I got on a nice little roll updating the blog regularly there in April, but as you can see May has been a different story. As much as I would like to blame the lack of posting to an existential metamorphasis or some other such multi-syllablic occurence, the fact is I have just lacked direction. That's why starting this week, the two (one? none?) loyal readers of this blog can expect a more structured Putting Up Bricks.
MONDAY: Weekend Playback
A slanted rundown of the weekend's goings-on.
TUESDAY: Team Day
Recognition of all-time great teams, and a poll to determine the following week's spotlighted squad.
WEDNESDAY: Intraweb Wednesday
Discussing of these here Internets and what's abuzz in the sporting world, according to a bunch of unemployed dweebs who live in their parents' basement.
THURSDAY: Wild Card Thursdays
There will be content. What is a surprise.
FRIDAY: Pop Culture Day!
Film, television, music, current events: a smorgasbord of mind-rotting crap that hasn't a damn thing to do with sports.
WEEKEND: ???
Weekend posts won't be rigid. When there's an urge, I'll write something.
So there you have it. Tonight I plan on getting this ball rolling, so if you're reading this, be sure to check back. And would it kill you to leave a comment?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Changes to the Blog...This Time, I'm Serious
Friday, May 2, 2008
Friday Quick Bricks
NL grades for April are on their way. In the interim:
 AP Photo/Wade Payne |
Chris Lofton > Ryan Perrilloux
Oft-troubled LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux was finally dismissed from the team after what was seemingly his 1,000th infraction. College kids sometimes carry fake IDs -- I'd be lying if I said I didn't have one before turning 21 (hell, I've never even been to Bellingham, Washington). But getting involved in counterfeiting rings, fighting at nightclubs, and blowing every chance to captain a national championship level football can't be chalked up to youthful indiscretion. That's just bad character.
In a sporting world with headliners like Perrilloux, Chris Lofton is a breath of fresh air. Lofton was criticized early into the '07-'08 college basketball season. Little did we know, the Tennessee point guard was battling cancer while leading the Volunteer offense. This is the kind of story that makes you take pride in athletes. While Perrilloux, Roger Clemens and various other knuckleheads act out, remember Lofton. Remember that there are performers out there who love and respect sport.
The Hack-a-Shaq Debate
Much was made over the course of the Spurs' five-game defeat of the Phoenix Suns about "Hack-a-Shaq." The tactic caused much consternation and gnashing of teeth, prompting some to call for rule changes. The strategy was completely blown out of proportion. Some, like the crybabies who inhabit phxsuns.net , call it "bullshit" and "cowdarly" --taking a cue from the Big Blowhard himself. The off-the-ball fouls happened, at most, four-to-six times in the course of a game. That hardly had the impact on the flow of the game some argued. And if a player has a weakness in his game, it's the opposing team's duty to exploit it. I fully expect the Hornets to put Bruce Bowen on the foul line in much the same fasion Phil Jackson did when the Lakers and Spurs met in 2004.
 AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais |
To Watch this Weekend:
• The Kentucky Derby is Saturday, which means four hours of pre-race discussion and about 90 seconds of action. It's an excuse to drink and act sophisticated at least.
• The Spurs and Hornets lock up tomorrow evening at 6 PDT in a showdown of two of the NBA's best point guards. The Chris Paul - Tony Parker match-up will indeed be epic, but the X-factor this series is David West. West is much larger than either either Bruce Bowen or Ime Udoka, but quicker than Tim Duncan or Fabricio Oberto. The Spurs need a healthy Manu Ginobili to expose a potential mismatch with Morris Peterson, but Ginobili is still feeling the effects of a sprained ankle suffered against the Suns.
• The National League's premiere rivalry, Cubs and Cardinals, kicks off this evening -- and it's for first place! All three games are nationally televised.
Friday Brew
Cinco de Mayo is on the horizon, which means margaritas and Mexican beer. But with the Derby Saturday, you might want to keep it classy, which means stay away from the Tecate 30-pack. Negra Modelo is a good choice. Tasty, classy as far as Mexican brew goes, and still in the spirit of the forthcoming holiday.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
AL Grades: April
One month of baseball is in the books. While it's impossible to glean what will be happening come fall from the April standings, for these four-plus weeks snow has been fallen in Hell. That's right: the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins and Oakland A's lead their respective divisions, and the Tampa Rays are just a stone's throw out. In the Cubs' case it's to be expected: the organization and its fanbase has grown tired of being "lovable losers," thus stocking up on top-shelf talent. And while the White Sox gave Kansas City a run for the bottom of the AL Central a year ago, there's still a lot of talent lingering from the 2005 World Series.
But Oakland? In typical A's fashion, Billy Beane sold off much of the club's assets like Dan Haren and Nick Swisher, yet there they are, setting the pace in a division with the upstart Seattle Mariners and loaded Los Angeles Angels. Florida? This was projected by many, me included, to be the worst team in all of baseball. And Tampa Bay? The Rays have never been competition in the AL East, where Boston and New York duopolize the division crowns. So even if it lasts just a month, these standings are pretty intriguing.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox
The media at large considered manager Ozzie Guillen to be on the hot seat a season ago, but with a vote of confidence from Jerry Reinsdorf he's still leading the club. And thus far, with 2005-like results. The White Sox are playing great baseball, led by Joe Crede of all people. The decision to start Crede at third was scoffed at prior to the season, but he's hit a team-high seven home runs and knocked in another Sox-leading 22 RBI.
Maligned catcher A.J. Pierzynski has made sure his detractors have plenty to fume over, batting .310. Carlos Quentin, acquistion from the Diamondbacks, is making an impact at the plate. He has a .300 average with six homers and 20 RBI. Javy Vazquez is having a resurgent campaign from the mound. He's struck out 37 batters, won three games, and has a 3.72 ERA.
GRADE: A-, the White Sox are exceeding expectations thanks to resurgent performances (Vazquez, Paul Kornerko, Crede).
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland came a game away from the World Series in 2007, and were a favorite pick to return to October this go-round. So far, that hasn't panned out. The Indians sit in last place in the Central. One reason is the struggle of ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia. The Cy Young Award winner has a 7.88 ERA despite striking out a team-best 30 batters. Other Indian pitchers are finding their groove, however, namely Cliff Lee.
Lee has four wins through the month of April and an ERA of 0.28 -- and that's NOT a typo. Jake Westbrook is also dealing, throwing a 2.78 ERA, though he has just one win to show for it. Fausto Carmona is a third Indian starter with an ERA below 3.00, and he has thrown a club-leading 36 innings. So while Sabathia struggles, others step up: a good sign for the long haul.
The hitting is struggling. Only five batters have a double-digit amount of RBI: Casey Blake, Travis Hafner, Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Garko and Grady Sizemore. While the division leading White Sox have four players with five or more home runs, Cleveland has just one: Peralta with five. Still, the club's bats should pick up to supplement the great starting pitching, and Sabathia will find his game. Last place in the Central is just a three-game gap from first, so Cleveland is by no means in an insurmountable hole.
GRADE: C-, this team is better than 12-15, and the bats and bullpen need to start backing up these strong starting performances.
DETROIT TIGERS
So much talent and such a bad start. Nevertheless, the Tigers started to right the ship from an 0-7 start late in the month, finishing a strong 12-8 in the remaining games. Re-adding Curtis Granderson to the lineup had a lot to do with the turnaround. His presence both defensively and at the plate means a lot to this ballclub.
Like fellow last place team Cleveland, the Tigers' ace has had major problems. Justin Verlander can't seem to have a start that doesn't end early -- and with several earned runs. His starts shouldn't have to be slugfests, but thus far they are. Verlander might consider watching tapes of Carlos Zambrano, who a year ago was knocked around early but recovered in the summer months.
The rest of the starting rotation hasn't been much better. Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson all have ERAs in the 6s, and off-season acquisition Dontrelle Willis is on the DL after an uninspired debut. Luckily, the bats have steadily picked up.
The aforementioned return of Granderson is a key reason, but also important in is Miguel Cabrera refinding his swing. Miggy struggled after signing an epic contract, but he's come on strong in recent weeks, now boasting five home runs and 19 RBI. He's tied with 2007 MVP candidate Magglio Ordonez for team-best in both categories.
GRADE: D, with Detroit's talent, the Tigers should be tearing up the league. It'll come with time.
KANSAS CITY
Twelve wins and a second place tie is refreshing for an organization that just tries to avoid 100-plus losses every year. There's young talent in KC in which Royals fans (I'm sure there are some out there) can get excited. Billy Butler has reached base in all but one game and is batting a hair under .300.
Unfortunately, though, under .300 is a theme on this team -- not a single Royal is batting at over above that mark. Mark Teahen and Alex Gordon are the other two close. Jose Guillen is knocking runs, but that seems to be the only time he hits. His .193 average isn't going to strike fear into opposing pitchers.
Young starters Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister were tough as nails in April, throwing for three wins a piece and respective ERAs of 1.25 and 2.48. Otherwise, though, the starting rotation has struggled. 2007 All-Star Gil Meche has 23 Ks, but an ERA of 7.22. Brett Tomko has the third lowest ERA at an ugly 6.25. Staying out of the basement will be a challenge if these trends continue.
GRADE: C+, at this pace Kansas City would win around 75 games. That's not bad for the Royals. Still not good, but with the young pitching and guys like Butler that would also prompt some exciting. 
Minnesota Twins
Johan Santana is gone, Francisco Liriano struggled in his return to the mound, Torii Hunter is manning the outfield for the Angels now -- and still, the Twins are just two games out of first place.
Minnesota has been one of those organizations in recent seasons to defy expectations. With 2006 MVP Justin Morneau and one of the top catchers in the game, Joe Mauer, it's not like the cupboard was bare. Still, it's something of a rebuilding process. Morneau is doing a nice job carrying the weight. He's belted six home runs and driven in 21 already.
The question of how far Minnesota can go this season is answered at the mound. Boof Bonser and youngster Nick Blackburn have been the top two starters thus far, with veteran Livan Hernandez doing what he does annually: not throwing for the best ERA (currently 5.05), but winning ball games. One asset the starters enjoy is if they can build a lead, closer Joe Nathan is sure to get the job done. Nathan is fast becoming one of the best closers in the American League, having converted eight saves already with a 0.90 ERA.
GRADE: C, the pitching and hitting haven't been bad, but aside from a few examples neither has been particularly good, either.
AL EAST
Baltimore Orioles
The O's are in first place? Really? Thanks to a resurgent month from Aubrey Huff (five home runs and 19 RBI) and the all-around solid play of Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, this has looked like the best O team since 1996.
A cause for concern in the offseason was how would Baltimore replace Erik Bedard in the starting rotation. And while there's no exact method to duplicating Bedard's commanding presence, Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera have been just fine as the Orioles' top two options. Neither is throwing award winning stuff, but each is doing enough to get the job done.
One weakness glaring in this team that could be exposed into the summer is the lack of starting pitching beyond Guthrie and Cabrera. Matt Albers has been used in the starting rotation effectively, but he's an unproven commodity. Brian Burres is another youngster getting the nods, and like Albers has in ERA in the 2s. Is this a case of two noobs who batters will figure out once they've seen them a few times, or are Albers and Burres legit solutions to Baltimore breaking through in the AL East?
GRADE: A, the Orioles are exceeding expectations despite losing Miguel Cabrera and Erik Bedard in the off-season.
Boston Red Sox
The globetrotting Red Sox survived what could have been a disastrous month with a tie for first place. Not a whole lot more the defending champions could ask for, right? Well, home run king David Ortiz has struggled through the first month. ESPN, in its never-ending quest to shove all things Yankee-and-Red Sox down America's collective throats, sensationalized the beejeebus out of Ortiz's slump.
Nevertheless, Boston picked up 16 wins and fellow Sox slugger Manny Ramirez is chugging right along. The outfield debate of whether Coco Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury rages on, though Crisp has responded with a very respectable .293 average. JD Drew might turn out to be the odd man out, though his contract is ludicrous. Mike Lowell spent most of the month on the DL, so his return will only make this team better.
Josh Beckett, last year's Cy Young runner-up and staff ace, has been decent but not up to last season's standards. His ERA is 4.10, but he has struck out 29. Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the other hand, has been better than decent. He's been amazing, throwing a 2.52 ERA, striking out 32 and securing a 4-0 record.
GRADE: A, the Lowell injury and Papi slump haven't even been a speedbump in this team's path.
New York Yankees
There are problems in the pitching staff. A Steinbrenner is angry. The Yankees are near the bottom of the division and the end is nigh. Sound familiar? It should since this is the second straight season the Yanks have started off slow. With the talent this team has though, I don't expect that to last.
Chien-Ming Wang is a (too early to talk about it) frontrunner for the Cy Young. He's 5-0 with a complete game to his credit and a 3.2 ERA. He has answered questions about his ability (or perceived lack thereof) to serve as the staff's ace. He is proving to be the Yanks' No. 1 pitcher. Fellow starter Phil Hughes, however, has disappointed. Hughes is 0-4 with a 9 ERA, and his most recent outing was a 3 2/3, six runs earned debacle. Li'l Steinbrenner wants Joe Girardi to move Joba Chamberlain into the starting rotation, an act that reeks of desparation.
New York's pitching beyond Wang is troublesome, but the offense has pop a-plenty. Bobby Abreu is again showing some of his old form with 16 RBI. Hideki Matsui has swung a hot bat: .322 average and 13 RBI. A-Rod's numbers are very humble by his standards, but that .282 average, 11 RBI and four home runs should pick up.
GRADE: D, there's too much talent in the AL East for the Yankees to dig a hole like last season. And when starting pitching continues to be a problem, you'd think New York would do something about it. 
Tampa Bay Rays
What have we here? The one-game out Rays? Oh yes, Tampa Bay is undergoing a...well, not rebirth since the Rays have never been good, but a "welcome to the Bigs." It's been said about past Rays teams, and thus far to no avail, but this time it's true: there's a lot of talent that if kept together, will make a contender in a few years.
Carlos Pena hasn't been consistent this season with a .200 average, but when he does make contact it's usually good for runs. He has six dingers. Burner Carl Crawford has knocked in 14, stolen eight bases and hit a sound .286. Eric Hinske is doing in Tampa what Reed Johnson has in Chicago: make J.P. Riccardi look bad. Hinske has 6 homers and is batting over .280. Phenom Evan Longoria has three round-trippers of his own and 10 RBI.
James Shields has delivered in the absence of Scott Kazmir. Shields is 3-1 with an ERA around 2.5, and teammate Andy Sonnanstine has been servicable. Adding Kazmir to the starting rotation, which happens this weekend, only bolsters Tampa Bay's seemingly impossible chances.
GRADE: A+, they may not be in first, but this is the best the Rays have played in franchise history.
Toronto Blue Jays
The two highest profile things Toronto has done this season is wear powder blue unis and cut Frank Thomas. Not exactly grabbing the headlines. Considering the Blue Jays have floundered around last place, the lack of buzz is not shocking. Vernon Wells and Alex Rios have combined for 31 RBI, and Rios is batting over .300.
Ace Roy Halladay went over 40 innings in April alone and has an ERA around 3.5. Shawn Marcum is also pitching well, sporting the team's best ERA at 3.22. But between the two, they have just four wins. This is large part due to the bats, because the bullpen (save Jeremey Accardo and his awesome 7.76 ERA) has been solid. Take for example Halladay's one-run showing against the Red Sox -- in which he took the loss. Are you telling me Thomas couldn't have had an impact there?
GRADE: D-, J.P. Riccardi seemed like the G.M. trying the hardest to catch Boston and New York, but many of his decisions have been for naught.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels
Artie Moreno knows how to run a club. Tickets and food are cheap at Angel Stadium, but the payroll isn't. This combination of affordability and good baseball packs the house. I may read like an Angel shill, and that's fine. This is a franchise worthy of praise. Moreno brought in perennial All-Star Torii Hunter, and he's delivered to the tune of a .305 average and 16 RBI.
Casey Kotchman has been the real story of April though. Homegrown talent Kotchman is batting near .350 with a tied-for-team-high 19 RBI and six home runs. Gary Matthews Jr. has matched that Kotchman's RBI total, and Mike Napoli his home run total. Vladimir Guerrero is his usual reliable self.
Irvin Santana has come on strong after a shaky 2007. His ERA is 2.4 and he's already tallied five wins. Off-season acquisition Jon Garland and Dustin Moseley have been roughed up, each possession ERAs over 5. Jered Weaver is putting up the kind of number Mike Scioscia and Mike Butcher expect of him. What it all adds up to is an Angel team that will be very difficult for Seattle or Oakland to unseat atop the West.
GRADE: A, the Angels don't get the love nationally that the Yanks or Sox do, but this is an organization that knows winning.
Oakland A's
Billy Beane seems to know what he's doing. Sure, the A's get rid of popular, productive players: Jermaine Dye was integral in the White Sox 2005 World Series run, and now he's playing alongside Nick Swisher. Dan Haren has teamed up with Brandon Webb to make Arizona's starting rotation one of the most formidable in baseball. But there are other moves that show Beane's savvy: Barry Zito's outrageous contract has translated into a bullpen stint, Jason Giambi went to New York and became implicated in steroid abuse, and Mark Mulder has never been what St. Louis fans were hoping he'd be.
Meanwhile, the current A's chug along on the cheap, getting production from youngsters like Jack Hannahan and bargain bin vets like Emil Brown. Brown in particular has been a major catalyst at the plate, knocking in 25 runs through April. Former Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby is having his best year at the plate since 2005 with a .250 average and already halfway to his RBI total of 2007 with 15.
The starting pitching has been top-notch. Joe Blanton is already closing in on fifty innings. Greg Smith and Chad Gaudin have ERAs of 2.73 and 3.00, and Dana Eveland's is at 3.76. Rich Hardin is scheduled to get off the DL in the coming weeks, which will only make this rotation tougher.
GRADE: A, Beane's ability to put together patchwork winners continues to astound me.
Seattle Mariners
The M's were an intriguing bunch in 2007, fighting for the Wild Card and keeping pace with the Angels into September. Their Playoff dreams were ultimately denied, but the roster was reloaded for another run in 2008. Those pieces are still around, but keeping pace with the two top teams in terms of record Oakland and L.A. proves to be a difficult task.
Raul Ibanez is having an outstanding start at the plate with 21 RBI, while Richie Sexson is steadily re-finding the swing he had in Milwaukee. Sexson's average is still floundering, but his five homers and 17 RBI are enough to supplement the .300+ hitting of Adrian Beltre, Jose Lopez, and Yuenski Betancourt. One of the game's all-time great hitters, Ichiro, has struggled (at least by his standards) batting .262, but he's swiped six bases and has a respectable .320 on-base percentage.
King Felix is off to a hot start. He's struck out 41, is over 40 innings pitched, and has an ERA of 2.22. Carlos Silva is looking equally impressive, with a 2.72 ERA. The drop-off to Nos. 3 and 4 is significant though: Jarrod Washburn's ERA is just under 5, while Miguel Batista's is over 5. The lack of consistent starting pitching from night to night could be the difference in this team's Playoff hopes. If Erik Bedard can recover from his current injury, that will do wonders. In the bullpen, J.J. Putz needs to regain his 2007 form. His ERA is currently at 9, and if the recent shellacking he's taken have a Brad Lidge Effect on him, that spells trouble.
GRADE: C+, this team feels like it should be better than it is.
Texas Rangers
Boy the Rangers are bad. And I mean bad. With Mark Texieria gone and the lynchpin of that deal Jarrod Saltamacchia playing in Triple-A, there isn't much to get excited about in Texas. You would think George W. Bush ran this team. Hmmm...
The pitching isn't awful: Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla each have ERAs below 4.00. But Jason Jennings is the only other hurler to go more than 20 innings, and his ERA is 8.7. Not good.
There's also a huge drop-off from No.1 to No.2 at the plate. Ian Kinsler is the second best batter and has 13 RBI.
OK, so there is one thing that can generate some interest in the Rangers: the once-troubled former Cincinnati Red Josh Hamilton is off to an incredible start. He leads the American League in RBI with 28, has hit five round-trippers, and is batting .336. Unless he gets some help, though, this is a bleak summer to come in Arlington.
GRADE: F, beyond Hamilton the Rangers are just not very good.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Changing of the Guard(s)
 AP Photo/Eric Gay |
April 29, 2008 should go down as a landmark date in sports history -- and not just as the 25th anniversary of former Cub manager Lee Elia's hilariously profane post-game tirade. This date marks the exact moment Tony Parker and Chris Paul supplanted Steve Nash and Jason Kidd respectively as the NBA's premiere point guards.
Kidd and Nash were each facing elimination tonight in the kind of scenarios that make legends, and legends were made. They were just on the opposite end of the floor. Paul did what Kidd was famous for: recording a triple-double. The Hornets playmaker was untouchable, hitting shots, threading the needle to open teammates, cleaning the glass. Basically, CP3 was beating Kidd at his own game.
 AP Photo/Alex Brandon |
The same happened one state over in Texas. Two-time MVP Steve Nash was head scratchingly unclutch down the stretch. Parker meanwhile penetrated through the Phoenix defense, getting into the lane at will and either dropping in floaters en route to his game high 31 points, or kicking for one of his eight assists -- also a game high. His ability to bust into seams from the perimeter was reminiscent of Nash's ball-and-body control as he careened into the paint during his two MVP winning campaigns.
But for Nash and Kidd, there will be no more chasing that bronze statue. And if either is going to pursue an NBA Championship in the twilight of their careers, it will be as role players. Because on this night, basketball fans got to see the unquestionable changing of the guard.
QUICK BRICKS
This off-season is the perfect time for Phoenix to move either Diaw, who may have re-piqued interest for the first time since his breakout '05-'06, or Amare Stoudemire. The two are oil and water when playing together, so it doesn't make sense to keep both. And each has undeniable trade value. Expect a move involving one of these two, most likely Diaw, around draft time.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Should the Celtics Be Worried?
 Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images |
The win-loss gap between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks in this postseason is among the largest in NBA history. The Hawks were to be nothing more than a pit stop on Boston's road to the NBA Finals, the franchise's first such appearance since 1987. This pit stop has quickly turned into an extended stay. And right before our eyes, not one but two stars were born.
Josh Smith was best known for his 2004 Slam Dunk Contest win coming into this series. Tonight, he turned in his second Celtic-slaying performance. Smith's high-flying play has been a major catalyst in Atlanta's two victories, both tangibly and intangibly. The resurgent Mike Bibby has fed Smith these past two games to set up the latter's spectacular throwdowns, which in turn have electrified the Phillips Arena audience. Much like their baseball counterparts the Atlanta Braves, the ATL fanbase that was largely apathetic throughout the regular season has shown up in force for the Playoffs, and said (fair weather) fans have torn the lid off the joint every time Smith booms.
But the story tonight was Joe Johnson. And what a story it was. Since stepping out of the shadows of Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash in Phoenix, Johnson has steadily made Atlanta his team. Stardom in Atlanta, however, is akin to having a great television show on Bravo. How many people are really watching?
After tonight's monster performance, the audience is going to get a whole lot bigger.
Johnson put on a showing reminiscent of LeBron James' one-man demolition of the Pistons in last year's Eastern Conference Finals game five. The man with the ho-hum name had an extraordinary game, exploiting Ray Allen en route to 20 fourth quarter points and 35 total. With that one outing, Johnson ensures that his name will get mentioned with the league's upper echelon for seasons to come.
As for the Celtics, where does this leave them?
Sweeping a four-game series is not an easy feat. Even the most lopsided series in terms of talent tend to go five games, so Atlanta's game three victory could be chalked up to this trend. What does losing twice, and in the process dropping the series lead, spell for Boston? Obviously every series is its own entity, but the Hawks are exposing a chink in the Celtic that could be exploited in later series.
Assuming there is a later series for Boston.
It may be absurd to even discuss a Hawk series win. This team won just 35 games in the regular season. The roster is about as youthful as your local Boys and Girls Club. Only Johnson and Bibby have Playoff experience. The Celts on the other hand feature a perennial All-Star in Paul Pierce, the 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett, and a multiple time All-Star and candidate for the '05 MVP Ray Allen. Surely Boston will right the ship and close this game out in the next two, right?
 Mark Zarrilli/Getty Images |
If that's to be, a few key things need to change. First, and perhaps most important, is Kevin Garnett's emotions. What is sometimes considered to be The Big Ticket's best weapon was his worst enemy tonight. He was visibly shaken after delivering a cheap forearm to Zaza Pachulia's neck. Pachulia did the right thing by not backing down, and that display of guts really seemed to rattle Garnett. He was beaten to rebounds, including a pair of critical Atlanta offensive rebounds, and he missed a key free throw down the stretch. And keep in mind, for all his individual accolades Garnett has been out of the first round just once. And with the technical he received, that makes four straight Playoff series in which he's been rung up dating back to 2004.
Second, Doc Rivers has to adjust for Joe Johnson. Boston did nothing to change its approach on Johnson despite Allen getting abused worse. Swapping Allen and Pierce isn't really an option since Smith would hold a decided size advantage over Allen, but perhaps trapping him on the wings is the answer.
Third, Rajon Rondo has to either be subbed out or must show up in game five with an entirely different approach. Against seasoned veteran Bibby, Rondo has been a punching bag the last two games. Tonight in particular, Rondo had no answer on the defensive end, and offensively his game looked forced.
The advantage is still Boston's. Homecourt remains in the Celts' favor, and as mentioned before the C's feature so much more talent across the board. But psychologically, this team needs an adjustment. Only one year removed from the Warriors' ousting of Dallas in the first round, the possiblitiy of flaming out with the best regular season is a very real and very tangible one.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
ESPN Getting Into Adande's Blood
 AP Photo/Ross Franklin |
I was an avid reader of J.A. Adande's work when he wrote for The Los Angeles Times. But since going to ESPN.com in August, I have not read him due to being buried on the website. After reading his recent piece on the San Antonio Spurs, skipping his work for Disney was probably a good thing.
The Mickey Mouse Sports Network is known for hammering opinions so vehemently and so frequently it becomes default fact. But I would have never imagined Adande would fall victim to the Four Letters' curse. Adande's column is poorly researched. Case in point:
During this run as the NBA's best and most consistent team since 1999, they never had the best record in the league during a single year. They've won 60 games only twice.
I guess 1999, 2001 and 2003 don't count. C'mon J.A., readers expect better from you. That would have taken about thirty seconds to research. Worse than the gross factual error though is that this column, apparently meant to admonish the disparaging of the Spurs, simply rips on them more.
These guys? Again? It's like one of those old Droopy cartoons, where that damn dog keeps showing up no matter how many times you thought he'd been disposed. It's time to recognize the Spurs for what they are: not only the most dangerous team in the league, but the most dangerous team to the league. They kill ratings when they show up in the Finals. And they keep diminishing the value of the regular season.
This is what baffles me. Do I expect others to like the Spurs as I do? No, not at all. But you would think Disney and its employees would realize that the scorn they collectively heap on this team just might have something to do with these mentioned poor television ratings. Maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to promote a team that's likely to play in the Finals YOU BROADCAST, ESPN. Even if its to hype them as the hated empire of the NBA, that would be smarter than this incessant, and quite honestly *wrong* "boring" stereotype.
There's nothing boring about Tony Parker's or Manu Ginobili's games. Both are explosive. Tim Duncan may not be as versatile as these two, but it's unlikely the league will see another power forward as dominant as him for a long time. How long has the league been waiting for another Jordan? Another Bird? Another Magic? Well now it has a player that sets the benchmark for his position, and it's largely disparaged as unpleasant basketball.
Maybe expecting paid professionals to know their facts and actually watch the teams they're writing about is asking too much. As an Adande fan, I hope he will in the future keep from perpetuating the garbage that ESPN has shoveled to sports fan masked as insight.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sun is Setting
With the Spurs - Suns Playoff series coming to Phoenix, had a sinking feeling that Game 3 would be lopsided. After all, it took two Spur comebacks from double-digit deficits in Games 1 and 2, both of which were at the AT&T Center. And I was right -- only the roles were reversed from my suspicions.
San Antonio never trailed last night in a 111-95 dismantling of the Suns, which puts Phoenix in the never-recovered-from 0-3 hole. Should the Spurs win one more game, it marks the third time in four Playoffs that the Suns were knocked out by the Spurs. But unlike 2005 and 2007 when Phoenix chalked it up to a bad match-up and went to the off-season drawing board with optimism, this loss could be the first chapter in the team's eulogy.
There's that lingering hope the 2004 Boston Red Sox give all professional franchises looking up from the grave just before the dirt is shoveled. But going off the quotes from today's Arizona Republic it would appear the Suns are renting the Spurs a backhoe. Just take a look.
There's Amare Stoudemire throwing the perimeter players under the bus, both for their offense:
"They played playoff basketball; it's plain and simple," Stoudemire said. "There's no out-of-control plays, there's no shooting the ball within the first second. They take their time and they make sure to get a good shot every time down. And that's how you win the title. You have to make sure you get a good shot every time down and you have to make sure you defend well."
...and their defense:
"We have Shaq and myself down in the paint and we try to take care of the paint. When Tony Parker and Ginobili get free it's too much stress for us to contest the shot and also get the rebound and keep guys from dunking. It was tough for us tonight."
Steve Nash is pushing the blame to head coach Mike D'Antoni in an implicit, yet all-too-obvious manner:
"It's not working, is it? So we should probably adjust."
And D'Antoni is just plain lost:
"I wish I had some answers for you. I don't have them."
This doesn't sound like a team ready to resurrect its postseason. This sounds like a team ready to take a summer's long dirt nap.
So if Phoenix's season ends in the coming week, where do the Suns go from here? The aforementioned optimism appears to be dwindling, and the Suns can no longer fall back on its reputation as the league's most exciting team. That popularity it built over the last three seasons is all but gone, thanks to its postseason ineptitude and incessant complaining. Moving Stoudemire seems like the best possible solution.
The forward's stock will never be higher than it is now. Despite his Playoff disappearing act, Stoudemire should land on the All-NBA first team -- even if his rebounding and defense are strikingly sub-par. The Suns could net a bevy of young talent, including draft picks. Someone like Brook Lopez would provide Phoenix a sound defensive big man who also brings strong offense and a willingness to play full court. In-state legend Salim Stoudamire is a free agent at season's end and would give Phoenix the 3-point shooter its lacked since the departure of Johnson.
NBA fans are an irrational lot, so convincing the Sun base to buy into a temporary rebuilding project might not fly. Stoudemire could be moved for a more immediate impact player. But any deal isn't likely. Phoenix is staring at a potential lengthy demise, and this time it can't blame David Stern.
