at the plate? No, no, and definitely no.....so why fire him?
• Kobe not suspended, Fisher and Alston are.....this is what I thought would happen...the Kobe ruling...meh...not surprising...b/c they found an actual justification, and once they do that, you know they won't suspend him....Alston and Fisher were slam dunks to me to get canned for a game....no outrage....just slight disappointment about Kobe
• Brett Favre stays retired....ho-hum
• Jared Weaver throws a complete game 3-hitter...well, that's positively huge for the Angels, Weaver and Saunders are the only guys with a Major League pulse pitching for LA right now....
• Name that Molina....BENGIE!!! 2 bombs for the eldest Molina.... 
• .368 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI....sounds Pujols-like right? How bout Rays young stud Evan Longoria? This kid may be scary...the 23-year-old has played 150 games TOTAL in his MLB career...and he's probably the best non-steroid-induced-A-Rod 3rd basemen in the league already (and no, I didn't forget David Wright)...More love for him please....

That'll play, that'll play...

LA/Houston, Boston/Orlando, etc.

Greetings...

• LA evens it up behind Kobe's 40....a pretty wild game to have a 13-point margin....LA came out of the gate smoking only to see their lead disappear by halftime...and then they broke it up again thanks to Kobe, some fireworks (and a hilarious Ron Artest blowup), and the utter vanishment of Yao Ming.... Yao only took 4 shots in the game....4! Yes, he was in foul trouble and only played 26 minutes...but I'm fairly certain I could get 4 shots up in 26 minutes and I'm 6'1, 155....he's the most unguardable post player in the league and possesses (at least) 6 inches on anyone guarding him on the Lakers... Did anyone notice a correlation between Derek Fisher and the Lakers Production? D-Fish had a solid game, 12 points, 4-7 FG, 3-3 threes....steady...that's all they need....
• Boston lights up Orlando...not a whole lot to this one....Boston pretty much throttled them from the tip... The big play? Rafer Alston smacking Eddie House on the back of the head...will he get suspended? Meh, I really have no idea anymore from Stu Jackson...but Orlando better hope not...their other options? Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue....the immortal Hawks PG tandem.... I, for one, can first hand say that they don't want any part of that.... Rondo's 15-11-18 triple double is utterly absurd and he's making more and more money by the game... Eddie House had 31...in 28 minutes...off the bench...think he was hot? lol.... The bright spot for Orlando? The big-time play from Mickael Pietrus....
• Really Pat Riley? Dwyane Wade is your main offseason goal? Oh? 
• The Braves scored 8 runs...and it wasn't an exhibition game or anything! lol... 
• Johan Santana is still the best pitcher in all of the land...apologies to Zach Greinke (who has been utterly incredible)...wouldn't you still rather have Johan? 7 innings, 10 k's, 0 ER, and now an ERA under 1 for the year...
• Carlos Pena has 12 HR through 30 games....that's 65+ pace....start the media tour! He's catching Maris! (Notice I said Maris....think about it...has anyone gotten there clean? No...)

That's all for now...slowed by sickness still..

Epic Fail...

Bad night to be an Atlanta sports fan....again....

• The Hawks get run out of the building... a 27 point loss in a game that most people thought was their best chance at sneaking a road win? Hmm...seems predictable for this team... The funny thing is...the 2 guys that showed up (for the most part) were Mike Bibby and Josh Smith...probably my 2 least favorite players on this team (until you get to the 8-12 guys but yea)....Bibby shot the ball well and wasn't absolutely destroyed defensively (still subpar, but not destroyed)...and Smith attacked the rim....now, don't get me wrong...Mr. Smith still had me screaming at the TV during some of his "jab-step, jab-step, 18-footer" routines....I can't talk about it.... lol... 34 and 10 for Lebron....what do you do?
• The Braves have lost 14 of their last 20... and are honestly a chore to watch....even for me... let that sink in...I have trouble watching this team...That's how consistently bad the offense is... Casey Kotchman couldn't hit 4th for a AAA team.. Greg Norton is the worst "professional pinch hitter" in the majors.... Garret Anderson was an abysmal free agent signing...Jeff Franceour doesn't walk still (although he hasn't been terrible at all), and the 2nd best hitter can't see the ball.... Gonna be a long season....

To non-ATL things...

• Denver goes up 2-0...I'll be the first to say Denver has impressed me...I thought Dallas would steal one... Josh Howard's early exit didn't help things for Dallas last night... but anytime Denver can get 46 points from NeNe and JR Smith...you aren't beating them in Denver...it's not going to happen... I'm still wary of this team (mostly b/c they're coached by George Karl)....but I'm liking them more and more...Billups has been there...Carmelo is one of the most efficient late-game scorers in the league (look it up) AND he pretty much carried a college team like no one had since Danny and the Miracles...so he's capable... and I love how NeNe, Kenyon Martin (defensive stopper all the sudden), and the Birdman fit into their roles....
• My god Brett Favre...go away....but if you DO comeback...Minnesota is the only place that makes any semblance of sense....and it still doesn't to me...you don't need a gunslinger when you have Adrian Peterson...
• Panic in the Bronx...the Yanks got swept...AGAIN by Boston...I'm eagerly awaiting the next Sports Guy/Jack-O exchange....
• The Dodgers win their record 12th straight at home to open the year....if they get pitching like they have....they'll win the NL...that's the best lineup on the Senior Circuit...
• Dave Bing is the mayor of Detroit...only fitting...for those of you who don't know...he's a hall of fame Guard from the Pistons...I'm hoping dearly he won b/c of his political ideals and not because he's a hall of fame basketball player...b/c that city needs quality decision making...best of luck sir

That'll do it

Houston Steals 1, Zach Greinke...

Forgive my extended absence...battling a terribly sore throat and traveling at the same time will do that...

• Houston takes Game 1 in LA....100-92....I, for one, am surprised by this...I won't say shocked b/c if you're gonna steal one, it's game 1...but the way they did it was impressive...Yao was huge (and he MUST be for them to win)...but the difference to me? Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry combined to absolutely smash the LA point guards (Fisher, Brown, Farmar)... and that's the big weakness for LA...and it isn't going away....and for LA also...you'll need more than 23 combined points from Odom and Gasol....In the end, Houston can make this interesting b/c they flat-out will defend and keep games close....
• Orlando wins a road game as well....This one doesn't surprise me at all simply b/c of the magnitude of effort Boston had to put forth to win that last series...they were visibly dead...and just ran out of gas after making the huge comeback....4-24 from Rondo and Allen doesn't help either... Umm...when did Kendrick Perkins become Wes Unseld? He seems to have 16 boards a night...of course...he's no Dwight Howard (16 and 22)...who led the Magic's ridiculously balanced offensive attack last night....when am I going to hear about how well JJ Redick is playing?...Interested to see if Courtney Lee can make it back for Game 3 too...
• Zach Greinke threw a shutout last night...his ERA is 0.40....he has 6 wins....umm....that's pretty...darn....impressive I must say...
• The Big 10 commissioner makes no sense...really? You want to leave it at 11 teams huh? That's symmetric....get outta here.....

And finally....

• The Cleveland Lebrons take on my Hawks in Game 1 this evening...led by the newly crowned MVP...Do I think Atlanta has a chance in the series? Not even remotely...do I think they have a shot tonight? I did...until Houston beat LA yesterday...now Cleveland has seen what can happen...they'll be ready.... Cleveland wins Games 1,2, 4, and 5....Atlanta steals game 3....Cleveland 4-1

Hawks get run...

Blogging from the road...excuse the brevity...

• The Hawks got blasted in Miami....Now am I shocked? am I even surprised? Not in the slightest....The franchise lays eggs like this...oh, did I mention Jermaine O'Neal didn't play? Or that Michael Beasley is suddenly a 22/15 guy? I can't even talk about Josh Smith.... and the refereeing (though terrible and shady) should be expected...to the point that getting 4 Technical fouls is inexcusable.... And no, I will not pick them in Game 7....against Dwyane Wade? I can't do it...I want to...I can't....
• Floyd Mayweather is coming back...the baddest man on the planet is in the building once again....please save boxing.....
• I can't wait for Celtics/Bulls Game 7... That may be the most fun first-round series I can remember...in fact, it certainly  is... but let me dispel the talk of KG pulling a Willis Reed in Game 7....that would be the STUPIDEST thing imaginable for the Celtics franchise...they are on the hook for 3 years/60 million to a guy with a balky knee already...think about that....