Back Baby

4:05 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments

It's been an incredibly busy new season. Let's hit on the surprises that really jump out.

1) The Hawks don't stink. It's just been SO long since they haven't been awful. With the core of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby, they've grown beyond anyone's expectations. Not only are they better, but they are now one of the most entertaining teams in the league. While they are rarely on TV (because we get to watch the Spurs instead) you should really take every chance to tune in to a Hawks game.

2) Philly DOES stink. A few years ago, the Bulls signed Ben Wallace to a ridiculous deal, which led to several pundits to predict a championship for Chicago. It was a stupid deal, but an even more stupid prediction. I rank this one right below it. The Sixer's signed Elton Brand, and suddenly every one is predicting them to upset the Celtics as the Eastern conference's supreme power.

Guess what? Elton Brand is a loser. He is a money-first, team second big man with bad knees who has been to the playoffs once in his 9 NBA seasons.

3) The Cavs are real contenders for the first time. When LeBron went to the finals two years ago, his team was not a contender to win. Now they are. No one thought he would be so good or that Mo Williams could possibly help that much. But their offensive effeciency has gone from the basement to the top of the league, while their defense is terrific, as only the Celtics are better defenders.

4) Shawn Marion isn't the man. He wanted out of Phoenix so he could be "the man" and prove that Nash and Stoudemire benefited from his play. Well, he's dumb. I still say that Phoenix should have sent Marion to Atlanta for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams (this would have kept D'Antoni in town) and kept the Suns high flying.

5) The Knicks aren't all super dysfunctional. Isiah Thomas is fired, D'Antoni is in, and the Knicks are as relevant as they've been in years. Not surprisingly, the Knicks join the Hawks in the "really fun to watch" category.


Look for more to come!

Don't Panic

11:05 AM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
Last night the Lakers eliminated the Jazz in Utah in game six of their conference finals series. From the beginning it looked to be a Laker blowout on the road, something that had never happened in this second round. Instead it became a close road win, and it was only the second time in 22 games when that scenario was able to play out.

But I want to make some remarks to Jazz fans after this series. There has already been a lot of talk about trading Kirilenko, trading Boozer, or firing Jerry Sloan. Let's calm down first, shall we?

This years Jazz team won their division. Carlos Boozer posted big man numbers, joining only a select few NBA elite, among the likes of Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Did he disappear in the playoffs? Absolutely. But we might take a look at what happened there and give him some time before we ship him out of town like an old rag, as opposed to the guy who helped rebuild the franchise into a title contender.

Kirilenko was Europe's MVP last Summer. If he's not producing enough for you, it's because he's not being utilized correctly. I think that became only too clear too late as the Jazz made their fourth quarter rally last night. The guy can flat out play, and I believe that he improved throughout this season as he regained some confidence after the whole city was ready to sell him down the river.

Sloan knew what was happening in that game. He said it-- the Jazz didn't match the Lakers intensity, which Phil Jackson also stated, but which was also undeniably true. He put his guys in a position to win the game and the shot didn't fall. You can't blame your guys for that, it was just, once again, too late.

Finally, Jazz fans, don't embarrass yourselves. Last night was the first time in the playoffs that fans were ejected, when 11 Jazz fans behind the Lakers bench decided to throw things at the Lakers bench and on to the court. Yes, you're team lost, but outside of Matt Harpring they did it without tears and fought hard to the end. They are a young team and have plenty to look forward to, so don't jump off the bandwagon just yet.

I double dare you to email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com.

Complaining

11:56 AM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
In the NBA, you hear a lot about whining. Players, coaches, fans-- whatever. Last year, the league tried to take whining out of the game by giving technicals to players whose facial expressions conveyed that they even might disagree with a call.

That was fortunately fixed, but there was a different kind of whining. The kind of whining that goes on today unpunished and rampant. It is the call of old men, newspaper writers and sports pundits calling for players to be tough. In this years playoff series between the Cavs and Wizards, pundits on both sides went on about players who should quit whining, or stop talking and be tough. In reality they were playing tough, and their emotions kept on going after the game.

Here's my beef with that mentality: these playoffs have sucked. Care to dispute that? They have been awful to watch by any means, with the home team winning blowout games in 95% of televised occasions. It's really been a slow year as far as entertainment goes.

Think back to the 2006 playoffs. We get LeBron for the first time in the playoffs. His first round series with Washington featured several huge buzzer beaters and close games, offensive execution and impressive individual performances. There was a rivalry rematch series between Detroit and Miami, a comeback sensation with the shorthanded Suns against the bigger Lakers, another comeback Suns win against a tough Clippers team, a tough Nowitzki defeating the Spurs in San Antonio in OT, and on and on and on.

ESPN.com senior writer Marc Stein wrote at the time that they were the best playoffs he had experienced in his adult life. We had a likable champion with the Dwyane Wade led Miami Heat, we had rising stars, and the games were close and entertaining.

So what changed? It seems like something went horribly wrong since that time. Right now, chances are great that you're rooting for a really boring team. And the games aren't fun. Even thought I hate the Spurs more than Osama Bin Laden, it's not too fun to watch them lose blow outs over and over. Or win them, depending on who plays at home.

What I want is for people to let me know what they think has contributed to crappy playoffs, because they're here, like it or not. Or admit it or not. Do it so I'll stop whining.


Email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com, see if I care.

Embarassing

10:35 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
The San Antonio Spurs are an embarrassment to basketball.

Reason 1) Tony Parker. Tony Parker falls down on every play. For instance, three plays in the fourth quarter of their ludicrous win Tuesday night, Parker falls with no contact and gets calls. That's embarrassing to the game. His wife, Eva Longoria told a magazine that she initially worried about Parker as he would lie on the floor several plays a game. Fortunately he consoled his wife, telling her that he's not really hurt; he does that to get the call next time, too.

Reason 2) Manu Ginobili. Ginobili falls down on every play. By far the least liked player in the league, Manu flops to such a great extent that every fan in every city knows it's coming. However, officials continue to give him undeserved calls. I've often said that he can't be blamed since the officials are such lemmings for him, but the guy knows he's flopping-- it's embarrassing to basketball. Also, Manu Ginobili complains as much as any player on any team at any time-- despite getting more undeserved calls than Dwyane Wade in the Finals.

Reason 3) Bruce Bowen. Bruce Bowen is not talented. He is frequently praised as being an elite defender, but if you know anything about anything, you know that he has kicked Steve Nash, Steve Francis, Wally Sczerbiak, Ray Allen, Amare Stoudemire and others in games. He has been suspended and been in fights. A Google search or youtube search fields only articles about cheap shots, kicking, nut-shots and being a dirty player.

The reason is because Bowen is a dirty player. Obnoxious announcers will counter with the fact that Bowen is a nice guy. While it's still probably not true, that has nothing to do with the fact that he is a dirty cheap-shot basketball player. He's an embarrassment to the sport.

Reason 4) Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan has never fouled a player in the NBA. He has never missed a shot without being fouled. He has never travelled, stepped out of bounds or been in the key more than three seconds. When accused, he bulges his eyes and runs up the floor like a sad charlie brown robot. Is Duncan a super talent? No doubt. But he doesn't love basketball. Basketball is a chore for Duncan, which is why he doesn't play with any flair or expression. His only expression is distaste for a call, which of course only gets a reaction because it halts him from finishing his goal.

Reason 5) Greg Poppovich. Poppovich is the epitome of awful in the NBA. The fact that he repeatedly employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, removing the beautiful to watch Phoenix Suns from their offense, defines his kind of basketball. He doesn't have the intellect or talent to match teams like Phoenix, New Orleans or LA. No, he uses deceit, dishonesty and fouls-- something that should be a penalty-- to manipulate the game so that the better team does not win.

And that is what happened. The better team did not win in the Phoenix series. Game one, despite people blaming it on late game mis-cues, was really determined by Donaghy like-officiating.

This game tonight just had so many bad calls I don't know where to start. It had the Hack-a-Shaq trash, it had a total mis-call at the end that gave the ball to the Spurs and took away an opportunity for an exciting finish. The Spurs are an embarrassment to basketball.

the jackdaddy doesn't want to hear your crap at jackhoops@gmail.com

Ultimate Upset

8:44 AM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
In all reality, it probably can't happen. On all 83 occasions when a team loses the first three games of a playoff series, that team has never come back and won four straight.

Still, NBA faithful will remember the 2003 series between Dallas and Portland, in which Dallas watched their 3-0 lead go to game seven before they closed the deal. Barely.

But can it even be done? Will it ever be done? To find out, we go to ESPN.com expert John Hollinger:

"All 83 times that a team has taken a 3-0 lead in an NBA best-of-seven playoff series, it has gone on to win the series.

But somebody is going to be the first to buck the trend. It happened for the first time in baseball with the Red Sox a few years ago, and inevitably it will happen in basketball, too.
And when would it happen? Most likely with a team that's basically as good as its opponent.
That's a rarity in most of the series that started 3-0 -- but not in the Suns-Spurs series. The two teams finished only a game apart in the regular season, the Suns finished ahead in my power rankings, the scoring margin after four games is only five points, and the series would be even if not for the aforementioned Phoenix blunder at the end of Game 1.

I don't want to make too much out of this -- even if you presume the teams are dead-even and give the home team a three-point advantage each night, the fact that the Spurs have two home games in the final three and need to prevail only once adds up to a 94 percent chance they'll win the series. Most likely, San Antonio will be in the conference semifinals.

But this is one of the rare cases in which the team down 3-0 does still have a genuine chance of winning the series.

And if it happened, that would provide the ultimate surprise of this first round."

So far, let's be honest; the postseason has not lived up to the hype. This regular season was one of the best of all time, but still every Western playoff series began without a split. This is the ultimate possibility to save these playoffs. To the Suns there can be no more hated rival than the Spurs, and to overthrow their supreme villains, who just happen to be the reigning champs who body-checked them out of the finals last year-- could there be any greater victory?

It's not a great chance, but anyone who loves basketball should be praying to Michael Jordan right now to see that the Suns win the next three.
Email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

Amen

4:25 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
Everyone's favorite Sports Guy, Bill Simmons is giving out awards for the first week of the playoffs. One of them....
"The Dirty Pool Award for "Scummiest And Most Indefensible In-Game Move"

Name me one good/fun/useful thing that comes from hack-a-Shaq. You can't. It's not entertaining, it ruins the flow of the game, it's dirty pool, and it sucks to watch. How have they not fixed this loophole? Really, it's OK to bear-hug someone as they're running up the court? Why can't we give officials the leeway to say, "Look, you did that intentionally, even if we can't technically prove it, and we are penalizing you for it"?

I just hate it. I hate it. I really, really hate it. If I were coaching the Suns, I would be fouling Bowen and Duncan every time and turning it into an "Eff-You" free-throw contest so David Stern had to break away from exchanging late-night e-mails with Clay Bennett to act like a commissioner for 10 minutes and fix this unforgivable tainting of a fantastic series that could have been headed for the Pantheon if not for such a garbage turn of events. That's not basketball. I can't stop shaking my head."

I think he illustrated my point perfectly, and pretty much I just want to add an "Amen!" to what was already written.

You'll probably hear people use words like "strategy, savvy or crafty veteran." Don't listen to that garbage. Common sense let's us know that cheating is taking place; regardless of whether or not a rule is set in stone yet.

Which, for anyone who has watched this series, knows that taking advantage of the game in a deceptive non-competitive way has Spurs written all over it.

You can email the Jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

Playoff Pushing

1:12 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
After such a beautiful regular season, one in which the overall NBA talent level reached what some are calling an all time high, the playoffs have been less than astounding.

There have been a few close games, but outside of the Philly/Detroit series, we are still waiting for a second upset. This was the year when an upset out West shouldn't be an upset due to the fact that the 8th seed still has 50 wins. So what's up with...

Lakers vs. Nuggets

Of course, the Lakers got bad news this week. Andrew Bynum does not look like he's going to be playing again this season. For those of you who didn't see him earlier this year, his gaudy numbers still don't do justice to the presence he was for LA. Meanwhile, Pau Gasol looks like a monster, while Kobe's poor shooting is negated by the fact that his team is terrific this year.

For Denver, the frustration for the team is being carried over to fans. Similar to Portland teams from about five years ago, this Nuggets team has arguably the most talent of any NBA team, but their inability to play defense or run an offense has many people questioning George Karl's employment.

The Nuggets might be able to steal a game in there, but it's looking like Lakers in 5.

Jazz vs Rockets

This series is over. The Jazz are clearly better and have a 99.99% chance of completing the sweep in Salt Lake City. Jazz in 4.

Spurs vs. Suns

Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News wrote, "Officially, the Spurs will fly to Phoenix on Thursday, and they might even lose a game while they're there. But this series is over, as sure as disco and Bear Stearns are over, and for the Suns to deny it would make them look as silly as they would if they wore hotpants on Wall Street."

Unfortunately, this is retarded. if Mike Finger knew what he was talking about he would a) know that in the Tim Duncan era, the Spurs have lost 3 series' that they began 2-0, and he would b) write for a less stupid newspaper.

I think for anyone to write off a title contender who lost two games by single digits on the road is clearly illustrating how poorly their little mind is working. The Suns have more than a sporting chance in this series, and I guarantee that the Suns faithful in Phoenix have something to say about ridiculous comments like this. Like how ridiculous they are. Suns in 7.

Hornets vs Mavericks

I really think the Mavericks got the unlucky draw here. Jason Kidd is normally a good defender, but Chris Paul is basically having his way with Kidd, and the Mavericks are paying big time for it. Hornets in 5.

Eastern Conference

Every round other than Detroit/Philly will go to the home court team quickly. So the Sixers have given us a reason to pay attention to the East, and here is the real reason why. After the Pistons lost, Billups and Hamilton both on their own said, "No big deal, we've been here before, we know what to do... BLAH!"

That is why Detroit could seriously be out in the first round, and why they really aren't title contenders. Billups says the Pistons have the best five in basketball. The thing is that they don't. Their five has already proved it can't hang with Boston's big three or even with Cleveland's big one, so regardless of the outcome of this series, Detroit is out as a contender.

You can email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

NBA Update

The NBA is borderline out of control. For those of you not paying close attention, my condolences; the playoffs have been terrific so far. What's that you say? The playoffs haven't started? But they absolutely have.

In the NBA's tightest playoff race ever, the post-season seems to have begun around the beginning of March, showing just how superior the NBA is the far lesser college tournament.

There are other issues in the NBA right now though, despite how fun the race our West has been. For example, who isn't going to the playoffs out West?

The fight for the 7th and 8th seeds is a battle between Denver, Dallas and Golden State, with Dallas beating the Warriors in a huge game last night. The loser of this triotic battle will most likely make NBA history as the best team to miss the playoffs.

Of course Portland, who is missing their number overall pick this season, was up there for awhile and still done a great job of finishing the season strong in an uber- competitive titan conference. They actaully still have the right to be upset about missing the playoffs, too. The reason being is that in the Leastern, er, Eastern conference, the 8th seed Atlanta Hawks are five games below .500, and have a four game cushion over 9th place New Jersey Nets.

We need to change the playoff system. Not only because the best teams aren't playing, but because last year's NBA finals were played in the Western Conference Finals. LeBron and co had a terrific run last year, but in all reality stood no chance against either San Antonio or the Suns.

Just take the top 16 teams and pair them one through 16. That way, Boston plays Portland, Denver, Dallas and Golden State all get to the post-season, and Atlanta keeps it's playoff drought alive. Doesn't that sound better than Washington, Toronto, Philidelphia and Atlanta playing? Isn't the purpose of the playoffs to take a title shot? None of those teams are close to contention, while those three Western "bottom dwellers" could all potentially compete for the Eastern crown.

The race to this years MVP award is over and the right winner is clear to those who know what they're talking about. Kevin Garnett got a lot of praise early, and deservedly so; with the Celtics winning their 60th last night after winning only 24 last season. But he simply isn't playing that well himself; he could be defensive player of the year, but he is not this years MVP.

Early in the season it was flat out LeBron, who, contrary to popular belief is the best player in the league. The Cavs haven't won enough games for him to win, though. But his head to head games and numbers verus Kobe Bryant have shown one thing: he's more clutch, he's a better finisher, he's more rounded and more physical. He's the Best player in the game.

But this years MVP is Chris Paul. Do you realize that the Hornets are still number one in the Western Conference? The ridiculous, playoffs-started-40-days-ago Western Conference? And he's 6'0" and doesn't have half the talent on his team that the Lakers, Suns, Jazz or Nuggets have? Do you know that he leads the league in assists and has a super low turnover rate? Or that he leads the NBA in steals? Or that he is the third most effecient player in the league, trailing only LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire?

Do you know why you don't know these things? Because you have never seen this kid play. He has been on national TV two times and chances are you didn't tune in because you hadn't heard of him. And because no one knows him, not because he's not deserving, is precicely why he can't win the MVP award this year.

The MVP is decided by the media, beat writers, most of whom follow around a specific team and will only see him 2-4 times a year. Even when their in a hotel room, they don't have league pass at the Holiday Inn, so they see only nationally televised games, which means they've seen Kobe play approximately 704 times this season. And that's why Kobe is going to be the MVP.

People will justify it, saying "Kobe's a better winner." But he's not, since he hasn't won as many games this season as Paul.

"Kobe's a better closer." While in fact he's not. Not only does Kobe have the worst end game percentage of all time, a stat deliberatley ignored by everyone, but Chris Paul has given New Orleans the NBA's best ever streak of OT games in row won, which is around 13 OT games.

"Kobe deserved it last year." While that's not true either (didn't the Kobester tank a game 7?), it wouldn't matter, because this award is for the 07/08 regular season. Last year Nash was denied his third in a row despite having better numbers, the Suns having 63 wins and outplaying Nowitzki in head to head matchups. He didn't win because Michael Jordan didn't win three in a row, and a factor outside of the 06/07 season decided it's MVP.

It is an unfortunate reality that much like last year, the actualy MVP will not be getting the award, and once again for the wrong reasons.

You can email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

Pop Comments

8:50 AM // by Jack Ady // // 1comments
Some people are not happy with the Lakers trading Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol, and I don't even mean people in Memphis.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich went on the offensive Friday night, saying, "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension. There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committe that oversees NBA trades. I'd like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade."

That sounds like fear to me. Without doubt, the Lakers went from "young, exciting up and comers" to legitimate title contenders. One more team in a packed western conference of groups hungry for a first ring. That's scary, especially for a Spurs team that in the last ten years has failed to repeat even once.

I would imagine that he would have negative things to say about the Shaq trade, too. Maybe everyone else is skeptical, but Popovich has seen his team crumble and choke time after time after time against Shaq led teams.

This really does sound like a weight lifter nervous about the extra weights his competitiors are racking on his bar.

You can email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

BIG Trade

11:57 AM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
It's always a big trade when it involves such a huge person.

It looks like the Miami Heat are prepared to trade Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for forward Shawn Marion and rarely used point guard Marcus Banks.


At first I panicked. Shaq is having the worst year of his career by far. Why would Phoenix want him? He's been injury prone lately, too, and has two more years on his contract after this season at $20 million apiece. Does this make sense?



There is a resounding no from the commercial media, the same media who predicted that Al Horford would be ROY, that the Chicago Bulls were title contenders and that Kobe really had no help on his team. There is a slight chance that they could be wrong.



But this time they could be right. Phoenix is the most notrious running team in the NBA and has been since Steve Nash showed up, so Shaq's mobility becomes key. Can he run with the team? Will he make up for the points and rebounds that Marion leaves behind? Will he be hurt?



All of this is merely speculation. But I do want to illustrate some history. In Vince Carter's last season with the Raptors, he was hurt all the time. He averaged 15ppg and sprained his ankle everytime the Raps lost a lead. He goes to NJ and suddenly he's doing 29 points every night to finish the season. Some people will say that a new environment breathes life into a player, but I'll be the realist and say that veterans don't want to play hard for a loser.



Baron Davis did the same thing in his last days with the Hornets. He began to have major ankle injuries all the time, and eventually was traded and forgotten. After his big playoff run this year, the casual fan would have assumed he was a new player because he was totally banished by the Hornets. Ray Allen had similarly "fragile ankles" when he was losing in Seattle, but in Boston, he has also been "rejuvinated."



So all I'm suggesting is that perhaps this trade will "rejuvinate" Shaq. Honestly, the guy has four titles and is 36 years old-- he's not going to hit the deck or even break a sweat for the team with the worst record in the NBA. But if he suddenly finds himself on the team with the Western Conference's best record, I'll bet he musters some energy for title numero 5.



People will say that he was brought in to guard Tim Duncan, or to match the Bynum/Gasol tandem in LA, but if Shaq isn't "rejuvinated" by this trade, then he, and the Suns title hopes are most likely washed up.



Email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com

Basketball Disease

12:41 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments
Is it strange to consider how different the league is now? The Hawks and Bobcats challenge the giants, Boston dominates, the Heat are the worst team on earth, the list goes on. I wanted to take a look at a few teams that need to address a few things if they want to improve.

Utah Jazz

As this season began, we heard heaps of praise for 3rd year point man Deron Williams, who helped the Jazz to the Western Conference finals (although not as much as Baron Davis helped them get there.) Williams was complimented in interviews, congratulated on his performance with team USA, and even introduced after leading scorer Carlos Boozer.

It seems as though Deron Williams has Detroit Piston Syndrome or DPS. DPS is when you think you've earned something and play as if the officials owe you something just for being the great and amazing person that you are.

(Note: I call it DPS because after Detroit beat the far more talented Lakers in 2004 based purely on match-ups, they have been so unlikeable and cocky that they lose games that they feel are beneath them. They also have five starters on the "All-Whiner" team, because of their genuine shock that a call would go against them. The shock is genuine, of course, only because of the DPS.)

Anyway, it looks as if Deron Williams is developing a nasty case of DPS. His effort level is in the basement compared to last year, while draft-mate Chris Paul is showing everyone who picked against him in the Williams vs. Paul debate that they are absolute morons. And Williams is not the only player in the league bringing down their team with DPS...

Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade. I know, he really did earn it, but he needs to play like he is trying to make the team if he wants to get that misshapen heap of players called the Miami Heat to respectable levels. Right now, he turns the ball over, looks at the official and chews solemnly on his gum as Ricky Davis makes a mental note not to pass to anyone for the rest of the game.

Shaq has a different syndrome, CWS (Chris Webber Syndrome) which is debilitating in a different way. Chris Webber led the Kings to the Western Conference Finals in 2002 and should have won, except the officials had DSLL (David Stern Loves Lakers Syndrome). He tried to bring it too much the next year and destroyed his knee. I still remember the play, because I knew the Kings title shot was gone, and I cried.

When he came back after microfracture surgery, he was never the same, but he couldn't be taught that. His brain knew how to play. His hands still had impressive dexterity, but his legs simply can't do what they're supposed to. And he's mad about it. You can see it on his face all the time; he is mad all the time, because he remembers how to be a top five player and thinks he can still do it.

Shaq has that. Clearly his career is over, and a buyout for Miami would be way more beneficial than him honoring the silly contract Pat Riley signed him to. Obviously the ship is sinking, which is why Riley is knocking down women and children as he tries to escape back to his Presidents office. Too late, Riles. We know who had all the cocktails and then steered into an iceberg.

Cleveland Cavaliers

I'm going to pass on the Rockets and T-Mac, who just quits when things get hard, and doesn't have any of the aforementioned syndromes. And I'm also not going to badmouth LeBron James, who has way less help then Kobe and never complained about it. No, let's finish with Larry Hughes instead. (Note: Why didn't the Cavs get in on the Kyle Korver trade? I guess a deadly three point shooter wouldn't have helped out there at all.)

Larry Hughes looked to be Gilbert Arenas junior; an average sized guy who no one ever thought would go anywhere but refused to be mediocre and dominated. Then he got a contract, and unlike Agent Zero, who continues to find reasons to have a chip on his shoulder, Hughes usually finds a reason to settle for the outside jumper.

What do you think? What other players have DPS?

You can email the jackdaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com right now.

Really Missing?

3:16 PM // by Jack Ady // // 0 comments

Apologies all around for taking such a lengthy holiday hiatus. I just figure if Bill Simmons gets two weeks off I should too.

Every year people want to hear about surprises in the league, and this years surprises are clear cut. The Celtics are playing out of their minds, Portland is a legitimate team out west, and yes, Chris Paul wasn't a fluke.

What we're not talking about is the super talented league that we get to watch this year. Tell me a bad team and I'll tell you about the great young talent on board. Honestly, the Kings stink, but what about Francisco Garcia and John Salmons? The Clippers are bottom dwellers, but Chris Kaman is averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds. The lowly Timberwolves still have Al Jefferson, who does 21 and 12.

With all of this talent, more important than the inevitable All-Star Game snubs are the teams who are not going to the playoffs this year despite being really good teams.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers

I doubt that the Cavs will miss the playoffs. In the entire world, no one is as good at basketball as LeBron James. I had my doubts last season about Bron Bron, but in the series against the Pistons, he vaulted himself into the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Superman.

The Cavs currently sit two games below .500. If LeBron gets healthy and Verejao and Pavlovic get back in rhythm, they'll still make noise in the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls

What a mess. I have never been in love with this Chicago squad. The team that couldn't score spent all of their money on one of the most overrated players of all time, Ben Wallace. Wallace is now not only a disgruntled and overpaid burden to the team, he's also predictably under producing. I'm glad I'm not taking over Scott Skiles job right now.

This team needs a trade quite badly. Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah for Al Jefferson would put them into contention. All you lose is two overrated defensive rebounder, and a streaky shooter who hasn't streaked enough lately. I doubt even McHale would take that bait, however.

A few teams ahead of Chicago: Philadelphia, Indiana, and Atlanta. People picked this team to win the title.

Miami Heat

This is what life is like for Britney Spears. You sell your soul to win one Championship and then become an old pudgy version trying to relive your glory days, but in reality every one is looking at them with a "that's sad" face.

New York Knicks

I know everyone badmouths the poor Knicks, but they really deserve it. People have stopped being polite about it, and I don't mean just New Yorkers.

The truth is, Isiah Thomas is a jerk who has no clue what he's doing. He says that he wants to leave behind a legacy in New York, and that he will be part of a championship while he is still there. I'm not being funny, but that is a flat out lunatic talking there. Hall of Famer Larry Brown threw his hands in the air with that group, and things have only been worse since Thomas arrived. This team has no prayer.

Western Conference

Utah Jazz

Now, I did predict that this would happen. The Clippers had a similar run two years ago to the one the Jazz had last year and then fizzled out before the playoffs the year after. Utah will still probably make the playoffs, but there's a chance they still might not. Who honestly thought that Utah would be behind Golden State, Portland and New Orleans at this point?

Luckily for Jazz fans, GM Kevin O'Connor body slammed Philidelphia into giving them Kyle Korver for a disgruntled and hot tempered Gordon Girecek. Korver is a great fit for Utah and helps give them what Mehmet Okur had been sleeping through so far this year.

Houston Rockets

T-Mac is hurt. It's a familiar story, but there should have been enough help this year. Yao is healthy, Steve Francis and Mike James were going to score, and even Bonzi Wells was going to try for this coach. So far, none of that seems to be happening. Somewhere, Jeff Van Gundy is smiling. He's also been the best announcer this year.

Side Note: Why doesn't anyone acknowledge the fact that Kobe was a big fat whiner? He complained about the talent on the Lakers so bad last year, he had people writing (literally) that the Lakers without him could not even win the Pac-10. They would consume the Pac-10's All-Star team. With one trade and one free agent signing (which adds a total of 9.2 ppg between Fisher and Ariza) suddenly Kobe has the best bench in the NBA and a Western contender. The guy was just being a cry baby.

I think all the criticism made the other Lakers pretty bitter. It looks like they did something about it, too.


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