Kings to Orange County Equals Less Travel for the Lakers

Sure, there are other reasons not to like the all-but-final decision for the Maloof Bros to move Sacramento's dearly beloved Kings south to the O.C.. But what I think is totally ridiculous is that the Lakers have in effect 4 less games for which they need not board a plane than every other team in the League--L.A. already gains the 2 extra home games via 'sharing' the Staples Center with the woeful Clippers, and now possibly a team bus ride to the O.C. to play a newly located team in historical hotbed of Laker fandom. Wonder what the atmosphere of those games will be like?

When no one was looking

Michael Redd returned to the NBA

Among other things

the trade deadline could prove to be a referendum on whether Devin Harris has what it takes to run a winning team. Sure, he had big success in Big D, but the Mavs are clearly better with the diminishing yet dominant Jason Kidd. Harris sucked in New Jersey in a way that has nothing and everything to do with stats. Now in Utah, with a more than adequate supporting caste, Harris has a chance to make his mark. We shall see.

First quarter already

KG is going on a rampage right now. Several young bigs had their way with Kevin last season, and they made it known. Now with his knee feeling better, KG has come to collect some tolls.

Historically speaking, it should be no surprise that the Clippers suck so bad so early despite having several exciting young players. Yet I am surprised. The other L.A. has some serious juice. The just always lose. The absence starters Baron Davis and Chris Kaman to early season injuries explains a lot. What is not so clear why Davis is coming off the bench behind Eric Bledsoe. Davis is a flawed player in that he is aging and not in top shape. But starting Bledsoe is a joke.

Miami is beginning to settle in.

I cannot tell if Orlando should be taken seriously. Ever since Rashard Lewis stopped taking whatever enhancements he got popped for, he has been miserable. Vince is old. Jameer is to today's young pgs what Juwan Howard was to the generation of power forwards that came into the League from 95-97.

I like Chicago quite a bit. Joakim Noah is among my favorites to watch. And that D Rose. Whew. Help me. The Boozehound will help a lot in the regular season. Guard long bigs in the post season is where the money's at.

L.A.. Uptight. City in the smog. They are good, though.

I am surprised that Memphis has stumbled so much early. O.J. not playing much. Anyone know the low down? I have yet to watch them play. Houston is a team I have watched several times, and likewise, I am surprised they have not won more.

San Antonio is playing brilliantly. High level execution by veterans, with Timmy picking his spots on his offense in order to hold down the Spurs D. Tony Parker is rolling. Pop has got a team. As does Rick Carlisle. Tyson Chandler has found a good home in the middle of Dallas's high octane attack. Dirk is a wonder.

A little praise for Danny Ainge. Two huge sidenote swipes in the acquisition of the KG and Ray Allen: Giving up the Celtics' best young player in Al Jefferson while holding onto to Rajon Rondo, and trading the rights of #5 pick Jeff Green for #35 pick Glen Davis. Davis is friggin dope.

Of Blazers, broken bodies and boo-hoos

I cannot recount the number of post game conversations these past four season, huddled in the winter nights of dear Portlandia, that Simistar and myself have visioned the days of a healthy Oden and Roy dominating the League and playing for history. Oden is basically done before he started. Roy seems likely to have chronic knee issues.

What is awesome is that Portland still has an great squad. Aldridge is playing outstanding basketball. He got much stronger during the off-season, and he is playing with very high energy. Nic Batum seems to have taken that next step. And then the veterans Andre Miller and Marcus Camby have been exceptional. Free agent Wes Matthews is playing out of his mind. When Przybilla returns, the Blazers will boast one of the longest and skilled frontlines in the League. Roy isn't done, even if he is different.

The Championship dreams are fading like away like glowing faery dust caught in the tug of a gentle summer's breeze in that darkest hour before dawn. But that doesn't mean that Portland isn't gonna clown some suckers during the regular season.

KG, the truth, and reality

First post in a while.

The credulity that the media (ESPN, Clown Van Gundy especially) lent to Villanueva's tweet is silly. KG' s explanation seems right on to me: Charlie Villanueva is a cancer to his team and the league. Any moonball owners care to disagree.

Chris Bosh is the weak musketeer.

Blazers, Bulls and OKC all look awesome, records aside.

What Rondo is doing makes doves cry.

Is anyone else scared to post getty owned photos?

Funny with all the shine the young guys have been getting, Chris Paul seems to have slipped back into MVP mode.

Blake Griffin's game gives me pause. But the Clips seem sick as usual.

Is Golden State for real?

3-0 and clear seas ahead

Watch out now. Boston seems to have found a grove. Pauly P and Ray-Ray are filling it up, and the defense looks tight. Glenn Davis and Tony Allen are bringing tremendous energy off the bench. The KG era Celts have never had a 3-0 playoff series. Guys are healthy.

Let's go Bulls!

Playoff Time

After months of radio silence resulting in most part from being so befuddled by the poor play of the Celtics, I am moved to post by the great drama that is about to unfold. The first 82 is fun for highlights, big nights and Moonball stats. Now the games all count.

Lakers vs OKC: The Lake Show stumbled across the finish due in large part to an injured Kobster. Though by all right they are favorites, the Thunder are a tough draw for several reasons. L.A.s greatest weakness is at the point, where Fisher is some five years removed from being able to stay in front quick point guards; Russell Westbrook is as quick as they come. Jeff Green is going to mess with Lamar Odom. The Thunder have many ways to score in the half court. Zen master Phil overplayed his hand when he started talking about Durant. In an NBA playoff series where the teams are relatively equal, the team with the best player wins. Kobster is still hurt, and Durant is now angry.

Dallas vs San Antonio: Looks like wrong place at the wrong time for a surging Dallas team. The Spurs are no longer a contender in my mind, but something tells me in the quest for one more shot at the gusto, Timmy’s team will beat Dirk’s. Dallas has no one to check Ginobili. I am sure that Dirk and Kidd will go nuts. Popavich’s team always seems to take away looks from the Jason Terry’s and Caron Butler’s of the world, and Duncan will clown the otherwise formidable duo of Haywood and Dampier. Truth is, I would be happy to see both these teams lose.

Phoenix vs Portland: Nice match-up. The Suns have been playing as well as anyone. The back to back blowouts road wins over Denver and Utah were scary. Amare! The Suns bench is hitting on all cylinders, and those suckers D. Then there is P-Town. Of course, I am very sad that super hero Brandon Roy will be watching from the sidelines. But Portland don’t quit. Old friend Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge is an ill front line. Andre Miller will pick up Roy’s scoring, and with Batum, Webster, and Fernandez, Portland has the perimeter covered I Roy’s absence. I see Phoenix advancing in a highly contested, highlight extravaganza.

Denver vs Utah: If Boozer is not 100%, Denver in a walk. Maybe it was the hot Suns, but Utah’s showing in a home game that would have given them the 3 seed, but Utah looked listless against the Phoenix attack. Utah is great at home, and mediocre on the road. That was a must win they lost. As good as Deron Williams is, Utah is a soft defensive team that will lose without the Booze-hound’s offensive punch. Bad formula vs the high scoring Nugs. Denver has stumbled since KMart’s injury and coach Karl’s absence. Martin is back, and when he leads the defensive charge, Denver is tough to beat. Melo is going to go crazy. So is Billups, Nene and the mercurial JR Smith. Over in 5.

Cleveland vs. Chicago: LeBron is not losing in the first round. That said, this might not be easy for the Cavs. Derrick Rose is a problem for everybody. Deng has tools to “guard” LeBron at least until he fouls out. Joakim Noah is an emerging force. Chicago has enough depth. Cleveland will certainly win the first two handily. Even with a nicked up Jamison and without Shaq, Cleveland has a tight squad built for a Finals run. LeBron is playing the game at its highest level with one goal in mind. His intensity alone could mean 4 and done. But if Chicago can win Game 3, we might have a dog fight. . . which, of course would be incredible because LeBron is not losing in the first round.

Orlando vs. Charlotte: The Magic are steam rolling right now, and the Bobcats are going to get flattened. I love what Stephen Jackson has brought to this team. Gerald Wallace is a freak of nature. Larry Brown has got his team over-achieving. Thing is that Dwight Howard is a titan, and the Bobcats are all mortals. Simply no contest. And I ain’t saying other Magic won’t go banan. I think this one is a blow out fest in Mickey’s House, and two grinders in North Carolina. End result: 4 and done.

Atlanta vs Milwaukee: This would have been a hell of a series with Bogut healthy. Of course, if Bogut had not gotten hurt, the Bucks would be upsetting Boston in the First Round. Without the big Aussie, Hotlanta’s brilliant front line will overwhelm the gritty crew from Foam Town. Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams are as good as the League has to offer. Rebounders, defenders, shot blockers, all with the ability to score the basketball. Ill. Then we get to Joe Johnson and sixth man of the year Jamal Crawford, a duo that can post 50 on any given night. Brandon Jennings, John Salmons, Carlos Delfino and all of Skile’s crew are going to battle til the end, but that could be 4 or 5 games.

Boston vs Miami: I shudder to think what will transpire. The best player rule gives Miami the unquestioned edge. Boston’s shitty (I mean super shitty) home play could easily send the series back to Miami with the Heat in charge. Nothing that has happened in the past 3 months suggests that Boston is up for the down stroke. Luckily, Miami is not that good. Rondo will be able to run wild on the Heat, and despite Wade’s overall advantage, Ray Allen has bene playing great basketball since the All-Star break. The questions for Boston involve KG and Pauly P: Are they still game changers? Can they will a win? Can they will four wins?

Corey never surrenders for 17 games

In case you missed it, Duke pretty boy Corey Maggette has been on quite a run for Golden State. Dude scored at least 25 points a game for 17 straight. . . while shooting 60% from the floor. Wow! In the new millenium, only three other dudes have gone on such a run: Shaq, Amare, Dwight Howard. In last night's loss to the Nugs, the streak ended despite 33 points, along with 9 boards and 6 assists. Corey shot 10-18.

Why is Micky crying?

One obvious reason Orlando is struggling the absurdly small role Dwight Howard plays in Orlando's offense. Somehow the Magic center is getting just 9.1 shots a game. Sometime Pacer center Roy Hibbert averages 9.2. Howard gets to the line 10 times a game compared to Hibbert's 2. But Howard has averaged 10 ft a game for several seasons, and is taking 3 less shots than he did last season. Stupid.

Wolves fans: Weigh In

Johnny vs Randy

Ellington vs McCants

Break it down for us.

This one goes out to the rookies

Donte Cunningham, pictured swatting the Kobster, and fellow 2nd round rookie Jeff Pendegraph are playing inspired basketball for the injury riddled Blazers. To them, I dedicated this jam

Gilbert, Guns and Media Who Love Them

In our gun crazed nation, the national reaction to Gilbert Arenas' unquestionably stupid (and illegal) decision to store his guns in locker room reminds me a bit of when Martha Stewart got thrown in the clink for insider trading. Both Gil and Martha are guilty as charged. . . but neither are drivers of the disfunction.

I have already gone on at length about my frustration with the glee that the media pins the violent thug label on black athletes. But I must bring up again my distaste for the leeway the media takes with a story when it possible fits into the Black Crime narrative. Whatever Gil did, he and Crittedon DID NOT draw on one another in the Wizards locker room. That fake story has been reported and re-reported as fact well after if was clearly a New York Post pipe dream. It is still up as a link on ESPN. Disgusting.

Gun violence in the African American community is a serious and horrible problem. Having high profile athletes like Arenas blithely violating guns rules and laws deserves a significant action from the Wiz and the NBA.

Compare the amount of headline time the Arenas story gets to the micky-fricking Tea-baggers gun rallies, however, and media's emphasis on bad black ballplayers is revealed at the very least as a disproportionate reaction. A significant part of white conservative America has been stock piling weapons and ammo at a frightening pace, fueled by right wing scare tactics claiming that the boogie man Obama coming to get their guns. Much of the rhetoric of the gun totting right clearly borders on threats to the President. Where is the calls for censure of these maniacs? Unlike Arenas, they do not even claim to be joking.

To Us A King Was Born

Tonight's birthday performance against Atlanta was unreal. He stole the game from the visiting Hawks. Good God indeed.

TY-REKE!

With apologies to HP, whatta comeback!

Down 35 in the second half Evans scored the Kings last 9 points. The rookie played 44 minutes, pouring in 23 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals. Wow! Fellow Memphis phenom Derrick Rose posted similar numbers, but clearly Rd. 1 of the battle between for alumni bragging rights goes to Tyreke.

Kings are playing great. Jason Thompson has been super. Hawes, Nocioni, Casspi, Udrih, Udoka, and Donte Green are all filling their roles. What a nice surprise.

Bring that beat back

Check this post from way back in the day

So Glorious Blazers

Big comeback win in Portland. The injury riddled Blazers looked over matched early, unable to slow the Suns offensive attack. Phoenix held Portland down by 9-12 points for most of the games first 38 minutes. But Portland began to get some stops midway through the third quarter and Jerryd Bayless made his official arrival on the NBA stage. Bayless and Roy combined for 31 4th quarter points to steal a victory for squad looking to regain its stride. The second year player has been itching for playing time, and now he is getting busy.

Zach Randolph, jaw breaker

There are a bunch of guys over the years who average 20-10. How many have cracked 3 jaws?

Hasheem Thabeet

Shariff Abdur Rahim

Ruben Patterson

Of Craptors, Clowns and Crowns

I know I have no good reason to be surprised, but the depth of Toronto's suckiness somehow has caught me off guard. Aside from home wins over Cleveland and Miami, TDot has yet to beat a good team. Worse still, they have lost 5 games to East leaders Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta by an average of 16+ points. In fairness Toronto has played 14 of its first 25 on the road. Still, .400 basketball is a disappointment.

Remember when there was some buzz about the Wizards contending? Somehow the return of Arenas and the acquisitions of Mike Miller, Randy Foye, and Fabricio Oberto would allow the Wiz to make a Celtic-like turn around from there miserable 19 win 08-09 campaign. Unless Washington starts developing some defensive chemistry, they will remain a laughing stock.

Speaking of them Celtics, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are both playing on an incredibly high level. The young duo have led the charge during the Celts current 9 game run. Rondo has become a floor maestro of the highest order. Scarier still, he seems to have mastered a 16 foot pull up foul line left. Perk is a friggin beast. A constant defender, he has developed a forceful post game. With Boston's superior ball movement, the C's regularly find Perk for crushing jams and easy lay ins. Wait til Baby returns. A lethal mix of young and old.

Shaq makes your team worse

2006 was the Daddy's glorious last stand

You put your team in the hole
when you can't guard the pick and roll