Tuesday Morning Thoughts: Keeping it Short

1. I am pretty confident that the Chicago Bears will be terrible next year.

2. On a scale of 1-10, I am at 6 with my excitement for the Bulls’ playoff games. I am starting to like the strong bench with Brad Miller and Tim Thomas, the energy of Ty and Noah and the ability of Salmons. But, then again they will likely lose in 5 to the Cavs or Celtics.

3. I am overly impressed with Blake Griffin.

4. I am totally unimpressed with any of the remaining players on the final four teams. Thabeet is too slow and has no post game. Ty Lawson is okay. I like the corn-row guy on U-Con. But, I just don’t see any excellent players.

5. A lot of Gisselle Bunchen lately. Which is nice.

6. Just bought a Tivo HD system to replace the shitty Comcast DVR receiver. I feel free.

7. Falling in love with Dan Patrick again due to his live podcasts on SI. No homo of course.

8. Looking forward to Fogo De Chao. Thanks SagiNasty.

9. I think I need to write another update on the Vinny Del Negro rating’s scale. I think he’s back up to being a mediocre/average coach. Having better players sure does help.

10. I am still on the Tyrus Thomas and Y. Noah wagon. They are what we thought they were. Good players who won’t win you a championship by themselves but are still great to have.

11. On that note, still not overly sold on Ben Gordon. I love this instant offense, but it’s too difficult playing defense with Rose and him on the floor at the same time. I’d like to see Salmons at the two, with BG coming off the bench. However, this would require us to play Luol “MIA” Deng.

12. I hope UConn. goes down just like my alma matter, IU went down. How on earth is it okay to have a student manager on your team who is also an NBA sports’ agent? Too many text messages? Terrible. Your student manager is the agent for Rip Hamilton? No problem.

13. This is Lebron James’ world and we are just living in it.

14. Despite my disgust at the media’s love affair with Lebron, I am impressed with his team-oriented focus. He often will make the simple pass and trust his teammates.

15. Still not sold on Cleveland winning the title. If Boston can get healthy, I still go with them. Same with the Lakers if Bynum can get healthy. I also wouldn’t be surprised by a Spurs run. They’ve never gone back to back, but they often go, Championship, playoff loss, Championship. But Manu may be too hurt.

16. I am pretty sure that David Stern would give away his left lung for an NBA finals matchup of Kobe vs. Lebron.

17. Not excited for the baseball season.

18. I enjoy the Heineken commercial with the girls walk-in closet, followed by the guys Heineken refrigerator walk-in.

19. Winter refuses to give up. Let it go. Seriously.

20. Stay in Memphis.

21. I miss MJ. Watch this clip below. (forgotten Game 1 vs. Celtics in playoffs (i.e. not the 63 point game, just 49 points). Start watching at the 1 min. mark.

March Madness Fogo Challenge Update

DaChiFan currently leads SagiNasty 99 to 96 in the 1 on 1 tourney challenge. Winner get's treated to Fogo De Chao by the loser. DaChifan succesfully picked 3 out of the 4 final four teams and has UNC beating UCon. in the final. Whereas SagiNasty only has 2 out of 4 teams in the final four, with his champion, Pittsburgh already out. DaChifan can taste that garlic beef steak now.

Tuesday Morning Thoughts: Death of the Basketball Big Man

1. One thing I’ve noticed from watching the opening round of NCAA games is that there are really no great low post scorers anymore. Besides Blake Griffin or Pitts’ DeJuan Blair, I don’t see any great scoring big men. The college game has trended towards three point shooters. Small and power forwards now typically step outside and shoot the three. Gone are the days of Hakim Olajuwon, Barkley, Duncan, Ewing, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar. Gone are the days of post moves. Gone are the days of the big man.

2. We also see this phenomenon in NBA basketball. Of course, there are still “big men” in basketball. Duncan, Yao Ming, and maybe even that Jefferson kid in Minnesota come to mind when I think of big men that have low post moves similar to the NBA’s glory days when you had guys like Hakim, Malone, Barkley, Jabar, Moses Malone, Ewing, etc., who could post up a man and use a litany of moves to score inside. That’s not to say that guys like Dwight Howard are not “big men”. But Dwight Howard doesn’t have any post moves. Like Shaq, he relies on pure strength and size to get the ball in the hoop. This is fine. It’s still two points. But Howard is no Olajuwon. Hakim had all sorts of pump fakes, up and unders, and spins and hooks. Howard, the new prototypical big man, has maybe a half hook.

3. And of course as an NBA fan I blame this on college basketball. It’s not all their fault, but why don’t college coaches teach big men how to play inside? Out of all the players in college basketball, we can only name 2, 3 or even 4 at most who have the type of skills of a Moses Malone? I would love to go on, but it still puzzles me that a lot of college players do not come to the NBA with skills and fundamentals.

4. Maybe it isn’t the coaches’ fault; maybe it’s the players, the emphasis on the zone defense, great inside defense or college’s 3 point system? You also rarely ever see guards pass the ball down low to big men in the NCAA tournament. For ¾ of the shot clock, all you see are passes near the 3 point line and an occasional weave run just inside the 3 point arc. With all the 3 point shooting and a reluctance of college players to take anything into the paint, maybe the “big man” just says, “fuck it, I’ll just take the ball up top and shoot threes too”. In the big man’s defense, there is nothing more depressing that watching your 5 foot nothing point guard jack up crazy threes, while you bang on the inside. Maybe 1 out 10 possessions Mugsy Boes will pass you the ball down low. But the other 9 times, he’s taking his man for a fall away 3 pointer.

5. I guess I am being my overly critical self again. But, what is wrong with wanting to watch a 6ft 10 player actually play near the hoop. I don’t want to see Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnet hoist up three pointers. I want to go back to the 90’s when the same players were posting up and hitting great fade aways over people, dunking, and using the occasional pump fake for a reverse layup.

6. Instead, I am left with Tyrus Thomas and Y. Noah who have never even heard of the word “post-move”. Gone are the days of a Charles Barkley’s ass maneuver (yes, I said ass. Barkley used his ass like a stripper in Vegas), or a Patrick Ewing 10 foot fade way, an Olajuwon up and under, or a Jabar sky hook. All we are left with are some Antoine Walker like threes.

More random thoughts……

7. SagiNasty and I dismissed Syracuse on our chat last week. They actually have a lot of skill players who can shoot the ball. They are fun to watch and should be given a lot of credit for advancing to the Sweet 16. But, luck has a huge part in this as well. They played S.F. Austin who resembled a high-school team. Two of Austin’ss starting players were below 5 feet 4 inches. I submit that almost any team in the bracket besides maybe Morehead St. would have beaten them. Syracuse then beat Arizona State, a team that should be described simply as a “poor man’s” Syracuse. No big man presence and basically a bunch of guys jacking up three pointers. Syracuse deserved to win those games, but they also got lucky playing a high school team and the Syracuse JV team. I haven’t even mentioned that Syracuse unfairly received a 3 seed in the tournament. They went 11-7 in their conference. Meanwhile, Marquette who finished 12-6 in the same conference received a 6th seed. So the tournament officials gave Syracuse a 3 seed and matched them up in a bracket with an automatic win in the first round and an Arizona State team (who hadn’t made the tournament since 2003 ) in the 2nd round. All of this because they got second place in the Big-East tournament, while playing every game on its home court in NY? Considering that the NCAA tournament committee rarely places any emphasis on conference tournament games, it seems quite suspicious that Syracuse got such an easy schedule into the Sweet 16. Also consider that Marquette, who finished with a better record than Syracuse in the Big East, had a 6th seed and had to play Missouri (the 3 seed in that regional) in the 2nd round. I wonder what would have happened if Marquette and Syracuse switched places?

8. This just goes to show how much luck plays a part in the NCAA tournament. Luckily, with the Sweet 16, on average the better teams are going to win and luck will play less of a factor.

9. The Bears continue to sit out the NFL. They are just taking a pass on this whole off-season thing. Lovie Smith believes that free agency is a red herring. From his comments, he believes that free agency is not a magic silver bullet that could cure the Bears’ troubles. TJ Housh? No, he won’t help us. Jay Cutler? Why bother when you have neck-beard on your team. No, instead Lovie believes that his role as a defensive coordinator and the brilliant Marinelli can turn around the Bears’ fortunes.

10. Actually, I am sort of okay with Lovie’s strategy. Because if the Bears’ fail again this year, we will only have him to blame. The buck stops at you Lovie!

11. The USA got ousted by Japan in the RCBC, the Random Country Baseball classic.

12. Arsenal plays Villareal in the next round of the Champions League. A pretty good draw if you ask me. Liverpool takes on the hated Chelsea.

13. Condoleezza Rice spoke at the NFL owners meetings this past week. She supposedly offered the owners and management words of wisdom. Here are my words of wisdom. Don’t listen to anything Condoleezza Rice tells you. Based on Peter King’s column she advised the owners to look overseas for expansion. King’s quote specifically stated, “Condoleezza Rice tells the NFL to look globally” and that she was quoted as saying, “history has a long arc”. You can’t make this sort of shit up. Let’s hope the NFL doesn’t invade a foreign country, come in, occupy land to play football, before realizing that no country outside of the US likes football, which would eventually require some sort of “exit strategy” to pull out the NFL “troops” (aka players) from said foreign country. Besides, has Rice never heard of NFL Europe? What’s next- a speech from Dick Cheney discussing “in-game torture” tactics?

14. The Bears open the NFL season AWAY at Green Bay. Again, for what seems like the 10th straight year, the Bears open up away. It was Baltimore, then San Diego, Detroit a couple of times, and now its f’n away at Green Bay. Why can’t the Bears start the season at home?

March Madness Fogo Challenge.

As of today, SagiNasty holds a 52 to 47 lead against DaChiFan in the Fogo Challenge (winner pays for Fogo de Chao). DaChifan correctly picked 13 out of the 16 Sweet 16 teams. Unfortunately, Wake Forest's first round exit had devastating results for his bracket.

SagiNasty correctly picked 14 of the Sweet 16 teams. He also had Wake Forest beating Louisville to the elite 8. The only real difference between the two was DaChiFan's stupid pick of FSU to the Sweet 16.

To win, DaChifan could use losses to Oklahoma (Sags has Oklahoma over NC) and even Pittsburgh (Sags national champion).

All in all it was an okay first round. Actually, it wasn't that great. We were forced to watch a lot of Wisconsin basketball, which is sort of like watching a 1-0 baseball game. No big surprises. No Cinderellas. Just a lot of three pointers.

DaChiFan/SagiNasty NCAA Tourney Chat: Fogo is on the Line.

DaChiFan: So let's start with this question: What is your March Madness theory? How do you go about picking teams?

SagiNasty: I try to watch every game possible, from the Maui Invitational down to all the conference tournaments. Even the Small College ones. Even the NAIA tournement.

I feel this gives me a good foundation from which to base my picks on...

DaChiFan: We have a guru here. A budding young Doug Gottlieb.

Honestly, what's your theory?

SagiNasty: Well, I try the read as many experts picks on the main sites, like SI, ESPN, etc.

I get a consensus of the picks, a feeling if you will, then based on those I make alterations as I see fit.For example, I think this is the kind of year that the Big Ten does some work in the tourney. I feel this not only because I am a Spartan fan, but because the Big Ten is heavy on the defense this year. The Kind of defense that other teams hate playing.

DaChiFan: I get your strategy. I think it makes sense except for the fact that none of these experts on ESPN, et. al. no what the hell they are talking about. They all have these hidden biases (read ACC). But's a fair strategy. I tried it last year, but it didn't really work since it was the first year (in a while I think ) that all #1 seeds made it. So this year, I'm trying something new. I'm just going with my gut intuition. Sort of like the theory behind that Malcolm Gladwell book "Blink"; to just go with your first thought. The only problem is that I am not an expert and this is bound to fail.

SagiNasty: Well, that is because you are a boob. And you went to Indiana, weened on Bobby Knight basketball.

DaChiFan: Please don't lump me with that pile of shit. Anyway, I've also considered looking at Vegas odds for all the first round games and odds of teams making the Final Four, but that doesn't give you too much info.

SagiNasty: I have read that Vegas does the best job at picking these games.

DaChiFan: Anyway, let's examine your Big-Ten theory. I like it except, you can't tell which Big Ten will make it. They all play good defense, but are just as likely to lose in the 2nd round as they are of going to the final four. Who can you rely on? Your Spartans?

SagiNasty: You usually can rely on the Spartans for a deep run every couple years, so I tend to err on the side of bias there and always pick the spartans to go deep. As for picking the rest of the Big Ten, it really is a gut feeling based on matchups and completely random factors. There is no logical rhyme or reason for who I pick from the Big Ten.

DaChiFan: I think you are getting to the big issue here. It's impossible, besides some random gut feeling, to pick the NCAA tourney. For the most part, it's just luck. That's why the 67 year old office secretary ends up wining these things every year.

Well, let's look at the Bracket- With the Midwest region, we both have Mich. State going to the final four. Which basically means they are losing in 2nd round.

SagiNasty: My bracket would really not like that to happen. By the way, are we putting anything on this little mano-a-mano bracket battle royal?

DaChiFan: oh yeah. Definitely. What's the wager. I propose lunch at some nice place.

SagiNasty: Do you not still owe me lunch at a certain meat-centric restaurant on the near north side of Chicago? Based on a certain Pistons-Bulls bet a couple years ago?

DaChiFan: Uhhhhhh. Yeah, let's forget that ever happened. If I win, we just go out to Fogo and split the tab. If you win, I actually pick up the tab this time.

SagiNasty: Yes, that sounds lovely. I agree. What are your thoughts on the rest of the backside of the Midwest bracket?

DaChiFan: I can't get with the whole Louisville phenomenon. Just can't do it. I know they won the Big East, but they had the advantage of the easier schedule. Also, I can't stand Kansas and Bill Self. So it's really Wake Forest to me. I'm a closet ACC fan, so I like their chances to get to the elite 8.

SagiNasty: I agree on Louisville. They split with UConn and Pitt, and both games were at Lousiville. I do like Arizona, mostly because teams like Utah need a stud to advance (Van Horn, Andre Miller) and because I have a co-worker who roots for the Wildcats. Although their program is in disarray, I think they have a game in them against the Utes. I also like OSU because of the spanking they delivered to MSU Saturday and who the hell is Siena and why are they an 9?

DaChiFan: I thought you watched the Maui Invitational? You would have noticed Siena's prowess. Again, I think we both have a Big Ten bias and an emphasis on the defense factor. No one is prepared for the 38-31 score line that only a Big-Ten team could deliver.

Alright, let's go on to the West bracket. We both have Uconn advancing. Another sign that our brackets are terrible. I love Hakim Thabeet from UConn. He provides them with that strong NBA post presence that no one else in the tourney has. But, is it enough for them? I really don't know. People seem to love Memphis though. Thoughts?

SagiNasty: I think that Memphis plays NO ONE in their conference. I have no faith that they will dominate the way the did last year with your boy Rose. I think they go out to a good Missu team in the 16s. I also heard that Marquette's lead scorer is out, thus the Utah State pick, which goes against everything I said earlier about Utah. I have Cal beating Maryland, but that is based on nothing except I think more people picked Cal than Maryland.

DaChiFan: I just looked up Conference USA and their teams. Memphis plays against the following teams: Rice, UAB, East Carolina, UCF, Tulsa, UTEP, Houston, Tulane, and Marshall. I think Indiana might have won that conference. So like you, I don't have the confidence in Memphis. I do worry about UConn. I could see a team like Purdue beating them. Or a Missouri going all the way.

SagiNasty: I think Purdue has a good team. I am not that huge a fan of Thabeet on UConn, he has a Okafor type game. But UConn almost always has superior type talent, so unless someone comes inspired against them, I think that UConn wins that game.

SagiNasty: By the way, how bad does that Okafor vs. Howard draft talk from a couple years ago look now? I know that I thought Okefor was the better choice at the time, but Howard is a freaking beast. I know nothing.

DaChiFan: Without a doubt. I wouldn't be surprised if Okafor played in the NBDL in a couple of years. Well let's move on to the South bracket, where we actually have some differences. But first, how much do you hate that ugly white dude on Syracuse-Erik Devendorf. Just google ugly white Syracuse on google and his name will appear.

SagiNasty: Hold on, let me take a look. That is not what comes up in a google search.

DaChiFan: it was a joke. google his name.

SagiNasty: yikes.

DaChiFan: Not just his looks, but his play. He is always yelling, screaming and talking trash. He's an even uglier version of Youkim Noah.

SagiNasty: I have long held the belief that the Chicago Bulls, circa 08-09 have one of the ugliest teams ever photographed.

DaChiFan: Sorry, I even brought that up. The Pistons are just beautiful. Like that Rat face Rip Hamilton. P.S. Bulls are going to beat the Celtics thanks to Salmons. Where did that guy come from?

SagiNasty: Apparently the U. Not a bad player, really.

DaChiFan: Alright, South Bracket. You have Oklahoma and I have NC. Oklahoma is one of the worst picks of the tournament. Think Kansas State with Michael Beasley, but maybe 5% better. I think K. State lost in the first round last year. (a) You can't cheer a team from Oklahoma, (b) again it's Oklahoma, and (c) the Big 12 is not that good. Kansas should have lost that game to Memphis last year. I think Oklahoma and that conference are overrated.

SagiNasty: I disagree. I like the way that Blake Griffin plays. I think that Oklahoma is going to make up for its football team's thrashing at the hands of Tebow. Who is going to go to a smart NFL team and dom-in-ate. I know I am in the minority on this. I think that Syracuse, which is the sweetheart pick because of their 6 OT game against UConn, is in danger of being upset from playing so much ball the last couple weeks. If they played anybody decent in their first two games- This is where you might find an unexpected upset, but I am going with Leatherface and the rest of the Cuse to the round of 16. I also can not pick NC coming out of this bracket, even thought they face no one on their side of it. Thus, the Oklahoma pick.

DaChiFan: I completely agree with the Syracuse point. Syracuse seems to do this every other year. You don't hear about them until the Big East Tourney. They are essentially playing at home in Madison Square Garden in front of their fans, go on a crazy run in Big-East Tourney, and then everyone gets on their bandwagon for the NCAA Tourney. Except that they usually lose in the 1st round. Hence, my pick predicted theylose to Arizona St (who I have never in my life seen play basketball). Again, I don't see Oklahoma. They have been playing their worst basketball towards the end of the season b/c of Griffin's injury. It's an easy one here. NC all the way. Oh and by the way, Tebow sucks in the NFL.

SagiNasty: Hate on Tebow all you want, but prepared to be wrong my friend. I took the Western Kentucky 5-12 upset against the Illini not because WKU is such a good team, but b/c Illinois senior leader what’s-his-name is out. And because I cannot bring myself to root for Illinois basketball. You also made this pick. I am guessing it is based on the same sound logic as mine.

DaChiFan: 100% same logic. Not feeling Illinois.

No idea about Gonzaga, but I have them going to sweet 16, solely on their overrated name.

DaChiFan: Give me the East breakdown. We essentially have the exact same bracket absent Xavier in the Sweet 16. I gave this to Pittsburgh, only because there is one else to root for in this bracket. And I'm not high on this Duke team - too soft down low. I don't understand why Coach K keeps on fielding these soft teams with no inside presence. It's not working for him. It will get you some wins in the ACC, but once it's tournament time you need that defense.

SagiNasty: "Too soft down low" is also a good description of your body type, but you are right, this fits for Duke too. I like Minnesota over Clemson for no other reason than big ten bias. UCLA is an easy pick I think, which is why they will lose in the first round. I think Villanova runs over the backside of this East bracket and fits Pitt for the trip to Detroit (hooray...). I also think that Wisconsin gives basketball powerhouse FSU a Bo Ryan special and upsets the seminoles in a classic 42-37 game.

DaChiFan: Well done. Only a girl’s high school team is prepared for the 42-37 score line that Wisconsin is likely to serve to FSU. I only chose FSU because I felt like I needed a random team to make it to the Sweet 16. FSU fits the bill. But they did make it to the ACC championship game (I think). You have Pittsburgh winning it all. You do realize that this is college basketball and not the NFL, right? Don't they have a history of not getting past the sweet 16?

SagiNasty: This is Pitts year, I can feel it. I have no real basis for this decision other than everybody seems to be real high on them.

DaChiFan: “Everyone being really high on them” is a recipe for an early round loss. But, my reasoning for NC to win it all is no better. I just can't think of any other team to win it. They seem to have the easiest path to the Final Four. So it's more of a risk adverse thing. I figure they will get to the Final 4, so they have at least a 25% chance of winning it all. I noticed that you have Michigan State in the title game. I can see the home team bias taking you to the Final 4, but past that, you are letting your emotions get in the way. They don't have what it takes to win it all. Whose their go to guy?

SagiNasty: I am glad that you asked. Kalin Lucas was Big Ten Player of the year. Travis Walton was Big Team Defensive Player of the Year. They are going to reek havoc on other teams backcourts. They have the depth up front with Suton and Morgan, along with their deep bench, to withstand the size that a UConn or any other team will throw at them. The OSU game should not be determinative because 1) Izzo could give two shits about the Big Ten Tourney 2) MSU could not hit an outside shot if their lives depended on it that game, and 3) OSU was playing crazy inspired defense. Lucas is their go-to player.

DaChiFan: Sorry, I don't buy it. The Big-Ten had a deep conference this year, but no elite teams. Michigan State may get to the Final Four, but that's it.

Alright, it's getting late. Any final thoughts? Are we taking Friday off to catch the games?

SagiNasty: hmm....

DaChiFan: Just like good old times?

SagiNasty: That would be lovely, but alas life has caught up with me this year and the profession demands my time. Thank the Lord for webstreaming.

DaChiFan: I think I will be at home or at a pub watching the games. There is no better feeling than not working AND watching the opening round.

SagiNasty: I hate you.

DaChiFan: Alright.... I can taste the Fogo now.

SagiNasty: And I can envision the smile on my face when you are paying for my bill sucka.