Preparing for the NBA Conference Finals

So, round two of the NBA playoffs are in the books and things could not have been more disappointing. I think if I had to pick my least exciting NBA Conference Finals in the East and West I would have picked just the match-ups we have. At least the lottery is tonight so we have something to look forward to.

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston Celtics beat (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3

(2) Detroit Pistons beat (3) Orlando Magic 4-1

At the beginning of the year I underrated Boston, saying they were the seventh best team in the NBA and the third best in the East behind the Pistons and……ugh, the Bulls (a homer pick that went horribly wrong). I thought Allen was about to hit a severe down slope in his career, Pierce was perhaps a bit overrated, and everyone outside of the big three were horrible (I loved Garnett and saw a MVP caliber season from him). So, naturally the Celtics came out and dominated the regular season. I’m feeling a bit vindicated right now because the Celtics seem to be the worst team still standing based on their play in the playoffs. The Pistons are right here where they’re supposed to be as they are riding that impressive starting five to the Eastern Finals yet again (although I’m liking their bench more this year than in years past). But I’m sick of the Pistons. I can’t stand to watch them anymore. Despite wanting to feel vindicated by seeing the Celtics lose, I can’t root for the Pistons. Plus, it’s not like the Celtics are a team of unlikable guys; I would argue it’s actually the opposite (outside of Posey anyway). Really the reasons I dislike the Celtics are because they were better in the regular season than I thought they’d be and I felt they received more kudos than were deserved and they’re from Boston and I’m sick of seeing Boston teams be good. Despite this, I must root for them to beat the Pistons but I’m not happy about it. I’m also not happy that I really don’t see the Celtics being able to beat the Pistons. Allen is looking old and bad and this team just sucks outside of Boston. Some of those criticisms against Garnett that were around in Minnesota (shrinking down the stretch in big games) are showing up again in Boston. I’m guessing Detroit finishes off this series in 6.

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers beat (4) Utah Jazz 4-2

(2) San Antonio Spurs beat (2) New Orleans Hornets 4-3

I’m not going to be able to adequately describe my disappointment at the outcome of these two series. The problem with the Lakers-Jazz series was just that the Lakers were better and the main reason the Jazz were able to stay in as they were is that Kobe sometimes still forgets that his teammates are skilled and he can be really stupid. There were stretches where this series was a lot of fun to watch because it actually involved some beautiful teamwork and ball movement. I guess that’s what you get when you have a series with two of the league’s great coaches. It needs to be pointed out that the Lakers’ third option, Odom, tends to get forgotten a lot behind Gasol and Kobe, but he was really fantastic in this series. The other series was even more frustrating. In the first three games in New Orleans the Hornets were lights out from three-point range and won on the glass. In the decisive Game 7 the Hornets couldn’t make anything and they got killed on the boards. I don’t want to hear the experience card either. One of the worst players for the Hornets was Peja and he has had plenty of playoff experience. The Hornets just sucked a bit more than the Spurs sucked. So, how we have to deal with the Spurs for yet another year against the freaking Lakers and I have no choice but to root for the Spurs, as sick as it makes me. Unfortunately the Spurs have their worst team in a few years and the Lakers are really good. The greatest shot the Spurs have is Kobe sabotaging the series for the Lakers and that’s certainly possible. I don’t think the Lakers will have too much trouble and I’ll pick them to win in 5.

Thoughts on the NBA Playoffs: First Round

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston Celtics beat (8) Atlanta Hawks, 4-3

If the Celtics can’t win on the road in Atlanta how are they going to win on the road against teams that aren’t Atlanta? That’s fine if they don’t lose games at home but you figure they’ll probably drop one at some point. What’s more troubling is that it really wasn’t that flukish. The Hawks were able to use quickness and athleticism to just abuse the Celtics from the free throw line. If they could do anything on defense, protect the ball, and stay close on the glass the Hawks would be there because of that advantage from the stripe. While the Celtics clearly have some issues to address if they want to hang a banner, the Hawks have a nice little future ahead of themselves. Johnson and Smith are real good, Bibby maybe could be good even if I think he dominated the ball more than he should at times when he has guys like Johnson and Smith on his team, and Horford has a chance to be really, really special. The Hawks are not all that far away from being pretty good and I’d be excited to be a fan.

(2) Detroit Pistons beat (7) Philadelphia 76ers 4-2

In Game 6 the Pistons showed that the 76ers really had no business winning two games this series. That lack of consistency won’t fly in any subsequent round. I really don’t get how the 76ers made the playoffs this year and you can save your “They’re in the Eastern Conference” jokes because this roster doesn’t look like much even in the East. I mean, Miller is a nice if old point guard, Iguodala would make a real good third option on some team, Dalembert is nice defensively but not reliable to do much of anything on offense, and they have some young guys led by Young that could be solid contributors but still appear to be role players. I feel like they might have been better off sucking for another year or two and trying to get some better help via the draft than to make the playoffs this year.

(3) Orlando Magic beat (6) Toronto Raptors 4-1

Going into the playoffs this was maybe my most highly anticipate series, which is funny considering most of these games were on NBA TV or whatever that channel is. Both of these teams look like they’re not only pretty good now but they figure to be pretty good for a while (although you might be able to make the argument with the Raptors that I made with Philadelphia that they’d be better off collecting a lottery pick before really making a run but I think the Raptors’ talent is substantially better than the talent in Philadelphia). Anyway, the Magic seem to be a forgotten team but they looked pretty good against Toronto and I would not be remotely surprised to see them knock off Detroit. Howard is a beast, Turkoglu has had a terrific year, Lewis is an effective shooter even if overpaid, and I like Nelson far more than is warranted still because of how much I loved his career at St. Joseph’s.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers beat (5) Washington Wizards 4-2

It turns that that L. James character is not terrible at basketball. It’s tough to expect the Wizards to do much without a healthy Arenas and taking this series to six was good enough (even if they only won Game 5 because the Wizards completely gave it away). God bless DeShawn Stevenson though, because nothing makes a series more fun than to have some journeyman player calling the best player in the sport overrated. It’s a shame that Cleveland still only has one player on their team because it will be awfully difficult for that one player to beat the three players that Boston has.

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers beat (8) Denver Nuggets 4-0

I couldn’t be more disappointed that the Nuggets beat out the Warriors for that final playoff spot. I don’t watch a ton of NBA basketball but I was surprised to see just how bad Melo is. He was pretty brutal. Naturally I refuse to say anything positive about the Lakers.

(2) New Orleans Hornets beat (7) Dallas Mavericks 4-1

It’s been said to the point that it would be really obnoxious if it wasn’t so true but Chris Paul is really good at playing basketball. I mean, he has David West on his team, who is really good, and what else? Nothing really. Like, without Paul I don’t think this team is a playoff team in the East. Instead I wouldn’t want to bet against them even if I’m not completely convinced they can match up against Duncan. The Mavericks, by the way, might be done. Kidd looks cooked so they’re basically trying to get by with Dirk and Howard and while they’re good it’s not enough in the West.

(3) San Antonio Spurs beat (6) Phoenix Suns 4-1

Is there a team in basketball less fun to watch than the Spurs? I mean, before I used to just get annoyed by the fact that they’re good and pretty boring. Now I spend the whole time watching them jump on the ground flopping everywhere and whining when things don’t go his way. Next time Duncan opens his eyes that wide someone should pull them out of their sockets. And that doesn’t even begin to go into their obnoxious use of the Hack a Shaq philosophy (which was even used when the Spurs defense was completely shutting down the Suns and as a Suns fan I would have actually been happy to have Shaq on the line and have a shot at maybe getting at least one point). Anyway, speaking of the Mavs maybe being done, the Suns may be done too. Nash just killed them more than I can ever remember Nash killing his own team and Shaq is just a shell of his former self. It’s the potential demise of the Suns and Mavs that should give Western Conference teams like Portland hope for next year.

(4) Utah Jazz beat (5) Houston Rockets 4-2

I was feeling a bit bad for TMac until he started up with the whining about everything being his fault. He’s right; it isn’t all his fault. Again, I don’t know much about the NBA but this seems like a flawed roster especially with Yao out. Beyond McGrady where are points going to come from? Rafer Alston? Luis Scola? Those are pretty scary answers and it makes it pretty remarkable that the Rockets have even done what they have done. For Utah, I would feel all right about their chances against the Lakers but I want to know how a game like Game 5 happened. Do championship caliber teams have games that bad? That’s a real question because I don’t know the answer to it but that was pretty atrocious.

Official NBA Early Entry List Released

So, there were not too many surprises on the list of early entry candidates. Well, at least there were not many surprises on the list of early entry candidates that any one has actually heard of. Although the entire list can be seen here, I have already discussed most of the NCAA guys. Being stuck in the US and not being a professional scout I do not know any more about the foreigners than what you can read around the Interwebs, so I’m just focusing on what I know.

Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton

Akognon can score and that’s about it, which is not great for a guy that probably won’t hit the 6-foot barrier, but he showed Wisconsin that when he is scoring he can be loads of fun. Unfortunately “loads of fun” does not mean he’ll get drafted.

Alonzo Gee, Alabama

Gee just doesn’t have the basketball skills and hasn’t shown the progression from his freshman year that he needs to get drafted. His shooting ability only seems to be getting worse and even if he’s a good athlete that cannot overcome the lack of basketball ability at the next level.

Kalen Grimes, Missouri

Grimes is a guy that only declared for the draft because he has no where else to go. He is also the guy that taught us the important lesson that “Dairy Queen” + “early morning hours” + “the butt of a shotgun” + “some dude’s face” = “end of college basketball career”.

George Hill, IUPUI

It’s a shame Hill isn’t a few inches taller because that would do wonders for his stock. As it is he’s a 6-2 do it all guard that turns it over too much to be a point but he certainly shoots well enough to be a decent combo guard (and he’s a very good rebounder for his size as well). If anything he’s a second round pick this year but he’s really an outstanding player.

Reggie Huffman, Alabama-Birmingham

Huffman was going to get his degree anyway and not return to UAB next year so he probably felt he might as well through his name in the draft. He’s not getting picked up by anyone.

Stefon Jackson, Texas-El Paso

Jackson mentioned he is only declaring as an exploratory measure and he is willing to return to UTEP and I’d be pretty stunned if he does not do that. Jackson is a prolific scorer if not a good shooter and he turns the ball over far too much. He does not have an NBA body at this point either as he could use some more muscle.

Kojo Mensah, Duquesne

Mensah is following teammate Shawn James’ lead by declaring for the draft. He was a transfer from Siena and as a 6-1 guard I know nothing about him that would make him remotely draftable. However, I did see that Mensah left Siena because he wanted greater exposure for the NBA (so naturally he went to Duquesne).Please, if anyone knows anything else about Mensah and his situation, let us know.

Courtney Pigram, East Tennessee State

Pigram was actually a pretty highly regarded player in high school that had some ACT issues so there is talent there. The problem is that his numbers are not that great and his shooting is pretty poor. He’s not getting drafted and should return to school.

Bruce Price, Tennessee State

Price declared last year as well before pulling out so unless I’m missing something, he’s out for good this time. He has had a lot of knee injuries so perhaps he is just ready to move on and figure out if he can collect a paycheck somewhere.

John Riek, Winchendon School (MA)

The Sudanese Riek was thought to be a possible lottery pick due to his huge size and wingspan but he’s very inexperienced and he has already had some knee and foot injuries. It still would not be stunning to see a first rounder get spent on him.

Walter Sharpe, Alabama-Birmingham

Sharpe was declared academically ineligible to play this past semester and that’s not the first semester he has missed due to academics. In addition he was booted from Mississippi State partly due to academics and partly due to showing up late to meetings and practices. He may not go back to school because school just might not be for him.

Gordon Watt, Houston Baptist

Watt was on school number three after leaving Boston College and Purdue (and he left Purdue after falling in love with the DUI). Watt is leaving the door open to return and that will likely be necessary. I’d want to see more than a half year of him before I’d want to put him in the NBA.

Last Group of Early Entry NBA Guys Prior to the Official List

Here goes another group of early entry NBA guys. The entry deadline was over the weekend and my guess is the NBA will release the official list later this week. We’ll take a look over that list when it comes out and look for any surprises.

Josh Carter

Carter probably just had his worst year as a junior and although he was good as a younger player it’s not like he was Durant or Beasley as a freshman. This is likely just Carter putting his name out there and he figures to be back at Texas A&M in 2008-09.

DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons

This is a pair of juniors from Missouri that are probably second round picks at best so you figure they’ll go back to Missouri and hopefully with a lot of work and some improvement Missouri might be able to play in the CBI next year.

Lee Cummard

Cummard is a shooting guard with good size (although real thin) and pretty good offensive efficiency. He had a real nice year with BYU but he’s not going that high this year. He’d be better off hitting the weight room and returning to BYU with teammate Trent Plaisted to make a run next year in Provo.

Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Ty Lawson

The good news for UNC fans is that Tyler Hansbrough decided not to follow all his teammates. I would guess Lawson is the best bet to stay in this draft but it’s possible for all three depending on workouts. If it turns out that they are all better than they possibly showed (perhaps due to having to share the glory at North Carolina) it’s possible all could sneak into the first round. I still think it would be more likely for all to slip to the second round. My guess is Ellington and Green return to Chapel Hill and Lawson stays in this draft. UNC should still be very good next year.

Davon Jefferson

The first time I saw Jefferson play I thought he was USC’s best player so obviously he can show some pretty impressive flashes. The problem is that at this point his game is mostly just that: impressive flashes. That means that if he can get a first round guarantee he should take it because it remains to be seen if he can put his massive talent together. I could see him coming back to school and never putting it together and ending up being a guy that can’t get drafted at all. Now, even if it’s in the second round, his talent pretty much guarantees that he’ll get drafted at some point. Anyway, Gary Parrish is reporting that he’ll sign with an agent so all of the talk about with he should pull out may be moot.

Jerel McNeal

I was wondering if we’d say some of the Marquette guards decide to leave once Crean announced he was headed to Indiana and McNeal is the most likely of the three. Dominic James was pretty highly regarded after a strong freshman year but his stock hasn’t improved since. Wesley Matthews is a bit short, the worst athlete of the three, and not a great shooter. I’d be curious to see what McNeal’s status would be if he wasn’t at Marquette sharing the backcourt spotlight with two other very good guards. My guess is we’ll see McNeal back at Marquette next year because he doesn’t figure to be a first round pick.

Shawn James

If James decides to return to Duquesne for another year he’d be 26 by the time the 2009-10 NBA season begins. That, combined with his physical ability and shot blocking skills (aided by a huge wingspan), suggests that he might stay in this draft and if he fails to get drafted or stick with a team he could make some coin in Europe. James’s returning to Duquesne could mean a lot to their continued rise as a program.

Josh Shipp

Shipp picked a rough time to go through a big shooting slump at the end of the year. As a junior I don’t blame him for entering the draft but I’m pretty sure I’d blame him for staying in. With all the talent leaving UCLA this year he should have plenty of opportunity to show he can be more than just a role player next year. If he can do that he should greatly improve his stock in a weaker draft.

Lorrenzo Wade

At his size, Wade doesn’t shoot well enough or rebound well enough to stick in the league or likely get drafted in the second round. There’s nothing wrong with putting his name out there, but he’ll be back at San Diego State next year.

Yet another group of NBA early entry guys

Keith Brumbaugh

Brumbaugh was really highly thought of in high school until he decided his favorite pastime was stealing from Wal-Mart. Talent-wise he’s supposed to be pretty good but obviously he’s a risky pick (although perhaps if he got first round money he wouldn’t have to steal from Wal-Mart) so he’s likely to go in the second round.

Kosta Koufos

Koufos is one of the rare guys that is basically a first round lock that I think would be best to come back to school only because I think he looks like a top 10 pick next year. Instead I would guess he’ll go around 20 or so.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier

Roberts will clearly stay in the draft and he will be a first round pick. I doubt Anderson or Dozier will see the first round and I expect to see them back at Memphis. How bad would it be for Memphis if they do follow through and stay in the draft though? With these three plus Rose and the exhaustion of Dorsey’s eligibility, who is left? I understand they’ll still have talent and they have a good class coming in, but could next year be the year that Memphis loses the CUSA crown? Well, maybe more realistically is next year the year that Memphis loses a CUSA game?

C.J. Giles

Although talented he is not talented enough to overcome the fact that he’s been kicked off of multiple college teams. Like Brumbaugh he isn’t a bad gamble in the second round where you wouldn’t be tied to him but a first round pick on Giles would be awfully stupid.

Lester Hudson

Despite coming from Tennessee-Martin, you have to be impressed when you look at the stats. He really fills out a stat sheet, although considering at his size he is likely a point guard it is troubling that turnovers is one of the stats he fills up. I would say he was almost certain to come back but considering grades have been an issue with him I wonder if he cares about the academics and he’s old enough at this point that his age is becoming a negative in terms of the NBA as he’ll be 24 by the time the next NBA season tips off.

Jamont Gordon

Assuming he goes back to school it was a great idea for Gordon to declare. He might as well become familiar with the process so he can be more comfortable going through it again next year. He’s not getting a first round contract this year but with a good senior year it could happen in 2009.

D.J. Augustin, A.J. Abrams

This puts a damper on Texas’s hopes at a national title next year. Augustin will go in the lottery most likely. Abrams will likely be helping the Longhorns in their Final Four hopes next year; he’s not a first round guy this year but like Gordon, as a junior there is no reason not to go through the process now.

Mario Chalmers

I love Chalmers (and that was before the buzzer sounded in regulation against Memphis). Chalmers played in a strong backcourt and stood out to me. I think his numbers would look a lot better as well if he was not on such a balanced team. If people fail to realize that he’s awesome he could come back to school but I like him in the first round.

Formula One anti-racism campaign

This is a fun story. I guess Formula One is starting an anti-racism campaign after Spanish fans taunted back driver Lewis Hamilton. I wonder if as a part of this anti-racism campaign if Formula One will still be involved in Nazi-themed sex orgies.

(It turns out that last entry I had on Formula One was not the only thing I would ever write on Formula One.)

Chad vs. Josh - 20 games into the season

I thought I'd give you an update on the little competition between Josh and I predicting the outcome of the MLB season. With about 1/8th of the season complete, here is where we stand:

Chad - 146 wins
Josh - 146 wins