6.26.2008
DaChiFan SagiNasty Draft Chat Wrap.
DaChiFan and SagiNasty Bag just went through a marathon “back and forth” on the NBA draft, here is the “chat wrap”.
DaChiFan
1. Chicago Bulls- Derik Rose
Before I get into what I think the Bulls should do, let me ask, what do you want out of a number 1 pick in the NBA draft? To me, ideally it's a guy who can lead your team to the NBA championship. Right? With the top few picks, you want a Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, Garnet, Duncan kind of player. A player, that as long as you put some role players around him, you got a legit chance of winning a championship one day. So before I get to the Bulls, I ask SagiNasty, is there a guy in this draft of that caliber?
Unfortunately, to me at least, there isn't. Rose is a great player and I think the Bulls would be foolish not to select him. But, he isn't going to carry a team to the Finals on his back. Just like at Memphis he is going to need one or even two players that can handle the scoring load at the end of games. Beasley you say? Beasley is an undersized PF, who should be playing small forward but may be a little too slow to guard the NBA's SFs. He is 6'7. I repeat, Beasley is 6'7. Unless he is the next Charles Barkley, Beasley is going to be a moderate to good PF, but never a carry your team on his back type of player. I love his skill level (imagine a PF who actually has post moves and can shoot the ball), but is he going to consistently be able to dominate a game at that height when he has bigger and taller PF's guarding him? In the end, I think not. After he gets ruffed up on the inside, he is going to become an outside shooter. At best, he is KG (with only his outside shot), and at worst, there is potential for Antoine Walker here.
So back to the Bulls. Its not like Rose and Beasley are bad players. They are the best two players in this draft. But, I still think if the Bulls pick either one of them, they're still one great, or may be two very good players away from winning it all. With that being said, I do really like Rose. He is a pass-first point guard, something the Bulls haven't had in a very long time. In addition, Rose is a MAN. He is tall for a PG, strong for a PG, and quicker than hell. (Note as opposed to Beasley who will be smaller and weaker than a lot of PFs in this league). Here's to the Rose era.
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SagiNasty Bag
There might be a guy in this draft that can lead a team to the title, and maybe that is Rose, as he lead Memphis to a title game. I would choose Rose over Beasley as well, but for how long now have the Bulls needed a low post scorer and suddenly here he is in the form of a undersized but extremely talented Michael Beasley. Perhaps similar to ATL a couple years ago when they were awash with PFs, badly needed a PG, and took Williams over CP3? As a Pistons fan, this theory interests me and I gleefully wait to use it on Bulls fans after next year's 30-52.
I wonder if playing for the hometown team, as the number 1 overall pick, the messiah who will bring da Bulls back to the tongue-wagging no-tipping ways of the 90's is a bit much of a burden for a 19 yr old kid. To that, who knows.
Which is not to say that Beasley isn't talented, because he is. And apparently well-traveled too, as he has been to multiple high schools (as had Amare Stoudimire - who seems to be doing OK and went a little later in the draft partly because his high school visa had plenty of stamps on it). At least the Bulls aren't think about drafting a multi-syllabled Greek player instead.
I think Rose is the best player in the draft and the Bulls should take. I hope they don't.
2. Miami Heat Dignity
Damn I hate the Miami Heat. Pat Riley and his bailing out on his team multiple times, throwing Stan Van Gundy under the bus to win a title, the way that title was one with the help of "don't look even cross-eyed at Wade or we will call a foul" philosophy. Kill me. Am I bitter? Yes. Am I a little biased against Wade? Yes. Do I still despise the Heat and am glad that they got their come-upins last year? You betcha.
And what is with that whole "knocked down 7, get up 8" Wade marketing campaign? In what position is he starting in? If he gets knocked down once, then he gets back up, then the totals are "1" and "1". How can you get up if you are already up? It's like thinking about predestination. So circular...but how can he get up if he is already up...head hurts....spinning...need scotch....
2. Miami Heat. Beastly, Micheal
Micheal Beastley. Better college numbers than Durant. Miami can put him at forward (either spot), along with the Matrix and Wade, play a little SSoL (7 seconds or less) and I think that is a pretty good team. I didn't really watch a ton of K-State games last year, so I am just going off hearsay (objection!!!) knowledge of the kid, but if I were a Miami fan, and I am not, I would first stop pretending to be the Lakers East and get to the games on time, punch myself in the face for rooting for a completely unlikeable team second, and third, I would be ecstatic that the Beast is going to be on my team.
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DaChiFan
Wait, back to the Bulls for a second. I see your logic that the Bulls need a low post scorer, but disagree that they are okay at PG/SG. Sorry, I don’t count Hinrich, Gordon and Hughes as a solid backcourt. They’re more like trade bait, waiting for Memphis-like GM fish to bite them, while regurgitating a Gasol like NBA player. Thus, I think the Bulls need both a backcourt and frontcourt player. Plus, while we are at it they need a SF and 7 more bench players.
Anyway, I think we are agreed that its Rose going one and Beasley two to the Heat.
3. Minnesota, GM
I heard McHale, who somehow still has a job LOVES Love from UCLA. Which to me is similar to loving Shaun Alexander, the one-time most overrated player in the NFL. How does a GM who never put enough talent around one of the greatest PF to play the game in KG, still have a job after trading away KG? Who’s the owner of the Wolves, George Bush (sorry, just thought of the universal dumbest person)? No sorry, not even George Bush would have kept McHale as GM. He would have asked him to resign and replaced him with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Sorry, back to sports. Seriously, I know he is a hall of famer and likely an intelligent guy, but in a result based society, people like McHale MUST be fired. When the owner sits down with McHale for his yearly review does he not get upset when McHale responds, “lets see in the past few years, we haven’t been to the NBA finals, we haven’t made it to the playoffs the last couple years, and oh yeah, I just traded our best player to the Celtics, where we got peanuts in return, and our former best player, Kevin Garnet just won the title in his first year with the Celtics”. Crazy.
3. Minnesota, Mayo
I think you have to go with OJ Mayo here. He is going to be a solid player and maybe get to an all-star game or two before its all done and over. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders from the interviews I’ve seen him in. Besides the NCAA infractions, which don’t matter to the NBA, he seems like a logical pick. I guy who can score, pass and play great defense. It makes sense to me. As for Love, I think he is completely overrated. He is a poor man’s Brad Miller. Not bad, but not good enough to become the third pick in this draft. I’ve said this before, I still don’t understand the sports writers’ adoration of Kevin Love. I don’t know if it’s the UCLA thing acting like a Notre Dame football hype machine or the fact that he is a good white basketball player, but Love seems completely overrated to me. He’s like a mispriced stock, a yahoo.com if you will. Everyone’s buying him like it’s the dot.com era, except like an Amazon, he hasn’t provided a positive return yet. If I had money, I would short Love and buy Lopez or Eric Gordon.
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SagiNasty Bag
I am not in love with Love's game. In fact, I do not love Love at all. For me to love Love, I would have to love not only Love the man, but Love the lover, which I refuse to do. I will now show myself out.
Anywhoo, I do not like Mayo with the T-Wolves. Correction, I do not think that McHale will draft Mayo. I think it is either Love or a little Micheal Jackson - Disney loving twin (the one with the offensive game) from that bastion of liberal thinking that is Stanford who is going to be drafted by the Wolves. They only way Mayo is drafted here is if the Wolves trade this pick. Why? I have a couple reasons: 1) the Wolves drafted Corey Brewer last year, and Rashad McCants two years before. There is your SF-SG positions right there. Drafting Mayo, in light of those two recent picks, is tantamount to admitting failure. I do not think McHale has the genital fortitude to pull this off.
And 2) the one good player on Minn is Al Jefferson, who had to play a lot of center last year. Got to protect your assets, right? And Mayo does not offer this kind of protection. Lopez does. Love doesn't either but I think McHale thinks that the Love might love to protect Jefferson, and because of Love's love he will succeed. (who let me back in here?). Would President Bush pick Love at this spot? Maybe, maybe not. His Texas Ranger teams were pretty good. I believe there were a couple division titles.......wait, what's that? Yes, the Rangers are a BASEBALL team (I-Truth's comments have have duly noted and his tone was not appreciated). So the man does have some since of discerning athletic talent. If a certain former President/possible first husband were in charge of the Timberwolves draft, he would give a speech about how he felt the Minnesota fan's pain of watching KG's Celtics win a title, then scare off the draft picks by giving them each a little Monica Lewinsky treatment with a Cohiba...
Mayo has the talent for three, but unless this pick is trading, I do not think he is going at three. I think Lopez or Love is the pick.
4. Seattle/Oklahoma Drew Nietzel.
In anticipation of their move to Okla City, the Sonics need a tough, rugged perimeter defender hailing from Grand Rapids via East Lansing who can.....
Sorry, there is only so far I can take that. How bout this:
4. Seattle/Oklahoma Kevin Love
Is the Pacific Northwest Love's home, um, region? Yes it is. Is this the same knock I had a against Rose? Yup. Even so, I like Love here. Yes is is ground-bound PF, but he won't need to score a lot with Durant and Green, thus he could be more of a facilitator. He can board, he plays hard, and has a great beard that will serve him well in Oklahoma. I think he is a good fit. And a safe pick. This is the Sonics draft history, before Durant and Green: Sene, Petro, Swift, Collison, Ridnour, Radmonovic, Mason, Maggette. Ugh. No wonder the Sonics suck.
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DaChiFan
I'm Mcloven your anti Love love'n. Okay, that's enough. I actually like the Lopez pick, if you need a big guy, I'd go with Lopez over Kevin "stiff" Love. But, I disagree in the sense that in the NBA, a needs based draft strategy, is a bad strategy. Go with the best player available. Period. To me its Mayo not Brad Miller deuce or Collins Twins deuce.
As for your pick of Love for the Oklahoma Sonics, of course I think that's moronic. But, since I am a moron, it could also be a great pick. If you are the Okl. Sonics owner(They will need to change that to the Oklahoma Laters (i.e. Sooniers), Oklahoma Cows , or Oklahoma Red People (evidently that's what Oklahoma means in Choctaw. Wiki is great), I think you go with the guy that puts people in the seats. Absent Kevin Love's whiteness, I don't think he will put enough Red People in the seats. I think you take whomever is left from Mayo, Woods, or even Eric Gordon, with that pick.
P.S. Didn’t the Clippers have this pick. SagiNasty you are a dumbass, unless the Okl. Red People trade up here. With that being said, I say the same thing.
Oh yeah, why does OJ Mayo look like a tax accountant in that suit? Also, why does he look even skinnier than Tayshawn Prince? I might need to revise my Mayo beliefs.
5. Memphis Grizzlies- Who Gives a shit, its Memphis. (Another team that needs to shed its old city nickname). Really, Memphis and Grizzlies? -
Why is there a Memphis basketball team? Have we run out of large NBA cities? What's next Oklahoma city? Oh yeah, right.
With that being said, if Lopez doesn't go before this, Memphis should pick Lopez. It he's gone, I do see them going with Love, although I think its about 5-6 picks to early. Realistically, they need to trade in their entire team (Kwame Brown is on their roster). Absent a Memphis Roster for the Charlotte Bobcats Roster trade, Memphis should go with Eric Gordon. It doesn't fit really with the team, but he is the best player available. I know, SagiNasty you're going to call out my bias to Indiana, but let it be known I am not a Hoosier. I attended college at IU, but I am not a Hoosier, I repeat I am not a Hoosier. I want nothing to do with the state; I hate Bobby Knight, Cougar Mellencamp, and the Pacers. While I follow the Hoosiers basketball team, I am not a 100% fan. More like a 68.7% fan. In fact, I am almost a free agent when it comes to my allegiance to Hoosier Basketball. I'm like the overrated safety of the Super bowl winning team, ready to accept a new contract from the highest bidding team. So if your reading, Duke, Carolina, I can be bought.
John Paxson just came on TV to be interviewed. He was wearing the same purple tie that Beasley was wearing. Beasley went to K-State so purple makes sense. Paxson needs to get some Republican Flag pin lectures on the need to wear the color tie of your team. Shame on you Paxson, you unbuliatic bastard.
Alright, enough of this draft stuff, tell me about your Pistons. Who do they pick (@29) and are they stupid enough to trade their best player Rasheed Wallace?
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SagiNasty Bag
I have no idea what kind of crazy nonsense you are talking about with the Fourth Pick, you need to check ESPN.
As for the 'Stons, who knows? I like CDR. I do not like DJ White. In Joe D we trust...
You are a Hoosier, you know it, I know it, and you can take that % and shove it up your hookah. Thus Sayeth the Bags!
DaChiFan
1. Chicago Bulls- Derik Rose
Before I get into what I think the Bulls should do, let me ask, what do you want out of a number 1 pick in the NBA draft? To me, ideally it's a guy who can lead your team to the NBA championship. Right? With the top few picks, you want a Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, Garnet, Duncan kind of player. A player, that as long as you put some role players around him, you got a legit chance of winning a championship one day. So before I get to the Bulls, I ask SagiNasty, is there a guy in this draft of that caliber?
Unfortunately, to me at least, there isn't. Rose is a great player and I think the Bulls would be foolish not to select him. But, he isn't going to carry a team to the Finals on his back. Just like at Memphis he is going to need one or even two players that can handle the scoring load at the end of games. Beasley you say? Beasley is an undersized PF, who should be playing small forward but may be a little too slow to guard the NBA's SFs. He is 6'7. I repeat, Beasley is 6'7. Unless he is the next Charles Barkley, Beasley is going to be a moderate to good PF, but never a carry your team on his back type of player. I love his skill level (imagine a PF who actually has post moves and can shoot the ball), but is he going to consistently be able to dominate a game at that height when he has bigger and taller PF's guarding him? In the end, I think not. After he gets ruffed up on the inside, he is going to become an outside shooter. At best, he is KG (with only his outside shot), and at worst, there is potential for Antoine Walker here.
So back to the Bulls. Its not like Rose and Beasley are bad players. They are the best two players in this draft. But, I still think if the Bulls pick either one of them, they're still one great, or may be two very good players away from winning it all. With that being said, I do really like Rose. He is a pass-first point guard, something the Bulls haven't had in a very long time. In addition, Rose is a MAN. He is tall for a PG, strong for a PG, and quicker than hell. (Note as opposed to Beasley who will be smaller and weaker than a lot of PFs in this league). Here's to the Rose era.
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SagiNasty Bag
There might be a guy in this draft that can lead a team to the title, and maybe that is Rose, as he lead Memphis to a title game. I would choose Rose over Beasley as well, but for how long now have the Bulls needed a low post scorer and suddenly here he is in the form of a undersized but extremely talented Michael Beasley. Perhaps similar to ATL a couple years ago when they were awash with PFs, badly needed a PG, and took Williams over CP3? As a Pistons fan, this theory interests me and I gleefully wait to use it on Bulls fans after next year's 30-52.
I wonder if playing for the hometown team, as the number 1 overall pick, the messiah who will bring da Bulls back to the tongue-wagging no-tipping ways of the 90's is a bit much of a burden for a 19 yr old kid. To that, who knows.
Which is not to say that Beasley isn't talented, because he is. And apparently well-traveled too, as he has been to multiple high schools (as had Amare Stoudimire - who seems to be doing OK and went a little later in the draft partly because his high school visa had plenty of stamps on it). At least the Bulls aren't think about drafting a multi-syllabled Greek player instead.
I think Rose is the best player in the draft and the Bulls should take. I hope they don't.
2. Miami Heat Dignity
Damn I hate the Miami Heat. Pat Riley and his bailing out on his team multiple times, throwing Stan Van Gundy under the bus to win a title, the way that title was one with the help of "don't look even cross-eyed at Wade or we will call a foul" philosophy. Kill me. Am I bitter? Yes. Am I a little biased against Wade? Yes. Do I still despise the Heat and am glad that they got their come-upins last year? You betcha.
And what is with that whole "knocked down 7, get up 8" Wade marketing campaign? In what position is he starting in? If he gets knocked down once, then he gets back up, then the totals are "1" and "1". How can you get up if you are already up? It's like thinking about predestination. So circular...but how can he get up if he is already up...head hurts....spinning...need scotch....
2. Miami Heat. Beastly, Micheal
Micheal Beastley. Better college numbers than Durant. Miami can put him at forward (either spot), along with the Matrix and Wade, play a little SSoL (7 seconds or less) and I think that is a pretty good team. I didn't really watch a ton of K-State games last year, so I am just going off hearsay (objection!!!) knowledge of the kid, but if I were a Miami fan, and I am not, I would first stop pretending to be the Lakers East and get to the games on time, punch myself in the face for rooting for a completely unlikeable team second, and third, I would be ecstatic that the Beast is going to be on my team.
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DaChiFan
Wait, back to the Bulls for a second. I see your logic that the Bulls need a low post scorer, but disagree that they are okay at PG/SG. Sorry, I don’t count Hinrich, Gordon and Hughes as a solid backcourt. They’re more like trade bait, waiting for Memphis-like GM fish to bite them, while regurgitating a Gasol like NBA player. Thus, I think the Bulls need both a backcourt and frontcourt player. Plus, while we are at it they need a SF and 7 more bench players.
Anyway, I think we are agreed that its Rose going one and Beasley two to the Heat.
3. Minnesota, GM
I heard McHale, who somehow still has a job LOVES Love from UCLA. Which to me is similar to loving Shaun Alexander, the one-time most overrated player in the NFL. How does a GM who never put enough talent around one of the greatest PF to play the game in KG, still have a job after trading away KG? Who’s the owner of the Wolves, George Bush (sorry, just thought of the universal dumbest person)? No sorry, not even George Bush would have kept McHale as GM. He would have asked him to resign and replaced him with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Sorry, back to sports. Seriously, I know he is a hall of famer and likely an intelligent guy, but in a result based society, people like McHale MUST be fired. When the owner sits down with McHale for his yearly review does he not get upset when McHale responds, “lets see in the past few years, we haven’t been to the NBA finals, we haven’t made it to the playoffs the last couple years, and oh yeah, I just traded our best player to the Celtics, where we got peanuts in return, and our former best player, Kevin Garnet just won the title in his first year with the Celtics”. Crazy.
3. Minnesota, Mayo
I think you have to go with OJ Mayo here. He is going to be a solid player and maybe get to an all-star game or two before its all done and over. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders from the interviews I’ve seen him in. Besides the NCAA infractions, which don’t matter to the NBA, he seems like a logical pick. I guy who can score, pass and play great defense. It makes sense to me. As for Love, I think he is completely overrated. He is a poor man’s Brad Miller. Not bad, but not good enough to become the third pick in this draft. I’ve said this before, I still don’t understand the sports writers’ adoration of Kevin Love. I don’t know if it’s the UCLA thing acting like a Notre Dame football hype machine or the fact that he is a good white basketball player, but Love seems completely overrated to me. He’s like a mispriced stock, a yahoo.com if you will. Everyone’s buying him like it’s the dot.com era, except like an Amazon, he hasn’t provided a positive return yet. If I had money, I would short Love and buy Lopez or Eric Gordon.
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SagiNasty Bag
I am not in love with Love's game. In fact, I do not love Love at all. For me to love Love, I would have to love not only Love the man, but Love the lover, which I refuse to do. I will now show myself out.
Anywhoo, I do not like Mayo with the T-Wolves. Correction, I do not think that McHale will draft Mayo. I think it is either Love or a little Micheal Jackson - Disney loving twin (the one with the offensive game) from that bastion of liberal thinking that is Stanford who is going to be drafted by the Wolves. They only way Mayo is drafted here is if the Wolves trade this pick. Why? I have a couple reasons: 1) the Wolves drafted Corey Brewer last year, and Rashad McCants two years before. There is your SF-SG positions right there. Drafting Mayo, in light of those two recent picks, is tantamount to admitting failure. I do not think McHale has the genital fortitude to pull this off.
And 2) the one good player on Minn is Al Jefferson, who had to play a lot of center last year. Got to protect your assets, right? And Mayo does not offer this kind of protection. Lopez does. Love doesn't either but I think McHale thinks that the Love might love to protect Jefferson, and because of Love's love he will succeed. (who let me back in here?). Would President Bush pick Love at this spot? Maybe, maybe not. His Texas Ranger teams were pretty good. I believe there were a couple division titles.......wait, what's that? Yes, the Rangers are a BASEBALL team (I-Truth's comments have have duly noted and his tone was not appreciated). So the man does have some since of discerning athletic talent. If a certain former President/possible first husband were in charge of the Timberwolves draft, he would give a speech about how he felt the Minnesota fan's pain of watching KG's Celtics win a title, then scare off the draft picks by giving them each a little Monica Lewinsky treatment with a Cohiba...
Mayo has the talent for three, but unless this pick is trading, I do not think he is going at three. I think Lopez or Love is the pick.
4. Seattle/Oklahoma Drew Nietzel.
In anticipation of their move to Okla City, the Sonics need a tough, rugged perimeter defender hailing from Grand Rapids via East Lansing who can.....
Sorry, there is only so far I can take that. How bout this:
4. Seattle/Oklahoma Kevin Love
Is the Pacific Northwest Love's home, um, region? Yes it is. Is this the same knock I had a against Rose? Yup. Even so, I like Love here. Yes is is ground-bound PF, but he won't need to score a lot with Durant and Green, thus he could be more of a facilitator. He can board, he plays hard, and has a great beard that will serve him well in Oklahoma. I think he is a good fit. And a safe pick. This is the Sonics draft history, before Durant and Green: Sene, Petro, Swift, Collison, Ridnour, Radmonovic, Mason, Maggette. Ugh. No wonder the Sonics suck.
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DaChiFan
I'm Mcloven your anti Love love'n. Okay, that's enough. I actually like the Lopez pick, if you need a big guy, I'd go with Lopez over Kevin "stiff" Love. But, I disagree in the sense that in the NBA, a needs based draft strategy, is a bad strategy. Go with the best player available. Period. To me its Mayo not Brad Miller deuce or Collins Twins deuce.
As for your pick of Love for the Oklahoma Sonics, of course I think that's moronic. But, since I am a moron, it could also be a great pick. If you are the Okl. Sonics owner(They will need to change that to the Oklahoma Laters (i.e. Sooniers), Oklahoma Cows , or Oklahoma Red People (evidently that's what Oklahoma means in Choctaw. Wiki is great), I think you go with the guy that puts people in the seats. Absent Kevin Love's whiteness, I don't think he will put enough Red People in the seats. I think you take whomever is left from Mayo, Woods, or even Eric Gordon, with that pick.
P.S. Didn’t the Clippers have this pick. SagiNasty you are a dumbass, unless the Okl. Red People trade up here. With that being said, I say the same thing.
Oh yeah, why does OJ Mayo look like a tax accountant in that suit? Also, why does he look even skinnier than Tayshawn Prince? I might need to revise my Mayo beliefs.
5. Memphis Grizzlies- Who Gives a shit, its Memphis. (Another team that needs to shed its old city nickname). Really, Memphis and Grizzlies? -
Why is there a Memphis basketball team? Have we run out of large NBA cities? What's next Oklahoma city? Oh yeah, right.
With that being said, if Lopez doesn't go before this, Memphis should pick Lopez. It he's gone, I do see them going with Love, although I think its about 5-6 picks to early. Realistically, they need to trade in their entire team (Kwame Brown is on their roster). Absent a Memphis Roster for the Charlotte Bobcats Roster trade, Memphis should go with Eric Gordon. It doesn't fit really with the team, but he is the best player available. I know, SagiNasty you're going to call out my bias to Indiana, but let it be known I am not a Hoosier. I attended college at IU, but I am not a Hoosier, I repeat I am not a Hoosier. I want nothing to do with the state; I hate Bobby Knight, Cougar Mellencamp, and the Pacers. While I follow the Hoosiers basketball team, I am not a 100% fan. More like a 68.7% fan. In fact, I am almost a free agent when it comes to my allegiance to Hoosier Basketball. I'm like the overrated safety of the Super bowl winning team, ready to accept a new contract from the highest bidding team. So if your reading, Duke, Carolina, I can be bought.
John Paxson just came on TV to be interviewed. He was wearing the same purple tie that Beasley was wearing. Beasley went to K-State so purple makes sense. Paxson needs to get some Republican Flag pin lectures on the need to wear the color tie of your team. Shame on you Paxson, you unbuliatic bastard.
Alright, enough of this draft stuff, tell me about your Pistons. Who do they pick (@29) and are they stupid enough to trade their best player Rasheed Wallace?
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SagiNasty Bag
I have no idea what kind of crazy nonsense you are talking about with the Fourth Pick, you need to check ESPN.
As for the 'Stons, who knows? I like CDR. I do not like DJ White. In Joe D we trust...
You are a Hoosier, you know it, I know it, and you can take that % and shove it up your hookah. Thus Sayeth the Bags!
6.25.2008
ChiCity Fanion Welcomes SagiNasty Bag and I-Truth
DaChiFan and ChiCity Sports Fanion welcomes SagiNasty Bag to the forum.
SagiNasty is from Michigan and is an avid Detroit Sports fan. He loves all things, Red Wings, Pistons, Lions and Tigers. Oh yeah, he's also a Cubs fan. Feel free to make fun of him for that. Although SagiNasty is not a chi-town sports fan, I believe he will offer a valuable objective outsider's perspective to our biased sports coverage. Welcome
I-Truth is a pompous writer who loves all Chicago sports teams, especially Bulls and Bears. Obviously, from his first post you can tell he isn't a baseball fan. I-Truth will offer a national perspective on sports in general and the Bulls and Bears. To get sense of I-Truth's persona, he is a fan of TO and Chad Johnson and just about every arrogant, talkative and bad-image sports player around. Welcome.
Stay tuned as we will be adding a part-time contributor for our baseball coverage.
-DaChiFan
SagiNasty is from Michigan and is an avid Detroit Sports fan. He loves all things, Red Wings, Pistons, Lions and Tigers. Oh yeah, he's also a Cubs fan. Feel free to make fun of him for that. Although SagiNasty is not a chi-town sports fan, I believe he will offer a valuable objective outsider's perspective to our biased sports coverage. Welcome
I-Truth is a pompous writer who loves all Chicago sports teams, especially Bulls and Bears. Obviously, from his first post you can tell he isn't a baseball fan. I-Truth will offer a national perspective on sports in general and the Bulls and Bears. To get sense of I-Truth's persona, he is a fan of TO and Chad Johnson and just about every arrogant, talkative and bad-image sports player around. Welcome.
Stay tuned as we will be adding a part-time contributor for our baseball coverage.
-DaChiFan
25 Reasons Baseball Sucks
1) When do these people practice? 162 games over 7 months or so. Allen Iverson may have chosen the wrong sport. “We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?”
2) This year, the first regular season game was played on March 25. The following day the league continued with their preseason schedule.
3) Is there a more boring game to listen to on the radio or watch on TV? Hold on, let me check. Okay, after much research I’ve determined that golf is, in fact, more boring to listen to and watch.
4) Except for the handful of interleague games, half the league NEVER plays the other half. This week the White Sox played the Dodgers for the first time since the 1950’s!!!
5) It's the same 5 teams every year that compete for a title. Everyone else's responsibility is to play those teams.
6) The New York Yankees
7) Biggest story of the last ten years- Steroid and HGH (and a stained sock).
8) Having to hear the daily question, "Are you a Cubs fan or a Sox fan?"
9) Even worse, listening to daily radio conversation chastising fans for not supporting both teams. Leave me alone.
10) 75% of fans that attend the game could not tell you the final score (ya know… because they’re drunk).
11) Wrigleyville. Top 3 most annoying places in the world behind Disneyland's "It's a small world" ride and sitting next to Bill Walton at a basketball game.
12) $12 beers. For the average 250lb fan, it'll take em $70 to get a buzz. And if you’re a Sox fan, that’s a lot of drugs to sell.
13) There's more than 1 team named after colored socks.
14) Sportscenter's Top plays- Is it just me or is every single baseball highlight the same. A home run isn't a highlight, it’s just a replay that we’ve seen a million times before.
15) The DH- This person sits on the bench all day except for the 4 times he gets up to take a few swings. Usually he misses.
16) I timed an average of 26 seconds between pitches. But on the positive side, we get to listen to the announcers talk about what their grandkid did this weekend.
17) Average of 1 minute and 49 seconds between meaningful events (most often a fly out, strike out or a walk). I wanna kill that guy’s grandson.
18) Is it a fair? Is it foul? Who knows? Major league baseball: "We're not sure if it's fair or foul and we haven't been sure for 150 years, but this year- mid season- we're starting replay. Happy now???"
19) The best thing about the Cubs is that they HAVEN’T won in 100 years.
20) Pitchers rehab by throwing towels for 2 weeks.
21) Home run record broken!!! (6 months later). Home run record broken!!!
22) A pitcher "makes history" by throwing a no hitter. The next no-hitter will be the 257th. How has something that's happened 256 times still considered "history?"
23) It's more about pitcher vs pitcher than team vs team. In fact, it’s barely a team sport.
24) Baseball is the only sport where managers wear the same clothes as the players. Could you imagine Phil Jackson rocking a #23 purple Lakers Jersey.
25) This list was entirely too easy to make.
6.23.2008
What we're Missing
Its essentially the 130th minute of the Spain/Italy game on Sunday. I am sitting at a 45 degree angle, feet on the floor, behind barely on the seat and lost in Spain-ish adoration. I don't know why. Maybe its their great uniforms, the way they chant Ole, Ole, Ole!, or maybe my man crush on Cesc Fabregas (of my beloved Arsenal), but I have fallen for Spain and literally can't get up off my Sunday couch. "take me, Spanish caravan, yes I know you can.........."
There is simply no scientific or rational reason why an American and Egyptian should be wasting his rare beautiful Chicago Sunday sitting on a couch, yelling, screaming and rooting for a team/country he has no affiliation with.
Now I, like most anti-Patriots fans rooted like crazy when David Tyree plucked that Eli Manning pass in the Superbowl. But, we did that out of hate for Boston arrogance. We certainly didn't admire or like Eli Manning or PlexiGlass. No, we just were anti-rooting against the Pats. It could have been Eagles, Cowboys or even Lions in that Superbowl and we still would have rooted for the Pats to lose.
Euro 2008 is dissimilar in the sense that we actually root for an opposing country we have no affiliation with. Despite some similar hating instances (Friend openly hating Russia for their stereotypical coldness of a culture), Futbol fans attach themselves to faraway teams.
In my mind at least from a US perspective, I think its because we are missing something here in the States. Unlike any other sport, Futbol brings nation's together. When England plays Germany its not just a game, its a sequel to World War II. Absent the US Hockey team beating Russia (which I never cared about), we don't have anything similar here. This country seems to care more about golf and poker than Futbol. Plus, its not like the US futbol team is going to win it all in the near future.
So for now, consider me Spain-ish (or even Turkish against the Germans).
"Carry me Caravan take me away
Take me to Portugal, take me to Spain
Andalusia with fields full of grain
I have to see you again and again
Take me, Spanish Caravan
Yes, I know you can" -Doors
6.20.2008
6.16.2008
My Top Ten
Since I am not a baseball guy and the NFL and NBA are essentially in or about to be in off-season mode, I thought I would compile my top ten most memorable sports figures/events of my life. This isn't meant to be a top ten best players or players I most like, just the most memorable players or sports moments in my life. Here we go in order.
10. Diego Maradona. Yeah, weird right? Maradona was short, stocky and seemingly nonathletic. But, he was also one of the best futbol players to ever play. He was some weird merger of George Costanza and Steve Nash on the soccer field, weaving through endless helpless defenders. I first watched Maradona on a VHS tape during one of the 80's World Cups (86 I beleive). At that time, it was hard to find a live futbol game on in the states, but somehow my dad had taped every game with Maradona on it. I'll never forget him taking the ball from half-field and dribbling past defenders and slotting it in the back of the net. And of course, the hand of god goal was the moment that I said "I got to play this game".
9. Refrigerator Perry and 85 Bears. This stands out as the first sporting memory of my life. 85 Bears vs. Patriots in the Super Bowl. I distinctly remember my grade school in the week leading up the game. The whole school was wearing blue and orange, girls were wearing Bears chearleader outfits (still don't know how they got those). It was just mad Bears Hysteria. As for game day, I was at my sister's grungy apartment in Westmont, Illinois sitting on the ground because all the grown ups had the seats. I was just in awe as the Bears put a beatdown on those Pats. I'll never forget that.
8. MJ's autograph. It had to have been in '88 or '89. Must have been before before all the rings. Pop's had tickets from work. We went early and without knowing it was autograph night, where the first X fans got a photograph of the team and players were stationed throughout the Chicago Stadium giving autographs. Of course, I headed straight to MJ (as did everyone else), waiting in line for a long time and then... then met the best player to EVER play ball. I don't even think I said hi, or my name is X, I justed stared in awe. Like a deer in headlights. MJ, probably accustomed to this response just took the photograph and give his signature. Never have two words meant so much to me. (PS the only other autograph I could garner that night was Bill Cartwright's- Scottie and Horace blew me off).
7. Wold Cup 2006 live in Germany in Berlin in the Olympic Stadium (where the infamous Hitler photo at Olympics took place) amongst what had to be 70K plus screaming Sweden fans yelling "Svere" or something for 90 minutes. Absolutely, brilliant fan worship.
Also, in Munich chilling at a cafe at night after a Germany game. Germans won the game and 5 minutes later every Kraut in the city fell upon the plaza and just went crazy for an hour or so chanting and signing. That kind of shit just doesn't happen here.
6. Bulls losing to the Pistons twice in eastern conference finals. This is not so much of a memory as it is a nightmare. Both times I was at some weird family friend's place and both times Bulls get beaten. I think I cried. Pretty sure I saw my Dad cry. Pippen sure as hell cried or at least wet his pants. God, I hated those Pistons teams. Lambeer, Rodman, Isiah? Just Dirty.
5. First 9.7 seconds of Bears Superbowl versus Patriots in '06. I knew the Bears weren't as good as Colts. They peaked in week 4. But with losses to Tommie Harris and Mike Brown their defense wasn't the same. But for those 9.7 euphoric Devin Hester miracle seconds I thought we could win it. Like it was just destiny. God was like, sorry Colts I'm just a Bears fan, have always loved the Bears since George Hallas days or something.
4. My first MJ "holly f'in shit did he just do that moment". I can't remember the team, (although I think it was the Cavs or Atlanta), the year or who won the game (safe to say I think Bulls won). But, Jordan had a fast break dunk, went up did a 360 and jammed it in. And it wasn't like a Vince Carter power 360 dunk. It was like a "I am taking off, going to chill in the air awhile, my legs are going to do weird things, every muscle will be moving, most artistic dunk you have ever seen dunk"
3. Zidan (not the head-butt thing, although that was memorable) in Euro 2000 when France dominated every team. I was studying abroad in England. England of course was overrated and lost early on. But Zizou, my favorite futbol player of all time dominated that tournament like he was Pele. I still remember watching the tube as the french celebrated in the streets. I know american's are supposed to dislike the French. But I don't know why, but I love their futbol teams. Zizou especially.
2. Bulls sweeping the Pistons in 4. Sorry, SagiNasty but that was even better than beating the Lakers in the finals of that same year. I loved that the dirty Pistons wouldn't even shake the Bulls hand. No class at all. Jordan and Pippen finally get over the hump and Pistons franchise died (at least until recently). The Pistons, Lakers, Celtics chapter was over and the Bulls novel started.
1. Not a big surprise here. Jordan dribbling against the entire Utah team for a lay-up. Stealing the ball from a Karl Malone and hitting the game winning jumper to finish off the Jazz in 6 of the finals. And no, I refuse to admit that Jordan pushed off on that play. He didn't, it was just a bad camera angle that made people think so.
I also just recalled yesterday that this was Game 6 in Utah. Pippen's back hurt, the whole team sucked. Jordan was possibly sick with influenza or something and a loss meant a game 7 in Utah. If Jordan's doesn't hit that shot, Bulls could have potentially lost (PS No way Bulls lose with MJ playing in Game 7 anyway. Just couldn't happen with him still with two legs and two arms).
6.11.2008
Wait , Refs give out Star Treatment?
Tim Donaghy's lawyer filed court documents alleging that NBA referees have decided the outcome of games by giving preferential treatment to certain teams, star players, or to create game 7 match ups that boost ratings and dollars. Is this supposed to be news? The NBA by far has the most inept referees out of any major league sports (excluding European Futbol which is evidently run by the mafia). Half of the NBA refs look like gangsters or mafia folk. The slick backed hair referee should have been on the Sopranos. The other half of the referees are too old (Dick Bevata) or women (sorry, this is terrible but true, so far women haven't cut it as NBA refs).
Put simply, NBA referees would have a hard time calling a pick up game (Merel's pick up games especially). They wouldn't know a traveling call if Patrick Ewing whispered in their ear that a traveling violation occurred (Case in point, Game 2 of Celtics-Lakers, Vladicic or whatever his name is break away traveling dunk). Even worse, they are way too easily swayed by home court fans and whining coaches (see Phil Jackson).
For example, my relative Omar asked before game 3 whether Kobe would put up 30 points (he likes to bet) in Game 3. I told him that the odds of Kobe scoring 30 were about 100%. I argued that Kobe would get at least 20 foul attempts at Staples (Sorry, off by two. he had 18). I knew it, Boston knew it, and hell David Stern knew it. This makes no rational sense. Referees should call fouls and violations because they see a foul violation, not because Boston is in on their home court or Phil Jackson or Mark Cuban whines about foul calls. The sanctity of the NBA is threatened more by these manipulable refs than by Donaghy himself.
So sorry if I'm not surprised that referees are/were intentionally calling games a certain way to benefit a team or player (even I must admit MJ got some dubious calls). When your best referees are an 80 year old and a Soprano character, this is bound to happen.
So what's the result? It results in people like myself turning off the game with 4 minutes to go because Rajan Rondo got called for a non-foul on Kobe Bryant. When calls like these are so predictable, it makes the NBA seem more like WWF wrestling than NBA basketball.
Put simply, NBA referees would have a hard time calling a pick up game (Merel's pick up games especially). They wouldn't know a traveling call if Patrick Ewing whispered in their ear that a traveling violation occurred (Case in point, Game 2 of Celtics-Lakers, Vladicic or whatever his name is break away traveling dunk). Even worse, they are way too easily swayed by home court fans and whining coaches (see Phil Jackson).
For example, my relative Omar asked before game 3 whether Kobe would put up 30 points (he likes to bet) in Game 3. I told him that the odds of Kobe scoring 30 were about 100%. I argued that Kobe would get at least 20 foul attempts at Staples (Sorry, off by two. he had 18). I knew it, Boston knew it, and hell David Stern knew it. This makes no rational sense. Referees should call fouls and violations because they see a foul violation, not because Boston is in on their home court or Phil Jackson or Mark Cuban whines about foul calls. The sanctity of the NBA is threatened more by these manipulable refs than by Donaghy himself.
So sorry if I'm not surprised that referees are/were intentionally calling games a certain way to benefit a team or player (even I must admit MJ got some dubious calls). When your best referees are an 80 year old and a Soprano character, this is bound to happen.
So what's the result? It results in people like myself turning off the game with 4 minutes to go because Rajan Rondo got called for a non-foul on Kobe Bryant. When calls like these are so predictable, it makes the NBA seem more like WWF wrestling than NBA basketball.
6.10.2008
Benz-Gone
I have to admit it, I fell in love with Cedric Benson on draft day. It was 2005 and I was sitting at my relative Omar's Northwestern apartment, made for partying (although I don't think they do that at NU). I knew next to nothing about the man I called Benz-on (a counterpoint to "Cadillac" Williams). Omar's roommate, an Oakland Raiders fan said, "you guys are gonna just love Benson, he was great in college". Benson seemed to be the ideal pick. He had a great college resume, was durable and could carry the load of Bears "get off the bus running" offense.
I fell in romantic-comedy love even more when Benson started crying after he was selected. I loved it. Benson had heart, passion and some unknown past that he was seemingly overcoming. He acted like he got passed over because the Dolphins picked Ronnie Brown a relative unknown and half-used running back at Auburn. Maybe he held a little grudge, maybe he wanted vindication on the NFL football field to prove his doubters wrong. I didn't know, I just loved that this guy had something different in him.
Boy was I f'n wrong. The You-Tube Texas highlight reel (on this page somewhere) Benson never showed up to the NFL. Its almost as if the real Cedric Benson is sitting somewhere waiting for Jerry Angelo to call him to report for his first training camp.
But like an abused wife, I kept on loving the guy. When he failed to beat out Thomas Jones, I lashed out calling Thomas Jones overrated (which I think he was). When he couldn't carry the rock for the Bears last year, I never blamed him. Instead, I pointed the finger at the offensive line.
Worse, last year with my second pick in my fantasy draft I selected Benson over the likes of Adrien Peterson. I started him almost every game hoping he would retrieve his Texas style running. Never happened. Instead, he got hurt on his largest running play of the year, and likely his career.
For some reason it never happened with Benson. Maybe that crying on draft day was Benson's graduation day. Maybe he was crying because he felt he had already made it. Were they tears of joy pouring like the dollars he would soon receive? I don't know. All I know is just like the promising Tank Johnson Bears career, Cedric Benson is gone.
As for my man love? Don't worry I just got out of that lousy relationship. I showed Benson the door. Even better, I am thinking about dating again. That Matt Forte sure looks good.
See Cedric's Texas highlight reel here.
I fell in romantic-comedy love even more when Benson started crying after he was selected. I loved it. Benson had heart, passion and some unknown past that he was seemingly overcoming. He acted like he got passed over because the Dolphins picked Ronnie Brown a relative unknown and half-used running back at Auburn. Maybe he held a little grudge, maybe he wanted vindication on the NFL football field to prove his doubters wrong. I didn't know, I just loved that this guy had something different in him.
Boy was I f'n wrong. The You-Tube Texas highlight reel (on this page somewhere) Benson never showed up to the NFL. Its almost as if the real Cedric Benson is sitting somewhere waiting for Jerry Angelo to call him to report for his first training camp.
But like an abused wife, I kept on loving the guy. When he failed to beat out Thomas Jones, I lashed out calling Thomas Jones overrated (which I think he was). When he couldn't carry the rock for the Bears last year, I never blamed him. Instead, I pointed the finger at the offensive line.
Worse, last year with my second pick in my fantasy draft I selected Benson over the likes of Adrien Peterson. I started him almost every game hoping he would retrieve his Texas style running. Never happened. Instead, he got hurt on his largest running play of the year, and likely his career.
For some reason it never happened with Benson. Maybe that crying on draft day was Benson's graduation day. Maybe he was crying because he felt he had already made it. Were they tears of joy pouring like the dollars he would soon receive? I don't know. All I know is just like the promising Tank Johnson Bears career, Cedric Benson is gone.
As for my man love? Don't worry I just got out of that lousy relationship. I showed Benson the door. Even better, I am thinking about dating again. That Matt Forte sure looks good.
See Cedric's Texas highlight reel here.
6.09.2008
Bulls reportedly offer coaching gig to Del Negro
John Paxson is set to hire "the closest thing to himself" as the new coach of the Bulls. John Paxson in his several month struggle to find someone he can relate to, has decided to offer the Bulls coaching vacancy to his NBA twin, Vinny Del Negro. Del Negro is a white former NBA basketball player, who could shoot, wore small tight basketball shorts, and whose bio would read "overachiever" whose lack of athleticism made him a perfect 3-point shooter. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Paxson probably took one look at Del Negro and fell in love with himself again.
Joking aside. I have no idea if Del Negro will be a good coach. But here is the problem, neither does John Paxson or anyone for that matter, because Del Negro has NEVER coached before. Not even sat at the end of Phil Jackson's coaching posse bench. I mean Patrick F'in Ewing has coaching experience! I'll give credit to Paxson for taking such a large risk. I hope it pays off.
Joking aside. I have no idea if Del Negro will be a good coach. But here is the problem, neither does John Paxson or anyone for that matter, because Del Negro has NEVER coached before. Not even sat at the end of Phil Jackson's coaching posse bench. I mean Patrick F'in Ewing has coaching experience! I'll give credit to Paxson for taking such a large risk. I hope it pays off.
6.08.2008
DUI- Dont drink and drive if you are Un-Impressive
Head to Head- Jared Allen vs. Cedric Benson
Jared Allen, then of the Chiefs, now of the Vikings was arrested for TWO DUIs in the span of one year. As a reward for his actions, Allen was given the largest salary for a defensive end from his new employer, the Minnesota Vikings. Sports commentators regard Allen as one of the top defensive ends in the league. His coach, Brad Childress offered his own praise:
"I think he is ready to have a positive influence on this team and on this organization, both on and off the field."
Cedric Benson of the Bears was recently arrested for a DUI, just several months after allegeldy boating while intoxicated (although there seems to be a strong suspicion that he was arrested for "boating while black"). While being a high draft pick for the Bears, Benson has largely disappointed as a professional running back. He was unable to beat out an over-hyped Thomas Jones and couldn't escape defensives last year despite being the full-time starter (in his defense the Bears OL couldn't block a defensive line of Michael Hayneses). Benson's GM, Jerry Anghelo had this to say about Benson, "Disappointment is too much an often-used word when we're talking about Cedric"
So why the large discrepancy between both DUI level players? The answer is obvious. We are willing to forget someone's terrible DUI record, his drug record, or even his death record (Didn't Leanord Little of the Rams kill a mother while driving while intoxicated?), if he can play ball. Jared Allen is an elite DE in this league. Benson would seem more adept at carrying groceries than a football. The media and the fans forgive greatness, we don't forgive mediocrity.
If Benson wants to overturn the public condemnation, his better bet is to start running the rock like Walter Payton than hiring the best lawyer in town. As a Bears fan its sad to say, but I would rather see Benson beat the Vikings defense than his DUI rap sheet. His forgiveness lies in yards gained in the football field and not in dollars given to his lawyer.
Jared Allen, then of the Chiefs, now of the Vikings was arrested for TWO DUIs in the span of one year. As a reward for his actions, Allen was given the largest salary for a defensive end from his new employer, the Minnesota Vikings. Sports commentators regard Allen as one of the top defensive ends in the league. His coach, Brad Childress offered his own praise:
"I think he is ready to have a positive influence on this team and on this organization, both on and off the field."
Cedric Benson of the Bears was recently arrested for a DUI, just several months after allegeldy boating while intoxicated (although there seems to be a strong suspicion that he was arrested for "boating while black"). While being a high draft pick for the Bears, Benson has largely disappointed as a professional running back. He was unable to beat out an over-hyped Thomas Jones and couldn't escape defensives last year despite being the full-time starter (in his defense the Bears OL couldn't block a defensive line of Michael Hayneses). Benson's GM, Jerry Anghelo had this to say about Benson, "Disappointment is too much an often-used word when we're talking about Cedric"
So why the large discrepancy between both DUI level players? The answer is obvious. We are willing to forget someone's terrible DUI record, his drug record, or even his death record (Didn't Leanord Little of the Rams kill a mother while driving while intoxicated?), if he can play ball. Jared Allen is an elite DE in this league. Benson would seem more adept at carrying groceries than a football. The media and the fans forgive greatness, we don't forgive mediocrity.
If Benson wants to overturn the public condemnation, his better bet is to start running the rock like Walter Payton than hiring the best lawyer in town. As a Bears fan its sad to say, but I would rather see Benson beat the Vikings defense than his DUI rap sheet. His forgiveness lies in yards gained in the football field and not in dollars given to his lawyer.
6.02.2008
These aren't your 80's Lakers and Celtics
This week NBA fans are going to be overloaded with flashbacks of the Magic Lakers and Bird Celtics in hype-preparation for this year's Lakers, Celtics finals. I remember the showtime Lakers. Magic, Worthy, Cooper, and Kareem. The Celtics with Bird, McHale, Parish and Johnson. Those teams were truly great, packed with hall-of-famers and two of the top three (in my opinion) basketball players to ever play (Bird and Magic), and one of the top centers in Kareem to ever put on a jersey (college or NBA). And although I was young at the time to appreciate the golden age of NBA basketball, I still knew that I was watching the pure, un-marketed, truth; greatness.
This year's Lakers Celtics finals might be a good series, but they ain't no 80's Lakers-Celtics teams. Kobe can be electric, but seems to want to prove a point, rather than score points. Gasol is a good PF, but honestly, if he wasn't traded he would have been as well known as Rick Smits. The only true greatness the Lakers have going for them is Kobe (when he decides he wants to prove something) and Phil Jackson.
The Celtics? Well, I love KG. Love the intensity and his ability to do everything on the basketball court. Not since Pippen, has a player performed so well in every facet of the game. But, Pierce is getting old and inconsistent. Is it me, or has Paul Pierce aged about 20 years in the last year? His jump shot looks more Patrick Ewing every minute. Ray Allen? Ray Allen was out played by Wally Z. in the Cleveland series. I do love the form of that J. But the J is now more Joke worthy than Jesus worthy (Get it, Jesus Shuttlesworth in he got game? Yeah that was a stretch).
So, as much as ABC/ESPN is going to pound the similarity to the old Lakers and Celtics teams, my response is "I know the 80's Lakers and Celtics, and you sir, are no Lakers and Celtics).
This year's Lakers Celtics finals might be a good series, but they ain't no 80's Lakers-Celtics teams. Kobe can be electric, but seems to want to prove a point, rather than score points. Gasol is a good PF, but honestly, if he wasn't traded he would have been as well known as Rick Smits. The only true greatness the Lakers have going for them is Kobe (when he decides he wants to prove something) and Phil Jackson.
The Celtics? Well, I love KG. Love the intensity and his ability to do everything on the basketball court. Not since Pippen, has a player performed so well in every facet of the game. But, Pierce is getting old and inconsistent. Is it me, or has Paul Pierce aged about 20 years in the last year? His jump shot looks more Patrick Ewing every minute. Ray Allen? Ray Allen was out played by Wally Z. in the Cleveland series. I do love the form of that J. But the J is now more Joke worthy than Jesus worthy (Get it, Jesus Shuttlesworth in he got game? Yeah that was a stretch).
So, as much as ABC/ESPN is going to pound the similarity to the old Lakers and Celtics teams, my response is "I know the 80's Lakers and Celtics, and you sir, are no Lakers and Celtics).
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