Wednesday (Best teams?) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on June 11th, 2008 – 9:25 AMBy Michael Rand
Lest we be considered blasphemous amidst all the ratings bonanzas and retrospectives on the renewal of a rivalry, we think the overriding theme in this year’s NBA finals so far has been mediocrity. We’re just not all that impressed with the overall quality of play or the level to which individuals are elevating their games. Perhaps it’s because we haven’t paid this much attention to a finals since the Bulls were doing their thing in the 1990s, and those series were always going to be scintillating, but more so we think there’s really something lacking through three games. Neither team seems like a worthy champion right now. They both seem a little soft, a little flat and a little scared. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would be spinning in their graves (if, you know, they were no longer with us instead of haunting our dreams by wearing their jerseys in that commercial). Maybe this series was actually the worst thing for the NBA because it drew inevitable comparisons to those great 1980s duels but could never live up to them. Still, we’re hoping a big Game 4, which — if the Lakers win, which we believe they will in a blowout) — will give way to a signature two or three games at the tail end of the series and restore our faith. It’s definitely going to take more than we’ve seen so far.
*Speaking of the finals: we went out to watch the game last night with the RBBH, Local Quipster, and MC Creme Fraiche at a popular sports bar. It’s safe to say NBA fever is not infecting the north suburbs. It seemed as though as many people were watching the NBA game on multiple screens as were watching some top 50 countdown show on one screen.
*Um, NBA? This doesn’t help.
*Terribly, terribly sorry that circumstances haven’t allowed us to spend more time on the Cedric Benson release. Feel free to pile on jama as you see fit.
*Tough news about Sam Maresh, to be sure. A quintessential “eat, sleep and drink” football kind of guy, and a fantastic high school player.
*On this day in 1981 (a little piece of baseball history we never knew): Attempting to break Stan Musial’s National League record for hits, Pete Rose hits a wicked infield grounder which the official scorer rules an error rather than giving the Phillies first baseman his historic hit. Amidst the loud booing by the large vocal crowd at Veterans’ Stadium, fireworks begin as an anxious stadium engineer ignites the planned celebration prematurely thinking he heard Bill Giles said ‘go’ into the walkie-talkie, when the Phillies president had really said ‘no’.
We could tie this all together with a Kobe Bryant joke, but we won’t.
*Fasola-link! (Mind the language … very funny, though).
8 Responses to "Wednesday (Best teams?) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
I’m loving the finals. My only beef is the fabricated “rivalry” between the teams. Yes, this was a bona-fide rivalry in the 80s, but the current rosters have no beef whatsoever and could likely care less about the past. Once again, The Onion said it best with their “Pau Gasol Googles Lakers + Celtics + Rivalry.”
I just turned on the game for a few moments last night, but plenty long enough to hear “If I see someone pound their heart one more time after making a shot… Just make the shot and run back down the court!” from one of the announcers. One of the other announcers then said, “You’re showing your age”. Ha!
I see Cedric Benson catching on with the Raiders. They like stockpiling crappy running backs almost as much as the Bears do.
Re: NBA Finals
I was wondering where the KG of the past was hiding. Last night I saw the KG we are use to in these parts. He was traveling, laying illegal screens, and flat out tightening up as the game came down to the wire. He had one of the worst shooting games in a playoofs that I have ever seen.(It would be the worst if not for John Starks.)
The Celtics could have taken over the series had either KG or Pierce even played ok. They were both terrible.
Don’t know if anyone noticed but it sure looked like the Lakers shot more than 10 Free Throws in yesterday’s game. No one could have anticipated that happening.
Re: Ced Ben
I wouldn’t really call it piling on since I am glad he is finally gone. I was with Lovie Smith saying give this guy a chance. That was until this last incident. That dumb ass smile on his face while having his mug shot taken was enough for me.
I see the Bears giving 2nd round pick Matt Forte a good chance to start and I think they will bring in Kevin Jones who I think, if healthy, is a top 15 back in the league. I’m sticking with my 6-10 prediction for the Bears but I’m okay with that. At least with expectations low it will be even harder to disappoint.
Dave
Don’t forget about the Broncos
Jama
Just because the Vikings had success with Adrian Peterson, doesn’t mean that they will just cuz they have a guy with the same name. I think Benson would have been alright if defenses actually respected Chicago’s passing game, but who is going to do that?
The NBA has done a great job selling the sizzle (I’m glad someone brought up those horrible split screen ads featuring Bird and Magic… yikes) but let’s stop referring to the Lakers/Celtics of old when talking about these teams. Those classic teams had seven Hall of Famers (Dennis Johnson should eventually make eight and if I voted, Kurt Rambis would be No. 9). How many do you count here? Two (KG and Kobe)? Pierce and Allen have an outside chance at being Nos. 3 and 4, I suppose, but there’s no denying the massive dropoff in talent and team chemistry between teams and eras.
Rand touched on the softness of both teams, and that’s very true, but I’m more disappointed with all the clanking taking place on the rims. Nobody can make a shot from the elbow? Ever? I do get a chuckle from Eddie House, who truly believes he’s a Vinnie Johnson-type impact player. Bless his overinflated sense of self and all his ink.
Eddie House definitely was getting shooting opportunities at times when he had no business having the ball…
