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Archive for April, 2009
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)
April 2, 2009 at 6:30 am · by bteitelbaum · Filed under College Hoops
UNC
The Man – Danny Green: Tyler Hansbrough is the ACC’s career scoring leader, Ty Lawson has been getting all the love lately, Wayne Ellington is seen as the necessary third scoring option, and Ed Davis is thought to be the best pro prospect. But Danny Green is quietly an essential part of the Tar Heels’ success. Though he gets very little press, the senior swingman’s versatility and do-it-all attitude keep this team winning. He is like the grease on a hinge, making everything run more smoothly.
The Myth – This team doesn’t play defense: It’s true that they have turned in some lackadaisical defensive performances this season, especially allowing for some point guards to go off (Scottie Reynolds are you listening?). However, this team can play defense when it needs to, such as the Big Dance. Witness the shutdown of Oklahoma in the Elite Eight: The Sooners were held 19 points under their season average. (LSU and Gonzaga were also held under their season averages.)
The Legend – Tyler Hansbrough: If he leads his team to an NCAA championship, Hansbrough will have had one of the greatest college basketball careers of all time. National player of the year, ACC career scoring leader, national champion, 4-time ACC first team… I hope people don’t try to shortchange him because of a perceived lack of basketball skill compared to some other greats. Hansbrough has been a leader, a model citizen, and most of all a winner for one of college hoops’ most storied programs.
Michigan State
The Man – Travis Walton: Not the most talented. Not the most athletic. But Travis Walton is indispensible. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is the soul of this team, and his playing style sets the tone for a team that clamps down defensively, wins the hustle plays, and never lets the opponent find a comfort zone. I hate to be cliche, but he’s an extension of Tom Izzo out on the floor.
The Myth – This team needs Raymar Morgan to show up in order to win: I thought this too at the beginning of March, when the talented but enigmatic Morgan was recovering from mono. As the team’s second-leading scorer throughout the season, he would need to return to form if the Spartans wanted to make a run. Well, I guess this just isn’t true. While it would be nice for Morgan to make an appearance in the Final Four, MSU has proven it can win without him. He has 7 points in his last three games, but we have seen that the Spartans have enough talent to make up for his effective absence. Durrell Summers and Draymond Green have been just fantastic off the bench. And with the way this team plays – slow, physical, etc – Morgan’s ineffectiveness is less affecting.
The Legend – Tom Izzo: Izzo is arguably a legend already, as his Spartans have lived at the top of the college basketball world throughout his tenure. I believe, though, that a coach needs to win multiple championships to trule be consider legendary, and Izzo is right now stuck on one. A title this year would cement his place in the coaching pantheon.
UConn
The Man – Jeff Adrien: Everyone talks about Hasheem Thabeet as the great post player on the Huskies, the guy that can propel this team to a title. Thabeet averages 13.5 points and 10.7 rebounds. Adrien averages 13.7 points and 10 rebounds. Slightly similar, no? Of course, you will now point out the difference in shot blocking statistics and claim that Thabeet’s presence completely changes the way UConn’s opponents attack the basket. Well, I won’t argue with you. I will just mention that Adrien often guards the best interior player on the other team, allowing Thabeet to play off the ball and come over to swat those shots. While I won’t say that Adrien is better or more important than Thabeet, I will argue that the difference in hype and recognition is completely unfair.
The Myth – UConn does not have enough outside shooting or depth without Jerome Dyson: They haven’t made many threes in the tournament, but it hasn’t been an issue. Instead, they have dominated in the paint and on the boards, and have barely been threatened. I won’t forget to mention the play of freshman Kemba Walker, who has given Connecticut that spark.
The Legend – AJ Price: This kid’s career has had more ups and downs than Six Flags. He has been arrested for theft, has been suspended, has suffered a season ending knee injury, and has thusly failed to live up to immense expectations. Until now. His senior season, he has stayed out of physical and emotional trouble and stayed on the court, leading the team in scoring and assists, as well as hitting numerous clutch shots. Rarely does such a problematic career have a chance for redemption and vindication. If Price makes the most of this opportunity, he will have completely flipped the script.
Villanova
The Man – Dante Cunningham: As a freshman, Cunningham was an extremely raw athlete without much to offer in the way of basketball skill. In his four years at Nova, though, he has worked hard and developed into a complete player. Offensively, he now leads the team in scoring due to a full complement of post moves to go along with a solid midrange jumper. He also leads the team in rebounding, and though he is only 6′8 230 he has had to play the center position, battling with such behemoths as DeJuan Blair and Hasheem Thabeet. He will leave the school as the most important part of a class that is the winningest in Villanova history.
The Myth – Jay Wright’s style could never result in serious tournament success: They said the same thing about the Wildcats that they said about the Phoenix Suns. The style sure is fun to watch, but it can’t really lead to a championship, can it? Wright’s spread-em-out, freestyle-attack, guard-heavy type of ball never seemed to have enough balance, but this year the team is cranking it up on the defensive end as well as hitting the boards. Offensively, though, this team just has more weapons than ever before.
The Legend – Scottie Reynolds: Easiest answer here. When you hit a shot like Reynolds did, you will be remembered forever. Imagine his status if Nova wins it all and Reynolds is the MOP…