The Cross We Bear.

the movement is not dead. This makes me hungry for a Franklin's Giant Grinder.

cue the music! :

On The Fly

As amusing as this screenshot is, it only tells half the story. They should make some type of graphic next year that factors in the impact that AI's contract coming off the books had for Detroit. I think the move was great for Denver, and I've stated that they are infinitely better with Billups. But, this was a great move for both teams. The Pistons were looking at a second round exit no matter what this season.


I have moved and am still without internet. This is on the fly. All I keep thinking is that I have cousins in elementary school who knew that John Salmons should have been fouled at the end of overtime. That isn't meant to be taken in a "Doc Rivers is such an idiot" type of way. Rivers has been spectacular, and could have easily walked away with coach of the year honors (for the second time). But, now that he's been burned, hopefully he will not make this mistake again.

Finally, while we are discussing introspective athletes (see babcock below this), please take a look at this gem from Jake the Snake Roberts. It's like The Big Lebowski and Eastbound and Down all rolled in to one, but real:

Mike Tyson Documentary

This film just came out last week and seeing as how I am out in LA I was able to see it on Friday. Anyone who is intrigued by Tyson (and really who isn't?) needs to see this.

Too many unforgettable moments to mention and overall Tyson is very introspective and offers a glimpse into the mind of a man who was on top of the world and lost it all. A very humanizing portrait of one of the most enigmatic and exciting athletes of our lives.

California Dreamin'

Its bad enough being out in California and missing the start of the Celtics game because the tip off falls within what many consider the normal “working hours”, but then you sit down to recap said game and the hotel that you are staying at is having “server issues”. You can’t tell me that its not because of the 9pm “porn site rush hour”. There are a lot of men staying here while they are working in the area and you won’t be able to convince me that they aren’t collectively inhibiting my ability to log into Roomofzen because of frenzied attempts to visit YouPorn before the free beer from the dinner buffet wears off and they all pass out on their sofas. So, here I am, alone in a hotel room in Chatsworth, California, wanting nothing more than to post to this blog but unable to do so…I’m not even having any luck downloading pictures of Andrei Kirilenkos hair, which amazes me to no end. Seriously, is that a mohowk? I can’t tell, it is a veritable mohawk mirage. If you wandered through the deserts of Utah long enough eventually you would see what appears to be a Mohawk on the head of Andrei Kirilenko, of this I am sure. (Obviously, I did manage to get online, however it was a long and arduous period of waiting)

Anyway, I did make it back to the aforementioned hotel late in the first quarter with the Celtics enjoying a comfortable lead thanks to a hot start by Paul Pierce. Chicago looked overmatched this entire game, and really it never got close enough for me to be scared. A few things that I found interesting during the game.

- Garnett looks like an absolute pimp on the sideline in his suit. Granted, all Celtics fans want to see him suited up in a uniform but even when injured he remains the penultimate badass. Over under for Carat weight of those earrings 6.0.
- Garnett and Powe are done for the season, Tony Allen is playing with some sort of claw-like tape job on his hand and Brian Scalabrine appears to be wearing a headband in self defense due to a recent concussion. I immediately think of John Olerud, and then of Scal wearing a green batting helmet (without earflaps of course) and knocking down a three from deep in the corner. Other images pop into my mind as well: The batting helmet sliding across the floor as Scal hustles for a loose ball that he has no chance of getting…Scal tipping his helmet to the crowd after knocking down a non-crucial freethrow with 1:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of a 29 point Celtic victory. Awesome.
- Marbury shows a little spark. This could be huge for the C’s especially if Rondo is hurt. Late in the Game Marbury ends up with a bunch of band-aids on his face and head. His dome is just too busy, with band-aids, tattoos. Its distracting me.
- Joahkim Noah is a poor man’s Mikey Moore. I can’t stop saying that to myself.


At this point in the post I was going to veer in another direction and just briefly mention that if you have not seen East Bound and Down than do yourself a favor and get HBO and watch this immediately.

Back to the NBA. I find it hard to believe that Chicago is actually rolling over and dying right now however, that’s exactly what appears to be happening. Game 1 might have been their high water mark for the season. If the Celts weren’t so banged up I would be entirely convinced that they come out in game 4 and destroy the Bulls…BUT…I cant go that far yet. Clearly the Chicago fans were not impressed. By the fourth quarter the Bulls were playing for what would have been a modestly sized crowd for a 6th grade boys basketball round-robin tournament at your local YMCA.

I Dislike him.

Vinny Del Negro…it just rolls off the tongue.

I almost stay up for the double header and watch the Lakers and Jazz play but the thought of seeing any more Pau Gasol jump hooks followed by slow motion shots of “Pau Gasol Face” as he turns and runs back down the court to be a non-factor on defense.

It feels like its been so long…and yet, here we are.

I dislike him more.

So Far So Good

I'm stuck at work staying up to date on the game over at Celtics.com. I'm not sure how long this has been the case but the C's have really picked up their game day coverage:
Doesn't make up for not being able to watch it. But I don't hate it. Meanwhile, if Boston pulls this off I'll have my first 3-win Streak for the Cash day. Awesome.

Celtics vs. Bulls

I apologize for the blurriness of the screen shot from Streak for Cash. However, if you can make it out it does make a nice point. 53.9% of people are picking the Bulls. I'm not saying those percentages make a ton of sense. And the Bulls are home. But it's a testament to just how different this Celtics team is.

Lingering Questions:

- Does Paul Pierce have a "carry the team" performance in him?
- How will Rajon Rondo fare?
- Do the C's now have the thinnest front line of any playoff team?
- Will Vinny Del Negro let Tyrus Thomas loose to block shots until his heart is content?
- First Derrick Rose. Then Ben Gordon. Who's next?
- More unlikable: Joakim Noah, Anderson Varejao or Bruce Bowen.

Couple of Random Thoughts:

- I'm convinced that a lot of NBA guys respect Chris Paul and secretly despise him.
- The difference between Boston and Chicago's respective benches is outrageous.
- This probably deserves it's own post, but I don't even remotely understand it. He's 34! He fumbled once and threw five picks in his last game! This is outrageous.

It's Spring

I got a text from LaRocque today that simply said, "It's a perfect day to take down a D'angelo's number nine for lunch." Three thoughts:

1. He's right.

2. The expression "take down" doesn't get enough play. Yes I'm the same guy that tried to get people to transition away from "spread like wildfire" to "spread like herpes". But in this case there really is a ton of untapped potential with "take down".

3. The text motivated me to write the following post, which has been in the back of my mind for a week or so.

Last Wednesday I walked out my front door to make the short walk to work and it hit me - it was nice outside. I should preface this by saying I live in New Hampshire and the last couple of winters have been abysmal. Maybe it's because I don't like outdoor winter sports. Maybe I'm just getting older. Whatever the reason San Diego or any other place that's warm and has reliable water is looking more and more appealing. However, back to last week. For the first time it was warm and there was not a doubt in my mind what I would be doing that night - grilling steak. It was noticeably more upbeat at work, the day went quicker and I can't adequately describe how awesome it was to break out the grill for the first time all season.

Not to go all Hallmark here but the coming of spring made me think about the Boston Celtics. Stay with me on this one. I loved everything about the 2008 Celtics squad and a lot of other people did too. Yet I'd argue that banner 17 meant a lot more to people who watched large chunks of the 2007 Celtics, got excited by the 1998 season opener and have opinions on Orien Greene, or anybody else who walked through the door since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish stopped doing so. I beg you to look at those previous two links. The former is downright comical at this point. The latter sums up the Orien Greene era better than I ever could. Regardless I'm convinced that people who stopped watching the C's sometime in the early 90s simply didn't enjoy last season as much as I did.

And that brings me to the point of this post. I don't care what happens from this point forward. Even if Kevin Garnett is forced to retire and the Celtics fall into mediocrity I will never say a bad thing about the KG trade. It was fantastic to watch Paul Pierce change his entire legacy with a Finals MVP performance. It's impossible to judge how much playing for a winning, defensive juggernaut did for Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, and to a lesser extent Glen Davis and Leon Powe. Bottom line Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, and whoever else was not winning a title.

Vince Carter Absurd Dunk at Rucker Park - I would give up a testicle to be able to do this

Vince goes to play at Rucker Park (inside because of the rain) and throws down a full windmill alleyoop. It doesn't look like something a human could pull off. It looks like he's one of the Monstars in Space Jam. If I ever decided to be religious, I'd probably design a religion based around the belief that everyone would be able to do this in heaven. Constant satisfaction.



Also, let the record show that at 9:26 tonight, during highlights of the Magic game, Charles Barkley said of Courtney Lee "nah man, I don't like that......Courtney's a girl's name." After the way things went down this season, I don't take any of these gems for granted.

KG May Not Be Done

From Celticsblog: KG's surgery is being delayed because there is a small chance he may be able to play.


Even as a Celtics fan who is trying to hate the Cavs, it is hard not to absolutely love this commercial (especially with Delonte at the end). Even Varejao is good in it. I like it, ok. Don't judge me:

from Ball Don't Lie

More Reflective Reading

I have been reading Breaks of the Game for a second time during these playoffs, and providing certain excerpts where I see them fitting in with the current cycle of madness upon which we all embarked on Saturday.

The following comes during a losing streak. Halberstam discusses how much a player like Bill Walton would have affected the psyche of those around him, and how much Jack Ramsay misses his talents during a rough stretch. There are many similarities and many vast differences between Walton and Garnett's career paths. Walton won a championship early, he was vocal about his displeasure with management, and he sounds like he was not always the best teammate. But, both played in Boston late in their careers. Both were dominant players of their era. Both have similar skill sets. Anyways, this passage could have been written in 2009 with Garnett's name substituted for Walton's and nobody would even think twice (the only obvious difference, I guess, is that Walton is not present in this case because he's no longer with the team. In KG's case, it is an injury). It's great, and I think it clearly hashes out some of the psychological issues that the Celtics have had to deal with since Thursday of last week. Remember, it was the first time that the players actually had to face the reality that KG was not coming back. That is a big departure from their mindset closing out the season:

"Suddenly it was not just a game or two, suddenly it was what all basketball people, players and coaches alike, feared most, a losing streak. For basketball people believed that their game was far more psychological than football or baseball. Players, if they were going well, believed they could do certain things, shoot and make certain shots, stop certain players on defense. That had been part of the immense intangible value of Walton: he was so superior a player and his talents so directly encouraged other players; because he was so good on defense they were able to play better defense too, for they had less territory to cover; he passed so well that they got better shots. But as basketball players lost their confidence, their ability diminished, they no longer believed. They would hesitate and become tentative. Natural shooters began to push their shots. Fine passers overreached themselves and passed into the hands of opponents. Rebounders found themselves unable to take the position they wanted. Players began to doubt not just themselves, but their teammates as well. Contemporary professional basketball was a curious amalgam of great skill, great ego and great anxiety."


This paints a clear picture of what we saw from the Celtics in game 1 and for the early parts of game 2. However, the feeling that this team was psychologically turning the corner was palpable inside the Garden after Ray hit that three. Hopefully the best lies ahead.



Also, you must watch the video posted below by Demers.

The Greatest Generation

This is the ultimate proof that we all missed the boat in some major ways. Athletes in general may be far superior these days but today's managers can't hold a candle to a class act like Earl.

"You Don't Need Sterroids....Anymore."

This commercial was run back to back this morning on ESPN with the new Frank Thomas ZizzZaz commercials (see below). I don't exactly understand who they're reaching out to. People who already take sterroids probably aren't going to switch. But, by describing them as a subsititute for sterroids, they've also pretty much ensured that I won't be buying morphoplex for my hypothetical children.

When It Rains, It Pours

It looks like the Celtics will have to push on without Leon. This is a pretty big blow to an already depleted front line. On the bright side, it sounds like Rondo will play in game 3, and Scal is getting ready to return as well.

Tommy Heinsohn Close Encounter Reported on The Basketball Jones

When I witnessed Tommy Heinsohn in all of his glory taking down bloody marys late last night, I knew that I had to get the word immediately to the finest source for basketball coverage in North America (which also means the world):


Ep. 424: Season In Balance from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

For the record, I don't generally call 3 times per day or at all. Although, I do try to e-mail at least a few times a week. Really, if you're not taking in the Basketball Jones everyday, you should be.


I also learned today that Frank Thomas drinks ZizZazz:

Foil in the Oven: The Deep Sigh of Relief

With about 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics up 92-91, Rajon Rondo lost the ball out of bounds. The Bulls inbounded to Derrick Rose, who pushed the ball up the court ahead of the entire Celtics team and laid it in to give Chicago the lead. "Jesus, that was pathetic" I yelled (sprinkled with expletives). The next 5 minutes were probably the lowest point of the past two seasons for me. The defense was lazy, Ben Gordon couldn't miss, and at the end of it the Bulls had a five point lead and all of the momentum. I was furious. I couldn't believe that this team would allow their defensive effort to dissipate in the closing minutes of this one, wasting special performances from Big Baby, Rondo, and Perk in the process. They were going to lose, and it was going to be a death blow.

At this point, Doc called a timeout and ripped his team a new one for their lack of intensity. We all saw how it went down after the time out, and it was great. There was so much to feel good about after that win. However, I have a lot of concerns, and those need to be addressed first.

- Things are going to get much more difficult if Leon is not able to return in this series. It only took Mikki Moore 8 seconds to commit his first foul last night, and Doc's supply of front line minutes is getting more and more depleted.

- It's hard for me to even string together a rational thought about the repercussions that the Cs would face if Rondo's ankle blew up like a balloon last night and he's unable to go in Chicago.

- The bench was absolutely horrendous last night, accounting for only 9 of the Cs' total 118 points. Great bench play was an essential piece to last year's championship run. The Celtics are going to need more from these guys, especially Eddie House, going forward.

- Speaking of the bench, Tony Allen did not play a single minute last night and I don't know what to make of it. Last night seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to see heavy minutes defending Ben Gordon. At the very least, I expected to see him come in at the end with the Celts up 115-113 to defend Gordon. He didn't, and Gordon tied up the game. So, what does this mean? If we can't call on Tony Allen to come in and give good defensive minutes, especially against a team with such good scorers in the backcourt, things are going to be a lot tougher.

- I can't tell if Paul Pierce is hurt or if he is just worn down. With Deng out, I expected him to control this series and he hasn't been up to the task. He's passing up shots (huge red flag!), he is having trouble getting back every time of defense, and he hasn't seemed to be able to break down anyone off the dribble. I thought Salmons (especially with a bad groin) and Hinrich would be great matchups for him.
I guess the true indicator of whether or not PP is hurt will come in Chicago. We've seen him worn down before, and he usually manages to spring back just when we need him most.

- As was the case on Saturday, there were lapses in Boston's intensity and execution. It's frustrating, and I feared it would once again cost them. It's held true over two games now: they must make getting back on D the number one priority. Although they did a better job yesterday, they still gave up far too many easy points (Chicago shot 50% from the field. Abysmal).

To alleviate this, I think Doc needs to rotate in more bench minutes. In particular, why haven't we seen Bill Walker? I know he's inexperienced, but it's not like we'd be throwing him out there against the Lakers. This is a young Bulls team. Walker would allow more rest for the starters, and I think he could match Chicago's intensity. A fucking spark! That's what this team has needed throughout this series. I really think, in this specific case, Walker can provide that spark.


So, yes, I still have a lot of concerns. But, I'm confident that things are going to pick up. Our readers all know that I have a pretty serious mancrush on Paul Pierce. Hearing his distinct, sultry voice tell me that "our best is yet to come" brought me great comfort.


Now, not to overlook the positive:

- 28 second half points for Ray, who looked like his old self down the stretch. We can all stop panicking now about a repeat playoff slump.

- It's incredible how much Rondo and Big Baby have improved their outside shot, and it gives me so much hope for the future of the Celtics post-big three. Both of these guys can now make teams pay for playing off of them (and Big Baby did, over and over again last night). This will make the Celtics even more dangerous when they are back at full strength next season.

- Rondo is a tough motherfucker. I've heard some talk from the anti-Celtics camp that he likes to ham it up a bit when he goes to the floor so that people will give him more credit for his toughness. First of all, that's ridiculous. He hits the floor hard every night. Secondly, nobody can deny that ankle last night. It was clear as day on the replay. To come back from that and still finish with a triple double is ridiculous. Add 5 steals to those triple double numbers. Hands down the most important player of the series so far. I wish he'd start padding himself up like Dwayne Wade does. It makes sense.

- The Celtics returned to their old ways and dominated the glass in this one. In particular, credit Rondo and Perk with 7 offensive boards apiece. Big Baby made up for his poor rebounding performance on Saturday, and it made his 26 points all the more impressive.

- Perk did everything in this game. He pulled down tough rebounds in traffic, he blocked a key shot at the end of the game, and his ability to work Chicago's front line on offense appeared at times in the first half to be the only constant for the Cs.

- The Bulls came in to this determined to get a split in Boston. They did a hell of a job with it. Back to back career nights from different players. However, they will not have guys step up like that every night. They can't. Just as Rose came back down to earth last night, Gordon will come down on Thursday.

- We finally saw life from this team in the second half. It came quickly once they started to build some momentum. They are better than this Chicago team, which is why I can't understand the sheepishness with which they have approached their business for much of this series. They are the world champs, and I'd like to see some front running. They play better and with a hell of a lot more intensity when they carry that attitude with them. I don't care if it takes KG taunting opponents from the bench and picking up technicals. I don't care if it takes Perk putting Noah down hard (by don't care I mean I'd fucking love it) and taking a technical. The swagger needs to return. That will get them back on defense. That will lead to more scoring. That's when the Celtics are at their best.




Final note:

After the game, my fiancee and I went across the street to the Four's for some beer and nachos. After leaving the Garden, there was no way we could just go home. Well, the next thing we know, Tommy Heinsohn is sitting in the booth right behind ours. I had a dead on view of him, and took in as much as I could. I started thinking to myself....is there a more significant Celtic that I could be looking at right now? Heinsohn won 8 rings as a player and 2 more as a coach. He was a six time all star and coach of the year. He's the face of the franchise as an announcer. Really, there is no question that this was more significant than drinking ten feet away from Larry Bird. I guess the only guy you could argue would be Bill Russell.

I kept in close contact with his waiter. He drank bloody marys and ate shrimp cocktail. That's a meal very heavy in tomatoes (lycopene, good for the prostate). Bloody Marys late at night? The man is an animal.

3 Questions

1. How does Ray Allen still get open at the end of games?

2. How did the Bulls not have any timeouts left at the end of the game? They could have used one, unless of course Vinny Del Negro was planning to draw up a half court heave by one of the Thomases, in this case Tyrus.

3. More confusing reaction to Ray Allen's game winning 3 - KG or Doc Rivers?

Forces of Nature Collide.

As I suspected, there is no score lopsided enough to make watching the Nuggets and Hornets dull. Despite the 29 point margin of victory, I feel downright giddy after watching that game last night. Perhaps it's because I don't get that many chances to watch good Western Conference matchups during the regular season, but it was like (as they say in Superbad) hearing the Beatles for the first time.

There are perhaps no two guys who appear as in control of the entire dynamic of the game as Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups when they are on offense. Paul a force of nature. The movement never stops, and the paint seems to expand when he enters it. He moves in and out of defensive traps and collapses as if there is a force field around him. There was one time in the second quarter when he drove through the lane, all five Nuggets collapsed in on him, and he was able to fine Rasual Butler for a wide open three. It was incredible. There was no daylight for him to see Butler, and certainly no room for him to make the pass. But, he wasn't even labored. This a routine phenomenon. There is something special about every possession.

While Paul's control was incredible to watch, Billups was master of his domain at the other end. His team began the game cold (Carmelo missed his first 5 shots and didn't hit a field goal until there was 3:40 remaining in the second quarter), but picked up the slack until everyone else fell in line. 5-6 shooting in the first quarter for Billups, 4-4 from beyond the arc and 16 points. It was clear that this would be his night.

I've only seen Denver a few times since the big trade earlier in the season, but it is amazing how much better and more efficient they are with Billups at the helm. And, it's surprising how much more I enjoy watching them. The only guy whose style still reminds me of last year's team is JR Smith, who provides offense off the bench. I think he always has the green light when he is in there, and I think his ability to get up ahead of the defense is valuable. However, his style appears more reckless and cavalier, reminiscent of AI's Nuggets. The new Nuggets are controlled, calculated, and the pieces move as Billups dictates.

But, they still run, and New Orleans needs to do a better job getting back. They didn't struggle with it all game long, but there were lapses that really cost them. There were several times when Denver was able to collect missed Hornets' three point shots and still beat New Orleans down the court. The Hornets did play impressive half-court defense, particularly in the first half. However, when Chauncey can't miss from downtown, it doesn't really matter what you do. 52% on three pointers for the Nuggets, 2 percentage points higher than their field goal percentage (which was also impressive). Just ridiculous. New Orleans shouldn't be discouraged. You don't lose when you shoot 52% from beyond the arc.

Finally, I need to discuss the Birdman. I have heard that he has had a good season, but I didn't actually see it until last night. I've always thought of him more as a leaper with a cult following and less as a legitimate contributor. But, he made a huge impact on the game last night. He ignites the crowd, he brings energy to the floor, and he contests everything that comes to the middle. 4 blocks for the Birdman in 23 minutes. Also, I didn't know until last night that he was the first ever D-League call up in history. Thanks Marv Albert.


Anyways, watch this series. The game beforehand (Atlanta/Miami) only had a margin of victory that was 5 points wider, and somehow that was like watching paint dry and this was like sipping a fine beer. I guess it's more about the talent and less about the outcome.

Now, I must go and watch the Cs hang a 20 point victory on Chicago.

Day 2

Don't say I didn't warn you about Houston.


On deck for today:





Jazz at Lakers, 3:00

True Blue Jazz: Yeah, so most people seem to have no hope in the Jazz. Be you a Lakers fan hoping for a sweep, a "famous" person... aka, a mainstream media guy... predicting the Lakers in 5 or 6 or a Jazz fan hoping the Jazz don't get totally embarrassed, you'd have to say/admit things don't look good for the Jazz. They've been struggling for the last bit, both at home and on the road (though that's a season-long issue). Injuries come and go, tensions may be rising, the coach may be giving up (or just trying to goad the team), the players may be packing for the off-season (and a new home?), etc. That, though, is what it is. And it'll all be dealt with at some point. Right now though, the main thing ahead is the first round playoff series with the Lakers.




Forum Blue and Gold: The Lakers have mismatches all over the place to exploit in this series. If they are smart, they should score plenty.

That starts inside in the paint. Mehmet Okur cannot keep Andrew Bynum off the low block or alter his shot in close, and Pau Gasol has a huge size advantage inside. We saw this some in the last regular season meeting between these two. When isolated, Boozer (especially a hobbled Boozer) was virtually helpless on Gasol. There are members of the Jazz — AK-47 — that love to come from the weak-side and block shots — Gasol and Bynum need to be aware and be ready to give up the ball.

The other big problem for the Jazz is at the two — Ronnie Brewer cannot slow Kobe Bryant. In the first two games this season against the Jazz, he averaged 38 points a game. Again, the Jazz can do things to bring help, but that leaves other players open if the Lakers share the ball.


Roomofzen Note: The Lakers are your 2009 NBA champions. Get the broom out.








76ers at Magic, 5:00


Liberty Ballers: We all know the Magic are a thousand times better on paper. We all know they have Dwight Howard. And we all know what the Sixers need to do to win. (3-point differential, defensive rebounding and free throws.) So, instead of polluting your minds with more useless numbers and strategies, I'm simply going to tell you in a couple sentences how excited I am, and leave you with a few YouTube clips to get you pumped!

How excited am I? As excited as I've ever been to watch a basketball game. Need I say more? On the flip side, I'm as nervous as a 6-year old school boy about to ask his secret crush if she wants to share a bag of cheddar fries. I think the game will go one of two ways -- good or bad -- there's no in between.

Don't ask me why I have faith in this 41-win Sixers team who has disappointed me time after time this season, because I won't have an answer. There's just something a special about this group of guys, and the sky's the limit.



Third Quarter Collapse: The book on the Orlando Magic this season is that they're a one-dimensional, three-point shooting team that struggles to win when their threes aren't falling: In a post called "Die By It," Depressed Fan points out that Orlando shoots 40.5% from three-point range in its wins and 31.5% in its losses. While I don't believe their fortunes are inextricably tied to the three-point shot, it is indeed an important part of their offense, to say the least.

And it will be even more important in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando's biggest advantage over Philadelphia is its ability to bomb away from beyond the arc. In the regular season, Orlando averaged 10 made treys per game, while Philly averaged just 4. If those figures hold up in the postseason, the Sixers will have to make up for an 18-point deficit from the perimeter alone. That's a tall order, especially against Orlando's elite defense.



Roomofzen Note: Goddamit! The Celtics were supposed to get Philly. How did this all go so wrong?









Heat at Hawks


Peninsula is Mightier: "The Heat's interior defenders will need to be wary of the Hawks tendency of over-driving. They get to the foul line a fair amount (25.4 free throws/gm during the regular season), but shot only 73% as a team, good for 28th (3rd worse) in the NBA.

Staying on the subject, should the Hawks get into foul trouble, expect coach Mike Woodson to go to his bench quickly. Apparently, he has a deep fear of his players fouling out and will go to great lengths to avoid that at all costs.

The Hawks big guys (Al Horford and Josh Smith) can get into foul trouble, and the primary backup for them is Zaza Pachulia, who isn't as good a defender as his aforementioned teammates. Attacking the rim and getting to the foul line should be a key point on the Heat's dry-erase board at practice.

Dwyane Wade has never lost a 1st round series when healthy, and he is very healthy. I'm just sayin..."


Peachtree Hoops: Outside of Bibby and Marvin, the Hawks have a tendency to lock in on shooting. Whether it is methodical penetration by Joe or under control back down by Al or "I might as well be blind folded" drive by Josh or Zaza, the Hawks tend to get tunnel vision. Sometimes this is ok. It works for the Hawks. They can draw fouls. They can out athlete a lot of guys at the end. Of course, I wish there was more ball movement, more cutting to the basket, but that is not just going to start happening at this point in the season.

Which means the Dwayne Wade help block could come to the front and center of this series. Rarely is someone that athletic, that quick, also that good at blocking shots. He can slip down off his man in half a step. Hawks players cannot feel satisfied with simply beating their man. Dwayne Wade will be lurking.


Roomofzen Note: I'll be rooting for Miami. I picked them to win and the more Dwayne Wade I can see, the better. Beasley, don't make me look bad!






Hornets at Nuggets, 10:30


Hornets 24/7: "First, expect some cross matching in the backcourts as both teams prefer to keep their best defender on the opposing team's point guard. Dahntay Jones will open defensively on Chris Paul, while Billups slips over to handle Rasual Butler. Vice versa, Rasual Butler will open defensively on Billups, with Paul taking Dahntay.................................................One interesting thing to note is that Chauncey Billups is perfectly in Rasual Butler's wheelhouse defensively, being rather slow and easy to defend on the drive because of Butler's length. In four games this season against the Hornets, Butler has held Billups to 35% shooting from the field and 32% shooting from deep while Billups has only earned .5 free throws more per game due to the defensive pressure. Billups has also only managed 4.8 assists per game. I expect more of the same as Butler sticks to him like glue."


Pickaxe and Roll: Chris Paul is their team. Denver took to trapping him off screens and it has worked beautifully so far. Paul averages just 3 turnovers a game, but against the Nuggets he's averaged 5.3 turnovers a game and that's his highest rate of slip ups against any team. Paul has averaged 20.8 points and 11 assists against the Nuggets this season. He shoots 81% from the foul line and likes to get there any way he can. Paul will work the refs as much as he can and has a knack for being able to initiate contact and draw calls. If Denver can corral Paul in this series the Nuggets can win it in 5 games. If Paul has his way the Hornets will be almost impossible to beat.


Roomofzen Note: Who cares who wins, I just want it to go as long as possible.


I'll computerless until Tuesday, but will be in the Garden tomorrow night. Enjoy the games everyone.

Foil in the Oven: Eyes On The Road

Hopefully this will be just what the Celtics need to get focused.


Look, this was a great game, and that's why you should feel good if you're a Celtics fan. Some analysts are saying it was the greatest opening playoff game they can remember, which is strange because I just found it incredibly frustrating. Really, with the way they were playing, the Celtics had no business being in this one. They could not have played worse. And yet, they were one missed free throw away from taking it.

Really, think about that game. Ray Allen turned in one of the worst performances of his career. 1-12 shooting, 4 points, and uncharacteristically sloppy play. Ray missed a dunk! Ray Allen, who is smoother than a fucking silk diaper on a baby's ass, clanged a dunk. Overall, 4-16 from beyond the arc yesterday for the Celtics, who were the the league's top three point shooting team this season. No mystery here, the Celtics struggle when they don't shoot well (see rough January stretch after Christmas loss to Lakers).


Glen Davis only had 3 rebounds, and that makes it hard to feel good about his scoring. The C's were outrebounded in this one (the margin was only 8 but it seemed like more). Leon Powe went virtually unnoticed, which can't happen if we are going to have any hope of making it to the Cavs.

Defensively, this was a lazy, uninspired nightmare. They were horrible in transition, and Joakim Noah reaped the benefits. Derrick Rose pushed the tempo, and the Celtics had no answer. They couldn't keep Rose in front of them, and they really struggled against the pick and roll (I'm sure they heard about that from KG immediately). I'm not too concerned here. Tom Thibodeau will make adjustments.


OK, so this was a full-blown disaster. The Celtics struggled in all areas. And, Derrick Rose turned in a perfect game. And yet, if Paul Pierce hits his last free throw with 2 seconds left, the Celtics take the game. When you take all of that into account, how could you be worried? Disappointed? Of course. That was a pretty anti-climactic way to start off the playoffs, particularly at home. If this were March Madness, we'd be devastated. But, it's not. It's a 7 game series, and I don't think the Bulls can pull this off again.


Some final loose thoughts:

- The one pleasant aspect of this matchup was watching Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo go at each other. Brilliant performances turned in by both of these guys. I can't even count how many times in the fourth quarter Rose made me say to myself "jesus, there is no fucking way we are beating this guy today." He played a perfect game.


- I am probably in the minority here, but I was impressed with Stephon Marbury's ten minutes. He was finding good, open looks for his teammates. They just weren't knocking them down.


- Kirk Hinrich is still impressive to watch defensively. He kept Rondo in front of him, and he even did a good job on Pierce.

- The Bulls, in general, did a good job denying Pierce the ball. He kept getting the ball outside the three point line. This is going to have to be remedied. In particular, they need to figure out how to get Paul the ball down low when Hinrich is on him.

- Derrick Rose shooting free throws with ten seconds left on an off the ball foul.........questionable. I might not be bringing it up if Bennett Salvatore was not officiating (we know he has NO PROBLEM putting guys on the line at the end of big games), or if Rondo hadn't chased down a loose ball and been clobbered by three Bulls without a whistle, or if a travel call on Salmons hadn't just been reversed. Whatever, I said it. The Celtics didn't deserve the win, so I'm not blaming anybody. But, it had to be said.

Day 1: All Rise

Check out my playoff predictions here.


Before we begin the celebration, a reading from the book of Halberstam:

"It was clear at the end of the season that he would not be coming back. He and Snyder had a meeting. 'I think we should change coaches,' Snyder said. 'I think we should too,' Ramsay said. 'How do we do it?' Snyder asked. Ramsay sensed immediately that it was a question of the deferred money and that Snyder wanted him to quit in anger so that he could avoid paying it. 'Well, I think you should go ahead and announce that there's going to be a coaching change," he said.

So it was that Jack Ramsay left Buffalo, neither fired nor rehired. Stu Inman, looking for a coach, had seen the final game of the Washington playoff series, and asked Ramsay about coming to Portland. The first thing Ramsay thought of was not how far west Portland was, it was no longer near Japan; the first thing he thought of was that Bill Walton played there and Walton lived by speed."

--Breaks of the Game.


Here's to new beginnings everybody.







Today's Festivities:





Chicago at Boston, 12:30


Celticsblog: "Just in case the world hasn't met Rajon Rondo yet, they are about to get a steady dose of reminders that the kid is grown up. Its no longer about "potential" with Rondo. He is, hands down, one of the best point guards in the game. He can dominate a game without taking a shot outside of 3 feet but don't look now, he's also adding that 12 foot jumper that everyone said he needed. Rondo's already a star, it just may take these playoffs for everyone to notice."


Celtics Hub: "Can the Bulls stop the Celtics? I don’t see it. Derrick Rose cannot guard Rajon Rondo, and nobody on the Bulls can guard Paul Pierce–especially not with John Salmons nursing a gimpy groin. The Bulls starting shooting guard, Ben Gordon, is not tall enough at 6′3” to effectively check Ray Allen. Perk could average 12 points a game given the size advantage he’s going to have and his recent uptick in offensive activity; he averaged 11-9 in March, a career month, and he’s only slowed down a bit this month. He’s put up a KG-esque 16-9 against Chicago this year. I mean this sincerely: Perk can be a weapon in this series."



Blog a Bull: "So while we've seen in the past where Thomas and Noah are completely thrown off their games against Garnett, this series can provide a chance for them to finally give it to the Celtics. For Noah to crash the offensive glass instead of picking up fouls. For Thomas to force the Celtics to foul him instead of settling for a jumper while Tom Thibodeau grins.

Both have made strides this season, though it wasn't exactly a breakout campaign for either, and questions remain in terms of how they can handle themselves against the elite teams. But Noah's certainly gotten stronger (literally, even) after a bad offseason and start to the year, and Thomas keeps showing more and more reasons to even consider not trading him for Amare Stoudemire, which is more than can be said the season prior. Thomas in particular can really raise his status with a great playoff performance."


Roomofzen note: respect Perk or get your feelings hurt.





Detroit at Cleveland, 3:00


Cavs News: "The point is that even when the Pistons were a legitimate contender they never had much success guarding James—and this year’s Pistons are not nearly as good defensively (or offensively) as the 2006 and 2007 versions were, while the Cavs clearly have a much more talented and deeper roster than they did back then. The Pistons still have a fine midrange shooter (Richard Hamilton), a good wing defender (Tayshaun Prince) and their rotation of bigs—including Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell—can do some damage but overall the Pistons do not match up well with the Cavs, who won three of the four regular season meetings. Detroit’s lone victory against Cleveland came all the way back on November 19 and the since banished Allen Iverson played a prominent role, scoring 23 points on 8-16 shooting; that was during a stretch when Detroit won four out of five games–including victories over the Cavs and Lakers—by featuring Iverson and Rasheed Wallace in screen/roll actions that were very tough to defend: give Iverson space and he would jet to the hoop but give Wallace space and he would drain three pointers (3-6 from long range versus Cleveland in that game).

Fortunately for the Cavs, the Pistons inexplicably abandoned the idea of using Iverson effectively, tried to turn him into a sixth man and later asked him to stay away from the team for the rest of the season. With Iverson out of the picture, young guards Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum have to shoulder heavy responsibilities, though Prince or Hamilton can also assume some playmaking duties."



Need4Sheed: "I have my own bright spots here and there like the surprising and refreshing play of Will Bynum, the heart and determination of Antonio McDyess, Rip Hamilton’s return to the starting lineup, the defense of Arron Afflalo and iron man Tayshaun Prince, but all those things just don’t add up to what it takes to beat (and I hate saying this) a powerhouse like the Cavs.

The Cavs are 66-15 and have won 18 of their last 20, and like I mentioned before have lost just one at home. The series starts with the first two games in Cleveland. LeBron has dominated Detroit in the playoffs and to this day he’s responsible for my worst memory of the Palace (remember that fateful game 5). Add in the Cavs defense, the calls they get and it’s a recipe for disaster."


Roomofzen note: Pistons will lose game 1 by double digits and then steal game 2. That's their style.







Dallas at San Antonio, 8:00


Mavs Moneyball: "The Mavs are peaking in only one way: Their offense has evolved into such a deadly weapon that it is overcoming troublesome weaknesses on defense. As you look at the last ten games of the season, it is clear that Rick Carlisle has achieved what Mavs fans desperately needed after the last three playoff series: An offense that is not only potent but varied in its attack and difficult to stop even with the preparation you see in a seven game series.The Mavs are not peaking at all on defense. They are better than they were during the entire season, but they are just as inconsistent and far from dominant or even very good. This has been hidden by the devastating effectiveness of the Mavs offense, but make no mistake: The defensive flaws are still there."



Pounding the Rock: "But the facts remain that the Mavs, those stupid, ugly, dirty, foul-mouthed, devil-worshiping, gun-running, heroin-trafficking, Ozone-ruining, wife-beating, animal-abusing, child-pornography viewing, non-recycling, Grisham-reading, drunk-driving, seal-clubbing, Holocaust-denying, binge-eating, Taliban-supporting, ESPN-viewing, GOP-voting, puppy-murdering, Christian rock-listening, reality television-loving, Jagermeister drinking* Mavs are relatively healthy while my Spurs are without the services of one Emanuel David Ginóbili, our talisman, fourth quarter savior and resident force of nature.

While Ginóbili has spent most of this season in a jacket, delighting crowds with his comic timing and romantic flair, he’s generally been more valuable in the past as a postseason assassin. In losing him the Spurs are missing their only penetrator besides Parker, their peskiest defensive playmaker, their most clutch free throw shooter and just a guy who manages to make the momentum turning play more often than not. We at PtR would contemplate sacrificing a carnal evening with Mila Kunis for a healthy Manu Ginóbili (in the end we’d still probably opt for the former, but at least we’d have contemplated it)."



Roomofzen note: Any team that sent Devin Harris and two first-round picks away for Jason Kidd in the twilight of his career does deserve to get out of the first round. I believe this with every fiber of my being.








Houston at Portland, 10:30

Blazers Edge: "The problem for the Blazers is the Rockets have more experience, more defense, and more potential for physically punishing play. If this series is only going to be ground and pound it looks good for Houston. Portland cannot and should not abandon the high percentage offense, interior bulwark defense, and strong rebounding style that got them this far. But the Blazers need to throw in some tempo-changing wrinkles of the variety we saw late in the regular season. They cannot simply walk the ball up, try to match their offense against a set Houston defense, allow Houston to do the same at the other end, and expect to sustain an advantage. Here's the mantra from the Blazers' end of things for this series:
'The slower we go, the faster we lose.'"



The Dream Shake: "Yao Ming struggles with one brand of center: a small, agile post player with a low center of gravity and quick feet. Luckily, Portland suits up two giant slow people in Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla. While Oden and the Pryz may be solid low-post defenders and great shot-blockers, they play the kind of old-school, post-on-post defense that Yao thrives against. No post player in the NBA has a better post move arsenal than the Ming Dynasty, and his will be on full display for the duration of the series.

Brandon Roy is one of the best young talents in The Association, but Houston has two shutdown defenders in Shane Battier and Ron Artest that serve as the perfect remedy for Roy. Remember, in the first meeting, Roy was guarded by an ailing Tracy McGrady, and was able to have a good game. This time around, he’s going to struggle with not one, but two premier perimeter defenders known collectively as "White Pills" rotating on and off of him."


Roomofzen note: I really think the matchups favor Houston in this one, which is why I picked the Rockets to win this series. The game that Dream Shake mentions, in which T-Mac attempted (in his own special way) to defend Brandon Roy was THE ONLY game in which the Blazers defeated the Rockets this season. And, they needed Roy to hit an improbably buzzer-beater to pull it off. I know everyone is high as can be on Portlant right now, but I just don't see it. Houston will advance.

One More Night: Chris Paul and Tyson Chanler Run the Pick and Roll to Perfection

As I did last year, I will be rooting wildly for the Hornets to advance as far as they possibly can. With Tyson Chandler making a successful return in their final regular season game, they have once again become must-see tv. I am going to have my DVR on standby to make sure I do not miss a second of their first round matchup with Denver. I suggest all of you do the same. New Orleans may not get out of round 1, and we all want to see as much of this as possible:



warning: if you experience an erection lasting longer than four hours, please seek immediate medical attention

Foil in The Oven Returns: Playoff Predictions

"I don't need your fucking sympathy, man. I need my fucking johnson"

--The Dude

I woke up this morning being 26 years old for the first time. That, in itself, is a lot to deal with. By the time we hit ten o'clock, I was trying to somehow make sense of the announcement that not only was Kevin Garnett not playing in round 1 of the playoffs, but he was most likely out for the entire postseason. I had resigned myself to the fact that he just needed rest. I didn't see this coming. Then, around 3:00, the news comes that John Madden is retiring from broadcoasting. I, personally, would have appreciated a little notice before his last game. By 5 o'clock tonight, Danny Ainge had suffered a heart attack. The guy is in great shape. And, he's only 50. I'm now more than halfway there. Needless to say, this was a very complicated day. A lot of ins, a lot of outs, a lot of what have yous. Fortunately, we've been adhering to a pretty strict drug regiment here to keep our minds, you know, limber.


I can't speak fully to the KG injury right now. All I can really say is that I have never been anywhere near this deflated by an sports injury. If there are any Patriots fans out there (so pretty much 3/4 of our readers), please leave some comments about how this stacks up against the Brady injury.

The one thing I was finally able to arrive at that gave me the strength to push on with my day and pump out these predictions was this:

at least this didn't happen last year.

Really, can you imagine how devastating this would have been last year? It's not much, but for now it's all I've got.

So, let's not wait any longer. Here are the picks (the West picks are without comment because I certainly don't watch enough of the West to say anything meaningful).




ROUND 1

EAST

Cleveland vs. Detroit:

The Pistons gave up on this season the minute they sent Chauncey Billups to Denver. They were, of course, open to the possibility of catching lightning in a bottle with AI, but more than anything this move was about Joe Dumars conceding that his group was no longer good enough to make it out of the East. As things currently stand, with a record below .500 and AI literally paying no dividends on the court (I hope this ungraceful exit is not the last we see of him), the question now becomes not who will win this series, but what type of series it will be.

The Pistons have played the Cavs tough this season. Rasheed Wallace has gone on the record as saying that he expects his team to re-gain their swagger once the post-season begins. I do believe in Detroit’s veteran leadership. I believe in the power of their home crowd and in their ability on defense to make LeBron James have to beat them all on his own. However, I also believe I’ve seen him do that before. Since then, he’s gotten better and Detroit has gotten worse.

The pick: Cleveland in 6.





Boston vs. Chicago:

This Bulls team is not the matchup I wanted for round 1. They really improved themselves at the trade deadline, and they've had the look over the past month of a team that could shake up the post-season. All that being said, they have no shot here. If they were a legitimate threat, they would have beaten Toronto last night (the news about KG wasn't out yet, they had something real to play for) at home. The absence of Luol Deng means big production for Paul Pierce. Kendrick Perkins will swallow Joakim Noah. Derrick Rose had a great season, but Rajon Rondo has blossomed into one of the league's premiere point guards. The Celtics have the advantage in every matchup.

The pick: Boston in 6






Orlando vs. Philadelphia:

There is no way Philly takes this series. They have no answer for Dwight Howard and don't have anybody that can shoot, which should translate to a lot of easy buckets in transition off of missed shots for the Magic. The Sixers are also horrendous in the half court, and Orlando’s ball movement should lead to a lot of good looks both on the interior and from long range.

I wanted to actually analyze the matchup here, but all I really needed to do was point out that the Celtics beat Philly on Tuesday night without KG or Ray Allen, and that it took overtime for the Sixers to knock off Cleveland’s athletic training staff last night.

The Pick: Orlando in 5







Hawks vs. Heat:

These should be great games to watch, regardless of the score is when you flip to them. It’s hard not to get excited about a team as athletic as the Hawks facing off against Dwayne Wade. I really want to take Miami here. I think that D-Wade has been just as spectacular as LeBron this season. I’m also excited to see how Michael Beasley performs in his first playoff series. If he is able to elevate his level of play, he could give his team the edge. Miami has really impressed me over the second half of the season. However, while most of the national media has been ignoring the Hawks, they have been playing incredibly consistent basketball. It’s hard not to give Atlanta the edge when you weigh the matchups. The Wade/Johnson matchup will be great to see, and I will be interested to see how much Miami gets out of Jermaine O'Neal. This is hands down the toughest one to pick, so I’m going with my gut:

Even though it doesn’t make sense: Heat in 6.







ROUND 1
WEST (ABRIDGED):

Lakers over Jazz in 4:

Nuggets over Hornets in 7: Note: I don't want to miss one minute of this series.

Houston over Portland in 6:- I know people are saying "nobody wants to catch Portland right now", but I think Ron Artest provides Houston with the mentality they need to advance to round 2.

San Antonio over Dallas in 6:







ROUND 2: EAST

Cleveland over Miami:

Regardless of whether they see Atlanta or Miami, I wouldn't be surprised to see Cleveland coast in round 2. Detroit is a tougher matchup.

The pick: Cavs in 5.





Boston over Orlando:

I'm not sold on Orlando, and there is nothing they can do against Philadelphia that will convince me otherwise. I can't help but wonder if the people who wrote them in as championship contenders last month have been paying any attention at all to what has been happening this month. They were certainly impressive in March (12-2), but they have come crashing back down to Earth in April (4-5 this month, including losses to Toronto, New York, New jersey, and an 18 point loss to the Bucks).

On March 25th, the Magic defeated Boston by 2, and moved the Celtics down to third place in the East. This was the last game in which Kevin Garnett was able to play (and his role was very limited). Leon Powe, Tony Allen, and Brian Scalabrine were all out as well. How could Orlando not have held on to that 2 seed? It's inexplicable. They are not contenders.

Kendrick Perkins will be the key to Boston's success in this series, as he is the NBA's premier Dwight Howard stopper. Throw in the fact that there are serious questions about the health of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, Boston is tough at home, and that there isn't anybody on the Magic capable of defending Paul Pierce, and this all adds up to a victory for the Cs.

The pick: Celtics in 7







WEST ROUND 2 (Abridged)


Lakers over Rockets in 5:

Spurs over Nuggets in 6:








Eastern Conference Finals:

Cavaliers over Celtics: There are many out there who say that the Cavs win this series even if it involves a healthy KG. I'm not one of those people. I think the Cavs are flawed, and I've felt all season long like the Celtics were the superior team. The two games the Cavs took from Boston this year were, in my opinion, two of the most uncharacteristically bad performances the Celtics turned in all season. Easter Sunday's performance was the worst (Pierce 4-17, totally flat performance, shooting 35% as a team). The statistics in these performances indicate that the Celtics would have lost to most NBA teams on these days. When they play at a level more aligned with their season averages, they have beaten Cleveland twice, including once with Kevin Garnett out.


So, just to clarify, if the Celtics were coming into this series with Kevin Garnett healthy, they would win. They simply have too much front line depth (KG, Perk, Big Baby, Leon, Mikki Moore) for Cleveland to handle.

But, we're dealing with reality here, and the reality is that I can't pick the Celtics to win this series. On paper, the Cavs seem harmless. Mo Williams? really? That's the other big gun? Delonte West? Don't try that shit with me. I'm well aware of what he can and can't do. When you look at the roster, and then you see how much LeBron is able to raise the level at which all of these guys play, you can't help but cast your MVP vote for anybody else. And, believe me, I'd like to.

The pick: Cleveland in 6





Western Conference Finals (abridged):

Lakers over Spurs in 5.








NBA Finals:

Lakers over Cavs in 5.

This is the Lakers' year, and nothing LeBron James does can change that. The Cavs will be totally outmatched in this series. There is no way they can compete with a front line of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. Number 24 is pretty good too. Even though he hasn't averaged so few points per game since 2004, I've never been more in awe of him.

Doc Says KG To Miss Playoffs

Perhaps I spoke too soon yesterday. This is why it's important to enjoy these championships when they come. Playoff Preview will be up either tonight or tomorrow. Needless to say, all my predictions need to be reconsidered.

Sleep With One Eye Open.

From Ferrante today:

"I love that people are sleeping on the Celts. Think about it, this team went 14-7 without KG, that’s a 67% winning percentage and translates to 55 wins over a whole regular season. Plus that includes mostly no Tony Allen and no Scalabrine (at all), 12 games without Leon, and a few games without Big Baby. If this team can win 2/3 of its games without its most important player and a host of its frontcourt out, then they are capable of big things when everyone is in the game. Plus I really think Marbury has gotten a lot better and Mikki Moore can be effective playing if people get in foul trouble, etc."

And, let us not forget that included in that 14-7 KGless stretch was an 11 point victory over the Cavaliers.

Let us also not forget that there were 2 close losses (Utah and Orlando) that the Celtics most likely would have won had they had full access to KG's services.

Perhaps I should be more concerned about KG's health, but I'm not. I realize that there are a lot of miles on that knee. But, the guy is a world-class athlete, and I just have a hard time believing that a knee strain is the end result of his long, intense career. It doesn't fit. If he blew it out, or something was broken or torn, then maybe I'd question his ability to get back to his old self. But, I just think people are being paranoid about this.

Think back to when the Cs started the season 27-2. If I told you back then that KG would miss more than a quarter of the season, and that Tony Allen, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, and Scal would all miss significant time (not terribly significant in Big Baby's case), what would you have put their win total at? Probably right around 50. And yet, they have managed to win over 60 games. If you're sleeping on this team, then you're crazy.


A more extensive playoff preview to come.

Rose vs. Beasley Revisited

One of the more heated debates at Room of Zen was before the 2008 draft about whether the Bulls should take Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. I think it is fair to say that round one of this ongoing debate goes to us in the Rose camp, and decisively so. I will pick on Larocque here because he was the most outspoken proponent of Beasley, but after watching them both play in the NBA, I simply cannot foresee Beasley ever being considered a better player than Rose. I won't go into the stats analysis because they are both rookies, but anybody who watched Rose play saw a future superstar who can drive by anybody in the league and will be lethal when he develops a consistent jump shot. After seeing Beasley play, I will be surprised if he lives up to the potential of Elton Brand, who was the player I compared him to at the time. At least Brand tries on defense sometimes. I saw Beasley play a handful of times and he seemed to simply not care at the defensive end of the court. He is a great scorer, but plays the kind of defense that will kill his team. I don't want to go into detail on this and the argument is far from over, but round one goes to team Rose. Here is a link that highlights how Rose was clearly the best rookie this year:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=ROY-0809

Billy Bob Thornton...Lets Get Awkward

This takes the cake for most awkward interview of 2009. Far more awkward than LaRocque and I watching a Celtics-Jazz game while attempting to podcast...however, we are planning a three part interview of Stratton this summer touching on the French Revolution.

Embrace the Long Weekend: Where My Blood Type Becomes Busch Light

There's a lot to look forward this weekend. I guess there is good friday tomorrow, which is convenient since there will also be my bachelor party and Dwayne Wade is coming to town. I will make up for my sins by wearing sandals for the entire day. And, as if that wasn't enough, the C's make a crucial trip to Cleveland on Easter Sunday for an afternoon showdown with LeBron. It's fucking great to be alive people.

If they're smart, they will listen to this song repeatedly in this format on the bus ride to Cleveland (bus ride to Cleveland? flight to Cleveland? Who knows these days) :