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Archive for Rants and Raves
January 5, 2010 at 11:09 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under NBA, Rants and Raves
Each year at the beginning and end of the season, games mostly go according to form. The good teams beat the bad teams, with decent squads fighting it out in between. However, wacky things always happen in December and January, with uncharacteristic upsets seeming unusually common. In only the past week and a half, the Magic lost to the Pacers and Bulls, the Cavs dropped one at home to the Bobcats, the Celtics were beaten by both the Clippers and Warriors, the Hawks lost at home to the Knicks and got blown out by the Heat, and the Lakers almost fell to the Kings (twice).
Now, there are several reasons as to why this occurs. The NBA season is so long that even though the players are professionals, it’s hard for them to bring maximum effort every night. For the league’s best teams, it’s difficult to get fired up emotionally for every game, especially if you consistently blow out your opponents. For example, when Pau Gasol returned from injury the Lakers won 16 of 17 games by around 13 points per contest. Then they had several tough battles against poor teams. Not to mention that the top franchises always receive their opponents’ utmost, as everyone wants to knock down the champs.
Furthermore, teams have to account for nagging injuries and poor shooting nights. Coaches may start to rest star players to keep them fresh for the playoffs. These are some of the valid explanations for mid-season slip-ups.
But how about another theory that may never have been posited before? How about the SAD theory? I know this sounds a bit goofy, but SAD is actually an acronym standing for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a medically recognized mood disorder. It is caused by, among other things, a decrease in melatonin due to less sunlight during the winter months, and it is characterized by depressive symptoms.
For those of you who think SAD is a bunch of BS, I can attest to its legitimacy. I experienced it myself during the first real week of winter my freshman year at Columbia. Growing up on the West Coast, I was shocked by how brutal it could be, and I spent a good week not leaving my dorm, not changing out of my pajamas, and not eating anything but Chinese delivery. (Thank god for lunch specials.) People who know me know that I am almost always extremely happy. So SAD was a surprise to me and them, and SAD exists.
Can’t SAD, then, explain some of the ostensibly unexplainable outcomes at this point in the NBA season? One night Kobe might rather read a book than a defense. One week LeBron might rather dunk cookies than basketballs. One month Dwight might rather watch Seinfeld reruns than Grunfeld’s team run. If any of these things happen, losses to worse squads don’t seem so surprising.
Players would never admit it, but maybe sometimes they’re just down, just SAD. In a league filled with athletes so competitive and skilled, the slightest deficit in energy and intensity could be enough to turn an easy win into a disconcerting loss.
November 5, 2009 at 2:06 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under NBA, Rants and Raves
Breaking news: Glen Davis has aspirations to be like Mike. The strange thing is that he isn’t trying to emulate Air Jordan on the hardwood. Instead, the injured Celtics’ forward also wants to make a mid-career sport switch, Chris Broussard reports.
But he’s not headed to the baseball diamond. No, Big Baby believes he has a future on the gridiron.
So will that make him Big Runningbaby? Big Quarterbaby? He doesn’t seem to care. “It don’t matter,” he said. “I just want to play.”
We at Ballershorts are not interested in Davis’ ability to succeed in the NFL. We are concerned with how this announcement will impact his current job. Don’t worry, he’s not planning to leave anytime soon. The 23-year-old intends to become an NBA All-Star before making his move. However, there will probably be earlier ramifications.
Davis’ contract runs for two more years, at which point he will be evaluated differently if teams take this football goal seriously. Would someone risk a long-term deal with significant guaranteed money on a player who could potentially bolt for the NFL? I guess they could add a contract clause that insures against such a maneuver, but teams would still be wary of giving any big bucks to someone who is questionably committed to the cause.
Front offices might also reconsider Davis’ place on a roster. GMs don’t like to have players with “character issues” as building blocks of their squads. While Davis doesn’t have those types of problems, a possible desertion could be viewed in the same light. Even if he does develop All-Star caliber, teams would most likely rather take in a veteran completely focused on hoops or develop a promising young guy. They might not want to become dependent on Davis for fear of him leaving them in the lurch. (Don’t you think Chicago might have made some provisions if they had known about Jordan’s departure?)
For Davis, this could mean less money and a less prominent position. On the other hand, he could then be a potential steal for an NBA franchise. A team could nab Big Baby for cheap as a quality role player, a similar situation to, hmm, what the Celtics did this year with Rasheed Wallace?
Then again, two years is a long time, especially in a sports world that produces a scandal a second. By the time Davis is negotiating a new deal, his statements may have long faded into the obscure recesses of memory. Or maybe he’ll already be receiving offers from the Patriots.
November 4, 2009 at 2:51 am · by bteitelbaum · Filed under NBA, Rants and Raves
My ongoing endeavor to incorporate overalls into my costume for 10 consecutive years aside, Ballershorts deserves some Halloween love. I know that the spooktacular holiday is, like, sooo last weekend, but I’m a big fan of extending celebrations as long as possible. Ever since my freshman floormate turned his birthday into the eight days of Shaunuka, I have tried to take full advantage and more of every festivity. Eating matzah pizza in June? C’mon, we’re finally free!
The first week of the NBA season has surely seen it’s share of scary, such as Charlotte’s shooting and Phil Jackson’s accidental finger food, but there has also been good and plenty of sweet, including the Celtics’ defense and Orlando’s role players. So let’s play a little game called “Trick or Treat:” I’m going to decide whether the following interesting early storylines will develop into continuing trends (Treat) or whether they are merely pretend (Trick).
Chris Bosh putting up MVP-caliber numbers: TREAT
While the Toronto Raptors remain enigmatic, their leading man has simply been dominant, to the tune of 31 points and 15 boards per game. Now it’s time to put the KiBOSH on the idea that his performance will fall off. There are two major reasons for this explosion. First and foremost, he’s playing for a contract here. Bosh is a member of the heralded free agents class of 2010 that includes LeBron and D-Wade, and the man wants to get paid! Over the last couple years there have been questions about his durability and heart. He wants to repudiate any naysayers and land a maximum deal. Furthermore, he is surrounded by better shooters than in years past, which gives him more room to operate in the paint and pinch post. Of course his numbers through three games are ungodly, but expect 25 and 12.
The Houston Rockets winning 75% of their games: TRICK
I’m honestly very impressed by their play thus far, as I had anticipated them getting destroyed by the good teams in the West. However, before long the victories will stop coming this quickly. Firstly, the Rockets’ style is not conducive to winning consistently throughout a long NBA season. They are undersized and less skilled than most teams, so they win by fighting and scrapping and hustling. Over the long haul, that wears you down, especially if you don’t have go-to guys to get you through tough situations and close calls. Additionally, Houston is arguably the squad most different from last year; Right now they are without Yao, TMac, and Artest, who were by far the three most important offensive players. Some may argue that there should be an adjustment period for these Rockets, but I contend that that is more significant for their opponents. At the moment this Houston team is an unpredictable, unknown quantity. The NBA is a league of such scouting and preparation. As the collection of film and statistics grows, the competition will have an increasingly easier time. Lastly, the Rockets are shooting 45% from behind the arc – Trevor Ariza in particular is burning down the house, hitting 52% and over 3 per game – which will doubtlessly decline. Teams just don’t stay that hot for an entire year. I predict 43 wins, give or take.
Derrick Rose’s sophomore slump: TRICK
Rose and his Bulls have struggled a bit at the outset, and Derrick’s numbers are down across the board. But don’t be fooled! Rose had an ankle injury that cost him much of the preseason and isn’t yet completely healed. Moreover, Chicago is a very different team without Ben Gordon and with a revamped Luol Deng. As soon as Rose is back to full speed and this Chicago squad jells, he’ll once again be the dangerous playmaker he was last year.
Boston winning more games than the rest of the Atlantic Division: TREAT
To give you perspective, if the Celtics were to win 65 games, the 76ers, Knicks, Nets, and Raptors would have to average a measly 16 wins in order for this outcome to occur. So no, I don’t think it will actually happen. But it might be the closest we’ll ever get. This Boston team is playing out of its mind. You’ve heard of shutting the door defensively, right? Well these guys have had theirs closed and bolted all year. They might not even have a door at all. Not to mention they’re getting offensive contributions from everywhere. Tonight Garnett and Allen totaled 8 points and they still won by 31 against Philly! Are you kidding me? I guess having Shelden Williams as a backup big man is enough. While Doc Rivers’ crew is rolling, the other four teams seem mired in mud. New Jersey looks almost as bad as Elton Brand, and New York recently lost to a team shooting 36% on the year. On the bright side, the 76ers, Raptors, and Knicks are all averaging at least 105 points per game. Too bad they’re all allowing at least 109 and a half. Final shakeout: Boston – 68 wins, others – 84. Close but no cigar.
Spurs winning while Duncan barely scores: TRICK
Would you have ever believed it if I would have told you before the season that the Spurs would start 2-1, with Tim Duncan scoring 28 points in their loss but less than 10 in their two wins? Believe it now. Yes, ladies and gentleman, Duncan has scored 16 total points in San Antonio’s two victories. Here’s the argument for why the Spurs can win this year with modest offensive output from Timmy. They’re deeper and more talented than they’ve been in years due to offseason additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess. Manu Ginobili’s finally healthy. Tony Parker can lead the team offensively as long as Duncan anchors the defensive end. Here’s why I don’t believe that argument. Firstly, the Spurs’ two victories have come against the abysmal kings and the disheveled Hornets. Neither is an accurate indication of what San Antonio really needs to do this season. Furthermore, San Antonio’s style of play is predicated on efficient half-court offense. Duncan is their only inside scoring threat, and they need his production to maintain necessary balance. I also unfortunately expect Ginobili to go down at some point this year because he plays with such reckless abandon. The Spurs would still be a decent team if Duncan didn’t perform at his former level, but they would not be an elite team. He’s possibly the best power forward in history.
The Lakers’ inconsistent level of play: TREAT
There was chatter this offseason that Los Angeles might make a run at the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ win mark of 72. I didn’t buy it for a second, for the same reasons that I’ve come to expect ostensibly baffling inconsistency. First, complacency. No, I’m not claiming that they aren’t hungry to repeat as champions. What I’m saying is that they know they’re extremely good, and therefore they don’t always give maximum effort against lesser teams. Tonight they were up 13 in the first quarter against the Thunder, but trailed several minutes later. Why? Because they believed that OKC never posed a real threat, which caused them to be lazy on defensive rotations, sloppy with the ball, and negligent on the backboards. They trust too much in being able to “turn it on” at will. Secondly, they’re still figuring things out. There’s the obvious, newcomer Ron Artest’s role, and the less obvious, Andrew Bynum’s evolving abilities and responsibilities. Thirdly, with Pau Gasol out, (and it might be for a while since they just found a partial tear in his hamstring), we are likely to see more of ‘06 Kobe. It’s true that he trusts his teammates now, but Gasol is hands down the one he trusts the most. We just might see Kobe shoot the Lakers into and out of games. Finally, Phil Jackson barely cares about these early season games. He rarely calls timeouts, instead letting the players work out the kinks on the floor, and he throws out some wacky lineups to see what combinations may play well together. At one point against the Clippers, the Laker lineup was DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, and Shannon Brown. Hey, Phil has a pretty good track record of solving things by the end. The Lakers will still win a ton of games and look dominant for stretches, but there will also be plenty of head-scratchers.
Me going 10 years in overalls: TRICK
I would love to have more faith in myself in this arena, but I don’t know if it’s even possible. So far I’ve employed my overalls to dress up as Super Mario, a farmer, and a construction worker. I have ideas for the future, scarecrow for one, but the list isn’t long. I think I’ll make it to at least 5, but I can’t guarantee anything beyond that.
October 27, 2009 at 3:49 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under NBA, Rants and Raves
Last night I dreamed I was a professional wrestler with actual gravity-defying ability. It was pretty sweet. And it got me thinking, not only about seeing a therapist, but also about the NBA. I know, my brain makes strange connections… If nothing else it keeps life interesting. So I started wondering, if the NBA entertained like the WWE – and there are those who unfortunately believe it is just as scripted – what storylines would Commissioner David Stern write into this season? In no specific order, I believe Stern would want…
…Gilbert Arenas to play like 06-07 Arenas on the court and Hibachi/Agent Zero with the media. In the last two years, he’s been under the knife more than a filet mignon, playing only 15 total games and consequently turning the Wizards to ground chuck. In the last two months, the league’s best interview has refused to say anything interesting to reporters, instead claiming that he needs to focus solely on ball. Come on Gil, we need you to perform both on and off the court. Remember, your swag is phenomenal.
…Artest and Kobe to become best friends. Picture this: Uncle Ron, cooking eggs for Natalia and Gianna Bryant in the morning, reading to them before bed, massaging Black Mamba’s feet on the bench at the end of blowout wins. Talk about a rehabbed, yet still unsettling, image.
…D’Antoni’s Knicks to snag the last playoff spot in the East and push the #1 team to 7 games. They’re obviously gonna be fun to watch and they’re finally free from the toxins known as Starbury and Isiah. Could they do what the Warriors did to the Mavs in ‘08? I don’t think so, but it would be great to see them come close.
…at least 10 decent games from Greg Oden, and maybe even 3 double-doubles. Is that too much to ask? Right now he’s probably best known for looking around 20 years older than he really is. Remember that he’s still young, so let’s just see him start down the right path. First pick busts are no good for anybody. (Please Blake Griffin, get healthy soon.)
…the Cavs to either face the Lakers in the Finals or fail to make the postseason. It would be undeniably poetic for Shaq and Kobe to vie for that 5th title while LeBron chases his first. On the other side, a losing season would almost certainly impel King James to jump ship as a free agent this summer. That might mean a move to the Big Apple?!
…LeBron to come up big in the Dunk Contest. It’s been years since a premier wing player has deigned to participate in what has become the most watched event in any pro league’s all-star festivities. We know he throws down with power and grace in games; I just hope he doesn’t get overly ambitious and pull a Birdman.
…several other injury prone players to remain healthy for an entire year. Manu Ginobili, Amare Stoudemire, Gerald Wallace, Michael Redd, and Andrew Bynum are some of the most exciting and crucial players in the league. Their physical status may determine all-star selections, playoff berths, and even championships. I wish I could throw Yao and TMac on this list, but neither one will begin the season active.
…the Thunder to make serious strides. I would venture a guess that OKC has the most secondary fans in the league. That is to say, more people with a vested rooting interest also like Bill Simmons’ Zombie Sonics than any other team. I, for one, love to watch them play. They’re young, dynamic, and have a world of potential. but it is not a foregone conclusion that they will win with more regularity.
…several teams to chase 70 wins. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, and Magic all getting close. They all improved this off-season.
…a highly competitive, fast paced, well played NBA Finals. The finals hasn’t gone 7 games since the 2005 borefest between the Spurs and Pistons. While last year’s entire postseason was dramatic and fun, the last round was rather anticlimactic. I honestly think that this year will be different.
There are also certain specific developments that Stern would be sure to avoid, such as…
…Dirk Nowitzki having another psycho, pregnant, felonious fiance. You just can’t make this stuff up, and it is incredibly intriguing. However, let’s leave those affairs to Letterman and his ilk, as they do not belong in the league. Moreover, I really feel bad for Dirkules; He’s a great player and from all reports a great guy. He didn’t deserve that drama last year, and he definitely doesn’t deserve any more.
…another incident with Charles Barkley. He’s one of the best players in history and commentators in the game today, but he’s divisive enough without the DUIs, gambling problems, etc. Chuck, go ahead and put a whoopee cushion under Kenny’s seat if you want, but don’t go much further.
…Steven Jackson being recognized by the public at all. He’s an idiot, an ingrate, an infection. And he’s not even fun to watch.
…talk about the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations insinuating its way into common conversation. Yes, it’s true there are already murmurs that a lockout might be impending, but there’s no need for them to overshadow great play. Furthermore, the NBA has more talent since the late ’80s, so let’s embrace the positive.
…the refs questionably deciding early games. Keep in mind that the refs missed all of preseason while arbitrating their own contracts. If there are any blown calls, this might become a hot topic. I am of the opinion that refs are doing their job best when they are not noticed or mentioned.
Regardless of Stern’s wishes, this season will doubtless not go according to script. Let’s just hope that whatever happens is magical.
April 20, 2009 at 2:04 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Rants and Raves
This year the Eastern Conference had a Big 3 – Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando – and the rest of the teams were supposed to just be afterthoughts. But after the first games of the playoffs, things are looking interesting. Both the Celtics and Magic dropped heartbreakers at home, losing respectively to the youthful Bulls and the crappy 76ers.
So what does this mean? I know that Boston and Orlando are dealing with injury problems, most notably Kevin Garnett’s knee issues, but these squad’s were supposed to be teams that could handle this type of adversity, at least against the middling members of the conference. We’re not talking about LeBron or Kobe’s absences.
Does this mean that the rest of the East was not given a fair shake? Or that the teams at the top were overrated? Not exactly sure, but it’s something interesting to monitor. Everyone thought that the West was down this year and the East was up. If the Celtics and Magic struggle in Round 1, our perceptions could be changed. We’ll have to wait and see.
April 16, 2009 at 2:08 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Rants and Raves
Hola, everyone. Sorry I’ve been away from ballershorts so long but it’s been quite a busy couple of weeks. My parents visited for 8 days (during which we spent several nights up in the Costa Brava), and then Jon and I roadtripped to central Spain. Since I respect you, my readers, enough to want to provide only quality stuff, I decided that a spring break would be better for all than some hastily-prepared posts. Now I’m back, though… not with a vengeance, but definitely with a clear and hopefully clairvoyant mind.
I know I didn’t get a chance to make my final comments on the NCAA tournament, but let’s be honest: the Final Four was a dud. Don’t you hate when that happens? But I guess that’s often the case with the Final Four if you compare it to earlier rounds. I actually think it’s just a numbers game. When you have 32 games (a la round 1), there’s a good chance some of them will be quite exciting. 3 total games just decreases that possibility, even if the teams are supposed to be better.
Though my most recent road trip was intense and absolutely fantastic – if anyone wants trip ideas just email me – don’t think that basketball wasn’t on my mind. In fact, various parts of the Spanish heartland reminded me for one reason or another of Western Conference playoff teams, and I started preparing to write a brilliant piece comparing each squad to a different city. Segovia was going to be the Portland Trail Blazers. It is a charming city that is now in the running to be the European Capital of Culture in 2016, just as everyone thinks that the Blazers are a potential championship team in a few years. It has two breathtaking hilltop sights, the Alcazar and Cathedral, that are often not considered as great as certain buildings in other cities, such as Granada’s Mezquita. Do I smell Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Madrid was going to be the Spurs. It is the capital that has such a solid history and remains a great city today. However, it tends to get overlooked as few people actually consider it the best city in Spain. How is that not San Antonio? And Barcelona was obviously going to hold it down as LA. It is a bustling, thriving, exciting mix of cultures and personalities with so many ways to please either a traveler or an inhabitant – (I think I remain firmly in between the two). The Lakers, similarly, can get the job done in so many more ways than anyone else.
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t put the rest together. Believe me, I tried to stretch some things, but it just wasn’t happening. I’d love input in anyone has ideas. (I also visited Toledo, Avila, El Escorial, Zaragoza, and Calella de Palafrugell. I know, some of those spots aren’t too well known. Oh well.)
I am saved by the fact that we now know all the playoff pairings, so I can preview the upcoming matchups instead.
Lakers-Jazz: The Jazz used to be tough at home, but then again, the team itself used to be tough. Somehow they’ve gone soft, which is a bad sign for Jerry Sloan. The only potentially really interesting thing about this series is what Phil Jackson will do with his rotations. He knows that Utah can’t actually defeat the Lakers, so he may use the first few games to experiment. Remember, he’s still seeing exactly what Andrew Bynum can do and he’s still figuring out the point guard situation with Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown. Jackson is one coach who might just be wacky and trusting enough to let his team lose – or at least not worry completely about them winning – in order to give himself more time to tinker. (Lakers in 5)
Nuggets-Hornets: I don’t trust the knuckleheads on the Nuggets but I believe too much in Chauncey Billups. Doesn’t that seem to be the story with Denver as the playoffs loom? I actually believe the story of this series will be the battle between Melo and James Posey. Stojakovic and Rasual Butler will get dominated by even a passive Mr. Anthony. If Posey can limit Carmelo and the Nuggets become a little reliant on the streaky J.R. Smith, then I give a Chris Paul team a decent shot. Although Posey just returned from an elbow injury, I doubt his attitude needed time off. (Nuggets in 6)
Spurs-Mavs: I read two interesting and somewhat conflicting things on ESPN.com this week. The first article discusses the overwhelming success that the league’s 6 quickest PGs have had against the Mavericks, ostensibly proving that Jason Kidd has become a huge defensive liability. The second, written by stats guru John Hollinger, names Kidd as this year’s second best defensive shooting guard, claiming that he mostly guards 2s. I can’t say for sure which report is correct, but I think we all know that Tony Parker is one of the 6 quickest points and that he is now the go-to guy of the Spurs. With this depleted S.A. team and limited Tim Duncan, Parker’s effectiveness will determine the series. And I have to believe that whether he’s being guarded by Kidd or Jason Terry, he will get it done. (Spurs in 7)
Trailblazers-Rockets: Well, finally the story isn’t about Tracy McGrady and his inability to make it out of the first round. For the past few years, in fact, I believe that Yao has gotten a bit of a pass because of T-Mac’s history. Well now the attention has to turn to the big guy. He should dominate Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden. Quite frankly, he needs to. Otherwise Houston’s going home again, because the rest of the Blazers are just better. (Blazers in 7)
March 7, 2009 at 12:47 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Rants and Raves
West, Jim West, desperado. Rough Rider, no you don’t want nada. Sorry, but I just had to go there. Actually, I’m not apologizing for a Will Smith reference. If I could be anyone in the world besides myself, it would definitely be the Fresh Prince.
The Lakers are doing a pretty good Jim West impression, policing the Western Conference with rather humorous severity. But everything else is getting slightly out of control. With 3 quarters of the NBA season gone by, eight teams are fighting for seven spots. And only 7.5 games separate them. And they all play each other. It’s no March Madness, (and it’s definitely no Bad Boys 2), but it ain’t bad. So here are my thoughts on the progress of the various teams in the race.
- Western Conference, it’s time to face the music. And by that I mean the Jazz. Fully healthy for the first time all season, Utah is on quite a roll. They have won ten straight games, including victories over the Lakers, Celtics, Hornets, Hawks, Rockets, and Nuggets. Deron Williams has been tearing it up and Boozer is rounding into shape. But here’s the real question: Can they win on the road? 8 of those 10 wins have come at home, and everyone knows the EnergySolutions Arena is one of the toughest places to play.
- Denver has won 13 of 15 games when Carmelo shoots at least 50%. However, Anthony is currently shooting by far his worst percentage in four years. Isn’t that a little surprising, considering the addition of Billups? I don’t know if this Nuggets team is built to win more than one playoff series with this type of inconsistency from their best player.
- The Rockets are 17-8 since Shane Battier returned to the lineup healthy, compared to 23-15 otherwise. Battier’s numbers (6.5 ppg, 5 rpg) are no indication whatsoever of his importance to the team. Read this fantastic NY Times article for an in-depth look at Battier’s influence.
- Look at Tyson Chandler. The Hornets’ center was having a very underwhelming season before he was traded to the Thunder, appraised as damaged goods, and shipped back again. Ever since the hullabaloo, he seems determined to prove both teams wrong. He is averaging a double-double and shooting better than 65%. Even more importantly, his team hasn’t lost.
- After a stretch of impressive games, Lamar Odom has disappeared offensively. He has 8 total points in his last 3 games. Although the Lakers are still rolling – they just became the first team to reach 50 wins – this is something to monitor as the playoffs approach. With Andrew Bynum’s health is still a huge question mark, Odom’s assertiveness and effectiveness might very well end up being the difference between a title and another shortfall.
- I wonder how this Phoenix team would play if Steve Nash were a player-coach. I doubt there would be any more defensive strategy, but would there be a different level of overall effort?
- Somehow I haven’t even thought about the Spurs until now, and it still took a review of my previous notes and standings to recognize it. They’re 21 games above .500 and second in the West. Par for the course.
- You couldn’t really say that the Blazers have flown under the radar this season, but their best player definitely has. But we basketball guys recognize his greatness. Read this John Hollinger piece on Brandon Roy to appreciate him a little more. But everyone is still talking about Greg Oden’s knee.
- I can’t figure out the Mavericks or Josh Howard. Mark Cuban realizes it’s panic time but they just don’t have the players. Who knew Jerry Stackhouse was so important.
Bold prediction #1 – Suns won’t make the playoffs.
Bold prediction #2 – Utah gets the second seed.
Bold prediction #3 – Carmelo will find another way to piss off George Karl before the season ends.
March 1, 2009 at 4:46 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Rants and Raves
Sorry for being away so long. It hasn’t been easy getting my life in Barcelona together – I’ve battled homelessness, brokeness, tiredness, and more – but finally I am settled in and can turn my focus completely back to basketball. Despite everything, I have managed to read ESPN.com every day and catch some games here and there. So it’s nice to have time to actually write again.
Now that it’s officially March, the hoops world’s attention is turning to the college ranks and the impending NCAA tourney. Teams are jockeying for position, making final pushes for bids, and hoping the selection committee will forget about season-killing stretches of bad play, such as a 7-game losing streak (Notre Dame), and remember season-making marquee victories, such as a 33-point beatdown of Louisville (Notre Dame).
The usual topics of discussion are obviously being discussed. How many teams from the Big East will make it in? How many mid-major conferences will receive multiple bids? When will the Knight family just suck it up and go to anger management?
But nobody (in the sports world) is talking about the Ivy League. Well, that’s not exactly true. Alexander Wolff did just write a fantastic piece for Sports Illustrated concerning the role of bball in President Barack Obama’s life, and the Columbia graduate’s inner circle includes several former Ivy League hoopsters. However, no one is talking about the teams that currently play on the hardwoods of the nation’s finest institutions. They should be.
Amidst all of the tourney build up, people are generally ignoring the fact that the Ivy League could have it’s champion and tourney representative crowned as early as this week. That’s right: the Ancient 8 is the only conference in the nation still without a conference tournament, and thus its regular season champion receives the first of 32 automatic bids. So if Friday sees Cornell beat the middling Penn Quakers and Princeton lose to the dangerous Columbia Lions, then the Big Red can punch its ticket for the Big Dance.
As a member of WKCR’s sports department, I heatedly debated this peculiarity for the last four years. Why does the Ivy League feel the need to be different from everyone else? Wouldn’t a conference tourney add tons of excitement to a rather pedestrian regular season? When I was still a Columbia student, part of me definitely wished things would change. Of course, that was the selfish part that wanted to follow its team through March Madness and knew that a lucky conference tournament run was the only way it would every happen.
But I truly believe that the conference tournament system is terrible and that the Ivy League has it right. First and foremost, it is unfair to the best teams in small conferences. The Ivy League knows that it will only get the one automatic bid and that its school has almost no shot at winning the whole NCAA tournament. Therefore, it becomes an honor and reward to just participate in the magic. And most honors and rewards that I know of (MVPs, Cum Laude Societies, etc.) are based on a full body of work. Every year there is a team from some small school that has played very well all season, completely earning itself the opportunity to participate in the magic, but slips up in the conference tournament and is thus relegated to the NIT. What a consolation! For example, last year Stephen F. Austin went 13-3 in the Southland Conference (26-5 overall) but lost a 3 point heartbreaker to Northwestern State. Ultimately, Texas-Arlington took its losing conference record (7-9) to the Big Dance. You cannot convince me that there is any justice or even thrill in that.
Secondly, the NCAA tournament itself is a sacred institution that thrives on the big upset. Upsets would happen more often if the best team from each small conference went dancing. And the best team can more be more objectively determined by a full season than by a couple of games.
Lastly, conference tournaments were just another financial construction of the sports-media complex. The repeating stories are getting old, but the sports world is getting more and more polluted by money and drugs. I am not going to make the outlandish claim that the conference tournament system is a legitimate threat to the integrity of college basketball. However, I will remind people that although they were ostensibly created to generate more excitement for the approach of the Big Dance, they were largely devised as a way for universities and sports networks to capitalize on the preoccupation with March Madness and make even more money. Ulterior motives just don’t sit right with me.
So Cornell… I know you haven’t locked anything up yet, but enjoy the NCAA tournament! You worked hard for it. The Ivy League has produced some pretty good people and ideas. They got this one right too. I doubt it will be possible to go back, but that doesn’t mean we have to blindly accept it.
February 11, 2009 at 7:43 am · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Lakers, Rants and Raves, Stats
As we all know by now, Kobe and LeBron tore up Madison Square Garden in back-to-back games last week, prompting reinvigorated debate over who is better. One of the many persistent arguments used by King James backers focuses on passing ability. They claim that LeBron is far superior at getting his teammates involved and creating easy shots for them. Furthermore, the stats back them up; James averages 7.1 assists/game, as compared to Bryant’s 5, and the Knicks saw them drop 11 and 3 dimes, respectively.
I don’t deny that LeBron is a fantastic passer, and I’m not going to contend here that Kobe is better in that facet of the game. However, I will say that the above argument ignores a vital piece of the big picture. I have read a lot of sports articles recently, and not one has mentioned the LAKER’S PASSING ABILITY AS A TEAM. Kobe gets a ridiculous amount of “hockey assists” – plays in which he makes the second pass before a bucket, or in which his pass directly leads to someone else’s assist. How often have we witnessed the following chain of events: Bryant gets doubled or at least draws help, then Bryant passes to a big (Gasol/Odom) in the high post, then that big goes high-low to another big (Gasol/Odom/Bynum) who finishes the play. It happens all the time. Although this hockey assist stat is not recorded, it is a crucial aspect to a team’s offense efficiency. Kobe and LeBron average practically the same amount of shot attempts per game (20.9 – 20.3), so it’s not as if Kobe is looking to score significantly more than LeBron. And whereas Kobe’s passes may not lead to direct baskets as often as LeBron’s passes, I would definitely argue that Kobe puts his team in a position to get a good shot as much as anyone in the league.
Check out these stats:
- The Lakers are the second best team in the league in terms of total assists, at 23.2 per game, while the Cavs sit at lowly number twenty-four, with only 20.2.
- Only two Cleveland players aside from LeBron average more than 1.7 assists/game, while Los Angeles has six who do it besides Kobe.
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace, and Anderson Varejao dish out a combined 3 helpers, while Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum dish out 7.4
- Ilaguskas averages 15.1 shots per 36 minutes and makes 50% of them, while Gasol makes 56% of his 12.3 attempts.
If Pau shot the ball with the same frequency as Big Z – that is to say, if he hoisted up a midrange jumper every time he got the rock after a pick-and-roll – Kobe would definitely average more assists per game. But Gasol is more circumspect and tries to find the best shot possible for his team. In fact, most of the Lakers play that way. Thus Kobe’s specific assist totals are relatively modest.
So let’s not forget that Kobe knows how to move the ball and is a willing passer. He’s shooting the best percentage of his entire career because he’s forcing things less than in past years. He now completely trusts his teammates, and that’s why the Lakers are the best offensive team in the league. And obviously there are still nights when he just feels it and wants to score. Please stop preaching critically about Kobe’s scoring in garbage time against the Knicks. If you had the opportunity to break the MSG scoring record, you would totally gun for it. Don’t even pretend that you wouldn’t. Just because you could never shoot 19-31 or go down in hoops history doesn’t mean you should begrudge Kobe.
For visual evidence that Kobe (and the Lakeshow) can drop dimes, see the video clips below.
Behind the back
Showtime
Ridiculous
February 8, 2009 at 3:48 pm · by bteitelbaum · Filed under Rants and Raves
Who remembers RealTV? That horribly fascinating old show that displayed videos clips so mind-bogglingly grotesque that you never wanted to watch, but for some reason you couldn’t turn away. (And I feel like the grammar in the previous sentence was questionable, but it is what it is. At least that’s what pro athletes say all the time.)
Well, I think I’ve discovered a modern-day equivalent. ESPN Gamecast – it is the most frustrating, upsetting thing to watch, and yet it is totally mesmerizing. I never before needed to turn to Gamecast for my sports fix. Living in a American world of sportsbars and Tivo, I was able to watch any and every basketball game I wanted. But, alas, my life in Barcelona isn’t quite as cushy. Due to a 6-hour time difference from the Eastern Time Zone, along with a lack of ESPN and only a moderate love of hoops, I have seen nary a game. Instead, I have often had my eyes glued to that constantly updating, little black box. And it doesn’t make me happy.
Several nights ago, I returned home at 4 am from a night out and immediately checked the Lakers-Celtics score. An intensely competitive battle, it was a two-point game in the third quarter. I turned on Gamecast, merely intending to monitor the game while I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. I was exhausted and had to wake up at 10 the next day, and staying up to watch a game’s written transcript didn’t really seem worth it. But of course, my love of basketball trumped my love of sanity/health/happiness. There was some type of peremptory compulsion that forced me to sit in that cold pitch-black room, staring at my computer screen. I just needed to know what was happening in real time, even though I knew my curiosity about the game would not actually be satiated. Two miserable hours later, when ESPN finally logged Ray Allen’s final missed shot in the Lakers overtime victory, I wasn’t physically or mentally able to enjoy the important win.
I see Gamecast as a George Bush-esque figure. I hate how much power it has over me, how I can’t escape its influence, but I know there’s nothing I can do until its official time is up. And when I come home from Barcelona at the end of May, when I watch my Lakers physically run up and down the court, the game will be that much sweeter.
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