Efficiency At It's Highest?

How good were the Boston Celtics during the 2007-2008 NBA season? I got to thinking this question when I looked through some of the most efficient games in the last 22 years. Only 3 teams have been able to shoot better than 55% from the field, 70% from downtown, and 100% from the line. Ladies and gentleman I present to you the 2008 TORONTO RAPTORS? Yes, one of the greatest offensive performances in NBA history had Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon in the starting lineup. What blows my mind even more than this is that the Boston Celtics only lost by 2! The only other 2 times a team was this efficient were in 1994, and 1990 with the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks respectively, and they won by an average of 26 points.




More from me after I watch this game with my own eyes...

1st Quarter:

-Oh this might make some sense, first Raptors possession is a turnover. Not taking shots that eventually miss will help out the percentages in the long run.

-Having not looked at Calderon carefully last year, I can't help but notice how the ball is on a string for this guy. Easy to see why he led the league in assist to turnover ratio. Also, Raptors start game going 5-5 from the field. That'll help the efficiency. TURNOVERS! JESUS CHRIST!

-Its funny, when the Raptors do hit baskets, it is absolutely nothing but net. Splash homies, they haven't even touched the rim.

2nd Quarter:

-I don't know why I didn't check the turnover numbers for Toronto, but that sure explains a lot. Tony Allen nails two shots and Ginger Scally is in the game. Looks like they didn't care at this point of the season.

-Raptors in a slump, down by 10. They must turn it up in second half. Sorry for skipping over Raptors free throws, I know they go 100%.

-A majority of their shots hit are not good shots. They'll dribble drive from well outside the arc and pull up from about 17 feet for a tough fadeaway. They are still going in.

-15-2 run near the end of the half. Calderon is the man, and Parker is on fire hitting from everywhere. 57-55 Raps at the half.

3rd and 4th Quarters:

-Well as it turns out, heavy turnovers + never missing a shot equals the most "efficient" game of all time. It's amazing how it was so unimpressive to accomplish something so amazing. Also, shows how gravy Boston was last year to just barely lose.

Sharon..... Sh, Sharon

Yes, as our founder best put it, our symbol for the first "O" in Poot's World, Monta Ellis, is out 3-4 months with a ligament tear in his ankle. The wonder boy, whose impressive athleticism and durability the last couple of seasons has left us craving his spectacular play, unfortunately suffered one of those things you never would think possible. The tumultous off-season which left us without arguably one of the most electrifying figures in professional basketball history, now deals us another blow. This occurrence cannot be considered anywhere in the league of Amare micro-fracture or Baron leaving the W's, but knowing that the warriors are going to have to be perfect this year to slip in at 7 and 8, Ellis' injury is going to leave us some very dull first months, and being the most exciting team in the league who has Don Nelson at the helm only one more year, this injury just leaves us with that much less time to savor this once in a life-time assemble of talent. Speedy recovery Monta... Without you we are just Pot's World with Budinger barely holding it down.

-Poot, that ankle of fall 2003 definitely falls under that category of worst injury sustained in the pugh wakeman forest circuit, which has seen plenty of nasty spills at top speeds. Despite ruining one of the meadow's eternal all-star edifices, that post route which was supposed to have you launching gracefully for the Jerry Rice grab off the blue slide, is still one of my favorite memories.

-Stephen Hill is in the NBA now? I liked his game back a few years ago, seemed like a decently athletic 7 footer with a great feel for base-line alley-oops. My friend from Arkansas however, hates him, and I certaintly agree with him that he is severely limited offensively, but despite all of that, he will now be a Portland Trailblazer. Two centers who can't play offense? We'll see how that works. I heard Portland wants to ship Travis Outlaw for Mike Conley? They look like they are in good shape at PG with Blake, Bayless as a tweener (better suited at sg), and Roy. Why would they give up a small forward, they have Nicholas Batum and Outlaw... so, yeah, keep Outlaw Portland.

Monta Ellis: The Ankle Edition

Monta, I feel your pain. Ligament damage from a severely sprained ankle can bring the most stellar of athletes to their knees. Were you sprinting down a gravel road that leads to a huge dip before a meadow? Did this meadow have a run down pig pen filled with grass towering over 6 feet in the air? Was their a tether ball pole complete with a limp green ball (it used to be yellow) and a slide that would collapse from an infant's weight? Did you run past that meadow and down a dark path with trees shading any sort of sunlight from hitting the earth and notorious for making creepy noises after dark? And on this path was there a huge puddle of mud that you attempted to hop over and glance your foot on an obstructive root? Did this glance cause an awkward landing leading to your pain and suffering? Don't worry Monta, I've been there too.



Wishing you a speedy recovery from Poot's World, Monta, because god knows that a Baron-less Warriors squad needs you more than ever.

Brandon Jennings Update

Oh, you thought this was going to be a serious update about Brandon getting acclimated to the Italian ways of life and practicing with his new teammates Abelardo and Rodrigo (thats right, I looked up Italian baby names on Google). Sorry reader, you were wrong. In a disturbing career move, Brandon Jennings, the one player that pushed me over the edge to watch future Euroleague games, has decided that the Kanye West glasses will be a positive addition to his eye wear collection. Apparently being blessed with court vision does not coincide with off the court vision. I hope all else is well in Italy my young Padawan Brandon, and we can't wait for your return to America.


More radio show nonsense after I get rid of a nasty cough. ETA: 4 days.

AFC Part 1 + Bonus Predictions

-Trying to prove that we are well rounded sports analysts could prove to be a difficult feat but we will try. The basketball "season" will soon be over and something will have to occupy us for the month of September. Like my good friend pointed out in his NFC Part 1 post, we haven't been following football as much as we used to. Too many commercials (which is also killing NCAA Basketball) and slow paced action brings for low ratings in the Olsen household. Is it bad that I have to open up espn.com and check out depth charts to make any sense of the AFC? Yessir....but you know what? I'm going to roll with it.

Denver Broncos (By Guest Writer Simon): A decade has passed since the Broncos won their second consecutive Super Bowl lead by big dick bastards such as John Elway and Terrell Davis. This begs the question “Who is better: 1998 Broncos or the 2008 Broncos?”

QB:
John Elway eclipses the 50,000 yard career passing mark and is named Super Bowl MVP.
Jay Cutler has type 1 diabetes.

RB:
Terrell Davis has a career year rushing for 2,008 yards and scores 23 touchdowns.
Selvin Young predicts he’ll rush for over 2000 yards this season.

Receiving:
Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and Shannon Sharpe combine for over 3,000 yards receiving and 26 touchdowns.
Brandon Marshall had some decent looking seasons the past couple years and is Denver’s biggest threat while rookie Eddie Royal remains unproven but have people whispering comparisons to Kansas City standout Daunte Hall.

The defense is what I’ll be skipping to on the Tivo, more specifically to the camera that is assigned to Champ Bailey as the 2008 defense is in shambles compared to last year’s. John Lynch is gone. Al Wilson is gone. Ian Gold is gone. Darrent Williams is dead and replaced by locker room crybaby Dre Bly.
The 1998 team? Trevor Pryce, Keith Traylor, Bill Romanowski, John Mobley, Steve Atwater. ‘Nuf said.

In conclusion, I would have Terrell Davis’ babies.

2008 Denver Broncos go 7-9.

Kansas City Chiefs: Replacing the Chiefs with the Cowboys on HBO's Hard Knocks was truly an emotional blow to my fall lineup. Tony Dungy's hilarious banter and one-liners are now replaced by boring as shit Wade Phillips. T.O. would make up for the loss but they hardly show him talking. Best line would have to be when wide receivers were exchanging their target weights.
Patrick Crayton: "I gotta be 208."
WR 2: "I gotta be 217."
WR 3: "I gotta be 201...Hey T.O! What's your weight??"
T.O: "2 SEXY!"
No quarterback controversy equals no fun on Hard Knocks and Brodie Croyle v. Damon Huard is now a viewing of the past as I have to watch pretty boy Tony Romo smile like a little jerk. I digress...The Chiefs apparently have a running back named Larry Johnson, and allegedly, he is healthy. That does no good when I haven't heard of a single offensive lineman on your depth chart and the aforementioned Croyle is starting at QB. You better call yo mama, because Dwayne Bowe, receiver extrordinair, saves the Chiefs from going 0-16. Final record: 5-11.

Oakland Raiders: Wrong Bay Area team for me to be previewing but there is a job to be done. Darren McFadden blows my mind but apparently not those in the Fantasy Football world. I can always pick him up in later rounds and just bank on his freak athleticism and vision. With a developing offensive line and a quarterback who hasn't yet figured out how to throw (with accuracy) in this league, you'd think Darren would be in for a rough year as opposing defenses stack the line with 8 in the box. You'd be wrong! Final Record: 6-10

San Diego Chargers: Few teams can boast this kind of lineup on both sides of the ball (even with an injured Shawne Merriam). Cocky little bastard Philip Rivers finally backs up his filthy mouth and brings the Chargers deep into the playoffs again. Final Record: 13-3


Bonus Predictions:

MLB World Series: All signs are pointing to my least favorite team in sports making to the World Series. The only problem could arise versus the wild card team of either Boston or Minnesota. My thoughts are that they squeeze by, dispose of the final A.L. team, then beat the Diamondbacks in 5.

NCAA Football: USC can lose their top player at every position and I still think they would take down any team in the country. The only problem with the Trojans is that they seem to fall asleep during 1-2 meaningless games a year. Hello Stanford! If the game matters, and people are watching, USC will not lose. Joe McKnight figures out he is the next Reggie Bush, wins the Heisman, and leads the Trojans past Georgia in the national championship game.

English Premier League Top 4 Finishers: This is finally Chelsea's year to regain power in the EPL. They signed just about the entire Portuguese national team along with their coach and he should bring them success on the home front along with the European title. Manchester United is so full of themselves at the moment, but they will finish 2nd with their being no chance of Ronaldo replicating last year's ridiculousness. Arsenal 3rd, Everton 4th. Sorry Liverpool, when you let go of a 6'7" striker who celebrates goals by doing the worst rendition of "The Robot," the soccer gods will strike back.

My Country Vs. Your Country

-There was an article on truehoop today about blogging which hit a chord with me... Watching the emergence of PW's own radio program made me feel like a father in the operating room, seeing that little head poke out of the plasmic liquid, and knowing that good days lay ahead. Henry Abbot wrote earlier about how to make it big in the blogging sphere and said you gotta come up with stuff new and innovative that 1000's of people aren't already doing. Well I agree with him when it comes to making it big, and Abbot can toot his horn all he wants when he works for ESPN for crying out loud, but blogging for me on this site along with a majority of the others is just looking to creatively vent our sports love and frustration that takes up a decent percentage of our daily thought process... unfortunately we won't be at the scene when Ben Gordon gets traded, or Andres "Chaco" Nocioni breaks his nose on a D-Howard elbow in a couple of days, but we are the detritavores of sports news and gossip, taking pride in re-hashing and low blowing the sports world we love so much. First step radio, next step getting Mike to write my Dallas preview, keep up the good work...

-Watched in it's entirety, Argentina vs. Greece. Delfino played absolutely out of his skull... For those 18 points straight on 3 balls and fade-aways, that cocky smirk he always has actually fit him... Ginobili's early dominance i think gave Carlitos some extra big game gusto... All and all, Greece should have won that game, but Argentina's guards played out of their fucking skulls and willed them to face the US. I have been living in Argentina for the last 7 months, and i would like to inform you all that Argee's don't care about basketball, and despite being the reigning olympic champion, have only heard of Manu Ginobili... Hopefully the Raps Spurs combo can pull some more miracles and keep this close, I certaintly will be watching, maybe even with a blue and white flag on my back, i wish...

Poot's World, The Radio Show

In my tired state just before bed, I decided to do something real dumb and throw down a Poot's World Radio Show with help from youcastr.com. Again, no idea why I did this. Hopefully next time I'll think of an interesting topic...previewing games that will happen in 5 hours, not so awesome. This was very spur of the moment, hope you enjoy...



Episode 1

Only listened to about 1/2 of the finished product and it was out of this world awwwwful! Next time there will be a well-rested host, an actual topic, and NO CLICKS FROM THE MOUSE!

Guest Writer Ekbzy

I brought in guest writer Erik Brekke for his thoughts on the monumental preseason game featuring the causes of a great many arguments...Niners v. Packers. Here they are via AOL Instant Messenger...

Post-game 49er thoughts after looking at highlights/box scores:
1) Obviously pleased we could stick it to the packers, although its only pre-season, we exposed their shitty offensive line and dominated on defense
2) I'm not happy about what I saw out of any of our Quarterbacks. Putting up zero points in the first quarter is a little concerning, along with some of JT's horrible throws. Smith's numbers certainly don't impress me either, but I still think I favor giving him the starting job.
3) JT almost got Deshaun Foster killed. I was impressed, however, with how Foster rebounded himself- what a man!
4) I like what I'm seeing out of Josh Morgan, the guy looks like he could be a potential stud. Hopefully he'll prove to be a late round steal and add a much needed play-maker to our weak receiving core. Now only if we had a decent quarterback to throw to him...
5) Speaking of getting a decent QB on the team, I've noticed that Brooks Bollinger is currently the 4th slotted QB on the Vikings depth chart. If we could some how make a deal to steal him away, all our problems could be solved!
6) Despite the ass-whooping we put on those scrubs on paper, I'm still a little weary about how good this team actually is. Hopefully Martz will get these QB's in order and prove me wrong.

7) Frank Gore is a stud, just get him the damn ball.
8) Oh how this makes me smile...

Spot on analysis for the Deshaun Foster hit. What a terrible throw JT. If the 49ers waste 8 million and let Alex Smith sit all season, GM and Nolan should be Auto-Fired.

Making Paella Out Of Spain

-Finally, an Olympic basketball game to watch where I am not exhausted. Against the best team other than themselves, the boys in blue looked unbeatable. The three's were finally falling and Ricky Rubio failed to impress. Oh well, he is only 17. Areas of concern in this blowout would be Kobe's continuing failure to consistently hit outside shots, Dwight Howard looking periodically lost on both ends of the court, and Jason Kidd's defense on opposing point guards.

-Of course as I write this, Dwight goes off. But it was against Spain's second unit.

-Subtract Ricky Rubio from Spain, and they are by far the ugliest team assembled since the Milwaukee Bucks suited up Ervin Johnson, Darvin "elf" Hamm and Sam Cassell at the same time.



-Just watched Spain/USA... I personally was very impressed with Ricky Rubio's defense, picking off a couple of USA passes, his compliments of being one step ahead seem to be dead-on on the denfensive end... nice alley-oop to rudy too. Who knows, maybe not #1 but this guy will freshen up the NBA like a glade plug-in.

NFC Part 1

-Last time I cared about the NFL I was digging in the the bushes beneath the meadow thinking about my future fantasy picks while searching for a punted ball put there by none other than Mr. Shannigans, Mike Pugh... All the amazing Vikings and Niners game I watched with my dad aside, outside of the playoffs, I haven't indulged in a NFL game in sometime, but due to my obligation to Poot's World, along with some inspiring words from Dave Berri, I am coming with a preview of the NFC!!!!

The Wages of Wins article on the Brett Farve Crapshoot, ends on a note that in a nutshell best represents the joy of professional football... "But as I have said repeatedly, quarterbacks are really like mutual funds. Past performance really doesn’t tell us much about the future. Consequently, every Lions fan (and I am one) can enter every season hopeful about the future (and this makes football great)." Although football, in my opinion, is way too calculative, slow, and depedent on one position to be considered in the same stratosphere as the guiding light to Poot's World, basketball, the condensed seasons with constant parody, give hope for marketable stars to be born along with the worst teams of last season, a chance at redemtion the next. As you can tell, I my qualifications will limit me from providing Balls-Deep Sean Salisbury type analysis, however, criteria based on Strength of Schedule, 2003 Likeability, Head Coach Tendencies, and RB/QB/WR strengths will all be taken into consideration... Enough BS, 16 previews on the way, let's start with 8:

Detroit Lions - If the NFL was 17 century Europe, the courageous 14 year-old girl Joan of Ark, would undoubtedly be played by the Lions' John Kitna. Driven by Jesus, Kitna has been said to have converted his teammates with his spirited pre-game huddles, along with predicting the Lions to make the playoffs last year... The latter surely a sign of desperation which the bearer of the thorny crown paid no attention. Despite Kitna's old dog/zealous determination, he who hath the organization's throne of player personel, Matt Millen, would be safely considered any Lion fan's version of the anti-christ, therefore negating all this religious hoopla... a decade of bad decisions/losing culture have Detroit in a slump, but their schedule is the easiest I have seen so far, which has me looking for them to start 3-0, even out 8-4 and then slide into the playoffs at 10-6? I might be crazy but come on, Charles Rogers is still in Poot's World's HOF....

Green Bay Packers - Oh Brett, how your LEGACY has been tainted! oh wait, no that was when you threw 26 ints in '06. Ok so onto Aaron Rodgers. Chico/Cal Native... 'Nuf said, this guy could definitely beat Rothlisburger in a Keg Stand, which makes him a good guy for your fantasy team. Mike McCarthy looks like he should be Pixar's version of the Marshmallow Man which won't fare well when he is thrown to the fire of their tough regular season. Despite the fact I think Rodger's will prove he deserves to be with this team for the next few years, with Minny looking to improve and Detroit finally sneaking into the playoffs, I'm going to have to say sorry Cheeseheads, 8-8. *Note, Poot put up a picture of Jason from the Hills and Rodgers not only taking this blog down a notch, but also plummeting the GB record to a projected 6-9.

Philadelphia Eagles - Brian Westbrook reminds me somewhat of a Baron Davis type star... When they are on the court/field they light it up in dynamic fashion, however they are criticized as being plagued with injury problems *Westbrook much more of late. When Donovan is healthy and the Q is rocking, Philly is a tough team to contend with, but the question is, am i living in 2003 when Michael "PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON" *Donna voice, picked McNabb and P Manning and won fantasy, or are him and Westbrook in washed-up wonderland. Whatever those 2 status' are, the Eagles fate will fall with, entonces, look for one last gasp of breath from the current bunch... Andy Reid is a boss, +3 wins, their schedule looks good, and their D is usually vicious so, there we go, 11-5 for a re-energized Eggles squad.

Saint Louis Rams - With a 3-13 record last year, and a sub-par performance from a man expected to have a break-out year, Stephen Jackson, we're looking at another bummer in Saint Louis, but wait, we're in the NFC West, which means anything's possible. If Jackson an Bulger get healthy they will do some damage, and their schedule doesn't seem too tough, so look for Jackson to have a better year, and a few surprises to come their way... maybe a Trent Greene heroic come-back? Their defense apparently sucks, but hell, 9-7 sneaking in.

New York Giants- You know that type of hang-over that comes around once ever, i don't know, 3 months, where you wake up feeling energized. Well, that's not Giants this year, and why should it be? They pulled a Miami Heat on 'roids, beating the Patriot-Mavericks on a deal with the devil, which solidifies Eli the next few years at quarterback, and gives New Yorkers a reason to sit back and watch Brett Favre get sacked 3 times a game. They've got a killer D, and potent enough offense, but Michael Strahan's absence and lack of reasoning to even try to get as lucky as they did last year truly does not "vale la pena". Congragulations New York and Mr. Coughlin (On the Right), you have a free-ride to do whatever you want the next two years, start it by booking a trip to Hawaii in January... 7-9

Chicago Bears- However meaningless and subjective all my criteria may be, the RB, QB, and WR's anchor any team's attempts at putting points on the board, and the Bears have collectively the worst of these in the league. Brian Griese, PWHOF Brandon Lloyd, and Kevin Jones will not get t idone, and their D is good but not what it used to be. Everyone expects the Bears to be good every year but it's looking like Paris Hilton return to the luxury box might have to be the only thing to look forward to. Ouch... 4-12

Hotlanta Falcons- Last year being the exception, every season since the NFC AFC merger of 1933, the NFC South's worst team of the year goes on to win the conference championship the ensuing season.... Is this going to change despite Hotlanta having one of the worst teams in the NFL, NO! Consider this Matt Ryan's lucky four-leaf clover getting drafted by a team in an anti-madden curse type year. Rejoice Falcons, Al Horford might even suit up for tight end... 11-5.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Any sane person would, I believe, pick the Bucs, and not the Falcons to go 11-5 and win the NFC South. That's just not the case here. With another Poot's World Hall of Fame nominee Jeff Garcia at the helm as one of the more underrated quartbacks of the century, decent receivers, and a Cadillac just waiting to go under the radar, the Bucs could be very dangerous. Add to that Child's Play III Jeff Gruden, and a killer defense, and if it weren't for the Dirty Curse of the NFC South, we'd be talking a 12-4 team here... Well Bucs just feel fortunate that it helped you out a couple of years ago when you went to the super bowl vs the raiders. 5-11 considering the voodoo shit.


Jesus that was tenuous... 8 more maybe next week

My Big Fat Greek Morning

-Of course I got up this morning at the ridiculous hour of 7 to watch the U.S. beat the Greeks. My initial feelings on waking up were that its really early in the morning and I had better get used to being awake at this hour for student teaching AND that our men in the red, white, and blue were in for a loss. My intuition appeared to be proving me right up until the 2nd quarter, when a plethora of U.S. steals resulted in 14 fast break points and an early dagger right into the hearts of our Greek opponents.

-One month ago, my roommate voiced his displeasure with keeping Dwayne Wade on the team for the Olympics. Turns out he is not only our most valuable player, but as of this morning, he is the tournament's most valuable player. He had 20 minutes, 17 points, 6 steals, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, only 1 turnover, and the most ridiculous play of the Olympics up to this point.

Wade Kobe
by bsap11

Over the first 3 games, Dwayne Wade has shot 23-30 from the field. His only hiccup would have to be going 4-9 from the charity stripe. All the problems I have been griping about over the last few weeks with Team U.S.A. seemed to disappear for one night (other than the FT's) and lets hope they can play the same way versus a strong Spanish team that boasts the toughest zone defense in the world.

-I hate to poop all over the Michael Phelps show, but the swimming events do not impress me. Yes, they are some of the best athletes around, and working over the world in 8 different swimming events would be outrageous for M. Pheezy, but I find it amusing to watch the 70 year old "stroke judges" walk next to the swimmers at ground level while they are competing in different races. AN OLD MAN IS KEEPING UP WITH YOU GUYS! C'MON!

-Being that I live in Packerland, Aaron Rodgers makes an appearance or 12 on a daily basis in the newspapers, t.v. news, radio talk shows etc. Nothing would destroy my NFL season more than watching him become better than Alex Smith (who I repeatedly told the 49ers to draft, but to no avail) and lead the Packers to the promise land. On a side note, doesn't he look remarkably like Jason from Laguna Beach?

Aaron Rodgers:


Jason Wahler:

Sites And Sounds From A New Perch

-I've moved in to my new apartment on the west side of Madison and have acquired the services of Dish Network. My apartment faces the wrong direction so I am not able to get Direct TV (AND SUNDAY TICKET) due to the monopoly at my complex by the aforementioned satellite provider. NBA League Pass is still a definite possibility in the fall and I will just have to deal with not having the Niners in my life for another year. Which reminds me, isn't it time for an NFL preview Alex? You take NFC, I'll take AFC? Mike take the Cowboys? I'm still curious to know if you have gotten together with James Owen and Kyle Robinson to have a couple brews and watch America's team.

-Best new offseason acquisition of the Olsen household: Once used tan Lay-Z Boy from Aunt Janet for moving her freezer from the basement to the curb, a 2009 3rd round draft pick, and cash considerations.

-Watched Team U.S.A. this morning play against China and I was not impressed. Their defense of opponent's 3 point shooting is borderline pathetic and the turnovers are still way too frequent. On a much happier note, I was pleased to see that NBC brought back the old NBA on NBC theme song for the entire U.S.A. game. All breaks, no exceptions.

-Was up at 2AM last night and happened to watch the Greece vs. Spain game. Spain's defense looks like something derived from god himself. They create the illusion that there are 7 or 8 defenders on the floor with this ridiculous match up zone. Rudy Fernandez looked spectacular. Rubio looked O.K. and didn't receive much playing time.

J-Ho

-Remember that Maverick's, may I say, dynasty of the mid-00's? Those team's with Don Nellie and Avery at the helm killing it in the regular and post-season? A nutty run at brilliance with floppy haired Nash, consistently improving/deadly Nowitzki, and a young Mike Finley gave way to a just as scary a team with "future Tony Parker" Wisconsin guard Devin Harris, under-rated but absolutely deadly Jason Terry, Jerry "crunch-time corner three" Stackhouse, and the topic of my discussion, Mr. Unshakeable Josh Howard.



J-Ho was one of those players who you knew, even before Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello started the pre-game show, was going to bring it every game. His all-acc defense, smooth mid-range game, and nose for the ball made him my favorite role-player of this decade. In 2006 him and the squad made it to the finals and not unlike Detroit in '04, and Boston in '08, everyone including myself believed in no way a scrappy Heat team could pose any type of threat to these western gladiators. A few missed free-throws, unavailable time-outs, and a myriad of D-Wade Converse commercials/52 foul calls later, The mav's biggest and best achievement slipped through their fingers...


To be honest I always loathed this perennial play-off team during their run at potential greatness most likely due to just how lethal they were... I feel like comparing the recent Mavs to the Spurs of late would be like pitting the first Terminator vs. Bicentennial Man. Whatever you want to say, the Spurs get it done nearly every year, but in a form that infuriates everyone outside 300 miles from the Alamo. Nelson and Avery's system on the other hand took pleasure in the isolation style of play that just put a dagger in your heart everytime Dirk hit a fall-away 20 footer in Diaw's face, Harris Tony-Parkering it past one of the west's bigs, or J-Ho hitting his bo-legged runners in the lane. They were a smooth bunch of killers, and even though i think a lot of people saw the Warriors as a serious threat, it still made it that much sweeter that W's could knock off such an unstoppable force (mainly due to Lord Baron and the Mastermind).

It may take me 1500 words and a bibliography to make my point, but some GM out there better take advantage of Howard's current circumstances, which motivated primarily by ESPN's anti-cannibi agenda, and obsession with drag-racing tickets, have severly decrease his market value and set him asail on the Sam Cassell "washed-up" express. I forgot where, but the J-Smith fo J-Ho trade would seem like a win-win for both parties, especially if the hawks would have drafted Chris Paul... J-Jo, J-Ho, C-Pau... With this new chip on his shoulder, Howard is going to get it back soon, and no matter what team he is on, it will be scary when he does.

The Mikeatrarian

-Watched bits and pieces of the final Team USA exhibition game versus the Aussies and they looked far from impressive. My belief is that if they continue having Dwayne Wade as the primary scoring option, the gold medal will never be attained. He requires so much time and space to get into positions to score that it takes away from the team essence. Even when he makes a sweet pass, (like the ones to Bosh) its usually the result of a long, drawn out play that is dominated by Wade having to have the ball in his hands. I'm also fascinated by the Nike commercials that show every Team USA player except for the Adidas man Dwight Howard, who could very well be their most important player.

-So Hardwood Paroxysm has a writer called The Arbitrarian who is the site's expert on statistics. I understand some of his work but the math gets a little dicey and it usually takes me an hour (no joke) to comprehend a majority of his articles (or this one....or this one). Perhaps Mike, who very well might not even be reading this at the moment, could be the site's statistical expert. He could make sense of all of The Arbirtrarian gibberish and put it into people terms. Than come up with his own brilliant all encompassing statistic that will blow all past statistics out of the water. Just Beans And Cheese!

-NBA League Pass better start thinking about extending their coverage to the European Leagues.

Crab People

-On Upside and Motor, the hideous new Timberwolves' jersey surfaced, sported by none other than Mr. K Love. Like commented on U&M, it appears as if he put the new space age top on,(unflattering on our big beefy hero), over his 'original' T-Wolves Jersey... I would like to track down the history of this new 'fad' in NBA/College jerseys. To me it's as if Queer Eye and The Professor from AND1 had a brain storming session and decided to compromise with the tops being super tight to show Dwight Howard's ginormous pectorals, and the shorts reminiscent of the super baggy and long Jordan's of recent era. My memory of this hanus transformation goes like this... Nike decides to unveil new design on 5 College Teams in 07, Greg Oden's Ohio State and Syracuse being the two that I noticed, maybe Villanova too. Mike Conley was a sword and cap away from being the Prince of Persia... Anway flashing forward to the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks were the first team to stray from their actual colors of red and gold to go Red White and Blue along with the futuristic font and jersey style. If this wasn't bad enough, the USA bball team just ripped the Hawk's jerseys, furthering the development of some Nike exec's Crab People vision of NBA/College style...

One thing that will come from all of this, I hypothesize, will be the culmination of this fad five years from now, when an Undrcrwn employee in the front-office of Houston Rockets, will bring the NBA back to the days of old. The transition to a early 90's NBA is happening before our eyes even amidst the emergence of Tim Allen's Galaxy Quest Uni... We see it happening with future shoe billionaire B Jennings and the high top fade, and you know when the same kids, who on the swing sets argued whether or not they would rather be Larry Johnson or Michael Jordan, begin to become the majority of the NBA, there will be iminent change back to turqouise, crazy fonts, and Tom Gugliotta...

-I salute you Dwyane Wade, that in-air, alley-oop windmill on Lithuania was one of the sickest dunks I have seen in quite sometime. I think of all the guys on the team it is the best to see him do it, and now we know he's got it back. Who knows, with Beasely, Marion and Dwade, could Bostons heralded bigggest turn-around in NBA history be broken just one year later? With that absolutely vicious alley, anything is possible...



-Mike, if it's any motivation to get you back on here, you've got more profile views than me... now come home.

-If Lebron pulls a Josh Childress in 2010, in order to get paid 20 mil a year in olympiakos, which *knock on wood* he won't, the consequences will be more dire than Randy Quaid flying up the destruction beam over the white house... Like I said, very unlikely to happen but keeping it mind, worse things I guess have happened? The NBA, I believe, would implode on in on itself, along with my soul....

-Poot's World's own Walter Hermann signed back with the Pistons... The anti-childress, someone who would benefit greatly from leaving to Europe or back to Argentina, but instead decides to stay in the best league in the world, and hopefully get out of the Detroit dog-house made even harder by their SF log jam.

-Pinche Pendejo! Get ready for some tears... I present you "La Caida de Edgar"