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BasslineSpin.com May 19, 2008 ...I’ve
been watching the playoffs. The Celtics-Cavs Game 7 was an instant classic
with Lebron James and Paul Pierce putting on a show. ...Jeff Van Gundy makes me laugh. His idea about
floppers wearing a scarlet letter F had me giggling out loud. ...I am a fan
of Ernie Johnson Jr. on
the TNT studio show. ...I wonder what C.J. Miles is
capable of if he was the man getting the shots. ...Brook Lopez at number three in the NBA Draft? Are
you scouts SURE about that? I like him too but
I LOVE
that UCLA Freshman.
...Good luck to Mike D’Antoni in New
York. As I’ve said repeatedly - the Knicks can improve dramatically by simply
getting a BIG that plays defense. Zach Randolph, and Eddy Curry provide no presence. ...In
Kings-land—I am happy to hear that Geoff Petrie is
sticking around. I respect him as a shot caller and as a man of integrity.
...I certainly have strong opinions here. Like I think I know everything. But
what I really know is that there are others who are paid to devote ALL their
time to basketball. They have more resources than I. They have more access
than I. ...Petrie is one of a few basketball men that has a track record of
success that speaks for itself. ...My blog contribution is successful in my
eyes if I can make someone think twice
about a player personnel decision. ...With that in mind - I believe NBA Draft
prospect Richard Hendrix is
being underrated right now. Ditto Kyle Hines.
...Also - while I’m not a huge supporter of Roy Hibbert - I have to think he could do what Zydrunas Ilgauskas does in Cleveland. And that ain’t bad
at all. ...Quit hating the Celtics because they haven’t won a road game in
the playoffs. Who cares? It’s 0-0 right now in the Eastern Conference Finals
and the Celtics have the home court advantage. That’s what is REAL. ...Here
is something else real. Once again efficiency of the
individual player is vital to any team with thoughts of being among the five
teams left on May 19th. Absorb these facts. Of the five teams left - all have
a player in the top four among all players at their position. New Orleans? Chris Paul is the #1 PG. San Antonio? Tim Duncan is the #2 PF. Lakers? Kobe Bryant is the #1 SG. Detroit? Chauncey Billups is the #4 PG. Boston? Kevin Garnett is the #1 PF. ...So—does your team
have a guy in the top four at his position? If not—it says here—you cannot
make it to the Conference Finals. This same stat is true virtually every
year. ...What other teams have a player that is top-four at his position?
Utah (Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams), Phoenix (Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash),
Denver (Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson), Miami (Shawn Marion, Dwyane Wade),
Dallas (Dirk Nowitzki),
Orlando (Dwight Howard),
Houston (Yao), Cleveland (Lebron), Washington (Caron Butler). ...That leaves 17 teams with the
window closed to a NBA Championship any time soon. |